'06 Draft

Ando · Guru

'06 Draft

patg · Member

I tend to agree that there are some quality d-men. If I had a choice i would go after Nigel Williams and then Bob Sanuinetti. But let us not foget since Michael Frolik might be the sleeper in this draft (rated 12), if he's available I would definitely select him over a d-man. This kid is good, he was pegged to be no. 1 for this year but dropped off in 2005-06.

Ando · Guru

patg wrote:

...let us not foget since Michael Frolik might be the sleeper in this draft (rated 12), if he's available I would definitely select him over a d-man.

And-o thinks that Bob should "frolik" almost exclusively in the North American draft pool...at least in the first few rounds!

The Habs need a few so-called "blue chip" prospects to shore up the organizations depth!

...although I agree, Frolik is one of a few "flash & dash project" type guys that could slide into later rounds! Not much "flash & dash" performing well though in the playoffs! Thus, And-o is pulling for some "grit and hustle"!!!

Key Lime · Guru

Last season we drafted a goaltender first...I don't see why we need to draft a D-man this year. What about some offense. It's not like we have loads of star offensive players just waiting to crack the Habs' lineup...

I don't know...drafting a D-man would be a downer after drafting a goaltender last season.

Ando · Guru

Well, according to everything And-o has seen and read so far...the Habs are likely to be looking for some serious depth along the blueline!

It is pretty thin back there...and down on the farm is just tragic!!!

Key Lime · Guru

What's tragic is that we are in this situation...

brooklynhabfan · Guru

Ando wrote:

Well, according to everything And-o has seen and read so far...the Habs are likely to be looking for some serious depth along the blueline!
It is pretty thin back there...and down on the farm is just tragic!!!

hey, where's that picture?

beakermania · Senior Member

Key Lime wrote:

Last season we drafted a goaltender first...I don't see why we need to draft a D-man this year. What about some offense. It's not like we have loads of star offensive players just waiting to crack the Habs' lineup... I don't know...drafting a D-man would be a downer after drafting a goaltender last season.

Kostitsyn is ready, he will be in the lineup next year. Latendresse is in the prospect pool and probably two years away. Chipchura is going to be a good one and is ready to make the jump to Hamilton. Grabovsky looks like he may have been a steal if you watched his great play for Belarus in the World Championships. And S Kostitsyn was the leading rookie scorer in the OHL, (perhaps a late round steal??) Guys like Matt Aubin, Greg Stewart, and Matt D'agostini, were also pleasant suprises this year. Never mind the fact that i still have not mentionned Bulldogs First line Centre Corey Locke. Add that to the already graduated likes of Higgins, Perezhogin, and Tommy P, who should all improve with experience, and the young forward ranks are not as bad as you make them out to be.

Also Ferland and Lapierre have a shot at making the team this year. Though they are more role players, than offensive dynamos.

Defence is really hurting right now as only Emelin (might be tough to get over from Russia with no transfer deal, but he needs to get to Hamilton soon) and O'Byrne (senior at Cornell) have potential as future top 4 material. J.P Cote could be a 5th or 6th dman down the road, and Konstantin Korneev could as well (however if he is not signed by midnight tonight MTL will lose his rights.)

Goaltending appears solid for the future with Price, Danis, Halak, Heino, and Lacasse in the system.

All in all Defence is really the major need for this franchise right now, and i fully expect a defenceman to be drafted in the first round. My hope is for Wishart but who knows what the Habs brass is thinking. They have shown a tendency to go Best Player Available in the past and that trend may continue if there is someone they really like on the board when they draft.

I really want a defenceman unless a special forward is available, and i just don't see a special one dropping to us. You can never have enough good young defenceman.

Two good sites for Habs prospects are Hockeysfuture.com and Habsprospects.com

Nil d · Guru

Thanks for that comprehensive update, Beakerman.

I agree defense is the main concern for the near term. I was impressed with Emelin (Yemelin?) in the World Juniors. I hope he can get over here soon.

beakermania · Senior Member

Nil d wrote:

Thanks for that comprehensive update, Beakerman. I agree defense is the main concern for the near term. I was impressed with Emelin (Yemelin?) in the World Juniors. I hope he can get over here soon.

As far as spelling goes both are correct at this time. Thats the problem with russians you can go either way on the spelling since their alphabet and ours do not match up. He will have a choice to make just like Kostitsyn, who could have also gone Kastitsyn as his last name. Hopefully we can get Alexei in a Bulldogs or Habs jersey so we can force him to make that choice for his last name.