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2011 NHL Entry Draft: Players to Watch by The Sports Network
Edmonton will have the first crack at this year’s talent pool, but the Bruins hold the ninth selection thanks to the famous trade that sent Phil Kessel from Beantown to Toronto. Thankfully for the Maple Leafs they were able to acquire a pair of late picks (Nos. 25, 30) in this year’s first round, which is set to get underway Friday night at Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center.
While some folks think this year’s draft makes up for its lack of big-name prospects with a deeper overall talent pool, others believe it’s a weak field. That’s the nature of the NHL draft, it’s always a crapshoot.
For a while it appeared as though there was no real front-runner to go No. 1 overall, but over time a consensus grew that the Oilers would be selecting WHL centerman Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with the top spot. That’s where we stand currently, but of course, nothing is set in stone.
In reality, the Oilers may not even know who they are going to select yet. That’s what could make this year’s draft exciting, well that and the prospect of blockbuster trades.
If Edmonton opts to pass on Nugent-Hopkins and go in a different direction with the first pick, they’ll have more than a few choices. Gabriel Landeskog and Jonathan Huberdeau are also coveted forwards playing in Canadian juniors, while defenseman Adam Larsson has impressed while skating against men in the Swedish Elitserien.
Once again there isn’t a goaltender eligible for this year’s draft that could be considered a can’t-miss prospect. In fact, it would be surprising if any netminder is taken before the latter stages of the first round this year.
Here is a closer look at some of the players behind the names that will be called this weekend.
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS – C – Red Deer (WHL)
This Red Deer Rebel has earned the title of best prospect available thanks to the serious offensive upside displayed during a terrific 2010-11 season. Nugent-Hopkins is at his best when creating scoring opportunities for other players, as was often the case this season when he led the WHL with 75 assists. His biggest fans have claimed the Burnaby, B.C. native has Gretzky- esque vision and hockey instincts, although it’s not really fair to saddle any kid with those types of expectations. Like Gretzky, however, Nugent-Hopkins could find himself beginning his NHL career in Edmonton, which is certainly stockpiling talent at the forward position, including last year’s No. 1 overall selection, Taylor Hall. If there’s anything not to like about Nugent- Hopkins it’s that he’s only about 165 pounds and will need to bulk up before making a serious impact at the NHL level, whether that comes in Edmonton or elsewhere.
GABRIEL LANDESKOG – LW – Kitchener (OHL)
Although Landeskog is a Swede he is ranked with the domestic players because he competes in Canadian juniors. The winger recently completed his second OHL season for Kitchener and recorded 36 goals and 30 assists over 53 regular- season games for the Rangers. Landeskog doesn’t boast the same offensive upside as Nugent-Hopkins, but he is considered to be the more well-rounded player of the two. He was the first-ever European player to be named Kitchener’s captain and scouts not only rave about Landeskog’s leadership — he’s also worn the “C” for Team Sweden — but also of his ability to bring maximum effort on every shift whether he’s in the offensive or defensive end. Just about everybody thinks Landeskog will be a positive contributor for an NHL team, but there are concerns about how much of his offensive game will translate to the top level. Landeskog could go first to Edmonton if the Oilers pass on Nugent-Hopkins, but the more likely scenario has Colorado taking him No. 2.
JONATHAN HUBERDEAU – C – Saint John (QMJHL)
The Avalanche have plenty of options no matter which way Edmonton decides to go with No. 1 and one of the possible paths has Colorado selecting speedy forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who boosted his stock significantly in recent months. Huberdeau had a terrific 2010-11 campaign for Saint John of the QMJHL, sparking his club to a league title as well as the 2011 Memorial Cup title, It marked the first time ever a club based in a Maritime province won the prestigious tournament. For his part, Huberdeau was third in QMJHL scoring in the 2010-11 regular season with 105 points on 43 goals and 62 assists. He then added 16 goals and 30 points in 19 QMJHL playoff games and six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in four Memorial Cup outings. All told, that is 141 points (62g, 79a) in 90 games for the Sea Dogs in 2010-11, a year that saw Huberdeau grab the attention of many an NHL GM. If the Oilers and Avs gobble up Nugent- Hopkins and Landeskog, the offensively-challenged Florida Panthers will likely jump on the chance to add the 6-foot-1, 170-pound scoring phenom.
ADAM LARSSON – D – Skelleftea (Sweden)
Figuring out where Larsson will go in the first round is the key to this year’s draft. There are some people who believe the Oilers will take Larsson with No. 1 rather than draft yet another forward prospect with a high first- round selection. Others believe the Swede could fall as far as fifth, landing in the lap of the New York Islanders. Larsson, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound defenseman, has already proven his worth in Sweden’s top professional league and could be the most NHL-ready player available on Friday night. He is the top-rated international skater by NHL Central Scouting and has already played in 87 career games at the Elitserien level after making his SEL debut at the age of 16. Larsson’s offensive upside in terms of goals and points at the NHL level is still a matter of debate, but he is expected to develop into at least a solid, puck-moving defenseman.
DOUGIE HAMILTON – D – Niagara (OHL)
Hamilton is the next-best-thing to Larsson in terms of this year’s draft- eligible defenseman. The 6-foot-4 Canadian is the top-rated domestic blueliner according to NHL Central Scouting and although he is potentially a better offensive player than Larsson, he does not yet boast the polish of his Swedish counterpart. Hamilton is described as a smart kid — he won the 2010-11 Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year — who has the fire to play a physical game. His family is also full of people who know what it takes to make it in the world of athletics. Hamilton’s father won a bronze medal for Canada in rowing at the 1984 Summer Olympics and his mother was a member of the Canadian women’s basketball team at the same Games. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s older brother, Freddie, was a fifth-round pick by the San Jose Sharks in 2010.
SEAN COUTURIER – C – Drummondville (QMJHL)
Another player who could practically go anywhere in the top-10 is this budding power forward from the QMJHL. Couturier, a 6-foot-4, 197-pound centerman, recorded 96 points for Drummondville in each of the last two seasons and notched 36 goals and 60 assists in 58 games in 2010-11. After the most recent campaign, he was named the QMJHL’s Top Prospect and MVP. Couturier also plays a responsible two-way game, finishing his last QMJHL season with a plus-55 rating, and he is also said to have the skill, strength and determination to be a force in front of the net at the NHL level.
MIKA ZIBANEJAD – C – Djurgarden (Sweden)
Coming from the other side of the pond, Zibanejad offers much of the same qualities as Couturier. The Swede is listed at 6-foot-2, 191 pounds, has good hands and balance and is not afraid to bang in front of the net to produce offense. Zibanejad, who is the son of an Iranian father and Finnish mother, began the 2010-11 season with Djurgarden at the junior level, but was called up to the club’s Swedish Elite League club. He managed five goals and four assists in 26 games while playing against Elitserien professionals. Zibanejad also shined for Team Sweden at the 2011 World U-18 Championships, posting four goals and four assists in six games. Will likely get picked in the latter half of the top-10 this Friday.
RYAN STROME – C – Niagara (OHL)
On the other end of the spectrum from Couturier and Zibanejad is Strome, who does his damage not with size and strength, but with speed and slick playmaking skills instead. Although not small at six-feet, 175 pounds, Strome plays more of a finesse game and is coming off a tremendous 2010-11 OHL season with the Niagara IceDogs. He finished third in the league in both points (106) and assists (73). After Nugent-Hopkins and Huberdeau, Strome is the next-best pure scorer among draft-eligible players.
RYAN MURPHY – D – Kitchener (OHL)
It’s been said that the only thing keeping Murphy from being this year’s top overall pick is his lack of size. The Canadian is considered by most to be the best offensive defenseman available this year, but he is listed at just 5- foot-11, 166 pounds. Murphy has all the tools to be a dominant offensive blueliner and is coming off a year in which he led all OHL defensemen with 26 goals. He also added 53 assists and was named a First Team OHL All-Star. Figures to at least be useful at the NHL level as a power-play specialist, but anybody picking Murphy in the top-10 is hoping he can develop the other areas of his game to become a No. 1 defenseman.
NATHAN BEAULIEU – D – Saint John (QMJHL)
While Murphy is considered to be somewhat of a gamble due to his size, Beaulieu is a safer bet. The blueliner has good size (6-2, 174 pounds) and impressive offensive skills, but like Murphy, he needs to work on getting better in his own end. Beaulieu may be available when the Bruins pick at No. 9 and the defending Stanley Cup champions could bolster an aging blueline with this project defenseman.
JOHN GIBSON – G – U.S. NTDP
There isn’t much to speak of in terms of goaltending talent in this year’s draft, but American netminder John Gibson could be the first goalie to go this weekend, although that may not even happen in the first round. Gibson, who is committed to play collegiate hockey at the University of Michigan, stands out because of his size (6-3, 205 pounds) and quickness, but general consensus is that it’s still way too early to determine who will become the best goaltender of this draft class.
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