Avs picked Landeskog and Siemens
The Colorado Avalanche selected forward Gabriel Landeskog and Ducan Siemens in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.Landeskog, 18, is the Avalanche´s highest draft pick since the team moved to Colorado in 1995. The previous high draft pick came in 2009, when the club selected Matt Duchene with the third overall choice. This marks the first time Colorado/Quebec has ever drafted second overall. The Avalanche/ Nordiques franchise drafted first overall three times, 1989 (Mats Sundin), 1990 (Owen Nolan) and 1991 (Eric Lindros).
“We are very excited about adding Gabriel to our organization,” said Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting Rick Pracey. “He plays with character, he competes, he has tremendous skill and he plays at a high intensity level. He is a physical player who initiates the contact and sticks up for his teammates. There is a lot to like about his overall game.”
Despite an ankle injury shortening his season to just 53 games, Landeskog led Kitchener with 36 goals and finished third with 66 points (36g/30a) in 53 games. The left winger finished second on the Rangers in plus/minus with a +27 rating. In the first round of the 2011 playoffs, Gabriel shared the team lead with six goals and ranked second with 10 points in the seven-game series loss to Plymouth.
Landeskog was rated by NHL Central Scouting as the No. 2 overall North American skater entering the 2011 Entry Draft. He was the top-ranked skater at the mid-term rankings.
Landeskog spent his first season in North America in 2009-10, tallying 46 points (24g/22a) in 61 games with Kitchener. He ranked third among OHL rookies in both goals and points. Landeskog debuted in the Swedish Elite League in 2008-09 at 16 years and 90 days, making him the youngest player in Djurgarden´s history. He played three games with Djurgarden, recording one assist.
Landeskog served as an alternate captain for Sweden at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, but only played one game before being sidelined with a high ankle sprain. He competed for Sweden at the 2009 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, finishing second on the team with four goals in six games. He was also selected to play in the 2009 Under-20 Four Nations Tournament in Finland. Landeskog he wore the ´C´ as captain for Sweden´s under-16, under-17, and under-18 teams.
Says NHL Central Scouting´s Peter Sullivan: "Gabriel does remind me of former Kitchener Ranger Mike Richards. He sticks up for his teammates and is as strong at both ends of the rink as any player in the draft this year. He competes as hard if not harder than anybody. He´s got all the assets that you need to be a team leader and, for a potential No. 1 overall, that´s what you would want."
Gabriel´s dad, Tony, a defenseman, also played in
the Swedish Elite League for Hammarby (1977-1985). Landeskog´s hockey
idol growing up was former Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg.
The Siemens pick, along with Gabriel Landeskog at No. 2 overall,
gives the Avalanche two selections in the first round for only the second time
since moving to Denver. Colorado had four picks in the first round of the
1998 Entry Draft. The Avs are the first NHL team to pick two players
within the first 11 selections since the Florida Panthers in 2002.
Siemens, 17, appeared in all 72 games for the
Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League this past season. The
Edmonton, Alberta native tallied 43 points (5g/38a) with a +40 plus/minus
rating and 121 penalty minutes. Only Avalanche prospect Stefan Elliott (81) had
more points among Blades defensemen. Siemens went on to collect four
points (1g/3a) in 10 playoff games.
“Duncan is a player we had targeted,” said Avalanche
Director of Amateur Scouting Rick Pracey. “He has size, skating ability,
grit, hockey sense and compete level. We´re excited to have him join our
organization.”
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound blueliner was rated by NHL
Central Scouting as the fourth-best North American defenseman in its final
rankings for the 2011 Entry Draft. He was tabbed as the 10th best North
American skater overall.
“I´m extremely excited,” said Siemens.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I couldn´t be more happy to
be selected by the Colorado Avalanche.”
Siemens appeared in 57 regular season games for
Saskatoon as a 16-year-old in 2009-10, recording 20 points (3g/17a) and 87 PIM.
He also helped Canada to gold at the 2010 Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial with a
goal and two assists in five games. Siemens played his minor hockey in his
hometown of Sherwood Park, Alberta. His father, Errol, played football in the
Edmonton Eskimos system in the Canadian Football League.
Says NHL Central Scouting´s Peter Sullivan: “(Siemens)
is a guy that is really tough to play against. Sometimes I think he over-does it,
tries to do too much, but he´s got all the potential. He can carry the puck,
he´s a tough kid – he can fight. He´s tough to play against. He can work both
ends; he plays both the power play and penalty kill. He´s just a solid,
all-round defenseman.”
-Avalanche Press Release-
Eurolanche.com, Worldwide, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
25/06/2011 - 02:55
