The Scouting Report » Joe Morrow

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

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

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

26. RW Zach Phillips – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

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

27. LC Boone Jenner – Oshawa (OHL)

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

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

28. RD Scott Mayfield – Youngstown (USHL)

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

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

29. LC Alexander Khokhlachev – Windsor (OHL)

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

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

30. RW Ty Rattie – Portland (WHL)

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

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

31. RD Connor Murphy – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

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

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

32. RW Tyler Biggs – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

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

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

33. LD David Musil – Vancouver (WHL)

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

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

34. RW Dmitri Jaskin – Slavia Praha (Czech)

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

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

35. LD Joe Morrow – Portland (WHL)

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

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

36. RD Adam Clendening – Boston University (NCAA)

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

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

37. LC Victor Rask – Leksand (Allsvenskan)

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

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

38. RW Tomas Jurco – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

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

39. RW Nikita Kucherov – CSKA Moskva (MHL)

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

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

40. LW Brandon Saad – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

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

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

41. LW Mario Lucia – Wayzata (HS-MN)

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

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

42. LW Lucas Lessio – Oshawa (OHL)

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

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

43. LW Matthew Nieto – Boston University (NCAA)

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

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

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

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

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

45. RC Rickard Rakell – Plymouth (OHL)

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

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

46. RW Seth Ambroz – Omaha (USHL)

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

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

47. RC Colin Jacobs – Seattle (WHL)

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

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

48. LC Phillip Danault – Victorialville (QMJHL)

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

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

49. LD Joel Edmundson – Moose Jaw (WHL)

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

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

50. LW Jeremy Boyce – Timra (SEL)

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

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

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

WHL Draft-Eligible Player Rankings: March 2011

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

Skaters

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

Goaltenders

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

TSR’s 2011 NHL Mid-Term Top 60 Skaters Rankings (31-60)

Scott Campbell — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 18:00:40 +0000

Click here for Part One of the Top 60 Skaters (1-30)

31. RD Myles Bell – Regina (WHL)

DOB: Aug. 19/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 202lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 48GP 11G 21A 31P -6 60PIM
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Bell is a high-risk, high-reward defenseman that is capable of making momentum-changing plays. Although listed as a defenseman, Bell could almost be listed as a fourth forward as he seems to spend as much time joining the rush and the play up ice as he does in his own end. He loves to carry the puck up the ice and will attempt to stickhandle through traffic. He makes a strong first pass out of his end and has a very heavy shot from the point. Bell also loves delivering big hits. He can run around out of position when he locks on to a target. While he loves to rush the puck, his puck handling skills are good, but not elite in the way some other draft-eligible players’ are. His risky tendencies have often led to troubles in his own end and it must be determined whether his abilities are good enough for him to play the same way in the pros or whether he will just become a defensive liability.

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32. RW Tyler Biggs – US Under 18 Team (USHL)

DOB: Jan. 30/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 210lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 12GP 5G 2A 7P +5 35PIM
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Biggs has a pro body and uses it well. He also knows when to stand up for his teammates and provides good leadership. Biggs skates well with a powerful stride that takes him from point A to point B with good speed. He’s a little choppy though in tight turns and when he has to change directions. Most of the consensus has him higher, but we think there’s players with more upside ahead of him.

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33. LD Oscar Klefbom – Farjestad (SEL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 19GP 1G 1A 2P 2PIM
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Big defenseman with good range and mobility. Sees the ice very well and has the ability to make creative up ice passes to generate offense. Has had strong showings in his age class at international events, and will be more of a factor in the SEL as his game continues to mature.

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34. RW Zack Phillips – Saint John (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 28/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 181lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 48GP 29G 40A 69P +33 14PIM
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Phillips has been steadily rising over the past two seasons and could make a case to go in the late first round of the NHL Entry Draft this season along with what could be three other Sea Dogs’ teammates. Phillips is a good offensive player who does a lot of things well, but doesn’t really have a defining quality. He’ll need to improve his skating a bit as well in the future.

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35. RC Colin Jacobs – Seattle (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 20/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 204lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 45GP 17G 16A 33P -12 49PIM
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Colin Jacobs is a prototypical Western Hockey League center. Big, strong, and tough as nails, Jacobs hails from Coppell, Texas, not exactly a hockey hotbed. Jacobs has already surpassed his goal and point totals from last season, and continues to play his rough and tumble style while playing a much larger role on a young Seattle team. Colin projects as a second or third line center in the NHL, but is still a very raw player that will need a few years of solid development.

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

DOB: Feb. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 185lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 46GP 21G 32A 53P -7 86PIM
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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.

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37. RW Nicholas Shore – Denver University (NCAA)

DOB: Sep. 26/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 17GP 2G 10A 12P 33PIM
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The younger brother of Panther’s draft pick and college teammate Drew Shore, Nick has been under the radar a bit at Denver this year. He’s a reliable winger who plays a good game at both ends of the ice but also has the offensive talent to be a factor on the score-sheet. Has a high skill level and good creativity which has allowed him to make an immediate impact as a freshman.

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38. LW Stefan Noesen – Plymouth (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 49GP 24G 31A 55P +14 56PIM
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Noesen is one of the big surprises out of the OHL this year, as he has really relished the increased role he’s earned himself with Mike Velucci’s team this season. He’s an above average skater who’s a prototypical north/south winger. Plays his off wing, but takes a lot of faceoffs and is very adept in the faceoff circle. Not a very creative player and looks to shoot first often, but has a pretty good shot. Hard nosed player who sacrifices the body and isn’t afraid to dish out his weight either. Offensive potential at the pro level is still questionable, but he competes hard and brings it every game.

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39. RC Vladislav Namestnikov – London (OHL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 46GP 21G 25A 46P +15 26PIM
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Came into the season with very high expectations but just hasn’t managed to find his groove offensively as the Knights as a whole have struggled to find some cohesion up front. Namestnikov is a smooth skater who can move up and down the ice fairly effortlessly and also is a very good puck mover. He sees the ice well and makes a lot of smart decisions with the puck which makes his linemates a lot better. Really lacks a lot of strength which is a big issue for him as he does get pushed around a bit, and he really needs to find a way to add some weight in the future.

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40. LW Lucas Lessio – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: Jan. 23/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 201lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 47GP 21G 22A 43P +13 42PIM
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Came into the year with huge expectations and thus far, his offensive output has to be considered a little disappointing. Despite his limited impact on the scoresheet, Lessio evidently still has a lot of qualities to his game that are attractive to NHL teams. He’s got good size and strength and is very good along the boards and on the cycle. He does a great job of pivoting his feet and changing direction while protecting the puck along the wall and can find a teammate with a quick out pass. Wins a lot of his on ice battles and does a good job of asserting himself in the slot for body presence. The numbers should come in time, but as long as Lessio continues to do the little things well, the rest will take care of itself.

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41. RC Rickard Rakell – Plymouth (OHL)

DOB: May 05/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 185lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 39GP 17G 18A 35P +11 12PIM
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Like Noesen, he came into the year off the chart a bit but has quickly entrenched himself as a legitimate prospect and was rewarded with a nod for the Swedish World Junior squad. He’s an above average skater who just does a lot of things well and is a player that a coach can use in a lot of situations due to his versatility. After playing mostly on the wing, he’s been thrown into a center position and made the transition fairly easily. He competes hard and leaves it all on the ice and also has a bit of grit which is a positive as well. Decent offensive threat and there’s no doubt that his upside isn’t capped with what he’s shown thus far.

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42. LD Joe Morrow – Portland (WHL)

DOB: Dec. 09/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 198lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 39GP 4G 22A 26P +3 41PIM
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After being injured early in the season, Morrow came back into the lineup with a lot of confidence, which led him to post 8 points in his first 7 games of the season. The slick-skating rearguard has since cooled off, posting 12 points in 22 games through November and December, while going -1 during that time span. Morrow has to fight for time on a stacked Portland defense, but has shown that he can hold his own while playing alongside other top prospects. Morrow is a very good skater who makes a solid first pass out of his own zone, and also has an underrated shot from the Portland blue line. Like some of his fellow teammates, Morrow will need to continue to improve in his own end to raise his stock even more, but with his raw skills, the sky is the limit.

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43. LD Jonas Brodin – Farjestad (SEL)

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

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 30GP 0G 2A 2P 10PIM
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Brodin is a lanky defender that skates extremely well and has great lateral ability across the ice. Does a great job of buying time for himself and escaping the forecheck to move the puck up ice. Good defensive skills and very methodical in positioning himself.

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44. LD Stuart Percy – Mississauga (OHL)

DOB: May 18/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 186lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 42GP 2G 21A 23P +35 46PIM
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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.

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45. RC Michael St. Croix – Edmonton (OHL)

DOB: Apr. 10/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 179lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 46GP 21G 31A 52P +22 34PIM
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Michael St. Croix is really starting to become a complete player with the Edmonton Oil Kings; something evidenced by his +/- stat going from -21 to being a +22 at the time of this article. St. Croix has also really started to pick up his offensive play, netting 7 goals and 20 points in 11 December games, and is once again starting to show flashes of the player everyone thought he would be. St. Croix might be the second most talented center the WHL has to offer this year, and though he’s not overly big or strong, his playmaking ability is solid, and you would have to wonder what kind of numbers he could put up on a stronger team.

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46. LC Boone Jenner – Oshawa (OHL)

DOB: Jun. 15/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 197lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 43GP 14G 29A 43P +3 34PIM
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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.

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47. RW Maxim Shalunov – Chelyabinsk (MHL)

DOB: Jan. 31/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 183lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 28GP 16G 8A 24P 34PIM
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At this point, the top ranked Russian player playing in Russia, Shalunov is a big winger with good speed and a heavy shot. A little predictable in that he generally sticks to the wing and tries to cut in, but his game should evolve as he plays more consistently against a higher level of competition moving forward.

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48. RD Adam Clendening – Boston University (NCAA)

DOB: Nov. 26/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 190lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 24GP 2G 12A 14P 51P
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Clendening is a very smart defenseman with great hockey sense. Really sees the play develop well and does a great job of anticipating the play. Adept offensively and a very good puck mover who makes good decisions making passes or using the wall. A little bit undersized and not an overly dynamic player, but a very quality pick in this range.

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49. LW Mario Lucia – Wayzata (HS-MN)

DOB: Aug. 25/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 183lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 18GP 19G 19A 38P +22 10PIM
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Lucia is the son of University of Minnesota Head Coach Don Lucia, and is the gem of the Minnesota High School hockey system this year. He’s a big guy that is very agile and has great speed. He’s been putting together a strong season this year, and he should rise during the second half.

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50. RW Shane McColgan – Kelowna (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 01/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 160lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 43GP 18G 31A 49P +3 33PIM
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McColgan is a shifty, skilled player that just hasn’t been meeting the lofty expectations thrust upon him after his excellent rookie campaign last season where he was runner-up to Nugent-Hopkins for WHL rookie of the year. The diminutive California native hasn’t been so much of a disappointment as he has been a victim of his own success. Offensively he hasn’t progressed enough from last year to overcome perceived deficiencies in his game. McColgan seems to have worked on his play away from the puck, and while it isn’t the greatest, it has improved quite a bit from last year. McColgan still needs to work on his strength as he is very easily knocked off the puck and he loses a high majority of physical battles at the WHL level, which will be a concern for NHL scouts. His compete level comes and goes, and when he’s on, he’s feisty, physical, chippy, and engaged.

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

DOB: Apr. 15/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 183lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): n/a
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Hudon is a Quebec native taking the prep school route before heading off to Cornell University next season. He’s a proactive player who is dangerous offensively as well as being all over the ice. Skates hard and competes and really earns a lot of his chances.

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52. LW Adam Lowry – Swift Current (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 29/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 184lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 48GP 14G 16A 30P -14 64PIM
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After getting off to a slow start to the season while recuperating from mono, Lowry is quickly becoming one of the fastest risers in the WHL for this year’s upcoming NHL draft. Lowry has been nearly a PPG player for the Broncos since the end of November. Lowry isn’t the best skater and could stand to improve his first step, but he’s a power forward in the making that does a lot of little things that coaches love. The son of former NHLer Dave Lowry works the boards well, wins puck battles, is strong on the puck, throws his weight around, takes his man, and has surprisingly good hands for his size. At 6’4, Lowry already has the ability to overpower his opponents and he doesn’t look he’s finished growing yet.

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53. LD Xavier Ouellet – Montreal (QMJHL)

DOB: Jul. 29/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 177lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 50GP 5G 27A 32P +18 30PIM
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Ouellet bypassed the NCAA route to stay in the QMJHL and has taken the next step with Montreal this season. He’s been putting up strong numbers which reflects a lot of his poise as he’s not a pure offensive defenseman. Ouellet is very good in his own end and makes a lot of smart decisions which makes him a quality pick in this range.

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54. LD Jesse Forsberg – Prince George (WHL)

DOB: Aug. 13/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 195lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 46GP 2G 11A 13P -1 117PIM
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Forsberg is a player that has polarized the TSR team so far this year. He’s another player that just hasn’t met pre-season expectations, yet brings a nice blend of skill, grit, size, and potential to merit watching as the season progresses. The talent is evident with Forsberg, but he hasn’t yet figured out how to harness it. While Forsberg hasn’t put up the offensive numbers expected of him when he entered the WHL, he does play a useful role for the Cougars as a gritty, physical defensive player.

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55. LW Max Friberg – Skovde (Swe-D1)

DOB: Nov. 20/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 23GP 10G 17A 27P 6PIM
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Friberg hasn’t got much exposure this season playing in the third division of Swedish professional hockey, but he certainly won some people over at the World Juniors. He’s a little undersized, but he competes hard and is a tough player to play against. Has a bit of offensive pop but can also kill penalties. His role might come into question on draft day, however.

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56. LC Philip Danault – Victoriaville (QMJHL)

DOB: Feb. 24/93 | Shoots: l | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 47GP 20G 32A 52P +19 46PIM
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Lanky forward with a smooth skating stride and pretty good tenacity. Has taken a major step forward offensively this season and will certainly challenge to work his way up into the Top 50 over the next few months.

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57. LW Shane Prince – Ottawa (OHL)

DOB: Nov. 16/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 46GP 21G 55A 76P +35 16PIM
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Prince is very quick and has good bursts of speed and is very elusive on the ice. More of a playmaker and makes a lot of good plays in the offensive zone, but has also been willing to shoot the puck more this year. His defensive game needs a lot of work as he’s fairly one dimensional, but his offensive production is more then offsetting that right now, although he will need to prove to critics he’s more then a dominant junior player with little professional upside.

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

DOB: Apr. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 180lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 19GP 20G 15A 35P +19 32PIM
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LaBate has a great frame to work with as a forward, but still needs to grow into it as he refines his game. He skates very well for a big guy and has some solid grit to his game as well. Good touch around the net and has a very good shot which he loves to use. Still pretty raw, but has some very good upside.

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59. RD Reece Scarlett – Swift Current (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 31/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 168lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 54GP 4G 13A 17P -28 40PIM
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Scarlett projects as an offensive defenseman at the pro level. He skates well and is quite a creative player that shows good offensive instincts and a strong shot. He is small and plays like it, at times significantly struggling in his own end. He can be a bit of a mess in his own zone as he is not strong enough to take his man and often not positionally good enough to make up for it. Concerns over those two factors mean that he needs to excel more in the offensive part of his game than he has so far if he hopes to become a pro player one day. The potential is there with this kid, but whoever drafts him will have to be patient as he is still a work in progress.

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60. LD Max Everson – Edina (HS-MN)

DOB: Feb. 22/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 184lbs

Season Statistics (Jan 28th): 17GP 4G 13A 17P +4 18PIM
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Everson is a smooth defenseman who really uses his skating ability to his advantage. Pivots well and does a good job of maintaining gap control. Occasionally guilty of losing his man in the defensive zone, which is something he needs to improve.

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Click here for Part One of the Top 60 Skaters (1-30)

WHL Feature: Draft Eligible Mid-Term Risers & Fallers

Scott McDougall — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:27:06 +0000

Rising

Laurent Brossoit | G | Catches L | Edmonton (WHL) | 03/23/1993 | 6’3 202lbs | 2011 Eligible

Brossoit is a big goalie that uses his size well and is very athletic. He needs to work on his fundamentals a bit, but he could turn out to be one of the best goalies to come out of the entire 2011 WHL goalie crop.

Sven Bartschi | LW | LH | Portland (WHL) | 10/05/1993 | 5’10 185lbs | 2011 Eligible

Bartschi has a great nose for the net and the hands to finish when he gets there. The 7th overall pick in last season’s CHL Import draft has quickly developed great chemistry with linemate Ty Rattie and the duo is quickly developing into one of the top scoring tandems in the entire WHL.

Mark McNeill | C | RH | Prince Albert (WHL) | 02/22/1993 | 6’2 210lbs | 2011 Eligible

McNeill has good size and he competes hard. He hustles for loose pucks and he plays a two-way game. His hustle combined with his improved ability to anticipate the play has been leading to good scoring chances so far this year.

Alex Kuvaev | RW | RH | Lethbridge (WHL) | 05/02/1993 | 6’3 190lbs | 2011 Eligible

Kuvaev needed a little time to get used to the WHL, but once he did, he has been very good, putting up 15 points over his past 17 games. He has an intriguing combination of size, skill and shooting ability that should move him up. He has the skills, he just needs to develop better consistency.

Joe Morrow | D | LH | Portland (WHL) | 12/09/1992 | 6’1 198lbs | 2011 Eligible

Even though Joe is part of a very deep Portland defensive squad, Joe has fought for minutes and established himself as one one of the top puck-moving defensemen in the WHL so far this year. He is a very good skater that is capable of making good passes and using smart judgement with the puck. As a late ‘92, Joe was expected to have a comparatvely good season, but he has exceeded all expectations early this season.

Falling

Keegan Lowe | D | LH | Edmonton (WHL) | 03/29/1993 | 6’1 176lbs | 2011 Eligible

Kevin Lowe’s son started the season by being selected to the American Ivan Hlinka Memorial U18 squad that captured silver in Slovakia this past August. However, Lowe hasn’t really improved from last year at all. He still looks very slow and is easy to push off the puck. At this point, Lowe is going to need to have a strong year to be on the draft radar in June.

Jesse Forsberg | D | LH | Prince George (WHL) | 08/13/1993 | 6’1 195lbs | 2011 Eligible

Another player that just hasn’t met pre-season expectations, Forsberg is a player that is tough to gauge as to where he will fit at the NHL level. He hasn’t produced much in the way of offense over the past couple years despite having the skills to do so. Forsberg has played a grittier game, but he is undersized for that sort of role at the NHL level. The team that drafts Forsberg will be picking him based on his late birthdate and some untapped potential versus what he has shown over the last couple seasons at the WHL level.

David Musil | D | LH | Vancouver (WHL) | 04/09/1993 | 6’3 200lbs | 2011 Eligible

This year hasn’t started the way some had hoped for Musil. While he had been looked upon as a potential lotto pick to start the season, Musil has looked a little slow moving around the ice this year and he hasn’t developed his offensive game as much as needed to be a lotto pick. He is still very good defensively, but not as physical as needed for a purely defensive player. It also doesn’t help that Musil was recently diagnosed with a broken foot from blocking a shot and will miss the World Juniors, potentially dropping his stock even further. Musil is still looking like a 1st round pick at this point, but he may not be the prospect some thought he would be.

Shane McColgan | RW | RH | Kelowna (WHL) | 01/01/1993 | 5’10 160lbs | 2011 Eligible

McColgan is a small but shifty player that hasn’t been meeting high expectations so far this year. It is not that McColgan has been playing poorly, but it seems like he is not progressing as much as anticipated. His production has seemed to stall from last season’s totals and those totals aren’t good enough for scouts to overlook some of his deficiencies. McColgan still needs to work on his play away from the puck and he has looked disinterested at times at engaging in any physical battles for the puck.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | C | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 04/12/1993 | 6’0 164lbs | 2011 Eligible

For someone that is in the mix for being the #1 overall pick in this years NHL draft, it is not the lack of goal scoring that is concerning as Nugent-Hopkins does have a good shot and is primarily a play-maker anyways. What is concerning though, is that for someone that is so lethal on the powerplay, Nugent-Hopkins has produced very little at even strength so far this year. He is far too talented to fall very far, but unless improves he improves this part of his game, he will not be the 1st overall pick in this year’s draft.

WHL Feature: Portland @ Calgary Recap

Scott McDougall — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:53:24 +0000

Here is a feature by TSR’s newest contributor, Scott McDougall. Scott is an avid WHL follower, and often frequents Calgary Hitmen games at the Saddledome. Here is the first of Scott’s features for TSR. Hope you enjoy!

Yesterday afternoon in Calgary, the #1 ranked team in the CHL played host to an up and coming Portland Winterhawks team that was off to a great 8-4-0-0 start. The Winterhawks were in the midst of their longest road trip of the season of which this game was the fourth of seven. In a tightly contested game, the Hitmen completed a comeback from a 3-0 deficit when Los Angeles Kings prospect Brandon Kozun scored with just under 40 seconds left to play in regulation to sneak out a 6-5 win in front of 7000+ fans in the Saddledome.

PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS

D BRETT PONICH | 1991 | 6’7” | 225LBS | 13GP 1G 4A 5P -6 15PIM

NHL: 2009 STL (2/48)

It looks to be a bit of a rough start to the season for the Portland captain and tonight was no different. Ponich played tough minutes against Calgary’s top scorers, but seemed to struggle all game against the Calgary forecheck. He didn’t effectively use his size advantage. Probably a game he’d like to forget as he had a few costly turnovers and didn’t contribute much offensively. -2 on the night.

LW NINO NIEDERREITER | 1992 | 6’2” | 203LBS | 13GP 6G 8A 14P +3 14PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Niederreiter was Portland’s best player yesterday. He scored a couple nice goals. The first was a one-timer on the PP on a nice pass from Troy Rutkowski, while the second showed his quick release as he got his wrist shot off through some traffic. He started the game with some poor defensive play in his own end resulting in a couple good Calgary scoring chances, but got stronger defensively as the game progressed. He was very strong on his feet, while possessing both good speed and size. Combined with his intelligence for the game and it is easy to see why he should be an early pick in June. Look for him to stand out on the Swiss team at the World Juniors.

LD TROY RUTKOWSKI | 1992 | 6’1” | 219LBS | 13GP 5G 12A 17P +5 23PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Rutkowski is an offensive defenseman that showed great fortitude in anchoring the Winterhawks PP. He was able to identify weaknesses in the defense and made several great plays to take advantage of them both in regards to generating scoring chances and maintaining possession of the puck in the offensive zone. Physically, Rutkowski proved to be a bit of an enigma. He tries to play physical and he’s got decent size, but he was run over a few times by the older, stronger Calgary forwards as he attempted to play the body. He was also caught running around trying to make the big hit instead of breaking up the play, resulting in some opposition scoring chances.

Troy also had some playing time on the PK in which he effectively closed shooting lanes and blocked shots. He has the physical tools to be good player at next level, but needs to improve his skating and make smarter plays defensively. He lacked some toughness for a guy of his size, but his game is his offensive skill and he did make some smart passes. He has an average shot, but this will come along once he is stronger. He received a lot of ice-time and ended up with a pair of assists.

LW BRAD ROSS | 1992 | 6’1” | 173LBS | 13GP 6G 6A 12P +5 35PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

A member of Canada’s U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial team this past summer, Brad has been off to a good start to the season. The younger brother of Phoenix Coyote 1^st rounder Nick Ross was able to generate scoring chances against Calgary with his great speed, easily beating NHL prospects such as Kris Foucault in foot races throughout the game. He also showed glimpses of being a surly competitor (he’s currently among the WHL leaders in minor penalties) as he wasn’t afraid to mix things up with larger competitors he felt were taking liberties with him. Brad possesses both great top-end speed and excellent agility allowing him to get a jump on defenders during both breakouts and turnovers. He is definitely dangerous on the rush, but he sometimes looks to shy away from the corners and caused turnovers when pressured in his own end. Like most young players, he needs to bulk up.

C RYAN JOHANSEN | 1992 | 6’3” | 188LBS | 13GP 6G 6A 12P +3 11PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Ryan is having a great start to the season. He played a lunch-bucket game. He simply wanted the puck more than anyone else and was able to strip defenders of loose pucks and then get the puck to his skilled linemates (Niederreiter and Ross). He complimented the other two very well and was able to keep up with them on the rush. He definitely looked his best when digging in the corners and at loose pucks in the slot area. Scored a goal and had a couple assists, both times by winning puck battles and giving the puck to his linemates.

RD TAYLOR ARONSON | 1991 | 6’1” | 196LBS | 13GP 0G 6A 6P +2 15PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Taylor made a few smart plays down low when Calgary was intensely pressuring him. Was partnered with Rutkowski and saw lots of ice-time. More defensively responsible than his partner and while lacking the offensive flair of Rutkowski, he is capable in the offensive end and showed the ability to make a good outlet pass. He played a good all-around game.

LW JACOB BERGLUND | 1991 | 6’1” | 199LBS | 13GP 1G 2A 3P +1 6PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Another late 1991 birthday, Berglund is excellent in his own end. He was Portland’s top PK forward. He was able to cover shooting lanes well, was strong on his skates and proved extremely tough to knock off the puck. His physical maturity allowed him to effectively hold onto the puck long enough to be sure he could clear the zone. Berglund did not show much offensive flair, but he took the puck hard to the net and generated a couple scoring chances with hard work. He could prove to be a useful defensive forward in the pros.

RW TY RATTIE | 1993 | 6’0” | 170LBS | 7GP 2G 2A 4P -1 4PIM

NHL: 2011 Eligible

The 2nd overall pick in the WHL Bantam Draft in 2008, Ty is very small, but completely willing to go to battle. He was absolutely crushed near the goal line in the second period and got right back up fighting for the puck like nothing happened. His willingness to go to the tough areas put him in some scoring situations. He seemed to have a knack for knowing where the puck is going before it gets there. Scored a wraparound goal and added an assist in front of friends and family (he’s from nearby Airdrie, AB). He kept his man in check in the defensive zone and showed good hands. His skill set reminds me a bit of another Airdrie product, Zach Bochyuk. He finished with a goal and an assist in the game.

D JOE MORROW| 1992 | 6’0” | 197LBS | 12GP 1G 9A 10P +16 15PIM

NHL: 2011 Eligible

Joe Morrow was very impressive. He is very cool and collected in his own zone, which can be attested to by his +16 in only 12 games so far this season. He was partnered with another young defenseman in Daniel Johnston and they looked very comfortable playing as the third pairing for the Winterhawks. Calm with the puck as well as in the corner, Morrow displayed very good skating ability, hockey sense and the ability to QB the PP. Was very good in transition and while not overly big or strong, used smart angles to cut off opposing rushes and separate the opposition from the puck. He almost always made the safe play. Morrow and Rattie should make the 2011 draft interesting for Winterhawks fans.

D DANIEL JOHNSTON | 1992 | 6’0” | 192LBS | 10GP 0G 7A 7P +13 6PIM

NHL: 2011 Eligible

Another late 1992 birthday like Morrow, Daniel Johnston showed a willingness to stand up to Cody Beach who is 5 inches taller than him when Beach hammered Morrow’s head into the boards. A quiet night for him as he and Morrow didn’t allow many scoring chances or need to spend too much time in their own end.

Other notes: Neither Seth Swenson or Gaspar Kopitar played. Swenson took part in the pre-game warm-up.

CALGARY HITMEN

D MICHAEL STONE | 1990 | 6’4” | 207LBS | 11GP 3G 5A 8P -3 14PIM

NHL: 2008 PHO (3/69)

Michael showed the talent that made him a 3rd round pick of the Coyotes. He is the vocal leader of the Hitmen. He possesses great size and strength. He has a fantastic shot, although the shots are often blocked. Despite not getting any points, he had a solid game (even hit a post). He had several good hits and made smart safe plays in his own end. A good end to end rush towards the end of the 1^st period. Good all-around game.

D MATT MacKENZIE | 1991 | 6’2” | 198LBS | 11GP 1G 10A 11P +6 6PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Matt Mackenzie played a similar type game in the offensive zone as Rutkowski. He doesn’t always use his size, but it is apparent that he needs to get stronger. He has a good frame, but needs to fill out some more to take advantage of it. His shot is very weak, but that should also improve once he puts on some muscle. He possesses good offensive awareness and he made a few smart pinches to keep the puck in the offensive zone. He used screens effectively when shooting on net providing his teammates with rebound oppurtunities. His skating needs a lot of work, especially his transition and acceleration but he has enough tools that some NHL team will be excited at the thought of developing this raw prospect. Matt had three assists in the game.

RW CODY BEACH | 1992 | 6’5” | 184LBS | 6GP 0G 2A 2P +2 18PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Cody, the younger brother of Chicago draft pick Kyle Beach played a power-forward game. He was skating decently for his size and was banging bodies early on. He wasn’t very noticeable late in the game.

Other notes: Austin Madaisky wasn’t in the Calgary lineup. Peter Kosterman and Jaynen Rissling both played well and will be discussed in more detail later this month.

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