The Scouting Report » Dougie Hamilton

Dougie Hamilton – NHL Draft Profile

Scott Campbell — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:02:05 +0000

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

There must be something good going on in St. Catherines this year as Dougie Hamilton is another member of the Niagara Ice Dogs who has soared up the draft board this season. After profiling teammate Ryan Strome yesterday, today we profile the rangy defenseman who saw his draft stock rapidly ascend right from the get-go this season.

Hamilton, who is apparently now closer to 6’7” than 6’4” according to NHLCS, is an imposing figure with a talented skill-set. It is painfully obvious that he still needs to fill out his frame, but that’s really not a concern an NHL team will have for him on draft day. One of the first things that will strike you with Hamilton is his strong mobility for a player his size. He’s a powerful skater with a strong stride and good acceleration. I personally believe his technique is a little choppy and long, and his lateral ability also needs to improve in the future.

Offensive upside really came to light this season as Hamilton was a fixture atop the Niagara powerplay. The Ice Dogs like to roll into an umbrella a lot and Hamilton commands the PP at the top of the umbrella with efficiency. He’s got a big shot and does a very good job of getting it through. Definitely does not hesitate to utilize his shot and has a pretty good release/one-timer as well. His vision is above average and he does a decent job of moving the puck, although he is prone to making occasional poor decisions or being guilty of forcing a play. Hamilton can also rush the puck whenever he feels like it and does a good job of using his reach and size to protect the puck. Generally does a good job of headmanning the puck, but sometimes makes the wrong the decision trying to skate it too far.

Defensively, Hamilton is a pretty solid player with good upside. He’s fairly physical, although he needs to show some consistency with his physicality. I’ve seen him be a force in some games, while being fairly timid in others, so he likely needs to find a happy medium over the course of a long season. He’s learning how to position himself better and use his reach to his advantage, but is still guilty of over-committing at times.

Against some of the stronger teams, he does struggle with opposing forechecks and can be thrown off his game. Teams like Mississauga utilize aggressive two-man forechecks which put a lot of pressure on the strong side defenseman, which is something I’ve seen Hamilton struggle with and force a bad pass. It seems like he also can get crossed up in man coverage and will chase players around instead of holding his area of the ice down.

I’m not totally convinced that Dougie Hamilton is going to be as good as some people think he is, but I will admit that I’m probably a little hard on him. He’s a very smart kid, just like his brother Freddie, and appears to be a great kid off the ice as well. He’s got the size, tools, and upside to be a top pairing defenseman at the NHL level, but I’m just not sure he’s going to get there. I think it will be very important for whoever drafts him to be very patient with Hamilton and avoid rushing him into a situation that he isn’t ready for.

Pros: Size, Shot, Skating, High Ceiling
Cons: Decision Making, Trying to do too much
Skill-set Comparison: Alex Pietrangelo

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)

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
---

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
---

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

2011 OHL Mid-Term Draft Rankings: Top 20 Skaters (1-10)

Scott Campbell — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:02:59 +0000

Click Here for Part 2 of the Mid-Season Top 20

1. RW (LS) #92 Gabriel Landeskog | Kitchener (OHL)

Height: 6.00 | Weight: 201 | Birthdate: 11/23/92 | Nationality: Swedish

2010/11 - 32GP 25G 20A 45P +23 43PIM

After coming into the season jostling with Brandon Saad for top honours in the OHL, Landeskog has surpassed Saad to top TSR’s Mid-Season OHL Rankings. Rated 6th Overall in TSR’s Preliminary 2011 Top 15 Rankings, Landeskog’s torrid pace to start the year has left him knocking on the door of the Top 3 in this draft. He’s a very solid all around player who plays a hard nosed game and is has a lot of grit for a skilled player. Has a strong nose for the net and good goal scoring instincts, but a lack of pure creativity is likely the biggest cause for concern for his upside at the NHL. Still, he projects to be a great Top 6 forward who will be capable of being a top line winger with strong two-way ability.

2. LW #22 Brandon Saad | Saginaw (OHL)

Height: 6.01 | Weight: 196 | Birthdate: 10/27/92 | Nationality: American

2010/11 - 31GP 20G 16A 36P +13 20PIM

Saad was 5th Overall in TSR’s Preliminary 2011 Top 15 Rankings, and has immediately made an impact in the OHL. He’s a big guy with explosive speed and does a good job of creating a lot of offense off the rush. Protects the puck well with his wide reach and has a pretty quick release and a quality shot. Isn’t a particularly creative player and also shies away from a lot of contact for a big guy. In our viewings, he’s showed limited grit and lost a lot of board battles for a player of his size and caliber.

3. RD #24 Ryan Murphy | Kitchener (OHL)

Height: 5.10 | Weight: 165 | Birthdate: 03/31/93 | Nationality: Canadian

2010/11 - 31GP 15G 33A 48P +15 14PIM

Ranked 8th in TSR’s Preliminary 2011 Top 15 Rankings. One of the most intriguing prospects to come around in recent memory. Tremendous skater with elite acceleration and agility. Able to make shifty moves at high speed and is very adept at beating opponent’s with quick head fakes and stick fakes. Murphy is always looking for opportunities offensively and has the explosive ability to skate end to end seemingly at will. His shot has improved significantly and his powerplay distribution is also much improved. Defensive game is still a concern as he is undersized and can got caught out of position looking to move the puck up to the other end of the ice. His style of play will be a point of contention to see how well it translates to the NHL.

4. LW #18 Matthew Puempel | Peterborough (OHL)

Height: 6.00 | Weight: 190 | Birthdate: 01/24/93 | Nationality: Canadian

2010/11 - 33GP 19G 23A 42P -18 35PIM

The top CHL rookie a year ago has seen his star fade a bit this season with a struggling Peterborough squad and was ranked 7th Overall in TSR’s Preliminary Top 15. Not an overly dynamic player, but has great hockey sense and the ability to capitalize on any opportunity he gets. Has one of the better shots of any player in this draft and has a pro caliber release. Finds seams in the defense and does a good job of getting into positions where he can generate a good scoring chance from. Above average skater, and an improving playmaker, but is still guilty of disappearing for lulls in a game.

5. RC #18 Ryan Strome | Niagara (OHL)

Height: 6.01 | Weight: 183 | Birthdate: 07/11/93 | Nationality: Canadian

2010/11 - 33GP 19G 31A 50P +15 36PIM

Listed as TSR’s Player to Watch prior to the start of the season, Strome has even managed to shatter our expectations thus far, much like Greg McKegg a year ago. Dynamic player who can play all three forward positions, with great skating ability and a very high skill level to match. Has the ability to make highly skilled moves at top speed, in and out of traffic. More of a playmaker and sees the ice very well and knows when to make a pass, but also is a threat to score as well. Despite listed weight, Strome is still extremely weak physically and loses a lot of board battles because of it. Will be a bit of a risk where some people are talking about him because of this, but could be an impact player with his skillset.

6. RD #27 Dougie Hamilton | Niagara (OHL)

Height: 6.04 | Weight: 193 | Birthdate: 06/17/93 | Nationality: Canadian

2010/11 - 32GP 5G 22A 27P +26 47PIM

Imposing defender who good upside at both ends of the ice. Hamilton skates well for a big guy and has a good skill level. Big shot on the powerplay and uses it frequently, doing a good job of getting it through. Not afraid to play physical, but doesn’t use his size as much as he could. Sometimes struggles to deal with opposing forecheckers and handling the cycle as his lateral agility is relatively average. Also is prone to making some poor decisions moving the puck and has struggled against some of the better teams this year in that regard. Will be a high NHL pick, but we have concerns about what type of role he will have in the NHL.

7. RC #19 Mark Scheifele | Barrie (OHL)

Height: 6.03 | Weight: 175 | Birthdate: 03/15/93 | Nationality: Canadian

2010/11 - 34GP 9G 26A 35P -11 14PIM

Rangy center who will be poised to ascend up the draft rankings this season. Still needs to add a considerable amount of strength to his lanky frame, and also needs to improve his balance on his skates, but there is a lot of upside to his game. He’s a very deceptive skater and moves well in traffic. Isn’t afraid to battle on the boards and protects the puck well for a big guy. Moves the puck well in tight seams and also has a quick release in traffic which improves the effectiveness of his shot. Needs to improve in the faceoff circle, but he is still very raw at this point. His numbers won’t blow you away right now, but a lot of his skills project well to the next level.

8. LC #7 Daniel Catenacci | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Height: 5.10 | Weight: 185 | Birthdate: 03/09/93 | Nationality: Canadian

2010/11 - 35GP 18G 27A 45P -3 58PIM

Has rebounded well this season after a mediocre rookie season as the 1st Overall Pick in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. Catenacci is one of the better two-way forwards in the OHL, and has also established himself as one of the most consistent offensive threats in the league. He’s a good skater with a low center of gravity and very good strength for being undersized in stature. Has a heavy stick and wins a lot of battles with his drive. Fairly creative player, but it’s difficult to project just how effective he will be offensively at the next level, and due to his size, he could have a hard time being a checker. He could be a solid 2nd line center or a tweener, but he might struggle to find a role as well.

9. LC #22 Boone Jenner | Oshawa (OHL)

Height: 6.03 | Weight: 197 | Birthdate: 06/15/93 | Nationality: Canadian

2010/11 - 29GP 11G 17A 28P +8 28PIM

There were high expectations for Jenner this season and he’s started to rebound after a bit of a slow start to the year that was derailed by a suspension. Jenner has great size and strength for a 17 year old and is very hard to move off the puck. He’s not afraid to get physical and he can handle body contact effectively as well. He has a good release and likes to shoot the puck and wants the puck to be on his stick. Some may view this as a good trait, but with Jenner it borders heavily on immaturity as he is constantly calling for the puck at inopportune times. Jenner’s skating is still pretty choppy, but it’s improving, and aside from that there’s a lot that translates well to the NHL level, but he needs to find some consistency and make better decisions with the puck to be a more effective player.

10. LD #5 Stuart Percy | Mississauga (OHL)

Height: 6.01 | Weight: 186 | Birthdate: 05/18/93 | Nationality: Canadian

2010/11 - 29GP 2G 16A 18P +27 33PIM

One of the most underrated players in the OHL this season, Percy is a player who thinks the game extremely well. Rarely makes a bad decision or forces a pass, Percy is a very good puck mover who is very effective on the breakout. Delivers tape to tape passes in traffic or down the seam and does a good job of buying time for himself from opposition fore-checks. Can skate the puck when he sees an opportunity and does a good job of advancing the puck that way as well. Offensive instincts are good, and while his shot is weak, he does a great job of getting it on net and creating rebounds. Not an overly physical player, but is good in zone coverage and will rub forwards out. An above average skater who is rarely beaten off the rush. Doesn’t blow you away with any one skill, but does a great job of managing the game.

Click Here for Part 2 of the Mid-Season Top 20

OHL Feature: Kitchener vs Niagara Scouting Report

Josh Lieberman — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:40:54 +0000

The Niagara Ice Dogs played host to the Kitchener Rangers on Saturday, December 4th, in a battle between two of the top teams in the Ontario Hockey League at the moment. The game featured some notable prospects for the upcoming 2011 NHL draft, including Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Murphy of the Rangers, and Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Strome from the hometown Ice Dogs.

On this night, it was the Ice Dogs who controlled the play in this matchup on their way to a 3-1 victory. Mark Visentin, the 2010 1st round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes, stood tall in this game with 32 saves for the home side.

Ryan Murphy RD, Kitchener Rangers, 5’11″, 176lbs

While this was nowhere near a typical Ryan Murphy effort, his tremendous offensive skill set was certainly displayed at various times during this game. This kid has great offensive instincts, and though Don Cherry’s claim of him being the obvious choice for the 1st overall pick in this year’s draft seems overly optimistic, his transition game and skating ability are certainly separating him from most of the top defensemen in his draft class.

Murphy seems to have his head on a swivel, in that he is constantly anticipating opportunities to jump up in the rush. At times, his defensive awareness is severely lacking, almost to the point where he looks lost out there. This is not uncommon for most offensive defenders who seemingly have one track minds when it comes to playing the position. Where his defensive play can be considered a weakness, his skating and stickhandling are top notch. He has one of those effortless skating strides, and can get down the length of the ice in the blink of an eye.

He has a terrific point shot, that is both powerful and accurate. He has no fear of letting his big shot go, showing tremendous confidence in his offensive abilities. Murphy protects the puck well when carrying the puck up the ice, and is somehow able to minimize the risk-reward factor that typically comes with the package offered by young offensive d-men.

Gabriel Landeskog LC/RW, Kitchener Rangers, 6’1″, 207lbs

Like Murphy, Landeskog’s game seemed to suffer tonight perhaps in part due to the team coming off a tough game the previous night against the Erie Otters. Fatigue certainly factored into a subpar effort from the entire Rangers’ roster.

Landeskog, has many people suggesting that he could be a top 5 pick in the 2011 NHL draft. With a frame that is nearly NHL ready and a terrific offensive skill set, there is little doubt that those expectations are realistic for this player to achieve.

He has a good compete level with terrific aggression being shown in the offensive zone. He rarely misses an opportunity to jump in on the forecheck, and slam the defender into the boards with strong contact. He possesses a quick shot release that nearly picked him up a second goal in this game, when he was robbed in the 2nd period by Visentin. His 3rd period goal was a result of his driving hard to the net and being in the right spot to re-direct a perfect pass into the net. He plays both the powerplay and penalty kill for one of the OHL’s top teams, is their captain, and has built off his spectacular rookie season by being a top 20 scorer this season.

Ryan Strome RC, Niagara Ice Dogs – 6’1″, 183lbs

Strome was very likely the best player on the ice tonight, high praise considering the level of talent on display in this game. Many critics of his game have pointed to his lack of size, especially for a center, but Ryan seems to be overcoming this perception with a terrific all-around effort. He has great offensive instincts and sees the ice extremely well. Scored a goal tonight based off being in the goal-scorers position in front of the net, to knock in a rebound. He likely should have had a second goal had his wicked slap shot not been sent screaming off the crossbar in the 3rd period. Ryan is a great skater and has tremendous speed with the puck. His best asset is certainly his playmaking ability, as he consistently finds his linemates in open spaces, and has a gift for making crisp passes.

Dougie Hamilton RD, Niagara Ice Dogs, 6’4″, 193lbs

Hamilton has imposing size at 6’4″, and will be even more of a force when he begins to fill out that frame. It is that factor that seems to keep this player from being a truly dominant defender in the OHL. He often gets knocked off the puck too easily for a man of his size, which is a sure sign of physical immaturity. No 6’4″ player should get knocked off balance by players 5 or 6 inches shorter than himself, yet this is what seemed to happen to Dougie at times.

By most accounts, Hamilton had been struggling with his game for the first 10-15 games of the season. He has just recently been rounding into form, and his increased ice-time is a reflection of this. While he appears to have decent offensive instincts that will continue to further develop, his transition passes are lacking at the moment as he struggled to set up the breakout from his own zone on more than a couple of occasions tonight. He does have a very hard and accurate point shot that can be simply lethal on the power play. Hamilton is a great skater for his size, and shows solid awareness of when to jump into the rush.

He is a confident player who will have solidified his projected 1st round selection range, by the time his club has finished their season.

OHL Feature: Niagara Ice Dogs Overview

Scott Campbell — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 20:27:21 +0000

The Niagara Ice Dogs have enjoyed a strong bounce-back season this year after a couple seasons toiling near the bottom of the OHL Standings. Thus far the Ice Dogs have entrenched themselves towards the top of the OHL’s Eastern Conference which in large part can be attributed to the volume of talent the team has been able to assemble. In particular, the Ice Dogs have several NHL calibre prospects who will be closely watched this season and beyond. I got my first look at the Ice Dogs live last night, and here’s my thoughts on some of those big names that you will surely be hearing about.

#10 LC Steven Shipley | 6.03 | 212lbs | 04/22/92 | BUF 10′ (4/98)

20GP 7G 11A 18P +6 8PIM

The former 3rd overall pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, Shipley spend the past two seasons in Owen Sound before being moved to Niagara in a blockbuster off-season move. Expectations were high for Shipley this season, but thus far the Ildterton native has struggled to find some consistency and elevate his game. Frankly, it’s been a disappointing year for Shipley and he has just never been able to materialize into the player many thought he could be when he played minor hockey for Elgin-Middlesex. Last night Shipley showed a lot of what I’ve seen from him his entire career. His skating is still very average, and he lacks the explosion you’d like to see out of a player like him. His competitiveness is a big question mark and he often looks disinterested in the game as well.

Overall, he’s just one of those guys that is a very frustrating player to watch. He has the offensive skills and awareness to be a productive player at this level, but I really can’t envision him being a legitimate NHL prospect at this point as he lacks a role at the next level. Unless he begins to show signs that he’s willing to pay the price and be a physical guy that could adapt to a third line role in the NHL, I doubt that Buffalo fans can expect to see him in a Sabres jersey.

#13 LW Freddie Hamilton | 6.01 | 190lbs | 01/01/92 | SJS 10′ (5/129)

22GP 10G 13A 23P +5 11PIM

Hamilton is a guy I’ve been pretty high on and I really like the steps he’s taking this year. I was pretty surprised that he slipped through to the 5th round last season and I think the Sharks got a tremendous value pick when they nabbed him where they did. The older brother of teammate Dougie, he’s a guy that just does a lot of things well but doesn’t have any elite skills. He’s a big player that has good hockey sense and knows where to be positionally. He’s very effective in tight spaces and can create a lot of time and space for his linemates as well as being a great player on the cycle.

He’s also not afraid to go to the net and take his lumps and is a very crafty player in the slot. I would like to see a little more grit out of him as he’s a little hesitant to play the body as much as he could, but it’s something he can overcome because he does compete well. I don’t think Hamilton will ever be a dynamic NHL player, but he could be a guy that will be a very effective and responsible up and down winger that can play on the third line and maybe even be a bit of a 2nd/3rd line tweener in his prime.

#18 RC Ryan Strome | 6.01 | 183lbs | 07/11/93 | 2011 Eligible

22GP 10G 24A 34P +6 25PIM

Coming into the year if you read my stuff you’ll see I was extremely high on Strome and called him the sleeper of the draft from the OHL. 22 games later and Strome has exceeded my expectations and quickly generated some considerable exposure for himself as many are talking about Strome being a potential Top 15 pick or even a Top 10 guy. Even NHLCS has notably placed Strome as their fourth best OHL prospect in their recently published Preliminary Rankings. As much as I love what Strome brings, I’m really leery of where some of the talk is going with her he is projected to go.

Strome is a very good offensive player. He’s a creative player who sees the ice very well and makes some special plays in the offensive zone. As I’m sure many have seen from his recent YouTube phenomenon goal, he also is a shifty player that can make elite moves in a game environment. With that being said, I think putting Strome up there is pretty risky at this point. Some of the major concerns I have with him is that he is still extremely weak. Strome loses a lot of puck battles and can be neutralized by physical defenseman. He’s also not a pure scorer which doesn’t negate some of the risk that he bears with being a slight player. There’s still a lot of hockey left to go, but I think I’d be more comfortable putting him in the 25-35 range right now as opposed to that 10-15 range, because while his game might sparkle at the OHL level, when you project him at the NHL, there is some legitimate cause for concern.

#27 RD Dougie Hamilton | 6.04 | 193lbs | 06/07/93 | 2011 Eligible

21GP 2G 11A 13P +13 31PIM

Like Strome, Hamilton has also been getting considerable praise this season and is rapidly vaulting up the consensus charts for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. With some talk of him working his way into the Top 10 or even Top 5 of the draft, I have to say that I don’t quite share that opinion. I’ve had quite a few live looks at Hamilton, and I do like his framework of skills, but I’m not really convinced what his role is going to be that justifies where people are putting him. On the surface, he’s a big and imposing guy that skates pretty well and has good puck moving skills. That’s certainly going to warrant some attention, but the more I see him, the less I’m convinced about what he’s going to be as an NHL player.

For instance, last night I watched him really struggle QB’ing the Ice Dogs powerplay. He was very indecisive and made a couple of very poor decisions including one pass that was intercepted, giving the Majors a two on one short handed breakaway. I also question the amount of grit he has. I saw him lose several puck battles on the boards to smaller forwards like Riley Brace and watched him get flustered by a Majors forecheck. I haven’t had enough looks at him this season to throw all my chips in, but from what I have seen, I really question what type of role he’s going to have in the NHL. Is he an offensive defenseman? I wouldn’t say so. Is he a shut-down guy? Maybe? I’m not sure he’s that physical and his anticipation still needs work. So what is he? Right now he’s a big guy that can move the puck pretty well and skate well. Is that enough to be considered as a Top 5 pick? I’m not so sure if I’m an NHL team.

#29 G Mark Visentin | 6.02 | 201lbs | 08/07/92 | PHX 10′ (1/27)

8-4-1 2.55GAA .911SV% 1SO

On paper Visentin had a good game last night, but he still has a long way to go before he wants to be an NHL goalie. The good things that he does have is that he’s got a big frame, he does a good job of challenging shooters and he’s what people in hockey like to refer to as a quality “puck blocker” which basically means he does a good job technically as opposed to being more of an athletic type of goalie. Now while those are all good qualities in his game, his lateral movement is still something that really concerns me and effects his rebound control. I counted several times last night where he would slide one way and then struggle to get back in place for a second save. He also was caught moving the wrong way and gave out some very generous rebounds which are symptoms of his game that I continue to see everytime I see him. He’s a long-range guy at this point so the Coyotes will need to be very patient with him, which they will be.

Canadian Under 18 Camp Report: Goaltenders & Defensemen

Scott McDougall — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:56:12 +0000

The Canadian U18 Selection Camp was held in Calgary from July 31^st to August 3^rd this year. Over 40 players were invited to the camp with 22 players earning a spot on Canada’s Ivan Hlinka Memorial squad. After witnessing the camp and seeing Canada’s roster, most of the selections seemed what I’d expect, but there were some curious omissions. That being said, I wasn’t able to take in the entire camp in which certain players may have lowered or bettered their stock while I was absent.

The parity on the ice was better than I expected as few players really stood out as being dominant. I’d expect that there will be lots of change in the draft rankings by the time the 2011 draft rolls around. Here are some of my thoughts on the final couple days of the selection camp.

Goaltending

Players that made the cut: Teichmann, Gusse

Jeffrey Noonan | G | Catches L | Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) | 01/18/1993 | 5’11 166lbs | 2011 Eligible

Noonan played last season for Laval-Montreal of the LHMAAAQ, but is expected to crack Rouyn-Noranda’s squad this upcoming season. He really struggled with his rebound control and positioning at the camp. Having played AAA Midget last year, the quality of shooters Noonan faced wasn’t comparable to the type of players he faced at this camp. He will need some time to ease into his role as a QMJHL goalie this season.

Liam Liston | G | Catches L | Brandon (WHL) | 04/06/1993 | 6’0.5 205lbs | 2011 Eligible

Much like Noonan, Liston also played Midget hockey last season as was overwhelmed by the quality of players he faced at the camp. Like Noonan, he had rebound control problems. He just needs some time to adjust and is still considered highly regarded by the Wheat Kings as he was named the AMHL goalie of the year last year in St. Albert. He was Brandon’s 3^rd string goalie last year for their Memorial Cup run and he will be expected to make the jump full-time this year.

Robin Gusse | G | Catches L | Chicoutimi (QMJHL) | 04/23/1993 | 5’10 170lbs | 2011 Eligible

Gusse was the best of the rest. He didn’t stand out, but seemed more comfortable in the net than the two others.

Tyson Teichmann | G | Catches L | Belleville (OHL) | 05/19/1993 | 6’0 139lbs | 2011 Eligible

It was a rough camp for the goalies as witnessed by multiple 8-7 scores. However, Teichmann was the one goalie that stood out for me. He’s a small goalie that is extremely thin, but he was able to get his skinny frame in front of the puck and consistently come up with saves. Teichmann showed very good athleticism and he was able to move post-to-post very well. Teichmann showed good reflexes and although he was able to make some good glove saves, he wasn’t always able to trap the puck. Otherwise, his rebound control was the best of the group. He pulled fewer pucks out of the back of his net than the other goalies.

Belleville Bulls netminder Tyson Teichmann got the nod from his coach, George Burnett, as Canada's starter for the Ivan Hlinka Tournament this year.

Defense

Players that made the cut: Murray, Ouellet, Percy, Bell, Hamilton, Harrington, Siemens

Cody Ceci | RD | RH | Ottawa (OHL) | 12/21/1993 | 6’1.5 203lbs | 2012 Eligible

Ceci was one of the weaker defensemen at the camp, but as the youngest player at the camp, Ceci has an extra year to develop as his late birthday makes him 2012-eligble. He looked uncomfortable in his own end where forecheckers were able to get pressure on him and cause him to turn over the puck. He lost a lot of puck battles. Ceci made some good outlet passes, but he didn’t use his skating ability to open up bigger passing lanes when pressed.

Dillon Donnelly | D | LH | Shawinigan (QMJHL) | 09/07/1993 | 6’1 181lbs | 2011 Eligible

Invited to camp but was unable to attend.

Dougie Hamilton | RD | RH | Niagara (OHL) | 06/17/1993 | 6’4.5 187lbs | 2011 Eligible

Hamilton is a huge defenseman that takes up a large amount of ice. Players were having a very hard time getting around him as his wingspan alone forces players to go much further outside than they normally would have to. Hamilton has a long, awkward stride making him just an average skater. However it isn’t something that can’t be overcome as he comes from a hard working, and athletic family. And just like his brother Freddie (who was drafted by the San Jose Sharks last year), Dougie is intelligent. He maintained a 97% average in high school last year. He projects to be a very good shutdown defenseman.

Duncan Siemens | LD | LH | Saskatoon (WHL) | 09/07/1993 | 6’3 196lbs | 2011 Eligible

One of my favorite pre-season players, Siemens didn’t play as well as I know he is capable of, yet was still one of the better defensemen at the camp. He has great size, but his skating was a little choppier than I have seen in the past. Siemens is a force at both ends of the rink.

Jimmy Oligny | LD | LH | PEI (QMJHL) | 04/30/1993 | 5’11 197lbs | 2011 Eligible

Another smaller defenseman. He was very fast and closed in on forwards quickly. Despite having a weight advantage on many players, Oligny seemed weak. Soft shot.

Jonathon Racine | LD | LH | Shawinigan (QMJHL) | 05/28/1993 | 6’1.5 181lbs | 2011 Eligible

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

Myles Bell | RD | LH | Regina (WHL) | 08/19/1993 | 6’0 209lbs | 2011 Eligible

Having seen Bell many times in the past, I know that he is a versatile player and I’m guessing that is why he made the team. He didn’t really do anything for me at the camp. He struggled in his own end for much of the time. He looked clumsy at times – in regards to both skating and handling the puck. He doesn’t have a strong shot. However, Bell did make one of the nicest passes of the entire camp by spotting Lucas Lessio sneaking in deep behind the defense and then made a perfect homerun pass that resulted in a breakaway (and goal).

Reece Scarlett | RD | RH | Swift Current (WHL) | 03/31/1993 | 6’0.5 167lbs | 2011 Eligible

Scarlett had a very strong camp and was a surprise omission from the team in my books. Perhaps it was his size that scared off the coaching staff as he is quite light still. The first day I watched, Scarlett was one of the best players on the ice. He was far more average the second day. He is a good skater that is able to close the gap very quickly. He seems to have long arms and he uses them to make some excellent pokechecks. I would like to see him a little more physical instead of relying on the pokecheck so much, but I can’t complain too much as he was very effective with it. He has a good slapshot and was able to move the puck.

Ryan Murphy | RD | RH | Kitchener (OHL) | 03/31/1993 | 5’10.5 169lbs | 2011 Eligible

How can a guy who had 3 goals and a hard-earned first assist in a single game (as a defenseman no less!) not make the team?! He wasn’t the best player in his own end, but he was far from the worst. He was far and away the most offensive dman at the camp which should have held some value to the coaches. Looking at the Team Canada roster, no defenseman is under 6’0 tall so size may have played a part in the decision to leave Murphy off the team.

Ryan Murray | LD | LH | Everett (WHL) | 09/27/1993 | 6’0.5 190lbs | 2012 Eligible

Another 2012-Eligible player who parlayed a strong camp into a role as Captain, despite being the youngest player named to the team. Murray is a very good two-way player. He showed a strong first pass, and was calm and reliable in his end. A good skater. Very good acceleration and closing speed although his lateral movement was just ok. Quick release with his wrist shot.

Scott Harrington | LD | LH | London (OHL) | 03/10/1993 | 6’1 209lbs | 2011 Eligible

Harrington had a solid if unspectacular camp. His skating wasn’t that great and his acceleration was not good, but he knew where to be and wasn’t ever a liability on the ice. He just kept getting the job done, even if it didn’t always look pretty.

Stephen Woodworth | LD | LH | Cape Breton (QMJHL) | 01/21/1993 | 5’11.5 183lbs | 2011 Eligible

Another small and quick player. He played a very simple game. Looks to be a good junior player, but I’m not convinced that his game translates to the pros.

Stuart Percy | LD | LH | Mississauga (OHL) | 05/18/1993 | 6’1 187lbs | 2011 Eligible

Not having seen much of Percy before, he was a pleasant surprise. He seemed a little taller than he is listed and quite thin. He played the role of a shutdown defenseman while chipping in a couple assists for Team Red. A good skater and puck-mover. Percy was one of the more interesting prospects at the camp for me.

Xavier Ouellet | RD| LH | Montreal (QMJHL) | 7/29/1993 | 6’0 174lbs | 2011 Eligible

Ouellet was a little shaky during my first viewing as he was prone to some mistakes in his own end. He had a much stronger final day. He used his reach and moved well. Has some upside.

Mid-Season 2011 OHL Top 15

Scott Campbell — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:56:21 +0000

The 2011 Draftees in the OHL almost have half of their rookie campaign’s under their belts, leaving everyone curious as to how things will eventually shake out for this crop. With over a year and a half until the 2011 Draft, there will still be a lot of movement in the rankings but we’ll take a look at how the picture is looking right now. TSR has ranked the Top 15 skaters available for the 2011 Draft from the OHL thus far, as well as the Top 3 Goalies, which follows the skaters. As always, we’d love to hear some feedback either through a comment or an email!

Skaters

RANK	NAME	TEAM	DOB	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	POS	S
1	Boone Jenner	Oshawa	15-Jun-93	6.01	193	C	L
2	Matt Puempel	Peterborough	24-Jan-93	6.00	190	LW	L
3	Ryan Murphy	Kitchener	31-Mar-93	5.11	160	D	R
4	Scott Harrington	London	10-Mar-93	6.01	190	D	L
5	Alan Quine	Kingston	25-Feb-93	5.11	172	C	L
6	Ryan Strome	Barrie	11-Jun-93	5.11	160	C	R
7	Justin Sefton	Sudbury	14-Apr-93	6.03	199	D	R
8	Gabriel Landeksog	Kitchener	23-Nov-92	6.00	201	RW	L
9	Daniel Catenacci	Sault Ste. Marie	09-Mar-93	5.10	180	C	L
10	Vincent Trocheck	Saginaw	11-Jul-93	5.10	165	C	R
11	Stuart Percy	Mississauga	18-May-93	6.01	175	D	L
12	Dougie Hamilton	Niagara	17-Jun-93	6.03	180	D	R
13	Curtis Crombeen	Owen Sound	12-Feb-93	5.10	162	D	L
14	Garrett Meurs	Plymouth	12-Jan-93	5.11	170	C	R
15	Carter Sandlak	Guelph	18-May-93	6.01	190	LW	L

Goaltenders

1	Jordan Binnington	Owen Sound	11-Jul-93	6.01	146	G	L
2	Tyson Teichmann	Belleville	19-May-93	6.00	142	G	L
3	Jacob Riley	Brampton	18-Mar-93	6.01	163	G	L

The Scouting Report » Dougie Hamilton

Dougie Hamilton – NHL Draft Profile

8. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

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

Introduction:

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

2. RD Adam Larsson – Skelleftea AIK (SEL)

3. RW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (OHL)

4. LC Sean Couturier – Drummondville (QMJHL)

5. LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Saint John (QMJHL)

6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)

7. RC Mika Zibanejad – Djurgarden (SEL)

8. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

9. RC Ryan Strome – Niagara (OHL)

10. RC Mark Scheifele – Barrie (OHL)

11. RW Joel Armia – Assat (SM-Liiga)

12. LW Matthew Puempel – Peterborough (OHL)

13. RC Mark McNeill – Prince Albert (WHL)

14. LD Duncan Siemens – Saskatoon (WHL)

15. LW Sven Bartschi – Portland (WHL)

16. LD Nathan Beaulieu – Saint John (QMJHL)

17. LC Vladislav Namestnikov – London (OHL)

18. RC Rocco Grimaldi – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

19. LD Oscar Klefbom – Farjestad (SEL)

20. LC JT Miller – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

21. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

22. LD Jamiesen Oleksiak – Northeastern (NCAA)

23. LD Jonas Brodin – Farjestad (SEL)

24. LW Stefan Noesen – Plymouth (OHL)

25. RD Robbie Russo – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

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

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

Introduction:

1. RD Adam Larsson – Skelleftea AIK (SEL)

2. LC Sean Couturier – Drummondville (QMJHL)

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

4. LW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (OHL)

5. LW Matthew Puempel – Peterborough (OHL)

6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)

7. LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Saint John (QMJHL)

8. LD Duncan Siemens – Saskatoon (WHL)

9. RW Joel Armia – Assat (SM-Liiga)

10. RC Ryan Strome – Niagara (OHL)

11. LW Brandon Saad – Saginaw (OHL)

12. LW Sven Bartschi – Portland (WHL)

13. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

14. LD David Musil – Vancouver (WHL)

15. RC Mark Scheifele – Barrie (OHL)

16. RD Scott Mayfield – Youngstown (USHL)

17. LC Victor Rask – Leksand (Allsvenskan)

18. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

19. RC Mark McNeill – Prince Albert (WHL)

20. RW Ty Rattie – Portland (WHL)

21. LW Matthew Nieto – Boston University (NCAA)

22. LD Nathan Beaulieu – Saint John (QMJHL)

23. RW Dmitri Jaskin – Slavia Praha (Czech)

24. RW Tomas Jurco – Saint John (QMJHL)

25. RC Mika Zibanejad – Djurgarden (SEL)

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

27. RW Seth Ambroz – Omaha (USHL)

28. LC Alexander Khokhlachev – Windsor (OHL)

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

30. LC JT Miller – US U18 Team (USHL)

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

2011 OHL Mid-Term Draft Rankings: Top 20 Skaters (1-10)

Click Here for Part 2 of the Mid-Season Top 20

1. RW (LS) #92 Gabriel Landeskog | Kitchener (OHL)

Height: 6.00 | Weight: 201 | Birthdate: 11/23/92 | Nationality: Swedish

2. LW #22 Brandon Saad | Saginaw (OHL)

Height: 6.01 | Weight: 196 | Birthdate: 10/27/92 | Nationality: American

3. RD #24 Ryan Murphy | Kitchener (OHL)

Height: 5.10 | Weight: 165 | Birthdate: 03/31/93 | Nationality: Canadian

4. LW #18 Matthew Puempel | Peterborough (OHL)

Height: 6.00 | Weight: 190 | Birthdate: 01/24/93 | Nationality: Canadian

5. RC #18 Ryan Strome | Niagara (OHL)

Height: 6.01 | Weight: 183 | Birthdate: 07/11/93 | Nationality: Canadian

6. RD #27 Dougie Hamilton | Niagara (OHL)

Height: 6.04 | Weight: 193 | Birthdate: 06/17/93 | Nationality: Canadian

7. RC #19 Mark Scheifele | Barrie (OHL)

Height: 6.03 | Weight: 175 | Birthdate: 03/15/93 | Nationality: Canadian

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

6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)