Brock
Registered User
Well I used to do this a couple times a year, back in the day on these boards. But I got tired of doing both the top 50 lists and my mock drafts every year. So i decided to cut these out and go primarily with the mock drafts. But with no NHL, and the idea of mock drafts essentially cut out. And with me struggling to find things to do with my University holiday break, I thought I'd go back to my roots and put forth a top 50 prospect list. I've worked on this for the past week basically. I've given my indepth thoughts on the top 10, rather then the entire top 50, because quite frankly on my University break I couldn't find the motivation to simply write big blurbs on all 50 of these players. So I'm going to say, if you have any questions, or want to ask why I see that player that high, or why he's above this player, just ask and then I'll answer, rather then writing huge blurbs on every player.
1. Alexander Ovechkin
Possibly the obvious choice for the top prospect in the NHL. Ovechkin looks to be the perfect NHL specimen. Quick, powerful and a more complete player than Kovalchuk. Having a great year in Russia, as before leaving for the WJC’s, Ovechkin sat 6th in RSL scoring.
2. Kari Lehtonen
The debates are endless. Who’s better Kari Lehtonen or Marc Andre Fleury? Some can argue Fleury, but I will argue Lehtonen. Since coming to North America, he’s become one of the best backstops in the AHL at an early age. He’s ready for the NHL, once it decides to begin again.
3. Eyvgeni Malkin
Playing second fiddle to Ovechkin, Malkin himself has had a great season over in Russia. Before leaving for the WJC’s, Malkin sat 8th in RSL scoring. These two kids are very special players.
4. Marc Andre Fleury
Fleury is an excellent goalie and should prove to be a very competent NHL goaltender. Simply gets a bad rap for his performance at the world juniors last year, after an outstanding performance the year before. The confidence took a hit, but Fleury is here to stay.
5. Ryan Suter
Another common debate, Suter vs. Phaneuf as the top defenseman prospect in the NHL. Obviously, I’m on Suter’s side. I just love Suter’s defensive game. He’s calm, cooled and collected and never seems to make a mistake. But he’s also got an offensive game that’s waiting to be unleashed, he can skate, he can rush the puck up the ice. I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people at the World Juniors, with his offense.
6. Dion Phaneuf
The mean and vicious Phaneuf. Some argue that’s he completely pro ready and could step right into the NHL and be ready to take control. I completely disagree. I think that Phaneuf is going to go through a period where he might find the transition difficult, much like Mike Komisarek did. I like Phaneuf, but I still see him making mistakes defensively, whether it be going for the big hit, taking him out of play, making poor decisions with the puck. He seems to have brain blunders on the ice occasionally. But then again, I could be wrong and Phaneuf will step into the NHL and have no problem. Either way, I still take Suter.
7. Jeff Carter
Carter is the perfect blend of size and skill. He’s quick and his puck handling ability is top notch. And while he’s got a big body, he still remains mostly a finesse forward. That isn’t a knock against him however, as Carter is fine just the way he is.
8. Zach Parise
After exploding at the World Juniors last year, Parise was able to cement himself in the upper echelon of the prospect community. He’s continued his solid collegiate career into the AHL this season, as he’s been among the top of rookie scoring leaders all season. Step one of the transition complete.
9. Hannu Toivonen
Toivonen is the third and final goalie prospect inside my top 10. He’s closing the gap between himself and Lehtonen for reign over the Finnish goaltending future. Either way that country is set in net, however. Toivonen has also become one of the top netminders in the AHL at an early age.
10. Dustin Brown
Cracking the NHL last year was a big achievement for Brown. Even though he wasn’t put into a scoring role, Brown still worked hard to remain in the line up. His overall game saw great improvement. However this year in the AHL, Brown is back in a primary scoring role and he’s excelling to the 10th degree, among the AHL’s scoring leaders with a fantastic Manchester team.
11. Milan Michalek
12. Niklas Kronwall
13. Fedor Tyutin
14. Rostislav Olesz
15. Cam Barker
16. Maxime Ouellet
17. Thomas Vanek
18. Patrick O Sullivan
19. Mikko Koivu
20. Alvaro Montoya
21. Ryan Getzlaf
22. Mark Stuart
23. Mike Richards
24. Alexander Steen
25. Braydon Coburn
26. Anthony Stewart
27. Denis Grebeshkov
28. Henrik Lundqvist
29. Timofei Shishkanov
30. Danny Fritsche
31. Alexander Perezhogin
32. Anton Babchuk
33. David Leneveu
34. Scottie Upshall
35. Brent Seabrook
36. Keith Ballard
37. Ray Emery
38. Eric Fehr
39. Rob Schremp
40. Lauri Tukonen
41. Ilya Bryzgalov
42. Brent Burns
43. Noah Welch
44. Corey Perry
45. Cam Ward
46. Ryan Whitney
47. Chris Higgins
48. Ryan Miller
49. Alexander Polushin
50. Ryan Kesler
Just Missed: Loui Eriksson, Alexei Kaigorodov, Alexander Radulov, Kiril Koltsov, Steve Bernier, Marek Svatos, Lukas Krajicek, Jiri Hudler, Carlo Colaiacovo, Pascal Leclaire, Yann Denis, Josh Harding
Just a few thoughts on questions I expect to get right off the bat, so maybe I can answer them now instead of later...lol
- Niklas Kronwall is so high simply because I love the guy and I think he's an oustanding prospect, completely underrated. Mckeens had him at around 17 i believe in their latest ranking, so I have him even higher. He's great offensively, he's solid defensively, he's underrated physically (most people see him as only an offensive player and don't realize his all around game). I think he's going to be a special player.
- Brent Burns is also high because of how well his conversion back to defense has seemed to work. He's putting up great offensive stats, and that's very promising. Let's not forget that we are dealing with a 6'4, 200lb defenseman, who's extremely quick, a great puck handler, has a cannon shot, can take the body, and has the potential to be solid defensively. Sounds like a stud defenseman prospect doesn't it?
- Ryan Miller and Ryan Whitney are so low because I'm going to be honest and I'm not just a fan of them. Miller has been dominating the AHL for too long, and he's failed at his attempts at the NHL so far. Even when I've seen him play in the AHL, I've never come away impressed by his qualities. I personally think he's too slow for the NHL game. And Whitney, well he's a big offensive defenseman, who's not performing offensively or defensively. Not really something I look for in a player.
Let it begin...
1. Alexander Ovechkin
Possibly the obvious choice for the top prospect in the NHL. Ovechkin looks to be the perfect NHL specimen. Quick, powerful and a more complete player than Kovalchuk. Having a great year in Russia, as before leaving for the WJC’s, Ovechkin sat 6th in RSL scoring.
2. Kari Lehtonen
The debates are endless. Who’s better Kari Lehtonen or Marc Andre Fleury? Some can argue Fleury, but I will argue Lehtonen. Since coming to North America, he’s become one of the best backstops in the AHL at an early age. He’s ready for the NHL, once it decides to begin again.
3. Eyvgeni Malkin
Playing second fiddle to Ovechkin, Malkin himself has had a great season over in Russia. Before leaving for the WJC’s, Malkin sat 8th in RSL scoring. These two kids are very special players.
4. Marc Andre Fleury
Fleury is an excellent goalie and should prove to be a very competent NHL goaltender. Simply gets a bad rap for his performance at the world juniors last year, after an outstanding performance the year before. The confidence took a hit, but Fleury is here to stay.
5. Ryan Suter
Another common debate, Suter vs. Phaneuf as the top defenseman prospect in the NHL. Obviously, I’m on Suter’s side. I just love Suter’s defensive game. He’s calm, cooled and collected and never seems to make a mistake. But he’s also got an offensive game that’s waiting to be unleashed, he can skate, he can rush the puck up the ice. I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people at the World Juniors, with his offense.
6. Dion Phaneuf
The mean and vicious Phaneuf. Some argue that’s he completely pro ready and could step right into the NHL and be ready to take control. I completely disagree. I think that Phaneuf is going to go through a period where he might find the transition difficult, much like Mike Komisarek did. I like Phaneuf, but I still see him making mistakes defensively, whether it be going for the big hit, taking him out of play, making poor decisions with the puck. He seems to have brain blunders on the ice occasionally. But then again, I could be wrong and Phaneuf will step into the NHL and have no problem. Either way, I still take Suter.
7. Jeff Carter
Carter is the perfect blend of size and skill. He’s quick and his puck handling ability is top notch. And while he’s got a big body, he still remains mostly a finesse forward. That isn’t a knock against him however, as Carter is fine just the way he is.
8. Zach Parise
After exploding at the World Juniors last year, Parise was able to cement himself in the upper echelon of the prospect community. He’s continued his solid collegiate career into the AHL this season, as he’s been among the top of rookie scoring leaders all season. Step one of the transition complete.
9. Hannu Toivonen
Toivonen is the third and final goalie prospect inside my top 10. He’s closing the gap between himself and Lehtonen for reign over the Finnish goaltending future. Either way that country is set in net, however. Toivonen has also become one of the top netminders in the AHL at an early age.
10. Dustin Brown
Cracking the NHL last year was a big achievement for Brown. Even though he wasn’t put into a scoring role, Brown still worked hard to remain in the line up. His overall game saw great improvement. However this year in the AHL, Brown is back in a primary scoring role and he’s excelling to the 10th degree, among the AHL’s scoring leaders with a fantastic Manchester team.
11. Milan Michalek
12. Niklas Kronwall
13. Fedor Tyutin
14. Rostislav Olesz
15. Cam Barker
16. Maxime Ouellet
17. Thomas Vanek
18. Patrick O Sullivan
19. Mikko Koivu
20. Alvaro Montoya
21. Ryan Getzlaf
22. Mark Stuart
23. Mike Richards
24. Alexander Steen
25. Braydon Coburn
26. Anthony Stewart
27. Denis Grebeshkov
28. Henrik Lundqvist
29. Timofei Shishkanov
30. Danny Fritsche
31. Alexander Perezhogin
32. Anton Babchuk
33. David Leneveu
34. Scottie Upshall
35. Brent Seabrook
36. Keith Ballard
37. Ray Emery
38. Eric Fehr
39. Rob Schremp
40. Lauri Tukonen
41. Ilya Bryzgalov
42. Brent Burns
43. Noah Welch
44. Corey Perry
45. Cam Ward
46. Ryan Whitney
47. Chris Higgins
48. Ryan Miller
49. Alexander Polushin
50. Ryan Kesler
Just Missed: Loui Eriksson, Alexei Kaigorodov, Alexander Radulov, Kiril Koltsov, Steve Bernier, Marek Svatos, Lukas Krajicek, Jiri Hudler, Carlo Colaiacovo, Pascal Leclaire, Yann Denis, Josh Harding
Just a few thoughts on questions I expect to get right off the bat, so maybe I can answer them now instead of later...lol
- Niklas Kronwall is so high simply because I love the guy and I think he's an oustanding prospect, completely underrated. Mckeens had him at around 17 i believe in their latest ranking, so I have him even higher. He's great offensively, he's solid defensively, he's underrated physically (most people see him as only an offensive player and don't realize his all around game). I think he's going to be a special player.
- Brent Burns is also high because of how well his conversion back to defense has seemed to work. He's putting up great offensive stats, and that's very promising. Let's not forget that we are dealing with a 6'4, 200lb defenseman, who's extremely quick, a great puck handler, has a cannon shot, can take the body, and has the potential to be solid defensively. Sounds like a stud defenseman prospect doesn't it?
- Ryan Miller and Ryan Whitney are so low because I'm going to be honest and I'm not just a fan of them. Miller has been dominating the AHL for too long, and he's failed at his attempts at the NHL so far. Even when I've seen him play in the AHL, I've never come away impressed by his qualities. I personally think he's too slow for the NHL game. And Whitney, well he's a big offensive defenseman, who's not performing offensively or defensively. Not really something I look for in a player.
Let it begin...
