Youth movement

Sporting News, The, June 25, 2001 by Larry Wigge

A lot depends on the team that drafts the player. Sometimes development is hindered when a player goes to a losing team and gets lots of ice time. Sometimes that helps.

Three things make this year's draft so intriguing: The number of Russians at the top of the draft; the number of goalies who could be taken in the first round, and the number of trades that could be made, including the first two picks by the Thrashers and the Islanders.

"It will go right down to moments before the draft," Panthers president Bill Torrey says. "We have the fourth pick, and I can't tell you whether we will keep it or not."

But it does seem certain the 6-2, 207-pound Kovalchuk will become the first Russian player to be picked first. Scouts say he plays with a North American edge, and when he's got the puck he wants to do something with it and not pass it off.

Kovalchuk is part of a draft that could be the most productive since 1993, when Chris Pronger, Paul Kariya, Jason Arnott, Adam Deadmarsh, Jason Allison and Saku Koivu were taken in a first round that produced 19 solid regulars of the 26 picks.

But that year was special. Checking the teams' draft, report cards will give you a better idea of just how tough it is to draft well in the NHL.

DRAFT REPORT CARD

Since few players from the 2000 draft have come close to playing in the NHL, it isn't fair to grade teams on their scouting for that draft. But it is fair to grade them on the drafts between 1995 and 1999. So we did.

New Jersey A

This is a drafting machine others look at with envy. C Scott Gomez, RW Petr Sykora and D Colin White already are solid NHLers, and D Mike Commodore and Henrik Rehnberg, RW Brian Gionta and LW Pierre Dagenais are next.

Colorado A-

This is the prototype others try to copy--and that's because G.M. Pierre Lacroix's scouts have produced stars LW Alex Tanguay and D Martin Skoula, not to mention solid starters D Robyn Regehr (for the Flames), LW Ville Nieminen, RW Dan Hinote, Gs David Aebischer, Marc Denis (for the Blue Jackets) and Brent Johnson (for the Blues).

San Jose A-

D Jeff Jillson, a first-round pick in 1999, raises this grade. San Jose scouts have done pretty well with D Brad Stuart and Scott Hannan. C Patrick Marleau, LW Marco Sturm and G Miikka Kiprusoff are also good ones.

Ottawa B+

At least one good prospect every year: 1995, D Wade Redden (in a trade for D Brian Berard); 1996, D Chris Phillips, Sami Salo; 1997, LW Marian Hossa, RW Magnus Arvedon, G Jani Hurme, D Karel Rachunek; 1998, C Mike Fisher, LW Peter Schastivy; 1999, LW Martin Havlat.

Philadelphia B+

Another team that consistently picks future NHLers. Last year it was G Roman Cechmanek and RW Jason Williams. Before that, C Simon Gagne, RW Dainius Zubrus, D Dimitri Tertyshny and G Brian Boucher.

Buffalo B+

The Sabres perennially produce at least one top prospect from each draft, and it starts in goal: Martin Biron (first round, 1995), Mika Noronen (first round, '97) and Michigan State All-American Ryan Miller (fifth round, '99). Other prime picks: D Dmitri Kalinin and Jay McKee, RW Maxim Afinogenov and C Erik Rasmussen.