Good luck to the Minnesotans in tonight's draft...

midwesthockeyscout · Post by **midwesthockeyscout** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:43 pm

Now, I will be curious to see where Ben Hanowski lands. For as much as he seemed to get criticzed a bit on this board for the competition he plays = large stats, but his stock is rising. My sources have told me that they aren't getting any buzz on him, and as far as Budish is concerned, they weren't hearing anything further on him, as to why I stated he was going to drop to the second round.

In fact, speculation is Budish may fall late in the second. For his sake, and as it's merely my speculation, I still will be surprised if he falls past Phoenix at #36.

mnpuckmaster · Post by **mnpuckmaster** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:27 am

Sorry folks, I'm not a scout, or a coach, or have exclusive sources that supposedly know everything, but I do know this. The Wild already got a Jordan Schroeder about 5 years back. His name is Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and he's doing just fine...Schroeder's a GREAT player, don't get me wrong, but I really think Leddy's gonna be a GREAT player too.

Great work picking up a later pick too...we need that depth as previously stated.

Let the ripping on me begin...

midwesthockeyscout · Post by **midwesthockeyscout** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 4:56 am

Puckmaster - since you are not a scout, a coach or have inside sources, then your opinion doesn't matter. Atleast Youngblood can say he knows Phil Housley!! I am just kidding.

I don't think the debate is whether or not Leddy will be solid, it's that #1 Schroeder WAS the highest rated player on the board via TSN and Central Scouting AND 2)he fills a more pressing need for the Wild, especially if the lose Gaborik - not that Schroeder is anything near Gabby.. Isn't that the thought process?? Taking the best player available?? Filling a need?

flatontheice · Post by **flatontheice** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:16 am

midwesthockeyscout wrote:Puckmaster - since you are not a scout, a coach or have inside sources, then your opinion doesn't matter. Atleast Youngblood can say he knows Phil Housley!! I am just kidding.

I don't think the debate is whether or not Leddy will be solid, it's that #1 Schroeder WAS the highest rated player on the board via TSN and Central Scouting AND 2)he fills a more pressing need for the Wild, especially if the lose Gaborik - not that Schroeder is anything near Gabby.. Isn't that the thought process?? Taking the best player available?? Filling a need?

Troy Hesketh in the 3rd round?

Ontheice · Post by **Ontheice** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:30 pm

midwesthockeyscout wrote:#1 Schroeder WAS the highest rated player on the board via TSN and Central Scouting AND 2)he fills a more pressing need for the Wild, especially if the lose Gaborik - not that Schroeder is anything near Gabby..

Isn't that the thought process?? Taking the best player available?? Filling a need?

Evidently not, Glad we picked up a couple of goalies, we have seen how cornering that market can be very valuable.

northwoods oldtimer · Post by **northwoods oldtimer** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 4:17 pm

High school looks to be a pretty good choice to make:

Quote from NHL. com

Since the 2003 draft, 113 high school players have been tabbed by NHL teams. In 2008 15 (7.1 percent) of all North Americans drafted were high schoolers. This year, a record 19 were selected (11.1 percent), including Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School defenseman Nick Leddy, the top scholastic skater chosen, who went No. 16 to the Minnesota Wild.

Papa Bergundy · Post by **Papa Bergundy** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 5:45 pm

I think people are putting a little too much stock in to this draft. The NHL draft is unlike any other draft in sports because you have juniors and seniors in high school getting drafted. It's a mix of guys like Tavares that are going to play in the NHL next year and more than likely make an impact, as well as guys like Leddy, Budish and so on that won't be in the show for a little bit of time yet, if it all. The NHL draft is more similar to the USHL futures draft. I'm willing to wager Leddy still has 3 years at the U before he tries to make the jump to the NHL. He could have been traded nine times at that point. Case in point Blake Wheeler. In conclusion, it doesn't matter how many inside sources you have, foresight is always cloudy so never count on this draft to predict who is better and who will be better.

major4 · Post by **major4** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:42 pm

Well said papa burgundy.
Also the statistic about high schoolers in the draft is not just referring to MN high school players, the total of 19 had players from High schools out East and 3 European players (sweden and finland) from Shattuck St. Mary's. i didn't think the shattuck players were considered high school players. The fact posted by nhl.com is a bit of a stretch. Their number of 19 reported is still not the big when you consider the total amount of players drafted was 211.

midwesthockeyscout · Post by **midwesthockeyscout** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:48 pm

Papa Bergundy wrote:I think people are putting a little too much stock in to this draft. The NHL draft is unlike any other draft in sports because you have juniors and seniors in high school getting drafted. It's a mix of guys like Tavares that are going to play in the NHL next year and more than likely make an impact, as well as guys like Leddy, Budish and so on that won't be in the show for a little bit of time yet, if it all. The NHL draft is more similar to the USHL futures draft. I'm willing to wager Leddy still has 3 years at the U before he tries to make the jump to the NHL. He could have been traded nine times at that point. Case in point Blake Wheeler. In conclusion, it doesn't matter how many inside sources you have, foresight is always cloudy so never count on this draft to predict who is better and who will be better.

I stated that Leddy would probably need 3 years either here or in some private messaging, but let's understand guys like Erik Johnson, Phil Kessel, and Thomas Vanek needed one year in college before turning to the pros. The Wild didn't make the playoffs. They need some scoring punch, and Schroeder fills a more immediate need. I look for Schroeder to make the jump immediately following the 2009-10 season.

EHSHack · Post by **EHSHack** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:06 am

On a personal note, congrats to 2008-09 Duluth East captain Max Tardy, as he was taken by the Blues. Among other MN guys, from Edina, Budish went to the Panthers and Anders Lee went to the Blackhawks I believe. Hanowski was taken along with a kid from Roseau in the middle rounds.

With pure speculation in play, the Edina vs East state game had a ton of potential, that being a big word, NHLers. Based on scouting, you have Tardy, Lee and Budish(although he didn't play) with Forbort sure to go as well as Lutzka being rated and Welinski getting a NDTP offer, with the Eversons sure to make some noise. That's 7 guys! Obviously it's most likely a pipe dream, but hey, it would be a hell of a story.

midwesthockeyscout · Post by **midwesthockeyscout** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:39 am

I echo congrats to Tardy, but also to his supporters in Lee and Karl from East - both major contributors to this forum.

I have received a few private messages ober the past couple days, and I must say, as was posted on this "talker", Troy Hesketh from Tonka in the 3rd Rd has some people puzzled. He wasn't even rated on the site I am reading, and as one PMer asked me, if I knew why Danny Mattson (Holy Angels ranked 57) or Nate Schmidt of St. Cloud (161) didn't get drafted.

In Schmidt's case, being ranked 161 of North American skaters, really made him a long shot. Only 210 men were selected, and when there were 200 European players ranked, 410 men were on the draft board.

Anders Lee was ranked 118th and was drafted in 6th.

One of my sources had speculated that Mattson may not have fared well, if he even went to the combine, in the physical portion such as vertical and long jump, bench press, etc... How this relates to being a very good hockey player is the question, as his on-ice ability got him ranked in the 50s.

I don't know, but I hope the kid isn't devastated. I know I would be.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:50 am

midwesthockeyscout wrote:I stated that Leddy would probably need 3 years either here or in some private messaging, but let's understand guys like Erik Johnson, Phil Kessel, and Thomas Vanek needed one year in college before turning to the pros.

Just to clarify, Vanek played two years in college. Not one.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:54 am

midwesthockeyscout wrote:I have received a few private messages ober the past couple days, and I must say, as was posted on this "talker", Troy Hesketh from Tonka in the 3rd Rd has some people puzzled. He wasn't even rated on the site I am reading, and as one PMer asked me, if I knew why Danny Mattson (Holy Angels ranked 57) or Nate Schmidt of St. Cloud (161) didn't get drafted.

In Schmidt's case, being ranked 161 of North American skaters, really made him a long shot. Only 210 men were selected, and when there were 200 European players ranked, 410 men were on the draft board.

Anders Lee was ranked 118th and was drafted in 6th.

One of my sources had speculated that Mattson may not have fared well, if he even went to the combine, in the physical portion such as vertical and long jump, bench press, etc... How this relates to being a very good hockey player is the question, as his on-ice ability got him ranked in the 50s.

I don't know, but I hope the kid isn't devastated. I know I would be.

It isn't the end of the world to not get drafted. They will have another shot to get picked up in the 2010 draft. Not to mention, occasionally undrafted free agents end up with nice deals if they prove their stuff in college.

I am surprised about Mattson though.

midwesthockeyscout · Post by **midwesthockeyscout** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:26 pm

[quote="Gopher Blog"
Just to clarify, Vanek played two years in college. Not one.[/quote]

I stand corrected, but he only needed the one year. If my memory serves me, he had 30 goals his freshman year and was talked about turning pro, but the $$$ weren't offered to his liking.

Toomuchtoosoon · Post by **Toomuchtoosoon** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:30 am

I have received a few private messages ober the past couple days, and I must say, as was posted on this "talker", Troy Hesketh from Tonka in the 3rd Rd has some people puzzled. He wasn't even rated on the site I am reading, and as one PMer asked me, if I knew why Danny Mattson (Holy Angels ranked 57) or Nate Schmidt of St. Cloud (161) didn't get drafted

The Oilers hired a local former NHLer to scout the local high school kids this year. The scout was extremely impressed with Hesketh which is why they picked him where they did.

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Good luck to the Minnesotans in tonight's draft...

Interesting