Post by The Commish on Jul 14, 2009 16:57:43 GMT -5
While this might not be the deepest goalie draft class teams in search of some organizational depth should be able to get it. Lewiston Maniacs 17yr old rookie goalie Mike Lee leads the group heading into the season. Lee, a Canadian native, comes into the 2009 campaign as the unquestioned starter in Lewiston and is aware that the “Top Goaltending Prospect” is his to lose. At 5’8 207 pounds scouts have questioned his size but Lee has repeatedly proved them wrong and with a 4-1 record, .940SV% and 1.00GAA, already this season he looks to be poised to do it again. Many scouts feel he has the opportunity to sneak into the mid-late 1st round depending on teams and if not is a sure fire 2nd rounder.
After Lee the goalie class begins to drop off though with Oliver Roy of Red Deer coming in at #2. While Lee clearly leads the way it would not be unreasonable to suggest Roy could take over top spot on the list. At 5’7 157 pounds his work is cut out for him and his season in Red Deer will go a long way in determining his draft position. He is off to a good start though at 4-1 with a .888 SV% and a 1.78GAA so don’t be surprised if a long playoff run bumps him up into the second round.
With Lee and Roy looking to be sure fire draft picks the rest are 3rd round reaches at best. Unless there is a big hole in some teams prospect systems I doubt they will reach for Lewiston back up Brandon Maxwell or Halifax backup, Edward Pasquale. Pasquale and Maxwell, pending injury, will just not be able to get enough playing time and experience this season for an NNHL team to take a chance on them. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of these rookies starting in a few seasons and generating some interest for some teams to be signed as a free agent but for now I don’t see a team taking a chance on one of them
After Lee the goalie class begins to drop off though with Oliver Roy of Red Deer coming in at #2. While Lee clearly leads the way it would not be unreasonable to suggest Roy could take over top spot on the list. At 5’7 157 pounds his work is cut out for him and his season in Red Deer will go a long way in determining his draft position. He is off to a good start though at 4-1 with a .888 SV% and a 1.78GAA so don’t be surprised if a long playoff run bumps him up into the second round.
With Lee and Roy looking to be sure fire draft picks the rest are 3rd round reaches at best. Unless there is a big hole in some teams prospect systems I doubt they will reach for Lewiston back up Brandon Maxwell or Halifax backup, Edward Pasquale. Pasquale and Maxwell, pending injury, will just not be able to get enough playing time and experience this season for an NNHL team to take a chance on them. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of these rookies starting in a few seasons and generating some interest for some teams to be signed as a free agent but for now I don’t see a team taking a chance on one of them