Last Updated:  2010 Jan 21
Each player is projected on making it to
the NHA on a grading scale of 1-10.
PLAYER LEGEND - (HIGHLIGHT COLOUR DEFINES LEAGUE PLAYING IN)

Playing in the N.H.A.
Playing in the N.H.A. Farm League
Playing in N.A. Development League (Prospect)
Playing in the NCAA or other Amateur League (Prospect)
Playing in Europe (Prospect)
Avangard Omsk

Organization Ranking  (2)
              Change  (+1)
   1)  Peter Mueller, C/RW
        Acquired:  4th OV, '06 Draft
   2)  Simeon Varlamov, G
        Acquired:  from Bulldogs
   3)  James Van Riemsdyk, LW
        Acquired:  3rd OV, '07 Draft
   4)  Keith Yandle, D
        Acquired:  33rd OV, '05 Draft
   5)  Artem Anisimov, C
        Acquired:  from Bulldogs
   6)  Kris Russell, D
        Acquired:  31st OV, '05 Draft
   7)  Blake Wheeler, RW/LW
        Acquired:  from Roadrunners
   8)  Jhonas Enroth, G
        Acquired:  31st OV, '06 Draft
   9)  Jakub Kindl, D
        Acquired:  24th OV, '05 Draft
10)  Mark Fistric, D
        Acquired:  from Hitmen
11)  Mikhail Grabovski, C
        Acquired:  from Wildcats
12)  Lars Eller, LW/C
        Acquired:  30th OV, '07 Draft
13)  Ladislav Smid, D
        Acquired:  7th OV, '04 Draft
14)  Bob Sanguinetti, D
        Acquired:  24th OV, '06 Draft
15)  Ivan Vishnevskiy, D
        Acquired:  39th OV, '06 Draft
16)  Jeff Frazee, G
        Acquired:  57th OV, '05 Draft
17)  Oskar Osala, LW
        Acquired:  75th OV, '06 Draft
18)  Patrick Maroon, LW
        Acquired:  58th OV, '07 Draft
19)  Mikko Lehtonen, RW
        Acquired:  from Barracudas
20)  Petr Kalus, RW/LW
        Acquired:  22nd OV, '05 Draft
Top Prospects
Other Notables
Graduated
     Zdenek Bahensky, RW
     Reto Berra, G
     Codey Burki, C
     Luca Cunti, LW/C
     P.J. Fenton, LW/C
     Bruce Graham, C
     Colin Greening, C/LW
     Bobby Hughes, C
     Maxim Macenauer, C
     Brady Murray, C/LW
     Alexander Polushin, RW/C
     Jason J. Smith, G
     Vili Sopanen, LW
     Martin Thornberg, LW
     Patrick Zackrisson, LW
     Janne Niskala, D
     Alexander Radulov, RW
     Jim Slater, C
Summary Strength Even Weakness
       
Goaltending XX    
Defense XX    
Centers   X  
Wingers   X  
Drafting X    
Draft Picks   X  
Left Wing Center Right Wing
1) James Van Riemsdyk  8.0 B 1)  Peter Mueller  8.5 B 1)  Blake Wheeler  7.5 B
2)  Lars Eller  7.5 C 2) Artem Anisimov 7.5 B 2)  Mikko Lehtonen 6.5 C
3)  Oskar Osala  7.0 C 3) Mikhail Grabovski  7.0 B 3)  Petr Kalus  7.0 D
4)  Patrick Maroon  7.0 C 4)  Maxim Macenauer  6.0 C 4)  Zdenek Bahensky  4.5 C
5)  Vili Sopanen  6.0 C 5) Bobby Hughes  6.0 C 5)  Alexander Polushin  5.0 D
6)  Luca Cunti  6.5 D 6)  Colin Greening  6.0 C  
7)  Patrik Zackrisson  6.0 D 7)  Bruce Graham  5.5 C  
8)  P.J. Fenton  6.0 D 8)  Codey Burki  6.0 D  
9)  Martin Thornberg  6.5 F 9)  Brady Murray  6.0 D  
     
Defense (L) Defense (R) Goaltenders
1)  Keith Yandle  7.5 B 1)  Bob Sanguinetti  7.5 C 1)  Simeon Varlamov 8.0 B
2)  Kris Russell  7.5 B   2)  Jhonas Enroth  7.5 B
3)  Jakub Kindl  8.0 C   3)  Jeff Frazee  7.5 C
4)  Mark Fistric  6.5 A   4)  Reto Berra 6.0 D
5)  Ladislav Smid  7.5 C   5)  Jason J. Smith  6.0 D
6) Ivan Vishnevskiy  7.5 C    
     
Moscow
Dynamo
Draft Review  -  Avangard Omsk

Transactions (leading up to and throughout the draft):

     OUT:  Tomas Zaborsky (LW); Slava Trukhno (LW); 5th Round Selection in 2010

     IN:      Matthias Ohlund (D)

Avangard GM Nick Neate made a small but significant move to improve his blueline for the coming season and beyond by bringing in respected all-around rear-guard Matthias Ohlund for a few minor prospects and a late round draft selection down the road; Ohlund should bring a much-needed stabilizing influence to the young Omsk defense corps and will be an excellent example for the youngsters to model themselves after.

Organizational Weaknesses (prior to Draft):
     Skilled port side wingers

NHA Draft Preview Prediction:     James Van Riemsdyk to AVANGARD at #3 overall
Actual Result:                                 AVANGARD select James Van Riemsdyk at #3 overall

2007 NHA Entry Draft Selections
     James Van Riemsdyk, LW     (USNTDP)       [1st Round (3rd Overall)]
     Lars Eller, LW                      (Sweden)           [2nd Round (30th Overall)]
     Patrick Maroon, LW            (NAHL)            [3rd Round (58th Overall)]
     Patrik Zackrisson, LW          (Swe-1)             [3rd Round (67th Overall)]
     Vili Sopanen, LW                  (FNL)               [4th Round (86th Overall)]
     Luca Cunti, LW                    (Switzerland)     [4th Round (95th Overall)]
     Maxime Macenauer, C          (QMJHL)          [5th Round (114th Overall)]

The Avangard appear to have leaned heavily towards drafting to fill their organizational needs this year in Chicago, using virtually every one of their selections on left wing prospects; adding several very talented youngsters, such as Van Riemsdyk and Eller, will go a long way towards rounding out their future roster.

Possible draft-day steals:     Lars Eller (Left Wing) in the 2nd Round at 30th overall
2009/06/01  Avangard Omsk - Facing the Future
The Avangard Omsk have had several frustrating seasons in the NHA, finishing 21st, 28th and 26th overall over the past 3 seasons, but there are better days ahead. The offensive potential here is a strength, with Nathan Horton already contributing at the NHA level, and several very good young forwards in their organization (Peter Mueller, Alex Radulov, Mikhail Graabovski, Blake Wheeler, Artem Anisimov). The big issue will be the ability to keep the puck out of their own end and, ultimately, out of their net; the defensive help is, at best, several years from making an impact in the NHA.

Left Wing - The Avangard recently traded their gem, Alexander Frolov, and there really aren't any other young left wingers of note in the organization at this time.

Center - The Avangard prospect pool is lead by recent #4 overall draft pick, Peter Mueller; big things are expected of Mueller when he makes the parent club. Both Mikhail Grabovski and Artem Anisimov are highly-regarded and will hopefully become a good 2nd line pivots. Jim Slater is also expected to make an impact on the lower lines.

Right Wing - There are several promising right wings playing or developing in the Avangard system, among them Nathan Horton, Alexander Radulov and Blake Wheeler; Horton is already making a name for himself with the parent club.

Defense - The Avangard have stocked their system with many blueliners possessing good offensive abilities (Keith Yandle, Kris Russell, Jakub Kindl, Ivan Vishnevskiy, Bobby Sanguinetti) or potential two-way acumen (Ladislav Smid, Mark Fistric). The only deficiency here might be the lack of any high-end shut-down blueliners.

Goaltending - Once a definite weakness within the organization, the Avangard have recently added a few young blue-chip goalie prospects in the hopes of solifying their crease in the coming seasons.  In the short term, there is hope that Peter Budaj can shoulder the load while their long-term investments, Jhonas Enroth and Simeon Varlamov, are given time to mature.
Avangard 2006 Draft Review

Avangard 2005 Draft Review

Avangard 2004 Draft Review