DRAFT 2004
1. Carolina:
Alexander Ovechkin Carolina definitly needs a guy like Ovechkin. With a guy like Eric Staal, St. Louis and Hudler, Carolina in 2 years might have 1 hell of a solid top 4 forwards. Ovechkin will bring them another marquee player upfront which is what they lack badly and he's being called one of the best prospects the draft has seen in years. Even though Carolina has a lot of holes left to fill, they can fill them in with later round picks, Ovechkin is gonna make Carolina 1 step closer to becomming elite.
2. Vancouver:
Evgeni Malkin You'd think a true contender like Vancouver would have a high pick, but nope, they somehow wheeled and dealed and landed the 2nd overall pick in which they definitly will nab Malkin. With a young forward group of Zherdev, Svitov, and Samsonov to round out the young end, they also got Lehtonen between the pipes, how sick can you possibly get? Did I mention they are one of the strongest teams in the league? Vancouver takes it home with Malkin, a possible franchise forward, and if not he's still good for a few 80 pt seasons.
3. Buffalo:
Cameron Barker Buffalo definitly clears up a gap on the blueline now. This couldnt have worked out better for the sabres. With Kovalchuk, Lecavalier, Nash and Jokinen, they now get a true blueliner who could and should be a horse. They drafted Phaneuf last year and Barker this year, buffalo is in the right direction in getting the team into true contention. Barker is a home run pick here for Buffalo and they wont be upset when Barker is around for them to pick.
4. Minnesota:
Rostislav Olesz Risky? Yes, but would it be worth it if he can stay healthy? Definitely. They could go either way and pick Tukonen, but Olesz looks better. Olesz has been talked about being one of the best players to come out of the Czech Rep. since Hejduk and Jagr, so that?s a pretty good class to be around. Chistov and Nilsson already into the mix, Olesz would definitely make there forward squad better. They also need a defensemen and goaltender, but they can get those in the later rounds since there isn?t 1 dman or goalie worthy enough of 4th overall at this point.
5. Ottawa:
Larui Tukonen Best player available, plain and simple. Look at there roster and farm, they got no weakness besides a enforcer which they can trade for. Goaltending is fine, defense is young and forwards are perfect. Tukonen joins a group of superb forwards, hell they are so deep that if Tukonen makes his respected team he might not even see a roster spot anywhere higher then 8. The defense is fine with Pitkanen, Stuart, Klesla and Volchenkov just to name the top4, they don?t need a dman really. Tukonen is a smart choice, he even looks like a Finnish Hossa? EEK!
6. Detroit:
Rob Schremp Weiss and Bouchard haven?t lived up to their billing yet, with Carter and Tambellini as the only possible ones making the forward squad anytime soon, they need Schremp. Schremp will bring them a supreme scoring forward which is what they lack, some day his character is in question, but forget it, Schremp is the real deal and will help the wings out a lot within the nest few years. Simply this pick is the best player available to cover a weakness. Smart pick.
7. Philadelphia:
Marek Schwarz Schwarz fills a weakness. Belfour is going to be gone within the next 2 years, Potvin isn?t what he used to be, and the Flyers don?t have 1 quality goaltending prospect. They got a great group of forwards and Alexander Steen possibly joining next year so they don?t need to worry about that, and the blueline is pretty well covered with Markov, Hamrlik and Witt leading the way. Schwarz fills a need, plain and simple.
8. Edmonton:
A.J. Thelen If Tom Poti and Aki Berg are your top 2 defensemen then you know you got a weakness that needs to be touched up. Aaron Miller has been banged up for some time so that doesn?t help. The Oilers lack a top notch defensemen, Thelen is a good move. Parise will be in the fold next season upfront, and with Sturm coming back form injury they would definitely have a solid top 12 group of forwards, so defense is needed and Thelen is a good way to start the draft off for the Oilers.
9. Washington:
Andrew Ladd With the Capitals drafting Fleury last year, having a very deep young core of defensemen on the team and farm, the Capitals needs to get more quality depth upfront. Ladd is a big guy who along with guys like Brown, Grigorenko and Pouliot, they are starting to show signs of turning the forward crop around. The Captials only weakness right now is quality depth upfront and within the next 2 years they may loose a few guys, Ladd is definitely a great pick-up.
10. Los Angeles:
Alexander Radulov Toivonen will be up within no time, so there goes the need for a goalie. Grebeshkov and Jonsson and Morrison will possibly make there team next year, atleast 2 of the 3 will for sure, so that ends the need for a defensemen. Vanek and Perezhogin could end up making the forward group, but face it, Radulov is the best player available that isn?t a goalie. He?s flashy and could be another Vanek-like player. He?s a Boom or bust, it?s a risk the Kings are willing to take.
