April: ON FIRE

R.J. Anderson - D (Centennial)

- Need a smooth, skilled backline general? This multi-talented Gophers’ recruit tore up the Minnesota high-school circuit, en route to leading the Centennial Cougars to the state finals. Rajon Michael, or ‘RJ’ as he prefers, finished third in league scoring with a sizzling 29 goals and 85 points in just 31 games. Crafty and skilled, Anderson is a gifted puckrusher with a knack for knowing when to join the attack. What is most striking about Anderson’s play is his patience and game-reading skills. He possesses an instinctive feel for the game and times his offensive forays to perfection, rarely if ever forcing something that’s not there. He’s also very good on his feet, fast and agile, and excels in his own zone. Though not huge by NHL standards at 6-foot and 195 pounds, he is solidly built and still holds his own against bigger players due to his deceptive strength and superb agility/anticipation mix. Size is really the only issue here. The big numbers don’t tell the whole story either as this guy is far from being a smallish, one-dimensional power-play specialist. His stock is definitely on the rise as D-day approaches.

Peter Franchin - C (Kitchener)

- This big project blew us away with his breakout performance in the playoffs. Checker showed glimpses of dominating along the boards with his intense, hard-hitting game, creating numerous turnovers. Scoring wasn’t his forte during the regular season with just five goals in 63 games, however, he emerged with a team-high three markers in Kitchener’s five-game, opening-round loss. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, there’s a lot of frame to work with here, but Franchin is also a brainy playmaker who surprises with his vision and anticipation skills. All in all, a raw player who has impressed us enough with his skills and energy to get drafted in the later rounds.

Johan Fransson - D (Lulea)

- We had some concerns with Fransson, but may have been slightly perplexed after witnessing some error-prone play from the prized Swede at the World Juniors. When healthy, Fransson has shown to be a budding star playing a mature, high-octane game, proving that his decision to play an extra year before opting into the NHL draft was a wise one. According to Lulea’s head coach Mikael Andersson: “He plays like a god and I wouldn’t trade him for any other defenseman in the (Swedish Elite League).” However, our scout adds that “(Fransson) could have produced a few more points, but this will surely come next year. He still needs to fine-tune his shooting skills in order to truly excel on the powerplay. But, at this moment, I watch this guy play and I find myself comparing him to the top rearguards in the league, not other draft-eligibles. That is how good he is - he’ll be highly sought after at Raleigh.”

Matt Hunwick - D (Michigan)

- We questioned this freshman’s NHL upside early on, and his draft fate seemed to be sealed when his play dipped around mid-season. But, lo and behold, Hunwick re-emerged for the Wolverines down the stretch, blossoming alongside senior captain Andy Burnes. Another compact, high-efficiency blueliner, Hunwick plays a reliable game and consistently makes smart outlet decisions. He is good on his skates, agile and well-balanced, and possesses solid first-step quickness. Though not a punishing physical presence, he does use his body well and will consistently engage opposing forwards. Our CCHA scout adds, “he’s very poised for his age, handles himself well physically and doesn’t overplay the puck. Nothing about his game sets off the ‘wow’ alarms, yet there’s no real holes either. He’s definitely further along in his development than teammate Brandon Rogers was at the same stage.”

Matt McIlvane - RW (Chicago)

- A strong, bruising workhorse with a pro body (6-1, 205 pounds), solid puck skills and a competitive streak a mile wide - has this Illinois native on course to get his draft ticket stamped this summer. Set to join Ohio State this fall, McIlvane should fit in smoothly with the Buckeyes as he loves to grind it out physically and works both ends of the ice with equal zeal. According to our scout: “He’s a strong-skating power forward who does everything with brawn and purpose. I love his hitting game and work ethic and willingness to sacrifice his body for the team’s sake. He goes out there, bangs bodies and gives it his all on every shift. He handles the puck well in traffic, especially along the boards, and his finishing skills are decent too, though he lacks some playmaking vision at times. He’s a torpedo, except he hits harder than most Swedes. Overall, a dedicated individual who has the skills and combativeness to thrive at the pro level.”

Justin Peters - G (Toronto)

- “Truly silencing the critics in the OHL playoffs,” says our OHL scout, “I always knew that Peters was good, but his stock is going up big time now. He’s a big, meaty kid who really knows how to fill up the net with his size. I am very impressed with his vision and puckhandling - what makes the Majors tick in the playoffs is the way they’ve learned to play around him. And he’s a big part of that in terms of not just stopping the puck, but moving it smartly as well. Peters is a very calming influence; he’ll stop shots he sees and he compensates for his, at times, disappointing agility with extremely sound positioning. He and (David) Shantz are tooth-and-nail in the rankings as far as I’m concerned, although Shantz has a leg up in terms of lateral movement. I’m not worried about Peters, though - he should get leaner, but he’s proven that he can get in front of the puck. He’s rock-solid.”

Kevin Porter - LW (USNDTP U-18)

- A skilled and crafty winger with excellent wheels, offensive patience and work ethic. According to our scout: “I was very impressed with his top-end speed. He’s got that extra gear, whereby he can outrace the opposition without breaking a sweat. With a quick first step and excellent agility, he has a shifty style and patented puck skills, he attacks open lanes and creates high-quality plays. Porter is patient with the puck and he knows where to go in the offensive end, so that the puck finds him. He’s improved vastly on the forecheck throughout the year, but would benefit by adding some additional weight. I see solid scoring upside - this kid will go on day one.”

Juraj Prokop - RW (Vsetin)

- No relation to former Lighthouse frontman, this slick Slovak forward arrived in the Czech Republic to boost the Vsetin lineup after performing with the Slovan Bratislava club. Registering an impressive showing in the final month of the regular season, Prokop caught the eye of our Czech scout: “He’s a good skater with really deceptive bursts of speed and agility, although he’s a tad unbalanced on his skates. Prokop plays very smoothly on the puck with impressive creativity and vision. He’s crafty and a deft passer, but tends to stick around too much on the perimeter as I wish he was more physically assertive. Not very big (5-11, 178), but has enough skill to go in the later rounds.”

Billy Ryan - C (Cushing Academy)

- The rich got richer in March as the Maine Black Bears landed Cushing’s star center following a breakout junior campaign in which he recorded a team-high 90 points in 37 games, including 35 goals, while centering the Penguins feared top unit with Chris Bourque and Boomer Ewing. The Milton, Mass. native, and younger brother of former Dallas first-rounder Mike Ryan, is a skilled playmaker who reads the game well at both ends of the rink. Ryan has blossomed into a strong skater under the tutelage of Cushing boss Steve Jacobs since transferring from Catholic Memorial for his sophomore year. Very comfortable in puck possession, Ryan knows how to buy space for his teammates and likes to catch defenders off-guard with unexpected and inventive passes. He wins faceoffs and can execute slick maneuvers in full flight, usually setups, but will also go to the net and has a deceptive wristshot that he gets away quickly. Facing the same challenge as his older brother did as a 17-year-old, the younger Ryan needs to pack muscle onto a lean 6-foot, 160-pound frame, though adding strength should only improve his effectiveness as he already plays without fear in traffic. A red-hot commodity.

Pasi Salonen - LW (HIFK)

- After pulling a disappearing act in numerous of our earlier viewings, Pasi ended his season on a strong note. Our Finnish scout says: “He picked up the energy level when the playoffs started. Pasi scored several important goals and this is big news, as it looks like he now gives a damn. He has very good instincts on the ice and always knows where to go for the puck. Salonen can change direction very sharply and deceptively, allowing him to make room for himself very well. I still think he should shoot the puck more, but this guy looks like he’s assured himself of a mid-round selection and perhaps even higher, but you never know. He’s raw in a lot of ways, but a beauty when motivated.”

Sergei Shirokov - LW (CSKA Moscow)

- Although on the small side, the two-way winger has impressed his speed and heads-up play. The linemate of Lisin and Plyuschev at the 5-Nations, Shirokov displayed a keen playmaking eye and soft hands. According to our scout: “He’s an overlooked player in the deep Russian draft class. He’s very chippy and creative despite the fact that he plays at a disadvantage due to being very slight. He’s brainy, likes to help out at both ends of the ice and is very effective at the cycle game. His reputation has been solidified, so look for him to go on day one (of the draft).”

Kyle Wharton - D (Ottawa)

- One of the bright spots for Ottawa in their early exit from the playoffs. Although we haven’t been all that satisfied with his play for most of the season, Kyle showed tremendous potential over the final couple of weeks to his year, emerging as the club’s future blueline leader. “I have been very impressed with the adjustments he’s made to his passing and his first step,” says our OHL scout, “he really hesitated and looked dumbfounded most of the time this season partly due to missing time, but he’s much more confident and poised now. His speed is tremendous, his body is that of a pure athlete and his shot from the point is lively. He is clearing his end better now and reacting to the flow of the game like never before. I still question Kyle’s smarts, and his vision at times is questionable, but this guy screams ‘solid pro’ even if he doesn’t reach full potential. I think that if the NHL scouts saw enough of him in the playoffs, he’s assured of going in the first three rounds.”

Keith Yandle - D (Cushing Academy)

- Steadily climbing the charts this season, Yandle was the top-scoring defenseman in prep school hockey with 14 goals and 62 points, and will play collegiately at New Hampshire, where, not be outdone, older brother Brian also enjoyed a breakout campaign. The younger Yandle, who won’t join the Wildcats until after his brother graduates, is a big, skilled rearguard with excellent mobility and a real zest for the offensive part of the game - a la Brian Leetch. A strong passer and talented puckhandler, Yandle also boasts a cannon of a shot that is both hard and accurate. However, his biggest asset, and arguably his main liability as well, is his passion for attacking. He often sees only flashing green lights and won’t think twice about leaking out early and sacrificing his defensive chores. He is such a good skater that he recovers easily at this level, though UNH Dick Umile will no doubt tighten the reins and teach him to be more selective. All in all, there’s plenty to work with here. Yandle possesses the strength and toughness to compete physically, and we always love defensemen willing to create and take risks - not to mention he’s one of the youngest players available.