50 in 30: #2 Gabriel Landeskog

Gabriel Landeskog, LW Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
6-1, 207
Born: November 23, 1992 in Stockholm, Sweden
Shoots: Left

Scouting report:

Strengths: A good skater with a long, powerful stride and strong balance. Isn't a blazer, but does have nice jump and can separate. He's very strong on his skates and uses that lower leg drive to go right to the net, fight off defenders and make things happen in close. Good four-way change of direction. Hustles on every shift; plays with energy. Possesses an accurate shot. Underrated backhand-- can sky it up under the crossbar with limited time and space. Good passer and unselfish-- looks to find open teammates for scoring chances. Landeskog sees the ice well and distributes the puck as his pretty even split of goals and assists attests. Physical presence who relishes the hitting aspect of hockey and won't hesitate to fight if the situation warrants. Disciplined, plays in control despite his "angry" style. Tremendous leadership and intangibles: unparalleled work ethic, intelligence, sets the example with offensive and physical play, has mastered English and is "just one of the guys."

Weaknesses:Initial first-step quickness is fine, but could stand to improve to get a little faster out of the gate. Shot isn't overpowering-- even with its quick release and accuracy-- not all that heavy.

Multimedia:

Open Ice feature on Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Murphy and Tobias Rieder at CHL Top Prospects Game (Open Ice Hockey)


NHL.com interview with Landeskog


Landeskog video/stills montage on You Tube (bestkeeper14)
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(Having trouble uploading combine video on Blogger lately- will try to fix the issue soon)

Style compares to: Brendan Shanahan, Jarome Iginla

Draft prediction: Should be a top-three pick in the NHL draft, but will not slip past New Jersey based on the math. The strength of his game is in his completeness as a player: he can play the finesse game or grind it out, blocks shots, kills penalties, fights and does whatever his team needs him to do. He's compared a lot to Jarome Iginla, which is apropos, considering Landeskog looks up to the Calgary captain the most as his model player.

Projection: He's got the size and ability to project solidly into the top-six both as a power winger and special teams ace. But, his immeasurables are off the charts, so even if he doesn't live up to the offensive billing, he's going to be a solid third-line NHL player simply because he can play the finesse, high-energy, or grinding, in-your-face game. We see 35-goal, 70-80 point upside.

Background: 11 days younger than fellow Swede and high draft candidate Adam Larsson. Father, Tony played defense in the Swedish Elitserien. Has a fraternal twin sister, Beatrice. Originally property of the Djurgardens IF Stockholm hockey system, even playing for them for a few games in '08-09, becoming the youngest player ever to suit up for that Elite League team (3 games -1 assist) at age 16. Landeskog opted to come to North America in 2009 when the Kitchener Rangers traded for his rights with the Plymouth Whalers after that club made him the 3rd overall selection in the 2009 CHL Import Draft. Named Kitchener Rookie of the Year after 24 goals and 46 points in 61 games last season. Named to OHL All-Rookie Team. Named team captain by Kitchener Rangers Head Coach/General Manager Steve Spott on October 24, 2010. First European captain in team history and youngest Rangers captain in 30 years. Landeskog suffered a high ankle sprain just before the WJC, and then re-aggravated it in Sweden's first game against Norway, forcing him to miss about 6 weeks of the season. Finished the season with 36 goals, 66 points in 53 games. His hockey idols growing up: Peter Forsberg, Mats Sundin. Now: Jarome Iginla, Mike Richards.

If Landeskog had his own soundtrack it would be: "Invincible"- Adelita's Way

"50,000 Unstoppable Watts"- Clutch

Quotable:

"Extremely fit and strong, wins nearly every corner battle and isn't afraid to dust it up when necessary. Great teammate who plays with a contagious enthusiasm for the game. Should put up much better numbers this year now that he'll be seeing first line and PP duty."- Red Line Report, September 2010

"As for Landeskog, he's precisely the kind of player the Colorado Avalanche want and need. I can envision him playing in the NHL next season with his refined power game, character and maturity. He doesn't have the elite skill level of other players in class, but as the total package, there are none better. At the beginning of the year, I saw him play and likened him to a Mats Sundin/Brendan Shanahan hybrid. He's not quite as big as both guys or as skilled, but is every bit as powerful and just a tough competitor and leader. You take a guy like Landeskog and put him with Matt Duchene and he's going to do some damage in the NHL. Maybe not right away, but I don't think you can miss with this player."- Kirk Luedeke/B2011DW on Landeskog to In Lou We Trust blog; May, 2011

"Gabriel does remind me of former Kitchener Ranger (and Philadelphia Flyers captain) Mike Richards. He sticks up for his teammates and is as strong at both ends of the rink as any player in the draft this year. He competes as hard if not harder than anybody. He's got all the assets that you need to be a team leader and, for a potential No. 1 overall, that's what you would want."- Central Scouting's Peter Sullivan to NHL.com (full profile here)

“He is a good-size guy who is solid on his skates, not afraid to take the puck to the net or battle for it along the boards. His skating is very good in all areas. He plays the game with so much passion, he plays the game hard, he's a great mentor for players that are younger and older, maturity beyond his years. (He) doesn't need one game in the American league next year -- he should step right into the NHL. I think the team that gets him next year is going to get a player that helps them win a Stanley Cup.”- Central Scouting's Chris Edwards to NHL.com

Gabriel Landeskog in his own words:

"He played hockey for a team named Hammarby, and he played two seasons in the Swedish Elite League. After that, he played all of his career in the second tier league. He's a big defenseman that liked to play physical and could also move the puck, from what I've heard. He's always been a really good mentor for me. He's always been there and given me advice on the way here. Just been a great mentor for me all my life not only on the ice but also off." Landeskog on his father, Tony, to NHL.com (full profile here)

"It was kind of where I stood. I had two ways to choose: I could play in the Swedish Elite League or come here. I felt that I wanted to try something new. Canadian junior hockey has always been one of my dreams. I felt that if I would come here to Kitchener and play for a team that really believed in me I would improve a lot more as a player and also as a person because moving from home and moving to another country would be really great experience."- Landeskog on leaving Sweden for the OHL to NHL.com

The Scoop:

There's nothing soft about Landeskog's game by Mike G. Morreale, NHL.com feature

Landeskog blog post on his combine performance at hockeynewsdigest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHL roundup: Here comes the 'Nuge

No, we're talking the HOCKEY version of the 'Nuge, not the Motorcity Madman thank you. This is the guy we want to focus on today:



Red Deer Rebels center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is well on his way to securing a top-three draft position if he hasn't already after tallying a hat trick and adding three helpers to the tune of six points in an 8-1 drubbing of the Moose Jaw Warriors Friday. Neate Sager's outstanding Buzzing the Net blog has the video evidence here, so check it out.

The offensive outburst now gives RNH 19 goals and 79 points in 52 games and is part of a recent string of production that is starting to put NHL minds at ease after he took the first half of the season to net just 10 markers. In his last three games, Nugent-Hopkins has put up 12 points to the tune of 5 goals, 7 assists.

"Nobody doubted the skill and explosiveness but the numbers weren't there," said one NHL scout recently. "He's a goal scorer who wasn't scoring, so while we don't make it a business of focusing on the statistics, it was a topic of conversation with him."

RNH is an explosive skater who has multiple gears and can attack defenses with his pure speed, or dangle with his excellent lateral mobility and superb, dare I say elite puckhandling skills. He's a sniper who can put the puck anywhere he wants and with the shots finding the back of the net at absolutely the right time, his stock will only go up. On the down side is his very average size and rail-thin frame, but like most youngsters, he'll make some progress as he continues an elite athlete training regimen to help get him where he needs to go in his physical development.

"I'd say it is much better for him to have had some scoring issues early in the season," the scout said. "Because right now, he's lighting it up. When you watch him he's involved, dangerous and getting rewarded for his efforts. Those are the impressions that are going to stay with you when you go into the draft process, not what he did back in the fall."

RNH's six-point outburst was matched by teammate Andrej Kudrna, who scored once and added five helpers. That gives the left winger from Slovakia 24 goals and 66 points on the season. Of course, as a '91 birthdate and undrafted prospect, Kudrna's production is not as impressive as that of his 17-year-old counterpart (RNH turns 18 in April).

Here's an interesting video the guys at Future Considerations did on him recently:

Check out Red Deer coach Jesse Wallin's comment at a little over the 1 minute mark when he uses the names Pavel Datsyuk and Sergei Fedorov to create a mental image of RNH's skating ability.

For more on Burnaby, B.C. native Nugent-Hopkins, go over to the labels tab to the right of the main page and click on his name to bring up the blog archive on all posts done on him to date.

OHL

Gabriel Landeskog is back and playing with the Kitchener Rangers for the first time since just after Christmas when he suffered a high ankle sprain against Norway in Sweden's first game of the WJC. He had a modest assist Friday in his team's 6-3 come-from-behind win over the Plymouth Whalers, but the mere sight of No. 92 out on the ice has to make Rangers fans very happy. It will be interesting to see if and how the sprain, one of the most difficult injuries to come back from in hockey (at least to previous levels of effectiveness until fully healed) affects his production. Tobias Rieder had a goal and an assist, while Ryan Murphy didn't register on the scoresheet.

Plymouth had several draft eligibles going in the game: Stefan Noesen tallied once, pushing his totals to 25 goals and 56 points (51 GP) while Garrett Meurs added a helper in what has been a disappointing year. Rickard Rakell did not have any production for the Whale.

Shane Prince made a nice return to the Ottawa 67's lineup after missing the last couple of weeks with an injured shoulder. He scored a goal in a 6-2 win over the Peterborough Petes, and his line of Tyler Toffoli (Kings) and Ryan Martindale (Oilers) picked up a total of 4 goals and 7 points. Prince has 22 goals, 77 points on 47 games for the season, but still isn't getting the kind of NHL draft respect some feel he deserves.

QMJHL

Yes, we're actually talking about the Saint John Sea Dogs again. Starting to sound like a broken record, but when you're the best team in the CHL and you have as many 2011 draft prospects as they do, well-- you're going to be a constant topic of conversation.

This time, they dismantled the Moncton Wildcats to the tune of 11 goals in a 11-2 shellacking.

Tomas Jurco (Tomashh Yur-tcho)had a hat trick, although it looks as two of those tallies came at garbage time. Jonathan Huberdeau added two more tallies to extend his monster season and Zack Phillips had three assists, which is nice to see from the guy who is more of a goal scorer than playmaker. Huberdeau has 33 goals and 77 points in 50 games for the Sea Dogs. He's also a +46. Jurco now has 25 goals and 44 points in 43 contests to go over a PPG for the first time in a while.

Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu was also a +3 on the night with an assist to push his season totals to 10 goals, 37 points and a +36 in 50 games. As far as two-way threats from the blue line go, Beaulieu is one of the more intriguing options in this class. He's pretty tough, too- you wouldn't know it by looking at the PIMs, but when he gets fired up, he can uncork some pretty rapid powerful rights. Just ask Chicoutimi's Alexandre Roy. If you want to know about which I speak, then go here.

Well, that's a wrap on the CHL roundup.

I'm off to Delbarton Green Wave and Seton Hall Prep today in Jersey and will check back in at some point to offer up thoughts, although the level of competition is quite a step down (putting it very mildly) from what I got used to at the WJC and OHL back in Dec./Jan.

WJC Scouting Reports: Germany

Team Germany had some talent on paper, but were disappointing overall. They surrendered three power play goals in the first period alone en route to a 4-0 hole after 20 before clawing back to make it a game in a 4-3 loss. They pushed Slovakia to overtime, but couldn't solve Dominik Riecicky between the pipes, got dominated by the USA in a 4-0 loss and also lost to FInland in decisive fashion.

Tobias Rieder was the highest-profile draft eligible on the team and showed off some of the skill that has seen him attract notice in the OHL with Kitchener, but overall, didn't have a great tourney.

Marcel Noebels, who was passed over last year, is with Seattle of the WHL this season and looked pretty good at times. He was the best player for Germany in the loss to Switzerland, and has the kind of size to hang in the NHL. Skating is his major issue, but he wasn't bad.

Tobias Rieder, C 5-10, 180 Kitchener Rangers (OHL)-- Lack of size is the big knock on Rieder, because his skating and skills are first-rate. Has a quick initial burst and can weave in and out of traffic. Plays with some energy and can handle the puck well at top speed. Special hands. Capable of bringing fans out of the seats-- scored a highlight reel goal against Finland, using the combination of his speed and a complex deke to rock the HSBC Arena. Sees the ice pretty well and has the offensive hockey IQ to make plays. Not very strong and has trouble when the hitting picks up. Isn't afraid to get hit, but tends to stay on the outside rather than fight his way to the net. Better than expected defensively, but his lack of size will be a challenge for him at the next level. Character guy; very well-spoken and poised-- bigger things could be in store, especially if he pays attention to Steve Spott's program in Kitchener and does what the coaches instruct.

Overview: Germany on the whole was a disappointment, and Rieder wasn't too far behind. Although not a bad performance at the WJC, he only showed flashes of what he can do. Rieder was not able to bring the consistency you want to see, but at the same time, he was still 17- he just turned 18 a few days ago. His ability and character should see him get drafted pretty high, but he's very much a work in progress who will need time to develop.

Marcel Noebels, F 6-3, 210 Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)-- Nice size, with a wide-skating base. Offensively gifted-- has both a heavy shot and soft hands for making on-target saucer passes in his arsenal. Skating is rough-- slow first few steps and looks pretty awkward out there-- like a big man with the lumbering skating stride. Crashes the net and uses his size to gain position and leverage. Likes to fire the puck on net from the wing-- then drives in and grabs the rebounds. Surveys the ice well and has the ability to find his linemates. Will give and take the hit, but not a punishing physical player.

Overview: Not a bad performance from Noebels, and to be honest, I thought he showed enough that he would have been drafted last season. The skating is an issue, and perhaps he improved significantly from last year-- didn't see him to make the comparison, because Noebels was one of Germany's more effective and consistent forwards all tourney long. If I were on an NHL staff, I would have no problem using a late flyer on a player like Noebels because there is some upside there along with the size you can't teach. That said, you can teach the skating aspect, so get him signed on for power skating lessons, and he could get on track.

Central Scouting's mid-season rankings: North American skaters pt. 3; risers, fallers and sleepers + goalies

Back with the final installment of the Central Scouting mid-season rankings initial analysis. Will try to track down a couple of Central Scouting contacts in the coming days and try to drill down on some of the players.

Looking at the risers, fallers and sleepers here for North Americans. Will also take a quick look at the NA goalies, too.

Risers

32nd Rickard Rakell, RW Plymouth (OHL)-- This guy was kind of like Gabriel Landeskog-lite at the WJC once Landeskog went out with the high ankle sprain. He skates well, has an active stick and is an abrasive cuss who agitates a bit and is effective at drawing penalty calls. He's another Swede who left his home country for the smaller ice and more rough-and-tumble game of the OHL and has adapted well. Don't be surprised if he ends up going somewhere between 20-30 on draft day.

43rd Daniel Catenacci, C Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)-- This small, but ultra-skilled player was the top OHL pick a few years back, but coming into this season, hadn't done a great deal to establish himself as a top-round NHL draft prospect. He's having a very good year and making NHL scouts re-think their positions on him coming into it.

58th Scott Oke, LW Saint John (QMJHL)-- Oke has had a strong first half given the expectations, but 58th? Really? Big, lanky guy, but does he project as a top-three round pick? More data required.

63rd Mike Mersch, LW University of Wisconsin (WCHA)-- This NTDP grad didn't have a lot of buzz coming into the 10-11 season, though scouts liked him. But, Redline Report's Max Giese has weighed in on why he likes Mersch so much on this blog earlier this season. You can read it here. But Mersch looks to be rewarded by Central for his work in Madison. And, while he doesn't project as a high-end guy in the NHL, he's one of those guys you win with.

Fallers

44th Lucas Lessio, LW Oshawa Generals (OHL)-- This player has first-round size and skills with the ability to be a difference maker every shift, but has been knocked for his wavering compete levels. Saw that firsthand last week against Kitchener, so there's something to that. He'll fall lower than he should if he doesn't figure out how to dial it up better.

61st Adam Clendening, D Boston University (HE)-- Have to admit that this ranking threw me. I've seen Clendening a few times and thought he's been pretty good for a freshman player competing in the Hockey East. I certainly feel he's handled the transition better than Matt Nieto, who is five six slots higher at 55th. But, Central obviously disagrees and I've had some Twitter traffic from at least one BU fan who has not been impressed with Clendening. Will have to give him a closer look in future viewings.

74th Tobias Rieder, C Kitchener Rangers (OHL)-- If this ranking is based on the WJC, I can understand it. Rieder just wasn't very good in Buffalo. But in fairness, neither was his team. From what I understand, Rieder has been a better player in the OHL than he was in the IIHF competition, so is this another too-low CS ranking like Jeff Skinner last year? Could be.

75th Andrei Pedan, D Guelph Storm (OHL)-- A lot expected of this big, mobile and promising Russian, but he has yet to really show much in the OHL this year based on information from my contacts. He was a final cut on Team Russia, who went exclusively with a 1991-born team with the exception of Evgeni Kuznetsov at the WJC. He has the ability to control the play from the back end as he reportedly showed at last spring's Under-18s, but has been pretty mediocre in Guelph.

102nd Shane McColgan, RW Kelowna Rockets (WHL)-- Youch! What happened? Size matters and McColgan doesn't have it. But sluggish play after tonsils removed seems to have dropped him like a rock. Going to be tough sledding for the Californian who doesn't appear to have any growth spurt left to prove he has the skill to play in the NHL.

Sleepers

35th Shane Prince, C Ottawa 67's (OHL)-- OK- the Rochester-area native is not really a classic sleeper in that everyone knows him now after what he's been doing in the OHL scoring race. But having him at 35 doesn't make him a riser, and I don't want to call him a faller either. So, the speedy little scorer is a sleeper until further notice.

120th Charles Orzetti, LW NJ Hitmen (EJHL)-- This power forward was a 2010 prospect, but missed all of last season with an injury, so he's back in the pool. Skates pretty well for a big man (6-4, 210) and has good hands. Very raw and not all that instinctive, but could have an NHL future as a third liner.

128th Joakim Ryan, D Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)-- New Jersey-born and raised, but plays for Sweden because of mother's (and tennis pro) heritage. This kid is small, but fast and skilled. He's got excellent athletic bloodlines and will be a project but is someone with some upside so long as patience taken with him.

LV Connor Murphy, D USA U-18 (USHL)-- Gord Murphy's son can't seem to stay healthy. He's on the shelf again this season after missing most of last year with a wonky back. But, out of sight, out mind applies and he could be a later-round steal. He's got dad's size and brings more of an offensive upside than old No. 28 for the Bruins did.

Goalies

John Gibson deserves his spot atop the NA goalie rankings. At 6-2 and 205, he has the big frame and athleticism NHL teams demand of their netminders. He's also very calm, cool and collected. Unfortunately, he's just a year behind IIHF legend Jack Campbell, which means Gibson won't get his shot to shine on the world stage as much. So, it will be critical for the NTDP star from Pennsylvania to get it done in tournaments like the Four Nations in Feb. and of course, the Under-18 Championship in Apr.

Christopher Gibson sounds North American, but he's all European from Finland. The son of a British ex-pat father and Finnish mother, Gibson came over to play in the Notre Dame Hounds program in Wilcox, Sask. before ending up in QMJHL frontier outpost Chicoutimi. Gibson has been very good on a not so great team- the typical butterfly goalie with a 6-1 frame. Very nice prospect.

Matt McNeely is Gibson's Team USA backup in Ann Arbor, a similar goalie in terms of style and substance from Minnesota, but playing time for him will be tougher to come by and he's more raw than Gibson.

I'm also liking Steve Michalek of Loomis-Chaffee who had a great Ivan Hlinka for Team USA and has been beseiged at the prep level but has posted very respectable numbers. He's more of a sleeper than most goalies on the list, but at 6, it's nice to see Central has noticed.

I'll get some better insights on some of the other goalies on the list and be back at some point to shed some better light on them.

Tomorrow, we'll get a closer look at some of the key Europeans.

New Year's Day in Oshawa

Had a terrific New Year's Eve with close and very special friends in Toronto's Greektown-- had a delicious Greek cuisine dinner at Christina's (the saganaki and dolmades were fab-u-lous!) and then went to Dora-Keogh's Irish Pub on Danforth.

We rang in the new year with beer, shots of Jag and vintage cider plus a great live band/trio called the Mash-Men. They had the place rocking with an unbelievable rendition of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" and the Tragically Hip's "Ahead By A Century." When the clock struck twelve, they brought 2011 in with U2's "New Year's Day" and the house down with it.

Today was a late-monring breakfast followed by the trip to Oshawa to see the Generals take on the Kitchener Rangers. The General Motors Center is a sparkling newer building with a terrific Hall of Fame exhibit that contains some unbelievable game-used equipment and memorabilia from great players in Oshawa Generals/area history including a game-used Bobby Orr Generals sweater. The building was nearly full (dwarfing some of the AHL crowds I've seen) and there was a festive atmosphere. Any true hockey fan should get to an OHL or CHL (any league) game at some point in their lives just for the experience.

The home team won 4-2, thanks to a very good game from Danish forward Nicklas Jensen, whose stock had taken a bit of a hit over the last month or so. But, he had a dominant day with 1G, 4 PTS and impressed me with his skill and effort levels. Boone Jenner had a good game as well, working hard and making things happen. Lucas Lessio was less impressive, with an uneven effort even with his very visible talent level on display.

On the Kitchener side, defenseman Ryan Murphy certainly showed his outstanding wheels, hands and offensive game even without much to show for it on the scoring ledger. But, I also saw the things NHL scouts have told me about in terms of his positioning and defensive awareness. He didn't do poorly per se, but that's what's keeping him from being a slam-dunk for the top-three picks in this draft.

One regret: that Gabriel Landeskog and Tobias Rieder weren't in the lineup today for the Rangers. Would have been great to see them with the Rangers, even though I saw WJC action from Rieder and had limited viewing of Landeskog before the injury vs. Norway.

I'll have more details on these guys tomorrow or Monday when I can break out the detailed game notes.

But I couldn't not post on New Year's right?

I hope everyone had a terrific year and that the next 365 is even better.

Oh, and how good does it feel to finally arrive in 2011? Draft day will be here before we know it.

2011 WJC player updates Days 2-4

Well, it's Wednesday here in Buffalo and not a great deal of good hockey today to get excited about.

The Finland-Germany game was on par with the game the Finns played against Switzerland yesterday. They won that one by a 4-0 score and beat Germany 4-1 after chasing starter Philipp Grubauer from the net (the second time in three starts he's gotten the hook in the tourney, btw).

Germany is a bad team, but Finland, as efficient as they are, just seem to suck the life out of their games. They wait for opponents to make mistakes and capitalize. This is much of a contrast to the blistering speed of the aggressive Swedish and Russian teams in Sweden's 2-0 win last night.

The Canada-Norway game later this evening didn't hold much hope for excitement...unless you're a Canadian and like Sega Genesis EA Sports NHL 94-like blowouts or something. And true to form, it was a total laugher, aided in the 1st period by horrendous goaltending from Soberg (who pulled himself after allowing five- most of them softies) and Volden (who promptly allowed two more softies). The final was 10-1 with Brayden Schenn finishing up a four-goal, five-point night, but not getting voted the game's 1st star by the "media" (I quote that because I am part of the "media" and have yet to get a vote sheet handed my way for any of these games. Not sure who's picking these gems, but I ain't part of it nor is anyone else I know here.)

So, after a not-so-great day of hockey, I'll pust some observations on the key 2011-eligible players here on the heels of three pretty good days with some moribund individual games in between.

Switzerland

Sven Bartschi, LW- This has not been a good tournament so far for the talented winger who is playing with countryman and Swiss team captain Nino Niederreiter in the WHL with Portland. Bartschi has nice wheels and hands, but has been a perimeter player here for the most part. Not very involved in the play beyond some flashes here and there, to say that Bartschi's been a disappointment is an understatement. That said, he's a nice kid who just got some help when he gets back to the Winterhawks in the form of B's prospect Craig Cunningham.

Gregory Hofmann, C-- Playing on the wing here in Buffalo more than up the middle, this kid has been a nice revelation. Possessing OK size, he's a good skater with rapid acceleration and pretty good east-west agility and shiftiness. He was particularly good in the first day win over Germany and less so in the shutout loss to Finland on Day 3. He handles the puck well and has several gears that he uses to go in and out of traffic and control the tempo, He made a terrific pass on Switzerland's first goal of the tournament and most folks you talk to in the scouting community here like him. The knocks? The Bruins have yet to draft a Swiss player in their history. He's playing on a line with a teammate on the Ambri Piotta pro team back home, so he does have some chemistry already established that most WJC players on these teams do not.

Germany

Tobias Rieder, LW-- Another disappointment, although Rieder came alive on the tourney's fourth day against Finland. He scored a highlight reel goal on Joni Ortio in the third period to break a 4-0 shutout bid and it was a beauty- he charged in alone at full speed, slowed, then put on a lightning deke backhand-to-forehand-to-backhand, and when Ortio pulled himself out of line with the net, Rieder slid the puck into the yawning cage. The skilled little winger also had several scoring chances against the Finns. That being said, his first two games were pretty poor and until today, he was right with Bartschi for tourney's most disappointing player award if I gave such an award out. His ice time has been sporadic at times, but Rieder simply hasn't done enough consistently to make a big case about it. He's definitely a player in terms of his skating and hands, but the energy I heard about him possessing in Kitchener hasn't been there. I've been left wanting more with him.

Finland

Joel Armia, RW-- At 6-3 and about 190, this guy has the size and goal scoring chops that NHL teams crave. He's shown off those raw tools pretty effectively in Buffalo, even though he has nothing to show for it. He got hosed on a goal called back against Switzerland when it should have counted (net knocked off purposely by Swiss player before puck crossed) and he was standing in front of Philipp Grubauer on a screen against Germany and credited with the goal only to have Joonas Nattinen get the nod later in the game for it. In the end, it doesn't really matter because anyone watching Armia closely has seen some good things. Red Line Report chief scout and publisher Kyle Woodlief will be by the B2011DW blog a little later to go into detail about Armia's game for you.

Sweden

Gabriel Landeskog, RW-- To say that I'm choked about not getting to see Landeskog in this tourney live is an understatement. Aggravating a high ankle sprain he suffered in his final OHL game last week, this top 2011 draft candidate could be on the shelf for a long time. How will it affect his draft position if at all? We'll have to see. More on him later from Woodlief.

Adam Larsson, D-- Finally got to see him live in a very fast-paced and spirited 2-0 win over the Russians on Day 3 and wasn't disappointed. Again, I'll let Woodlief break down his game for you, and he really gave me a ton of stuff on him. But, bottom line- Larsson's looked like a high first-round pick this week and just needs to keep building on it. Now, having said that, some may be surprised to hear what Red Line's chief scout thinks about Larsson's upside/NHL projection. Kyle might be right, and he might be off, but the internet hype machine is a detriment to someone like Larsson because for the past 1.5 yrs, people have been thinking he's a future Niklas Lidstrom-type franchise cornerstone, and that simply may not be the case. He was good for me, but not fabulous. So therein lies the dilemma for scouts.

Rickard Rakell, RW-- When Gabriel Landeskog was lost for the WJC with a high ankle sprain, Team Sweden needed people to step up, and no player did more than Rakell against the Russians. Although only averaged sized, he was fast, intense, gritty, physical and really distinguished himself in all facets of the game except on the scoresheet. But one can't help but wonder whether with his speed and quick stick, whether some nice offensive performances are right around the corner. He's been good in Plymouth from what I hear, but if he maintains this sandpaper, edgy aspect to his game, Rakell will be a first-round pick in June.

Russia

Anton Burdasov, C-- Passed over twice in the draft, one can only wonder why, because even with the transfer/signability concerns, what NHL team doesn't want a guy who stands about 6-3, can really skate, handle the puck and play with a lot of energy. This guy, along with Vladimir Tarasenko, have been Russia's best players in the tourney. Others, like Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov, have left me wanting more...a lot more. Burdasov may have some skeletons in the closet or something, but from a pure hockey standpoint, this guy seems like a third- or fourth-rounder to me. But, I'm not a pro scout, either.

Slovakia

Tomas Jurco, RW-- This very skilled kid hasn't gotten much of a chance as one of the younger players on Team Slovakia, which is a shame. Fast, extremely deft with the puck and creative, in limited shifts, he managed to create several quality/noticeable scoring chances against the Germans in a 2-1 overtime victory. He's already well acquainted with the North American aspects of hockey having spent a year-plus with the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs and just seems to have all the tools to be an offensive threat in the NHL one day. He's not huge and has a lot of filling out to do.

Peter Ceresnak, D-- The seventh D hasn't played but with Martin Marincin suspended for his hit to the head of Jason Zucker over the next four games, the big, shutdown defender will get his chance here in Buffalo.

Canada

Sean Couturier, C-- Considered by many to be the one candidate most likely for top billing in 2011 hasn't done much in the tournament. Some of it is a reflection of his role and ice time as Canada's youngest player, but some of it is Couturier. He's just kind of there. He was fine in the first win over Russia, but has been barely noticeable in the victories over Czech Republic and Norway. He doesn't look like a very dominant player right now-- he's got the size and moves OK, but his play has been on the tentative side as if he doesn't want to make a mistake. He was barely noticeable in the 10-1 shellacking of Norway and this after he got more ice time with the absence of Jaden Schwartz and Matt Kassian (and even Cody Eakin who got injured in the 1st and did not return)from the lineup.(Note- to save the the time of outraged readers who will post comments to inevitably point out that he scored his first goal of the WJC in this game-- well, yes, he did. But it's what he didn't do in the first two periods I was talking about. He's capable of so much more than we got tonight.)

I'll be back with more detailed reports on these players and others when the tournament concludes, but it's a good start.

Live from Buffalo-- 2011 World Junior Championships: Day 1

The 2011 World Junior Championships opened today in Buffalo, N.Y. at the HSBC Arena, and we had three games in a full docket.



The Swiss and Germans faced off first, with the game starting at 12:30.



The game featured four draft eligibles on the radar: Tobias Rieder and Marcel Noebels ('92) for Germany and Sven Bartschi and Gregory Hofmann on Team Switerzland.



Hofmann had the edge in play throughout the game-- the 6-0, 170-pounder is a late '92 who plays for Ambri of the Swiss top pro league. He's a good skater who accelerates to speed quickly and kept his feet moving throughout the game. Hoffman played with a lot of energy and enthusiasm throughout and had a nice primary assist on the game's 1st goal when he was deep in the Germany zone after blowing a tire. He sucked the German D toward him and then found a wide-open Inti Pestoni, who skated in, cut left and deposited a backhander behind Philipp Grubauer (who would be chased from the nets for Germany after allowing 4 goals on 9 shots).



Bartschi showed off his nice wheels and hands at times, but didn't get a whole lot going in this game. He spent a lot of time on the perimeter, and although noticeable with his skills, he didn't accomplish much.



Same was true for Rieder, whose ice time was reduced significantly in the first because of Germany's penalty troubles (they allowed three power play goals against). Like Bartschi, he didn't do a whole lot, but there were a few plays where you could see the ability. On one play down behind the goal line near the Swiss net, he put on a nice display of puckhandling and skating in a tight space to throw the defender off, but it didn't amount to anything.



Noebels, who went undrafted last summer and has the reputation as being a soft perimeter player, was voted Germany's player of the game after a goal and assist in the loss. His goal was scored after he drove hard to the net and put in a rebound. He's an interesting guy to watch going forward perhaps as a late-round look from someone. He played with some passion and drive today after the Germans looked cooked in the 1st period. Nice comeback, even if it fell short.



In the Canada-Russia game, only Sean Couturier was the 2011 prospect playing. He was fine-- didn't do a lot to stand out, but you can see he has the potential to be a real player down the road. His feet are a little heavy, but he's a fine skater once he gets going in a straight line. As he matures and adds more power to his lower body, I don't think the skating will be an issue at the next level. With most younger players, ice time tends to be tough to come by in this tournament, so it will be interesting to see how Canada employs him going forward.



In USA-Finland, the Finns had Joel Armia and Miikka Salomaki from the 1993-birth year group in the game. As you know from reading the blog, Team USA's 2011-eligible contingent: (Dean Wormer voice) Zero point zero.



Armia has nice size and a nice, long skating stride. His initial burst and acceleration is a little rough, but he can cover a lot of ground with that 6-4 frame. He possesses quick hands and a pretty good stick. He had a tough time getting much going in terms of the quality scoring chances tonight (I sense a recurring theme for the day), but you can see why he's generating some buzz this season.



All in all, the games today were pretty sloppy, "ragged" (as one scout told me) affairs-- to be expected for the first contests of the tournament with many of these teams still trying to develop the chemistry that could help take them all the way.



From a purely 2011 draft watching perspective, we'll hope that some of these guys eligible will get a little more time and space to show what they're capable of. For the most part, today was a pretty underwhelming affair as far as the draft prospects go.



I had an uneventful trip here, and let's face it-- anytime you can get off the plane, go straight to the rink and be watching high-level hockey within an hour or so, it's a pretty good day. Tomorrow's schedule promises to be lighter, so looking forward to getting caught up on everything.

Happy Boxing Day

This is a pre-emptive post before I head out tomorrow for the Canadian holiday Boxing Day.

If you're an American and you know about Boxing Day, chances are, you're either A. Have family from Canada or B. You're a hockey fan.

The great thing about Boxing Day is that it marks the beginning of the World Junior Championships every year. It may not be the best tourney to go and see the draft-eligibles, but it is the best exhibition of non-NHL talent every year.

So, ny busy day begins with a quick flight to Buffalo (I hope) and checking in at HSBC Arena pretty soon after touching down to catch the Germany-Switzerland game at 12:30. That will be followed by Canada-Russia at 4, and then the night cap- USA-Finland at 8.

Crazy day, but wouldn't have it any other way. As far as prospects for the 2011 draft are concerned, Tobias Rieder and Sven Bartschi are first up. Then it's Sean Couturier (the Russians brought a roster comprised almost entirely of 1991-birthdates, with the exception of Caps first-rounder Evgeny Kuznetsov). Like the USA, they're not a lot of fun watching if you're looking for guys in the 2011 draft class. Finland has Joel Armia, who looks like he's headed for the 1st round, goalie Samu Perhonen (don't know how much playing time he'll get).

Let the fun begin.

2011 Home Hardware CHL Top Prospects Game rosters announced

It's Team Cherry vs. Team Orr one more time.

Just looking at the roster, I gotta go with Team Cherry in this one.

I believe the wide-open All-Star Game-like format will allow Ryan Murphy to dazzle. Joe Morrow is a highly underrated puck mover as well. Myles Bell can do a fair bit of rushing the puck as well, just don't expect him to play much D. Plus. they do have a nice shutdown guy in Duncan Siemens.

In net, Q goalies David Honzik and Christopher Gibson, both imports from Czech Republic and Finland respectively, will hold them in and give them a shot to blow this one open.

At forward, what more do you need? Sean Couturier...Gabriel Landeskog....Matt Puempel....Ryan Strome....Ty Rattie....Tobias Rieder....Oy vay! Team Orr is going to have its hands full!!!

As for Orr, they're good, but on paper, they don't match up with Cherry.

I don't think they have enough speed to counter that attack that Team Cherry is going to bring at them. Doug Gilmour will coach Orr.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Brandon Saad, Jonathan Huberdeau and Vladislav Namestnikov are some of the squad's most talented forwards, but I'm not sure they can match Cherry's depth. And on D, there are some interesting options...Dougie Hamilton, Nathan Beaulieu, the falling David Musil...but they're going to have their hands full. In net, Jordan Binnington and Liam Liston better bring the A-game.

Big omission: Ottawa 67's forward Shane Prince. Although small, he's highly skilled and fast. He's only a few points off the OHL scoring lead. But, his not being named is very telling about where he's viewed by NHL teams. They get polled to see who they want in the game-- if Prince didn't make the cut, it means more teams than not snubbed him. My guess: injuries will get him in there nonetheless as a fill-in. Happens every year.

NHL Network broadcasts the game for us Yanks south of the border. Rogers Sportsnet I believe for that great country to our north. Game to be played Wednesday, January 19th

Central Scouting Preliminary Rankings: the OHL Pt. 1

I'm back with the breakdown of Central Scouting's views on the OHL.

Once again, the OHL looks to be the premiere pipeline for talent into the NHL, as we could possibly see half of the first 30 selections in the 2011 draft come from that league. There is still a lot of hockey to be played between now and June, but once again the OHL looks to have produced a bumper crop.

Gabriel Landeskog is king of the hill for now, coming out No. 1 on the list out of the gate. While this may have come as a bit of a surprise to some, it wasn't for this blog space, who actually ranked Landeskog as the top OHL draft prospect in a media survey last month on the OHL Prospects blog. Simply put, he's the complete package of size, skill, scoring, spirit and sense-- a five-tool winger who came over from Sweden and proved his mettle in North America so much that Steve Spott named him captain of the storied Kitchener Rangers hockey club. It says a lot about a player who can steal some of the spotlight away from what teammate Ryan Murphy has been doing this season, but Landeskog has done just that.

"I love this kid," one NHL scout told B2011DW. "He's very talented and is such a competitor. Every time you see him, you appreciate what he brings to the table even more."

Right after Landeskog is another power winger in Pennsylvania native Brandon Saad of the Saginaw Spirit. Saad topped many preseason OHL draft lists, but Landeskog's superior production has earned him the edge over Saad for now, even though the two are very similar players in terms of style and substance.

Here is what Red Line Report had to say about Saad back in September: Has all the tools to become a premiere pro talent- great size and strength, a nose for the net, good hands and vision plus a high compete level.

After Saad, big, skilled Niagara defenseman Dougie Hamilton rounds out the top-three. Again, no real surprise for this blogger. I've been hearing a steady buzz on this kid since August-- 6-4 defenders like Hamilton who can skate and even chip in the points are always a hot commodity. It's certainly not unanimous-- Hamilton has his critics, but I'm getting enough of a sampling of NHL opinions to tell me that come draft day, this youngster's wait is not going to be a long one, even with some of the doubts been circulated out in the blogosphere.

"You can't teach his size or skating ability," the NHL scout said of Hamilton. "I don't see how anyone could have him much lower given that he not only has the tools to be a top pro, but is only about three points away from surpassing his totals from last season. That's a pretty nice improvement right there."

Hamilton's Ice Dogs teammate, center Ryan Strome is fourth on Central's list, and could just be the entire 2011 draft's biggest riser. This is one kid few were talking about before the start of the season, but he exploded out of the gate offensively and has been a model of consistency over the two months of OHL play.

"Strome is tearing it up," said the scout. "It makes sense to have him there."

Things got interesting at No. 5, where Central has Saginaw winger Vincent Trocheck there ahead of notables such as Tobias Rieder, Ryan Murphy, Nicklas Jensen and Matt Puempel. The undersized but skilled Trocheck is fast and plays with some jam, but putting him ahead of the others in the pecking order created a bit of a kerfuffle when the list hit the streets.

"Having Trocheck at five is crazy and I like him," the scout said.

German winger Tobias Rieder is the second of Kitchener's sublime import duo, and may well be the best player to ever come out of that country when all is said and done. The speedy and ultra-skilled forward showed no transition struggles and has been a crucial element in keeping Kitchener's high-octane offense going, especially with the loss of 50-goal man Jeff Skinner to the Carolina Hurricanes. We're not saying Rieder is the next Skinner (he's got similar size and can really fly; doesn't have quite the sublime hands/hockey sense though), but he's one heck of a scoring talent, and hockey is in his blood. This is a kid who is absolutely driven to be in the NHL one day, and based on early returns, he's going to get there.

Oshawa center Boone Jenner was seventh, the second head-scratcher after Trocheck. Yes, Jenner is a character guy and has some excellent hands and scoring instincts, but his skating is mediocre (though hearing it has improved from last season). The thing with Jenner is some questionable upside at the pro level. This is a guy with five goals and 12 points in 18 OHL games. When you compare his numbers to what the other guys behind him are doing, it doesn't make a lot of sense, especially since Oshawa has a pretty loaded group of forwards.

At eight is Kitchener defenseman Ryan Murphy, the third Ranger in the top-10. What the diminutive but uber-skilled defenseman is doing in the OHL scoring race is truly remarkable. He currently sits third overall in the league with 11 goals and 35 points in just 20 games-- truly sick numbers for a blue liner (he's got just one goal less than Jenner has points-- think about that for a second).

Murphy is probably the draft's most polarizing figure right now. His skating and puck skills are elite; his offensive hockey sense off the charts. He can control the offensive tempo of a game like no other player at his position. He's even improved his defensive play from last year to this. Don Cherry went on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday and predicted that Murphy would be the No. 1 overall pick in June.

Yet, there are doubts, especially among some in the NHL scouting community. Here is one experienced and greatly respected talent hound's take on Murphy, and it's similar to others B2011DW has heard off the record.

"Ryan Murphy at the end of the day should be fourth on the Central List in my opinion," the scout said. "If you're a team like the Bruins, it's all gravy at this point, right? You've gotten a player like Tyler Seguin, so why not roll the dice a little bit on a player like Murphy if he's there (with that Toronto pick)?

"It all boils down to this: Can he play 5-on-5 in the NHL? I would say that if you pair him with Zdeno Chara then the answer is: Yes, he can. (My team) doesn't have Zdeno Chara, though, and the Bruins do. You can give Chara all of the physical, defensive responsibilities and then let Murphy do what he does best and it isn't going to kill you."

Murphy's offensive game is so dynamic, explosive, insert any other superlative here, that his ranking on independent scouting services and internet messageboards and fansites swings wildly between where Central and some NHL clubs I've managed to poll have him. What accounts for the divergence of opinion?

It's simple, really-- the independent scouting services can afford to rank him high and focus on his tools and otherworldly offensive capabilities because they aren't a team who has to decide where Murphy fits with their overall dynamic and whether his 5-on-5 play is going to be good enough to earn him the kind of minutes and regular shift that justifies taking him inside the top-five at draft time.

Murphy's role of a specialist has often been compared to Windsor defenseman and Nashville '09 first-rounder Ryan Ellis, but some don't like that comparable because Murphy is so much better a skater than Ellis. There are other reasons scouts out there like Murphy better than Ellis, too.

"There's a high energy and passion to Murphy's game that he brings every night," the scout said. "Ellis simply doesn't have it."

Danish forward Nicklas Jensen and 2010 CHL Rookie of the Year Matt Puempel round out Central's preliminary top-10.

Jensen has size and all-around skill; he's adjusted pretty quickly to the OHL after coming over from Denmark with seven goals and 17 points for the Generals. He's a bit like a Landeskog-lite in that he's big (6-3 with room to fill out) and can make things happen on offense, but doesn't have Landeskog's toughness or grit. Still, he's one of those high-upside developmental players NHL teams love.

Puempel's stock has been on the decline since the 2010 Ivan Hlinka and July evaluation camp, where he did not perform to expectations. Although he potted a hat trick in Peterborough's opening game of the season, it has been a few months of disappointment since. Puempel lost teammate and leading scorer Ryan Spooner to requested trade to Kingston, and the Petes don't have much going for them as the East Division's cellar-dweller. In 18 games since the hatty, Puempel has nine goals. Not bad, but not the expected jump from the 34 he scored as a rookie last season. His drop off in value shouldn't cause too precipitous a fall, because even though his effort has been uneven in the eyes of some scouts this season, Puempel is still a talented scorer and someone will likely jump on him inside the top-10 or just outside. If he gets it going offensively, then he could see a nice boost. Either way, seeing him No. 10 on Central's list was a mild surprise, as one would think he would be closer to five.

I will break this post into two parts to better cover 11-20 and the OHL goalies without subjecting you loyal readers to the internet version of "War and Peace"

OHL notes: Strome hat trick fueling his rise on draft boards

Niagara Ice Dogs center Ryan Strome was listed here recently as a "guy you should know" from the OHL when he got off to a hot start.

One of my key OHL sources was effusive in his praise of the 6-1, 183-pound pivot who is enjoying a coming out season in his draft year, telling me that his early OHL-leading points production was not a fluke but rather the real deal.

Now, Strome is coming off his first major junior hat trick (while adding an assist) in a 5-4 win over Belleville last night. That gives Strome six goals and 16 points in just eight contests. That puts him into a three-way tie for the league lead in scoring with Toronto prospect Greg McKegg (a steal at the top of the third round last June, btw) and Ryan Murphy, the Kitchener offensive defenseman par excellence that you know all about if you've been keeping up with this blog. McKegg gets top billing because he has more goals (7 in the same amount of games), but Murphy has played one fewer game than Strome has.

Strome, I'm told, was a gangly, awkward player over the last two years as one of these kids who gets a big growth spurt and then needs some time for his coordination to catch up with the long limbs. Well, so far, he looks like the legitimate goods as a solid first-round pick, although I'm sure teams were hoping they could snatch him in the early second. Unless he goes into some kind of crazy scoring drought, it looks like Strome will keep moving up the charts as a dangerous scorer who can set up the play and finish as well. He's a strong skater with the quick release, soft hands and vision/hockey sense package that usually means a player will carry it over to the next level.

Other 2011-eligible names in the OHL who are looking good early on especially in the scoring department are: a pair of Kitchener imports in Gabriel Landeskog (Sweden) and Tobias Rieder (Germany) who both have identical stats lines of 6-6-12 in seven games. Both players have a lot to like in their games: Landeskog is that bruising, skilled power forward, while Rieder's wheels and lightning hands make him a going concern offensively every time he's out there.

Vincent Trocheck is another player to keep an eye on. He's been important to Saginaw's early-season success, and may not have a lot of size, but can do everything else to include fighting. I don't know if his offensive skills translate into a top-six role at the NHL level, but his speed, abrasiveness and high energy level make him a strong candidate to go all the way as a checking/energy player at the least.

Russian Alexander Khoklachev is making a name for himself in Windsor as well. He's supremely talented and can do just about anything he wants with the puck. His play away from the puck is what scouts will heavily scrutinize this season, but he's been a highly impactful player for the Spitfires to date, with six goals and 11 points in nine games.

Ottawa 67's winger Shane Prince is another player gaining some traction for the draft. With two goals and 11 points in nine games, the November '92 birthdate from New York (acquired by Ottawa from Kitchener last season) is pacing the 67's in scoring this season. His production is good for 20th in the league so far, and if he can keep it up, the average-sized forward who has some legitimate skill is going to garner a lot of attention going forward.

Although there are reports that the 2011 class on the whole is middle-of-the-pack when compared to other recent groups, the fact that eight of the top-20 OHL point producers are 2011 candidates (and two of them-- Nail Yakupov and Alex Galchenyuk of Sarnia are 2012-eligible- yowzas) perhaps speaks to more depth than the group is getting credit for. Speaking of Yakupov, check out the way he protects the puck beautifully from the attempted sweepcheck and then roofs it in the OHL Plays of the Week video for October 14th.

There are three older/overagers whohaven't been drafted as of now in the top-20 as well: Erie's Mike Cazzola (here's a nice article on him quoting former Bruins coach now bench boss for the Otters Robbie Ftorek), Tyler Peters and Zack MacQueen, whose dad, Dave, is the Sarnia GM/head coach and traded him to Windsor for a 12th-round pick last summer. MacQueen appears to be making Spits GM Warren Rychel look like a genius while showing his pops up a little bit.

Given Boston's recent trend of picking older, previously passed-over players in recent drafts (Nick Tremblay in '08, Lane MacDermid in '09 and Craig Cunningham, Justin Florek and Maxim Chudinov in '10) there's a possibility that one of these guys could get a call from the B's or another one of the NHL's 30 teams come June, so keep an eye on how they perform. You'd think at least they'll get an opportunity as a free agent if not drafted, at least.

Murphy continuing his assault on OHL scoring race

Defenseman Ryan Murphy shows no sign of slowing down. He posted a four-point night (1 goal, 3 assists) in his team's 7-5 win over the Barrie Colts Friday. You can see highlights here.

That gives him a ludicrous (with h/t to one of my favorite movies Spaceballs) stats line of 4-9-13 in just five games so far. The goal he scored last night was an absolute perfect example of how dangerous a player he is-- he uses his speed to get around the defense and then beats the goalie on the wrap-around after the rebound wasn't controlled.

If NHL scouts aren't on his bandwagon already, I don't think it will take much more to get them on board. He's always had the offense, but this year, his defense is improved and the bottom line is-- he's getting it done in all areas including special teams, where he is an absolute stud as point man, who can either distribute the puck beautifully or can unleash a howitzer blast himself. Size is really the only issue with this kid, but if he keeps up his torrid pace, that won't matter, as Jeff Skinner proved last year.

Speaking of Skinner, the amazing thing is-- the Rangers are doing all of this offensive wizardry without his services. He made a lasting impression in his first NHL game with the winning shootout goal against Minnesota.

German ace winger Tobias Rieder also tallied twice in the win, and now has four goals and nine points.

Here's more on the former York Simcoe Express star

Friday night OHL roundup: Murphy, Landeskog put on a show in Kitchener

By now, you've probably heard about the insane individual efforts that defenseman Ryan Murphy and forward Gabriel Landeskog put up against the Erie Otters (and yes, B's fans that is old B's coach and Needham's finest Robbie Ftorek behind the Erie bench if you're watching the highlights) in the Kitchener Rangers' 7-3 win Friday night. These two are showing just why they are going to be top-10, possibly even top-five selections in the 2011 NHL Draft.

You can see the highlights here.

Murphy had a goal and four assists-- he currently leads the OHL in scoring (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points in 3 games). Oh, and he was a plus-five on the night, so maybe that defense of his isn't as bad as originally thought, eh? If he keeps up this torrid pace, then he's going to be right in there with Adam Larsson all season long in terms of who the top defensemen are in 2011 draft discussions. Vancouver's David Musil belongs in those talks, too, but he's not generating the production Murphy is right now. Larsson is playing against men, so he's in a different category altogether.

His first assist-- the slap/pass to Andrew Crescenzi is a thing of beauty. That's a purely offensive move from the point, and should have Bruins fans licking their chops if the team can somehow be in position to take him (and yes, I know it's only October). Murphy is demonstrating that his being left off of Team Canada's Ivan Hlinka team was a total joke with his play in the first few games of the OHL season. His point blast shows the unreal power he generate on his shot-- can you imagine what he might be able to do if he were about three inches taller? Brian Rolston once told me (when he was still with the Bruins) that you can practice your slap shot all you want-- at some point, there is a genetics element involved and that some players are simply going to be predisposed to getting more ooomph and torque on the shot than others. Murphy appears to be one of those naturals.

And let's talk about Landeskog. This kid, whom I was told plays an "angry" style that would seem to any observer that he was born in places like Moose Jaw or Yellowgrass or Timmins as opposed to his native Sweden, also proved in the highlights that he can score from anywhere and do pretty much whatever he wants in aspect of the game. Want to see a finesse scorer? He can do it. Want a guy who will bull his way to the net? He can do that, too. Want a guy who will drop the gloves and splatter his opponent's snot from ear-to-ear? Yup-- Landeskog's got that skill in the bag, too.

His first goal was on a shot from the outside after he gained the zone and cut to the middle of the high slot, wiring a bullet top to the glove side. His second (and fifth on the season) was a dynamic backhander that looked just too easy as it knocked the water bottle in the air. Simply put, he turned a lot of heads last season with Kitchener. Now, with a year in the OHL under his belt, Landeskog is emerging as a true force as an NHL prospect. As tough as it is for preseason top-10 picks to raise their stock, that's precisely what this kid is doing.

Here are some comments on Landeskog from a sharp observer who attended the game and emailed me these comments:

"(There is) So much to love about Landeskog. Kid does absolutely nothing wrong. Plays all 3 forward spots, in all situations. Has really proven to be a leader. The one thing I noticed especially last night that after every shift he comes to the bench and asks the coaches what he could have done differently. "

He saved some love for Murphy, too (and to his credit, has been on Murphy's bandwagon since early last season):

"(Murphy)Now leads the league in scoring with 3 goals 6 assists in 3 games and is a plus 10. And he has been in on 50% of the Rangers offence so far this season. And still no goals against while he's been on the ice. (doesnt get enough credit defensively IMO). Hard to imagine the kid has improved from last year. And his shot....most accurate shot from the point since Ray Bourque."

That's some high praise indeed, but from the looks of things, not too far off the mark. Murphy, like Ryan Ellis and of course, Bourque before them, is proving that you don't have to be a gigantor to possess a fearsome cannon from the point.

Not to be outdone was another Ranger who looks like he's going to be first-rounder in June: German forward Tobias Rieder (2 assists, giving him 7 points in 3 games thus far on 2g, 5 helpers) who got it done with some very heady plays on offense. Kitchener coach Steve Spott has a ton of firepower and the amazing thing is that his team is doing all of this without the services of Jeff Skinner, who is still with Carolina. They may not get Skinner back from the Hurricanes, but if they do, watch out. Check out '91 small forward Michael Catenacci's backhander (with assists to both Murphy and Landeskog)... that's just sick speed and puckhandling.

Rieder is an interesting story-- he's German but worships and idolizes Bobby Orr. He's one of those guys who would be a great storyline if he ended up in Boston and you have to give credit to a kid who understands just what Orr did for the sport of hockey.

Erie didn't have a lot of good news, but David Broll did have a very nice assist on Erie's first goal. Broll is one of those big, physical guys with some offensive upside, but his skating is an issue right now.

The OHL, once again, is looking like the producer of another bumper crop of future NHL talent. Murphy came into the season with a lot of questions to answer, but he's blowing the doors off the skeptics. Just watching those highlights should make anyone a believer. There is a lot of hockey to be played, but if the Bruins end up with this kid somehow in June, then they'll have a premium skill player at the defense for sure, and will have some scary organizational depth.