Season 39 Entry Draft The Top

[Mike 708]

 

 

What a difference a week makes we now have twenty-two prospects out of the thirty needed for three rounds listed on our draft board.  We also saw fifteen players show signs of improvement in the pre-season leading up to the opening game of Season 38.  Today we are here to highlight the four prospects at the top who had already logged in over one-hundred hours of practice and the season hadn’t even started.  There are plenty of other honorable mentions in Tyson Stokes, Andrew Erikson, and Jose Canseco but that is for another time.  Today is about those four that already have their eye on the first overall draft selection.

 

F – Jackson Miller – Canada

First up we have Jackson Miller who will probably garner the most attention throughout the season.  He is part of the Beketov Agency dating back to the inaugural first season of the VHL with Robert Sharpe.  Recent memory saw us with another goalie in Evgeni Chekhov who while dedicated to his craft never panned out for one reason or another.  Heading into the first week of the season Miller seems to already have that X-Factor that teams like to build a franchise around.

 

Though he is listed as a winger he looks like a true playmaker that might have talents best suited as a center.  His near future is no question he will be a VHL starter day one come Season 39.  Many would say he is nearly VHL ready currently.  If there is one knack on Miller is that some question his long term viability he could burst onto the VHL with Rookie of the Year potential and eventually plateau.

 

D – Mikkel Boomgaarden – USA

Boomgaarden has VHL pedigree backing him as well.  The Boragina Agency founded by well-known VHLer Matthew Boragina is also responsible for recent retiree Yuri Grigorenko.  Mikkel Boomgaarden is a big solid defenseman that moves with speed and agility that you wouldn’t expect from his 6’5” 222lb frame.  I’d say he will also be VHL ready once the Season 39 Draft is upon us later this summer.

 

Early scouting reports have Mikkel as a predominately offensive D-man who still has the physical tools to get the job done in his own end and in the corner.  He reminds us of recent VHL Rookie of the Year candidate Slaeter Fjorsstrom who has had great success in his early career with Riga.  The same lingering concern as Miller sits with Boomgaarden.  Expect an explosion onto the VHL scene with the potential for a mid-late career ceiling that could stall out their careers.

 

F – Tyrone Williams – USA

Yet another top prospect in this draft with ties to great former VHLers.  This time Tyrone Williams from Koradek half fashion designer half VHL player agent whose most notable players include Pavel Koradek and Alexander Valiq.  Could this be another home run player or could this be the player that too falters after appearing to be a can’t miss prospect.

 

Unlike Miller whose build as a playmaker Williams is more of a possession, gritty, and grinder type player.  Imagine that without the desire to actually hit during the play.  That’s right Williams actually prefers to instigate fights and do his talking after the play without throwing his body around.  He is a goal scoring, puck handling, smooth skater, and likes to play mind games.

 

D – Koji Yamazaki – Japan

Last but certainly not least is the rare hockey specimen from Japan.  Coming in at an astounding 6’4” his countrymen all flee in his presence he is the hottest VHL prospect right now.  There is no backstory to who and where he came from other than the fact he declared for the VHL Draft and is one of the best prospects in it.

 

Yamazaki is the prototypical defenseman with a big frame and not afraid to throw his body around.  He could be an asset on the powerplay but is usually an offensive liability.  His strengths are in his own end clearing the puck and causing turnovers in the neutral zone.  He moves very well for his size and is a guaranteed top five pick right now.  I’d go so far as to say Koji goes in the top three in the Season 39 Draft and has a VHL roster spot waiting he won’t be in the minors after this season.

[BOOM 8,745]

Great writeup Mike.

[Victor 10,940]

You should probably make the Name column wider for some of those beasts.

[Mike 708]

Oops

[STZ 5,360]

Great work, Mike. Good solid draft class. A couple really promising first-gens!

[gregreg 930]

Sundberg for 10th overall