Lots of scouts feel Teravainnen will be a legit #1 C. He's also almost a full year younger than Yakupov.
- Shutdown

Isn't he a winger?

Isn't he a winger?
- kehmesis

Might play some wing but he's a centerman

Might play some wing but he's a centerman
- Shutdown

All the reports are pretty much saying he's a left wing playmaker, though he can play center.

TSN
Mynhldraft
Thescore
The Hockey Writers
The Hockey News

etc.

Ottawa had Ceci ranked #4 and our scouts are some of the best in the league. Seems like a really weird draft year.

All the reports are pretty much saying he's a left wing playmaker, though he can play center.

TSN
Mynhldraft
Thescore
The Hockey Writers
The Hockey News

etc.
- kehmesis

Played wing in Finalnd SM Liga due to being low on the depth chart to start the year. He played C at the u-18s. I'm banking on him being a centerman if/when he becomes an established NHLer.

I would cringe if my teams scouting department had Teravainen or Rielly ahead of Yakupov.

I think it's pretty funny that both Toronto and Montreal claim they got the #1 rated player (by their scouts) in the draft. I would bet money if they actually had the 1st overall neither of those 2 players would have been taken.
Seeing Burke take Rielly at #1 would have been epic though.

Ironically enough the Oilers didn't even have either Rielly or Galchenyuk rated in their top 5. Time will tell which scouting department had it right I guess..
- gretzky

Let me point out that:

1. Yakupov and Galchenyuk both play for Sarnia Sting.

2. Sarnia's head coach is Jacques Beaulieu, who is father of Habs 2011 1st round pick Nathan Beaulieu. See the connection?

3. Scouting staffs always interview coaches, parents, draft eligable players, and their teammates. This information is extremely valuable in determining who is a better 'fit' inside your organisation. I have a hunch that Trevor Timmins got the inside scoop from their Sting coach which is why he had Galchenyuk higher than Yakupov on his list.

4. The Habs stressed after the draft that skills were not the only determining factor when constructing their lists, but work ethic and attitude were just as important to form a complete package. Who better to relay this info than their current coach in Sarnia... who has a vested interest in the future success of the Habs.

5. I've heard that if Galchenyuk would have played a full season, he would have easily challenged for the 1st overall selection.

Put all this together and I'm VERY optimistic that we picked up the better of the two Stings.

Timmins reputation and track record speaks for itself. No head scout has drafted more NHL players in the past 10 years than Trevor Timmins. Who is Edmontons' head scout? Who would you rather have drafting for your team ??

Played wing in Finalnd SM Liga due to being low on the depth chart to start the year. He played C at the u-18s. I'm banking on him being a centerman if/when he becomes an established NHLer.
- Shutdown

Thanks for the info

Let me point out that:

1. Yakupov and Galchenyuk both play for Sarnia Sting.

2. Sarnia's head coach is Jacques Beaulieu, who is father of Habs 2011 1st round pick Nathan Beaulieu. See the connection?

3. Scouting staffs always interview coaches, parents, draft eligable players, and their teammates. This information is extremely valuable in determining who is a better 'fit' inside your organisation. I have a hunch that Trevor Timmins got the inside scoop from their Sting coach which is why he had Galchenyuk higher than Yakupov on his list.

4. The Habs stressed after the draft that skills were not the only determining factor when constructing their lists, but work ethic and attitude were just as important to form a complete package. Who better to relay this info than their current coach in Sarnia... who has a vested interest in the future success of the Habs.

5. I've heard that if Galchenyuk would have played a full season, he would have easily challenged for the 1st overall selection.

Put all this together and I'm VERY optimistic that we picked up the better of the two Stings.

Timmins reputation and track record speaks for itself. No head scout has drafted more NHL players in the past 10 years than Trevor Timmins. Who is Edmontons' head scout? Who would you rather have drafting for your team ??
- SnakeDoctor

Stu Mcgregor for both answers. He had Galchenyuk at a "very good #2 centre" projection too. Time will tell.

Wow,
What a sniper wrist shot that GALCHENYUK !! His shot from the right side
in PP reminds me of Kovalev's !

If he keeps on crashing the net in the NHL, he'll be amazing !

I'm so excited, do we finally have our All-Star ?? He'll be exciting to watch develop for sure !!

Stu Mcgregor for both answers. He had Galchenyuk at a "very good #2 centre" projection too. Time will tell.
- gretzky

MacGregor's had a tough job, what with picking top 10 every year except for '08.

MacGregor's had a tough job, what with picking top 10 every year except for '08.
- Shutdown

Ya who cares about all the other rounds?

Ya who cares about all the other rounds?
- gretzky

seeing how not one prospect macgregor drafted in rounds 2-7 has made it to the NHL full time, i decided not to bring them up. but he's only been the head scout since 2007 so it's a small sample size.

though i guess at 56 games, lander is a full time nhler?

seeing how not one prospect macgregor drafted in rounds 2-7 has made it to the NHL full time, i decided not to bring them up. but he's only been the head scout since 2007 so it's a small sample size.

though i guess at 56 games, lander is a full time nhler?
- Shutdown

Just saying, if my head scout had Teuvo Teravainen ahead of Nail Yakupov I would be extremely concerned.

TT went at 18. Do you really think *all* those scouting departments missed something about TT that *your* extremely special scout saw? Or is it likely the 17 teams ahead were right and that maybe your scout was a bit out to lunch?

Just saying, if my head scout had Teuvo Teravainen ahead of Nail Yakupov I would be extremely concerned.

TT went at 18. Do you really think *all* those scouting departments missed something about TT that *your* extremely special scout saw? Or is it likely the 17 teams ahead were right and that maybe your scout was a bit out to lunch?
- gretzky

Maybe TT and the extra pick(s) they'd get to trade down would be worth more than Yak in their eyes to stock the shelf?

Just saying, if my head scout had Teuvo Teravainen ahead of Nail Yakupov I would be extremely concerned.

TT went at 18. Do you really think *all* those scouting departments missed something about TT that *your* extremely special scout saw? Or is it likely the 17 teams ahead were right and that maybe your scout was a bit out to lunch?
- gretzky

no one knows timmins' list. i dont doubt terravainen was in his top 5. he was 7th on tsn's list.

i dont know if he was above yakupov, there were reports timmins would take terravainen over yakupov, but my guess is not at the 3 spot. they would have traded down had galchenyuk not been there at 3. bergevin and timmins talked about concussions and injuries being part of the evaluation process, and with yakupov's history and style of play its not inconceivable that they preferred someone else over him. teravainen slipped, but lots of scouts love him.

Ya who cares about all the other rounds?
- gretzky

Loll,
Who cares about the other rounds ??
Anyone can make a good pick if he gets top 10 every year, it's the "other rounds" that make a real good draft...
IMO

PS: By the way, it's BS that TT wouldn't have picked Yakupov (if Galchenyuk wasn't available, as i believe he was their #1, before Yakupov). Nobody knows his actual list, the ones that say they have it are simply liars (or being lied to...).

Loll,
Who cares about the other rounds ??
Anyone can make a good pick if he gets top 10 every year, it's the "other rounds" that make a real good draft...
IMO

PS: By the way, it's BS that TT wouldn't have picked Yakupov (if Galchenyuk wasn't available, as i believe he was their #1, before Yakupov). Nobody knows his actual list, the ones that say they have it are simply liars (or being lied to...).
- DrDoom

i think you misunderstood his comment

Loll,
Who cares about the other rounds ??
Anyone can make a good pick if he gets top 10 every year, it's the "other rounds" that make a real good draft...
IMO

PS: By the way, it's BS that TT wouldn't have picked Yakupov (if Galchenyuk wasn't available, as i believe he was their #1, before Yakupov). Nobody knows his actual list, the ones that say they have it are simply liars (or being lied to...).
- DrDoom

I think part of these lists of what GM's had down as their top pick take into consideration their draft spot and what would likely be gone. You also don't want to have your new pick sitting beside you as the GM with the media and you say, "this young kid was 5th on our list but the other 4 were gone already."

I believe Bergevin for sure when he says Galchenyuk was their guy because it was likely Yakupov would be gone no matter what, and if it was me, I agree with him completely, Montreal needed a potential #1 Center, not another small winger. If the first 2 picks had been Yakupov and Galchenyuk, I would have still gone after the next best potential #1 Center with size and skill, likely Grigorenko.

You can pick up wingers any time you want, but like Bergevin said, #1 Centers aren't available, not for cheap anyway.

If the first 2 picks were Galchenyuk and Murray, and I didn't think Yakupov was what we needed, and I wanted a centre that wasn't worth picking at #3, I would have traded down for a pick that would still likely get me what I want plus an asset.

Just saying, if my head scout had Teuvo Teravainen ahead of Nail Yakupov I would be extremely concerned.
TT went at 18. Do you really think *all* those scouting departments missed something about TT that *your* extremely special scout saw? Or is it likely the 17 teams ahead were right and that maybe your scout was a bit out to lunch?
- gretzky

If my team picked 1st overall 3 years in a row, I'd be extremely concerned.... just saying.

Loll,
Who cares about the other rounds ??
Anyone can make a good pick if he gets top 10 every year, it's the "other rounds" that make a real good draft...
IMO

PS: By the way, it's BS that TT wouldn't have picked Yakupov (if Galchenyuk wasn't available, as i believe he was their #1, before Yakupov). Nobody knows his actual list, the ones that say they have it are simply liars (or being lied to...).
- DrDoom

sarcasm detector off?

If my team picked 1st overall 3 years in a row, I'd be extremely concerned.... just saying.
- SnakeDoctor

Were rebuilding. Wouldn't you *want* a 1st overall pick over say, a 5th overall pick?

Were rebuilding. Wouldn't you *want* a 1st overall pick over say, a 5th overall pick?
- gretzky

What he actually meant is by rebuilding, you actually need to see improvement each year. Which wasn't quite the case in EDM for the last 3 years

What he actually meant is by rebuilding, you actually need to see improvement each year. Which wasn't quite the case in EDM for the last 3 years
- koarik91

We had an increase of 12 points last year from the year before.

We had an increase of 12 points last year from the year before.
- gretzky

Guess that speaks to how terrible the oilers season was two years ago. Improved by 12 points and 0 ranks in the standings

Guess that speaks to how terrible the oilers season was two years ago. Improved by 12 points and 0 ranks in the standings
- Shutdown

Nothing against Edm, but I hope the new CBA has a clause where after so many years in a row you can no longer draft top 5 or at least not be part of the lottery.
They are lucky to have such tolerant fans.