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DEL.ICIO.USOne man’s draft analysis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Don Waddell gets a little advice, whether he wants it or not, from Edmonton hockey writer Jim Matheson. Don’t make a trade. Draft a defenseman with that third pick, instead.
“The Thrashers can get a defenceman in [Drew] Doughty (Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League), who can run the power play. There’s [Zach] Bogosian (Peterborough Petes, OHL) who’s tough, mobile and could easily be ready to play in the NHL next year at No. 3. Then there’s Luke Schenn (Kelowna Rockets, Western Hockey League) the best shutdown defenceman in the draft, a young version of Adam Foote. Doughty can really move the puck. Bogosian, an American, is more physical than Doughty. Schenn can step into the NHL right now, according to most scouts. Atlanta will not trade their pick.”
Here’s the full text.
Comments
By beau vighn
June 11, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
First..
Donny will screw it up..bank on it. How in the world they are letting this nut do anything but sweep up the locker room is beyond me..
By R. Stroz
June 11, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
First
By B. Thenet
June 11, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
Bogosian or Doughty should be the pick there, I doubt DW will take Filatov or trade a little farther down for Schenn or Myers.
LA is well set up in their system for offensive defenseman. Doughty, who is almost universally viewed as the pick at #2, could slip down to the Thrashers.
Bogosian played on the same line with Thrashers prospect and Calder Cup Champ Artie Kulda while in Peterborough. I doubt many teams in the NHL know more about him than the Thrashers do, and if he is available I think he is the pick.
By BG33Brown
June 11, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
Mike great link. And I am impressed so far with your constant posts. Keep up the good work and make sure you ask DW the tough questions.
By GaVaHokie
June 11, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
I’ve heard Luke Schenn being projected as a future Scott Stevens… awfully tempting.
I still don’t see how you can pass up either Doughty or Bogosian.
Bogosian played on the same line with Thrashers prospect and Calder Cup Champ Artie Kulda while in Peterborough.
What better way to have TWO guys develop faster in your system?
By GaVaHokie
June 11, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
[“Luke Schenn is just going to pummel his man. Yuri Alexandrov, he’s just going to get smoked.”] (http://youtube.com/watch?v=pFrhIYGn04M)
By kev
June 11, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
first
By Mike Knobler
June 11, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
BG33Brown Thanks. I’ve told Don Waddell I’ve got no agenda other than being fair and accurate and reporting as much news as I can. I think that will involve some tough questions, but nobody — not you guys, not Waddell and not me — benefits if he decides I’m more interested in looking tough than reporting the news. I need to be able to tell people what’s going on and why, and, if there’s more than one version of why, I need to present every one of those versions, as long as they aren’t wacky.
By ranallo10
June 11, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
That’s all we ask of you Knobler. Custance was good at it, I hope he can give you some pointers on how to keep the information flowing from the team.
Playing tough has closed many doors for Schultz, but that’s his role with the AJC.
By dugoutAK
June 11, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
I read somewhere (Hockey News, I believe) that LA was really interested in Filatov….leaving a choice for us between Doughty and Bogosian.
By Brendan
June 11, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Great job, Mike Knobler. On the draft front, I wouldn’t be surprised if Waddell traded the latter first round pick, obtained via trade with Pittsburgh, for either a defenseman or a center who can play on our roster this upcoming season. But if he trades that #3 pick, I have to call that a “short-sighted” move. Atlanta NEEEEEDS to get either Doughty or Bogosian. Period, the end.
If Waddell trades the #3 overall pick, it had BETTER BE to move UP in the draft. And even then, I’ve got my Maalox handy to brace myself for what we just surrendered to do that. My greatest fear is that we move up one spot to get either Doughty or Bogosian, when either one would be LEFT THERE AT #3 anyway!!!! C’mon now, folks. Tampa won’t pass on Steven Stampkos.
Does it ESPECIALLY matter which defensemen we get, Doughty or Bogosian? I think both of them are “can’t miss” prospects. We can and should be happy with either one.
By FormerIslesFan
June 11, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Mike
First off, welcome to the crazy world of the Thrashers’ blogs. I didn’t get a chance to say “hey!” on your first blog.
That being said, the only way that I can even remotely see the Thrashers taking anyone other than Bogoisan or Doughty is if Ilya walks into DW’s office and says that there is no way he is resigning if Filatov is not drafted.
By GaVaHokie
June 11, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this
That being said, the only way that I can even remotely see the Thrashers taking anyone other than Bogoisan or Doughty is if Ilya walks into DW’s office and says that there is no way he is resigning if Filatov is not drafted.
I’m not even sure if Kovy would want that anyway… can’t remember where I read the article the other day about how Kovalchuk, Ovechkin and Malkin REALLY want to be the dominant Russian player in the NHL above the other… not sure how any of them would feel sharing the spotlight with Filatov.
Also, I’d remind Kovy about the All Star game when they had the Russian shift with Kovy, Malkin and Ovechkin and they got scored on twice. :)
By GaVaHokie
June 11, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Oh… then I’d follow that up by telling Kovy if we drafted Bogosian or Doughty, they could man the point on the Power Play with Enstrom and he could move to the slot where he’d score more goals.
By RS
June 11, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
It would be interesting to know what Ilya thought about Filatov.
My guess is that he’d just as soon he not be here, don’t want to get too attached, since his last request for a center resulted in Todd White. I just have this feeling that we will regret not taking Filatov. That kid is going to be a star. Maybe not next year but soon.
LA, Atlanta and Columbus are all swearing that they are going to take defensemen, and the Islanders are reportedly waiting at #5 to get him if he’s still there.
By Mike Knobler
June 11, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
My guess is the bottom like with Kovalchuk is that he wants to win. Sure, a hot young forward might be good for Ilya’s stats, but he needs the Thrashers to make the roster moves that will get them in the playoffs. You can’t do that without being good on the blue line.
By Ben
June 11, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
they need toby pt 2, but even more than that they need a legit scoring center. DW also needs a boss, but that states the obvious. Have faith Thrasherville, all will work out.
By kracker
June 11, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Kovy has been around long enough to realize, even for a scorer, that defense wins championships.
No matter what the game, you first stop the other guys from scoring then win the game with your scoring.
By Red Light
June 11, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
It should be a very interesting draft on all fronts. Did you know LA has 15 picks, and with four in the Top 50 and nine in the Top 100?
That’s not too surprising given their recent futility, but here are a few teams that could really improve their position in the draft and the standings by using them as trade bait, particularly playoff teams Nashville and Washington.
The Preds have eight picks, with four in the Top 50 and a total of five in the Top 100.
Now here is where it gets scary! The Caps have nine picks with one in the Top 50 (#23) but five others in the Top 100 (54, 57, 58, 84 and 93).
Phoenix can do some damage, too, with 10 overall picks, five in the Top 50 and eight in the Top 100.
The Thrashers have seven picks, two in the Top 50 and four in the Top 100.
The rest of the division doesn’t stack up too well. Carolina has just five picks with two in the Top 50 and Top 100, Florida has only four, one in the Top 50 and three in the Top 100. Tampa has eight picks, but after the No. 1 overall pick, has just one other in the Top 100. The rest are #122 or lower.
Comments draft gurus?
By ranallo10
June 11, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Hokie — You read that on Hockeybuzz.
By GaVaHokie
June 11, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
Scouting videos are now up on the NHL site for the draft… just click on a players name an then the video tab.
By Alan
June 11, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
Hurrah, another blog!
I’m not sure who I would go with, but I have a really good feeling about Bogosian.
By kracker
June 11, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
Mike Any truth the rumors about Ilya Nikulin maybe coming over? Has his agent talked to Waddell, anything like that? Nikulin coming to play will have a large impact our draft and FA strategies.
By kracker
June 11, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Mike Here is an article from late may on Nikulin:
http://allhockey.ru/news/31593/
Defender of Russian national team and Ak Bars Kazan has told about the plans for the future, in particular about the possible move to Atlanta:
“It will end soon. Yes, we are negotiating with Atlanta. Morally I am ready to depart and I don’t hide that I would like to try my forces in the best league of the world. I think that it would be interesting for any player. But I don’t have the fixation to leave to go overseas. Besides, at the moment I have an operating contract with Ak Bars”
By ranallo10
June 11, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
WARNING … for those still at work, the allhockey.ru link in krackers post contains internet porn advertisements.
If that’s your thing, good for you…but if you’re at work (like me), you might want to wait until later before you go to that link. Or you can always visit now and ensure a healthy discussion with your ITS folks.
By Lanny McDonald
June 11, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
I just have this feeling that we will regret not taking Filatov. That kid is going to be a star. Maybe not next year but soon.
LA, Atlanta and Columbus are all swearing that they are going to take defensemen, and the Islanders are reportedly waiting at #5 to get him if he’s still there.
That’s why I’ve been saying all along that Filatov is who we need to draft. Kid will be a star, and he WANTS to come here (USA). I don’t know what else you could ask for. Even Craig Custance was talking about how it’s tough to pass him up…
The proper move is to trade up into the Top 5 again… Keep Pick 3 and Trade the Pitts pick with Roster players/Prospects (Sterling? Esposito?). Take Bogosian and Filatov and call it a day. And that would be a great day for Thrasher fans.
It’s probably also time to draft another Goalie. I hear there are several promising Goalie prospects in this draft. It would be wise to stock up the system on all fronts, and no Don, that does not mean we need 3-4 more 3rd/4th line Centers!
By Mike Knobler
June 11, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
kracker Thanks for the tip. I will look into it.
By Lanny McDonald
June 11, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
While you’re at it Mike, see if you can find out if Waddell really recieved a 3 Year Extension immediately after he took over Head Coaching duties.
There has been a rumor on here about it, and the Thrashers management supposedly would not let Craig know whats up. It’s like they are trying to hide it or something.
Thanks.
By Mike Knobler
June 11, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
Just got off the phone with Mike Babcock. Soon to be posted, an update on the Thrashers’ coaching search. Todd McLellan has landed elsewhere.
By kracker
June 11, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
Sorry about the link to the Russian online site, folks. I had never gone there since the machine translation was included. It didn’t look too bad though, as those things go.
By R. Stroz
June 11, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
McLellan goes to the Sharks.
By RS
June 11, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this
There was an extended version of that Nikulin interview at allhockey.ru the other day. He said that Ilya worked on him at the World Championships trying to get him to come over.
Also Nikulin and Ovechkin dug the loonie out of the ice after the gold medal game in Quebec and are going to split it and have it made into good luck charms to wear at the Olympics.
By JLH
June 11, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
I’ve been reading the blog for a while and I don’t recall Jokinen’s name coming up as a center for Kovy. All I hear is that Jaques Martin and he want to part ways. What do y’all think? Would Fla send him our way for Little and the #29 pick? Is that too much to offer? What’s his reputation as a teammate? Why is he on the outs? His +/- has been on the extremes. At $5.25 cap hit seems reasonable for a player that produces.
By Jameson
June 11, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
Hokie- The only problem with trying to convince Kovy it’s wise to draft one of the top d prospects is that I remember him implicitly stating that he wants to play the point on the powerplay.