Mark Seidel's Blog: 2008 NHL draft grades, Part 1
Alex Pietrangelo was picked fourth overall by the Blues at the draft. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Mark Seidel
2008-07-02 15:04:39
CENTRAL DIVISION
A, St. Louis Blues – Unlike some teams, the Blues did the majority of their great work at the start of the draft with the selections of Alex Pietrangelo, Phil McRae and Jake Allen. In Pietrangelo, they got a future stud who will play 20 minutes a night for the next 15 years. While the McRae selection raised some eyebrows, I loved it. This kid has always been one of the best players born in 1990 and despite a rough two years in London, he has a chance to be a great player. Lastly, the selection of Jake Allen, the goaltender from St. John’s may have given the Blues the best goaltending prospect from this year’s draft. Later on, they got another underrated kid in James Livingston from the Soo Greyhounds and Ian Schultz from Calgary. A few flyers at the end also have a shot as the Blues continue to build the framework for a future powerhouse for the passionate fans in St. Louis.
B+, Chicago Blackhawks – I loved the fact the Hawks took Kyle Beach despite negative rumors surrounding him; he could turn out to be the biggest home run of the draft. The Hawks did their homework and felt confident they were getting the best player available at that pick. They followed it up with the smallish, but lightning quick Shawn Lalonde, who will quarterback their power play one day. In the later rounds, they went for a kid with a history of winning in Ben Smith from the national champion Boston College Eagles and finally, the Blackhawks went off the board with a personal favorite of mine in Braden Birch, who was the star of the Royal Bank Cup for the Oakville Blades. Once again, GM Dale Tallon and his staff seemed to favor character over hype and that is why the Hawks will be at the top of the league very soon.
B, Nashville Predators – The Predators had three picks in the top 38 and did well with them by getting the sure thing Colin Wilson, the potential goaltending stud Chet Pickard and the very skilled Roman Josi. Those three all have bright futures so from then on, the Preds were playing with house money. Their middle round picks were OK, but their final two picks were used on a pair of intriguing Scandinavian prospects. Finnish center Jani Lajunen has a chance to be a player in the NHL and they also got the late developing monster goaltender Anders Lindback from Sweden, who may end up being the best seventh-rounder from this year’s festivities. All in all, a good couple of days for a team that needs to be moved out of Music City and into southern Ontario.
B, Columbus Blue Jackets – The Jackets have never got all they could out of Nikolai Zherdev, but that didn’t scare them away from selecting Nikita Filatov from Russia and it was a wise choice. The dynamic youngster has a chance to be a superstar and at NCAS we feel had he played in the CHL this year, he may have battled Steven Stamkos a lot closer. The Jackets’ need was defense, but when Toronto jumped ahead of them to take Luke Schenn, GM Scott Howson did the right thing and selected Filatov because he was clearly the best player available. They then went and addressed the lack of defensive prospects by getting Cody Goloubef and Steven Delisle, the giant defender from Gatineau. Much like Nashville, Columbus’ first three picks were so good they could take some flyers later on. With the exception of Tomas Kubalik, the rest have significant deficiencies in their game that need a lot of work if they are to become good prospects, but the big three will all have a chance to contribute down the road in the Buckeye state.
B-, Detroit Red Wings – The Red Wings once again drafted ahead of the curve with half of their selections having already gone through the draft at least once, going against the common philosophy of taking kids in their first year of eligibility. They got Thomas McCollum, who some considered the best goaltender in the draft at the No. 30 spot and followed that up with some mid-round picks of kids who played in sub-par leagues such as New York high school and the USHL. The Wings did select a very capable, highly underrated player in Stephen Johnston, who has a lot of traits his Belleville teammate Shawn Matthias had in his draft year. Overall, Detroit didn’t wow me with their picks, but the Red Wings are one of the few teams who “get it” so let’s give them the benefit of the doubt because invariably, a couple of their picks will become hidden gems down the road.
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PACIFIC DIVISION
A+, Los Angeles Kings – When you begin the proceedings with the best defenseman in the draft, Drew Doughty, things are looking up. But the Kings consistently made tremendous picks that will help the franchise rebound from some tough times. Along with Doughty, the Kings got stud defensemen Colten Teubert and Vyateslav Voinov who will combine to give the Kings the best back end in four years; we all know how valuable stud defenders are. Not being satisfied with these picks, they also added the skilled Robert Czarnik and Andrei Loktionov along with the biggest winner in this draft, Justin Azevedo. All in all, the Kings did the best job at this year’s gathering and the future looks very bright in Tinsel town.
A, Phoenix Coyotes – With the exception of their first pick, Mikkel Boedker, the Yotes definitely went for size and strength with their selections. The Boedker pick was good and as long as he scores like he projects to he’ll be fine, but he does need to develop the rest of his game. Viktor Tikhonov and Jared Staal not only come from famous hockey families, they also represent tremendous potential down the road. I commend the Coyotes for taking both kids because there was a lot of criticism of both, but the Desert Dogs looked past that and felt both kids had the burden of their name and their respective families’ work ethic rub off on them. In the later rounds, they took good character kids including Michael Stone, Colin Long and Ron Hextall’s boy Brett, who is a long shot, but you know the kid won’t be afraid of hard work. The interesting pick is Tim Billingsley in the seventh round, as he reminds me a little of Shane O’Brien, the St. Mike’s defender Anaheim picked late in 2003 who has developed into a solid NHLer.
B+, Anaheim Ducks –The Ducks had 10 picks in the draft and although most were wisely used, there were a couple that confused me. Their first pick – Jake Gardiner at No. 17 – however made plenty of sense and although I’ve been critical of kids playing high school or in inferior leagues, this kid is very much a sure thing. He has outstanding skills with a strong skating ability and was great value at No. 17. After that, they got Nicolas Deschamps and Eric O’Dell in the second round, two players I projected would be gone in the first. So again, that is tremendous value. O’Dell in particular was underexposed this year and with a young, exciting team in Sudbury, he should have a fantastic breakout year. Like so many other teams, when your first three picks are great, you can gamble a bit and the Ducks did just that, the exceptions being the Josh Brittain and Stefan Warg selections. I felt they were excellent picks and both have legitimate futures as players in the NHL if they continue to develop.
C+, Dallas Stars – The Stars were behind the eight ball because their first pick didn’t come until No. 59, but I feel they got the best young goaltender in Tyler Beskorowany and if he becomes the starter that I envision he will, it’ll be the steal of the 2008 draft. After Beskorowany, the Stars only had four other picks, but the selections of Philip Larsen and Mike Bergin both impressed me. While the other two picks were a little questionable, Tim Bernhardt and his staff obviously felt positive about them.
D, San Jose Sharks – The high school experiment for scout Tim Burke and the Sharks proved to be a mistake, but they continue to beat that dead horse. The selection of the Daniels brothers from the Kent School was surprising to say the least. Although they were hampered by not having a first- or second-round pick, the only selections I liked were Finnish goaltender Harri Sateri and speed burner Tommy Wingels from Miami. Other than that, a lot of their picks will struggle to make the NHL, or even the American League.
Mark Seidel is the chief scout for North American Central Scouting and appears as a host on Leafs Lunch on AM 640 radio in Toronto.
Craig (Posted 2008-08-20 14:10:16)
While I agree that the comment, about the Predators moving, really has no place in a draft review article, that doesn't make it any less true. First of all, to all you Nashville fans, you shouldn't be offended by other hockey fans wishing to move "your" team. I for one live in Southern Ontario, but am an avid Sharks fan, despite the fact that I couldn't really find a team farther away, and it doesn't make me any less a fan. What do you think the fans in Winnipeg, Hartford and Quebec City (not to forget Minny and ATL the first time) felt? Unfortunately it's just business. As it was just business when they had to cut payroll, losing Kariya, Timonen and Hartnell, and with Radulov attempting to leave for much more money. They are losing money, and they would have already moved if not for, as many others have brought up, Bettman blocking it. I also don't think they deserve to move any more than teams such as Florida or Phoenix. But hockey should be where it is in the most demand, and while there are plenty of support for the Preds and other such teams, if they were to move Hamilton for example, even with Toronto, Ottawa, and Buffalo in close proximity, they could fill the arena twice over and still some would get left out. I'm not exaggerating. And someone said that "we" (as in Americans) don't complain about Canadian teams in the MLB, NBA and NFL. "We" have the Toronto Blue Jays and Raptors. "We" had the Vancouver Grizzlies and Montreal Expos aswell, but they hmmm.... moved. You don't see these leagues putting teams in places, such as Canada, that would get less support than in other markets. The biggest market for hockey in the world, is Southern Ontario, and there is one team (and though Buffalo is just over the border, it's not the same). The NFL has 3 teams in Cali, and 3 in Florida. The NBA has 4 teams in Cali, and 3 in Texas. And the MLB has 4 teams in California as well. Tennessee also had the Titans as well as the Memphis Grizzlies, who if you remember, were from Canada. Teams move, it sucks, get over it, and don't be mad that someone from a stronger market wants your team. Winnipeg moved only 10 years ago, Minnesota and Columbus are only 8 years old. Heck, the Seattle Supersonics just moved in the NBA. If you truly love hockey, then you will want the game to grow and expand, change is necessary. If it counts for anything Preds fans, if I had my way, Florida would be the first to move, as if Florida residents really feel they need to watch some live hockey, Tampa Bay is still there.
walter m. wallace (Posted 2008-08-19 23:03:37)
scotty87 you know nothing of our newspaper in nashville unless you live here,so your pea brain commments are irrelevent.The miracle here is that so much misinformation can come from a pea sized brain.The preds are staying put get over it.
Brad johnson (Posted 2008-08-19 21:30:29)
Predators need to be moved? Wow another Canadian with his head up his arse. Have you evr seen a game in Nashville? No would be my guess. Leave our team alone. And get out of Canada, before passing judgment on something you know nothing about.
Ed Atkinson (Posted 2008-07-16 04:38:48)
I thouht the Ducks deserved at least an A-. Deschamps and O'Dell were total robberies at the position they were both selected
scotty87 (Posted 2008-07-10 11:11:33)
Well HawkeyePred, the matter of simple economics I am referring to is the simple theory of supply and demand, and it is the basis for all economic reasoning. Maybe you have heard of it? There is barely any demand, and soon, there will be no supply either, because your hockey team is leaving. Also, Ever heard of revenue sharing? That is why your team is a drain on the league. The reason why you do not know about the teams "disarray" is because your local newspaper probably doesn't give a crap about the preds. The fact that they have lasted this long is nothing short of a miracle.
HawkeyePred (Posted 2008-07-09 18:44:25)
I would like to know the "sources" of scotty87's "matter of simple economics". As a resident of middle Tennessee, I have not read or heard of the numbers or dismall state of affairs he purports to be happening at 501 Broadway. If the organization was in such disarray, I guarantee that the Tennessean would be all over it-nothing sells better than bad news. The Tennessean actually has been very positive about the Preds this summer despite DelBaggio leaving the ownership group.
scotty87 (Posted 2008-07-09 11:04:13)
Comments about Nashville relocating were indeed out of place in this draft article, but the comments coming from apparent Nashville fans are borderline foolish. Like it or not people, the Preds are not staying in Nashville. Its only a matter of time before they move somewhere, if not Hamilton. Its a matter of simple economics, Nashville's reduced ticket prices, low season ticket holders, and general disinterest in hockey is a drain on revenue that extends its influence to pretty much every other team in the league. Sorry Nashville fans, but if you believe they are going to stay in Nashville, then you are very naive. Like I said before, its only a matter of time.
rattus rattus (Posted 2008-07-07 22:19:56)
Yeah, how long does this sort of thing take anyway?
After all, it's not like it's an evolving situation, or that it's so tough to write this stuff.
And the draft, you know, it's so, like, 24 days ago!
Paul (Posted 2008-07-07 09:28:32)
When's Part 2 coming?
Steve (Posted 2008-07-07 00:35:30)
Politics aside, the name of the league is the "NHL".
It stands for the national hockey league.
Whether a team is located in the USA or Canada, that team is a member and does represent the "National" hockey league. Larger than the USA or Canada, the national hockey league incompasses most of North America. It is a league that allows the finest athelete's in the world to join. It is a league that belongs to all nations. It is the greatest nation on earth, it is the hockey nation. The players do not represent their country or city, they represent the greatest hockey skills
of the earth. North, south, east, and west, are words that fans and owners use. The game is on the ice. Fans and owners sit and watch.
Bo (Posted 2008-07-06 23:53:32)
"All in all, a good couple of days for a team that needs to be moved out of Music City and into southern Ontario. "
As a Winnipegger living in Florida I find the Canadian media view insulting. I tell my brother who still lives in Winnipeg when I listen to some of the idiots on TSN and read some of the comments by Canadian media I have come to the conclusion that Canadian media have no idea what they are talking about. Some of the things written and said by Canadian media personalities borders on the insane. There are fans in Nashville and yes we know Southern Ontario can support a second team but that doesn't give you the right to steal someone else's team. Want a team? There is always expansion or maybe you can get a team in the Russian Continental League. When you are not picking on Mats Sundin you guys pick on Nahsville. Geezs get a life.
Steve (Posted 2008-07-06 22:40:55)
Geez, philthy.
Do you know how hard it is, to cheer the Leafs?
I am not crying, I don't want them to move south, but they sure went somewhere south, south of the equator.
I started digging 40 years ago, and I don't know if I
dig for 40 more years, if my grandchildren will see the Leafs win.
You now know, that I have many smiles with children.
philthy (Posted 2008-07-05 21:06:15)
being from new york state and living in nashville all i can say is this... just keep laughing it off preds fans. no one ever says that columbus, florida, atlanta, tampa bay, carolina, or los angeles needs to go "north of the border". and lets face it. it isnt as if they could afford another team up there anyway. if they could then... well you do the math. folks are just bitter because a team in the south is doing every bit as good as their teams are. boo flippin hoo. and the bottom line is i dont want ANY team to relocate because that leaves fans without a team to cheer for. and no one knows that better than our friends north of the boarder. i mean apparently...cuz they wont stop crying about it.. im just kidding you hosers. go leafs!
HawkeyePred (Posted 2008-07-05 13:07:36)
As a subsciber to THN, it amuses me when one of the "analysts" injects their opinion on something which is not relevant to the article they are writing about. It reinforces the stereotype of the Canadian sports media and places it on the par of tabloid journalism. The Nashville organization is doing fine. We have resigned our FA's and RFA's, had a great draft and the local ownership and the community/corporations are doing a great job. Youth hockey is at an all time high in middle Tennessee (there are long waiting lists) and the interest in the sport keeps growing and growing. It seems like the more some journalists/media talk about Nashville moving, the more stable the organization becomes. It makes people here realize what a jewel we have in Nashville.
Costas (Posted 2008-07-05 03:11:53)
No offence to the people of nashville but the preds do need to be moved.
some times things just dont work out and this is one of them times and things.
most of the revenue is mad in the nhl is in canada but for how long is the canadian dollar going to hold like it is or rather yet how long is the us dollar going to be aslow as it is ...... it wont last for ever ..wont last another 5 years if you ask me so ontario might not be the spot anyway...
Ty A. (Posted 2008-07-05 00:38:26)
Nashville is a financially floundering franchise that hemorages money and relies heavily on revenue sharing to stay afloat. A key member of their ownership group declared bankruptcy recently. He tried to sell his shares to Jim Ballsillie, but the NHL once again vetoed the sale. The NHL in Nashville has been little short of a catastrophe, and is an experiment that should be hastily shut down. The comment about sothern Ontario directly refers to Ballsilie's attempted purchase and movement of the team last year (a sale that should have and would have happened, save for a senseless Bettman running the show.)
Andy W. (Posted 2008-07-04 20:19:40)
Count me as another Nashville resident who won't be buying any publication with the THN logo in the foreseeable future.
Steve (Posted 2008-07-04 19:34:46)
Hockey is being put into words.
Hockey is a game, it starts on the ice, and it finishes on the ice.
It is a game played by the effort of players, not by the
amount of money a owner has.
Many large communities have the ability to create great teams. Other areas are thrilled that one of their children has been chosen by one of those markets.
People should be pleased, that we have a league.
A league is many good teams, all are strong, none are weak, but when we get on the ice, the game begins.
The game is over when my neighbor says it was a good game, and together we walk away with smiles.
It is only a game, and it is freedom to a player.
Freedom belongs to those that work for it, not owners and fans.
Owners and fans can miss a game, players can't give it away. We are strong as a nation. We are the hockey nation.
Chip McCleary (Posted 2008-07-04 19:29:05)
I have to agree with everyone else here - I found this to be a good read until seeing "All in all, a good couple of days for a team that needs to be moved out of Music City and into southern Ontario."
Really? Was there really a need for this remark - what possible purpose does it serve? It's quite disappointing to see this; if Mark would like to opine on this, do it elsewhere - don't take a pot shot like this when critiquing each team's draft, it's irrelevant and tasteless given the context of this article.
Mel Gee (Posted 2008-07-04 16:28:28)
I too am sick and tired of the snide comments throughout the hockey world regarding Nashville's financial status and pining for the franchise's relocation. Comments such as those in Mr. Seidel's blog have no place in a draft review or in any review of the team roster or games.
Perhaps the powers that be at The Hockey News should consider how bitter, hateful, and insulting such comments are viewed not just by the fans of the Predators but by potential/future hockey fans scanning through their pages.
The vitriolic tone of much of what passes as "analysis" does a disservice to "the game," the generally kind and humble nature of players of the game, and the diehard fans who work hard at every opportunity to bring new fans to the greatest sport on ice. What purpose do such snipes have in respectable hockey analysis? None. Was such commentary something that in any way informed readers of the subject of the team's draft success (or failure), which was what the blog purported to cover? No.
Maybe a better title for the blog in question would've been "2008 NHL draft grades, Part 1, and other worthless and biased comments."
Chas Law (Posted 2008-07-04 14:26:12)
Let me stand beside the people who object to ongoing, unnecessary and unwelcome statements of "fact" about the Predators "needing" to be moved. They are NOT moving. Get over it already. They are happy to be in Nashville. We are happy that they are in Nashville. The new owners are happy that they are in Nashville. Why can't you leave your bitterness behind and also be happy?
Marie Miesel (Posted 2008-07-04 12:08:51)
Thanks for slinging more mud towards Nashville. We'll keep it and use it to grow our team.
Also, please note that Columbus has lost a chunk of their season ticket holders because of poor performance on the ice. Maybe they should be moved to S. Ontario. After all, all those Leaf fans are used to watching bad teams.
Chris Oliver (Posted 2008-07-04 11:22:44)
Nice cheap shot on Nashville Mark. What is up with you Canadians thinking that you should own the sport of hockey? We have not complained about you guys having Baseball, Basketball, and Football. So how about laying off the Southern U.S. Teams and screw your golden horse shoe.
Kasey Smith (Posted 2008-07-04 10:32:54)
In your review of half the league, you list 4 goalies who are labeled as "best". Only one can be THE best. So who is it? And there were a number of "studs". Sure looks like you're shilling the draft more than reviewing it!
Anon (Posted 2008-07-04 01:03:49)
Andy, it's written
"hear, hear!"
Dr Andy Logan MD FACS (Posted 2008-07-03 23:24:51)
let me just add a "here! here!" to Seth Lakes comments. Why on earth would you take an article about the draft and throw in a dig about nashville needing to relocate? I think I will ask some of my canadian friends to report you to one of your Human Rights Tribunals for making comments that are offensive and cause emotional distress to Predators fans. And I am not joking, either.
Seth Lake (Posted 2008-07-03 22:55:54)
I didn't mind your review of the Predators picks, I actually thought that the Predators got a couple late round steals in Taylor Stefishen and Anders Lindback, however the continual comments of THN writers like yourself taking completely unnecessary and tactless remarks such as your reference to moving the Predators out of Nashville have ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE IN THIS ARTICLE!!! Keep to the topic at hand and keep your politics out of it. I grew up in Hartford and lost the Whalers to North Carolina. I've lived in Nashville for five years now and have been a full-season ticket holder all five years. I believe that Nashville is currently a better market than anything I experienced in Hartford and as a member of the local hockey community truly see incredible growth in the market that will make this market far superior to any of my experiences in Hartford. Allow people to make up their own minds, rather than spewing your anti-Nashville agenda in an article regarding the draft. I have no idea if you have ever visited our city for a game, but if you ever find yourself in the Music City, please feel free to shoot me an e-mail and I'd be glad to discuss the status of our market with you over a beer. Till then...keep the rhetoric out of an article like this.
Steve (Posted 2008-07-03 18:59:55)
Bailey when faced with adversity went to work with his team, young talent and all, Windsor fought on. The Islander "three" are all from different leagues, they all are very skilled, and they all have strong character. I can't help but feel the Isle's would like Taylor Hall.
Avalanchoholic (Posted 2008-07-03 12:40:59)
Steve, how can you say Bailey was a good pick when one of the league's lowest scoring teams passed up on Filatov and Bodker????
PaulH (Posted 2008-07-03 10:56:03)
There were questions about his size, so it's nice to read your comments about Azevedo ("biggest winner in this draft"). He was a great player to watch here in Kitchener. Wish the Flames got him, though.
george wong (Posted 2008-07-03 01:36:37)
i'm sort of disappointed the canucks didn't make more moves. http://mmafight.ca they're letting everyone pass them by and they need to do something to keep luongo happy.
Victor Flores (Posted 2008-07-02 21:14:50)
The Ducks are going to be amazing. I was at Anaheim Ice and I was very pleased with Jake Gardiner. He was a steal at 17th overall
J A (Posted 2008-07-02 20:38:24)
Ian Schultz (STL) is a power-forward, not a defenseman.
Steve Headley (Posted 2008-07-02 20:11:45)
I am not sure where you are going with your opinion,
though I know what I liked in the draft.
To me the clear winner in the draft is the NYI.
Drafting Bailey, Trivino, and D. Teows is remarkable.
I'm a leaf for life, but I love what is on the Island.
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