WHL [Jun-06]: NHL Draft List and Profiles
NHL Draft List and Profiles (posted 6.12.06)
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by Shane Malloy, David Fortier, and Ron Jones
1. Peter Mueller - Everett Silvertips - This potential power center has excellent vision and show good hockey sense in both ends of the ice. Overall, he has very few flaws but he could use some fine-tuning in his skating to have a more efficient stride and increase his quickness and top speed. (Top 6 pick overall)
2. Ty Wishart - Prince George Cougars - The 6 foot 5 and 215 pound defenseman is intriguing due to his size, solid mobility, and hockey sense. He may not have the puck skills to contribute at the NHL on a regular basis however; he could project into top defensive defenseman. (Top 20 pick – First round #15-25)
3. Leland Irving - Everett Silvertips - Has the ability to dominate games and carry a team and shows poise with a cool demeanor. He has good lateral movement and recovers quickly back to his feet after going down. Shows good rebound control, maintains proper angles, and does not give the shooter much to look at. (Late first round pick #20-30)
4. Codey Burki - Brandon Wheat Kings - The heady winger makes consistently smart decisions with or without the puck and that alone should project him into the NHL. He has the size, work ethic and offensive upside but he will need some work on his agility and quickness off the ice to better improve his effectiveness. (Late first round to Mid second round)
5. Ben Maxwell - Kootenay Ice - This highly offensive center has the hockey sense, patience, and intelligence to play at the NHL level and be a solid second line player. He has shown the ability to adapt quickly and can play defensively as well. He needs to add strength to his frame, which should help his physical play and overall skating. (Late first round to Mid second round)
6. Chad Greenan - Kootenay Ice - Has quietly put up a solid season statistically, earned ice time in every situation, and did not look out of place. He has good size at 6 foot 2 and 207 pounds and can play with an edge but more importantly, he has hockey sense and intelligence. He will need to work on his skating a little but overall is an underappreciated defenseman. (Second Round Pick)
7. Dustin Slade - Vancouver Giants - A dynamic netminder who has the ability to shut down teams with his quickness and athleticism. He has resiliency and remains focused under fire and has the ability to carry a team. He shows solid fundamentals and positioning and flashes a fast glove hand. He has matured and is competitive and never gives up on a play. (Mid second to late third round pick)
8. Ondrej Fiala - Everett Silvertips - The lanky 6 foot 2 center has shown the versatility to play on the wing, plays with vigor, and is not afraid to get his nose dirty. He has potential offensively and has shown the ability to play defensively as well. He will need to add strength to his frame and his concussions are a mild concern. (Mid second to late third round pick)
9. Ryan White - Calgary Hitmen - A solid overall center that is smart and responsible defensively and has shown some offensive spark throughout the season. He has decent size at 6 foot 0 and 200 pounds and plays a gritty game, but needs to work on his skating. Most likely would a third line center in the NHL. (Late second round to Mid third round)
10. Kevin Armstrong - Spokane Chiefs - He does have strong positional play and plays his angles well while reading and anticipating the developing play. He has good rebound control and does not allow many chances once they hit his body. However, his ability to recover from scrambles down low needs work, as does his play with the puck. (Late second to late third round pick)
11. Milan Lucic - Vancouver Giants - This bull in a china shop has the size at 6 foot 3 and 210 pounds and skating ability to be an effective role player in the NHL. He is tough as nails and will hit everything that moves and will drop the gloves. Although he does not have top line offensive skills, his intangibles, and work ethic are second to none. (Mid third to late third round pick)
12. Matt McCue - Spokane Chiefs - The big rangy 6 foot 5 and 212 pound defenseman does everything well but nothing great but could be a good pro due to his booming shot from the point. He plays tough, battles hard, and has enough mobility to handle the speed merchants at the next level. (Mid third to late third round pick)
13. Michael Grabner - Spokane Chiefs - The Austrian winger has the ability to be a sniper and is not afraid to shoot the puck from anywhere. His overall speed and quickness is very good and he can be elusive, however he is non-existent in the physical game and needs to gain some strength. (Late third round to Mid fourth round)
14. Brady Calla - Everett Silvertips - Due to his excellent foot, speed and quickness coupled with his ability to play defensively will make him valuable in the new NHL. Unfortunately he has not shown the offensively capability to play on a top two line and would most likely be a defensive role player. (Late third to late fourth round pick)
15. Riley Holzapfel - Moose Jaw Warriors - The slight 5 foot 11 and 180 pound forward has the skating ability to be dangerous in all situations and has good over all puck skills. He does however need to gain strength and must be more consistent in his effort and defensive game. (Late third to early fourth round)
16. Lukas Bohunicky - Kootenay Ice - This 6 foot 3 and 215 pound defenseman has the skills needed to play in the new NHL, good wingspan, good over all speed and quickness and enough hockey sense and passing ability to be effective coming out of his zone and in transition. He is not naturally offensively gifted and would be better as a defensive defenseman and he could be a little meaner. (Late third to late fourth round)
17. Derek Dorsett - Medicine Hat Tigers - The feisty but undersized 5 foot 11 and 178 pound winger has the tenacity and playoff mentality every team needs. He has good puck skills, vision, and goal scoring instincts. He has shown the ability to be a clutch performer and has enough skating ability to play at the next level. He aggressive nature lends to taking too many penalties and he needs to be able be a little more disciplined and must gain 20 pounds. (Late third to Early fourth round)
18. Mitch Fadden - Lethbridge Hurricanes - He has excellent foot speed and acceleration and can cause havoc on the forecheck and create turnovers. Unfortunately, he is a slight at 5 foot 11 and 178 pounds and seriously needs to gain strength. He has not shown the offensive instinct to be a top line forward however, if a team taught him better defense and to draw face-offs he could be a third line checking center similar to Todd Marchant. (Late third to Late fourth round)
19. Graham Potuer - Everett Silvertips - A basic defensive defenseman that does not play pretty and usually makes the safe play in his own zone. He a heart and soul player that coaches and teammates love and he sacrifices his body for the team. He has zero offensive upside and his overall skating and agility needs some work but he always gives 100%. (Fourth Round Pick)
20. Joey Perricone - Moose Jaw Warriors - The California kid who came up to Canada just to play in a summer league only a few years ago has turned heads with his performance in the playoffs. His composure and sound technical game through these playoffs will give scouts something to ponder. (Mid fourth to fifth round pick)
21. Bud Holloway - Kootenay Ice - He is a decent junior player however his lack of offensive instincts is a concern and he needs to add some weight to that 6 foot 1 and 180 pound frame of his. He works hard and is willing to mix it up and be a team player. He does have good overall skating ability but he needs some fine-tuning on his defensive awareness. (Late fourth to Late fifth round)
22. Tysen Dowzak - Kelowna Rockets - The massive 6 foot 5 and 225 pound defenseman is sometimes hard to figure out since he is so inconsistent. He has the capability to dominate physically but he does not on a regular basis. He has some trouble with his puck skills and decision making and perhaps lacks the quickness necessary to play at a higher level where decision are made at a higher tempo. (Late fifth to Late seventh round)
23. Victor Bartley - Kamloops Blazers - He has some potential as a defenseman although he is only 6 foot 0 and 195 pounds and has enough mobility to be effective. He does show some decent puck skills and on-ice awareness and toughness but he is in consistent and must learn to pick his spots better. He would be a long-term project for anyone that drafts him. (Late sixth to Late seventh round)
24. Jesse Dudas - Prince George Cougars - Injuries have hurt his draft stock and he will have to prove he can stay healthy next season. He does have decent size at 6 foot 1 and 202 pounds and at times is physical and will protect his teammates when needed. His decision making with the puck sometimes is inconsistent and is prone to not picking his assignments in his own zone. (Late sixth to Late seventh round)
25. Ben Wright - Lethbridge Hurricanes - Due to limited games played, he is still raw in many areas but he does handle penalty-killing duties well and can play in tight areas. He must learn to make plays quicker although he does have decent passing skills. He has a projectable frame at 6 foot 2 and 195 pounds but he could use some additional strength in his core and legs, which should help his skating. (Late sixth to Late seventh round)
26. Jordan Bendfeld - Medicine Hat Tigers - Another underrated defenseman who is a looks little lanky at 6 foot 3 and 205 but gets the job done. He does not have offensive talent to speak but he makes safe plays with the puck and could make a decent third pairing defensive or a number seven. He has solid mobility but needs some fine-tuning in his defensive play. (Late fifth to Late seventh round)
27. Justin Bernhardt - Regina Pats - This pivot has good puck skills and is dangerous when the puck hits his stick in the offensive zone as he has an array of shots. Although a little light at 6 foot 1 and 180 pounds he competes hard and does not get intimidated. He does see the ice well and generally is at the right place at the right time. His weakness is his skating as it is below average even at the junior level and if he wishes to make the next step that will need to improve dramatically. (Late sixth to Late seventh round)
28. Levi Nelson - Swift Current Broncos - The slight 6 foot 0 and 170 pound has above average overall speed and good quickness that he uses effectively. He has a good work ethic, has decent offensive instincts, and is more of shooter than a passer. He must add strength and be more patient in both ends of the ice. He may not be able to handle the tempo at a higher level. (Late fifth to Late seventh round)
29. Craig Schira - Regina Pats - Due to his height and size on defense at 5 foot 11 and 195 pounds, he may have been overlooked but he may be a sleeper pick. He has good skating ability and agility and usually does not get caught out of position. He does not have natural offensive instincts but can contribute on the powerplay. He does have poise and his outlet passes are average and his shot power is average as well but accurate. (Late fifth to Late seventh round)
30. Kris Lazaruk - Kootenay Ice - The 6 foot 1 and 165-pound netminder saw limited time as a rookie only seeing 26 games but he show fine quickness and lateral movement. He will need to gain some weight as tends to get overwhelmed and pushed around with heavy traffic. He also needs some work on his rebound control and overall positioning. (Late fifth to Late seventh round)
Players to Watch
Feel he has potential to be an excellent offensive contributor at the next level.. Sees ice extremely well, Great skater and in Lethbridge showed solid ability to play defense.. I see him having top two line potential however we will see how far off I am.
I certainly do not see him having great upside but you win with guys like this on your 3rd line.. Contributes to all areas, Is an absolute bull on the walls, great work ethic, sees the ice well, and is effective defensively.
Big league speed and hockey sense, love the potential here as a 2nd-3rd line winger who creates plays and can contribute to every area.. Shows potential to get opposition off their game with agitating style.
Certainly, a project but one I feel worth taking a flyer on.. Outstanding speed and solid base of skills.. I feel it is a crapshoot taking a goalie anyways, when you look at the history how many goalies drafted highly turned out to be starters, I would speculate it is close to being equal as the ones taken later in the draft. I feel taking kids like this late and getting them some solid coaching is better than blowing a big pick on one.
I see a lot more in this kid than a lot of people apparently.. To me he is a solid prospect to fill a 5-6 role.. Skates well, excellent decision making, good outlet, and transition game, Capable of playing physical.
Love the defensive instincts, has ability to contribute to transition game, strong physical game.. Very interested to see where his skill set takes him, maybe a career minor leaguer, maybe a solid top 4-5.
Way too much of his game is revolved around hooking and holding.. When the WHL clamps down on the rules next yr I feel he will have an extremely tough time contributing.. Doesn't have any one skill I feel that would make him a National Hockey League player.
Good speed and puck skills but I do not see his hockey sense as being up to par with the rest of his game.. Will pay attention to his progress to see if he proves me wrong..
To me he does not create enough offense to be ranked as high as he is.. Capable of keeping general plays alive majority of time but does not set up anything to justify ranking.. I do not see what role he would play in the National Hockey League.. Is not the hardest worker or strong defensively, offensive skills is not top two line material, where do you use him? I would not waste any money taking a player like this.. Will keep an eye on to see if he proves me wrong.
See him becoming a valuable #2-4 guy.. Not someone who is going to make a huge impact but someone that will possibly allow you to carry a specialist on your everyday top six because of his solid defensive play.