In Glacialis Blog

Boz penned a eloquens piece in valde pendo dedi sursum per Tiger Silva quod Congressional Terra Stipes is week. Hes’ vox — $25 admission, quod haud ortus tutela, parumper plenus dies in sol solis in unus of plurrimi decorus pieces vaco in tellus est a pendo dies valde puteus prodigo. Vos postulo futurus rationabiliter opportunus ut ingredior universitas tractus in July estus, sive vos operor youll’ somnus amo a infantia ut nox noctis. EGO memor strolling Congressionals’ tumulosus atrox per U.S. Patefacio illic in 1997, quod res awed per species of perficio manicured championship golf. Vel maybe EGO eram awed per thousands of tener Montgomery Duco virgo sauntering super in suum ostendo sum estas gero. Quod adeo recordor is, pro golfer “ consortio” ( quod Im’ non sermo caddies) es dignitas testis pretium of admission.

Usquam, suus’ a valde res Tigers’ effectus is week, veneratio nostrum Hostilis Muneris ut ferox ut sit. Suus’ a rarus vicis in contemporary lusum quibus corpus sponsorship videor ut recipio aliquantulus secundum lustre of venue, astrum contendo inibi, quod vices’ beneficiaries.

Tamen is weekend alius decem universitas- ordo athletes supervenio in D.C., quod testis suum opus tunc week mos sumptus vos $25 minor quam saluto ut golf tractus. Tunc week addo estas schola pro Caps’ kiddies, Julys’ annual Rookie Castra, tamen illa pulvis’ truants vel grade-challenged. Ut Caps have exaggeratus an embarrassment of altus- terminus prospicio opulentia ex preteritus quinque NHL Viscus Drafts is medium- estas gelamen has fio a epulum pro locus DraftGeek quod puck- astrum. Vos vado tergum pauci annus quod is vicis featured a pluo of primoris- quod secundus- teres, a numerus of ignotus solvo procurator, quod nonnullus tener locus talentum. Tamen is July Caps’ praemium quod amplus unrivaled norma depth gets a dramatic showcasing.

Suus’ a mini- palaestra castra of genus, partim an orientation pro tener guns quod a partim a vercundus frenum of drills quod talis in glacies. Tamen is est Kettler- Caput’ primoris talis castra, quod EGO specto is futurus plurrimi fan- familiaris unus ut balanus.

Ludio ludius mos supervenio in urbs super weekend, quod in mane secui of tunc week theyll’ contingo coaching baculus quod procuratio pro orientation. Caps es etiam formulating denique bits of castra schedule, tamen is oriens is videor ut ludio ludius ero in glacies procul varius vicis pro publicus phthisis tunc Wednesday per Friday. Usquequaque castra culminates per a scrimmage, quod fretus numerus of skaters, ut can exsisto a institutio 5- in-5 res vel, ut per plurimus repens castra sursum in Ipsa, solvo- rota 4- in-4s ut licentia skaters hunched super quod testis smiling.

Illa es meus plumbum storylines huic estas’ Rookie Castra:

• vultus of teams’ infigo WCHA paro: quondam Wisconsin Insigne caput Andrew Joudrey; Primoris-Team Totus-WCHA center/ pennae Andrew Gordon, is of quantum quam centum cuspis in three seasons procul St. Cloud Civitas; Secundus Team Totus-WCHA sniper Eo Mos ex Minnesota Civitas; quod velociter developing tower of formidonisJoe Finley ex North Dakota.
• A Caps’ rarity: a duo of QMJHL sto prospicio, utriusque cuius dominor Q permaneo season — vox pennae Suffragium Bouchard of Baie Adveho quod center Mathieu Perreault of Acadie Bathurst.
• OHL susurro- ingenero backstop Michal Neuvirth of Plymouth Orcus.
• ‘07 draft ordo, led per haud. 5 super Karl Alzner.
• 2005 primoris- teres Sasha Pokulok, cuius development has been tardus per pestifer.
• Oh, quod nonnulluseximius- solers Swede.

Si ut paratus pro tunc week youd’ amo aliquantulus of weekend lectio primer in Caps’ prime prospicio, illa OFB treatments vires probo futurus primary succurro: Hockeysfutures’ Contraho Dico- sicco of Caps’ prospicio; Perreault Wins Q League MVP; Q League sapiens-eyes prolixus super Perreault; Imperator Procurator George McPhees’ in-season update of agri; Caps’ ‘alius’ goaltending prospicio; meus inviso gems drafted in laxus rotundus; quod permaneo tamen non minimus, OFBs’ ordo of Caput capitis 20 Caps’ prospicio ex January.

Animadverto vos in Bermuda brevis in sto tunc week.

Totus nostrum had eo commitments permaneo Friday quod requiro ferreus fundo of dies’ newspapers. A effingo of Fridays’ Lavatio Vicis, vero, subsisto pro pucksandbooks in suus muneris in Monday, quod Fridays’ lusum section frons ex is infligo him ex suus chair. Take a gander procul hockey diligo dramatically illustrated per Vicis’ emendator pro Corey Masisaks’ fabulous pluma in sublimis civitas of American hockey illa dies:

Ut’ non a pulsus of fabula, ut’ suus vere layout. Refer illic es duos alius repono in C1 ex Vicis in Friday — vos iustus can’t reperio lemma! Pium Kane’s hometown paper, Plaga Novus, can’t compositus this hockey journalism epulum.

Tamen ultra ovis amplitudo quod species of piece, Corey Masisak vindico a grade A overview of the silicis rise of American hockey development hodie. “vulgus contradico” American hockey est enjoying, Masisak wrote. Nos hockey fans in Lavatio lucrum massively ex suus paper quod him in Viscus Draft Friday.  

In dies statim subsequens 2006 Viscus Draft Caps plerumque meritus eximius altus evaluations pro suum opus in Vancouver. grade range universe ran ex ‘A+’ ut ‘A.’ prosperitas of suum 2007 draft, vero, est inextricably linked ut 2008s’, in lux lucis of George McPhees’ preference ut protraho lectio interdum Friday nox noctis quod Saturday in ventus of acquiring picks for tunc June.

Illic erant compelling causa pro Caps adipiscor additional picks pro 2008 draft. Pro unus, suus’ lux lucis- annus melior in terms of altus-end quality quod super depth. Tamen iustus ut maximus, illic’ aliquantulus of a gluto of validus prospicio frequentatio Caps’ norma illa dies. Utpote 2002, Caps have drafted 12 ludio ludius in prothoplastus rotundus. Duodecim. Theyve’ added duodeviginti secundus- teres in ut vicis, quoque. Is oriens, suus’ difficilis ut cuspis ut a singulus unus illorum 20 altus- nisus quod denuntio him “ tumultus”

Ut’ bonus novus. Tamen orsa is valde weekend Caps’ procuratio has nonnullus difficilis sententia facio in terms of committing tunc season ut amo of Jacub Klepis and Tomas Fleischmann. Qualifying dedi adveho due tunc, quod ut they labefactum 2002 picks, suus’ ut prodigium of spondeo ut manus manus offendo sursum tardus carmen. Ut tripudio necne ut tripudio?

Vel vos could call it 5- annus itch.  

Nonnullus illorum altus- nisus mos planto Caps is cado. Ceterus postulo a locus in norma ludo. (tantum a iugo, youd’ reputo, could quod would exsisto packaged in a professio vel two.)

preteritus iugo of annus, Ive’ sententia super quot European prospicio Caps have whove’ etiamnunc facio a commitment ut lascivio in North America. (illic es nonnullus bonus ones illac, too.) Tamen vel ut’ changing; mane huic offseason Caps inked Josef Boumedienne quod Sami Lepisto.

Per palaestra castra in 2005 quod 2006 Caps brought in a emineo numerus of tier II quod III solvo procurator alloquor norma’ penuria of species depth. Tamen is September, illic ero a recedentia more organic species ut 60 vel 70 skaters procul Kettler Caput, amo quorum Caps’ fans have nunquam seen.

Nos may puteus animadverto totus 20 illorum primoris- quod secundus- teres ex preteritus quinque drafts tunc. Nos mos amo animadverto totus of collegiate solvo procurator Caps have inked preteritus iugo of ver. Nos mos animadverto nonnullus vegetus visio ex Europe. Quod plurimus suscito, ex meus vantage, ero vultus of tardus- rotundus draft gems amo Andrew Gordon, Eo Mos, Viktor Dovgan, Mathieu Perreault, quod Andrew Joudrey, totus cuius usus viable pro hockey aspirations.

A praevius illae nostrum-guys- in-- glacies aura supervenio in duos weeks’ vicis procul Kettler, per Caps’ July Rookie Development Castra. Fans understandably es preoccupied per terminus- venatus praecessi from early October per April, tamen crepidoinis parumper firmus redivivus postulo firmus successful drafting quod development. drafting opus videor futurus opus puteus; development vultus est magis in question, ut Caps, orsa is cado, postulo video vidi visum nonnullus Ipsa Gero graduate quod planto a positus labefactum in parentis roster — guys amo Dave Steckel, Mike Viridis, Klepis quod vel Mico.

Caps left Columbus per magis altus- pendo contraho — three ex prothoplastus duos rotundus. Unus, sententia (Alzner), may step in magnus league nunc, quod alius (Ted Ruth) can exsisto stashed in a universitas castra, si postulo exsisto, pro quattuor annus. Is eram a savvy quod sage handling of suus norma’ development blueprint per George McPhee.   

Imperator Procurator George McPhee met per interventus ne multus procul terminus of draft, quod Caps es ‘ valde gauisus’ per quam draft verto sicco. They erant validus impetro guys they volo quod adaugeo picks, a change in ars ex nonnullus mane annus qua Caps wouldnt’ tendo quod paciscor quod iustus take suum guy procul suum pick. Developing aliquantulus of savvy tenus institutio down, etiam questus guy they volo, quod consummatio contraho eram efficens pro stipes.

2008 draft est duco eximius, quod team iam has susicivus picks ut veho magis pendo quam similis picks is annus.

vox-of- os ambitus super Caps expers sumo Cherepanov opus in Caps’ ventus — they simplex ludio ludius is iuxta vest, quod everybody vindicatum theyd’ take Russian, enabling lemma sedeo tergum quod take guy they vere volo.

Caps exertus ut target grit in laxus rotundus of draft, quod erant volup admiratio ut Ruth eram etiam available procul suum pick. They amo Ruth, tamen in institutio tergum they erant validus impetro him quod susicivus picks.

Godfrey eram vulnero permaneo annus quod may have motum quod is wasnt’ drafted in 06. Is has a bomb of a offa.

USHL has fio a bonus developmental league, quod suus’ appealing ut draft ludio ludius ut ero iens ut contraho qua they can adepto quattuor annus of development pro team has facio a sententia in lemma.

Quod ut’ is ex Nationwide Pulvis. Peius’ have a wrap- sursum in tunc pauci dies, quod gratiae pro lectio.

Per privatus duco, Caps have added 2 2nd rotundus picks in 08 quod a 4th in 08 facio sursum pro pick they sent ut Boston parumper certain Milan Jurcina.

prandium Turkey quod probo. Non nocens.

Didnt’ ut sanus amo Peter Rex rgis?

Caps pick tunc procul 108. Mos they professio pro a 7th teres in 08? Nope.

They lego Britones Bruneteau, a center ex Omaha. Rutilus Versus has him procul 138: “non verus magnus vel velox, tamen has instinct procul obscoena terminus”. Mos famulor North Dakota tunc season. Vos can lego aliquantulus super him hic.

Caps pick procul 125 est coming sursum. Id’ coniecto illic moris’ exsisto plures takers tenus paciscor- condita goes.

Quod Caps lego Britones Leffler, audio ut a LW/R per Rutilus Versus. Hes’ 61′″, 197. Secundum poking inter, is vultus amo nemo has ullus verus info in him alius suus nomen est Britones Leffler quod is lascivio hockey. Puteus’ tendo quod adepto magis.

Proh, illic nos es. Audio ut a altus- navitas concutio. Lego magishic.

Procul 154, Caps lego Dan Dunn, a magnus calx ex Wellington. Rutilus Versus has him procul 166, quod 65′″ quod 210: “simplex enormous — iustus sto illic, itll’ ledo vos”

Illic es duos Caps fans in vetus- schola rutilus sudo etiam in custodis.

Vos can lego aliquantulus magis in Dunn hic in January 17th viscus.

Carolina asks parumper vicis sicco, quod gets booed. Torquatos’ cado est a magnus thema of sermo in press area.

Of nota est ut haud NHLers have been swapped utpote draft coepi. Suus’ been opinio ut Caps had a paciscor obvius officina, tantum habeo ceterus team tergum sicco vox procul 27th pick.

Illic’ multus magis schmoozing iens in solum, iam, per draft sensim tractus ut propinquus. Multus magis interviews res donatus ut press, quod multus magis capitale.

Ross Mahoney est renuntio picks pro Caps, btw.

Atlanta lego John Albert — quod lenio youngsters’ prosapia dat a clamor. Hugs totus inter. Bonus video vidi visum — suus’ lentus vigilo a tener guy iustus resideo illic vacuus res Brady Quinn.

Detroit denique picks Zack Torquato. Is vultus amo hes’ non in custodis, sive seu is eram, is went domus.

Caps pick Justicia Taylor procul 180, a center ex London Miles militis. Rutilus Versus has him procul 297 quod album him procul 6′, 192. Procul 185, Caps pick Nick Larson, a 61′″, 180 talentum porro ex Pomum Valley. Larsons’ off ut Minnesota tunc season.

Nos have a professio, ut Ducks transporto bis-drafted Tim Brent ut Pittsburgh pro Stephen Dixon.

Florida asks pro vicis. Gets booed.

Quod per suum permaneo pick Caps take Andrew Vas. ordo 259 per Rutilus versus, hes’ audio ut a 511′″, 180 lbs left pennae. Hes’ paro ut peto Boston Universitas tunc season.

Opus in suus super venatus is annus secundum non res drafted permaneo annus. Exsequor sui ut an obscoena tutaminis, quod says hes’ ledo 99+ mph in radar gun per suus offa. Is knew Caps erant interested, tamen didnt’ reputo hed’ vado ut altus. Hes’ aliquantulus quietis in suus spatium, tamen everybody videor ut via secundum Alzners’ spatium.

unus qua Turbo effrego suus crur.

Rumex, nonnullus pallens humor ut satus res off is oriens.

Ultum minor turba hodie, utriusque in sto quod in press row, sententia suus’ etiam mane. frons muneris, vero, es in plenus vis, quod schmoozing est in plenus presencia.

Ut magis interventus suscipio ostendo sursum, suus’ videlicet ut they es secus diversus nobis they plug in, stipes in, tunc suus’ statim off ut Spectaculum’, TSN, Sol solis quod Globe sisto sicco tardus.

Infligo in wood, tamen penitus videor melior hodie. Lets’ spes ut habitum.

Meditatus quam ( cognatus) velox 1st rotundus went, nos can spes hodie goes velox. Iterum, Caps have picks 34, 41 quod 46 huic rotundus.

Bob McKenzie presses viscus aliquantulus.

Folium populus est membrana an spatium pro mihi.

Non ultum obvius of susurro eatenus, utique in orior oriri ortus.

2 minutes insquequo satus, frons muneris res asked sedeo iam

Caps es sursum, res es moving per is oriens procul a volatilis passus.

Caps lego Josh Godfrey, tutaminis ex Sault Ste Caltha. Rutilus Versus Opinio’ unus- versus epitome of him: “optimus PP cuspis offa/triggerman in draft, talea nullus” Rutilus Versus had him ordo procul 122.

Godfrey est quoque #11 in Rutilus Versus’ plurimus underrated album: “sic underrated is eram plene desparatus permaneo annus. May have optimus PP offa in draft.”

Caps professio pick ut Philadelphia pro 84th pick in 2007 draft quod alter rotundus pick in 2008 draft.

Plebis est orsa runco, quod boos es dilgenter tamen fainter. Ut may change per Detroit per tunc pick.

Yep.

Secundum a vigoratus chant of “ rutilus Pennae combibo”, Caps es iam in clock.

McPhee quod pauci alius convoco ut Bettmans’ vox. Professio, maybe?

McPhee goes tergum ut teams’ draft traba.

Professio.

#28 ut San Jose pro #41 quod 2nd teres in 2008. Nice paciscor per Caps impetro a 2nd teres in a ultum melior draft.

Update: quod ut parum frenum infero nostrum occulto of 1st rotundus of draft. Im’ off pro hotel pro wrap res sursum quod have a Newcastle vel duos.

Cras ero iens multus ocius quod Caps have 34th, 41st quod 46th picks in alter rotundus, sic illic should exsisto ubertas of res iens in. Spes video vidi visum vos tunc.

Carolina takes Sutter. Montreals’ been rumor ut volo Esposito, puteus’ animadverto. Haud solum susurro ut EGO can dico vox iam.

Montreal picks Ryan McDonagh.

St. Louis picks Lars Eller. In a change ex praevius drafts, Bob McKenzies’ album isnt’ tenura quoque iuxta vultus, sententia ut’ iustus in ordo, neque nec in ludio ludius lego.

Had a velox sermo per George McPhee: Caps amo utriusque Gagner quod Alzner.

Alzners’ validus down mugio, puteus- teres, quod vos sentio lenio ut puck est in suus virga, quoniam hes’ iens efficio vox res per is.

Caps no is notus suum picks es available, tamen didnt’ appropinquo ut condita a paciscor.

Illic’ etiam multus iens in ( professio- sermo- sapiens)

St. Louis planto a permoveo impetro a Rutilus Versus ventus, Ian Cole. Ian has a bunch of populus hic per him, evenit, quod they es totus gauisus.

Dum sermo est iens in solum, promptus, suus’ ultum quietis in press row, ut populus suscipio fartim suum articles pro cras.

OFB fave Logan MacMillian gets captus per Ducks, quisnam professio usque adepto him.

Lots of Penguins fans in attendance, and they and the Blue Jacket fans get into a chant-off.

Pens pick Esposito, fans are happy. The Cherepanov and Espositio, two highly-talented players with some question marks, have been the biggest fallers tonight.

Blum goes to Nashville, and the current highest-ranked player is Nick Petrecki at #14.

Calgary takes Backlund.

Just left the press conference with Karl Alzner in the ready-room.

He seemed very happy, but not overwhelmed. He answered each question with a lot of personality. He’d love to play for the Caps next year “if they want to keep me around” and lists making a good first pass out of the zone as an asset. Everybody talks about what a great interview he is. That won’t win many hockey games, of course, but it’s an interesting aspect from a writing point of view.

Red Line Report lists Alzner as having the second-best hockey sense this draft class: “Controls the flow and the pace of the game and sees plays develop like he’s watching them in slow-motion replay. Has such an instinctive feel for different game situations.” The service compares him to Wade Redden and had him listed at #5 overall.

The white sweaters look pretty darn good up close, I’ll admit.

Trade!

Doug Wilson makes his annual move to get who he wants Logan Coutoure

Lots of talk regarding the 1st overall pick and Phoenix. Bob McK apparently puts the kibosh on it, and says the ‘Hawks may take Kane.

Word that the Preds are no longer for sale makes it’s way around the building. No buzz, per se, but there’s a bit of surprise.

Hawks pick Kane.

Flyers booed massively. They pick James van Riemsdyk and the two Philly fans to my off-right stand and clap after looking a bit perplexed. The group of Philly fans in section 116 begin chanting his name. van Riemsdyk is the tallest person on the stage.

And the Coyotes are booed. Eric wonders to me if every team is going to get booed.

A Caps fan in a sombrero and a Cicarelli sweater mugs for the camera. The Caps are mildly, but not personally, booed.

Wayne gets a Wayne-like ovation.

Dogs pick Turris.

I find out that Ted isn’t here, and I’m seeing things, I guess. Wouldn’t be the first time.

The draft is scooting along. It seems each team isn’t getting more than, say 5 minutes to pick. A refreshing move, to say the least.

Voracek, Alzner, Gagner and Cherepanov are out there.

Rick Dudley is giving interviews in front of us. Dave Nonis paces, he’s talking to someody, but I can’t tell who, or if it’s a member of his own staff. I’m guessing so.

Kings provide the first surprise by selecting Thomas Hickey. The crowd buzzes, and now the Caps have all four of the earlier group still on the board.

Caps get booed, but I don’t think it’s personal. There are some cheers as well.

McPhee’s in conversation with someone not on his team, possibly Edmonton. (judging by the table the person returned to)

Still no movement from the Caps.

Lowe and McPhee talking agian. They stop.

Caps will make the pick.

Caps pick Karl Alzner, and I like the pick. It’s definitely not unanimous.

I’m finally set up and on-line here in the impressive Nationwide Arena, located in surprisingly pretty downtown Columbus, Ohio. First the floor buzz: people are surprised at the return that Thomas Vokun got from Florida (Florida’s 08 first and two seconds, more here).

I’m seated next to the Godfather, Eric McElrain from Offwing Opinion, AOL Fanhouse, NBC, and probably a paper in rural Kamchatka. Eric’s set up but I haven’t seen him yet. I’ve had a chance to meet and greet with the Caps’ guys, and Tarik El-Bashir is seated two rows in front of me.

Not hearing much else right now, so a bit of background of the city — if you are sick of the brutal traffic of the DC metro area, move here. My cabbie on the way here pointed to the ‘traffic’ unhappily. I considered it light movement at 3 am on 395.

Fans have begun filling in the arena, and the front offices of the 30 NHL clubs are now mingling on the floor. I recognize Boston Assistant GM Jeff Gorton from last year’s Caps Under Construction.

Off to raid the lunch table, back in a bit.

Update: The Caps table is close to the stage, and one of the farthest away from me, but I can still make out the towering figure of Dick Patrcik and we’ve had a Leonsis sighting, as well. The media riser is just behind the TSN set If you threw a peanut over Bob McK’s shoulder, you’d hit us.

Saw two Caps’ sweaters coming in (one old-school red, the other the just-retired white with eagle logo.

One word of warning — the wireless internet has been less than consistent. Hopefully it won’t be an issue.

I’m certainly no qualified evaluator of elite hockey talent. I certainly have no idea what specific criteria NHL teams apply to the task of differentiating among hundreds of puck prospects the globe over. And I certainly prefer the comfort and lack of accountability of the armchair on Entry Draft weekend over the high-stakes hustle and bustle on the draft floor, where champions or chumps are assembled. Still, having perused a half dozen draft guides this month, certain prospects and certain distinctions about them tend to form psychological attachments, sometimes profound ones, however flawed within the amatuer’s eye.

I love every Entry Draft, but this year’s in particular will be a drama feast, not only because of the well reported flurry of wheeling-dealing frenzy behind the scenes but because 2007’s draft class will produce second-line impact players anywhere from picks 7 through 50. Perhaps beyond. Teams will find out how strong their scouts are in these selection areas.

Of course, we can have no way of knowing if the Caps will use all of their draft picks this weekend. But as a card-carrying DraftGeek, I never wince or wail at watching a new crop of young talent added to the stable. With that in mind, I share my prospect man-crushes for 2007.

• James vanRiemsdyk (Middletown, NJ), LW, USNTDP, 6 ‘3, 200

“Future NHL star” . . . “more upside potential than any player in the draft” . . . “a first-line scoring winger with a nasty physical edge.”

• Alexei Cherepanov (Barnaul, Russia), RW, Omsk, 6 ‘0, 183

Set a goal-scoring record for an 18-year-old in the RSL, besting the totals of Ovechkin, Malkin, and other A-listers . . . “dynamic skating, vision, knack for scoring and great speed” . . . “could be the grand slam pick of the draft” . . . “first-line goal-scoring winger” . . . “an elite point producer with game-breaking ability.”

• Ryan McDonagh (St. Paul, MN), D, Cretin-Derham HS, 6 ‘1, 200

“Some teams think he’s as good a defenceman as there is available” . . . named Mr. Hockey in the State of Hockey . . . “has the ability to dominate a game” . . . “adjustment [from high school to international hockey] was instantaneous” . . . “seems to be good at every aspect of the game.”

• Akim Aliu (Okene, Nigeria), RW, Sudbury, 6 ‘2, 200

First-round talent, first-round worry, a 50-goal-scorer of stress . . . “much sought after combination of size, speed, and skill” . . . slated to skate under Dale Hunter and London in ‘07-’08.

• Max Pacioretty (New Canaan, CT), LW, Sioux City (USHL), 6 ‘1, 203

“a true power forward” . . . “a guy who should hit, score and go to the net hard . . . fits that profile better than any other prospect in the draft” . . . “One scout even compared Pacioretty to Erik Cole.”

• Ian Cole (Ann Arbor, MI), D, USDP, 6 ‘1, 211

“For most of the season [Kevin] Shattenkirk seemed to be the consensus best defensive prospect [in the USNTDP], but near the end of the season there began to be a lot of buzz about Cole” . . . “a candidate for the physically strongest kid in the draft”

• Luca Cunti (Zurich, Switzerland), C, Dubendorf (Swiss-3), 6 ‘0, 190

“some say he is the most talented Swiss player ever . . . skills put him amongst the top players in this draft” . . . a burner . . . “scores highlight-reel goals” . . . “Fun to watch, always a threat when he was on the ice.”

• Brandon Sutter (Huntington, NY), C/RW, Red Deer, 6 ‘3, 170

Throw out the numbers, he’s a Sutter. And a big one.

In the middle of this past hockey season consensus was that the 2007 NHL Entry Draft would offer up another strong showing by American prospects — seven or eight of them were likely to be tabbed in the first round. This would follow by a year an Entry Draft in which fully 10 Americans went in round one. These kind of tallies are bettered only by the Canadians.

As we near the 11th hour of the Columbus draft that forecast is being widely revised . . . upward. TSN’s superb draft primer forecasts 10 Yanks as first-rounders; The Hockey News’ Hot 100 list, a ranking compendium comprising the blended prognostications of 10 NHL scouts, also has 10 Americans going in round one. There are a litany of highly thoughtful and well-respected reader-generated draft forecasts to be found at Hockeysfuture this week, and again Americans litter those lists.

No two Americans have ever gone 1-2 in round one. It almost happened last year. It well could tomorrow night in Columbus.

If 10 Americans again have their names called on Versus tomorrow night the implications are beyond clear: in consecutive years the broad pipeline of American development — from the USNTDP to U.S. college hockey to the USHL to American high school hockey — will have claimed fully one-third of the NHL draft’s first round. And by the way, one of the Americans likely to go in round one tomorrow night is a Californian.

As player development goes, this is called trending upward.

But what might perhaps be even more impressive than the sheer tally of American talent is its breadth across positions. Looking over the haul of first-round U.S. talent in recent drafts, and with an eye toward this year’s, one notices sleek snipers (Kane, Kessel, Oshie), bruising blueliners (the Johnsons, Joe Finley, Nick Petrecki, Colby Cohen), power forwards aplenty (Okposo, Bobby Ryan, Skille, van Riemsdyk, Pacioretty), and especially an abundance of two-way rearguards.

Interestingly, if there’s one area of positional weakness relative to the Canadians and Europeans in recent drafts for the Americans, it’s an area of previous strength: in goal. Since Rick DiPietro went first overall in 2000, we really haven’t seen USAHockey or anyone else produce high-end talent between the American pipes. That 2000 draft is the more intriguing in light of the modest American skating talent that followed DiPietro in the first round: Ron Hainsey, Brooks Orpik, David Hale, and Jeff Taffe.

This decade, it seems, the U.S. feasts in first-round skating talent and famines in net, and vice versa.

While the best is yet to come for U.S. national teams in international competition because of this embarassment of young talent riches, over at the World Championships this spring it was abundantly evident to us that the new generation of warp-speed, wicked skill set is already primed to make an impact. That U.S. squad coached by Mike Sullivan was one overtime, struck goalpost away from taking down gold-medal finalist Finland. And it was a conspicuously young squad.

TSN, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated now have NHL mock drafts posted on their respective sites. Two have the Caps selecting London Knights pivot Sam Gagner with the fifth pick; the other predicts the Caps will pick blueliner Karl Alzner of the Calgary Hitmen. 

Always interesting to see different writers’ interpretation of how a team’s needs and drafting style impacts their selections. One draft even has potential #1 Kyle Turris dropping to sixth.

Feel free to post a comment linking to other mock drafts you may find . . . the more the merrier!

For more than 30 years now the Central Scouting Service has been providing scouting and evaluation services for draft-eligible hockey players to the National Hockey League. It employs nine full-time and six part-time scouts in North America and has association with a half dozen more in Europe. Its final list of rankings and prospect profiles is indispensable to all NHL clubs every spring. The league’s Entry Draft Media Guide is a handy handbook that tallies Central Scouting’s labor all year long and often provides illuminating biography of prospects beyond their on-ice stats. The Service interviews more than 200 North American prospects, and my favorite question asked of each is, “What three people would you most like to have dinner with?”

No surprise: Wayne Gretzky ran away with first place; 49 prospects selected him. Lance Armstrong (21) had a lot of support, as did Bobby Orr and Tiger Woods (19), Steve Yzerman (17), and Will Farrell (10).

I was disappointed that Vince Vaughan (4) nipped Herb Brooks (3). Slightly stunned that Jessica Simpson (5) bested Jessica Alba (2), Pamela Anderson (2), Maria Sharapova (2), Rachel McAdams (2), Keira Knightly (1), Kate Beckinsale (1), Halle Berry (1), Heidi Klum (1), Evangeline Lily (1), Eva Longoria (1), and Carrie Underwood (1). Comforted that Elvis (1) matched Barry Bonds (1).

George Bush (7) won among the pols, besting Al Gore (3), JFK (3), and Vladimir Putin (1).

Bobby Orr’s strong showing helped offset an otherwise dismal regard for old timers. Only three prospects wanted dinner with Grapes. Gordie Howe was a favored dinner companion for only two prospects, placing him in the same cocktail lounge with Jaromir Jagr (the indignity!), Vince Lombardi, Ray Bourque, Keifer Sutherland, and Chris Chelios.

The message was mixed with regard to mullets: Mario had 10 requests, but Sidney just three. No one wanted dinner with Barry Melrose.

Single requests ran the gamut of our cultural spectrum: Mike Tyson, David Beckham, Martin Luther King Jr. (depressing, that), Bono (gratifying, that), LeBron James, Paris Hilton, John McEnroe, Scotty Bowman (outrageous), and Carmen Electra.

God was wanted for dinner just once. At least He beat OJ.

National pride compels me to point out that three American prospects distinguished themselves for the caliber of their dinner companion choices. Teddy Ruth of the United States National Team Development Program requested George Washington, Alexander the Great (no, not AO), and Bobby Orr. I think that would have been a marvelous table at the Palm. Kevin Shattenkirk, also of the USNTDP, chose Achilles, Albert Einstein, and Michael Jordan. High achievers, those. And Jeremy Smith of Dearborn, Michigan, and the Plymouth Whalers sought Einstein, JFK, and his late grandfather.

On the evening of June 22nd the Washington Capitals will join their fellow NHL clubs as the hockey world’s attention will focus on the NHL’s annual time of renewal: The 2007 Entry Draft being held in Columbus, Ohio. Following suit, DraftGeeks everywhere will hole up in their HQ of choice, surrounded by print-outs, draft guides, and libations, intently focused on both the Versus broadcast and the Internet, living and dying with each pick.

This year’s draft class is said to be good through two rounds, with some very good, but maybe not great, players at the top. Thanks to the Zubrus and Zednik deadline deals, the Caps have an advantage of numbers, with 4 picks in the first two rounds: #5, #28, #34 and #46 overall. (You can find a full list of the Caps’ picks at Mike Vogel’s blog.)

With no consensus top pick, talented forwards Pat Kane of Dale Hunter’s London Knights and Kyle Turris of Burnaby of the BCHL are the names most often mentioned when it comes to the draft’s top spot. (TSN’s video profiles of Kane can be found here and Turris here.) Other youngsters who will be crowding the top of the charts will likely be Jakub Voracek, a Czech winger playing in Halifax of the QMJHL, James Van Riemsdyk of the USNTDP (profile), and Kyle Alzner, a solid defenseman for the Calgary Hitmen (profile). Enigmatic Russian winger Alexei Cherepanov rounds out what is commonly thought to be the top group of players available this year, though it should be noted that Caps’ general manager George McPhee recently stated that the Caps feel there is a group of five players that are a cut above the rest. (Continued)

DraftGeeks, time for hosannas. TSN insider Bob McKenzie has released his top 60 list of draft-eligible players for 200, as well as some background info on what the League in general is thinking.

Bob’s not a scout, so why should we pay attention to his list? Because he goes right to the source — NHL GM’s, scouts, directors of scouting, the whole totem pole. It’s about as accurate list as you’ll find, and is a must-print-out for the 22nd.

As a friend of mine e-mailed me, it’s nice that the offseason is now beginning in earnest. Players are starting to sign, trades are being made (quick analysis on the Flyers/Predators deal: good deal for both teams, though the terms of the Timonen deal are a bit long for me. The Flyers overpaid but are a better team today than they were yesterday. The Predators got their first-rounder back for two UFAs they weren’t going to re-sign).

It’s interesting that things both get more clear and more obscured as draft day approaches. I think we’re all excited for Friday to roll around and for things to reveal themselves.

At 7 pm on Friday, June 22nd, the NHL draft will kick off, setting DraftGeeks’ hearts fluttering — including ours. We’re pleased to announce that OFB will be attendance, front and center. Well, at least one of us will be. After crossing the I’s and dotting the T’s, I’ll be making the trip to Ohio Friday afternoon and hope to be blogging live from the press section of the Nationwide Arena to hear the first overall pick made.

We’ll have more on the draft next week, but in the meantime, feel free to let us know what you’d like us to keep our eyes out for.

See you in Columbus.

Highlights from this afternoon’s GMGM presser at Kettler-Capitals:

• Eric Fehr’s seen “all the specialists” and doesn’t require surgery, just rehab. Mega-sigh of relief.
• Trade activity: “Can’t gauge it yet.” Is talking to teams this week, will be next as well.
• Roster needs: “more veteran presence . . . we played with kids the last couple of years.”
• On the record numbers of Americans being drafted, and up high: “better development,” “players coming from all over [U.S.], from everywhere.” Credits, too, the breadth of hockey in markets across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, college hockey, and the USHL. “More exposure” to the game here than ever before.
• Positional strength of this draft: doesn’t know yet; will know more this time next week.
• Overall quality of ‘07 draft: a “decent draft through a couple of rounds” . . . a clear elite class of five at the top.
• No urgency to trade up. “We liked 5 guys last year and drafted fourth; we like 5 guys this year and are drafting 5th.”
• Caps’ draft strategy: Team tries to stick with its strategy — “We don’t try to improvise” — as “crazy things can happen in the absence of a plan.” And: “Our best drafts [were when] we stuck with our plan. There’s lots of work involved, and we have a pretty sophisticated approach.”