We're back with the final installment of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft grades.
Philadelphia Flyers
Grade: B+
GM Paul Holmgren made a bold move to re-shape his team before, during and after the draft via free agency. Dealing Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets allowed the Flyers to come away with Sean Couturier, who was a coup with the eighth overall selection. Nick Cousins was a nice value pick for the Flyers in the third round as an undersized but skilled and energetic centerman with good hockey sense. Oshawa defenseman and Florida native Colin Suellentrop doesn't bring much in the way of upside, but big German Marcel Noebels wasn't a bad pick in the fourth. Petr Placek is a risky pick after a season marred with injury, while Derek Mathers isn't much of a hockey player, but is the most feared fighter in the draft. Couturier is the obvious prize, but there is a lot of wait and see here, and the pressure is on, especially given the players who were moved out of Philly.
Phoenix Coyotes
Grade: C+
We like Connor Murphy as a player and person, but taking him 20th overall was a bold stroke that could pay off brilliantly or be a bad draft decision that could keep the Desert Dogs mired in mediocrity. We're not fans of the Alexander Ruuttu pick at 51st, either, which is two rounds too early at a minimum in our view. Lucas Lessio has his fans, but B2011DW is not one of them. Not a bad value talent-wise, but Lessio has major boom-or-bust potential. Harrison Ruopp again is a pick that seems perplexing in terms of him being a third-rounder, though we do think that nasty forward Kale Kessy might be Phoenix's best pick of the day. Getting him in the fourth is a steal. Darian Dziurzynski, Andrew Fritsch and Arizona native Zac Larraza are all interesting late-round developmental guys, but there is too much risk with this class to be fully on board.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Grade: C
Puck mover Joe Morrow is a solid selection for the Pens at 23, but there isn't much else in the cupboard to get excited about. Scott Harrington was a disappointment this season, and if he gets his development back on track, could end up being a player, but likely will not ever have the offensive dimension scouts hoped for coming into the season. Taking him in the second round is something of a reach. We don't have much else to say about Dominick Uher, Josh Archibald or Scott Wilson- they're clearly project guys who are going to take some time to see pay off (if at all). All in all, a mediocre class and not all that unexpected given the Pens did not have third- or fourth-round selections.
San Jose Sharks
Grade: C+
The Sharks added Brent Burns but at the cost of their first-round pick to Minnesota (Zack Phillips). In Matt Nieto, they get a speedy scoring winger, and the team's first-ever California native taken in the draft. Justin Sefton is one nasty dude, but third round for a guy who has major skating issues? Sean Kuraly is a solid middle-tier prospect for the fifth round, and Russian Daniil Sobchenko could do something if they can sign him and bring him over. Dylan Demelo is another long-term project who didn't get much playing time on the stacked Misssissauga St. Mike's while we loved Colin Blackwell this season, but he is what he is: an undersized guy who played Massachusetts public school hockey and is headed to Harvard. Sharks fans will have to wait a long time for payoff with him. Nieto's a good pick, but there were some reaches and projects in here- hard to grade the Sharks all that well in the here and now, but chief amateur scout Tim Burke could make us all look foolish in time. We push them below B- for trading Charlie Coyle, though. They're going to regret that.
St. Louis Blues
Grade: A-
No first-rounder? No problem. Three second-rounders can make you a lot of hay. Ty Rattie at 32 was a steal. We like Dmitrij Jaskin at 41 and Joel Edmundson is the kind of tough kid with upside who's worth taking a chance on. Jordan Binnington needs to put on some weight, but he had an eye-opening OHL championship series. Ryan Tesink is very good value for the Blues in the sixth round, too. We never understood why Central had him so high, but where the Blues got him is very nice. We also like the Yannick Veilleux pick- he's underrated. And Teemu Eronen is a nod to former chief scout Jarmo Kekalainen. Not a bad draft at all when you look at the picks St. Louis had and they still came away with Rattie, who could have been a top-20 guy.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Grade: B
Did Stevie Y get some nostalgia for some of his former Russian teammates or what? We really like the Vladislav Namestnikov pick- great kid and real nice player for the Bolts who has a gritty agitating side to him as well. A pair of Nikitas- Kucherov and Nesterov- are excellent value picks, but also carry high risk with them for signability concerns. We expect that Tampa will somehow get them over eventually, but if they don't those are two players taken in the meat of the draft who won't pay off. Matthew Peca was a nice late-round pick for them, but in the end, this draft has a little more risk to it than we would accept ourselves. However, if Kucherov and Nesterov pan out, could be huge. All three of the Russians don't have a lot of size, but Martin St. Louis has certainly proved to the hockey world that size doesn't always matter.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Grade: B
Tyler Biggs makes the Leafs nastier- they certainly can use his size, toughness and he does have upside. Stuart Percy is a solid defender who appears to be hitting a developmental curve upward, but first round? Too early for us. Sudbury winger Josh Leivo had a strong playoff series against Ottawa to propel himself into the third round. Can Leivo raise his intensity and consistency to make the most of his talent? Tony Cameranesi can really fly, and David Broll is legitimately tough to go with some skill. We like the Max Everson pick as good value in the seventh. All in all, a solid draft- but nothing to get too excited about.
Vancouver Canucks
Grade: B-
Nicklas Jensen has some legit skill and is not a bad option at all for Vancouver at 29. David Honzik was excellent value for the Canucks in the third round. Alexandre Grenier is huge and an overager/late-bloomer who had injury problems this season, but has some upside. Joe LaBate is a solid value for them in the fourth round, but is a good ways away from contributing. He'll be a freshman at Wisconsin this season and has talent to burn but doesn't always bring it. They went with project guys late, including overage Swede Pathrik Westerholm (will they invite his twin brother to camp?).
Washington Capitals
Grade: C
Acquiring Troy Brouwer was a good move for Washington (as has been George McPhee's free agency moves) However, the effect of not having a pick in the first three rounds will likely hurt the system in the long run. McPhee has built the Capitals to win now, and he's all in as the latest acquisitions have proven (though the Caps will eventually land in cap hell to get there). Nowegian goalie Steffen Soberg put on a goaltending clinic at the Under-18s, and we like Pat Koudys's potential as a two-way defenseman even though the RPI frosh had a very conservative first year. Travis Boyd and Garrett Haar are fine late picks, but nothing to write home about.
Winnipeg Jets
Grade: B+
Underrated draft by Kevin Cheveldayoff and company. They shocked folks by taking Mark Scheifele seventh overall, but that kid could justify the pick in time.They hit on two nice picks in the third with Adam Lowry (we don't know how he was there) and U of Michigan-bound Brennan Serville. Zach Yuen is an underrated guy with skill andcharacter we like a lot and was solid value in the fourth, while Austen Brassard in the fifth could be a steal. Not much to say about Jason Kasdorf, but Aaron Harstad is another solid seventh-rounder who could play someday. The Jets accepted some risk with Scheifele, but they mitigated it with some value guys who could very well pan out. Not bad.
*(Not affiliated with the Boston Bruins or the New England Hockey Journal)
Showing posts with label Connor Murphy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Connor Murphy. Show all posts
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Bob McKenzie's 2011 final draft rankings are out
Death. Taxes. Bob McKenzie's annual NHL draft rankings on TSN.
It's an annual rite of summer when the ultimate NHL insider posts his annual top-60 prospects for the draft, plus honorable mentions. TSN has scout Grant McCagg weighing in on each profile, while McKenzie does the rankings based on a poll of 10 NHL scouts and a special mathematical formula he uses to triangulate the top-60 submissions he gets from each scout.
The link to his rankings are here.
He mentioned on the NHL Live Show that the aforementioned "elite 8" expanded to one more player (a "divine nine" perhaps?- w h/t to Dominic T. for that one). Swedish center Mika Zibanejad broke into the party, which means that the Bruins are looking at having their choice of at least one player from that select group assuming they don't go off the board for someone else.
Not surprisingly, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is on top of the list, and assuming that the Oilers keep the No. 1 pick, the Red Deer Rebels star will go to Edmonton, where that team is assembling an embarrassment of riches up front.
Not surprisingly, defenseman Adam Larsson is No. 2 on the list and he could be the second overall pick to Colorado. If not, we can't imagine he will fall too far.
Jonathan Huberdeau (whom we started calling "J-Money" after his playoff run) is the third player on the list, which isn't a surprise given his meteoric rise up the draft boards all season.
Gabriel Landeskog is a nice fit at 4th- the feeling here is that if he gets to New Jersey, they would snap him up. He's ready to come in and contribute right away, and the Devils have to love his character and potential as a leader and impact player on that roster.
Rounding out the top-five is Sean Couturier, who was at one time thought to be the consensus choice for No. 1 overall. We actually think Couturier will fall out of the top-five based on what we hear, but he's a natural fit for Ottawa if he were to drop a bit.
A pair of Niagara Ice Dogs, defenseman Dougie Hamilton and center Ryan Strome, are 6 and 7 respectively. Hamilton and Strome were both major impact players as 17-year-olds on a team that wasn't expected to contend, yet finished as one of the OHL's top seeds and made it to the eastern conference final series before getting hammered by Mississauga.
At eighth overall is Kitchener defenseman Ryan Murphy, who is a popular topic of conversation among B's fans. He may be however, perfectly slotted at eight if the rumored Columbus-Philadelphia deal does not go off and the Blue Jackets keep the pick. Murphy is the kind of player who would appeal to Columbus given his dynamic element and ability to run the power play.
Zibanejad is ninth on McKenzie's list, but we hear this is too low for the Swede who has come on like gangbusters. He's looking like a player who will come off the board much closer to five than at nine.
Rounding out the top-10 is another Swede- defenseman Jonas Brodin, who is extremely slight and doesn't have a big shot, but who may think and process the game better than any other defenseman in the entire draft class. Off the ice, he's quiet and shy, but when in action, he plays with the cool, confident poise of a veteran and always seems to make the right play with the puck and his positioning.
One player making real noise not only on McKenzie's rankings but in Red Line Report as well is Barrie center Mark Scheifele. Both have him at 12th, one spot behind Nathan Beaulieu. Scheifele played well on a bad team and was a top forward for Canada at the Under-18s this spring. He's bright and committed- someone will take a chance on him early. McKenzie likened him to Ryan Johansen as 2011's super riser who will take people by surprise in terms of where you hear his named called. Might he be a guy who sneaks into the top-10 to Boston? They do love their OHL guys...
Ohio winger Tyler Biggs cracked the top-15, which is good to see, because he's probably underrated now after being overrated by Central Scouting's mid-term rankings. After seeing the Vancouver Canucks get manhandled in the Stanley Cup Finals, is it any secret why teams covet those big-bodied power forwards? Even if Biggs' upside is a question mark, his size and nastiness is not- he should go somewhere in the first round. 15 might be a tad high, but top-20 would not surprise.
Another bit of a surprise at 30 is another Buckeye (headed to Miami University along with Biggs) in Connor Murphy, but then again, with his potential and mental makeup/maturity, if teams are confident that he's not going to be a huge injury risk going forward, he's definitely a first-round talent. It's a chancy move simply because Murphy hasn't seen as much action as most of his peers, but when he played, his performances were usually quite memorable. Just ask Team Sweden about him.
Just missing the first-round cut at 31 and 32 are a pair of OHL imports from Russia and Sweden- Vladislav Namestnikov and Rickard Rakell- both of whom are knocking on the first round's door and will be interesting to see if they make it in.
One interesting omission from the first round is John Gibson at 37, who we thought did enough to break into the top-30 based on his performance at the World Under-18s. Will he pay the price of the current down cycle on drafting goalies high, exacerbated by the Conn Smythe performance of one former ninth-round pick in Tim Thomas?
The rankings are worth checking out. Last year, McKenzie got 25 of 30 right, which was a down year by his standards most of the time. We shall see if he can get back closer to his high of 28.
It's an annual rite of summer when the ultimate NHL insider posts his annual top-60 prospects for the draft, plus honorable mentions. TSN has scout Grant McCagg weighing in on each profile, while McKenzie does the rankings based on a poll of 10 NHL scouts and a special mathematical formula he uses to triangulate the top-60 submissions he gets from each scout.
The link to his rankings are here.
He mentioned on the NHL Live Show that the aforementioned "elite 8" expanded to one more player (a "divine nine" perhaps?- w h/t to Dominic T. for that one). Swedish center Mika Zibanejad broke into the party, which means that the Bruins are looking at having their choice of at least one player from that select group assuming they don't go off the board for someone else.
Not surprisingly, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is on top of the list, and assuming that the Oilers keep the No. 1 pick, the Red Deer Rebels star will go to Edmonton, where that team is assembling an embarrassment of riches up front.
Not surprisingly, defenseman Adam Larsson is No. 2 on the list and he could be the second overall pick to Colorado. If not, we can't imagine he will fall too far.
Jonathan Huberdeau (whom we started calling "J-Money" after his playoff run) is the third player on the list, which isn't a surprise given his meteoric rise up the draft boards all season.
Gabriel Landeskog is a nice fit at 4th- the feeling here is that if he gets to New Jersey, they would snap him up. He's ready to come in and contribute right away, and the Devils have to love his character and potential as a leader and impact player on that roster.
Rounding out the top-five is Sean Couturier, who was at one time thought to be the consensus choice for No. 1 overall. We actually think Couturier will fall out of the top-five based on what we hear, but he's a natural fit for Ottawa if he were to drop a bit.
A pair of Niagara Ice Dogs, defenseman Dougie Hamilton and center Ryan Strome, are 6 and 7 respectively. Hamilton and Strome were both major impact players as 17-year-olds on a team that wasn't expected to contend, yet finished as one of the OHL's top seeds and made it to the eastern conference final series before getting hammered by Mississauga.
At eighth overall is Kitchener defenseman Ryan Murphy, who is a popular topic of conversation among B's fans. He may be however, perfectly slotted at eight if the rumored Columbus-Philadelphia deal does not go off and the Blue Jackets keep the pick. Murphy is the kind of player who would appeal to Columbus given his dynamic element and ability to run the power play.
Zibanejad is ninth on McKenzie's list, but we hear this is too low for the Swede who has come on like gangbusters. He's looking like a player who will come off the board much closer to five than at nine.
Rounding out the top-10 is another Swede- defenseman Jonas Brodin, who is extremely slight and doesn't have a big shot, but who may think and process the game better than any other defenseman in the entire draft class. Off the ice, he's quiet and shy, but when in action, he plays with the cool, confident poise of a veteran and always seems to make the right play with the puck and his positioning.
One player making real noise not only on McKenzie's rankings but in Red Line Report as well is Barrie center Mark Scheifele. Both have him at 12th, one spot behind Nathan Beaulieu. Scheifele played well on a bad team and was a top forward for Canada at the Under-18s this spring. He's bright and committed- someone will take a chance on him early. McKenzie likened him to Ryan Johansen as 2011's super riser who will take people by surprise in terms of where you hear his named called. Might he be a guy who sneaks into the top-10 to Boston? They do love their OHL guys...
Ohio winger Tyler Biggs cracked the top-15, which is good to see, because he's probably underrated now after being overrated by Central Scouting's mid-term rankings. After seeing the Vancouver Canucks get manhandled in the Stanley Cup Finals, is it any secret why teams covet those big-bodied power forwards? Even if Biggs' upside is a question mark, his size and nastiness is not- he should go somewhere in the first round. 15 might be a tad high, but top-20 would not surprise.
Another bit of a surprise at 30 is another Buckeye (headed to Miami University along with Biggs) in Connor Murphy, but then again, with his potential and mental makeup/maturity, if teams are confident that he's not going to be a huge injury risk going forward, he's definitely a first-round talent. It's a chancy move simply because Murphy hasn't seen as much action as most of his peers, but when he played, his performances were usually quite memorable. Just ask Team Sweden about him.
Just missing the first-round cut at 31 and 32 are a pair of OHL imports from Russia and Sweden- Vladislav Namestnikov and Rickard Rakell- both of whom are knocking on the first round's door and will be interesting to see if they make it in.
One interesting omission from the first round is John Gibson at 37, who we thought did enough to break into the top-30 based on his performance at the World Under-18s. Will he pay the price of the current down cycle on drafting goalies high, exacerbated by the Conn Smythe performance of one former ninth-round pick in Tim Thomas?
The rankings are worth checking out. Last year, McKenzie got 25 of 30 right, which was a down year by his standards most of the time. We shall see if he can get back closer to his high of 28.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
NHL Combine video: Connor Murphy has upside and polish
One of the more intriguing draft day players to watch is American defenseman Connor Murphy of the U.S. NTDP.
The skilled two-way blue liner is a Miami University Redhawks recruit (along with fellow Ohio native and combine attendee Sean Kuraly) and came up huge for Team USA with a stalwart two-way performance at the Under-18 tourney capped by the sudden death goal that clinched the gold medal for an unprecedented third straight year (for USA Hockey).
Murphy is instantly likeable and extremely articulate. An easy-going, kid-next-door personality that masks a fierce competitor on the ice. He's not a banger, but he sure can play smart positional defensive hockey.
With his size, talent level and potential to be a legitimate two-way presence in the NHL one day, we have to believe he helped himself this week at the combine.
The skilled two-way blue liner is a Miami University Redhawks recruit (along with fellow Ohio native and combine attendee Sean Kuraly) and came up huge for Team USA with a stalwart two-way performance at the Under-18 tourney capped by the sudden death goal that clinched the gold medal for an unprecedented third straight year (for USA Hockey).
Murphy is instantly likeable and extremely articulate. An easy-going, kid-next-door personality that masks a fierce competitor on the ice. He's not a banger, but he sure can play smart positional defensive hockey.
With his size, talent level and potential to be a legitimate two-way presence in the NHL one day, we have to believe he helped himself this week at the combine.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
More combine notes
Going through the notebook to give you some more insights into what happened at the NHL Draft Combine in Toronto today.
It's always interesting when we hear the same comments about guys- good and bad- from different teams.
One acknowledged star during the interview process for several team sources is U.S. NTDP defenseman Connor Murphy. He's extremely personable and down-to-earth, but also intelligent and focused. If a team is convinced that he's just had a run of bad luck when it comes to his injuries, we could see him being a high (top-30) pick simply because when he's been in action, he's been excellent but also brings the ideal personality and character to the mix, too.
As a side note, B2011DW confirmed that Connor was born in Beverly, Mass. in March, 1993- when Papa Murphy was still with the Bruins. He's technically a Bay State native, but doesn't claim the region having spent a large portion of his youth in Florida and Ohio.
On the downside, one guy we're hearing trending negative things about is Omaha (USHL) winger Seth Ambroz. We hate to kick a kid when he's down, but the rumor is that he's been "extremely unimpressive" (not our words) in several of the sitdowns. If teams were worried about Ambroz's commitment and intensity before, we can't imagine anything has changed. We know he has myriad physical gifts and a surplus of natural talent, but it will all be for naught if Ambroz doesn't engage in some reputation management.
The combine continues tomorrow (Friday) with the first physical testing group kicking it off at 8:30 a.m. Tyler Biggs, Mark McNeill, Logan Shaw, Rocco Grimaldi, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nick Shore, Scott Mayfield and Jamie Oleksiak will lead the way.
It's always interesting when we hear the same comments about guys- good and bad- from different teams.
One acknowledged star during the interview process for several team sources is U.S. NTDP defenseman Connor Murphy. He's extremely personable and down-to-earth, but also intelligent and focused. If a team is convinced that he's just had a run of bad luck when it comes to his injuries, we could see him being a high (top-30) pick simply because when he's been in action, he's been excellent but also brings the ideal personality and character to the mix, too.
As a side note, B2011DW confirmed that Connor was born in Beverly, Mass. in March, 1993- when Papa Murphy was still with the Bruins. He's technically a Bay State native, but doesn't claim the region having spent a large portion of his youth in Florida and Ohio.
On the downside, one guy we're hearing trending negative things about is Omaha (USHL) winger Seth Ambroz. We hate to kick a kid when he's down, but the rumor is that he's been "extremely unimpressive" (not our words) in several of the sitdowns. If teams were worried about Ambroz's commitment and intensity before, we can't imagine anything has changed. We know he has myriad physical gifts and a surplus of natural talent, but it will all be for naught if Ambroz doesn't engage in some reputation management.
The combine continues tomorrow (Friday) with the first physical testing group kicking it off at 8:30 a.m. Tyler Biggs, Mark McNeill, Logan Shaw, Rocco Grimaldi, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nick Shore, Scott Mayfield and Jamie Oleksiak will lead the way.
Monday, May 23, 2011
50 in 30: B2011DW's top-50 players for the NHL Draft 31-40
Welcome back to Bruins 2011 Draft Watch's final rankings countdown to the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
The top-50 rolls on today with 31-40. You can read 50-41 here. And here are the honorable mentions as guys who didn't quite make the cut.
Quick reminder. These rankings are based on players we have seen live of via video ONLY. There will be some highly-touted players who aren't in the top-50 for that reason. Dmitri Jaskin is the guy we would have ranked in this range, but with just one U18 streaming viewing (of poor quality) we made the decision not to include him in the top-50 based on other better and multiple looks at other players.
Enjoy the countdown...
40. Connor Murphy, D U.S. NTDP (USHL) 6-3, 190 3/26/1993
On talent and upside alone, Murphy is closer to early second-round than where we have him, but the injury risk and lack of durability calls for a more conservative estimate here. Based on pure physical attributes and hockey skills, the son of former Bruins defenseman Gord Murphy (in two different stints and the other guy traded to Dallas with Andy Moog for Jon Casey in 1993- ouch!). The younger Murphy was actually born in Boston- his dad was just a few months away from being Sunshine state-bound (the Stars exposed him in the 1993 expansion draft, where he was plucked by the Florida Panthers), but considers himself a son of Ohio and is committed to the Miami University Redhawks. He has his father's size, but is a better skater with a higher offensive upside than his old man, whose best offensive performance in the NHL was 14 goals and 43 points in 1993-94. Big-time shot that he can still improve the mechanics on in terms of his release and accuracy. Sharp passer and puck mover. Connor's not as physical a player as Gord, either but it works for him- he takes the right angles and understands positioning- just don't expect a banger. Extremely polished, bright and mature- will kill the interview process at the draft combine. Interestingly enough, Gord also had problems staying in the lineup, playing every game in a season just twice in his career. The younger Murphy had an excellent U18 performance last month, scoring the gold medal-winning goal in overtime while playing a consistent, effective two-way game. However, you're talking about a player who has less than 30 games under his belt in two seasons- if the back injury he's labored under is potentially a chronic condition, he could be one of the great teases of the draft. Major league upside, but some risk, too. We believe Murphy will go higher than 40 because a team can't resist the payoff, but could just as easily blow up in their face if he ends up being fragile. Could be a legitimate No. 2 stud, or a "what could have been" draft day tragedy.
39. Adam Clendening, D Boston University (HE) 5-11, 190 10/26/1992
One of the top puck movers in the 2011 draft could be ranked a little higher, but his lack of ideal size and top-end speed poses a bit of a risk for NHL clubs. Was one of the most talked-about defensemen in the 2011 class coming into the season,and posted a solid freshman year Boston University. Started well, hit the wall at mid-season and then started to pull it together there at the end for the Terriers finishing with five goals and 26 points in 39 games. Only an okay skater- lacks the pure speed and lateral quickness you want from an undersized player on the blue line. Outstanding passer with high-end offensive hockey sense and vision. Sees the ice open up well before others and makes all the requisite breakouts and feeds. Doesn't quite have an overpowering shot like Justin Faulk, but will get it through traffic on net. Superb in puck distribution. Needs to watch the dumb penalties- lacks discipline and situational awareness at times. Above average defender but gets overpowered. We see Clendening as a prime candidate to get snapped up by an NHL team with multiple early picks- a club who can better afford to gamble on his high promise as one of the better PMDs in this draft despite the concerns about size and wheels. Teams that only have one pick in each of the first two rounds or less will probably stay away from him because of the risk factor.
38. David Musil, D Vancouver (WHL) 6-4, 200 04/09/1993
Another disappointing player who came into the year with such high expectations but failed to deliver. With Musil, it is more about the fact that he looks like a safe defender but nowhere near the high-upside guy he looked like several years ago when he burst onto the scene in the various international tournaments as a 15-year-old. The son of an NHL defenseman and tennis pro, as well as the grandson one of the Czech Republic's most recognized players and coaches. Heck, even his uncle, Bobby Holik, has legit name recognition from his NHL days. Where once scouts saw some offensive potential, that aspect has not emerged, nor is it likely to. His skating is average- not poor or exceptional either way and he does have good gap control and active stick. He can play a physical game (when he wants to) and has a nice frame to fill out which will make him more effective in that regard. His shot has power, but is lacking in a good release and accuracy. He telegraphs it and has an excessive windup that allows for defenses to get into the shooting lanes or disrupt his delivery. Another aspect of Musil's game we have heard troubling things about is with the intensity and desire- some NHL evaluators have said that he is the product of hockey coming very easy to him early on and the natural physical advantage he enjoyed at a younger age. Now, his peers are catching up to him and surpassing him, and he's not consistently bringing the kind of intensity you want. Of course, go back to his CHL Top Prospects Game performance and he looked very good- like the top pick he was projected to be and even fought Duncan Siemens to a draw. Musil is a solid kid with excellent bloodlines and a good talent base. He's not a high-end guy, but is someone you win with when he's his best.
37. Rickard Rakell, C/RW Plymouth (OHL) 6-0, 195 05/05/1993
We really dug this kid at the World Jr. Championship in December, when he had to step up after the loss of Gabriel Landeskog against Norway. Rakell was terrific in the preliminary round shutout against eventual champion Russia by being active, abrasive and opportunistic on every shift. He may not have excellent size or strength, but he plays bigger than his 6-foot frame and gets up under bigger, stronger guys. Tenacious on the forecheck and smart- forces turnovers and keeps his feet moving. Doesn't have elite breakaway speed, but is quick and elusive. Rakell also plays a pretty disciplined style- he can get under opponents' skin, but doesn't take a lot of penalties himself, often smirking at the other guy as he heads off to the box. He's diligent in his work along the boards and will take the puck into traffic and distributes pretty well. His upside is a bit of a question mark right now, however. He scored 19 goals and 43 points in 49 games with the Whalers, missing the end of the season and part of the playoffs with a lower body injury. Intelligent and energetic, he does show flashes of some offensive potential, but may have to make his living on the bottom two lines.
36. Duncan Siemens, D Saskatoon (WHL) 6-3, 197 09/07/1993
We can hear the screams of disagreement all the way to Saskatoon on this one and are prepared to take our lumps. Here's the disclaimer up front: We *know* that Siemens is a first-round pick and an NHL scout we talked to doesn't have a problem with where we have him, but told us- "You'll have to be OK with him going 15-20 spots before where you put him." Check. At the end of the day, we just don't see the upside with this guy. Yes, he can skate and his September birthdate is appealing given that he's one of the younger kids in this class. That said, we've been underwhelmed in each and every one of our viewings of him...admittedly all of them via stream. Video does not do any player justice, especially a defenseman where so much happens behind the play. That said, the same NHL scout said that Siemens' 43 points in 72 games were "phony" and said he reviewed the video on them- assists were throw it into the corner and forward then makes the play. While tough, Siemens is nowhere near as intimidating as Dylan McIlrath (who admittedly had a poor year) and Colten Teubert. Want evidence of that- look at his fight with Musil at the top prospects game. Siemens went looking for it, and the Canadian-born Czech more than held his own. Look, we know he's likely a top-20 selection and we're probably being a bit harsh, but we'll almost guarantee that there are NHL teams who do not have him in their top-30. Those decisions will never see the light of day to be criticized, but we're OK laying it on the line by saying that we don't see Siemens as being the No. 1/No. 2 NHL defender worthy of that top-10 or 11 selection where some have him. Heresy, we know, but we keep hearing about how Stefan Elliott had a lot to do with his partner's success and how underwhelming Siemens was in the playoffs. Add it all together and you have a guy we've been up-and-down on all season, but in the end, are a little down.
35. Tomas Jurco, RW Saint John (QMJHL) 6-2, 195 12/28/1992
If scoring goals is all about the feet and hands, then there is no denying that this Slovak is right up near the head of the class. His puckhandling skills border on the obscene. If there was some kind of unearthly substance that had a magnetic effect on rubber, we'd think that Jurco was the one who discovered it. He can dangle with the absolute best of them and scored a vintage breakaway goal early in game 1 of the Memorial Cup against Mississauga when he broke in alone on J.P. Anderson and buried it after some dazzling moves. He has a quick burst and some deceptive speed with the agility to turn defenders and make opponents look silly. In the open ice, he's absolutely deadly- a quick fake and flick of the stick and he's effortlessly around those who don't take the proper angle or maintain an effective gap. Now for the bad news: Jurco's defensive game is subpar and his compete levels uneven. He scored 31 goals on a stacked team, but was streaky with long stretches of unproductive play. On the right team, you're looking at a guy who can kill the opposition with a timely goal. However, without a creative and talented supporting cast, Jurco will be forced to try and do too much. He's skilled, but seems to lack that element of sense and simplification that leads to him getting too cute instead of making the high percentage plays. Medium risk player but high reward if he can raise the consistency. He's going to go higher than where we have him because of the sick hands and upside.
34. Victor Rask, C Leksands (SWE-2) 6-2, 194 03/01/1993
If this guy's life had a soundtrack, it would be the old Power Station 80's hit "Some Like It Hot" because he was definitely sweating when the heat was on! Crumbled under enormous expectations in his draft season, but if there is one legitimate draft value out there it is him. Tremendous upside, but has been a maddening player for scouts to watch this season and we've often heard the frustration. Looked like a first-round pick at times during the Under-18 tourney, but he played the center position and forced the better player (in our view) in Mika Zibanejad to the wing, where he was not as successful. We know that Rask has outstanding puck skills and hockey sense- his skating is average but could get better if he picks up a step and gets a little stronger. When on his game, he makes everyone around him better and slows things down or speeds them up at will. Whomever drafts him in the first round is doing so with the belief in what they saw from him a year ago when he was a dominate junior player with ideal size and some legitimate NHL tools. He didn't get it done this season, but watching him in Germany- he showed the flashes of what made him one of the more talked-about prospects coming in. Now, he has to put it all together. If a club thinks he'll relax and get back to the levels he showed as a 16-year-old, then he's absolutely worth taking a shot at in the first. However, if he slips into the second, he's legitimate value anywhere there.
33. Shane Prince, LW Ottawa (OHL) 5-10, 181 11/16/1992
OK- we admit it. B2011DW is more bullish on this Spencerport, N.Y. native than most. We just feel that even with the smallish size and criticisms about Prince taking shifts off, that he has legitimate scoring upside at the next level. Some question it, but we think he can certainly bring it when healthy and on top of his game. His hands are terrific- he's Mark Recchi-like in terms of the way he makes plays from the wing, preferring to dish and set up teammates rather than finish off the plays. At the same time, he does have nifty wrister that comes off his stick in a flash. He scored Team Cherry's only goal of the Top Prospects Game on precisely such a drive, making a quick head fake as if to pass and then wiring a laser through Jordan Binnington's legs. Also like Recchi, he doesn't have elite speed for a smaller guy, but is strong on his skates and just seems to know where to be when the play needs to be made. He injured his shoulder, missing some games and then got blasted in the open ice with a violent hit that caused his head to strike the ice. Prince returned to action pretty soon thereafter, but it did raise some questions about his durability and the dings he's going to take as he moves up to higher levels. At the end of the day, we simply like this player enough to have him knocking on the door of the late first-round and feel that he has the skill and intestinal fortitude, plus passion for the game to make it as a top-six scorer someday.
32. Stefan Noesen, C Plymouth (OHL) 6-0, 195 02/12/1993
B2011DW loves hockey prospects who are driven, passionate and dedicated to the sport. This native of Texas is one of the growing number of players who are leaving non-traditional hockey areas to hone their games and expose themselves to elite competition. Noesen (NAY-sen) left the Lone Star State at 15 to play high-level hockey for Compuware in Michigan. In his second season in the OHL with the Whalers after being eased in (33 games- 8 points) he erupted for 34 goals and 77 points in 68 contests as a sophomore. Some say he's a real good skater, while others say he needs to improve his initial burst. From our view, he's got some power in his stride and his top-end speed is just fine. He's one of the better two-way players in this draft class, and his goal totals indicate that he has some top-six potential at the NHL level. He's got some real tenacity to his game- he understands where he needs to be and takes his role seriously. A forechecker who uses his vision and anticipation to force turnovers, he also showed a penchant for taking advantage of those changes in puck possession by setting up teammates for quick strikes or taking it to the net himself. Skill, character and focus make him a potential top-30 selection and early second-rounder at the latest in our view.
31. Boone Jenner, C Oshawa (OHL) 6-1, 195 06/15/1993
Another passionate, character player who can do a little bit of everything, but may not be a high-end guy, where Jenner goes in the draft is going to be a hot topic of debate between now and June 24-25. The biggest knock on Jenner coming into the year was on his skating, but scouts say he's noticeably improved. While he won't ever be one of those "plus skaters" you hear about, but when we watched him in January, he showed no major flaws in action against Kitchener. One NHL scout we know told us that Jenner "skates his bag off" and is one of those living cliches as the kid who will go through the wall for his team. He's a strong faceoff guy who is always around the puck and seems to be the type of player who isn't just productive, but knows how to elevate his game to come through in the clutch. Jenner is also a strong defensive player who hustles, plays an honest game in all zones and does the little things like lifting the stick, taking the body and winning battles for loose pucks. We're hearing that he'll max out as a second-line forward, but in all honesty, when you look at all of the intangibles to his game- leadership, effort level, intelligence and maturity- it's hard to imagine that he'd be on the board much later than the 31st selection. We feel that Jenner is a good chance to take in the final 10 picks of the first round, but have him at 31 because of the questionable offensive role at the next level. It should not be reflection of where we view him as a guy who scored 25 goals and 66 points in 61 games while being a coach's dream.
B2011DW will return later in the week to get you down to 21. From there, we will start on June 1st with the daily comprehensive and detailed profiles of our top-20 players for this draft class.
The top-50 rolls on today with 31-40. You can read 50-41 here. And here are the honorable mentions as guys who didn't quite make the cut.
Quick reminder. These rankings are based on players we have seen live of via video ONLY. There will be some highly-touted players who aren't in the top-50 for that reason. Dmitri Jaskin is the guy we would have ranked in this range, but with just one U18 streaming viewing (of poor quality) we made the decision not to include him in the top-50 based on other better and multiple looks at other players.
Enjoy the countdown...
40. Connor Murphy, D U.S. NTDP (USHL) 6-3, 190 3/26/1993
On talent and upside alone, Murphy is closer to early second-round than where we have him, but the injury risk and lack of durability calls for a more conservative estimate here. Based on pure physical attributes and hockey skills, the son of former Bruins defenseman Gord Murphy (in two different stints and the other guy traded to Dallas with Andy Moog for Jon Casey in 1993- ouch!). The younger Murphy was actually born in Boston- his dad was just a few months away from being Sunshine state-bound (the Stars exposed him in the 1993 expansion draft, where he was plucked by the Florida Panthers), but considers himself a son of Ohio and is committed to the Miami University Redhawks. He has his father's size, but is a better skater with a higher offensive upside than his old man, whose best offensive performance in the NHL was 14 goals and 43 points in 1993-94. Big-time shot that he can still improve the mechanics on in terms of his release and accuracy. Sharp passer and puck mover. Connor's not as physical a player as Gord, either but it works for him- he takes the right angles and understands positioning- just don't expect a banger. Extremely polished, bright and mature- will kill the interview process at the draft combine. Interestingly enough, Gord also had problems staying in the lineup, playing every game in a season just twice in his career. The younger Murphy had an excellent U18 performance last month, scoring the gold medal-winning goal in overtime while playing a consistent, effective two-way game. However, you're talking about a player who has less than 30 games under his belt in two seasons- if the back injury he's labored under is potentially a chronic condition, he could be one of the great teases of the draft. Major league upside, but some risk, too. We believe Murphy will go higher than 40 because a team can't resist the payoff, but could just as easily blow up in their face if he ends up being fragile. Could be a legitimate No. 2 stud, or a "what could have been" draft day tragedy.
39. Adam Clendening, D Boston University (HE) 5-11, 190 10/26/1992
One of the top puck movers in the 2011 draft could be ranked a little higher, but his lack of ideal size and top-end speed poses a bit of a risk for NHL clubs. Was one of the most talked-about defensemen in the 2011 class coming into the season,and posted a solid freshman year Boston University. Started well, hit the wall at mid-season and then started to pull it together there at the end for the Terriers finishing with five goals and 26 points in 39 games. Only an okay skater- lacks the pure speed and lateral quickness you want from an undersized player on the blue line. Outstanding passer with high-end offensive hockey sense and vision. Sees the ice open up well before others and makes all the requisite breakouts and feeds. Doesn't quite have an overpowering shot like Justin Faulk, but will get it through traffic on net. Superb in puck distribution. Needs to watch the dumb penalties- lacks discipline and situational awareness at times. Above average defender but gets overpowered. We see Clendening as a prime candidate to get snapped up by an NHL team with multiple early picks- a club who can better afford to gamble on his high promise as one of the better PMDs in this draft despite the concerns about size and wheels. Teams that only have one pick in each of the first two rounds or less will probably stay away from him because of the risk factor.
38. David Musil, D Vancouver (WHL) 6-4, 200 04/09/1993
Another disappointing player who came into the year with such high expectations but failed to deliver. With Musil, it is more about the fact that he looks like a safe defender but nowhere near the high-upside guy he looked like several years ago when he burst onto the scene in the various international tournaments as a 15-year-old. The son of an NHL defenseman and tennis pro, as well as the grandson one of the Czech Republic's most recognized players and coaches. Heck, even his uncle, Bobby Holik, has legit name recognition from his NHL days. Where once scouts saw some offensive potential, that aspect has not emerged, nor is it likely to. His skating is average- not poor or exceptional either way and he does have good gap control and active stick. He can play a physical game (when he wants to) and has a nice frame to fill out which will make him more effective in that regard. His shot has power, but is lacking in a good release and accuracy. He telegraphs it and has an excessive windup that allows for defenses to get into the shooting lanes or disrupt his delivery. Another aspect of Musil's game we have heard troubling things about is with the intensity and desire- some NHL evaluators have said that he is the product of hockey coming very easy to him early on and the natural physical advantage he enjoyed at a younger age. Now, his peers are catching up to him and surpassing him, and he's not consistently bringing the kind of intensity you want. Of course, go back to his CHL Top Prospects Game performance and he looked very good- like the top pick he was projected to be and even fought Duncan Siemens to a draw. Musil is a solid kid with excellent bloodlines and a good talent base. He's not a high-end guy, but is someone you win with when he's his best.
37. Rickard Rakell, C/RW Plymouth (OHL) 6-0, 195 05/05/1993
We really dug this kid at the World Jr. Championship in December, when he had to step up after the loss of Gabriel Landeskog against Norway. Rakell was terrific in the preliminary round shutout against eventual champion Russia by being active, abrasive and opportunistic on every shift. He may not have excellent size or strength, but he plays bigger than his 6-foot frame and gets up under bigger, stronger guys. Tenacious on the forecheck and smart- forces turnovers and keeps his feet moving. Doesn't have elite breakaway speed, but is quick and elusive. Rakell also plays a pretty disciplined style- he can get under opponents' skin, but doesn't take a lot of penalties himself, often smirking at the other guy as he heads off to the box. He's diligent in his work along the boards and will take the puck into traffic and distributes pretty well. His upside is a bit of a question mark right now, however. He scored 19 goals and 43 points in 49 games with the Whalers, missing the end of the season and part of the playoffs with a lower body injury. Intelligent and energetic, he does show flashes of some offensive potential, but may have to make his living on the bottom two lines.
36. Duncan Siemens, D Saskatoon (WHL) 6-3, 197 09/07/1993
We can hear the screams of disagreement all the way to Saskatoon on this one and are prepared to take our lumps. Here's the disclaimer up front: We *know* that Siemens is a first-round pick and an NHL scout we talked to doesn't have a problem with where we have him, but told us- "You'll have to be OK with him going 15-20 spots before where you put him." Check. At the end of the day, we just don't see the upside with this guy. Yes, he can skate and his September birthdate is appealing given that he's one of the younger kids in this class. That said, we've been underwhelmed in each and every one of our viewings of him...admittedly all of them via stream. Video does not do any player justice, especially a defenseman where so much happens behind the play. That said, the same NHL scout said that Siemens' 43 points in 72 games were "phony" and said he reviewed the video on them- assists were throw it into the corner and forward then makes the play. While tough, Siemens is nowhere near as intimidating as Dylan McIlrath (who admittedly had a poor year) and Colten Teubert. Want evidence of that- look at his fight with Musil at the top prospects game. Siemens went looking for it, and the Canadian-born Czech more than held his own. Look, we know he's likely a top-20 selection and we're probably being a bit harsh, but we'll almost guarantee that there are NHL teams who do not have him in their top-30. Those decisions will never see the light of day to be criticized, but we're OK laying it on the line by saying that we don't see Siemens as being the No. 1/No. 2 NHL defender worthy of that top-10 or 11 selection where some have him. Heresy, we know, but we keep hearing about how Stefan Elliott had a lot to do with his partner's success and how underwhelming Siemens was in the playoffs. Add it all together and you have a guy we've been up-and-down on all season, but in the end, are a little down.
35. Tomas Jurco, RW Saint John (QMJHL) 6-2, 195 12/28/1992
If scoring goals is all about the feet and hands, then there is no denying that this Slovak is right up near the head of the class. His puckhandling skills border on the obscene. If there was some kind of unearthly substance that had a magnetic effect on rubber, we'd think that Jurco was the one who discovered it. He can dangle with the absolute best of them and scored a vintage breakaway goal early in game 1 of the Memorial Cup against Mississauga when he broke in alone on J.P. Anderson and buried it after some dazzling moves. He has a quick burst and some deceptive speed with the agility to turn defenders and make opponents look silly. In the open ice, he's absolutely deadly- a quick fake and flick of the stick and he's effortlessly around those who don't take the proper angle or maintain an effective gap. Now for the bad news: Jurco's defensive game is subpar and his compete levels uneven. He scored 31 goals on a stacked team, but was streaky with long stretches of unproductive play. On the right team, you're looking at a guy who can kill the opposition with a timely goal. However, without a creative and talented supporting cast, Jurco will be forced to try and do too much. He's skilled, but seems to lack that element of sense and simplification that leads to him getting too cute instead of making the high percentage plays. Medium risk player but high reward if he can raise the consistency. He's going to go higher than where we have him because of the sick hands and upside.
34. Victor Rask, C Leksands (SWE-2) 6-2, 194 03/01/1993
If this guy's life had a soundtrack, it would be the old Power Station 80's hit "Some Like It Hot" because he was definitely sweating when the heat was on! Crumbled under enormous expectations in his draft season, but if there is one legitimate draft value out there it is him. Tremendous upside, but has been a maddening player for scouts to watch this season and we've often heard the frustration. Looked like a first-round pick at times during the Under-18 tourney, but he played the center position and forced the better player (in our view) in Mika Zibanejad to the wing, where he was not as successful. We know that Rask has outstanding puck skills and hockey sense- his skating is average but could get better if he picks up a step and gets a little stronger. When on his game, he makes everyone around him better and slows things down or speeds them up at will. Whomever drafts him in the first round is doing so with the belief in what they saw from him a year ago when he was a dominate junior player with ideal size and some legitimate NHL tools. He didn't get it done this season, but watching him in Germany- he showed the flashes of what made him one of the more talked-about prospects coming in. Now, he has to put it all together. If a club thinks he'll relax and get back to the levels he showed as a 16-year-old, then he's absolutely worth taking a shot at in the first. However, if he slips into the second, he's legitimate value anywhere there.
33. Shane Prince, LW Ottawa (OHL) 5-10, 181 11/16/1992
OK- we admit it. B2011DW is more bullish on this Spencerport, N.Y. native than most. We just feel that even with the smallish size and criticisms about Prince taking shifts off, that he has legitimate scoring upside at the next level. Some question it, but we think he can certainly bring it when healthy and on top of his game. His hands are terrific- he's Mark Recchi-like in terms of the way he makes plays from the wing, preferring to dish and set up teammates rather than finish off the plays. At the same time, he does have nifty wrister that comes off his stick in a flash. He scored Team Cherry's only goal of the Top Prospects Game on precisely such a drive, making a quick head fake as if to pass and then wiring a laser through Jordan Binnington's legs. Also like Recchi, he doesn't have elite speed for a smaller guy, but is strong on his skates and just seems to know where to be when the play needs to be made. He injured his shoulder, missing some games and then got blasted in the open ice with a violent hit that caused his head to strike the ice. Prince returned to action pretty soon thereafter, but it did raise some questions about his durability and the dings he's going to take as he moves up to higher levels. At the end of the day, we simply like this player enough to have him knocking on the door of the late first-round and feel that he has the skill and intestinal fortitude, plus passion for the game to make it as a top-six scorer someday.
32. Stefan Noesen, C Plymouth (OHL) 6-0, 195 02/12/1993
B2011DW loves hockey prospects who are driven, passionate and dedicated to the sport. This native of Texas is one of the growing number of players who are leaving non-traditional hockey areas to hone their games and expose themselves to elite competition. Noesen (NAY-sen) left the Lone Star State at 15 to play high-level hockey for Compuware in Michigan. In his second season in the OHL with the Whalers after being eased in (33 games- 8 points) he erupted for 34 goals and 77 points in 68 contests as a sophomore. Some say he's a real good skater, while others say he needs to improve his initial burst. From our view, he's got some power in his stride and his top-end speed is just fine. He's one of the better two-way players in this draft class, and his goal totals indicate that he has some top-six potential at the NHL level. He's got some real tenacity to his game- he understands where he needs to be and takes his role seriously. A forechecker who uses his vision and anticipation to force turnovers, he also showed a penchant for taking advantage of those changes in puck possession by setting up teammates for quick strikes or taking it to the net himself. Skill, character and focus make him a potential top-30 selection and early second-rounder at the latest in our view.
31. Boone Jenner, C Oshawa (OHL) 6-1, 195 06/15/1993
Another passionate, character player who can do a little bit of everything, but may not be a high-end guy, where Jenner goes in the draft is going to be a hot topic of debate between now and June 24-25. The biggest knock on Jenner coming into the year was on his skating, but scouts say he's noticeably improved. While he won't ever be one of those "plus skaters" you hear about, but when we watched him in January, he showed no major flaws in action against Kitchener. One NHL scout we know told us that Jenner "skates his bag off" and is one of those living cliches as the kid who will go through the wall for his team. He's a strong faceoff guy who is always around the puck and seems to be the type of player who isn't just productive, but knows how to elevate his game to come through in the clutch. Jenner is also a strong defensive player who hustles, plays an honest game in all zones and does the little things like lifting the stick, taking the body and winning battles for loose pucks. We're hearing that he'll max out as a second-line forward, but in all honesty, when you look at all of the intangibles to his game- leadership, effort level, intelligence and maturity- it's hard to imagine that he'd be on the board much later than the 31st selection. We feel that Jenner is a good chance to take in the final 10 picks of the first round, but have him at 31 because of the questionable offensive role at the next level. It should not be reflection of where we view him as a guy who scored 25 goals and 66 points in 61 games while being a coach's dream.
B2011DW will return later in the week to get you down to 21. From there, we will start on June 1st with the daily comprehensive and detailed profiles of our top-20 players for this draft class.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
FASTHockey.com U18 play by play/color man Chris Peters checks in
Bruins 2011 Draft Watch is pleased to bring you an interview we did with Chris Peters, the play by play commentator for the FASTHockey.com broadcasts of Team USA games at the World Under-18 Championship in Crimmitschau, Germany. He was a one-man show over there and did a great job to bring a passionate and informed call of the Team USA games.
Chris knows the NTDP inside and out, having spent the previous three years as the team's communications and marketing director and brings great knowledge of the program and players in addition to his own passion for hockey.
Chris is also the publisher of the outstanding hockey blog The United States of Hockey. If you haven't bookmarked it, you should. When it comes to American NTDP and NCAA players, it is one of the best resources out there given his background, knowledge and familiarity with so many players who are in Ann Arbor or graduated from the program and are out in the NCAA and pro ranks.
We had a long talk about Team USA and the outstanding performance they had in Germany to win a consecutive third gold medal at the annual IIHF spring competition. It was the first time for any USA Hockey team to three-peat in an IIHF event, and the American players made it their mission to achieve this first.
Without further ado, we'll bring you Chris Peters in his own words
Bruins 2011 Draft Watch: Having been a part of the NTDP, was it a little strange for you to be there not as a member of the team but as a broadcaster and part of the media?
Chris Peters: Yes and no- there were a few differences that made for a new experience, but I knew the staff and I knew the kids (from their time on the Under-17 team a year ago), so I didn't feel like an outsider. At the same time, I tried to maintain a safe distance and didn't want to try and be a part of the staff.
It was nice for me to see the difference for the players from year one to two and how they had grown. It was great to see how much bigger and better they've gotten since their time on the Under-17 squad and doing this allowed me to see that process and be a part of it. Most times, a broadcaster will parachute in, do a few interviews and is gone, but I was always with them, and that was the unique thing about the process.
It was a lot of fun- everyone wanted to make sure I got what I needed and it was just a great time given the way everything went.
B2011DW: Before we get to the specific players, can you talk about the program and team, the coaches and so on- what do you attribute the success the NTDP has had to?
CP: I think this team was unique. They didn't have three main lines to do the scoring for them; they counted on everyone to give them the offense they needed and make the plays in any situation. They had seven effective players on defense, not one guy who can be out there in any situation, or at least that was the perception. I remember that when they had the selection for these players two years ago, the team was put together knowing that they weren't assembling high-end skill guys at every position. Sure, you had players like Rocco Grimaldi and J.T. Miller up front, but you also had guys like Adam Reid, who played on the fourth line (in Germany) but had three goals, and Dan Carlson who also made contributions to the successful tournament.
This was the first team that I can recall in the last several years that was made up completely of NTDP kids. It worked well because they had great chemistry, were really tight as a group and had played together for a long time.
I would also add that (coach) Ron Rolston deserves a heck of a lot of credit. Two years ago, when he was coaching the '91 group at the Under 18s, not a lot of people expected them to win it on home soil in North Dakota. I think people said they were a favorite, but they were not the favorite. At the end of it, they won it all, just like they did this time around in Germany, with a completely different team. He gets the most out of the talent he has to work with and his work and preparation is unbelievable. He's one of the most cerebral coaches I've seen- he knows his players and teams and understands how to get them to play disciplined, winning hockey. I don't think he gets enough recognition for how good a coach he is.
B2011DW: John Gibson- tournament top goalie and a major reason why USA won it all. What are your thoughts on him?
CP: With Gibson, he's been overshadowed by Jack Campbell. But Gibby didn't have the same opportunities Jack did in terms of being an underager at the Under 20, winning a couple of golds at the Under 18 in 2009 and 2010, but they are similar players. Gibson is so athletic, so composed. He instills a lot of confidence in the skaters, too- the defensemen know that they can take some chances with him back there as the last line of defense. He's not the best puckhandler, though he did move it a little, but he kept things simple for the most part. He bailed out the 'D' with big saves, and even when he gave up a goal, his body language was terrific. He just oozed confidence and when his teammates saw that, they realized that everything was fine and they were still in position to win the game. When you see that kind of calm in your goalie, I think it relaxes you to the point that you can go out and believe that you'll get the lead back on the next shift, and it's huge.
B2011DW: Did J.T. Miller's performance there solidify him as a first-round pick in your view?
CP: It's funny, because the first couple of games with J.T. I thought that aside from the points, he actually didn't play all that well. However, as the tournament went on, he became more and more of a force, and I think he bought into playing gold medal hockey. He really picked it up because as other teams focused on stopping Rocco Grimaldi, Miller started getting a lot of looks as a result to the respect given to Rocco, and that opened things up for J.T. It gave him a chance to put his stamp on the tournament in terms of being physical, playing smart, keeping it simple and being patient. One play that really stands out to me is the gold medal game when he made the pass to Reid Boucher for the tying goal. Rocco was breaking to the net as well, but he was a lot closer to Miller, and would have had to beat a few guys to get into scoring position. Miller held the puck and waited that extra second for 'Bouch' to break into the clear and then sent it across the ice to him in the perfect spot for him to make the play.
When Miller is thinking right, he's so good. It's the best I've seen him play. I think that maybe earlier in the season, Miller was under too much pressure to be the focal point of the offense on that top line and it wasn't going in for him. He was probably pressing more than he should have. But here, he kept things simple and used his skills and smarts to make some big plays when his team needed them.
B2011DW: You mentioned Reid Boucher...he had a tremendous tournament. Based on what you know and have seen, how good is this kid?
CP: Wow, yeah. The thing Reid brings to the table every single night regardless is the ability to score from anywhere. When I look at his pure scoring ability, I would say that it's the best I've seen in the program. Ever. Jeremy Morin was close, but honestly I would say that Boucher is better in terms of his release, his accuracy and his big-game ability to put the puck in the net when the game is on the line. I talked to Ron Rolston about it and he agreed that Boucher is up there; he knew Phil Kessel before I arrived to the program, but he's in that kind of company. The big thing about what he did in Germany is that of his eight goals, only two of them didn't factor into the game. I know one of those goals came against Slovakia in a blowout, but just about everything else had a big impact on the wins. The thing is- when you play with Rocco, you're going to get a lot of looks. And Bouch's skating has improved to where he can get in position to make the play with a guy so dynamic. If Bouch is with a pass-first playmaker, he could score 40 goals one day.
B2011DW: Speaking of Rocco, the numbers weren't there for Grimaldi because he got so much attention, but he seemed to contribute in other ways- defensively, the PK, etc. What did you see?
CP: I agree with that. I think that for a few games he maybe wasn't as engaged as much defensively, but that was probably because they needed him to be an offensive presence. One of the things he did that really jumped out at me was the work Rocco did on faceoffs. He won some big draws at key moments. One play that stood out happened in the Canada game, when Travis Ewanyk was winning something like 80 percent of the faceoffs and was just a monster. There was a draw in Canada's end and Ewanyk won it, but Grimaldi got in on him, knocked him off the puck and then Miller was able to get it to Bouch for a goal. Rocco's mindset all along was that even if he lost the faceoff, which wasn't often, he was going to track the puck and still try and get there first.
I think he want to be better in the tournament at the goal scoring and production, but teams made a concerted effort not to let Rocco beat them. Even then, he found ways to get it done. The Connor Murphy goal at the beginning of the third period against Sweden was a good example- Grimaldi's pass out front to him for the shot that went in was perfect with the way he one-touched to him, but the bigger thing I noticed when I went back and looked at the film was the way he protected the puck, shielded it so that the defender had no chance to prevent it from getting to Murphy. We expected to see more offensively from him, but in the end, he did a lot of things that helped the team win and that's what's most important to him.
B2011DW: Let's shift gears to the defensemen for a bit. Robbie Russo seemed to have just the right performance and the absolute right time and looked so confident out there. You thoughts on Robbie and his play?
CP: Robbie's always been a confident kid. He may have been a little frustrated at the way things went for him this season, but in this tourney he just took over games. If the puck was in his zone his attitude was that he was going to get it, or if the other team had it, he was going to take it away from them.In the offensive zone, he was outstanding with his vision and patience and ability to pass the puck to the right guy at the right time. He also had the ability to create space for himself- he would have the puck coming out of his end and he had the skill and patience to swing back into the zone and come back out with speed. This was the best I've seen him- he was calm under pressure, there was no panic level in his game; he just kept it simple, made the smart play and tried not to be flashy. His skating is really good- he was an easy choice as one of the three top players for USA in my opinion. Another thing- he started out on the point of the power play, but they moved him against the wall, which worked out great, shifting Rocco to the point. Robbie was incredible on the wall in terms of creating lanes, going up and down the boards, and then he would spin around, throw off his man and open up the lane. He had a tremendous tournament, and I can't say it enough.
B2011DW: And Connor Murphy? Another kid who really helped himself?
CP: Absolutely! He's one of the smartest kids out there and the fact that his instincts are so good even though he hasn't played a lot of hockey over the past two-and-a-half years is saying a lot about him. I don't think he's played more than maybe 15 games in that span prior to the tourney because of injuries, and yet he still had time to be that good? It makes me wonder if he can stay healthy how good he can be. He's real good with his stick defensively, clogging up lanes and he not a physical guy, but he can take hits and will take them to make the play. I noticed this a lot against Canada, where they really seemed to go after him. He's got a very nice skill package and game, and the injury thing is really the only obstacle I think to where he might be drafted, whether it happen for him in the first round or maybe a little later. But the thing about Connor and the other kids with dads who played pro hockey is that they understand what they need to do to make it to be a professional. They've been around the game, carry themselves so well and are pretty serious and mature about it. Connor is one of those guys who just really impresses you in interviews with his intelligence and manner.
B2011DW: OK- last question. Tyler Biggs. He's been the internet whipping boy of late, but is it deserved?
CP: The thing with Tyler is that he was completely mis-labeled to begin with as a top-10 pick for a guy who plays the way he does. That said, I still feel there is value to him in the first round. After last year, I had a higher opinion of his offensive upside coming into this season than he's showed- I was thinking that he maybe had a 20-25 goal upside. I'm not sure he'll be successful with that because he doesn't have great hands. He may not skate all that fast, but he's a powerful skater who closes on guys real well and his north-south game is really good.
He was not done any favors with that 5th-best prospect ranking from Central Scouting at mid-term, and he's been dinged up this year too, but he plays through it without complaining. Thing is, if you went to see him when he wasn't at his best, then you probably weren't seeing the kind of performance he's capable of. He's a good leader and plays a determined style of hockey. He played on a line with Travis Boyd- he's a real good player and a guy I think is underrated (by Central). He's not real fast, but is very skilled and made a lot of creative plays. Biggs also skated with Nic Kerdiles, so there was some talent on that line, and I would say that in the last two games, that was as good a unit as the Boucher-Grimaldi-Miller line. Biggs can play defensively, is tough and works hard at his game.
Again, I think there is first-round value for him, but expectations were set too high for the style of player he is.
B2011DW wants to thank Chris for taking the time to have such a productive chat. We'll have to do it again sometime.
Be sure to visit his blog if you have not done so already!
Chris knows the NTDP inside and out, having spent the previous three years as the team's communications and marketing director and brings great knowledge of the program and players in addition to his own passion for hockey.
Chris is also the publisher of the outstanding hockey blog The United States of Hockey. If you haven't bookmarked it, you should. When it comes to American NTDP and NCAA players, it is one of the best resources out there given his background, knowledge and familiarity with so many players who are in Ann Arbor or graduated from the program and are out in the NCAA and pro ranks.
We had a long talk about Team USA and the outstanding performance they had in Germany to win a consecutive third gold medal at the annual IIHF spring competition. It was the first time for any USA Hockey team to three-peat in an IIHF event, and the American players made it their mission to achieve this first.
Without further ado, we'll bring you Chris Peters in his own words
Bruins 2011 Draft Watch: Having been a part of the NTDP, was it a little strange for you to be there not as a member of the team but as a broadcaster and part of the media?
Chris Peters: Yes and no- there were a few differences that made for a new experience, but I knew the staff and I knew the kids (from their time on the Under-17 team a year ago), so I didn't feel like an outsider. At the same time, I tried to maintain a safe distance and didn't want to try and be a part of the staff.
It was nice for me to see the difference for the players from year one to two and how they had grown. It was great to see how much bigger and better they've gotten since their time on the Under-17 squad and doing this allowed me to see that process and be a part of it. Most times, a broadcaster will parachute in, do a few interviews and is gone, but I was always with them, and that was the unique thing about the process.
It was a lot of fun- everyone wanted to make sure I got what I needed and it was just a great time given the way everything went.
B2011DW: Before we get to the specific players, can you talk about the program and team, the coaches and so on- what do you attribute the success the NTDP has had to?
CP: I think this team was unique. They didn't have three main lines to do the scoring for them; they counted on everyone to give them the offense they needed and make the plays in any situation. They had seven effective players on defense, not one guy who can be out there in any situation, or at least that was the perception. I remember that when they had the selection for these players two years ago, the team was put together knowing that they weren't assembling high-end skill guys at every position. Sure, you had players like Rocco Grimaldi and J.T. Miller up front, but you also had guys like Adam Reid, who played on the fourth line (in Germany) but had three goals, and Dan Carlson who also made contributions to the successful tournament.
This was the first team that I can recall in the last several years that was made up completely of NTDP kids. It worked well because they had great chemistry, were really tight as a group and had played together for a long time.
I would also add that (coach) Ron Rolston deserves a heck of a lot of credit. Two years ago, when he was coaching the '91 group at the Under 18s, not a lot of people expected them to win it on home soil in North Dakota. I think people said they were a favorite, but they were not the favorite. At the end of it, they won it all, just like they did this time around in Germany, with a completely different team. He gets the most out of the talent he has to work with and his work and preparation is unbelievable. He's one of the most cerebral coaches I've seen- he knows his players and teams and understands how to get them to play disciplined, winning hockey. I don't think he gets enough recognition for how good a coach he is.
B2011DW: John Gibson- tournament top goalie and a major reason why USA won it all. What are your thoughts on him?
CP: With Gibson, he's been overshadowed by Jack Campbell. But Gibby didn't have the same opportunities Jack did in terms of being an underager at the Under 20, winning a couple of golds at the Under 18 in 2009 and 2010, but they are similar players. Gibson is so athletic, so composed. He instills a lot of confidence in the skaters, too- the defensemen know that they can take some chances with him back there as the last line of defense. He's not the best puckhandler, though he did move it a little, but he kept things simple for the most part. He bailed out the 'D' with big saves, and even when he gave up a goal, his body language was terrific. He just oozed confidence and when his teammates saw that, they realized that everything was fine and they were still in position to win the game. When you see that kind of calm in your goalie, I think it relaxes you to the point that you can go out and believe that you'll get the lead back on the next shift, and it's huge.
B2011DW: Did J.T. Miller's performance there solidify him as a first-round pick in your view?
CP: It's funny, because the first couple of games with J.T. I thought that aside from the points, he actually didn't play all that well. However, as the tournament went on, he became more and more of a force, and I think he bought into playing gold medal hockey. He really picked it up because as other teams focused on stopping Rocco Grimaldi, Miller started getting a lot of looks as a result to the respect given to Rocco, and that opened things up for J.T. It gave him a chance to put his stamp on the tournament in terms of being physical, playing smart, keeping it simple and being patient. One play that really stands out to me is the gold medal game when he made the pass to Reid Boucher for the tying goal. Rocco was breaking to the net as well, but he was a lot closer to Miller, and would have had to beat a few guys to get into scoring position. Miller held the puck and waited that extra second for 'Bouch' to break into the clear and then sent it across the ice to him in the perfect spot for him to make the play.
When Miller is thinking right, he's so good. It's the best I've seen him play. I think that maybe earlier in the season, Miller was under too much pressure to be the focal point of the offense on that top line and it wasn't going in for him. He was probably pressing more than he should have. But here, he kept things simple and used his skills and smarts to make some big plays when his team needed them.
B2011DW: You mentioned Reid Boucher...he had a tremendous tournament. Based on what you know and have seen, how good is this kid?
CP: Wow, yeah. The thing Reid brings to the table every single night regardless is the ability to score from anywhere. When I look at his pure scoring ability, I would say that it's the best I've seen in the program. Ever. Jeremy Morin was close, but honestly I would say that Boucher is better in terms of his release, his accuracy and his big-game ability to put the puck in the net when the game is on the line. I talked to Ron Rolston about it and he agreed that Boucher is up there; he knew Phil Kessel before I arrived to the program, but he's in that kind of company. The big thing about what he did in Germany is that of his eight goals, only two of them didn't factor into the game. I know one of those goals came against Slovakia in a blowout, but just about everything else had a big impact on the wins. The thing is- when you play with Rocco, you're going to get a lot of looks. And Bouch's skating has improved to where he can get in position to make the play with a guy so dynamic. If Bouch is with a pass-first playmaker, he could score 40 goals one day.
B2011DW: Speaking of Rocco, the numbers weren't there for Grimaldi because he got so much attention, but he seemed to contribute in other ways- defensively, the PK, etc. What did you see?
CP: I agree with that. I think that for a few games he maybe wasn't as engaged as much defensively, but that was probably because they needed him to be an offensive presence. One of the things he did that really jumped out at me was the work Rocco did on faceoffs. He won some big draws at key moments. One play that stood out happened in the Canada game, when Travis Ewanyk was winning something like 80 percent of the faceoffs and was just a monster. There was a draw in Canada's end and Ewanyk won it, but Grimaldi got in on him, knocked him off the puck and then Miller was able to get it to Bouch for a goal. Rocco's mindset all along was that even if he lost the faceoff, which wasn't often, he was going to track the puck and still try and get there first.
I think he want to be better in the tournament at the goal scoring and production, but teams made a concerted effort not to let Rocco beat them. Even then, he found ways to get it done. The Connor Murphy goal at the beginning of the third period against Sweden was a good example- Grimaldi's pass out front to him for the shot that went in was perfect with the way he one-touched to him, but the bigger thing I noticed when I went back and looked at the film was the way he protected the puck, shielded it so that the defender had no chance to prevent it from getting to Murphy. We expected to see more offensively from him, but in the end, he did a lot of things that helped the team win and that's what's most important to him.
B2011DW: Let's shift gears to the defensemen for a bit. Robbie Russo seemed to have just the right performance and the absolute right time and looked so confident out there. You thoughts on Robbie and his play?
CP: Robbie's always been a confident kid. He may have been a little frustrated at the way things went for him this season, but in this tourney he just took over games. If the puck was in his zone his attitude was that he was going to get it, or if the other team had it, he was going to take it away from them.In the offensive zone, he was outstanding with his vision and patience and ability to pass the puck to the right guy at the right time. He also had the ability to create space for himself- he would have the puck coming out of his end and he had the skill and patience to swing back into the zone and come back out with speed. This was the best I've seen him- he was calm under pressure, there was no panic level in his game; he just kept it simple, made the smart play and tried not to be flashy. His skating is really good- he was an easy choice as one of the three top players for USA in my opinion. Another thing- he started out on the point of the power play, but they moved him against the wall, which worked out great, shifting Rocco to the point. Robbie was incredible on the wall in terms of creating lanes, going up and down the boards, and then he would spin around, throw off his man and open up the lane. He had a tremendous tournament, and I can't say it enough.
B2011DW: And Connor Murphy? Another kid who really helped himself?
CP: Absolutely! He's one of the smartest kids out there and the fact that his instincts are so good even though he hasn't played a lot of hockey over the past two-and-a-half years is saying a lot about him. I don't think he's played more than maybe 15 games in that span prior to the tourney because of injuries, and yet he still had time to be that good? It makes me wonder if he can stay healthy how good he can be. He's real good with his stick defensively, clogging up lanes and he not a physical guy, but he can take hits and will take them to make the play. I noticed this a lot against Canada, where they really seemed to go after him. He's got a very nice skill package and game, and the injury thing is really the only obstacle I think to where he might be drafted, whether it happen for him in the first round or maybe a little later. But the thing about Connor and the other kids with dads who played pro hockey is that they understand what they need to do to make it to be a professional. They've been around the game, carry themselves so well and are pretty serious and mature about it. Connor is one of those guys who just really impresses you in interviews with his intelligence and manner.
B2011DW: OK- last question. Tyler Biggs. He's been the internet whipping boy of late, but is it deserved?
CP: The thing with Tyler is that he was completely mis-labeled to begin with as a top-10 pick for a guy who plays the way he does. That said, I still feel there is value to him in the first round. After last year, I had a higher opinion of his offensive upside coming into this season than he's showed- I was thinking that he maybe had a 20-25 goal upside. I'm not sure he'll be successful with that because he doesn't have great hands. He may not skate all that fast, but he's a powerful skater who closes on guys real well and his north-south game is really good.
He was not done any favors with that 5th-best prospect ranking from Central Scouting at mid-term, and he's been dinged up this year too, but he plays through it without complaining. Thing is, if you went to see him when he wasn't at his best, then you probably weren't seeing the kind of performance he's capable of. He's a good leader and plays a determined style of hockey. He played on a line with Travis Boyd- he's a real good player and a guy I think is underrated (by Central). He's not real fast, but is very skilled and made a lot of creative plays. Biggs also skated with Nic Kerdiles, so there was some talent on that line, and I would say that in the last two games, that was as good a unit as the Boucher-Grimaldi-Miller line. Biggs can play defensively, is tough and works hard at his game.
Again, I think there is first-round value for him, but expectations were set too high for the style of player he is.
B2011DW wants to thank Chris for taking the time to have such a productive chat. We'll have to do it again sometime.
Be sure to visit his blog if you have not done so already!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Three-peat for USA at World Under-18s
Defenseman Connor Murphy had the game of his young life, scoring twice including an overtime strike to give Team USA a come-from-behind sudden death victory over Sweden by a 4-3 score.
The goal had a little controversy in that it was scored as an American power play expired. Swedish captain Oscar Klefbom was called for holding when he took down Rocco Grimaldi as the little dynamo drove to the net for a scoring chance.
Murphy rifled a blast into the far side past netminder Niklas Lundstrom after his initial drive was blocked. When the puck bounced right back onto his stick, he re-cocked and fired, catching Lundstrom on his knees in anticipation of the initial shot. The goaltender may have been screened by the prone defenseman and didn't see the puck come screaming off of Murphy's stick until it was too late to react.
USA never led in the contest, falling behind in the first period on an early goal by Filip Forsberg. '94 defenseman Jacob Trouba tied the game with just eight seconds left in the opening frame with his only goal of the tourney.
Sweden got it going later in the second when Albin Blomkvist took a pass at the point, stepped up into the zone and ripped a hard wrist shot that beat goaltender John Gibson high to the glove side. Moments later, Gustav Björklund took a drop pass on a Sweden rush and fired it home to give his team what looked like an insurmountable 3-1 lead with 20 minutes left.
However, Murphy started the comeback with a score in the first two minutes of the final period to give the Americans hope. Although they had chances, they couldn't solve Lundstrom as time bled off the final clock and it appeared that Sweden would grab its first-ever Under-18 gold medal.
However, with just 1:29 left in the game, Reid Boucher, whose name was synonymous with "clutch" all tournament long, took a J.T. Miller pass, broke into the clear on a 2-on-1, and wired the puck into the net to send the game to overtime.
When Murphy scored, he secured USA Hockey's first-ever three-peat at the IIHF's Under-18 Championship. Coach Ron Rolston also earned his third gold medal.
For Sweden, it was a tough way to lose- getting called in overtime, but they played with fire all game, taking Grimaldi down in several cases, and not getting called for it. While one might argue that the penalties should have been called then and not in OT, the flip side of that argument is that the Swedes knew they were playing a dangerous game. By continuing to test the referees' patience, they finally got burned.
Miller, Gibson and defenseman/team captain Robbie Russo were named Team USA's three best players for the tournament, while Gibson also earned all-tournament honors as top goalie. Ryan Murphy (Canada) and Nikita Kucherov were named top defenseman and forward.
In any case, B2011DW salutes Team USA and all the teams for an excellent tournament. We will have more in-depth player recaps and observations to bring you in the coming days, but for now, the focus will shift back to the CHL playoffs, with all major junior leagues playing their respective semifinal series.
The goal had a little controversy in that it was scored as an American power play expired. Swedish captain Oscar Klefbom was called for holding when he took down Rocco Grimaldi as the little dynamo drove to the net for a scoring chance.
Murphy rifled a blast into the far side past netminder Niklas Lundstrom after his initial drive was blocked. When the puck bounced right back onto his stick, he re-cocked and fired, catching Lundstrom on his knees in anticipation of the initial shot. The goaltender may have been screened by the prone defenseman and didn't see the puck come screaming off of Murphy's stick until it was too late to react.
USA never led in the contest, falling behind in the first period on an early goal by Filip Forsberg. '94 defenseman Jacob Trouba tied the game with just eight seconds left in the opening frame with his only goal of the tourney.
Sweden got it going later in the second when Albin Blomkvist took a pass at the point, stepped up into the zone and ripped a hard wrist shot that beat goaltender John Gibson high to the glove side. Moments later, Gustav Björklund took a drop pass on a Sweden rush and fired it home to give his team what looked like an insurmountable 3-1 lead with 20 minutes left.
However, Murphy started the comeback with a score in the first two minutes of the final period to give the Americans hope. Although they had chances, they couldn't solve Lundstrom as time bled off the final clock and it appeared that Sweden would grab its first-ever Under-18 gold medal.
However, with just 1:29 left in the game, Reid Boucher, whose name was synonymous with "clutch" all tournament long, took a J.T. Miller pass, broke into the clear on a 2-on-1, and wired the puck into the net to send the game to overtime.
When Murphy scored, he secured USA Hockey's first-ever three-peat at the IIHF's Under-18 Championship. Coach Ron Rolston also earned his third gold medal.
For Sweden, it was a tough way to lose- getting called in overtime, but they played with fire all game, taking Grimaldi down in several cases, and not getting called for it. While one might argue that the penalties should have been called then and not in OT, the flip side of that argument is that the Swedes knew they were playing a dangerous game. By continuing to test the referees' patience, they finally got burned.
Miller, Gibson and defenseman/team captain Robbie Russo were named Team USA's three best players for the tournament, while Gibson also earned all-tournament honors as top goalie. Ryan Murphy (Canada) and Nikita Kucherov were named top defenseman and forward.
In any case, B2011DW salutes Team USA and all the teams for an excellent tournament. We will have more in-depth player recaps and observations to bring you in the coming days, but for now, the focus will shift back to the CHL playoffs, with all major junior leagues playing their respective semifinal series.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Nation Radio Archive: BruinsDraftWatch featured guest, April 16
Last weekend we went on Allan Mitchell's Nation Radio show, which is broadcast on Team 1260 in Edmonton every Saturday.
Click on this link to visit the Nation Radio website to hear to interview.
In it, we're talking Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson, Sean Couturier, Jonathan Huberdeau, Dougie Hamilton and some of the Team USA guys at the Under-18s like Rocco Grimaldi Connor Murphy and John Gibson. We close out the segment with talk about one of our favorite sleepers- Belmont Hill winger Jimmy Vesey and the intriguing Moose Jaw gigantor D Joel Edmundson.
As always, it's a pleasure to go on with Allan, whose Lowetide blog is one of the most respected and popular hockey blogs out there.
Click on this link to visit the Nation Radio website to hear to interview.
In it, we're talking Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson, Sean Couturier, Jonathan Huberdeau, Dougie Hamilton and some of the Team USA guys at the Under-18s like Rocco Grimaldi Connor Murphy and John Gibson. We close out the segment with talk about one of our favorite sleepers- Belmont Hill winger Jimmy Vesey and the intriguing Moose Jaw gigantor D Joel Edmundson.
As always, it's a pleasure to go on with Allan, whose Lowetide blog is one of the most respected and popular hockey blogs out there.
Friday, April 15, 2011
World Under-18 Championship Day 2: USA-Slovakia observations
Team USA played their second game in as many days at the World Under-18 Championship.
As was the case against Switzerland, the Americans started slowly, taking two early penalties and having a hard time generating much offense. However, once the Americans killed their first couple of penalties, they blew the game open en route to an 8-1 beating that gives them a 2-0-0-0 record thus far.
They thought they took a lead in the opening frame when Henrik Samuelsson fired a shot past (goalie) but Blake Pietila was ruled in the crease and it was waved off.
Rocco Grimaldi put action to words from the previous day when he was critical of his own performance against Switzerland, scoring USA's first goal on the power play.
Barret Kaib, D- Made one terrible pass while on the PK, but the Slovaks couldn't capitalize. Has some wheels, but is a small defender without the elite skill set NHL teams want from undersized guys at that position. Kaib may have to make his pro bones going the free agency route after playing at Providence College, because we don't see much of a shot of him being drafted.
Rocco Grimaldi, F- Got his 1st goal of the tourney in the first on the power play when he darted into the slot between the hashmarks and buried the rebound of a Reid Boucher shot. He didn't play poorly in Game 1, but didn't accomplish much and called himself out for not playing well. You have to love his passion and accountability, but we think Roc was being a bit tough on himself. He can really fly and handle the puck at top speed, and you get an appreciate for that when you watch him. If we have an issue with his play int he first couple of games it is that he tends to take the puck wide most times instead of driving into traffic and using his quickness to cross up defenders and open up some space. We know he's an energetic, passionate player, but hanging out on the perimeter isn't the best use of his prodigious talents.
Adam Reid, F- Didn't see much ice in the first game, but did get his first goal of the the tournament on the power play to make it 6-0, USA after the Americans did a terrific job of puck possession and movement, holding the zone and working it smartly before getting a shot on net that Reid put past Patrik Rybar. He's got very good physical tools, but hasn't really put it all together and is a pretty raw project player at this point. At the same time, those measurables are bound to intrigue an NHL team enough to grab him in the draft at some point, we just don't know where that will be. He's not been a key player in this tourney for the Americans thus far.
Travis Boyd, F- This September 14, 1993 born forward made the 2011 cutoff by just one day! He's small but quick and intelligent. He scored a beautiful shorthanded goal after taking a pass from Zac Larraza and beating the Slovak defense through the neutral zone. As he streaked in on goaltender Richard Sabol, he made a quick head fake, then tucked the puck to his backhand and as Sabol bit on the initial fake, slid the puck past the helpless keeper and into the cage. Boyd is another one of USA's many intelligent, skilled, interchangeable forwards. He may not project as a strong NHL prospect right now, but has some interesting attributes.
Reid Boucher, F- Along with Grimaldi, gave Slovakia fits all day with their quickness and aggressive driving to the net. They each tallied, and Reid missed at least one tip-in on a nice cross-ice feed from Grimaldi, but he has the look of a natural scorer with his quick hands, release and good body position when the puck's on his stick in the o-zone. He's not the blazer Grimaldi is, but has excellent anticipation and is able to create on his own.
Dan Carlson, F- Minnesota State- Mankato recruit scored a highlight reel goal when he sliced through the Slovakia defense, but on a quick burst of speed to cut past the last defender and fired a bullet past the netminder for his first goal of the tourney. Not a top-end skater, but has deceptive speed and quickness. More of an energy guy, but after that goal, showed that he can create a little nifty offense. A draft longshot, but may be someone to watch next season and beyond if he doesn't get a call in June.
Connor Murphy, D- It's always good news when your best offensive defenseman is also one of your best defensive players, and that's what Murphy did against the Slovaks. He made a beautiful block on a 2-on-1 in the 1st period to deny a scoring chance, and was in position all day. Showed nice gap control, an active stick and took the body when it warranted. He's big but doesn't lay a lot of crushing hits, yet is still pretty effective in the angles he takes and the defensive awareness he shows. Really nasty on the point during the power play. Moved it smartly with partner Jacob Trouba all game long, forcing the Slovaks to open up the umbrella and create some shooting lanes. USA's success with the man advantage today was no accident and it started with their PP point men: Murphy, Trouba, Seth Jones and Robbie Russo.
Robbie Russo, D- Another strong offensive game for the captain. He ripped a point shot for a goal in the second period, his first of the tournament. Named player of the game for this one, he earned it, playing an effective two-way game and staying involved throughout. Highly effective on the power play in terms of moving the puck well with partner Seth Jones, and made smart decisions. This is the kind of performance from Russo that had certain draft sources projecting him as a second-round pick. He needs to keep it up, but credit where due for games 1 and 2.
Mike Paliotta, D- Steady and unspectacular today as he was in Game 1. Watching these two games, we can appreciate why he's fallen down in the rankings a bit after coming into the season looking at a potential first-round grade. He's got nice size and is a fluid skater with good four-way directional mobility, but he's not the kind of passer/puck-mover that jumps out at you along with some of the higher-profile players in the the class. He plays a pretty conservative game and doesn't jump into the play much. With the power play defensive rotation having so much success and the team on special teams as much as they were against Slovakia, Paliotta's ice time suffered. He's a great kid and character player, but there isn't much upside based on what we've seen in the first two games.
John Gibson, G- Another strong game from the frontrunner to be the first goaltender off the board in June. Wasn't tested a great deal, but sometimes a goalie can make things look easier than they appear. Was in position the entire time, controlled the rebounds and did a great job of making some of the tougher shots look routine. He blanked the Slovaks and gave way to backup McNeely for the third period. In two games, Gibson has given up just one goal in five periods of action.
Matt McNeely, G- Came into the game during garbage time in the third period. Greatly resembled Gibson in terms of size and style- if you didn't catch on to their pad color scheme, you could go the entire game thinking Gibson was in the net the whole time. Gave up a goal on a weird bounce that went to Marko Dano for the layup in front. It was good for him to get into some action even at garbage time, but this is Gibson's team and if the USA is going to three-peat it will have to be Gibson who gets them there.
Martin Gernat, D- Slovakia's best defender has excellent size (6-5) and good mobility for such a big kid. He's fluid in his movements and still a little gangly, but had a couple of memorable plays where he jumped in from the point to get a good shot off, but was denied by Gibson. He was burned on a couple of missed coverages, but overall, was one of Slovakia's better players in a thrashing. Lack of physical play and strength is his biggest shortcoming right now, but he has the kind of projectable upside that makes him a solid sleeper for the 2011 draft.
Peter Ceresnak, D- Nothing major to report on this defense-first player. He kept things pretty simple, but had trouble handling the smaller, quicker U.S. forwards especially when they forced him to move away from the boards and into the open ice. Has a pretty good stick for breaking up plays, but doesn't do a great deal to stand out either way.
As was the case against Switzerland, the Americans started slowly, taking two early penalties and having a hard time generating much offense. However, once the Americans killed their first couple of penalties, they blew the game open en route to an 8-1 beating that gives them a 2-0-0-0 record thus far.
They thought they took a lead in the opening frame when Henrik Samuelsson fired a shot past (goalie) but Blake Pietila was ruled in the crease and it was waved off.
Rocco Grimaldi put action to words from the previous day when he was critical of his own performance against Switzerland, scoring USA's first goal on the power play.
Barret Kaib, D- Made one terrible pass while on the PK, but the Slovaks couldn't capitalize. Has some wheels, but is a small defender without the elite skill set NHL teams want from undersized guys at that position. Kaib may have to make his pro bones going the free agency route after playing at Providence College, because we don't see much of a shot of him being drafted.
Rocco Grimaldi, F- Got his 1st goal of the tourney in the first on the power play when he darted into the slot between the hashmarks and buried the rebound of a Reid Boucher shot. He didn't play poorly in Game 1, but didn't accomplish much and called himself out for not playing well. You have to love his passion and accountability, but we think Roc was being a bit tough on himself. He can really fly and handle the puck at top speed, and you get an appreciate for that when you watch him. If we have an issue with his play int he first couple of games it is that he tends to take the puck wide most times instead of driving into traffic and using his quickness to cross up defenders and open up some space. We know he's an energetic, passionate player, but hanging out on the perimeter isn't the best use of his prodigious talents.
Adam Reid, F- Didn't see much ice in the first game, but did get his first goal of the the tournament on the power play to make it 6-0, USA after the Americans did a terrific job of puck possession and movement, holding the zone and working it smartly before getting a shot on net that Reid put past Patrik Rybar. He's got very good physical tools, but hasn't really put it all together and is a pretty raw project player at this point. At the same time, those measurables are bound to intrigue an NHL team enough to grab him in the draft at some point, we just don't know where that will be. He's not been a key player in this tourney for the Americans thus far.
Travis Boyd, F- This September 14, 1993 born forward made the 2011 cutoff by just one day! He's small but quick and intelligent. He scored a beautiful shorthanded goal after taking a pass from Zac Larraza and beating the Slovak defense through the neutral zone. As he streaked in on goaltender Richard Sabol, he made a quick head fake, then tucked the puck to his backhand and as Sabol bit on the initial fake, slid the puck past the helpless keeper and into the cage. Boyd is another one of USA's many intelligent, skilled, interchangeable forwards. He may not project as a strong NHL prospect right now, but has some interesting attributes.
Reid Boucher, F- Along with Grimaldi, gave Slovakia fits all day with their quickness and aggressive driving to the net. They each tallied, and Reid missed at least one tip-in on a nice cross-ice feed from Grimaldi, but he has the look of a natural scorer with his quick hands, release and good body position when the puck's on his stick in the o-zone. He's not the blazer Grimaldi is, but has excellent anticipation and is able to create on his own.
Dan Carlson, F- Minnesota State- Mankato recruit scored a highlight reel goal when he sliced through the Slovakia defense, but on a quick burst of speed to cut past the last defender and fired a bullet past the netminder for his first goal of the tourney. Not a top-end skater, but has deceptive speed and quickness. More of an energy guy, but after that goal, showed that he can create a little nifty offense. A draft longshot, but may be someone to watch next season and beyond if he doesn't get a call in June.
Connor Murphy, D- It's always good news when your best offensive defenseman is also one of your best defensive players, and that's what Murphy did against the Slovaks. He made a beautiful block on a 2-on-1 in the 1st period to deny a scoring chance, and was in position all day. Showed nice gap control, an active stick and took the body when it warranted. He's big but doesn't lay a lot of crushing hits, yet is still pretty effective in the angles he takes and the defensive awareness he shows. Really nasty on the point during the power play. Moved it smartly with partner Jacob Trouba all game long, forcing the Slovaks to open up the umbrella and create some shooting lanes. USA's success with the man advantage today was no accident and it started with their PP point men: Murphy, Trouba, Seth Jones and Robbie Russo.
Robbie Russo, D- Another strong offensive game for the captain. He ripped a point shot for a goal in the second period, his first of the tournament. Named player of the game for this one, he earned it, playing an effective two-way game and staying involved throughout. Highly effective on the power play in terms of moving the puck well with partner Seth Jones, and made smart decisions. This is the kind of performance from Russo that had certain draft sources projecting him as a second-round pick. He needs to keep it up, but credit where due for games 1 and 2.
Mike Paliotta, D- Steady and unspectacular today as he was in Game 1. Watching these two games, we can appreciate why he's fallen down in the rankings a bit after coming into the season looking at a potential first-round grade. He's got nice size and is a fluid skater with good four-way directional mobility, but he's not the kind of passer/puck-mover that jumps out at you along with some of the higher-profile players in the the class. He plays a pretty conservative game and doesn't jump into the play much. With the power play defensive rotation having so much success and the team on special teams as much as they were against Slovakia, Paliotta's ice time suffered. He's a great kid and character player, but there isn't much upside based on what we've seen in the first two games.
John Gibson, G- Another strong game from the frontrunner to be the first goaltender off the board in June. Wasn't tested a great deal, but sometimes a goalie can make things look easier than they appear. Was in position the entire time, controlled the rebounds and did a great job of making some of the tougher shots look routine. He blanked the Slovaks and gave way to backup McNeely for the third period. In two games, Gibson has given up just one goal in five periods of action.
Matt McNeely, G- Came into the game during garbage time in the third period. Greatly resembled Gibson in terms of size and style- if you didn't catch on to their pad color scheme, you could go the entire game thinking Gibson was in the net the whole time. Gave up a goal on a weird bounce that went to Marko Dano for the layup in front. It was good for him to get into some action even at garbage time, but this is Gibson's team and if the USA is going to three-peat it will have to be Gibson who gets them there.
Martin Gernat, D- Slovakia's best defender has excellent size (6-5) and good mobility for such a big kid. He's fluid in his movements and still a little gangly, but had a couple of memorable plays where he jumped in from the point to get a good shot off, but was denied by Gibson. He was burned on a couple of missed coverages, but overall, was one of Slovakia's better players in a thrashing. Lack of physical play and strength is his biggest shortcoming right now, but he has the kind of projectable upside that makes him a solid sleeper for the 2011 draft.
Peter Ceresnak, D- Nothing major to report on this defense-first player. He kept things pretty simple, but had trouble handling the smaller, quicker U.S. forwards especially when they forced him to move away from the boards and into the open ice. Has a pretty good stick for breaking up plays, but doesn't do a great deal to stand out either way.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
World Under-18 Championship Day1: USA-Switzlerand observations
Got to watch the stream of USA-Switzerland today from Crimmitschau, Germany at the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship today.
Team USA won the game by a 2-1 score, opening the tourney with a victory in their quest for a three-peat at the U18s for the first time in USA Hockey history.
Gregory Hoffman is not on Team Switzerland because he's a late-1992 birthdate and therefore ineligible.
Like most first games of any tournament, it was a little ragged and sloppy at times, but the teams picked it up as the contest went on.
USA spent much of the game killing penalties, as the officials didn't miss many chances to send the Americans to the box. The players will need to make an effort to play more disciplined going forward. Some of the calls were questionable/marginal, but others were simply lazy.
We will just focus on the 2011 eligibles, although future draft picks like Nick Kerdiles, Henrik Samuelsson, Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba all played a solid game for USA.
Rocco Grimaldi, F- USA's most dangerous one-on-one player didn't get it cranked up until the last five minutes or so of the opening period, but was a presence the rest of the way. He's at his most lethal when he's jitterbugging through defenses and forcing players to try and keep up with him. Grimaldi has the supreme vision and ability to open up passing lanes and get the puck into prime scoring areas.
Reid Boucher, F- Scored a power play goal to make it 2-1 on a beautiful one-timer from the high slot after taking a pass from J.T. MIller. Didn't do a lot throughout the game, but when USA needed him to come through he was in the right place, right time and did not miss.
Robbie Russo, D- We've been critical of the average-sized puck mover who doesn't have high-end skills and hasn't produced much this season, but he was solid in the first game. The Notre Dame-bound defender skated hard all game and made good decisions with the puck. He wasn't spectacular, but did advance the puck and get involved in the offensive flow. Assisted on Boucher's power play tally in the third period. It wasn't a dominant performance from Russo, but it was a good start. USA needs him to step up his game like this the rest of the way.
Connor Murphy, D- A strong game from the son of the former Bruins defenseman and current Panthers assistant coach. Moved fluidly along the point and was getting his hard shot on net throughout several USA power plays. Has very nice size and athleticism. Worked well on a PP pairing with Jacob Trouba. Aggressive offensively and used his body to rub out Swiss players along the boards and in front of the net. JUst a solid two-way game from the defenseman who is rising on draft boards after missing much of the season with a back injury. This tournament is huge for Murphy's stock.
John Gibson, G- Alternated the 1st and 2nd periods looking very strong and a bit shaky at times. Stood tall in the first period when USA got into penalty trouble, but gave up first goal to the Swiss early in the second when he was flopping on the ice and lost stick after giving up a big rebound. Pulled it together and had a strong, composed third period. Makes tough stops look easy. Big, quick and doesn't give opponents much net to shoot at. At the end of the day, he got it done when it mattered, especially in the waning seconds when he made a save to prevent the Swiss from tying it up. Named player of the game for USA for the way he locked it down at crunch time. Looked every bit like the No. 1 goalie in this class according to majority of sources out there.
J.T. Miller, F- Had an up-and-down game. Skates well and protects the puck when driving to the net. Took several bad penalties to put his team in a bind, but the USA penalty killers came through. Looked uninvolved at times, while was a bull in a china shop at others, cycling the puck and maintaining pressure on the Swiss defense with possession. You can see that he has the wheels and skills to be an impact player, but he's got to work on tendency to disappear for stretches and resist trying to get too cute with the puck in the offensive zone.
Ryan Haggerty, F- Scored USA's first goal in a scrum after fighting for position. Had a pretty stealthy game beyond that. Just kept things simple and played an effective two-way game. Meat-and-potatoes player with some smarts- should be a solid NCAA forward for RPI.
Tyler Biggs, F- Took two early penalties and didn't get a whole lot accomplished. In fairness, he made a good, hart hit on an opponent and appeared to get called more because the hit looked worse than it was. He was then pushed into the Swiss netminder. Did have a nice offensive chance in the third period in front on a power play, but Boltshauser made a terrific stop to deny him.
Zac Larraza, F- Played a solid defensive game as he forechecked well and disrupted Swiss movement out of their own end. He's got size and is a good skater, but we can see that the offensive hockey sense/creativity is what may prevent him from being much of a scoring presence. Still, he deserves credit for skating hard and being one of the USA's best players early on when many of his teammates were settling in and trying to find their legs.
Luca Boltshauser, G- Superb game from the Swiss netminder who channeled his inner Benjamin Conz in this one. Not much he could do on either USA goal, and he showed strong positioning, quick reflexes and a good glove/blocker combo to deny several high USA shots that were labeled. Impressive start from a kid we weren't tracking at all, but will watch with interest the rest of the way.
Dean Kukan, D- Solid, unspectacular performance just like his scouting report says. Doesn't do much to stand out, which in his case, is a good thing.
Samuel Guerra, D- Decent feet and puck-moving ability. Seems to have pretty good poise and vision; moved the puck smartly and crisply. Formed Switzlerand's best D-pairing with Kukan.
Lino Marschini, F- Tiny winger who played for the Peterborough Petes this year can really move, but is a perimeter player. He doesn't have much room to grow and isn't seen in any NHL circles we've talked to as a legitimate prospect because of his lack of size and an overall aversion to traffic and and being able to play effectively in the dirty areas of the ice.
USA takes on Slovakia tomorrow morning, 9:30 a.m. (3:30 pm local).
Team USA won the game by a 2-1 score, opening the tourney with a victory in their quest for a three-peat at the U18s for the first time in USA Hockey history.
Gregory Hoffman is not on Team Switzerland because he's a late-1992 birthdate and therefore ineligible.
Like most first games of any tournament, it was a little ragged and sloppy at times, but the teams picked it up as the contest went on.
USA spent much of the game killing penalties, as the officials didn't miss many chances to send the Americans to the box. The players will need to make an effort to play more disciplined going forward. Some of the calls were questionable/marginal, but others were simply lazy.
We will just focus on the 2011 eligibles, although future draft picks like Nick Kerdiles, Henrik Samuelsson, Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba all played a solid game for USA.
Rocco Grimaldi, F- USA's most dangerous one-on-one player didn't get it cranked up until the last five minutes or so of the opening period, but was a presence the rest of the way. He's at his most lethal when he's jitterbugging through defenses and forcing players to try and keep up with him. Grimaldi has the supreme vision and ability to open up passing lanes and get the puck into prime scoring areas.
Reid Boucher, F- Scored a power play goal to make it 2-1 on a beautiful one-timer from the high slot after taking a pass from J.T. MIller. Didn't do a lot throughout the game, but when USA needed him to come through he was in the right place, right time and did not miss.
Robbie Russo, D- We've been critical of the average-sized puck mover who doesn't have high-end skills and hasn't produced much this season, but he was solid in the first game. The Notre Dame-bound defender skated hard all game and made good decisions with the puck. He wasn't spectacular, but did advance the puck and get involved in the offensive flow. Assisted on Boucher's power play tally in the third period. It wasn't a dominant performance from Russo, but it was a good start. USA needs him to step up his game like this the rest of the way.
Connor Murphy, D- A strong game from the son of the former Bruins defenseman and current Panthers assistant coach. Moved fluidly along the point and was getting his hard shot on net throughout several USA power plays. Has very nice size and athleticism. Worked well on a PP pairing with Jacob Trouba. Aggressive offensively and used his body to rub out Swiss players along the boards and in front of the net. JUst a solid two-way game from the defenseman who is rising on draft boards after missing much of the season with a back injury. This tournament is huge for Murphy's stock.
John Gibson, G- Alternated the 1st and 2nd periods looking very strong and a bit shaky at times. Stood tall in the first period when USA got into penalty trouble, but gave up first goal to the Swiss early in the second when he was flopping on the ice and lost stick after giving up a big rebound. Pulled it together and had a strong, composed third period. Makes tough stops look easy. Big, quick and doesn't give opponents much net to shoot at. At the end of the day, he got it done when it mattered, especially in the waning seconds when he made a save to prevent the Swiss from tying it up. Named player of the game for USA for the way he locked it down at crunch time. Looked every bit like the No. 1 goalie in this class according to majority of sources out there.
J.T. Miller, F- Had an up-and-down game. Skates well and protects the puck when driving to the net. Took several bad penalties to put his team in a bind, but the USA penalty killers came through. Looked uninvolved at times, while was a bull in a china shop at others, cycling the puck and maintaining pressure on the Swiss defense with possession. You can see that he has the wheels and skills to be an impact player, but he's got to work on tendency to disappear for stretches and resist trying to get too cute with the puck in the offensive zone.
Ryan Haggerty, F- Scored USA's first goal in a scrum after fighting for position. Had a pretty stealthy game beyond that. Just kept things simple and played an effective two-way game. Meat-and-potatoes player with some smarts- should be a solid NCAA forward for RPI.
Tyler Biggs, F- Took two early penalties and didn't get a whole lot accomplished. In fairness, he made a good, hart hit on an opponent and appeared to get called more because the hit looked worse than it was. He was then pushed into the Swiss netminder. Did have a nice offensive chance in the third period in front on a power play, but Boltshauser made a terrific stop to deny him.
Zac Larraza, F- Played a solid defensive game as he forechecked well and disrupted Swiss movement out of their own end. He's got size and is a good skater, but we can see that the offensive hockey sense/creativity is what may prevent him from being much of a scoring presence. Still, he deserves credit for skating hard and being one of the USA's best players early on when many of his teammates were settling in and trying to find their legs.
Luca Boltshauser, G- Superb game from the Swiss netminder who channeled his inner Benjamin Conz in this one. Not much he could do on either USA goal, and he showed strong positioning, quick reflexes and a good glove/blocker combo to deny several high USA shots that were labeled. Impressive start from a kid we weren't tracking at all, but will watch with interest the rest of the way.
Dean Kukan, D- Solid, unspectacular performance just like his scouting report says. Doesn't do much to stand out, which in his case, is a good thing.
Samuel Guerra, D- Decent feet and puck-moving ability. Seems to have pretty good poise and vision; moved the puck smartly and crisply. Formed Switzlerand's best D-pairing with Kukan.
Lino Marschini, F- Tiny winger who played for the Peterborough Petes this year can really move, but is a perimeter player. He doesn't have much room to grow and isn't seen in any NHL circles we've talked to as a legitimate prospect because of his lack of size and an overall aversion to traffic and and being able to play effectively in the dirty areas of the ice.
USA takes on Slovakia tomorrow morning, 9:30 a.m. (3:30 pm local).
Monday, April 11, 2011
Central North American Skaters final rankings: The next tier
In our last post, we looked at Central Scouting's top-10 North American skaters released today. Now, we'll look at the next tier of the first round, bringing you up to speed on most of the players from 11-30.
To see the Central final North American rankings, click on this link.
At 11, London Knights center Vladislav Namestnikov is a highly skilled and creative pivot who made the easy transition in his first North American season after coming over from Russia. Like Gabriel Landeskog, he has excellent command of the English language and speaks so well that aside from his slight accent, you would think he's just another kid from Oakville or even Milwaukee by the way he talks. He's also got the bloodlines: his father, Evgeny Namestnikov, was a defenseman played 43 NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders and Nashville Predators, but also spent more than 400 games in the AHL and IHL before returning to Russia. His mother's brother, is Vyacheslav Kozlov, the former Detroit Red Wings scorer and Stanley Cup champion.
Two intriguing defensemen are on the list at 12 and 13: Portland puck mover Joe Morrow, up four spots to 12 from mid-term and the huge but polarizing Jamie Oleksiak, who zipped up the rankings 14 spots from 27. Morrow has a big shot and sees the ice well with a good touch on the puck, while Oleksiak is a massive 6-7, 240-pounder with giant wingspan and good mobility and agility for such a huge kid. Some see real upside with him, but we have questions at this blog as to whether his decision-making, vision and overall feel for the game will allow him to be the Tyler Myers or Zdeno Chara-type player some are comparing him to. Oleksiak is a strong bet to play in the NHL, but if he's more of a role player, you don't want to spend a pick close to 10 on someone like that.
Two big centers with the same first name and some intriguing upside in Mark McNeill and Mark Scheifele are on the list at 14 and 16, as is winger Zack Phillips, the third Saint John player in the top-15. Phillips may not be a blazer, but as far as players with quick hands and the knack for being at the right place at the right time go in this class, there aren't many better than the former UMass recruit and Lawrence Academy standout who switched gears for major junior and a faster track to the NHL.
Brandon Saad fell down the list from 8 at mid-term to 19th. A poor finish and so-so playoffs likely contributed to the fall from grace for the power forward. We'll take a closer look at Saad and his declining stock in a later post.
Another big American who took an even more sizeable drop is Tyler Biggs (no pun intended), who went from 5th overall at mid-season to 22nd on the final list. Like Saad, we'll examine the reasons for this drop a little later on.
Biggs's NTDP teammate, J.T. Miller, dropped 10 spots from 13 to 23 likely on the lack of production. Although he has size and skills, he has yet to really put it all together and may be little more than a solid third-liner at the NHL level.
Defenseman Connor Murphy, who was an "LV" or limited viewing at mid-term because of a back injury, played his way into the top-25, and brings a lot of projectable tools and some offensive potential. The U18 tournament could make or break him as a legitimate rising star for this draft. He is just ahead of USHL rearguard Scott Mayfield, who is probably listed generously at 24, as his stock has taken a downturn based on assessments that he has not progressed much in Youngstown.
Matt Puempel is a curious selection at 28; he's up just one spot at 29, but it's hard to imagine that the 2010 CHL Rookie of the Year and a guy who scored 30+ in each of his two OHL seasons (and could have had 40 this year had he not been forced to shut it down with a hip injury when a month remained) would be drafted as low as the Central ranking indicates. Jeff Skinner redux, anyone?
Shane Prince also gets into the first round, moving up 9 spots from 35 to 26, which is good news for a skilled scoring winger. His size is the one real bugaboo, and he's been criticized for putting himself into vulnerable positions and getting lit up with big hits. He suffered shoulder and head injuries late in the season.
Swedish winger Rickard Rakell is another B2011DW favorite; a speedy, agitating forward who played very well at the WJC when Landeskog went down. He missed time due to a lower body injury, but got into the playoffs at the right moment, helping to defeat Kitchener in the opening series. He's not all that big or strong, but is capable of making big-time plays.
We will be back with more on Central's North American rankings later tonight.
To see the Central final North American rankings, click on this link.
At 11, London Knights center Vladislav Namestnikov is a highly skilled and creative pivot who made the easy transition in his first North American season after coming over from Russia. Like Gabriel Landeskog, he has excellent command of the English language and speaks so well that aside from his slight accent, you would think he's just another kid from Oakville or even Milwaukee by the way he talks. He's also got the bloodlines: his father, Evgeny Namestnikov, was a defenseman played 43 NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders and Nashville Predators, but also spent more than 400 games in the AHL and IHL before returning to Russia. His mother's brother, is Vyacheslav Kozlov, the former Detroit Red Wings scorer and Stanley Cup champion.
Two intriguing defensemen are on the list at 12 and 13: Portland puck mover Joe Morrow, up four spots to 12 from mid-term and the huge but polarizing Jamie Oleksiak, who zipped up the rankings 14 spots from 27. Morrow has a big shot and sees the ice well with a good touch on the puck, while Oleksiak is a massive 6-7, 240-pounder with giant wingspan and good mobility and agility for such a huge kid. Some see real upside with him, but we have questions at this blog as to whether his decision-making, vision and overall feel for the game will allow him to be the Tyler Myers or Zdeno Chara-type player some are comparing him to. Oleksiak is a strong bet to play in the NHL, but if he's more of a role player, you don't want to spend a pick close to 10 on someone like that.
Two big centers with the same first name and some intriguing upside in Mark McNeill and Mark Scheifele are on the list at 14 and 16, as is winger Zack Phillips, the third Saint John player in the top-15. Phillips may not be a blazer, but as far as players with quick hands and the knack for being at the right place at the right time go in this class, there aren't many better than the former UMass recruit and Lawrence Academy standout who switched gears for major junior and a faster track to the NHL.
Brandon Saad fell down the list from 8 at mid-term to 19th. A poor finish and so-so playoffs likely contributed to the fall from grace for the power forward. We'll take a closer look at Saad and his declining stock in a later post.
Another big American who took an even more sizeable drop is Tyler Biggs (no pun intended), who went from 5th overall at mid-season to 22nd on the final list. Like Saad, we'll examine the reasons for this drop a little later on.
Biggs's NTDP teammate, J.T. Miller, dropped 10 spots from 13 to 23 likely on the lack of production. Although he has size and skills, he has yet to really put it all together and may be little more than a solid third-liner at the NHL level.
Defenseman Connor Murphy, who was an "LV" or limited viewing at mid-term because of a back injury, played his way into the top-25, and brings a lot of projectable tools and some offensive potential. The U18 tournament could make or break him as a legitimate rising star for this draft. He is just ahead of USHL rearguard Scott Mayfield, who is probably listed generously at 24, as his stock has taken a downturn based on assessments that he has not progressed much in Youngstown.
Matt Puempel is a curious selection at 28; he's up just one spot at 29, but it's hard to imagine that the 2010 CHL Rookie of the Year and a guy who scored 30+ in each of his two OHL seasons (and could have had 40 this year had he not been forced to shut it down with a hip injury when a month remained) would be drafted as low as the Central ranking indicates. Jeff Skinner redux, anyone?
Shane Prince also gets into the first round, moving up 9 spots from 35 to 26, which is good news for a skilled scoring winger. His size is the one real bugaboo, and he's been criticized for putting himself into vulnerable positions and getting lit up with big hits. He suffered shoulder and head injuries late in the season.
Swedish winger Rickard Rakell is another B2011DW favorite; a speedy, agitating forward who played very well at the WJC when Landeskog went down. He missed time due to a lower body injury, but got into the playoffs at the right moment, helping to defeat Kitchener in the opening series. He's not all that big or strong, but is capable of making big-time plays.
We will be back with more on Central's North American rankings later tonight.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Team USA in Under-18 championship: Chance to threepeat
USA Hockey announced the roster for April's World Under-18 Championship squad, which will travel to Dresden, Germany to compete in the final IIHF tourney for most young draft eligibles before the 2011 NHL Draft.
Here's a quick look at some of the key roster players and what they bring to the mix. Not every roster player is featured here, but we're just going to cut to the chase and based on results, may cover some of the other players later on.
Not every player on the roster is a 2011 draft candidate, with a few '94s and even one late '94 (Seth Jones) who can't be drafted until 2013. In a later post, we'll take a 2012 and 2013 look ahead with some of the young players on the squad.
Conspicuously absent from the '94s is Sarnia Sting center Alex Galchenyuk, a Russian dual-citizen who recently declared his intention of playing for USA in the various international competitions. His omission is a topic for another day, but is certainly a hot button topic today.
Cole Bardreau, F- Hustling energy forward is a smart, gritty kid who can play a variety of roles for coach Ron Rolston and brings leadership and a sterling work ethic to the mix. Although undersized, he compensates for the lack of strength with his hockey sense and anticipation. He may not be a high-end NHL draft prospect, but he's such a competitor and smart player that he ends up being more than the sum of his parts at the end of the day. Scouts we've talked to essentially say the same thing: Bardreau doesn't have a ton of skill, but he's got a big heart. They don't want to like him, but after the game, they look back and he worked his bag off and made things happen. It's hard to say how attractive that will be to NHL teams come June, but he's certainly going to be a nice NCAA player for Cornell.
Tyler Biggs, F- If Coyotes defenseman Paul Bissonette has made a name for himself as "Biz Nasty" in the Twitterverse, then Biggs is your resident "Big Nasty" were he to decide to indulge in that social media platform. Biggs is a good skater, but his real value lies in his physical game and powerful shot. He's a momentum changer when he's banging bodies and making room for his linemates. He's shown a penchant to play with the kind of aggression and nastiness that NHL teams love. He doesn't have elite skills and the hockey sense is questionable, but Biggs's lure is such that he'll go in the first half of the 1st round or at least inside the top-20. Biggs is going to be a handful for the European opponents on the bigger ice surface in Germany, and he'll get an excellent challenge when USA takes on Canada.
Travis Boyd, F- The youngest player in 2011 draft class by virtue of Sep. 14, 1993 birthdate (the day before the cutoff), this Minnesotan could have been listed in the recent sleepers post on this blog because he is unranked by Central Scouting, but is likely on the radars of some NHL clubs as a late option. Talented byt not flashy, he has strong offensive hockey sense and makes underrated, smart plays all over the ice. He may be a tad overlooked up until now, but the Golden Gopher recruit could have a coming out party next month. He's someone to watch as a solid, well-rounded player who doesn't do anything exceptionally, but has no glaring holes in his game.
Ryan Haggerty, F- One of two New England natives on the roster (he and Paliotta are both from Connecticut), Haggerty is another unheralded, solid guy who can play a variety of roles, but doesn't bring any kind of real high-end upside to the mix. Smart, hard-working, gritty yet honest, his experience and strong performance in the Five Nations tourney in February is going to make him a useful if unspectacular part of a potential winning formula in April. He understands the system and plays it to a tee. Committed to RPI.
Rocco Grimaldi, F- This blog has covered Grimaldi in near excruciating detail of late, so there isn't much to say that we haven't already other than to opine that as the dynamic little California pepperpot goes, so do USA's hopes for a threepeat. He is absolutely suited for the wide-open play of the Under-18 tourney and could light it up the way he did in the Czech Republic last month. With his speed and skill, we believe he's going to keep raising his stock for the 2011 draft as the proverbial straw that stirs Team USA's drink on offense. If you love the USA, how can you not root for this epitome of the American dream?
Reid Boucher, F- Not very big, speedy or flashy, but this guy just knows how to get it done offensively. He led Team USA in scoring at the Five Nations and will need to again be a focal point for America's attack. Michigan State recruit is industrious and has off-the-charts hockey sense. He's not quite in Grimaldi's class offensively, but he is a dangerous scorer that opponents must account for.
Zac Larraza, F- As far as physical tools go, they don't come much better than this Arizonian. Good size? Check- 6-2, 195. Great skater? Check- rangy with quick burst and fluid stride and agility. Puck skills? Check- can make moves at speed and back defenses up. Where it gets dicey is in the intangibles department and thus far, he's not been able to put all of his impressive parts together. He's played better as the season progressed, and there is a lot of raw upside here, but some scouts just don't feel that he's ever going to get it. He's going to Denver University, so if he's going to develop into a legitimate NHL prospect, it will happen there or it won't happen anywhere. Worth a mid-round gamble because of what he brings to the table.
Adam Reid, F- Raw prospect has generated interest among NHL scouts because he's got the size, skill and upside to do more than he has in the NTDP to date. Northeastern recruit from California has a loping stride and brings some passion and intensity to the mix. He's a smart player who is starting to come on in terms of being a complete player as he grows into his nice 6-3 frame. He's more of a physical, grinding player, but with his hockey sense and soft hands, Reid could be much more even if the production hasn't arrived.
J.T. Miller, C- Another USA forward and draft prospect we've covered extensively on this blog, but Miller is heavy in the tools, not so accomplished with the production. This is a risky pick in the first round, but we're confident someone will take him because he is such a talented player. It isn't for a lack of trying that the offense has been slow in coming, and he's always willing to throw a hit or take the hit to make the play. He works hard, skates well and is a valuable presence. At the end of the day, however, you have to ask: "Where's the beef?" He and Grimaldi will get to keep working together with the Sioux in Grand Forks, N.D.
Blake Pietila, F- Stats do not tell the story for this strong defensive forward who brings a very high compete level and outstanding overall feel for the game. A relentless forechecker who has a knack for anticipating the play and intercepting errant passes, or forcing bad decisions because he's got such excellent closing ability and agility. One of the most dependable players on this squad, even if he doesn't put up big numbers. Michigan Tech is getting a good one in Pietila.
Connor Murphy, D- Team USA is thrilled to get this horse back just in time for the meaningful games. He was a big part of the silver medal-winning squad in Slovakia last August, and after battling back woes, got some action in at the Five Nations. He should have the rust knocked off his game in time to be one of the two-way anchors on defense. Good skater, big shot, solid positionally. Susceptible to the bad turnover when an aggressive forecheck takes away his time and space, but this kid could be a pretty high pick in June despite not having played many games.
Mike Paliotta, D- Solid, mobile shutdown defender has not put up the anticipated offense this season, but has the talent to be an effective player on the larger ice in Germany. We've liked Paliotta for some time, and he's a gutsy competitor who keeps it simple and doesn't try to do too much. He may not be the puck mover we thought when he was a prep standout a few years back, but he brings plenty to the table in terms of smarts and disciplined play.
Robbie Russo, D- USA needs Russo to step up and be for them what Adam Clendening was to the 2010 U18 champs. He can hit the long lead passes and has the vision/instincts to do more on the scoring ledger, so while this hasn't been a great year for the Notre Dame recruit, he has the potential to turn things around with a strong tournament. USA doesn't have the pure power shooters from the point that they did last year, so they'll need to get it done more with guile and smart distribution. It all starts with Russo and the team will be counting on him to make the right decisions.
John Gibson, G- Stud goalie is the workhorse that Team USA needs to jump on his back and ride all the way to a possible gold medal. If anyone can exhibit the requisite amount of skill and poise to win it all, Gibson can. We've talked about him enough, so check the labels and read up because aside from Grimaldi, Gibson is the one guy upon whose shoulders a threepeat rests.
Here's a quick look at some of the key roster players and what they bring to the mix. Not every roster player is featured here, but we're just going to cut to the chase and based on results, may cover some of the other players later on.
Not every player on the roster is a 2011 draft candidate, with a few '94s and even one late '94 (Seth Jones) who can't be drafted until 2013. In a later post, we'll take a 2012 and 2013 look ahead with some of the young players on the squad.
Conspicuously absent from the '94s is Sarnia Sting center Alex Galchenyuk, a Russian dual-citizen who recently declared his intention of playing for USA in the various international competitions. His omission is a topic for another day, but is certainly a hot button topic today.
Cole Bardreau, F- Hustling energy forward is a smart, gritty kid who can play a variety of roles for coach Ron Rolston and brings leadership and a sterling work ethic to the mix. Although undersized, he compensates for the lack of strength with his hockey sense and anticipation. He may not be a high-end NHL draft prospect, but he's such a competitor and smart player that he ends up being more than the sum of his parts at the end of the day. Scouts we've talked to essentially say the same thing: Bardreau doesn't have a ton of skill, but he's got a big heart. They don't want to like him, but after the game, they look back and he worked his bag off and made things happen. It's hard to say how attractive that will be to NHL teams come June, but he's certainly going to be a nice NCAA player for Cornell.
Tyler Biggs, F- If Coyotes defenseman Paul Bissonette has made a name for himself as "Biz Nasty" in the Twitterverse, then Biggs is your resident "Big Nasty" were he to decide to indulge in that social media platform. Biggs is a good skater, but his real value lies in his physical game and powerful shot. He's a momentum changer when he's banging bodies and making room for his linemates. He's shown a penchant to play with the kind of aggression and nastiness that NHL teams love. He doesn't have elite skills and the hockey sense is questionable, but Biggs's lure is such that he'll go in the first half of the 1st round or at least inside the top-20. Biggs is going to be a handful for the European opponents on the bigger ice surface in Germany, and he'll get an excellent challenge when USA takes on Canada.
Travis Boyd, F- The youngest player in 2011 draft class by virtue of Sep. 14, 1993 birthdate (the day before the cutoff), this Minnesotan could have been listed in the recent sleepers post on this blog because he is unranked by Central Scouting, but is likely on the radars of some NHL clubs as a late option. Talented byt not flashy, he has strong offensive hockey sense and makes underrated, smart plays all over the ice. He may be a tad overlooked up until now, but the Golden Gopher recruit could have a coming out party next month. He's someone to watch as a solid, well-rounded player who doesn't do anything exceptionally, but has no glaring holes in his game.
Ryan Haggerty, F- One of two New England natives on the roster (he and Paliotta are both from Connecticut), Haggerty is another unheralded, solid guy who can play a variety of roles, but doesn't bring any kind of real high-end upside to the mix. Smart, hard-working, gritty yet honest, his experience and strong performance in the Five Nations tourney in February is going to make him a useful if unspectacular part of a potential winning formula in April. He understands the system and plays it to a tee. Committed to RPI.
Rocco Grimaldi, F- This blog has covered Grimaldi in near excruciating detail of late, so there isn't much to say that we haven't already other than to opine that as the dynamic little California pepperpot goes, so do USA's hopes for a threepeat. He is absolutely suited for the wide-open play of the Under-18 tourney and could light it up the way he did in the Czech Republic last month. With his speed and skill, we believe he's going to keep raising his stock for the 2011 draft as the proverbial straw that stirs Team USA's drink on offense. If you love the USA, how can you not root for this epitome of the American dream?
Reid Boucher, F- Not very big, speedy or flashy, but this guy just knows how to get it done offensively. He led Team USA in scoring at the Five Nations and will need to again be a focal point for America's attack. Michigan State recruit is industrious and has off-the-charts hockey sense. He's not quite in Grimaldi's class offensively, but he is a dangerous scorer that opponents must account for.
Zac Larraza, F- As far as physical tools go, they don't come much better than this Arizonian. Good size? Check- 6-2, 195. Great skater? Check- rangy with quick burst and fluid stride and agility. Puck skills? Check- can make moves at speed and back defenses up. Where it gets dicey is in the intangibles department and thus far, he's not been able to put all of his impressive parts together. He's played better as the season progressed, and there is a lot of raw upside here, but some scouts just don't feel that he's ever going to get it. He's going to Denver University, so if he's going to develop into a legitimate NHL prospect, it will happen there or it won't happen anywhere. Worth a mid-round gamble because of what he brings to the table.
Adam Reid, F- Raw prospect has generated interest among NHL scouts because he's got the size, skill and upside to do more than he has in the NTDP to date. Northeastern recruit from California has a loping stride and brings some passion and intensity to the mix. He's a smart player who is starting to come on in terms of being a complete player as he grows into his nice 6-3 frame. He's more of a physical, grinding player, but with his hockey sense and soft hands, Reid could be much more even if the production hasn't arrived.
J.T. Miller, C- Another USA forward and draft prospect we've covered extensively on this blog, but Miller is heavy in the tools, not so accomplished with the production. This is a risky pick in the first round, but we're confident someone will take him because he is such a talented player. It isn't for a lack of trying that the offense has been slow in coming, and he's always willing to throw a hit or take the hit to make the play. He works hard, skates well and is a valuable presence. At the end of the day, however, you have to ask: "Where's the beef?" He and Grimaldi will get to keep working together with the Sioux in Grand Forks, N.D.
Blake Pietila, F- Stats do not tell the story for this strong defensive forward who brings a very high compete level and outstanding overall feel for the game. A relentless forechecker who has a knack for anticipating the play and intercepting errant passes, or forcing bad decisions because he's got such excellent closing ability and agility. One of the most dependable players on this squad, even if he doesn't put up big numbers. Michigan Tech is getting a good one in Pietila.
Connor Murphy, D- Team USA is thrilled to get this horse back just in time for the meaningful games. He was a big part of the silver medal-winning squad in Slovakia last August, and after battling back woes, got some action in at the Five Nations. He should have the rust knocked off his game in time to be one of the two-way anchors on defense. Good skater, big shot, solid positionally. Susceptible to the bad turnover when an aggressive forecheck takes away his time and space, but this kid could be a pretty high pick in June despite not having played many games.
Mike Paliotta, D- Solid, mobile shutdown defender has not put up the anticipated offense this season, but has the talent to be an effective player on the larger ice in Germany. We've liked Paliotta for some time, and he's a gutsy competitor who keeps it simple and doesn't try to do too much. He may not be the puck mover we thought when he was a prep standout a few years back, but he brings plenty to the table in terms of smarts and disciplined play.
Robbie Russo, D- USA needs Russo to step up and be for them what Adam Clendening was to the 2010 U18 champs. He can hit the long lead passes and has the vision/instincts to do more on the scoring ledger, so while this hasn't been a great year for the Notre Dame recruit, he has the potential to turn things around with a strong tournament. USA doesn't have the pure power shooters from the point that they did last year, so they'll need to get it done more with guile and smart distribution. It all starts with Russo and the team will be counting on him to make the right decisions.
John Gibson, G- Stud goalie is the workhorse that Team USA needs to jump on his back and ride all the way to a possible gold medal. If anyone can exhibit the requisite amount of skill and poise to win it all, Gibson can. We've talked about him enough, so check the labels and read up because aside from Grimaldi, Gibson is the one guy upon whose shoulders a threepeat rests.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
U.S. and Canada Juniors 2010-11 regular season roundup
We're checking back in with another installment of player recaps for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft from the USHL, CJHL and EJHL for regular season.
It is a down year for most of the Jr. A and Tier 2 leagues this year according to multiple NHL and independent sources we've talked to, but there is still talent to be had. Nobody's going to make an immediate impact, but teams looking for developmental projects with some upside can find some guys as long as they are willing to be patient and accept some risk.
We polled several NHL scouts with junior knowledge as well as Red Line Report's Max Giese, who has the pulse on the USHL and NCAA in the midwest.
"Overall it's a pretty bad year," Giese told B2011DW of the USHL draft crop. "The top guys let you down a bit this year and there were not many pleasant surprises, either. People were saying a few years ago that the '93s were not a great class as a whole, and based on what I've seen from them in the USHL, those thoughts are on the mark."
So, with that in mind- here is the Jr. A/Tier 2 review for 2011:
1. Tyler Biggs, RW U.S. NTDP (USHL)- In the minds of several of our panel, Biggs is the best player to come out of the USHL and all of Jr. A/Tier 2 this season. Much of the discussion around the son of former minor league star Don Biggs has centered around the fact that he's being projected as more of a third-line player in the NHL. At 6-2, 210 the younger Biggs has the size and plays with a real aggressive mean streak and chip on his shoulder. He sleepwalks at times, which has been a drawback, but has pretty quick hands and a powerful shot. When he's on his game, Biggs is a hitter and throws his body around in intimidating fashion. His skating's not an issue, but the real concern teams have on him is with his hockey sense; he's not very creative and pretty much just drives the puck to the net but doesn't see the ice all that well and isn't able to get much done on his own.
The questions about his creativity are what lead Biggs to be seen as a 3rd/4th-line kind of checker/banger at the NHL level. But with just 7 goals and 11 points in 20 USHL games this year with the Under-18 team, the Miami University (OH) recruit is a bit of a wildcard- he could be a Milan Lucic kind of guy, or he might end up being Mike Brown. That's where Biggs will require a leap of faith for an NHL team to take him earlier. You might see a similar effect to Adam Clendening, where a team with several picks in each of the first two rounds gambles on a player like Biggs, whereas a club with just one in the 1st or 2nd shies away from him because they don't think they can afford to spend the pick on a guy who may just be lower-end grinder. It's all going to come down to how an NHL team views Biggs- if that staff sees a bigger picture upside with him, he could be a top-15 pick, but it's going to take a team really believing in him to do that because the conventional wisdom just doesn't see him achieving true power forward status.
2. Scott Mayfield, D Youngstown (USHL)- It has been a confounding year for the St. Louis native and Denver University recruit who wowed NHL scouts at the Research & Development Camp last August by forming a massive but mobile shutdown pairing with Mike McKee. At 6-4, 200 pounds Mayfield has size and skating ability plus good puck skills and above average hockey sense going for him. He also plays a physical, hard-nosed game and is a pretty complete two-way defenseman when on his game. Unfortunately, he's playing on one of the worst USHL teams in Youngstown and hasn't gotten much help in terms of development this season, which has ultimately hurt his stock a bit after posting just 6 goals and 13 points in 45 games with the Phantoms this season after an impressive 10-12-22 campaign as a rookie last year.
"He came to the USHL as a late-bloomer needing some coaching and development and didn't get it," said one scout commenting on the Youngstown situation. "On top of that, they had him playing about 30 minutes a night, so he was gassed and prone to making mistakes. He just doesn't have much help on that team." The good news for Mayfield is that by going to DU, he will be on one of the top NCAA programs in terms of developing and preparing its players for the pro hockey ranks. Coach George Gwozdecky is one of the most respected coaches among NHL teams in that regard.
Giese has seen a lot of Mayfield going back to last season and had this to say about him: "He's definitely number one in the USHL (in my opinion) and has got by far the most upside of any of the kids," Giese told B2011DW. "He's massive, is an excellent skater, moves the puck pretty good and plays with some real physical aggression. If you're an NHL team and are thinking big picture, he's still a first-round pick and when he gets to a new location, he could be one of those players people are going to look back on and wonder why he went lower in the draft, which is the way things look for him right now."
USHL Radio Show interviews Mayfield back in November.
3. J.T. Miller, C U.S. NTDP (USHL)- Disappointing season for a player who has all the physical tools and skills to be a high-end NHL prospect, but who probably lacks the pure hockey sense to ever be the sum of his very impressive parts. Another Ohio native like Biggs, Miller is 6-1, 198 pounds with room to fill out and add strength to his lean but athletic frame. He's a very good skater with acceleration and agility, as well as that second gear that allows him to gain separation in the open ice. Miller is also a slick puckhandler who can make an array of moves to shake defenders or open up space for him on the ice. Some reports have him possessing solid vision and sense, but other scouts disagree, feeling that he's too talented a player to not have had more production and success given his high-end talent level. It's a difference of opinion, and likely the NHL team that pounces on Miller is going to be on the side of those who feel his instincts are fine. Still, with just 3 goals and 15 points in 21 USHL games this year, Miller is only fourth on his team in scoring. As some of the critics have said- he may not be much more than a 3rd-liner in the NHL.
4. Rocco Grimaldi, U.S. NTDP (USHL)- The U.S. team's top scorer and pure talent is an exciting player to watch and plays with so much passion and energy its hard not to root for him. He had a terrific Five Nations performance in February and in 23 USHL games this season has 12 goals and 25 points, which is pretty good considering he is just 5-6 and about 160. Where the concerns come in are tied to how he projects in the NHL. Few doubt that he's going to be an impactful and productive NCAA player right off the bat because his speed, hands and hockey IQ are all top caliber. But the worry is that he doesn't appear to have any more growing to do or weight/mass to add on his tiny frame, meaning that he's likely going to have to play in the pros at 160-170 pounds. That's tough for NHL clubs, even with they love a player's skill, to bite the bullet on, especially with so much at stake in terms of fewer picks in a seven-round draft and the salary cap making organization building from within so much more important than it used to be when teams could cover draft mistakes with cash.
Make no mistake- Grimaldi has the skill to be an NHL player, and with his heart, he probably will be one someday. But, he is still a risk of a player when you're talking about taking him in the top-15 or 20. "To me what he did in Europe is not a big surprise," Giese said of Grimaldi. "That's where he thrives- on the wider ice surface, playing other skill teams like Sweden and Russia. When you're scouting him, you're not projecting him as an international player, but in the NHL, so the questions you have to answer are: will he find a way in the NHL?"
Jerome at NHL Draft Video has this shootout goal from Grimaldi for us.
5. John Gibson, G U.S. NTDP (USHL)- This Pittsburgh native and University of Michigan recruit (after he broke verbal commitment with Ohio State) will battle Samu Perhonen for top goalie honors for this class in our view. At 6-3, 185 he's got the ideal size and athleticism for the position. He's lean, but guys like Tuukka Rask have proven that speed and power need not be sacrificed for mass. Scouts like his poise and competitiveness. He's similar to Dallas first-rounder Jack Campbell in terms of mental makeup and work ethic. We covered Gibson and the goalie class pretty extensively, so there isn't much else to say about Gibson other than he's the cream of the USHL crop as far as goalies go, and could carry that over to the entire 2011 class. But, because teams are figuring out more and more that high picks need not be invested in goalies, Gibson could fall into the second round. In 17 USHL games, he is 9-4-3 with a 2.38 GAA and .926 save percentage. He was excellent at the Five Nations in February and if USA is going to win an unprecedented (for USA Hockey) third consecutive gold medal at the World Under-18 Championship next month, Gibson will have to steal the show like Campbell did a year ago in Belarus. Tall order, but he has the potential to do it.
6. Seth Ambroz, RW Omaha (USHL)- Along with Victor Rask and Shane McColgan, Ambroz is one of the 2011 draft's most disappointing players. A manchild who emerged several years ago as a physically dominant power winger with high upside as a scorer simply has not progressed and in fact, has regressed in the eyes of many scouts, including Giese. At 6-3, 211 the feeling is that he's already reached his physical peak and isn't going to grow more or get much stronger than he already is. His skating is a major red flag, as he not only lacks first step quickness, but doesn't get up to speed all that well and is constantly trailing the play. He has tremendous hands and a wicked release and powerful shot, but lacks the creativity and sense to get into position to use it as much as he should.
He may have size, but scouts are concerned that he hasn't used it much this season, which is a huge drawback to a player like him given what was expected. There's also an issue of work ethic, which has been said in more than one circle- over the summers, Ambroz has passed on offers to do some elite level developmental work in favor of staying home in Minnesota. If he were an elite product, that would be one thing, but he's got some real holes in his game and putting in the work would have sent the right message to NHL teams. Someone is going to take him pretty high because of the prodigious size and potential upside, but with just 21 goals and 40 points in 51 games for Omaha, so much more was expected. If Ambroz ends up being a bust, it won't come as a surprise for many folks who have followed him. Overrated if anyone is talking about him in the top-30. Probably doesn't even become a legitimate value pick until the mid-3rd round or so.
Jerome has a compilation vid on Ambroz from late last season when he was being viewed as a 1st rounder. Good stuff
7. Mike Paliotta, D U.S. NTDP (USHL)- We really like and respect Paliotta here at B2011DW after watching him two years ago at Choate, but his stock has fallen off a bit this season after he was being projected as a potential first-round pick coming into the campaign. He's big and mobile; at about 6-4, 195 he's got to get stronger and will be an even better skater when he can generate more power in his long, fluid stride. He's solid in his own end and has the look of a strong positional defender at the very least when you factor in his mobility and decent footwork. He's only an average passer and simply hasn't taken that anticipated in the offensive aspects of his game to justify a first-round selection. The second round could also be in jeopardy for him much like what happened with Penguins farmhand and former BU Terrier Brian Strait in 2006- a player who was seen as a solid top-60 pick, but fell to the early third round because of concerns about the offensive upside and a lack of production during his draft year, which incidentally, was also in Ann Arbor with the NTDP. In 24 USHL games, Paliotta has just 4 assists. He's a solid, intelligent kid and is headed to University of Vermont next fall, but the concerns about his puck skills and vision/instincts are going to drop him in our estimation.
8. Destry Straight, C Coquitlam (BCHL)- The first non-USHLer comes to us by way of the BCHL, the league that produced last year's first-rounder Beau Bennett for Pittsburgh. Boston College recruit has nice height (6-1) and hockey skills, but is very slender and not all that strong. He's got a lot of work to do off the ice and is a long-term investment kind of player for whichever team drafts him. He was productive for the Express this season with 26 goals and 67 points in 59 games. The West Vancouver native brings good hands and creativity to the mix as an effective playmaker who is always around the puck, but does not play a very physical game at all mainly because he's a stringbean right now who is physically underdeveloped. He brings some interesting potential to the mix even if he is on the long road to pro hockey.
9. Colten St. Clair, C Fargo (USHL)- Although not very big at 5-11, 190 pounds, St. Clair is strong on his skates and has the ability to get up under bigger guys who try to take runs at him to stay on his feet. He plays a physical style and shows off a good energy level. Ryan Clark, a hockey writer who covers the Fargo Force said that St. Clair has shown some good potential in flashes, but he is still a work in progress overall. Scouts we've talked to are only lukewarm on St. Clair, however and see him as more of a defensive player with limited NHL upside. The Arizona native has the look of a guy who will be a solid NCAA player and journeyman pro in the minor leagues, but simply does not possess the high-end skill set to be a long-term NHL player. At the same time, his effort and energy level is an asset and he could work hard enough to surprise. Longshot, but worth putting in the top-10 for now. Battled injuries this season- tallied 11 goals and 25 points in 39 games playing on the same team as Bruins prospect "the great" Zane Gothberg.
10. Evan Rodrigues, C Georgetown (OJHL)- Skilled little guy who has some real speed and hands, scoring 21 goals and 54 points for the Raiders this season in just 37 games. He's creative and always looking to score, but at 5-10, 170 is not strong and scouts we've talked to consider him to be a pretty soft player. Another undersized player who has missed time to injuries this season, his production in the OJHL is certainly a quality aspect to him- he tallied 20 goals and 51 points last season (in 56 games), so his developmental curve has been on an upward path. Intriguing late-round option and someone could jump up to take him as early as the 4th round.
11. Reid Boucher, LW U.S. NTDP (USHL)- Another small guy who just knows how to put the puck in the net. Led all scorers at the Five Nations in February. Different from Grimaldi in that he lacks Rocco's explosiveness and dynamic element, but uses his quickness, agility and killer instinct to bury chances in close. Has a very quick stick and is able to fight off defenders to get his lumber on the puck and get it on net in tight quarters. High compete level and just doesn't quit on a play even though he's smaller than most of the guys he's going up against. Low center of gravity makes him difficult to knock off stride and he keeps his feet moving. Going to Michigan State and should be a popular and productive player there for the Spartans. Scored 14 goals and 20 points in 24 USHL contests for the Under-18 team this season. As a Sep. 8, 1993 birthdate, one of the youngest players in the 2011 draft.
12. Connor Murphy, D U.S. NTDP (USHL)- If not for a back injury that kept him out for most of the year, Murphy would likely be higher on this list. At 6-3, 200 pounds, and with his NHL bloodlines, he's got plenty of the right attributes NHL teams love, even if he didn't get many games in. He played a very good Ivan Hlinka tourney in August, showing off good skating ability, a powerful shot and good defense in terms of exhibiting proper gap control, an active stick and taking the body. His hockey sense is a bit of a question at this point. He isn't the best player under pressure and in the face of an aggressive forecheck. His durability is also an issue; last season a spleen injury kept him out for extended action (2 games in USHL with Under-17 team) and this season, he only managed 9 total USHL games, but has scored 3 goals and 4 points for the Under-18 squad. He played in the Five Nations and acquitted himself well after being on the shelf for so long. This is the kind of player who is going to go off the board earlier than anticipated because even with the injury concerns, he simply has too much going for him in terms of physical attributes and upside.
13. Robbie Russo, D U.S. NTDP (USHL)-Smallish (5-11, 190) two-way defender is popular on some lists, but we're not among them. Too many of our sources question Russo's overall upside and inability to get much done offensively. As much as you hate to bang on a guy, he just does absolutely nothing for us as someone who lacks the size, speed and creativity to be the guy he's being hyped as: a puck mover with two-way potential in the NHL. He'll go to Notre Dame and perhaps elevate his pro potential there, but this season has been a wash, with just 6 assists in 24 USHL games with the Under-18 team.
14. Matthew Peca, LW Pembroke (CJHL)- Dynamic and hustling little bugger is only 5-9, 165 pounds but plays with a lot of energy and hustle. He scored 26 goals and 72 points for the Pembroke Lumber Kings at a much lower level than most draft prospects, but with his wheels, hockey sense and attitude is one of those guys you root for to achieve an NHL spot one day despite being a longshot. Red Line Report lauded him for his vision and soft hands. Made a name for himself at the World Jr. A Challenge. He was 110th on RLR's March rankings, and given that his coach, Sheldon Keefe, has said that plenty of NHL scouts have come out to see him this season, he should get picked up at some point. He is not related to former NHL player Michael Peca, but plays a similar style. Going to Quinnipiac for college next season and watch for him to be a successful player there given his all-around game and high compete levels.
15. Brennan Serville, D Stouffville (OJHL)- Good-sized defender at 6-3, 180 plays a pretty simple, no-frills game. Uses his body and reach to keep opponents away from the prime scoring areas of the ice. Nothing flashy, just rugged and honest. A good, not great skater; decent enough footwork, and not lumbering or awkward in his movements. Suffered an -ahem- gruesome lower body/groin injury from an errant skate blade at the World Jr. A Challenge and missed a lot of action there because of it but is OK (whew!). He's a University of Michigan recruit and should remind Wolverines fans a lot of former UM defender Mark Mitera. Was originally drafted in the OHL by the Sudbury Wolves but appears pretty committed to going the NCAA route. The Pickering, Ontario native had 3 goals and 30 points in 36 games with the Spirit this season, with a 1-8-9 line in 16 postseason games.
16. Charles Orzetti, LW New Jersey Hitmen (EJHL)- Gigantic winger (6-4, 220) from New Jersey is all raw potential and intriguing potential at this point. The Feb. 1992 birthdate and former Delbarton School standout missed all of last season with an injury and therefore was not drafted, but after 10 goals and 22 points in 29 games in the EJHL, he might get a very late look. Yale recruit is not much of a skater, but plays with an edge and has good hands in close. If he can pick up a few steps and continue playing a hard-nosed, physical game, he has potential as a lower-line player who brings toughness to the mix for his NHL club.
17. Brian Billett, G N.H. Jr. Monarchs (EJHL)- If you followed read B2010DW last season, you know how much we loved Billett. Much to our chagrin, the 6-1 netminder from Maine by way of Florida and South Carolina (his dad was in the Navy) was passed over in the draft after leading the Monarchs to the 2010 EJHL title, and the national Tier II Jr. championship in 2009. Well, he did it again this season- capturing another EJHL championship for the Monarchs and will go to Boston College, whose season ended on a crushing note to Colorado College last night. He's a butterfly goalie who manages to stay calm and composed in big games. This season, he went 19-2-1 with a 1.93 GAA and .930 save percentage. In the playoffs he was even better, going 6-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .950 save percentage. If we were on an NHL staff he would have been picked in 2010, so the question is- will some team step up to grab him. It isn't like he's a small guy a la John Muse and since 2009, he's gone 40-4-4 for Sean Tremblays powerhouse Monarchs, but the thing is- despite not seeing a lot of shots, he still makes the big stops and keeps his save percentage above 93 percent- that's remarkable for a team that doesn't give up a lot of scoring opportunities. He's a solid citizen and deserves a chance- we're still believers.
It is a down year for most of the Jr. A and Tier 2 leagues this year according to multiple NHL and independent sources we've talked to, but there is still talent to be had. Nobody's going to make an immediate impact, but teams looking for developmental projects with some upside can find some guys as long as they are willing to be patient and accept some risk.
We polled several NHL scouts with junior knowledge as well as Red Line Report's Max Giese, who has the pulse on the USHL and NCAA in the midwest.
"Overall it's a pretty bad year," Giese told B2011DW of the USHL draft crop. "The top guys let you down a bit this year and there were not many pleasant surprises, either. People were saying a few years ago that the '93s were not a great class as a whole, and based on what I've seen from them in the USHL, those thoughts are on the mark."
So, with that in mind- here is the Jr. A/Tier 2 review for 2011:
1. Tyler Biggs, RW U.S. NTDP (USHL)- In the minds of several of our panel, Biggs is the best player to come out of the USHL and all of Jr. A/Tier 2 this season. Much of the discussion around the son of former minor league star Don Biggs has centered around the fact that he's being projected as more of a third-line player in the NHL. At 6-2, 210 the younger Biggs has the size and plays with a real aggressive mean streak and chip on his shoulder. He sleepwalks at times, which has been a drawback, but has pretty quick hands and a powerful shot. When he's on his game, Biggs is a hitter and throws his body around in intimidating fashion. His skating's not an issue, but the real concern teams have on him is with his hockey sense; he's not very creative and pretty much just drives the puck to the net but doesn't see the ice all that well and isn't able to get much done on his own.
The questions about his creativity are what lead Biggs to be seen as a 3rd/4th-line kind of checker/banger at the NHL level. But with just 7 goals and 11 points in 20 USHL games this year with the Under-18 team, the Miami University (OH) recruit is a bit of a wildcard- he could be a Milan Lucic kind of guy, or he might end up being Mike Brown. That's where Biggs will require a leap of faith for an NHL team to take him earlier. You might see a similar effect to Adam Clendening, where a team with several picks in each of the first two rounds gambles on a player like Biggs, whereas a club with just one in the 1st or 2nd shies away from him because they don't think they can afford to spend the pick on a guy who may just be lower-end grinder. It's all going to come down to how an NHL team views Biggs- if that staff sees a bigger picture upside with him, he could be a top-15 pick, but it's going to take a team really believing in him to do that because the conventional wisdom just doesn't see him achieving true power forward status.
2. Scott Mayfield, D Youngstown (USHL)- It has been a confounding year for the St. Louis native and Denver University recruit who wowed NHL scouts at the Research & Development Camp last August by forming a massive but mobile shutdown pairing with Mike McKee. At 6-4, 200 pounds Mayfield has size and skating ability plus good puck skills and above average hockey sense going for him. He also plays a physical, hard-nosed game and is a pretty complete two-way defenseman when on his game. Unfortunately, he's playing on one of the worst USHL teams in Youngstown and hasn't gotten much help in terms of development this season, which has ultimately hurt his stock a bit after posting just 6 goals and 13 points in 45 games with the Phantoms this season after an impressive 10-12-22 campaign as a rookie last year.
"He came to the USHL as a late-bloomer needing some coaching and development and didn't get it," said one scout commenting on the Youngstown situation. "On top of that, they had him playing about 30 minutes a night, so he was gassed and prone to making mistakes. He just doesn't have much help on that team." The good news for Mayfield is that by going to DU, he will be on one of the top NCAA programs in terms of developing and preparing its players for the pro hockey ranks. Coach George Gwozdecky is one of the most respected coaches among NHL teams in that regard.
Giese has seen a lot of Mayfield going back to last season and had this to say about him: "He's definitely number one in the USHL (in my opinion) and has got by far the most upside of any of the kids," Giese told B2011DW. "He's massive, is an excellent skater, moves the puck pretty good and plays with some real physical aggression. If you're an NHL team and are thinking big picture, he's still a first-round pick and when he gets to a new location, he could be one of those players people are going to look back on and wonder why he went lower in the draft, which is the way things look for him right now."
USHL Radio Show interviews Mayfield back in November.
3. J.T. Miller, C U.S. NTDP (USHL)- Disappointing season for a player who has all the physical tools and skills to be a high-end NHL prospect, but who probably lacks the pure hockey sense to ever be the sum of his very impressive parts. Another Ohio native like Biggs, Miller is 6-1, 198 pounds with room to fill out and add strength to his lean but athletic frame. He's a very good skater with acceleration and agility, as well as that second gear that allows him to gain separation in the open ice. Miller is also a slick puckhandler who can make an array of moves to shake defenders or open up space for him on the ice. Some reports have him possessing solid vision and sense, but other scouts disagree, feeling that he's too talented a player to not have had more production and success given his high-end talent level. It's a difference of opinion, and likely the NHL team that pounces on Miller is going to be on the side of those who feel his instincts are fine. Still, with just 3 goals and 15 points in 21 USHL games this year, Miller is only fourth on his team in scoring. As some of the critics have said- he may not be much more than a 3rd-liner in the NHL.
4. Rocco Grimaldi, U.S. NTDP (USHL)- The U.S. team's top scorer and pure talent is an exciting player to watch and plays with so much passion and energy its hard not to root for him. He had a terrific Five Nations performance in February and in 23 USHL games this season has 12 goals and 25 points, which is pretty good considering he is just 5-6 and about 160. Where the concerns come in are tied to how he projects in the NHL. Few doubt that he's going to be an impactful and productive NCAA player right off the bat because his speed, hands and hockey IQ are all top caliber. But the worry is that he doesn't appear to have any more growing to do or weight/mass to add on his tiny frame, meaning that he's likely going to have to play in the pros at 160-170 pounds. That's tough for NHL clubs, even with they love a player's skill, to bite the bullet on, especially with so much at stake in terms of fewer picks in a seven-round draft and the salary cap making organization building from within so much more important than it used to be when teams could cover draft mistakes with cash.
Make no mistake- Grimaldi has the skill to be an NHL player, and with his heart, he probably will be one someday. But, he is still a risk of a player when you're talking about taking him in the top-15 or 20. "To me what he did in Europe is not a big surprise," Giese said of Grimaldi. "That's where he thrives- on the wider ice surface, playing other skill teams like Sweden and Russia. When you're scouting him, you're not projecting him as an international player, but in the NHL, so the questions you have to answer are: will he find a way in the NHL?"
Jerome at NHL Draft Video has this shootout goal from Grimaldi for us.
5. John Gibson, G U.S. NTDP (USHL)- This Pittsburgh native and University of Michigan recruit (after he broke verbal commitment with Ohio State) will battle Samu Perhonen for top goalie honors for this class in our view. At 6-3, 185 he's got the ideal size and athleticism for the position. He's lean, but guys like Tuukka Rask have proven that speed and power need not be sacrificed for mass. Scouts like his poise and competitiveness. He's similar to Dallas first-rounder Jack Campbell in terms of mental makeup and work ethic. We covered Gibson and the goalie class pretty extensively, so there isn't much else to say about Gibson other than he's the cream of the USHL crop as far as goalies go, and could carry that over to the entire 2011 class. But, because teams are figuring out more and more that high picks need not be invested in goalies, Gibson could fall into the second round. In 17 USHL games, he is 9-4-3 with a 2.38 GAA and .926 save percentage. He was excellent at the Five Nations in February and if USA is going to win an unprecedented (for USA Hockey) third consecutive gold medal at the World Under-18 Championship next month, Gibson will have to steal the show like Campbell did a year ago in Belarus. Tall order, but he has the potential to do it.
6. Seth Ambroz, RW Omaha (USHL)- Along with Victor Rask and Shane McColgan, Ambroz is one of the 2011 draft's most disappointing players. A manchild who emerged several years ago as a physically dominant power winger with high upside as a scorer simply has not progressed and in fact, has regressed in the eyes of many scouts, including Giese. At 6-3, 211 the feeling is that he's already reached his physical peak and isn't going to grow more or get much stronger than he already is. His skating is a major red flag, as he not only lacks first step quickness, but doesn't get up to speed all that well and is constantly trailing the play. He has tremendous hands and a wicked release and powerful shot, but lacks the creativity and sense to get into position to use it as much as he should.
He may have size, but scouts are concerned that he hasn't used it much this season, which is a huge drawback to a player like him given what was expected. There's also an issue of work ethic, which has been said in more than one circle- over the summers, Ambroz has passed on offers to do some elite level developmental work in favor of staying home in Minnesota. If he were an elite product, that would be one thing, but he's got some real holes in his game and putting in the work would have sent the right message to NHL teams. Someone is going to take him pretty high because of the prodigious size and potential upside, but with just 21 goals and 40 points in 51 games for Omaha, so much more was expected. If Ambroz ends up being a bust, it won't come as a surprise for many folks who have followed him. Overrated if anyone is talking about him in the top-30. Probably doesn't even become a legitimate value pick until the mid-3rd round or so.
Jerome has a compilation vid on Ambroz from late last season when he was being viewed as a 1st rounder. Good stuff
7. Mike Paliotta, D U.S. NTDP (USHL)- We really like and respect Paliotta here at B2011DW after watching him two years ago at Choate, but his stock has fallen off a bit this season after he was being projected as a potential first-round pick coming into the campaign. He's big and mobile; at about 6-4, 195 he's got to get stronger and will be an even better skater when he can generate more power in his long, fluid stride. He's solid in his own end and has the look of a strong positional defender at the very least when you factor in his mobility and decent footwork. He's only an average passer and simply hasn't taken that anticipated in the offensive aspects of his game to justify a first-round selection. The second round could also be in jeopardy for him much like what happened with Penguins farmhand and former BU Terrier Brian Strait in 2006- a player who was seen as a solid top-60 pick, but fell to the early third round because of concerns about the offensive upside and a lack of production during his draft year, which incidentally, was also in Ann Arbor with the NTDP. In 24 USHL games, Paliotta has just 4 assists. He's a solid, intelligent kid and is headed to University of Vermont next fall, but the concerns about his puck skills and vision/instincts are going to drop him in our estimation.
8. Destry Straight, C Coquitlam (BCHL)- The first non-USHLer comes to us by way of the BCHL, the league that produced last year's first-rounder Beau Bennett for Pittsburgh. Boston College recruit has nice height (6-1) and hockey skills, but is very slender and not all that strong. He's got a lot of work to do off the ice and is a long-term investment kind of player for whichever team drafts him. He was productive for the Express this season with 26 goals and 67 points in 59 games. The West Vancouver native brings good hands and creativity to the mix as an effective playmaker who is always around the puck, but does not play a very physical game at all mainly because he's a stringbean right now who is physically underdeveloped. He brings some interesting potential to the mix even if he is on the long road to pro hockey.
9. Colten St. Clair, C Fargo (USHL)- Although not very big at 5-11, 190 pounds, St. Clair is strong on his skates and has the ability to get up under bigger guys who try to take runs at him to stay on his feet. He plays a physical style and shows off a good energy level. Ryan Clark, a hockey writer who covers the Fargo Force said that St. Clair has shown some good potential in flashes, but he is still a work in progress overall. Scouts we've talked to are only lukewarm on St. Clair, however and see him as more of a defensive player with limited NHL upside. The Arizona native has the look of a guy who will be a solid NCAA player and journeyman pro in the minor leagues, but simply does not possess the high-end skill set to be a long-term NHL player. At the same time, his effort and energy level is an asset and he could work hard enough to surprise. Longshot, but worth putting in the top-10 for now. Battled injuries this season- tallied 11 goals and 25 points in 39 games playing on the same team as Bruins prospect "the great" Zane Gothberg.
10. Evan Rodrigues, C Georgetown (OJHL)- Skilled little guy who has some real speed and hands, scoring 21 goals and 54 points for the Raiders this season in just 37 games. He's creative and always looking to score, but at 5-10, 170 is not strong and scouts we've talked to consider him to be a pretty soft player. Another undersized player who has missed time to injuries this season, his production in the OJHL is certainly a quality aspect to him- he tallied 20 goals and 51 points last season (in 56 games), so his developmental curve has been on an upward path. Intriguing late-round option and someone could jump up to take him as early as the 4th round.
11. Reid Boucher, LW U.S. NTDP (USHL)- Another small guy who just knows how to put the puck in the net. Led all scorers at the Five Nations in February. Different from Grimaldi in that he lacks Rocco's explosiveness and dynamic element, but uses his quickness, agility and killer instinct to bury chances in close. Has a very quick stick and is able to fight off defenders to get his lumber on the puck and get it on net in tight quarters. High compete level and just doesn't quit on a play even though he's smaller than most of the guys he's going up against. Low center of gravity makes him difficult to knock off stride and he keeps his feet moving. Going to Michigan State and should be a popular and productive player there for the Spartans. Scored 14 goals and 20 points in 24 USHL contests for the Under-18 team this season. As a Sep. 8, 1993 birthdate, one of the youngest players in the 2011 draft.
12. Connor Murphy, D U.S. NTDP (USHL)- If not for a back injury that kept him out for most of the year, Murphy would likely be higher on this list. At 6-3, 200 pounds, and with his NHL bloodlines, he's got plenty of the right attributes NHL teams love, even if he didn't get many games in. He played a very good Ivan Hlinka tourney in August, showing off good skating ability, a powerful shot and good defense in terms of exhibiting proper gap control, an active stick and taking the body. His hockey sense is a bit of a question at this point. He isn't the best player under pressure and in the face of an aggressive forecheck. His durability is also an issue; last season a spleen injury kept him out for extended action (2 games in USHL with Under-17 team) and this season, he only managed 9 total USHL games, but has scored 3 goals and 4 points for the Under-18 squad. He played in the Five Nations and acquitted himself well after being on the shelf for so long. This is the kind of player who is going to go off the board earlier than anticipated because even with the injury concerns, he simply has too much going for him in terms of physical attributes and upside.
13. Robbie Russo, D U.S. NTDP (USHL)-Smallish (5-11, 190) two-way defender is popular on some lists, but we're not among them. Too many of our sources question Russo's overall upside and inability to get much done offensively. As much as you hate to bang on a guy, he just does absolutely nothing for us as someone who lacks the size, speed and creativity to be the guy he's being hyped as: a puck mover with two-way potential in the NHL. He'll go to Notre Dame and perhaps elevate his pro potential there, but this season has been a wash, with just 6 assists in 24 USHL games with the Under-18 team.
14. Matthew Peca, LW Pembroke (CJHL)- Dynamic and hustling little bugger is only 5-9, 165 pounds but plays with a lot of energy and hustle. He scored 26 goals and 72 points for the Pembroke Lumber Kings at a much lower level than most draft prospects, but with his wheels, hockey sense and attitude is one of those guys you root for to achieve an NHL spot one day despite being a longshot. Red Line Report lauded him for his vision and soft hands. Made a name for himself at the World Jr. A Challenge. He was 110th on RLR's March rankings, and given that his coach, Sheldon Keefe, has said that plenty of NHL scouts have come out to see him this season, he should get picked up at some point. He is not related to former NHL player Michael Peca, but plays a similar style. Going to Quinnipiac for college next season and watch for him to be a successful player there given his all-around game and high compete levels.
15. Brennan Serville, D Stouffville (OJHL)- Good-sized defender at 6-3, 180 plays a pretty simple, no-frills game. Uses his body and reach to keep opponents away from the prime scoring areas of the ice. Nothing flashy, just rugged and honest. A good, not great skater; decent enough footwork, and not lumbering or awkward in his movements. Suffered an -ahem- gruesome lower body/groin injury from an errant skate blade at the World Jr. A Challenge and missed a lot of action there because of it but is OK (whew!). He's a University of Michigan recruit and should remind Wolverines fans a lot of former UM defender Mark Mitera. Was originally drafted in the OHL by the Sudbury Wolves but appears pretty committed to going the NCAA route. The Pickering, Ontario native had 3 goals and 30 points in 36 games with the Spirit this season, with a 1-8-9 line in 16 postseason games.
16. Charles Orzetti, LW New Jersey Hitmen (EJHL)- Gigantic winger (6-4, 220) from New Jersey is all raw potential and intriguing potential at this point. The Feb. 1992 birthdate and former Delbarton School standout missed all of last season with an injury and therefore was not drafted, but after 10 goals and 22 points in 29 games in the EJHL, he might get a very late look. Yale recruit is not much of a skater, but plays with an edge and has good hands in close. If he can pick up a few steps and continue playing a hard-nosed, physical game, he has potential as a lower-line player who brings toughness to the mix for his NHL club.
17. Brian Billett, G N.H. Jr. Monarchs (EJHL)- If you followed read B2010DW last season, you know how much we loved Billett. Much to our chagrin, the 6-1 netminder from Maine by way of Florida and South Carolina (his dad was in the Navy) was passed over in the draft after leading the Monarchs to the 2010 EJHL title, and the national Tier II Jr. championship in 2009. Well, he did it again this season- capturing another EJHL championship for the Monarchs and will go to Boston College, whose season ended on a crushing note to Colorado College last night. He's a butterfly goalie who manages to stay calm and composed in big games. This season, he went 19-2-1 with a 1.93 GAA and .930 save percentage. In the playoffs he was even better, going 6-0 with a 1.66 GAA and .950 save percentage. If we were on an NHL staff he would have been picked in 2010, so the question is- will some team step up to grab him. It isn't like he's a small guy a la John Muse and since 2009, he's gone 40-4-4 for Sean Tremblays powerhouse Monarchs, but the thing is- despite not seeing a lot of shots, he still makes the big stops and keeps his save percentage above 93 percent- that's remarkable for a team that doesn't give up a lot of scoring opportunities. He's a solid citizen and deserves a chance- we're still believers.
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