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Colorado Avalanche 2013 draft preview
Photo: Colorado’s second overall pick in 2011, Gabriel Landeskog made an immediate impact in the lineup and was named the team’s captain in 2012 (courtesy of Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
The Colorado Avalanche have had quite a bit of turnover already in their off-season, first firing former Head Coach Joe Sacco, then hiring Patrick Roy to be their new bench boss and Vice President of Hockey Ops and promoting Joe Sakic to be their Executive Vice President of Hockey Ops. Roy and Sakic have joined the fray and will look to help the team improve upon their prospect base that has them sitting 29th in the NHL in that regard.
Pittsburgh Penguins 2013 draft preview
Photo: Selected 22nd overall, Olli Maatta was one of two defensemen the Pittsburgh Penguins selected in the 1st round of the 2012 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Following a disappointing exit in the third round of the NHL playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins head into the 2013 NHL Draft as a team in need of minor roster re-tooling. The franchise traded their first, second, and fifth round picks in order to acquire rental players Jarome Iginla, Doug Murray, and Brendan Morrow, and consequentially will not have a selection until the third round.
Video: 2013 NHL Combine – Aleksander Barkov, Finland
Photo: Finnish forward Aleksander Barkov has already spent two seasons in Finland’s top league despite being only 17 years of age (courtesy of Nick Turchiaro/NHLI via Getty Images)
A fan looking for a player among the top prospects for the 2013 NHL Draft that is physically ready to move to the NHL next season might look no further than Finnish forward Aleksander Barkov, the 6'2”, 205-pound center who played for Tappara in Finland's top league, the SM-liiga.
Video: 2013 NHL Combine – Zachary Fucale, QMJHL
Photo: Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Zachary Fucale enters the 2013 NHL Draft as the only goaltending prospect with a genuine chance of being chosen in the first round (courtesy of Ken McKenna/HF)
In what is considered a strong NHL Draft class, the position of goaltender is perhaps the one in this age group that is lacking high-end depth. The one exception to that rule would be Halifax Mooseheads goaltender, Zachary Fucale.
Stencel a talented defender in a smaller package
Photo: Defenseman Jan Stencel was one of the top three performers for the Czech Republic at the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship (courtesy of Lubo Lang/Czech Ice Hockey Association)
When searching the junior ranks for future NHL talent, good defensemen are usually harder to come by than good forwards. The upcoming NHL Draft class of players based in the Czech Republic is, however, an exception to that rule.
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