NHL Draft: Profiles 21-25
21. Patrick White C-LW, Grand Rapids (USHS)
The Minnesota Gophers
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recruit is a highly skilled twoway
center with an intrinsic
offensive sense and a soft and
quick pair of hands, which
make him effective in the faceoff
circle.
He's a stable skater who
could use upgrades in his agility
and quickness, a clutch
player with a knack for elevating
his play at key times in a
game.
"He likes to attack the opposition
one-on-one where he is
dangerous using his combination
of speed and hand skill,"
said one American scout.
"He is poised with the puck
as he doesn't hurry a pass and
has a knack for drawing the
opposition to him to allow his
linemates to get open before
dishing off a creative pass."
His quick release with
sneaky velocity and precision
accuracy make him a sniper as
well, and while he needs to
bulk up he is willing to go into
high traffic areas where he
covers the puck well while displaying
impressive balance.
"He's underrated defensively
and makes the little plays in
all three zones as he's blessed
with intuitive hockey sense,"
noted another scout.
"He's a very, very skilled kid.
He didn't win a lot of battles,
but he needs to add strength.
A guy with a lot of talent, very
talented, great hands, a good
shot as I discovered."
22. Brett MacLean LW, Oshawa (OHL)
The Port Elgin, Ont. native
(Erie's first round choice, 11th
overall, in the 2004 OHL
Priority Selection) has taken
his game to a new level this
season.
MacLean kept climbing the
scoring charts in the second
half of the season.
Unfortunately his impressive
100-point campaign is being
shunned by many because he
was playing with the best
young junior player in the world
in John Tavares. Combine that
with issues about his skating
and many scouts don't like him
in the top 20 of the draft, some
not even the top 30.
"He can really shoot the
puck, and can pass the puck
smartly as well," said one
scout who wasn't sold on
MacLean earlier in the year.
"Not overly competitive, but
he's starting to get it and working
harder lately, but he's kind
of heavy footed, his skating
reminds me a bit of Petr
Sykora. Skating is the issue,
but he can score".
"He's really coming on,"
added another scout. "I think
you're looking at a first rounder.
Great shot, good passer,
deceiving stride. Skating was
thought to be a problem but it's
improving."
"He's very smart on both
sides of the puck," added
another. "He is able to hold on
to it, even against quicker
defenders."
23. Simon Hjalmarsson RW-C, Frolunda (Swe)
A smart, skilled winger (who
can also play center),
Hjalmarsson has smooth skating
and strong fundamentals
for an offensive player.
What makes Hjalmarsson
stand out from the crowd in
Swedish junior is his stellar
offensive imagination and
crafty stickhandling.
"He can create nifty offensive
plays out of almost nothing
and has improved on his
finishing skills this season,"
noted Swedish scout Jante
Abrahamsson, "making him a
more well-rounded offensive
threat.
"Overall, his skating is
slightly above average, as his
stride could be even more fluid
at times, although he still has
enough speed to break away
from defencemen.
"He isn't a physical player,
but doesn't back away from a
battle or avoid traffic, and
knows how to cover the puck.
He doesn't back down."
Some scouts are concerned
about his skating however, and
think he has a long way to go
strength-wise before he's ready
for NHL action.
"He's not a first rounder,"
contended one scout that
watched him closely at the
Under 18's. "You wouldn't
believe how small he is, and
his skating isn't great. He's
smart, and I like his offensive
skills but our guys in Europe
don't like him."
24. Brandon Sutter C-RW, Red Deer (WHL)
Not many draft eligible players
bring the intelligence,
defensive awareness and
anticipation that Sutter does
every night; it's what may
make him a top-20 pick.
"He's an all-around forward,
the most NHL-ready draftee
available based solely on
game smarts," noted a scout.
A natural center, he has
excelled on right wing in a twoway
role as the defensive conscience
on the Rebels' top line
with talented imports Kirill
Starkov and Martin Hanzal.
"He's always in the right
position - a subtle player, very
good skater. You don't get a
true sense of his skill level until
you watch him up close."
At season's end he moved
back to center with Hanzal out,
the position he'll likely play in
the NHL given his anticipatory
skills and defence.
"He's weak and skinny, but
plays against other team's top
guys and does well whether it's
at an under 18 tournament or
in the WHL. But is he going to
be able to get much stronger?"
Sutter, who has grown to
almost 6-3 this season, needs
to bulk up and continue to
upgrade his puck tenacity.
"Scouts say he's good,"
noted one scout who's not a
fan. "I see him and I tell them
'I'm not drinking the Sutter
koolaid.' I can't figure that kid
out. He's weak, doesn't win
many battles. I see a checker."
25. Jonathon Blum D, Vancouver (WHL)
His skills and intelligence
have been compared to teammate
Cody Franson, in particular
his first pass, which is usually
right on the money.
Blum needs to improve his
strength, and quickness in his
skating, but he has a real gift
for keeping the puck in the
offensive zone.
"He makes smart passes on
the power play," said one
western scout. "He's also
smart positionally in his own
zone, and plays opposing forwards
well one-on-one as long
as they're not trying to outmuscle
him.
"What really stands out is
how smart he plays, and
scouts always like to see that
trait in a young defenceman."
Blum was steady during
the Giant's Memorial Cup run.
"He can control the tempo
of the game, and his skating is
improving," noted a scout who
went to see him one last time
during the Memorial Cup.
Nevertheless the same scout
doesn't think Blum will be a
top-15 pick because of the risk
concerning his lack of size and
strength.
Once considered a top 12
pick, Blum may slip to the end
of the first round because of
strength and skating concerns.
"If someone wants to look
past his weight and his skating
issues, he may go in the 20
range, but for his size he's not
a great skater, and he's so
weak."