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With the 28th Pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, New Jersey Selects... |
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29. Oscar Dansk
30. Malcolm Subban
Yes, folks, I understand New Jersey will likely forfeit this year's draft pick from the Kovalchuk debacle. Do remember that this is just a rundown of 30 players who likely go in the first round. And at this point, New Jersey do have a first, so we'll pretend that they don't forfeit it.
You know how it goes. Let's set the scene:
"With the twenty-eighth pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, New Jersey is proud to select, from the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League:
Cristoval Nieves."
At six-foot-three, 'Boo' Nieves brings some size, but it's the projectable offensive abilities that entices some teams in the late stages of the first round.
What first strikes you about Boo are his gifts in the skating department. An explosive skater from stand still, Boo possesses a range of gears to blow past checkers and defenders. With his size and power in his leg, he's hard to contain when he hits top gear.
Beyond that, Boo is a very skilled player who can thread passes through coverage and go tape-to-tape. He's a typical 'playmaker' in that his range of shots is limited and lacks power at this point of his physical development. He's a very lanky player, especially up top.
He utilizes his long reach and can simplify his game on the rush to go to the net, but still lacks strength and that edge to really turn those chances into something more. After spending much of his time in high school hockey this year, he briefly moved to the USHL to showcase his game there. Next season he'll head to the University of Michigan which will give him every opportunity to get stronger and become the player that many think he's capable of.
At this point, Nieves is a project for a team picking later. But that's never stopped teams from taking a shot before.
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