I selected that number given the number of picks EDM has in the first 2 rounds, but it will probably end up covering me fairly deeply into the draft this year - someone I have ranked this high will almost surely fall a long way.
I'll be honest, this is my least complete ranking since I've started doing this, but I've been compiling it for a bit so I thought I might as well post what I have before the draft starts in ~ 1 hour. At least, it feels incomplete, but I'm starting to wonder if that's just because everyone has their warts. Some guys read the play well, some are big and strong, some can pass, etc, but something seems to be missing from everyone once you get to the bottom half of the first round. I guess it's probably always like that, but it has seemed more apparent to me this year than in previous years.
Some thoughts before the list - I think the top 4 is a tier, 5-7 the second tier (I have no idea where to place Cherepanov?), and then 8 - ~15 is a tier. After that I just don't know what to make of it, very hard to get any sort of solid read IMO.
1. Jakub Voracek
2. Patrick Kane
3. James VanRiemsdyk
4. Kyle Turris
5. Sam Gagner
6. Alexei Cherepanov
7. Logan Couture
8. Karl Alzner
9. Angelo Esposito
10. Ryan McDonagh
11. Zach Hamill
12. Kevin Shattenkirk
13. Lars Eller
14. Mickael Backlund
15. Maxim Mayorov
16. Patrick White
17. Jonathon Blum
18. David Perron
19. Bill Sweatt
20. Ian Cole
21. Nick Petricki
22. Max Pacioretty
23. Logan MacMillan
24. Simon Hjalrmarsson
25. Keaton Ellerby
26. Alex Plante
27. Thomas Hickey
28. Jim O’Brien
29. Brett McLean
30. Colton Gillies
31. Brandon Sutter
32. Dana Tyrell
33. Riley Nash
34. Tommy Cross
35. Oscar Moller
36. Michal Repik
Friday, June 22, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Trade Deadline Coverage
I'll be providing some brief analysis of each trade, which I'm sure will be no different than the 34 other sites doing much the same :)
***************************
To BUF: Zubrus
To WSH: 2007 1st, Novotny
I hope there is some kind of plan for Sykora in EDM, this seems like a deal they could have jumped upon.
***************************
To TOR: Perrault
To PHX: Bell, 2nd rounder
Can't say PHX doesn't know how to sell at the deadline. Perrault gone, Saprykin, Laraque, Nagy a couple weeks back.
***************************
To DET: Bertuzzi
To FLA: conditional pick, unnamed prospect
A healthy Bertuzzi would be a nice addition to the Red Wings. Coupled with the addition of Calder DET will now have a top 6 including Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Lang, Bertuzzi, and Calder. Not bad.
***************************
To SJ: Guerin
To STL: Nieminen, 2007 1st NJ, Jay Barriball (2006 7th round pick)
Well, starting to look like a pretty crazy top 6/9 in SJ. I would love dearly for them to take the division, if only to improve the Oilers draft pick in the Pronger trade. I would guess SJ is pretty much done, there is a team that either thinks their time is now, or have given up on the 2007 draft having moved 2 first round picks in the last couple of days.
***************************
To PHI: Biron
To BUF: 2007 1st ( NSH)
Now I'm hearing on SN that this deal is not for a first, but this seems kind of strange to me unless PHI already had a chance to talk with Biron about an extension. SN speculates that it could be a conditional pick, that makes sense to me in that PHI gives something up if they get him signed.
But what is BUF's angle if they don't get something decent in return for Biron? Is it as simple as clearing cap room for upcoming moves today?
***************************
Laraque for Carcillo and an 8th
This trade is interesting, long rumored, Laraque fits a toughness need for PIT but more importantly is a real upgrade for PIT on the 4th line. His ability to draw penalties will be big for a PIT team with a top end PP. Throw Laraque on a line with Crosby a couple shifts per game, and if they get cycling the puck in the offensive zone how can the opposing team NOT take some sort of penalty?
Anyways this "rumor" is particularly interesting to me because the draft is only 7 rounds long now. Bizarre.
NOTE: sportsnet or tsn (sorry, I'm flipping channels, can't remember which) says this deal isn't done, but could well still happen
***************************
To BUF: Zubrus
To WSH: 2007 1st, Novotny
I hope there is some kind of plan for Sykora in EDM, this seems like a deal they could have jumped upon.
***************************
To TOR: Perrault
To PHX: Bell, 2nd rounder
Can't say PHX doesn't know how to sell at the deadline. Perrault gone, Saprykin, Laraque, Nagy a couple weeks back.
***************************
To DET: Bertuzzi
To FLA: conditional pick, unnamed prospect
A healthy Bertuzzi would be a nice addition to the Red Wings. Coupled with the addition of Calder DET will now have a top 6 including Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Lang, Bertuzzi, and Calder. Not bad.
***************************
To SJ: Guerin
To STL: Nieminen, 2007 1st NJ, Jay Barriball (2006 7th round pick)
Well, starting to look like a pretty crazy top 6/9 in SJ. I would love dearly for them to take the division, if only to improve the Oilers draft pick in the Pronger trade. I would guess SJ is pretty much done, there is a team that either thinks their time is now, or have given up on the 2007 draft having moved 2 first round picks in the last couple of days.
***************************
To PHI: Biron
To BUF: 2007 1st ( NSH)
Now I'm hearing on SN that this deal is not for a first, but this seems kind of strange to me unless PHI already had a chance to talk with Biron about an extension. SN speculates that it could be a conditional pick, that makes sense to me in that PHI gives something up if they get him signed.
But what is BUF's angle if they don't get something decent in return for Biron? Is it as simple as clearing cap room for upcoming moves today?
***************************
Laraque for Carcillo and an 8th
This trade is interesting, long rumored, Laraque fits a toughness need for PIT but more importantly is a real upgrade for PIT on the 4th line. His ability to draw penalties will be big for a PIT team with a top end PP. Throw Laraque on a line with Crosby a couple shifts per game, and if they get cycling the puck in the offensive zone how can the opposing team NOT take some sort of penalty?
Anyways this "rumor" is particularly interesting to me because the draft is only 7 rounds long now. Bizarre.
NOTE: sportsnet or tsn (sorry, I'm flipping channels, can't remember which) says this deal isn't done, but could well still happen
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