Monthly Archives: June 2010
10:00 am: In the eyes of most experts, Mikael Granlund is the top-rated European skater in the 2010 NHL draft. When his 5-10 frame fills out, scouts believe the 18-year-old Finn has an excellent chance of being the next Saku Koivu. Some are convinced Granlund has more natural ability than the countryman he looks up to. They have reason to: playing in the men’s league known as the FNL, Granlund had 40 points in 43 games. (For a comparison, then 18-year-old Jesse Joensuu had 12 points in 51 games, 35 in 56 when he was 20).
Yet for all of the center’s world-class talent, only one National Hockey League team made the effort to bring Granlund to their town for a day and a half of meetings and evaluations.
“The New York Islanders,” Granlund told Point Blank in a phone conversation last night. “They were very…what is the word”?
Thorough?
“Yes, thorough,” said Granlund. “Complete. I had the feeling they wanted to know everything they could about me. I had a groin injury in November, not so bad at all. They asked about it and checked it out. They knew all the players on my lines in the Finnish League. (Granlund has a statistically-proven ability to make his linemates with IFK better, from Jerry Ahtola to Kim Hirschovits). They asked me a lot about things in my life and about my hockey. At the combine and in New York, they asked a lot.”
As a follower, that’s all you can ask of your team heading into a draft. No one can say that under general manager Garth Snow and amateur scouting director Ryan Jankowski that the Islanders over the last three years have not learned to prepare obsessively. When it comes to the draft, there’s no such thing as too much information.
“The Islanders have earned a strong reputation for doing their homework at every level when it comes to scouting,” said E.J. McGuire, the director of the NHL’s Central Scouting Service, which ranked Granlund No. 1 in Europe. “There aren’t too many rinks when one of our people don’t see Ryan Jankowski or (European chief) Vellu Kautonen or one of their other scouts. Personally, I think it’s great that they also take the time to fly in some of the highest-rated kids like they did last year.”
Last year, it was John Tavares, Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene. Confirmed visitors to our fair Island over the last month include Erik Gudbranson, Brandon Gormley, Cam Fowler and Ryan Johansen. Then there was the trio of Granlund, Nino Niederreiter and Alex Burmistrov.
“Even if the Islanders don’t take me, I’ll never forget the visit,” said Granlund, who believes he’ll go in the first half of the first round but has no idea where. “It was a good opportunity for all of us to meet with an NHL team and talk to their top people. Ryan Jankowski also showed us a nice time away from the rink. We appreciated that. I had only known Nino and Alex from playing against them, but we had a lot of fun together.
“I don’t know whether the Islanders will use one of their picks to draft me, or make a move to draft me, but it was impressive how much they tried to get a lot of information about me.”
Since 2008, the Islanders have made a habit of it. Good for them.
Comments.
HoF selection committee member Bill Torrey on Pat Burns
Sopel takes the Stanley Cup to Chicago Gay Pride Parade
Alex Burmistrov, invited by the Islanders for a visit, profiled at FanHouse. Our Time Warner brothers at Sports Illustrated have Steve Yzerman taking him sixth. Comments.
2:20 pm: Nathan Horton’s departure to Boston, along with Greg Campbell, for the 15th overall pick, Dennis Wideman and another pick, could lead to improved chances of my draft mockery. Connolly at 3, Fowler to Columbus at 4, Gudbranson at 5. Nah, it never works that way! Elsewhere, while the Predators got good value, short-term it looks like the Devils (Arnott, are too) and Flyers (when they inevitably sign Hamhuis) have improved. Comments.
12:05 pm: Here’s the Islanders schedule on NHL.com. Talk about it here, if you’d like. Comments.
CB’s Draft Mockery: Picks 3, 4, 5
9:45 pm: Should the Islanders stick with pick 5 (75% chance) and draft a defenseman, they will be looking at a trio of diverse talents: Cam Fowler (the most likely to be gone) and Erik Gudbranson and Brandon Gormley, of which at least one is certain to be around.
Of the three, we have spent the least amount of time of draft obsession these last three weeks on Gormley, the blueliner with Moncton of the Quebec League whom the Islanders hosted for a day of meetings, physicals and meals in New York. Looking to get someone on the record, I checked in with Central Scouting director E. J. McGuire. The CSS ranked Gormley sixth among North American skaters – forward Brett Connolly third, Gudbranson fourth and Fowler fifth.
E.J. does your staff see much of a gap between Gudbranson, Fowler and Gormley?
Not a big gap, but we did feel that was the right order. Gudbranson, over time, should be able to affect games with his physicality and smarts. I believe he’ll add offense to his game. Cam Fowler is the best offensive defenseman of the three and could be an all-star. Gormley comes as advertised: he may not lift you out of your seat with a big hit or a great play for a goal, but he is a very smart and very steady player.
What’s the case for a team to take Gormley over Gudbranson?
Well, we had Gudbranson at 3 and Gormley at 6 on our year-end report for a reason, but the scouts expect Brandon to play a long time in the league. You’re not going to find many people who have anything overtly negative to say about his game.
Gormley doesn’t seem to get a lot of hype because he’s not regarded as the “sexy” pick. He had 9 goals for Moncton. The scouts I’ve spoken with say he didn’t play the body much.
That’s true, but he can move the puck and players like him take some time to develop an all-around game. It’s true that he’s also not in the same ballpark as a physical player, like Gudbranson and (Dylan) McIlrath, but that’s apples and oranges. Brandon is an outstanding all-around defenseman.
Would it surprise you to see Gormley go in the top five?
Not at all. Central Scouting is a service. We provide one view for teams to consider. There’s a group of players after the top one or two that could go in any order. Nothing would surprise me. When you’re dealing with players as close as this group of defensemen, scouts can argue for a while. Sometimes it could come down to what a team is looking for.
Brandon Gormley Interview
Comments.
Islanders announce unique preseason sked: Sept. 29 vs. Calgary in Saskatoon and vs. the Flyers in Philly; Oct. 1 at NJ; Oct. 2 at home to the Devils and vs. Montreal in Quebec City. Scott Gordon will have three ex games to coach/observe, players will have three max to play.
Please read at FanHouse. For some, there’s a surprise at number 2. This is not a mock draft, but an insider’s look at one NHL team’s chief scout’s top 10 players. Also: why the NYI could grab Kirill Kabanov later.
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