Kyle Beach

[gordphish]

There is a lot of speculation that 4th ranked Kyle Beach may still be available when the Canucks pick 10th in the draft in Ottawa this June. Other teams may take a pass on Beach because of his lack of maturity. Hockey Canada passed on taking him to the World U-18s for the same concerns.

That said, he is a big scoring forward with a good shot and a mean streak. Take note that although he is listed as a centre, he's been used on the wing in Everett.

So I have a few questions for Canuck fans. If Beach is still sitting there at 10th when the Canucks pick, do you take a chance on his skill and hope that he matures mentally, or give him a pass? There will almost certainly be other players with similar skill sets available that don't come with the risks that Beach comes with.

Brian Burke has gone on record that they would take Beach if he was still available when the Ducks pick. Do you offer Beach up to Burke in a deal? Beach for Perry?

If you were the GM, what would you do?

http://www.mynhldraft.com/2008/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Kyle-Beach

[KB in Kelowna]

A good Kelowna boy!:thumb:

He might benefit from time playing in the AHL, as it could mature him. Playing against Men in the pros is a differnt game than the WHL, and he has the size and scoring touch at center/forward that makes him an intresting pick.

Why would Burke trade a roster player for a prospect, even with his former Padawan?;)

[AtLossForWords]

I don't know right now Gord. It depends on who is available. I think you have to draft the best available player, and if a top five talent is still sitting at ten, then you should take the chance.

There were questions concerning the kind of individual Phil Kessel was when he was drafted, but it hasn't seemed to hurt his career. Granted he did slip in the draft order, but I think that there is a huge drop in talent between Beach and whoever else is available, the Canucks should take Beach.

[gordphish]

A good Kelowna boy!:thumb:

He might benefit from time playing in the AHL, as it could mature him. Playing against Men in the pros is a differnt game than the WHL, and he has the size and scoring touch at center/forward that makes him an intresting pick.

Why would Burke trade a roster player for a prospect, even with his former Padawan?;)

Well you'd have to put more in the package than just Beach for Perry, that's for sure. But if resigning Perry becomes a problem for Burke and Burke thinks Beach is a top 4 pick, it could be a real possibility.

[KB in Kelowna]

Actually I would like to see the Canucks draft more WHL players. At least they have some idea of the travel issues and they are usually tougher. In all the time Kamloops was winning Memorial Cups ( it was won by BC team's before the Vancouver Giants- just a shot at the Vancouver media;) ) the Canucks never drafted a Blazer. Granted some where not available when the Canucks number came up but...

[gordphish]

Actually I would like to see the Canucks draft more WHL players. At least they have some idea of the travel issues and they are usually tougher. In all the time Kamloops was winning Memorial Cups ( it was won by BC team's before the Vancouver Giants- just a shot at the Vancouver media;) ) the Canucks never drafted a Blazer. Granted some where not available when the Canucks number came up but...

Well, they've actually been doing just that of late. Edler, Simek, Grabner, Ellerton, Gendur, Bliznak...all from the Dub. And I agree with you. The Canadian Juniors are still the best place to go looking for premier hockey talent. You can cheap out by looking to the NCAA to develop your youth at their cost, but just keep in mind that you get what you pay for.

For me, I don't want any more picks wasted on Russians, for starters. Not until they get the transfer agreement hammered out. Unless you are getting a top 2 talent like Ovechkin or Malkin, who will come to the NHL regardless because they know they can still make a tonne more money here than in Russia.

And no more Swedes for a while. Not as core players anyway. They need to start building this group around players that grow up understanding what sacrifice and committment is about.

[KB in Kelowna]

Well, they've actually been doing just that of late. Edler, Simek, Grabner, Ellerton, Gendur, Bliznak...all from the Dub. And I agree with you. The Canadian Juniors are still the best place to go looking for premier hockey talent. You can cheap out by looking to the NCAA to develop your youth at their cost, but just keep in mind that you get what you pay for.

For me, I don't want any more picks wasted on Russians, for starters. Not until they get the transfer agreement hammered out. Unless you are getting a top 2 talent like Ovechkin or Malkin, who will come to the NHL regardless because they know they can still make a tonne more money here than in Russia.

And no more Swedes for a while. Not as core players anyway. They need to start building this group around players that grow up understanding what sacrifice and committment is about.

It is only in the last few years that they have drafted out of "the Dub" and aside from Edler, none of the players mentioned has had an impact on the team so far. The NCAA can be a good place for a Tier 2 Junior player to acquire seasoning, but for me the Canadian Hockey League is still the best source of talent, and for the Canucks I think they need to look at the WHL first.

I agree on the Russians, unless some kid is an Ovechkin clone, and is coming over come hell or high water, don't waste the pick.

As for Beach, our freind FF2 has seen more of him than I have, and from what I have read Doug seems to think he is worth the risk.

[gordphish]

It is only in the last few years that they have drafted out of "the Dub" and aside from Edler, none of the players mentioned has had an impact on the team so far. The NCAA can be a good place for a Tier 2 Junior player to acquire seasoning, but for me the Canadian Hockey League is still the best source of talent, and for the Canucks I think they need to look at the WHL first.

I agree on the Russians, unless some kid is an Ovechkin clone, and is coming over come hell or high water, don't waste the pick.

As for Beach, our freind FF2 has seen more of him than I have, and from what I have read Doug seems to think he is worth the risk.

The red flag for me is that Team Canada passed on him for the World U-18s. For a top 5 draft talent, to me, that's a big concern. But I guess all you can do is sit down with him and get a feel for how he responded to that. If he took the Esposito pout route, then no thanks.