Another Draft over here please!

The full impact of last Thursday's WHL Bantam draft on the Raiders won't be known for about four years.

However the prognosis is positive. Raider brass is bullish on first round pick Brendan Guhle, whom they feel has the potential to be an impact player in the WHL. Why else would they go off the board to take the Edmonton area defenseman 3rd overall? Besides, several teams went off the board drafting players much higher than their rankings.

Besides Guhle's comments to Jeff D'Andrea of paNOW he indicated he is excited to play in P-A.

Although he wasn't the first goalie chosen, Nick McBride taken with the first pick in the second round was the highest ranked puck stopper appears to have the makings of a franchise net minder. He's already 6″2″ with mobility at age 15.

The predicted outcome of any draft is unknown just days after the event. Teams will tell you how thrilled they are to get the players they wanted many of whom they didn't expect to be available. Detractors will point out how poorly they thought each team did at the draft table. The reality is likely somewhere in between.

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However the impact of one move will be immediate. Luke Siemens will come to camp as the odds on favourite to be the Raiders number one goaltender. GM Bruno Campese had at least three draft morning conversations with Moose Jaw counterpart Alan Miller before finalizing the deal for the 20-year-old puck stopper. Campese says there were several pre-draft chats as Siemens was sought after by other teams.

We can't say if the price (a 4th round pick this year and a 3rd rounder next year) is too steep until next season, but the value of 20-year-old's let alone starting goaltenders has been increasing over the past year. Ty Rimmer (Tri City's starting goalie last season) cost Lethbridge 2nd and 3rd round picks. The trade also addresses a need that everyone agrees the Raiders had to address.

Speaking of value, the WHL continues to miss the boat on the potential marketing value of the draft. They insist on holding it on a Thursday in Calgary. Why not have it on a Saturday and have some of the top players on hand to meet with all the media on hand. Also, why not have it in a city where the media gives a rat's rear end about the event, and doesn't consider the WHL an after-thought.

And why not have the draft in a market whose team could use a public relations boost. I'm sorry, I'm getting carried away with such radical ideas.

The Raiders will bring in their drafted players and some free agents for their annual off-ice spring camp in about four weeks, with the import draft to follow.

The Raiders also have the 2nd pick overall to select prospective Europeans. A pick that likely has even greater value than the 2nd overall selection they owned for the Bantam draft. Bruno Campese could and will demand a high price from teams like Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, or even the Saskatoon Blades who as hosts of the Memorial Cup are looking to stockpile top players for a run at the title.

There is more intrigue to come.

dwilson@rawlco.com