2005 Top 30 Prospects

[cvandenberg]

I have posted many lists and have followed the 2005 draft for awhile now as I am tracking 2006. I collect minor league hockey cards and have already accummulated cards of Crosby, Brule, Latendresse, Kindl and many other of the 05 eligible players. One guy everyone forgets about is Ryan Wilson of St. Michael's (OHL). He had a great season (over 30 points) and can hit like crazy. He also was one of their top playoff scorers. Here is my top 30 heading into 2004-05:

1. Sidney Crosby, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)
2. Gilbert Brule, C, Vancouver (WHL)
3. Vitaly Anikeenko, D, Yaroslavl (Russia)
4. Guillaume Latendresse, LW, Drummondville (QMJHL)
5. Teemu Lakkso, D, Helsinki (Finland)
6. Jakub Kindl, D, Czech Republic (sorry skipped him on my list)
7a. Daniel Bertram, C, Boston College (NCAA)
7b. Chris Durand, C, Seattle (WHL)
8. Jack Johnson, D, US Under 18 Team
9. Tuukka Rask, G, Tampere (Finland)
10. Andrew Cogliano, C, St. Michael's Jr. A (OPJHL)
11. JP Levasseur, G, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
12. Gennady Churilov, LW, Russia
13. Jakub Vojta, D, Czech Republic
14. Bobby Ryan, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)
15. Ryan O'Marra, C/LW, Erie (OHL)
16. Devin Setoguchi, C, Saskatoon (WHL)
17. Vyacheslav Buravchikov, D, Russia
18. Christopher Gawlick, F, Germany
19. Matt Lahoff, D, Kitchener (OHL)
20. Ryan Wilson, D, St. Michael's (OHL)
21. Risto Korhonen, D, Kartpat (Finland)
22. Alex Bourret, RW, Lewiston (QMJHL)
23. Jack Skille, LW, US Under 18 Team
24. Niklas Bergfors, F, Sweden
25. Evan Brophey, C, Barrie (OHL)
26. Marc Staal, D, Sudbury (OHL)
27. Ryan Mior, G, PEI (QMJHL)
28. Mike Gauthier, D, Prince Albert (WHL)
29. Blair Jones, LW, Red Deer (WHL)
30. Kyle Bailey, RW, Portland (WHL)

Some who barely missed the list:

Luc Bourdon, D, Val D'Or; Jason Lawrence, RW, US under 17 Team; Denis Istomin, F, Russia; David Kuchejda, F, Czech Republic; Marek Bartanus, F, Slovakia; Alexander Salak, G, Czech Republic; Carey Price, G, Tri-Cities; Alexandre Vincent, G, Chicoutimi; J.P. Paquet, D, Shawinigan; Michael Blunden, C, Erie; Howie Martin, C, Brampton; Mathieu Aubin, RW, Lewiston; Brock Bradford, C, BCJHL; Ilya Zubov, D, Russia; Alexander Sundstrom, C, Sweden; Devereaux Heshmatpour, D, Kitchener; Patrick MCNeill, D, Saginaw; Patrick Davis, RW, Kitchener; Scott Jackson, D, Seattle;

It is important for us to remember that this probably would have been the best draft in history if some of the late 87s were in it like Brian Little, Igor Makarov, Ondrej Fiala, Jesse Joensuu, Phil Kessel, Mathieu Carle, Nick Foligno (mike's son), Oskar Osala, Sergei Belyakov and many more.

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[Hiishawk]

Jakub Kindl- DF-Czech. Could be top 5. Redline has him at #3 right now.

 

[Guig]

Nice top 5 and a pretty interesting list

 

[moosefan]

Jakub Kindl- DF-Czech. Could be top 5. Redline has him at #3 right now.

Yeah Kindl at the very least should be in the top 10 but he is maybe the 2nd best d-man available in this draft. IMO Anikeenko is better than Kindl, but Kindl will be picked right after in the top 5 or top 7.

 

[Fedz]

Nick Foligno (mike's son)

Nick passed away not too long ago.

 

[cvandenberg]

nick still alive

What are you talking about? That was Lee Fogolin's son who played for Prince George not Mike Foligno's son who plays for the US Under 17 Team. You are going to give poor Mike a heart attack!

 

[88Nords19]

Marek Zagrapan?

Where's he fit in?

Thanks

 

[AEKaki]

Nick passed away not too long ago.

huh?
You're mixing them up maybe?

 

[#2]

I think Patrick McNeill should top of in the top 30

but other then that good list

 

[cvandenberg]

zagrapan not on list?

Zagrapan needs to show next year that he is more consistent. He would right now be on my others list. I am heitant to rank guys high just on one performance or one tournament. He has great potential but consistency next year will be needed. That is why Paquet didn't make my list. His showing at the U-17s was good, but his regular season was very inconsistent, as was Gauthiers.

 

[TheCrock]

Just so you know, Macias is already being touted as a 1st rounder.

 

[Patty Ice]

Alexander Sundstrom, C, Sweden

That's the kid I'm keepin my eye on partly due to his father being Patrik Sundstrom (one of my early favorites when I was little cuz he shared the same name ) and because his game looks to translate real well into the NHL, not unlike Alex Steen who is one of my favorites. Heck, his pops even gave him my middle name so I think I'm destined to really like this kid :lol

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

That is why Paquet didn't make my list. His showing at the U-17s was good, but his regular season was very inconsistent, as was Gauthiers.

I see it the other way around. Gauthier had a sub-par U-17, but logging top 4 minutes in the WHL as a 16 year old is impressive.

 

[Canadian]

What are you talking about? That was Lee Fogolin's son who played for Prince George not Mike Foligno's son who plays for the US Under 17 Team. You are going to give poor Mike a heart attack!

I know a person's death isn't a laughing matter, but the last sentence of yours is just hilarious.

 

[Kamsa]

Scott Jackson from Seattle will be a 1st rounder.

 

[cvandenberg]

Gauthier Top 4??

If Gauthier logged top 4 minutes, his stats are atrocious. I know stats aren't everything but there is NO WAY in a draft this deep, a guy who scores the amount of pts he did this year playing top 4 minutes should be ranked higher. I know he is a defenseman, but even for a 16 year old, a puck is bound to bounce off someone and ricochet into the net if you're on the ice enough! How do you explain the point total?

 

[Sabes]

I see it the other way around. Gauthier had a sub-par U-17, but logging top 4 minutes in the WHL as a 16 year old is impressive.

I'm from P.A and Gauthier did not log top 4 minutes. He was sharing 6th d-man duties with fellow rookie Jeff May. Ardelan, Young, Fritshaw, Schafer and Schlenker were all ahead of Gauthier.

 

[Newfie Bruin]

I have posted many lists and have followed the 2005 draft for awhile now as I am tracking 2006. I collect minor league hockey cards and have already accummulated cards of Crosby, Brule, Latendresse, Kindl and many other of the 05 eligible players. One guy everyone forgets about is Ryan Wilson of St. Michael's (OHL). He had a great season (over 30 points) and can hit like crazy. He also was one of their top playoff scorers. Here is my top 30 heading into 2004-05:

1. Sidney Crosby, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)
2. Gilbert Brule, C, Vancouver (WHL)
3. Vitaly Anikeenko, D, Yaroslavl (Russia)
4. Guillaume Latendresse, LW, Drummondville (QMJHL)
5. Teemu Lakkso, D, Helsinki (Finland)
6. Jakub Kindl, D, Czech Republic (sorry skipped him on my list)
7a. Daniel Bertram, C, Boston College (NCAA)
7b. Chris Durand, C, Seattle (WHL)
8. Jack Johnson, D, US Under 18 Team
9. Tuukka Rask, G, Tampere (Finland)
10. Andrew Cogliano, C, St. Michael's Jr. A (OPJHL)
11. JP Levasseur, G, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
12. Gennady Churilov, LW, Russia
13. Jakub Vojta, D, Czech Republic
14. Bobby Ryan, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)
15. Ryan O'Marra, C/LW, Erie (OHL)
16. Devin Setoguchi, C, Saskatoon (WHL)
17. Vyacheslav Buravchikov, D, Russia
18. Christopher Gawlick, F, Germany
19. Matt Lahoff, D, Kitchener (OHL)
20. Ryan Wilson, D, St. Michael's (OHL)
21. Risto Korhonen, D, Kartpat (Finland)
22. Alex Bourret, RW, Lewiston (QMJHL)
23. Jack Skille, LW, US Under 18 Team
24. Niklas Bergfors, F, Sweden
25. Evan Brophey, C, Barrie (OHL)
26. Marc Staal, D, Sudbury (OHL)
27. Ryan Mior, G, PEI (QMJHL)
28. Mike Gauthier, D, Prince Albert (WHL)
29. Blair Jones, LW, Red Deer (WHL)
30. Kyle Bailey, RW, Portland (WHL)

Some who barely missed the list:

Luc Bourdon, D, Val D'Or; Jason Lawrence, RW, US under 17 Team; Denis Istomin, F, Russia; David Kuchejda, F, Czech Republic; Marek Bartanus, F, Slovakia; Alexander Salak, G, Czech Republic; Carey Price, G, Tri-Cities; Alexandre Vincent, G, Chicoutimi; J.P. Paquet, D, Shawinigan; Michael Blunden, C, Erie; Howie Martin, C, Brampton; Mathieu Aubin, RW, Lewiston; Brock Bradford, C, BCJHL; Ilya Zubov, D, Russia; Alexander Sundstrom, C, Sweden; Devereaux Heshmatpour, D, Kitchener; Patrick MCNeill, D, Saginaw; Patrick Davis, RW, Kitchener; Scott Jackson, D, Seattle;

It is important for us to remember that this probably would have been the best draft in history if some of the late 87s were in it like Brian Little, Igor Makarov, Ondrej Fiala, Jesse Joensuu, Phil Kessel, Mathieu Carle, Nick Foligno (mike's son), Oskar Osala, Sergei Belyakov and many more.

Wow!! Not one mention of Daniel Ryder? I am shocked!! He could easily be a Top 25 pick next year.

Here is my Top 30
1. Sidney Crosby, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)
2. Gilbert Brule, C, Vancouver (WHL)
3. Guillaume Latendresse, LW, Drummondville (QMJHL)
4. Vitaly Anikeenko, D, Yaroslavl (Russia)
5. Teemu Lakkso, D, Helsinki (Finland)
6. Daniel Bertram, C, Boston College (NCAA)
7. Jakub Kindl, D, Czech Republic
8. Chris Durand, C, Seattle (WHL)
9. Andrew Cogliano, C, St. Michael's Jr. A (OPJHL)
10. Jack Johnson, D, US Under 18
11. Tuukka Rask, G, Tampere (Finland)
12. JP Levasseur, G, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
13. Gennady Churilov, LW, Russia
14. Devin Setoguchi, C, Saskatoon (WHL)
15. Jakub Vojta, D, Czech Republic
16. Christopher Gawlick, F, Germany
17. Bobby Ryan, RW, Owen Sound (OHL)
18. Jean-Philippe Paquet. D Shawinigan
19. Ryan O'Marra, C/LW, Erie (OHL)
20. Vyacheslav Buravchikov, D, Russia
21. Risto Korhonen, D, Kartpat (Finland)
22. Ryan Mior, G, PEI (QMJHL)
23. Alex Bourret, RW, Lewiston (QMJHL)
24. Jack Skille, LW, US Under 18 Team
25. Ryan Wilson, D, St. Michael's (OHL)
26. Devereaux Heshmatpour. D Kitchener
27. Marc Staal, D, Sudbury (OHL)
28. Daniel Ryder F Peterborough (OHL)
29. Mike Gauthier, D, Prince Albert (WHL)
30. Marek Zagrapan, F, Zlin (Slovakia)

HM
Matt Lashoff, D, Kitchener (OHL)
Nick Drazenovic, C, Prince George (WHL)
Luc Bourdon, D, Val D-Or (QMJHL)
Alexander Bumagin, LW, Russia
Brock Bradford, F, WHL

 

[Hiishawk]

Zagrapan was good not just in one tournament but all year for Slovakia. He was the catalyst for Tomanek (IMO) and is probably the best Slovak FW prospect since Gaborik.

 

[montreal]

Hensick, Sigalet and Stastny all could be late 1st or early 2nd round picks, imo.

 

[Hiishawk]

Hensick, Sigalet and Stastny all could be late 1st or early 2nd round picks, imo.

Possibly, of course. But if they were generally regarded as 2nd, and in Sigalet's case 3rd, round candidates in a weaker draft, I wouldn't be touting them as top 30 for next year at this point.

Of course the question is- will they pull a Fransson or will they pull a Booth?

 

[montreal]

Possibly, of course. But if they were generally regarded as 2nd, and in Sigalet's case 3rd, round candidates in a weaker draft, I wouldn't be touting them as top 30 for next year at this point.

Of course the question is- will they pull a Fransson or will they pull a Booth?

Well Hensick due to his size was considered a 2nd rounder, but with the skill level he has, a big season next year after an impressive freshmen year should help him get consideration for the 1st round, which is just an opinion, but he's a guy I could see move up, he's got the skill to, although with next years crop of prospects he will need a big season to push into the 1st round.

Sigalet was considered a 1st round pick early this year by ISS. I haven't seen Bowling Green yet, as they never show them on directv sports pack, which shows up to around 5 NCAA games on friday nights. Hopefully BG is shown this year, but from what I've read, he is impressive. A strong season could go a long way for him. Getting invited to Canada's U-20 would be a great start.

As for Fransson and Booth, I'm not sure what you mean. Both had injuries this year, but Booth missed a large chunck (12-13 games) of the 41-42 game season (or 35% give or take) but Booth was having a good season outside of weaker numbers due to injury. I'd love to see Booth fall to 84th, but I'd be shocked if that happened. Fransson I'm getting heat for making him the Habs pick in the writers mock draft, but I wouldn't be pissed if we got him, although back to back seasons with injuries has to bring questions of being too soft or fragile has to effect where he gets picked.

 

[Hiishawk]

As for Fransson and Booth, I'm not sure what you mean. Both had injuries this year, but Booth missed a large chunck (12-13 games) of the 41-42 game season (or 35% give or take) but Booth was having a good season outside of weaker numbers due to injury. I'd love to see Booth fall to 84th, but I'd be shocked if that happened. Fransson I'm getting heat for making him the Habs pick in the writers mock draft, but I wouldn't be pissed if we got him, although back to back seasons with injuries has to bring questions of being too soft or fragile has to effect where he gets picked.

I mean that both didn't opt in last year. Fransson had an excellent season which bolstered his standing for this draft but Booth really didn't improve at all, which hurt him (in the eyes of most scouts- I only saw one televised BG game plus his WJC performnce). Many observers felt that Hensick should have opted in in this weaker draft as he had had a great rookie year and had proven himself in the eyes of most scouts.

 

[montreal]

I mean that both didn't opt in last year. Fransson had an excellent season which bolstered his standing for this draft but Booth really didn't improve at all, which hurt him (in the eyes of most scouts- I only saw one televised BG game plus his WJC performnce). Many observers felt that Hensick should have opted in in this weaker draft as he had had a great rookie year and had proven himself in the eyes of most scouts.

Oh I see, forgot about the opt out for Booth. He did have a great Freshmen year, but this year missing a lot of time could have thrown him off. I really liked what I saw from him though, I like his powerful stride. The playoffs were a disappointment but the whole team seemed to fall apart.

Fransson I wonder what the injuries will do to his draft status, but seems like a great pick for some team. I didn't get to see any of Sweden's games at the wjc's, so I'm at a loss as to how he did other then stats.

Hensick maybe thinks he will get a little bigger? Just guessing, but it seems to be the major knock on him, and when you rack up the assists as a freshmen it's hard to think he wouldn't have been a top 40-50 pick and if a little bigger a sure 1st rounder. I was impressed when I saw him but it's hard to overlook his small frame which at the higher levels could be a problem.

 

[Newfie Bruin]

Zagrapan was good not just in one tournament but all year for Slovakia. He was the catalyst for Tomanek (IMO) and is probably the best Slovak FW prospect since Gaborik.

That is the problem with my draft. There are many players i have never seen, the majority being European. Zagrapan as an example. I have seen most of the others because they were in my home town for the World U-17's which by the way was superb!