God Bless Canada said:
Don't have time to go through all of these. Kudos to Kremlin for the effort. We'll have our disagreements, but that's the joy of the game.
2. Eric Staal. Staal is one of the most complete prospects I've ever seen. Great talent, excellent defensive awareness, excellent leadership qualities. I rarely compare a kid to an HHOF/future HHOF, but the potential is there for a Ron Francis-type of player.
I agree, just thought I'd throw out another name, who's mainly a playmaker and not so much of a goal scorer.
6. Milan Michalek. I don't think he has Friesen's all-world wheels or shot. I'm concerned Michalek may prove to be a defensive forward, if he ever gets healthy. Won't ever be the player Friesen was six or seven years ago.
I was thinking more that both have good speed, although Friesen's might be superior. Both have good size. Friesen is inconsistent production wise and very streaky and I think that's a label I'd put on Michalek as well. But yeah, a defensive player projection is not out of the question either.
7. Ryan Suter. If Suter becomes Pavel Kubina, I'll be disappointed. The potential is there to be one of the top-10 d-men in the league. The best American defenceman in the past decade.
The Kubina of TB's playoff run is not that bad. In fact, I think he was an All-star last year. Perhaps his upside is higher, but I don't think the Predators would feel to sorry if the end up with a Kubina.
9. Dion Phaneuf. When people talk Stevens comparisons, it's Stevens from the Devils 2000 Cup run: a dominant shut-out defenceman capable of 30-40 points, not the ultra-dominant Stevens who scored 60-70 points several times.
I got sick of the Stevens comparison, so I threw out something else. Perhaps Kyle McLaren would have been better than Souray?
11. Jeff Carter. Carter's more of a Keith Primeau from five years ago: a strong, physical centre capable of 70+ points, and more consistent than Arnott.
That's possible, though I'd rather have an Arnott clone than a Primeau. Also, I think Carter is a much better playmaker than Primeau. Also, Primeau only managed to get 70+ points once.
13. Dustin Brown. He has a lot of good attributes - great speed, hands and shot - but debateable hockey sense. Will drop him to a second liner. Much better scorer than Scott Thornton.
Hurricane's Cole has been mentioned.
17. Zach Parise. I know I'll draw flack from Hab fans, but Parise reminds me a lot of Koivu in terms of natural ability, fearless mentality and leadership.
Could very well be yeah, but that's quite a billing to live up to.
19. Ryan Getzlaf. Getzlaf is Gratton? Don't insult the poor kid.
I really think Gratton is a very underrated player. Yeah, he should have never played for a Western Conference team (Phoenix/Avalanche), as it doesn't suit his style. He's still a very solid 2nd/3rd line C. In fact, if Getzlaf can have a similar career, that would be quite an achievement.
24. Mike Richards. Richards is the type of player who will captain an NHL team to a Cup. All heart. All grit. And reasonable skill, too, capable of 50-60 points a year.
50-60 points a year would make Richards into a top 50/60 player production wise in today's NHL. I don't see it. I agree with the way you describe him, but not the production.
25. Anthony Stewart. I like Stewart a lot. A potential second line power forward, but he showed enough talent and toughness at last year's WJC to leave me thinking possible first liner.
I just see a very big kid, who can skate like the wind. However, I tend to be very sceptical of big kids, as many are labeled as the next Deadmarsh, Guerin, Shanahan, or Tkachuk and hardly any of the live up to that billing.
27. Jeff Tambellini. Reminds me a lot of Geoff Courtnall: great skater, great shot, but streaky.
I had a hard time coming up with any comparison for Tambellini really.
30. Shawn Belle. Nolan Baumgartner failed not because of talent or heart, but because his development was ruined by three major shoulder operations. Belle may be a David Tanabe - very fast but limited hockey sense - or, if he learns to play within his limitations, could be a top-three speed defenceman, a la Hedican and Tim Gleason.
I liked the Hedican comparison by another poster, but I could still see Belle turn into a fringe NHLer like Baumgartner, who just never really makes it as a regular.