The Scouting Report » Michael St. Croix

2011 NHL Draft Top 100 Skaters: (51-75)

Scott Campbell — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:37:40 +0000

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

51. RC Michael St. Croix – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Apr. 10/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 179lbs
Midterm Rank: 45 | League Rank: 10th WHL | Country Rank: 21st Canada

Michael St. Croix had a solid, though not spectacular season in the WHL this year. The skilled center built on his rookie campaign by becoming a leader with the young Oil Kings, scoring 75 points and improving his plus/minus rating by an impressive 49 points in his second year. St. Croix is a competitive player who likes to set up his teammates, but can also finish when he gets the chance. Next season will go a long way in determining what kind of player St. Croix will be. If he can produce at the level he’s capable of, he could quickly establish himself as one of the potential steals in the 2011 draft.

52. RC Reid Boucher – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

DOB: Sep. 8/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 8th USHL | Country Rank: 16th USA

Boucher has elite puck skills and while not a great skater, he’s very good at changing directions and is shifty on his skates. Boucher’s ability to continue to develop will hinge on his keen offensive instincts and ability to see the play develop. He also possesses the ability to complement other highly skilled players such as Grimaldi which is a skill that can sometimes be taken for granted. He must also show the ability to adapt his game against bigger, more physical players.

53. LD Stuart Percy – Mississauga (OHL)

DOB: May 18/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 186lbs
Midterm Rank: 44 | League Rank: 15th OHL | Country Rank: 22nd Canada

We had Percy up pretty high in our mid-terms and are still high on the Mississauga defenseman but feel he’s been eclipsed by some of the other players as the season has progressed. Percy is still a solid value pick as he plays a very smart game and plays mistake-free hockey in a lot of situations, but his high-end potential is a bit of a detractor. He isn’t an overly physical player, but Percy does use his reach well and is positionally smart. With his strong showing in the Memorial Cup, he could certainly go higher than our ranking here, which would not be a poor move at all.

54. RW Brett Ritchie – Sarnia (OHL)

DOB: Jul. 1/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 190lbs
Midterm Rank: 53 | League Rank: 16th OHL | Country Rank: 23rd Canada

There were high expectations for Ritchie this year; something he struggled to deal with at the start of the year. Initially overshadowed by teammates Alexander Galchenyuk and Nail Yakupov, Ritchie found his scoring touch in the second half of the season and was one of Canada’s better forwards at the U18’s. A big winger with a good shot, Ritchie can be a pretty effective sniper when he’s on his game. The symptoms in his game we’re not overly fond of is that he is inconsistent, and while shielding the puck well, he doesn’t really play with any sense of physicality. If you see him play regularly, you will probably even find that his game can be plagued by laziness. Despite our concerns, he does have the skill-set where a team will be willing to take a chance on him and see what they can get after a few years of development.

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

DOB: Apr. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 180lbs
Midterm Rank: 58 | League Rank: 2nd HS-MN | Country Rank: 14th USA

LaBate held steady in our rankings this season and has definitely put his name on the map this season. He’s got the frame that will definitely interest NHL teams and his skating ability and willingness to play in front of the net will surely entice NHL teams as well. The Wisconsin commit will benefit from playing in the NCAA, where he’ll have an opportunity to add some much needed strength to his frame while playing against older players over the next 3-4 seasons.

56. LW Adam Lowry – Swift Current (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 29/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.04 | Weight: 184lbs
Midterm Rank: 52 | League Rank: 11th WHL | Country Rank: 24th Canada

The son of former NHLer (and current Calgary Flames assistant coach) Dave Lowry, Adam Lowry is a power forward winger that overcame a slow start to have a solid 17 year old season with Swift Current. After attending Canada’s U18 tryout camp in August, Lowry dealt with a bout of mono in September forcing him to the sidelines for a few weeks. Even after that, it seemed to take a couple months for him to get his game (and energy) back. Since late November, Lowry has nearly been a PPG player (39 points in his final 46 games) for the Broncos. At 6’4, Lowry uses his size well, is good along the boards and is willing to play the body. He likes to provide a screen in front of the net and is able to use his size to create space for his teammates. His footspeed needs some work but for a team that can afford to show some patience, Lowry could turn out to be a good complimentary player on an NHL team.

57. LW Nicholas Shore – Denver (NCAA)

DOB: Sep. 26/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 37 | League Rank: 4th NCAA | Country Rank: 15th USA

This season would have to be considered a bit of a disappointment for Shore, who many expected to be more of a contender to be a first-round pick; rather than fighting to maintain his status as a second rounder. Shore is a solid two-way player who has an above average skill-set and pretty good creativity when the puck is on his stick. He doesn’t quite have the size that his older brother does, but he still has managed to be an effective freshman player without it. He’s gone a little under the radar and should be a nice value pickup in this range.

58. LW Miikka Salomaki – Karpat (SM-Liiga)

DOB: Mar. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 2nd SM-Liiga | Country Rank: 2nd Finland

Salomaki spent the majority of the season in the SM-Liiga and wasn’t out of place playing in Finland’s top men’s hockey league. He also had an impressive showing at the World Juniors as a 17-year-old and quickly established himself as a gritty player who was willing to sacrifice his body despite being a little undersized. Salomaki is a solid offensive contributor but when you factor in his grit and willingness to compete, he can certainly find a role at the next level with that combination.

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

DOB: Feb. 09/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 36 | League Rank: 17th OHL | Country Rank: 25th Canada

Catenacci’s fall in our rankings is more a symptom of other players moving ahead of him rather than faults of his own. After a bit of a disappointing first year in the OHL, Catenacci took a more offensive role with the Greyhounds this season and showed more of an ability to create opportunities when he’s on the ice. Catenacci’s issue for us comes down to defining what type of a role he can have at the next level. He’s a good defensive player and tenacious center at this level, but how much will that translate to the NHL given his size? We’re not sure he has enough offense to be a Top 6 guy, which makes him a bit of a tweener in our eyes.

60. LD Xavier Ouellet – Montreal (QMJHL)

DOB: Jul. 29/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 177lbs
Midterm Rank: 53 | League Rank: 7th QMJHL | Country Rank: 26th Canada

Ouellet had a quick start to begin the year but cooled down as the season progressed. He isn’t a natural offensive defenseman but his game did take some positive steps forward with more ice-time this season. Ouellet is a steady defender who makes good decisions with the puck and is very composed in his own end. He doesn’t force plays and does a good job of utilizing outlets instead of just hammering it off the glass. Is a good fit towards the end of the second round and will be a solid pick-up for any team looking to add some depth to their prospect pool on the backend.

61. LD Rasmus Bengtsson – Rogle (Allsvenskan)

DOB: May 14/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.02 | Weight: 196lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 2nd Allsv. | Country Rank: 9th Sweden

Bengtsson really came on during the second half of the season and is a player with tremendous upside which should justify a draft selection within the top three rounds. Part of what could be a pretty solid crop of Swedish defensemen in 2011, Bengtsson plays a responsible defensive game while also being a very smart player with good offensive instincts. He’s going to need some time to develop, but he’s a player who could be a very nice pick-up for any team willing to step up and take him.

62. LD Myles Bell – Regina (WHL)

DOB: Aug. 19/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 202lbs
Midterm Rank: 31 | League Rank: 12th WHL | Country Rank: 27th Canada

Unfortunately we can’t talk about Bell without talking about his recent tragic car accident. Bell is an offensively gifted defenseman that plays with a physical edge. He is an effective offensive weapon because he is able to both distribute the puck and shoot it very hard. While Bell has some holes in his defensive game, there is much to like about his offensive abilities and his prospects of making the NHL. However, since that accident, there will be serious questions that will need to be asked. What happened that day? What are the repercussions for what has been done? What are the steps needed for getting the 18 year-old Bell’s life back on track? Is Bell physically okay? Is he mentally okay? There will be many factors that will be examined and all that really can be done is to wish everyone involved all the best.

63. LD Andrei Pedan – Guelph (OHL)

DOB: Aug. 07/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 190lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 18th OHL | Country Rank: 4th Russia

Pedan was impressive during the pre-season with Guelph and then had a bit of a tough adjustment to the OHL during the first couple months of the season. In the new year, however, he finally started to see his game come around and really showed some flashes of the player he can be during Guelph’s brief playoff experience. He’s a big defenseman who is a fluid skater but is still improving his agility and first few steps. Sometimes is guilty of trying to do too much with the puck and is still learning the North American game. Pedan has the raw tools to be a solid puck moving defender with some physical upside, and as he finds his comfort zone, he can start to integrate his offensive game into his play as well.

64. LC Markus Granlund – HIFK (Jr. A SM-Liiga)

DOB: Apr. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 169lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st Jr. A SM | Country Rank: 3rd Finland

Granlund certainly doesn’t have the talent that his older brother Mikael possesses, but Markus makes up for it with solid two-way play and quality intangibles. A great skater with high-end speed, Granlund brings a similar style of game that Daniel Catenacci brings to the ice. He was a fine player during the U18’s and showed some good chemistry with his teammates, providing some much needed offense for the Finnish squad.

65. RW Shane McColgan – Kelowna (WHL)

DOB: Jan. 01/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 160lbs
Midterm Rank: 50 | League Rank: 13th WHL | Country Rank: 16th USA

The diminutive McColgan has been very effective in two Western Hockey League seasons, scoring at nearly a point per game pace. McColgan sees the ice well, has great hands, and definitely isn’t afraid to go to the dirty areas. The big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not he will be able to play his style at the pro level. The 5-9 McColgan hasn’t let his size hold him back yet, as he has proven a willingness to battle with any player in the WHL while generally staying healthy. If he can get his game to the next level, he could be a big draft day steal.

66. LW Shane Prince – Ottawa (OHL)

DOB: Nov. 16/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 57 | League Rank: 19th OHL | Country Rank: 17th USA

Prince is a diminutive forward who really burst onto the scene playing with Tyler Toffoli and Ryan Martindale this season, forming one of the top trios in the OHL. While undersized, Prince is a good offensive player and has a wealth of talent that he usually showcases several times during the course of a game. He’s got very good hands and has deceptive speed that he will use to throw off the defense to make a nifty pass to set up a teammate. He’s also got a good shot of his own and does a good job finding space to get a shot off. We have some concerns about Prince’s competitiveness, as he is guilty of taking shifts off, and the fact that he hasn’t convinced us that he’s going to be more than a great junior player.

67. LW Travis Ewanyk – Edmonton (WHL)

DOB: Mar. 29/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 14th WHL | Country Rank: 28th Canada

Ewanyk had a coming out party in the last month or so of the season. After ending the regular season on a bit of a mini hot streak, Ewanyk was handed the task of shadowing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the first round of the playoffs where Ewanyk was able to hold his own at even strength. He then represented Canada at the U18 World Championships where he continued his fine play. Ewanyk is a good skater and has the intelligence and grit needed to play against top offensive players. While his offensive upside may be a lower than many top picks, Ewanyk’s play without the puck will have him in consideration to be a higher pick than his modest numbers (27 points in 72 games) would suggest.

68. LW Max Friberg – Skovde (Sweden D1)

DOB: Nov. 20/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.11 | Weight: 185lbs
Midterm Rank: 55 | League Rank: 1st Swe-D1 | Country Rank: 10th Sweden

Nobody is quite sure what to expect with Friberg, especially given the fact he played in a lower tiered league this past season. Friberg is an undersized forward who competes pretty hard and brings it every shift. His offensive upside has been questioned, but some people may be a little hard on him. His role at the next level could be questionable, and he certainly didn’t have a great finish to the season, but we’ll see how he progresses the next couple of seasons.

69. LW Olivier Archambault – Val d’Or (QMJHL)

DOB: Feb. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 164lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 7th QMJHL | Country Rank: 29th Canada

Former top pick in the QMJHL Draft took some positive steps forward this season with an increased opportunity. Archambault isn’t an overwhelming player but does a lot of little things well to be a dangerous presence on the ice. Pretty strong for his size, and manages to find some space on the ice despite not having high-end speed. He does a good job of finding opportunities to create offense and should continue to develop over the next couple of years.

70. LD Mike Reilly – Shattuck St. Mary’s (HS-MN)

DOB: Feb. 16/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 164lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 3rd HS-MN | Country Rank: 18th USA

Reilly is an undersized defenseman who is going to need a few seasons to develop at Minnesota, but could be worth the wait for whatever NHL team selects him. Reilly has good speed and is able to advance the puck with a combination of vision and assertiveness with the puck. The principal concern for Reilly is adding strength to his frame, but he’ll have some time in the NCAA to worry about those issues.

71. LW Michael Mersch – Wisconsin (NCAA)

DOB: Nov. 02/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.01 | Weight: 194lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 6th NCAA | Country Rank: 19th USA

Mersch certainly won’t be a player that fools you into thinking top line NHL player due to his skating concerns, but he makes up for it in other areas. Mersch is a gritty forward who does the little things well and wins battles around the ice. If his offensive game comes around, he could be serviceable as a player that can stand in front of the net and muck it out in the dirty areas of the ice. If not, he has the mindset where he could be an effective grinder.

72. LD Zakhar Arzamastsev – Metallurg (KHL)

DOB: Nov. 06/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 192lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st KHL | Country Rank: 5th Russia

Our first KHL player is Zakhar Arzamastsev, who has warmed up to scouts as the year has progressed. He’s a smooth skating defender who plays a mistake free game and makes a lot of good decisions with and without the puck. We’ll see what NHL teams think of his commitment to the KHL at the draft, but he would be a nice pickup early in the 3rd round.

73. RC Vincent Trocheck – Saginaw (OHL)

DOB: Jul. 11/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 5.10 | Weight: 170lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 20th OHL | Country Rank: 20th USA

Trocheck was one of the top players with the Saginaw Spirit this past season and does a lot of things well, but lacks a defining quality to his game. A little undersized, Trocheck isn’t blazing fast and doesn’t quite have the talent to consistently be an offensive threat; also being guilty of taking some shifts and games off. When he’s on, Trocheck is a player that has some decent upside as he has a pretty nifty snap shot and isn’t afraid to use it. He also will take his game to the front of the net and some of the areas that teammate Brandon Saad tends to avoid. If Trocheck were a little bigger or more dynamic, he could make a case to be in the Top 60, but in this draft, he’s better suited to be selected somewhere around the 3rd or 4th round.

74. RD Albert Yarullin – AK Bars Kazan (MHL)

DOB: Mar. 05/93 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 194lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 2nd MHL | Country Rank: 6th Russia

Yarullin is another player who certainly boosted his stock during the U18’s where he was one of the better defenseman and a productive one at that, with 11 assists in only 7 games. Yarullin is a dependable defenseman who plays an effective game and also sees ice-time in a variety of situations. The Russian factor, again, has to be considered, but we’ll see how NHL teams feel about it.

75. RW Logan Shaw – Cape Breton (QMJHL)

DOB: Nov. 05/92 | Shoots: R | Height: 6.03 | Weight: 190lbs
Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 8th QMJHL | Country Rank: 30th Canada

Shaw started to find his game during his third year in the QMJHL and could be a bit of a sleeper to look out for given his large frame and unpolished game. The Mooseheads winger was one of the bright spots on a pretty poor club last season and has pretty good goal scoring instincts and has the ability to get things done. As mentioned, he’s pretty raw and is definitely a risky project, but in a draft that starts to thin out after the second round, he could be worth the risk.

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

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)

Canadian Under 18 Camp Report: Forwards

Scott McDougall — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:48:12 +0000

Forwards

Players that made the cut: Brassard, Catenacci, Curtis, Danault, Jenner, Lessio, Meurs, Nugent-Hopkins, Broll, Huberdeau, Puempel, Quine, Ritchie

Adam Lowry | LW | LH | Swift Current (WHL) | 03/29/1993 | 6’4 184lbs | 2011 Eligible

I thought Lowry played well enough that he had a shot to make the team. He has a nice blend of size and skill. He played well along the boards and was willing to use his size to his advantage. For being such a big player at his age, his hands and skating are decent and he doesn’t look clumsy or awkward like many players adjusting to their growth spurts. Lowry is also smart (2009/10 WHL Scholastic Player of the Year) and has good genes as his father (Dave) is a former NHLer who now is an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames. Power forwards usually take a little longer to develop and he remains an interesting player to follow for this upcoming season.

Alan Quine | C | LH | Kingston (OHL) | 02/25/1993 | 5’11 179lbs | 2011 Eligible

Quine was the fastest player in camp. He mishandled the puck a few times while at full speed both in the neutral zone and his own end resulting in some good scoring chances for his opponents. His hands were there in spurts as he was able to make a nice play by knocking a clearing attempt out of the air and he also made a few nice passes, but his hands were hot and cold in this regard. He seemed to shy away from the physical play a little bit.

Boone Jenner | C | LH | Oshawa (OHL) | 06/15/1993 | 6’1.5 197lbs | 2011 Eligible

It took a little while for Jenner to get going, but once he did he was one of the very best players at camp. He’s big and competes hard. Constantly going to the tough areas, Jenner both gave and received some big hits and wasn’t deterred by the physical play. At the same time, Jenner has a lot of skill and created more offense than the majority of players in camp. He had an accurate shot, showed good awareness of his teammates and used his long reach very well.

Brent Andrews | C | LH | Halifax (QMJHL) | 01/19/1993 | 6’1.5 199lbs | 2011 Eligible

Looking over my notes after the camp, I realized I didn’t get a good viewing of him as I had next to nothing written on him. He was not very noticeable through two days of camp.

Brett Ritchie | RW | RH | Sarnia (OHL) | 07/01/1993 | 6’3 204lbs | 2011 Eligible

Ritchie was another big, strong winger at the camp. He was very strong on the puck, good along the boards and won a lot of puck battles.

Sarnia's Brett Ritchie had a productive rookie season with the Sting last year, notching 13 goals and 29 points.

Austen Brassard | RW | RH | Belleville (OHL) | 01/14/1993 | 6’2 192lbs | 2011 Eligible

Nice combination of size and skill. Not overly dominant in any one area, but had a solid camp.

Bryce Milson| LW | LH | Acadie-Bathhurst (QMJHL) | 01/25/1993 | 5’11 181lbs | 2011 Eligible

Milson played okay at the camp, but didn’t excel in any one area. He just wasn’t at the same caliber of some of the skilled guys that made the team and he didn’t find a niche where he would be of some value to the team.

Carter Sandlak | LW | LH | Guelph (OHL) | 05/18/1993 | 6’1.5 199lbs | 2011 Eligible

Sandlak didn’t boast the strongest first impression by taking a bad penalty and displaying some weak skating on the first day. He had a much better final day where he played both a little smarter and more physically. Like Lowry, Sandlak also has NHL bloodlines as his father is former Vancouver Canuck Jim Sandlak.

Colin Smith | C | RH | Kamloops (WHL) | 06/20/1993 | 5’10.5 165lbs | 2011 Eligible

Smith worked very hard at the camp, but was very much overmatched physically. He spent a fair amount of his ice time in his own end. He was willing to get into the shooting lanes to block shots, but he was not aggressively challenging the shooters.

Daniel Catenacci | LW | LH | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) | 03/09/1993 | 5’10 180lbs | 2011 Eligible

Catenacci had an average day on my first viewing and was much better on the 2^nd day. He was very quick and shifty and was able to make some plays. For a small guy, he wasn’t afraid to go to the tough areas. He put up some points but seemed to be fighting the puck from time to time.

David Broll | LW | LH | Erie (OHL) | 01/04/1993 | 6’1.5 221lbs | 2011 Eligible

Broll was the oldest and biggest player in camp. He was by far the most physical player at camp and had several massive hits. He didn’t handle the puck too well, his skating was poor, and his acceleration even worse, but he made everyone aware of when he was on the ice with his big checks. He may not have the skills to be an NHL player, but some teams are going to absolutely love his physical presence as a bottom 6 forward if he can improve his skating.

Garrett Meurs | RW | RH | Plymouth (OHL) | 01/12/1993 | 5’10.5 171lbs | 2011 Eligible

Meurs showed a lot of energy and hustle. He isn’t the biggest player, but he gave everything he had. Meurs needs to get stronger as he was knocked around a lot at the camp, but he fought for the puck and showed some decent hands.

Jonathon Huberdeau | LW | RH | Saint John (QMJHL) | 06/04/1993 | 6’1 166lbs | 2011 Eligible

Huberdeau is a small, smart, and skilled player. He wasn’t flashy, but he played a little more of a complete game than some of the other comparable small, skill forwards.

Lucas Lessio | LW | LH | Oshawa (OHL) | 01/23/1993 | 6’1 195lbs | 2011 Eligible

Lessio was one of the best forwards at the camp. He was good at creating space for himself and anticipating the play. This left Lessio on the receiving end of a few top-notch passes both that he managed to capitalize on. Like Puempel, he definitely benefitted from playing with Nugent-Hopkins. He showed better vision and playmaking ability on the final day than during the previous game. He was good along the boards despite just average strength. He will be an interesting player to follow this season and will now be making the jump to the OHL to play with Oshawa.

Lucas Lessio will be joining the Oshawa Generals this year after spending last season in the CCHL with St. Michael's.

Mark McNeill | RW | RH | Prince Albert (WHL) | 02/22/1993 | 6’1.5 209lbs | 2011 Eligible

McNeill was another one of the hard-working, but lesser skilled player at camp. McNeill was hard on the forecheck, but lost his edges a few times allowing the defenseman ample time to make a play and get the puck heading up the ice.

Matt Puempel | RW | LH | Peterborough (OHL) | 01/24/1993 | 6’0.5 201lbs | 2011 Eligible

For being the reigning CHL rookie of the year, Puempel was very average for me. He knew how to get open in front of the net, but he really didn’t generate any chances himself. Puempel was the beneficiary of some nice plays by two of the best forwards in camp: Nugent-Hopkins and Lessio. He seemed to skate alright, but his positioning was not very good at times.

Michael Curtis | LW | LH | Belleville (OHL) | 01/26/1993 | 6’0 184lbs | 2011 Eligible

Curtis wasn’t the most skilled player on the ice, but he was able to pot a couple nice one-timer goals by going to front of the net and getting a shot off just before the nearest defenseman could get to him. He had good speed but didn’t have great balance and was knocked around a bit because of it.

Michael St. Croix | C | RH | Edmonton (WHL) | 04/10/1993 | 5’11 178lbs | 2011 Eligible

On the first day St. Croix was used quite a bit for the PK and didn’t seem to have a lot of opportunity to showcase what he can do offensively. He made a few nice passes including one off his backhand that hit his teammate in stride for an odd man rush. On the second day St. Croix was sitting next to me in the stands instead of playing. I don’t know whether it had to do with an injury (he looked fine walking around the stands) or a precaution or something else, but he wasn’t playing anyways. St. Croix is a quick skater, but his lateral movements were a bit choppy.

Olivier Archambault | RW | LH | Val d’Or (QMJHL) | 02/16/1993 | 6’1.5 203lbs | 2011 Eligible

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

Phillip Danault | C | LH | Victoriaville (QMJHL) | 02/24/1993 | 6’0 173lbs | 2011 Eligible

I really enjoyed watching Danault play. He is another small player but he was really tenacious in all aspects of his game. He is a very good skater and was relentless on the forecheck. He looks to be a good energy player that has a little skill to boot.

Jean-Francois Leblanc | C | LH | Val d’Or (QMJHL) | 03/03/1993 | 6’3.5 197lbs | 2011 Eligible

Leblanc has great size and competitiveness. He was also very good on the dot.

Raphael Bussieres | LW | RH | Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) | 11/05/1993 | 6’1 189lbs | 2012 Eligible

Bussieres looked to be a little bigger than listed and had some skill to go with his size. He has a late birthday so he still has a couple years to round out his game. He is worth watching for 2012.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | C | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 04/12/1993 | 6’0 166lbs | 2011 Eligible

Nugent-Hopkins is one of the very few players that really stood out at the camp. He was one of the best skaters at the camp and had very good speed and elusiveness. Nugent-Hopkins showed off his incredible skill level and vision by saucering some beautiful passes through traffic. He made some difficult passes with ease. While he is primarily a playmaker, he showed a willingness to shoot the puck. He was consistently a threat when he had the puck and he also excelled in the faceoff circle. He is still very thin and will need to put on some weight if he hopes to be a lottery pick this year.

Ty Rattie | RW | RH | Portland (WHL) | 02/05/1993 | 5’11 167lbs | 2011 Eligible

Rattie generated some good scoring chances and looked good for the most part. He has some very good offensive tools, but is not the most complete two-way player. You’d like to see him become a more explosive skater for his size and he needs to get stronger. Rattie looks to have grown a bit since I saw him last although he still is a small player. He looks to have lost out in the numbers game for the small forwards that were able to make U18 team.

WHL Feature: Eastern Conference Prospects Review

Scott McDougall — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:23:15 +0000

CALGARY HITMEN

RW TYLER SHATTOCK | 1990 | 6’3” | 200LBS | 72GP 30G 48A 78P +3 91PIM

NHL: 2009 STL (4/108)

After being passed over in his first draft year, St. Louis looks to have gotten a steal in the 4th round of 2009 with Shattock. There is a lot to like about his game. He has great size, which he uses effectively to protect the puck and to punish defenders. On top of that, he is a good skater with a nose for the net.

EDMONTON OIL KINGS

D MARK PYSYK| 1992 | 6’2” | 178LBS | 48GP 7G 17A 24P -19 47PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Mark was a victim of the injury bug for a good chunk of the season but when he was in the lineup he was one the bright spot in an otherwise dreary season in Edmonton. He’s a smooth-skating defenseman that has a great mind for the game. His decision-making skills in his own end are years ahead of his opponents. While his strength is his smart defensive play, he also possesses the raw tools that could make him successful offensively. He showed spurts this season where he was able to single-handedly carry his young team.

F MICHAEL ST.CROIX| 1993 | 5’11” | 173LBS | 66GP 18G 28A 46P -21 30PIM

NHL: 2011 Eligible

For someone as gifted offensively as him, its been tough to see what he’s capable of when he is constantly chasing the puck in his zone along with his teammates. When he is able to showcase his skills with the puck, he shows good patience and vision. He’s still on the small side, but as he grows he should gain the strength needed to be a leader for the Oil Kings.

G CAM LANIGAN | 1992 | 6’3” | 183LBS | 38GP 3.83 GAA 0.891 SV%

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Cam has flown under the radar for most this season. As a backup to overager Torrie Jung, he’s shown glimpses of what he’s capable of. There are a lot of things to like about his game although he’s still a project at this point. While his stats aren’t great, the team in front of him has had many breakdowns in their own end leading to quality scoring chances for opponent shooter. He has good size (albeit on the slim side) and he is able to use it effectively. His technique is there in spurts, but his biggest obstacle is himself. Mentally he either seems to be in “the zone” or he breaks down and lets in soft goals. He is a good athlete and is able to make saves when he is caught out of position.

D KEEGAN LOWE| 1993 | 6’0” | 168LBS | 69GP 2G 12A 14P -16 60PIM

NHL: 2011 Eligible

The son of Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe has had a surprisingly good season for the Oil Kings. He is very scrawny and physically weak but can effectively uses his reach when he’s on his game. He has been trusted by the coaching staff to play key minutes including special teams. While he also has to improve his defensive zone coverage, his progress is encouraging. If he and promising 2009 3rd Overall WHL pick Griffin Reinhart (son of former NHLer Paul Reinhart) continue to improve, Pysyk won’t have to shoulder all the burden again next year.

KOOTENAY ICE

C MAX REINHART | 1992 | 6’1” | 178LBS | 72GP 21G 30A 51P +12 38PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Another son of former NHLer Paul Reinhart, Max is a two-way centerman with good awareness. He started the season off slowly, but has been playing much better in the 2nd half of the season. He should receive some consideration as a late round draft pick.

MEDICINE HAT TIGERS

RW EMERSON ETEM | 1992 | 6’0” | 194LBS | 72GP 37G 28A 65P +8 26PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

At the beginning of the season, it could be seen that Etem had great speed, but he often stayed to the outside. As the year has progressed, he has constantly been going to front of the net providing screens and looking to score ugly goals. He has been using his speed more effectively in transition as he seems to think the game at a higher level now. His improvement in thinking the game has allowed him to put himself in situations where he can succeed with his skating ability.

F KALE KESSY| 1992 | 6’2” | 171LBS | 70GP 11G 18A 29P +12 123PIM

NHL: 2011 Eligible

Kessy is a big, young (2011-eligble) forward for the Tigers. He likes to play a very physical game and is just as willing to fight as hit (he had 13 fighting majors this year). He owns a long reach which he uses to his advantage. His skating needs work (both in agility and top-speed). With some seasoning, Kessy could develop into a quality power forward.

G TYLER BUNZ | 1992 | 6’1” | 198LBS | 57GP 2.91 GAA 0.898 SV%

NHL: 2010 Eligible

As the starting goalie for the offensive-minded Medicine Hat Tigers, Bunz has the formidable task of keeping the puck out of his net during some run and gun hockey. He is a blocking-style goalie that just tries to get his body in front of the puck. Positioning and technique are keys to his game as he emphasizes those strengths over athleticism.

MOOSE JAW WARRIORS

RD DYLAN MCILRATH | 1992 | 6’5” | 215LBS | 65GP 7G 17A 24P +20 169PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

McIllrath’s play makes it tough to gauge what his role will be in the professional ranks. Some days, he looks like he’ll be a 7th defenseman inserted when a team needs toughness. Other days, he looks like a legitimate Top 4 dman. As the season has progressed, there seems to be more of the latter than the former.

One thing is certain is that McIllrath plays a simple tough game. He makes opponents fear him. While he is generously listed at 6’5 (he appears to be closer in height to Howden and McFaull), there is no arguing his toughness. His strength is what sets him apart from other big defenders in the draft as is his willingness to fight any and all comers (19 fights in the regular season). As his gap control and skating are steadily improving, he should develop into a nice defensive defenseman that instills fear into his opponents while chipping in with the occasional goal with his heavy shot.

RED DEER REBELS

C RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS | 1993 | 6’0” | 160LBS | 67GP 24G 41A 65P -4 28PIM

NHL: 2011 Eligible

An early favorite Top 5 pick for the 2011 draft, Nugent-Hopkins oozes skill. He has soft hands with a really quick release. He can dangle the puck and is a very shifty skater. He has great vision and likes to set up near the half wall. On a team with such skilled offensive players as Willie Coetzee and Landon Ferraro, Red Deer revolves their power play around Nugent-Hopkins. They attack by letting him direct the play from the right side faceoff circle. A Red Deer defender will pass the puck into his wheel house (he’s a left-handed shot) where he can either take a one-timer or set up his teammates with precision saucer passes.

D ALEX PETROVIC| 1992 | 6’4” | 193LBS | 57GP 8G 19A 27P +3 87PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Petrovic is another big WHL defenseman with some grit to his game. He is a bit of a project for NHL teams, but at 6’4, he has a large frame and loads of untapped potential. His skating can be awkward and he doesn’t effectively use his body enough. On the other hand, he isn’t afraid of the rough stuff and is fairly agile for a big man. He has a good first pass, but he does struggle in transition and can be caught napping on long breakaway passes up the seam. Offensively, he has the skills (and shot) to be a threat when his team is set up in the offensive zone.

SASKATOON BLADES

D DUNCAN SIEMENS | 1993 | 6’3” | 192LBS | 57GP 3G 17A 20P +11 89PIM

NHL: 2011 Eligible

Siemens has it all; size, skill, and smarts. Not to mention that as one of the youngest players eligible for the 2011 NHL draft, he still has a lot of time to continue to grow and improve his game. He is a pretty fluid skater and he thinks the game quite well. The 3rd overall pick of the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft, Siemens has the potential to be a marquee player in Saskatoon and beyond.

REGINA PATS

RW JORDAN EBERLE | 1990 | 5’11” | 184LBS | 57GP 50G 56A 106P +8 32PIM

NHL: 2008 EDM (1/22)

What more needs to be said about Eberle. All he does is score big goals when his team needs them most. He is good at sneaking to the side of the net for opportunistic rebounds. Like many great scorers, he gets the puck off his stick very quickly. While he is known for his goal scoring, his passing is perhaps underrated. He has the vision to find guys in tight through traffic and the skill to get them the puck. He was arguably the most dominant player in the WHL this season.

C JORDAN WEAL | 1992 | 5’9” | 165LBS | 72GP 35G 67A 102P +3 54PIM

NHL: 2010 Eligible

Weal has incredible chemistry with Eberle. Both players are methodical at attacking the defense and because they both think the game at such a high level, they create space for one another. Like Eberle, he loves to work from the side boards and attack gaps in the defense. Depending on how the defenders react, Weal either attacks a seam towards the middle of the ice or cycles the puck with Eberle. Weal is a very good skater and is very shifty.

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.

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