NHL Draft: Profiles 31-35
31. Tommy Cross D, Westminster (USHS)
Cross caught scouts' attention
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last summer at the Under-
18's in the Czech Republic.
Paired with Kevin Shattenkirk,
they were the Americans' most
effective defensive pairing at
the tournament.
Cross brings an intriguing
package of size and skating
ability that scouts are going to
find tough to pass up in the
first round even if he is a very
raw project at this time.
"Great body, but needs to
grow into it," notes one of our
USHS scouts. "For a guy 6-3
he does not take away a lot of
space. Needs to get stronger
and be more assertive."
That assertiveness includes
when he has the puck, as he
showed at the Under 18's.
"He's not the most skilled or
willing puckhandler at this
time," noted one pro scout who
attended the tournament.
"Mind you he's a late '89,
and if he were three days
younger he'd be a highly touted
prospect for next year's
draft, and be forgiven somewhat
for lacking assertiveness
in a tournament where he's the
youngest draft eligible player."
Not all scouts are sold on
his upside due to his lack of
confidence when in possession
of the puck. "He's a soft puck
mover, but at the Under-18's
he got better each game. I
don't know if he has a top-four
upside though. He keeps it
pretty simple with the puck."
32. David Perron RW, Lewiston (QMJHL)
In 70 games this season as
a QMJHL rookie, Perron had
39 goals and 44 assists,
including 19 points in his last
12 games. He followed that
up by leading all QMJHL rookies
in playoff scoring. For a
player that needs to work on
his strength, he never slowed
down, production-wise at least.
There aren't many
prospects with Perron's hands;
he could stickhandle in a
phone booth full of college
frats with a medicine ball and a
wet noodle.
"Skating is a problem," said
one scout in February, whose
sentiment was echoed by
many. "I think he's a helluva
junior, good hands and
instincts, good on power plays
- he's on the outside a lot. But
he's very weak on his skates .
Maybe he gets drafted in the
fourth or fifth - he gets stronger
he could be a third rounder."
Lewiston coach Clem
Jodoin suspected he'd impress
in the playoffs and sway many
of his detractors, and he was
right.
Many scouts are now conceding
that Perron's offensive
skill might earn him a top-30
selection.
"He's a ball breaker," noted
one scout. "He's got all the
skill, but looks like a shinny
player. Probably most talented
skill wise in the Q - he might
go 20-30, but we wouldn't take
him, he's so small out there."
33. P.K. Subban D, Belleville (OHL)
Subban turned heads with
his end-to-end forays, suddenly
emerging as a lethal puckrushing
threat from the blueline,
where he was deployed
save for some spot duty on the
wing midway through the season.
Still extremely green,
Subban displays surprising
passing savvy as well as an
impressive straight-ahead gear.
"He's a big, thick kid with a
good feel for the offensive side
of the game," noted a scout
during the regular season.
"Trouble is, he's a defenceman
and may be better suited
as a forward in the NHL as he
can struggle mightily without
the puck. He's making
progress, however his decision
making is not up to par yet."
Subban had a great postseason
with Belleville however,
and scouts were starting to
appreciate his play in his own
zone as it became steadier as
he gained more experience.
"He started playing a little
more cautiously and smarter,"
said one scout, "which must
have been tough for him
because he's so intense out
there. With his shot and skating
ability though, I can see
some teams looking at him in
the first round."
Subban is expected to get
consideration from the 20th
pick on, as teams looking for
offence from the blueline might
take a chance on him.
34. Colton Gillies C-RW, Saskatoon (WHL)
Gillies, a defenceman during
his bantam draft year, is
highly attractive at first glance;
with great size, reach, and
mobility.
When it comes to his center
play however, "unpolished
would be best way to describe
him," noted a scout. "He still
makes mental and tactical
errors by the bushel, however,
he has the speed and huge
wingspan to recover."
Gillies moved back to
defence near season's end
due to a wave of injuries to
Saskatoon's blueline, and
scouts were impressed with his
play.
The position many felt he
should be playing was wing
however, and that's exactly
where Gillies ended up at the
Under 18's, and rather effectively
at times despite his lack
of discipline.
"Gillies is a lot more comfortable
on the wing from what
I can see," noted a scout. "He
had a lot more success on the
wing so this tournament should
help his ranking among some
teams, but you can't grow
hockey sense."
Certainly not a lost cause,
he displays solid effort and
commitment, but must learn to
make faster decisions. Don't
ever expect him to be much of
a goal scorer due to his lack of
hand skills, however. He projects
to be an imposing hardhitting
third liner with speed.
35. Maxim Mayorov LW, Leninogorsk (Rus)
Mayorov didn't help his draft
ranking with an up-and-down
performance at the Five
Nations Cup; mind you he
wasn't the only Russian we
can say that about. Scouts like
his size/skill package.
"He shows excellent wheels
and hustle, drives his feet, but
needs to develop lower gears,"
noted McKeen's Russian scout
Evgeny Belashchenko.
"He does everything at a
frenetic pace, shows strong
persistence, doesn't give up on
plays, fast, strong and determined
skater, strong on his
feet."
Mayorov likes to try to overwhelm
defenders off the rush,
and is considered a solid worker.
"He hustles back defensively,
and attacks the puck all
over the ice," added
Belashchenko.
"He uses his long reach
effectively, his acceleration
stride is very strong and quick,
he can lose the puck in the
shuffle at times, getting ahead
of himself. Perhaps his feet
are that much quicker than his
hands."
Scouts were really hoping to
catch him at the Under 18's
after his poor showing in the 5
Nations Cup, but he missed
the tournament with a shoulder
injury suffered in an exhibition
game vs. Switzerland. His
absence will hinder his
chances of being picked in the
firat round, as will the lack of a
Russian/NHL agreement.