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NHL scouts, GMs sweet on Tavares over Hedman

January 6, 2009 06:42 PM | Posted by   Elliotte Friedman  

I was reading Jeff Marek’s blog this morning - meant to click on another link, of course - and saw his line about how Tavares “cemented” himself as the number one pick in the 2009 NHL Draft.

There is no one in North America who had a better holiday season than Tavares, who showed an incredible will to succeed during the world juniors.

It’s the kind of effort NHL observers were waiting for.

Tavares' off-season work paid off

“His stock was going down last year,” said one scout, who asked not to be identified. “There was a lack of compete, he was not in great shape and not backchecking. John, to his credit, read the clippings and decided to do something about it. He came to camp in great shape, his skating was quicker. His performance in this tournament will help him.”

But did it “cement” him as the number one pick ahead of Swedish monolith Victor Hedman?

In Saturday’s Toronto Star, Brian Burke said yes. Tuesday, another general manager who could pick number one agreed.

“You have very few chances to get that kind of player,” said Thrashers executive vice-president and GM Don Waddell. “We still have four months left in the season to evaluate, but if it was the Atlanta Thrashers, we’d take John Tavares.”

The draft guru for another potential lottery team said, “Tavares either closed the gap or widened it, depending on where you had him beforehand.”

It doesn’t happen often, but maybe Marek is right about this.

Hedman not NHL ready?

“Hedman will be a top defenceman in this league - no doubt. But it may take him a little longer,” Waddell added. “Tavares is ready to play and that may be a factor.” (By the way, the undrafted Swede who really impressed him was forward Magnus Svensson Paajarvi.)

Waddell also related an interesting story about Hedman and last year’s draft. After Steven Stamkos, the next four picks were defencemen: Drew Doughty (Los Angeles), Zach Bogosian (Atlanta), Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis) and Luke Schenn (Toronto).

“I asked our guys where they would take Hedman if he was available,” he said. “They told me not ahead of Doughty and not ahead of Bogosian. I then went outside our organization to another scout I trust and respect. He said the same thing.”

Lest anyone think Waddell is defending his own selection, I followed that up with the first deep throat quoted above. His reply?

“I would agree with that.”

Position could weigh into choice

However, there are two factors that may change things. For example, need. A team loaded with forwards and desperate for a puck-moving defenceman (like Ottawa, if the Senators complete their mind-numbing collapse) might opt for Hedman. And, there is the suspicion that the Swedish defenceman is injured.

“How bad is his shoulder? Nobody knows,” says our scout. “Anyone who’s really interested in him should definitely go see him in the next few months.”

But, for the first time in awhile, Hedman is playing from behind. Tavares is the golden boy now, and it’s the defenceman’s turn to show some fire.

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