50 in 30: B2011DW's Honorable Mentions

Our honorable mentions made the first post lengthy, so we're going back to post the HMs so we can give them some love and have the labels to get them listed so this post doesn't fall through the cracks.

In the meantime, enjoy.

We'll have 40-31 for you soon, along with some Memorial Cup analysis as soon as we can break down the Saint John-Mississauga film.


Honorable Mention

Lucas Lessio, C Oshawa (OHL)- This kid is big and skilled. There is no questioning his size, speed and offensive prowess when on his game. But B2011DW watched him in a game in January and absolutely despised his compete level and general attitude in that particular contest. On one play, he was tripped, fell to the ice and then chirped at the referee all the way up the ice while his team took off on a 2-on-1. Had he hustled, it would have been a 3-on-1 and might have resulted in a goal. We have no doubt that this kid will appeal to some team because of his myriad hockey tools, but Bruins fans would be wise to cross him off their wish list- we don't see it happening. Even so, he's near the top-50 because of his potential upside and will likely be a second-rounder, maybe even a late-first. But if this draft is pick your flavor, B2011DW chooses to pass on him.

Shane McColgan, LW Kelowna (WHL) 01/01/1993
Undersized winger (5-8, 168- don't believe his listed 5-11 height on Hockey DB) from SoCal was seen as a potential top-10 coming into the season, but got off to a terrible start and never recovered in the court of public opinion. Will NHL scouts view him differently. One such talent evaluator expressed concern at McColgan's small frame and the fact that the kid likely has little to no room to grow. Tremendous skating and hands; erupts into overdrive in just a few strides and carves the ice with his edges like a maestro. Plays bigger than his size and has an edge to him even if often physically overmatched. The bad news for McColgan is that his production didn't take off after posting 25 goals and 69 points last year as a rookie. Illness started him slowly and though he recovered and heated up down the stretch with fellow mighty mite Zach Franko, it may not be enough for him to recoup a top-60 selection.

Adam Lowry, LW Swift Current (WHL) 6-4, 185 03/29/1993
Upside and bloodlines- that's the name of the game with the Swifty winger and son of former NHLer Dave Lowry. Hit a seismic growth spurt recently, so the coordination isn't there for this rough, knock-kneed skater. However, if scouts think he's going to improve the stride and footwork when he grows into his giant frame better, look out. Has good hands and works hard in the corners, throwing his weight around. His dad was a respected energy guy for the Canucks, Blues, Panthers, Sharks, and Flames- he played 1,084 games, so that's a legitimate competitor given that he never scored more than 19 goals in a single season (and went to the Stanley Cup finals twice with Florida in '96 and Calgary '04). The younger Lowry has the potential to be a better scorer than his old man if he can get faster. Keep an eye on this kid- he could be a good one.

Michael Mersch, LW University of Wisconsin (WCHA) 6-2, 200 10/02/1992
Not a great skater, which is what is keeping this honest, industrious and smart winger from having more buzz around him. One scout described him as being a premier guy above the waist...it's the legs that are holding him back. Tenacious and opportunistic; he only scored eight goals and 19 points for the Badgers this season, but his playing style reminds of Mike Knuble. Ugly stride, but goes to the net, fights off defenders for position and can make things happen. He hasn't been as productive as Knuble was at the same stage, but Mersch is the kind of guy you win with.

Kale Kessy LW Medicine Hat (WHL) 6-3, 190 12/04/1992
We keep hearing the phrase "poor man's Milan Lucic" with Kessy and we don't disagree, but does he have the skill level to bring the offense that Lucic has developed with the Bruins? He's certainly tough, but has been buried on a deep offensive for the Tigers. Also like Boston's power forward and leading goal scorer, Kessy was not picked in the WHL Bantam Draft, but just kept plugging away to grab Medicine Hat's attention and get listed/earn a shot. NHL teams love the big guys with legitimate toughness and upside...Kessy has it. As such, his draft position will likely reflect that kind of projection. Average skater, above average hands but very tenacious and tough- where will it land him? Our guess is top-60.

Scott Harrington, D London (OHL) 6-1, 200 03/10/1993
It was a very disappointing season for this defender who came into the year with hopes for a first-round draft grade by this time. Hasn't happened for him, but he's a good defensive defenseman with size and mobility. Just because he may lack the offensive vision and sense does not mean there isn't a place in the NHL for Harrington, but his stock will drop. Some we talk to still believe he has some potential, so we've got him hovering around the top-50. Probably higher than most, but too early to dismiss him altogether.

Gregory Hofmann, C Ambri-Piotta (SUI) 6-0, 170 11/13/1992
On pure talent and potential alone, Hofmann is closer to 50 than many. However, his body type is an issue- rail thin, and even more concerning for NHL teams is the lack of a desire to show a commitment by playing junior hockey. Creative, skilled player is your high-end finesse pivot who plays with a lot of determination and poise. But teams want to know that if they're going to draft a player he brings that same kind of determination when it comes to committing to the organization and showing a willingness to ride the buses. The NHL is so much more physical than anything Hofmann is used to, so he's going to slide.

Marek Tvrdon, RW Vancouver (WHL) 6-2, 190 01/31/1993
Remember this guy? He was one of the better-looking Slovak players in the draft discussion and was one of the first prospects we featured in our ever popular "A Guy You Should Know" series way back in September. Unfortunately, he seriously injured his shoulder, which shelved him for the season just about 10 games in and threw Vancouver's plans into disarray. He looked like a guy who was on the verge of vaulting up draft lists, so it will come down to the teams who saw him enough last year (at the U18 and other tourneys) and in the early going. He's a skater who can score and bang if he could just up the intensity and consistency. We believe that had Tvrdon stayed healthy, he would be firmly in the top-50 discussion across the board. He's got potential for a Curtis Hamilton-like pick this time around.

Sleepers for 2011 draft

We'll give you a quick look at some potential sleepers for the 2011 NHL draft. This will wrap the individual player updates we've been bringing you for the past week or so, but hope the reports have been informative.

As always, thanks for reading and if you like the blog- please pass the link to your fellow draftnik friends.

Marek Tvrdon, LW Vancouver (WHL)- Not a sleeper in the sense that NHL scouts aren't tracking him, but the power forward from Slovakia got injured early in the season and missed the entire year after getting in just 12 games with the GIants (6-5-11). Physically mature at 6-2, 212 pounds, he's tough to contain when he works the puck along the walls and on the cycle. He lacks a quick initial burst, but is pretty agile for a guy his size and capable of making some elusive moves in the open ice. Quick stick and hard-shooter. Several NHL scouts really liked what they saw from him until he went down, so he could end up being a pick similar to Curtis Hamilton last season in terms of being one with a limited sample size, but who showed enough to go inside the top-60. If he drops, Tvrdon could end up being a very nice value pick for whichever team takes a chance.

Pontus Netterberg, RW HV 71 (SWE-Jr.)- February 1992 birthdate opened up some eyes at the World Jr. A Challenge in the fall; 6-2, 199-pound winger who likes to go to the net and has pretty good speed once he gets it cranked up. A hard shooter who picks his spots and hides his release point well. Can play a physical or a finesse game. Doesn't get much attention because he was passed up in 2010, but could be one of those mid-round steals that certain teams have made a living out of plucking from Europe, only to see them blossom and become big league players. Not a nasty, in-your-face kind of player, but will push back when riled up and exhibits excellent strength and a mean streak. Good, solid vision and hockey sense- more creative than he gets credit for. Scored 19 goals in 40 games for HV 71's Under-20 team and got in 3 games with the big club (1 assist) as well.

Daniel Pribyl, LW Sparta Prahia (CZE)- Beanpole (6-3, 190) winger is developing into a player worth keeping an eye on. With 25 goals and 54 points in 39 games with Sparta's top junior team this season, he saw a little bit of time with the Extraliga club. He's got a long stride even if he lacks explosive speed, has soft hands and the offensive instincts to cash in. He's got a lot to learn about the game and his defense is suspect at this point, but in time, after he gets stronger on his skates and gains more experience at a high level, Pribyl has some potential to compete for an NHL spot. Red Line Report has been all over Pribyl since December, and if he pans out, it will be another feather in the cap for their Eastern European scout.

Brady Brassart, C Spokane (WHL)- Slow to develop, the Chiefs' pivot has shown some flashes of what could be at times during the season. Scouts who have seen him acknowledge that he's got the skill set to be an NHL prospect and doubled his point production as a sophomore from 15 to 32 points. He isn't going to wow anyone with his production or upside, but he's made more of an effort to play at both ends and has demonstrated an edge to his game that wasn't there last season.

Dario Trutmann, D Plymouth (OHL)- Swiss defender missed being eligible for last year's NHL draft by just two days with a Sep. 17, 1992 birthdate. After scoring 8 goals and 23 points in 28 Swiss Jr. games for Zug, joined the Whalers and took a while to get his feet under him. Heady shutdown type who is capable of playing against bigger, more physical players despite being only 6-0 and about 185. Keeps defenders away from his net with good footwork and an active stick. Exhibits strong gap control. Confidence has grown by leaps and bounds and started moving the puck with more authority toward the end of the season, finishing with 6 goals and 19 points. We saw him at the WJC and he did very little to stand out, but did register four assists in six games. Swiss players are always tough to peg for the draft, but the ones who come over to North America are graded differently than the ones who stay home, so Trutmann just might get a call in June.

Zach Saar, LW Chicago (USHL)- As raw as they come, this 6-4, 193-pound native of Michigan and Little Caesar's minor midget grad toils for a last-place team and doesn't have much production to boot (3-4-7 in 28 games) but there is a lot to like about this kid's potential. He's a natural scorer who hasn't had a great deal of help with the Steel, but could be in for bigger things as he continues to mature and grow into his body. Hurt for much of the season, he's a hard worker who is willing to do anything for his team including dropping the gloves. His skating is average and could stand to improve- he's a bandy-legged skater. He's expected back in the USHL next season and while he would be a longshot to get picked in 2011 because of all the time he's missed, some team may have seen enough of him to take a late flyer on Saar. A June 1992 birthdate, he's already been passed over once, and if it happens again he'll be eligible again in 2012 before having to go the free agent route.

Sebastian Dyk, RW Malmö (SWE-2)- Failed to find the back of the net in 36 Allsvenskan games with the RedHawks (4 assists) but don't let those numbers fool you- this fast skater has some nice tools to develop into an interesting player over time. Another average-sized guy (6-0, 185) but plays with grit and determination; goes to the net hard and has some nice 1-on-1 moves in his arsenal. Most effective when he's banging bodies and grinding it out. Tends to disappear for long stretches, especially when he lowers his physical guard, but has some nice upside if he can improve the consistency.

John Gaudreau, LW Dubuque (USHL)- Tiny New Yorker is another longshot, but has put up amazing numbers for the Fighting Saints despite being about 5-6 and 145 pounds. He'll get much stronger and add another 30+ pounds, but when you consider that he's managed to score 35 goals and 69 points in 55 games as a flyweight in the rough-and-tumble USHL, it says a great deal about his speed, hands and creativity. This is a pure offensive presence and he showed off his potential at the Ivan Hlinka last August, as one of the most consistent forwards on Team USA, helping them to a silver medal. It's hard to imagine an NHL team drafting a guy with Gaudreau's vitals, but this kid has guts and flair- he's going to be a very good NCAA player and once he gets there and proves himself at that level, anything is possible.

Michael Houser, G London (OHL)- American passed over in 2010 has stood on his head for the Knights over much of the season, proving that the solid play he exhibited as Mike Hutchinson's backup last season was a good indication of what he can provide. He was eligible for the 2010 draft by just two days with a Sep. 13 birthdate, so it wouldn't be like he is too much of an overager for a team to grab him the second time around. Has nice size and athleticism and was a workhorse for the Knights, playing in 54 games and posting a .904 save percentage. In our view, this kid has shown enough to get a call on draft day- nice developmental potential as a long-term project.

Central Scouting Preliminary Rankings: The WHL Pt. 2

We're back with the second part of the WHL analysis of Central Scouting's preliminary list and we'll go from No. 9 and down through the rest of the players.

At ninth, Central has Portland Winterhawks defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon, and here is where the NHL scouts broke ranks.

"I don't really see it to be honest," one said. "If he's actually closer to 6-1 or 6-2, then he's maybe a prospect, but he looks more like he's 5-11, and 6-feet. He goes out and hits guys, but players who don't have much in the way of puck skills are hard to get excited about, and that's Wotherspoon's biggest issue; he doesn't have the puck skill."

The scout went on to say that if he were closer to 6-4, then Wotherspoon this high would make sense because he would have the chance to be that big, shutdown defender with some mobility. But the reality is that he's more of a 'tweener than anything else, and that doesn't bode well for Wotherspoon's NHL potential.

At 10 is Seattle center Colin Jacobs, a Texas kid who came into the season with high expectations, but who stumbled out of the gate. He didn't register many points in the early going, but has heated up this month, posting 18 points (eight goals) in 21 games.

"He's one of those guys who gets a ton of ice time and looks like he should be a player," an NHL scout said. "He wasn't producing early, but I'll say that his skating has improved a bit from last year. And he plays with some swagger. I like the fact that he seems to know he's the best player on the ice."

At 11, Kale Kessy is one player B2011DW has had eyes on as a power forward prospect who brings a similar kind of offensive element and toughness to Milan Lucic. The similarities between Kessy and Lucic are eerie: neither player was picked in the WHL bantam draft, but were picked up by their hometown clubs the Medicine Hat Tigers and Vancouver Giants because they hung around the local rinks and showed enough to the GMs and coaches to get a shot. Neither was a very good skater coming out of junior; Lucic had good straight line speed, but had problems with his starts, stops and turns. Kessy's burst and straight-line speed is poor, but he's more agile and can turn defenders better than Lucic could. Both have nice hands and the ability to set up the play and finish. And, both can really fight.

What does that mean for Kessy? Late first-round or top-half of the second round. Book it. NHL teams absolutely covet the guy who can hit, fight and score-- and they've seen enough of Lucic to know the kind of value he brings as a momentum changer.

"I like that guy a lot," said one scout when asked about Kessy. "They don't give him enough credit for his skills, smarts."

After Kessy at 12 is 5-10 Seattle winger Luke Lockhart, another Central head-scratcher.

"Lockhart's a good junior player; that's it," said a scout. "Is he a pro prospect? I don't know. He's a very finesse player who doesn't like to go into the dirty areas of the ice."

German import and fellow Thunderbird Marcel Noebels is next at 13. While skilled, Noebels has not shown much of an inclination to play a physical game or get his nose dirty. That might be why the 6-2, 195-pounder was completely passed over in last year's NHL draft.

Swift Current's Adam Lowry is an interesting prospect at 14. He doesn't have great upside, but works very hard along the boards and is a raw prospect who hit a huge growth spurt over a couple of years and is still very gangly and growing into his new body. The son of former NHLer Dave Lowry is one of those long-term project players who could pay off nicely if you're looking for a versatile, hard-nosed grinder who can do all the little things that helps teams win. Hmmm. Sounds like his old man, doesn't it?

Kelowna mighty mite Shane McColgan is way down the list at 15 for a couple of reasons, the scouts surmised. The biggest factor has been his lack of production this season. Since starting sluggish and then being diagnosed with tonsilitis and missing the first few weeks recovering from surgery, he's not been able to generate the expected offense in this, his draft year. Don't be mistaken, though-- the California kid is super-skilled. But the other big factor in his drop is that he's only about 5-8 (yes, he's listed at 5-11, but he might have been standing on a couple of encyclopedias) and he has not grown since he came into the WHL at the end of the '09 season.

"I don't know if that surgery is one of those things that takes a lot out of you, but he just looks like he's lost a step," one scout said. "When you're his size, you gotta have that speed."

Mike St. Croix is 17th and the Edmonton Oil Kings forward has some skill, but has been largely inconsistent and plays poorly on defense this year. Someone will take a flyer on him at some point, but he hasn't gotten rave reviews from any of the scouts I've talked to. The words "lazy", "uninspired", "selfish" and "dog" have come up at various times while in discussion about him.

Chiliwack defenseman Mitch Topping is pretty far down the list at 18, but is one to watch because he was a high bantam draft pick and has some skill, even if he hasn't set the world on fire for the Bruins.

"He's a little soft, but every once in a while, he'll make a great pass and you'll wonder where that came from," a scout said. "He's a big-time puck mover, but he's not a go-go-go guy you have to hold back; he tries to be responsible."

Reece Scarlett at 20 is indicative of the disappointment the Swift Current defenseman has been thus far, but he does have some intriguing tools. Given some time and a low-pressure situation in which to develop, he could end up being a player. But, he's not likely to be a high draft pick unless some team really reaches. And, anything's possible, because Scarlett (what a great name, eh?) has shown some upside in flashes.

"He's small, thin, slightly built," one scout said. "I do see some raw ingredients for a pretty good player, but a lot would have to come together. He seems to have the ability to think the game, but I'm left wanting more."

Slovak winger Marek Tvrdon was off to a very nice start before suffering a terrible injury to the labrum that is expected to force him to miss the rest of the season. Although not confirmed, I'm told that the muscle was pulled completely from the bone, which is shame. Tvrdon only got 12 games in (six goals, 11 points), so whatever notes scouts had on him is what they will have to go with. But, as was the case with Curtis Hamilton last year, don't be surprised to see a team with extra picks grab him earlier than expected. His size and skill package is going to be far too enticing to let him sit for very long.

The goalie crop is very "ehhh" this year in the WHL- there are no Calvin Pickards in the bunch. Eric Williams of Prince George is No. 2 and has some nice quickness, and Vancouver's Brendan Jensen has some raw upside, but there are no top-end guys to speak of right now.

That closes out the WHL breakdown. Next up, the USHL.

European roundup: Armia making noise

For obvious reasons, it's harder to keep the finger on the pulse of what is going on in Europe early in the season, but Finnish forward Joel Armia's offensive excellence in the SM-Liiga has emerged as one of the important storylines from across the Atlantic.

I chatted with one NHL scout based in Europe about Armia last month, and he was pretty high on the kid. "Very nice size, even better hands," he said on the condition that I wouldn't disclose his affiliation. "I like him pretty much, although I say his skating needs to get a little better. He showed some good things last year, and I think that if he can make himself more of a consistent player on every shift, he will have a great year and go high in the draft. He knows how to score, it's just the little things he needs improving on. "

So far, Armia is living up to the promise. You can see his release and nose for the net on display here at the Ivan Hlinka in August and for Ässät Pori in Finland's highest pro league (h/t to NHL Draft video). In 12 big league games, the 17-year-old who is 6-3, 187 pounds, has six goals and 10 points. Some rookies his age in that league are lucky to get five points over an entire season, so his statistical body of work is impressive.

That said, he obviously needs to get stronger and keep working on his initial burst and acceleration. If he can do that, then he should have no trouble making a run at an NHL job someday and could be looking at a top-10 selection come June. He's not quite there on a lot of lists, but nothing gets scouts more impressed than kids who prove they can skate with the big men and then put up the kind of offense beyond their years like Armia has. He's cooled off of late, but if he can rack up 20 or more points over the course of the year, you'll be hearing a lot more about him in the coming months.

Swedish defender Adam Larsson is still playing with the big boys in the elite league there for Skelleftea, but his production is down after an eye-popping (within the context of being a 17-year-old rookie DEFENSEman in his country's highest pro league) '09-10 campaign in which he scored four goals and 17 points in 49 games, while standing out as the best blue liner on Team Sweden's World Jr. Championship entry last winter. This season, Larsson has managed just a pair of helpers in the first 13 games. Could be a matter of teams keying on him, could be a matter of things just not breaking right for him like they did last year. But the one thing I'm hearing is that the skill is still there and he plays an extremely poised game for one who's still several weeks away from his 18th birthday.

So, in other words, if you're thinking Larsson is going to drop far in the 2011 draft, think again.

Victor Rask is off to a slow start this season after a lot of hype coming into it. He's scoreless in eight games with Leksands and has been called "sluggish" by a few of the scouts who have seen him. That said, this guy just has a knack for getting it together in the spring months, when the scouts are in proliferation at the various international tourneys and some of the last impressions make for the best ones. He's a very good puckhandler and creative playmaker who is able to give defenders fits for his ability to exploit weak d-zone coverage and work the puck down near the net.

The Swede who's making some real moves upwards in draft discussions right now in draft talks is Joachim Nermark, who tore it up at the Ivan Hlinka and has ridden that wave into the first couple of months of the '10-11 season, earning a promotion to Linköping's SEL team. He's a very smart, heady player with excellent hands and instincts for putting the puck in the net and setting up his teammates. He had an outrageous 5 goals and 12 points in 5 games for the Tre Kronor at the Hlinka, demonstrating that when the games matter, he's a handful to keep under wraps.

Looking for a name out of Eastern Europe, then check out Czech winger Dmitrij Jaskin, who has played well for Slavia Praha of the Extraliga in early season action. Red Line Report featured him in their October issue, and they like his size, shot and willingness to go hard to the net. Radim Jelinek is their regional scout there, and he's proven over the years to have a pretty good eye for talent. If Radim is onto something (and he has Jaskin ahead of Marek Tvrdon, who is playing well for the Vancouver Giants, btw), then watch for Jaskin to gain some notoriety and move up the boards in the process. Radim is a character who once shouted that "David Krejci has a beautiful mind!!!!" in my ear at a Vancouver bar, but the guy knows his hockey (he also was the one who taught me the correct pronunciation of Milan Lucic's name when I was talking to him about how the Bruins had just drafted Muh-lonn Loo-chick. Embarrassing, really.)

WHL Super Series roster announced

Here are the skaters for the two Dub vs. Russia games next month, just hit the streets from the WHL. Disappointing if you were hoping to see some of the other 2011 draft eligibles like David Musil, Myles Bell, Sven Bartschi, Marek Tvrdon, etc. Darian Dziurzynski and Neil Manning were not drafted (Manning attended Philadelphia Flyers, Dziruzynski went to Phoenix Coyotes camps on tryouts but did not sign), so they also appear in bold as potential overage selections. Ryan Murray missed the cutoff, so he's a 2012 draft prospect. A shame, because he'd be a solid 1st-rounder in this class and only missed by a couple of weeks.

Team WHL Roster – Kamloops, BC – November 17, 2010

Forwards (12): Year: Club: Hometown:
Schaber, Chase (91) Kamloops Blazers Red Deer, AB
Vey, Linden* (91) Medicine Hat Tigers Wakaw, SK
Howden, Quinton* (92) Moose Jaw Warriors Oak Bank, MB
Herrod, Brandon (91) Prince Albert Raiders Meadow Lake, SK
Froese, Byron (91) Red Deer Rebels Winkler, MB
Nugent-Hopkins, Ryan (93) Red Deer Rebels Burnaby, BC
Ashton, Carter (91) Regina Pats Saskatoon, SK
Weal, Jordan (92) Regina Pats North Vancouver, BC
Hamilton, Curtis (91) Saskatoon Blades Kelowna, BC
Dziurzynski, Darian (91) Saskatoon Blades Lloydminster, AB
Shinnimin, Brendan (91) Tri-City Americans Winnipeg, MB
Gallagher, Brendan* (92) Vancouver Giants Delta, BC

Defence (6): Club: Hometown:
MacKenzie, Matt* (91) Calgary Hitmen New Westminster, BC
Pysyk, Mark* (92) Edmonton Oil Kings Sherwood Park, AB
Murray, Ryan (93) Everett Silvertips White City, SK
Madaisky, Austin (92) Kamloops Blazers Saskatoon, SK
Elliott, Stefan (91) Saskatoon Blades North Vancouver, BC
Cowen, Jared (91) Spokane Chiefs Allen, SK

Goaltenders (2): Club: Hometown:
Simpson, Kent (92) Everett Silvertips Edmonton, AB
Pickard, Calvin (92) Seattle Thunderbirds Winnipeg, MB

Team WHL Roster – Prince George, BC – November 18, 2010

Forwards (11): Year: Club: Hometown:
Glennie, Scott (91) Brandon Wheat Kings Winnipeg, MB
Bubnick, Jimmy (91) Calgary Hitmen Saskatoon, SK
Howse, Ryan (91) Chilliwack Bruins Prince George, BC
Vey, Linden* (91) Medicine Hat Tigers Wakaw, SK
Howden, Quinton* (92) Moose Jaw Warriors Oak Bank, MB
Johansen, Ryan (92) Portland Winterhawks Port Moody, BC
Ross, Brad (92) Portland Winterhawks Lethbridge, AB
Rattie, Ty (93) Portland Winterhawks Airdrie, AB
Connolly, Brett (92) Prince George Cougars Prince George, BC
Eakin, Cody (91) Swift Current Broncos Winnipeg, MB
Gallagher, Brendan* (92) Vancouver Giants Delta, BC

Defence (6): Club: Hometown:
MacKenzie, Matt* (91) Calgary Hitmen New Westminster, BC
Pysyk, Mark* (92) Edmonton Oil Kings Sherwood Park, AB
Barrie, Tyson (91) Kelowna Rockets Victoria, BC
McNabb, Brayden (91) Kootenay Ice Davidson, SK
Ponich, Brett (91) Portland Winterhawks Beaumont, AB
Manning, Neil (91) Vancouver Giants Nanaimo, BC

Goaltenders (2): Club: Hometown:
Simpson, Kent (92) Everett Silvertips Edmonton, AB
Pickard, Calvin (92) Seattle Thunderbirds Winnipeg, MB

Weekend WHL roundup: Bartschi helping ease loss of Niederreiter in Portland

Nino Niederreiter he's not, but Swiss forward Sven Bartschi is doing his best to make the Portland Winterhawks and their fans forget that their star winger from a year ago and the fifth overall pick in 2010 looks like he'll be seeing full-time NHL employment with the New York Islanders this season.

The small, but dynamic little forward had his first two-goal game (he also added an assist) in Portland's 6-2 win over Lethbridge on Sunday. That gives him six points in five games as a left winger. At 5-10, 177-pounds, he doesn't have the size or snarl to play Niederreiter's power game, but he can really scoot and has terrific hands. Bartschi is the 77th-ranked prospect in Red Line Report's September issue and could be on the rise if he can keep producing in the skilled, but physical WHL.

Bartschi is being overshadowed a bit right now by fellow 2011 draft-eligible Ty Rattie (who has three goals, eight points to lead Portland), but his six points are good enough for a tie in second place (with Toronto second-rounder Brad Ross) . Between Rattie and Bartschi, it looks as if Portland will once again be a destination du'jour for scouts this season after years of being largely ignored.

Vancouver's Marek Tvrdon is also off to a good start, with four goals in six games for the B.C Division-leading Giants (that's not saying much-- they're 3-3). The Slovak was one of the best players for his country in the international tournaments last year and has jumped off nicely under Don Hay in what is also another impressive import crop in the WHL (much like the OHL). Having a coach like Hay will only be good for a player like Tvrdon who certainly has the size and skill level, but who has been knocked for his uneven performance/compete levels. Hay won't let him off the hook with that kind of showing in Vancouver, so watch for this guy to move up the boards if he keeps producing.

The 'Nuge tallies in WHL opener

Red Deer Rebels star Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored in his team's season opener and win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Friday night, and I expect that it will be just the first of many goals to come for the explosive, dynamic forward who can score at will and who thinks the game at an elite level.

The 'Nuge scored the winning goal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in August, firing off a wrister from the right side that goalie Steve Michalek had no chance of stopping unless it hit him (it was the only goal he gave up in the 1-0 gold medal loss to Team Canada).

Also scoring in the season debut for the Rebels was 16-year-old Matt Dumba, who is already on the Bruins 2012 Draft Watch list as a highly skilled two-way defenseman. He could take the WHL by storm this season; I've seen some video on him, and he's got some high-end tools. We'll see if he can put it all together and maintain that all season in his first WHL campaign after seeing spot duty last year, but my guess is that we'll be hearing a lot more from Dumba in the next 12-18 months.

One interesting import this year is German center Marcel Noebels, who made a splash at the World Under-18s b-pool last year, but it wasn't enough for him to get picked in Los Angeles. He left the Krefeld Penguins and is now skating for the Seattle Thunderbirds. He tallied in the T-Birds' 4-3 loss last night, and made some noise in the preseason. I think with his size (6-2, 205) and good hockey sense and stick, he could make a solid run for the 2011 draft.

Speaking of imports, Slovak winger Marek Tvrdon had a nice night and debut for the Vancouver Giants, who stomped the Chiliwack Bruins to the tune of nine goals and a helper. Tvrdon tallied twice, including one goal set up by B's prospect Craig Cunningham, who was returned to the Gints just in time to put on the captain's 'C' and chip in a 1-1-2 line Friday. Tvrdon, and top defense prospect David Musil (who provided an assist in the game and finished with a +3 rating) have given the Giants a nice skill boost from Eastern Europe, it would appear.

Marek Tvrdon: A guy you should know

Tomas Jurco is the nom d'jour as far as forwards from Slovakia playing in the CHL go, but keep a close eye out for countryman Marek Tvrdon, who was one of the more impressive Slovaks in multiple international tournaments last year and is going to be showcasing his talents with the WHL's Vancouver Giants this season.

Right now, the 6-2, 180-pound left winger is seen as a potential second-rounder by some, but he has the hockey skills and intangibles to move up if he can make a seamless transition to the WHL, much like Nino Niederreiter did last year.

Tvrdon, who played for the Nitra junior team last season, is going to be able to pack on mass to his sizeable frame and is strong on his skates, even if he is on the lanky side. He has nice high-end speed but could stand to improve his first few steps and turns/change of direction. He can generate offense on the fly and has soft hands for passing and shooting. He uses his size and strength to shield the puck and power through checks. He can take the puck to the net but has to show more consistency and a willingness to bowl defenders over when the opportunity presents itself, as he's not all that effective on the perimeter. Smart, instinctive player who can dictate the offensive tempo of a game, but doesn't always bring his 'A' game.

One thing's for sure: Giants coach Don Hay will get the most out of his talent and force Tvrdon to work for it. The youngster has demonstrated in the past that when he's hungry, he's among the most talented and dangerous forwards in the '11 class. But, how much he wants it and whether he can put it all together in a game-by-game basis is what will determine how early he goes off the board in Minnesota.