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Future Watch 2009
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.
MAKING THE JUMP IMMEDIATELY TO THE NHL
It normally takes years to find out if draft picks will pan out. But every year there are a few who collect $200 and move directly to Go. Here is a list of first round draft picks from the past 10 years whose Calder eligibility (26 games played) expired the first year after they were drafted. Clearly, 2008 was a bumper year for newly minted draft picks. 2008 - 7 Could become eight or nine. Is this the deepest draft class in years? Or are more and more teams rushing young prospects? The list: Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty, Luke Schenn, Mikkel Boedker, Josh Bailey, Luca Sbisa, Viktor Tikhonov. 2007 - 3 First-and third-overall picks Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner were linemates in London (OHL) and went straight to the NHL. David Perron broke the…
SPOKES IN WHEEL GETTING FILLED IN
The Red Wings’ depth and skill level has enabled them to remain among the NHL’s elite for nearly two decades, affording them more time to develop their prospects, several of whom are ready to take the next step. “We’re getting a push from the drafts of three, four years ago,” said assistant GM Jim Nill. “For two, three years in a row, we had quite a few kids that turned out pretty well and now we’ve got them coming up together.” Four of their top five picks from the 2005 draft are among their top 10 prospects. 1 DARREN HELM, C, 22, Grand Rapids (AHL) 5-11, 185, 37-11-20-31-16 OVERALL 25 Helm earned a spot on the fourth line during the Red Wings’ playoff run and provided a spark with his blazing speed and tireless energy.…
WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN
The Devils’ cupboard was never actually bare. But the organization that prided itself on building from within was forced to rely more heavily on trades and free agency in recent years after a series of low draft picks, free agent departures and retirements. The Devils’ future, however, looks a lot like the team’s past. “The depth we have in the minors this year is the most depth we’ve had since the middle 1990s,” said GM Lou Lamoriello. “We’re extremely happy. We have no less than six to eight Lowell players who will be in the NHL over the next three years.” 1 MATTIAS TEDENBY, LW, 18, HV-71 (Swe.) 5-10, 171, 24-3-1-4-2 OVERALL 43 Playing in the Swedish Elite League, the speedy winger’s scoring skills make him a YouTube favorite. He is a Brian Gionta-type player,…
GIVING MEANING TO THE GRADES
The handicapping chart on the right provides an indication of how well NHL teams draft in relation to their draft position. Here’s how it works: Teams are ranked in order of their average draft position the past four drafts since 2005 (first selection only). For example, Chicago’s first pick in the past four drafts averages out to the No. 6 slot. That’s the highest in the NHL. At the other end of the spectrum, the first pick for Dallas since 2005, on average, has come in at the No. 41 slot. Next, we get the team’s 1-to-30 report card ranking (see chart below). This is based on each team’s top 10 prospects and 21-and-under NHLers and is put together by a panel of 22 scouts, no more than one from each team.…
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