USHL: Steel and Ice

McKeen's correspondent Max Giese focuses on prospects from the Chicago Steel and Indiana Ice that will be making their presence felt in the 2008 and 2009 NHL Entry Drafts. Top prospect John Carlson of the Indiana Ice is featured, as he is currently listed at No. 29 on McKeen's Preliminary Rankings.

John Carlson (2008), D, Indiana Ice

The top-draft-eligible prospect in the USHL this season is a talented offensive defenseman .. special with the puck, as he can launch devastating offensive attacks with either his near flawless passing game or by displaying his dynamic skill set while marching the puck up the ice himself .. his vision, poise, and creativity with the puck are phenomenal, as he can open up the defense and break right through it with his beautiful passes from the point .. loves to jump and is dangerous doing so, as he identifies and exploits open seems in the opposition's defense .. strong skater that can really move with vigor when he smells blood or needs to recover .. displays astute shot selection, as he owns a heavy shot but will also take a little off it to get it through to the net .. owns great offensive instincts and smarts, as he reads the play so well that he seems to be one-step ahead of where the puck is going .. beginning to use his big body more physically and he defends rather well, evidenced by his coach trusting him on the penalty kill and when his team is up by a goal late in the game .. confident, impact player that never seems to leave the ice .. his puck skills are at a premium and he is one of those rare players to have a great physical package and mind for this game.

Max Nicastro (2008), D, Chicago Steel

Big, rangy, and proactive defenseman with exceptional toughness but questionable puck skills .. moves with ease in all directions and owns a powerful stride .. tough kid that is always the first into the corners .. exceptional at defending the oncoming rush, as he maintains a tight gap before angling his man to the wall to stand him up at the blueline with a thumping bodycheck .. utilizes his mobility and long reach well to limit the oppositions time and space .. defends well in his own end, as he clears his crease with authority, reads the play well, and plays the body hard one-on-one .. currently playing the powerplay but likely won't at the next level, as he freezes when pressured and coughs-up the puck at the blueline .. his inability to move the puck consistently is the main knock on his game .. at his best when he uses his speed and physicality to shut down the opposition's top line while making simple and safe plays with the puck.

Nick Bailen (2008), D, Indiana Ice

Was an intriguing prospect for the last couple of years but is no longer, as he simply has not grown an inch and his development has flat lined .. small, but he plays the role of the pest and has the reputation of a headhunter .. has a knack for catching the opposition with their head down in the neutral zone before laying them out, often with a dirty hit up high .. skilled and mobile defenseman, although he is not dynamic enough offensively to look past his suspect defensive game and lack of size .. does a fine job controlling his gap and defending his man off the rush however, he can be bulled right over around his net and really struggles to defend if the opposition can get a sustained offensive attack .. will be a fan favorite collegiate defenseman but is not NHL material.

Stepan Novotny (2009), LW, Indiana Ice

Talented Czech winger that has all the physical gifts to be a stud, although he is still figuring the game out mentally .. possesses nimble feet and a strong stride that stimulates his great acceleration .. dangerous player coming down the wing with a quick shot that he can release with ease while moving at full speed .. can dangle and weave his way through heavy traffic with remarkable ease for a big kid .. gifted with the puck however, he is guilty of over handling it and can be stripped off it too easily at times .. if he fixes his tactical errors, he will be a sought after prospect for the 2009 draft.

Mark Anthoine (2008), RW, Chicago Steel

Character guy with grit that has been surprisingly productive so far in the early going despite his lack of natural-offensive ability .. projects as a checker despite owning a quick shot but his vision and quickness are suspect .. plays with jam and passion every night .. the type of player that is the first in on the forecheck and one that wins the majority of the one-on-one battles he takes on for loose pucks .. very sharp and hard working defensively, as he is a great penalty killer and the type of player coaches lineup against the opposition's top line .. not overly tall but he is as thick as they come and he plays with an edge .. Maine recruit that may get looks in the late rounds for his work ethic and defensive play.

John Moore (2009), D, Chicago Steel

The closest thing to a natural powerplay quarterback the Steel has this season .. moves fluidly with ease in all directions and his top-end speed is deceptively good because he moves so effortlessly .. poised and smart passer that sees the ice well .. delivers a good pass on the breakout or while manning the point .. shows good instincts while quarterbacking the powerplay where he displays his superb lateral mobility to open passing and shooting lanes .. he is not a hard player and he lacks strength however, he shows the willingness to sacrifice his body to block a shot or take a hit to get the puck out of the zone .. more finesse than anything defensively, as he maintains a tight gap, keeps an active stick, and displays a mature understanding for angling his man properly, which helps mask his lack of an aggressive streak .. player to keep an eye on for the 2009 draft, as he fits in well with the new standard of officiating.