"Unbiased Observations on the Predators"
Nashville, TN • United States • 42 Years Old • Male
An Honest Evaluation of the Nashville Predators Part 1
Posted 2:01 PM ET | Comments 0
So as it would be, I am sitting here in Nashville celebrating the XMAS with family and while everyone is still asleep, I thought I would think about putting up a new blog about the Predators. Its been a long time since I have due a new job I took on around last XMAS. But after watching last night loss(Not even going to comment on the offense or lack of effort), I thought I would take a step back and truly evaluate this organization. Not just this year, but for the 10 years. We have had 11 drafts since our inception. 11 Years to try to get this organization to the promised land of Lord Stanley. Based on what I am seeing right now, we aren't there, and I dont' see us making it any time soon..
But back to the draft. Depending on who you ask, you either like coach Trotz or you don't. I like the guy, but after 11 years wonder if he is truly a coach who can lead us to Lord Stanley. What I have not heard is any negativity towards Dave Poile. Yes he is respected. Yes he has pulled off some great signings and trades. But has he truly drafted well. Lets take a look back, year by year. I will indicate the players we drafted in the 1st 3 rounds, as well as who we could of but didn't. I will also indicate any noticable misses in later rounds. Key to my comments is not diving into any trading up or down or loss of draft picks due to other trades. I am simply going to evaluate who we drafted versus who was on the board at that time. I will list the Player that we drafted and then after that player, list noticable players we COULD have drafted in the same round..Not going to bother with putting up the stats, you can do that yourself.
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1998 - 1st - David Legwand ==== Alex Tanquay, Simon Gagne, Scott Gomez
3rd - Dennis Arkhipov ==== Brad Richards, Eric Cole
3rd - Jeff Koch ===
Players drafted in 4th or later - Pavel Datsyuk, Michael Ryder
My Draft GRADE (Our 1st Draft) D-
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1999 - 1st - Brian Finley=== Martin Havlat
2nd - Jonas Anderson ====
2nd - Adam Hall ====
2nd - Jan Lasek ===
3rd - Brad Angel === Mike Comrie
Players drafted in 4th or later - Henrik Zetterburg, George Parros,
My Draft GRADE = C- Really not a strong draft outside of the Sedin's
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2000 - 1st - Scott Hartnell === Alexander Frolov
2nd - Daniel Widing ==== Dan Ellis, Paul Martin
3rd Mattias Nilsson ====
Players drafter in 4th or later - Henrik Lundqvist
My Draft GRADE - B - Very Very Weak Draft after the top few picks
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2001 - 1st - Dan Hamhuis === Ales Hemsky
2nd - Timofei Shishkanov -
2nd - Tomas Slovak === Mike Cammalleri, Jason Pomminville
3rd - Dennis Platonov and Oliver Setzinger ====Patrick Sharp
Players drafted in 4th or later - Marek Zidlicky, Martin Gerber
My Draft Grade - C
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2002 - 1st - Scottie Upshall ===Jeffrey Lupul, Pierre Mark Bouchard, Alezander Semin, Cam Ward,
No 2nd or 3rd rounders
My Draft Grade - F - We ended up with no players from this draft
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My 2003 and beyond draft evaluations and overall summary will come in Part 2.
But back to the draft. Depending on who you ask, you either like coach Trotz or you don't. I like the guy, but after 11 years wonder if he is truly a coach who can lead us to Lord Stanley. What I have not heard is any negativity towards Dave Poile. Yes he is respected. Yes he has pulled off some great signings and trades. But has he truly drafted well. Lets take a look back, year by year. I will indicate the players we drafted in the 1st 3 rounds, as well as who we could of but didn't. I will also indicate any noticable misses in later rounds. Key to my comments is not diving into any trading up or down or loss of draft picks due to other trades. I am simply going to evaluate who we drafted versus who was on the board at that time. I will list the Player that we drafted and then after that player, list noticable players we COULD have drafted in the same round..Not going to bother with putting up the stats, you can do that yourself.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 - 1st - David Legwand ==== Alex Tanquay, Simon Gagne, Scott Gomez
3rd - Dennis Arkhipov ==== Brad Richards, Eric Cole
3rd - Jeff Koch ===
Players drafted in 4th or later - Pavel Datsyuk, Michael Ryder
My Draft GRADE (Our 1st Draft) D-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 - 1st - Brian Finley=== Martin Havlat
2nd - Jonas Anderson ====
2nd - Adam Hall ====
2nd - Jan Lasek ===
3rd - Brad Angel === Mike Comrie
Players drafted in 4th or later - Henrik Zetterburg, George Parros,
My Draft GRADE = C- Really not a strong draft outside of the Sedin's
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 - 1st - Scott Hartnell === Alexander Frolov
2nd - Daniel Widing ==== Dan Ellis, Paul Martin
3rd Mattias Nilsson ====
Players drafter in 4th or later - Henrik Lundqvist
My Draft GRADE - B - Very Very Weak Draft after the top few picks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 - 1st - Dan Hamhuis === Ales Hemsky
2nd - Timofei Shishkanov -
2nd - Tomas Slovak === Mike Cammalleri, Jason Pomminville
3rd - Dennis Platonov and Oliver Setzinger ====Patrick Sharp
Players drafted in 4th or later - Marek Zidlicky, Martin Gerber
My Draft Grade - C
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2002 - 1st - Scottie Upshall ===Jeffrey Lupul, Pierre Mark Bouchard, Alezander Semin, Cam Ward,
No 2nd or 3rd rounders
My Draft Grade - F - We ended up with no players from this draft
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My 2003 and beyond draft evaluations and overall summary will come in Part 2.