My personal guide to tonight's NHL draft, complete with links
by TylerG on Jun 26, 2009 10:23 AM EDT
34 comments
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?
If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's authors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.
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(Yes, I know the first two lines are smushed. SBN’s software is having a minor glitch…)
by TylerG on Jun 26, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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)?
by David M. Getz on Jun 26, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, but if Jordan Schroeder or Ryan Ellis (admittedly a defenseman) manages to fall because of size concerns, I’d take either in a heartbeat.
by D'ohboy on Jun 26, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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.
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 26, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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.
by TylerG on Jun 26, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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.)
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 26, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s hard without having seen ‘em, right? From what I hear: Budish and O’Reilly, with Nattinen in third. Budish sounds like Tkachuk.
by TylerG on Jun 26, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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.
by David M. Getz on Jun 26, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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….
by TylerG on Jun 26, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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.
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 26, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good work, Tyler—
What are your thoughts on moving the pick + to get an impact player (read: top 6 F) tonight?
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jun 26, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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 0 recs
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 0 recs
The Caps LOVE first-round picks. GMGM has been historically reluctant to give up his first-round slot…..
by TylerG on Jun 26, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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.
by David M. Getz on Jun 26, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe. But what does dealing No. 24 really get you?
by TylerG on Jun 26, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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.
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 26, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
24 and Alex Semin will get you into the top seven, I would say…
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jun 26, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
…or that pesky 2C that seems to be the talk today : )
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jun 26, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No need to package the 24 with Semin. Semin on his own would bring back any piece we could want.
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 26, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The problem is, if you trade Semin to get the #2 C, then who does that #2 C play with?
by D'ohboy on Jun 26, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is just awesome. and perfectly deployed.
by Natty Bumppo on Jun 27, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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.
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 26, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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
by bigonetimer on Jun 26, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which is why AO is a once in a lifetime player, back to back MVP. Wings like that are not even close to the norm. I can think of only a very few wings that can succeed in this league without a quality C, but I can think of a whole bunch of Cs that can put up points regardless of their wings.
by Fehr and Balanced on Jun 26, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am not a Sasha-long-term believer, to be frank.
from the house that Red Jesus built
by bigonetimer on Jun 26, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Me neither, but you don’t have to give up the store to buy a shirt.
by TylerG on Jun 26, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I tend to agree with this, really — I think the Caps are going to be more interesting at the draft for what they don’t pick.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
by gotsparkly on Jun 26, 2009 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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 0 recs
God forbid we follow the Wizard’s example, but I think the Caps would be more Cup-ready by trading that 1st and a roster player for someone NOW.
I promise that’ll be the last time I invoke Les Bullets here on Japer’s…
by war_capitals on Jun 26, 2009 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
23 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 31 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 23 |
|
Atlanta
|
19 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 22 |
|
Florida
|
21 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 22 |
|
Carolina
|
22 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 15 |
(updated 11.22.2009 at 12:47 AM EST)
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