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mee · 11-23-2020, 03:08 PM

The Vancouver Whalers went into the S57 SMJHL Entry Draft with many holes. The champions are losing 8 players to the big league, and had to go shopping. They lost 2 defenders, 5 wingers and a goalie. The replacement for the goalie was drafted last season in Jon St. Ark, but they needed wingers and they needed defenseman. Before the draft they had just 4 wingers and 3 centers on the offensive roster.
Coming in the Whalers had the following roster (lines are not final, matter of a fact, I made them up myself):
Devin Basher -Rikki Petrov- Valtterri Kauppinen
KnockedOut ByOvechkin - Dee Centerman IV- ?
Markleesio Hopscotch - Wile Coyote - ?

On the defensive side, they had a top 4 that looked like this:
Zebulon Leavitt - Johnny Shuffleboard
Sarah Burke - Lonnie O'Donoghue

Coming into the draft it was clear they needed at least 2 wingers and 2 defenseman, and they drafted exactly that.

Second round, pick 24: Zayne Rotzbua Left Defense
This blueliner already has 224 TPE. The Austrian seems to be a future big buillying defenseman on the left side. A perfect replacement for Slimey Snail, one of the two lost defenseman for the Whalers.

Third round, pick 32 (via NBB): Nikolaj Boyle, Left Wing
The Latvian is a supreme skater, he's speed and agility are years ahead of the rest of his game. Skating is very hard to teach, the Whalers may be gambling they can teach both offense and defense better than skating.

Third round, pick 36 (via KEL, via VAN): Zarboza Manyhands Right Defense
Electing to double down on defense rather that look for a winger here despite winger seemingly being a bigger need, they take Manyhands who is an alien. While not a very good skater, Manyhands is a great defender. Look for him to challenge the league lead in blocked shots in a few seasons. Assuming they pair him with Rotzbua, that pair won't score too much, but they shouldn't allow too much either.

Fourth Round, pick 48: Austin Smith, Left Wing
Smith comes into the league with a good shot and good passing skills, but he may be a liability on defense. We will have to see how they use him, he may see some powerplay time with those hands, but even strength he will have to be sheltered.

Fifth Round, pick 60: Casey Outlaw, Right Wing
Outlaw is an all around player. He excels at no specific part of the game, but none of his game is truly lacking. We shall see how he develops.

Sixth Round, pick 72: Mats LaFleur, Left Wing
LaFleur is a better offensive player than Outlaw, but his defensive game is still solid. He as well may elect to be an all around player, or he may develop one skill a litter more. We shall see.

The projected squad the Whalers will be sending forth for their title defense:

Devin Basher -Rikki Petrov- Valtterri Kauppinen
KnockedOut ByOvechkin - Dee Centerman IV- Austin Smith
Nikolaj Boyle- Wile Coyote- MAts LaFleur
Casey Outlaw - ? - Markleesio Hopscotch

Zebulon Leavitt - Johnny Shuffleboard
Sarah Burke - Lonnie O'Donoghue
Zayne Rotzbua- Zarboza Manyhands

Overall the Whalers knew they needed wingers and 2 defensemen, and went for the defensemen with their first and third picks. Not a bad move, but we shall see how these player develop.

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548 words, 2x Draft Media

zaynzk · 11-23-2020, 06:47 PM

U forgot someone really cool in the third

Dextaria · 11-23-2020, 08:18 PM

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