On Frozen Blog

[pucksandbooks' note: This morning's Compost interrupted its A-F sections' coverage of all things Burgandy and Gold to reference the extraordinary exploits of Caps' '06 first-round phenom Nicklas Backstrom, who at 18 is making a mockery of the Swedish Elite League this fall (20 points in 14 games). OFB believes this to be the first published offering of DraftGeekdom in that newspaper's history. While we welcome and applaud the broadened horizons on 15th St. this morning, we'll as yet refrain from conferring DraftGeek status on Caps' Compost beat reporter Tarik El-Bashir. For more consistent -- and better credentialed -- coverage of the future of hockey, read on.]
OFB today is thrilled to showcase its new relationship with one of the most thoughtful and respected voices on Caps’ prospects found anywhere on the ‘Net — “Battleship,” long a virtually lone voice of dispassionate, insightful, and reliable analysis on the often tumultuous message boards at Hockey’s Future.
This is the first in what we expect to be a series of intermittent visits with him. We’ll sit down with him again not long after this December’s World Junior Championships in Sweden and glean his assessments on the progress of some of the jewels in the Caps’ deep prospect pool.

pucksandbooks: While a good many at Hockeysfuture know your bona fides as they relate to evaluating young hockey talent, I wonder if with your introductory appearance at OFB today you’d share with us a sentence or two about your hockey background.
Battle: I’m just a hockey fan. I’ve been lucky enough to build up connections over the years that allow me access to info. I was also lucky enough to work for the Caps for a season.

pucksandbooks: ‘06 draftee Nicklas Backstrom has Caps’ fans salivating with his spectacular start to the new season in the Swedish Elite League. How would you place his numbers and overall performance in the context of previous elite prospects in that league – especially as 18-year-olds? Followup: Is it too early to claim that the Caps landed the jewel of what was thought to be a very difficult-to-distinguish top 5 or 6 in the ‘06 draft class?
Battle: Backstrom is on pace to have one of the top 10 best scoring seasons in the history of the SEL, and he’s only 18. He’s scoring at a greater pace than Peter Forsberg at this age and doesn’t have the help that Forsberg did. I’ve seen the top five from this past draft and I’d rate him as the best player. He reminds me more of Crosby or Gretzky than Forsberg though.
pucksandbooks: In Hershey last season a handful of Caps’ prospects really elevated their development, guys like Tomas Fleischmann and Mike Green and perhaps even Dave Steckel. With an eye toward this season in Hershey, are there one or two or three Bears that Caps’ fans should keep an eye on for similar achievement?
Battle: I’d keep an eye on Chris Bourque. Remember, he played prep school hockey and one year for a bad BU team. Last year was his first true exposure to pro style hockey. Now that he’s had a taste and knows how to prepare, I expect him to have a big jump in production. Eric Fehr supposedly trained very hard this summer. I felt he wasn’t in good condition last season. If he can be productive every night and show he’s in shape, he’ll be in the NHL soon. Finally, Max Daigneault has always had a ton of talent. He came into camp in better shape. If Max can stay focused, he could have a nice season.
pucksandbooks: In your opinion is Bruce Boudreau the kind of coach the Caps’ organization has had difficulty securing to lead the development of its draft assets? Do you think another strong AHL season for him would make him a short-list candidate for a job at the next level?
Battle: It’s hard to find a great teacher. I definitely think he’s the best since Barry Trotz was in Portland. I think he’s already on the radar and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s an NHL coach next season.
pucksandbooks: The Caps have added a conspicuous number of scouts in recent years. Is your sense today that the organization is better staffed with scouts than at any time in its history? If you could, comment too on the alternative trend, which we’re seeing in places like Buffalo today, of management actually skrinking the scouting staff and relying more on video talent assessment.
Battle: I would say this is the best scouting staff they’ve had. I don’t remember a better one. I understand the switch to video assessment, but for me there are intangibles that being at a game brings. You can talk to people who’ve seen the player all season. You can see more things away from the play. You can see how the player is on the bench. Those things are important.
pucksandbooks: If you had to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Caps’ approach to the June Entry Draft, what would those be?
Battle: I would say two strengths that stand out are their ability to find players on bad teams and are better than their stats indicate. Backstrom, Green, and McNeill come to mind. Another is finding players who have talent, but weren’t getting ice time. Eric Fehr comes to mind.
One problem I’ve had with them is they don’t value character and hockey sense as much as pure talent. They may have changed that approach some with the drafting of Francois Bouchard and Mathieu Perreault.
This is small, but I’d like to see them use later round picks on tougher players. Take a chance on an enforcer like McGrattan or Boogaard and see if they’ll develop. Many times these guys will work very hard to become NHLers and will make it. Donald Brashear is an example.
pucksandbooks: At training camp this year, I thought Matt Pettinger built upon his breakthrough season of a year ago and, once he joins the lineup, is likely to become a key offensive contributor. Can you talk a little about his game and his development in the organization? Do you share my sense that he’s developed into a productive, top-6 caliber forward?
Battle: I like Pettinger. I’ve never been big on saying a player absolutely belongs on a specific line. Pettinger could provide great value on a third line as a two-way winger or possibly on the top lines complimenting a guy like Ovechkin or Semin. So much depends on chemistry. Pettinger works hard, plays physical, and has deceptively good hands. He’s a great team guy as well and seems ready to do whatever Hanlon wants.
pucksandbooks: The Caps signed two NCAA underclassmen last spring, Jamie Hunt and Matt Stefanishion. There’s been a long-running debate about the development merits of the NCAA versus the CHL. The college guys get a lot of practice time during the week while the CHLers get a lot more games. Where do you come down in this debate, and with respect to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and its impact on signing draftees a lot sooner, do you forecast more guys plucked from the college ranks in the years ahead?
Battle: I do think more college guys will be drafted. I think what will happen is if you have two players of equal value, and one is a college player, you’ll see the college player taken since you can leave him in school and let him grow. You’ll see this more in the mid- to late rounds where teams aren’t as sure on their picks. Your top end guys will still be mainly CHL and European players.
pucksandbooks: I’m particularly intrigued by the recent emergence of the United States Hockey League, which this past June sent guys like Kyle Okposo and Trevor Lewis to prominent first-round selections. Is the USHL in your opinion already a viable challenger to the CHL as a talent source, and if not, do you think it could be in the near future?
Battle: Honestly, I don’t see it. I think they’ve closed the gap, but top to bottom the CHL is still quite a ways ahead. You have some USHL players that could be dominant in the CHL, but overall it’s still a big difference. I do think the gap will continue to close as guys that aren’t sure-fire first rounders will play in the USHL and college for the reason I stated above. NHL teams will be able to hold their rights longer.
pucksandbooks: There is a loyal and rabid following of hockey prospects today that I don’t think existed just 10 years ago, a legion known affectionately at OFB as DraftGeeks. The Internet has I think played a huge role in fomenting this passion. If you were to try and explain the allure of monitoring prospects to a hockey fan whose interest today centers solely with the fate of the parent club, what would you tell him?
Battle: I guess the best answer to this is what draws me to it. I love watching young guys develop. It’s a great feeling to see a player you watched become a successful NHL player. It’s also easier to see a player evolve as the improvement is more noticeable at the lower levels. Also, you have an idea of what your team can trade for established players by being aware of a surplus at a certain position. It can be fun, especially if your team is struggling. I really enjoyed watching [Jonathon] Toews and [Erik] Johnson last season and picturing them in a Caps uni.