That last poll? About the #1 draft pick? It’s irrelevant. Brant James article in the St. Petersburg Times this morning shows why. Steve Stamkos will indeed be the top pick for the Lightning.

Why so sure? Because when a sports franchise employs a Hollywood marketing blitz comparable to what has been used the last year for The Dark Knight (in theaters later this summer) hyping a prospect, you know they are big on them.

Seen Stamkos?

(hats off to the guys who thought up the flash mob viral marketing, if it was Koules people or an ad agency somewhere in the Bay area)

I gave no coverage to the Lightning winning the Draft Lottery… But I will ask you for your thoughts on what the Lightning should do with the pick.

[poll=46]

And While we’re at it — and local media lacks any coverage of this stuff — head on over to MyNHLDraft and view some fo the mock drafts and other draft and prospect information.

The following was originally posted here in 2004. I still find it to be my thought on the draft. After watching last night’s mockery event, there are probably more things worth pointing out that I hate about the NHL draft

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 over-hype the draft 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: 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!”

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OK, 2007 thoughts:

Do we really need 20+ speeches being made thanking the host city and getting a cheap pop from the crowd when their home town is mentioned? Shouldn’t Gary Bettman be focusing on the state of the game instead of how wonderful a city is and a franchise in particular is when he’s speaking? Shouldn’t there be some type of continuity — such as a limited amount of time between picks? And while we are at it, shouldn’t podiums look like podiums instead of like cups of iced coffee?

The entire event is antiquated and vaudeville-like. It doesn’t feel like a pro sports league is conducting this event.

The fire sale in Nashville continues as Tomas Voukon has been shipped into the Southeast division and to the Florida Panthers for the Panthers first round pick (#10 overall) and 2 second round selections.

This also confirms the Lightning had #47 snatched up by the Panthers this year (which was the conditional pick in the Chris Gratton trade).

Lyle’s outdone himself… Or should I say Bruce Garrioch at the Ottawa Sun has outdone himself and Lyle at Spectors has simply called a spade a spade in simplicity and eloquence?

Bruce will get us started here — rumor-mongering about the future of Brad Richards in Tampa Bay, as summarized by Lyle:

Bruce Garrioch reports league sources claiming Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster might be willing to shop Brad Richards and his $7.8 million per season contract to Chicago, Philadelphia or Phoenix in hopes of landing one of the top three picks in this year’s draft. Garrioch claims Richards might be expendable after the Bolts acquired centre Chris Gratton last week from Florida, and this move would be done to clear up cap space to land a quality goaltender

Now, after a grand debunking of the rumor — Lyle leaves us with the comment that was so profoundly true that I consider it an absolute gem:

nd considering Richards “expendable” because of the acquisition of Chris Gratton is laughable.

This is the literal truth to the matter… At least for me. When I read the original summary — I broke out laughing after reading why Richards had become expendable. Chris Gratton’s acquisition leads to shoving Brad out the door? That’s about as likely as the Beatles getting back together. Chris Gratton replacing Tim Taylor is logical and makes sense long term. Chris Gratton spending time on wing on the top two lines if someone else fills the role of 3rd line center better than him makes a degree of sense as well. Gratton being Tampa Bay’s #2 center….? Excuse me, I’m going back to fits of giggles over this one…

Thanks for the laugh, Bruce! And thanks, Lyle, for confirming my right to laughter.

….The Blackhawks won the NHL draft lottery.

I have the distinctive feeling we’re heading for the biggest holdout of a first round pick since Lindros. Or the biggest failure of a #1 pick since Alexander Daigle, with thanks to Chicago’s Wirtzy reputation of being where the NHL goes to die.

During the 2004-05 campaign — some people had a hard time seeing #5 out on ice. The had a hard time becuase they associated the number with former long-time Tampa defensiveman Jassen Cullimore, and the body under the #5 sweater was clearly not Jassen Cullimore.

They had problems because one of the usually suspects out on ice when a goal was given up, or a flippant mistake was made on defense, was #5. Daryl Sydor came to the Lightning to add defensive talent as well as playoff experience to the defensive corpse in 2004, and now his time in Tampa is over.

Having to make cap space for RFA signings, Jay Feaster dealt Daryl Sydor to the Dallas Stars on Sunday for a 4th round draft pick. It does leave a hole in the defensive squad, but it was a move that had to happen for (as already mentioned) financial reasons as well as play.

Jay Feaster told the St. Petersburg Times this morning that he was through dealing besides minor moves here and there and I believe him (though another salary dump is not out of the question — with Vaclav Prospal being the likely target). I believe this gives defensive prospects such as Mike Egener, Andy Rogers, Matt Smaby and others more hope if they plan to crack the Lightning roster in the pre-season.

Young Nicholas learned, on his summer vacation, that you should phear Dan Boyle:

Photo taken at the Shots draft party on Saturday. Credit Boltsmag reader Marsha for the picture

I’ll likely be around for the Draft this evening but I wanted to make sure to make mention of James Mirtle — the bread and butter of hockey reporting online, IMHO — live blogging. The Blog is supposed to be featured on the Glove and Mail sports page. You can jump directly to James G and M blog posts right here.

You have to give props to the late-afternoon draft this year. It may be tough on your patience to wait for the draft to begin in Vancouver, but it certainly turns up the hot stove by at least 10 degrees.

And the Lightning play a dominant role the rumors that are raging on the pre-draft hot stove. There are reports the Bolts are after Evgeny Nabakov from San Jose, or perhaps Marc Denis from Columbus… There’s also a chance J.S. Giguere could be heading this way but I wouldn’t hold my breath on that.

I’ll try to report more as the draft progresses.

The Lightning traded up with San Jose to #73 to select Radek Smolenak, a left wing from the Kingston Frontenacs.

The other side of center gets addressed with pick #92 as the Lightning goes European yet again, selecting Marek Bartanus, a Slovak who was just drafted during the Import Draft by the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL.

I picked up the TSN feed through NHL.com and I have to say they are overdoing the Crosby thing… I mean REALLY overdoing it and ignoring the rest of the talent in the draft. Crosby promos, Crosby lead ins, etc… I could not see this happening with the NFL draft if there was one super prospect. They still know how to promote the EVENT over the PLAYER.

Yes, Crosby is supposed to be great — but be objective with the coverage.

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I can’t help but be puzzled why the NHL is bowing to the TV broadcast (it feels like they are molding everything around the broadcast instead of just doing the event and having TV report what happens…. Sorta like what the NFL does (and ESPN covers it marvelously).

Crosby goes #1… Half the TV’s in Canada switch to another station….

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Another note – I much more like the Hotel setting for the draft than the airy arena venues of recent.

Bob McKenzie tells the world that Crosby has a strong lower unit — do I really need that picture in my head?

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Two top ten picks end up in the “What the bloody hell…?” department. Pick #5 by Montreal (taking goaltender Casey Price…. And selection #8. San Jose traded up with Atlanta to select someone projected as a late 1st, early 2nd round pick (Devin Setaguchi)….

Thrashers move to #12 in the first round and pick up the #207 draft selection as well…

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In a stunning move, the Ottawa Senators have drafted Chris Gratton circa 1993! No wait, that’s Brian Lee, isn’t it? Jeez, Lee looks like Grats did when he came out…

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Thrashers trade down again….

Vancouver has moved to Manitoba, just so you Canadians know… NHL executives said so

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The Sidney Crosby Consolation Prize to the Rangers is — Marc Staal!

Division brethren Washington takes a player out of the top 30… It happens in every draft so I’m not too surprised – though those who actually follow junior hockey and collegiate hockey may be.

That’s all the running commentary I can do for the time. I will be back later on to give some more thoughts

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I’m having friends (who I am chatting with as the draft goes on) feed me some of the commentary that’s been said during the draft. I already highlighted McKenzie’s gross out. How about this one:

Bourret is “a mean, nasty fire hydrant on the ice”.

Does anyone at all understand what that is supposed to mean? He sits there, he’s metal, he doesn’t do anything more times than not but has the ability to aid someone who’s putting out a fire….?

I’ve already said how stupid “selection by committee” is in the NHL draft (it adds to the boredom and generates a false pomp-and-circumstance about the pick)… I firmly stand by those remarks. Though the draft is moving pretty swiftly, not enough focus is being given to the players as so much the executives doing the drafting.

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The ‘Turds have done a deal with the Flyers, selecting Kenndal McArdle. Philly moves to the #29 position in the draft….

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With the trading down – and I don’t know about the quality of their selection – right now the winners of this draft look like the Thrashers. They’ve obtained more picks, they’ve likely secured the player they wanted… They’ll be able to stock up their system even more with thanks to their trade partners.

It’s probably the language barrier for him (I’m trying to assume here to protect this guy in one way or another) but Nicklas Bergfors did NOT look like he wanted to be up on stage… Or maybe that was not wanting to be a New Jersey Devil? Who knows….

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Calgary goes out of the top thirty, which seems to be a trend today, taking Matt Pellich… Stay at home defensiveman.

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Washington trades for Colorado’s pick and takes a Mamoth in D-man Joe Finley

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Jeff O’Neill shipped to Toronto for a conditional 2006 pick

Tampa Bay is on the clock — Jay Feaster get’s his only exercise for the day! I have this feeling the Flyers actually took who TB was going to aim for — comments by Feaster about going after Goal Scorers makes me believe that. The last two drafts the Lightning have gone D — so forward progress is the likely decision, pardon the pun

Vladimir Mihalik 6′7″ 220 lbs.

Oh My God, this guy is a bone crusher! — TSN commentators…

I very much stand corrected on this pick. I thought for sure that the Lightning were to go offense here in an attempt to shore up the system depth at forward. There isn’t an elite forward prospect that I know of in the US (and I don’t even want to talk about the mythical Alexander Poulshin who is in Russia for the umpteenth year after being drafted by the Lightning).

Here’s McKeen’s scouting report on Vlad:

Scouting: a hulking mammoth on skates .. thanks to the progress this season is now an adequate skater for such a big body .. decent lateral movement and agility .. adequate acceleration and top-end speed, but his skating still needs further polishing .. decent balance .. tends to be too static at times .. has to stay back in his own end to not be out-skated on the transitional play .. leaves significant space between him and the opposing players .. solid positional play .. average puckhandling skills .. needs to develop softer hands .. should use his giant frame more to his advantage and punish the opposing players more often .. uses his stick in the battles along the boards rather than his body.. very good reach and massive wingspan .. limited passing skills .. plays a low risk game, but doesn’t support the offense a lot, dishing off the puck rather than looking for a passing lane instead .. is now more courageous in joining the rush .. should fire his adequately accurate shot from the point more often .. possesses some impressive tools, but will need patience in his development.

And not to entirely plagerize Jes Golbez but here’s his take on Vlad as well:

It won’t be hard to miss this kid since he’s a whopping 6′7″ 220+lbs. Last summer, he looked like a big slug who couldn’t skate well and wouldn’t hit people. One year later, his good WJC18 performance showed us that he improved his conditioning, footwork, and mean streak. Mihalik should benefit from the smaller ice surface (ala Valabik) and he’s the big ‘home-run’ swing type prospect. Unlike Boris Valabik and Kristian Kudroc, Mihalik won’t be a first rounder. I’d expect Mihalik to go around the 4th or 5th round.

Jes, if you are out there — Can you lend some commentary on the pick?

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I won’t be running further commentary on the draft — Tampa Bay’s next pick is #92 and I have already wasted a load of time online today. Interesting selections, terribly boring telecast… That says it all.