11 replies to this topic

[DucksFan2035]

NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings for the 2008 Entry Draft are out and, as expected, Sarnia Sting forward Steven Stamkos heads the list of Ontario Hockey League prospects. Belarussian forward Mikhail Stefanovich of the Quebec Remparts heads the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League list, while power forward Kyle Beach is ranked as the Western Hockey League’s top skater.

Top 08 Preliminary Rankins

[DropThePuck]

Did you know that if not for Sarnia's Steven Stamkos and Kelowna's Colin Long, the 2008 NHL Draft Combine would be without a 100-point producer?

"I didn't know that fact," said Stamkos, who led Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League with 105 points in 61 games in 2007-08.

"You're kidding me," chuckled Long, who totaled 100 points in 72 games with Kelowna of the Western Hockey League.
...
"The way the game is today, you must be able to play at both ends or you're not going to find your way onto a roster," said Chris Edwards, who scouts the Ontario Hockey League for NHL Central Scouting. "You're hearing all the time now how coaches in the NHL want players to be responsible in their own end. It just filters down from the junior and midget levels to the NHL."

<NHL.com link>

[DropThePuck]

The future stars of professional hockey participating in this year's NHL Draft Combine were bustling through the corridors of the Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Hotel Wednesday afternoon interviewing with NHL teams with the hope of making a lasting impression.
...
"I think (the scouts and GMs) know more stuff about us than we know about ourselves," Robak said. "So if you try and lie about something, they're going to know. They will test you to find out just the type of person you are, so I'm just going to be myself and hopefully that will help me go a long way."

<NHL.com link>

[DropThePuck]

While the NHL Scouting Combine is a three-pronged opportunity for teams to meet the top players eligible for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the interview process probably is the one they put the most stock into.
...
Top prospect Steven Stamkos has 12 interviews scheduled for his time at the Combine. Chicoutimi center Nicolas Deschamps has 26 scheduled – including 10 Tuesday, and another 11 Wednesday.
...
But the winner – so to speak – is Ottawa defenseman Tyler Cuma, who has 29 interviews scheduled.
...

<NHL.com link>

[DropThePuck]

After four days of interviews, some of the best and brightest available for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft were brought into a ballroom at the Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Hotel and put to the ultimate physical test.

Friday marked the first day of physical testing for the draft hopefuls. The players were poked, prodded and pushed to their physical peak at stations arrayed around the room.
...
Most of the players finished the test and collapsed on chairs set up nearby, while others just fell right to the floor. A number became physically ill.

<NHL.com link>

[DropThePuck]

There was no let-up to the number of interviews for each of the 107 prospects at the Combine on Thursday. This process will continue, in fact, around the grueling medical and fitness testing beginning Friday.

For some, the questioning is unbearable.

“Oh, man, I was just asked to name the longest river in Canada,’’ said Stouffville, Ontario native Corey Trivino, Central Scouting’s 49th-rated North American skater. “I thought it was the St. Lawrence, but it’s the Mackenzie River. Otherwise, I think I did all right.’’
...
Jacob Markstrom, the No. 1-rated European goalie according to Central Scouting, had to dig deep into the memory bank when he was put on the spot.

“They asked me that if I could meet with someone, dead or alive, who would that be?’’ the Swedish goalie told NHL.com. “I had no answer at first, but then I said I had an idea – Tommy Soderstrom, who played for Philadelphia and the Islanders.’’

<NHL.com link>

[DropThePuck]

After watching 107 of the top draft-eligible prospects go through interviews and physical testing for the hundreds of NHL executives who packed into the Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Hotel, the 2008 NHL Scouting Combine ended Saturday afternoon.
...
"We here at NHL Central Scouting want to challenge ourselves to stay abreast of proven new technological and medical advances in the field of physical assessment," McGuire said. "The teams have been open-minded about allowing us to implement some of these innovative concepts.

"We're appreciative of the teams' understanding and support. The bottom line is that we think it adds information to their very difficult task of selecting the right player for their team needs."

The League has used Dr. Ralph Tartar's EXACT Sports psychological testing at the Combine, and the results are made available to all 30 NHL teams.

<NHL.com link>

[DropThePuck]

Jared Staal of the Sudbury Wolves and the younger brother of Eric,Marc,and Jordan works out on the second day of the 2008 NHL Combine event at the Westin Bristol Place on May 31, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario.
(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images for the NHL)


Michael Del Zotto of the Oshawa Generals works out on the second day of the 2008 NHL Combine event at the Westin Bristol Place on May 31, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario.
(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images for the NHL)

[DropThePuck]

It would be a significant event in NHL history. There is the symbolism of Lidstrom becoming the first European-born and trained captain to lead his team to a Cup victory, but it goes deeper than that.

The Red Wings are a team dominated by European players. For years, there has been a perception in the NHL that franchises could not rely on a team full of players from across the pond in the playoffs. It is certainly a fading stereotype, but it still exists.
...
"It is not a matter of just having a number of European players - it is who they are," former Caps defenseman Calle Johansson said. "Guys like Ovechkin, Backstrom - they love the game. They have a pride when they play. Fedorov has been there and done it before. Those guys aren't like European players who came over here to collect the money and run. They really have a pride in what they do.

"It doesn't really matter where you are from as long as you have that pride."

<link>

[Mike_Gastonguay]

Check out my 2008 NHL Mock Draft and check out the NHL Draft Live from Ottawa Friday, June 20 and Saturday, June 21.


Mike Gastonguay's 2008 NHL Mock Draft

[DropThePuck]

Agents can be a frightening prospect

And Barbara Tavares is drawing comparisons with Bonnie Lindros, who stage-managed her son Eric's junior and NHL career, by severing ties with player agent Bryan Deasley and saying she'll handle negotiations from now on. Her son, John Tavares, is an early favourite to be the top pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft.

"I guess it's OK for John not to have an agent now, when he doesn't need one," says Scott Hamill. "I never even thought about going it alone. When a player gets drafted, there are details you've really got to know. I can't be phoning [Anaheim Ducks GM] Brian Burke, trying to match wits with him. There are hockey players out there trying to be agents, but they're still hockey players. Ross knows what he's talking about."

[DropThePuck]

The Globe and Mail enlisted the services of five scouts who worked the 1998 draft and asked them to rewrite history. There was a consensus from our group of talent evaluators that Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk should have been the second overall selection, but after that, there was plenty of debate.

Another issue back then was free agents. For example, Chris Kunitz had completed his first two seasons in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League when the 1998 draft took place in Buffalo. He then went on to play four seasons at Ferris State before the Anaheim Ducks signed him as a free agent on April 1, 2003.

<link>



{click on images for readable version}