Top Shelf: News from the World of Prospects

First of all, let's start with a congratulatory note.

Early in December, Boston University head coach Jack Parker notched his 700th NCAA hockey victory. What is even more remarkable is the fact that Parker became the fourth member of the NCAA's 700-win club while coaching the same team (Jerry York, Ron Mason and Bob Peters are the others).

Parker's lifetime record? 701-362-76.

A lot of people in Canada and the United States make a big deal about who is left off their respective World Junior teams. Among Canadian cuts the most notable was Eric Fehr from the Brandon Wheat Kings whose 31 goals leads the Western Hockey League.

Highly-touted blueliner Jack Johnson of the NTDP, a projected top-three pick in the next NHL draft, was cut from the World Junior team in favour of Moorhead High School's Brian Lee, also eligible for the `05 draft.

So… the London Knights have lost a hockey game. The CHL's top-ranked team for the past 11 weeks finally met defeat on December 17 to the Sudbury Wolves 5-2, ending the Knights record run at 31 games without a loss. What is probably more disappointing about the loss is that they were without Corey Perry (Canada), Danny Syvret (Canada) and Rob Schremp (United States) who were attending their respective U20 World Junior selection camps.

WINNIPEG WOLVES? With the AHL's Manitoba Moose the top draw in the league, people are wondering if the city of Winnipeg should have an NHL team again. Makes you wonder why they built a new arena that seats only 15 000 people. Overall, American Hockey League attendance is up eight percent with the NHL on hiatus.

John Muckler gave Ottawa Senators goaltending prospect Ray Emery a rough ride in the press recently, saying, "his mental attitude isn't very good." Maybe Sugar Ray ought to forget about fighting on the bench and consider watching the puck more.

Yanick Le-who? Actually it is Lehoux, but the Los Angeles Kings third rounder from 2000 isn't going to remain in the shadows much longer if he keeps up his current pace. Lehoux is first in the AHL in scoring and finally showing the form that produced 382 points in 266 games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

What is with the Russian World Junior teams and their taunting? From Svitov spitting at a Canadian player a few years ago, to Malkin and Shirokov's antics in this year's World Junior semi-final game against the Americans. It is an embarrassment to Russian Hockey. Too bad it takes away from a great performance by their team.

MONTOYA-LET The first round of the 2004 NHL Draft could be considered the year of the goalie jinx. So far, Al Montoya, Marek Schwarz, Devan Dubnyk and Cory Schneider have yet to show why they were selected so high. And, sadly, Al Montoya has been even worse than bad.

Keeping on the subject. Belarus beats U.S.A. Nope... still can't get used to the sound of that.

KING OF THE KESSEL Who can't be excited about Phil Kessel and his speed & moves at the WJC? Between Kessel, Michael Frolik, and Jesse Joensuu, there are some bright young stars that have you really looking forward to the upcoming drafts.

Pierre Maguire of TSN thinks that Kessel, a white-hot NCAA recruit, is going to declare to the Wisconsin Badgers. Whichever school lands Kessel is getting a guy that should be a pretty solid bet to go top five in the 2006 NHL Draft.

I guess now we can answer how much Mark Stuart, Eric Nystrom, Zach Parise and James Wisniewski meant to last year's gold-medal USA World Junior team.

Robert Nilsson has been a huge disappointment to me this season due to his poor play and questionable work ethic. But, watching him in the World Juniors, maybe he just needs a little development. Against the USA in the quarterfinals, Nilsson showed flashes of great skill, vision and hard work. If he could go back in time, I bet he would chose the CHL route instead.

RUUTU TWO I might be the only person that thinks so, but, to me, 2005 NHL draft-eligible Alex Bourret plays like Tuomo Ruutu.

Bobby Ryan has 16 points in his last seven games, including back-to-back three-pointers. The eighth-ranked player for the 2005 draft by McKeen's Hockey seems intent on raising his stock as the year goes on.

Speaking of draft rankings, even with four goalies ranked in the top 30 for the 2005 draft by McKeen's, I stand by my theory that you shouldn't draft a goalie in the first round. They are too tough to judge and develop differently than skaters.

KILREA-CONSTRUCTION I am not sure what is going on in Ottawa in the OHL, but head coach Brian Kilrea has already unloaded Peter Tsimikalis (undrafted `04 eligible) and blueliner Kyle Wharton, a second-round pick of Columbus this past summer. Reportedly Tsimikalis was not too enamored with Kilrea and had demanded a trade, while Wharton's lack of all-around development earned him a ticket out of town. Word is that Kilrea might not yet be done.

Speaking of CHL trade rumours: Is it possible that Rimouski could move the incomparable Sidney Crosby to a top-ranked club like Moncton or Chicoutimi of the QMJHL? Well, given their record, they may consider rebuilding.

MAPLE SYRUP As much as the Toronto Maple Leafs get maligned for their lack of prospect depth and consistent trading of early picks in a push for the Stanley Cup, this year their scouts should look at getting a bonus or two.

First, their top pick last summer, goaltender Justin Pogge (taken in the third round) gets off to a good start. Their next pick, Slovakian overager Roman Kukumberg, continues to have a strong season in the Russian Super League. while fifth-rounder Dmitri Vorobiev gets named to the Russian World Junior team. To top it off Robbie Earl, their sixth-round selection, is enjoying a breakout year at the University of Wisconsin.

One quandary at the World Juniors is trying to scout goaltenders playing against Team Canada. Only Marek Schwarz has looked anything but very ordinary.

Who's leading the American Hockey League with a .942 SA%? Kari Lehtonen? No. Ryan Miller? No. Hannu Toivonen? Wrong.

Try Jason LaBarbera.

The third-round pick in the 1998 draft, LaBarbera was named AHL MVP last season and continues to develop a fine game, giving the Rangers unprecedented depth in goal now with Dan Blackburn, Henrik Lundqvist, Alvaro Montoya and LaBarbera in the mix.

Seems like a very nice dilemma to have.

If you have any questions or interesting tidbits from the hockey prospect world, please email me at bach432@gmail.com