a few weeks ago i watched some shift by shift videos (good resource:
Prospect Shifts ) of a few forwards who are above our range and in our range. my initial ranking:
Martin
O'Brien
Bear
Spence
Carbonneau
Kindel
Lakovic
loved the first three guys. i know that young athletes heal pretty well from achilles injuries but i'd rather give up an asset to trade up and get Martin than gamble on Bear. but i'd take Bear before the other Fs i have ranked after him, by quite a bit.
Spence was interesting but looked to lack the creativity of a top 6 F.
Carbonneau i think will be an NHLer. he has the size, the shot, and can put together some interesting shifts. if we keep both picks i'd take a shot at him.
Kindel, to me, looks like a junior hockey player. don't think his game translates. the announcers did say that the game i watched was the first one back from a long road trip, but i didn't love his game. skilled but disengaged.
again, just one game, but to me Lakovic doesn't seem interested in adding elements to his game that complement his size. he didn't engage with his body and often turned away from contact. his stick is good but he reminds me unfavourably of Kotkaniemi at the same age. a less talented Benoit Pouliot.
a few names have recently popped up on the radar that i haven't had the chance to check out: Cootes, Reschny and Murtagh.
probably going to check out some of the D at some point. seeing how far Buuium fell last year in a draft that was supposedly stacked at D, i'm sure some highly rated D will make their way to our pick.
