McKeens Best By Category

Our individual NHL draft awards are back and this time we have added five more categories, for a total of 30. The magnificent thespian Alexander Ovechkin, to no surprise, is tops with four wins. Find out who our picks are for such categories as most improved player, best skater, best playmaker, best agitator, best leader.

Best Bet: Alexander Ovechkin

Ovechkin is to the 2004 draft like Kovalchuk is to the 2001 draft .. will challenge for the Calder Trophy in his freshman NHL season.

Biggest Disappointment(s): Kevin Mailhiot and Konstantin Makarov

It is discouraging to see concussions derail Mailhiot's career .. we don't know what Makarov's excuse is, though - he's looked like a shadow of his former self.

Most Improved Player: Lauri Korpikoski

Simply put, he wasn't that great a player going by viewings from last year and the first half of this year .. but he got stronger and took off.

Wildcard of the Draft: Blake Wheeler

The optimistic view is that Blake should be able to transfer his outstanding raw offensive skills to the college game .. but he's miles away from the pros.

Unsung Hero(s): Mike Green and David Brown

Green has not received a fair share of accolades due to playing for a terrible team .. Brown has been ignored by Central Scouting, despite showing solid pro upside.

Best Skater(s): Enver Lisin and Robbie Earl

Both are incredible pure skaters; neither normally looks like he knows where he's going.

Best Stickhandler: Alexander Ovechkin

Very strong and nifty with the puck at full speed, in traffic and sideways .. superb wingspan.

Best Playmaker(s): Evgeny Malkin and Rob Schremp

Schremp often excels as the point man, orchestrating like Pinchas Zukerman .. Malkin is better at feeds in traffic; made some unreal behind-the-back passes.

Best Agitator(s): Dane Byers and Chris Chucko

Byers has proven he can disturb better opposition with great success .. Chucko constantly gets into the opponent's face and loves to drop the gloves.

Smartest Player: Evgeny Malkin

Has often shown better awareness of his linemates than Ovechkin .. defensive maturation has been exponential.

Most Gentlemanly Player: Wojtek Wolski

A thinking man's player .. he's more concerned with deciphering offensive plays than getting in someone's grill.

Best Two-Way Forward: Rostislav Olesz

Does not get enough credit for the work he does in traffic .. utilizes his frame, stick smartly and is a rock solid presence along the boards.

Best Power Forward Potential: Lauri Tukonen

You will not find a single prototypical power forward-type in this draft, but Tukonen is the closest to that .. the likes of Ladd and Stafford lack the offensive upside to qualify.

Best Shot Power: A.J. Thelen

We mentioned before how he reminded us of Iafrate with his release and shot power .. unlike Andy Rogers and his blast, A.J. can score with his.

Best Release: Alexander Ovechkin

Would we be pushing it to say that he has the finest release for a top prospect since Mario? .. just like Kovalchuk, he can score from anywhere, and with the wrister too.

Best Acceleration: Wojtek Wolski

Give him the puck and some room and, *poof*, you can't catch him .. outstanding wheels and a quick, choppy stride.

Best Outlet Passer: Cam Barker

Barker is the only guy in the draft who, to us, looks like a budding pure puck mover .. aside from occasional wildness, his feeds are strong and crisp.

Hardest Working player(s): Andrew Ladd and Alexandre Picard

Ladd proved his detractors wrong by showing that his quick start was no fluke and he did that by working his tail off .. Picard is more of a pure sniper who plays in traffic.

Greatest Competitor: Al Montoya

This guy detests losing and gives it 100% in every outing .. his competitive nature is oftentimes a nemesis, as extra adrenaline causes lapses in concentration.

Best Bodychecker(s): Mike Green and Logan Stephenson

Sorry, no Boris Valabik here, as he is not as quick a hitter as he is a hard hitter .. these two are warriors and take the body with authority.

Best Hands: Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Radulov

Combine great wheels and soft hands to constantly bring fans out of their seats .. Radulov exhibits very Kovalev-like silky hands around the crease.

Best Vision: Rostislav Olesz

One reason to like Olesz' upside despite an average year for his standards is for the great vision he exhibits .. always knows where to go.

Strongest Player(s): A.J. Thelen and Adam Berti

Thelen stands out due to his unreal upper body strength .. Berti can be an immovable object once he plants his feet.

Best Reach: Cam Barker

Playing the puck against Barker in defensive situations is suicide; he'll turn you inside out .. has a very lively stick he'll use to intercept passes at the other end.

Best Leader: Olivier Labelle

Leads vocally and by example .. a defensive specialist who plays an intense, no-nonsense style.

Most Likely to Break Through Next Year: Wes O'Neill and Adam Pineault

Pineault has left Boston College in search of increased playing time .. an older, healthier O'Neill will fare a lot better.

Best Face-off Man: Dave Bolland

Although Bolland surprised many with his goal scoring abilities, his true forté is penalty killing, including excellent faceoff skills.

Best One-on-One Defender: Roman Tesliuk

Very agile and balanced on his feet, Tesliuk always keeps opposing attackers in front of him .. plugs holes and takes guys out without mercy.

Coolest Under Pressure: David Shantz

Showed that he has guts and fortitude in the playoffs, often carrying the IceDogs on his back .. you'd never guess he broke a sweat while he was at it.

Stealthiest Player: Martins Karsums

Those smaller players who make the show demonstrate that they can survive by outfoxing the bigger, physical punishers .. Karsums has done that all year.