Welcome to the fifth edition of NHL Life, your look at hockey over the pond. This edition will concentrate on the NHL Draft in Dallas over the last couple of the days. As we build up to another year, we plan to talk about the trades going on in the close season for our future NHL articles but then again not - we shall see.
In the meantime, let's talk about the NHL Draft and what it means for a certain person.
The NHL Draft, the picking and the choosing of the best young players in the world to play in the best hockey league in the world. We've seen some fantastic players chosen as number one, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin for example but also we have had some duds over the years haven't we? I mean one that stands out has to be the New York Islanders pick of goaltender Rick DiPietro. Rick is famous for signing an insane 15 year contract with the Isles in 2006, and although he appeared in 328 NHL games (regular and play-off) it was a very stop and start career.
However, this year's number one pick was estimated to be highly talented Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin and sure enough, the Buffalo Sabres (who had the choice) did just that. Yet here in the UK, the interest later on was what we focusing on. Sheffield Steelers winger Liam Kirk had been scouted extensively in the 2017-18 season by a number of NHL scouts at Steelers games. The intensity increased when the Rotherham born player was invited to the prestigious NHL Combine which all the top talents go to and do a number of exercises as well as to talk to prospective NHL teams who might draft them when it comes to the big day(s) ahead. Kirk impressed there, finishing in the top 25: highly rated then despite playing a 79 game season and hardly any rest.
With the results of the Combine, and with what had been said before, a lot of scouting networks were estimating that Liam would go either fourth or fifth round at least. That would be immense considering the actual draft only lasts seven rounds, 217 players chosen. Where he would go was another question. Both the afore-mentioned Sabres and the Detroit Red Wings were the big names touted but it could be anyone to be honest. Come day two of the draft, we waited.
The fourth round came and went. Fourth would have been great but most thought fifth round would be it. Both Buffalo and Detroit had their picks and it passed by, so we went onto round six with some people over here concerned that what we were all expected - was not going to. Round number six, and still nothing. Right this is getting serious now, one more round and 31 choices to make - would Liam get his name on that coveted draft board. At the third pick, the bell finally rang. Arizona Coyotes decided to draft one of the most prestigious talents in the UK since Tony Hand was chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in 1986.
So what happens next for Liam? Every hockey fan with half a brain knows that Liam isn't going into the Coyotes starting line up. It's a new learning curve for the young man and he will probably be picked in the upcoming CHL draft, which is this week coming, to continue his development. Give it time, and with his ability, Liam could be knocking on the door further and then make more history. Already he's the first Englishman to be drafted in "The Show", and the sky is the limit for a kid from Maltby. He's certainly got it. We will be keenly watching Liam!
Please like The Hockey Blog on Facebook and for Twitter users you can connect with us at:
@hockeybhoy
@hockeyblogger71
If you want to e-mail me then I can be reached at the following email address: hockeybhoy71@outlook.com
No comments:
Post a Comment