PIB’s Blackhawks Prospect Rankings #5 Nick Leddy

Nick Leddy

Nick Leddy {Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn - Flickr}

Age: 18
Date of birth: March 20, 1991
Place of birth: Eden Prairie, MN, USA
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 179
Shoots: L
NHL Seasons: 0-R
Drafted by Minnesota in 2009 (1/16).
Acquired in a trade with Minnesota in 2010.
The recently acquired (trade with Wild) Nicky Leddy comes in as the fifth ranked prospect, with the potential to easily move up in these rankings. The 16^th overall, 1^st round selection in 2009 by Minnesota was touted as one of the most explosive skaters in the draft.
As I noted in my monster 2009 Draft Preview, in the article featuring Nick Leddy, I summed the young blueliner up, stating:

“One-Timer: The recently crowned “Mr. Hockey”, as the best high-school player in Minnesota high school, is a tad on the small side, but boy is he fast! He is a very poised player and an uncanny ability to make plays at high speeds. He posses very good vision and thus makes intelligent decisions on both sides of the rink, to go with his exceptional skating ability.”

Current Season Update:

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http://paintitblackhawks.com/2010/02/24/prospect-rankings-nick-leddy/

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Did Yzerman Get Team Canada Right?

Did Yzerman Get Team Canada Right?

Did Yzerman et al Make All The Right Moves On Team Canada Selection Day?

With a night to sleep on it and more time to digest USA’s deserved win over the debatable best team on paper at the Olympics - Team Canada – I am still disappointed. However, at the same time I very impressed with the high quality, fast-paced game that we laid witness to.

Sunday’s contest was a brilliant showcase of one of the great sports on the planet. Let’s hope our friends south of the border found a way to tune in despite NBC’s insistence on having figure skating take precedent.

Hindsight is 20/20, but …

I am still left to ponder roster selections – were there better alternatives out there for Yzerman and crew to select, other than Chris Pronger, Brendan Morrow and Patrice Bergeron?

Read more:
http://thehockeywriters.com/did-yzerman-get-team-canada-right/

Article was linked today at Yahoo Sports via Puck Daddy:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Headlines-Medal-round-begins-Halak-to-Chi?urn=nhl,221612&cp=2#comments

*For all the latest prospect and draft news as well as commentary on the Olympics follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

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NHL 2010 1st Round Mock Draft

NHL 2010 1st Round Mock Draft

While the entry draft is still about four months away, you can be assured NHL scouting teams across North America and the world are soaking up as many games as possible, assessing talent.

The Hockey Spy here at THW is also busy scouting the prospect world and will continue to bring detailed prospect profiles in the coming months leading up to the draft.

Today’s article embarks on my first mock draft of the season – Olympic edition.

Read more:

http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-2010-1st-round-mock-draft/

*For all the latest prospect and draft news follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

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2010 NHL Entry Draft Prospect – Tyler Seguin

2010 NHL Entry Draft Prospect – Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin {TJ W - Flickr}

Age: 18
Position: Center

Date of birth: January 31, 1992
Place of birth: Brampton, Ont., Canada
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 186
Shoots: R

NHL Status: Draft Eligible 2010

One-Timer: In comparing Seguin to projected first overall, Taylor Hall, one could argue Hall has been surrounded with substantially more talent than has Seguin. While I am still of a strong opinion that Hall is the clear cut #1 overall pick, one could argue that Seguin does more with less.

Seguin possesses a dynamic skill-set and displays outstanding hockey intelligence. Tyler already plays in every situation with the OHL Plymouth Whalers. He displays a maturity on the ice well beyond his years.

Read more:

http://thehockeywriters.com/2010-nhl-entry-draft-prospect-tyler-seguin/

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Smart Money on Super Bowl XLIV

Smart Money on Super Bowl XLIV

Just over a year ago, I ventured outside of the realm of hockey to weigh in on the Super Bowl match-up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals at my blog, The Hockey Spy.

Here’s an excerpt from my Super Bowl preview last year:

First off: Why is The Hockey Spy blogging about football in one of his first posts? Simple…The Hockey Spy also happens to be a football fanatic and on this upcoming Sports Holy Day, I cannot resist weighing in on the big game.

I recently read Michael Konik’s book “The Smart Money”, as Amazon.com states: “A riveting inside look at the lucrative world of professional high-stakes sports betting by a journalist who lived a secret life as a key operative in the world’s most successful sports gambling ring.”

As for this year’s contest, I think the Saints cover the -5 point spread, but ultimately fall 31-27 to the Colts. Thus, the game goes OVER the 56.6 point total.
That’s where the Smart Money should go from my perspective, but of course they still have to play the game.

The bottom line for me is giving Peyton Manning two weeks to study and dissect what the Saints do on defense is going to make life miserable for the opposing secondary.

Here is where I tie this article into hockey! In following some of these elite athletes carefully, it’s hard not to compare them, no matter how remote the resemblance, to hockey players:

*Peyton Manning to Scott Niedermayer and/or Niklas Lidstrom: All three of these guys play the game so efficiently, they simply make it look effortless.

*Drew Brees to Sidney Crosby: Neither is the biggest at their position in their sport, but none have more passion. They both also possess elite vision on the field or ice and simply make those around them exponentially better.

Time to prime up for the game - hoping for a classic showdown between two amazing quarterbacks!

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