Draft Update – December/January
Our readers ask us - is the 2004 NHL entry draft really sub-par as some say? We
say, forget them so-called pundits - while this year's event will not be reminiscent
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of the richness of the 2001 draft, there is much depth to marvel at.
Despite some exciting elite-level talent to be had early in the first round
and a revival of the European class, there is a significant drop-off of skill
after roughly the top 15. For one, the Czech Republic has as many as five players
with the promise of going in the first half of the first round, yet may not
have another player drafted again until the third or fourth round. Sweden does
not have a likely early first-rounder to offer, while there's nothing exciting
to come out of Finland behind Lauri Tukonen. Two of the OHL's most promising
players Evan McGrath and Bryan Bickell have disappointed us lately, while the
QMJHL's depth thins out after the splendid Alexandre Picard.
Yet there is much optimism - a bundle of names have been popping up with impressive
credentials, establishing themselves as potential first and second rounders.
QMJHL has a small, but elusive sniper Martins
Karsums - a Latvian whose productivity is simply not slowing down. Out
of the OHL, the rock-solid Jordan
Smith is a filled-out force with poise and offensive upside. In the
WHL, Saskatoon's Mike Green is getting raves for his mature and tough-nosed
play. Michigan State collegian A.J.
Thelen is featured in our Hot/Not
piece - an unheralded all-around solid and strong defenseman with few real weaknesses.
And then there is a handful of Russians - those in the shadow of the likes
of Ovechkin, Malkin and Lisin. Last month, we provided updates on Alexander
and Dmitri
Vorobiev - this month we give you the heads-up on two more risers in
Plyuschev and Roman
Voloshenko.
Our preliminary verdict is that despite the fact that elite talent does extend
deep into the first round, we see a plethora of players with great skills, lots
of size and potential - many capable of going late in the first and early in
the second round. Although the draft is months away, we foresee a fairly predictable
first fifteen picks with the next two or three rounds that portend to be a real
adventure.
Check out our updated Top
100 list for the best and the brightest that the draft will have to
offer. And don't forget to take a peak at Who's
Hot and Who's Not for all the latest news, including an update on the
BCHL's dynamic duo of Travis
Zajac and Kris
Chucko - find out who they are and how they stack up for the draft.
Coming Soon: Exclusive lists for leagues and countries!