Vancouver Canucks assistant GM Laurence Gilman epitomizes modern NHL exec

Billy Beane - Oakland - 1989 Home (Photo credit: BaseballBacks)

Vancouver Canucks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Interesting article from The Province:

Vancouver Canucks assistant GM Laurence Gilman epitomizes modern NHL exec:

Excerpt:

"And here's the kicker. Now every team in the league – whether it's Mike Santos in Florida, Jeff Solomon in Los Angeles or Ryan Martin in Detroit – employs someone like Gilman.

“People want to say it's Moneyball,” said Gillis, referring to Michael Lewis's best-selling book and the movie which stars Brad Pitt. “Really, it's just looking at a problem and thinking of different ways to solve it. “What I learned from Moneyball is you have to have the conviction to think beyond your experience, to think in ways that aren't conventional. That was the lesson learned through (Oakland A's executives Sandy Alderson and Billy Beane). They had to think differently to be successful.”"

'via Blog this'

Related articles

• Will Moneyball Be A Home Run or a Strikeout for Brad Pitt?
• NHL suspends Blackhawks Duncan Keith five games for elbowing Canucks' Daniel Sedin (with NHL video)
• Canucks to start 're-set' Roberto Luongo vs. Blackhawks

Read more...

2012 NHL Mock Draft: March Madness Edition (Picks 16-30) | The Hockey Writers

1993 NHL Entry Draft (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2012 NHL Mock Draft: March Madness Edition (Picks 16-30) | The Hockey Writers:

Excerpt:

Link: Part 1: NHL 2012 Mock Draft – Picks 1-15

The Plan: Since the majority of mocks only cover the first round and with so many second round picks trading hands on and before the NHL trade deadline, I will also complete a mock of the second round.

2012 NHL Mock Draft Part 2: Picks 16-30:

16. Teuvu Teräväinen LW (Jokerit) (FIN)

The Stars are no strangers in looking to Finland during the entry draft. Teräväinen might very well be a top 10 talent. He is one of the youngest players available for the draft. Size keeps arising when discussing concerns, but he is 5’11″, albeit slight in frame. While he displays good quickness, his skating does need some work. Scouts are enamoured with his hockey sense, elusiveness, goal scoring-prowess and stellar puckhandling.

17. Derrick Pouliot D (Portland Winterhawks) (WHL)

Pouliot will have huge skates to fill, figuratively speaking, if the Sharks expect him to be the eventual replacement for Dan Boyle – not that Boyle is close to the end, mind you. Pouliot is on the smaller side as a defenseman, but processes the game really well and is a superb skater. He can quarterback a powerplay and uses his hockey smarts on the defensive side.

18. Zemgus Girgensons F (Dubuque) (USHL) 

Given their tremendous prospect depth, the Panthers can afford to be patient with Girgensons. He is committed to play for the University of Vermont Catamounts next season. Girgensons reminds some scouts of former NHL ironman Rod Brind’Amour with his all-around game. The potential power forward brings strength, very good skating, offensive upside, outstanding work ethic, tenacity and passion to the rink day in and day out.

Full article at The Hockey Writers (THW):

http://thehockeywriters.com/2012-nhl-mock-draft-march-madness-edition-picks-16-30/ 

Related articles

• 2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide - The Next Ones
• 2012 NHL Mock Draft: March Madness Edition (Picks 1-15)
• Andrei Vasilevski - The Next Ones: 2012 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - KHL Hopper or NHL Backstopper?
• Top Ten Prospects That May Be Trade Bait Heading Into NHL Trade Deadline Day

Read more...

2012 NHL Mock Draft: March Madness Edition (Picks 1-15) | The Hockey Writers

2012 NHL Mock Draft: March Madness Edition (Picks 1-15) | The Hockey Writers:

"Notes: This is not an attempt to rank prospects – rankings will follow similar to preceding years. This is mere a “guesstimate” at what teams might choose if they were to draft today based on weighing out best player available with team need and past experiences at the draft table, with an obvious dose of influence from my personal thoughts. The order used in this mock draft is based on Stanley Cup odds as used by colleague David O’Connor when he completed his March mock draft to allow one to compare the two directly. Standings and thus team drafting positions will obviously fluctuate on a day-to-day basis from here on end. No trades will be completed during the mock, but may be presented as a desirable option for the respective NHL franchise being discussed. For much more information on the NHL entry draft, be sure to check out our live updated draft home page: 2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide – The Next Ones." 

Excerpt: The Top 3:

Part 1: NHL 2012 Mock Draft – Picks 1-15

The Plan:  Since the majority of mocks only cover the first round and with so many second round picks trading hands on and before the NHL trade deadline, I will also complete a mock of the second round.

1. Nail Yakupov F (Sarnia Sting) (OHL)

It is essential to the Blue Jackets organization that they strike gold with this pick, or deal the pick for a franchise cornerstone. Back in my January mock, Columbus selected Matt Dumba with the 1st overall selection. While I highly covet the elite and passionate blueliner, the reality is that Yakupov is a cut above his peers in this year’s draft. The fear for the Blue Jackets as I noted before: “…given the franchise’s atrocious history with drafting talented Russian players near the top of the draft, they are likely terrified of having similar outcomes as with the two “Niks” – Zherdev and Filatov – and thus go against the consensus Fail for Nail or Mikhail theme of this draft.” For this reason, while Columbus may end up selecting him in the end, there is a stronger likelihood that they either deal the pick or deal Yakupov after selecting him.

2. Mathew Dumba D (Red Deer Rebels) (WHL)

Is Matthew Dumba a more physical version of Paul Coffey as the Oilers brass attempt to revamp and relive the glory days of the 1980s? The Red Deer Rebel defenseman is an explosive and dynamic player with a seemingly unmatched passion for the game. Counterpoint: fellow THW prospect writer David O’Connor very wisely selected Ryan Murray in his mock draft for the Oilers. It’s difficult to argue with the reasoning: “Murray is the complete package; he has offensive abilities, a physical side to his game, he’s a natural leader, plus he’s stable on the back-end. That’s exactly the kind of player the Oilers need on their team.”  The Oilers, like Columbus before them, may instead elect to trade the pick in an attempt to more quickly stock up their NHL blueline core.

3. Ryan Murray D (Everett Silvertips) (WHL)

The Islanders role in this draft is fairly straight forward – select one of Ryan Murray or Matt Dumba – whichever of the two slips to their third draft slot. If they instead opt for a forward, the immensely talented Russian centreman Mikhail Grigorenko is also a viable option – that is, if Isle brass can put nightmarish memories of Alexei Yashin aside. In this mock, they go for perhaps the safest bet of the draft – Ryan Murray. As noted above, Murray is a silky smooth skating defender with all-around abilities who will go a long ways in stabilizing the blueline for the next decade.

Full article at THW: 

http://thehockeywriters.com/2012-nhl-mock-draft-march-madness-edition-picks-1-15/

Related articles

• 2012 NHL Mock Draft: March Madness Edition (Picks 16-30)
• 2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide - The Next Ones
• Yakupov ❿ vs. Ovechkin ❽ - Unjust Comparison?
• Islanders Possible Draft Targets
• Are the Minnesota Wild in the Nail Yakupov Sweepstakes?

Read more...

Sports Media Draft for ESPN, CBS, and NBC : Outkick The Coverage

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews at the 2007 Georgia Tech vs. Virginia Tech college football game. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For readers, it comes as no secret I'm a fan of the NHL draft. Actually, I'm a fan of most all of sports drafts - NFL, NBA, MLB (a little less of a mystery after Michael Lewis' Moneyball), CHL, yadda, yadda, yadda (I could go on!). 

This article is a draft of sports media talent - I couldn't resist sharing!


Sports Media Draft for ESPN, CBS, and NBC : Outkick The Coverage:


Excerpt:

"Thanks to the emergence of NBC Sports Network and CBS Sports Network, ESPN finally has cable competition with actual money to spend. It's been a long time coming. Television talent is celebrating like never before because multiple bidders drives up sports media salaries. Instead of ESPN being able to tell you to take its offer or leave for the cable hinterlands, there's the potential that sports media success can come from cable off the ESPN networks.
As I've watched the Jim Rome promotions air a billion times a day during the NCAA Tournament, it got me thinking, who are the most valuable commodities in sports media today? That is, if you made every sports media figure a free agent and allowed ESPN, CBS, and NBC to hire away talent, what would my first round draft look like? Basically, who would you hire if you could stock a new network?"

Excerpt Part 2: Some of the picks:

13. Bill Simmons

I can make a strong case that Bill Simmons is the single most valuable talent that ESPN employs today.

In fact, I'll do it right now.

Clearly Simmons understands the Internet, he's wildly popular in social media, his podcasts are incredibly successful, the 30 for 30 series is genius, his column and books have been wildly popular, and Grantland represents a true creative risk. The kind of risk that ESPN doesn't typically take. 

If Simmons isn't the highest paid talent at ESPN, he should be.

And all that's without actually appearing on television much at all.

So, at 42 years old, what does Simmons want from here?

I have no idea.

But ESPN should let him have it. 

14. Erin Andrews

Erin Andrews is still just 33 years old.

Having recently moved to New York City from Atlanta, what does she want to do as her contract nears expiration?

Active in social media -- she has over a million followers -- and a bona fide crossing over sports celebrity since her turn on Dancing With the Stars, does she stay in sports?

I have no idea. 

20. Mel Kiper

The NFL Draft is bigger than just about every major sport in America.

And no one owns the NFL Draft like Kiper.

You have to grab him here in the first round.

What's more, Kiper is opinionated and brash enough that he can cover other sports. You don't value his opinion as much, but he's created a brand for himself that reaches beyond the draft.

Read full article here:
http://outkickthecoverage.com/sports-media-draft-for-espn-cbs-and-nbc.php  

Related articles

• Now Jim Rome Is Leaving ESPN [Jim Rome]
• Tiger Woods Wins; ESPN Can Now Go Crazy
• Sports Media and Marketing MVPs
• ESPN leads all nets at Sports Emmys
• Richard Deitsch: Best, worst in sports media in 2011

• 2012 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Predicts Lions To Address Secondary (detroit.sbnation.com)
• 4 NFL Draft Experts You Should Be Following on Twitter (bleacherreport.com)
• NFL Mock Draft Compilation 1.0 (realclearsports.com)
• Bill Simmons's Very First Visit To ESPN [Bill Simmons Archive] (deadspin.com)

Read more...

You Can’t Draft Goalies And Neither Can Anybody Else | Edmonton Journal

Sweden goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in action against Slovakia during the 2010 Winter Olympics (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Finnish ice-hockey goalder Miikka Kiprusoff make a save in game versus San Jose Sharks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Jonathon Willis' recent article on the Cult of Hockey Edmonton Journal blog echoes a lot of my own thoughts on drafting goalies early in the NHL entry draft.

You Can’t Draft Goalies And Neither Can Anybody Else | Edmonton Journal:

Excerpt:

"When it comes to goalies, however, professional scouts do a terrible job of identifying talent.  Sure, sometimes first round picks work out – eight of the league’s 30 most used goalies (26.7%) were drafted in the first round.  Guys like Marc-Andre Fleury (1st overall), Kari Lehtonen (2nd overall), Roberto Luongo (4th overall) and Carey Price (5th overall) turned into the talents that the scouts thought they would.  However, a lot of the league’s elite goalies were missed completely by the scouts. In fact, fully 12 of the league’s 30 most-used goalies were either drafted outside the top-100, or never drafted at all.  Pekka Rinne was drafted 258th overall in 2004; if today’s 210-pick system was in place that year he wouldn’t have been drafted at all.  Also drafted after that 210 mark were Tim Thomas, Jaroslav Halak, Tomas Vokoun, and Evgeni Nabokov.  Henrik Lundqvist went 205th overall in 2000.  Miikka Kiprusoff was a fourth-round pick; Ryan Miller a fifth.  Niklas Backstrom was never drafted; neither were Jonas Hiller or Antti Niemi." 

Related articles

• Andrei Vasilevski - The Next Ones: 2012 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - KHL Hopper or NHL Backstopper? (thehockeywriters.com)
• 2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide - The Next Ones (thehockeywriters.com)
• The "Import"-ance of the European CHL Goalie (thehockeywriters.com)

Read more...

#9 Hunter Shinkaruk hat trick vs Lethbridge (2012-03-17)

Image via Wikipedia

Hunter Shinkaruk really impressed me last summer when Hockey Canada held their try-outs for the 2011 Ivan Hlinka U18 hockey tournament. How the Medicine Hat Tigers offensive dynamo didn't make the final squad was somewhat of a mystery to me as despite not being eligible until the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Hunter was constantly the most dangerous player on the ice amongst the forwards.

Here's a hat-trick performance courtesy of Jerome of HockeyProspectTV:

e

Related articles

• Mathew Dumba - The Next Ones: NHL 2012 Draft Prospect Profile (thehockeywriters.com)
• The Prospect Report: Emerson Etem (thehockeywriters.com)
• Griffin Reinhart - The Next Ones: 2012 NHL Draft Prospect Profile (thehockeywriters.com)

Read more...

2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide – The Next Ones

2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide – The Next Ones: "THW’s 2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide – The Next Ones is your quintessential draft resource featuring:

• Detailed unique prospect profiles in The Next Ones format
• Mock Drafts
• Exclusive rankings
• Fantasy based rankings
• Team Previews
• Looking ahead to the 2013 draft and beyond

Is it ever too early to think about the NHL’s next entry draft?

Many blistering shots will be taken. Many tantalizing saves will be made. Many devastating hits will be dished out. Many vigorous battles for loose pucks will be fought. Many pinpoint accurate passes will be delivered. Many savvy puck moves will be executed. Many coach tirades will fall on deaf ears.

To see the extremely comprehensive 2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide – The Next Ones in its entirety: http://thehockeywriters.com/2012-nhl-entry-draft-guide-the-next-ones/

Related articles

• 2012 NHL Entry Draft Guide - The Next Ones (thehockeywriters.com)
• Mathew Dumba - The Next Ones: NHL 2012 Draft Prospect Profile (thehockeywriters.com)
• Alex Galchenyuk - The Next Ones: NHL 2012 Draft Prospect Profile (thehockeywriters.com)

Read more...