Draft Favorites: United States
Our US scouts weigh in with their favorites picks from the Unites States for
the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, including the mammoth Joe Finley and wildcard
Advertisement
Matt Niskanen. Stay tuned for more favorites in the coming days.
Joe Finley (Sioux Falls)
Suffered from the deer-in-the-headlights
syndrome early in his USHL debut but really started to get his feet going
down the stretch. He has really made big gains in his lower-body
coordination over the past 3-4 seasons. He moves his feet effortlessly and
has cut out the lumber from his stride. Hits, fights and has an absolute
cannon of a wrist shot.
Tom Fritsche (Ohio State)
Wowed with exceptional maturity as a freshman,
taking on the role of a playmaker, superbly jelling with teammates and
flourishing as a top-notch point-getter with highlight reel set-ups. This
kid only got better as the year went on and peaked in the playoffs. A guy
with great heart and propensity for clutch performances.
Nathan Gerbe (NTDP)
Tiny, spunky and spirited - his feet drive like
furious pistons. Small but impossible to ignore due to his Brian
Gionta-like qualities. This kid loves to skate full bore into traffic and
will bounce right back up after taking his licks. He possesses strong
enough survival instincts to avoid getting killed, playing a gutsy, fearless
style like a durable pinball. Just keeps coming back for more.
Nate Hagemo (Minnesota)
A good puckhandler, not elite like Alex Goligoski
but a much faster skater and a bigger end-to-end threat. He has an
exceptional ability to gain the zone and unleash a rocket wrist shot. He
doesn't have a lot of size but his balance is superb and he's a game
physically. Appears to be just touching the tip of the iceberg as per his
offensive upside. One of my favorite picks.
Peter MacArthur (Boston University)
Maybe the best player in this draft
class no one talks about. Being two years younger than most slips him to
the third round where he could be the same kind of gem that namesake Clarke
MacArthur (no relation) has turned out to be - incidentally a third-rounder
to Buffalo two years ago. His shot release is downright scary; he gets the
puck away in a split-heartbeat. He's undersized but overcomes that with
grit and superb quickness. He did, however, run out of steam in his
freshman year. A big increase in conditioning and strength could send him
into orbit.
Matt Niskanen (Virginia MIB)
We've had him on our top list since the
opening whistle and he's done nothing but skyrocket in our estimation. While
not as sharp defensively as Brian Lee, Niskanen's learning how to play
defense will take him some time at the collegiate level and beyond, but this
is indeed a very special package that not everyone has seen. At this point
he is just behind Lee - an exceptional skater with incredible lateral
agility and acceleration, blowing by opponents at this level easily. A good
open-ice hitter, well-conditioned, excellent stickhandler and shooter.
Sasha Pokulok (Cornell)
Definitely a favorite though I can't decide if
this tall slender drink of water is half-empty or half-full. I know he was
coming off an injury but he looked completely overwhelmed during the
playoffs so much so that Cornell mastercoach Mike Schafer used him sparingly
and never in key defensive situations. His protection skills are very raw,
as he loses focus on his checks and gets running around as if he's unsure of
what to do. His physical play did improve and he seemed more comfortable. I
see very good hands and stick skills. He is raw, sometimes leaves you
wanting more but, at the same time, excites you with his size and potential.
Jonathan Quick (Avon Old Farms)
The common evaluations on goalies tend
to be closely linked to preferences, as in 'well, I like this youngster'.
Quick is the netminder who has caught my eye due to his inner fire and great
athleticism. It's tougher to gauge high schoolers given the quality of
shooters they're facing,however he makes things look pretty easy at this
level.
Paul Stastny (Denver)
A smart, street-savvy player with great militant
hands like his father (Peter Stastny). The elder Stastny was a master of
whacking an opponent's stick at first contact to create room for himself
which Paul seems to have inherited. I love his defensive positioning - he
is very responsible and oh-so-crafty with and without the puck. Stocky,
strong, with powerful arms. Skating mechanics aren't bad and he moves
pretty effortlessly, though he could use a better top speed.
Chris VandeVelde (Moorhead)
His skating doesn't really stand out but his
hands do - very soft and skilled. He holds and protects the puck superbly.
I see a potential power forward here if he can improve his top speed.
Another thing I like is that he is a big clutch performer and elevates his
play at key points.