The Hamilton Bulldogs have advanced to the Western Conference Finals, and have shown to be a threat each season in the American League. The Habs, themselves, have once more made the post season, and things are beginning to look up in Montreal organization, who prides themselves on being such a storied team. There is no shortage of young prospects in the pipeline, including the likes of Danny Kristo, Louis Leblanc and
Jarred Tinordi. The biggest need for Montreal, going forward, has been called a lack of size amongst their Top Six. With so many players being so close in overall talent at this point in the game, Habs GM, Pierre Gauthier, decides to take a need as he steps up to the podium.
"With the seventeenth pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Montreal is proud to select, from the Saginaw Spirit - Brandon Saad."
Once upon a time, Brandon Saad was the gem of scouts eyes. A budding power forward on his way to an OHL Squad to further his US National Development training, he was considered a lock for the Top Five. Not only a lock, but also thought to be the top draft-eligible OHL player, ahead of Gabriel Landeskog.
The stage was set for the 6'2, 210 lb forward from Pennsylvania.
The talk a year ago was about Saad's mobility on the ice. A fluid skater with a long powerful stride, Saad is literally impossible to slow him down or defend him once he gets going. Yet, here we are coming into his draft year, and there are whispers of a regression in his skating from his days in Ann Arbor.
Along the boards and in the corner, Saad is a man amongst boys. Willing to do the dirty work and set up a cycle, there aren't many others in this class with the pure power like Saad has for the board game. Using his size, Saad protects the puck as well as anybody.
Soft capable hands and an NHL shot round out the offensive tools for Saad. Capable of turning anything into a scoring chance with his elusive abilities to get into scoring areas, and get off a howitzer of a shot, Saad also displays high end vision on the ice, and anticipates the play as it happens.
With such a free fall happening, expect a team to take a chance on Saad being more of last year's player, and not the Saginaw Brandon Saad we saw this year. Some wonder if the situation in Saginaw wasn't beneficial and it was more of a fluke season. Whatever the case, I don't expect Saad to slip out of the 1st and could be a real value pick for Montreal, or any other team this low. The talent is there, and the package of size, skating and hands really make him an intriguing reclamation project. Whatever the case, Saad is a player to watch for come June.
Taken Previously...
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Gabriel Landeskog
3. Jonathan Huberdeau
4. Dougie Hamilton
5. Adam Larsson
6. Sean Couturier
7. Ryan Strome
8. Ryan Murphy
9. Duncan Siemens
10. Mark McNeill
11. Nathan Beaulieu
12. Jamie Oleksiak
13. Mika Zibanejad
14. Joel Armia
15. Mark Scheifele
16. Matt Puempel
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