C'mon, lucky seven

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Nazem Kadri (CNS TIM FRASER)

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David Goldman / the associated press Nashville Predators centre Colin Wilson (left) is a former No. 7 pick. (CP)

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MINNEAPOLIS -- It's a cliché in the sporting lexicon, worn out by every reporter and headline writer ever to put fingers on a keyboard.

'Character.'

It can have so many different meanings in describing an athlete from simply doing the right thing, to having an ability to lead, to doing the job asked.

And, just for the record, it was the first word spit out by Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff earlier this week when asked if there was, or would be, a certain attribute the franchise would seek out when meeting prospects during interviews in the two days of advance of this weekend's NHL entry draft.

"We're going to look for players that are of good character," began Cheveldayoff. "Obviously there are some individual attributes of on-ice play that you want to have certain mixtures on, but at the end of the day we're looking for very good people and someone that is going to be a character player for a long period of time."

It's a generic statement, to be sure, but it does help hockey fans in these parts to at least get a feel for a franchise template Cheveldayoff & Co. will put in place over the summer and then build on in the future.

Funny thing is, what 'character' represents to the franchise won't magically become clearer late Saturday afternoon after the draft or through the first signings in free agency or when training camp opens in September. It takes time for that kind of evidence to be compiled, especially given that Cheveldayoff, director of scouting Marcel Comeau and the rest of the staff met for the first time this week.

What Comeau thinks when he hears the word character, after all, might be different than Cheveldayoff's first thought. Does character mean they will seek out players who, first and foremost, could wear the 'C' one day?

Does drafting character first mean these teenagers have an already developed maturity?

Does it mean selecting a player who will drop to block a shot without thinking, or accepting a role without complaining?

Those questions come with the newness of a franchise led by a rookie GM and with no previous draft or transaction history from which to study.

"Character comes in many different ways, but you'll get a feel when you meet these players about what they're all about," said Cheveldayoff. "They're young kids though, too, and there's going to be a maturation process in play. As far as a template, it's something internally we'll discuss and move forward with."

So, a memo to the 10 or so candidates identified as possibilities to be there when Winnipeg drafts seventh overall -- including Swedish centre Mike Zibanejad and Niagara IceDogs defenceman Dougie Hamilton -- who were interviewed Wednesday: don't say anything remotely egotistical or controversial in your chat with the brass. In these situations especially, the adage that you only get one chance to make a good first impression, never sounded truer.

After all, a football coach once referred to the pre-draft interview process as seeking out quality people, character people, while weeding out the 'turds.' And that's universal in sports: every team wants a locker-room full of character, not turds.

Bet on this, then, while hockey fans and experts study mock drafts and wonder which name will be called out by Cheveldayoff with the No. 7 pick: the black and white of the statistics and physical measures will be key in the pick, but so will the vibe the franchise's hockey ops department gets from the interview.

It's the stuff that doesn't always show up on a scoresheet. And it was hammered home during a meeting with all the bird dogs Tuesday night in downtown Minneapolis.

"I communicated to (the scouting staff) the direction we want to go, from the type of players, from the kind of people we want, from what we want in our players. They've put a list together and are going to be mindful of stuff like that.

"The draft floor is a very fluid atmosphere and you have to be ready to go in a lot of different directions. At some point in time you have to choose: 'Do I draft a goalie? Do I draft a 'D'? Do I draft a forward? What kind of forward? What kind of 'D'?' Lots of things change."

What won't change, it would seem, is this: the foundation of the franchise blueprint says character comes first and foremost.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

more nhl coverage on c4, 6

With the seventh pick in the first round...

A look at the type of player Winnipeg might expect with the seventh overall pick:

THE LAST THREE NO. 7s:

2010: Jeff Skinner, Carolina

The book on Skinner: The NHL's youngest player potted 31 goals and added 32 assists in 82 games with the Hurricanes en route to being named Calder Trophy winner as the league's top rookie.

Top 3 in '10: 1. Taylor Hall, Edm.; 2. Tyler Seguin, Bos.; 3. Erik Gudbranson, Fla.

2009: Nazem Kadri, Toronto

The book on Kadri: Has appeared in just 30 NHL games since being drafted and has just three goals and nine assists. Leaf management said prior to last season Kadri was 'running out of time to prove himself.' Did have 41 points in 44 games for the AHL Toronto Marlies last year.

Top 3 in '09: 1. John Tavares, NYI; 2. Victor Hedman, TB; 3. Matt Duchene, Col.

2008: Colin Wilson, Nashville

The book on Wilson: Still plenty of upside, although the past season featured some highs and lows -- 25 points before the all-star break, just nine in 32 games after. Started the season as a Top 6 forward, finished on fourth line and dressed for only three playoff games.

Top 3 in '08: 1. Steven Stamkos, TB; 2. Drew Doughty, LA; 3. Zach Bogosian, Atl.

NO. 7, FROM 2001-07

2007: Jakub Voracek, Columbus

Top 3 in '07: 1. Patrick Kane, Chi.; 2. James van Riemsdyk, Pha.; 3. Kyle Turris, Phx.

2006: Kyle Okposo (above), Islanders

Top 3 in '06: 1. Erik Johnson, StL.; 2. Jordan Staal, Pitt.; Jonathan Toews, Chi.

2005: Jack Skille, Chicago

Top 3 in '05: 1. Sidney Crosby, Pitt.; 2. Bobby Ryan, Ana; 3. Jack Johnson, Minn.

2004: Rostislav Olesz, Florida

Top 3 in '04: 1. Alex Ovechkin, Wash.; 2. Evgeni Malkin, Pitt.; 3. Cam Barker, Chi.

2003: Ryan Suter, Nashville

Top 3 in '03: 1. Marc-Andre Fleury, Pitt.; 2. Eric Staal, Car.; 3. Nathan Horton, Fla.

2002: Joffrey Lupul, Anaheim

Top 3 in '02: 1. Rick Nash, CBJ; 2. Kari Lehtonen, Atl.; 3. Jay Bouwmeester, Fla.

2001: Mike Komisarek, Montreal

Top 3 in '01: 1. Ilya Kovalchuk, Atl.; 2. Jason Spezza, Ott.; 3. Alexander Svitov, TB.

Notable No. 7s

-- Bernie Federko, St. Louis, 1976 -- NHL.com's best-ever No. 7 pick; Hall of Famer; first NHLer to register at least 50 assists in 10 consecutive seasons.

-- Shane Doan, Winnipeg, 1995 -- Current Coyotes captain; member of Canada's 2006 Olympic squad; has won two golds and two silvers and a World Cup representing Canada internationally.

-- Bill Barber, Philadelphia, 1972 -- Won two Cups with the Broad Street Bullies; member of Hockey Hall of Fame.

-- Jason Arnott, Edmonton, 1993 -- Two-time all-star; won Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2000.

-- Doug Risebrough, Montreal, 1974 -- Won four Cups as a player with the Habs, one as an assistant coach with the Flames in 1989.

-- Ken Linseman, Philadelphia, 1978 -- Nicknamed 'The Rat', Linseman scored 256 goals in 860 NHL games as one of the best all-time agitators.

-- Tait

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 23, 2011 C1