The past two days Zach Hamill has been exploring Columbus, Ohio, with his family, marveling at the likes of Ohio State University and it’s mammoth stadium, colloquially known as The Horseshoe.
In many ways he’s just like any other tourist – with one small exception. Come tonight Hamill’s life changes in a big way.
The Everett Silvertips star center will be thrust into the next step in his hockey career when the 2007 NHL draft begins tonight.
The first round of the draft takes place tonight at Nationwide Arena, the home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and Hamill is all but assured of hearing his name called out at some point during the first round.
“It’s tough to say whether I’m more nervous or more excited,” Hamill said via cell phone from Columbus.
“I’m just trying to relax and have some fun with my family and friends.”
Over the next two days the NHL sorts out the best players born between Sept. 16, 1988 and Sept. 15, 1989, as well as those born earlier whose rights are currently unowned. Hamill should be right toward the top of the list.
Hamill isn’t the only Silvertip in Columbus. Also attending is defenseman Taylor Ellington, though its unlikely Ellington will be selected in tonight’s first round. He’s more likely to be picked sometime Saturday when rounds two through seven take place. In addition to checking out the town, Hamill and Ellington have also undergone last-minute interviews while in Columbus.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen, so I’m just going to wait and see,” said Ellington, who’s also been in Columbus the past two days. “We’ll see when I go and where I go. It’s exciting.”
Two other Tips, left wing Lukas Vartovnik and right wing Dan Gendur, could possibly snagged in the draft’s later rounds.
“Obviously, it’s another exciting time for some of the young players in our organization,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said. “Zach Hamill should be going extremely high and we’ll see where Taylor Ellington goes. It’ll be interesting to see where they go.”
Most of the Everett speculation centers around Hamill. As a late 1988 birthdate, the 18-year-old Hamill is already a well-established junior player, with three full seasons in the WHL under his belt. The Port Coquitlam, B.C., native is already the Everett career scoring leader with 187 points, and last season he was the league’s scoring champion with 93 points.
Hamill has the type of stickhandling and playmaking skills that make NHL teams drool. That’s why Hamill is considered a lock to become the third first-round NHL draft pick in franchise history – last year center Peter Mueller was taken eighth overall by Phoenix and goaltender Leland Irving was taken 26th overall by Calgary. Hamill was ranked as the ninth-best North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s final rankings, and the 16th-best prospect overall in the International Scouting Service’s final rankings.
However, scouts have raised questions about Hamill’s size (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) and skating ability. As a result he’s been all over the map in mock drafts, ranging from ninth overall by St. Louis to 22nd overall to Montreal.
“I have no clue who’s going to take me,” Hamill said. “It’s kind of up in the air right now. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
But for a player who’s long been considered one of the best in North America among his age group, the moment he hears his name called is one he’s anticipated much of his life.
“It’s finally here, I guess you’d say,” Hamill said. “I’ve been three-and-a-half years in Everett and it’s been a long run, though it’s nowhere near the end. I’m pretty nervous because anything can happen.”
Ellington is expected to have more of a wait than Hamill to find out his destiny. In the final Central Scouting Bureau rankings Ellington, another late 1988 birthdate and three-year Everett veteran, was rated the 39th-best North American skater by the CSB, projecting him somewhere in the second or third round.
The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder from Victoria, B.C., is considered a solid stay-at-home defenseman. He had five goals and eight assists in 60 games last season.
The 1989-born Vartovnik was ranked 180th among North American skaters by the CSB. The Slovakian had 11 goals and eight assists in 58 games for the Tips.
There’s also a chance the 1987-born Gendur could be picked after being passed up the previous two drafts. Gendur, plagued by injuries before arriving in Everett midseason, broke out with 20 goals and 22 assists in 48 games with the Tips.
Any player drafted will likely still play in Everett next season. NHL teams own a draftee’s rights for two years before having to sign him.
Slap shots: There’s no consensus top pick this year, with right wing Pat Kane from the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights and center Kyle Turris from the British Columbia Hockey League’s Burnaby Express considered the top candidates for Chicago’s No. 1 selection. … The Tips are hosting an NHL draft party today at Sporty’s Beef and Brew in Everett. It begins at 4 p.m. … The Tips are also holding a prediction contest for who will select Hamill and Ellington. Fans can enter by e-mail at info@everettsilvertips.com. The deadline for entries is 3:30 p.m. today. The winner of the Hamill contest receives various autographed Hamill memorabilia, the winner of the Ellington contest receives two season tickets for 2007-08.
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