2002 NHL Entry Draft

PETR TATICEK

FLORIDA • ROUND: 1 OVERALL: 9

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Previous Team: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Pre-Draft Rankings

NHL Central Scouting: 7  Midterm Rank: 9

The Hockey News: 8    Red Line Report: 14

Vital Statistics

Position: C • Height: 6-2½ • Weight: 188 • Shoots: Left
Birthdate: Sept. 22, 1983 • Hometown: Rakovnik, Czech Republic

Pre-Draft Notes

Central Scouting Report: Petr is a strong skater who is well-balanced and agile ... has deceptive speed with excellent acceleration and a good change of pace ... a creative player and an intelligent playmaker ... possesses very strong puck-handling skills and works well in heavy traffic, taking advantage of his long reach ... has good passing skills and makes excellent decisions around the net and has a hard, accurate shot ... a face-off specialist who is usually assigned to take all crucial face-offs ... a very mature and confident player ... is often used at the point on the power play ... an excellent finesse player who can effectively adapt to a physical game.

THN Draft Preview: Petr Taticek came to North America to show off his immense skills and prove he can be effective in traffic. In that regard, Taticek just made passing grades. Yes, he's a strong skater who has agility and deceptive speed. Yes, he is creative and intelligent with the puck. He has size and skill and put up good numbers. Scouts, however, are not totally sold on the package.

Red Line Report: Tall, rangy Czech pivot has plenty of tools. Good puck skills and skating quickness. Already possesses good face-off technique, rare for a young player. Had some dominating stretches in first North American campaign, but also at times looked lost, especially under tight-checking conditions. Tends to get frustrated easily and can be drawn into bad penalties. Needs to keep working on leg strength to become stronger in his stride. Very slippery in tight and has good body control. Creative with puck and has excellent vision. Superb stickhandler can beat opposing players 1-on-1. Great hand/eye coordination. Has tendency to over-pass. Won't back down physically, but doesn't often initiate contact. Has huge frame that could fill out to 215. Reads d-zone responsibilities and game situations very well. Rather quiet on ice; should get more assertive as he becomes accustomed to N.A. game..
Projection: Versatile 2nd/3rd liner. Style compares to Josef Vasicek.

Pre-Draft Quotes

He's been our No. 1 center in the first half of the season, and we see him getting better as the year progresses. We expect him to be one of the top players throughout the course of the season. ... His teammates all like him, and he's very eager to learn. This is his first time in Canada, and he's coming along really well. He's a good person and wants to fit in. He's the only European player oon our team, so it's a little tougher, but he's stepped right in, and I think he's been warmly received. ... It took him about 25 minutes in his first practice to fit in. Right away we could all tell that he had the skills and the hockey sense to be a strong player in this league. It's a different style of game here, but he has fit in, and I think he enjoys it. ... We drafted him high without ever seeing him play. We heard things from various hockey people, we knew he was getting rave reviews, and he definitely hasn't disappointed.

-- Craig Hartsburg, Head Coach, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

He looks to have some real ability, but I think he's a little slow. He's not very brave, although he sees the ice well. He knows where to go. Does he have the offensive ability? Absolutely. Is he smart? Absolutely. But the question is where does he fit from a competitive view. He is not a traffic guy.

-- Anonymous NHL Scout, Hockey News Draft Preview

I think he lacks overall speed. He is a big guy, and he has good skills, but he is not quick. His skating is a little like Nash. It has not come all the way yet, but he is a smart player who works his butt off.

-- Anonymous NHL Scout, Hockey News Draft Preview