NHL Draft: Disappointing Year for New England

The 2008 NHL Draft was disappointing for many New England prospects. Only five players at the prep or junior level in New England were drafted. Other New England-area picks included college players Colin Wilson and Ben Smith, along with former prep players David Warsofsky and Jimmy Hayes. In a two-part series, McKeen's correspondent Vincent Montalbano looks at the players that were drafted and other notable prospects that were not.

Part One - Drafted Players

Colin Wilson (Nsh), C, Boston University (NCAA) - first round, (7th overall)

Scouting Notes From 2007-08 game against Harvard:

Freshman .. a top prospect who took a whole period before he showed why he is a top 10 prospect in the upcoming draft .. strong on the faceoffs .. looks like a solid skater in form, but speed is questionable, although will need to see again .. seemed to be coasting with the puck .. in the offensive zone, Wilson is deadly around the net .. very good hands and poise with the puck .. showed tremendous talent in battling for the puck and dishing it off quickly .. received PP time .. started to show more speed in the third period and between him and Bonino, they must have had over seven scoring chances in the last two periods .. the definite future of BU .. recently named to the U.S. World Junior Team.

What Other Scouts Are Saying (Central Scouting):

Wilson is a combination of a skilled and power forward. He is very strong, has excellent hands and is a very good passer and playmaker. He makes and takes a difficult pass extremely well. He is tough and strong on the puck and is a very smart player who is aware of where teammates are at all times. He anticipates the play at both ends of the ice very well. When he gets the puck, he responds instantly and knows where to put the puck. He is very reliable defensively, has incredibly quick feet and he can turn quickly while maintaining puck control.

Synopsis

Excellent pick by Nashville and what some are calling a future captain-type player. He had an excellent combine, which helped him, but there was no way he was getting past the top 10. Wilson said he's ready for the NHL next season, which could be bad news for BU fans. One more year of college would help him, but physically, he could be ready for the pros.

Jimmy Hayes (Tor), F, Lincoln (USHL) – second round, (60th overall)

Scouting Notes From 2006-07 Prep Season (Nobles) and Pre-Draft Summer Tournament:

Hayes could be the next big player out of the prep school ranks .. while only a sophomore at Nobles, Hayes was already a stunning 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds .. he is a good skater with a long stride that gives him straight-away speed, but can be very shifty .. displays very good hands and vision to complement his great size .. he goes to the net hard, dishes out hits, and is effective and assertive along the boards .. has a tremendous reach .. also boasts a well-rounded offensive arsenal featuring a hard shot with a quick release that is very accurate and also demonstrates excellent passing abilities .. he finds space and gets open in the offensive zone .. looks like a potential pro prospect given a few more years to develop and mature.

What Other Scouts Are Saying (Central Scouting):

Hayes has really been playing better since he went to the USHL. Last year he played with James van Riemsdyk and Colin Wilson (on the U.S. Under-18 team) and they were just a perfect chemistry line – all season he was good going up and down the wing and going to the net. He works hard, he's been consistent, physical and he doesn't take any shifts off. He is at his best as a big power winger. On the wing he's got a really good shot and a really long reach.

Synopsis

His slow start with the U.S. U-18 team really hurt his draft rankings all year, but his decision to leave the National Program and go to Lincoln (USHL) was a great decision to elevate his draft status. I still believe he is a legit prospect with lots of talent. He is going to Boston College next year and I will look forward to watching his development at the college level.

Justin Daniels (SJ), C, Kent School (Prep) – third round, (62nd overall)

Scouting Notes From 2007-08 game against Avon and Beantown Spring Tournament

Committed to Northeastern for 2009 .. has good size (6-2, 160) .. can easily see why he has received attention for the upcoming NHL Draft .. has the combination of hands, speed, and offensive ability .. has a long stride and the ability to take the puck in the defensive zone and quickly turn up ice with it .. cycles the puck very well .. showed good hands in tight and ability to play through traffic .. when he has the puck, he really can control the play and the pace .. has poise and vision that make him dangerous anywhere around the net .. still needs to get a bit stronger .. needs to work on his consistency .. solid in the faceoff circle .. his overall talent and performance at the Beantown weekend may have secured him a strong position on many NHL team's draft rankings.

What Other Scouts Are Saying (San Jose Scout):

He's a good skater and a very tough kid. Is an excellent playmaker and goal scorer with a tremendous shot.

Synopsis

A big surprise to see him get drafted so early, but a good one. San Jose loves getting the New England players (although Daniels is from NY). He notched 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists) in 25 games with Kent School. He is planning on playing for Sioux City (USHL) this coming season along with brother Drew (also drafted by San Jose – 7th round). Both brothers are scheduled to attend Northeastern in the fall of 2009.

David Warsofsky (StL), D, U.S. Under-18 – fourth round, (95th overall)

Scouting Notes From 2006-07 Prep Season (Cushing) and Pre-Draft Summer Tournament

Committed to Boston University for 2008 .. despite lack of size (5-9) he is an extraordinary player with exceptional skill, especially on the powerplay .. a smooth skater with a strong stride .. tremendous vision and really moves the puck up the ice well .. tremendous patience and poise with the puck and hockey sense .. great one-timer with rocket of a shot and accurate, especially on the PP .. has a pro-like shot and may have the best shot for someone his age or even older .. finds open areas on the PP for good shooting lanes .. can be physical if needed and strong along the boards .. logged a ton of icetime .. has the ability to shake checks with his quickness and stick skills and ability to take hits and keep going.

What Other Scouts Are Saying (Central Scouting):

Warsofsky is a small, smart defenseman with quick feet. He has good speed jumping into the play and a big shot from the point. At his size, he needs to take better care of the puck and continue to get stronger, but overall, he comes to play and plays bigger than his size.

Synopsis

An excellent pick by the Blues and if he was even 5-11, he probably would be a first or second round pick. He is extremely talented and playing at Boston University will really help his development. He tallied 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 48 games last season.

Julien Cayer (Det), F, Northwood Prep – fifth round, (151st overall)

Scouting Notes From 2007-08 Prep Season and Beantown Spring Tournament

Committed to Clarkson for 2008 and was drafted by Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) .. assistant captain for Northwood Prep .. very good size (6-4, 190) .. uses his size well in protecting the puck .. has a long stride with good speed coming down the wing .. willing to play physical at times and can be aggressive on the puck .. has a heavy shot with a quick release that he needs to use more, as he looks to pass to linemate Alex Chiasson most of the time .. decent offensive ability and very good hands, but does have a tendency to hold onto the puck too long, especially on the PP .. strong in the faceoff circle.

What Others Are Saying (Clarkson Coach George Roll & Redwingscentral.com):

Once he grows into his body, I think he will be an extremely exciting college player. He has very good hands and shoots the puck like a pro. Julien has very good skills but also competes at a very high level. – Clarkson Head Coach George Rolle

Strengths: Not a burner, but a good skater, especially for his size .. great shot .. long reach and good moves make him dangerous in 1-on-1 situations .. has the height and frame to be a force, if he bulks up .. makes an impact when he is playing physical .. doesn't neglect defensive end ..

Weaknesses: Has grown a lot in recent years and is still adjusting to his frame .. raw prospect with good individual tools that need to come together .. needs to commit to a consistent physical game. – Redwingscentral.com

Synopsis

Detroit's draft history can never be questioned and this pick is no exception. A definite project in which Detroit can watch and wait for the next four years while he develops at Clarkson. He has great size and talent to be a steal in the 5th round. As assistant general manager Jim Nill told the NHL Network on draft day, "It's up to the kids now. We've opened the door for them, much like we did with Zetterberg and Datsyuk. It's up to them to take it to the next level (through) hard work and commitment. They're the ones who can turn themselves into players."

Cam Atkinson (CBJ), F, Avon Old Farms (Prep) – sixth round, (157th overall)

Scouting Notes From 2007-08 Prep Season and Beantown Spring Tournament

Committed to Boston College for 2008 and looks like BC has another diminutive gem coming there next year .. was named Division I West All-New England Team during his Jr. and Sr. year and also named USHR's Prep Player-of-the-Year .. stats: 26-37-63 and 10 penalty minutes in 28 games with Avon .. lacks size (5-9, 175), but that is about the only thing he lacks, as he will play physical and battle for the puck .. has great speed with and without the puck .. has lightning-fast strides and explosive speed .. plays this non-stop, full-speed style that is exciting to watch .. has a strong, heavy shot and ability to fire a shot while in stride .. really backs-off defenders with his speed and stickhandling skills .. has such good hands in tight and speed that makes him so dangerous when in full flight .. if he gets one-step on a defenseman, he is gone .. does need to get stronger along the boards to compensate for his size .. strong on his skates and never gives up on a play .. he is so talented offensively and very smart with and without the puck .. so dangerous around the net and if given any chance with puck around the net, he seems to bury it .. reliable defensively and willing to help down low .. has very good vision and will drive to the net with the puck .. looks to pass first .. his vision and creativity with the puck make him standout from the rest .. never gives up on a play and will give that extra effort every shift to regain control of the puck .. fearless on the ice and despite size, he will go anywhere on the ice for the puck.

Synopsis

Very excited about this pick! I have been watching him since he was a freshman at Avon and he has gotten better and better every year. As a freshman and sophomore, Cam was easily described as fast. It was his junior and senior year at Avon that his offensive skills really developed and he started to dominate the prep level. I have always wanted a team to take a risk on him late in the draft and Columbus could have a gem here. He is heading to BC and should make an immediate impact on the reigning National Champs.

Ben Smith (Chi), F, Boston College (NCAA) – sixth round, (169th overall)

Scouting Notes From 2005-06 Prep Season (Westminster) and 06-07 college notes

A very good all-around offensive player with a quick and impressive shot .. displays a real nose for the net and doesn't mind playing physical .. accurate passer .. dangerous around the net .. has had a very successful second-half to his first year at BC after starting the year on the fourth line .. a solid skater who skates low to the ice and hard to knock-off the puck .. was passed over in the draft after his senior year at Westminster.

Synopsis

Passed over in the last two drafts, but after putting up 50 points in his sophomore year and winning a National Championship, Chicago might have found another steal. He went from an 18-point (10 goals) freshman campaign to 50 points (25 goals) in his sophomore year. He should play two more years at BC and should get better every year.

Greg Burke (Wsh), F, NH Monarchs (EJHL) – sixth round, 9174th overall)

Scouting Notes From 2007-08 Junior Tournaments

Committed to UNH for 2009 .. good size (6-2, 190) .. when he gets going, he can really buzz around the offensive zone .. constantly moving around and finding the open areas .. has lots of offensive skill and handles the puck well .. a solid skater with good speed .. strong along the boards and plays physical at times, but needs to protect the puck better .. could be a late round pick, but would like to see him be more consistent.

Synopsis

Had 46 points (21 goals) in 40 games for the Jr. Monarchs (EJHL). Will play for Cedar Rapids (USHL) next year before heading to UNH. Needs to be more consistent but could be a solid pickup.

Drew Daniels (SJ), F, Kent School (Prep) – seventh round, (194th overall)

Scouting Notes From 2007-08 game against Avon and Beantown Spring Tournament

Committed to Northeastern for 2009 .. similar to his twin brother (Justin), he has good size (6-2, 160) .. a solid player who is a few notches below his brother in terms of offensive talent .. has a quick shot .. needs to get stronger on his skates and is only average playing in traffic .. showed good poise with the puck and should be a solid contributor at the college level .. during the Beantown spring tournament, he proved that he has offensive talent .. showed a similar combination as his brother with speed and quick hands .. has good offensive instincts and showed vision with moving the puck well - mostly to his brother .. might sneak on a few draft lists come June.

Synopsis

Justin and Drew have been playing together since they started playing hockey, and the Sharks have given them a chance to continue to do that. Skating on a line centered by his twin brother Justin, Drew posted 47 points (12 goals, 35 assists) in 25 games with Kent. The brothers are headed to Northeastern in the fall of 2009. Drew is planning on playing for Sioux City (USHL) this coming season along with brother Justin. He is a solid pick.

Mark Goggin (Bos), F, Choate (Prep) – seventh round, (197th overall)

Scouting Notes From 2007-08 game against Avon and Beantown Spring Tournament

Committed to Dartmouth for 2009 .. size (6-0, 180) .. good poise with the puck and was the only real threat offensively for Choate in a tough 7-3 loss against Avon .. plays the point on the PP .. shifty with the puck and tough to stop 1-on-1 .. has good vision .. dangerous around the net .. decent defensively and decent strength .. asked to join the USA U-17 team in Slovakia for the Vladimir Dzurilla Tournament .. could be a solid late round pick-up for any team .. at the Beantown, he took full advantage of all the NHL scouts in the stands and really had a tremendous weekend .. was really flying around with the puck and playing well in every zone .. has so much poise with the puck .. moves the puck so quick in the offensive zone and like all good players, the puck seems to follow him around .. one thing that made his weekend even better was his physical mentality when battling for the puck .. he was throwing his weight around .. really showed more speed then last viewing during the season, which was evident every time he touched the puck and took it up the wing.

What Others Are Saying (Choate Head Coach Pat Dennehy)

Mark is the ultimate competitor who wants to be on the ice when the game is on the line. He works tirelessly year round to improve his game. Simply put, Mark wants to be a hockey player. He is both a student of the game and a leader – his teammates both look up to him and learn from him. He is possessed with great hands and has a wonderful hockey sense, as well as a flare for the dramatic.

Synopsis

I really like this pick! Goggin is a very talented player and has lots of time to develop. Rumor is he is returning to Choate, which is not a bad decision, but would be better off playing in the USHL. With one year left of school and four years at Dartmouth, anything can happen.