What They're Saying: Caps 2008 Entry Draft

Vogs has done a heckuva job pulling together "what various scouting reports, scouting services and media reports are saying about the eight players chosen by the Washington Capitals in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft," but if that's not enough for you, there's a bit more 411 out there, including:

• The Hockey News' capsules of the Caps draft picks, including scouting reports for most and "impact" for the first rounders.
• Red Line Report has a snippet that adds to what Vogs pulled to note that Braden Holtby's "athleticism masks some serious technique flaws and he doesn't handle the puck well at all," (unfortunate, as he said yesterday that he "like[s] to play the puck a lot to help out [his] D-men") and that he is "[v]ery streaky and emotional — not necessarily a good thing in a netminder."

Look for more updates in this spot as they pop up.

What They're Saying: The Caps' 2007 Draft

With ten picks in this weekend's NHL Entry Draft, the Caps were a busy bunch. Below is a recap of who they picked (click on the image to enlarge it), and a collection of comments on the Caps' 2007 Draft generally (and the draftees specifically) from around the hockey world. Check back often, as this post will be updated as needed.

In General

The Good
In Karl Alzner (fifth overall), the Caps got the consensus best defenseman at the draft. They used all three of their picks in the top 46 to snag rearguards, shoring up that position for years to come.

The Bad
Their second-round pick (34th overall), defenseman Josh Godfrey, is very one-dimensional. Every team needs a power-play quarterback, but Godfrey cannot be a defensive liability in the NHL.

Worth Noting
Drafting high-school kids is always a boom-or-bust endeavor, but the Caps did it at the right time. They used their last two picks on them. Center Nick Larson was selected 185th overall and left wing Andrew Glass was chosen 199th. Larson in particular has a ton of offensive potential; it just needs to be seen against stronger competition. - Forecaster

In the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, the Washington Capitals continued to look towards North American defenders, with some gifted forwards later on. Character and leadership were the common denominators among them. The Capitals also traded down a number of times to gain extra draft picks in what is expected to be a very strong 2008 draft. - Hockey's Future

Karl Alzner, D (1st round, 5th overall):

No question about it, Calgary's Karl Alzner is the consensus top-ranked defenceman this year and if he's not the first defenceman chosen in the draft, it's going to come as a surprise to many. But having said that, the praise for the rangy blueliner is somewhat muted. That's because he's not really a high-end offensive defenceman, nor is he a big, physical bruiser or a defensive presence. "He's one of those guys who does everything pretty well, but nothing is necessarily excellent or over the top," one scout said. Alzner is described by some a true modern-day defenceman, whose ability to play strong positionally and whose stick-on-puck, stick-on-stick game is good. He also gets shots through from the point. While the odd scout has Alzner outside of the top 10, most have him there solidly, if not in the top five, and we know of at least two teams who rate him as the third best player available in this draft. - TSN

A skilled stay-at-home defenseman with good skating ability. Is calm under pressure and composed with the puck. Has good positioning and reads the play well. Has a strong shot from the point. Wins battles along the boards and in his own zone. Needs to improve his acceleration and his ability to change tempo throughout the game. - NHL Central Scouting

Alzner has emerged as a legitimate top 5 candidate for the 2007 NHL Entry draft. A tremendous World Junior camp got him named to the team. He was the seventh d-man. The quiet type who continues to make the difficult plays look easy. He is noted for his outstanding poise and ability to make plays in each zone. He is very skilled and handles the puck with confidence. Would like to see him take more risks offensively and carry the puck but rarely chooses to do so. Is capable of playing physical but needs to demonstrate this on a more regular basis. Overall, an outstanding, well-rounded player who is a definite leader for Calgary. - ISS

He’s quite capable of generating offence as his statistics will testify. Eight goals and 39 assists in 63 games this season easily surpassed his total from his sophomore season. He just doesn’t like to gamble, a trait that is sure to endear him to any of his future coaches. - ISS

He comes with a lot less fanfare than [last year's #1 pick overall, defenseman Erik] Johnson, but Alzner has the makings of a quality top-four defenseman at the NHL level.... Alzner's poise with and without the puck is an attribute that stands out above the crowd.... He has been compared to the likes of Ottawa Senators defenseman Wade Redden for his smooth ability from the back end, though Alzner projects as a more physical, less productive version. He's going to be a good one. - The Hockey News

This year's blue line brigade boasts one high-end talent in Karl Alzner... He brings size, intelligence and a calm presence on the blue line. He ranks right up with Mark Katic as the best passing defensemen in the draft — Alzner's crisp outlets are always right on the tape and he sees the ice very well. He's the type of guy you can safely pencil in as a first pairing d-man for the next 10-12 years.- Kyle Woodlief, Red Line Report

He’s a big, mobile, two-way defenseman and rock solid on both ends of the ice. - Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren

He’s a big defenseman who is a good skater and has a good head on his shoulders. He thinks the game through very well. He can move the puck, and is a good, solid two-way defenseman. He has some offense in his game and is going to be a big solid blueliner. The only question is, what is his top end and how high is he going to get? He’s going to play because he’s smart, mobile and has a good stick. He’s a very solid prospect. - Philadelphia Flyers Director of Hockey Operations Chris Pryor

Alzner is a very polished skater, and he plays a very solid, sound game. There's not a lot of risk with the game he plays. You'd like to see him work that out more in the junior ranks -- to take a few chances, push his envelope a little bit -- but he's just not that kind of player. - Anonymous NHL Scout

I don't know if he's going to be a star in the NHL. But I'd bet a lot of money that he's going to have a long career in the NHL. - Anonymous NHL Scout

[C]learly the top defender in this year's class because of the completeness of his game and the general assurance he will become a very good NHL defenseman without much "bust" potential. He understands the game and does all things very well, thus should be a very high pick. - ESPN

In Alzner, the Capitals have not just a potential No. 1 defender of the future, but someone who could easily become a fan favorite in the years to come. - Hockey's Future

Josh Godfrey, D (2nd round, 34th overall)

[T]he best PP triggerman in the OHL this season with an absolute cannon shot. - Red Line Report

[T]he best in the OHL when it comes to accurately slapping a rubber saucer. - Osprey News Network

Ted Ruth, D (2nd round, 46th overall)

Any team interested in drafting him in June knows they will be getting a character player that has a good chance of developing into a vital asset for the franchise. - NHL.com

[Q]uick skating, finesse puck mover - Kyle Woodlief, Red Line Report

A stay-at-home defenseman with good mobility. Has a good wrist shot from the point that gets through to the net. Plays the body hard and hits with authority. Quick to get to the puck in the corner and strong one-on-one. - NHL Central Scouting

Ruth's character is off the charts. Ruth possesses all of the necessary skills to become an NHL defenseman, but we believe his work ethic and leadership are what will guarantee his success in the NHL. - ESPN

Brett Bruneteau, C (4th round, 108th overall)

[A]n underrated scorer - Kyle Woodlief, Red Line Report

Dan Dunn, G (6th round, 154th overall)

Dunn is already 19 years old and still playing Tier II in the OPJHL, but has plenty of athleticism and good reflexes. - Kyle Woodlief, Red Line Report

Nick Larson, C (7th round, 185th overall)

He's raw, but has a lot of great tools that he's just learning how to harness. Could make a very rapid ascension up the charts if he accelerates the learning curve. - Kyle Woodlief, Red Line Report

Trade Deadline Open Thread

...And down the strech they come!

I thought it would be a good idea to put up an open thread to discuss anything and everything trade-related - rumors, breaking news, whatever. It's your thread - have at it.

Caps Trade Tracker

• Richard Zednik to NYI for a 2007 second round pick
• "A good pick and pretty decent return for an underachieving player, who could walk in the summer for nothing. " - The Score
• Lawrence Nycholat to OTT for defenseman Andy Hedlund and a 2007 sixth round pick
• "Hedlund is a career minor leaguer who will shore up Hershey's blueline in the AHL. The sixth-round pick is also decent." - The Score
• Dainius Zubrus and Timo Helbling to BUF for Jiri Novotny and a 2007 first round pick
• "Novotny's potential, the inclusion of a first rounder and the uncertainty surrounding Zubrus beyond this season make this move a slam-dunk victory for the Capitals down the road." - The Score
• "Add Buffalo to the list of teams overpaying for proven talent. They can afford to, but Novotny is an NHL player and the Sabres were built on draft picks. Good for Washington, but Buffalo is going for the Cup." - Sportsnet
• Jamie Heward to LAK for a conditional 2007 2008 fifth round pick

Caps 2007 Draft Pick Tracker (by round)

1. WSH, BUF
2. WSH, NYI
3. None
4. WSH, NYR
5. WSH
6. OTT
7. WSH, CGY

What They're Saying: The Caps' 2006 Draft

Below is a collection of comments on the Caps' 2006 Draft generally (and the draftees specifically) from around the hockey world. Check back often, as this post will be updated as needed.

James Mirtle:

The Washington Capitals select Nicklas Backstrom, from Sweden. A member of Sweden's world junior championship team, he's a silky smooth puckhandler/playmaker and has been compared to Swedish greats like Peter Forsberg and Henrik Zetterberg.

I had a chance to talk to talk to Backstrom in British Columbia during the world junior tournament, and while his language skills are going to need some improvement, he's an extremely determined youngster who was actually one of the youngest players to ever play in the Swedish Elite League as a 16 year old. Given that he's fallen all the way to No. 4, he could end up being the steal of this draft.

Eric Duhatschek:

The fact that the Washington Capitals bypassed Phil Kessel to select Swedish prospect Nicklas Backstrom counted as the first mild surprise of the draft. General manager George McPhee handled it pretty well — he introduced Alexander Ovechkin, the Calder Trophy winner — and let Ovechkin make the call on Backstrom, who played in the Swedish Elitserien for Brynas and helped a team that's almost always on the cusp on being demoted from the first division stay up this season.

Backstrom had a little Peter Forsberg and a little Joe Sakic in him — he isn't big or exceptionally fast, but he competes hard and possesses unbelievable hockey sense. Presumably, the Capitals figured that Backstrom would be a better fit with Ovechkin than Kessel would.

Bob McKenzie:

[Backstrom] is a great player and the sky's the limit. Scouts say he compares well to Peter Forsberg....

[Semen Varlamov]'s not a prototypical Russian goalie - with his agility and athleticism, this guy has the ability to steal games.

Scott Burnside:

Great idea for Washington to include rookie of the year Alexander Ovechkin in the proceedings as he announced the Caps' first (Swedish forward Nicklas Backstrom) and second (Semen Varlamov) picks of the day.

Although the Caps were prepared to send Ovechkin home after the annual awards ceremony Thursday, Ovechkin said he wanted to stay and meet the new draftees. Throughout the day, Ovechkin could be seen hanging out with the new players and signing autographs and providing interviews to the media.

So much time is spent wondering how best to market the new NHL -- here was a living example of how it should be done.

E.J. Hradek:

Caps superstar Alexander Ovechkin announced the pick to the crowd at the GM Place. The Swedish center will fit nicely on a top line with the Big O. The Caps' top player liked what he saw when he played against Backstrom at the World Championship....

Varlamov figures to be the starting goalie for Team Russia at the 2007 World Junior Championships. He's an athletic stopper. Some scouts believe he has the ability to "steal" games. Somewhere down the road, he could replace Olaf Kolzig in the Caps' crease.

UPDATE (6/26, 9:55 a.m.) - Allan Muir, SI.com:

Nicklas Backstrom (4th) looks like the player most capable of jumping directly to the NHL -- an important element for a team that needs immediate help. He's expected eventually to center Alexander Ovechkin on the first line. Semen Varlamov mans the nets for the Russian Junior Nats, and while a bit of a stretch at 23, he's highly regarded. Watch for Francois Bouchard (35th) and center Brent Gwidt (157th) to help make this one of Washington's most productive classes ever. Grade: A

UPDATE (6/27, 10:30 a.m.) - The Hockey News:

The Good: Nicklas Backstrom (fourth overall) is the most NHL-ready of the 'Big Five'. The Caps are excited about seeing him line up at center with Alexander Ovechkin. They also need to start searching for a replacement for the aging Olaf Kolzig. In choosing two goaltenders early, they hedged their bets.

The Bad: They went off the radar a little early in choosing center Brent Gwidt 156th, and Maxime Lacroix 127th overall.

The Unique: The Caps need a skilled right winger immediately, and Francois Bouchard (Pierre-Marc's brother) will have an opportunity.

The Grade: A+ Washington could not have done better. Backstrom was great pickup, and choosing goalies Semen Varlamov (23rd overall) and Michal Neuvirth (34th overall) they filled a definite need. Grabbing Bouchard 35th was also a great pickup. The team really improved Saturday.

UPDATE (6/30, 7:45 a.m.) - FOX Sports:

Semen Varlamov, goalie, 23rd overall, Washington Capitals: While it was a bit of a surprise that Varlamov was the top Russian to be selected in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, his name being called so early was not by any means a surprise. He is definitely brightest goaltender to come out of Russia since Ilya Bryzgalov and was a great pickup for the Capitals, who lack depth in net after the departures of Maxime Ouellet, Sebastien Charpentier, and Rastislav Stana.

Varlamov has already been the starter for Russia's under-18 squad for two seasons and will inherit the starting role on the under-20 squad for the next two years. He has yet to earn any professional experience in the Super League, but Varlamov has proven his worth on the international arena.

One area for improvement for the young netminder is his positioning. He moves very quickly in the crease and possesses a quick butterfly. Additionally, he possesses a very strong work ethic.

The biggest concern regarding Varlamov's development into a blue chip netminder is the lack of an established hockey school in Yaroslavl and on the Russian national team. While his Yaroslavl counterpart Ivan Kasutin went to Finland to be schooled, Varlamov is completely "home grown" thus far.

At this point it is unclear whether the Capitals will look to bring Varlamov over to the juniors for the 2006-07 season, but if he remains in Russia, he must secure a Super League backup or a High League (Russia 2) starting position to continue his development, as he has already proven all he could at the junior first-league level.

UPDATE (7/4, 7:55 p.m) - Hockey'sFuture:

In a few years, the Washington Capitals may have a Russian as their franchise netminder. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl product Semen Varlamov was the first Russian to have his name called at the GM Place last Saturday in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, becoming only the second Russian goaltender after Yevgeni Ryabchikov to be picked in the first round. Ryabchikov was chosen by the Boston Bruins 21st overall in 1994 but failed to ever make it to the NHL.
...
Semen Varlamov, G (Lokomotiv-2, Russia-2)
1st round pick, 23rd overall by Washington
Picking a goalie so high signaled the Capitals’ determination to find a long-term solution for their goaltending situation. With Olaf Kolzig’s imminent retirement, the team has no quality goaltenders coming up behind him. In fact, they don’t even have a decent backup with talented but inconsistent Rostislav Stana the best netminder behind the aging Kolzig.

Varlamov has a great potential, but he is yet to be tested in the big leagues as he hasn’t played a game in Russian Super League. However, he posted great numbers for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl’s farm team posting eight shutouts in 33 games and keeping his GAA below the 2.00 mark. Varlamov’s assets include his mobility, vision, good reactions and quickness. Investing a first round pick in him was a gamble since it’s still unknown whether he’ll remain consistent and develop at same pace as he steps to the next level and goes to play in the Super League. On the other hand, the most recent Stanley Cup Playoffs proved that a goalie doesn’t need to be overly experienced to assume the starting duties right away and lead his team to the very top.

UPDATE (7/19, 6:39 a.m.): Hockey'sFuture's Capitals 2006 Draft Review is up.

Friday Roundup/Gamenight: Devils @ Caps

[AP Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview - Official Game Day Thread]

Not surprisingly, all the talk in the local papers is about yesterday's trades. The WaPo's coverage is here, the WTimes' here. For more coverage, let's see what they (you know... "they") are saying about the Caps' deals (click on the headers to see yesterday's Rink analysis of the moves):

Brendan Witt to Nashville for Kris Beech and a first round pick:

• "Dutchy correctly points out: 'It certainly is a sellers market'" in response to details of the trade. TSN.ca
• "George McPhee has been sitting on this card all season long and took it down to the last five minutes to get this done with Nashville. Witt's been packed and ready to go for quite some time." - Bob McKenzie, TSN.ca
• "Nashville has made a big-time statement. That is, we're going to trade a first round pick and Kris Beech to get a guy like Brendan Witt. He makes their team better right now and gives them a chance to play against the big boys in the Western Conference. This is a very bold stroke by David Poile and the entire Nashville Predators organization." - Pierre McGuire, TSN.ca
• "The Predators picked up the defenseman they wanted in acquiring Brendan Witt from Washington yesterday, but he didn't come cheap." - Nashville Tennessean
  
• "After whining for a season about how much he wanted to be traded, Brendan Witt finally got his wish. He moves to Nashville for Kris Beech and the Predators’ first rounder this June. Assuming that Witt suddenly becomes the happiest defenseman in Nashville, the Predators now become a team with a shot at making the second playoff round. To Brendan’s credit, his energy never flagged as a Capital despite his misgivings about remaining on a non-playoff team. The Caps, meanwhile, rid themselves of a malcontent and add a solid forward in Beech... George McPhee did well for Washington." - Stan Fischler
  
• "I like Brendan Witt, although not nearly as much as I used to. He was once a pretty damn fine defensive bruiser, although he relied heavily on the skill of Calle Johansson to cover for his forays into Bodycheckland. Witt was grumpy and wanted a trade, and he got it. It's too bad Witt is not nearly as good as he thinks he is, or as good as he once was, because Nashville paid an awfully high price for a rather average-at-best defenseman who takes quite a few bad penalties.... I could see the justification for the Oilers giving a 1st round pick up for Dwayne Roloson. The Oilers wouldn't have a chance in hell with the goaltending they had, and they gambled to fill a glaring hole. The Predators aren't going to get the same boost the Oilers expect to get, so adding Witt for that price was just too expensive." - Jes Golbez
  
• "As with Sean O'Donnell, we've never quite understood the fascination with Brendan Witt, especially in the new NHL. Nonetheless, the Predators bolstered a deep defensive corps with the addition of the veteran blue liner who's been champing at the bit to get out of Washington since before the season started. Predators GM David Poile paid a heavy price -- some would say too heavy. There must be something about the late-blooming Beech that Washington GM George McPhee likes as he returned him to the Caps' fold after making him the seventh overall pick in 1999." - Scott Burnside, ESPN.com

I agree with Golbez and Burnside. To me, Witt is like Chris Simon was in that the more you saw him play, the less you liked his game (especially in the "New NHL"). For some reason, Witt has a reputation as a great defensive defenseman (much the way that Simon briefly had a reputation as a great power forward), but the fact of the matter is he's a penalty kill waiting to happen. Witt has 141 PIMs this year, the fifth-highest total in the League, and is second in minor penalties with 48. That's an awful lot of times he's left his team shorthanded.

As for Beech, the guy has 112 points in 116 AHL games over the last season. Who knows - perhaps he's a late bloomer and will finally justify being taken seventh overall in 1999. Stranger things have happened.

Jeff Friesen to Anaheim for a second round pick:

• "Dude has three goals on the year and the Caps got a better return than Buffalo got for the next Miikka Kiprusoff. Pretty sweet." - JP, Japers' Rink
  

I agree with myself. Good deal for the Caps.

Oh yeah, there's a game tonight, as Ken Klee and the New Jersey Devils invade the Verizon Center.

Thread of the Day: Poll: The Witt Trade (see what Caps fans think of the day's big trade - at last check, 159 out of 191 voters - or 83% - think the trade was either "great" or "good," and only 10 - .05% - think it was either "bad" or "horrible.")

Daily Awards

• Hart: Derek Roy (3 goals, assist, +5,)
  
• Ross: Derek Roy, Brad Richards, Nicklas Lidstrom (4 points each)
  
• Norris: Nicklas Lidstrom (Goal, 3 assists, +1, 4 blocked shots, 1 hit)
  
• Vezina: Miikka Kiprusoff (39-save shutout win)
• Richard: Derek Roy (3 goals)
  
• Calder: Petr Budaj (Win, 26 saves on 27 shots against)
  
• Aiken, Pt. I: John Grahame (5 goals against on 16 shots in 40 minutes before being pulled for...)
• Aiken, Pt. II: Sean Burke (Loss, 2 goals against on 6 shots in 19:12)
• Aiken, Pt. III: Tampa Bay Lightning (Sat on their hands at the trade deadline despite having the two forementioned stiffs as their only goaltending options)