|
Every year, we do a draft round-up segment and for
2002 it will be no different. In our round-up we focus on the group of
players we think will make a direct impact in 2002-2003 season. This is
absolutely necessary reading if you are in a pool that forces you to pick
bona fide rookies. So, with that in mind, here's our take on the "green of
the green" that should make a splash from this 2002 draft:
-
1st pick overall
- CBJ selects Rick Nash (lw): Well, if you listen to Blue Jackets GM Doug
McLean and look at what CBJ did to make sure they got their guy in Nash -
you'd think a roster spot is his to lose. McLean says he'll play in the
NHL. We don't doubt that - we just wonder what impact he'll have. Finding
consensus on what type of NHL'er Nash will develop into is pretty much
like finding consensus on the best pizza place in New York. Nash certainly
has the size and has displayed a decent scoring touch in junior, but you
always expect the No. 1 overall pick to dominate at his particular level,
and Nash just doesn't fit that bill. The good news for owners that might
draft Nash, is that yes, he'll get every opportunity to make the team out
of camp; on a team desperate to get bigger and score more any help from
him will be of assistance. Our concern, is that if CBJ keeps him, he'll
not develop as they expect (read: quickly). Similar cases are evident in
the NHL already: Todd Bertuzzi, Jarome Iginla, and Brad Isbister. But
likely the player he most reminds us of is Buffalo's Taylor Pyatt. All of
these players play a similar game to Nash and took more than a few years
to become bona fide NHL talents. Now headed into his fourth year of pro
hockey, Pyatt was highly touted by Isles GM Mike Milbury as the next
Clarke Gillies, but so far, Pyatt has shown only flashes of potential, and
there is a danger he may fall into the same 3rd-4th line status of fellow
Sabre Eric Rasmussen. I guess what we are trying to say, is don't bet the
farm on Nash developing into the next John LeClair right away. He's a few
years away from making an impact a la Dany Heatley or Ilya Kovulchuk.
-
2nd pick overall
- ATL selects Kari Lehtonen (g): There was apparent draft day disagreement
over this pick as half of the Thrashers scouting staff wanted to take at
first Jay Bouwmeester (after Nash was selected) and then Joni Pitkanen
after agreeing to a couple of draft picks from the Panthers not to take
Bouwmeester. That said, in a few years the Thrashers staff will forget who
were the scouts not wanting to take the Finnish goalie. He is huge, agile
and has great reflexes. He reminds us of a young Tommy Salo - and that's
not a bad thing at all. Current goalies on the Thrashers roster are almost
30 and up. Our bet is Lehtonen makes the team out of training camp in a
back up role (if he clears Finland's 2 year military obligation
requirement first) and pushes large to be "da man" in the 2003-2004
season. If he has to serve in the military first, he'll still be worth the
wait in 2004-2005.
-
3rd pick overall
- FLA selects Jay Bouwmeester (d): We were amazed at all the bad press
that the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft was getting just before
draft day. Bouwmeester is a spooky combination of size and speed that
scouts lather over when they search the countryside for that prototypical
NHL defencemen. The comparisons to Chris Pronger are many, but there are
more than a few comparison's to less superstar-like defencemen like Bret
Hedican. One repeated observation we make is that the very quiet, and
unassuming Bouwmeester has never had a fight in 4 years of major junior.
We say…so what! When was the last time you saw Niklas Lidstrom, Oleg
Tverdovsky, Brian Rafalski, Eric Desjardins, Scott Niedermyer, or Brian
Leetch drop the mitts? - and all of these defencemen are highly regarded
and sought after in the NHL. Is Bouwmeester Scott Stevens tough? - no, but
he won't need to be. Bouwmeester simply needs to be given the time to
develop into Jay Bouwmeester - not any other player - and let his
considerable skill and ability shine through. Our experience leads us to
believe that young d-men develop a little slower than forwards - and the
best comparison is Chris Pronger. Our biggest concern is how the "Keenan"
effect either adversely or beneficially contributes to Bouwmeester's
development. The OHL is a long way from the faster, bigger and tougher NHL
- but Bouwmeester will make the Panthers and watch him log about 12-18
minutes of icetime by the end of the season. Don't draft him for stats
this year, but two years from now - he could be blossoming.
-
4th pick overall
- PHI selects Joni Pitkanen (d): Besides from the now obvious dissention
in the Flyers locker room and the even more obvious Bobby Clarke influence
(he has to have photos of a Snider in a less than flattering situation),
the main weakness on the perennial Stanley Cup contender has been its slow
and aging defence corps. Of the 6 regular d-men, only two are under the
age of 30 (Johnsson and McGillis), and McGillis turns 30 in two days.
Pitkanen has the potential to develop into an excellent NHL defencemen. At
this point he looks like a young Finnish version of Niklas Lidstrom. If he
develops into half a player as Lidstrom is, the Flyers will be very happy.
He's got a shot to make the team this year as 6th or 7th defencemen. If
not - he won't be on the farm for too long.
-
6th pick overall
- NSH selects Scottie Upshall (rw): As hockey fans, we love the way
Scottie Upshall plays - tons of grit, lots of energy and courageous beyond
his size; the word "can't" is just not in his vocabulary. That said,
Nashville could get burned by this selection, from a fantasy perspective.
Upshall's fantasy upside is limited. A good scorer in junior, he was able
to produce due to hard work and lots of ice time in Kamloops. In the NHL,
you have to be very skilled to play on the top 2 lines on any NHL team,
and unfortunately, Upshall does not have that top-end skill. His fire and
his desire will get him a shot for a few years, but as the Preds get
better and more skilled Upshall will be a 3rd liner at best. He reminds us
of two other junior standouts that had to re-invent themselves to stay in
the NHL - Todd Harvey and Martin Gelinas. That said, he'll make the Preds
this season, but he is not a rookie selection you should expect numbers
out of.
-
7th overall pick
- ANA selects Joffrey Lupul (c/rw): Talk about your late bloomer…! Lupul
is as dangerous an offensive weapon as there was to be selected in this
draft. An outstanding shot, Lupul is growing into his 6'1" frame. He's
shifty and at times, the puck seems to follow him around the rink. One of
those guys that you may not notice a lot in the game, until he scores a
big goal or makes a tremendous pass to effect the outcome. Lupul is going
to be given every opportunity to work with Paul Kariya right out of the
gate - but the whole experience may be a bit much for him, and he may see
his third year of junior as well. That said, he is a testament to his
desire to make the NHL. If he applies that same work ethic once he gets
there, Lupul could be the steal of this draft. Watch the Ducks camp
carefully - if he makes the team, it'll be a bumpy year as he adjusts -
but 2003-2004, could be huge.
-
8th overall pick
- MIN selects Pierre Marc-Bouchard (c): Minnesota is hopeful that Bouchard
can be the playmaker that teams well with budding superstar Marion Gaborik.
He reminds many of the Flames smallish center Marc Savard or the 'Yotes
Daniel Briere. Bouchard is actually a better skater that Briere and better
goal scorer than Savard. He is a dynamic offensive threat. His size is a
concern, and thus he'll have to prove he can play first to get a spot.
That said, on the offensive starved Wild, Bouchard will likely make the
team. He won't have a huge impact right away, as coach Lemaire will
continue to force the team to play the trap, but on the PP and PK Bouchard
will get an opportunity to shine.
-
21st overall pick
- CHI selects Anton Babchuk (d): We are sure that "thud" you heard was
Hawks GM Mike Smith falling out of his chair after the Sabres picked at
the #20 slot and did not select Anton Babchuk. Not to be confused in any
way with now team-mate (at least for now) Phil Housley, the 6'4" - 200 lbs
Babchuk has the makings of a young Scott Stevens. A big guy that enjoys
the rough stuff and has some offensive up-side, Babchuk fell to #21 simply
because scouts have questioned his work ethic and commitment. The good
news is he headed to a Hawks team that had a huge turnaround in 2002, in
no small part due to the re-invention of the enigmatic Boris Mironov into
a solid stay at home member of the Hawks blue line. Surrounded with other
fellow countrymen in Mironov, Karpotsev, Korolev and the surprising
Zhamnov, Babchuk won't have as tough a time acclimatizing to life in North
America. He will have every opportunity to make this team in training
camp. If he has a solid one, he'll learn on the job for the Hawks this
year.
-
36th pick overall
- EDM selects Jarret Stoll (c/rw): The Oilers seem to be setting
themselves up for the hope of an even playing field come the next round of
the CBA. That said, they are stock piling solid draft picks and Stoll is
one that will be given every opportunity to make the club out of spring
training. The Oilers also traded under-achieving Jochen Hecht to the
Sabres, prompting many to believe that a spot on the Oilers' roster is
Stoll's to lose. After not being able to come to terms on a contract with
the Flames and re-entering the draft, Stoll leaves this draft with not
much more to accomplish in junior. He captained the 2002 Memorial Cup
champion Kootenay Ice, was captain of the world junior silver-medalists in
2002, and was also a member of the 2001 team that won bronze. He is not a
bona fide sniper by any stretch, but his leadership skills and work ethic
will make him an Oil Fan Favorite almost immediately.
|
