Sunday, November 23, 2008

Draft Notes

There was a couple of stories on the upcoming NHL Draft in the USA Today this week. Kevin Allen did a story on Victor Hedman being the 1st overall selection.

"Hedman is viewed as a Chris Pronger-type defenseman and you are going to be pretty happy if you get him," said Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill.

USA Hockey's Jim Johannson, who has watched Hedman play internationally for a couple years, calls him "the full package."


That's what most people have been saying about Hedman. He's the next Chris Pronger. With this coming from someone in the Detroit organization, he's know what he's talking about.

Morin is a goal scorer — "possibly the best pure goal scorer in this age category in the world," Johannson said — and Schroeder is known for his playmaking.

"His hockey IQ is extremely high," Ron Rolston, who will be the U.S. national junior team coach this season, said of Schroeder. "He's probably more of a playmaker, but he can score goals. He can do it all for you.

Schroeder is leading the nation for freshmen with six goals and 11 assists. I think people have forgotten about him early on because college hockey gets a late start.

Here's Kyle Woodlief Top 10 Players for the NHL Draft

RANK PLAYER POS HT/WT S DOB TEAM
1 Victor Hedman D 6-6/218 R 18-Dec-90 MoDo
2 John Tavares C 6-0/198 L 20-Sep-90 Oshawa
3 Jared Cowen D 6-5/218 R 25-Jan-91 Spokane
4 Matt Duchene C 5-11/196 L 16-Jan-91 Brampton
5 Brayden Schenn C 6-0/197 L 22-Aug-91 Brandon
6 Magnus Pjrvi-Svensson RW 6-1/198 L 12-Apr-91 Timr
7 Evander Kane C 6-1/180 L 1-Aug-91 Vancouver
8 Oliver Ekman-Larsson D 6-1/168 L 17-Jul-91 Tingsryd
9 Jeremy Morin LW 6-0/193 R 16-Apr-91 U.S. NTDP
10 Nazem Kadri C 5-11/175 L 6-Oct-90 London


(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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