Here is a recap of the final summer Bruins prospect rollup, plus the guys at the low-end to close out the list.
This subjective list will change again at mid-season, when New England Hockey Journal publishes the annual B's prospect roundup in the January 2012 issue.
1. Dougie Hamilton, D
2. Jared Knight, RW
3. Ryan Spooner, C
4. Alexander Khokhlachev, C
5. Max Sauve, LW
6. Jordan Caron, RW
7. Steve Kampfer, D
8. Jamie Arniel, C
9. Matt Bartkowski, D
10. Ryan Button, D
11. Tommy Cross, D
12. Anton Khudobin, G
13. David Warsofsky, D
14. Michael Hutchinson, G
15. Yury Alexandrov, D
16. Zach Hamill, C
17. Anthony Camara, LW
18. Carter Camper, C
19. Colby Cohen, D
20. Craig Cunnningham, C/W
21. Brian Ferlin, RW
22. Zach Trotman, D
23. Marc Cantin, D
24. Lane MacDermid, LW
25. Maxim Chudinov, D
26. Tyler Randell, RW
27. Justin Florek, LW
28. Zane Gothberg, G
29. Rob O'Gara, D
30. Alexander Fallstrom, RW
31. Lars Volden, G
32. Andrew Bodnarchuk, D
33. Stefan Chaput, C
34. Ben Sexton, C- Battled injuries, but had a solid freshman season at Clarkson. Not a great deal of upside, but skates well and plays an effective two-way game.
35. Nick Tremblay, C- Tremendous skater, but lacks the puck skills and offensive hockey sense to capitalize on his pure speed.
36. Zach McKelvie, D- After two years in the active duty Army, the West Point grad with outstanding wheels is very raw and behind in his development, but gets one year to show what he can do.
37. Yannick Riendeau, LW- Undrafted free agent and 2009 QMJHL MVP is small and not a great skater- has yet to make much of a pro impact.
38. Adam Courchaine, G- Helped the ECHL's Alaska Aces win the Kelly Cup championship last season, but will be hard-pressed to see much action in Providence. Should play closer to Boston for Reading Royals, at least.
39. Alain Goulet, D- 2007 5th-rounder has bounced between AHL and ECHL, but doesn't look like much beyond a minor league journeyman at this point.
40. Carl Soderberg, C- Former St. Louis 2nd-rounder acquired for Hannu Toivonen way back in 2007 is just about used up, but still makes list by virtue of being a legitimate talent and not quite 26. Appears content to stay in Sweden for the rest of his career, however.
41. Mark Goggin, C- Dartmouth player and team's last pick in 2008 does not figure to be in the picture.
That wraps up the Bruins prospect coverage and the 2011 NHL draft altogether.
It has been a fun journey going back to a year ago and I hope you found this blog to be a good companion resource out there for your hockey draft needs.
As always, thanks for the support!
*(Not affiliated with the Boston Bruins or the New England Hockey Journal)
Showing posts with label Alexander Khokhlachev. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alexander Khokhlachev. Show all posts
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Bruins prospect profile #4: Alexander Khokhlachev
Alexander Khokhlachev, C
5-10, 180
September 9, 1993 in Moscow, Russia
Shoots: Left
Boston's 2nd choice, 40th overall in 2011 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical:
Does not have ideal height, but is stocky with a thick build. Good skater who is more quick than fast. Master of his edges and can make extremely rapid turns, stops and starts. Not a burner, but elusive and slippery with the ability to separate in open ice. Low to the ice and strong on his skates- fights through checks on his way to the net. Deft stickhandler who can make dazzling moves in space and in traffic. At times quicker with the puck on his stick than he is without it. Determined and relentless when looking to find the back of the net- makes everyone around him better. Lightning-fast release on an accurate wrist shot; can score from in close and from the outside as well. Picks the corners and could hit 50+ goals in the OHL next season if things break right for him. Underrated backhand- able to get it upstairs with very little room to work with. Effective at wheeling into corners and coming out with the puck to generate scoring chances. Protects the puck well despite the lack of size. Does not have the size or makeup to be a physical player, but doesn't shy away from contact and will do honest work along the boards and in front of the net.
Intangibles:
Outstanding offensive hockey sense and vision- aggressively attacks defenses and has the ability to create for himself and linemates. Plays with passion and exuberance but doesn't always give the same kind of effort/intensity in the defensive zone as he does when carrying the offense. A natural feel for the game and has the kind of game-breaking dimension that Boston has not possessed in abundance over the last 10 years or so. His English is still a work in progress, but he was taking classes in Windsor twice a week and gave an honest effort at engaging the media in Wilmington. By the time he's ready to seriously compete for a spot in Boston, he should be well acclimated and comfortable. Nickname is "Koko" Good, solid kid who is going to be a fan favorite and well-liked in the room for his easy smile and passion for the game. Wants to be a player and will likely improve the intensity levels as he gets more comfortable in North America.
2011 Boston Bruins Development Camp Assessment:
Going to Wilmington was an eye-opener for Khokhlachev who keenly felt the pace, tempo and physical demands of the five-day camp experience. His conditioning and fitness level wasn't where it needed to be, but understandable given the fact that he was only about 12 days removed from having been drafted. He showed off his high-end talent and skill in flashes, though wasn't able to carry the play in quite the same fashion as fellow OHLers Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight. Still, it was clear to any who watched him that he is one of the most skilled prospects in the Boston system.
Development Camp video: Alexander Khokhlachev
Projection
Koko has the kind of pure talent to be a top-line NHL player one day. His youth and the fact that he had just one year in North America makes him a bit of a wild card to project, but with his quick hands, feet and a real head for the game, the second-round pick could end up being one of the real steals in this draft with impressive upside. Red Line Report listed him as one of the top-5 best value picks of the entire draft (4th overall) in the July issue. He has all the makings of a star and should only get better as he matures. By this time next year, Koko could possibly emerge as Boston's top prospect, and to be frank- you can make the case that he already is. These rankings are subjective, so putting him atop the list makes perfect sense, we just want to see what he does at Boston's training camp in the fall and in his second OHL campaign assuming he goes back to junior.
Quotable:
"[Alexander] Khokolachev, just going through our drafts, Khokolachev, again, very skilled. He arrived in not the greatest shape but I know he’s going to take care of that as the year progresses, as the summer progresses."- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli , July 11, 2011
"I mean, he’s a young kid too and this is a different environment for him. He’s got some things that we’re going to identify going forward throughout the summer and going back that he’ll get in better shape and he knows it. But when the puck drops he makes plays. He sees the ice so very well. He’s probably a little unselfish that we’re going to get him to shoot the puck a little bit more. But he’s a really good kid and he wants to play over her. So we’re just going to continue to work with him. I mean, this is hard. He doesn’t really have, he’s got Besa [Tsintsadze] now that he can speak Russian to but he’s not bad, he understands it pretty well. So being able to communicate with him and being very direct in terms of what he needs to do in order to take advantage of, as you pointed out, the high level of skill that he has and the hockey sense that he has."- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney; July 10, 2011
"Well, watching some of the in tight drills, especially the small ice games, he’s got excellent hands in tight, he freezes goaltenders, he gets pucks up in tight, so certainly the skill and goal-scoring ability is there. His conditioning needs to get better, but he’s one of the, what usually happens, these young guys, it’s an eye-opener, their first camp. I don’t think they truly realize how good of shape professional players are [in], so he’ll get that part of it down. But like I said, I like his instincts around the net."- Providence Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy; July 8, 2011
5-10, 180
September 9, 1993 in Moscow, Russia
Shoots: Left
Boston's 2nd choice, 40th overall in 2011 Draft
Signing status: Unsigned
Talent Analysis
Physical:
Does not have ideal height, but is stocky with a thick build. Good skater who is more quick than fast. Master of his edges and can make extremely rapid turns, stops and starts. Not a burner, but elusive and slippery with the ability to separate in open ice. Low to the ice and strong on his skates- fights through checks on his way to the net. Deft stickhandler who can make dazzling moves in space and in traffic. At times quicker with the puck on his stick than he is without it. Determined and relentless when looking to find the back of the net- makes everyone around him better. Lightning-fast release on an accurate wrist shot; can score from in close and from the outside as well. Picks the corners and could hit 50+ goals in the OHL next season if things break right for him. Underrated backhand- able to get it upstairs with very little room to work with. Effective at wheeling into corners and coming out with the puck to generate scoring chances. Protects the puck well despite the lack of size. Does not have the size or makeup to be a physical player, but doesn't shy away from contact and will do honest work along the boards and in front of the net.
Intangibles:
Outstanding offensive hockey sense and vision- aggressively attacks defenses and has the ability to create for himself and linemates. Plays with passion and exuberance but doesn't always give the same kind of effort/intensity in the defensive zone as he does when carrying the offense. A natural feel for the game and has the kind of game-breaking dimension that Boston has not possessed in abundance over the last 10 years or so. His English is still a work in progress, but he was taking classes in Windsor twice a week and gave an honest effort at engaging the media in Wilmington. By the time he's ready to seriously compete for a spot in Boston, he should be well acclimated and comfortable. Nickname is "Koko" Good, solid kid who is going to be a fan favorite and well-liked in the room for his easy smile and passion for the game. Wants to be a player and will likely improve the intensity levels as he gets more comfortable in North America.
2011 Boston Bruins Development Camp Assessment:
Going to Wilmington was an eye-opener for Khokhlachev who keenly felt the pace, tempo and physical demands of the five-day camp experience. His conditioning and fitness level wasn't where it needed to be, but understandable given the fact that he was only about 12 days removed from having been drafted. He showed off his high-end talent and skill in flashes, though wasn't able to carry the play in quite the same fashion as fellow OHLers Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight. Still, it was clear to any who watched him that he is one of the most skilled prospects in the Boston system.
Development Camp video: Alexander Khokhlachev
Projection
Koko has the kind of pure talent to be a top-line NHL player one day. His youth and the fact that he had just one year in North America makes him a bit of a wild card to project, but with his quick hands, feet and a real head for the game, the second-round pick could end up being one of the real steals in this draft with impressive upside. Red Line Report listed him as one of the top-5 best value picks of the entire draft (4th overall) in the July issue. He has all the makings of a star and should only get better as he matures. By this time next year, Koko could possibly emerge as Boston's top prospect, and to be frank- you can make the case that he already is. These rankings are subjective, so putting him atop the list makes perfect sense, we just want to see what he does at Boston's training camp in the fall and in his second OHL campaign assuming he goes back to junior.
Quotable:
"[Alexander] Khokolachev, just going through our drafts, Khokolachev, again, very skilled. He arrived in not the greatest shape but I know he’s going to take care of that as the year progresses, as the summer progresses."- Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli , July 11, 2011
"I mean, he’s a young kid too and this is a different environment for him. He’s got some things that we’re going to identify going forward throughout the summer and going back that he’ll get in better shape and he knows it. But when the puck drops he makes plays. He sees the ice so very well. He’s probably a little unselfish that we’re going to get him to shoot the puck a little bit more. But he’s a really good kid and he wants to play over her. So we’re just going to continue to work with him. I mean, this is hard. He doesn’t really have, he’s got Besa [Tsintsadze] now that he can speak Russian to but he’s not bad, he understands it pretty well. So being able to communicate with him and being very direct in terms of what he needs to do in order to take advantage of, as you pointed out, the high level of skill that he has and the hockey sense that he has."- Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney; July 10, 2011
"Well, watching some of the in tight drills, especially the small ice games, he’s got excellent hands in tight, he freezes goaltenders, he gets pucks up in tight, so certainly the skill and goal-scoring ability is there. His conditioning needs to get better, but he’s one of the, what usually happens, these young guys, it’s an eye-opener, their first camp. I don’t think they truly realize how good of shape professional players are [in], so he’ll get that part of it down. But like I said, I like his instincts around the net."- Providence Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy; July 8, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Bruins 2011 Development Camp recaps
To keep your interest until the profiles go up, here are some teasers on the recently completed Bruins development camp (Monday) over at the New England Hockey Journal website.
75 Lars Volden
Vitals: 6-3, 198
Acquired: 6th round in 2011 (181st overall)
2010-11 team: Espoo Blues (Finland Jr.)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive showing for late-round pick in last month’s draft who is a classic butterfly-style netminder from Norway. Takes up a large portion of the net and stays square to the shooter. Got more comfortable as the week went on and he began to adjust to shooters. Big, fast, athletic. Showed some real potential as a long-term option. Expected to play on the senior team for Espoo this season in Finland.
76 Rob O’Gara
Vitals: 6-3, 185
Acquired: 5th round in 2011 (151st overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Milton Mustangs (ISL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Two-way blueliner with size and hockey sense is a Yale recruit for 2012. Raw and inexperienced having only played one season in the ISL (Independent School League) before beig drafted by Boston. Has a long, fluid stride and fine footwork for someone who just turned 18 in July. Thinks the game well in terms of diagramming plays and being able to make the breakouts to get the puck up the ice. Calm and composed defender who is only going to get better as he is challenged more and continues to develop. Named captain of his Milton team for 2011-12.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE GOALIES AND DEFENSEMEN HERE
50 Alexander Khokhlachev, Center
Vitals: 5-10, 184
Acquired: 2nd round, 2011 draft (40th overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Highly skilled offensive player showed off his high-end scoring potential in flashes, but was overwhelmed at times with the physical demands of camp and environment. Good skater with effective first-step quickness, elusiveness and the ability to rapidly change direction. Not tall, but strong on his skates and gets under would-be checkers, using body leverage to gain position and maintain puck possession. Elite hands and stickhandling skills. Quick shot with rapid release and nice accuracy. Plays with passion and exuberance. Was not in the kind of shape he needed to be, but should improve on that when main camp rolls around in September and a year from now (assuming he returns to development camp). English skills are raw, but improving- he showed a willingness to take on any interviews and did his level best with a smile. Has future rock star potential in Boston if he can continue his upward developmental curve. Youngest player in the 2011 draft, just making the Sep. 15, 1993 cutoff by six days.
51 Anthony Camara, Left Wing
Vitals: 6-0, 194
Acquired: 3rd round, 2011 draft (81st overall)
2010-11 Amateur Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive individual showing from a player who was initially thought to be a reach. The Toronto native isn’t all that tall at about 6-foot, but is around 195 pounds and is built like a fire hydrant. He skates well, with quick jump and good straight-line speed. Camara also has above average puck skills and a hard shot. While at camp, he showed a penchant for shooting often and scored from the outside as well as in close. Plays a physical game, finishing checks and relishing contact. Has a reputation as willing and fearless fighter. Won’t turn 18 until Sep. 4- just five days older than Alexander Khokhlachev, the youngest player in the NHL draft in June. Former 1st-round OHL pick (15th overall) in 2009.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE FORWARDS HERE
75 Lars Volden
Vitals: 6-3, 198
Acquired: 6th round in 2011 (181st overall)
2010-11 team: Espoo Blues (Finland Jr.)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive showing for late-round pick in last month’s draft who is a classic butterfly-style netminder from Norway. Takes up a large portion of the net and stays square to the shooter. Got more comfortable as the week went on and he began to adjust to shooters. Big, fast, athletic. Showed some real potential as a long-term option. Expected to play on the senior team for Espoo this season in Finland.
76 Rob O’Gara
Vitals: 6-3, 185
Acquired: 5th round in 2011 (151st overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Milton Mustangs (ISL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Two-way blueliner with size and hockey sense is a Yale recruit for 2012. Raw and inexperienced having only played one season in the ISL (Independent School League) before beig drafted by Boston. Has a long, fluid stride and fine footwork for someone who just turned 18 in July. Thinks the game well in terms of diagramming plays and being able to make the breakouts to get the puck up the ice. Calm and composed defender who is only going to get better as he is challenged more and continues to develop. Named captain of his Milton team for 2011-12.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE GOALIES AND DEFENSEMEN HERE
50 Alexander Khokhlachev, Center
Vitals: 5-10, 184
Acquired: 2nd round, 2011 draft (40th overall)
2010-11 amateur team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Highly skilled offensive player showed off his high-end scoring potential in flashes, but was overwhelmed at times with the physical demands of camp and environment. Good skater with effective first-step quickness, elusiveness and the ability to rapidly change direction. Not tall, but strong on his skates and gets under would-be checkers, using body leverage to gain position and maintain puck possession. Elite hands and stickhandling skills. Quick shot with rapid release and nice accuracy. Plays with passion and exuberance. Was not in the kind of shape he needed to be, but should improve on that when main camp rolls around in September and a year from now (assuming he returns to development camp). English skills are raw, but improving- he showed a willingness to take on any interviews and did his level best with a smile. Has future rock star potential in Boston if he can continue his upward developmental curve. Youngest player in the 2011 draft, just making the Sep. 15, 1993 cutoff by six days.
51 Anthony Camara, Left Wing
Vitals: 6-0, 194
Acquired: 3rd round, 2011 draft (81st overall)
2010-11 Amateur Team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Signing status: Unsigned
Camp notes: Impressive individual showing from a player who was initially thought to be a reach. The Toronto native isn’t all that tall at about 6-foot, but is around 195 pounds and is built like a fire hydrant. He skates well, with quick jump and good straight-line speed. Camara also has above average puck skills and a hard shot. While at camp, he showed a penchant for shooting often and scored from the outside as well as in close. Plays a physical game, finishing checks and relishing contact. Has a reputation as willing and fearless fighter. Won’t turn 18 until Sep. 4- just five days older than Alexander Khokhlachev, the youngest player in the NHL draft in June. Former 1st-round OHL pick (15th overall) in 2009.
YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE FORWARDS HERE
Sunday, July 10, 2011
2011 Boston Bruins Development Camp: Day 4 recap
Last day for B2011DW in Wilmington, and Sunday was a chance to see the players scrimmage for the first time since the Bruins prospects convened here on Thursday.
They did one more hour-long drills and skills session, resurfaced the ice, and then went to it in a 4-on-4 "Sunday Funday scrimmy" as defenseman Ryan Button put it.
Team Black battled White and after Anthony Camara scored on Zane Gothberg right off the bat to take a 1-0 lead for White, Justin Florek tallied twice, Brian Ferlin pumped in a goal and the "Black Aces" triumphed over the "White Spaders" by a 3-1 score.
Here are the observations and thoughts of the specific players
Black Aces
Ryan Spooner: He didn't get a lot done in terms of finishing, but he was the fulcrum for wingers Florek and Ferlin. Man, is this kid ever slick. He did snipe a memorable shot on Mike Hutchinson during the drills portion of the day and continued to show off his speed and high-end puck skills. He hit a tiny window on the short side with his shot (Hutch is a right-catching goalie so Spooner beat him high to the blocker side). Spooner is a dual threat- he can score and set up the play. Offense is what excites most people the most, so it isn't any real surprise that the kid who grew up a huge Montreal Canadiens fan (thanks to his dad, Brad) is the most popular B's prospect right now with the folks who have taken the time to come out to rookie games a year ago and the development camps.
Zach Trotman: One of the more impressive defenders this week given his size, agile skating and a big shot. Trotman looked a lot more comfortable this time around and he activates smartly, jumping up into the play and holding the blue line well on the point. The Michigander turns 21 later this summer, and he's still on the raw side, but for the last pick of the 2010 draft, this guy is worth keeping an eye on.
Justin Florek: Scored two goals- one was an absolute snipe from the outside, where he showed a real penchant all week during the drills, unloading his hard, heavy shot to beat goalies top shelf. Gothberg was the victim on this one, but Tim Thomas may have had a hard time stopping it. Florek has a fast release and a heavy wrister that he can pick the corners with. He's a nice skater for his size and looks like he's spreading his wings offensively from what we saw a year ago. He could score 30 goals this year for Northern Michigan as a senior, though not sure what his pro upside is yet.
Brian Ferlin: He showed why he was the USHL's third-leading scorer this week. He doesn't have textbook technique in his skating, but he has some real speed. He blew past Dougie Hamilton on one play and went in alone on Gothberg, getting robbed by the Minnesotan's glove hand on what would have been a goal to bring the fans out of their seats. He's got a quick snap shot and you can see some real instincts for the offensive side of things. Ferlin is just one of a growing crop of big league prospects coming out of Florida- you would have pegged him for a Michigander or Minnesotan the way he performed this week and in that scrimmage. Ferlin is looking like a solid value for the fourth round, but we'll withhold any further judgment until we see him at Cornell this winter.
Ben Sexton: Not a lot to report on the '09 seventh-rounder. He skates well and got himself in position a few times but either missed the net or wasn't able to generate much in the way of a scoring chance.
Ryan Button: Excellent performance all week from one of the veterans in his third development camp. We're probably not going to see a lot of points from Button, but he's such a good skater, smart defender and hard worker that he's going to be something in the pro ranks. He makes good decisions, can carry the puck on his own and has a quick acceleration and jump in his step that allows him to be effective in small spaces. On one sequence, he did several spin-o-rama moves at the offensive blue line to avoid Camara's forecheck and then got it over to David Warsofsky, who got a low shot on net that Ferlin converted on the rebound. He's also a gym rat who takes his conditioning seriously, and his physical maturation from 2009 when the B's draft him to now is significant. The upside is the issue with Button, but he's a solid performer and person and should become one of Bruce Cassidy's go-to guys in Providence despite his youth.
Robby O'Gara: Raw, yes. But anyone who watched O'Gara this week has to be encouraged by the Milton Academy captain's performance in Wilmington. He has such a long, fluid stride that will only get better as he fills out and develops his physical maturity. But he has the two things you cannot teach: size and hockey sense. At one point, he skated through several players in the neutral zone, gained the line and while looking one way, made a crisp pass in the opposite direction to an open teammate down near the right corner to set up the cycle. The puck ended up in the net shortly thereafter. That's the kind of play that won't end up in the box score, but it was essential to his team eventually finding the back of the net. This fifth-round pick could end up being a player, but the wait is going to be a long one.
David Warsofsky: The guy's an athlete. Even though he's smaller than his listed size of 5-9, 170, he's an agile, elusive skater. He lacks the explosiveness and dynamic element of a player like Ryan Murphy, but there is some potential here for the pugnacious defender. He wasn't a high-end performer this week, but you can see that he has the skill to be effective at the AHL level, at least. Warsofsky has managed to silence the critics thus far in his career, and seems to relish doing so. Whether he can do enough to develop into an NHL regular remains to be seen, but Cassidy intimated that he envisions Warsofsky in a key two-way role for him in Providence this season and he could one day force his way into the mix in Boston.
Alexander Fallstrom: The Harvard junior is quicker this year and stronger. He also showed off some nice hands and has some legitimate potential as an NHL fourth-liner one day (may not be with Boston, though). When he has the puck on his stick anywhere near the net, he's a threat to score. Hasn't done much for the Crimson, but this could be a breakout year for him.
White Spaders
Jared Knight: No points in the scrimmage, but Knight was one of white's most consistent and dangerous threats. If there is even a sniff of an offensive chance, Knight kicks it into high gear. We never thought he was all that explosive a skater, but he's obviously worked on it, because he showed an ability to separate from defenders. He has a preternatural sense for when there's an opening and he goes for it. Underrated in his passing skills and defensive play. The most complete prospect as far as forwards go in Boston's system right now- without question.
Alexander Khokhlachev: His conditioning was lagging a bit, but Koko showed flashes of his high-end offensive skills in the scrimmage. He is highly effective when coming out of the corners and off the halfwall with the puck. He just missed on several well-placed shots that Gothberg and/or Lars Volden got pieces of. He's not a blazer and looked lethargic (he admitted to being very sore on Day 2) at times during drills, but he came alive during the scrimmage. He has sublime hands and we expect much bigger things from him a year from now when he'll know exactly what to expect. He's going to be a good one, but he's going to need some time to develop. That's good news for Warren Rychel, Bob Boughner and the good folks at Windsor, who should have him back this season and possibly beyond. Real solid kid, who took on every interview with a smile on his face despite lacking a prolific English vocabulary.
Dougie Hamilton: It was a pretty mediocre performance from Dougie in the scrimmage, but he still showed off his impressive skill set and competed hard. Like most top picks, the expectations surrounding him were enormous, so it was disappointing to hear some folks banging on him like I did (some people chirping us on Twitter, even). We suppose that these "experts" expected Hamilton to fly over the action and simultaneously cure cancer. In all seriousness, Hamilton's talent is undeniable, but like most youngsters, he was taken out of his comfort zone this week and struggled at times with it. Watch him next year- we expect a much more comfortable, settled and skilled two-way defender. All the tools are there.
Anthony Camara: A pleasant surprise, but not really. B's Director of Player Personnel Scott Bradley told us at the draft how underrated Camara's wheels and hands were, but he proved it at development camp. He scored a nice goal to start the scrimmage by taking a Craig Cunningham pass and then waiting for Gothberg to open himself up before slipping it past him. Camara skated well all week, driving to the net hard and making some good body contact. Like Koko, he won't even turn 18 until September and was buried behind skill guys in Saginaw, but with an increased role, look for him to break out a bit. He's not a high-end scoring type, but could be a third-line staple in the NHL one day. Just an impressive overall showing from the guy who looked like a reach at first glance, but who could end up being much more.
Craig Cunningham: One of the most active, and hardest-working guys at camp all week. We're not sure how his offensive numbers will translate in the pros, but he always keeps his feet moving and is a smart two-way guy with high-end character. He's a bit of a stealth player in that you don't notice him all that much until a big play is made and then you realize he's in the middle of it. He's a good, not great skater, but he just seems to be in the right place at the right time. We think he's going to be a very good AHL player in time, but not sure where he fits into the NHL picture yet.
Tyler Randell: His skating is only average and he needs to pick up a step coming out of the gate, but his hands are NHL-caliber. Randell was sniping goals all week, and his shootout move on Volden was a sight to behold, as he moved in, deked at least 6-7 times getting the goalie to commit and go down before skying a backhander up under the crossbar. We're intrigued as to what Randell will do in the AHL this year. He can technically go back to Kitchener for an overage season, but Providence would do well to add his grit, snarl and potential to hit some goals. An effective bottom-six forward with some modest offensive upside.
Marc Cantin: Impressive as an invite to Boston d-camp a year ago, Cantin continued his run of steady, solid play. He looks a bit like Mark Stuart out there, but a better skating version of the former Boston stalwart. Cantin was the most physical presence among the prospects this week, looking to make big hits and never passing up a chance to staple an opponent against the boards whether in drills or in the scrimmage. He's a smart guy who plays well positionally and is an interesting prospect as a lower-pairing D. Not much upside with this guy, but he's solid. Watch for him to earn a lot of ice time in Providence this season despite being a rookie pro.
Tommy Cross: Sharp and composed, he looked and acted the part of Boston's most senior prospect in attendance and the captain of the Boston College Eagles for the upcoming season. Skates well and plays a physical but disciplined game. The main concern with Cross is with his overall offensive hockey sense, which is limited despite having a big point bomb, and with his right knee. He's healthy now, but like Gord Kluzak, will be day-to-day for life, meaning that you hope and pray he'll have a long pro hockey career, but wonder how much he thinks about it and whether he can be as effective at the pro ranks.
Mike Hutchinson: The best goalie in camp this week by far, and opened some eyes with his size and quickness. He didn't allow a single goal in the first scrimmage, and he was tough to beat during the shootout portion. One of the true good guys in any room- Hutch always has a smile on his face, but is also a legitimate competitor who hates to be beaten. Jared Knight revealed some insights about his former London teammate, which leads us to believe that Hutch will be an NHL goalie one day. Unfortunately for him, Boston is going to be a tough nut to crack, but he has an opportunity to earn some playing time in Providence. Consistency has been his biggest challenge thus far, but as far is physical tools and puckstopping skills go, he's a legit NHL prospect.
Zane Gothberg: He doesn't turn 19 until August, but we thought that Gothberg had a solid week. He wasn't Hutch, and his technique has more refining to do than that of Volden, but he's a big guy who battles like Thomas does. He was at fault on the Camara goal, but the Florek shot was a bomb and Gothberg was excellent the rest of the way. At times, he looked unsettled, while at others, he was a rock this week. Gothberg's attitude and competitiveness are strong suits of his, and as a long-term project, he can continue to address his style and build confidence. He's back in the USHL for one more year and will then be in Grand Forks at the University of North Dakota in 2012. We still think that Gothberg is a diamond-in-the-rough and is in the catbird's seat, with no pressure on him whatsoever right now. The Bruins will be patient with him and see where it leads them.
Lars Volden: Wow. We banged him for his performance in the WJC, but it was one game and he showed some legitimate upside this week. He's big, quick and a classic butterfly goalie. He didn't play as well in the scrimmage as he had in the drills the previous three days, but there's something there. He stays square to the shooter, takes up a lot of the net and has the look of a guy who could play in the AHL right away. He'll try and make the Espoo Blues senior team this season and see where it takes him, but for a sixth-rounder, this guy looks like a player. Like Gothberg, Volden is a long-term project, but worth keeping tabs on.
The invites:
Brett Olson- The Michigan Tech senior is the oldest guy there with a 1987 birthdate, but worked hard and appreciated the opportunity. He grew up with Devils prospect and former UNH standout Mike Sislo, the two skating on a line together throughout their minor hockey days.
Josh Jooris- Union College playmaker is a good skater and passer; not all that tall, but strong and showed flashes of talent. From Burlington, Ontario- skated in the OJHL for his hometown team before going to the NCAA.
Steve Spinell- Carter Camper's teammate at Miami University is from Illinois. Has good size and mobility, though doesn't have much upside. Along with Cantin, was the most physical player in camp. Reminds us of a Matt Bartkowksi-type guy.
They did one more hour-long drills and skills session, resurfaced the ice, and then went to it in a 4-on-4 "Sunday Funday scrimmy" as defenseman Ryan Button put it.
Team Black battled White and after Anthony Camara scored on Zane Gothberg right off the bat to take a 1-0 lead for White, Justin Florek tallied twice, Brian Ferlin pumped in a goal and the "Black Aces" triumphed over the "White Spaders" by a 3-1 score.
Here are the observations and thoughts of the specific players
Black Aces
Ryan Spooner: He didn't get a lot done in terms of finishing, but he was the fulcrum for wingers Florek and Ferlin. Man, is this kid ever slick. He did snipe a memorable shot on Mike Hutchinson during the drills portion of the day and continued to show off his speed and high-end puck skills. He hit a tiny window on the short side with his shot (Hutch is a right-catching goalie so Spooner beat him high to the blocker side). Spooner is a dual threat- he can score and set up the play. Offense is what excites most people the most, so it isn't any real surprise that the kid who grew up a huge Montreal Canadiens fan (thanks to his dad, Brad) is the most popular B's prospect right now with the folks who have taken the time to come out to rookie games a year ago and the development camps.
Zach Trotman: One of the more impressive defenders this week given his size, agile skating and a big shot. Trotman looked a lot more comfortable this time around and he activates smartly, jumping up into the play and holding the blue line well on the point. The Michigander turns 21 later this summer, and he's still on the raw side, but for the last pick of the 2010 draft, this guy is worth keeping an eye on.
Justin Florek: Scored two goals- one was an absolute snipe from the outside, where he showed a real penchant all week during the drills, unloading his hard, heavy shot to beat goalies top shelf. Gothberg was the victim on this one, but Tim Thomas may have had a hard time stopping it. Florek has a fast release and a heavy wrister that he can pick the corners with. He's a nice skater for his size and looks like he's spreading his wings offensively from what we saw a year ago. He could score 30 goals this year for Northern Michigan as a senior, though not sure what his pro upside is yet.
Brian Ferlin: He showed why he was the USHL's third-leading scorer this week. He doesn't have textbook technique in his skating, but he has some real speed. He blew past Dougie Hamilton on one play and went in alone on Gothberg, getting robbed by the Minnesotan's glove hand on what would have been a goal to bring the fans out of their seats. He's got a quick snap shot and you can see some real instincts for the offensive side of things. Ferlin is just one of a growing crop of big league prospects coming out of Florida- you would have pegged him for a Michigander or Minnesotan the way he performed this week and in that scrimmage. Ferlin is looking like a solid value for the fourth round, but we'll withhold any further judgment until we see him at Cornell this winter.
Ben Sexton: Not a lot to report on the '09 seventh-rounder. He skates well and got himself in position a few times but either missed the net or wasn't able to generate much in the way of a scoring chance.
Ryan Button: Excellent performance all week from one of the veterans in his third development camp. We're probably not going to see a lot of points from Button, but he's such a good skater, smart defender and hard worker that he's going to be something in the pro ranks. He makes good decisions, can carry the puck on his own and has a quick acceleration and jump in his step that allows him to be effective in small spaces. On one sequence, he did several spin-o-rama moves at the offensive blue line to avoid Camara's forecheck and then got it over to David Warsofsky, who got a low shot on net that Ferlin converted on the rebound. He's also a gym rat who takes his conditioning seriously, and his physical maturation from 2009 when the B's draft him to now is significant. The upside is the issue with Button, but he's a solid performer and person and should become one of Bruce Cassidy's go-to guys in Providence despite his youth.
Robby O'Gara: Raw, yes. But anyone who watched O'Gara this week has to be encouraged by the Milton Academy captain's performance in Wilmington. He has such a long, fluid stride that will only get better as he fills out and develops his physical maturity. But he has the two things you cannot teach: size and hockey sense. At one point, he skated through several players in the neutral zone, gained the line and while looking one way, made a crisp pass in the opposite direction to an open teammate down near the right corner to set up the cycle. The puck ended up in the net shortly thereafter. That's the kind of play that won't end up in the box score, but it was essential to his team eventually finding the back of the net. This fifth-round pick could end up being a player, but the wait is going to be a long one.
David Warsofsky: The guy's an athlete. Even though he's smaller than his listed size of 5-9, 170, he's an agile, elusive skater. He lacks the explosiveness and dynamic element of a player like Ryan Murphy, but there is some potential here for the pugnacious defender. He wasn't a high-end performer this week, but you can see that he has the skill to be effective at the AHL level, at least. Warsofsky has managed to silence the critics thus far in his career, and seems to relish doing so. Whether he can do enough to develop into an NHL regular remains to be seen, but Cassidy intimated that he envisions Warsofsky in a key two-way role for him in Providence this season and he could one day force his way into the mix in Boston.
Alexander Fallstrom: The Harvard junior is quicker this year and stronger. He also showed off some nice hands and has some legitimate potential as an NHL fourth-liner one day (may not be with Boston, though). When he has the puck on his stick anywhere near the net, he's a threat to score. Hasn't done much for the Crimson, but this could be a breakout year for him.
White Spaders
Jared Knight: No points in the scrimmage, but Knight was one of white's most consistent and dangerous threats. If there is even a sniff of an offensive chance, Knight kicks it into high gear. We never thought he was all that explosive a skater, but he's obviously worked on it, because he showed an ability to separate from defenders. He has a preternatural sense for when there's an opening and he goes for it. Underrated in his passing skills and defensive play. The most complete prospect as far as forwards go in Boston's system right now- without question.
Alexander Khokhlachev: His conditioning was lagging a bit, but Koko showed flashes of his high-end offensive skills in the scrimmage. He is highly effective when coming out of the corners and off the halfwall with the puck. He just missed on several well-placed shots that Gothberg and/or Lars Volden got pieces of. He's not a blazer and looked lethargic (he admitted to being very sore on Day 2) at times during drills, but he came alive during the scrimmage. He has sublime hands and we expect much bigger things from him a year from now when he'll know exactly what to expect. He's going to be a good one, but he's going to need some time to develop. That's good news for Warren Rychel, Bob Boughner and the good folks at Windsor, who should have him back this season and possibly beyond. Real solid kid, who took on every interview with a smile on his face despite lacking a prolific English vocabulary.
Dougie Hamilton: It was a pretty mediocre performance from Dougie in the scrimmage, but he still showed off his impressive skill set and competed hard. Like most top picks, the expectations surrounding him were enormous, so it was disappointing to hear some folks banging on him like I did (some people chirping us on Twitter, even). We suppose that these "experts" expected Hamilton to fly over the action and simultaneously cure cancer. In all seriousness, Hamilton's talent is undeniable, but like most youngsters, he was taken out of his comfort zone this week and struggled at times with it. Watch him next year- we expect a much more comfortable, settled and skilled two-way defender. All the tools are there.
Anthony Camara: A pleasant surprise, but not really. B's Director of Player Personnel Scott Bradley told us at the draft how underrated Camara's wheels and hands were, but he proved it at development camp. He scored a nice goal to start the scrimmage by taking a Craig Cunningham pass and then waiting for Gothberg to open himself up before slipping it past him. Camara skated well all week, driving to the net hard and making some good body contact. Like Koko, he won't even turn 18 until September and was buried behind skill guys in Saginaw, but with an increased role, look for him to break out a bit. He's not a high-end scoring type, but could be a third-line staple in the NHL one day. Just an impressive overall showing from the guy who looked like a reach at first glance, but who could end up being much more.
Craig Cunningham: One of the most active, and hardest-working guys at camp all week. We're not sure how his offensive numbers will translate in the pros, but he always keeps his feet moving and is a smart two-way guy with high-end character. He's a bit of a stealth player in that you don't notice him all that much until a big play is made and then you realize he's in the middle of it. He's a good, not great skater, but he just seems to be in the right place at the right time. We think he's going to be a very good AHL player in time, but not sure where he fits into the NHL picture yet.
Tyler Randell: His skating is only average and he needs to pick up a step coming out of the gate, but his hands are NHL-caliber. Randell was sniping goals all week, and his shootout move on Volden was a sight to behold, as he moved in, deked at least 6-7 times getting the goalie to commit and go down before skying a backhander up under the crossbar. We're intrigued as to what Randell will do in the AHL this year. He can technically go back to Kitchener for an overage season, but Providence would do well to add his grit, snarl and potential to hit some goals. An effective bottom-six forward with some modest offensive upside.
Marc Cantin: Impressive as an invite to Boston d-camp a year ago, Cantin continued his run of steady, solid play. He looks a bit like Mark Stuart out there, but a better skating version of the former Boston stalwart. Cantin was the most physical presence among the prospects this week, looking to make big hits and never passing up a chance to staple an opponent against the boards whether in drills or in the scrimmage. He's a smart guy who plays well positionally and is an interesting prospect as a lower-pairing D. Not much upside with this guy, but he's solid. Watch for him to earn a lot of ice time in Providence this season despite being a rookie pro.
Tommy Cross: Sharp and composed, he looked and acted the part of Boston's most senior prospect in attendance and the captain of the Boston College Eagles for the upcoming season. Skates well and plays a physical but disciplined game. The main concern with Cross is with his overall offensive hockey sense, which is limited despite having a big point bomb, and with his right knee. He's healthy now, but like Gord Kluzak, will be day-to-day for life, meaning that you hope and pray he'll have a long pro hockey career, but wonder how much he thinks about it and whether he can be as effective at the pro ranks.
Mike Hutchinson: The best goalie in camp this week by far, and opened some eyes with his size and quickness. He didn't allow a single goal in the first scrimmage, and he was tough to beat during the shootout portion. One of the true good guys in any room- Hutch always has a smile on his face, but is also a legitimate competitor who hates to be beaten. Jared Knight revealed some insights about his former London teammate, which leads us to believe that Hutch will be an NHL goalie one day. Unfortunately for him, Boston is going to be a tough nut to crack, but he has an opportunity to earn some playing time in Providence. Consistency has been his biggest challenge thus far, but as far is physical tools and puckstopping skills go, he's a legit NHL prospect.
Zane Gothberg: He doesn't turn 19 until August, but we thought that Gothberg had a solid week. He wasn't Hutch, and his technique has more refining to do than that of Volden, but he's a big guy who battles like Thomas does. He was at fault on the Camara goal, but the Florek shot was a bomb and Gothberg was excellent the rest of the way. At times, he looked unsettled, while at others, he was a rock this week. Gothberg's attitude and competitiveness are strong suits of his, and as a long-term project, he can continue to address his style and build confidence. He's back in the USHL for one more year and will then be in Grand Forks at the University of North Dakota in 2012. We still think that Gothberg is a diamond-in-the-rough and is in the catbird's seat, with no pressure on him whatsoever right now. The Bruins will be patient with him and see where it leads them.
Lars Volden: Wow. We banged him for his performance in the WJC, but it was one game and he showed some legitimate upside this week. He's big, quick and a classic butterfly goalie. He didn't play as well in the scrimmage as he had in the drills the previous three days, but there's something there. He stays square to the shooter, takes up a lot of the net and has the look of a guy who could play in the AHL right away. He'll try and make the Espoo Blues senior team this season and see where it takes him, but for a sixth-rounder, this guy looks like a player. Like Gothberg, Volden is a long-term project, but worth keeping tabs on.
The invites:
Brett Olson- The Michigan Tech senior is the oldest guy there with a 1987 birthdate, but worked hard and appreciated the opportunity. He grew up with Devils prospect and former UNH standout Mike Sislo, the two skating on a line together throughout their minor hockey days.
Josh Jooris- Union College playmaker is a good skater and passer; not all that tall, but strong and showed flashes of talent. From Burlington, Ontario- skated in the OJHL for his hometown team before going to the NCAA.
Steve Spinell- Carter Camper's teammate at Miami University is from Illinois. Has good size and mobility, though doesn't have much upside. Along with Cantin, was the most physical player in camp. Reminds us of a Matt Bartkowksi-type guy.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
2011 Boston Bruins Development Camp: Day 1 recap
The first day is in the books and things were a little discombobulated today with travel and touching base with folks hadn't seen in a while.
Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney told me that center Carter Camper, who signed as a free agent with Boston last spring, is not in attendance because he is still recovering from a recent procedure on his hip. No word on whether he'll be ready to go for the start of rookie camp in the fall.
Tomorrow will bring a better, more cohesive report, but for now, here are the highlights from today:
Ryan Spooner: Absolutely flying around the ice and doing his high-end puck work. Was lighting up Zane Gothberg pretty good at first (but I still thought Gothberg had a solid day overall though some disagree). Spooner is a puck wizard and he looks like his off-ice work is paying off- he's added some mass to his small frame and is getting there. Didn't cost him any in the speed department. The more I look at Spooner, the more I think he was a steal with the 45th overall pick a year ago.
Jared Knight: His competitiveness shines through in everything he does. He was lasering shots up under the crossbar all day and then he blew up goalie Mike Hutchinson in a huge collision when he took the puck to the net. For a smaller guy, Knight packs a lot of power in his lower leg drive and when he gets up under bigger defensemen with a higher center of gravity, he's able to drive them back. Impressive. And, Hutch wasn't hurt. Knight went right to him after the session was over to apologize and make sure his former London mate was OK. Once again, Knighter proves the old adage: it isn't the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog that counts.
Alexander Khokhlachev: Skill. He has it. And as slick and dynamic as he looked, little Koko is still a work in progress. He got turned inside out by Alexander Fallstrom on one drill who then beat him to the puck and rifled it past Lars Volden while Koko was several steps behind him. But after it all, the kid had a huge smile plastered on his face in the locker room and truly relished the chance to be out there with a spoked-B on. He's likely missing something in translation when it comes to the drills, so no one is going to kill him for getting turned around. The real proof will be in the pudding when he gets to speak the international language of hockey in the scrimmages and preseason games (possibly) in the fall.
Dougie Hamilton: He moves well, but noticed that he has an upright stance. The B's top pick didn't do anything really flashy today, but that's his game. He had an active stick and stayed with his man in the drills. He was shooting the puck with good velocity. It was an OK day for Dougie, and like Tyler Seguin last year, I heard rumblings of people being disappointed because he didn't dominate. Sometimes I don't know what people expect from these kids, but Hamilton looked like a first-rounder today.
Robby O'Gara: Turned 18 just yesterday and his skating really came to the fore today. He's tall, but a stringbean. But, have to keep going back to the fluid stride and quick, agile footwork. Had he spent two years at Milton Academy before the draft instead of just the one, I'm convinced that he would have been as high as a third-round pick, but solid at least a solid fourth-rounder. I don't think enough NHL teams knew about this kid going in, but Boston did because he plays in their backyard. Long-term project, but O'Gara could be a steal. Size + mobility + intelligence + character almost always = player.
Josh Jooris: Camp invite from Union College, but I saw some good wheels and a real smart passer. He's the one guy who really stood out among the camp invites. It was just one session, but going to watch him closely and see where he takes things this week.
Brian Ferlin: He does skate like he's carrying a baby grand piano on his back, but he has some speed to him. Was getting shots off from all over the ice. Put on a whale of a hit in the offensive zone on one drill that woke everyone up. For a guy not known as a big hitter, he eliminated his man along the boards and rattled the glass. Here's some video from some of the guys
Jared Knight
Zach Trotman
Bruins Assistant GM Don Sweeney told me that center Carter Camper, who signed as a free agent with Boston last spring, is not in attendance because he is still recovering from a recent procedure on his hip. No word on whether he'll be ready to go for the start of rookie camp in the fall.
Tomorrow will bring a better, more cohesive report, but for now, here are the highlights from today:
Ryan Spooner: Absolutely flying around the ice and doing his high-end puck work. Was lighting up Zane Gothberg pretty good at first (but I still thought Gothberg had a solid day overall though some disagree). Spooner is a puck wizard and he looks like his off-ice work is paying off- he's added some mass to his small frame and is getting there. Didn't cost him any in the speed department. The more I look at Spooner, the more I think he was a steal with the 45th overall pick a year ago.
Jared Knight: His competitiveness shines through in everything he does. He was lasering shots up under the crossbar all day and then he blew up goalie Mike Hutchinson in a huge collision when he took the puck to the net. For a smaller guy, Knight packs a lot of power in his lower leg drive and when he gets up under bigger defensemen with a higher center of gravity, he's able to drive them back. Impressive. And, Hutch wasn't hurt. Knight went right to him after the session was over to apologize and make sure his former London mate was OK. Once again, Knighter proves the old adage: it isn't the size of the dog, but the size of the fight in the dog that counts.
Alexander Khokhlachev: Skill. He has it. And as slick and dynamic as he looked, little Koko is still a work in progress. He got turned inside out by Alexander Fallstrom on one drill who then beat him to the puck and rifled it past Lars Volden while Koko was several steps behind him. But after it all, the kid had a huge smile plastered on his face in the locker room and truly relished the chance to be out there with a spoked-B on. He's likely missing something in translation when it comes to the drills, so no one is going to kill him for getting turned around. The real proof will be in the pudding when he gets to speak the international language of hockey in the scrimmages and preseason games (possibly) in the fall.
Dougie Hamilton: He moves well, but noticed that he has an upright stance. The B's top pick didn't do anything really flashy today, but that's his game. He had an active stick and stayed with his man in the drills. He was shooting the puck with good velocity. It was an OK day for Dougie, and like Tyler Seguin last year, I heard rumblings of people being disappointed because he didn't dominate. Sometimes I don't know what people expect from these kids, but Hamilton looked like a first-rounder today.
Robby O'Gara: Turned 18 just yesterday and his skating really came to the fore today. He's tall, but a stringbean. But, have to keep going back to the fluid stride and quick, agile footwork. Had he spent two years at Milton Academy before the draft instead of just the one, I'm convinced that he would have been as high as a third-round pick, but solid at least a solid fourth-rounder. I don't think enough NHL teams knew about this kid going in, but Boston did because he plays in their backyard. Long-term project, but O'Gara could be a steal. Size + mobility + intelligence + character almost always = player.
Josh Jooris: Camp invite from Union College, but I saw some good wheels and a real smart passer. He's the one guy who really stood out among the camp invites. It was just one session, but going to watch him closely and see where he takes things this week.
Brian Ferlin: He does skate like he's carrying a baby grand piano on his back, but he has some speed to him. Was getting shots off from all over the ice. Put on a whale of a hit in the offensive zone on one drill that woke everyone up. For a guy not known as a big hitter, he eliminated his man along the boards and rattled the glass. Here's some video from some of the guys
Jared Knight
Zach Trotman
Thursday, June 30, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Grading the Boston Bruins 2011 draft (From New England Hockey Journal)
The following is an article I wrote posted on the New England Hockey Journal website. The draft grades on each Boston Bruins draft pick are out, but the reality is that every one of them is an "incomplete" for another 3-5 years until we see how they ultimately turn out.
To read the rest of the grades, and for more coverage on the Boston Bruins and anything New England hockey-related, be sure to check out the website.
Making The Grade- The 2011 Boston Bruins draft
By Kirk Luedeke
Full story at hockeyjournal.com
Although trying to pick winners and losers the day after the NHL Entry Draft is often an exercise in futility, grading a team’s prospect haul based on current projections has become an annual tradition.
While walking back to the hotel with members of the Anaheim Ducks scouting staff from the shuttle drop-off point, one scout declared: “Everyone is a winner on draft day- 30 winners and no losers.”
That sentiment reflects the euphoria and optimism that often permeates the atmosphere right after a team invests a big portion of its future in the seven or so young players who comprise a normal NHL draft class. However, once the next several seasons progress, the clear-cut winners and losers only truly emerge.
The Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks and yes- the Detroit Red Wings once again- all seemed to have the drafts that can lay a solid foundation for a team for years to come. Short of a crystal ball to see into the future, it certainly seems as if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom and David Musil could have a course-altering impact on the Oilers in time. The Senators worked the draft effectively, taking skilled and passionate players who should be able to inject the kind of talent and energy needed to get the former 2007 Stanley Cup runners up into contention. As for Chicago and Detroit, the 2011 draft was all about value, as both teams made an art out of landing name players with lower selections.
But what about the Boston Bruins?
The 2011 Stanley Cup champions would have picked 30th and 61st overall in this draft if not for deals involving Phil Kessel and Chuck Kobasew nearly two years ago that allowed the B’s to pick ninth and 40th.
When the team came away with defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Alexander Khokhlachev, they appeared to position themselves perfectly to keep in place teams capable of contending for NHL championships well into this decade. While the other selections the Bruins made are not particularly exciting, they all seem to fit the mold of what the club values: character, commitment and potential.
Time will tell whether Hamilton, Khokhlachev and the rest of the Boston draft class manages to become impact players in the Black and Gold, but for now, this looks like a pretty impressive haul.
Dougie Hamilton, D Niagara (OHL)
NEHJ grade: A+
The scoop: How does a player of Hamilton’s size and skill set drop to ninth overall? A lot of times it has to do with luck and just hoping that other teams value others more. New England Hockey Journal learned that the Bruins did not expect Hamilton to be there at nine and were fully intending on drafting Ryan Murphy as the projected player to fall to them at nine. However, when the Winnipeg Jets made Mark Scheifele an off-the-board pick, the B’s were given the rare opportunity to choose between the big, rangy two-way defenseman in Hamilton or the undersized but dynamic playmaker in Murphy. Boston opted for the former and it will be interesting to follow the career progression of both players.
Quotable: “Well I’ve grown a lot in the last few years and haven’t really filled into my body yet, I think I’m working hard right now in the gym, I need to work a lot harder and get bigger and that will help with my physical game as well. I think you have to improve everything because the guys in the NHL are a lot better than OHL players.”- Dougie Hamilton
Alexander Khokhlachev, C Windsor (OHL)
NEHJ grade: A
The scoop: This dynamic offensive Russian center was available to the Bruins at 40 for another outstanding value pick. He had 34 goals with the Spitfires in just his first North American season and is primed for a big breakout year. New England Hockey Journal spoke to Windsor President and GM Warren Rychel in Minnesota and Rychel praised “KoKo’s” skill and passion for the game, calling him a “Godsend” for Windsor after the team gambled a bit by bringing him over in the CHL Import Draft. The youngster plays with a lot of passion and should energize the crowds at Bruins development camp in early July with his speed and puck wizardry. The thought of a possible d-camp line of KoKo, Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight there must have Bruins fans eagerly checking their calendars. Bruins assistant GM Jim Benning was emphatic in stating that signing Khokhlachev will not be an issue, stating his commitment and desire to play in the NHL.
Quotable: “Well, he’s thick like a [Montreal center Scott] Gomez, but he’ll, he likes to score, he’s more of a shooter and a scorer. But he’s elusive like that and strong, but that’s kind of a comparison to him, but it’s different that KoKo likes to shoot the puck and to score, I would say, more.”- Jim Benning
Anthony Camara, LW Saginaw (OHL)
NEHJ grade: B-
The scoop: One tough nut, but there isn’t a lot to get excited about with this guy skill-wise. Or is there? Camara is one of those “pet” picks the Bruins scout out and make seemingly every year. Milan Lucic was one in 2006, and Camara was buried on a deep team up front. He plays bigger than his size (6-feet, 194 pounds) and may end up being more than the sum of his parts.
Quotable: “Yeah, he’s a typical Boston Bruin-type player. He’s a good skater, he plays a north-south game, he’ll fight anybody, he’ll take anybody on, he hits on the forecheck, so he, when he was there in the third round, it was a good fit for his style of game to the way we play. So, you know, he’s not big but, well, tall, but he’s thick and he’s a fearless player, kind of like a Shawn Thornton-type for us.”- Benning
To read the rest of the grades, and for more coverage on the Boston Bruins and anything New England hockey-related, be sure to check out the website.
Making The Grade- The 2011 Boston Bruins draft
By Kirk Luedeke
Full story at hockeyjournal.com
Although trying to pick winners and losers the day after the NHL Entry Draft is often an exercise in futility, grading a team’s prospect haul based on current projections has become an annual tradition.
While walking back to the hotel with members of the Anaheim Ducks scouting staff from the shuttle drop-off point, one scout declared: “Everyone is a winner on draft day- 30 winners and no losers.”
That sentiment reflects the euphoria and optimism that often permeates the atmosphere right after a team invests a big portion of its future in the seven or so young players who comprise a normal NHL draft class. However, once the next several seasons progress, the clear-cut winners and losers only truly emerge.
The Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks and yes- the Detroit Red Wings once again- all seemed to have the drafts that can lay a solid foundation for a team for years to come. Short of a crystal ball to see into the future, it certainly seems as if Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom and David Musil could have a course-altering impact on the Oilers in time. The Senators worked the draft effectively, taking skilled and passionate players who should be able to inject the kind of talent and energy needed to get the former 2007 Stanley Cup runners up into contention. As for Chicago and Detroit, the 2011 draft was all about value, as both teams made an art out of landing name players with lower selections.
But what about the Boston Bruins?
The 2011 Stanley Cup champions would have picked 30th and 61st overall in this draft if not for deals involving Phil Kessel and Chuck Kobasew nearly two years ago that allowed the B’s to pick ninth and 40th.
When the team came away with defenseman Dougie Hamilton and Alexander Khokhlachev, they appeared to position themselves perfectly to keep in place teams capable of contending for NHL championships well into this decade. While the other selections the Bruins made are not particularly exciting, they all seem to fit the mold of what the club values: character, commitment and potential.
Time will tell whether Hamilton, Khokhlachev and the rest of the Boston draft class manages to become impact players in the Black and Gold, but for now, this looks like a pretty impressive haul.
Dougie Hamilton, D Niagara (OHL)
NEHJ grade: A+
The scoop: How does a player of Hamilton’s size and skill set drop to ninth overall? A lot of times it has to do with luck and just hoping that other teams value others more. New England Hockey Journal learned that the Bruins did not expect Hamilton to be there at nine and were fully intending on drafting Ryan Murphy as the projected player to fall to them at nine. However, when the Winnipeg Jets made Mark Scheifele an off-the-board pick, the B’s were given the rare opportunity to choose between the big, rangy two-way defenseman in Hamilton or the undersized but dynamic playmaker in Murphy. Boston opted for the former and it will be interesting to follow the career progression of both players.
Quotable: “Well I’ve grown a lot in the last few years and haven’t really filled into my body yet, I think I’m working hard right now in the gym, I need to work a lot harder and get bigger and that will help with my physical game as well. I think you have to improve everything because the guys in the NHL are a lot better than OHL players.”- Dougie Hamilton
Alexander Khokhlachev, C Windsor (OHL)
NEHJ grade: A
The scoop: This dynamic offensive Russian center was available to the Bruins at 40 for another outstanding value pick. He had 34 goals with the Spitfires in just his first North American season and is primed for a big breakout year. New England Hockey Journal spoke to Windsor President and GM Warren Rychel in Minnesota and Rychel praised “KoKo’s” skill and passion for the game, calling him a “Godsend” for Windsor after the team gambled a bit by bringing him over in the CHL Import Draft. The youngster plays with a lot of passion and should energize the crowds at Bruins development camp in early July with his speed and puck wizardry. The thought of a possible d-camp line of KoKo, Ryan Spooner and Jared Knight there must have Bruins fans eagerly checking their calendars. Bruins assistant GM Jim Benning was emphatic in stating that signing Khokhlachev will not be an issue, stating his commitment and desire to play in the NHL.
Quotable: “Well, he’s thick like a [Montreal center Scott] Gomez, but he’ll, he likes to score, he’s more of a shooter and a scorer. But he’s elusive like that and strong, but that’s kind of a comparison to him, but it’s different that KoKo likes to shoot the puck and to score, I would say, more.”- Jim Benning
Anthony Camara, LW Saginaw (OHL)
NEHJ grade: B-
The scoop: One tough nut, but there isn’t a lot to get excited about with this guy skill-wise. Or is there? Camara is one of those “pet” picks the Bruins scout out and make seemingly every year. Milan Lucic was one in 2006, and Camara was buried on a deep team up front. He plays bigger than his size (6-feet, 194 pounds) and may end up being more than the sum of his parts.
Quotable: “Yeah, he’s a typical Boston Bruin-type player. He’s a good skater, he plays a north-south game, he’ll fight anybody, he’ll take anybody on, he hits on the forecheck, so he, when he was there in the third round, it was a good fit for his style of game to the way we play. So, you know, he’s not big but, well, tall, but he’s thick and he’s a fearless player, kind of like a Shawn Thornton-type for us.”- Benning
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Bruins Assistant GM Jim Benning recaps Bruins draft
Bruins assistant GM (and scouting guru) Jim Benning met with the media after the Bruins selected Lars Volden in the sixth round to break down the events from the last two days.
Warning- this video is more than 9 minutes long, so only the hardest of the hardcore draftniks will likely have the attention span to sit through it. Wish I had broken it up into two segments, but here is Benning's remarks in their entirety from Alex Khokhlachev (and he recaps Hamilton later on) to Volden.
Warning- this video is more than 9 minutes long, so only the hardest of the hardcore draftniks will likely have the attention span to sit through it. Wish I had broken it up into two segments, but here is Benning's remarks in their entirety from Alex Khokhlachev (and he recaps Hamilton later on) to Volden.
Bruins open 2nd day with Alexander Khokhlachev
The Boston Bruins got tremendous value with the selection of Windsor Spitfires forward Alexander Khokhlachev with the 40th overall selection in the 2011 NHL Draft.
With the selection of the dynamic scoring forward, the Bruins get a serious upgrade at forward.
With the selection of the dynamic scoring forward, the Bruins get a serious upgrade at forward.
Friday, May 27, 2011
50 in 30: B2011DW's top-50 players for the NHL Draft 21-30
Just in time for the long weekend in the U.S., Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and the Memorial Cup semifinal match between Mississauga and Kootenay (with Saint John facing the winner on Sunday) Bruins 2011 Draft Watch is here to bring you the fourth installment of our top-50 (plus honorable mentions) for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
30. John Gibson, G U.S. NTDP (USHL) 6-3, 200 07/14/1993
On pure talent alone, Gibson is more of a top-20 pick than anything else. But here at B2011DW, we'd be remiss if we didn't at least take the latest NHL drafting trends into consideration, and that means that Gibson could be the victim of a pervasive thought we've been hearing over and over with NHL scouts this season: that taking a goaltender high in the draft is not a good use of assets considering all of the successful goalies this season who were not first- or second-round picks. Only one of the four netminders in the NHL semifinal series (Roberto Luongo- 4th overall in 1997) was a top-60 pick (Tim Thomas- 217th overall in 1994, Dwayne Roloson, Antti Niemi- undrafted free agents). That said, Gibson is by far the best of the 2011 crop in our view and deserves to be picked in the first round if a team values him there enough. He's got the size, quickness and athleticism that is a requisite for being a high draft pick these days, and even better, Gibson plays with a calm and poise that is a sight to behold. No moment seems too overwhelming to him. He won back-to-back overtime games in the U-18 against Canada (after an epic collapse in the third) and against Sweden (after his team came back from being two goals down in the third) to clinch the gold medal. As the tournament's best goalie, Gibson lived up to every inch of the buzz preceding him. The Pittsburgh native de-committed from Ohio State in favor of Michigan, so those Wolverines-Buckeyes games ought to be real interesting. When on top of his game, like he was all throughout the Worlds, he looms large in net and swallows up rebounds. He could have a sign put up in his crease that says "Abandon all hope ye who enter here" because he's that intimidating.
29. Vladislav Namestnikov, C London (OHL)5-11, 170 11/22/1992
Skill and NHL bloodlines flow strong through this prospect. His father, Evgeny, was a journeyman defender in the NHL, AHL, and IHL- the son was raised for a big chunk of his early life in North American while dad was playing. His uncle, Slava Kozlov, won multiple Stanley Cups with Detroit and was one of the most skilled players in the NHL at his peak. Namestnikov is a serious skater with all the tools in the box when it comes to his feet- quick burst, top speed, shiftiness and agility. When carrying the puck at full gallop, he's very difficult to contain. His biggest challenge is getting stronger and filling out a slight frame. He got knocked around a bit this year, but made a quick transition to the North American game given his command of the language and ease with having played in North American rinks growing up. With his hands and offensive hockey sense, this guy has some real pro potential, but like many young scoring forwards he needs to work on the defensive aspects of his game. There could be a real nice payoff down the road with this player.
"He's a great teammate and works real hard," Boston Bruins prospect and London forward Jared Knight told B2011DW recently. "In practice it's fun to watch him handle the puck because he's got some sick mitts. He plays hard and isn't afraid to drive the net."
28. Jonas Brodin, D Farjestad (SEL) 6-1, 175 07/12/1993
At 28, it would appear that this extremely bright Swedish defender's stock is down. It's isn't, but he's more a victim of his solid all-around game but lack of production than anything else. It's all about projection with this potential stud, but after watching what was a promising and underrated performance at the World Under-18s last month, we're not seeing the dynamic upside with him that we see from others. His hockey sense is tremendous- by far the best aspect of Brodin's game. He can diagram a play instantly and move the puck with authority. The numbers aren't there because he was playing against men this year as a 17-year-old but should come. Oh, and did we mention that he helped lead the team to the SEL championship? He's highly mobile and agile with excellent footwork. He doesn't stand out as much as teammate and fellow draft prospect Oscar Klefbom, but he processes his reads and decisions at a higher level. Brodin is a solid player whom we feel is going to be good, but not great. When looking at projectable upside, we have Klefbom higher, but Brodin is the safer player less likely to hit a bust factor. If ever there was a pick your flavor situation with two players- this is it.
27. Scott Mayfield, D Youngstown (USHL) 6-4, 200 10/14/1992
On talent and upside alone, Mayfield should be higher on the list, but it's been a tough season for the St. Louis native. To say he's been in a tough spot for development for the past couple of seasons is about as far as we're willing to go. The long and short of this late '92 is that he's a highly impressive player as far as pure projection goes, but the feeling by many in the NHL scouting community is that he simply has not progressed the way he should have based on the way he looked a year ago in August at the Eight Nations tourney and even this past August when he participated in the NHL's Research and Development Camp in Toronto. He's a very good skater with the fluid stride and lateral agility team's love to see in a big man. He can move the puck effectively and has a nice shot that he generates some real power on. It will become even more dangerous as he adds strength and mass to his long, lanky frame. Right now, Mayfield is extremely raw and prone to poor decisions because his team has struggled so much. One NHL scout said that he sees so much ice time that it's easy to lay his flaws bare, and because he has very little help around him, some are concerned about the effect on his psyche.
Another big league scout who saw him for the R & D camp and then again in March had this to say: "It was shocking how bad he was. I saw no progression from when I saw him before and the decision-making was particularly troublesome."
The good news for Mayfield is that he's going an excellent hockey program in Denver under DU coach George Gwozdecky. If anyone can get him ready for the NHL the Pioneers can.
26. Alex Khokhlachev, C Windsor (OHL) 5-10, 175 05/09/1993
Supremely talented, and could go significantly higher than where we have him because of his elite skill and explosiveness. B2011DW has some concerns about the other areas of his game, specifically, intensity, consistency and overall effort levels in the areas of the rink where his skill set doesn't translate as well (along the boards and in front of the net). He's not very big, but has very good acceleration, separation gear and even the shifty elusiveness that so many European players possess. When at his best, he's flying around the ice, turning defenders inside out and wiring pucks to the back of the net from just about any spot in the offensive zone. One NHL scout we know absolutely loved Khokhlachev at the beginning of the year given how seamless his transition was to the OHL, but as the season wore on and he saw him more and more, the red flags started to surface about his overall intensity and willingness to compete when the going gets rough. Solid two-way player...when he wants to be. If he tightens it up in all zones and on most of his shifts, he's easily a top-10 talent in this class.
25. Tyler Biggs, RW U.S. NTDP (USHL) 6-2, 210 04/30/1993
Victimized by unrealistic expectations, Biggs could end up proving a lot of the critics wrong. We don't buy into the belief that he killed his stock at the World Under-18 tourney- we just don't feel that it was as high with the NHL teams out there as Central scouting led everyone to believe when they ranked him fifth overall among North American skaters on their midterm list. He lives up to his last name- a powerful skater and battering ram who plays the game like a legitimate power forward. When Biggs is on top of his game, he bulls his way to the net, spins and cycles effortlessly while protecting the puck from defenders powerless to separate him from it, and unleashes a rocket shot that is heavy and hurts. Unfortunately, scouts are unsure of his hockey sense and ability to create for himself. That's one of those aspects of hockey that is extremely tough to project and Biggs could very well end up being a legitimate top-six forward someday- he can skate, hit and fight. But there are enough concerns about his upside that keep him from being a top-20 guy in our view. However, he is extremely close- the margin between his not making the cut is razor-thin as any one of the players ahead of him at 21-24 could all make the case to be inside the top-20. He's a good player, but how good is the big question on draft day.
24. Zack Phillips, C Saint John (QMJHL) 6-1, 190 10/28/1992
This scoring stud lost some effectiveness down the stretch with a shoulder injury he suffered in the President's Cup final series against Gatineau. As such he hasn't been able to shine as brightly in the Memorial Cup as he did during the regular season when he and linemates Jonathan Huberdeau and Michael Kirkpatrick destroyed opposing defenses and netminders. The biggest knock on Phillips is his lack of speed and explosiveness, but the NHL is full of guys who don't have the most dynamic skating ability. Where he compensates is with his hands and elite hockey sense- Phillips may be the most opportunistic scorer of any prospect in this entire class. He drives the net honestly and often times finds results. One of the questions scouts have is whether Phillips can do it on a team without the pure talent and depth he has surrounding him in St. John. We think he'll do it no matter who he's with, whether at the center position or on the wing at the next level. He was the ninth-ranked player in THN's draft issue and while we feel that is a bit high, we could see how an NHL team in need for some legit scoring chops might have him as a solid top-15 pick this year.
23. Matt Puempel, LW Peterborough (OHL) 6-0, 170 01/30/1993
One player we generally wanted to have higher, but simply couldn't do so based on lack of viewing opportunities. B2011DW fully recognizes that the Petes standout who scored back-to-back 30-goal seasons with his club who could have had 40+ goals this year if not for a bone chip in his hip that shelved him for surgery with about a month to go is a high-end scoring talent. The 2010 CHL Rookie of the Year has unreal hands and offensive hockey sense. He can snipe pucks from anywhere in the offensive zone and does the unexplainable- able to fire the puck from seemingly impossible angles and situations. He ripped a bullet from the right side less than a minute into the gold medal game of the Ivan Hlinka in what ended up being a 1-0 win for Canada (who has owned that non-IIHF tourney since its inception btw). Where Puempel loses his shine is in the fact that he is of extremely average size, strength, skating ability and compete level. He's not poor in any of those areas, but NHL scouts look at him and keep thinking how much more dangerous and effective he could be if he just tried a little harder, had an extra step and adds the extra mass that's expected before he hits his physical peak. We don't think the hip injury will hurt him much at the draft- we're told it isn't a chronic condition and whichever team drafts him will do so based on everything they've seen from him over two seasons, not what he might have accomplished in the last month for a non-playoff team.
22. Jonathan "J.T." Miller, C/RW U.S. NTDP (USHL) 6-1, 198 03/14/1993
We're not as bullish on Miller as others are, but we agonized over whether to include the immensely talented Ohio native who played his minor hockey for the Pittsburgh Hornets organization after his explosion at the Under-18s in April. All year, we watched Miller and recognized his excellent size, skating, hands and sense, but wondered why he was having so much trouble translating his myriad natural gifts into production. Miller showed what he's capable of when he led Team USA in scoring en route to an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal at that tourney by the Americans. When on top of his game, he can back defenses up with his ability to handle the puck at top speed. He uses his big frame to shield the puck well and can hit open teammates with pinpoint passes. He and Rocco Grimaldi teamed up with Reid Boucher for a memorable goal against Canada- Grimaldi blew Travis Ewanyk off the puck with a big hit behind the net. As it skittered to Miller, he already knew where Boucher was just inside the left circle and zipped a crisp pass right into Boucher's wheelhouse. In a split second, it was by Malcolm Subban. Those are the kinds of plays Miller didn't make with enough regularity this season, but we wouldn't at all be surprised if an NHL club jumped on him in the top-15. The skills are there, we're just not sure about the rest of the package to be able to score consistently at the highest level.
21. Joel Armia, RW Assat Pori (FIN) 6-3, 198 05/31/1993
Another toolsy prospect that B2011DW will no doubt be second-guessed on, we've seen him live and we've seen him on video and sorry to all the Finnish hockey fans out there, but we just can't get on board with this guy in the top-20. We suspect an NHL club will jump on him in the top-15 because of his intriguing mix of size and scoring upside. That said, he's risky because to us, he looks a lot like a more skilled Mikko Lehtonen, who scored goals, but also went through the motions for two seasons as a member of the Providence Bruins before tearing it up in the Swedish Elite League this past year. The Bruins traded Lehtonen's rights to the Minnesota Wild, but like Lehtonen, Armia is an alternately a dazzling and frustrating player to watch. Whenever the puck is near him in the offensive zone, he's a threat to put it in the back of the net. He uses his large frame to fight off checkers and has a quick stick with laser-like release. However, when you watch the rest of his body of work, you keep wondering: "Where's the beef?" He doesn't backcheck much and just looks lazy skating up and down the wing at times. There's no denying the killer instincts offensively, but he's not nearly as talented as he and his fans think he is that he can get away with his lackadaisical approach to play in the neutral zone or his own end. Armia has the potential to blow this scouting report out of the water, but we gave him the benefit of the doubt several times. In the end, his uneven compete level and a lack of seeing him ever really take charge in any game we watched him play has him just outside the top-20.
30. John Gibson, G U.S. NTDP (USHL) 6-3, 200 07/14/1993
On pure talent alone, Gibson is more of a top-20 pick than anything else. But here at B2011DW, we'd be remiss if we didn't at least take the latest NHL drafting trends into consideration, and that means that Gibson could be the victim of a pervasive thought we've been hearing over and over with NHL scouts this season: that taking a goaltender high in the draft is not a good use of assets considering all of the successful goalies this season who were not first- or second-round picks. Only one of the four netminders in the NHL semifinal series (Roberto Luongo- 4th overall in 1997) was a top-60 pick (Tim Thomas- 217th overall in 1994, Dwayne Roloson, Antti Niemi- undrafted free agents). That said, Gibson is by far the best of the 2011 crop in our view and deserves to be picked in the first round if a team values him there enough. He's got the size, quickness and athleticism that is a requisite for being a high draft pick these days, and even better, Gibson plays with a calm and poise that is a sight to behold. No moment seems too overwhelming to him. He won back-to-back overtime games in the U-18 against Canada (after an epic collapse in the third) and against Sweden (after his team came back from being two goals down in the third) to clinch the gold medal. As the tournament's best goalie, Gibson lived up to every inch of the buzz preceding him. The Pittsburgh native de-committed from Ohio State in favor of Michigan, so those Wolverines-Buckeyes games ought to be real interesting. When on top of his game, like he was all throughout the Worlds, he looms large in net and swallows up rebounds. He could have a sign put up in his crease that says "Abandon all hope ye who enter here" because he's that intimidating.
29. Vladislav Namestnikov, C London (OHL)5-11, 170 11/22/1992
Skill and NHL bloodlines flow strong through this prospect. His father, Evgeny, was a journeyman defender in the NHL, AHL, and IHL- the son was raised for a big chunk of his early life in North American while dad was playing. His uncle, Slava Kozlov, won multiple Stanley Cups with Detroit and was one of the most skilled players in the NHL at his peak. Namestnikov is a serious skater with all the tools in the box when it comes to his feet- quick burst, top speed, shiftiness and agility. When carrying the puck at full gallop, he's very difficult to contain. His biggest challenge is getting stronger and filling out a slight frame. He got knocked around a bit this year, but made a quick transition to the North American game given his command of the language and ease with having played in North American rinks growing up. With his hands and offensive hockey sense, this guy has some real pro potential, but like many young scoring forwards he needs to work on the defensive aspects of his game. There could be a real nice payoff down the road with this player.
"He's a great teammate and works real hard," Boston Bruins prospect and London forward Jared Knight told B2011DW recently. "In practice it's fun to watch him handle the puck because he's got some sick mitts. He plays hard and isn't afraid to drive the net."
28. Jonas Brodin, D Farjestad (SEL) 6-1, 175 07/12/1993
At 28, it would appear that this extremely bright Swedish defender's stock is down. It's isn't, but he's more a victim of his solid all-around game but lack of production than anything else. It's all about projection with this potential stud, but after watching what was a promising and underrated performance at the World Under-18s last month, we're not seeing the dynamic upside with him that we see from others. His hockey sense is tremendous- by far the best aspect of Brodin's game. He can diagram a play instantly and move the puck with authority. The numbers aren't there because he was playing against men this year as a 17-year-old but should come. Oh, and did we mention that he helped lead the team to the SEL championship? He's highly mobile and agile with excellent footwork. He doesn't stand out as much as teammate and fellow draft prospect Oscar Klefbom, but he processes his reads and decisions at a higher level. Brodin is a solid player whom we feel is going to be good, but not great. When looking at projectable upside, we have Klefbom higher, but Brodin is the safer player less likely to hit a bust factor. If ever there was a pick your flavor situation with two players- this is it.
27. Scott Mayfield, D Youngstown (USHL) 6-4, 200 10/14/1992
On talent and upside alone, Mayfield should be higher on the list, but it's been a tough season for the St. Louis native. To say he's been in a tough spot for development for the past couple of seasons is about as far as we're willing to go. The long and short of this late '92 is that he's a highly impressive player as far as pure projection goes, but the feeling by many in the NHL scouting community is that he simply has not progressed the way he should have based on the way he looked a year ago in August at the Eight Nations tourney and even this past August when he participated in the NHL's Research and Development Camp in Toronto. He's a very good skater with the fluid stride and lateral agility team's love to see in a big man. He can move the puck effectively and has a nice shot that he generates some real power on. It will become even more dangerous as he adds strength and mass to his long, lanky frame. Right now, Mayfield is extremely raw and prone to poor decisions because his team has struggled so much. One NHL scout said that he sees so much ice time that it's easy to lay his flaws bare, and because he has very little help around him, some are concerned about the effect on his psyche.
Another big league scout who saw him for the R & D camp and then again in March had this to say: "It was shocking how bad he was. I saw no progression from when I saw him before and the decision-making was particularly troublesome."
The good news for Mayfield is that he's going an excellent hockey program in Denver under DU coach George Gwozdecky. If anyone can get him ready for the NHL the Pioneers can.
26. Alex Khokhlachev, C Windsor (OHL) 5-10, 175 05/09/1993
Supremely talented, and could go significantly higher than where we have him because of his elite skill and explosiveness. B2011DW has some concerns about the other areas of his game, specifically, intensity, consistency and overall effort levels in the areas of the rink where his skill set doesn't translate as well (along the boards and in front of the net). He's not very big, but has very good acceleration, separation gear and even the shifty elusiveness that so many European players possess. When at his best, he's flying around the ice, turning defenders inside out and wiring pucks to the back of the net from just about any spot in the offensive zone. One NHL scout we know absolutely loved Khokhlachev at the beginning of the year given how seamless his transition was to the OHL, but as the season wore on and he saw him more and more, the red flags started to surface about his overall intensity and willingness to compete when the going gets rough. Solid two-way player...when he wants to be. If he tightens it up in all zones and on most of his shifts, he's easily a top-10 talent in this class.
25. Tyler Biggs, RW U.S. NTDP (USHL) 6-2, 210 04/30/1993
Victimized by unrealistic expectations, Biggs could end up proving a lot of the critics wrong. We don't buy into the belief that he killed his stock at the World Under-18 tourney- we just don't feel that it was as high with the NHL teams out there as Central scouting led everyone to believe when they ranked him fifth overall among North American skaters on their midterm list. He lives up to his last name- a powerful skater and battering ram who plays the game like a legitimate power forward. When Biggs is on top of his game, he bulls his way to the net, spins and cycles effortlessly while protecting the puck from defenders powerless to separate him from it, and unleashes a rocket shot that is heavy and hurts. Unfortunately, scouts are unsure of his hockey sense and ability to create for himself. That's one of those aspects of hockey that is extremely tough to project and Biggs could very well end up being a legitimate top-six forward someday- he can skate, hit and fight. But there are enough concerns about his upside that keep him from being a top-20 guy in our view. However, he is extremely close- the margin between his not making the cut is razor-thin as any one of the players ahead of him at 21-24 could all make the case to be inside the top-20. He's a good player, but how good is the big question on draft day.
24. Zack Phillips, C Saint John (QMJHL) 6-1, 190 10/28/1992
This scoring stud lost some effectiveness down the stretch with a shoulder injury he suffered in the President's Cup final series against Gatineau. As such he hasn't been able to shine as brightly in the Memorial Cup as he did during the regular season when he and linemates Jonathan Huberdeau and Michael Kirkpatrick destroyed opposing defenses and netminders. The biggest knock on Phillips is his lack of speed and explosiveness, but the NHL is full of guys who don't have the most dynamic skating ability. Where he compensates is with his hands and elite hockey sense- Phillips may be the most opportunistic scorer of any prospect in this entire class. He drives the net honestly and often times finds results. One of the questions scouts have is whether Phillips can do it on a team without the pure talent and depth he has surrounding him in St. John. We think he'll do it no matter who he's with, whether at the center position or on the wing at the next level. He was the ninth-ranked player in THN's draft issue and while we feel that is a bit high, we could see how an NHL team in need for some legit scoring chops might have him as a solid top-15 pick this year.
23. Matt Puempel, LW Peterborough (OHL) 6-0, 170 01/30/1993
One player we generally wanted to have higher, but simply couldn't do so based on lack of viewing opportunities. B2011DW fully recognizes that the Petes standout who scored back-to-back 30-goal seasons with his club who could have had 40+ goals this year if not for a bone chip in his hip that shelved him for surgery with about a month to go is a high-end scoring talent. The 2010 CHL Rookie of the Year has unreal hands and offensive hockey sense. He can snipe pucks from anywhere in the offensive zone and does the unexplainable- able to fire the puck from seemingly impossible angles and situations. He ripped a bullet from the right side less than a minute into the gold medal game of the Ivan Hlinka in what ended up being a 1-0 win for Canada (who has owned that non-IIHF tourney since its inception btw). Where Puempel loses his shine is in the fact that he is of extremely average size, strength, skating ability and compete level. He's not poor in any of those areas, but NHL scouts look at him and keep thinking how much more dangerous and effective he could be if he just tried a little harder, had an extra step and adds the extra mass that's expected before he hits his physical peak. We don't think the hip injury will hurt him much at the draft- we're told it isn't a chronic condition and whichever team drafts him will do so based on everything they've seen from him over two seasons, not what he might have accomplished in the last month for a non-playoff team.
22. Jonathan "J.T." Miller, C/RW U.S. NTDP (USHL) 6-1, 198 03/14/1993
We're not as bullish on Miller as others are, but we agonized over whether to include the immensely talented Ohio native who played his minor hockey for the Pittsburgh Hornets organization after his explosion at the Under-18s in April. All year, we watched Miller and recognized his excellent size, skating, hands and sense, but wondered why he was having so much trouble translating his myriad natural gifts into production. Miller showed what he's capable of when he led Team USA in scoring en route to an unprecedented third consecutive gold medal at that tourney by the Americans. When on top of his game, he can back defenses up with his ability to handle the puck at top speed. He uses his big frame to shield the puck well and can hit open teammates with pinpoint passes. He and Rocco Grimaldi teamed up with Reid Boucher for a memorable goal against Canada- Grimaldi blew Travis Ewanyk off the puck with a big hit behind the net. As it skittered to Miller, he already knew where Boucher was just inside the left circle and zipped a crisp pass right into Boucher's wheelhouse. In a split second, it was by Malcolm Subban. Those are the kinds of plays Miller didn't make with enough regularity this season, but we wouldn't at all be surprised if an NHL club jumped on him in the top-15. The skills are there, we're just not sure about the rest of the package to be able to score consistently at the highest level.
21. Joel Armia, RW Assat Pori (FIN) 6-3, 198 05/31/1993
Another toolsy prospect that B2011DW will no doubt be second-guessed on, we've seen him live and we've seen him on video and sorry to all the Finnish hockey fans out there, but we just can't get on board with this guy in the top-20. We suspect an NHL club will jump on him in the top-15 because of his intriguing mix of size and scoring upside. That said, he's risky because to us, he looks a lot like a more skilled Mikko Lehtonen, who scored goals, but also went through the motions for two seasons as a member of the Providence Bruins before tearing it up in the Swedish Elite League this past year. The Bruins traded Lehtonen's rights to the Minnesota Wild, but like Lehtonen, Armia is an alternately a dazzling and frustrating player to watch. Whenever the puck is near him in the offensive zone, he's a threat to put it in the back of the net. He uses his large frame to fight off checkers and has a quick stick with laser-like release. However, when you watch the rest of his body of work, you keep wondering: "Where's the beef?" He doesn't backcheck much and just looks lazy skating up and down the wing at times. There's no denying the killer instincts offensively, but he's not nearly as talented as he and his fans think he is that he can get away with his lackadaisical approach to play in the neutral zone or his own end. Armia has the potential to blow this scouting report out of the water, but we gave him the benefit of the doubt several times. In the end, his uneven compete level and a lack of seeing him ever really take charge in any game we watched him play has him just outside the top-20.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
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.
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.
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