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Nashville picks, Admirals wait
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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.
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