Top Prospects Game: Defensemen

The Top Prospects Game serves as a platform to showcase the top 40 CHL prospects and draws the attention of all 30 NHL clubs. This year's crop of draft eligible future NHL stars is loaded with depth in all positions. In part two of a three-part series, McKeen's Chief Correspondent David Burstyn files notes on several top-rated defensemen including Jared Cowen of the Spokane Chiefs.

Jared Cowen (2009), D, Spokane

Highly decorated junior career that has seen him win a Memorial Cup and play on both the Under-17 and Under-18 National Teams .. shocking omission from the evaluation Under-20 team, however he will likely get his opportunity next season .. Cowen is a rare specimen that is blessed with everything NHL teams covet .. he has the four S's, size, speed, skill and is physically strong .. underdeveloped offensive game, the points have not come with the type of consistency that NHL scouts would like .. at times, it appears that Cowen does not comprehend how dominant he can be especially with the puck .. he shows flashes of sheer brilliance, sheltering the puck down low and driving to the outside with it .. he protects the puck and coupled with his size, it is virtually impossible to knock it off him down low .. skating and puckhandling make him a very viable option to carry the puck deep into offensive territory .. carries the puck well at high speeds but needs to continually work on his puck skills .. his skating base is wide, which allows him to retain his balance and freely skate by flatfooted defenders/forwards .. he contains the point well with his quickness and anticipation and showed some decent ability to anchor a PP .. his shot is not overpowering but it is effective, low and on the net .. he does a good job of moving to the centre of the slot to unload it .. defensively, at times, he needs to identify his gap control and make it tighter .. he had a few lapses in judgement this game .. his personality mirrors his play on the ice, modest and humble but at times, lacking that killer instinct to round out the entire package .. he will physically assert himself and does not need to be prodded to do so, however his confidence needs to be reinforced when playing the puck .. has all the makings to be a franchise defender who has already been immersed in a winning culture.

Brayden McNabb (2009),D, Kootenay

A bruising defender who relishes the physical play and has managed to establish new career highs in all point categories this season .. more of defensive defenseman, his puck skills are raw as is his decision making with the puck .. McNabb benefits from his size and impressive wing span .. his skating could be his best attribute and he marries it well with his natural aggression .. he has great strength and balance though is not blessed with an abundance of agility, shiftiness or a long stride that can maximize the speed a player of his size (6-foot-3) should have .. he plays a relatively patient game and lets the play come to him .. in that respect, he is mature and plays within his limits .. complements more of an offensive-rushing defender and was partnered with Cowen the entire contest .. a no nonsense defender whose size and toughness should see him warrant an NHL selection on the basis that he will become a depth, serviceable defenseman.

Tommi Kivisto (2009), D, Red Deer

Prized pick up for Jesse Wallin and the Red Deer Rebels, Kvisto has not had the impact that the organization would have hoped for, as he has struggled in his first season playing in North America .. a sizeable defender whose main flaw would be his overall foot and skating speed .. often beaten to the outside and pressured off the puck did not flatter his performance .. he is not a dynamic lateral skater and remains vulnerable one-on-one because of his slow turns .. straight-ahead speed is also a cause for alarm .. he does an ok job of conserving his energy (to mask his flaw) for sudden bursts of quickness but they are often short lived and not sustainable .. more of an offensive defenseman who can find his options and net with his low pointshot .. considering he would be drafted as an offensive defenseman, his lack of production, including zero goals in his first 37 games is unsettling .. does a decent job of absorbing hits to make a play, something he did not always do in the past, an inherent trait clearly learned in the WHL .. game is littered with shortcomings and was once a promising prospect that has faded into the scenery.

Charles-Olivier Roussel (2009), D, Shawinigan

A high draft pick in the QMJHL draft (3rd/2007), Roussel combines an offensive game with an unassuming physical element to his game .. very strong on the puck, he drops his shoulder down and is able to hold the stick with one hand while strong-arming a forward to the outside when attempting to clear the zone .. healthy skater, not dynamic but sufficient in his mobility, reverse movement and is blessed with good balance .. he has a crisp stride and manufactures good speed from it .. his balance is the strongest of his skating components .. his finesse skills continue to develop .. his point totals have been a reflection of that, as he has improved upon his totals last season that saw him record 26 points as a rookie defender .. this season, he has 31 points and is flirting with double-digit goals .. he is unafraid of making plays, has confidence handling the puck and in his own ability .. timing of his forays will need to be addressed but his puck rushing ability and penchant for getting the puck out of his own zone is encouraging .. he needs to react faster in his own zone but his willingness to sacrifice his body in defensive situations works in his favour .. overall, his approach in the defensive zone is mature but could always improve on marking his man quicker .. administered the hit of the evening on Kane in the third period showcasing his clean, yet physical element to his game .. accomplished prospect that has potential for the pro game.

Stefan Elliott (2009),D, Saskatoon

Elliot has learned that doing little is more than doing too much .. plays a solid game at both ends, as he is athletic and coordinated .. he does not excel in any particular area but plays a conservative, economical game .. healthy but not a strong skater .. anticipates the play well and his puckhandling skills are an undervalued part of his game .. he made solid decisions with the puck especially in sustaining pressure in the zone, as he eagerly jumped the line to maintain puck possession .. makes a good first pass and has the poise not just to make a play but the right play .. this largely explains why he is the top point producer (backend) on the Blades .. physical in terms of clearing the crease, blocking shots and targeting his man with authority .. game has matured considerably, as his confidence levels have also soared with trips to the summer Under 18 team and prime PP time in only his second full season with the Blades .. Elliot is a solid defenseman that could play a similar game to Robyn Regehr.

Tyson Barrie (2009), D, Kelowna

Barrie is heralded for his offensive fortitude, as he is currently third in WHL scoring for defensemen.. thick frame who has a low centre of gravity, yet is still knocked off the puck with considerable ease .. his upper body is well developed and he can sustain a hit to advance the puck .. tends to be over aggressive in the neutral zone pushing for offensive opportunities .. with the puck in his possession, he can slow the game down but too often, he skates into poor openings and surrenders the puck too easily .. he has confidence with the puck but he needs to distribute it faster .. defensively, guys get behind him and he often calls upon his mobility and short term speed to make up the gap .. his excessive gambling has paid off at this level, however he will need to adopt more of a mature game and pick and choose his spots better, as his over confidence gets the best of him.

Eric Gelinas (2009), D, Lewiston

Gelinas played a sound game and was often recovering for his defensive partner Taylor Doherty throughout the game .. a swift, agile and smooth skater for his size (6-foot-3) .. plays a game that will not hurt you, as he stays true to his position .. has good lateral mobility and nice one-step quickness to complement his game .. he anticipates well in all three zones and is a versatile defender who can move the puck at a good tempo .. he uses his skating and sense to be effective at both bluelines, monitoring his position in conjunction with the play and utilizing his size and active stick to push forward to the outside .. he controls the gap fairly well but would benefit from being more aggressive in his reads .. he has yet to fill out but has a great frame to build around and could surprise many on draft day.

Simon Despres (2009), D, Saint John

Despres is the ultimate project, as he combines size with impressive skating ability and a raw, yet maturing offensive game .. his puckhandling skills allow him to carry the puck deep into the opposition's territory and for the most part he exhibits good intelligence in his rushing tendencies .. he is just as capable of moving the puck up to his forwards but relishes in gaining the line and making a play in the offensive zone .. he makes prudent decisions on when to pinch and when to hang back .. he can come off the point to put a shot on goal but his shot tends to lack the velocity and power to blow by goalies .. vastly improved on his confidence with the puck, however he is still susceptible to bouts of insecurity when he has lapses in his play .. he appears uninterested and makes selfish mistakes like over handling the puck to compensate .. defensively, he remains consistent in his reads, using his size and stick to his advantage .. still needs to establish his position quicker and needs to bare down more in identifying his man .. speed levels are maintained with a long fluid stride and healthy coordination for his size .. he can control the tempo of the game, which bodes well for his draft stock .. Despres' game has many layers and he is a solid prospect but will need to become mentally stronger.

Dmitri Kulikov (2009), D, Drummondville

The second overall pick in the Import draft has more than lived up to his promise, as he is the foundation of success to the Voltigeurs backend .. he is fourth in league scoring for defensemen and has been praised by the coaching staff for his mature and poised play .. the ease in which he sees openings and makes first passes is NHL-calibre already .. he is definitely an 'offenseman' who hits his man accurately with a pass on both his fore and backhand .. the manner in which he is able to spin or avoid pressure is uncanny .. terrific at knocking down passes out of midair .. this hand/eye coordination also serves him well at the point where he is able to stop attempted clearing passes from getting behind him at the point .. an agile skater, whose first step catapults him into the offensive zone and allows him to reach top speed almost instantly .. his foot speed coupled with his anticipation is another facet of his game that has him leaps and bounds ahead of his peers .. he appears to be thinking five seconds faster than the game and can control the pace with the puck in his possession .. his transition game also lends itself to many offensive chances .. he smartly jumps into holes and has presence in the offensive zone which backs off forwards .. his lateral movement is sensational and he uses this as another weapon to manufacture offence .. his shot stays low to the ice but will not overpower a goalie .. he is so adept at moving closer to the net to get his shot off that he does not necessarily need the power .. his shots are better placed and he knows when to shoot .. does not always initiate contact but will make plays in the face of getting hit .. he is not mean spirited so at times, he does not handle bigger players well but to his credit he is very quick with his stick .. Kulikov plays a game very similar to Brian Leetch.