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Future Watch 2008
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.
SHARKS ATTACK THROUGH DRAFT
The Sharks have an impressive track record for drafting and developing their own players. Sixteen on their roster have taken that route to the NHL. But nowadays, the process takes a little longer. The Sharks say that comes from having higher-caliber players in San Jose and not because of any deficiencies on the part of prospects in the system. The Sharks haven’t had a shot at a star-level draft pick in years, a byproduct of success. But San Jose has been willing to trade other assets to move up high enough to come away with prospects to take care of future needs. 1 DEVIN SETOGUCHI, RW, 21, Worcester (AHL) 6-0, 205, 14-3-9-12-16 OVERALL 15 There was talk Setoguchi was NHL-ready more than a year ago, but a knee injury kept him out of camp in 2006.…
THE SECRET TO RED WINGS’ SUCCESS
Like the arrival of a leap year every four years, you can count on the Detroit Red Wings uncovering a hidden jewel from a late pick in the NHL draft every now and then. It’s no secret the Red Wings are unlike other teams when it comes to using early draft picks to retool their lineup. Detroit hasn’t picked higher than 19th overall in 16 drafts, a credit to their status near the top of the NHL standings for most of the past 20 years. In fact, the Red Wings have had only nine first-rounders since 1991. So not only does Detroit have to make its occasional first-rounder count, it has to mine for hidden value in the late rounds. In 1994, the Red Wings uncovered Tomas Holmstrom with the 257th pick. Four…
FUTURE BOUNTY RIPENING ON FARM
The Panthers have been insisting lately they’re more patient with their prospects, feeling they erred in rushing teenagers Nathan Horton and Rostislav Olesz to the NHL before they were ready. Having said that, they went ahead and called up 19-year-old Shawn Matthias in January when they ran into injury problems. Still, the plan has been to let their draft picks finish their junior or college careers and then get some AHL experience and for the most part they’ve stuck to that. There’s a sense of optimism in the organization that there’s more depth at the pro level than ever before. 1 SHAWN MATTHIAS, C, 19, Belleville (OHL) 6-4, 215, 37-21-40-61-33 OVERALL 12 By the third period of his NHL debut at New Jersey, Matthias was centering Olli Jokinen and Horton on the top line. That’s an…
TRADING ASSETS STILL AN ISLES TRAIT
While mostly hailed as a worthwhile gamble, Isles GM Garth Snow’s trade-deadline acquisition of Ryan Smyth last spring was also perceived as an outright gutting of his minor-league system. Only the former NHL goalie doesn’t see it that way. “We determined which prospects we had to retain and which ones we were willing to move,” said Snow, who dealt first round draft picks Robert Nilsson and Ryan O’Marra, as well as his 2007 first-rounder. “Nothing against them, but we liked the people we kept and have coming as much or more than the players we traded.” 1 KYLE OKPOSO, RW, 19, Bridgeport (AHL) 6-0, 195, 11-2-8-10-2 OVERALL 8 NCAA coaches were hardly pleased the Isles inked the budding power forward midway through his sophomore season at Minnesota. But Snow willingly absorbed the criticism largely to protect…
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