Dog days of winter passing by...playoffs around corner

When the sun comes up tomorrow, we'll be in March.

March is one month closer to the NHL draft, which is still quite a ways away at this point, but March also means playoff time for the CHL and other junior leagues like the EJHL plus high school/prep championships as well.

Bruins 2011 Draft Watch will be attending the 30th annual NEPSIHA prep tourney in Salem N.H. in person again this year, and will also see some EJHL action. There isn't a ton in the way of 2011 NHL draft talent in the EJHL this season, but there are some intriguing futures competing such as NY Apple Core defenseman Steve Santini, who is a '95 and has attracted some early attention for the 2013 NHL Draft.

This isn't a great year for New England talent. And, several of the area's top players who are not New England natives such as Choate's Philippe Hudon and Hotchkiss forward Petr Placek won't be there because their teams did not qualify. The good news is- Mike McKee's Kent School has at least made the quarterfinal, so we hope they'll at least advance to the semis so the scouts can have a look on Friday.

Avon is also in the mix and will travel to Lawrence with a chance to defend their 2010 Stuart/Corkery "Elite 8" title won last March. The Winged Beavers feature fleet-of-foot defenseman Colin Sullivan, who is widely considered the second-best New England native available in the NHL draft after Mike Paliotta.

Also bonus for being in Boston on prep tourney weekend is the fact that the Bruins are in town for two home games against Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, so gotta love it.

March time is when things always start to get going and the draft picture really comes into focus, so stick with the blog and keep checking in regularly...we'll keep the content coming.

A look at the NTDP 2011 draft options Pt. 2

We're back with some observations and analysis of the U.S. NTDP draft options in net and on defense based on the season to date and the most recent victory in the Five Nations Cup played in the Czech Republic last week. In case you missed it, the forwards were profiled here.

Here also is the link to the USA Hockey press release for the 5 Nations and Vlad Dzurilla (Under-17) tourney wins.

Goalies

John Gibson, 6-3, 200 -- The top netminder available in the 2011 NHL Draft continued to justify that standing with scouts in this tourney. Gibson has excellent size and is extremely athletic, with all the quickness, flexibility and lateral agility NHL teams want to see at the position. He's the modern, prototypical butterfly netminder who is exceptionally adroit at taking away the lower portion of the net and takes up a large amount of the rest of the space, leaving shooters very small spaces to hit. What makes Gibson a cut above so many of his peers who possess similar physical attributes, however, is his calm, composure and ability to shrug off the pressure of big games and tight situations. Originally committed to Ohio State, Gibson shifted gears much to the chagrin (and ire) of Buckeye fans everywhere when he opted for arch rival Michigan instead.

Matt McNeely, 6-2, 205-- Minnesotan and Duluth Bulldogs recruit has some real long-term potential, but is nowhere near the refined and poised goalie his partner is at this stage. Resembles Gibson in the net with his size and stance. Not quite the athlete nor is he as poised and composed as his counterpart, but there is some upside here. Needs work on his technique and should end up being a mid-round pick from an NHL team that will give him all the time and patience to develop. He's done well in limited playing time at the NTDP and would be competing for the Frank Brimsek Award as Minnesota's top HS goalie (won last season by B's prospect Zane Gothberg) if not for being in Ann Arbor.

Defense

Robbie Russo, 5-11, 189 -- Some scouts are really high on the Illnois native, others not so much. Russo is a smallish, mobile puck mover who had some high expectations coming into the season but has been up-and-down for those who have seen him regularly. Pretty average skater given his sub-6-foot height, but manages to get the puck up the ice effectively enough. Committed to Notre Dame University. A bit overrated in some circles-- one of those players that you either really like or are pretty tepid on. Count this blog space in the latter group. Russo has some positive attributes, but he just seems like a reach where some scouting lists have him.

Mike Paliotta, 6-3, 196-- Big and mobile, Paliotta was the 32nd-ranked North American skater by Central Scouting in their mid-term list. Like Russo, scouts we've talked to are divided. Red Line Report had him in the first round of their rankings up until last month when they dropped him into the second. Much of that has to do with a lack of pure production from him, which given his skating and size, may mark him as more of a shutdown 'D' at the next level as opposed to the always in demand puck mover with upside. Bright, articulate and driven, Paliotta will take his game to the University of Vermont next season. One NHL scout who saw him in international play had some real questions about his vision and passing skills, noting that he misfired on what should have been some high percentage plays. Another scout noted that Paliotta has markedly improved from where he was a year ago and even earlier this season.

Connor Murphy, 6-3, 192-- Former Bruins defender and current Florida assistant coach Gord Murphy's son has been out most of the year with a bad back, but this kid is certainly intriguing for his size and skill mix. He moves well for a big guy, but like most tall, gangly types, needs to get better laterally and his high center of gravity is a bit of a disadvantage until he can get stronger in his lower body. He's not much of a puck mover, but owns a booming shot. He's not a high-upside kind of defender, but he's one of those players who could be a good value pick in the middle of the draft because of all the time he missed and develop into a legitimate prospect over the next few years. His durability is a bit of a concern, but shouldn't sink him too far. Will play at Miami University with Biggs next fall.

Joe Fiala, 6-1, 180-- No frills with this guy, just a solid, defense-first blue liner. Possesses the size to be a player at the next level, but isn't going to wow anyone with his hockey skills. Heady and tenacious: has that innate feel for where he's supposed to be in his own end and makes the simple, smart play. Good passer, though not a textbook puck-mover by today's definition. Needs to work on his shot and improve accuracy and release. Not the prettiest skater, but gets from A to B effectively enough and seems to be solid in just about every area. Could be one of those sleeper picks who doesn't have a high-round pedigree, but wills himself into being a player in the big show through sheer effort and dedication.


Jake McCabe, 6-0, 195-- Wisconsin native and Badgers recruit is coming on. Doesn't have great size, but plays a physical, banging style and seems to be pretty effective as a stay-at-home D. Don't have a lot of ink on him to date, so need to expand the viewing profile, but comes off as another solid, capable and hard-working kid who goes about his business with a minimum of fanfare. As a late '93, he is not eligible until 2012.

Barret Kaib, 5-9, 182-- Another big man trapped in a small man's body. Skates very well and plays a surprisingly physical style for someone of his size. It works for him at this level, but he's going to have durability issues as the competition gets bigger and stronger because he sticks his nose in and writes checks his body will have trouble cashing. He's a poor man's David Warsofsky; doesn't quite have the offensive skills of the BU standout, but is similar in terms of being a small defender who plays with a chip on his shoulder, as if he's gotten sick and tired of hearing everyone tell him he's too small to play defense. Unfortunately for Kaib, he lacks the elite skill level of a Ryan Murphy for example, to project him as an NHL defenseman down the road. Pennsylvanian is committed to Providence College and should thrive under Tim Army.

Andy Ryan, 6-1, 200-- Another defense-first, no-nonsense defenseman who has battled injuries this season and has a more limited viewing profile.

Matt Van Voorhis, 5-7, 162-- Explosive speed and whirling dervish player, but not much of an NHL prospect at this stage of things. Simply too small to be considered a legitimate draft option, but could work his way into the mix eventually as a free agent. May need a switch to forward to do so, however. Committed to University of Denver.

2 Minutes in the box with Mike Paliotta

U.S. NTDP defenseman Michael Paliotta is in his second season with the program after leaving his home in Westport, Connecticut and the Choate Rosemary Hall Wild Boars for the bigger challenge in Ann Arbor and the USHL (and NCAA and international play).

The 6-3, 196-pounder has good mobility and sound defensive instincts. His stock is a little down more because of the outstanding play of other 2011 draft prospects than anything he is or isn't doing. The lack of production is probably the biggest thing, but with Paliotta, he's got the size and wheels, so he shouldn't be on the board very long. First-round pick? Debateable. He's going to have to come on strong in the second half to do that, and a strong Four Nations and Under-18 Championship tourneys would go a long way to boosting his stock.

Bob McKenzie's mid-season TSN ranking had him closer to the end of the second round, which could very well be where he lands, but not a bad place for him to be.

I caught up to him recently to get his thoughts on his season, the program, and other things of note.

Bruins 2011 Draft Watch: Talk to us about who you are as a player and what you bring to the table for NHL team that drafts you.

Mike Paliotta: I’m a big, mobile defenseman that moves the puck well. I have a strong shot from the point and see the ice pretty well. I like to be physical, and my goal is to be a tough player to play against every time I’m out there.

B2011DW: So, you're a pretty physical player then?

MP: I would say so. I've got good size and have been working hard in the off-ice program here to build up my strength. I think playing against older, stronger players in the USHL and NCAA has definitely helped me in my own game and now in my second year here, I've learned a lot about leverage and using my size to make contact and separate players from the puck. It's something I would say I've gotten better at, but like anything else, I'm continuing to work on to try and improve.

B2011DW: What was the driving force behind your decision to leave home and the Founder's League in preps to join the NTDP?

MP: I felt like it was almost an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. In the long run, I think I’ll definitely benefit from playing against tougher competition. It’s a much higher level than prep hockey was, so as difficult as it was to leave my family and team, I’m pretty happy with how things are going.

B2011DW: How was the transition from being a pretty accomplished prep player to being on a team of highly-skilled players from around the country going up against older, more experienced players in the USHL and NCAA as well as international competition?

MP: That's pretty much it, right there. The older, stronger, more skilled players presented a pretty tough challenge at first. My (Under-17) year was a challenging time for the entire team. Playing against 20-year-olds in the USHL for any 16-year-old is definitely an adjustment to step in and play at a high level right away. It was tough at first not winning any games, and it was tough to get acclimated.

B2011DW: You committed to the University of Vermont. Why the Catamounts as opposed to the other schools who pursued you?

MP: I’d say the biggest thing was the coaching staff. They’ve built a winning program that attracts top players. Also, going back to the East Coast was important to me. I wanted to be closer to my family and being about four hours away from my town in Connecticut is just right.

B2011DW: So, growing up in Connecticut were you a Rangers fan? Whalers? Bruins?

MP: Definitely Rangers. I'm a huge Rangers fan. Guys like Brian Leetch and Mark Messier were big favorites of mine growing up. And obviously, Wayne Gretzky when he was with the team. I've always tried to emulate those guys for their professionalism and great play.

B2011DW: Have you ever met Brian Leetch? He's a fellow Nutmeg stater after all...

MP: No, I haven't had the opportunity to meet him, but he was definitely one of my favorite players and from what I've seen of him in interviews and other things, he seems like a great guy.

Paliotta is the consensus top New England-born player available in the 2011 NHL Draft, and he just might be flying under the radar a little more than he should. This spring will be a big test for him, but he's a bright, mature kid who is headed to a potential powerhouse Vermont team (in the next few years) in the fall.

He's certainly a player to keep an eye on, even if he may not have as high an upside as some of the other defensemen in this class.

Central Scouting Preliminary Rankings: The USHL Pt. 2

Good Sunday morning!

B2011DW is back with the second part of the USHL and final part in our Central Scouting preliminary breakdown. I previously brought you the top-five and I'll review the guys from 6-25 plus a few of the goalies. I won't hit all of the players, as several scouts have told me that a good number of these guys don't belong and aren't legitimate pro prospects. Once again, I want to thank my sources for providing so many good insights on players who aren't as easy to see. Red Line Report's Max Giese is one of the best young talent hounds out there with a tremendous work ethic and keen eye for hockey, while my NHL scouts are proven over time. I just wish sometimes that I could name them in these reports because they deserve credit for their many hits over the years. Giese, a former goaltender from Janesville, Wisconsin, is like a lot of goalies out there-- he spent a lot of time watching the game and gaining insights that many skaters don't get because of the fast-paced nature of hockey. And, like all NHL scouts out there, he's logging countless miles on his car traveling to far-flung midwestern hockey outlets.

So, getting going, we'll kick off with a player I'm pretty familiar with in former Choate Rosemary Hall standout Mike Paliotta, who is the one player from New England (Westport, Conn.) who has a legitimate shot at being a first-round draft pick in June. The Wild Boars' loss was the U.S. NTDP's gain when Paliotta went out to Ann Arbor a year ago, and the University of Vermont recruit may not be flashy or spectacular, but he has the size and mobility to get the job done in the NHL. He has solid No. 2/3 upside and is working as the U.S. Under-18 team's triggerman on the power play.

"He's shown a lot of improvement (since September)," Giese said. "He's really committed to his role. He's a big kid (6-3, 196) who moves pretty well on his feet. I'd say he's above average for his size (as a skater) and has taken his physical game up a notch. He's trying to play that same kind of role for the Under-18 team that Jarred Tinordi did last year."

Giese was quick to point out that Paliotta doesn't have Tinordi's intimidating physical presence, but he may have more skill when it comes to skating and moving the puck than the Montreal first-rounder.

"He makes a good first pass," said Giese. "He gets into a little bit of trouble when he gets the puck and stops moving his feet; those passing windows tend to close up. So, Paliotta is going to need to keep moving his feet. Overall, though, these are things he'll improve with good coaching and experience. I'd say that he's rising up (the various) lists."

Paliotta's teammate, Adam Reid, is seventh on the Central list for the USHL and makes his debut on Bruins2011DraftWatch on this post. Here is what was published in Red Line Report's November issue recap of the U.S. NTDP draft eligible players:

Rangy and industrious two-way winger. Stronger on his feet with improved balance and top-end speed, but still has some awkward moments and needs to get quicker out of the gate... Tall and needs to fill out. Not a malicious hitter, though he uses his size well doing the dirty jobs along the boards.

Not a complete report, as the information RLR publishes is proprietary, but you get the picture. Reid has some interesting, if raw potential.

At eight, Central has Michigander Sean Kuraly, who skates for the Indianapolis Ice on the list. Here's where some of the divergence of opinions comes in. Although Kuraly skated for the silver medal U.S. squad at the Ivan Hlinka a few months ago, he's not exactly a favorite among scouts B2011DW has spoken to.

"I don't see much upside with Kuraly," said an NHL scout familiar with him from international competition. 'He skates well enough, but I don't think he's got the hands and puck skills to get the job done at the NHL level."

Giese concurred.

"He's nothing more than a checker in my view and one who's high maintenance," he said. "Not sure how he ends up higher than some of the other players on the list."

Fargo Force winger Colten St. Clair is another low-upside, two-way forward who has been uneven in his performance thus far.

"He can skate and has good defensive awareness," said the NHL scout. "But he kills his teams with undisciplined penalties and has got to figure out how to maintain the compete levels over a full game. I just don't see that from him-- the consistency and intensity given the style of hockey he plays."

St. Clair has a gritty element to his game, but at the same time, it's not to the degree that would see him drafted a lot higher than his skill level would warrant.

"(St. Clair) is good, but he's not Connor Brickley tough," Giese said. Brickley, a former Belmont Hill standout before going to the USHL last year, was a second-round pick by the Florida Panthers.

Rounding out the top-10 is U.S. NTDP defenseman Robbie Russo, who has been the PP quarterback for the Under-18 team this year and is respected for his solid all-around play and character. He's heading to Notre Dame and should be an excellent addition for the Fighting Irish.

"He's playing well and I'd expect him to be an early second-rounder," said Giese of Russo. "He reminds me a lot of Matt Carle-- he's not the biggest (5-11, 190), most explosive defenseman out there, but he's very intelligent and calculated with his puck movement."

Yes, Russo is an adept puck-mover, which should pick up the antennae of Bruins fans who know their team desperately needs players on the back-end who can jumpstart the attack with clean breakout leads. Unfortunately, Russo's lack of size works against him as a Boston option, given the multiple sub-six footers they have in their system right now.

"I like him OK," Giese said. "But he doesn't really light a fire under me. I would imagine that NHL teams like him, but if I were with a team, he wouldn't be my guy. Not taking anything away from him as a player, but he just doesn't have the kind of dynamic game that I would want to spend a second-round pick on."

For the most part, this covers the high-enders coming out of the USHL, although B2011DW fave Joakim Ryan gets a mention here. The son of a Swedish tennis pro mother and sports agent dad who is a dual U.S.-Swedish citizen, Ryan grew up in N.J. and is now scouting for Dubuque.

"He's an interesting kid," said an NHL scout. "He's coming out of New Jersey high school hockey and midget AAA, so he's pretty raw right now. He's lean and lacking in functional strength, but he's a fine skater and sees the ice well. I'm still surprised that he didn't get a better look for Team USA."

The scout is referring to the fact that Ryan was cut from Team USA Ivan Hlinka tryout evaluations and was subsequently added to Team Sweden. He could still technically play for USA because Hlinka isn't a sanctioned IIHF event, but it appears that Ryan found himself a home with the Tri-Kronor and will stick with his mother's country even though he's a Jersey boy. Don't expect a high draft flyer on Ryan, but he's got some interesting potential and is one to keep an eye on.

25th-ranked Cason Hohmann is bound for Boston University next season and was one of the USA's most noticeable forwards at the Hlinka, but he's so small that in the eyes of some, is not a legitimate NHL prospect.

"His playmaking skill is legit, but he's so small and won't go into traffic," Giese said. "I think he'll be a great college player and may even have a nice AHL career, but he's been too soft and is too small for me to be comfortable with his long-term NHL potential."

Limited viewing players who have missed time because of injuries are a pair of U.S. NTDP guys in forward Zac Larraza and defenseman Connor Murphy. Larraza has nice size and skills, but hasn't been able to put it together yet and remains a potential high upside wildcard who has not delivered. Murphy is the son of former Bruins defenseman and current Florida Panthers assistant Gord Murphy (he played for the Panthers as well). Murphy has very good size and two-way potential; he was one of the best defenders at the Hlinka in August, but he can't stay healthy. Last year, he ruptured his spleen and missed most of the season. This year, it's been a wonky back, so teams will be risking a high pick on a fragile player who simply hasn't had a lot of viewings. Watch for him to slip unless he can come back and reassure scouts with strong play.

As far as goalies go, U.S. NTDP star John Gibson is at the top and is undisputed in that regard according to multiple scouts.

At 6-3, 200 pounds, the Pennsylvanian is highly athletic and takes up a lot of the net. He has outstanding technique and is mentally tough, about as good a combination as you can have when it comes to projecting goalies.

"He makes it look so easy," said Giese. "But he's got to do it on the big stage. Yes, he won gold at the Under-17 (tournament), but with Jack Campbell ahead of him, he hasn't been able to do it in the bigger international tourneys. I think that he's proven himself in the USHL, but until scouts see him do it at a higher level, his ranking is going to be down a bit."

Campbell's stranglehold on the playing time for the big international competitions is both a blessing and curse for the other fine young American goalies in the chute, but Gibson should get his chance this season, even if it isn't going to be at the WJC in Buffalo. If he performs to expectations, then watch for him to entrench himself in the top-30. Gibson has a verbal commitment to Ohio State, but watch for him to possibly jump to the OHL like Campbell did depending on the kind of advice he gets.

Virginia native Jay Williams of the Waterloo Black Hawks is No. 2, and the former prep star got a chance to play a bit at the Hlinka before getting supplanted by Loomis-Chaffee's Steve Michalek. Williams isn't huge, but is very quick, positionally-sound player who is a throwback to the days of Mike Vernon and Andy Moog being among the top netminders in the NHL.

"He's an interesting guy, but very, very raw," said an NHL scout who attended the Ivan Hlinka in Slovakia. "He had a chance to take the ball and run with it (in August) and lost the job to Michalek, so I think that set him back a bit."

He's not been great in the early going of the USHL: in six games, he has just a 3.87 GAA, .858 save percentage and 2-3 record for the Black Hawks.

Gibson's backup, Matt McNeely rounds out the goalie top-three and should be ranked ahead of Williams. Like Gibson, McNeely is big (6-3) and fills the net, but his technique is not as strong. The Minnesota-Duluth recruit has a lot of raw potential, but rebound control is weak and he's not going to get the kind of playing time this season to make a big move up the rankings.

Well, that's a wrap on this series. I hope this has served its purpose to bring you up to speed on some of the players you should be tracking as we start to head into the winter stretch. B2011DW will return with the same kind of analysis and updates when Central releases their mid-term and final rankings.

As always, comments are welcome and if there is anyone you'd like to learn more about, shoot me a note and I'll see what I can do.

B2011DW's Official New England Prep/Junior Watch List

This post is reprinted from my Kirk's Call blog on the New England Hockey Journal website:

As the 2010-11 hockey campaign gets set to open this month (Europe) and next in North America, it is time to start looking at the 2011 NHL draft class.

Unlike 2009, when the New England region had a top-20 selection (Boxford’s Chris Kreider- 19th to the Rangers) and hits in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, and 2010, with a pair of late first-rounders in Kevin Hayes(Dorchester, Mass.) and Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass.) to the Blackhawks and Sharks respectively, the 2011 crop may not be as prolific.

One player who left the area last year to skate for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. is defenseman Mike Paliotta (Westport, Conn.) who played for Choate Rosemary in the 08-09 season before joining the Under-17 team. Paliotta has nice size (6-3, 185) and skates very well, although the offensive numbers have not yet come for him. If he can get a little more going on the scoresheet this season with the Under-18 squad, his upside could carry him to a first-round grade. The University of Vermont recruit is the hockeyjournal.com preseason No. 1 prospect for the 2011 NHL draft.

Another defenseman worth following is Avon Old Farms standout Colin Sullivan (Milford, Conn.), who helped the Winged Beavers to the 2010 prep championship last spring with a solid performance. He’s got some good wheels, plays a smart positional game and has some interesting potential, but will need to have a dominant year to raise his draft profile. Right now, he’s looking like a solid mid-round option, but could crack the top-60 with a strong campaign.

Keep an eye on small but talented forward Alex Gacek (Dracut, Mass.) who tore it up for the EJHL champion NH Jr. Monarchs last season. He’s under 6-feet and isn’t a great skater, but like other NHL scoring stars who have overcome size and mobility concerns in the past and present like Adam Oates and Marc Savard, Gacek has special instincts and that unquantifiable knack for finding the back of the net. He could develop into a special player in time.

Gacek’s Monarchs teammate, Chris Eiserman(Newburyport, Mass.) got a chance to shine early last season when No. 1 netminder Brian Billett (Kennebunk, Me.) went down with an ankle injury. The crease will be crowded in Hooksett with Billett, the reigning league goalie of the year (and unconscionable draft snub) slated to come back for another season. Eiserman has some impressive potential, but playing time will be an issue if the status quo holds.

Goalie Steve Michalek (Glastonbury, Conn.) plays for Loomis-Chaffee and made a name for himself on the silver medal-winning U.S. team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament last season and will get a longer look from scouts this season.

There is one very intriguing player in the area who attracted a lot of notice at last month’s NHL Research and Development Camp in Toronto. Newmarket, Ontario native Mike McKee, a defenseman for the Kent Lions under Matt Herr (Kent, Conn.) is already 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, but skates extremely well. The Northeastern recruit had NHL scouts in a tizzy after looking very poised as a pairing with Scott Mayfield, and if he returns to the prep ranks this year, will have a lot of talent hounds following him.

Another potential first-round prospect in the New England prep ranks is Quebec native Philippe Hudon, who skated with Paliotta at Choate two years ago and brings a highly polished offensive game. He got into academic trouble last spring and was suspended from the team’s successful large school tournament run, costing him a chance to showcase himself for NHL scouts in attendance. This is a big year for the Cornell recruit for obvious reasons.

Although the season has yet to start, there isn’t a lot of excitement surrounding the 2011 New England draft class, but watch out for 2012, when the ’94s are expected to make a big splash. Malden Catholic scoring star Ryan Fitzgerald (North Reading, Mass.), and new NTDP recruits Brendan Silk (Melrose, Mass.), two-way defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.), Cam Darcy (South Boston, Mass.) and Frankie Vatrano (East Longmeadow, Mass.) bring one of the strongest New England contingents to Ann Arbor in the program’s 12-year history. They’ll have a shot at landing in the first-three rounds of the 2012 NHL lottery if they continue their upward developmental curves.

Also of note for 2012 is Jr. Monarchs forward Brian Morgan (Windham, N.H.) and defenseman Teddy Doherty (Hopkinton, Mass.) who along with Fitzgerald were on the Sean Tremblay (Newburyport, Mass.)-coached U.S. Under-17 select squad that took first place at the Five Nations tourney in Switzerland last month.

EDIT: Two non-New England natives who could be attracting hockey and 2011 draft headlines this season are defenseman Adam Clendening and forward Matt Nieto, both of whom graduated from the U.S. NTDP and were a part of the gold medal-winning Under-18 team last spring. Clendening doesn't have great size, but is an extremely skilled and intelligent defenseman who can move the puck effectively and could be an immediate impact player for the Terriers. Nieto has some real offensive skill and can really skate, but needs to fill out and add a lot of strength to his lithe frame. Both players could boost their draft stock if they have strong freshman campaigns at such an accomplished level like the Hockey East this year.