Hossa
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With the 2005 draft finished up, and some deletions from the prospect list through signings and trades, it's time for the Vancouver Province to re-rate the current system of Canucks prospects.
1. Evgeni Malkin - C
The other Russian super-prospect from the 2004 draft, Malkin is without a doubt a potential franchise player. The lanky center moves incredibly well for a big man and has all the tools offensively, including outstanding playmaking ability. He could play in the NHL now, but will play this season with his club team in Russia. With Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in the NHL, the WJC will be Malkin's playground.
2. Eric Staal - C
The other half of a tandem that could soon be called the twin towers, Staal is another tall, lanky, playmaking center with great mobility. Although his upside is not quite as high as Malkin's, he is nonetheless a potential franchise player that is ahead on the developmental curve.
3. Andrej Meszaros - D
While the Canucks have a wealth of forward prospects, their future blueline is not quite as strong. Meszaros, though, is the cornerstone of that defence heading forward. The thick Slovakian rearguard had a stellar season in the WHL after coming over from Europe, and is not far away from playing in Vancouver.
4. Carey Price - G
There is no organization with more young talent in goal than the Canucks. After selecting Price in the first round this past year, the club now has three stud goaltending prospects. Price is the furthest from the NHL, but may have the best upside. Big and athletic, he has the tools and the cockiness to thrive, although he is a couple of years away.
5. Maxime Ouellet - G
The club's second goaltender of the future is Ouellet, a quick butterfly-style netminder clearly a product of the Quebec goaltending factor. Ouellet has thrived at every level, and is more than ready to graduate from the AHL.
6. Ilya Bryzgalov - G
Like Ouellet, Bryzgalov has thrived at every level, and is ready for the NHL. Blessed with great size, athleticism and an outstanding glove hand, Bryzgalov was solid for Russia at the World Cup of Hockey.
7. Anthony Stewart - RW
No type of player is as perpetually in demand as power forwards, and that is exactly what Stewart is. Built like a linebacker but with outstanding foot speed, Stewart is coming off a dissapointing junior year that saw his desire questioned. He remains an important part of the club's future though.
8. Drew Stafford - RW
Stafford is another power winger, although his game is different from Stewart's. A smart all-round player with good size and skating ability, Stafford has thus far been most impressive at the World Juniors, against tougher competition. The Canucks organization believes he will be an even more effective goal scorer at the professional level.
9. Antoine Vermette - LW/C
Speed kills, and there are few faster than Vermette. The slippery forward has developped into a strong all-round player and potential fan favourite. He will be in Vancouver this year.
10. Patrick Eaves - RW/LW/C
Capable of playing all three forward positions, Eaves is coming off a stellar campaign with Boston College. Having now left school a year early, he will play with the club's minor league team for the time being, but his skill and smarts could see him in Vancouver sooner than expected.
11. Noah Welch - D
The club's other stud blueline prospect has now completed a stellar four-year tenure at Harvard. Obviously highly-intelligent, Welch is a big blueliner with great mobility and a willingness to play the physical game. He may still be a couple years away.
12. Jeff Taffe - C/RW
As gifted as any forward prospect in the organization not named Malkin or Staal, Taffe is at a crossroads in his career. The time is now for the big Minnesota native. He will be in Vancouver when the season begins, but he has to earn his place in the club's long-term plans.
13. Alexander Polushin - RW
The biggest question mark with Polushin is not related to his skills, but rather if/when he will come over from Russia to try out for the club. Capable of pushing for a roster spot right now, the somewhat injury-prone winger does have great potential though.
14. Nigel Dawes - LW
Pint-sized but an incredible goal scorer, Dawes' stock has improved since the day he was acquired from the Ottawa Senators. At only 5'8", Dawes clearly has his work cut out for him, but he has a tremendous work ethic, and goal scoring ability that can not be taught.
15. Justin Peters - G
The club's fourth ranked goaltending prospect, Peters is in the wrong organization at the moment. After an inconsistent season with his junior club, Peters shone in the playoffs. An outstanding athlete that works incredibly hard in the off-season, Peters may be used as trade bait this season.
16. David Krejci - C
The club was ecstatic to grab this skilled Czech center in the third round of this summer's draft. Coming off of a solid campaign in the QMJHL, Krejci is a hard-working player with good playmaking ability and an outstanding shot he needs to use more. He is several years away from competing for a roster spot though.
17. Jakub Sindel - C
Compared to Martin Havlat leading up to the 2004 draft, Sindel remains a wild card of a prospect. He joined Brandon of the WHL mid-season, and thrived after a slow start. Very gifted with the puck but lacking size and strength, Sindel is a boom or bust player.
18. Kyle Quincey - D
There was a time where it looked like Quincey's only claim to fame would be the fact he was dealt for Robbie Schremp. After nearly forcing his way onto Team Canada for the WJC, Quincey now has a place as a prospect. He will play in the AHL this year.
19. Wes O’Neill - D
The club drafted O'Neill with the last pick in the first round in 2004, even as his stock was freefalling. That appears to have been a good move, as O'Neill rebounded with a strong campaign, leading his college team in goals, as a blueliner. He is a good candidate to play for Canada at the WJC this year.
20. Ahren Nittel - LW
The Canucks organization has always suggested Nittel had plenty of potential, but up until this past season, the big LW had yet to show any signs of it. After notching 25 goals in only 50 games as 21-year old in the AHL, Nittel's stock soared. He will need to continue the positive momentum
21. Alexandre Picard - D
Picard has long teased scouts with his package of size and skating ability, but took a big step forward this past season with the Halifax Mooseheads. He became a stalwart defensively, and his puck-moving ability improved as well. The AHL awaits him.
22. Brooks Laich - C
Laich appears to have hit a wall in the AHL. After playing in a suffocating defensive system, his offensive game has stopped progressing, although he still skates very well. A change of scenery may be in order for the formerly highly-regarded prospect.
23. Bryan Bickell - LW
The best way to describe Bickell would be frustrating. He has shown the ability to take over the game as an Ottawa 67, with his size, strength, speed and skill, but rarely does it. A strong final junior season is vital for development.
24. Robbie Earl - LW
By watching a highlight reel of Earl's goals in the past two years at the University of Wisconsin, you'd think very highly of the young sniper. While Earl has outstanding puck skills, the rest of his game leaves a lot to be desired. He is another boom or bust prospect in the system.
25. Ryan Callahan - LW
It is hard not to like Callahan. Undersized but incredibly tenacious, he captained a young Guelph Storm team this past year, and impressed as a grinder with Team USA at the WJC. He now turns his focus to the professional game, where he will continue to give it everything he has every time he's on the ice.
Stan Smyl
Vancouver Province
1. Evgeni Malkin - C
The other Russian super-prospect from the 2004 draft, Malkin is without a doubt a potential franchise player. The lanky center moves incredibly well for a big man and has all the tools offensively, including outstanding playmaking ability. He could play in the NHL now, but will play this season with his club team in Russia. With Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in the NHL, the WJC will be Malkin's playground.
2. Eric Staal - C
The other half of a tandem that could soon be called the twin towers, Staal is another tall, lanky, playmaking center with great mobility. Although his upside is not quite as high as Malkin's, he is nonetheless a potential franchise player that is ahead on the developmental curve.
3. Andrej Meszaros - D
While the Canucks have a wealth of forward prospects, their future blueline is not quite as strong. Meszaros, though, is the cornerstone of that defence heading forward. The thick Slovakian rearguard had a stellar season in the WHL after coming over from Europe, and is not far away from playing in Vancouver.
4. Carey Price - G
There is no organization with more young talent in goal than the Canucks. After selecting Price in the first round this past year, the club now has three stud goaltending prospects. Price is the furthest from the NHL, but may have the best upside. Big and athletic, he has the tools and the cockiness to thrive, although he is a couple of years away.
5. Maxime Ouellet - G
The club's second goaltender of the future is Ouellet, a quick butterfly-style netminder clearly a product of the Quebec goaltending factor. Ouellet has thrived at every level, and is more than ready to graduate from the AHL.
6. Ilya Bryzgalov - G
Like Ouellet, Bryzgalov has thrived at every level, and is ready for the NHL. Blessed with great size, athleticism and an outstanding glove hand, Bryzgalov was solid for Russia at the World Cup of Hockey.
7. Anthony Stewart - RW
No type of player is as perpetually in demand as power forwards, and that is exactly what Stewart is. Built like a linebacker but with outstanding foot speed, Stewart is coming off a dissapointing junior year that saw his desire questioned. He remains an important part of the club's future though.
8. Drew Stafford - RW
Stafford is another power winger, although his game is different from Stewart's. A smart all-round player with good size and skating ability, Stafford has thus far been most impressive at the World Juniors, against tougher competition. The Canucks organization believes he will be an even more effective goal scorer at the professional level.
9. Antoine Vermette - LW/C
Speed kills, and there are few faster than Vermette. The slippery forward has developped into a strong all-round player and potential fan favourite. He will be in Vancouver this year.
10. Patrick Eaves - RW/LW/C
Capable of playing all three forward positions, Eaves is coming off a stellar campaign with Boston College. Having now left school a year early, he will play with the club's minor league team for the time being, but his skill and smarts could see him in Vancouver sooner than expected.
11. Noah Welch - D
The club's other stud blueline prospect has now completed a stellar four-year tenure at Harvard. Obviously highly-intelligent, Welch is a big blueliner with great mobility and a willingness to play the physical game. He may still be a couple years away.
12. Jeff Taffe - C/RW
As gifted as any forward prospect in the organization not named Malkin or Staal, Taffe is at a crossroads in his career. The time is now for the big Minnesota native. He will be in Vancouver when the season begins, but he has to earn his place in the club's long-term plans.
13. Alexander Polushin - RW
The biggest question mark with Polushin is not related to his skills, but rather if/when he will come over from Russia to try out for the club. Capable of pushing for a roster spot right now, the somewhat injury-prone winger does have great potential though.
14. Nigel Dawes - LW
Pint-sized but an incredible goal scorer, Dawes' stock has improved since the day he was acquired from the Ottawa Senators. At only 5'8", Dawes clearly has his work cut out for him, but he has a tremendous work ethic, and goal scoring ability that can not be taught.
15. Justin Peters - G
The club's fourth ranked goaltending prospect, Peters is in the wrong organization at the moment. After an inconsistent season with his junior club, Peters shone in the playoffs. An outstanding athlete that works incredibly hard in the off-season, Peters may be used as trade bait this season.
16. David Krejci - C
The club was ecstatic to grab this skilled Czech center in the third round of this summer's draft. Coming off of a solid campaign in the QMJHL, Krejci is a hard-working player with good playmaking ability and an outstanding shot he needs to use more. He is several years away from competing for a roster spot though.
17. Jakub Sindel - C
Compared to Martin Havlat leading up to the 2004 draft, Sindel remains a wild card of a prospect. He joined Brandon of the WHL mid-season, and thrived after a slow start. Very gifted with the puck but lacking size and strength, Sindel is a boom or bust player.
18. Kyle Quincey - D
There was a time where it looked like Quincey's only claim to fame would be the fact he was dealt for Robbie Schremp. After nearly forcing his way onto Team Canada for the WJC, Quincey now has a place as a prospect. He will play in the AHL this year.
19. Wes O’Neill - D
The club drafted O'Neill with the last pick in the first round in 2004, even as his stock was freefalling. That appears to have been a good move, as O'Neill rebounded with a strong campaign, leading his college team in goals, as a blueliner. He is a good candidate to play for Canada at the WJC this year.
20. Ahren Nittel - LW
The Canucks organization has always suggested Nittel had plenty of potential, but up until this past season, the big LW had yet to show any signs of it. After notching 25 goals in only 50 games as 21-year old in the AHL, Nittel's stock soared. He will need to continue the positive momentum
21. Alexandre Picard - D
Picard has long teased scouts with his package of size and skating ability, but took a big step forward this past season with the Halifax Mooseheads. He became a stalwart defensively, and his puck-moving ability improved as well. The AHL awaits him.
22. Brooks Laich - C
Laich appears to have hit a wall in the AHL. After playing in a suffocating defensive system, his offensive game has stopped progressing, although he still skates very well. A change of scenery may be in order for the formerly highly-regarded prospect.
23. Bryan Bickell - LW
The best way to describe Bickell would be frustrating. He has shown the ability to take over the game as an Ottawa 67, with his size, strength, speed and skill, but rarely does it. A strong final junior season is vital for development.
24. Robbie Earl - LW
By watching a highlight reel of Earl's goals in the past two years at the University of Wisconsin, you'd think very highly of the young sniper. While Earl has outstanding puck skills, the rest of his game leaves a lot to be desired. He is another boom or bust prospect in the system.
25. Ryan Callahan - LW
It is hard not to like Callahan. Undersized but incredibly tenacious, he captained a young Guelph Storm team this past year, and impressed as a grinder with Team USA at the WJC. He now turns his focus to the professional game, where he will continue to give it everything he has every time he's on the ice.
Stan Smyl
Vancouver Province
