USA Select 17: Team White

Nick Leddy (2009), D, Eden Prairie HS

A smart and strong all-purpose defenseman with brisk mobility .. a powerful skater with encompassing mobility stimulated by his quick feet and long strides that produce impressive strength behind them .. can rapidly accelerate to maneuver the puck out of trouble and his fast recovery speed allows him to suffocate unsuspecting puck carriers in a hurry .. makes sharp pivots and is an influential backwards skater that can effectively angle off his man .. displays inherent offensive instincts, as he unconsciously finds and pinches into the open seems in the offensive zone .. prolific at sneaking in the backdoor undetected where he can accurately put the puck on net in a hurry after he receives the pass.. a savvy puck distributor with impressive on-ice vision and resourcefulness that can make a crisp first pass .. sturdy in the defensive zone, as he positions himself properly and battles hard in one-on-one competitions .. maintains an active stick with tight gap control and the ability to dislodge his man from the puck with his physicality .. committed to the University of Minnesota, Leddy is the top Minnesota High School defenseman available in this years draft.

Steven Whitney (2009), C, Lawrence Academy

A pint-sized centerman with a great shot .. doesn't have explosiveness or power in his skating, but he's quick laterally and seems to skate faster with the puck than without it .. the type of dynamic goal scorer that can release the puck quickly at full-speed and finish with precision accuracy while sending the goaltenders water bottle flying .. possesses velvety hands and he doesn't need much to execute thanks to his slick in-close puck control .. skilled and poised in possession while emerging as a creative offensive threat .. displays a strong defensive work ethic and is a studious player in his own end that is also an effective penalty killer .. his lack of size and top-end speed hinder his status as a prospect.

Jake Goldberg (2009), LW, Berkshire School

A fairly skilled forward with decent size and strength .. a technically sound skater with a fairly strong stride that just lacks a dynamic top-end gear .. blessed with decent size and strength making him a stout player on the puck that can finish with his accurate snap shot .. possesses good hands and passing ability which is stimulated by his impressive on-ice vision .. will need to continue to work on his defensive play and physicality away from the puck.

J.R. Lafferty (2009), D, NJ Hitmen

A physical defenseman that must improve on his mobility .. owns adequate straight-line mobility, however his sluggish lateral agility is a glaring weakness that leads him to being beaten far too often by speed .. not the sharpest crayon in the box and is limited offensively because he often tries to do too much with the puck and is guilty of playing outside of his limits .. his shot is hard and he can make and receive passes adequately, although he forces the puck into opponents feet too often while manning the point .. tries to activate himself offensively, but he ultimately fails mostly because of the stiffness he exudes with the puck and his lack of finesse .. a tough big man that plays with an edge and can get mean while trying to play physical, although he would false to label him as a punishing opponent and his defensive reads are suspect.

Shane Berschbach (2009), LW, Indiana Ice

A greasy offensive winger that lacks prototypical size.. an adequate skater that could tighten up his agility and continue to add more burst behind his first-few strides .. a solid set-up man that displays good patience and smarts while distributing the puck .. owns a quick and accurate shot that just needs more velocity to help him finish more from the outside .. a creative and slippery offensive catalyst that is especially effective on the power play .. works well in space and isn't hesitant to go to the net and pay the price to score .. will need to improve on his defensive play while working on his mobility and hopefully add some size.

Ben Hughes (2009), D, Chicago Steel

A steady-Eddie type of defenseman with good hockey sense .. not a commanding skater but does possess fluid all-access mobility that is stimulated by his above-average foot sped .. not a flashy offensive defenseman, but he is deceptively skilled and he doesn't panic while executing the first pass under pressure .. owns a decent shot but it needs to become more accurate .. calculated while distributing the puck safely from the point .. steady defender that astutely positions himself in the defensive zone .. strong on his net coverage and can be a tenacious one-on-one defender.