Before you dig into the Draft Tracker, check out these amazing articles written by Richard Pollack from Puck Prospectus, which is one of my favorite resources for in-depth hockey analysis. 

Selecting A Goaltender in the NHL Entry Draft

Predicting Success Based on A Goalie’s Draft Slot

So the main lesson we will be teaching during our live chat is this:

GREAT GOALIES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND ROUNDS!

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#31 - MIKKO KOSKINEN
New York Islanders

Withthe Islanders stressing their need for depth at the goaltending position, Garth Snow wasted no time making a bold statement by choosing Mikko Koskinen, the Vantaa Vulture. Honestly, there’s no better way to address depth in goal than by drafting the biggest and oldest European goalie available.

Koskinen’s value had shot up in recent weeks mainly due to the fact he is that ”older” goalie in a class of youngsters. It created a nice illusion that he could have instant value, potentially coming over to North America for next season and competing in the AHL. 

Islanders prospects Stefan Ridderwall and Kevin Poulin are decent, but they are not nearly as prized as Koskinen. On a young Islanders squad, a big goalie like Mikko will instill confidence in his teammates without having to prove a lot statistically. His size is his greatest asset and his lateral movement is not far behind.

Overall, with the injuries to Rick DiPietro putting a ton of pressure on the organization, Koskinen gives the team something to truly be excited about. It is reported that the Isles won’t retain Joey MacDonald or Yann Danis, so Peter Mannino will get the chance to be DiPietro’s backup next season. But Snow’s shedding of unnecessary goalies (Dubielewicz included) means Koskinen is just that much more valuable.

BOTTOM LINE: This just blows me away. I knew he was a very good prospect, but being chosen #31 is way above what anyone expected. But you can’t say I didn’t try to prepare you for the Vantaa Vulture.

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#46 - ROBIN LEHNER
Ottawa Senators

Ottawa fills a goaltending void by drafting prized Swedish goalie prospect Robin Lehner. Although the kid is only 18 years old and still in the very early stages of his development, his family and friends seem to be a major asset worth drafting this early. His father Michael is the one responsible for elevating Henrik Lundqvist’s game to the next level, and he accomplished this in part by using his son to work on different elements of the position.

So learning to play was more or less trial by fire for Lehner, who has literally been lurking in the shadows and learning from what his father has taught Lundqvist. Regardless of his value in that light, Lehnerstill has a lot of maturing to do, both physically and mentally. But with that boisterous frame and great instruction in his native land, Lehner will still turn into a very solid goaltender for the Senators.

Obviously his game does mimic Lundqvist’sin many ways, including a similar wide butterfly stance in which more weight is placed on the lower legs and ankles. But with those long legs taking up the entire lower portion of the net, Lehner will need to learn how to play higher up in his crease. Lundqvist has the foot speed to play a step, step-and-a-half deeper in his crease, but this is not a luxury that Lehner can afford.

BOTTOM LINE: Koskinen ignited the trend of taking the biggest goalies available, so I’m not surprised to see him go next. Lehner is 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, a hefty size for the quickness he has. Lehner is a future star, but has a very long way to go.

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#62 – ANDERS NILSSON
New York Islanders

Everyone knew that Snow wanted to draft a goalie, but to draft one of the biggest goalies in Round 2 and then choose the the next biggest goalie available in Round 3 is as bold as it gets. Nilsson is a pick right out of left field and  is really taken too soon in my mind. Obviously Snow had his mind set on hulking European goalies, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it also begs the question of whether or not he has confidence in DiPietro’s future.

Again, size is the obvious trend in this year’s Entry Draft and Snow really is the driving factor in this. Nilsson is 6-foot-5 (so is Koskinen) and 220 pounds, so he’s exactly the same build as Lehner. The impact that Snow had on the goaltending culture has been monumental today, as the trend of picking prized massive European goalies will only grow stronger over the next year.

 Nilsson was really challengedin his homeland this season, as he doubled his minutes played for Lulea’s junior team in Sweden, jumping from 16 in 2007 to 37 games played in 2008. But he also doubled his shutouts (two to four) and improved his goals against average and save percentage just slightly. For a goalie that was ranked 5th in European goalie prospects available, being the first choice in Round 3 is an amazing accomplishment for Nilsson.

BOTTOM LINE: Snow’s bold moves will leave a lasting impact on the culture and strategy of drafting goalies. Nilsson is a prized prospect but could have easily slid to the fifth or sixth round and still been available.

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#76 – IGOR BOBKOV
Anaheim Ducks

What do you know, another big goalie gets drafted way earlier than expected. Bobkov was ranked 10th for European goalies, but just in the last few weeks, became considered by many scouts as one of the best Russian goalies around. But with the playoff history of Ilya Bryzgalov laid before them, it’s no surprise that Anaheim would put their faith in another promising Russian goaltender.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds, Bobkov is a big, wide presence in the net and has to work hard on improving his footwork and the overall recovery process. This will allow him to stay in position for second and third opportunities and bail out his defensemen. He’s quick up high with the gloves, but down low he doesn’t move very efficiently.

Bobkov’s stock rose suddenly following his outstanding performance in the World Junior Championship. In that tournament he showed his big-save ability and leadership qualities, which made him appear quite valuable to many Western Conference teams. Phoenix, Chicago and San Jose all have stellar Russian goalies and in three or four years you can add Anaheim to that list.

BOTTOM LINE: Just when I thought the trend would start to die down, Bobkov is taken after Nilsson but before Matt Hackett. Bobkov, but regardless, European goalies with size have dominated the Draft.

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#77 – MATT HACKETT
Minnesota Wild

And just when you expect to see another “big” goalie get pulled out of Europe, Matt Hackett is finally taken by the Minnesota Wild. The #1 ranked North American goalie prospect had high expectations to be drafted sooner, but the deed is done and now he has work to do with the Plymouth Whalers. This is an all around steal at #77 for Minnesota.

Hackett’s pedigree is well-documented through his uncle Jeff, who also happens to be Matt’s hero and idol. Similar to Lehner and Lundqvist, Matt’s positioning and stance is similar to Jeff, with skating ability, reading plays and composure under pressure as his major assets.

Over the next few years Hackett needs to work on playing higher up in his crease and giving the shooter less time and space to work with. Movement wise, Hackett is fluid and confident and with a great 6-foot-3 frame, so he takes up a lot of space up high after he drops into the butterfly.

 BOTTOM LINE: Hackett had an amazing season for the Whalers, but his bloodline with his uncle Jeff is a little over-hyped in my opinion. He still has impressive skills though, so he could impress you at training camp!

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#81 – ADAM MORRISON
Philadelphia Flyers

Another “big” goalie drafted sooner than expected, Adam Morrison from Saskatoon is taken by four picks later by the Flyers. Morrison (6-foot-3, 166 pounds) only played 13 games for the Blades in the WHL this season but his statistics reveal a lot about why he was drafted so soon. 

The 17-year-old strung together a very impressive 9-1-1 record with a 2.47 goals against average and .907 save percentage behind Braden Holtby, a prospect for the Washington Capitals. Not bad for a kid that didn’t have expectations to take over or carry a team due to injury.

Morrison’s skills are as raw as they can be, but his story is not as rare as it may seem. Calder Trophy winner Steve Mason had only played 12 games in his first season of major-junior hockey before being drafted #69 by the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

The NHL’s Central Scouting Service rated Morrison 24th among North American goalies in its final rankings, yet his progress in one short season earned him an invitation to Hockey Canada’s upcoming goaltender development camp in Calgary.

BOTTOM LINE: I didn’t have Morrison ranked anywhere or even being drafted this year, but that was kind of the story of this year’s draft. Not many CHL goalies get chosen after their first year in the draft…but again, size matters.

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#91 – MIKE LEE
Phoenix Coyotes

The Coyotes got an absolute steal by drafting Mike Lee with the final pick of the third round. Lee put together a storied season with the expansion Fargo Force of the USHL and will be a very important goalie in the Coyotes system sooner rather than later.

Lee faced a ton of shots during his season with Fargo, so his adjustment to the NCAA with St. Cloud State should be pretty smooth as he competes in the high-flying WCHA. He will also get to continue developing his big-save ability with some great international competition for Team USA, possibly as the starter in the 2009 World Juniors.

Phoenix addressed a need by bringing in a goalie that has already proven to be a difference-maker. Al Montoya, who is a very talented and technical goalie in his own right, is not the type of player that can be counted on to make the big save after already facing 35-40 shots. The same can be said for Josh Tordjman as well, but Lee has the capability to win games and that’s exactly what Phoenix needs if they expect to stay competitive.

BOTTOM LINE: Lee is a steal at #91 and my favorite pick so far. He will win the starting job for Team USA’s world junior championship team and with his setup for plenty of work at St. Cloud State, keep your eye on Lee.

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#95 – JEAN FRANCOIS BERUBE
Los Angeles Kings

A goaltender that flew under the radar, Jean Francois Berube is extremely quick not only in his stand-up stance, but down in the butterfly as well. The Kings did a great job bolstering their goaltending depth by adding a goalie that is similar in style to Jonathan Bernier. He’s not the biggest goalie out there, but at 6-foot-1 his frame is adequate, especially combined with his speed.

Berube only played 20 games as a backup this season, but the potential is there. He played behind St. Louis Blues prospect Jake Allen and was able to mature quickly and learn a lot without playing a lot of games. A few more years and he’ll be ready for the AHL without a doubt.

 BOTTOM LINE: Berube came on strong very late in the game and somehow snuck into the Top-100. It’s a solid pick for the Kings and is one of my favorite “hidden gem” prospects taken in this draft.

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#117 – EDWARD PASQUALE
Atlanta Thrashers

By this point I can’t comprehend how Edward Pasquale and Olivier Roy go another 20 picks after J-F Berube without being chosen. But finally, the Atlanta Thrashers grab a quality CHL goaltender late in the fourth round.

Pasquale was loaded up with games in his second OHL season and thanks to a full-time goalie coach, he was able to take it all in stride and continue improving his skill set. He was fortunate to have a couple of very influential goalie coaches give him a wealth of knowledge about the mental aspects of the game, which has greatly improved his poise and consistency over the last few years.

Pasquale plays a tight butterfly style and has proven that he can handle a heavy workload. He went from playing 23 games for Belleville in 2007-08 to 61 games for Saginaw this season and didn’t show any signs of exhaustion.

BOTTOM LINE: Pasquale is a solid pick and has some tremendous upside. He’s a quick learner and should develop steadily and have the potential to be a 1-A or 1-B goalie in the NHL.

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#124 – KIERAN MILLAN
Colorado Avalanche

Considering how desperate Colorado was for some worthwhile goalie prospects outside of the AHL, they probably could have chosen a more quality prospect in an earlier round. But at #124, taking Kieran Millan is a sensational move.

Sure, there were better prospects available at that spot, but when you take into account what he did as a freshman for Boston University this year, it’s a great pick at the right time. In 35 games, Millan posted a 29-2-3 record with a 1.94 goals against average and .921 save percentage for the Terriers. His efforts resulted in winning the Hockey East Rookie of the Year Award. But it was his poise and consistency in the NCAA Tournament that exposed his true draft value, as he and his teammates clinched the NCAA Championship title.

Millan does have a lot of upside, but like most NCAA goalies, he will need to play as many games as possible in order to transition smoothly to the NHL. Kieran only played 35 games last year, whereas prospects like Ed Pasquale played 62, which makes a big difference over the course of three or four seasons. Nevertheless, there’s no questioning the legitimacy of his first year at BU and the impact he could have in Colorado’s goalie depth charts.

BOTTOM LINE: Colorado finally has a goalie prospect worth harvesting. Millan must stay at BU for three more years in order to be effective at the NHL level, so if he leaves early, it could hurt his long-term value.

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#133 – OLIVIER ROY
Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers made an extremely smart pick by taking Olivier Roy in the fifth round. The more Roy slid in the draft order, the more I had to believe that there was something the scouts noticed about him that was exposed at the 11th hour, because he was one of the top-ranked North American goalies heading into the draft.

Roy’s game has been refined within the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, a storied QMJHL franchise that brought Marc-Andre Fleury and Ondrej Pavelec into the limelight of NHL stardom. Roy will be no different, as he has the dedication, heart and desire needed to win at any level, in any situation. Combined with his poise and effectiveness in big games, Roy also has legitimate NHL speed and skills.

BOTTOM LINE: This is nothing short of a steal for Edmonton, as they somehow found one of the best goalies available in the middle of the fifth round. Roy is one to watch next season as he builds on this year’s success. 

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#140 – SCOTT STAJCER
New York Rangers

After five of the first six goalies drafted displayed great size, it was the smaller ones that took over the fourth and fifth rounds. But one of the last “big” goalies that slipped a little lower than expected was 6-foot-3 goalie Scott Stajcer.

Stajcer posted mediocre stats in 35 games for Owen Sound of the OHL. He went 15-15-3-2 with a 3.57 goals against average, which was good enough for the Second All-Rookie Team. Stajcer has a solid frame with a good set of fundamentals but needs at least a few more years in the CHL to round out his game and get used to moving laterally with that big frame.

BOTTOM LINE: There were many Ranger fans that were hoping for Brandon Maxwell at this pick, but there’s nothing wrong with snagging Stajcer. His value has dropped slightly over the course of 2009, but there’s still plenty of potential.

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#142 – NICOLA RIOPEL
Philadelphia Flyers

 This is a tremendous choice for the Philadelphia Flyers, especially when you look at what Nicola Riopel accomplished in the QMJHL this season. I feel that Riopel should have gone much sooner in the draft, so this must have come as a pretty easy choice for the Flyers.

Riopel is a wizard in the butterfly position and plays a very similar style to other QMJHL goalies taken in the draft like Berube and Roy. Riopelis acrobatic, flexible and energetic in the crease and is not intimidated by physical play in front of his net. He is a poised performer and comes up with plenty of big saves over the course of a game.

BOTTOM LINE: I am surprised to see Riopel taken so late because he has one of the tightest and most consistent butterflys in the draft. Other than Jaroslav Janus, nobody can match his footspeed or lateral movement.

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#148 – MICHAEL ZADOR
Tampa Bay Lightning

To me, this is the most questionable pick of all the goalies taken in the Entry Draft. Zador has only played 28 games over two years in the OHL after battling through a couple of injuries. He was shipped to Oshawa as part of the John Tavares trade and went 5-12-1 in 18 games for the Generals.

Zador improved his stock after a very good performance for Team Canada in the U-18 World Junior Championship and posted a .931 save percentage in six games. That point, and that point alone, is the only reason why he would have been chosen before guys like Janus and Joni Ortio.

BOTTOM LINE: With so many more accomplished goalies available in the draft, I have to wonder about this choice and I don’t see much potential for Zador making the NHL. 

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#154 – BRANDON MAXWELL
Colorado Avalanche

Colorado continues to try and mend their weakest link by taking the second US-born netminder in today’s draft. Brandon Maxwell may seem like a relatively unknown goalie prospect, but it turns out he was a silent assassin for the U-18 USDP team.

On the biggest stage of his life, Maxwell helped Team USA earn the Bronze Medal in the IIHF World U-18 Championships in Russia. He did this in impressionable form by posting a 4-0-1 record with a .926 save percentage and 2.21 goals against average. Now Maxwell will head to Windsor, where he will be expected to compete for the starting job on a team that could repeat as Memorial Cup Champions.

Considering Colorado is pretty barren at the goalie position after Tyler Weiman and Jason Bacashihua, Maxwell is a tremendous choice at #154. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that Maxwell is playing in the CHL, not the NCAA, so he will develop faster than Mike Lee or Kieran Millan.

BOTTOM LINE: Maxwell is a surprise pick, but an impressive one. Although Colorado could have chosen a very solid European prospect, they finally found a US-goalie prospect worth grooming over the next three to four years.

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#161 – DARCY KUEMPER
Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild secured their second solid goalie prospect of the day by choosing Darcy Kuemper early in the sixth round. Kuemper played an impressive 55 games for the Red Deer Rebels after taking over for Morgan Clark early in the season. He posted very respectable numbers for a rookie with a 2.96 goals against average and his size is a big asset, as he stands at 6-foot-4 and 193 pounds.

When Clark started to struggle, Kuemper took over thanks to some great enthusiasm and his efficient movement. His ability to save energy over the course of a game was one factor in his great work early in the season and even better as the season came to an end.

I actually got some great insight on Kuemper back in February when I found this video about his season. I’m impressed with his perseverance and his understanding of the duties he has as a starter in the CHL.

BOTTOM LINE: Kuemper is an awesome sleeper prospect and Minnesota becomes a winner in the Entry Draft for their informed goaltending decisions. Kuemper’s a keeper!

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#162 – JAROSLAV JANUS
Tampa Bay Lightning

Can a single game on the international stage become the trademark of a Slovakian goalie? If you made 44 saves in a quarter-final win over Team USA, yes it can. And it was only a matter of time before Jaroslav Janus was chosen in this year’s Entry Draft.

Janus’ stock soared after the World Junior Championships, but rightfully so. Janus has played in North America this year and did a tremendous job for the Erie Otters, despite their loss to the London Knights in the first round of the playoffs. You can read more about my thoughts on Janus right here in the prospects report. Janus was also drafted by Lokomotiv of the KHL, so he could decide to play in Russia for a while before blossoming with the Lightning.

BOTTOM LINE: I was shocked when Zador’s name was called at #148 and Janus somehow slipped all the way to #162. But give Tampa credit for taking advantage of an chance to take him in the next round.

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#164- CONNOR KNAPP
Buffalo Sabres

Connor Knapp, who is coming off his rookie season with Miami of Ohio, was the third US-born goalie chosen in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Knapp is a welcome sight for Buffalo Sabres fans, as he’s a giant goalie at 6-foot-5 tall and weighing in at 215 pounds.

In 22 games as a rookie for the Red Hawks, Knapp posted a formidable 2.05 goals against average and .906 save percentage. Knapp helped his team throughout the year during their cinderella run to the NCAA Championship game against Millan’s Boston University Terriers. But in the final game, he was benched and watched the sucker-punch finish end his season on the losing end.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoqUhi0QbLg]

BOTTOM LINE: Great choice for the Sabres considering they could use a big goaltender. Ryan Miller is not the biggest goalie around and Jhonas Enroth is even smaller. Let’s hope Knapp stays in college for three more seasons.

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#171 – JONI ORTIO
Calgary Flames

This is one of the most exciting choices in the entire draft. Ortio is from Turku and is developing in Finland in a very similar way to Miikka Kiprusoff. Sure enough, Ortio even displays a few similar traits and has similar size.

The correlations go further, as his new coach will be Urpo Ylonen. Add on top of that the incredible mental toughness Ortio has, and this could have been the biggest steal of the entire draft. He’s primed to be the starter for Team Finland’s U-18 National Team, giving him a chance to perform on a very important stage.

Ortio impresses me because of his ability to read the game and understand many difficult game situations. He has very good awareness and can almost sense plays develop. This gives him the potential to be a world-class goalie. His intelligence level is more impressive than most goalies drafted and he’s also #46 on my Top-50 prospects list here.

BOTTOM LINE: Love this pick by Calgary as they replace the loss of Kevin Lalande by bringing in a cold-blooded Finnish netminder that will attempt to mimick Kiprusoff’s development route.

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#173 – JOE CANNATA
Vancouver Canucks

Give the Canucks a ton of credit for doing their homework and drafting the fourth US-born goalie, Joe Cannata, late in the sixth round. The freshman for Merrimack was ranked 15th for North American draft-eligible goalies.

Cannatais the type of goaltender any coach would love to have. He’s a big, hard-working, tough goalie with tremendous athleticism and the upside to be a #1 NHL goalie. But along with his technique and style comes the mental makup needed to win at the highest level. He is quickly becoming known as one of the most well-rounded US-born goalies still in the very early stages of his development.

BOTTOM LINE: He’s a long shot, but he has some good praise coming from a number of coaches that have had the luxury of having him on their team. I don’t see much promise at the NHL level, but could be looking at an elite backup.

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#211 – PETTERI SIMILA
Montreal Canadiens

Leave it to Montreal to come out of nowhere with a trade so that they could make the final choice in the draft. They did so by taking a massive Finnish goaltender named Petteri Simila, thus ending the day how it started. Day 2 kicked off with Mikko Koskinen going to the Islanders and it ended with Simila being chosen at #211.

What makes the move interesting to Canadiens fans is the fact that Bob Gainey actually traded for this pick. But why would they do that when they already have Missiaen? Well, similar to Cannata, the scouts obviously did their homework. It turns out that Simila has the same goaltending coaches that developed Pekka Rinne and with the six-foot-six frame staring them right in the eyes, Montreal had no problem trading a 6th round pick in 2010 to Pittsburgh for the chance to grab him.

BOTTOM LINE: A surprise that Simila was taken over a couple of Swiss goaltenders, but Montreal simply had a hunch and went with it. You can’t fault them for that and now they have a couple of massive goalies in the system.

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