Sweatt's speed will help him in NHL
CC player says he's '99 percent sure' he'll be back as sophomore
Chock full of potential, this year’s NHL draft features noticeably fewer players assured of NHL success.
Colorado College left wing Bill Sweatt is considered by many to be among them because his greatest asset — speed — is one of the NHL’s most coveted traits.
Joined by his family, Sweatt will be at the first round of the draft in Columbus, Ohio, which will be broadcast at 5 p.m. today on Versus. The remainder of the draft will take place Saturday.
Scouting services have Sweatt pegged as a late first-round or early second-round pick. Hockey’s Future online magazine tabbed him as the draft’s top NCAA prospect. Despite the hype, Sweatt said he is “99.9 percent sure” he’ll be back for his sophomore season.
At a pre-draft combine this month in Toronto, Sweatt said he interviewed with 25 of 30 NHL teams and expected to meet with four of those teams Thursday.
“They all said pretty much the same thing,” Sweatt said. “‘We watched you play and you have very explosive speed. That is your best feature and that’s what you bring to the table.’ They all recognized it.”
Speed rose in stock when the NHL returned from the lockout in 2005 and rules were implemented to limit clutch-and-grab defense and add the two-line pass.
“I think Billy might be able to become a second-line player,” said Alain Chainey, the director of amateur scouting for the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks. “The worst he can be is a third-line player and a penalty-killer. He’s an energy player with a lot of speed and good hockey sense.
“There’s no question to me that Billy Sweatt is going to play in the NHL. He’s one of the safest picks in the draft because for sure he’s going to play.”
According to draft experts, Kyle Turris, who has committed to Wisconsin for this fall, and Pat Kane, an American who plays for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, are vying for the No. 1 pick. James van Riemsdyk, another American who has committed to play for New Hampshire, is also in the mix for the top spot.
While those three have set themselves apart, the first two rounds should have plenty of surprises since the draft lacks bonafide picks like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin — players who were hyped and have delivered immediate impact in the NHL.
One reason is youth. Sweatt said many teams have told him he needs to add bulk.
“Some guys at the top end have the potential to be impact players, but they’re maybe not physically mature to make an impact yet,” said Ted Hampson, chief scout for the Colorado Avalanche.
Slowed by mononucleosis in the first half of his freshman season, Sweatt began to turn heads when he helped the U.S. capture a bronze medal at World Junior Championships in January. Although he played mainly third and fourth line for the U.S., Sweatt returned to CC with a burst of confidence, pacing the Tigers in the second half of the season with a team-leading 15 points.
“It was a big step and we think he handled it very well,” Hampson said.
But Sweatt’s 26-point freshman season has left some scouts and draft analysts doubtful of his ability to score.
Not Chainey.
“I’d be surprised if he’s still around in the second round,” he said. “Maybe people don’t know about his finishing touch. ... I don’t think he’s a natural goal scorer, but I think he’s going to be able to score some goals with his speed. I think some people underestimate his skills.”
CONTACT THE WRITER: 476-4803 or kate.crandall@gazette.com
