Sharks at the Draft

Welcome back to the Megaloblog!  The off-season continued as the EHE conducted it's annual Entry Draft, and the Sharks' staff bothered to show up because they actually had some picks!  Draft picks, you say?  From where, you ask? Well, they didn't have a first rounder, that was given away in one of those terri-bad deals that I've consumed too much alcohol in an attempt to forget, so let's not talk about them.  Well, except to say, GM Sletten did what he could to undo what he could of the deals, getting a high second round pick, along with a 4th rounder, trading newly acquired Brad Marchand to Montreal for some much need help on the back end in Matt Niskanen.

And so, armed with a couple of 2nds and a couple of 4ths, the Sharks management team headed to Buffalo, NY, to make a few kids' dreams come true by placing undue pressure on them to succeed.  Good times!  Here's who they drafted:

Tyler Benson (2nd round, #36)

Well, if you don't have any 1st round picks, using your first 2nd rounder to take a chance on a guy that was predicted a year earlier to go in the top 10 is a worthy risk.  Benson was given exceptional status to be drafted into the WHL 1st overall at age 15, was named captain of the Vancouver Giants at age 17, but injuries have plagued this gifted playmaker over his junior career, and his stock dropped to the point that he fell right out of the first round.  He seems to have a good attitude about it and, assuming he's just had some bad luck and isn't made out of soap bubbles, it looks like he wants to prove something to the teams that passed on him in the first round.

Nathan Bastian (2nd round, #47)

The next pick in the second round went to forward Nathan Bastian, a big, versatile forward from the Mississauga Steelheads.  Considered "the other guy" on the Nylander/McLeod line, he was a bit underrated due to his impressive linemates.  He plays a power forward's game but has great vision and poise.  This is another player that was considered a shoe-in for the 1st round until his performance took a hit midway through the season, and his stock dropped.  I'm beginning to sense a draft strategy here...

Jacob Cederholm (Round 4, #109)

The Sharks went overseas with their first 4th round pick, getting right-shooting defenseman, Cederholm, who played for HV71 in Sweden.  The big defensive dman is known for his communication and leadership skills.  He's not that great at moving the puck, but he is good at the defenseman's first job, shutting the opposition down.

Maxime Lajoie (4th round, #114)

The Sharks last pick was spend on defenseman, Max Lajoie.  I believe that translates from French to "Total Partyhound", but hopefully not.  Lajoie, who played for the Swift Current Broncos last season, is pretty much the opposite of Cederholm.  Smaller, a good skater, more offensively minded.  He'll probably never be a powerplay quarterback, but he has the potential for a 3-4 position in the EHE.

And that was a draft.  And this was the Megaloblog.  Next up, free agency.  Until then, keep your stick on the ice, and your fin cresting the waves!