Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Leafs 6 Pack

The Maple Leafs had six selections in yesterday's NHL draft, including a compensatory pick they received for losing Tom Fitzgerald to free agency.
Here they are:

21. Tuukka Rask, G, Ilves (Finland)
Projected as a No. 1 goalie at the NHL level. Plays a hybrid butterfly/acrobatic style and never gives up on a shot. Very flexible; as one scout said, "He can put his feet behind his ears." Was top goalie for Finnish world junior and under-18 teams.
82. Phil Oreskovic, D, Brampton (OHL)
North York native is a big, physical beast with almost no offensive potential, but plays a solid and steady defensive game. Had 147 PIM for Brampton last season.
153. Alex Berry, RW, Boston (EJHL)
Regressed a little this season, but remains a physical winger who skates fairly well for a big man. Scouts, however, don't think he's the sum of his parts.
173. Johan Dahlberg, LW, MoDo (Sweden)
Plugger scored 10 goals in 33 games in Sweden's junior league last season, but ruggedness is his calling card. One scout described him as "the nastiest Swede you've ever seen."
216. Anton Stralman, RW, Skovde (Sweden)
Had a good world junior tournament for Sweden in North Dakota. Another big Swedish winger who competes hard and plays a physical game.
228. Chad Rau, C, Des Moines (USHL)
Had 31 goals and 70 points in 57 games, but is just 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds and is not a strong skater.

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