ATD2025 Draft Thread

[Hawkey Town 18]

Three Rivers will round out its top 4 on the blueline with a player I've wanted to draft for years and haven't had the luck to this point.

I spent much of the past 12 hours sifting through newspaper articles (especially post career write ups, contemporary praise is mighty valuable for early era players), which coupled with the evidence put forth during the pre-merger project, make me believe, firmly, he was the best defensemen on the west coast for the better part of a decade, landing on the 1st team, PCHA AS squad 8 out of 10 years from 1912 through 1921.

Like his now partner on the top pair, he was one of the 3-4 biggest players of his era, skated extremely well, had strong offensive chops, and had a reach that made it nearly impossible to beat on the attack. Given his physical length and longer than normal stick (he used one that was 3-5 inches longer then the average player), and devastating poke check (lot of praise for his defensive game that I'm finding), he should mesh well with Dit Clapper, both verifiable 2 way presences.

I'm really looking forward to studying this HOF'er and presenting the ATD crowd w/my findings over the next few months.

Three Rivers is pleased to select:

Moose Johnson, D

View attachment 976543

The Windsor Star​

Windsor, Ontario, Canada • Sat, Dec 4, 1937Page 31

Undrafted-Cyclone Taylor-Moose Johnson picture from an old timers game in 1937.

View attachment 976544


View attachment 976546

Moose Johnson was my backup if Laperriere didn't make it to me.

 

[spitsfan24]

The Windsor Spitfires are proud to reunite Kharlamov with his Summit Series running mate, forward Alex Maltsev.

Will PM next.

 

[Habsfan18]

Pick coming within the hour. Watching my son today who is home for a snow day. And there are multiple paths I can take here. Weighing pros and cons.

 

[ImporterExporter]

Pick coming within the hour. Watching my son today who is home for a snow day. And there are multiple paths I can take here. Weighing pros and cons.

Present your top 3 choices and let him pick!

 

[Habsfan18]

Alright, thought long and hard about the direction I wanted to take here, and I'm deciding to add an elite playmaker who brings a high level of offense at this point in the draft, and a guy who will reunite with Milt Schmidt to form a solid 1-2 punch down the middle. Baltimore adds Bill Cowley, C.

From TDMM's bio:

Bill Cowley ranks 19th overall and 10th among centers in 7 year VsX (which already discounts the war years)

- 2x Hart Trophy winner
- 4x 1st Team All-Star (and a 2nd Team nod)
- The likely Conn Smythe winner in 1939 (Retro award)

Point Finishes:
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 7, 8

Assist Finishes:
- 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

He's not a perfect player considering the defense is non existent. But he never had great quality linemates and routinely made anyone who played with him better, which is a testament to his abilities. Jarome Iginla instantly becomes the best winger he's ever had, and I think his power game and ability to dig for and retrieve pucks from the corners will compliment Bill's game quite nicely. And having Hasek to help bail out the defensive gaffes certainly helps make me feel comfortable with the selection.

 

[jigglysquishy]

I've been wrestling with the best guy to pair with Bobby Hull. Defensively strong, good passer, doesn't need the puck on his stick, can help with the rush, but doesn't need to lead it. This player finished top 10 in assists 13 times and top 6 in Selke 6 times.

Regina Capitals select C Ron Francis

 

[Voight]

Odessa Jackalopes will select two LA Kings legends

C #16 Marcel "Little Beaver" Dionne

&

D #4 Robert Bowlby Blake

 

[Hitru]

Damn you man! Damn you!

 

[Voight]

Damn you man! Damn you!

For which pick?

 

[Hitru]

For both

 

[Voight]

For both

I honestly almost picked Blake when I went with Karlsson, was surprised to see him still around.

Dionne too I thought would've been picked already - there's a LW I considered but hard to pass up Marcel.

 

[Professor What]

For which pick?

There's a reason he said it twice. Lol

 

[ImporterExporter]

Dionne is wonderful value at this point @Voight !

 

[Professor What]

We're going to challenge you all to an all-around sports competition, because we think we'll win with this guy. He was not only a hockey star, but he excelled at football and lacrosse too. Oh yeah, and boxing and wrestling.

Anyway, he should be rock solid on our blue line and give any ne'er-do-wells on the opposing teams plenty to think about. We introduce Lionel Conacher.

 

[Voight]

Dionne is wonderful value at this point @Voight !

Yea pleasantly surprised to see him available. Enables me to have Delvecchio as my first line LW.

 

[Habsfan18]

Just have to cook supper and I'll be back in a bit for my pick.

Got scooped on Lionel Conacher here.

 

[VanIslander]

"Supper".. i have been teaching English for over 20 years and at times forget to tell students about "supper", a word used to mean any meal from midday in my youth (lunch or dinner, though most ofter dinner). I thought it archaic. My bad.

Thanks for that.

 

[BenchBrawl]

In Québec French it is Déjeuner for breakfast, Dîner for lunch and Souper for dinner.

Apparently it is different in France, but I'm not sure.

 

[jigglysquishy]

This is the latest Dionne has ever gone. Before that, last year was.

I remember chatter about his being hard to be your bedrock player, but I do think he's a strong #2 centre.

 

[Habsfan18]

Might be a tad bit early, but I don't pick again for awhile and I don't want to risk missing out on him if I trade back.

Since I went Bill Cowley last pick, I thought it would be important to add a defensively responsible guy down the middle who I could throw over the boards next. Especially in a division with quite a bit of offensive firepower. And if I'm looking for one, why not choose quite possibly the greatest ever?

Baltimore will add 6 Selke Trophies and a guy who can feature prominently on the PK to their lineup..Patrice Bergeron, C

That gives me three Bruins greats down the middle. I feel dirty.

 

[spitsfan24]

When announcing this pick last year, I said this guy had unfinished business here in Windsor. One year later (and one championship series game 7 OT later), that still rings true.

For the third year in a row, the Windsor Spitfires are proud to select their goaltender Ed Belfour.

I guess this officially makes me a Belfour enthusiast now. Wouldn't have expected that.

Will PM next.