2009 Draft continued

After all was said and done with the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, I learned I have very different ideas about most team’s needs than they do. The second half of the first round played out the way you’d expect in a deep draft, which is to say, very unexpectedly. To see players like Jordan Schroeder, Carter Ashton and Simon Depres fall all the way to the end of the first round was surprising based on early projections. But most teams are going to be happy with the way the draft went. Starting the Minnesota, who kicked off the second half of the first round, the American system finally started to make an impact on the draft. Nick Leddy, from the US high school system was the first of seven Americans chosen in the first round (though Tim Erixon is American born and Swedish trained). Leddy is very much a project, and is something of a surprise to go at 16. He’s off to the University of Minnesota next year, and it’s no doubt the Wild will let him grow into a very good defenseman. It may take a few years for Leddy to make an impact, but there’s little doubt he can become an impact player. At 17, the St Louis Blues went across the pond to draft Swedish defenseman David Rundblad. Like Leddy, Rundblad is seen as a longer-term project, though some think Rundblad may have been under-scouted and overlooked because of the hype around Victor Hedman. There’s no doubt the Blues are making the most of the lean years they’ve gone through since the lockout, and now feature at least four high-end defensive prospects in their system. Draft host Montreal selected 18th, and went to the USHL, moving away from their recent trend of drafting out of US College in the first round. Of course, the local product Louis Leblanc is headed to Harvard next season. Leblanc is a winner that has a chance of a coming out party with the Canadian World Junior team this coming holiday season. He has the size and tools to have a shot at being a first-line centre in the NHL, something the Canadiens have needed for a very long time. The New York Rangers selected Chris Kreider at 19, a player very similar to Leblanc with size, skill, decent speed, and questions about the level of competition he sees. Kreider has the potential to be an impact player with the Rangers, having drawn comparisons to John Leclair. The Rangers’ cross-river rivals selected 20th, drafting Jacob Josefson from Djurgarden of the Swedish Elite League. Josefson didn’t put up great numbers in Sweden last season, but is the prototypical Devils forward: smart, defensively responsible, a little offense, and again, smart. After they traded down from 16, I wanted to rip the Columbus Blue Jackets, but they got the player they wanted at 21, American defenseman John Moore. As previously noted, Moore is a strong, smart two-way defenseman with an extraordinarily high ceiling. Moore could become the player the Jackets thought they were drafting in 2000 when they drafted Rostislav Klesla. With the 22nd pick, the Vancouver Canucks may have the steal of the draft. Jordan Schroeder spent time flirting with the top of the draft ranking earlier this season before a sub-par World Junior tournament sent him spiralling down. If Schroeder can find his game again, the Canucks could have an ideal running mate to 2008 first round pick Cody Hodgson. The Calgary Flames had success looking to Sweden in the first round last year (expect Mikael Backlund to make the team out of camp), and must have seen something in Tim Erixon while they were there. Most of the write-ups I’ve seen about Erixon are middling at best, but the Flames will need more than that from the 23rd-overall pick. If they can get Erixon hooked up with Robyn Regehr before long, they may have a strong defensive prospect on their hands. Otherwise... Selecting 24th, the Washington Capitals chose Marcus Johansson from Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League. Johansson projects as a two-way forward with very good faceoff skills. The Caps certainly have most of the offensive pieces in place, and a guy like Johansson to anchor the group of defensive forwards could be the missing link. Boston nabbed Jordan Caron at 25, and much like the Canucks, the Bruins have to think they’ve found a diamond in the rough. Caron has shown off all kinds of skill during his time with Rimouski—the kind normally destined to be selected high in the first round. Injuries are more than a concern, as they’ll be the only thing preventing him from becoming an impact player with Boston. Kyle Palmieri projects as a solid two-way forward. The Anaheim Ducks like to draft, big, strong, smart players, and with the success they’ve had in recent years, it’s hard to argue with the logic. Palmieri may not be the most skilled player in the draft, but he can be coached, and should become a valuable player in a shut-down role. The Carolina Hurricanes made a surprisingly deep run in this spring’s playoffs, which actually hurt them in a very good draft. Philippe Paradis wasn’t this high on most boards, though that’s more a product of his projected potential than his skill level. He’s seen as a third-line centre in the John Madden mould, the kind of player you can’t win without. Dylan Olsen improved his stock at last year’s Under-18 tournament, coupling that performance with another strong season in the Alberta Junior League to find his way into the first round of the draft. The Blackhawks know what they’re doing when drafting Western League blue liners, and Olsen should become a special player in the Windy City. With their second pick in the first round, Tampa Bay grabbed Carter Ashton from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Ashton doesn’t have the high-end skill some of the other forwards in the first round have, but he plays a complete game. Expect Ashton to get a long look at Lightning camp, and don’t be surprised if he sticks around. With the last pick in the first round, the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins picked up defenseman Simon Depres from Saint John of the Quebec Major Junior League. Depres is a big, strong defenseman that projects as a shut-down guy. He’s probably a better prospect than most Cup winners expect to get with the last pick in the first round, and the Penguins are already re-stocking. Quick notes on Calgary Hitmen drafted: There’s no doubt Kris Foucault (103 to Minnesota) has elite offensive skill. But questions about his maturity and his work ethic have dogged him (to the point he spent most of last season in the Alberta Junior League). The success the Hitmen had this past season, combined with the strong coaching staff (assuming Joel Otto takes over as head coach) should help Foucault become a more consistent, driven, and complete player. Brandon Kozun was also drafted (179 to Los Angeles). Kozun has all the tools, he notched 108 points this season, second in the league, and has positively blazing speed. But he’s a little guy (5’8”), and there are questions about his durability. Kozun’s speed should get him a look, but it’s tough to say he’ll become a full-time NHL player.