He's just waiting, any day, size won't matter in the new NHL
I like what is said about Smith though, particularly the part about him being a good puck-handler that covers the lower part of the net well (who does that NOT sound like).
Andreas Thuresson BORN: 1987-11-18 AGE: 19 NATION: Sweden POSITION: C SHOOTS: R HEIGHT: 187 cm / 6'2" WEIGHT: 88 kg / 194 lbs DRAFTED: Selected 2007 by Nashville round 5 #144 overall
Thuresson is a skilled two-way player with decent hockey sense. He passes the puck well and has pretty good hands. Furthermore, Thuresson is a capable skater that works very hard both ways. He has good size and plays quite physical. A valuable team player that can be used in most game situations. Decent scoring touch.
23 JONATHON BLUM 1/30/1989 Long Beach, CA US 6' 0" 160 WHL VANCOUVER D R
54 JEREMY SMITH 4/13/1989 Dearborn, MI US 5' 11" 160 OHL PLYMOUTH G L
58 NICK SPALING 9/19/1988 Palmerston, ON CA 6' 0" 180 OHL KITCHENER C L
81 RYAN THANG 5/11/1987 Chicago, IL US 5' 11" 186 CCHA U OF NOTRE DAME LW R
114 BEN RYAN 10/16/1988 Detroit, MI US 5' 11" 190 USHL DES MOINES C R
119 MARK SANTORELLI 8/6/1988 Edmonton, AB CA 6' 0" 186 WHL CHILLIWACK C R
144 ANDREAS THURESSON 11/18/1987 Kristianstad, Sweden SE 6' 1" 200 SWEDEN MALMO W R
174 ROBERT DIETRICH 7/25/1986 Kaufbeuren, Germany DE 5' 10" 172 GERMANY DUSSELDORF D R
204 ATTE ENGREN 2/19/1988 Rauma, Finland FI 6' 0" 185 FINLAND LUKKO G L
Note to David Poile:
Eventually this team will need size to ever win a playoff series
Note to David Poile:
Eventually this team will need size to ever win a playoff series
Thats what trades ands UFA's/RFA's are for.
If the Firesale continues with Zidlicky, Arnott, Sullivan etc... I would expect the Predators to get several more picks in the 08 draft, which I've seen compared to the 03 draft in terms of depth, and since they'll probably be in the top ten because of the fire sale, theres a good chance they'll get at at least one blue-chipper like Stamkos, Beach or Poulin.
If the Firesale continues with Zidlicky, Arnott, Sullivan etc... I would expect the Predators to get several more picks in the 08 draft, which I've seen compared to the 03 draft in terms of depth, and since they'll probably be in the top ten because of the fire sale, theres a good chance they'll get at at least one blue-chipper like Stamkos, Beach or Poulin.
They can't trade anymore of the names you're mentioning. The cap floor is currently ten million dollars above where they are, and even if\when they resign RFA's, they'll be around 7 million dollars beneath it. They still intend to re-sign Kariya...if Kariya re-signs, Forsberg wouldn't be impossible, either.
They can't trade anymore of the names you're mentioning. The cap floor is currently ten million dollars above where they are, and even if\when they resign RFA's, they'll be around 7 million dollars beneath it. They still intend to re-sign Kariya...if Kariya re-signs, Forsberg wouldn't be impossible, either.
Agreed Unfortunally for Basillie they can't Gut the team much further due to the cap min. Unless they sign someone like Lindros to a 11 mil a year deal and hope he gets hurt (I hope noone from the Preds front office is reading these boards)
I didn't realize they were already that far under the cap, before resigning their RFA"s and UFA's, 9 million under the min though that number can shrink in a hurry. However I still think its a long shot for Kariya or Forsberg to be back. No one knows if Forsberg will even play, and without Vokoun, a defense thats getting younger and less experienced and the ownership questions I would think Kariya is going to look else were.
One trade I could see making sense for the Predators would be to move Zidlicky for a pick and an older, maybe more defenisve D-man. This teams strength is clearly in its young D-men and its going to be built around them. If they could get a pick and a veteran D-man, maybe past his prime, with a bigger salary (why the other team would do it, move salary) it would eat up the salary the Predators need to spend and could/would give those young D-men a mentor for a season or two.
BTW, I wouldn't be so quick to ditz the selecting of Thang. He had a great year at Notre Dame. He was one of the top scoring rookies in the nation (41 points in 42 games) and if it weren't for Mark Letestu carrying WMU this season, Thang would've won the CCHA Rookie of the Year. This is a great pick by the Preds and I think he's going to pleasantly surprise alot of people.
I really wanted the Ducks to take Blum being that he grew up in Orange County and played his youth hockey for a team my brother and I played many times. I've read up a lot about this kid and he sounds like he'll be a sound d-man as long as he fills out a bit. His skating style and transition game reminds me a bit of Scott Niedermayer though not nearly in the same range. If he can put on 20-25 pounds he'll be solid.
So treat him well because he's my new favorite prospect in the NHL and this gives me a reason to still root for the Preds even if Kariya signs elsewhere.
Oh and he also led the WHL in +/- playing on the Memorial Cup winning team. He also led all their d-men in points which includes two Ducks prospects that we are really high on so that's gotta be worth something.
Well Dietrich played together with Sulzer in Duesseldorf. That is how Nashville properly became aware of him and that scouted him various times. Dietrich has developed very well made the jump into the DEL and into the National team for the World Championship.
here his stats for the season:
Regular Season
Düsseldorfer EG GP 52 G 3 A 19 P 22 +/- +8 PIM 28
Playoffs
Düsseldorfer EG GP 9 G 2 A 4 P 6 +/- +3 PIM 22
World Chapionship
Team Germany GP 6 G 2 A 2 P 4 +/- -2 PIM 2
Well Dietrich played together with Sulzer in Duesseldorf. That is how Nashville properly became aware of him and that scouted him various times. Dietrich has developed very well made the jump into the DEL and into the National team for the World Championship.
here his stats for the season:
Regular Season
Düsseldorfer EG GP 52 G 3 A 19 P 22 +/- +8 PIM 28
Playoffs
Düsseldorfer EG GP 9 G 2 A 4 P 6 +/- +3 PIM 22
World Chapionship
Team Germany GP 6 G 2 A 2 P 4 +/- -2 PIM 2
Yeah, easily the best D-man at Worlds for team Germany.
Had 10 goals and 5 assists in 48 games last season in the Swedish Elite League, which is very good for a junior on the worst team in the league. He also had a good World Junior Championships, where he got tons of ice time and was one of Sweden's best players. Off the ice, he is a real joker and spreads joy in the lockerroom.
Here is a quick translation of what hockeymagasinet.com said about him in their draft preview:
Can play both at center and on the wing...got a very competent two-way game and is at the same time tough and physical...loves to throw his body around and does is successfully...works insanely hard on the ice...his skating is very good...first steps can become better...breakaway speed from center circle is good...successful at transporting the puck in the offensive zone...loves to use his hard and heavy shot...good hockey and goal sense...very good at killing penalties and competent in the power play with his nice shot and goal sense...his enthusiasm on the ice is fantastic to watch...he is a tough guy with good size and he never backs out...the writer of the article thinks he will turn into a good role player and a shut-down forward like Samuel Påhlsson
2007 by Nashville round 5 #144 overall
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