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Riggsy · 08-01-2013, 05:41 PM

James: Well, hello to all of you watching live, this is TSN's official MidseasonDraft Rankings by our "expert" Bob McKenzie. So what do you have to say about this draft Bob?

Bob: I like this draft, it's a real deep draft, with role players, stars, and goalies and basically just about everything a draft should have. In fact, it's so deep, that some teams are getting 3rd rounders to try and draft a star!

James: Well, let's get started then!
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1. LOGAN COURT
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It is not too hard to point to just one or two qualities that makes Logan such a special player because he is immensely gifted in his playmaking skills. He is instinctive and plays with a tremendous amount of confidence and passion. Two aspects about Court that make him such an effective player is his ability to not only create plays but create some space on the ice for his teammates as well. He also makes excellent use of his 6’2/210 lbs. for the face offs category. While Logan is still is growing into his body, he possesses good physical strength and uses it to great advantage in his play along the boards. His great vision, hockey sense and ability to adapt quickly allow him to play in virtually any type of situation and rarely is he found making the so-called “rookie mistakes”. Logan is a smooth, powerful skater with good speed, probably the fastest of his draft class. Another attribute that makes Court such a highly-regarded player is his versatility. While he spends most of his time playing center, he can also play wing. Logan Court everybody, what a player!

2. Bo Giroux

There is a lot to like about Bo’s game: playmaking skills, skating, and an impressive attitude, and activity. His two-way play is mature for a player his age and he just has an amazing feel for many of the more subtle aspects of the game such as face-offs and reading the play along with the physical components required to win puck battles and playing tough, using his size, but within the rules, sometimes. The offensive skills are there and it’s a matter of more polish and experience at this point. Giroux has an excellent work ethic, grit, really good hands and a very quick, accurate release on his shot. Although he has improved on his skating speed and added more muscle mass, he will still need to increase both in order to play his style of game in the dirty areas around the net at the professional level. That has a high chance of happening.

3. Victor Helstrom
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Victor Helstrom, you see a pro-sized defensemen, that has great speed and agility. He can keep the puck out of his net, but also assist in putting the puck in his net. He is one of the best, if not the best defenseman at moving the puck out of his own zone, which is an attribute most teams look for in the SHL. In the SMJHL , he was one of the few with great stamina and endurance, which mixed with his skill, makes him as deadly as it can get. His shot has picked up a lot from since he was drafted, and is now at the SMJHL level for defenseman which is a great plus for the Falcons. Victor has just a little of everything and is elite in his passing game, just those elements make him one big threat for the opponent.

4. Mikhail Krivokrasov
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Mikhail does not have much size, but makes up for it with his skating which compliments his very good puck skills. He also works hard and is in general on the verge of becoming well-rounded as a player. His scoring touch is not too bad, but Krivokrasov is much more noticeable as a playmaker. He has really good hockey sense and has that special ability to find openings that few other players can. A team player, he plays an average two-way game, but could still use some fine-tuning in his defensive game, which will get better as the season goes on. Krivs is the fastest playmaker on the ScareCrows but does not get much credit, he will get credit when it is due in his SHL days.

5.Barnabas Hoff
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Barnabas Hoff, Not only is he speedy on skates, but he is also one of the best scorers in the league. Combine that with solid passing abilities, great awareness, deadly faceoff abilities, and you have yourself a great center man to lead your team to victory. He may be a slacker on defense, but just to let you know, for every one he lets in, he'll score two to match it! He is a great addition to any team and works harder and longer than most of the players on his team. He may be the most loyal of the bunch, and also the most humble of the pack. This draft class is full of humble identities but Hoff definitely stands out as the top one.

6.Eric White
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Eric White is a fundamentally sound goaltender with superb reaction time and quickness. White plays with a tremendous amount of focus and confidence and exhibits his maturity on and off the ice. Eric is excellent positionally, maintaining his play style and learning to play with it. He does an outstanding job of taking away the bigger portion of the net, with his 6’3 frame covers a lot of the top half of the net as well. He will aggressively challenge shooters and has a quick glove. The most notable improvement is his ability to control rebounds. It isn’t often that he will give up rebounds and when he does, he does an great job of steering away loose pucks from the slot and crease area. So, no garbage goals for any grinders you have out there.

7.Lionel Byrde
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[Image: bertuzzi-todd-392-ap-071127.jpg]

Lionel Byrde, the 6'2, 220-pound left winger is a power forward. He has imposing size and has shown a willingness to use Lionel is not an ordinary power forward, Byrde can score or set up his teammates with above average skills in both those columns, Byrde's total package of size, checking, and energetic play make him an appealing addition to a club looking for a top-six forward who can open up the ice for other teammates, or even himself at times. An ability to put the puck in the net adds to his value as he has proven he won't be an offensive liability with more skilled teammates, and if they get into trouble, he will be the first to jump in there and protect them.

8.Marc McLaughlin
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A hard worker who is a dynamic playmaker and if needed, scorer, Marc uses his size to his advantage when carrying the puck. His skating ability is not greatly impressive, but he possesses a nose for the net. Standing 6’5 and weighing 230 lbs., he is not afraid to get physical out on the ice and create space for himself by grinding it out along the boards. Marc is respectable in the faceoff circle, but can also be used primarily on the wing if needed to be. Marc will fight for his right to get to the net and if he doesn't get there, he will bully someone in front and create a screen using the defenseman blocking him if needed. There are a lot of aspects to McLaughlin's game, so if one isn't working, he will try the others.

9.Jermaine Tennyson
[Image: la-kings-jonathan-quick-stanley-cup-finals1.jpg]

[Image: la-kings-jonathan-quick-stanley-cup-finals1.jpg]

At 6’3, Tennyson is a big goaltender who covers a lot of net, and has bulked up somewhat weighing in at close to 225 lbs, but could still add on some more muscle. Jermaine is a player who works harder than anyone, has an attitude and hates to lose, and plays with lots of enthusiasm. Tennyson’s best attribute is his unbelievably quick reflexes. He moves pretty damn well laterally and solid on his angles. He has shown great composure under and a willingness to come out and aggresively challenge shooters. One attribute that Jermaine possesses that is very noticeable when watching him closely is his great ability to make difficult first shot saves. Jermaine is nearly unbeatable on the first shot and his fundamentals are way above average. A hybrid style goaltender, Jermaine is patient and a capable lateral mover. If there is a weakness to Tennyson’s game aside from his inexperience, it is in the area of rebound control. He will usually always make the initial saves, but has shown difficulty in corralling loose pucks when opposing players are in the slot are. He also struggles with following the puck in traffic areas and at times, off speed shots seem to throw him off. But he is a young goaltender, and has a lot to learn, which he hopefully will learn in order to make the SHL.

10.Jim Lahey
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Lahey is a spectacular defenseman who possesses great vision and an accurate shot. He is rarely caught out of position and comfortable at both ends of the ice. Jim is a silky smooth skater who moves effortlessly. He also has soft hands, which compliment his skills pretty damn well. He may be above average offensively, but he isn't a slacker at the other end, though he has a small size, his strength makes up for it. Standing at 5'9 and weighing at around 190 lbs. Jim is not really the biggest guy in this draft, however his speed and his quickness make up for it, not too mention, even if he is a little short, he can still be stronger than a guy bigger than him. His physical strength is amazing, if a bit taller and more muscle, Jim would have been fit to be a nice power forward for a team.

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1810 words 10 pictures.
would've done HM's, but way too tired for that, and wanted this article out, sorry if you were left out. :wub:

Cuffy · 08-01-2013, 06:36 PM

Thanks for the kind words you little shit apple Smile

Secord · 08-01-2013, 06:38 PM

Good Job

Riggsy · 08-01-2013, 07:38 PM

bump ffs :lol:

HOFF · 08-01-2013, 08:04 PM

Dude, awesome job.

And I am HUMBLED by appearing on this list.

Riggsy · 08-01-2013, 08:44 PM

Quote:Originally posted by HOFF@Aug 1 2013, 04:04 PM
Dude, awesome job.

And I am HUMBLED by appearing on this list.

:lol: had to get that word count up there didn't i?

Ghostspeed · 08-01-2013, 09:26 PM

WTF ?

No mention of a certain dark horse late comer with incredible good looks and nerves of steel..rippling biceps, and those skills that dazzle the ladies,and all dudes wish they had....
....None of that And not a word about me either...DamnGoalie Goal