In just over a week, many young hockey players' dreams are going to either be realized or severely crushed.
From June 20 to 21, Ottawa will host the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, and a whole crop of hot shot prospects are hoping they will hear their names called.
Three players with strong connections to Greater Sudbury could see their names on the big draft board in Ottawa if everything goes their way.
For 2008, Sudbury Wolves forwards Jared Staal and Eric O'Dell,
along with Sudbury's own and Owen Sound Attack goalie Tyler
Beskorowany, have the best shot at being selected.
Where might you ask? Depending on different reports by different scouting agencies, these fine young men could be picked anywhere from the late stages of the first round to the second round or maybe not at all. Let's hope this isn't the case.
The big name is Staal. He comes from great stock as his three older brothers were drafted in the first round of previous drafts and have all become bonafide NHL players.
Eric is a big scorer for the Carolina Hurricanes and has a 100-point season under his belt. Marc was a rock-steady defenceman for the Wolves for four seasons and is a rising star with the New York Rangers. Jordan is a top-six forward with the talented Pittsburgh Penguins.
The youngest Staal enjoyed a solid season in 2007-08,
collecting 21 goals and 49 points in 60 games. This one year
after recording just three points as a rookie. Staal took a big
step forward this past season and finished second on the Wolves
in scoring.
His finest rate of production came in February when he scored six goals and 13 points in 11 games.
Scouts have told me he could be picked as high as the late first round, just because of his name. Staal offers a great deal of potential, especially since he's a bit more of a bruiser than his brothers were. He's rated 20th by North American Central Scouting (NACS), 31st by the Hockey News (THN) and 43rd by NHL Central Scouting (NCS) for North American players.
I would say he's gone by the 27th pick overall.
O'Dell caught the scouting world's attention after he arrived in Sudbury, via a trade with Oshawa.
The six-foot centre was toiling away in Junior A with Cumberland before absolutely exploding with 14 goals and 32 points in 26 games with Sudbury.
O'Dell dazzled fans and scouts alike with his deceptive speed, creative thinking and pure skill.
With the new rules being strictly enforced in the NHL, O'Dell could turn out to be one of the most prolific players ever selected from the Wolves.
He combines offence and defence and has moves that pull fans out of their seats. He's clutch and has all the tools and the toolbox.
O'Dell enjoyed a four-game run in February against Owen Sound and also finished with 18 points in 13 games that month. He's rated to go 27th overall by NACS, 73rd by THN and 51st by NCS.
I would say O'Dell is going to surprise the ranks and be gone by the 25th pick overall.
Beskorowany is an intriguing prospect as he's a goalie with intimidating size. Standing a staggering six-foot-five and weighing 200-pounds, the Hanmer native is an imposing presence in the net.
Beskorowany played his rookie season for Owen Sound, who just started their rebuilding phase. On a young club, Beskorowany put up impressive numbers with a 12-19-1-2 record with a 4.04 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
He enjoyed 12 games this season where he made at least 40 saves, including a spectacular 65-save performance in a 5-2 loss to Windsor back in October.
Beskorowany is rated 54th overall by NACS, but not rated in the top-100 by THN or in the Top-15 for North American goalies by NCS.
He might be picked or might not.
I will lean heavily towards him being selected. I see a team, looking to hit a homerun with a goalie prospect, will grab Beskorowany by the end of the fourth round.
Another interesting note is the fact Sudbury Wolves 2008 first overall pick, John McFarland, is already being touted as a top pick for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. THN had him listed as the second best prospect for 2010, stating he is a "strong, confident goal scorer with a bullet shot."
For the next two years, McFarland is going to have the professional scouting world coming to a lot of Wolves games.
It's going to be wild seeing how he responds.
