On Frozen Blog

The July issue of Center Ice Magazine, which covers amateur and pro hockey in the Southern U.S., offers some additional assessments from veteran scouts of the Caps’ two first-round picks this year.

“[Gustafsson], 18, was the fifth-rated European skater in the draft, according to NHL Central Scouting, and has spent two seasons with the Frolunda junior team in Sweden. He recorded 15 goals and 17 assists (32 points) in 33 games of an injury-shortened season in 2007-08. ‚ÄúAnton is a highly skilled player with strong puckhandling skills and playmaking ability,‚Äù NHL director of European scouting Goran Stubb said. ‚ÄúHe is an effective passer through traffic who also has a good selection of shots. He‚Äôs a tall, strong and talented two-way center with good vision and a fine understanding of the game. He plays a mature game even when playing against opponents who were two or three years older.‚Äù

Carlson is a 6-foot-2, 212-pound 18-year-old who was born in Natick, Mass., and resides in Colonia, N.J. A rookie in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Indiana Ice in 2007-08, Carlson finished second among league defensemen in scoring with 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) in 59 games. He played in the 2008 USHL All-Star Game and was an assistant captain on the U.S. team at the 2007 Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Carlson was the 17th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

‚ÄúJohn Carlson is a big, burly defensemen. He is a real good skater and a strong skater,‚Äù said Jack Barzee of NHL Central Scouting. ‚ÄúHe runs the power-play from the top of the umbrella and he has a very heavy shot. He‚Äôs a very self-assured kid and rightfully so — he‚Äôs a boy, yet in a man‚Äôs body and very physically strong . . . I knew when I first saw him that he was a first-round pick. He was a guy I had seen before as an under-ager. He had all the tools — size, skill, physical presence and charisma.‚Äù

The Capitals acquired the 21st selection, used to take Gustafsson, from New Jersey in exchange for the Capitals‚Äô first-round pick in 2008 (23rd overall) and second-round pick in 2008 (54th overall). Washington acquired the 27th selection, used to take Carlson, from Philadelphia in exchange for defenseman Steve Eminger and the Capitals‚Äô third-round pick in 2008 (84th overall). Washington has now made 15 first-round picks in the last seven years, four more than any other NHL team.”

The issue also details the demise of the Youngstown Steelhounds — coached the past two seasons by ex-Cap Kevin Kaminski. Earlier this summer the Central League issued a press release which stated that the Steelhounds “are no longer participating in the league.” The team and the CHL have been in a legal dispute over assessments and fees and other financial issues, according to the magazine. Another reason the league may not have been viewing Youngstown as a long-term venture: the ‘Hounds were the eastern-most CHL franchise, and more than 750 miles away from their closest competitor. Kaminski, however, has latched on elsewhere, taking over behind the bench of the Mississippi RiverKings.
At his introductory press conference before Mississippi’s hockey media last month, Killer said, “We‚Äôre going to be a team that‚Äôll battle for every inch of ice for sixty minutes. With today‚Äôs rules and style of play, you need skilled players to compete. But, we will also provide an exciting, hard-nosed brand of hockey with a team that our fans will enjoy watching.”