ATD 2023 Draft Thread II (see post 1,069 for ATD Final voting result)

[tinyzombies]

Helmuts Balderis, RW

- 5”11, 190 lbs (like 6’0”, 200 today)
- Inducted into the IIHF HOF (1998)
- NHL appearance was unspectacular, but he was the 4th oldest player in the league

- USSR League Champion (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
- USSR 1st team all-star (1977)
- Top-11 in USSR League Points 11 times (1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th)
- Best 7 USSR VsX Equivalency scores: 98, 91, 89, 88, 82, 81, 76 (total 604, avg 86.3)
- Top-16 in USSR MVP voting 6 times among the seasons where info is available (1st-1977, 5th-1978, 7th-1976, 12th-1974, 13th-1975, 16th-1980)

- World Championship Gold medalist (1978, 1979, 1983)
- World Championship top forward (1977)
- Top-10 in International tournament scoring 4 times (7th-1977 WC, 7th-1979 WC, 8th-1978 WC, 9th-1983 WC)
- 68 points in 58 games in 7 international tournaments

A statistical breakdown of Balderis’ career: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?p=31309267

Based on what I have found, I think Triffy's analysis was most likely right on. Balderis seems to have been a player who would hold the puck and try to carry a line when on weak Riga teams or when his line was built to feed him, but he also seems to have been capable of sharing the puck when placed on strong lines, and was at any rate not a selfish player.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Chicago selects Jon Cooper, coach

A little torn on this one because it seems early yet, but I did mention to TDMM yesterday that Cooper basically has the record of Glen Sather's Edmonton days at this point. So maybe not?

 

[RustyRazor]

Welcome to back to Portland, Smokey Harris, LW!

Does anyone have a neurolink established with LL? I'll pm, but better to be safe.

 

[ImporterExporter]

The powers that be in Saskatoon got on the horn preemptively with the leadership in Toronto and ensured they'd be ready for the upcoming pick. We've got swift word that the following native of Saskatchewan will be heading east to play.

Maple Leafs select:

Brad McCrimmon, D

 

[Leaf Lander]

Great player undrlerrated too. Superb dman

 

[tony d]

Going to finally get a goalie here and select a guy who has familiarity with Glen sather and Paul Coffey on those great oilers teams of the 80s.
Grant Fuhr is my pick.
Next has been pmed.

 

[Sturminator]

Going to finally get a goalie here and select a guy who has familiarity with Glen sather and Paul Coffey on those great oilers teams of the 80s.
Grant Fuhr is my pick.
Next has been pmed.

My ATD spirit animal...[ducks]...

Just kidding, you dirty pirates. Frank Fredrickson is my ATD spirit animal.

One day, I will assemble all the Franks, and the final Frank...That One-Eyed Guy With An Animal Rhythm...shall rise from his slumber to rule for a couple of years!

Helmuts Balderis, RW

He's just always a steal. Every damn year.

Je ne regrette rien, mais...I still want to take him every year because of his nickname, alone. Absolutely dynamic player with the right (or rather not wrong) coach.

 

[tinyzombies]

My ATD spirit animal...[ducks]...

Just kidding, you dirty pirates. Frank Fredrickson is my ATD spirit animal.

One day, I will assemble all the Franks, and the final Frank...That One-Eyed Guy With An Animal Rhythm...shall rise from his slumber to rule for a couple of years!


He's just always a steal. Every damn year.

Je ne regrette rien, mais...I still want to take him every year because of his nickname, alone. Absolutely dynamic player with the right (or rather not wrong) coach.

Baldy?

 

[Sturminator]

Baldy?

I might kill VanI if I keep tap-dancing around undrafteds, so we should probably stop.

 

[Sturminator]

Just quoting myself here, because that's always fun:

1926-27: After the western league folded and was sold in detail to the NHL, Fredrickson came over with several other players to a new hockey team that was set to open for business in Detroit, taking its name, the Cougars, from the Victoria team that provided the seed of its roster. Interestingly enough, this team would eventually become the Red Wings, and insofar as we consider the Detroit Cougars a contiguous entity with the Victoria Cougars of the western leagues (which is at least half-true, I think), Frank Fredrickson could be considered the first superstar of the Red Wings franchise.

I find this to be a really fun fact about Fredrickson, and I'm sure Scotty would approve.

 

[Hitru]

It looks like Voyagers have had 8 hours to make their pick so are we on the clock now?

 

[bogart]

It looks like Voyagers have had 8 hours to make their pick so are we on the clock now?

No, he has until 5:55 AM EST.

 

[Habsfan18]

This will be short and sweet, just woke up and am getting ready for work.

Vladimir Konstantinov, D

 

[Hitru]

Tardis picks RW Corey Perry to bring goal scoring, grit and size to 3rd line.

 

[ChiTownPhilly]

Morning musing:

I utterly reject the premise that old-time coaches are bound by their old-time tactics when assessing ATD. Most ordinary pro-coaches have an arsenal of tactics, accumulated over a century-plus of hockey history, and will choose the ones they believe most suitable for the relevant situations. If ordinary coaches can do this, then all-time ones surely would be able to do so, too.

Everyone who has a non-current coach and is setting up a 1-3-1 Power Play should, at this time, be nodding their heads in agreement (however belated) with the above statement- if not actually voicing a hearty "amen!" to the point made here.

You're welcome.

 

[BlueBleeder]

The St. Louis Eagles select from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Goaltender Tony Esposito.

 

[Johnny Engine]

The Spitfires are going to exact our revenge on Hitru by picking Ryan Getzlaf, who gives us a nice blend of skills down the middle but also importantly is a 6'4" playmaker who should be healthy and ready to go any time Lindros isn't.

We'll give him a right wing who can finish, but this time it's going to be Rick Middleton, who also brings a lauded defensive game to the table.

 

[BlueBleeder]

The St Louis Eagles pleased to select from Callander, Ontario - Left Wing Bill Barber.

Not only will Barber be reunited with his former coach, he will slot into the 2nd line with his long time line mate Bobby Clarke.

 

[Professor What]

Gallifrey will take a ride on the coaching carousel to pick up Pete Green.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

A little torn on this one because it seems early yet, but I did mention to TDMM yesterday that Cooper basically has the record of Glen Sather's Edmonton days at this point. So maybe not?

A little summary of Cooper's NHL career thus far:

Currently in his 10th season as coach of Tampa Bay. Not including this season, Cooper has made the playoffs 8 of 9 years, won 2 Cups, made it to the Final 2 more times and lost, and made it to the Conf Finals 2 more times and lost in 7 games, both times losing to the eventual Cup Champion (Pittsburgh and Washington).

So, in 6 of 9 seasons Cooper's teams have made it to Game 7 of the Conf Finals or further.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

A little summary of Cooper's NHL career thus far:

Currently in his 10th season as coach of Tampa Bay. Not including this season, Cooper has made the playoffs 8 of 9 years, won 2 Cups, made it to the Final 2 more times and lost, and made it to the Conf Finals 2 more times and lost in 7 games, both times losing to the eventual Cup Champion (Pittsburgh and Washington).

So, in 6 of 9 seasons Cooper's teams have made it to Game 7 of the Conf Finals or further.

Honestly, for ATD purposes, it's just harder to stereotype modern coaches in a way that makes them a perfect fit for an ATD team, like you can with old time coaches.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Honestly, for ATD purposes, it's just harder to stereotype modern coaches in a way that makes them a perfect fit for an ATD team, like you can with old time coaches.

I read Cooper as a players' coach, his handling of the locker room/motivation of his players seem to be the things you hear people talk about the most, as opposed to more X's and O's type stuff.

 

[The Macho Man]

I read Cooper as a players' coach, his handling of the locker room/motivation of his players seem to be the things you hear people talk about the most, as opposed to more X's and O's type stuff.

I'm going to put on my fan hat here and give my impressions.

Cooper has done what he has done with the same core, so that puts him below a guy like Bowman who had more varied rosters, but that also isn't unique to him among ATD coaches. I think he's a player's coach with an edge (has benched Kucherov, has suspended [redacted] for breaking minor team rules.

But for all the "of course he won look at that roster", before he took over Hedman wasn't Hedman. Kucherov didn't exist (nor did others). So he did something to bring them out.

And he's shown amazing adaptability in today's game. Remember the 128 point team? High flying offense all the way. We saw how that ended. But look at Tampa since (especially in the playoffs) - they can outright suffocate teams. Florida scored 3 goals all series. 11 straight series wins.

Idk - he can be frustrating at times but other than duration he already hits all of the high points you would want in an ATD-level coach.

 

[Habsfan18]

Pick coming shortly, sorry guys.

 

[Habsfan18]

Well, we waited longer than we wanted to grab our RW2, leaving not as many of our top options available to us by this point, (but that’s how she goes sometimes, amirite?)…so after MUCH deliberation, we’re selecting a player we feel is still a pretty damn good fit for our lineup. A guy who was considered one of the top two-way forwards of his day, and a guy who was quite aggressive considering his size..a former 1st team all-star..the Nova Scotia Voyageurs select..Larry Aurie, RW

One of the greatest two-way forwards in the National League, the mighty mite, 139 pound right winger veteran of the ice lanes is the last member of the club that introduced major league hockey to Detroit in 1927. A fighter throughout every game, Aurie always was ready to trade punches with the biggest players in the circuit when aroused.

He was XXXXXX' favourite player and he gained the respect of his opponents with his aggressiveness, intelligence and scoring touch.

Although one of the smallest men ever to play, he was one of the toughest of the era as well.

Little Larry Aurie caught Jack's attention early in the pre-season training sessions and before the 1927-28 campaign was halfway completed, xxx was proudly calling the gutty forward, "Hockey's best two-way player."