The Scouting Report » Draft Rankings

2012 NHL Mid-Term Top 60 Rankings (1-30)

TSR Staff — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:39:22 +0000

Welcome!

Welcome to TSR’s Mid-Term Top 60 Rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. For the first time we have included goaltenders in our rankings this year which is the one major change to announce. For viewer ease, we have divided the rankings up into two separate sections. We love to hear feedback via email, our comments section, or connecting with us on Twitter @TSRhockey. Enjoy!

Be sure to check out the second half of our Top 60: (1-30) (31-60)

1. LC Mikhail Grigorenko – Quebec (QMJHL)

DOB: May 16/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 200lbs

Let’s be clear about it, there’s not a lot separating Grigorenko and Yakupov right now – so much so you could even call them 1A and 1B in either order. Grigorenko won out our top spot due to his size and the extra value we feel he brings as a center. Skill-wise, Grigorenko and Yakupov are different players, with Grigorenko being more of a playmaking pivot who is more methodical and uses his on-ice vision to create opportunities. Thus far, Grigorenko has played very well in the QMJHL and acquitted himself fairly well in the World Juniors as well. It looks to be a 2-horse race with Yakupov down the stretch as Alex Galchenyuk still battles back from injury, and in the end, it likely comes down to preference when picking between Grigorenko and Yakupov.

2. RW Nail Yakupov – Sarnia (OHL)

DOB: Oct. 6/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 190lbs

Yakupov has to be considered more of a 1B than a #2 at this point with a lot of hockey still left to be played. The 18-year-old Russian is the biggest game-breaker in this draft and plays a very similar style to Taylor Hall only with more physicality away from the puck. Yakupov is a phenomenal skater and his ability to use his speed while creating offense is unparalleled in this draft class. Projecting as a dynamic top-line forward, the only real concern with Yakupov lies in his stature and determining whether or not his body will be able to hold up with his style of play at the next level.

3. LC Alex Galchenyuk – Sarnia (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 12/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 200lbs

For a player who was primed to make a run at the top spot, Galchenyuk’s season has been derailed by a pre-season knee injury that will keep him out for at least another month. Galchenyuk is not overly dynamic, but his elusive style of play is very comparable to Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin. Galchenyuk has good size and does a great job of stickhandling and weaving in and out of traffic. He has a great shot and a deceptive release and a goal scorer’s instinct that simply cannot be taught. He’s certainly a wildcard right now, but his upside is just as high as anyone in this draft.

4. LD Ryan Murray – Everett (WHL)

DOB: Sep. 27/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 201lbs

After missing nearly two months of the WHL season due to a high ankle sprain and a generally forgettable WJC tournament, Murray will finish out the season with the last-place Everett Silvertips, who will look to their captain to lead their building team towards a brighter future. Murray is a great skater with excellent lateral movement, and sees the game well as plays develop around him. He is a very capable playmaker and can effectively jump into or lead the rush up the ice. With a heavy shot from the point, it certainly appears that Ryan Murray has all of the tangibles that NHL teams love to build around on their blueline. It will be important for Murray to forget some of his struggles this year, and continue to build towards what should be a very good professional career.

5. LD Morgan Rielly – Moose Jaw (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 9/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 195lbs

Continues to rehab from a torn ACL that ended his season back in November. Rielly is an offensive dynamo who does a tremendous job of generating offense with his speed and vision. Excellent surveyor of the ice that has a great feel for how to set the tempo for his team. Defensive play may be questionable due to his shorter stature, but makes up for it with quick footwork. Excellent vision and hands around the net. If his season wasn’t cut short, we believe you’d see Rielly make a serious charge at Murray in the rankings.

6. RC Filip Forsberg – Leksand (Allsvenskan)

DOB: Aug. 13/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 181lbs

Forsberg had a bit of a rough start to the season offensively, but has come on nicely over the past couple of months in Leksand – a period that also included some strong play in the World Juniors as a 17-year-old. Forsberg has a high skill level and displays good puck skills to go along with a quality shot. He is an above average skater and plays with a high energy level and is also willing to finish checks and compete in board battles. Overall, he’s still a work in progress, but his ceiling is quite high and his unique skill-set makes him a player that teams will covet in the draft.

7. RD Jacob Trouba – USNTDP (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 26/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 195lbs

Trouba is a big-time right-handed defenseman who projects to be a top pairing two-way defenseman. Despite being only 17-years-old, Trouba is extremely polished and has already proved himself against much older competition as one of the United States’ top defensemen at the World Juniors. The U18 captain has great size and lateral ability and is very mobile in all 3 zones. Trouba plays with a physical edge but shows good decision making, knowing when to take the body and when to use his pokecheck and positioning to make defensive plays. His offensive game is still evolving, but he shows good upside and a quality shot which indicate strong future potential. As it stands, Trouba is already a very safe NHL pick, and if he can continue to improve his offensive game, he could be an exceptional NHL defenseman for a long time.

8. RD Matt Dumba – Red Deer (WHL)

DOB: Jul. 25/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs

Dumba continues to be what he is, looking to make a big impact all over the ice, either through big hits, big shots, or making crisp breakout passes. His defensive play is a little erratic at times and his ability to handle the rigor of his style of play at the next level could be a concern, but he’s certainly a game-breaker with his style of play. Dumba isn’t the biggest player on the ice but plays like he is. He does a great job of buying time and capitalizing on opportunities while using his high-end skill level to his advantage.

9. LC Zemgus Girgensons – Dubuque (USHL)

DOB: Jan. 5/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 200lbs

There was a lot of pressure on Girgesons to have a good showing in the World Juniors on a Latvia squad that lacked talent from top to bottom. While some where indifferent about his play, Girgensons did show some positive signs that he could play a solid two-way game despite having minimal support in his lineup. Girgensons plays a reliable two-way style of play and is a strong center in all 3 zones. He uses his size to his advantage and as his skating continues to improve, his offense should benefit as well. Girgensons will be taking the college route at Vermont, but as a projected high-end 1st round pick, it will be interesting to see what route he takes in his development path.

10. LD Slater Koekkoek – Peterborough (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 18/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 185lbs

It may be a surprise to most to see Koekkoek this high on our list, but for those who have seen him play a lot, you may be on the same page as us. Koekkoek has a tremendous package of size, skill, and potential which could be a home-run in a few years. Currently out for the season with a torn labrum, Koekkoek was playing 30+ minutes a night with the Petes before the injury. Koekkoek is a great skater and does a good job of moving the puck and making good decisions. His skating ability allows him to lead rushes and his offensive zone play is very good. He’s still in the progress of filling out his frame and improving his defensive zone play, but the skill-set that Koekkoek brings to the table cannot be overlooked as his ceiling could be as high as any of the defensemen in this draft.

11. LC Brendan Gaunce – Belleville (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 25/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 215lbs

Gaunce is never going to be the type of player to wow you with dynamic offensive flair, but you can rest assured he brings more than enough to the table. As one of the top two-way forwards in the draft, Gaunce has developed into a player that a coach can feel confident in putting on the ice in any situation. He has good size and competes hard, winning lots of puck battles and being a difficult player to contain. His game is centered around his ability to do the little things and his intangibles, such as leadership, are qualities that separate him from others. Gaunce is still a very capable offensive player and has a good scoring touch, especially around the net. His skating still needs to improve, but his game has a lot of parallels to Ryan O’Reilly at the same age.

12. RW Sebastian Collberg – Frolunda (SuperElit)

DOB: Feb. 23/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 175lbs

Stats don’t tell the full story as Collberg has had trouble finding playing time this season, which started with a lengthy stint in the Elitserien. Collberg is one of the most intriguing offensive talents in the draft and his shot is arguably the most lethal in the draft. Collberg plays with a lot of flair in his game, and when he’s getting offensive opportunities his shot is a tremendous asset to his game. Being a little undersized, Collberg needs to continue to add strength to his game and prove thatt he can battle through tight defenses and avoid being neutralized by physical teams.

13. LD Olli Maatta – London (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 22/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 202lbs

Maatta is a cerebral defenseman whose strength lies in his ability to play a simple and effective game. He’s got NHL size and is a very smooth skater and does a good job of making good decisions on the breakout and moving the puck with efficiency. He doesn’t play with very much physicality but Maatta is extremely polished for a 17-year-old and does a good job positioning himself to make plays on the puck and utilizing his long reach to his advantage. His offensive upside is questionable right now but Maatta has shown that he is capable of playing the point effectively on the powerplay. Maatta doesn’t project to be much of a game-breaker, but he looks like a solid mid-pairing defenseman who could have a long NHL career.

14. LW Pontus Aberg – Djrugarden (Elitserien)

DOB: Sep. 23/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 195lbs

While Forsberg and Collberg may be considered to be having “underwhelming” seasons thus far, Aberg has proven to be a very pleasant surprise when it comes to Swedish prospects. Skating in the Elitserien as a rookie, Aberg has put himself into contention as a Rookie-of-the-Year candidate with some strong offensive results this season. Aberg has always been regarded as a great two-way player and someone who brings it every shift with a high effort-level, but his offensive emergence has been the major catalyst behind his rising in the draft rankings.

15. RD Griffin Reinhart – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 24/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 207lbs

Reinhart continues to be a prospect that you wish just could be physical more often, and while that aspect of his game can be frustrating, he still has a number of tools which make him a high-end prospect. Reinhart has a very heavy point shot and makes good first passes while being equally effective in the offensive and defensive ends. Has a good feel for when to jump into the rush. Reinhart at times seems disinterested in the game and could benefit from showing more competitiveness and emotion in his game. He’s got all the tools to be a high-end NHL defenseman, but he needs to use them more consistently.

16. LC Radek Faksa – Kitchener (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 09/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 202lbs

Radek Faksa has seen his name shoot up the draft rankings ever since coming over to the Ontario Hockey League from HC Trinec of the Czech U20 league. Kitchener drafted the Czech native 22nd overall in the 2011 CHL Import Draft namely based on his offensively skill, but that is not all he brings to the table. Faksa has great size and does a pretty good job of utilizing it to his advantage. He’s shown to be an effective two-way player and has displayed improved consistency this year. Faksa lacks a wow factor to his game, but he projects to be a very solid mid 1st round pick at this point.

17. LD Matt Finn – Guelph (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 24/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 195lbs

Finn has done a nice job of taking his game to the next level this season and really asserting himself as the go-to defenseman on the Guelph blueline. Finn can play in all situations and has shown considerable improvement at both ends of the ice this season. He’s a competitor who is not afraid to finish checks but does a good job of picking his spots and playing within his means. Offensively, Finn has steadily improved and is becoming a very effective offensive defenseman and the true QB on the Storm powerplay. While Finn doesn’t have natural physical tools, he has a strong hockey IQ and does a good job of playing a smart game while minimizing mistakes.

18. RD Cody Ceci – Ottawa (OHL)

DOB: Dec. 21/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 207lbs

As it stands, Ceci has to be considered one of the premier defensemen not only in the OHL, but the Canadian Hockey League as a whole. He plays a strong offensive game and has developed into an exceptional puck mover and one of the top powerplay players in the OHL. Ceci has a big shot and does a good job distributing the puck and activating in the offensive zone. His defensive game has improved considerably since his 16-year-old season, but he still needs to show an increased commitment to the defensive end. As an 18-year-old, Ceci is a little ahead in the development curve of some of the other defensemen in the draft, but his strong offensive upside makes him a quality pick in this range.

19. LC Stefan Matteau – USNTDP (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 23/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 210lbs

Matteau’s game translates well to the professional ranks which makes him valuable as a relatively safe bet in this range. He has pro size as well as an effective skill set that will suit the physical rigors of the NHL. Matteau shoots well, makes the simple play with the puck and brings a physical edge to his game. What Matteau lacks in pure foot speed, he makes up with an efficient skating stride that should allow him to gain quickness as he continues to get stronger. Matteau was originally slated to attend North Dakota but has since committed to play in the QMJHL next year with Blainville-Boisbriand.

20. LC Tomas Hertl – HC Slavia Praha (Czech)

DOB: Nov. 12/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 200lbs

Hertl had a very productive first half to the season and may be even underrated at #20 in our rankings. Playing in the Czech Extraliga on a weak team, Hertl has worked his way up the depth chart and been an effective offensive contributor for the team. Hertl has a good blend of size and skating ability and displays some grit and a willingness to finish checks. At the World Juniors, Hertl was one of the top Czech forwards and had a strong showing in the tournament. If Hertl can close out his season with continued strong play he will make a compelling case to be a Top 20 pick this summer.

21. LW Nicolas Kerdiles – USNTDP (USHL)

DOB: Jan. 11/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 201lbs

Kerdiles continues to develop steadily into a productive offensive player. He has the necessary skating, shooting and puck skills to compete at the highest level. Kerdiles also does the little things well such as protecting the puck in traffic and possessing a nose for the net. Kerdiles will contribute defensively as he has the awareness to keep on the defensive side of the puck and maintains discipline and positioning in the defensive zone and on the forecheck. A strong U18 Championship could make Kerdiles this year’s JT Miller.

22. RC Colton Sissons – Kelowna (WHL)

DOB: Nov. 5/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 189lbs

With good size and a lethal shot, Sissons undoubtedly projects on the high end as a top-6 winger in the NHL. His game is not without question marks, though – as he currently has a team-worst -15 rating. Sissons could also benefit from using his teammates better as evidenced by his low assist totals, however has certainly shown a knack for being a hard worker on the ice. Sissons was recently named captain of his team for the upcoming CHL top prospects game, which proves his ability to lead by example on the ice. Look for Sissons to continue to put up impressive goal scoring numbers, while also continuing to improve his all-around game leading up to the draft.

23. RD Ville Pokka – Karpat (Sm-Liiga)

DOB: Jun. 3/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 195lbs

Pokka is far from flashy, but he’s a defenseman who gets the job done. Despite being an average skater and having mobility concerns, Pokka does a great job of anticipating and reading the play and getting himself into position accordingly. Conditioning appeared to be a concern with his game a season ago, which is something that he has addressed this year by getting into better shape with the results now paying off. Pokka is a composed defenseman who does a good job moving the puck and making heady decisions under pressure. His shot is above average and he has shown that he is capable of playing on the powerplay as well. Pokka certainly doesn’t have elite upside, but he has shown steady improvement.

24. LD Derrick Pouliot – Portland (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 16/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs

After being selected #1 overall in the WHL bantam draft, Portland’s Derick Pouliot continues to develop into a top offensive defenseman in the WHL. A silky smooth skater, Pouliot has spent time on the talented team’s top powerplay unit for much of the season. He has a good – if not overly powerful – shot from the point, that he gets through traffic and on net with regularity. While he is an above average passer, Pouliot is sometimes the victim of trying to do too much, and is susceptible to the occasional glaring mistake. The mid-sized defenseman certainly has the skillset to be a future powerplay quarterback at the next level, but at this point should to be considered a bit of a project by whichever team selects him on draft day.

25. LW Charles Hudon – Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

DOB: Jun. 23/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 170lbs

Hudon is undersized and his skating isn’t going to blow you away, but he’s a skilled player who always seems to find ways to score goals and create offense. Offensively, Hudon’s skill level is very high and he has the offensive tools that few in this draft can match. One of the things that separates Hudon from others, however, is his willingness to battle through adversity and find ways to score goals when the defense is keying in on him. There’s no doubt that Hudon is a risky pick, but for a team picking at the end of the 1st round, he could be well worth that risk in several years.

26. LD Adam Pelech – Erie (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 18/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 210lbs

Pelech had a late start to the season after recovering from a wrist injury, but the 17-year-old has been one of the few bright spots on an absolutely dismal Erie team. Pelech projects as a reliable defensive defenseman who does a great job of playing against top lines and shutting down high-end forwards. Pelech plays a very smart game and has great defensive positioning and a strong understanding of defensive zone systems. He has an active stick and wins lots of board battles which makes him an asset on the penalty kill as well. His offensive upside is below-average, but Pelech projects to be a strong 2nd pair defenseman who can log heavy minutes and be an effective penalty killer.

27. G Andrei Vasilevski – UFA (MHL)

DOB: Jul. 25/94 | Catches: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 205lbs

There’s always several players who drastically improve their stock at the World Juniors and Vasilevski is testament to that theory this year. While the big goaltender has been one of the top goaltenders in the MHL this season, he really put his name on the map with a tremendous goaltending performance at the World Juniors where he split time with Andrey Makarov. Vasilevski has great size and has a strong net presence. He has good angles and squares up well to shooters and does a good job of challenging them by coming out of the net. The Russian factor is always a concern for NHL teams but on talent alone, Vasilevski is certainly deserving of a Top 30 pick.

28. LW Anton Slepyshev – Metallurg (KHL)

DOB: May 13/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 190lbs

There is obviously some risk to taking Slepyshev based on the fact that he’s already contributing in the KHL and might not be in any hurry to cross the pond, but the upside is well worth that risk ala Evgeni Kuznetsov. Slepyshev is a big winger who oozes offensive skill with an array of slick puckhandling skills and the ability to dangle in and out of traffic. He’s already showing he can compete with men in the second best league in the world and as he continues to learn how to use his size and strength, he’ll be a very dangerous forward. We’re working with some limited viewing so don’t be surprised to see him rise between now and our finals.

29. LD Brady Skjei – USNTDP (USHL)

DOB: Mar. 26/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 200lbs

Skjei is an imposing defenseman who continued to grow this season and has been climbing the charts as well. For a big player, Skjei is tremendously mobile and his high-end skating ability allows him to work in transition and handle incoming forechecks. He’s still got a raw skill-set and is learning how to use his size effectively, but the Minnesota commit has an enticing skill-set that projects well at the NHL level. At this point, Skjei has to be considered to be the 2012 edition of the NTDP’s Connor Murphy, and we’ll see how he plays over the coming months as he makes a final push up the charts.

30. G Malcolm Subban – Belleville (OHL)

DOB: Dec. 21/93 | Catches: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 188lbs

With his style of play in net, Subban seems a lot like a throwback QMJHL goalie from the 90′s with his lightning quick reflexes and athleticism in goal. After playing Midget hockey as a 16-year-old, Subban has finally started to fill out his lanky frame and the increased strength has made a big difference in his play. Subban has very good lateral ability and does a great job of making recovery saves on 2nd and 3rd chances. He has great hands and does a good job of making saves in traffic and using his quick reflexes to make saves that few goaltenders can make. While he still projects as a long-term prospect, any team looking to boost their organizational depth in goal can add a goaltender with big-time upside in Subban.

Be sure to check out the second half of our Top 60: (1-30) (31-60)

2012 NHL Mid-Term Top 60 Rankings (31-60)

TSR Staff — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:39:16 +0000

Be sure to check out the first half of our Top 60: (1-30) (31-60)

31. LW Phil Di Giuseppe – Michigan (CCHA)

DOB: Nov. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 175lbs

After spending the past two seasons as one of the top underaged players in the OJHL, Di Giuseppe has been one of the top freshmen in the NCAA this season. Di Giuseppe is a powerful skater and has a quick stride with good acceleration. He does a good job of creating offense with his speed and works hard to fight through checks against physical defensemen. Di Giuseppe has good offensive instincts and does a good job of finding chemistry with different sets of linemates. He needs to continue to add strength as his style of play is very aggressive and it will be important for him as he makes his transition to the next level.

32. RD Damon Severson – Kelowna (WHL)

DOB: Aug. 7/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 200lbs

Damon Severson has proven to be a bit of an enigma this season with the Kelowna Rockets. At times, Severson seems to have the potential to be a game breaker – and at others, he seems like more of a project than a top prospect. Severson does have good size and a booming shot from the point, but will definitely need to work on the other parts of his game in order to be successful at the next level. It’s hard to find many glaring problems in his game; there just isn’t much that stands out. After battling injury for more than six weeks, Severson will undoubtedly have to make up for lost time in a draft that’s chock full of talented young defensemen. As a bit of a raw talent, he will certainly benefit from an ever increasing role with the Kelowna Rockets, and is definitely a key component to his team’s future.

33. RW Martin Frk – Halifax (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 5/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 204lbs

It certainly hasn’t been a fairytale season for Frk this year as he initially missed considerable time with a concussion and then made a controversial decision to go home over Christmas rather than play for the Czech U20 team at the World Juniors. 2012 seems to be the fresh start that Frk needed, however, as he has found the back of the net with consistency and is showcasing the gritty style of play that created the hype for him before. Frk isn’t a flashy winger, but with his grit and physical play, he has a good combination of skills that NHL teams covet. With a strong second half you can expect him back in the Top 30.

34. LW Tim Bozon – Kamloops (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 24/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs

Import forward Tim Bozon has not only made a smooth transition to the WHL in his first season in North America, he has been a standout for a Kamloops Blazers team that has rocketed to the top of the WHL standings. Averaging just under a point per game thus far, the lanky forward has shown a solid offensive skillset, showcasing a quick release and slick passing skills to go along with quick footwork and a strong work ethic. Bozon will need to continue to work on his defensive zone play, and will need to exert a more consistent nightly effort, and will also need to bulk up his frame. As it stands, Bozon is a talented young winger on a very good Kamloops team, and will certainly remain a key offensive component on one of the highest scoring teams in the WHL.

35. LD Ludvik Bystrom – Modo (Elitserien)

DOB: Jul. 20/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 208lbs

Bystrom had a tremendous start to the year in the SuperElit as one of the top scoring defensemen in the league and since a call-up to the Modo senior team, has proven to be a steady defensemen. Like a number of Swedish defensive prospects in recent years, Bystrom has a very high hockey IQ and reads the play exceptionally well. He makes good decisions moving the puck and identifies opportunities to move the puck up the ice. Bystrom has seen limited action in the Elitserien, but he has been playing very steady in his role. He’s not afraid to lay the body out and has shown that he can handle playing against older players.

36. LD Michael Matheson – Dubuque (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 27/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 180lbs

After being considered to be the odds on favourite to go 1st overall in the 2010 QMJHL Draft, Matheson threw teams a curve ball by committing to Boston College and announcing his NCAA intentions. After coming the USHL this season, Matheson has been a steady contributor but has also had some growing pains along the way after moving up a level of competition from last year. Matheson is a steady puck mover who does a good job reading and anticipating the play. As it stands, Matheson will need to have a strong showing in the 2nd half as much of the crop has been catching up to him.

37. LW Teuvo Teravainen – Jokerit (SM-Liiga)

DOB: Sep. 11/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 170lbs

Teravainen torched the Jr. A league early this season and quickly earned a call-up to Jokerit’s senior team where he has been an admirable contributor. Teravainen is a very smart player who skates well and distributes the puck well on the attack. He’s a good skater with an explosive first step and good agility. Teravainen’s skill-set makes him a very valuable player on the powerplay as he is good in tight spaces and can be very dangerous when he has time and space. He is not overly big and doesn’t have a physical aspect to his game but Teravainen looks like a nice pick around this range for a team who can wait for him to develop.

38. LW Andreas Athanasiou – London (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 6/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 175lbs

There were high expectations for Athanasiou after a surprising rookie season and strong showing at the Under 18’s, but thus far the results haven’t been up to par. Athanasiou is one of the top skaters in the draft and relies heavily on his speed to create scoring chances off the rush. He hasn’t got a ton of ice-time in a talent laden London lineup, but he has shown flashes of brilliance at times this year. Unfortunately, he’s also shown very little in other games and consistency is a big question mark for Athanasiou. At this point, he seems to be a player who is very similar to New York’s Michael Grabner and any team taking him should know that while his speed is a huge asset, there’s a lot of risk with regards to how he projects at the next level.

39. LW Tanner Pearson – Barrie (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 10/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 200lbs

While his pace has slowed slightly, Tanner Pearson continues to be an offensive threat every night. A classic late bloomer, Pearson found chemistry early in the season with the rest of his team and has not looked back since. Pearson thinks the game on an extremely high level; he consistently makes great decisions with the puck and is able to thread passes through traffic with ease. He also does a great job in putting himself in great position, he is a player who the puck just seems to find time and time again. While Pearson will be eligible for his 3rd time this season, he has emerged as a legitimate NHL prospect and with no glaring weaknesses in his game, he’s earned his spot in our rankings.

40. LW Jarrod Maidens – Owen Sound (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 4/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 180lbs

Maidens is a big winger who plays the game with purpose and drive. He skates well and plays a very north/south game and brings it every shift. Maidens uses his size to overpower defenses and does a good job of playing in traffic and neutralizing tight checking defenses. Maidens was a tremendous goal scorer in minor hockey and has started to show that offensive upside this year with Owen Sound. Maidens has missed time with a concussion but expect him to pick up where he left off when he returns to the lineup as his big body presence has been sorely missed in the Attack lineup.

41. LD Hampus Lindholm – Rogle (Allsvenskan)

DOB: Jan. 20/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 200lbs

Rogle has started to develop some quality defensemen in recent years (there are some promising players down the future pipeline as well) and Lindholm is the team’s latest NHL prospect. Playing a strong two-way game, Lindholm shows strong offensive instincts while maintaining a commitment to the defensive end of the ice. He’s already filled out nicely and has done a good job asserting himself physically despite being an 18-year-old. Lindholm doesn’t have as much high-end upside as Bystrom, but he is a very solid prospect in his own right and would be a great pickup in the 2nd round.

42. RW Scott Kosmachuk – Guelph (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 24/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs

Kosmachuk was a quality 16-year-old for Guelph last season, but his game has shown considerable progress in his 2nd OHL season this year. Despite not being the most natural offensive player, Kosmachuk has an innate ability to get in a position to score goals. He plays a high-energy game and his north-south playing style allows him to find success while playing a simple game. Kosmachuk excels in traffic areas and does a good job of burying pucks around the net and capitalizing on opportunities. While his two-way game needs to improve, he does work hard and with continued development and coaching, Kosmachuk could emerge as a quality 2nd/3rd line tweener at the NHL level who brings a lot of intangibles that coaches look for.

43. RD Jordan Schmaltz – Green Bay (USHL)

DOB: Oct. 8/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 190lbs

In his 3rd USHL season, Schmaltz has fallen victim to overexposure in the USHL this year. While other players are stepping up in their 2nd year’s in the league, Schmaltz has seen his touted offensive upside level out as he shows an increased commitment to the defensive end of the ice. To his credit, he has established himself as a much more reliable defenseman this year, but it has opened up some concern about his ability to contribute at a high level offensively while bringing strong play at the other end of the ice. Schmaltz is committed to the University of North Dakota (where his younger brother, 96YOB Nick Schmaltz has also committed) and next year will be a great barometer of what type of player he is and just how high his upside might be.

44. LW Daniil Zharkov – Belleville (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 6/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 200lbs

When he’s on his game Daniil Zharkov is a dominant forward with size who can score goals from any area in the offensive zone. He has a great shot which combined with his strong skating can be absolutely devastating on the rush. Zharkov will play with a bit of an edge and has great skills with the puck in one on one situation. Where Zharkov’s game suffers is in his consistency and his play without the puck. When Zharkov is not scoring goals he tends to completely disappear off the map and his effort also tends to drop. This is an even bigger issue due to Zharkov’s defensive game not being quite at the level that many would like to see it reach. He does tend to float into the defensive zone and does not compete very hard in battles for the puck in his own end. If Zharkov can put a weak January behind him he could see himself surge up the rankings as one of the top pure goal scorers in the draft.

45. RD Dalton Thrower – Saskatoon (WHL)

DOB: Dec. 20/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 190lbs

Thrower has done a nice job of adding an offensive dimension to his game this season by showing improved ability at both ends of the ice. His bread and butter, however, continues to be his gritty style of play and willingness to use his body on the ice. He has a huge impact on the game with his physicality and is never afraid to mix it up with opponents. Thrower needs to continue to show that he can make quick decisions and show improved decision making.

46. LD Trevor Carrick – Mississauga (OHL)

DOB: Jul. 4/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 175lbs

In his first OHL season, Trevor Carrick has done a great job of solidifying himself as a steadying force on the Mississauga blueline. Carrick has good size and plays a very safe defensive game with very few holes in it. He has a long reach and does a great job of maintaining gap control and anticipating the play. Carrick is positionally sound and has continued to improve since the start of the season, seeing more icetime after Stuart Percy went down with injury. Carrick has been used in some offensive situations and while he hasn’t looked out of place, it’s an area of his game that needs to improve. There’s a lot of potential with Carrick and the team that drafts him will be taking him based on what he can become as he continues to develop.

47. RC Gemel Smith – Owen Sound (OHL)

DOB: Apr. 16/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 160lbs

You’d never know Gemel Smith was only 5’10” 160lbs by the way he plays. He’s the type of player who loves to dart into traffic recklessly and more often than not ends up making a great play because of it. Smith is a great skater not only with his speed, but his ability to shift in and out of traffic. He plays much bigger than his size and is one of the hardest working prospects in the draft. The issue comes up when you try to imagine what type of player he’d be at the NHL level. Most of his goals are generated through pure effort more so than skill which begs the question when trying to determine if he is more of an energy line player in the NHL, or if he can still be an offensive contributor.

48. LC Cristoval Nieves – Kent (HS-CT)

DOB: Jan. 23/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 185lbs

Nieves is the class of the New England prep school circuit this year and the prospect with the most NHL upside. With tremendous size and a big frame, Nieves is a pretty good skater and can be difficult to neutralize once he gets up to full speed. He is offensively skilled and does a good job creating shooting lanes and getting pucks on net. Playing down against a lower tier of competition brings some concern when evaluating his body of work, but with his size and skill he does have some big upside if he can put it all together.

49. RW Tom Wilson – Plymouth (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 29/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 205lbs

Wilson is a very imposing winger who has thrived with the Plymouth Whalers this season as a forward who brings plenty of size, grit, and physicality to the team’s lineup. Wilson is versatile and has enough ability to play with skilled players while playing a physical role. His skating has steadily improved and his willingness to take the body with his size creates a lot of space for teammates. He’s good in the corners on the cycle and does a good job wearing down opposing teams as well. It is concerning that he only has 6 goals while playing with players like Stefan Noesen, Rickard Rakell, and JT Miller, but Wilson is a player who is likely going to take some time to grow into his frame and find out just how high his ceiling is.

50. RC Mike Winther – Prince Albert (WHL)

DOB: Jul. 9/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 175lbs

Mike Winther is the kind of competitor that every coach loves to have. With an excellent shot, second to-none work ethic, and excellent two-way play, Winther certainly has all of the tools to be a very strong player at the next level. The biggest issue in Winther’s game right now is simply strength – standing at 5’10” and listed at 170 pounds – Winther will certainly need to get stronger to compete at the next level. Even with his small stature, however, Winther plays a fearless kind of game as he goes into the hard areas and competes with players much larger than him. As the season has worn on, Winther has seemingly only gotten better and been a shining star on a generally poor team. He’ll need to continue to compete at a high level in order to continue to climb up the rankings.

51. LC Brady Vail – Windsor (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 11/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 200lbs

After managing only 10 points in what had to be considered an underwhelming rookie season, Vail has become a legitimate Top 6 forward with the Windsor Spitfires as a 17-year-old. Vail has shown tremendous progress as a two-way player and his work ethic and compete level are significantly better than they were a season ago. Vail often draws match ups against the other team’s top lines and while he has played strong defensively, Vail also is on pace for a very strong offensive season. His offensive upside isn’t as high as other players in the draft, but Vail’s style of play will give him a great shot of being a very effective two-way center.

52. LW Nikolai Prokhorkin – CSKA (MHL)

DOB: Sep. 17/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 185lbs

Like so many other 2012 eligibles, Prokhorkin has been plagued by injuries this season which has really limited his ability to even get in the lineup this season. Unfortunately for him, he will also have some negative connotations due to the Russian factor. On merit however, Prokhorkin is a skilled winger who has good size and a proven ability to score goals. As a ’93 YOB, Prokhorkin will not be available to play in the U18′s this spring which works against him as that would be a great platform for him to showcase his skills on a big stage for scouts.

53. RW Henrik Samuelsson – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Feb. 7/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 195lbs

Samuelsson was a mid season pickup for the Oil Kings from Modo in Sweden after spending last season playing with the US U17 Team. Samuelsson is a gritty forward who wins board battles and excels at maintaining offensive zone puck possession. He can play center or the wing equally effectively and is at his best below the hash marks where he uses his size to his advantage. It was a rough first half of the year for Samuelsson, but after a quick start with Edmonton, don’t be surprised if you see the big power forward as a big riser in the Final rankings.

54. LC Scott Laughton – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: May 30/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 175lbs

Laughton has fallen victim to playing on a team that has an excess of offensively skilled players vying for a fixed amount of ice-time. After starting the season out very slowly, Laughton has really picked things up over the past month and is showing why he was considered to be such a talented minor hockey player a couple seasons ago. A strong two-way player, Laughton plays the center position very well and is well aware of his responsibilities in all three zones. He competes hard and checks well and can play against top lines without being a liability. He has a good shot and above-average puck skills, but there are times where he does fight the puck out there. His playing style compares to a player like Brendan Gaunce but his all-around game just isn’t at the same level.

55. LD Cody Corbett – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Dec. 14/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 210lbs

Corbett has been a big-time addition for the Oil Kings this season and has improved considerably already throughout the first half of the season. He has a tremendous shot and does a great job quarterbacking the power play. Corbett is strong positionally and for a two-way player, does a good job of battling in the corners and handling physical forwards. Corbett continues to be a player who has flown under the radar a bit in the shadows of his teammates Griffin Reinhart and Mark Pysyk, but his blend of intelligence and physicality makes for an enticing package moving forward.

56. LC Zach Stepan – Shattuck St. Mary’s (HS-MN)

DOB: Jan. 6/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 165lbs

Stepan is a lot more of a project than his older brother Derek, and any team taking him will be well aware of that. With a very slight frame, Stepan benefits from being “sheltered” in high school hockey and it will be interesting to see how he transitions to the next level, either in the USHL or at Ohio State. Despite the concerns, Stepan is a player who skates quite well and does have good puck skills. He excels with the puck on his stick and does a good job of generating offensive chances. As a senior, he’s leading a talented Shattuck squad and has shown good progression since his junior year.

57. LW Raphael Bussieres – Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 5/93 | Catches: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 195lbs

Bussieres has come a long way since being a frail rookie who looked over-matched as a 16-year-old with Moncton. While his stats are far from gaudy as a 3rd year player, Bussieres has a lot of raw offensive upside that has started to come to fruition this season. He competes well and shows strong grit with a willingness to finish checks and play a physical game in traffic areas. Bussieres has been steadily adding strength and it has helped him add a step to his speed and give him lower body strength to drive through checks. He’s got a lot of room for improvement, but he’s well worth a pick at this stage of the 2nd round as he could develop into a nice 2nd or 3rd line forward.

58. LD Dillon Fournier – Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)

DOB: Jun. 15/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 165lbs

Fournier was a surprise to some as he was taken 1st overall in the 2010 QMJHL Draft, and after Lewiston folded, was subsequently taken 1st overall by Rouyn-Noranda in the Dispersal Draft. Fournier, however, has acquitted himself well in the QMJHL and since coming back from a shoulder injury he has demonstrated strong offensive upside. He’s a smooth skating defenseman who always has his head up and is strong in transition. Instead of rimming the puck off the glass, Fournier can find his man on the breakout and create offense through his ability to make smart decisions. He still needs to add strength and show that he can contain high-end forwards, but he’s a player who has really started to show some nice improvement.

59. LC Matej Beran – PEI (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 11/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 215lbs

Beran has a huge frame and has shown some good offensive ability this season, but skating is a pretty major concern at this point. Beran labours with his stride and is an average skater at the junior level which does not project well moving forward if he doesn’t show improvement. Aside from skating concerns, Beran does use his size fairly well in his offensive game as he protects the puck well and can be difficult to check. Beran would also benefit from being more physical as for a player of his size, he is not an overly physical player. There are some enticing tools to work with, but Beran is a project at this point.

60. LC Tanner Richard – Guelph (OHL)

DOB: Apr. 6/93 | Catches: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs

Richard was eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft but was not selected. After coming over to the Guelph Storm this year, his fortunes have changed as his strong play has been a catalyst in his emergence as a legitimate NHL prospect. Richard is a pure offensive forward who has a high skill level and very good creativity. Richard is very effective with the puck on his stick and is active in looking for teammates. He also does a good job of shooting the puck and is a go-to offensive player with Guelph. Richard does need to continue to add strength to his frame and continue to engage in the gritty areas of the ice, but there are a lot of things to like about his game.

Be sure to check out the first half of our Top 60: (1-30) (31-60)

Paskaruk preparing for Clarkson

Andrew Choquette — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 01:14:30 +0000

Paskaruk (left) has found the back of the net 7 times so far this season.

Anthony Paskaruk got a big hurdle off his back when he committed to Clarkson University in October, now the 2nd year forward will focus on a strong finish to his AJHL season with the Brooks Bandits.

The 17-year-old from Airdrie, Alta. is in his second season with the AJHL franchis and is currently the only AJHL player committed to Clarkson, which is located in Potsdam, N.Y.

After a solid rookie season in 2010-11, which saw him register 29 points in 59 games he looks to far exceed those numbers this season. With 22 points through 41 games this season, the offensive production has to be considered a bit of a disappointment for Paskaruk, but his true value to the Bandits is his ability to play a sound two-way game.

There are many small things in Paskaruk’s game that first got him recognized by the Spokane Chiefs, taking him in the 7^th round in the 2009 WHL draft. The 5’10″ forward isn’t the biggest player on the ice, but the way he competes brings positive attention to him every shift. The amount of board battles that he wins and comes out with puck control is amazing. The body control that he displays along the board is impressive, especially in the offensive zone. The centreman was also above 60% on the draw in both games that I attended and seemed to pay more attention in his defensive zone.

At the next level, his speed will set him apart from other skaters. He is very speedy and skates very low to the ice. He’s also got a high motor, not dropping off from the 1^st to 3^rd period. After speaking with Head Coach and General Manager, Ryan Papaioannou he echoed that his skating and puck pursuit were big strong points of Paskaruk’s game and that makes him one of the best penalty killers on the team.

2012 NHL Draft Rankings: Preliminary Top 30 Skaters (1-15)

Scott Campbell — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 02:32:44 +0000

Welcome!

TSR 2012 NHL Draft Rankings Preliminary (1-15) 16-30

Welcome to TSR’s 2012 NHL Preliminary Top 30 Rankings for Draft-Eligible Skaters. Going into our third year of operations, we’re pleased to bring out a Pre-Season Top 30 for the first time in TSR history. The 2012 NHL Entry Draft has no shortage of high-end talent and projects to be a very exciting crop with tremendous depth throughout the top rounds. I would like to thank every member of our team for their contributions to the rankings and after several weeks of revisions and deliberations, we’re extremely pleased to present you with the finished product. As always, we appreciate you taking the time to check us out and hope that we can become a reliable site for your hockey prospect coverage needs!

1. LW Nail Yakupov – Sarnia (OHL)

DOB: Nov. 06/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 170lbs

Nail Yakupov is this 2012′s version of Taylor Hall. They are each the kind of game-breaking talents that you simply cannot pass over, no matter what your positional needs are. Both were named the CHL Rookie of the Year (2008 and 2011), and can take over a game in any number of ways. Despite not having ideal “power forward” size, Yakupov is not afraid to throw his weight around if he doesn’t feel like turning defenders inside out with a sick array of moves. With elite-level talent, Yakupov comes into the season as the projected top pick by TSR but will have a number of very talented players right on his heels from Day 1.

2. LC Mikhail Grigorenko – Quebec (QMJHL)

DOB: May 16/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 185lbs

Grigorenko is a big-time talent who will be taking his game across the pond to play under Patrick Roy as a Quebec Rempart this season. He’s got a big frame that he uses well in unison with an elite skill-set. Has very good hands and does a good job of controlling the play with his ability to fight off checks and create scoring chances. Should be one of the top scorers in the QMJHL this season and could wind up leading the league in assists. Needs to show a little more consistency and prove that he can handle the tight-checking that teams are sure to challenge him with. One of a number of players who will challenge Yakupov for top honours.

3. LC Alex Galchenyuk – Sarnia (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 12/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 185lbs

The first overall pick in the 2010 OHL Priority Selection was one of two “super-rookies” in the Sarnia lineup and certainly lived up to his pedigree as a 16-year-old rookie. A season later, Galchenyuk is poised to take his game to the next level with an even better sophomore season. Galchenyuk is a dangerous offensive player who has good hockey sense and knows where to be on the ice. A very good stickhandler with a deceptive release on his shot, Galchenyuk is fully capable of creating his own offensive chances. A bit of an awkward skater who probably will remind some of Evgeni Malkin with his skating stride and the way he creates chances.

4. LD Ryan Murray – Everett (WHL)

DOB: Sep. 27/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 190lbs

Ryan Murray may very well be the most NHL ready prospect in the entire draft. Murray has excellent hockey sense, makes smart, effective passes in every situation, and has a strong, accurate shot from the point. Defensively, Murray is rarely found out of position, and uses his strong skating and lateral mobility to keep pace with forwards attacking on the rush. Though slightly undersized, Murray is rarely out-muscled for the puck, and can certainly hold his own against larger opponents. It’s tough to find any holes in Murray’s game, as he competes hard on a nightly basis and seems to improve more and more as time goes on. Already his team’s captain as a 17-year-old, Murray is certainly mature beyond his years, and should almost undoubtedly be a top-five pick in the upcoming draft.

5. RD Nick Ebert – Windsor (OHL)

DOB: May 11/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 190lbs

As a 15 year old in 2009-2010, playing against players several years his senior, Ebert was a force for the USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks. As an OHL rookie, he put up 41 points while playing second fiddle to Ryan Ellis (11th overall, Nashville – 2009). With Ellis turning pro this season, the Spitfires defense is in Ebert’s very capable hands. He has what I like to call pro-ready size, and a similar build to his hockey idol Scott Stevens. Like Stevens, Ebert is a very good two-way defenseman who isn’t afraid to mix it up physically. Ebert has a chance to be taken with the 5th pick overall exactly 20 years after Stevens went 5th to Washington. This season Ebert will need to show increased maturity on the ice and prove to scouts that he has the decision-making that will allow him to translate his raw physical skills to the next level.

6. RD Jacob Trouba – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 26/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 172lbs

Trouba is at the head of the class for the USNTDP draft prospects. The right-handed shooting defenseman brings a physical edge to the skills that make him an elite prospect. He has very quick feet that are always moving to ensure that he has good position on the player he is defending against. Trouba has a quick stick that he uses to poke check the puck off the attacking forward and the presence to gather in the loose puck and quickly move it to an open teammate. The quickness in his hands that allow for the poke check also are evident in that Trouba has the ability to move the puck from forehand to backhand and vice versa in order to protect the puck from the opposition. From there he buys time to make the right pass to his partner or to an open forward. Trouba is also very calm and composed with the puck and passes well. He also possesses a strong shot from the point. As mentioned, Trouba blends these skills with a willingness to deliver text book body checks either along the boards or in open ice. Trouba has been compared to Cam Fowler and while he may not possess the natural offensive flair that Fowler has, he’s a more polished two-way defender at this point in his development.

7. LW Filip Forsberg – Leksand (Allsvenskan)

DOB: Aug. 13/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 180lbs

Another year that sees most of the high-end European players already playing in North America allows for Filip Forsberg to be the cream of the crop in regards to players actually spending the season playing in Europe. He’s a player that is very noticeable in a game and does a good job of creating chances on every shift. Has decent size and does a good job of using his speed to create opportunities. Big-time goal scorer that loves to shoot the puck and has a very good shot. Projects to be a strong offensive player who has 30+ goal potential in him.

8. RD Griffin Reinhart – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 24/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 198lbs

Griffin Reinhart is a player that has a lot of hockey tools going for him. Big frame, smooth skater, above average shot, to go along with a solid first pass. For someone 6’4″ he has really good mobility. The key for Reinhart this year will be to take one of those skills and make it elite, then GMs and scouts alike will salivate at the potential. Other things Reinhart will have to work on is understanding coverages and working on using his body to separate man from puck. He will get an opportunity to be featured on the top pairing for the Oil Kings this season if he keeps progressing like he has up to this point. He has the pedigree to be a top pairing Dman, he just needs to tighten up his game and bring it all together.

9. RD Matt Dumba – Red Deer (WHL)

DOB: Jul. 25/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 175lbs

Mathew Dumba is a big-time risk/reward type player. Loves cruising for the big hit, and loves getting under the opposition’s skin. Owns a fearsome shot from the point and is a very fluid skater. Its his skating that allows him to line up his victims. Dumba loves to hit so much, that occasionally is throws himself of his own game. He looks for hits when they aren’t there, putting himself out of position. The biggest thing for Dumba will be plain and simple, growth. The more he grows, the more durable he’ll become and the more he’ll be able to play his style, like he does for the Rebels. Look for a big year from Dumba as he’s already shown that he is more than capable defenseman in the WHL. He has also shown himself to be a very adept leader.

10. LD Morgan Rielly – Moose Jaw (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 09/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs

Morgan Rielly is an excellant tempo setter of a game from the back end. A smooth puckhandler that has very little issue with getting the puck out of trouble spots. He has an excellent sense of timing, knowing when to jump into a rush or knowing when to back off, slowing it down or creating chaos. Rielly has some issues away from the puck, he has an active stick, but has issues with strength battles which is something that could potentially hinder him at the next level. It will be intriguing to see how Rielly does this year with his club team in Moose Jaw. He has shown a penchant to be able to flourish in the tournament setting, be it the U18s or the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. This year Rielly will need to show how is he going to help make Moose Jaw a better team.

11. RD Jordan Schmaltz – Sioux City (USHL)

DOB: Oct. 08/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 175lbs

Sioux City’s Jordan Schmaltz enters his second full season with the Musketeers with more attention surrounding his game than he has seen in his young hockey career. This is saying a lot considering the six-foot-two defenseman has been in the media and scouts’ spotlight shortly before his verbal commitment to the University of Wisconsin at 14 years old. All the attention Schmaltz receives is certainly deserved as the six-foot-two defenseman is arguably the best player at his position with the puck on his stick among the 2012 draft eligible players. Schmaltz works wonders on the Musketeers’ power play, scoring eight goals and 20 assists with the man advantage last season. Schmaltz, who decommitted after the Badgers’ coaching change, is set to play at North Dakota next season, but don’t be surprised to see him play alongside draft eligible Nick Ebert next season as the Windsor Spitfires to continue to make a play on the Verona, WI native whom they took in the seventh round of the 2009 Priority Selection Draft.

12. LD Olli Maatta – London (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 22/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 175lbs

Maatta comes to the OHL with big expectations after the London Knights made him the first pick in the 2011 CHL Import Draft. The big Finn is a little rough around the edges, but a player that has some promise moving forward. Does a great job of taking care of his own end and very opportunistic at the offensive end. Makes good passes and always has his head up and is aware of what is going on in the game. Pretty average skater at this point with room to improve both technique and his acceleration and lateral movement. Doesn’t have very many elite qualities to his game, but the all-around package is very enticing.

13. LC Zemgus Girgensons – Dubuque (USHL)

DOB: Jan. 05/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 194lbs

Latvian native Zemgus Girgensons continues to take the path less travelled in regards to his hockey development. Girgensons came over to the US in 2008 rather than staying to play for Latvia’s U20 development team (SK Riga), a team stationed in his hometown. After playing one season in the EJHL, the six foot center made the jump to the USHL last season and had a huge year with 21 goals and 28 assists in 51 games for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. With many new faces upfront for Dubuque this season, Girgensons will have to take it upon himself to create scoring opportunities. Girgensons will likely be up to the challenge as he displays great offensive awareness. Despite not being an extremely physical player, Girgensons works hard his team’s own end and all-in-all has a very complete game. Even though Girgensons was selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2011 CHL Import Draft, Girgensons remains committed to the Fighting Saints and will start his collegiate career next fall with the University of Vermont.

14. LD Slater Koekkoek – Peterborough (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 18/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 183lbs

Slater Koekkoek quietly flew under the radar during his OHL rookie season in 2010/11 despite putting together a very impressive 65-game season for the Petes. On a team that arguably lacked 3 OHL calibre defensemen, Koekkoek quickly solidified himself as a pillar on the young D and logged what would probably amount to nearly 30 minutes a night. Koekkoek is a very smart defenseman who does a great job of letting the game come to him. He’s got the size and physicality to play tight defense and be counted on as a reliable PK guy. Offensively he does a good job of finding outlets and makes good decisions with the puck. Has a decent shot that he could utilize more but became more comfortable on the PP as the season went on. The combination of his two-way ability and hockey smarts makes Koekkoek a very interesting prospect who won’t fly under the radar for long.

15. RW Martin Frk – Halifax (QMJHL)

DOB: Oct. 05/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 203lbs

Martin Frk is a prospect from Czech Republic that has already completed one season with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. He plays a very North American style game which allowed him to adapt quickly to the “Q”. The Mooseheads knew what they were getting when they drafted him 3rd overall in the 2010 CHL import draft and so far he’s be all that was advertised. Like most players out of Europe he has great skill but Frk brings so much more. He’s a power forward that loves to hit and has a lethal shot. If he can continue to improve his two way game and drive to the net more often he should cement his status as a first-round pick and the type of versatile two-way player that would be a tremendous asset to any NHL roster.

TSR 2012 NHL Draft Rankings Preliminary (1-15) 16-30

2012 NHL Draft Rankings: Preliminary Top 30 Skaters (16-30)

Scott Campbell — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 02:31:08 +0000

TSR 2012 NHL Draft Rankings Preliminary (1-15) 16-30

16. LD Derrick Pouliot – Portland (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 16/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 170lbs

The former first overall bantam pick had an impressive 16 year old season with one of the most talented teams in the entire CHL. Pouliot is an effortless skater, able to effectively transition from either offense to defense, or defense to offense, in a hurry. He has strong offensive instincts, and can join the rush effectively using his skating ability to keep pace with attacking forwards. Pouliot has a good shot that he is able to get to the net frequently, though his shot velocity could use some work. Defensively, Pouliot has to be considered a bit of a project at this point, as the undersized defenseman found himself out-matched by larger WHL forwards, and also occasionally out of position. Pouliot returns to the Hawks this year in a bigger role, and should be primed for a big year offensively.

17. LW Andreas Athanasiou – London (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 6/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs

The OHL frequently produces a player who comes out of nowhere to surprise as not only an exceptional OHL player, but a very solid NHL prospect as well. Athanasiou falls into that category in 2012 as the Knight’s 4th-round pick in 2010 has quickly established himself as one of the premier ’94 YOB forwards in the OHL. Athanasiou is a slick offensive forward with an abundance of offensive skill. He’s a dangerous forward who is always a threat to score in every game and has really done a good job of putting himself in good positions to find the back of the net. Currently makes up for lack of strength with great bursts of speed but adding some muscle to his frame is very important moving forward. Athanasiou might appear a little off the board right now, but after a very impressive showing with the Canadian U18 team at the Ivan Hlinka, expect a lot of people to take notice.

18. RC Matia Marcantuoni – Kitchener (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 22/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 180lbs

Entering the 2010-11 season a lot of was expected of Matia Marcantuoni as some believe he easily could have been a top five pick in the 2010 OHL Priority selection before eventually winding up with the Rangers at the 18th pick. In a limited role last season with a competitive Ranger squad, Marcantuoni saw decent offensive success. Coach Steve Spott will expect higher offensive output this season from the Toronto, Ontario native. He is arguably one of the strongest skaters in the draft, and has a very hard NHL-calibre shot as well. Plays the game at a very high tempo but needs to capitalize on more of his chances.

19. RW Henrik Samuelsson – Modo J20 (SuperElit)

DOB: Feb. 7/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 195lbs

The son of former NHL tough guy Ulf Samuelsson, Henrik brings a lot of power forward qualities that NHL teams are sure to covet at next summer’s NHL Entry Draft. Samuelsson is a big body who utlizes his physical strength to create space on the ice. Skates quite well and does a good job maintaining the puck and competing in physical battles. Displays a lot of grit and plays both ends of the rink very hard… looks for opportunities to finish checks and keeps players honest when he’s on the ice. Samuelsson’s offensive play is still developing but is a wildcard in his overall upside. Elected to play in Sweden this season after his father took an Assistant Coaching job with Modo where Henrik will surely see some time in the Elitserien with a strong year.

20. RW Sebastian Collberg – Frolunda (SuperElit)

DOB: Feb. 23/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 175lbs

Collberg is a diminutive winger with high-end skill level. Very good skater with good technique and shifty agility. Collberg thrives on the perimeter and uses his speed and skill-level to create offensive opportunities and odd-man rushes by breaking the defense down with his speed. Has an exceptional shot with pro-calibre release and loves to shoot the puck. Offensive upside translates very well to the NHL level and Collberg doesn’t mind playing in traffic areas either, which should help his eventual transition to the North American game. Still needs to improve his two-way game and add some strength but with a productive season Collberg should see some time in the Elitserien and could be a major riser this year.

21. LC Brendan Gaunce – Belleville (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 25/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 205lbs

It was a bit of a tough season for Gaunce as the highly touted 16-year-old rookie met his fair share of struggles with a Belleville squad that ended up being hard pressed to find the back of the net. Gaunce’s season saw many ebs and flows but was an overall productive season for the 2nd overall pick in the 2010 OHL Priortiy Selection. Coming into the league as one of the most dominant Minor Midget players from a year before, Gaunce has all of the qualities you look for in a two-way forward. Gaunce has good size and does a good job bringing a consistent effort to the rink every night. Competes hard and does a good job winning battles on the ice. Doesn’t have elite offensive skill but is an offensively productive player who is a threat to create offense at any time. Skating is an area where he will need to improve but Gaunce projects to be a solid second line type NHL center with good character and strong two-way play.

22. LC Scott Laughton – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: May 30/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 175lbs

Scott Laughton is currently known for a solid two-way talent; he is a competitive player every shift and understands his role on the ice. Although the Oshawa Generals already high end talent up front, it is likely that Laughton sees an increased offensive role with the team. If the Oakville, Ont. is able to put together a solid offensive season there is no question he could see his stock rise into the top fifteen in the draft. He is a similar, albeit smaller, version of teammate Boone Jenner, but if he pans out could be the better overall prospect. At this point, Laughton and Gaunce are similar players who will be interesting prospects to follow as both 17-year-olds spend the season battling it out in the OHL’s East Division as rivals.

23. LW Cristoval Nieves – Kent HS (HS-MA)

DOB: Jan. 23/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 185lbs

Blessed with a big frame – 6’3″ to be exact – Nieves has phenomenal stick work and deceptive agility, speed, and acceleration. Labeled mostly as a playmaker, Nieves isn’t afraid to get creative. A superb passer, he is easily the best player playing for Kent and it looks as though he is coming back for another season. He still has some “filling out” to do being only 185 lbs, but just his skills and explosiveness will excite many scouts. Committed to the University of Michigan in 2012, Nieves might crack the first round at next year’s draft. On the off chance he doesn’t, look for him to go in the early 2nd.

24. RD Cody Ceci – Ottawa (OHL)

DOB: Dec. 21/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 190lbs

Ceci’s sophomore season in the OHL was promising as the Ottawa native took the steps forward that most were expecting after his rookie season. Already playing with pro size, Ceci entrenched himself as one of the better defensive defensemen in the OHL last season with very responsible play while logging heavy minutes. His physical play took a step forward last season and it was noticeable that he was much improved in handling defensive zone coverage and preventing himself from over-committing. Has some offensive upside and serves as an effective PP quarterback at the OHL level. Ceci projects to be a potential late first-round pick or early second-round pick as a player who has the potential to be a dependable NHL defenseman who might not have quite as much high-end upside as some of the other players available in the range.

25. Gianluca Curcuruto – Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 25/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 188lbs

Curcuruto is a puck mover first and foremost, but as his -1 indicates he is also a strong two-way player. His -1 was among the best on his team last year, which is exceptional considering he was a rookie defenseman on a team that gave up the second most goals in the entire Western Conference while finishing dead last in points. Despite his rookie status, he took on a leadership role, providing a calming influence when things were going haywire on a very bad Greyhounds team. We currently have him going in the bottom third of the first round, but it won’t be a surprise to see him rise as he’s a player with considerable raw talent.

26. LD Michael Matheson – Dubuque (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 27/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs

Matheson is set to join the Dubuque Fighting Saints after spending the 2010/11 season playing in the QMAAA. Regarded as one of the top 94′s in Quebec, Matheson elected to bypass the Major Junior route in favour of a 2012 commitment to Boston College. Matheson is lauded for his leadership skills, intelligence and maturity off the ice. On the ice, Matheson provides those intangibles as well as a skill set of smooth skating and puck skills. Matheson uses his hockey sense and ability to close on the puck and puck carrier to force the play and transition the puck quickly to offense. He has quick hands and shows some pretty nifty puck handling. Matheson might be the type of player who amasses points by simply possessing the puck often and moving it to the right player to create offense.

27. RW Pontus Aberg – Djurgarden (SuperElit)

DOB: Sep. 23/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 190lbs

Aberg’s game is centered around his superb skating ability. At this point, he projects to be one of the top skaters in the draft and creates most of his offense with his quick acceleration and high-end speed. Has solid offensive skill and an adept shot which allow him to be an effective scorer. Needs to prove that he can take his offensive production to the next level this season and be a consistent producer. Has fairly average on-ice vision and needs to do a better job of utilizing teammates and distributing the puck as the defense can focus on him if he’s not moving the puck. Aberg also needs to show an increased commitment to the defensive end as his speed will be a two-way asset as he improves his defensive play.

28. RD Ville Pokka – Karpat (SM-Liiga)

DOB: Jun. 3/94 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 198lbs

Pokka is another ’94 YOB defenseman from Finland who will have expectations in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. At this point he isn’t quite as refined as Maatta and doesn’t possess as much offensive potential as his countryman does, but Pokka still projects to be a very capable NHLer with his solid defensive zone play. Pokka is a smart player who understands his role and plays well within his means, tools that will allow him to take a regular shift in the SM-Liiga this year as a 17-year-old. He will be in a group of players looking to vie for a first round selection and can do a lot for his stock if he has a strong WJC at Christmas.

29. LC A.J. Michaelson – Waterloo (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 8/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 185lbs

AJ Michaelson joined the trend of high school hockey players making the jump their senior year to the junior level. Michaelson joins the Waterloo Blackhawks this season after playing for Apple Valley High School in Minnesota. The move has many US junior followers scratching their head due to Michaelson’s commitment to Apple Valley program last offseason when he turned down an offer to play for the USNTDP in Ann Arbor, Mich. Nonetheless, Michaelson has the skills to standout in the USHL this season as the six foot forward can flat out fly. It will be interesting to see if Michaelson’s speed, which allowed him to create tons of scoring opportunities in high school by going wide on the rush, will continue to be effective against the bigger, stronger competition. Scouts have questioned Michaelson’s durability after he missed a third of his sophomore season due to groin injury, but the University of Minnesota commit shored up durability questions when played in all of the team’s 25 games last year totaling 29 goals and 31 assists.

30. LW Nicolas Kerdiles – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Jan. 11/94 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 175lbs

Kerdiles may not own dazzling puck skills but he does play a very solid two way game and puts enough points on the board to merit a spot on the Top 30. Kerdiles skates well and attacks open ice with speed. Kerdiles seems to do his best work along the boards and deep in the offensive zone. He has a knack for coming out of traffic with the puck and takes the puck hard to the net. Kerdiles also goes to the net hard without the puck on the rush or looking for the dirty goals in front. He makes the simple, easy play when he has the puck and is good at identifying the best option. Where Kerdiles really stands out is in his defensive play. He’s good at keeping his stick in the passing lanes and reads the play well. Kerdiles forechecks hard when he’s the first man in but also shows discipline in taking away passing options. Kerdiles is also very good at providing support and knows when to step into the play. More often than not, Kerdiles is the guy who ends up with the puck in those instances. If Kerdiles’ offensive skills and output improve, he could climb the rankings much like fellow USNTDP player JT Miller last year.

TSR 2012 NHL Draft Rankings Preliminary (1-15) 16-30

2011 NHL Draft Recap – USHL Picks

Andrew Weiss — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:06:23 +0000

With the fifteenth overall pick, the New York Rangers not only got a good hockey player in J.T. Miller, but a very observant one as well.

“There seems to be a ton of USHL guys being selected,” J.T. Miller told now former teammate Connor Murphy, who was selected five spots after Miller, midway through the seventh round on Saturday.

JT Miller was the top USHL pick, selected 15th Overall by the New York Rangers.

Miller, who spent the majority of Saturday morning waiting for fellow US Development Program teammates to hear their name called, was right, as 28 players who participated in USHL games were selected in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The 28 players, or 13 percent of all the draft selections, contributed towards the near record of Americans taken. A total of sixty Americans were selected in this years draft—two short of the mark set in 2007.

While the numbers of Americans in the 2007 and 2011 drafts are eerily similar, the number of USHL saw a substantial increase of seven players, 25 percent more, from the ’07 to ’11 drafts. Certainly part of the increase has to do with the US National Development Program’s shift from the Junior A Tier II North American Hockey League to the Junior A Tier I United States Hockey League, but sixteen of the twenty eight players did not come from the US NTDP.

Twelve of the sixteen USHL clubs had at least one player called down to the draft floor at the Xcel Energy Center, including the Green Bay Gamblers who had four players and Indiana Ice who had three. The Des Moines Buccaneers, while they did not have a player from this year’s team selected, were represented as current Notre Dame freshman star T.J. Tynan was taken by Columbus in the third round. Tynan, who led Notre Dame in points this season, played for Des Moines during the 2009-10 season where he lead the team in points and was also named to the USHL All-Rookie Team.

Next season could be just as bright for the USHL, led by Latvian Zemgus Girgensons, who should return to Dubuque, and NTDP forward Jacob Trouba, both of which could be top ten picks in next year’s draft. North Dakota recruit and current Sioux City Musketeer Jordan Schmaltz and A.J. Michaelson if he returns to Waterloo could also be in the mix for first round selections.

USHL Selections Recap

Team USA (12): J.T. Miller (1st, New York Rangers), Connor Murphy (1st, Phoenix), Tyler Biggs (1st, Toronto), Rocco Grimaldi (2nd, Florida), John Gibson (2nd, Anaheim), Michael Paliotta (3rd, Chicago), Robbie Russo (4th, New York Islanders), Reid Boucher (4th, New Jersey), Blake Pietila (5th, New Jersey), Travis Boyd (6th, Washington), Zac Larraza (7th, Phoenix), Max Everson (7th, Toronto)

Green Bay Gamblers (4): Andy Welinski (3rd, Anaheim), Adam Wilcox (6th, Tampa Bay), Aaron Harstad (7th, Winnipeg), Alex Broadhurst (7th, Chicago)

Youngstown Phantoms (1): Scott Mayfield (2nd, New York Islanders)

Chicago Steel (1): Steven Fogarty (3rd, New York Rangers)

Indiana Ice (3): Blake Coleman (3rd, New Jersey), Brian Ferlin (4th, Boston), Sean Kurlay (5th, San Jose)

Sioux Falls Stampede (1): Kyle Rau (3rd, Florida)

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (1): Josiah Didier (4th, Montreal)

Dubuque Fighting Saints (1): John Gaudreau (4th, Calgary)

Omaha Lancers (1): Seth Ambroz (5th, Columbus)

Sioux City Musketeers (1): Max McCormick (6th, Ottawa)

Lincoln Stars (1): Ryan Dzingel (7th, Ottawa)

Fargo Force (1): Garrett Haar (7th, Washington)

2011 NHL Draft Top 100 Skaters: (1-25)

Scott Campbell — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:38:57 +0000

Introduction:

Welcome to the 2011 edition of TSR’s Top 100 NHL Entry Draft Skaters. This free resource has been compiled by our team of contributors who have taken in numerous hockey games during the course of the 2010/2011 season. We hope that this guide will serve as a valuable resource for your reference of 2011 NHL Entry Draft Prospects. The list is broken up into four separate sections for ease of reading, so be sure to check out each section.

This is the second edition of our guide and something that takes a tremendous investment of personal time from each of our contributors. I would like to personally thank everyone on our staff for all their hard work throughout the season and helping to make this resource a reality for hockey fans from around the world. As always, we appreciate feedback from our readers in the form of comments or emails. Thanks for checking us out!
- Scott Campbell

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

1. LC Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Red Deer (WHL)

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

Ryan Nugent Hopkins came into the season as a legitimate top 5 prospect for the 2011 NHL entry draft and has not disappointed. After dominating the U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament where he both led Canada in scoring and scored the tournament winning goal, Nugent-Hopkins returned for a second full season in Red Deer where he finished the season tied for 3rd overall in league scoring with 31 goals, 75 assists and 106 points. Nugent-Hopkins is an exceedingly good playmaker that sees the ice extremely well. He also possesses an underrated wrist shot that he gets off both quickly and accurately. He is a very good skater that is among the shiftiest players available in the draft although Nugent-Hopkins lacks breakaway speed. He possesses a very high-end skill set that is arguably the best in the entire draft. Defensively he is reliable and has become a dangerous takeaway artist capable of stripping the puck off the sticks of unsuspecting players and quickly counter-attacking. Nugent-Hopkins has made a very strong case for being the first overall pick with his small frame the biggest potential impediment to that case for scouts

2. RD Adam Larsson – Skelleftea AIK (SEL)

DOB: Nov. 12/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 220lbs

Midterm Rank: 1 | League Rank: 1st SEL | Country Rank: 1st Sweden

It hasn’t been the type of year most were expecting from the pre-season consensus top pick. Larsson saw his point totals erode from last year’s standards and wasn’t the overwhelming force most were hoping for at the World Juniors. Despite a somewhat disappointing season, Larsson still has an attractive skill-set that translates well to the NHL. The size, puck moving ability, and solid positional play are all there, but it’s going to be up to Larsson to take the next step in his game if he wants to regarded as a top pairing defenseman in the NHL.

3. RW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (OHL)

DOB: Nov. 23/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 201lbs

Midterm Rank: 4 | League Rank: 1st OHL | Country Rank: 2nd Sweden

A sophomore season in North America proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered for Gabriel Landeskog. After coming over with high expectations last season, the reviews were fairly lukewarm on the Swede until his impressive play-off run. This season, Landeskog picked up where he left off and has ascended to the top of the NHL draft board. He’s not going to be a dominant goal-scorer at the next level, but Landeskog has a great package of competitiveness, offensive talent, and the ability to dominate the play in tough areas on the ice. He projects as a 30/30 type player who has all the intangibles coaches and team’s love to have.

4. LC Sean Couturier – Drummondville (QMJHL)

DOB: Dec. 07/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 191lbs

Midterm Rank: 2 | League Rank: 1st QMJHL | Country Rank: 2nd Canada

Couturier has progressively slid from his pre-season perch but we still feel that he is certainly deserving of a place in the Top 5. After struggling to take his offensive production to the “next level”, there are some concerns about his potential as a first line center. While he isn’t going to be a dominant offensive player, Couturier is a very capable offensive forward who has the size to create space for himself at the next level as well. He will need to work on his skating a bit to solidify himself as a two-way center with the increased pace of the NHL, but Couturier is a pretty safe pick who has likely been the victim of over-exposure this year.

5. LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Saint John (QMJHL)

DOB: Jun. 04/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 171lbs

Midterm Rank: 7 | League Rank: 2nd QMJHL | Country Rank: 3rd Canada

Huberdeau’s meteoric rise continues as the lanky center has worked his way inside our Top 5 after a brilliant second half to the season. The 17-year-old was one of the most dangerous players in Major Junior hockey all season and has an explosive dynamic that few others in this class can match. At this point, you can easily make the argument that Couturier and Huberdeau are neck in neck with each other, but we feel there is just a bit more risk with Huberdeau’s translating in comparison to Couturier’s.

6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 31/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 165lbs

Midterm Rank: 6 | League Rank: 2nd OHL | Country Rank: 4th Canada

Murphy clocks in at number six and is a player that has the potential to be in a unique league of his own if he hits his ceiling. The Aurora, Ont. native is a dynamic playmaking defenseman who has a creative blend of speed and the ability to make highly skilled moves at top speed. At any given point he’s a threat to rush the puck up the ice and has very good vision in doing so. He’s also a very smart player on the powerplay and has utilized his shot a lot more over the past season than he did as a rookie. Defensive coverage has improved and he’s started to use his body a little more as well. Once considered a bit of a risk, we feel Murphy has entrenched himself as a blue-chip prospect regardless of some of the concerns about his game.

7. RC Mika Zibanejad – Djurgarden (SEL)

DOB: Apr. 18/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 195lbs

Midterm Rank: 25 | League Rank: 2nd SEL | Country Rank: 3rd Sweden

Zibanejad is the biggest riser in the final rankings this year; something that doesn’t come as much of a surprise given our placement of him in the mid-term edition. The versatile Swede has a big body and plays both ends of the ice equally well. Skates well and can cover a lot of ice from the center position while being strong in the face-off circle. Might not have the highest offensive ceiling out of some of the players in the Top 10-15, but still has first line potential and could still be a great second line center if his offensive upside isn’t there.

8. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

DOB: Jun. 06/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 193lbs

Midterm Rank: 13 | League Rank: 3rd OHL | Country Rank: 5th Canada

Hamilton is a big defenseman who is very mobile and has pretty good offensive upside. Took advantage of increased responsibility from the beginning of the season and has developed into a very good powerplay quarterback and adept puck moving defenseman. He’s pretty strong in his own end and does a good job of using his long reach to his advantage. Depending on the game, he can be a physical player, but doesn’t show it consistently. Also is prone to being beaten by some of the more highly skilled players in the league. He’s still a bit of an unfinished product, but Hamilton will probably remind people a lot of a player like Alex Pietrangelo.

9. RC Ryan Strome – Niagara (OHL)

DOB: Jul. 11/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 183lbs

Midterm Rank: 10 | League Rank: 4th OHL | Country Rank: 6th Canada

Strome was the talk of the prospect world by November and didn’t let up as the year progressed. He’s a highly skilled forward with some of the craftiest hands in the crop and the ability to create a scoring chance at any opportunity. His statistics will indicate that he’s more of a playmaker, but Strome is also a very adept goal scorer and has a pretty good release on his wrist/snap shot. His game doesn’t come without concerns, however, as Strome is very weak and easily muscled off the puck. He had trouble in the playoffs against stiffer competition, which was a bit of a symptom of that problem. Probably will need at least another year in the OHL to add some strength before he makes the jump.

10. RC Mark Scheifele – Barrie (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 15/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 200lbs

Midterm Rank: 15 | League Rank: 5th OHL | Country Rank: 7th Canada

Scheifele’s first year in the OHL is one to remember as the unheralded Kitchener, Ont. Native burst onto the scene with the Barrie Colts. Scheifele is a big-time talent with the ability to make his linemates better as a great playmaker and player who can buy time in the offensive zone. Scheifele is good along the boards and in traffic and did a good job of making things happen on a team that lacked talent in a big way. He still needs to add some much needed bulk to his frame, and could probably afford to shoot the puck more; as the U18’s showed, but he’s a guy with a pretty high ceiling and is certainly a player to watch for.

11. RW Joel Armia – Assat (SM-Liiga)

DOB: May 31/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 191lbs

Midterm Rank: 9 | League Rank: 1st SM-Liiga | Country Rank: 1st Finland

After climbing the rankings early, it seems like Armia’s stock may have tailed off a bit the past few months in the eyes of most. Despite going under the radar at the U20’s in Buffalo, Armia still had a productive first season in the SM-Liiga and went on to lead Finland in scoring at the U18’s. The Finn is still pretty raw, but a winger with his size and skill is an attractive package and it’s hard to imagine him slipping much further than 11.

12. LW Matthew Puempel – Peterborough (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 24/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 190lbs

Midterm Rank: 5 | League Rank: 6th OHL | Country Rank: 8th Canada

High expectations were bestowed upon the 2009/2010 CHL rookie of the year this season; one that proved to be pretty disappointing for Matt Puempel. A combination of a poor Peterborough squad and a late season ending hip injury made this season a difficult one for Puempel. Despite the negatives, Puempel still remains as one of the premier goal scorers in this crop. Puempel will likely make a living off his release and shot power/accuracy, but he improved some of the other areas of his game this season as well. It was evident that he started to take some steps to become more of a dominant player on his own and began to create a lot of his own opportunities instead of relying on a center to get him the puck. Assuming NHL teams are satisfied with his injury rehabilitation, Puempel is still very much a Top 15 type player.

13. RC Mark McNeill – Prince Albert (WHL)

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

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

McNeill did a lot of things well this year. On a weak team, McNeill proved that he could compete and succeed against the best players from around the WHL with minimal help as he tallied 81 points in 70 games this year. McNeill has a nice mix of speed, size and grit. He was among the fastest skaters at the CHL Top Prospects game and combining that with his size and grittiness make him hard to handle when he is on his game. He can be guilty of taking the occasional shift off, but his combo of speed, skill and grittiness (including a willingness to fight) allow him to project nicely as a 2nd line center.

14. LD Duncan Siemens – Saskatoon (WHL)

DOB: Sep. 07/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 200lbs

Midterm Rank: 8 | League Rank: 3rd WHL | Country Rank: 10th Canada

Siemens is a prototypical WHL defender that is big, can play at both ends of the rink, and also provide a physical edge. Siemens is a very good skater for his size and has a good shot. He is able to make the first pass out of his zone and has handled himself very nicely in game action despite being one of the youngest players available in this year’s draft. While Siemens has very high potential, it doesn’t come without some risk. He did put up good number this past season (43 points in 72 games), but one can’t help but wonder whether or not he is being sheltered by playing on such a deep team featuring a star defender in Stefan Elliott. Decision-making (especially in his own end) is also a concern at times. Siemens does possess one of the more attractive toolkits in the draft and if a team thinks that the decision-making will be resolved in time, Siemens could end up a relatively high pick in the draft.

15. LW Sven Bartschi – Portland (WHL)

DOB: Nov. 05/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 185lbs

Midterm Rank: 12 | League Rank: 4th WHL | Country Rank: 1st Switzerland

Bartschi came into the season as a fairly unknown prospect, but quickly established himself as a high scorer for the Portland Winterhawks. Bartschi has excellent hands and goes to the traffic areas to create offense, and has excellent vision on the ice. There are question marks about his two-way play, however Bartschi only improved as the season went along, quickly creating a name for himself as an elite level winger in the Western Hockey League while being a major offensive contributor for the Hawks; continuing his solid play well into the WHL playoffs.

16. LD Nathan Beaulieu – Saint John (QMJHL)

DOB: Dec. 05/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 191lbs

Midterm Rank: 22 | League Rank: 3rd QMJHL | Country Rank: 11th Canada

Bealieu is a technically sound defenseman that has a pretty refined overall game. He’s a solid skater with good size, moves well laterally, and has the ability to buy time for himself and make good decisions with the puck. The issue is that he doesn’t have an overly dominant aspect to his game which raises some questions about what his role will be at the next level. As it stands, he projects to be a decent middle pairing type player, but the lack of high-end talent prevents him from being higher in our rankings.

17. LC Vladislav Namestnikov – London (OHL)

DOB: Nov. 22/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs

Midterm Rank: 39 | League Rank: 7th OHL | Country Rank: 1st Russia

Namestnikov is a player that certainly grew on us as the year went on. If you only see him once or twice, you might not get an appreciation for the little things he does well which make him such a valuable player. Namestnikov is an effortless skater with tremendous agility; something that is very evident whenever you see him. He sees the ice well but is a very creative player and makes a lot of nifty little plays that may raise your eye-brows. Some of his other qualities come in the form of being a very good stick checker and having great anticipation. Some people have compared him to Datsyuk, and his style probably isn’t too far off. Adding strength is priority number one for Namestnikov right now, as he is often outmuscled at the junior level.

18. RC Rocco Grimaldi – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 08/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.06 | Weight: 163lbs

Midterm Rank: 26 | League Rank: 1st USHL | Country Rank: 1st USA

Easily one of the more skilled players available in the draft, Grimaldi has a proven track record of production at every level. Strong work ethic and dedication to the game have enabled him to develop skills in skating, passing, shooting and puck handling that could comprise a video on “How To….” All indications are that he’ll keep developing as he moves up the ladder. The only obvious knock is his size.

19. LD Oscar Klefbom – Farjestad (SEL)

DOB: Jul. 20/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 201lbs

Midterm Rank: 33 | League Rank: 3rd SEL | Country Rank: 4th Sweden

Klefbom has steadily risen to become one of the most sought after defensemen in this draft. The big Swede has the tools to play in the NHL, being a mobile player who can log minutes in basically any situation, and should be a great value pick-up somewhere around the middle of the first round. He has a calming presence on the ice and does a good job of playing mistake-free hockey, which is something that will allow him to play in the NHL sooner than later. Like Beaulieu, he may not have a ton of high-end potential, but has more than enough to justify being picked in this range.

20. LC JT Miller – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Mar. 14/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 198lbs

Midterm Rank: 30 | League Rank: 2nd USHL | Country Rank: 2nd USA

The skill set to be reliable 2 way forward has always been there as prior to this year, Miller has been at worst a strong skating centerman who plays hard on both sides of the puck. He always possessed the puck skills necessary to contribute offensively but lacked that consistency leading to questions about his hockey sense. Miller seems to have answered those as the year progressed culminating in an excellent showing at the U18’s. There are some rumblings that the North Dakota recruit will opt for Plymouth in the OHL.

21. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: Mar. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 186lbs

Midterm Rank: 18 | League Rank: 8th OHL | Country Rank: 1st Denmark

Jensen is the first real “boom or bust” player in our rankings, and could be a draft changer when we look back on the 2011 draft in the future. If you haven’t seen any of his highlights, make sure to check some out because he’s scored some of the nicest goals in junior hockey this year. A big, lanky winger, Jensen has dynamic speed and puck handling ability to go coast to coast and make something out of nothing at any given point. As the season progressed, he found some much needed consistency in his game, but we’ll see how much of that translates to the NHL. If everything pans out, he could be a game breaker even at the NHL level, and if he can’t find consistency, he could be struggling to find a role in the league.

22. LD Jamiesen Oleksiak – Northeastern (NCAA)

DOB: Dec. 21/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.07 | Weight: 240lbs

Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st NCAA | Country Rank: 12th Canada

After getting a few viewings of Oleksiak in the second half of the season, it became clear to us that all the talk about Oleksiak is justified. The thing that will jump out at you aside from likely being the biggest player on the ice in almost every game, is that he’s a pretty good skater for his size and moves well laterally as well. Oleksiak doesn’t really have the offensive tools to be an offensive guy at the next level, making his role more of a shut-down type guy.

23. LD Jonas Brodin – Farjestad (SEL)

DOB: Jul. 12/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 165lbs

Midterm Rank: 43 | League Rank: 4th SEL | Country Rank: 5th Sweden

A fellow teammate of Oscar Klefbom, there isn’t a whole lot separating the two Swedes and you could likely make the case that the two Swedes actually have a lot in common. Brodin is probably a little bit of a better skater than Klefbom and also moves the puck pretty well, but lacks some of the physical tools that Klefbom has and doesn’t quite have the offensive upside. If he can improve his offensive skills, he could develop into a nice two-way defender, but as of now he projects as a low-risk puck moving defenseman who can provide a team with some stability on the back-end.

24. LW Stefan Noesen – Plymouth (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 12/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 195lbs

Midterm Rank: 38 | League Rank: 9th OHL | Country Rank: 3rd USA

Noesen is one of those players that seemingly comes out of nowhere as he quickly became the key cog up front for Plymouth. For those who may have seen him last season, it was actually quite evident that the Plano, Tex. native had the tools to be a player, but just needed to wait for his opportunity. That came this season for Noesen as he quickly established himself as a go-to player with the Whalers. Noesen is a hard working, north-south type player who should be a sandpaper type guy in the NHL that can play on any line. He’s got a hard shot and does a pretty good job of making things happen in the offensive zone with quick moves. While not an overly nasty player, Noesen finishes checks and is not an easy player to play against. He probably won’t be a huge point scorer at the next level, but he can play on any line and will be a very valuable player to any team.

25. RD Robbie Russo – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 15/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 193lbs

Midterm Rank: 29 | League Rank: 3rd USHL | Country Rank: 4th USA

Russo dropped in some rankings during the course of the season. TSR remained high on him due to his intangibles in leadership and hockey sense. Russo always seems to have the puck on his stick whether he’s moving it out of his zone or anticipating the play defensively. His smooth skating and vision along with above average passing skills should translate well as he progresses.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

2011 NHL Draft Top 100 Skaters: (26-50)

Scott Campbell — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:38:08 +0000

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

26. RW Zach Phillips – Saint John (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 28/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 181lbs
Midterm Rank: 34 | League Rank: 4th QMJHL | Country Rank: 13th Canada

Phillips made some major strides forward in his game this season and we think he’s done enough to be included in our Top 30 prospects. He doesn’t have an overly defining quality to his game, but he’s a crafty offensive player who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Skating isn’t great, but it isn’t horrible; albeit something that needs to improve for him to make the jump. While Phillips seems to be a guy that a lot of people feel might not be able to find a role at the next level, we liken him a bit to a guy like Brett MacLean who, even with some weaknesses in his game, seems to have enough of everything to overcome them.

27. LC Boone Jenner – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: Jun. 15/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 197lbs
Midterm Rank: 46 | League Rank: 9th OHL | Country Rank: 14th Canada

Jenner is a big riser in our final rankings; although we were probably guilty of leaving him a little low in the mid-terms. The former 4th overall pick in the 2009 OHL Draft has all of the tools that NHL teams are looking for but needs to find a way to put it altogether. He’s a big guy who is very strong on the puck and is very good in the dirty areas. He’s become a lot more assertive on the ice; and despite an awkward long stride, he’s doing a better job of spanning the whole 200 feet. If everything works out for Jenner, he should be a dependable two-way center who will look good on your second line, but we feel he has a lot of maturing; both physically and mentally, that needs to be done in order to fulfill that potential.

28. RD Scott Mayfield – Youngstown (USHL)

DOB: Nov. 14/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 200lbs
Midterm Rank: 16 | League Rank: 4th USHL | Country Rank: 5th USA

Nobody has been on the Mayfield bandwagon since the beginning of last season more than TSR. Defensively, his 1 on 1 skills are tough to match. Mayfield also plays with an edge in front of the net and in the corners. Offensively, Mayfield improved significantly in his ability to handle the puck and skate it out of his zone. He already possessed a great shot, sharp passing skills and offensive awareness. Some wish that Mayfield’s skills would have resulted in more production but we’ve seen him enough live to know that he was hindered a bit by the level of play on his club. Mayfield has historically played up to the level of competition and his teammates and will surely do the same at Denver.

29. LC Alexander Khokhlachev – Windsor (OHL)

DOB: Sep. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 172lbs
Midterm Rank: 28 | League Rank: 10th OHL | Country Rank: 2nd Russia

Nobody was too sure what type of a player Khokhlachev would be this season as most in OHL circles felt he was overshadowed a bit by fellow Russian Vladimir Namestnikov. It didn’t take long for him to make his presence known, however, as Khokhlachev quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous offensive forwards in the league. Offensively, his talent level is up there with any player in the draft. He’s very good in small spaces and has a whole bag of puck tricks he uses frequently throughout the game. He’s an opportunistic scorer and if he shot more, would probably have eclipsed 40 goals this past season as well. The issue with Khokhlachev comes down to his lack of size and strength, and determining how much of an issue that’s going to be for him at the next level. His two-way game won’t blow you away, so unless he can find a way to add the muscle needed to play in the NHL, he’s going to be a bit of a risk.

30. RW Ty Rattie – Portland (WHL)

DOB: Feb. 05/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: 20 | League Rank: 5th WHL | Country Rank: 15th Canada

Coming into the season, Ty Rattie was thought of as a potential top-10 pick for the 2011 Entry Draft, but has seen his stock drop slightly. Rattie has an excellent shot and the ability to release it quickly. Rattie has also shown great chemistry with his linemates, ably setting them up with crisp, solid passes. The biggest issues with Rattie’s game are that he tends to disappear at times and plays primarily on the perimeter. Rattie is a work in progress, but he has the raw skills that simply can’t be taught to a young offensive player.

31. RD Connor Murphy – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Mar. 26/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 5th USHL | Country Rank: 6th USA

We had a pretty limited viewing (like most) of Murphy this year which is why we were a little hesitant to put him in our Top 30, but there’s no doubt the big American defenseman has the talent to potentially hear his name called in Round 1 on draft day. His season was marred by injuries but Murphy managed to recoup a lot of his lost time with a very impressive showing at the Under 18’s where he scored the game winning goal in overtime against the Russians. Murphy is a big guy with a good shot and a pretty enticing package of solid defensive play and offensive upside. It would be naïve to think that most teams don’t have the Miami-Ohio commit on their first round radar and it wouldn’t be a shock to see a team step up and take him in the middle portion of the first round.

32. RW Tyler Biggs – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Jan. 30/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 210lbs
Midterm Rank: 32 | League Rank: 6th USHL | Country Rank: 7th USA

Biggs certainly merits consideration as a prospect due to his size, physical play, skating ability and determination. It’s difficult though to see him as a first rounder since he does not possess the offensive skills that would be worthy of such a high pick. Biggs may only top out as a 15-20 goal guy who can provide some grit and nastiness which fits nicely on some clubs but the ceiling doesn’t seem high enough to justify anything other than the second round.

33. LD David Musil – Vancouver (WHL)

DOB: Apr. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 200lbs
Midterm Rank: 14 | League Rank: 6th WHL | Country Rank: 1st Czech

After a very solid initial campaign as a 16 year-old last season, some unfair expectations were placed on Musil this year. Going into the season, Musil was looked upon as a potential lotto pick although it didn’t look like he had the offense to support such a pick. Musil plays in all situations for the Giants and he is able to chip in a little offense but won’t likely be expected to provide that offense at the NHL level. With his dad and uncle combining to play well over 2000 NHL games and his mom being a former pro tennis player, David has some good athletic genes. Like his dad, Musil is a steady defender having very good size and strength, while being good at taking care of his own end. While Musil may be one of the best defensive defensemen available in the draft this year, he needs to work on improving his quickness. His slow acceleration and top end speed make him vulnerable during puck retrieval plays, as well as his ability to contain the fastest players in the league.

34. RW Dmitri Jaskin – Slavia Praha (Czech)

DOB: Mar. 23/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 196lbs
Midterm Rank: 23 | League Rank: 1st Czech | Country Rank: 2nd Czech

Jaskin is a tough player to get a read on as he has a tremendous skill-set, but doesn’t bring it consistently enough. The big Czech winger had an up and down season and had a lot riding on the Under 18’s, where he was fairly average over the course of the tournament. His season never quite took off after an early season injury, but when he’s on, he is a talented winger who can play with a bit of jam. His status as a surefire first round pick has probably come and gone, but there’s a lot to like for any team that is picking in the late part of the first round.

35. LD Joe Morrow – Portland (WHL)

DOB: Dec. 09/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 198lbs
Midterm Rank: 42 | League Rank: 7th WHL | Country Rank: 16th Canada

Joe Morrow climbed up the draft rankings progressively after coming off an early season injury. Morrow has had some injury troubles throughout his junior career, but has shown that he can be an effective puck moving defenseman in the WHL. Morrow is an excellent skater, and makes a nice first pass out of his own zone, seamlessly starting his team’s breakout. He also has a deceptive shot that he ably gets through traffic and on net, generating strong scoring chances for his teammates, particularly on the power play.

36. RD Adam Clendening – Boston University (NCAA)

DOB: Nov. 26/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 190lbs
Midterm Rank: 48 | League Rank: 2nd NCAA | Country Rank: 8th USA

Clendening is a player who has quietly gone under the radar despite having a pretty impressive freshman season with BU. Up front, the big question with Clendening’s game is what type of a role you can expect from a somewhat undersized defenseman who doesn’t have overly explosive feet and lacks the big-time shot at the point. These are valid concerns, but in a draft that seems to thin out on defense, Clendening is a solid puck-moving prospect who will likely hear his name pretty early on Day 2. His ability to move well laterally and buy time for himself are two qualities that you can’t undersell him on, and Clendening is also a very smart puck mover and makes great passes in transition. Definitely not a flashy player, but he’s a dependable prospect who could have some untapped upside yet to come.

37. LC Victor Rask – Leksand (Allsvenskan)

DOB: Mar. 01/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 194lbs
Midterm Rank: 17 | League Rank: 1st Allsv.| Country Rank: 6th Sweden

What was previously a year under the radar quickly developed into a year to forget for this former “can’t-miss” prospect. Rask had issues with ice-time, attitude, and on-ice performance; factors that have certainly changed a once favourable opinion of him. While there are a lot of negatives about Rask, he does still have an intriguing skill-set which should be enough to secure him a spot in the Top 50. Rask’s great shot and combination of size and vision indicate a lot of potential, but he’s going to need to show more drive and passion if he ever wants to realize any of it.

38. RW Tomas Jurco – Saint John (QMJHL)

DOB: Dec. 28/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 193lbs
Midterm Rank: 24 | League Rank: 5th QMJHL | Country Rank: 1st Slovakia

Jurco is relatively comparable to Oshawa Generals forward Nicklas Jensen, in that he has that rare game-breaking ability that is extremely rare amongst prospects. He’s a player that can absolutely fly and has all the dynamic puck moves you would want to accompany that level of speed. He’s a fairly good finisher, although he could probably stand to take opportunity on more of his chances, but the talent is there. Jurco’s issue has been finding consistency, however, as he can go through spells where he can’t generate much of anything on the scoreboard. He might remind you a lot of Michael Grabner, and maybe an NHL team will step up in round one hoping that Jurco can eventually find that type of success in the NHL as a game-breaker.

39. RW Nikita Kucherov – CSKA Moskva (MHL)

DOB: Jun. 17/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 165lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st MHL | Country Rank: 3rd Russia

It’s tough to find a player that made a bigger case for himself at the U18’s than Russia’s Nikita Kucherov. The dynamic Russian winger absolutely shredded the competition in Germany with an astronomical 21 points in 7 games. Kucherov actually had quite a strong season in the MHL this past year and even had some seasoning in the KHL so it’s not like he’s coming out of left field. His offensive instincts and dynamic skills could probably justify a first-round selection, but the likely “Russian” fears and concerns about strength might push him into the second round.

40. LW Brandon Saad – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

DOB: Oct. 27/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 196lbs
Midterm Rank: 11 | League Rank: 11th OHL | Country Rank: 9th USA

Suffice to say, TSR’s thoughts on Saad have plummeted as the 2010/2011 season progressed. We had very high expectations for Saad this year; his first in the OHL, but have never seen the type of game that warrants the pre-season hype. Saad is a big winger with good speed, a hard shot, and a fairly good head for the game, but he lacks the drive you need to be a top line player at the next level. Saad shies away from contact despite being a big player and never really uses his body to his advantage. He doesn’t drive the front of the net enough and just isn’t willing to pay the price. All is not lost with Saad, as he does have goal scoring talent, but he needs to show a lot more if he wants to have that opportunity in the NHL.

41. LW Mario Lucia – Wayzata (HS-MN)

DOB: Aug. 25/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 183lbs
Midterm Rank: 49 | League Rank: 1st HS-MN | Country Rank: 10th USA

Draft trends would indicate that there should be one high school player going in the first round this year, and if that holds to be true, Mario Lucia is probably leading the way to be that guy. The son of University of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia, the younger Lucia remains uncommitted in the NCAA but plans to spend next season with Sioux Falls of the USHL. Lucia is a big, strong center with very good feet for a player of his size. He generates a lot of his offense from his speed and has the ability to make his teammates better players while being a very dangerous player in his own right. As he fills out, it should allow him to become more of an effective offensive forward and use his size to his advantage more often.

42. LW Lucas Lessio – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 23/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 201lbs
Midterm Rank: 40 | League Rank: 12th OHL | Country Rank: 17th Canada

Lessio had a pretty average season based on the high expectations he had coming in, but is still entrenched as a very solid early to mid second round pick. The third Oshawa Generals forward on our list, Lessio is a blue-collar winger who competes hard and plays well along the boards and in front of the net. He has agile feet, allowing him to be effective on the forecheck or in the cycle; and while he doesn’t possess elite speed, he can fight through checks with his powerful stride. Lessio does a lot of little things well to generate offensive chances, but lacks the high-end finish you would expect from a first-round pick. The end of his season is something he’d like to forget, as he’ll be serving a two-game suspension to start 2011 after his actions following Oshawa’s defeat against Niagara.

43. LW Matthew Nieto – Boston University (NCAA)

DOB: Nov. 05/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 183lbs
Midterm Rank: 21 | League Rank: 3rd NCAA | Country Rank: 11th USA

Nieto was projected to be a first-round pick coming into the year, but had a pretty tough start to his NCAA career and was never quite able to recover the lost ground. He’s undersized, but makes up for it with great speed and the ability to change gears into “breakaway” speed. Handles the puck well and is a pretty opportunistic player who can create for himself with some silky smooth hands. Nieto will have to address some of the deficiencies in his game such as competing harder and showing that he’s willing to sacrifice his body in the corners to make things happen.

44. RD Ryan Sproul – Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 13/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 13th OHL | Country Rank: 18th Canada

Signing with the Greyhounds proved to the be the catalyst that Ryan Sproul needed to get his name on the map this year. The hulking defenseman had some struggles working his way up the depth chart in the early going, but by the midway point of the season, Sproul was finding himself as one of the most reliable defensemen on the team. He has a big-time shot that he is not afraid to use and can be a huge asset at the top of the umbrella or a player you run an overload through. He is still showing a bit of growing pains on the defensive side of the game and will need to continue to improve his positioning and understand how to utilize his size, but Sproul is a pretty intriguing player with a high ceiling.

45. RC Rickard Rakell – Plymouth (OHL)

DOB: May 05/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 41 | League Rank: 14th OHL | Country Rank: 7th Sweden

Rakell is the type of players that coaches love to have, but just lacks that offensive punch that would justify him going too much higher. He will strike you as being a very smart, almost methodical player who appears to think the game one step ahead of everyone else. He’s a very good player on the forecheck and does a great job anticipating the play and disrupting passing lanes. Very good defensive player who can play against any trio the opposition throws out and won’t be liability in doing so. His offensive upside is the only real question right now, as he doesn’t quite have the skills and offensive instincts to be a major offensive threat.

46. RW Seth Ambroz – Omaha (USHL)

DOB: Apr. 01/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 211lbs
Midterm Rank: 27 | League Rank: 7th USHL | Country Rank: 12th USA

Ambroz’s skating was an issue coming into the season and by all accounts it hasn’t improved enough to keep him in the first round. He has continued to be productive and possesses the good hands, heavy shot and quick release teams covet. Ambroz also plays a physical game along the boards and battles for space in front. He can either try to improve his puck skills and skating at Minnesota or further enhance his physical game in the WHL with Seattle. The next few years will prove whether or not he has chosen the right path and if so, the team selecting him may get a bargain.

47. RC Colin Jacobs – Seattle (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 20/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 204lbs
Midterm Rank: 35 | League Rank: 8th WHL | Country Rank: 13th USA

Colin Jacobs came into the season with lofty expectations on a young Seattle team, and though he didn’t fully live up to those expectations, Jacobs quietly had a solid season. The Coppell, Tex. native has NHL size and has proven to be very durable in his two seasons in the WHL, while posting solid, if not spectacular point totals. Jacobs is a work in progress, (as evidenced by his -52 combined ranking in the last two seasons), but he is a solid skating, physical center with good offensive instincts, and is good on the defensive side of the puck as well.

48. LC Phillip Danault – Victorialville (QMJHL)

DOB: Feb. 24/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: 56 | League Rank: 6th QMJHL | Country Rank: 19th Canada

Danault has quietly become a player that has enamoured TSR with his hard work and consistency throughout the course of the season with Victoriaville. Danault comes to play every shift and you will often find the puck near him as he seems to always be involved in the play. He played with some talented players in the regular season which may have inflated his numbers a bit, but Danault rested some of those concerns with some pretty solid play during the post-season. He seems to be a player that just does a lot of things well and certainly is worthy of being slotted in this range.

49. LD Joel Edmundson – Moose Jaw (WHL)

DOB: Jun. 28/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 200lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 9th WHL | Country Rank: 20th Canada

After playing midget hockey last year, Edmundson made the jump to the WHL this year. At 6’4 and growing, Edmundson has a large frame that will appeal to many teams. Not only is he a big guy, but Edmundson plays the game much the same way that his teammate (and 2010 NHL 1st rounder) Dylan McIlrath does. Tough and strong, Edmundson makes life hard for opposing players. Edmundson is a decent skater and is able to move the puck up ice. While there has been some improvement in his production from the start of the year, Edmundson still projects as a defensive player that is hard to play against.

50. LW Jeremy Boyce – Timra (SEL)

DOB: Aug. 28/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 5th SEL | Country Rank: 8th Sweden

Here’s a guy that is definitely going to get some recognition after the Under 18’s, where he had a bit of a coming out party on the biggest scouting platform of his season. Boyce can flat out fly and uses his speed as the centrefold to his game. Despite being pretty wiry and a fairly raw talent overall, he’s still got an attractive package of offensive tools that will surely improve as he mature physically and mentally. He’s a bit of a project, but a few more seasons in Sweden should help him refine his skills.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

2011 NHL Draft Top 100 Skaters: (51-75)

Scott Campbell — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:37:40 +0000

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75)(76-100)

51. RC Michael St. Croix – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Apr. 10/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 179lbs
Midterm Rank: 45 | League Rank: 10th WHL | Country Rank: 21st Canada

Michael St. Croix had a solid, though not spectacular season in the WHL this year. The skilled center built on his rookie campaign by becoming a leader with the young Oil Kings, scoring 75 points and improving his plus/minus rating by an impressive 49 points in his second year. St. Croix is a competitive player who likes to set up his teammates, but can also finish when he gets the chance. Next season will go a long way in determining what kind of player St. Croix will be. If he can produce at the level he’s capable of, he could quickly establish himself as one of the potential steals in the 2011 draft.

52. RC Reid Boucher – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Sep. 8/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 8th USHL | Country Rank: 16th USA

Boucher has elite puck skills and while not a great skater, he’s very good at changing directions and is shifty on his skates. Boucher’s ability to continue to develop will hinge on his keen offensive instincts and ability to see the play develop. He also possesses the ability to complement other highly skilled players such as Grimaldi which is a skill that can sometimes be taken for granted. He must also show the ability to adapt his game against bigger, more physical players.

53. LD Stuart Percy – Mississauga (OHL)

DOB: May 18/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 186lbs
Midterm Rank: 44 | League Rank: 15th OHL | Country Rank: 22nd Canada

We had Percy up pretty high in our mid-terms and are still high on the Mississauga defenseman but feel he’s been eclipsed by some of the other players as the season has progressed. Percy is still a solid value pick as he plays a very smart game and plays mistake-free hockey in a lot of situations, but his high-end potential is a bit of a detractor. He isn’t an overly physical player, but Percy does use his reach well and is positionally smart. With his strong showing in the Memorial Cup, he could certainly go higher than our ranking here, which would not be a poor move at all.

54. RW Brett Ritchie – Sarnia (OHL)

DOB: Jul. 1/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 190lbs
Midterm Rank: 53 | League Rank: 16th OHL | Country Rank: 23rd Canada

There were high expectations for Ritchie this year; something he struggled to deal with at the start of the year. Initially overshadowed by teammates Alexander Galchenyuk and Nail Yakupov, Ritchie found his scoring touch in the second half of the season and was one of Canada’s better forwards at the U18’s. A big winger with a good shot, Ritchie can be a pretty effective sniper when he’s on his game. The symptoms in his game we’re not overly fond of is that he is inconsistent, and while shielding the puck well, he doesn’t really play with any sense of physicality. If you see him play regularly, you will probably even find that his game can be plagued by laziness. Despite our concerns, he does have the skill-set where a team will be willing to take a chance on him and see what they can get after a few years of development.

55. LC Joseph LaBate – Holy Angels (HS-MN)

DOB: Apr. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 180lbs
Midterm Rank: 58 | League Rank: 2nd HS-MN | Country Rank: 14th USA

LaBate held steady in our rankings this season and has definitely put his name on the map this season. He’s got the frame that will definitely interest NHL teams and his skating ability and willingness to play in front of the net will surely entice NHL teams as well. The Wisconsin commit will benefit from playing in the NCAA, where he’ll have an opportunity to add some much needed strength to his frame while playing against older players over the next 3-4 seasons.

56. LW Adam Lowry – Swift Current (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 29/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 184lbs
Midterm Rank: 52 | League Rank: 11th WHL | Country Rank: 24th Canada

The son of former NHLer (and current Calgary Flames assistant coach) Dave Lowry, Adam Lowry is a power forward winger that overcame a slow start to have a solid 17 year old season with Swift Current. After attending Canada’s U18 tryout camp in August, Lowry dealt with a bout of mono in September forcing him to the sidelines for a few weeks. Even after that, it seemed to take a couple months for him to get his game (and energy) back. Since late November, Lowry has nearly been a PPG player (39 points in his final 46 games) for the Broncos. At 6’4, Lowry uses his size well, is good along the boards and is willing to play the body. He likes to provide a screen in front of the net and is able to use his size to create space for his teammates. His footspeed needs some work but for a team that can afford to show some patience, Lowry could turn out to be a good complimentary player on an NHL team.

57. LW Nicholas Shore – Denver (NCAA)

DOB: Sep. 26/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 37 | League Rank: 4th NCAA | Country Rank: 15th USA

This season would have to be considered a bit of a disappointment for Shore, who many expected to be more of a contender to be a first-round pick; rather than fighting to maintain his status as a second rounder. Shore is a solid two-way player who has an above average skill-set and pretty good creativity when the puck is on his stick. He doesn’t quite have the size that his older brother does, but he still has managed to be an effective freshman player without it. He’s gone a little under the radar and should be a nice value pickup in this range.

58. LW Miikka Salomaki – Karpat (SM-Liiga)

DOB: Mar. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 2nd SM-Liiga | Country Rank: 2nd Finland

Salomaki spent the majority of the season in the SM-Liiga and wasn’t out of place playing in Finland’s top men’s hockey league. He also had an impressive showing at the World Juniors as a 17-year-old and quickly established himself as a gritty player who was willing to sacrifice his body despite being a little undersized. Salomaki is a solid offensive contributor but when you factor in his grit and willingness to compete, he can certainly find a role at the next level with that combination.

59. LC Daniel Catenacci – Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

DOB: Feb. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 36 | League Rank: 17th OHL | Country Rank: 25th Canada

Catenacci’s fall in our rankings is more a symptom of other players moving ahead of him rather than faults of his own. After a bit of a disappointing first year in the OHL, Catenacci took a more offensive role with the Greyhounds this season and showed more of an ability to create opportunities when he’s on the ice. Catenacci’s issue for us comes down to defining what type of a role he can have at the next level. He’s a good defensive player and tenacious center at this level, but how much will that translate to the NHL given his size? We’re not sure he has enough offense to be a Top 6 guy, which makes him a bit of a tweener in our eyes.

60. LD Xavier Ouellet – Montreal (QMJHL)

DOB: Jul. 29/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 177lbs
Midterm Rank: 53 | League Rank: 7th QMJHL | Country Rank: 26th Canada

Ouellet had a quick start to begin the year but cooled down as the season progressed. He isn’t a natural offensive defenseman but his game did take some positive steps forward with more ice-time this season. Ouellet is a steady defender who makes good decisions with the puck and is very composed in his own end. He doesn’t force plays and does a good job of utilizing outlets instead of just hammering it off the glass. Is a good fit towards the end of the second round and will be a solid pick-up for any team looking to add some depth to their prospect pool on the backend.

61. LD Rasmus Bengtsson – Rogle (Allsvenskan)

DOB: May 14/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 196lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 2nd Allsv. | Country Rank: 9th Sweden

Bengtsson really came on during the second half of the season and is a player with tremendous upside which should justify a draft selection within the top three rounds. Part of what could be a pretty solid crop of Swedish defensemen in 2011, Bengtsson plays a responsible defensive game while also being a very smart player with good offensive instincts. He’s going to need some time to develop, but he’s a player who could be a very nice pick-up for any team willing to step up and take him.

62. LD Myles Bell – Regina (WHL)

DOB: Aug. 19/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 202lbs
Midterm Rank: 31 | League Rank: 12th WHL | Country Rank: 27th Canada

Unfortunately we can’t talk about Bell without talking about his recent tragic car accident. Bell is an offensively gifted defenseman that plays with a physical edge. He is an effective offensive weapon because he is able to both distribute the puck and shoot it very hard. While Bell has some holes in his defensive game, there is much to like about his offensive abilities and his prospects of making the NHL. However, since that accident, there will be serious questions that will need to be asked. What happened that day? What are the repercussions for what has been done? What are the steps needed for getting the 18 year-old Bell’s life back on track? Is Bell physically okay? Is he mentally okay? There will be many factors that will be examined and all that really can be done is to wish everyone involved all the best.

63. LD Andrei Pedan – Guelph (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 07/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 190lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 18th OHL | Country Rank: 4th Russia

Pedan was impressive during the pre-season with Guelph and then had a bit of a tough adjustment to the OHL during the first couple months of the season. In the new year, however, he finally started to see his game come around and really showed some flashes of the player he can be during Guelph’s brief playoff experience. He’s a big defenseman who is a fluid skater but is still improving his agility and first few steps. Sometimes is guilty of trying to do too much with the puck and is still learning the North American game. Pedan has the raw tools to be a solid puck moving defender with some physical upside, and as he finds his comfort zone, he can start to integrate his offensive game into his play as well.

64. LC Markus Granlund – HIFK (Jr. A SM-Liiga)

DOB: Apr. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 169lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st Jr. A SM | Country Rank: 3rd Finland

Granlund certainly doesn’t have the talent that his older brother Mikael possesses, but Markus makes up for it with solid two-way play and quality intangibles. A great skater with high-end speed, Granlund brings a similar style of game that Daniel Catenacci brings to the ice. He was a fine player during the U18’s and showed some good chemistry with his teammates, providing some much needed offense for the Finnish squad.

65. RW Shane McColgan – Kelowna (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 01/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 160lbs
Midterm Rank: 50 | League Rank: 13th WHL | Country Rank: 16th USA

The diminutive McColgan has been very effective in two Western Hockey League seasons, scoring at nearly a point per game pace. McColgan sees the ice well, has great hands, and definitely isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas. The big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not he will be able to play his style at the pro level. The 5-9 McColgan hasn’t let his size hold him back yet, as he has proven a willingness to battle with any player in the WHL while generally staying healthy. If he can get his game to the next level, he could be a big draft day steal.

66. LW Shane Prince – Ottawa (OHL)

DOB: Nov. 16/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 57 | League Rank: 19th OHL | Country Rank: 17th USA

Prince is a diminutive forward who really burst onto the scene playing with Tyler Toffoli and Ryan Martindale this season, forming one of the top trios in the OHL. While undersized, Prince is a good offensive player and has a wealth of talent that he usually showcases several times during the course of a game. He’s got very good hands and has deceptive speed that he will use to throw off the defense to make a nifty pass to set up a teammate. He’s also got a good shot of his own and does a good job finding space to get a shot off. We have some concerns about Prince’s competitiveness, as he is guilty of taking shifts off, and the fact that he hasn’t convinced us that he’s going to be more than a great junior player.

67. LW Travis Ewanyk – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 29/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 14th WHL | Country Rank: 28th Canada

Ewanyk had a coming out party in the last month or so of the season. After ending the regular season on a bit of a mini hot streak, Ewanyk was handed the task of shadowing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the first round of the playoffs where Ewanyk was able to hold his own at even strength. He then represented Canada at the U18 World Championships where he continued his fine play. Ewanyk is a good skater and has the intelligence and grit needed to play against top offensive players. While his offensive upside may be a lower than many top picks, Ewanyk’s play without the puck will have him in consideration to be a higher pick than his modest numbers (27 points in 72 games) would suggest.

68. LW Max Friberg – Skovde (Sweden D1)

DOB: Nov. 20/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 55 | League Rank: 1st Swe-D1 | Country Rank: 10th Sweden

Nobody is quite sure what to expect with Friberg, especially given the fact he played in a lower tiered league this past season. Friberg is an undersized forward who competes pretty hard and brings it every shift. His offensive upside has been questioned, but some people may be a little hard on him. His role at the next level could be questionable, and he certainly didn’t have a great finish to the season, but we’ll see how he progresses the next couple of seasons.

69. LW Olivier Archambault – Val d’Or (QMJHL)

DOB: Feb. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 164lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 7th QMJHL | Country Rank: 29th Canada

Former top pick in the QMJHL Draft took some positive steps forward this season with an increased opportunity. Archambault isn’t an overwhelming player but does a lot of little things well to be a dangerous presence on the ice. Pretty strong for his size, and manages to find some space on the ice despite not having high-end speed. He does a good job of finding opportunities to create offense and should continue to develop over the next couple of years.

70. LD Mike Reilly – Shattuck St. Mary’s (HS-MN)

DOB: Feb. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 164lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 3rd HS-MN | Country Rank: 18th USA

Reilly is an undersized defenseman who is going to need a few seasons to develop at Minnesota, but could be worth the wait for whatever NHL team selects him. Reilly has good speed and is able to advance the puck with a combination of vision and assertiveness with the puck. The principal concern for Reilly is adding strength to his frame, but he’ll have some time in the NCAA to worry about those issues.

71. LW Michael Mersch – Wisconsin (NCAA)

DOB: Nov. 02/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 194lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 6th NCAA | Country Rank: 19th USA

Mersch certainly won’t be a player that fools you into thinking top line NHL player due to his skating concerns, but he makes up for it in other areas. Mersch is a gritty forward who does the little things well and wins battles around the ice. If his offensive game comes around, he could be serviceable as a player that can stand in front of the net and muck it out in the dirty areas of the ice. If not, he has the mindset where he could be an effective grinder.

72. LD Zakhar Arzamastsev – Metallurg (KHL)

DOB: Nov. 06/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st KHL | Country Rank: 5th Russia

Our first KHL player is Zakhar Arzamastsev, who has warmed up to scouts as the year has progressed. He’s a smooth skating defender who plays a mistake free game and makes a lot of good decisions with and without the puck. We’ll see what NHL teams think of his commitment to the KHL at the draft, but he would be a nice pickup early in the 3rd round.

73. RC Vincent Trocheck – Saginaw (OHL)

DOB: Jul. 11/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 20th OHL | Country Rank: 20th USA

Trocheck was one of the top players with the Saginaw Spirit this past season and does a lot of things well, but lacks a defining quality to his game. A little undersized, Trocheck isn’t blazing fast and doesn’t quite have the talent to consistently be an offensive threat; also being guilty of taking some shifts and games off. When he’s on, Trocheck is a player that has some decent upside as he has a pretty nifty snap shot and isn’t afraid to use it. He also will take his game to the front of the net and some of the areas that teammate Brandon Saad tends to avoid. If Trocheck were a little bigger or more dynamic, he could make a case to be in the Top 60, but in this draft, he’s better suited to be selected somewhere around the 3rd or 4th round.

74. RD Albert Yarullin – AK Bars Kazan (MHL)

DOB: Mar. 05/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 194lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 2nd MHL | Country Rank: 6th Russia

Yarullin is another player who certainly boosted his stock during the U18’s where he was one of the better defenseman and a productive one at that, with 11 assists in only 7 games. Yarullin is a dependable defenseman who plays an effective game and also sees ice-time in a variety of situations. The Russian factor, again, has to be considered, but we’ll see how NHL teams feel about it.

75. RW Logan Shaw – Cape Breton (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 05/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 190lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 8th QMJHL | Country Rank: 30th Canada

Shaw started to find his game during his third year in the QMJHL and could be a bit of a sleeper to look out for given his large frame and unpolished game. The Mooseheads winger was one of the bright spots on a pretty poor club last season and has pretty good goal scoring instincts and has the ability to get things done. As mentioned, he’s pretty raw and is definitely a risky project, but in a draft that starts to thin out after the second round, he could be worth the risk.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

2011 NHL Draft Top 100 Skaters: (76-100)

Scott Campbell — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:37:16 +0000

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)

76. RC Philippe Hudon – Choate-Rosemary (HS-CT)

DOB: Apr. 15/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 183lbs
Midterm Rank: 51 | League Rank: 1st HS-CT | Country Rank: 31st Canada

Hudon was highly regarded at the start of the season but failed to take a significant offensive step forward at the Prep School level. He’s got a decent frame to work with and plays a pretty hard-nosed game, indicating his role will likely be as more of a third line player at the next level. Still, his lack of production is concerning, and the fact that a “power forward” will be heading to Cornell might also be a bit of an issue for NHL teams.

77. LD Max Everson – Edina (HS-MN)

DOB: Feb. 22/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 184lbs
Midterm Rank: 60 | League Rank: 4th HS-MN | Country Rank: 21st USA

Solid defender who depends a lot on his skating and ability to maintain gap control with opposing forwards. Doesn’t have a ton of high-end upside, but the Harvard commit does enough well where he is a steady prospect that might be able to develop a bit of offense in time.

78. LC Tobias Rieder – Kitchener (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 10/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 20th OHL | Country Rank: 1st Germany

There was high praise for Rieder at the start of the year as the German born center/winger came over to Kitchener with fairly high expectations. After starting out the year at a pretty good pace, Rieder slowed down as the year progressed. He’s a little undersized but he definitely competes hard for his size and wears his heart on his sleeve on the ice. Didn’t have a great showing during the World Juniors but by the 3rd or 4th round, he’ll be a decent prospect to see if he can continue to develop his offensive game over the next couple of seasons.

79. LW Gregory Hofmann – Ambri-Piotta (NLA)

DOB: Nov. 13/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 165lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st NLA | Country Rank: 2nd Swiss

Hofmann is a talented Swiss forward that has the offensive skill-set of a player who would go a lot higher in the draft. His vision is above average and he has a decent enough shot to go along with it. Concerns center around his strength as he is simply too weak currently and is easily muscled off the puck and pushed around on the ice. This issue is going to mitigate a lot of the upside with Hofmann and could scare some NHL teams away.

80. LC Alan Quine – Kingston (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 10/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 181lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 21st OHL | Country Rank: 32nd Canada

Quine came into the OHL with a ton of expectations as the #2 pick and hasn’t really been able to live up to them even despite a mid-season change of scenery. After failing to find any success with the Frontenacs, Quine was dealt to Peterborough in the Ryan Spooner trade and found a bit more success with the Petes. He’s a pretty dynamic player when he’s on as his blend of speed and skill do make him an offensive threat. Quine’s issue is finding consistency as he can go through lulls where he’s highly ineffective, in addition to being a very poor defensive center. His game is plagued by failing to pick up his man and missing defensive zone coverage assignments, which is something he really needs to work on the next couple of years in the OHL.

81. RD Tyler Hansen – Kamloops (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 17/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 15th WHL | Country Rank: 33rd Canada

Hansen is exactly what Western Hockey League defensemen are bred to be; physical, good defensively, and not afraid to drop the mitts. Hansen is a raw prospect that will need some time to develop, and will also need to fill in to his tall frame. He is a good skating, stay at home defenseman who likely won’t stand out on most nights. He does most of the little things effectively, and is the type of player that keeps opposition players honest, both with his defensive play and his fighting ability.

82. RW Josh Leivo – Sudbury (OHL)

DOB: May 26/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 22nd OHL | Country Rank: 34th Canada

Josh Leivo from September-December vs. Josh Leivo the second half of the season are about as much of polar opposites as you’ll find in any prospect in this draft. After barely establishing himself as an OHL caliber player during the first half of his rookie season, Leivo maintained a PPG pace throughout the second half and went on to become one of the biggest revelations during the OHL playoffs. He’s a big winger who has a good mind for the game and knows where to go on the ice. Has good anticipation and can play the PK as well. Could be a pretty big steal if he can continue to build on the latter part of his rookie season.

83. RW Matej Stransky – Saskatoon (WHL)

DOB: Jul. 11/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 195lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 16th WHL | Country Rank: 3rd Czech

Much like teammate Marek Viedensky, Matej (Matt) Stransky possesses a nice combination of skill and size. Also like Viedensky, the Czech-born Stransky has adjusted well to the North American game and should prove to be a worthwhile investment on draft day. While he is more of a project pick at this point, he has very good size and is tough to move off the puck. He is also more skilled than his numbers would suggest. The problem for him has been consistency, but there is no denying his talent. After a good but inconsistent regular season, Stransky turned up the play during the playoffs. Some patience will be needed with him, but with the many changes expected in Saskatoon next year, Stransky will be given the opportunity to play a bigger role with the Blades.

84. RC Johan Sundstrom – Frolunda (SEL)

DOB: Sep. 21/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 196lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 6th SEL | Country Rank: 11th Sweden

Big center who was a member of the Swedish U20 team in Buffalo this season. Doesn’t have a ton of offensive upside but works hard and has a bit of grit that could be used in a checking role. Will be given some time to develop at home and could translate into a solid bottom line player one day.

85. RD Justin Sefton – Sudbury (OHL)

DOB: Apr. 14/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 201lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 23rd OHL | Country Rank: 35th Canada

Sefton struggled to adapt to the OHL as a rookie and it took him awhile to get his feet under him this season as well, but he’s finally showing the type of player he can be. Sefton is a nasty defenseman to play against and someone that will make you pay on every shift either through physical play, or nasty Chris Pronger-esque slashes in front of the net. He’s still working on his skating and acceleration, but he’s not a bad technical skater. Offensive upside is minimal; although he does have a pretty hard shot but will need to work on getting it off more frequently.

86. LC Nick Cousins – Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 20/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 24th OHL | Country Rank: 36th Canada

Cousins is a bit of an enigma who we have trouble determining a role at the next level for. He’s a scrappy little player who does a bit of everything on the ice and isn’t afraid to mix things up, trying especially hard to get under opponents’ skin. He’s got a bit of an awkward stride, but his combination of skill and offensive awareness is enough for him to make things happen out there. Our issue is seeing how much of his game translates to an offensive role at the next level and trying to figure out whether or not some of his character issues will hinder his efforts to make that jump.

87. LD Dillon Simpson – North Dakota (NCAA)

DOB: Aug. 20/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 195lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 7th NCAA | Country Rank: 37th Canada

In hindsight, Simpson’s draft stock was likely hurt by playing in the NCAA as a 17-year-old, as Simpson didn’t get the ice-time or live up to the expectations most had for him. The son of former NHLer Craig Simpson, Dillon had a strong rookie season in the AJHL a year ago but had some issues with the speed of the college game. He has some decent ability and is a fairly smart defenseman but will need to really improve his skating if he wants to be a legitimate NHL prospect. He will have some time to develop over the next few years and should be well worth a 3rd round pick to see if he can improve on those deficiencies.

88. LW Joachim Nermark – Linkoping (SEL)

DOB: May 12/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 187lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 7th SEL | Country Rank: 12th Sweden

Nermark is a bit of an enigma who showed some promise in the Ivan Hlinka before being fairly average during the club season. He’s got a good frame to work with and certainly has the puck skills to go along with it but needs to produce on a more consistent basis. A good showing in the U18’s could have rectified some of the concerns about his game but Nermark was pretty disappointing for Sweden with only 1 goal.

89. RW Maxim Shalunov – Chelyabinsk (MHL)

DOB: Jan. 31/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 183lbs
Midterm Rank: 47 | League Rank: 3rd MHL | Country Rank: 7th Russia

Big winger with high skill level and a package of goods that will excite fans some of the time, and frustrate them the rest. Shalunov is an inconsistent player who can be the best player on the ice when he’s on the game, only to disappear the rest of the game. He’s worth the “risk” in the 3rd round, but we can’t envision anyone stepping up to take him any higher.

90. LD Brendan Kichton – Spokane (WHL)

DOB: Jun. 18/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 17th WHL | Country Rank: 38th Canada

After going undrafted last year, Kichton earned an invite to camp with the Detroit Red Wings. While he impressed the Detroit brass enough to earn an extended stay, he suffered a broken wrist that would delay the start to his junior season. Once back, Kichton exploded for 81 points and a +55 rating in 64 games, leading a young Chiefs team deep into the playoffs. Kichton is a great skater with very good lateral movement, a gifted passer and jumps into the rush at just the right moment, creating odd man rushes and scoring chances. The smallish Kichton will have to prove he can handle the physical rigors of the pro game, but certainly looks primed for another big season in the WHL next year.

91. LW Zac Larraza – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Feb. 25/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 9th USHL | Country Rank: 22nd USA

Larraza has the look of a prototypical pro winger. He skates well and plays a very simple, effective game and takes care of his side of the ice. He’s strong on the boards and plays a smart defensive game. He has a nice, powerful stride and will gain more speed as he adds bulk to his frame. Larraza should be a nice pick for a club willing to show patience and let him grow and mature at Denver.

92. LD Zach Yuen – Tri-City (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 03/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 205lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 18th WHL | Country Rank: 39th Canada

Zach Yuen has quietly become one of the top all-around defensemen in the WHL. Yuen is a solid skater, plays a strong physical game, and can chip in offensively. While he doesn’t do any one thing that will garner big attention, he’s the kind of player that can play just about any style of game that’s asked of him. Yuen is a steady influence on the blueline, and does most of the little things right on a nightly basis, making his teammates better whenever he’s on the ice. Zach Yuen is the type of player every coach loves to have, as you can put him on the ice in any situation and know what you’re getting.

93. LD Garrett Haar – Fargo (USHL)

DOB: Aug. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 193lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 10th USHL | Country Rank: 23rd USA

Haar oozes athleticism that is sure to excite scouts. His footwork is particular strong allowing him to move well laterally and display confidence by maintaining tight gap control. He’s tough to get around as he has the knack and ability to step into the puck carrier and separate him from the puck. Haar also keeps his head on a swivel and reads his backchecking support to know when to pressure the puck carrier. Haar just needs to pick his spots better as he can be prone to taking himself out of position in order to make a great offensive play. He also needs to improve on some of the finer points of the game in areas such as taking better angles when forcing the puck carrier in the corner.

94. LW Marek Tvrdon – Vancouver (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 1/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 212lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 19th WHL | Country Rank: 2nd Slovakia

Tvrdon had a very nice start to the season posting 11 points in the first 12 games of the season. Unfortunately, those 12 games were all he would end up playing this year as a shoulder injury ended his season prematurely. Tvrdon has good size and uses his strength to outmuscle opponents and create scoring chances. Once he is in position to shoot, Tvrdon uses a hard wrist shot that has proven to be effective for him.

95. LC Sean Kuraly – Indiana (USHL)

DOB: Jan. 20/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 11th USHL | Country Rank: 24th USA

Kuraly appears to have benefited by being on an experienced, high scoring team with the Ice. He’s a big kid who figures to get even bigger and stronger. He contributes at both ends and shows the ability to get open and make plays with the puck. He also is strong in front of the net and battles for rebounds and deflections. Kuraly works hard to get from point A to point B but needs to lengthen his stride a little to be a more efficient skater.

96. RW Max Le Sieur – Shawinigan (QMJHL)

DOB: Sep. 27/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 203lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 9th QMJHL | Country Rank: 40th Canada

Le Sieur finally had his break-out season in his third year in the QMJHL and became a bit of an offensive threat this season. He’s got decent speed and competes alright depending on the game. Can be guilty of making poor plays on offense and leaves chances unfinished sometimes. Will be a project pick but could have some more upside left in his game.

97. LD Joakim Ryan – Dubuque (USHL)

DOB: Jun. 17/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 182lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 12th USHL | Country Rank: 25th USA

Ryan displays tons of high-end offensive talent. He’s a good skater who doesn’t slow down when he has the puck and attacks the blue line with speed. He has good vision and instincts to anticipate the open lanes to enter the offensive zone. Ryan passes well and has the creativity to open up the ice for his teammates. Defensively, Ryan seems to know the game and also plays with an edge usually seen by bigger players. There is enough upside to excite you but he has to be more consistent.

98. LC Jean-Francois Leblanc – Val d’Or (QMJHL)

DOB: Mar. 03/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 10th QMJHL | Country Rank: 41st Canada

Leblanc is very much an unfinished product at this point and has a lot of work ahead of him to lose that label. He’s a big, wiry, and fairly awkward skating pivot who really needs to improve his feet and add some bulk to his frame before he can take the next step. With that being said, he’s a pretty smart player and has good hockey sense with the ability to make things happen. As mentioned, he’s a project type pick, but the upside is there if everything pans out.

99. RD Matt Killian – Delbarton (HS-NJ)

DOB: Oct. 20/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 191lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st HS-NJ | Country Rank: 26th USA

Safe, solid, and skating are three words that come to mind when describing Matt Killian. The Yale commit isn’t going to blow you away with offensive upside but he can play a steady game on the backend without taking many risks. Seems like a solid mid-round pick who will have some time to develop at Yale.

100. LD Patrick Koudys – RPI (NCAA)

DOB: Nov. 15/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 196lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 8th NCAA | Country Rank: 42nd Canada

Koudys had a bit of a prolonged adjustment to the NCAA this year after spending last season with the OJHL’s Burlington Cougars. Koudys has plenty of size and is a fairly mobile player with decent pivot ability; both attractive attributes. Offensive upside is questionable and his overall impact on the game probably isn’t as big as you would hope for him. Could be an interesting prospect to see if his overall game comes around at RPI.

Be sure to check out the rest of our Top 100: (1-25) (26-50) (51-75) (76-100)