1. G Kari Lehtonen
Arguably the best goaltending prospect in the World, Lehtonen has finally left his mark in the NHL. After missing half the season with a groin injury he suffered in the first game with Atlanta, Lehtonen done a great job in the net for the Thrashers, posting 2,96GAA and 89,7% SvPctg.
2. D Anton Babchuk
Early in the season Babchuk was bounced up and down between the AHL and the NHL by the Chicago Blackhawks scoring 2g 3a in limited action in 17 games. A few weeks ago he was traded to Carolina for prospect Danny Richmond and a 4th round pick and since then he has played up to 28 minutes for the Canes.
3. D Braydon Coburn
Coburn made the Thrashers out of camp, but was sent down after 9 games. In the AHL he scored 20 points in 37 games and provided steady defense, good enough for a spot in the AHL Allstar game. Look for him to make the Thrashers full-time next season.
4. G Josh Harding
Stuck behind Dwayne Roloson and Manny Fernandez, Harding found himself back in the AHL where he is one of the best goalies. His time in Minnesota will probably come at the NHL trade deadline, because it is likely that the Wild will trade one of their two NHL goalies.
5. F Ryan O'Marra
O'Marra has proven so to be one of the most reliable forwards in junior hockey by providing leadership, two-way game and scoring for the Erie Otters. He was called up to Team Canada for the WJC in December. He was assigned a defensive role in which he excelled.
6. F Lauri Tukonen
Tukonen's adjustment to North American hockey was solid, but not spectacular. He has scored 22 points in 33 games for the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL and earned a callup to Team Finland for the WJC. His performance there was good enough for the events Allstar-Team. Tukonen is likely to see the NHL at least part time next season with the Los Angeles Kings.
7. F Jiri Hudler
Hudler is having a spectacular season in the AHL. The pure offensive wizard scored 62 point in only 45 games and will make a serious push to make the Detroit Red Wings next fall.
8. F Erik Christensen
After training camp Christensen was sent down to the AHL by the Penguins where he proved to be one of the best players in the league. He was called up to Pittsburgh for 29 games in which he posted 12 points. He should be a lock to make the Pens as 2nd or 3rd line player next season and also step on the ice on the powerplay.
9. F Mikhail Yunkov
Yunkov projects to be a scoring line center in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. He is a great playmaker what he also showed in the WJC for Team Russia.
He is currently playing for Kazan of the Russian Super League scoring 2g 3a in 28 games.
10. G Thomas Greiss
Greiss has been the biggest surprise among Predators prospects. The 20 year old goaltender has beaten out Team Germany goalie Oliver Jonas for the starting spot in Cologne and will even go to Torino to play in the Olympics. In 43 games Greiss posted 93,31% SvPctg and 2,28 GAA, both tops in the DEL.
11. F Julien Sprünger
This 6'4 winger has scored 29 points for Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss NLA. However he is out until after the Olympics with a concussion. Look for him to make the jump to North America next season to play in the AHL.
12. F Aki Seitsonen
Seitsonen has been named an assistant captain for Prince Albert of the WHL and provides strong 2 way play. He had a very good WJC for Team Finland and projects to be a 3rd line center in the NHL.
13. F Mikko Lehtonen
This 6'3 winger from Finland appears to have all the tools to make it big in the NHL, but he has yet to put it all together. In 23 games with the Espoo Blues of the SM-Liiga Lehtonen has scored 4 goals. He will stay at least one more season in Europe.
14. F Zdenek Bahensky
Bahensky is a very intensene and skilled forward currently playing his 2nd season in the WHL. For the Saskatoon Blades he scored 14g 25a in 44 games so far.
15. D Ivan Baranka
This WHL grad is silently putting together a solid first pro season for the AHL's Hartford Wolfpack. Look for him to earn first callups to the NHL next season.
16. D Nikita Nikitin
This 6'3 defenseman from Russia participated in the WJC and will make the jump to North America soon. The lanky rearguard has to bulk up to make it to the NHL, but the tools are definitly there. For Avangard Omsk of the RSL he has scored 1g 1a in 36 games so far.
17. F Shawn Weller
Weller is a pure goalscorer and has scored 13 goals so far for the Clarkson Golden Knights of the ECAC. The Ottawa draftee will probably remain at least one more season in college.
18. D Kurtis Foster
It looks like the 6'5 owner of a huge slapshot has finally found a home in the NHL. After being signed as UFA by the Minnesota Wild and scoring 15 points in only 19 games in the AHL, Foster has been called up and logs huge minutes for the Wild as well as being a mainstay on the powerplay. In 34 games for Minnesota Foster has scored 9g 9a.
19. F Libor Pivko
Pivko has been a leader for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL and time is slowly running out for him. But he should have an excellent shot at making the NHL's Nashville Predators in a 3rd line role next season.
20. F Jason Ryznar
Ryznar has made his NHL debut this season after scoring 18 points in 42 games in the AHL. Ryznar will be an imposing physcial presence at the New Jersey Devils 3rd line in the future.
Arguably the best goaltending prospect in the World, Lehtonen has finally left his mark in the NHL. After missing half the season with a groin injury he suffered in the first game with Atlanta, Lehtonen done a great job in the net for the Thrashers, posting 2,96GAA and 89,7% SvPctg.
2. D Anton Babchuk
Early in the season Babchuk was bounced up and down between the AHL and the NHL by the Chicago Blackhawks scoring 2g 3a in limited action in 17 games. A few weeks ago he was traded to Carolina for prospect Danny Richmond and a 4th round pick and since then he has played up to 28 minutes for the Canes.
3. D Braydon Coburn
Coburn made the Thrashers out of camp, but was sent down after 9 games. In the AHL he scored 20 points in 37 games and provided steady defense, good enough for a spot in the AHL Allstar game. Look for him to make the Thrashers full-time next season.
4. G Josh Harding
Stuck behind Dwayne Roloson and Manny Fernandez, Harding found himself back in the AHL where he is one of the best goalies. His time in Minnesota will probably come at the NHL trade deadline, because it is likely that the Wild will trade one of their two NHL goalies.
5. F Ryan O'Marra
O'Marra has proven so to be one of the most reliable forwards in junior hockey by providing leadership, two-way game and scoring for the Erie Otters. He was called up to Team Canada for the WJC in December. He was assigned a defensive role in which he excelled.
6. F Lauri Tukonen
Tukonen's adjustment to North American hockey was solid, but not spectacular. He has scored 22 points in 33 games for the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL and earned a callup to Team Finland for the WJC. His performance there was good enough for the events Allstar-Team. Tukonen is likely to see the NHL at least part time next season with the Los Angeles Kings.
7. F Jiri Hudler
Hudler is having a spectacular season in the AHL. The pure offensive wizard scored 62 point in only 45 games and will make a serious push to make the Detroit Red Wings next fall.
8. F Erik Christensen
After training camp Christensen was sent down to the AHL by the Penguins where he proved to be one of the best players in the league. He was called up to Pittsburgh for 29 games in which he posted 12 points. He should be a lock to make the Pens as 2nd or 3rd line player next season and also step on the ice on the powerplay.
9. F Mikhail Yunkov
Yunkov projects to be a scoring line center in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. He is a great playmaker what he also showed in the WJC for Team Russia.
He is currently playing for Kazan of the Russian Super League scoring 2g 3a in 28 games.
10. G Thomas Greiss
Greiss has been the biggest surprise among Predators prospects. The 20 year old goaltender has beaten out Team Germany goalie Oliver Jonas for the starting spot in Cologne and will even go to Torino to play in the Olympics. In 43 games Greiss posted 93,31% SvPctg and 2,28 GAA, both tops in the DEL.
11. F Julien Sprünger
This 6'4 winger has scored 29 points for Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss NLA. However he is out until after the Olympics with a concussion. Look for him to make the jump to North America next season to play in the AHL.
12. F Aki Seitsonen
Seitsonen has been named an assistant captain for Prince Albert of the WHL and provides strong 2 way play. He had a very good WJC for Team Finland and projects to be a 3rd line center in the NHL.
13. F Mikko Lehtonen
This 6'3 winger from Finland appears to have all the tools to make it big in the NHL, but he has yet to put it all together. In 23 games with the Espoo Blues of the SM-Liiga Lehtonen has scored 4 goals. He will stay at least one more season in Europe.
14. F Zdenek Bahensky
Bahensky is a very intensene and skilled forward currently playing his 2nd season in the WHL. For the Saskatoon Blades he scored 14g 25a in 44 games so far.
15. D Ivan Baranka
This WHL grad is silently putting together a solid first pro season for the AHL's Hartford Wolfpack. Look for him to earn first callups to the NHL next season.
16. D Nikita Nikitin
This 6'3 defenseman from Russia participated in the WJC and will make the jump to North America soon. The lanky rearguard has to bulk up to make it to the NHL, but the tools are definitly there. For Avangard Omsk of the RSL he has scored 1g 1a in 36 games so far.
17. F Shawn Weller
Weller is a pure goalscorer and has scored 13 goals so far for the Clarkson Golden Knights of the ECAC. The Ottawa draftee will probably remain at least one more season in college.
18. D Kurtis Foster
It looks like the 6'5 owner of a huge slapshot has finally found a home in the NHL. After being signed as UFA by the Minnesota Wild and scoring 15 points in only 19 games in the AHL, Foster has been called up and logs huge minutes for the Wild as well as being a mainstay on the powerplay. In 34 games for Minnesota Foster has scored 9g 9a.
19. F Libor Pivko
Pivko has been a leader for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL and time is slowly running out for him. But he should have an excellent shot at making the NHL's Nashville Predators in a 3rd line role next season.
20. F Jason Ryznar
Ryznar has made his NHL debut this season after scoring 18 points in 42 games in the AHL. Ryznar will be an imposing physcial presence at the New Jersey Devils 3rd line in the future.
