JR HS [Feb-06]: Musketeers’ Gagner Wins Praise

Musketeers' Gagner Wins Praise (posted 2.20.06)

by Max Giese

More reviews from the USHL All-Star Game...

Sam Gagner (2007), C, Sioux City

Small and slight in stature but stands out offensively .. Impressive hockey sense and feel for the game .. A crafty playmaker who has stand-out vision and makes pro-level passes .. A quick darting skater … Can be tough to contain in tight spaces .. Possesses the rare ability to slow the game down .. Protects the puck well, displaying soft hands and slick one-on-one moves .. Very shifty .. Needs to keep his feet moving defensively and develop that aspect of his game .. Must also add bulk and grow physically .. Doesn't back down from danger areas though and was effective staying on his feet in traffic .. Is actually quite sturdy on his skates for such a slight man .. Plays a fearless style .. Very illusive player with top-end offensive potential .. More of a playmaker than a finisher, but his swift skating is still a huge asset .. Should be a high pick in 2007 before going to the University of Wisconsin.

Tony Lucia (SJ), LW, Omaha

A small player lacking somewhat in the skating department, however blessed with immense hockey sense .. Anticipates the play before it happens .. Seems to be in the right place at the right time - an opportunistic player .. Can disappear in the crowd only to suddenly find open ice for a scoring chance .. Possesses a quick-release snapshot that is accurate and sneaks up on the goaltender .. A fine playmaker with good vision and who is capable of setting up his linemates .. Skating is the concern here .. His first step is decent, yet his foot speed is below average and his top gear is simply not very good .. Makes up for it with strong hockey instincts, however adding muscle and better speed are key areas that need to be addressed .. A strong shooter - one-timed a quick, accurate shot that went top-shelf on a 2-on-1 .. Similar to another Sharks' prospect Joe Pavelski in that his skating holds him back somewhat .. Tony will be playing for his father Don Lucia next fall at the University of Minnesota.

Kevin Wehrs (2006), D, Cedar Rapids

Caught the attention of scouts in this contest with his puck movement and skating ability .. Possesses the ability to buy time for himself on the breakout with shifty bursts of speed to elude the forecheck .. Vision is impressive and he moves the puck out of the zone well .. Can lead a rush - seems to have a keen sense of when to jump into the attack .. Boasts a quick release on his shot which he kept low and accurate .. Demonstrated a desire to step up and jump on loose rebounds .. A goal-scoring threat from the blueline .. However, he labored a bit in his own zone defensively and showed that he can be overpowered one-on-one .. Despite his skating talents, he surprisingly struggled against fast opponents off the rush as his gap control was inconsistent .. Terrific offensive tools packaged in a small frame that can be a defensive liability at times .. This Minnesota recruit brings similar traits to Alex Goligoski and could meet the same fate with a selection in the third or fourth round.

Sean Dolan (2006), C, Cedar Rapids

Seems to be a passive player despite his lanky frame .. A good skater with fine foot speed, but not a dangerous skater - certainly wasn't an offensive threat in this contest .. Keeps his feet moving through the neutral zone and has some speed to the outside .. Agile and swift in close for his size .. Doesn't use his size to advantage with or without the puck as much as he should .. Seemed to be unwilling to really get involved .. Hung around the open areas and waited for linemates to do the dirty work .. Didn't seem to ever have the puck on his stick .. Pretty raw display as he looks like classic 'all-tools-no-toolbox' type prospect.

Sharks' Stalock Something Special (posted 2.16.06)

by Max Giese

Reviewing how the goalies fared at the USHL All-Star Game

Alex Stalock (SJ), G, Cedar Rapids

Rough start to the contest, beaten on first shot from a poor angle on a nice shot from Ryan Turek .. Very aggressive playing the puck .. Can stretch the ice and reads the play well .. Plays the puck like a young Martin Brodeur .. Very athletic in the crease .. Impressive flexibility - absolutely robbed the opposition twice in close .. Strong laterally and doesn't open up holes when moving side to side .. Very competitive and doesn't give up on a shot .. Hard to beat in close as he takes away the lower half of the net effectively .. Good hands, glove is very quick and his blocker is surprisingly strong .. Unconventional style which makes him hard to unlock .. Did get beat top-shelf on a 2-on-1 against when he decided to stack the pads .. Not your typical mechanical goaltender .. Was the most tested goaltender and came through with some big saves .. Always stays with the play and possesses the athleticism to move laterally on his knees or pounce up quickly .. Can flop and make desperation saves .. a worthwhile fourth-round pick by the Sharks .. There is definitely something special about Stalock, who will have four years of development ahead at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Alex Kangas (2006), G, Sioux Falls

Strong rebound control, very little movement .. Exposed up high, goes down on every shot and can be beaten high .. Solid controlling the puck and played it well, but nothing flashy .. Challenges the shooter at opportune moments .. Plays a butterfly style with terrific mechanics .. Always square to the shooter .. Strong laterally and did not open up holes moving side to side .. Very quick and was able to stay square .. Reads the play well for a goaltender, never caught out of position .. Jumps up quickly after the first shot and can make a save on secondary bids .. Ahead of Murray.

John Murray (2006), G, Sioux Falls

Won the goaltending competition by only allowing three goals in the skill competition, but wasn't tested much in the game .. Flashed a lightning-quick glove .. A butterfly goalie who is much like Kangas in that their strength lies in their mechanics .. It's easy to see why he is such a consistent goaltender night in night out .. Challenges the shooter .. Finds pucks through screens well .. Was beaten five-hole off the rush, and got caught out of position on another goal against .. Seems to struggle to make the second save once he goes down .. Also needs to work on his lateral movement .. Behind Kangas.

Turek, Nodl Soar At USHL All-Star Game (posted 2.12.06)

by Max Giese

Ryan Turek (2006), F/D, Omaha

A two-goal, one-assist performance will no doubt shoot him up the charts .. Impressed with his speed, shot, and hard-working approach .. Shows superb speed to the outside and can be tough to control one-on-one .. Boasts a sneaky release .. Demonstrated a 'shoot-first-pass-later' attitude to his style. Deft in-close finishing ability as he scored a goal by going top shelf with a backhand no more than a foot out from the net .. Still dangerous from the outside as his shot is a hard one .. Used his speed to split the defense and went in all alone on the goalie .. Created several chances for himself utilizing a deceptive burst of speed that allows him to get away from defenders .. Very explosive getaway gear .. Willing to battle physically .. Effective on the forecheck and at going to the front of the net .. Shows a sniper's mentality .. Very hard and accurate wristshot - beat Alex Stalock from a poor angle, just sniping it top shelf .. Flashed some playmaking ability as well when he faked a shot on a 2-on-1 before making a pretty feed to a wide open Tony Lucia .. Attending Michigan State University next fall.

Andreas Nodl (2006), RW, Sioux Falls

Won the fastest skater competition .. Boasts great speed to the outside and can get to the open ice to unleash his heavy shot which features a stealthy release .. A smooth long stride that is exceptionally powerful .. Possesses a dynamic top gear and can get around defenders with quick bursts of speed .. Strong on the puck and tough to contain in tight .. Very shifty and agile .. Strong down low with the puck and can sneak away from defenders .. On one play, he stickhandled from behind the net and drove the puck hard to the net for a good scoring chance .. Displays a good nose for the net, plus the ability to hang in traffic to score garbage goals .. Can make flashy end-to-end rushes .. Soft hands with some mild dangle in him .. However, he was inconsistent from shift to shift and was hard to notice at times .. Defensively seems uncommitted, and whispers of an attitude problem are beginning to gain steam .. Going to St. Cloud St. Next fall.

Phil Axtell (2006), LW, Cedar Rapids

Rapid development combined with his shooting arsenal and meteoric size, should make NHL teams seriously consider drafting him this summer. A true wild card .. Won the hardest shot competition with a 98 mph slapshot .. Opened the scoring in the All-Star Game with an accurate wristshot top shelf from the slot past Kangas .. Runs over people, even with possession of the puck .. Fairly agile for his size and has a long stride that makes his first step adequate .. His top end speed is okay and covers a lot of the ice .. Isn't a burner but doesn't seem to have any issues staying with the play .. Shows a mean streak on the ice and will at times go out of his way to finish checks .. Can throw monstrous checks .. Knack for scoring from all areas .. His shot is one of the heaviest in junior hockey and he likes to use it .. Nice touch in close as well .. However, his vision and creativity are lacking - not much of a playmaker .. Doesn't have great puck protection and seems to lose control of it when it's in-tight to his body .. Still dependant on linemates to feed him the puck .. Defensive game can be a wash at times, seems to watch more than help .. Will attend Michigan Tech next fall.

Zach Cohen (2006), LW, Tri-City

Very strong on the corners and good on the cycle .. Sees the ice well and is a good playmaker .. Strong puck protection - hard to contain on the cycle and difficult to move from in front of the net .. Battles hard in front of the net and plays a power game .. Good at creating deflections in front .. Solid skating ability, showed some good top-end speed to gain the offensive zone .. Disruptive on the forecheck as he gained possession a couple of times after creating turnovers .. Impressive using his size - seemed to be a very useful power forward .. Boston University should be happy with this recruit.

Jordan Willert (2006), RW, Tri-City

Threw his frame around frequently .. Shows good instincts - seems to be in the right place at the right time on the ice .. Unloaded a heavy slapshot from the perimeter .. Played well defensively .. Strong along the wall and wins the physical battles using his size. Did a solid job on the evening, however he wasn't as dangerous offensively as Cohen.

Ian Tallet (2006), D, Chicago

A good lanky frame to mold into .. More of a stay-at-home type in spite of his minus-14 at the moment .. Likes to play the body .. Plays a simple game in his own zone .. Focuses on his man well and gets his stick in passing lanes .. Very effective one-on-one always plays the body. .. Solely responsible for breaking up numerous chances .. Just an effective guy who makes good plays in his own zone .. Doesn't panic .. Reliable - will do his job defensively .. Committed to Harvard University.

Kevin Deeth (2006), C, Green Bay

A small forward with plenty of speed and skill .. Pint sized though and seemed to struggle with the physical side. Didn't show much interest going into high traffic areas .. Soft hands and his strength is his play making .. Quick reads from the half-wall. Creates opportunities for his linemates .. A deft stickhandler.

Ray Kaunisto (2006), LW, Cedar Rapids

A simple meat-and-potato's kind of player .. Proved effective on the forecheck and was a presence in the corners .. Did the hard work, but never stood out .. Shoots the puck quickly, however doesn't shoot for goals, just wants it on the net .. Lacks patience to create a play .. Can stick with a play and is sturdy on his feet but skating is just average .. A Northern Michigan University recruit.

Zach Bearson (2006), RW, Waterloo

Plays an honest, hard-working game but hasn't progressed much since last season .. Skating isn't as strong as expected .. A lively first step but his top-end speed is lacking .. Boasts a heavy wristshot that has average accuracy, however he struggles to find space to unload it .. Despite the big frame and impressive work ethic, he can be contained .. Not a playmaker per se .. Agility could use improvement .. Seems to have slowed down since an impressive draft year .. Attending the University of Wisconsin next fall.

Mike Testwuide (2006), LW, Waterloo

Continues to impress and seems to have untapped raw upside under the huge hood .. A good first step for his size, and agility is above average .. Made two great plays offensively .. Dug the puck out of the corners and used his size to protect it behind the net before making a pretty feed to a wide-open man in the slot .. Showed a pro release from the slot beating Murray with a big shot .. Should shoot more often though .. Not physical at all, can drag guys but seems to give up on the play too easily .. Doesn't have any hint of a mean streak either .. Seems to be non-existent most of the game but flashes through at opportune moments .. Recently signed on to attend Colorado College next fall.

Chase Ryan (2006), D, Des Moines

Moves the puck very well .. Quick reads and makes a nice tape to tape pass .. Turned the puck over right in front of his net at one point .. Strong body-on-body defenseman .. Doesn't finish his checks hard and isn't a bruiser, though he did neutralize his man and can stay with his check off the rush .. Mobile and agile, but not an end-to-end threat .. Just a sturdy defenseman, nothing too special.

U17 NTDP's Explosive Hayes (posted 2.8.06)

by Chris Keller

Colby Cohen (2007), D

A good skater both forward and backwards .. possesses decent speed .. doesn't miss a beat when making the transition from forward to backward .. an average stickhandler .. could improve on one-on-one situations .. at times he gets caught flat footed which results in the opponent getting scoring chances .. quick to deliver the puck out of the defensive zone .. an accurate passer with average power .. displays a low and accurate point-shot which is ideal for tips .. boasts the size and skill to be a solid top-four D-1 college defenseman .. projects as a late first or early second-round NHL pick in 2007 .. committed to Boston University.

Ian Cole (2007), D

An average-sized blueliner with a lot of raw skills .. moves surprisingly well for a player of his size .. possesses a smooth first step and gets moving quickly from a standstill .. decent speed for a defenseman .. Cole has a long reach in which he uses to his advantage in poking away passes .. plays a smart game .. forces players to the outside in one-on-one situations .. not a physical player but is not afraid to throw his sturdy 210-pound frame around .. decent balance and lower-body strength .. adequate vision .. doesn't panic with the puck in the defensive zone .. likes to jump into the play on offense .. hustles back into position in transition .. okay shot with average accuracy .. projects as a mid-to-late 2nd round pick .. committed to the University of Notre Dame.

Matt Rust (2007), C

Small, gritty centerman who plays an attractive style of game .. stocky and hard working - never takes a shift off .. always trying to get in the face of opponents .. decent speed with an average first step .. adequate balance despite his smallish frame .. good stickhandler - moves well with the puck .. possesses a decent slapshot to go along with a solid and accurate wristshot .. excels at faceoffs - wins a majority of his draws and knows how to tie up the opposing center .. helps out his defensemen in front of the net .. displays impressive hockey smarts .. always anticipates where the puck is going to be .. committed to the University of Michigan .. should mature into a top-two college pivot by his senior year .. projects as a mid-round NHL pick.

Ryan Hayes (2007), LW

A pure scorer who is leading the NTDP U-17's in scoring .. possesses excellent vision and explosive foot speed .. strong on skates .. extremely hard to take down for a player of his size (5-9/170) .. a superb stickhandler .. moves well in traffic with or without the puck .. likes to get very involved in the down-low cycle part of the game .. boasts stellar 1-on-1 moves that can really frustrate defenders .. draws double teams in some situations .. shows solid leadership abilities as he's a player who wants the puck at crunch time .. a crisp, accurate passer .. deadly wrist shot .. plays on power play and can kill penalties .. a potential dynamo at the next level, especially once he fills out .. committed to Boston College .. projects as a mid-round NHL pick.

Hanzal Joins USHL's Lancers (posted 2.5.06)

by Robert Neuhauser

Martin Hanzal, a first-round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2005, finally ended speculation about his North American destination as his agent Robert Spalenka arranged an assignment to the USHL's Omaha Lancers.

Hanzal's contract with his parent Ceske Budejovice team expired on December, 1st, 2005 and, given the very limited playing duty he received on the senior team, a move to North American hockey was the most logical solution.

After the Under-20 WJC, he played on the Canadian west coast while waiting for a call from his agent. Hanzal could have jumped directly to the WHL as his rights still belonged to the Regina Pats. However, since the Pats already ice two European imports in Petr Kalus and Denis Tolpeko, Hanzal's agent demanded a trade to another WHL franchise.

Reportedly, three other WHL teams - Red Deer Rebels, Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Giants - were interested in acquiring the Pisek, Czech Republic native, but all negotiations failed. Ultimately, the USHL's Omaha Lancers stepped in and offered Hanzal an acceptable offer. The Lancers have some past experience with Czech players as smallish forward Martin Husicka was a member of their team in the fall of 2005. However, in Hanzal, they acquire a player with considerable pro potential and a significant boost to the roster.

NTDP Prospect Report: Brian Strait (posted 2.3.06)

by Max Giese

Brian Strait (D), Boston University ('06-7)

A savvy defensive defenseman. Always in the right position, never sacrifices offense for defense, and is reliable shift after shift. A smart and methodical approach to the defensive game. Has a nice frame, and appears very sturdy but isn't physically imposing but he is a frustrating player to go against. Excellent defensive zone coverage, stays with his man, keeps his head on a swivel and is never cleanly beaten one on one. An all compass skater more then a burner, agile in tight spaces, and can stay with his man off the rush. Clogs passing and shooting lanes well. Is always the defenseman back when a 2-1 breaks for the opposition. Didn't turn the puck over, a safe outlet passer, made a number of solid plays in the face off forechecking pressure that lead to the puck easily moved out. Can make the tough plays. Every team needs a defensive stand out like this, and I expect him to be a hot commodity at the draft for a team looking to add a defensive stalwart to their system. A safe pick, but not a home run.

BCHL Prospect Report: Cody Brookwell (posted 2.3.06)

by Ron Jones

Cody Brookwell (D), Williams Lake TimberWolves

Has committed to play for Denver Pioneers (WCHA) for the 2006-07 season .. blessed with terrific size at 6'4 and at only 200lbs could easily add 10-20 pounds of muscle .. nice smooth release for both his slap and snap shots .. skates with a self-assured confidence that almost appears cocky .. makes a swift transition from skating forward to backwards .. must learn to bare down more in his own zone as he is prone to turnovers with relatively minimal pressure .. his breakout passes are not as crisp or accurate as they will need to be to have success at the next level .. when handling the puck in his own zone tends to be too slow reading the pressure which can and does gets him in trouble .. appears to have all the physical tools necessary to compete at the next level, however he must improve his defensive making and defensive coverage.