March Features
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So, you're an NHL GM and you just got the second pick in the Draft Lottery.
Immediately, several things come to mind: first of all, you are steamed because
you missed out on Alex Ovechkin and, second, you better grab the right guy or
it'll come back to haunt you.
Unless we see an earth-shattering performance from someone at the Under-18's
in Minsk, Belarus in April, then count on either Russian Evgeni
Malkin or Czech Rostislav
Olesz to grab the runner-up spot. Coming into the season, second-place
was up for grabs, yet, somewhat surprisingly, we have seen an unconvincing battle
for the honour.
Schremp made headlines for mostly the wrong reasons, after his trade
request out of Mississauga; Cam
Barker has struggled with his defensive game; Marek
Schwarz showed some chinks in the armour at the Under-20 World Juniors,
while Wojtek
Wolski routinely does his best impression of a David Copperfield disappearing
act.
So, here's the rub.
In the blue corner, you have the sturdy, filled-out Czech with great vision,
smarts and an aura reminiscent of Bobby Holik - but more finely skilled. And,
in the other corner, you have the crafty Russian with a considerable wingspan,
the ability to create fireworks at full speed, and a passion to be an offensive
difference-maker.
However, the picture became muddled as both Malkin and Olesz suffered concussions
- Malkin the most recent one.
Looking back, we had been more impressed with Olesz for the majority of the
year, underscored by his superior World Junior performance on an otherwise struggling
Czech team - save for that unfortunate, bone-shattering hit by Dion Phaneuf
that subsequently kept Olesz out of action for three weeks. In Malkin's defense,
however, he wasn't put into a great situation on a Russian squad that went through
turmoil before the games even began.
This month, for the first time, Malkin overtakes Olesz in the rankings. After
several additional viewings, we analyzed every wrinkle.
Here is what our scout had to say after numerous viewings of both players:
"If you asked me last season or even earlier this year, I would say Olesz
without a doubt, but, despite the fact that he's anchored himself in the Extraleague,
he hasn't really set it on fire. The more I see Malkin, the more I notice that
he beats Olesz in terms of skating - Malkin is smoother and his acceleration
more explosive.
"Both guys are physical - neither screams power forward, quite yet at
least. Both are excellent stickhandlers, although I'd give Olesz the edge in
terms of vision. But Malkin has better finish - I've seen him undress goaltenders,
while Olesz is not as pretty. Let's face it - us scouts, we like fancy stuff.
In terms of the overall package and even pro preparedness, I give the edge to
Olesz - he can be a terrific shut-down guy. When he matures, he'll make guys
pay in his own end, with a vengeance. Conversely, Malkin is simply more lethal
around the goal area, with slightly better size and instincts that, dare I say,
challenge Ovechkin's."
While it seems clear that Malkin is a clear favorite to take that back seat
to Ovechkin in Raleigh this June, we haven't felt the same itch to join the
bandwagon - but let's just say that Malkin has left us no choice.
Chipchura may be getting the feeling someone is watching him. Make that
roughly two-hundred and thirty-nine someone's.
After heading up the CSB's preliminary list of WHL players back in November,
Chipchura followed that up by leading all North American forwards on the mid-term
rankings, something that is sure to motivate the prospects rated behind him.
As far as Chipchura is concerned, they can eat his dust while they are back
there.
"I don't feel any pressure being ranked first," says Chipchura. "If
I just go and play my game, the rest will take care of itself."
Currently our 16th-ranked prospect for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Chipchura's
game revolves around a fierce desire to always improve his game and to see his
team succeed. An unselfish player who always puts the team ahead of himself,
Chipchura enjoys speaking about the organization's successes this season, after
some lean times in Prince Albert, "the key to our success is from playing
as a team. There may have been too many individuals last year, this year it's
a team effort."
An all-around player, Chipchura doesn't dominate at any specific aspect, but
does everything well regardless. More orientated as a playmaking center, Chipchura's
real strength lies in his assets that also impact the team off the ice, most
notably his leadership and desire to win.
"I like to think of myself as a leader", says Chipchura, "I
believe some players in the past were good but didn't have the leadership to
motivate the team. I think leadership is a skill set and I believe I have it."
"Kyle is a wildcard," says our WHL scout, "He's one of only
a few guys in this draft that can potentially round out into a 'complete package'
player. What sets him apart is his ability to make plays at full speed. He can
really get around the ice, throw his frame around and forecheck like mad. The
problem is, he doesn't really do this as consistently as we would like. Sometimes
he's a tad too hesitant and doesn't really turn on that second gear, but he's
not lazy - we think that moxie will be there as he develops confidence.
"We're not talking about an elite talent, but this kid is the kind of
project who could be a rock-solid pro if the pieces fit. His passes are excellent,
his hands are better than we expected and he has a presence when he steps out
on the ice. You either love him or hate him - but those who like, they like
a lot."
"I'd say I'm a two-way player who can play in all situations," says
Chipchura, " I want to be the guy that can get that goal when we are down
one late or protect a one-goal lead. I think of myself as a set-up guy who can
play physical and can do anything I'm asked to do."
Unheralded Finnish winger Miikka
Tuomainen fits the bill as a 'buried treasure' - though it's difficult
to keep a 6-foot-3, 215-pound teenager with great wheels hidden for long.
Just 17 years old, Tuomainen is already playing for first division club TuTo
in the Mestis, the Finnish equivalent of the AHL, where, despite scoring just
once in 11 appearances, he drew the attention of national team selectors who
added him to the Under-19 squad sent to the Viking Cup in Camrose, Alberta over
the holidays.
The Turku native made the most of the opportunity with a bell-clanging, three-goal
performance in the gold-medal game to lead the Finns to victory.
A fast, agile skater who knows how to use his imposing frame to gain space,
Tuomainen works hard away from the puck and displays sharp offensive instincts,
not to mention a knack around goal, finishing his three chances in the final
with cool and lethal precision.
"Skating is definitely one of my strengths. Also physical play, as I'm
a big player, plus my shot," replied Tuomainen when asked recently to describe
his game.
"Overall, puckhandling is the area that I have to improve. I don't have
the best hands in the world, but they aren't made of stone either."
So, why the sudden emergence?
"I have not had any growing spurts or anything over the past year. I just
haven't been to the national team camps earlier this season," Tuomainen
responded.
Despite bursting onto the NHL's scouting radar, Tuomainen is modest about his
accomplishments, almost taken aback by the sudden attention.
"They (NHL scouts) didn't really affect the performance, at least not
mine. I wasn't really thinking of it that way. At least it's nice to hear that
you've been noticed. I don't think there's any pressure, I haven't been expecting
anything this season, games have just went well recently."
Since the Viking Cup, Tuomainen came up empty at the Five Nations tournament
held on home soil, but has started to contribute offensively with three goals
in the past 10 games for TuTo (10-3-2-5).
And the future?
"This spring it looks like Mestis hockey for me. I have a contract with
my team TuTo for next season also, but there are things going on. There's been
quite some talk of CHL."
The lights are shining bright on Minnesota high school hockey star Alex
Goligoski.
A senior at Grand Rapids and a University of Minnesota recruit, Goligoski follows
in the footsteps of offensively-gifted rearguards produced by the Golden Gopher
program such as Jordan Leopold and Paul Martin.
The first word that comes to mind when describing Goligoski's game is smooth.
"His acceleration, agility, and speed are all top notch. He skates fast
both forwards and backwards, and his transitions are very fluid. He has a good
skating base that allows for balance and quick turns. He handles the puck at
full speed and can pass and shoot off the rush," reports correspondent
Rich Dillon, who has scouted Goligoski extensively.
"He compares to Wisconsin freshman Jeff
Likens in terms of size and skating ability. Whereas Likens tends to
initiate more physical contact, Goligoski anticipates and reads the play better."
"His puckrushing skills are superb and his passes are usually tape-to-tape.
He's the type of player who can skate the puck out of his zone and make opponents
pay. He sees the ice so well and has a hard, accurate wristshot that he releases
in the blink of an eye."
"The slapshot isn't overpowering, but it's usually low and on target."
Duplicating the success of Leopold and Martin will, however, require some hard
work for the Grand Rapids native.
"He doesn't have great size (5-11, 165 pounds) and gets outmuscled by
bigger, stronger forwards. He needs to add plenty of strength for the next level.
Still, he can be physical at times, although not consistently, and his positioning
is quite sound."
Goligoski is one of the leading candidates for the 2004 Mr. Hockey Award, which
will be bestowed on the state's top senior player March 14, thus ruling out
Breck junior Blake Wheeler, one of this month's hot risers.
The other nine candidates are: Will Engasser of Blake, Blake Friesen of Benilde-St.
Margaret, Brian Gifford of Moorhead, Tom Gorowsky of Centennial, Jack Hillen
of Holy Angels, Sam Kelly of Hill Murray, Rob Page of Blake, Mike Taylor of
Holy Angels and J.T. Wyman of Blake.
Centennial's Gorowsky, a solid two-way power pivot and the league's top scorer,
is the odds-on favourite.