By Kathryn Uggerholt

The Oilers’ prospects were victorious once again in Tuesday night’s game, beating the Jets by a 2-0 count.  Tyler Bunz made some spectacular saves to earn the shutout as he stopped all 24 shots he faced.

In a much tighter game than the first of the Young Stars Tournament, the Oilers threw 26 puck at opposing goaltender Chris Carrozzi.

Forward Chase Schaber put Edmonton up 1-0 at 2:57 of the opening stanza when he scored following a scramble in front of the net.  Just over five minutes later, Ryan Lowery made it 2-0 on the first Oilers power play of the game.  Kristians Pelss and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each added an assist.

The Jets picked up their play in the second period following a fight between Brett Ferguson and Jordan Depape, but Bunz was there to make some beauty saves and keep the score at 2-0, including a sliding pad save on a 3-on-1 with under two minutes to go.

The Oilers are now only team in the tournament that is undefeated following the lone game on Tuesday night’s schedule.  Their final game will be Wednesday night where prospects can sort of get a taste of the rivalry with the Calgary Flames.  The Flames have yet to win any game thus far in the Young Stars Tournament.

They all hummed and hawed until finally coming up with a game plan. Robyn Regehr agreed to waive his no movement clause to become a member of the Buffalo Sabres. Along with Regehr, the Flames shipped Ales Kotalik and a second round pick in 2012 to the Sabers in return for Chris Butler and Paul Byron.

The trade is but a few hours old and there have been intense discussions all around the league and amongst hockey fans regarding this dealing. Many in Calgary are viewing this trade as a significant failure; trading away one of their top defensemen and getting very little in return. Regehr is a big strong defenseman who plays solidly against the league’s best each night. There are few better shutdown D-men in the league, and to let one go so easily comes as a surprise. Kotalik was under severe criticism in Calgary – so it is no surprise to see him head back to Buffalo, the only team he has had a successful season with.

Coming back the other way, Butler is a 5th or 6th D-man, with the potential to move into the top 4. He is also considered to be a shutdown defenseman who plays physical, and at 24 he is learning the game and with potential for significant improvement.

Byron put up some fairly stellar numbers in the QMJHL, but has not yet really been tested at the NHL level. He has the potential to be a solid offensive player, but he has a ways to go in regards to his development. He may see limited action as a Flame this season, likely alongside the third of fourth line.

So the question circling around Calgary is why did Feaster give up such a prized defenseman for a sub-optimal return? It all comes down to money.

By trading away Regehr and Kotalik, the Flames were able to free up $7.5 million in cap space. This opened the door for the signing of Alex Tanguay today.

Tanguay was signed for 5 years at $17 million, with a cap hit of $3.4 million. This a stellar deal for all involved. Alex receives a long-term contract that he was looking for – and the Flames lock up one of the top passers in the NHL. Tanguay recorded 22 goals and 69 points last season, and more importantly launched Jarome Iginla in the second part of the season to 43 goals. Tanguay has had many subpar seasons in the last 5 years, but it appears that he has found stability in Calgary alongside Iginla. Jay Feaster made the right decision by going after the left-winger to ensure continued success along that top line for a few years to come. Secondary to that, the price tag for the signing is highly favorable for the Flames who can ill afford to hand out inappropriate contracts at this point in time.

Alright .. so we signed our most coveted free agent, and dumped salary. Where are we sitting now? Well as it stands (with the new increase in cap space July 1st), Calgary will have around $7.5 million in cap space to play with. They have recently offered Anton Babchuk and Adam Pardy (both UFAs) contracts (undisclosed amounts). Butler is a restricted free agent – likely to receive a contract. So if I had to estimate I think that the three would provide a cap hit just over $3million/season. Doubtful that Steve Staios will be offered a contract – and the Flames will use players from the minors (Brodie, Negrin, Pelech, Seabrook, Baldwin to name a few) at the minimum cost. On the forward side of things – the only free agent the Flames may consider signing is Brendan Morrison. Likely with a cap hit around $1 million. So that leaves around just over $3 million in cap space to play with this offseason, baring no further trades. With that money the Flames are unlikely to go out and capture any big names but they will likely be able to add minor pieces to help fit the puzzle.

Feaster has also made it well known that the Flames are anxious to have many of their prospects play with the club in the coming season, and so it is likely we will see call-ups from the Heat to help fill gaps within the roster.

In the grand scheme of things, the Flames can afford to be patient for the remainder of the off-season. We have a few prospects brewing in the minors, with potentials to be solid NHL players (Greg Nemisz, Mitch Wahl, Ryan Howse, Max Reinhart), and many expensive contracts expiring at the end of next season (Langkow, Hagman, Jokinen, Sarich). So at that time the Flames will have plenty of cap-room to improve upon the team and replace players as they see fit. So in many regards, this will be a tryout season for players so that they can prove their worth going into their contract year.

It is tough to say what Feaster has up his sleeve, but he has helped the Flames get out of a very tight cap situation. With Regehr and Kotalik still on the roster, it would be unlikely that the Flames could make many of the signings they wished. Many people figured that Robyn Regehr would fetch a significant roster player from the Sabers – but with that comes more $’s. The idea was not to get rid of Robyn Regehr, the point was to shed salary, and collecting a solid player with another cap hit just wouldn’t help. No purpose is served by having a few highly paid players, with a bunch of roster fillers the rest of the way. While it is disappointing the Flames let a stellar defenseman go with little return, in the grand scheme of things the flexibility it provides may prove to be more beneficial to the club in the future.

At least this Flames fan hopes so..

–

Shahbaz Syed
Twitter: DDxDino

Day four has come and gone with the two teams squaring off for the victory.  Those two teams will be the Detroit Red Wings and the undefeated Minnesota Wild– whose prospects have both surprised and simply wanted it more.  Once again the tournament proved to be an exciting one with the season’s first opportunity to showcase some of the NHL’s young talent.

Results from day four:

Tampa Bay Lightning 3 – Dallas Stars 1
Minnesota Wild 5 – New York Rangers 4
Carolina Hurricanes 8 – Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Detroit Red Wings 2 – St. Louis Blues 1

Now on to day 5.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues

The Blue Jackets will look to rebound from an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes.  Most of their lack of success can be attributed to their big guns not translating to the box score.  Ryan Johansen, John Moore, Matt Calvert, Cody Goloubef all failed to put a puck across the line while an unknown like Chris Francis actually leads the team in scoring. Give some of these kids some time, they still have room to grow.  Moore especially should be a fine player down the road and this tournament simple serves as a playing ground for him and the rest of the kids to hone their skills. Alex Pietrangelo similarly withstood the pressure of being a first round pick and highly touted prospect.  His team did not perform to expectations when considering the plethora of talent but the better prospects showed up.  Brett Sonne, Jake Allen, Ian Cole and Phil McRae all showed glimpses of their potential as they look to join a young Blues core.  Pietrangelo did not exhibit the dominating ability he was touted with when drafted but certainly did not seem out of place.  Bob McKenzie actually praised his play during the first game of the tourney.  Pretty good sign despite their record.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Lots of bright spots in the Tampa Bay lineup with top prospect Brett Conolly showing other teams he is certainly healthy and as talented as touted.  The Blue Jackets were just one team who passed over this kid, in a draft dominated by forwards.  Carter Ashton, Richard Panik, Marc-Oliver Vachon and James Wright all had good tournaments as well while the two solid netminding prospects Dustin Tokarski and Jaroslav Janus took turns between the pipes.  With all the news surrounding Steve Yzerman’s decisions, the pipeline seems to be very underrated here after two lottery picks. The Canes brought offensive firepower in the form of their top selection Jeff Skinner.  We love this kid and he showed exactly why he has a chance at making the team this year with five points in three games.  A supporting cast of the surprising Matt Kennedy and top collegiates Zac Dalpe and Riley Nash also helped the team dominate at points– although they have no chance at winning the title for the second straight season.  Lots of positive signs for their young forwards, the offensive core looks incredibly strong going forward.

Dallas Stars vs. New York Rangers

Jack Campbell lost both games he played in, although not by such a high margin the second time.  His first stint in a Dallas jersey certainly was not the best way to start off his young professional career but he still has plenty of time to develop.  After committing to the Windsor Spitfires and forgoing NCAA eligibility, Campbell will get a full year of winning and can will probably play in the NHL a bit sooner than the college route.  Top pick Scott Glennie also posted goose eggs during the tournament with lesser-known prospect Tristin King leading the team in scoring. The Rangers played a solid game against the undefeated Wild team, rallying back at the brink of defeat with help from the top line and Evgeni Grachev.  His excellent play on the ice really helps raise his stick above his forgettable season in the AHL.  Derek Stepan and Ryan Bourque also played well while the team showcased their better defensive defensemen in Dylan McIlrath and Ryan McDonagh.  Walkon Kelsey Tessier must have also impressed the team’s brass with his solid play, scoring more than any non-top prospect.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Minnesota Wild

Scoring depth has gotten the Red Wings this far in the tourney.  Without a single first round forward on the roster, several players potted multiple points over the three game span.  Tomas Tatar leads the team with four points after showing why he pushed his way on to the Grand Rapids Griffins last season. The heroes from last night include Brent Raedeke and Brooks Macek, the latter of which setup Tatar for the game winner– effectively putting the team into the finals.

It seems pretty hard to pinpoint one player as the reason for the Wild’s success, so many lesser known players have helped their team succeed. Casey Wellman continues to lead the young squad and show some of his former NCAA success with a team leading four points.  Other mentionable players include Nate Prosser, Cody Almond and Joel Broda.  All of the aforementioned players except for Broda actually finished last season on the Wild’s roster, although none of the players were really expected to produce.

Should be an excellent matchup tonight, starting at 2 PM and continuing to 2:30, 5:30 and 6:00.  Perhaps the most exciting part of this tournament is counting the minutes to training camp.  Until next time, happy prospecting and may the best kids win!

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
@NHLHotStove

Lets briefly break down what seems to be another showcase of some of the NHL’s finer young talent.  Traverse City for the last few years has made my particularly excited as it usually provides a sneak peek at some nice young players and means training camp is right around the corner.

Dallas Stars vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Stars young cast lost brutally to the mini Detroit Red Wings and rebounded against the St. Louis Blues.  To win this next game they may need to go back to the more seasoned Tyler Beskorowany after watching top prospect Jack Campbell let in six against the Red Wings.  Top pick Scott Glennie sports a team leading -3 rating as lesser prospects Tristin King, Tomas Vincour and Jonathan Hazen lead the team in points. On the other side of the ice, the Tampa Bay Lightning also boast a 1-1 record after falling to the junior Blues and beating the Red Wings — coincidentally the direct opposite of their opponent with identical results. Unlike their opponent, top prospect Brett Connolly leads the team in scoring making new GM Steve Yzerman even smarter. Their scoring seems deep as they have received contributions from promising players Carter Ashton, James Wright and Dana Tyrell.

Carolina Hurricanes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

The defending champions have only scored two goals in their two games, defeating the Rangers and losing to the Wild.  One quick glance at their roster would make most people wonder why exactly the team fails to score goals.  Zac Dalpe, Riley Nash and Jeff Skinner all look to compete for a spot this season during training camp as all three are coming off excellent years in their development.  This game could show their true colors. The Columbus Blue Jackets have lost both of their games despite boasting the highest pick from this year’s draft.  Ryan Johansen looks good as he will need to continue to prove his critics wrong. Tomas Kublick, ranked the 18th overall prospect by Hockey’s Future, leads all Jackets scorers with two goals and an assist over both games.  Former first round pick John Moore leads the team with a minus four rating.

Minnesota Wild vs. New York Rangers

The Minnesota Wild remain undefeated mainly due to the play of Matt Hackett and Darcy Kuemper.  Coming into the tournament with only one first round draft pick in Tyler Cuma, the team managed to surprise thanks to a number of unknown players.  Defenseman Marco Scandella, the top prospect below Cuma and Mikael Granlund, potted zero points thus far despite playing a solid game.  The team has been led by their underrated depth players like Casey Wellman, Joel Broda and Cody Almond.  Walk-on Jarod Palmer ties for the team lead with three points over two games. Two seasons ago the New York Rangers took this championship home with one of the older teams in the tournament.  This year the squad just looks to not lose so miserably.  Dylan McIlrath and Ryan McDonagh represent a nasty shutdown line of defense while the top line of Ryan Bourque, Derek Stepan and Evgeni Grachev impressed at times.  There may not be a team more top heavy than this Rangers team as even their goalies hold NHL potential while also rostering a handful of walk-ons and try outs. Look out for Christian Thomas, son of former NHLer Steve Thomas, who scored a tidy 41 goals last year with Oshawa.

Detroit Red Wings vs. St. Louis Blues

If you read the above portion, you can guess these two teams’ records.  Both check in at 1-1 and could provide a window into a return of a healthy rivalry between the two teams.  Detroit’s young overachiever Tomas Tatar looks every bit as good as advertised with three points in two games and leading the team in points.  The team actually boasts almost all of their 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks from the last few seasons, showing why the team is considered an excellent draft builder.  Count Darren Archibald, Louis-Marc Aubry, Brooks Macek and Travis Ehrhardt amongst the complete unknowns producing in the winged wheel jersey.

The St. Louis Blues roster holds Alex Pietrangelo, who has seemed to play in every prospects tournament in the past three years.  We all remember how he failed to make an impact two seasons ago in the World Junior Hockey Championship two years ago before winning the best defenseman award this past season.  At his age and with his experience he really should dominate this tournament.  Unfortunately his showing has not translated to the box score as he only has one point in two games with a -1 rating.  Thanks to Brett Sonne leading the scoring and former teammate Jake Allen backstopping the team, the Blues will probably take some positive notes with them.  Add David Shields and Josh Shalla to the ever-growing list of overachieving unknowns in this tourney.

Hope you found this article remotely informative.  The first game starts at 3 PM EST, followed by one at 3:30, 6:30 and 7:00 PM and will be televised on Centre Ice 1 & 2.  If you liked our coverage here, feel free to peruse the site for other prospect-related material; we aim not to disappoint.

Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Founder
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
@NHLHotStove

Their system has been consistently ranked in the Top 10 by Hockey’s Future and other blogs and media outlets. One of the few signs of hope for a franchise gutted of depth half a decade ago.

Most around the league know the names TJ Oshie, Erik Johnson, David Perron and Patrick Berglund. The first crop of young talent have developed and are expected to contribute and the NHL level now. These are the core prospects the Blues have rebuilt around and what pushed the organization so high amongst its peers. With their graduation to NHL regulars the names remaining are not as well know. Who is coming in the next batch?

First up are the Blues’ Top 5 Forward Prospects.

Honorable Mentions: Tyler Shattock and Jori Lehtera.

-

#5. Stefan Della Rovere

Acquired: Washington Capitals via Trade for DJ King.

Della Rovere is exactly what Doug Armstrong has been trying to acquire more of. Youth, energy, effort and a little skill on the side. Some are drawing comparisons to another fiesty former Blue, Tyson Nash. A fan favorite in his time in St. Louis for his aggressive and agitating nature. The Blues also like his leadership and winning background. A two time medalist at the WJC U20 Tournament, captaining the Barrie Colts to an outstanding 2009-10 OHL season, and winning a Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears of the AHL. If Della Rovere can continue to develop his  leadership skills and game in to a quick, forechecking puck hound he will have a job in St. Louis in the near future.

NHL Projection: Top 9 Energy Forward and potential penalty killer.
Currently Playing: Will go to Blues training camp and likely be assigned to the Peoria Rivermenof the AHL.
ETA: 1-2 Seasons for full time duty. Can be a short term injury call up this season.

-

#4. Brett Sonne

Acquired: 3rd Round (85th overall), 2007

Sonne put on a scoring show in the WHL as an over-ager. In 2008-09 he posted 100 points in 62 games. Perhaps unfairly he was pegged as a potential scorer at the NHL level based on that success. He has the talent to produce points professional, but that will not be how he earns a paycheck. His bread and butter will be effort, defensive responsibility and energy. Taking the offense as it comes to him. Listed at 5’11 and 200 lbs. Sonne has enough size to play the professional game. At that size he could be similar to the Penguins Tyler Kennedy or Max Talbot. A player than can occasionally fill in on the top two scoring lines as needed, but will excel in energy line roles. He could be a future replacement for Jay McClement should he be priced out of the Blues budget in 2012.

NHL Projection: Top 6/Top 9 “Tweener” and potential penalty killer.
Currently Playing: With the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL. Will come to training camp to establish his credentials for an injury call up.
ETA: 2 Seasons as a full time player. Will be available as a short term njury call up this season.

-

#3. Phil McRae

Acquired: 2nd round (33rd overall), 2008

McRae has the pedigree to play in the NHL. His father Basil McRae was a tough guy on the left side  in St. Louis from 1992-96. Phil has much softer hands and they are used for scoring. To the tune of 63 goals over 177 games in the last three OHL seasons. That’s a 30 goal pace over 82 games. While not a true power forward, he is the closest player fitting the mold in the system. He has the size to play the tough interior game, but he also has the speed to push defenders back off the line. Think of a smaller David Backes. Phil is listed as a Center but could easily end up a winger with his size and speed combination. Like Della Rovere, Phil has metaled twice at the WJC. Once with the U18 and once with the U20 US squad. There is more than enough skill in McRae to score at the NHL level. At this point he needs to make the jump from amateur scorer to professional scorer.

Projection: Top 6 Forward. Potential special teams contributor.
Currently Playing: Having wrapped up his OHL career leading the Plymouth Whalers in Playoff scoring he heads to training camp with the Blues much like Della Rovere and Sonne. Out to make an impression but will head to Peoria.
ETA: 2-3 Seasons of development. A high level of play in Peoria could earn him a call up, but do not expect a quick jump to the NHL.

-

#2. Jaden Schwartz

Acquired: 1st Round (14th overall), 2010

Schwartz is best described as a points producer. He goes out and finds ways to create offense. As a smaller player (5’10, 190 lbs.) in the large USHL, Schwartz lead the league in scoring last season. Posting 33 goals and 83 points in 60 games. His skill set and style of play have drawn comparisons to Patrick Kane. Jaden may not have the high end abilities that Kane has, but has everything in place to be a dangerous weapon on the offensive zone. Schwartz is not the best skater but has solid lateral movement and is excellent on the puck. Kind of like David Perron when he keeps his feet moving. His body will need more time to mature before he can make the jump to the NHL.

Projection: Top 6 (perhaps top line) scoring forward.
Currently Playing: Committed to Colorado College for the 10-11 season.
ETA: roughly 2 years of development before turning Pro.

-

#1. Vladimir Tarasenko

Acquired: 1st Round (16th overall), 2010

Tarasenko is the king of the prospect hill. With the departure of the highly anticipated Lars Eller, the door was left open for Vladimir. In terms of skills and abilities he was rivaled only by Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin who went 1st and 2nd overall at the 2010 draft. Many teams appeared to have feared the “Russian factor” and passed on the gifted scorer. When Ottawa’s pick was off the board at 16 they cut a deal with the Blues to acquire Defensemen David Rundblad (last year’s top pick at 17). Jarmo Kekalainen was happy to swing for the fences in his last major selection with the Blues.

Vladimir is likely the most talented and physically ready forward to come out of Russia since Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin were drafted in 2004. Listed on most sites as 6’0, 200lbs +, his body can take the abuse of the North American game. His offensive skills are primed and ready to cross the Atlantic. His KHL contract situation prevented his arrival for the 2010-11 season. However, the Blues are 100% confident that he will be able to come over for the 2011-12 season.

Projection: Top line scoring winger
Currently Playing: Sibir of the KHL is where he will play for 10-11. There is still much confusion and debate about his contract for 11-12 and if it is being extended or restructured.
ETA: Fully expected to be playing professional hockey in North American by 11-12. Will likely be NHL ready at that point.

Look for the Blues’ Top 5 Defensemen Prospects next week.

The Southeast had only one team qualify for the play-offs in 2010.  Strange, because the division owns two Stanley Cups with the Lighting in 2004 and the Hurricanes in 2006.

This season the division had the Washington Capitals win the President’s Trophy, and then the other four teams finish 10th  or lower in the Eastern conference.

The division boasts some superstar players in Alex Ovechkin, Eric Stall, Martin St Louis, and Nicklas Backstrom – to name a few – and up and coming stars like Evander Kane, Steven Stamkos and Semyon Varlamov.  Good times may be ahead as some of the other teams in the East start coming back to the pack, and some of the younger players will get a chance to show there stuff.  This coming season the Southeast should get 2 teams in the post season.

Atlanta Thrashers -Total picks: 9; Highest round: 1st (8th overall); Breakdown: 1G, 4D, 2C, 1RW, 1LW.

New Thrashers General Manager Rick Dudley arrived at Staples Center after just completing a trade for play-off hero Dustin Byfuglien from the Chicago Blackhawks, and also moving the extra first-round pick acquired in the Kovalchuk deal in that same trade.  The Thrashers are in total rebuild mode.  They used the 8th overall selection on Russian center Alexander Burmistrov who is a gifted scorer and played in North America this season.  He is very creative, and is a gifted skater.  He even plays well in his own zone.  Alexander will not be big enough to be a top-line center, but one of the best #2’s in the league. With the selection of Julian Melchiori, the Thrashers are getting the best skater in the entire draft.  He will head to the University of Massachusetts-Lowell this fall, and will need to improve play in his own zone and put on much needed weight to play on the blue line in the NHL.  My sleeper pick for the Thrashers is Kendall McFaul, a big blue liner from Moose Jaw in the WHL.  He will not burn up the scoring sheet, but is the type of 3rd pairing, shut-down player all NHL teams need.  GRADE B

Carolina Hurricanes -Total picks: 8; Highest round: 1st (7th overall); Breakdown: 1G, 5D, 1C, 1LW.

The Hurricanes are coming off a season where even the peanut guy and the locker room attendant somehow got hurt. (Not really, but it gives you perspective.)  The second half of the season the team played very well as players were getting healthy, but the Canes had already dug a hole to great to climb out of.  Several deadline moves were made, and the team dumped a lot of salary and some Soon to be UFA’s.  The team looked at the 2010 draft to restock a pretty bare system with some much needed younger talent.   The Canes first pick, Jeff Skinner, will never live down the fact he was a figure skater, but he is a very talented hockey player and was second in the OHL with 50 goals.  He will line up in the NHL as a winger due to lack of playmaking skills, and Carolina will take their time in his development.  The selection of Justin Faulk started a run of 5 blue liners this season.  Carolina rarely takes defensemen in the first round.  Bringing Faulk on board will give the Canes a solid 2nd pairing, two-way player who will eat up minutes.  Faulk will play this fall at the University of Minnesota.  The Hurricanes will wait at least 3 years before they sign him.  Keep an eye on Taylor Hall’s teammate Justin Shugg; the only other forward the Canes drafted this year.  He put up 39 goals, and has that natural goal scoring ability that can not be taught.  GRADE C

Florida Panthers – Total picks: 13; highest round: 1st (3rd overall); Breakdown: 1G, 4D, 4C, 2RW, 2LW.

Dale Tallon built the Chicago Blackhawks from nothing to Stanley Cup Winners, but due to a paperwork mistake that cost him his job, he was unable to see it all the way to the end.  Now in Florida, Tallon put a for sale sign on his roster and was able to acquire a second 1st round pick by sending Nathan Horton to the Boston Bruins.  The Panthers are in full rebuild mode, so trades were all over the place.  The Panthers made an amazing 13 picks in the 2010 NHL Draft.  Erik Gudbranson played second fiddle all season to Cam Fowler as the #1 rated blue liner.  At draft time, Erik was the first blue liner taken.  Gudbranson will bring a simple, steady game to work every night.  He really has no super skills; he just does everything well.  He is large, and will someday be Florida’s captain.  Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey this year, Nick Bjugstad, was the second pick in the first round.  He will take his time in development and will play at the University of Minnesota in the fall.  He is a skilled player who can play all 3 forward spots and has a knack for scoring.  Quinton Howden was The Panthers 3rd first round pick.  He was a plus 9 in the WJC with Canada and is a very fast skater.  He will be a solid two-way player in the NHL, but will need to bulk up.  Taken 33rd over all, John McFarland is a talented goal-scoring winger who can play a little center.  He needs to improve his play away from the puck, but that could be taught.  He could be the best forward of Florida’s crop this year. GRADE A

Tampa Bay Lighting – Total picks: 8; Highest round 1st (6th Overall); Breakdown: 5D, 2C, 1RW.

The Lighting is a team in transition.   Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lacavlerie are the old guard, and have several NHL trophies between them including a Stanley Cup Ring.  Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman are the new guard, and should win many NHL awards.  The rest of the roster is the problem.  The team has had 3 owners in 5 years and now, a new coach, a rookie gm, and a new attitude.  There is talent on the roster.  For example, they just added Simon Gange.  The franchise problem has been goaltending. It has been a revolving door since Khabibulin left via free agency.  The Lighting has a new direction under Steve Yserman.  This year will mark his first draft as an N.H.L. G.M.  His first decision; draft Brett Connolly.  Brett was just as stunned as everyone in the arena that he went 6th overall.  The big winger has been hampered by injuries in both his seasons with Prince George.  There is no denying his talent as a pure goal scorer.  He will bring his nasty play to Tampa in 2 seasons, bad hip and all.  He will need to prove that he is healthy and can handle a grind of a NHL season, and will need to improve his play in his own end.  One GM told me this pick is “either a home run or a strike out.  There is no middle ground”.  Time will tell.  Brock Beukeboom has a name that some hockey fans might remember.  His dad, Jeff, was a NHL player.  Even though Brock did not get dad’s size, he is gifted with better skating and offense, and has a better shot then his father ever did.  A player to watch is 3rd round pick Radko Gudas, a very talented blue liner from Everett.  He led the Silvertips in blue line scoring and penalty minutes, and is a rock solid hitter.  One NHL scout told me if he was 6’2 he would be a top 15 pick, but fell to the 3rd round because of his height of 5’11.  GRADE C

Washington Capitals – Total picks: 5; Highest round: 1st (26th overall); Breakdown: 1G, 1D, 2C, 1RW.

The Capitals are coming off a season where they finished with the NHL’s best record, but flamed out in the first round of the play-offs.  The draft was very important to the club earlier in the decade. With that in mind, the Capitals have developed a very deep farm system, and could take a risk or two this season.  Evgeny Kuznetsov was the 4th leading scorer at the WJC.  He can play all 3 forward spots and has great hands.  He is not the biggest guy, but you can’t teach natural goal scoring.   He is under contract to the KHL for 2 more years, and the Caps are in no hurry to bring him the North America.  Keeping with the Russian theme, Washington took Stanislav Galiev with there 3rd round pick.  He played last season with Saint John, and put up 60 points as a rookie in the league.  He will need to get stronger to play in the NHL, but is great with his stick and will be a solid second line winger.  The Capitals took goaltender Phillip Grubauer from Germany.  He was Germany’s best player at the WJC 1st division, and has won a Memorial Cup as a starter.  GRADE B

Mike Murangi
NHLHS Los Angeles Kings Correspondent
mmurangi@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Draft_Mike

Although the offseason isn’t over yet and perhaps another few free agent signings are expected (Please, Ray Shero, give us another year of Guerin!), it’s time to look ahead to training camp…or maybe that’s just me, impatient for hockey! I’ve been speculating lately about who will fill some roster spot for the Penguins. Who’s in the running? Who do I predict will be on the roster come October?

Here’s the roster with new summer acquisitions:

Kunitz—Crosby—
Rupp—Malkin—Talbot
Cooke—Staal—Kennedy
Godard—Adams—Dupuis

Orpik—Letang
Michalek—Martin
Goligoski—McKee

Fleury
Johnson

Who will fill up the empty spots? Are there any spots that aren’t safe? Here’s what I think.

DEFENSE:

Shero has been priming Ben Lovejoy for the big leagues for years. He’s finally ready. I think he’s on the roster this fall if he performs at his level at training camp. I think he takes McKee’s spot and McKee is the 7th defenseman….unless he is traded. McKee is a great veteran presence in the locker room. He knows his role and he plays it well. He’s also a solid player to put in if one of the younger guys (Letang, Lovejoy, Goligoski) has a slump. It will be a fool proof way of giving that player a kick in the rear while still providing solid help on the blue line. A possibility for the spot I gave to Lovejoy is Deryk Engelland. He proved last season on his call-ups to the big show that he can hold his own. He’s gritty and tough and tends to be a defender of the team through good, hard hits and a good bought of fisticuffs once in awhile.

GOALTENDING:

Fleury is the concrete number one. He’s part of the core of the team and won’t be thrown out of that starting seat. Johnson is a better than solid backup. He’s definitely an improvement over Dany Sabourin and I feel better about him in net than even Mathieu Garon, who finished the 2009 Cup-winning season with the Pens. The real question is which AHL goalie will be called to assist if Fleury or Johnson sustains an injury. Based on performance from last season, I would feel better about Brad Thiessen taking up that role. John Curry is a great goalie but last year he showed that he’s easily flustered. Until he can learn to control this (and his rebounds), I would be more confident with Thiessen in the net. Much depends on performance in training camp and also in Wilkes-Barre.

OFFENSE:

There are a few candidates for the hole in the first line. This position will most certainly be determined by performance in training camp. My favorite for the position is Eric Tangradi. Acquired from Anaheim in the Chris Kunitz/Ryan Whitney trade in 2009, the 21 year old winger is big and skilled. He will get pucks to Sid and getting his captain room. This leads to higher production from Sid and points for himself. There is also the possibility that the organization wants to give Tangradi another year to develop and Dupuis or Rupp will move up to the top line. Then there will be a spot open on the third or fourth line. Mark Letestu showed his skill in the corners last season and is good at getting the puck on the stick of his teammates. Chris Conner, although only 5’8”, plays big. His size makes him speedy and he’s a physical presence despite his stature. Dustin Jeffery, with his great hands and clever play-making ability could snag the spot with a good showing at camp.

All of this, of course, is all speculation. More will be concrete as the season moves closer. I look forward to updating my predictions during camp!

Erika Zimmerman
NHLHS writer
ezimmerman@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @hattrickkane

Building on his recent tendency to draft quality American’s high in the draft (Ben Hanowski (2009, 2nd round, 63 overall), Alex Goligoski (2004, 2nd round, 61 overall) both Americans), Ray Shero’s first round draft pick was California native Beau Bennett.

The 6’1″, 173lb right wing tore up the British Columbia Hockey League last season with 120 points (41G-79A) in only 56 games on his way to being the first BCHL rookie in 7 years to top 100 points. He has committed to the University of Denver.

He has played for the LA Jr. Kings, scoring 58 points (25 goals, 33 assists) in 46 games and has 3 goals, and an assist in 5 games in last year’s World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, as his USA captured gold.

Scouting reports praise Bennett as a “Deceptive skater with good top speed, a long stride and lateral quickness that makes him very slippery.” He “can score in a variety of ways, has a big 1-timer and very quick release with laser accuracy on his wrister.” The same scouting reports lament his lack of physicality and strength. The same concerns were voiced about 2007’s first overall pick Patrick Kane.

He has grown into the game and gained strength and is working towards physicality. Assuming Bennett bulks up and does what the organization ask of him, he will turn into a Kane-like player.

Erika Zimmerman
NHLHS Writer
ezimmerman@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @hattrickkane

The expected top prospects: Taylor Hall, Tyler Seguin, and Erik Gudbranson/Cam Fowler all have the ability to step right into a roll with the likelihood of being drafted as the top three overall picks this year.

Of course, there are many different reports and projected draft spots for many of the players who will indeed be drafted, especially within the first round.

However, there is one skater among the masses who seems to be skating (if you will) under the radar and has the potential to be a top ten pick at the draft.

That skater is Jeff Skinner of the Kitchener Rangers from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Skinner has size, speed and skill, three of the most important aspects for a forward looking to make a name for himself as a player and one day play in the National Hockey League.

But let’s take a deeper look at Skinner, shall we.

Last season with the Rangers, Skinner amassed an amazing rookie campaign by coming very close to doubling his goal tally from 27 goals in his first year to 50 this season.

He went from a league wide, top goal scorer to a skater on a nation wide watch. Compared to Derek Roy of the Buffalo Sabres, Skinner slides into the top fifteen, possibly even the top ten through scouting reports worldwide.

He has quick hands, a quick release, great offensive hockey smarts, and is fantastic with his two-way game. A skater that has the talent and size to compete at the NHL level quicker than some may think.

Keep a watch as the draft progresses for Skinner should not drop out of the top ten, and if he does, the top 15 is likely to be a lock for a player of his skillset.

WHAT THE SCOUTS SAY:

Pros: Offensive IQ, quick release, timely goals (clutch)
Cons: Size, strength, defensive game
Skillset Comparison: Derek Roy
Submitted by: Mike Kloepfer of TheScoutingReport.org

Anthony Curatolo
Senior Writer
acuratolo@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @HockeyGuy_AC