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2014 Draft : Where They Are Now (Odds and Ends) |
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These are some shallow looks at players outside the first round.
196. Axel Holmström - Detroit Red Wings - 18gp - 3g - 6a - 9p (Elitserien)
Wait, the Wings picked a Swede in a late round and he's looking like a steal? What? It's becoming somewhat of a lame phenomenon where you sift through obscure European players drafted by Detroit looking for the next Franzen...and I use Franzen because if you look at his draft circumstance it's one of the weirdest in memory. Holmström made a name for himself centering William Nylander at the U18's forming the scariest line in the tournament. He finished second overall in scoring and was the top face-off man. He had also been a star in the SuperElit that season. Yet neither seemed to impress scouts much since he fell to the seventh round. This season he made Skellefteå fulltime and has been strong out the gate, starting on the second line, but now on the third with Oskar Sundqvist on loan from the Penguins. He's tied for the third highest scorer U19, behind and tied with all first round selections (Nylander, Fiala, Kempe, Vrana). Not bad for a throwaway pick, maybe he becomes something down the line if he can fix his skating.
42. Vladislav Kamenev - Nashville Predators - 25gp - 4g - 3a - 7p (KHL)
Kamenev was the first Russian outside of the CHL selected in this draft, though oddly enough 42 isn't a major fall, he was genuinely on the border of the first and second rounds without the "Russian Factor." Kamenev started on fire, but has since come back to earth a little on a deep Magnitogorsk squad. He has played up and down the lineup, though as the playoff stretch begins to deepen, they are starting to throw veterans at the problems (including what is one of the best top lines in the KHL). Kamenev is a power centre, though a European kind, more puck protection style. He's a masterful face-off man and is 54% in the K. If you don't watch Magnitogorsk you probably wouldn't know, but Kamenev is basically used as a face-off specialist, if Kovar is tired he is sent out for the draw and then to scamper to the bench in defensive zone starts...it's actually pretty amusing. He's big (6'2 205lbs), he's skilled and he's improving, the ex-captain of the Russian U18 squad is probably a lock for the U20's this year.
54. Hunter Smith - Calgary Flames - 17gp - 12g - 8a - 20p (OHL)
The 6'6 behemoth was an interesting player to watch in the 2014 draft after a surprising playoff performance. Smith was undrafted in 2013, he was 6 days off the cutoff for the 2014 draft, but a 2 point performance that year (in 45gp)...well it kind of sealed the deal. You see, skating helps, and look at footage from that season vs now and you might wonder if you're looking at a difference player. Now it's not like Jason Allison became Mike Gartner or anything, but he can actually move now. That basically allowed him to be more physically engaged in the game and not being a useless pylon. He's a PP specialist by and large, making himself a good target for his more skilled linemates (Dal Colle and Cassels). He has 7PPG's (2nd in OHL) this season already and as you would expect, most are within 2 feet of the goalie. There's still tons of room for improvement, but the his development curve has been pretty nice in a sharp upturn. In the end his skating could simply not get there or he won't find a team willing to use him on the PP which would end in having a nice AHL career. Interesting pick to say the least.
79. Brayden Point - Tampa Bay Lightning - 17gp - 8g - 14a - 22p (WHL)
It's hard to call a guy who scored 91 points in his draft year a "steal," but Point fell down the table like so many undersized players before him. The 5'10 163lb centre is an all zone kind of agitator and plays with a tenacity you don't expect from a player his size. Size is always going to be an issue, just like for Gallagher, but that similar play style might help him find a way to the show. He leads a pitiful Warriors offense, just as he did the year before. He has underrated face-off abilities as well.
91. William Lagesson - Edmonton Oilers - 12gp - 1g - 7a - 8p (USHL)
Lagesson took the odd move to the USHL and has been meeting expectations. He's arguably the best defenseman in the league at the moment, providing his usual defensive strengths while finding more offense playing as the Saints go to defender. The USHL isn't the stiffest competition out there and so if you're going to be a noteworthy prospect, you should do well. Is Lagesson a noteworthy prospect? It's a little too early to tell, but he has that nice blend of natural skill, defensive detail and the ability to get physical. Just needs to continue working on his skating.
97. Lucas Wallmark - Carolina Hurricanes - 18gp - 3g - 7a - 10p (Elitserien)
Wallmark like Smith went undrafted in 2013 and was similarly 10 days from the cutoff to 2014. However unlike Smith, he had an amazing season that saw him go undrafted. Why did he not get picked? He was 5'10 and a very slow skater. Size without speed is often death in the NHL is usually so in scouts eyes. It's hard to believe a guy could put up 10 points in 16 games in the Allsvenskan in his draft year, then a PPG at the U18's including being the top face-off man and not hear his name called...but here we are. Thankfully a dominant performance at the U20's and a solid Elitserien Rookie Campaign found him selectable. He's great on the PP and will be going to his second U20's this year. He has a great mind for the game, anticipates things extremely well, if his skating can get up to snuff he could be a real steal, otherwise...well...Europe is littered with slow skating smart players on that big ice.
Thanks for reading.
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