The Race For Steven Stamkos

As the NHL regular season draws to a close, many teams around the league are jockeying for position. Some are attempting to better their playoff seed and secure home ice while others are simply focused on making the playoffs. All of this makes for an exciting time of year in the NHL as the Stanley Cup Playoffs loom just around the corner.

Then there are the bottom-feeders. Their fate of a disappointing season has already been realized. Whether it’s due to underachieving players or a wave of injuries, these teams populate the bottom of the NHL standings. However, if you thought the remaining week of the NHL season doesn’t matter to these squads, you would be wrong. As they play out the final few games on their 07-08 schedules, the results will drastically impact one very important thing – who gets to draft Steven Stamkos.

As the lower-class teams sort out the NHL’s basement, here’s a look at what’s on the line in June and who’s in line to reap the benefits of a bottom-five finish.

The Players:

1.) Steven Stamkos – Position: C, Height: 5’11’’, Weight: 178lbs, DOB: 2/7/90, Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario
Ever since becoming the #1 pick in the 2006 OHL Draft, Steven Stamkos has been tabbed as an elite NHL prospect. His performance in the OHL over the past two seasons has separated him from all other prospects in the draft. Stamkos does a lot of everything and he does it all well. His staggering offensive production and overall game make him a virtual lock as the grand prize of draft.

Attributes:
- Explosive speed
- Small size but strong on the puck
- Will battle through checks and fight for the puck in scrums along the boards
- Excellent defensive player
- Possesses a big wrist shot and a very quick release
- Very creative player, good assist man
- Can finish with the best players in the world
- Excellent breakaway goal scorer
- Great character kid, has captain-like leadership ability

Stats:
2006-07 Regular Season – Sarnia Sting – GP:63 G:42 A:50 PTS:92
2007-08 Regular Season – Sarnia Sting – GP:61 G:58 A:47 PTS:105

2.) Alex Pietrangelo – Position: D, Height:6’0’’, Weight: 210lbs, DOB: 1/18/90, Hometown: King City, Ontario
Alex Pietrangelo could be the most NHL-ready prospect in this year’s draft, and he’s only 17 years old. After adding some size to his frame, Pietrangelo has silenced critics by showing a physical side to his game this past season. With no noticeable weaknesses to speak of, Pietrangelo is primed to become the first defensemen selected in the Entry Draft.

Attributes:
- Smart with and without the puck
- Very mature
- Outstanding vision
- Tremendous poise on the ice
- Instinctively knows when to pinch
- Good at keeping the puck in the offensive zone
- Offensively gifted defensemen
- Great plus/minus player, very responsible on the ice

Stats:
2006-07 Regular Season – Mississauga IceDogs – GP:59 G:7 A:45 PTS:52
2007-08 Regular Season – Niagara IceDogs – GP:60 G:13 A:40 PTS:53

3.) Cody Hodgson – Position: C, Height:5’11’’, Weight:182lbs, DOB:2/18/90, Hometown: Unionville, Ontario
After being a middle first-round pick in the same OHL draft that saw Stamkos go first overall, Hodgson has quickly progressed into a top-five talent. One strength he has proven to all scouts is his never-ending ability to improve his game. Whoever gets lucky enough to add this center icemen to their equation will be getting a game-changing player for years to come.

Attributes:
- Very fast, quick first step gets him in open ice quick
- Above average, accurate shot
- Very strong on his skates, tough to knock off the puck
- Good anticipation on the ice
- Will be a top PK and PP contributor
- Possesses game-changing ability

Stats:
2006-07 Regular Season – Brampton Battalion – GP:63 G:23 A:23 PTS:46
2007-08 Regular Season – Brampton Battalion – GP:68 G:40 A:45 PTS:85

4.) Drew Doughty – Position: D, Height: 5’11’’, Weight: 213lbs, DOB:12/8/89, Hometown: London, Ontario
Drew Doughty is a defenseman in the mold of Brian Campbell. He is a fast, offensive-minded player who plays very well in his own end. After an eye-opening 2006-07 season Doughty’s numbers dipped a bit this past year. One reason for the step back could be the amount of hockey he played, contributing to the Canada/Russia junior series, the World Juniors, the CHL prospects game, the OHL All-Star game, all while averaging over 30 minutes a night with the Guelf Storm. All totaled he has played more minutes than most prospects and is currently the 2nd North American and 3rd overall prospect by Central Scouting.

Attributes:
- Good Speed
- Cannon slap shot
- Deadly power play point-man
- Excellent breakout passer, overall passer
- End-to-end rusher
- Good use of feet when stick is tied up

Stats:
2005-06 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:65 G:5 A:28 PTS:33
2006-07 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:67 G:21 A:53 PTS:74
2007-08 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:58 G:13 A:37 PTS:50

5.) Kyle Beach – Position: C, Height: 6’0’’, Weight:202lbs, DOB: 1/13/90, Hometown: Kelowna, British Columbia
Kyle Beach is the type of hockey player every team needs – a workhorse. He is a very instinctive, creative center who will out work everybody on the ice. Kyle is a very scrappy, tough kid who can still score the highlight goal. Beach should be able to fight and score with the best of them at the next level.

Attributes:
- Toughness, will drop the gloves
- Scrappy player
- Good speed
- Above average offensive ability
- Hard worker, good teammate

Stats:
2006-07 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:67 G:21 A:53 PTS:74
2007-08 Regular Season – Guelf Storm – GP:58 G:13 A:37 PTS:50

Teams in the Hunt:

1.) Los Angeles Kings – 66pts
The Kings currently sit in the driver’s seat for the privilege of picking Steven Stamkos. They are currently tied with the Lightning, but play one fewer game and have a more challenging schedule.

2.) Tampa Bay Lightning – 66pts
Tampa Bay fans must be dreaming of a Stamkos/Lecavalier connection, however the schedule doesn’t help. Three of their final seven games are against Florida and Atlanta, which are all winnable. Meanwhile they will be counting on Los Angeles to beat the likes of Anaheim, Dallas and San Jose this week – edge LA.

3.) Atlanta Thrashers – 70pts
Fresh off the heels of losing Marion Hossa at the deadline, Atlanta looks primed to replenish the stock in June’s draft. They are currently only four points off the Stamkos pace, but they do have five games remaining compared to LA’s six. All Thrasher fans can do is hope that Ilya ‘The Great’ has an off week.

4.) St. Louis Blues – 72pts
After making the playoffs for two straight decades, the Blues have become a familiar friend of the NHL’s basement. With back-to-back games against the Redwings this week the Blues will most likely walk away with a top- five pick.

5.) New York Islanders – 73pts
The Islanders seemingly went from playoff contenders to bottom feeders overnight. A rash of injuries and the loss of Rick DiPietro didn’t help matters on Long Island. Now they face six difficult division games, including two home-and-homes, one with Pittsburgh and one with the Rangers. The only question remaining for the Isles is whether or not a top-three pick is within reach?

Remaining Schedule:

LA – 66PTS - @ANA / PHO / DAL / @SJ / SJ / ANA
TB – 66PTS – FLA / WASH / CAR / ATL / @CAR / @WASH / @ATL
ATL – 70PTS - @FLA / @CAR / @TB / FLA / TB
STL – 72PTS – DET / @DET / CHI / NASH / @NASH / COLU / @COLU
NYI – 73PTS – PITT / @PITT / PHI / NJ / NYR / @NYR

NHL Deadline Day - Winner & Losers

Historically, the NHL trade deadline is one of the most exciting days on the hockey calendar – the 2008 deadline did not disappoint. The trades came in one by one, as NHL fans were glued to computers, radios, and televisions all throughout North America. With several teams gearing up for the stretch run and numerous big-name players now calling a new city home, here’s a quick recap of the winners and losers from the NHL’s craziest day.

WINNERS

Turning Back The Clock - Peter Forsberg’s surprising 180 earlier in the week turned out to be Colorado’s gain. The Avalanche should be applauded for luring Forsberg back to the NHL, even if the status of his injured foot remains unknown. The deadline additions of Ruslan Salei (from Florida) and Adam Foote (from Columbus) will add gritty depth to the blue-line. Colorado views themselves as a now team; and these are certainly now moves; the next step is now making the playoffs.

Lamoriello Adds Depth - The Devils have been playing great hockey leading up to the deadline giving Lou Lamoriello the confidence to make a move. The deadline acquisition of Bryce Salvador will be lost amidst Tuesday’s high-profile player movement; however this was just what New

Jersey needed.

Crosby’s Kurri? - Marian Hossa’s landing spot was determined Tuesday just after the 3pm deadline as TSN in Canada reported that Pittsburgh landed the Slovakian scoring machine. Pitt GM Ray Shero pulled off the move of the day and will now turn his attention to signing Hossa to a long-term deal. The immediate impact? Pittsburgh just became the team to beat in the East!

Stars add a Conn Smyth - Great play all season had Dallas Co GM’s Les Jackson and Brett Hull big-game hunting at the deadline. The 2004 Conn Smyth was their target, and acquiring him became a reality after Brad Richards agreed to waive his no-trade clause and join the Stars. Mike Modano isn’t complaining considering the new GM tandem just delivered him the best line-mate he’s had since…well…Brett Hull.

Buffalo Let’s Another Star Go Free? Do the Buffalo Sabres have a clue? First they allowed Danielle Briere to leave town, then Chris Drury. This time it’s Brian Campbell. Once again the Sabres let another young superstar leave Buffalo without a fight. This time it was the San Jose Sharks reaping the benefits of Buffalo’s blunder, and it will not take long for Campbell to feell right at home in the Shark Tank.

LOSERS

Capital Mortgage? -Some might consider the Caps one of the day’s winners considering they acquired Sergei Federov and Christibal Heut – I don’t. Washington essentially lost two second round draft picks on Deadline Tuesday, sending one to Montreal for Huet and then sending last year’s second round selection, Theo Ruth, to Columbus for Federov. Trading away the future for the present will prove to be a mistake in the Capital City.

Beantown Negligence – It’s my opinion that the Boston Bruins are the Eastern Conferences biggest sleeper team. That said they certainly could have used a boost at the deadline. Once again, the poor Bruins management failed to come through in a time of need. Will someone please buy this team from Jeremy Jacobs and put Bruins fans out of their misery?

Ladd for Ruutu? – On June 26th, 2004 the Carolina Hurricanes used the forth pick in the NHL Entry Draft on Andrew Ladd. Since then Ladd has steadily increased his production and understanding of the pro game. Still only 22 years old, Ladd appears on the precipice of becoming a top-notch power forward at the NHL level. Unfortunately for Hurricane fans Ladd no longer calls Carolina home after a deadline day deal sent him to Chicago for Tuomo Ruutu. The Blackhawks pulled off a heist and now have another top five pick to go along with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. This is another classic example of giving up on a prospect too soon…Chicago fans should be ecstatic.

Knee-Jerk Reaction – The Tampa Bay Lightning were looking to dump salary at the deadline, and found a taker in Philly GM Paul Holmgren. With the Flyers falling fast (1-7-2 in their last 10) and holding on the 8th seed by a single point, Holmgren hit the panic button and added the overpaid and underachieving Vaclav Prospal. Knowing that they needed to do something to save a season spiraling out of control, Philadelphia did not choose wisely.

Detroit, Wake Up Its Deadline Day! – No Sergei Federov reunion; no Marion Hossa; the Redwings were rumored to in the hunt for a big name, yet all they walked away with was veteran defensemen Brad Stuart. This is not what Detroit fans had in mind coming into the day!