At the midterm rankings in January, center Devin Shore of Whitby Fury in the Ontario Junior Hockey League was the first Canadian junior midget player listed among the North American skaters at No. 75 overall.
When asked which NHL player he compared to, Shore mentioned Henrik Sedin.
Left wing Jujhar Khaira of Prince George was second on the list at No. 80 overall. The scouts are discussing those players as well as several other scouts.
I'll add that Shore has committed to Maine for the 2013-14 season, while Khaira to Michigan Tech for the 2012-13 season.
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The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is now being discussed. At the midterm rankings, Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts and Martin Frk of the Halifax Mooseheads were considered the top two players from the 'Q'.
Grigorenko was rated No. 2 overall at the midterm, behind Sarnia's Nail Yakupov of the OHL. Frk was No. 25 overall at the midterm ranks.
The boys are debating several other 'Q' players right now, including Quebec's Ryan Culkin, Baie-Comeau's Raphael Bussieres, Vladislav Shalimov of Val-D'Or and defenseman Dillon Fournier of Rouyn-Noranda. All those players were ranked among the top 138 North American skaters in January.
Grigorenko, Frk and Yakupov were all top-three selections in the CHL import draft before they came over to play in NA. Fournier was a first-overall QMJHL selection in 2010.
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Daniel O'Regan of St. Sebastian School, Jimmy Vesey of South Shore, Chris Calnan of Nobles and Devin Tringale of Lawrence have all impressed the scouts and in different ways this season. David Gregory, Jack Barzee and Gary Eggleston are discussing the kids.
At the midterm rankings in January, Cristoval Nieves of Kent School, Samuel Kurker of St. John's Prep, Brian Hart of Exeter and Mark Jankowski of Stanstead HS in Quebec in the USMAAAE are dominating the discussion.
Video of each player is also being shown while the scouts talk about the aforementioned players.
An interesting discussion involved defenseman Travis Jeke of Northwood School. Jeke was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., where the 2012 NHL Draft will be held June 22-23 at Consol Energy Center. Jeke's favorite player is Kris Letang and he feels his vision, hands and shot are his greatest assets.
O'Regan's committed to BU beginning in 2013-14; Vesey to Harvard in 2013-14; Calnan to BC in 2013-14; Tringale to Harvard in 2012-13; Nieves to Michigan in 2012-13; Kurker to BU in 2013-14; Hart to Harvard in 2012-13; Jankowski to Providence in 2012-13; and Jeke to BC in 2012-13.
I like Malcolm Subban from my limited viewings. I understand why people question the wisdom of drafting a goaltender so early, but just making an observation. He seems like a good mix of athleticism and technical skill. And he's damn near perfected the Miller Shrug.
Earlier this week, I streamed the Djurgardens-Orebro game in the background while completing other tasks and got to see some of Pontus Aberg, who played right wing on a line centered by Mika Zibanejad (Ottawa - 6th overall, 2011).
Aberg wasn't noteworthy, possibly because I was multi-tasking, until the third period when he crashed the net in search of rebound and slotted home a loose puck. He seemed to gain some pep in his step from the goal and later streaked down the wing a few times to create two missed scoring chances (shot wide, foiled pass). His linemate Zibanejad added two goals earlier in the game, but Aberg wasn't in on either of them from my recollection.
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Originally Posted by Zip15
And that Sean Monahan for the 67's is very impressive. Alas, he misses the cutoff by four weeks.
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Originally Posted by jfb392
Yep, he just needs to get stronger and he's NHL ready IMO.
He's a complete player and I see him at #2 right now, behind only MacKinnon.
Watched the Ottawa vs Belleville game last night and though that Subban looked like he will be a very good goalie, so much talent and always in control. I doubt he goes past the 1st round. Gaunce looked good aswell and was about how I expected him to be, Ceci was the most impressive for me though, his size, speed, and awarness is really good, he will be a very good defenseman.
Watched the Ottawa vs Belleville game last night and though that Subban looked like he will be a very good goalie, so much talent and always in control. I doubt he goes past the 1st round. Gaunce looked good aswell and was about how I expected him to be, Ceci was the most impressive for me though, his size, speed, and awarness is really good, he will be a very good defenseman.
Well, if he does, I can't see him getting past goaltending-starved Columbus or Tampa Bay in the early-2nd. Also, I agree on Ceci. That was the second time I saw him and I was impressed. I'm not saying we should draft him, but he looked good. I was generally unimpressed with Gaunce until that play where he set up the then-tying goal. Kid has to work on his skating.
Well, if he does, I can't see him getting past goaltending-starved Columbus or Tampa Bay in the early-2nd. Also, I agree on Ceci. That was the second time I saw him and I was impressed. I'm not saying we should draft him, but he looked good. I was generally unimpressed with Gaunce until that play where he set up the then-tying goal. Kid has to work on his skating.
Did you see the smarts Ceci had on that 2 on 1 goal? Pulled away from the pack and made a great play on the shot, I would be thrilled to nab him with our 1st
Also on Gaunce its quite obvious that he is not a great skater, i dont see how he is ranked so much hidger than laughin on oshawa or some of the other fowards
I don't understand why everyone thinks drafting in the 10-15 range is such a curse. Yes, the elite talent is at the top, but gems can be found in the mid-to-late 1st round (see Myers, Ennis). Darcy has drafted really well lately and regardless of where they draft, I trust him and the scouting department to take the right guy. Another thing people seem to be overlooking is the fact we have two 1st rounders and two 2nd rounders....and trade bait on our roster....so it's not like trading up will be impossible. Whatever draft pick we end up with, I'll be excited to see what Darcy does in this offseason and during the draft.
I don't understand why everyone thinks drafting in the 10-15 range is such a curse. Yes, the elite talent is at the top, but gems can be found in the mid-to-late 1st round (see Myers, Ennis). Darcy has drafted really well lately and regardless of where they draft, I trust him and the scouting department to take the right guy. Another thing people seem to be overlooking is the fact we have two 1st rounders and two 2nd rounders....and trade bait on our roster....so it's not like trading up will be impossible. Whatever draft pick we end up with, I'll be excited to see what Darcy does in this offseason and during the draft.
Mid-teens is rarely the place to find elite talent. This team is still too small and not talented enough (particularly up front). Finding size with skill typically is a matter of being in the top 3 selections. Elite skill is found at the top of the draft, not at 13.
I don't understand why everyone thinks drafting in the 10-15 range is such a curse. Yes, the elite talent is at the top, but gems can be found in the mid-to-late 1st round (see Myers, Ennis). Darcy has drafted really well lately and regardless of where they draft, I trust him and the scouting department to take the right guy. Another thing people seem to be overlooking is the fact we have two 1st rounders and two 2nd rounders....and trade bait on our roster....so it's not like trading up will be impossible. Whatever draft pick we end up with, I'll be excited to see what Darcy does in this offseason and during the draft.
no one thinks it is a curse, just the fact that it you have a much better chance of getting a franchise player in the top 5. It looks like we will be drafting 11th now which is still very good and will be gauranteed a good player, the only problem is this draft is so rich in defence and not great for fowards
Mid-teens is rarely the place to find elite talent. This team is still too small and not talented enough (particularly up front). Finding size with skill typically is a matter of being in the top 3 selections. Elite skill is found at the top of the draft, not at 13.
people are going to start to think that i hacked your account....
no one thinks it is a curse, just the fact that it you have a much better chance of getting a franchise player in the top 5. It looks like we will be drafting 11th now which is still very good and will be gauranteed a good player, the only problem is this draft is so rich in defence and not great for fowards
yea, at 11 we are guaranteed a good player... like marek zagrapan
Regier did more at the trade deadline than I thought he would do.
He dumped probably our #1 prospect, dumped a core Lindy Ruff pet player, and made sure to get a second first round draft choice, which is currency in this league for making deals happen.
We may see more wild swining this offseason than some think from the usual conservative Darcy.
God knows he will be here and functioning as our GM, so let's at least hope I'm right.
We have 2 first round picks and 2 second round picks, plus reasonably skilled, reasonably big named players who are likely to be moved....especially if Ruff stays on, which he will do.
What does Vanek and a 1st round choice get you in this league?
Something more than nothing for sure.
If Darcy plays it safe and simply acquires 2 prospects with our 2 first round picks at their natural order in the draft I'd be surprised.
really though what is their to tear down? basically the only tradable guys with value are Pominville, Vanek, Roy, Regehr, Miller, and a few others
guys like Hodgson, Ennis, Foligno, Myers, McNabb are just getting their feet wet in the NHL
going into this season the idea of tearing it down would involve removing a majority of these foundational pillars of the last 6 years :
- ruff
- regier
- miller
- roy
- vanek
- pominville
- gaustad
