NOTE: If I haven't seen a prospect play or don't have enough notes, I will not be discussing them.
Draft Review: Montreal Canadiens
Draft Review: Toronto Maple Leafs
Draft Review: Edmonton Oilers
Draft Review: Calgary Flames
Draft Review: Vancouver Canucks
Overall, I really liked what Winnipeg did this past draft. Trouba represents my favorite defender from the 2012 Draft, and then they grabbed two hard working forwards whom I had circled as picks for my team. After that, they rolled the dice on some potential late bloomers with raw skill sets to see what they had in them.
9th Overall - Jacob Trouba
I think Trouba is the cream of the crop for defenders in 2012. A big kid, who skates well, hits hard and brings a big booming shot is hard to find. Even if he struggles to make an offensive impact at the next level, he at least has the build and mobility to find a niche in the NHL somewhere. While he still has flaws to his game to iron out, Trouba is well rounded. A gifted skater, who can move the puck or carry it, he gets into offensive situations as a triggerman or as a set up guy. Defensively he throws his weight around and gives forwards a real hard time.
Full Report Here.
39th Overall - Lukas Sutter
Another classic Sutter to add to the list of throwback two-way centermen. While Sutter will need to work on his skating going forward, he does show overall mobility to get from point a to b. He shows confidence in carrying the puck offensively, but his game is simple: get it deep, and cycle it around. He's a grinder in the truest form. He shows a good shot with the puck, but plays it simple, driving hard towards the net to create some havoc. He's a hard worker, who really shows that mentality game in and out. He'll drop the mitts, and is a willing physical player. Likely to find a niche at the NHL level in a matchup center role to check the top players. He'll need to work on keeping his anger in check on the ice.
70th Overall - Scott Kosmachuk
A little undersized, but a very good prospect, Kosmachuk is another meat and potatoes type player. Kosmachuk sets his motor in go and never stops moving his feet. A chippy player, Kosmachuk drives hard and crosses lines at times, playing a very robust game. Known for taking a couple whacks and runs at opponents, he can really get under your skin. He shows some two-way potential and works hard to come back to break up plays, but can get lazy the deeper back he gets. He's at his best when he puts the puck deep and plays off the wall, cycling and creating chances by taking it to the net. He has a knack for getting open as a scoring opportunity, but lacks creativity. He's got a good pair of hands, but doesn't show the vision to be a high-end offensive player. Will need to find a niche as a hard working complimentary offensive spark plug.
160th overall - Ryan Olsen
A bit of an untapped potential in Olsen, Winnipeg brings in another tough centerman. Hard on the puck, he has a strong way of skating, and has slowly become a more physical player as he learns to use his massive six-foot-three frame. He's a longer term project who shows some soft hands in tight, but has seen his game have ups and downs throughout the year.
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