USHL: Scouting With the Stars

Sparked by the stellar goaltending of David Reekie, the Lincoln Stars have been one of the most improved teams in the USHL during the second half of the season. Former USNTDP standout Jimmy Hayes is now on the team and their young prospects are beginning to mature. McKeen's has notes on several Stars that are trying their best to shine this season.

Scouting Notes from Max Giese

Jimmy Hayes (2008), LW, Lincoln Stars

Leaving the USNTDP midseason, Hayes is a big kid that plays a big man's game in front of the opponents net .. at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Hayes already possesses an NHL-sized frame, which he harnesses to simply be unmovable in front of the opponent's net once he plants his feet .. displays the soft touch and quick release to score goals in tight .. heavy-footed with short strides, Hayes routinely is caught from behind and skated around by the opponent in the open ice .. his skating is okay once he gains momentum but his agility instantly suffers once he reaches full speed .. works well off the puck in the offensive zone by finding the quiet areas, as he creates space for himself and linemates .. owns a massive reach and he shields the puck very well .. passing skills, vision, and poise with the puck are adequate .. plays an on-and-off-physical game, as he is not scared but he is not consistently aggressive either .. can be an effective defender when he applies himself because of that engulfing wingspan and size .. Boston College recruit with intriguing upside if his skating and consistency catch up to his size. Click the link for a recent interview with Jimmy Hayes conducted by McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey.

Ross Henry (2008), D, Lincoln Stars

Instinctive defender that aggressively makes plays all over the ice .. strong skater with quick feet and pivots along with crisp edge work .. doesn't see a lot of time on the powerplay but he should, as Henry displayed glimpses of his offensive upside by waiting that one last second to allow seams to develop while working the point before striking with a cross-ice pass to the man open backdoor .. shot is just okay and at times, he will force it into legs, which is perplexing, as he does possess the lateral mobility to create lanes for himself .. decision-making with the puck has improved as the season has progressed .. anticipating the play by catching the opposition with their head down for a big open-ice hit or by creating turnovers in the neutral zone by intercepting an errant pass .. naturally aggressive and plays bigger than his 5-foot-10 188-pound frame would indicate .. lack of size does limit his effectiveness one-on-one around his net .. worth a look late in the draft, Henry has some moxie and is not afraid to make a play.

Jared Festler (2008), RW, Lincoln Stars

Small but greasy winger with a nose for the net .. wide-tracked skater that lacks dynamic quickness and a top gear, however because of his ability to anticipate the play well, he always seems to get that first step on the opposition forcing others to catch up to him, which helps negate the skating concerns .. slippery goal scorer in tight that simply has that knack for scoring that cannot be coached .. identifies the open seams in defenses well and has the ability sneak in backdoor behind the opposition's defenses .. defensively aware and he keeps his feet moving away from the puck, although improved quickness would upgrade his point coverage in his own end .. small, but with a low center of gravity and thick legs, Festler is strong on his feet and especially combative around the opponents net .. St. Cloud State recruit that has come on recently and should be in the back of scouts minds when the latter rounds of the 2008 draft are taking place.

Jason Gregoire (NYI), RW, Lincoln Stars

Skilled and savvy playmaking winger that is committed to North Dakota .. his exceptional on-ice awareness and puck instincts are the qualities that make Gregoire an intriguing prospect, as he is a creative playmaker that makes those around him better .. sees the ice well and looks-off defenders before making the pass .. light on his feet with nimble lateral mobility, however his lack of a top gear is evident, as he struggles to achieve multiple gears of acceleration .. with soft hands and a strong stick, Gregoire displays impressive puck control and is deceptively strong covering the puck in traffic for a player of his size .. plays on the penalty kill and does a fine job utilizing his strong stick to strip the opponent off the puck .. rarely leaving the ice, Gregoire is a multi-dimensional player that will surely be an impact collegiate player, although his future in the NHL will always be in question because of his lack of size and dynamic speed.

Travis Erstad (StL), LW, Lincoln Stars

Naturally athletic big kid with immense skill and elegant mobility, Erstad is ultimately inefficient given his god-given talents, as he plays an uninvolved game physically and takes wide turns away from the puck .. graceful skater in all-directions for a player of his size that fluidly accelerates to full speed within just a few strides .. with quick hands and a good release, Erstad displays an impressive skill set but he lacks the fortitude to exploit these gifts to become an offensive threat five-on-five .. a special team's player that relies on the powerplay to generate most of his offensive chances .. plays on the penalty kill but will not likely do the same at higher levels of hockey, as he is often too slow in making defensive reads .. just skates and skates around while never making any real impact .. the upside remains intriguing, as if he can figure the game out and add some strength to his wiry frame after four years with the Wisconsin Badgers, the Blues could have a player, as the skill is here.

Josh Myers (2008), LW, Lincoln Stars

Fiercely competitive two-way winger with a fast top gear .. possessing good feet and a strong stride, Myers possesses terrific top-end speed .. would be a player if his hands and instincts ever caught up to his feet, as his speed generates scoring opportunities for himself but he struggles to finish .. gritty player that displays sound defensive support by always being the first man on the backcheck and by taking deep lying, defensive-zone positions to aide in coverage .. will not be drafted this year but is a player that should draw NCAA interest.

Eric Meland (2008), RW, Lincoln Stars

Recently joined the Lincoln Stars after finishing his high school career in Grand Forks North Dakota .. his skating is adequate once he gains some steam, however his first step must be upgraded .. physical player that plays with an edge, Meland is struggling to process the game quick enough to make much of an impact on the ice, as he has often caught chasing the play.

Additional Scouting Notes from Kevin Wey

Kevin Murdock (2008), G, Lincoln Stars

His game has matured a fair amount over the course of his first USHL season .. doing a better job of getting compact for shots and not allowing rebounds .. able to get down and up quickly and across his crease quickly, but is not at the same level as Sioux City's Josh Robinson .. has the athleticism to make impressive splits saves if necessary .. able to make nice saucer passes and clears out of the zone, but will need to continue to improve moving it quicker .. has to be careful to avoid the urge to over challenge the shooter .. youngest goaltender in the USHL this season and has had to adjust to receiving only spot duty behind David Reekie, after being the starter for Shattuck St. Mary's U16 team in 2006-07.

Matt Bartkowski (2008), D, Lincoln Stars

Third-year, draft-eligible defenseman has made a significant jump with a larger role in his second USHL season .. 6-foot-1, 203-pound defenseman plays with physicality and can stand opponents up at the blueline or level them along the boards .. does not backtrack early and lets his gap close and keeps it close .. demonstrates proper backward skating form .. adept at making leg drags or using his stick to block passes .. passes are crisp and on the tape .. could afford to strengthen his wristshot from the point .. among defenseman scoring leaders in the USHL .. had just finished playing Pennsylvania high school hockey for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, but worth NHL consideration for a team looking for a more mature defenseman in their prospect depth chart .. committed to Ohio State.

Click the link for the full version of McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey's scouting notes on the Lincoln Stars