USA Hockey: 2008 Chicago Showcase

Every year, scouts flock to Chicago Illinois in April hoping to uncover the next diamond in the rough. NHL draft picks such as Derrick LaPoint and Will Weber have used this tournament as a springboard for their draft stock. This year, the tournament was headlined by Team Wisconsin's Nathan Condon and McKeen's was on hand to file this report.

Nate Condon (2008), C, Team Wisconsin/ Wausau West High School

Skilled and heady two-way center that is the cream of the crop out of Wisconsin High School this season .. will become a flourishing skater once he ads requisite strength, as he already possesses multiple gears of acceleration and a nice looking stride .. a universal offensive threat that separates himself from the rest with his ingenious puck smarts and ability to finish through either the passing game or with his quick release and accurate wristshot .. rangy puckhandler that cleverly shields and covers the puck in traffic .. competes well in all three zones and will take deep lying defensive zone positions to aide in defensive coverage .. is not scared but will need to bulk up his gangly frame, as he currently is knocked off his feet too easily at times .. scheduled to play for the Fargo Force of the USHL next season before heading off to the University of Minnesota in 2009, Condon is a promising prospect that will have NHL teams coveting his services come draft day.

Gavin Hartzog (2008), LW, Team Wisconsin/ Marquette University High School

A potential diamond in the rough that oozes raw potential in every aspect of the game .. his feet are above average for a player of his size, as Hartzog's first few steps are quite prosperous, although he will need to extend his narrow stride to further along his top gear .. strong in front of the net and while he doesn't possess top end finesse skills, he's a dangerous offensive threat when he uses his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame to bull his way to the net while screaming down the wing .. his passing skills are above average and he displays mild creativity in close around the net, however you would like to see him become more selfish and shoot more himself .. his long reach, willingness to block shots, and the ability to win one-on-one battles along the wall make him an effective player in his own end .. should be in the back of scouts' minds in the late rounds of this year's draft.

Jefferson Dahl (2008), C, Team Wisconsin/ Eau Claire Memorial High School

Small but savvy center with good mobility and passing skills .. committed to play for the Denver Buccaneers of the USHL next-season, Dahl is a decent division one prospect .. he is a smooth skater with crisp acceleration in all directions .. his ability to read the play and see the ice are his best attributes .. does an adequate job defensively and seemed to flourish at this event playing with more talented linemates around him.

Tim Smith (2008), D, Team Wisconsin/ Superior High School

His development really headed south after being named a player to watch by Central Scouting in their preliminary rankings .. mentally lethargic and does not sense the developing play around him well at all .. fails to identify the danger areas and seemingly buckles when pressured .. a competitive player that plays with a requisite edge but he is ultimately ineffective around his own net .. a fluid skater but he lacks any top end speed to speak of .. definitely not worth a draft selection and must take serious strides forward in his game to warrant NCAA consideration.

Adam Janecyk (2008), G, Team Michigan/ Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School

The son of Ottawa Senators scout Bob Janecyk emerged as the player to watch from Michigan High School this season .. mechanically efficient goaltender that displays minimal movement on the first shot .. his proper positioning makes most of the saves for him and his rebound control is adequate .. maintains a compact butterfly with upright shoulders at all time maximizing his net coverage .. moves well in his crease thanks to his technically sound footwork .. can be exposed up high by shooters in tight but overall, he possesses the athleticism to make sprawling saves when need be .. handles the puck fairly well, although at times, he is guilty of making curious decisions moving it .. potential late-round selection and a fine NCAA prospect.

Brian Dumoulin (2009), D, Team Northern New England/ Biddeford High School

Big and raw, young colt definitely worth monitoring as a potential 2009 draft pick .. pivots and moves fairly well in all-directions considering his size and age .. effective breaking the puck out of his own end, as he never bottlenecks his own options because he senses the oncoming pressure and how to avoid it well .. does a fine job carrying the puck and displays good skills by making a nice first pass ..owns a good release to his left hand wristshot that he gets low and on net .. makes good defensive reads and reacts instinctively to the developing play .. effectively utilizes his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame to seal off puckcarrier's to the outside .. lateral speed can beat him one-on-one in the open ice but overall, this is an intriguing prospect with definite raw upside worth monitoring.

Nick Nagel (2008), C, Team Minnesota/ Totino Grace High School

Big two-way center that would be more effective if he developed a physical edge .. at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Nagel possesses the superior size to develop the power game .. often too complacent in one-on-one battles and relies too much on his long reach to strip the puck from the opposition when he could easily separate his man from the puck with a bodycheck .. not a pretty skater but his foot speed is above average for a player of his size and he handles the puck softly .. comes back hard defensively and displays adequate marking skills .. lacks some fortitude but does have the upside to play in the NCAA and may receive NHL consideration in the latter rounds.

Joshua Brown (2008), LW, Team Minnesota/ Rosemount High School

Skilled and fast offensive winger that can break the game open at this level .. Brown possesses lots of talent and has good wheels with the puck making him a dangerous one-on-one player .. give him some open ice to work with and he will exploit it with his speed .. a creative set-up man that will draw the opposition to him before dishing off a nice pass to an open teammate .. a precise finisher with a quick and accurate shot that he can pick corners with in tight .. does an adequate job competing and playing the body in all three zones .. lack of size (5-10, 165), is his biggest draw back but he remains a solid prospect worthy of NCAA consideration.

Daniel Sova (2008), D, Team Minnesota/ Hill-Murray High School

Similar to Minnesota Wild prospect and Vermont Catamount Kyle Medvec, Sova is a towering defenseman with decent offensive ability .. gets all of his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame behind his blistering slapshot .. most effective while working the point on the powerplay where his heavy one timer is a constant threat on the penalty killers minds .. moves the puck well and his lateral mobility is okay, but he will need to bend his knees more and improve his overall mobility .. raw project that should receive NCAA attention.

Matt Leer (2008), C, Team Minnesota/ Edina High School

At 6-foot and 210 pounds, Leer's strengths are his size and willingness to use it .. works hard and effectively bangs bodies to gain possession off the forecheck .. his good motor helps mask his loose skating mechanics .. seems to be bit of a blockhead at times and while he moves the puck well to the points from off the half wall, his offensive abilities are very limited .. not much upside here.

Jared Larson (2008), RW, Team Minnesota/ Eastview High School

Gangly winger with a good skill set and despite being passed over at least year's draft, he is emerging as a solid division one prospect .. displays above-average skill but he is not a selfish player and he makes smart passes . owns a quick and hard slapshot along with the ability to fluidly accelerate .. at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Larson possesses a sizable frame to build into and already is using his long reach as an effective defensive tool.

David Brown (2008), D, Team Minnesota/ Cloquet High School

Steady two-way defenseman that was passed over at least years draft but remains a solid division one prospect .. possesses the strength and skill to fend off incoming forecheckers before carrying the puck up ice with composure .. makes a tape-to-tape first pass without losing a step coming through the neutral zone in transition .. good with the puck, as he displays the poise and skill to distribute it effectively .. owns an accurate shot and he picks his spots appropriately as to when to jump into the rush .. positions himself well defensively and possesses the strength to hold the opposition at bay.