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Henrik · 08-06-2019, 10:07 AM

2715 words - I would like to cash in my 2x first article bonus for this one, thanks.
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The dust has settled on the S49 SMJHL draft and the regular season is drawing nearer. It can be near impossible for most of us mere mortals to get our heads around evaluating prospects, especially with such a large draft class. With that in mind we thought we would go over the Colorado Raptors draft and introduce the players to the wider audience. We hope you find these player introductions to be a useful tool in evaluating the teams chances this season and in the near future. You can expect to see a lot of these players during the upcoming pre-season games. You can also expect an evaluation post once the pre-season is complete. With all that said, lets introduce our first player!

Draft Summary Raptors

1. First Round, 2nd Overall - Vorian Atreides (Center)

Player Page @OrbitingDeath

What's there left to say that hasn't already been said? The huge 6'3'', 239lbs Center from the United Kingdom was expected to go in the top ten by many and being picked second overall in a class as stacked as this one really says something about the player and the hype that surrounded him going into the draft. He is projected to be an elite two-way forward and one of the most skilled players in the draft with excellent physical and defensive play as well as a lethal shot. He played a leading role for the Breakers during the prospects showcase, lighting up the tournament with a staggering 24 goals and 35 assists for a total of 59 points in just 42 games (including 2 playoff games), averaging an impressive 1.29 points per 20 minutes during the tournament. During training camp he worked exclusively on his defensive play, making him one of the most complete rookie players coming into the season. Look for him to play a key role for the Raptors this season, most likely centering the 2nd line. Don't be surprised if you see him get some prime minutes on the powerplay either.

Key attributes:

- Consistency

- Passing and playmaking

- Physical play

2. Second Round, 12th Overall - Lee Samson (Defenseman)

Player Page @Kingslayerlh

Samson is an American born defenseman standing 6'2'' tall and weighing in at 210lbs. Undoubtedly one of the best skaters of his class, Samson is an offensive juggernaut. His smooth skating combined with an uncanny ability to read the developing play on the ice made him one of the most valuable blueliners in the prospects showcase, quarterbacking the Blazers offence game after game and finishing as the top scoring defenseman of the tournament with 7 goals and 28 assists for a total of 35 points in 43 games (including 3 playoff games). Don't let his offensive numbers blind you though, Samson is solid defensively and can easily put up top line minutes going into his rookie season, averaging a whopping 25:45 minutes played per game during the prospect showcase tournament. During training camp he mostly worked on his defensive play and passing, honing his well rounded and deadly playstyle. He is set for an mammoth rookie season so make sure to follow his progress. Expect to see him playing on the bottom four at the start of the season but don't be surprised if he moves his way up the lineup sooner rather than later. Expect him to see some quality special teams minutes.

Key

- Skating

- Consistency

- Passing and playmaking

3. Third Round, 22nd Overall - Patrick Miller (Right Wing)

Player Page @BayJingT

Patrick Miller is a player you can count on to make few mistakes, if any. Cool, calm and collected on the ice; he is likely the best defensive forward of the draft. Although his shot leaves much to be desired, his defensive play coupled with his skating and passing ability places him firmly in the top quarter of this draft's prospects. Previously referred to as an uncut diamond, he is definitely not as well rounded as the previous two players on this list but he can certainly become a star in this league given enough time and effort. We believe him to have a very high upside. He played for the Mustangs in the prospects showcase tournament, putting up 13 goals and 14 assists for a total of 29 points in 48 games (including 8 playoff games). He spent his entire training camp working hard on improving his shooting ability. We expect to see him start somewhere in the middle 6 but he may very well move up and play a top 6 role by mid season. We also expect to see him feature heavily on the Raptors penalty kill.

Key attributes:

- Passing and playmaking

- Defensive play

- Skating

4. Third Round, 28th Overall - Nanthanial Voltguin (Right Wing)

Player Page @voltguin

'Too small to make it at a pro level' are words that are often thrown around when describing aspirant players and we can guarantee its been said about Voltguin numerous times. However, he more than makes up for his apparent lack of physical size with his on-ice presence. 5'11'' and 187lbs, he is as strong as an ox and as fierce as a lion but you wouldn't know it from looking at him. He is a very well rounded player with incredible endurance and determination as well as a great ability to protect the puck. He is fantastic at creating space for his line mates through his physical playstyle. This guy oozes class and is about as hard working and dedicated as they come. A true student of the game. He spent his entire training camp working on his passing and playmaking. We expect him to take on a leadership role in the future and he is definitely a guy you want in your locker room. He played for the Wranglers during the prospect showcase tournament, scoring 11 goals and 7 assists in 44 games (including 4 playoff games). We expect him to see play somewhere in the middle 6 to start off the season. He is one of the players we are most excited about following as he has all the hallmarks of a star in the making. Although perhaps overshadowed by the big picks earlier in the draft, we project him to have a crucial role with this team for the next couple of season and become a fan favourite by the end of the year.

Key attributes:

- Consistency

- Offensive abilities

- Physical play

5. Fifth round, 41st Overall - Daniel Kuster (Defenseman)

Player Page @kuschy

The first European on our list, Kuster is a right-shooting offensive defenseman from Switzerland. Weighing in at 198lbs he is a little on the small side still but he has the skill to make up for it. When it comes to skating he is among the best of his class and he rarely has a defensive lapse in his game. Although his shot is fantastic, his abilities as a playmaker came to the forefront at the prospect showcase tournament where he tallied 2 goals and 25 assists in 48 games (including 8 playoff games) for the Mustangs. Is this perhaps an indicator of a shift from the previously very shot orientated playstyle to something more akin to the classic quarterbacking blueliner? Only time will tell but we definitely expect to see a lot more of his deadly shot during his rookie season. He had a busy training camp, working hard on his conditioning and puck handling. We expect him to feature on the bottom 4 to start with. We also expect him to get some time on the penalty kill.

Key attributes:

- Skating

- Defensive play

- Offensive abilities

6. Sixth Round, 52nd Overall - Henrik Lekberg Osterman (Left Wing)

Player Page @"Thatguy91"

This late addition to the draft was a bit of a mystery as far as scouting goes, playing in a small town hockey team in rural Sweden. His 6', 200lbs frame didn't help as it was about as insipid as they come. Interest in him did rise however, after being scouted by the Raptors shortly before the draft. He is a disciplined and well rounded defensive winger with great passing and playmaking ability, willing to lay his body on the line to make crucial plays. His two-way ability was on full display at the prospect showcase tournament where he played for the Vipers. He potted 16 goals and 11 assists for a total of 27 points in 42 games (including 2 playoff games), finishing with an impressive +/- of +14. He plays his best game at the big stage and can be relied upon to produce when the stakes are high, scoring 3 points in his two playoff appearances as well as finishing in the top 10 in the tournament for game winning goals, scoring 4 in 42 games. He mostly worked on his shooting and puck handling during the training camp. We expect to see him start the season in the bottom 6 with the possibility of some time on the power play. He is determined and hard working, making him a perfect dark horse candidate for this season.

Key attributes:

- Defensive play

- Passing and playmaking

- Reliability and discipline

7. Sixth Round, 58th Overall - First-Name Last-Name (Center)

Player Page @gurbs

Our first Canadian of the draft. Perhaps surprising to some but none the less, on with the preview! First-Name Last-Name is a well rounded, right-shooting center from the great white north with great offensive upside. He is the archetypal goalscoring center, plant this guy infront of the crease and your bound to get some goals before long. Unfortunately he was unable to attend the prospect showcase tournament for undisclosed reasons but we are greatly looking forward to seeing him play his rookie season for the Raptors. He laboured exceptionally hard to work out any kinks in his defensive game during the training camp, earning a reputation as a hard worker and fast learner. We expect him to have a middle 6 role for the Raptors during the upcoming season with some dedicated time on the powerplay.

Key attributes:

- Offensive abilities

- Net front presence

- Passing and playmaking

8. 7th Round, 62nd Overall - Georgy Gorbachenko (Defenseman)

Player Page @The BreakBot

Following our archetypal goalscoring center we have perhaps the most defensive defenseman of the draft, Georgy Gorbachenko. Hailing from Russia, Georgy is as solid as a rock defensively; showing patience, intelligence and maturity well beyond his years. Many have already remarked that his defensive play seems ready for the SHL level. His other stats are quite average which more than likely is the reason he fell to the later rounds. However, if he is able to work on his skating and conditioning he is projected to be one of the best defensive defenseman of the draft. He played for the Blazers in the prospect showcase tournament, racking up an impressive offensive tally of 4 goals, 15 assists for a total of 19 points in 43 games (including 3 playoff games). Unfortunately we were unable to catch him up with him during the Colorado training camp but we speculate that he most likely will be working on his conditioning to be able to put up some top minutes. We expect him to play on the bottom 4 as the season starts. We also project that he will have an important role on the teams penalty kill.

Key attributes:

- Defensive play

- Situational awareness

- Puck handling

9th. Eight Round, 72nd Overall - Axel Caderoth (Center)

Player Page @caderoth

The ninth and final player drafted by the Colorado Raptors this season is Axel Caderoth. 6'4'' and 210lbs he is quite large, which fits his style of play perfectly. Caderoth is a classic power forward, his physical presence is something that is sorely missing from our modern game. He is strong as a bear, easily capable of laying out anyone in the juniors with his trademark heavy, efficient hits. Axel is the definition of truculence. He's not all brawn however. His shot and is skating make him an offensive force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately he was unable to attend the prospect showcase tournament for undisclosed reasons. Just like with Gorbachenko, we were unable to get a hold of Caderoth during the training camp. We speculate that he was most likely working on his physical conditioning to be able to play his physical game for a full season. We are expecting Caderoth to play a bottom 6 role this season but with the right training regimen he can definitely move up the lineup. This is one of the players we are excited about following during the season as he is bound to deliver some fantastic hits.

Key attributes:

- Truculence

- Physical presence

- Crowd-pleaser

Conclusion:

All in all we have nine excellent additions to the roster. The team looks to be defensively very sound, with a balanced approach to their offensive capability. The Raptors drafted three centers, three wingers (two right wingers, one left winger) as well as three defensemen and no goalies. They will most likely look for Vorian Atreides, Lee Samson and Nathanial Voltguin especially to give them a bump up in the standings this season. Hopefully Knox Booth is able to carry the goaltending duties for the duration of the season as the teams pool of goalie prospects have all but run dry. Having said that, the team looks to be in great spirits and in this writers opinion, even though they may not be a cup challenger they have a bright future ahead of them. The regular season can't come soon enough, Go Raptors!

NONAME · 08-06-2019, 12:11 PM

Great article man, keep it up!

BrewskyBoy · 08-06-2019, 12:22 PM

Nice article. Looks like somebody is in for a big payday!

Tate · 08-06-2019, 01:11 PM

Great work, love it!

Raptors

Ason94 · 08-06-2019, 01:55 PM

Great article! Raptors

*gurbs* · 08-06-2019, 03:10 PM

This was great nice work!!

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