Last Updated:  2010 Jan 13
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)
Montreal Barracudas

Organization Ranking  (19)
              Change  (n/c)
Top Prospects
Other Notables
Graduated
Summary Strength Even Weakness
       
Goaltending X    
Defense     X
Centers X    
Wingers     X
Drafting     X
Draft Picks   X  
Left Wing Center Right Wing
1) Colton Gillies  7.0 B 1)  Kyle Turris  9.0 C 1)  Tim Crowder  6.5 C
2)  Blake Geoffrion  6.5 C 2)  Maxim Lapierre  6.5 B 2)  Tom Maki  6.0 C
3)  Andrew Conboy  5.0 B 3) Mike Carman  6.5 C 3)  Michael Blunden  5.5 C
4)  Dany Roussin  6.5 F 4) Brett Sutter  5.5 B 4)  Brandon Yip  6.0 D
5)  Kristopher Hogg  5.5 D 5)  Francis Lemieux  5.5 B 5)  Julien Sprunger  6.5 F
6)  Linus Videll  6.0 F 6) Olivier Fortier  6.0 C 6)  Mike Morris  6.0 F
  7)  Ben Ryan  6.0 C 7)  John Laliberte  6.0 F
  8)  Dan Ryder  6.5 F 8)  Fredrik Naslund  5.5 F
  9)  Darin Olver  6.5 F 9)  Paul Brown  5.0 D
  10)  Kalle Olsson  5.0 D  
Defense (L) Defense (R) Goaltenders
1)  Nathan Paetsch  6.0 B 1)  Bruno Gervais  7.5 C 1)  Steve Mason  8.0 A
2)  Derrick LaPoint  6.0 C 2)  Evan Schafer  5.5 D 2)  Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers  7.0 C
3)  Tomas Kudelka  6.5 D 3)  Kevin Schaeffer  6.0 F 3)  Kristofer Westblom  6.0 D
4)  Trevor Ludwig  5.5 C   4)  Martin Houle  6.0 D
5)  Daniel Rahimi  6.0 D   5)  Maxime Daigneault  6.0 F
6) Mikko Kalteva  6.5 F   6)  Todd Ford  6.0 F
    7)  James Spratt  4.0 B
     
Markham
Batwings
Draft Review  -  Montreal Barracudas                                                                                                      by Mark Stefenelli

Transactions (leading up to and throughout the draft):

     OUT:  Chris Osgood (G); Fernando Pisani (RW); Janne Lahti (LW)

     IN:      Nik Antropov (RW); Douglas Murray (D); 5th Round Selection in 2010 (from Chiefs)

Montreal GM Desmond Ng was rumoured to be involved in trade discussions prior to the draft weekend in Chicago but if he was, nothing appears to have come to fruition from any of the talks as the Barracudas did not make any moves leading up to or throughout the draft weekend.  Shortly after the draft, Montreal made a move to unclog their goaltending situation by moving Chris Osgood for Nik Antropov.

Organizational Weaknesses (prior to Draft):
     Skilled forwards; Defense prospects

NHA Draft Preview Prediction:     Michal Repik to BARRACUDAS at #23 overall
Actual Result:                                 BARRACUDAS select Colton Gillies at #23 overall

2007 NHA Entry Draft Selections
     Colton Gillies, C            (WHL)         [1st Round (23rd Overall)]
     Olivier Fortier, C           (QMJHL)     [4th Round (105th Overall)]
     Andrew Conboy, LW     (USHL)        [5th Round (137th Overall)]
     Ben Ryan, C                  (USHL)        [5th Round (139th Overall)]

The Barracudas clearly came into the draft with center ice in mind, which was not a bad idea since this was their position most lacking talent.  With 4 available draft selections, the bulk of which fell in the 4th round or later, Montreal drafted 3 Centers into their system. With the 23rd overall pick, pivot Colton Gillies became their most significant addition of the draft; Colton is a big-bodied forward who plays a very physical game and is known for his tenacity.  Gillies has the potential to be a dominating force but he needs to sharpen his offensive skills and defensive awareness; he is a solid addition to the Montreal organization but is a long way from making an impact on the pro team. The Cudas have historically drafted in the later part of the round thanks to their continued success.  That said, they have not had any problems filling their talent pool with blue chip youth.  Gillies is just one more in a long string of successful draft days, joining a talent-rich program that already includes Steve Mason, Bruno Gervais, and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and goes a long way towards solidifying the organization's future at center ice.

Possible draft-day steals:     Too early to predict
   1)  Steve Mason, G
        Acquired:  27th OV, '06 Draft
   2)  Kyle Turris, C
        Acquired:  from Chiefs
   3)  Colton Gillies, LW
        Acquired:  23rd OV, '07 Draft
   4)  Bruno Gervais, D
        Acquired:  from Storm
   5)  Maxime Lapierre, C
        Acquired:  from Storm
   6)  Jeff Drouin-Deslaurier, G
        Acquired:  NHA Dispersal Draft
   7)  Nathan Paetsch, D/W
        Acquired:  from Whalers
   8)  Mike Carman, C
        Acquired:  115th OV, '06 Draft
   9)  Blake Geoffrion, LW
        Acquired:  68th OV, '06 Draft
10)  Tim Crowder, RW
        Acquired:  172nd OV, '05 Draft
11)  Brett Sutter, C/LW
        Acquired:  108th OV, '05 Draft
12)  Francis Lemieux, C/W
        Acquired:  from Vampyres
13)  Olivier Fortier, C
        Acquired:  105th OV, '07 Draft
14)  Ben Ryan, C
        Acquired:  139th OV, '07 Draft
15)  Derrick LaPoint, D
        Acquired:  123rd OV, '06 Draft
16)  Tom Maki, RW/LW
        Acquired:  Free Agent signing
17)  Tomas Kudelka, D
        Acquired:  91st OV, '05 Draft
18)  Andrew Conboy, LW
        Acquired:  137th OV, '07 Draft
19)  Michael Blunden, RW
        Acquired:  from Storm
20)  Trevor Ludwig, D
        Acquired:  128th OV, '04 Draft
     Paul Brown, RW
     Maxime Daigneault, G
     Todd Ford, G
     Kristopher Hogg, LW
     Martin Houle, G
     Mikko Kalteva, D
     John Laliberte, RW
     Mike Morris, RW
     Fredrik Naslund, RW
     Kalle Olsson, C
     Darin Olver, C
     Daniel Rahimi, D
     Dany Roussin, LW
     Dan Ryder, C
     Kevin Schaeffer, D
     Evan Schafer, D
     James Spratt, G
     Julien Sprunger, RW/LW
     Linus Videll, LW
     Kristofer Westblom, G
     Brandon Yip, RW
     Staffan Kronwall, D
     Andy Schneider, D
     Yan Stastny, C/W
2009/06/01  Montreal Barracudas - Facing the Future
The Montreal Barracudas have been one of the most successful on-ice franchises in the NHA's short existence; they won the league championship  in 2005 and are a perrennial contender. Though Montreal boasts several elite talents in the prime of their careers, players who have won both  team and individual accolades, they have also developed a few talented young players who will be ready to step up over the coming years. The Barracudas strength begins between the pipes, with Pascal Leclaire and Steve Mason waiting to take up the reigns in coming seeasons.  There are very few high-impact youngsters with the organization at this time (the price of success) and this will have to be addressed sooner  or later or Montreal will find itself left in the dust of the other emerging clubs in its own division.

Left Wing - The Barracudas have recently added Andrei Kostitsyn to their organization and he figures to be a future fixture in their Top 6.  Kostitsyn is a gifted offensive player who should thrive in the Montreal system.

Center - Pretty soon Montreal will have to address the lack of any high-end talent developing at the pivot position. There are no blue-chip  natural centers developing in the Barracudas system at this point in time.

Right Wing - The right wing position is pretty well covered with Ales Hemsky and Jonathan Cheechoo plying their trades there; Hemsky is an  amazingly talented player who is favourite among the fans in Montreal, while the recently acquired Cheechoo simply scores goals by the bushel.  Chris Higgins is also developing into a solid Top 9 winger and brings a significant amount of leadership ability to the equation.

Defense - It's easy to overlook the younger rearguards with players such as Tomas Kaberle and All-Star Scott Niedermayer patrolling the  blueline in Montreal. One stand-out young defenseman would be Dan Hamhuis, who was acquired in an off-season trade with the Storm; Hamhuis will  lock up a spot on one of the top two defense-pairings for several years to come.

Goaltending - In Marty Turco, the Barracudas possessed the services of one of the top goaltenders in the league, but a mid-season trade has  altered the picture of future netminding duties in Montreal. This organization has had the good fortune to have struck a veritable mother-lode  of goaltending talent; Pascal Leclaire is beginning to show that he will push hard to be considered for the starting job in the short term (as  long as he can remain healthy), Jeff Drouin-Deslaurier has demonstrated the talent to eventually play in the NHA, and youngster Steve Mason may  one day prove to be the best of all of Montreal's netminders.
Barracudas 2006 Draft Review

Barracudas 2005 Draft Review

Barracudas 2004 Draft Review