Good Evening and welcome to That's Hockey. I am your host Dave Hodge. On today's show we will take a look at the draft and what we think will be the predicted order of players picked in the first round. 1. Vancouver Voodoo- With the first pick overall look for the Voodoo to select Joe Thornton. Joe will be able to jump in and play for this young team. 2. Edmonton Eagles- Another young team, look for them to take a future superstar center, my guess would be Marleau but Jokinen, Rasmussen or Devereaux may factor in here. 3. Vancouver Voodoo- this pick should be a defenceman and likely will be Niinamaa , he can jump in right now and is a great young defenceman and will only get better. Other possibilities: Mattias Ohlund, Andrei Zyzuin, or Eric Brewer 4. Enforcers- not incredibly deep anywhere the Enforcers will likely take the best player available, and that will be whoever the Eagle's leave available....likely Jokinnen. 5. Monarchs- GM Andreas Larsson loves Europeans and we believe he would love to get a crack at Jokinen. If he is available he will almost definately go here or you will see the Monarchs trade up to get him. 6. Wolves- The Wolves are not deep on the wings and a guy like Volchkov would really look good here. With the ability to turn defenceman inside out this would bring the Wolves a legitimate game breaker. 7. Voodoo- Another defenceman could be in the works here with only Ozolnish and Hedican projected to be back next year, and Chris Phillips possibly deciding to stay in junior, the Voodoo need D. Brewer or Ohlund 8. Voodoo- Likely another d man but maybe a winger someone like Zubrus, or possibly Mike Grier or Cameron Mann. Zubrus is a finesse guy, Grier a tough defensive checker with speed, and Mann could develop into a prototypical power forward like Cam Neely one day 9. Rapids- While the team is in recievership with no owner they will likely be looking for a defenceman. In need of a tough playmaking dman this pick could be Brewer if he is still around or Mike Wilson, Richard Jackman, or Paul Mara. 10. Mallrats- after a great post season from an underachieving team the 'Rats might be interested in a LW'er. Someone like Zubrus, Mann or Grier if they are still around. 11. Voodoo- with their 5th pick in the draft this pick will have to be a defenceman especially if 8 is a forward. Look for Wilson, Jackman, Mara to be factors here with Boynton and Ference being outside shots to sneak up. 12. Stallions- needs? no obvious ones. Likely they will take a center with Nicholls getting on in years but who knows, this team is young and good. 13. Quakers- could use a defenceman and some one like Mara or Boyton would be a nice fit here if they are still around. 14. Voodoo- with 14 and 15 look for the Voodoo to add more defense to the team. Likely Boynton, Jackman, or Ference. 15. Voodoo- see above 16. Fury- after making the playoffs while simultainiously (sp?) rebuilding the Fury are in good shape everywhere but in goal. With Hackett being to old to be rerated the Fury no who their man is: Roberto Luongo. 17. Freeze- the only need this team has is a goal scoring winger. That could be Mann but don't look for him to still be around. While he is a way from the WHL Daniel Cleary could be the guy. Other guys who may come in to play Vladimir Vorobiev and Marcus Nilson. 18. Eagles- with their second pick of the 1st round the Eagles will likely look to snag a defenceman, pretty much whoever is available from the names already mentioned. If they are gone Dan McGillis could be a player here. He can play now and has tremendous potential. 19. Wolves- with their second pick in this round the Wolves will probably add to their offence and hope someone like Josh Holden will be available. A gritty young center, he has been compared to Jeremy Roenick. If GM Lars can wait that long Holden may be the man but Mats Lindgren who can play now could also be another player here. Another guy might be Daniel Tkaczuk 20. Voodoo- with their umpteenth pick of the round this pick will be a winger likely Jason Ward or Michel Riesen. 21. Sparrows- GM Mike Hebert needs a center because after Turgeon there ain't much. If Holden or Lindgren is around they could be players. Also Matt Higgins will get some consideration. 22. Steelcats- This folks you can mail in right now. The 'Cats want Tzachuk but I for one will be shocked if he is still around. The 'Cats need some strength in the middle, outside of Nabokov I would be surprised if Janney, Briere, and Brylin could bench press 150lbs together. 23. Corinthians- this folks is a good young team and with rookie sensation Saku Koivu leading the way the only thing the Corinthians might be interested in is a goalie. With it almost being mandatory that you come from the QMJHL look for Damphousse to be the pick. A ways from the WHL as a starter he should be a good goalie down the road. 24. MallRats- with the last pick of the round this could be anuthing, basically whoever is left from any of the names mentioned above. Team needs for those with out a first rounder. Grunts- could use a center, anyone one of the above that slips will be a possibility but that is a long shot. Picking 11 in the second round the best center available should be the pick. Agents- needs? lots! without a pick until 12 in round 2 the Agents could be hardpressed to fill any of their needs for right now but could snag a future performer. Loons- aka Championship Norsemen their biggest concern is at center. Unfortunately they do not have a pick until the end of round 3. Lunatics- needs? Not many if any at all. Good thing they don't have a pick until the 6th round Venom- No pick till round 6. Can we say Dan Bylsma? Flaming Fish- with the 3rd pick in round 2 there will be someone decent still available just a matter of which way GM Pierce wants to go. Krushers- no noticeable holes could use a left winger but who knows who will be around when the Krushers get their first pick at 14 in round 2 Vikings- have first pick in round 2 and GM McEwen is hoping Mike Grier will slip out of the first round, if not Grier then maybe Mats Lindgren or Rem Murray. Possible Lee Sorochan as Mr. Sorochan is marrying Lee's cousin in a couple of weeks. ________________________________________________________________________________ Darren Kinnaird www.ualberta.ca/~kinnaird/main