Last Updated:  2010 Jan 27
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)
Seattle
Thunderbirds

Organization Ranking (16)
              Change  (-3)
   1)  Nicklas Backstrom, C
        Acquired:  3rd OV, '06 Draft
   2)  Mark Dekanich, G
        Acquired:  60th OV, '06 Draft
   3)  Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, D
        Acquired:  from Barracudas
   4)  Chris Bourque, LW/RW
        Acquired:  from Norsemen
   5)  Jonas Junland, D
        Acquired:  79th OV, '06 Draft
   6)  Marc-Andre Gragnani, D
        Acquired:  from Bulldogs
   7)  Keith Aulie, D
        Acquired:  68th OV, '07 Draft
   8)  Dick Axelsson, LW
        Acquired:  59th OV, '06 Draft
   9)  Grant Clitsome, D
        Acquired:  120th OV, '07 Draft
10)  Aaron Marvin, C/W
        Acquired:  121st OV, '07 Draft
11)  T.J. Miller, D
        Acquired:  116th OV, '06 Draft
12)  Will Weber, D
        Acquired:  104th OV, '07 Draft
13)  Antti Niemi, G
        Acquired:  107th OV, '07 Draft
14)  Shawn Belle, D
        Acquired:  from Bulldogs
15)  Alexei Kaigorodov, C
        Acquired:  from Warriors
16)  Joey Crabb, RW
        Acquired:  211th OV, '05 Draft
17)  Bud Holloway, C/W
        Acquired:  118th OV, '06 Draft
18)  Alexandre Bolduc, C/LW
        Acquired:  174th OV, '05 Draft
19)  Andrea Ambuhl, RW
        Acquired:  127th, '07 Draft
20)  Jiri Novotny, C/W
        Acquired:  from Bulldogs
Top Prospects
Other Notables
Graduated
     R.J. Anderson, D
     Sean Bentivoglio, LW
     Jonas Enlund, C
     Ryan Garlock, C/LW
     Michael Garnett, G
     Shea Guthrie, C/W
     Mark Katic, D
     Benoit Mondou, C
     Chad Painchaud, LW
     Jason Ryznar, LW
     Martin Sagat, LW
     Marty Sertich, C
     Carl Soderberg, C
     Mikhail Yunkov, C/W
     Rene Bourque, LW/RW
Summary Strength Average Weakness
       
Goaltending     X
Defense     X
Centers X    
Wingers     X
Drafting   X  
Draft Picks X    
Left Wing Center Right Wing
1) Chris Bourque  7.0 C 1)  Nicklas Backstrom 8.5 B 1) Joey Crabb 5.5 B
2)  Dick Axelsson  7.0 C 2) Aaron Marvin 6.5 C 2)  Andres Ambuhl  6.0 C
3)  Sean Bentivoglio  5.5 C 3) Alex Kaigorodov  7.0 D  
4)  Jason Ryznar  5.5 C 4)  Bud Holloway  6.0 C  
5)  Martin Sagat  6.0 D 5) Alexandre Bolduc  6.0 C  
6)  Chad Painchaud  5.5 D 6)  Jiri Novotny  6.0 C  
  7)  Shea Guthrie  6.5 D  
  8)  Carl Soderberg  7.0 F  
  9)  Jonas Enlund 6.0 D  
  10)  Ryan Garlock  6.0 D  
  11)  Benoit Mondou  6.0 D  
  12)  Marty Sertich  6.0 D  
  13)  Mikhail Yunkov  5.5 D  
     
Defense (L) Defense (R) Goaltenders
1)  Ole-Kristian Tollefsen  6.5 B 1)  R.J. Anderson  6.0 F 1)  Mark Dekanich  7.5 C
2)  Jonas Junland  7.0 C   2)  Antti Niemi  7.0 D
3)  Marc-Andre Gragnani  7.0 C   3)  Michael Garnett  6.0 D
4)  Keith Aulie  7.0 C    
5)  Grant Clitsome  6.5 C    
6)  T.J. Miller  6.5 C    
7)  Will Weber  7.0 D    
8)  Shawn Belle  7.0 D    
9)  Mark Katic  6.5 D    
     
Dodge City
Gunslingers
Draft Review  -  Sioux City Chiefs                                                                                                              by Robert Michaud

Transactions (leading up to and throughout the draft):

     OUT:  Dustin Kohn (D); Maxime Talbot (LW); Rob Schremp (RW); Matt Cooke (RW); J-M Liles (D); Petr Prucha (LW);
                Mathieu Schneider (D); Andy McDonald (C); Nik Antropov (RW); Douglas Murray (D);
                4th Round Selection (89th OV); 5th Round Selection in 2010 (from Chiefs)

     IN:      Chris Osgood (G); Jeff Halpern (C); Chris Gratton (RW); Martin Rucinsky (LW); Rhett Warrener (D);
                Alex Steen (LW); Fernando Pisani (RW); Janne Lahti (LW); Rene Bourque (LW); Shawn Belle (D);
                3rd Round Selection in 2008 (from Chiefs); 3rd Round Selection in 2008 (from Remparts); 4th Round Selection (94th OV)

The Chiefs are under new management and have served notice that they are undertaking a rebuild. This review includes a few trades after the draft as they are important parts of the whole picture. GM Young moved a few youngsters that did not figure into his plans for the team in order to bring in a veteran presence that provides stability while the building process continues. With the veterans to lead they way the Chiefs will have a few seasons to build up from within and restock their farm system. 

Organizational Weaknesses (prior to Draft):
     Goaltending; Skilled wingers; Top-end defensemen

NHA Draft Preview Prediction:     Jakub Voracek to CHIEFS at #2 overall
Actual Result:                                 CHIEFS select Kyle Turris at #2 overall

2007 NHA Entry Draft Selections
     Kyle Turris, C        (BCHL)       [1st Round (2nd Overall)]
     T.J. Brennan, D     (QMJHL)     [3rd Round (61st Overall)]
     Keith Aulie, D       (WHL)         [3rd Round (68th Overall)]
     Mark Katic, D       (OHL)          [4th Round (94th Overall)]
     Will Weber, D       (Mich.)         [4th Round (104th Overall)]
     Antti Niemi, G                           [4th Round (107th Overall)]
     Grant Clitsome, D                      [5th Round (120th Overall)]
     Aaron Marvin, C                        [5th Round (121st Overall)]
     Andres Ambuhl, LW                   [5th Round (127th Overall)]

The biggest hole in the system was on the right wing and that was not addressed at the draft. It does look like the new management wants to start from the back end and drafted 5 defensmen of their nine picks they had.  The good news for the club was getting Kyle Turris with the second over all pick. They will have one of the best one two punches in the league with Backstrom and Turris lining up at center. They will need to find some quality wingers to line up with these two.

Possible draft-day steals:     Antti Niemi (G) taken in the 4th Round at 107th Overall
2009/06/01  Sioux City Chiefs - Facing the Future
The Sioux City Chiefs, previously known as The Columbus Ruff Raiders experienced their worst-ever season of NHA hockey and as a result, the team was sold and moved to Sioux City and re-christened 'The Chiefs'. Some positive steps forward were taken at the draft but it may be a few seasons before this club regains the faith of their fans. Currently, the Chiefs have some promising young forwards, including recent 4th overall draft selection, Nicklas Backstrom. There are several holes that need to be filled in the coming seasons, but there is a glaring need for more quality young defensemen in order to provide defensive stability for the organization in the future.

Left Wing - Petr Prucha, Fabian Brunnstrom, Maxime Talbot, Patric Hornqvist, Rob Schremp and Chris Bourque all have bright futures ahead of them in the NHA.  Each of these players brings something different but necessary for the organization, such as defensive acumen or scoring ability or strong two-way play.

Center - The Chiefs were fortunate to add a future core player in the most recent entry draft. Nicklas Backstrom has the pure talent to be a player that the Chiefs could build around; he is quick, and combines soft hands, slick stickhandling, deft playmaking abilities and great puck control.

Right Wing - The cupboard is completely bare on the starboard wing; this will need to be addressed either through draft or trade in the near future.

Defense - There are plenty of bottom-pairing rearguards within the organization, but very few with the skillsetto legitimately take a spot in the Top 4. The only young defense prospect with the potential to make an impact would be Marc-Andre Gragnani, who has the skills to play an important role in Sioux City down the line.

Goaltending - This is an area that will need to be addressed in the coming seasons. Presently, there is only one prospective netminder (Mark Dekanich) with big league potential in the system, though he is still several seasons from making an attempt to break in with the organization.
Chiefs 2006 Draft Review

Ruff Raiders 2005 Draft Review

Ruff Raiders 2004 Draft Review