1999 NHL Entry Draft Preview: Anaheim Mighty Ducks

by pbadmin
on

This season, the Ducks have the 15th overall pick in the 1st round, followed by the 45th overall pick in the second round. The Ducks this year should obviously be looking to not only become a better team, but to have their top selection in the lineup as early as next season.

For Anaheim, their main problem is offensive help for the trio of Kariya, Selanne, and Rucchin. This year’s draft offers plenty of gifted offensive players, however, most of the pure scoring talent will likely be gone by the time the 15th pick rolls around. The Ducks, besides needing offensive help, also need a good backup goaltender to help Guy Hebert out, and also, a more pressing need, more help on the back line.

With the 15th overall pick, I believe the Ducks will try to pick up Taylor Pyatt, the left-winger from the Sudbury Wolves. Not only does Pyatt have great size (6’4″, 215lbs.) but he is not only physical, but he can score, too. Other forwards the Ducks are eyeing include Oleg Saprykine and Brett Lysak. As far as the blue line goes, defenseman Branislav Mezei and his huge 6’5″, 221lbs., frame seem to fit the mold of what the Ducks are looking for.

Although the Ducks need a backup goalie, I doubt they will pick one up until later in the draft. So, there you have it, my take on what the Ducks will do in the 1999 Entry Draft. I might be right, I might be wrong. We’ll all just have to wait till draft day to see…

Montreal Canadiens Draft Preview

by pbadmin
on

Having traded away their number one pick in this year’s draft to the New York Islanders, the Canadiens will have a simple plan on draft day; Draft the best player available. Without a number one pick the Habs are aware that any player drafted from the second round on will take several years to develop. This being said, it would be unwise to draft a player in order to fill a hole in your roster, as that hole is unlikely to exist by the time that player is ready for the NHL.

Currently the Habs need depth at center. Yet those holes will likely be filled within the next 2 years, as they have two solid prospects at center with Eric Chouinard and Mike Ribeiro. They are deep in Goaltending at the moment with Jose Theodore and Mathieu Garon toiling in the minors. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Habs’ management won’t take a look at Maxime Ouellete if he’s still available come the second round. Another need is offensive depth on the wings.

The Habs have not drafted a defenseman in the first two rounds since 1995, when they drafted Miloslav Guren in the second round. They have chosen a player from Quebec in one of the first two rounds every year since 1996. Last year they used there first 3 picks to choose players from Quebec; Chouinard in the first round, Ribeiro in the second round and Francios Beauchemin in the third round. This last trend could be by chance, but is more likely by design.
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St. Louis Blues Draft Preview

by pbadmin
on

Well, the ’99 season has come to a close. And now, as is tradition, we direct our attention to “The NHL Draft”. Even before St. Louis makes its first selection, Blues fans have reason to be excited about the team’s future prospects in the organization. The “build from within” approach instituted by CEO & President Mark Sauer and GM Larry Pleau is ahead of schedule. Young players, that in previous years would be dealt for immediate help, have begun to emerge from Worcester. Michal Handzus had a solid first season in the NHL. He is already regarded as one of the top defensive players in the game; the offense will come in time. Lubos Bartecko made contributions late in the year and showed that he is close to playing full time with the big club. In the playoffs, Jochen Hecht was a pleasant surprise. He showed the great puck skills and skating ability that enabled him to lead all players in points in Worcester. If he can continue his great play, expect him to settle in at left wing for the Blues next year. Jamal Mayers also played well down the stretch. And Marty Reasoner is not too far down the road. That being said, Let’s take a look at the possibilities for the Blues at this years draft.

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Dallas Stars Update-II

by pbadmin
on
In this update one can find a listing of the new projections for many of the Dallas prospects. With these projections come debate and differing opinions, but all are welcome. Please direct any comments to my email address, and I will respond to them all as quick as I can.


{My next article will attempt to resolve the debate over whether to keep Roman Turek or Eddie Belfour}

New Player Projections

Centers

1. Lyashenko 6.5

2. Gavey 5.5

3. Karlsson 7

4. Svartvadet 5.5

5. Jinman 3

6. Perry 3

Left-wingers

1. Brenden Morrow 7

2. Botterill 6.5

3. Sim 6.5

4. Wright 5

5. Kapanen 6.5

6. Gainey 6

7. Elomo 6.5

8. Christie 4.5

9. Lind 6.5 ( not under contract )

10. Luchinkin NR

Right-wingers

1. Bouck 6

2. Kristofferson 6.5

3. Flichel 3.5

4. Leeb 3.5

5. Timkin NR

6. Patera NR

Defensemen

1. Jackman 7.5

2. Lukowich 5.5

3. Buzek 5

4. Tsybouk 5

5. Erskine 5

6. McKercher 4.5

7. Bouchard 3

8. Petrochinin NR

9. Komarov NR

Goaltenders

1. Marty Turco 7.5

2. Manny Fernandez 6

**1997 Draftee Signings**

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Sabres Report: Odds & Sods

by Ken McKenna
on

Back in the early 70s, the British rock band The Who released the album “Odds & Sods”, which was a collection of songs that had been left off of previously released albums for various reasons. In the spirit of that recording, I’ve decided to break from my usual Top 20 format to make this season wrap-up column a review of the playoff performances of certain Sabre prospects, as well as other random items from the post season.

The big news is, of course, that the Buffalo Sabres will be appearing in the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in 24 years. Meanwhile, down the I-90, the Rochester Americans liked the idea of the Sabres appearing in the finals so much that they defeated the defending Calder Cup champs from Philadelphia to return to the Calder Cup finals for the 5th time this decade. Based on these events, it is clear that the Sabres organization has finally become one to be envied by the rest of the NHL for the first time since Punch Imlach was GM of the Sabres. The Sabres may not land their first Cup this year, as they are definite underdogs against Dallas, but they will almost certainly be contenders for the foreseeable future. Their contender status is the result of good drafting and shrewd trading, not to mention excellent coaching. Rather than praise those responsible for the Sabres success (others have done this better than I could), I will simply wish the Sabre organization good luck in the NHL and AHL finals, and, like all other Sabre fans, I’ll sit back and enjoy the moment.

CHL Playoffs and Memorial Cup Read more»