All the rumblings are this kid has the talent to be a big time goal scorer in the league and might be the gem of the draft.

Eklund reports that the Leafs are trying like crazy to move up to pick him..A nice highlight package of his skills.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=15744

I think the Leafs are pretty deep on dman and need a 1st line guy who can score 30 to 40 goals..This kid is the man...


ONE TIME

probably going to the blues at 4th overall, or 2nd overall if there are some trades. they need a winger who can score goals... seems like a good fit.

WRONG, DUMBASS

"There's a group of defensemen that we're keying on (with the No. 4 pick)," said Jarmo Kekalainen, the Blues' assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting. "There are a couple of forwards we're looking at, but right now we're leaning more toward taking a defenseman.

"We're not going to reach for needs when we don't know what our needs are going to be in a couple of years. The players at the top of the draft are more ready (to play in the NHL) than I've seen in the last few years. Plus, you can always trade a good player, especially a defenseman."



source

by the way, I think jarmo and JD are maybe two of the best guys to ever work in the blues' front office.

There is an unwritten rule at the draft: anytime a team mentions a player or an intention specifically (i.e., we have no interest in John Smith with our number 5 pick: we're focussing more on getting help in goal) You can bet the opposite is true. The draft is full of teams trying to convince other teams that they're not interested in a player so that hopefully no one takes him before they get to him.

I read a quote from Filatov that he's going to play in N. America this year no matter what. If he makes the NHL great but if not he's willing to play Junior hockey.

I'm pretty confident Filatov will come to NA to play... just not sure if he won't be tempted back to the KHL. Since the KHL does have a cap, but excludes ex-NHL'ers so they can toss around large bags of money -- Malkin has been offered $12m $15m according to rumours.

Why is this guy not ranked higher , if he is so good??I think the European/Russian factor automatically downgrades prospects a notch.

I don't see how being top 4-5 in a draft like this is a bad thing; and LA, Atl, StL all really, really need D.

looks like they weren't messing around.


lol? have you looked at who the blues have on defense lately?

Forwards in the pipeline/roster:
oshie
berlund
eller

boyes
janssen
stempniak

Defense in the pipleline/roster:
ej
wagner?


When you draft you look a few years down the line...

yes, boyes/janssen in the 'pipeline.' the blues have more than enough defense (you forgot polak and wyowitka, I guess) and no wingers.

if a need ever arises, they can just trade from their depth, probably for someone they like more than filatov. I was just a little surprised that they passed over him having seen his highlight video.