On The Rise

Mathieu Aubin - C (Lewiston)

Productive centerman was the missing piece to the MAINEiacs top line puzzle, perfectly jelling with Alex Picard and Alex Bourret to form one of the league's most feared trios. The right-shooting forward has emerged as one of the league's top point getters. "He is not an explosive talent and there is no doubt that having two spectacular linemates has padded his stats a bit but he's done everything right. He's been an excellent playmaker for Picard and Bourret; he is strong on his draws, savvy positionally and sees the ice well. I'd like to see him get more involved physically because high scoring juniors come and go and only the special ones make the show. Right now it is hard for him to stand out with those two guys stealing the spotlight."

Oskars Bartulis - D (Moncton)

Latvian import came over with a 'project' tag attached but was astutely transferred from forward to defense, a move that has paid off for the Wildcats. "He is Moncton's best two-way defenseman" says a QMJHL scout. "He is strong and has been on a steady upward climb this season. He is big, has an excellent wingspan and has adjusted surprisingly well to the positional game on the back end. He moves well both with and without the puck and has shown crisp outlet passing skills. His vision is there - he definitely has some offensive upside running the point. Also gets his size involved but could stand to be meaner."

Michael Blunden - RW (Erie)

Stocky winger bolstered his draft stock with an impressive physical display during the ADT Can-Rus Challenge and has since caught fire with the Otters after a slow start. "He struggled following off-season back surgery to repair a lower stress fracture but looks revitalized since playing the Russians," according to our scout. "He's the soldier every club needs - a strong, pro-sized winger who plays tough and aggressive in all zones and can score some goals. I like his unselfish work away from the puck - finishes every check and really battles hard defensively and along the boards. He's a good passer, handles the puck well, and his skating is getting better, though it's the one area that holds him back. His stride is shorter and less fluid than Ryan O'Marra's, and it takes him time to reach full speed, but his top gear is actually quite good. If his acceleration gains a half-step, he looks to have solid potential as a pro power forward."

Alex Bourret - RW (Lewiston)

The first-overall pick in the 2002 Midget Draft is fully deserving of this month's higher ranking. His overall play has improved dramatically over the past year, to the point of nightly domination. Bourret currently sits third in QMJHL scoring with an impressive, club-high plus-21 rating. "He's an annoying buzzard who always manages to get himself right in the thick of the action," according to one scout. "Gritty, fearless, creative, great with the puck, and fast - he really explodes out of the starting blocks and is very strong on his feet, which is all generated by a thick and powerful lower torso. The one striking improvement in his game this season has been his physical consistency away from the puck. He hammers guys now on a regular basis and, so far, appears to be durable enough to survive playing his rugged style at the next level."

Matt D'Agostini - RW (Guelph)

How about this for a great story? The former Soo North Stars Midget star won a job at training camp as a free-agent invitee and is now putting up close to a point-a-game in his rookie season. "I know he got overlooked because of his modest frame," says a scout, "but this guy has been impossible to ignore. I am impressed with the way he goes to the net and I like that he loves to shoot the puck which is translating into goals. His speed is excellent - he is agile and elusive. He does some magical things with the puck but sometimes overdoes it. Needs to keep his head up a bit more and be more economical in the opponent's end of the ice."

Jeff Frazee - G (USNTDP-18)

The Minnesota-bound, Lakeville native raised his stock with a spectacular shutout performance in the final of the Four Nations Cup (1-0 over Sweden). An unorthodox netminder, Frazee turned up this fall in the best shape of his life. Our NTDP scout says: "I can't help but appreciate this guy better. His style is hard to embrace at first - he has this tendency to flop around but once you realize that he stops pucks, the fears subside. I love his focus and second effort - he'll leave it all on the battlefield. He has tremendous quickness, a quick glove hand and fast legs. His pads just close the door - he'll raise them and rob a guy up high or stack them in spectacular fashion. Still needs work on his rebounds but he's very good positionally and working very hard to round out his game."

Marc-Andre Gragnani - D (PEI)

The Rocket are hanging on to a .500 record in the QMJHL despite a thin blueline and overall youthful outlook of the club. Benefiting considerably from increased playing time has been 17-year old Gragnani, who has so far played with the poise of a veteran. "This guy is one of the league's biggest sleepers for the draft," says a QMJHL scout. "He skates with good agility and reads the play well though lacks great size and a physical game to be a guaranteed day-one pick. He's calm and collected with the puck and carries it fluidly from his own end. He's a leader and shows constant hustle and improving confidence. As the only returning defenseman for the Rocket this season, he's gone through a trial by fire and has come out smelling like roses."

Matt Greene - C (Boston College)

Just another Mini Cooper-type best suited for the college game? "Absolutely not," says our eastern scout. "Greene's size (listed at 5-9) is not as much of a detriment as you'd think. He has remarkable balance and a strong center of gravity that makes it difficult to knock him down. He squeezes through checks along the boards and can hold his own in traffic against much bigger opponents. He's also an outstanding skater, light and explosive. Exceptionally quick and fluid in his turns and bursts to top gear in just a couple of strides. His low point production so far (3 points in 13 games) is very misleading. He buzzes around and creates something on almost every shift despite centering a checking line primarily. It's only a matter of time before he moves to one of the top lines. Considering he came directly from high school, his progress in two months at this level has been staggering."

Sebastian Karlsson - LW (Frolunda)

Smooth-skating winger deservedly earned a spot on the Swedish World Junior roster. The brother of Jens Karlsson has lit up junior league action (18-12-11-23). However, our Swedish scout says that he shares little in common with his older sibling. "He's a much more fluid skater than his brother but not as punishing physically. He should develop into a better finisher and he is already one of the top centers in the junior league this season and one of Frolunda's young leaders. I love his attitude - he's the kind of guy you want on your team. He's also much stronger than in years past - his lower body has really improved and he thinks the game that much better. Fredrik Pettersson raved about his work ethic to me."

Anze Kopitar - C (Sodertalje)

Rangy Slovenian lit up the Division One Under-20 championships in Estonia, amassing an impressive 10 goals in five games. The highlight of the event came in the final game when, with Slovenia down 3-1, Kopitar scored three consecutive markers to put his team ahead, only to be upstaged by Martins Karsums' hat trick in the third period. Kopitar combines size, good positional sense and soft hands with a raw exterior. A dangerous scorer around the goal area, he is smooth, deceptive and possesses a goal scorer's shot. What Kopitar does not possess are great wheels, a physical dimension and he is still quite untested. He's steadily moving up the rankings but we would like to see how he handles himself in situations where he is not the 'go-to' guy, which is certainly to come.

Kenndal McArdle - LW (Moose Jaw)

Bullish sophomore has somehow eluded most scouting radars this season despite leading the Warriors in points and power play goals (9). Not only has he solidified his stock as that of a likely day-one selection, McArdle is already one of the better players in the WHL. "What a relentless force this guy has been so far," says our WHL scout, "This kid is strong, a terrific skater and is already a top-notch finisher in junior. He plays in all game situations and is one of the hardest working guys I have seen all year. His hands are pretty good, he has an excellent wrist shot and he can really explode on the puck. He drives the net, sacrifices his body along the boards and knows where to go on the ice. He is still streaky and getting used to a top-line role but I have been amazed just how much he's progressed since his checking days last year. Will be a powerful player."

Peter MacArthur - C (Boston University)

NHL clubs will be kicking themselves for not taking a draft flyer on this `85-born centerman after he tied for the USHL playoff scoring lead in helping Waterloo to a first-ever Clark Cup championship. The native of Clifton Park, NY leads BU in scoring and, in cahoots with fellow freshman and linemate Chris Bourque, has been instrumental in resurrecting the Terriers. "MacArthur's game has improved ten-fold since last year," gushes our scout. "He's completely inspired beside Bourque, the pair hit everything in sight and look like they've been playing together for years. MacArthur appears taller than his 5-foot-10 listing and plays much bigger than his size. He's quick, cagey, and tenacious away from the puck. However, the thing that really makes you take notice are his skills. The puck is a magnet on his stick and his shot is already pro caliber. His release is crisp and so explosive, and he's learning from Bourque to unleash it more frequently."

Dmitri Megalinsky - D (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl)

Big, bulky rearguard has already been eligible twice at the draft; however, after earning a birth on the Russian U20 roster for the World Junior Championships, the third time may be the charm in 2005. At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, he will be matching up against the likes of Canada's Dion Phaneuf and Brent Seabrook. "He's flown under the radar for several years now due to injuries and all the time he spent in the High League," says a Russian scout. "I was surprised he got passed over last year but not shocked. There have been concerns about his skating and weight. But he is putting it all together. 'Dima' is in the best shape I've seen him so far and he's showing excellent confidence, maturity and poise. He plays the puck well for a guy of his stature and has been reliable in his own end. He should be considered a full-fledged prospect for the draft."

Juho Mielonen - D (Ilves Tampere)

Before Teemu Laakso had his coming out party last April, Mielonen was Finland's top defenseman for this draft. Though not in contention for the top round at the moment, Mielonen has made considerable strides, adding two inches to his strong frame and appearing more comfortable with his body than last season. "He's added some muscle and the growing pains appear to be behind him, "says our Finnish scout. " He impresses me with his confidence and good positional game. His offensive ceiling is not high but he can intimidate at times and clears the zone effectively. I wish he was more physical, like Korhonen, but he's nevertheless very serviceable and, on his best days, a defensive stalwart."

Ryan Parent - D (Guelph)

Defensive rearguard captained Team Canada to a Gold Medal at the U18 Junior Cup in August and that was only a sign of things to come. "Defensively, he's top-10 in the draft," says a scout. "It is the offensive side to his game which has been a bit of an issue, but I am seeing much more confidence in him shooting and moving the puck. He is routinely used against the league's elite forwards and consistently wins the one-on-one battles. In the 0-0 tie against the London Knights, he and Adam Dennis were instrumental in keeping London's top guns off the scoresheet. His defensive awareness right now is tremendous, perhaps even further developed than Kindl's. He will be a very safe first round selection."

Ondrej Pavelec - G (Kladno)

As if his dominating performance at the U18 Junior Cup in August was not enough, Pavelec cemented his reputation in the scouting community with a double-shutout performance at the Four Nations tournament in Slovakia. "He is the undisputed king among Czech draft-eligible goalies and his stock is going to soar," says McKeen's Czech scout. "He is used to pressure situations, currently backstopping a very young Kladno junior team which has meant a barrage of shots in several games. His cool exterior enables his teammates to play with confidence in their own zone and they expect that he can make up for a mistake. Very athletic and, when in a groove, he makes saves look easy - a sign of a mature young netminder."

Tomas Pospisil - RW (Trinec)

Undersized winger was an injury call-up to the Czech Extraleague where he has fared very well so far. According to a Czech scout: "He's not looking out of place on the fourth line playing with men. Pospisil is able to cope with the faster pace of the game and his strong work ethic and attitude are paying off. He has become a more aggressive player this season, has added bulk to his body and upgraded his balance. It is good to see his confidence soar as he had some nervous spells before big matches before. He is a solid potential mid-round pick at this juncture. Definitely Trinec's best draft-eligible player who also earned valuable experience at a November U-20 tournament."

Benoit Pouliot - LW/RW (Sudbury)

Dried up in late October amidst heightened checking scrutiny around the league, but the mega-gifted Sudbury rookie is gradually regaining steam. Undeniably the best package of size, skill and skating available among the `05 draft eligibles, Pouliot is not only a magician with the puck, but also fast and slick on his feet and sporting a large, rangy frame that he is just starting to understand how to apply. The only question mark here is the size of the engine. He tends to stop driving when faced with a roadblock, seemingly content to simply give up once he gets tied up in traffic. However, our OHL watchers have noticed increased intensity over the past few weeks and a greater desire to interact along the boards rather than wait for an opportunity to arise. We may indeed be seeing only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.