Players are ranked based on the anticipated
degree of impact on the Predators team given their current and
projected performance and circumstances.
Junior/College Prospects
1. Jonas Andersson (RW, North Bay, OHL)
Andersson impressed the Nashville brass with his maturity to such an
extent that they used their top second round pick to draft him last season.
31 goals and 67 points later, Jonas has proven his skill by becoming the
second highest scorer in the OHL this season. He missed only one of 68
games which eases the fears regarding his former shoulder injury. Andersson
will be desperately needed for scoring.
2. Adam Hall (RW, Michigan State, CCHA)
Hall could become a great power forward in the NHL. Although his Spartans
were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, he did score a CCHA
leading 25 goals in 39 games.
3. Brian Finley (G, Barrie, OHL)
The 1999 OHL Goaltender of the Year may be considered the top Nashville prospect
by the Hockey News, but his third year in juniors was not encouraging. After a
disappointing start, Finley managed to return to his old form to some extent.
However, his early collapse in the OHL playoffs has raised some questions.
4. Konstantin Panov (RW, Kamloops, WHL)
Panov had an excellent rookie season in North America. He led his team with 43
goals and finished second with 73 points. He was the sixth highest goal scorer in
the WHL and was named to the All-Star team.
Professional Prospects
1. Jan Lasak (G, Hampton Roads, ECHL)
Yes he is playing in the pros, but this 20 year old goaltender was also drafted by
Nashville in the second round last year. Lasak dominated the league and helped
his Admirals team to the playoffs with a .917 save percentage and a league leading
36 wins. He will graduate to the IHL next season and may possibly
crack the Predators line-up.
2. Alexandre Boikov (D, Milwaukee, IHL)
A capable replacement for Bob Boughner. This tough Russian can deliver some
great checks. His physical presence will be needed to punish
attacking forwards.
3. Jayme Filipowicz (D, Milwaukee, IHL)
Another physical defenseman. Filipowicz has yet to make his NHL debut but
has performed well in Milwaukee.
4. Marc Moro (D, Milwaukee, IHL)
Normally a pure enforcer should not be ranked this high, but Mad Dog Moro has already
left a big impression on Predators fans in the few home games he played. He has some
talent as a defensive defenseman but his greatest ability is fighting and, unlike
Patrick Cote, he can win them.
5. Pavel Skrbec (D, Milwaukee, IHL)
Skrbec was a top Pittsburgh prospect but he was given up for Bob Boughner. Skrbec
has not had a terrific year and his recent knee injury will keep him off the ice
until Decemeber. Strictly a wait-and-see prospect.
European Prospects
One problem with drafting Europeans is that sometimes they don't want to
stay or even make the trip to North America to play hockey. The young
Nashville franchise has already run into this problem with Petr Sykora
and Sergei Klimentiev who have both left the US to return to their native
counties . . . Meanwhile, the Predators second ever draft choice Denis Arkhipov
has not played once in North America since he was drafted in 1998 . . . One
bright spot in this regard is Zdeno Ciger. The former 70 point NHL scorer has
played the last four seasons in Slovakia but has shown some interest in playing
for Nashville next season . . . Other Europeans who may or may not hop the pond
next season are Yevgeny Pavlov, Timo Helbling, and
Miroslav Durak.
This is alot of talent in the pipeline. Hopefully these draft choices won't
go to waste playing in foreign leagues.
Biggest Disappointments
It is early in the team history and in many of the draft choices careers.
However, here are some of the top disappointments as of April 2000:
1. Draft Class of 1998
Take away the first and last picks, David Legwand and Karlis Skrastins, and
you are not left with much. The Predators have already released one player,
Craig Brunel, due to lack of development. Denis Arkhipov was also drafted in
this year, but his arrival in the US is not certain. (Update: Add Martin Beauchesne
to the list of failed draft choices. He was released by the Predators in May 2000
due to lack of development).
2. Marian Cisar
The first acquisition by the Nashville Predators made his NHL debut this year.
He has been a slow starter in Milwaukee and has been unimpressive in Nashville.
The jury is still out.