NHL DRAFT: Scouts Corner

Top 165 Notebook (posted 6.5.06)

by mckeenshockey

A selection of comments from the McKeen's staff regarding the recent progress of some notable '06 draft candidates. (Current overall ranking listed in brackets).

Contributors: Jante Abrahamsson, Evgeny Belashchenko, David Burstyn, Mike Chisholm, Rich Dillon, Dave Fortier, Max Giese, Ron Jones, Patrick King, Cory Kornelsen, Derrick LeBlanc, Shane Malloy, Vincent Montalbano, Iain Morrell, Robert Neuhauser, Chris Parsley, Sharon Stead, Mikko Vuori

TOP 165 PROSPECTS

Yuri Alexandrov - (D), Severstal Cherepovets

Arguably the most impressive Russian defenseman at the Under-18 WJC .. could deliver a convincing two-way performance with maturity, speed and shooting ability .. Is progressing in his confidence to make plays under pressure, takes advantage of senior level play .. A potential top four NHL defenseman if he keeps his progress. [Rank 36]

Artem Anisimov - (C), Yaroslavl

Turned his international season over in an inspiring way thanks to his remarkable progress .. climbed from a complete non-factor during the first half of the season to the most prolific Russian offensive performer at the Under-18 WJC .. Fits the mold of a belligerent two-way forward with a solid offensive potential .. second-line NHL potential. [Rank 46]

Jonas Ahnelov - (D), Frolunda

Thrives when the game gets physical and can handle to puck. A lack of international exposure has put him under the radar .. A possible first day pick who has flown under the radar for most of the season, mainly due to lacking international exposure .. Really enjoys the physical side of the game and is very proactive in his hitting game. [Rank 65]

John Armstrong - (C), Plymouth

Yes, we know he had a bad season, but he did turn it up a bit in the playoffs .. He is too big and smooth to over look and NHL teams will realize that players like him take longer to develop .. Perhaps a team with more picks will gamble on him as he does show good promise. [Rank 81]

Kevin Armstrong - (G), Spokane

He does have strong positional play and plays his angles well while reading and anticipating the developing play .. He has good rebound control and does not allow many chances once they hit his body .. However, his ability to recover from scrambles down low needs work, as does his play with the puck. [Rank 90]

Nicklas Backstrom - (C), Brynas

The best thing out of Sweden since Peter Forsberg .. Proving his worth at World Championships, playing in the Swedish top line alongside Henrik Zetterberg .. Has outplayed Phil Kessel in the tournament and is almost on par with Evgeny Malkin ..

Has grown significantly over the summer; taller and has bulked up his frame .. Looks like a man playing a man's game, he displays tremendous maturity on the ice, always knowing what to do on the ice and rarely out of position .. Proactive and demands the puck to take charge of offensive plays .. Good hands and smoothly runs the power play at the highest level in Sweden already .. Creative with excellent stickhandling abilities .. skating is a tad above average; he has quickness and improved lower body strength which has given him a strong stride to get to pucks effectively. [Rank 2]

Matt Beleskey - (LW), Belleville

Power forward has progressed well this season, though somewhat differently than some had expected perhaps .. His stock has been rising throughout the second half. He shows a lot of heart and may be able to improve his skating with the right coaching/training. [Rank 79]

Reto Berra - (G), Dudendorf

A big goalie with strong reflexes, who covers lots of net with his size .. stays square to the shooter and does not leave many holes for the shooter to aim at .. blessed with adequate skating skills .. will not jump at you with ultra-fast legs, but moves relatively well in the crease .. solid side-to-side movement. [Rank 77]

Patrik Berglund - (C), Vasteras

A smart playmaker who has size and a deceptive speed Showed at the U18's that he is finally growing into his lanky frame .. Handles the puck well and the playmaking skills are there .. A future as a second line centre in the NHL seems likely at this point. [Rank 26]

Jonathan Bernier - (G ), Lewiston

It might be the new NHL, and goaltenders carry that stigma of developing late, but why not take a gamble on Bernier's upside in this draft pool? if you do not pick him, consider who your next available goaltending option is .. Goalies are hard to gauge but with Bernier the foundation is there, it just needs to be nurtured along. [Rank 16]

Francois Bouchard - (RW), Baie-Comeau

Highly skilled playmaker has come out of nowhere to be among the top 10 in Q scoring .. Plays bigger than his size indicates he should, but still needs work on his skating .. Plays a style that is very hard to describe, his fundamentals aren't very impressive by themselves, as he's neither an explosive skater, has a booming shot or elite playmaking vision. [Rank 49]

Derick Brassard - (C), Drummondville

He has the ability to single-handedly takeover a game .. Possesses great speed and is not afraid to get his nose dirty to score .. He is a top setup man with a developing goal scoring ability .. Great speed and a willingness to play defense. [Rank 6]

Codey Burki - (C), Brandon

Due to his dangerous foot speed, and quickness coupled with his ability to play defensively will make him valuable in the new NHL .. Unfortunately he has not shown the offensively capability to play on a top two line and would most likely be a defensive role player. [Rank 28]

Mathieu Carle - (D), Acadie-Bathurst

Continues to shine in the offensive end, but defensively he's struggled .. Has not shown the same strength nor work effort that he showed in the early going .. Besides losing the man-on-man battles and tending to be caught out of position, he has also demonstrated a lack of speed and conditioning. [Rank 102]

Cal Clutterbuck - (RW), Oshawa

Could be this year's Steve Downie though he still lacks the same presence of mind with the puck .. Cannot ask for much more in a package though - strong and quick skater, excellent inside skills, and a kamikaze physical game .. A solid pick in the first round. [Rank 20]

Matthew Corrente - (D), Saginaw

Smallish, skilled defender is mean, puts up points and does not back down in physical contests .. His intensity and competitive nature will take him a long way .. Needs to develop better positioning, however I feel he has only begun to tap into his full potential. [Rank 37]

John DeGray - (D), Brampton

His zone clearing and dump ins are much more valuable in playoff hockey .. he makes safe plays, never trying to do too much .. his skating allows him to be in the best possible defensive position as he readily blocks passing lanes and intercepts passes .. skating still needs work as he looks awkward at times but does have solid reverse movement. [Rank 105]

Kaspars Daugavins - (C/RW), Riga

The Latvian forward capped off his breakthrough season with a solid performance at the World Championships .. A confident player who likes to drive the net hard and battle traffic .. Plays a North American style, progressing in his offensive potential and more of a playmaking forward, possesses third-line NHL potential. [Rank 76]

Cory Emmerton - (C), Kingston

People do not realize how good of a shooter this guy is .. He generates a ton of assists from his slapper whether it is off the rush or playing the left point on the power play .. Defenders back off, as they know he has an extra top gear and his finishing skills are so effortless that he makes scoring appear more routine than it actually is. [Rank 48]

Jhonas Enroth - (G), Sodertalje

Solid goaltender with occasional game stealing ability and no major flaws .. A calm goalie with no real obvious weaknesses .. Rises to the occasion and tends to play his best hockey when it matters the most and did so in this tournament as well, although that failed to help the team to win .. plays the angles very well and does not leave a lot of room to shot at .. his glove hand isn't as spectacular [Rank 42]

Mitch Fadden - (C), Lethbridge

Shown a lot of promise since being traded to Lethbridge and has been single-handedly creating offense for his new team .. Several times has been the best player on the ice in terms of creating chances .. Exceptional playmaking instincts, excellent speed, and the potential to be a solid contributor at the next level. [Rank 87]

David Fischer - (D), Apple Valley

Named Minnesota's Mr. Hockey for 2006 and AP Player of the Year .. Effortless skater, great passer with speed, poise and an extended wingspan, which he really knows how to exploit when eluding checkers .. A much more polished and well-rounded player than teammate Kyle Medvec. [Rank 17]

Ondrej Fiala - (RW), Everett

The lanky 6 foot 2 center has shown the versatility to play on the wing, plays with vigor, and is not afraid to get his nose dirty .. He has potential offensively and has shown the ability to play defensively as well .. He will need to add strength to his frame and his concussions are a mild concern. [Rank 44]

Robin Figren - (RW), Vastra Frolunda

His stock is on the rise .. He has found a more aggressive approach in his game over the last couple of months, which has made him an effective offensive presence .. Strong skater with a fluid stride, but could get even more explosive .. Handles the puck well and possesses a respectable arsenal of dekes .. Is not afraid to get his hands dirty, as he has a willingness to constantly drive towards the net. [Rank 78]

Nick Foligno - (C), Sudbury

I see exciting potential here but the desperation and the competitiveness that I saw last year is missing .. Certainly has the skills but desire is another question .. A horrible playoff with only 1 goal in 10 games .. Strong kid, above-average skater with acceptable speed and quickness .. Vision and decision-making skills are not strong suits. [Rank 35]

Michael Forney - (LW), Thief River Falls

What impresses scouts most about Forney is his excellent vision of the ice as well as his hand skills in traffic - he has got a great pair of mitts .. Skates well enough with decent top-end speed and agility, and also has a hard, accurate shot .. He will be a force once he adds muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame." [Rank 30]

Michael Frolik - ( RW), Kladno Sr.

Lack of progress raises concern, but vision and offensive ability remains .. Frolik possesses all the offensive skills one could imagine, but perhaps not to the extent some previous hype might have lead people to believe .. quick skater, but not lightning quick, as his lateral movement still could improve .. strong straightaway speed, although not the most blistering one displayed in this tournament .. boasts elite poise when handling the puck and is confident in his own ability to make things happen offensively. [Rank 14]

Blake Geoffrion - (LW), NTDP U18

Often struggled to get his legs going, rather sluggish first strides and his top speed is only a little above average .. has a good frame and his upper body strength made him difficult to stop for opposing defensemen coming into the offensive zone, once he generated some speed .. A slippery stickhandler who can put up some quality dekes .. has better vision than he appears to at first blush, as he is able to find some creative options in the offensive zone on occasion. [Rank 33]

Claude Giroux - (RW), Gatineau

Upstart rookie did not slump all season, breaking the 100-point barrier, which has gained him consideration for the early part of the draft .. A highly gifted playmaker with speed and a quick accurate release .. Spunky little winger plays a gutsy game despite being undersized .. Quick and agile on his feet .. Very talented puck carrier, slippery with fast and fluid movements .. Remarkably seems to pick up momentum while in possession. [Rank 22]

Michael Grabner - (RW), Spokane

Austrian winger has taken off in his second year with the Chiefs .. He has a lot of fire in his game despite being smallish and frail looking .. Lots of courage .. Quick, lively skater with a fast takeoff gear .. Highly skilled puckhandler at top speed and has a knack for getting to rebounds first. [Rank 23]

Chad Greenan - (D), Kootenay

Has quietly put up a solid season statistically, earned ice time in every situation, and did not look out of place .. He has good size at 6 foot 2 and 207 pounds and can play with an edge but more importantly, he has hockey sense and intelligence .. He will need to work on his skating a little but overall is an underappreciated defenseman .. Will make one team look very smart when they steal him in the third round. [Rank 119]

Eric Gryba - (D), Green Bay

Big blueliner hits like a truck, but has not shown much in the way of an offensive upside .. He is now a fine skater, which is an area that improved significantly, as the year progressed .. With further off-ice work, skating could turn into one of his strengths .. Not at a Braydon Coburn level yet, but he is close. [Rank 85]

Riku Helenius - (G), Ilves Tampere

Rocketed to fame during the season and seems to be the one carrying the torch of Finnish goaltending .. Big keeper keeps seeing his stock rise big time .. Everyone here is starting to love him .. He is such a huge goalie and leaves very little to shoot at .. He has been rising the whole year and seems to have overtaken Niko Hovinen as the number one Finnish goalie after his performances with the U18 team .. Still not everyone is fully sold on him. [Rank 13]

Ryan Hillier - (LW), Halifax

The guy just will not be denied .. Not the most skilled available in the draft but his desire to win combined with his work ethic should make him a hot commodity on draft day .. There is also some leadership qualities already in place .. Will be most effective on a line with a couple of finishers because he will do all the dirty work. [Rank 67]

Riley Holzapfel - (LW), Moose Jaw

The slight 5 foot 11 and 180 pound forward has the skating ability to be dangerous in all situations and has good over all puck skills .. He does however need to gain strength and must be more consistent in his effort and defensive game. [Rank 61]

Bobby Hughes - (C), Kingston

The Fronts have been a different team since Hughes went out with an injury earlier this month .. He really had blossomed into one of the league's most dangerous scorers and was going end-to-end on a regular basis .. Not the biggest guy though and must work to round out his game still. [Rank 64]

Leland Irving - (G), Everett

Has the ability to dominate games and carry a team and shows poise with a cool demeanor .. He has good lateral movement and recovers quickly back to his feet after going down .. Shows good rebound control, maintains proper angles, and does not give the shooter much to look at. [Rank 27]

Jesse Joensuu - (RW), Assat Pori

Could everyone have been so wrong, or is he just struggling with the offense because of high-level competition? We will see .. Big forward now shows signs of life but puck skills are not top notch .. Intensity levels wavered .. An adequate skater, he needs to work on his foot speed and acceleration .. A very strong and balanced on his feet due to great balance and good lower body strength, deceptively agile .. Good puckhandling skills despite using a long stick. [Rank 38]

Jan-Mikael Juutilainen - (C), Jokerit

Smart, skilled, reliable, two-way pivot lacking in physical areas. [Rank 66]

Erik Johnson - (D), NTDP U18

His strength and physical intensity is what separates him from the pack .. He is everything you could ask for in a defenseman .. Mean, aggressive, a 'take-charge' leader with the speed to join the rush plus a huge, powerful frame that he loves to punish and intimidate with .. There is little doubt he will mature into a top-line NHL defender once his game is fully polished. [Rank 1]

Tomas Kana - (C), Vitkovice

Possesses the potential to develop into a second-line NHL forward if he will be able to reach his highest possible potential .. An honest player who is very likely to play pro due to his overall skill level, psychical mindset, and dedication .. A solid skater with adequate bursts of speed and footspeed .. strong lower-body and balance. [Rank 50]

Phil Kessel - (RW), Minnesota

Flashed brilliant bursts of speed and was a dangerous threat throughout despite being held to just one goal in his Wisconsin homecoming .. despite boasting an advanced repertoire of offensive ability, Kessel still seems too predictable .. all his scoring chances were generated by going end-to-end without moving the puck and shooting a low wrist shot from the top of the circles. [Rank 4]

Nikolai Kulemin - (LW), Magnitogorsk

Nikolai Kulemin is a workhorse type of a player that any team would love to have in the lineup .. He is one of the few "Malkin sidekicks" who came out from behind the future super star's shadow and made a name for himself at the Super League and junior levels .. At just 19, Kulemin earned a spot in Metallurg's lineup where he skated along side Malkin on the second line. [Rank 72]

Derrick LaPoint - (D), Eau Claire North

Tall, lanky defender with excellent hockey sense .. Plays almost every minute for a mediocre team, which he managed to carry to the state playoffs .. Exceptional puck movement and raw ability but needs to add bulk and better physical play .. Rarely gets tired because he is always in the right place .. covers a lot of ice with a long stride that has adequate power. [Rank 59]

Tony Lagerstrom - (C), Sodertalje

Mr. Reliable .. Can do it all and is a leader, but lacks true stand out features .. Has a quick first couple of strides when skating straightaway, but not much of a top speed and his lateral movement is about average .. handles the puck well, although he rarely dangles with it, plays a more conservative type of game .. a good passer and has solid playmaking skills. [Rank 84]

Trevor Lewis - (C), Des Moines

Even without Okposo, he is a fine playmaker with the ability to carry things through to the finish .. He is not the hard-hitting physical force that Kyle is, but he is strong on his skates and he has speed and shot. [Rank 31]

Bryan Little - (C), Barrie

Led his team to the Eastern Conference final and proved that he could produce in the playoffs .. A great two-way player who would need little seasoning to make the jump to the next level especially with the emphasis on skills as opposed to size in the new NHL.- Plays a solid two-way game and has a lethal shot on the PP just above the face-off circle .. In a relatively weak OHL draft crop, Little has proven that his perseverance and willingness to compete are unchallenged by the league's other top prospects. [Rank 9]

Milan Lucic - (LW), Vancouver

This bull in a china shop has the size at 6 foot 3 and 210 pounds and skating ability to be an effective role player in the NHL .. He is tough as nails and will hit everything that moves and will drop the gloves .. Although he does not have top line offensive skills, his intangibles, and work ethic are second to none. [Rank 82]

Jamie McBain - (D), NTDP U18

Is an exciting type of defensemen who wants to make things happen offensively when he is team is in control over the puck .. Mobile in every direction and has a fairly smooth stride, as is the case with most young rearguards, his top speed is not exactly blistering .. Strong puckhandling skills are the key to McBain's game, a very poised player who never appears to be under pressure, no matter what is going on. [Rank 21]

Tomas Marcinko - (C), Kosice

Did not progress in his offensive potential as much as expected but his considerable defensive awareness can't be overlooked... possesses the potential of a dependable third-line NHL shutdown forward if he won't be able to further progress offensively .. Possesses a number of quality offensive intangibles, but doesn't take proper advantage of them [Rank 101]

Brad Marchand - (C), Moncton

Small in height but big on work ethic - at least with Ted Nolan as his coach! Marchand has excelled on the power play and has improved throughout the year .. Will be fine as long as he continues to be willing to pay the price. [Rank 32]

Shawn Matthias - (C), Belleville

Really elevated his game in the playoffs and the Under 18's .. Always making a play with the puck and is very smart and a gifted skater .. Worked hard to get up in the rankings and could provide an NHL team with a quality checking line player. [Rank 54]

Ben Maxwell - (C), Kootenay

Will need to make plenty of adjustments if he is going to be successful at the next level .. He is a great stickhandler but he is a bit soft .. I think he is going to have difficulty because much of his game is based on anticipation and surprising defenders .. How will he fare when the competition gets tougher. [Rank 25]

Jamie McGinn - (LW), Ottawa

While not a drastic growth in development, he has come along nicely again this year .. Smart and solid in all aspects of the game while not being great at any particular thing .. Still, with his tools and hockey sense, I could see him developing into a fine complementary NHLer. [Rank 52]

T.J. Miller - (D), Penticton

boasts terrific size (6'4-210), yet still seems to move well .. played the right side with Ryan Wagner, although looked comfortable playing alongside many partners .. wears the A .. blessed with a powerful slap shot that he keeps low and on target .. gets a nice jump out of the gate thanks to a strong first few steps .. has the speed and stickhandling ability to not only avoid the first wave of forecheckers. [Rank 108]

Mark Mitera - (D), Michigan

Hulking freshman has size, technical smarts, and a pretty rugged physical game, but he gets burned a lot off the rush, and has had trouble containing quicker forwards off the cycle .. His footspeed in terms of acceleration and turning speed in particular, needs to get better. [Rank 70]

Kevin Montgomery - (D), NTDP U18

Perhaps he is not as special offensively as once believed .. Lacks pace to his game and appears to be losing confidence .. In addition, his defensive game is average at best - fails to pin his man against the boards and struggles to keep proper defensive body positioning .. Can look lost. [Rank 88]

Peter Mueller - (C), Everett

This potential power center has excellent vision and show good hockey sense in both ends of the ice .. Overall, he has very few flaws but he could use some fine-tuning in his skating to have a more efficient stride and increase his quickness and top speed. [Rank 8]

Michal Neuvirth - (G), Sparta Praha

Possesses the potential of a quality NHL backup goaltender with a chance to develop into an average starter if he will get his chance to prove himself in the starting role .. takes advantage of his above-average quickness and reflexes .. A butterfly-style goaltender [Rank 86]

Andreas Nodl - (RW), Sioux Falls

Austrian sniper sits second in the USHL with 21 goals after getting just 7 in his first year with the Stampede .. Works hard on all aspects of his game and is demonstrating vastly improved coverage in his own end versus last season .. Particularly dangerous on the PP .. Will attend St. Cloud State next fall. [Rank 71]

Robert Nyholm - (RW), HIFK Helsinki

has size and drive but does not have the all-round game and consistency divides the opinions .. If someone has seen only the good games from him might be picked earlier than what the consensus is." Yet another very strong performance in the smaller North American rinks - this time at The Viking Cup. [Rank 95]

Kyle Okposo - (RW), Des Moines

Will thrive in the pro game .. He is such a strong skater, effective in traffic, and both a good finisher and set-up man .. Also does all the hard grinding stuff for a team .. Any coach would love to have such a skilled player work so hard. [Rank 7]

Oskar Osala - (LW), Mississauga

The big Finn teased scouts at the end of the year and showed a glimpse as to what he is capable off .. McKeen's likes his skating and overall puck skills; he could be a real sleeper .. Displays a willingness to fight for the puck, showcases quick hands in front, and is able to convert on his chances. [Rank 75]

Joe Palmer - (G), NTDP U18

Not a very spectacular type of netminder, but generally gets the job done .. Does not go down to full butterfly mode too early, maintains good coverage up high .. A pretty good glove hand .. Is not that quick a skater moving around in his crease and rarely made the highlight save using his reflexes .. Generally square to the shooter and knows how to cover the angles .. his rebound control was less than stellar, especially when his workload increased against a better team. [Rank 58]

Theo Peckham - (D), Owen Sound

The meanest player available for this year's draft .. He will fight and play aggressive, an intimidating force .. He struggles at time with his foot speed but conditioning may solve that problem .. Size helps him eliminate time and space for forwards however, he has a tendency to chase the puck carrier out of the box, and his poor recovery skills hurt him. [Rank 51]

Simon Danis-Pepin - (D), Maine

Happened to catch a few of his rare appearances for the Black Bears (has dressed for just 7 of 22 games) .. What an awesome physical specimen and the second youngest player in Division I hockey .. Has a surprisingly quick first few strides and a big, strong stick .. Still quite green in terms of his decision-making and execution, but he certainly looks further along than Matt Smaby at the same age. [Rank 63]

.

Dennis Persson - (D), Vasteras

Offensive minded blueline with strong puckhandling skills .. Handles the puck confidently and rarely puts himself in positions where he has no options .. has a crisp passing game and strong enough vision to find the right passing lanes .. also good enough wheels to carry the puck, good lateral movement and could accelerate to decent top speed, but as with many young defensemen, the first strides could be quicker. [Rank 29]

Jeff Petry - (D), Des Moines

Came to Des Moines in mid November .. Tall Lanky, fluid skater who makes mature decisions with the puck, and finishes his checks .. Smart two-way defenseman with physical ability. [Rank 62]

Andrei Popov - (LW), Traktor Chelyabinsk

Popov is one of the lesser known of the top Russian prospects eligible for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft .. This is so largely because he competes in the High League (Russia 2) and the primary exposure he has to the scouts is at the U18 international tournaments .. It is at this venue that it would be difficult to call his performance stellar and his drafting position strong, as despite clearly having the skill and size he has struggled to produce. [Rank 69]

Mike Ratchuk - (D), NTDP U18

Not exactly a hulking physical presence, but plays a very mobile game .. quick skater and turns very well in all directions .. has quite good top speed and often uses is to carry the puck through the neutral zone or join an offensive rush .. not the best puckhandler though, but just as the rest of his game, it improved constantly as the tournament went by and in the later stages .. he displayed some good poise and creativity while handling the puck and didn't just dump it in at the redline or play it out of the own zone off the boards. [Rank 47]

Rhett Rakhshani - (LW), NTDP U18

A slick skater who moves well around the ice .. Does not possess a lethal extra gear, but is not really in need of it with the way he plays the game .. Generally avoids handling the puck much outside the offensive zone and plays a very simple game .. Is not a bad stickhandler, however rarely makes any flashy dekes or setting up creative set pieces .. handles the puck well when driving to the net and setting up for his shot. [Rank 74]

Joey Ryan - (D), Quebec

Nice blend of skill and physical play on the blueline .. He has had a strong second half and will increase his stock even more with a long playoff run .. Everyone loves the tough-nosed approach .. Very solid man-on-man, giving the attacker very little room to operate .. Big, strong and cleats the zone .. Has had issues with consistency in the past where he stopped moving his feet, but he looks ready to break out. [Rank 41]

David Ruzicka - (D), Kladno

Shows at least glimpses of promise, which have helped, halt his sagging stock .. A player who tends to be overrated, Ruzicka is likely to be selected on the first day of the draft, but his play reveals his potential worth a selection in the fourth round at his point. [Rank 83]

Bob Sanguinetti - (D), Owen Sound

While his strength may not be in protecting his own zone, one cannot deny his uncanny skating abilities and offensive prowess.. His skating is quite fluid as he shifts his body to get maximum speed with a long graceful stride .. he has good top end gear as he is able to recover and knock a puck away from a player who was two strides ahead .. displays keen offensive instincts as he makes lethal passes out of the zone but probably should not gamble as much as he does .. he has great puck rushing skills, however on rare occasions he is prone to bad giveaways. [Rank 19]

Billy Sauer - (G), Michigan

Literally thrown to the Wolverines too early thanks to Al Montoya's pro defection .. Sauer has hit the normal highs and lows experienced by most 17-year-old Div I freshmen (turned 18 in January) .. Sometimes overaggressive and other times too passive, he just needs time to learn how to properly use his natural athletic gifts. [Rank 73]

Keith Seabrook - (D), Burnaby

Simply a stud at the BCHL level and being the brother of NHLer Brent means he has the bloodlines that will get the scouts' attention .. However, it is poise and a solid game on the ice that should get the most focus on draft day. [Rank 96]

Timo Seppanen - (D), HIFK Helsinki

Born offensive d-man made himself known in the 2nd half of the season .. Offensive defenseman had a few problems at the World Juniors, but has picked up his game a lot during the spring season. [Rank 89]

James Sheppard - (C), Cape Breton

Despite skating concerns and a lack of physical play, Sheppard could be this year's Ryan Getzlaf if he gets a little more aggressive .. Sheppard has that innate ability to hold onto the puck to the last second to allow his linemates to get open and makes passes that remind you of a young Joe Thornton. [Rank 12]

Felix Schutz - (C), Saint John

Shifty skater is fun to watch .. Best player on a poor Sea Dogs team, he has caught the attention of scouts in the second half .. He is better defensively than most his age and is very dangerous shorthanded .. Stocky centre is savvy and hard working .. quick, elusive skater with speed .. aggressive and gets himself involved in traffic areas. [Rank 60]

Ben Shutron - (D), Kingston

Tries to do too much simply because he can - relies on his elite agility and quickness to bail himself out of jams or recover from careless turnovers .. His physical play has progressed though - he is stronger and tougher in front of his net, but what really excites me is his offensive vision and execution off the rush - great pace and was named an assistant captain. [Rank 55]

Dustin Slade - (G), Vancouver

A dynamic netminder who has the ability to shut down teams with his quickness and athleticism .. He has resiliency and remains focused under fire and has the ability to carry a team .. He shows solid fundamentals and positioning and flashes a fast glove hand .. He has matured and is competitive and never gives up on a play .. Is a little short at 5 foot 10. [Rank 97]

Carl Sneep - (D), Brainerd

Big player who knows how to use his size for maximum effectiveness .. Joined Lincoln at the end of the season and was able to immediately settle in and make an impact on the ice .. Accepted a full scholarship from Boston College last week .. He's a multi-sport athlete having made All-State as a football tight end and is also an elite student. [Rank 57]

Aaron Snow - (LW), Brampton

A complete player, who does everything well including skating .. He managed to play with Wolski and Aquino one of the hottest lines in the OHL and complimented the line with his intelligence and strong skill set .. What sets Snow apart from most players is his versatility .. he can play in any situation along side a grinder or a scorer [Rank 94]

Jordan Staal - (C), Peterborough

Having a great playoff and its scary to think just how big he can get .. He is better than Eric was at this age and could really make any team that passes him up regret it - Projecting ahead 3-5 years, I am confident he will turn out to be a special player at the next level - and quite possibly the best forward from his draft class .. He is grown a lot and improved so much in all facets of his play this season, but the scary thing is he is still a long way from putting the full package together. [Rank 3]

Brian Strait - (D), NTDP U18

savvy defensive defenseman .. Always in the right position, never sacrifices offense for defense, and is reliable shift after shift .. A smart and methodical approach to the defensive game .. Has a nice frame, and appears very sturdy but is not physically imposing but he is a frustrating player to go against .. Excellent defensive zone coverage, stays with his man, keeps his head on a swivel, and is never cleanly beaten one on one. [Rank 56]

Chris Stewart - (RW), Kingston

Showed a willingness to compete and want to win .. Scouts believe he is better than his brother a former 1st round selection .. His size and sheer skill make him a good fit on the wing to any rebuilding organization." He is not the smoothest, and some scouts question how much better he will get .. However, there is no escaping that Anthony's baby brother has been an absolute terror since returning from injury recently .. Dominating the OHL with his intensity and work ethic. [Rank 15]

Chris Summers - (D), NTDP U18

Has very good wheels, moves well laterally and can accelerate seamlessly from standing still, above average top speed as well .. good puckhandler and could carry to puck all the way deep into the offensive zone if required .. does not have the vision or quite the poise as a natural set-up man though, but he can get a good cycling going offensively and knows how to use his teammates to sustain pressure. [Rank 45]

Bryce Swan - (RW), Halifax

A gritty two-way forward with a very good scoring touch .. Plays aggressively and is not shy about throwing his weight around .. Quick on his feet and can be counted on to deliver a solid performance in all areas of the ice. [Rank 43]

Jonathan Toews - (C), North Dakota

Does not have the great speed to get away from the clutching and grabbing that has limited him in the NCAA this season .. However, with the NHL's new strict obstruction standards his ability to handle the puck through a maze of traffic, battle through several checks, all this while keeping his eyes open for an open passing lane or shot will make him very hard to stop .. Thinks the game at a high level has the uncanny ability to see the play before it happens and has great anticipation. [Rank 5]

Jiri Tlusty - (LW), Kladno

His rapid progress on the senior level during this season indicates considerable pro potential .. possesses the potential of a good first-line NHL forward with the bottom potential of playing on the second line .. will be able to fill multiple roles on the NHL level as both a quality scorer and a defensive forward depending on the needs. [Rank 10]

Kirill Tulupov - (D), Neftyanik Leninogorsk

Virtually unknown till his above-average performance at the Under-18 WJC in Sweden .. possesses the mix of size, mobility and mean streak which is very appealing .. a possible steal if he will be able to further progress on his play .. Possesses second-line NHL potential if he will reach his maximal development. [Rank 68]

Ryan Turek - (D/C), Omaha

Meat-n-potatoes player with impressive speed, grit, and finishing ability .. Possesses a great work ethic and versatility as he can seamlessly shift between center and defense .. I actually prefer him at the back as he has exceptional poise with the puck and is one of the better outlet players available in this draft .. Michigan State will love him. [Rank 91]

Semen Varlamov - (G), Yaroslavl

Best goaltending prospect to come out of Russia in a very long time .. In some regards, he may even surpass Ilya Bryzgalov, as while he covers a little bit less of the net with his frame, he is quicker between the pipes than the Anaheim Mighty Ducks netminder .. Varlamov has shined for Team Russia at the U18 level, starting at the last two U18 World Junior Championships. [Rank 39]

Alexander Vasyunov - (LW), Yaroslavl

Very enigmatic player, who gets very little done when considering the tremendous amount of tools that he possesses .. A quick skater with solid top speed, who in his best moments, almost could be appear Ovechkin-esque .. unlike his countryman, Vasyunov only shows it once a game though .. has a wrist shot which is almost NHL caliber already, but rarely used it for some reason. [Rank 53]

Ivan Vishnevsky - (D), Rouyn Noranda

After Sanguinetti, Vishnevsky may very well be the best offensive d-man available in the draft .. At this stage in the game, he may also be stronger defensively then Ben Shutron, though he still has room for improvement in those areas. [Rank 18]

Mike Weber - (D), Windsor

What you see is sort of, what you get with Weber .. A big, strong, mobile defender who plays a simple, defense-first game .. Could do much more than he does though, especially in terms of punishing opponents in his own end .. His physical game seems to have actually regressed since the start of the season. [Rank 34]

Ryan White - (C), Calgary

Possesses tremendous potential as a solid, all-around pro player .. He has a great shot and a real keen sense for how to play the game in the tough areas .. His lack of footspeed is a concern though and is holding him from the top-half of the first round. [Rank 40]

Nigel Williams - (D), NTDP U18

Rare combination of size, skill, skating and hockey sense plus a developing a mean streak .. Pretty slick hands for a big man .. Certainly shows the potential to be a dominant player once he adds bulk, matures, and refines his game. [Rank 24]

Ty Wishart - (D), Prince George

It is just too hard to resist his combination of size, mobility, and strong defensive play .. He certainly should be up there with Williams and Sanguinetti .. Seems to be one of those players who will get substantially better over the next few seasons as well. [Rank 11]

Vladimir Zharkov - (RW), CSKA Moscow

Vladimir Zharkov is a player with a lot of potential, but who is a bit of a wild card and a project pick, as were some other Russians in the years past, including Mikhail Yakubov, Alexander Perezhogin, and Alexander Polushin .. The young player works hard in the corners and drives well to the net, but he is not a full-fledged power forward. [Rank 80]