04-5 Online Prospect Magazine - B

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B

Anton Babchuk, Chi, D, (Rating: 3.5), Norfolk (AHL) - Few prospects progressed further last season than mammoth Russian, who turned heads during his NHL debut in January, and continued to blossom upon his return to Norfolk, finishing with a plus-9 rating, tops among the club's blueliners .. The mobile, offensively-gifted Babchuk can be a nasty, hard-hitting presence and a lethal power-play threat due to his thundering, yet still untamed, shot (won the 'hardest shot' event at the AHL all-star game with a 96.6 mph blast), and made encouraging strides in both his positional play and decision making, however, he must keep upgrading his agility and overall quickness .. Converting raw potential at a rapid pace.

Jason Bacashihua, StL, G, (Rating: 3.0), Worcester (AHL) - Michigan native was the best of a bad lot on a struggling Utah team, alternating between spectacular and suspect, though he showed better consistency over the second half (8-9-2, .923) .. A fluid, butterfly goalie with outstanding athleticism, instincts and lateral quickness, 'Cash' is fiercely competitive in spite of a carefree off-ice demeanour, and has displayed an ability to elevate his play at crucial junctures .. Acquired in June in a flip of former first-rounders, with Shawn Belle heading to Dallas, but needs time to work on his fundamentals.

David Backes, StL, RW, (Rating: 2.5), MSU-Mankato (WCHA) - Second-rounder took advantage of an early pro departure of top scorer Grant Stevenson to emerge as an impact freshman as he finished second on the Mavericks in scoring and was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team .. A big, determined winger with quick, skilled hands, Backes battles effectively in high-traffic areas and displays strong leadership qualities as he always wants the puck, but needs to work hard at improving his skating mechanics and overall quickness .. Might have been a first-rounder if he was a step faster.

Jozef Balej, NYR, RW, (Rating: 3.0), Hartford (AHL) - Speedy Slovak was fifth in AHL scoring when he was acquired in early March from Montreal in the Alexei Kovalev deal, and, following a successful 13-game Broadway run, continued his sophomore breakout in Hartford with a commanding playoff effort, highlighted by four game-winners and a franchise-record nine-game point streak (16-9-7-16) .. A balanced, hard-driving skater with quick hands and a high-powered shot, Balej displays pro-level determination and ingenuity, and continues to add upper-body strength and physical consistency .. Caught the attention of Mark Messier last season, and has a spot to lose at camp.

Keith Ballard, Phx, D, (Rating: 3.5), Utah (AHL) - Two-time national champion and former Buffalo first-rounder added Team MVP and All-American First-Team honours, as well as a Hobey Baker nomination, in an outstanding junior year with the Golden Gophers .. An assertive, jet-powered rearguard with a howitzer shot, Ballard dances over the ice, explosive in all directions and always eager to attack, however, he is also well-built, deceptively strong, and plays a spirited physical game despite the height disadvantage .. Turned pro after faring well against NHL players at the World Championships (8-1-0-1), but must keep refining his positioning and decision making as he tends to overextend himself.

Michal Barinka, Chi, D, (Rating: 2.5), Norfolk (AHL) - Hulking Czech teenager was justifiably overwhelmed early in his North American intro, but started to settle in and made a strong first impression during a two-week NHL debut in March, after rebounding from a punishing hit at the World Juniors, in which he sustained a broken nose and mild concussion .. A physical, stay-at-home rearguard with excellent size and defensive awareness, Barinka has the demeanour to control the boards, and is a heads-up player with accurate passing skills, a ferocious shot, as well as improving agility and quickness .. Work in progress.

Cam Barker, Chi, D, (Rating: 4.0), Medicine Hat (WHL) - Top rearguard out of the 2004 draft and the consolation prize to losers of the Ovechkin-Malkin sweepstakes, Barker put together a dominating offensive campaign with Medicine Hat, leading the Tigers to a WHL championships and the Memorial Cup final .. A graceful, balanced skater, Barker possesses a gentle, laissez-faire stride and impresses with excellent puck moving upside, elite anticipation skills as well as a cool demeanor and calmness, but must get stronger and quicker in man-on-man situations .. There is no need for the Blackhawks to rush him.

Scott Barney, LA, RW, (Rating: NR), Manchester (AHL) - Former Peterborough standout was leading the Monarchs with 19 goals at the time of his January call-up (39-19-12-31, plus-10), and made an instant NHL splash (14-4-6-10, plus-6) only to separate his shoulder the following month (missed 13 games) .. Versatile and hard-working with soft hands and impressive mobility for a big man, Barney pursues the puck and drives for the net aggressively, aided by a hulking frame and sharp offensive instincts .. Has come a long way since sitting out three years rehabbing his surgically-repaired back (`99-02).

Milan Bartovic, Buf, RW, (Rating: 2.5), Rochester (AHL) - Slovak speedster launched into a sizzling run near mid-season, recording a career-best 11-game points streak (11-10-5-15), and earned a pair of call-ups, including the final month of the season, in which he enjoyed brief success on a line with Derek Roy .. A dynamic skater with excellent balance and acceleration, Bartovic can handle the puck in top gear and break a game open using his speed and energy (led the Amerks with five game-winners), but still experiences lapses in concentration and intensity, and must continue to refine his finishing skills .. Enigmatic winger missed most of Rochester's playoff run to a knee sprain.

Brendan Bell, Tor, D, (Rating: 3.0), St. John's (AHL) - Expectations soared for the CHL's Top Defenseman from `03, however, the smooth-skating former 67's captain endured some growing pains in his pro transition .. The offensively-tuned Bell is a dangerous puckrusher and generates terrific speed through the neutral zone thanks to an efficient and elegant stride, but must learn to be more selective with his offensive forays, in addition to increasing his physical urgency while protecting the net .. Should get back on track after an educational debut.

Shawn Belle, Dal, D, (Rating: 3.0), Tri City (WHL) - A surprise first-round selection last summer, blazing Edmonton native made strides in his overall game last season, and stepped up at crucial times with a solid performance on Canada's silver-medal World Juniors (6-0-1-1, plus-8), and a gritty playoff effort (11-3-5-8) .. A gifted athlete and thoroughbred skater with unparalleled acceleration and speed, Belle also owns a lively point shot that explodes off his stick, but makes poor tactical decisions in his own end and only sporadically throws around his powerfully-built frame to good effect .. A raw project who requires strategies to offset his lack of defensive intuition.

Sean Bergenheim, NYI, LW, (Rating: 3.0), Bridgeport (AHL) - An impressive AHL playoff debut (7-2-3-5) capped a worldwind season for blazing Finn, who initially cracked the NHL, but was assigned to the national U20 team, with whom he won a bronze medal at the World Juniors (7-1-3-4), and then to Jokerit before ending in Bridgeport .. An intense, hi-octane roadrunner, Bergenheim is a dynamic skater and, although not an elite finisher, consistently generates scoring chances due to his breathtaking speed and aggressive, chippy style .. Should stick this time.

Steve Bernier, SJ, RW, (Rating: 3.0), Moncton (QMJHL) - Hulking first-rounder matured as a player and leader in his third 'Q' term while leading the Wildcats with 36 goals and a plus-39 rating, the league's fifth-best mark, but delivered an uneven playoff performance as he suddenly seized up after scoring seven goals in the first ten games (20-7-10-17) .. The creative, soft-handed Bernier can supply big checks and dominate with his excellent stickhandling abilities and underrated top speed, however, he doesn't consistently use his imposing size, strength and wingspan, and often seems unsure as to whether he's a playmaker or a scorer .. Intriguing prospect has also made gains in his oft-criticized skating and conditioning, though both areas remain deficiencies, specifically first-step quickness.

Miroslav Blatak, Det, D, (Rating: 2.5), Zlin (Cze) - Czech fourth-rounder blossomed in his third season at the senior level, earning a spot on the national team and displaying poise beyond his years in helping Zlin capture the Extraleague championship .. A smart, polished rearguard with good agility and quickness, Blatak is excellent puckmover who consistently makes safe outlet passes, and relies predominantly on sound positioning, as he isn't particularly big nor physical .. Plays a reliable two-way game and is coming fast.

Brandon Bochenski, Ott, RW, (Rating: 3.5), Binghamton (AHL) - Not to be overshadowed by high-profile linemate Zach Parise, former USHL and WCHA Rookie-of-the-Year led the Fighting Sioux in scoring for a second consecutive year to earn a Hobey Baker nomination as well as First-Team All-American honours .. A certified sniper with quick, vacuum-soft hands, Bochenski isn't the biggest nor the prettiest skater, but possesses deceptive quickness and a special talent for working his body into shooting position and unleashing a laser-guided wristshot of astonishing velocity and power .. An illusive package with an NHL-caliber shot and a maturing physical game, though he still gets lazy at times.

John Boychuk, Col, D, (Rating: 3.0), Hershey (AHL) - Despite a drop in points last season, imposing second-rounder delivered the most consistent effort of his four-year WHL career, and was a physical, two-way force in the playoffs, where he led the Warriors in scoring (10-1-9-10, plus-8) .. Big, tough and mobile with a booming shot, Boychuk likes to dish out punishing open-ice hits and is learning to harness his aggressiveness and to not get drawn out of position, but must keep refining his outlet skills, as he is still prone to ill-timed giveaways .. Clutch player who elevates his game at key times, as nearly half his goals were game-winners (6 of 13).

Brad Boyes, Bos, C, (Rating: 3.0), Providence (AHL) - The awards kept rolling in for decorated former Erie captain, who earned a berth on the AHL Second All-Star Team after riding a fine second half (38-18-20-38, plus-17) to a sixth-place finish in league scoring .. The highly-intelligent Boyes has superb offensive instincts, underscored by crafty one-touch skills and a fast, well-disguised release, and has worked diligently to upgrade his strength, toughness, and first-step quickness .. Scored three game-winning goals in an impressive Providence debut after being acquired in a deadline deal for Jeff Jillson, though holding a top-six NHL spot may be premature still.

Brian Boyle, LA, C, (Rating: 3.0), Boston College (HE) - Following a promising collegiate debut (13-5-2-7), first-round skyscraper found offense and icetime increasingly harder to come by, notching just one assist in his final 22 games, albeit he found a way to contribute to the Eagles' Frozen Four run, centering an effective fourth-line grind unit .. A poised, intelligent playmaker with soft hands and a powerful shot, Boyle excels at faceoffs and uses his superhuman size and reach to advantage in traffic areas, and, despite not having the quickest feet, is a graceful and deceptive skater .. An NHLer once his strength, intensity and overall quickness matches his prodigious size/skill quotient.

Dustin Brown, LA, RW, (Rating: 4.0), Manchester (AHL) - CHL Scholastic Player of the Year cracked the NHL as a teenager, among the top six forwards no less, but sustained a badly sprained ankle in late November that cost him half the season (41 games), and was a frequent healthy scratch upon his return in March .. A determined, opportunistic sniper, Brown plays a fiercely-competitive 'inside' game, effectively using his stocky frame and quick, powerful strides to drive into scoring lanes, and has a gift for spinning and getting a forceful shot away in traffic .. Finished the season with a solid performance at the World Championships in May (9-1-3-4)

Ilja Bryzgalov, Ana, G, (Rating: 4.0), Cincinnati (AHL) - Quirky Russian stopper continued to mature during a workhorse third AHL tour, and was solid in winning his first NHL start during a one-game March call-up, however, he did show signs of cracking late in the season and playoffs with a few disastrous outings .. An athletic, hybrid goalie with sharp reflexes and a lightning glove hand, Bryzgalov uses his imposing frame to effectively cover the net and can be unbeatable when staying up and aggressively challenging shooters, but also loses focus at times, resulting in wild rebounds and soft goals .. The path is clear.

Peter Budaj, Col, G, (Rating: 2.5), Hershey (AHL) - Slovak second-rounder was rolling along in his sophomore pro season with a .923 save percentage, but went over two months without a win down the stretch, including nine straight losses, and was shunted to backup when Phil Sauve was demoted at the trade deadline .. A poised, butterfly goalie with excellent reflexes and post-to-post quickness, Budaj is strong on his skates and displays good patience and form while challenging shooters, but needs to work on his puckhandling and on sustaining his focus for sixth minutes .. Consistency is the key in upcoming final year of contract.

Brent Burns, Min, D, (Rating: 3.0), Houston (AHL) - Upstart 18-year-old first-rounder spent his pro debut alternating between the checking line and the pressbox (missed eight games to an October shoulder injury and was a healthy scratch for nine straight in February), before an eye-catching stint on defense late in the season (also won a silver medal on Canada’s World Junior entry, 6-0-6-6) .. Burns is a terrific skater, smooth and powerful, and showed impressive puckmoving abilities after being switched back to his natural position at defense when Filip Kuba was injured, and also quite willing to use his huge, rangy frame to lay out punishing hits .. Logged over 20 minutes during the season finale, a sign the blueline experiment may continue

Trevor Byrne, StL, D, (Rating: 2.5), Worcester (AHL) - Former Dartmouth co-captain didn't look at all out of place in a solid pro debut, and started to blossom over the final month (18-3-9-12, plus-9) and through the playoffs (9-2-2-4) .. A big, two-way workhorse, Byrne is tough to beat one-on-one due to his excellent mobility and good physical skills, and excels at supporting the rush, though he still could use better tempo and a nastier presence while protecting the front of the net .. Needs to make similar gains in sophomore season to secure a full-time role.