WHL Report: Saskatoon Blades Part 2

McKeen's correspondent Matt Bugg, continues his look at the WHL-leading Saskatoon Blades with profiles on the team's next wave of talent, 2012-eligible prospects Ryan Olsen, Lukas Sutter and Dalton Thrower.

Lukas Sutter (2012), C, Saskatoon

In the Sutter tradition, a veritable penalty machine .. has 125 such minutes in just 51 games of play as a WHL rookie, most of them of the intimidating variety .. presence is immediately evident in the way he crashes the net and stakes out position in front .. few can move the 6-foot, 205-pound center, and those that try either end up on their butts or in the box themselves .. although not a wizard with the puck, he possesses a deft touch and good hand-eye, and directs harmless-looking passes or shots on goal with a quick flick of his blade .. above-average playmaker who can take advantage of seams created thanks to his long reach and hustle .. although he at first appears to be a sluggish, wide-stance skater, he can generate speed or change direction quickly in just a couple of steps .. takes pride in doing the small things and is close to unbeatable along the wall .. is as refined a player on the draw as one will find in the WHL, winning faceoffs consistently thanks to his above-average strength .. may yet have untapped growth, and should be a premier agitator/power forward prospect next year who nets 50 points as a sophomore.

Dalton Thrower (2012), D, Saskatoon

WHL sophomore has more than doubled his production from last season, despite appearing in seven fewer games than last season .. notwithstanding his age and relatively average size (6-0, 195), he is a fearless player who seeks to get under the skin of opponents every shift .. finishes his checks both on the wall and in open ice, and will carry on rough play after the whistle in order to make a point .. when called upon to be accountable, he has no problem defending himself and is a skilled fighter .. skates well north-south, and is constantly moving his feet to generate quick bursts of speed .. although he occasionally suffers from the same urge to leave his man in order to make contact that many young defenders do, he is remarkably cool and collected in one-on-one situations and reads his angles well .. no-fuss puckhandler, and distributes the puck accurately both over long and short distances .. owns a high-powered but often inaccurate slapshot that rattles bones .. with added growth both physically and from a skills standpoint, Thrower projects to be a two-way defenseman and a potential top-60 pick in 2012.

Ryan Olsen (2012), C, Saskatoon

Had 2010 top pick Ryan Johansen played in the WHL as an under-ager, he may have posted similar numbers to Ryan Olsen's this season .. at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, he is a raw, yet intriguing talent who could be a special player with a summer of physical maturity .. former 20th overall selection in the Bantam Draft has already bulked up from two inches and 20 pounds in just eight months .. Olsen is a heart-and-soul player seeing limited action on the Saskatoon fourth line .. however, he makes an impact when he does see the ice .. a willing and able shot-blocker and all-around defensive dynamo .. plays deep in his end like a third defenceman, and makes sure his team has possession before venturing any further .. skating is at this point a big rub, as Olsen moves in rigid, small strides, making it difficult for him to generate much power or speed .. nevertheless, he handles the puck well in tight and can surprise defenders with quick lateral swoops and dekes .. owns a heavy, accurate release that will (with improved accuracy) be a future headache for goalies .. although not as physical as one might expect, Olsen has all the hallmarks of a burgeoning power center and could surprise next year with an offensive outburst.