The Scouting Report » 2011 nhl draft

2011 NHL Entry Draft 1st Round Review

Scott Campbell — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 03:16:09 +0000

The 2011 NHL Entry Draft has come and gone. After the seemingly endless banter throughout the past 12 months, all the picks are in, and all the prospect junkies will quickly set their sights on a new target, the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Before we get there, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look and see how our final rankings stacked up against the actual results from June’s NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minn. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the rankings, you can do so here.

By no means is this article intended to serve as a barometer of evaluation in either direction. As we all know, the NHL Draft is always filled with those who fall short of expectations, and those who come from left-field and develop into the type of player that would justify a much higher draft selection. Nonetheless, after taking a week long break from the NHL Draft, it’s time to jump back in and see how we did!

#1. EDM – LC Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer) | TSR Rank: #1 (Even)

Not a surprising pick by any stretch, and a pick that should net the Oilers a very good top-line center for the next 15 years. Nugent-Hopkins is the best player in the draft right now, and with room to fill out a rather boyish body, his ceiling exceeds that of the other players in this crop.

#2. COL – RW Gabriel Landeskog (Kitchener) | TSR Rank: #3 (+1)

Colorado is deep down the middle with Stastny, Duchene, O’Reilly, and Hishon waiting in the wings, so it was time to find a winger to replenish the ranks. Landeskog should step in immediate and make a solid two-way impact, which is much needed after the Avalanche shipped out Chris Stewart to St. Louis last season.

#3. FLA – LC Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John) | TSR Rank: #5 (+2)

Huberdeau had a meteoric rise this season and really showcased himself well on the biggest stage in the QMJHL playoffs, and ultimately, the Memorial Cup. With Florida’s recent roster frenzy completely re-shaping the organization, Huberdeau may be given another year to develop in the QMJHL if the team determines he needs more work.

#4. NJD – RD Adam Larsson (Skelleftea) | TSR Rank: #2 (-2)

Larsson saw his stock fall this year but the 18-year-old Swede still has a tremendous amount of promise. A nice pickup for the Devils, Larsson may not have the high-end upside many believed he had, but he still has a strong framework of skills that will allow him to be a top pairing defenseman in his career.

#5. NYI – RC Ryan Strome (Niagara) | TSR Rank: #9 (+4)

I’ll admit it. I’m an Islanders fan. With that being said, I like the pick here even though it might be a bit bold. Strome has as much offensive upside as anyone in this draft and if he hits his ceiling, he’ll be a terrific addition to what is shaping up to be a very impressive roster on Long Island.

#6. OTT – RC Mika Zibanejad | TSR Rank: #7 (+1)

I really like this pick for Ottawa, and as you’ll see later, what they did with all of their first round picks. Zibanejad has a chance to crack this team in the fall and could develop into a very good top-6 center who can play both ends of the rink and bring a physical dynamic to the game as well.

#7. WPG – RC Mark Scheifele (Barrie) | TSR Rank: #10 (+3)

Anyone who’s been following us this year has probably seen that I’ve been extremely high on Scheifele since September. Winnipeg fans probably wanted Couturier, and they’re going to have to be a little patient with this pick, but I really think Scheifele has a ton of upside and the offensive instincts that can’t be taught. It’s another bold pick, but I really like what the Jets did here.

#8. PHI – LC Sean Couturier (Drummondville) | TSR Rank: #4 (-4)

The first “faller” in our rankings, Couturier is an obvious selection for the Flyers with the pick they obtain through the Jeff Carter trade. I think Couturier got the short end of the stick from a lot of people this season and he’s a guy that could look very nice with Brayden Schenn down the middle for a long-time in Philadelphia. Then again, that’s what we thought about Carter and Richards. If he turns out as well as either of them, it’s a great pick for Philly.

#9. BOS – RD Dougie Hamilton (Niagara) | TSR Rank: #8 (-1)

I’m not a firm believer in Hamilton, but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt in terms of NHL upside. Boston needed to add a defenseman to its prospect pool with this pick and Hamilton is a good start. I’m not totally sold he’s going to be a “great” NHL defenseman, but he should project as no worse than a second pairing defenseman.

#10. MIN – LD Jonas Brodin (Farjestad) | TSR Rank: #23 (+13)

Brodin was a bit of a surprise to most as I’m sure a lot of people had Klefbom pegged as the Farjestad defenseman to rise in the draft. With that being said, Brodin is a solid selection for Minnesota and a player who has flown under the radar a little bit. He’s a good puck mover with a high hockey IQ and his game has a lot of room to grow moving forward.

#11. COL – LD Duncan Siemens (Saskatoon) | TSR Rank: #14 (+3)

I never really bought into the notion that Siemens would fall and I like that Colorado stepped up to grab him. He’s far from polished and a little rough around the edges, but Siemens is a hard-nosed player who brings it every night. His offensive production is a little inflated, but he’s going to be a nasty guy to play against in the NHL.

#12. CAR – RD Ryan Murphy (Kitchener) | TSR Rank: #6 (-6)

After restocking the cupboard with defense at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Hurricanes get one of the more unique prospects I’ve seen in a while. I was pretty shocked to see Murphy slip out of the Top 10 and I really believe that the risk is well worth the reward. If he pans out, Murphy could be more of a grand-slam than a home-run.

#13. CGY – LW Sven Bartschi (Portland) | TSR Rank: #15 (+2)

A solid pick for the Flames, who as an organization are in dire needs of quality prospects. Bartschi has good offensive upside and doesn’t let his lack of size deter him from making an impact. A solid pick in the teens.

#14. DAL – LD Jamie Oleksiak (Northeastern) | TSR Rank: #22 (+8)

This is a guy who I’m really interested to see how he develops over the next few years. I’m not totally sure what to make of Oleksiak yet, but he’s got a package that is certainly intriguing. Dallas obviously likes the big defenseman and we’ll see how he turns out for them.

#15. NYR – LC JT Miller (USNTDP U18) | TSR Rank: #20 (+5)

Some were likely surprised to find that Miller went off the board before Rocco Grimaldi, but a late season surge was certainly enough to warrant the selection. Miller is a hard-nosed guy who plays a pro-style game. He might not score a ton of points, but he’ll fit in with some of the other gritty forwards that Glen Sather has built his team around.

#16. BUF – RW Joel Armia (Assat) | TSR Rank: #11 (-5)

Armia is a player that was a bit of an enigma this year, and didn’t quite perform to expectations on the big stages. Even though his year wasn’t as strong as most hoped for, he’s a very good goal-scorer with excellent size to boot. For a middle of the first round pick, he’s got pretty good upside.

#17. MTL – LD Nathan Beaulieu (Saint John) | TSR Rank: #16 (-1)

I wasn’t overly surprised to see Beaulieu fall below where some others had pegged him, as I’m not sure there’s a ton of high-end upside with him. While he won’t blow you away, I do like him as a second pairing defenseman who can chip in offensively. He’s got size and has established himself as a technically strong player, definitely nothing to complain about.

#18. CHI – RC Mark McNeill (Prince Albert) | TSR Rank: #13 (-5)

The Blackhawks certainly had to be happy to see McNeill fall into their laps at 18, as the team was definitely looking to bolster it’s depth down the middle. McNeill is a scrappy player with underrated offense. He’ll be a nice addition in the future to a Chicago squad that looks to retool itself after facing the wake of the NHL’s salary cap.

#19. EDM – LD Oscar Klefbom (Farjestad) | TSR Rank: #19 (Even)

Well look at that, we went 2/2 on Edmonton picks. If memory serves correctly, we also got the #19 pick correct a season ago with Nick Bjugstad. On the topic of Klefbom, it’s a nice addition for the Oilers who obviously coveted defense after the selection of Nugent-Hopkins. Klefbom is an intriguing physical package who should be able to crack the lineup within a few seasons.

#20. PHX – RD Connor Murphy (USNTDP U18) | TSR Rank: #31 (+11)

Our first player ranked outside the first round, Murphy had a limited body of work in a season that was hampered by injuries. Despite the limited showing, Murphy regained his form in time for the Under 18′s where he wound up scoring the tournament winning goal. Given his package of skills and size, it looks like a good pick for the Coyotes to work with.

#21. OTT – LW Stefan Noesen (Plymouth) | TSR Rank: #24 (+3)

I was not shocked in the least to see Noesen off the board this early, and am quite glad to see that an NHL team felt the same way I do about him. The first time I saw Noesen last year, I really was impressed with his competitiveness and drive on the ice. He’s not going to be a big-time scorer, but he’s a versatile player who I feel will play well in any role. I liken him to a Chris Kunitz type player.

#22. TOR – RW Tyler Biggs (USNTDP U18) | TSR Rank: #32 (+8)

The second Miami-Ohio commit after Connor Murphy to go in the first round, it really was no surprise to see the Leafs call his name after trading up with Anaheim. I don’t think Biggs is as good as some people may have pegged him, but he’s definitely got some physical jam. He’s a Burke style of player, but he’ll need a few years of seasoning before he’s NHL-ready.

#23. PIT – LD Joe Morrow (Portland) | TSR Rank: #35 (+12)

I think our WHL guys would have liked to have Morrow in this range as opposed to the second round, and they certainly make a compelling case. Morrow is a dependable player with decent offensive upside and good puck moving capability. Not an overly flashy player, but a solid defenseman who has the skating ability and hockey sense to play in the NHL.

#24. OTT – LW Matthew Puempel (Peterborough) | TSR Rank: #12 (-12)

It wasn’t a shock to see Puempel slip after his season-ending hip injury, and this could be a very nice pickup for the Sens, who I already alluded to as having a very good first round. Puempel is as good of a goal-scorer in this draft as any. He’s got a great shot and an even better release. I think his overall game still needs work, but at 24, this is a very nice pick.

#25. TOR – LD Stuart Percy (Mississauga) | TSR Rank: #53 (+28)

Our first “wtf” pick is bittersweet because for those of you who have read our Eastern Conference Draft Sleepers from the beginning of the year, I actually labelled Percy as a potential “late first-round pick”. I think that while I started high on him and trailed off as the year went on, others took the inverse route. I like the pick for Toronto, but I’m not sure he has a defining physical quality that a player in this range should have. If he can get by on hockey sense alone, the Leafs may have got the smartest defenseman in the draft, however.

#26. CHI – LW Phillip Danault (Victoriaville) | TSR Rank: #46 (+22)

Danault is not a player that screams “first-round” to me, and I was a little surprised to see him taken on the Friday evening. Chicago went off the board a bit with Kevin Hayes last year so it’s nothing new to the Blackhawks. Danault does a lot of things well, and we’ll see how he develops over the next few seasons.

#27. TBL – LC Vladislav Namestnikov (London) | TSR Rank: #17 (-10)

I wasn’t too sure where Namestnikov would go in the draft but I definitely think the Lightning made a good pick here. Namestnikov is definitely raw, and weak. While he sorrily needs to add bulk to his frame, Namestnikov is a tremendously skilled player who does so many things you can’t appreciate until you see him consistently. For the end of the first-round, I really like this one for Tampa.

#28. MIN – RW Zack Phillips (Saint John) | TSR Rank: #26 (-2)

The third and final Sea Dog to go on Day 1 was Fredericton, NB native Zach Phillips. I think he may be a little under-appreciated much like Brett MacLean was in 2007 and has more NHL potential than some give him credit for. He’s got a few years in the AHL ahead of him, but with some time I think he could be a player.

#29. VAN – RW Nicklas Jensen (Oshawa) | TSR Rank: #22 (-7)

The Stanley Cup finalists go for a boom or bust type pick with the big Dane. Jensen can be simply dominant when he’s on his game, and nearly invisible when he’s not. The opportunity to pick up a gamebreaker at the end of the first round is still a nice opportunity, and one that is well worth the risk.

#30. ANA – RC Rickard Rakell (Plymouth) | TSR Rank: #45 (+15)

After moving down in a deal with the Maple Leafs, the Ducks capped off the first round by selecting another Plymouth Whaler. I honestly had a feeling that someone might take Rakell in the first round, and his chippy two-way play is certainly the reason for it. I’m not totally sure if he’s going to have that much offensive upside, but he’s a smart player who understands how to take care of his defensive responsibilities.

Overall, I think we did a pretty good job of evaluating this crop. We had 24/30 first rounders when it was all said and done (assuming I can count), and did a pretty good job of placing them in their respective ranges. A mock draft, however, is not our goal, and we enjoy placing players where we accurately feel they should be. One day we can maybe look back on this and see if we were actually geniuses, or just way out-to-lunch. Either way, it’s definitely an exciting process to go through with the team here at TSR, and we really enjoy providing this type of coverage.

Stay tuned as later this week we’ll be reviewing the other 70 skaters from our Top 100 rankings to see how we did with the rest of our rankings for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

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)

Matt Mahalak Pre-Combine Interview

Andrew Weiss — Sat, 28 May 2011 03:37:36 +0000

With the likes of current NHL goaltenders Ryan Miller and Tim Thomas to Jack Campbell, a first round pick in last year’s NHL draft, the state of Michigan has been a hockey hotbed for American goaltenders over the years. Plymouth Whalers’ goaltender Matt Mahalak is looking to be the next Michigan product to be drafted and find success in the professional hockey ranks.

It seemed as if Mahalak lucked out again when the Whalers selected him in the 2nd round of the 2009 OHL Priority Selection draft. Like the state of Michigan, the Whalers themselves have developed NHL goaltenders Michal Neuvirth of the Washington Capitals and Justin Peters of the Carolina Hurricanes as well as a long list of recent NHL draft picks in Scott Wedgewood (New Jersey, 2010), Matt Hackett (Minnesota, 2009), and Jeremy Smith (Nashville, 2007).

The 2010 high school graduate was well traveled over his high school years; playing hockey and living in three different states over four years. Mahalak played for Midget AAA Compuware in Plymouth, Mich. his freshman year, at Culver Military Academy in Indiana for the next year, and then in Ohio playing for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) his senior year. Mahalak returned to Michigan and appeared in 21 games posting a 3.08 goals against average and a .908 save percentage in his first OHL season. Due to a big second half, Mahalak rose from the 25th spot on Central Scouting Service’s North American goaltenders rankings to the eighth spot in the final rankings.

The Scouting Report talked to Mahalak about his combine preparation, his past hockey seasons, and the loss of fellow Detroit area goalie Ian Jenkins.

Photo: Plymouth Whalers

TSR: You have had a lot of success in junior drafts, while there’s obviously a big difference between the drafts, do you feel that has helped you in your preparation and/or mindset for the NHL draft?

MM: Yeah I think so. Going through the OHL draft and the USHL [Futures] draft and talking to multiple junior teams and going through those experiences is going to help me with having experience doing interviews and meeting with coaches but obviously this is going to be brought to a whole new level. The combine is going to be real exciting and I’m looking forward to it.

TSR: Two of your teammates also got invitations to the NHL combine. Have you talked to Rickard Rakell and Stefan Noesen much about next week?

MM: Yeah, Stefan has been at the rink with me every day here in Plymouth preparing for the combine and we’ve bounced ideas off each other with what workouts we want to do and when we want to start tapering [the workouts]. Rakell is back in Sweden now so we haven’t talked much with him. We also have a lot of ex-Whalers around the rink like AJ Jenks (Florida, 2008). He went through the combine so he’s been a big help in talking about the interview process and some of the little things with what to expect when we get to Toronto.

TSR: You chose to attend a high school hockey program that has produced players such as Ryan Suter, John-Michael Liles, and Blake Geoffrion. Why attend Culver and not stay to play for Compuware?

MM: Well there were a few things. My sister had been there for a couple years and loved it and when I was in the 6th and 7th grade I would always go down and visit here and see the amazing campus. I was tentative to go down there my freshman year of high school, but decided to stay and play for Compuware. The whole idea of going to school in Monroe, Mich. and driving 45 minutes every day up to Plymouth, Mich. for practice, playing AAA Midget hockey, and missing school was really taking a toll. With Culver having a rink right on campus, their emphasis on school, the leadership aspect of Culver with their great leadership classes, and a high rate of students getting into the college of their choice made it a really great decision.

TSR: You also have had your fair share of achievements inside the classroom (4.0 throughout high school and co-winner of the USHL’s Scholar-Athlete Award in 2010). What made you chose the OHL route over going the college route?

MM: It’s probably the most difficult decision I’ve ever made and the deciding factor was that I wanted to commit myself to being a professional hockey player. I didn’t want to give up anything on the school aspect of my life and I knew the Plymouth organization puts a great emphasis on school so I’m still taking classes at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I’m still working towards getting my degree and I’m still right on track as far as credits go. Playing hockey at such a high level and getting a college education that I wanted is really the best of both worlds.

TSR: Plymouth has had a lot of goaltenders in the last couple of years that have been drafted in the top 100 picks. Do you think this is a coincidence or the organization’s commitment to bringing in solid goaltenders and developing them?

MM: I think it’s a real credit to the Plymouth Whalers organization. I think it’s not only a commitment to drafting guys, but developing them as well. The goalie coach here, Stan Matwijiw, is unbelievable. He’s with us at every game and at practice two to three times a weeks a week, sometimes more, and also helps us on off the ice. I still talk to Stan almost every other day even in the offseason and working with him has definitely helped me. Working with Stan this year and Coach Vellucci and the whole organization I can see that it’s not a surprise with how many goalies have been drafted here. The level of play that is expected of you really forces you to get better and perform well so to me that was also one of the factors that made me want to come to Plymouth.

TSR: Your season ended a little over a month ago losing to eventual OHL champions in Owen Sound. What have you been doing to prepare for the NHL combine and even next season over the last month?

MM: We’ve been on the ice about twice a week staying in shape and having fun. As far as being in the weight room, I’m just concentrating on the things that they’ll be testing on in Toronto. I’ve been doing testing every week to see the progress that I’ve made and hopefully next week will by my best week yet.

TSR: I saw that The Hockey News did a write-up on you in late 2008. What has it been like having the spotlight shone on you from both the media and scouts for the last three or so years?

MM: Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming and is a lot to handle, but I still try to enjoy it as much as I can. It’s part of the following your dreams idea when you were a kid to make it big and it’s bringing all that to life makes everything interesting and exciting.

TSR: Ian Jenkins, a fellow Detroit AAA hockey player and future OHLer passed away on Monday. Did you know him and if so, can you talk a little bit about the type of person and player he was?

MM: I really met Ian for the first time this season as he was going through his [OHL] draft process and was a prospect for the Whalers to draft. He was a great goalie and a great kid. He’s also worked with our goalie coach Stan Matwijiw for a number of years so I’ve done the same camps with him and kind of worked with him coaching younger goalies.

This Saturday, Mahalak and Jenkins’ goaltending school will be hosting a hockey game to raise money for the Big E Foundation, a foundation set up in memory of Jenkins. The event will begin at 2 p.m. at Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Mich. and will feature other goaltenders from the Detroit area as well as current OHL goaltenders Brandon Hope of the Sarnia Sting, Jack Campbell of the Windsor Spitfires, Michael Houser of the London Knights, and Mahalak.

Mahalak urged anyone who is unable to attend the event to visit banditsgoaltending.com to learn how donations can be to the Big E Foundation.

Q & A with Green Bay’s Andy Welinski

Andrew Weiss — Fri, 27 May 2011 01:46:52 +0000

Andy Welinski has arguably been this season’s biggest draft eligible riser with Central Scouting Services’ final rankings that were released in mid-April. The Duluth, Minn. native and University of Minnesota-Duluth recruit opted to leave Duluth and join the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL for his senior year of high school which also happened to be his draft year. Early in the year Welinski, who was the youngest defenseman amongst a very experienced defensive corps, saw himself being healthy scratched by head coach Eric Rud.

Midway through the year, Welinski became a regular in the Gamblers lineup and scouts took notice. Welinski shot up from the 103rd spot in Central Scouting Services’ midterm rankings to the 48th spot in CSS’ final rankings. TSR had the chance to talk to the defenseman who is projected to go anywhere from the 2nd to 5th round in the draft which is taking place in Welinski’s home state of Minnesota.

TSR: Do you have any regrets about leaving Duluth after seeing how well your high school did this season? (Duluth East lost in the AA State title game to Eden Prairie in 3OT)

AW: No not really. I’m happy with the decision I made and I think I am a better hockey player because of it. I was able to watch every game that they played in and kind of cheered them on. It was really good to see how well they did.

TSR: You really flew up the CSS rankings moving up 55 spots from 103 to 48. What happened?

AW: I can’t really pinpoint anything in particular. At the beginning of the season I was in and out of the lineup, but towards the middle of the season I started playing in every game and really started to get into a rhythm and got a lot more confidence in my game because of it. I don’t know if I played different, but I was just more confident out on the ice as the season went on.

(Photo: Indianapolis Star)

TSR: Did you ever become discouraged with not being in the lineup every game or regret your decision to leave Duluth?

AW: I think it was a good situation and it really pushed me to get onto the ice and playing every night and I never thought about going back home.

TSR: You were invited to the NHL Combine in Toronto. With the combine being a week from your last game in Green Bay do you feel like you are at a bit of disadvantage? Obviously there are guys who were done with their season weeks and even months ago that have been preparing for the combine since then.

AW: Yeah, it’s really going to be a quick turn-around, but [teams] realize it too. I don’t think it’s going to hurt me, but I have to work out this week and do the best I can because it’s not going to do anything positive for me if I just sit back [this week].

TSR: Anything that you are focusing on especially this week in preparation for the combine?

AW: With just a week there’s not a whole lot I can improve on too much, but I’ll run through the tests so I know what I am doing when I get there.

TSR: I see online that you are being recruited to play in your backyard at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Have you committed to UMD? Do you know what your plans are for next season?

AW: I’ve given them a verbal commitment, but haven’t signed a letter of intent. I haven’t officially talked to them about what is going to happen next year yet. …I’m going to work as hard as I can this summer and see what happens.

TSR: Derek Forbert, though he left to play in for the USNTDP after his junior year, went to Duluth East as well. Have you talked to him about his draft experiences and has he given you any advice?

AW: I’m pretty good friends with Derek, but I haven’t really seen him as of late. I talked to him a little bit about the combine and he had some good things to say so that’s kind of comforting that he’s been through it and had a good experience.

WHL Draft-Eligible Player Rankings: March 2011

Scott McDougall — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 19:06:27 +0000

Skaters

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

Goaltenders

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

The Ryan Strome Experience

Scott Campbell — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:38:01 +0000

Ryan Strome’s climb to the top of the 2011 NHL Draft board has captivated draft followers and scouts alike this season. Any time you eclipse 100 points in your draft year, you’re going to get noticed. Any time you do it after putting up less than 30 the year before; now you’re going to have people really talking.

That’s exactly what Ryan Strome has done, jumping from 27 points between Barrie and Niagara a year ago, to 102 points as I write this article.

I’ve always been a fan of Stome’s game from the first time I saw him in his minor midget year with the Toronto Marlies. Like Seguin and Skinner with the Toronto Young Nationals from a year before, Strome and fellow 2011 draftee Lucas Lessio led a talented 93′ Toronto Marlboros team to an OHL Cup Title in 2009.

The major knock on Strome coming out of Minor Midget was a lack of strength, which I still believe is an issue in his game, albeit one he has improved on significantly over the past two seasons in the OHL. Still, his talent was undeniable and the crafty playmaker was scooped up by the Barrie Colts with the 8th Overall Pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection.

Strome was a guy that I was very interested in seeing at the OHL level and luckily I had the chance to view him quite a few times in 09/10 as I worked with the Sudbury Wolves, who’s central division rivals in Barrie are a regular date on the OHL calendar. Unfortunately for Strome, a team contending for the league title wasn’t an ideal location for a lanky 16 year old center, but Strome was opportunistic and made the most out of limited fourth line minutes. Prior to his trade to Niagara, I can even recall him getting occassional ice-time in the Top 9 and he certainly did not look out of place.

That trade I’m alluding to is the one that sent Strome to Niagara along with several draft picks in exchange for current St. Louis blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Strome tallied 5 goals and 14 points in 34 games with the Colts, but I was anticipating a solid increase in production with an increased opportunity in St. Catherines. That production would have to wait until this year, however, as Strome managed 3 goals and 13 points in 27 games; definitely lower then what I was anticipating out of him.

That being said, I was still confident he’d be a player to watch this year. Coming into the season it didn’t seem like there was very much talk surrounding the Mississauga native, but I remained optimistic that we’d be seeing a healthy increase in production from Strome this season. In my OHL Eastern Conference pre-season sleepers, I alluded to Strome being this year’s version of Greg McKegg, who was a guy I was high on a year prior.

Six months later it looks like I was right with Strome, partially that is. Just like McKegg, he took the OHL scoring leaders page by storm; and just like McKegg, he also managed to easily surpass my expectations for him. In September, I thought 70 points would have been realistic for Strome, and good enough to earn him some legitimate Top 50 consideration. Now it looks like a run at the scoring title will come with almost Top 10 assurances.

Strome’s rise to the top has been one of the interesting story-lines of the draft. Perhaps it’s not getting as much praise after Tyler Seguin similarly came out of nowhere last season, but let’s not forget that Seguin was likely a Top 15 guy going into the season while Strome might not have even cracked the Top 3 rounds for most people.

This season has been capped with memorable YouTube goals, a winning season, and a race to the OHL scoring title. Overall, not too bad. Even with the success, I’m guilty of being leery of having Strome as a Top 10 pick. Throughout the season I had a hard time placing him inside my own Top 10, but we did have him at 10 in our Mid-Term rankings and I certainly wouldn’t be adverse to inching him up from there in our finals.

I still have relatively tempered expectations for Strome, though. If people are expecting a Tyler Seguin clone, you’re not getting that. Some may not realize that Seguin is literally a man in an 18 year old’s body. Strome doesn’t quite have that luxury and I would have to think that will really hurt his chances of cracking an NHL squad in the same way Seguin and Skinner did.

I fully expect to see him back in the OHL for at least one more season, but that should be a good thing for Strome. Aside from his versatility to play center and the wing, his explosive skating, and silky smooth hands; he still needs to refine some of the defensive areas of his game and improve his upper body strength to win more puck battles. There’s a lot to like, but patience will likely be a huge component of his development.

Thus far, it’s difficult to imagine a better season for Strome, and as the OHL playoffs draw closer, it represents a new challenge for him to continue his torrid pace at a critical juncture of the year. We’ll see what the future holds for Strome, but the experience has been quite the ride thus far and holds plenty of hope for the future.

TSR’s 2011 NHL Mid-Term Top 60 Skaters Rankings (1-30)

Scott Campbell — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:28:31 +0000

Click here for Part Two of the Top 60 Skaters (31-60)

Introduction:

Welcome to this year’s edition of TSR’s Mid-Term Top 60 Skaters! I’d like to personally thank all of our staff for putting in a lot of time and effort to help put our list together and offer some tremendous insight on the prospects of the 2011 NHL Draft Class. I’d also like to thank a few anonymous sources who have helped us with some of the European prospects as well as those playing high school and prep hockey, their help is a great resource. With that being said, we hope you enjoy this list and appreciate you visiting TSR as a source for your hockey prospect information!

1. RD Adam Larsson – Skelleftea AIK (SEL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 28GP 1G 7A 8P 37PIM
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Larsson is no longer the consensus number one pick he may have been a year ago, but he’s still an enticing player that has a lot of NHL ability. He’s a composed defender with solid skills at both ends of the ice, and while he might not be a franchise type player, he certainly has top pairing potential.

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2. LC Sean Couturier – Drummondville (QMJHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 39GP 21G 44A 65P +31 17PIM
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Couturier also has not been as dominant as he was a year ago, but the rangy pivot still has an elite skill-set to match an imposing frame. Again, he doesn’t project to be a dominant player at the NHL level, but he could be a very good first line center with his size and ability to score in a tight-checking league like the NHL.

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

DOB: Apr. 12/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 164lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 47GP 13G 49A 62P +15 35PIM
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Nugent-Hopkins has had some struggles finding the back of the net this season, especially at even strength, but his dynamic skill-set is a can’t miss. He may very well have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft due to his exceptional speed and creativity, but his smallish frame will need to mature for him to become that type of player at the NHL level.

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4. LW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 32GP 25G 20A 45P +24 43PIM
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Landeskog has made a very impressive surge this season and is now in the same company as the former ‘big three’. The Swedish winger is a hard-nosed player with plenty of grit and should be a very safe pick, but doesn’t quite have the high-end upside of the other three. Still a very close race at this point and most will consider the top four fairly interchangeable.

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5. LW Matthew Puempel – Peterborough (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 45GP 27G 31A 58P -30 45PIM
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Puempel has been a faller in many people’s eyes this season, but we’ve been impressed by his ability to be a dominant offensive player on one of the weakest offensive teams in the OHL. He’s got an elite release on his shot and exceptional offensive hockey sense, but he’s also showed more of an ability to create on his own this season. Still guilty of disappearing for periods of a game, but his innate offensive ability would look good on the top line of an NHL team.

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6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 43GP 18G 40A 58P +15 22PIM
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A dynamic player with a skill-set that rarely comes along, Murphy could end up going anywhere from the Top 3 to outside of the Top 10. Has the ability to go end to end with exceptional skating ability and puck handling skills. Has great up-ice vision and is very dangerous in the offensive zone as well. Has really started shooting the puck more this year, and has erased a few concerns about his shot last year. Still has some defensive issues and sometimes loses his man because he’s caught looking for opportunities to turn the play the other way. Size is still a concern as well, as his strength is going to be tested in the NHL.

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7. LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 46GP 29G 42A 71P +41 55PIM
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A similar player to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Huberdeau is a lanky centerman that makes up for it with a dynamic skill-set and the ability to be a game-breaker on a consistent basis. Huberdeau has a high ceiling and while he could knock on the door of the Top 5, his potential is up there with any of the players in this draft.

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8. LD Duncan Siemens – Saskatoon (WHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 48GP 4G 24A 28P +28 72PIM
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One of the youngest players in this year’s draft, Siemens is an all around defenseman with the prototypical nastiness of a WHL defenseman. This year has been a break-out one for him, as he has refined his offensive game and showed improvements in his ability to move the puck. Loves to take the body and has the size and strength that makes him an extremely difficult player to play against.

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9. RW Joel Armia – Assat (SM-Liiga)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 36GP 16G 8A 24P 12PIM
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Armia has been the big wildcard riser in this draft thus far, and despite a bit of an average showing at the World Junior’s, he’s firmly entrenched himself as a Top 15 pick. Some may be a little leery of a Finnish player rising this much, but Armia is a big winger with a lot of offensive skill. He’s still a little raw and needs to continue to add strength and grow into his frame, but he has the tools to be a quality goal-scoring forward in the NHL.

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10. RC Ryan Strome – Niagara (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 47GP 25G 48A 73P +21 60PIM
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We were very high on Strome coming into the season, but he’s managed to exceed our expectations for him. Strome is a very creative offensive player who also has underrated finishing ability. He has great one on one moves and is very deceptive and has a good burst of acceleration. Strength is still a major issue for us as he loses a lot of puck battles, but he has improved in that regard since his MM season with the Toronto Marlies.

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11. LW Brandon Saad – Saginaw (OHL)

DOB: Oct. 27/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 196lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 43GP 23G 21A 44P +12 32PIM
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Saad had a quick start to the OHL season, but has struggled to elevate his game since to the next level, like many of the other top prospects in this draft. He’s a big guy with good speed and protects the puck well, but just doesn’t compete hard enough on a consistent basis and has minimal grit to his game. Has slowed down a bit offensively, and will need to start to produce to avoid falling further.

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12. LW Sven Bartschi – Portland (WHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 45GP 26G 32A 58P +15 38PIM
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Bartschi has really come out of nowhere this season, but has quickly made a name for himself playing in the latest North American hotbed for Swiss prospects. Does a good job of going to the net and playing hard despite being undersized. Has a good touch around the net and has found a lot of chemistry with linemate Ty Rattie this season. Defensive zone play needs some improvement as Bartschi needs to be more aware of his responsibilities in zone.

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13. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 45GP 9G 34A 43P +35 61PIM
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Very capable defender on the offensive end, and solid on the defensive end. Has great size and mobility and isn’t afraid to use his speed to move the puck. Has a big shot and does a good job of getting it through, especially as an asset on the powerplay. Sometimes makes poor decisions moving the puck and also has issues handling opponent’s forechecks. It’s tough to gauge what type of role he might have at the next level which is why we’re a little leery of having him in the Top 10.

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14. LD David Musil – Vancouver (WHL)

DOB: Apr. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 200lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 39GP 4G 16A 20P +9 40PIM
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Once billed as a lottery pick, Musil has seen his stock progressively slide this season as his game hasn’t quite taken that next step forward from a stellar rookie season a year ago. He’s a big guy who is very strong and positionally sound defensively. Can be an effective puck mover, but doesn’t play an offensive oriented game. He’s still a pretty safe pick and projects well as a second pairing type 3/4 guy, but he doesn’t quite have the high-end upside of some of the guys in front of him.

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15. RC Mark Scheifele – Barrie (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 47GP 11G 36A 47P -19 24PIM
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Another TSR favorite since the start of the season, Scheifele’s impressive season is starting to get some attention around the league. He’s got a good frame and plays well in the difficult areas. Good along the boards and is very deceptive around the slot. Scheifele sees the ice very well, has a lot of creativity and while his 11 goals won’t blow you away, he actually has a pretty good release but needs to utilize it more frequently. Still needs to add a lot of strength to his frame, and also needs to continue to work on his first few steps, but don’t be surprised if he inches forward a little more after the second half of the season ends.

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16. RD Scott Mayfield – Youngstown (USHL)

DOB: Nov. 14/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 200lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 26GP 2G 3A 5P +2 101PIM
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Mayfield has gotten a lot of praise from our USHL Contributor since the beginning of last season, and he’s solidified himself as the premier defensive player in the USHL this year as an 18 year old. Mayfield is an imposing figure who does all the little things that coaches love such as blocking shots, playing sound defensively and effectiveness in every situation. His offensive production has really flat-lined this season, but NHL teams will be taking him as a potential shut-down guy down the road.

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17. LC Victor Rask – Leksand (Allsvenskan)

DOB: Mar. 01/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 194lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 37GP 5G 6A 11P 8PIM
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A player that has gone under the radar a bit this season, but still has a lot of potential. Rask has a lot of strong offensive qualities and is a creative player with adept finish. Hasn’t quite had the type of year some were likely hoping for, but he’s still a promising player who has very capable NHL potential.

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18. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 39GP 23G 20A 43P +13 26PIM
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A big riser from our previous OHL rankings, Jensen has exploded since coming back from the World Junior D-1 Championships. He’s a dynamic player with great skating ability and with his size, he can fight through checks and use his skating ability to go end to end or break plays through the neutral zone. Consistency was an issue for him, but he looks to be bringing it more every game now.

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19. RC Mark McNeill – Prince Albert (WHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 49GP 20G 32A 52P +1 40PIM
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A forward that coaches can turn to in any situation, McNeill is a hard nosed player who competes at both ends of hte rink. He may not have the most pure skills when compared to some of the top draft-eligible players, but with his hustle and anticipation, he is able to jump on loose pucks and he will be able to contribute at the NHL level. He has managed to be a PPG player with very little help on a subpar Raiders team this year.

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20. RW Ty Rattie – Portland (WHL)

DOB: Feb. 05/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 170lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 49GP 21G 42A 63P +16 37PIM
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Since his huge October, he has seen his point per game total dip after posting 23 points in 12 October games. There is no question that Rattie has the potential to be a top 6 forward in the NHL one day. Rattie is an above average skater who sees the play extremely well and is very skilled at creating quality chances in the offensive zone. He also has the scoring touch to finish off those opportunities.

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21. LW Matthew Nieto – Boston University (NCAA)

DOB: Nov. 05/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 183lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 24GP 6G 3A 9P 6PIM
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Hasn’t posted outstanding numbers at BU, but still is an exciting player who works hard every shift. Has a great skill-set and also has very good hockey sense. He will need to have a good second half to the season, but more importantly just needs to continue to show that he’s a player that will battle every night.

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22. LD Nathan Beaulieu – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 46GP 9G 24A 33P +31 36PIM
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Isn’t a dominating defenseman, but does a good job of controlling the pace of a game and does a good job of playing within his means. Makes a very good first pass out of the zone and does a good job of jumping up in the rush when he sees a chance but needs to avoid doing it at inopportune times. Isn’t overly physical but does have good reach and uses it pretty effectively.

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23. RW Dmitri Jaskin – Slavia Praha (Czech)

DOB: Mar. 23/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 196lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 25GP 3G 5A 8P 12PIM
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Jaskin had a knee injury that derailed his season a bit back in November, so don’t be surprised if he works his way up the list over the next few months. He is a well rounded player who has a lot of jam and rarely takes shifts off. Pretty good with the puck and makes good decisions as well. Skating is a bit of an issue, and he’ll need to work on improving his stride.

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24. RW Tomas Jurco – Saint John (QMJHL)

DOB: Dec. 28/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 193lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 39GP 18G 16A 34P +28 13PIM
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Jurco is arguably the biggest game-breaker in this draft, and has made no shortage of high-light reel plays so far in his year and a half long tenure in the QMJHL. Still has issues finding consistency with his game, however, and after a quick start his production has slowed down significantly. Does he remind you of Michael Grabner’s 2005/06 season with Spokane at all?

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25. RC Mika Zibanejad – Djurgarden (SEL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 15GP 1G 2A 3P 0PIM
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Big center who plays both ends of the ice and has great leadership abilities. Zibanejad has benefited from playing in the SEL this season, and it should drive him to continually work on his skating which is an area of his game that he needs to work on.

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26. RC Rocco Grimaldi – US U18 Team (USHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 14GP 9G 8A 17P +8 14PIM
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Grimaldi easily has Top 10 skills but at 5’6” he will cause NHL GM’s to do some soul searching as to whether they should take a chance on a kid who has never let his lack of size stop him from producing. Grimaldi owns such pure and technically sound offensive skills, a picture perfect skating stride, puck distribution and protection skills and the ability to find the net from all parts of the ice. Grimaldi leaves everything on the ice and shows no fear when the play takes him to the boards. With Grimaldi, his size is the only question mark….the rest is absolute.

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27. RW Seth Ambroz – Omaha (USHL)

DOB: Apr. 01/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 211lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 28GP 14G 12A 26P +8 37PIM
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Ambroz may not have held on to Top 5 status as some were predicting but he remains an interesting prospect. He has continued to increase his production since his rookie USHL campaign as a 15 year old and is currently at a point per game pace. Ambroz provides offense through his natural goal scoring ability and quick hands in front. He also provides a physical presence and shows no fear or reservations on the ice. The question on Ambroz has been and remains his skating. Before you see him play, you tend to expect more due to the hype and can leave disappointed, until you look at the score sheet. It will be interesting to see if he stays the NCAA route with Minnesota or takes his game to Seattle in the WHL.

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28. LC Alexander Khokhlachev – Windsor (OHL)

DOB: Sep. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 172lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 45GP 26G 31A 57P +4 24PIM
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A dynamic Russian forward who has been a consistent offensive performer all season long. He’s got very good offensive creativity and has the ability to really break down a defense with his stickhandling ability and elusiveness. Prone to disappearing at times, but when he’s on his game, he has the ability to take it over. Especially dangerous on the powerplay when given time and space. Strength is a bit of a concern as he can be neutralized by physicality. Could certainly be a riser in the second half.

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29. RD Robbie Russo – US U18 Team (USHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 15GP 0G 3A 3P +3 6PIM
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The more you see him, the more you have to come away impressed with Russo’s intangible abilities. His hockey sense is at an elite level both offensively and defensively as he seemingly has the puck on his stick most of the time he’s on the ice whether he’s skating with it through the neutral zone or intercepting opposing passes. Russo is very smooth and effortless as he skates the puck into the attacking zone and has the ability to find the seams in the opposing team’s forecheck and exploit them through his quick passes or by skating it himself.

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30. LC JT Miller – US U18 Team (USHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 12GP 1G 9A 10P +4 37PIM
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Miller is a very strong, powerful skater and he uses his speed to help him both offensively and defensively. Miller is an extremely hard worker and has the ability to get to loose pucks as well as separate the puck from the carrier seemingly at will. He has strong puck skills to go with his skating and is very dedicated to his end of the ice. The only knock on Miller is that when you see him play and admire his skills, you wonder why he doesn’t produce the numbers to match those skills.

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