Another Big Ball of Hate?

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 06/27/09 at 09:26 AM ET

He’s definitely got the pedigree, and the Wings love “skaters” above all else, but, geez Louise, 5’11” and 165 lbs? With the Wings #29 pick, the Bolts also took the son of a former NHL player and the kid is 6’3” and 205 lbs.

In Ken we trust, but I find it interesting that with the #32 pick they passed on a guy that some believed they would pick at #29…Carl Klingberg (a Swede who also happens to be 6’3” and 205 lbs.). Oh, well. I guess we’ll know in about four years how good (or bad) this decision was.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/27/09 at 09:31 AM ET

OTC when the Wings drafted Kronwall he was 5’10-‘5’11 and 155lbs.

Posted by Heaton on 06/27/09 at 09:44 AM ET

i thought pat Verbeek was the “little ball of hate”??? Anyway nice pick to get Chicken Parm Jr.

Posted by Aaron from MI from Huron, MI on 06/27/09 at 09:47 AM ET

Right handed shot!

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 06/27/09 at 10:03 AM ET

OTC when the Wings drafted Kronwall he was 5’10-’5’11 and 155lbs.

Yup. I understand, Heaton. And the way the Wings system works, the kid’s probably 4 years and 30 lbs. away from even having a shot at the NHL roster. But it would just be more “comforting” to see a 6’3”, 205 lb. guy chosen for a change. I mean, after all, the draft is all about making us happy, right?

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/27/09 at 10:04 AM ET

i believe ferraro was called chicken farm

Posted by me on 06/27/09 at 10:05 AM ET

@ Aaron - Yes, Verbeek was the Little Ball of Hate, while Ray Ferraro was the Big Ball of Hate (given to him by Glenn Healy).

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 06/27/09 at 10:07 AM ET

George at SnapShots has information on the Wings 2nd pick, Tater.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 06/27/09 at 10:11 AM ET

@ Aaron - Yes, Verbeek was the Little Ball of Hate, while Ray Ferraro was the Big Ball of Hate (given to him by Glenn Healy).

Gotcha, he got that name when they played on the island eh

Posted by Aaron from MI from Huron, MI on 06/27/09 at 10:13 AM ET

George at SnapShots has information on the Wings 2nd pick, Tater.

“...the 5’10,” 165-lb. forward, who lists the Detroit Red Wings as his favorite team…”

Of course it is…he’s under six feet and less than 170 lbs.

And with their third-round selection, the Wings choose Little Joey from Kokomo, a 4’6”, 110 lb. speedster who wasn’t even on most team’s radar…which isn’t surprising since someone that size simply can’t be spotted on radar. 

In Ken we trust. In Ken we trust. In Ken we trust.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/27/09 at 10:21 AM ET

OTC, it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but rather the size of the fight in the dog.  Look at Datsyuk.

Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 06/27/09 at 10:43 AM ET

I love that people, after a dozen years of excellence, 4 Stanley Cups and a goal away from overtime in the 7th game of the Finals, not to mention our drafting history, are WORRYING about a second round draft pick.  It’s the off-season guys, take it down a notch!

Besides, we all going to have stuff to worry about next week, so why not relax, have a beer and prepare for free agent season?

Posted by Garth on 06/27/09 at 10:47 AM ET

He was projected to go much earlier, already has great speed, good two-way sense of the game and some sense of what it takes to make and succeed in the NHL (from Daddy).

Sounds like a pretty classic second line Wing center with first line duty when he’s on a hot streak.

And I believe this is Jim Nil at work, not Kenny. Nil is in charge of the draft.

Posted by Osrt on 06/27/09 at 11:08 AM ET

Okay, maybe my “humor” is also flying under the radar here. I’m just having a bit of fun. I do trust Kenny (and Jim and Hakan). It would just be more “fun” right now if they were picking guys with a bit of size…which they seem to have gotten with that #75 pick from the Bolts.

Andrej Nestrasil, C
HT   WT   Team   GP   G   A   Pts   PIM   +/-
6-2   200   Victoriaville (QMJHL)    66   22   35   57   67   -2
Scouting Report: As a QMJHL rookie, he produced 57 points—fourth in the league—and tied for third in freshman goals with 22… has good size and excellent puck skills; he’s equally effective playing a setup role or finishing plays himself… needs to work on his skating and defensive-zone coverage in order to maximize his pro potential… is versatile enough to play both wing or center… must work on his game-to-game consistency and increase his work rate…

And some potential size with their #90 pick:

Gleason Fournier, D
HT   WT   Team   GP   G   A   Pts   PIM   +/-
6-0   176   Rimouski (QMJHL)    66   3   25   28   64   -6
Scouting Report: Was a part of the Oceanic squad that hosted the 2009 Memorial Cup, but he saw limited ice time… has some potential in the physical department, as well as some upside on offense, but he needs to make better decisions with or without the puck… is somewhat undersized and needs to get significantly stronger to be better prepared to handle professional forwards in front of the net... was rated 62nd among North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings…

Okay, now I can really relax.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/27/09 at 11:20 AM ET

OTC when the Wings drafted Kronwall he was 5’10-’5’11 and 155lbs.

Yup. I understand, Heaton. And the way the Wings system works, the kid’s probably 4 years and 30 lbs. away from even having a shot at the NHL roster. But it would just be more “comforting” to see a 6’3”, 205 lb. guy chosen for a change. I mean, after all, the draft is all about making us happy, right?

Also keep in mind that Jonathan Ericsson was only 7’8” and 300lb when he was drafted and now he’s 13’6”...at least that’s what I hear.

Posted by YYZerman from Detroit, Michigan on 06/27/09 at 12:00 PM ET

Also keep in mind that Jonathan Ericsson was only 7’8” and 300lb when he was drafted and now he’s 13’6”...at least that’s what I hear.

And if he hadn’t had to eat a whole resivoir of toxic waste when he was 15 in order to save his home town, he’d be 15’4” today. But that’s what makes him the team player and god-like creature that he is.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/27/09 at 12:17 PM ET

Um, actually that was a “reservoir” that he ate. 

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/27/09 at 12:19 PM ET

I hope Gleason Fournier makes the team.

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 06/27/09 at 01:34 PM ET