[Toxic]

Cooke_Hart said:

I see you're excited.

How old is Koltsov? I found it strange that he wasn't included in the Hockey News future watch.  

Speaking of that mag it would probably make more sense to publish post trade deadline with the updates in it. i.e. Nillson and O'Marra in Edmonton as opposed to NY Islanders.

Also: In their reflection on their past rankings of 5 years ago (02') and 10 years ago (97') they were laughably bad. Just goes to show you how much a guessing game this whole prospect thing is.

Koltsov's age makes him no longer eligible to be a prospect. I howeverhave different criteria, to me they lose their prospect tag after they've been given a good chance at making the NHL. Whether it means they play games here, or they snub the chance, thats when i decide they arent one any more. If Koltsov doesnt come over this summer, he wont be considered a prospect in my books next season

Yes, HockeysFuture has missed some prospects, but thats not a reflection of them, if every prospect turned out to be the player they were drafted as, half the prospect charts would be different. Thats what makes it so great, guys like Nathan Smith and MA Bernier dont do so well, but Hansen Shirokov, Simek and Bieksa make up for it

[Winger]

i can't wait to see raymond

[Cooke_Hart]

Sure and the Canucks have survived on late round draft picks (Cooke, Sopel etc...) but what I found amazing was that they had

97'
1. Marc Denis
2. Andrei Zyuzin
3. Eric Rasmussen
4. Chris Phillips
5. Alexei Morozov

02'
1. Tuomo Ruutu
2. Ryan Miller
3. Stanislov Chistov
4. Nederost
5. Jeff Jillson

Now the 02' prospects are a better list but what's surprsing to me is that if you look at this year's top 5 most pundits expect them to be star caliber players. I can only assume that this was true when these various prospects were up and coming but there's only one that's a star (Miller) and only one other I would consider could develop into one (Ruutu.)

It's not an indictment of Hockey News' abilities (maybe a little actually) but more it just puts the current prospects into perspective.

[Winger]

Cooke_Hart said:

Sure and the Canucks have survived on late round draft picks (Cooke, Sopel etc...) but what I found amazing was that they had

97'
1. Marc Denis
2. Andrei Zyuzin
3. Eric Rasmussen
4. Chris Phillips
5. Alexei Morozov

02'
1. Tuomo Ruutu
2. Ryan Miller
3. Stanislov Chistov
4. Nederost
5. Jeff Jillson

Now the 02' prospects are a better list but what's surprsing to me is that if you look at this year's top 5 most pundits expect them to be star caliber players. I can only assume that this was true when these various prospects were up and coming but there's only one that's a star (Miller) and only one other I would consider could develop into one (Ruutu.)

It's not an indictment of Hockey News' abilities (maybe a little actually) but more it just puts the current prospects into perspective.

i live in ottawa so i see quite a few sens games and i can say that while phillips isnt a superstar hes their unsung hero and contributes quite alot to their games(not as much as tom preissing though)

[itzabreeze]

toxic rd said:

MASON RAYMOND TURNING PRO

RAYMONG WILL FORGO HIS LAST 2 YEARS OF COLLEGE EILIGIBILITY AND BEGIN SKATING WITH THE MANITOBA MOOSE AS EARLY AS SUNDAY

Source!.


This could be one of the best days ever!!!!!

Edit

Found it!.

[itzabreeze]

NISKANEN AND RAYMOND OPT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL RANKS

Last Updated: Friday, March 16, 2007 12:20 PM
Mason Raymond (left) and Matt Niskanen


Sophomore standouts and 2006-07 All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association first team selections Matt Niskanen and Mason Raymond have both decided to forego their final two years of collegiate eligibility at the University of Minnesota Duluth to play professionally.

Niskanen, a 6-1, 195-pound defenseman, is expected to join the Iowa Stars (the Dallas Stars' American Hockey League affiliate) early next week while Raymond, a 6-0, 190-pound left winger, will head to Winnipeg to skate with the Manitoba Moose (the Vancouver Canucks' AHL affiliate) possibly as early as this Sunday.

"Obviously it's disappointing to lose these two outstanding players, both of whom have had a major impact on our team the past two seasons," said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. "But, at the same time, it's a great opportunity for Matt and Mason and we certainly wish them well at the next level."

Niskanen concluded the 2006-07 regular season ranking second in both scoring and goals among all WCHA defensemen and was also second in the league to Raymond in power play points. In 39 games this season, the Mountain Iron, Minn. product had a career-best 31 points on nine goals -- seven of which came on the power play -- and 22 assists. The last UMD blueliner to produce a larger scoring harvest was senior Andy Reierson in 2001-02 (35 points). Niskanen, who is just the second first-round National Hockey League draft pick to don a Bulldog uniform (Dallas Stars in 2005), was a member of the U.S. National Junior Team one year ago.

Raymond, a native of Cochrane, Alberta and the Vancouver Canucks' second round draft pick in 2005, reigned as the WCHA’s second-leading overall scorer this past regular season while also topping the league in both assists and power play points. The 2005-06 WCHA All-Rookie Team selection rolled up 46 points -- the most by a Bulldog in three years -- on 14 goals 32 assists and also had a hand in more of his team’s total goals (44.7 percent) than any other WCHA player. Earlier this year (Jan. 20), he set a WCHA 2006-07 single-game high with five assists (one shy of the UMD record) at St. Cloud State University. Raymond, who had skated in all 79 games since joining the Bulldog program one year ago, earned WCHA Player of the Week acclaim on two occasions in 2006-07.

[Winger]

who was our 3rd pick in 05

[Toxic]

CSteele said:

who was our 3rd pick in 05

didnt have one

[Winger]

ah. 4th?

[Rough Neck]

CSteele said:

ah.  4th?

Vincent I think.

[Winger]

ok

[Millerdraft]

toxic rd said:

MASON RAYMOND TURNING PRO

RAYMONG WILL FORGO HIS LAST 2 YEARS OF COLLEGE EILIGIBILITY AND BEGIN SKATING WITH THE MANITOBA MOOSE AS EARLY AS SUNDAY

P!mpA$$! :twisted:

[Rough Neck]

1 - Bourdon
2 - Raymond
4 - Vincent
5 - Butcher
6 - Fredhiem
7 - Bliznak

that was 05 for Canucks.

[CCF4E]

YAYYYYYYYYYY RAYMONDS COMING

[Winger]

Rough Neck said:

1 - Bourdon
2 - Raymond  
4 - Vincent  
5 - Butcher
6 - Fredhiem  
7 - Bliznak  

that was 05 for Canucks.

we got bliznak? cool

[Blister Soul]

Awesome to hear that Raymond's joining the Moose!

[Rough Neck]

CSteele said:

Rough Neck said:

1 - Bourdon
2 - Raymond  
4 - Vincent  
5 - Butcher
6 - Fredhiem  
7 - Bliznak  

that was 05 for Canucks.

we got bliznak? cool

8)

[-mb]

toxic rd said:

MASON RAYMOND TURNING PRO

RAYMONG WILL FORGO HIS LAST 2 YEARS OF COLLEGE EILIGIBILITY AND BEGIN SKATING WITH THE MANITOBA MOOSE AS EARLY AS SUNDAY

SWEET!!!

Can't say I saw this coming but this is unreal. Moose should be VERY happy with this move. Success on the Moose = potential playoff call up? Hopefully.

BTW toxic do you think I could use that Grabner avatar for the time being?

[CCF4E]

I have a new sig on Grabby 8)

[Toxic]

Hrmmmmmmmmmm, who should get the Grabby Avatar, i was planning on giving it to Grabner, considering his bloody username is named after him