NHL Mock Draft*: Islanders select Erik Gudbranson
by Dominik on Jun 17, 2010 11:11 AM EDT
in Islanders in Diapers
Email
Print
*Hint: "Mock" means it's not real. Like The Onion, and 65% of L.A. proper.
Garth Snow and staff step to the podium: "First, the New York Islanders would like to thank the wonderful city of Los Angeles, which provides the world with such ... um ... uh, 'entertainment,' from Casablanca to the endless pool of attention whores who populate Bravo plastic surgery shows and other 'reality' half-hours to tell us about the soulless lives of shallow people. Thanks to your ingenuity, one day archaeologists will look back upon our century and think, 'Now this, THIS was a culture!' ... And they will say this because you have two NHL teams, which helps bandage over so many cultural voids.
"But seriously, you gave us Appetite for Destruction, so ... mad props. If I had a dollar for every time I sang 'Paradise City' at karaoke...dreamy reflections of a duet with Ron Hextall ... Anyway, to business: With the 5th overall pick, the New York Islanders select, from the Kingston Frontenacs, Erik Gudbranson." Applause, hugs. Exeunt.
As the SB Nation hockey mock NHL draft saw Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin go to Edmonton and Boston, Cam Fowler go to Florida's Litter Box Cats, and Brandon Gormley go to Columbus, we were left with two enticing candidates at #5: Gudbranson and that big but underexposed scorer Brett Connolly.
Connolly is tempting -- he provides size at the scoring position that the Islanders do not possess. But the Islanders have spent their last three top-10 picks on forwards (Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, John Tavares), and while it's hoped that last year's #12 pick Calvin de Haan provides an elite piece for the blueline, Gudbranson fills a void for big, mean, talented defensemen, and by all accounts he has the character to match. Oh, and on this debate, there's the other much-cited reservation about Connolly: Last year's hip injury. Let's just say this organization has had bad luck with players with hip issues.
Whether Gudbranson is still there for the real Islanders on June 25 is a guess, of course; it's possible Florida or Columbus takes a shine to him. But as our resident draft fanatic BCISLEMAN wrote earlier this month -- in a post where, along with our long-running poll, it seems a lot of us favor Erik the Gud -- you can make a case that the Panthers and Blue Jackets will be targeting Cam Fowler and Brett Connolly (or Gormley, for the puck-possession argument), respectively.
In any case, we do know one of the projected elite talents will still be there at #5. If the draft proceeds as our mock draft has gone so far, my money's on Gudbranson.
* * *
Note: Our network-wide mock draft will continue, three picks per day, up to Draft Day. Each team blog will have their own rationale when their pick comes up.
Gudbranson Links
- Profile at the Blue Jackets Cannon
- Profile at Blueshirt Banter
- FanHouse profile
- Islanders Point Blank interview with Gudbranson (the kid takes his school seriously)
- Hockey's Future profile
Feature from 2008 on being there for his family during his brother's treatment:
Interview from 2009:
First OHL goal:
Fighting Phil McRae, a Blues prospect two years his senior:
63 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I had a dream we drafted this kid all the way back in March. I didnt know anything about him at the time other than he was a big D. But the more I see, the more I like. I dont want to get my hopes all wrapped up in this kid, though- Ive been Filatoved before. Lets just say I really hope it works out like this. :)
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
As a general rule
How accurate are your dreams? :D
Obviously I’d be happy with this scenario. No telling what his offensive side can be, but with his size added to the others I’d start to picture a blueline I can believe in.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
Filatoved...nice.
It is just hard to imagine a team skipping over him due to his size and skill. If he does manage to slip to the Isles the NVMC could be rockin’ on draft day once again.
If this guy can come in and offer just a little stability and confidence to the D we could be in for something special. The only question then would be who they would pair him with if he starts?
I know Garth has said that he did not believe that anyone was ready to jump into the NHL outside of the top 2 picks but he also said that a couple of months ago and that his opinion could change over the upcoming months. I could see Gudbranson taking on a starting role. If the options are to go to Jr’s or to come to the NHL I could see him stepping in immediately. He’s just too big to send back to Jr’s.
Sending the Isles to China was Wang's vision of making Strange Brew 2: Stranger Brew.
by metalcoconut on Jun 17, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Filatoved
The crazy thing is, even now two years later, we don’t know. Filatov might come alive finally. Ack, fie you, you silly draft.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
here's the lay of the land as I see it
Tallon has said very explicitly that he wants big physical forwards from this draft, not defensemen. He is not even interviewing Fowler and Gudbranson. He will likely either pick Connolly or trade the pick.
The real question, assuming Tallon does not trade is what Columbus will do. If they could get a veteran star puck mover like our own Mark Streit, they would move the #4 in a heartbeat. Kaberle to CLB for the #4 isn’t happening because Kaberle will not sign an extension with anybody but Toronto AND because Burkie would not do the deal because he wants now players. Chances are Columbus keeps the pick. They want a puck moving defenseman and, if they don’t like their chances of getting someone like Paul Martin or Gonchar in FA, they will likely pick Fowler.
My bottom line is this: If Gudbranson is there at #5, take him. If not, trade down to PHX for the #13, #22, and #52, trade up the #13 to get Nino, and use the #22 to get McIlrath or Tinordi.
That scenario is believable. I just don’t know whether Tallon is sold on Connolly’s health or fishing for offers to trade down and get other forwards he likes.
So basically, if it’s Fowler, Connolly or Gormley left at #5, you’d trade down (or are you counting Fowler out because he’ll be gone)?
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
I'm saying that there's Gudbranson and there's Nino and there's everybody else
and if Garth can figure out a way to land both of them without blowing up the franchise, he is a genius and should go to the HHOF right now!!!
Really...
Fowler may wind up being the best player in the draft (now that could probably be said for Connolly and Nino as well). Gudbranson is a great fit but if for some strange reason Fowler’s there we should take him.
Not happening
Not getting 2 firsts and a second for pick 5… And in any event doing that doesn’t make sense to me. Draft the player you think is best at 5, which in my opinion is not a defensive defenseman ( let’s not make the cardinal sin of overvaluing size above talent) and is not connelly (due to injury concerns). That leaves Gormley or Nino. Then the only decision is trade back and take a risk of losing him or just take the guy you want and call it a day, then get back to making a plan for the 4 picks we have in rounds two and three. Just MHO.
Malone has already hinted at the deal I outlined
it would probably take that to get the deal done. Gudbranson is a two way defenseman who happens to be big and physical. I like Gormley, but we need Gudbranson more.
I like the pick...
but I think Botta has the path…
If the choice comes down to Connelly or Gudbranson I have a feeling the Isles will take a flyer with Connolly as they have a better shot at throwing money at their defensive needs…and Hamonic will probably get every opportunity to make the team within the next two years. If Connolly is off the board, then it’s hard to make an argument for anybody but Gudbranson. This team needs size and “nasty” on the blueline.
Either path though, Gudbranson is a solid choice, and if they can lure the right people in July Gudbranson gets another year in Juniors and a WJC… Hamonic gets a year with Capuano, deHaan get a year in juniors and the WJC… and next year the Islanders will have SOLID depth where they once had a great VOID. YAY BEER!
NHL 500... Let the Less Filling vs Tastes Great debate begin!
Routes to glory
I’m really sympathetic to the argument that it’s easier to add adequate blueline help rather than elite scoring forwards. Sort of like the Schenn situation, is it worth spending such a high pick on a defenseman who may be very good, but doesn’t add a superb offensive dimension? Is it worth passing on Connolly?
If the Isles take Connolly, I’ll believe their medical evals. (Wait … what history gives me reason to do that?) But I’m playing scared: I couldn’t in good conscience advocate picking a guy who, if he has more hip issues in three years, will leave me saying, “You should have known better.”
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
That's it exactly...
Even if we were doctors, we don’t have access to Mr. Connolly… so all of this is subject to medical evaluations. From most of the write ups I’ve seen Brett’s hip issues are not enough to keep him out of the top ten, and he has top 5 talent… plus I think in his third autonomous year Snow can be bold enough to roll the dice on a potential all-start, where as in year’s one and two he didn’t have the groundwork to take a gamble…
That’s just the way I look at it… but I have a feeling FL will take Connolly anyway… making Snow’s decision a little easier. Gudbranson also offers him a little more of a safety net should he not be able to sign a solid “D” in July… a safety net, though, does not bring playoff series wins… not yet anyway.
NHL 500... Let the Less Filling vs Tastes Great debate begin!
So many mocks
have the punters taking either Gudbraonson or Fowler and it seems like the blow jackets are keen on a D man if they don’t move the pick (likely to someone else who’s keen on a D man) I’m not at all convinced that Gundranson will be there at five. I do have to admit that it’s hard not to trust a guy named BCISLEMAN living on Vancouver Island like I do though :)
If Gudbranson is gone I suspect the debate is between Connolly and trading down for more picks. Conolly’s hip issues are really concerning (I tell my sons that every time they fall while playing Ricky D goes down with an injury). I don’t know if Phoenix would do the deal proposed by BCISLEMAN wihtout some additional sweetner (say the late second we have?) I’m also not sure we could get back up high enough to get el Nino (most mocks have him going at or before 10)
Maloney has already hinted that he would be open to such a trade
and that it would probably take his second rounder to complete it. Tampa has only two third rounders and no seconds and Carolina is looking to add prospects. With two seconds and maybe a third, I am confident that the Isles would be able to get into one of those spots from #13.
Not worth the risk...
I mean trading down, not Connolly. If its a spot or two and we still get Nino fine, but I think we would definitely consider taking Fowler as well.
deep-ish draft this year
If the Isles swap out the five for the 13 and 22, they may not need to move up from 13. Very good players will still be available there… Bjugstad, Pitlick, Etem… and there’s always the slender chance either Nino or Granlund would slide if other people (cough THRASHERS cough) make some crazy reach.
Nino’s not going to break the top five, I think, but I know one mock draft has him as high as sixth, and that sounds like crazy talk.
So, here’s the calculation: Gudbranson at five, or (if you can swing the trade, and both are available) Bjugstad and McIlrath? Remember, Guddie Two-Shoes may be NHL-capable this year; Bjugstad will need a couple of years (and once he has them, look out).
Of course I'm an expert, I've seen Slap Shot eleven times!
If I am Garth, I want to get Gudbranson or Nino out of this draft
all my calculations center around that. Bjugstad’s a nice prospect, but with JT, Josh, Schremp, Nielsen, and Lee and Cizikas in the system, I am not spending an early first rounder on Bjugstad. A second rounder on someone like Brock Nelson or Telegin would be another matter.
Brock Nelson does have the awesome action hero name. I think Bjugstad will come off the board in the 20-25 range, similar to Bertuzzi, so yes, 13 is probably early for him.
An intriguing idea… the Isles keep the five, move up from 35 if he’s still on the board, and take him as well as Gudbranson. I’m probably fooling myself (I usually am with prospect projection) but I like the kid, and I think that with his frame and hands, he will be excellent at creating space in high-quality areas of the ice. He could be in the league in two years and a PPG player in three more. That IS worth a pick in the teens.
Of course I'm an expert, I've seen Slap Shot eleven times!
I’m probably fooling myself (I usually am with prospect projection)
LOL. With the draft, that’s the name of the game!
If the depth of the draft is as advertised, I’d be open to trading down for two mid-firsts. However, history tells me there’s a lot more risk in the 15-30 area being “well, nice player but nothing special” versus 3-7 being, “Wow!” So I’m pretty inclined to stay where they are, and certainly stay in the top 10.
I just think of Bergenheim: I like him quite a bit, but would I trade a #5 for two shots at guys that I hope, in four years, will be as least as good? Not sure. Then again, the hell do I know if even Gudbranson will be all that? Ah, 18-year-olds.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
Plus...
while the draft is deep, I think the top seven are special this year after there it drops a bit and plateaus into the second round.
Most mocks I have seen have Bjugstad mid teens or earlier
not sure if you’ll get him with 13. He is just the kind of player that Atlanta or Anaheim would pick. But THN thinks Brock has more upside.
What is with Taylor Hall’s tan?
The Islanders went from Marty McInnis and a 2nd Overall pick to Jesse Joensuu.
Perhaps it is just me
But everytime I see Hall I think that he should be wearing a helmet and not for hockey reasons. Yes he lights up when the camera’s are on and he has crazy skills but for some reason I hear things like, “Hockey be my life,” and expect to see him run into a wall unphased every time I see him.
I really don’t mean to disrespect the guy but he strikes me as a guy who is a few hamburgers short of a Happy Meal.
Sending the Isles to China was Wang's vision of making Strange Brew 2: Stranger Brew.
by metalcoconut on Jun 17, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I made a similar observation..
… after the draft lottery show. I know this isn’t a draft for engineers at NASA, but I’d keep him away from sharp objects, and crazy glue for a while…
…and make sure there are plenty of GI Joes (or their Canadian equivalent) in the playroom.
NHL 500... Let the Less Filling vs Tastes Great debate begin!
I think the hockey gods have given him immense hockey talent as compensation…
What’s funny (or not) is, when NHL fans start to hate him for the same reasons they hate Crosby, Ovechkin and Kane, you can already hear which way they’ll go with their message board derision.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
...and if you put shades on him he looks like...
Boltman
the San Diego Chargers Mascot
Sending the Isles to China was Wang's vision of making Strange Brew 2: Stranger Brew.
by metalcoconut on Jun 17, 2010 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
that's nice to see
It’s nice to see Mac Tonight get a new gig.
Of course he had to bulk up with some… uhhh… legal vitamin supplements.
Of course I'm an expert, I've seen Slap Shot eleven times!
That’s almost worse then the Islanders Dragon Mascot.
At least he looks like the team logo.
The Islanders have nothing to do with Dragons, other then Wang’s love of them and renaming the Iowa Barnstormers the Long Island Dragons.
Yes, I do realize it has to do with Wang’s heritage. It’s still a dumb mascot for the Islanders.
The Islanders went from Marty McInnis and a 2nd Overall pick to Jesse Joensuu.
Heritage
I can’t believe this is the first time I put Wang’s Chinese heritage and the use of dragons together. :facepalm:
Lighthouse Hockey: Now accepting applications for 2015.
wow, the Islanders dragon mascot must have really confused you…
The Islanders went from Marty McInnis and a 2nd Overall pick to Jesse Joensuu.
Ha, come to think of it, it did. But stuff like mascots and ice girls barely register on my radar. It’s like Kardashians and celebrity-of-the-week culture; I tend to subconsciously filter them out.
Lighthouse Hockey: Now accepting applications for 2015.
You'd like to think...
he’s been enjoying some off time at the beach…. but I’d guess he’s been spending too much time under the hydroponics lighting in the shed…
NHL 500... Let the Less Filling vs Tastes Great debate begin!
LOL!
Nice one JP.
Sending the Isles to China was Wang's vision of making Strange Brew 2: Stranger Brew.
by metalcoconut on Jun 17, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Picturing an update, ca. August
“…but sources say Hall has put on 15 lbs. since the draft thanks to a strange fascination with whatever snack chips he can get his hands on…”
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
Get the Halak outta here
Halak to St. Louis for Lars Eller (a right good Dane) and Ian Schultz (meh), if you guys haven’t seen the buzz.
Thoughts?
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
they must be some real good players
cause Gainey is now going to have to step up his RCMP protection.
Whoever...I AM going to watch The National tonight
they will probably tear down Montreal and start over.
I'm kind of impressed Gauthier had the guts to do this
…knowing that Montreal would likely be in flames by the end of the night.
It does prove that they were blowing smoke when they pretended they would want to keep both — unless they claim that the playoff run escalated his price too much. But since they never negotiated with him after the season, that claim wouldn’t hold much water.
Lighthouse Hockey: Now accepting applications for 2015.
Montreal surprisingly quiet
but the fans are unhappy:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2010/06/17/mtl-halak-traded-report.html#socialcomments
Tigers eating their young
To me that’s exactly why this is a risk for Montreal: Price is a good bet to be quite good, but will that carnivorous market eat him alive and irreversibly poison the atmosphere before it happens?
It’s like they forget how young he is. I blame Gainey for rushing him into that pressure-cooker.
Lighthouse Hockey: Now accepting applications for 2015.
I just saw that. Eller…is he a decent player? I’m with you on Schultz. Could this be the first of many moves for St. Louis?
So is it back to Price again or do they plan on going after one of the other glut of goalies on the market? That ought to be fun to watch. They have made headlines a couple of times today between trading Halak and officially parting ways with Laraque…most interesting.
Sending the Isles to China was Wang's vision of making Strange Brew 2: Stranger Brew.
by metalcoconut on Jun 17, 2010 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Eller is very promising
Given Montreal’s salary situation, need to re-sign Plekanec, and the thought they had to decide on their goalies, I can see why they’d “sell high” on Halak after he had a playoffs that he will never be able to replicate.
Probably a fair trade in terms of assets exchanged. Eller is very solid 5-on-5; if they can pull Gomez/Plekanec/Eller down the middle, that’s pretty nice.
Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto
There has to be more to this story.
There is no way Gainey just pulled a Milbury.
Sending the Isles to China was Wang's vision of making Strange Brew 2: Stranger Brew.
by metalcoconut on Jun 17, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Ooops
Gauthier…brand new and already putting himself in the crosshairs.
Sending the Isles to China was Wang's vision of making Strange Brew 2: Stranger Brew.
by metalcoconut on Jun 17, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
hey now
The Habs must really believe in Carey Price, or else they offered Price to JD at first and he held out for Halak.
I think Montreal must be high on Lars Eller, and it’s not like they care about his only being 6 foot flat. Heck, with Gomez, Gionta, and Cammalleri already there, the Habs just got bigger up front!
I also think that the over/under on torched cars/smashed windows in the greater Montreal area is 46.5.
Of course I'm an expert, I've seen Slap Shot eleven times!
Anyone else think Witt is The top suspect for driving the Tractor Trailer?
The Islanders went from Marty McInnis and a 2nd Overall pick to Jesse Joensuu.
HA HA
VENGENCE NOW!
Sending the Isles to China was Wang's vision of making Strange Brew 2: Stranger Brew.
by metalcoconut on Jun 18, 2010 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Brendan Witt never forgets.
Meanwhile, wow that could have ended badly. Good thing Witt is a gracious arbiter.
Lighthouse Hockey: Now accepting applications for 2015.
BTW I prefer having The Captain introduce Erik
although that might add to the difficulty he will have in stepping out from The Captain’s shadow.
I respectfully disagree
I don’t think we draft Gudbranson even if he’s there…I see a forward in our future.
Everyone's entitled to their opinion
and no one likes Nino as a prospect better than I do, but it is VERY unlikely that Garth will pass on Gudbranson if he is there at #5.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Lighthouse Hockey
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Islanders Schedule
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Mike Milbury vs. Jeremy Roenick over Dustin Brown’s Game 5 OT hit on Michal Rozsival (VIDEO)
- Watch Kings, Coyotes in hostile handshake line after Dustin Penner sends LA to Stanley Cup Final (VIDEO)
- Kings vs. Coyotes Game 5; Pierre McGuire on Tortorella/DeBoer argument (Playoff Puck Previews)
- Behold, the incredible playoff beards of Radko Gudas and AHL’s Norfolk Admirals
- Coyotes vs. the road warriors: Can Phoenix end LA Kings’ road domination?
SBNation.com Recent Stories
1979-80
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
