Conclusion of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

by Molando4 on Jun 25, 2011 7:47 PM EDT

Having waited anxiously for these past two days for what seems like an eternity, I couldn't be happier with Ottawa's performance in Minnesota. Coming away with 4 great forward prospects (Zibanejad, Noesen, Puempel & Prince) and a couple project players selected in the following rounds, I think it's safe to say that Ottawa's forward prospect cupboard has been restocked. Not to mention the trading of our 3rd rounder to Columbus for Filatov, Murray et al must be quite satisfied.

Despite everyone's apparent surprise when Murray's contract was extended an additional 3 years, I have always trusted in his capabilities as our GM. Although he has shown to make judgment errors in both the free agent market (signing over-the-hill players such as Gonchar and Kovalev to massive deals!) and trades (see Dany Heatley), he has always impressed at the draft. In the salary cap era where elite/great players rarely hit unrestricted free agency before or during their prime, the draft has become more important than ever before.

That being said. These past two days have really gone a long way in furthering my faith in Bryan Murray. I realize that it is very premature to evaluate this year's draft and attempt to rate the drafted players. However, it is Murray's decisiveness that shined through these past two days. He could have overpaid to land Landeskog, but he didn't. Again, he could have over paid to yank Oshie from St. Louis, but he didn't. Sticking to his guns, he used his two picks in the first round, and then boldly traded for a 3rd first rounder to select Puempel. Furthermore, trading our 3rd rounder for the talented Filatov, despite the enigma surrounding russian born players, seems like a low risk/high reward move that I bet the majority of other NHL teams wish they could have executed.

Without going into too much depth regarding our first round selections, I love Ottawa's three choices. Murray's dedication to building arguably one of the best scouting staff's in the NHL will eventually show once our prospects develop and hopefully reach their potential. Look how well it's worked for Detroit for the past couple decades, seemingly continually turning out project players achieving NHL potential. With these past few drafts, Murray et al have done an enviable job. Having read that upon taking over for Muckler, Murray has doubled the size of the scouting department, it is no surprise that to date he has been successful.

In closing, I want to put my two cents in regarding the selection Matt Puempel. Although I do LOVE the pick of Zibanejad and fully trust Murray's selection of Noesen, the prospect I am most high on is Puempel. As a 16-17 year old he was named the CHL rookie of the year, only to follow that up with an injury shortened, but still improved season. What is most exciting for me is that from what I have heard, Puempel has achieved this success on a relatively weak Peterborough team. I can only imagine where he may have been selected not only if he had been injury free this season, but if he was playing with talent comparable to his own! Just a thought!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend Sens fans!

-Molando4

Poll

Which Sens weekend selection/acquisition are you most excited by?!

Zibanejad

31 votes

Noesen

3 votes

Puempel

7 votes

Filatov

38 votes

Prince

4 votes

Other

1 votes

84 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a member of the Silver Seven community, and does not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of the site managers, editors, or Sports Blogs Nation, Inc.

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Comments

I voted for Filatov

I just didn’t see this coming up, and that was the first thing I saw when I woke up. Totally blew me away.

Not saying he is the best player we got on the weekend, but he is the most I am excited for, especially as he is likely the only one that will play for us this season.

But overall, it was an awesome weekend. I love most of the picks, especially #6 for Zibanejad.

An Ottawa Senators supporter in Toronto, Ontario. I am cool like that.

by Adnan on Jun 25, 2011 7:53 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with you on most of your assessments

But blaming Murray for the Heatley deal is unfair. Heatley handcuffed him, so he had to pull the trigger. Frankly, I think Michalek’s best years are ahead of him, and he will yet prove important. Not that Ottawa will ever be seen to have “won” that trade, but whatever. Regardless, that trade was Heatley’s fault. I wasn’t mad that he wanted out so much as I was upset with how immaturely he handled it. He had no regard for what he was doing to the Sens, he just wanted to get back on to a first power play unit. He was selfish and classless, and he deserves no respect for that.

To echo Adnan, I voted for Filatov as well, if only because he’s more than likely a few short months away from playing in a Sens jersey. Zibanejad may end up having a more productive NHL career (and I hope he does), and the same goes for Noesen and Puempel, but the immediacy of the Filatov deal is exciting.

My only concern with any of these players is with Puempel, who my younger brother knows well, having played with him and against him for many years. He says Puempel has always been noticeably slow, even among his peers. That being said, he still has consistently found ways to score. I trust my brother’s assessments, but I hope that Puempel can make a solid career without having much in the way of speed.

brent

by bacraswell on Jun 25, 2011 10:45 PM EDT reply actions

you can always always always

improve a player’s speed and skating strength if he’s willing to put in the work — ie relearn efficient fundamentals etc, but you simply cannot teach hockey sense and a penchant for scoring. like you said, he’s found ways to score and that’s just something he’s born with. hopefully the training staff here will do a great job and condition him physically to improve all the other aspects of his game

by Caden on Jun 26, 2011 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

Like most of our picks, it’s incumbent upon him to improve if he wants to be an NHL player. Ottawa’s going to give him a chance. The question is, “What will he do with it?”

He may never win fastest skater at the Sens Super Skills, but Heatley is a coveted goal-scorer who has below average skating ability. It’s not impossible.

Silver Seven - The Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators Blogs

by Mark Parisi on Jun 26, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I really hope the Filatov project works out

Hopefully guys like Gonchar and Alfredsson and even Spezza are good influences on him. He definitely has potential. The thing that worries me is his track record…. there is an article in the Citizen today about him…. failed twice in Columbus, refuses to play D, and had his captaincy stripped during the WJC.
I’m still optimistic it works out, but I voted Zibanejad just incase.

by Sports Fan! on Jun 26, 2011 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

The Filatov trade kinda makes me sad.

I really wanted to buy low on Alex Frolov and put him in as the 2nd LW. I freaking love that he’s a high skill Russian forward that’s fairly competent in the defensive zone.

by BobbyF on Jun 26, 2011 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

How could you be sad about Filatov in favour of Frolov!?

The potential Filatov has shown to possess is limitless! For such a low price it is a dream come true we were able to take a flier on such a talented prospect. Keeping in mind that Russia seems more than a viable option for him at this stage in his career, what do you think Frolov will be demanding in the open market ? Hardly seems like a worthy risk considering his term would definitely be more than a single year.

by Molando4 on Jun 28, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions