NCAA: Prospect Update - Minnesota Duluth

NCAA Prospect Update - Minnesota Duluth: (posted 10.26.06)

by Max Giese

The Minnesota-Duluth program is on the rise with a strong incoming recruiting class on top of last year's extraordinary one. Legit NHL prospects such as Matt Niskanen have led the way in the program's rebirth. McKeen's was on hand for the Bulldogs' two-game series against the defending champion Wisconsin Badgers.

Alex Stalock (SJ), G, Minnesota Duluth

Athletic, unorthodox goaltender that is capable of stealing a goal with a high light real save, but is also prone to allowing a softy.. Is the first freshman goalie in Minnesota Duluth's history to win his first two starts .. very aggressive, has jackrabbit like lateral movement and lively dances around the crease area .. active, is not economical with his movements, loves to challenge the shooters, and plays on the top of his crease .. will resort to flopping and will dive head first after loose rebounds in close .. adequate gloves, blocker side is especially strong .. flexible limbs, has a wide V with good leg extension .. possesses quick legs, which allows me to make quick kick saves .. plays the puck like and acts like a third defenseman, gifted skater and passer .. breaks up the forecheck behind the net, can stretch the ice with a pass, and likes to pass the puck after he makes the initial save, at times can be adventurous outside of the crease like Marty Turco .. uses his stick aggressively, loves to poke check .. once dove head first to the top of the circles to poke check Ben Street who had a breakaway .. patient, and will stay on his feet to make a save, not a butterfly goalie ..rises to the occasion, makes his best saves when his team needs him most or when there is a flurry of action around his net .. still prone to weak goals and struggles at times to follow the puck through traffic despite his size .. needs to improve his rebound control and fundamentals, which would limit his movements .. adjusted quickly to the NCAA and has legit pro potential for his athleticism and competitiveness.

Matt Niskanen (Dal), D, Minnesota Duluth

Lead the WCHA in scoring throughout the first two weeks of the season .. a similar skater to Matt Carle .. Agile, mobile in all directions, deceptively quick but is not a blisteringly fast end-to-end skater .. possesses a fluent stride, and his first few steps are especially strong .. has exceptional hand skill for a defenseman, can make some real nice one on one moves in the neutral zone .. sees the ice very well, makes the proper outlet pass crisply every time .. can stretch the ice with a long distance pass from his own zone .. hits his man in full stride .. can thread the needle with a creative pass on the point .. creative on the point, fakes a shot and pivots swiftly to open up more options .. could be more proactive pinching in offensively, does not rush the puck up the ice on his own enough, when at times he has the open ice .. could develop more as a scoring threat still, could pinch in down low more on the power play and is hesitant to shoot at times, when he does he elects to use his low wrist shot more than a slap shot .. landed a really nice open ice hit when he caught a man with his head down and shows impressive lower body strength .. could be more physical as that was his only hit of the game, however he did take exception to the Badgers running Stalock .. clogs passing lanes well, anticipates the opposition's passes and quickly intercepts them .. will need to add strength has he still struggles with stronger opponents and could angle his man to the outside better .. can be beaten one on one to often .. looks much better this season though and is the next in line of offensive defenseman to come from the WCHA.

Mason Raymond (Van), F, Minnesota Duluth

Swift skating winger who is also a creative playmaker .. can make a nice pass through tight lanes even at full speed .. possesses exceptional vision as he finds the open lanes instinctively and does not telegraph the pass .. creative and can thread the needle through heavy traffic with a nice pass down low .. more of a playmaker than a scorer, however he can finish a play himself .. has a quickly released snap shot that is accurate in tight .. took no time to pick the top shelf corner on Brian Elliott with his nice snap shot from a poor angle .. a superb skater, has an awkward, hunched over stride that propels powerful and quick feet .. has a strong stride and he is especially fast in tight areas, is also very agile .. was not an end to end threat but can change gears and get to the outside on the defenseman .. has a quick stick with a few moves but is not a dangler .. anticipates the game well, can be a pest on the forecheck as he quickly jumps on the oppositions passes .. works hard at both ends and will go into traffic areas .. could improve defensive awareness as he can over skate his assignments .. will need to improve his balance and add strength as he can be pushed around and is often knocked off his feet .. looks like a well spent investment by Vancouver in the second round, as he could be a second liner some day.

Matt McKnight (Dal), F, Minnesota Duluth

Wears the "C," makes up for his poor skating with a good sense for the game .. has a sluggish first step, which limits his skating .. his top gear is solid but he strangely has heavy feet for a player of his size .. has adequate agility and does not have trouble staying with the play has he anticipates the game very well .. skates with his head on a swivel and sees the play a step ahead before it happens .. forechecks hard, will go to the front of the net, is effective cycling the puck .. a smart two-way player who plays on the penalty kill .. handles and protects the puck well but is not a skilled forward as he isn't a one on one threat .. has an adequate release but can't accurately shoot the puck .. an adequate playmaker, sees the ice well, not a creative threat though as he often just makes the safe play.

Michael Gergen (Pit), F, Minnesota Duluth

Small, pin ball like player with quick feet and a good release .. small but has some sand paper to his game .. shows strong puck pursuit and likes to finish his checks .. has a nose for traffic .. works hard away from the puck and back checks diligently .. didn't show much in the way of one on one moves nor a playmakers touch but he does have a strong shooting arsenal .. will shoot from anywhere inside the offensive zone .. snaps the puck off his stick in an instant and he is very accurate with his shot that packs good velocity .. quick skater, very agile and well balanced on his feet .. has a rapid set of strides that make him quick in tight spaces, his top gear is decent and he can get to the outside at times when rushing the puck up the ice himself .. a solid prospect for his chippy play along with a good shot and quick feet, however he has the ceiling as a third liner at the most.

Josh Meyers (LA), D, Minnesota Duluth

Good sized two-way defenseman who is a threat to score from the point .. plays as the gunner on the power play .. likes to keep his shots low often looking for tips and rebounds .. quickly releases his shot .. has a nice one timer .. is accurate and can pick the lower corners .. has the natural sense of when to pinch in and is savvy at getting open down low on the backside .. scored the game-tying goal against the Badgers late in the third when he snuck in on the back door and accurately one timed it low stick side .. average moving the puck, makes the simple passes on the points, but does rush a few errant passes when he is pressured trying to break the puck out of his zone .. has a stable stride but lacks quickness forwards and backwards, although his lateral movement and agility is fine .. did a good job of angling his man to the outside and showed pretty good defensive positioning .. will finish his checks and stood up for his goalie, but doesn't have a mean streak .. having a strong start to the season so far.

Mike Curry (LA), F, Minnesota Duluth

Big winger with a brash style of play .. lacks first step quickness and pivots awkwardly, however his top gear is fine once he gains some momentum .. strong on the forecheck, can land some big checks, as he's physical all over the ice .. works hard but is not an offensive threat as he lacks the touch of playmaker despite adequate vision .. in addition, he struggles to him self into any scoring chances and struggles to get the puck to the net .. size and physical play are his strengths but he almost has no offensive upside at this point .. all brute no brawn.

Jordan Fulton (Cgy), F, Minnesota Duluth

Up and down centerman who plays a simple, gritty game .. shows good puck pursuit, gets involved on the forecheck .. goes to traffic areas, and finishes all of his checks .. back checks hard although lacks the instincts of a true two-way player .. has a stable stride but he needs to improve his quickness .. lacks vision of the ice and takes to long to make even a simple pass .. protects the puck well but only has an average pair of hands .. has a nose for scoring garbage goals, crashes the net hard, and shoots the puck a lot .. has a fine release with adequate accuracy and velocity, although I don't think he'll continue to be the goal scorer he was in High School at this level.

Travis Gawryletz (Phi), D, Minnesota Duluth

Has a good feel for the game, a smart player with or without the puck but his upside is limited .. a no non-sense, smart puck distributor that gets the job done, although he tends to telegraph his passes and doesn't generate offense from them .. is willing to pinch looking to help the offensive play but isn't an offensive defenseman .. fairly strong upper body and takes the body well .. needs to improve his gap control and one on one defending off the rush as he can be beaten wide with speed, and can get caught flat-footed when the opposition attacks him head on .. has adequate agility and fairly good balance, but overall lacks quickness .. simple, smart game, but I question if he has NHL potential.

Matt Greer (CBJ), F, Minnesota Duluth

Has a good thick frame and likes to use it .. shows strong puck pursuit and is a disruptive player to the oppositions break out as he forechecks with vigor .. works hard away from the puck but isn't good with it on his stick .. lacks the soft hands and sense of an offensive player .. does a good job of working away from the puck to get open and will dig in front of the net for a rebound but that's where his offensive ability stops .. average skater, strong on his skates, tough to knock off his feet, has adequate foot speed but he lacks a top gear . has the limited upside of role player.

NCAA: Wisconsin and North Dakota Prospect Update: (posted 10.23.06)

by Max Giese

The top ranked teams from the WCHA met each other early in the season in Madison Wisconsin at the Kohl Center. The two were evenly matched all weekend as both games were won by only one goal. North Dakota won the first game 3-2 in overtime on the strength of Darcy Zajac's overtime goal. Wisconsin would respond with a Brian Elliott shut-out in their 1-0 win on Saturday Night. Five first round picks were on display, three of which were top 10 selections, two of which by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Jonathan Toews (Chi), F, North Dakota

Wears the A on his shoulder this year as a sophomore .. should have the Blackhawks drooling over his complete game .. plays on the top line with T.J. Oshie and Ryan Duncan, along with the first specialty team units .. looks to be a more fluid skater this year, not truly explosive but has a commanding stride with the ability to make strong lateral cuts, his top end gear is very decent once he gains some steam .. possesses arguably the best puck protection in College Hockey, uses his long reach to be difficult to knock off the puck, is very dangerous driving the net from the outside, looks a bit like Eric Staal in possession as he loves to drive through traffic with the puck on his stick, and will get a prime scoring chance or draw a penalty .. a dual threat to score and create, his shooting arsenal is vastly underrated .. loves to get to the slot to unleash his heavy shot, possesses a lightning quick release on his wrist shot which gets to the net in an instant and is pin-point accurate .. passes the puck instinctively, crisply, tape to tape, is a very creative playmaker that can set up his line mates for easy goals, sees the open lanes that most don't, can create plays at top speed .. very strong away from the puck, is a pest on the forecheck and back check, anticipates the play well and creates turnovers .. uses his long reach to clog passing lanes on the penalty kill, blocks a lot of shots, will finish checks and come down low to his own net to tie up his man .. has a little Joe Sakic to him, he plays a complete game and his shooting arsenal continues to become more deadly. Should join the Blackhawks after this season.

T.J. Oshie (StL), F, North Dakota

Possesses a wide variety of astonishing one on one moves and likes to do everything at full speed .. looks like a smaller Alexander Ovechkin when he rushes the puck up the ice .. has a lot of trickery with his stickhandling, is very shifty at top speeds, posses great lateral cuts of speed, can turn and change directions without loosing speed on a dime .. has superb balance, lower body strength and a surprisingly long reach with some dangle, which makes him remarkably resilient to the opposition trying to strip him of the puck .. an above average play maker, is willing to share the puck, can hit his man tape to tape at top speeds, can also get creative near the net with high risk high reward passes in close .. a fine skater with above average speed, forces the defenseman back despite lacking explosiveness, as he's very difficult to contain one on one .. a superb finisher, has the natural sense for scoring, can make a quick lateral shift to make create a screen using the oppositions defenseman, effortlessly releases the puck catching the goalies off guard, his wrist shot is heavy and precise .. played on the penalty kill for his pure athleticism, will lie down to block shots and back checks hard but likely won't be used on the PK in the NHL where he'll likely play after this season.

Brian Lee (Ott), D, North Dakota

Doesn't dominate but calmly controls the flow of the game .. possesses striking vision of the ice, takes no time to find the open man and passes crisply .. quarterbacks the power play, can get creative and find the open man on the point.. can stretch the ice with a long outlet pass but also won't rush an errant pass up the middle, and always makes the first pass out of the zone correctly .. is a threat to score with his quickly released, accurate shooting arsenal that he could use even more has a knack for knowing when to jump into the offensive rush.. is never caught up the ice though often being the only defenseman back on the odd man rushes .. stopped three clean two on ones perfectly, taking the passing lane away before using his long reach to block the shot or passing attempt .. a gifted skater with a powerful stride who doesn't often rush the puck up the ice himself, but when he needs to get back to help defensively his exceptional stride and top gear really shine .. flawless at defending his man off the rush, shows proper gap control then does a great job of pinching his man off to the outside .. looks to have added strength over the summer, strong throughout his entire frame, could use his size to be more physical despite getting feisty after the whistle when the opposition takes liberties with his netminder .. positions himself astutely in his own zone, keeps his man to the outside and possesses the strength to not allow his man to go to the net .. never jumps out at you, doesn't take control of the game, which he definitely could, but he has a lot of exceptional attributes .. his passive, almost to smart nature for the game holds him back from ever dominating the game .. he'll be a very solid #2 in the NHL down the road and should make the jump after this season.

Joe Finley (Wsh), D, North Dakota

Looks much improved this year and has been rewarded with more ice time, but is still in need of improvement before going to the NHL .. his mobility has most improved, pivots are much more fluid, he's lighter on his feet this season, this is noticeable when defending off the rush where he used to get burned to the outside by speed, this year he can skate with his man without trouble .. is a towering player who despite some added strength over the summer is still very lanky .. has a developing mean streak but is still not a physical presence as he lacks the upper body strength to be a punishing hitter .. handles the puck well, can make a nice first pass out of the zone or on the point if given time but still shows the tendency to panic under pressure, as evidence when he turned the puck over in his own zone up the middle of the ice, which lead to the game winner Saturday Night .. showing steady improvement since last year but is still a long term project who despite being a solid prospect, may not ever prove his worth of being a first round selection.

Taylor Chorney (Edm), D, North Dakota

Plays on the top pair with Brian Lee .. an above average offensive defenseman, has soft hands with adequate moves rushing the puck up the ice, protects the puck well and will eat the puck if he as to if it means avoiding an errant pass .. moves the puck well, makes crisp passes on the break out and from the point in the offensive zone, doesn't have the natural vision of teammate Brian Lee but is steady .. is a threat to score from the point, pinches in instinctively, has a quickly released one timer, keeps his shot low and gets it to the net .. an above average skater, has a strong lower body which gives him a strong stride with fine foot speed although he isn't an explosive skater, has strong lateral cuts of speed, pivots well .. still can use refinement in his own zone despite possessing promising defensive awareness, as he can be out muscled by bigger opponents who drive the net hard, is best at defending off the rush but can be beat in congested areas .. showing improvement since last season but isn't on as fast of a track to the NHL as Brian Lee nor is his upside as high .. a solid all purpose defenseman who could be in the Oilers top four mix down the road.

Chris Porter (Chi), F, North Dakota

Scored a goal Friday Night in Wisconsin but that's not his game .. a well proportioned, physical forward that makes up for his lack of offensive sense by playing with full effort every shift ..possesses a quick set of first few strides giving him strong acceleration, has top end speed is also above average .. lacks the vision of the ice to be an offensive contributor, protects the puck well but lacks the moves to drive to the net .. scores his goals by battling hard in front but lacks the nose of a goal scorer .. struggled to create plays on the power play often electing for the safe pass to the point .. useful in the offensive zone though as he opens up ice for his linemates with his wrecking ball style, ability to win battles for loose pucks, and ability to cycle the puck .. is physically involved at both ends, finishes every check with authority and is a tireless worker away from the puck .. has little offensive upside but could play in the NHL as an energy role player.

Andrew Kozek (Atl), F, North Dakota

Possesses some raw ability but still hasn't put it all together .. has a lively set of first few strides, which gives him a strong stride and acceleration, but overall he lacks a superior top end gear because of his average strength behind his stride .. plays a simple up and down game .. works hard at both ends and is willing to throw his weight around, although added strength would help him be more of a physical presence .. lacks the imagination, instincts of an offensive player .. can make a quick pass but lacks the vision to find the open lanes for scoring chances .. has a quickly released shot that has above average velocity, however he is inconsistent with his accuracy and struggles to get himself in position for prime scoring areas, overall a strong shooter .. handles the puck well but lacks any elusive one on one moves .. overall a quiet player who might be best staying at school for the full four years.

Jack Skille (Chi), F, Wisconsin

Scored his first goal of the season when he came screaming down the wing before releasing an absolute rocket top shelf short side, but his elbow was injured on the next shift and sat out Saturday nights game .. With Skille, what you see is what you get .. he still lacks the vision, creativity to be a play making threat and likely won't ever be one .. he can deliver a crisp pass tape to tape when the man is wide open but he can't pass through tight lanes .. will turn over the puck with errant passes right into the opposition .. possesses a lethal shooting arsenal, especially his wrist and snap shots .. has a rapid release, which makes the puck explode off his stick with power and deadly accuracy .. a threat to score from anywhere inside the blue line .. has a wide legged stride with a lot of vigor, has strong first step, his acceleration is above average but his top end gear is very good as he can change gears to allow him to get to the outside on the opposition, although he could still improve his in tight explosiveness, agility .. a real threat to fly down the wing, get by the defenseman, then unload his powerful shot .. possesses soft hands, while not elusive, he does have some nice one on one moves thanks to his quick lateral bursts and can drive through the opposition time to time .. only one goal, no assist in three games this year, still shows immaturity as a coach will need to find a way to make him play hard every night.

Blake Geoffrion (Nsh), F, Wisconsin

The most impressive of the freshman forwards Wisconsin dressed throughout the weekend .. a strong two-way player who plays with a constant physical edge .. landed a huge open ice hit on T.J. Oshie knocking the him off his feet, which isn't an easy task .. was tenacious on the forecheck, a real bull in traffic who battles as hard as anyone, often out racing the opposition to loose pucks and out muscling &outworking the opposition to win scrums for loose pucks .. lacks quickness, his stride is stable but he'll need to upgrade his first step along with his overall speed, however he anticipates the play well and skating didn't affect his play without the puck .. has adequate hand skill, he handles the puck easily and does have a few moves in open space but he isn't a dangler .. showcased a heavy slap shot and despite not having the most accurate shot, he did come close to scoring a few times showing a nose for being in the right place at the right time .. an asset to the penalty kill .. very good at getting himself in front of the shot and shows the guts to block shots without hesitation ..will come back to his net hard and plays with a physical edge in his own zone .. spots his man well in his own zone and sticks with him .. adjusting to the NCAA quickly and looks to have the make up of a good third liner some day.

Jamie McBain (Car), D, Wisconsin

Saw his ice time steadily increase throughout the weekend as he makes his claim as one of the best puck moving defenseman on the Badgers .. made a real nice, long distance cross-ice pass from his own zone to send in Mathew Ford for an easy breakaway goal .. looks at home running the power play from the point .. shows good vision to find the open man and shows adequate creativity too .. is a threat to score as well, possesses a strong one timer that is accurate and hard .. in addition, has a swiftly released wrist shot that he gets through traffic, low to the net for rebounds .. a smooth skater who pivots especially well .. not a grave threat to rush the puck up the ice on his own but can skate with his man off the rush .. still shows signs of immaturity, as he will rush an errant pass when he can't find an open man on the breakout if pressured .. a promising start to the season nonetheless.

Brian Elliott (Ott), G, Wisconsin

Had a rough game Friday Night after shutting out Northern Michigan in his lone start-opening weekend .. always makes the first save thanks to his large frame and near flawless positioning .. anticipates the play well and is always square to the first shooter .. possesses strong lateral movement, even from his butterfly .. possesses a quick glove, which is a strength of his game, although Friday Night he struggled to catch the puck, which lead to him giving up some juicy rebounds .. blocker side is adequate, he can be beaten blocker side by the quicker shooters but it's because of lack of elite quickness, not his technique, which is very strong ..his rebound control was noticeably poor Friday Night and will need improvement .. when he's on this is a non-issue but on off nights he gives up bad rebounds right in front of his net .. is helpful playing the puck behind the net to break up the forecheck, but can't stretch the ice and make a pass himself .. strong candidate for the Hobey Baker award, and is a leg pro prospect, as he's very strong on the first shot .. however, he will need to work on a few things if he wants to move past the AHL.

Omaha Lancers and Tri-City Storm Prospect Update: (posted 10.22.06)

by Max Giese

Nick Petrecki (2007), D, Omaha

The kind of defenseman who won't win a team any games on his own, but will definitely make it much harder for the opposition to beat his team .. I doubt he'll ever be an offensive producer in the NHL despite his ability to make a nice first pass and his strong skating ability .. he just doesn't have that natural sense for creating offense, although he does possess the raw tools to do so and he is willing to jump into the play at times, it's possible this is an aspect of his game that will come a long with maturity, as he does possess the abilities .. I'm confident he can be an Adam Foote, Robyn Regehr, or at the least a Kyle McLaren like physical presence, as he combines his superior natural body strength with a mean streak to be a formidable shut down type defenseman .. he's nearly unbeatable one on one at this level, whether it's off the rush, behind his own net, or in open ice, Petrecki delivers a powerful hit on his man and neutralizes him .. can at times get reckless finishing his checks and will loose positioning time to time, but he recovers well thanks to his superb first step .. hockey sense is fine, he tends to get to aggressive at times but he anticipates the play well, knows when to jump into the offensive rush, and maintains positioning in his own end well, especially one on one .. stands out every time I view him, you look for a guy to do one thing exceptionally well and he does that with his physical game in his own end .. his size, physical play, and skating ability are top notch and he does possess some raw offensive ability.

Nick Larson (2007), F, Omaha

The Minnesota Gophers recruit is on a ten game try-out with the Lancers before the coaching staff will decide if he is on the team or heading back to Minnesota High School Hockey. Possesses a nice 6-2 185 frame and uses it well .. goes hard to the front of the net and can difficult to move .. is a threat to score garbage goals and creates screens effectively .. has an adequate release on his shot, but he will need to upgrade both his accuracy and velocity on his shot, at his best finishing from in tight but isn't dangerous from the outside .. possesses average vision of the ice, lacks the ability to see the small lanes of a playmaker, but is smart enough to get the puck to the points in the offensive zone .. impressive at winning battles for loose pucks, does a good job of cycling the puck down low, can handle the puck in traffic thanks to his long reach, protects the puck well but lacks any elusive one on one moves .. likes to take the puck off the boards and attack the net or slot looking for a scoring chance .. has a wide legged stride with a quick first step, possess strong acceleration and an above average top end speed, which he is still learning to use as an offensive weapon .. at this time, he mostly uses his speed on the forecheck where he displays strong puck pursuit.

Brett Bruneteau (2007), F, Omaha

A subtlety skilled centerman who also plays with an edge, is being recruited heavily and should be a first day selection in the NHL draft .. Possesses a strong shooting arsenal, has a quick release, doesn't take him long to corral the loose puck then get it to the net . an accurate shooter that isn't hesitant to shoot .. while his shot doesn't carry the velocity of a pure finisher, he does have the potential to be a goal scorer at the next level .. is a heads up player who anticipates the game well, has good hockey sense and is always in position on the ice .. a crafty, but not elite playmaker who displays above average vision, moves the puck efficiently and doesn't make errant passes. The more you see him the more you appreciate his skill level that he doesn't flash brilliance with, but he's very solid & well rounded.

Keir Ross (2007), D, Omaha

Does a wonderful job of taking his man out of the play one on one, maintains near flawless defensive positioning, and does a good job taking the body .. doesn't do anything flashy but he doesn't give an inch in his own zone .. doesn't have much in the way of an offensive upside, he sees the ice well and makes the safe pass but his puck movement is robotic and he never looks to create offense it appears .. still very young, this aspect could catch on later with more confidence as he doesn't lack in the mobility department.

Will O'Neill (2007), D, Omaha

Flashy defenseman whose really coming on as of late after being passed up in last years draft. Possesses a strong first step and an above average top gear, likes to rush the puck up the ice on his own and can do so effectively .. a threat to score from the blue line, possesses a hard slap shot that is accurate even on the one timer .. a patient shooter who likes to wait for screens to develop and didn't have trouble getting his shot through .. will need to refine his positioning in his own zone and improve his play off the rush .. despite impressive straight away speed he can be beat off the rush, also will need to pick his spots better when he jumps into the offensive rush as he can be caught up the ice .. Plays a physical, reckless style in his own zone that allows him to make some big hits but it also takes him out of position.

Tristin Llewellyn (2007), D, Tri-City

Looks more comfortable handling the puck now and shows the potential to be a solid two-way defenseman .. scored the game winner in overtime when he created a turn over on his own blue line then skated it all the way to the other end where faked the slap shot, then showed patience with the puck as he held it all the way to the other side of the net where he backhanded it in .. did a fine job of quarterbacking the play from the point where made several nice passes, however he didn't create any prime scoring opportunities as he lacks that rare innate sense of an offensive defenseman .. confident with the puck on his stick, looked comfortable in possession, and did show some hand skill in this contest, especially on his game winner .. not an explosive skater but a very solid one, can skate the puck up the ice at times and can also stay with his man one on one .. his acceleration and ability to close gaps on the puck carrier quickly are above average .. plays with an edge in his own end always finishing his checks with authority, but added upper body strength would help his physical element, as he can't knock people around like Petrecki ..will need to refine his positioning in his own end as at times he can be caught running around looking for a hit but this isn't a glaring issue .. I really like his physical edge, and his offensive game is coming along, but he doesn't do any one thing exceptionally well, likely an early second round pick.

Michigan State and Western Michigan Prospect Update: (posted 10.19.06)

by Max Giese

Third ranked Michigan State split their weekend series with inner conference rival Western Michigan. Friday Night Michigan State took it to the Broncos with a convincing 4-1 victory. Nevertheless, in front of their home crowd, Western Michigan performed the upset by the final score of 3-2.

Justin Abdelkader (Det), F, Michigan State

Clearly the most gifted player on the ice all weekend .. centers the first line .. is an exceptional skater .. possesses a powerful, elegant stride which gives him a set of explosive first few strides, and while his top end gear isn't elite, it is very good .. has a very sizable frame, looks to have added both weight and height since last season .. handles the puck softly, possesses some shifty moves in the neutral zone thanks to his superb lateral bursts of speed .. has a long reach, which allows him to protect the puck well, is not a dangler, but is balanced and hard to knock off his feet or the puck .. is a threat to score and create .. his shooting arsenal is really begging to blossom .. has a quick release that generates plenty of power behind his shot, and he continues to get better at being able to pick corners .. can score from in tight and the outside, also has a strong one timer that is especially effective on the power play when he plays at the top of the slot .. a creative playmaker that sees the small lanes through the opposition's defense and can deliver a crisp pass .. developing a physical edge, uses his speed to close the gap instantly on the puck carrier quickly and finishes his checks with authority, finally starting to use his size by landing a few heavy checks throughout the weekend ..a fine two way player who plays on the first penalty kill unit, uses his speed to agitate the point men .. will block a shot and back checks hard .. above average in the face off circle, belongs at center .. had a strong freshman year and is poised to make himself one of the more well known names in college hockey this season, and is on the fast track to the pro game, has a little Jeff Carter in him.

Mike Ratchuk (Phi), D, Michigan State

Small, skilled offensive defenseman is having a strong start to the season in the offensive zone, but still leaves much to be desired in his own zone .. a gifted skater, possesses superior agility, pivots laterally with power effortlessly .. reaches his top gear in an instant thanks to a blistering set of first few strides, does not exert much effort to reach full speed, so he's deceptively fast .. an imaginative playmaker that can quarterback the power play .. can thread the needle with a crisp pass through heavy traffic, displays superb vision to find the open lanes most can't .. possesses a heavy slap shot that he releases quickly and he can pick corners with it from long range ..likes to jump into the play offensively, some times neglecting his defensive assignments and wasn't a threat to rush it up the ice on his own .. well balanced and stays on his feet in physical areas .. will need to upgrade his strength as he can still be pushed around by bigger forwards .. however, he does get feisty at times and will attempt to throw a hit .. will need to refine his defensive positioning as he can be caught out of position, running around in his own zone, at times letting his man beat him cleanly .. struggles to move traffic away from his crease, big opponents who cycle well give him fits .. uses his stick to much instead of his body leading to undisciplined penalties, which should only become more constant in the obstruction crackdown in the pro game .. has that innate ability to create offense from the point that you can't coach.

Ryan Turek (StL), F, Michigan State

Mostly plays on the wing however during the power play and when the teams play four on four he'll drop back and play defense .. skated on the second line throughout the weekend .. a smooth skater for a bigger player, however his speed doesn't stand out as much at this level has he hasn't learned how to harness his speed more consistently just yet .. doesn't use his speed to be an effective one on one player and is often bottled up by the opposition's defenseman .. likes to get involved physically, first in on the forecheck often showing strong puck pursuit .. finishes his checks hard .. despite his above average frame, he can be knocked off his feet rather, easily as he will need to add both upper body and lower body strength, as well as improve his balance .. was an opportunistic scorer in the USHL with an accurate shot in close but so far has struggled to get himself into scoring opportunities at this level .. arguably at his best away from the puck .. plays on the penalty kill, pressures the point men .. blocks shots well .. disrupts passing lanes with his above average reach .. shows strong puck pursuit and closes the gap on the puck carrier adequately .. having a slow transition but still has the tools to be an effective role player.

Jim McKenzie (Ott), F, Michigan State

Has a big 6-2 205 frame with good strength and balance .. his strong upper body allows him to shield the puck well and when the opposition attempts to check him, he can make them bounce off .. likes to throw his weight around at both ends of the ice .. excels in congested areas .. cycles the puck well, and is very strong along the boards .. goes to the front of the net on the power play .. an accurate finisher in tight, quickly releases his shot that is fairly heavy .. on the down side, his accuracy tends to dissipate the further away from the net he is .. scored a goal by disappearing on the backside then knocking home the one timer top shelf .. loves to shoot and isn't hesitant to shoot from the outside, likes to pull the puck from the boards to the slot and unloads a heavy wrist shot .. protects the puck well but doesn't have any elusive moves and will over handle the puck at times .. can get creative time-to-time moving the puck especially in close however he is just an average playmaker most of the time showing only adequate vision.. overall he lacks quickness, has average foot speed for a big man and he lacks strength behind his stride, will need to improve his speed for the next level .. could grow a mean streak and finish more checks, also could use his size to drive the net more on his own .. will come down low in his own zone to help out defensively, and will get involved physically in his own end more so than at the oppositions .. an above average power forward at this level, but I hesitate to say he'll transition well to the pro game until he improves his quickness, hockey sense.

Tim Kennedy (Buf), F, Michigan State

A crafty, quick, playmaker with good awareness away from the puck .. a creative playmaker, can make nice passes at full speed and can make passes through tight lanes .. made a nice, ice stretching pass through the neutral zone on the penalty kill but teammate Tim Crowder couldn't finish the semi breakaway .. makes a lot of nice passes from the half wall on the power play .. has a good feel for where his linemates are at all times as he can make a pass without having to look, such as drop passes .. struggles to get his shot through .. seems to panic with the puck when he is about to shoot .. will hesitate allowing the defense and goaltender to get a beat on his shot .. he does have a fairly accurate shot but it lacks velocity .. has a few quick moves, not so much at top end speeds but is elusive in tight spaces .. more quick than fast, he has a strong stride with quick feet that allows him get to top speed in just a few strides, lacks a superior top gear, however he is faster while gliding than some our skating .. uses his speed to be strong in puck pursuit .. gets in on the forecheck quickly, also catches his man from behind on the back check .. will go to traffic areas but doesn't finish checks .. has adequate balance .. a craft player who is quick and can be a creative playmaker but will have to continue to battle lack of size/strength.

Tim Crowder (Pit), F, Michigan State

Scored two goals opening night but was held off the stat sheet Sunday afternoon despite finding himself with plenty of opportunities .. has a goal scorers release, gets a real nice snap off of his wrist shot that produces good velocity and he can pick his spots .. a threat to score coming down from the wing as he drives to the net and can unleash his shot at top speeds .. anticipates the play well which makes up for his lack of quickness, as his top gear and acceleration are just average, still wins his fair share of battles to loose pucks .. strong down low, cycles the puck effectively as he protects the puck real well .. has a soft pair of mitts, doesn't dangle the puck but does have an array of one on one moves, most effective is his inside, toe drag to the outside move .. works hard in his own zone although he lacks the awareness to be a defensive specialist in the pro game .. he is a natural goal scorer who also does the grunt work down low.

Nick Sucharski (CBJ), F, Michigan State

Scored a goal that was all effort when he somehow controlled the puck with a defender draped all over him before finding an open seem five whole to tie up the game late .. receives little ice time as he's mostly used on the fourth line .. has an untapped offensive upside to him as he possesses a heavy shot, he also will go hard to the net and can find the loose puck in a scrum for a garbage goal .. however, that will likely never be his game .. shows strong puck pursuit, is effective on the cycle as he can protect the puck well .. lacks the vision to create, and if he has the puck on his stick, he takes the shortest route to the net .. has fine acceleration but he lacks a separation gear which hinders him when in possession of the puck .. a fine collegiate player potentially but I question what Columbus saw in him as an NHL prospect, possibly they just wanted to ad character to the depth chart.

Chris Frank (Phx), D, Western Michigan

Despite only standing at 6 foot 1, he possesses astonishing upper body strength .. delivers devastating checks when in tight spaces or in the open ice where he shows a knack for catching the opposition with their head down .. he's a Doug Murray like prospect and physical presence .. plays mean on occasion, clears his crease effectively, and gets a tremendous push on the opposition from his upper body .. gets nasty after the whistle and I see him fighting once he gets into the pro game .. composed with the puck but lacks the vision to create any offense moving the puck .. he does make the safe plays moving the puck, and didn't hurt his team with an errant pass .. knows his limitations and often passes the puck to his defensive partner if he receives the puck on the point .. has a howitzer point shot that he is hesitant to use and doesn't utilize it its full potential .. will never be an offensive defenseman balanced on his feet, stable stride, but he lacks quickness and a top end gear .. a real physical player with exceptional upper body strength who sticks within his limitations .. Affectionately called "Frank the Tank" by the locals, he could some day be a 5th-6th defenseman who could do the steady, dirty work allowing an offensive minded partner to play his game.

2006 Hockey East Preview: (posted 10.18.06)

by Vincent Montalbano

University of Maine

Hockey East Coaches Poll – 3rd

National Ranking Preseason Polls (USCHO.com/ CSTV) – 11th

Outlook:

Head Coach Tim Whitehead and the Black Bears had a lot to prove last year after losing Jimmy Howard last minute to the pros. They needed to rely on unproven goaltender Ben Bishop, and his performance was near perfect. With a solid returning and impressive incoming freshman, Maine should definitely be a contender for the top team in the nation. Last years leading scorer Greg Moore and his 45 points will need to be replaced. Maine will look for Michel Leveille and Josh Soares to repeat their tremendous season of 40 and 41 points, respectively.

Goaltenders: (1 returning/ 1 lost/ 1 newcomers)

Coach Whitehead said he is looking for Ben Bishop to build off his freshman campaign to become on of elite goaltenders in college hockey. "Ben thought he was going to be Jimmy Howard's understudy, but to his credit, he did a fabulous job helping us get to the Frozen Four." His 21-win season proved he can handle a full load of games, and it remains to be seen whether he can take this team back to the Frozen Four and even further. Freshman David Wilson will be looking to push Bishop for playing time.

Defensemen: (7 returning/ 2 lost/ 1 newcomer)

Junior Bret Tyler returns as the leading scoring among the defenseman. His 23 points followed up a 20 point freshman campaign and is a power play specialist at the point. Coach Whitehead remarked that the two defenseman they lost will be the maybe the biggest holes to fill. Senior Mike Lundin is a steady defender that chips in with some offense as evident with his 16 points last season. One defender Coach Whitehead is looking to contribute more on a nightly basis is sophomore Simon Danis-Pepin. He got progressive stronger and was used in more situations as the season went on.

Forwards: (12 returning/ 4 lost/ 5 newcomers)

Last seasons team led Hockey East in offense and the graduating class left a big hole. Seniors Michel Leveille and Josh Soares are looking for someone to fill the void left by Greg Moore and play on their line, and the lucky player could be freshman Ted Purcell. According to Coach Whitehead, Purcell will be the coming in with "positive experience" and is expected to contribute right away. Juniors Billy Ryan and Keenan Hopson are also going to need to build on their 28 and 23 points, respectively.

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Hockey East Coaches Poll – 7th

National Ranking Preseason Polls (USCHO.com/ CSTV) – NR

Outlook:

Head Coach Don Cahoon and the Minuteman have a tough road ahead of them if they cannot find someone to fill the goals and points left by Stephen Werner (27 points) and defenseman Marvin Degon (29 points). In goal, sophomore Jon Quick has been given the nod to start the majority of the games and be the go-to-guy while the team looks to find its offensive game. His win-lose stats do not look very appealing (4-10), but if anyone watch him in action, they would see why the Kings picked him in the 3rd round in 2005. At forward, senior captain Matt Anderson, senior Chris Capraro, and sophomore Chris Davis will be relied upon to score more goals than their single digit totals last season.

Goaltenders: (2 returning/ 1 lost/ 1 newcomers)

Graduate Gabe Winer was a four-year starter and is now passing the torch to sophomore Jon Quick. Quick is one of the highest-rated netminding prospects in the nation, and played in 17 games total last season to get a taste of the college game. It is easy to believe that early in the season, the Minuteman will go as far as Quick and the other goalies can carry them. Pushing Quick for playtime will be junior Jamie Gilbert and freshman Dan Meyers.

Defensemen: (5 returning/ 1 lost/ 3 newcomer)

The returning 5 defenseman give the Minuteman the experience needed to help the team from surrendering 30 to 40 shots a game, but only junior Mike Kostka (2 goals) and sophomore Topher Bevis (1 goal) scored from the point and it does not come close to Degon's 10 goals and 29 point season. Freshman Martin Nolet (6'3" from Quebec City, QC) and Justin Braun could see a significant amount of ice time right from the start.

Forwards: (15 returning/ 3 lost/ 3 newcomers)

Stephen Werner left a lot of points to fill on a team that had only two players' score over 10 goals (other was defenseman Marvin Degon). Senior captain Matt Anderson, senior Chris Capraro, and sophomore Chris Davis are the top three returning players. Coach Cahoon also looks for an increase in production from sophomore Cory Quick and P.J. Fenton. On a team that needs to score more goals, freshman Will Ortiz and Sam D'Agostino could find themselves pushed into a bigger role early in the season.

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Hockey East Coaches Poll – 9th

National Ranking Preseason Polls (USCHO.com/ CSTV) – NR

Outlook:

Head Coach Blaise MacDonald could be in for a long season, but definitely has created a solid foundation to build around for the next few years. The biggest blow to the River Hawks season was Peter Vetri leaving the program. The 2004-05 Hockey East Rookie of the Year and starting goalie over the past two seasons gives sophomore Vinny Monaco and two incoming freshman a chance to prove their ability, as it could turn into an open audition for the starting job. The team lost 14 players total from last year's team, but the recruiting class could be seen as a step in the right direction, and if they adapt quickly, could be a surprise team later in the season.

Goaltenders: (1 returning/ 1 lost/ 2 newcomers)

Job opening: starting goalie wanted! Vetri left the program leaving a big question mark between the pipes in Lowell. Sophomore Vinny Monaco played in only 3 games (all Hockey East contests) last season, but will get the ball first to prove he is ready to start all the games. Recruits Nevin Hamilton and Carter Hutton have walked into a tremendous opportunity that could see all goalies getting a chance to prove themselves behind a young team.

Defensemen: (4 returning/ 5 lost/ 5 newcomer)

This could be a strength on this young team. Senior trio of J.R. Bria, Cleve Kinley, and Jake Pence provide a solid groundwork for a team in need of leadership. It is the 5 newcomers that will be looked upon to get acquainted with the rigors of college hockey quickly. Coach MacDonald will look to freshman Jeremy Dehner and Nick Schaus (USHL Defenseman of the Year) to contribute right away and help the River Hawk power play.

Forwards: (8 returning/ 8 lost/ 8 newcomers)

Bobby Robins and Danny O'Brien leave a lot of points to fill. Senior captain Jason Tejchma, senior Jeremy Hall, and sophomore Mark Roebethan are the top three returning players. Coach MacDonald is looking for his incoming recruits to be the foundation of team that looks to be competitive in the next few years. A talented group of young forwards could also prove to pay dividends this year. Freshman Jason Bergeron, Kory Falite, Chris Auger (06 draft pick by Chicago, 169th overall), Frank Stegnar, Jonathan Maniff, and Ben Holmstrom all could become key members of this team by years end, but expect some growing pains along the way.

Merrimack College

Hockey East Coaches Poll – 10th

National Ranking Preseason Polls (USCHO.com/ CSTV) – NR

Outlook:

Head Coach Mark Dennehy, like Lowell coach MacDonald, could be in for a long season. According to Coach Dennehy, "I am not a history major, but if you gather the last 22 to 23 coach's poll, the top four will always be the top four with some exceptions. You have a group fighting to be in that middle group that is trying to knock off someone in the top group. We are fighting to get into that middle group." They lost leading scorer Rob Ricci to discipline reasons of team violation. He is back on campus and will be expected to come back next year. Coach Dennehy is excited about the leadership he is bringing back this year, specifically captain defenseman Ryan Sullivan. In terms of expectation of his ten incoming recruits, Coach Dennehy is quick to say, "Expectation is a dangerous word . . . we talk about goals and each freshman will have different goals. I look at Mike Vaskivuo being able to hit the ground running because of what he has been able to do in the past and defensemen Joe Loprieno (USHL) and Pat Bowen should also hit the ground running. These guys are not young, just inexperienced at this level." He also said what was attractive to many of these young players was the chance to come in and play right away.

Goaltenders: (2 returning/ 0 lost/ 1 newcomers)

Despite senior Jim Healey and sophomore Patrick Watson splitting time last season, it looks like another open audition for the starter with incoming freshman Andre Brathwaite joining the mix. Coach Dennehy views the strength of this team is his goaltenders and sees Healey and Watson as a strong tandem in net. Watson is coming off an excellent freshman campaign, which twice he earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors. Despite his 2-7-2 record, Watson had a team-best 2.72 goals against average. Senior Healey led the team in wins and saves last season. Coach Dennehy says he showed flashes of his Hockey East All-Rookie Team performance a few years back.

Defensemen: (5 returning/ 3 lost/ 4 newcomer)

The Warriors lost a lot on defense with the graduation of Bryan Schmidt, Rob LaLonde, and Scott Drewicki. Senior captain Ryan Sullivan will be asked to lead a group of inexperienced blueliners. Freshman Joe Loprieno, Pat Bowen, David Burkholder, and Brandon Sadlowski will all seem to get a lot of ice time and need to prove early that they can handle the pressure.

Forwards: (9 returning/ 7 lost/ 7 newcomers)

Rob Ricci (disciplined reasons) and Matt Johnson are gone and these players were Merrimack's only scorers with over 10 goals. Senior Mike Alexiou, junior Hank Carisio, and senior Justin Mills are the top returning scorers with Alexiou totaling 13 points (only 2 goals). Coach Dennehy will look for his 7 incoming freshman to come ready to play and try to adapt to the college game as quickly as possible. Freshman Mike Vaskivuo, Matt Jones, J.C. Robitaille, Pat Kimball, and Justin Bonitatibus all could see significant ice time early on in the season.

Coach Quotes:

Merrimack Head Coach Mark Dennehy: "We are going to have ten freshmen who at times some of them are going to play a significant role . . . we are going to be a team of two halves with a huge growth in the first half and the freshman by Christmas break will not be freshman anymore, but sophomores and they are going to need to play that way."