2037 Draft Review
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 2:05 pm
2037 Draft Review
Given that 5 seasons has passed since draft day, I think it is fair to take a look back at the success and failures of the 2037 draft class.
Going into the draft, the top pick was looking to be a two man race, with speedy American defenseman Graham Sanders going head to head with Notre Dame pivot Leonard Walker. The knock on Walker was that he had played against inferior competition in his draft year (he utterly dominated the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, potting 94 goals in 59 games). Despite the lack of exposure against top level talent, the Kings felt Walkers ability was too great to pass up. They drafted him #1 overall, hoping to build their offense around the swift skating playmaker. Walker has not disappointed; after an initial adjustment period in which he spent the majority of his first season in the AHL and looked overwhelmed in the NHL, Walker stepped up and notched 26-40-66 as a 19 year old. He followed up with two 80+ point seasons. Despite an injury plagued 2040-41, Walker is clearly one of the bright young talents in the league.
The second overall selection, which many assumed would be Sanders, turned out to be the first big surprise of the draft. The Panthers went for Logan Thompson, a small, plodding winger playing for Rimouski of the QMJHL. Despite his shortcomings, Thompson was perhaps the most naturally talented player available- but many wondered whether his game would translate to the NHL. Furthermore, he had a poor draft season in the Q, producing only 76 points after picking up an astonishing 133 points as a 16 year old. Thompson has, perhaps predictably, had trouble adjusting to the NHL pace. After retuning for a final year of junior hockey, Thompson put up 9-10-19 as a rookie, and then 12-9-21 in year two. Year 3 proved to be a breakout year, as the diminutive winger posted 35-28-63. The future looks promising for this PP specialist, but his 5 on 5 value is questionable.
Finally hearing his name at 3rd, Sanders would go to the Coyotes of Phoenix. A well rounded defenseman would is adept at both ends of the ice, Sanders has emerged as the Coyotes #1 blueliner at a young age.
The rest of the picks are as follows:
4. Yakutsenya, D, Col
Slow, stocky stay at home defenseman. Very aggressive. Went 7-19-26 last season (along with 227 PIM). Sticks up for his teammates, but at #4 Yak was quite a reach. Status- #6 defenseman.
5. McNeil, G, Phi
Owen Sound standout is a big, technical goaltender who minimizes mistakes and makes you beat him. Has been Philadelphia’s starter for the past 3 seasons. Although his stats leave something to be desired (he has never posted a GAA under 4) McNeil is a quality keeper and his numbers should improve as the team around him does. Status- #1 Goalie.
6. Cronstedt, RW, SJ
Big, strong winger with a heavy shot. Modo product approached a ppg in the Swedish 2nd division in his draft year. Projected as a Franzen clone, Cronstedt has disappointed. Managed 5-6-11 with the Devils last season, his 4th in the NHL. His time has run out. Status- Bust.
7. Ruutu, D, Cgy
This offensive minded defenseman was thought to have untapped potential when the Flames drafted him 7th overall. He has proved that notion absolutely correct. Managed 2-6-8 in the Finnish Elite League during his draft year; followed that up with 17-44-61 the next season. Made his NHL debut the year after and went 12-38-50 in 65. Has yet to score less than 50 points in any of his 4 seasons. Status- #1 defenseman.
8. Cooper, D, Min
Big, strong and fast. Excellent positionally. Very difficult to beat one on one. Owns a big shot. Wasn’t terribly productive offensively for Lethbridge of the WHL, but the potential is there. Has been a force playing behind Ogren for the Champion Wild. Status- Top 4 defenseman.
9. Whitney, C, SJ
Slow skating but talented offensively. Creative, soft hands with a quick, accurate shot. Followed up a successful college career by making the jump directly to the Sharks. Posted 20-23-43 in ‘41-42. Has been traditionally a very solid secondary scorer on a bad team in San Jose. Status- 2nd line, offense first pivot.
10. Hruska, D, Stl
Drafted out of Usti of the Czech 2nd division. Extremely good skater; also incredibly strong. Moves the puck well. Hruska has become an important cog in St Louis since debuting in ‘37-38. Status- #2 two-way defenseman.
11. Soderberg, C, NYI
Was very good for MIF in the SEL as a 17 year old, going 14-13-27 in 45 games. Made his NHL debut the next season and managed 31-27-58. However, its been mostly downhill since then for the big center. Could only muster 7-11-18 last season. Status- Borderline NHLer.
12. Lavinge, LW, Dal
6’1 playmaking winger posted 21-57-78 for Shawinigan of the QMJHL in his draft year, prompting the Stars to use the 12th overall selection on him. Lavinge spent several more years in the Q and was eventually dealt from Dallas to Los Angeles prior to ever suiting up in the NHL. He has spent the past few years bouncing between the NHL and AHL, although this past season he has seemingly established himself as a full time big leaguer, going 12-13-25 in 77 games with the Kings. Status- bottom 6 forward.
13. Brand, G, LA
Small, acrobatic goaltender who relies on athleticism to get the job done. Led Calgary to the Memorial Cup his draft year. After several years as back-up, Brand emerged as the Kings starter in ’41-42, going 34-34-12 with a 3.51 GAA and .884 save pct. Status- Number 1 NHL goalie.
14. Jensen, C, LA
Picking twice in a row, the Kings decided on a speedy forward from the US national team development program at #14. Jensen has two speeds- fast and supersonic. His game is all about energy. Very good defensively. His hands aren’t at the same level as his feet, but he creates numerous chances with his wheels. Has been an important player for LA for several seasons now. Status- 30 goal speedster with a defensive conscience.
15. Simon, G, Buf
Big, quick and positionally sound. Drafted out of the Ontario Junior B League, Simon has enjoyed a steady climb; 3 years of OHL hokcey, culminating with a Memorial Cup, followed by a brilliant rookie season for Rochester of the AHL culminated in Simon emerging as the Sabres everyday starter the past two seasons. Posted a solid .895 save pct. In 74 games in ’41-42. Status- NHL starter.
16. McConnel, D, Bos
Sakatoon product is a strong two way blueliner who plays with an edge. Was stellar for the Providence Bruins last year (12-52-64) but hasn’t been able to make the jump to the NHL. Discipline has been a problem. Status- prospect.
17. Hulva, G, Clb
Rangy keeper came up through the Vitkovice system. Jumped to North America immediately following his draft year. Has spent the past 5 years bouncing between New Jersey and Albany. ’41-42 was no exception; Hulva was the number 1 guy in the AHL (.930 save pct and 31 wins) and saw spot duty for the big club (1-10-1, .885, 3.79). His next season is very important for his career. Status- NHL back-up with upside.
18. Jalonen, RW, Wsh
Drafted out of Helsinki of the FEL, Jalonen has never made the jump to North America. Firmly established as a good pro in his native country, Jalonen posted 21-18-39 in 52 games for Pori last season. Status- Top 6 forward in Finland. Has NHL potential, should he choose to cross the pond.
19. Mcbride, D, Ana
No skill, no thrill. McBride is tough as nails, heights with authority and blocks plenty of shots. A great teammate, although he has a tendency to take bad penalties at inopportune times. Expected to make the Ducks last season, Mcbride was unexpectedly cut out of training camp. Turned in a solid performance (7-18-25) in the AHL. Status- NHL prospect.
20. Kopecky, G, Nash
Nashville took a flyer on the underutilized Kopecky, who played only 9 games in his draft year. It turned out to be a good choice, although the Preds were not the team that benefitted. Went 39-26-7, with a 3.22 GAA and a .899 save pct. Kopecky wa a 1st team all-star and is a top 5 goaltender in the league. Status- NHL superstar.
21. Leclerc, C, Nash
Nashvilles second consecutive pick was much less successful. Leclerc was envisioned to be an Alyn McCualey type player; unfortunately his game has not translated to the pros. Struggled to get icetime last season in Milwaukee, finishing with only 1 goal in 47 games. Status- Bust.
22. Boyd, D, Ott
Slow skating defenseman who sees the ice well and distributes the puck effectively. Has firmly established himself in Ottawa, where he has consistently produced 35-40 points a season since he was drafted 5 years ago. Status- Secondary puck moving defenseman.
23. Caron, LW, NJ
QMJHL product. Big bodied winger who drives to the net hard. Upped his goal total from 25 to 54 the year after being drafted, but hasn’t been able to duplicate the success. He has been effective as a third line grinder in the AHL, but cannot seem to make the jump to the NHL. Status- prospect.
24. Nyberg, D, Ott
Fleet of foot Swedish blueliner. Doesn’t pile up the points (3-17-20 in ’41-42 for the Sens) but plays hard. Often caught out of position. Status- Solid #4 or 5 NHL defenseman.
25. Bartlett, C, NJ
Mammoth pivot posted 28-49-77 for Peterborough in his draft year, prompting the Devils to select him 24th overall. At 6’4, 224 his size is an advantage, but mobility is ever a concern. Long reach and a deceptive shot. Matched his career high last season with 10-23-33 in 82 games for SJS. Status- 3rd line C.
26. Fitzgerald, C, Stl
Another big, physical center. Fitzgerald is a plodding skater with limited offensive ability, but excels in the face-off circle and creates havoc down loy with his size and aggressiveness. His 11 goals and 29 points in ’41-42 was a career high. Status- Bottom 6 grinder and face-off specialist.
27. Rioux, LW, Chi
Hulking winger excels at finding open ice. Drives to the net hard. Broke 30+ goals 3 times in the WHL, but has yet to hit 20 as a pro. Spent ’41-42 with the Islanders, his first full NHL season, and posted 13-13-26 in 82 games. Shot isn’t overly strong; most of his goals are of the garbage variety, typically within a few feet of the crease. Status- 3rd line winger with 20-30 goal potential.
28. Gorden, RW, Mtl
Gigantic, intimidating winger is a physical force on the ice, but a surprisingly good hockey player as well; he broke 20 goals for Sudbury of the OHL, posted 35 points in 38 games for Long Beach of the ECHL and managed 10 goals and 10 assists the following season for Hamilton of the AHL. ’41-42 was his first full NHL season- he piled up the PIMS (232) and added 7-15-22 in 63 games, while establishing himself as perhaps the most feared player in the league. Status- Among the NHLs top pugilists and an effective bottom 6 forward.
29. Vandermeer, D, Ana
Solidly built defenseman who relies on strong positional play. Always finishes his checks. Offensive skill is minimal, despite several productive seasons in the WHL. He wasn’t quite an everyday player for Anaheim last season (2-8-10 in 62 games) but he is getting close. Status- 6th Defenseman.
30. Hill, D, Det
Diminutive defenseman stands only 5’9, but makes up for his lack of size with good mobility, solid positional play and a penchant for moving the puck. Boasts a powerful shot from the point. Sees the ice well; excellent puck distribution skills. The Brown University product has only potted less than 60 points in the NHL once in his 5 seasons. Status- All-star defenseman.
Given that 5 seasons has passed since draft day, I think it is fair to take a look back at the success and failures of the 2037 draft class.
Going into the draft, the top pick was looking to be a two man race, with speedy American defenseman Graham Sanders going head to head with Notre Dame pivot Leonard Walker. The knock on Walker was that he had played against inferior competition in his draft year (he utterly dominated the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, potting 94 goals in 59 games). Despite the lack of exposure against top level talent, the Kings felt Walkers ability was too great to pass up. They drafted him #1 overall, hoping to build their offense around the swift skating playmaker. Walker has not disappointed; after an initial adjustment period in which he spent the majority of his first season in the AHL and looked overwhelmed in the NHL, Walker stepped up and notched 26-40-66 as a 19 year old. He followed up with two 80+ point seasons. Despite an injury plagued 2040-41, Walker is clearly one of the bright young talents in the league.
The second overall selection, which many assumed would be Sanders, turned out to be the first big surprise of the draft. The Panthers went for Logan Thompson, a small, plodding winger playing for Rimouski of the QMJHL. Despite his shortcomings, Thompson was perhaps the most naturally talented player available- but many wondered whether his game would translate to the NHL. Furthermore, he had a poor draft season in the Q, producing only 76 points after picking up an astonishing 133 points as a 16 year old. Thompson has, perhaps predictably, had trouble adjusting to the NHL pace. After retuning for a final year of junior hockey, Thompson put up 9-10-19 as a rookie, and then 12-9-21 in year two. Year 3 proved to be a breakout year, as the diminutive winger posted 35-28-63. The future looks promising for this PP specialist, but his 5 on 5 value is questionable.
Finally hearing his name at 3rd, Sanders would go to the Coyotes of Phoenix. A well rounded defenseman would is adept at both ends of the ice, Sanders has emerged as the Coyotes #1 blueliner at a young age.
The rest of the picks are as follows:
4. Yakutsenya, D, Col
Slow, stocky stay at home defenseman. Very aggressive. Went 7-19-26 last season (along with 227 PIM). Sticks up for his teammates, but at #4 Yak was quite a reach. Status- #6 defenseman.
5. McNeil, G, Phi
Owen Sound standout is a big, technical goaltender who minimizes mistakes and makes you beat him. Has been Philadelphia’s starter for the past 3 seasons. Although his stats leave something to be desired (he has never posted a GAA under 4) McNeil is a quality keeper and his numbers should improve as the team around him does. Status- #1 Goalie.
6. Cronstedt, RW, SJ
Big, strong winger with a heavy shot. Modo product approached a ppg in the Swedish 2nd division in his draft year. Projected as a Franzen clone, Cronstedt has disappointed. Managed 5-6-11 with the Devils last season, his 4th in the NHL. His time has run out. Status- Bust.
7. Ruutu, D, Cgy
This offensive minded defenseman was thought to have untapped potential when the Flames drafted him 7th overall. He has proved that notion absolutely correct. Managed 2-6-8 in the Finnish Elite League during his draft year; followed that up with 17-44-61 the next season. Made his NHL debut the year after and went 12-38-50 in 65. Has yet to score less than 50 points in any of his 4 seasons. Status- #1 defenseman.
8. Cooper, D, Min
Big, strong and fast. Excellent positionally. Very difficult to beat one on one. Owns a big shot. Wasn’t terribly productive offensively for Lethbridge of the WHL, but the potential is there. Has been a force playing behind Ogren for the Champion Wild. Status- Top 4 defenseman.
9. Whitney, C, SJ
Slow skating but talented offensively. Creative, soft hands with a quick, accurate shot. Followed up a successful college career by making the jump directly to the Sharks. Posted 20-23-43 in ‘41-42. Has been traditionally a very solid secondary scorer on a bad team in San Jose. Status- 2nd line, offense first pivot.
10. Hruska, D, Stl
Drafted out of Usti of the Czech 2nd division. Extremely good skater; also incredibly strong. Moves the puck well. Hruska has become an important cog in St Louis since debuting in ‘37-38. Status- #2 two-way defenseman.
11. Soderberg, C, NYI
Was very good for MIF in the SEL as a 17 year old, going 14-13-27 in 45 games. Made his NHL debut the next season and managed 31-27-58. However, its been mostly downhill since then for the big center. Could only muster 7-11-18 last season. Status- Borderline NHLer.
12. Lavinge, LW, Dal
6’1 playmaking winger posted 21-57-78 for Shawinigan of the QMJHL in his draft year, prompting the Stars to use the 12th overall selection on him. Lavinge spent several more years in the Q and was eventually dealt from Dallas to Los Angeles prior to ever suiting up in the NHL. He has spent the past few years bouncing between the NHL and AHL, although this past season he has seemingly established himself as a full time big leaguer, going 12-13-25 in 77 games with the Kings. Status- bottom 6 forward.
13. Brand, G, LA
Small, acrobatic goaltender who relies on athleticism to get the job done. Led Calgary to the Memorial Cup his draft year. After several years as back-up, Brand emerged as the Kings starter in ’41-42, going 34-34-12 with a 3.51 GAA and .884 save pct. Status- Number 1 NHL goalie.
14. Jensen, C, LA
Picking twice in a row, the Kings decided on a speedy forward from the US national team development program at #14. Jensen has two speeds- fast and supersonic. His game is all about energy. Very good defensively. His hands aren’t at the same level as his feet, but he creates numerous chances with his wheels. Has been an important player for LA for several seasons now. Status- 30 goal speedster with a defensive conscience.
15. Simon, G, Buf
Big, quick and positionally sound. Drafted out of the Ontario Junior B League, Simon has enjoyed a steady climb; 3 years of OHL hokcey, culminating with a Memorial Cup, followed by a brilliant rookie season for Rochester of the AHL culminated in Simon emerging as the Sabres everyday starter the past two seasons. Posted a solid .895 save pct. In 74 games in ’41-42. Status- NHL starter.
16. McConnel, D, Bos
Sakatoon product is a strong two way blueliner who plays with an edge. Was stellar for the Providence Bruins last year (12-52-64) but hasn’t been able to make the jump to the NHL. Discipline has been a problem. Status- prospect.
17. Hulva, G, Clb
Rangy keeper came up through the Vitkovice system. Jumped to North America immediately following his draft year. Has spent the past 5 years bouncing between New Jersey and Albany. ’41-42 was no exception; Hulva was the number 1 guy in the AHL (.930 save pct and 31 wins) and saw spot duty for the big club (1-10-1, .885, 3.79). His next season is very important for his career. Status- NHL back-up with upside.
18. Jalonen, RW, Wsh
Drafted out of Helsinki of the FEL, Jalonen has never made the jump to North America. Firmly established as a good pro in his native country, Jalonen posted 21-18-39 in 52 games for Pori last season. Status- Top 6 forward in Finland. Has NHL potential, should he choose to cross the pond.
19. Mcbride, D, Ana
No skill, no thrill. McBride is tough as nails, heights with authority and blocks plenty of shots. A great teammate, although he has a tendency to take bad penalties at inopportune times. Expected to make the Ducks last season, Mcbride was unexpectedly cut out of training camp. Turned in a solid performance (7-18-25) in the AHL. Status- NHL prospect.
20. Kopecky, G, Nash
Nashville took a flyer on the underutilized Kopecky, who played only 9 games in his draft year. It turned out to be a good choice, although the Preds were not the team that benefitted. Went 39-26-7, with a 3.22 GAA and a .899 save pct. Kopecky wa a 1st team all-star and is a top 5 goaltender in the league. Status- NHL superstar.
21. Leclerc, C, Nash
Nashvilles second consecutive pick was much less successful. Leclerc was envisioned to be an Alyn McCualey type player; unfortunately his game has not translated to the pros. Struggled to get icetime last season in Milwaukee, finishing with only 1 goal in 47 games. Status- Bust.
22. Boyd, D, Ott
Slow skating defenseman who sees the ice well and distributes the puck effectively. Has firmly established himself in Ottawa, where he has consistently produced 35-40 points a season since he was drafted 5 years ago. Status- Secondary puck moving defenseman.
23. Caron, LW, NJ
QMJHL product. Big bodied winger who drives to the net hard. Upped his goal total from 25 to 54 the year after being drafted, but hasn’t been able to duplicate the success. He has been effective as a third line grinder in the AHL, but cannot seem to make the jump to the NHL. Status- prospect.
24. Nyberg, D, Ott
Fleet of foot Swedish blueliner. Doesn’t pile up the points (3-17-20 in ’41-42 for the Sens) but plays hard. Often caught out of position. Status- Solid #4 or 5 NHL defenseman.
25. Bartlett, C, NJ
Mammoth pivot posted 28-49-77 for Peterborough in his draft year, prompting the Devils to select him 24th overall. At 6’4, 224 his size is an advantage, but mobility is ever a concern. Long reach and a deceptive shot. Matched his career high last season with 10-23-33 in 82 games for SJS. Status- 3rd line C.
26. Fitzgerald, C, Stl
Another big, physical center. Fitzgerald is a plodding skater with limited offensive ability, but excels in the face-off circle and creates havoc down loy with his size and aggressiveness. His 11 goals and 29 points in ’41-42 was a career high. Status- Bottom 6 grinder and face-off specialist.
27. Rioux, LW, Chi
Hulking winger excels at finding open ice. Drives to the net hard. Broke 30+ goals 3 times in the WHL, but has yet to hit 20 as a pro. Spent ’41-42 with the Islanders, his first full NHL season, and posted 13-13-26 in 82 games. Shot isn’t overly strong; most of his goals are of the garbage variety, typically within a few feet of the crease. Status- 3rd line winger with 20-30 goal potential.
28. Gorden, RW, Mtl
Gigantic, intimidating winger is a physical force on the ice, but a surprisingly good hockey player as well; he broke 20 goals for Sudbury of the OHL, posted 35 points in 38 games for Long Beach of the ECHL and managed 10 goals and 10 assists the following season for Hamilton of the AHL. ’41-42 was his first full NHL season- he piled up the PIMS (232) and added 7-15-22 in 63 games, while establishing himself as perhaps the most feared player in the league. Status- Among the NHLs top pugilists and an effective bottom 6 forward.
29. Vandermeer, D, Ana
Solidly built defenseman who relies on strong positional play. Always finishes his checks. Offensive skill is minimal, despite several productive seasons in the WHL. He wasn’t quite an everyday player for Anaheim last season (2-8-10 in 62 games) but he is getting close. Status- 6th Defenseman.
30. Hill, D, Det
Diminutive defenseman stands only 5’9, but makes up for his lack of size with good mobility, solid positional play and a penchant for moving the puck. Boasts a powerful shot from the point. Sees the ice well; excellent puck distribution skills. The Brown University product has only potted less than 60 points in the NHL once in his 5 seasons. Status- All-star defenseman.