Pre-WJC Top 120 2005

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X-SHARKIE

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Here is my top 120 eligible players for 2005 with my comments on the top 30.
Let the debating begin.

1. F Sidney Crosby QMJHL 5-10 185
2. D Jack Johnson USNTDP 6-1 200
Most complete defenseman prospect. Right up there with Phaneuf and Suter.
3. F Gilbert Brule WHL 5-11 190
Extremely skilled, best shot in the draft? very feisty, still the 2nd best forward in the draft.
4. F Benoit Pouliot OHL 6-2 200
Tall, Lanky, Amazing skating ability and hands. NHL teams drool over players like him.
5. D Jakub Kindl OHL 6-3 200
Just as talented if not more then Johnson, doesn't have the edge you want and hasn't dominated like he could. Still could devolope into a #1 defenseman
6 . F Ryan O'Marra OHL 6-3 190
Big hardworking physical winger with great shot. Just below the top 2 forward in potential, Should be a 1st line winger with scoring ability and a physical game. Could be wearing a C or an A with his work ethic and heart when he's older. Has an edge to his game not many forwards have, plus he has the size!
7. F Bobby Ryan OHL 6-3 215
Big sniper, elite finishing tools, also an impressive playmaker, amazing in traffic, works hard, skating is improving but it needs more. Dominating the OHL at 17!
8. F Alex Bourret QMJHL 6-0 210
Tank like build, hits punish like a tank to, won me over at the Re-max games, he also has incredible skills and not many can skate like he can. Can make a play on his own and can finish one to.
9. F Marek Zagrapan QMJHL 6-1 180 , poor mans Marian Gaborik, much like Kindl would like to see some urgency, amazing moves, excellent skater, does it all offensively and helps out on defense. Has top 10 skill. WJC's should be his breakout.
10. G J.P. Levasseur QMJHL 6-2 190
Best goalie in the draft at the moment, numbers are down but he has the best raw tools of any goaltender and doesn't get rattled. Haven't seen enough of him to put him as high as redline but he has everything you could want but the numbers.
11. F Jack Skille USA 6-1 200
One of my favorites, elite shooting skills, excellent drive and foot work, extremely smart, extremely strong on his skates, very good hands, all around forward just needs more publicity, dominated NCAA games this year!
12. G Tukka Rask FIN 6-1 170
Young goalie who well start for the Fins, not having the year I expected, WJC's well tell the tale, Dominated the Four Nations, incredible reflexes, I can't waite to see him at the WJC's.
13. F Chris Durrand WHL 6-1 185
Underated player, amazing offensive skills, extremely poised, excellent playmaker who handles the physical game very well.
14. F Daniel Bertram NCAA 5-11 180
Amazing speed, one of the best skaters in the draft, a bit undersized but it doesn't faze him, also has snipers instincts. Numbers aren't the best because he plays on a deep team.
15. D Teemu Laakso FIN 6-0 180
Should excell at the WJC's with loads of ice time, breaking out this year, does everything a pro defenseman needs to. Great with the puck in his hand.
16. F Niklas Berfgors SWE 6-0 195
Hard working, stock player who skates and handles the puck very well. SHoudl rise with WJC's showing.
17. D Matt Lashoff OHL 6-2 200
Injurey might cost him, loved him last year and his numbers are good so far, can't waite to see more of him. Very good two way player who could see his stock soar after his draft much like Phaneufs did.
18. F Devin Setoguchi WHL 6-0 180
Very fast player who explodes, the puck also explodes off of his stick. Has a good physical dimension to his game.
19. D Brian Lee USHS 6-2 190
Played very good in the exhibiton game I saw on webcast, Selection over Johnson intrigues me, Extremely poised, big! great skater, could be a rock of a defenseman
20. F Ryan Stoa USA 6-3 200
Huge, one of the best skaters i've seen for his size, looks great at this age vs NCAA competition, amazing shot, hands, patience. It's to bad he's in the USNTDP and I dont get to see much of him. Look forward to seeing him next year in Minnesota.
21. G Carey Price WHL 6-3 210
Big talented goaltender who is shining in the Dub this year, likely should be higher but I haven't seen him.
22. D Luc Bourdon QMJHL 6-2 195
Extremely impressive defenseman, hits like a train, has a mean streak, makes great decisions, never hurts his team, also brings offensive game. Complete package who just lacks elite skills. Very poised.
23. F Guillaume Latendresse QMJHL 6-2 215
Talent, size it's all there, except for heart and possibly hockey sense. I don't like him, but you can't deny what he has done in the past and on some nights.
24. D Risto Korhonen FIN 6-3 200
Big, physical, defensive player, who moves the puck out of the zone effectively.
25. D Marc Staal OHL 6-4 190
Great size with excellent and smoot skating ability, makes mature decisions out of his zone, and positioning is really coming around. Big upside. Lacks physical edge.
26. D Ryan Parent OHL 6-2 200
Not many players are better in there own zone, and plays pissed off every night, invisible in the offensive zone though. Could surprise though and devolope into a Scott Hannan.
27 G Alexander Vincent QMJHL 6-3 190
Classic Q goaltender with excellent size, lacks consistancy but shows tools to be #1 goaltender. Deep draft with 3 great prospects ahead of him well make him fall to mid 20's.
28 F Michael Blunden OHL 6-3 210
Much like O'Marra, Blunden is carrying the Erie Otters, huge powerforward who moves very well for his size, plays a physical game and has some playmaking ability but his finishing skills are what sets him apart. Could be a good 2nd line powerforward. Big upside.
29. F Andrew Cogliano OPRJA 5-10 170 Amazing skater who does everything at top speed, very good playmaker and finisher. Can be easily pushed around but has elite tools that can't be coached.
30. F Anze Kopitar EUR 6-3 200
A wildcard that I want my team to take a chance on. Huge forward who is a solid skater, shows alot of heart and is clutch, excellent finishing skills and has the ability to raise his game. Still very raw but could be the next Jason Allison from what I hear.
31. F Ilya Zubov RUS 6-1 180
32 F Patrick Davis OHL 6-2 195
33 D J.P. Paquet QMJHL 6-2 200
34 F Vladimir Sobotka CZE 5-10 185
35 D Brendan Mikkelson WHL 6-2 190
36 F Mikko Lehtonen FIN 6-3 200
37 F T.J. Hensick NCAA 5-9 180
38. F Martin Hanzal CZE 6-3 200
39. D Scott Jackson WHL 6-4 200
40. F Kendal McArdle WHL 5-11 190
41. F Slava Trukhno QMJHL 6-1 185
42. F Denis Istomin RUS 5-10 190
43. D Taylor Chourney SHA 5-11 185
44. D Vitaly Anikeenko RUS 6-3 200
45. F Nick Drazenovic WHL 6-0 190
46. D Andrei Zubarev RUS 6-1 180
47. D Patrick McNeil OHL 6-1 180
48. D Vyacheslav Buravchikov RUS 6-0 185
49. F Peter MacArthur NCAA 5-11 180
50. D Tomas Kudelka CZE 6-1 180
51. F Gennady Churilov QMJHL 6-1 180
52. F Jordan Lavalle QMJHL 6-3 210
53. F Dan Collins OHL 6-2 200
54. F Mathieu Roy QMJHL 6-0 190
55. F Jason Bailey USA 6-2 200
56. F Cody Bass OHL 6-0 190
57. F Daniel Ryder OHL 5-11 185
58. D Michael Sauer WHL 6-2 190
59. F Brock Bradford USHL 5-10 170
60. F Sergei Kostitsyn BEL 5-10 170
61. F Blair Jones WHL 6-2 190
62. F Tom Fritsche USA 5-11 185
63. D Oscars Bartulis QMJHL 6-1 180
64. D Mike Stuart USA 6-5 220
65. F Morten Madsen SWE 6-1 180
66. F Frederik Petterson SWE 5-9 170
67. F Chris Lawrence OHL 6-4 190
68. D Keith Yandle CA 6-2 190
69. D Dustin Kohn WHL 6-0 195
70. F Anton Skorykh RUS 6-4 200
71. F Cody Bass OHL 6-0 190
72. F Wacey Rabbit WHL 5-10 170
73. D Juho Mielonen FIN 6-2 185
74. D Ray Macias WHL 6-2 190
75. D Andrew Andricopoulos QMJHL 6-1 185
76. D Anton Belov RUS 6-3 190
77. F Steve Downie OHL 5-10 190
78. G Ondrej Pavelec CZE 5-11 175
79. D Matt Kiskanen USHS 6-2 190
80. D Evan Brophey OHL 6-1 190
81. F Philip Gogulla GER 6-2 190
82. F Egor Zharkov RUS/QMJHL 6-3 190
83. F Sebastian Karlsson SWE 6-0 185
84. F Alexander Bumagin RUS 6-0 170
85.D Alexander Ribberstand SWE 5-11 190
86. F Anton Krysanov RUS 6-3 190
87. D Johnathan Sigalet CA 6-1 190
88. F Marek Bartanus SLV 6-3 200
89. D Ryan Wilson OHL 6-0 200
90. D Jakub Vojta CZE 6-0 180
91. F Nathan Gerbe USNTDP 5-6 190
92. F Christoph Gawlick GER 5-11 180
93. D Dimitri Megalinsky RUS 6-2 220
94. F Mathieu Aubin QMJHL 6-1 180
95. F Jason Lawrence USNTDP 5-10 185
96. D Mathieu Labrie QMJHL 6-1 200
97. F Sergei Shirkov RUS 6-0 180
98. G Jeff Frazee USA 6-0 180
99. F Radel Smolenak OHL 6-2 190
100. D Mortiz Muller GER 6-1 190
101. F Justin Saulnier QMJHL 5-10 180
102. G Joe Fallon NCAA 6-3 190
103. F Tom Gorosky USHL 6-1 195
104. D Brett Motherwell USHL 5-11 185
105. F Matt D'Agostini OHL 6-0 190
106. G Ryan Mior QMJHL 6-1 190
107. D Steve Birnstill NCAA 6-1 190
108. F Paul Stastny NCAA 6-0 185
109. F Stanislav Lascek QMJHL 6-0 185
110. F Francois Bolduc QMJHL 6-3 210
111. D Devereaux Heshmatpour OHL 6-6 235
112. F Riley Merkley WHL 6-2 190
113. D Matt Pelech OHL 6-3 220
114. F Adam Hobson WHL 6-0 190
115. F Colton Yellowhorn WHL 5-7 175
116. F Mike Testwuide USHL 6-3 210
117. D Alexandre Picard-Hooper QMJHL 5-10 170
118. D Chad Denny QMJHL 6-2 215
119. D Mike Gauthier WHL 6-4 205
120. D Phil Oreskovich OHL 6-3 225
 

Amadeus

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Jun 21, 2004
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Thanks for your insight. I enjoyed reading it. Can you tell me about Ilya Zubov, his style of play and all...i've heard he's the number one prospect out of Russia...
 

X-SHARKIE

Registered User
ic3man24 said:
Thanks for your insight. I enjoyed reading it. Can you tell me about Ilya Zubov, his style of play and all...i've heard he's the number one prospect out of Russia...

From what I gather he has the size, but his strength is his amazing hands that many top russians have, also has great numbers. Sounds like the typical offensive russian.
 

Blue Bullet

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Good list. I have similar opinions of players and our rankings are not that far apart. (I posted mine on the Oilers site and I'll throw mine up today). That must have taken a while. I find it tough coming up with a top 40 or 50 nevermind top 120.

I'm not ready to move Lee up that high so I have him just out of the 1st round. He will probably move up everybody's list after the WJC.

Latendresse has been a disappointment this year. He was one of my favourites coming in and I thought he was going to be fighting it out with Brule for the 2nd spot. I have him at 14 and falling.
 

John

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May 25, 2004
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Thanks for doing that. One name I didn't see is Joe Barnes from Saskatoon. I'm pretty sure he'll go in the top 120.

What position does Zubov play?

Also, who is this Crosby guy and why don't you have any comments about him ;)
 

Nik

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Dec 20, 2004
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You've seen all of these kids play? Wow. Great read, great list. Why aren't you an HF writer? ;)
 

leafaholix*

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Matt Lashoff at 6'2, 200?

Last time I saw him he looked like a midget. Not really, but more like 6'0, 190'ish.
 

Fighter

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Jan 1, 2004
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Great work as usual Sharkie.
I don't agree in a pair of points (Zagrapan and Cogliano too low IMO but that's debatable) but overall is an interesting list.
 

Sanderson

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Sep 10, 2002
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Compared to your last few (shorter) lists Christoph Gawlik took quite a drop, he is even behind Philipp Gogulla. His injury surely threw him back enormously.
 

leafaholix*

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There's atleast 6 notable surnames there.

Fritsche
Stastny
Staal
Ryder
Kostitsyn
Sigalet

Any other relatives of current prospects or NHL'ers around?
 

Hab Fan

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Nov 2, 2004
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Leafaholix said:
There's atleast 6 notable surnames there.

Fritsche
Stastny
Staal
Ryder
Kostitsyn
Sigalet

Any other relatives of current prospects or NHL'ers around?
You said it, Kindl doesn't have the heart Johnson has or will he ever have Johnson's competitive spirit.
 

FINNtastic

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Apr 24, 2004
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X-SHARKIE said:
12. G Tukka Rask FIN 6-1 170
Young goalie who well start for the Fins, not having the year I expected, WJC's well tell the tale, Dominated the Four Nations, incredible reflexes, I can't waite to see him at the WJC's.

Sorry but I just had to correct you on this one...it's actually TUUKKA Rask with two U's.. :teach: If it's spelled TUKKA it's means hair in finnish so you might understand why it seems a bit funny to us finns when you guys write it like that. Otherwise I agree with you..his year hasn't been spectacular, but not everyone can dominate the SM-Liiga like Kari Lehtonen as a 17-yr old. But in the juniors he has been very good: 14 games gaa 1,83 sv% 93,35. Anyway a good list as far as I know...
 

FearTheFlyers

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Feb 3, 2003
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Switch Ryan with Pouliot and Lashoff with Kindl and I love. Thanks for putting this together for us to see your extremely educated opinions.
 

X-SHARKIE

Registered User
FINNtastic said:
Sorry but I just had to correct you on this one...it's actually TUUKKA Rask with two U's.. :teach: If it's spelled TUKKA it's means hair in finnish so you might understand why it seems a bit funny to us finns when you guys write it like that. Otherwise I agree with you..his year hasn't been spectacular, but not everyone can dominate the SM-Liiga like Kari Lehtonen as a 17-yr old. But in the juniors he has been very good: 14 games gaa 1,83 sv% 93,35. Anyway a good list as far as I know...

Yeah his junior numbers are great, and he's only 17! I just think he needs more devolopment time. At the moment I have him behind Levasseur because Rask is a unkown to me, but after the WJC's I could see him rise very easily...


I like Ryder but his skating scares me off. It's nothing he can't improve though, but if i'm going to get on a small players wagon I need speed lol.

Gawlick is out of most lists, like McKeens and ISS because, well he hasn't played. I have him in my top 100 because I know this guy would likely be pushing for a first round spot had he not been drafted. If he opts in look for the Sharks to snatch him up late day 1. But I expect him to opt out possibly and could end up being a 1st round pick in 2006. I honestly don't expect him in the draft that's why he is so low. Injuries is the only reason.
 

CH Wizard

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X-SHARKIE said:
20. F Ryan Stoa USA 6-3 200
Huge, one of the best skaters i've seen for his size, looks great at this age vs NCAA competition, amazing shot, hands, patience. It's to bad he's in the USNTDP and I dont get to see much of him. Look forward to seeing him next year in Minnesota.


Nice report sharkie.20 is where imo He should go.He has a great shot for sure but there many questions surrounding about his playmaking skills.IMO his size is the main reason why He's still ranked so high.
 

Kitsune

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Feb 20, 2003
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I'm drooling over the team Sudbury will have next year(too bad some Wolves fan dont realize that NEXT YEAR is our year). Staal though is starting to show a physical side, and isnt even afraid to mix it up every now and then (he was tossed and recieved an automatic 2 game suspension against Windsor last week for being involved in a line brawl). Another thing, I wouldnt be surprised to see two other Wolves going in the top 120 - both defenseman in Adam Mcquid and Kyle Lamb if he gets out of his slump. Adam is a phsyical stay at home defenseman and plays on the top pairing with Staal now, while Lamb shows he can have offense at times, and if he ever can get some consitency, he'll prolly rise.

Overall, Great List! And hard to believe Pouliot was drafted in the 11th round of the OHL Priority draft a couple years ago.
 

LaLaLaprise

lalalaprise -twitter
Feb 28, 2002
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Excellent list!!

Id liek to put in a plug for:

Simon Bolduc - Hige winger, very good skater and he hits like no tomorow. He will be a top 120 pick. But not many know about him.
 

zecke26

Registered User
Jan 16, 2003
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good job sharkie.

can't argue with the germans you pick. gogulla should be the first german in the draft, mueller is another fine choice. dunno where to rank gawlik, he's a real wildcard. maybe he's going very late, but he could be a steal then. he has the skills to be a NHLer.

so tell me, who do you think the sharks will pick out of germany? :)
 

rt

The Kinder, Gentler Version
May 13, 2004
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A Lone Wolf said:
Staal though is starting to show a physical side, and isnt even afraid to mix it up every now and then (he was tossed and recieved an automatic 2 game suspension against Windsor last week for being involved in a line brawl).

Except that he was double teaming a guy with another teammate. So maybe your post should have read, "and isn't even afraid to mix it up every now and then (when it's not a fair fight)."

I've got the fight if you want to see it.
 

rt

The Kinder, Gentler Version
May 13, 2004
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X-Sharkie, it seems like you have Radek Smolenak very low. I've seen him alot higher elsewhere. What is it that you don't like about his game? Keep in mind that I've never seen him before, so it's not like I'm disagreeing with you. :)
 
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