Our prospects in Ottawa have done pretty well so far. David Ullström had two assists in Team Sweden's victory over Team Finland.

ISLANDERS PROSPECTS STATS

#24 Team Sweden,FWD David Ullström, #102 2008 ENTRY DRAFT
6 GAMES
2 GOALS
2 ASSISTS
4 POINTS
2 PENALTY MINUTES
12 SHOTS ON GOAL
+4

#8 Team Finland, DEF Jyri Niemi, #72 2008 ENTRY DRAFT
6 GP
2 G
1 A
3 PTS
6 PIM
21 SOG
+3

#31 Team Russia, FWD Kirill Petrov, #73 2008 ENTRY DRAFT
7 GP
0 G
0 A
0 PTS
4 PIM
4 SOG
-1

#20 Team USA, DEF Blake Kessel, #166 2007 ENTRY DRAFT
6 GP
0 G
1 A
1 PTS
2 PIM
5 SOG
+4

thanks for the update :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Russia vs Finland just ended, 5-2.
Niemi with an assist.

Post #1 updated.

John Tavaras - 1 goal, 2 assists
Canada 10 Kazakastan 0
Start of the 3rd period

Tavaras 2 goals 2 assists
Can 15 Kaz 0
Final

Sweden beat Slovakia, 3-1
post #1 updated

Thx for udate. Lose the term "helpers" please. They are called assists. :cheers:

oh no kazakhstan

:disgraced:

Kirill Petrov doin' a whole lotta nothin'

I like the Kessel kid. I would like to see him given a chance in a couple of years.

That's what I heard and that concerns me. Hope he snaps out of it.

Has anyone seen how our defensemen Neimi and Kessel have looked in their own ends?

Is he playing regularly or only on special teams? I might have it all wrong but isn't he the 7th D-man?

I haven't seen any US games so far so if anyone else have, please post.

From what I've seen he doesn't get much time on a squad fielding 7 d-men.......

He played against Germany but I was at the USA/Cze game and couldn't see him and no stats so he most likely sat out (they don't track ice time at the tourney).

He did play against Canada and if anyone saw that game they will notice that it was his Delay of Game penalty in the first period that got Tavares & Co. started on their first period comeback.....

SAB

Thanks for the info, SAB! :thumbsup:
:cheers:

One kid that stood out to me is Ryan Ellis.....Windsor Spitfires D who is draft eligible this year (first round prospect according to TSN)...



Birthday: January 3, 1991
Hometown: Freelton, ON
Position: Defense Shot: Right
NHL Status: Eligible in 2009
Height: 5'10" Weight: 173
Favourite NHL Team: Buffalo Sabres
Favourite Band: Theory of a Deadman
Favourite Food: Chicken and Alfredo Pasta
Idol Growing Up: Rob Blake
Best Minor Hockey Memory: Winning minor league Midget title

He lacks in size but he has great vision, confidence with the puck and creatively can anchor a power play.......

SAB

Ellis will go high in the draft. As far as what I've seen of Victor Hedman, I'm not sure he's the best (not drafted) D-man out there. I'd rather go for Ellis actually.

Maybe we'll get him for that TOR 1st-rounder we'll get for Weight. :thumbsup:

6'7 220lbs vs 5'10 173lbs hehe.......

I just checked quickly and USA's losing to the Slovak's???? :blink:

And here I was hoping for a rematch of the New Year's Eve Classic on Monday Night's Gold Medal game....

SAB

I've seen one game with Niemi and he really impressed me against Sweden. He was the only Finnish D-man who really stood out from the rest.

From what I've read on other boards, he has been pretty impressive in the other games as well. I definately think he could be up for a spot in a couple of years.

Did anyone else see David Ullström's absolutely sick goal against Slovakia this afternoon? Very impressive second effort on the goal that gave the Swedes the lead in the third period (they eventually won, 5-3).

The game story is here, but it doesn't do Ullström's goal justice. Hopefully someone will post it to Youtube, it's not there yet.

Good pickup for the Isles last year with, what, a fourth round pick. :thumbsup:

Ya, good second effort by Ullstrom, and a ball-breaker for Slovakia. Next up, Canada vs Russia....Tavaras vs Filatov...game time 730pm.
:punk: :punk: :punk:

11 minutes left in the 3rd...Canada 4 - Russia 4
Tavaras 1 assist
Filatov 1 assist

End of 3rd
Canada 5 Russia 5
Canada scores with 4 seconds left and their goalie on the bench to tie it.
OT comin up :punk:
oh ya
Tavaras 2 assists
Filatov 2 assists

Shootout comin up :punk: :punk: :punk:

Eberle and Tavaras score in the shootout...Filatov did not shoot?
Canada scores 2 Russians 0

Quick impressions of the tournament. . . .

Tavares is the real deal. I subscribe to the view that you build teams from the net out, and a solid defender would be a great anchor, but you can see why so many have him pegged as the top pick above Hedman. Based on the tournament alone, no question Tavares is the best player of his age group today.

Hedman's a tougher call. He struck me as somewhat passive and lackadaisal in the defensive zone, sticking close to the goalie when the puck's at the perimeter and somehow stuck by the half boards when the puck's being cycled toward the net. Not a dynamic, flashy, charismatic player. However, he's the fleetest young defender I've ever seen with his size, and someone should tell Denis Potvin that this guy in Sweden has stolen his signature move in the offensive zone (the silent, unseen move into the deep slot and the hard, accurate wrist shot on net). If someone can push Hedman's buttons and get him to play a more physical game to complement his mobile, rangy game, he could be a scary, scary player to contemplate.

For the record, I'm on the fence, but more seriously considering Tavares than before. Earlier, I though picking the franchise defender was an easy decision.

Elsewhere in the tournament, David Ullström's play was terrific. He could be a top-six guy for us down the road if he continues to develop . . . good size, speed, instincts around the net, and consistently in the game. Reminds me a bit of Dave Gagner, not his son Sam.

As for non-Isle prospects or potential draftees . . . jury's out on Filatov, methinks.
I expected to see more from him. Gratchev, the Rangers' draftee, is a talented player who will score NHL goals but will miss plenty of chances too. They keep tabbing guys like this.

Lastly, not our prospect, but Hodgson is pretty impressive. Always on the puck and in the play. He's going to be a real pain in the a## to play against. Came as close as Tavares to dominating entire shifts and periods of the tourney. Glad he was drafted by Vancouver, not the Rangers.

Finally I've updated the stats on the opening post. I think Ullstrom had a good tournament even though he wasn't as flashy as some other players. He's a smart kid who evaluates his role on every shift and he knows when to play offense and when to play defence, a great 2-way center i.o.w.

The other prospect that impessed me was D-man Jyri Niemi of Team Finland. He played a very solid game throughout the tournament and he is definately not afraid to throw pucks at net. Also, he played as an assistant captain in this torney and I know he also has worn the C in past international games, that should be a good sign.

As for Petrov and Kessel I don't know what to think. Kessel wasn't playing regularly and Petrov looked a bit troubled. I hope they'll bounce back but I wouldn't bet on either of them making it to the big leauge.