Jan/Feb Draft: Whos Hot Whos Not
VIKING LORE
This year's Viking Cup was aptly dubbed the 'Year of the Blowout' as Team Finland
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captured the title with an 8-2 trouncing of Team USA, who were expected to overwhelm
an under-20 Finnish squad missing a number of regulars to injury, as well as
a pair to the u-20 WJC team in Lauri
Tukonen and Petteri Nokelainen.
Hosted by Augustana University in Camrose, Alberta, this year's edition was
diluted due to the Alberta Junior Hockey League's decision to bow out, but there
was still plenty of decent `04 talent on display. Led by a trio of NHL sons
in Paul
Stastny, Trevor
Ludwig and Alex
Foster, the Americans looked unstoppable, reaching the finals by outscoring
their opposition by a whopping 46-7, including a 17-0 romp over Norway and a
9-2 pasting of Slovakia in the semi-finals.
The final 8-2 scoreline was in now way indicative of the play, as Team USA
outshot the Finns 42-34, but were unable to solve Tuukka Rask ('05),
who posted a .959 save percentage to earn the tournament's 'Top Goaltender'
award. Rask wasn't the only underager to sparkle as a number of the `87 and
`88-born players displayed tremendous upside. The Finnish juggernaut was anchored
by the splendid blueline duo of Risto
Korhonen (`05) and Teemu
Czech goalie Alexander SalakClick Laakso (`05), the latter earning 'Top Defenseman' honours.Here to view this Link. (`05) led a talented under-17 Czech team that featured
a slew of exciting prospects in Michael Frolik, Jiri Tlusty, David Ruzicka and David Kuchejda. The Swiss also showcased a fine young
stopper in Leonardo Genoni(`05), while countryman Janick Steinmann also
impressed. Slovak defender Matej Cunik (`05) was a standout as an underager
here, as was hulking 16-year-old Finn Jesse Joensuu (`06), who stamped
his mark with a stunning quarter-final performance against the Swiss, taking
over the game in the latter stages and producing the overtime winner with a
brilliant move to the net.
Among the `04's grabbing headlines was little-known TuTo mountain Miikka Tuomainen who put himself on the map with an unlikely three-goal eruption
in the gold-medal game. Up until the semi-final, it didn't appear that Tuomainen
would be the eventually hero. After a slow start to the tournament, crafty small-fry
Jokila (`04) and pesky counterpart Mikko
Alikoski (`04) stepped up with big efforts in the semis, scoring a pair
of goals each to subdue the Czechs.
However, neither Jokila nor Alikoski contributed to the eight-goal outburst
in the finale, nor did Joensuu, who sat out after getting injured in the first
period. This was Tuomainen's show. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound winger and his diminutive
linemate Tuomas Kiiskinen (`05), were on the ice for all four second-period
goals as the Finns erased a 1-0 American lead. Twice, Tuomainen managed to slip
in behind the US defense and finished both breakaway chances. He completed the
hattrick in the third, showing off his speed and strength by blowing around
an American defender and easily beating goalie Phillippe Lamoureux, who had
replaced a shaky Joe
Fallon (`04).
Other `04's who improved their stock in Camrose included Swiss workhorse Julien Sprunger, slippery Norwegian Mathis Olimb, German goalie Thomas Greiss, and two more Finns in Joni Finell and face-off master Petteri Wirtanen. The top Slovak unit of Juraj
Gracik, Ladislav
Scurko and Igor
Bacek was outstanding, as was defender and captain Andrej Sekera, whose development over the past year has been considerable.
Stastny, son of Hall-of-Famer Peter Stastny, led all scorers with six
goals and tied for the tournament scoring title with busy teammate Matt Hartman.
Other American forwards who stood out included John Dingle (`84), Domenic Maiani (`86), Derek Patrosso (`84), and Alex Foster (`84),
the son of ex-NHLer Dwight Foster.
However, we were even more impressed with the American blueline corps, led
by Badger recruit Kyle
Klubertanz, who moved into first-round contention with a convincing
all-star performance (led all blueliners in scoring at 6-1-8-9). Additionally,
Hillen, Johann Kroll and Ludwig all enhanced their draft odds.
When one listens to Enver
Lisin talk hockey, it becomes clear that the well-spoken individual
is a special person - more than just a goal-scoring forward.
Our third-rated Russian for the 2004 draft Lisin prides himself on being a
responsible all-around player who models his game after multi-layered, all-around
responsible NHL'ers, like Sergei Fedorov and Joe Thornton.
"I like more universal players… overall solid players. Not those who do just
one thing (like) scoring or passing. I like those who can do everything," says
Lisin.
Our Russian scout confirms that Lisin has the upside to become a multidimensional
type: "His mobility allows him to outrace opposing forwards to the puck and
doesn't get intimidated by physical opposition. He is strong on his feet, has
really quick hands, gets to loose pucks and is consistently a willing combatant
in traffic."
A definite sniper, Enver Lisin is a player who creates offense at full speed
with his quick feet and soft hands. Although he prefers to hold on to the puck
at most times, Lisin always finds ways to create space for himself and finds
appropriate zones to unleash his crisp wrister.
"I try to shoot on the net as much as possible," says Lisin, "(I get) the puck,
go around a guy, shoot, then go into the traffic and look for a rebound."
"This guy is no doubt the fastest skater among the European class," says our
Russian scout, "but he knows how to utilize his mobility smartly, he finds the
appropriate lanes and penetrates with elusive speed and explosive first step.
He is an attacking forward with really soft hands who knows how to find the
back of the net."
One blemish in Lisin's playing style is his tendency to overhandle the puck.
Only an average passer, he likes to hold on to it and struggles when linemates
fail to feed him the puck.
Schremp's high-adrenaline three-point performance at the annual Top
Prospects game could not have come at a better time. Playing on a deep London
Knights team, Schremp has had a trying year in a new climate after the trade
that sent him out of Mississauga. After being the go-to guy with the IceDogs,
Schremp has had to deal with some adversity, being forced to handle increased
defensive duties, while Dave
Bolland's recent surge has dropped him to the third line on the depth
chart.
"Let's face it, the ideal role for this guy is not on a defensive line," says
our OHL scout, "Schremp probably has never had to play on the third line before
and his struggles, along with increased responsibilities and reduced icetime
have resulted in rather disappointing numbers."
Schremp's play over the past two months has caused much concern to onlookers
- he wasn't getting well accustomed to his new role and seemed to lose his passion
as a result. Playing frustrated and quite soft, Schremp did not show the required
work ethic to create opportunities and dig out pugs in the corners. A set-up
man more than a pure sniper, Schremp stopped using his feet, which made him
look slow and disinterested.
Despite some of the rough goings, we are not willing to overlook Robbie's excellent
pure skills, regardless of some of his issues.
"Schremp's trials and tribulations might be just what he needs," adds our OHL
scout, "he's been thrown on a team where he has to face up to responsibilities
and he now realizes that unless he takes control of his chances and become the
leader, (head coach) Dale Hunter will be less willing to give him second chances.
I think Robbie will become a more mature player as a result of this."
London's strong play this year can be credited largely to the top line of Scott
Sheppard, Cory Perry and Dylan Hunter - probably the hottest line in the league.
Schremp has played with Logan Hunter and the alternating Trevor Kell and Brandon
Prust after pairing up with red-hot Bolland early in the season. With the returning
Ivan Khomutov, expect the more confident Schremp to finish off the season in
style.
NHL teams will want a lot of their questions answered about Schremp's trade
requests out of Mississauga. Despite the talk that Robbie's parents may have
been the ones to force the issue, there seems to be no concrete word as to why
he wanted out. Considering that these issues remain hypothetical, we have no
intention on lowering Schremp's stock unless we know the whole story. Although
he remains in the top 10, Schremp had fallen out of the top five due to his
inconsistencies.
What is it about Gilbert
Brule that makes scouts salivate? The west coast's answer to Sidney
Crosby, Vancouver's native son (and current Vancouver Giant) has the
skills, passion and even a name that resonates with promise of superstardom.
Knocking Brule off his course is like stopping a freight train - with the explosiveness
of a locomotive and a smooth, fluid take-off of a luxury car, he's a sniper
deluxe, a finesse centerman with elusive wheels and a nose for the rough-and-tumble.
What makes the 2005 draft-eligible Gilbert Brule (pronounced zheel-BEAR broo-LAY)
stand out from other skilled forwards is his passion and a unique ability to
turn on the extra gear and completely take over games.
"He doesn't do anything without putting 100% into it," says our WHL scout,
"although he'll never be a big guy, that doesn't stop him from driving the net
with a defender draped all over him.
"His one-on-one skills are elite, but it is not simply his puck control, but
also his uncanny calmness and an ability to tease opposing defenders with nifty
dekes and a considerable reach."
A balanced skater, Brule has strong powerful legs that compensate for his lack
of frame - once he gets on the puck, he puts a stranglehold on it and doesn't
let up. He really takes charge on the ice due to his powerful and accurate shooting
skills and an crafty playmaking game - a multidimensional offensive game has
made Brule an oft-used point man on the Giants' power play.
"Brule is the kind of guy who even on his coldest stretches looks awfully good,"
adds our WHL scout, "he doesn't pout, but instead gets involved physically and
manufactures points by driving the net and utilizing his frame near the crease.
"His nasty streak is the factor that will eventually garner him due respect.
He isn't just a guy with pretty-boy skills, but a player who won't tolerate
the occasional punch in the face and slash on the hands. He has to control his
retaliatory impulses, but his competitiveness is unquestionable."
"I love playing hockey and I want to be able to play as long as I can," says
Brule, "you (have to) go out and compete every night for the guy next to you
on your team and they'll respect you if you work hard for that… I work as hard
as I can every game and I don't quit until the game is over."