One to watch is Ben Johnson. Didn't get much coverage playing in a small Michigan high school. Did so well at high school state tournament, he was named Mr Michigan (best high school player), the only other underclassman to do it was Justin Abdelkader of the Red Wings. Also was so impressive there that the Windsor Spitfires offered him a spot on the team, and said they think he will be the fastest skater in the OHL. Watch him go up in the ratings when he gets the exposure of the OHL.
Anyone know if Matheson will report to Shawinigan or he is going to USHL next year? Since Shawi is going to present Memorial Cup in 2012, is it a sufficient argument to make him come?
Seems like he's pretty set on the USHL and BC. heres a recent article on his USHL coach and a blurb about Matheson on the bottom.
Not one Swiss in your Top-100? Well they're mostly late risers, when they get scouted more during their draft year....
My Top-5 for the 2012 Draft looks like this:
1st Christoph Bertschy, F SC Bern Future - Shoots: R, Born: 5th April 1994
2nd Anthony Rouiller, D EHC Biel/Bienne Spirit - Shoots: R, Born: 14th February 1994
3rd Sandro Zangger, F GCK Lions - Shoots: R, Born: 27th August 1994
4th Robin Kuonen, G EHC Visp Lions - Catches: L, Born: 2nd March 1994
5th Sämi Kreis, D SC Bern Future - Shoots: L, Born 4th April 1994
In my eyes, both Bertschy and Rouiler should have the potential for the Top-100....
Not one Swiss in your Top-100? Well they're mostly late risers, when they get scouted more during their draft year....
My Top-5 for the 2012 Draft looks like this:
1st Christoph Bertschy, F SC Bern Future - Shoots: R, Born: 5th April 1994
2nd Anthony Rouiller, D EHC Biel/Bienne Spirit - Shoots: R, Born: 14th February 1994
3rd Sandro Zangger, F GCK Lions - Shoots: R, Born: 27th August 1994
4th Robin Kuonen, G EHC Visp Lions - Catches: L, Born: 2nd March 1994
5th Sämi Kreis, D SC Bern Future - Shoots: L, Born 4th April 1994
In my eyes, both Bertschy and Rouiler should have the potential for the Top-100....
My own observations are these: Nieves and Zharkov - especially the latter - are rated too high and Riley Barber is rated way too low. He should be ranked above Samuelson. Barber, if he were on NTDP, would be the best forward that they have.
Jon Gillies is rated too low. IF he played NTDP, he'd be their starter.
If Chlapik, even if he is a defenseman, is on that list then Ray Pigozzi and Zack Aston-Reese most certainly should be on it. Plus, I believe that either of those forwards are equally to more capable 2 way players than Danil Zharkov is.
And how did Frank Valtrano, Cody Payne and Mark Petacio all "fall off" of that list but Brady Vail remained?
Not one Swiss in your Top-100? Well they're mostly late risers, when they get scouted more during their draft year....
My Top-5 for the 2012 Draft looks like this:
1st Christoph Bertschy, F SC Bern Future - Shoots: R, Born: 5th April 1994
2nd Anthony Rouiller, D EHC Biel/Bienne Spirit - Shoots: R, Born: 14th February 1994
3rd Sandro Zangger, F GCK Lions - Shoots: R, Born: 27th August 1994
4th Robin Kuonen, G EHC Visp Lions - Catches: L, Born: 2nd March 1994
5th Sämi Kreis, D SC Bern Future - Shoots: L, Born 4th April 1994
In my eyes, both Bertschy and Rouiler should have the potential for the Top-100....
What is it with Swiss top young players being so smallish? I know that you can´t do anything about height, but the highest of these players listed is 5´11", which is still pretty small for a hockey player.
This is going to be a really deep draft! Wow a tonne of talent there. This may remind us all of the 2003 draft where you get a "Mike Richards" type late in the first round. This is a draft where you don't trade your first rounder, unless you're getting a really good NHL body back in return.
I have a bad feeling Burke is going to trade ours for a player to "win now"
My own observations are these: Nieves and Zharkov - especially the latter - are rated too high and Riley Barber is rated way too low. He should be ranked above Samuelson. Barber, if he were on NTDP, would be the best forward that they have.
Jon Gillies is rated too low. IF he played NTDP, he'd be their starter.
If Chlapik, even if he is a defenseman, is on that list then Ray Pigozzi and Zack Aston-Reese most certainly should be on it. Plus, I believe that either of those forwards are equally to more capable 2 way players than Danil Zharkov is.
And how did Frank Valtrano, Cody Payne and Mark Petacio all "fall off" of that list but Brady Vail remained?
hahaha, it is pretty crazy Edges7, but I came on here to post the exact same thing.
I think Riley Barber is easily one of the most underrated players for this draft. Maybe it is the USHL thing we have been talking about in another thread.
I sadly feel Boo Nieves is the most overrated player for this draft currently as he really hasnt shown much from his early hype of a year and a half ago. didnt make team USA and got drafted wayyyy low in the OHL draft really made me wonder what is going on with this kid.
As for Frankie Vatrano, I am not sure how this kid is left off the top 60 let alone 90. Big, solid, and skilled, he is in the J.T Miller mold here guys. The kid scores goals and plays tough, he should be no worse then a top 60 lock right now.
I think Mark Petaccio is going to skyrocket up the rankings by January or February. He is 6'3 190lbs and is solid on his feet. He has high end skill and will get much more icetime from Oshawa this year to showcase that. Should be a top 100 lock as of now as well.
Cody Payne is another kid I expected more from. I thought he would be a bit more offensively balanced, but again limited playing time and a limited role will do that for anyone. Kid has solid size and skills and should be a top 3 round pick in June. Gotta love the Florida kids.
Zacharey Aston Reese is another interesting kid that should start getting more recognition very soon. I believe he will be headed to the OHL this coming season?? could be wrong, but the kid is very exciting to watch and is definitely worth mentioning.
I will have to look again and see if mentioned, but Brian Hart from Phillips Exeter is getting massive buzz for next years draft. The kid is already being talked about as a top 30-50 pick currently, and that can only rise even more. Havent seen much of him yet, maybe someone who has can comment on Hart...thanks
I will list a few others in another post as for names to keep an eye on.
Another year and another lack of player(s) from GBR. One day someone will get drafted, what are the requirements?
It usually takes a while for the amateur system to develop players. Add about 15-20 years to date there was an influx of hockey rinks and/or interest in the sport. It's likely that the early wave will leave GBR as 14 or 15-year-olds to play in other countries as a finishing school before they enter pro hockey.
I will first start off with my usual amazingly biased comments about USA Hockey:
I stated back in 2009 and 2010, that the 2010 draft would be the best draft the country ever had, and I stood by my guns when everyone said I was biased and a fool, yet that is what happened.
Now the 2011 draft was a bump in the road compared to 2010, not gonna argue that, but the 2012 draft should ON PAPER be a better draft overall then 2011. There seems to be a higher end for this draft with many of the US kids, and I would venture to say we might even hit double digits for first round picks. Again this is me going out on a limb, but I do like the depth of this draft and where many of these kids are playing at as well.
Remember, the 2010 draft didnt have a top 10 American pick, but 11 Americans went from picks #11-30. With the 31st and 32nd picks as Americans as well. I think the 2012 draft might have a solid 3-5 top 10 picks from the US, something we havent seen from some time. Though things can and do change (see McColgan, Ambroz, Jacobs, Nieto), I like where our top ranked kids are playing and I like their chances of not dropping as well.
I commented on a few kids from the post above that were missing from the top 150 list, and I have a few more kids to spotlight as players to keep an eye on.
Troy Donnay - 6'7 185 - London Knights - kind of shocked that this monster isnt rated in the top 150. I know he is so very raw and has many holes in his game, but the truth is this kid is just to blessed with God given size and ability to not get drafted in the first 4 rounds. I am not saying he will go as high as fellow monster Jamie Oleksiak, but the Fenton, Mi native certainly will be rising up the charts once he starts getting more comfortable in his frame and his OHL league.
Grant Webermin -6'1 170 - Windsor Spitfires - not sure how this kid isnt on the top 150 list either, but Wiberman did have a solid freshman campaign in the OHL last year. Webermin will be getting more responsibility this year and has the skating and offensive ability to make some noise and move up the draft rankings by mid year.
Brendan Silk - 6'1 170 - USNDP -This is the kid that I am absolutely excited about and am in shock he isnt on the top 150 list. Yes he was injured very early on last year, but this kid is easily on par with Kerdiles, Vatrano, and Darcy as the most talented offensive players for the USNDP. If he can successfully bounce back from his major knee injury, I have full faith that Silk is a top 30 pick. Keep a serious eye on the Wakefield, MA native as he will be a huge riser like fellow USNDP Connor Murphy was this year.
Quentin Shore - 6'0 170 - USNDP - I did a double take and did not see the brother of Drew and Nick Shore on this list and that is a serious omission. This 94 class of the USNDP has a lot of serious talent and depth that will rival the output of this 2011 draft. Shore is no exception. He is crafty and skilled like his brother Nick, though on the lighter side he needs to bulk up some, but I have little doubt that this Shore follows in his older brothers footsteps as another top 3 round pick.
Trevor Morbeck -6'1 190 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds - Not sure how this kid isnt on the top 150 list, but rest assured he will go much higher then that next June. This past year some services had this kid in the top 10 for the 2012 draft, and though I am not sure he can go that high, his overall talent and more playing time this year will make him a very high draft pick in June. Keep watching for this kid as the Jackson, WI native, and former Team Illinois star will be a very nice prospect for the upcoming 2012 draft. Remember, Stefan Noesen went from 3 goals to 34 goals in his draft year, same rise for Morbeck imo.
Dennis Kravchenko - 5'9 160 - Kimball Prep - This former California Wave superstar made a pretty strange journey across the country landing at Kimball Prep on the East Coast. This small and superiorly skilled forward is one of the big wildcards for this draft. Depending on this years destination (Kimball Prep I would assume), it will be interesting to see how high this kid can go. He is insanely gifted and will need all those gifts to offset his smaller frame. Headed to Vermont in 2013, keep an eye on this sparkplug.
Grant Besse - 5'9 170 - benilde St-Margaret - Once touted as a top 15 pick for the 2012 draft, it seems Besse has been taking a backseat to fellow Minnesotan A.J Michaelson. But I would not count Besse out as he still has a skillset that tantalizes on lookers. He is undersized like Kravchenko, but if this kid lights up Minnesota highschool hockey this year, look out for Besse's name to be a top 90 lock for the draft.
these are just a few more names that I feel should be on the top 150 list as of now, and much can and will change they deserve to get some following at this point. Many more will rise and fall at this point, but I am very excited about the overall depth of USA Hockey and the highend numbers that we havent seen in a few years : Ebert, Galchenyuk, Trouba, Michaelson, Schmaltz, etc..
Last edited by AmericanDream: 06-28-2011 at 02:55 PM.
hahaha, it is pretty crazy Edges7, but I came on here to post the exact same thing.
I think Riley Barber is easily one of the most underrated players for this draft. Maybe it is the USHL thing we have been talking about in another thread.
I sadly feel Boo Nieves is the most overrated player for this draft currently as he really hasnt shown much from his early hype of a year and a half ago. didnt make team USA and got drafted wayyyy low in the OHL draft really made me wonder what is going on with this kid.
As for Frankie Vatrano, I am not sure how this kid is left off the top 60 let alone 90. Big, solid, and skilled, he is in the J.T Miller mold here guys. The kid scores goals and plays tough, he should be no worse then a top 60 lock right now.
I think Mark Petaccio is going to skyrocket up the rankings by January or February. He is 6'3 190lbs and is solid on his feet. He has high end skill and will get much more icetime from Oshawa this year to showcase that. Should be a top 100 lock as of now as well.
Cody Payne is another kid I expected more from. I thought he would be a bit more offensively balanced, but again limited playing time and a limited role will do that for anyone. Kid has solid size and skills and should be a top 3 round pick in June. Gotta love the Florida kids.
Zacharey Aston Reese is another interesting kid that should start getting more recognition very soon. I believe he will be headed to the OHL this coming season?? could be wrong, but the kid is very exciting to watch and is definitely worth mentioning.
I will have to look again and see if mentioned, but Brian Hart from Phillips Exeter is getting massive buzz for next years draft. The kid is already being talked about as a top 30-50 pick currently, and that can only rise even more. Havent seen much of him yet, maybe someone who has can comment on Hart...thanks
I will list a few others in another post as for names to keep an eye on.
Barber and Valtrano, I believe, are the best of the best in US players.
I'm not as sold on Payne as you are. I lost him when he went to Canada but I noticed that as players caught up to him in size and he started to get hit more, he faded. Now, don't get me wrong, his talent is obvious but he needs to get that edge back.
Were I to bet, ZAR will be back in Lincoln next season. I saw that he had dropped Jay Fee for Orr Group which, in my mind, puts an aura of doubt around whether he will return to the USHL. But I think the Brown commit is a real monkey wrench.
Ebert and Petaccio, btw, were the first two kids I really looked at in that birth year and thought they were pro hockey material. Ebert is just a solid player top to bottom and Petaccio just has that edge about him.
It usually takes a while for the amateur system to develop players. Add about 15-20 years to date there was an influx of hockey rinks and/or interest in the sport. It's likely that the early wave will leave GBR as 14 or 15-year-olds to play in other countries as a finishing school before they enter pro hockey.
I suppose to be fair, the EIHL only started in 2003 so it needs at least 10 years of stable growth. Suspect that one or two GBR players will sneak in at the end of the decade and then a more steady import next decade (20's)
Troy Donnay - 6'7 185 - London Knights - kind of shocked that this monster isnt rated in the top 150. I know he is so very raw and has many holes in his game, but the truth is this kid is just to blessed with God given size and ability to not get drafted in the first 4 rounds. I am not saying he will go as high as fellow monster Jamie Oleksiak, but the Fenton, Mi native certainly will be rising up the charts once he starts getting more comfortable in his frame and his OHL league.
This player has been quite the conundrum almost his entire career. I believe his mm year he was often partnered with Max Iafrate. You look at his size, strength and movement on one shift and are amazed at how well he plays and then the next shift he can't get one blade out of ther way of the other and he coughs up the puck.
I agree that if this player puts it together - and the Hunters are more than capable of helping him do so - he could go from "unknown" to first round.
Barber and Valtrano, I believe, are the best of the best in US players.
I'm not as sold on Payne as you are. I lost him when he went to Canada but I noticed that as players caught up to him in size and he started to get hit more, he faded. Now, don't get me wrong, his talent is obvious but he needs to get that edge back.
Were I to bet, ZAR will be back in Lincoln next season. I saw that he had dropped Jay Fee for Orr Group which, in my mind, puts an aura of doubt around whether he will return to the USHL. But I think the Brown commit is a real monkey wrench.
Ebert and Petaccio, btw, were the first two kids I really looked at in that birth year and thought they were pro hockey material. Ebert is just a solid player top to bottom and Petaccio just has that edge about him.
We will see about Reese, I hope he sticks in the USHL because we need more talented kids getting drafted out of the USHL! I pray Riley Barber stays as well, but he may be too tempted to go to the OHL....any news on Barber and if he is going to the O?
as for Petaccio and Ebert, both of those kids will be pro players. Both have the chance to make it directly after their draft. I think Petaccio as you stated has been groomed to be a pro, as long as he gets the icetime and performs, this kid is going to be a serious first round contender. Ebert should be a top 5 pick, and rightfully so.
the other wildard is Max Iafrate. If Max tones things down a bit and actually focuses his attention more on his offensive game, I think he can be another big riser for next June. Already blessed with pro size, Iafrate has the grit and toughness teams love. I can see Brian Burke drooling all over this kid and his truculence!
If Chlapik, even if he is a defenseman, is on that list then Ray Pigozzi and Zack Aston-Reese most certainly should be on it. Plus, I believe that either of those forwards are equally to more capable 2 way players than Danil Zharkov is.
And how did Frank Valtrano, Cody Payne and Mark Petacio all "fall off" of that list but Brady Vail remained?
, he is good prospect.
