I will continue posting in this dead thread until Latvia overcomes Canada as the main hockey power and there is just no fun in discussing Latvian prospects since all hockey prospects are Latvians.
Latvia quietly had an above average draft. While no one is guaranteed to have a successful career, 3 drafted players is a matched best result in our history.
Mateiko, as expected, was the first drafted Latvian, and the only one who was almost guaranteed to be drafted. At #90, he also went in his projected range, although some experts had him ranked higher and during the season there was even a possibility of a top 50 pick, if he was on a better team and did not injure himself. But eventually, he is in his place, and even at #90, he is the highest drafted Latvian in 9 years. He should tear up the Q next year and make smooth transition to the AHL thanks to his big body and physicality a year later.
I was waiting for Uljanskis to be drafted at about the same time, since he was projected somewhere in the 100's, but Canadiens actually took Vecvanags. Funny that, unlike another Latvian goalie Maurins, Vecvanags was not featured in any pre draft lists, and nobody expected him to be taken in the draft. Maurins did play in J20 Sweden, while Vecvanags - in Latvia. It was probably his better performance in the U18 worlds that caught the eye of Montreal scouts, but even then the 5th round pick seems a bit high. Im not sure what to thing about his potential future in the sport, since he really did not show anything notable during his club career, but then again - so did Shilovs, when he was drafted after the U18. Arturs had, however, significantly better numbers. I would expect Vecvanags to be drafted in the upcoming CHL draft and move to Canada, and then we will have a better understanding of his potential.
By the end of the draft I was preparing another rant on how the NHL completely ignores Latvian defencemen, and how Uljanskis will join 2022 Fenenko and 2023 Bulans as a high potential players skipped in the draft. However, the curse has been lifted by Anaheim and we got our first drafted defenceman in 9 years. He will be the Latvian steal of this draft, since he was taken some 100 positions lower than he should have been. He was a little raw in the U20 and U18 games I saw him in, but his statistics in J20 Sweden look promising and he is really young - 9 months younger than Mateiko.
No other surprise picks, but after last years draught and with only two players expected to be taken, three is a fantastic result. We are one year closer to the Murnieks - Flugins - Berzkalns era, and Osmanis is a potentially high pick next year as well.
Last point of interest is the CHL draft, although CHL, as a path to the draft and NHL, is worse with every year. Still looking forward to it, though.
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