ISS Hockey May Release: Player Facts in the 2017 Draft
Jun 8, 2016 10:35:27 GMT -5
bjernagris (PHI) likes this
Post by brentdog on Jun 8, 2016 10:35:27 GMT -5
Tallest: Oleg Sosunov (LD) – Krasnaya Armiya Moskva – MHL
Anyone looking for the next Big Z would naturally find themselves drawn to Oleg Sosunov, as there’s no doubting that this Russian man-mountain has an iNHL projectable frame, all 6’8” and 243 lbs of it. Defensively he’s more than just a big-hitting one-trick pony, as he has a decent poke-check and is prepared to put his body on the line to block shots. Whilst he needs to work on pretty much every other aspect of his game - and his skating in particular - his size alone makes him an interesting prospect for iNHL teams in the lower reaches of the draft.
Shortest: Tomas Vildumetz (LW) - Kamloops Blazers - WHL
Taken in the second round of the CHL import draft by the Kamloops Blazers, the diminutive Vildumetz stands at 5’7” and weighs just 147 lbs. Despite doing well in his first few games for the Blazers, his lack of physical strength proved to be a problem and Vildumetz found himself bumped down to Junior B level, where he promptly put up 60 points in 45 games. On his day, Vildumetz is an exciting offensive player who can make things happen out of nothing thanks to his great hands and good skating abilities. He needs to bulk up considerably before becoming of value to North American teams but could be worth a late round pick.
Heaviest: Oleg Sosunov. See above.
Lightest: Jordan Xavier (C) - Calgary Mustangs - AJHL
Drafting a player from the AJHL would always be considered a risk given the level of competition, but particularly so when the skater concerned weighs just 144 lbs and stands at a diminutive 5’9”. Despite this there might be a GM out there prepared to use a late-rounder on Jordan Xavier, given his determined compete level and reading of the play in the opposition zone.
Oldest: Scott Conway (C) - Penticton Vees - BCHL
This English import has been covered elsewhere and back-to-back 30 goal seasons certainly highlight his ability to put the puck in the back of the net. Given his age – Conway will be 22 at the time of the draft – will there be a GM out there prepared to take a risk on him?
Youngest: Vincent Milot-Ouellet (RW) - Gatineau Olympiques - QMJHL
Some controversy exists over whether or not Milot-Ouellet should even be in the 2017 draft at all following an apparent administrative error over his date of birth. What isn’t in question, however, are the numbers this talented 17 year-old has put up this season, with 80 points and 30 goals in just 68 games in the QMJHL. A good shooter who can score in every area of the offensive zone, he shoots really well even when skating at top speed, thanks in large part to his soft hands and great stick-handling ability. Question marks do remain as to whether or not his points total is purely a product of playing alongside Yakov Trenin and Vitali Abramov, but even with these doubts Miolot-Ouellet seems likely to go near the top of the draft.
Fastest: Randy Hernandez (RW) - USNTDP - USHL
Combine testing highlights this American as potentially the fastest skater in the draft. Using the old-fashioned eye-test there’s no doubt he can really fly around the ice, but he's still extremely raw, although that’s probably to be expected from this son of Cuban immigrants who grew up in a mostly Hispanic community and hadn’t even watched hockey till he was 12 years old. Getting bumped from the US Development program down to Junior B level probably hasn’t helped his cause, but if he can figure out where he needs to be on the ice and add a little more strength, Hernandez has a lot of upside potential for a GM prepared to draft him.
Anyone looking for the next Big Z would naturally find themselves drawn to Oleg Sosunov, as there’s no doubting that this Russian man-mountain has an iNHL projectable frame, all 6’8” and 243 lbs of it. Defensively he’s more than just a big-hitting one-trick pony, as he has a decent poke-check and is prepared to put his body on the line to block shots. Whilst he needs to work on pretty much every other aspect of his game - and his skating in particular - his size alone makes him an interesting prospect for iNHL teams in the lower reaches of the draft.
Shortest: Tomas Vildumetz (LW) - Kamloops Blazers - WHL
Taken in the second round of the CHL import draft by the Kamloops Blazers, the diminutive Vildumetz stands at 5’7” and weighs just 147 lbs. Despite doing well in his first few games for the Blazers, his lack of physical strength proved to be a problem and Vildumetz found himself bumped down to Junior B level, where he promptly put up 60 points in 45 games. On his day, Vildumetz is an exciting offensive player who can make things happen out of nothing thanks to his great hands and good skating abilities. He needs to bulk up considerably before becoming of value to North American teams but could be worth a late round pick.
Heaviest: Oleg Sosunov. See above.
Lightest: Jordan Xavier (C) - Calgary Mustangs - AJHL
Drafting a player from the AJHL would always be considered a risk given the level of competition, but particularly so when the skater concerned weighs just 144 lbs and stands at a diminutive 5’9”. Despite this there might be a GM out there prepared to use a late-rounder on Jordan Xavier, given his determined compete level and reading of the play in the opposition zone.
Oldest: Scott Conway (C) - Penticton Vees - BCHL
This English import has been covered elsewhere and back-to-back 30 goal seasons certainly highlight his ability to put the puck in the back of the net. Given his age – Conway will be 22 at the time of the draft – will there be a GM out there prepared to take a risk on him?
Youngest: Vincent Milot-Ouellet (RW) - Gatineau Olympiques - QMJHL
Some controversy exists over whether or not Milot-Ouellet should even be in the 2017 draft at all following an apparent administrative error over his date of birth. What isn’t in question, however, are the numbers this talented 17 year-old has put up this season, with 80 points and 30 goals in just 68 games in the QMJHL. A good shooter who can score in every area of the offensive zone, he shoots really well even when skating at top speed, thanks in large part to his soft hands and great stick-handling ability. Question marks do remain as to whether or not his points total is purely a product of playing alongside Yakov Trenin and Vitali Abramov, but even with these doubts Miolot-Ouellet seems likely to go near the top of the draft.
Fastest: Randy Hernandez (RW) - USNTDP - USHL
Combine testing highlights this American as potentially the fastest skater in the draft. Using the old-fashioned eye-test there’s no doubt he can really fly around the ice, but he's still extremely raw, although that’s probably to be expected from this son of Cuban immigrants who grew up in a mostly Hispanic community and hadn’t even watched hockey till he was 12 years old. Getting bumped from the US Development program down to Junior B level probably hasn’t helped his cause, but if he can figure out where he needs to be on the ice and add a little more strength, Hernandez has a lot of upside potential for a GM prepared to draft him.