The Thrasher organization found itself in a crazy situation with having won back to back BRHL2 titles, and finding themselves relocating to a new home in Winnipeg. Before the team left town the only two original Thrashers Ales Hemsky and Clarke Macarthur took time to speak at a press conference before they left town for Winnipeg, Hemsky had this to say, "Coming to Atlanta as the second player ever selected in the BRHL2 behind Heatley. I have seen the bad times like our first season when we missed the playoffs, the the worst times like when we lost in the cup in season 2. To now the best times having won back to back cups. The city of Atlanta and our fans have been their to support us the whole way. Sure it might only be 500-600 fans but we still love them. With moving to new city I am excited to play in front of a packed house but sad to leave the nice weather down in Atlanta."
Macarthur had this to say, "Getting picked late in the dispersal draft originally I didn't know what to expect. In my very first meeting with the G.M/Owner I knew our team was destined for great things, the past 5 years in Atlanta has been great and I feel like this experience has made me a much better individual both on and off the ice.. Our success will be tough to match in Winnipeg but me and the guys are definitely up for the challenge of trying to repeat the success."
Holding a pile of picks heading into the draft this offseason the Thrasher/Jets ended up landing a great mix of Forwards (15) , Defence Men (5), and Goalies (3). Here is the complete summary on the players picked to help make the transition to Winnipeg a seamless one for the heavily unemployed die hard fans in the Peg.
18- Jack Campbell- With the teams final draft board set their were 4 elite F's (who went in our top 5) and 2 elite Dmen (the 2nd who went 9th) and one Goalie. Thinking their was no chance that Jack would fall to us at 18 the team tried to move up to 13-14 range to get a pick to select him. Failing to pull off a move the team waited and landed the #7 player on their big board at #18 and the Thrasher/Jets scouts were cheering in the war room. Landing a talent like Campbell to pair with Jake Allen as the team's longterm answer in goal was definitely a great start to the draft.
NHL Comparison- Ed Belfour
24- Nick Bjugstad- Sitting at 24 the team was hoping to land a guy who they felt could become a true impact NHL player. Draftng Nick the team feels good about the longterm outlook of him becoming a good 2nd line C or even hitting a ceiling of a 1st line NHL player. A former Mr.Hockey in Minnesota and with an uncle who played and NHL career we really liked Bjugstad. Nick has fired out of the gate this year with 5 goals, 4 assists in only 5 games it looks like Nick has taken a step in the right direction
NHL Comparison- Ryan Kesler
44- Maxim Kitsyn- Maxim is a high skill Russian, who has played in the KHL for 2 full seasons before he got drafted NHL, he came over to the OHL last season and had a good year during a transition to north american life. . Playing in various international tournaments in Russia's top 6 forwards with Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, etc our scouts were pleased snagging him even if many thought it was early at #44.
NHL Comparison- Alexander Frolov
45-Ludvig Rensfeldt- Ludvig is an interesting prospect the team had very high on the big board at #25, After dominating in the ByrnasJ20 program in 09-10 to the tune of 21games, 12g, 18as for 30pts, He also played 6 games for Sweden at the WJC scoring 6 goals and 6 assists. Also that season Ludvig played 21 games for Swedens U18 team and scored 12g, 18 for 30 points. This past season Ludvig put up 26games and had 17g, 19as for 36points for ByrnasJ20 team, Having played so well Ludvig got in 16 games with the big squad in the Elitserien and also 5 games in the playoffs. Having good size at 6'3, 200lb's these Swedish winger is someone who the Thrasher/Jets are very excited about landing.. Rensfeldt came over to the CHL this year and is playing in Sarnia on a high powered team in the OHL.
NHL Comparison- Jakub Voracek
50- Greg McKegg- McKegg is a 6', 200LB, center who this past season in the OHL for Erie had 49goals and 43apples for 92pts in only 66games. The previous year he had 37g-48a in 67 games. Greg is also a high character guy having been his teams captain the past two seasons in the OHL. The Jets organization is hoping he can play a solid two-way game this season in the AHL and get his NHL look the following year on the MapleLafs 3rd or 4th line..
NHL Comparison- Dave Bolland
75- Justin Shugg- is a 5'10, 195lb, stocky goal scorer who has 80 goals in his last 133 OHL games. With 166pts in those 133 games Shugg has a good offensive instincts and is a proven playoff performer also having won back to back memorial cups with the Spitfires before competing in his 3rd memorial cups with the Majors this season.. We hope Shugg's offensive game along with his grit can land him a job in Carolina's top three lines in the future
NHL Comparison- Ryan Callahan
76-Jordan Weal- Weal is a small kid 5'8 170lb'er, but with 198 points in his last 144 games in the WHL, we are confident this kid will become a scoring line player at the next level much like his former teammate Jordan Eberle.
NHL Comparison- Ray Whitney
107- Maxim Chudinov- Starting out day two the team hadn't planned on moving up and had Chudinov #2 on the big board, With Hamilton going at 101 the team was confident the Briuns 7th round Russian Dman would still be their for them at 107, With him their the team quickly selected the offensive dynamo who has put up great stats in the KHL with 8 goals and 15 assists in 52 games this year he had similar PPG to some other highly touted Russians like V.Taraseneko. The Jets scout's are hoping management is lets the longterm kid pan out.
NHL Comparison- Oleg Tverdovsky
109- Tye McGinn- Tye is a big 6'2 210LB, speedy winger who can fight and also score the biscuit, with 126 points (58g, 68ass) in his last 92 CHL games our scouts our very high on what the ceiling for this big feisty winger.
NHL Comparison- Scottie Upshall
118- Mirko Hoefflin- Mirko is a slick offensive forward, With C/W flexibility we like. In his first year in North America the German born 6 footer had 14g, 31as for 45 points in 54 games with the Remparts in the QMJHL.
NHL Comparison- Jochen Hecht
123- Mattias Sjogren- A free agent signing by the Washington Capitals NHL, we feel Sjogren at 6'1 210lbs, A craft playmaker who has played in the SEL the past 3 season's Mattias is a strong body Swede who we hope with a year of development in Hersey AHL, will crack the Capitals next season.
NHL Comparison- Artem Anisimov
128- Rob Flick- at 6'2, 210lb's, The Thrasher/Jets were excited to see someone they had at #66 on their big board available this late in the draft with Flick's size and development over the past season, Robbie put in 27goals and 30 assists in 68games playing a solid role on both the PK.. With an impressive fight list that includes Kassain, Foligno and many other top OHL fighter's, we like Robbie's heart and ability to put it all on the line for his team.
NHL Comparison- Paul Gaustad.
130- Jason Akeson- Jason Akeson won a couple awards last season in the OHL coming home with the Eddie Powers (top scorer) William Hanley (most sportsmanlike player) With 25goals and 84 assists for 108 points he was a force every night he was on the ice. Signing a pro deal with Philly NHL and having a solid start to his AHL career we hope Akeson can ascend through the ranks and become an everyday NHL'er..
NHL Comparison- Mike Santorelli
140-Thomas Heemskerk- Is a 6', 200lb goalie from Chilliwack BC, Thomas Signed as a free agent with the Sharks in the NHL after starting 65 games last season for Moose Jaw in the WHL. With a .908 Save% and a 2.94 GAA in those games we like the steady goaltending Heemskerk brought the Warriors so we felt it was a solid time to add a 2nd goaltender of this draft class behind J.Cambell.
NHL Comparison- Dwayne Roloson
141- Antti Tyrvainen- This pesky little bugger from Finnland impressed Jets scouting during this past NHL preseason he had with the Oilers in the NHL, Tyrvainen put up a respectable 14goals and 9assists in 52 games in the defensive SM-Liiga, The stat that really impressed our scouts was the 186 PIM he put up.. With a feisty pest mentality we feel this youngster could very easily find a role in the NHL soon.
NHL Comparison- Matt Cooke
148- Brett Flemming- At 6' 190lb's Brett is a puck moving Dman who last year in the OHL put in 4g + 39ass in 68 games..With a good shot from the point Brett is someone we see hopefully developing into a PP player at the pro level. With a goal and assist in 5 games playing for the Heresy Bears to start this season NHL we hope Brett continues his strong development.
NHL Comparism- Ron Hainsey
166- Same Brittain- At #166 we felt it was a good shot to take another shot at a goalie to give us our targeted 3 for this draft class. We saw Sam Brittain sitting their and quickly made our selection. A 6'3 210lb kid from Calgary Alberta put up a dominant season at the U of Denver posting a 2.28 GAA and a 0.921 save% with 19-9-5 record.. Coming out of the AJHL this is a great step in the right direction for Brittain..
NHL Comparison- Michael Nuevirth
167- Denny Kearney- at 6'1, 200lb this Yale graduate signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL, after 131points in 141 games at Yale this winger can score the puck. In his 6 AHL games last season he had 5 points.. We are hopeful Kearney can use his intelligence and size to develop a solid role in the Columbus organization NHL.
NHL Comparison- David Moss
170- Cody Beach- Cody is the younger brother of former high end NHL pick Kyle, Cody however has always known his role, he is and knows and wants to be a fighter at the next level. The year after he was drafted in the NHL Cody had a great capping putting in 6g + 28ass in only 40 games the key to him however was his 163PIMS, at 6'5 190lb's this kid has room to grow into a soild NHL Fighter with a little ability to contribute swell.
NHL Comparison- Ben Eager
182- Brandon Davidson- Davidson is a solid offensive D-man with good size at 6'2, 200 LB's. In his second WHL season Davidson put up 8g, 44as for 52 points in 72 games showing great offensive instincts, to start out 11-12 he has put in 13pts in 13games. Our scouts were thrilled to see this prospects available this late in the draft. With prospects ahead of him with the Oilers NHL Davidson will be given time to season in the AHL for a few years following his WHL contract..
NHL Comparison- Josh Gorges
200- Mike Kostka- Is a late bloomer our scouts wanted to take a flier on at this point in the draft. With decent size at 6'1, 210lb's Kostka is a solid built kid who this past season in the AHL for Rochester put up 16goals, and 39assists in 80 games. As a Dman those were stats that stuck out when we looked at them.. In the offseason the Panthers NHL signed Kostka and our hope is he will finally be given the look he needs.
NHL Comparison- Johny Boychuk
203- Jimmy Mullin- Mullin is a smaller skill winger born in Cincinnati Ohio this 5'`0 165lb kid had a dynamic season in the USHL in 10-11, posting 23g, 37as for 60points in only 52 games.. For the 11-12 season Mullin will be attending Miami (ohio) University where we hope this 2010 NHL 4th rounder can blossom into a scoring forward at the NCAA level..
NHL Comparison- Nathan Gerbe
212- Victor Bartley-is another D-man who got signed, The Predators brought this Ottawa ONT native back to North America after he spent a season in europe at 20years old.. With Milwaukee this season in the AHL the D-man has 3points in his first 5 games.. Were hoping this D-man can get a shot in Nashville and show his offensive upside.
