Stocky 6-0, 200 pound WHL rearguard was one of a handful of similarly sized, offensively productive defensemen playing in the Western Hockey League eligible for the 2012 entry draft. The difference between Thrower and prospects like Ryan Murray, Morgan Reilly, Matt Dumba, and Derek Pouliot, is that Dalton showed his offensive side relatively late in his junior career. Known primarily as a defensively sound, hard hitting, scrappy rearguard who didn't hesitate to drop the gloves through his first two junior seasons. With experience and confidence he took on larger puck carrying responsibility, and averaged well over a point a game the last half of the 2011-2012 campaign. That bodes well for the future, especially since his all round game is already established. Playing an agressive physical game could be problematic at his size, but he should be able to add some muscle to his frame over the next couple of years. Having good puck skills lessens the pressure to play his all out style as well.
As an added bonus, Dalton is capable of logging lots of minutes and has natural leadership ability. By all indications a draft bargain near the end of the second round.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Newest Montreal Canadien - Sebastian Collberg
Thirty picks after they drafted Alex Galchenyuk, the Habs were still able to land one of the premier offensive talents available in the 2012 draft in the person of slender Swedish winger Sebastian Collberg. Partially due to a big run on defensemen, and partially due to some size concerns for the 5-11, 180 pounder, Collberg remained on the board far beyond his projected mid first round draft value. Trevor Timmons and company were more than happy to end that fall early in round two. Gifted with good speed, an exceptional shot, and superior hockey sense, Sebastian was a prolific scorer in the Swedish junior ranks. At the WJC he was the top scoring 17 year old in the tournament, and one of the top scorers for Team Sweden, the eventual gold medal winners.
A slight concern was the fact that Collberg, while he spent a full season with Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League, saw little ice time there and was held without a point at that level for the entire season. But that was more a product of opportunity, youth, and lack of physical maturity. Observers saw Sebastian grow appreciably just within the past few months, and he tested well at the Combine. That will be an ongoing process, but if he adds ten or fifteen pounds over the next couple of seasons, (and hopefully an inch or two), he will be adequately sized for the NHL.
All the other elements appear to be there. Rare offensive skill, a solid work ethic, and level headed intelligence on and off the ice. It doesn't hurt that he looks every bit the part of a young Quebecois hockey starlet, and goes by the first name of Sebastian.
A slight concern was the fact that Collberg, while he spent a full season with Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League, saw little ice time there and was held without a point at that level for the entire season. But that was more a product of opportunity, youth, and lack of physical maturity. Observers saw Sebastian grow appreciably just within the past few months, and he tested well at the Combine. That will be an ongoing process, but if he adds ten or fifteen pounds over the next couple of seasons, (and hopefully an inch or two), he will be adequately sized for the NHL.
All the other elements appear to be there. Rare offensive skill, a solid work ethic, and level headed intelligence on and off the ice. It doesn't hurt that he looks every bit the part of a young Quebecois hockey starlet, and goes by the first name of Sebastian.
Newest Montreal Canadien - Alexander Galchenyuk
If you have to bottom out before you are on your way to recovery, the Montreal Canadiens came perilously close to that state this past season. The team record was the third worst in the thirty team league, and as a dubious reward, they were picking third overall in the 2012 entry draft. The highest draft position for the club in decades.
It wasn't necessarily the best year to have such a poor record and high draft pick, although that story has yet to be written. Going into the past season, Sarnia Sting scoring star Nail Yakupov was the consensus top prospect, with some scouts feeling that his slightly younger and bigger linemate Alex Galchenyuk could pass him over the course of their second season together. That was not to be the case as Galchenyuk suffered a serious knee injury before the season even began, which had to be surgically repaired and necessitated a long rehab process. Another Russian born prospect playing in the CHL, Mikhail Grigorenko emerged to challenge Yakupov for number one status, but faded as the season went on. Mature Canadian defender Ryan Murray was in the mix for some time, playing ahead of his age group, but suffered some nagging injuries like Yakupov and didn't really close the gap. No one else really jumped out of the pack over the course of the season.
At the draft, Yakupov was first off the board as expected, the most dynamic offensive talent in the draft going to the Oilers. Columbus opted to take the safe route with the solid all round package offered by Murray. Montreal's choice came down to a trio of imports, Grigorenko who was starring in the QMJHL, and was the big offensive centreman they craved, Filip Forsberg, a talented Swedish winger with good size and character, or the solid two way centreman with the most offensive upside, but serious injury concern in Galchenyuk. Alex stood out at the NHL Combine testing held prior to the draft which alleviated most of those concerns and made the club feel confident in using their top pick on him.
He is a classic hockey brat, having followed his father, a journeyman pro player around from team to team, league to league, and country to country, growing up. The younger Galchenyuk has solid size, at 6-1, with close to a 200 pound frame, and growing. He has exceptional all round skills, great hockey sense, good skating, a quick hard shot, and is defensively responsible. Despite emigrating from Eastern Europe, he dominated US high school hockey in his single season at that level, leading to selection as the first overall pick in the 2010 OHL entry draft. Chosen by the Sarnia Sting, he was soon joined by Yakupov, and the two rookies tore up the league in 2010-2011. Alex's 83 points in 66 games that year as a 16 year old compared favorably with some other top grads of that league like Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, John Tavares, Matt Duchene, Steven Stamkos, etc., all of whom went first or second overall in their respective draft year. Each of them moved quickly to the NHL and have excelled at that level. Galchenyuk may require an extra year at the junior level to make up for his season lost to injury, but the pedigree and the production so far in his career certainly justify his draft position.
It wasn't necessarily the best year to have such a poor record and high draft pick, although that story has yet to be written. Going into the past season, Sarnia Sting scoring star Nail Yakupov was the consensus top prospect, with some scouts feeling that his slightly younger and bigger linemate Alex Galchenyuk could pass him over the course of their second season together. That was not to be the case as Galchenyuk suffered a serious knee injury before the season even began, which had to be surgically repaired and necessitated a long rehab process. Another Russian born prospect playing in the CHL, Mikhail Grigorenko emerged to challenge Yakupov for number one status, but faded as the season went on. Mature Canadian defender Ryan Murray was in the mix for some time, playing ahead of his age group, but suffered some nagging injuries like Yakupov and didn't really close the gap. No one else really jumped out of the pack over the course of the season.
At the draft, Yakupov was first off the board as expected, the most dynamic offensive talent in the draft going to the Oilers. Columbus opted to take the safe route with the solid all round package offered by Murray. Montreal's choice came down to a trio of imports, Grigorenko who was starring in the QMJHL, and was the big offensive centreman they craved, Filip Forsberg, a talented Swedish winger with good size and character, or the solid two way centreman with the most offensive upside, but serious injury concern in Galchenyuk. Alex stood out at the NHL Combine testing held prior to the draft which alleviated most of those concerns and made the club feel confident in using their top pick on him.
He is a classic hockey brat, having followed his father, a journeyman pro player around from team to team, league to league, and country to country, growing up. The younger Galchenyuk has solid size, at 6-1, with close to a 200 pound frame, and growing. He has exceptional all round skills, great hockey sense, good skating, a quick hard shot, and is defensively responsible. Despite emigrating from Eastern Europe, he dominated US high school hockey in his single season at that level, leading to selection as the first overall pick in the 2010 OHL entry draft. Chosen by the Sarnia Sting, he was soon joined by Yakupov, and the two rookies tore up the league in 2010-2011. Alex's 83 points in 66 games that year as a 16 year old compared favorably with some other top grads of that league like Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, John Tavares, Matt Duchene, Steven Stamkos, etc., all of whom went first or second overall in their respective draft year. Each of them moved quickly to the NHL and have excelled at that level. Galchenyuk may require an extra year at the junior level to make up for his season lost to injury, but the pedigree and the production so far in his career certainly justify his draft position.
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