June
18, 2003
Where Will They Go? INCH's Mock Draft
We've given
you the professional scouts' take on the top college prospects eligible
for this weekend's National Hockey League Entry Draft. We've presented
mock drafts from a number of media outlets across North America.
We've even you given you a look at the thoughts of future Wisconsin
skater Ryan Suter as the draft approaches.
Now we're here
to tackle the question everyone wants to know: which teams will
choose the top college skaters in Nashville this weekend? Using
research, speculation and intuition, INCH takes a shot at forecasting
the futures of nine stars in waiting.
Thomas Vanek
Forward
Minnesota
Do
you get the sense that Sabres’ brass in attendance at
April’s Frozen Four ordered equipment guys to sew Vanek’s
name and number on the back of a Buffalo sweater – hopefully,
the old one like Gilbert Perrault used to wear – roughly
10 seconds after his goal against New Hampshire in the championship
match? We do, too. Some scouts worry about his work ethic, but
he improved by leaps and bounds in that area during the second
half of the season.
INCH sez: Buffalo, first round,
fifth overall
Ryan
Suter
Defense
US NTDP
Hmmm, what’s
the going rate for physical, smooth-skating defensemen with
good size that can quarterback the power play? There’s
a lot of speculation around the future Badger going to San Jose
– where uncle Gary had a pretty good run – with
the seventh overall pick, but they’re pretty well stocked
with guys like Brad Stuart, Jim Fahey and Kyle McLaren. Defense,
however, is a problem in Atlanta. Actually, everything outside
of Dany Heatley seems to a problem for the Thrashers. But defense
is a really big problem.
INCH sez: Atlanta, first round,
eighth overall
Zach
Parise
Forward
North Dakota
While most
draft watchers believe Parise will go somewhere between 10-12,
we have a hard time believing he’d be picked by the teams
holding those selections – Montreal, Philadelphia and
the Rangers. Of course, we don’t think he’ll be
around at No. 10. Doesn’t the thought of Parise free-wheeling
with Calgary against Edmonton on a Saturday “Hockey Night
in Canada” broadcast on CBC seem like a natural? So the
Flames will grab him before the selections reach double digits.
INCH sez: Calgary, first round,
ninth overall
Ryan
Kesler
Forward
Ohio State
Kesler
and another big college forward – Dartmouth’s Hugh
Jessiman – seem to have the same problem in that they
could go anywhere from 10th to 28th in the first round. A lot
of it depends on which teams absolutely love what these players
bring to the table. Jessiman’s bigger, but Kesler has
a better reputation as a two-way player. We feel his prowess
in his own end will lead to Kesler joining Parise in the province
of Alberta at the conclusion of his college career with a team
that desperately needs size up front.
INCH sez: Edmonton, first round,
17th overall
Mark
Stuart
Defense
Colorado College
Here's
what Stuart won't be in the NHL: an offensive spark plug like
Sandis Ozolinsh, a smooth skater a la Niklas Lidstrom or a guy
with a booming shot from the point like Al MacInnis. Here's
what Stuart will be in the NHL: a guy who'll log 25 minutes
a night for a dozen years, someone who'll rarely get outmuscled
in the slot and a player apt to lay punishing hits on opposing
forwards. A native of Rochester, Minn., Stuart would look good
with the home state Wild along with young defenders Willie Mitchell,
Nick Schultz and Travis Roche.
INCH sez: Minnesota, first round,
20th overall
Hugh
Jessiman
Forward
Dartmouth
Of all
the players with college ties tabbed to go in the first round,
Jessiman seems to elicit the most varied responses among scouts
and draft watchers after bursting out of nowhere as a freshman.
Red Line Report likens his game to that of Mats Sundin
and rates him as a top 10 prospect. But most feel he'll go somewhere
between 17 and 27. He would seem like a good fit in San Jose,
as the Sharks look for a physical presence up front.
INCH sez: San Jose, first round, 21st overall
Jeff
Tambellini
Forward
Michigan
Jeff's
father, Steve, is the vice president for player personnel for
the Vancouver Canucks. He's also rumored to be in line for the
general manager's job with the Toronto Maple Leafs. What does
all this have to do with Jeff? Not much, really. But Jeff did
pattern his game after Wolverine standouts like Brendan Morrison
and Bill Muckalt, each of whom played for the 'Nucks (or in
Morrison's case, still plays). Vancouver doesn't have much beyond
its first line of Morrison, Todd Bertuzzi and Markus Naslund,
and Tambellini is certainly familiar with the system.
INCH sez: Vancouver, first round,
23rd overall
Jim
Howard
Goaltender
Maine
Howard
is regarded as the second-best goalie prospect in the draft
behind Quebec goalie du jour Marc-Andre Fleury. A number of
teams are salivating over the possibility of trading up to select
Fleury, including the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Pens' hand, however,
doesn't have any face cards. It's more like deuces, threes and
fours. In any event, it's not enough to swing a deal to move
up to nab Fleury. Odds are Howard will be sitting there for
the taking early in the second round.
INCH sez: Pittsburgh, second round,
32nd overall
Patrick
Eaves
Forward
Boston College
Eaves is
a bit of a mystery only because he played in 14 games last season,
missing 25 due to injuries and suspension. But those who saw
him play are high on him and his competitive spirit. Sure, his
injury may scare some teams off, but odds are one lucky club
is going to get a player who probably would have been a top-15
pick had he appeared in a full slate of games. We don't expect
Eaves to last beyond Atlanta's second-round pick (38th overall),
but recommend he take a good look around the Gaylord Entertainment
Center while attending the draft.
