The NHL entry draft is just a few days away and I am excited to see what GM Cliff Fletcher will do to secure a few more high draft picks.. maybe even do the impossible and work out a deal with Tampa Bay Lightning (who has the first overall pick) to get Steven Stamkos! It is unlikely however that will happen on the day, but here's to hoping. Obviously since I don't get to watch a lot of hockey here I would not have seen much about the draft prospects. I was looking at the NHL central scouting rankings and can't helped but be impressed with these few players stats:
Cody Hodgson (center) - 68 games played, 40 goals, 45 assists, 85 points.
- His stats improved considerably since the previous year, voted the smartest player in the OHL coaches poll for Eastern Conference. Maybe can be as good as or better than Sundin someday?
Nikita Filatov (left winger) - 34 games played, 32 goals, 34 assists, 66 points.
- The best European player in this draft, with that kind of stats its hard to see him slip to 7th.
Mikkel Boedker (right winger) - 69 games played, 29 goals, 44 assists, 73 points.
- Apparently people who are more knowledgeble about hockey than I am rates him as a player with speed, leadership and character. That's definitely someone the Leafs need when Sundin is gone, character and leadership!
I hope either of these three will slip to 7th overall, so the Leafs can secure their service. They look like players whom the Leafs can build a team around. We have a good goaltender in Vesa Toskala, I do hope Sundin will stay so the younger guys can get some experience playing with one of the greats.
A few more days till the draft (June 20th), I can't wait who the Leafs will draft with quite a handful of picks this year!
[UPDATE: We got a defencemen in Luke Schenn for pick 5 overall after trading our 2nd and 3rd round picks in 2009 to NY Islanders. Can't say I'm disappointed now that we passed on the 3 players I wanted, cause Schenn looks like an awesome pickup after watching a highlights package of him.. this kid takes his hockey seriously. Well done Leafs!]
It has been a rather strange day, well at least in my opinion.
I knew there was going to be an event called 'The Big Freeze' in the city at 1pm and timed myself to be there precisely at the correct time. It has been done in other parts of the world namely in New York and London, today it was Melbourne's turn. The event was somewhat a success, hundreds of people who participated froze themselves for 3 whole minutes from what ever they were doing. I did not participate in it because I wanted to take a video of it with my camera phone, but it went wrong when I could not find the video function on my N95 phone. Haha, how shocking of me! Luckily I saw the video on youtube earlier and it looked great. Some people stood in front of the tram stopping it on its track. Some onlookers were puzzled as to what was going on which is understandable because there were no clear warning of it to happen, Anyway, here's a youtube video of it. I was standing on the other side near the tram, not in the video though.
Well that was not strange for me cause I knew of the event before hand, but I was puzzled as to why some people face painted themselves like vampires walking down the main street of the city.. still am puzzled. lol.
I am not known to spend lavishly when I shop for things but I simply could not resist this year's stocktake sale. Maybe I was not paying enough attention last year but I have been window shopping a few times (since I am not working at the moment) and today it reached to the point where I need to get my hands on something. Initially all I wanted was to get 'shin guards' for soccer as I will be playing socially with a group of random people tomorrow. I was happy with what I bought, a silver puma shinguards. I decided to go have lunch and walk around since it was too early to go home, On the way home I ended up going in two shops and bought a jacket and a retro winter scarf. I came home and felt slightly guilty of spending that much in a day. Now I think I learned a lesson here, when you've got what you want, just go home and don't go in another shop! lol.
I was pleased with what I bought nonetheless, so its all good.
After an exhaustive search for a blog host, I have finally settled on this. Its Friday night/early Saturday morning I would have loved to do something but I hate going out when it is cold and rainy. Coming from a hot and humid country of Malaysia, one would expect that I would relish the cold Melbourne winter. I do to a certain extent, however after 5 winters in a row I do miss having the sun all year round. Its June and I'm already missing summer!
I have yet to decide what topics I should blog about, but I guess I will let it come to me rather than force it.
Until next time, cheers!
on I've got to start somewhere..