Update: Be sure to check out our most up to date rankings here

1. CAM FOWLER

Position: Defense | Shoots: Left

Birthdate: December 5^th, 1991

Height: 6’3” | Weight: 200 lbs

Hometown: Farmington Hills, Michigan

09/10 Team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

While it may be a surprise to see someone other than Taylor Hall at the top of the list, make no mistake, Cam Fowler is the real deal. Fowler is a prototypical solid two-way defenseman that lacks any glaring weaknesses in his game. After coming off a terrific season with the US Under 18 team, Fowler was named the best defenseman in the Under 18 World Championships in Fargo, as well as being named to the tournament’s all-star team.

Fowler is a terrific skater, especially for his size and looks almost effortless with a very strong stride. In his own end Fowler is extremely strong positionally and can log heavy minutes against the other team’s top line. However, Fowler is equally adept at contributing at the other end of the ice as his offensive instincts are very good.

After originally committing to play for the University of Notre Dame for the 2009/2010 season, Fowler has opted instead to head to the Ontario Hockey League and join the Windsor Spitfires, who selected him with the 17^th pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection. Some may remember that Fowler was originally drafted 18^th overall by the Kitchener Rangers in 2007, but the Rangers elected to release his rights prior to the 2008 draft in order to pick up a 2^nd round pick as compensation. Fans can expect a big year out of Fowler as he joins a very strong Spitfires team that is fresh off a Memorial Cup Championship in Rimouski. With most of the team’s core returning again this season, they will once again be favourites to win the Ontario Hockey League.

Overall, Fowler looks to have all the tools to be a big time defenseman in the NHL in the future. While his offensive potential may not be as high end as some think, he definitely has the ability to be a very good two way defenseman, and should be ready for NHL duty as early as the 2010/2011 season.

2. TAYLOR HALL

Position: Left Wing | Shoots: Left

Birthdate: November 14^th, 1991

Height: 6’0” | Weight: 178 lbs

Hometown: Kingston, Ontario

09/10 Team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Take note that most scouting services will have Taylor Hall pegged as the top player available in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the reality is that right now there really isn’t much separating some of the players at the top and they are essentially interchangeable.

Hall has been on NHL scouts radar for quite some time and really burst onto the scene with the Kingston Minor Midgets en route to being selected 2^nd overall by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection two seasons ago.

When you describe Hall’s game, the first word that comes to mind is explosive. Taylor Hall is an extremely good skater and has the ability to make things happen all on his own, very reminiscent of Pavel Bure in the mid 1990s. Hall is a very unique skater as he bends over almost at a 90 degree angle in his stride, but make no mistake, when he reaches his top speed there are very few that can catch him; and it doesn’t take him long to hit that high gear.

With that being said, there is some cause for concern in Hall’s game. He’s prone to making bad turnovers in transition, and sometimes he makes poor decisions with the puck in the offensive zone as well. While his plus/minus rating has been very solid the past two seasons, he is susceptible to being caught out of position, leading one to wonder how much playing for a strong Windsor club is sheltering some defensive concerns in his game.

This season will be a big one for Hall if he wants to be the first pick in 2010. Scouts will be looking for him to really break out offensively the way they expected him to last season. Hall has already showed that he can be a big time player in the playoffs, picking up both the OHL Playoffs and Memorial Cup MVP awards, but now is the time to show that he has the ability to put up big time numbers while proving that he isn’t a liability at the other end of the ice.

3. KIRILL KABANOV

Position: Left Wing | Shoots: Right

Birthdate: July 16^th, 1992

Height: 6’2” | Weight: 176 lbs

Hometown: Moskva, Russia

09/10 Team: Undecided

Arguably the most hyped prospect out of Russia since Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin in 2004, the wait is finally over as Kirill Kabanov’s draft year has finally arrived.

Kabanov is a big kid who’s very raw at this point and has yet to fill out his frame. He’s got all the typical talent that you would expect from a Russian forward. He’s a very good skater that has a very explosive stride which he uses to his advantage in his game. He has tremendous natural talent and has the ability to make big time moves at high speed. With Kabanov, you’re getting a player that also has the ability to read the ice well. He sees gaps where he can slide into quietly and before you know it has the puck and he’s making something happen. From that aspect, there is a lot to like about Kabanov’s game, and once he fills out a bit, there’s no telling how good he could be.

However, before he can get to that point, he still has to refine some of the minor areas of his game. For one, Kabanov has been dogged for being a bit immature on the ice when things aren’t going his way. He also tends to not compete as hard as other players and can be guilty of taking shifts off. These are both things that Kabanov needs to address in taking a more complete approach to the game moving forward.

One of the other major lingering questions with Kabanov is figuring out where he is even going to be playing the 2009/2010 season. After spending time between Spartak’s KHL team and junior team last season, rumours have been swirling that he might be headed to Salavat next season. However, Kabanov previously made headlines in Canada when he made comments that indicated that he may want to play in the Canadian Hockey League as well. After Moncton took him with the 7^th pick in the 2009 CHL Import Draft, they will be doing their best to convince him to come to the QMJHL.

4. TEEMU PULKKINEN

Position: Right Wing | Shoots: Right

Birthdate: January 2^nd, 1992

Height: 5’11” | Weight: 183 lbs

Hometown: Vantaa, Finland

09/10 Team: Jokerit (SM-Liiga)

Coming into the 2008/2009 season, there was a lot of hype for Teemu Pulkkinen to be in contention for the #1 pick in 2010 heading into the 2009/2010 season. While injuries derailed his season a bit and held him off the Finnish U20 team in the World Juniors, Pulkkinen has done well to reaffirm himself with the elite players in this draft after a tremendous showing at the U18 World Championships in Fargo.

Unlike most Finnish forwards, Pulkkinen is an interesting package of offensive skill. While he isn’t the biggest player, he is not afraid to drive the traffic zones on the ice. He doesn’t look to play the body often, but he’s not afraid to take a big hit if it means making a play and he certainly doesn’t shy away from contact. His skating is solid, albeit not at the same level many have come to expect from most European prospects. However, what Pulkkinen lacks in elite speed, he makes up for with slick offensive talent. He’s extremely good with the puck and handles it incredibly well in traffic. He also has a very good shot and is one of those players that while he has the prowess of a true sniper, he is equally adept and being a top notch playmaker.

Next season will be a big test for Pulkkinen to prove that he can stick with the top players in this crop, especially considering that there is a significant amount of players that are neck in neck with him. After being selected in the first round of the CHL Import Draft by the Kelowna Rockets, it looks as though Pulkkinen is planning on staying in Finland to play with Jokerit’s SM-Liiga squad. Pulkkinen will need to prove that he can contribute in the league and more importantly in the World Juniors, where a lot of scouts will be focusing heavily on him and his Finnish teammate Mikael Granlund.

Overall, Pulkkinen already has a lot going for him in that he has the tools to be a very good player and he already plays a North American style game. However, the real question with Pulkkinen is maintaining some consistency in his game, and proving that he can be the go-to player on a nightly basis.

5. ERIK GUDBRANSON

Position: Defense | Shoots: Right

Birthdate: January 7^th, 1992

Height: 6’3” | Weight: 195 lbs

Hometown: Orleans, Ontario

09/10 Team: Kingston (OHL)

One player to really keep an eye on in 2009 will be Kingston’s Erik Gudbranson. The former 4^th overall pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, Gudbranson was one of the few brightspots on Kingston’s dismal team last year, and will be a key piece of the team’s rebuild. Gudbranson earned many accolades last season, including captaining the Frontenacs at one point during the season as a 16 year old. He also was the captain for Ontario at the Under 17 Championships, and made Team Canada’s U18 team as an underager.

Right now despite the obvious talent you’ll see in Gudbranson, he’s far from being polished. Blessed with great size, Gudbranson is a terrific skater and can start a rush at will, which is something he will likely do more this upcoming season. He’s got great offensive instincts on the breakout and has a great shot from the point. He also has the ability to make sure that he gets shots through to the net, which is an extremely desired skill. Defensively, Gudbranson is good positionally and he uses his long reach to his advantage. While he could likely be more physical and utilize his size better, he will play the body when he needs too.

When evaluating Gudbranson, the main question to ponder is just how good can he be? He still needs to add another 15+ pounds to his frame before he can fill out, which will obviously have a major effect on his ability to be more physical. He also got very little powerplay time in Kingston last season, so his offensive numbers will likely spruce up considerably as Kingston Head Coach Doug Gilmour uses him more in powerplay situations this season. Really there isn’t much not too like with Gudbranson right now as he seems to have all the potential in the world. This year will be a big test for him to show the scouts that he is ready to take that next step and elevate his game to a new level, and if he’s able to do so, he could be a player that gets his name in the mix to be the top pick in next year’s draft.

6. MIKAEL GRANLUND

Position: Center | Shoots: Left

Birthdate: February 26^th, 1992

Height: 5’10” | Weight: 172 lbs

Hometown: Oulu, Finland

09/10 Team: HIFK (SM-Liiga)

The other piece of Finland’s dynamic 1992 duo, Mikael Granlund is another major brightspot for Finland’s development system. Last season was a big year for Granlund as he really burst onto the scene with strong performances in both the World Juniors as a 16 year old, and then once again playing as an underager in the Under 18 World Championships. Also after shining for Karpat’s U20 team in the SM-Liiga’s Jr. A circuit, Granlund earned himself a brief call-up to Karpat’s SM-Liiga squad.

One of the things plaguing Granlund right now is that there seems to be a common perception that he is a tiny player, which is not the case. While he is definitely undersized by NHL standards, his size is not a major concern given his exceptional level of talent. He’s a very good skater and has great agility which he uses to advantage. Like Pulkkinen, he’s a bit of a stick magician as well and has a tremendous repertoire of moves. Granlund is definitely a playmaker first and foremost, as he sees the ice pretty well and can definitely create a lot of quality chances for other players. But he still has a pretty good wrist shot and can put the puck in the net when need be. Another thing to really like about Granlund is that for being undersized, he competes pretty hard on the ice and is willing to battle.

Like his fellow countryman Teemu Pulkkinen, Granlund will be playing in the SM-Liiga next season, only with HIFK. After really bursting onto the scene this past year, a lot of scouts will be paying close attention to Granlund in 2009/2010 which means that there will be a lot of pressure on him to live up to the billing of a top prospect. Like Pulkkinen, Granlund’s true tests will come in international play as he will have to ensure that he has big tournaments at the World Juniors and the Under 18 World Championships if he wants to cement his status as a Top 10 pick and even give himself a shot at creeping into the Top 5.

7. BRETT CONNOLLY

Position: Left Wing | Shoots: Right

Birthdate: May 2^nd. 1992

Height: 6’1” | Weight: 162 lbs

Hometown: Prince George, BC

09/10 Team: Prince George (WHL)

To describe just how good Brett Connolly’s rookie season was in Prince George, just take into account that Connolly was the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the WHL since Patrick Marleau did it way back in the 1995-1996 season with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Then consider the fact that Connolly did this playing for the fourth worst team in the WHL. Add in the fact that he also led the next closest Cougar by 11 goals, and 15 points, and it’s very easy to see that Connolly’s rookie season was nothing short of remarkable.

Connolly is a good sized player that like Gudbranson still needs to fill out his frame to truly hit his potential, something that with almost every prospect will come in time. The strength in Connolly’s game lies in his ability to find ways to score goals. He’s a real bonafide sniper, he’s got a tremendous shot that’s extremely accurate, and most importantly he has a very quick release. All of those signs point towards Connolly translating into a 30+ goal scorer at the NHL level. His skating is good, albeit his stride is a big awkward and he has a good set of hands to go along with it. One of the other things that Connolly does well is he has a knack to get into great positions on the ice where the puck seems to find him and gives him the opportunity to score those garbage goals that big time goal scorers often get.

The upcoming season will be a very interesting one for Connolly as he will be expected to build off his strong rookie season. With Prince George still expected to encounter some struggles, Connolly’s play will more or less dictate how the season could go for the Cougars. If Connolly has the type of season that he is capable of, he could be a player that gets himself in the mix for a Top 5 pick or even higher. While he definitely flew under the radar last season, this year will be when Connolly is truly seen as a prime time prospect.

8. BRANDON GORMLEY

Position: Defense | Shoots: Left

Birthdate: February 18^th, 1992

Height: 6’1” | Weight: 175 lbs

Hometown: Murray River, PEI

09/10 Team: Moncton (QMJHL)

Brandon Gormley is used to being under the spotlight as he’s been one of the most highly touted players to come out of the Maritimes since Sidney Crosby. After heading west in his QMJHL draft year to play for the famed Notre Dame Hounds along with fellow top QMJHL prospect Sean Couturier, Gormley was snatched up by the Moncton Wildcats who held the first overall pick in the 2008 QMJHL Draft.

Gormley’s rookie campaign was solid, albeit maybe a little underwhelming from what some people may have been expecting. Gormley plays a two way game, although I would say that his game is a little more catered to the offensive end. He’s a good skater and has a pretty smooth stride, with mobility as a definite asset. He sees the ice pretty well and he’s got good offensive instincts which are all the things you like to see out of an offensive defenseman. He also has a big shot which is another important quality for an offensive defenseman. With Gormley, a lot of people are going to have him as a player that is in the mix for a Top 3 or Top 5 pick, a lot of opinions may point to the contrary. While he does have the potential to be a very good player, right now he needs to prove that he has the skills that the hype has built up. Gormley was often very ordinary last season and looked like he struggled with the speed of the game some nights which are things he needs to improve on.

Either way, Gormley is another player that will be very interesting to watch this season. If he has a big season, he will definitely cement his status as a Top 3 or Top 5 pick in a lot of team’s eyes, but it would not be surprising if Gormley is one of the players that takes a bit of a dive, possibly out of the Top 10. With the big 3 defensemen (Fowler, Gudbranson, Gormley) all playing in the CHL next year, it will certainly be an interesting season to see how they progress as the scouts will no doubt be paying very close attention to each of these players.

9. EVGENI KUZNETSOV

Position: Forward | Shoots: Left

Birthdate: May 19^th, 1992

Height: 6’0” | Weight: 174 lbs

Hometown: Chelyabinsk, Russia

09/10 Team: Undecided

The first player to break the list as a bit of a surprise, Evgeni Kuznetsov is a name that will start to become very familiar as the 2009/2010 season carries on. In a year where it looks as though the Russians may pump out one of their most talented draft crops ever, Kuznetsov is one of the players that is definitely leading the charge in that aspect.

After spending the past season in relative obscurity playing in Russia’s third division, Kuznetsov burst onto the scene at the Under 18 World Championships where he was the fourth leading scorer in the tournament despite being an underager, as well as finishing second in team scoring behind Vladimir Tarasenko. The thing that Kuznetsov brings to the table is a talent level that is among the elite players in this draft crop. He has a tremendous set of hands, very comparable to a fellow countryman, Alex Semin. He distributes the puck very well and has the ability to make hi-light reel plays. The other thing about Kuznetsov is that he actually competes fairly well, especially for Russian players, who have been given the reputation to be very passive players.

Right now the only thing really hurting Kuznetsov is a lack of exposure. Not very many people know a lot about him right now which is one of the reasons why he’s fairly underrated at this point. It could work as a catch twenty-two however, as perhaps more viewings might uncover some shortcomings in his game. At any rate, Kuznetsov will have some pressure on him to really prove that he belongs with the elite of this draft crop this year. One of the other things Kuznetsov will need to work on as the year progresses is to become more mature and work on his overall strength as the 2009 season progresses. While some may have Kuznetsov behind Tarasenko or even Galiev at this point, he may not be better players then them right now, but he certainly has the potential to.

10. JOHN McFARLAND

Position: Left Wing | Shoots: Right

Birthdate: April 2^nd, 1992

Height: 6’0” | Weight: 192 lbs

Hometown: Richmond Hill, ON

09/10 Team: Sudbury (OHL)

After being highly touted since before he played a game of midget, it’s safe to say that people were probably expecting a little bit more out of McFarland this past season. After being turned down for exceptional status to play in the OHL as a 15 year old via the 2007 OHL Priority Selection, McFarland had to wait a season before being selected 1^st overall in 2008 by the Sudbury Wolves.

While McFarland’s stock fell a bit this past season, he still was pretty productive offensively, especially considering the tough start he encountered at the beginning of his OHL career. Starting with the good, McFarland has a lot of tools that are going to be very attractive to NHL scouts. Namely, he’s an incredible skater, maybe a step behind Taylor Hall, but very close. He’s got an NHL shot with a great release, although he needs to use it more. Also despite not being extremely tall, he’s already got NHL ready size. While that sounds enticing, there is cause for concern. McFarland’s positional play definitely leaves something to be desired as he often is out of position in his own end and loses positional matchups. He also doesn’t see the ice very well and struggled to develop any real chemistry with any of his line-mates. One of the other things that McFarland needs to improve on is getting to the traffic areas on the ice. Often times he settles for outside shots as he seems to be driven towards scoring the glamorous goals instead of just crashing the net and getting a few ugly ones as well.

On a positive note, McFarland did end his season exceptionally well. At the Under 18’s he was a seemingly different player then he was with Sudbury and was one of Canada’s top forwards despite being an underager. If he can play with that type of flare throughout the upcoming season, it will answer a lot of questions that the scouts are going to have about him going into the 2010 Entry Draft.

11. VLADIMIR TARASENKO

Position: Right Wing | Shoots: Left

Birthdate: December 13^th, 1991

Height: 6’0” | Weight: 185 lbs

Hometown: Novosbirsk, Russia

09/10 Team: Sibir Novosbirsk (KHL)

A lot like his fellow countryman Evgeni Kuznetsov, Tarasenko is a player who has really flown under the radar heading into the draft year. While he might end up slipping in the first round due to concerns over his desires to come over with no transfer agreement in place with Russia, make no mistake, Tarasenko definitely has high end talent even in a deep draft like this.

Tarasenko is a pretty good skater, although he needs to continue to work on his high-end acceleration and his ability to get there. Tarasenko’s true strength lies in his elite ability to make things happen with the puck in the offensive zone. He has an incredible set of hands and can create plays out of nothing. One of the things that Tarasenko also does well is that he is willing to compete on the ice, which is sometimes rare for players that have his type of flare. He’s also had the opportunity to log some significant minutes with his KHL club, Sibir, as he has seen a fair amount of ice time playing with the team’s second line. This is a big accomplishment for a player of his age to already have that type of responsibility in a men’s league.

Really the only thing holding Tarasenko back right now is getting more exposure. He needs to continue to work on his two-way play and becoming more of a complete player and ensure that he produces well in international competitions with Russia this season where the scouts will no doubt be keeping a close eye on him. While you could easily swap Tarasenko with Kuznetsov in the rankings at this point, and could likely argue that Tarasenko is actually the better player at this point, Tarasenko’s ceiling might not be quite as high as Kuznetsov when compared which is why he comes in at number eleven on the preliminary rankings.

12. TYLER TOFFOLI

Photo Credit: Valerie Wutti, Blitzen Photography

Position: Right Wing | Shoots: Right

Birthdate: April 24^th, 1992

Height: 6’0” | Weight: 181 lbs

Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario

09/10 Team: Ottawa (OHL)

While Tyler Toffoli has always been considered a very talented player who would no doubt be a big time point producer in the OHL at some point during his junior career, there is no doubt that Toffoli burst onto the scene a little ahead of schedule last season in Ottawa.

Toffoli was one of the top scorers in Minor Midget two years ago playing with the powerhouse Toronto Jr. Canadiens team that also featured John McFarland, who he often played alongside with. Toffoli was able to translate a lot of that talent over to the OHL last season as he played a big role with the 67’s, often riding shotgun to former San Jose first rounder Logan Couture on the club’s top line.

With Toffoli, you’re getting a player who doesn’t really have any elite talents but is extremely well rounded. His real strength is his hockey sense which he uses to his advantage on the ice. Toffoli does a good job of positioning himself and finding places where the puck seems to find him afterwards. He competes hard and won’t back down in the corners and isn’t afraid to take a hit to make a play either.

One of the real coming out parties for Toffoli happened in the playoffs where he was arguably Ottawa’s best forward in their series against Niagara. After scoring at just under a point per game clip during the regular season, Toffoli stepped his game up when it mattered and tied for fourth in team scoring during the playoffs with 8 points in 7 games.

Next year will be a big one for Toffoli as he will be relied on to take a more important role in the team’s offense with the loss of several key players. If Toffoli can step up once again and prove that he can handle the responsibilities of being a consistent point producer, he should do well to cement himself as a Top 15 pick in the eyes of NHL scouts in preparation for the 2010 Entry Draft.

13. STANISLAV GALIEV

Position: Forward | Shoots: Right

Birthdate: January 17^th, 1992

Height: 6’1” | Weight: 177 lbs

Hometown: Moscow, Russia

09/10 Team: Undecided

Galiev made a big decision prior to this season when he elected to leave Russia to come play in the USHL with the Indiana Ice. In hindsight, the decision proved to be a good one, as Galiev had a very productive season with the team as he finished 2^nd in team scoring and likely would have been the rookie of the year if not for Louis LeBlanc taking home the honour.

Galiev is a dynamic forward with a lot of offensive flare, much like the other high end Russians available in this crop. He’s a little inconsistent right now and needs to do a better job of capitalizing on his chances, but there is no doubt that the talent is there. The other thing that is good to see with Galiev is that he obviously has the desire to play in the NHL which is something that scouts will like to see and should alleviate any concerns of the “Russian Factor”.

While scouts know that Galiev has the talent to be a premier offensive forward at the next level, one of the burning questions surrounding the 17 year old Russian is just where he will play next season. Since the CHL does not allow 16 year old imports to play in the league, his only choice to play at the next highest level of junior hockey in North America was the USHL. Many were sure that the next logical step would be for Galiev to then be a top pick in the 2009 CHL Import Draft before starting a CHL career this fall. While Galiev checked one of those things off after being selected first overall in the Import Draft by the Saint John Sea Dogs, apparently there is a lot of uncertainty if Galiev will in fact be with Saint John this fall.

Some reports are beginning to indicate that Galiev will in fact return to Indiana after winning a Clark Cup with them last season before then re-evaluating his situation after the 2010 NHL Entry Draft where he would then be eligible to play either in the AHL, with Saint John or pursue an NCAA degree. Right now however, nothing is certain as Saint John will continue in their quest to lure him, while Indiana will hope that the talented forward returns for one more season with the team.

14. MARK PYSYK

Position: Defense | Shoots: Right

Birthdate: January 11^th, 1992

Height: 6’1” | Weight: 175 lbs

Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alberta

09/10 Team: Edmonton (WHL)

While the 2010 crop lacks a bit of high end talent from the WHL, Mark Pysyk is a player who could end up being a very good pick if he eventually does slide out of the Top 10. Despite playing on a pretty weak Oil Kings team that is still building itself up from expansion status, Pysyk was a definite brightspot for the team that struggled just to limp into the WHL playoffs last season. Luckily for Pysyk, fans already had a good idea of what to expect as the 17 year old defenseman already suited up in 14 games for the club during the 2007/2008 season.

While Pysyk isn’t the smoothest skating defenseman, and that may very well be one aspect that holds him back from hitting his potential in the NHL, he still has the ability to be a real controlling force on the blue line. Pysyk’s strength lies in his ability to be a real shutdown defenseman. He is very adept with man coverage in his own end and is extremely good positionally. Furthermore, he manages to play such a strong defensive game without taking very many penalties, a rarity in this day. Offensively, Pysyk is a decent puck mover who should be able to contribute at the NHL level, but teams will be definitely drafting him based on his ability to be a shut down defenseman with some solid transition ability.

The 2009/2010 season will present a new set of challenges for Pysyk as he will be counted on to take his game to a new level. With Edmonton looking as though they could be a significantly more competitive team next season, Pysyk will have to be on top of his game if the Oil Kings are able to do so. In a draft that is pretty wide open on the back-end right now, Pysyk could be a player that might go much higher in the draft if he’s able to put together an impressive season next year. The onus is on him to convince scouts that he has the ability to be a Top 10 pick.

15. JACK CAMPBELL

Position: Goalie | Catches: Left

Birthdate: January 9^th, 1992

Height: 6’1” | Weight: 165 lbs

Hometown: Port Huron, Michigan

09/10 Team: US Under 18 Team (USHL)

After a weak goaltending crop in 2009, things are looking a little brighter in 2010 with American Jack Campbell headlining the available goaltenders. Campbell had a very interesting year as he bounced between the US Under 17 and Under 18 teams and eventually worked himself into the starter’s spot for the Under 18 when they partook in the Under 18 World Championships at home in Fargo/Moorhead, a tournament that they eventually went on to win the gold medal in. Campbell stole the show in Fargo as he took over the team’s starting role after some dissention on the team. Campbell grasped the opportunity as he led in the tournament in GAA, SV% and went on to capture the award for Best Goalie despite being an underager.

Campbell has decent size, but he still needs to fill out his frame. He’s got very good reflexes and he’s extremely quick in his stance. He also has the ability to make great recovery saves if he is ever caught out of position. One of the other aspects that Campbell really excels at is puck handling, as he is extremely good at that aspect of the game. Campbell has also been praised as being extremely competitive, and as a player that strives to improve his game. With goalies, there is always a significant amount of work to be done in regards to improving their technical components of the game, so having a goalie that wants to improve is a huge plus.

The Port Huron native will no doubt have a big year ahead of him as he looks to replicate the success he had this past season. Campbell will need to continue to improve his positioning and just refining his overall game to show scouts that he has the potential to be a big time goaltender at the next level. While Campbell is slated to play for the Under 18 Team this fall before his college commitment to Michigan, there is some speculation that Campbell is still considering heading to the OHL where the powerhouse Windsor Spitfires hold his OHL rights.

Tags: 2010 nhl draft, 2010 nhl draft prospects, 2010 nhl draft rankings, 2010 Rankings, Brandon Gormley, Brett Connolly, Cam Fowler, Erik Gudbranson, Evgeni Kuznetsov, Jack Campbell, John McFarland, Kirill Kabanov, Mark Pysyk, Mikael Granlund, Stanislav Galiev, Taylor Hall, Teemu Pulkkinen, Tyler Toffoli, Vladimir Tarasenko

About the Author: Scott Campbell

Scott, 23, is the Managing Editor for TSR after helping to found the site in 2009. A 2010 graduate from Laurentian University's Sports Administration program, Scott currently attends Indiana State University as a graduate student majoring in Sports Management.