The Scouting Report » Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – NHL Draft Profile

Scott McDougall — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:39:02 +0000

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

DOB: Apr. 12/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 164lbs
Midterm Rank: 3 | League Rank: 1st WHL | Country Rank: 1st Canada

After a spectacular rookie season in which he won the WHL rookie of the year award for putting up 65 points in 67 games while quarterbacking the Red Deer powerplay, Nugent-Hopkins came into the season as a legitimate top 5 prospect for the 2011 NHL entry draft. He also had the hopes of an entire league on his shoulders as the WHL has been waiting 15 years since the last time one of its players was chosen 1st overall at the NHL draft (Chris Phillips in 1996).

This past year, Nugent-Hopkins has done everything he could to live up to the hype. After dominating the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka U18 Tournament in August where he both led Canada in scoring and scored the tournament-winning goal, Nugent-Hopkins returned for a second full season in Red Deer. There, he improved upon his rookie season by tallying 31 goals, 75 assists and 106 points, good enough for a 3rd place tie in league scoring. After the Rebels lost out of the 2nd round of the WHL playoffs, Nugent-Hopkins was free to focus on off-season training and the NHL combine where he looked to have impressed.

Nugent-Hopkins has astute vision and is a premier powerplay talent. He easily led the WHL in powerplay assists with his vision and ability to make tape-to-tape saucer passes through traffic. Nugent-Hopkins is very good at maintaining possession of the puck and his passes rarely result into turnovers.

While known to be a primarily a playmaker and knocked by critics earlier in the season for not being able to finish, Nugent-Hopkins proved he is a capable goal scorer as well when he scored 15 goals over a 11 game stretch from the end of the regular season through the 1st round of the playoffs. It was during this late season stretch that Nugent-Hopkins played some of his best hockey of the season dominating opponents to a tune of 28 points over those 11 games.

While currently lacking breakaway speed, Nugent-Hopkins can still be considered one of the better skaters available in the draft. He is extremely agile and his ability to change direction and stop and start quickly makes him very elusive.

His ability to evade checks and control the puck in tight quarters is among the best in the entire draft. While Nugent-Hopkins needs to improve upon his even-strength offensive production (only 47 of his 106 points were not powerplay points), he is still able to contribute at even strength and he can be relied upon on the defensive side of the puck as well. Nugent-Hopkins finished with a +29 on an offensively starved Rebels team. Nugent-Hopkins’ vision and awareness have made him very capable at forcing turnovers especially in the offensive and neutral zones.

Pros: Highly skilled, has tremendous vision and hockey sense. Very elusive.
Cons: Lack of top-end speed and size. Even-strength production could be better.
Skill-set comparison: A cross between Ales Hemsky and Pavel Datsyuk

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

Scott Campbell — Mon, 30 May 2011 18:38:57 +0000

Introduction:

Welcome to the 2011 edition of TSR’s Top 100 NHL Entry Draft Skaters. This free resource has been compiled by our team of contributors who have taken in numerous hockey games during the course of the 2010/2011 season. We hope that this guide will serve as a valuable resource for your reference of 2011 NHL Entry Draft Prospects. The list is broken up into four separate sections for ease of reading, so be sure to check out each section.

This is the second edition of our guide and something that takes a tremendous investment of personal time from each of our contributors. I would like to personally thank everyone on our staff for all their hard work throughout the season and helping to make this resource a reality for hockey fans from around the world. As always, we appreciate feedback from our readers in the form of comments or emails. Thanks for checking us out!
- Scott Campbell

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

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

DOB: Apr. 12/93 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.00 | Weight: 164lbs
Midterm Rank: 3 | League Rank: 1st WHL | Country Rank: 1st Canada

Ryan Nugent Hopkins came into the season as a legitimate top 5 prospect for the 2011 NHL entry draft and has not disappointed. After dominating the U18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament where he both led Canada in scoring and scored the tournament winning goal, Nugent-Hopkins returned for a second full season in Red Deer where he finished the season tied for 3rd overall in league scoring with 31 goals, 75 assists and 106 points. Nugent-Hopkins is an exceedingly good playmaker that sees the ice extremely well. He also possesses an underrated wrist shot that he gets off both quickly and accurately. He is a very good skater that is among the shiftiest players available in the draft although Nugent-Hopkins lacks breakaway speed. He possesses a very high-end skill set that is arguably the best in the entire draft. Defensively he is reliable and has become a dangerous takeaway artist capable of stripping the puck off the sticks of unsuspecting players and quickly counter-attacking. Nugent-Hopkins has made a very strong case for being the first overall pick with his small frame the biggest potential impediment to that case for scouts

2. RD Adam Larsson – Skelleftea AIK (SEL)

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

Midterm Rank: 1 | League Rank: 1st SEL | Country Rank: 1st Sweden

It hasn’t been the type of year most were expecting from the pre-season consensus top pick. Larsson saw his point totals erode from last year’s standards and wasn’t the overwhelming force most were hoping for at the World Juniors. Despite a somewhat disappointing season, Larsson still has an attractive skill-set that translates well to the NHL. The size, puck moving ability, and solid positional play are all there, but it’s going to be up to Larsson to take the next step in his game if he wants to regarded as a top pairing defenseman in the NHL.

3. RW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 4 | League Rank: 1st OHL | Country Rank: 2nd Sweden

A sophomore season in North America proved to be exactly what the doctor ordered for Gabriel Landeskog. After coming over with high expectations last season, the reviews were fairly lukewarm on the Swede until his impressive play-off run. This season, Landeskog picked up where he left off and has ascended to the top of the NHL draft board. He’s not going to be a dominant goal-scorer at the next level, but Landeskog has a great package of competitiveness, offensive talent, and the ability to dominate the play in tough areas on the ice. He projects as a 30/30 type player who has all the intangibles coaches and team’s love to have.

4. LC Sean Couturier – Drummondville (QMJHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 2 | League Rank: 1st QMJHL | Country Rank: 2nd Canada

Couturier has progressively slid from his pre-season perch but we still feel that he is certainly deserving of a place in the Top 5. After struggling to take his offensive production to the “next level”, there are some concerns about his potential as a first line center. While he isn’t going to be a dominant offensive player, Couturier is a very capable offensive forward who has the size to create space for himself at the next level as well. He will need to work on his skating a bit to solidify himself as a two-way center with the increased pace of the NHL, but Couturier is a pretty safe pick who has likely been the victim of over-exposure this year.

5. LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 7 | League Rank: 2nd QMJHL | Country Rank: 3rd Canada

Huberdeau’s meteoric rise continues as the lanky center has worked his way inside our Top 5 after a brilliant second half to the season. The 17-year-old was one of the most dangerous players in Major Junior hockey all season and has an explosive dynamic that few others in this class can match. At this point, you can easily make the argument that Couturier and Huberdeau are neck in neck with each other, but we feel there is just a bit more risk with Huberdeau’s translating in comparison to Couturier’s.

6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 6 | League Rank: 2nd OHL | Country Rank: 4th Canada

Murphy clocks in at number six and is a player that has the potential to be in a unique league of his own if he hits his ceiling. The Aurora, Ont. native is a dynamic playmaking defenseman who has a creative blend of speed and the ability to make highly skilled moves at top speed. At any given point he’s a threat to rush the puck up the ice and has very good vision in doing so. He’s also a very smart player on the powerplay and has utilized his shot a lot more over the past season than he did as a rookie. Defensive coverage has improved and he’s started to use his body a little more as well. Once considered a bit of a risk, we feel Murphy has entrenched himself as a blue-chip prospect regardless of some of the concerns about his game.

7. RC Mika Zibanejad – Djurgarden (SEL)

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

Midterm Rank: 25 | League Rank: 2nd SEL | Country Rank: 3rd Sweden

Zibanejad is the biggest riser in the final rankings this year; something that doesn’t come as much of a surprise given our placement of him in the mid-term edition. The versatile Swede has a big body and plays both ends of the ice equally well. Skates well and can cover a lot of ice from the center position while being strong in the face-off circle. Might not have the highest offensive ceiling out of some of the players in the Top 10-15, but still has first line potential and could still be a great second line center if his offensive upside isn’t there.

8. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 13 | League Rank: 3rd OHL | Country Rank: 5th Canada

Hamilton is a big defenseman who is very mobile and has pretty good offensive upside. Took advantage of increased responsibility from the beginning of the season and has developed into a very good powerplay quarterback and adept puck moving defenseman. He’s pretty strong in his own end and does a good job of using his long reach to his advantage. Depending on the game, he can be a physical player, but doesn’t show it consistently. Also is prone to being beaten by some of the more highly skilled players in the league. He’s still a bit of an unfinished product, but Hamilton will probably remind people a lot of a player like Alex Pietrangelo.

9. RC Ryan Strome – Niagara (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 10 | League Rank: 4th OHL | Country Rank: 6th Canada

Strome was the talk of the prospect world by November and didn’t let up as the year progressed. He’s a highly skilled forward with some of the craftiest hands in the crop and the ability to create a scoring chance at any opportunity. His statistics will indicate that he’s more of a playmaker, but Strome is also a very adept goal scorer and has a pretty good release on his wrist/snap shot. His game doesn’t come without concerns, however, as Strome is very weak and easily muscled off the puck. He had trouble in the playoffs against stiffer competition, which was a bit of a symptom of that problem. Probably will need at least another year in the OHL to add some strength before he makes the jump.

10. RC Mark Scheifele – Barrie (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 15 | League Rank: 5th OHL | Country Rank: 7th Canada

Scheifele’s first year in the OHL is one to remember as the unheralded Kitchener, Ont. Native burst onto the scene with the Barrie Colts. Scheifele is a big-time talent with the ability to make his linemates better as a great playmaker and player who can buy time in the offensive zone. Scheifele is good along the boards and in traffic and did a good job of making things happen on a team that lacked talent in a big way. He still needs to add some much needed bulk to his frame, and could probably afford to shoot the puck more; as the U18’s showed, but he’s a guy with a pretty high ceiling and is certainly a player to watch for.

11. RW Joel Armia – Assat (SM-Liiga)

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

Midterm Rank: 9 | League Rank: 1st SM-Liiga | Country Rank: 1st Finland

After climbing the rankings early, it seems like Armia’s stock may have tailed off a bit the past few months in the eyes of most. Despite going under the radar at the U20’s in Buffalo, Armia still had a productive first season in the SM-Liiga and went on to lead Finland in scoring at the U18’s. The Finn is still pretty raw, but a winger with his size and skill is an attractive package and it’s hard to imagine him slipping much further than 11.

12. LW Matthew Puempel – Peterborough (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 5 | League Rank: 6th OHL | Country Rank: 8th Canada

High expectations were bestowed upon the 2009/2010 CHL rookie of the year this season; one that proved to be pretty disappointing for Matt Puempel. A combination of a poor Peterborough squad and a late season ending hip injury made this season a difficult one for Puempel. Despite the negatives, Puempel still remains as one of the premier goal scorers in this crop. Puempel will likely make a living off his release and shot power/accuracy, but he improved some of the other areas of his game this season as well. It was evident that he started to take some steps to become more of a dominant player on his own and began to create a lot of his own opportunities instead of relying on a center to get him the puck. Assuming NHL teams are satisfied with his injury rehabilitation, Puempel is still very much a Top 15 type player.

13. RC Mark McNeill – Prince Albert (WHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 19 | League Rank: 2nd WHL | Country Rank: 9th Canada

McNeill did a lot of things well this year. On a weak team, McNeill proved that he could compete and succeed against the best players from around the WHL with minimal help as he tallied 81 points in 70 games this year. McNeill has a nice mix of speed, size and grit. He was among the fastest skaters at the CHL Top Prospects game and combining that with his size and grittiness make him hard to handle when he is on his game. He can be guilty of taking the occasional shift off, but his combo of speed, skill and grittiness (including a willingness to fight) allow him to project nicely as a 2nd line center.

14. LD Duncan Siemens – Saskatoon (WHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 8 | League Rank: 3rd WHL | Country Rank: 10th Canada

Siemens is a prototypical WHL defender that is big, can play at both ends of the rink, and also provide a physical edge. Siemens is a very good skater for his size and has a good shot. He is able to make the first pass out of his zone and has handled himself very nicely in game action despite being one of the youngest players available in this year’s draft. While Siemens has very high potential, it doesn’t come without some risk. He did put up good number this past season (43 points in 72 games), but one can’t help but wonder whether or not he is being sheltered by playing on such a deep team featuring a star defender in Stefan Elliott. Decision-making (especially in his own end) is also a concern at times. Siemens does possess one of the more attractive toolkits in the draft and if a team thinks that the decision-making will be resolved in time, Siemens could end up a relatively high pick in the draft.

15. LW Sven Bartschi – Portland (WHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 12 | League Rank: 4th WHL | Country Rank: 1st Switzerland

Bartschi came into the season as a fairly unknown prospect, but quickly established himself as a high scorer for the Portland Winterhawks. Bartschi has excellent hands and goes to the traffic areas to create offense, and has excellent vision on the ice. There are question marks about his two-way play, however Bartschi only improved as the season went along, quickly creating a name for himself as an elite level winger in the Western Hockey League while being a major offensive contributor for the Hawks; continuing his solid play well into the WHL playoffs.

16. LD Nathan Beaulieu – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 22 | League Rank: 3rd QMJHL | Country Rank: 11th Canada

Bealieu is a technically sound defenseman that has a pretty refined overall game. He’s a solid skater with good size, moves well laterally, and has the ability to buy time for himself and make good decisions with the puck. The issue is that he doesn’t have an overly dominant aspect to his game which raises some questions about what his role will be at the next level. As it stands, he projects to be a decent middle pairing type player, but the lack of high-end talent prevents him from being higher in our rankings.

17. LC Vladislav Namestnikov – London (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 39 | League Rank: 7th OHL | Country Rank: 1st Russia

Namestnikov is a player that certainly grew on us as the year went on. If you only see him once or twice, you might not get an appreciation for the little things he does well which make him such a valuable player. Namestnikov is an effortless skater with tremendous agility; something that is very evident whenever you see him. He sees the ice well but is a very creative player and makes a lot of nifty little plays that may raise your eye-brows. Some of his other qualities come in the form of being a very good stick checker and having great anticipation. Some people have compared him to Datsyuk, and his style probably isn’t too far off. Adding strength is priority number one for Namestnikov right now, as he is often outmuscled at the junior level.

18. RC Rocco Grimaldi – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 26 | League Rank: 1st USHL | Country Rank: 1st USA

Easily one of the more skilled players available in the draft, Grimaldi has a proven track record of production at every level. Strong work ethic and dedication to the game have enabled him to develop skills in skating, passing, shooting and puck handling that could comprise a video on “How To….” All indications are that he’ll keep developing as he moves up the ladder. The only obvious knock is his size.

19. LD Oscar Klefbom – Farjestad (SEL)

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

Midterm Rank: 33 | League Rank: 3rd SEL | Country Rank: 4th Sweden

Klefbom has steadily risen to become one of the most sought after defensemen in this draft. The big Swede has the tools to play in the NHL, being a mobile player who can log minutes in basically any situation, and should be a great value pick-up somewhere around the middle of the first round. He has a calming presence on the ice and does a good job of playing mistake-free hockey, which is something that will allow him to play in the NHL sooner than later. Like Beaulieu, he may not have a ton of high-end potential, but has more than enough to justify being picked in this range.

20. LC JT Miller – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 30 | League Rank: 2nd USHL | Country Rank: 2nd USA

The skill set to be reliable 2 way forward has always been there as prior to this year, Miller has been at worst a strong skating centerman who plays hard on both sides of the puck. He always possessed the puck skills necessary to contribute offensively but lacked that consistency leading to questions about his hockey sense. Miller seems to have answered those as the year progressed culminating in an excellent showing at the U18’s. There are some rumblings that the North Dakota recruit will opt for Plymouth in the OHL.

21. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 18 | League Rank: 8th OHL | Country Rank: 1st Denmark

Jensen is the first real “boom or bust” player in our rankings, and could be a draft changer when we look back on the 2011 draft in the future. If you haven’t seen any of his highlights, make sure to check some out because he’s scored some of the nicest goals in junior hockey this year. A big, lanky winger, Jensen has dynamic speed and puck handling ability to go coast to coast and make something out of nothing at any given point. As the season progressed, he found some much needed consistency in his game, but we’ll see how much of that translates to the NHL. If everything pans out, he could be a game breaker even at the NHL level, and if he can’t find consistency, he could be struggling to find a role in the league.

22. LD Jamiesen Oleksiak – Northeastern (NCAA)

DOB: Dec. 21/92 | Shoots: L | Height: 6.07 | Weight: 240lbs

Midterm Rank: NR | League Rank: 1st NCAA | Country Rank: 12th Canada

After getting a few viewings of Oleksiak in the second half of the season, it became clear to us that all the talk about Oleksiak is justified. The thing that will jump out at you aside from likely being the biggest player on the ice in almost every game, is that he’s a pretty good skater for his size and moves well laterally as well. Oleksiak doesn’t really have the offensive tools to be an offensive guy at the next level, making his role more of a shut-down type guy.

23. LD Jonas Brodin – Farjestad (SEL)

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

Midterm Rank: 43 | League Rank: 4th SEL | Country Rank: 5th Sweden

A fellow teammate of Oscar Klefbom, there isn’t a whole lot separating the two Swedes and you could likely make the case that the two Swedes actually have a lot in common. Brodin is probably a little bit of a better skater than Klefbom and also moves the puck pretty well, but lacks some of the physical tools that Klefbom has and doesn’t quite have the offensive upside. If he can improve his offensive skills, he could develop into a nice two-way defender, but as of now he projects as a low-risk puck moving defenseman who can provide a team with some stability on the back-end.

24. LW Stefan Noesen – Plymouth (OHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 38 | League Rank: 9th OHL | Country Rank: 3rd USA

Noesen is one of those players that seemingly comes out of nowhere as he quickly became the key cog up front for Plymouth. For those who may have seen him last season, it was actually quite evident that the Plano, Tex. native had the tools to be a player, but just needed to wait for his opportunity. That came this season for Noesen as he quickly established himself as a go-to player with the Whalers. Noesen is a hard working, north-south type player who should be a sandpaper type guy in the NHL that can play on any line. He’s got a hard shot and does a pretty good job of making things happen in the offensive zone with quick moves. While not an overly nasty player, Noesen finishes checks and is not an easy player to play against. He probably won’t be a huge point scorer at the next level, but he can play on any line and will be a very valuable player to any team.

25. RD Robbie Russo – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

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

Midterm Rank: 29 | League Rank: 3rd USHL | Country Rank: 4th USA

Russo dropped in some rankings during the course of the season. TSR remained high on him due to his intangibles in leadership and hockey sense. Russo always seems to have the puck on his stick whether he’s moving it out of his zone or anticipating the play defensively. His smooth skating and vision along with above average passing skills should translate well as he progresses.

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

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 (1-30)

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

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

Introduction:

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

1. RD Adam Larsson – Skelleftea AIK (SEL)

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

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

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2. LC Sean Couturier – Drummondville (QMJHL)

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

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

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

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

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

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4. LW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (OHL)

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

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

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5. LW Matthew Puempel – Peterborough (OHL)

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

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

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6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)

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

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

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7. LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

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

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8. LD Duncan Siemens – Saskatoon (WHL)

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

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

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9. RW Joel Armia – Assat (SM-Liiga)

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

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

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10. RC Ryan Strome – Niagara (OHL)

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

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

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11. LW Brandon Saad – Saginaw (OHL)

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

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

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12. LW Sven Bartschi – Portland (WHL)

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

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

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13. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

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

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

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14. LD David Musil – Vancouver (WHL)

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

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

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15. RC Mark Scheifele – Barrie (OHL)

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

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

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16. RD Scott Mayfield – Youngstown (USHL)

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

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

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17. LC Victor Rask – Leksand (Allsvenskan)

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

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

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18. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

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

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

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19. RC Mark McNeill – Prince Albert (WHL)

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

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

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20. RW Ty Rattie – Portland (WHL)

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

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

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21. LW Matthew Nieto – Boston University (NCAA)

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

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

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22. LD Nathan Beaulieu – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

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

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23. RW Dmitri Jaskin – Slavia Praha (Czech)

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

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

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24. RW Tomas Jurco – Saint John (QMJHL)

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

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

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25. RC Mika Zibanejad – Djurgarden (SEL)

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

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

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

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

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

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27. RW Seth Ambroz – Omaha (USHL)

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

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

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28. LC Alexander Khokhlachev – Windsor (OHL)

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

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

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

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

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

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30. LC JT Miller – US U18 Team (USHL)

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

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

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

CHL Top Prospects Game Review

Mike Kloepfer — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 03:28:14 +0000

The NHL/CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game is always an intriguing event on the CHL calendar. On one hand it is an all-star game of sorts, but without the all-star game feel. These forty 17 and 18 year old players are playing in this game to prove to NHL scouts that they deserve to be a top pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. They show their grit, they finish their checks, and will make plays outside of their normal character to show the scouts that they have the intangibles to play in the NHL one day.

Below are a few players who I felt played a strong game as well as a few who left something to be desired.

PLAYERS WITH STRONG PERFORMANCES:

C Ryan Nugent Hopkins – Team Orr
Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

Ryan Nugent Hopkins is a player that has been getting a serious looks from scouts since he played as a 15 year old for the Red Deer Rebels where he put up 6 points in 5 games. There is no question the Burnaby, BC native has a lot of talent, but if there are going to be any concerns about his game it will come from his overall strength. Standing at 6.00, 155lbs. there is a lot of room for this kid to grow into his body. His offensive ability is uncanny and is lethal when shooting or passing the puck. Nugent-Hopkins definitely showed some of that playmaking talent as he picked up 2 assists in the game.

LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Team Orr
Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Jonathan Huberdeau is the offensive leader in the strong group of Saint John Sea Dogs. The St. Jermome, QC native has been stellar with the Sea Dogs this season picking up 68 points in 44 games. His strong play transitioned nicely over to the prospects game as he scored a goal and an assist for Team Orr. Even though he is leading his respective club in points this season, he does have a high ceiling for potential and there is room for improvement. Not unlike many other players competing in this game, Huberdeau will have to mind his defensive game so he is not a liability at the next level.

D Ryan Murphy – Team Cherry
Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Ryan Murphy was one of the lone stand-outs on Team Cherry, and although did not register a point, Murphy sure did his part. Murphy is a smooth skating offensive defenseman. Although he is only listed at 5.11, 176lbs. the Aurora, ON native makes up for that with his superb offensive prowess and instincts. If there was a knock on the defenseman’s game it would be his defensive game. Naturally as an offensive minded defenseman, there has to be a bit of a trade off, but in Murphy’s case, there are times when he becomes a liability.

C Zach Phillips – Team Orr
Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Zach Phillips is part of a very strong Saint John Sea Dog contingent. He really set himself apart in this game scoring two goals and assisting on one. Phillips is an offensive gifted center man which he has showed in abundance this season, scoring 65 points in 45 games this season with the Sea Dogs. Phillips has a strong work ethic, a quick release, a very high offensive IQ. In order for Phillips to better his game, he will have to work on his first step to generate some separation between him and the opposition.

C Daniel Catenacci – Team Orr
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Daniel Cantenacci is a player that should concern scouts a bit with choosing him in the top 30. The former 1st overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection has great speed, decent instincts and plays with an edge. The concern is what type of player is he at the next level? Standing at 5.10, 185lbs he cannot be considered a power forward, even with his grit, and his scoring ability does not appear to translate into a top six forward at the next level. Nonetheless, Catenacci had many good scoring chances, and showed his elite speed when he beat the defenseman and the goaltender en route to burying his lone goal.

G Liam Liston – Team Orr
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

This was my first look at Liston, and overall I was impressed. Naturally you cannot judge a goaltender by half a game of hockey, but stopping 18 of 18 against some of the most elite offensive talents in the CHL is no easy feat. Liston is a technically sound goalie with relatively strong lateral movements. Being his first season as a full-time starter in the WHL, Liston has made some great strides to becoming a great goalie.

PLAYERS WHO LEFT SOMETHING TO BE DESIRED:

C Sean Couturier – Team Cherry
Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Perhaps expectations are too high for Sean Couturier at this point in the season, but I was hoping to see a little bit more out of the Team Cherry’s captain. En route to a 7-1 loss, Couturier registered zero points and didn’t have many chances either. Despite his performance, I think there is little which can change the minds of scouts at this point. Outside maybe Gabriel Landeskog there is not a safer pick in the draft. His size, standing at 6.04, 195lbs. He will be able to contribute at the, next level, whether it is with his body or his offense.

LW Brandon Saad – Team Orr
Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

I was hoping to see a little bit more out of Brandon Saad in this game. Since announcing he would be playing for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL this season, it would appear as though Saad’s stock has been slowly dropping. He is a very strong forward who protects the puck well, and although is not overly creative in the offensive zone, has a quick release which is effective in fooling opposing goaltenders. Saad’s status as a Top 10 pick in 2011 is waning with the rise of others.

C Ryan Strome – Team Cherry
Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

Ryan Strome was fairly quiet in this game, when I was hoping he would show his offensive abilities like he has done with the Niagara IceDogs this season. There were a couple plays where he went for a fancy dangle, but just didn’t seem to have it all on this night. Strome brightest quality when he is on is his ability to make spectacular moves at top speed. Strome sees the offensive zone very well, which enables his natural playmaking ability to shine. His biggest flaw at the current time is similar to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins where his overall strength takes away from his skill set. In effect, Strome struggles when it comes to board play, which is something he will have to work on.

LW Matt Puempel – Team Cherry
Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Since Minor Midget, Matt Puempel has succeeded the competition, and coming off a rookie campaign which saw him win CHL Rookie of the Year honours, it is needless to say that expectations are high for the 17 year old, Essex ON Native. He is having a relatively strong season with a weak Peterborough squad, but he definitely could have shown more in this game. The largest flaw in Puempel’s is his consistency where he goes through periods where you don’t really notice him. He has a tremendous will to succeed and his natural goal scoring ability, indicate he could be a solid goal scorer at the NHL level.

GAME NOTES:

The #1 ranked North American skater, Gabriel Landeskog, we held out of the line-up due to an injury, and Ottawa 67’s forward Shane Prince took his place. Prince scored the lone goal for Team Cherry in a losing effort.

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: Red Deer Rebels Prospects

Scott McDougall — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:43:26 +0000

Red Deer Rebels

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

In a game where Nugent-Hopkins could have easily gotten 4 assists, he managed to get just a pair including one that likely shouldn’t have counted as he was given an assist on a controversial off-side goal by Byron Froese. He was dominant offensively and was especially good on the PP where he used his extreme patience with the puck and the resulting extra space to create chances at will (his other assist was a tap-in for Turner Elson on the PP).

Just as impressive as his offensive game was his complete neutralization of Craig Cunningham. Nugent-Hopkins not only won a vast majority of faceoffs against the WHL’s scoring leader, but helped shutdown one of the most dangerous lines in junior hockey. While Cunningham leads the league in points, his linemate Brendan Gallagher is 2^nd. It was only the 3^rd time in 18 games that Cunningham had been held pointless and the first time it had happened to Gallagher all year! Vancouver’s top line barely registered any shots let alone decent scoring chances.

RNH had the puck on a string and was able to feather passes through heavy traffic. He is cool under pressure and quick to find an outlet when necessary, but also able to hold on to the puck long enough for a play to develop. He is a tremendous skater that is able to handle the puck at full speed and in traffic. Nugent-Hopkins prefers to set up on the perimeter much like a point guard waiting for an opportunity to make a pass into the paint (or in this case the slot). Nugent-Hopkins has world class talent and will push Couturier and Larsson into a dogfight for 1^st overall this year. The only thing holding him back is his slight frame and being only 17, he has lots of time to fill out.

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Byron Froese | C | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 03/12/1991 | 6’1 180lbs | CHI 2009 (4/119)

Byron is a hard-working, two-way player. While he is not an explosive skater, he has good balance and constantly keeps his motor running. He hustled for loose pucks, was hard on the backcheck and was solid on the PK. All of his hard work was rewarded as Froese was able to pot a couple goals in the game. Froese played the left point on the top PP unit from which he was able to score one of his goals.

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Alex Petrovic | D | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 03/03/1992 | 6’4 200lbs | FLA 2010 (2/36)

Considering Petrovic had missed the previous couple games due to a knee injury, he was in fine form in this game. His decision-making with the puck was poor during the first few shifts in the 1^st period, but once he settled down later in the period Petrovic improved considerably in that regard.

Another positive sign of his development was that he wasn’t prone to the defensive lapses seen often last year. It is only a single game, but it is a positive step and something worth mentioning. Petrovic has the tools to be a strong player at both ends of the rink and he continued to show that in this game. He played physical and was a key part of why Vancouver’s high-flying offense didn’t get anything going as Petrovic man-handled the smaller Cunningham and Gallagher down low. He continues to have a strong shot and he has improved his skating and balance from last year. Petrovic was regarded as a bit of a boom/bust player at last year’s draft, and Florida must be happy with how he’s progressing. Petrovic contributed a pair of PP assists and now has 14 points in 15 games to start the season.

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Matthew Dumba | D | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 07/25/1994 | 6’0 172lbs | 2012 Eligible

Matt started the game slow as it seemed to take him a while to feel comfortable out on the ice. Once he felt comfortable, Matt showed that he could be a dangerous puck rusher as he was skating the puck out of his zone, around forecheckers and starting odd-man rushes down the ice. One such rush resulted in him collecting his first assist of the season.

He showed he was capable of excelling at the WHL level despite only being three months removed from his 16^th birthday. He is an offensive defensemen and that is obviously where his strengths lie. Despite not being the fastest skater he proved elusive and was able to skate away from danger and stick handle through traffic. He has an average shot that he loves to use. The velocity is alright, but the shot is often off target. His passing was sufficient. Aside from his offensive play, Dumba likes to throw his body around when he doesn’t have the puck. He is still working on the defensive aspect of his game.

Dumba is pretty raw, but he still has plenty of time to refine his game as he isn’t NHL eligible until 2012. If he continues to progress, he could turn out to be a high-quality prospect in a couple years.

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Justin Weller | D | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 07/26/1991 | 6’3 208lbs | PHO 2009 (4/105)

As usual, Weller played the role of a very physical stay-at-home defender. He knows his role and he does it well. Made a couple very nice hits.

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Darcy Kuemper | G | Catches LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 05/05/1990 | 6’4 205lbs | MIN 2009 (6/161)

A player that I’ve seen a fair amount over the years and has always been an enigma to me. Some games, he is one of the best players on the ice. Other games I’ve been left scratching my head. This game was a good one for Kuemper as he used his great size to his advantage. He wasn’t tested a lot but he was able to make himself “big” and take away a lot of the net from shooters. He displayed good mobility when needed.

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Daulton Siwak | RW | RH | Red Deer (WHL) | 10/25/1993 | 6’0 196lbs | 2012 Eligible

Siwak was Red Deer’s 2^nd round pick in the 2008 Bantam draft after Red Deer selected RNH 1^st overall that year. Siwak competed hard, played gritty and showed a little skill to go with it. I will be sure to follow him in more depth later this year as I will be getting lots of views of Red Deer this season.

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Tyson Ness | LW | LH | Red Deer (WHL) | 04/10/1993 | 5’11 162lbs | 2011 Eligible

Much like Siwak, Ness will benefit from the entire scouting community coming out to see Nugent-Hopkins this year. Ness is another player with a chance to have his name called this June and will have plenty of opportunities to showcase himself.

2011 NHL Entry Draft Rankings: Preliminary Top 15

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

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

1. RD Adam Larsson | Skelleftea (Elisterien)

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

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

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

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

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

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3. LC Sean Couturier | Drummondville (QMJHL)

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

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

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4. LD David Musil | Vancouver (WHL)

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

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

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5. LW Brandon Saad | Saginaw (OHL)

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

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

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

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

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

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7. LW Matt Puempel | Peterborough (OHL)

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

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

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8. RD Ryan Murphy | Kitchener (OHL)

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

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

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9. LW Seth Ambroz | Omaha (USHL)

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

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

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10. LC Victor Rask | Leksand (Allsvenskan)

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

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

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11. LD Duncan Siemens | Saskatoon (WHL)

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

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

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12. LC Vladislav Namestnikov | London (OHL)

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

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

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13. LW Lucas Lessio | Oshawa (OHL)

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

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

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14. RW Shane McColgan | Kelowna (WHL)

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

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

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15. LC Boone Jenner | Oshawa (OHL)

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

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

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.

The Scouting Report » Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – NHL Draft Profile

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

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

Introduction:

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

2. RD Adam Larsson – Skelleftea AIK (SEL)

3. RW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (OHL)

4. LC Sean Couturier – Drummondville (QMJHL)

5. LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Saint John (QMJHL)

6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)

7. RC Mika Zibanejad – Djurgarden (SEL)

8. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

9. RC Ryan Strome – Niagara (OHL)

10. RC Mark Scheifele – Barrie (OHL)

11. RW Joel Armia – Assat (SM-Liiga)

12. LW Matthew Puempel – Peterborough (OHL)

13. RC Mark McNeill – Prince Albert (WHL)

14. LD Duncan Siemens – Saskatoon (WHL)

15. LW Sven Bartschi – Portland (WHL)

16. LD Nathan Beaulieu – Saint John (QMJHL)

17. LC Vladislav Namestnikov – London (OHL)

18. RC Rocco Grimaldi – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

19. LD Oscar Klefbom – Farjestad (SEL)

20. LC JT Miller – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

21. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

22. LD Jamiesen Oleksiak – Northeastern (NCAA)

23. LD Jonas Brodin – Farjestad (SEL)

24. LW Stefan Noesen – Plymouth (OHL)

25. RD Robbie Russo – USNTDP U18 (USHL)

WHL Draft-Eligible Player Rankings: March 2011

Skaters

Goaltenders

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

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

Introduction:

1. RD Adam Larsson – Skelleftea AIK (SEL)

2. LC Sean Couturier – Drummondville (QMJHL)

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

4. LW Gabriel Landeskog – Kitchener (OHL)

5. LW Matthew Puempel – Peterborough (OHL)

6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)

7. LC Jonathan Huberdeau – Saint John (QMJHL)

8. LD Duncan Siemens – Saskatoon (WHL)

9. RW Joel Armia – Assat (SM-Liiga)

10. RC Ryan Strome – Niagara (OHL)

11. LW Brandon Saad – Saginaw (OHL)

12. LW Sven Bartschi – Portland (WHL)

13. RD Dougie Hamilton – Niagara (OHL)

14. LD David Musil – Vancouver (WHL)

15. RC Mark Scheifele – Barrie (OHL)

16. RD Scott Mayfield – Youngstown (USHL)

17. LC Victor Rask – Leksand (Allsvenskan)

18. RW Nicklas Jensen – Oshawa (OHL)

19. RC Mark McNeill – Prince Albert (WHL)

20. RW Ty Rattie – Portland (WHL)

21. LW Matthew Nieto – Boston University (NCAA)

22. LD Nathan Beaulieu – Saint John (QMJHL)

23. RW Dmitri Jaskin – Slavia Praha (Czech)

24. RW Tomas Jurco – Saint John (QMJHL)

25. RC Mika Zibanejad – Djurgarden (SEL)

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

27. RW Seth Ambroz – Omaha (USHL)

28. LC Alexander Khokhlachev – Windsor (OHL)

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

30. LC JT Miller – US U18 Team (USHL)

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

CHL Top Prospects Game Review

WHL Feature: Draft Eligible Mid-Term Risers & Fallers

Rising

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

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

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

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

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

Falling

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

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

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

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

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

6. RD Ryan Murphy – Kitchener (OHL)