2008 NHL Entry Draft

[Papaduke]

Post your draft rumors & news here as we approach the 2008 Entry Draft in Ottawa



The current mock draft sites have us picking

NHL Draft Site http://nhldraftsite.com/
#13 Joe Colborne C 6'4" 195 1/30/90 Camrose (AJHL) Canada
#26 Robert Mayer G 6'0" 190 10/9/89 Saint John (QMJHL) Swiss

Hockey.com http://www.hockey.com/hockey-blogs/nhl-news/1065-2008-nhl-mock-draft.aspx
#13 Luca Sbisa D 6'1" 176 1/30/90 Lethbridge (WHL) Swiss
#27 Jake Gardiner D 6'2" 170 7/4/90 Minnetonka (USHS) USA

My NHL Draft http://www.mynhldraft.com/
#13 Luca Sbisa D 6'1" 176 1/30/90 Lethbridge (WHL) Swiss
#27 Joe Colborne C 6'4" 195 1/30/90 Camrose (AJHL) Canada

The Hockey Nation http://thehockeynation.com/index.php?showtopic=3799
#13 Michael Del Zotto D 6'0" 210 6/24/90 Oshawa (OHL) Canada

Going Five Hole http://goingfivehole.blogspot.com/2008/04/gfhs-mock-draft-board.html
#13 Cody Hodgson

My Mock Drafts http://mymockdrafts.com/2008/03/20/2008-mock-nhl-draft-version-1/
#13 Joe Colborne C 6'4" 195 1/30/90 Camrose (AJHL) Canada
#26 Colby Robak D 6'3" 202 4/24/90 Brandon (WHL) Canada

Dobber Hockey http://www.dobberhockey.com/content/view/965/1/
#13 Aaron Ness D 5'10" 165 5/18/90 Roseau (USHS-MN) United States

Bleacher Report http://bleacherreport.com/articles/14646-NHL-New_York_Islanders-New_York_Rangers-Boston_Bruins-2008_NHL_Mock_Draft
#13 Colby Robak D 6'3" 202 4/24/90 Brandon (WHL) Canada
#26 Tyler Cuma D 6'1" 185 1/19/90 Ottawa (OHL) Canada

[Bay Side]

My bet it's Joe Colborne with #13

[keyron79]

I'm really hoping Kyle Beach slides down and he there for the sabres.

[Buffalo87]

Wouldn't be my choice but I'm guessing Sbisa at 13. I want Boychuk or if Wilson fell that would be amazing. There have been rumors swirling that Phoenix may take Colborne at 9. They've never been afraid to reach on big guys headed to college in the top 10 so it wouldn't surprise me all that much.

[keyron79]

What don't you like about Beach? From what I have read he's a beast.That's just what the Sabres need at center.The only thing I can think of is that players like Beach take a long time to develop.

[Buffalo87]

What don't you like about Beach? From what I have read he's a beast.That's just what the Sabres need at center.The only thing I can think of is that players like Beach take a long time to develop.

The only issue I have with him is the concussion he suffered at the end of the season. He had 52 points in the first 44 games before the concussion, then just 8 in the final 20 (including 4 playoff games) after the concussion. It's just a little worrisome that he may have some long-term effects from that concussion.

[Papaduke]

I am hoping that some of the bigger monster Dmen are still available at 13 or the Sabres package the pick and a player to move up to get one. Tyler Myers would look good in a XXL sized Sabres jersey.

[Ralonzo]

There will almost certainly be a big RH d-man available at 13. There's at least 10 or 12 of them projected for the first round.

[SabresFan220]

I'm kind of hoping we try to trade up and make sure we get one of those prized defensemen. Otherwise I'm crossing my fingers that Mikkel Boedker will still be there at #13, he could be and since the draft is so deep someone we thought might be gone by 13 will be there.

[Buffalo87]

I'm kind of hoping we try to trade up and make sure we get one of those prized defensemen. Otherwise I'm crossing my fingers that Mikkel Boedker will still be there at #13, he could be and since the draft is so deep someone we thought might be gone by 13 will be there.

Typically when guys fall, there's a certain reason they fall. Some say Schenn may fall because of the lack of offensive upside, some say Filatov may fall because of the lack of transfer agreement, Cherapanov fell last year because of the Russia thing, Espo fell because of a number of reasons, Petrecki fell for the same reason Schenn fell, etc. There's really no reason to believe Boedker will fall, especially since he'd have to fall from 7th or 8th to 13 which is pretty significant. It happens every draft and there are a few guys I could see falling, Boedker just isn't one of them.

There will almost certainly be a big RH d-man available at 13. There's at least 10 or 12 of them projected for the first round.

10 or 12 in the first round?!

Outside of the big 4 who'll all likely be gone I see 3 or 4 big, RH dmen. I'd like to grab one of them with our 2nd pick in the 1st round but I think it's too early for any dman outside the top 5 at our 1st pick.

[keyron79]

Ya this draft is loaded with EH d-man.That's way I like Beach or player like him at 13.

[SabresFan220]

We'd be dreaming if Filatov fell to #13, and Boedker may be just too good to drop that far. But if neither of them or the top defensemen in this draft fall that far then someone like Colin Wilson will be there, and I'd be happy with that.

[mike35]

Whoever we draft...I just hope they're a North American...I'm sick of Euro's

[Papaduke]

I hope we draft nothing but Euros just to piss you guys off

[Buffalo87]

We'd be dreaming if Filatov fell to #13, and Boedker may be just too good to drop that far. But if neither of them or the top defensemen in this draft fall that far then someone like Colin Wilson will be there, and I'd be happy with that.

Just curious, but how do you figure? It's likely that all of those guys will be gone by 10, I don't expect any of the top guys (Stamkos, Doughty,Bogosian, Pietrangelo, Filatov, Schenn, Boedker, Wilson, Hodgson) to fall to us. Personally, I'm looking at Bailey or Boychuk.

[pi2000]

Colin Wilson ftw

[keyron79]

Just curious, but how do you figure? It's likely that all of those guys will be gone by 10, I don't expect any of the top guys (Stamkos, Doughty,Bogosian, Pietrangelo, Filatov, Schenn, Boedker, Wilson, Hodgson) to fall to us. Personally, I'm looking at Bailey or Boychuk.

Boychuk in bit small for my liking at 5-9.I would to see the Sabres pick a big centerman in this draft.

[Buffalo87]

Boychuk in bit small for my liking at 5-9.I would to see the Sabres pick a big centerman in this draft.

I agree but the only big centerman that wouldn't be an extreme reach at 13 would be Colborne and that would still be too early for him and not a good pick value wise. Also, Colborne is big but he plays like he's 5-9 so you're not really gaining all that much by getting a big guy in his case. The other big centerman that I could see (and would like) at 26 are Anton Gustafsson, Greg Nemisz, and Mikhail Stefanovich. Ideally I'd like to get a talented center like Boychuk at 13 as I think it will be the most value at that point then a big center that really uses it to his advantage, like Gustafsson, at 26.

[keyron79]

I agree but the only big centerman that wouldn't be an extreme reach at 13 would be Colborne and that would still be too early for him and not a good pick value wise. Also, Colborne is big but he plays like he's 5-9 so you're not really gaining all that much by getting a big guy in his case. The other big centerman that I could see (and would like) at 26 are Anton Gustafsson, Greg Nemisz, and Mikhail Stefanovich. Ideally I'd like to get a talented center like Boychuk at 13 as I think it will be the most value at that point then a big center that really uses it to his advantage, like Gustafsson, at 26.

Can you see the Sabres taking 2 Centerman in the first round? I like to see a d-man in there. Then a goilie later on in the 3rd or 4th.McMollum would be nice.

[Buffalo87]

Can you see the Sabres taking 2 Centerman in the first round? I like to see a d-man in there. Then a goilie later on in the 3rd or 4th.McMollum would be nice.

No, they probably won't take 2 C's in the first round. In all likelihood it will be one forward and one dman (though I have nothing to base this on), and I agree, I would like to grab a goalie in the 3rd or 4th. McCollum will likely be gone by then but there are a ton of goalies I like in this draft. I see the top 4 of Pickard, McCollum, Markstrom, and Satteri any of whom I wouldn't mind taking a chance on in the 2nd as there is very, very little difference between the 3 IMO. Then I see about 5 or 6 more guys on the roughly the same level I wouldn't mind grabbing in rounds 3-5. I also wouldn't mind getting a tough guy/agitator, maybe somebody like Danick Paquette in the middle rounds.

This is basically my checklist for the draft:
Very talented offensive forward (one of the picks in the first round)
Big forward (crash and bang type or offensive, but I'd like them to use their size to their advantage)
Tough guy/Agitator
Tough, Physical stay at home dman (Weber or McKee type)
Goalie

[hckynight]

I was reading Garth on hockey buzz and he said something about Max and Prospect to Atlanta for the third pick? Any one hear any thing else about that.

[Buffalo87]

I was reading Garth on hockey buzz and he said something about Max and Prospect to Atlanta for the third pick? Any one hear any thing else about that.

I didn't hear anything about it but it would take a hell of a lot more than that to get the 3rd pick. We don't have any prospects worth that. Figuring that Max + 13th overall may only move us up to around 10th, trading Max, one of our top prospects, and our 1st rounder might move us into that territory but again, it would have to be one of our best prospects.

[keyron79]

I still really like this kid Beach.

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I looked around the net for something about his concussion and found nothing on it yet. But I did find his fan club.:)
http://wordpress.com/tag/i-hate-kyle-beach/

If he falls to 13 I will very happy if the Sabres take him. I hoping your wrong about him Buffalo87 his just the kind of player the Sabres need.

[keyron79]

More on Beach.Clears the air on some of his Issues.Still nothing the concussion.However there is a sports hernia that draws some concern.
Buffalo87 if you have anything on his concussion I would like to read it.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080604/SPORTS/586429225/1003/SPORTS08

For most players, the NHL draft combine is about showing the NHL brass just what they're made of.

Not so for Kyle Beach. For the Everett Silvertips star winger, the combine was about clearing the air.

Beach was one of the 107 top prospects for this year's NHL draft who participated in the combine, held last week in Toronto. Beach is expected to be a first-round pick in the draft, which takes place June 20-21 in Ottawa.

Beach wasn't able to strut his stuff quite like the others. He didn't participate in any of the physical testing because of offseason surgery.

However, physical attributes and abilities have never been the primary question regarding the controversial Beach. Beach's draft stock has fluctuated because of questions of character. Stories of his antics both on and off the ice have circulated throughout the hockey community, and the combine gave Beach the opportunity to address those questions directly.

"There's a lot of stuff out there about me that's been blown out of proportion," Beach said when reached Saturday near his home in Kelowna, B.C. "This gave me a chance to clear things up with the teams and show them the kind of person I am in person."

The 18-year-old Beach is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. He has both the size (6-foot-3, 203 pounds) and skills (58 goals and 66 assists in 129 career games with Everett) to become an elite power forward. Plus, he's not afraid of the rough stuff, as evidenced by his 422 career penalty minutes.

However, his penchant for undisciplined play and excessive trash talking, combined with his dropoff in production during the second half of this past season, are cause for concern among the NHL's general managers.

Therefore, Beach spent last Monday through Friday at the combine telling his side of the story. Beach met with 27 of the 30 NHL teams, all of which used up their allotted 20 minutes in an effort to determine whether Beach's undeniable skills are worth the risk.

"It was kind of stressful, but exciting at the same time," Beach said of the interviews. "Each team grilled me in its own unique way. There's a lot of rumors flying around out there and most of the questions were about those. But I felt it was a successful week and that I accomplished what I needed to do."

Information regarding one of the concerns about Beach came to light. Beach was unable to participate in the physical testing because he's still recovering from surgery to repair a sports hernia. He underwent the operation in April.

Beach played almost the entire 2007-08 season with the hernia. It didn't cause him any pain during the first half, but he tweaked it early in the second half, meaning he was hindered the final two months of the season. That may help explain why Beach, who was a dominant force in the first half with 23 goals and 28 assists in his first 41 games, managed just four goals and five assists in his final 19.

"About three or four weeks after Christmas I tweaked it and that made it pretty painful at times," Beach said. "It definitely made things more challenging."

Beach was bedridden for about two weeks following surgery, and he hasn't been able to do any physical activity since. However, he's been cleared to resume training this week, and he expects to be at full strength when training camp rolls around in August.

"Looking forward it feels good," Beach said. "There's no pain now and it doesn't appear that it will affect me in the future."

With the combine now over, the next step for Beach is the draft. Beach's status has been slipping in the various rankings, but he's still ranked as the seventh-best North American skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and 13th overall by the International Scouting Service.

"(The draft) is about three weeks away now and it's getting pretty exciting," said Beach, who will attend the draft. "I think about it quite a bit now. But it's just the next step in the process. On that day I'll step back and see what I've accomplished so far. But the next day I'll be back to work toward my goal of making the NHL."

[Buffalo87]

I still really like this kid Beach.

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I looked around the net for something about his concussion and found nothing on it yet. But I did find his fan club.:)
http://wordpress.com/tag/i-hate-kyle-beach/

If he falls to 13 I will very happy if the Sabres take him. I hoping your wrong about him Buffalo87 his just the kind of player the Sabres need.

I like him a lot as well and hope I'm wrong as well. Obviously I can't say what long term effects he will have from the injury or whether it was significant or not but the fact that his production dropped off like it did could indicate future problems. Also, I don't see him getting past Anaheim at #12. If he makes it that far he is exactly their kind of player.

[keyron79]

Well maybe with a talk about his Issues he will fall. Then the Sabres can look @ a d-man with 26th pick how about Sauve or Carlson.

[keyron79]

Tsn report on Beach and more

http://www.forecaster.ca/hockeynews/hockey/_tphban9i0x11/extras.cgi?2008-nhl-draft-stocks

Kyle Beach (http://www.forecaster.ca/hockeynews/hockey/_tphban9i0x11/player.cgi?6588), C, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
First it was his attitude. Then it was his perceived lack of high-end skill. Then it was skating issues. The recent blow to Beach's draft standing was a series of concussions. Opponents realized his fighting skills are left to be desired, so they began to take full advantage with cheap shots of their own

Now I'm starting to question how much I like him. I don't know

[Papaduke]

Let Beach be some other teams project. We need sure things in this draft

[keyron79]

I really like what he brings to the table but starting to think he has to much baggage!

[unklechucky]

13. Colin Wilson
26. Tyler Cuma

[pigpen65]

Let Beach be some other teams project. We need sure things in this draft

Everything i've heard about him sounds great. I actually think a guy like Beach would be a great pick, concussion history aside. Reason being, he'll be serviceable regardless of how far his offense develops. In other words, even if he ends up being a guy who doesn't routinely hit 20 goals like you would expect from a higher pick, he's still a sure thing when it comes to bringing some grit and a lot of nastiness. In that respect, there's a lot of bust protection built in with him. Brad May was a similar type of pick at 14, and with a career high of 18 goals, i think the Sabs got more than there money's worth. Beach is my kind of player, though it sounds like he won't be there at 13 anyways.

I honestly can't remember ever being as excited for an NHL draft. So much potential this year.

[ddpderek]

Darcy said this morning they are hoping for 3 guys to be available when they pick , 2 are Forwards and one D man.

Also they be interested in moving into the top ten and they could even move down from 13. Sounds like Darcy wants to do some moving. Also said he will talk to Maxs agent this weekend and see what max is feeling.

[SabresBlueGold]

Darcy said this morning they are hoping for 3 guys to be available when they pick , 2 are Forwards and one D man.

Also they be interested in moving into the top ten and they could even move down from 13. Sounds like Darcy wants to do some moving. Also said he will talk to Maxs agent this weekend and see what max is feeling.

Knowing this is going to drive me nuts, unless we assume that if one of those guys is there, they stay put and take him. If not, they trade down. If we pick a guy at 13 it's going to gnaw at me not knowing if we "got our guy" so to speak. We need an insider. Where are all those people with "sources"?

[ddpderek]

Knowing this is going to drive me nuts, unless we assume that if one of those guys is there, they stay put and take him. If not, they trade down. If we pick a guy at 13 it's going to gnaw at me not knowing if we "got our guy" so to speak. We need an insider. Where are all those people with "sources"?

I sure if hes one of the 3 Darcy will come right out and say it.

[ckg68]

What don't you like about Beach? From what I have read he's a beast.That's just what the Sabres need at center.The only thing I can think of is that players like Beach take a long time to develop.

Another problem with Beach,justified or not,is discipline on and off the ice. The key is to see whether he can outgrow his hotheadedness yet still maintain an edge as he matures as a hockey player.