2009 NHL Entry Draft GDT

[Systemfel 33]

So, will all the other rounds be held tomorrow?

Yup.

what time is the draft tomorrow 7?

When does this s*** start tomorrow?

10 AM ET.

[StrunzWing 0]

Maybe we were hoping that Bettman would go home and we would not have to shake his hand on Saturday?

[rage 24]

Of course it's only on the NHL Network tomorrow (in USA).

[Probie 7]

I tuned in just as Ashton was celebrating and I was like....whoa...6 foot 2, 200+ pounder (eventually) Canadian power forward who can fight and plays responsibly in his own end and works his butt off, good character kid..

HOT DAMN! Wings are finally adding some NA flavor and punch to the system. FECK YEAH!

..............oh wait, we traded down, Tampa picked him up.

Well suck a fat one.

Who knows if Ashton is going to be anything.

The point is he was a 1st round talent with size, character and ability. He's the type of player this team needs to add for diversity.

I swear to God if tomorrow, we end up drafting a 5 foot 11, 180 pound European I am going to ******* puke.

I have nothing against Europeans or small players. But holy s*** Batman, how many does one team need? We need to mix up the roster some. Add some more size, grit, toughness and here you have Ashton, a kid who has the attributes you are looking for, the pedigree and the work ethic. WHY NOT DRAFT HIM?

I'm a little more than bummed. It's all fine an dandy to have a bunch of Datsyuks and Zs and Hudlers and Flips. But mix it in with some beef, some grit, some toughness with all the talent. Mix in some guys who drive and crash the net, some guys with the size to battle the big dmen of the league and can actually fight if need be. What is it with this organization's aversion to toughness?

I agree with the points youve made. I was choked when we traded that pick, i wanted Ashton. In some places Ashton is listed at 6foot two, but there are a bunch of places that list him at a bit over 6 foot 3. Ive seen his pics, he can add considerable weight to that frame, his shoulders are WIDE. He could be easily 6foot3 225-230 by the time hes 25.

But we got an extra pick, a mid third, in a deep draft. The wings know what they are doing in the draft, their strategy is sound, they know more then us, so....

I wonder if we take Tatar or Orrielly with our first pick. I know our teams scouted both quite a bit.

Edited June 27, 2009 by Probie

[Theophany 110]

Love some of the people posting in this thread.

"Our team sucks so much, I hope we change the system that has made us the most dominant hockey team in the salary cap era and go in the complete opposite direction!"

You guys are hilarious. Pretty sure that Mr Holland knows what he's doing.

[tommingthepuck96 1]

What the f*** i just wasted 3 hours of my life listening to dumbass pierre mcguire. This extra second rounder better be a MVP player or the red wings and the management will not have my support till they win the cup again.

[sureWhyNot 19]

I know this means nothing - I just thought it was somewhat funny. Here is likely future (and I cannot emphasize future enough here) Red Wing Toni Rajala....

[P. Marlowe 748]

Love some of the people posting in this thread.

"Our team sucks so much, I hope we change the system that has made us the most dominant hockey team in the salary cap era and go in the complete opposite direction!"

You guys are hilarious. Pretty sure that Mr Holland knows what he's doing.

But but they need big handsome boys with muscles and shoulders...

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Not my opinion. It's TSN's Bob McKenzies - who is looked at by many as one of the most involved and on point experts in regards to the NHL draft.

Why hasn't anyone hired him to be their head of scouting?

There's a reason why he's commenting and Nill and the rest of those guys are doing the picking. And it's not because of fate.

[P. Marlowe 748]

What the f*** i just wasted 3 hours of my life listening to dumbass pierre mcguire. This extra second rounder better be a MVP player or the red wings and the management will not have my support till they win the cup again.

I am sure no one in the whole Red Wings organization is able to sleep now.

Edited June 27, 2009 by P. Marlowe

[Snazzy 0]

f*** NO on picking Toni Rajala, we don't need a 5'8" 160ib forward that doesn't understand defense.

Carl Klingber on the other hands sounds like a nice choice. He's compared to the "Mule" and is a physical beast. Uses his size well at 6'3" @ 205ibs. He's a fit for North American Hockey. His projected offense is 8/10 and Defense is 8/10. Not bad.

http://thehockeywriters.com/36-carl-klingb...draft-rankings/

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Love some of the people posting in this thread.

"Our team sucks so much, I hope we change the system that has made us the most dominant hockey team in the salary cap era and go in the complete opposite direction!"

You guys are hilarious. Pretty sure that Mr Holland knows what he's doing.

Yeah, asking for the Wings to draft one big Canadian boy that was pegged in the top 30 pretty much translates to everything you just said. Jesus, people on here put words in peoples mouths like I've never seen. Myself, nor GST, nor anyone else who wants a bit more of a mix or flavour from other players then just Swedes, dont want all Americans or all Canadians, or all frickin Belarusians, we just want a bit more players we can side with, Besides, while sucessful, it's not like the Wings win every season, I know it's hard for people to grasp, but you can shake things up and still win. (Not directed totally at you Theophany, just had to get that out there.)

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

It should go without saying that the Wings management knows what they're doing. If they pick a tiny European guy, okay. They've had a pretty good run with that before.

[Probie 7]

A quick question, but for Free agents like Hossa and Bowmeister, could their negotiating rights be traded for a pick in this draft, or would it have to be next years draft? I dont know if their is a rule for it. People talk about Bowmeister fetching a third for his rights, well Id imagine Hossas rights would net the same. It would be nice to have yet another third rounder in this years draft, or even trade our extra 2 third rounders for an extra second(something the wings likely wont do). I just figured with the cap being the same, Hossa is gone, why not get a pick out of it?

Edited June 27, 2009 by Probie

[BlakKy 58]

I know this means nothing - I just thought it was somewhat funny. Here is likely future (and I cannot emphasize future enough here) Red Wing Toni Rajala....

Patrick Kane.

[sureWhyNot 19]

Why hasn't anyone hired him to be their head of scouting?

There's a reason why he's commenting and Nill and the rest of those guys are doing the picking. And it's not because of fate.

Right on. Not really wanting to argue about it - seeing as though I don't really care either way.

While it's true about McKenzie, but you could go even farther by asking if he is so bad, and clueless why is every NHL publication talking to him and TSN paying him?

Not to mention the fact you will not often hear GM's or front office guys make negative comments in the days running up to the draft - ever - regardless of the draft pool.

I will say though comparing this year to the 2003 is flat out absurd.

[sureWhyNot 19]

I can't seem to find where Nill says this years is as strong as 2003's. I definitely believe he say it, I am curious as too the context he said it in. I did come across this:

"There are a lot of good players 15 (and higher) that could be just as good as the top 10," Nill explained. "The players that'll go 15 to 35 have just as good a chance to become solid NHLers as anyone else."

Source

I will keep looking. It just blows me away that Nill would compare this to 2003.

[tommingthepuck96 1]

I am sure no one in the whole Red Wings organization is able to sleep now.

That sucks if you think i was being serious.

Anyways, did anyone else laugh at bettman being boed by montreal fans?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Here's my opinion on all this.

Being Canadian automatically grants you extra spots in the NHL draft.

Being big at the age of drafting automatically grants you extra spots in the NHL draft.

Has anyone noticed that lots and lots of big Canadian kids with skill get picked in the first two rounds but end up being a wash? Does that hint at anything to you? Perhaps that size and nationality artificially inflated their standing in the collective eyes of the scouts?

Big Canadian power forwards get picked really early in the draft (in all but a few cases). Canadian players very rarely end up being late round gems because they're easily the most heavily scouted of all. Everyone and their dog knows the Canadian kids in these drafts- there's no where to hide, ok?

That covers nationality. So what about size?

Well size at the age of 17 or 18 is only an indicator of your minimum NHL size. Kids grow. I grew more than 3 inches between age 17 and 23. I entered university a bit less than 5-10 and now I'm up at 6'1 (with scoliosis, so I should be taller).

If you want a guy who is 6'1 at draft age you're going to have to pick him much higher than a kid who's just as skilled but only 5'11 at draft age. Hell, you'll often have to pick him earlier than a much more skilled kid who is 5'10. But 3 years later? Who knows who will be taller or heavier.

The Wing won't be using these kids for at least 3 years, so why should they pay a premium for size when they won't even need the kid until they've filled out? Why sacrifice skill for size in that situation?

I'll take a kid like Rajala who is considered a prodigy in Finland in terms of his skill and ability over a kid like Carter who is being picked higher than his skill dictates just because he had to learn french in school and can reach the cereal perched at the very top of the shelves (sorry 'bout that Hudler).

Edit: spelling

Edited June 27, 2009 by Drake_Marcus

[titanium2 867]

It should go without saying that the Wings management knows what they're doing. If they pick a tiny European guy, okay. They've had a pretty good run with that before.

Up front, as long as they have the skill to play within the system, good skating ability and somewhat of an aptitude for defense then I'm pretty satisfied. I don't think that's asking for much.

On the back end it's a little different. We saw how important size was during the series against Anaheim.

[sureWhyNot 19]

I know the kid is only 18 but TSN as well as a publication out of Finland have him listed as 5'8 and 148 pounds... This has gotta be wrong? When Kane was drafted he was 5'10, 160. Only a 12 pound difference. So ya, they are pretty comparable.

Also, I have been reading up on the kid and from the sounds of it he is the real deal in regards to talent, skill set, and ceiling. I kinda would like to snag him and see how he develops.

Edited June 27, 2009 by sureWhyNot

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Right on. Not really wanting to argue about it - seeing as though I don't really care either way.

While it's true about McKenzie, but you could go even farther by asking if he is so bad, and clueless why is every NHL publication talking to him and TSN paying him?

Not to mention the fact you will not often hear GM's or front office guys make negative comments in the days running up to the draft - ever - regardless of the draft pool.

I will say though comparing this year to the 2003 is flat out absurd.

I'm not saying McKenzie is bad at all! I actually like him and respect his opinions. I'm saying that Nill is better.

I'm sure that the Wings are better informed than McKenzie in these intimate details. Know why? Because the Wings hire a team of individuals full time to scout these kids 365 days a year. The Wings pay big bucks to these guys- they have a huge, well funded and diverse scouting network.

McKenzie is very good at his job, but the Wings are the best in the world at theirs. McKenzie's coverage of the NHL Draft is but one small part of his job requirements. Today and tomorrow are the culmination of everything the Wings' scouts are paid for. This is it. This is their D-day.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Anyways, did anyone else laugh at bettman being boed by montreal fans?

I literally smiled every single time they did it.

Did anyone else notice the ticks and displeasure in his stupid little trollish face when he said the Wings' name during the trade announcement?

[P. Marlowe 748]

Here's my opinion on all this.

Being Canadian automatically grants you extra spots in the NHL draft.

Being big at the age of drafting automatically grants you extra spots in the NHL draft.

Has anyone noticed that lots and lots of big Canadian kids with skill get picked in the first two rounds but end up being a wash? Does that hint at anything to you? Perhaps that size and nationality artificially inflated their standing in the collective eyes of the scouts?

Big Canadian power forwards get picked really early in the draft (in all but a few cases). Canadian players very rarely end up being late round gems because they're easily the most heavily scouted of all. Everyone and their dog knows the Canadian kids in these drafts- there's no where to hide, ok?

That covers nationality. So what about size?

Well size at the age of 17 or 18 is only an indicator of your minimum NHL size. Kids grow. I grew more than 3 inches between age 17 and 23. I entered university a bit less than 5-10 and now I'm up at 6'1 (with scoliosis, so I should be taller).

If you want a guy who is 6'1 at draft age you're going to have to pick him much higher than a kid who's just as skilled but only 5'11 at draft age. Hell, you'll often have to pick him earlier than a much more skilled kid who is 5'10. But 3 years later? Who knows who will be taller or heavier.

The Wing won't be using these kids for at least 3 years, so why should they pay a premium for size when they won't even need the kid until they've filled out? Why sacrifice skill for size in that situation?

I'll take a kid like Rajala who is considered a prodigy in Finland in terms of his skill and ability over a kid like Carter who is being picked higher than his skill dictates just because he had to learn french in school and can reach the cereal perched at the very top of the shelves (sorry 'bout that Hudler).

Edit: spelling

Good.

This is why I think it makes sense that Wings are always trying to draft the most skilled player available and also as many of skill players as possible (this is why they dropped down three picks to get an extra 3rd rounder). Players can become bigger, stronger etc. but they won't make the Wings' roster without skill. Plus, grit players can be attained by other ways like Cleary, Maltby, Draper and Drake (his '07 comeback). Skilled players are harder to come by.

[Snazzy 0]

I know the kid is only 18 but TSN as well as a publication out of Finland have him listed as 5'8 and 148 pounds... This has gotta be wrong? When Kane was drafted he was 5'10, 160. Only a 12 pound difference. So ya, they are pretty comparable.

Also, I have been reading up on the kid and from the sounds of it he is the real deal in regards to talent, skill set, and ceiling. I kinda would like to snag him and see how he develops.

thehockeywriters.com have him at 160.

I wonder if Wings had their hearts set on Olsen and when Chi-Town took him, decided to trade for someone who will go deeper (like Ferraro / Klingberg / Werek)?