My top 60 so far for 2013

[scoutman1]

Im sure people will have different takes on this draft...let debating begin LOL.

1. Nathan MacKinnon—F—SSM U16 5’11/162 32 35 43 78
2. Valery Nichushkin—F—Traktor 94 6’03/185 28 29 25 54
3. Curtis Lazar—F—Okanagan Prep 5’11/178 41 25 32 57
4. Steve Santini—D—Apple Core EJHL 6’03/205 43 03 14 17
5. Viktor Crus-Rydberg-F-Tingsryd J20 6’00/187 17 04 06 10
6. Seth Jones—Defense—USA NTDP 17 6’03/183 37 04 17 21
7. Josh Morrisey—D—Calgary Royals 5’11/170 30 17 22 39
8. Anthony Duclair—F—Lac St Louis 5’10/149 34 25 32 57
9. Taylor Cammarata—F—SSM U16 5’09/155 46 63 59 122
10. Hudson Fasching—F—Apple Valley 6’03/190 25 16 29 45
11. Alexandre Belanger—Goalie—Magog 5’11/158 14 09 3.36 .885
12. Ville Husso—Goalie—HIFK Jr. B 6’00/160 09 03 2.74 .920
13. Ryan Pulock—D—Brandon 6’00/193 52 06 26 32
14. Hunter Shinkaruk—F—Calgary Buffalo 5’10/165 51 13 22 35
15. Connor Rankin—Forward—Tri City 6’00/185 56 15 21 36
16. Jared Hauf—Defense—Calgary Flames 6’04/170 ?? ?? ?? ??
17. Eric Comrie—Goalie—La Selects 6’00/170 16 02 1.34 .940
18. Alex Forsberg—Forward—Beardy 5’09/170 23 16 19 35
19. Will Butcher—D—Madison Caps U18 5’11/185 34 10 20 30
20. Morgan Klimchuk—F—Calgary Buff 5'11/170 32 27 23 50
21. Sean Monahan—Forward—Ottawa 6’02/180 35 06 09 15
22. Rasmus Ristolainen—D—TPS U20 6’02/192 19 00 08 08
23. Philippe Desrosiers—G—C Antoine G 5’11/162 10 09 3.54 .885
24. Eric Roy—Defense –Brandon Wheat 6’03/175 38 04 11 15
25. Jusso Ikonen—F—Espoo Blues U20 5’07/170 13 03 04 07
26. Nick Baptiste—F—Ottawa Sens Minor 0’00/000 20 21 26 47
27. Keegan Kanzig—Defense—Fort Sask 6’05/205 ?? ?? ?? ??
28. Tobias Liljendahl—F—Vasby Div 1 6’02/194 21 05 06 11
29. Adam Erne—F—Indiana USHL 5’11/198 36 09 08 17
30. Jonathan Drouin—F—Lac St Louis 5’08/151 38 22 36 58

31. Madison Bowey—D—Winnipeg Wild 6’00/180 41 16 22 38
32. Andreas Johnson—F—Frolunda U20 5’09/159 21 07 05 12
33. Jordan Subban—D—Toronto Marlies 5’08/164 ?? ?? ?? ??
34. Ryan Hartman—F—USA U17 5’10/182 37 15 07 22
35. Dominik Kubalik—F—HC Plzen U18 6’00/170 40 36 21 57
36. Sergei Iljin—Forward—Dynamo 94 5’09/160 17 13 07 20
37. Jesse Lees—Defense—Calgary 6’01/165 ?? ?? ?? ??
38. Zachary Fucale—Goalie— Seigneurs 5’11/151 15 05 3.09 .901
39. Darnell Nurse—Defense—Don Mills 6’03/175 ?? ?? ?? ??
40. Max Domi—Forward—Don Mills 5’08/160 ?? ?? ?? ??
41. Matej Paulovic—Topolcany U18 6’02/172 26 24 20 44
42. Johnathon Merkley—F—Calg Buffalos 5’11/162 32 14 29 43
43. Gabe Guertler—Forward—Illinois MM 5’10/170 35 25 34 59
44. Spenser Jensen—Defense—Airdrie 6’04192 27 00 07 07
45. Jeremy Gregoire—Forward—Magog 5’11/184 38 28 25 53
46. Alexander Barkov—F—Tappara U20 6’01/176 20 03 06 09
47. Evan Allen—Forward—Honey Baked 5’10/180 33 14 23 37
48. Nick Sørensen—F—Rogle U20 6’00/165 20 11 08 19
49. Anton Cederholm—D—Rogel U18 6’01/201 16 02 02 04
50. Eric Vierkant—G—Culver Academy 5’11/140 07 00 1.50 .930
51. Torrin White—F—UFA Bisons 0’00/000 33 18 31 49
52. Martin Reway—F—MHC Martin U18 5’09/165 20 13 22 35
53. Lukas Wallmark—F—Skelleftea J18 5’11/161 20 14 25 39
54. Tyler Motte—Forward—Honey Baked 5’10/178 33 22 14 36
55. Mason Geertsen—D—Sherwood Park 6’02/180 ?? ?? ?? ??
56. Jordan Malletta—F—St Catherines 6’02/196 ?? ?? ?? ??
57. Eetu Koivistoinen—F—Blues U18 6’02/198 14 05 10 15
58. Samuel Morin—D—Levis 6’03/171 36 00 12 12
59. Raphael Lafontaine—F—Gatineau 5’09/166 51 03 12 15
60. Alexei Zakarlyukin—F—Traktor 95 5’09/165 32 38 33 71

To me this is a weak year for Ontario, I do not think Max Domi, Darnell Nurse are as future superstars as some think but if I had to choose one to prove me wrong, I would pick Nurse, if he starts adding physical play to his game and play the whole game rather than give 100% one shift and 50% another shift well he could be a top 10 pick if those things get fixed. Domi I find just does not have that explosive talent that Baptiste has.

I also dropped Forsberg not so much for skill I would still have him top 10 in the draft, but because of his injuries, he had a bad year for them and is hurt again, im out on this guys ability to stay healthy when he is the main star on the team and is focused on.

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[member 30781]

What about Thomas Welsh? I have heard very good things about this kid. Real great player from the backend. And was one of the top defensemen in the GTHL before he moved to the states to play prep school hockey.

 

[SensFan2010]

Brian Williams? Haven't seen him play, but wasn't he supposed to be top 5 pick in the Bantam Draft?

 

[KingJet*]

My call is Bowey makes a huge climb in a few years, hes going to Kelowna and they develop good D and he was a top 5 prospect last year, plays alot like Drew Doughty, think of a Drew Doughty type player + A team that Developed star Defenseman, what would that look like

 

[Latex*]

Edit: Oops, i should've read the OP's list better.

 

[scoutman1]

My call is Bowey makes a huge climb in a few years, hes going to Kelowna and they develop good D and he was a top 5 prospect last year, plays alot like Drew Doughty, think of a Drew Doughty type player + A team that Developed star Defenseman, what would that look like

I agree with that, actually, by next year we might be talking about this guy as one of the best two way defenders of 95 borns...this guy was one of my favs in the canada winter games...I have to say I should have put him in the 1st round, I overlooked him on the list.....I have to say he is the fastest skating defender of 95s in canada, he is sturdy body, great puck handling, excellent shooting and passing, great IQ on the ice and controls the ice you will notice him on the ice for sure, he was a steal in the 2nd round.

 

[scoutman1]

Brian Williams? Haven't seen him play, but wasn't he supposed to be top 5 pick in the Bantam Draft?

he is now getting passed over by a lot of up and coming guys...williams is a point per game 34 points in 34 games in la selects midget hockey but a far way off of what we all thought he could have been.

 

[Granlund2Pulkkinen*]

There always seems to be one Russian kid from Traktor that is hyped 2-3 years before draft day

Why is that?

EDIT: and what is your stat format?

 

[slovakiasnextone]

Still no Marko Daňo who has held his own against men and is performing great in U20 league and U18 national team while Paulovič is playing just in the U18 league? (Actually the same with Reway, but he has already proven that he can play at the U20 level to in the few games he played).

 

[scoutman1]

Still no Marko Daňo who has held his own against men and is performing great in U20 league and U18 national team while Paulovič is playing just in the U18 league? (Actually the same with Reway, but he has already proven that he can play at the U20 level to in the few games he played).

I have to say I never say the kid play at all, but Reway has proven against men...had 10 points in 8 games as a 95 born in the U20 league. I know Dano is a 94 late, so Dano would have had that extra year of playing on Reway....so next year Reway should be full time in the U20 league.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

I have to say I never say the kid play at all, but Reway has proven against men...had 10 points in 8 games as a 95 born in the U20 league. I know Dano is a 94 late, so Dano would have had that extra year of playing on Reway....so next year Reway should be full time in the U20 league.

Isn´t the reason why you haven´t seen Daňo play that he didn´t play at the U17 WHC, because he was too busy leading the year older national team in scoring at an U18 tournament in Switzerland? I´m assuming you saw Reway and Paulovič play at the U17 WHC.
Daňo was born at the end of November 94, while both Reway and Paulovič ar born in January 95, so basically there is just a two month difference between Daňo and the two. And actually unlike in North America or Sweden etc. in Slovakia at the age levels under the U18 leagues in the so called "pupil leagues" the kids are playing with and against the kids of the age they go to school with and we have kids born in the fall/winter of one year and kids born in spring/early summer of the next year in classes together, which means that actually Daňo as a late 94 would play at the same level as the two kids born in early 95. Plus not all kids really start playing at the same age, so it is hard to tell who has an extra year or more on whom. And last but not least you have to consider how very common it is for the best kids to play a level or two higher often at a very early age (Reway is actually a great example of this, because AFAIK he was playing with kids at least a year older at least as a 10 year old with Slavia Praha if not even younger.)

 

[R S]

I always like these out on a limb lists.

IMO Shinkaruk is too low.

 

[IkeaMonkey*]

Posting again,

Seth Jones is not 6'3". At least 6'5".

 

[scoutman1]

Isn´t the reason why you haven´t seen Daňo play that he didn´t play at the U17 WHC, because he was too busy leading the year older national team in scoring at an U18 tournament in Switzerland? I´m assuming you saw Reway and Paulovič play at the U17 WHC.
Daňo was born at the end of November 94, while both Reway and Paulovič ar born in January 95, so basically there is just a two month difference between Daňo and the two. And actually unlike in North America or Sweden etc. in Slovakia at the age levels under the U18 leagues in the so called "pupil leagues" the kids are playing with and against the kids of the age they go to school with and we have kids born in the fall/winter of one year and kids born in spring/early summer of the next year in classes together, which means that actually Daňo as a late 94 would play at the same level as the two kids born in early 95. Plus not all kids really start playing at the same age, so it is hard to tell who has an extra year or more on whom. And last but not least you have to consider how very common it is for the best kids to play a level or two higher often at a very early age (Reway is actually a great example of this, because AFAIK he was playing with kids at least a year older at least as a 10 year old with Slavia Praha if not even younger.)

im not saying Reway is better than Dano because i never saw Dano play so I can not say....BUT if a kid even two months apart is a one year behind in hockey....the kid would have started a year before the other kid playing, and also for Reway to be at the same stage in hockey as Dano you would have to compare Reway to Dano this year because Dano started 1 year before Reway since he is a 94, so last year I see Dano never even played U20 league but yet Reway has played U20 league...so I see your point of it 2 months apart but you looking at it in just months...but like I said in hockey that is a whole 1 apart, so Reway is doing something Dano never did because Dano never played as a 15 year old in the U20 league and Reway did. Again im not saying Reway is better, just saying even though 2 months apart Dano started one whole year before Reway, thus should be in a higher league if they are both great talents.

 

[pckstpr31]

Really good year for goalies? you've got 3 in the first round

 

[scoutman1]

Really good year for goalies? you've got 3 in the first round

those two quebec goalies are the two best Quebec has seen in some time, and Comrie is up there with the quebec guys, also Husso is one amazing goalie himself

 

[zjh]

Spencer Jensen > Lees, Hauf. But this could definatly change in the next 2 years. And does Forsberg situation maybe remind anyone of another certain "injury prone" PG Cougar?

 

[Indian]

im not saying Reway is better than Dano because i never saw Dano play so I can not say....BUT if a kid even two months apart is a one year behind in hockey....the kid would have started a year before the other kid playing, and also for Reway to be at the same stage in hockey as Dano you would have to compare Reway to Dano this year because Dano started 1 year before Reway since he is a 94, so last year I see Dano never even played U20 league but yet Reway has played U20 league...so I see your point of it 2 months apart but you looking at it in just months...but like I said in hockey that is a whole 1 apart, so Reway is doing something Dano never did because Dano never played as a 15 year old in the U20 league and Reway did. Again im not saying Reway is better, just saying even though 2 months apart Dano started one whole year before Reway, thus should be in a higher league if they are both great talents.

i just want to add another point to this discussion that Dano managed to play some games in slovak extraliga against men as a 16 year old being only the third youngest to ever do that in slovakia after Gaborik and Meszaros. he made a huge progress over the year and was also a force on weak slovakian team internationally.
im not saying that he's better then reway or paulovic i just think he should be considered to be on that list. also another interesting thing is that paulovic appears to be playing as a defenceman now.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

im not saying Reway is better than Dano because i never saw Dano play so I can not say....BUT if a kid even two months apart is a one year behind in hockey....the kid would have started a year before the other kid playing, and also for Reway to be at the same stage in hockey as Dano you would have to compare Reway to Dano this year because Dano started 1 year before Reway since he is a 94, so last year I see Dano never even played U20 league but yet Reway has played U20 league...so I see your point of it 2 months apart but you looking at it in just months...but like I said in hockey that is a whole 1 apart, so Reway is doing something Dano never did because Dano never played as a 15 year old in the U20 league and Reway did. Again im not saying Reway is better, just saying even though 2 months apart Dano started one whole year before Reway, thus should be in a higher league if they are both great talents.

I get it with you not having seen him play.

However as for the age argument: I´m sorry, but did you really read my post?

1. I don´t know how it is in Canada, but over here kids start playing hockey at different ages ranging from 3 years to 10 year olds and you can´t really have any idea at what age either of them started playing. For all we know Reway could have started playing hockey 3 or maybe even 5 years sooner than Daňo.

2. The youth hockey in Slovakia (and I believe in the Czech republic also) is organized so that you have children from two different birth years always playing together- the ones born from September-December of one year and the others from January-August of the following year, which means that the category in which all Daňo, Reway and Paulovič played before the U18 league was 1994/1995. For example the categories for the 2010/2011 season are: 9th grade/U16- 1995/1996; 8th grade/U15- 1996/1997;7th grade/U14- 1997/1998 and 6th grade/U13- 1998/1999. This AFAIK is pretty different from the major European nations, who for example have a Team 1997 and a Team 1998, undepending on in what part of the year the player was born in.

Which leads as to the fact that in Slovak conditions Daňo did not 100% play hockey sooner than Reway (though I think he did as a son of a hockey player) and they had belonged into the same category 1994/1995 during their youth league days and just based on birth year it is IMPOSSIBLE to claim that Daňo has a year more of development than Reway.

 

[Hybbe]

Nick Sorensen feels like a steal at 48, but it's obviously early.

 

[scoutman1]

I get it with you not having seen him play.

However as for the age argument: I´m sorry, but did you really read my post?

1. I don´t know how it is in Canada, but over here kids start playing hockey at different ages ranging from 3 years to 10 year olds and you can´t really have any idea at what age either of them started playing. For all we know Reway could have started playing hockey 3 or maybe even 5 years sooner than Daňo.

2. The youth hockey in Slovakia (and I believe in the Czech republic also) is organized so that you have children from two different birth years always playing together- the ones born from September-December of one year and the others from January-August of the following year, which means that the category in which all Daňo, Reway and Paulovič played before the U18 league was 1994/1995. For example the categories for the 2010/2011 season are: 9th grade/U16- 1995/1996; 8th grade/U15- 1996/1997;7th grade/U14- 1997/1998 and 6th grade/U13- 1998/1999. This AFAIK is pretty different from the major European nations, who for example have a Team 1997 and a Team 1998, undepending on in what part of the year the player was born in.

Which leads as to the fact that in Slovak conditions Daňo did not 100% play hockey sooner than Reway (though I think he did as a son of a hockey player) and they had belonged into the same category 1994/1995 during their youth league days and just based on birth year it is IMPOSSIBLE to claim that Daňo has a year more of development than Reway.

well the same is in canada...but USUALLY a player normally starts early in life, but they are put with the age group of there age or they can play ahead if they are good enough. Again with my answer to the age thing every player might start at a different time some at 6 or 7 we never know but they play with their age group or above, so Dano would have been with the 94s ever since he played and reway with the 95s till they played up levels.

 

[babyshamble]

Hi Scoutman. First of all I have to say that I am impressed by your work and that i really appreciate that you take the time to share some of your insights and opinions with the rest of us.

The only guys I have seen personally on this list is the Swedes and Fins that played the under-16 Nordic cup in Norway earlier this season. However I would like to think that Markus Søberg from Norway should receive some consideration.

He started this season playing in Sweden for Modo J-18 and shoved a lot of promise before he went home to Norway before christmas because of non hockey related reasons. Søberg has since dominated the weak Norwegian u-20 junior league where he is averaging over 3 points per game. He will go back to Sweden and play for Frolunda next season. He wil also probably play for Team Norway in the Under-18 World Championships in Germany in April.

His stats: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=73397

 

[Pentothal]

Sörensen, Wallmark lower than I would expect.. it's still very early though. Liljendahl might rise a bit too. If there ever was a 'next Sundin', it's this kid. At least that's what I'd like to think

 

[slovakiasnextone]

well the same is in canada...but USUALLY a player normally starts early in life, but they are put with the age group of there age or they can play ahead if they are good enough. Again with my answer to the age thing every player might start at a different time some at 6 or 7 we never know but they play with their age group or above, so Dano would have been with the 94s ever since he played and reway with the 95s till they played up levels.

I´m not sure whether I didn´t explain it properly or whether you just don´t understand....?

Again:
There is not a league at the youth level in Slovakia were mainly only players born in one year play, so it was impossible for Daňo to play in a 1994 league with mainly 1994 borns and for Reway to play in a 1995 league with mainly 1995 borns! It is always players born in the SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER of one year (in this case 1994) and players born in JANUARY-AUGUST of the following year (in this case 1995) thus meaning that Daňo and Reway always belonged into the very SAME CATEGORY 1994/1995! Is that really that hard to understand? I mean it works almost like the NHL draft with its Sep 15th cut off.

 

[Tormentor]

I’d say that Aleksandr â€Sasha†Barkov is the top Finnish prospect in this draft class at the moment. He’s a centre forward with good hands and hockey IQ. He’s about 6’1’’ at the moment, but will probably end up being something like 6’3’’, both of his parents are clearly taller than average. His father is Russian and a former pro, so the best case scenario is that you’ll see a combination of Russian skill and Finnish team work ability. At the moment his skating speed is hindering his level of involvement slightly, but that should improve soon with proper training, there’s nothing wrong with his skating technique. His up-to-date stats in Jr.A (U20) are 4g+12a=16p in 24 games, that’s impressive for a 15 year old whose skating speed is holding him back against the clearly older competition.

Juuso Ikonen and Martin Reway surely have a lot of skill, but they still have a lot of growing to do before they are NHL prospects. At least Marko Daňo has a frame that’s not far from a pro one.

I’m surprised to see Seth Jones that low (6th spot). From the little that I’ve seen, he seems like he could develop into a monster of a defenseman. I know that Chris Pronger comparisons are thrown around too easily, but this kid could be close if you take the mean streak out of the picture.