I believe Joe Colborne was also a 7.5; and Zach Hamill drafted 8th overall rose to 8.0....Knight after last year rookie tourney was rated SECOND best prospect by Kirk Luedeke and did nothing to drop in my mind except play
my list based on my viewing, (quesitionable) hockey knowledge, talking to Boston and Providence guys, comments made from Sweeney on NHL Prospects show, and the best part- friends who run the gamut on who and what they know
1.
MALCOM SUBBAN-
easy choice- told by one teammate very good, improved a lot and super guy
2-4
Spooner, Koko, and Knight (grouping)
specifically Spooner and Knight need to be identified as projectable NHL players or not- because this is the last year of their rookie contracts; my take is they were both mismanaged and/or not properly developed in certain areas of their games.
Whereas fellow All Rookie forward members Jason Zucker and Tyler Toffoli are starting what should be long careers- I see the third 2012-2013 AHL first tean center Ryan Spooner still looking to take off. I occasionally pop into Wilmington for practices and noticed Ryan seemed to be getting quite the tutelage after practice by the coaching staff- something I never saw when youngsters like Sobotka and Marchand came up under former Providence coach Rob Murray.
i'll limit the Knight stuff other than to say that Sweeney had this to say on the NHL Prospect Show discussing him as fast, strong, and with an 'elite release'... althought my favorite description is a current teammate in Providence and very popular playerdescribed Knight as 'one of best body checkers ever seen' comparing his style to one of the best hitters in the NHL today.
hopefully Spooner will have enough of the Claude 3 zone system down and face off improvements from his tenure in Boston (is it true they never worked on face offs down there, or is that a rumor
) to make Boston- I think he will; and Jarvis can work with him. I'm encouraged if Ryan does not make Boston, and is not traded he will spend significant time with Pandolfo honing the defensive/positioning side of his game.
Koko - "most improved player from start of season to end"....great kid, funny, super teammate, likeable, unselfish all things said about him by his teammates. Also, his 'dog chasing a ball incessantly down the park' is a great style.
He is near lock
5.
DAVID PASTRNAK
- saw him all 5 days in DC and subscribe to Red Line and they loved him- more than the other draft periodicals I have like the ISS Draft Guide.
history is not kind to guys taken 25 and this draft was below average.
Note- the highest scoring player taken 25 of recent 8 years is Bruins Jordan Caron, although I like Quinton Howden who is a Florida pick who went in that spot a couple of years ago.
The real stuff starts 6-20
6.
JOE MORROW
his offensive skills are near to what Ryan Spooner provides on offense, but his seems to be progressing slower than I thought. The comments by Mick Colageo who does a great job on Rink Rap column about Morrow's sketchy decision-making raise concerns.
However, he remains high because the added presence of Don Sweeney may be what he needs to smooth out his game and get to making the simple safe play and slowing things down atleast on his side of the ice.
Like Spooner and Knight, the Bruins need to know about this guy before they make a decision and avoid a mistake on what they had.
7.
NIKLAS SVEDBERG
I put him here since he is likely to be in Boston and has had some success. Took a bit of a step back last season, but also looked good in his short look see in Boston. Will be 25 on Thursday so at a great age.
8.
BRIAN FERLIN
loved him in DC last year; protects puck well, and asked another prospect who made this lists dad what he thought of BF since they play against each other and he knows him- and it was pretty impressive. He told me he elevates his game when it was close and late, and took over. His son said he is hard to play against.
I'd say sleeper but everyone seems to like him who has seen him.
9.
ZACH TROTMAN
I want to put Arnasson here but I only seen him at the DC and the stuff I have read up on him (although was in NJ the day he was drafted and had some good conversations with those around who knew of his game0
as for Trotman, I like him quite a bit. One of his teammates told me 'you know those guys you hang with and lift with as a kid? there is always one who has ridiculous natural strength- that is Trotman'. He is just a beast. Again, lot of accolades about his character and of course the answer I got when asked 'is he any good' was a quick yes. Has the high check list around the pie chart- size, speed, hockey sense. He's a big boy and shoots right which is huge with Ference gone, and likely Johnny Boychuk soon.
Would not surprise me if Trotman has a better career than Morrow, but I just cant go there now.
10.
LINUS ARNASSON
decent enough size, looked pretty smooth at DC, and Red Line really liked him. My bud Saxon Eric was all over this guy before draft so I'm pretty sold based on his ridiculous record of giving me a name or two the past 10 years and hitting on it over and over.
Everything I have read is positive and seeing him in person even in an unplugged environment supported that.
11.
RYAN DONATO
He played against a friend's kid and he raves about Donato- and he says kid has a third eye the way he seems to 10 out of 10 find the open guy; and decision making just amazing at least at that level.
Bill Ladd who posts here saw him and backs that. Red Line Report (btw- love the humor they mix in with their reports) and ISS both love his hockey sense. If he had another inch or so and gear I think we are talking first round pick. That said, he looks good enough and I expect him someday to be wearing black and gold in Boston.
12.
ROB OGARA
tall and takes up large chunks of ice and that pterodactyl (yah had to look it up) wing span isn't an illusion- apparently his arms really are longer than you'd get for someone his size 6'4' (and looks bigger)
His offense is starting to come around a bit and although he will probably always be knows as a shut down defenseman, he looks like an intriguing player who will be an epic draft steal for Boston. Love this guy- Red Line review looks like they nailed him
13.
MATT GRZELCYK
He was at DC but not pushing it due to injury/surgery but when he is skating his is fun to watch. Probably the college prospect in Boston system I have seen the most live the past two years and love watching this kid. He can motor, and like fellow BU blueliner David Warsofsky he is pretty tough and doesn't back down.
had to put him with O'Gara, the pairing I'd love to see in a few years in Boston.
14.
SETH GRIFFITH
watched him live in London and just could never understand how he could go undrafted and then passed over by both Capitals and Tampa considering the coach of the Capitals was his London coach (Dale Hunter) on leave; and Tampa had over 10 picks and Steve Yzerman had drafted his center Namestikov previously- and he was in London so much watching the Knights and his draft pick.
The NHL game is trending towards Griffith types, away from size over skills, Guys like Seth wont have to play in the top 6 anymore- they can play in any one of the 12 forward spots.
I used to think his so so skating, and lack of size, physicality would doom him, not so fast. Also, he seemed to me to be leaning out of the zone, but he has gone from OHL star to playing more balanced three zone player. His hands are gun slinger fast, his brain is one move ahead.
Likeable kid also was the comment I got on him.
15.
DAVID WARSOFSKY
I spend a lot of time focusing on him at Providence games and he has rounded out his game- there is a lot to like, and like Griffith, the game is trending towards his skill and size. Every team will have one of these players who fall under the normal standards and Warsofsky should find a home either here or somewhere.
Doesn't have the dynamic offensive game as Krug but not far off- pretty damn good if you ask me. These lists are odd, because one injury to Krug, Warsofsky could jump to Boston and look like a 7 year veteran putting up some points.
His problem is he is somewhat down on the depth chart and could be moved- if not, he would logically be back in Providence but would expect to see time in Boston
told tough kid, plays through pain, real good teammate
16.
RYAN FITZGERALD
Being at BC you get to see him, and he turned in a pretty strong first season. He reminds me of Krejci-lite and that is a good thing. His hockey sense logically would seem to be off the charts, and he has more than enough skill from when I have watched him to have a very good chance of following in his father's skates. I guess he got his mom's size
side note- back in the day I ran into his dad and Ryan a few times when I had my daughter the same age, one time at Four's and we were talking about the kids playing hockey and told Tom I just got her into a girls team and he was pretty happy. Liked the dad, and used to defend him against the late great poster Don Cherry all the time over him
17.
ANTHONY CAMARA
Haggs wrote he put on about 10 pounds and Camara said he watched film and did studying over the summer- that commitment bodes well. He had multiple upper body injuries that have been speculated as concussions so we shall see how he responds in camp.
I love his hands, love his shot, love his hitting, don't love his fighting. Fighting is going down if not away (hopefully not) and this is good news for Camara.
He skates pretty well also. I have know idea what they will do with him, but if I was Sweeney I'd tell him to keep the fisticuffs down to someone really pissed you off or took liberties with a teammate and not go with someone who wants to spark his team.
there is so much of his game to like but discipline and maturity and common sense need to be a slice of the Camara Skills Pie Chart.
18.
PETER CELHARIK
I've seen him at two DC's for about 10 eye shots; red about him on ISS and Red Line, and read the stuff on HF but he is sort of a mystery still. The hands, the hands, the hands are what it always comes back to. And he has decent size and can play with the stick towards the center of the rink like many Europeans.
I've never heard this but maybe I just am not reading the right places but he always seems described as a Marion Hossa type of player strength wise
19.
JUSTIN FLOREK
Has many NHL traits, big, powerful, very strong on the boards, competitive, excellent character and told super teammate. Looks like he needs a bit to get going but not exactly a barge either. I thought he showed nice touch in Providence and can really bring it atleast in warmups. I was at his memorable 4 point first game which was pretty cool. He plays in dirty areas.
there is a chance he could carve out a pretty good career on say a third line. I am not sure how close their games are to a scout although to me it is pretty close to Mike Knuble. I'd have him watch film on this guy; Knuble bounced around, was picked up on wiaver draft and went on to bang his way to 1000 NHL games and nearly 300 goals.
20.
CRAIG CUNNINGHAM
gets lost even on my list- however, he can play; not really fast but kinda quick- actually kinda a lot of good things. He works out with Ian Gallagher the Vancouver Giants strength coach (and father of the Habs pest) and one of his knocks is although he competes he needs to be stronger on the puck and I thought last year he was. Shows up and plays and usually quite well. One of my favorite all time Providence players
remember I may be perfect
but this list isn't- will be fun for me at least to look back next summer
He has scored 25 goals each of last two years in the AHL
