2006 NHL Entry Draft

[boondockdrunk]

The NHL Draft is tomorrow and the Coyotes have the #8 pick overall. Who do you think we will draft with this pick? Who would you like to see us draft?

Here is a list of the top prospects

Sadly, with the recent trend of picks, I see the 'Yotes selecting the #22 overall skater Patrik Berglund with our first pick. I say this because they like big, physical centers with their first rounders (of which none have amounted to anything so far).

The player I would like for them to pick is the #5 overall skater Derick Brassard or #6 Phil Kessel, but a more realistic pick would have to be #7 Peter Mueller who scouts rave about his ability to make those around him better. I really like that quality in a center and at 6'2'' he isn't undersized at the position. Of course, I would not argue if Jordan Staal falls to us and the 'Yotes take him. That is pretty much the best case scenario.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Rumor has it the Yotes are extremely interested in Staal, but he certainly isnt going to last until the 8th pick. However, with two second rounders this year, the team could possibly package up one of those picks with their first rounder to move up a couple spots. They certainly havent been afraid to make moves in order to secure the guy they want in recent years (PO Pelletier in 2005, Enver Lisin in 2004, and Fredrik Sjostrom in 2001).

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The draft will also be televised tomorrow starting at 3 on OLN. St. Louis has the first pick and will most likely take defenseman Erik Johnson, one of the best defensive prospects in the last several years. Much like last year, the second pick is really a wild card, but I expect it to be one of Kessel, Staal, or Toews. If Johnson and Kessel go 1-2 in the draft, that will be the first time in NHL history that US born players are the first two picks.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

The draft will also be televised tomorrow starting at 3 on OLN. St. Louis has the first pick and will most likely take defenseman Erik Johnson, one of the best defensive prospects in the last several years. Much like last year, the second pick is really a wild card, but I expect it to be one of Kessel, Staal, or Toews. If Johnson and Kessel go 1-2 in the draft, that will be the first time in NHL history that US born players are the first two picks.

Woo hoo...this is something that the NHL does better than the NFL...no having to get up early on a weekend to watch the draft!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Rumor has it the Yotes are extremely interested in Staal, but he certainly isnt going to last until the 8th pick. However, with two second rounders this year, the team could possibly package up one of those picks with their first rounder to move up a couple spots. They certainly havent been afraid to make moves in order to secure the guy they want in recent years (PO Pelletier in 2005, Enver Lisin in 2004, and Fredrik Sjostrom in 2001).

Gambo was saying they are working on moving up for Staal. If he's as good as his brother, I say go for it!

 

[Dback Jon]

The Predators are also trying to move up - wanting a center. They have been talking with Pittsburgh, who picks #2

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Interesting rumors today. It appears that after being sixty minutes away from the Cup, Pronger is asking for a trade out of Edmonton for personal reasons. Also, looks like both Carolina and Nashville are looking to trade for the #2 pick. For the Coyotes, it seems like they are still wanting to move up in the draft for Staal, and Paul Mara could be on the block.

 

[JerkFace]

if we are able to grab one of these four players i will be ecstatic.
Jordan Staal, C
Jonathan Toews, C
Phil Kessel, RW
Derick Brassard, C

 

[boondockdrunk]

On a side note, I really like the Blues' multiple selections: Overall picks #1, #30, #31, #64, #77, #94, #106, #124, #154, #184.

So they have 2 first rounders, to go with 2 third rounders and 2 forth rounders along with keeping all of their other picks and, not to mention, the first pick in the draft. They have a chance to completely rebuild their team with this draft even though it is a relatively weak one.

Another team with great position in this draft is the Capitals, as they have 2 first rounders, 3 second rounders, 2 third rounders, 2 fourth rounders, 2 fifth rounders, and 2 sixth rounders.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Peter Mueller seems to be the Yotes pick.

 

[boondockdrunk]

We are up and Peter Mueller is the only person still on my board

*crosses fingers*

 

[boondockdrunk]

Sweet!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

 

[howlincoyote2k1]

I was kinda hoping for Frolik, but I suppose Mueller works.

Gaaaah...I really wish I could be able to watch these guys before the draft, instead of not knowing a damn thing about these guys.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

LOL...that list of our recent top picks was pretty depressing.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

From: CBJ.com

Peter Mueller

Peter Mueller
Position: Right Wing
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 205
Shoots: Right
Birthdate: Apr. 14, 1988
2005-06 Club:

Personal Profile:
Nickname is Muellzy ... favorite player is Philadelphia's Peter Forsberg because he plays both ends of the ice ...wears jersey #88 because it is his birth year ... thanks his parents for having the most influence on his career because "they are the most supportive people" ... patterns his style of play after Boston's Patrice Bergeron because "he can do everything at both ends and we have similar features" ... outside of sports, Mueller most admires his father because "he is an amazing guy and can relate to me with sports" ... most memorable hockey game played was the Under-18 gold medal game because he had the opportunity to play for his country ... most memorable hockey game watched was the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship when USA defeated Canada because "it was great to see the Americans come from behind"...favorites include: Family Guy (TV show), Slap Shot (movie), Jamie Foxx (actor) and Dierks Bentley (musician)... if he had the chance to invite any three people to dinner, they would be: Pamela Anderson, Tom Brady and Bob Marley.



Central Scouting Report:
His speed is deceptive - his pace picks up when in possession of the puck ... has the uncanny ability to be in the right spot at the right time ... has good acceleration to loose pucks ... mobility is good to both sides and is effective in traffic ... has excellent vision and is gifted at moving the puck using soft hands and very good anticipation ... is good at creating space for teammates and has the ability to make teammates play at a higher level ... is an efficient player who knows when to exert the proper energy and has a deceptive, heavy shot with a quick release, excelling at one-timers... would have much better numbers but plays in a very defensive oriented system ... is used effectively to quarterback the power-play ...was 4 of 8 in shootouts this season ... shows a willingness to work the corners and compete for pucks in traffic ... is willing to take a hit to make a play and pays attention to the defensive aspect of the game ... during the last half of the season was much stronger in his own zone ... Everett's 2nd pick, 21st overall in the 2003 WHL Bantam Draft ... a member of Team USA for the 2005 Under-18 World Championship and 2006 World Junior Championships ... played in the 2006 Top Prospects game in Ottawa.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Phoenix Coyotes - Peter Mueller, C
- Mueller attended high school with fellow Coyotes first rounder Blake Wheeler. Youngest member of the 2006 U.S. World Junior team. Bob McKenzie's take: "Scouts had him going anywhere from eight to 30. He's a power play specialist who skates well with good speed."

Interesting that he attended the same high school as Wheeler.

 

[boondockdrunk]

The Coyotes use their second round pick to move up in the draft and take D Chris Summers. While he was not listed on the espn top 30 chart, TSN.com predicted him to go to Nashville at #10 and refer to him as a "cornerstone defensemen."

However, this means that their next pick will now occur in the 4th round (119th overall) and 90 picks after their previous one. I like this decision because this is a relatively weak draft and players picked in the later rounds have even a smaller chance of playing professionally than in previous years.

The trade consisted of us giving Detroit our two second rounders (#41 and 47) and Detroit trading their first rounder (#29) and fifth rounder (#152).

 

[Scott MS]

The Coyotes use their second round pick to move up in the draft and take D Chris Summers. While he was not listed on the espn top 30 chart, TSN.com predicted him to go to Nashville at #10 and refer to him as a "cornerstone defensemen."

However, this means that their next pick will now occur in the 4th round (119th overall) and 90 picks after their previous one. I like this decision because this is a relatively weak draft and players picked in the later rounds have even a smaller chance of playing professionally than in previous years.

The trade consisted of us giving Detroit our two second rounders (#41 and 47) and Detroit trading their first rounder (#29) and fifth rounder (#152).

Anybody else find it interesting that as Summer's name was called and he was given the Coyotes jersey, it already said "Summer" on the back?

This trade might have been planned before the draft and Detroit was waiting to see who was available before doing the deal.

 

[boondockdrunk]

The following are the grades given to the Coyotes from some different sources:

The Good
The Coyotes need elite forwards, particularly at center. They also like size up front. They addressed that with their top selection of Peter Mueller. They used their eighth overall pick to select the big pivot who has great reflexes and a reach that has people thinking Dave Andreychuk.

The Bad
Phoenix has was one of the best young groups of defensemen in the NHL. Despite this, they went out and selected four more rearguards.

The Unique
Four of Phoenix's eight draft picks weigh in at 205 pounds or more. That's to be expected in the NHL, but not when we're talking about 18-year-olds.

The Grade: C
While Mueller was a great selection, their decision to pick up so many defensemen is questionable. Especially when one of them, Chris Frank (188th overall) wasn't on the Central Scouting list.

I don't know, the FO was said to pick the BPA no matter what position they play. In a system rated #25 (out of 30 teams), they need all the help they can get.

Phoenix Coyotes

Peter Mueller (8th) is a big, smart center whose game is so well rounded that he might play next season. Think of him as a Joe Nieuwendyk-type. The Yotes traded up to grab defender Chris Summers (29th), a slick skater who has played forward as well. He'll take awhile to get there, but he'll eventually make his mark in Phoenix. Fifth founder Brett Bennett (130th) impressed in the nets with both the U.S. Under-17 and U-18 teams. If he develops, this could be Phoenix's best draft since moving to the desert. Grade: B

Everyone seems to love the Mueller pick...

Both scouts concurred that there's not a lot of difference between the 2nd and 7th prospects. The one that spends a lot of time out west was quite impressed with Mueller, and would be tempted to pick him over both Kessel and Brassard. "They're all so close," he said. "But I saw Mueller play some outstanding games. He's really smart and skilled."

I asked both of them who their top defenceman is after Johnson -
- both of them said Summers and Sanguinetti. I asked them if Summers was a top 20 pick, and they both concurred.