My personal guide to tonight's NHL draft, complete with links
The guys who I'd be happy to see end up going to WSH at No. 24, plus some must-reads/follows
21-30 on TSN: Jordan Caron, Ryan O'Reilly
31-40 on TSN: Jeremy Morin, Joonas Nattinen
41-50 on TSN: Zach Budish, who seems to be moving up fast...
Guys I'm not interested in seeing WSH draft: Small forwards. Hershey is stocked with enough of 'em. Goaltenders.
Roster player most likely to be traded: Shaone Morrisonn.
Key reads: DMG's post on the WSH '09 draft, @DarrenDreger,@nateewell, @JapersRink, @CMasisak22, TSN, Globe and Mail.
Anyone else got links/follows?
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Guys I’m not interested in seeing WSH draft: Small forwards. Hershey is stocked with enough of ’em. Goaltenders.
Completely agree. Unless some smaller guy falls in their lap, I think the organization needs size (or physicality at the very least).
Tyler, who are you most interested in seeing the Caps add (of the guys who might be there at 24)?
Isn’t drafting for size one of the biggest problems GMGM has had? He seems to overvalue larger players. Pokulok? Fehr? Schultz? I know Schultz is at least contributing for the Caps (and getting better) but he took him 2 picks before Mike Green when at this point everyone would acknowledge that those two picks should have been flipped. We had the biggest (maybe 2nd biggest) team in the league last season and how did it help us in the playoffs? I want guys that can skate, have hockey sense, and want to go win the damn puck. I don’t care if the guy is 5’11" I want the guy that wins battles.
I don’t know. Interesting point. If memory serves, Backie is smaller than the other guys who were options at No. 5 that year. But worth thinking about for sure.
I don’t think Backstrom was really smaller than the other options at 5. IIRC there were 5 guys going in that were can’t miss. When the Caps drafted Backstrom and Kessel were left. Backstrom is a C and they needed a C for AO so Backstrom was a bit of a no brainer. I also think GMGM liked Backstrom the most going into the draft but I don’t know for sure. The point is just that size is not dispositive of a player’s potential so especially when drafting 18 year olds I’d rather GMGM focus on the skills that are ultimately necessary to succeed in the NHL: skating, hockey sense, work ethic. (I also forgot Joe Finley on my overvalued tall boy list.)
It’s hard without having seen ‘em, right? From what I hear: Budish and O’Reilly, with Nattinen in third. Budish sounds like Tkachuk.
I’m onboard with you. If Josefson falls to 24 (unlikely, but possible), I can see the Caps taking him – and I’d be happy with it, despite his size. Otherwise Budish and then O’Reilly for me.
Yeah, but is a 6-0, 190 C a little too small when you’re going to have to go up against PIT for the foreseeable future? The Caps already have one small (tho solid on his skates) C….
Doesn’t everything say that Josefson is solid on his skates and likes the physical game? 6’0" is taller than Crosby. At some point it’s not about height it’s about skating, strength, and battling. I don’t see why you have to be 6’2" to do that. I’ve watched Backstrom flatten Hatcher. Size isn’t the only factor.
He’s a small forward, but I’d love to see Toni Rajala be a Cap.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 26, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions
If I had to guess, I’d say the pick becomes part of a trade. I’m not in GMGM’s circle or anything, but none of the prospects we think will be available seem all that exciting to me.
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 26, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
The Caps LOVE first-round picks. GMGM has been historically reluctant to give up his first-round slot…..
But on the other hand, the Capitals have historically been more interested in building for the future than winning right now. They’re a Cup contender right now, so many that changes now.
Depends on what the other part of the package is. 24 straight up won’t do much but 24 and Godfrey or Seabrook could bring something.
No need to package the 24 with Semin. Semin on his own would bring back any piece we could want.
by Rob Parker on Jun 26, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
this is just awesome. and perfectly deployed.
by Natty Bumppo on Jun 27, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
A 2C can be more effective without wings than a 2W can be without a C. Pittsburgh doesn’t have a single W that could have played on the Caps’ top line… just a Cup.
A 2C can be more effective without wings than a 2W can be without a C
I fully agree with this. I envision a 2C as valuable as a 1C (in that a true 2C should be versatile/talented enough to play 1C minutes/situations), whereas wings tend to be more interchangeable. Ovechkin would provide a counterargument, of course…
from the house that Red Jesus built
I think I am over-hoping for a bold stroke. It’s a safe bet someone helpful will be there at 24, and really, there is nothing wrong with standing pat and picking Carter Ashton someone who can bring it in about 2-3 years.
The draft is a great opportunity to improve next year’s roster before the UFA madness.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jun 26, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

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