Alexander Ovechkin (1st)
Jeff Schultz (27th)
Mike Green (29th)

....not bad, but there is that WHL bias in there.

___________
Play hard, shake hands, drink beer.

"LA needs two hockey teams like Switzerland needs two navies" -- Norman Chad (from "My 10-Point Plan to Save Gary Bettman from Himself")

From TSN, on Mike Green

Lowdown: : Despite playing for the worst team in the Western Hockey League, he is ranked eighth among North American prospects by NHL Central Scouting. Does not possess great size but is solid at both ends of the rink. Solid puck-carrier, he is capable of quarterbacking the power play. Does not shy away from contact along the boards and in the corners and is not afraid to go down to block shots. Had he played for a better team, some scouts believe he'd go in the top 10.

 

Jeff Schultz

Lowdown: : Hulking Western Hockey League product is ranked 12th among North American skaters and fifth among defensemen by NHL Central Scouting. Needs to add some bulk to his 6-6 frame and some toughness in his game. Added an offensive dimension to his game in his second full season in juniors and proved his durability by playing all 72 games. Also represented Canada at the World Under-18 Championships.

--------------------------------------------
``I'd love to have a pre-game skate tomorrow and be getting ready for Game 8,'' he said wistfully. ``It just makes me excited for training camp.''
- Shean Donovan, two days after losing Game 7 of the SCF

MIHAIL YUNKOV

CENTER/ WING | (6-0, 180) | KRYLJA (RUS DIV I)
BORN: February 16, 1986, Voskresensk, Russia
SHOOTS: L
CENTRAL SCOUTING: No. 18 International Skater


Rank provided by NHL Central Scouting final report. Players without a ranking appeared on the mid-season report, but not the final.


SELECTED BY WASHINGTON, ROUND 2, PICK 32, OVERALL PICK 62

[The Hockey News]
Subscribe at thehockeynews.com.
Every top line needs a play-maker and Mikhail Yunkov is one of the best among Russian prospects.

He centered Alexander Radulov (No. 13) and Roman Voloshenko (No. 23) at a February tournament and they combined for 19 points in four games. Yunkov is a solid two-way center who plays an honest game.

"He is not as dynamic as Radulov and Voloshenko, but where would they be without him?" said a European scout. "Somebody has to get them the puck."

Yunkov is a great passer who is creative with the puck and thinks the game well. Although skating is not a strength, he knows how to play his position and be in the right place at the right time.

He leads the attack and understands how players with far more skill than he has think. His anticipation is a big strength. He is good on transition play and knows the defensive side of the game.

"There is a lot to like about him," added a European scout. "He's not flashy, but he is effective. He is not a great skater, but he is not caught out of position on a regular basis. A safe bet, but definitely not a star."

YEAR TEAM LEA. GP G A Pts. PIM
'01-02 Wings Mid. 29 11 23 34 44
'02-03 Wings Mid. 30 14 21 35 38
'03-04 Wings Rus.1 33 4 9 13 10
Russia WU18 6 0 4 4 8

The Hockey News says: Playmaking forward

Sami Lepisto DEFENSE | (6-0, 176) | JOKERIT (FIN DIV I)
BORN: October 17, 1984, Espoo, Finland
SHOOTS: L
CENTRAL SCOUTING: No. 25 International Skater

SELECTED BY WASHINGTON, ROUND 3, PICK 1, OVERALL PICK 66

[The Hockey News]
Subscribe at thehockeynews.com.
There is a lot to like about Sami Lepisto -­ if you can get past the fact he is small and won't get bigger.

The Finnish blueliner is a late bloomer and it has only been the last couple of years that he has made a name for himself in Finland.

"He has loads of talent and had a great World Junior Championship," said a European scout. "He had a great effort in the bronze medal game against the Czechs and had an outstanding tournament. The Finns were not supposed to win a medal but he played a big part."

Lepisto's critics note he had a so-so year numbers-wise in Finland's top league.

"He played, but he didn't do much offensively," said another European scout. But the fact Lepisto played a regular shift should count for something when his name comes around on the draft floor.

"He won't be a No. 1, 2, or 3 defenseman, but he could be a steal as a No. 4," said one scout. "If he got a little bigger and stronger he could be one of the top defenseman in the draft. I like the way Finns play and he is tough."

YEAR TEAM LEA. GP G A Pts. PIM
'01-02 Jokerit U18 20 8 14 22 36
'02-03 Jokerit Jr. 36 5 14 19 36
'03-04 Jokerit Fin. 53 3 4 7 20
Finland WJC 7 4 4 8 10

The Hockey News says: Two-way defenseman

Huh, He'll won't get bigger but they go on to say he'd be one of the top defensemen in the draft if he got bigger... Perhaps a little human growth hormones will help.
And that's it for awhile no picks til the fifth round 132 and 138. So how'd we do on day one? Bourque seemed a little high but maybe could be a good sleeper pick.

Well, if one is keeping score, the prospect list now looks something like . . .

LW:

Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Semin
Tomas Fleischman
Mikhail Yunkov

C:

Brian Sutherby
Jared Aulin
Brooks Laich
Chris Bourque
Stephen Werner

RW:

Eric Fehr
Boyd Gordon
Jonas Johansson
Petr Sykora (well . . . maybe)

D:

Steve Eminger
Shaone Morrisonn
Jeff Schultz
Mike Green
Sami Lepisto
Nolan Yonkman

G:

Maxime Ouellet
Maxime Daigneault
Rastislav Stana

___________
Play hard, shake hands, drink beer.

"LA needs two hockey teams like Switzerland needs two navies" -- Norman Chad (from "My 10-Point Plan to Save Gary Bettman from Himself")

Add this guy to list taken 66 though not sure how we got the pick.

<>

Player: Clayton Barthel, #2
Pronounced: bar-THEL
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 200
Birthday: April 2, 1986
Hometown: Kelowna, BC
02-03 Season: Seattle Thunderbirds

Draft Status:
Eligible 2004
<>

Personal Info:
Clayton is a rugged defenseman who plays solid in his own end and would like to improve his offensive output this season?The one drill in practice that is the toughest for Clayton is the breakaway drill, because, as he puts it ?I have no dangles.??Clayton thinks Dion Phaneuf of Red Deer is the best all around defenseman in the league and that Kelowna and Kamloops will be teams to beat this year?Of all the guys on the team, Clayton can see Johner on the reality dating show ?Elimidate?, while Clayton would be on ?Joe Millionaire??This past summer Clayton worked out at the gym, ran at the track, rode the bike and got on the ice as much as possible to prepare for the this season.

2002-03:
Was a rookie with the Thunderbirds. In his first campaign he played 62 games and had one goal and eight assists for nine points. He finished the season with 48 penalty minutes and was a plus-17. Barthel scored his first WHL goal at Portland on January 17. It was the game winner in 2-0 shutout of the Winter Hawks. In the playoffs Clayton played in all 15 games and had a goal and an assist. Barthel was a solid contributor all season long on the blue line. He impressed the coaching staff early in training camp with his composure and smart play, which continued through the season.

2001-02:
Played with Kelowna Bantam AAA. He had 13 goals and 15 assists in 40 games. He was the Junior Rockets team captain. Josh Gorges, who plays for Kelowna, and Curtis Cooper, who plays for Prince George, were both members of the Junior Rockets.


Q&A with Clayton Barthel:
1. Hometown and size of hometown:
Kelowna. Approximately 100,00

2. The names of your parents and siblings?
Parents are Blair and Andrea and siblings are Colin, Jenna and Jillian.

3. What part of your game is the strongest?
Playing solid defence in my own end.

4. What part of your game do you think needs work?
My offensive output.

5. Describe your style of play?
Rugged D-man, reliable in my own end, keeps it simple and plays physical.

6. What are some of yours goals this season?
To be a top 3 or 4 D-man, and to get drafted.

7. What are some of the team?s goals this season?
To win the U.S. division and be a top team in the league.

8. What are some movie quotes that stick out in your mind?
?Big Gulps eh?....Well, see ya later.? --From Dumb and Dumber.

9. Who on the team do you see having a breakout season and why?
Gags is gonna be a snipe show.

10. What did you do this past summer training wise? How has it prepared your for this season?
I worked out at the gym, ran at the track, rode the bike and got on the ice as much as possible.

11. What did you do this past summer recreation wise?
I hung out with my friends, hit the beach, went boating and just enjoyed the sun.

12. If you were to host a ?Battle of the Bands?, which two bands would be battling it out and why?
50 Cent and Ja Rule cause they got beef.

13. Which of the summer blockbuster movies did you see this past summer? Which one was the best and why?
I?d have to say I liked ?Bad Boys II?. Lots of action, good special effects and it was pretty funny.

14. Who do you think is going to be the Thunderbirds biggest competition in the WHL this year? Why?
I think the Rockets and the Blazers will be good this year. They?ve got good players and a lot of depth. There?s no reason why we can?t compete with those teams.

15. What reality TV show would you be on and why?
I?d be on ?Joe Millionaire? because you get 20 hot broads to choose from and a ton of money.

16. Of all the guys on the team which one do you think would end up on a reality TV show and why?
I could see Johner on ?Elimidate?.

17. What did you think of the NHL playoffs last season? Were you surprised that Anaheim made it to the Stanley Cup Finals and that Detroit and Colorado were knocked out so early?
Yes, I was surprised that those teams were knocked out so early. I thought it was great for Anaheim and it just goes to show that the team who shows up to play in the playoffs is gonna win.

18. What is your favorite sport besides hockey? Why is it your favorite sport?
I?d have to say baseball and snowboarding. Baseball because I used to be pretty good at it when I was younger and snowboarding because I was really into that before I really got serious with hockey.

19. Curling is another game played on ice. Have you ever played it and if so are you any good at it?
No.

20. What is a personal hockey moment that sticks out for you in the past years?
Probably scoring my first WHL goal or getting in my first fight in a line brawl against Spokane.

21. Which do you prefer defensively and why: stick check or a big hit?
A big hit because it?ll definitely get the crowd going.

22. Which do you prefer offensively and why: a pretty assist to set up a goal or burying the puck in the net for a goal?
Well I wouldn?t really know because I don?t do much of either.

23. Who is the best passer on the team?
I?d have to say Goertz or Svags.

24. Can anyone sing on the team? If so, are they any good and what do they sing?
I always used to hear Heater singing girly tunes but not so much anymore.

25. Who do you think is the best player in the league and why?
I think Dion Phaneuf is the best all around D-man in the league.

26. What is the one drill in practice that is the toughest for you?
Break away drill. I have no dangles.

27. What do you think was the real reason behind why Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck broke up?
Probably to give people something to talk about. I could care less.

that was the calle compensatory, unless i'm mistaken.

Lepisto was taken 66th, and that was the compesnatory pick from Toronto.  Barthel was taken 88th. 

In later news, Oscar Hedman (D-SWE) was taken 132nd, Pasi Salonen (W-FIN) 138th, Peter Guggisberg (W-SUI) 166th

___________
Play hard, shake hands, drink beer.

"LA needs two hockey teams like Switzerland needs two navies" -- Norman Chad (from "My 10-Point Plan to Save Gary Bettman from Himself")

At the Draft Party, I specifically asked Dick Patrick, Ted Leonsis, and GMGM about that 88 pick- according to Patrick, he knew nothing about it, he wasn't even at the table and thought they were through for the day. Same general answer from Leonsis. GMGM, however, said the guy was on their chart, was still available when they didn't expect him to be, and it really was no loss to deal a 3rd next year. Maybe a sleeper. Honest answers from all three.

I also asked Patrick how much the loss of Simpson and Henderson affected their thinking in this draft, and he said that, because they both were on the pro side of scouting, the Caps lost little or nothing by their absence.

Finally, I think it was Tyler had the question about why the sales reps seem to have no clue about a work stoppage this fall- Dick Patrick mentioned the words "cost certainty" to me in his answer, and I jokingly reminded him that Commissioner Bettman was nowhere to be seen in the room; but then he said there was no instructions from management not to mention a stoppage. The sales reps on hand (and I certainly won't mention any names), however, left the impression that a gag order is indeed the rule.

Two words on Ovechkin-

HUGE hands.