Whos Hot / Whos Not: TAKING A FALL
Barnes - C (Saskatoon) - You wouldn't know of Barnes' struggles by just
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seeing him play at the Canada Winter Games and at the Under-18 World Cup. Yet
his lack of production brings up question marks as to whether he is mentally recovered
from the injury he sustained last year (fractured vertebrae). Must put in a more
consistent effort game in and game out - Barnes is not the most tough-minded guy
when it comes to playing hurt. His speed is excellent, but he must learn to use
it to his advantage, create space for himself in the offensive end and find appropriate
zones to unleash his shot.
Des Alliers - D (Victoriaville) - Started the season like gangbusters,
but had stalled (with zero points in his last twenty games in Gatineau), which
prompted his trade to the Tigres. A mobile skater with soft hands, Des Alliers
has lacked confidence, especially with the puck, as his skating and decision-making
abilities under pressure have been questioned. An aggressive player, Des Alliers
loves to use his frame in high-traffic areas. Says our QMJHL scout: "He definitely
leaves his mark out on the ice, but his vision doesn't impress me all that much.
Not a great skater, but he works at it, shows good energy and doesn't just stand
around."
Dusatko - LW (Sparta Praha) - Whatever happened to this guy? The once
coveted forward with size has been unable to find his game in the junior Extraleague
and has looked equally confused playing for the Czech Under-18 team. Struggles
with the pace of games due to his awkward skating skills, lacks an extra gear
that would allow him to outskate opposing defensemen. Among Dusatko's few strengths
is his heavy slap shot, but until he can learn to play in traffic, he will not
emerge into anything more than a perimeter player.
Earl - LW (Wiscconsin) - Snubbed by Wisconsin and Team USA coach Mike
Eaves in favour of more well-rounded teammate Jake Dowell, Earl has let his
disappointment show since the WJC victors (Eaves, Dowell and Ryan Suter) returned
home with gold medals in tow. On the plus side, Earl is a roadrunner. Blazing
fast, slippery, and very skilled with the puck. He plays a fiesty game and knows
how to find open space, yet there's also a fair bit of Fata-ism here, as Earl
has the same individualistic tendencies, not to mention Rico's passion for doing
everything at break-neck speed. Developing his lower gears and learning how
to involve his teammates more are both areas that Earl will need in order to
realize his pro potential.
Gauthier - RW (Shawinigan) - Looked like a guy who could sneak his way
into the first round last year, but hasn't made required strides this season.
Gauthier is a guy who will make room for himself and find open space due to
his nice reach and stocky build. However, skating has been a greater issue than
we anticipated - has a careless, laissez-faire stride and gets consistently
beaten for loose pucks. Can finish and distribute the puck crisply, but doesn't
drive the net hard enough.
F (Wisconsin) - Dany's brother only matches his older sibling in one category
- size (Mark is 6-3, 200). Heatley has limited offensive upside and only adequate
shooting skills. Although he will never be a top-notch forward, Heatley catches
one's eye, as he's a physical presence in high-traffic areas and on the cycle.
Amassed only seven points on the season, but has three two-point games.
Laliberte - RW (PEI) - We expected a sniper, but were surprised to find
out that Laliberte is a winger without that extra gear to finish off plays.
Although a solid defensive forward, he lacks crispness in his command and delivery
of the puck. According to our QMJHL scout: "His hands are simply not as good
as previously believed. He's not quick enough to dig out pucks, nor strong enough
off of the puck to elude defensemen on the rush. He often tries to be too fancy
when he simply does not possess the requisite stickhandling skills to be an
effective one-on-one attacker. Lacks focus and too often gets caught as a spectator
when he should be working."
McGrath - C (Kitchener) - We had been waiting patiently for him to break
through, but now the patience is running out. Our scouts are beginning to wonder
whether McGrath has the necessary creativity and drive to be a consistent scorer.
He's an effective contributor along the boards and in traffic, but does very
little to complement the rush and doesn't shoot as much as he should. It is
hard to dislike McGrath, because he's very solid and never stands out as a weak
link, but his penchant for invisibility and inability to create space is killing
his stock softly.
Meidl - C (Plymouth) - After posting consistent points earlier this
season, Meidl hasn't been a contributor on the scoreboard lately. A recent stretch
saw Meidl collect only one point in 10 matches - the indication of a player
who is not working hard for the puck. Has mammoth size, soft hands and deceptive
mobility, but his lazy stride and lack of balance is reflective of his raw makeup.
We still like Meidl because he looks like a potentially stifling shut down-type
of guy. He'll drop his gloves and will get his nose dirty, but his offensive
game is not flourishing.
Reddox - C (Peterborough) - Soft hands can only get you so far
when you can barely get from point A to point B. Producing at a point-a-game
pace, Reddox couldn't even make the Top Prospects game. Undersized finisher
plays a finesse game designed for bigger, lanky forwards, but he doesn't have
an elusive extra gear to his game that would translate well in the pros. Gets
outmuscled along the boards and only an average playmaker.
Smid - D (Liberec) - Was a considerable disappointment at the Under-20
World Juniors. We have followed Smid closely beyond this season and couldn't
recognize him - a normally inventive and smooth puck-handling defenseman didn't
use his feet well, and seldom showed exceptional creativity with the puck. Smid
lacked moxie, didn't use his first step and showed no backbone in traffic areas.
Keep in mind that Smid was a 17-year old playing in a 19-year old's tournament,
but his lackluster showing has made us question whether he should be in the
elite group for this draft.
Wick - RW (Kloten/GCK) - This year's top-ranked Swiss prospect has been
'off the front burner' this season, seeing limited duty with the senior Kloten
team, coupled with a November injury that forced him to miss the junior holiday
tournament schedule. Currently on a conditioning loan to Kloten's second-division
farm team, Wick is a talented one-on-one player with excellent skating and puck-control
skills, yet must work to round out his game. His offensive upside is undeniable
as he possesses a flair and passion for attacking, but will often sacrifice
defensive-zone duties in search of scoring chances.