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Monday, April 20, 2009

Tavares stock dropping? Logan (Woodlief)

John Tavares' draft stock dropping?

Potential Islanders No. 1 overall draft pick is ranked third by independent scouting service

John Tavares

The independent scouting service Redline Report has ranked John Tavares as the third-best overall player in this year's draft. (Getty Images Photo)


As if the debate between sniper John Tavares and Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman at the top of the NHL draft wasn't hot enough already, the latest prospect rankings from highly respected independent scouting service "Redline Report" should pour some gasoline on the fire.

The stunning standings read: 1. Hedman. 2. Matt Duchene. 3. Tavares.

Kyle Woodlief, the former Nashville scout who has owned Redline Report the past 10 years and served as its publisher and chief scout, pulls no punches in explaining the fall of Tavares, the player generally regarded as the "consensus No. 1 prospect" by most teams, scouting organizations and the media.

"I've always felt Hedman should be the No. 1 pick," Woodlief said. "The reason we flip-flopped Duchene and Tavares is due to the fact Tavares' effort level has been underwhelming through the first two rounds of the [Ontario Hockey League] playoffs. Tavares may score 40 or 50 goals a season, but he's one-dimensional. If he's not scoring, he's not helping.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982.

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