The draft was off the charts, literally. The Edmonton Olilers decided to take Taylor Hall, which I can't say I was surprised, but was kind of disappointed. I felt that Tyler Seguin deserved to go number one overall. Neiter the Edmonton Oilers or Boston Bruins should be thinking they lost out on the draft, both are unreal prospects. It was interesting to watch Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley fall so low. It seemed right to watch newly retired Scott Niedmayer hand off the jersey to Fowler, who was frequently compared to him. It was awesome to see Brandon Gormely go to Phoenix, who continues to get better and better. Jaden Schwartz was taken very early by St. Louis which left Montreal Canadiens without him. They selected Jarred Tinordi, the hulking defencemen from the USHL. I was happy with this selection.
Prospects I'll be watching, other than first rounders:
Ryan Spooner- Boston Bruins- 45th overall
Kirill Kabanov- Dallas Stars- 65th overall
Jordan Weal- LA Kings- 70th overall
Stanislav Galiev- Washington Capitals- 86th overall
Mathieu Corbeil- Columbus Blue Jackets- 102th overall
Konrad Abeltshauser- San Jose Sharks- 163th overall
Stephan MacAuley- St. Louis Blues- 164th overall
Someone who I was super surprised to see drafted... Sawyer Hannay of the Halifax Mosseheads. I was able to see him play, and watched him extensivey in his training camp. Simply put, I didnn't even feel he deserved to make his junior team. I see him as a Kevin Bieska, just much, much worse.
All my Best; Enjoy Life
Ryan Francis
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
June 25th, 2010 (2)
The draft day coverage starts in less that 5 hours, and still no one knows who the Edmonton Oilers will take 1st overall. There have been mock drafts, and mock drafts but GM's and scouts have nothing to do with those. So we will wait and see.
My opinon, Tyler Seguin should be taken 1st overall. The right-handed center seems more ready and mature then his "rival" Taylor Hall. To see Seguin's development after being cut for Team Canada shows his desire to be the best player he can be. He knows the pain and sacrifice it takes to be a NHL star. After watching some meetings with both Tyler and Taylor, my belief is stronger. Tyler was confident with lots of eye contact and laughter while Hall spoke to the floor and had many "uums." Edmonton needs a natural center too, they already wonderful prospect wingers and just imagine the beauty of Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Seguin and Jordan Eberle in the future...
Montreal has the 27th pick and St. John Sea Dog, Stanislav Galiev is projected there abouts. I sure hope if this kid is still around for that pick (I imagine he will be), that they do not make the mistake of passing over him. I have watched him play and he is a truely amazing sight to see. Give him a few more years and he will be an elite player in the NHL, just wait and see. Trading up for Mikael Granland would be great to see but not sure how that would work out. The Canadian comparison to Granland, Jaden Schwartz could be avalible with the 27th pick too, and I wouldn't mind him being a Hab.
All my Best; Enjoy Life
Ryan Francis
My opinon, Tyler Seguin should be taken 1st overall. The right-handed center seems more ready and mature then his "rival" Taylor Hall. To see Seguin's development after being cut for Team Canada shows his desire to be the best player he can be. He knows the pain and sacrifice it takes to be a NHL star. After watching some meetings with both Tyler and Taylor, my belief is stronger. Tyler was confident with lots of eye contact and laughter while Hall spoke to the floor and had many "uums." Edmonton needs a natural center too, they already wonderful prospect wingers and just imagine the beauty of Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Seguin and Jordan Eberle in the future...
Montreal has the 27th pick and St. John Sea Dog, Stanislav Galiev is projected there abouts. I sure hope if this kid is still around for that pick (I imagine he will be), that they do not make the mistake of passing over him. I have watched him play and he is a truely amazing sight to see. Give him a few more years and he will be an elite player in the NHL, just wait and see. Trading up for Mikael Granland would be great to see but not sure how that would work out. The Canadian comparison to Granland, Jaden Schwartz could be avalible with the 27th pick too, and I wouldn't mind him being a Hab.
All my Best; Enjoy Life
Ryan Francis
June 25th, 2010
School's out for summer... if you didn't sing that to the Alice Cooper classic, you've got to wonder about yourself. GM's have been busy, and have entertained us already.
All the way back on June 17th, my team, the Montreal Canadiens traded away the goaltender that carried them to the Eastern Finals, for Lars Eller and Ian Shultz. A lot of initial reaction was that this was a ridiculous trade, however when you take a look at it, it may not seem all that bad. It was smart to trade him at his peak (I may have waited till Draft Day) but for the money I imagine he was going to ask for, and the risk of him dropping back into his backup role self, they timed it right. I love the style of Lars Eller, and am very excited to see him suit up in a Habs uniform, Ian Shultz also seems like a player that Montreal needs, a strong power forward that is able to put the puck in the net. Now it's just the hope of Carey Price being the goaltender he can be. It's a wait and see kind of trade.
2 days later, Nashville trades the rights of Dan Hamhuis to Eastern Conference Champs, the Philadelphia Flyers, for Ryan Parent and a 7th round pick. A good trade all in all if Philly is able to lock Hamhuis up. Nashville doesn't loose to much as they receive just as young talent Ryan Parent who won't cost them as much. No worries to the Preds fans, remember you still have Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.
Nathan Horton and Greg Campbell are now Bruins. They traded away there 15th overall pick, a 3rd rounder and soon-to-be-gone-anyways Dennis Wideman. A fantastic trade for Boston, and Florida did well given the situation. Horton wanted out, and Florida was able to get a great pick, and a defencemen that will add depth to that core. Rumour has it that Edmonton wants the 15th pick, so it'll be interesting to see what develops there.
Chicago is just distributing players for picks, picking up a first rounder, 2nd rounder and 6th rounder so far. They had to dump salaries and this way makes sense. They've also pick up a veteran in Marty Reasonor and sub par prospect Joey Crabb. Losing Dustin Byfuglien and prospect Akin Aliu are the biggest hits to them, but was necessary.
Draft Daaay.
All my Best; Enjoy Life
Ryan Francis
All the way back on June 17th, my team, the Montreal Canadiens traded away the goaltender that carried them to the Eastern Finals, for Lars Eller and Ian Shultz. A lot of initial reaction was that this was a ridiculous trade, however when you take a look at it, it may not seem all that bad. It was smart to trade him at his peak (I may have waited till Draft Day) but for the money I imagine he was going to ask for, and the risk of him dropping back into his backup role self, they timed it right. I love the style of Lars Eller, and am very excited to see him suit up in a Habs uniform, Ian Shultz also seems like a player that Montreal needs, a strong power forward that is able to put the puck in the net. Now it's just the hope of Carey Price being the goaltender he can be. It's a wait and see kind of trade.
2 days later, Nashville trades the rights of Dan Hamhuis to Eastern Conference Champs, the Philadelphia Flyers, for Ryan Parent and a 7th round pick. A good trade all in all if Philly is able to lock Hamhuis up. Nashville doesn't loose to much as they receive just as young talent Ryan Parent who won't cost them as much. No worries to the Preds fans, remember you still have Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.
Nathan Horton and Greg Campbell are now Bruins. They traded away there 15th overall pick, a 3rd rounder and soon-to-be-gone-anyways Dennis Wideman. A fantastic trade for Boston, and Florida did well given the situation. Horton wanted out, and Florida was able to get a great pick, and a defencemen that will add depth to that core. Rumour has it that Edmonton wants the 15th pick, so it'll be interesting to see what develops there.
Chicago is just distributing players for picks, picking up a first rounder, 2nd rounder and 6th rounder so far. They had to dump salaries and this way makes sense. They've also pick up a veteran in Marty Reasonor and sub par prospect Joey Crabb. Losing Dustin Byfuglien and prospect Akin Aliu are the biggest hits to them, but was necessary.
Draft Daaay.
All my Best; Enjoy Life
Ryan Francis
Saturday, June 12, 2010
June 13th, 2010
And the 2010 NHL season is over, well on the ice. I don't think Chicago ending there 49 year cup-less streak was much a surprise to the hockey world, but still to see it raised, and the well deserving players react, is always a beautiful moment. Adam Burish slightly ruined the elegance with his interview, because as much as I hate Chris Pronger, chirping him right after you've got the holy grail just doesn't make much sense. Dude, you are Adam Burish, he is Chris Pronger.
I was thrilled to see Marian Hossa show he wasn't a curse, and happy to see that Joel Quinville split up Toews and Kane. That spread it out and Prongs can't play 45 minutes a game. Duncan Keith is a beauty, as is his partner Brent Seabrook.
As much as I was hoping to see the Flyers come away hoisting the Cup, I wasn't disappointed. Briere, Giroux, Gagne, Carter, Carle; players I love to watch play didn't completly screw up (well, their first line was a combined -21, ouch) and made an entertaining series. Let's all be honest here to, a little goaltending in the Cup Finals woulda been nice.
So, with exams approaching, this won't be near the top of the list. Once the summer hits, I'll put much more of an effort. There is so much more to write about in the hockey world that I will catch up on for sure! Perhaps more detail on how I though the Finals went, and maybe even some thoughts on FIFA 2010. It's only day 2, but I've been enjoying it a tad, a good study period.
All my Best; Enjoy Life
Ryan Francis
I was thrilled to see Marian Hossa show he wasn't a curse, and happy to see that Joel Quinville split up Toews and Kane. That spread it out and Prongs can't play 45 minutes a game. Duncan Keith is a beauty, as is his partner Brent Seabrook.
As much as I was hoping to see the Flyers come away hoisting the Cup, I wasn't disappointed. Briere, Giroux, Gagne, Carter, Carle; players I love to watch play didn't completly screw up (well, their first line was a combined -21, ouch) and made an entertaining series. Let's all be honest here to, a little goaltending in the Cup Finals woulda been nice.
So, with exams approaching, this won't be near the top of the list. Once the summer hits, I'll put much more of an effort. There is so much more to write about in the hockey world that I will catch up on for sure! Perhaps more detail on how I though the Finals went, and maybe even some thoughts on FIFA 2010. It's only day 2, but I've been enjoying it a tad, a good study period.
All my Best; Enjoy Life
Ryan Francis
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