Some other US players that could have high NHL draft potential...
Joey Ryan - D - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Ryan Flynn - F - USNTDP U18
Michael Carman - F - USNTDP U18
Michael Forney - F - Lincoln Stars (USHL) / Minnesota High School
Brian Strait - D - USNTDP U18
Kevin Montgomery - D - USNTDP U18
Chris Summers - D - USNTDP U18
David Fischer - D - Minnesota High School
Neil Conway - G - Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
Brett Bennett - G - USNTDP U18
For the record, I don't expect all the players on orangeandblack's list nor my list to be high draft picks. Here are my thoughts and opinions on all the players listed on both lists (for the record, I haven't seen any of these players more than a handful of times and I'm basing most of my opinions on what I've read from various sources... in other words, I'm no scout and it's quite possible some of my perceptions could be a bit off)...
Kessel (F) - I think he's a lock for the top 3. He's the best US junior player that I've ever seen (though I've only been seriously following US junior hockey for about four years now). I expect he'll be one of the top offensive threats in the NCAA next year. I wouldn't be surprised to see him be at least a top three Hobey Finalist, if not (dare I say it?) the winner.
Mueller (F) - Top 10 pick at least. He's got the potential to go top 3 though. It all depends how he adjust to the WHL. He's certainly not as flashy as Kessel and I don't think he's really got the raw skills Kessel has but he is more well rounded. For example, he has a real physical dimension to his game, he's very strong defensively, and he's got better size than Kessel.
Johnson (D) - Top 10 pick. I saw him play last year and I was very impressed. He doesn't have the hype I'd expect for a player with his immense potential. I expect him to be the top d-man for next year and he could shoot up to be a top 5 or maybe even top 3 pick.
Mitera (D) - Mid-to-late first round pick. I think he's very good but not spectacular. A safe pick for the latter part of the first round.
Palmer (G) - Was seen as the "next Rick DiPietro" not too long ago. It's pretty clear he's not on that level but many still have him rated highly. I'm not 100% sold myself and I don't think he's a sure first rounder by any means. If the scouting services are right though he's still in contention.
Foligno (F) - I don't think he fits on this list at all. If he goes before the third round I'd be surprised.
Williams (D) - This guy is a real sleeper. He's huge (6'4" 220), has a real mean streak and offensive upside. He's also quite raw but he could shoot up the draft lists, possibly to the first round.
Okposo (F) - From what I've read, he reminds me a bit of Jack Skille. He's getting hype Skille wasn't getting at this point last year though. He seems like a very good bet to be a first rounder but I'm not sure if he's top 10 material yet like some say. He needs to prove himself at a higher level than Shattuck-St. Mary's (that goes for Toews too, IMO).
Sanguinetti (D) - He had a very solid rookie season in the OHL last year but hasn't gotten too much hype from anyone beyond Owen Sound fans as far as I've seen. If what they say is right though he could certainly be a first rounder. I really don't know myself.
Sauer (G) - He seems to have the highest poetential amongst '88 born US goalies from what I've read. He has all the tools to be a first rounder and now that he's going to Michigan (with Montoya's departure) he has a great opportunity to cement himself as one. On the other hand, if he's not ready (afterall, he's only 17) he could really hurt his stock.
Geoffrion (F) - He received tremendous hype when he was very young but so far I think he's been a dissapointment. He'll get a lot of attention because of his tools but i wonder if he's skilled enough to go in the first round. I think of him as a second rounder myself.
Dowzak (D) - He's gotten a lot of hype over the years and he seems to be a lock for the first round IMO (the way I see it, if Joe Finley can go in the first round, Dowzak certainly should). He's huge (6'5" 223) and has great tools (the biggest attribute being him footwork). I wouldn't be surprised to see him go in the top 10 but whether or not he's worth it long term is another question.
Joey Ryan (D) - He was once considered a big time prospect but I haven't heard much in the past year or two since he went up to the Q. I've heard a few Q fans who say he could be an early second rounder and that's really all I have to go on as of right now. Hopefully he won't follow in Andricopoulos' footsteps.
Ryan Flynn (F) - If Okposo reminds me of Skille, Flynn reminds me of Ryan Stoa. He's got very good size (6'3" 215) and skill and while I haven't heard a lot of draft hype for him at all, I wasn't hearing too much for Stoa at this time last year either. Hopefully he's meaner and plays a more inspired game than Stoa. If that's the case, he could be a mid-to-late first round pick. If not, I think he's a good bet for the second round.
Carman (F) - I'm mostly basing his inclusion here on solid numbers with the U17 team last year and a very strong performance at the Select 17 Festival. He's not huge (6'0" 180) but he plays a real power game. I don't have a good feel for what his upside is so I can't really say where NHL teams would place him.
Forney (F) - Seems to be a real sleeper. I know Woodlief has him as a potential first rounder. Outside of that, I haven't heard a lot about him, but he has good size and tools apparently. In suspect he could end up totally disappearing from these kinds of lists before the next draft.
Strait (D) - He seems to have really improved this past year. He doesn't seem to have a huge upside but he looks like he could be a safe pick. Perhaps he could even end up going in the late first round.
Montgomery (D) - Offensive d-man with good size. I don't have a great feel for his upside but he seems to be a second or third rounder to me at this point.
Summers (D) - He was considered a big time prospect a year or two ago but he's tailed off some. He used to have a real offensive dimension to his game but it looks like he's focussed on being a physical, defensive d-man now. He seems like a second or third rounder, but part of me thinks he could fall depending upon just how high scouts feel his upside is now.
Fischer (D) - I may be overrating him by including him on this list but he seems to be a real go pick as a sleeper to me. He has size and offensive upside.
Conway (G) - Was solid in his first season but like Sanguinetti, he doesn't seem to be getting enough attention outside of Owen Sound. I haven't gotten the impression that he's got great upside but he seems like he could be a second or third rounder if he continues to progress.
Bennett (G) - Hasn't gotten any hype from what I've seen but I was intrigued by his performance for the U17s in the NAHL playoffs last season (10 GP / 2.01 GAA / .939 Save% / 3 Shotouts). Most consider Palmer the sure starter for the U18 team this year but I wouldn't be surprised to see Bennett challenge him for playing time.
If anyone has any differing opinions I'd be really interested in hearing them.