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.

FASTHockey.com U18 play by play/color man Chris Peters checks in

Bruins 2011 Draft Watch is pleased to bring you an interview we did with Chris Peters, the play by play commentator for the FASTHockey.com broadcasts of Team USA games at the World Under-18 Championship in Crimmitschau, Germany. He was a one-man show over there and did a great job to bring a passionate and informed call of the Team USA games.

Chris knows the NTDP inside and out, having spent the previous three years as the team's communications and marketing director and brings great knowledge of the program and players in addition to his own passion for hockey.

Chris is also the publisher of the outstanding hockey blog The United States of Hockey. If you haven't bookmarked it, you should. When it comes to American NTDP and NCAA players, it is one of the best resources out there given his background, knowledge and familiarity with so many players who are in Ann Arbor or graduated from the program and are out in the NCAA and pro ranks.

We had a long talk about Team USA and the outstanding performance they had in Germany to win a consecutive third gold medal at the annual IIHF spring competition. It was the first time for any USA Hockey team to three-peat in an IIHF event, and the American players made it their mission to achieve this first.

Without further ado, we'll bring you Chris Peters in his own words

Bruins 2011 Draft Watch: Having been a part of the NTDP, was it a little strange for you to be there not as a member of the team but as a broadcaster and part of the media?

Chris Peters: Yes and no- there were a few differences that made for a new experience, but I knew the staff and I knew the kids (from their time on the Under-17 team a year ago), so I didn't feel like an outsider. At the same time, I tried to maintain a safe distance and didn't want to try and be a part of the staff.

It was nice for me to see the difference for the players from year one to two and how they had grown. It was great to see how much bigger and better they've gotten since their time on the Under-17 squad and doing this allowed me to see that process and be a part of it. Most times, a broadcaster will parachute in, do a few interviews and is gone, but I was always with them, and that was the unique thing about the process.

It was a lot of fun- everyone wanted to make sure I got what I needed and it was just a great time given the way everything went.

B2011DW: Before we get to the specific players, can you talk about the program and team, the coaches and so on- what do you attribute the success the NTDP has had to?

CP: I think this team was unique. They didn't have three main lines to do the scoring for them; they counted on everyone to give them the offense they needed and make the plays in any situation. They had seven effective players on defense, not one guy who can be out there in any situation, or at least that was the perception. I remember that when they had the selection for these players two years ago, the team was put together knowing that they weren't assembling high-end skill guys at every position. Sure, you had players like Rocco Grimaldi and J.T. Miller up front, but you also had guys like Adam Reid, who played on the fourth line (in Germany) but had three goals, and Dan Carlson who also made contributions to the successful tournament.

This was the first team that I can recall in the last several years that was made up completely of NTDP kids. It worked well because they had great chemistry, were really tight as a group and had played together for a long time.

I would also add that (coach) Ron Rolston deserves a heck of a lot of credit. Two years ago, when he was coaching the '91 group at the Under 18s, not a lot of people expected them to win it on home soil in North Dakota. I think people said they were a favorite, but they were not the favorite. At the end of it, they won it all, just like they did this time around in Germany, with a completely different team. He gets the most out of the talent he has to work with and his work and preparation is unbelievable. He's one of the most cerebral coaches I've seen- he knows his players and teams and understands how to get them to play disciplined, winning hockey. I don't think he gets enough recognition for how good a coach he is.

B2011DW: John Gibson- tournament top goalie and a major reason why USA won it all. What are your thoughts on him?

CP: With Gibson, he's been overshadowed by Jack Campbell. But Gibby didn't have the same opportunities Jack did in terms of being an underager at the Under 20, winning a couple of golds at the Under 18 in 2009 and 2010, but they are similar players. Gibson is so athletic, so composed. He instills a lot of confidence in the skaters, too- the defensemen know that they can take some chances with him back there as the last line of defense. He's not the best puckhandler, though he did move it a little, but he kept things simple for the most part. He bailed out the 'D' with big saves, and even when he gave up a goal, his body language was terrific. He just oozed confidence and when his teammates saw that, they realized that everything was fine and they were still in position to win the game. When you see that kind of calm in your goalie, I think it relaxes you to the point that you can go out and believe that you'll get the lead back on the next shift, and it's huge.

B2011DW: Did J.T. Miller's performance there solidify him as a first-round pick in your view?

CP: It's funny, because the first couple of games with J.T. I thought that aside from the points, he actually didn't play all that well. However, as the tournament went on, he became more and more of a force, and I think he bought into playing gold medal hockey. He really picked it up because as other teams focused on stopping Rocco Grimaldi, Miller started getting a lot of looks as a result to the respect given to Rocco, and that opened things up for J.T. It gave him a chance to put his stamp on the tournament in terms of being physical, playing smart, keeping it simple and being patient. One play that really stands out to me is the gold medal game when he made the pass to Reid Boucher for the tying goal. Rocco was breaking to the net as well, but he was a lot closer to Miller, and would have had to beat a few guys to get into scoring position. Miller held the puck and waited that extra second for 'Bouch' to break into the clear and then sent it across the ice to him in the perfect spot for him to make the play.

When Miller is thinking right, he's so good. It's the best I've seen him play. I think that maybe earlier in the season, Miller was under too much pressure to be the focal point of the offense on that top line and it wasn't going in for him. He was probably pressing more than he should have. But here, he kept things simple and used his skills and smarts to make some big plays when his team needed them.

B2011DW: You mentioned Reid Boucher...he had a tremendous tournament. Based on what you know and have seen, how good is this kid?

CP: Wow, yeah. The thing Reid brings to the table every single night regardless is the ability to score from anywhere. When I look at his pure scoring ability, I would say that it's the best I've seen in the program. Ever. Jeremy Morin was close, but honestly I would say that Boucher is better in terms of his release, his accuracy and his big-game ability to put the puck in the net when the game is on the line. I talked to Ron Rolston about it and he agreed that Boucher is up there; he knew Phil Kessel before I arrived to the program, but he's in that kind of company. The big thing about what he did in Germany is that of his eight goals, only two of them didn't factor into the game. I know one of those goals came against Slovakia in a blowout, but just about everything else had a big impact on the wins. The thing is- when you play with Rocco, you're going to get a lot of looks. And Bouch's skating has improved to where he can get in position to make the play with a guy so dynamic. If Bouch is with a pass-first playmaker, he could score 40 goals one day.

B2011DW: Speaking of Rocco, the numbers weren't there for Grimaldi because he got so much attention, but he seemed to contribute in other ways- defensively, the PK, etc. What did you see?

CP: I agree with that. I think that for a few games he maybe wasn't as engaged as much defensively, but that was probably because they needed him to be an offensive presence. One of the things he did that really jumped out at me was the work Rocco did on faceoffs. He won some big draws at key moments. One play that stood out happened in the Canada game, when Travis Ewanyk was winning something like 80 percent of the faceoffs and was just a monster. There was a draw in Canada's end and Ewanyk won it, but Grimaldi got in on him, knocked him off the puck and then Miller was able to get it to Bouch for a goal. Rocco's mindset all along was that even if he lost the faceoff, which wasn't often, he was going to track the puck and still try and get there first.

I think he want to be better in the tournament at the goal scoring and production, but teams made a concerted effort not to let Rocco beat them. Even then, he found ways to get it done. The Connor Murphy goal at the beginning of the third period against Sweden was a good example- Grimaldi's pass out front to him for the shot that went in was perfect with the way he one-touched to him, but the bigger thing I noticed when I went back and looked at the film was the way he protected the puck, shielded it so that the defender had no chance to prevent it from getting to Murphy. We expected to see more offensively from him, but in the end, he did a lot of things that helped the team win and that's what's most important to him.

B2011DW: Let's shift gears to the defensemen for a bit. Robbie Russo seemed to have just the right performance and the absolute right time and looked so confident out there. You thoughts on Robbie and his play?

CP: Robbie's always been a confident kid. He may have been a little frustrated at the way things went for him this season, but in this tourney he just took over games. If the puck was in his zone his attitude was that he was going to get it, or if the other team had it, he was going to take it away from them.In the offensive zone, he was outstanding with his vision and patience and ability to pass the puck to the right guy at the right time. He also had the ability to create space for himself- he would have the puck coming out of his end and he had the skill and patience to swing back into the zone and come back out with speed. This was the best I've seen him- he was calm under pressure, there was no panic level in his game; he just kept it simple, made the smart play and tried not to be flashy. His skating is really good- he was an easy choice as one of the three top players for USA in my opinion. Another thing- he started out on the point of the power play, but they moved him against the wall, which worked out great, shifting Rocco to the point. Robbie was incredible on the wall in terms of creating lanes, going up and down the boards, and then he would spin around, throw off his man and open up the lane. He had a tremendous tournament, and I can't say it enough.

B2011DW: And Connor Murphy? Another kid who really helped himself?

CP: Absolutely! He's one of the smartest kids out there and the fact that his instincts are so good even though he hasn't played a lot of hockey over the past two-and-a-half years is saying a lot about him. I don't think he's played more than maybe 15 games in that span prior to the tourney because of injuries, and yet he still had time to be that good? It makes me wonder if he can stay healthy how good he can be. He's real good with his stick defensively, clogging up lanes and he not a physical guy, but he can take hits and will take them to make the play. I noticed this a lot against Canada, where they really seemed to go after him. He's got a very nice skill package and game, and the injury thing is really the only obstacle I think to where he might be drafted, whether it happen for him in the first round or maybe a little later. But the thing about Connor and the other kids with dads who played pro hockey is that they understand what they need to do to make it to be a professional. They've been around the game, carry themselves so well and are pretty serious and mature about it. Connor is one of those guys who just really impresses you in interviews with his intelligence and manner.

B2011DW: OK- last question. Tyler Biggs. He's been the internet whipping boy of late, but is it deserved?

CP: The thing with Tyler is that he was completely mis-labeled to begin with as a top-10 pick for a guy who plays the way he does. That said, I still feel there is value to him in the first round. After last year, I had a higher opinion of his offensive upside coming into this season than he's showed- I was thinking that he maybe had a 20-25 goal upside. I'm not sure he'll be successful with that because he doesn't have great hands. He may not skate all that fast, but he's a powerful skater who closes on guys real well and his north-south game is really good.

He was not done any favors with that 5th-best prospect ranking from Central Scouting at mid-term, and he's been dinged up this year too, but he plays through it without complaining. Thing is, if you went to see him when he wasn't at his best, then you probably weren't seeing the kind of performance he's capable of. He's a good leader and plays a determined style of hockey. He played on a line with Travis Boyd- he's a real good player and a guy I think is underrated (by Central). He's not real fast, but is very skilled and made a lot of creative plays. Biggs also skated with Nic Kerdiles, so there was some talent on that line, and I would say that in the last two games, that was as good a unit as the Boucher-Grimaldi-Miller line. Biggs can play defensively, is tough and works hard at his game.

Again, I think there is first-round value for him, but expectations were set too high for the style of player he is.

B2011DW wants to thank Chris for taking the time to have such a productive chat. We'll have to do it again sometime.

Be sure to visit his blog if you have not done so already!

2011 World Under-18: Risers and Fallers

The 2011 World Under-18 Championship is in the books, and Team USA achieved a first- winning three consecutive gold medals for the first time in USA Hockey history.

The 2009 squad did it on home soil in North Dakota, winning gold mainly thanks to 17-year-old Jack Campbell's arrival on the international stage as a force to be reckoned with, the precursor to the following season when he would capture championships at the 2010 Under-20 and again the Under-18 tourney in Belarus.

This time, the USA team, not considered by most as exceptional as the force of nature that blew through the field a year ago, got the goaltending from new star John Gibson, and then a host of balanced, opportunistic two-way play by the rest of the team led by forwards J.T. Miller (leading scorer with 13 points in six games), Reid Boucher (top goal-getter with eight), Robbie Russo (captain and strong two-way performance- eight points, +5 rating) and of course, the heroics of Rocco Grimaldi, who may not have shot out the lights on the scoreboard, but made myriad contributions to the championship in other areas.

Still, Team Sweden came to within just 1:29 of capturing that country's first gold medal in Under-18 tournament history (remarkable that the Tre Kronor have never accomplished this feat given Sweden's status as a two-time Olympic champion and global hockey power).

The defense corps, led by Jonas Brodin and captain Oscar Klefbom, performed in outstanding fashion throughout the tourney. Along with Rasmus Bengtsson and Albin Blomkvist, they formed one of the most effective top-four back line units you will see in hockey. The Swedish D didn't make many mistakes, but unfortunately when they did, it resulted in a spectacularly devastating loss at the hands of the Americans in overtime.

Russia captured bronze, and got a ridiculous offensive explosion from forward Nikita Kucherov, scoring 11 goals and 21 points in just 8 games. It was Alexander Ovechkin-like production, and the enigmatic winger certainly succeeded in raising his stock for the 2011 draft. Just how much, remains to be seen, however. More on Kucherov later.

Other big stories for the Russians were the performances of 2012 eligibles Nail Yakupov (6 goals, 13 points) and Mikhail Grigorenko (4 goals, 18 points) in seven games. Yakupov started slowly, but came on strong in the final couple of games of the the preliminary round and in the last two against Sweden and Canada. Grigorenko was consistently excellent throughout, and we could be looking at a possible 1-2 Russian class of Yakupov and Grigorenko or vice versa just as we saw in 2004 with Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.

Of course, if Canadian stud defender Ryan Murray has anything to say about it, he'll crash the top-two party in 2012. He was tremendous as the captain and as a stalwart dual-threat on the back end. Although Ryan Murphy won top defenseman honors with a brilliant 13-point performance to set a Team Canada scoring record (that's right- forwards too- Murphy scored more points than any Canadian player in U18 tourney history- wow!), it took Murphy's four-point day in a losing cause for the bronze medal to secure the honors, otherwise, it just might have been Murray.

Once again, the history of the U18 tourney having positive and negative effects on the upcoming draft class proved true, and scouts are no doubt eagerly anticipating the race to 2012, with so many intriguing story lines emerging in Germany.

Now, let's look at some players who helped and hurt themselves in this tournament in our view. We can't dedicate this space to each and every one, so consider this the cliff's notes version.

Risers

Nikita Kucherov, F Russia- We're going to start calling him "Midas" because everything he touched turned to gold. Unbelievable offensive performance by one of the more skilled prospects in the entire class, but who hurt his standing this season by looking disinterested and acting at times petulant in earlier tournaments. Kucherov saved his best for last, putting on a tour-de-force that no doubt will have some NHL teams who do not fear drafting out of Europe readjusting their previous thinking on him. Before the tourney we would have thought there was no way Kucherov would be a first-round pick, but if you're a club picking in the final few spots of this draft, why wouldn't try to swing for the fences? If he does drop into the second, the wait won't be a long one. Showed enough game-breaking speed, quick hands and an absolutely serial killer instinct when it came to finishing off chances.

Ryan Murphy, D Canada- When you've been one of the most talked-about prospects for the top-10 of the NHL draft all season, is it actually possible to raise your stock? Well, the Aurora, Ontario native and Kitchener Rangers star did it in Germany. The production was record-setting in itself, but it was how Murphy scored the points that had tongues a-wagging. Whether firing up the ice like he had rockets on his skates, or slithering through defenses while showing off several gears and superlative edge control/balance or making 360-degree spin moves and blind passes on the stick tape of teammates, Murphy was as dynamic as they come. Bruins fans who were hoping he would fall to the ninth spot now can only hope that if he is Boston's target, that the team can move up to secure him, because we just don't see him dropping very far out of the top-five (if at all even) after the kind of season, OHL playoffs and now Under-18 performance he just had. In fact, B2011DW wouldn't be at all surprised if the New Jersey Devils grabbed him as high as fourth overall. Sure, it will depend on who drops to them, but for a team who knew exactly what it had with Scott Niedermayer for over a decade, this kid's high-end offensive chops aren't far off.

J.T. Miller, C USA- One of the bigger disappointments this season for the U.S. NTDP because his production never seemed to be commensurate with his excellent physical tools, Miller finally broke through with the kind of dominant, consistent scoring performance scouts have been waiting for. The 6-1 center from Ohio scored four goals (and some big ones at that) and was a consistent passer and playmaker. The top line of Miller, Boucher and Grimaldi gave other teams fits throughout the tourney and Miller was often the one who found himself with the time and space to make things happen with. To his credit, he did. It helped to have a linemate in Boucher who was shooting the lights out in critical situations, but Miller looked and played like a solid first-round pick. Someone who liked his tools but was concerned with the lack of production just might have seen enough to grab him top-20. Even if he slips out of that bracket, we can't imagine he'd miss on the opening 30 picks. Too much talent and upside there.

Jonas Brodin, D Sweden- The controller; we were pretty impressed at how smoothly and effectively Brodin took charge of the Swedish defense corps, turning them into the prettiest transition unit in the entire field. The way Sweden broke out of their end was poetry in motion, and it all started with Brodin who isn't a flashy player (just one assist in four games), but seems to see the ice and think many steps ahead of everyone else like a chess grandmaster. He's got the head and feet to orchestrate the attack, even if he lacks the strength and overpowering shot to be a big point getter. If intelligent puck movers are at a premium, then don't expect Brodin to last very long on June 24th- he's slick and when it comes down to it, a pretty commanding presence. He doesn't get enough credit for what he brings to the table in our view.

Mark Scheifele, C Canada- Young colt lived up to his Barrie namesake with a very good offensive performance. Scored one of the more memorable goals of anyone in the tourney against Finland when he read a bungled pass, split the defense, fought off a hook from behind and still managed to put the puck in the net with a nice backhand deke. 6-3 guys don't typically move the way he does with that ability to separate, so there is a lot of raw material to work with. At about 175, he's nowhere near as strong as he needs to be. However, he more than solidified a first-round draft grade in our view. He's a poor man's Ryan Johansen at this stage we feel- won't go as high, but his progress and potentially high ceiling will see him picked ahead of other higher-profile players who are bigger names and have been in draft discussions longer. Classic guy who came into the U18s with some questions to answer and passed with flying colors. Happens every year.

Joel Armia, F Finland- Took charge up front for Finland and proved himself a solid first-round selection with his offensive performance. His big frame needs work to add mass and strength, but he's got a long stride and the ability to generate speed and separation. He's still a little gangly and not overly strong on his skates, but getting there. A vicious killer between the hashmarks- wants the puck and knows what to do with it when he gets it. One of the best pure goal scorers in the draft and impressed us with his vision and playmaking skills in this tourney as well. Creative and a better puck distributor than we gave him credit for. Not very physical, but not a soft player, either. Uses his trunk and long limbs to create space and bull his way to the net. Doesn't speak English very well yet, but uses two very important words often: "puck" and "score". His effort without the puck is what is holding him back from a top-10 selection in our view. He can be lackadaisical and is inconsistent in his backchecking efforts. If its a maturity thing, he could be a homerun pick, but if he's only motivated offensively, then he's a one-dimensional guy and may never be as good a player as he should be.

Victor Rask, C Sweden- Got his sliding value going in the other direction with a very good preliminary round performance, especially against Canada to earn the top seed in group. Big, offensively-savy centerman who isn't a great skater but gets from point A to B well enough. He'll get more balanced and stronger on his skates, and while he'll never be a speed demon, he goes to the net with some power. Soft hands for passing and can unleash a good, heavy shot. Not much of a showing against the USA in the gold medal game, but we're grading the overall tournament performance and he did some nice things reminiscent of what scouts were expecting from him after his performance in this same tournament a year ago. Will some team take him in the 1st round? Possibly- don't bet against it. However, his season overall is still a disappointment given the expectations he had coming in. Good rebound, but he won't get anywhere near the bounce of a Kucherov, for example.

Reid Boucher, F USA- Gutsy little scorer found the back of the net eight times in the tournament, which wasn't at the top of the charts, but his timing was tremendous. Michigan State recruit is undersized and not all that fast a skater, but he more than makes up with it for his natural anticipation and knack for finding open ice and a wicked shot that he can unleash from anywhere. He did this at the Five Nations in February and raised a few eyebrows, but the encore performance on an even bigger stage should have done enough to see him secure second-round status. Scorers like Boucher don't grow on trees, and while he's not the showman Grimaldi is in terms of being noticeable on every shift, he's highly dangerous and just knows how to be clutch. Also led his team in plus/minus with +9, so he's responsible defensively and kills penalties, too. One of Ron Rolston's go-to guys who delivered.

John Gibson, G USA- What more can we say about this guy that we haven't already? Super size, quickness and technique. Makes things look easy when they aren't. But the best thing about him is his calm and poise. He weathered the storm of a Canada comeback yesterday to secure an overtime win, then hung in with his team down a couple of goals to make every stop the rest of the way in yet another overtime victory to clinch gold. We were looking for him to step out from behind Campbell's international shadow, and the Pittsburgh native did precisely that. Awesome performance from the tournament's top netminder, and he's all but sewn up status as the first goaltender off the board in June.

Robbie Russo, D USA- It's no secret that B2011DW was pretty critical of Russo's performance during earlier viewings of him this season, and we weren't hearing great things about him from sources either. But, he pulled it together in time to have an excellent tournament befitting of some of the hype. He's headed to Notre Dame next season and should make a pretty immediate impact if he plays in the NCAA like he did in Germany. Smart, crisp puck mover all tournament long and worked with Connor Murphy to set up the winning goal against Sweden. Wasn't as strong as the tourney went on as he was in the beginning, but what can we say? He at least looked like the PMD some circles were hyping him as.

Connor Murphy, D USA- This was a make-or-break tourney for Murphy to land in the top-60 and he looks to have made it. Big, talented two-way defender who won't put up a ton of points, but is an effective point man with a big shot. Miami University recruit is staying in his home state to play for the Redhawks, and the only real questions he needs to answer are ones about his durability. Kid can play and looks to have more offensive potential than his dad, Gord, who was a solid NHL stay-at-homer in his day.

Dmitrij Jaskin, F CZE- Power winger helped himself with four goals in five games, showing off his wicked release and powerful shot. Heavy feet, yes, but competes hard and is a physical player with a North American flavor to his game already. Below average skaters always have it in tough to make it in the NHL, which is a skating man's league, but when they are big, strong, intelligent and passionate about the game the way Jaskin is, they usually find a way to make it. If he could get a little faster he has top-six potential for sure.


Fallers

Tyler Biggs, F USA- Tough tournament for a kid who is unfairly becoming a whipping boy, but we also have to call it the way we see it. He hurt his team with way too many penalties. Now in fairness, some of the calls that went against him were the classic- he's bigger (no pun intended) than the other guy and the hits looked worse than they were- type infractions that tend to get whistled more during international play. However, he also took his share of lazy, undisciplined calls and that's what drives us crazy. The roughing call he took against Canada just after Boucher made it 4-1 was particularly galling because it was completely unnecessary and also sparked that team's comeback. Biggs is a powerful skater with a heavy shot, but we didn't see him creating much on his own offensively other than scoring the winning goal against Canada in OT that several onlookers felt goaltender Malcolm Subban should have stopped. Biggs was unfairly rated too high by Central scouting at mid-term and he's the easy target right now because he didn't produce consistently while others on his squad did. Right or wrong, fair or unfair- it is what it is.

Joachim Nermark, F SWE- Ugh. Just a disappointing showing for a guy who was tremendous at the Ivan Hlinka but has been all downhill since. One goal in five games...invisible against the USA. One scout we talked to said, 'We have no use for him." Ouch. He may yet be a top-60 pick because of what he did in Slovakia, but we wouldn't touch him in that range based on what we saw here. Risky pick and we're not even sure of the payoff. Did not help himself at all.

Samu Perhonen, G FIN- Brutal is a polite way to put this promising netminder's performance. He was shaky from jump street against Canada and never recovered, stopping a putrid 87.5% of his shots and going 2-2 in the process. We thought this cat would challenge Gibson for top netminder honors at the 2011 draft, and now we don't even think Perhonen will be the first European picked (Magnus Hellberg). He's still a top-two or three-round pick, but after seeing him and Gibson in the same competition, they seem light years apart. Perhonen's lack of poise was what was particularly troublesome- just couldn't seem to make the big save when his team needed it. However, Perhonen still has the size and athletic ability/upside to be a high-end stopper in the NHL one day. If he slides, that could be great news for the team that grabs him.

Reece Scarlett, D CAN- Has showed some impressive traits and potential in flashes, but this was a tough tourney for the WHL defender. He's not where he needs to be in terms of his physical development and strength. He also made some bad pinches and decisions that proved costly. Seemed hesitant at times and was caught in no man's land. Real smooth stride and mobility, but in this game, that split second delayed reaction will burn you even if you skate well. He wasn't quite ready for primetime and opponents exploited him.

Daniel Catenacci, F CAN- Just two assists for this speedy, skilled and even dynamic forward were a major disappointment. Capable of so much more, yet went invisible for long stretches. On top of that, took a lot of bad penalties and never could seem to get out of his own way. All of this from a guy some on the internet are talking about as a potential first-rounder in June? We don't think so. Soo Greyhounds teammate Nick Cousins skated circles around him (4-4-8) and was one of the guys who emerged as a big-time clutch performer.

Miikka Salomaki, F FIN- We weren't very impressed with this guy's NHL upside, but kept hearing that teams were keeping an eye out for him. Well, after watching him at the WJC over the winter and on video at the U18s, we can't see him being a top-three round pick. He might get there, but that could be a mistake. Doesn't do anything particularly well, and just seems like a solid Euro leaguer and nothing more.

B2011DW will be back with a look at some sleepers who may have emerged from the shadows a bit, and even if some were more known, appear to have the inside track on hearing their names called in Minnesota.

Three-peat for USA at World Under-18s

Defenseman Connor Murphy had the game of his young life, scoring twice including an overtime strike to give Team USA a come-from-behind sudden death victory over Sweden by a 4-3 score.

The goal had a little controversy in that it was scored as an American power play expired. Swedish captain Oscar Klefbom was called for holding when he took down Rocco Grimaldi as the little dynamo drove to the net for a scoring chance.

Murphy rifled a blast into the far side past netminder Niklas Lundstrom after his initial drive was blocked. When the puck bounced right back onto his stick, he re-cocked and fired, catching Lundstrom on his knees in anticipation of the initial shot. The goaltender may have been screened by the prone defenseman and didn't see the puck come screaming off of Murphy's stick until it was too late to react.

USA never led in the contest, falling behind in the first period on an early goal by Filip Forsberg. '94 defenseman Jacob Trouba tied the game with just eight seconds left in the opening frame with his only goal of the tourney.

Sweden got it going later in the second when Albin Blomkvist took a pass at the point, stepped up into the zone and ripped a hard wrist shot that beat goaltender John Gibson high to the glove side. Moments later, Gustav Björklund took a drop pass on a Sweden rush and fired it home to give his team what looked like an insurmountable 3-1 lead with 20 minutes left.

However, Murphy started the comeback with a score in the first two minutes of the final period to give the Americans hope. Although they had chances, they couldn't solve Lundstrom as time bled off the final clock and it appeared that Sweden would grab its first-ever Under-18 gold medal.

However, with just 1:29 left in the game, Reid Boucher, whose name was synonymous with "clutch" all tournament long, took a J.T. Miller pass, broke into the clear on a 2-on-1, and wired the puck into the net to send the game to overtime.

When Murphy scored, he secured USA Hockey's first-ever three-peat at the IIHF's Under-18 Championship. Coach Ron Rolston also earned his third gold medal.

For Sweden, it was a tough way to lose- getting called in overtime, but they played with fire all game, taking Grimaldi down in several cases, and not getting called for it. While one might argue that the penalties should have been called then and not in OT, the flip side of that argument is that the Swedes knew they were playing a dangerous game. By continuing to test the referees' patience, they finally got burned.

Miller, Gibson and defenseman/team captain Robbie Russo were named Team USA's three best players for the tournament, while Gibson also earned all-tournament honors as top goalie. Ryan Murphy (Canada) and Nikita Kucherov were named top defenseman and forward.

In any case, B2011DW salutes Team USA and all the teams for an excellent tournament. We will have more in-depth player recaps and observations to bring you in the coming days, but for now, the focus will shift back to the CHL playoffs, with all major junior leagues playing their respective semifinal series.

World Under-18 Semifinals: USA, Sweden, advance to gold medal game

Sweden defeated Russia by a 3-1 score in a game that got ugly late. It was unfortunate to see some of the tomfoolery a couple of Russian players engaged in at the end, but up to that point, the two sides played hard. Ultimately, that Swedish defense prevailed.

Then, the Americans and Canadians played a game for the ages, with Canada surging back from a three-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime.

Tyler Biggs, who had been quiet all tournament offensively, and could have been one of the goats because of a bad penalty that led to a Canada power play goal to get them back in it, then beat Malcolm Subban with a high bullet blocker side in sudden death to grab a 5-4 victory and propel the Americans to a gold medal rematch with Sweden for the second year in a row.

After Brett Ritchie and J.T. Miller exchanged goals in the first period for a 1-1 score, Team USA dialed up the heat in the second frame, taking over momentum in the contest.

USA got another fabulous slot goal from Reid Boucher late in the second period to take a 2-1 lead after falling behind 1-0 in the opening frame. But the Americans tallied two short-handed goals in the same penalty kill in the third period to take a commanding 4-1 advantage.

Although Ritchie (2 goals) scored on a power play soon after Boucher's second goal of the game to cut the lead to two on what was a bad roughing penalty for Biggs, USA leaned on John Gibson did his best keep the Canadians at bay.

Unfortunately for the Americans, with Subban pulled with about three minutes remaining and the Canadians putting sustained offensive pressure on, Cole Bardreau made a costly mistake, scaling the puck over the glass to give Canada a 6-on-4 advantage. Ryan Murray, who looked every bit like a contender for first overall pick in 2012 today with a monster game at both ends, scored on a shot from near the blue line to make it 4-3.

Then, with Subban out again for the extra attacker, Murray got the puck to the net and Mark Scheifele ended up jamming it home for an improbable and outstanding comeback.

Reid Boucher, F- Player of the game for USA had a near carbon-copy of his winner against Russia late in the 2nd period; after taking a pass from Miller, he just ripped a high shot glove side that Subban had no chance on. Watching him play with Grimaldi is illuminating; Rocco is so amazingly fast and explosive, while Boucher is not. However, it doesn't matter because Boucher thinks the game so well and seems to make recognitions well ahead of most opponents. In short, he finds ways to isolate himself in prime scoring areas in the offensive zone, and then when the puck is anywhere near him, he makes his chances count.

J.T. Miller, F- Monster game from Miller, who showed every scout in attendance today why he's been talked about as a first-round pick for much of the year. Got USA on the board with a great rush and five-hole snipe. He then assisted on both goals by Boucher, one with a perfect feed from behind the net after Grimaldi knocked down Scheifele to allow Miller to gain possession, and then in the third while on the PK, when Miller drew an offensive zone draw right to his linemate, who buried it. Miller leads Team USA in scoring with four goals and 11 points in just five, that's right- five games. With his size (6-1), skating/speed, shot, puck skills and hockey IQ, Miller is putting on a show at absolutely the perfect time. Hello, top-30.

Tyler Biggs, F- We haven't had a lot to say about Biggs in the tourney because, well, frankly- he hasn't scored much and has taken entirely too many bad penalties. Some of it, you chalk up to him playing like the manchild he is and some of the international on-ice officials' tendency to make ridiculously bad calls when he blows a 150-pound kid up with a clean hit. That said, Biggs came through with an overtime dagger and at the end of the day, he's shown flashes of being a potential top-six power forward who can do a little bit of everything. Hands are still stiff, and scouts are going to continue to question the hockey sense, but after he hurt his team with an undisciplined penalty, he bounced back with the biggest goal of his young career. There's a lot to be said for that.

Rocco Grimaldi, F-Every time we watch him, we marvel at how noticeable and dynamic a little player he is. He didn't get on the scoresheet a bunch today, but he made a lot of plays defensively and on the PK to balance it out. He's still got issues with the size and strength, but he plays with so much intensity, and the fact that he made noticeable plays to knock Scheifele off the puck (leading directly to a Boucher goal) and then did it later to Travis Ewanyk, another guy much bigger than he, you have to give the youngster credit. Even if the points aren't coming in bunches (2 goals, 5 assists) he's doing a bunch of other things to help his team winner.

Zac Larraza, F- Scored a nice shorthanded goal on a jailbreak after he blocked a Reece Scarlett shot at the point and the Canadian defenseman stumbled as he tried to change direction when Larraza corralled it and took off up the ice. He's been a solid, underrated presence for this U.S. team. Not sold on his upside, but he looks like he could be an effective role player in the NHL one day.

Mike Paliotta, D- Kept it safe, simple and made a few memorable defensive plays. Also executed several nice stretch passes that didn't amount to goals, but showed he can make the breakout. Smooth, fluid skater who can transition effortlessly. Not a huge physical presence, but uses his size effectively to keep opponents away from the net and pin them against the boards. The lack of production/offensive dimension to his game is what will prevent him from being a first- or even second-round pick, but this future Vermont Catamount has enough in terms of his physical package and skating ability to be a defender at the highest level. He may just be another safe, unspectacular guy, however. Nothing wrong with that, but we saw him as bringing more to the table than that coming into the season.

Seth Jones, D- (2013 eligible) This sixteen-year-old has stud written all over him. He's already 6-3, and his dad, Popeye Jones, was about 6-8 when he played in the NBA, so we could see another three or more inches added to the youngster's height. He's an excellent skater with a wide base, good acceleration and balance. He handles the puck confidently and is effective at rushing it or moving it on the breakout. Likes to jump up into the play and has a pretty good shot already; it will develop more power and velocity as he gets older. Unfortunately, as a late '94, he won't even be draft eligible until 2013. That's going to give scouts plenty of time to pick apart his game, but for now, this young man who developed his passion for hockey in Toronto and Dallas (he calls Plano, TX home) has all the makings of a high-end prospect and definitely a player to watch in the next 26 months. One of our NHL scouting sources at the tourney texted to us today that Jones was one of the USA's best players, singling him out for praise.

John Gibson, G- If you're thinking that it was Gibson's fault that the Canadians forced overtime, you would be wrong. We asked a Western Conference NHL scout who is in Germany if Gibson was shaky and his response was an emphatic 'no'. When we opined that he was doing a good Jack Campbell impression in response, here is what the scout texted back to us: "Yes, but much more controlled (in his movements). Although not as invincible as Campbell a year ago." Then he added, "Gibson kept it together while his team fell apart."

Mark Scheifele, F- Solidifying his 1st-round stock with his performance in Germany, Scheifele did it again today, banging home a shot off the post in a wild scramble late in regulation to force OT. That gives him six goals in as many games in the tourney, and with his size and tools- a long, loping stride, quick hands and offensive instincts, this guy just has the look of an NHL player in time. He played for a poor team in Barrie this season, but still managed to make a name for himself.

Brett Ritchie, F- Power forward had a lot of interest coming into the season, but started sluggishly and was just coming on strong in January when he was felled by a bout with mono. Now only beginning to have his full strength and zip, it has showed in Germany, especially today, when he tallied a pair of power play markers. He's an OK skater, but is real strong on the puck and does the heavy lifting along the walls and in front of the net. Has a quick stick and keeps his big body planted in front of the net. Still raw and developing his overall game, this Sarnia Sting winger should secure second-round billing at least after the way he's played over the past 10 days.

Alan Quine, C- The Peterborough pivot may not be much of a defensive player, but he has legitimate skill as a playmaker. Small and not very strong, he nonetheless manages to pinball his way through the offensive zone with some dazzling agility and quickness at times. Puck is on his stick like a magnet as he slices defenses and then gets it out in front where his linemates can cash in. Superior vision, offensive feel and the soft touch to exploit seams in the o-zone. Had three helpers today...especially effective with the man advantage when he has more time and space to work with. Not impressive at all in his own end; does not look comfortable and will delay in picking up his man. There is some real unharnessed offensive potential with Quine, but he's going to need a lot of time and TLC by whichever NHL team drafts him. He looked like a first-rounder coming into the season, but lack of production and inconsistency dropped him. How low he goes remains to be seen, but if hockey was only played in the offensive end, then Quine would get a first-round grade.

Travis Ewanyk, C- Big, raw horse in the middle for Canada. A pure checker in this tourney with only one assist to show for his efforts, but excellent on faceoffs and earning a regular shift with his energy, hustle and smarts. Not all that exciting a player- good hitter in the open ice and mucks along the walls like you need him to, but seems to possess the toolbox to be an NHL player in time. He'll have to pay his dues, but there is a lot to like about this guy.

Ryan Murphy, D- Along with 'D' partner Murray, the Kitchener standout is leading Canada in scoring with three goals and nine points in six games. Although he was caught up ice and ended up in no-man's land when Biggs scored in OT, Murphy continued to show why he is one of the 2011 draft's most talked-about prospects. Tremendous skater who can rush the puck at will or move it to a breaking teammate just as effectively. Sees, feels and reacts to the game so instinctively; most can only dream of having his skill and awareness. Will get in trouble with his aggressiveness and attacking mindset, but such a talented offensive player that coaches can deal with that.

Ryan Murray, D- (2012 eligible) Terrific game from the captain, who just missed the 2011 draft by a couple of days, but is expected to be a top-three selection a year from now. Skilled, two-way defender plays a polished game and brings all the intangibles you want like hockey sense, determination and leadership. On one play, took the pass at his own blue line and then proceeded to skate through the entire U.S. squad, showing off impressive acceleration, superior edge control and stickhandling ability. Smart positionally and has the size and strength to be an excellent defensive player to go with his impressive offensive upside. Tied with Murphy for the team lead in scoring with nine points.

Canada plays Russia in the bronze medal game, while USA plays Sweden at 12:30 EST tomorrow, Easter Sunday.

Be on the lookout for Swedish forward William Karlsson, a skilled and heady centerman who has really come on playing for Vasteras Jr. team this season. He's having a strong tournament.

If the USA can win, it will be the first time ever that the U.S. has won three consecutive Under-18 championships.

Reid Boucher: Aces High

The blog will be back tomorrow with a recap of the World U18 games that took place today. Watched 'em, but not going to crank out the notes and reports on some of the notable players until tomorrow.

However, Reid Boucher's two-goal performance prompted us to get something done on him because he's been lost in the shadows (that's an old Lou Gramm tune off of the 1987 Lost Boys soundtrack, btw) when it comes to him and his flashier linemate Rocco Grimaldi (whose themesong is Apollo 440's "Can't Stop The Rock")

Like Grimaldi, Boucher is undersized (though not quite as small as his fellow NTDPer) and looks about 14, but he's not as noticeable as No. 23 is on the ice. Boucher moves up and down the wing diligently, and he isn't a blazer who jumps out at you with a dazzling array of moves. You even start to forget about him, and then he'll pounce on a loose puck, wire it to the back of the net and you're left wondering: what the hell just happened?

You've heard the term 'deceptive' or 'sneaky' as they apply to offensive production sometimes, and that's Boucher. He'll be going along not doing much and then POW! He'll nail a one-time a winning strike from the outside with 21 seconds left in a tie game, or will pick up the rebound on the power play with the extra time and space and crush a team's dreams with one flick of the wrist.

The Michigander and Michigan State Spartans recruit is our pick to be most like another player from the same state- Bruins prospect Jared Knight- who rode a wave of successful diabetes treatment (after a disastrous first half of the season) and a 36-goal regular season (with 12 more in the playoffs) to the 32nd overall selection in last June's draft. They are not the same player, but they do have similar attributes as pure goal scorers who don't wow you with their feet, but have the hands, vision and predatory, "I want the puck on my stick now!" approach that always seems to see them on the ice in key offensive situations.

Sure, he's got to get stronger and his defense is a work in progress, but the effort, heart and drive is all there. At the end of the day, when he has the puck on his stick, Boucher is a stone cold killer. And Switzerland, Slovakia, Russia and now Germany have all figured that out firsthand.

Boucher led Team USA in scoring at the Five Nations in February, and he's doing it again in the World U18s with five goals in just four games while helping the Americans go perfect in the preliminary round with a 4-0-0-0 record. There is still much work to be done, but the U.S. team is off until Saturday, where they'll face the winner of Thursday's Canada-Germany quarterfinal contest.

If this kid wasn't on your watch list before, get him on there. We could see him being a high second-rounder, but don't see him sliding out of the third round after his performance since February. Pure scorers are gold, even those with size and a lack of elite speed. At the end of the day, Boucher is as good as prospect as any, and he's got the inner drive and killer instinct to be a very good one in time.

Click on this YouTube link to see Boucher score his dagger goal against Team Russia. But even better, is listening to the Russian play-by-play guy just sound crushed when Boucher rips it home on a wicked shot. You don't even have to speak Russian to taste the salty tears of his sorrow and hear the wah-wah-wah (sad music) in his voice when the puck goes in... (and yes, that's a Southpark "Scott Tenorman Must Die!" reference for those of you who are down like that)

World Under-18 Championship Day 4: USA- Russia observations

Reid Boucher ripped a shot into the top corner of the net with just 21 seconds left as Team USA avoided an embarrassing collapse in the third period after holding a 3-1 lead over Team Russia, winning the game by a 4-3 score.

The Americans lead their pool in preliminary round play with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record against Switzerland, Slovakia and Russia, who went 1-1-1-0, needing a shootout to beat Germany yesterday.

J.T. Miller (two goals) was named player of the game for Team USA, while Maxim Shalunov captured the honor for Russia. Although Shalunov played well and gave the Americans fits with his quick stick and ability to go end-to-end, it was a curious selection, given that Nikita Kucherov scored twice including tallying the tying goal with 4:43 left. Top 2012 frontrunner Nail Yakupov posted a three-point night, figuring in all three Russian goals

Defenseman Seth Jones continues to impress with his size, mobility and opportunistic two-way play. That's the good news. The bade news is that he can't be drafted until 2013.

John Gibson gave up three goals, but he also played a money game when it mattered most, in the dying minutes with the score tied 3-3 and in the final 21 seconds when he had to make at least three big saves in close to preserve the lead. He is getting it done, period.

USA closes out the preliminary round against Germany on Tuesday, but by virtue of their sterling record (and Russia needing a shootout to get past the Germans) they have clinched the top record and will get a bye to the semi-finals later this week.

Reid Boucher, F- Pure scorers come in all shapes and sizes, but this one happens to be just 5-10 and about 190 pounds. After Grimaldi, he's the U.S. Under-18 Team's most prolific and consistently dangerous scorer, and the Russians found that out as he sniped a laser from the outside with less than 30 ticks on the clock. It was an NHL shooter's goal...Ilya Bryzgalov could have been between the pipes and he wouldn't have stopped it. Grimaldi won the draw cleanly back to Boucher and positioned five feet outside the left circle, he wired it top corner glove side before poor Andrei Vasilevski could react. This kid has some serious hands and is going to be a real threat for the Michigan State Spartans when he joins them next season.

J.T. Miller, F- Two goals and player of the game honors showed what MIller can accomplish when he's on top of his game. He skates very well, goes to the net hard and protects the puck. His goals were scored as a result of hard work and being in the right place at the right time. He's been one of USA's more productive players in the tournament, and this was what was lacking from him much of the season. Scouts could see his tools/skills, but he simply wasn't finding the back of the net and consistently making his presence known. He was classic "see the sizzle, but where's the steak?" player, but he's putting it together at the right time.

Rocco Grimaldi, F- He didn't find the back of the net today, but Grimaldi had two huge plays in securing the win, both clean faceoff wins. The first came with 22 seconds left in the game, when he beat his man clean and put the puck right in Boucher's wheelhouse for the winning score. The second came with five seconds remaining and the faceoff deep in the USA zone to Gibson's right. Grimaldi again won it cleanly drawing back to the end boards for Jones, who pinned it against the wall and bled the clock (getting a nice crosscheck from a frustrated Russian for his efforts). Even when he doesn't have a big, productive outing, Grimaldi is proving that he can excel in big moments. That Ron Rolston had him out there not only for the winning goal but the decisive defensive faceoff with the game on the line speaks volumes for how this kid is viewed by the coaching staff. Rolston even had him playing the point on the power play with Robbie Russo's unit, working the blueline with Russo while Jones rotated down to the right halfwall most times. The setup paid off for one Miller goal, but Grimaldi didn't have a direct hand in it.

Travis Boyd, F- Another solid game and opportunistic goal from the unheralded forward from Hopkins, Minnesota. He's a darting, quick little guy with the shiftiness and smarts to make things happen at both ends. He's a better shooter than we thought, beating Vasilevski clean with a bullet from the slot, and he also has some creativity, as he scored the shorthanded goal against Slovakia by making the goalie commit and then just using his own speed and momentum to guide the puck into the open space the netminder vacated. It doesn't seem like much, but when you factor in the kind of natural feel it takes to make a play like that at top speed, you have to give the kid credit.

Cole Bardreau, F- Like Boyd (and Boucher and Grimaldi), Bardreau is yet another undersized but effective forward for Team USA. The Fairport, NY native may not have the scoring chops of the other guys, but he's been a defensive stalwart up front for Rolston's boys and is a major factor in the team's success on the PK so far.

Robbie Russo, D- Another superb two-way game from Russo, who has been a fine puck mover and overall presence for USA in all three games. His movement and distribution on the power play today was particularly effective, and he works extremely well in concert with Seth Jones when the two are working the point together. He assisted on Miller's first period power play goal and used his mobility and smarts throughout the game to make strong plays on both offense and defense. We're starting to see where all that second-round talk was coming from.

John Gibson, G- Victimized by a deflection and some scrambly play in front of his own net to see a 3-1 lead disappear, Gibson showed why with goalies it often isn't how many goals you give up but when that matters most. Russia had all the momentum when they tied the game with a little less than five minutes left, but Gibson then locked it down, making several huge saves to keep it tied. One in particular stood out just before Boucher's winning goal, when Gibson stoned Shalunov on a hard, heavy shot that would have likely been the game. Then, after his team took the lead, Gibson turned away several more shots in the final 21 ticks and looked real cool doing it. His 36 saves don't look as great on paper, but this was an immense performance from the University of Michigan recruit.

Maxim Shalunov, F- Player of the game for Russia didn't see the score sheet, but was a going concern all night. He's got very nice size, is a powerful skater and excellent stickhandler. He uses his speed and skill to skate through opposing teams and then has a wicked little release at the end. He was consistently attacking all game long, and scouts have said that if he could find away to keep the switch on all the time, he's be a solid first-rounder. He looked good today, but unfortunately, he spends a good deal of time on cruise control.

Nikita Kucherov, F- The book on Kucherov is pretty simple: small guy, very fast and highly skilled- a game-breaker. But kills it with his attitude, histrionics and lackadaisical play. Today was an example of the good Kucherov (though we did catch at least one major league dive he took when Tyler Biggs finished a check). He has a nasty shot that is very accurate, and he can back defenses up with his speed or he pounces on loose pucks in close and buries them. He made an athletic play on the tying goal and you wonder if some team like Washington or the New York Rangers with their draft history will roll the dice on this guy at some point.

Andrey Pedan, D- Big Russian D is a powerful skater and looked good in puck retrieval as he's able to use that long stride to cover a lot of ground and get back quickly. Moved it out smartly and played poised and confident on the blue line. Has a lot of physical tools in terms of his nice 6-5 size and long limbs/athleticism. We'd like to see him shoot the puck more, as he passed on several open shots that we saw in favor of moving it to different spots in the o-zone. He's raw, but teams just might take the plunge in the feeling that he's going to get stronger and more confident in doing more offensively as he develops. Played for Guelph of the OHL this season, so that's a bonus as well.

Nail Yakupov and Mikhail Grigorenko are 2012 eligibles, but also played very well for Russia. Yakupov scored a power play goal and assisted on both of the other Russia goals. He showed off his brilliant speed and killer anticipation on one breakaway play, but Gibson came up with the save. Grigorenko was showed off some real nice hands and puck control on the power play. You can tell that he thinks the game at a very high level the way he can slow things down or speed them up, and the Americans gave him entirely too much space to work with. They're lucky he didn't burn them. Both are key guys to watch at this time a year from now.

World Under-18 Championship Day 2: USA-Slovakia observations

Team USA played their second game in as many days at the World Under-18 Championship.

As was the case against Switzerland, the Americans started slowly, taking two early penalties and having a hard time generating much offense. However, once the Americans killed their first couple of penalties, they blew the game open en route to an 8-1 beating that gives them a 2-0-0-0 record thus far.

They thought they took a lead in the opening frame when Henrik Samuelsson fired a shot past (goalie) but Blake Pietila was ruled in the crease and it was waved off.

Rocco Grimaldi put action to words from the previous day when he was critical of his own performance against Switzerland, scoring USA's first goal on the power play.

Barret Kaib, D- Made one terrible pass while on the PK, but the Slovaks couldn't capitalize. Has some wheels, but is a small defender without the elite skill set NHL teams want from undersized guys at that position. Kaib may have to make his pro bones going the free agency route after playing at Providence College, because we don't see much of a shot of him being drafted.

Rocco Grimaldi, F- Got his 1st goal of the tourney in the first on the power play when he darted into the slot between the hashmarks and buried the rebound of a Reid Boucher shot. He didn't play poorly in Game 1, but didn't accomplish much and called himself out for not playing well. You have to love his passion and accountability, but we think Roc was being a bit tough on himself. He can really fly and handle the puck at top speed, and you get an appreciate for that when you watch him. If we have an issue with his play int he first couple of games it is that he tends to take the puck wide most times instead of driving into traffic and using his quickness to cross up defenders and open up some space. We know he's an energetic, passionate player, but hanging out on the perimeter isn't the best use of his prodigious talents.

Adam Reid, F- Didn't see much ice in the first game, but did get his first goal of the the tournament on the power play to make it 6-0, USA after the Americans did a terrific job of puck possession and movement, holding the zone and working it smartly before getting a shot on net that Reid put past Patrik Rybar. He's got very good physical tools, but hasn't really put it all together and is a pretty raw project player at this point. At the same time, those measurables are bound to intrigue an NHL team enough to grab him in the draft at some point, we just don't know where that will be. He's not been a key player in this tourney for the Americans thus far.

Travis Boyd, F- This September 14, 1993 born forward made the 2011 cutoff by just one day! He's small but quick and intelligent. He scored a beautiful shorthanded goal after taking a pass from Zac Larraza and beating the Slovak defense through the neutral zone. As he streaked in on goaltender Richard Sabol, he made a quick head fake, then tucked the puck to his backhand and as Sabol bit on the initial fake, slid the puck past the helpless keeper and into the cage. Boyd is another one of USA's many intelligent, skilled, interchangeable forwards. He may not project as a strong NHL prospect right now, but has some interesting attributes.

Reid Boucher, F- Along with Grimaldi, gave Slovakia fits all day with their quickness and aggressive driving to the net. They each tallied, and Reid missed at least one tip-in on a nice cross-ice feed from Grimaldi, but he has the look of a natural scorer with his quick hands, release and good body position when the puck's on his stick in the o-zone. He's not the blazer Grimaldi is, but has excellent anticipation and is able to create on his own.

Dan Carlson, F- Minnesota State- Mankato recruit scored a highlight reel goal when he sliced through the Slovakia defense, but on a quick burst of speed to cut past the last defender and fired a bullet past the netminder for his first goal of the tourney. Not a top-end skater, but has deceptive speed and quickness. More of an energy guy, but after that goal, showed that he can create a little nifty offense. A draft longshot, but may be someone to watch next season and beyond if he doesn't get a call in June.

Connor Murphy, D- It's always good news when your best offensive defenseman is also one of your best defensive players, and that's what Murphy did against the Slovaks. He made a beautiful block on a 2-on-1 in the 1st period to deny a scoring chance, and was in position all day. Showed nice gap control, an active stick and took the body when it warranted. He's big but doesn't lay a lot of crushing hits, yet is still pretty effective in the angles he takes and the defensive awareness he shows. Really nasty on the point during the power play. Moved it smartly with partner Jacob Trouba all game long, forcing the Slovaks to open up the umbrella and create some shooting lanes. USA's success with the man advantage today was no accident and it started with their PP point men: Murphy, Trouba, Seth Jones and Robbie Russo.

Robbie Russo, D- Another strong offensive game for the captain. He ripped a point shot for a goal in the second period, his first of the tournament. Named player of the game for this one, he earned it, playing an effective two-way game and staying involved throughout. Highly effective on the power play in terms of moving the puck well with partner Seth Jones, and made smart decisions. This is the kind of performance from Russo that had certain draft sources projecting him as a second-round pick. He needs to keep it up, but credit where due for games 1 and 2.

Mike Paliotta, D- Steady and unspectacular today as he was in Game 1. Watching these two games, we can appreciate why he's fallen down in the rankings a bit after coming into the season looking at a potential first-round grade. He's got nice size and is a fluid skater with good four-way directional mobility, but he's not the kind of passer/puck-mover that jumps out at you along with some of the higher-profile players in the the class. He plays a pretty conservative game and doesn't jump into the play much. With the power play defensive rotation having so much success and the team on special teams as much as they were against Slovakia, Paliotta's ice time suffered. He's a great kid and character player, but there isn't much upside based on what we've seen in the first two games.

John Gibson, G- Another strong game from the frontrunner to be the first goaltender off the board in June. Wasn't tested a great deal, but sometimes a goalie can make things look easier than they appear. Was in position the entire time, controlled the rebounds and did a great job of making some of the tougher shots look routine. He blanked the Slovaks and gave way to backup McNeely for the third period. In two games, Gibson has given up just one goal in five periods of action.

Matt McNeely, G- Came into the game during garbage time in the third period. Greatly resembled Gibson in terms of size and style- if you didn't catch on to their pad color scheme, you could go the entire game thinking Gibson was in the net the whole time. Gave up a goal on a weird bounce that went to Marko Dano for the layup in front. It was good for him to get into some action even at garbage time, but this is Gibson's team and if the USA is going to three-peat it will have to be Gibson who gets them there.

Martin Gernat, D- Slovakia's best defender has excellent size (6-5) and good mobility for such a big kid. He's fluid in his movements and still a little gangly, but had a couple of memorable plays where he jumped in from the point to get a good shot off, but was denied by Gibson. He was burned on a couple of missed coverages, but overall, was one of Slovakia's better players in a thrashing. Lack of physical play and strength is his biggest shortcoming right now, but he has the kind of projectable upside that makes him a solid sleeper for the 2011 draft.

Peter Ceresnak, D- Nothing major to report on this defense-first player. He kept things pretty simple, but had trouble handling the smaller, quicker U.S. forwards especially when they forced him to move away from the boards and into the open ice. Has a pretty good stick for breaking up plays, but doesn't do a great deal to stand out either way.

World Under-18 Championship Day1: USA-Switzlerand observations

Got to watch the stream of USA-Switzerland today from Crimmitschau, Germany at the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship today.

Team USA won the game by a 2-1 score, opening the tourney with a victory in their quest for a three-peat at the U18s for the first time in USA Hockey history.

Gregory Hoffman is not on Team Switzerland because he's a late-1992 birthdate and therefore ineligible.

Like most first games of any tournament, it was a little ragged and sloppy at times, but the teams picked it up as the contest went on.

USA spent much of the game killing penalties, as the officials didn't miss many chances to send the Americans to the box. The players will need to make an effort to play more disciplined going forward. Some of the calls were questionable/marginal, but others were simply lazy.

We will just focus on the 2011 eligibles, although future draft picks like Nick Kerdiles, Henrik Samuelsson, Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba all played a solid game for USA.

Rocco Grimaldi, F- USA's most dangerous one-on-one player didn't get it cranked up until the last five minutes or so of the opening period, but was a presence the rest of the way. He's at his most lethal when he's jitterbugging through defenses and forcing players to try and keep up with him. Grimaldi has the supreme vision and ability to open up passing lanes and get the puck into prime scoring areas.

Reid Boucher, F- Scored a power play goal to make it 2-1 on a beautiful one-timer from the high slot after taking a pass from J.T. MIller. Didn't do a lot throughout the game, but when USA needed him to come through he was in the right place, right time and did not miss.

Robbie Russo, D- We've been critical of the average-sized puck mover who doesn't have high-end skills and hasn't produced much this season, but he was solid in the first game. The Notre Dame-bound defender skated hard all game and made good decisions with the puck. He wasn't spectacular, but did advance the puck and get involved in the offensive flow. Assisted on Boucher's power play tally in the third period. It wasn't a dominant performance from Russo, but it was a good start. USA needs him to step up his game like this the rest of the way.

Connor Murphy, D- A strong game from the son of the former Bruins defenseman and current Panthers assistant coach. Moved fluidly along the point and was getting his hard shot on net throughout several USA power plays. Has very nice size and athleticism. Worked well on a PP pairing with Jacob Trouba. Aggressive offensively and used his body to rub out Swiss players along the boards and in front of the net. JUst a solid two-way game from the defenseman who is rising on draft boards after missing much of the season with a back injury. This tournament is huge for Murphy's stock.

John Gibson, G- Alternated the 1st and 2nd periods looking very strong and a bit shaky at times. Stood tall in the first period when USA got into penalty trouble, but gave up first goal to the Swiss early in the second when he was flopping on the ice and lost stick after giving up a big rebound. Pulled it together and had a strong, composed third period. Makes tough stops look easy. Big, quick and doesn't give opponents much net to shoot at. At the end of the day, he got it done when it mattered, especially in the waning seconds when he made a save to prevent the Swiss from tying it up. Named player of the game for USA for the way he locked it down at crunch time. Looked every bit like the No. 1 goalie in this class according to majority of sources out there.

J.T. Miller, F- Had an up-and-down game. Skates well and protects the puck when driving to the net. Took several bad penalties to put his team in a bind, but the USA penalty killers came through. Looked uninvolved at times, while was a bull in a china shop at others, cycling the puck and maintaining pressure on the Swiss defense with possession. You can see that he has the wheels and skills to be an impact player, but he's got to work on tendency to disappear for stretches and resist trying to get too cute with the puck in the offensive zone.

Ryan Haggerty, F- Scored USA's first goal in a scrum after fighting for position. Had a pretty stealthy game beyond that. Just kept things simple and played an effective two-way game. Meat-and-potatoes player with some smarts- should be a solid NCAA forward for RPI.

Tyler Biggs, F- Took two early penalties and didn't get a whole lot accomplished. In fairness, he made a good, hart hit on an opponent and appeared to get called more because the hit looked worse than it was. He was then pushed into the Swiss netminder. Did have a nice offensive chance in the third period in front on a power play, but Boltshauser made a terrific stop to deny him.

Zac Larraza, F- Played a solid defensive game as he forechecked well and disrupted Swiss movement out of their own end. He's got size and is a good skater, but we can see that the offensive hockey sense/creativity is what may prevent him from being much of a scoring presence. Still, he deserves credit for skating hard and being one of the USA's best players early on when many of his teammates were settling in and trying to find their legs.

Luca Boltshauser, G- Superb game from the Swiss netminder who channeled his inner Benjamin Conz in this one. Not much he could do on either USA goal, and he showed strong positioning, quick reflexes and a good glove/blocker combo to deny several high USA shots that were labeled. Impressive start from a kid we weren't tracking at all, but will watch with interest the rest of the way.

Dean Kukan, D- Solid, unspectacular performance just like his scouting report says. Doesn't do much to stand out, which in his case, is a good thing.

Samuel Guerra, D- Decent feet and puck-moving ability. Seems to have pretty good poise and vision; moved the puck smartly and crisply. Formed Switzlerand's best D-pairing with Kukan.

Lino Marschini, F- Tiny winger who played for the Peterborough Petes this year can really move, but is a perimeter player. He doesn't have much room to grow and isn't seen in any NHL circles we've talked to as a legitimate prospect because of his lack of size and an overall aversion to traffic and and being able to play effectively in the dirty areas of the ice.

USA takes on Slovakia tomorrow morning, 9:30 a.m. (3:30 pm local).

Team USA in Under-18 championship: Chance to threepeat

USA Hockey announced the roster for April's World Under-18 Championship squad, which will travel to Dresden, Germany to compete in the final IIHF tourney for most young draft eligibles before the 2011 NHL Draft.

Here's a quick look at some of the key roster players and what they bring to the mix. Not every roster player is featured here, but we're just going to cut to the chase and based on results, may cover some of the other players later on.

Not every player on the roster is a 2011 draft candidate, with a few '94s and even one late '94 (Seth Jones) who can't be drafted until 2013. In a later post, we'll take a 2012 and 2013 look ahead with some of the young players on the squad.

Conspicuously absent from the '94s is Sarnia Sting center Alex Galchenyuk, a Russian dual-citizen who recently declared his intention of playing for USA in the various international competitions. His omission is a topic for another day, but is certainly a hot button topic today.

Cole Bardreau, F- Hustling energy forward is a smart, gritty kid who can play a variety of roles for coach Ron Rolston and brings leadership and a sterling work ethic to the mix. Although undersized, he compensates for the lack of strength with his hockey sense and anticipation. He may not be a high-end NHL draft prospect, but he's such a competitor and smart player that he ends up being more than the sum of his parts at the end of the day. Scouts we've talked to essentially say the same thing: Bardreau doesn't have a ton of skill, but he's got a big heart. They don't want to like him, but after the game, they look back and he worked his bag off and made things happen. It's hard to say how attractive that will be to NHL teams come June, but he's certainly going to be a nice NCAA player for Cornell.

Tyler Biggs, F- If Coyotes defenseman Paul Bissonette has made a name for himself as "Biz Nasty" in the Twitterverse, then Biggs is your resident "Big Nasty" were he to decide to indulge in that social media platform. Biggs is a good skater, but his real value lies in his physical game and powerful shot. He's a momentum changer when he's banging bodies and making room for his linemates. He's shown a penchant to play with the kind of aggression and nastiness that NHL teams love. He doesn't have elite skills and the hockey sense is questionable, but Biggs's lure is such that he'll go in the first half of the 1st round or at least inside the top-20. Biggs is going to be a handful for the European opponents on the bigger ice surface in Germany, and he'll get an excellent challenge when USA takes on Canada.

Travis Boyd, F- The youngest player in 2011 draft class by virtue of Sep. 14, 1993 birthdate (the day before the cutoff), this Minnesotan could have been listed in the recent sleepers post on this blog because he is unranked by Central Scouting, but is likely on the radars of some NHL clubs as a late option. Talented byt not flashy, he has strong offensive hockey sense and makes underrated, smart plays all over the ice. He may be a tad overlooked up until now, but the Golden Gopher recruit could have a coming out party next month. He's someone to watch as a solid, well-rounded player who doesn't do anything exceptionally, but has no glaring holes in his game.

Ryan Haggerty, F- One of two New England natives on the roster (he and Paliotta are both from Connecticut), Haggerty is another unheralded, solid guy who can play a variety of roles, but doesn't bring any kind of real high-end upside to the mix. Smart, hard-working, gritty yet honest, his experience and strong performance in the Five Nations tourney in February is going to make him a useful if unspectacular part of a potential winning formula in April. He understands the system and plays it to a tee. Committed to RPI.

Rocco Grimaldi, F- This blog has covered Grimaldi in near excruciating detail of late, so there isn't much to say that we haven't already other than to opine that as the dynamic little California pepperpot goes, so do USA's hopes for a threepeat. He is absolutely suited for the wide-open play of the Under-18 tourney and could light it up the way he did in the Czech Republic last month. With his speed and skill, we believe he's going to keep raising his stock for the 2011 draft as the proverbial straw that stirs Team USA's drink on offense. If you love the USA, how can you not root for this epitome of the American dream?

Reid Boucher, F- Not very big, speedy or flashy, but this guy just knows how to get it done offensively. He led Team USA in scoring at the Five Nations and will need to again be a focal point for America's attack. Michigan State recruit is industrious and has off-the-charts hockey sense. He's not quite in Grimaldi's class offensively, but he is a dangerous scorer that opponents must account for.

Zac Larraza, F- As far as physical tools go, they don't come much better than this Arizonian. Good size? Check- 6-2, 195. Great skater? Check- rangy with quick burst and fluid stride and agility. Puck skills? Check- can make moves at speed and back defenses up. Where it gets dicey is in the intangibles department and thus far, he's not been able to put all of his impressive parts together. He's played better as the season progressed, and there is a lot of raw upside here, but some scouts just don't feel that he's ever going to get it. He's going to Denver University, so if he's going to develop into a legitimate NHL prospect, it will happen there or it won't happen anywhere. Worth a mid-round gamble because of what he brings to the table.

Adam Reid, F- Raw prospect has generated interest among NHL scouts because he's got the size, skill and upside to do more than he has in the NTDP to date. Northeastern recruit from California has a loping stride and brings some passion and intensity to the mix. He's a smart player who is starting to come on in terms of being a complete player as he grows into his nice 6-3 frame. He's more of a physical, grinding player, but with his hockey sense and soft hands, Reid could be much more even if the production hasn't arrived.

J.T. Miller, C- Another USA forward and draft prospect we've covered extensively on this blog, but Miller is heavy in the tools, not so accomplished with the production. This is a risky pick in the first round, but we're confident someone will take him because he is such a talented player. It isn't for a lack of trying that the offense has been slow in coming, and he's always willing to throw a hit or take the hit to make the play. He works hard, skates well and is a valuable presence. At the end of the day, however, you have to ask: "Where's the beef?" He and Grimaldi will get to keep working together with the Sioux in Grand Forks, N.D.

Blake Pietila, F- Stats do not tell the story for this strong defensive forward who brings a very high compete level and outstanding overall feel for the game. A relentless forechecker who has a knack for anticipating the play and intercepting errant passes, or forcing bad decisions because he's got such excellent closing ability and agility. One of the most dependable players on this squad, even if he doesn't put up big numbers. Michigan Tech is getting a good one in Pietila.

Connor Murphy, D- Team USA is thrilled to get this horse back just in time for the meaningful games. He was a big part of the silver medal-winning squad in Slovakia last August, and after battling back woes, got some action in at the Five Nations. He should have the rust knocked off his game in time to be one of the two-way anchors on defense. Good skater, big shot, solid positionally. Susceptible to the bad turnover when an aggressive forecheck takes away his time and space, but this kid could be a pretty high pick in June despite not having played many games.

Mike Paliotta, D- Solid, mobile shutdown defender has not put up the anticipated offense this season, but has the talent to be an effective player on the larger ice in Germany. We've liked Paliotta for some time, and he's a gutsy competitor who keeps it simple and doesn't try to do too much. He may not be the puck mover we thought when he was a prep standout a few years back, but he brings plenty to the table in terms of smarts and disciplined play.

Robbie Russo, D- USA needs Russo to step up and be for them what Adam Clendening was to the 2010 U18 champs. He can hit the long lead passes and has the vision/instincts to do more on the scoring ledger, so while this hasn't been a great year for the Notre Dame recruit, he has the potential to turn things around with a strong tournament. USA doesn't have the pure power shooters from the point that they did last year, so they'll need to get it done more with guile and smart distribution. It all starts with Russo and the team will be counting on him to make the right decisions.

John Gibson, G- Stud goalie is the workhorse that Team USA needs to jump on his back and ride all the way to a possible gold medal. If anyone can exhibit the requisite amount of skill and poise to win it all, Gibson can. We've talked about him enough, so check the labels and read up because aside from Grimaldi, Gibson is the one guy upon whose shoulders a threepeat rests.