Who should the Habs draft ? a simple calculation should get us close ...

Well I recently had the chance to discuss with Hockey pros and Amateurs and here are the points they all agree on once you correlate everything ( the number are the urgency to get these attributes on the Habs on level from 1 to 10 ) :

- Size up front, physical presence ( 7 )
- Smooth skating with a nose for the net ( 4 )
- Right handed Centerman ( fine I get it ... ) ( 9 )
- Smart 2 way player ( 5 )
- 5 on 5 play !!! ( 9 )

Well ... here at Puckmania our picks for the Habs are ( considering your points ) :
Obviously the Habs would have to trade up

- Kyle Turris - From Burnaby BCHL - 6'1 170 pnds - Right Handed Centerman
( projected to go early first )

Pros : Some scouts have called him a mix between Doug Gilmour and Steve Yzerman, there is no doubt there is potential, great skater, can put the puck in the net !

Cons : at 170 pounds, can he compete with men ? Physical play isn't stellar and at times he is overprowered, although his talent makes up for it.

Our view : Remember Eric Staal's first season with the Canes ? unless Turis puts on some weight, his career will look like Staal's first season : signs of dominance but physically incapable of keeping up with physical players almost 70 pounds heavier.

- Vitali Karamnov - From Moscow Dynamo - 6'2 190 pnds - Right handed Centerman
(projected late 1st early 2nd pick )


Pros : Deceptively fast for his size, has quick hands, a great balance of skills and size.

Cons : He will need to learn the N.A game as fast as possible as physical implication isn't a hallmark of his play, but would he come over ?

Our view : He's got hands and size and is HARD to push off the puck, but at some point the name DAINIUS ZUBRUS creeps into your mind when you see him play and you can only snicker once thats done ...


- Sam Gagner - London Knights - 5'10 191 pnds - Right Handed Forward
( projected to go mid-first )

Pros : Can play center and wing, a truly gifted and multi-faceted hockey player and HARD worker, he will work, work, work and do whatever it takes to make sure he isn't being outworked by anyone

Cons : How much of a product of Kostitsyn and Kane is Gagner ? No one really knows ...

Our view : Yes, he isn't 6'4 , but at 190 pounds, try knockingthis guy off the puck, you can definitly understand the comparisons some have made to Doug Gilmour and Chris Higgins ( especially on puck possession ), and the leader qualities are a strength, he is TRULY one of those examples where you wish the NHL could push the draft age a bit to see how some kids develop.

Considered :

- Zach Hamill - Everett in the WHL - 5'11 180 pnds - Right Handed Centerman
( projected late first rounder )

- Patrick White - Tri-City USHL - 6'1 186 - Right Handed Centerman
( projected to go in the Second )