The Scouting Report » Gabriel Landeskog

Gabriel Landeskog – NHL Draft Profile

Mike Kloepfer — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:59:03 +0000

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

As far as prospects go, Gabriel Landeskog is one you cannot go wrong with; he is about as safe as they come. Initially drafted in the 2009 CHL Import Draft 3^rd overall by the Plymouth Whalers, Landeskog was involved in a deal that moved him to the Kitchener Rangers, where he is finding his current success. As a 17 year old, Landeskog recorded 46 points in 61 games, an impressive feat for an import player, not to mention his 23 points in 23 playoff games either. These numbers resulted in Landeskog being named to the OHL All Rookie team, as well as being named Kitchener’s rookie of the year. His playing style really made the transition easy as he already played a North American style game.

Steve Spott is quote in TSN’s Matt Cade’s article “Kitchener’s Landeskog Different Kind of Swedish Prospect” (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=339113) saying “’He played a North American style of game,” said Spott. “He played hard and I felt that he was the type of player that would fit well inside our system.’”

Preparing for his second season in the OHL, and his NHL draft year, Kitchener was looking for more offensive output out of their newly named captain. Not only did Landeskog succeed in doing this, he cemented himself as a top 5 pick in the NHL draft with his increased OHL numbers, 66 points in 53 games, solid two way play and grit. Fortunately for Landeskog, his injury at the 2011 World Junior Championship did not affect his draft ranking. In the game he did play he recorded a goal and an assist.

Landeskog is probably the most complete player and potentially the most NHL ready prospect in the entire 2011 NHL draft crop. He plays with an immense amount of intensity and grit, plays solid in his own end, and can be counted on to record some points along the way. It is not only his on ice play that will make him a great pick, but the intangibles as well. His work ethic and determination are high. He is a great leader, and will most likely captain an NHL team in the future. When it comes to Landeskog’s offensive game he has great vision, strong on the boards, and has a rocket of a shot which consistently makes him a threat, especially at the junior level.

It is a tremendously difficult thing to do trying to find holes in the Stockholm native’s game. Due to his gritty two-way style of game, Landeskog will likely never realize the offensive cap he has the potential of hitting. He also lacks the offensive creative ability that other of the top talents in the draft possess. He plays a simple offensive game, and isn’t afraid to go to the gritty areas in front of the net to score a goal.

Naturally, Landeskog’s gritty two-way style has yet to serve him wrong and he has successfully managed to find himself in the top 5 of 99% of the 2011 NHL rankings to date. He is more than likely ready to compete in the NHL next season, which will definitely be taken into consideration when the NHL general managers go to make their selections June 24^th in Minnesota.

Pros: Two-way play, Competitiveness, Goal Scoring Prowess, Leadership
Cons: Creativity, Style of play limits overall offensive upside
Skill-set Comparison: Shane Doan

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
---

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
---

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
---

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
---

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
---

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
---

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
---

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
---

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
---

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.

Midwest Battle: Kitchener Rangers v. Guelph Storm

Mike Kloepfer — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:17:00 +0000

GUELPH STORM V. KITCHENER RANGERS

September 26^th, 2010 – Sleeman Center

OVERVIEW:

It is always a highly competitive game when the Kitchener Rangers and Guelph Storm meet. Generally both teams are competitive in the Western Conference and wear their hearts on the sleeves when they match up. Tensions were high in the game, where the Rangers were able to comeback in the third period after some undisciplined 3^rd period hockey. Below are short bios on the 2011 NHL eligible prospects and the top picks from the 2010 Ontario Priority Selection.

GUELPH STORM:

3. LD Andrey Pedan | 6.04, 196 lbs. | July 3^rd, 1993 | Moscow, Russia | 2011 Draft Eligible

Andrey Pedan was Guelph’s first round selection in this past season’s CHL Import Draft and he appears to be the first great selection they have made in a few years. At the current time it would appear that Pedan would slot somewhere in the middle rounds of this season’s NHL draft, but that stock could rise or drop depending on his progression this season. Pedan is an offensive minded defenseman with a good stride to go along with his 6.04 frame. He does not shy away from the physical game and is willing to drop the gloves if necessary. The import player enjoys playing a high risk – high reward game as he will sometimes plays the risky pinch or make the risky pass. If Pedan adapts well to the North American game and simplifies his game, he could make a real impact for the Storm this season.

4. LD Matt Finn | 6.00, 197 lbs. | February 24^th, 1994 | Toronto, Ontario | 2012 Draft Eligible

Matt Finn was Guelph’s first round selection in the OHL Priority and has the potential to become a top talent in the OHL. In minor midget Finn was a two-way defenseman, but moving forward in the OHL he will be relied upon to play more of a shutdown role. Already possessing decent size for this level, he could use another couple inches and a few more pounds to really solidify himself as a dominant presence. Finn is clearly in a adjustment period as he is getting used to the speed of the OHL. Moving forward there is no question he will need to work on his foot speed in order to keep up to the pace of the new league.

22. RW Cody McNaughton | 5.10, 180 lbs. | October 16^th, 1992 | Petawawa, Ontario | 2011 Draft Eligible

Cody McNaughton is a wildcard of sorts right now. He is not someone that is touted to get drafted, but he may be on some team’s radars come the 6^th or 7^th round. Being listed at 5.10 is likely generous, but he plays as though he is 6.02. He is not afraid to throw the body, defend a teammate by dropping the gloves, and has a tireless work ethic. A major issue is that he does not possess the speed to offset his size to be a legit NHL prospect. If he can find some of the offensive flair he possessed in minor midget this season, he could find his name being called in June 2011.

23. RW Zack Mitchell | 6.00, 174 lbs. | January 7^th, 1991 | Caledon, Ontario | 2011 Draft Eligible

Like McNaughton, Zack Mitchell is a bit of a question mark. I had high hopes for Mitchell coming into the 2010-2011 season, but it doesn’t appear as though he put on the necessary strength to be a threat in the OHL this season. In his rookie year he put up 10 points in 59 games, and 2 goals in 5 playoff games. He has the potential to be a dynamic goal scorer, but he needs to add the necessary strength to his frame, and work on his first two steps in his stride to reach his potential.

25. LW Carter Sandlak | 6.02, 190 lbs. | May 18^th, 1993 | London, Ontario | 2011 Eligible

Carter Sandlak likely has the most potential out of any Guelph Storm player eligible for the coming 2011 NHL Draft. After a modest 15-point rookie season that saw him play for the Ontario U-17 team, the sophomore is looking to have a break out season. Sandlak possess all the tools to play a complete game of hockey. With size, a decent stride, and the ability to read the play in the offensive zone he could really become a threat at both ends of the ice. In an interview in the summer, Sandlak mentioned that he was looking to work on the quickness of his shot in order to become a greater offensive threat.

KITCHENER RANGERS:

9. RW Tobias Rieder | 5.10, 172 lbs. | January 10^th, 1993 | Landshut, Germany | 2011 Draft Eligible

Tobias Rieder will need to have a strong showing this season in the OHL in order to prove to NHL clubs that he can be a top prospect at the next level. At the next level Rieder will be considered a small forward, but he does have top offensive skills and instincts. He scored a goal in this game from just inside in the blue-line with a shot that handcuffed Brandon Foote of the Storm. The shot went bar in, the quickness of the release was elite. As long as Rieder is able to make the adjustment to North Americian hockey there is no reason why he wont excel and have his name listed under the top 20 scorers.

24. RD Ryan Murphy | 5.11, 178 lbs. | March 31^st, 1993 | Aurora, Ontario | 2011 Draft Eligible

Ryan Murphy is a top fledged offensive minded defenseman in the OHL at the young age of 17. He is already able to quarterback a power play at the OHL level and will be relied upon heavily in Kitchener this season. There are only two real set backs to his game at this time. His size and strength will be a cause for concern moving forward sitting at 5.11, 178-pounds he can be overpowered in his own end against larger opponents. Also Murphy will need to improve the velocity of his slap shot which will allow him to be more flexible on the power play. Murphy will be a “wanted” player come June, and will likely hear his name called early in the first round.

91. RC Matia Marcantuoni | 6.00, 189 lbs. | February 22^nd, 1994 | Toronto, Ontario | 2012 Eligible

There will be a lot of pressure and attention on the 16 year-old Toronto native. After being hyped to be a top 3 pick in the OHL Priority selection, he slipped to the end of the first because of NCAA concerns. After eventually landing in Kitchener, he will join a supporting of one of the most dynamic offensive corps in the league. Marcantuoni has top speed, a quick release and great offensive instincts. Marcantuoni seems to lack the ability to “finish” and will need to find that touch in order to live up to his high expectations.

92. RW Gabriel Landeskog | 6.01, 207 lbs. | November 23^rd, 1992 | Stockholm, Sweden | 2011 Eligible

Gabriel Landeskog is touted to go in the top 10 of this season’s NHL Draft and with good reason. The 6.01, 207 pound winger already has molded a game suited for North America. Possessing good offensive talent, tireless work ethic, not to mention his gritty style will have most NHL general managers licking their lips, there is no question Landeskog’s position in the draft is his to relish or lose. Landeskog will not be the prototypical goal scorer at the next level but will be a safe pick to play a solid two-way game and add energy to a 2^nd line.

2011 NHL Entry Draft Rankings: Preliminary Top 15

Scott Campbell — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:25:32 +0000

Our newest rankings are located here. Would love to hear any comments!

1. RD Adam Larsson | Skelleftea (Elisterien)

Height: 6.03 | Weight: 220 | Birthdate: 11/12/92 | Nationality: Swedish

Heading into the 2010/2011 season it’s clear to see that the top spot will be Adam Larsson’s to lose. While there was a prevailing notion that Victor Hedman was the top Swedish defensive prospect possibly ever, only two years later it looks like Larsson will poised to take that mantle. Larsson is an imposing figure with tremendous size, but his game extends well beyond that. He’s very calm with the puck and has great poise and vision. He’s very capable offensively and it looks like his offensive play will continue to grow as he matures. His skating is likely the primary concern if you’re looking for one, as his acceleration and quickness aren’t great, but he will have time to work on that aspect. You could also consider that his foot speed might improve if he adjusts his playing weight to the 210-215 range.

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2. LC Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Red Deer (WHL)

Height: 6.00 | Weight: 160 | Birthdate: 04/12/93 | Nationality: Canadian

Nugent-Hopkins probably isn’t the consensus #2 among most right now, but he’s a player that we feel is just on the cusp of his ability. Coming off a fine first season in the WHL where he walked away as the league’s rookie of the year, Nugent-Hopkins was Canada’s most productive player in their Gold Medal run at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. He skates tremendously well and is a very creative playmaker with great vision. Not only does he make those around him better, he’s also an adept scorer and as he puts on weight, he will be a very tough player to contain. After leading a very mediocre team last year, Nugent-Hopkins will be poised for a big year this season and it wouldn’t be out of the realm for him to approach the 100 point mark as well as a potential spot on the Canadian Under 20 team. While Couturier might be the better player today, Nugent-Hopkins might have the highest ceiling of any player in this draft.

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3. LC Sean Couturier | Drummondville (QMJHL)

Height: 6.03 | Weight: 192 | Birthdate: 12/07/92 | Nationality: Canadian

Couturier struggled to adapt to the QMJHL as a 16 year old as his awkward skating style limited his offensive output along with being on a very deep Drummondville team that went all the way to the Memorial Cup. Oh how a year can make a difference. Last season, Couturier took the league by storm, easily establishing himself as the most dominant player in the league. His combination of size and skill are very hard to come by and his game has drawn a lot of comparisons to Vincent Lecavalier, and rightfully so. His skating improved tremendously last season but will still need to be a focus of improvement for him. With another big season this year, Couturier should cement himself as a Top 3 player in this draft and will stay in contention for what could shape up to be another battle for first overall.

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4. LD David Musil | Vancouver (WHL)

Height: 6.03 | Weight: 190 | Birthdate: 04/09/93 | Nationality: Czech

David Musil had an interesting road to the WHL last season. After the WHL amended some rules to allow a European to join the league as a 16 year old (Musil’s family has ties to North America and moved to Vancouver last summer), the Kooteney Ice acquired his rights in a waiver draft. He was then dealt to Vancouver after requesting a trade to live with his family for a 1st and 5th round picks in the WHL Bantam Draft. Musil proceeded to have a very strong rookie year with the Giants. His game is laced with pro qualities and he has all the traits of a shut-down defenseman that can play important minutes. While his offensive numbers were very good last year, they don’t really reflect his style of play and he’ll have to take a few more chances if he wants to be that type of player at the NHL level.

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5. LW Brandon Saad | Saginaw (OHL)

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

Saad has developed considerably after being a very raw AAA player in Pittsburgh only three years ago. After spending a couple of productive seasons with the US Development Team, Saad will be making to the move to Saginaw this year after they’ve waited patiently since taking him in the first round back in 2008. Saad should be able to make a seamless transition to the Major Junior game. He’s got a pro style frame, and his style of play matches it. Saad is a good skater with a good scoring touch. He competes hard and battles in the tough areas on the ice and is the type of player that coaches love to have in their lineup as he brings a very solid physical element to his game. His offensive upside at the NHL level probably will be as a 30/30 type player, but like Niederreiter in 2010, he’s a guy that has a lot of versatility and is the type of player that will help you win big games.

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6. RW (LS) Gabriel Landeskog | Kitchener (OHL)

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

There were high expectations for Gabriel Landeskog last season and after having some early difficulty adjusting to the North American game, by the end of the year he became a player that was dominating OHL games at the age of 17. Landeskog’s style of play is anything but what you’d expect from the prototypical European style. He relishes the opportunity to compete and loves getting involved physically. He’s great on the cycle and can make life very tough for opposing defensemen. He’s got a solid scoring touch, although his offensive awareness could be considered fairly average. Even still, he does a good enough job of putting himself into positions where he can score goals. Like Saad, don’t expect Landeskog to set the world on fire offensively at the NHL level, but he’s a safe bet to be another one of those Brendan Morrow types of players who can play in your Top 6 and add a different dynamic to your team that seems to be so rare these days.

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7. LW Matt Puempel | Peterborough (OHL)

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

Coming off a very impressive rookie season where he was awarded the CHL Rookie of the Year, Puempel is one of the top pure goal scorers available in this crop. When you see him, he may go through lulls where you might not notice him very much on the ice, but he’s always dangerous in the offensive zone. He does a good job of finding seams in the defense and his shot power and release are both pro quality. Overall, his game is a little ho-hum, but his drive to improve and goal scoring prowess both indicate that at the NHL level, he should be a potent goal scorer in the NHL.

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8. RD Ryan Murphy | Kitchener (OHL)

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

Murphy is a very unique prospect that doesn’t come around that often. While his slender build and lack of defensive polish are pretty big concerns, you can’t ignore the sheer offensive potential he has. Murphy is a tremendous skater with great poise and the ability to make highly skilled moves at top speed. He’s got great agility and is a very good puck distributor. On the powerplay he sees the ice very well and while his shot lacks great power, he does a good job of getting it through and on target. He showed signs that his defensive game is getting better, but that will be a big point of interest for scouts this year as that could really make or break his game at the next level.

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9. LW Seth Ambroz | Omaha (USHL)

Height: 6.03 | Weight: 198 | Birthdate: 04/01/93 | Nationality: American

One of the more highly touted American prospects in recent memory, Ambroz started his USHL career as a 15 year old with Omaha and tried to fast track his way to the NCAA this year at the University of Minnesota. However, Ambroz was informed that there would not be room for him on the team with a significant number of returnees, and as a result he will be back in the USHL, probably for the better as he will see considerably more ice time in Omaha. His skating is an issue as he does lack some quickness, but his ability to shield the puck and play a physical game do compensate a bit. He’s not a natural scorer but he is pretty clutch and is a player who is always working hard and rarely disappears on the ice.

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10. LC Victor Rask | Leksand (Allsvenskan)

Height: 6.02 | Weight: 194 | Birthdate: 03/01/93 | Nationality: Swedish

After a bit of an underwhelming showing at the Ivan Hlinka tournament, Rask will need to have a quick start to the 2010/2011 season as it looks like he’ll be starting in the Allsvenskan this year. He’s a big guy who is very mobile and has high end puck skills. He’s pretty crafty, has good vision and is a dangerous goal scorer as well. With a good season he should cement himself in the 8-12 range as he is a good prospect heading into the year.

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11. LD Duncan Siemens | Saskatoon (WHL)

Height: 6.03 | Weight: 194 | Birthdate: 09/11/93 | Nationality: Canadian

Siemens had a few growing pains last year and perhaps didn’t meet some of the lofty expectations, but there’s a lot to like about him and he’s a guy that could definitely be a riser this year. He’s a steady type of player that’s good in his own end, but is also very effective transitionally and does have some offensive skill. He’ll have a bigger role with the Blades this year and there will be plenty of opportunity for him to play in all different types of situations where he can really show off what type of player he can develop into.

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12. LC Vladislav Namestnikov | London (OHL)

Height: 6.00 | Weight: 163 | Birthdate: 11/22/92 | Nationality: Russian

Namestnikov could very well be the 2011 version of Alexander Burmistrov as there are some parallels to be drawn between their games. Namestnikov is a good skater who has the prototypical Russian skill set. He’s great with the puck and is a threat any time he has the puck either through passing or as a finisher. He capitalizes well on any opportunity and can find holes in the defense. He’ll need to add some strength as that will be a concern, but playing in London this year shouldn’t be a problem as the rigors of the OHL schedule are still manageable.

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13. LW Lucas Lessio | Oshawa (OHL)

Height: 6.01 | Weight: 187 | Birthdate: 01/23/93 | Nationality: Canadian

Lessio doesn’t have a wow factor, but he’s a blue-collar guy that works hard and gets rewarded for it. He’s not overly physical, but he doesn’t shy away from contact and is very good on the boards. He can play with highly skilled players and be effective and he’s good around the net. With his skill set, he compliments any line well but definitely has the offensive ability to be featured on the top couple of lines. His style of play projects well to the NHL and moving to the OHL this year will certainly provide him with a much greater competition level then he encountered in the CCHL a year ago.

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14. RW Shane McColgan | Kelowna (WHL)

Height: 5.11 | Weight: 170 | Birthdate: 01/01/93 | Nationality: American

McColgan was one of the big revelations in the WHL last year as he exploded offensively to be a very reliable point producer as a 16 year old. His offensive skill can’t be denied but you really have to wonder how much his skating and lack of size will impede him at the NHL level. His defensive zone play is pretty questionable and he’s essentially a one dimensional player as of now, so barring an absolutely huge offensive season, scouts will really want to see him work on his complete game this year.

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15. LC Boone Jenner | Oshawa (OHL)

Height: 6.01 | Weight: 192 | Birthdate: 06/15/93 | Nationality: Canadian

Rounding out the Top 15 is Boone Jenner who is a bit of a wild-card at this point. Last season Jenner looked like he began to show signs of wearing down as the year progressed and his lack of discipline in some games was an issue. Aside from that, his willingness to battle for the puck and sacrifice his body are major stigmas of his game. He’s an effective offensive player with good hands and makes things happen when he gets the puck. His skating still needs a lot of work as he has a real choppy wide stride, not so unlike a former General, John Tavares. While his rookie season was a positive one, this year he’ll need to establish some consistency and show signs of progression.

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

CHL Feature – 2009/10 Junior Preview

Scott Campbell — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:50:53 +0000

While roster turnover in professional hockey normally brings limited change to rosters each year, even despite the salary cap, it is something that has become customary in junior hockey every off-season. Unlike professional leagues, junior hockey teams are handicapped by the limited amount of eligibility their players have to play in their respective leagues. As a result, every off-season is particularity exciting as some teams fall from grace, while others get ready to ascend to the top. This off-season has been particularly exciting and we’ll elaborate on some of the bigger storylines to follow from some of the high profile junior leagues in North America.

Often considered the weakest link out of the three CHL leagues, the QMJHL took some of the national spotlight from the WHL and OHL this summer with some big news of its own. Leading the way has been the ongoing dilemma with Russian phenom Kirill Kabanov and where he will indeed play the 2009/10 season. After indicating that he wanted to play in the CHL in early 2009, Kabanov’s intentions seemed to change when his rights were traded from his previous KHL club Spartak Moscow, to KHL powerhouse Salavat UFA. However, the terms of Kabanov’s contract have apparently changed as he will no longer have an NHL escape clause until his mid to late 20’s which has once again caused the 17 year old Moscow native to apparently switch his intentions to playing in the CHL.

Luckily for the Moncton Wildcats, this means that they are now one step closer to landing a player who many feel could contend for top honours in the 2010 draft class. After selecting Kabanov with the 7^th overall pick in this summer’s CHL Import Draft, Kabanov is now in New Brunswick as he looks to obtain a transfer from the IIHF to allow him to play in the QMJHL this season. While Salavat is disputing this heavily, and rightfully so, if Kabanov does land in the QMJHL, he will likely be one of the most followed players in the league since Sidney Crosby’s reign ended in 2005.

The Kabanov impasse has overshadowed another Russian’s arrival to the QMJHL as well. After a tough season last year, the St. John Sea Dogs were able to add two major components to their rebuild after they were able to nab fellow 2010 eligible Stanislav Galiev with the 1^st pick in the Import Draft, and supplemented that with flashy Slovakian Tomas Jurco with the 4^th pick. While Jurco is not eligible until the 2011 Entry Draft, both players look like they will be impact players this season and will definitely be worth keeping an eye on throughout the season.

How can you top the notion that your league has produced the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft for the last three years? Easy, you do it again. With the resurgence of the OHL kicked into high gear, the 2010 draft crop will definitely be one of the biggest storylines to follow in the league this season. Two Windsor Spitfires, Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler, will be top contenders for the first pick in the draft, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Kane (2007), Stamkos (2008) and Tavares (2009) in continuing the OHL dominance at the top of the draft. As if having these two guys wasn’t enough, when you look around the league and see some of the other players available, the 2010 NHL Entry Draft’s first round will surely be littered with upwards of 10 OHL players.

One of the big teams to follow this season will be the Kitchener Rangers, who have done a nice job rebuilding over the past season after hosting the Memorial Cup in 2008. After adding a trio of Americans with Columbus first rounder John Moore, Atlanta second rounder Jeremy Morin and Colorado goaltending prospect Brandon Maxwell, the team has done a nice job of adding some high end talent to the team. Adding in third overall pick Ryan Murphy and one of the top prospects for the 2011 Entry Draft in Gabriel Landeskog, there is certainly a lot to be excited about. Oh, and don’t forget about guys like Jeff Skinner, Jason Akeson and Chris MacKinnon and this team has the potential to be one of the better teams in the league with a roster that is littered with several NHL calibre prospects as well.

After producing some solid high end players in 2009, the 2010 NHL Entry Draft doesn’t look as promising for the WHL. While Brett Connolly will surely be a Top 10 pick and Mark Pysyk could break into the Top 15, the draft crop from the WHL lacks the high end talent it normally produces. While 2010 will probably be considered a bit of an off year for the league, there is a gem that is waiting to be uncovered yet, the 2011 crop.

Many scouts have been quick to label the 2011 Draft as one of the worst in the past decade, when you look closer at some of the players that will be eligible, that opinion seems to be on the contrary. Although the draft may lack some of the high end impact prospects from other drafts, there is no doubting that there is a considerable amount of quality depth in this draft, especially from the WHL in particular.

Leading the way is Red Deer’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a slick forward who has extremely good offensive instincts. Two other players who are at a similar level are Shane McColgan of Kelowna and Colin Jacobs of Seattle. All three of these players saw some time in the WHL last season as 15 year olds, and despite their young age, each of them showed that they could already be impact players in the league despite their inexperience. However it doesn’t stop there as several other players like Ty Rattie, Duncan Siemens and Michael St. Croix will all be interesting players to follow this season. All in all, the 1993’s in the WHL will be an intriguing age group to watch as they appear poised to break a reign of OHL dominance in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.

There will always be people who are often quick to simply write off the United States’ top calibre of junior hockey despite the fact that the league continues to take steps towards becoming a better league. This year, they’ve done that by bringing on the USNTDP program into their league for a second stint. There will always be advocates and critics of how the program is operated and whether it is ultimately beneficial or not, but one thing cannot be disputed, and that is the fact that many of the top 16 and 17 year old American players continue to call this program home during their first two years of junior eligibility. With the NTDP joining the regular league schedule this season, they will help bolster the quality of play in the league and should attract plenty of attention from the NHL scouting community which will only help create more exposure for the growing league.

One USHL player of particular intrigue will be Omaha’s Seth Ambroz, a 6’3” forward who played 61 games with the team as a 15 year old where he registered a very impressive 14 goals and 31 points. He has been generating a lot of hype with his combination of size and skill and scouts will be following his progress a lot this season to get a gauge on just how good Ambroz might be able to be.

Suffice to say, with junior hockey across the continent surging in popularity, there is plenty to be excited about once again in 2009/2010. Across the CHL and the USHL, many of the top young players in the world will once again be on display and it will be very interesting to see who will surprise and who will disappoint.

All images are the property of their respective team/website. These logos and photographs are used soley for factual purposes, and TSR in no way claims these logos to be their own. All rights remain with the owners of the logos and images.

CHL Feature – 2009 CHL Import Draft Review

Scott Campbell — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:44:44 +0000

While the CHL Import Draft is always considered to be a bit of a crap shoot, there is no denying that the 2008 edition of the draft was particularily unique. With only two of the top five selections suiting up in the CHL last season, the draft was full of notables lining the draft list sporatically. One of the reasons that this tends to happen is due to the nature of the import draft. Many teams target specific players and work out deals with them before hand, so that where they pick becomes less of a factor as they will still be able to get their guy.

With the 2009 CHL Import Draft recently completed on June 30th, early indications already show that there is going to be a significantly different trend with this draft. At this point it appears that each of the first five selections in the draft will be making their CHL debuts with their respective CHL clubs for the 2009/2010 season, while several other high profile players have also committed to play in the CHL only a month after the draft. Today we’ll look at some of the players who could be impact players in the league as early as this season.

1st OVR – F Stanislav Galiev

Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

After some initial concerns that Galiev would remain with the Indiana Ice of the USHL where he played last season, the Sea Dogs recently announced that they had come to terms with their top pick. Galiev, rated 13th in TSR’s Preliminary 2010 Rankings, is a dynamic offensive talent that should instantly be able to step onto the top line in Saint John. A big season from Galiev could vault the Moscow native into the Top 10 of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and there will no shortage of scouts following his progress this season.

2nd OVR – F Nino Niederreiter

Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Niederreiter is a player who has been pretty highly regarded by a lot of scouts and early indications show that he would likely slide into the Top 30 for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at this point. Niederreiter had a solid season with the Davos U20 team, and was a pretty strong contributor at the recent U18′s averaging a point per game as an underager. Either way, Niederreiter will be a very nice addition to an up and coming Portland squad.

3rd OVR – F Gabriel Landeskog

Plymouth Whalers: Traded to Kitchener (OHL)

Landeskog’s story has been one of the most interesting cases to follow since the Import Draft. After Plymouth traded up to select the 16 year old Swede, Landeksog recently had his rights traded to the Kitchener Rangers in a fairly major transaction that saw several high picks going to the Whalers in return. Landeskog is a late 1992 birthday which means that he will not be eligible until the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, but there are already high hopes that this physical two way forward could be a Top 5 pick in 2011.

7th OVR – F Kirill Kabanov

Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

Arguably the most talented player in the draft, Kabanov’s case is a curious one as there continues to be rumblings back on forth as to where the highly touted Russian will spend his 2009/2010 season. After playing with Spartak last season, Kabanov has reached an agreement to move to KHL powerhouse Salavat. However there continue to be signs that Kabanov is actually intent on heading overseas to suit up for the Wildcats. It appears that things might become more clear after the conclusion of the Ivan Hlinka U18 tournament, but it will a very interesting storyline to follow.

9th OVR – G Robin Lehner

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Lehner is the first NHL drafted player on the list after being selected 46th overall by the Ottawa Senators in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft. Lehner is a big goalie who put up respectable numbers with Frolunda last season and will now spend time on a very young Greyhounds club. Since he will likely see a lot of quality shots this season, it will be very important for him to show some mental toughness and prove that he is able to battle through some adversity that he will almost assuredly face.

12th OVR – F Alexander Burmistrov

Barrie Colts (OHL)

Burmistrov is the most recent player to announce that he will be coming over to play in the CHL next season after agreeing to terms with the Barrie Colts. A late 91 birthdate, the undersized forward will be eligible for the 2010 NHL Draft and there is reason to believe that he could work his way into the first round. Burmistrov is extremely talented and will get a great chance to succeed with a team that should be one of the better teams in the OHL this year. While he may not be more talented then guys like Vladimir Tarasenko and Evgeni Kuznetsov, the combination of a strong season and already being in North America could give Burmistrov the upper hand on his fellow countrymen in the draft.

14th OVR – F Toni Rajala

Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

One of the most highly touted internet phenomenoms in recent memory, Toni Rajala went from being perceived as a Top 5 pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft to plummeting all the way to the fourth round where the Edmonton Oilers were happy to pick him up with the 101st pick in the draft. Rajala will come to Brandon fresh off a very impressive U18 performance where he racked up 19 points in a mere 6 games. This season will definitely be an interesting for Rajala as he joins up with a very talented Brandon team that is set to host the Memorial Cup in 2010. Playing in a very physical league should challenge Rajala’s durability and it will be interesting to see how the talented forward progresses during the season.

Suffice to say, it is certainly going to be interesting to see how the new dose of European flavour takes shape in the CHL this year. Many are often quick to jump to the conclusion that the CHL will automatically ruin European players, and while that trend did have some support as early as a few years ago, recent indications show that many European players have thrived in the CHL since the NHL lockout season, where the CHL also adapted the same rule changes. Nevertheless, with so many draft eligible players making appearances in the league this season, it will be an interesting year following the plight of many of these young players.

All logos are the property of their respective team/league. These logos are used soley for factual purposes, and TSR in no way claims these logos to be their own. All rights remain with the owners of the logos.

The Scouting Report » Gabriel Landeskog

Gabriel Landeskog – NHL Draft Profile

3. RW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (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)