NHL.com's Story on Luke Adam

[Two or less]

Good article on our 2nd round draft pick. Every time i read about him, he sounds like he's going to be a solid player. He hits real hard too and has great hands. I read a article after the draft saying he may be the steal of the draft..... who knows.

 

Anyways, good read, check it out.

 

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&a...rticleid=367366

 

There's an old saying in Newfoundland: smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.

 

For many years, the junior team destination for any Newfoundlander was in another province. Some moved to Quebec to play junior hockey, while others developed in Ontario or the U.S. college circuit. Although the island boasted a highly competitive senior hockey league, young prospects had to move away to get the notice of NHL scouts.

 

That changed in December of 2004 when the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League awarded a franchise to North America's oldest city. The St. John's Fog Devils hit the ice for the start of the 2005-06 season and over the course of three years several Newfoundlanders got a taste of playing major junior hockey with the team. It was great for the local kids. Playing in front of fans from their home province and never being far removed from family support was both exciting and reassuring. But it was not to last. Reality set in when attendance problems forced the sale of the franchise to a buyer who will move the team to a Montreal suburb for the start of the 2008-09 season.

 

"It's a sad commentary that they've lost their major junior team," says NHL Central Scouting Director E.J. McGuire, who always enjoyed his scouting trips to the most easterly point in North America. "A lot of the youth hockey kids would look up to the Fog Devils players and aspire to be there and of course on television you always look up to the NHL and that's the ultimate goal. Losing the Fog Devils leaves a tear in my eye. As a scout I loved visiting St. John's."

 

But Newfoundland is a resilient place inhabited by people with a quick recovery quotient. It's the same with their hockey. Whether playing in St. John's, Montreal or Timbuktu, the players from Newfoundland will typically leave it all on the ice for their team. That's just the way they play.

 

"That toughness is one thing that we hope never fades from our game," McGuire said. "While the skill influence is pretty, our game is still an entertaining, banging game. I think that suits the Newfoundland mentality of hard work, feistiness, and enjoyment of the game at the same time."

[silvermike]

Can't complain about that. It'd be great to see him here by 2011.

[Buffalo Fan]

Can't complain about that. It'd be great to see him here by 2011.

 

 

Don't know much about anyone else's prospects, but I am pretty excited about the Sabres'. I know there is a lot of hype with prospects, but it seems like a good colection and mix of talent and toughness...NHL ready? We'll see...