Post by Nemits - Former Minnesota GM on Jan 6, 2009 19:20:51 GMT -5
Well after a very successful season, the first draft on this league took place on January 5th, 2009. A great way to kick off the new year if I do say so myself.
In this addition I am going to go over all 30 picks, and just a quick sentence or two on what I think about them. Good or bad, right move for the team. All that good stuff, so sit back, and enjoy.
1. Carolina Hurricanes - C John Tavares (81) - Oshawa, OHL
No real surprises here, Carolina greats a great offensive forward, who, if brought up right, could become a franchise player.
2. New Jersey Devils - D Victor Hedman (81) - Modo, SWEJE
San Jose gave up this pick to acquire Parise from the Devils. Parise is a very solid young player, and the Devils could regret giving him up for this guy. Hedman should be a great addition to the Devils, but only time will tell if he is worth it.
3. Florida Panthers - D Jared Cowen (80) - Spokane, WHL
After trading away Chara, the Panthers picked up a very solid defense man this draft in Jared Cowen. Expect good things from this man.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs - RW Jordan Schroeder (80) - University of Minnesota, WCHA
All I can say is I feel very sorry for Mr. Schroeder. Good pick up for Toronto though. Was ranked 6th and went 4th, not a big jump, but notable none the less.
5. Dallas Stars - C Matt Duchene (80) - Brampton, OHL
Because the Stars really need another fucking centre right? Handzus, Ribeiro, Guastad, Modano, Gagner and now Duchene. Kind of surprised that he didnt pick up LW Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi (80)
6. Columbus Blue Jackets - LW Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi (80) - Timra, SWEJE
After stupidly trading away Nash (admittedly not the current GM's fault), Lutzy decided to get a top LW, and he got that in Svensson-Paajarvi. He prudly announced it on draft day. I don't know if its coincidence or if Columbus has a European LW fetish, Filitov last year, Svensson-Paajarvi this year.
7. Atlanta Thrashers - C Nazem Kadri (79) - London, OHL
Atlanta had 3 picks this year, and used there first on on Nazem Kadri. What a name, say that ten times fast. Again I have to ask, did he really need another centre? Langkow, Staal, Penner, Williams and Little. Add Kadri and you have one hell of a set of players.
8. Philadelphia Flyers - C Brayden Schenn (79) - Brandon, WHL
Flyers had two picks in the top 15. They used their pick in a semi-surprising move. Schenn, ranked 10th, was surprised when he heard his name called at 10th by the Flyers.
9. St. Louis Blues - D Stefan Elliott (79) - Saskatoon, WHL
This may seem like a shock, Elliott ranked 14th, but was genius by the Blues. They wanted a solid one, and made sure they got it using their 9th pick. Good pick up by the Blues.
10. Vancouver Canucks - C Evander Kane (79) - Vancouver, WHL
Fucking Canucks. I wanted Kane. Excellent pick up, Kane is going to be solid, and is used to playing in Vancouver.
11. New York Islanders - D Dylan Olsen (76) - Camrose, AJHL
Islanders made a booboo here. By not showing up, or expressing interest in anybody, they picked up the 30th ranked player, Dylan Olsen. The Islanders suck, and not getting a top 11 pick doesn't help.
12. Minnesota Wild - C Richard Panik (79) - Trencin, CZEJE
Excellent pick, supreme choice by the Wild. A steal at 12th as he was ranked 9th.
13. Philadelphia Flyers - D Ryan Ellis (78) - Windsor, OHL
One of the more surprising picks of the draft. 21st ranked Ellis, going 13th after being picked by the Flyers. The Flyers have a good young team, watch out East.
14. Washington Capitals - RW Jimmy Bubnick (79) - Kamloops, WHL
A solid first or second ling winger, chances are he will get to play a lot of minutes with the Capitals, and a chance to learn from veteran Fedorov.
15. San Jose Sharks - RW Zack Kassian (78) - Peterborough, OHL
15th pick going 15th, *yawn* San Jose has a lot to prove after a dismal season. They hope that Kassian can help.
16. Calgary Flames - C David Gilbert (78) - Quebec, QMJHL
Not a bad pick up, not a bad pick up at all. 19th going 16th has to add to Gilbert's confidence.
17. Boston Bruins - D Taylor Doherty (78) - Kingston, OHL
The Bruins have a very solid top defensive pairing, but are weak in the bottom 4. Doherty adds another top 4 D man to the roster.
18. St. Louis Blues - C Jeremy Morin (79) - USA Under-18's, NTDP
The Blues with an absolute steal here. What is up with Morin, is he diseased? Does he smell? Ranked 11th and going 18th. He has a lot to prove on the Blues, going to show all the people who passed up on him what they missed out on.
19. Los Angeles Kings - LW Anton Lander (78) - Timra, SWEJE
I'm not sure what I think of this pick up. Lander will get to play with some excellent players on the second line, providing he can earn a spot there.
20. Colorado Avalanche - D Tommi Kivisto (77) - Red Deer, WHL
Not going to lie, I love the name. Defense man were highly regarded this draft, and god knows the Avs needed one. Expect him to play a big role.
21. Carolina Hurricanes - C Drew Shore (79) - USA Under-18's, NTDP
Three words. What. The. Fuck. Shore goes 21st, ranked 13th. Best steal of the draft right here. Canes, who already got Tavarse, picked up another solid forward in Shore.
22. Ottawa Senators - D Seth Helgeson (77) - Sioux City, USHL
After coming 1st in the East, the season ended with a disappointing lose to the Penguins (Who went onto the East Final). Ottawa knew they needed defense, and got another one with a great name. Helgeson should help to solidify the defense situation in Ottawa.
23. Atlanta Thrashers - LW Toni Rajala (78) - Ilves, FINJRA
Pick #2 of the Thrashers, Rajala will be the top LW on the struggling Thrashers. Good pick by the GM to get a winger.
24. Chicago Blackhawks - C Jordan Caron (76) - Rimouski, QMJHL
Another no-show. Never a good thing. Not much to say about this one.
25. Tampa Bay Lightning - C Peter Holland (77) - Guelph, OHL
I personally think that the Lightning would have liked a Defense man, with most of theirs either sucking or being FAs or both, but there was none left, so they picked the next best thing. Peter Holland.
26. Pittsburgh Penguins - RW Landon Ferraro (78) - Red Deer, WHL
When Landon Ferraro (ranked 21st) was still around at 26th, the Penguins were quick to pick him up. The GM has been known to say that he really likes him, and is happy to draft a guy he likes for once.
27. Montreal Canadiens - C Jacob Josefson (78) - Djurgardens, SWEJE
Josefson Josefson Josefson, what did you do, have sex with all the GMs mothers? Earlier when I said Canes had the biggest steal of the draft, I lied. Montreal, 27th pick, getting Josefson, ranked 18th. Shame on all you who passed on him. Shame.
28. Calgary Flames - C Zach Budish (77) - Edina, MN-HS
Zach Budish. Semi Human, Semi Buddha. Not a bad pick up at 28th, and I name that I will always love, because it is like Buddha, or, if your more violent, a noise you could make while firing your air machine gun. BUDISH BUDISH BUDISH!!!!... Sorry, lost my train of though there. Solid pick up Flames.
29. Phoenix Coyotes - RW Tomas Vincour (76) - Edmonton, WHL
I love this guy personally, and think he will be a great addition to any team. Coyotes, after trading away their 9th pick, still got a great guy in Vincour.
30. Atlanta Thrashers - C Louis Leblanc (76) - Omaha, USHL
The last pick of the draft, and Atlanta's last pick. Another centre, exciting. This one is one of those, who cares kind of picks. So, yay him for being top 30.
Hope you enjoyed reading this. Lots of trades happening, who knows, maybe ill comment on some of them, or on Det's season fetish for Swedes. Looking forward to Free Agency and the new season, should be a great one!