Quote:
Originally Posted by driveway
This list has three defencemen listed from 33-35, right around our 2nd round pick: Vanier, DeAngelo, and Dougherty, anyone with more knowledge than me have any perspective on these players?
I also like the looks of Brendan Lemieux, having Claude Lemieux's kid on the roster wouldn't be a bad thing would it? When was the last time we had a real agitator on the team? Ville Nieminen?
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Vanier is a monster (6'5", 225lbs) whose draft stock on mock drafts & the like seems to have risen, despite playing with a shoulder injury since November. He had shoulder surgery eventually and missed the playoffs as a result. Despite that he got 15 goals, mostly due to his cannon of a slapshot. Plays with a mean edge, but by all accounts his skating is a major weakness and needs a lot of work. I don't think I would take him at 34, but if he was still available in the 3rd round (which seems possible) I would pick him there.
DeAngelo is a bit like Gaudreau, in that he's originally from New Jersey and is an undersized offensive dynamo. He has first round talent as an offensive defenceman but his lack of size and perceived attitude problems have hampered his draft stock. I think he might still go in the 1st round, especially if a team feels they can convince him to buy into the team mentality, instead of his current 'Me First' attitude.
I haven't followed Dougherty for long, but he ticks a lot of boxes for the Flames: good size, RH shot and great hockey IQ. By all accounts he is a really solid defenceman, but maybe tops out as a 2nd-pairing guy. Not a very quick skater, but it doesn't sound like a big issue. Committed to NCAA (Wisconsin). I think he should go early in the 2nd round but I've seen him listed late in the 1st. I think he would be a very solid pick at 34, if not particularly exciting.