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Saturday, May 14, 2011

Another look at some overagers for 2011

Bruins 2011 Draft Watch did an installment of overage players passed over in previous drafts to keep an eye out for back in February. You can read that post here.

We're back in May with another group of prospects you may or may not be tracking as possibilities in June.

Players born between January 1, 1991 and September 15, 1993 are eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. We put their birth years at the end of each scouting report.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, and we expect to do one more post like this between now and June 24.

Aaron Harstad, D Green Bay (USHL)- 6-2, 190-pound Wisconsin native didn't play much on last year's USHL Clark Cup champion, but has been given an opportunity to step up this year. The lack of playing time cost him a draft spot, but B2011DW suspects that he'll get a call the second time around. Good size and mobility; has some offensive potential if he can limit the mistakes and not play outside of his limitations. Can move the puck well, but needs to work on decision and not getting caught up ice. Has showed improvement from where he was last year at this time with the added ice time and role, but still needs to work on consistency and intensity. Some raw upside to work with here, but not a stud prospect- more efficient and solid than dangerous and dynamic. (1992)

Nathan Lieuwen, G Kootenay (WHL)- Comeback kid has been a real treat in the 2011 playoffs, leading the Ice to a Memorial Cup berth after stunning favorites Saskatoon and Portland along the way. Went 16-3 with a 2.24 GAA, 3 shutouts and a .923 save percentage in the postseason. An interesting story- was involved in a car accident in Sept. 2007 in which he was a passenger in a vehicle rollover that left him with a serious concussion. Began 2008-09 season healthy, but was up-and-down, and then suffered another concussion- went undrafted in his first year of eligibility. Last season, a collision with Portland's Troy Rutkowski in late October only allowed for 26 games of action and again, he went unpicked. This season, he played 55 games, winning 33 of them. At 6-6, he's tremendously agile with his long limbs taking up so much of the net, shooters have little to shoot at. His mechanics need tweaking, but Lieuwen has No. 1 upside. The only real obstacle to any of it is his noggin, but given that he held up over an entire season, he's worth taking a risk on in the draft. (1991)

Chris McCarthy, F University of Vermont (HE)- Good sized winger at 6-1, 190 impressed at the 2008 Eight Nations/Ivan Hlinka for Team USA; not overly fast, but elusive and agile with strong balance and edge control. Can make tight, rapid turns to shake defenders. Shields the puck well on the cycle and has quick hands/stick to win puck battles near the boards. Goes to the net and has finishing skills, but has yet to really demonstrate them in college with six and eight goals in each of first two seasons with the Catamounts. Seems to see the ice well and has some creativity to his game, but still needs to work on involving his teammates more. (1991)

Andrej Stastny, C Red Deer (WHL)- Super size at 6-4, 215 pounds for the undrafted Slovak pivot, who played half the season with the Vancouver Giants, scoring 10 goals and 30 points in only 32 games after coming to the WHL after the WJC. Has a long stick and bears down on the puck- tough to separate when cycling. Hands are OK, and not overly creative with the puck, but uses his size to create space for himself and goes hard to the net. A little slow out of the gate, but has powerful stride and is a good skater in a straight line. With his size and strength, he's very tough to contain when he gets a head of steam up. Only speaks halting English, but proficient in the language of hockey. May have done enough to earn a mid-to-late round grade. Finished the season as Central Scouting's 185th North American skater, but he has size and strength you can't teach. Coming to North America might have given him the boost he needs. (1991)

Charles Orzetti, RW Jersey (EJHL)- Hulking winger (6-4, 215) plays a power game and brings a nasty edge to the ice with him. Love to hit people and bang his way along the walls and in front of the net. Has a big, powerful shot that he can unload from just about anywhere. Not a great skater- lacks initial burst and the agility to play the game with rapid stops and starts- needs to improve his foot speed and lateral mobility. Outstanding character; son of a West Pointer and older brother is an Annapolis grad and Marine lieutenant. Will attend Yale in 2012. Recovered from a torn labrum that forced him to miss all of 2009-10 season, but was buried on deep Jersey team and didn't get the chance to see much PP time.(1992)

T.J. Tynan, C Notre Dame (CCHA)- Tiny player scored 72 points for Des Moines of the USHL a year ago but was still overlooked in the 2010 draft. Gritty little competitor has high-end speed, puck skills and tenacity- all he needs is a chance. Very consistent and plays with a high energy level; opened a lot of eyes as a dynamic freshman with the Fighting Irish,scoring 23 goals and 54 points in just 44 games and taking them far into playoffs. Quick, elusive and very creative with the puck; despite his lack of size goes into traffic with relish and usually emerges unscathed with the puck. Not a blazer with explosive initial burst, but his vision and anticipation are right up there with the best of them. Works hard- feet never stop moving and he's tenacious on the forecheck and in puck pursuit. A coach's dream and more than the sum of his parts- deserves a chance on draft day given his production and intangibles. (1992)

Alexei Marchenko, D CSKA (KHL)-An injury and the fact that he was a Russian dropped this big, skilled defenseman off the map in last year's draft. Our sources tell us that he's put up another solid season at age 19 and could get a later-round flyer in 2011. Has decent size at 6-2, 180 and is still growing and filling out. A strong puckhandler who is better at moving the puck and trailing the play on offense than he gets credit for. Always played a solid defensive game with some physical bite, but asserted himself more in the offensive end this season and has some upside. Teams will have to get past the fact that he's a risk, but the ones who do enough homework and are convinced they can get him over at some point could have a real nice payoff. Red Line had him in their top-50 at one point during the 2009-10 season before an injury forced him to miss the World Under-18 Championships, so it isn't like this kid is a late-bloomer. Could be a very nice sleeper/value pick for someone. (1992)

Mike Reardon, D Noble & Greenough (HIGH-MA)- Good athlete with fine mobility; not exceptional in any one area, but has the size (6-1, 190) and skating to develop into a prospect. Team captain was injured this season- played only 11 games, posting two goals and 12 points. Project guy who keeps things simple and isn't very flashy or dynamic. Strong in retrieval; feels backside pressure well and uses his wheels to get to loose pucks and then move them out of danger quickly. B2011DW thought Reardon was worth a late-look in 2010, but New England prep players are always a wildcard and teams passed on him. (1992)

1 comment:

  1. Was hoping you'd take a look at Blake Coleman. Another Overager that had a pretty good year in the USHL.

    But thanks for this!

    ReplyDelete