Meet the New Guys! The Tampa Bay Lightning 1999 Entry Draft Selections

Meet the New Guys

Tampa Bay Lightning 1999 Entry Draft Selections

First Round - The Lightning traded the first overall pick to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for the fourth overall pick and 3 picks in the third round. They then traded the fourth overall pick to the New York Rangers for Dan Cloutier and Niklas Sundstrom plus New York's first and third round picks in 2000.

Second Round, First Lightning Pick, 47th overall - Sheldon Keefe, a Right winger with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. Sheldon was ranked 26th going into the draft. He participated in the 1999 OHL All-Star game and finished third in the OHL scoring race. Was named a runner-up as league's hardest worker in the 1998-99 OHL Coaches Poll. Named OHL Rookie of the Year and named to the OHL's third All-Star team. Named rookie of the year by the Colts.

Central Scouting Report

A very good skater with impressive acceleration, agility and balance... uses a good selection of shots and has uncanny timing and accuracy... drives hard to the net and has excellent positioning and concentration in the slot area... a prolific goal scorer... has very good hockey sense and overall awareness of play development... a very feisty player who works hard every shift... is not a big hitter but is a constant force throughout the game... a fierce competitor who shows excellent determination... is a relentless player who refuses to be denied an opportunity to score... very mentally tough... the type of payer an opponent hates to play against, but would love to have as a teammate.

Third Round, second Lightning pick, 67th overall - Evgeny Konstantinov, a goaltender with Ak-Bars (Kazakhstan "2"). Evgeny was ranked first among European goaltenders in the final rankings. He posted a 2.29 GAA in the 1999 Under-18 World tournament.

Central Scouting Report

Primarily a stand-up goaltender who also plays a strong butterfly when needed...has quick reactions and handles shots very well...seldom gives up rebounds and plays the angles very well...has great anticipation and a strong sense of timing...a quick glove hand...plays a confident game and has a strong presence on the ice...a very talented goaltender.

Third Round, third Lightning pick, 75th overall - Brett Sheffelmaier, a huge (6ft-5in/200) stay at home defenseman with Medicine Hat of the WHL. Brett was ranked 51st in the final rankings. Named Scholastic Player of the Year for the Tigers this season.

Central Scouting Report

A defensive player who knows his responsibilities and plays within his limits...does not panic in pressure situations and is confident with the puck...usually plays a simple game...has a long reach and uses it to his advantage...has good anticipation and pinch along the boards...a very competitive player who defends his teammates...effective at clearing the front of the net and likes to punish his opponents in the corners...gritty player and solid body checker...needs to improve his skating ability.

Third Round, fourth Lightning pick, 88th overall - Jimmie Olvestad a 6ft-1in/194 lb winger from Djurgarden, Sweden. I was unable to find a scouting report on Jimmie that was in English but was able to find out that in Sweden he has been touted as the next Michal Renberg. We'll see.

Fifth Round, fifth Lightning pick, 127th overall - Kaspars Astashenko, a 24-year-old defenseman with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the IHL. He is from Riga, Latvia. Kaspars is a stay at home defenseman whose main knock is his consistency. He may be ready to come up and play with the Lightning but will likely remain in the IHL next season.

Fifth Round, sixth Lightning pick, 148th overall - Michal Lanicek, a goaltender from the Czech Republic.

Sixth Round, seventh Lightning pick, 182 overall - Fedor Fedorov, Sergei's little brother. That seems to be about his only claim to fame at this point. He made an attempt to break into the IHL at 17 but was cut from the Detroit Vipers and ended up playing with the Port Huron Bordercats of the UHL.

Seventh Round, eighth Lightning pick, 187th overall - Ivan Rachunek, a small (5ft-9in/180) Czech winger.

Eighth Round, ninth Lightning pick, 216th overall - Erikki Rajamaki a big (6ft-2in/205lb) forward from Finland.

Ninth Round, tenth Lightning pick, 244th overall - Mikko Kuparinen a Finnish defenseman with Grand Rapids of the IHL.

Stats:

Name Year Team Pos League GP G/ A TP PIM

GA GAA

Sheldon Keefe 1998-99 Barrie RW OHL 66 51 65 116 140

Evgeny Konstantinov 1988-99 Ak-Bars G Kaz. "2" not av ai lab le

Brett Scheffelmaier 1998-99 Medicine Hat D WHL 69 3 10 13 252

Jimmie Olvestad 1998-99 Djurgarden F Swe. El. 44 2 4 6 18

Kaspars Astashenko 1998-99 Cincinnatti D IHL 74 3 11 14 166

Michal Lanicek 1998-99 Slavia Praha G Czh Jr 43 87 2.60

Fedor Fedorov 1998-99 Port Huron C UHL 42 2 5 7 0

Ivan Rachunek 1998-99 Zlin F Czh Jr not av ai lab le

Erikki Rajamaki 1998-99 Hisk Helsinki F Fin not av ai lab le

Mikko Kuparinen 1998-99 Grand Rapids D IHL 19 0 2 2 35

Name	Year	Team	Pos	League	GP	G/	A	TP	PIM
						GA			GAA
Sheldon Keefe	1998-99	Barrie	RW	OHL	66	51	65	116	140
Evgeny Konstantinov	1988-99	Ak-Bars	G	Kaz. "2"	not	av	ai	lab	le
Brett Scheffelmaier	1998-99	Medicine Hat	D	WHL	69	3	10	13	252
Jimmie Olvestad	1998-99	Djurgarden	F	Swe. El.	44	2	4	6	18
Kaspars Astashenko	1998-99	Cincinnatti	D	IHL	74	3	11	14	166
Michal Lanicek	1998-99	Slavia Praha	G	Czh Jr	43	87			2.60
Fedor Fedorov	1998-99	Port Huron	C	UHL	42	2	5	7	0
Ivan Rachunek	1998-99	Zlin	F	Czh Jr	not	av	ai	lab	le
Erikki Rajamaki	1998-99	Hisk Helsinki	F	Fin	not	av	ai	lab	le
Mikko Kuparinen	1998-99	Grand Rapids	D	IHL	19	0	2	2	35