Grading the 2011 Draft Part 1

Now that the 2011 NHL Draft is in the books, it's time to assess each team's draft class based on what we know now.

The analysis is subjective and limited at the same time. There will be some picks who look great right now who will go on to have a minimal or no impact, just as there are those who don't look like a whole lot of anything but will pick up their developmental curve and become NHL players, perhaps even stars.

However, given what we have to go on, there's always time to reflect and at least make an initial assessment. In three-to-five years, we can go back and see how close we were. Until then, the jury will be out.

This is the first of three posts that will look at each team and analyze their draft day efforts.


Anaheim Ducks
Grade: B+
The Ducks traded down from 22 with Toronto (Tyler Biggs) and picked up Swedish forward Rickard Rakell with the final pick in the first round. B2011DW has liked Rakell since seeing him in the WJC. He doesn't have ideal size or elite skill, but he's a slick forward who is underrated on the offensive side of things. He plays a gritty, agitating game. With Toronto's second-rounder, they got excellent value with American goalie John Gibson, who has cornerstone-type potential. Unlike Jack Campbell, he won't have a lot of pressure on him as the 39th overall pick compared to being 10th. We also like the pick of undersized but plucky William Karlsson. The draft went off the rails a bit with the selection of Joe Cramarossa early in the third round. "Cram-berry" is a solid player, but his upside is limited. They could have done better. Andy Welinski generated some buzz in the USHL this season and is fine value in the third. Don't see a lot of upside in smallish Swedish forward (that's two with Karlsson) Max Friberg, but as a fifth-round selection, probably worth the risk. Sixth rounder Josh Manson did not get high marks from scouts we talked to beyond his size.

Boston Bruins
Grade: A
Stanley Cup champs and they land two high-end talents in Dougie Hamilton and Alexander Khokhlachev. That's not supposed to be how it works. Anthony Camara was a surprise and reach pick, but the same things were said about Milan Lucic in 2006, so it will be interesting to see if there is something more to this player skill-wise. His toughness even despite being average-sized is unquestionable. Ferlin, O'Gara and Volden are all developmental depth picks, but we keep going back to the team's two first picks in the top-40. From the looks of it, they could not have done any better, especially given that Marc Savard looks to be at the end of the line, with what could very well be a retirement announcement coming this summer.

Buffalo Sabres
Grade: A-
First pick Joel Armia was solid value at 16 where the Sabres got him and he has some real potential as a big scoring forward. Buffalo also got nice value with third-rounder Daniel Catenacci, who reminds us a lot of a Brad Marchand-type player. Terrific wheels, good hands and a real buzzsaw/agitating presence. We're not bullish on Colin Jacobs, who attended the draft with his arm in a sling after recent shoulder surgery and scouts didn't have great things to say about his long-term potential. The Sabres landed a homegrown product in the 5th round with West Seneca, N.Y. native and Barrie defenseman Alex Lepkowski, a shutdown guy with size who doesn't have any offensive upside but could be an effective bottom pair player one day. Big goalie Nathan Lieuwen, who had a terrific WHL season and playoffs in leading the Kootenay Ice to the Chynoweth Cup as WHL champs is a solid value pick and good story after being passed over twice previously because of concussion issues. Wisconsin high schooler Brad Navin has size, skill and is very raw but is an interesting project pick in the seventh round.

Calgary Flames
Grade: C
We like the Sven Bartschi pick, but, and we regret that Flames fans may be unhappy with the rest of the analysis, but new GM Jay Feaster and his staff took too many unnecessary risks the rest of the way. Bartschi won us over after a perimeter WJC, but we think Markus Granlund went way too high at 45- he's nowhere near the player his brother is. Tyler Wotherspoon is a good defensive player, but at barely over 6-foot, he simply doesn't have the size to be a shutdown D in the NHL, and his offensive upside/sense is pretty poor. We like John Gaudreau a lot- but not as a fourth-rounder. He's the smallest player ever on record to be drafted, and he's going to be hard-pressed to overcome that size deficit. Laurent Brossoit salvaged things in the sixth round- he's a big goalie with skill and potential, but it was too little, too late. This draft could haunt the Flames more for who they left on the board than anything else in about five years.

Carolina Hurricanes
Grade: A
The Hurricanes aren't getting enough credit for their draft- Jim Rutherford and company quietly cleaned up. Ryan Murphy at 12 and Victor Rask at 42 are excellent value picks. Murphy was a popular choice to go to the Bruins, but the thought of him working the power play with Justin Faulk in about three years...yikes. Watch out NHL! Rask underachieved, but to get him 12 picks into the second is good news for Carolina. Keegan Lowe was a tad high, but he is as steady and dependable as they come. Getting Swiss forward Gregory Hofmann was a steal in the fourth round, but unfortunately, he elected to stay in Switzerland rather than come over to Shawinigan, who was prepared to take him in the CHL Import Draft this week. Goalie Matt Mahalak and Brody Sutter (Duane's kid) are nice developmental project picks late. No flaws in this group.

Chicago Blackhawks
Grade: A
This is another team who gets high marks for their draft. Mark McNeill was a solid, solid pick at 17 just like his build. He's a perfect player for the blue collar folks in Chi-town. Phillip Danault was a bit of a surprise, but understand this- the kid is going to play and his intangibles- leadership, work ethic, desire- all rate him near the top of this class. He'll probably be a third-liner, but when you want to win hockey games, this is a guy who will do it for you. Adam Clendening AND Brandon Saad in the second round. Seriously? We like Mike Paliotta more than others in the third- he's a mobile, shutdown guy and winner. Klas Dahlbeck (overager) and Maxim Shalunov are solid value and risk/reward picks in the 3rd and 4th. Andrew Shaw is an overager who had a great playoffs in leading Owen Sound to the OHL championship. Sam Jardine, Alex Broadhurst and Johan Matsson are nothing to write home about, but this was one hell of a draft from the initial look.

Colorado Avalanche
Grade: A-
It's hard to argue with a draft class that headlines with Gabriel Landeskog. B2011DW absolutely loved this stud, and Colorado fans will too. We weren't as big on Duncan Siemens, but knew he'd go a lot higher than where we had him. If he can be the next Adam Foote, the Avalanche will have done just fine. Joachim Nermark had a disappointing season, but he has skill and upside. If he can get his development back on track, he'll be a good one for a fourth-rounder. Garrett Meurs slid down to the fifth round, but again- is decent value given that he was seen as a potential first-rounder coming into it. The Gabriel Beaupre and Dillon Donnelly picks don't do much for us, but for an organization needing grit and toughness, they at least meet that requirement.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Grade: C+
Boone Jenner is a good pick in the early second round for the Blue Jackets, but he's more likely a third-line character guy than a top-six stud. T.J. Tynan is a gutsy pick, but he was passed over a year ago, so can he thrive in the NHL with his lack of size? If his life is anything to date, he'll keep proving doubters wrong. Mike Reilly is a long-term project because of his lack of physical maturity, but has the tools to be an interesting project. Now, people will say Seth Ambroz is a great value pick in the fifth round, and on paper he is, but we're just not sold that he'll ever be the player he could be. More power to him if he can prove everyone wrong, but let's just say that his prodigious fall was not an accident. And we'll leave it at that. Lukas Sedlak and Anton Forsberg aren't much to speak of as legitimate NHL prospects. On paper, this draft class looks OK, but it lacks any real true high-enders, save for Tynan. And with his size, he's a risk until he can fight his way into the NHL and stay there. Columbus gets bonus points for landing Jeff Carter, but Brian Campbell's rejection in not waiving his no-trade to go there stings.

Dallas Stars
Grade: B
Jamie Oleksiak is a solid selection where they got him with major upside if he keeps developing and becomes more Zdeno Chara than Hal Gill. Sarnia power forward Brett Ritchie was also a solid value pick with upside at 44th overall in the second round. The rest of the guys, Emil Molin (not well known in Sweden), Troy Vance (another huge D but very raw), Matej Stransky and Jyri Jokipakka are some risky picks who may not return big dividends.

Detroit Red Wings
Grade: A
They did it again. After trading their first-rounder (23) to Ottawa (Matt Puempel) they still landed a first-round talent in Tomas Jurco, who looks like an absolute natural with that winged wheel crest on his chest. GM Ken Holland then worked the board like the draft pro he is, grabbing value picks like they were going out of style: Ryan Sproul in the second, Alan Quine in the third. Marek Tvrdon in the fourth, Philippe Hudon in the fifth. Alexei Marchenko could be better than any of them, and they got him in the seventh round. Seventh! Xavier Ouellet was a bit high for us, but with his smarts and puck skills, if anyone can thrive in that system it is him. Once again, the Wings prove that you don't need to have high picks to build your organization.

We'll be back with part two, commencing with the Edmonton Oilers, who are at the head of the class.

Nugent-Hopkikns and Landeskog go 1-2

These two picks make perfect sense.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the top talent and if Edmonton had passed on him, the second-guessing would have been immense. Stud forward and high-end talent who deserved to be No.1 and will be a good fit for the Oil.

Kudos to Colorado for taking Gabriel Landeskog, whom we don't think gets enough credit for his skills. His physical talents, leadership/maturity are second to none. Hard to go wrong with Gabe- he will play next year and make an impact as a player who can perform any role for the rebuilding Avs.

Florida now up.

NHL Combine video: Landeskog reflects

For whatever reason, we couldn't get this video posted on Gabriel Landeskog's draft profile in the 50 in 30 series, so here is the Kitchener Rangers captain in his own words after completing the fitness testing portion at the NHL Scouting Combine in early June.

Whichever NHL club lands this kid is getting a beaut.

Monday rumor mill and draft strategies

It's hard to believe that the 2011 NHL Entry Draft is already upon us with the first round happening Friday night at 7:00 p.m. (EST) from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

It's been a long season, and we're approaching 500 posts here on the B2011DW blog. It's been a pleasure to bring you the information and insights on the 2011 draft (and even a small look ahead to 2012 and 2013 as well) so we're going to put the head down, find the hidden energy reserves, and finish out strong.

Much of the draft rumor talk this week revolves around speculation that Steve Tambellini and the Edmonton Oilers are entertaining moving back a few spots to give up the No. 1 choice. Now, while this thought could be dismissed out of hand given the popularity of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but Edmonton at least entertaining offers makes sense for them. This is the second consecutive year that the Oilers own the top pick, and while they will need a pretty sweet offer to move it, one team that could make sense for them to make a trade with is Florida. Dale Tallon has some pretty good currency to work with in terms of extra picks, prospects and even a roster player or two the Panthers could flip to Edmonton for the right to draft Nugent-Hopkins. The Oil would only be moving back two spots, giving them a shot at Adam Larsson or Jonathan Huberdeau, plus they would have extra assets to work with.

It all comes down to how much Tallon is willing to give up, but Florida could use the bounce they would get by selecting RNH a year after trading with the Bruins to send Nathan Horton to Boston as one of the key missing pieces to a Stanley Cup champion.

B2011DW talked to a source who said that Tambellini has quietly taken some calls about that No. 1 pick. A year ago, he was adamant about not moving it, and even tried to trade with Boston to get the first two selections. The philosophy has changed somewhat given Edmonton's need to be a better team now and not later. We can't confirm if the Oilers have talked specifically with Florida about that top selection, but if there is a deal to be made, it makes sense for them because moving back just a couple of spots keeps them in the running for a top forward in Huberdeau or even Gabriel Landeskog, or allows them to land their high-end defenseman in Larsson while adding other pieces to the cupboard.

We shall see whether the Oil stands pat at 1 or they flip the pick for more assets.

Another option for them is to try and package additional assets to try and move up from 19, where they currently own L.A.'s first pick, to the top-10 to try and land a second high-profile prospect.

As far as players go, Mika Zibanejad looks like a slam-dunk inside the top-8, which means that the Bruins will have a nice shot at any one of Ryan Murphy, Ryan Strome and maybe even Sean Couturier. Zibanejad exploded onto the scene after playing very well in Sweden's top pro league and impressing NHL teams with his winning attitude and personality. Where the B's once hoped to have a shot at him at ninth overall, that isn't happening. We don't think he'll get past Ottawa at six.

Also hearing from a good source and friend that the rumored Jeff Carter to Columbus from Philadelphia for eighth overall (and possibly a player) deal is done and that the Flyers will jump ahead of Boston in the draft order, with announcement pending sometime this week. If this is in fact true, then expect the Flyers to snap up Strome if he is on the board, which we would expect would mean that Murphy would probably be the guy to go to Boston at nine. Strome or Murphy- Ryan's Hope- either way, Boston wins. They get another Tyler Seguin-style high-end scorer to insure them against an early Marc Savard retirement, or they get a Phil Housley-type elite skills offensive-minded defender who becomes the best skater in the organization right from jump street.

With the Bruins having won the Stanley Cup, don't expect them to move up on Friday. They will likely hold onto the assets they have (9th, 40th, 81st picks in the first three rounds) and add to the organization rather than surrender ones at a premium to try and move up a few spots. The math does not lie: a nice player will drop to the B's at 9- there is no need to move forward unless the cost isn't going to hamstring them. The Bruins have a rare championship winner's opportunity to strengthen their organization with two non-playoff picks in the first two rounds.They'll take advantage of that.

It's all winding down now. Bruins fans aren't yet coming off their euphoria of a Stanley Cup victory, but the team is focused on having a good draft. They're having defenseman Nathan Beaulieu in town for a quick visit on his way to Minnesota. Their list is essentially done- it's decision time.

50 in 30: #2 Gabriel Landeskog

Gabriel Landeskog, LW Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
6-1, 207
Born: November 23, 1992 in Stockholm, Sweden
Shoots: Left

Scouting report:

Strengths: A good skater with a long, powerful stride and strong balance. Isn't a blazer, but does have nice jump and can separate. He's very strong on his skates and uses that lower leg drive to go right to the net, fight off defenders and make things happen in close. Good four-way change of direction. Hustles on every shift; plays with energy. Possesses an accurate shot. Underrated backhand-- can sky it up under the crossbar with limited time and space. Good passer and unselfish-- looks to find open teammates for scoring chances. Landeskog sees the ice well and distributes the puck as his pretty even split of goals and assists attests. Physical presence who relishes the hitting aspect of hockey and won't hesitate to fight if the situation warrants. Disciplined, plays in control despite his "angry" style. Tremendous leadership and intangibles: unparalleled work ethic, intelligence, sets the example with offensive and physical play, has mastered English and is "just one of the guys."

Weaknesses:Initial first-step quickness is fine, but could stand to improve to get a little faster out of the gate. Shot isn't overpowering-- even with its quick release and accuracy-- not all that heavy.

Multimedia:

Open Ice feature on Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Murphy and Tobias Rieder at CHL Top Prospects Game (Open Ice Hockey)


NHL.com interview with Landeskog


Landeskog video/stills montage on You Tube (bestkeeper14)
)

(Having trouble uploading combine video on Blogger lately- will try to fix the issue soon)

Style compares to: Brendan Shanahan, Jarome Iginla

Draft prediction: Should be a top-three pick in the NHL draft, but will not slip past New Jersey based on the math. The strength of his game is in his completeness as a player: he can play the finesse game or grind it out, blocks shots, kills penalties, fights and does whatever his team needs him to do. He's compared a lot to Jarome Iginla, which is apropos, considering Landeskog looks up to the Calgary captain the most as his model player.

Projection: He's got the size and ability to project solidly into the top-six both as a power winger and special teams ace. But, his immeasurables are off the charts, so even if he doesn't live up to the offensive billing, he's going to be a solid third-line NHL player simply because he can play the finesse, high-energy, or grinding, in-your-face game. We see 35-goal, 70-80 point upside.

Background: 11 days younger than fellow Swede and high draft candidate Adam Larsson. Father, Tony played defense in the Swedish Elitserien. Has a fraternal twin sister, Beatrice. Originally property of the Djurgardens IF Stockholm hockey system, even playing for them for a few games in '08-09, becoming the youngest player ever to suit up for that Elite League team (3 games -1 assist) at age 16. Landeskog opted to come to North America in 2009 when the Kitchener Rangers traded for his rights with the Plymouth Whalers after that club made him the 3rd overall selection in the 2009 CHL Import Draft. Named Kitchener Rookie of the Year after 24 goals and 46 points in 61 games last season. Named to OHL All-Rookie Team. Named team captain by Kitchener Rangers Head Coach/General Manager Steve Spott on October 24, 2010. First European captain in team history and youngest Rangers captain in 30 years. Landeskog suffered a high ankle sprain just before the WJC, and then re-aggravated it in Sweden's first game against Norway, forcing him to miss about 6 weeks of the season. Finished the season with 36 goals, 66 points in 53 games. His hockey idols growing up: Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin. Now: Jarome Iginla, Mike Richards.

If Landeskog had his own soundtrack it would be: "Invincible"- Adelita's Way

"50,000 Unstoppable Watts"- Clutch

Quotable:

"Extremely fit and strong, wins nearly every corner battle and isn't afraid to dust it up when necessary. Great teammate who plays with a contagious enthusiasm for the game. Should put up much better numbers this year now that he'll be seeing first line and PP duty."- Red Line Report, September 2010

"As for Landeskog, he's precisely the kind of player the Colorado Avalanche want and need. I can envision him playing in the NHL next season with his refined power game, character and maturity. He doesn't have the elite skill level of other players in class, but as the total package, there are none better. At the beginning of the year, I saw him play and likened him to a Mats Sundin/Brendan Shanahan hybrid. He's not quite as big as both guys or as skilled, but is every bit as powerful and just a tough competitor and leader. You take a guy like Landeskog and put him with Matt Duchene and he's going to do some damage in the NHL. Maybe not right away, but I don't think you can miss with this player."- Kirk Luedeke/B2011DW on Landeskog to In Lou We Trust blog; May, 2011

"Gabriel does remind me of former Kitchener Ranger (and Philadelphia Flyers captain) Mike Richards. He sticks up for his teammates and is as strong at both ends of the rink as any player in the draft this year. He competes as hard if not harder than anybody. He's got all the assets that you need to be a team leader and, for a potential No. 1 overall, that's what you would want."- Central Scouting's Peter Sullivan to NHL.com (full profile here)

“He is a good-size guy who is solid on his skates, not afraid to take the puck to the net or battle for it along the boards. His skating is very good in all areas. He plays the game with so much passion, he plays the game hard, he's a great mentor for players that are younger and older, maturity beyond his years. (He) doesn't need one game in the American league next year -- he should step right into the NHL. I think the team that gets him next year is going to get a player that helps them win a Stanley Cup.”- Central Scouting's Chris Edwards to NHL.com

Gabriel Landeskog in his own words:

"He played hockey for a team named Hammarby, and he played two seasons in the Swedish Elite League. After that, he played all of his career in the second tier league. He's a big defenseman that liked to play physical and could also move the puck, from what I've heard. He's always been a really good mentor for me. He's always been there and given me advice on the way here. Just been a great mentor for me all my life not only on the ice but also off." Landeskog on his father, Tony, to NHL.com (full profile here)

"It was kind of where I stood. I had two ways to choose: I could play in the Swedish Elite League or come here. I felt that I wanted to try something new. Canadian junior hockey has always been one of my dreams. I felt that if I would come here to Kitchener and play for a team that really believed in me I would improve a lot more as a player and also as a person because moving from home and moving to another country would be really great experience."- Landeskog on leaving Sweden for the OHL to NHL.com

The Scoop:

There's nothing soft about Landeskog's game by Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com feature

Landeskog blog post on his combine performance at hockeynewsdigest

Gabriel Landeskog meets the press

Here is video B2011DW shot today of the media availability with the top 2011 draft eligibles. You can see just from his answers and poise despite English being his second language why there has been such such a buzz on him all year. Oh, and the kid can play a little hockey, too.

Landeskog was first and we went a little long with the video, so if you don't stick with it, we don't blame you. For those of you who watch every bit of it, you are a true, hardcore NHL draft junkie...seek professional help- we have!

For additional coverage on today's prospect meet & greet, check this story filed over at the New England Hockey Journal website.

Combine whispers: "A wild ride in store..."

Had a productive day at the NHL Draft Combine in Toronto.

Spent the afternoon at the hotel, where players were coming in and out all day, while the NHL scouting staffs made appearances at various times as well.

Had a chance to sit down and do extensive interviews with BU defenseman Adam Clendening and Ottawa winger Shane Prince, two of the best prospects coming out of New York.

B2011DW was also a part of the media scrum that engaged the top prospects made available to us by the NHL today: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog, Sean Couturier, Adam Larsson, Dougie Hamilton and Jonathan Huberdeau. More on them later.

Also ran into a few NHL sources who didn't have a great deal of time to chat, but one longtime veteran scout had this to say: "We've figured out a lot of the top players in this draft, but I'm just going to say that after about three, things are going to break wide open and things will get crazy. I think opinions are really divided on where these guys are going to go in terms of order. I would say that a wild ride is in store- it should be fun."

Feedback from a lot of the players themselves were that the line of questioning did not seem to be all that intense nor were there some of the more bizarre questions asked in the past. Most talked about how each team approached the interview process differently, but none claimed that they were grilled particularly hard by the teams themselves. Of course, this could be a product of the players being high character guys enough that grilling was not warranted.

We even had a chance to stop Ryan Strome in between interviews, armed with a bag of Subway, trying to knock out his last two interviews before he turns his attention to the physical testing tomorrow afternoon. He's one of the lucky ones- he lives just a few minutes down the road in the neaby Toronto suburb of Mississauga, so he's not living in the hotel for the week. He's a sharp kid with excellent people skills, to say nothing of his impressive hockey talent. He has future team leader and fan favorite written all over him.

Even lower-round guys who weren't invited to the combine like OJHL and Michigan recruit Brennan Serville, were on hand to conduct scheduled team meetings. The guys from Ontario can make the trek to meet with clubs and we can see that opportunity being used to full advantage.

Much more to come, but we have to wrap up the #19 prospect and get it in the books before we do anything further. We did see Ty Rattie at the hotel today, but he was sharply dressed and on the way to an interview; he did not have time to stop and chat. We'll get him tomorrow after his testing is complete.

Jonathan Huberdeau: J-Money doing strong Taylor Hall impression

One year ago, Windsor's Taylor Hall used the OHL playoffs and 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament in Brandon as a springboard for establishing himself as his draft class's No. 1 pick.

In 2011, that honor has gone to Saint John Sea Dogs left winger Jonathan Huberdeau- we've calling him "J-Money" these days.

Here's an NHL-produced video on him, but even it doesn't do much justice to him.

Although he's a member of a deep and "stacked" team, so was Hall, right? Players on great teams still have to produce and make the plays, and Huberdeau has done that.

"It's not just the production, but the timeliness and importance of his goals and points," said an NHL scout recently. "He was a big-time scorer for them in the regular season and he's carried it over."

He scored an overtime goal to win one of his team's games against Victoriaville in the second round (winning the series 4 games to 1), and then in the deciding game of the President's Cup series against Gatineau, he tied it with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation with as calm and poised a play you will ever see. His team then went on to win the QMJHL championship in double-OT on a goal by Alexandre Beauregard.

In Game 2 of the Memorial Cup against Owen Sound, Huberdeau capped a come-from-behind victory with an overtime strike against Jordan Binnington, another 2011 draft candidate. It may not have been the prettiest goal, but J-Money was left alone in front of the Owen Sound net and was able to beat the netminder, who has been quite good in his own right since coming into Game 6 of the OHL championship series. It wasn't a picture perfect goal as it took him an extra second to get control of the puck after Stanislav Galiev's pass slid off his stick blade. However, he buried it to send his team to the final.

Here's the call in French on RDS and it's a beaut. (Or is it a but? It's both!) Thanks to Jérôme Bérubé for the hookup.

Huberdeau came into the season as a solid second-rounder, but now he might go as high as second overall. It probably won't happen, as we still see Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Gabriel Landeskog as better players overall, but you never know. Those guys haven't been playing hockey since late March/earl April.

J-Money is still writing his scouting report and staying fresh in teams' minds. There's a lot to be said about that extra spring bounce that not every player has a chance to benefit from.

Just ask Hall.

2011 Draft Interview on Devils In Lou We Trust blog

Bruins 2011 Draft Watch had an exchange over several days with New Jersey Devils blogger Tom Stivali of the highly popular site In Lou We Trust about this year's crop and potential trends.

You can read the entire piece here, and it's only the first of two parts.

For those who wouldn't take the time to click on the link otherwise, here are some excerpts to make it worth your while:

B2011DW on Gabriel Landeskog:

As for Landeskog, he's precisely the kind of player the Colorado Avalanche want and need. I can envision him playing in the NHL next season with his refined power game, character and maturity. He doesn't have the elite skill level of other players in class, but as the total package, there are none better. At the beginning of the year, I saw him play and likened him to a Mats Sundin/Brendan Shanahan hybrid. He's not quite as big as both guys or as skilled, but is every bit as powerful and just a tough competitor and leader. You take a guy like Landeskog and put him with Matt Duchene and he's going to do some damage in the NHL. Maybe not right away, but I don't think you can miss with this player.

B2011DW on Sean Couturier's skating knocks:

Skating deficiencies come in different categories/varieties depending on the player, but in Couturier's case, he lacks a quick initial burst and the ability to accelerate rapidly in short areas. Quick stops/starts/changes of direction are a challenge for him. You will hear scouts use the phrase: "has heavy boots" which usually means that a player doesn't explode from a standstill and generate top speed in the first few strides, but rather labors to get that head of steam going.

This is a pretty common thing with a player of Couturier's size, however, and can be improved with power skating work/improvements to mechanics and also off-ice plyometrics and ladder work to increase footspeed/agility. Milan Lucic told me that his off-season grass drills and plyometrics work (along with the power skating he does) has been instrumental in his success in the NHL after being red-flagged during his draft season for skating/mobility. Because Couturier's speed is fine when he gets going, he doesn't have all that far to go.

When you watch Couturier on video, which is what I assume you are seeing, he's already moving and in stride with or without the puck (when he's about to receive the pass), so you aren't going to see much wrong with him without seeing how he looks coming out of the gate from a stop, or during sequences where he's having to make rapid changes in direction. That's where the criticisms of his mobility tend to originate.

In my view, he's not a terrible skater, but the lack of suddenness is evident and he'll never be considered a "plus-skater" no matter how much work he puts into it. When you're looking at drafting a player with the first or second overall pick, these are the kinds of things that teams/scouts will obsess about because his stride is a little funky, and he makes slower, wide turns at times. That said, if Couturier picks up a step or two, he'll be fine. I heard the same exact things about Patrice Bergeron when he was drafted, and the difference between Couturier and Bergeron (aside from the draft position) is about six inches and some considerable offensive upside. Because of where Couturier stands to be drafted, the stakes are higher for him.

B2011DW on Adam Larsson and Ryan Murphy:

Larsson is still my top guy because of the complete package he brings to the team who picks him. Not to mention the fact that my projection may be on the conservative side. If he develops into more than just a complementary player, then he could end up being very good. Right now, going off of what we know, it's hard to say for sure, but the tools are certainly there. He had a excellent offensive season a year ago, but really fell off with his numbers this time around. I think a lot of that had to do with nagging injuries and also perhaps the pressure that comes with performing in the draft season. Larsson set the bar really, really high as a 16-17-year-old, so unfortunately for him, there was no place for him to go but down.


I like Hamilton's upside. I believe that he and Ryan Murphy have the highest ceilings of any of the defensemen including Larsson, but both have their drawbacks. In Hamilton's case, it's his natural awareness and positional savvy. One thing to keep in mind with him was that he is a converted forward, so he's still learning the defense position. Some scouts have expressed concerns about his hockey sense and whether he can process quickly enough to be the sum of his impressive parts.

Murphy's drawbacks are his size and overall defensive acumen- more in terms of his physical limitations when you talk about defenders being responsible for handling wingers that are bigger, faster, stronger than ever. He's going to have his hands full, even if he ends up being 5-11, 190 pounds or so at his peak of maturity. I see a lot of Phil Housley in him when I watch Murphy play, though- and I think any team who could get a guy with that kind of potential in the top-10 would be pretty happy with that.

My thanks to Tom for giving me such an extensive platform with which to bloviate about the NHL draft, and I hope you'll check out the whole interview. Part two will be posted tomorrow.- Kirk Luedeke

What a difference 9 months makes

We went back and looked at Red Line Report's 2011 NHL draft rankings from August, 2010 and compared them to April 2011 (we talked to Kyle Woodlief and the May issue will be out this week, btw).

For those of you not as familiar with RLR, August is the first month that the independent scouting service, now in its 18th year of publication, publishes its monthly rankings. They start with 110 players for that season, and by spring time they're up to about 300 (286 in April 2011).

For fun, we thought it would be nice to go and look at what has changed in the top-10 from August up until now.

Red Line Report: August, 2010:

1. Sean Couturier, C Drummondville (QMJHL)
2. Adam Larsson, D Skelleftea (SEL)
3. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C Red Deer (WHL)
4. Brandon Saad, LW Saginaw (OHL)
5. Gabriel Landeskog, LW Kitchener (OHL)
6. David Musil, D Vancouver (WHL)
7. Seth Ambroz, RW Omaha (USHL)
8. Victor Rask, C Leksand (SWE-2)
9. J.T. Miller, C U.S. NTDP (USHL)
10. Shane McColgan, RW Kelowna (WHL)

Here is what RLR had for April (and we'll update this post when the new issue is out)

1. Gabriel Landeskog, LW Kitchener (OHL) +4
2. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C Red Deer (WHL) +2
3. Adam Larsson, D Skelleftea (SEL) -1
4. Dougie Hamilton, D Niagara (OHL) +8 (12th in Aug)
5. Jonathan Huberdeau, C/W Saint John (QMJHL) +32 (37th in Aug)
6. Ryan Murphy, D Kitchener (OHL) +11 (17th in Aug)
7. Ryan Strome, C Niagara (OHL) +94 (101 in Aug)
8. Sean Couturier, C Drummondville (QMJHL) -7
9. Alex Khokhlachev, C Windsor (OHL) +20 (29th in Aug)
10. Rocco Grimaldi, LW U.S. NTDP (USHL) +56 (66th in Aug)

Strome was the biggest gainer- moving up almost 95 spots from where he was to start. He didn't even get a sniff at the Hlinka, so for him to have accomplished so much is remarkable. His 105 points was second to Tyler Toffoli and Jason Akeson in the OHL this season.

Mighty mite Grimaldi was the other big riser, moving 56 spots with his production, spirit and dynamic ability. Although he's only 5-6 and about 165 pounds, we wouldn't bet against this guy overcoming that serious size deficit to be an impact NHL player one day.

Huberdeau's rise was pretty significant, too- he was a skinny playmaker in the summertime, but this year, he really turned it on, scoring 40+ goals and breaking the 100-point mark for the juggernaut Saint John Sea Dogs. We don't see any way that he's not picked in the top-5 come June. There's simply too much skill and upside for this kid.

Murphy was pretty highly regarded, but his snub from the Hlinka team in August seemed to light a fire under him. He was as dynamic as they come all season long for Kitchener and he stepped up his game in the U18s as well, setting a Canada scoring record in that tournament with 13 points. Not bad for a defenseman.

Now for the fallers:

11. J.T. MIller, C U.S. NTDP (USHL) -2
18. David Musil, D Vancouver (WHL) -12
20. Brandon Saad, LW Saginaw (OHL) -16
45. Victor Rask, C Leksand (SWE-2) -37
55. Seth Ambroz, RW Omaha (USHL) -48
60. Shane McColgan, RW Kelowna (WHL) -50

Miller is not really a "faller" dropping down two spots from 9 to 11, but we've heard whispers that he was too highly ranked by RLR all season. After his superb U18 performance, we wouldn't be surprised to see him jump back into the top-10 for May, given how close he is.

Musil and Saad are two players who are clearly sliding, but could prove to be nice value picks later in the first round. We don't believe they'll drop out of the top-30 altogether, but given the expectations for them coming into the 2010-11 campaign, they've regressed. Thing is, they both have such impressive natural talent, that if they reverse the developmental trend, they could end up being very good NHL players. We like Saad's upside better, and we hear that the situation he's dealing with in Saginaw may have a lot more to do with it than his not being able to play at the highest level. He could use a change of scenery.

Rask may have slowed his descent a bit with a strong Under-18 performance for Team Sweden, but he's still a 1st-round wildcard. His season hasn't warranted being picked in the top-30, but if scouts believe that the 16-17-YO Rask they saw last season and was seen more in the 2011 U18 tourney is more of what to expect from him, you have to think someone will grab him between 20-30.

Ambroz has withered on the vine- he's the classic case of a physically dominant kid who emerged three years ago, but has not progressed much, while a good number of the kids in his peer group caught him and passed him. Last year, Ambroz would have been a slam-dunk top-10 pick had he been eligible. But, with another full year to dissect and nitpick his game, look at his ugly skating stride and lack of acceleration, plus hear stories about how he's passed on summertime opportunities to improve his game, this Minnesotan will be lucky to be a second-round pick. We believe someone will take him there simply because there is still a lot of raw potential with him, but it would have to be a club with extra picks to risk on a reclamation project with a questionable work ethic. Don't be surprised if he drops into the third round, though.

Finally, McColgan got off to a horrendous start after having surgery to remove his tonsils on the eve of the season and taking a good 1.5 months to settle in. Already small and not having much room to add mass to his frame, he's a risky pick to begin with, but when you get down to it, there isn't a whole lot of difference between McColgan and Grimaldi. In fact, it's almost astounding to see the two have juxtaposed their positioning, with McColgan being the top-10 guy before the season and now down where Grimaldi was. The difference? We have to believe it is Grimaldi's production and the fact that he hit the ground running from the start of the season. McColgan is not chopped liver- he's still a skilled, dynamic little winger with some serious offensive skills. His strong finish with the Rockets should keep him from falling off the map too much on draft day.

For more on Red Line Report, you can visit the website.

The draft guide will be coming out in early June and will feature in-depth scouting reports on the top-110 or so draft prospects, plus team draft analysis, mock drafts and the ever-popular awards section.

NHL Draft Video link: The Ecstasy of Gold

Our friend Jerome B. over at NHL Draft Video blog has a sweet highlight film of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft's top players posted on You Tube.

You can watch the video here.

He does a nice job using Metallica's version of the Ennio Morricone classic track from "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" soundtrack. It's the perfect music to set to some of these majestic hockey plays.

Nice job, Jerome and merci for all the great videos you've posted on your blog all season.

Central releases final rankings: Nugent-Hopkins headlines class; top-10 analysis

To nobody's surprise, Red Deer Rebels center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sits atop the NHL Central Scouting Service's final rankings for North American skaters for the 2010-11 season. The list was released today, and featured some interesting movement, as RNH moved up to the top spot from his mid-term position of No. 3 after a tremendous second half that saw him hit the century mark for points (31 goals, 106 points) to tie Ryan Strome for most points by a CHL draft eligible this season.

You can see the entire list here, but this post will attempt to shed some light on some key areas until we can track down some NHL sources to weigh in with their opinions.

RNH is a dynamic, game-breaking talent who belongs at the top of the list. Some have made interesting observations about his production, both predominant success with the man advantage and in terms of him requiring room to operate. In all honesty, the NHL and independent scouts we've spoken to have raved about his pure skill and ability to get it done, so the only real concern with him right now is putting some size on his very slender frame. Even with some of the doubts, RNH has still managed to put the puck in the net and set up myriad other goals, so as far as we're concerned, he deserves his spot atop the NA skaters list.

His ascendance displaces Kitchener Rangers captain Gabriel Landeskog, whose club was knocked out of the first round of the OHL playoffs in seven games by the upstart Plymouth Whalers. Landeskog is No. 2 after a 36-goal, 66-point season hampered by a high ankle sprain suffered in December, which kept him out of the World Jr. Championship in Buffalo and forced him to miss about six weeks.

Jonathan Huberdeau moved up one spot from his fourth spot at mid-term, and the Saint John Sea Dogs standout with his 105 points is primed to land inside the top-five or just outside if he drops slightly.

The first two defensemen in North America appear at 4th and 5th- Dougie Hamilton, who has been steadily tracked all year on this blog, and Nathan Beaulieu, another member of the juggernaut Saint John team that steamrolled the QMJHL this season. Hamilton is 6-4 and skates very well, though some scouts question his vision and hockey sense (yet he still managed to score 58 points this season). Beaulieu isn't as big as Hamilton, but has excellent skating and puck moving ability, some nastiness and might be a little more rounded at this stage than Hamilton is.

Sean Couturier fell down to No. 6 on the list, which is consistent with some of the buzz we've been hearing on him. However, it's hard to imagine he'll fall very far come draft day. He's simply too big, talented and promising to take a major nosedive as other highly-touted prospects have done in the past. He's not the best skater, but let's be frank: it's not a major flaw and is correctible with some work on mechanics. He has the size and power to be a legitimate power forward and top-six player for years in this league, and we don't put a lot of stock in his WJC performance because of the role he was given. Yes, he could have produced more because the opportunities were there for him, and that was noted back in January when we published our notes. But at the same time, the fact that he generated those scoring chances counts as well. He battled mononucleosis which has a debilitating effect on any athlete, so in our view Couturier is not going to have the kind of fall the rumor mongers will predict for him. If he gets out of the top-five, then whoever snags him shortly thereafter is getting some nice value.

We're surprised to see Swiss winger Sven Bartschi ahead of Ryan Strome on the list at 7 and 8, however. Strome is someone who produced from wire to wire and lost the OHL scoring championship on the very last day of the season when Tyler Toffoli and Jason Akeson had big days. Bartschi is skilled, but he's on the small side and we don't like his perimeter game. Strome can do a little bit of everything and has some real high-end hockey sense and a nonstop motor. We're highly doubtful that Bartschi will get picked ahead of Strome on June 24, though we do feel Bartschi is a solid first-round player.

Two intriguing defensemen are 9th and 10th on the list: Ryan Murphy, whom we profiled in detail here last week, and the player this blog has more posts on than anyone else, needs no major introduction if you're a long-time reader of this space. His lack of size and functional strength continue to be the only drawbacks to this player, who tore it up in the first-round loss to Plymouth and convinced several NHL scouts we've talked to, among others in the independent community, that he deserves to be closer to 5 than 10 on draft day. We believe that the Bruins have a genuine interest in Murphy among other players, so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Duncan Siemens is more the thunder to Murphy's lightning. If Murphy is the small, dynamic guy, Siemens brings the lumber with his mobility and tough edge. A very good skater lacking only minor issues (and even that is debateable), Siemens may not have Murphy's game-breaking element, but he's big, fiery and has some upside. A player who can do it all including fight, he was actually seen on camera giving Murphy fighting tips when the two played together on Team Cherry during the CHL Top Prospects Game. Siemens dropped the gloves with David Musil in that game and is one of those guys who at first doesn't seem like much, but really grows on you in time. At nearly 6-3, and 192 pounds, he has a lot of room to grow, and scouts love his zeal and passion for the game.

As you can see from the top-10, this is a pretty solid class. We'll have much more later this evening, when we break down more of the North American skaters, but we wanted to get this post up and to you for quick digestion before we take on the bulk of the list in the next post.

Waffle Watch complete: Bruins are picking 9th

The Minnesota Wild pulled it together, winning their last two games of the season to breeze by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the standings, dropping Toronto's draft pick position to ninth overall.

Bruins fans should consider it a moral victory, as the "best" non-playoff club, ie- Carolina and Dallas, who blew win and in scenarios on back-to-back nights and will pick 12th and 14th in a draft that many scouts are saying is about 15-16 deep (Calgary picks 13th with 94 points- three ahead of the 'Canes). Let's face it- 13 and 14 isn't bad, but getting inside that top-10 is bigger for Boston for several reasons.

First, they're going to get a player with a lot of promise there. One NHL scout told me that as far as he's concerned, the kid who possibly goes 11th overall has as much potential to be one of the top three players in this draft as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson or Gabriel Landeskog do- your "consensus" three highest-ranked guys. Will they be the three who hear their names called 1-3 in St. Paul? There is still much time left to decide that.

You have to wonder about the guys who will still be playing deep into the CHL playoffs, such as Jonathan Huberdeau or Sean Couturier and possibly Ryan Strome and Dougie Hamilton or Sven Bartschi and Duncan Siemens out west? What will their extended run bring them in terms of rising on draft day? If you count up those names, that leaves you with nine solid draft options right there. Here are three more: One small but dynamic defender with elite skills in Ryan Murphy, and a pair of power forward bookends Brandon Saad, and Tyler Biggs.

Oh, and there's 2010 CHL Rookie of the Year and two-time 30+ goal guy for Peterborough Matt Puempel. That makes 13. Three players with some size, jam and upside in Mika Zibanejad,Jamie Oleksiak and Nathan Beaulieu round out 16. Big horse with legitimate scoring potential Mark McNeill is 17, but could go inside the top-10 if he has a strong Under-18 tourney next week.

And so, you get the picture. This is not a weak draft. Furthermore, that just happens to be this blog's top-17. Who knows if it actually reflects the guys who will go 1-17 in June? Our best guess is- probably not.

Which leads us to our second point about the value of picking ninth overall: Being inside the top-10 makes a potential move up the board by Boston feasible. Usually, teams sitting at 5 or 6 don't want to leave the top-10 altogether, though it normally comes down to just how many like-ranked players they have on their board. The more there are, the more willing a team is to move down and still get a player they want. If their heart is set on 1 or 2 guys, a team picking fifth probably is not going to move down to nine unless the other GM does some real pot-sweetening.

OK- so it's not second overall. As Mick Jagger once crooned, You can't always get what you want. The ninth pick in 2011, after getting the second and 32nd selections in 2010, is not a bad way to go at all.

Give the Bruins and GM Peter Chiarelli credit, (though we didn't like the Chris Kelly deal when it was made and still don't). The Bruins are picking third from the end in every round (for now- those final four seedings actually go to Stanley Cup champion, finalist, and the two semi-finals teams, and is not based on regular season record as in the old days) but managed to move up 19 slots in the 1st round with Toronto's pick, 18 slots in the second with Minnesota's and 8 slots in the third with Phoenix. Even though the Bruins don't have their own pick in any of rounds 1-3, they effectively moved up the board to non-playoff positions for the first two and upgraded modestly with the third.

That will position the Bruins to add some more legitimate building blocks to the organization just one year after adding some impressive parts in Tyler Seguin, Jared Knight and Ryan Spooner in rounds 1 and 2.

Now, it's up to the scouts to finish their due diligence.

With that, here is the final draft pick update of the season 2010-11 season:

2011 Boston Bruins draft picks 6 total picks plus one pending conditional 7th from FLA)

1st Round
9th overall- Toronto (85 points; 37-34-11)- Completes Phil Kessel trade.

2nd Round
40th overall- Minnesota (86 points;39-35-8)- Completes Chuck Kobasew trade.

3rd Round
80th overall- Phoenix (99 points; 43-26-13) - Completes Derek Morris trade.

4th Round
118th* overall- Boston (103 points; 46-25-11)
*Final four pick positions determined by Stanley Cup winner, finalist, and semi-finalists

5th Round
148th overall- Boston

6th Round
178th overall- Boston

7th Round
183rd overall- Florida (conditional 72 pts; 30-40-12)- Jeff LoVecchio, Jordan Knackstedt to Panthers for Sean Zimmerman, cond. 7th


Traded Picks- 2011 (4 Boston 2011 picks traded in Rounds 1-3, 7)

1st Round
28th overall- Boston pick Traded to Toronto for Tomas Kaberle

2nd Round
58th overall- Boston pick Traded to Ottawa for Chris Kelly

3rd round
88th overall Boston pick traded to Florida; Completes Nathan Horton deal

7th round
208th overall Boston pick traded to Chicago (Zach Trotman)


Boston Bruins 2012 Draft Picks

1st
2nd- Traded to TOR; conditional: If BOS makes Stanley Cup final or Kaberle re-signed, pick goes to Leafs
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th

OHL 2010-11 regular season roundup

This post was very difficult to do because the OHL has so many good players, and even doing a 1-12, you're looking at players who are going to be solid second-round options as 13 and later.

The OHL's depth in this class is once again the story of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, right up there with Sweden, who, when we do the European roundup of players playing across the Atlantic, you'll see dominate that top-12 as well.

In breaking down the OHL class, it's truly remarkable how many legitimate draft options with upside the league has produced this year. And even if you may not agree with the exact order in which these players are ranked, we've done our best to assess them based on skill and potential, in talking to numerous sources with NHL teams who cover the OHL.

So, let's get this roundup going and break down what these players did in the regular season.

Here is the post we did on the OHL way back in August when we previewed the class. It's pretty stunning who went on to post the kind of year that has kept them in the elite prospects, while other guys on the preseason preview pretty much fell off the map. It just goes to show you how much things can change from the 16-17 season to the 17-18-YO campaign when you factor in pressures of being in the draft year, team dynamics, injuries and the numerous other factors that determine whether a kid steps it up or crashes and burns.

On that note, here's the ranking:

1. Gabriel Landeskog, RW Kitchener- Some have Ryan Strome ahead of this Swedish power forward and that's just fine. We are B2011DW are sticking with several scouts, who feel that while Landeskog's potential offensive ceiling may not be quite as high as Stome's, he's more of a complete package and as a power forward, is a safer bet to take first. Would we be surprised at NHL teams having Strome as the top OHL player on their board? Not at all. But Landeskog has a solid two-season track record, while Strome broke out this season, so the first-ever European captain of the Rangers gets the slight edge. Landeskog finished with 36 goals and 66 points in 53 games with 61 penalty minutes, demonstrating that he can finish and plays with an edge, but isn't an undisciplined player. You have to look long and hard for any flaws in Landeskog's game, and his character, intelligence and attitude are beyond his years as an 18-year-old who had his birthday in November. Landeskog is not huge- only about 6-0/6-1 but is a very stout 205 pounds and has a lot of upper- and lower-body strength. He's a good skater who isn't a blazer, but does have nice jump and can separate. He's very strong on his skates and uses that lower leg drive to go right to the net, fight off defenders and make things happen in close. He can fire the puck off the rush, but while his drive is heavy, it's not all that overpowering, so he does his best work between the hashmarks. Landeskog sees the ice well and distributes the puck as his pretty even split of goals and assists attests. Landeskog suffered a high ankle sprain just before the WJC, and then re-aggravated it in Sweden's first game against Norway, forcing him to miss about 6 weeks of the season. That hurt his production, but even if he had played the whole year, he would not have put up 100+ points. The strength of his game is in his completeness as a player: he can play the finesse game or grind it out, blocks shots, kills penalties, fights and does whatever his team needs him to do. He's compared a lot to Jarome Iginla, which is apropos, considering Landeskog looks up to the Calgary captain the most as his model player. He not only passed on going the traditional route via Swedish Elite League to come to North America, but plays a decidedly North American-style game. The only real criticism you'll find with Landeskog is in his ultimate upside, as his overall skill level is not as high as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Strome or even Jonathan Huberdeau. But in the end, because he does so many things well and is a heart-and-soul player, he's going inside the top-four of the 2011 draft, end of story. He's also got hockey bloodlines, as his father, Tony was a rugged defenseman in the SEL. Looks like the younger Landeskog inherited some of the best attributes from his dad.

Stock watch: Believe it or not, Central Scouting's #1 North American skater at mid-season is a little down going into the playoffs not because he played poorly, but because Kitchener went on a late-season slide, and other players have really elevated their games to finish the year with a flourish (RNH, Huberdeau, Strome, etc.) We have to believe that there is an NHL club picking high who is totally unconcerned with Landeskog's lower production when compared to those guys and every year, the buzz and hype on the internet tends to get out of hand. People are riding the Strome bandwagon now and rightfully so, but that doesn't mean Landeskog will slide. A strong playoff performance and he's right back up near the top.

Here's a video by Open Ice Hockey that features three Kitchener teammates Landeskog, Murphy and Tobias Rieder. You can see that he's already got the hockey-isms like the prolific use of "obviously" down.

Here's an NHL profile on Landeskog. His composure and maturity really comes through in this video.


2. Ryan Strome, C Niagara- No player in the draft did more to come from the middle of the pack to grab elite draft status than Strome did this season. He had a magnificent year, finishing with 33 goals, 73 assists and 106 points, holding the OHL league scoring lead until the last day of the season, when Kings and Flyers prospects Tyler Toffoli (5 points) and Jason Akeson passed him up to both finish with 108. Missed a few games due to a Joey Hishon sucker punch, otherwise he probably would have led the OHL in scoring. Strome came into the season not on many radars in terms of being a first-round pick, but hit the ground running and never looked back. Average size, but grew a bit since last year, which helped him in terms of where he's regarded amongst scouts. Excellent skater who can beat defenders with his speed or elusiveness. Very soft hands and superb puckhandler who uses his feet and creativity to be a going concern offensively. Just a dynamic scorer who isn't quite in RNH's class, but isn't too far off, either. Will probably break into the top-5 in June because he is such a skilled player who can both score the goals and set them up. He's a hard worker who doesn't have any real flaws to his game- just needs to get stronger and continue to be diligent in the defensive aspects. He's a high character kid who has a good sense of humor and is one of the more adept young players on Twitter these days, which means little in the grand scheme of things, but will be welcome news for the media relations folks with the NHL team who drafts him. We don't want to say he came out of nowhere, because Strome did show flashes of his potential with Barrie and Niagara last season after coming over in a trade, but you'd have to be related to Nostradamus if you want to say that you saw this kind of a year coming.

Stock watch: Blue-chip; Strome is shooting through the roof right now because of what he did to tear it up after returning from the Hishon-induced concussion. He took it to the wire scoring-wise and impressed myriad scouts with his outstanding skills and hockey sense. He has all the makings of a solid top-six forward at the NHL level and has star potential as well.

Here's a TVCogeco interview with Strome done earlier in the season. He's going to be very popular with teams and media alike at the Combine.


Here's the goal he scored against Plymouth that really got folks buzzing about him- pure danglesauce.

3. Brandon Saad, LW Saginaw- It was a disappointing season for the power forward who came into the year as the top-ranked OHL player on many lists given his size and skill package. The 6-2, 210-pounder from Pennsylvania can really handle the puck and has a powerful shot that he can really rip- an NHL caliber release on it already. Saad also has a long, fluid stride. He's a powerful skater who can use his feet to get into scoring position and convert breakaways. He also anticipates well and seems to have a real good feel for the game's flow with good on-ice vision. After the season he had with the U.S. NTDP last year, big things were expected of him with the Spirit and he got off to a nice start only to tail off production-wise as he battled injuries and consistency woes. In terms of pure potential, there aren't many players better than Saad in the entire 2011 draft class, and if he falls closer to 10 or even out of the top-10, then the team who lands him could have big steal on their hands. His 27 goals and 55 points in 59 games isn't great, but is just scratching the surface of the kind of player he has the capability of becoming if he gets his development back on track. He's a horse along the walls and virtually impossible to slow down when he shields the puck and gets the cycle going. Scouts tell us he needs to play with more of a mean streak and raise the intensity levels, but all the tools are here for an accomplished NHL player in time.

Stock watch: Down, but like Landeskog, may have already sold enough teams on his value based purely on the physical package and upside he brings to the mix. When you look at the power and skill this kid possesses, you can see why he was so highly-touted coming into the season. Not everyone has the ideal draft year, but Saad is still worth a top-10 selection in our view.

You can see his breakaway capability in this video, as he beats P.K. Subban's little brother and then later exhibits some neat agility and footwork before ripping the puck past Malcolm Subban from the slot. Power forward goal right there- boom.

4. Dougie Hamilton, D Niagara- If you are a long-time reader of B2011DW, then you know that we've been big fans of Dougie for quite some time now. He just finished a record-setting season, establishing the club record for points by a d-man on the IceDogs with 58 on on 12 goals and 46 helpers (breaking Alex Pietrangelo's old mark). The offense from the 6-4, 195-pounder was pretty unexpected, as he only scored 3 goals and 16 points as a rookie and probably could have called a 34-point campaign a success. Hamilton is a very good skater for a defenseman of his size, exhibiting some real jump and smooth acceleration, top speed, and excellent lateral agility and footwork. His wheels allow him to jump into the play, and he's a self-described "sneaky offensive player" who scored several of his goals by shooting down into the slot and losing his man in time to rip the puck into the back of the net. With his size and mobility, he can play a shutdown role, but he has a big point shot, so he has power play duty in the NHL as a realistic option. He's a right-shooter, so on a team with a big lefty, Hamilton could be even more valuable. His coach, Marty Williamson, told us that Hamilton needs only minor tweaks to his game, and that he gets in trouble when he stops moving his feet (as most defenders do at any level- let's face it). Some scouts are concerned about his vision and ability to move the puck at the next level, but we don't see it. He's a solid kid with tremendous blood lines (both parents were Olympians in rowing and basketball) a high intellect (2010 OHL scholastic player of the year and could win it again this season) and outstanding work ethic. Teammates genuinely like him, and he will play the game with an edge, though he mostly keeps things simple and clean. We don't buy the concerns about this guy and feel that at the absolute lowest, he'll be a 4th/shutdown D at the NHL level. He has No. 1/solid No. 2 upside and should be a high pick.

Stock watch: Up; stud d-man needed to show scouts that he could take his impressive physical tools and put them together- he did that and more. There is a big disparity between his home ice production and that on the road, but the issues with Hamilton's game and season are pretty nitnoid. At the end of the day, this is the prototypical defenseman NHL teams are looking for: big, mobile, skilled and having upside. Hard to imagine he'll drop very far on draft day, but a strong playoff would certainly lock him up inside the top-10 we think.

Here's an NHL.com profile on Dougie. You can see how well-spoken and articulate he is. He's primed to make a real impression at the draft combine.

Here's the sneaky he was talking about with us, with assists going to older brother Freddie and Strome.

More sneaky, with another hookup with Strome.

5. Ryan Murphy, D Kitchener- One might look at the fifth ranking and think that B2011DW is down on Murphy, but not so. We saw him live and could immediately understand what everyone was buzzing about. He's as dynamic a skater as they come, and he handles the puck so adroitly that he can create instant offense on his own. For a smaller guy (5-10 or 5-11, 180), he can really fire the puck and gets a ton of velocity and power on his shot, much like Windsor 100-point scorer and Nashville 1st-rounder in '09 Ryan Ellis, but we try to avoid Ellis comparisons, because they are different players who only really have the small size and production to link them. Murphy just missed hitting 80 points this season with a 26 goal, 53-assist campaign derailed by a late-season concussion that forced him to miss time. Still, he scored 20 more goals and 40 more points in just one more game in his second OHL season than he did a year ago. There is so much to love about this kid's game- we could go on and on. And positionally, he's done a nice job of improving his overall defense. The concerns come in when it comes to durability and whether NHL clubs feel he can take a regular shift on D. His coach, Steve Spott was emphatic with us that he will be a top-2 NHL defenseman when we spoke to him about it, but that is not a consensus opinion. If Murphy goes anywhere before pick 7 or 8, then the team that chooses him will be in Spott's camp. The injury concerns are real, as more and more smaller players who skate at such high speeds and are fearless in the offensive zone are getting blown up. Murphy took a big hit late in the year and wasn't the same. He also struggled through lower body injuries that reduced his effectiveness as the grind of the season wore on. On pure talent alone, Murphy is a no-brainer for any NHL team looking for offense from the blue line, but with more and more importance being placed on high picks and getting them right, he carries some risk as well. Murphy has excellent character and is a good teammate; the only thing working against him is the lack of size when you project him in the NHL going up against 6-3 and 6-4 power forwards and taking those big open ice hits when he's gunning through the neutral zone carrying the puck as he is wont to do. Maybe it amounts to nothing, but it is something teams are discussing.

Stock watch: Down, but it's all relative and nothing that a deep playoff run won't solve. Again, nobody doubts the skill or production- it's all there. Where Murphy goes in the 2011 draft will be more about things beyond his control, so all he can do is to remain healthy and put forth his best effort and the rest will take care of itself.

Here's an NHL.com profile on Murphy. He likes Mike Green, go figure.

Here's Don Cherry's Coach's Corner segment from HNIC on Murphy, posted to YouTube by our very own friend of blog, Dom T. Settle down on Murphy going No. 1 overall, Grapes- but Murphy is a heckuva player, no doubt.

6. Matt Puempel, LW Peterborough- The 2010 CHL Rookie of the Year followed up his 33-goal first OHL season with 34 goals and 69 points in 55 games (to finish with the team scoring lead even though he missed 13 games) before suffering a hip injury that ended his season. His production was laudable because he didn't get a lot of help on his Petes team, but still managed to remain a threat to score even with a lot of checking attention on him. He has just average size at 6-0, 190 pounds, but compensates for that with his skating, hands and heavy shot that has pinpoint accuracy. Smooth stride and can gain separation; will go into traffic and the places on the ice where he must in order to score. He reads and anticipates the play extremely well, and is one of those guys who just seems to find ways to get himself into scoring situations. When all is said and done, he's probably one of the more underrated players in the OHL class, because given what he's accomplished in two seasons offensively, he's not on the tips of many tongues when talking about the top-10 guys in the 2011 draft. Puempel has a slender frame and needs to get stronger, but there are no issues with his high-end skills. He's been dinged for going through streaky periods where he isn't involved as much as he should be, but the reality is- he played hurt in the Ivan Hlinka (back) and still managed to be productive. He's probably got more skill and talent than several of the players ranked ahead of him and could be another one of those steals who, people will look back on and wonder how he lasted where he did in the draft.

Stock watch: Steady- no playoffs for Puempel, which means NHL teams who draft him will have to be confident that he'll come back from his hip injury as good as he was before. Given the advances in medical science that allow full recoveries and other injured players who have still been taken high in the NHL draft with injury concerns, Puempel shouldn't drop very far because of that.

Here's the Kruz Cam with Pete Dalliday from last season when Puempel played in the Under-17s (with Strome and Hamilton, btw)

And an ANewsLondon feature on him from the CHL Top Prospects Game.

7. Vladislav Namestnikov, C London- Skilled Russian came over to the OHL this season and played very well, finishing second to Bruins prospect Jared Knight (25 goals 70 points) in scoring for London with 30 goals and 68 points in as many games. He's a late-92 birthdate who made an immediate impact with his team and adjusted well to the North American game. Namestnikov led all Knights players with 30 markers this season and has high-end skills and nice wheels. He's very average-sized at 6-0 and about 170, so will have a lot of off-ice work to do in order to get his body ready for the pro hockey grind, but he's highly adept at handling the puck, setting up the play and thinks the game at an advanced level. He speaks perfect English, as he spent much of his youth in the U.S. and Canada while his dad, Evgeny, was playing in the NHL and AHL. His uncle, Slava Kozlov is a Stanley Cup champion and 800+ point scorer in the NHL, so Namestnikov's sterling blood lines will help. He's a typical skilled European player who is very good offensively, but is still a work in progress in terms of his defense, but there is some upside here for sure.

Here's an ANewsLondon feature on him from before the season started.

Fluky shootout goal here from London Knights, but you can see how he can rip it...

8. Nicklas Jensen, LW Oshawa- Perhaps the best player ever to come out of Denmark, this power forward prospect has it all: size, skill and some real intriguing NHL potential if he could just figure out how to keep his on switch engaged throughout a game. We saw him in January, and he was dominant, scoring several goals, assisting on a couple of others, and playing a tenacious game in all zones. Unfortunately, NHL scouts tell us that he was pretty inconsistent at times. His physical play was also inconsistent, as he had the size to own the wall and establish position in front of the net, but didn't do it as often as scouts expected. He's a long strider who covers a lot of ground with a powerful push, but needs to keep the feet moving. He can really rip it, too- scores more than a few goals from the outside with laser release and ability to pick corners. So, while he brings some real impressive talents and abilities to the mix, Jensen has to keep his compete levels at a higher level. How far will he drop in the draft? Our guess is not too far past 20 if at all because he is such a talented player that a team is likely going to believe they can reach and keep motivated. The 6-3, 190-pounder has plenty of room to fill out, and with 29 goals and 58 points in 61 games, proved he can score with the best of them. If Boone Jenner's motor was installed inside this kid, he'd be a top-three pick- no kidding. Big upside with this one, but some bust potential as well.

Oh, this is pretty.

9. Alexander Khokhlachev, C Windsor- Small (5-10, 170), but dynamic pivot had a terrific first season in North America with the two-time reigning Memorial Cup champions. In 67 games, he scored 34 goals and 76 points for the Spitfires. He's got explosive burst and top-end speed with that slippery elusiveness that makes a player with his quick stick so dangerous in open ice. He's one of those guys who just seems to live around the net and for making opportunities happen from very little to work with. Highly creative- the classic Russian player who can out-skate you, dangle the puck through you or around you, and then effortlessly fire it into the net. On the downside, he's not very strong and pretty one-dimensional. But, he plays with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. He'll put forth the effort and belongs solidly in any first-round discussion.

Here are highlights of his four-goal game against Kitchener from pal Jerome B at NHLDraftVideo.

10. Boone Jenner, C, Oshawa- If he were a better skater, Jenner would be one of the most talked about players in this draft period. As it stands, he's probably going to be picked in the first round, even with the mobility concerns. "He just skates his bag off," said one NHL scout summing up Jenner's nonstop motor and work ethic in just a few words. Nothing fancy, just tough- he's got good size at 6-1, 195 and does whatever it takes to win. Plays with an edge and did improve his skating stride significantly from his first OHL season to this year. He's got quick mitts and the ability to finish in close even if he won't get many style points in the process. His 25 goals and 66 points in 63 games for the Generals this season are up from the 19 and 49 he posted last year. Not a flashy guy, but a pure leader who inspires with his example and will likely be more than the sum of his parts at the pro level because of his internal drive and character. If the feet were a little quicker, he'd be a no-brainer inside the top-10, but we think he's probably done enough to earn a top-30 selection for a team looking to steal a future captain and crunch time stud.

Here's a nice backhand goal posted on NHLDraftVideo.

11. Mark Schiefiele, C Barrie- Another player who didn't come into the season with high expectations, but outperformed other bigger names and may have done enough to get himself into the first round. If not, he's an early second-rounder at the absolute latest. Tall (6-3) lanky center has a long stride and will get more powerful as he adds mass to his frame. Was one of the few bright spots on a moribund Barrie Colts club this season- scoring 22 goals and 53 assists for 75 points in 66 games- that's saying something for a team that went 15-49-0-4 on the year. One NHL scout told us that he's a "safe" guy in that he has the requisite size and talent to be an NHL player and has a lacrosse background as well. Nice hands and shifty moves make him difficult to defend. Also displays good hockey sense. Could be one of those classic off-the-board picks because he brings so much to the table and could develop into a beast as he reaches his physical peak. Definitely one to watch on draft day.

12. Lucas Lessio, LW Oshawa- Former 7th overall pick in 2009 by Niagara refused to report and was headed to the University of Michigan until Oshawa acquired his rights and convinced him to go the OHL route. At 6-1, 195, has nice size and is a very good skater who can separate from defenders and also has good lateral agility for shifty moves as well. Hands and shot are all first-round caliber. Has good vision and will make high-end plays when he has time and space to work with. Maddeningly inconsistent- compete levels and effort wavers from shift to shift, even moreso than Jensen in our opinion. We watched him chirp at the referee in one game after being slashed while his team broke up ice on a 2-on-1. Would have been a 3-on-1 had he gotten up and jumped into the play- that kind of lack of discipline is what prevents a highly talented player like Lessio from ever being the full sum of his impressive parts. If the light ever goes on for him, he could be a star in the NHL, but we fear he will always be one of those guys who always leaves people wanting more. Posted 27-27-54 totals in 66 games for the Generals.

Nobody ever said he couldn't score. When he's involved, he's one of the more talented and dangerous players in this class.

Just missed: Rickard Rakell, Shane Prince, Daniel Catenacci, Stefan Noesen, Stuart Percy and Vince Trocheck. Perhaps we will do a follow-up post to include those players as well, as you could make a case for a couple in the 1st and everyone at the least in the 2nd round. That underscores the quality depth coming out of the OHL this season. We'll also feature late-risers like Ryan Sproul of Sault Ste, Marie and Justin Sefton of Sudbury and look at some overage options as well. If there is anyone else you'd like to see featured from the OHL, drop a comment and we'll see what we can do.

We'll move to that after we do the NCAA, Europe, U.S./Canada juniors and U.S. high school posts, however.

Landeskog back and cruising

The Kitchener Rangers missed Gabriel Landeskog, who was out until just a few weeks ago with a high ankle sprain suffered in action at the World Jr. Championship in late December.

Landeskog is the team's captain, the first European player to hold that distinction in a storied OHL franchise's history. He's as refined a player as you can find at age 18...a very good skater who plays a distinct North American style and is an ultra-competitor.

Talked to an NHL scout recently who told me that if the Bruins want to have a reasonable shot at Landeskog, they'll need to be in the top-three to make it happen. Granted, his overall upside may not be as high as others at the top of the draft, but when it comes to the complete package both on and off the ice, there may not be a better player available in class.

"I saw an article that mentioned that he idolizes Jarome Iginla and that's when it hit me- Landeskog is a very good comparable to Iginla," the NHL scout said. "Iginla is who he is because he does everything; he scores, he fights, he's a leader and character guy. That's what Landeskog is for Kitchener."

We're still down with the observation that Landeskog is a hybrid of Mats Sundin and Brendan Shanahan, but Iginla works as well.

Since returning to the Rangers lineup on Feb. 4th (his previous OHL game was played Dec. 18th) Landeskog has 6 goals and 13 points in 10 games-- not bad for a player coming off the injury he had. He didn't score in his first four games back, but has hit for six in six since. He now has 31 goals and 58 points in 42 games. Contrast those numbers to Jared Knight's from a year ago (36 goals, 57 points in 63 games), and you can see why this Swede is going to be such a hot commodity in St. Paul.

The draft blog already made the case why Landeskog makes sense for the Bruins on so many levels here. For the Bruins, the chance to make Landeskog a potential bookend winger on a line with Milan Lucic or Nathan Horton is something they would likely jump at. Also, he's so advanced at this point, that he may be ready to play in the NHL next season, even with concerns over the way Tyler Seguin's development has gone. You have to remember that the two are completely different players in terms of style and substance.

But, if Landeskog keeps the scoring up, they may not even get a shot at him picking at three if all broke right for them with the Toronto pick.

So, the question becomes: will the B's try and trade up a couple of spots to get him if they are at four, five or later, or will they stand pat and take who they get wherever their pick ends up?

There's much hockey to be played yet, but the picture is coming into focus.

OHL roundup: Murphy soaring, Spooner to take on Hamilton and Strome

The Kitchener Rangers seem to be flying high after two key additions boosted the offense.

Gabriel Landeskog's return from a high ankle sprain last week that had sidelined him since late December and Jerry D'Amigo's arrival after Toronto loaned their '09 7th-rounder to Kitchener have made a significant impact and opened things up for other players.

Key beneficiary: defenseman Ryan Murphy, who tallied a pair of goals (and was a +2) in the Rangers' 5-3 win over Guelph Tuesday night. That now gives the uber-skilled rearguard 21 goals and 65 points in just 49 games, along with a +16 rating. D'Amigo also had two markers, while Landeskog added an assist but was a +3.

Murphy has often been compared to Windsor defenseman Ryan Ellis, but aside from the fact that they both share about the same size, these are two pretty different players. Murphy is far more dynamic and brings similar power on his shot. To compare the two in their draft years at age 17, Ellis had 22 goals and 89 points-- impressive totals by any stretch. Murphy should surpass the goal totals, but he'll have to pick up the points per game pace to hit 90 by the time the regular season wraps up. Ellis did a lot of his damage on an unbelievably deep and skilled Windsor team that won its first of two Memorial Cups in '09, but Murphy is on a similarly balanced offensive attack and his numbers will benefit with the return of one teammate and the addition of the other new blood.

Kitchener is 3-0 since Landeskog and D'Amigo arrived in time for the weekend.

Bruins fans will have an interesting game to track on Wednesday night in the OHL, with Kingston Frontenacs and prospect Ryan Spooner taking on the Niagara Ice Dogs with defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Strome as two potential draft picks for Boston in June-- assuming they don't trade that Toronto pick. That might be a bad assumption, given that Boston is primed to make a run and just may need that potential top-5 selection to be used as the capital required to land a legitimate impact player either on the blue line or up front.

Hamilton is a B2011DW favorite, right along with Murphy. We've been watching these guys all season, and it would be a shame to see Boston fall out of the running for drafting one or the other, ditto Landeskog, and even possibly Strome. But, the reality is-- if the Bruins think they can get a legitimate NHL talent who can help push them over the top for a Stanley Cup run in June of this year, they'll gladly surrender that Toronto pick.

That sounds like bad news for Bruins fans and draft watchers, but if the return is solid, so you can't begrudge the team going for it in the here and now. GM Peter Chiarelli should hold out for as much as he can get, however. That Toronto pick is worth a good deal more than settling on a middle-tier player; the Bruins should reach for the sky on this one. Or, keep the pick and use it on a player who can be a possibly low-cost ELC option to help the club in 1-3 years.

Waffle Watch: 2011 Boston Bruins draft pick update: 7 Feb.

The Waffle Watch is back for its regularly scheduled Monday run.

It's been an interesting week in the standings, and the latest out of Toronto surrounds the DRAMA between Phil Kessel and coach Ron Wilson in the wake of the Leafs' embarrassing 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

The Leafs had won two straight coming out of the All-Star break, and when goalie James Reimer shutout Carolina on Thursday, hope began to spring eternal in Leafland. That is, until Reimer got lit up by the Sabres (and ultimately pulled). But the real story was Kessel's postgame comments, where he said "Maybe it's not working out here" and said something to the effect that maybe a "change" was needed.

Now, I ask you, and Kessel sycophants need not apply here, because to be frank, not interested in the continued free passes given to the guy by that segment of folks who are incapable of being objective, but is anyone surprised at what is going on with Kessel in Toronto?

He's never been all that great at handling adversity, and that Leafs team has been a petri dish of discontent and underperformance ever since he arrived two Septembers ago. He wasn't crazy about the Boston environment and pressures associated with being a pro player in the Olde Towne, but being on the Leafs when things aren't going well has to be crushing for him. In retrospect, Brian Burke made the wrong call with Kessel- he's a complimentary piece, not a cornerstone. And Wilson has his own role to play in this, as his aloof, often combative style is not the best fit for a guy like Kessel who often needs some coddling from his coach.

Wilson demoted Kessel to the third line, which no doubt prompted Kessel to make his controversial postgame remarks-- red meat for the Toronto media and everyone else who felt that Kessel was a bad fit there.

It will be interesting to see what happens, but as of right now, Kessel is being outscored by the guy who was taken 45 spots after he was- Milan Lucic. Did anyone see that one coming in Vancouver back in '06? I sure didn't!

It doesn't appear that the Kessel-Leafs marriage is going to end well. Unfortunately for Burke, he's over a barrel; to trade Kessel would be to admit that he made the colossal mistake of surrendering three prime picks that would have been critical for his team's rebuild for a player whose faults are magnified when he's not doing what he does best: putting the puck in the net. Burke won't get anywhere near the kind of return for Kessel that he needs, so cutting bait is probably not feasible. His best option is probably to replace WIlson and hope that the next coach can connect with Kessel and get him going in the right direction, because as of right now, the player once known as "the Thrill" is really not much more than a "pill" now.

The New Jersey Devils are only five points from catching the Leafs in the standings, and are coming off a big statement win over Montreal on Sunday after blowing a late lead Friday to Florida (which in hindsight helped the waffle watch by giving the Panthers a bigger lead over Toronto). Ottawa is in free-fall plummet mode, and the Islanders and Oilers probably aren't going to mount much resistance. So, from a Boston perspective, ending up with the fourth overall selection come June would be a moral victory in of itself. Chances of winning the lottery are slim, but stranger things have happened. Finishing fourth still puts them in position to come away with Gabriel Landeskog, especially with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ripping it up of late with Red Deer. You could easily see a top-three of RNH, Adam Larsson and Sean Couturier when all is said and done.

Here's the latest in the standings if the season ended today:

1st Round
5th overall- Toronto (47 points; 21-26-5)- Completes Phil Kessel trade.
25th overall- Boston (67 points; 30-16-7) (Boston moves to 25th by virtue of third seed- Northeast Division lead with fewest points of division leaders even though technically lower than other teams in standings)

2nd Round
45th overall- Minnesota (59 points;27-20-5)- Completes Chuck Kobasew trade.
55th overall- Boston

3rd Round
77th overall- Phoenix (61 points; 26-19-9) - Completes Derek Morris trade.
Boston pick traded to Florida; Completes Nathan Horton deal

4th Round
115th overall- Boston

5th Round
145th overall- Boston

6th Round
175th overall- Boston

7th Round
186th overall- Florida (conditional 52 pts; 23-23-6)- Jeff LoVecchio, Jordan Knackstedt to Panthers for Sean Zimmerman, cond. 7th
Boston pick traded to Chicago (Zach Trotman)