Whos Hot / Whos Not: UNDER THE RADAR
UNDER THE RADAR
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C/LW (Vsetin) - Slovenian forward has adjusted remarkably to Czech junior Extraleague
action and even got a taste of the Extraleague last month. A strong player despite
a somewhat lanky frame, he utilizes his fluid, effortless stride to outrun opponents
to the puck. Reaches top speed quickly and plays with spunk and nice agility
- sees the ice well and makes precise, well-timed passes. A playmaker, Badiura
has to further develop his finishing skills, and would benefit by strengthening
his slapper. Defensively responsible and could become a solid all-around force
if he adds at least 15 pounds.
G (Halifax) - Big, positional goalie has emerged as the Mooseheads number one
netminder after the trade of Jonathan Boutin. Says our QMJHL scout: "he impresses
me every time I see him play. Plays a stand-up style and takes up a lot of space
between the pipes. I like his poise, confidence; he uses his size well to cut
down the angles effectively. Really shuts the door down low and possesses a
strong glove hand. Reads the play well, challengers the shooter and handles
the puck confidently. Could go in the later rounds and could be a real steal."
Tom May- RW (Des
Moines) - There's no shortage of raw, big-bodied NHL projects and, at 6-foot-3
and 210 pounds, Tom May definitely fits the bill. A strong, powerful skater
with impressive balance and pickup speed for a big man, May also boasts a heavy
slapshot and loves to throw his weight around. "He plays with an edge, finishes
all his checks and can hit like a train", according to one of our USHL scouts.
"He isn't as skilled or as flashy as Oreskovich, but his hands are decent. He's
an honest, hard-working player with the size, mobility and toughness to develop
into a solid third-line NHLer."
G (London Knights) - Lilliputian netminder has been lights-out this year for
the Knights and has stolen the number-one job from the inconsistent Gerald Coleman.
Currently first in the OHL is both the goals-against average and save percentage,
McDonald is an aggressive, nimble goalie who loves to challenge the shooter.
Says our OHL scout: "He's an unorthodox little guy who tends to flop around
a bit, but he finds ways to get his body on the puck. Quick laterally, cuts
down angles to perfection and although he leaves a lot of openings, he shuts
them almost instantaneously. Very flexible and controls the rebounds very well.
Anything but economical, but I love his competitive, high-energy style."
LW (CSKA) - Considering the number of hot prospects in CSKA's system, it was
somewhat shocking that Parshin earned the promotion to the senior club. What
is even more surprising is how fast he adjusted to the speed of the Super League,
and managed to secure a spot in the club's lineup. The young forward sees the
ice fairly well, possesses above-average speed and can handle the puck. However,
his lack of size (barely 5-8 and 160 pounds) puts him in the 'high-risk/low-probability'
category of eventually bringing some NHL returns. And it's unlikely that he
will grow much bigger, yet, despite his stature, he has managed to perform at
the highest level, beating out many higher-profile prospects. Look at him as
a smaller version of Dmitri Pestunov, and, though it's unlikely he'll get picked
as high as his countryman from Magnitogorsk, Parshin could still hear his name
in the middle rounds.
Pogge - G (Prince George) - Energetic, relentless goalie has fully earned
his accolades this season - coming into training camp, he had to fight to win
the backup role to Todd Ford and his subsequent play made it possible for the
Cougars to ship Ford at the trade deadline. An athletic netminder, Pogge is
nimble and likes to challenge the shooters. Also a skilled puck handler, he
helps out his defense by aggressively pursuing the puck at all times.
- D (Boston) - Fresh-faced rearguard became the first rookie defenseman in Boston
University history to score a hat trick in a game. With his record-setting performance,
Schaeffer showed a willingness to shoot the puck and considerable offensive
upside. A smooth-skating blueliner is not fast, but he is solid at all facets
of the game and possesses a hard and accurate point shot. The former captain
of New York's Apple Core in the EJHL, Schaefer is currently sixth in team scoring
with five goals and ten points. According to our scout in Boston: "He has very
good poise at both ends and jumps in on the rush effectively."
Schneider - G (Phillips Academy Andover) - This high school superstar
is a wildcard only because of his level of competition. Being the only top-ranked
goalie still playing prep hockey, Schneider is at a disadvantage compared to
the likes of Al Montoya and Dave Brown, who can prove their worth against elite
collegiate shooters. The native of Marblehead, Mass did turn in a good performance
at the Junior World Cup in the Czech Republic last August, and continues to
dazzle the prep ranks with his remarkable shot-stopping ability. He single-handedly
lifted Andover to a third-place finish at the recent Flood Marr tournament.
A patient, thinking man's goalie, Schneider reads the play with remarkable ease
and rarely wastes energy on unnecessary movements. He likes to stay on his feet
and force shooters into making the first move, tempting them to test his quick
limbs. His positioning, technique, and athleticism (also played for the varsity
baseball team last season) are all first-rate, and he possesses excellent control
of his tall and wiry frame. Aside from routinely pulling off eye-popping saves,
he is also a big-game player who can elevate his focus to suit the occasion.
A Boston College recruit, he will likely spend next season with Green Bay of
the USHL before joining the Eagles in the fall of `05.
- RW (TuTo) - Can one great game make a season? Well, it doesn't hurt. Such
was this case for this unheralded Finnish winger, who blazed onto the scouting
radar thanks to his 'Cinderella' hat-trick in the Viking finale. Tuomainen looked
like he showed up at the wrong tournament, towering over the proceedings at
6-3, 210 pounds, and, even though he accomplished little until the final day,
stood out from the start due to his size and impressive skating abilities. Extremely
agile and quick for a big man, he also used his body well along the walls and
showcased some sharp puck skills around the net. A wildcard to watch over the
second half.