Think smaller
NHL teams may turn to quicker players
Posted: Wednesday June 24, 1998 01:22 AM
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Brad Stuart totaled 20 goals and 45 assists for the Regina Pats last season |
By John Heid, CNN/SI
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Draft day strategies may be changing for NHL teams.
Teams may turn to more smaller and quicker players during Saturday's NHL Entry Draft, especially after this year's NHL playoffs.
The bigger teams like the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils didn't fair too well in the playoffs. The Flyers and Devils were upset by smaller and quicker teams -- the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators, respectively. The Devils were the Eastern Conference's top-seed and the Flyers were No. 3.
"The biggest trend in recent years is bigger players who can muck it up in the corners, create things," said Kevin Prendergast, director of player personnel/hockey operations for the Edmonton Oilers. "[But] teams are looking for smaller guys today.
"Teams are going to have to reverse their systems."
Of course, the Oilers -- winners of five Stanley Cups from 1984-90 -- were built on speed with players like Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kuri and Esa Tikkanen with a mix of strength from Mark Messier, Craig MacTavish and Glen Anderson.
"Every team is different," Prendergast said. "But for us they have to be exceptional skaters before we even look at them."
Skating skills are important for the Buffalo Sabres, too.
"Especially this year, you have to skate at a certain level," said Don Luce, director of player personnel for the Sabres. "I think that's the No. 1 thing."
Of course, size and strength combined with strong skating skills are preferred.
"From what I am seeing this year, the bigger guys can skate," Luce said. "You've got guys like Bryan Allen who can skate."
The 6-4 1/2, 208-pound Allen is the third-ranked prospect, according to the NHL's Central Scouting Service, which evaluated over 800 draft-eligible players from North America and Europe between September 1997 to April 1998. Allen, 17, notched six goals and 13 assists in 48 games for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League last season.
While draft day strategies may change a little bit, the talent is available as always.
"I think there are two players right at the top with the talent and the potential to become great NHL players," said Craig Button, director of scouting for the Dallas Stars. "After that there is some real depth in the draft."
Vincent Lecavalier, David Legwand, Allen and Manny Malhotra will likely be the top four picks, according to Button. "Those guys are going to be pretty good players," he said. "They have plenty of potential."
Luce is very high on three of the top-four ranked North American players -- centers Lecavalier and Legwand and defenseman Brad Stuart. "Some of them are going to be stars," said Luce, who oversees eight full- and part-time scouts. "Some of them are going to be good NHL players. I think it's actually one of the deeper drafts."
Lecavalier, who played center for Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior League last season, finished with 115 points on 44 goals and 71 assists. Legwand skated for the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL this past year. The Detroit, Michigan, native scored 54 goals and added 51 assists for 105 points.
The 6-foot-2 1/2, 215-pound Stuart collected 20 goals and 45 assists for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League last season. Malhotra, a 6-1 1/2, 210-pound center, scored 16 goals and finished with 51 points for the OHL's Guelph Storm in 1997-98.
Martin Madden, the New York Rangers' director of amateur scouting, expects two or three potential superstars to come out of this draft. "Overall, it's a good draft," he said. "Every team expects to put in the ranks at least one decent hockey player."
While Lecavalier and Legwand appear to be destined for stardom, they're not the only players who may turn some heads in the near future. "There are six to seven other players in the same ballpark. Bryan Allen. Manny Malhotra. Brad Stuart."
In 30 years of scouting players for NHL teams, including eight with the Rangers, Madden has seen some changes. "First of all, the player available have changed," Madden said. "They are bigger and stronger."
The Sabres follow basically the same principal. "Actually we follow the player closer eligible for the draft all season," Luce said. "It's more of an elimination process as the year goes along. That usually happens around the first of January."
Lecavalier, the top-rated player in North America and overall by the scouting service, will likely be the first pick taken by the Tamp Bay Lightning.
The San Jose Sharks hold the second pick and the expansion Nashville Predators the third. Vancouver Canucks owns the third pick in the first round, followed by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Colorado Avalanche make the first of four first-round picks at 12th, followed by the Oilers, Phoenix Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado and Buffalo. The Avalanche hold the 19th and 20th selections, and the Los Angeles Kings, Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, Devils and the Dallas Stars round out the first round.
The Oilers will take the player with the most talent at 13.
"From our standpoint, it's the most talented player," Prendergast said. "Our first and second picks are always the most talented player available. We may fill specific needs later on."
Madden isn't sure who the Rangers will take with the sixth overall pick. "We know who'll go one and two, but we don't the rest," he said. "But if we have a choice between a forward and a defenseman at the same level, we'll take a forward."
The Stars have their work cut out for them.
"When you're picking 27th, you have to look for some diamonds in the rough," Button said. "We look for players who will contribute at the NHL level."
A player's potential in three to five years, an ability to improve, competitiveness and work ethic are key characteristics Dallas scouts look for, according to Button. "Every player who gets drafted has to get better," he said. "If they don't improve they won't get better and develop their potential."
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