Perhaps the most surprising part of the draft? The B's managed to nab the 11th and 12th ranked prospects (as ranked by Hockey Prospectus, a site that focuses on stats and numbers to make its rankings). Not too shabby.
Here are the six players the B's drafted over the course of the draft's seven rounds:
- Dougie Hamilton (D - OHL)
- Alexander Khokhlachev (F - OHL)
- Anthony Camara (F - OHL)
- Brian Ferlin (F - USHL)
- Rob O'Gara (D - Milton Academy)
- Lars Volden (G - Espoo Blues)
Anything can happen, but it seems like it'll be a while before any of these guys makes an NHL impact. Common sense says Hamilton would be the first, as the B's can never have enough blueline help. But who knows, maybe Koko will impress at the development camp and get himself on the fast track.
Volden seems like a depth/throwaway pick to me, as the B's seem to be set up in goal for years to come with Tuukka Rask waiting in the wings, but again, one never knows.
The most intriguing name on this list (to me) is Anthony Camara, who was described by B's assistant GM Jim Benning as "a Shawn Thornton-type." Luedeke called Camara one of the B's "pet projects," a guy like Milan Lucic who they seek out in a draft as being "more than the sum of his parts." Verrrrrrrry interesting.
Kirk knows, so I'll take his word for it. As if B's fans needed any more reason to be excited, Luedeke gave the B's an overall grade of an "A" for the draft. The present looks bright, the future looks bright, hell now even the immediate PAST looks bright.
Better start investing in some sunglasses, B's fans.
