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20-Jul-2009
Atlanta Nation
(AP)
Dylan Olsen, D - 6'2 210 lbs - Jan 3 1991 - AJHL Camrose Kodiaks
1st round, 25th overall
Olsen impressed Atlanta scouts as one of the top defenders for Canada in the U-18 tournament in Fargo in April. His physical and well-rounded game has drawn comparisons to Patriots Brent Seabrook and Sting Rays Cam Barker. Olsen scored 10 goals and 19 assists in 53 regular season games for the Kodiaks. His 29 total points tied for fourth on the team. Olsen played for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge where his squad took second. Thanks in large part to his good mobility and huge left-handed shot, Olsen has had success from the point on the power play. He scored five power-play goals last season and should continue to see time on the man-advantage as he takes his game to the next level. Defensively, his size and awareness give him a fair amount of shut-down ability. He'll look to continue bulking up in the next couple years.
Olsen is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth next season, though the possibility remains that he could play in the WHL where Medicine Hat holds his rights.
Alexander Avtsin, RW – 6'2 198 lbs – Mar 19 1991 - Russia3 Dynamo Moscow 2
3th round, 85th overall
Avtsin might just be this year’s Evgeny Grachev, a later round pick who turns into an effective NHA player. But he won’t play in the CHL next year even though he was picked up by the Remparts in the CHL Import Draft. With this pick, the Rockets gained a potential first line player, whose play reminds a bit of Alexander Ovechkin for the great hands and the physical edge, though being of course anywhere near to him in terms of development, both technical and physical. Avtsin also must earn some experience at the top levels as he did have a striking season with Dynamo’s junior farm team, but he has played only a bunch of games with the national team of his age and no one with Dynamo’s main lineup.
Even if he opted to not report to the CHL, it’s not easy to determine if it would have been better for him between the Remparts or staying at home in Russia. Considering Dynamo’s stacked lineup he unlikely will see any KHL constant action even if he might serve as backup for injured players, thus a move to North America might not sound bad, but the formation of the new panrussian junior league might also encourage more players playing there and it shouldn’t bad for his development to keep on working on his game at home.
Igor Bobkov, G - 6'4 192 lbs – Jan 2 1991 - Russia3 Magnitogorsk 2
3rd Round, 86th overall
At 6'4, Bobkov certainly stands tall between the pipes, and his status as the only Russian goaltender taken in the 2009 Entry Draft only solidifies that. A late riser on draft boards due to the U18 World Championships in which he was named top goaltender, visa issues kept him from the draft and will also unfortunately keep him out of developmental camp with the Rockets this season.
Bobkov has plenty of talent, but it will take further time to adjust to the North American style. He will continue to work inRussia and aim for the league from there.
Steven Anthony, LW – 6’1 205 lbs – Mar 21 1991 - QMJHL Saint John
4th round, 96th overall
At just 16 he was hyped as a possible top ten pick for the 2009 NHA Entry Draft. Up until the halfway point of the 2008-09 QMJHL season he had fell as low as to say he would be a long shot to just be drafted. In the first 93 games of his QMJHL career, Anthony had yet to display the skill that once made him so highly thought of, or the stats to go with it – he had only 32 points. He seemed to find his stride when Chris Didomenico was traded from the Sea Dogs to Drummondville, however, and managed to score a point per game over the last 29 games of the season.
He is a big winger with superb playmaking skills that would normally garner a first round selection though Anthony has two gaping holes in his game – consistency and work ethic. The skill is there, it is just a question of whether or not Anthony can stay focused and motivated. With hard work and effort his skill should translate into NHA success.
Benjamin Casavant, LW - 6'1 213 lbs – Jan 21 1991 - QMJHL PEI
4th round, 110th overall
The Rockets second 4th round pick was definitely a "boom or bust" pick for the 2009 Draft. Casavant has all of the offensive ability in the world. He has a laser shot, slick passing abilities, and great hockey sense. The huge problem was that he ranked as one of the worst skaters in the entire draft. With poor acceleration, top speed, or lateral mobility, Casavant will have to improve this before he is ready to take on the pro game. With 39 goals and 80 points in only 69 games in 2008-09, his offensive talent cannot be denied. The Rockets' are hoping that he can increase his foot speed and skating ability so he is able to become a more well-rounded player and prospect in the near future.
David Gilbert, C - 6'1 184 lbs – Feb 9 1991 - QMJHL Quebec Remparts
5th round, 140th overall
Gilbert's talent may have had him pegged much higher in the draft if not for questions surrounding the young center's work ethic. He has played about a year and a half in the Quebec league. In his first full junior season Gilbert scored 11 goals and 43 points, eighth best on his team, in 67 games for Patrick Roy's Remparts squad. Though he is still relatively early in his junior career, Gilbert has already displayed good playmaking skills in a fairly limited role.
Cameron Reid, C – 6'2 185 lbs – Aug 25 1991 - BCHL Westside
6th round, 170nd overall
With Westside of the BCHL, Reid scored 12 goals and 28 assists through 58 games, while adding four goals and three assists through eight playoff games. As an August birthday, he is possibly a late bloomer.
The 6-foot-2 center could add more weight to his frame. Reid will be attending the University of New Hampshire in the fall.
Tommi Kivisto, D - 6'1 195 lbs – Jun 7 1991 - WHL Red Deer
6th round, 175th overall
Kivisto struggled in his transition to the North American game. He recorded 22 points (one goal, 21 assists) in 65 games with Red Deer, but managed just six points after playing for Finland at the World Juniors over the holidays.
Unfortunately for the Rebels, Kivisto has reportedly signed a two-year deal to return to his homeland and play for Jokerit of SM-Liiga, but the Rockets were aware of his decision prior to selecting him.
Curtis Gedig, D – 6'3 192 lbs – Sept 14 1991 – BCHL Cowichan Valley
7th round, 200th overall
With a September 14th birthdate, Gedig just made the cut-off for being eligible for this year's draft, and hence was one of, if not the youngest player selected in the draft this year. The 17-year-old moves the puck well and already has good size. Once he begins to fill out his sizable frame, he should eventually emerge into an intimidating force on the backend. He's another project choice for the Rockets, but he has plenty of time to develop, given his age and the depth the Rockets currently have on the blueline in the system.
Dominik Bielke, D – 6’3 190 lbs – Oct 23 1990 - DEL Berlin
7th round, 205th Overall
With the club’s last pick in the draft, the Rockets added big blueliner Dominik Bielke of Berlin (DEL). Bielke has size and moderate offensive ability, the quality of talent typically remaining at this point in the draft. Nevertheless, the Rockets have added a sizable defenseman with strong skating and someone who can make a good first pass. In seven games with Berlin last season, Bielke tallied one assist. He spent most of the season with the Berlin Junior Polar Bears, scoring 14 goals and 25 assists through 47 games.
(edited HF rip)
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