By now, everyone's heard about Steven Stamkos, and the bevy of defenders available in the first round of the tonight's NHL Entry Draft, as well as how the Sabres hold the No. 13 and No. 26 overall picks, allowing Darcy Regier the chance to wine and dine every other team in the NHL.
I'm here to say that if the Sabres trade up, I hope it's for this guy:
Kyle Beach... 6'3", 203 lbs., center from North Vancouver, B.C.
A big, physical forward who in at least one Youtube clip has a play-by-play man openly questioning why Beach would fight a monster of a Russian (Like "Rocky IV"). His NHL bio has playing volleyball at the beach as his favorite hobby (See: "Top Gun"). With two of the greatest films in the history of mankind covered, Beach is already in nice territory before we spy his stats in the Western League.
Season
Team
League
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
2006-08
Everett
WHL
65
29
32
61
196
2007-08
Everett
WHL
60
27
33
60
222
I'd be remiss to not mention that he has a reputation for being a jerk. He's accumulated 28 fighting majors over two years, been ejected from six games, and fought a teammate Colin Teubert (see below) at Canadian U-18 camp. He also received a six-game suspension for bumping an official in a midget tournament, and allegedly made a hunchback gesture to Milan Lucic, who has a curved spine.
Beach turned 18 in January. Nice. He also apparently won the Stanley Cup at age eight or something.
That kid from "The Sixth Sense" eat your heart out.
Honestly, I would call this the best draft ever if the Sabres pick up Beach, and will grimace if he ends up on an Eastern Conference team (However, if the Blackhawks pick him up, I might move to Chicago to try and befriend him and Jonathan Toews). Opposing players hate him, too, as he is a pest in a bigger body than your traditional pest.
Here are some other players I'll be pumped to see in blue and gold:
Colin Wilson, 6'1", 215 pound, center, Boston University.
Born in Connecticut before moving to Manitoba, Wilson is an American player who tied for the American lead in goals at the World Junior Championships with six. He patterns his game after Peter Forsberg, loves Johnny Cash and his favorite goal celebration is listed as "conducting the band or the blind man." Both outstanding.
Season
Team
League
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
2006-07
USA U-18
USDP
38
22
25
47
2007-08
Boston University
H-East
34
12
22
34
20
==================
Colton Teubert, defenseman, 6'4", 185 lbs., British Columbia.
Look at the kid, he's a giant child. Patterns himself after Rob Blake. Turned 18 in March. And here's Teubert on what motivates him:
"I hate to lose. Just the emotion of the game and knowing that that guy stands in my way from winning. I've either got to knock them down or shut them down."
Season
Team
League
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
2006-07
Regina
WHL
63
3
8
11
91
2007-08
Regina
WHL
66
7
16
23
135
===================
Luca Sbisa, defenseman, 6'2", 190 lbs., hails from Italy.
Now, this may look like ethnic support, but has experience in the Swiss League as well as the WHL, and performed well in both platforms (I'm writing like this human being is a video game).
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