With the 18th pick in the SB Nation NHL Mock Draft, the Montreal Canadiens select...
by Robert L on Jun 21, 2009 4:32 AM EDT
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It is day 6 of the SB Nation NHL Mock Draft, and my scouts and I came to a final decision this past Friday afternoon on our selection. When I say "my scouts", I'm not fooling. I took this mock draft quite seriously, and polled three sources to come up with a consensus pick once the players I had hoped to snap up were off the table. How seriously did I take all of this? Perhaps a little too much - I even pulled off a mock trade!
The trade was vetoed by SBN, as this was only an excercise in a speculative drafting template for readers to get the gist of how the draft process might go down next weekend. Had 30 bloggers been enabled to wheel and deal, all semblance of that surely would have been shot to hell. I had my sights set firmly on two players: Louis Leblanc of the USHL Omaha Lancers and Massachusetts’ Phillips Andover Academy center Chris Kreider. After Leblanc went 14th to the Litter Box Cats (Florida Panthers), I started getting nervous when it came to the Blues 17th pick. St. Louis Game Time were not interested in any mock trade scenarios allowing me to trade up, and of course settled on Kreider. Dang! Looking at the next group of players, it was a toss up. I liked the general package offered by Peter Holland of the Guelph Storm, but felt there were some concerns about his willingness to go nose first to the net. Another center - Jacob Josefson - I really did know enough about to make a call. I was curious about the Brandon Wheat Kings' Scott Glennie, who seemed to be the best player available. Glennie had dropped down some in the draft order, and I wanted to know just why he was still available. It turns out there were no legitimate concerns. Glennie had an injury this past season, and recovered from it in brilliant form. That was when my mock trade notion came into play. I sent a note off to Jim at Blueshirt Banter, who was wiling to flip flop the Rangers pick with mine. What I had in mind had less to do with a draft choice than it did a more pressing matter, that being the Mike Komisarek situation. For three summers now, the Canadiens have lost a free agent defenseman. After Sheldon Souray and Mark Streit, it looks as though Komisarek is prepared to test the open market on July 1. In my mock draft and trade scenario, I thought I'd do something to patch the bleeding.
What I did was send Komisarek's negotiating rights to New York, where he'd likely sign, and tossed in the NHL unwilling Alexei Emelin and prospect Kyle Chipchura along with pick 18 for the Rangers 19th pick and defenseman Mark Staal. I thought I pulled off a pretty good one until it was vetoed.
At that point, I called upon my scouts. Wamsley had been privelege to my mock trade conversations, and knew I was tilting in Glennie's direction. He concurred that it was the best choice once Kreider was off the board. Kevin van Steendelar (Ya! The Habs Rule!) had a thing for Josefson, and his insistance gave me reason to take a closer look. While the player was of interest, I was looking for a little more character. Once I informed Kevin that Glennie was still up for grabs he conceded that it was best to go with him. With my mind set firmly on Glennie, I looked to someone I felt could either change my course of thinking or confirm my decision. I rang up Steve Kerley - my head scout for all intents - and asked about the player. Steve offered a lengthy rundown of positive attributes, while noting that Glennie played center as much as he had played wing. Here is what Steve brought up:
- Competitive, responsible, focused player who displays good maturity and poise. - Should fill out his 6'1", 185lb frame as time goes by. - Had a very good playoff which bodes well for the future. - Definitely in the second tier of the draft right after the big seven. - Projected to be a solid top six forward once he gains experience and NHL level strength. - If the Habs get him in the real draft, we will have scored a major coup at the 18th position.
- Pure goal scorer who can find the net on a consistent basis.
- Will score more goals than most centres and will also help by being a sharp shooter on the PP.
- Played with Brayden Schenn in Brandon, signifying that he can play the wing as well as centre.
- Shoots right, which is a bonus these days.
- Broke his elbow this year after a solid start (top 10 in scoring at the time), which may drop his stock a bit.
- Can play in both ends of the ice, was a +32 in 67 games this year.
- In terms of centres in this year's draft, he should have gone right after Nazem Kadri, depending on team needs.
- Another year in junior, followed by a tune up in Hamilton and he's good to go with the Habs.
- Won't be falling off the rails like some young Habs prospects did this year.
- He has consitently been rated ahead of Leblanc, Holland, and Kreider.
Good work Steve! That's an awful lot to like about an 18 year old. Makes me truly wonder if he would be available in the 18th slot come next Friday.
Ryan Kennedy of the Hockey News, in an article entitled Kid among Kings, had this to say after Glennie's recent playoff with the Wheat Kings.
As part of Brandon’s dazzling Kid Line alongside Matt Calvert and Brayden Schenn, Glennie’s junior career has been quite impressive so far, culminating in an 18-point playoff performance over 12 games. Unfortunately, that run was ended abruptly by Calgary in the Eastern Conference final, but Glennie knows he’ll get a shot at the Memorial Cup next year when Brandon hosts.
"The Memorial Cup is obviously a huge thing," Glennie said. "I think we have to look at ourselves as one of the better teams (next year) and we have to play that way."
Lauded for his skating and shooting ability, Glennie will be a hot commodity at the draft this summer, joining linemate Schenn in the first round. Ironically, playing together alongside Calvert has likely boosted both of their stocks.
"I think we have good chemistry," Glennie said. "It’s fun out there. We’re all unselfish players and we like to move the puck around."
Citing Philadelphia’s Jeff Carter as an influence, Glennie is confident in his skills, but knows he doesn’t need to rush himself to the NHL next season, especially with a guaranteed ticket to the Memorial Cup.
"The jump to the NHL is obviously a big step," he said. But based on his skill set, it’s not out of the question to see Glennie in a pro jersey sooner than later.
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Ugh. I’m not a Glennie fan. PRODUCT OF THE SYSTEM. BUYER BEWARE.
He won’t ever make it as a centre in the NHL, so forget about the needs thing. It’s the Andrew Ladd thing all over again… he’s the product of an excellent young centre in Brayden Schenn (for Ladd it was Ryan Getzlaf), and on his own there’s just not enough to get really excited about.
He’s never scared me when I’ve seen Brandon play. And Brandon always freaking beats the Blades.
Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.
Great choice. I will be surpirsed to see Glennie fall off to 18th.
The only knock on him is that he has lost some of the physicality which he brought last season. If next year he works on that, coupled with his scoring ability he will be a great pick and should be in the upper echelon of the top6. IMO he is more talented than A Kostitsyn. Also, his speed will be more utilized if played on the wings.
Frankly I see him picked before Kadri, Leblanc and Kreider.
You couldnot have been wrong with picking Josefson either. And I believe Josefson will be picked ahead of them too. Dont know about Kadri, but definitely before Leblanc and Kreider. Think Zajac with a little more offence.
Good pick. Better trade
Good luck justifying Glennie over Despres.
His proven natural goalscorer tag is a tad undermined by his stats when playing with a good centre. Who’s to say though — many scorers don’t look too good in junior.
Glennie does get kudos for his playoff performance, which was impressive. But WHL playoffs, do we or don’t we think it’s something to worry about? We brushed them off as nothing to worry about for Carey’s sake in the past..
I think Depres I think Mathieu Carle, great Q numbers for a D, and a longer path to the bigs.
It’s all speculative, but I’d wager some coin that in the real deal draft Glennie’s long gone by the Habs 18th pick.
Perhaps
Perhaps you’re right, but Despres is the #1 rated prospect from the QMJHL. He is big and he had a good year.
That’s why being the GM of the Montreal Canadiens is harder than being GM of the Wild or Blue Jackets. Gainey would have to justify why Despres is playing in the league when some 28 goalscorer from the WHL is toiling in the minors in 5 years time (potentially). People have long memories.
Justifying it hopefully, will be the careers of Subban, McDonagh, Weber and maybe even Fisher. Those long memories are sometimes very selective as well.
Folks still nag the Habs on the Chouinard over Gagne pick, but never saw either play junior. It looks brutal in hindsight, but choosing a 50 goal scoring center over a 35 goal winger is the obvious move.
The trouble will always be that nature takes it course. People forget that much of Pollock’s outstanding draft record was done when they were selecting 20 year olds – something I feel should still be in place.
If Glennie is gone before 18
If Glennie is gone by the time we draft, that would mean Krieder is still available. I would take a shot at him – a six foot two inch frame that already carries 200 pounds and can skate better than anyone! Thats my kind of guy. Leblanc more than Holland makes me wonder how much more weight can he pack on to his frame. He may work his way to 200, but Krieder is already there and skates better. The size and speed alone should get him to the show, a second Max Pac?
Landon Ferraro
Better than all those shmoes you mentioned. Better than anyone not named Tavares or Hedman. His Dad has him in “sleeper” mode leading up to the draft because there is no advantage and a lot of extra pressure in being a high NHL draft pick. Where he is taken next week will have no bearing on the contract he signs in a year or two, and no bearing on how his NHL career unfolds. In the NFL, the draftees are 3 or 4 years older on average, they sign immediately, and they get paid according to their draft position.
But I have no faith in Trevor Timmins, the guy is the most overrated talent evaluator in the league and he has set the team back years with some of his first round selections. Now that we have had 5 years to assess his first draft (2003), he deserves to be fired on the spot. Take a look at the talent he passed over to take that balding, braindead, mullet Kostitsyn (guy was probably about 23 when they drafted him) and Cory Urquhart as his first two picks for the organization. Disgusting. Then the vastly overrated Minnesota high schoolers like Wyman, Fischer, McDonagh, Kishel. Even more disgusting.
A few quick thoughts on some comments from above. Anytime you select in the 18th slot you are opening yourself up to a variety of options which some people will differ on. I really feel we need to take a forward so that means we would have to pass on guys like Despres or Moore. You’re still getting the best player available, it’s just that you get to select from a forward or a Dman. As for Ferraro, he certainly is a solid pick but is ranked in the bottom third of the top 30. Same goes for players such as Shore, Palmeri, and Caron. Hopefully, we might get a guy that is ranked in the middle of the pack such as Glennie, Leblanc, Ashton, Kreider, or Holland. Drafting 18th is like playing a card game whereby you have to see how circumstance unfolds. It’s the opposite of drafting in the 8th spot where you pretty well know who will be gone by then (in this case, the big seven) so that you can really zero in on your choice and know that they will come your way.
As for the 2003 draft, I was one of the first people to speak out on AK46 and the fact that he doesn’t rate up there with the other players mentioned. It’s not him so much as a player, but more the fact that in 2003 we knew we were weak at centre and still let guys like Parise, Getzlaf, and Carter get by us. BTW, Parise was the highest rated guy back then followed by Getzlaf. Carter was further down the list. A lot of players have breakout seasons in year four so it’s not over yet. Regardless, I don’t care if Andrei scores 40 goals next year we still should have taken a centre. There will never be a Cup in Montreal until we address this weakness. Might as well start right now.
Staal
Any trade that includes a Staal, you have to go for, but I don’t see the Rangers making that deal in the real world, especially considering it is not Komisarek proper you were trading, but his rights. Rangers have a good chance of signing him anyway, so why would they make the trade? It works out to Emelin and Chipchura for Staal. Great deal for the Habs, but not a likely one.
by Leaf in Habland on Jun 22, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions
RE Staal
Another reason the Rangers would not make a trade that includes Staal is the Tyutin trade they made last season with Columbus. I think the Rangers learned the value of a 20+ minute a game defensemen vice a 15 minute a game streaky forward. Maybe they would make that mistake a second time, but I doubt it.
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