McKeen's top 30 for February

[turnbuckle*]

I completely agree. He's going to be a solid player for a long, long time.

Can anyone give any info on Brett MacLean? I haven't been able to see him yet.

i love MacLean. He's was our biggest riser in the first round, going from 34th to 21st in the past month. Every time I see him lately he's a dominating presence. Great hands, great shot, and has been improving his effort, skating and puckhandling as the season has gone on. He drives to the net like a power forward - I hate using the term power forward because he's not gritty like a true power foward like Cam /Neely was; but he drives to the net with power. He's a lot like Ryan in that he's a load with the puck, and hard to get it from him when he leans on you.

If he keeps on improving like he has I could honestly see him in our top 12 by season's end. We'll have a detailed writeup on him in the March issue when we profile the top forwards.

 

[Judas Tavares]

I'd like to know more about Hamill.

He's someone I'd like Toronto to get if possible.

You're right, I think he'd be a perfect fit.

 

[turnbuckle*]

I'd like to know more about Hamill.

He's someone I'd like Toronto to get if possible.

Scouts didn't like the way he disappeared in the second round of last year's playoffs versus Vancouver once the physical play and tight checking increased. If a good junior team is going to give him trouble in his third WHL playoff year, what's he going to accomplish against the New Jersey Devils any time of the year?

He's not a great skater for his size (but not bad), he's small, his defence is suspect, and he's not the most willing player to go into traffic. Lots of talent, great hands and vision tho.

I'm not sure he'll be a top two center on a good NHL team; perobably a fourth liner and power play specialist. Do you take a player like that with a top 20 pick? If he ends up leading the WHL in scoring... perhaps...but we are waiting to see his playoff performance to be honest with you. If he craps the bed; he'll probably drop out of the first round. if he has a better performance and shows he can handle tight checking and physical play, he may end up being picked in the teens.

 

[DaveG]

What are your thoughts about Petrecki at this point? His offensive game seems to be coming around over the last 2-3 months in Omaha but he hardly seems to have moved at all in the draft rankings. Could he possibly jump into the top 10 or 15 of this draft if he keeps his offensive pace of the last few months?

 

[brightscout]

Personally, I think Perron is better then Giroux.

Hello - please don't put too much stock into stats. If we did teams wouuld just draft the top scoring prospects each year - if you do a little research you'll notice that's not what happens.

Perron is small, slight, an average skater for his size, and a year or more older than most prospects. Those are the reasons why he justifiably isn't a first-round prospect. He's the same age as Giroux, who was picked in the 20s last year. Giroux is faster, stronger, producing more, etc. He's quite a bit better than Perron.

Lafleur gives up way too many poor rebounds and his puck control is suspect. We just mailed out your Feb. issue Mr. Houde - there is a writeup on Lafleur on our "From the Scout's eye" feature.

Zabotel has talent for his size, but he's not a great skater and he's lazy. We have him rated in the third round.

 

[bullsville]

What are your thoughts about Van Ryemsdyk?

 

[Langway]

i love MacLean. He's was our biggest riser in the first round, going from 34th to 21st in the past month.

I noticed the jumps from MacLean & Nick Ross but who are some other risers that have moved up your lists recently?

Where do you see Lars Eller going?

 

[OHLArenaGuide]

If Kane (or Gagner for that matter) is selected number one overall, it will be the fourth time that a London Knight has been selected first overall. No other team has ever had more than two.

I am proud of that stat.

(For the record: Rick Green, Rob Ramage, Rick Nash. And yes, I know that Ramage was selected as a Baby Bull from the WHA but the 1979 Draft was severely messed up due to age changes and the folding of the WHA; and Ramage's amateur team was the Knights.)

 

[turnbuckle*]

Personally, I think Perron is better then Giroux.

With that reasoning..who can argue?
I'm not a huge Giroux fan...but he's playing better than Perron - let's not go overboard here.

 

[turnbuckle*]

What are your thoughts about Van Ryemsdyk?

He's a sure bet to be a solid pro I think. One of the safer picks in this draft. I know a scout that has him second overall on his draft list.

He's a beast to contain, and is a very smart passer, and smart player in general.

We'll have a detailed profile on JVR in our March issue when we profile the top 20 wingers for the draft.

 

[turnbuckle*]

I noticed the jumps from MacLean & Nick Ross but who are some other risers that have moved up your lists recently?

Where do you see Lars Eller going?

We profiled Eller in out top 20 centers section of the February Draft Digest, along with junior teammate and fellow centerman Joakim Andersson, so we like him. We think Eller will go in the top 50 at least. He's faster than Jaokim, but not as physical nor as good all-around

Hearing good things about Eller; would like to see him on the international stage.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Nice to see 18 Americans in the top 60.

Lou Lam, is that you?

 

[Transported Upstater]

If Toronto doesn't make the playoffs, I'd still be celebrating in the streets if a guy like Couture drops to our pick for one reason or another...

 

[Anthony Mauro]

He's a sure bet to be a solid pro I think. One of the safer picks in this draft. I know a scout that has him second overall on his draft list.

He's a beast to contain, and is a very smart passer, and smart player in general.

We'll have a detailed profile on JVR in our March issue when we profile the top 20 wingers for the draft.

Jeez, wasn't that scout foolish when he wasn't peforming as well as Kane at the WJC?

The feelings on JvR have not been consistent in the least.

 

[Starscream]

Has Alex Grant started to move up the rankings at all, he has looked great the last month for the Sea Dogs, seems like he is finaly starting to look like the player the Sea Dogs thought he would be when they took him first overall in the Q draft.

 

[turnbuckle*]

Jeez, wasn't that scout foolish when he wasn't peforming as well as Kane at the WJC?

The feelings on JvR have not been consistent in the least.

what? you say some puzzling things at times...we talk to more than one scout.

The WJC is not the be all and end all when it comes to scouting. We look at the whole season, thanks. Players move up and down in the rankings based on their performance, not on us changing our minds.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Not surprised to see Turris rising. How likely is it for him to be selected 2nd overall? Him being one of the youngest prospects in this years draft class should attract some teams to rank him pretty high (not to mention his dominant performance in the BCHL playing for a rather average team).

 

[turnbuckle*]

Has Alex Grant started to move up the rankings at all, he has looked great the last month for the Sea Dogs, seems like he is finaly starting to look like the player the Sea Dogs thought he would be when they took him first overall in the Q draft.

We didn't see Alex too often in the past month unfortunately, but we heard he's getting better in his own end. We're going to have a scout at two of his games in the next week, and he'll be giving us a full report on him.

he really needs to improve his hockey smarts - he has the physical tools.

we have him ranked in the third for now - but he has the physical package to be a top 40 pick.

 

[turnbuckle*]

Not surprised to see Turris rising. How likely is it for him to be selected 2nd overall? Him being one of the youngest prospects in this years draft class should attract some teams to rank him pretty high (not to mention his dominant performance in the BCHL playing for a rather average team).

it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see Turris go first overall. Philly really likes him.

Usually your team bring eliminated in the playoffs early is a bad thing, but in Turris' case it might be the best thing for him as he could play in the Under 18's this spring.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

what? you say some puzzling things at times...we talk to more than one scout.

The WJC is not the be all and end all when it comes to scouting. We look at the whole season, thanks. Players move up and down in the rankings based on their performance, not on us changing our minds.

Haha, Grant I know how many scouts you talk to!

All I am saying is that during December-January he was lacking offensive firepower, consistency, this that. Every fault JvR had was magnified by Kane's arrival. Then, he was "more towards ten or lower" and I remember that vividly. But now he's a solid pro, listed second overall. If you look at the whole season, then why is he fluctuacting so much? It just seems off. Maybe that's because I like the guy alot? I just feel as though the WJC is the tournament that should have the least amount of stock put into it. To me, JvR was unfairly ranked based on his reduced role.

So, If I have a kid I like who doesn't play well in WJC for instance, he's staying at two regardless.

 

[turnbuckle*]

If Toronto doesn't make the playoffs, I'd still be celebrating in the streets if a guy like Couture drops to our pick for one reason or another...

You'd have yourself a heckuva solid two-way center. Skating is his only issue, and I've seen worse that's for sure.

 

[Legionnaire]

What's with Coture's drop?

 

[Roger's Pancreas*]

You'd have yourself a heckuva solid two-way center. Skating is his only issue, and I've seen worse that's for sure.

What can you tell me about the enforcers of this year's draft?

 

[turnbuckle*]

What's with Coture's drop?

Hasn't been much of a drop with Couture at McKeen's. We had him tenth or so a couple of months ago - we never had him first overall like some scouting services have...

Skating, mononucleosis, and guys playing better than him this season are why he's tenth on the list. Gagner, Sutter, ellerby and Voracek are showing more as prospects right now, so we moved them ahead of him after a strong stretch for Logan around the holidays.

He's injured once again...scouts are also starting to question his durability.

 

[hawksfan50]

While there was just something about Esposito that never has turned me on,in his defense I will point outsomething I was not aware of this season--we all expected him to be a "go to guy" on the #1 line as most teams do with their top "phenoms" --But Patrick Roy has used him as the Ramparts #2 line centre this year--though he doesplay onthe PP---still as the top line centre I expected at least 100 pts at this juncture of the season =about equivalent to Gagner's totals --instead Espo has just 74 --but given he omly is the 2nd line centre that is not shabby....as a 2nd line centre the primary duty is not all out attack,but also some checking of the other teams top 2 lines as well as an offensive attack on transitions...if Esposito's totals are less than we all expected this mere useage on line#2 is self-explanatory...the "selfish " charge is not substantiated by his assists to goals ratio which is 2 to 1 in favour of assists...HOWEVER-I still maintain that if Espo were a true "phenom" --he would have kicked out the incumbent #1 centre--because Jr. teams do not do this to their "star" players who SHOULD be the "go to guy" on the team-is it Espo's fault tht Roy is not using him in the expected role=maybe/maybe not
--it can explain Espo's lack of the "expected" points --but not if he did or did not do anything to deserve not getting the proper "promotion"....IF it is Espo's own fault he did not get the chance as the go to guy at centre --then bad on him;if it his not his fault,then bad on Patrick Roy for putting the kid in an apparent failing (to meet expectations) situation...

Perhaps the very nature of plaing "2nd fiddle" has not inspired Espo to rise above this adversity --had he done that ,perhaps more scouts would have credited him with
overcoming the coach's error;perhaps by apparently not doing enough to overcome this unfortunate situation,scouts are questioning his character and ascrbing a sulking or selfishness to his play that may or may not be really warranted.

So we have 4 views on him

1-has the talent/was mis-used/did not rise above the adversity =AVOID!
2- has the talent/was mis-used/did ok given the circumstances= BARGAIN
if falls further than originally thought in the draft and will blossom
when given the proper "go to " role...
3- has the talent -but had to learn humbleness =coach correct in pegging
him down a notch=he will learn from this and be better for it when he
does get the chance to carry a team as "go to" top line guy = will be
better for this = BARGAIN if falls further than expected originally..

4= nah! talent was over-rated though his attitude not the problem
some make it out to be...he's ok -but overall should be more
ab 8-15 pick than a top 8 pick...


Take your pick of the above...

However the very thought that we must analyze this kid this way suggests
"something" is off --instinct says no way to top 5...perhaps risk it in the 6-10 slots...