WHL: Tri-ing for the Draft

McKeen's correspondent Randy Gorman provides an early season look at some of the top draft-eligible prospects from the Tri-City Americans including Adam Hughesman, Mason Wilgosh, Lane Werbowski and Brendan Shinnimin.

Adam Hughesman (2009), LW, Tri-City Americans

Hughesman is off to a good start in his draft year picking up 8 goals, 16 points and a plus-5 rating through the first 20 games of the season .. the 5-foot-11, 184-pound winger is an average skater but finds his niche in other ways .. he has a very good touch around the net by utilizing his quick release .. has a great wristshot that he uses frequently, and in many situations, he fool's goalies who think he will deke or take the slapshot .. his passing game could improve, as he sometimes waits too long to make the pass to the open man .. has the ability to get to open ice and a willingness to go to the net with his stick down looking for tip-ins .. has good hockey instincts and seems to know where his linemates will be on the transition from defense to offense .. must play with more consistency to raise his draft stock.

Mason Wilgosh (2009), C, Tri-City Americans

Hard-working forward displays speed through the neutral zone and is a good playmaker .. however, his size (5-8, 186) will be an issue .. very tenacious on the forecheck as he plays his opponents tight in close and does not let them beat him to the puck very often .. however, he over commits at times and gets caught out of position on the backcheck .. he has seen major minutes on the penalty kill and blocks shots on a regular basis .. is able to get under the skin of the opposition and likes that part of the game .. his stats reflect the playing time he gets on the fourth line, as he has only one goal and an assist in15 games .. also has a poor minus–11 rating over this early part of the season ..Wilgosh is learning how to play defense and with a little more practice and games under his belt, the plus/minus should improve.

Lane Werbowski (2009), D, Tri-City Americans

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound defenseman will be a project for somebody, as he will move either up or down in this year's draft .. a very good skater and often leads the offensive rush .. he must play more physical and develop a mean streak with opposing forwards .. his cross-pivots and backwards mobility are very good in transition and he often catches players that have a stride or two on him .. his outlet passes are generally good and he shows great patience and poise when setting up the offensive play with his teammates .. his shot is decent from the point with good velocity but his control will need to improve.

Brendan Shinnimin (2009), C, Tri-City Americans

Shinnimin has seen limited action working into the mix with fellow draft-eligible Mason Wilgosh on the fourth line for the Americans .. He has potted a pair of goals so far this season in 13 games with a plus-minus –5. .. smaller forward at 5-foot-9 and 168 pounds, he's still growing but gets knocked around a lot .. works hard, is good along the wall and looks to pass more than shoot .. he will throw his weight around and you have to admire his work ethic .. has great speed, stickhandles well through traffic and goes to the open areas looking to set up his linemates .. must learn about the defensive part of the game but that will come with more game time and experience in the WHL.