My Newspaper
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Draft Luncheon Tidbits
Posted by:
Ben Wright on
June 19, 2008 at
4:54PM EST
I know you were all concerned but I got in to the Top Prospects Luncheon
without a hitch. Always walk around like you're supposed to be wherever it is
that you are. If you look lost people will get suspicious. Fortunately I
actually was supposed to be where I was, a couple NHL people recognized me, and
I got my hands on a credential. So no problems there.
The luncheon was pretty basic, but also valuable.
There was a buffet line outside the dining room with an assortment of salad,
bread, hot and cold pasta, chicken, fish and fruit. Inside you sat where you
wanted, aside from the tables reserved for the prospects. There was plenty of
media there, as well as friends and family of the players. Once everyone was
seated E.J. McGuire from Central Scouting called up each player one at a time as
their NHL.com profile video played on two big screens. When the player got to
the stage, which wrapped around three walls, they sat on a stool in front of a
banner with their name on it. They stayed up there after their video played and
took a question or two from McGuire before the next video played and the next
player came up. 12 prospects were in attendance- the
top 10 North American skaters, Nikita Filatov, and Thomas McCollum- the
top-rated North American goalie. As I mentioned in the previous post, all of
those videos are available online through the NHL video player. Here is the
order in which they were introduced and what they talked about with McGuire:
- Cody Hodgson C- He played on a team with both Steven Stamkos and Alex
Pietrangelo as a kid.
- Colin Wilson C- Arrived in Ottawa about an hour before lunch. His dad,
Carey, played 10 seasons in the NHL.
- Zach Boychuk C- Grew up a Flames fan. McGuire raved about his speed and
acceleration.
- Kyle Beach C- An Iginla fan. TSN has been hyping him non-stop as someone
that could be a surprise high pick.
- Alex Pietrangelo D- An unabashed Leafs fan that Leafs fans want to see
in blue and white. His name is pronounced- Pe-tran-jell-o.
- Luke Schenn D- TSN has been calling him 'The Eraser" and one of the
other prospects yelled it out when he was called up. There was a good laugh
among the players. He's tight with teammate Tyler Myers.
- Tyler Myers D- The guy is (a skinny) 6'7" so the Chara comparisons never
stop. He said he doesn't feel pressure to live up to those expectations.
- Drew Doughty D- Played with Philly defenseman Ryan Parent his first year
of junior and learned a lot form him. They keep in touch.
- Zach Bogosian D- Spent time with Scott Stevens and his family when
Stevens won the Cup with New Jersey. Was tutored 3-4 times a week by Ray
Bourque when Zach was teammates with Bourque's son in high school. His agent
is Bobby Orr. That's 3 Hall Of Famers who he has been around and influenced
by.
- Thomas McCollum G- A bit of a character. Has a good sense of humor but
for the life of me I can' t remember what he talked about. I'll be shocked
if the Thrashers even consider taking a goalie in the first four rounds.
Pavelec and Kangas are top-notch prospects.
- Nikita Filatov LW/C- His grasp of English is great but he doesn't talk
much. All of his answers are 2-3 words when possible. He's having follow-up
interviews with Phoenix and Columbus today or tomorrow. Plays LW and center.
Likes to kill penalties.
- Steven Stamkos C- Hasn't minded the pressure of being the top-ranked
player in the draft all season. He just tries to ignore the media hype and
have fun.
I talked to some of the players and got some interesting tidbits from some of
them but I'll save those for my next post. I have to prep for a conference call
with Don Waddell at 6:30. Before everyone jumps to conclusions- the purpose of
the call is to talk about the draft. I'm sure there will be coaching questions
but don't expect an announcement on that call.
And by the way- Hockey's Future
had a large presence at the luncheon so keep an eye on their site. They should
have some articles and/or video up at some point.
(16) Comments
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Posted by: Dustin on June 19, 2008 6:09PM EST
Wow! Bogoosian has learned from some of the best that's for sure!
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Posted by: Andrew on June 19, 2008 6:31PM EST
Bogosian, Doughty...Doughty, Bogosian...
...drool...
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Posted by: Anonymous on June 19, 2008 6:43PM EST
Hey Dustin how are ticket sales going
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Posted by: Sean G on June 19, 2008 8:22PM EST
Ok Ben, we know you know. And you know we know you know. So out with it. It's Anderson isn't it. If you can't tell your former protege who can you tell?
Sean Grace
PS: I just changed my vote from Doughty to Bogosian. You just rattled off some pretty impressive mentors of the young fella
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Posted by: Mountainboy on June 19, 2008 9:08PM EST
I guess that means he cant tell anyone, Sean.
I say give the man a break. We've been busting his chops for weeks now on who the coach will be and what we're doing RE trades involving draft & FAs. I say lets let the man say who it is when he both knows and is comfortable spilling the beans. Besides, who knows? Maybe they didnt tell him. Everyone knows the expression "If you dont tell me I dont have to lie when they ask me."
Carry on, Ben! Look forward to your posts this weekend.
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Posted by: Jim on June 19, 2008 9:44PM EST
Who cares who the next coach is not Don he took off the playoffs he has had months to find a coach and he still has not found one. He will announce it on friday before the draft so that it will cover that he blew this too.
What a mess this is the worst job in the NHL who would want to be DOn Waddelll's next victim any way.
When he did not pick a coach in time to let him put together a plan for the draft that tells you that Don still thinks he is the coach just like he always has. The only good coach this team had he fired last year when could not make this pack of losers win.
So Don will draft more guy's to be traded away and every one will call him a genius for signing more old no talent guys like Moose, Bolton Larsen, Klee and others that the rest of the NHL would not take if you paid them.
Hey lets look at those Moose stats agian what was that 44th in GAA and 42nd in save percentage.
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Posted by: Dustin on June 20, 2008 2:54AM EST
We've hired John Anderson!! :D :D
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=241180&lid=sublink03&lpos=headlines_main
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Posted by: Sean G on June 20, 2008 7:29AM EST
Jim,
You've got to lighten up. The situation is really not that bad. We've got a decent nucleus of complementary players and IIya. The key to this season will be acquisitions. If we can add some quality impact players I'd bet this club won't be as miserable as you think.
Cup half full my friend.
Sean
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Posted by: JW on June 20, 2008 8:30AM EST
You must have some great stuff in that cup Sean. I don't know what your looking at but Jim is right in every way! This organization is becoming the laughing stock of the SPORTS WORLD, not just the NHL. I grew up in Chicago and nothing, nothing has ever been as bad as the crap that is being pulling in within the AS llc and Don!!
Not even DISCO NIGHT at commisky!
Dustin, sorry Don denies the report!
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Posted by: Jim on June 20, 2008 8:34AM EST
And what Don Waddell moves do you base that on. NO PLAYERS WANT TO COME TO ATLANTA.
And wit adding another Don Puppet as coach it only males things worse.
If the owners had been smart enough to get a new GM then the club gets a do over with some fans and with free agents but the only players Waddell can saign are over paid players that will underacheve.
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Posted by: h on June 20, 2008 10:15AM EST
Great move getting Anderson!!! I don't think any retreads would have been good enough. Glad they didn't go with Beast. If he was the guy, he would have been named head coach during last season......now let's see what DW can do in the next few days and in FA market........then it will be time to judge....must make big moves........go Thrashers!
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Posted by: Steve on June 20, 2008 10:20AM EST
Jim,
How can you say that no players want to come to Atlanta? We have Christensen, Armstrong, and Recchi who came here from Pittsburgh. Recchi was glad to come over; not sure how Armstrong and Christensen felt about leaving, but I think that they are somewhat glad to be out from under the shadow of Crosby, Malkin, Sykora. Nothing bad about those guys, but I don't think that these other guys got a good chance to play enough and were not used effectively for what they can do. Christensen was not being used as a center which is really what he is best at. Armstrong not sure what the deal was with him, but both of these guys SEEM TO BE GLAD that they are here.
As far as Waddell goes, again, let me say this, I DON'T LIKE A LOT OF HIS DECISIONS EITHER, BUT THE OWNERS LIKE HIM, AND HE IS GOING TO STAY!!! QUIT YOUR WHINING! GET OVER IT, AND MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE! I am not a huge fan of Waddell's either, but like or not, we have to accept that ownership is going with him. You can either go to games or follow this or not. If you don't like it, then quit going to games and don't bother with any of this! God this is getting old!
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Posted by: h on June 20, 2008 10:20AM EST
Spoke too soon?????? Geez.....
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3453269
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Posted by: Josh on June 20, 2008 10:26AM EST
Wow we got a coach just in time :P
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Posted by: Steve on June 20, 2008 10:36AM EST
OK, I stand corrected about Anderson's hiring. But I am excited. I hope that he is hired. I just want the Thrashers to do what Washington is doing; have agreement between the AHL, ECHL, and the Thrashers so that our players can develop properly. This is the kind of stuff that is systemic and will pay dividends in the present, and in the future. This is the direction the Thrashers need to go in if they want a winning franchise.
I keep saying this because teams like Detroit already have this in place. They are solid from top to bottom because they have some of the best player development. Washington made a similar move last year, and it paid off for them. This is what has to happen if we are going to succeed and build fan loyalty. I am an up and coming fan; I don't like the decisions that Waddell has made; he is an idiot for trading away Coburn and getting Zhitnik. One of the biggest blunders! But we can't do anything about that now. We have to focus on the future!!!
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Posted by: h on June 20, 2008 11:37AM EST
Steve-
with all due respect, I don't think Army, Crusher and Recchi are good examples of WANTING to come to ATL.....I don't know if people want to come here or not....I guess only time will tell, but Army and Crusher didn't have a choice, they were traded here.....and Recchi? Nobody really wanted him anyway. Glad we got him, and he is probably willing to take a contract here since we gave him a chance, but not sure I'd say he WANTED to come here.....
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