After Michael Bournival, a hustling left winger, was taken by Stockholm to open the third round of the draft, the next 9 or so picks came fast and furious. Six of the round’s 10 picks were proespects.
Jon Merrill, a 21-year-old defenseman who can move the puck, was drafted by Minsk with the 50th pick, but GM Igor Kirunov apprently was intending to draft Republican Alabama Congressman John Merrill and he is rumored to already be trying to deal Merrill – the defenseman – to another team.
Anthony DeAngelo, a Jersey-born offensive defense prospect went next to Milan, where he becomes the only defenseman younger than 23 and the only player on the roster with an Italian name.
J.T. Brown, a small right wing, who plays the game at a fast pace, was drafted next by Oslo. He won’t play right away, but he has as much potential, if not more, than the four players above him on the depth chart.
Sonny Milano, a prospect who would have definitely been a fan favorite in Milan, is a left wing who was born in New York and has played for the U.S. Developmental Team the last two seasons, showing great improvement the last year. The 18-year-old has as hard a chore as any draftee does of breaking into his team’s top lines. The Dons already have Jimmie Ericsson, 21; Brandon Saad, 22; and Taylor Hall, 23 on the depth chart at the position Milano plays.
Rob Fabbri, an offensive whirlwind for the Guelph Storm last season, joins Belfast. Fabbri scored 45 goals and 42 assists in 58 games for Guelph and was a good playoff performer. Long-term, it looks like he will compete for the Giants’ second-line center position with Mikael Granlund, with Cody Hodgson expected to be the team’s top center in five to seven years. Belfast’s current prospects are scary. Imagine Fabbri and Jonathan Drouin on one line and Filip Forsberg and Michael Dal Colle on another. GM Chris Patton is already licking his chops.
Brandon Montour is a 20-year-old offensive defenseman in the Anaheim system who was drafted by Helsinki. Montour put up 62 points and was a plus 36 in 60 games for the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL. He’ll have to contend with Ananheim’s young defensemen like Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm to get his WSH attributes and then with Nerius Alisauskas and Jacob Trouba, both 20, for quality ice time on the team.
Dylan Larkin is an American center drafted by Detroit in June and Geneva today. Like Milano, he is learning his hockey in the USND system. Last season, he had nearly twice as many goals as assists. Geneva hopes he will someday compliment 19-year-old star Valeri Nichushkin, who they recently acquired in a trade with Minsk.
Jacob De La Rose is considered a two-way forward who is currently in the Montreal system. The 19-year-old Swede was picked up by Frankfurt and is already among league secretary Rose’s favorite players.
Jeff Zatkoff is a goalie who took a while to get to the NHL, but at age 26, he should have a career as a Roberto Luongo backup available to him in Zurich as early as next season. His miniscule, $537,000 three-year contract makes him an attractive option and he probably already caused German Thomas Greiss to look over his shoulder. He might even supplant Nicklas Backstrom this season, if GM Dennis Sullo moves him and his $3.85 million salary.
