Semi OT: Midterm NHL Draft Rankings

Submitted by Trauber19 on
So for those of you looking for some good news regarding Michigan sports, central scouting for the NHL released their midterm rankings for the 2011 draft and John Gibson was rated the number 1 North American Goalie. Can't wait to see him in the Maize and Blue.

Sambojangles

January 10th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^

It's weird, but with hockey rankings, I would rather see a player's stock drop rather than rise. If a player is too high, the chances of him leaving after a year or two or not coming at all increase. Red does a good job convincing guys to stay 4 years, but it's a lot easier to keep them when they are 4th rounders rather than 1st rounders.

With goalies it's less of a concern, I think, because they take so long to develop, and the NHL teams appreciate getting 4 years of free conditioning, especially since Gibson will likely be "the guy" for most of his career here (there's no one else....)

Regardless, congrats to Gibson, and look forward to chanting Temptation to him in the fall!

JustGoBlue

January 10th, 2011 at 6:53 PM ^

but Steve Kampfer is likely back in action with the Bruins tonight at 7 on Versus, against Pittsburgh.  I did a quick check and I believe he's the second youngest player on the Bruins' roster, behind Tyler Seguin.  There are a couple other '88 birthdays, but he's the latest of those. 

He wasn't really one of my favorite players while he was here (don't read too much into that, please, I just never really thought of him as much as I did some others), but he is certainly one of my favorite ex-Wolverines.  Just because the story is so good and probably just about exactly how Red wants it, kid stays 4 years, develops, gets a degree and half a year later is playing in the NHL.  Also, he was a 4th round pick, so certainly no slouch, but not exactly JMFJ either and he and I went to school together for part of our time here, which makes it just a bit more personal, though I never met him.  Add that to the off-ice "fight" and the on-ice FYS episode and it becomes pretty incredible.

I don't get a ton of opportunity to watch Bruins games, but I've seen a few since he was called up.  There's been a couple times he's been victimized maybe a little bit, but mostly he looks comfortable out there, so good for him.