DOB: Apr. 12/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 164lbs
Midterm Rank: 3 | League Rank: 1st WHL | Country Rank: 1st Canada

     After a spectacular rookie season in which he won the WHL rookie of the year award for putting up 65 points in 67 games while quarterbacking the Red Deer powerplay, Nugent-Hopkins came into the season as a legitimate top 5 prospect for the 2011 NHL entry draft. He also had the hopes of an entire league on his shoulders as the WHL has been waiting 15 years since the last time one of its players was chosen 1st overall at the NHL draft (Chris Phillips in 1996).

     This past year, Nugent-Hopkins has done everything he could to live up to the hype. After dominating the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka U18 Tournament in August where he both led Canada in scoring and scored the tournament-winning goal, Nugent-Hopkins returned for a second full season in Red Deer. There, he improved upon his rookie season by tallying 31 goals, 75 assists and 106 points, good enough for a 3rd place tie in league scoring. After the Rebels lost out of the 2nd round of the WHL playoffs, Nugent-Hopkins was free to focus on off-season training and the NHL combine where he looked to have impressed.

     Nugent-Hopkins has astute vision and is a premier powerplay talent. He easily led the WHL in powerplay assists with his vision and ability to make tape-to-tape saucer passes through traffic. Nugent-Hopkins is very good at maintaining possession of the puck and his passes rarely result into turnovers.

     While known to be a primarily a playmaker and knocked by critics earlier in the season for not being able to finish, Nugent-Hopkins proved he is a capable goal scorer as well when he scored 15 goals over a 11 game stretch from the end of the regular season through the 1st round of the playoffs. It was during this late season stretch that Nugent-Hopkins played some of his best hockey of the season dominating opponents to a tune of 28 points over those 11 games.

     While currently lacking breakaway speed, Nugent-Hopkins can still be considered one of the better skaters available in the draft. He is extremely agile and his ability to change direction and stop and start quickly makes him very elusive.

     His ability to evade checks and control the puck in tight quarters is among the best in the entire draft. While Nugent-Hopkins needs to improve upon his even-strength offensive production (only 47 of his 106 points were not powerplay points), he is still able to contribute at even strength and he can be relied upon on the defensive side of the puck as well. Nugent-Hopkins finished with a +29 on an offensively starved Rebels team. Nugent-Hopkins’ vision and awareness have made him very capable at forcing turnovers especially in the offensive and neutral zones.

Pros: Highly skilled, has tremendous vision and hockey sense. Very elusive.
Cons: Lack of top-end speed and size. Even-strength production could be better.
Skill-set comparison: A cross between Ales Hemsky and Pavel Datsyuk

Myles Bell has seen his draft stock plummet after a tragic car accident.

     Since that time, Sundher had a very solid season improving upon a 61 point campaign with 76 points while improving his all-around game.  Rutkowski kept up his offensive production (and playing time) playing on a very talented and crowded blueline.  Madaisky was quietly leading a very inexperienced Kamloops team before tragically having his neck broken by a dangerous hit in early February.  Brandon Davidson has improved his all-around game and become one of the best defensemen in the WHL.  Despite being a 6^th rounder, he is a sure-fire bet to receive an NHL contract once he completes his WHL career.  After not even being listed by NHL Central Scouting last season, Cody Beach has taken tremendous strides this season by improving upon his 14 point draft-eligible season with just short of a point-per-game production while also amassing the 2^nd most penalty minutes in the WHL.  Not to mention that he is literally one of the league’s biggest pests as a 6’6 agitator/fighter.

     While we could make a case for many players, we try to keep the list down to around 5 players each year.  This year we’ve selected six.  This year, we’ve mostly selected high risk/high reward players, while some are projects.  They might be bigger gambles than last year’s picks, but could also become impact players if they ever reach their potential.

Without further ado, here is the 2011 WHL Sleepers list:

G Laurent Brossoit – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 23/93 | Catches: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 202 lbs   

     Brossoit is a guy that has all the athletic qualities to be a quality NHL goalie. He is big, strong, quick, and agile. He has a long reach and is able to extend his body to take up a good portion of the net. Playing for an Edmonton team that was woeful in its own end didn’t help him statistically as he faced numerous high difficulty scoring chances on a nightly basis, but Brossoit was able to put up respectable numbers considering that fact.

     Whether Brossoit is able to put all of his physical tools together and become a dominant NHL goaltender is another matter. His weakness is that he can be susceptible to letting in soft goals when he loses his mental focus. He can be inspiring his teammates with a breakaway save one minute and then letting in a back-breaking goal on a seemingly harmless-looking shot the next. The gamble on Brossoit is whether he can overcome that mental consistency issue needed to play goal at the pro level. His boom/bust potential makes him an excellent sleeper candidate.

Pros: Speed, Size, Athletic ability
Cons: Consistency, Mental Fortitude
Skillset comparison: Roberto Luongo

LD Alex Roach – Calgary (WHL)

DOB: Apr. 19/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 227 lbs   

     On a team full of young defenders hoping to impress, first year player Alex Roach outshone fellow prospects Peter Kosterman and Jaynen Rissling among others this season.  While Roach doesn’t have the greatest offensive capabilities, he has a heavy slapshot and makes an adequate first pass.  Roach is able to cover a large amount of ice with his great reach although his skating and mobility could stand improvement. 

     While these comments don’t paint a picture of someone you’d expect to have an NHL career, Roach’s improvement as the season progressed combined with his fantastic physical attributes (his excellent toughness, size and strength make him very difficult to play against) make him a worthwhile project pick that could one day provide much sought after physical play, grit, toughness, and fighting ability to an NHL team.

Pros: Shot, Physical play, Size/Strength
Cons: Agility, mobility, limited offensive upside
Skillset comparison: Matt Greene

LD Brenden Kichton – Spokane (WHL)

DOB: Jun. 18/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185 lbs   

     Brenden Kichton had an exceptional season in the Western Hockey League, finishing among the top scoring defensemen in the league, including 23 goals (2nd), 58 assists (1st, 7th among all skaters), and 81 points (t-1st). He also finished third in the entire league with a +55 rating, a full 11 points higher than his defense partner, Jared Cowen (Ott, 2009).

     The right hand shooting Kichton was overlooked in last year’s draft, mainly because he was buried a bit on the depth chart behind talented defenders Jared Spurgeon and Stefan Ulmer, both also right side defenders. Had Kichton had this kind of production in his draft year, one has to wonder how early he could have gone.

     Kichton is an excellent skater, a great passer, and has terrific hockey sense, deftly able to join the rush and create chances. He’s also a very underrated player in his own end, with strong lateral play and good decision making. His shot could use some work, though he does seem to be able to get it through traffic more often than not. It’s definitely not a weakness.

Pros: Skating, hockey sense, passing
Cons: Size, passed over in last year’s draft
Skillset comparison: poor man’s Dan Boyle

RW Matej Stransky – Saskatoon (WHL)

DOB: Jul. 11/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 195 lbs   

     Stransky is a guy that we’ve been high on all season. While he surely won’t be a Top 100 pick as we’ve suggested in our Top 100 list, Stransky is a guy that should command some attention in the late rounds despite only putting up 26 points in 71 games this past year. Coming over from the Czech Republic, Stransky has fit right in to the North American game. He has a big body and isn’t afraid to go into the corners. His lower body strength makes him hard to knock off the puck. He plays well along the boards and he is able to make plays in tight quarters. He is creative with the puck displaying very good hands and finishing ability from in close. He plays the game like a skilled grinder and that makes him easy to slot up and down the lineup.

     With Stransky getting adjusted to the WHL this year and the Blades acquiring veteran forwards like Brayden Schenn and Jake Trask, Stransky was pushed down the deep depth chart, hurting his ice-time and production. With the graduation of players above him of the depth chart this year, Stransky will be given ample opportunity to shine in a more prominent role for the Blades this year.

     Stransky is still very raw and needs to improve his consistency, but could be worth the wait as a plug and play winger in the NHL.

Pros: good hands, ability to make skilled plays in traffic
Cons: skating, consistency
Skillset comparison: Tomas Kopecky

LW Marek Tvrdon – Vancouver (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 31/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 210 lbs  

     Size, strength, and skill in traffic. Tvrdon uses all those attributes to protect the puck and to drive past opponents towards the goal. Each of those skills was on display for a mere dozen games this year before Tvrdon hurt his shoulder and was lost for the season. In those 12 games, Tvrdon scored 6 goals and added another 5 assists for 11 points.

     Was Tvrdon just on a hot streak to start the season and could he have kept up the pace for the rest of the season? Or was Tvrdon just scratching the surface while still getting adjusted to the WHL style of play? We’re guessing he’s somewhere in the middle of those statements, but likely closer to the latter than the former.

     There is risk involved in drafting Tvrdon as he did miss so much time this year and it remains to be seen how he and his shoulder will stand up to a long grinding WHL season. His skating isn’t poor as he is strong on his feet, but especially since Tvrdon is dangerous off the cycle, we would like to see a better first step from him.

     Despite the negatives, we feel that Tvrdon has very good upside and is worth the risk as he has a big frame, is strong on his skates and has found success by releasing a good hard wrister from in tight.

Pros: size, strength, shot
Cons: acceleration, injury history, still somewhat unknown
Skillset comparison: Eric Fehr

RD Myles Bell – Regina (WHL)

DOB: Aug. 19/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 202 lbs   

     If it weren’t for a terrible off-ice incident last month, Bell’s fortunes on draft day could have been drastically different. He is a highly-skilled offensive defender capable of running a NHL powerplay with his big shot and a good passing ability. Combine his skills with his physical presence and there was a realistic possibility that he could have heard his named called on Day 1 of the draft as a late 1st rounder. Now with potential physical, psychological, and legal obstacles in front of him, Bell’s stock is sure to slide. How far remains to be determined, but with Bell being one of the youngest players available in this year’s draft, and with the talent he possesses, some team will surely take a chance on him given he is a high risk/high reward player with no prior history of this sort of thing.

Pros: Heavy Shot, good puck movement and offensive abilities, physical play, among youngest draft-eligible players
Cons: Defensive play, off-ice issues
Skillset comparison: similar style to Drew Doughty although very much a poor man’s version

DOB: Feb. 22/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 210lbs   

Midterm Rank: 19 | League Rank: 2nd WHL | Country Rank: 9th Canada

     After putting up 32 goals and 81 points in 70 games with limited help this year, McNeill played well in a first round play-off loss to Saskatoon before suiting up for Canada at the Under-18 World Championships where he put up another 6 points in seven games. As a big, physical, right-handed center that is coming off of a very strong year, McNeill will deservedly command a lot of attention on the draft floor this year.

     McNeil is known for his versatility and on both Prince Albert and Team Canada, McNeill was used in key situations. He was used to kill penalties, score goals, to take late-game face-offs, and to play against the best players on the opposing teams. McNeill is a plus skater for his size as witnessed by his performance at the CHL Top Prospects game. That skating ability combined with his solid strength and size make him hard to contain when he is driving to the net or shielding the puck with his body along the wall.

     He plays a hard-working style where he gets results through effort and physical ability, using his size to his advantage. He overpowers opponents in the corners and is able to create space to make a play with the puck. One drawback is that for all his size and strength, McNeil is susceptible to losing track of the location of the puck during puck scrambles resulting in him losing battles that he should win based on him having better positioning or strength than his opponent.

     While McNeill is primarily a talented grinder, he seems to be able to morph his game into whatever style is needed for a particular situation. While he is most often a physical player that likes to bang and crash, he can also play the role of skilled, finesse player when needed. McNeill is an under-rated passer (especially down low) and he has a quick hard wrist shot that he uses well. While McNeill may never be the flashiest player, he does have decent offensive capability.

     In addition to his size and skill, McNeill holds intangibles that will make him coveted for more than just the statistics that he accumulates. He is hard to play against, he plays a versatile style, he works hard and leads by example. While he doesn’t often fight, he is more than capable of holding his own when he does decide to drop the gloves.

     Drawbacks with his game are that his defensive game still needs some work and his offensive upside isn’t as high as some other highly valued prospects. Defensively, like many young players, McNeill needs to improve his awareness and positioning, especially if he is expecting to play key defensive minutes in the pro ranks. Offensively, McNeil lacks the offensive upside needed to be an elite scorer and which will prevent him from being a top 10 pick in this year’s draft.

     All in all, McNeill has the size and versatility needed to play up and down the lineup making it easy on coaches to play him in different situations. He should be a safe pick to go in the middle of the 1st round and I suspect that whoever ends up getting him on draft day will be pretty happy with what they are getting.

Pros: Speed, Size, Strength, work ethic
Cons: Offensive upside, defensive consistency
Skill-set comparison: cross between Brooks Laich and Shawn Horcoff

These are just some of the attributes that Dylan Willick brings to the Kamloops Blazers night in and night out. Willick has parlayed his strengths into a well-rounded and versatile game. While he isn’t the biggest or most talented player, Willick has no shortage of heart and desire and his willingness to give everything he can has made him both a fan favourite and an alternate captain in Kamloops. It has also gained the attention of NHL scouts for this year’s upcoming NHL draft where Willick will more than likely hear his name called sometime on the second day of the draft.

After a season in which he posted 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points in 72 games playing mostly 3rd line minutes, Willick showed that he has the speed to get around defenders and the heart to go into the tough areas making him a player capable of producing points when given the opportunity. He is also just as comfortable in a checking or grinding role or throwing himself in front of pucks in a penalty kill situation. He can play each of the forward positions and his speed, determination, smarts, and willingness to do whatever it takes to win make him a valuable commodity as he can be plugged anywhere in the line-up and still produce for his team.

Photo: Kamploops Blazers

TSR’s Scott McDougall recently had the chance to catch up with 18-year-old and asked him his thoughts on his game, his influences and his experience playing junior hockey in Kamloops.

TSR – Who was your favorite player growing up?

DW – My favourite player growing up was Joe Sakic. He was the type of player that a kid could inspire to be like. He was a natural leader, one who was respected on and off the ice, and following Burnaby Joe’s example is how I try to model my on & off ice behaviour after. His wrist shot was well known around the league, which happened to be one of the only shots I used as a kid. I also liked him because he was a winner. He made his team better each and every game and was a difference maker when he was on the ice. That is the kind of player that I wanted to be.

TSR – Who do you try to model your game after?

DW – I like to model my game after a guy like Ryan Kesler. He’s a dynamic player who can do a lot more than just score goals. He’s reliable in his own end, even when pitted against the other teams top line. He’s consistently one of the best players on the ice, and very rarely does he take a shift or game off. He’s always working hard and you can tell that he’s a leader. His teammates respect him. On the ice, he leads by example and although I am not in the dressing room to hear anything, I can assume he’s one of those guys who speak up and say what needs to be said.

TSR – What has your experience been like playing in Kamloops the last couple years?

DW – I love playing in Kamloops. We haven’t had the success that we’re looking for as a team or organization, but that’s not to say it won’t happen. Head coach Guy Charron has a lot of experience at different levels in all areas of the sport and knows what he’s talking about. Being new to coaching Jr., he’s learning alongside us and getting the concept pretty quick. We have some great players on the ice and off the ice we are a true family. I am very happy to call these guys my teammates. On top of it all, we live in a great community. The fans are always there to support us and the team is always willing to return that support.

TSR – What has the community been like and how have you been involved in it?

DW – The community has been fantastic. We have a great fan base of people who can even recognize players off the ice and always enjoy hearing what the players have to say. On the flip side, it’s always nice when someone comes up and talks a bit of hockey with me because it helps to know what the fans are seeing and thinking. Community service is a big part of our agenda and at least twice a month I’m out going to schools talking to kids or partaking in a local game of road hockey. Being of Aboriginal decent, I aspire to be a good role model for the kids in the Aboriginal community, and really enjoy the times I get to participate in activities that the Aboriginal community puts on.

TSR – We’ve seen you play multiple positions this year. What position did you play most frequently this year and which position are you most comfortable playing?

DW – Most frequently I played the left wing position. We had a surplus of centers so I wasn’t able to play in my favourite position. All season long however, I would come to the rink not really knowing where I was going to play that day. With injuries, line adjustments and the fact that I am able to play any of the forward positions, our coach had the flexibility to put me where he needed me to go. I am happy playing wherever the team needs me to play to make things work, but deep down I preferred being the centre man as it kept me closer to the action at all times.

TSR – Aside from the usual tired responses of getting bigger, stronger, and faster, what exactly do you feel that you need to work in order to make it to the NHL?

DW – I am working on my shot and stick skills this off season. Previous years I had been shooting pucks outside in my backyard. That has helped the technique of shot, but it does not truly benefit me on the ice. During a game, the play is moving fast and I don’t have the same time I do out in the backyard. This summer I will be getting in more ice times than normal and working on my release while moving and quick release. The goal is that I will be able to see where I want to put the puck, get it there and do it in with the speed necessary for playing at game speed. With those extra ice times, I will also be working with my stick handling. Puck protection on the boards is key but I would like to have more control of the puck in the middle of the ice.

TSR – What would you tell a potential NHL suitor that you could offer them that nobody (or few others) else can?

DW – I’m the kind of player that can play the role required by my team. If the other team has a top line that needs to be shut down, I can be called upon. When the team goes down a key player because of injury or anything else, I’m there to fill in the gap. I’m consistent in my play. At the start of every game, the coach can be confident in what he’s going to get out of me. Also, I may not be the most talented guy on the ice, but I will not be outworked… No matter how the game is going, I will be giving my best effort.

TSR – Aside from playing hockey, what other skills or experiences have you acquired that NHL teams would be interested to know about you?

DW – I was fortunate enough to go through the French Immersion program for my school years. I am fully bilingual in French and English. Hockey took up most of my sports time, but I also played lacrosse for a few years on the Rep team. I had to retire from that early so I could focus my off season on hockey training. I have represented BC twice at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships and was very proud to have been able to participate as a member of the Metis Nation.

TSR – Thanks for taking the time to do this and good luck!

Skaters

1. 1. LC Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Red Deer -In a class by himself in the WHL – a good skater that is extremely agile, top-notch passer with an underrated shot.
2. 2. LD Duncan Siemens | Saskatoon – Siemens has shown questionable decision-making at times, but there is no disputing his outstanding package of size, skill, and skating.
3. 3. LC Mark McNeill | Prince Albert – Big center that plays hard at both ends of the rink. Has produced offensively despite limited help.
4. 4. LW Sven Bartschi | Portland - Tenacious little Swiss forward has grit along with skill.
5. 5. LD David Musil | Vancouver – Skating needs to improve, but Musil is the best defensive defenseman available in the WHL this year.
6. 6. RC Colin Jacobs | Seattle -Big two-way center shows flashes of what he’s capable of but needs to be more consistent. High risk factor involved but the potential for reward is high.
7. 7. RD Myles Bell | Regina - Offensive defenseman with a big shot and a willingness to play physically.
8. 8. RW Ty Rattie | Portland – Shifty winger with top-six upside. A potential boom/bust prospect.
9. 9. LD Joe Morrow | Portland – Talented defender that skates well and has the ability to move the puck up ice.
10. 10. LW Adam Lowry | Swift Current - Power Forward winger that is still growing into his body and plays a fundamental game
11. 11. LD Joel Edmundson | Moose Jaw – Large steady defender is learning from 2010 1st rounder Dylan McIlrath. Takes care of his end first.
12. 12. RC Michael St. Croix | Edmonton – Smart, but small center has left TSR wanting more this year.
13. 13. LD Brenden Kitchton | Spokane – Late-blooming offensive defender with questionable size. Went undrafted a year ago but a big season has got shifted a lot of attention his way.
14. 14. LD Alex Roach | Calgary - A big riser throughout the season, Roach is the type of defender NHL teams love to see from the WHL. Has great size, toughness, and has a heavy shot. Strictly a project pick.
15. 15. LD Jesse Forsberg | Prince George - Forsberg has some untapped potential and isn’t afraid of the extra curricular activities.
16. 16. RW Shane McColgan | Kelowna – Small skilled winger needs to bring offense and grittiness on a regular basis.
17. 17. LD Zach Yuen | Tri-City – If Yuen was a couple inches taller, he probably would be in most NHL teams’ top 10 wish list from the WHL. Skilled and unintimidated.
18. 18. LC Brent Benson | Saskatoon - Some untapped skill to go with a physical game.
19. 19. LW Travis Ewanyk | Edmonton – While not overly big, Ewanyk gives brings the energy and toughness needed for a bottom 6 role every night.
20. 20. RD Tyler Hansen | Kamloops – Defensive player that does everything asked of him for the Blazers.
21. 21. LC Dylan Wruck | Edmonton – While tiny, Wruck had a very good season under most people’s radar the way Brendan Gallagher did last year.
22. 22. LW Marek Tvrdon | Vancouver – Blew out his shoulder early in the season and has been largely forgotten. Good combo of skill and size for a late pick.
23. 23. RW Matej Stransky | Saskatoon – Much like teammates Marek Viedensky and Josh Nicholls, Stransky possesses the skill and size to be a late round steal if he can be more consistent.
24. 24. RC Colin Smith | Kamloops - Skilled center that needs to get much stronger moving forward.
25. 25. RW Dylan Willick | Kamloops – Much like Ewanyk, Willick plays hard and puts up a little offense as well.
26. 26. RW Marcel Noebels | Seattle - Undrafted last year, the big German has good hands and shot that could result in him hearing his name called late in this year’s draft.
27. 27. LD Jagger Dirk | Kootenay – Young Ice defender stepped in nicely when Brayden McNabb was injured.
28. 28. RD Reece Scarlett | Swift Current – Complete boom/bust prospect. Has the tools to excel offensively, but a disaster in his own end this year for the Broncos.
29. 29. LC Kale Kessy | Medicine Hat - Nice size and toughness, but the Tiger forward needs to significantly improve his skating.
30. 30. RD Keegan Lowe | Edmonton – Edmonton defender has tremendous genes as the son of both a former Stanley Cup winning defenseman and a former Olympian. Has noticeably improved since the beginning of the season.
31. 31. RD Mitch Topping | Chilliwack – Young defenseman is starting to play a big role for the Bruins.

Goaltenders

1. 1. Laurent Brossoit | Edmonton – Underrated Oil Kings netminder has great size with the ability to bail out his teammates with a big save.
2. 2. Liam Liston | Brandon – Steady goalie for the high-flying Wheat Kings.
3. 3. Eric Williams | Prince Albert Raiders – Backup goalies is small, but very quick.

Of the ten teams in the tournament, TSR contributor Scott McDougall was able to see all but two of them (unfortunately he did not get a chance to see either the Czechs or the Slovaks).  The following is a list of players that caught his attention at the tournament.

1 Morgan Rielly | Team Pacific | Defense | L | 6’0 | 200 | 03/03/1994 | West Vancouver, British Columbia | Moose Jaw (WHL)

On a team loaded with quality defenders, Rielly stood out. He commanded the flow of the game at times with his puck rushing ability and was very good at both ends of the rink. A fantastic skater that was reliable in all situations for Team Pacific.

2 Nathan MacKinnon | Team Atlantic | Forward | R | 5’10 168 | 09/01/1995 | Dartmouth, Nova Scotia | Shattuck-St.Mary’s (U.S. Prep)

No disrespect to Alex Forsberg or any of the other top 15 year-olds across the country, but I have yet to see one better than MacKinnon. An explosive, smart, and physical player with very soft hands and a quick release. Despite being among the youngest players in the tournament, MacKinnon was near the top of the scoring leaderboard and was easily one of Team Atlantic’s best players along with Andrew Ryan.

3 Seth Jones | Team USA | Defense | R | 6’3 | 183 | 10/03/1994 | Plano, Texas | US National U17

Jones is a co-captain for Team USA and it is easy to see why. Jones is a very good skater and already possesses a very long reach that will only increase if he grows to be anywhere near the size of his 6’8″ former NBA-playing dad. Jones can rush the puck up ice, is capable of making tape-to-tape passes out of his zone, is solid defensively and is willing to play the body. He made a couple positioning mistakes, but was able to effectively rectify them with his skating ability and reach. This kid has big time potential. Named to the All-Tournament Team.

4 Henrik Samuelsson | Team USA | Forward | R | 6’2 | 195 | 02/07/1994 | Scottsdale, Arizona | US National U17

The son of Ulf Samuelsson was able to generate a lot of scoring chances because he is a big, skilled kid that skates very well for his size. He is very strong and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Samuelsson has a very heavy shot. A tough player to play against. A true power forward.

5 Derrick Pouliot | Team West | Defense | L | 6’0 | 192 | 01/16/1994 | Weyburn, Saskatchewan | Portland (WHL)

Smooth skating and smart, Pouliot knows when to push the pace and when to slow things done. Dependable at both ends of the rink, Pouliot is capable of leading the charge offensively or staying back to cover his own end. He has good vision, is a very agile skater, good passer and displays excellent patience with the puck. Named to the All-Tournament Team.

6 Ryan Hartman | Team USA | Forward | R | 5’10 | 182 | 09/20/1994 | West Dundee, Illinois | US National U17

Much like Samuelsson, Hartman plays with a bull-in-a-china-shop mentality. Solid on skates and hitting everything in sight. He was successful at finding space and he has a hard and accurate wrist shot that he likes to use. He played hard every shift.

7 Matia Marcantuoni | Team Ontario | Forward | R | 6’0 | 190 | 02/22/1994 | Woodbridge, Ontario | Kitchener (OHL)

Marcantuoni is a skilled player that isn’t afraid to throw his body around. Skates very well, is strong on the puck, can work the cycle and can score. Perhaps a little more skilled than Samuelsson, but not as strong or domineering. Marcantuoni was the catalyst of Team Ontario’s dominant top line.

8 Jacob Trouba | Team USA | Defense | R | 6’1 | 183 | 02/26/1994 | Rochester, Minnesota | US National U17

Trouba had an exceptional tournament. He skates well, makes a strong first pass and has a big shot from the point. Trouba loved to make a big hit and played on the edge resulting in him being involved in several physical and verbal altercations throughout the tournament.

9 Sean Monahan | Team Ontario | Forward | L | 6’2 | 180 | 10/12/1994 | Brampton, Ontario | Ottawa (OHL)

Monahan was very good at winning puck battles in the corners and proved to be very difficult to knock off the puck once he got it. He worked the walls well and he also displayed the good vision and skill expected of a much smaller finesse player. While he was just an average skater, it didn’t hamper his ability to contribute. A clutch performer.

10 Andrew Ryan | Team Atlantic | Forward | L | 6’3 | 186 | 01/15/1994 | Paradise, Newfoundland | Halifax (QMJHL)

Ryan looked a little clumsy at times, but moved around the ice pretty well anyways. With his impressive size, he was hard to push off the puck. He displayed very nice vision, a long reach, and good hands in setting up scoring chances for his teammates.

11 Anthony Duclair | Team Quebec | Forward | L | 5’10 | 151 | 08/26/1995 | Pointe-Claire, Quebec | Lac St-Louis (LHMAAAQ)

Another 15 year-old that had a very strong tournament, Duclair never took a shift off. He’s tenacious, tough and showed good ability at both ends of the rink. A skilled player with a lunch-bucket mentality.

12 Charles Simard-Hudon | Team Quebec | Forward | L | 5’8 | 165 | 06/23/1994 | Boisbrand, Quebec | Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Hudon proved that if the opposition has even the smallest of lulls, he can be dangerous. He single-handedly scored a key game-tying goal on the Finns just six seconds after his team scored previously. Although small, Hudon is very shifty and creative with the puck. Wore the “C” for Team Quebec.

13 Chris Driedger | Team West | Goalie | L | 6’3 | 175 | 05/18/1994 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | Tri-City (WHL)

The big, lanky goalie consistently gave his overmatched team a chance against the tournament’s best squads. Uses his size well and is very agile and athletic. Able to find the puck through traffic. Driedger’s rebound control could be improved, but he battled hard for loose pucks and rebounds.

14 John Koslowski | Team Germany | Forward | L | 6’0 | 176 | 09/16/1994 | Berlin, Germany Eisbaren | Berlin Juniors (Ger)

Koslowski was far and away the most impressive German player against Team Atlantic. He wasn’t exceptional at anything, but was good at everything. He played a strong two-way game and provided character and leadership, never giving up even when it was obvious that Germany would lose the game. Competed hard every shift. He wore an “A” for Germany.

15 Matt Dumba | Team Pacific | Defense | R | 6’0 | 175 | 07/25/1994 | Calgary, Alberta | Red Deer (WHL)

Dumba played the part of the riverboat gambler at this tournament making for an exciting game at both ends of the rink. Dumba was electric rushing the puck, weaving around defenders and setting up the puck in the offensive zone. He was also dangerous on the powerplay, but had some misadventures in his own end.

16 Matthew Finn | Team Ontario | Defense | L | 6’0 | 195 | 02/24/1994 | Toronto, Ontario | Guelph (OHL)

With all the talented players around him, it is easy for a guy like Finn to get overlooked. Finn played a simple game, but was absolutely clutch defensively for his team and added a little offense when he had the chance. He played smart positionally and always kept his man to the outside. Finn was exceptional defending odd-man rushes.

17 Luca Ciampini | Team Quebec | Forward | L | 5’11 | 189 | 03/08/1994 | Montreal, Quebec | Halifax (QMJHL)

Ciampini wasn’t flashy, but he proved very good at putting the puck in the net. He found ways to get open in front of the net and buried every chance he got. Ciampini has a nice wrist shot that he is able to release quickly.

18 Hunter Shinkaruk | Team Pacific | Forward | L | 5’10 | 160 | 10/13/1994 | Calgary, Alberta | Medicine Hat (WHL)

Shinkaruk and Troy Bourke had good chemistry and were able to create offense by breaking down defenders’ own zone coverage, either by beating their checks 1-on-1 or by cycling the puck. Shinkaruk has a nice, accurate wrister with a quick release. Named to the All-Tournament Team.

19 Michael Matheson | Team Quebec | Defense | L | 6’1 | 169 | 02/27/1994 | Pointe-Claire, Quebec | Lac St-Louis (LHMAAAQ)

Matheson is a smart player who quietly went about his business in his zone. He is a very smooth-skating and has good agility. He has the ability to make crisp tape-to-tape passes in stride.

20 Griffin Reinhart | Team Pacific | Defense | L | 6’4 | 205 | 01/24/1994 | West Vancouver, British Columbia | Edmonton (WHL)

Reinhart captained the strong Team Pacific entry for this tournament. Paired with Matt Dumba, Reinhart was relied upon to shutdown the opposition as Dumba was often leading the rush. While being strong defensively, Reinhart also showed he is more than capable offensively when called upon. He didn’t use his size as effectively as he has shown in the past and was exposed a couple times against faster players.

21 Andreas Athanasiou | Team Ontario | Forward | L | 6’0 | 165 | 08/06/1994 | Woodbridge, Ontario | London (OHL)

The speedy Athanasiou caused some havoc in the neutral zone and was quick in transition. His strong showing led to his being named to the All-tournament team.

22 Scott Laughton | Team Ontario | Forward | L | 6’0 | 170 | 05/30/1994 | Oakville, Ontario | Oshawa (OHL)

Laughton was a very good two-way player for Team Ontario. He was very strong on his feet and cycled the puck well down low with his linemates Marcantuoni and Brendan Gaunce. He showed good hand-eye co-ordination, was hard to move from in front of the net and was able to convert some scoring chances.

23 Brendan Gaunce | Team Ontario | Forward | L | 6’2 | 205 | 03/25/1994 | Markham, Ontario | Belleville (OHL)

Gaunce skates well for someone his age and size. He put his size and smarts to work by effectively cycling the puck as part of Team Ontario’s top line. He also showed his good vision, patience, and decision-making to create scoring opportunities off the cycle.

24 Juuso Ikonen | Team Finland | Forward | R | 5’7 | 155 | 01/03/1995 | Espoo, Finland | Blues Espoo (Fin)

Small but shifty, Ikonen wasn’t deterred by bigger players. He refused to back down to anyone, and played with a lot of emotion. As a 15 year-old, he was able to contribute points against some of the best teams in the tournament.

25 Damon Severson | Team West | Defense | R | 6’2 | 182 | 08/07/1994 | Melville, Saskatchewan | Kelowna (WHL)

Severson has a nice combination of size and skill. While he was a gritty defender, Severson skated well and was able to stickhandle through traffic in order to carry the puck out of his zone and lead the rush.

HM Nicolas Kerdiles | Team USA | Forward | L | 6’1 | 183 | 01/11/1994 | Irvine, California | US National U17

While not spectacular, Kerdiles was solid in a pair of Team USA games. Named to the All-Tournament Team.

HM Troy Bourke | Team Pacific | Forward | L | 5’10 | 170 | 03/30/1994 | Onoway, Alberta | Prince George (WHL)

Showed some good chemistry with Shinkaruk. Smart player with a quick release.

HM Brandon Whitney | Team Atlantic | Goalie | L | 6’5 | 185 | 05/11/1994 | Centreville, Nova Scotia | Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Whitney is a gigantic goalie that was good at getting in front of pucks, but didn’t really use his body to his full extent. The potential is definitely there and Whitney made some very nice saves. Was prone to giving up the occasional soft one.

HM Mike Winther | Team Pacific | Forward | R | 5’11 | 170 | 07/09/1994 | Trochu, Alberta | Prince Albert (WHL)

Winther was a human cannon-ball against Ontario. He was an exceptional forechecker and had several large hits that resulted in turnovers. Energy player.

HM Markus Kojo | Team Finland | Defense | L | 6’3 | 205 | 03/30/1994 | Noormarkku, Finland | Assat Pori (Fin)

The big Finnish defender is still quite raw, but projects nicely to higher levels as a defensive player with a little offensive upside. Kojo had a good shot and read the play well. He is only an average skater, but used his size well enough to separate his opponents from the puck.

Rising

Laurent Brossoit | G | Catches L | Edmonton (WHL) | 03/23/1993 | 6’3 202lbs | 2011 Eligible

Brossoit is a big goalie that uses his size well and is very athletic.  He needs to work on his fundamentals a bit, but he could turn out to be one of the best goalies to come out of the entire 2011 WHL goalie crop.

Sven Bartschi | LW | LH | Portland (WHL) | 10/05/1993 | 5’10 185lbs | 2011 Eligible

Bartschi has a great nose for the net and the hands to finish when he gets there. The 7th overall pick in last season’s CHL Import draft has quickly developed great chemistry with linemate Ty Rattie and the duo is quickly developing into one of the top scoring tandems in the entire WHL.

Mark McNeill | C | RH | Prince Albert (WHL) | 02/22/1993 | 6’2 210lbs | 2011 Eligible

McNeill has good size and he competes hard.  He hustles for loose pucks and he plays a two-way game.  His hustle combined with his improved ability to anticipate the play has been leading to good scoring chances so far this year.

Alex Kuvaev | RW | RH | Lethbridge (WHL) | 05/02/1993 | 6’3 190lbs | 2011 Eligible

Kuvaev needed a little time to get used to the WHL, but once he did, he has been very good, putting up 15 points over his past 17 games.  He has an intriguing combination of size, skill and shooting ability that should move him up.  He has the skills, he just needs to develop better consistency.

Joe Morrow | D | LH | Portland (WHL) | 12/09/1992 | 6’1 198lbs | 2011 Eligible

Even though Joe is part of a very deep Portland defensive squad, Joe has fought for minutes and established himself as one one of the top puck-moving defensemen in the WHL so far this year.  He is a very good skater that is capable of making good passes and using smart judgement with the puck.  As a late ‘92, Joe was expected to have a comparatvely good season, but he has exceeded all expectations early this season.

Falling

Keegan Lowe | D | LH | Edmonton (WHL) | 03/29/1993 | 6’1 176lbs | 2011 Eligible

Kevin Lowe’s son started the season by being selected to the American Ivan Hlinka Memorial U18 squad that captured silver in Slovakia this past August.  However, Lowe hasn’t really improved from last year at all.  He still looks very slow and is easy to push off the puck.  At this point, Lowe is going to need to have a strong year to be on the draft radar in June.

Jesse Forsberg | D | LH | Prince George (WHL) | 08/13/1993 | 6’1 195lbs | 2011 Eligible

Another player that just hasn’t met pre-season expectations, Forsberg is a player that is tough to gauge as to where he will fit at the NHL level.  He  hasn’t produced much in the way of offense over the past couple years despite having the skills to do so.  Forsberg has played a grittier game, but he is undersized for that sort of role at the NHL level.  The team that drafts Forsberg will be picking him based on his late birthdate and some untapped potential versus what he has shown over the last couple seasons at the WHL level.

David Musil | D | LH | Vancouver (WHL) | 04/09/1993 | 6’3 200lbs | 2011 Eligible

This year hasn’t started the way some had hoped for Musil.  While he had been looked upon as a potential lotto pick to start the season, Musil has looked a little slow moving around the ice this year and he hasn’t developed his offensive game as much as needed to be a lotto pick.  He is still very good defensively, but not as physical as needed for a purely defensive player.  It also doesn’t help that Musil was recently diagnosed with a broken foot from blocking a shot and will miss the World Juniors, potentially dropping his stock even further.  Musil is still looking like a 1st round pick at this point, but he may not be the prospect some thought he would be.

Shane McColgan | RW | RH | Kelowna (WHL) | 01/01/1993 | 5’10 160lbs | 2011 Eligible

McColgan is a small but shifty player that hasn’t been meeting high expectations so far this year.  It is not that McColgan has been playing poorly, but it seems like he is not progressing as much as anticipated.  His production has seemed to stall from last season’s totals and those totals aren’t good enough for scouts to overlook some of his deficiencies.  McColgan still needs to work on his play away from the puck and he has  looked disinterested at times at engaging in any physical battles for the puck.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | C | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 04/12/1993 | 6’0 164lbs | 2011 Eligible

For someone that is in the mix for being the #1 overall pick in this years NHL draft, it is not the lack of goal scoring that is concerning as Nugent-Hopkins does have a good shot and is primarily a play-maker anyways.  What is concerning though, is that for someone that is so lethal on the powerplay, Nugent-Hopkins has produced very little at even strength so far this year.  He is far too talented to fall very far, but unless improves he improves this part of his game, he will not be the 1st overall pick in this year’s draft.

Vancouver Giants

Dalton Sward | C | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 01/10/1994 | 6’0 168lbs | 2012 Eligible

Vancouver’s 1st round Bantam pick in 2009 is a very slender, (think Nugent-Hopkins-thin) and skilled centerman. He didn’t shy away from the corners despite his size and there is definitely some potential in this player. It will be worth keeping tabs of Sward between now and the 2012 NHL entry draft.

Brendan Gallagher | RW | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 06/05/1992 | 5’8 170lbs | MTL 2010 (5/147)

Gallagher is a very skilled player with a dynamic wrist shot, that didn’t get a lot of buzz last year due to his size. However, I didn’t see any of the skills I saw last year in this particular game. Gallagher was physically outmatched by Red Deer’s big defensemen and didn’t have much room to work with.

Craig Cunningham | C | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 09/03/1990 | 5’10 181lbs | BOS 2010 (4/97)

On the downside, he was badly outmatched by RNH in the faceoff circle and was held without much in the way of any scoring chances. The best thing that could be said about Cunningham was that Red Deer’s top line did not score while he was on the ice either.

Luke Fenske | D | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 05/23/1993 | 6’1 204lbs | 2011 Eligible

Drafted by Vancouver with Red Deer’s 3rd round selection at the 2008 Bantam draft. Fenske seemed to have a strong start to the game, before the wheels fell off for him later on. He has good size and is a decent skater. He has the potential to be a late round pick leading up to the upcoming draft.

David Musil | D | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 04/09/1993 | 6’3 200lbs | 2011 Eligible

Musil has an excellent frame and projects to be a big shutdown defender. He uses his size well to separate players from the puck along the boards, but would not be considered a dynamic open-ice hitter or extremely physical player. Instead, Musil relies on just making the simple plays to clear the puck from his end. There isn’t too much complicated about his game. Musil was very strong on his feet, although he takes very short strides for such a big man. This in turn limits his speed. His acceleration is also lacking, but I don’t expect skating to be a major hurdle for Musil to overcome as he just needs to get stronger once he finishes growing and the speed and acceleration will improve.

As for his offensive upside, I’ve had half a dozen views of him and I’m still not convinced it is as high as some would like to suggest. While it could be argued that he has top pairing potential, it is mainly on the basis of strong defensive zone play. At this rate, he will likely be picked somewhere in the top half of the 1st round.

Red Deer Rebels

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | C | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 04/12/1993 | 6’0 164lbs | 2011 Eligible

In a game where Nugent-Hopkins could have easily gotten 4 assists, he managed to get just a pair including one that likely shouldn’t have counted as he was given an assist on a controversial off-side goal by Byron Froese.  He was dominant offensively and was especially good on the PP where he used his extreme patience with the puck and the resulting extra space to create chances at will (his other assist was a tap-in for Turner Elson on the PP).

Just as impressive as his offensive game was his complete neutralization of Craig Cunningham.  Nugent-Hopkins not only won a vast majority of faceoffs against the WHL’s scoring leader, but helped shutdown one of the most dangerous lines in junior hockey.  While Cunningham leads the league in points, his linemate Brendan Gallagher is 2^nd.  It was only the 3^rd time in 18 games that Cunningham had been held pointless and the first time it had happened to Gallagher all year!  Vancouver’s top line barely registered any shots let alone decent scoring chances.

RNH had the puck on a string and was able to feather passes through heavy traffic.  He is cool under pressure and quick to find an outlet when necessary, but also able to hold on to the puck long enough for a play to develop.  He is a tremendous skater that is able to handle the puck at full speed and in traffic.  Nugent-Hopkins prefers to set up on the perimeter much like a point guard waiting for an opportunity to make a pass into the paint (or in this case the slot).  Nugent-Hopkins has world class talent and will push Couturier and Larsson into a dogfight for 1^st overall this year.  The only thing holding him back is his slight frame and being only 17, he has lots of time to fill out.

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Byron Froese | C | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 03/12/1991 | 6’1 180lbs | CHI 2009 (4/119)

Byron is a hard-working, two-way player.  While he is not an explosive skater, he has good balance and constantly keeps his motor running.  He hustled for loose pucks, was hard on the backcheck and was solid on the PK.  All of his hard work was rewarded as Froese was able to pot a couple goals in the game.  Froese played the left point on the top PP unit from which he was able to score one of his goals.

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Alex Petrovic | D | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 03/03/1992 | 6’4 200lbs | FLA 2010 (2/36)

Considering Petrovic had missed the previous couple games due to a knee injury, he was in fine form in this game.  His decision-making with the puck was poor during the first few shifts in the 1^st period, but once he settled down later in the period Petrovic improved considerably in that regard.

Another positive sign of his development was that he wasn’t prone to the defensive lapses seen often last year.  It is only a single game, but it is a positive step and something worth mentioning.  Petrovic has the tools to be a strong player at both ends of the rink and he continued to show that in this game.  He played physical and was a key part of why Vancouver’s high-flying offense didn’t get anything going as Petrovic man-handled the smaller Cunningham and Gallagher down low.  He continues to have a strong shot and he has improved his skating and balance from last year.  Petrovic was regarded as a bit of a boom/bust player at last year’s draft, and Florida must be happy with how he’s progressing.  Petrovic contributed a pair of PP assists and now has 14 points in 15 games to start the season.

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Matthew Dumba | D | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 07/25/1994 | 6’0 172lbs | 2012 Eligible

Matt started the game slow as it seemed to take him a while to feel comfortable out on the ice.  Once he felt comfortable, Matt showed that he could be a dangerous puck rusher as he was skating the puck out of his zone, around forecheckers and starting odd-man rushes down the ice.  One such rush resulted in him collecting his first assist of the season.

He showed he was capable of excelling at the WHL level despite only being three months removed from his 16^th birthday.  He is an offensive defensemen and that is obviously where his strengths lie.  Despite not being the fastest skater he proved elusive and was able to skate away from danger and stick handle through traffic.  He has an average shot that he loves to use.  The velocity is alright, but the shot is often off target.  His passing was sufficient.  Aside from his offensive play, Dumba likes to throw his body around when he doesn’t have the puck.  He is still working on the defensive aspect of his game.

Dumba is pretty raw, but he still has plenty of time to refine his game as he isn’t NHL eligible until 2012.  If he continues to progress, he could turn out to be a high-quality prospect in a couple years.

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Justin Weller | D | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 07/26/1991 | 6’3 208lbs | PHO 2009 (4/105)

As usual, Weller played the role of a very physical stay-at-home defender.  He knows his role and he does it well.  Made a couple very nice hits.

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Darcy Kuemper | G | Catches LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 05/05/1990 | 6’4 205lbs | MIN 2009 (6/161)

A player that I’ve seen a fair amount over the years and has always been an enigma to me.  Some games, he is one of the best players on the ice.  Other games I’ve been left scratching my head.  This game was a good one for Kuemper as he used his great size to his advantage.  He wasn’t tested a lot but he was able to make himself “big” and take away a lot of the net from shooters.  He displayed good mobility when needed.

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Daulton Siwak | RW | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 10/25/1993 | 6’0 196lbs | 2012 Eligible

Siwak was Red Deer’s 2^nd round pick in the 2008 Bantam draft after Red Deer selected RNH 1^st overall that year.  Siwak competed hard, played gritty and showed a little skill to go with it.  I will be sure to follow him in more depth later this year as I will be getting lots of views of Red Deer this season.

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Tyson Ness | LW | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 04/10/1993 | 5’11 162lbs | 2011 Eligible

Much like Siwak, Ness will benefit from the entire scouting community coming out to see Nugent-Hopkins this year.  Ness is another player with a chance to have his name called this June and will have plenty of opportunities to showcase himself.

Players that made the cut: Brassard, Catenacci, Curtis, Danault, Jenner, Lessio, Meurs, Nugent-Hopkins, Broll, Huberdeau, Puempel, Quine, Ritchie

Adam Lowry | LW | LH | Swift Current (WHL) | 03/29/1993 | 6’4 184lbs | 2011 Eligible

I thought Lowry played well enough that he had a shot to make the team.  He has a nice blend of size and skill.  He played well along the boards and was willing to use his size to his advantage.  For being such a big player at his age, his hands and skating are decent and he doesn’t look clumsy or awkward like many players adjusting to their growth spurts.  Lowry is also smart (2009/10 WHL Scholastic Player of the Year) and has good genes as his father (Dave) is a former NHLer who now is an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames.  Power forwards usually take a little longer to develop and he remains an interesting player to follow for this upcoming season.

Alan Quine | C | LH | Kingston (OHL) | 02/25/1993 | 5’11 179lbs | 2011 Eligible

Quine was the fastest player in camp.  He mishandled the puck a few times while at full speed both in the neutral zone and his own end resulting in some good scoring chances for his opponents.  His hands were there in spurts as he was able to make a nice play by knocking a clearing attempt out of the air and he also made a few nice passes, but his hands were hot and cold in this regard.  He seemed to shy away from the physical play a little bit.

Boone Jenner | C | LH | Oshawa (OHL) | 06/15/1993 | 6’1.5 197lbs | 2011 Eligible

It took a little while for Jenner to get going, but once he did he was one of the very best players at camp.  He’s big and competes hard.  Constantly going to the tough areas, Jenner both gave and received some big hits and wasn’t deterred by the physical play.   At the same time, Jenner has a lot of skill and created more offense than the majority of players in camp.  He had an accurate shot, showed good awareness of his teammates and used his long reach very well.

Brent Andrews | C | LH | Halifax (QMJHL) | 01/19/1993 | 6’1.5 199lbs | 2011 Eligible

Looking over my notes after the camp, I realized I didn’t get a good viewing of him as I had next to nothing written on him.  He was not very noticeable through two days of camp.

Brett Ritchie | RW | RH | Sarnia (OHL) | 07/01/1993 | 6’3 204lbs | 2011 Eligible

Ritchie was another big, strong winger at the camp.  He was very strong on the puck, good along the boards and won a lot of puck battles.

Sarnia's Brett Ritchie had a productive rookie season with the Sting last year, notching 13 goals and 29 points.

Austen Brassard | RW | RH | Belleville (OHL) | 01/14/1993 | 6’2 192lbs | 2011 Eligible

Nice combination of size and skill.  Not overly dominant in any one area, but had a solid camp.

Bryce Milson| LW | LH | Acadie-Bathhurst (QMJHL) | 01/25/1993 | 5’11 181lbs | 2011 Eligible

Milson played okay at the camp, but didn’t excel in any one area.  He just wasn’t at the same caliber of some of the skilled guys that made the team and he didn’t find a niche where he would be of some value to the team.

Carter Sandlak | LW | LH | Guelph (OHL) | 05/18/1993 | 6’1.5 199lbs | 2011 Eligible

Sandlak didn’t boast the strongest first impression by taking a bad penalty and displaying some weak skating on the first day.  He had a much better final day where he played both a little smarter and more physically.  Like Lowry, Sandlak also has NHL bloodlines as his father is former Vancouver Canuck Jim Sandlak.

Colin Smith | C | RH | Kamloops (WHL) | 06/20/1993 | 5’10.5 165lbs | 2011 Eligible

Smith worked very hard at the camp, but was very much overmatched physically.  He spent a fair amount of his ice time in his own end.  He was willing to get into the shooting lanes to block shots, but he was not aggressively challenging the shooters.

Daniel Catenacci | LW | LH | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | 03/09/1993 | 5’10 180lbs | 2011 Eligible

Catenacci had an average day on my first viewing and was much better on the 2^nd day.  He was very quick and shifty and was able to make some plays.  For a small guy, he wasn’t afraid to go to the tough areas.  He put up some points but seemed to be fighting the puck from time to time.

David Broll | LW | LH | Erie (OHL) | 01/04/1993 | 6’1.5 221lbs | 2011 Eligible

Broll was the oldest and biggest player in camp.  He was by far the most physical player at camp and had several massive hits.  He didn’t handle the puck too well, his skating was poor, and his acceleration even worse, but he made everyone aware of when he was on the ice with his big checks.  He may not have the skills to be an NHL player, but some teams are going to absolutely love his physical presence as a bottom 6 forward if he can improve his skating.

Garrett Meurs | RW | RH | Plymouth (OHL) | 01/12/1993 | 5’10.5 171lbs | 2011 Eligible

Meurs showed a lot of energy and hustle.  He isn’t the biggest player, but he gave everything he had.  Meurs needs to get stronger as he was knocked around a lot at the camp, but he fought for the puck and showed some decent hands.

Jonathon Huberdeau | LW | RH | Saint John (QMJHL) | 06/04/1993 | 6’1 166lbs | 2011 Eligible

Huberdeau is a small, smart, and skilled player.  He wasn’t flashy, but he played a little more of a complete game than some of the other comparable small, skill forwards.

Lucas Lessio | LW | LH | Oshawa (OHL) | 01/23/1993 | 6’1 195lbs | 2011 Eligible

Lessio was one of the best forwards at the camp.  He was good at creating space for himself and anticipating the play.  This left Lessio on the receiving end of a few top-notch passes both that he managed to capitalize on.  Like Puempel, he definitely benefitted from playing with Nugent-Hopkins.  He showed better vision and playmaking ability on the final day than during the previous game.  He was good along the boards despite just average strength.  He will be an interesting player to follow this season and will now be making the jump to the OHL to play with Oshawa.

Lucas Lessio will be joining the Oshawa Generals this year after spending last season in the CCHL with St. Michael's.

Mark McNeill | RW | RH | Prince Albert (WHL) | 02/22/1993 | 6’1.5 209lbs | 2011 Eligible

McNeill was another one of the hard-working, but lesser skilled player at camp. McNeill was hard on the forecheck, but lost his edges a few times allowing the defenseman ample time to make a play and get the puck heading up the ice.

Matt Puempel | RW | LH | Peterborough (OHL) | 01/24/1993 | 6’0.5 201lbs | 2011 Eligible

For being the reigning CHL rookie of the year, Puempel was very average for me.  He knew how to get open in front of the net, but he really didn’t generate any chances himself.  Puempel was the beneficiary of some nice plays by two of the best forwards in camp: Nugent-Hopkins and Lessio.  He seemed to skate alright, but his positioning was not very good at times.

Michael Curtis | LW | LH | Belleville (OHL) | 01/26/1993 | 6’0 184lbs | 2011 Eligible

Curtis wasn’t the most skilled player on the ice, but he was able to pot a couple nice one-timer goals by going to front of the net and getting a shot off just before the nearest defenseman could get to him.  He had good speed but didn’t have great balance and was knocked around a bit because of it.

Michael St. Croix | C | RH | Edmonton (WHL) | 04/10/1993 | 5’11 178lbs | 2011 Eligible

On the first day St. Croix was used quite a bit for the PK and didn’t seem to have a lot of opportunity to showcase what he can do offensively.  He made a few nice passes including one off his backhand that hit his teammate in stride for an odd man rush.  On the second day St. Croix was sitting next to me in the stands instead of playing.  I don’t know whether it had to do with an injury (he looked fine walking around the stands) or a precaution or something else, but he wasn’t playing anyways.  St. Croix is a quick skater, but his lateral movements were a bit choppy.

Olivier Archambault | RW | LH | Val d’Or (QMJHL) | 02/16/1993 | 6’1.5 203lbs | 2011 Eligible

Was ok at the camp, but I didn’t get a real good feel for him one way or another.

Phillip Danault | C | LH | Victoriaville (QMJHL) | 02/24/1993 | 6’0 173lbs | 2011 Eligible

I really enjoyed watching Danault play.  He is another small player but he was really tenacious in all aspects of his game.  He is a very good skater and was relentless on the forecheck.  He looks to be a good energy player that has a little skill to boot.

Jean-Francois Leblanc | C | LH | Val d’Or (QMJHL) | 03/03/1993 | 6’3.5 197lbs | 2011 Eligible

Leblanc has great size and competitiveness.  He was also very good on the dot.

Raphael Bussieres | LW | RH | Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) | 11/05/1993 | 6’1 189lbs | 2012 Eligible

Bussieres looked to be a little bigger than listed and had some skill to go with his size.  He has a late birthday so he still has a couple years to round out his game.  He is worth watching for 2012.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | C | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 04/12/1993 | 6’0 166lbs | 2011 Eligible

Nugent-Hopkins is one of the very few players that really stood out at the camp.  He was one of the best skaters at the camp and had very good speed and elusiveness.  Nugent-Hopkins showed off his incredible skill level and vision by saucering some beautiful passes through traffic.  He made some difficult passes with ease.  While he is primarily a playmaker, he showed a willingness to shoot the puck.  He was consistently a threat when he had the puck and he also excelled in the faceoff circle.  He is still very thin and will need to put on some weight if he hopes to be a lottery pick this year.

Ty Rattie | RW | RH | Portland (WHL) | 02/05/1993 | 5’11 167lbs | 2011 Eligible

Rattie generated some good scoring chances and looked good for the most part.  He has some very good offensive tools, but is not the most complete two-way player.  You’d like to see him become a more explosive skater for his size and he needs to get stronger.  Rattie looks to have grown a bit since I saw him last although he still is a small player.  He looks to have lost out in the numbers game for the small forwards that were able to make U18 team.