Nashville's #1 Pick, Ryan Ellis - AP
This past weekend saw the unofficial start of the NHL 2009-2010 season with the holding of the annual Entry Draft. While the NHL teams look to the future with their draft picks, clubs like the Admirals look to their present with the same picks.
Unfortunately for Admirals fans, many of Nashville's draft picks will not be seeing time in Milwaukee right away. The Predators first round pick (11th overall) looks to have a great shot at making the team this year. Ryan Ellis is an extremely talented offensive defenseman who could give a needed offensive boost to a team who finished 24th in the NHL in goal scoring last season.
Nashville's first second round pick (41st overall) Zach Budish, a former football and hockey player, will rehab his ACL injury while attending the University of Minnesota.
Taken number 42 overall, Charles-Olivier Roussel is another defenseman with some talent on the offensive side of the puck. He looks to need a bit more time in juniors, but if he has a breakout season he could see some time for the Admirals later on in the season.
The first of Nashville's two third round selections (70th overall) looks to spend the most time with Milwaukee this season. Taylor Beck is the model of the perfect NHL power forward. A breakout season with Guelph in the OHL last season (22g-36a-58p 36pim) shows that there is little reason to send him back to juniors.
The Predators second third round selection (72nd overall) Michael Latta, a teammate of Beck at Guelph, will probably start the season back in juniors. He needs to work out where the line between strong, competitive play ends and penalties begin. Once he figures that out, he could move up quickly.
Madison, Wisconsin's own Craig Smith was taken by the Predators 98th overall. He will head to the University of Wisconsin in the fall to begin his collegiate career with the Badgers. With the Waterloo Black Hawks, Smith registered the highest point total in a season (76) since Jason Blake scored 100 points in 1993-94.
With their second fourth round pick (102nd overall) the Predators selected Mattias Ekholm. The 6'4" Swedish defenseman looks to stay over in Europe to develop further and get more ice time.
At 110th overall, Nashville selected Minnesota High Schooler Nick Oliver. Oliver has committed to St. Cloud State and should begin his college career this fall.
With their fifth round selection, the Predators made Gabriel Bourque their pick. A smallish forward, he saw plenty of special teams time last season in the QMJHL. Until he fills out a bit more to be able to handle the larger defensemen he will face at the higher levels, look for Bourque to go back to juniors.
With their final selection, (192nd overall) the Predators selected Cameron Reid. Reid produced at a point per game rate down the stretch run with the Westside Warriors of the BCHL. Reid will take his game to the University of New Hampshire this fall.
Comments
Players who are from the Canadian Major Junior Hockey Leagues are not eligible to play in the AHL until they are 20 years old unless their season ends before ours around playoff time. This agreement is in the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and Canadian Junior Hockey League. A teenager can however play in the NHL but if he is sent down he must go back to his previous junior team.
Tim, seriously. You are entitled to your opinions, but you really need to back some of this stuff up. You really think that Ellis is NHL ready right now? That's contrary to what EVERYBODY ELSE is saying. Why? Tell us why you think he could crack the opening day Predators roster.
Every post, you are getting corrected by people. You should think about getting a computer that has both a spellchecker and a factchecker.
Step up your game, or continue to lose your credibility. There are plenty of other places for Admirals web content that do a hell of a lot better job than you are doing.
I think Craig Smith could be the hidden gem here.
But I don't know exactly how many 18 year olds jump directly to the NHL...let alone at defense.
Do you really think the Preds would break camp with Ellis...and send Cody Franson and Jon Blum back to Milwaukee?
OK - Tim - I did a little research for you. I should ask for a cut of your paycheck for this.
Ryan Ellis would immediately become the smallest defenseman in the NHL if he were to make the Preds.
There are only FOUR defenseman in the NHL under 5'10". And NONE of them weigh less than 180.
Furthermore, only ONE of them made their NHL debut before the age of 22. That was Francis Bouillon of Montreal. He was 19. But he also had 4 years of major juniors, followed by one year each in the ECHL, IHL, and AHL.
So the Preds - a team NOTORIOUS for making their draft picks play in the minors - is going to make Ryan Ellis the Smallest and youngest defensemen in the NHL?
I'm sorry - but that's a joke.
I'll let this go as soon as you justify your position. Otherwise, I'm gonna petition Google news to have you delisted. This shouldn't count as news.
Tim is the one person on the planet in the lonely "re-sign Koistinen and Devries" camp.
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