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Jearim · 03-14-2020, 05:43 PM

(1600 words)

The scene at every SHL team head office is the same at this time of the season. GMs, Co-GMs, coaches, management, scouts, all locked in meetings trying to finalize their draft list and target players. All 16 teams are getting their draft boards finalized from the number one overall pick to the last pick in the draft.

This draft pools a deep one, with somewhere around 60 - 70 prospects, the draft seems to look like it may be a 4 round affair. But even deep drafts are far from guarantees. Texas Renegades have had 21 Picks since the S 47 daft.

S 47 Draft.
The S47 draft saw Texas without and picks in the first two rounds. They had a clear player in their sights for the third round and figured to take a long shot in the fourth.

No 1st round

No 2nd round

Round 3
38 OA Texas Renegades (via West Kendall Platoon) - Alexander Andersson-Grande ( Pick Rating: F )
Texas was in need of a goalie as Walter Hobbs was nearing the end of his career. Andersson-Grande lasted a season after the draft and then retired. Considering it was a 3rd round pick it should bit be surprising that this could have happened but the lack of any pick in the two previous rounds made this one hurt.

Round 4
53 OA Texas Renegades - Josef Kubinec ( Pick Rating: A+ )
Here is one that if there was a draft redo would have been drafted in a different spot. Most GMs were not sure of Kubinec and how he would develop so the went for something more sure. However Texas took the “risk” and it may be one of the greatest late round picks in quite some time. Kubinec has been an important part of the Renegades and it looks like he will be for quite some time.
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S 48
The S48 saw Texas start to fill their prospect pool. They knew the rebuild was near and decided to start filling the cupboard.

Round 1
13 OA Texas Renegades - Padraig Sarantez ( Pick Rating : F)
Considered a sure fire pick at the time, Sarantez lasted two seasons before fizzling out. Having never played for Texas this would be considered as a miss.

Round 2
29 OA Texas Renegades - Patrick Niederreiter ( Pick Rating ( C+ )
After the retirement of prospect Alexander Andersson-Grande, Niederreiter continues to develop to this day but at a slower rate than preferred. He was 4 star champion in the SMJHL the season before he was drafted.

Round 3
33 OA Texas Renegades (via Tampa Bay Barracuda) - Haley Knight ( Pick Rating: D )
Haley was the first woman taken by Texas ( that I know of) and she was considered a long shot and long shot she was. She spent three seasons in the Texas organization but never played a game for them. While in the SMJHL she performed very very well before aging out and disappearing.

Round 4
61 OA Texas Renegades - Cuthbert Coppercorn ( Pick Rating: F )
Coppercorn was another long shot. He wasn’t the most active and by the end of the draft basically walked away from the SHL without so much a word.

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S49
Now In full rebuild Texas only had a few prospects to show for their previous drafts.

Round 1
2 OA Texas Renegades (via San Francisco Pride, via Manhattan Rage) - Noah Brusky ( Pick Rating: A+ )
When Texas drafted Noah Brusky they had done their due diligence. By the time the draft arrived they not only knew that they would call his name but they had many conversations leading up to the draft and knew what and who ( personality to just name)
they were getting at two overall.

5OA Texas Renegades - Ricky Spanish ( Pick Rating: C )
Spanish was a high potential prospect that had a ton of offence to his game. Someone Texas targeted and were excited to pick. Spanish made his way to the SHL where he played a few seasons with Texas before fizzling out.

Round 2
21 OA Texas Renegades - Jake Primeau ( Pick Rating: B )
When the 21st pick came up Texas was surprised to see the name of Jake Primeau still on the board. It was said that Co-GM Dean Atkins could barley contain his excitement at the idea that they got this centerman.

Round 3
35 OA Texas Renegades (via Minnesota Chiefs) - Cal Clucker ( Pick Rating: B )
A wild card pick here. They knew very little about Cal Clucker but would take the shot on him. Things seemed like it may have panned out if not for budget issues that saw Texas trade him out shortly after the draft.

37 OA Texas Renegades - Gavin Hughes ( Pick Rating: F )
A pick made to see if it would pan out to anything. ( A long shot ) Well, It didn’t even make it past the draft.

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S50
By now the prospect pool was looking good but still needed depth.

Round 1

2OA Texas Renegades - Ivan Maximus ( Pick Rating A+ )
This one was a no brainer. Looking at Maximus now, he has spent enough time in the SMJHL and looks to explode onto he SHL scene this coming season.

Round 2

31 OA Texas Renegades (via Winnipeg Jets, via New England Wolfpack) - Bjorn Leppanen ( Pick Rating: A )
At pick 31 Texas did not expect to get anything of high potential, but low and below Bjorn Leppanen. For whatever reason this hard hitting Defensman was still on the board and with Texas working on plans to have a Big imposing D core, Bjorn Leppanen would fit right in. Another more that like draft steal.

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S 51
With the prospect pool being one of the best in the league and the prospects developing well, Texas would focus on Forwards to deepen the pool. They had a huge 1st round ahead of them and they wanted to make it count. Their second round was also extremely solid.

Round 1

2 OA Texas Renegades - Alexander Wachter ( Pick Rating: A )
This one Texas had decided well in advance. Much communication with watcher, like Brusky, gave Texas all the info they needed to make this choice a solid one.

6 OA Texas Renegades (via New England Wolfpack) - Henrik Lundqvist Jr. ( Pick Rating: A )
At 6 Overall Texas went for a high potential Centerman. He has done well to develop and will see SHL action soon. Just not with Texas as they traded him for more depth on the wing.

15 OA Texas Renegades (via Tampa Bay Barracuda) - Stan Hanson ( Pick Rating: C )
A power forward in the making with a good potential, Hanson started well but began to slow down in development, however he still continues to develop, tho with a different team.

Round 2

27 OA Texas Renegades (via Buffalo Stampede) - White Goodman ( Pick Rating: B+ )
Texas looked for Depth in goal. Having been burnt by a goalie retiring randomly they wanted to reinforce the position drafting Italian Goalie Goodman. He is SHL bound this season.

31 OA Texas Renegades (via Tampa Bay Barracuda) - Kaarlo Kekkonen ( Pick Rating; A )
Along with Goodman came Kaarlo Kekkonen, A high potential forward who is becoming a beast and should progress to the SHL soon.

Round 3

33 OA Texas Renegades - Dario Medici ( Pick Rating: D )
At 33 overall Texas took a long shot again going with Dario Medici. While he is still with Texas he is developing slowly.

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S 52
At this point Texas has all but the best prospect pool in the league and they know Defence needs some more depth and they did just that.

Round 1

3 OA Texas Renegades - Adam Scianna ( Pick Rating: A+ )
Adam was like the last few prospects Texas had taken early. Alexander Wachter, Ivan Maximus and Noah Brusky had given Texas more than they expected with the prospects the had picked. They were golden picks all because Texas had learnt how to communicate with the players they were targeting. Adam Scianna was the player they knew they wanted and they jumped on the opportunity to get him at 3 overall.

12 OA Texas Renegades (via New Orleans Specters) - Noah Nystrom ( Pick Rating: B )
Texas expanded the Defence prospect pool a little more when again they chose a solid Defence prospect with Noah Nystrom. While development has slowed a touch he is still developing a t a good pace.a

Round 2

19 OA Texas Renegades - Guy O'Shea( Pick Rating: B )
With their final pick of the draft Texas once again selected a Defensman. Another solid prospect who is developing well and should continue to add value to an already deep prospect pool.

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S 53
This one is going to be interesting. With a deep prospect pool Texas will add even more depth and value. Who will go to Texas at four Overall? Who will go at 19 Overall or even 21? We shall soon find out as the draft will be held this Sunday at 2 pm eastern time.

Overall Texas Renegades have put together a deep prospect pool but it hasn't come without some misses. Some player they may have wanted to take back but as they say hindsight is 20/20. The art of drafting well is a hard one at that. There is scouting involved yes, But there is luck as well. You never can tell when someone will fizzle out. You can never be 100 percent sure that you pick will pan out. The most one can do is their due diligence. While some in the league think Texas scouting is a joke, well, tell that to the number 1 prospect pool in the League.