NHL Central Scouting Service - Mid Term Rankings

[astro]

NHL Central Scouting Service - Mid Term Rankings (http://centralscouting.nhl.com/)

North America Skaters
1 HALL, TAYLOR WINDSOR OHL 6' 0.75" 186 LW
2 SEGUIN, TYLER PLYMOUTH OHL 6' 0.75" 180 C
3 FOWLER, CAM WINDSOR OHL 6' 2" 195 D
4 CONNOLLY, BRETT PRINCE GEORGE WHL 6' 2" 181 RW
5 SHEAHAN, RILEY U OF NOTRE DAME CCHA 6' 1.5" 202 C
6 GUDBRANSON, ERIK KINGSTON OHL 6' 3.75" 195 D
7 BURMISTROV, ALEXANDER BARRIE OHL 5' 11.5" 162 C
8 GORMLEY, BRANDON MONCTON QMJHL 6' 2" 187 D
9 PYSYK, MARK EDMONTON WHL 6' 1" 179 D
10 MCFARLAND, JOHN SUDBURY OHL 6' 0" 200 C

North American Goalies

1 PICKARD, CALVIN SEATTLE WHL 6' 0.5" 200
2 CAMPBELL, JACK USA U-18 USDP 6' 2.5" 175
3 CORBEIL-THERIAULT, MATHIEU HALIFAX QMJHL 6' 5.75" 186
4 DOMINGUE, LOUIS QUEBEC QMJHL 6' 2.5" 185
5 GOTHBERG, ZANE THIEF RIVER FALLS HIGH-MN 6' 0.5" 177
6 BRITTAIN, SAM CANMORE AJHL 6' 2.75" 215
7 SIMPSON, KENT EVERETT WHL 6' 2.5" 182
8 VISENTIN, MARK NIAGARA OHL 6' 1.25" 185
9 GRUBAUER, PHILLIPP WINDSOR OHL 6' 0.25" 180
10 CLERMONT, MAXIME GATINEAU QMJHL 6' 0" 189

European Skaters

1 GRANLUND, MIKAEL HIFK FINLAND 5' 10" 180 C,W
2 TARASENKO, VLADIMIR NOVOSIBIRSK RUSSIA 5' 11" 202 RW
3 KITSYN, MAXIM NOVOKUZNETSK RUSSIA 6' 2" 194 LW
4 KUZNETSOV, EVGENY CHELYABINSK RUSSIA 6' 0" 172 C
5 RENSFELDT, LUDVIG BRYNAS JR. SWE-JR. 6' 2.75"192 LW
6 LINDBERG, OSCAR SKELLEFTEA JR. SWE-JR. 6' 0" 187 C
7 PETTERSSON, ADAM SKELLEFTEA JR. SWE-JR. 6' 0" 186 C
8 JOHANSSON, JONATHAN FROLUNDA JR. SWE-JR. 6' 3" 188 C
9 ZAYTSEV, NIKITA NOVOSIBIRSK RUSSIA 6' 1" 176 D
10 KUEHNHACKL, TOM LANDSHUT CANN. GERMAN-2 6' 2" 172 RW

European Goalies

1 GUNNARSSON, JONAS HV 71 JR. SWE-JR. 5' 11.25" 190
2 AITTOKALLIO, SAMI ILVES JR. FINLAND-JR. 6' 1" 174
3 VOLDEN, LARS STAVANGER NORWAY 6' 3" 189
4 GUSTAFSSON, JOHAN FARJESTAD JR. SWE JR-2 6' 1" 185
5 CONZ, BENJAMIN GENEVE SWISS 5' 10" 198
6 FRANCOUZ, PAVEL PLZEN JR. CZREP-JR. 6' 0" 172
7 ORCIK, FILIP BRATISLAVA JR. SLOVAK-JR. 6' 3" 174

[astro]

Congrats to Calvin Pickard for being the number one ranked NA goalie.

I have the pleasure of watching him play for the last two years.

[pete]

Here's to hoping we pick around 16th this year.

[astro]

Pete, who is on your radar with a mid round pick?

I'm biased, I would like to pick up Pickard. Russian players seem to be too risky. Unless they are already playing in NA.

[timothy]

Do we need to spend a first rounder on a goalie? Most likely a skilled forward, but maybe a puck mover blueliner -- like the Oil King's Mark Pysyk.

[CTLightning26]

Do we need to spend a first rounder on a goalie? Most likely a skilled forward, but maybe a puck mover blueliner -- like the Oil King's Mark Pysyk.

I was thinking Gudbrandson or Pysyk, who are both right-hand shots to boot..

But Im hoping we draft in the 20s or late teens

[astro]

Do we need to spend a first rounder on a goalie?

No, but like I said I'm biased.

[bassassin]

I want us to use our 1st rounder on one of the wingers available in this draft. Maybe Granlund falls, but I doubt as far as us. Kabanov? Pulkinnen? Etem?

[pete]

Wouldn't shock me to see a center taken.

[Wrong Net Paulie]

I have such a mancrush on Cam Fowler I can't think straight.

Perhaps we go after a higher-ceiling center with our first rounder...

[timothy]

It'll be a disappointing season if we pick high enough to get Fowler.

[pete]

I think this may be the draft where the Lightning start preparing for the sobering reality that one day Vincent Lecavalier won't be here. We had Lecavalier/Richards and Lecavalier/Stamkos for so long there's been no depth developed at the position. I think this is the year they may start to address it.

[bassassin]

Bit premature isnt it? I mean he has another 10 years to go on his contract, and I imagine he will be a major scoring threat (or assist threat at the least :doh:) for another 6 years as a minimum.

[CTLightning26]

I think this may be the draft where the Lightning start preparing for the sobering reality that one day Vincent Lecavalier won't be here. We had Lecavalier/Richards and Lecavalier/Stamkos for so long there's been no depth developed at the position. I think this is the year they may start to address it.

Yeah I think a center with size and skating ability would be good to have coming through the system in the next few years to have as either a replacement (size wise) for Vinny or a third-line center or a trading chip..

Jones has a little size, but I don't think i would be happy with him as a second-line centre..Chewy, Fadden, and Hutchings are all on the small side and Wright, Craig and Konopka aren't really consistent top-six forwards..

[timothy]

Yeah I think a center with size and skating ability would be good to have coming through the system in the next few years to have as either a replacement (size wise) for Vinny or a third-line center or a trading chip..

Jones has a little size, but I don't think i would be happy with him as a second-line centre..Chewy, Fadden, and Hutchings are all on the small side and Wright, Craig and Konopka aren't really consistent top-six forwards..

I'm not opposed to drafting another center with the 1st rounder provided he has size and Top 6 upside, but it's not like the system is devoid in that area. Beyond Szczechura and Jones (who IMO don't have Top 6 upside), we do have Johan Harju and Alex Killorn who do have Top 6 upside, naturally play the pivot position, and have some size to them. Tyrell can also play center, although he doesn't have prototypical size.

[Avery86]

Didn't Chris Lawrence play center in junior? (Not that he has Top 6 upside.)

[chad]

He was originally a center, but the Soo started him out on wing (like Jeff Carter - his supposed clone) with the thought of moving back to center. If he did move back to center, it was very late in his junior career. I don't think he did, but I can't confirm it.

[Coldrice]

I'm not opposed to drafting another center with the 1st rounder provided he has size and Top 6 upside, but it's not like the system is devoid in that area. Beyond Szczechura and Jones (who IMO don't have Top 6 upside), we do have Johan Harju and Alex Killorn who do have Top 6 upside, naturally play the pivot position, and have some size to them. Tyrell can also play center, although he doesn't have prototypical size.

It think it benefits the long term plan of the organization to draft a center in the first round this coming draft. You're right Tim, it must be one with top 6 upside and size, (extra grit a plus).

I'm still worried that Harju will not be coming over to NA anytime soon (not to mention still needs signed- hopefully this summer). Killorn I'm not expecting to see for at least 3 yrs. No doubt I'm secretly hoping he throws his hands up and leaves early (he too will need to be signed) but realistically though... does anyone have the stones to walk away from a 4 yr degree when youre halfway there? From Harvard no less?

[RSchmitz]

I'm not sure I agree with repeating past mistakes by spending early picks on centers when we already have two good ones. This team needs to groom legitimate scoring talent on the wings for once in its history. Stamkos and Lecavalier are going no where, St.Louis, Tanguay, etc. are. Has Tyrell completely lost the third line center of the future tag?

W>D>C>G IMO

[pete]

None of those guys are sure things though, Tim, and I suspect Harju would be better served playing wing in the NHL.

[CTLightning26]

I'm not opposed to drafting another center with the 1st rounder provided he has size and Top 6 upside, but it's not like the system is devoid in that area. Beyond Szczechura and Jones (who IMO don't have Top 6 upside), we do have Johan Harju and Alex Killorn who do have Top 6 upside, naturally play the pivot position, and have some size to them. Tyrell can also play center, although he doesn't have prototypical size.

That's true...Killorn did play centre in prep school

[Kowalski]

We don't need a center in this draft. Stamkos and Vinny are staying put for a few years. I think we either take the best winger or defenseman available. I'd rather have talent coming up along the wings and on the back line to be honest. Who is the stud defenseman in the system right now? It was supposed to be Lashoff, supposed to be Mihalik, but I'm still not going to turn down a great defenseman that could be a top 4 guy in a few years. I think the wing should be the top of the list, followed by defenseman, then centers, then goalies. I think our goalie depth is as good as it's ever been.

[timothy]

Who is the stud defenseman in the system right now? It was supposed to be Lashoff, supposed to be Mihalik, but I'm still not going to turn down a great defenseman that could be a top 4 guy in a few years.

That's a good question. I think if you poll me, Chad, and Pete, we all still probably think Ty Wishart is potential Top 4 guy -- maybe a top pair guy. But his development is coming along a little slower than first thought when acquired from the Sharks in the Boyle deal. Vlad Mihalik is another guy who has yo-yo'd the past couple seasons in and out of showing Top 4 upside. He committed himself to serious conditioning this past summer, and it has done wonders for his game. Everyone saw the potential in Matt Lashoff at the end of last season after the trade deadline deal for Recchi that brought him to Tampa. Is his potential anymore than a better skating Kurtis Foster, who is basically a Top 6 guy and 1st unit PP guy? Lashoff got off to a very slow start in Norfolk after not impressing in camp, and just recently has starting heating up.

All three of these guys are former 1st rounders and all have some potential to be Top 4 guys. I like Wishart the best of all three (and he is the highest ranked at BP -- a Top 5 prospect), but Mihalik and Lashoff are the closest to being NHL ready.

[Coldrice]

IMO I think the main page depth chart has everyone slotted right where they need to be, except for a couple of guys.

After Lecavalier and Stamkos, you have Chewie and then there's more intangibles (at the center position - i.e has, could, or is playing center).

Such as... Konopka, Jones, Wright, Halpern, Tyrell, Fadden, Killorn, Craig, and Hall.

Konopka's the 4th line center. Jones and Wright have shown me to be better suited on the wing as forecheckers, also Halpern has been rejuvenated playing on VL4's line. Speaking briefly on Halpern, just how much longer is he going to be here? Not that I want to see him moved, but... right now he's looking much better on the wing and how much longer he's here is up to mgmt.

Tyrell, I believe, is better suited as a RW'er. Fadden, if he could ever cross the threshold could be in the running. Craig just couldn't cross that threshold unfortunately, and Hall played better as a RW'er as well. I don't think the org. has longterm plans for Hall anyway. Which is a shame really, I liked his play an awful lot as a role player.

Which brings me to Killorn. Watching him play with the Crimson, I am totally sold this is a kid much better suited as LW'er than center. That's just me.

So by process of elimination of the above stated... You have Lecavalier, Stamkos, Chewie, and Zenon. Hopes and prayers for Fadden, and Craig.

Which necessitates taking a Center in this years draft, IMO.

[Coldrice]

To touch base regarding the winger depth thus far...

Basically the RW depth looks absolutely solid... with guys like Panik (looked great on RW at the WJC's), Ashton, (Tyrell), even DeCoste and Sointu. I look forward to seeing their games taken to the next level in Norfolk. Hell, even if you could ever get Tukonen's rear end over to NA to play with the Ad's.

You could argue that possibly the LW position may be just a tad less sparse than center. Hutchings and Killorn is all I see at the moment. Fingers crossed Harju makes the jump back over here (escapes) from Moscow Dynamo.

[Kowalski]

IMO I think the main page depth chart has everyone slotted right where they need to be, except for a couple of guys.

After Lecavalier and Stamkos, you have Chewie and then there's more intangibles (at the center position - i.e has, could, or is playing center).

Such as... Konopka, Jones, Wright, Halpern, Tyrell, Fadden, Killorn, Craig, and Hall.

Konopka's the 4th line center. Jones and Wright have shown me to be better suited on the wing as forecheckers, also Halpern has been rejuvenated playing on VL4's line. Speaking briefly on Halpern, just how much longer is he going to be here? Not that I want to see him moved, but... right now he's looking much better on the wing and how much longer he's here is up to mgmt.

Tyrell, I believe, is better suited as a RW'er. Fadden, if he could ever cross the threshold could be in the running. Craig just couldn't cross that threshold unfortunately, and Hall played better as a RW'er as well. I don't think the org. has longterm plans for Hall anyway. Which is a shame really, I liked his play an awful lot as a role player.

Which brings me to Killorn. Watching him play with the Crimson, I am totally sold this is a kid much better suited as LW'er than center. That's just me.

So by process of elimination of the above stated... You have Lecavalier, Stamkos, Chewie, and Zenon. Hopes and prayers for Fadden, and Craig.

Which necessitates taking a Center in this years draft, IMO.

That does make it a little more clear. I guess I'm just looking at the next 3-5 years of the center position on the top 2 lines and it looks pretty well filled. I think the replacement for Marty should be the team's top priority at this point. I just think that where we'll be picking in this year's draft we won't be finding someone better at their job than Vinny or Stamkos. So I think you look to take a good winger or defenseman. Elite centers are usually top 5 picks.

[pete]

Who is the stud defenseman in the system right now?

It's not a pressing need because you just drafted Victor Hedman. We could use a righty shot offensive defenseman, and if that guy is BPA where we pick I'm sure they'll take him, but it's not that pressing, IMO.

The absence of a stud centreman prospect hamstrings the Lightning because even if they wanted to move Lecavalier they can't do it without tearing a hole in the team because no team that acquires Lecavalier is likely to swap a good center in return.

[Kowalski]

It's not a pressing need because you just drafted Victor Hedman. We could use a righty shot offensive defenseman, and if that guy is BPA where we pick I'm sure they'll take him, but it's not that pressing, IMO.

The absence of a stud centreman prospect hamstrings the Lightning because even if they wanted to move Lecavalier they can't do it without tearing a hole in the team because no team that acquires Lecavalier is likely to swap a good center in return.

Maybe true but I think Vinny is staying put for a while. He's playing well and I think as his shoulder and wrist get stronger, he'll get better. If (let's pray it doesn't happen) we somehow end up a lottery team again this year and have a chance to land Seguin or Hall I'm not going to say don't take one or the other. You win either way. I just think if we end up at 3 somehow and Seguin and Hall are gone and we're left to choose between Cam Fowler and Riley Sheahan, I think you take Fowler before you take the center. Let's hope we don't have that problem. I guess I'm just looking at it like this:

If you do someday decide to trade Lecavalier, you're almost better off tanking that season to have a great shot at picking whoever is the top center available to slot behind Stamkos. If not, you can stick with the two fantastic centers we already have for 5 more years and just keep supplying talent on their wings until you find consistent fits. Hopefully they're young players and we pretty much just put in small plugs and ride the combo to a cup or three. Good times.

[Sotnos]

Tanking is a horrible idea no matter what the scenario.

[Avery86]

Tanking is a horrible idea no matter what the scenario.

Yup. The hockey gods hate it.

[Kowalski]

I think losing Lecavalier is probably accepting a losing season. You aren't going to replace him with a draft pick and be a better team right away.

[pete]

I'm not saying they'll trade him this year or even this summer. What I'm saying is you're never going to have the flexibility to move him from a personnel standpoint unless you draft and develop a replacement for him.

I love Vinny. I don't want him to leave. But, at some point that "C" is going to pass to Steven Stamkos, and it probably has to happen before the Stamkos/Hedman core can take the club back to elite status. And, whether we like to admit it or not, captains don't just peacefully hand over their "C" 99% of the time, because it's humiliating. They get traded.

[Kowalski]

I'd agree but one has to think how much of Stamkos' success this year is on Marty's shoulders? It will take some time (and more losing) before Stamkos and Hedman are going to carry this team on a nightly basis. I think having so much talent down the middle is going to be key if the Lightning are going to do anything this year or next. Let's face it, the Bolts NEED to make the playoffs this year (even if it's a 1st round exit) to send a message to the staff, fans and free agents around the league that want to sign here next year for what should hopefully be a longer playoff run. I think if they can get 2 or 3 home playoff games this year, along with more next year, the funds will be available to sign Stamkos, Hedman and Marty to reasonable extensions to keep this train rolling. I think Vinny has proven that he can produce without Marty. Maybe not the goal scoring, but he's making things happen.

[Coldrice]

For those of us who are arm-chair scouts or Monday Morning GM's... the Home Hardware 2010 CHL Prospects Game is on NHL Network at 7.

Link for Profiles, Teams, etc. etc. (http://homehardwaretopprospectsgame.com/)

For those not blessed with having NHLN offered to you by your local TelCo provider (http://www.justin.tv/mcanimx/popout/)

Main Index in case I f'd up (http://atdhe.net/index.html)

[Kowalski]

Watching it now. Starting to like this Nino Neiderreiter kid more and more. Nice skill set. Maybe he'll be hanging around where we end up drafting. I wouldn't mind seeing him on Vinny or Stamkos' wing some day.

[chad]

I recorded the game to watch later, but caught some of it. Big fan of El Nino.

[Coldrice]

Big fan of El Nino.

:nod:

Galiev and Etem... in a word, FAST!

Brock Beukeboom dispells the rumors his play is no where near like his dads

Good game overall. Nice to see some guys took their "auditions" seriously.

[Kowalski]

Yeah it was a really impressive game. Seguin and Hall both showed why they're great prospects, and Cam Barker had a steady game too. Definitely some serious talent on display out there.

[nhljohnson]

Watching it now. Starting to like this Nino Neiderreiter kid more and more. Nice skill set. Maybe he'll be hanging around where we end up drafting. I wouldn't mind seeing him on Vinny or Stamkos' wing some day.

Yeah, he caught my eye with his performance at the World Juniors. Crafty player. Given this club's consistent inconsistency, he may very be available when the Lightning are on the clock.

[chad]

Nino was on FSNW last night if you either live up there, or are paying for all the regional Fox stations on a satellite network. Portland-Everett was on. I watched some of it... Nino was getting his nose dirty again. 44 points in 42 games.

[Kowalski]

Yeah he's probably not a guy who is going to enter the league and be a 40 goal scorer like Stamkos right away, but he's one of those guys that just has a knack for scoring goals and being in the right place at the right time. Probably like a Milan Hejduk type. Never going to be the leading scorer on the team, but always productive. Maybe a Milan Hejduk who gets his nose dirty. Good player.