NCAA: Sioux Lookout

This year's incarnation of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux doesn't possess the elite quality of players such as Jonathan Toews, Zach Parise, or T.J. Oshie, however, it's still a roster filled with NHL prospects, including Washington Capitals first-round pick in 2005 Joe Finley. McKeen's director of scouting Max Giese files this report on Finley and several of his teammates.

Chris VandeVelde (Edm), C, North Dakota

A subtle, big winger with some qualities that could translate to NHL success .. an adequate skater with long, economical strides but still needs to work on his quickness .. a competent goal scorer with uncanny focus and accuracy from within the slot .. he's capable of utilizing the entire net to score and can disarm goaltenders with his compact release .. blessed with a supple pair of mitts and can cradle the puck even when his body is positioned awkwardly .. big and can lean on defenders down low while shielding the puck before distributing it effectively to the middle of the ice inside of the offensive zone .. defensively sound, VandeVelde is on the penalty-kill and is polished in the faceoff circle .. has good size (6-2, 206) and is a decent net presence on the powerplay .. still has another level of strength and physicality within that he must reach to play in the NHL.

Joe Finley (Wsh), D, North Dakota

A gigantic-sized defenseman, Finley was a first-round pick by the Washington Capitals in 2005 .. he seems like the type of player that is solid in every facet of the game, but just not quite good enough at anything to be a real force .. partnered with the miniature-sized puckmover Chay Genoway .. a natural athlete and a fairly nimble skater considering his size, although his poor lateral mobility prevents him from being able to maintain tight gaps, as he routinely gets beaten one-on-one off the rush when he decides to close the ice and take the body .. handles the puck well in the sense that he can calmly make the first pass, but he is prone to coughing the puck over on the point and lacks the touch to be offensively productive at the next level .. doesn't see the ice all that bad, but he lacks the finesse to send the puck through the lanes that his eyes are identifying .. blessed with an enormous reach and is a pillar of strength along the boards .. has a colossal frame (6-7, 245) and he exploits this gift by being an aggressive physical presence .. problem is that he can become too aggressive and needs to become more patient inside the defensive zone.

Jason Gregoire (NYI), LW, North Dakota

The odds will always be against Gregoire because of his lack of size and explosiveness, but his quality vision of the ice and hockey sense make him a strong prospect that might defy the odds and play in the NHL .. showing signs of improvement to his skating and speed, but he still lacks first-step quickness .. his soft hands enable him to accurately pass the puck with crispness and to receive passes fluently .. never shy to attack traffic with the puck and can finish with a snappy release .. his exceptional vision and puck smarts stand out the most, and he also does a nice job working in space to be an open outlet in the offensive zone .. simply put, Gregoire has an innate feel for game with superb anticipation .. does a great job maintaining an active stick and clogging the passing lanes while on the penalty kill .. senses when to pressure the puckcarrier and creates numerous turnovers .. not all that large or physical, but he wins the majority of puck battles he takes on because of his strong stick and willingness to pay the price .. his versatility bodes well for his playing future, as he can handle all three forward positions.

Andrew Kozek (Atl), RW, North Dakota

This Atlanta Thrashers' second round pick owns an NHL-caliber shot, as it's an absolute missile that is fatal for goaltenders if he gets it off from within the top of the circles .. what he'll need to prove to play in the NHL is that he can get into and score in NHL traffic, as right now most of his activity is kept to the perimeter because of his smallish stature .. a lively skater that usually thrives with quality speed, but he seemed to be lumbering through an injury this weekend and had a hitch in his stride .. doing a better job activating in space to find room for his big shot .. backchecks hard, but he runs around a bit defensively and isn't on the penalty kill .. seeing limited icetime right now on the fourth line, but will likely receive a contract from Atlanta because of his shot and skating.

Brett Hextall (Phx), RW, North Dakota

Small, courageous winger that plays with a good amount of energy and has a feisty streak within .. wins the majority of foot races he takes on and will take or give the hit to make the play .. has good wheels and foot speed for someone that appears as if he's trying to touch his head to the ceiling as he skates .. has had a productive freshman year and is on the first powerplay unit .. fairly creative, will venture into traffic, and never hesitates to get pucks on net .. backchecks hard and displays good defensive marks, although his lack of size has him losing some important one-on-one battles within his own zone.

Ben Blood (Ott), D, North Dakota

A big boy at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds .. is never going to be a pure skater, but he does stride with good form .. has a deceptive skill level, as he's not a flashy puckmover that puts up points on the powerplay, but he handles the puck with ease and makes a clean first pass .. has been poised, efficient and very steady on the third-pairing as he gets eased into the lineup during his freshman season .. defensively, he's at his best while he keeps it simple and boxes out opponents with his strength and positioning .. only seems to get into trouble when he goes chasing for something that is not there, which is a rare occurrence.

Bradley Eidsness (Buf), G, North Dakota

Athletic, hybrid-goaltender that uses standup and butterfly techniques to stop the puck .. gifted skater with fast lateral movement and he's committed to finding the post .. doesn't open up while moving side-to-side .. marginally sized (6-0, 173) but he plays bigger because he challenges the puck .. employees a compact butterfly, which manufactures a wide-V and he keeps his shoulders upright .. guilty of going down too early at times, but he still possesses the skill to make a reactionary save by kicking out a leg or flashing his sharp glove hand .. has the athleticism to fall back and scramble, although he doesn't needlessly flop for the most part .. tracks pucks well and is able to adjust to secondary scoring opportunities .. uses his stick well, however he doesn't always keep his stick home .. needs to improve his rebound control and his mental toughness is a concern, because when things go wrong they really go wrong .. loses his angles at times and is prone to getting beaten off the rush by the shooting winger.