March Whos Hot / Whos Not: ON FIRE
Barthel - D (Seattle) - Tough-as-nails defenseman brings a solid, no-nonsense
Advertisement
game to the table. As his stats attest, we are not talking about a potentially
great player, but Barthel does all the basics well enough to develop into a
competent pro. Our WHL scout says: "he won't take the puck a long way,
but he knows how to move it smartly and accurately. He's not very fast, but
he's quick and moves exceptionally well backwards and sufficiently well laterally.
He plugs holes, throws bone-jarring hits and most importantly plays very strong
and planted on his feet. I like his low panic point and hands that are elastic
enough to make crisp plays and clear the zone with some juice. He can really
zip it with a powerful shot from the point as well. Would make a very respectable
mid-round selection for any team."
Christie - LW (Miami-Ohio) - A new entry in this month's Top 100, Miami's
freshman scoring machine has continued to show that his early season heroics
were no fluke. Currently tied for the CCHA lead in goals with 18, including
a league-high eight on the power play, Christie generates excellent top speed
using a compact and powerful skating stride, and is very savvy in the offensive
zone, distributing the puck skillfully and sneaking into open scoring positions
around goal. A less-flashy version of current NHLer Steve Sullivan if you will,
Christie isn't big at 5-foot-10, but has a thick frame, superb balance, and,
like Sullivan, keeps his legs churning while driving in from the wing. Though
he needs to be a more dedicated backchecker, his understated skill set and passion
to be a difference-maker have really left a mark with our scouts. Solid pro
potential.
Emelin - D (Lada) - Enjoyed a successful tournament for Russia at the
recent Five-Nations Tournament in Finland. Emelin played on the top pairing
for the entire event and was clearly the best rearguard for the team. Says our
Russian scout: "He excels in his own zone, playing positionally solid hockey.
Emelin is very strong, with a physical edge. He, however, doesn't hesitate to
join in on the offense, but he's not the puck handling-type, as he's not sufficiently
creative to handle those duties. His puck skills are solid enough to make a
crisp first pass out of the zone. I also love his point shot - it is hard, low
and accurate. All-around skating is above-average. Emelin is a very sure-handed
player with a good aura about him and impressive understanding of the game.
His stock is on the rise, big time."
Garlock - C (Windsor) - An ankle injury hampered him somewhat as Garlock
took his time to get back in form, but has since been magnificent. A fine complementary
player, he knows where to go at all times in order to put up points. Although
he doesn't have end-to-end skills, Garlock more than compensates with excellent
stickhandling moves through traffic and the ability to penetrate lanes with
a nose for the net. A player with excellent hockey sense, good vision and offensive
instincts, Garlock has an exemplary work ethic to boot. He'll be a win-win pick.
Graham - C (Moncton) - Considering his great size, Graham didn't have
to take the world by storm over the past month to rise up the rankings - all
he had to do was to prove that he can use that frame. The behemoth pivot has
not disappointed - Bruce has shown the willingness to dig for the puck in the
corners and utilize his muscle to hold off opposing forwards. Graham has been
more consistent in driving the net, he plays strong with the puck and uses his
snappy wrist shot. We're not yet entirely satisfied with this package - his
first step leaves something to be desired and disguises his true skating potential.
That said, Graham's ratio of vision and puck skills is rare for a guy his size
- he is a serious prospect for this year's draft and might go in the first round.
Hromas - LW (Sparta Praha) - The belligerent winger showed that he is
accustomed to the pace of the game at the senior level with several impressive
showings over the last month. He filled the role of a third-line checker after
a call-up and was sturdy and responsible at both ends of the ice. As a junior,
Hromas showed a previously unseen offensive game, scoring a hat trick against
the Liberec juniors. Says our Czech scout: "His combative play is what
the coaches like. He is aggressive and shuts down the opposing offensive weapons
with a hard-nosed and defensively-aware style. He has a nice-sized frame, he
uses it and he does it in a manner that is quick and snappy - he has tremendous
quickness for a big man. I love his reach and he's a very smart passer to boot.
The heart and intensity is there, unfortunately the one downside to his game
are his stickhandling skills. He doesn't protect the puck well enough and overall
his hands won't land him on a scoring line in the NHL. Must improve shot quality."
Jenner - D (Victoriaville) - Let's make one thing clear - the QMJHL
class for the draft this year is downright dreadful. Beyond Picard, Graham and
Ellis, none of the players there can be described as especially exciting. However,
among the several players that are showing transferable pro skills is Jenner
- a positional, defensive rearguard. His size (6-3, 225) should get him drafted
- he angles his large frame to take away open ice from opposing attackers. He's
very solid with the puck, excellent at clearing the zone and doesn't mind stirring
things up physically. His weaknesses should keep him out of day one of the draft
- Jenner is a sluggish backwards skater with below-average footspeed. His lack
of meanness is somewhat of a concern, but is fixable. We like his brains - Jenner
plays a safe style and is calm and poised with and without the puck.
Korpikoski - C/LW (TPS) - Don't get too excited yet, but Korpikoski
is beginning to make some noise. The first indicator is his increase in goal
scoring, like a recent 3-goal (in four games) effort at the Under-18 Five Nations
event. The second indicator is his jump to the top scoring line of TPS Juniors.
Our Finnish scout likes what he sees, but urges to proceed with caution. "When
I saw him at the start of the season, he looked like a good player - he was
certainly fast and looked dangerous on more than one rush, but he couldn't finish.
But he has made strides and it appears than Korpikoski's spunky style is no
aberration - he is fast, chippy and opportunistic. The puck seems to follow
him. He skates with a short, choppy stride with remarkable ease and changes
tempo flawlessly. I like his balance - his legs are stronger than what I've
seen before. He is a dangerous one-on-one player and he likes to compete - he
fights for the puck and will play physical hockey for his size and age group.
He is a dangerous player at full speed and I am seeing much more intensity from
him with the puck. Better hands than I anticipated as well. He is just starting
to blossom, but he's not in the elite group or he'd get pro consideration."
Ladd - LW (Calgary) - Quite simply the real deal. Forget him going undrafted
in the WHL, forget last year's stats - forget everything and remember one thing:
he's arrived. After slowly establishing himself last year as a checker, Ladd
has exploded into an all-around force with the Hitmen this season. He plays
every game as if it's his last. In terms of pure scoring talent, Ladd is not
top-five, and probably not top-ten either, but this guy gets it - his understanding
and passion for the game far exceeds that of either Robbie Schremp or Wojtek
Wolski and this is important. Ladd has an uncanny affinity to create space for
himself and others with a wide stride, a considerable first step and a willingness
to use the body. A prototypical team player who gets his nose dirty, drives
the net and when the puck is loose, he's there to bury it. Ladd's nay-sayers
point to Ladd's linemates - especially the gifted Ryan Getzlaf. We counter this
by saying that Ladd is a complimentary guy who makes his linemates better and
does that like no other North American player in this draft. We point to his
unselfish propensity to create space for his teammates like a linebacker. He
uses his body like a true warrior - just watch him give an NHL General Manager
something to think about at camp next fall.
Latendresse - C (Val D'Or) - We're not exactly willing to bet our mortgage
on the little guy, but we have to give credit where credit is due. Latendresse
is an exciting, though strikingly small, talent who has not looked out of place
playing in the middle. Says one of our QMJHL scouts: "He is one of the
best face-off men in the league. He is speedy, crafty, a fine stickhandler and
currently the Foreurs' number one centerman. He has great, quick feet - excellent
acceleration, a smooth skating stride and, most importantly, is not intimidated
by bigger players. He's a strong forechecker with excellent vision; he also
helps out defensively, although his lack of bulk renders him fairly ineffective
in that respect. I wish he was a peskier player, because smaller guys with his
skills have beaten the odds before. He's worth a late-round flyer."
Nikolayev - LW (Metallurg Magnitogorsk) - Was a member of the Russian
'86 squad last season, but all but disappeared off the scouting radar shortly
thereafter, spending the early part of the year on Metallurg's junior farm club.
The quick-skating, aggressive forward got a new lease on life when a loan to
the Soviet Wings came through. Says our Russian scout: "He became an instant
hit in Moscow. Everyone was impressed with his tough-nosed style of play and
puckhandling abilities. His hockey sense does need some work, but this kid is
talented. He has soft hands, can drive to the net and isn't a slouch in his
own end. He'll dive to block shots and shows an overall good work ethic. He's
somewhat similar to Alexander Voronin last year - he similarly disappeared off
the draft radar, but this kid should avoid the draft snub Voronin got due to
the Upper League playing time."
Paukovich - C/LW (US NTDP) - The USA National Team Development Program
appears to have unearthed a gem amidst the Rocky Mountains. Hailing from Englewood,
Colorado, not exactly a hockey red-zone, Paukovich is a striking figure at 6-foot-4
and 215 pounds, not to mention a relentless battering bam who throws his body
around at every opportunity. "His physical makeup and skating reminds you
of a Lindros or Keith Primeau," offers our scout. "He isn't nearly
as flashy or as skilled as those guys, but he does show excellent power-forward
potential. He handles the puck well, plays an intelligent finesse game, and
is a very astute passer. Though he could use more explosiveness in his first
few strides, his top speed is above-average for a big man, and his agility is
deceiving. One area that really catches your eye is his work ethic and physical
play away from the puck. He motors all over the ice working to win possession
and just loves to hammer opponents with bone-crushing hits. He can be one real
SOB out there. Don't get me wrong, he's still a project like most 17-year-olds,
however, for an NHL team willing to patiently let him develop in college (Paukovich
is committed to Denver University), I see a solid NHLer at the end of the road."
Radulov - RW (Dynamo Moscow) - We're tempted to embrace him, and we're
not the only ones, yet we issue a few warnings. Despite his lights-out play
at the Under-18 Five Nations tournament, Radulov had an up-and-down month. He
showed flashes of dominance on the line with Roman Voloshenko and Mikhail Yunkov
in Finland - on the downside, Radulov is no longer performing in the Upper League
and now skates for Dynamo Moscow's junior farm club. Clearly his questionable
work habits aren't winning him acceptance from all coaches quite yet. Yet the
real reason to like this kid is his upside. Our Russian scout says: "He's
got the hands of gold. If he works hard, he could develop into a powerhouse
sniper. He has strong, accurate shooting skills and instinctive and crisp playmaking
abilities. He'll get from point A to point B, but he's not a poster boy for
skating styles. He moves around like a grasshopper, with choppy strides where
he pushes off from one leg, then pauses and goes to the other leg. I was also
a bit disappointed with his unwillingness to contribute physically in the crucial
game against the USA - when the game got tight, he disappeared." Radulov
reminds us a little of Mogilny - not necessarily in terms of style, but in his
approach to the game. He frustrates us to no end with a laid-back style, yet
does enough to warrant a blue-chip status. But we were encouraged by the words
of his head coach Nikolai Vanin: "I am not satisfied with his defensive
game and there are some issues in the neutral zone, (but) as a person, Sasha
is a very social, good guy, who can find a common language with absolutely any
person. Though, at times he can be a bit unbalanced and his emotions overpower
reason."
Sondell - D (Bjorkloven) - 84-born blueliner is doing wonders in the
second league and represented Sweden at the Under-20 World Juniors. Our Swedish
scout says: "He is great in all aspects of skating. I especially like his
quick lateral movement. Very capable offensively and can run a powerplay from
the blueline. Has an excellent wrist shot with accuracy, although I wish he'd
have a hard slap shot to accompany it. Handles the puck really smoothly with
strong, crisp passing skills. His penchant for risk-taking in the defensive
end has been the biggest problem. This guy should be in the SEL and he'll establish
himself there very quickly - just watch him. He has the size to play in the
NHL."
Voloshenko - LW (Soviet Wings) - You may have heard of the book "Moneyball"
- a perspective on the world of scouting analysis of baseball prospects. The
genius about that system is its emphasis on statistics to predict a player's
pro potential. While scouting hockey prospects is much more visual and less
statistics-oriented than baseball, every once in a while you encounter a player
who challenges that notion. Roman Voloshenko is a guy we tried to like, but
had trouble dissecting the pros and cons to his raw skills and ambiguous upside.
We noticed right off the bat that skating wasn't a plus, nor were his puck skills
always impressive - yet the puck sticks to this kid like a magnet. Coming on
really strong in the past month, Voloshenko established himself with the Soviet
Wings in the Upper league, thus far amassing 13 points on five goals. He's emerged
as a power forward who uses his size and strength - both areas that are beyond
what we saw previously. Voloshenko also put a bow tie on things for the scouts
with a dominating performance alongside Alexander Radulov with two goals and
seven points in four games at the 5-Nations Cup. Says our Russian scout: "Skating
is still an area of concern here. I don't really see a lot of improvement. He
has a unique way of getting around and while he's getting away with it at this
level, you just can't help but wonder where he'll be in a few years. That said,
I love his wrister - it is a goalie's worst nightmare - and he also seems to
compensate for his weaknesses with a good head on his shoulders. He sees the
ice so well and makes responsible yet creative feeds - Radulov owes him a present
after the recent tournament."
Wheeler - RW (Breck) - Our top-ranked Minnesota high-schooler has followed
an exponential development curve since transferring to the upmarket Breck School
from local Wayzata. A big, skilled winger with a lethal shot, Wheeler relishes
body contact and has good, quick feet for a kid whose still-growing body now
stands closer to 6-foot-5. Also a tight end on the school football team, Wheeler
has transformed into a physical menace this season, consistently punishing opponents
along the walls and using his size advantage to flush the puck out and drive
for scoring positions. And the word has spread. Close to 50 NHL scouts were
on hand for Breck's season finale on Feb 22nd, a 2-2 tie that clinched the Tri-Metro
title (Breck finished with a 22-1-2 record). Though held scoreless, a rarity
this year having recorded 35 goals and 80 points, second in the league behind
leading Mr. Hockey candidate Tom Gorowsky, Wheeler may be the finest NHL package
of size, speed, skill and power on the market, a sentiment shared by the elite
collegiate programs who are all lining up for the uncommitted junior.
Blair Yaworski - C (Sioux City) - This Yale recruit has seen his stock
skyrocket since Christmas, peaking with a two-assist performance at the USHL
All-Star Game earlier this month, which earned him 'Team World Player of the
Game' honours. A big, powerful forward with excellent two-way skills, Yaworski
can alter the complexion of a game both with and without the puck. His speed
is deceptive due a long, smooth stride and he's good on his feet. He knows how
to use his size and is a talented hitter, displaying an impressive mix of balance
and timing. He also boasts a nice set of hands and some slick one-on-one moves.
But what really sets Yaworski apart is his game smarts. He displays tremendous
poise under pressure and routinely comes up with outstanding defensive plays.
Tough, cerebral and well-rounded, and likely a hot commodity by June.
Chris Zarb - D (Tri-City) - The native of Waterford, Mich., overcame
an early knee injury and a change in position to surface as one of this month's
big blueline climbers. Did we say big? At 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, Zarb is large
and lanky, and raised as a forward until making the switch on his arrival to
the Storm this season. He skates well for a player of his size, while his multi-positional
abilities are also attractive. The defense-oriented Zarb excels in his own zone
and isn't afraid to throw his body around, an area that will come more to the
fore as he adds muscle and fills out his worthy frame. He also boasts a powerful
slapshot, though it lacks accuracy at this stage, and has caught fire the last
month (11-1-8-9, plus-7) after registering just four assists in his first 19
games. Our scout adds "I haven't seen him make any bone-headed plays yet.
He's just a smart player with great size and good upside - an unfinished project
that may pay dividends with the proper direction".