LIve Draft Talk & The Most Comprehensive & Entertaining 2009 NHL Draft Rankings

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Philip Varone

C

San Jose Sharks

Varone to the Sharks in the 5th round.  Congratulations to Phil Varone & to the San Jose Sharks on what I think will be one of the best picks of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  And shame on the other 29 NHL teams, especially Toronto, whose draft this year seems like an abomination.

In the immortal word of Liz Lemon, blurg.

Every time I try to sit down & work out this huge process of working my way through myriad scouting reports from multiple companies, and intertwine it in with what I’ve seen from these guys in person, something happens.

The phone rings.  An old friend wants to talk.  Someone is trying to get A-Rod from me now that he’s starting to heat up. (Josh Hamilton is gonna be healthy in a week right?  Because that’s the main piece I’m getting back in a 5-player blockbuster deal.) 

So here we are, just a few short hours from the draft, and I’ve finally…FINALLY finished my Top-60 2009 NHL Draft Rankings.

Note: I said rankings, not where I think guys will fall.  With the New York Islanders at the top of the draft, that’s a whole different story.

Let me tell you, that second round is an absolute crapshoot.  Like, there are 4-5 guys in my 40’s & 50’s who could end up being massive steals.  I’ve never seen the kind of hyperbole thrown around about guys at that point in the draft that I’ve seen this year.

So without any further ado, or blurg…

1. John Tavares, C – His shot release & accuracy are simply too great to pass up on.  He will be his generation’s Mike Bossy/Brett Hull, the guy who does one thing exceptionally well, and that’s score goals.  Seeing as he’s also in great shape (something Hull had issues with at the beginning & end of his career) & is a tireless worker, he will be a better skater and defensive forward than Hull was.
2. Victor Hedman, D – High-end skill level in both ends, but has to learn how to play better under the brightest lights.  He’s young, it’ll come.
3. Matt Duchene, C – Has big shoes to fill in ‘Rado, but if anyone can come in & play a Sakic-esque game, it’s Duchesne.
4. Evander Kane, C – Big time power forward who shows up in the biggest games.  If he doesn’t go 4^th, a lot of NHL scouts & GM’s will be shocked.
5. Brayden Schenn, C – I may be a Leaf fan, but I’m not gonna rig the rankings so that he falls to them.  He has the same ceiling as Kane, just hasn’t shown it at the WJC yet.
6. M. Paajarvi-Svensson, LW – Fallen through the cracks because of Kane & Schenn moving up from previous rankings.  He’s still an offensive force though, and will get to show that very soon.
7. Jared Cowen, D – A monster @ the U-17’s in 2007 & the Memorial Cup in 2008, blew out his ACL early this year, but all indications are he’ll be fine.  Controls the pace of the game like all greats do.  Great skater at 6’5” and a great passer.
8. David Rundblad, D – The Swedes produced four high-end defensemen this year, and Rundblad definitely screams “high-end.”
9. Dmitri Kulikov, D – I don’t get why anyone wouldn’t have this guy in their top-10.  Quite frankly, he’s good enough to be higher than this.  If you’re not familiar with him, all I have is two words: Sergei Gonchar.
10. Nazem Kadri, F – I’ve written plenty about Kadri, so here’s something new.  I heard an interview with him the two days ago.  He sounds super-grounded & like a nice guy.  I also heard him say recently that he needs to learn how to better use those around him, which couldn’t be more true.  Okay, I’m sold.  Well, enough to make him #10.
11. Ryan Ellis, D – Will he or won’t he be a top-4 D?  As far as I’m concerned, the scouts who say “No” are stuck in the pre-lockout NHL mindset.  The kid will play, and years from now we may all wonder why he wasn’t taken ahead of Cowen.
12. Scott Glennie, F – The bigger the game, the bigger this skilled linemate of B. Schenn plays.  Excellent hockey IQ.
13. Jordan Schroeder, RW – Excellent speed, core strength make up for diminutive stature.  Has to overcome the “Little brother” complex that seems to purvey too many American players in comparison to their Canadian counterparts.
14. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D – Here’s the 3^rd of four Swedish defensemen.  Tremendous first pass, already understands how to play the angles defensively, but developing a bit slower than the two listed before him.  Doesn’t mean he won’t be (almost) as good however.
15. John Moore, D – Apparently he skates like Paul Coffey and is a strong offensive player, but his other skills & defensive play has yet to catch up to his skating.  If it does, watch out.
16. Jacob Josefson, C – Potential Henrik Zetterberg clone, without quite as much offense.  Need I say more?  (P.S. This draft is deep!)
17. Zach Kassian, RW – The Milan Lucic comparisons are driving this kid up as high as 10^th in Draft projections.  That kind of hyperbole is what gets scouts and teams in trouble.  This slot makes much more sense.
18. Simon Despres, D – A little tough to project this kid.  His upside is as a 1^st paring shutdown defensemen who is a good skater & playmaker.
19. Stefan Elliott, D – I have him higher than just about anyone else.  The kid can flat-out create offensively.  He can play good defense as well, but it’s inconsistent right now.  If it wasn’t, he’d be up there in the top-15.
20. Landon Ferraro, RW – Ray’s kid has a tremendous hockey IQ, projects as a sniper, and already plays good defensively with the potential to be great. 
21. Peter Holland, C – Slows the game down a la Adam Oates, but has more skill.  Scoring ability is compared to Jeff Carter, but having seen Carter in Jr., they definitely play different styles.
22. Nick Leddy, D – A 5’11” tough ass spark plug with skill.  Teams try to come at him to take him out early, and instead of wilting, he goes right back after them.  That’s my kinda player.
23. Kyle Palmieri, C – Was kicked off the US Under-18 team for not ratting out teammates who had done something wrong (but not terribly wrong).  Say what you will, but to me that’s the consummate team player.  Game-breaking speed, and if his hands end up as good, he’ll be another one who we’ll look back on & think “He should have gone higher.”  (Have I mentioned yet that this is a deep draft?)
24. Toni Rajala, RW – In 2002, I sat above the TSN broadcast center @ the NHL Draft, and begged Toronto to pick Jiri Hudler, a smallish, uber-skilled player who I knew they weren’t gonna take.  They took Alex Steen instead, and Hudler fell to I believe 57^th, where Detroit was more than happy to take him.  Currently, Detroit is offering Marian Hossa a hugely front-loaded deal for far less money per season than he was offered by both Pittsburgh & Edmonton last summer, in an attempt to be able to afford both him & Hudler.  Are you getting the picture yet?
25. Calvin De Haan, D – Why are scouts saying this kid is too small to play in the NHL?  He’s several inches taller than Ryan Ellis, has tremendous offensive ability, and newsflash, he’ll fill out!!!
26. Ryan O’Reilly, C – Prototypical heart-and-soul Canadian player who logged huge minutes last season and played bigger the bigger the game was.  Lack of top-end skating keeps him out of the top-15.
27. Richard Panik, C – A top-10 player skill-wise, there are huge consistency issues here.  Basically, if he grows up & works hard, he’ll be this draft’s Marian Hossa (a high-end player who falls farther than he should have because of concerns about his work ethic).
28. Phil Varone, F – Read the Varone article, it’s all in there.  And kudos to ISS for their write-up on him, and for saying that he could go much higher than their ranking for him (100th).
29. Zach Budish, C – If Detroit ends up with this kid, I give up.  A projected first-rounder before the season, he blew out his ACL playing high school football & came back late, basically to get his feet back under him.  At 6’3”, 225 lbs, Budish can skate, score, pound, and dominate a game a la Todd Bertuzzi in his prime.  This kid is top-15 if he doesn’t blow out the ACL.
30. Ethan Werek, C – Once Doug Gilmour took over as Head Coach in Kingston, Werek turned up the awesome.  He scored more than Holland at the same age in Midget, and at a higher pace than him once Gilmour took over.  With Dougie mentoring this kid, he’ll be a gamer in the NHL.
31. Carter Ashton, LW – Look, I may be wrong here, but something about this kid doesn’t sit right with me.  He’s big, has a good skill level, and can finish.  But…something doesn’t sit right.  I sincerely hope I’m wrong though.
32. Louis LeBlanc, C – A 1^st rounder in a different year, put up a lot of points in the USHL, which isn’t common.  May play in the Q next year, and for his progression as a player, I hope he does.  A very good two-way player who may surprise with his skill level.
33. Chris Kreider, LW – His speed is so high-end that not only is he far & away the best skater in this draft, but supposedly he would give the Gaboriks & Neidermayers of the NHL a run for their money today. He dominated his high school league the last couple of years, but is a question mark because there hasn’t been much of a chance to see his skill level & IQ vs a higher level of play, where things have to be done faster.
34. Tim Erixon, D – The 4^th high-end Swedish D in the draft, again someone who falls only because of the overall depth of this draft.  An excellent defensive defensemen who has more offensive ability than he has shown, the application of that offensive ability will determine how far he goes in the NHL.
35. Marcus Johansson, C – Yet another off the Swedish assembly line of “High-end, two-way forwards,” the kid will be a gamer.
36. Tomas Tatar, C – Put it this way, if he had played like this last year, he’s another top-15 guy.  7 goals & 11 points in the 2009 WJC, and played just as well in the Slovak men’s league in the playoffs, creating his own chances & whatnot.  I had him at 39 on my rough draft of the draft, and literally just moved him.  How many players can create their own scoring chances, especially against men as an 18 year old?  The kid will play.
37. Jeremy Morin, C – The only player in the draft whose release & ability to finish is comparable to Tavares.  He falls because his skating isn’t even as good as Tavares’ is, and especially (in my rankings) because of attitude & maturity issues.
38. Jordan Caron, C – Steady power forward who may not be a first liner, but will get his points & be a physical presence.
39. Drew Shore, C – After all I’ve read about him, I see an elite checker with very good speed and some offensive upside. 
40. Dmitri Orlov, D – Elite offensive defensemen who is the proverbial “riverboat gambler.”  Plays with a spark, just needs to learn how to play safer & pick his spots.
41. Mac Bennett, D – A total sleeper who can play it any way and won’t get out-worked on or off the ice. 
42. C-O Roussel, D – Another sleeper two-way defensemen who has a great deal of upside. 
43. Joonas Nattinen, C – Will he be a top-6 or a bottom-6 forward?  Potential to be a high-end power forward, but he’ll be a project.
44. Carl Klingberg, LW – One of those bruising 3^rd line forward types who you just love to watch play.  Don’t be surprised to see a team trade up to get to him in the 2^nd round.
45. Dylan Olsen, D – Showed well in World U-18’s playing on the top paring, but played Tier-2 Jr. A, hence the rating.  He looks like another quality two-way player.
46. Robin Lehner, G – I almost didn’t even rate a goalie in this draft.  Having only seen one live (& that’s why you won’t see Edward Pasquale on this list), and with all the mixed statements about them, it’s hard to get a read.  With Lehner however, he seems like a safe pick to make.  He’s a Lundqvist clone who needs to work on his rebound control & consistency.  Once those come, he’ll be there.
47. Olivier Roy, G – When you’re referred to as a “Warrior,” even if it is by your own coach, you get my attention.  Prototype Quebec League butterflier is positionally sound, works his butt off, and wants nothing more than to win.
48. Alex Hutchings, C – Dropped in the rankings not because of his play, but rather his size.  He’ll play, as his offensive abilities won’t be denied.
49. Anton Burdasov, LW – A 6’3” Russian power forward who can’t be knocked off the puck & has a high skill level, why is he this low?  Because he disappears, a lot.  If he ever puts it together though…
50. Chris Brown, LW – Another high-end grinder who has a bit of a scoring touch, and projects on the third line.
51. Matt Hackett, G – Great fundamentals, and has the size teams look for in a goalie.
52. Sergei Chvanov, C – A “skilled and smart” leader who I think will score more than advertised, and better, b/c he’s not big.
53. Alex Chaisson, RW – 6’4” with a high skill level, but will need time to develop and fill out.
54. Jacob Silfvenberg, W – Yet another super grinder with some scoring touch.
55. Eric Gelinas, D – A big defensemen who could still grow several inches and reach 6’6”+.  He logged huge minutes on a bad team last year, and while a quality offensive player, his offense suffered badly in the 2^nd half.  This could’ve been because he was focusing more on defense, or because of the team around him.  Another guy who could go higher & who teams may regret passing on.
56. Anton Lander, LW – Not overly skilled, but is the consummate team player and has a tremendous hockey IQ.  Could wear a letter while on a 3^rd line.
57. Josh Birkholz, RW – A tremendous skater who lacks consistency.  Has the skills to play if he can put it together.
58. Ryan Bourque, C – Yup, Ray’s kid.  But he’s small, and inconsistent.  He definitely has the skills & IQ though.  There’s a reason he’s down this low though – he has to show up more.
59. Cody Eakin, C – A Darren Helm clone in every sense of the word, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
60. Brayden McNabb, D – A poor-man’s Cowen who needs to work on his skating.  Will he pay the price to make a play?

Good grief, it’s finally over.  Okay, so some random thoughts on the eve of the draft.

• Snow takes Hedman.  Tampa Bay deals the 2^nd overall pick, but maybe not to Toronto.  If I’m Toronto, I offer the 7^th this year, next year’s 1^st round pick, one of the two 2^nd round picks this year, a 2^nd round pick next year, and Kaberle.  If that isn’t enough, Pogge holding a chocolate cake goes in the package too.
• Don’t be surprised to see many teams trading up or down in hopes of getting Zach Kassian.  Toronto, Boston, Ottawa, and Edmonton all come to mind.  A dark horse in the Kassian Sweepstakes?  Washington.
• Toronto won’t make the Kessel deal.  It goes against everything Burke says about what he wants his team to be & what he wants to accomplish in this draft.
• If Toronto can’t get to Tavares/Top-3, they will do their best to get to 5, or if that pick isn’t in play, 4, using the same formula that Cliff Fletcher used last year.
• I may have Chris Kreider at 33, but if there is a team that is enamoured with Blake Wheeler’s play this year, don’t be surprised to see them take Kreider in the 1^st round, or trade down in the 1^st to get him.
• Supposedly (and I say that because this part comes from Bruce Garrioch, who farts and then writes down what the farts “tell him” and calls it an NHL source), Dany Heatley has Boston on his list of teams he’d go to, which makes sense.  Boston, is again supposedly interested in Heatley.  If I’m Ottawa, I offer them Heatley for Kessel straight up.  Kessel is at the stage where you can offer him less than a Getzlaf/Perry deal with term, as opposed to what Heatley makes.  I don’t do it if I’m Boston, but if I’m Ottawa I pull the trigger in a heartbeat.

I may update this with more thoughts as the draft closes in.  In the meantime, enjoy the draft!

Okay live thoughts...

* Garth Snow, you are the Houdini of NHL GM's.  Good job, great pick! 

* Phili aqquires Chris Pronger & Ryan Dingle (loves the name), Anaheim gets Joffrey Lupul (back), Luca Sbisa (1st Rounder last year), and 2 more 1st Round picks.  ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!  Anaheim = WIN!

* TB wanted Hedman from the start, so that's why Lawton looks like a kid in a candy store right now. 

* Duchene will go to Colorado, there is no doubt.

* I guarantee you right now that Brian Burke is all over Atlanta & LA to move up.  Probably moreso LA since the talk is Atlanta badly wants Evander Kane, who would be a great fit with Esposito on their top prospects list.

* Phoenix must be loving how much they seem to have won the Jokinen deal right now.  Two first round picks in this draft is fantastic.

* Yup, Duchene.  Colorado will now wave goodbye to Joe Sakic, who may still want to play.

* My friend who's here taking in the festivities with me noted that Duchene's tie matches the 'Rado jersey.  Apparently Duchene's a huge Avs fan, so you know he's loving this.

* Kane @ 4.  Burke is all over LA right now.  Let's see if it happens.

* Oh my gosh they didn't trade the pick.  Are the Leafs about to lose Schenn?

* Yup, Schenn to LA.  And NYI traded up to 16?!  Kassian may be in play, but if not, there will absolutely a defensemen there for the Isles.

* Columbus didn't do bad in that trade considering how deep this draft is.  Also, my friend says Burke looked broken up about Schenn being picked.  Don't be surprised to see him trade down in the 9-15 range now.

* Burke is talking to Murray about trading down! 

* McKenzie called this pick, wow!

* If Toronto keeps this pick, take the Swede!  Either the forward or the D!

* James says Dallas takes Cowan.

* Kadri to Toronto...man boys, you better be right on him.  Or draft Varone too.

* The board is really starting to get fun now.  Scott Glennie to Dallas (Hey James, ehhh no!), which is a little high but not much of a surprise considering his talent level & IQ. 

* P-S & Kulikov are my guys to watch now.  Cowan too.

* Cowan to Ottawa.  I like this pick b/c he can play it both ways, and he can rush the puck out, which Ottawa desperately needs.  The sooner he can get there, the better for Ottawa.

* P-S falling isn't a surprise, but teams will regret it in 5 years.

* P-S stayed in the top-10, and listen to McGuire there Edmonton, keep him there another year or two.  James - Respect to the Oilers for doing the 3rd jersey though.  Indeed James, indeed.

* David Rundblad now joins the Rusky D, and Jacob Josefson & Kassian on the watch list.  If McKenzie is right & Kulikov falls, the Isles may luck out.

* I don't think the whiner aka Heatley gets dealt tonight.

* Ryan Ellis to Nash Bridges!  Yes!  I thought he'd slide, and am so glad he didn't.  The Preds have an insane defense the second Ellis gets there...hopefully for them the cap won't fall too much in the next few years & they can afford them all.  I loved Ellis' comparible on TSN, definitely can't spell that classic Finnish name!

* The Isles traded up!  Is anyone reading this b/c it hasn't been formally announced yet!  Tavares +...Kulikov?  Kassian?  Rundblad?  Oh glaven-laven!

* Wang's going up!  This can't fail!

(This is exactly what I just said...)

* de Haan?!?!?!  They traded up to get THAT?!?!?!  ...  FAIL!!!!!!  Now that's the New York Islanders we know & love!

* After I had that moment, James, a Boston fan, had the following moment: "If Kassian falls to the Bruins, I will punch you in the lips!"

* Kassian to Buffalo, which I called after the last pick.  Well James won't be punching me in the lips now.

* Florida's up, and they got a player worthy of Bill Torrey's bowtie, Dmitri Kulikov.  And look at the girl with him, atta boy!  Everybody wins with Dmitri Kulikov!

* A good friend of mine who happened to play with Varone in Jr. B just stopped by with his rather tall, blonde girlfriend.  I'm telling you, these hockey guys do well for themselves.  In the meantime, Anaheim took Peter Holland, who I think is a quality player who will be a great 2nd line center behind that Getzlaf fellow.

* James says Minne's taking Schroeder.  Btw, James also called Ellis to Nashville.  I'm trying to remember if he did or not, but it could be that I have tall blonde on my brain.

* Well James got the a player from Minne right.  Nick Leddy, who I had ranked higher than McKenzie or THN, moves up to 16th.  And Pierre McGuire is right, huge upside for this guy.  This pick is not a reach folks, this kid's got balls.

* Even though they could've gone down farther, the Wild just showed the Isles how you trade down.  Jeez, de Haan?!

* St. Louis with a fantastic pick, getting my boy David Rundblad @ 17, far lower than they should've been able to get him.  That more than makes up for not getting Pronger back.

* Btw, Simon Despres will be Montreal's pick.

* What kinda fan gets a Habs jersey w/questionmarks on it?  That's awesome.  And Montreal takes...Louis LeBlanc.  A good pick, but I don't know why they didn't trade down to do it, or just take Despres, who is officlaly free-falling.

* Now I'm free...........free-falling.

* James: Speaking of free-falling, Schroeder!  Indeed.  Also from James, why the hell did they show LeBlanc falling on his face while fanning on a shot?!  Aren't these clips supposed to make the kids look good?!

* Kreider, the speed demon, to the Rangers.  A good pick for them, but there are still quality guys available.

* Despres, Schroeder, Moore, Josefson, and uh-oh it looks like there's a trade!

* This is the Zach Parise corrolary!  Schroeder falls, like Parise did.  They're taking Schroeder.  NJ wants the American.

* And by the American, I meant the Swede.  Josefson, great pick.  I think he's Zetts without the ultra high-end offense.  Don't be surprised if his skating picks up in the next few years like Zetts did.

* James & I think Boston gets either Budish, Duspres, or Elliott.

* We're making fun of the John Moore clips.  Things are starting to get silly now.

* Schroeder 22nd is a great, great pick.  James thinks Schroeder & Burrows would make a nasty combo.

* James just asked me why Toronto didn't take P-S over Kadri.  I threw my THN Draft Preview book at him for it.

* Erixon 23rd to Calgary.  Not gonna lie, I had him in the 2nd round but there is nothing wrong with this pick.

* Johansson 24th to Washington.  A good pick, another Swedish two-way forward.

* James is rockin' & ready for Boston to steal a great one here.  I'm ready to throw my THN Future Watch book at him if they do.  Boston gets a huge player here IF they get one of the following: Budish, Despres, Elliott, & of course Landon Ferraro.  Bonus points if they put their balls on the table & take Rajala.  James would apparently $#!& his pants if they took Rajala.

* Why are you in my yard?  Why are YOU in your yard?!

* Missed the last little bit as James left after Boston made a crappy pick, for which he was supremely roasted.  You'd think the Zach Hamill pick would've taught them.  You'd think.

* A good, quality pick by Chicago, stacking that D yet again with Dylan Olsen.

Okay, 3 & 3/4 hours of live blogging for virtually no one & I'm spent.  Time to watch a movie.  Okay, so I'm really gonna watch The One Where Ross Says Rachel's Name & the one after that, haha.  For anyone who read all this, thanks & I hope you enjoyed!