USHL Report: Des Moines Buccaneers

The Des Moines Buccaneers went 1-9-0-1 in February and weren't able to overcome that deficit and make the USHL playoffs. However, defenseman Sam Windle made the most of his time with the Bucs and improved dramatically by the end of the season after being acquired from Chicago Feb. 1. McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey enters notes on Windle and three other Bucs eligible for the 2011 Draft, a trio of noteworthy prospects eligible for the 2012 Draft, and one selected in the 2010 Draft.

Sam Windle (2011), D, Des Moines

Acquired by the Buccaneers Feb. 1 from Chicago and improved significantly in his short time with Des Moines .. decision making with the puck appeared slow upon his arrival in Des Moines, but metamorphosed as he gained confidence .. was utilized on the powerplay regularly upon his arrival in Des Moines, even if his play didn't always warrant it at the beginning, but the infusion of confidence worked wonders .. by the end of the season, was making his decisions with the puck quickly and showing confidence and poise with the puck .. now a heads-up stickhandler .. makes smooth, crisp, accurate transition passes to his d-partner .. also makes smooth, crisp, accurate outlet passes .. has decent speed and acceleration and displays some nice speed bursts for loose pucks .. skating continued to get less upright and more fluid .. has a hard, crisp slapshot .. also possesses a crisp wristshot from the point .. release improved significantly as he began to know what he was going to do with the puck before he got it .. needs to improve the accuracy of his pointshot, as he'll miss just wide with some regularity .. defensive game improved significantly with Des Moines, too .. maintains a fairly wide base backward for maximum mobility, reduces crossovers, and lets his gaps close .. has decent speed backward and became very effective in angling his opponents and engaging them physically .. able to rub opponents out along the boards, but also outright stands up opponents .. effective in engaging physically while skating backwards and showed he could halt the progress of many of the USHL's better forwards .. shows some power out of his pivots and doesn't get too upright .. able to stop quickly to stick with opponents down low .. has the size at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, and provided a significant physical presence to Des Moines after he gained his confidence .. physical attitude completely transformed with Des Moines and became one of the USHL's best all-around defensemen by the end of the season .. finished the season with 6 goals and 12 assists in 58 total games .. committed to Bemidji State (2011-12) .. in his second year of draft eligibility, but his transformation with Des Moines makes him worthy of late mid-round selection, and certainly at least selection.

Logan Nelson (2011), LW/RW, Des Moines

Generally played a fourth-line role for the Bucs, but is a budding power forward with some upside .. stickhandling continued to improve over the course of the season .. successfully dragged the puck around opponents more and more toward the end of the season .. does still need to work on not stickhandling with his head down .. also needs to improve his ability to handle the puck under acceleration from a stand still, but this did improve .. emerging out of the corners and off the half boards more often .. displaying some poise with the puck and a little offensive vision .. started holding up along the half boards more and making centering passes or passes to teammates crashing the net .. speed with the puck improved over the course of the season, and wasn't dropping his chest as often toward the end of the season .. skating became a little less upright by the end of the season .. had a propensity to fire slapshots and hard wristers from the perimeter for much of the season due to lack of speed and separation, but started truly driving the net more down the stretch .. does need to make sure he doesn't telegraph he's going to shoot by looking down just before he does .. physical game waned a little bit in the third quarter of the season, but down the stretch started playing at a level of physicality closer to what he started the season with .. able to make some hard hits crashing in on the forecheck and also in open ice .. doing a better job of absorbing attempted hits on him and staying on his skates .. finishes his checks at the point .. has a frame to work with at just over 6-foot-1, but is currently only 175 pounds .. finished the season with 6 goals and 3 assists in 41 games .. no college commitment of yet .. limited role and production this season may preclude him from selection in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, but there is a distinct possibility that his game transforms into dominating power forward at the USHL level as he fills out his frame .. legitimate potential to be a late-round pick despite low offensive numbers.

Ethan Prow (2011), D, Des Moines

Offensive production trailed off after a hot start, but Prow did not play any worse as the season went on .. used consistently on the powerplay all season, and this is where he shined .. very effective in manning the point on the powerplay .. makes quick, hard, crisp, and accurate point-to-point passes .. displays good offensive vision from the point in connecting with teammates down low through traffic .. distributes the puck well due to his offensive vision and swiveling abilities .. makes smooth one-touch passes, which he often flashes on the PP .. able to receive and fire passes in one smooth motion .. makes smooth, crisp breakout passes and transition passes .. has a hard, crisp slapper from the point that he does a good job of keeping low and deflectable .. also has a crisp wristshot from the point that he likewise keeps low and deflectable .. displays poise with the puck against the forecheck and will circle away from forecheckers and is often successful .. able to make some quick t-drags to evade opponents when skating the puck .. needs to improve his skating to be more than a powerplay specialist .. upright skating didn't improve much over the course of the season .. has some speed with the puck, but it would get much better if he had more knee bend to produce a powerful stride with good extension .. acceleration also suffers due to upright skating .. lacks the explosiveness to separate from opponents and to prevent himself from being separated from .. edge control is there with tight circles and swivels, but needs improved lower body strength to give him more knee bend .. also appears a bit bow-legged .. improved a bit at getting lower and maintaining a wider base when skating backwards, but still must improve further in this area .. his effectiveness engaging physical improved, but this also is an area of necessary improvement .. able to make powerful stops to stick with opponents .. listed at 6-foot-0, but visually did not appear any taller than Indiana's 5-foot-11 Blake Coleman .. finished the season with 8 goals and 14 assists in 59 games .. committed to St. Cloud State (2011-12) .. few defensemen come into the USHL as rookies and show Prow's abilities at the point on the powerplay straight away, but his lack of size by NHL standards and skating deficiencies are concerns that limit his attractiveness for the draft .. if a team thinks his skating will improve as he gains lower body strength, he has a legitimate shot at late-round selection in the 2011 Draft.

Kevin Irwin (2011), RW/LW, Des Moines

A skilled forward with good speed who didn't really get to play an offensive role much of the season .. physical game was pretty ineffective to start the season, but he worked on this .. became fairly conscientious in finishing his checks and upgraded their force from feeble to acceptable .. used his speed well on the forecheck to pressure the opponent into turnovers or steer the play in desired directions .. was utilizing stops and starts defensively more by the end of the season and circling less .. has very good speed with the puck and can use it to drive wide and/or weave through opponents in the neutral zone .. has a smooth stride with good extension and can get well out over his edges .. able to shield the puck well at top speed because of how well he handles puck far away from his body at speed .. has some dangle to his game and can drag it around opponents and make quick sweeps .. possesses a hard, crisp wristshot .. also has a hard slapshot .. displays some sniping abilities .. makes smooth, crisp passes .. displays good offensive vision most of the time, but is generally guilty of one ill-advised pass or forced play per game .. saw semi-regular time on the powerplay during the mid-season, but this decreased again toward the end of the season .. listed at 6-foot-0, 170 pounds, but is probably 5-foot-11 by comparing him with USHLers with known heights .. added a fighting component over the course of the season .. wasn't a particularly strong fighter at first, but got better .. had a fight against Austin Wuthrich April 8 where he looked pretty good and got in some nice uppercuts and totally changed the momentum of the game with that fight .. played for the U.S. Under-18 Select Team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August .. finished the season with 13 goals and 8 assists in 55 games .. committed to Ohio State (2012-13) .. a skill player by nature, but his attempts to improve his physical effectiveness and his decision to add a fighting component bode well for the potential of being a multi-dimensional player moving forward .. could very well go undrafted in his first year of draft eligibility, but is worthy of late-round consideration .. projects to be a top-six forward for Des Moines next season.

Ray Pigozzi (2012), LW, Des Moines

Offensive production appears modest this season, but he stands to be a significant offensive force for Des Moines in 2011-12 .. has nice cruising speed with the puck and can be very shifty with speed bursts .. has good separation with the puck .. also uses his quickness to get to loose pucks first .. can to protect the puck along the boards for extended periods with tight switchbacks .. quick stops and starts .. a heads-up stickhandler who can asses his options .. likes to open to the play high in the offensive zone and make centering passes .. good poise and patience with the puck and can buy his teammates time .. has quick hands and can the draw in the puck toward his body well .. able to walk opponents with his speed and his ability to drag it around opponents .. able to make quick sweeping moves to weave through traffic and can also t-drag it around opponents .. makes hard, crisp, accurate passes .. adept at making hard, accurate passes while at speed and while circling with the puck .. all shots in his arsenal are fairly hard and crisp .. saw semi-regular time on the powerplay at different points during the season .. has decent size at 6-foot-0, 180 pounds .. plays with some physicality .. finishes his checks and can do so with some force .. uses his speed to come crashing in on the forecheck now and again .. will also come across a zone to make a big hit now and then .. able to step up and connect on big open-ice hits, too .. puts in a good effort on the forecheck and the backcheck .. finished the season with 6 goals and 12 assists in 51 games .. no college commitment of yet .. strong chance Pigozzi is one of Des Moines' top forwards next season, if not the top forward.

Justin Selman (2012), LW/C, Des Moines

Somewhat underwhelming season and saw his role diminish toward the end of the season .. some semi-regular time on the PK for much of the season, but that decreased toward the end .. also saw a little time on the powerplay early in the season, but that decreased mid-season .. has decent acceleration and good cruising speed with the puck .. also has good quickness to loose pucks and defensive assignments, although he does have some wasted vertical motion in his initial strides .. a heads-up stickhandler with decent offensive awareness .. displayed some playmaking off the half boards on the powerplay early in the season .. made a number of nice set-ups across the crease for goals during the season .. has decent shot power .. makes crisp passes and can do so in stride .. displayed a physical presence prior to the Christmas break, but this seemed to decrease as the season went on .. when playing with a physical edge, he was forechecking hard and finishing his checks on opposing defensemen .. would come across the zone to make hits, too .. was also a distinct threat to play the body from the side on the backcheck .. displayed the capability to explode into his hits and make stiff shoulder checks .. around mid-season, was being utilized for big face-offs fairly regularly .. has decent size at 6-foot-0, 185 pounds .. played for the U.S. Under-18 Select Team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August .. finished the season with 8 goals and 14 assists in 52 games .. committed to Michigan (2012-13) .. it's possible Selman is only the seventh or eighth forward for Des Moines next season, as Dan DeSalvo and Gasper Kopitar could both be in front of him at center if they return, Pigozzi is nearly a lock to be ahead of him at left wing, and Nelson could be, too .. distinct possibility Selman serves as the third-line center for the Bucs during his draft year.

Anthony Greco (2012), RW, Des Moines

Acquired by Des Moines Dec. 16 from Waterloo and immediately added speed, offensive depth, and scrappiness to the Bucs' lineup .. excellent speed with the puck .. explosive acceleration with the puck gives him great separation .. has waterbug-like agility that allows him to weave through traffic at speed .. can dart in and out of traffic with the puck with great success rates .. able to get well out over his edges .. has a fluid, powerful stride .. a heads-up stickhandler with the puck who can assess his options .. calm and poised with the puck and can buy his teammates time .. has some dangle to his game and can burn opponents with t-drags at speed .. also able to make quick sweeps across his body to evade opponents .. displays good offensive vision in his centering passes off the half boards and some of the slick plays he makes driving the net .. makes crisp, accurate passes .. has a hard, crisp wristshot that seemed to get harder and harder as the season went on .. also has a hard, crisp slapshot and one-timer .. despite having 2 penalty minutes during the season, has some sandpaper to his game .. uses his speed on the forecheck and will finish his checks .. also a threat to play the body from the side on the backcheck .. is strong on his skates and can thrust into his hits .. knocks over a lot of opponents on the backcheck .. small at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, but is pretty fearless .. not afraid to venture into traffic and hustles into the corners and toward the boards for loose pucks .. finished the season with 8 goals and 7 assists in 42 total games .. had a four-goal game April 2 vs. Chicago .. no college commitment of yet .. probable that Greco is the first or second-line right wing for Des Moines next season, with a distinct shot at the first line .. a smaller player with draft chances in 2012 because of his combination of sheer speed and skill and the fact he plays a physical game (and gets no penalties doing it).

Peter Stoykewych (Atl), D, Des Moines

Played a top-four role for the Buccaneers all season and was a reliable two-way defenseman .. saw regular time on the second powerplay unit and also was used fairly regularly on the PK .. smooth skater who has good cruising speed with the puck .. able to execute nice speed bursts to get to loose pucks .. can execute powerful, tight turns to circle away from forecheckers .. capable of skating the puck, but tends to make the simple play .. makes smooth, hard, crisp, accurate breakout passes .. make smooth, crisp transition passes .. utilizes his d-partner a lot at the point and makes smooth, crisp point-to-point passes .. transitions the puck well with his d-partner, regardless of who it is .. has a hard, crisp slapper from the point that he does a good job of keeping low .. also sports a crisp wristshot from the point that he does a good job of getting on net .. has a quick release on his shots .. maintains a wide base backward, minimizes crossovers, and lets his gaps close .. oftentimes already has his gap closed in the neutral zone ..has fairly powerful acceleration backward, allowing him to maintain a short gap early, and uses his smooth mobility to angle his man toward the boards .. has an extra gear backward most USHL defensemen don't have, which allowed him to stick with even the speediest of USHLers when necessary .. plays with some physicality, but utilizes stick checks a lot and is effective doing so .. engages physically at the blue line .. able to thrust up into his checks .. was more overtly physical at the beginning of the season that he was mid-season and at the end .. has good size at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds .. finished with 5 goals and 10 assists in 58 games .. committed to Colorado College .. projects as a reliable two-way defenseman at the collegiate ranks and probably more of a defensive defenseman who moves the puck reliably at higher levels.