draft recap
hf preview:
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/92483/dallas-stars-2013-draft-preview/
needs: centers, goalie depth
draft tendencies: avoid qmjhl (sorry stars - i obviously completely ignored this. And not intentionally, i usually avoid the Q as well, but this truly is the year of the Q.)
Round 1:
10th overall: Darnell Nurse, a big well-rounded dman who can skate, distribute the puck, score, and has a ton of nastiness to his game. Projection: 1st pairing Dman. ETA: 2 years to NHL.
stats: 68gp, 12g, 29a, 41pts, 116pims, +15
Would have considered: Max Domi, a center out of london. Yes, he fits the stars needs to a T as an offensive center, but BPA won out here. Nurse is simply a better prospect IMO, and the stars would've been kicking themselves for letting him go.
30th overall: Frederik Gauthier, a huge centerman. Amazing defensive game. Some scouts question his offensive upside. I disagree - think he has 2nd line ability and possibly even 1st line. This was his rookie season in the Q after all. Projection: 2nd line C, selke candidate. ETA: 3 years to NHL
stats: 62gp, 22g, 38a, 60pts, 26pim, +22
would have considered: I almost picked lucas wallmark here, who has considerably more offensive flair but skating questions. I ended up getting him with the next pick anyways.
Round 2:
40th overall: Lucas Wallmark - a highly skilled swedish forward (C/RW). One of the youngest kids in the draft, and played on 3 different teams as well as significant international time. Should be with lulea all year next season so hopefully that will stabilize his development. Projection: boom/bust top six forward. ETA: 3-4 years to NHL
stats: 14gp, 5g, 11a, 16pts, 18pim, +5 (junior), 16gp, 5g, 5a, 10pts, 4pim, -6 (sel-2)
would have considered: Artturi Lekhonen, a highly skilled finnish winger.
54th overall: Jan Kostalek, an all-round czech defenseman playing for rimouski. Named to the Q-league's all-rookie team. Has a good frame but needs to bulk up to play against men. Projection: 2nd pairing 2-way dman. ETA: 3 years to NHL.
stats: 48gp, 5g, 13a, 18pts, 53pims, +17
Would have considered: Almost went goalie here, but figured dallas could pick someone up in the mid rounds instead. Hudson Fasching intrigued me, as a big skilled forward who was considered a surefire first rounder a few years ago but struggled moving away from home. He'll be back home in minnesota for the next few years playing college hockey though.
Round 3:
68th overall: Vincent Dunn. Skilled center, undersized, had a great first half, then got moved to wing in val-dor and struggled. Has a brad-marchand type edge to him, could turn out an effective agitator if his offensive game doenst translate in the NHL. He'll be in gatineau next season and likely the #1 center playing with emile poirier. Look for him to flourish. Projection: top-6 center. ETA: 4 years to NHL
stats: 53gp, 25g, 27a, 52pts, 98pim, +21
would have considered: oliver bjorkstrand, who is basically dunn on RW and in the WHL instead of the Q (and without dunn's edge).