Post by hockeyfreak (Hurricanes GM) on Aug 10, 2011 0:52:33 GMT -5
THE WINNERS AND THE LOSERS
Deepest draft in recent memory has teams stockpiling the talent
Pittburgh, PA - With any draft, the inevitable winners and losers exit the draft coming away with far more or far less talent than would perhaps be expected.
However, in a draft year with such hype and anticipation, it is hard to dub any team a "loser" aside from those GMs who foolishly decided not to participate.
But even given such an enormous handicap due to the immense volume of talent in this years draft, some teams made away far...far better than others.
Enter the New York Islanders. A team with four, yes four, picks in the top 15 walked away with one enormous power forward with skill, one playmaking dynamo with top line potential, one two way forward with underrated offensive ability and the consensus best shut down defender in the draft. Yes, Hafeez Dossa, Nabby Jamal, Alex Galchenyuk and Binny Dunji all donned the blue and orange to set the bright lights for the Islanders future. In a normal year, such an enormous haul would be tough to match, but this 2012 draft was no ordinary year, and while the Isles had a draft worthy of much praise, two teams somehow created a much bigger buzz for the future than the Isles 'A' worthy draft.
Now the Jets. Winnipeg, too, entered the draft with four 1st rounders, and GM Beau used them all brilliantly. His first selection, the enigmatic but electrifying Claude Snipre. The native of France stands at only 5'7" but displays the speed and tenacity that it takes to make it. Snipre also possesses a deceptively difficult shot that scouts say rivals Alex Ovechkin. With the second pick, at 16th overall, Beau again took a very similarly streaky player of Russian descent in Alex Bure. Bure's skill set almost mirrors that of Snipre's, so it is evident that the Jet's game plan this draft was to acquire talent that could put fans in the seats. Not to forget about defense, the Jets then scooped Jacob Trouba at the #18 pick in what may very possibly become the steal of the draft. To round out his first round, the Jets then drafted the consensus top goalie in the draft at #21 in Ayesh Marshall-Baker. With Roberto Luongo aging, it will not be long before a young replacement will be a must. Kudos to GM Beau for preemptively taking care of that issue. Another 'A' awarded to the Jets.
But the only A+ to be awarded in this draft must be given to the Minnesota Wild for brilliantly shaping their future, not only with astute drafting, but with shrewd trades on the draft floor as well. To begin, the Wild saw Nail Yakupov, the consensus #1 ranked skater in the draft fall to them at #2, but even better than this would be the Wild's decision to opt for the towering defensive presence in Griffin Reinhart. A defender who very well could be worthy of a top 5 selection in most drafts, Reinhart will be an excellent change to a defensive corps led by fast paced puck movers in Ryan Murphy and Dmitry Kulikov. However, by no small margin, GM Heelsox's best trick up his sleeve were yet to come. Heelsox also pulled the trigger on a brilliant move to acquire Jordan Eberle from Edmonton in exchange for Jonas Brodin. Between Eberle and Yakupov, the Wild acquired two powerhouse players to attract fans. But this was not even the end for Heelsox as on Day 2 of the draft, he wheeled and dealed to acquire Kyle Okposo from Dallas in exchange for Devin Setoguchi and their 1st round pick in 2013. While that pick may be very high next season, it is promising to the Wild faithful that Heelsox has committed himself to creating a winning product in Minnesota next season. An A++ is in award for this draft.
But on the opposite end of the spectrum, only one team seems to pop out at you in a bad way. The Boston Bruins, a team that possessed three first round picks seemed almost disinterested given the choices available when they walked up to the podium. With their first selection, the Islanders took a moderate reach with Matthew Dumba. While not a bad pick, Dumba could very well have been available in the late teens in the draft. With Dunji still on the board, this pick draws certain questions to be asked. However, even more startling than this pick, was the completely unsolvable mystery of their next pick. With Alex Galchenyuk yet to be taken, at #11, the Bruins selected the biggest risk in the draft in Chi Tuzzi. While Tuzzi possesses an enticing skill set, he is the one player who scouts see the most potential to bust in this draft. His penchant for bad penalties and lack of many skills aside from his outstanding hitting make him a huge risk considering the much safer Galchenyuk could have been there's. But almost just as startling was their selection of Moreno Dacow, a potential back up goalie in the future. With Tuukka Rask as the starter for the next decade, their were much better players to be had even if at the 26th overall pick in the draft. But, hey, maybe Dumba wins a Norris, Tuzzi plays like Bertuzzi and Dacow overtakes Rask one day. For now, this draft can only be given a D.
Deepest draft in recent memory has teams stockpiling the talent
Pittburgh, PA - With any draft, the inevitable winners and losers exit the draft coming away with far more or far less talent than would perhaps be expected.
However, in a draft year with such hype and anticipation, it is hard to dub any team a "loser" aside from those GMs who foolishly decided not to participate.
But even given such an enormous handicap due to the immense volume of talent in this years draft, some teams made away far...far better than others.
Enter the New York Islanders. A team with four, yes four, picks in the top 15 walked away with one enormous power forward with skill, one playmaking dynamo with top line potential, one two way forward with underrated offensive ability and the consensus best shut down defender in the draft. Yes, Hafeez Dossa, Nabby Jamal, Alex Galchenyuk and Binny Dunji all donned the blue and orange to set the bright lights for the Islanders future. In a normal year, such an enormous haul would be tough to match, but this 2012 draft was no ordinary year, and while the Isles had a draft worthy of much praise, two teams somehow created a much bigger buzz for the future than the Isles 'A' worthy draft.
Now the Jets. Winnipeg, too, entered the draft with four 1st rounders, and GM Beau used them all brilliantly. His first selection, the enigmatic but electrifying Claude Snipre. The native of France stands at only 5'7" but displays the speed and tenacity that it takes to make it. Snipre also possesses a deceptively difficult shot that scouts say rivals Alex Ovechkin. With the second pick, at 16th overall, Beau again took a very similarly streaky player of Russian descent in Alex Bure. Bure's skill set almost mirrors that of Snipre's, so it is evident that the Jet's game plan this draft was to acquire talent that could put fans in the seats. Not to forget about defense, the Jets then scooped Jacob Trouba at the #18 pick in what may very possibly become the steal of the draft. To round out his first round, the Jets then drafted the consensus top goalie in the draft at #21 in Ayesh Marshall-Baker. With Roberto Luongo aging, it will not be long before a young replacement will be a must. Kudos to GM Beau for preemptively taking care of that issue. Another 'A' awarded to the Jets.
But the only A+ to be awarded in this draft must be given to the Minnesota Wild for brilliantly shaping their future, not only with astute drafting, but with shrewd trades on the draft floor as well. To begin, the Wild saw Nail Yakupov, the consensus #1 ranked skater in the draft fall to them at #2, but even better than this would be the Wild's decision to opt for the towering defensive presence in Griffin Reinhart. A defender who very well could be worthy of a top 5 selection in most drafts, Reinhart will be an excellent change to a defensive corps led by fast paced puck movers in Ryan Murphy and Dmitry Kulikov. However, by no small margin, GM Heelsox's best trick up his sleeve were yet to come. Heelsox also pulled the trigger on a brilliant move to acquire Jordan Eberle from Edmonton in exchange for Jonas Brodin. Between Eberle and Yakupov, the Wild acquired two powerhouse players to attract fans. But this was not even the end for Heelsox as on Day 2 of the draft, he wheeled and dealed to acquire Kyle Okposo from Dallas in exchange for Devin Setoguchi and their 1st round pick in 2013. While that pick may be very high next season, it is promising to the Wild faithful that Heelsox has committed himself to creating a winning product in Minnesota next season. An A++ is in award for this draft.
But on the opposite end of the spectrum, only one team seems to pop out at you in a bad way. The Boston Bruins, a team that possessed three first round picks seemed almost disinterested given the choices available when they walked up to the podium. With their first selection, the Islanders took a moderate reach with Matthew Dumba. While not a bad pick, Dumba could very well have been available in the late teens in the draft. With Dunji still on the board, this pick draws certain questions to be asked. However, even more startling than this pick, was the completely unsolvable mystery of their next pick. With Alex Galchenyuk yet to be taken, at #11, the Bruins selected the biggest risk in the draft in Chi Tuzzi. While Tuzzi possesses an enticing skill set, he is the one player who scouts see the most potential to bust in this draft. His penchant for bad penalties and lack of many skills aside from his outstanding hitting make him a huge risk considering the much safer Galchenyuk could have been there's. But almost just as startling was their selection of Moreno Dacow, a potential back up goalie in the future. With Tuukka Rask as the starter for the next decade, their were much better players to be had even if at the 26th overall pick in the draft. But, hey, maybe Dumba wins a Norris, Tuzzi plays like Bertuzzi and Dacow overtakes Rask one day. For now, this draft can only be given a D.