Potential Targets

[chad]

Kyle Beach returned to Everett last night. He was -2 with 2 boarding penalties.

He's got quite the reputation:

Spokane coach accused Beach of faking (http://www.boltprospects.com/node/3075)

He missed the Top Prospects game because of the concussion.

At that game, Zach Boychuck came in 2nd in the fastest skater competition.

Skills results (write-up, not statistical report) (http://www.cjad.com/node/654479)

[Coldrice]

He's got quite the reputation:

Spokane coach accused Beach of faking (http://www.boltprospects.com/node/3075)

Here's the video for that concussion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtwMGhjb08A&feature=related

[the_narrow_way]

Looks like he jacked him pretty good, dead center. That can cause an injury, with the head whipping back.

[chad]

Mini-feature on top-6 (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=7317&hubname=)

Good year for dmen... in a year TB doesn't appear to want a dman.

[chad]

If Feaster's the GM at the draft, Kyle Beach may not have a chance to be a Bolt.

From Nick Patterson (Everett Herald) (http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080314/BLOG12/91306561/1004/SPORTS)

What to do about Kyle Beach? The guy has all the talent in the world, and then he has moments of madness like this. It's not often I'm willing to put the responsibility for a loss on one player, but there's no other possible conclusion tonight. Beach took a major penalty for checking from behind -- his third bad penalty of the game -- midway through the third period of a 1-1 game in which Everett was playing well and had to win. Seattle scored twice during the ensuing five-minute power play to win the game. All three of Seattle's goals came following Beach penalties.

Beach was at his absolute worst tonight. From the moment Thomas Hickey caught him in the first period (see below) he was seeing red the rest of the way, more concerned with exacting revenge than playing the game. Frankly, I'm surprised he lasted in the game as long as he did. During a scrum after the whistle next to the Seattle goal later in the first he caught Seattle goaltender Riku Helenius up high with his stick, and I thought he was going to go there. Expect Beach to end up with a suspension, one that perhaps lasts into the playoffs.

Beach was also playing with a full face shield because of a broken orbital bone.

From Everett's coach (via Gregg Drinnan's blog):

“One person cost us the game tonight," Becanic told Nick Patterson of the Everett Herald. "He cost us a goal in the first period. He cost us our captain (Jonathan Harty) being out for 17 minutes having to defend him. He cost us the two power-play goal in the third." . . .

The comment at the end of the blog from a Tips fan says although he's not a "Beach Basher" he thinks the team may be better off without him on the bench.

[CTLightning26]

If the Lightning doesn't get the first pick?
Two words: Trade down.
It would certainly be tempting to take Doughty, who is a really good talent. But they should use that No. 2 position to get a bounty of picks.
Unless,. they know for a fact that they can get Filatov here next year....

[astro]

After reading the issues with Beach, I think that he is going to slip down the draft.

Potential targets - Stamkos, Filatov, Doughty, Pietrangelo

[CTLightning26]

What do we think of Cody Hodgson?
right-handed center. 40 goals, 43 assists this year.
He could be an alternative if we get the 3rd, 4th or 5th pick...

[WaiverWire]

Ok.........LA and the Tampa both have 71 points. LA has one more win......so isn't the wins the 1st tie break? Thus if we lose against Atlanta we are in the 1st spot of the #1 until the balls are pulled on Monday???

[jaydeedub]

Ok.........LA and the Tampa both have 71 points. LA has one more win......so isn't the wins the 1st tie break? Thus if we lose against Atlanta we are in the 1st spot of the #1 until the balls are pulled on Monday???

Yes sur! And I just saw in the paper Vinny's out for the final game!
Go Stamkos!! :D

[chad]

Hot List (http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/15658-The-Hot-List-Over-under.html)

THN has a little post-18 and mid CHL/AHL playoffs hot list for prospects.

Some 08 eligibles on there, along with our own Mitch Fadden and possible FA target Colton Yellow Horn.

[chad]

Dude, We're Getting O'Dell? (http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1016654&auth=Bruce+Heidman)

Lightning showing interest in Sudbury C Eric O'Dell. 32 points in 26 games this year and 1+5 at the recent U18 WCs.

6', 170.

Wears No.91.

No.51 NA skater.

Potential 3rd round target.

[timothy]

What about Matthew Pistilli of Gatineau for the 3rd round?

RW (shoots R)
b. Oct '88
6'2" and 219#

'07-'08: 37-56-93 in 63gp

[timothy]

Actually, Pistilli might not be eligible for the draft and would be available as a UFA

[plaugher]

I like Pistilli as a player, but his numbers this year are inflated from playing on the wing with Giroux and Byron. That line sees between 25-30 minutes a game. Great size and good drive to the net, though.

[timothy]

Thanks, Phil... Chad said Pistilli sounds like Stan Lascek! :)

[chad]

Except for the size and drive part, maybe. One scouting report said he needs work on skating, but his hockey sense and positioning in the offense zone are top notch. THAT sounds like Lascek.

He was 115 NA in midterms his draft year. Woodlief projected him in the sixth. (Same article had Killorn going high 2nd)

[bassassin]

Justin Jokinen anyone? I have been hearing a lot about him in the past week sounds pretty good, although is 54th of NA skaters so may be gone before our 3rd pick

RW shoots R
6'3 182 lbs
Nov 89
4th in scoring overall in his league 22 goals 21 assists

[CTLightning26]

I think we should try 2 get the last staal brother. probably have to move to the second though
Ben Smith c BC in the fifth would be good (wouldn't be surprised if someone nabs him earlier though)
Cam Atkinson from avon old farms in the sixth or seventh. he's got lots of speed and a nose for the net and he will be at bc for a few yrs.
:prettyplease:

[chad]

Atkinson was constantly mentioned with Killorn in articles this year as a player to watch.

[CTLightning26]

not sure how big he is, but atkinson is smallish. BC has done good with those types of guys though (ie Gionta, Gerbe)

[CTLightning26]

After reading through the THN draft issue, i'm hoping one of these slips down to the first pick of the third round:
I don't want a goalie there. we need to keep stocking skaters:

Mitch Wahl Right-handed center Spokane (anyone see how he looked? Didn't get a chance to watch him closely Sunday)
David Toews - LW Shattuck
Cody Goloubef RH D man
Jyri Niemi - LH D (mean looking)
Jamie Arniel - RH C Sarnia
James Livingston RW Sault St. marie
Kruise Reddick - smallish lh center Tri-City
Mark Barberio - LH D

[chad]

There's a lot of smallish C's that are creeping up the rankings. I know TB was watching Tyler Ennis of Medicine Hat this year.

Wahl was okay in the MemCup. I didn't notice him much in the finals, but the previous games he was more active/visible. He has a "nice" shot.

[pete]

Finally got my copy of the THN Draft Preview. I am expecting Red Line to come in the next week or two.

Stamkos #1 and compared to Yzerman and hyped to the ends of the earth. No surprises there.

Filatov at 4. Wilson 7. Boedker 9. Beach 10. Boychuk 12.

45. C Maxime Sauve, Val d'Or (QMJHL), 5'11" 170 lbs
70 GP, 26-39-65, 30 PIM
(#26 NA by CSS)

52. RW James Livingston, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL), 6'1" 200 lbs
68 GP, 21-23-44, 135 PIM
(#53 NA by CSS)

53. LW Geordie Wudrick, Swift Current (WHL), 6'3" 204 lbs.
66 GP, 20-24-44, 72 PIM
(#71 NA by CSS)

Most of the guys from the second half of the second round on are rated as two-way guys with iffy offensive potential. Basil McRae's kid is sitting at #66. For some reason, I'm semi-fixated on the idea we could have our first multi-generational Lightning players if we pick that kid. I think it's neat that the franchise has been around long enough now that it's a possibility.

If they want to go goaltender, Jacob DeSerres might be sitting there. He's #69 in THN. Matt Carle's brother is at #70.

Michal Jordan is a Czech born defenseman from Plymouth of the OHL ranked #89. Give him #23.

If you held a gun to my head and forced me to bet, Livingston strikes me as a Lightning type pick.

[bassassin]

You talked about a Lightning type pick, how would you classify their type?

Just wondering what kind of skills etc people we draft will have or will be expected to have.

[pete]

The Lightning like high character guys who are good on the forecheck and go to the net. Basically, meat and potatoes type players. Bonus points if you skate well. They also used to like guys 6'2" and taller and 200 lbs+, but they started to back off their size requirements last season. In the case of Livingston, there's always been a bit of a pipeline between Sault Ste Marie and Tampa due to the fact Phil brought aboard Angelo Bumbacco (who he founded the team with and was its long time GM and lives in Sault) from the Greyhounds and he has remained as the club's OHL scout. Bumbacco is one of the longest tenured members of the Lightning organization and one of the original group of scouts hired by the team.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDA1739F931A15753C1A9679582 60

Here are THN's remarks on Livingston:

Livingston is not the most talented and dynamic player in this year's draft, but we presume he might be the most consistent.

Livingston is a good skater who is strong along the boards and in front of the net and his consistency makes him a very coachable player.

There are, however, divergent opinions on how good he is offensively. He burst onto the draft scene this season after scoring just seven points for the Soo last season.

"This kid can score," a scout said.

"He has the complete physical package," another scout said, "but he has very average hockey sense."

Livingston's ability to cycle the puck and work along the boards make him valuable, but his finish around the net and his ability to get the puck to other players in scoring areas is sometimes lacking.

"He plays hard and he's a good skater," a scout said. "He's a good two-way player."

CSS thinks he has a little better hands than THN gives him credit for but says he needs to work on his short burst acceleration.

Seems to fit the mold. Am I wrong Chad?

[chad]

Nope. That's what to look for, for sure.

Last year kind of threw a wrench into things with the swing-for-the-fences mentality (after the semi-safe Tyrell pick)... and I'm really anxious to see what kind of player is mandated from above Feaster this year. Do they want grinders like Melrose seemed to favor in LA? Do they want speed and skill above everything for an exciting (read: marketable) brand of hockey? Or status quo with what they've been doing as you've described above?

Should be interesting.

[pete]

The problem is, there's not all these great offensive players just laying around once you get out of the first round of this draft. I'd love to get Jared Staal, but I think he'll be long gone by the third round. Of course, just like Cunti, there's always a chance a guy slips. For instance, do the Swedes now take a big hit because of the IIHF agreement? Could Tedenby slip? Perhaps, but probably not to the third round. Maybe a really little guy like Ennis slips. We'll see. The best player on the board might be a defenseman by the time our third comes up.

[CTLightning26]

Think someone would take a 2 next year plus one of those late pics for a 2 this year?? I'd even give up the 5 maybe... Would be nice to get a second and the first in the third.

[arty]

I wouldnt mind seeing TBL take Sbisa - a mobile dmen on Faddens team - in the 3rd, if he's there. The kid has a decent tool set.

Any real change in drafting philosophy with new owners and melrose leading the way?

Im sure the number in the PIM stats will be a little larger in this draft class...

[chad]

Sbisa may be gone by pick 18. Getting him in the 3rd would be a miracle. A good player, for sure.

[pete]

I'm still waiting on my Red Line.

I did, however, get my autoed 8.5 x 11 photo of Ramo yesterday. $15 was a steal!

[bassassin]

I did, however, get my autoed 8.5 x 11 photo of Ramo yesterday. $15 was a steal!

Where did you get that from? They have many other bargains like that?

[pete]

I'm not tellin' 'til I get all the goodies I want.

[pete]

There is a Newfie potentially on the board for Chad:

C Luke Adam, St. John's (QMJHL), 6'2" 203 lbs.

Scored 36 goals this season. THN has him at #64. CSS has him at #42 in North America.

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=141781&sc=83

[chad]

THNs Hot List (http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/16547-The-Hot-List-Behind-the-scenes.html) (Ennis, Sauve mentioned)