The most exciting player in the draft, Kovalchuk possesses the athleticism, size, and skill to dominate the NHL for years to come. Many scouts liken his explosive speed and tremendous finishing touch to Pavel Bure’s, but Kovalchuk’s feisty style of play and ability to see the ice and set up teammates should make him a more complete player than Bure.

Other options - Don’t be surprised if the Thrashers trade the pick, possibly to the Buffalo Sabres for one of Mika Noronen or Martin Biron. However, regardless of which team picks here, Kovalchuk will be the player chosen.

You can knock his skating, but you can’t knock much else about Canadian prospect Jason Spezza. His vision/hockey sense is outstanding, his puck handling and passing are superb, and he is a mature, disciplined leader. Spezza is a lock to be a front line forward, primarily because he is an unselfish team player who makes his teammates better.

Other options - The Islanders are desperate to make a splash and add some immediate help, so look for them to trade this pick. The most likely deal would involve Ottawa’s Alexei Yashin, who has stated he would welcome a trade to Long Island. Other teams rumoured to be interested in trading for the pick include Pittsburgh (Jaromir Jagr?) and Buffalo (Mike Peca?). If the Isles keep the pick, they could opt for Stanislav Chistov or Alexander Svitov instead, but that is unlikely.

Opinions seemed to be varied when it comes to Svitov, who has the size (6’3”, 200 lbs) strength, and aggressiveness NHL teams covet, but hasn’t played particularly well in recent international tournaments. Still, every team needs a hard working power forward with natural puck skills, and Svitov fits that bill perfectly. If Svitov turns out to be a scoring Bobby Holik, Rick Dudley will have selected a gem.

Other options - Shifty forward Chistov is a definite possibility, and if Spezza drops to #3, the Lightning would likely select him. Finnish forward Tuomo Ruutu and Plymouth’s Stephen Weiss are two other candidates.  As with the Thrashers and Islanders, don’t rule out a trade for established NHL talent either.

Hamhuis has rocketed up many team’s draft boards in the past 6 months, and the Panthers would love to add a talented, young defenseman to their roster.  Many have compared Hamhuis to Nicklas Lidstrom, because he is a swift skating puck-mover who plays a skilled game, but won’t overpower opposing players with size or strength.  This is not to say he is lacking defensively, as he is a smart and efficient positional player with a knack for open ice hitting.  Despite all his outstanding qualities, there is a chance he could slip out of the top 10 if the Panthers pass on him.  Regardless of where he is selected, he could be the darkhorse of this year’s draft.

Other options - The Panthers probably won’t trade this pick, but may consider Weiss or Svitov instead of Hamhuis.  If Chistov drops, he could be an option, but with Pavel Bure already on board, management may stay away.

Think “future Steve Yzerman”. Weiss is highly skilled offensively, especially in the playmaking department, and skates effortlessly. Although he is only 5’11”, his intangibles (defensive play, face-off skills, and competitiveness) more than make up for his lack of size.

Other options - Although Pierre Gauthier is excited about the chance of landing Weiss and has stated he will not trade this pick, a trade isn’t out of the question. One hot rumour has the Ducks trading recently acquired forward Jeff Friesen, along with the 5th overall pick to Calgary, in exchange for disgruntled winger Valeri Bure, grinder Jeff Shantz, a speedy prospect in Rico Fata, and Calgary’s 1st round pick (11th overall). Other than Weiss, the aforementioned Svitov, Ruutu, and Chistov are all possibilities.

Although some scouting reports have him rated second among North American ‘tenders, Blackburn should be the first netminder selected in 2001. He is a hybrid style goaltender with excellent agility, lateral movement, and overall technique. Scouts love his puckhandling, consistency, confidence, and performance in pressure situations/games, and those qualities should separate him from the other candidates.

Other options - It is usually wisest for a recent expansion team to draft the best available player regardless of position. However, with two top notch goalies ranked so high, expect Minnesota to begin building around a franchise goalie, and pick one of Blackburn or Pascal LeClaire, the other highly touted goaltender.

At 5’10” and 170 lbs, Chistov is considered small by today’s NHL standards. Even though few teams nowadays risk a top 10 pick on someone of Chistov’s stature, the Habs should be thrilled to select this fireball of a winger who combines speed, agility, and puck handling with Russian-bred creativity and offensive smarts. A medium-risk, astronomical-reward pick.

Other options - GM Andre Savard might be wise to trade down if he could get some immediate help in return. Mikko Koivu’s name has been mentioned here, but I think the Habs will stay away due to the fact that Saku hasn’t exactly been the most durable player, and Mikko won’t be available for another year or so due to military obligations. Svitov, and to a lesser extent, Ruutu, may be options as well.

A multi-talented winger with great instincts, Saku Koivu’s younger brother Mikko is responsible defensively and dangerous in transition. He is smart with and without the puck, and works well in traffic and in the corners. Although he may not be as purely skilled offensively as his brother, the younger Koivu is bigger (6’1”, 180 lbs), more durable, and projects as a solid pro.

Other options - The Jackets will select the best forward available at this position, with defence (Rostislav Klesla) and goaltending (Marc Denis) already taken care of. If Weiss or Chistov were available here, the Jackets would be ecstatic

For such a big defenceman (6’4”, 225 lbs), Komisarek is very mobile and has good agility, thanks in part to his powerful yet fluid skating abilities. He contributes at both ends of the ice and has a great shot. In addition, he is rugged, intimidating, and very physical in his own end. In short, the type of talented, big d-man every team needs.

Other options - Defence and goaltending are the ‘Hawks needs, after concentrating on skilled European forwards the last couple of years. Hamhuis, Tim Gleason, and Carlo Colaiacovo are all possibilities on defence, and both LeClaire and Blackburn would be considered if still around.

The latest goaltending phenom to come out of Quebec, LeClaire possesses all the athleticism and natural instincts to become a front-line NHL goalie. His glove hand is lightning quick, and he controls rebounds effectively. Although he suffered through illness and groin problems this past season, more than a few talented butterfly goalies from the Quebec league have gone on to have great careers (think Roy, Brodeur, etc).

Other options - If Blackburn is available here, the Rangers would likely opt for him over LeClaire or one of the top-ranked defencemen. However, if both goalies are gone, or if the Rangers decide that one of the defencemen would be a better choice, they would likely go with Komisarek, Colaiacovo, or Hamhuis instead.

 
from Calgary

Ruutu might be one of the safest picks of this year’s draft.  He uses his size well, creates scoring opportunities with the puck, and is a tireless skater and worker. The problem is his offensive upside isn’t as good as some of the other top prospects, and he isn’t outstanding in any one area.  However, if his older brother (Vancouver’s Jarkko Ruutu) is any indication of the heart and competitiveness he possesses, Tuomo will play in the NHL for a long time.

Other options - Look for Calgary’s GM Craig Button to make a splash, and put together an excellent package of players (Valeri Bure, Toni Lydman, Rico Fata, others) and this pick to trade to Buffalo for Mike Peca and draft picks/prospects. If Calgary can’t come away with Peca, the package of Bure plus this pick have been rumoured in deals with Los Angeles, Dallas, Anaheim, San Jose, and Chicago as well. Whichever team drafts here (and it won’t be Calgary) is likely to go with the best prospect, so any of the aforementioned defencemen or goalies are probable selections, as are R.J. Umberger and Colby Armstrong.

A good all-around defencemen with excellent puck control, Colaiacovo plays an intelligent and poised game. He is solid at both ends of the ice, and is great on special teams. He doesn’t project as a future Norris winner, but rather a top 3 defencemen with good intangibles - something the Predators’ management team covets.

Other options - The Predators will be thinking defence here, so Komisarek, Hamhuis, and Gleason will be considered if available. Lukas Krajicek and Mike Popovic should also still be on the board at #12, so the Preds should have a little freedom of choice.

Depending on who you talk to, Armstrong is seen either as a fringe player who benefited from a strong supporting cast in the Memorial Cup champion Red Deer Rebels, or as an excellent prospect who gained valuable experience with the club. The Oilers will invest in the latter opinion, and draft a shifty playmaker and forechecker who can put the puck in the net with a quick, accurate shot. His speed, strong transition game, and agitating abilities are also valuable assets.

Other options - The Oilers would love for Blackburn or LeClaire to be available at #13, and although there is a slight chance one could slip, Kevin Lowe and company are likely going to have to take the best non-goalie available. If that player were Ruutu, the Oilers would be very happy. Umberger, Popovic, or Colaiacovo are candidates as well.

One of the three or four best goal scorers in this year’s draft, Umberger tallied 37 points in 32 games with the Buckeyes this past season and was named CCHA rookie of the year. He excels in one on one situations and in the face off circle, and creates opportunities off the forecheck. Umberger’s puck skills are well-rounded as well, especially his puck handling and devastating wrist shot.

Other options - The Coyotes lack goaltending depth, so a goalie would be welcomed here. However, look for Gretzky and Co. to select who they feel is the best available player, with forwards Armstrong, Fredrik Sjostrom, Chuck Kobasew, and Alexander Perezhogin and defencemen Krajicek and Gleason all strong possibilities.

It is becoming quite an outdated stereotype, but Perezhogin is your “typical Russian forward.” Not overly big or strong (5’11”, 185 lbs), he could have trouble adjusting to the North American game if he doesn’t add some muscle. That’s a risk you take if you’re Carolina though, because Perezhogin is a threat to score every time he touches the puck and has above-average skills in almost every category.

Other options - Much like the other 29 NHL squads the ‘Canes could use a bit more scoring up front, and that should be the primary focus of their 2001 draft. Kobasew, Polushin, Umberger, and Jiri Novotny are all talented offensively, and one of them should be donning the ugliest jersey in the league come draft day if Perezhogin isn’t.

A strapping, young kid from British Columbia, Kobasew lit up the BCJHL a few years back with Osoyoos, and continued to develop his excellent finishing skills (49 points) with NCAA champs Boston College this past season.  Although Kobasew is only an average skater and is slightly undersized (5’11”, 195 lbs), he is a clutch goal-scorer with a great shot, good hockey smarts, and the intensity/hard work coaches love.

Other options - The Canucks love their first rounders to be rich in Western-Canadian character, so Armstrong or Greg Watson have surely been targeted. Don’t forget that GM Brian Burke is a notorious draft-day swapper, and with the lack of goaltending depth in the Canucks’ system, a trade up to get LeClaire or Blackburn isn’t out of the question.

A very sound defensive hockey player, Popovic is strong on his skates and does all the little things smart defencemen do to be successful in the NHL. Reliable as he is, Popovic will still contribute offensively at times, especially on the power play. Add to that his dedication and leadership qualities (can you say “future captain?”), and this Ontario boy would no doubt be a popular selection in Toronto.

Other options - You have to think the Leafs are thinking defence, so one of the usual suspects (Colaiacovo, Gleason, Krajicek) could be selected. However, Popovic is the one name that is consistently mentioned in regards to the Leafs’ most probable first round choice, and Pat Quinn’s scouting staff has openly stated they will consider him on June 23rd. 

Krajicek has seen his stock rise considerably these last few months, moving up 10 spots to 6th overall on the final CSB North American skater rankings. A Czech Rep. native, Krajicek has two very solid OHL seasons under his belt, during which he established himself as a two-way, skilled rearguard with good offensive instincts and decision making skills. He won’t go out of his way to bodycheck, but is still physically effective along the boards and in his own end.

Other options - The Kings have a little flexibility here because they own the 30th overall selection in addition to this one, so a player with a big upside is likely to be selected. Novotny’s name has been mentioned here, and Gleason or Sjostrom would also be good fits.

At 6’3” and 200 lbs, Polushin is an intimidating winger/centerman who plays a physical, forechecking type of game. He skates well for a big man, and put up decent numbers in the Russian Elite League for such a young player. Because of his NHL-style strength and toughness, he is considered to be a safe choice.

Other options - If Kobasew is still on the board here, the Bruins might be tempted to go with the Boston College sniper because of his strong ties with Beantown.  Management would also love to replace Ray Bourque with a talented two-way d-man, so Gleason, Woywitka, and Igor Knyazev are some other options. However, with Lars Jonsson (last year’s first rounder) in the fold, they’d be wise to go with the best available forward.

Gleason is considered to be one of the best offensive defencemen in this year’s draft, and with the proper development should become a reliable, point-producing pro. His two greatest strengths are his quick skating and ability to deliver crisp, accurate passes, but he is also quite aggressive and effective in his own zone. The only drawback with Gleason? Some scouts have questioned his hockey smarts, and feel that he needs to improve his decision making.

Other options - Apparently, Red Deer defencemen Doug Lynch and Jeff Woywitka are two players the Sharks have their eye on. Depth at center is also a concern, so names like Watson and Novotny might be bandied about at the San Jose draft table.

This past season with the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL, Hemsky tallied 100 points in large part due to his exceptional skating ability, agility, and tremendous acceleration. A natural, athletic talent, he blossomed in the “Q”, and dominated games with his offensive abilities and slick playmaking skills. However, at 6’0” and 175 lbs, he may struggle adjusting to the bigger bodies and tighter checking of the NHL.

Other options - It isn’t a secret that that the Penguins love their Czechs, so Krajicek or Novotny are two alternate players they could select here. Knyazev or Woywitka are a couple of blueliners who could add to the Pens’ defensive depth.

Like Finnish forward Tuomu Ruutu, Watson does just about everything well, but nothing well enough to warrant a higher spot in the rankings. That said, he plays an intelligent game, and has all the intangibles scouts like in a centerman of average size- intensity, accurate shooting, anticipation, and ability in the faceoff circle. Watson has been called a “two-way Bryan Smolinski”, and that should suit Sabres’ GM Darcy Regier just fine.

Other options - Buffalo is in the market for a center, so if they obtain a draft pick higher than this one and select a winger or a defenceman, expect a pivot here. Novotny, David Steckel, or Perezhogin would make sense.

Yet another mobile, puck-moving defencemen, but this time a little bigger (6’2”, 205 lbs) and a bit more experienced. Woywitka is smart, disciplined, reliable, and plays in all game situations. He may never be an all-star, but pencil him in as a future top 4 defencemen because of his well-rounded, effective play from the blueline.

Other options - Gleason, Krajicek, or Knyazev are the most likely choices for the Flyers, as the lack of fleet-footed defencemen in their system needs to be addressed.  Also, don’t expect this pick to be included in any deals involving Eric Lindros.

Along with Novotny, Sjostrom may go a bit higher than I am projecting, but with questions over the past year about his health and durability, some teams might shy away.  Whoever does land him is getting a hard working young winger with good offensive skills and an even better potential. Apparently, scouts have been impressed with his work ethic and attitude, two attributes that are becoming increasingly more important these days.

Other options - The Devils have been one of the top 2 or 3 best drafting teams of the last decade, unearthing such gems as Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias despite not having the advantage of a high draft position. This is strictly a best player available pick, so anyone from Polushin to Duncan Milroy has a chance of heading to “the swamp”.

A defenceman all his life, Knyazev “love(s) to disrupt the offence of the opposition” and has developed his defensive play against some of the best young offensive talent in the world. An above average puck carrier and passer, Knyazev also has the size (6’1”, 195 lbs) and aggressiveness needed to succeed in the show.

Other options - Lynch, Popovic, Woywitka and Kiril Kolstov are defencemen the Canadiens might be interested in, and if Montreal opts for a forward here, Hemsky or Jens Karlsson are possible selections.

If there is one player in this year’s draft who has drawn the most varied opinions from scouts, it has to be Jiri Novotny.  Some see him going as high as #11, while others see him as a late first round selection. In general, he is regarded as a decent offensive centerman with good hockey sense and size, however his ceiling may not be as high as some other players (Hemsky or Perezhogin, for example).

Other options - The Stars would be happy to see Hemsky drop to #26, but Bob Gainey would love another Brendan Morrow type player, so Milroy and Watson should be given consideration.

Other options - Kingston’s Cory Stillman might be selected here, as he grew up and played junior hockey in Ontario.  Look for the Sens to shy away from Europeans here (in light of their heavily criticized playoff defeat), and go with a solid, all-around North American kid with character like Watson or Milroy if they pass on Steckel.

The Hockey News has called Goc (pronounced “Gotch”) one of the best sleepers in this year’s crop of future NHLers. He is perhaps Germany’s greatest talent of all time, and has thrilled scouts with his scoring prowess, excellent face-off capabilities, and smooth skating. Could go anywhere from #20 to #40.

Other options - Brampton d-man Jay Harrison and Koltsov are two other good defenceman projected to be late first round or early second round picks. But knowing the Devils, they’ll have a player in mind for this spot right from pick #1, much like they did with Scott Gomez a couple of years back (Kyle Wanvig or Karlsson maybe?).

Duba is the top European goalie available this year, and after dominating the World Jr. Championships with the gold medal-winning Czech Rep., he is regarded as an excellent middle to late first round selection. Somewhat of a late bloomer, Duba is a flexible butterfly-style goalie with a good head on his shoulders and a bright future - as long as he corrects some of his “flopping” tendencies (a la Dominik Hasek).

Other options - Mike Smith loves Russian talent, so Polushin, Perezhogin, or Egor Shastin could be snatched up here. Two additional goalies Chicago might be looking at are Saskatoon’s Michael Garnett and Russia’s Andrei Medvedev.

A former ‘99 Bruins second rounder who was unable to come to terms with the Bruins this year, Wanvig re-enters this year’s draft because a last minute trade to the Maple Leafs was hindered by a faulty fax machine and subsequently nixed by the NHL front office (ouch!). A hard-nosed power forward with NHL-caliber size and strength, Wanvig is lethal along the boards and in front of the net on the power play. Although draft re-entries don’t usually get drafted this high the second time around, Wanvig had an exceptional season with the Rebels, was named Memorial Cup MVP, and is too good a prospect to pass up.

Other options - German forward Goc is a player the Kings like, and Karlsson or Sjostrom could also be available here. If a player like Steckel, Stillman, or Milroy is also still around, the Kings’ brass could be faced with a tough decision.

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