Post by Jazz on Jul 8, 2004 2:08:59 GMT -5
The entire article can be found here where they go through the entire list of the Canuck's picks.
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Alexander Edler
3rd Round - 91st Overall
Defence - 6’3" - 194lbs
Club: Jamtland (SWE Jr.)
Born: Ostersund, Sweden - 04/21/86
The Canucks didn't initially have a second round pick after trading the 61st spot to the Penguins for Johan Hedberg last August, but Thomas Gradin urged Nonis to trade up for the 91st slot to get a little-known defender playing in a third-tier league in Northern Sweden named Alexander Edler.
"Thomas saw him and had a gut feeling for him. And we have enough faith in our scouts to rely on their judgment."
According to Delorme, Gradin got a call last year from a friend who said, "You have to come and see this kid play." Gradin took a lengthy train ride north and spent four hours in a cramped arena waiting to see Edler. When he finally did get a look, Gradin wasn't disappointed.
"We rank prospects according to specific categories," says Delorme. "And this kid filled the offense category, the defense category, the powerplay, penalty kill and the compete category. Those are some pretty good credentials. There aren't that many kids in this draft who filled the categories like that."
The opportunity to pick Edler cost the Canucks their third round pick next year, but it proved a worthwhile move. The Detroit Red Wings were one of only four other teams to scout the 6-foot-3, 194-pound defender and it's likely they had Edler in their sights with the 97th pick.
Edler has agreed to play for MODO in the senior league next season.
Jannik Hansen
9th Round - 287th Overall
Wing - 6’0" - 176lbs
Club: Rodovre (Danish)
Born: Herlev, Denmark - 03/15/86
It's not often your final draft pick is the guy who has the highest potential, but that could be the case in 2004.
The Canucks took a gamble on Danish winger Jannik Hansen with the 287th overall pick.
"That was probably the toughest guy we had to decide on because he was our last pick," says Delorme. "There were other teams calling me trying to push their players, but we liked the guy and thought he had as much skill as anyone we took above him in the draft."
"But you have to remember where he was coming from...Denmark. As far as the level of hockey goes, it's not as high as over here. So you're taking a bit of a chance there."
For that reason, the 6-foot-0, 178-pound winger was considered by some to be one of the sleepers of the draft. If he's as good against North American competition as he was in Denmark, the Canucks may have found the proverbial diamond in the rough.
The speedy winger had 13 goals and seven assists in 35 games with Malmo of Danish League in 2002-03, but it was his performance at the Under-18's that hinted at something special.
Playing on a line with Peter Regin (87th overall to Ottawa), Hansen helped the Danes to a surprise eighth place finish with gritty play and timely scoring.
Hansen had three goals and four assists through the tournament and trailed only Regin in goals as the Danes managed wins over Belarus and Norway, and suffered narrow one goal losses at the hands of both the Swedes and the Canadians.
"He's offensive and we rated him an above average skater with a good shot," said Delorme. "We think he's probably as talented as his line mate Regin, who got taken in the third round, but if you project it, Regin is probably the better all around player."
Delorme says Hansen may come over and play in the CHL next year, which would most certainly speed his development, but may not be able to get out of his current agreement with his Danish club.
© Copyright 2004 www.canucks.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexander Edler
3rd Round - 91st Overall
Defence - 6’3" - 194lbs
Club: Jamtland (SWE Jr.)
Born: Ostersund, Sweden - 04/21/86
The Canucks didn't initially have a second round pick after trading the 61st spot to the Penguins for Johan Hedberg last August, but Thomas Gradin urged Nonis to trade up for the 91st slot to get a little-known defender playing in a third-tier league in Northern Sweden named Alexander Edler.
"Thomas saw him and had a gut feeling for him. And we have enough faith in our scouts to rely on their judgment."
According to Delorme, Gradin got a call last year from a friend who said, "You have to come and see this kid play." Gradin took a lengthy train ride north and spent four hours in a cramped arena waiting to see Edler. When he finally did get a look, Gradin wasn't disappointed.
"We rank prospects according to specific categories," says Delorme. "And this kid filled the offense category, the defense category, the powerplay, penalty kill and the compete category. Those are some pretty good credentials. There aren't that many kids in this draft who filled the categories like that."
The opportunity to pick Edler cost the Canucks their third round pick next year, but it proved a worthwhile move. The Detroit Red Wings were one of only four other teams to scout the 6-foot-3, 194-pound defender and it's likely they had Edler in their sights with the 97th pick.
Edler has agreed to play for MODO in the senior league next season.
Jannik Hansen
9th Round - 287th Overall
Wing - 6’0" - 176lbs
Club: Rodovre (Danish)
Born: Herlev, Denmark - 03/15/86
It's not often your final draft pick is the guy who has the highest potential, but that could be the case in 2004.
The Canucks took a gamble on Danish winger Jannik Hansen with the 287th overall pick.
"That was probably the toughest guy we had to decide on because he was our last pick," says Delorme. "There were other teams calling me trying to push their players, but we liked the guy and thought he had as much skill as anyone we took above him in the draft."
"But you have to remember where he was coming from...Denmark. As far as the level of hockey goes, it's not as high as over here. So you're taking a bit of a chance there."
For that reason, the 6-foot-0, 178-pound winger was considered by some to be one of the sleepers of the draft. If he's as good against North American competition as he was in Denmark, the Canucks may have found the proverbial diamond in the rough.
The speedy winger had 13 goals and seven assists in 35 games with Malmo of Danish League in 2002-03, but it was his performance at the Under-18's that hinted at something special.
Playing on a line with Peter Regin (87th overall to Ottawa), Hansen helped the Danes to a surprise eighth place finish with gritty play and timely scoring.
Hansen had three goals and four assists through the tournament and trailed only Regin in goals as the Danes managed wins over Belarus and Norway, and suffered narrow one goal losses at the hands of both the Swedes and the Canadians.
"He's offensive and we rated him an above average skater with a good shot," said Delorme. "We think he's probably as talented as his line mate Regin, who got taken in the third round, but if you project it, Regin is probably the better all around player."
Delorme says Hansen may come over and play in the CHL next year, which would most certainly speed his development, but may not be able to get out of his current agreement with his Danish club.
© Copyright 2004 www.canucks.com
