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Future Watch 2007
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
Tavares race already on
By the time John Tavares is eligible for the NHL draft, scouts may be sick of seeing him play. The Oshawa Generals phenom, who is in his second year in the Ontario League and is just 16, won’t be eligible for the draft until 2009. “The kid might score 200 points next season and we still won’t be able to touch him,” said Florida Panthers scout Dale DeGray. The Oakville, Ont., native was granted special player status and allowed into the OHL last season at 15, where he scored 45 goals and 77 points in 65 games. This season Tavares was leading the OHL in goals. “He has so much skill, but even better than that, he has an amazing work ethic,” DeGray said. “You see lots of high-skill guys in junior who…
Project is projection
The fact a Johnson was selected the top NHL-affiliated prospect by a panel of scouts comes as no big surprise to us. It was just a question of whether it would be Jack, the No. 2 man behind Evgeni Malkin in Future Watch 2006, or Erik, the top draft pick of the St. Louis Blues. Twenty-two NHL scouts took part in the annual ranking of prospects by submitting top-50 lists. Ranking is based on a five to 10-year projection. A player with fewer than 50 NHL games is considered a prospect, although exceptions are made. Some players fell under that line, but have clearly established themselves as NHLers (Malkin, Anze Kopitar, Wojtek Wolski, etc.). They’re no longer prospects. Most teams were forthcoming in offering assistance with their top-10 list. However, in many cases, we…
First round draft follies
While the Oilers appear to have a wealth of blue-chip prospects on the cusp, it hasn’t manifested itself onto their lineup yet. The majority of their roster (13 of 21 players) is made up of free agents or players acquired in trades. Of their draft picks who are in the NHL, only three of the eight were drafted in the past five years (Matt Greene and Jarret Stoll, 2002, and Mathieu Roy, 2003). The last first-rounder to make the team was Ales Hemsky (2001) and he’s the only first round pick in the past 10 years to stick. 1 ANDREW COGLIANO, C, 19, Michigan (CCHA) 5-9, 178, 30-18-30-48-14 OVERALL 29 He has blazing speed and a great eye for the ice. His selection to Canada’s past two national junior teams tells you the Oilers aren’t alone…
Avalanche hit the books
Quite possibly, nobody has as many frequent flyer miles as Avalanche director of player development Craig Billington. The ex-NHL goalie is on the road at least three weeks every month – and Denver is a long way from most of its top prospects. Billington is in ‘charge’ of about 40 of them, checking on their development. He loves it and as a former player known for his sunny outlook on life, he likes what he has to work with right now. “We have a good group,” he said. “My job is to try and help them get to the (NHL) level a little sooner.” 1 CHRIS STEWART, RW, 19, Kingston (OHL) 6-1, 228, 42-27-32-59-87 OVERALL 37 The big-bodied Stewart impressed at Avalanche training camp and is averaging more than a point a game for Kingston. He is…
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