04-5 Online Prospect Magazine - S

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Tony Salmelainen, Edm, RW, (Rating: 3.0), Edmonton (AHL) - Flying Finn volleyed a strong camp last fall into a stock-raising sophomore campaign in which he finished second on the Roadrunners in scoring, despite missing over a month while away impressing in his NHL debut .. A courageous, pint-sized energizer, Salmelainen is a skillful finisher who battles tenaciously in traffic and beat defenders to the net using his explosive first-step burst and surprising strength on the puck, though he must kick his nasty habit of getting too fancy on clearouts .. Knocking on the door.

Martin Samuelsson, Bos, LW, (Rating: 2.5), Providence (AHL) - Demoted to Providence after spending the opening two weeks in Boston, Swedish first-rounder immediately suffered a groin injury and struggled to get back up to speed, ending the season mired in a perplexing 47-game goalless drought .. A thoroughbred skater, Samuelsson lacked jump in his stride last season, preventing him from playing an enthusiastic physical game and taking his breathtaking speed to the net, and continues to be stymied by a mediocre shot and a lack of finishing polish .. On the plus side, he upgraded his defense and upper-body strength, and is a dedicated player young enough to re-group.

Tommi Santala, Atl, C, (Rating: NR), Chicago (AHL) - The transition to North America didn’t go as planned for Finnish ninth-rounder, who struggled to keep up during a two-month NHL debut to start the season, and, aside from a pair of brief callups, spent the balance of the year in the AHL, where he impressed .. A big, tough, hard-shooting pivot, Santala uses his body well to agitate opponents and create space for his good playmaking skills, however, he is an awkward skater and must continue to upgrade his overall quickness as well as his defensive consistency .. At 25, he needs to step up before his NHL door slams shut.

Philippe Sauve, Col, G, (Rating: 3.5), Hershey (AHL) - After winning the backup role with a strong preseason (2-0-1, .920), three-time Hershey MVP worked his way up to a .916 save percentage by mid-season, but crashed badly in the second half (3.60, .890), prompting the acquisition of Tommy Salo at the trade deadline .. A poised, hybrid-style goalie with an outstanding glove hand, Sauve can make spectacular, acrobatic saves due to his remarkable reflexes, however, he had trouble adjusting to the quicker NHL tempo, and laboured with his positioning and game-reading skills .. Continued to struggle back in Hershey, but will get a chance to make amends.

Brad Schell, Atl, C, (Rating: 2.0), Chicago (AHL) - Rebounding from an injury-marred `02-3 (back surgery, knee), former third-overall WHL Bantam pick blossomed in his fourth year with the Chiefs, leading the team in scoring and finishing third in the league with 57 assists .. A skilled, strong-skating forward, Schell handles the puck smoothly and excels as a power-play pointman due to his smart distribution skills and explosive shot, and last season showed better patience on the puck as well as more of an 'inside' game .. A balanced player with NHL potential once he physically matures.

Cory Schneider, Van, G, (Rating: 3.0), Boston College (HE) - Phillips Academy captain led Team USA to the silver medal at the U-18 World Juniors (5-1, 1.71, .929) and was this year's recipient of the John Carlton Memorial Trophy awarded to the top student-athlete .. A tall, poised goalie with excellent lateral agility and glove speed, Schneider displays uncanny composure under pressure, making difficult stops appear routine due to his superb positional sense and economical butterfly style .. Will attend Boston College this fall.

Rob Schremp, Edm, C, (Rating: 3.5), London (OHL) - Already known for his cocky on and off-ice personality, Schremp experienced a self-imposed turbulent year, demanding a trade from the Mississauga Ice Dogs and subsequently getting snubbed by the United States U20 World Junior team, before winding up in coach Dale Hunter's doghouse in the playoffs, twice getting benched for uninspired play .. An ultra-confident, extravagant sniper, Schremp combines industrious playmaking skills with a razor-sharp finishing touch and a magician's share of lavish puck tricks and dekes, but his stock never took off partly due to a penchant for defensive indifference, as well as below-average size and a lack of elite-level speed .. Must dedicate himself to the backcheck, even if it not as much fun as he would prefer.

Marek Schwarz, StL, G, (Rating: 4.0), Vancouver (WHL) - Battle-tested goalie was a surprise faller at the draft, despite a spectacular season that saw him dominate virtually every tournament, which included winning top goalie honours at the U18 event in Minsk, though a noticeable blemish on his résumé was the drubbing against Canada at the U20 World Juniors, where he was burned for five goals in semi final action before getting pulled .. A nimble, inimitable netminder, Schwarz plays with a technique that is wild yet effective due to his immense agility, a quick glove hand, excellent composure and uncanny spring-like ability to get on and off his feet, although his puckhandling leaves something to be desired .. Groomed as the guy to carry the Blues for years to come.

Brent Seabrook, Chi, D, (Rating: 3.5), Lethbridge (WHL) - Coveted Hurricanes captain logged a ton of icetime during his third year in Lethbridge while notching a career-high 12 goals, and delivered a solid performance on Canada's World Junior silver-medalists (6-1-2-3) .. A poised, two-way leader, Seabrook is strong and fluid on his skates, and boasts understated offensive skills, including a low, powerful shot and crisp passing skills, but will need time to upgrade his tempo, physical intensity, and puck-protection skills .. Produced at a point-per-game clip over the final two months.

Peter Sejna, StL, LW, (Rating: 3.0), Worcester (AHL) - Winning a spot on Doug Weight's line with to a strong preseason (7-2-2-4), undrafted Hobey Baker winner stalled once the real games began and was exiled in November to Worcester, where his struggles continued until a late-season surge .. A tricky skater with a deceptive change of pace, Sejna requires minimal time and space to unleash a rocket snap-shot, and shows impressive instincts and quickness around goal, but will need better conditioning to consistently get his small, stocky frame through NHL traffic .. Turned the corner over the final month (16-4-10-14) and playoffs (10-3-3-6), which may be a precursor to a breakthrough sophomore effort.

David Shantz, Fla, G, (Rating: 3.0), Mississauga (OHL) - The former Junior B goaltender of the year beat out overager Matt Harpwood for starting duties with the IceDogs and never looked back, carrying the former league laughingstock to the OHL finals in a dominant fashion (2.03 gaa, .933 sv%) .. Acrobatic and nimble, Shantz is a technically sound butterfly goaltender with exceptional lateral quickness, lively glove hand and cool, relaxed decorum and is virtually unbeatable down low due to his quick legs and athleticism, while aiding his teammates with sound puck moving skills .. Nothing rattles him.

Patrick Sharp, Phi, C, (Rating: 2.5), Philadelphia (AHL) - After impressing with the Phantoms and during a mid-December call-up, unheralded Thunder Bay native was summoned full-time in January and thrived in a limited fourth-line role .. A smart, diligent center with sound two-way instincts, Sharp possesses deceptive skill and strength on the puck, and a nice change of pace that backs defenders off, and has made striking enhancements to his intensity and physical commitment away from the puck .. Solid top-six potential with the defensive savvy to learn on the job

Timofei Shishkanov, Nsh, LW, (Rating: 3.5), Milwaukee (AHL) - Russian second-rounder enjoyed a successful pro debut with 23 goals and a plus-23 rating to earn AHL All-Rookie Team honours, but was not as sharp in the playoffs (22-2-6-8, minus-4) after returning from an ankle sprain that sidelined him for most of the regular season's final month .. A big, highly-skilled winger, Shishkanov plays strong in traffic, effectively using his powerful stride and quick lateral shifts, and has a knack for slipping into open seams and uncorking a hard, accurate shot, but still has a tendency to lose focus and urgency away from the puck at times .. Maturing sniper could be a work-of-art in progress.

Alexei Shkotov, StL, RW, (Rating: 3.0), Worcester (AHL) - Tiny Russian buzzsaw turned heads at camp and throughout his North American debut as he posted the fifth-best points-per-game average in the QMJHL, which was tempered by an underwhelming performance at the World Juniors (6-2-2-4) .. A flashy, energetic sparkplug, Shkotov zips and spins in and out of traffic with surprising ease due to his quick, nimble skating, great strength on the puck, and sneaky hand skills, though his intensity and defensive commitment still oscillate wildly .. A potential star if his strength and dedication ever catch up to his skills.

Jim Slater, Atl, C, (Rating: 3.5), Michigan State (CCHA) - MSU junior captain powered the Spartans attack once again last season, overcoming intense checking attention to lead his school in assists, points and plus-minus (plus-27), while earning a much-deserved Hobey Baker nomination .. A gritty, energetic sparkplug who fights for every square inch, Slater knows how to exploit his excellent agility and quickness, and has a talent for shooting off the rush, using the defender as a screen and unleashing a rocket wristshot in full stride .. Dedicated, well-rounded leader just needs to add more strength to his undersized frame.

Tomas Slovak, Col, D, (Rating: 2.0), Hershey (AHL) - Acquired from Nashville last summer, Slovak the Slovak was a major disappointment in his pro debut, unable to claim a regular spot in Hershey and even left off the Bears' playoff list .. Slovak is a strong, powerful skater who uses his size well and boasts strong passing skills and a good point shot, but was frequently caught flat-footed last season, and must focus on upgrading his decision making and overall tempo .. Much more expected as sophomore.

Matt Smaby, TB, D, (Rating: 2.5), North Dakota (WCHA) - The early pro departure of David Hale opened up a spot on North Dakota's blueline for bruising Minnesota native, who took advantage with a solid freshman campaign .. A steady, poised crease-clearer with impressive mobility and speed for a big man, Smaby loves to throw his imposing frame around, and is also a capable puckmover with a heavy slapshot, though he will need time to refine his one-on-one play as well as his attacking instincts .. NHL size and disposition.

Ladislav Smid, Ana, D, (Rating: 3.5), Liberec (Cze) - The son of former Extraleague star defenseman by the same name, the athletic Smid impressed with good poise in his first professional campaign with Liberec, but often looked in over his head with the struggling Czech squad at the U20 World Juniors .. Smid is a silky-smooth puck mover with soft hands, a mature mind and a big frame who, while making great strides in improving his agility during the season, sometimes struggles at accurately distributing the puck under pressure and must add bulk to both his upper and lower body .. Needs to build up confidence.

Eero Somervuori, TB, LW, (Rating: NR), Karpat Oulu (Fin) - Late-blooming Finn took time adjusting in his North American debut in Hamilton, but increasingly gained in confidence over the second half (40-14-8-22) .. More a scorer than playmaker, Somervuori's game is predicated on exploiting his outstanding speed and shifty one-on-one skills to create scoring chances, however, despite playing a determined game, he gets outmatched in one-on-one confrontations .. Needs to land a top-six spot as he lacks the size and strength to thrive as an NHL checker.

Drew Stafford, Buf, RW, (Rating: 3.5), North Dakota (WCHA) - Strapping North Dakota freshman made an immediate impact, despite being the youngest player in the WCHA, finishing fifth in Sioux scoring, and also played a vital checking role on Team USA's historic gold-medal win at the World Juniors (6-0-2-2) .. A smart, rugged, all-purpose forward, Stafford drives at defenders using his excellent speed and balance, and, though not a flashy puckhandler, can surprise with some subtle moves at top speed, and is an unselfish player willing to sacrifice his body to create space for teammates .. A pro soon.

Alexander Steen, Tor, C, (Rating: 4.0), MoDo (Swe) - Maturing at an astronomical rate, the son of former ex-NHLer Thomas Steen doubled his `02-3 goal totals during the regular season, and then exploded with a breakout playoff performance, highlighted by a seven-game point streak (10-4-6-10) .. A gritty playmaker with outstanding two-way skills, Steen is smooth and balanced in all areas, and, despite giving away some size and top-end speed, is a deft stickhandler who battles hard for every inch and is equally shrewd at defending as he is at creating space and offense .. Improved upper-body strength has accelerated his development, which will serve him well after a mutinous decision to jump ship for MoDo and a chance to skate alongside Peter Forsberg.

Ryan Steeves, Col, C, (Rating: 2.0), Hershey (AHL) - More was expected from unheralded Ottawa native, who failed to build on a breakout 15-goal junior campaign, and ran out of gas during the stretch run (10-1-3-4), even being shifted away from his normal center spot .. A fast, fluid skater and industrious playmaker, Steeves has a nose for the net and can pull away from defenders with his explosive first step and deceptive change of pace, but would greatly benefit from better upper-body strength and shooting velocity .. An underrated prospect who mixes skill, speed and grit.

Anthony Stewart, Fla, RW, (Rating: 3.5), Kingston (OHL) - After nearly cracking the Panthers last fall, colossal first-rounder notched a career-high 35 goals in his third OHL tour, despite missing over a month at the World Juniors, where he won a silver medal and tied for the tournament scoring lead (6-5-6-11, plus-11) .. The rugged Stewart is a strong, bullish skater with excellent top speed and a quick, powerful shot, and can wreak havoc when he imposes his size and strength in traffic, however, his physical passion wavers, while both his decision-making and puck-protection skills also need work .. A top-six power forward when he learns to play with a snarl every night.

Karl Stewart, Atl, LW, (Rating: 2.5), Chicago (AHL) - The final cut at camp last fall, undrafted Plymouth roadrunner made a surprisingly smooth pro transition to finish third among AHL rookies in both assists (32) and plus-minus (plus-24) .. The feisty undersized Stewart is a fearless forechecker who uses his abundant energy and overwhelming speed to force turnovers and stir the pot, but is hampered by too many over-aggression fouls, and an ability to capitalize on the numerous opportunities he creates .. Closing in on full-time NHL work based on his meteoric development over past two seasons.

Mark Stuart, Bos, D, (Rating: 3.5), Colorado College (WCHA) - Thick-framed first-rounder continued his rapid evolution into a stalwart leader and defender, assuming the interim captaincy from injured older brother Colin, despite being just a sophomore, and also captaining Team USA to a historic gold medal at the World Juniors (6-0-2-2, plus-5) .. An energetic, hard-hitting workhorse, Stuart anticipates the game superbly and is a formidable one-on-one foe due to his excellent lateral agility and mature physical game, and can also contribute on the power play thanks to a quick, accurate pointshot .. A classic 'no-frills' crease-clearer who plays within his capabilities.

Aleksander Suglobov, NJ, RW, (Rating: 3.5), Albany (AHL) - Injuries shortcircuited an otherwise eye-opening North American debut from Russian second-rounder, who missed six games to a December knee sprain, and then over two months rehabbing from surgery to repair a wonky wrist that flared up during his NHL debut in January .. A feisty and talented goal-scorer, Suglobov is quick and lively on his feet, as well as a gifted puckhandler with excellent balance on the puck that makes him particularly dangerous on wraparounds, although he must keep improving his strength and defensive decision-making .. An all-star before the operation, yet he sputtered after returning (9-1-0-1, minus-8).

Ryan Suter, Nsh, D, (Rating: 4.0), Milwaukee (AHL) - Wisconsin-born first-rounder played a key leadership role in Team USA's World Junior gold medal conquest (6-0-2-2, plus-5), which triggered a breakout second half with the Badgers to earn WCHA All-Rookie Team honours .. A skilled, all-weather workhorse with terrific range and vision, Suter presents a formidable one-on-one challenge given his ability to inject a nasty physical edge when required, yet can also contribute offensively as he moves the puck with poise and boasts a heavy shot .. Adding strength, discipline and maturing physical play to what should develop into a complete package at the end of the day.

Marek Svatos, Col, RW, (Rating: 3.0), Hershey (AHL) - Diminutive Slovak lasted two games before requiring a third operation on his wonky shoulder, after surprisingly leading the Avs in pre-season scoring (7-2-5-7), however he returned just before the playoffs with a two-goal performance, and turned in some mesmerizing performances against Dallas, only to run out of gas in the second round .. A cunning, shifty puckhandler with superb agility and first-step acceleration, Svatos fearlessly drives into scoring lanes and is a lethal in-close finisher due to a sharp release and uncanny instincts around goal, though he must continue to upgrade his strength and defense .. Must also prove that his tiny body can withstand his courageous style of play.