...For some teams in the CCHL, their own seven picks for the annual Entry Draft are not enough. The Thunder Bay Timberwolves are one of those teams.
...During the past two seasons, the Timberwolves accumulated picks throughout the season, usually doubling their stock. This past season they held thirteen. Including the first and third overall picks which they used on OHLers John Tavares and Matt Duchene. Thunder Bay went on to pick not a single defenseman for the rest of the 2009 Draft.
...Apparently their list was long for forwards, as this week they added two more from this summers draf
t....Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson was someone the Timberwolves were prepared to take early in the draft. As it was, Thunder Bay didn't have another pick in the first round and the slick Swede was taken by Dayton with the eighth overall pick.
..."We are now, and were then, very high on Paajarvi-Svensson," said Timberwolves GM Blake Wendt. "Had we not been able to move up to the third spot like we did to take Duchene, we would have taken Magnus at the fifth spot easily. He is a threat on the ice with every shift. He is a very smart player and fearless with his drive to the net. Some people question his finish, but we're not concerned. If he's not scoring goals himself, he's creating chances and drawing the oppositions attention.
...Paajarvi-Svensson will take part in the Timberwolves Training Camp later this month. Though, he is expected to return to Sweden and play a larger role for Timra IK in the Swedish Elite L
eague....Another player that Thunder Bay coveted in the 2009 Draft was Louis Leblanc from the USHL's Omaha Lancers.
...Scouts from the Timberwolves seen alot of Leblanc this last season while also getting a good look at his primary linemate and 2008 draftee, Danny Kristo.
...Projected to be a top-30 pick, Thunder Bay felt comfortable about the Quebec-native being there at their 25th pick. He was, but the pick was traded to Dayton in the Marian Gaborik deal prior to the draft. Dayton used the pick on Leblanc.
..."Had a player like Gaborik not been the one in return, this pick would not have been moved and we would've drafted Louis Leblanc," said Wendt. "We seen alot of Leblanc this season. The chemistry between he and Kristo was great to see. Both players were in their first season in the USHL, and both excelled (finishing 1-2 in scoring for the Lancers). What Louis brings to the table is an all-around, two-way game. He never gives up on the puck, protects it well and usually comes out of the corners with it regardless if it was his to begin with. If we have anything we want him to improve on, it is his conditioning. He dogged some shifts on the second of back-to-backs, but we're confident he'll address that with Ted Donato at Harvard."
...Leblanc has begun his tenor at the prestigious Harvard University and will not take part in any of Thunder Bay's camps this summer.
...Paajarvi-Svensson and Leblanc were acquired from Dayton for prospects James Neal and Aaron Palushaj.
...In other news... Jase Weslosky (CCHL undrafted), a senior netminder for St. Cloud State University will not play this season for the Huskies. Leaving the door open for Timberwolves prospects, Dan Dunn and Mike Lee to fight for the starting position.
