1997 NHL Entry Draft Preview
By Zippy, Wonder Chimp
The 1997 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Pittsburgh on June 21. The first round of the draft will begin at noon and will be televised live on ESPN-2, TSN, and RDS.
The Penguins are expecting that many hockey fans will be flocking to the Igloo this weekend to witness the draft. General admission tickets for the event (which were free) are no longer available, but the gates will be open after the first round to allow the public into the arena.
In addition to the draft, the Penguins have planned other events for the weekend:
Thursday, 1 p.m. Top Prospects Clinic
Ken Wregget and prospects Joe Thornton, Daniel Tkaczuk, Paul Mara and Brad Ference will take part. Open to spectators.Friday, Noon Prospects Press Conference, Point State Park
Nineteen top prospects will be introduced by NHL Vice President Brian Burke. Ex-Pen Troy Loney will host.Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Draftfest '97, Civic Arena Gate No. 1
A variety of displays and activities to keep the fans entertained. Trophy display. Autograph sessions. Puppet Shows.Top NHL Prospects
The following is the final evaluation of top prospects as ranked by the National Hockey League's Central Scouting Service for the 1997 entry draft, to be held June 21st in Pittsburgh:
DEFENSE/FORWARDS ----------------Rank Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Birth Team1. Joe Thornton C 6-4 198 7/2/79 Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 59 GP, 41 G, 81 A, 122 PTS, 123 PIM2. Patrick Marleau C 6-1.5 190 9/15/79 Seattle (WHL) 71 GP, 51 G, 74 A, 125 PTS, 37 PIM3. Daniel Tkaczuk C 6-1 190 6/10/79 Barrie (OHL) 62 GP, 45 G, 48 A, 93 PTS, 49 PIM4. Jason Ward C 6-2 184 1/16/79 Erie (OHL) 58 GP, 25 G, 39 A, 64 PTS, 137 PIM5. Sergei Samsonov LW 5-8.5 184 10/27/78 Detroit (IHL) 73 GP, 29 G, 35 A, 64 PTS, 18 PIM6. Eric Brewer D 6-3 195 4/17/79 Prince George (WHL) 71 GP, 5 G, 24 A, 29 PTS, 81 PIM7. Paul Mara D 6-3.5 185 9/7/79 Sudbury (OHL) 44 GP, 9 G, 34 A, 43 PTS, 61 PIM8. Nicholas Boynton D 6-1.5 210 1/14/79 Ottawa (OHL) 63 GP, 13 G, 51 A, 64 PTS, 143 PIM9. Daniel Cleary LW 6-0 203 12/18/78 Belleville (OHL) 64 GP, 32 G, 48 A, 80 PTS, 88 PIM10. Brad Ference D 6-3 186 4/2/79 Spokane (WHL) 67 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 26 PTS, 324 PIM11. Ryan Bonni D 6-3 187 2/18/79 Saskatoon (WHL) 69 GP, 11 G, 39 A, 50 PTS, 219 PIM12. Stefan Cherneski RW 6-0.5 195 9/19/78 Brandon (WHL) 56 GP, 29 G, 39 A, 68 PTS, 83 PIM13. Jean-Francois Fortin D 6-2 190 3/15/79 Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 59 GP, 7 G, 30 A, 37 PTS, 89 PIM14. Ty Jones RW 6-3 210 2/22/79 Spokane (WHL) 67 GP, 20 G, 33 A, 53 PTS, 202 PIM15. Matt Zultek LW 6-3.5 218 3/12/79 Ottawa (OHL) 63 GP, 27 G, 13 A, 40 PTS, 76 PIM16. Jeff Zehr LW 6-3 185 12/10/78 Windsor (OHL) 57 GP, 27 G, 32 A, 59 PTS, 196 PIM17. Brenden Morrow LW 5-11 195 1/16/79 Portland (WHL) 71 GP, 39 G, 49 A, 88 PTS, 178 PIM18. Vratislav Cech D 6-3 196 1/28/79 Kitchener (OHL) 57 GP, 5 G, 19 A, 24 PTS, 72 PIM19. Mike Brown C 6-4.5 183 4/27/79 Red Deer (WHL) 70 GP, 19 G, 13 A, 32 PTS, 243 PIM20. Didier Tremblay D 6-1 190 5/4/79 Halifax (QMJHL) 68 GP, 11 G, 26 A, 37 PTS, 79 PIM21. Scott Hannan D 6-1 210 1/23/79 Kelowna (WHL) 70 GP, 17 G, 26 A, 43 PTS, 101 PIM22. Karol Bartanus RW 6-1.5 188 6/09/78 Drummondville (QMJHL) 61 GP, 40 G, 44 A, 84 PTS, 115 PIM23. Harold Druken LW/C 5-11 202 1/26/79 Detroit (OHL) 63 GP, 27 G, 31 A, 58 PTS, 14 PIM24. Nikos Tselios D 6-3.5 187 1/20/79 Belleville (OHL) 64 GP, 9 G, 37 A, 46 PTS, 61 PIM25. Jeff Farkas C 6-0.5 178 1/24/78 Boston Coll. (HEAST) 35 GP, 13 G, 23 A, 36 PTS, 36 PIM26. Adam Colagiacomo RW 6-2 206 3/17/79 Oshawa (OHL) 49 GP, 25 G, 21 A, 46 PTS, 69 PIM27. Robert Dome RW/C 5-11.5 214 1/29/79 Long Beach (IHL) 56 GP, 14 G, 13 A, 27 PTS, 36 PIM28. Tyler Rennette C 6-0 175 4/16/79 North Bay (OHL) 63 GP, 24 G, 34 A, 58 PTS, 42 PIM29. Rick Berry D 6-1.5 192 11/4/78 Seattle (WHL) 72 GP, 12 G, 21 A, 33 PTS, 125 PIM30. Jeremy Reich C 6-0.5 186 2/11/79 Seattle (WHL) 72 GP, 12 G, 19 A, 31 PTS, 134 PIM31. Richard Seeley D 6-2 217 4/30/79 Prince Albert (WHL) 21 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PTS, 20 PIM32. Scott Barney C 6-4 198 3/27/79 Peterborough (OHL) 64 GP, 21 G, 33 A, 54 PTS, 110 PIM33. Gregor Baumgartner C 6-0.5 170 7/13/79 Laval (QMJHL) 68 GP, 19 G, 45 A, 64 PTS, 15 PIM34. Kevin Grimes D 6-2 202 8/19/79 Kingston (OHL) 57 GP, 2 G, 12 A, 14 PTS, 188 PIM35. Jame Pollock D 6-1 190 6/16/79 Seattle (WHL) 66 GP, 15 G, 19 A, 34 PTS, 94 PIM36. Kyle Kos D 6-3 184 5/25/79 Red Deer (WHL) 64 GP, 2 G, 18 A, 20 PTS, 40 PIM37. Daniel Tetrault D 6-0 198 8/4/79 Brandon (WHL) 64 GP, 5 G, 24 A, 29 PTS, 136 PIM38. Wes Jarvis D 6-4 203 4/16/79 Kitchener (OHL) 56 GP, 4 G, 8 A, 12 PTS, 108 PIM39. Harlan Pratt D 6-1 202 12/10/78 Prince Albert (WHL) 67 GP, 7 G, 26 A, 33 PTS, 51 PIM40. Adam Mair C 6-0.5 189 2/15/79 Owen Sound (OHL) 65 GP, 16 G, 35 A, 51 PTS, 113 PIM41. Toby Peterson C 5-10 196 10/21/78 Colorado Coll. (WCHA) 40 GP, 17 G, 21 A, 38 PTS, 18 PIM42. Alexandre Mathieu C 6-1.5 160 2/12/79 Halifax (QMJHL) 70 GP, 12 G, 22 A, 34 PTS, 16 PIM43. Brad DeFauw LW 6-2 210 10/10/77 North Dakota (WCHA) 37 GP, 7 G, 6 A, 13 PTS, 39 PIM44. Jarrett Smith C 6-1.5 190 6/15/79 Prince George (WHL) 67 GP, 20 G, 22 A, 42 PTS, 58 PIM45. Ben Clymer D 6-1 195 4/11/78 Univ. Minnesota (WCHA) 29 GP, 7 G, 13 A, 20 PTS, 64 PIM46. Francis Lessard D 6-2 184 5/30/79 Val D'Or (QMJHL) 66 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 PTS, 287 PIM47. Ryan Ready LW 6-0.5 185 11/7/78 Belleville (OHL) 66 GP, 23 G, 24 A, 47 PTS, 102 PIM48. Nick Smith C 6-1 165 3/23/79 Barrie (OHL) 63 GP, 10 G, 18 A, 28 PTS, 15 PIM49. Erik Cole RW 6-0.5 185 11/6/78 Des Moines (USHL) 48 GP, 30 G, 34 A, 64 PTS, 140 PIM50. Jay Legault LW 6-4 192 5/15/79 London (OHL) 67 GP, 19 G, 39 A, 58 PTS, 87 PIM51. Geoff Koch C 6-0 182 6/27/79 Exeter Academy (USHSE) 27 GP, 22 G, 38 A, 60 PTS, 45 PIM52. Jeff Sullivan D 6-1 185 9/18/78 Halifax (QMJHL) 70 GP, 8 G, 31 A, 39 PTS, 247 PIM53. Justin Morrison RW 6-3 195 8/10/79 Omaha (USHL) 51 GP, 9 G, 20 A, 29 PTS, 44 PIM54. Chris Stanley C 6-0.5 187 6/18/79 Belleville (OHL) 66 GP, 19 G, 24 A, 43 PTS, 16 PIM55. Mike Souza LW/C 6-1 190 1/28/78 New Hampshire (HEAST) 33 GP, 14 G, 10 A, 24 PTS, 14 PIM56. Mike Van Ryn D 6-2 186 5/14/79 London Jr. B (OHABW) 32 GP, 9 G, 22 A, 31 PTS, 24 PIM57. Derek Schutz C 6-2 185 3/5/79 Spokane (WHL) 61 GP, 20 G, 21 A, 41 PTS, 126 PIM58. Benoit Cote C 6-3.5 192 4/26/79 Shawinigan (QMJHL) 61 GP, 5 G, 8 A, 13 PTS, 37 PIM59. Jonathan Desroches D 6-0 206 5/23/79 Granby (QMJHL) 58 GP, 7 G, 15 A, 22 PTS, 36 PIM60. Joe DiPenta D 6-2 187 2/25/79 Smiths Falls (OHAAC) 52 GP, 13 G, 20 A, 33 PTS, 76 PIM61. Larry (Burke) Henry D 6-1.5 190 1/21/79 Brandon (WHL) 55 GP, 6 G, 25 A, 31 PTS, 81 PIM62. Chris St. Croix D 6-0.5 186 5/2/79 Kamloops (WHL) 67 GP, 11 G, 19 A, 30 PTS, 67 PIM63. Kevin Caulfield RW 6-1.5 211 1/7/78 Boston Coll. (HEAST) 38 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 PTS, 90 PIM64. Mathieu Benoit RW 5-11.5 202 7/12/79 Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 64 GP, 35 G, 36 A, 71 PTS, 22 PIM65. Marek Ivan LW/C 6-1.5 182 11/17/78 Lethbridge (WHL) 69 GP, 14 G, 10 A, 24 PTS, 127 PIM66. Gennady Razin D 6-3 175 2/3/78 Kamloops (WHL) 63 GP, 7 G, 19 A, 26 PTS, 56 PIM67. Jeremy Rondeau LW 6-2 220 11/30/78 Swift Current (WHL) 70 GP, 11 G, 15 A, 26 PTS, 64 PIM68. Jason Chimera C 6-0 160 5/2/79 Medicine Hat (WHL) 71 GP, 16 G, 23 A, 39 PTS, 64 PIM69. Matt Elich RW 6-1 187 9/22/78 Windsor (OHL) 58 GP, 15 G, 13 A, 28 PTS, 19 PIM70. Karel Betik D 6-2 208 10/10/78 Kelwona (OHL) 56 GP, 3 G, 10 A, 13 PTS, 76 PIM71. Ryan Schmidt D 6-2 205 4/12/79 Peterborough (OHL) 54 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS, 21 PIM72. Tomas Baluch C 6-1.5 189 5/18/79 Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 71 GP, 15 G, 27 A, 42 PTS, 60 PIM73. Larry Paleczny C 6-0.5 197 4/2/78 Owen Sound (OHL) 59 GP, 30 G, 42 A, 72 PTS, 28 PIM74. Jay Leach D 6-3 202 9/2/79 Capital Dist. (USMHL) 57 GP, 8 G, 50 A, 58 PTS, 130 PIM75. Kurtis Drummond D 6-1 199 4/12/78 Swift Current (WHL) 72 GP, 13 G, 21 A, 34 PTS, 80 PIM76. Scott McCallum D 6-3 220 2/15/79 Tri-City (WHL) 56 GP, 1 G, 16 A, 17 PTS, 119 PIM77. Steve Wilejto C 5-11.5 178 1/26/79 Prince Albert (WHL) 69 GP, 11 G, 13 A, 24 PTS, 32 PIM78. Torrey DiRoberto C 5-11 180 4/17/78 Seattle (WHL) 72 GP, 37 G, 44 A, 81 PTS, 91 PIMGOALTENDERS -----------Rank Name Ht. Wt. Birth Team1. Roberto Luongo 6-2 176 4/4/79 Val D'Or (QMJHL) 60 GP, 3.12 AVG, 2 ShO2. Jean-Francois Damphousse 6-0 146 7/21/79 Moncton (QMJHL) 39 GP, 5.53 AVG, 0 ShO3. Evan Lindsay 6-1.5 180 5/15/79 Prince Albert (WHL) 44 GP, 3.46 AVG, 1 ShO4. Matt Cockell 6-0 170 5/4/79 Saskatoon (WHL) 47 GP, 4.02 AVG, 0 ShO5. Curtis Cruickshank 6-2 209 3/21/79 Kingston (OHL) 35 GP, 3.95 AVG, 2 ShO6. Pierre-Luc Therrien 5-11.5 170 9/3/79 Drummondville (QMJHL) 42 GP, 3.94 AVG, 2 ShO7. Patrick Dovigi 6-0 180 7/2/79 Erie (OHL) 39 GP, 3.88 AVG, 3 ShO8. Chris Madden 5-11 167 3/10/79 Guelph (OHL) 21 GP, 3.62 AVG, 1 ShO9. Jean-Marc Pelletier 6-3 195 3/4/78 Cornell Univ. (ECAC) 11 GP, 2.47 AVG, 1 ShO10. Jason McLean 6-0.5 200 9/3/79 Moose Jaw (WHL) 19 GP, 3.55 AVG, 0 ShO11. Luc Vaillancourt 6-1 190 6/13/78 Beauport (QMJHL) 51 GP, 3.64 AVG, 0 ShO12. Josh Evans 5-11.5 166 4/9/79 Peterborough (OHL) 20 GP, 3.54 AVG, 1 ShO13. Todd Weninger 5-11 155 4/12/78 Calgary Canucks (AJHL) 44 GP, 3.09 AVG, 4 ShO14. Gene Chiarello 5-10 175 4/9/79 London (OHL) 32 GP, 5.90 AVG, 1 ShO15. Dean Weasler 5-10 195 8/26/78 Rochester (USHL) 37 GP, 2.75 AVG, 3 ShO16. Dustin Schwartz 5-10.5 175 3/30/79 Medicine Hat (WHL) 29 GP, 3.94 AVG, 2 ShO17. Shawn DeGagne 5-11 164 12/18/78 Kitchener (OHL) 25 GP, 3.29 AVG, 0 ShO18. Cody Rudkowsky 6-0 195 7/21/78 Seattle (WHL) 40 GP, 3.44 AVG, 0 ShO19. Nicolas Chabot 5-10 189 2/8/78 Rimouski (QMJHL) 52 GP, 3.55 AVG, 2 ShO20. Martin Bilodeau 5-9.5 155 9/12/79 Halifax (QMJHL) 21 GP, 3.61 AVG, 1 ShO21. Thomas Connerty 6-1 175 4/27/78 Ohio State (CCHA) 17 GP, 5.79 AVG, 0 ShO22. Alex Fomitchev 5-10 175 2/19/79 St. Albert Jr.(A) (AJHL) 41 GP, 2.88 AVG, 4 ShO23. Jeremy Symington 6-2 185 8/17/78 Petrolia Jr. (B) (OHABW) 33 GP, 3.41 AVG, 1 ShO24. Donovan Nunweiler 5-9.5 170 4/9/77 Moose Jaw (OHL) 56 GP, 3.04 AVG, 6 ShO25. Scott Stirling 6-1 185 8/2/77 Brown University (ECAC) 4 GP, 4.94 AVG, 0 ShO26. Scott Clemmensen 6-1.5 185 7/23/77 Des Moines (USHL) 36 GP, 3.26 AVG, 1 ShOEUROPEANS ---------Rank Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Birth Country Team1. Olli Jokinen C/W 6-2 198 12/5/78 Finland IFK Helsinki 50 GP, 14 G, 41 A, 55 PTS, 88 PIM 2. Marian Hossa W 6-0 185 1/12/79 Slovakia Dukla Trencin 46 GP, 25 G, 44 A, 69 PTS, 14 PIM 3. Michael Riesen W 6-2 183 4/11/79 Switzerland HC Biel 38 GP, 16 G, 32 A, 48 PTS, 49 PIM 4. Roman Lyashenko C 6-0 176 5/2/79 Russia Yaroslavl 42 GP, 5 G, 12 A, 17 PTS, 16 PIM 5. Kristian Huselius W 6-1 183 11/10/78 Sweden Farjestad 13 GP 2 G, 2 A, 4 PTS, 4 PIM 6. Jonas Elofsson D 6-1 180 1/31/79 Sweden Farjestad 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM 7. Mikael Holmqvist W 6-3 183 6/8/79 Sweden Djurgarden 9 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM 8. Petr Sykora C 6-2 180 12/21/78 Czech Rep. Pardubice 29 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS, 2 PIM 9. Mattias Karlin C/W 5-11 183 7/4/79 Sweden Modo 6 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, 0 PIM 10. Josef Melichar D 6-3 198 1/20/79 Czech Rep. Budejovice 40 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS, 10 PIM 11. Jan Horacek D 6-3 198 5/22/79 Czech Rep. Slavia Praha 25 GP, 4 G, 18 A, 22 PTS, N/A PIM 12. Ilkka Mikkola D 6-0 189 1/18/79 Finland Karpat 40 GP, 7 G, 19 A, 26 PTS, 32 PIM 13. Maxim Afinoganov W 5-11 176 8/4/79 Russia Dynamo 29 GP, 6 G, 11 A, 17 PTS, 10 PIM 14. Maxim Balmochnykh W 6-0 185 3/7/79 Russia Lada Togliatti 18 GP, 6 G, 7 A, 13 PTS, 22 PIM
Draft Order
First Round
1. Boston Bruins (26-47-9)
2. San Jose Sharks (27-47-8)
3. Los Angeles Kings (28-43-11)
4. N.Y. Islanders [from Toronto Maple Leafs (30-44-8)]
5. New York Islanders (29-41-12)
6. Calgary Flames (32-41-9)
7. Tampa Bay Lightning (32-40-10)
8. Boston [from Carolina Hurricanes (32-39-11)]
9. Washington Capitals (33-40-9)
10. Vancouver Canucks (35-40-7)
11. Montreal Canadiens (31-36-15)
12. Ottawa Senators (31-36-15)
13. Chicago Blackhawks (34-35-13)
14. Edmonton Oilers (36-37-9)
15. Los Angeles [from St. Louis Blues (36-35-11)]
16. Chicago [from Phoenix Coyotes (38-37-7)]
17. Pittsburgh Penguins (38-36-8)
18. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (36-33-13)
19. New York Rangers (38-34-10)
20. Florida Panthers (35-28-19)
21. Buffalo Sabres (40-30-12)
22. Carolina [from Detroit Red Wings (38-26-18)]
23. Carolina [from Phildelphia Flyers (45-24-13)]
24. New Jersey Devils (45-23-14)
25. Dallas Stars (48-26-8)
26. Colorado Avalanche (49-24-9)Second Round
27. Boston
28. San Jose
29. Los Angeles
30. Philadelphia (from Toronto)
31. N.Y. Islanders
32. Calgary
33. Tampa Bay
34. Vancouver (from Carolina)
35. Washington
36. Vancouver
37. Montreal
38. Ottawa
39. Chicago
40. St. Louis
41. Edmonton
42. Calgary (from St. Louis)
43. Phoenix
44. Pittsburgh
45. Anaheim
46. N.Y. Rangers
47. Florida
48. Buffalo
49. Detroit
50. Philadelphia
51. Calgary (from New Jersey through Carolina)
52. Dallas
53. Colorado
LCS: guide to hockey © copyright 1997 all rights reserved