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Draft Preview 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.
DRASTIC MAKEOVER COMING TO TORONTO
When Cliff Fletcher was hired as interim GM, the suits running the organization should have handed him a stick of dynamite and a lighter. Fletcher’s mandate is clear: Blow this thing up. After three straight seasons of missing the playoffs – a humiliating feat that had not happened to the franchise in 80 years – Fletcher says his plan has two stages: 1. Make the Leafs championship contenders. 2. Build up a cache of prospects, something the team is sorely missing. “There will be no quick fixes, no short-term additions,” Fletcher said. “There will be no bringing in big-name free agents for just one year.” The bottom line: This organization needs to augment its ailing talent base, especially with young players. The Leafs are set in goal. Veteran Vesa Toskala showed he can be a No.…
ANY ELITE SKATERS WELCOME ON ISLAND
Teams picking fifth overall always have holes aplenty, so draft position might dictate whether the Islanders use their first top-five selection since 2000 to boost their shaky offense, or provide long-term depth for a barren defense corps. With his team finishing as the lowest-scoring squad in the Eastern Conference, Isles GM Garth Snow justifiably will seek an impact center this summer – either through the draft or via free agency – to pair with Kyle Okposo, who showed glimpses of power-forward potential in a late-season audition. Mike Comrie, better suited as a No. 2 man than a top-line pivot, and Bill Guerin, who will turn 38 in November, were the Isles’ only 20-goal scorers this season. Both are signed for 2008-09. New York will attempt to use Miroslav Satan’s $4.25 million salary-cap…
SHARKS’ TANK LOW ON WINGERS
Looking at the Sharks roster and farm system, there is a positional need at left wing. When Ryane Clowe was out of the lineup for five months following knee surgery, coach Ron Wilson had to shift other forwards to the left side as he juggled his line combinations. But while Sharks director of scouting, Tim Burke, doesn’t disagree with that assessment, he offers up a different philosophical approach to the draft: “I don’t think there’s ever a year that goes by that there’s not a need at defense,” Burke said. It’s not as if San Jose has an older defense corps – Craig Rivet, at 33, is the elder statesman and Kyle McLaren is the only other regular to have hit 30. But the Sharks believe in replenishing the stockade before the need arises.…
BLUECHIPPERS LACKING IN RED
The core parts are signed and sealed. Now the onus is on the Calgary Flames to find that right mix around the crew of Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff, Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr, all inked to long-term deals that begin next season. The biggest order of business for GM Darryl Sutter is to find at least one center to round out his top two lines, since both Daymond Langkow and Craig Conroy are due to become unrestricted free agents. Matthew Lombardi has the potential to be in with the top six forwards, but the Flames could be in trouble if they don’t keep or replace Langkow because nobody in the system looks ready to jump into such a key role. They’ll have the cap space to re-sign Langkow, whose career went to a new…