Grading the 2011 Draft Part 3

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.

NHL Combine video: A look at some NCAA players for 2011

Nick Shore, Matt Nieto and Pat Koudys all spent the 2010-11 season in the NCAA with Denver University, Boston University and RPI respectively.

Shore battled through an injury-riddled season, but started to show signs of his potential over the second half. He's a hard-working center who skates well and brings a high hockey IQ to the mix. He comes from a family of hockey playing brothers, with older brother, Drew, already having been drafted (second round- Florida) in 2009. Shore may not have the elite puck skills to be seen as a top-line offensive threat, but he compensates with his smarts, attitude and a desire to be in the middle of the action.




Nieto is an outstanding skater who explodes into top gear in just a couple of strides. He has the speed and shifty moves to back defenses up whenever he revs it up through the neutral zone. The Southern California native who grew up with 2010 Anaheim first-rounder Emerson Etem got off to a slow start at Boston University, but showed off his dangerous side



RPI rearguard Koudys is under the radar this season after having a modest freshman campaign with the Engineers. He has very good size and athleticism- he was a standout two-way defenseman with Burlington of the OPJHL a year ago, so Koudys could be one of those players who ends up making a rapid jump in his development and raises his profile. He's a smart kid and has the physical tools to be a player. Could be a draft sleeper who pays off.

50 in 30: B2011DW's top-50 players for the NHL Draft

With this post, Bruins 2011 Draft Watch brings you the first of our 50 in 30- a countdown of the top-50 2011 NHL draft prospects as we see it.

The rankings are compiled based on live viewings, streams, and as always, a generous amount of opinions from our NHL sources. Unlike THN or Bob McKenzie's TSN rankings- we do not poll scouts for our rankings, but rather, take the NHL team and Red Line Report approach of doing our live and video scouting to rank order the players in terms of projected impact, and then using the comments and feedback we get as the tie-breakers and deciding votes as to where the players are cast. This is not a mock draft- it's a list of who we see being the best right now...AND those players we feel have the best chance of making an NHL splash in the long run.

No player in our top-50 is a blind association. In other words, if we didn't at least see an online stream of the player, he's not in the rankings. We fully recognize that there could be a clear top-50 candidate who isn't going to make the cut, but the integrity of our list is important enough to live with that. The flip side is that there may be a few guys in our top-50 who aren't going to make that cut come draft day. Again- it's about bringing you what we see and hear and not just lifting someone else's work.

The 21-50 will be in three separate posts between now and May 31. Then, beginning June 1, we will do a comprehensive draft profile per day from 20 on down to 1. If you read the Bruins 2010 Draft Watch blog, then you know what's in store. If you didn't, then here's Tyler Seguin's from last May.

So without further ado, here's 50 in 30- Bruins Draft Watch style!

50. Nick Cousins, C Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 5-11, 170 7/20/1993
Unappreciated! That's the one word we keep coming back to every time we see the diminutive but highly creative center play. He's versatile with nice wheels, a quick stick and the head to play well at the highest level. Cousins needs to get stronger, but that's the way it is with most players who are undersized. Cousins was knocking on the door to the B2011DW top-50, but after watching him be one of the real straws that stirred the drink for Canada at the World Under-18s, he jumps in there, and probably could be even higher than he is. This is a player who can score for you and plays a responsible defensive game, too. There is always room in the NHL for smart, skilled little men and Cousins is just that.

49. Nick Shore, C Denver University (WCHA) 6-0, 190 09/26/1992
One of the draft's forgotten guys because he was injured and missed a lot of time early on when draft lists forming and buzz building. Not as big as his older brother Drew (might a growth spurt be on the way), a 2nd-round pick of the Florida Panthers in 2009. Good skater and hands, but his hockey sense is what makes the younger Shore a worthwhile pick in the second round at the very least. He's underrated mostly because of the missed time and production. We have to remember that he was a freshman this year, and like his brother, could have a significant jump in numbers from one year to the next. Shore plays a solid all-around game and has some upside, too.


48. Ryan Sproul, D Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 6-4, 190 1/13/1993
Burst onto the scene this season after playing for the Jr. A Vaughan Vipers in the OJHL last year and even at the beginning of 2010-11 and was a tough view playing in the Soo. Mark Edwards of HockeyProspect.com knows him well and saw the emergence of this big, swift-skating, hard-shooting defender with some big upside coming. Sproul is raw, yes- but whatever issues he may have with his defense and overall game, the fact remains that this kid scored most of his 14 goals after November. The right-shooting Mississauga native was originally going to go the NCAA route, but switched gears for the OHL, which we hear was the better move for him. Ultimately, he's going to get drafted higher than most think because guys who are as big, can skate and shoot like Sproul don't grow on trees. Boom or bust- probably. But homerun potential will be too tempting for him to remain on the board for long. This kid is going to be an off-the-board selection and we liked enough of what we saw of him in the U-18s to say it will happen in the second round.

Here is more on him from Edwards. He talks Zach Bell and Gabriel Landeskog first, but Sproul stuff at the 5:05 mark

And a HockeyProspect.com interview with him as well.

47. Robbie Russo, D U.S. NTDP (USHL) 5-11, 190 2/15/1993
If you're a regular B2011DW reader, then you know that we weren't bullish on Russo, although we heard from scouts he had solid second-round potential. We just didn't see it in some of the action we saw Russo in earlier this season, but thought it was an entirely different player in Germany for the World Under-18s. The Team USA captain was very good in helping his squad win a third consecutive gold medal- he played with a ton of confidence and brought a two-way presence that had been lacking in our view. He's mobile, smart and can move the puck. Russo succeeded in Germany because he was patient, yet aggressive. He made the right decisions and provided timely offense. He has the skill to be a second-round pick, but the question is- can he play like he did internationally, or will some of the passive, indifferent play creep back in when he goes to Notre Dame next season.

46. Phillip Danault, C Victoriaville (QMJHL) 5-11, 162 2/24/1993
Le Petit Tigre- that was former NHL coach Michel Bergeron's nickname but it works for Danault, whose father is the team's PA announcer. Danault grew up around the team and has been a key player and captain. He's a small guy whose feet never stop moving and he never quits on the play. He's a good defensive center with an active stick who is tenacious on the forecheck and brings a lot of energy, hustle and character to the mix. He's not a high-end skill guy, but makes up for it with his effort. His size is what is keeping him from going higher, but we imagine that NHL teams will love his immeasurables more than what he brings to the table offensively. A classic more than the sum of his parts player, and with Danault we keep going back to the old scouting adage that says if a kid wants to be in the NHL badly enough, he'll probably get there.

45. Daniel Catenacci, LW Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 5-10, 180 3/09/1993
Former 1st overall selection in the OHL draft is a blazing, dynamic, game-breaker- He's the hot dog with extra mustard and all the relish. Coming into the year, he was looking lost in the shuffle after a tough season in '09-10, but he used the Eight Nations/Ivan Hlinka as a springboard for a 26-goal, 71-point season. Excellent skater and puckhandler who is a real dangler. His father, Maurice, coached Daniel, Ryan Murphy and Barclay Goodrow among others on the high-flying York-Simcoe Express minor midget team, so the younger Catenacci comes from a real hockey background. Catenacci gets into trouble when he goes into solo mode and tries to beat the other team by himself. Takes bad penalties and needs to work on keeping his emotions in check. His defense is also lacking and as an undersized guy needs to get a lot stronger. The Bruins have another player who is pretty similar in style at least- Ryan Spooner. But make no mistake- when on his game in the offensive zone, this kid can bring it. Disappointing showing at U18s for Canada- was outshined by Soo teammate Cousins, but has a higher upside.

44. Matt Nieto, LW Boston University (HEA) 5-11, 193 11/05/1992
We admit that Nieto is lower on this list than he will likely go in June. Another undersized, yet prolific offensive forward with speed to burn, quick hands and a killer instinct around the net. Nieto had high expectations coming into the season, but struggled out of the gate. The player we saw in November was tentative and ineffective in dealing with the higher-end players in the Hockey East, but by March, he was looking like the NTDP standout. He's an outstanding skater with the vision, hands and instincts to score a lot. But our hesitation comes from the difficulty in transitioning to the NCAA taken with his size, which is going to be an obstacle at the highest level. If Nieto can continue to get stronger and play his high octane, aggressively attacking style, he has a chance to do something, but he is a bit risky in that he's more of a top-six scoring guy than an effective checker if he can't get it done in the pros.

43. David Honzik, G Victoriaville (QMJHL) 6-3, 195 08/09/1993
B2011DW likes this Czech goaltender quite a bit. He's huge, agile and mentally tough. Honzik really came on after struggling with the transition to the 'Q' early on, saving his best for the playoffs. He played a valiant series against super power Saint John and demonstrated adroit puck stopping skills along with mental toughness and a competitive spirit. We heard great things about Honzik from Red Line Czech scout Radim Jelinek, and much of what he said about him checked out. B2011DW has Honzik ahead of Christopher Gibson as a better pro prospect. Gibson had a very good season in Chicoutimi and is a better player on paper, but there are things we've seen and heard about him that lead to believe that in time, Honzik has the higher upside.

42. Brett Ritchie, RW Sarnia (OHL)6-3, 205 07/01/1993
It was a tough year for Ritchie who was starting to round into form after a sluggish start, only to be felled by a bout with mono that effectively took him out of it for the balance of the season in January. Ritchie is a big kid with a nice stride who does all the things you want from your power winger along the walls. He takes the puck to the net, shields it effectively when in possession and cycling. He's not a real baggage smasher who goes out of his way to wreck guys, but will give a hit and take one. His mitts are OK, and yet he still managed 21 goals in 49 games this season so the potential is there for him so long as he continues to play in the greasy areas of the ice. NHL teams love those power forwards

41. Reid Boucher, LW 5-9, 186 09/08/1993
Boy, do we love this kid. The Michigan State recruit is probably too low on the B2011DW list, but the size and lack of high-end speed will bring him down in the draft, lower than he should go in our view. Boucher could legally change his last name to "Money" and he'd be well within his rights to do so. He's one of these guys who will cruise along and not really be noticed until the puck goes near the net and then he comes alive, pounces and will fire it home. This guy is a an apex predator when it comes to scoring goals- he has elite vision, anticipation, hands and a wicked release with pinpoint accuracy. No moment is ever to daunting to this guy, who scored eight goals in the Under-18 tourney, just about all of them key and important. He may not have the breakaway speed and separation of Rocco Grimaldi, but he's a legitimate sniper with a flair for the dramatic. Those guys are gold. Made the eligibility cutoff for 2011 by one week- one of the youngest players in the class.

NCAA 2010-11 regular season roundup

Next up in the regular season recap just in time for the NCAA tourney is a review of the top collegiate players eligible for the NHL draft. We'll also take a look at a couple of overagers and even close out with a few potential free agent signings.

1. Jamie Oleksiak, D Northeastern (HE)- We covered the mammoth (6-7, 244) defenseman for the Huskies in pretty good detail earlier this month after seeing him in Boston, so we won't rehash here other than to say he's a big riser in draft discussions. Admittedly, B2011DW is not as sold on his high-end upside, though we have no doubt that he will be an NHL player at some point simply because his size and mobility will earn him a job in the big show as a shutdown defender if nothing else. His coordination and footwork are so good for an 18-year-old player with his height and long limbs (read: call him "Condorman" with that gigantic wingspan of his and long stick)- usually, kids as young as he is are gangly and struggle with their movements into they grow into their bodies. Not so with Oleksiak, which is what makes him so intriguing. That said, his overall instincts and vision are questionable, and while he's got a bomb of a shot, he's going to need to refine his mechanics and release in order to make it work at the next level. Better yet, change it up and use the wrist shot and snap shot to bury pucks when he's short on time and space to get the howitzer off. But other than that, he's a legitimate 1st-round prospect and the best NCAA player in this class by a pretty wide margin. Oleksiak finished his freshman season with four goals and 13 points in 38 NCAA games, while adding 57 minutes in the box. Time will tell whether he lives up to the promise some scouts are talking about seeing with him, but when taking chances on players with high draft picks, it's all about the projection, and he has some of the most intriguing raw upside of any prospect in 2011.

Check out Northeastern coach Greg Cronin's comments about Oleksiak's winning goal at 2:32 of this video. Uh-huh. What we've been saying.

2. Matt Nieto, LW Boston University (HE)- Another second-half riser. We were pretty unimpressed with Nieto early on, when it looked like the SoCal native was overmatched in the bigger, faster, more physical Hockey East. But to his credit, he really picked it up and late season viewings were night and day compared to what we saw in the fall and early winter. Nieto's wheels and hands are elite; he can put defenses on their heels at whim and he's doing a lot more to drive the net and use his creativity to generate scoring chances.The 5-11, 185-pound forward finished his freshman season with10 goals and 23 points in 39 games, but much of his production came from January-March. We see him as a late 1st-round darkhorse who could break into the top-30 picks because a strong team drafting late believes in his skills and upside, but also realizes the time and patience it will take to develop Nieto. If he drops into the second, he won't last very long- his game-breaking element is simply too attractive to pass on.

Here's a great shortside snipe by Nieto which not only shows you his impressive breakaway speed but his hands as he fires the puck past John Muse

3. Adam Clendening, D Boston University (HE)- Once seen as a solid 1st-rounder in some circles, the Western New Yorker is a polarizing figure for scouts this season. Most acknowledge and respect his vision and soft hands for moving the puck and distributing very well in the offensive zone and while on the power play. On the downside, he's under 6-feet and doesn't have the kind of explosive jump and top-end speed NHL teams want in smaller defenders. He's not a bad skater at all, but without the separation speed and short distance acceleration, scouts are wondering where he projects at the NHL level. He's a quality player and competitor- this is the kind of guy who you can easily envision a team with multiple early picks spending a second-round choice on because he is one of the better PMDs in this draft class. At the same time, because he carries risk because of the lack of size and dynamic skating, a player like Clendening could fall to the third round. Although we like him a lot, B2011DW doesn't see a first-round future for the Terrier who scored 5 goals and 26 points in 39 games as a freshman. He is a winner, though- having won a pair of Under-18 gold medals in '09 and '10 and just missing the cut for the 2011 WJC (Under-20) this past winter. He's no stiff, but the dreaded "'tweener" word has been used by a couple of NHL guys with him, so we'll have to see. For what its worth- Red Line Report has him ranked 38th overall in their March listing.

Here's a local feature from Buffalo on Clendening last summer while he was trying to make the U.S. WJC team.


4. Michael Mersch, LW Wisconsin (WCHA)- This two-way center is one of the draft's true stealth fighters. At 6-1, 195, he has nice size, is a good skater and plays an honest, hard-working game in all zones. Mersch's numbers aren't much to get excited about- 8 goals, 19 points with the Badgers this season in 41 games. But, to focus on the stats is not to see the longer-term potential in this kid's game. He's lacking in lower body drive and physical mass. When he gets stronger, he's going to generate more power in his skating stride and be stronger on the puck. Scouts we talked to said that he was on the wrong side of many physical matchups this season, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. When he gets more mature and experienced, we could see Mersch becoming a solid scorer at this level and looks like he'll eventually be a steady 3rd-line guy in the NHL with enough skill to possibly break into a team's top-six at some point.

5. Nick Shore, C Denver University (WCHA)- This skilled, speedy center had to contend with injuries and a slow start, but if the second half is any indication for the Colorado native (and brother of Florida Panthers prospect Drew Shore), he'll go within the top-60 picks of the June draft. Shore is a fine skater with a fluid stride and some gitty-up in his step. He can handle the puck well at speed and sees the ice well/ is a deft passer and setup man. He's a versatile, hard-working guy who can be used in all situations. He's not all that big at 6-0, 185, but comes from a family of good athletes and will add enough strength to his frame that it should not be an issue for him. Factor in that he's in a very good pro-style program at Denver, and he's a pretty well-rounded prospect with some promise. Solid 2nd-rounder in our view after scoring 7 goals and 18 points in 37 games this season and showing flashes of first-round talent.

6. Patrick Koudys, D RPI (ECAC)- At 6-4 and 210 pounds, this freshman Engineer is quite mobile and intriguing, but he didn't play much of an offensive role for his team this year, worked into the mix slowly. He had just 1 goal and 3 points in 30 games, but still has the physical tools to be an intriguing player worth a mid-round developmental pick. He came from the OJHL where he had 5 goals and 33 points, so there is some potential to play more of a two-way game as he gains experience and his ice time increases, but right now, the Smithville, Ontario native is flying under the radar a bit. Think of him as a poor man's Jamie Oleksiak- not quite as big and lacking in the pure upside, but precisely the kind of player NHL teams will roll the dice on.

7. Dillon Simpson, D University of North Dakota (WCHA)- A bit of a disappointing season for a player scouts had some real high hopes for coming in. The son of former NHL forward and HNIC analyst Craig Simpson (and nephew of television reporter Christine Simpson) has decent size at 6-1, 195. He scored 2 goals and 10 points in 30 games as a freshman and wasn't overly involved in the offensive scheme/didn't get a lot of ice time. He's a work in progress who has some soft hands and hockey sense, but isn't a great skater. He's slow out of the blocks and needs to work on his stride to get the most out of his movement. Scouts see intriguing elements of his game, but after 12 goals and 41 points last year with Spruce Grove of the AJHL, more of an impact was expected from him- he did not deliver. This is not to say Simpson isn't a legitimate NHL prospect- he is. He grew up around the game and has the natural athleticism to be a player, but this season showed that it is going to take time and he'd require a leap of faith for a team to draft him in the first two rounds.

8. Frankie Simonelli, D Wisconsin (WCHA)- Another undersized defender who has some real good wheels, Simonelli is a U.S. NTDP product like Nieto, Clendening, Mersch and Shore (are we sensing a trend here?) However, scouts we've talked to don't have great things to say about his instincts and vision. Despite his mobility and good puck skills, he didn't produce much in the NTDP and had 2 goals 11 points in 39 games this year as a freshman. Said to have a tendency to force things that aren't there, he makes too many mistakes and is a draft wildcard- might not get picked at all. He'll be a serviceable NCAA player in the next couple of years, though.

Overagers in draft

Not a comprehensive list, but here are three guys passed over in 2010 who could get the nod the second time around.

T.J. Tynan,C Notre Dame University (CCHA)- Tiny (5-8, 160) but dynamic playmaker racked up 55 assists in 60 USHL games with Des Moines last season and was highly regarded for his speed, hands, creativity and willingness to go into traffic. Yet, no team called his name. Well, after 22 goals and 52 points as a freshman with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame last season, look for him to get a call even if it comes in the latter rounds. The Feb. 1992 BD is the kind of small guy you roll the dice on, because he's a proven producer and shows the attributes you look for in terms of a player who keeps his feet moving, is always involved in each shift, and displays the kind of creativity and high-end hockey sense that's worth taking a chance on.

Chase Balisy, F Western Michigan University (CCHA)- Average-sized, but highly skilled forward had a nice impact as a freshman, scoring 12 goals and 30 points in 41 games, good for second on his team. He's good quick feet and is a very good stickhandler. He may just have done enough as Feb. '92 to get drafted, but you never know.

Sahir Gill, F Boston University- Undersized forward (5-10, 180) from British Columbia brings a good mix of speed and skill to the mix. Got off to a quick start for the Terriers, but tailed off in production toward the end, finishing with 6 goals and 25 points in 39 games. Kind of went the opposite direction of Nieto, impressing early, but fading as the grind of the college season wore on. He's got some jump and creativity, and just might be a guy an NHL team will call in the 6th or 7th round.

Free agents

This is not a comprehensive list, but a few names who could be signed this week, or whenever their NCAA teams get eliminated from the national championship tournament (or go the distance). It's heavy on the Hockey East because that's where we have our most access, but this will give you an idea of a couple of intriguing guys out there.

Stephane Da Costa, C Merrimack (HE)- The straw that stirred Merrimack's drink- this native of France will be in high demand by NHL clubs lining up to sign this creative, game-breaking scorer. With 14 goals and 44 points in 32 games this season, the former USHL standout with Sioux City has 30 goals and 89 points in two seasons in the Hockey East. An elite puckhandler, he doesn't have explosive speed, but weaves in and out of defenses effortlessly and uses his superior hands, vision and instincts to get things going. He's gotten stronger and worked on his overall game. Although only 5-11, 180- the 21-year-old has the makings of a very good pro. Although just a sophomore, its time for him to move on.

Paul Thompson, LW UNH (HE)- This short, but stock and strong power winger is one of the better pure goal scorers in the college free agent market. The former Pinkerton Astro from Derry, N.H. is the rare superstar at UNH who actually hails from the Granite State. He doesn't have a great first few steps, but is effective when he gets up to speed and is adept at ripping shots home off the rush. He bulls his way to the net and is strong, powerful despite only being about 6-feet. He has a knack for finding loose pucks in front of the net and burying them. Good character guy who will boost an organization, even if may require seasoning to reach the NHL level. Scored 28 goals and 54 points in 37 games for the Wildcats this season, giving him 47 in 78 games over the last two years.

Andy Miele, C Miami (CCHA)- Small, heady offensive playmaker who is a terrific passer and thinks the game better than most. He's not a blazer, but gets where he needs to go. Instinctive, opportunistic scorer who plays with a lot of energy and hustle- outworks opponents and stays tenacious on the puck. Solid all-around guy who is limited only by his 5-8 frame and lack of strength- classic overachiever who is more than the sum of his parts. The Michigander has racked up 39 goals and 115 points in his last two seasons, totaling 81 games.

Chace Polacek, C RPI (ECAC)- Another small (5-8) but heady, nasty scoring player. Has a wicked shot and has been a proven scorer over the past two seasons, accounting for 47 tallies and 100 points in 76 games for the Engineers in two seasons (21 goals, 48 points in 37 games this year). From Edina, Minnesota, he's another pure scorer who just knows how to find the back of the net and has worked hard to overcome his size deficiencies.

Tyler Elbrecht, D Minnesota- Mankato (WCHA)- Big (6-4, 210) meat-and-potatoes defender from Illinois doesn't have a lot of flash, but has great strength, reach and uses his positioning to play effectively in his own end. Not much offensive upside here, and his skating is only OK, but he has the natural size and toughness to be an NHL depth guy down the road.

John Muse, G Boston College (HE)- We have liked this guy since seeing him compete like a madman at Nobles (where his teammates included current New Jersey Devils rookie D Mark Fayne). Muse has won a pair of national championships and could win a third, which would be an amazing feat. He's small, and that's the problem as far as NHL teams are concerned, and why he's never been drafted. Small goalies pretty much have to force themselves into the picture these days, but with his quickness, technique and winning pedigree, he just might get a shot to make it somewhere. It will take a lot of work and time on his part, but he's one of the more athletic and dynamic little goalies to come around in a long time.

We know there are more free agents out there, but we'll wrap up this post for now and possibly revisit later.

Here come the little guys- 2011 edition (Part 2)

We're back with the second part of our series dedicated to smaller, but skilled players who could attract notice at the 2011 NHL Draft. Not all of these guys will be drafted, but a good portion of them will because of the wide-open, post-lockout NHL game. That said, recent big hits on smaller players that have knocked them out of action (Ryan Murphy and Shane Prince- both featured in part 1) raise the concerns teams have with balancing the idea of drafting smaller, skill player with the durability concerns that come with.

Because we came up with so many more little guys to cover, we're actually going to break it up into three posts for you. So stay tuned for more- a third part featuring more of the sleepers and wildcards among the undersized, but game talents for the draft in June.

Tobias Rieder, LW Kitchener (OHL)- Skilled German's stock is down despite the impressive speed, hands and overall production with the Rangers. His 23 goals and 49 points are off his early season pace, and he didn't have a great WJC (nor did Team Germany for that matter), but he's a hard worker who is passionate about hockey and is a serious competitor. He's probably going to drop come draft day, but the team that gets him could have themselves a very nice player with upside given his desire and willingness to do what it takes to succeed.

Matt Nieto, LW Boston University (HE)- Nieto's stock is up this spring after a tough adjustment period to start the season. You can read an in-depth scouting report on him here at this blog space, so we won't go into greater detail other than to say that he's a darkhorse late-1st-round candidate given how much more involved he's been in the BU offense at crunch time.

Vince Trocheck, C Saginaw (OHL)- The right-shooting Pennsylvanian has performed well for the Spirit this year, opening eyes with his speed, skill and tenacity. He's put up some respectable numbers- 24 goals and 58 points in 65 games. He was one of the more talented members of the USA Under-18 team that competed in the Ivan Hlinka tournament this past summer and plays an uptempo game with some grit and fire. Trocheck is a solid distributor and has a quick stick

Alan Quine, C Peterborough (OHL)- The Ottawa-born pivot began the season with the Kingston Frontenacs, but was dealt to the Petes in November as part of the trade that sent Ryan Spooner to Doug Gilmour and Co. Quine got off to a slow start this year after showing much promise as a rookie. He's a good skater, but his real value lies in what's between his ears and on his stick. The member of the winning Team Canada squad at the Ivan Hlinka is highly skilled and has high-end offensive hockey sense. That said, his effort and intensity levels are said to waver, and he needs to become a more responsible defensive player. Quine has become a bit of an afterthought this season, but is one of those guys who could be a steal if he falls into the third round or later. In 66 games between Kingston and Peterborough, Quine has 25 goals and 50 points.

Robbie Russo, D U.S. NTDP (USHL)- This smallish defenseman from Illinois is pretty well regarded in some circles, but doesn't bring a dynamic offensive game to the table. He's a bit like Adam Clendening in that he's not a speedy guy, but is a strong puck mover because he's intelligent and sees the ice well. A patient player, he doesn't force things if they aren't there and makes good decisions with and without the puck. He doesn't have a big, booming shot but is solid at maintaining puck possession and getting good movement when holding the man advantage. He plays a similar style to Tomas Kaberle, though is not as adept a skater as the Bruins rearguard is. The Notre Dame recruit is a bit of a wildcard depending on who you talk to, but does bring some nice attributes to the table and could very well have teams sold on his pro potential enough to take him in the top-50.

Shane McColgan, RW Kelowna (WHL)- The Manhattan Beach, California native's stock is rebounding after a poor start to the season exacerbated by slow recovery from tonsilitis. Although small, McColgan is extremely speedy and has excellent hands. He didn't have a great CHL Top Prospects Game, but that may have been a microcosm of the season, which has been a disappointment for him. McColgan plays with some bite and energy to his game, but one of the major concerns with him is that he doesn't have much room to add bulk on his frame. He needed to have a highly productive campaign to allay some of those concerns and he didn't really do it. He's no longer the first-round candidate he was thought of being coming into the year and will be lucky to get selected in the second round. That said, it will be interesting to see where he ends up going because he still carries some legitimate upside with him; he could end up becoming a nice value pick for a team, but it's hard to see very many clubs reaching for McColgan.

Viktor Arvidsson, RW Skelleftea (SWE- Jr.)- At 5-9, 165 pounds, this talented Swede is definitely on the low-end of the size scale, but with his wheels, puck skills and head, he has a real game-breaking element to him. He competes hard and is a typical small, whirling dervish kind of player who keeps his feet moving and outworks a lot of the bigger, stronger guys around him. He's a pure finesse player, but there is a place for guys like him in the modern NHL. It will take some time for him to come over and make an impact if at all, but there's a nice potential payoff for a team willing to gamble a bit.

Seth Griffith, RW London (OHL)- Really came on with the increased ice time when London traded away a bevy of veteran players in December and January. This speedy, creative player plays a little bigger than he is because of his lacrosse background, and he's quietly managed to force his way into draft discussions with his second-half performance in the OHL, posting 21 goals 59 points in 65 games. We were told about him before the season began by a good friend of the blog as a sleeper for the 2011 draft, and to Griffith's credit, he's justified that kind of faith. We're looking forward to seeing just how far he climbs in June.

Dan Molenaar, D Eden Prairie H.S. (Minnesota HS)- Although he's under 6-feet, this offensive defenseman has nice skating ability and instincts. Possessing a quick burst and the vision to exploit openings, Molenaar is one of those longer-term project players who will require a lot of seasoning and patience. He's stocky and strong on his skates, with the ability to change direction quickly. He may not have a cannon of a shot, but has a quick release on it and keeps it low and on net for deflections. Interesting player who hasn't grown much over the last 18 months, but who brings a good enough set of tools to get some legitimate draft consideration in June.

Kyle Rau, C Eden Prairie H.S. (Minnesota HS)- What list of draft hopefuls would be complete without the 2011 Mr. Hockey winner from Minnesota? Rau capped an exciting state championship win with triple-OT goal by grabbing his state's prestigious award for the best senior hockey player, won last year by first-rounder Nick Bjugstad. At 5-9, 165, the University of Minnesota recruit (and Molenaar's teammate) is speedy, shifty and handles the puck as well as anyone. He's a dangerous offensive player, but NHL scouts we've talked to aren't sold on his pro potential. You can't argue with his production at the high school level and he'll have a chance to shine in Minneapolis with the Golden Gophers.

Hockey East scouting reports: Jamie Oleksiak, Matt Nieto, Adam Clendening, Sahir Gill

Had a chance to see the Northeastern Huskies take on the Boston University Terriers at Agganis Arena in Boston last weekend. What follows are reports on three key 2011 draft-eligibles who played in the game we saw.

The game itself, a Northeastern victory, was a ragged, penalty-filled affair that didn't lend itself to much fun from a scouting perspective, as the 2011 players were limited in terms of ice time and ability to get untracked show off their best attributes.

Jamie Oleksiak, D Northeastern University (Hockey East)
Huge kid at 6-7, 240 pounds and may not be done growing. Pretty mobile for someone so big, and more importantly, so young. Many guys Oleksiak's size are very gangly and still developing their coordination for their big bodies. He's already pretty much there and has a long, fluid stride and better footwork at this stage than most would think. He covers a lot of ground with the long stride and power behind it. Massive wingspan and long stick make it virtually impossible for opponents to beat him to the outside. Mobility makes it a challenge for them to go inside on him as well. With more work on his skating, could be even more mobile and difficult to beat. Working on his reads and progressions- still a work in progress who sometimes tries to do too much in his own end- needs to keep things simple. Decent passer on short to intermediate feeds, but on-ice vision is questionable and lacks the accuracy to stretch opposing defenses with long leads. As can be expected, has a big drive given all the power and torque he can generate on his twig. Needs to work on improving the accuracy and release. Important to avoid the lazy comparisons to Zdeno Chara or Tyler Myers because of size/mobility alone- those guys are more skilled with the puck and shooting skills than Oleksiak and he has a long way to go to reach that level. Oleksiak has upside, but may end up being more of a shutdown guy in the NHL. One thing he has going for him that most will never achieve no matter how well they are coached or how hard they work is that monstrous size. That should get him to the NHL, but still a wildcard in terms of what he's going to be at that level. Oleksiak will be a first-round pick, but based on what we've seen in multiple viewings this season, we'd take him at the end of the round instead of earlier. There is some risk that he'll be more Hal Gill than Chara, but he's at least made himself into a top-30 option with his potential, and Gill has fashioned a nice NHL career dating back to his league debut in 1997 with Boston.

Matt Nieto, LW Boston University (Hockey East)
The California winger is small, but very talented and is coming on strong after a tough start (3 points in first 12 NCAA games with the Terriers), having scored two goals and 9 points in last eight games. Nieto's wheels are first-rate: he has a very quick burst and accelerates to top speed quickly. He's also shifty and elusive, able to burn opponents in a footrace or turn them inside-out with a dazzling array of weaves and tight turns on his edges. One of those players who immediately draws you in with his skating- fun to watch when he revs it up and takes it up ice. He has a very quick stick and can handle the puck effectively at top speed. A legitimate breakaway threat and game-changer. When on his game, he's backing defenders up and using an array of head and body fakes to create space for himself. Creative and sees the ice pretty well. His a lightning release and very soft touch/knack for finding soft spots in defenses with his passes. Competed hard around the puck, but needs to pick up the intensity away from the play. Nieto is only average-sized and like most players his age, needs to get stronger/add mass to his small frame in order to handle the rigors of pro hockey. Was inconsistent in his willingness to do the dirty work in the corners and probably needs continued adjusting to the level of competition in the HE.

Here's a vid of Nieto scoring against BC from NHLDraftVideo (Jerome B.)


Adam Clendening, D Boston University (Hockey East)
Not a great game from Clendening, who started better than Nieto did at the beginning of the year, but who seems to have stalled a bit in recent viewings. Listed at 6-0, but is closer to 5-10 in reality and out of skates. Skating is OK- but Clendening lacks the explosiveness and pure speed you want to see from undersized defenders. He is more quick than fast- elusive and very good with his edgework. Pivots and turns are very good; he changes direction well and can transition quickly. Excellent stick and on-ice vision for making long leads and crisp breakouts. A superb passer who can tic-tac-toe with the best of them. Smart and instinctive; reads the developing play well, which allows him to beat checkers despite not having great wheels. Shot is average; projected as a better distributor/set-up guy on the PP than triggerman at the next level. Does have a quick release, but lacks the power and velocity you want to see from the point. Good, solid competitor; has strong intangibles like work ethic and a winning attitude. The real issue with Clendening is the lack of size, explosiveness and power. Justin Faulk is a better skater and has a bomb for a shot, two areas the BU defender is not as proficient in. Faulk was an early second-round selection last June (Carolina), so although the two draft classes are different, we wouldn't be surprised to see Clendening drop a little further than anticipated because of concerns about the size/mobility. There is no denying he can move the puck and set up the play, but as he moves up in levels and faces bigger, stronger, smarter players, it will become more and more difficult for Clendening to beat opponents with his sense and stick. He's a solid prospect, but like Oleksiak (though for different reasons), Clendening is more of a wildcard at this stage. You might see a team with a surplus of picks like Florida or Ottawa take him early in the second, but teams with limited selections may stay away from him until later in the second or third rounds.

Here's a highlight vid from HockeyEast Online- check out the great homerun pass he makes to Alex Chiasson at about the 1:52 mark.


Here is a post-game video featuring both Clendening and Nieto side-by-side.

Sahir Gill, F Boston University
Undersized winger and overager from British Columbia and the BCHL's Vernon Vipers can really fly. He's been involved in the BU offense quite a bit as a freshman and has quick burst and separation gear. Anticipates the play on offense and stays involved when the play transitions from his own end. Possesses nice offensive hockey sense and a nose for the net. Plays a chippy, borderline dirty style, but holds his own despite the lack of size. Could be a late-blooming diamond-in-the rough. Didn't key on him a lot, but could be a solid mid-to-late round sleeper for a team willing to spend time letting him develop in the NCAA and in minor pro before he's ready to make an impact.

Here's another HockeyEastOnline video from YouTube that shows highlights from last Friday's game against NU. Gill shows nice finish on a shortie from Nieto on the game's winning tally.

Prep semifinals tonight

Enjoying the time here after being Boston Bruins-focused all of yesterday.

Will be at Ristuccia Memorial Arena this morning for their practice to gather more material for the New England Hockey Journal, but the meat of the trip begins tonight with the Stuart/Corkery (Elite 8) semifinal games.

Milton, led by Vancouver prospect and captain Pat McNally takes on Lawrence Academy at 5:30 pm. Milton has another defenseman, Rob O'Gara, who is from New York and is rising star in the 2011 draft. Similar to McNally last year, he's kind of come from left field this year to impress scouts with his size, mobility, smarts and overall game.

Lawrence doesn't have any single player we're tracking as a 2011 draft option, but will keep the eyes peeled.

Kent will play the 8:00 game against Salisbury and many eyes will be on defenseman Mike McKee, whom we featured on the sleeper alert waaay back in August. He's a sleeper no more. The 6-5, 230-pounder from Newmarket, Ontario won't even turn 18 until August! As far as players with major raw potential, there aren't many better.

McKee's not quite Jamie Oleksiak in terms of huge size and upside, but he's not that far off either, and if he sticks with his current plan of attending Northeastern, he could be playing with the monstrous 6-8 Oleksiak at some point (though he's not slated to arrive at NU until 2012). McKee is also draft property of the Ottawa 67's and there is talk in the NHL community about switching McKee back to forward rather than keeping him on 'D'. Will be interesting to see what happens with him once he is drafted.

Also on Kent is 2012 draft prospect Cristoval "Boo" Nieves, a talented and skilled offensive forward who finished third in scoring on coach Matt Herr's Lions team with 10 goals and 35 points in 25 games this season. He's got some size at 6-3, 185 and has been on NHL draft radars since an impressive Select 15 Festival a couple of years back.

Salisbury has Jack Barre who showed some potential a few years ago, but has not raised his stock to the point that he's considered much of a draft option. He's got some size and power at this level and is a captain, but his hands aren't what they need to be. The youngest Biega brother, Marc, is a '94 BD and therefore not eligible until 2012, but we'll certainly be watching what he does on the Salisbury blue line, just like we did Alex and Danny before him.

Saturday will be another crazy day of hockey with small prep schools (not much to offer) in the am, EJHL in the early afternoon, Belmont Hill-Westminster later and then jetting over to see Northeastern-BU. One of the members of the Bruins hockey operations team said last night at the TD Garden that the Huskies-Terriers match is going to be "where all the scouts in New England are" on Saturday night. With Oleksiak, Matt Nieto and Adam Clendening all going in that one, we don't doubt it.

Should be a blast! We'll have updates as we can post them, so keep checking in.

Colin Sullivan: A Guy You Should Know

Avon Old Farms defenseman Colin Sullivan is considered by many to be the top New England (Founder's League) prep player coming out for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft who is a native of the six-state region.

Guys like Philippe Hudon, Mike McKee and Petr Placek may be considered better NHL prospects, or at the very least, carry a higher profile than Sullivan does, but they aren't from New England. They're all transplanted from elsewhere: Quebec, Ontario and the Czech Republic in their cases. There's also Jamie Oleksiak (Ontario), Adam Clendening (New York) and Matt Nieto (California) who are all making noise in the Hockey East. But none of those guys are native sons of New England.

So, what makes Sullivan the best area option after Mike Paliotta (also a Nutmeg State native, but who left Choate and teammate Hudon to play for the U.S. NTDP)?

Sullivan is an outstanding skater. I mean, really good. I talked to one Eastern Conference NHL scout who was staying at my hotel in Buffalo about him and the first thing he mentioned about Sullivan was the skating. His stride is fluid and he has a quick burst out of the starting blocks. His footwork/pivots/turns are very good and he maintains good balance on his feet when changing direction.

He's currently leading the Winged Beavers in scoring among defenders with three goals and nine points in 13 games thus far, and those stats are nothing to write home about. But to focus on the numbers is to take a diminished view of Sullivan's potential at the next level. First of all, he's getting outstanding coaching from prep legend John Gardner. He's already matched his entire '09-10 output of nine points and only found the back of the net once last season. He essentially played it safe when I watched him, which is fine, but he has the mobility and potential to spread his wings and carry the offense a bit more. He's a bright kid who will be joining Keith Allain at Yale in 2012. Where he plays for 2011-12 is yet to be determined, but he'll try to take his team all the way again this season.

The Milford, Connecticut native is a winner-- his solid play helped Avon to the championship last spring, and while he doesn't have outstanding size (listed at 6-0, 200), his skating chops and potential to be more than the sum of his parts are going to attract some NHL suitors in the spring for sure. He's very good in his own end at the prep level at least and with those wheels, someone will take a chance on him come June.

Now, this space isn't ticketing Sullivan for top-60 consideration, but he does have the solid projection to go as high as the third and at least in the middle rounds. Keep an eye on him.

Team USA announces WJC preliminary roster

Team USA announced the preliminary roster for the 2011 U.S National Junior Team (Under-20) today via live press conference at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.

The defending gold medal champs are on home soil this year for what's shaping up to be a battle royale after the Yanks managed to stun the host Canadians in Saskatoon a year ago with John Carlson's overtime strike to clinch the championship for the first time since '04.

Although Carlson is gone (and enjoying an outstanding rookie season with the Washington Capitals), Team USA looks like a contender once again. And, they'll need all the help they can get, because Team Canada is going to come at them hard, with top draft candidate Sean Couturier expected to be a part of the mix. Sweden

Team USA GM Jim Johannson revealed the roster, while coach Keith Allain participated via conference call.

"It's an exciting day for many of the players to be announced as candidates for the team," Johannson said. "We're going to be announcing 29 players today; they come from 13 different states (including four from California)."

The team will gather in Troy, NY on Dec. 16 and play its first exhibition against RPI on the 19th.

The 29 player preliminary roster will be whittled down to 22 players, announced sometime on Dec. 22nd.

"It will be tough to let seven players go, it was tough to get down to 29," Johannson said.

Adam Clendening was live on the call as well. Here is what he said:

"First off, I'd like to thank all the evaluators and coach Allain for giving me the chance to possibly make this team," he said.

"It's going to be exciting playing in what I would like to call my hometown," the Niagara Falls native said. "Having it in Buffalo is really special for me."

So without further ado, here are the names:

G- Jack Campbell, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

G- Andy Iles, Cornell University (ECAC) 2011 draft-eligible ('92- overager)

D- Brian Dumoulin, Boston College (Hockey East)

D- Justin Faulk, Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)

D- Derek Forbort, University of North Dakota (WCHA)- recovered from mono

D- Nick Leddy, Rockford IceHogs (AHL)

D- Jon Merrill, University of Michigan (CCHA)

D- Jamie Oleksiak, Northeastern University (Hockey East) 2011 draft-eligible

D- John Ramage, University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

D- Philip Samuelsson, Boston College (Hockey East)

D- Patrick Wey, Boston College (Hockey East)

D- Adam Clendening, Boston University (Hockey East)- 2011 draft-eligible

F- Nick Bjugstad, University of Minnesota (WCHA)

F- Ryan Bourque, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

F- Connor Brickley, University of Vermont (Hockey East)

F- Chris Brown, University of Michigan (CCHA)

F- Mitchell Callahan, Kelowna Rockets (WHL) Red Wings prospect- not at summer camp-- "came in off radar-- well-rounded player, plays a physical game, not afraid to mix it up."

F- Charlie Coyle, Boston University (Hockey East)

F- Jerry D'Amigo, Toronto Marlies (AHL)

F- Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

F- Rocco Grimaldi, U.S. NTDP U-18 (USHL)- 2011 draft-eligible youngest player on the roster

F- Chris Kreider, Boston College (Hockey East)- "dynamic speed that is unparalleled from what I've seen from this tournament in several years."

F- Jeremy Morin, Rockford Ice Hogs (AHL)- "Jet" should move up from third line role he played last year

F- Brock Nelson, University of North Dakota (WCHA)

F- Matt Nieto, Boston University (Hockey East) 2011 draft-eligible

F- Kyle Palmieri, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

F- Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit (OHL) 2011 draft eligible

F- Drew Shore, University of Denver (WCHA)

F- Jason Zucker, University of Denver (WCHA)

2011 draft eligibles quick analysis-

Iles is not considered much of a pro prospect because of his diminutive size, but he is a gamer, having led Salisbury School to the 2009 prep title. His presence on the NTDP and the fact that he played pretty well for Team USA as Campbell's backup made his selection pretty much a no-brainer. A '92 birthdate, Iles was passed over in 2010, but a strong season at Cornell could get him a look. However, as was the case with another small, talented goalie in John Muse, Iles may have to go the free agent route to pursue his pro dream.

"He'll never give up on a puck, he'll never give up on a play," Johannson said of Iles, who has very quick feet and athleticism to compensate for his lack of size.

Oleksiak is huge and raw, but the dual-citizen playing for Northeastern is gaining traction in draft circles as a shutdown guy. A veteran of the USHL, he doesn't have much offensive upside, but moves pretty well for such a big kid and could be one of these off-the-board selections who will be rated lower by Central and independent scouting services, but will get picked higher because of his sheer physical potential.

Clendening is a first-round candidate who is hitting his stride at BU and is a two-time gold medal winner at the Under-18s in '09 and '10. He should make this roster because of his sheer puck-moving ability and international experience.

"He's a guy that shows to me such tremendous poise with the puck," Allain said. "He has no panic point. He can be a power play point guy, can see players away from the puck. We want to be a puck possession team and he's a puck possession defenseman."

Grimaldi may be the most purely skilled of any of the forwards. A blazing skater with tremendous hands, he's most often compared to Brian Gionta at the same age in terms of style and substance because he's been so productive despite the lack of size. It will be interesting to see if he makes the final cut, but when you watch the New England Patriots and see a small guy like Danny Woodhead tearing it up, you have to think that there is a place for a small, uber-skilled player like Grimaldi at the WJC. Everybody loves an underdog.

Nieto, like Grimaldi and Clendening, is an NTDP veteran and gold medalist who brings explosive offense to the mix. A close pal of Etem's growing up in SoCal, Nieto's had a bit of an adjustment to the Hockey East this season, but is still a strong contender for second round consideration and maybe as high as late first depending on how much the teams picking 25-30 like him.

Finally, Saad was touted by Johannson as a top-five pick for the draft. He's a pure power package of size and ability. Unless he lays an egg in the camp and exhibition games, I can't imagine that he'll be left off. He can bring that important physical and skill element to offset the smaller forwards this USA team has.

Central Scouting Watch List: NCAA

Because this blog still waiting to hear from a couple of key sources, we're going to hold off on the OHL and WHL Central Scouting rankings analysis and jump to the NCAA. We won't cover all the ground out there, but will hit the highlights in hopes of filling in the blanks later.

Starting in the Hockey East, there are three 'A' players Central has identified, two of whom come from a rapidly rising Boston University program, just two years removed from a national championship (and oh what a glorious game that was to see live but I digress).

Defenseman Adam Clendening is a New Yorker and U.S. NTDP product who is one of the best puck-moving defensemen available in the entire draft, not to mention the NCAA ranks. As an Oct. '92 birthdate, he just missed out on the 2010 NHL draft, but is in a good situation on Commonwealth Ave. playing for legendary coach Jack Parker. Not big at 5-11, 187 pounds, Clendening is a very good skater with the vision and instincts to ignite the transition and attack. As a member of Team USA's dominant, suffocating defense in last spring's Under-18 gold medal squad, he's seen international competition at the highest level among his peers and acquitted himself extremely well in that tourney. With five assists in 10 games with the Terriers, he's been steady as she goes as a freshman and better things are in store.

"You can see that he oozes hockey sense," one NHL scout who saw Clendening in Belarus last spring said. "He's a bright, cerebral player who can dissect opposing defenses and get pucks out of his zone quickly."

Clendening's teammate, Matt Nieto, is another player to watch. The speedy, explosive forward can pile up the points, but the offense is yet to come for him at BU (1 goal, 2 points in 10 contests). Another late '92, Nieto has a significant amount of potential but may be a longer-term kind of project who will need at least three years in the NCAA followed by a minors stint before he's ready for the NHL grind.

"Nieto was one of the more dynamic American forwards coming out of Ann Arbor," the scout said. "He's got to watch the compete levels and consistency, but when he's on his game, he can skate with anyone and score goals at will. Very talented guy with upside."

Northeastern defenseman Jamie Oleksiak rounds out the HE watch list. The Ontario native and USHL product is raw, but at 6-7 and 244-pounds is a physical beast who will get picked just for his size from the looks of it. Where he goes in the draft, however, will depend on his play for the Huskies this season. His mobility is surprisingly good for a big man, although he does need to improve his agility and pivots/turns. But as far as straight-line speed goes, that long, powerful stride of his covers a lot of ice quickly. There isn't much offensive upside with Oleksiak-- he scored just two goals in 82 USHL games over three seasons with the Chicago Steel and Sioux Falls Stampede, and in 10 NCAA games he's posted a 1-1-2 line. But, if he can be that shutdown guy with a condor wingspan and an edge to his game (a work in progress), he'll go in the top-three rounds.

UMass-Amherst forward Mike Pereira is on the 'B' list for the HE-- and to be frank, B2011DW was stunned that the explosive winger who carried the Avon Old Farms Winged Beavers on his back to the 2010 prep championship was not picked in the NHL draft last June. He's not big, but his wheels are high-end, and he's as opportunistic a scorer as you will find. With five goals in his first eight games for the Minutemen, I think some NHL team will realize its mistake and snap him up come June. BU forward Sahir Gill and Nick Sorkin are on the 'C' list and were also passed over in previous drafts. Gill's hot start could get him a look. Sorkin, who played high school hockey in Silver Spring, Md. before going to the USHL for a tuneup and is now at UNH, is tall and raw. Look for him to go the free agency route when his NCAA career is done.

In the ECAC, RPI defender Pat Koudys is listed as a 'B' player, but with his size and mobility, he could end up going higher than people are projecting. The ECAC has fallen on hard times in terms of where NHL teams view players coming out of that league given competition and games played, but Koudys comes out of the OJHL with top defenseman accolades and at 6-4, 195, will play at around 220-230 pounds when he reaches his physical peak. He's not managed a point in eight NCAA games, but with his skill set, he should get on the board soon.

Jumping out to the WCHA, there are four 'A' players, three of whom we'll discuss briefly.

Denver University's Nick Shore is flying under the radar in most public draft discussions these days, but we're hearing that NHL teams are onto the skilled, intelligent NTDP product.

Red Line Report scout Max Giese said before the season that he saw Shore as a first-round player with the talent, work ethic and two-way game to break into the top-30 over bigger, more widely-known names. Shore is just getting back from being on the injury report, (3-0-0), but watch for him to boost his stock as the Pioneers' season gets rolling. Even if he doesn't get intot he 1st, its hard to imagine he'll drop far into the 2nd round of the draft because of his versatility and value.

University of Wisconisn forward Michael Mersch's stock is also on the up and up.

"Mersch is just getting better and better and is now on the Badgers' first powerplay unit as its' net presence," Giese said via email recently. "He doesn't even shave yet and he's already a broad, thick kid and will get bigger. His nose for the net and soft hands are what endears him most to NHL guys, but he gets underrated as a set-up man."

Mersch doesn't get much pub as a legitimate top-30 draft candidate, and is more likely to fall into the bottom half of the second round. But, if you put faith in that view, the team who gets him might be getting a steal.

On the downside and disappointing to hear, is Giese's assessment of Dillon Simpson, who was recently pegged on this blog as a potential first-round pick for the Bruins in a mock draft.

"He's a smart player defensively, rarely out of position; but he's a pretty bad skater and he doesn't have any poise moving the puck," Giese said. "He's a slushy skater with a short and sluggish stride. His hands are stiff, he struggles to put passes on the tape and he always hurries to get the puck off of his stick. He's getting the ice time right now because of North Dakota's injuries."

As for the CCHA, apologies. This blog space does not know enough about Kevin Clare, Jacob Fallon, (both with University of Michigan), Thomas Tynan (Notre Dame) and the rest of the 'C' players on that list. I will get updates on them as the season goes on.

Matt Nieto: A guy you should know

I neglected to mention him in my NCAA notes posted last night, but Boston University's Matt Nieto scored his first goal for the Terriers last week and is looking good out of the gate over on Commonwealth Ave.

Nieto's not big-- standing under 6-feet and weighing in at around 180 pounds, but he's a very heady offensive player. He's a nice skater with the hands and offensive instincts to be a scoring threat every time he hits the ice. He's one of these offensive zone predators who can do a lot of things with the puck and create on his own or for his linemates. Last season, he tallied 15 goals in 24 USHL games on a very good U.S. NTDP under-18 squad (he finished his combined USHL and tournament scoring run with 28 goals and 54 points for Team USA), so the potential for him to pile up the points is there.

Like Emerson Etem, Nieto's a Long Beach native who's had to spend much of his young life away from home and family pursuing his pro hockey dreams. Nieto and Etem are close pals, having played together growing up in local YMCA roller hockey circles and on the L.A. Selects development program before the two headed east with both going the prep route- Etem at Shattuck St. Mary's in Minnesota, Nieto at the Salisbury School in (Groton) Connecticut. They spent one season together in the NTDP ('08-09) before Etem hooked on with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL in '09-10.

He was named the tournament MVP in last February's Six Nations tournament in Minsk, tallying a hat trick against Team Czech Republic. On the downside, he was also one of the players involved in the off-ice imbroglio that saw him suspended from the NTDP along with New Jersey Devils 2nd-rounder Jon Merrill. He's probably learned from the mistake of being involved in what was, if you got the straight scoop from scouts (and I pretty much heard the same story from several sources in and outside of the NHL), an ugly prank that got way out of hand. Anyway-- Nieto has the benefit of having an entire season to put it all behind him and focus on successful hockey at BU, but I would imagine he'll field questions about it when the Draft Combine rolls around.

Nieto and fellow frosh blueliner Adam Clendening are both gold medal-winners from last spring's Under-18 World Champion Team USA squad (and Nieto copped another one in '09) trying to make an impact in the Hockey East. Nieto (1 goal in three games) and Clendening (1 assist in same amount) are gaining some notice and if they can continue to progress, you could see both land somewhere in the first round. Either way, neither is likely slipping out of the second.

Speed kills. Nieto with the USNTDP last year:

B2011DW's Official 2010-11 USHL/U.S. college/U.S. juniors Watch List

I'm here with the last of the preseason watch lists. I hope you have enjoyed this series, and be sure to look back on these posts when the season is over, as it will be interesting to see which players lived up to the hype, which ones didn't and those who weren't even listed, but broke into the mainstream with standout performances.

I had the good fortune of having a very productive talk with Max Giese, formerly of McKeen's who is now a Red Line Report scout and covers the USHL and U.S. colleges and even some Canadian juniors. Giese is extremely astute and knows a great deal about the players featured on this particular watch list. He has kindly given his permission for me to quote him extensively on his preseason opinions of the top players projected to come out of the collegiate and junior circuit this year, and like me, Giese is ready for the season to get underway.

The USHL has a trio of very talented players with a lot of size and skill-- two wingers and a defenseman-- in Seth Ambroz, Tyler Biggs and Scott Mayfield, plus the normal contingent of U.S. NTDP prospects who are always in the draft mix in the first few rounds and beyond. Ambroz is the big name, but Mayfield may be the best of anyone coming out of the 'U' this year and has a decision to make as to whether he goes the NCAA route with Denver University, or goes to the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers.

As far as U.S. collegians go, Boston University's Adam Clendening is top dog on this list, but one notable omission is skilled two-way North Dakota defenseman Dillon Simpson (son of former NHL sniper and Bruin killer Craig Simpson) is actually ranked higher on some lists I've seen (notably Red Line Report, who had Simpson 19th in August). But because I have yet to see Simpson and have not been able to find anyone who actually has seen him, I don't have him in the top-10 even though he probably very much should be based on some of the preliminary rankings go. As soon as I or someone I know gets eyes on Simpson, I'll post a scouting report on him.

In eight days, I'll be in Boston checking out the B's prospects vs. the young Islanders, and then the rest of the Bruins vets when they report for the first weekend of main camp. Before we know it, the NHL season will be in full swing, and we can look forward to tracking the progress of those 1st and 2nd-round picks Toronto and Minnesota owe Boston.

But first, here's the last of our unfinished summer business...enjoy!

1. Seth Ambroz, RW Omaha Lancers (USHL)-- At 6-3, 205 pounds, Ambroz is a man among boys and has been the same physical presence now for about three years. A formidable power forward in the making, Ambroz is very strong and has the kind of wicked shot and physical game that should be highly appealing to NHL clubs. Now entering his third season for Omaha in the USHL, he should put up some gaudy numbers provided he stays healthy as a primer for the University of Minnesota next year. Ambroz is not without some faults, however. He's got a pretty slow first step and lacks the kind of balance and agility you want in a pro winger. According to some, he tends to take the summers off, and hasn't really addressed the lack of quickness on his skates. Not only is he a notoriously slow starter when it comes to breaking out from a standstill, but that also applies to his play at the start of the season as well, so scouts will be watching early.

"His biggest issue is that he really lacks quickness out of the gate," Giese told B2011DW. "It's an issue that most expected him to work on, and in the three years I've been watching him, I haven't really seen a lot of improvement in, so I think it will be something scouts focus on. He's one of those guys the game comes pretty easy for and he plays effectively at both ends of the rink. He's more of a shooter than a playmaker at this stage of his development."

Even with the initial burst concerns, Ambroz still is a prime candidate to go in the top-half of the opening round in his home state next June, and if he has the kind of big production that is expected of him, you might see him crack the top-10.

2. Scott Mayfield, D Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)-- The St. Louis native's stock shot up a bit with NHL scouts last month when he went to Toronto to participate in the inaugural Research and Development Camp and formed a formidable pairing with Mike McKee. He's got a lot of mass to pack onto his 6-4 frame, but he moves extremely well and shows some nice polish at both ends of the ice. Although committed to Denver, you could see Mayfield instead go to the OHL to join powerhouse Kitchener in the 11-12 campaign, so that will be an interesting development to watch.

"Mayfield's had a mountain of improvement," Giese said of having seen Mayfield from the beginning of his USHL career a year ago. "Everytime you see him, you notice that he's a really good skater and has nice offensive skills. I like that he's assertive with the puck; he came into Youngstown and was running their power play from the get-go and playing about 30 minutes a night for them in all situations."

Mayfield's size and mobility are of obvious interest to NHL teams, but the fact that he can play both defense and generate offense is going to see him off the board early in June if he continues to progress. "I think he's the best USHL defenseman since John Carlson," said Giese. "He's more advanced defensively than Carlson was (in his draft year), but not quite as skilled offensively."

3. Tyler Biggs, RW U.S. NTDP Under-18 (USHL)-- You may not have heard much about this power winger in the making, but if Biggs can live up to the tantalizing potential he flashed last season, he could end up going in the top half of the NHL draft next summer. At 6-2, 205, he'll add more muscle to his frame, but has the size and strength to be a horse along the boards. Skill-wise, he's a solid stickhandler and has an NHL-caliber shot already, with a quick release and a lot of power on it. He's very physical and uses his size and strength to intimidate opponents. The biggest drawback for him, and likely the reason that there hasn't been more buzz on him thus far is the fact that he's been pretty inconsistent and doesn't always bring his best to every situation.

"He can flat-out dominate with his skills and physical play," Giese said. "The problem is-- he turns it on and off. When the switch goes on, he's often the best player on the ice. When the switch is off, you don't notice him."

Biggs has the hockey bloodlines, too; he's the son of former NHL journeyman and AHL/IHL Cincinnati Cyclones scoring ace Don Biggs, and although born in Binghamton, N.Y. was raised in southern Ohio.

"When he's on his game, he's really strong," said Giese. "I've seen him hurt older kids; he knocked out (Anaheim Ducks prospect) Kevin Lind in a fight last year. He's almost underappreciated in the NTDP because they don't fight there all that much."

Interestingly enough, one of Biggs's three fights last season (in addition to Lind) came against Mayfield. With the snarl and the skill, if Biggs can be a consistent force this season, then the buzz on him will be palpable as he rides that wave into the first round.

4. J.T. Miller, C U.S. NTDP Under-18 (USHL)-- Talented center from Eastern Ohio and the Pittsburgh Hornets developmental organization is highly-ranked, but a lot is riding for him in his draft year. If Ambroz and Biggs are the hulking, physical power forward types, Miller is a more cerebral, skill player with a well-rounded game, but who does not project as a huge point getter in the pros. At 6-1, 190 pounds he has nice size with room to fill out and is a good skater. He comes from the same region of the country that fellow 2011 prospect Brandon Saad does, and the two competed against one another as youths.

"With me it's all about preferences," Giese said when asked about Miller. "He's in the group with Biggs, but he's more of a finesse two-way guy and not a physical or dominant shutdown center. He's a skilled two-way forward and there's some upside there."

5. Mike Paliotta, D U.S. NTDP Under-18 (USHL)-- The Westport, Conn. native and former Choate Rosemary Hall standout left home for Ann Arbor and the national program last year and it's paying off for him, as he's done well against the bigger, stronger, more skilled competition in the USHL not found in New England prep ranks these days. At 6-3, he's still filling out, but skates real well and is fluid, with a long stride and very good balance, agility and the footwork. He had a tough transition early on, but progressed well on the Under-17 team last year and looks like a solid first-round pick in the second half if he continues to develop. He's probably not going to be a big point getter at the next level, but his skills will see him drafted early. Paliotta will return to New England next year, when he joins Kevin Sneddon's Vermont Catamounts program in the Hockey East.

"I saw him in late February and he was by far the best defenseman on the ice," Giese said, noting the major improvement from the start of the year. "He's big, is a rangy skater and has a good stick; he can make that first pass. He doesn't have the tantalizing upside that Derek Forbort did, but I think that once the top defenders go in the draft, NHL teams picking later in the first round will identify this guy as someone who can help."

6. Adam Clendening, D Boston University (HE)-- The first NCAA entry on this list (and again-- note the Dillon Simpson caveat above) is a skilled defender who, if he were a few inches taller, would likely carry a better draft projection. Listed at 5-11 and 190-pounds, the size won't be an issue for him in the NCAA this year and he should complement David Warsofsky nicely as far as bringing offense from the blue line goes. The New York native is a solid skater who may not possess elite speed, but can move and turn well. His best attributes are his passing and puck skills; he can put the biscuit anywhere it needs to go and sees the ice extremely well. A polished player who did well for USA at the Under-18 championship last spring, winning a gold medal in the process, you should probably see an immediate impact from him on the Terrier blue line. I brought up 2010 second-round pick and fellow NTDP grad Justin Faulk asked for a comparison with Clendening to Giese and he had this interesting insight on the two:

"Clendening can't pound it like Faulk can," he said referring to the diminutive Minnesotan's rocket shot. "But he can hit seams and thread the needle creatively. Clendening isn't as physical as Faulk and is more of a player who will be in proper position and use his stick. I expect immediate success for him at BU."

7. Nick Shore, C Denver University (WCHA)-- The younger brother of '09 Florida second-rounder Drew Shore, Nick is a different player from his older brother in that he doesn't have the size or quite the pure hockey skills, but is more of a mature and intelligent player at this stage of his development. A hard-working and productive graduate of the NTDP, he's ready to take on the college hockey challenge there in his native state of Colorado and could make a splash right away because of his advanced approach and hockey intellect.

"He has really good hands and hockey sense," Giese said of the younger Shore. "Because of his intelligence and poise with the puck, I could see him moving into the first round if he has the kind of season I think he's capable of at DU."

8. Robbie Russo, D U.S. NTDP Under-18 (USHL)-- Cut from the Clendening mold, this smallish but skilled defenseman sees the ice well and is an adept passer. He doesn't have great size (6-0, 180), nor is he a blazing skater, but because he's strong on his skates and possesses the right instincts for the game, he's able to move the puck and play a solid two-way game. He'll quarterback the Under-18 team's power play this year, but according to Giese is more of a gap and stick defender as opposed to a physical, hitting one. Russo could be a second- or third-round pick in June, and will have to make his money on the international scene this year to raise his profile.

9. Matt Nieto, LW Boston University (HE)-- Small but skilled offensive dynamo will infuse some excitement into a Terriers team that is just two seasons removed from a national championship. Another NTDP product and member of that gold medal Under-18 team last spring, Nieto has explosive speed and production potential, but doesn't always bring it on every shift. He'll have to prove his consistency and is in a pretty good situation to do just that.

10. John Gibson, G U.S. NTDP Under-18 (USHL)-- A tall, athletic goalie (6-3) who has reportedly improved his technique considerably over the last several seasons, Gibson is in position to move rapidly up the draft boards if he can consistently demonstrate his prowess between the pipes given that Jack Campbell is now in the OHL. He has a compact butterfly and moves well laterally, staying square to the shooter and remaining patient. He's going to have to earn the playing time and then perform to get himself into the first round, but he has the physical and mental chops to do it.

"He has ice in his veins," Giese said. "You can't teach a goalie to be composed in big games or make huge saves when his team needs him the most, so he's got that going for him in addition to the skill."

Others of note:

Dillon Simpson, D University of North Dakota (WCHA)-- We'll post more on him as the season progresses, but with the skill and blood lines, this kid could turn some heads for the draft.

Zac Larraza LW U.S. NTDP Under-18 (USHL)-- Big, lanky kid came to Ann Arbor from Arizona with high expectations and hasn't quite met them yet. Described by one scout as "all arms and legs," he has a lot of physical maturing to do, but skates well and brings a good skill level to the table. If he can put it all together this year and produce, you could see him make a run up the draft boards.

Jamie Oleksiak, D Northeastern University (HE)-- The Huskies are mining the Toronto area (see: McKee, Mike) for some gems, and this 6-7, 220-pounder who comes by way of Sioux Falls of the USHL is raw, but has some intriguing potential. The wingspan is gi-normous as one would expect for someone of Hal Gill's height, but he also moves pretty well for such a big man (less speed, but effective edgework). He's got a little puck skills, but is a work in progress who needs to improve speed of decisions and bring a more consistent physical presence.

Mike Mersch, LW University of Wisconsin (WCHA)-- Sound all-around winger isn't going to dazzle, but has good hands and a knack for making plays. He needs to get stronger, and that will come in time, but thinks the game well and how his draft goes will be largely dependent on how Mike Eaves uses him as a freshman.

Frankie Simonelli, D University of Wisconsin (WCHA)-- Another small, skilled defender who is a good four-way skater and can move the puck well. The Illinois native gets lost in the shuffle a bit, but is a strong two-way defender and has some interesting upside.

Cason Hohmann, RW Cedar Rapids (USHL)-- Tiny but highly skilled energy forward had a fine Ivan Hlinka tourney for Team USA, but may get passed over in draft because of concerns about size, lack of explosive jump. He's instinctive, feisty, has terrific hands and can really finish, but will need to put up huge points this year to hear his name called. Boston University recruit will be in Beantown for the 11-12 season.

Rocco Grimaldi, C U.S. NTDP Under-18 (USHL)-- Another extremely small, skilled forward, Grimaldi is the latest in the wave of NHL prospects from Southern California. He's dangerous and productive, but is also an outstanding skater. That gives him an edge when determining whether an NHL team will spend a draft pick on a player who is so undersized.