...has released an update to their prospect rankings
The big news is for Severed Heads fans as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (the 'Nuge') has climbed into the top spot.
'Heads mgt sees the kid as a faster Adam Oates. We should be so lucky.
On the downside is Sean Couturier slipping down to #6 in NA, and likely near the bottom of the top 10 overall. Somewhere in England, a GM is screaming.
Final Rankings, N. American Skaters:
1 NUGENT-HOPKINS, RYAN 04/12/93 6' 0.5" 164 C
2 LANDESKOG, GABRIEL 11/23/92 6' 0.5" 207 LW
3 HUBERDEAU, JONATHAN 06/04/93 6' 1.25" 170 C
4 HAMILTON, DOUGIE 06/17/93 6' 4.25" 187 D
5 BEAULIEU, NATHAN 12/05/92 6' 1.75" 174 D
6 COUTURIER, SEAN 12/07/92 6' 4" 197 C
7 BAERTSCHI, SVEN 10/05/92 5' 10" 181 LW
8 STROME, RYAN 07/11/93 6' 0" 175 C
9 MURPHY, RYAN 03/31/93 5' 10.5" 166 D
10 SIEMENS, DUNCAN 09/07/93 6' 2.5" 192 D
European Rankings:
1 LARSSON, ADAM SWEDEN 11/12/92 6' 3" 200 D
2 ZIBANEJAD, MIKA SWEDEN 04/18/93 6' 1.5" 191 C
3 BRODIN, JONAS SWEDEN 07/12/93 6' 1" 169 D
4 ARMIA, JOEL FINLAND 05/31/93 6' 3" 191 RW
5 JASKIN, DMITRI CZREP 03/23/93 6' 1" 196 RW
6 KLEFBOM, OSCAR SWEDEN 07/20/93 6' 3.5" 200 D
7 SALOMAKI, MIIKKA FINLAND 03/09/93 5' 11" 198 RW
8 NERMARK, JOACHIM SWE-JR. 05/12/93 6' 1" 187 C
9 GRANLUND, MARKUS FIN-JR. 04/16/93 5' 10" 169 C
10 BENGTSSON, RASMUS SWE-2 05/14/93 6' 2.5" 189 D
10 comments:
So EDM gets 1st pick and takes Larsson at D? Or this an error?
I think the debate for the Oil has now been reduced to Larsson or Nugent-Hopkins - given the size issues they will probably pass on Nugent-Hopkins and go for Larsson but there is a very strong pro-Nugent-Hopkins contingent here in Edmonton.
I think the Oilers feel, rightly, that they made the correct call in taking Hall so they will put significant weight on the interviews/psycholicial testing as they have really made a committment under Tambo to draft "character" kids.
For me the question becomes what happens with the LA pick. Packaged with something they would hope to move up the draft and would like to snag another top-ten pick but I just don't see that happening.
I agree that Edmonton has locked it down to either Nuge or AL.
If Tambellini hasn't offered Cogliano and that LA pick as a package to move up in the draft (and or add a legit NHL defenseman) he should be fired.
That all said, this draft is weird. Larsson could be the next Bouwmeester, a big workhorse defenseman who can play big minutes but leaves you wanting offensively. I'm worried that the Nuge could be the next Nylander, that Couturier is simply a French Mark Bell, and that Ryan Murphy is less Rafakski and more MA Bergeron.
I think you nailed it Cam, which is why I am inclined to go with Larsson myself.
If either hits their potential on the high-end (Lisdtrom or Sakic) you are fine but if they miss, who misses worse.
Given the Oilers' needs at both center and defense it may not really matter but my sense is that a servicable 6'3" d-man can still contribute while another 6'nothing forward may not cut it (though apparently the scouts rave about the Nuge's defensive awareness and, perhaps even more importantly, effort).
I think they take hopkins. He is a local and i think there is a better chance of aquiring a defensemen elsewhere than a 1st line pivot.
I guess New Jersey won the draft lotto...
So,
edm picks larsson
col picks nudge
flo trades pick to la to get hickey and simmonds and lower 1st
la picks coutrier despite critics now
nj gets landeskog
nyi picks strome
ott get huberdeau
thoughts guys?
however, i think nudge should go to edm. and thus, larsson in col.
you never know...
I'm pretty confident the next Gretzky 'should' be drafted in the top three but we'll see ;-)
Bob,
Interesting sugggestion on what FLA does but I don't think LA has a first (having traded theirs to EDM in the Penner deal).
Unlike you I am a increasingly convinced that the Oilers should take Larsson but will instead take Nugent-Hopkins.
Colorado takes Landeskog, Florida gets Coutourier, NJ gets Larsson.
Also think the d-men in Hamilton, Murphy and Seimens do not drop as much as their counterparts did last year in
I find it unlikely that Larsson slips all the way to #4, more likely to me is that Colorado reviews their options (already deep at center) and bookends Larsson with Erik Johnson.
1. Edm - Larsson or Nuge
2. Col - Nuge or Larsson
3. Fla - Landeskog
4. NJ - Couturier
5. NYI - probably a D-man like Siemens, Beaulieu, or Murphy
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