Islanders NHL Draft, Rounds 4-7: Robbie Russo, John Persson, Brenden Kichton, Mitchell Theoret

Johan Sundstrom

European Skater

Frolunda, SWEDEN

Final Rank:

24

Midterm Rank:

17

Position:

Center

Shoots:

Right

Height:

6’ 2"

Weight:

196

Born:

September 21, 1992

Born in:

Gothenburg, SWE

• Competing in his second season for the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League, Mayfield recorded 16 points (7-9—16) in 52 games. The Phantoms missed the playoffs in 2010-11 by two points, but to combat the long off-season, he has been getting on the ice by helping his former youth and high school coach, Dave Garth, coach a spring team.

• Mayfield has committed to the University of Denver for the fall of 2011 – "My dad went to law school in Denver. I remember when I was eight, nine years old we would go and visit (my dad’s friends) and they would take me to the rink. Walking around, just seeing how big it was, I’ve always wanted to play there. At Christmas when I was ten years old I got a Denver jersey. It’s been hanging above my bed (since then) and just to commit there was amazing for me."
 
• He won a gold medal for the U.S. at the 2010 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, defeating Canada East 6-4 in the gold medal game after facing 4-1 deficit halfway through the game. He was selected tournament MVP and to the first all-star team.

• Prior to joining the USHL, Mayfield played for the St. Louis Amateur Blues and his first hockey team was the Webster Groves Wings.

• His childhood hockey idols were Al MacInnis and Bobby Orr: "MacInnis played for St. Louis and had one of the hardest shots in the League and my dad loved Bobby Orr, and he would always show me videos".
 

Scott Mayfield

North American Skater

Youngstown, USHL

Final Rank:

24

Midterm Rank:

15

Position:

Defenseman

Shoots:

Right

Height:

6’ 4"

Weight:

197

Born:

October 14, 1992

Hometown:

St. Louis, MO

Born in:

St. Louis, MO, USA

Drafted:

NYI (2nd Round / 34th Overall)

who the hell knows if these kids are gonna pan out, but chances are pretty good at least one of the two big d-men will, and if so, there’s some bigtime size and even meanness back there. A playmaker and a crease-clearing d-man were sorely needed, I think the GM has done a really good job.

drafting for skill, physicality, size, fighting and skating, and depth on right side (but still picked up two more small puck moving D, although this time took two big physical D also)…the Isles passed on players who were slow or had skating issues, bigging with Courturier, all the way down passed Seth Amboz.

Strome : highly skilled, fast right forward
Mayfield: big, physical right D who can skate and fight
Sundstrom: big right centre forward who can skate
Pedan: big physical left D who can skate and fight
Russo: small, LD skilled puck mover, skater
Perrson: tough fighter
Kichton" small left D puck mover
Theoret: Left Centre, fighter

what does Kitchon and Russo make? Snow has to be getting over the double digit mark with small puck moving D

and they’re of reasonable size as well.

Just need to hope someone establishes themselves as a #1 Defensemen.

But it’s not like we don’t have a stockpile of talent that we can’t move for depth anyways.

I’m having a hard time w/ this Sundstrom pick. I’m anxious to see what Garth says about him. 2nd round is a valuable round and to see so many negative reports makes me curious as to why they had to take him that early.

That’s the only question mark I have, otherwise I’m loving Strome, Kitchon and Mayfield especially.

but i had the same questions, other than size, speed and being a right shot, i don’t understand that pick. david from sweden may be able to give us more info

I know this was to be 4 through 7 only, but I think the first three rounds analyzed with 4 through 7 provide some incite into Isles draft thinking…

To me, drafts can and should be divided into two parts. Part I, the first three rounds…Part II, rounds 4 through 7. 18 year olds have to be drafted in first three rounds…

First round & 2nd …kicker for me was reading in someone’s post (forget who now) that you draft for ceiling with early First Round picks.

Two right forwards:

Strome and Sundstrom are right shooting forwards, an area where Isles were really light in the depth chart. Strome is average size (6’1) but could add another inch or two, will play physical and Sundstrom is above average (6’2), with physical side…

two big physical D:

…Mayfield (6’4 203) and Pedan (6’4 201)….one left, one right, and again, can both skate…Mayfield has highend potential, bottoms out as solid third pairing…

Draft part II: rounds 4 through 7: Let The Serious Gambling Begin

93rd is just after top 3 rounds, a good pick to grab a slider or a riser who just missed top 90.

Two small puck moving left D

Snow roled the dice on another smallish left D puckmover for the system.Robbie Russo. Snow added another in Brandon Kichton.

Two physical fighters:

Persson and Theoretic.

All these 8 picks can skate. It seems beginning with Couturier, moving past Seth Ambroz, Isles took a pass on anyone with skating issues.

I think the Isles improved team depth, added depth to areas where no depth existed, or the depth was very shallow.

I think the system still requires two more forwards, 1 big, huge defensive right centre who can also play offensive centre on second line (he can be moved around as Strome is switched from Centre to right wing). 1 big huge right shooting right wing, who can play third line with Lee and Nelson, and spot duty on second and first line.

The D

Personally, I like the dynasty Isles model. only D drafted high was Denis Potvin.
The D needs an elite top 4 big right D, if Mayfield doesn’t develop to this, he should be safe as 3rd pairing big right D, with the second drafted big physical D, left D man Pedan (6’4 201)

With this in mind, the dynasty only had two positional D (Tomas Johnson and Steffan Perrson) and both were sound defensively. The other four were all Physical D (Potvin, Morrow, Langevin and Lane). Therefore, I believe Isles must have no more the two of their top 6 D and positional defensive D, non-physical.

Two smallish lefty puck moving D…Robbie Russo (5’11 186) and Brandon Kichton (5’10 175) join Mark Streit, Jack Hillen, Matt Donovan, Aaron Ness and Mark Katic on the depth charts here.

I think Isles greatest need on depth for the future is the big, physical number one D. Shea Weber signed on July 1, 2012 would solidify the D for the future. Dehaan and Macdonald are most likely to be the two positional, non-physical D. Add Hamonic to the top for, and Isles are one or two D at the most away….

That means, all things considered, team should be two key forwards, and one or two key D away from contention. And while there is always the risk of bust, drafted depth for positions and roles helps a lot. Law of averages says there will be highend busts, but that same law of averages says there will be unexpected draft booms.

whens the last time we were brimming with anticipation for a season???I hope theycan make some major strides

Watching and reading I have concluded (like anyone cares what I say – ask Mrs. Martyland) that this was a solid draft, no serious mistakes (although I don’t understand the Swedish guy, but it doesn’t seem horrible), needs addressed (Strome – I see him as a winger as he fills out – a right wing with good moves, a quick shot….) – this is a contending team and should be for a while as the last couple of draft classes and this one come through the system in the next few years.

Unless Strome is a world-beater this fall, I’d like to see him get the obligatory 9 games and then go back to Juniors.

It’s paperwork time in the NHL. By extending qualifying offers, the Islanders retain the rights to six of their restricted free agents: Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, Micheal Haley, Jesse Joensuu, Ty Wishart and Dylan Reese.

The Islanders have so far declined to make a Q. O. to defenseman Jack Hillen.