Draft Recap: Adelaide Xtreme

The Adelaide Xtreme had the daunting task of selecting first overall in the draft. While they could have any player they like first overall, they would have an anxious wait before they picked again at #6 and #7.

Sitting at the draft table was General Manager Tash Farrier, Head Coach Eric Lien, Assistant Coach Stu Henley and marquee players Joey MacDougall and Jeremy Friederich.

Here's a look at who each player is on the Xtreme and some potential line combinations and "Eric Balnar's Fearless Verdict".

Forwards
C - Joey MacDougall: One of the two marquee players for the Xtreme. You get a bit of everything with the man they call "Showtime." MacDougall had 31 points in 19 games and was absolutely clutch in the playoffs for the Tigers. The kind of player that reads the game well, can put a team on his back when required and commands the best out of his teammates. Solid two-way guy.

C - Nathaniel Benson: With their number 1 overall pick, the Xtreme went with 20-year-old Benson who had 45 points in 19 games for the Jokers this year. He also had three goals in the Championship Series. He has playmaking flare, good pace and will learn lots under MacDougall and Lien. He's one of the few players that is deemed as "The Future" of South Australian Ice Hockey. Benson played AIHL for the Adrenaline as a 17-year-old and 18-year-old.

C - Jared Siemens: A tenacious two-way forward who creates a lot on the back of his own work ethic. Siemens will have a few more players with offensive upside than he normally does with the Blackhawks. He could create for them and has a really opportunity to shine in this format. A very well rounded player. 

W - Olivier Martin: Picked in the fourth round, this surprised some but the pick makes a heck of a lot of sense. A converted forward after 10 years in the AIHL as a goalie, Martin has one of the best shots in the country. It's blistering. It's fast. He scores - a lot. He's dominated the A-Grade competition and been one of the better ones in Premier League when he plays. This is a hell of a pick for the power play and someone to watch if he plays with Benson. As a long-time national team goalie, Martin also reads the game well from all ends of the rink. 

C - Noah Maley: The young Joker's stock kept rising throughout the season. He scored and set up a key goal in the championship series too. Maley has won back-to-back Premier League title and knows how to play that third line role so well. Maley appears to understand that the little things make the biggest difference in games. He can move up the pecking order if required too. An excellent penalty killer, good in the face-off circle and eager to learn.

C - Andrew Stapleton: He played with Joey MacDougall all season long with the Tigers and helped him to a big season. Stapleton chipped in 14 points in 19 games this season so he has some offensive upside. What you get with Andrew is a great guy in the dressing room, tremendous work ethic, a willingness to learn and a high go-rate on the ice. An experienced AIHL body who knows what the pace is like at the next level.

W - Xander Wardlaw: By all reports, Wardlaw is moving to South Australia. That's huge for the Xtreme. The 21-year-old has played for the Junior National Team and won a title with the Sydney Bears. He had 8 points in 24 games in his rookie AIHL season, 22 points in 15 games in the AJIHL and 7 points in 5 games with the junior national team. He's one of Australia's best juniors and a great shot of being here in the state. 

W - Josh Holland: In what was a long, hard year for the Falcons, Josh Holland was a bright spot. He was asked to lead the Falcons after a mass exodus of players and he responded by leading the team in scoring. When the pressure is off of having to be "the guy" he'll make a really nice depth piece. 

W -Brandon Taylor: I know that Joey MacDougall loves playing with Brandon Taylor because he's a sponge who works hard and is willing to learn. He played top line minutes with Koubek and Foll on the Tigers this year. He'll be a useful piece to this team and a big body to use. He's been training with the Adrenaline, has won a junior title with the Generals, and is a great guy to have around. 

Graham Charbonneau: A former high level junior player in Canada who played as an import, then local, with the Adrenaline. Charbonneau is 39 and retired but has been skating recently. He's not a lock to play but if he does he's a great guy to have around. Very experienced, a good mentor and can play forward, defense and not afraid to mix it up. 

Dean Peterson: Currently living in Coober Pedy, but spending more time in Adelaide, Peterson is a fit, coachable guy that people love. If he can commit to the team he's a big in for Lien's Xtreme. 

Jye Sarcich: Was a third line guy for the Tigers this year and not afraid to mix things up. Had that great fight vs Andrew Zolotarev this year. A big body that can be used in front of the net and stir up the opposition. 

Adrian Esposito: A veteran of the AIHL, Esposito is based in Sydney and clubs are left to make their own arrangement with the player. Longtime forward in the AIHL and East Coast Super League.

Defense
Andrew Chen: One of the rising stars of the game. Chen has a season of AIHL under his belt, time with the Junior National team, and experience playing high school hockey in Canada. Chen put up nearly a point-per-game from the blue line this year, led the Jokers to back-to-back titles, and has a great working relationship with Jeremy Friederich. 

Nick Wieland: After moving here from Sydney in February, Wieland calls Adelaide home. A defenseman who didn't play for a couple seasons after debuting in the AIHL for Sydney. He looked more confident and comfortable as the Premier League season ticked on. Will be a great coachable asset on the blue line.

Jordan Geyer: I have him penciled in at defense due to organisational needs but Geyer can play both forward and defense (where he played in AIHL). Jordan is a natural leader, a great guy in the room, can score when required, or play that defensive role. He's that player you need because he can do multiple jobs well. 

Tom Tait: Long-time Red Wing defenseman kept getting better with the club this year after a season away from the game. If he keeps building confidence, and improves his skillset with the trainings this year, Tait could be a good defensive weapon.

David Huxley: He's one of the most legendary Australian defenseman to ever suit up. He's a natural leader, a great guy, and defensively sound. Huxley is expected to be around the team throughout the year as a big time mentor for the younger players. 

Aaron Widger: Widger has had to take a step back from the game recently because of his new job as a paramedic. But he is still in great shape and has a lot of experience playing in the AIHL with the Adrenaline. A great locker room guy, too. 

Goalies
Jeremy Friederich: Led the Premier League with a 1.50 GAA and .938 save percentage. Can bail out a team and win games on his back. Only 19-year-olds and one of the best in Australia. Another marquee player. 

Curtis Villani: Veteran who had the second best numbers in the Premier League with a 1.52 GAA and .936 save percentage. Literally kept the Red Wings in that championship series. Forms a formidable 1-2 punch in net.

POTENTIAL LINES 

Wardlaw - Benson - Martin 
Siemens - MacDougall - Stapleton
Holland - Maley - Taylor

Chen  - Weiland 
Geyer - Tait 
Huxley

Friederich
Villani 

ERIC BALNAR'S VERDICT: 

I really like this team a lot. A few things stand out:

1. This team is loaded with centres. Benson, MacDougall, Maley, Siemens, Wardlaw, Holland, Stapleton are all guys that have experience playing in the middle of the ice at some level. They've hogged the centres locally which means there will be mismatches coming vs their opponents.

2. There's a lot of versatility in the forward group. You can put them in the centre, the wing, on the first line, the third line, wherever. Each player presents a different skillset that will be fun for Lien and Henley to mix, match and find what works. This tells me that they have many different options to play a match up game, exploit a weakness or harness a strength. It was really hard to come up with line combinations for this team because honestly there are so many options. On paper, I like the idea of having a highly skilled line of Benson + Wardlaw (and two young stars) partnering with the incredible shot of Martin. Then just add a high work-rate line with Siemens and MacDougall teaming up. Maley anchoring a solid third line.

3. I like the defensive core. Chen and Wieland are young guys getting better and Chen is already a back-to-back champion. Geyer is so versatile and a natural leader. Tom Tait is just a great guy and teammate who will only benefit from more ice time. And who better to mentor them all than David Huxley? 

4. They have the best goaltender duo. I have no idea how, but the Xtreme grabbed the best two statistical goalies of the season. That's insane. 

Very, very scary team on paper.