Source: Hockeyjournal.com

Mark Tobin

CSS rank: 85 North America
Team: Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Hometown: St. John’s, Newfoundland
Position: Left wing
Size: 6-foot-2, 204 pounds
Shoots: Left

2003-04 statistics:
GP G A PTS PIM
69 22 16 38 112

Scouting report: A bit of a disappointment in that Tobin didn?t achieve the anticipated production playing with 16-year-old phenom Sidney Crosby, the power forward prospect skates well, plays with a lot of energy and still has some room to grow. He has the kind of passion and character that every scout loves, even if he may lack the finishing touch to be a consistent scorer.

Projection: The big, banging winger could develop into a much better pro player than he?s shown as a junior. Tobin won?t be a high pick in Raleigh, but he could go earlier than expected because of his grit and potential.

Tampa Bay selects another Calgary Hitmen Defensiveman with their first pick in the draft… Last year, Mike Egener was the player selected by the Bolts and Andy Rogers is this years selection.

Another Defensive Defensiveman… This pick should be a surprise to some as there were thoughts the Lightning were going goalie.

I continue to hate how the NHL Draft is conducted.

The big board behind the main stage for example… The fact every f’n executive for a team shows up when a player is selected… The fact that the cities keep changing and the response from the crowd is fickle -at best - at times.

I’m not saying glorify the draft more like the NFL but I do believe that the league needs to move forward with regards to how they conduct the draft and stop having such a low-quality operation. They could either stop making the draft a spectacle (which would be bad for the league and would anger a lot of people) or they could start solidifying the event with something that isn’t caked with “tradition” (the big board “tradition”, the revolving cities “tradition”, etc).

for example 0 move the draft to one place and have it there year after year. I’m not going to suggest New York, however. Probably Toronto at a theater-like location instead of an arena. Or perchance Chicago — which hosts a storied past for their franchise if not a current intensity of interest for hockey. Fans of hockey will turn out in any event at either location…

Start making the draft about the players and not about the executives making the selections! There is not enough clips about players and there is not enough information on team needs being talked about by those covering the draft.

And as for that billboard/big board that lists all the picks? “Mr. Commissioner — Tear this board down!” :wink