NHL Draft: Profiles 41-45
41. Jeremy Smith G, Plymouth (OHL)
Scouts couldn't help but
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take notice of Smith early on
this season as he kept winning
games for the Whalers.
He ended up second in OHL
in save percentage (.923)
behind Plymouth teammate
Michal Neuvirth.
Smith is not particularly big
and therefore relies on solid
positioning and staying square
to shooter, keeping his upper
body tall when moving laterally
in butterfly. He has a quick
first step, and is very fast
going vertically.
"He has fast limbs," noted
McKeen's scout David
Burstyn. "He leaves an inviting
five-hole but closes it
quickly by going to the butterfly.
"He collapses in a flash,
doesn't lose shape after making
initial stops. He goes side
to side fluently in butterfly. "
A fast but controlled goalie,
Smith possesses above-average
reflexes and can make
the tough saves look easy.
"He displays excellent
quickness going into butterfly
and then back out again."
Smith adopts the paddledown
stance for action in
close and behind his net, but
"he needs to upgrade
rebounding as he can kick the
odd one directly into the slot."
Smith slid in the rankings
towards season's end due to a
lack of playing time, and
inconsistent efforts.
42. Yannick Weber D, Kitchener (OHL)
The Swiss-born import
adapted quickly to the North
American game and has
shown steady and continued
improvement with the Rangers.
"He's on the small side, but
he's strong and plays with a
competitive fire," said one
Ontario-based scout. "His agility
allows him to keep up with
most forwards in the league
and he's pretty effective down
low thanks to a low center of
gravity.
"There's considerable potential
here. His offensive skills
have really matured since the
start of the season, though his
shooting accuracy and overall
decision making still needs
work."
Weber improved many
aspects of his game and
earned the respect of coach
Peter DeBoer as the number
two defender behind Jakub
Kindl in most offensive situations.
"He plays a physical game,
he relishes in looking for a
well-placed hit that can change
the complexion of the game.
He shows all the tools to man
the power play as his puck
skills and ability to join the play
are at a premium."
Weber has a booming shot,
but accuracy is a concern, as
is which shot he decides to use
in certain situations. Teams
looking for a defenceman with
some offensive upside might
consider him in the top 40.
43. Jim O'Brien C, Minnesota (WCHA)
O'Brien didn't help his draft
stock at the Under 18 championships,
where his skating
weaknesses were exposed to
the scouting masses.
He has an awkward-looking
stride, and while his quickness
and agility need improvement,
his first step is strong and he
has a fast second gear. He
plays with an edge at times,
but he needs to bulk up to
enhance his physical game.
"He's hard to read at the
collegiate level," noted one
scout. "Obviously he needs to
work on his strength.
"He possesses a long reach
with adequate hands as he
protects the puck well but isn't
a one-on-one dangler. A
strong penalty killer and shot
blocker with a non-stop motor,
he sees the ice adequately and
passes the puck well although
he lacks the creativity to be a
playmaker."
His quick release and accuracy
in tight make him an adequate
finisher although he's not
a pure goal scorer either.
O'Brien is a pretty safe pick
to be a checking line NHLer
but he also has the potential to
develop into more.
"He's not real agile,"
explained a scout. "He competes
but he's not a banger.
He'll probably go in the second
round. Some have him higher,
but some don't like him at all.
He may even go late first. His
hands are decent, and he's a
pretty smart player."
44. Sergei Korostin RW, Dynamo Moscow (Rus)
Korostin is one of this
year's most talented enigmas.
Scouts have no question
marks concerning his offensive
skill.
"He's a torpedo forechecker,"
noted one Russian scout.
"He gets to loose pucks in a
flash, and knows where he's
moving the puck. I think he
has excellent vision offensively."
The diminutive winger
boasts an extra high-end gear
that can embarrass defenders
when he puts his mind to it.
He makes quick stops and
cuts at full speed, then can
come to a complete stop
instantly and deftly deliver a
tape-to-tape pass.
"He's shifty and energetic
on both sides of the puck,
which makes him tough to
mark and contain," added the
scout.
He needs to be more consistent
in his effort, particularly in
his own zone.
"If Korostin can learn to play
with a high energy level and
determination consistently,
he'll get consideration for the
top 20 in this year's draft,"
opined one scout.
Korostin rebounded from
his disappointing performances
at the Five Nations Cup
with five goals in seven games
at the Under 18's in April.
Unfortunately he continued to
display selfish traits in both
passing to and dealing with
linemates.
45. Alexander Killorn C, Deerfield Academy (USHS)
Both a sleeper and a riser
on many draft lists, this native
Haligonian is turning heads in
the Massachusetts prep school
league.
Recently committed to
Harvard University for the fall
of 2008, Killorn is an aggressive,
strong-skating pivot with
excellent speed and two-way
smarts.
"Easily the top forward I've
seen in Prep or the EJHL this
season," reported one scout.
"He's a fairly complete package
and will likely get some
nibbles in the second or third
round of the draft.
"He's got very fast feet,
sees the ice well, and has a
quick shot. Also plays much
bigger than his size (6-0, 165)
as he's relentless in puck pursuit
in all zones and goes looking
for contact."
Offensively blessed, Killorn
relies heavily on his speed and
is adept at taking the puck
wide and giving defencemen
fits with his quickness.
"He has a quick shot and is
dangerous in traffic," described
one scout. "He's strong on his
stick and skates, he's never
outmuscled for the puck.
Looks for contact and plays
big.
"He has good drive," noted
one NHL director of player personnel.
"He competes hard,
and has a good shot, but I'm
not sure how good his hands
are, especially in tight. Looks
like a second rounder."