NHL Draft: Profiles 26-30
26. Ian Cole D, NTDP (USA)
Perhaps no defenceman did
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more for his draft ranking at
the Under-18's than Cole, who
was a solid presence on the
American blueline.
Noted as the strongest player
on the development team,
Cole made large strides in his
all-around game this season.
"He was really improved,"
noted one scout who had Cole
pegged as a late second-round
pick earlier in the season.
"He's strong kid. His forward
skating is good, but his
pivoting needs work.
"He was the guy that moved
up the most on my list from the
tourney. I think 20-30. He's
got some offensive upside, didn't
get PP opportunities, but I
think he can do that, he's a little
dynamic.
"He got better and better.
He's a helluva competitor, and
has an edge to his game."
Cole, who is committed to
Notre Dame, has a long reach
in which he uses to his advantage
in poking away passes.
He's good at forcing players
to the outside in one-on-one
situations, and while he's not a
nasty presence he's not afraid
to throw his sturdy 210-pound
frame around either.
"He plays a smart game
with decent balance and lowerbody
strength," added a scout.
"He has adequate vision,
doesn't panic with the puck in
the defensive zone and likes to
jump into the play on offence
when it's the right time."
27. Mark Katic D, Sarnia (OHL)
Katic is one of those rare
specimens on defence that
come along every few years.
He is without question one of
this year's or any year's top
skaters, and it's what's likely
going to make him a firstround
pick, or early second at
worst.
"He's probably the best lateral
skater," said one scout.
"Inside, outside, forward and
backwards, he can do it all.
He's one of those rare players
that can pick up speed on his
edges, when he's turning."
There are some questions
about his play in his own
zone, particularly given his
size, but he made strides
defensively this season, and
he impressed scouts by putting
up one of the better bench
press totals for defencemen at
the combine.
"His physical urgency in his
own end is much improved,"
said one scout who is having
a hard time slotting Katic. "He
has a very quick stick which
he uses well defending. What
really impresses me is his
transition game; not many are
as quick going from defence to
offence."
Katic had some solid
games for Canada at the
Under-18's, as expected on
the larger ice, but he wore
down according to one scout.
"He was really good the first
few games, not so good at the
end. He will have trouble with
the size."
28. Dana Tyrell LW-C, Prince George (WHL)
The WHL's biggest draft
secret from earlier in the season
is no longer toiling in
anonymity.
"He's starting to get noticed,"
said one scout in dismay in
January. "I was hoping we
could steal him in the third...it's
not going to happen now."
No it's not. Tyrell's terrific
all-around game and elite skating
skills may earn him a firstround
selection in the 2007
draft.
Scouts are concerned about
his inconsistency on the scoresheet
however.
He notched 10 goals in his
last 15 games to join the
WHL's top goal scorers with
30, but then his goal scoring
dried up during Prince
George's successful playoff
run, when he potted just one
goal in 15 playoff contests
playing on a checking line.
"He's a streaky scorer,"
noted a western scout recently.
"I think he'll be a third liner.
He's not going to overhandle
the puck and he's got some
jam."
Tyrell plays a high energy,
physical game that will almost
certainly translate to an NHL
role as a checking-line player
at the very least.
"He kind of came out of
nowhere this season," conceded
one scout. "Boy he can
sure skate. He's such a terrific
skater, and he competes - he
battles hard at both ends of the
rink."
29. Thomas Hickey D, Seattle (WHL)
One of the most natural
skaters of the draft, Hickey
doesn't use his wheels as often
as some scouts would like.
"He's an underachiever,"
bemoans one WHL follower
who wanted to see more
offence and effort from the 5-
11 blueliner.
"He stops moving his feet
when the puck arrives on his
stick. He's technically a
superb skater, but he's inefficient.
Moving forward he's one
of the top skaters in the draft,
very smooth and effortless.
"He could really take
charge of the game offensively,
and he doesn't. He also needs
to improve his defensive play
as he gets beat down low on
the cycle despite being a great
skater".
Other scouts aren't as concerned
with his effort, and point
to his smart, steady play as the
main reason they like him in
the first round.
"He just knows how to play
the game," noted one scout
who has him solidly
entrenched as a first-round
prospect. "He's really smart,
and is a very capable defender.
His speed and smarts also give
him some offensive upside.
He sees the ice well and can
move the puck."
Hickey is expected to be
picked somewhere between
the 20th and 35th selections, a
second-tier defencemen that
would be a surefire top-20 pick
if he were three inches taller.
30. Teddy Ruth D, NTDP (USA)
No group of players helped
their cause more than
American defencemen in the
past two months, and "Teddy"
Ruth was no exception, having
a standout performance at the
Under-18's and following that
up with strong interviews at the
scouting combine.
"He had a really impressive
interview," said one team's
director of player recruitment
and development. "He's a
really good guy, a character
kid. It's an important thing to
have on your team."
Ruth, who played on the
NTDP-17 last season (60
games, 4-8-12), boasts a solid
frame, with powerful legs.
"He's extremely strong on
his skates and loves to hit. He
will jump up in to open ice to
deliver a bone-crushing blow.
He's basically like a seek-anddestroy
missile in open ice."
Scouts noted that he sometimes
allows the puck to get
away from him while carrying
it, and hope he's able to further
develop his puckhandling
skills. They have no such concerns
with his combativeness.
"He's a fearless competitor
who will do things like dropping
down to block a shot and taking
a hit to make a play. He's
also a smart defender, and
pretty good puck mover."
Ruth may end up being
picked in the first round. Based
on the way he's rising on draft
charts, perhaps he'll even be
considered in the top 20.