For those that don't get The Hockey News, here is how they rank the Jackets top 10 prospects in their special "Future Watch" edition:
1. Nikita Filatov
2. Maksim Mayorov
3. Tom Sestito
4. Nick Holden
5. Grant Clitsome
6. Cody Goloubef
7. Ted Ruth
8. Stefan Legein
9. Mike Blunden
10. Will Weber
Nikita Filatov is the #1 ranked prospect out of their top 100 (yet #2 propsect Cody Hodgson is on the cover...sell more mags with a Canadian prospect apparently). Filatov is the only Jackets prospect in their top 100.
With the graduation of Brassard/Mason/Voracek/Methot/Dorsett the quality depth of the Jackets prospect pool shrinks. That's certainly to be expected and quite frankly if the pool shrinks that means your hitting on your draft picks.
That said I think Goloubef is way to low on that list. In fact I would rank him 3rd behind Filatov and Mayorov.
Ahh heck.. here is my stab at the top 10:
1. Filatov
2. Mayorov
3. Goloubef
4. LaCosta
5. Sestito
6. Clitsome
7. Ruth
8. Weber
9. Legein
10. Calvert
Climbing quickly is defensemen Brent Regner who is absolutely lighting up the WHL.
Interesting in what used to be an organization weakness is now becoming a strength and that's defensive prospects.
This coming draft I'd love to see them add a couple of centers and at least one goalie to the prospect pool.
THN's take on the Jackets moves:
Vermette
ANALYSIS: Considering the Senators couldn’t give Antoine Vermette away a couple of months ago, the fact they got a bona fide – if oft injured – goalie and a second-round pick for him, it’s a great deal for the Senators. Considering the Blue Jackets had a plethora of No. 1 goalies, it’s a great deal for Columbus. If, and it’s a big if, Leclaire can stay healthy, the Senators have solved their goaltending problems.
Columbus, meanwhile, clears up cap space (Vermette is a $2.763 million through 2009-10, Leclaire is at $3.8 million through 2011-12) and reduces its future payroll, since Leclaire is scheduled to make $4.8 million in real dollars in 2011-12. That’s a shrewd move for a budget team. - KC
Lalande
ANALYSIS: A fifth round pick of Calgary’s in 2005, Kevin Lalande is a long shot to ever make it to the NHL. That said, his numbers since he turned pro in 2007 haven’t been too shabby.
After starting slow in the American League, Lalande was sent to the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers. He posted a .932 save percentage there last season and .925 SP this year before being brought back up to the AHL. He is 4-1-1 with a 1.29 GAA and .929 SP there.
The Jackets make a smart move, giving up only a late-round pick for a small tender with good numbers, no matter how remote his NHL chances are. With Steve Mason in net and Pascal Leclaire already shipped off, the Jackets are starting to re-stock a thin goalie pool that really only includes another NHL long shot in Dan LaCosta.
Also just a quick side note that the R Bar is having a viewing party tomorrow night for the Nashville game.
-LTL
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
THN Future Watch
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3 comments:
LTL: I was wondering when you were gonna mention Regner - nice work, my man (you're all over it).
From what I've seen of Clitsome, in prospects and training camp, and from the vibe we hear from CBJ brass, I see him right where THN ranks him, personally, but otherwise, I think your rankings are much more on track.
But, I don't recall seeing Goloubef, to date, but I defer to your better judgement.
Mayorov looked kinda ahh when he was called up to the big club, but I've been impressed with him at the respective camps, and...
Are we EVER gonna see Sesito? What is the holdup, especially when there were the big run on injuries, a few months ago?
Filatov got screwed by not being put on the cover. A couple of years ago they had Malkin in a Metallurg Magnitogorsk (yeah, I spelled it) uniform on the cover when he was the #1 prospect.
That said, I would imagine that the Hockey News, like all print media today, is in desperate need of as many sales as they can get.
And most of their readership is undoubtedly in Canada.
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