NHL Draft: Risers and Fallers
by WCHBlog on Jun 29, 2009 9:40 AM PDT
4 comments
There's always a lot of surprises when you mix the opinions of 30 different teams at the NHL Draft. Here's a listing of 5 college guys I think got picked too high, and 5 I think got picked too low.
Too High
1. William Wrenn(43rd overall to San Jose)-I had hinted at this in my draft preview, but I have a tough time seeing where Wrenn fits in at the pro level. One of the comparisons I kept coming back to was former DU captain Andrew Thomas, who I absolutely loved as a college player, but has never really found a niche at the pro level.
2. Kevin Lynch(56th overall to Columbus)-I really like Kevin Lynch as a hockey player, but the second round seems too early for a player whose offensive upside I think is fairly limited. Similar to Wrenn, I think some teams overrated his offensvie capabilities after a couple big games early in the U18s.
3. Phillip Samuelsson(61st overall)-He has potential and bloodlines, but I think that's a very risky pick that high in the draft.
4. Nick Oliver(110th overall)-I wasn't sure if Oliver would get drafted, and was surprised to see his name come off the board so early.
5. Oliver Lauridsen(196th overall)-Yep, still too high.
Too Low
1. Jordan Schroeder(22nd overall to Vancouver)-I think it's just a case of scouts getting too picky and overthinking things a little too much. If you look at what Schroeder has done on the ice, there's no reason he should be the 22nd best player in the draft.
2. Zach Budish(41st overall to Nashville)-Budish has first round talent plain and simple.
3. Danny Mattson(Undrafted)-Size ruled the day at the NHL Draft again this year. I really can't see the logic in passing over a player with skills like that to pick a kid who is over 6'4" and can't skate at all.
4. Mike Lee(91st overall to Phoenix)-There were 6 goalies that went off the board before Lee was taken. That's probably 4-6 goalies too many.
5. Jerry D'Amigo(158th overall to Toronto)-I thought he'd make a big jump after the U18s. I'm surprised he fell into the 6th round.
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I'm still baffled
that Danny Mattson wasn’t drafted SOMEWHERE in the draft unless there is something wrong physically that has yet to come to the forefront. A player that was rated that high you think would still be taken in the later rounds unless there is a serious concern about him not playing hockey after college.
"I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline... I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - this greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle, victorious." - Vince Lombardi
still baffled
Mattson’s not the only one that got passed over on account of size. Just look at this year’s draft; out of 70 blueliners taken; only 11 are 5’11" and under. Keep in mind that the draft is, to a great extent, more about finding diamonds in the rough than really stocking up on skilled hockey players. With all the pro leagues (and college), and a limited number of rounds, there’s no great need to draft for skating ability or skill; rather teams seem to be looking for the next Chara or Pronger that, for the moment, can’t really skate that well. Re Mattson though, the same could be said for Treais (another small forward who had a good showing at the u18 tourney) and many others that will have prove themselves in college or elsewhere to get a look.
What about Mike Cichy?
The guy was the outstanding player in the USHL last season, as well as at the World Junior Hockey Challenge. He is just a couple of months older than the two players taken out of the USHL in the first round, Louis LeBlanc and John Moore, he was clearly better than both last season and wasn’t drafted until the seventh round. Lunacy.
Point
I am not sure size is the reason for some forwards. After all, some smaller forwards like Kane and Schroeder have been drafted in the 1st round in recent years. The size may hurt a bit but it won’t hurt so much that it is the main reason a guy like Mattson goes completely undrafted. They obviously have other concerns beyond just his stature.
On the other hand, I think it is fair to say size plays far more of a role in how teams rate defensemen. You have to be a pretty exceptional talent to be average in height or shorter yet still be drafted in the first round or two.
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