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New captain Jasper Clayton stands next to the Falcon's Laurifer Trophy, earned for the best regular season record in the SMJHL

POST-DRAFT FALCONS SCOUTING REPORT </div>

HockeyTown Scouting took a small hiatus and now is back with an all-inclusive look at the Falcons that got drafted in the recent SHL Entry Draft! There were plenty of prospects to choose from that came out of a successful Detroit operation this season, and with a Laurifer Trophy under their belts, Detroit's rookies looked to impress SHL teams in multiple ways. Each had their own ups and downs and we finally have a look at where these Falcons will soar in the big leagues! This report will look at draft position, current build, future build (if necessary), and role the Falcons player will play in their SHL team's lineup and locker room presence. This will go by draft order, so we start out with none other than...

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Jasper Clayton stands next to Sam Samsinov and Nathan Russell moments after being drafted 2nd overall by the Wolfpack

Jasper Clayton, 1st Round (2nd OA) </div>

1st overall was a lock with Evandrus Jesster going to the Seattle Riot, and our very own Jasper Clayton made his name known enough to be picked 2nd overall by a Wolfpack team that seems to need new blood after their recent Challenge Cup win. With Clayton leading a draft class of Flacko, Hoover, and other big names, it seems New England is in a great place. Clayton is poised to be the leader of the defense once he ascends to the SHL level and could become a face of the franchise with his media presence on the rise, amongst other stats. Clayton was the logical pick, and his build is one of the reasons why:

<div align="center">TPE = 343
CK = Checking: 55
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 67
SK = Skating: 84 3/5
ST = Strength: 75
EN = Endurance: 80
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 80
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 86
SC = Scoring: 75
DF = Defense: 83
PS = Penalty Shot: 50</div>

New England got a great value out of the 2nd overall with a player just practicing and building for another year, especially with Clayton being an offensive light on the blue line and still playing long minutes as a sophomore. With only a little bit left until he hits his ceiling, Clayton will probably clean up the last bits of his skating posture and work more on an SHL level puck handling skill level. This sets up Clayton to be a great player for the Wolfpack. With a defensive lineup of Tsizlings, Reid, O'Reilly and not much else, Clayton seems to be set for a top 4 spot the moment he comes up, even seeing time on the powerplay early! With guys like O'Reilly, Colt, and other active guys in the locker room, Clayton should fit in nicely with the culture in Boston, even becoming a better member of the hockey society than before.

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Michael Burch stands next to Esa Anrikkanen and Vladislav Smirnov on the stage after being selected 6th overall

Michael Burch, 1st Round (6th OA) </div>

After Clayton was off the board, the next Falcons prospect that would be taken was Michael Burch, the fast winger on the first line. With Jesster, Wind, and Flacko gone, Burch was the 4th forward gone in the draft, being the 2nd winger. Burch's presence in a tight locker room allowed Dragons GM (and former Falcons GM) Esa Anrikkanen to personally watch the talented player all season long. This gave Burch a leg up and showed that despite not being the most omnipresent rookie in the hockey world, Burch is a fantastic prospect for the SHL. The Dragons got a great winger out of the Falcons player, especially given his build:

<div align="center">TPE = 360 (10 Banked)
CK = Checking: 50
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 67
SK = Skating: 88
ST = Strength: 75
EN = Endurance: 80
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 85
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 85
SC = Scoring: 75
DF = Defense: 80
PS = Penalty Shot: 50</div>

Burch has hit his peak performance in the minors and Calgary gets the luxury of having him spend another year dominating the minors before coming up to the Dragons and playing with Jagr, Mack, or even Hill if he gets better. The Dragons have stacked up winger prospects to go with center strength and depth, and guys like Randy Randleman, VLAD McZerhl, and Leon Webb will be paired with Burch eventually. Lines like Randleman - Jagr - Burch will be what puts Calgary back on top and gives them a chance to get back to the days of back to back Cups and dominance of the SHL. Burch will be one of the integral locker room pieces that becomes a part of the core that the Dragons will ride for seasons to come. Burch has the playmaking capabilities to keep guys like McZerhl, Anrikkanen, Randleman, and others scoring at a record pace. With more time in the minors, Burch will soar onto the SHL scene and become a great powerplay setup guy, penalty kill player, and role-filler until he becomes the star.

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Austin Lemieux shakes hands with Damian Littleton after being selected 24th overall by the Winnipeg Jets

Austin Lemieux, 2nd Round (24th OA) </div>

With there only being one goalie of SHL caliber in the draft, Austin Lemieux had to wait a little longer than his teammates Burch and Clayton and was eventually taken by original owner of the Challenge Cup in the Winnipeg Jets. Littleton has a godly reputation as a GM around the league on top of the SHL trophy named after him and his Hall of Fame induction, and he knew that Lemieux was not only the best player available in the late 2nd round, but that Lemieux could be the protege to aging goaltender Lauris Prikulis and could eventually take the place of one of the Holy Trinity of the modern SHL. Let's see what Lemieux brings to the table immediately:

<div align="center">TPE = 270
SK = Skating: 60
DU = Durability: 50
EN = Endurance: 62
SZ = Size: 76.5
AG = Agility: 77
RB = Rebound Control: 78
SC = Style Control: 76
HS = Hand Speed: 79
RT = Reaction Time: 78
PH = Puck Handling: 70
PS = Penalty Shot: 60</div>

With room to grow, Lemieux could benefit from the Jets training camp and some time in the minors before coming up to back up Prikulis through his golden years. Lemieux can get bigger in net and will be getting faster practicing with the Jets and playing more in the minors. Blocking shots from rookies and getting better at reacting to fast breaks, one-timers, and stopping the puck instead of letting pucks rebound too far off will make Lemieux a force to be reckoned with. Playing in the minors should also give Lemieux more ability to play more focused and stronger in the final period and crunch time of games. While quiet in the locker room, Lemieux muses and chooses his words wisely, being a great friend and a wonderful teammate. He's what you want in a goaltender: someone who can be a rock for the team, keep them in the game, and not lose his cool about it. One year will get Lemieux ready for his time in the SHL, especially since Littleton has invested all his goaltender future in this Falcon.

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Ross Burke stands next to Cole Reinhart and Kyle Keenan at the draft after being selected 32nd overall by the Edmonton Blizzard

Ross Burke, 3rd Round (32nd OA) </div>

The Blizzard had a great trade to go up and grab Ivan Koroviev, but the West team was looking for more of a full forward line to develop and take on a spot on the team. With Zavstrom going 26th, all they needed was another winger, and Burke comes in cheap at 32nd overall. Unlike most of the people selected in the 3rd round, Ross Burke has some upside and has become a better player, starting the season as a role player and finally ending up playing bigger parts on the team, with projections saying that Burke will be on the top line with Burch this season. The Blizzard got a solid pick out of the winger with this build:

<div align="center">TPE = 261
CK = Checking: 50
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 78
ST = Strength: 70
EN = Endurance: 70
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 83
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 80
SC = Scoring: 86
DF = Defense: 70
PS = Penalty Shot: 50</div>

Burke is a score-first type of player, and with his ability to hold the puck, Burke can be a powerplay phenom in the SHL as an offensive forward. With a special sense of helping the puck get in the back of the net, whether that'll be dishing it to guys like Koroviev and Kane or taking the shot himself, Burke will be a key role player headed to the SHL and eventually he will become a top 6 player. With players like Keenan retiring and Adam Abodobe coming up, Burke will be a part of a forward group that can take tons of shots on goal, and his quiet demeanor in the locker room won't make him a distraction to a performance-first team mentality like in Edmonton. With another year or two in the minors, Burke can become a player that can skate the length of the ice into the third period, have a faster slap shot, and improve his offensive game immensely. With the Blizzard training camp coming up, Burke will even take on some more defensive qualities so he can compete on more levels in the dynamic SHL. Hopefully, Burke comes out of the stigma of a 3rd round player and impresses the SHL like the Falcons know he can.

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Tim Tebow talks with Damian Littleton after the Winnipeg Jets took Tebow with the 37th overall pick in the draft

Tim Tebow, 3rd Round (37th OA) </div>

Tim Tebow wasn't a big prospect coming into the draft, but he has some great connections and was taken 37th overall by Littleton and the Jets. Tebow wasn't a massive producer throughout the season, but he keeps improving and shows promise, though will be a project for a team that has taken multiple projects and turned guys like Alex Mack into fantastic players for the future. Tebow still has a lot of room to grow, as shown by his current build:

<div align="center">TPE = 165
CK = Checking: 55
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 70
ST = Strength: 60
EN = Endurance: 66
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 70
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 72
SC = Scoring: 70
DF = Defense: 80
PS = Penalty Shot: 50</div>

There's so much room to build that it's hard to predict what type of defender Tebow will be for the Jets eventually, but the fact that there's a lot of room for growth gives him upside that most other prospects don't have. Hopefully the Jets took a chance on a player that can eventually become a good role player in the SHL for years to come. Tebow is very quiet and a small presence in the locker room, but he trains and is a consistent improving defender. This pick can work out in the long run.

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McLaren Nasher approaches his new GM Damian Littleton after the Winnipeg Jets took Nasher with the 39th overall pick in the draft

McLaren Nasher, 3rd Round (39th OA) </div>

Even though McLaren hasn't been a Falcon for long, the rising forward got taken with Lemieux and Tebow in Winnipeg at 39th overall. Nasher's raised activity in the locker room shows that Littleton didn't waste his 2nd 3rd round pick on any old forward. Nasher spent his rookie season with the St. Louis Scarecrows and had some success, though the Scarecrows ended up losing in their first round of the playoffs. Nasher brings a scoring presence to a team of pass-first guys like Burke and he brings another good forward to Winnipeg:

<div align="center">TPE = 215
CK = Checking: 50
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 76
ST = Strength: 59
EN = Endurance: 80
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 76 1/2
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 75
SC = Scoring: 82 3/5
DF = Defense: 69
PS = Penalty Shot: 50</div>

Nasher still has room to grow, and a nurturing environment like in Winnipeg will allow Nasher to become a decent SHL player and work with the Jets system. With guys like McDavid and Å atan on the top 6, Nasher will be able to take many elements from the players of the big leagues, including keeping up with the big league guys. Nasher never comes off the ice, so his scoring capabilities will rack more goals when he's on the ice at full strength, the powerplay, and throughout the 3rd period. Nasher has been getting better as a skater and making his skating motion an art. If he can also improve on his ability to hold the puck longer and through more checks, Nasher can be a top 6 player with significant time as the clean-up powerplay guy in Winnipeg for seasons to come! It seems like McLaren will fit in well with a dignified class of players in Winnipeg and they should enjoy more value out of their 3rd round player.

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Bastien Salabanzi stands besides Daniel Merica and Tommy Creller after he was drafted 50th overall to the Manhattan Rage

Bastien Salabanzi, Round 4 (50th OA) </div>

A big defender at the beginning of the season, Bastien Salabanzi hit the scene as the next solid Irish defender, but after a flare-up initial few games, Salabanzi started leaving practices, not showing up to events, and, while still playing games and taking paychecks, Bastien has been a letdown as a first round selection. Dropping from 1st round to 4th round hurts, and hopefully Creller as a former Falcons GM can bring Salabanzi back up to the big leagues. They'll have to do some work with his current build, though:

<div align="center">TPE = 222
CK = Checking: 72 1/2
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 63
SK = Skating: 78
ST = Strength: 71
EN = Endurance: 80
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 75
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 55
SC = Scoring: 71
DF = Defense: 78
PS = Penalty Shot: 50</div>

Salabanzi could become a better passer, but the Rage feel they could be a great powerplay defender, shooting lasers to the goalie for dirty rebound goals. If the Rage win this deal, they can make up for taking Stacker Pentecost, the last bust defender taken in the 1st round, in the 3rd round. Let's see if Bastien can be better. Bastien showed flashes of brilliance in the locker room and was active in the expansion of the team, and if Creller gets him up and running, the Rage will have a great player in the future.

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Clive Stonehands stands between Tommy Creller and Daniel Merica after being selected by the Manhattan Rage 54th overall

Clive Stonehands, 4th Round (54th OA) </div>

Stonehands was another pick by the Falcons that was great to start out with, but Clive started waning a little before Bastien left the scene. The Rage have more faith in these picks than most because Creller drafted these guys as Falcons Head GM, and he thinks he can bring them back to practices, get them back in at team training camp, and get them working well. Stonehands needs some more work to be a balanced offensive player based off this build:

<div align="center">TPE = 205
CK = Checking: 73 1/2
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 70
SK = Skating: 70
ST = Strength: 75
EN = Endurance: 75
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 75
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 50
SC = Scoring: 80
DF = Defense: 70
PS = Penalty Shot: 50</div>

The true power forward can definitely score on opponents, but that's the extent of his offensive capabilities. Creller and Merica are looking for Stonehands to become better at playing a defensive game since Clive is a beast in the conditioning room and plays a strong game anyways. When Clive comes back, he has potential to become a strong defensive presence not only for the Falcons, but for the Rage as well. If he can become the same guy he came to the locker room in Detroit as, he can be successful as a great friend and a decent player.

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Mac Hooper smiles from the stage as Christoph Klose and Mikko Koskinen welcome Hooper to the Riot with the 62nd overall pick

Mac Hooper, 5th Round (62nd OA) </div>

Mac Hooper has had an interesting past, living in the shadow of former SHL player Mac Hooper, and it's sad that this reputation keeps hanging around with him. Hooper was taken late in the SMJHL Draft and didn't end up improving his draft stock any through his rookie year. Unfortunately, through the small interactions he had with the press, Hooper was a great guy and he has a decent set of skills:

<div align="center">TPE = 172
CK = Checking: 50
FG = Fighting: 25
DI = Discipline: 62
SK = Skating: 78
ST = Strength: 50
EN = Endurance: 70
DU = Durability: 50
PH = Puck Handling: 77
FO = Face Offs: 50
PA = Passing: 77
SC = Scoring: 80
DF = Defense: 58
PS = Penalty Shot: 50</div>

Hooper hasn't seemed like the sniper he was advertised to be, passing the puck with some decent ability and solid strength. Hopefully, Hooper can show up to Riot training camp and improve his scoring capabilities even more than he has. His great play in getting the puck in the net, cycling the corners, and maintaining possession in the offensive end are things that he needs to work on if he decides to become more than a career minor league player. The Riot see something in him and hope he can be better.

Keep a watch for the SMJHL Draft initial report of the Detroit Falcons draft class, as some of those players might go forward to become greats like these prospects did in the SHL draft!

Code:

WC: 3110 Words

I told Clive not to shave his beard off before the draft, but he just didn't listen. . .

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Originally posted by Eggy216@Aug 9 2015, 02:18 PM
I told Clive not to shave his beard off before the draft, but he just didn't listen. . .

Clive changed lol

Nice article c!

Originally posted by carousel182@Aug 9 2015, 03:14 PM
Nice article c!&nbsp;

Do it for you guys