Centers Preview Season I
A center is a guy in the center of attention. He is the guy that is responsible for getting the puck to the big RW or LW on your team. He also needs to add a few goals of his own to keep defensemen on their toes. In this preview, we preview the centers of iHL and predict their impact on the team.
1.Greg Kowalczyk-NHL Comparison:Mike Modano-1st Round
What a great guy. Greg Kowalczyk is in line for a MVP iHL Award already, and he looks to be making his mark. He passes just as well as he shoots, and his shooting is unstoppable. Against a top goalie, he could score 2-3 goals a game and will add a great share of game winners.
2.Vladimir Boomchenko-NHL Comp:Peter Forsberg-1st round
Boomchenko can do it all. With maximized point levels he should give Greg a good challenge to be the top center. An elite guy, he can get the puck to the top LW or RW on the team, making for better teamwork and more points. He will be a key part on whether his team makes it all the way to the iHL Cup.
3.Blake Roberts-NHL Comp:Alexei Yashin-1st-2nd round
Blake can score, just like Alexei. He will be an anchor and he will depend on the wings to get the puck to him, since he has no passing ability whatsoever. This will significantly lower his draft stock, since the center is very important for passing. However, he will get a great share of goals this season and he will work hard until the very last minute of a game. A great guy that can be added later in the 1st round.
4.Mick Domas-NHL Comp:Jeremy Roenick-2nd-4th round
Domas is a great guy, and some may rank him higher because he has a good passing skill. If you miss out on Boomchenko and Kowalczyk, Domas is a great consolation prize that can be added in the 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th rounds. He is as good as Blake Roberts with some passing skill. During his tenure in the France League, Domas amassed 40 goals and 34 assists in 82 games. These numbers surely cannot hurt a team in the iHL.
5.Chris Corso-NHL Comp:Brendan Morrison-3rd-5th round
Corso looks just like Brendan Morrison of the Canucks. Morrison plays with star LW Bertuzzi and RW Naslund. If you put Corso in with two top wings, he will do wonders. He is a great passer and he has great scoring ability, but he doesn't take that many shots a game. This is good if you want to get other players the puck before you let him take a shot, and this is a very interesting gameplan that will be fun to watch. How successful will Corso be here?
6.Nim Adrellian-NHL Comp:Michael Peca- 4th-7th round
Adrellian ends a starting tier of centers. He is a mediocre player at this position, however, he will add a few goals and assist until his wrists fall off. Hes a real hard worker and we can expect a lot out of him in the next few weeks.
7.The Nestruds
8.Ricky Looklinger
9.Blaze Enrique
Watch out for:Preston Kaye
A new guy to these leagues, Kaye is willing to work very hard and get up to upper-tier status. Look for him on the waiver wire or in the Draft Board. He could go anywhere.
