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

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

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

     Adam Larsson came into the season fighting with Sean Couturier for top honours, and goes out fighting to maintain a slot in the Top 2. It was that kind of a season for the 18-year-old defenseman who struggled to deal with the intense microscope and high expectations that were bestowed upon him this season. Like Couturier, Larsson’s game was heavily scrutinized to the point where many have become concerned about his upside as a franchise, or even number one calibre defenseman.

     While so much of the season has focused on Larsson’s weaknesses, it’s important not to forget that he’s still a very talented player who has some serious upside. Larsson has very good size and has already filled out his frame very well. He’s got good range and mobility and is a very strong technical skater for his size. He doesn’t have that extra step that you might like, but given the style of game he plays, he can bypass the need for elite acceleration.

     A very smart player, Larsson makes a lot of good on-ice decisions and plays a fairly risk-free game. He’s a good puck moving defenseman who does a good job of identifying passing lanes and utilizing outlets well. He’s a capable powerplay defenseman who has the skills and poise to be a strong point player. Has a good shot that can be an asset and moves the puck decently well on the PP, although he doesn’t quite fit the mould of being a true PP quarterback.

     Larsson runs into problems when the pace of the game and physicality increase, which is one of the concerns about his ability to be a premier defenseman at the NHL level. Larsson is a big player, but he struggles a bit when players target him and can be knocked off his game. With increased pressure on the forecheck and players finishing checks, he becomes turnover prone and becomes victim of playing a style of game that he’s uncomfortable with. He’ll need to continue to improve his ability to deal with opposing players and work on being able to escape and elude some of the checks that will be coming his way.

     Last season there was also a concern that he doesn’t quite have the high-end speed, and that’s something that will also have to come in time. By no means is he even close to being a poor skater, but if he wants to be the go-to defenseman on a team, he’ll need to also work on adding an extra gear and improving his agility a bit.

     Overall, there isn’t a lot to not like about Larsson’s game. He’s a very polished defenseman who is probably NHL-ready despite his intentions to spend at least one more year with Skelleftea in the Elitserien. He may never reach that franchise type potential that some were expecting from him, but as someone that should worst-case scenario be a #2 or #3 defenseman, he’s a low-risk player who still has upside to be a #1 on most teams in the NHL as he reaches his potential, which isn’t so bad after all.

Pros: Size, Decision Making, Shot
Cons: Turnover Prone, Concerns about overall upside
Skill-set Comparison: Erik Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     Sean Couturier has everything a team could ask for in a center. He’s 6’4″ 191 lbs. He has great hands and vision and plays a very solid two-way game. He’s also not afraid to use his size. In 2009-2010 he won the Jean Beliveau Trophy as the QMJHL’s leading scorer and in 2010-2011 he won the Michel Briere trophy as the league’s most-valuable player. It’s no surprise that Couturier was named MVP. He plays a ton of minutes for the Drummondville Voltigeurs. He kills penalties,plays the power play and takes all of the important faceoffs. Some nights it seems like he plays over 40 minutes because he’s out there so much and when he’s out there he makes everyone notice.

     Couturier has slid down most rankings after being at or near number 1 in the early rankings. It’s not because his play declined. He didn’t develop a bad attitude. He didn’t become injury prone. Quite frankly its because people expected a lot of him. At the age of 17 he lead the QMJHL in scoring. He’s a late 1992 birthday so he’s old than most other prospects. If he was born a few months earlier he would have been drafted early in last years draft. Scouts wanted Sean to dominate the QMJHL this season. He was coming off a very good season and they wanted to see some progress.

     He got a little bit better in some aspects of the game, especially in the defensive zone but it’s nothing like the progression made by other prospects in the NHL like Jonathan Huberdeau and Zack Phillips. Couturier finished 9 points behind Huberdeau this season. However, it should be noted that he missed several games due to the World Junior tournament while Huberdeau played on a incredibly strong Saint John team.Sean was the only 2011 draft eligible prospect on Team Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championship. He proved his versatility as he played checking line center and chipped in with 2 goals and an assist. He was also a +6 in only 7 games.

     Couturier is the type of player that could make the jump to the NHL next season depending on which team drafts him. He doesn’t have much left to prove in the QMJHL. Getting NHL coaching would be good for his development even if his ice time is limited at the NHL level. What will most likely happen is that he will play between 7 and 9 NHL games and his team will re-evaluate the situation at that point.

     Like most prospects, Sean will need to work on his speed to bring his game to the NHL but he should develop into a solid NHL center. He has the potential to be a number 1 center who can play a very solid two way game. The type of center you throw out against the opponents number one line but the same center you send on the ice when down by a goal late in the game. He should be a very good low risk pick. At worst you get a solid 3rd line center but a lot more will be expected from him as he will be drafted very high.

Pros: Size and hands
Cons: Speed
Skill-set Comparison: Jordan Staal

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

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

     Jonathan Huberdeau is the third Saint John Sea Dog profiled in our Top 30 in 30 days. He joins teammates Nathan Beaulieu and Zack Phillips. It is getting repetitive to mention the great season the Sea Dogs had this year winning the QMJHL championship and the Memorial Cup. Jonathan was a huge part of the teams success. He finished 3rd in the league in goals and 3rd in the league in points during the regular season and he finished 2nd in points during the playoffs. Such dominance is not common for 17 year olds in a league usually dominated by 19 and 20 year olds.

     The stats are only a beginning when trying to explain why Jonathan was such a huge part of the Sea Dogs championship run. He scored 43 goals and added 62 assists but it’s not the amount of points he has that is the most impressive, it’s when he came up with those points. The Sea Dogs didn’t trail many times this season but when they did the fans didn’t panic. Huberdeau has time and time again come up with huge plays at the most crucial times for the Sea Dogs.

     There is plenty of evidence there to support it. Not only did Huberdeau have a goal and an assist in the Memorial Cup final game, including the insurance marker to put the intense game away with less than 4 minutes to go in the game but he also had the game winning goal in double over time against Owen Sound which clinched a berth in the final game. His performance earned him tournament MVP. He also contributed immensely in the final game of the QMJHL playoffs trying the game to send it to overtime with under 30 seconds left in regulation. Alexandre Beauregard eventually scored off a turnover to send the Sea Dogs to the national championship.

     Huberdeau’s success comes as no surprise. He lead the Quebec Midget AAA league in scoring as a 15 year old which prompted the Sea Dogs to draft his 18th overall in the first round of the QMJHL draft. He would have been drafted much higher however he was planning on going the NCAA route but the Sea Dogs were able to convince him that major junior was a much better option for a player of his caliber. He then went on to lead all 16 year old players in scoring in his rookie season.

     The Sea Dogs phenom has top notch skill. He sees the ice very well and has terrific hands. He can shoot, pass and deke with the best of ‘em. He also has above average vision and is very creative. In his rookie season in the “Q” he went 6 for 6 in shootouts and 5 for 7 in his sophomore season. That’s a superb 11 for 13 and some of them were even more amazing than his stats. His versatility is another great asset. He has the ability to play wing or center. He’s a natural center but Saint John had a very deep team and he was moved to wing for the most part. NHL scouts feel his size and skill is more suited to play center at the NHL level but it will be up to the lucky team that drafts him what his future holds.

     To conclude, Jonathan has things that you can’t teach such as vision, his 6’1″ frame and his ability to play under pressure. Like most prospects he will need to gain weight and muscle to fill out his 6’1″ frame. His foot speed is something else he’ll continue working on but with elite prospects like him you really have to be picky to find flaws in his game.

Pros: Hands and hockey sense
Cons: Foot speed and lack of weight
Skill-set Comparison: Jason Spezza

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

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

     Ryan Murphy is an interesting prospect moving into the NHL Entry Draft. The sophomore defenseman had critics raving about him, scoring 51 points in just 33 games to start the season. Murphy was originally drafted 3^rd overall to the Kitchener Rangers in the 2009 State Farm OHL Priority Selection, only behind Daniel Catenacci of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Kingston’s draft pick Alan Quine, now playing with the Peterborough Petes. The Aurora native has always been prone to racking up a surreal amount of points from the blue line as he scored 95 points in 33 games in his OHL Draft Year with the York Simcoe Express.

     After his rookie year, where he scored 39 points, he garnered enough attention from Hockey Canada, as they offered an invite to their 2010 World Junior Team Summer training camp. Coming into the 2010-11 season, Murphy was going to be heavily relied on with an increased role with the Kitchener Rangers, and he ran with his opportunity. With increased playing time and quarterbacking the first power play, Murphy was able to increase his point totals by 40 tallying 26 goals and 79 points in 63 OHL games.

     Murphy excels at being an offensive defenseman; it is what he is known for, producing points. Murphy has to be considered one of the most fluent skaters in this year’s draft crop and he knows how to use it to his advantage.  He has the ability to read the ice superbly off the rush, and can either make the break out pass or use his elite speed to begin an end to end rush. This makes him a real threat on the power play as he utilizes open ice perhaps better than anyone else in the draft. His ability to read the ice allows him to be a great power play quarterback. Once in the offensive zone, Murphy is just as effective. He is able to set the play up, or use his shot, which may not be the hardest in the league, but is definitely accurate, which is just as deadly. It is no question that Murphy will be categorized as an offensive defenseman at the next level.

     It is hard to find flaws in Murphy’s game, especially when he is controlling the game with his skating and overall offensive prowess. I suppose the most the most noticeable trait when analyzing Murphy, his is overall size; he is considered undersized by NHL standards. Currently standing at 5.10, 165 lbs, even if he grows a couple inches, he has a lot of muscle that he needs to put on before competing at the NHL level. Also his defensive coverage, although improving, could stand for quite a bit more work and would have to be considered average at the moment. He is beginning to use his body a little bit more to win positioning battles, but still has a long way to go.

     Overall, Murphy has cemented himself as a blue-chip prospect with any NHL franchise. He is a future top pairing defenseman with the potential to be a power play quarterback. It is likely that Murphy finds himself on Team Canada’s WJC team this winter in Alberta and big things will be expected of the 18 year old. Murphy’s overall offensive ability compensates for the few flaw that he does have. These flaws should not be enough to deter NHL teams away in Minnesota for this season’s draft and should hear his name called sooner rather than later.

Pros: Skating, offensive prowess, ability to read the play
Cons: Defensive game, undersized
Skill-set Comparison: Dan Boyle

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

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

     It’s no surprise that Mika Zibanejad has quickly established himself as one of the most coveted forwards in the 2011 NHL Draft. He may not be the fastest skater, or the most talented scorer, but his competitive nature, immense passion for the game, and solid balance of all-around skills make him a player that a lot of teams in the Top 10 would love to get their hands on.

     Zibanejad is a big, physical centerman who has been one of the big stories of the season. He’s a pretty strong skater with good balance and power in his stride. Does a good job of protecting the puck and uses his strength to make up for a lack of high-end speed. Refining his stride and trying to add a couple of steps should be a priority for Zibanejad over the course of the next couple of seasons which would help to ease his transition to the NHL.

     Offensive skills are pretty inviting and Zibanejad has a good skill-level. Pretty good puckhandler and can create opportunities on his own in the offensive zone. Likes to shoot the puck and has a good, solid release and strong shot power. He had a pretty good season in the Elisterien this season and proved to be a solid offensive threat despite being only 17-years-old.

     A big asset to Zibanejad’s game is his competitive edge and willingness to engage physically. He’s a strong kid and he certainly is not afraid to mix things up on a consistent basis. Finishes checks and does not back down from battles in the tough areas on the ice. He has the ability to deliver some big-time checks for a skilled player and can change the dynamic of the game when he’s on the ice. Sometimes his physical play can run him into trouble where he may take an undisciplined penalty, or get rattled and make a poor play, but that’s something that will be improved over time and doesn’t detract from his physical upside.

     Two-way play is above-average as Zibanejad has proven to be a pretty good center in all three zones. He does a good job of identifying his man and sticking with him in defensive zone coverage. Zibanejad lets the players know he’s on the ice as he will engage physically and doesn’t give up body position without a fight. Also backchecks pretty well and isn’t the type of player that will be the last man back or dogging it back.

     Overall, Zibanejad is about as close to a total package as you’re going to get with forwards in this draft. As a center, he plays an important position and does it very well. He’s a big kid with a physical and nasty edge to his game, pretty good offensive upside, and a strong two-way game. He may never be a big-time scorer at the NHL level, but he projects to at least be a very valuable second-line type player who could easily anchor a first line if he hits his potential.

Pros: Size, Strength, Shot, Physical two-way player
Cons: Lack of top speed, Keeping emotions in check
Skill-set Comparison: Ryan Kesler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     Ryan Strome is a player who will thrill the fans almost every night he steps foot on the ice. He’s been a TSR favourite since his 16 year old season started with the Barrie Colts and he has definitely not disappointed since then exploding in his sophomore season with the Niagara IceDogs. Strome is a center that is likely on the small side of what NHL teams would prefer, however his skill-set will definitely propel him into the top 15 of the NHL draft coming later this month.

     As a 16 year old with the Barrie Colts in 2009-2010 Strome saw limited ice time and put up 14 points in 34 games. At the trade deadline Ryan was moved to the Niagara IceDogs as the center piece in the deal that saw Alex Pietrangelo moved to the Barrie Colts. Strome finished up the season with 13 points in 27 games with the IceDogs. Ryan Strome returned to Niagara this year with more opportunities to showcase his skills and put up an astounding 106 points in only 65 games.

     Strome is without a doubt a player who is very hard to ignore while he is on the ice, he seems to have an uncanny ability to make all his moves at top speed causing havoc for any OHL defensemen who tries to keep up with him. Strome demonstrates great skating ability, most notably his explosiveness and agility. He has a great ability to read plays and utilize his skating ability to find openings in the defensive coverage. Strome also shows a great ability to read the play and hit his teammates with great passes.

     He’s a player who is at his best with the puck on his stick and will often make opposing defenders look absolutely silly in YouTube worthy moments. While many of his goals belong on highlight reels, Ryan owns a great shot and hockey sense that allows him to put home rebound goals as well. On the power play his offensive skills can often be seen along the wall where he and fellow 2011 draft eligible Dougie Hamilton can often connect on the one timer.

     Defensively Strome does show some promise as he did take a regular shift on the penalty kill and putting up a few shorthanded goals. His ability to read the player translates well defensive as he is able to intercept passes and send the rush up ice for his team. He competes reasonably hard for a player of his stature, however with his lack of size and strength he can pushed off the puck relatively easily. While not an overly physical player he does show that he is willing to step in and defend both himself and his teammates by putting up a handful of fights this year.

     Overall Ryan Strome is a prospect for hockey fans to get very excited about, while he is not the most NHL ready prospect from the draft, on pure skill he definitely ranks near the top of the list. A key to his development will be getting drafted by a team who will allow him to develop and not one who will rush him into the NHL.

Pro: Puck Skills, Shot, Ability to read the play
Cons: Size, Strength,
Skill-set comparison: Patrick Kane

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

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

     For those who have been following us throughout the year, I’ve made no secret that Mark Scheifele is a player I have a lot of time for. The rangy 18-year-old center is still a work in progress, but I firmly believe that his upside is up there with most of the high-end guys in this draft, and that if things pan out, he has the potential to be a very good NHL player.

     Scheifele took a bit of an unconventional route to the OHL as a rookie with the Colts this season. After being selected in the 7th Round of the 2009 OHL Priority Selection, Scheifele quickly established himself as a promising player, spending the 09/10 season with the Jr. B Kitchener Dutchmen of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). With a team leading 55 points in 51 games, Scheifele began to make his presence known and gave a verbal commitment to Cornell University.

     With his mind set on the NCAA, Scheifele’s hockey course deviated last summer when the Spirit traded his rights to the Barrie Colts in a transaction that sent goaltender Mavric Parks to the Saginaw. Nobody was quite sure what to expect from the lanky center on a rebuilding squad, but Scheifele quickly made people realize that the Kitchener, Ont. native is for real.

     I had the opportunity to see Scheifele a number of times this season, serving as one of the few bright spots on a very young Barrie Colts squad. He’s a player that you definitely appreciate more with an increased frequency of viewings, as he may not stand out right away. Scheifele has size, albeit he is still very lanky, but he does use his reach to his advantage. He’s a bit of an awkward skater, although he moves around with adept speed. His agility is above average and he is shifty in an out of traffic. One of the biggest concerns with his skating is adding strength as he is a bit weak on his skates and is susceptible to being pushed off the puck too easily at this point.

     Offensive upside with Scheifele is very high and something that will entice any NHL team. He’s an extremely smart player and has very good on-ice vision and does a good job of distributing the puck in the offensive zone, especially with nifty passes with tight windows. Scheifele competes hard and does a good job engaging in board battles and protecting the puck with his long reach. He doesn’t shy away from contact and wins a lot of board battles and can absorb contact fairly well. I would like to see him shoot the puck more; as he is very underrated in that department in my opinion, but that’s something that will come in time. Scheifele has a smooth release and does a good job getting shots off in traffic (especially in the slot area), and he did a good job of showing that side of his game as he led the Canadian U18 team in goals this Spring.

     Scheifele’s two-way game will be a point of improvement for the 6’3” pivot next season, as he certainly has room to grow in that regard. I think he’s a decent two-way center at this point, but he needs to ensure he is consistently picking up his man and ensuring that his defensive responsibilities are taken care of. He also needs to improve his faceoffs in the future as I have seen him get dominated in the circle from time to time, although it did improve as the season progressed.

     All things considered, I really believe that Scheifele is a player that will be a great addition for any team looking for a big right-handed center with top line potential. He’s still very raw at this point, and certainly needs to add some much needed strength before turning pro, but Scheifele is a very good offensive player and he makes everyone on the ice with him a better player. He is certainly in contention to be a player that surprises on draft day, and one that has a high ceiling moving forward.

Pros: Creativity, Skill Level, Offensive Awareness, Size
Cons: Strength, Explosive Speed, Faceoff Ability
Skill-set Comparison Playmaking version of Jeff Carter