Jake Gardiner, Cody Goloubef in THN's top 60

Apparently the 2008 NHL draft preview edition was just released, and while I haven't paid $5.99 to purchase the edition, Baggot tells us that Jake Gardiner and Cody Goloubef were profiled among the top 60 prospects. Gardiner was listed 39th, and Goloubef was listed 42nd.

I thought I'd provide you excerpts from Baggot's blog post, as well as a little linkorama for each player.

Jake Gardiner

THN skinny on Gardiner, who played last season at Minnetonka (Minn.) High School: Gardiner was a forward until moving to defense two years ago, but he retained his offensive mentality on the blueline. Scouts agree he's one of the best skaters available, but there are other concerns.

"He's a great skater, but his hockey sense isn't great,'' a scout said. He's a bit of a riverboat gambler.''

Gardiner has some filling out to do, but his smooth skating
has scouts intrigued.

"He's lean, but he sure can skate,'' another scout said. "I think he has lots of potential.''

Gardiner is slotted as an early to middle second-round selection and a team might just get him as a steal in that spot. However, one scout thinks a team that has him rated too highly might be disappointed.

"It all goes back to the U.S. high school thing,'' a scout said. "You look at a guy like Blake Wheeler and if somebody had taken him 20th, they'd probably be happy, but at fifth maybe not so much.

Links:
- profile in the NHL 2o08 Entry Draft Guide
- Central scouting final rankings (includes a brief profile) (5/4/08)
- TCT: Recruit won't wait to join UW (4/22/08)
- uwbadgers.com: Men's Hockey signs 6 to national letters of intent (4/21/07)
- MNSUN: Minnetonka's Gardiner eyes bright hockey future (3/19/08)
- Star Tribune: New role turned out to be jolt he needed (3/4/08)
- THN: The Hot List (1/29/08)
- wcco.com: Hockey star plays senior year at Minnetonka (1/11/08)
- Star Tribune: NHL scouts flock to watch Skipper's Gardiner in action (1/8/08)
- Let's Play Hockey: Tonka's Gardiner thriving in senior year (12/07)
- WCHA Blog: 2007 Upper Midwest Elite League video (9/8/07)
- HIW: Jake Gardiner v. Marion Gaborik (8/31/07) (startribune link no longer works)
- Chanvillager: Minnetonka hockey star commits to Wisconsin (8/27/07)
- HIW: Jake Gardiner picks Wisconsin (7/1/07)
- WSJ: Gardiner grows on UW's staff (7/1/07)



Cody Goloubef

THN skinny on Goloubef, who played 38 games last season for the Badgers: There are precious few true freshmen in U.S. college hockey these days, but Goloubef is the exception, cracking the lineup at Wisconsin as a 17-year-old.

And the fact he did it on such a talented defensive corps, which includes 2007 first-round picks Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith, makes it more impressive. He managed to work his way into the regular rotation right away and impressed with his poise.

In fact, Goloubef has drawn favorable comparisons to Smith, who was drafted by the Red Wings out of Jr. A hockey last season.

"He's already doing it at the college level and that's quite an accomplishment for a kid that age,'' one scout said. "He's very mature.''

Goloubef is seen as a solid defensive prospect who has no discernable weakness, but no prominent strengths, either. Some like his ability to find the open man.

Links:
- profile in the NHL 2008 Entry Draft Guide
- THN: The Hot List (3/25/08)
- Hockey's Future 2008 Prospects: Cody Goloubef (1/16/08)
- The Badger Herald: Blueliner gets offensive in 1st year with Badgers (11/15/07)
- Goloubef making his mark (10/18/06)
- 60's 2007 pre-season profile/linkorama (This is a profile that I originally posted on Buckyville and HIW, but the Buckyvill forum doesn't archive old threads, and the links on HIW are messed up and I can't get back in to edit. Luckily, I posted it on USCHO, so it's still available for your reading pleasure. Even if you don't want to read what I wrote, you should check it out because it includes a number of cool links.)