Last Updated:  2010 Jan 24
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)
Saskatoon Wildcats

Organization Ranking  (6)
              Change  (+4)
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) Max Pacioretty  7.5 B 1)  Brandon Sutter  7.5 B 1)  Nikolai Kulemin  7.5 C
2)  Viktor Stalberg  7.5 C 2) Patrik Berglund  8.0 C 2)  Michael Grabner  7.5 C
3)  Linus Omark  8.0 D 3) Gregory Campbell  6.0 A 3)  Sergei Kostitsyn  8.0 D
4)  Dane Byers  6.5 B 4)  Mitch Fadden  7.0 C 4)  Mark Mancari  6.0 B
5)  Tom Sestito  6.0 B 5) Peter Regin 7.0 C 5)  Ryan White  6.0 B
6)  Robbie Schremp  7.0 D 6)  Evan McGrath  6.5 C 6)  Vladimir Zharkov  6.0 B
7)  Kaspars Daugavins  7.0 D 7)  Max Campbell  7.0 D 7)  Sergei Korostin  7.0 D
8)  Matt Marquardt  6.0 C 8)  Patrick Davis  6.0 D 8)  Igor Makarov  7.0 D
9)  Ryan Stone  6.5 D   9)  Dan Bertram  7.0 D
10)  Stephane Goulet  5.0 C   10)  Steven Goertzen  5.5 B
11)  Johannes Salmonsson  4.0 C   11)  Nathan Perkovich  6.0 C
    12)  Matt Ellison  6.5 D
    13)  Matt Auffrey  5.5 C
    14)  Trevor Kell  5.5 C
    15)  Stanislav Lascek  6.0 F
    16)  Jean-Michel Rizk  5.0 D
     
Defense (L) Defense (R) Goaltenders
1)  Jonas Ahnelov  7.0 B 1)  Anton Stralman  8.0 C 1)  Richard Bachman  7.0 C
2)  Shane O'Brien  6.5 B 2)  Paul Postma  7.0 D 2)  Tyson Sexsmith  7.0 C
3)  Jens Hellgren  6.5 C 3)  Eric Gryba  6.0 C 3)  Karri Ramo  7.0 C
4)  Jeff Woywitka  6.0 C 4)  Rob Page  5.5 C 4)  Niko Hovinen 6.0 D
5)  Mark Popovic  6.0 C 5)  Roman Teslyuk  6.0 F  
6) Chad Denny  6.5 F    
7)  Bryan Young  5.0 C    
8)  Sasha Pokulok  6.0 F    
     
Waterloo
Ducks
Draft Review  -  Saskatoon Wildcats

Transactions (leading up to and throughout the draft):

     OUT:  Jeff Halpern (C); Chris Gratton (RW); Martin Rucinsky (LW); Rhett Warrener (D); Enver Lisin (RW); Tony Lydman (D);
                1st Round Selection (8th OV); 1st Round Selection (10th OV); Colton Orr (LW)

     IN:      Maxime Talbot (LW); Rob Schremp (RW); Matt Cooke (RW); Martin Straka (C); David Tanabe (D); Richard Bachman (G);
                1st Round Selection (18th OV); 2nd Round Selection (39th OV); 2nd Round Selection (46th OV); 4th Round Selection (99th OV);
                5th Round Selection (122nd OV); 5th Round Selection (123rd OV); 5th Round Selection (130th OV); 5th Round Selection (140th OV)

Wildcats GM Robert Michaud was extremely busy in the period leading up to the Entry Draft in Chicago this summer. When the dust had all  settled, several prominent Wildcats,such as Tony Lydman and Jeff Halpern, had been moved out and a lot of younger players and a bevy of draft  selection were acquired. GM Michaud also traded down in the 1st round, not once, but twice, turning his original 8th overall draft selection  into the #18, #46 and #130th selections and goaltending prospect Richard Bachman.

Organizational Weaknesses (prior to Draft):
     Top 6 wingers

NHA Draft Preview Prediction:     Ryan McDonaugh to WILDCATS at #12 overall
Actual Result:                                 WILDCATS select Max Pacioretty at #12 overall

2007 NHA Entry Draft Selections
     Max Pacioretty, LW         (USHL)      [1st Round (12th Overall)]
     Brandon Sutter, C              (WHL)       [1st Round (18th Overall)]
     Tyson Sexsmith, G            (WHL)       [2nd Round (36th Overall)]
     Linus Omark, LW             (SEL)          [2nd Round (39th Overall)]
     Wayne Simmonds, RW     (OHL)         [2nd Round (46th Overall)]
     Viktor Stahlberg, LW                           [2nd Round (49th Overall)]
     Mitch Fadden, C                (WHL)       [4th Round (99th Overall)]
     Paul Postma, D                 (WHL)       [5th Round (122nd Overall)]
     Jens Hellgren, D                (Sweden)     [5th Round (123rd Overall)]
     Sergei Korostin, RW         (Russia)       [5th Round (130th Overall)]
     Max Campbell, C              [WJRB]       [5th Round (140th Overall)]

GM Michaud got to work quickly at the draft, filling a top need by selecting college-bound Max Pacioretty. Overall, the Wildcats addressed many facets of their prospect system through the Entry Draft in Chicago, adding significant depth at all positions with the addition of numerous blue-chip youngsters, such as Brandon Sutter, Wayne Simmonds, Viktor Stahlberg, Linus Omark and Tyson Sexsmith.  There were no guaranteed defensive prospects added this year, but it would be very difficult to draft high-end players at all positions in a single draft.

Possible draft-day steals:     Wayne Simmonds (RW) taken in the 2nd Round at 46th Overall
                                    Viktor Stahlberg (LW) taken in the 2nd Round at 49th Overall

   1)  Max Pacioretty, LW
        Acquired:  12th OV, '07 Draft
   2)  Brandon Sutter, C
        Acquired:  18th OV, '07 Draft
   3)  Patrik Berglund, C
        Acquired:  from Skateful Dead
   4)  Anton Stralman, D
        Acquired:  45th OV, '05 Draft
   5)  Jonas Ahnelov, D
        Acquired:  67th OV, '06 Draft
   6)  Nikolai Kulemin, RW/LW
        Acquired:  19th OV, '06 Draft
   7)  Michael Grabner, RW/LW
        Acquired:  22nd OV, '06 Draft
   8)  Viktor Stalberg, LW
        Acquired:  49th OV, '07 Draft
   9)  Sergei Kostitsyn, RW/LW
        Acquired:  43rd OV, '05 Draft
10)  Linus Omark, LW
        Acquired:  39th OV, '07 Draft
11)  Gregory Campbell, C
        Acquired:  from Titans
12)  Shane O'Brien, D
        Acquired:  Free Agent signing
13)  Dane Byers, LW
        Acquired:  from Barracudas
14)  Richard Bachman, G
        Acquired:  from Vampyres
15)  Tyson Sexsmith, G
        Acquired:  36th OV, '07 Draft
16)  Karri Ramo, G
        Acquired:  47th OV, '04 Draft
17)  Mitch Fadden, C
        Acquired:  99th OV, '07 Draft
18)  Peter Regin, C
        Acquired:  97th OV, '04 Draft
19)  Tom Sestito, LW
        Acquired:  83rd OV, '06 Draft
20)  Mark Mancari, RW
        Acquired:  Free Agent signing
     Matt Auffrey, RW
     Dan Bertram, RW
     Max Campbell, C
     Kaspars Daugavins, LW
     Patrick Davis, C/W
     Chad Denny, D
     Matt Ellison, W/C
     Steven Goertzen, RW
     Stephane Goulet, LW/RW
     Eric Gryba, D
     Jens Hellgren, D
     Niko Hoivinen, G
     Trevor Kell, RW
     Sergei Korostin, RW
     Stanislav Lascek, RW
     Igor Makarov, RW/LW
     Matt Marquardt, LW
     Evan McGrath, C
     Rob Page, D
     Nathan Perkovich, RW
     Sasha Pokulok, D
     Mark Popovic, D
     Paul Postma, D
     Jean-Michel Rizk, RW
     Johannes Salmonsson, LW/RW
     Robbie Schremp, LW/RW
     Ryan Stone, LW
     Roman Teslyuk, D
     Ryan White, RW/C
     Jeff Woywitka, D
     Bryan Young, D
     Vladimir Zharkov, RW
     Brandon Bochenski, LW
     Erik Ersberg, G
     Mikko Koivu, C
     Jason Pominville, RW
     Nathan Smith, C
     Maxim Talbot, C
2009/06/01  Saskatoon Wildcats - Facing the Future
The Wildcats have quietly been assembling a very respectable crop of prospects over the last couple of seasons, grabbing 'High Risk/High Reward' type players with their multiple first round selections, and so far this strategy seems to be paying off.  The Saskatoon system is certainly not lacking in any specific areas, having strong prospects at every position. The team's future on defense looks to be bright with Brayden Coburn and Anton Stralman joining the likes of Klesla and O’Brien on the big club. The Wildcats core forward group could have trouble playing against some of the big opposing teams in the future, as most of their players are lacking in the size department, however that doesn’t stop them from playing bigger then they are.

Left Wing - Both Sergei Kostitsyn and Nikolai Kulemin look as if they will have promising professional careers. Kulemin has been surrounded by a lot of hype, as he was a dominant goal-scorer in the Russian League, and scouts aren’t sure if his game will translate towards becoming a power forward or a simply a checker with good offense instincts. Kostitsyn doesn’t play the same physical style as Kulemin but he is just as talented and has a strong all-around game; defensively sound and possessing superb offensive instincts, Sergei should become an effective player.

Center - Mikko Koivu is the type of player teams win with. Koivu is fast, doesn’t shy away from the physical side of the game, has a top notch defensive game and should contribute offensively as a Top 6 forward as well; in combination with all of these aspects, he also has the  intangibles of a leader, leaving the Wildcats have a great future #1 center.

Right Wing - with Jason Pominville, Enver Lisin and Michal Grabner all on the RW, the Wildcats speed and transition game will have the opposing defenders always on their heels; all three players have great speed and a goal-scorers touch. Pominville is the most established player so far and he brings a solid defensive game along with a great skillset.

Defense - The Wildcats look like they may have a great Top 4 in the future with both Anton Stralman and Brayden Coburn in the system. Coburn has all the physical attributes and the skillset to become a top-pairing defenseman and if he can putsit all together, he will likely be looked at as a #1. Stralman is quite raw at this point but has great offensive potential and a bit of a mean streak when he gets involved in the physical game; once he puts on size and further develops his defensive game, Anton should become a great two-way blueliner.

Goaltending - Jimmy Howard is a great technical goalie with size and icewater running through his veins. With a few years of development time and some professional game experience, he has the skills to establish himself as the #1 goaltender of a strong team.
Wildcats 2006 Draft Review

Wildcats 2005 Draft Review

Wildcats 2004 Draft Review