With the first round pick already up on the big board, I think we're beginning to see some differences between the Prendergast era and the Stu MacGregor years. From 2001-07 (KP's time) the organization drafted 67 players. Of those, 20 (or 30%) were Euro's playing in European leagues at the time they were drafted. An additional 4 (or 6%) were European kids playing in Canada.
Under KP, the Oilers devoted 24/67 (or 35.8%) to European players.
Although the Cooking with Stu era is just underway (and may not be a long era, Guy Flaming reports the Oilers scouting staff isn't under contract for next season), after yesterday's pick they're humming along at 50% (3/6) from Europe.
The selection of MPS at #10 represents the highest European pick in franchise history. As an aside, all three Europeans 08-09 (Motin, Hartikainen, MPS) were clear of 6.00, 200 on their respective draft days.
What can we expect for today? I'll guess the team takes players who have size and grit along with skill. Among the most talented players available today are Stefan Elliott and Charles-Olivier Roussel among defenders; forwards Jeremy Morin and Ryan O'Reilly and goaltenders Mikko Koskinen and Matt Hackett.
We can also hope for a trade today. It sounds like the Oildrop were aggressive on Heatley but drew the line at Gagner and Cogliano. Seems reasonable to me. Finally, a tip of the hat to Los Angeles and their GM Dean Lombardi. On a day the club selected Braydon Schenn in front of Toronto and Brian Burke, he'd already done enough to make my day. The added surprise was his comment in the Los Angeles Daily News with regard to the selection: "That was the main reason we took him, knowing that it would totally (upset) Burkie. It was worth it."
The newspaper said he was joking, and I'm sure he was at the time. Still, it was a nice end to many weeks of public and private (according to Don Waddell) bullying on Burke`s part that netted him Jack Shit. Ah, good times.
Send fly dope and a cattle prod. No need for beer though.
ReplyDeleteShould be an interesting day two. Loved the shots of Burke looking grumpy (ier).
Do you take a look at a big boomer/buster like Toni Rajala?
ReplyDeleteDude had 10 goals, 19 points in 6 games at the U18 and was a projected first rounder before he fell out of favor. He played against men all year in the Sm-Ligga.
Of course he's also 5'10 170lbs.
Mark Ryan: There was a quote last night from either MacGregor or Tambellini saying they were going to pick a guy with a high ceiling.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I think it'll be a high risk/reward guy.
Yesterday, Gregor at Oilersnation reported Stu M as saying:
ReplyDelete"For our second pick we are going to go with a projection pick, a player that has a real big upside."
I love the pick and its a pick that oilers fan will love. I still like Glennie though, MPS is more of a sure thing but I think because he's been in the lime light its easy to pick him apart and also know his upside. Glennie is more of the wild card, good size, speed, and a deadly shot. I like the Glennie = Carter comp and that's what the Oilers need.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago the oilers had a guy I really liked by the name of Rita whom never really developed though all the signs were there. I just hope this time it actually works out. The one thing Rita was missing was confidence.
GXL
Ducey: That's the one. Among the possible projection or reach picks are:
ReplyDeleteJosh Birkholz
Chris Brown
Zack Budish
Taylor Doherty
Justin Dowling
Ryan Howse
Carl Klingberg
Mikko Koskinen
Anton Lander
Simon Lof
Brayden McNabb
Dennis Rasmussen
Drew Shore
Tomas Tatar
Tomas Vincour
Could be Tatar.
Anyone have an online feed for this one?
ReplyDeleteCrap! Bouwmeester to Calgary:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=283033
LT, I would mind Tatar, but he is small (i'd wait till the 3rd round)
RQ: Radio feed at team 1260. Good move for the Flames, if they sign Bouwmeester that's a terrific move.
ReplyDeleteIslanders table looks like that scene from Reservoir Dogs.
ReplyDeleteDamn. Islanders take my goalie.
ReplyDeleteIf we're chasing potential then I'll predict Alex Avtsyn or Ben Hanowski.
ReplyDeleteHow would the Flames manage to sign Bouwmeester anyway? It's nearly impossible based on their commitments. They'd have to dump Kipper for sure.
ReplyDeleteWings get Ferraro.
ReplyDelete"Islanders table looks like that scene from Reservoir Dogs."
ReplyDeleteIs the second round on TV?
Ryan O'Reilly to Colorado. Nice draft for the Avs.
ReplyDeleteLT:
ReplyDeleteYou missed Richard Panik. He's got top-10 skill but saw his stock drop due to the WJC.
On Bouwmeester:
Shit.
NHL network.
ReplyDeletePlus, I doubt Leopold would sign before July 1st, so that's pretty useless too. Weird deal.
ReplyDeleteKlingberg to Atlanta I believe.
ReplyDeletelooked like Klingberg went.
ReplyDeleteNHL.com has the feed online. 1260 was brutal.
ReplyDeleteYou can also watch on nhl.com
ReplyDeleteThe Flames already have what, 24 million or thereabouts sunk into Iginla/Kiprusoff/Phaneuf/Regehr, plus another 10 million for Langkow and "The Joke".
ReplyDelete34 million, for six players.
They need to dump at LEAST one big salary to even entertain the thoughts of adding 6-7 million for Bouwmeester.
Sorry, guys. It's already up to number 39 but no one is listing them.
ReplyDeleteKyle Clifford LA
C Brown PHX
M Clark Anaheim
Dallas picked didnt get it.
A Chiasson to Dallas. EDM up.
ReplyDeletenhl.com has a tracker.
ReplyDeleteEdmonton picks next.
Anton Lander. Paajarvi's teammate from Timra taken by Edmonton.
ReplyDeleteCorrection: 33.1 million committed to six players by the Flames for next season.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way they add another big salary. Either they're moving Phaneuf (or they've found a sucker...ummm, taker for Kipper's deal), or Darryl Sutter is so stupid he can't do the basic math involved with calculating a team's total cap hit.
Great pick by Edmonton.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of an online feed is disappointing.
ReplyDeleteRajalo or Klingberg would be nice picks at 40. I hope we can move another pick into the second with our thirds.
Anton Lander - let's hope that pick is looked upon as the equivalent of the Henrik Zetterberg pick one day.
ReplyDeleteWhat's that now, 10 Swedes taken through forty picks?
From Bob's list:
ReplyDeleteAnton Lander, LW(NHL lists as C), 6'0" 185.
From ISS in Bob's list:
Lander is a two-way checking forward with excellent outside speed. He can make plays at full speed and controls the puck with a lot of confidence. A very unselfish player, Lander is always aware of where his teammates are and makes good crisp passes. He is a hard working forechecker, keeping his feet moving all the time. With a strong quick release wrist shot, he often uses d-men as a screen off the offensive rush. Lander drives the net hard with and without the puck and doesn’t quit on the puck until the whistle goes. Reliable and disciplined, he brings a consistent effort to the rink every game and always improves his team’s chances of winning a game. Will adapt and play any role given by coach."
Zach Budish went with the very next pick. I liked him better.
ReplyDeleteWell I missed the pick. Who did we take?
ReplyDeleteI love that description of Lander
ReplyDeleteLander... So we take a young two-way guy from the same team that we got Paajarvi.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't seem to fit with the scouts' words on going for a high ceiling, taking a two way guy? Who knows though, don't know a lot about him.
Does anyone have anything to say about him?
Great two-way player, plays as both a center and left wing, has decent faceoff skills as a center. A gifted playmaker, but also with some ability to score, will be known more for his passing skills however. Good gritty and physical player in the J20 in Sweden, battles well in the corners. Plays with great emotion and comes to play day in and day out, however this competitiveness has led to him taking unnecessary penalties at times. Hasn't adjusted to playing with men in the Elitserien yet, but they may happen over the course of the 08-09 season.
ReplyDeleteEthan Moreau with hands?
ReplyDeleteMagnus Svensson-Paajarvi, LW - Sweden: “Very skilled player,” Hall noted. “He was a threat when he was on the ice, but I see him as more of a set-up guy than a shooter. Big kid and skates well.” Svensson-Paajarvi plays for Timra in Sweden and is draft eligible in 2009.
ReplyDeleteAnton Lander, C - Sweden: “Rocked the 'C' for them,” Hall noted. “He was a solid player who excelled in all three zones.” Lander also plays for Timra in Sweden and is draft eligible in 2009.
Link here.
Stefan Elliot off the list to Colorado.
ReplyDeleteDamn. Panik's gone to Tbay.
ReplyDeleteLander's description sounds good as well. I like to hear them draft guys that are hard on the puck and can skate.
ReplyDeleteTwo picks in the third round, right? Should be lots of talent available based on the crazy range we're looking at here.
ReplyDeleteBy some reports he seems to have some good upside, and the main criticism right now is size and perhaps a lack of ability to play in a bigger or more physical league.
ReplyDeleteHe's scored well at the U18s and has a decent showing in the SEL.
Could have more upside then, it appears.
And skating is a minor concern as well by some reports.
ReplyDeleteElliot just went to Colorado.
ReplyDeleteSan Jose's first pick is a mammoth.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Doherty. I forgot how huge the guy is.
Wings take Tatar. Well shoot.
ReplyDeleteDetroit picks up Tatar.
ReplyDeleteVAN takes Rodin.
ReplyDeleteKinda surprised EDM didn't go with a D at 40, it wasn't uncommon to hear them say in the past something like "If we get a F in the first, we'll take a D in the 2nd".
Also, you could make a reasonable case that Roussel or Elliot were the BPA at 40.
Edmonton has picks # 10 and 21 in the third round.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a goalie? Hackett or Roy?
"The one thing Rita was missing was confidence."
ReplyDeleteUm, no. Rita was unlucky. He got drafted into the talent gulag called Coach MacTavish.
NYI takes it's second goalie in as many rounds.
ReplyDeleteWere they not that sold on Koskinen then?
Man, the NHL Network's coverage is just deplorable. I like Bob MacKenzie and all, but the little anecdotes don't really matter when you miss the picks 2,3,4 at a time.
ReplyDeleteTurn around, the action's behind you.
If Calgary signs Bouwmeester then moves Phaneuf for assets... Just shrewd GM'ing. Acquire top end assets for little to nothing and then move expensive, developed talents for assets that allow you to re-stock the prospect staple.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't they take Elliot or Morin when they were available?
ReplyDeleteHoping for Huchings or Rajala, or both.
ReplyDeletewho's left on your list LT?
First Finn goes to Montreal in the 3rd round. It's Nattinen.
ReplyDeleteIt's a mess, speeds. My list is a mess. :-)
ReplyDeleteJon K:
ReplyDeleteThey have cap room for both Bouwmeester and Phaneuf, if they want.
Edmonton's next.
ReplyDeleteThat 2nd for a few weeks of Kotalik could have been Elliot I suppose. I know that trade made Hemsky a bit happier, but right now I still don't see the value of it.
ReplyDeleteI think in the third round you have to gamble on Rajala being the next Hudler.
ReplyDeleteSize is obviously the main concern but from the sounds of it he is extremely undeveloped and could reasonably be expected to grow and mature quite a bit.
Troy Hesketh to EDM.
ReplyDeleteTroy Hesketh, a Defenseman from Minnetonka HS.
ReplyDeleteWho?
ReplyDeletewow..
speeds: I could see them moving Regehr alternatively. Which would also be astute. Basically move an aging, declining defensive stalwart and replace him with the young up and comer.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention you can probably get an excellent set of prospects or picks for either Phaneuf or Regehr.
I don't see them keeping all of them on the backend. It would just be too detrimental to their overall depth.
As per his bio page, he's 6'2" 180lbs.
ReplyDelete7-14-21 in 25gp last year, going +23. Over half his goals (4) were scored on the powerplay.
source: http://mbhsh.stats.pointstreak.com/playerpage.html?playerid=1645176&seasonid=3534
oilers pick with the 70th Troy Hesketh ( high school defenceman)
ReplyDeleteAlso, he's verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin.
ReplyDeletehttp://minnesota-high-school-hockey.blogspot.com/2009/02/troy-hesketh-minnetonka-verbally.html
They have cap room for both Bouwmeester and Phaneuf, if they want.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Phaneuf were to improve, that would suck.
It could be like Pronger/Niedermayer.
That being said - it would push them to around 43 million dollars in cap hit committed to only eight players. That doesn't strike me as smart cap management.
Ryan Bourque's second son goes to NYR in the 3rd round.
ReplyDeleteHere comes our second third rounder.
ReplyDeleteCameron Abney, a RW from Everett.
ReplyDeletecameron abney from everett
ReplyDeleteCross my fingers for Rajala.
ReplyDeleteBoo.
ReplyDeleteA junior enforcer with a third rounder? Good grief...
ReplyDeleteCoke Machine!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.whl.ca/stats/player.php?id=25074
1-3-4 in 48 games played. -17 with 103 PIM.
Permission to drop "magnificent" from Stu MacGregor's job title!
WTF?
ReplyDeleteOutside of the Oil's first pick I am utterly disgusted by it all.
ReplyDeleteBouwmeester are kidding me?
Tomas Vincour still has not gone yet, correct?
ReplyDeleteThat'll get Tambellini back in my good books.
These are the things that happen when you want to "get bigger"
ReplyDeleteWe moved Brodziak for the 99th!
ReplyDeleteWe made a trade with Dallas for their pick in the 4th round.
ReplyDeleteA defenseman named Kyle Bigos from Vernon of the BCHL.
6'5". 152PIM in 58 games in 07-08.
HOLY SHIT.
ReplyDeleteRAJALA!!!
WOO! Rajala. There's the goofy pick for us to follow for the next 5 years.
ReplyDeleteStill mad about Abney though.