Prospect Info: DousedInOil's 5th Annual Draft Ranking (AKA "Official Draft Thread: Part VIII")

[DousedInOil]

Originally Posted by DousedInOil

The world was changed forever that day. At the time, the young boy had no idea what he had done. After all, it was a quiet Wednesday and the night sky had already risen. Yet, our hero knew nowlimits. He continued to forge onward to this moment... the moment when he released his draft rankings. That young boy is now a man... a man they call "DousedInOil".

I know that everyone has been waiting for my draft rankings (pretty much the highlight of the year ), so I thought I would release this bad boy sooner than later. This is MUCH sooner than I normally do. I figure it will give me more street cred haha. I also am working on rounding out 60 players with full bios rather than just rankings. I would also like to post up a mock draft in the future so make sure you check before for new information all the time! Please keep in mind that I am not a full-time scout and given my haste, I probably have oodles of spelling mistakes. I appreciate all input and enjoy the read!

Draft Overview

Overall, this draft reminds me of the 2008 draft. It has a huge focus on defence but lacks CHL offensive forwards. Like 2008, the blueline itself could see as many as 15 defencemen drafted inside the first round. It's not often that you are drafting defencemen around the 40 mark that have a very good chance to be a top 4 defenceman at the NHL level. It is also a draft that has players like Brett Kulak and Nicolas Walters, Travis Brown, and Cody Corbett in the third round. I don't think it will be better than the 2008 draft for defencemen but it could end up being just as good. That says a lot for a draft that displayed current NHL stars Drew Doughty, Alex Pietrangelo, Erik Karlsson, Tyler Myers, Jake Gardiner, John Carlson, Michael Del Zotto, and Zach Bogosian.

On the forward front, its not exactly like 2008 had a bunch of forwards that have contributed at the NHL level. Nikita Filatov, Mikkel Boedker, Joshua Bailey, Kyle Beach, Zach Boychuk and Joe Colborne were all drafted in the top 20. Really, only Steven Stamkos, Colin Wilson and Cody Hodgson have lived up to expectations. Steven Stamkos aside, this draft actually has more forwards that should make a a difference at the NHL level. Nail Yakupov, Mikhail Grigorkenko, Filip Forsberg and Alex Galchenyuk all have game breaking ability. Then their is a second tier of forwards that include Radek Faksa, Sebesatien Collberg, Pontus Aberg, Teuvo Teravainen and Brendan Gaunce. It then has a bunch of good character powerforwards in Scott Laughton, Scott Kosmachuk, Jarrod Maidens, Stefan Matteau, Nic Kerdiles, Tom Wilson and Henrik Samuelsson. It doesn't have as many skilled top end guys as most drafts, but has a lot of soon to be reliable NHLers.

The goaltenders are probably the best ive seen in a while. As good as Jacob Markstrom, Jake Allen, and Chet Pickard are, I think this years crop is better. Oscar Dansk, Andrei Vasilevski, and Malcom Subban are capable of surpassing them while guys like Driedger, Andrei Makarov, Matt Murray, Brandon Whitney and Jon Gilles could all pan out as well.

Scouting Philosophy & Disclaimers

1. Comparisons: I'm not a huge fan of comparing players for two reasons. One, each player styles their game after a bunch of other different players. Just because a guy models his game after someone, doesn't mean that he is a carbon copy. Still, it gives the average fan a very broad look of what style of player you are looking at. If a player is being compared to Scott Niedermayer, it doesn't mean he will be the next Niedermayer. It just means that they play a similar style. Secondly, just because something is similar between players, doesn't mean that everything is similar between players. If I were to compare Matt Dumba to PK Subban, it is only limiited to his style of game. It doesn't mean that he has character issues like Subban does.

2. Projections: I tend to focus on how good a player is projected to be in a few years time rather than how good they are right now. I would rather draft a player that has shown proven in their development rather than a player that has peaked physically and won't be able to translate their game to the NHL level. Although this might seem like a simple point, it one that is often overlooked. Scouts tend to fall in love with those gritty players that have size and toughness but lack NHL skill. If I think two players are similar, I take the player that has better offensive instincts. A player can learn defense a lot easier than they can learn offense. Not that its easy to learn defense but I would rather have a guy that I have to control rather than a kid I have to motivate. If a player is pegged as a third line checker, he would have to have very little risk in his game to be considered above a guy who is projected to be a top 6 scorer.

3. Understanding Fallacies: One major fallacy that scouts have is basing their decisions on prior drafts and rankings. They say something like "Nikita Filatov was drafted 6th overall and didn't pan out. Theirs no way I take a Russian in the top 10" yet other highly touted Russian have been taken inside the top like like Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuck. On the flip side, lots of non-russian players have busted. Yes, Russians can go back to Russia but saying they are a bust because they are Russian is just simply not true.

4. Best Player Available: I always found this to be a term that people use in false dilemmas. They try and polarize BPA from need. Rather, team dynamics, depth charts systems, mentors, etc all play important parts of a kids development. Some players play better under different situations. Now clearly, you don't pass on a guy you feel is on a completely different level. I would be furious if we passed on Evgeni Malkin for Cam Barker. Clearly Malkin is the better player. Having said that, I think its unfair to compare Grigorenko with Malkin and Murray with Barker. Murray doesn't have the character issues that Barker has and Grigorenko isn't as good as Malkin. Teams have been drafting much more on need as of late but shouldn't do so when guys start to fall of the gap is significant. Obviously everyones perception of gaps is different so BPA seems to be somewhat subjective.

5. Playoffs: One of the biggest mistakes scouts make is the emphasis on playoffs. I'm not saying that they aren't a good measuring stick but they aren't the be all end all. The fact is many players are taken high in their draft year to teams that are at the bottom of the league. I mean look at Edmonton, we have a ton of talent that hasn't made the playoffs. Would you take Zack Kassian over Taylor Hall because he is going to the playoffs? Obviously not. Also, the sample size of playoff games for most teams is incredibly small. What if that playe just doesnt match up well against the other team? I think scouts are often late to the show for some players (fail to watch them all year) and their basis is entirely on playoff production.

2011: http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/sh...d.php?t=915727
2010: http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=780117
2009: Still trying to locate haha
2008: http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=522745

1. Nail Yakupov: Right Winger Height: 5'11" Weight: 190lbs Born: October 6th, 1993 Birthplace: Nizhnekamsk, Russia Sarnia Sting (OHL): 42GP 31G 38A 69P, +15, 30PIM NHL Comparable: Pavel Bure Projection: Franchise Winger The Skinny: Nail Yakupov is just on a completely different level than the rest of the prospects in this years draft. He is the epitome of an offensive dynamo and the best pure goalscorer I've seen since Sarnia's Steven Stamkos. Despite being held out of the lineup for most of this year, Yakupov put up an astonishing 31 goals and at times projected to be over the 2PPG mark. As a 17 year old last year, Yakupov put up 49 goals and 101 points in just 62 games played. He is an elite offensive talent with gamebreaking ability that a team just simply cant pass over. Yakupov can just simply walk into the offensive zone, release his world class shot and get it through defencemen and goaltenders. He oozes offensive creativity and his shot is just unreal. He has speed to burn and attacks the net with ease. Scouts shouldn't be scared off by the Russian factor with Yakupov. He is already showed his commitment but playing in the CHL the past two years and has a tremendous work ethic. Unlike previous Russian scares, he doesn't just have the offensive ability, he has the desire to be the best. I don't see anything keeping him out of the NHL next season and producing. Obviously concussion and injury issues kept him from producing at 100% which is the scary thing. That is, considering how well he has played despite playing through them. If a team passes on Yakupov it won't be because of his ability or because he is russian- it will be because of injury concerns. Another concern some scouts have his ability to play both sides of the ice. He plays a physical game but can be lazy at times in his own zone. Having said that, he isn't terrible in his own zone. Considering he was only -2 on a team that saw forwards with -32, -25, -24, -21 and -20 its actually not all that worrisome. I think anyone would be crazy to pass over this kid. He can play physical, throw big hits, score goals and even come up with the best goal celebrations. He also brings a lot of emotion to the game. He might come off as cocky or arrogant but really he is very mature on and off the ice. I think Yakupovs playmaking abilities and vision are also underrated. He can see open guys but has a shoot first mentality. Their is no hesitation in his game and that split-second decision making makes him hard to keep up with. He has everything in his game with just absolutely sick ability. Anytime someone beats Stamkos' records you know he is going to be good. TSN: 1st CSS: 1st NA ISS: 1st THN: 1st CB: 1st NA http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=619698 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=627319 http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=169939 http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/N...761/story.html http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...lieu_Aug13.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Nov5.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-nail-yakupov/ http://dansallows.com/interview-nail-yakupov/

2. Mikhail Grigorenko: LH Center Height: 6'3" Weight: 200lbs Born: May 16th, 1994 Birthplace: Khabarovsk, RUS Quebec Remparts (QMJHL): 59GP 40G 45A 85P, +35, 19PIM NHL Comparable: Evgeni Malkin Projection: Franchise Center The Skinny: Is it possible that Grigorenko is better than Yakupov? Sure, but I still pick Yakupov every day of the week. Even though Grigorenko is much younger than Yakupov, he still has a considerable amout to work on to become an NHL professional. Obviously the two are completely different types of players. Grigorenko is that younger, lanky center with tremendous playmaking ability. He makes NHL passes to his teammates standing beside the open net, and they don't even realize it. He makes guys around him better and when he decides to play the game, he absolutely dominates his opposition. Mikhail has sick hands, a big frame, is pretty fast for a big guy and has the ability to score from all the different areas of the ice. He isn't as explosive as Yakupov but you can't discount the only guy that has scored 40 goals this year amongst draft eligible players. He is an offensive dynamo like Nail, but not nearly as flashy. The thing that I think that really seperates Grigorenko from the rest of the group is how quickly he was able to pick up English and how easily he dominated the QMJHL in his rookie year. At years their were even questions about him "slacking" because of the quality of competition and the lack of physical play in the league. His 19PIM suggest he isn't overly physical but he is capable of taking hits. Last I checked, Joe Thornton and Vincent Lecavalier aren't really physical either. I think he has the vision, talent, hockey IQ and anticipation to be an offensive star at the NHL level. He can protect the puck, has a huge reach and can hold onto the puck to make plays. Although its probably more realistic to assume that he will "just" be a first line center and not a "franchise" center, being "just" a first line center is good enough for most teams. Players like Grigorenko simply don't come along very often and guys with size tend to bite scouts in the ass. TSN: 12th CSS: 3rd NA ISS: 4th THN: 3rd CB: 20th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=623059 http://www.sportsnet.ca/video/404162...n-with-Yakupov http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...down_Nov19.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...enko_Feb25.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile...il-grigorenko/ http://thehockeywriters.com/mikhail-...iens-best-bet/

3. Matt Dumba: RH Defence Height: 6'0" Weight: 183lbs Born: July 25th, 1994 Birthplace: Calgary, AB Red Deer Rebels (WHL): 69GP 20G 37A 57P, -6, 67PIM NHL Comparable: PK Subban / Ray Bourque / Dion Phaneuf Projection: Franchise Defenceman Favourite Team: Calgary Flames The Skinny: I've been gushing over this kid every since I started watching RNH play with the Red Deer Rebels in his draft year. Matt Dumba is a difference maker ever shift he is on the ice. He throws big hits, beats forchecking forwards, block shots and gets his absolute cannon away from the point. The dynamic offensive defenceman adds that puck moving ability and puck rushing skills that other slower defencemen wish they could do. He brings emotion, good decision making, puck moving qualities, leadership, grit, speed, vision and character. I absolutely love this kid and the style of game he plays. I understand he might not be as polished or as good defensively as Ryan Murray but if you are drafting in the top 5 and looking for a difference maker that you are going to notice every night- its Matt Dumba. Having said that, some scouts don't like defencemen that are noticeable. Rather, they like those stay at home defensive defencemen that take care of their own zone. Dumba definitely seems like a "love him, hate him" type of prospect. He isn't a big bruising defenceman and can't push around bigger NHL forwards. He is an offensive first guy that can be caught out of position from throwing big hits. Having said that, the new NHL has gone a different direction and players like Dumba will not only put up numbers, they will be stars at the NHL level. I think it's much easier to find a solid defensive defenceman that can move the puck in later rounds than it is to find an offensive dynamo like Dumba. Players like Dumba don't come around often. Matt captained Team Canada's Ivan Hlinka gold medal winning and is almost a full year younger than Ryan Murray. Consider the Dumba was in a much stronger conference with more teams in the WHL, it wasn't surprising to see Murray's Silvertips make the playoffs despite having 16 more points in the standings. One statistics that really stands out his 20 goals. It's not very often a WHL defenceman scores 20 in his draft year. Comparing him to other top WHL draftees: Bouwmeester scored 11, Phaneuf with 16, Myers with 6 and Cowen with 7. Dumba also finished 6th in the WHL scoring by a defenceman despite being 19th in the league in scoring on the lowest scoring in the Eastern Conference. TSN: 6th CSS: 11th NA ISS: 8th THN: 5th CB: 2nd http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...umba_Oct25.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Dec3.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...nhart_Feb4.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-mathew-dumba/ http://whl.ca/video/index/id/ffab0ac...a76f0760eef6a2 http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...e-ryan-murray/ http://watch.tsn.ca/draftcentre/#clip537061 http://thehockeywriters.com/matt-dum...outing-report/ http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...ult-of-hockey/

4. Alex Galchenyuk: LH Center Height: 6'1" Weight: 197lbs Born: February 12th, 1994 Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI Sarnia Sting (OHL): 2GP 0G 0A 2P, -4, 0PIM NHL Comparable: Marian Hossa Projection: First Line Center The Skinny: I am a huge fan of Alex. I think he has a very good chance of going as high as 2nd or 3rd in this years draft. Anyone who watches him knows that he is capable of producing offensive numbers even without Nail Yakupov. He can control the puck, is an excellent skater with long strides, has unbelieveable vision and knows exactly where to go on the ice. Galchenyuk handles the puck really well and have offensive instincts that you just can't teach. You wouldn't think that a guy with his skillset would also have the size at 6'2". Alex also shows a lot of leadership, character, and works hard defensively. Really, "Gally" doesn't have a whole lot of weaknesses in his game. He has the potential to control and dominate a game... when he is healthy. Galchenyuk missed practically the entire season this year and it has scared off a few scouts. Not because his surgery was unsuccessful but because he missed an entire year of development. He needs to get bigger and stronger to be dominate at the NHL level, but I wouldn't be surprised if he is a player that jumps into the NHL as soon as next year. I still think he would benefit from another year in the CHL but he is definitely a top 10 guy this fall. He plays such a good puck possession game and is hard to knock off the puck. He can pick up the puck in the defensive zone, rush the puck all the way through 3 players and roof the puck on an opposing goaltender. Big skilled playmkaing centers always tend to be higher up on teams draft rankings in June. Even though he is a playmaker, he has a very hard and accurate shot that allows him to finish plays almost as well as he sets them up. Galchenyuk is a player that teams can build around but can also slide into that elite number 2 center if the team selecting already has a true number one center. I actually think he is better defensively than Grigorenko at this point and possesses a much more dynamic and flashy game than Grigorenko. He isn't as patience with the puck and isn't quite as big as Girgorenko but he's not far off. Given that he was drafted 1st overall in the OHL draft and was born in Milwaukee, teams might not be as scared off as the other Russian players. He has no intention of representing Russia internationally continuously represents the U.S.A. internationally. TSN: 5th CSS: 3rd NA ISS: 14th THN: 7th CB: 4th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=622031 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...lieu_Aug13.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...enyuk_Oct8.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Nov5.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-alex-galchenyuk/ http://dansallows.com/interview-alex-galchenyuk/ http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=7504 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5tWK459ZXo http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opini...635/story.html

5. Ryan Murray: LH Defence Height: 6'1" Weight: 205lbs Born: September 27th, 1993 Birthplace: White City, SK Everett Silvertips (WHL): 46GP 9G 22A 31P, +0, 31PIM NHL Comparable: Duncan Keith Projection: Franchise Defenceman The Skinny: Murray is a lead by example captain that is never caught out of position. He is an anchor on the backend and is easily the best defence first defenceman in the draft. Ryan is a silky smooth defenceman that makes an excellent first pass and just oozes patience with the puck. He doesn't seem to ever panic with the puck and always makes the right play. Murray is capable of breaking the cycle down low and can be invaulable for a teams transition game. He doesn't have very many holes in his games and looks years ahead of his teamates with the level of maturity he displays. The kid is a workhorse. I love this kids game and how he thinks the game. I could see Ryan taken as high as first overall if the team likes him enough. Given that the Edmonton Oilers are bleeding goals, I would imagine that he is on their radar. He will be an absolute stud for any team drafting early and bring leadership into any lockerroom. Having said that, I do think that he is a guy that might not have as much potential as other top 10 picks. He is a guy that could have been a 2011 draftee if he was a few weeks older. He has already physically matured for the most part. I don't even think he is the best defenceman in this years draft, even though I have heard that some scouts think he is the best defenceman drafted in the past 10 years. That is high praise but one that I think its full with high expectations. Murray may never be that offensive defenceman at the NHL level and it could scare teams off for such an early selection. He is a very safe pick and I hope he proves me wrong. Although scouts have questioned his offensive ability, thats not to say he is strictly a defensive defenceman. He moves the puck well and can join the rush. He is a good two-way defenceman that doesn't sacrifice defence for good offence. Still, he hasn't had a chance to show what he is capable of. Playing for an Everett Silvertips team that only scored 185 goals, he spent most of the time in his own zone against other teams best players. He did an amazing job breaking even in terms of plus-minus despite being on a team that let in 83 more goals than they scored. He won't generally "wow" you night in night out, but is an absolute beast that is capable of logging over 30 minutes a night. Teams win games with guys like Murray but is he worth taking in the top 3? TSN: 2nd CSS: 2nd NA ISS: 3rd THN: 4th CB: 13th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=616744 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...urray_Aug2.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...rray_Dec13.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...lean_Dec17.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-ryan-murray/ http://dansallows.com/interview-ryan-murray/

6. Filip Forsberg: Left Winger Height: 6'2" Weight: 181lbs Born: August 13th, 1994 Birthplace: Östervåla, SWE Leksands (Allsvenskan): 43GP 8G 9A 17P, +3, 33PIM NHL Comparable: Marian Hossa Projection: First Line Winger The Skinny: To be honest, I don't know if Forsberg could have done a whole lot to increase his stock might higher this year without dominating his league. When you are playing against the level of competition that he is, you pretty much have to. He put up great numbers last year for Leksand J20 but hasn't impressed statisically in the Allsvenskan. Even draft eligible forward Emil Lundberg has put up more points at the same league but isn't even considered as a first round pick. I understand that he hasn't seen the icetime or had the opportunity that many other players have had, but when it comes to drafting a top 5 player it raises development questions. Maybe im just being to cautious because everything that I have seen from Forsberg has impressed me. It is obvious that Forsberg sees and thinks the game at the highest level and has the sicks hands to go with it. He has a huge frame forward a forward and is reliable in his own zone. I mean, he did after all he win gold with his WJC team and can adapt to any role. He plays that physical powerforward role well and players that have that combination of size, skill and intelligence don't have to wait long at the draft. Forsberg is a goalscorer with tremendous plamaking abilities. He has a strong shot and makes crisp passes. He is surprisingly elusive for a bigger guy, can anticipate where to go on the ice and find the open areas, and already has an NHL wrister. Filip could use some work on his speed (although he isn't slow by any means) but does possess a very strong work ethic. He can also be lazy at times and needs to make sure he puts up a consistent effort in the defensive zone. Forsberg is the complete package and will likely land on a teams first line for many years to come. I think anyone drafting this late would be fortunate enough to grab him but he is still a step behind Yakupov and Grigorenko offensively. He can crash the net, work the boards and extremely good at protecting the puck down low. He's physical and can lay the body but isn't a crash and banger. Filip has the shoot first mentality that scouts love and isn't afraid to go into the dirt areas to score goals. The potential on Forsberg if through the roof at this point. TSN: 3rd CSS: 1st EU ISS: 2nd THN: 2nd CB: 7th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...tton_Aug16.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Dec3.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-filip-forsberg/ http://dansallows.com/interview-filip-forsberg/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcPlRac--z4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbNXCTUHoi4

7. Jacob Trouba: RH Defence Height: 6'2" Weight: 193lbs Born: February 26th, 1994 Birthplace: Rochester, MN USNTDP Juniors (USHL): 22GP 4G 14A 18P, +8, 35PIM NHL Comparable: Shea Weber / Jack Johnson Projection: Top Pairing Defenceman The Skinny: Trouba is another defencemen that I have been gushing over for a while. He is the total package on the blue line and could have even rivaled Murray if he was receiving more exposure. Playing for the USNTDP could have a huge effect on the team drafting him. He is already comitted to University of Michigan and teams will have to wait for him to develop. He could very well be the best of the bunch but impatient teams might pass over the big, physical offensive defenceman. I love that he is going to the Wolverines and will develop properly. Hes the type of offensive defenceman that takes care of his own zone first and hits his forwards with the breakout pass. Rather, his offensive game doesn't take away from his defence and should translate to the NHL very well. The thing I love most about Trouba is his character. He is a defenceman that can come onto a team as the youngest guy on the roster and take a leadership role. Jacob is a very mature and professional individual with his head on his shoulders. He does all the little things on the ice that teams need to win hockey games and is an absolute beast to play against. He is probably the toughest and most complete defenceman in the top 15 and can absolutely destroy forwards with his open ice hits. He doesn't look for the big hit as much as Matthew Dumba but when he hits you can tell that it hurts. He has a good quick stick, an absolute cannon of a slap shot, good gap control and is a slick skater. He has a good first pass and can skate with the puck under pressure if need be. He is also very agile for a big man and uses it to his advantage. Trouba is very good positionally and makes smart decision on the ice. Internationally, Jacob looked like the best defenceman at the WJC for team USA. He has also represented his country and the U-17's and U-18's and done quite well. TSN: 9th CSS: 9th NA ISS: 5th THN: 9th CB: 12th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...uba_Sept27.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...lean_Dec17.mp3 http://thehockeywriters.com/jacob-tr...spect-profile/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FIuy2hoZ_s http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...ob-Trouba.html http://reelhockeyscouting.com/2011/1...8-usa-18-ushl/ http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=5383

8. Morgan Rielly: LH Defence Height: 6'0" Weight: 197lbs Born: March 9th, 1994 Birthplace: Vancouver, BC Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL): 18GP 3G 15A 18P, +6, 2PIM NHL Comparable: Drew Doughty / Duncan Keith Projection: Top Pairing Defenceman The Skinny: Depending on what scouting service you look at, Rielly is as high as 5 on some lists and outside the top 10 on others. The kids just oozes potential and might have the best vision from any defenceman in the draft. He can see a forward a mile away and hit him with a breakout pass right on the tape. He shows a lot of poise with the puck and has exceptional wheels. He can sakte by checking forwards and rush the puck end to end. He doesn't have the explosiveness that Dumba has in his skating but he is a better playmaker from his own blueline. Rielly has been compared to a "chess player" that knows how the play is going to break down before he even makes the pass. Having said that, he still needs to work on his physical play and handling larger bodies in fron the net. He has a good quick stick and uses his positioning and speed to help out defensively. He isn't going to knock guys over but he can usually outsmart them. Given that moosejaw is a team that prides itself in being a hard team to play against and put defence first, im not too concerned. Offensively he was good enough to be a point per game player in the WHL and could run a powerplay at the NHL level. Clearly, Moosejaw felt confident in his abilities selecting him above both Matt Dumba and Griffin Reinhart in the 2009 WHL bantam draft. He is probably the most dynamic defenceman in the draft. When he is on his game, he is usually the best player on the ice. He has worked hard on his defensive side of the game and putting on some weight from what I have seen. Yet, suffering a knee injury this year could hurt his stock more than others. Defencemen as talented as Rielly are hard to come by but his torn ACL could really hinder his mobility. It will also be interesting to see if he is selected before or after his old defensive partner and friend Griffin Reinhart. TSN: 8th CSS: 5th NA ISS: 7th THN: 6th CB: 3rd http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...elly_Oct22.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-morgan-rielly/ http://watch.tsn.ca/draftcentre/#clip542575 http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...an-Rielly.html http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.ca/2...rst-round.html http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/20...an-rielly.html

9. Griffin Reinhart: LH Defence Height: 6'4" Weight: 202lbs Born: January 24th, 1994 Birthplace: Vancouver, BC Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL): 58GP 12G 24A 36P, +23, 38PIM NHL Comparable: Shea Weber Projection: Top Pairing Defenceman Favourite Team: Vancouver Canucks The Skinny: Griffin Reinhart will be the highest player drafted from the Edmonton Oil Kings in modern franchise history. He has that unique package of size, skill, grit and leadership that all teams fall in love with. Although some have questioned his offensive ability and work ethic, he is misunderstood at times. First, Griffin is a defensive defenceman that plays in all situations and is the guy that is out their to protect a one goal lead with a minute left in the game. Second, he conserves his energy and uses his positioning so that he can log more minutes and be responsible defensively. He can lay out the big hit or push over forwards if need be but isn't going to cost his team because of it. Having said all that, he has put up impressive numbers for a defence first player. The two-way defenceman looks extremely poised and mature on the ice. Griffin moves the puck very well, gets into shooting lanes and possesses a cannon himself. He might be the most physically mature defenceman in the draft and could even jump into the NHL as early as next year. Obviously you can see the potential in Reinhart and how much he can grow despite all of his strengths. I remember scouts saying that Tyler Myers was the same way at the WHL level and could see Reinhart adapating his game to be more aggressive at the NHL level. I think he offensive game still needs some work but he does a lot of things you normally don't see in your typical defensive defenceman. He can patroll opposing bluelines to keep pucks in, can make that accurate first pass, has excellent vision and great hand-eye coordination. He is also a huge part of an Edmonton Oil Kings team that is likely to take the WHL title an entire year before they were expected to compete. I would love to see Edmonton somehow grab another first round pick to grab this kid. TSN: 4th CSS: 10th NA ISS: 6th THN: 8th CB: 6th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=619255 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...nhart_Feb4.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-griffin-reinhart/ http://watch.tsn.ca/draftcentre/#clip646275 http://thehockeywriters.com/griffin-...spect-profile/ http://oilers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=620460 http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.ph...rt_mid-season/ http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp8258

10. Cody Ceci: RH Defence Height: 6'4" Weight: 207lbs Born: December 21st, 1993 Birthplace: Orleans, ONT Ottawa 67's (OHL): 64GP 17G 43A 60P, +21, 14PIM NHL Comparable: Ed Jovanovski / Mark Pysyk / Cody Franson Projection: Top Pairing Defenceman Favourite Movie: Hot Rod Favourite Team: Ottawa Senators The Skinny: Players like Cody Ceci are always interesting on draft day. I remember when scouts said the same thing about Michael Del Zotto and now he is looking like a steal for the New York Rangers. Ceci is an offensive first defenceman that tends to have all the tools to be dominating but generally leaves you wanting more on the defensive side of the game. Ceci still needs to work on his decision making, skating and physicality in order to be a go to guy on the back end but his offensive side of the game cannot be ignored. Ceci leads all defencemen in the 2012 draft in terms of scoring from the backend. Ceci put up almost a point per game in the OHL while maintaining a plus 21 rating with the 67's. Ceci can powerplay a quarterback and makes a great first pass out of his zone. He really impressed at the WJC but was surprisingingly held off the team. Next year he should be a lock for the team, that is if he doesn't make the jump right to the NHL. I think his statistics are bit inflated playing with 100 point OHL star Tyler Toffoli, 90 point winger Shane Prince and up and coming top 10 pick in the 2013 draft Sean Monahan. I could see him playing a similar role with an offensive team at the NHL level a team that lacks those offensive stars might expose his defensive side. I think his defensive side of the game will come around. He has a long reach, usually makes the right play with the puck and can still work on his skating to keep up with speedy forwards. He doesn't panic with the puck and generally makes the right play. His size wants you to see him play a physical game but you are never going to get that with Ceci. On a side note, it is also interesting that he is the son of a former CFL Parri Ceci who played for the Calgary Stampeders. His mother was also a figure skater that got him into hockey and he went from there. He obviously has great bloodlines and a lot of talent. TSN: 14th CSS: 6th NA ISS: 10th THN: 10th CB: 11th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea..._Ceci_Aug6.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Ceci_Dec13.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-cody-ceci/ http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...d_off_the_ice/ http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...ard-trajectory http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.ca/2...cody-ceci.html http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp2352

11. Radek Faksa: LH Center Height: 6'3" Weight: 202lbs Born: January 9th, 1994 Birthplace: Opava, CZE Kitchener Rangers (OHL): 62GP 29G 38A 67P, +19, 47PIM NHL Comparable: Martin Havlat / Joe Thornton Projection: Second Line Center Favourite Team: Edmonton Oilers The Skinny: Radek Faksa is a huge 6'3" czech center that excells at playing a good two-way game at the OHL level. In his first NHL season, Faksa has looked great playing for the Kitchner Rangers this season. For a team that produced Mike Richards and Gabriel Landeskog, Faksa will definitely join an elite group on draft day. He is arguably the 4th or 5th best forwards in this years draft and could go much higher if a team is looking for offence. The only draft eligible forwards that have scored aboved a point per game this year are Yakupov, Grigorenko and Faksa. Faksa is a very humble player that has already put up a point per game in his first season in the CHL. He certainly has the frame that NHL scouts to favor on draft day, much like Ryan Johansen and Mark Schiefele. He might not be as good offensively as Johansen, but he definitely pays attention to detail and could be a more effective second line center. He can dish out and take big hits, battle along the boards, and plays with a bit of an edge. He still needs to bulk up in order to fill out his massive frame but could be a beast when he does. He isn't as tenacious or gritty as other players in this draft, but he has elite level hands and playmaking ability. Faksa is a quick guy for his size but doesn't have blazing speed like Galchenyuk does. Rather, he uses his size better for defensive situations and is hard to match up against. He also needs to work on his stickhandling through traffic and just improving overall. He doens't have a whole lot of bust potential but has a lot of offensive instincts. He also didn't have the greatest WJC playing against other teams top lines and without any sort of support from the czech team. I would like to see what he is capable with elite level players. He won't be the guy to go to offensively but would be an excellent complimentary center. I could see a team like Calgary targetting him to play alongside Iginla and replace Jokinen. TSN: 11th CSS: 7th NA ISS: 16th THN: 11th CB: 17th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=615482 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Dec3.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-radek-faksa/ http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...zech_republic/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37RR_...layer_embedded http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...t-track-to-nhl http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrh...090550483.html http://thehockeywriters.com/radek-fa...-up-the-ranks/ http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrh...134632472.html

12. Brendan Gaunce: LH Center Height: 6'2" Weight: 210lbs Born: March 25th, 1994 Birthplace: Markham, ONT Belleville Bulls (OHL): 68GP 28G 40A 68P, +4, 68PIM NHL Comparable: Mark McNeil Projection: Second Line Center The Skinny: The younger brother of Colorado prospect Cameron Gaunce, I highly doubt Brendan joins his brother Cameron in Denver. At this point, he projects to be drafted much higher than his brother was at 50th overall in the 2008 draft. Let me put it this way, if Mark Scheifele can go as high as 7th, I wouldn't be surprised if Gaunce cracks the top 10. At this point I like Gaunce more than Scheifele but still think he has a lot to work on in order to be an NHL player. He can put up offensive numbers but needs to work on his stickhandling and creativity to be successful at the NHL level. With that in mind, it's easy to see why teams fall in love with this kid. He can hit, he can fight and brings a great deal of leadership and character to a dressing room. Guance possesses a heavy shot, good vision, and can. I still think he has more offence than his totals suggest. He hasn't had the supporting cast to really demonstrate all of his abilities and tends to shine playing with better players. He isn't that skilled guy that produces on the powerplay regardless of how good the rest of his team is. Rather, he is a team player that thinks the game at a high level. Guance can also play a defensive role and it shows with his +4 rating playing against other teams top lines. Brendan is also capable of killing penalties and has scored 4 shorthanded goals this year as well. As a 15 year old, he scored 55 goals and 93 assists in 86 games as captain of the Markham Waxers (That has developed players like Steven Stamkos, Michael Del Zotto and Cody Hodgson). As a 16 year old, his totals may not jump out just scoring 36 points in 65 games as a rookie. Still, those numbers were good enough to rank him 3rd on the Bulls in team scoring. This year, he is leading the bulls by a fair margin (17 points ahead of Austen Brassard) and hasn't had the supporting cast. He creates a lot of room for his teammates and has a style of game that should transition well to the NHL. If Brendan continues to work on his offensive game, skating and consistency he will be a force at the NHL level. TSN: 20th CSS: 13th NA ISS: 11th THN: 17th CB: 38th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=617865 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...unce_Nov22.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-brendan-gaunce/ http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...leville_bulls/ http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...mplete_player/ http://www.thestar.com/sports/articl...yond-his-years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHJLxK0u_V4 http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.ca/2...an-gaunce.html

13. Matt Finn: LH Defence Height: 6'0" Weight: 195lbs Born: February 24th, 1994 Birthplace: Toronto, ON Guelph Storm (OHL): 61GP 10G 38A 48P, -13, 58PIM NHL Comparable: Drew Doughty Projection: Top Pairing Defenceman Favourite Team: Toronto Maple Leafs The Skinny: Not an overly big defenceman, Finn is a two-way puck moving defenceman that can log a lot of minutes against other teams top lines. He has adapated to a new role with the Guelph Storm and can play the penalty kill, even strength and powerplay. Matt has elite level hockey sense and intelligence. Between that and his professional approach and his uncanny ability to continue to improve, I wouldn't be surprised if teams take Finn much earlier. Offense aside, Finn is better known for his defensive game. Yet, he has also put up high enough numbers that lead his team's defence in points. His totals were also good enough for 6th in scoring by a defenceman in the OHL. So far, Matt has shown a lot of maturity on and off the ice and was rewarded by being named an assistant captain with the Storm. His leadership is clearly evident and he knows what it takes to be successful. This was best evident with his on-ice conditioning. Like his role model (Drew Doughty) in his draft year, one of the biggest knocks on Finn was his lack of conditioning. To his credit, Finn turned his biggest weakness into one of his greatest strengths last summer. Matt really committed himself to his conditioning and looks like a new player this year because of it. Guelp has pumped out NHL talent like Drew Doughty, Dan Girardi, and Fedor Tyutin. I don't see Finn an exception at this point. A team will likely draft him in the middle of the first round and be happy with their selection. He skates the puck out of his zone very well, can run a powerplay and shoots the puck well from the point. Having said that, scouts may be weary of taking a player of his size so early in the draft. I think the way he thinks the game and the way he can elevate his game will make up for any size issues he may have. A suprising statistic with Finn, is that he put up only 2 less points in 3 more games than Doughty did in his draft year. TSN: 21st CSS: 16th NA ISS: 18th THN: 18th CB: 9th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Finn_Mar13.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-matt-finn/ http://www.guelphstorm.com/article/p...port-matt-finn http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp3449 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyi97RYfvR8

14. Derrick Pouliot: LH Defence Height: 6'0" Weight: 192lbs Born: January 16th, 1994 Birthplace: Weyburn, SASK Portland Winterhawks (WHL): 72GP 10G 46A 56P, +15, 79PIM NHL Comparable: Nick Leddy / Brian Campbell Projection: Top Pairing Defenceman The Skinny: The 5th member of the WHL's "Big 5" on the blueline, Pouliot is an exciting prospect that has been putting up impressive numbers on the powerhouse Portland Winterhawks. At this point in his career, he is looking better than former first round pick Joe Morrow at the same age. I would hope so, given that he was drafted 1st overall by the winterhawks in the 2009 WHL Bantam draft. Its easy to see why, as Pouliot might have the best vision from any defenceman on the blueline. He is capable of rushing the puck up the ice and can move the puck extremely well. He can quarterback a powerplay, provide leadership and makes a tremendous first pass. Sometimes Pouliot tends to be a bit too cute and beat players one-on-one rather than making the smart and safe play. He can play a bit to casual at times and needs to work on decision making if he wants to be an anchor at the NHL level. He also needs to bulk up so he can battle trough checks and handle big powerful forwads down low. He isn't a beast defensively and that can turn off some scouts, but his offensive instincts are too good to pass on. He can work on his defensive game as he gets bigger and stronger. When Pouliot is confident and playing at the top of his game, he can look like the best player on the ice. At this years top prospect game, Derrick looked like the most explosive defenceman in the game. He can hit players at full speed with his passes and is capable of dekeing out forwards to make the play. I wouldn't be surprised if a team likes him enough to select him within the top 10 but right now he is a safe pick between 10-15. It is also worth noting that before Morrow came back down from the Pittsburgh camp, he was a point per game player. If he was the go to guy on the winterhawks, he could have had another 20 points. TSN: 17th CSS: 12th NA ISS: 22nd THN: 13th CB: 18th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...iot_Sept17.mp3 http://hockeyprospect.com/index.php/...k-pouliot.html http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/20...k-pouliot.html http://hockeynow.ca/posts/5295-derri...d-winter-hawks http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420941

15. Zemgus Girgensons: LH Center Height: 6'2" Weight: 198lbs Born: January 5th, 1994 Birthplace: Riga, LAT Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL): 45GP 20G 27A 47P, +15, 63PIM NHL Comparable: Ryan Kesler / Jonathan Toews / Rob Brind'amour Projection: Second Line Center The Skinny: Besides having the best name in the draft, Zemgus Girgensons brings a lot to the table. He is a big, physical, and gritty hard-working forward that will do anything to help his team win. As captain of the Dubuque Fighting Saints, he has show his ability to lead on the ice and compete every shift. He has great vision, a quick shot, is very hard to knock off the puck and good mobility for a guy of his size. Zemgus also has very good hockey sense, has tremendous strength and does all the little things that help teams win hockey games. The biggest knock on Girgensons is that his offensive numbers this years haven't surpassed last years totals. However, scouts have to consider that the previous year he was on the USHL championship winning team. This was a team that had a lot more offense on it and one that Girgensons wasn't relied on as heavily. This year he is putting up the same numbers while getting better defensively and being the go to guy. Zemgus creates chances very time he is on the ice and opens up a lot of ice for his teammates. Girgensons is already one of the most complete players in the draft and has unbelieveable upside. It goes without saying that he should go down as the highest ever drafted Latvian and could be a pioneer for his country. He has a lot of passion for his country and the game. It's hard not to like his potential and is still a relatively safe pick. I don't think he has the offensive potential to be a number one center but is definitely a number 2/3 center that teams win championships win with. TSN: 13th CSS: 18th NA ISS: 24th THN: 16th CB: 16th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea..._Guy_Aug20.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...nsons_Nov1.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Dec3.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-zemgus-girgensons/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7eAgsL6U9M http://hockeyprospect.com/index.php/...irgensons.html http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp3828

16. Sebastian Collberg: Right Winger Height: 5'11" Weight: 176lbs Born: February 23rd, 1994 Birthplace: Mariestad, SWE Frölunda (SEL): 41GP 0G 0A 0P, -8, 2PIM NHL Comparable: Jordan Eberle Projection: Second Line Winger The Skinny: Despite being stuck on Frolunda's fourth line the entire season and averaging 6 minutes a night, Collberg has garnered the attention of NHL scouts with his impressive play internationally. The WJC was a huge opportunity for Collberg to prove himself and didn't have any problem taking advantage of it. Collberg isn't as fast or gritty as his fellow swedish teammate Pontus Aberg, but he is definitely the better playmaker of the two and already has an NHL wrist shot in his arsenal. Collberg is very elusive for a smaller winger and oodles of creativity in his back pocket. I wouldn't say he has a better offensive skillset than Aberg, its just different. He probably has better hands than Aberg and tends to use his teammates better in the offensive zone. On the downside, Collberg isn't as good as Aberg is defensively. This is actually kind of surprising given that he hasn't had the opportunity to play offensive minutes with Frolunda and is being used as an energy forward. He also needs to bulk up if he is going to excell at the NHL level and survive beatings from NHL defenders. Sebastian has a very high hockey sense and tends to make the most of his opportunities. He is patient with the puck can lead to defenders standing still and watching the puck only to see it being pulled through their feet and in the back of the net before they even realize it. Collberg has a lot of flair in his game but has to prove that he can consistently produce offensively. At this point Collberg is a risk/reward prospect that could end up being on a teams first line or being stuck in the minors like Gilbert Brule. Obviously he doesn't have the same issues that Brule has and he has his heads in the shoulders. I think realisitically he is a top 6 forward at the NHL level that could jump onto that first line as a finisher. Still, I think his WJC has been a bit overhyped and he needs to show he can round out his defensive game. His -8, 2PIM and 0 points in the SEL shouldn't hurt him too much, but they aren't going to help either. Sebastian has proven that he can score for Frolunda's junior team and is on a team that generally doesn't believe in playing their youngsters. TSN: 27th CSS: 3rd EU ISS: 13th THN: 14th CB: 27th http://cdcvhl.com/news.php?article=7809 http://www.mynhldraft.com/2012/NHL-D...stian-Collberg http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...in-action.html http://www.allhabs.net/canadiens-pro...tian-collberg/ http://www.nhlmockdraft.org/prospect...tian-collberg/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUumZvYZ3hg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MonKfWrztvg

17. Pontus Aberg: Left Winger Height: 5'11" Weight: 194lbs Born: September 23rd, 1993 Birthplace: Stockholm, SWE Djurgardens (SEL): 47GP 8G 7A 15P, -3, 6PIM NHL Comparable: Mika Zibanejad / Alexander Ovechkin Projection: Second Line Winger The Skinny: Aberg is a very interesting prospect. Like most of the draft class, he has ran into his fair share of injuries this season. Even though Aberg was more highly regarded than Collberg prior to the WJC, he was held out of the tournament due to injury. To make matters worse, when Aberg did come back to play for Djurgardens later in the season, he suffered a concussion. Its really quite a shame since he took the SEL on fire early in the season. Aberg was even on pace to rival Nicklas Backstrom's draft production of 26 points. Aberg worked his way up the lines to the point where he was playing on the first line. He was leading his teams in goals and put up 6 goals and 5 assists for 11 points in just 22 games played. I like a lot of about Aberg's game. He isn't the biggest guy but he conditions himself well and make the most out of his frame. Pontus plays a gritty game and isn't afraid to go into the corners and battle for the puck. He possesses the best wheels of aby Swedish prospect since Paajarvi and an amazing slap shot that just simply beats goaltenders clean. His wrist shot is deadly accurate but not overly heavy. Pontus can beat defenders wide with his speed or use his creativity to deke out other teams. If thats not enough, he is a very hard working player with exceptional vision. He is also strong on the puck and can carry it end to end. Offensively he is very skilled sniper. Having said that, Aberg is better known for his very good two-way forward. He uses his tremendous speed to catch up to opposing forwards and backchecks very hard. He doesn't have the size to be a an elite level checker but he could be a Todd Marchant type on the penalty kill if need be. He is usually a plus player and should have a game that translates very well to the NHL level. Not bad for arguably the best pure goal scorer in the draft behind Yakupov. Having said that, Aberg needs to use his teammates better and work on his passing and playmaking ability to become better offensively. I think he is still adjusting to how much time and space he has on the ice but will always be that shoot first type of player. TSN: 37th CSS: 6th EU ISS: 20th THN: 22nd CB: 33rd http://dansallows.com/player-profile-pontus-aberg/ http://insider.espn.go.com/nhl/blog?...26id%3d7212598 http://hockeyligan.se/artikel/13418/...s-aberg/17512/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNaMhrcMRtM

18. Slater Koekkoek: LH Defence Height: 6'2" Weight: 186lbs Born: February 18th, 1994 Birthplace: Mountain, ON Peterborough Petes (OHL): 26GP 5G 13A 18P, -7, 17PIM NHL Comparable: Erik Johnson / Nicklas Lidstrom Projection: Top Pairing Defenceman The Skinny: Before his injury, Slater Koekoek was considered to be a top 10 pick by a few scouting agencies. He is a tough as nails defenceman that oozes leadership and battles for loose pucks. He is extremely skilled and can play under any situation. He possesses unbelieveable wheels and can join the rush and logs over 25 minutes of icetime any given night. I think the potential is through the roof yet his injury has dropped Koekokek as far as outside the first round. I find it hard to believe that a guy who was on the same level of Morgan Rielly before the injury to fall so far down. With all the injuries that the 2012 draft class has endured, I don't see how it is such a knock on Slater yet everyone else gets of scott free. I don't see how a guy like Craig Button could have him rated 19th in his October rankings but drop him down all the way to 40th in March. His head coach describes Slater as a guy who is a wild mustang. You just let him go and he will show why he is and wants to be the best in hockey. He doesn't like heading off the ice and would play the whole game if the coach let him. He hates to lose and wants to live his dream of playing in the NHL. He is a unique blend of size, skill and character that all teams would love to add to their backend. He is very coachable and has an underratated yet heavy shot. Koekkoek could have had 50 points this year if he wasn't held back with injury. He makes a good first pass and has good decisions with the puck. Obviously this kid is one of my favourite defencemen in this year draft. He can take care of his own zone first and can also jump into the rush. He is incredibly versatile with high offensive potential and great defensive posture. He needs to work on his consistency but is still extremely raw and could be a star. Some nights he does too much for his team but will learn as he gains more experience. Anyone who passes on Koekkoek will be shaking their head next year wondering why we passed over him. TSN: 16th CSS: 23rd NA ISS: 21st THN: 23rd CB: 34th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...koek_Oct15.mp3 http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...-rankings.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWE0ZS-tDuk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84gu78RWsS4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPYpolrQB5k

19. Olli Maatta: LH Defence Height: 6'2" Weight: 202lbs Born: August 22nd, 1994 Birthplace: Jyväskylä, FIN London Knights (OHL): 69GP 5G 27A 32P, +25, 25PIM NHL Comparable: Nicklas Lidstrom / Toni Lydman Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: For whatever reason, Maatta seems to be all over the place in terms of draft rankings. Scouts that base players solely on offensive potential have Maatta outside the first round while other scouting services that preach defence have him inside the top 15. To each his own I guess. Having said that, I have him firmly in the first round. I don't see how scouts can argue with his success this year. Olli Maatta has been an absolute rock on the backend for the London Knights. He has arguably been the Knights best defenceman despite being the youngest guy on the backend. That says a lot considering he is playing with former first rounder Jarred Tinordi and team canada standout Scott Harrington. Maatta has also been an anchor for Finland at any international tournament he has played. He had a few troubles early on adapting to the North American style of game and it showed. Maatta had to adjust to the culture change, language barriers and playing outside his comfort zone. However, Maatta is a great character defenceman that has continuously been better. He has persued his dream of playing in the NHL and he is one step closer playing with the Knights. He has worked on his mobility and offensive side of the game of late and it couldn't have come at a better time. The Knights continue to win and his draft stock keeps rising. The Knights are expected to go far in the OHL playoffs and he is a big part of that team. Maata lead all Kinghts defenceman in his rookie season despite being more of a shutdown defenceman. As for Maatta's style of game, it isn't one that will stand out but it is one that coaches appreciate it. Maatta eats up a lot of minutes and looks good doing so. He has a great deal of patience, looks calm on the ice, makes the smart play and looks comfortable doing so. Maatta is unbelieveably professional and mature for his age. You would think that you were watching a guy who has been playing in the OHL for 3-4 years. He has always looked good playing as a underager and is one of the youngest players in this years draft. He has excellent vision on the ice and will only continue to get better. TSN: 10th CSS: 8th NA ISS: 12th THN: 20th CB: 9th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Dec3.mp3 http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...merica_smooth/ http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...yond-his-years http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...-Forsberg.html http://sports.yahoo.com/juniorhockey...rhockey,wp7641

20. Teuvo Teravainen: Center / Right Winger Height: 5'11" Weight: 185lbs Born: September 11th, 1994 Birthplace: Helsinki, FIN Jokerit (SM-liiga): 40GP 11G 7A 18P, -5, 6PIM NHL Comparable: Valtteri Filppula / Saku Koivu / Patrick Kane Projection: Top Six Forward Favourite Team: Edmonton Oilers The Skinny: The undersized finnish forward could be the first finnish player taken in this years draft. Teravainen has Excellent Vision, unbelievably creative and unpredictable with the puck. He is hard for defenders to contain and can beat opposing teams in a number of different ways. He has worked his way up the lines playing for Jokerit and is now a reliable top 6 forward with the team. Teuvo is playing on the teams first line powerplay and when given the opportunity he put up 12 points in 18 games. He has speed to burn, a very quick first step and high end offensive instincts. He is more of a playmaker with good hands and and underrated shot. His style of game is pro friendly, as he doesn't rely on beating defenders wide. He uses his speed and skill to protect the puck and plays a very mature game for such a young player. Teuvo sees the ice extremely well and always knows where to go on the ice. He is very elusive, makes his teammates better and makes good decisions with the puck. Now his numbers in the SM-liiga aren't overly impressive compared to Mikael Granlund, who was scoring at almost a point per game, Teravainen is one of the youngest players in the 2012 draft. Considering Granlund is probably the best prospect outside the NHL, scouts would be happy if he turns out as good. He might not be as good offensively but he is also a few inches taller than Granlund. Some would argue that at the same age he's a better prospect than Mikael Granlund. The fact that he can also play center (but is being used as a winger) gives him some versatility. On the downside, his simple yet effective style of game raises questions about his overall creativity and flash. I prefer his style of game because I think it translates better. He has also done well for himself internationally at the U-18 Five Nations Cup. Teuvo lead the tournament with six goals and two assists in three games played. He is a special player that could be taken much higher if a team is looking to add that skilled playmaking winger. TSN: 7th CSS: 2nd EU ISS: 9th THN: 12th CB: 5th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...clean_Mar3.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-teuvo-teravainen/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnALQ...ayer_embedded#! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAyH6...ayer_embedded#! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y0wd4iCLf8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu406yrbp78 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMq4DTqlPCo

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21. Dalton Thrower: RH Defenceman Height: 6'0" Weight: 189lbs Born: December 20th, 1993 Birthplace: North Vancouver, BC Saskatoon Blades (WHL): 66GP 18G 36A 54P, -4, 103PIM NHL Comparable: P.K. Subban / Niklas Kronwall Projection: Top Four Defenceman Favourite Team: Vancouver Canucks The Skinny: With a name like "Thrower", I guess you shouldn't be surprised that Dalton doesn't shy away from the tough stuff. Not only does Thrower stand up to anyone dropping the gloves, he usually comes away as the victor. Considering he only comes in at 6'0" thats quite the feat. Thrower even fought man-child Tom Wilson at the top prospect game despite being 4-5 inches shorter. The kid is as tough as nails and a great character guy to have patrolling the backend. The gritty defenceman is also capable of throwing the big hit and getting underneath the other teams skin. As impressive as all of this is, the Thrower boosting doesn't end there. Not only is Dalton a scrappy leader, he is also an offensive catalyst from the backend. By comparison, Thrower scored only two goals and three points less than Dumba. Thats pretty good company. Obviously Dumba is in a defensive system but Throwers ability to run a powerplay shouldn't be overlooked. His 54 points led all Saskatoon defencemen in scoring. Having said all this, Thrower may not even hear his name called in the first round. If Thrower was a couple inches taller, he would be a lock as a top 15 pick in this years NHL entry draft. Still, teams are always scared of taking small defencemen. Ironically, he actually prides himself on his defensive side of the game first and does a good job handling bigger forwards along the boards and in the corners. Thrower also does a good job moving the puck up the ice and has logged 30+ minutes on any given night with the blades. It wouldn't hurt for Dalton to get faster and stronger but in my opinion he doesn't have a whole lot of weaknesses in his game. He seems to consistently make the right play but isn't going to wow you with his explosiveness. Anyone drafting past 20 will get one hell of a hockey player. TSN: 39th CSS: 26th NA ISS: 28th THN: 29th CB: 52nd http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...ower_Nov26.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Feb4.mp3 http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrh...140517195.html http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=6105 http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...-to-watch.html http://mckeenshockey.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1283727 http://futureconsiderations.ca/busy-...-on-new-level/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJgKkoRsxg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTJsya-JK28

22. Martin Frk: Right Winger Height: 6'0" Weight: 204lbs Born: October 5th, 1993 Birthplace: Bochov, CZE Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL): 34GP 16G 13A 29P, -9, 41PIM NHL Comparable: Jakub Voracek / Cam Neely Projection: Top Six Forward The Skinny: Once considered a lock for the top ten in this years draft, Frk ran into concussion problems early in the year. Unforunately, his injury has not helped his draft stock. Many scouting services have him outside the first round all together. Realistically, I'm not sure what you can expect from a player coming off a concusion. He hasn't had the opportunity to show scouts what he is able to accomplish at 100%. What really impresses me about Frk is that he approached the injury the right way and just focused on his recovery. Martin definitely has some power to his game. He has decent size but doesn't rely solely on his skill in order to score goals. Frk can beat defenders in a bunch of different ways. He has sick hands, an NHL calibre wrist shot, and a great center of balance. Considering Frk put up 50 points in 64 games for the Mooseheads last year, I wouldn't be surprised to see him regain his form. Frk can stick handle in a phone booth and once he has the puck you aren't going to take it away from him. He also has worked on creating a well-rounded game and can play both ends of the ice. He can dish out hits, backcheck and work along the boards. Perhaps the biggest weakness that Frk has is his footspeed. Obviously he needs to work on getting faster in order to make the NHL but its perhaps the easiest skill to acquire. He is never going to be a speedster but he will be a versatile goal scorer that can keep up with the play. Despite not being overly quick, he is still very exciting to watch. Given the right system, Frk could be the steal of the draft. His offensive instincts simply can't be taught. TSN: 32nd CSS: 20th NA ISS: 42nd THN: 45th CB: 59th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6...site-Draft2012 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Nov5.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...n_Frk_Feb4.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-martin-frk/ http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp7997 http://bruins2011draftwatch.blogspot...artin-frk.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qxym...ayer_embedded#! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQbMQLgZO0

23. Ludvig Bystrom: LH Defenceman Height: 6'1" Weight: 208lbs Born: July 20th, 1994 Birthplace: Örnsköldsvik, SWE Modo (SEL): 20GP 0G 1A 1P, +2, 8PIM NHL Comparable: Alexander Edler Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: Ludvig Bystrom is another player that I haven't been able to see first hand this year. However, from everything I have heard, read and seen he looks like a quality prospect. Bystrom has great hockey sense, plays a very well rounded defensive game and reads the game very well. He is able to skate the puck out of his own zone with ease and his breakout passes are put directly onto the tape of his forwards sticks. He has consistently put up numbers for Modo's junior team this year. He has managed to score 7 goals and have 29 assists in just 34 games played. In addition, he accumulated 101PIM in that short amount of time. Opponents have to keep their heads up whenever Bystrom is on the ice. Bystrom showcased his skill by being Swedens best defenceman at the Ivan Hlinka On the downside, Bystrom lacks the size to be a big physical defenceman at the NHL level. He isn't the biggest defenceman at 6'1" but he is still young and has time to grow. He is usually in the right position and can surprise forwards with hits. Bystrom also doesn't have that big shot that scouts like to see from the blueline. He has a decent shot and soft hands but doesn't have that "Sheldon Souray" type of blast. Having said all that, Bystrom is still incredibly young and is already playing in the SEL. Thus far, he hasn't looked out of place but hasn't been playing more than 10 minutes on any given night. With his ability to move the puck so well, he should be a first round pick this June. TSN: 34th CSS: 4th EU ISS: 29th THN: 19th CB: 19th http://www.sportal.se/ishockey/elits...ago-blackhawks http://blogg.allehanda.se/natrassel/tag/ludvig-bystrom/ http://www.puckprospectus.com/articl...articleid=1269 http://hockeysense.ca/news/?p=6637 http://www.modohockey.se/artikel/17471/

24. Hampus Lindholm: LH Defence Height: 6'2" Weight: 196lbs Born: January 20th, 1994 Birthplace: Helsingborg, SWE Rögle (SuperElit): 28GP 5G 12A 17P, +25, 16PIM NHL Comparable: Jay Bouwmeester Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: The first thing scouts notice about Lindholm is his outstanding skating ability. He has exceptional acceleration and mobility for a defenceman. Hampus is very good at pivoting and it shows in his play. It's not often you see a player of size have his kind of speed. Not only that, he has excellent offensive instincts and could be a smooth skating, point producing defenceman at the NHL level. He is a two-way defenceman. I don't believe Lindholm has the ability to be a powerplay quarterback or an offensive dynamo like Erik Karlsson but he certainly has the hands and accurate shot that scouts look for in a player. Given the proper time to develop, the offense should come naturally. Hampus is already great defensively but could use some work in his decision making at times. He is still adjusting to bigger/stronger forwards in the SEL and it shows. Lindholm needs to get better with his gap control and reading the play with faster skaters. He also needs to learn how much time he has to make a play and build of his confidence. I don't think he has the same offensive potential as Ludvig Bystrom but his game has a lot less risk in it. TSN: 15th CSS: 8th EU ISS: 19th THN: 15th CB: 10th http://translate.google.ca/translate...26prmd%3Dimvns http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/player/...indholm/18008/ http://www.hockeysverige.se/article/...a-lagskontrakt http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...illargeon.html

25. Tomas Hertl: LH Center Height: 6'2" Weight: 198lbs Born: November 12th, 1993 Birthplace: Praha, CZE HC Slavia Praha (Czech): 38GP 12G 13A 25P, +9, 22PIM NHL Comparable: Jaromir Jagr / Martin Hanzal Projection: Second Line Center The Skinny: Much like Teuvo Teravainen, Hertl's lack of exposure could really hurt him this year. The one thing that Hertl does have going for him was his explosive WJC this year in Alberta. Not only did he outplay Radek Faska at times, he even looked better than Nail Yakupov at times. It shouldn't really come as a surprise with the incredible numbers he is putting up for Slavia Praha. At the same age he is outproducing Pavol Demitra, Mila Hejduk, and Miroslav Satan at the same age. Still, scouts haven't really taken notice. Hertl plays a very effective game that doesn't have a whole lot of risk associated with it. He will go into the dirty areas to retrieve pucks, can throw big hits and protect the puck just as well as anyone else in the draft. Hertl is as much of a playmaker as a goalscorer and can beat defenders in a bunch of different ways. He has shown flashes of great offensive instincts and could be a steal taken at this point in the draft. On the downside, Tomas still needs to work on his skating to make the jump. He doesn't have the greatest footspeed and could use that extra bit of acceleration to beat defenders wide. Having said that, those are very easy fixes for a prospect. I think his decision to stay in the Czech league or come over to North America will have a larger factor on his development and who drafts him in June. TSN: 19th CSS: 5th EU ISS: 32nd THN: 24th CB: 22nd http://dansallows.com/interview-tomas-hertl/ http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...e-juniors.html http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=608479 http://www.mynhldraft.com/2012/NHL-D...es/Tomas-Hertl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjwQBG060uE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UYYZfyn2Qw

26. Oscar Dansk: LH Goaltender Height: 6'2" Weight: 183lbs Born: February 28th, 1994 Birthplace: Stockholm, SWE Brynäs J20 (SuperElit): 30GP 2.82GAA, .901S% NHL Comparable: Henrik Lundqvist Projection: Franchise Goaltender The Skinny: I'm not usually a fan of taking a goaltender in the first round, but Dansk has all the qualities to be a franchise goaltender at the NHL level. It wouldn't surprise me to see Dansk drafted in the top 15 in this years draft or could fall out of the first round entirely. Goaltenders are always unpredictable and historically haven't panned out as well as the forwards or defenceman taken around them inside the first round. Having said, I think scouts are getting better at attributing which aspects make a successful NHL goaltender. Dansk has the size at 6'2" and is a butterfly/hybrid goaltender that is positionally sound. He has learned both american style goaltending while he played in Shattuck St. Mary's as well as your standard Swedish goaltending style playing Brynas. Oscar reads the play well and forces shooters to commit by being more patient than the opposing forwards. Like most bigger goaltenders, he never seems to give the shooter a whole lot shoot at. On the other hand, unlike most bigger goaltenders, Dansk has quick feet that allow him to recover quickly. Oscar has great balance and can make the easy save while surprising players with his agility on the big save. He has a calm and cool demeanor that allows him to shake of bad goals and focus on the next shot. Oscar is probably the best goaltending prospect since Lundqvist. He just doesn't give up a whole lot of rebounds and doesn't have a whole lot to work on to adjust to the pro game. He has put up soild numbers no matter where he plays. He might not have that athleticism that other goaltenders have but I believe his skillset is best suited to become the best goaltender in this draft. TSN: 35th CSS: 2nd EU ISS: N/A THN: 44th CB: 31st http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...down_Nov19.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-oscar-dansk/ http://www.dobberhockey.com/index.ph...ist&Itemid=117 http://www.sportal.se/ishockey/oscar...-vill-gora-mal http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/pres...nro-248800.php http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Y3wGot05I

27. Scott Kosmachuk: Right Winger Height: 6'0" Weight: 188lbs Born: January 24th, 1994 Birthplace: Toronto, ON Guelph Storm (OHL): 67GP 30G 29A 59P, -10, 110PIM NHL Comparable: Jarome Iginla / Ryan Callahan Projection: Top Nine Forward The Skinny: Usually high energy goal scorers don't tend to last very long on draft day. Kosmachuk may not have the best offensive skillset, but he always finds a way to put himself in the right position to unleash his shot. He sees the ice well and explodes either around opposing players or through them. Kosmachuk is willing to crash, fight for loose pucks and battle in front of the net to score goals. He finished second on his team in goals despite starting the year on the third line. He has a ridiculous set of wheels and tenacious on the puck. Scott has worked his way up the depth chart and has done well with his increased icetime. Given that Guelph isn't an incredibly offensive team he could be a kid that puts up better numbers at the pro level. Still, he has been opportunistic with his 30 goal season while developing a great two way game under the storm. His plus-minus might not suggest it, but he is perhaps the best defensive forward in the OHL. He is always the first guy back and works extremely hard to backcheck. Kosmachuk is the type of player that elevates his game when everything is on the line. He plays a very safe style of game and will only continue to rise up peoples rankings. It may be a long shot to take him in the first but it wouldn't really surprise me if a team likes him enough to do so. TSN: 43rd CSS: 24th NA ISS: 46th THN: 47th CB: N/A http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Lean_Mar17.mp3 http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...s-ohl-by-storm http://hockeyprospect.com/index.php/...lph-storm.html http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrh...152705165.html http://hw.libsyn.com/p/8/8/0/880d665...d16accb0c595be http://www.guelphstorm.com/article/p...cott-kosmachuk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0g3rrLbdQw

28. Scott "The Law" Laughton: LH Center Height: 6'1" Weight: 178lbs Born: May 30th, 1994 Birthplace: Oakville, ON Oshawa Generals (OHL): 64GP 21G 32A 53P, +8, 101PIM NHL Comparable: Mike Richards Favourite Team: Toronto Maple Leafs Projection: Top Nine Forward The Skinny: Laughton is a very smart, humble and gritty center that could be a captain at the NHL level one day. His compete level is through the roof and just oozes leadership qualities. Scott is also extremely hard to play against. With over 100PIM, he isn't afraid to drop the gloves and rough it up. When Laughton throws a hit, it hurts. Scott is almost always in the right position and works hard to make sure he supports the puck. He also has a very good wrist shot and makes the right decisions with and without the puck. Laughton always has an active stick, backchecks and never gives up on a play. I think this kid is an absolute beast and is getting overlooked by several scouting services. His numbers aren't that far off from Brandon Saad last year, and I could see his numbers making the same type of jump next year. He keeps developing his offensive numbers and it wouldn't surprise me if he produced at a PPG during the OHL playoffs. One statistic that took me by surprise was that despite only finishing 5th on the Generals, none of the players ahead of him had a better plus-minus. You can tell that he dedicates himself to winning hockey games. He is a great faceoff man and will kill penalties. I honestly think he could put up almost double the points if he was so dedicated to his defensive side of the game. The knock on Laughton is his lack of flash or offensive ability. Much like Landeskog in his draft year, I don't believe he lacks offensive creativity. Rather, Laughton just needs to showcase his skill on a nightly basis and work on taking more risks in the offensive zone. He is still a kid with a late birthday and I think sometimes scouts forget that because of his professionalism and maturity on and off the ice. TSN: 28th CSS: 28th NA ISS: 23rd THN: 42nd CB: 24th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Feb4.mp3 http://hockeyprospect.com/index.php/...-prospect.html http://dansallows.com/interview-scott-laughton/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odL-tGkvbT4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr0o2Tn_WCk http://thehockeywriters.com/scott-la...to-turn-heads/

29. Andrei Vasilevski : LH Goaltender Height: 6'3" Weight: 204lbs Born: July 25th, 1994 Birthplace: Tyumen, RUS Toplar Ufa (MHL): 27GP 2.23GAA, 0.931S% NHL Comparable: Roberto Luongo / Carey Price Projection: Franchise Goaltender The Skinny: If anyone is likely to pass Dansk as the first goaltender taken, Vasilevski is the guy to do so. Not only is he a very late birthday, he is already bigger and taller than Dansk. Obviously, Andrei isn't as polished as Dansk but he has a lot of natural talent and athleticism. His combination of size, his compete level and natural ability make him a very intriguing player. During the WJC Valislevski posted .953 save percentage with multiple 40 save nights under a German system that didn't exactly stress defence first. He is a calm and cool goaltender between the pipes and has very good lateral movement for a big guy. He has a sick glove hand and walked away as the best goaltender from the tournament (either him or Petr Mrazek). Still, he has posted a .931 save percentage in the MHL with a 2.23GAA. Andrei is a beast that could be a franchise goaltender. Having said that, goaltenders are always risky, especially Russian ones. Historically speaking, Russia has never been a strong market for Goaltenders and hasn't done a great job developing them. Valislevski still needs to work on his positioning, his stick handling, and his consistency. TSN: 24th CSS: 1st EU ISS: N/A THN: 21st CB: 15th http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...levski_russia/ http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...ding-prospect/ http://thehockeywriters.com/andrei-v...l-backstopper/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrGmO...eature=related

30. Brady Skjei: LH Defenceman Height: 6'3" Weight: 203lbs Born: March 26th, 1994 Birthplace: Lakeville, MN USNTDP (USHL): 22GP 2G 9A 11P, +3, 12PIM NHL Comparable: Derek Forbort / Nick Leddy Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: Although most scouting services have Skjei in the first round, I still think he is a huge project at this point. He has exceptional wheels and the size that scouts are looking for but has a tendency to make poor defensive decisions. Another weakness is the lack of physical play and doesn't use his frame to his advantage. Skjei makes a great first with a lot of raw talent. He needs to work on his consistency but when he is on his game he can log a lot of minutes and produce offensively. Another attribute that stands out for Skjei is his tremendous character. He isn't a professional like Jonathan Toews but he is definitely a leader. He is an easy going defenceman that likes to crack jokes and keep the room upbeat. He is well liked by his teammates, which goes quite far considering he has played with guys like Seth Jones and Jacob Trouba. I don't see him going nearly as high as those two, but a team might try and grab Skjei this year and Jones next year. Skjei is still working on becoming an all around defenceman. Playing for the Minnesota Golden Golphers next year he should have time to work on his game but playing against bigger, gritty forwards. It's always a risk taking a guy who has his defensive problems in the first round, but could be a steal years down the road. He comes from a good background and seems to have a good enough work ethic to land himself inside the first round. Having said that, I could see a team taking him inside the top 20 being disappointed. TSN: 22nd CSS: 19th NA ISS: 26th THN: 26th CB: 26th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Lean_Feb18.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...kjei_Feb28.mp3 http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...Skjei-day.html http://mnhockeyprospects.com/2012/01...d-off-the-ice/ http://www.usahockey.com/USANTDP/def...tailedNews=yes http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Us...1_05&id=295912 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=600469

31. Stefan 'Little Stef' Matteau: Left Winger Height: 6'1" Weight: 210lbs Born: February 23rd, 1994 Birthplace: Chicago, IL USNTDP (USHL): 18GP 6G 4A 10P, +4, 93PIM NHL Comparable: Jordan Staal / Scott Hartnell Projection: Top Six Forward Favourite Team: New York Rangers The Skinny: It doesn't hurt your draft status when your father played 13 years in the NHL. You have the unique experience of seeing NHL locker rooms and always have that support from your parents both emotionally and financially. Just like his father, he hopes to make an impact at the NHL level and hopes to bring more skill to a team than his father did. I wouldn't be surprised to see him drafted higher than his father as well (drafted 25th overall by Calgary in 1987). Matteau is a big, strong powerforward that can play both ends of the ice. He always plays with an edge and isn't afraid to work hard and finish his checks. He is a great all around player with a heavy shot. His PIM totals also stand out. He has 93PIM in just 18 games and isn't afraid to play with that edge. He can take the puck out the corner, bull over opposing defenders and put up some nice looking goals. He is dynamite on the ice and just needs to prove he can continue his success against better opponents. Speaking of which, it was interesting to see Matteau change his plans of going to UND. Originally committed to UND, Matteau has opted out to join Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. I think some scouts will be happy to see this move, but i'm not sold on the quality of competition in the QMJHL compared to the NCAA. Clearly he is going to play their under his father who is an assistant coach with the Armada. However when asked about he said that it wasn't the main reason he decided to come to the QMJHL but did admit it was a plus. Rather, he stated that the QMJHL is league that focuses on his and he wants to work on his overall game to become more successful. He is quick to mention that the USNTDP helped with his conditioning and physical play and that he can use that to dominate in the CHL. TSN: 23rd CSS: 17th NA ISS: 31st THN: 30th CB: 48th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...teau_Oct18.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-stefan-matteau/ http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=5560 http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=624693 http://hockeyprospect.com/index.php/...n-matteau.html http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...t-Matteau.html http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=7196 http://www.usahockey.com/USANTDP/def...tailedNews=yes

32. Tanner Pearson: Left Winger Height: 6'0" Weight: 198lbs Born: August 10th, 1992 Birthplace: Kitchener, ON Barrie Colts (OHL): 60GP 37G 54A 91P, +21, 37PIM NHL Comparable: Projection: Top Six Forward The Skinny: Pearson is a feel good story that could wind up being taken in the first round this year despite being passed over by all 30 teams last year. He is a very complete player and has the numbers to back it up. Rather than having a "I told you so" attitude, Pearson remains modest and is quick to credit his teammates and coaching staff. He has good size, has a great set of wheels, sees the ice well and can score from anywhere on the ice. Pearson is also incredibly versatile and can fill any role in a teams lineup. He is consistent offensively, creates plays down low and is an exceptional playmaker. His vision and shot make him a deadly offensive force. The two-way playmaking forward was originally drafted in the 14th round at 267th overall with the Barrie Colts and has gone a long way in his development. Obviously he is a classical late bloomer and has gained a lot of confidence. So much, that he was able to represent team canada at the WJC. He didn't look out of place with other top prospects and could be a steal on draft day. IMO he looked a lot better than his fellow teammate and close friend Mark Scheifele. Not only is he putting up numbers and getting invites, he is also capable of playing the penalty in addition to the powerplay. Pearson lead his team in goals, assists, points, and plus-minus. Obviously, teams will be weary to select a guy with such an early birthday and might be looking to add younger prospects with more upside. On the other hand, I could see a team looking for a prospect that is more well-rounded and can jump into the NHL sooner. If he continues to work on his power skating I could see him jumping into the NHL as early as next year. TSN: 29th CSS: 25th NA ISS: N/A THN: 36th CB: 39th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=622906 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...lean_Dec17.mp3 http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article..._barrie_colts/ http://www.therecord.com/sports/rang...lash-in-barrie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp2D80GBcts http://www.torontosun.com/videos/fea.../1519178774001 http://www.thescoutingreport.org/tan...rson-1st-pick/

33. Jarrod "Iron" Maidens: RH Center Height: 6'2" Weight: 177lbs Born: March 4th, 1994 Birthplace: Ridgeway, ON Owen Sound Attack (OHL): 28GP 12G 11A 23P, -2, 4PIM NHL Comparable: Mike Fisher / Dustin Brown Projection: Top Nine Forward The Skinny: Jarred Maidens is a man amongst boys. Standing tall at 6'2" and roughly 180lbs, Maidens is physically and emotionally ready to jump into the NHL as soon as next year. Jarrod isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas to make a play and will do anything to help his team win. He has a tremendous work ethic, a leader both on and off the ice, and a player that scouts will continue to watch closely as the draft nears. Maidens, however isn't like most powerforwards. I say this, because he is so much more than just a gritty, hardworking forward. When Owen Sound selected Jarrod 4th overall, they took Maidens because of his offensive, game-changing ability and exceptional hands. Maidens already has a pro shot and sees the game at a very high level. Rather than trying to intimidate his opponents physically each shift, Maidens is capable of mixing it up. This is best displayed through his lack of penalty minutes (Just 15PIM in 75 OHL games). He plays on the edge but doesn't cross it. Having said all that, injuries are a huge concern. Thus far, he has only played 75 games regular season games at the OHL level. Despite being physically ready to make the jump, he has essentially lost 2 very important years of development. I still think he is worth the risk early in the second round but teams could pass over him because of injury concerns. TSN: 48th CSS: 25th NA ISS: N/A THN: 38th CB: 36th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...clean_Mar3.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-jarrod-maidens/ http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...d_with_effort/ http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...ng-attack-team http://www.attackhockey.com/video/in...839536e37a8213 http://m.attackhockey.com/video/jarr...ame/1306341548 http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/n...p?NewsID=23941 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzR1zIfq5nw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR_WeDC76Ic

34. Jordan Schmaltz: RH Defenceman Height: 6'2" Weight: 189lbs Born: October 8th, 1993 Birthplace: Verona, WI Green Bay Gamblers (USHL): 51GP 10G 27A 37P, +11, 29PIM NHL Comparable: Keith Yandle / John Carlson Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: I always find it Ironic when a guy that plays for a team called the "Gamblers" is in fact a "Riverboat Gambler" on the ice. Schmaltz is a premier offensive puckmoving defenceman that has had some high high's and some low low's this season. At one point he was a -9 player but ended up with a +10 since being traded to the Gamblers. Schmaltz finished second in the USHL by scoring from a defenceman, not bad for a draft eligible player. He has a ton of tools and if he can consistently put it all together will be a steal on draft day. Schmaltz has the ability to control the play, make a great first pass and an absolute laser from the point. He has unmatched hockey sense and poise with the puck that makes him look leagues ahead of other USHL players at times. He is capable of skating the puck out of his own zone and quarterbacking a powerplay. Still, Schmaltz needs to work on his skating and develop a physical element into his game. He certainly has the frame and all the tools to become an elite level defenceman. He really seems to be a love/hate type of player depending on the games people see Schmaltz play. During physical games he can disappear completely. He can also have problems with handling the speed of bigger, quicker players. He never panics with the puck but with many puck moving defencemen, he can be a turnover machine. Like most youngsters, it's easier to work on skating and the physical side of the game rather than trying to develop offense. He is definitely a risky pick and will have time to develop at the University of North Dakota. TSN: 38th CSS: 34th NA ISS: 45th THN: 34th CB: N/A http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...altz_Jan24.mp3 http://thehockeywriters.com/jordan-s...-on-a-gambler/ http://hockeyprospect.com/index.php/...-schmaltz.html http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp2926 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cF95fTeV3k http://mckeenshockey.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1314434 http://blog.musketeershockey.com/?p=225 http://www.dobberhockey.com/index.ph...ist&Itemid=117 http://unitedstatesofhockey.com/2011...vs-sioux-city/

35. Henrik "Hank" Samuelsson: Right Winger Height: 6'2" Weight: 192lbs Born: February 7th, 1994 Birthplace: Leksand, SWE Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL): 28GP 7G 16A 23P, +18, 42PIM NHL Comparable: Raffi Torres / Steve Downie Projection: Top Nine Forward The Skinny: It always seems that prospects with hockey blood running through their veins are drafted earlier than expected. The son of former NHL defenceman Ulf Samuelsson, Hank might hear his named called on the first day of the NHL draft. That is quite the jump considering he was ranked 33rd by Central Scouting Service before he came over to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Now, Samuelsson has an outside chance of being a first round pick this June. Playing for the best team on the WHL, Samuelsson has shown that he can add a lot to a teams dynamics. Not only does he add size, standing at 6'2", he adds a fast, physical dimension that scouts love. He is an in your face, physical powerforward that always looks for the hit. He can lay people out, start fights and play the role of a pest very well. He is the type of player that can cross the line and take liberties with other teams players. Henrik is the type of player you love having on your team but hate playing against. Having said that, I don't think he is just a super pest. Samuelsson is capable to playing that 2nd line pest / third line checking role at the NHL level. He has put up 23 points in 28 games during the regular season and has an underrated shot. Considering he is +18 and his offence is almost a PPG in a similar role with the Oil Kings, I wouldn't be surprised if his NHL game translates easily to the NHL. He has soft hands for a big kid and a very hard shot. I don't think he will ever be an offensive catalyst like a Correy Perry, but he could be an Alexander Burrows type that plays a top 6 role that gives his teammates some room on the ice. TSN: 38th CSS: 75th NA ISS: 27th THN: 50th CB: 29th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...sson_Jan10.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Lean_Mar31.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-henrik-samuelsson/ http://thehockeywriters.com/henrik-s...an-of-mystery/ http://thehockeywriters.com/henrik-s...the-plus-side/ http://sports.yahoo.com/juniorhockey...rhockey,wp8614 http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp7510 http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.ca/2...oil-kings.html

36. Michael Matheson: LH Defenceman Height: 6'2" Weight: 215lbs Born: February 27th, 1994 Birthplace: Pointe-Claire, QC Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL): 49GP 9G 13A 22P, -3, 78PIM NHL Comparable: Nik Lidstrom / John Moore Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: Michael Matheson probably would have gone first overall at the QMJHL draft if he decided to stay. Rather, the Pointe-Claire native fell in love with the NCAA route and the Dubuque Fighting Saints. After that, Matheson will be heading to Boston College and have a lot of time to develop his game at his own pace. Rather than taking the quick route to the NHL, the NCAA route is a respectable one. The combination of school, more time for working out, and level of competition at the NCAA has produced a number of great NHL defencemen. I don't know if he will stay all four years but it definitely something teams will have to keep in mind when drafting. Matheons style of play is one with patience, poise, awareness and speed. Michael is an extremely quick skating defenceman that moves the puck very well. He is an exceptional leader both on and off the ice for the Saints and plays a hard nosed game. He plays a very simple an effective game that doesn't lead to a whole lot of mistakes. Having said that, I don't think he has top pairing potential. He should be a good top 4 defenceman for anyone who drafts him. Having said that, you can't look at the numbers with Matheson. At face value, a player like Jordan Schmaltz appears to have a considerable advantage. Once you dig deep, you will notice that Greenbay has actually scored 60 more goals than Dubuque. Greenbay also has a bunch of players that have a plus-minus of 30. On the other hand, Dubuque's leading plus minus was Zemgus Girgensons with +15. I do believe that both players have a lot of potential but are playing under two completely different systems. Matheson could go ahead of Schmaltz because of his all around game but at this point his 22 points still leaves me wanting more offensively. TSN: 26th CSS: 30th NA ISS: 34th THN: 27th CB: 23rd http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...son_Sept13.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...lean_Jan21.mp3 http://video.thehockeynews.com/11174...chael_Matheson http://www.canadianhockeyonline.ca/h...kid-is-alright http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...-Matheson.html http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.ca/2...-matheson.html http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.ca/2...heson-pt2.html http://thepipelineshow.blogspot.ca/2...heson-pt3.html

37. Nicolas Kerdiles: Center Height: 6'2" Weight: 201lbs Born: January 11th, 1994 Birthplace: Irvine, CA USNTDP (USHL): 18GP 4G 9A 13P, -9, 18PIM NHL Comparable: Jonathan Toews / John LeClair Favourite Team: Dallas Stars Projection: Top Nine Forward The Skinny: Kerdiles is your protypical powerforward. He has the size, speed and hands that give him the versatility to be defenders in a bunch of different ways. He has a great scoring prowess and has succeeded against much bigger, stronger and older competition. Although his numbers aren't great, he could be one of the best pure goal scorers in this years draft. He has worked on his playmaking this year and is very hard to knock off the puck. Protecting the puck is a skill that is hard to learn and one that should translate very well to the NHL level. Factor that in with being one of the fastest skaters on the NTDP, he could be scary good. Kerdiles is already committed to a very good University of Wisconsin (where he wants to be the go to guy) and will continue to grow and work on his strength. He already has a great deal of strength and already looks like a pro both on and off the ice the ice. Nic is very professional, has an exceptional work ethic and a cool head. He doesn't panic in big games and always puts the puck in the right spot. He is a great all around player that can do it all. The knock on Kerdiles is that he isn't dynamic on the ice. He does everything well and is very reliable but not flashy. He plays a smart game and is very consistent for a young kid. He is a guy that teams win with. Nic wins faceoffs, blocks shots, is defensively reliable, moves the puck well and does the little things needed to win games. He won silver with team U.S.A at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and gold at the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships. Kerdiles has a great nose for the net and could put up a lot of goals at the NHL level. TSN: 40th CSS: 29th NA ISS: 15th THN: 33rd CB: 51st http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Lean_Mar17.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-nicolas-kerdiles/ http://thehockeywriters.com/nic-kerd...ornia-dreamin/ http://thegoodpoint.com/2011/11/nico...les-nhl-draft/ http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...ect-world.html http://www.usahockey.com/USANTDP/def...tailedNews=yes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mVlBpfjg8g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDOgQraJQNM

38. Tim Bozon: Left Winger Height: 6'1" Weight: 178lbs Born: March 24th, 1994 Birthplace: St.Louis Kamloops Blazers (WHL): 71GP 36G 35A 71P, +27, 40PIM NHL Comparable: Emerson Etem / Mason Raymond Projection: Top Six Offensive Forward Fun Fact: He is an Edmonton Oilers fan Originally Posted by The Skinny: Tim Bozon is a very interesting player. Although he was originally born in St.Louis, he was raised in Switzerland but he represents France internationally. His father Philippe Bozon was originally from France but moved to St.Louis when he played for the Blues back in 1992. Obviously, Timothé was born at that time and then developed nearby in France. His heritage has given him the benefit of drawing different skillsets from different national programs. He plays a skilled European game like your typical European but isnt afraid to go into the dirty areas like your typical North-American skater. It also doesn't hurt that he is fluent in English, French and Italian. Despite being a rookie in the WHL, he finished the season 1st in goals by a rookie and 2nd amongst rookies in points. He is a big reason why the Blazers have made the playoffs this year and also finished 3rd on his team in terms of plus-minus. Bozon has exceptional hands, poised, mature and very agile. He has a good set of wheels for the game and a mind that can keep up. He sees the ice exceptionally well to setup his teammates but is known more of a goal scorer. In fact, amongst the draft eligible players listed Bozon has only scored less than Mikhail Grigorenko and Tanner Pearson. Not bad considering Pearson is an overager and Grigorenko is expected to go in the top 5. Even though he is a goal scorer, he is still a forward that loves the handle the puck. Opposing players have a difficult time taking the puck away from him and is an exceptional passer. Still, Bozon isn't just an offensive catalyst; he can still play both ends of the ice. He is great at backchecking, will battle for the puck, throw elbows and do anything to take the puck away. At the same time, he will backup his style of game. Bozon will drop the gloves given the opportunity. TSN: 50th CSS: 42nd NA ISS: 40th THN: 43rd CB: N/A http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=614609 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Lean_Mar17.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-tim-bozon/ http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/2...nes-on-blazers http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=154241 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa0ir...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoJh6DCIjIs http://hockeyprospect.com/index.php/...tim-bozon.html http://blazerhockey.com/video/index/id/1328120781 http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...loops_blazers/ http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/20...tim-bozon.html

39. Tom Wilson: Right Winger Height: 6'4" Weight: 203lbs Born: March 29th, 1994 Birthplace: Toronto, ON Plymouth Whalers (OHL): 58GP 9G 18A 27P, +17, 141PIM NHL Comparable: Zack Kassian / Milan Lucic Projection: Third Line Checking Winger Originally Posted by The Skinny: Despite being a second rounder in my rankings, I would fully expect Wilson to be a first round pick this June. He is an absolute beast and looks like a man playing against kids. Obviously, Tom Wilson is hard to miss at his size. He stands out at 6'4" and uses his physical game to garner attention. He loves to throw hits and will fight anyone at the CHL level. He is an exceptional bodychecker and opens up a lot of ice for his teammates. He plays hard-nosed hockey and thats just simply something you can't teach an NHL player. He has a decent plus-minus and the highest PIM out of any of this years top prospects. Wilson is not an easy player to play against and an excellent net presence if he is not producing offensively. Having said that, his offensive production just simply isn't where it needs to be to garner 1st round consideration in my opinion. He finished 11th in team scoring and can go entire months without contributing any offense to his team. Although his statistics are similar to Milan Lucic's in his draft year, Lucic managed to score 30 goals the following year. A player like Lucic is the exception to the rule and not the other way around. Honestly, without a whole lot of offense at this years top prospect game, I think Wilson took advantage. He won't be able to be able to out-muscle bigger, tougher and meaner NHL defencemen like smaller OHL skaters. I'm just not sure you draft a guy who projects to be a third liner with a first round pick. He is an extremely risky pick early as his upside is Lucic but his downside is Jared Boll. An interesting point regarding Tom Wilson is his tenacity for office education. He was formerly named the OHL's Academic Player of the Month and is a straight A student. He also represented his country when he won gold at the U17 WHC. Wilson will certainly be a valuable asset to any team who drafts him. TSN: 18th CSS: 15th NA ISS: 17th THN: 25th CB: 21st http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Feb4.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...lson_Feb21.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-tom-wilson/ http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp3699 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYkwp9GtBc8 http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/a...he-grade/88176

40. Mike Winther: RH Center Height: 5'11" Weight: 175lbs Born: January 9th, 1994 Birthplace: Trochu, AB Prince Albert Raiders (WHL): 71GP 32G 24A 56P, -9, 59PIM NHL Comparable: Mike Modano / Sam Gagner Projection: Top Six Forward Favourite Team: Edmonton Oilers The Skinny: One prospect that hasn't received a whole lot of hype thus far is Prince Albert Raiders Mike Winther. Winther is a quick, skilled right-handed centre that continues to battle hard and go into the gritty areas to be successful. The kid already has an NHL calibre shot, tauntalizing speed and superb puck control. He can beat defenders in a bunch of different ways and has done so against other teams top lines. His skill is most evident on the powerplay. He lead the Prince Albert Raiders in powerplay goals with 16 and you cant help but notice what he can do when given some space to work. Perhaps the most intriguing statistic is that Winther actually outscored former first round pick Mark McNeill last year. Sure, McNeill put up more points but Winther did indeed score more goals. Not bad for a player who is one of the youngest draft eligible players with a birthday in July. Winther thinks the game at a very high level and is defensively responsbile enough to play major minutes on both the powerplay and penalty kill. Having said that, Winther appears to have a lot of scouts that love his game and a lot of scouts that don't think he will be able to make the jump. Mike is relatively small at 5'11" and doesn't have a very big frame. He works as hard as he can every shift but might not have all the physical tools to be a bottom six forward at the NHL level. With that in mind, it puts a lot of pressure on a kid to be a top 6 forward. TSN: 44th CSS: 21st NA ISS: 38th THN: 35th CB: 49th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...anyk_Nov19.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Lean_Feb18.mp3 http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrh...152734752.html http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/20...e-winther.html http://www.raiderhockey.com/video/index/id/1328195358 http://www.islandsportsnews.net/comp...er-of-the-week

[DousedInOil]

Prospects 41-60 with Honorable Mentions on their way. Will be pasted here.

41. Jake McCabe: LH Defenceman Height: 6'1" Weight: 200lbs Born: October 12th, 1993 Birthplace: Eau Claire, WI U. of Wisconsin (WCHA): 26GP 3G 9A 12P, +0, 12PIM NHL Comparable: Ryan Suter Projection: Top Four Defenceman Fun Fact: He has played as Justin Schultz's defence partner at times The Skinny: Probably the most underrated defenceman in the draft, The University of Wisconsin defenceman is already playing NCAA hockey and hasn't looked out of place. I could see him jumping ahead of a guy like Brady Skeji. He might not have the upside, but he is already more of a complete player that understands the game and has high hockey IQ. He is capable of shutting down other teams top players, running a powerplay and making the solid outlet pass that NHL teams look for. He's another one of those forwards that was moved to defence in his career and has more offense to his game because of it. He protects the puck well, battles in corners and uses his reach to his advantage. He's physical but has the necessary offensive and defensive instincts to be successful at the next level. McCabe still needs to work on his footspeed and his decision making is questionable at times. He is a super competitive kid that likes to throw hits and can be found looking for the hit rather than playing the puck at times. He is quick laterally but could use that dyanmic first couple of steps to make him a little better at handling smaller forwards. He has a tremendous amount of poise with the puck and could use the time and space he creates a little bit better. He has time to make maybe a "flashier" player rather than just making the simple play at time. A quick quote from his coach: "You want guys that can jump up in the play, be very efficient without the puck and compete. So I think Jake will fit that mold pretty well. The (Wisconsin) guys that have gone on to the NHL are there because they have natural abilities and work very hard. The coaches that we have had here have been able to help them learn about the game and help them continue their growth. We hope that Jake will fall into that category because he's definitely got things that you're not going to teach him. We hope that we can expand Jake's vision of the game and help with his training and strength to be successful at that (NHL) level." TSN: 53rd CSS: 47th NA ISS: TBD THN: 59th CB: N/A http://dansallows.com/interview-jake-mccabe/ http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...in_defensemen/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ztiiktMMs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU2lI1_DQ34 http://www.wissports.net/article.asp...8798&sportID=5 http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14575398

42. Phil Di Giuseppe: Center Height: 6'1" Weight: 200lbs Born: October 9th, 1993 Birthplace: Maple, Ontario U. of Michigan (CCHA): 39GP 11G 15A 26P, +23, 18PIM NHL Comparable: David Legwand Projection: Second Line Center Originally Posted by The Skinny It can't be stressed how hard it is for a junior prospect to be playing in the NCAA. Not only do they have to play against much bigger and more experienced skaters, they have to worry about education and working their way up the lineup. Playing against 23, 24, and 25 year olds definitely has its challenges for lanky teenagers. Yet, Di Giuseppe not only holds his own, he thrives. Phil Di Giuseppe is incredibly hard to knock off the puck, has a thick frame and his style of game is very well-rounded. Not only does Phil possess great physical attributes, he has a great work ethic, an undying love for the game and an excellent set of wheels. He has the skill and speed to take the puck but has improved his physical play this year. His strong play garnered him a look at canada's WJC camp and caught the eye of legendary coach Red Berenson. It doesn't hurt that he finished second on the team in terms of plus-minus with +23. Di Giuseppe is incredibly versatile and works hard. On the other hand, Di Giuseppe doesn't generally undress defenders with highlight reel moves. He has a lot of tools in his toolbox but generally plays a safe game rather than trying to beat defenders one-on-one. I think his lack of offensive talent might keep him out of the first round but thats not to say he doesn't possess a solid shot and playmaking ability. He doesn't always show up on the stat sheet playing against other teams top lines. Still he has dropped out of the first round after his offense dropped from a very good start. TSN: 30th CSS: 22nd Overall ISS: TBD THN: 31st CB: 30th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...seppe_Dec7.mp3 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...eppe_Dec13.mp3 http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/G...569/story.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXLLY1tKYBc http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...olverines.html http://hockeyprospect.com/index.php/...nhl-draft.html http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/...orses-and-phil http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...with_michigan/

43. Cristoval "Boo" Nieves: Center/ Left Winger Height: 6'3" Weight: 185lbs Born: January 23rd, 1994 Birthplace: Baldwinsville, New York Indiana Ice (USHL): 4GP 0G 2A 2P, +2, 0PIM NHL Comparable: Joe Nieuwendyk / Chris Kreider Projection: Top Nine Forward Favorite Team: Los Angeles Fun Fact: He plays the drums and guitar. Originally Posted by The Skinny When you start to describe Cristoval Nieves, you can't help but get excited. He is a big powerful forward that has incredibly soft hands, blazing speed that allows him to blow by defenders and a hockey IQ that makes him know how he is going to beat defenders before he even picks up the puck. Why then, is he not a lock for the first round? The answer is one that most prep school hockey players face. Nieves has been playing against a relatively weak level of competition thus far. Luckily, Boo has recently joined one of the best teams in the USHL in the Indiana Ice and could really showcase his talent if the Ice make a strong playoff push. Internationally he hasn't looked out of place and at times even looked better than his teammate Alex Galchenyuk. As a pass first type of player, Cristoval needs to be a bit more selfish and work on shooting the puck more. Given that he posted 43 goals in just 23 games a year ago, he is certainly capable of putting the puck in the back of the net. Boo makes the players around him better and isn't afraid to go into the dirty areas to help his team win. He is a great character guy and has been described as "one of the best skaters to come through prep school hockey In the seven years he has been there" by his former Kent High School head coach- Matt Herr. Having said all that, whoever takes Nieves will have to be patient as he is already committed to a very good Michigan University program. It also worth noting that his rights are held by the OHL's Niagra Ice Dogs. Although he will have a better chance to work on his physical game in the NCAA, playing for a potential memorial cup winner isn't a bad backup option. He is still very RAW at this point and for all of his strengths, he still has a lot to learn. Proving he can develop his game against bigger and stronger players will definitely be a challenge. I also wouldn't underestimate having a friend like JVR in Philadelphia to turn to for advice. TSN: 51st CSS: 27th NA ISS: TBD THN: 55th CB: 50th http://www.thepipelineshow.com/clips...eves_Feb13.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile...al-boo-nieves/ http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=7268 http://www.nyhockeyjournal.com/news/...o-lievable.php http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...orhockey,wp948 http://unitedstatesofhockey.com/2012...ieves-to-ushl/ http://thehockeynews.com/articles/29...ttraction.html http://examiner.com/hockey-in-nation...key-and-school

44. Malcom Subban: LH Goaltender Height: 6'2" Weight: 188lbs Born: December 21st, 1993 Birthplace: Rexdale, Ontario Belleville Bulls (OHL): 39GP 2.50GAA, 0.923S% NHL Comparable: Henrik Lundqvist / Marc-André Fleury Projection: Franchise Goaltender Originally Posted by The Skinny: Malcom is an extremely athletic butterfly style goaltender that follows the play very well. He can read defenders and position himself accordingly. His mix of positional play and athleticism makes him a very intriguing prospect. When he plays he is arguably the best goaltender in the draft and it shows with his 0.930 save percentage. In addition to save percentage he has a respectable 2.500 GAA and has won 25 games while only losing 14 playing for the Bulls. That is, when he is healthy. Subban has already suffered groin and ankle injuries already this early in his career. Anytime you hear about a goaltender with injuries or agility issues at a young age, it's alarming to say the least. Another red flag is the inexperience that Malcom Subban has. He started much later than most prospects at the age of 12. He has done a lot in the 6 years between the pipes and has obviously developed quicker than most goaltenders. Still, he has a long road ahead of him in terms of development. He is still a project at this point and definitely has scouts divided. He has had a lot of ups and downs thus far and a very risky pick for someone looking in the first round. Malcom isn't as polished as other goaltenders and needs time to develop. Still, his high ceiling is very attractive to several teams. Finally, those who are expecting a PK clone will be very disappointed. He has a much different personality. Malcom is very sound positionally and has an active stick. He doesn't give you a whole lot to shoot at and has the ability to make unbelieveable saves. He has accumulated a lot fans and will continue to represent his country. I wouldn't be surprised if someone with two first round picks takes a flyer on him. Very high risk/reward player. TSN: 25th CSS: 1st NA ISS: TBD THN: 48th CB: 8th http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=610977 http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...ubban_Mar6.mp3 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-malcolm-subban/ http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=373987 http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey...s-within-reach http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/jrh...203716487.html

45. Gemel Smith: Center Height: 5'11" Weight: 161lbs Born: April 16th, 1994 Birthplace: Toronto, ON Owen Sound Attack (OHL): 68GP 21G 39A 60P, +9, 51PIM NHL Comparable: Brad Marchand / Daniel Briere Projection: Top Six Winger The Skinny: It's not hard to become a fan of the explosive, offensive, and elusive Gemel Smith. Smith is a crafty center that can ignite any team. He has exceptional wheels that allow him to blow past defenders and excellent vision that allows him to find the open man and make the guys around him better. He is almost impossible to strip of the puck and makes you pay with his slick and underrated shot. Obviously teams have to be aware of Smith when he is on the ice because he consistently uses his offensive instincts to his advantage. All the while, he plays a 300 foot game and is defensively reliable. Unfortunately, what Smith makes up for in heart and character he lacks in size. He is incredibly tenacious and energetic but has had a lot of problems playing against bigger, stronger defencemen in the OHL. Smith can never force himself to grow but if anyone in this draft class were to use his small stature as an advantage and not a weakness, it's Smith. He is so good positionally, so elusive and so hard to knock off the puck; I don't see Smith being held out of the NHL. His penalty killing ability alone should warrant some NHL icetime. In his second full OHL season, Smith has put up more than respectable numbers. They arne't outstanding numbers but they are respectable. He has had to battle his way up the depth chart so his totals aren't as high as a player that has consistenly seen first line ice-time. With this in mind, he is only third on his team in scoring and as a smaller player that usually isn't a great sign. I definitely think Smith has it in him to be a top 6 forward at the NHL level with the way he plays the game. Taking a smaller player is always a risk but Smith brings so many other attributes to his game that most smaller skilled forwards lack. TSN: TBD CSS: 37th NA ISS: TBD THN: 46th CB: 25th http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...clean_Mar3.mp3 http://www.attackhockey.com/video/in...94fc40ba4cb010 http://dansallows.com/player-profile-gemel-smith/ http://dansallows.com/interview-gemel-smith/ http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/story/?id=381034 http://www.attackhockey.com/video/index/id/1328188726 http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp3408 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fdb2CDgEXQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bER_997u7EM

46. Damon Severson: RH Defenceman Height: 6'2" Weight: 200lbs Born: August 7th, 1994 Birthplace: Melville, SK Kelowna Rockets (WHL): 56GP 7G 30A 37P, +6, 80PIM NHL Comparable: Johnny Boychuk Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: I'm probably going to get jumped on for having Damon Severson ranked ahead of teammate Colton Sissons, but let me remind you of a few things first. First, Severson is almost a full year younger with a birthday in August. Second, he has almost put up as many points as a defenceman in fewer games. Third, his plus-minus was much better and the best amonst all Kelowna defencemen. Finally, he continues to develop at a much steeper curve and even warranted a spot on Canada's U-18 team. Considering he was playing house league during his Bantam draft year, he has pretty much come out of nowhere. Severson is a big defenceman that usually plays a very steady and safe game but still has some offensive potential to his game. He makes a good first outlet pass and can really hammer the puck with his slapshot but is never going to be a slick puck rusher or an offensive stud at the NHL level. Damon can log a ton of minutes and looks good doing so. He is suprisingly mobile for a big guy but is still very raw at this point. The biggest knock that most people have on Severson is that he doesn't really stand out despite his big frame. He isn't going to wow you on any given night but when you look up at the scoresheet you see that he has produced offensively while allowing very little for opposing teams. If he was a forward, that reasoning would be valid, but considering he is a defenceman I don't mind that he isn't noticeable every single night. I think anyone taking Severson in the first will have a project but if he lasts to the middle of the second round he could be an absolute steal much like former Rockets Defencemen Shea Weber and Duncan Keith. TSN: 45th CSS: 48th NA ISS: TBD THN: 65th CB: 43rd http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/juniorhoc...rhockey,wp7170 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BheIQO56V_c http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd5mOiEJses http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Apr7.mp3

47. Colton Sissons: RH Center Height: 6'1" Weight: 189lbs Born: November 5th, 1993 Birthplace: Vancouver, BC Kelowna Rockets (WHL): 58GP 26G 15A 41P, -13, 62PIM NHL Comparable: Ryan Kesler / Mike Richards Projection: Second Line Center Fun Fact: Has played with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins The Skinny: It pains me to have Sissons so low on my list, but offensively I just don't see him being as good as some scouts suggest. I mean, he has the potential to be that great two-way centerman that has basically come out of nowhere and is a feel good story behind it. Having said that, he has failed to produce more than he did last year and projects to be more of a shutdown centerman than a two-way center. I don't get how people can compare him to Mike Richards when Richards put up 87 points in his draft year. He plays the same way but doesn't have the offensive instincts to become an "elite" player. Now that I got that out of my way, you can't help but fall in love with the kid the more you watch him. He is a great character kid that deserved to wear the "C" for the Kelowna Rockets this year. He is very intelligent on the ice and leads by example each and every night. He plays hard and battles in front of the net. Colton has a great work ethic and will be a good trooper for any NHL team looking to add a depth guy. Sissons can play the body and has shown an edge in his game at times. He plays the powerforward game that teams are looking for and at this point projects to be a relatively safe pick but probably projects to be a third line center on a good team. Another thing that worries scouts is his first couple of steps and footspeed. He doesn't have a bad set of wheels but will need to work on his speed in order to make the next level. Sissons also has a fairly weak plus/minus and relatively low assist totals. I don't see these as huge question marks given that he is always matched up against other teams top lines and doesn't usually have the option of using his linemates to the best of his advantage. TSN: 33rd CSS: 14th NA ISS: 23rd THN: 40th CB: N/A http://dansallows.com/player-profile-colton-sissons/ http://dansallows.com/interview-colton-sissons/ http://thehockeywriters.com/colton-s...ay-to-the-top/ http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=6476 http://www.ryanwatters.ca/sports-dri...lton-sissions/ http://www.whl.ca/video/index/id/2d4...b4bcfb92a7a23f http://www.castanet.net/video/1627/colton-sissons/ http://whl-from-above.blogspot.ca/20...n-sissons.html

48. Calle Andersson: RH Defenceman Height: 6'1" Weight: 201lbs Born: May 16th, 1994 Birthplace: Limhamn, SWE Färjestad J20 (SuperElit): 49GP 12G 24A 36P, 56PIM NHL Comparable: Mike Green / Jonas Brodin Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: Probably one of the biggest sleepers of the draft is Färjestad's Calle Andersson. Playing alongside Ludvig Bystrom, Andersson has had the benefit of catching the eye of several NHL scouts. He is a smooth skating defender that reads the play extremely well and can do it all on the ice. Calle moves the puck with ease and can do so with forwards on the forecheck. He has exceptional gap control and gets his stick into passing lanes and can really help his team with the transition game. Andersson also adds a great deal of character and emotion to the blueline and usually sparks his teams offensive and defensive game. He can throw a big hit, run a powerplay and tends to excel under big games. He can shoot the puck quickly through traffic and plays a tremendous all-around game. He definitely has that explosiveness in his game that allows him to dictate the game offensively but hasn't had a whole lot of opportunity to showcase his talent against older competition. Calle has a relatively late birthday and will only continue to get better. He is also playing behind a defensive group that features two of the best european defencemen in Oscar Klefbom and Jonas Brodin. Given Färjestad's history with defencemen, you would have to think that they know how to scout defencemen. He is an incredibly intelligent defender that could be an absolute steal in the later rounds. TSN: N/A CSS: 15th EU ISS: 48th THN: 87th CB: N/A http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...cLean_Apr7.mp3 http://www.albinshockeyblogg.com/201...andersson.html http://www.hockeymagasinet.com/2011/...x-nya-spelare/ http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/player/...dersson/17520/ http://twitter.com/#!/CalleAndersson4

49. Emil Lundberg: Left Winger Height: 6'4" Weight: 209lbs Born: September 17th, 1993 Birthplace: Katrineholm, SWE Södertälje (Allsvenskan): 51GP 6G 12A 18P, +1, 12PIM NHL Comparable: Johan Franzen Projection: Top Nine Forward The Skinny: As you can probably tell by now, I really like my Swedish players in the draft. I think that overall they have done an exceptional job focusing on individual skillsets over the past few years and will only continue to become an even better hockey nation over the next few years. Lundberg definitely fits the bill of being one of those Swedish sleepers that Detroit picks up and turns out to be one of the best prospects outside the NHL. Emil is a big physical forwards that battles through checks and plays a gritty powerful game that can't go overlooked. He has outproduced Filip Forsberg thus far in the Allsvenskan and raised his game during the playoffs. Obviously he is older and has played a lot more minutes than Forsberg but he definitely deserves more credit. I don't want to suggest he will be as good as Forsberg but he is a good prospect in his own right. He is a versatile player that can play the powerplay, the penalty kill and play physical in order to spark his team. He is strong on the puck and can power through the opposition. He has historically been an offensive player for his respective teams and should be able to translate his offensive game to the SEL if he is given time to work on his game and play against better competition. Lundberg still needs to work on his footspeed to keep up with smaller forwards and won't be able to rely so heavily on his power game at the next level. He is a very exciting prospect to keep an eye on and likely a player that is available in the third round at this years draft. I think he is just bursting with potential and likely a key character guy for many years to come. Lundber does all the little things that will help his team win and a great selection for any NHL team that drafts him in June. I think his early birthday has made a lot of scouts overlook him and could be passed over for wingers that are quicker, younger and more skilled. TSN: N/A CSS: 44th EU ISS: TBD THN: N/A CB: N/A http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...Lean_Feb18.mp3 http://dansallows.com/interview-emil-lundberg/ http://www.svenskafans.com/hockeyzon...SK-436331.aspx http://ekuriren.se/nyheter/strangnas...-mot-sitt-****

50. Ville Pokka: RH Defenceman Height: 6'0" Weight: 198lbs Born: June 3rd, 1994 Birthplace: Tornio, FIN Karpat (SM-liiga): 35GP 0G 3A 3P, -3, 12PIM NHL Comparable: Anton Stralman Projection: Top Four Defenceman The Skinny: I know that the WJC is a very small sample size but I couldn't help but come away as a Ville Pokka fan after watching on the international ice. He was 6th amongst all defencemen in scoring despite not even being on the draft radar prior to the tournament. He might not have the offensive numbers in the SM-liiga but has exceeded all expectations against players his own age. He is still learning the pro game and has yet to show off his explosiveness at the next level. Pokka is a great all around defenceman that has a dynamic quality about him that could see him taken early in the second round in June. He is still young and makes a great first pass. He is small for a defenceman by NHL standards, so he will need to bulk up in order to play against bigger forwards at the NHL level. Still, he is young and has continues to improve each time I see him. Pokka has a lot of poise with the puck and is best known for his decision making. Ville has a wicked one-timer and always seems to be able to keep the puck in at the opposing blueline. He sees the ice exceptionally well and plays a puck position game that leads to a smart and positionally sound defensive game. He might not have the flashy offensive tools that scouts look for in the first round but he is capable of getting the job done. TSN: 31st CSS: 7th EU ISS: TBD THN: 28th CB: N/A http://thepipelineshow.com/clips/sea...lean_Dec17.mp3 http://www.thescoutingreport.org/201...-rankings-130/ http://www.draftsite.com/nhl/player/ville-pokka/17149/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNZAl0xIMrg

[DousedInOil]

Mock Draft will be posted here.

1. Edmonton Oilers - Nail Yakupov (RW)
Oilers grabs the BPA that has been miles ahead of his draft class. Turns the big three into the fearsome foursome.
2. Columbus BlueJackets - Ryan Murray (D)
Columbus builds from the backend out and takes the very safe Murray. He will anchor the blueline for the next 10-15 years.
3. Montreal Canadiens - Alex Galchenyuk (C)
At the end of the day, character wins and the Canadiens overlook his injuries. Big center they need.
4. New York Islanders - Mathew Dumba (D)
Islanders need a defenceman and Dumba brings the emotion that Garth Snow looks for in a pick. High character.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - Filip Forsberg (C)
Toronto needs to get better right away so I don't know if Toronto keeps this pick. Big forward and suprised he's there.
6. Anehim Ducks - Griffin Reinhart (D)
Anaheim needs defence and Reinhart would compliment Fowler better than Rielly. His size is welcomed and brings character.
7. Minnesota Wild - Teuvo Teravainen (W)
Obviously the Wild love the Fins and the small winger has a lot of skill and would look good alongside Granlund.
8. Carolina Hurricanes - Mikhail Grigorenko (C)
The big Russian center is finally taken and goes the same spot that Couturier fell to last year. Will have time to develop.
9. Winnipeg Jets - Morgan Rielly (D)
Jets are surprised to see the best playmaking defenceman drop to them at nine. Would look good with bigger Bogosian/Byfuglien.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning - Jacob Trouba (D)
Trouba and Hedman on the same pairing would cause hell for other teams.
11. Washington Capitals (From Colorado) - Radek Faksa (C)
Grabs a big center with oodles of character, something that Washington desperately needs.
12. Buffalo Sabres - Zemgus Girgensons (C)
Buffalo adds a big center to their top 6 that can score goals and do it all.
13. Dallas Stars - Olli Maatta (D)
Stars could use some consistency on the backend and haven't been shy about fins in the past.
14. Calgary Flames - Derrick Pouliot (D)
Flames like WHL players and Pouliot already plays with their top prospect.
----------------------------------------------------
15. Ottawa Senators - Cody Ceci (D)
Already plays for the Ottawa 67's and is that big defenceman that continues to get better every year.
16. Washington Capitals - Hampus Lindholm (D)
After grabbing a big center they take an upgrade on defence. Lindholm would look good.
17. San Jose Sharks - Sebastian Collberg (RW)
Sharks already has size in the lineup. They could add someone who can finish and quick. Doesn't have to jump right in.
18. Chicago Blackhawks - Matt Finn (D)
Finn is a leader for any team he plays for. They need a dman more than a goaltender.
19. Tampa Bay Lightning - Malcom Subban (G)
Lightning need a goaltender of the future. Subban still far away but seems to be a fast learner.
20. Philadelphia Flyers - Slater Koekkoek (D)
Koekkoek fell because of injuries but would look here. Flyers defence killed them during the playoffs.
21. Buffalo Sabres - Brendan Gaunce (C)
Buffalo keeps adding good old Canadian kids. Thought about taking him earlier but surprised he is still here.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins - Tom Wilson (W)
Pens get a player that can protect the stars and open ice for more talented players. Doesn't have to be a star.
23. Florida Panthers - Tomas Hertl (C)
Panthers love those big centers and Hertl could be a steal this late in the draft.
24. Boston Bruins - Brady Skjei (D)
Bruins add another guy who is big and plays an effective game. Very high risk but could look great with Hamilton down the road.
25. St. Louis Blues - Pontus Aberg (W)
The Blues are already stacked on defence and add one of the fastest players in the draft.
26. Vancouver Canucks - Ludvig Bystrom (D)
The Canucks seem to love their swedish defencemen. You can never have too many defencemen.
27. Phoenix Coyotes - Scott Laughton (C)
Coyotes grab a guy who competes at both ends of the ice. They seem to like Canadians that do well internationally.
28. New York Rangers - Stefan Matteau (W)
His father played for the Rangers and would add some size along the wing.
29. New Jersey Devils - Andrei Vasilevski (G)
Brodeur isn't going to be playing forever and the Devils seem to favor Russians.
30. Los Angeles Kings - Dalton Thrower (D)
The Kings get a player that logs a ton of minutes and they just continue to steal prospects late in the draft.
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31. Columbus Blue Jackets - Oscar Dansk (G)
Columbus looks to add the goaltender of the future and Dansk has boatloads of talent.
32. Edmonton Oilers - Henrik Samuelsson (W)
Edmonton goes for the local flavor. He adds some size and grit that we are lacking in the top 6.

[Johnny Bravo]

Awesome Job. Thanks for the hard work

[Ganz]

Awwww yeah!

Random thoughts:
- I don't buy the "this is a weak draft" arugment - generally speaking
- Griffin Reinhart is the best name in the draft.
- There are a ton of Oiler fans in this draft
- Stop pumping Thrower's tires , we need him to miraculously fall to 32
- Saw Maata when I was in London; strong and mobile is what I can say. Top 15 IMO
- Glad to see Galchenyuk in top 5; he is that good.
- Also want to see Frk at 32 *shakes fist* [I think Detroit takes him]
-


Will edit more

[Lacaar]

My god great job man.

[Cam98]

very good job!!

[oilvision]

Awesome work

[Petro Points]

So the Edm Oilers are the favorite team of Faksa and Teravainen...

Dumba is a Flames fan .. Ok im over him .. no trading down to get you sir!!

Very informative... I somehow assumed Subban would be the clearcut #1 goalie drafted .. Looks like there are others.

[I am the Liquor]

Wow. Really impressive. Lots of work went into this.

Good job.

[Vdhawan89]

Great job!

How would you rank the deepness and overall strength of this draft compared to previous years?

[Joseppi]

Incredible work DIO!

Only went through the top 15, but I'm going to have to make time to go through the rest. This should go on the prospects board also, without question!

[Happy Hallidays]

Well haven't read the thread yet, but I would like to say it is a win because of the inclusion of Resurrection one of the best songs of the year!!!

[DousedInOil]

Originally Posted by Happy Hallidays

Well haven't read the thread yet, but I would like to say it is a win because of the inclusion of Resurrection one of the best songs of the year!!!

Its pretty awesome. Ive been listening to it on random for the entire day lol.

[Jepprey]

Loved it DIO! Tryhard!

This was great though.. Can't believe you went through that many players! Props!

[DousedInOil]

Originally Posted by HallsgotTigerBlood

Awesome Job. Thanks for the hard work

Originally Posted by Lacaar

My god great job man.

Originally Posted by Cam98

very good job!!

Originally Posted by kevin3000

Awesome work

Originally Posted by I am the Liquor

Wow. Really impressive. Lots of work went into this.

Good job.

Originally Posted by Joseppi

Incredible work DIO!

Only went through the top 15, but I'm going to have to make time to go through the rest. This should go on the prospects board also, without question!

Thanks everyone! Glad you enjoyed the read. More to come!

[ChefTO]

Great Job!!

I love how we will get Yakupov...

32 any of Wilson Laughton Thrower plus Hank Sam-wilson! maybe with our 3rd or if we can get an additional 2nd!

[DousedInOil]

Originally Posted by Vdhawan89

Great job!

How would you rank the deepness and overall strength of this draft compared to previous years?

Each draft is different. I mean you can see different points in different drafts where players seem to drop off. I still think overall it is a very strong draft but scouts haven't really taken to it with the amount of injuries that have happened. Yakupov is clearly on his own level. It would go something like this:

Yakupov
--------- (drop)
Grigorenko -> Forsberg
--------- (drop)
Trouba -> Faksa
--------- (drop)
Gaunce -> Koekoek
--------- (drop)
Thrower -> Hertl
--------- (drop)
Dansk -> Maidens
--------- (drop)
Schmaltz -> Winther

Originally Posted by Jepprey

Loved it DIO! Tryhard!

This was great though.. Can't believe you went through that many players! Props!

I will have another 20 players added once I get the time to work on it a bunch more. It might take a couple of days to get it all together though.

Originally Posted by Petro Points

So the Edm Oilers are the favorite team of Faksa and Teravainen...

Dumba is a Flames fan .. Ok im over him .. no trading down to get you sir!!

Very informative... I somehow assumed Subban would be the clearcut #1 goalie drafted .. Looks like there are others.

He very well could be but im not a huge fan of his game, his development and his injury history.

Originally Posted by Ganz

Awwww yeah!

Random thoughts:
- I don't buy the "this is a weak draft" arugment - generally speaking
- Griffin Reinhart is the best name in the draft.
- There are a ton of Oiler fans in this draft
- Stop pumping Thrower's tires , we need him to miraculously fall to 32
- Saw Maata when I was in London; strong and mobile is what I can say. Top 15 IMO
- Glad to see Galchenyuk in top 5; he is that good.
- Also want to see Frk at 32 *shakes fist* [I think Detroit takes him]
-


Will edit more

1. This is not a weak draft- just lots of injuries. Thats why Galchenyuk and Frk are being overlooked.

2. Maata played very well at the end of the season and has been a beast in the playoffs. If he played this way all year he would be higher (and given his age he will probably develop towards this) but he still had times where he was unspectacular earlier on with the Knights.

3. Thrower would be a top 10 pick if he was a few inches taller. I don't see him slipping outside the first round.

[ChefTO]

I have been chatting with a bunch of non oiler fans, and they've mentioned a burke like deal where we go after both Sarnia boys...

What would it take in your mind or if its even a possibilty?

Hall Gagner Plante to T.O or NYI

5th overall Gardiner plus

4th overall Hamonic 2nd rd 2012

Thoughts? am I dreaming?

lineup of:

Harti RNH Ebs
Hemsky Galy Yak

Smid Petry
Schultz Hamonic
Whitney (signed J. Schultz

Dreaming...

[YakuBOT]

This is excellent. Thanks.

[RipsADrive]

Wow nicely done! I was amazed at how much work you had done as I scrolled down.

I've only looked at Yakupov and Grig so far but I'm interested in reading through the rest when I'm able.

[Tyrolean]

There's going to be players equal and perhaps better than #1. You don't know who exactly but there always is. Hope the Oilers find a gem after #1.

[MoneyGuy]

Dousedinoil is my hero, and I'm not easily impressed.

Several of those players named the Oilers as their favourite team.

[Johnny Bravo]

Originally Posted by ChefTO

I have been chatting with a bunch of non oiler fans, and they've mentioned a burke like deal where we go after both Sarnia boys...

What would it take in your mind or if its even a possibilty?

Hall Gagner Plante to T.O or NYI

5th overall Gardiner plus

4th overall Hamonic 2nd rd 2012

Thoughts? am I dreaming?

lineup of:

Harti RNH Ebs
Hemsky Galy Yak

Smid Petry
Schultz Hamonic
Whitney (signed J. Schultz

Dreaming...

Knowing Burke, He want's to win now. That being said I wonder if we could persuade him into trading that pick. For Sure I would offer Gagner, Paarjvi +. He get's and upgrade at center ice. And we get Yakupovs best friend. Doubt it will happen though.

*Edit: No way are we trading Hall for gardiner and 5th overall. take Hall out and I'll take that proposal more serious.