Tilley
06-22-2013, 08:56 PM
As a GM in the CPHL for less than three months, it has been trial by fire for me with the Hawks. When the season ended I had one third round pick (#66) and few ECHL prospects that I had even heard of. In my preparation for the draft I came to realize that the Hawks had 5(!) first round picks last year (Yakupov, Dumba, Subban, Girgensons, and Tom Wilson), none of which are in the organization. Therefore the goal for this draft was to acquire additional picks in a deep draft and add depth to the Hawks' prospect pool despite no first round pick.
For each pick I have linked a prospect report, to provide some info for those who are not familiar with the picks.
#55 - C/LW - William Carrier (http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/05/26/william-carrier-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile-45/)
http://cdn2-www.hockeysfuture.com/assets/uploads/2012/10/william_carrier_cape_breton_030412.jpg
Carrier was considered a top prospect entering the 2012-13 season. Athough he broke his ankle, limiting the number of games played he was able to score over a PPG. He was someone I was targeting at 55 and was happy to see him available.
#66 - D - Tommy Vannelli (http://thehockeywriters.com/tommy-vannelli-the-next-ones-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/)
http://mnhockeyprospects.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Tommy-Vannelli-300x255.jpg
Some have speculated that Vanelli could sneak into the first round, however it is likely that he is a 2nd round pick next week. I was pleased to see him available early in the third round as I did not expect to see him there. An offensive right-handed defenseman, Vanelli skates effortlessly and has tremendous hockey sense. He's headed to Minnesota so I will need to be patient, but the potential is worth the necessary time to develop.
#69 - LW - Peter Cehlarik (http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/6/18/4441460/peter-cehlarik-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile)
http://cdn.hockeyligan.se/photos/13/02/6e41bc9d74559f1b6de0f04a679a2f53/thumb_460.jpg
Cehlarik is a forward that I have been very high on since I first became aware of him. While just an average skater, he has shown that he is skilled offensively in every league he has played in. A fast riser, from unranked by Central scouting at mid-season to #28 in the final rankings, I pounced on him at #69 as I suspected he may not be around at #81.
#81 - G - Spencer Martin (http://thehockeywriters.com/spencer-martin-the-next-ones-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/)
http://chl.uploads.mrx.ca/ohl/images/en/newser/2011/12/2012_WU17_Martin_AMM_71321302.jpg
A big, athletic goalie, Spencer Martin has shown he can carry a team in Mississauga and earned a spot with the U18 Canadian team. Apparently goalies are not coveted in the CPHL so he may have been a bit more of a reach than I anticipated, however I am very pleased to add a great goalie prospect to the Hawks system.
#106 - D - Jesse Lees (http://www.mckeenshockey.com/draft-blog/whl-kelowna-rockets-jesse-lees/)
http://whl.uploads.mrx.ca/kelowna/images/en/rosterheadleague/2012/09/Jesse_Lees1826.jpg
Although he' unranked by Central Scouting, there are plenty of others that think highly of Lees. At the beginning of the season some compared him to Madison Bowey and although he comes up short in that comparison, Lees still has the ability to be a NHL defenseman. Next season with Kelowna will be interesting to see where Lees fits in with a team known for producing NHL defensemen.
#108 - LW - Stephen Harper (http://thehockeywriters.com/stephen-harper-the-next-ones-nhl-2013-draft-prospect-profile/)
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/97PiYWgxTE1v.02rgdZoww--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptcajuniorhockeyexperts/Erie-Otters-left-wing-Stephen-Harper-Aaron-Bell-OHL-Images.jpg
After a couple of guys I had my eye on were selected, I settled on Harper who at one time was thought of as a potential first round pick but has since fallen. Inconsistency has led to Harper's downfall, however at #108 he may be worth the risk if he can even out the rough patches.
#115 - D - Tyler Lewington (http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/tyler-lewington/)
https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/2240090603/hockey1.jpg
Lewington is a big, mean defenseman for the Tigers who did vey well in testing at the combine. While that doesn't mean much on the ice, it certainly doesn't hurt. He has shown to not be completely devoid of offensive skill, however he is thought to be a strong defensive defenseman.
#147 - D - Kyle Burroughs (http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/hockey/pats-hockey/Regina+Pats+player+Kyle+Burroughs+stock+rising/8291855/story.html)
http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/hockey/pats-hockey/cms/binary/8293651.jpg
Kyle Burroughs has a motor that will not quit. In the Pats games that I was able to view online, he stood out to me as someone who is aggressive and is plays on the edge. He put up most of his offensive stats in the 2nd half of the season and I'm hoping that he has finally put everything together to make himself a viable option for an NHL team.
For each pick I have linked a prospect report, to provide some info for those who are not familiar with the picks.
#55 - C/LW - William Carrier (http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/05/26/william-carrier-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile-45/)
http://cdn2-www.hockeysfuture.com/assets/uploads/2012/10/william_carrier_cape_breton_030412.jpg
Carrier was considered a top prospect entering the 2012-13 season. Athough he broke his ankle, limiting the number of games played he was able to score over a PPG. He was someone I was targeting at 55 and was happy to see him available.
#66 - D - Tommy Vannelli (http://thehockeywriters.com/tommy-vannelli-the-next-ones-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/)
http://mnhockeyprospects.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Tommy-Vannelli-300x255.jpg
Some have speculated that Vanelli could sneak into the first round, however it is likely that he is a 2nd round pick next week. I was pleased to see him available early in the third round as I did not expect to see him there. An offensive right-handed defenseman, Vanelli skates effortlessly and has tremendous hockey sense. He's headed to Minnesota so I will need to be patient, but the potential is worth the necessary time to develop.
#69 - LW - Peter Cehlarik (http://www.inlouwetrust.com/2013/6/18/4441460/peter-cehlarik-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile)
http://cdn.hockeyligan.se/photos/13/02/6e41bc9d74559f1b6de0f04a679a2f53/thumb_460.jpg
Cehlarik is a forward that I have been very high on since I first became aware of him. While just an average skater, he has shown that he is skilled offensively in every league he has played in. A fast riser, from unranked by Central scouting at mid-season to #28 in the final rankings, I pounced on him at #69 as I suspected he may not be around at #81.
#81 - G - Spencer Martin (http://thehockeywriters.com/spencer-martin-the-next-ones-2013-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/)
http://chl.uploads.mrx.ca/ohl/images/en/newser/2011/12/2012_WU17_Martin_AMM_71321302.jpg
A big, athletic goalie, Spencer Martin has shown he can carry a team in Mississauga and earned a spot with the U18 Canadian team. Apparently goalies are not coveted in the CPHL so he may have been a bit more of a reach than I anticipated, however I am very pleased to add a great goalie prospect to the Hawks system.
#106 - D - Jesse Lees (http://www.mckeenshockey.com/draft-blog/whl-kelowna-rockets-jesse-lees/)
http://whl.uploads.mrx.ca/kelowna/images/en/rosterheadleague/2012/09/Jesse_Lees1826.jpg
Although he' unranked by Central Scouting, there are plenty of others that think highly of Lees. At the beginning of the season some compared him to Madison Bowey and although he comes up short in that comparison, Lees still has the ability to be a NHL defenseman. Next season with Kelowna will be interesting to see where Lees fits in with a team known for producing NHL defensemen.
#108 - LW - Stephen Harper (http://thehockeywriters.com/stephen-harper-the-next-ones-nhl-2013-draft-prospect-profile/)
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/97PiYWgxTE1v.02rgdZoww--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptcajuniorhockeyexperts/Erie-Otters-left-wing-Stephen-Harper-Aaron-Bell-OHL-Images.jpg
After a couple of guys I had my eye on were selected, I settled on Harper who at one time was thought of as a potential first round pick but has since fallen. Inconsistency has led to Harper's downfall, however at #108 he may be worth the risk if he can even out the rough patches.
#115 - D - Tyler Lewington (http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/tyler-lewington/)
https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/2240090603/hockey1.jpg
Lewington is a big, mean defenseman for the Tigers who did vey well in testing at the combine. While that doesn't mean much on the ice, it certainly doesn't hurt. He has shown to not be completely devoid of offensive skill, however he is thought to be a strong defensive defenseman.
#147 - D - Kyle Burroughs (http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/hockey/pats-hockey/Regina+Pats+player+Kyle+Burroughs+stock+rising/8291855/story.html)
http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/hockey/pats-hockey/cms/binary/8293651.jpg
Kyle Burroughs has a motor that will not quit. In the Pats games that I was able to view online, he stood out to me as someone who is aggressive and is plays on the edge. He put up most of his offensive stats in the 2nd half of the season and I'm hoping that he has finally put everything together to make himself a viable option for an NHL team.