* The LA Kings made the coaching and scouting staff of Hockey Canada breathe a little easier on Thursday. By sending Brayden Schenn back to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, the Kings also gave Hockey Canada it's #1 centre and all around best player. Schenn also makes the Wheat Kings an interesting team to watch, as getting back last year's co-captain could easily vault them a few spots up the standings.
The Wheat Kings sit tied for a playoff spot right now but are only a few wins out of 6th, and if they keep Schenn they could make a run for a home playoff game, which would be a pretty amazing accomplishment considering the players they lost after hosting the Memorial Cup.
* On Monday, Hockey Canada released the invite list for it's training camp starting December 10th. 39 players made the list with hopes that a couple of NHL guys will be made available. The two guys being talked about the most are Tyler Seguin in Boston and Brayden Schenn with LA. The decision on Seguin will likely be a last minute one and will be based on their salary cap situation when Marc Savard returns.
As for Schenn word is the Kings will be letting Hockey Canada know this week If he'll be made available for training camp. The 5th overall pick from 2009 just came back from a 2 week conditioning stint in Manchester and has two more games in the NHL before a year of his entry level deal kicks in.
LA could loan Schenn to the World Juniors and call him back up or send him back to Brandon. Returning him to Brandon would likely only happen if they knew he would be traded to a contender. The 2 most likely destinations are Portland and Schenn's home town of Saskatoon.
~ Tuesday night we kicked off our extensive World Junior Hockey Championship, a day before December starts. Starting Tuesday and running right through and after one of the best tournament's in the world we'll get you primed and ready for the event taking place in Buffalo starting on Boxing Day. From players to coaches to analysts, you won't find a better source for information. Time to dive in...
~ The debate has raged on for months now, especially here in Edmonton where the local club has the ultimate say on who will go #1 at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The Edmonton Oilers will put a new face on their franchise on Friday in Los Angeles when they select either Taylor Hall of Tyler Seguin with the first overall pick.
The argument has gained a considerable amount of steam beginning with the end of the NHL season, it picked up more when Plymouth and Windsor met in the OHL playoffs, ratcheted up another notch after the Memorial Cup and higher still over the last few weeks. It's no longer a friendly discussion anymore; if one fan voices his preference for either player there seems to be a gang of supporters ready to pounce in defence of their guy.
I've been very public about what I would do and who I would select if I were in their position (Seguin) but I've also tried to be clear in stating that I don't think the Oilers can really make a mistake. That might sound like I'm on the fence - I'm not, I'd attempt to get something from Boston to lay off of Hall and take Seguin. But if Edmonton opts for Hall, and that seems to be the general consensus and what my own digging suggests, then I don't believe that choice is really an error.
A couple of months ago Dean and I were talking with Wil Fraser and Corey Graham, the hosts of Sports Night which can be heard live after The Pipeline Show, and I suggested that choosing between Hall or Seguin was like deciding on whether you preferred a blond or brunette. Wil expanded on that analogy and to borrow from him, here is exactly how I see the debate between the two potential franchise players summed up in a single picture:
~ The Memorial Cup is over, the NHL Combine has come and gone, the Frozen Four is a distant memory... all that's left for this year is the NHL Entry Draft. For The Pipeline Show, this is our biggest month of the year, it's what we gear up for all season and it culminates on June 25/26th. Dean and I are once again hosting the live draft coverage on the TEAM 1260 and as the days get closer, more and more stuff bounces around my cranium.
I made the drive from Brandon to Edmonton yesterday, and without a lot to look at I had plenty of time to try and narrow down the 5 things I would take from this year's Mastercard Memorial Cup. The organizers did a bang up job, the rink in Brandon looked very sharp, and while it wasn't the most competitive tournament in recent years, the best team won, which sometimes doesn't happen in a one game showdown. Here now is my Top 5 Tuesday, Memorial Cup style.
Brett Connolly is a top prospect for the upcoming draft and someone TPS has been excited about even before he joined us in studio last year during the WHL awards/draft week. The Prince George Cougar forward also does some guest blogging for us, and you know we'll be checking in with him before the draft once again.
I had one scout tell me this year that if Connolly was healthy, he might have been able to sneak into the Hall/Seguin discussion and make a case for being a top 3 pick. It's my belief if he slips out of the top 5, whichever team snags him is getting a steal of a draft pick...if he stays healthy. Connolly had major hip problems this year, but in a conversation with Chris Botta recently proclaims his hip problems to be in the past. It's a good read, and definitely worth your time. Click here to check it out.
~ After a year of disappointment and suffering, Oilers fans finally got something to cheer about yesterday as the NHL lottery played out with Edmonton receiving the #1 overall pick at the June Entry Draft. As you would expect from The Pipeline Show, we were all over it as we expanded to 3 hours last night on the TEAM 1260.
We began the show by opening up the phone lines and keeping a running tally of who the listeners wanted Edmonton to announce on June 25th assuming the lottery went the way of the Oilers. Personally I was a little surprised at the outcome although I have to admit I don;t argue with it.
* The draft lottery goes tonight and The Pipeline Show will be all over it. We're on the air from 6-9 pm mst with extensive draft lottery coverage.
Scheduled to join us will be: Oilers G.M. Steve Tambellini and Possible 1st overall pick Tyler Seguin
We'll also take your calls and emails. Who do you want your team to pick if they win the lottery?
From 7-9 we'll speak with EJ McGuire of NHL central scouting. AJ Jakubec and Nathan White on the WHL and QMJHL playoffs, Chris Kreider who just won an NCAA championship with Boston College, and we'll preview the Alberta Cup.
~ Hockey fans, especially Edmonton supporters, are keeping a watchful eye on the OHL playoff series featuring the top 2 ranked players for the 2010 NHL Draft. The Spitfires have now swept the Whalers in 4 straight games (edited to update stats). The head-to-head comparison has Taylor Hall with 6 points and a +6 rating while Tyler Seguin was held pointless and is -6.
For us, the stats and series standings have done nothing to change our opinion on who should go 1st overall. We've spoken with a lot of people over the course of the season and have built our opinions over time and Dean and I feel this small sample size needs to be taken in to context, especially in light of things we've heard as of late.
* Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall? Ask that question to an even number of scouts and you'll likely end up with a split, they're that even right now.
So I asked a number of scouts three questions about the top two picks for this year's draft. Some answered all of them while some are too close to picking one of them and didn't want to take part for fear of tipping their hand, and some chose to answer only one or 2 of my questions.
Here now, as the top two prospects get set to face each other in a 7 game series, are the questions and answers. All scouts involved requested anonymity and I will provide that.
~ Last night in Windsor the hometown Spitfires played host to the visiting Plymouth Whalers which meant prime head-to-head viewing of the top two rated 2010 players for the second last time on the OHL calendar. (Photo: Aaron Bell/OHL Images)
With the NHL on hiatus for the Winter Olympics, this might be the first time this season that some NHL GMs would have had the freedom to take in a live game and view Taylor Hall versus Tyler Seguin for themselves.
While most, if not all, General Managers delegate the draft day decisions to their chief scout, when you're talking about potential franchise players it's reasonable to believe some first hand knowledge would be a good thing.
~ While much of the focus of the 2010 draft has been spent on TaylorHall and Tyler Seguin, whichever team draws the 3rd spot is going to get a terrific defenceman. That player joined Guy and myself Tuesday night.
We started our conversation with Cam Fowler asking him if he had done any gloating in the Windsor dressing room after winning gold at the World Junior Championship with Team USA. Wisely he hadn't as 4 of his Spitfire teammates were on the losing squad in the gold medal game and as smooth as Fowler is on the ice, I don't think he could escape all 4 of them.
~ Hockey Canada got out the cleaver on Tuesday and chopped 4 players from their camp roster. The team has played a pair of inter-squad games and will faceoff against a CIS All-Star team tonight that is comprised of members of the UofS Huskies and Regina Cougars. Unfortunately for four players, their WJC hopes have been cut short.
There are a lot of really good scouting services out there - as well as a few shady ones - but the agency that gets people the most excited, is also the one endorsed and ran by the league. NHL Central Scouting started 33 years ago, and for some it's the bible of the scouting world. If that's the case then we were blessed by an almighty presence Tuesday night on TPS. Okay, that's a little much, but E.J. McGuire, central's head man, does carry a lot of weight when it comes to deciding the future of young hockey players. McGuire joined us after watching Kitchener battle London in the OHL and we started our conversation with him about the top two dogs in Ontario, Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin. When the year began Hall was the top ranked player and consensus first overall pick by most people. But when central's November rankings came out the Windsor Spitfire was #2 behind the Plymouth Whaler Seguin. Expect the duo to flip flop the year before, and McGuire says if you like them in the OHL, you better get to see them this year.
"There were 6 this year who jumped from the 2009 draft into the NHL draft, there were 11 from the year before, and these two - Hall and Seguin - will be on NHL teams come October of next year."
Cam Fowler (Windsor) and Erik Gudbrandson (Kingston) are next in the OHL rankings followed by Barries Alexander Burmistrov. The next Canadian forward on the list is Sudbury's John McFarland. I was really impressed with McFarland during the Subway Super Series on Rogers Sportsnet, especially the way the 6.0 200 lb forward used his big frame.
"Strong on his skates," McGuire began before adding McFarland has missed time due to injuries this year.
Missing action has been a common theme for a few players this year, as Guy pointed out Brett Connolly (Prince George), Joey Hishon (Owen Sound) and Kirill Kabanov (Moncton) are all out of their respective line ups. McGuire explained how central deals with evaluating injured players.
"We try not to drop them in the ratings, we try to grab viewings and hold to those kind of principals. But it's tough when the other guys are scoring hattricks right before your eyes."
The Moncton Wildcats owns the top 2 QMJHL players ranked by central scouting as well as the number one slotted goaltender Louis Domingue. While the injured Kabanov is #2, defenceman Brandon Gormley is projected to be the top Q player selected in this Junes draft. Gormley starred for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka tournament this summer and McGuire made a lofty comparison to the rearguard.
"To maybe compare him to other years, he might be in the category of Victor Hedman." McGuire qualified the comparison by saying Gormley is a few inches and pounds shy of Hedman, but that their offensive instincts are similar.
Another defenceman getting rave reviews from McGuire is Edmonton's Mark Pysyk, mostly because of his skating. EJ agreed with Guy's comparison of Pysyk to John Moore drafted in the first round by Columbus last season.
From the blueline to the last line of defence, we talked goalies. McGuire made it clear that he doesn't pretend to be a pipeman expert, but defers to central staffer and former Washington Capital Al Jenson. There are 3 goalies garnering a lot of attention right now. Calvin Pickard (Seattle), Louis Domingue(Moncton) and Jack Campbell (US National Development team).
"Those will be 3 goalies for the first time that will probably sneak into the mid to later part of round number one, and that hasn't happened in a couple of years"
After our conversation with EJ McGuire we had a short discussion about Jack Campbell and how according to Western College Hockey Blog, he'll be jumping ship to Windsor next year rather than attending Michigan, which would be following a Wolverine teammate who just left the den for the OHL.
You can hear the entire conversation by clicking here.
Last year three 17 year olds were cracked Canada's World Junior roster that won a 5th consecutive gold medal. They were Ryan Ellis, John Tavares and Evander Kane. 3 more were invited to the December camp, along with 2010 eligible player Taylor Hall. Hall is a no brainer for this year's club. Here are 5 other underaged players who - according to The Pipeline Show - have a shot at atleast getting invited to camp, along with one wild card selection and a goalie.
WC. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Red Deer Rebels This is my wild card and long shot, as RNH isn't draft elible until 2011. But that was the case with Taylor Hall last season. The former first overall bantam pick has been lights out with 27 points in 25 games this year in Red Deer. 13 of his points have been goals. The Burnaby boy is already being pegged as a possible first overall pick in the 2011 draft, and while he hasn't been as dominant as guys like Hall, John Tavares or Steven Stamkos were as 16 year olds, he is very good.
G. Calvin Pickard, Seattle Thunderbirds He has the 9th best goals against average on the 3rd worst team in the WHL. Calvin Pickard is the younger brother of former Tri City netminder and Nashville first rounder Chet, who played for team Canada at the WJC. Some think he'll out grow Chet's shadow, and become an even better goaltender. Canada rarely takes an underaged goaltender, but could it really hurt to invite him to camp? He has past experience having suited up for Canada's U-18 squad. If he stands out in the upcoming WHL-Russia games during the Subway Super Series he has a chance. Ironically he's playing with Martin Jones who was the only WHL goalie invited to the summer camp.
5. Mark Pysyk, Edmonton Oil Kings If you don't know Pysyk, meet Mr. Everything for the Oil Kings. He quarterbacks the power play, kills penalties and neutralizes the oppositions best players, and he did all of that last year as a 16 year old. Pysyk for my money is the team's most important player. He's just 7 points shy of matching his total from last year. The only aspect of his game that isn't there yet is a nasty edge, and I'm not sure it will ever be there. 4. Brandon Gormley, Moncton Wildcats Gormley is a lot of things that Pysyk is, but according to one scout I spoke with, is a new notches above because of his better offensive ability. His 27 point total will be surpassed this season for the Wildcat defender. Gormley was Canada's top blueliner at the Ivan Hlinka tournament this summer, notching 3 goals and adding as assist in 4 games as Canada captured the gold medal. If Canada takes an under age blueliner, the 10th leading scoring defenceman from the Q will get the call.
3. John McFarland, Sudbury Wolves He tried to get special status to play as a 15 year old, but was denied by the OHL. However I don't expect the Sudbury Wolves forward to suffer the same fate from Hockey Canada, atleast when the camp invites go out. Sudbury drafted McFarland first overall and he notched 52 points as a rookie last year. I like his size and skill, and while he likely won't crack the final roster, he should be at camp. 2. Brett Connolly, Prince George Cougars The CHL's reigning rookie of the year, who notched 30 goals and added 30 assists isn't having the start to the season he was expecting. A hip problem has limited Connolly to just 7 games this year and he hasn't played since October 3rd. He did have 6 points in 7 games, which is pretty good for a guy playing through an injury he suffered at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. When healthy he's a dominant sniper, and if he returns in time, it'll be hard for Hockey Canada to ignore. When Dana Tyrell was injured last year, at Canada's selection camp, and didn't return to Prince George, Connolly actually became a better player.
1. Tyler Seguin, Plymouth Whalers He's fast, tenacious, and highly skilled. He's also overtaken Taylor Hall for the 2010 draft according to NHL's Central Scouting. The Plymouth Whaler was neck and neck with Hall for the OHL scoring lead early in the season, but a hip flexor cost him 6 games. However he's back now and it will be hard for Canada to ignore when the final cuts come. Seguin could end up as a rarity, of getting cut this year and not being available next year because he's in the NHL. The same thing happened to Matt Duchene who cracked the Avalanche and Michael Del Zotto who's starring on Broadway with the Rangers this year.
Of course not all of these guys will get invites, but some of them will and a couple could crack the final roster. We'll be discussing this and a lot more tonight on TPS with NHL Central Scouting's EJ Mcguire and Rogers Sportsnets Sam Cosentino. Also scheduled to join us is Spokane Chief and the anti Hockey Canada player Kyle Beach, Flyers rookie James van Riemsdyk, and Alaska Nanooks head coach Dallas Ferguson. 7-9 PM MST on the TEAM 1260 in Edmonton or online at www.thepipelineshow.com. Drop us a line at pipeup@theteam1260.com.
~ So every week we come up with a new list of things that fall into a nice neat category. This week I'm doing something a bit different in just throwing out 5 topics that I've been mulling over as of late. With luck, you'll find them interesting enough to leave some feedback on.
Grab a coffee and get comfortable because this will be a long one... here goes.
5. Top Prospects Game Rotation
The 2010 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects game is being held in Windsor this year. I am not 100% sure of the criteria of how the host site is selected; do teams bid on it like they do the Memorial Cup? If so it's certainly not as public. I think it's probably a bit more behind the doors negotiating for the event. Edmonton hosted it in 2008 a season after their return to the WHL and I get the sense that there was more than a little politics involved. I'm not trying to suggest that the eventual host does anything wrong, I just would prefer to see the site decided a little bit more in the open than it is now.
The fact that the big game is in the OHL for the second consecutive year bugs me a little bit too. Oshawa hosted the 2009 Top Prospects Game so why shouldn't the 2010 edition be in either the QMJHL or the WHL? The Memorial Cup is rotated every year from one CHL league to the other... why can't the Top Prospects Game follow suit?
why not spread the big events around if you possibly can? I think it's unfortunate that there isn't a third national event to go with the Top Prospects Game and the Memorial Cup so that each of the three CHL leagues would be hosting something special each year. Perhaps Hockey Canada could host the December World Junior Camp and play their exhibition games in the territory of the league that isn't involved with either of the other two showcase spectacles.
Maybe the three CHL leagues could do away with their own All-Star games (the WHL doesn't have one anyway) and instead play a small 3-team round robin at some point during the year? I'd watch that for sure! I know at one time there was something similar but that was before my exposure to junior hockey so I'm not well versed in what used to be done. Someone feel free to explain/describe how it went and why it was scrapped.
4. The Pipeline Channel
Recently I was trying to find some NCAA hockey coverage on the NHL Network (the actual reason I even added the channel to my particular subscription package) but came up out of luck. I've been able to track down only one listing for NCAA hockey games being shown in Canada this year... so THANK YOU to the Big Ten Network! (if someone else has, please direct me to a link for the info).
Anyway, it got me thinking: Would there be a TV audience to justify an all-hockey prospects channel? The levels to be covered would be junior, major junior, NCAA, CIS and minor pro.
Between that many leagues there would be at least one live game a night and on the weekends it would be nearly wall-to-wall coverage of live hockey that apparently isn't being shown (at least in Canada) to a wide audience.
Here in Western Canada we get a WHL game of the week on Shaw TV which is great... if you happen to be a subscriber to Shaw Cable, like me. However, I see ZERO games from the OHL or the QMJHL. Nothing of the NCAA (despite the fact that 25% of the players in US college are Canadian), zip for the AHL and only the gold medal games are shown from events like the RBC Cup, World Junior A Challenge or the World U18s.
Are you seriously telling me that there is an audience for "Cosmopolitan TV" and a half dozen cooking/life style/shopping channels but an all-hockey one wouldn't work? If it's an expense thing, I might be able to buy that but there is at least an in-rink feed for games in most markets and all teams (except the PEI Rocket) have radio deals... couldn't something be done there? A ton of NCAA games are shown in the States, would it be that costly to tap into those feeds?
I assume there are much bigger issues here than I am aware of, someone fill me in if I'm missing something. All I know is, I'd like to see a Kitchener/London game, the Beanpot, North Dakota hosting Minnesota, Springfield taking on Manchester... and I CAN'T.
3. Will Edmonton Move Torrie Jung?
A couple of months ago I floated the question as to whether or not the Oil Kings, at some point, might consider dealing their 2008-09 MVP. As far fetched and unlikely as it sounded, I specified that I would only consider it if the team was clearly not a contender and was failing to live up to its top-5 potential. Well guess what? The WHL trade deadline is now 7 weeks away and the Oil Kings currently hold down 10th place in the 12-team Eastern Conference.
There have been several reasons why the Oil Kings have struggled through the first couple of months this year. Injuries hit early, hard and frequently as several starters went down with different hurts including a few concussions. The blueline was especially hit hard and there were nights when 6 healthy bodies were hard to find so 16-year-olds were brought in for temporary relief. Then, like many teams, the flu bug had its way with the locker room. Unfortunately for Steve Pleau, his injury riddled roster meant a bunch of guys had to play sick. Add to injury and illness the fact that the team had played the toughest schedule through September and October... and it's like the perfect storm. Hence 10th place in the standings.
And yet the question is relevant and has to be asked. Might the Oil Kings best serve themselves in the long run by dealing Torrie Jung?
Can they live without him? Well it would obviously be harder without your starter but considering back up Cam Lanigan has played very well in his 10 starts (.901 sv% and 3.16 GAA), perhaps he's shown enough that he can shoulder a heavier workload. It would make sense that a goalie would come back in the deal so it's not like 16-year-old Laurent Brossoit would have to be rushed into service.
Things could change between now and the deadline but if the team simply plays .500 hockey...
If now isn't the time to consider dealing Jung, I wonder when that time will be (if ever)? Have the Oil Kings have already decided not to move the goalie and that simply making the playoffs is good enough this year? Will Portland shop 20-year-old Kurtis Mucha and might that affect the market for Jung? All things to think about.
I had a conversation earlier today with a long time WHL personality who suggested an overage netminder like Jung might only fetch a 4th round pick, maybe a 3rd at best. That said, would it even be worth it for the Oil Kings to trade him? considering the playoffs are much more likely with him that without... I'm thinking "No".
2. CHL Traditions
Sometimes we take flak for talking as much NCAA hockey on the show as we do but Dean and I have always felt that it is our NCAA that helps set us apart from other radio shows. Dean grew up in Brandon so with North Dakota just over the border, he's had exposure to the NCAA version of the sport all his life. I haven't so I'm still enjoying the NCAA game from afar and ever year I get more and more intrigued. I'm to the point now that I'd much rather fly to see a Michigan game at Yost or see the Badgers at home than I would fly to a WHL game in Regina or Kamloops.
Don't get me wrong, I love the WHL but I'm also very eager to take in the NCAA experience. I've spoken with a lot of Canadian players who have chosen the college route and when I ask them why, it almost always comes back to the impression that was made on them when they took in a game. I recently made reference to a fine write up from Ryan Lambert at Puck Daddy where traditions around NCAA hockey is detailed. I did some internet exploring for more examples and came away with some interesting video clips like the simple "c-ya" chant Michigan fans give an opposing player taking a penalty... Wisconsin crowd dancing... Cornell's extensive guide and list of traditions, and in rink fun (example one and two).
I spent an hour watching various You Tube clips of fan chants, songs and rituals and came away with one question: Why are there no traditions at games in the CHL?
I made some calls and checked with guys who have followed junior hockey longer than I have and in the WHL, I've witnessed only one ongoing tradition and have been told about 3 others, 2 of which no longer happen.
The one I have seen and heard first hand occurs in Red Deer. As the crowd quiets and awaits for the start of the national anthem, a fan from section N clearly yells out the last name of the visiting team's starting netminder...eg; "Flaaaa-mmminnnggg!" to which the entire crowd responds with a hearty "SUCKS!!!". It's funny but it lasts 5 seconds and then it's done.
I'm told the Spokane Chiefs have used the same goal celebration song for several years and so I checked on You Tube and sure enough...
Not bad but not equal to the standard set by the NCAA crowds.
The Portland Winterhawks used to be welcomed to the ice by P.A. announcer Dan Folwick who would issues a rousing "Here come, the Hawks!". Unfortunately, Mr. Folwick has since retired leaving long-time WHL people like Kelowna voice Regan Bartell to take notice
"It just seemed odd when the Hawks entered the ice surface last night and Dan's big voice saying "Here come the Hawks' was no where to be found."
Regan would also remember when the crowd in Kelowna would shout "Guard!" at the end of O'Canada (..."we stand on GUARD for thee..."). Much like Dallas Stars fans do with "stars" during the Star Spangled Banner, Rockets faithful turned it into a salute for Kelowna goalie Kelly Guard. He's since turned pro and the tradition ended with his junior career.
And that's it. If you have seen or heard of others... please list them in the comments section.
The difference? Obviously the fact that the NCAA game is played in front of a large student body makes a huge difference. The party atmosphere is instantly created by the well lubricated students... but that's a good thing.
The CHL rinks I have visited have crowds comprised of families and people of all ages so you don't get that same party atmosphere. In Edmonton for example, the marketing of tickets sales is largely directed at families and so you end up with half of your 5000 tickets being held by fans who can't get into a PG-13 movie. Some people might find what the NCAA crowds do to be annoying or silly but I'd gladly take organized chants and opposing goalie harassing over the "air guitar cam" for the 10 and under crowd at Oil Kings home games.
Is it possible that Americans just know how to enjoy live hockey more than we do up here in Canada? Are we just stuck in "we know the game and just concentrate on watching what happens" so much that we can't have fun while we do it? Canadians go to hockey games to be entertained, Americans seem to go knowing ahead of time that they are a part of that entertainment. Big difference.
1. Would Taylor Hall be Carolina's Choice?
I know all the 2010 talk for the last several months has been about the Taylor Hall Sweepstakes, his is the name mentioned by message board fans of NHL teams that are struggling in the standings. I'll agree that he'll probably go first overall but I don't know that he would be every team's target if they somehow hit the podium first.
NHL Central Scouting released their rankings today and Hall was not the top OHL player. It's not the first time I've seen another name at the top and in my opinion, should the Carolina Hurricanes end up with that 1st overall pick... I'm not convinced that Hall would be their guy either. I think it would be Tyler Seguin.
Seguin got off to a very hot start, he's cooled off a bit but for a while, he led the OHL in scoring. Hall has since past him by but Seguin's first impression in his draft year will stick with scouts. The Ontario native has 36 points in 18 games, he's missed 4 games due to injury, yet still leads his team in scoring by 9 points.
Seguin was on our show a few weeks ago and he talked about how great the Plymouth Whalers organization is from top to bottom. It might sound a bit like a conspiracy theory but the owner of that OHL franchise happens to also own the Carolina Hurricanes and it wouldn't be the first time that the pipeline between Plymouth and Raleigh was used.
2008 2nd round - Zac Dalpe (C) Penticton Vees (OHL rights... Plymouth) 2008 4th round - Michal Jordan (D) Plymouth 2007 5th round - Chris Terry (LW) Plymouth 2007 6th round - Brett Bellemore (D) Plymouth 2004 8th round - Jonas Fiedler (RW) Plymouth 2001 4th round - Rob Zepp (G) Plymouth 2000 2nd round - Tomas Kurka (LW) Plymouth 2000 4th round - Jared Newman (D) Plymouth 1999 6th round - Damian Surma (LW) Plymouth 1998 3rd round - Kevin Holdridge (D) Plymouth signed UFA - Chad Larose (RW) Plymouth
Call me crazy but as of right now I won't be surprised to see Tyler Seguin taken 1st overall by the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
The start of the season means two things for TPS, season previews and contests. We'll be talking about both on Tuesday night as we discuss our Calder Trophy candidates for the upcoming season, preview the USHL and NCAA seasons as well as profile Plymouth Whalers forward Tyler Seguin who should be a top prospect for the 2010 draft.
It also means time is running out for you to enter the two contests we have running right now.
Our opening night roster contest ends when puck drops for the Oilers on Saturday night. To win you have to predict who the 23 players on the Oilers rosters will be. Keep in mind you don't have to predict who's in the line up Saturday, but just give us 23 names who are on the roster. Also remember players on injured reserve don't count. And don't think you're that smart by waiting until all the players are assigned and the Oilers have announced their roster publicly, because the tie breaker is whoever entered first. So here's how you play...email your 23 man opening night roster to pipeup@thepipelineshow.com. As for our second contest, it closes at 5 PM MST Thursday night, which is when the 2009-2010 season begins. To enter The Pipeline Show Hockey Pool click here and you will find all the details.
Both are free to enter and prizes will be available for winners of both contests. However if you're a media member you don't not qualify for the prizes, there is a separate pool that you can join, where the prize is PRIDE!!!!
The LA Kings made the coaching and scouting staff of Hockey Canada breathe a little easier on Thursday. By sending Brayden Schenn back to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, the Kings also gave Hockey Canada it's #1 centre and all around best player. Schenn also makes the Wheat Kings an interesting team to watch, as getting back last year's co-captain could easily vault them a few spots up the standings.
