2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 23 Jonathan Miller

Scouts are wary to take a chance on forward Jonathan Miller. Playing for the United States National Developmental Team Program, Miller has posted 11 goals and 37 points in 48 games this season – respectable numbers. But they believe he can do better. At 6-foot-1 and 198 pounds, he has the potential to make his presence known on the ice, but still has to show that he is willing to do that.

“Another pro-sized forward, Miller has the skill to generate chances for his wingers along with the skating ability to beat defenders one-on-one and finish himself,” says ESPN.com. “Again, like [Tyler] Biggs, scouts like how he competes; he’ll take a hit to make a play. Scouts aren’t quite sure that he has first-line potential but at the high end scouts see him as a second-line NHLer.”

Miller’s hands are solid and his skating and size will most likely take him to the next level. But scouts are nervous over whether or not he can think the game at a higher speed. After all, the difference between the USHL and the NHL are vast, with many prospects not even getting a sniff of the big league. Miller’s off-ice problems also helps contribute to scouts’ wariness to draft him in the first round.

“He missed games during the season when he was benched with a discipline thing,” one scout says. “I don’t think that will factor into his draft status really. USA Hockey sits kids out if they’re late for a meeting or miss a class. Lots of kids have had this type of thing (with the organization) and it really hasn’t been an issue. What you do see with him is a different type of discipline thing … Miller doesn’t hold back on playing in the (USNTDP) system but he’s a free-spirit kid. He’s really enthusiastic and probably gets carried away and gets outside what the coaches might want. It’s not that he’s a disturbance or a problem. It’s more like he gets too revved up and gets lost in the moment. If you put that down to hockey sense that’s a little hard on him. He’s actually a pretty decent play-maker. Maybe ‘game awareness’ is how you’d type it. It might be just a maturity thing.”

“Everyone wanted to see more skill from Miller this season and we expected that,” another scout said. “He’s shown the physical parts of the game — he has the size and skating and all that goes with it but he’s left me wanting more on skill. Does he have the skills you can project into a second-line player (at the NHL level)? If he does, he hasn’t shown it very often.”

And if Miller wants to be drafted early and have success at the professional level, he needs to begin working on his consistency and showing up game in and game out.

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 22 Tyler Biggs

Although the program’s success in recent years has increased, the United States National Team Developmental Program has not yet churned out a dominant NHL player. That may all change this year when right wing Tyler Biggs is selected in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward from Binghamton, New York is arguably the best American prospect this summer. Although his 11 points in 20 United States League games may not endear him to any statistic enthusiasts, it is not just a player’s points total that makes him attractive to NHL scouts.

“He has size, a great shot and skates well…he’ll play at the next level,” an NHL scout says. “I don’t think he has the type of skills to create chances on his own. At least he really hasn’t shown that. What you can project with him is the ability to come in as a third- or fourth-line player on a good team, learn the defensive game, use his strength and take baby steps with the NHL.”

USA Hockey executive Jim Johannson says that Biggs’ game reminds him of Mike Keane, but with more offensive upside. But just like Keane, Biggs has the ability to stand up for himself and his teammates and can drop the gloves when necessary. According to HockeyFights.com, Biggs has participated in six USHL fights in the past two seasons.

Biggs’ strengths include his work ethic, his hockey sense, and his ability to finish plays, be it passing, scoring, or throwing the body. His big, bulky body is unusual for a player of his age, but is a huge plus when it comes to playing the game. Numerous scouting outlets are projecting him as a future NHL first-liner at best, with the worst-case scenario being a second-line winger. The team captain of the USNTDP squad, Biggs has already committed to play for the University of Miami in Ohio for the 2011-12 season. The dynamic power forward can expect to continue his success at the U.S. collegiate level. And the main reason why has nothing to do with skill.

“He’s an honest, hard-working player,” an NHL scout says. “He has a big-time release, getting his shot off in traffic, which you have to count as a skill. He works really well along the boards and in the corners – same thing, if getting 50-50 pucks 70 percent of the time is a skill, then he’s skilled. Does he have a great stick in terms of flashy moves in the open ice or anything like that? No. Does he use it effectively in less obvious ways? Yeah. He’s an honest player. If there’s been off games, it’s not that he hasn’t given it the effort. If it hasn’t happened for him all game, he’s still trying to make it happen right down to the last shift.”

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 21 Nicklas Jensen

Denmark never has been, and never claims to be a hockey hotbed, nor a top producer of hockey talent. But in the past few years, the NHL has seen a drastic increase in the number of top hockey prospects being drafted out of the Danish country, including Phoenix Coyote Mikkel Boedker, Montreal Canadien Lars Eller, Ottawa Senator Peter Regin, and Dallas Star Philip Larsen.

This June, at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Oshawa Generals right wing Nicklas Jensen will be added to that list – and might just become the most successful of his country. After falling just short of a point per game average in Denmark for the Herning Blue Fox, Jensen joined the Ontario League and posted 29 goals and 58 points in 61 games of his rookie season. The 6-foot-3, 186-pound forward got many of his skills from his father, Dan, who spent 16 seasons playing Danish professional hockey (after playing for a few years in the OHL as well).

“I’ve been watching him all my life,” Nicklas said of his father in an NHL.com interview. “Every home game I’ve been out there watching him. He’s a huge thing for me in hockey and I watched him a lot of times. He’s definitely one of the biggest reasons I’m here.”

Jensen began having success right from the get go, but his season reached its climax in January, when he was named the OHL’s player of the week, after scoring three goals and seven points in three games. But he knows that it took him a little bit to get adjusted to the difference in styles from the Danish League to the OHL. “Here, everyone is more skilled and the hockey goes a little faster,” he said in an interview with Yahoo! Sports. “The ice surface is so much smaller than what we have at home, so that makes the game even faster, also you’re going from playing against men to against your own age, which is pretty cool.”

Jensen is looked at as a very talented two-way forward, but has an incredible ability to shoot the puck and skate through a crowd. Scouts would like to play a more physical game, but in order to do that, he would have to bulk up (which would help him, regardless). Although he was not very consistent at the start of the season, scouts liked the way he progressed throughout the year.

“There are always growing pains for a player with only one season under his belt in the North American game,” says True Hockey on Jensen. “But the raw talent and size that Jensen possesses at such a young age will have NHL scouts salivating over the prospect of developing him into a lethal two-way player.”

And if Jensen is chosen in the top ten, as the International Scouting Services are predicting as of now, he would be just the second Danish player in history to do so. Quite an impressive feat, for quite an impressive player.

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 20 Tomas Jurco

Originally drafted fourth overall in the 2009 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, Slovakia native Tomas Jurco had large expectations thrust upon him for his rookie season. He failed to disappoint, scoring 26 goals and 51 points in 64 games, along with a plus-34 rating. This season, he bettered himself by five goals, posting 56 points in just 60 games – with a plus-46 rating to boot.

But it was not the easiest time for Jurco, who had to leave his family behind in Europe and adjust to a different style of play in North America.

“When I first came (to North America), I didn’t really speak English,” Jurco said to NHL.com. “It was really hard to learn to speak English. At first, I would say the hardest thing then I had to get used to the league and the off-sides and different play. The neutral zone is smaller; it’s really hard for a European player so I feel real confident right now.”

Just under two years later, Jurco is a YouTube sensation, with numerous videos of him performing incredible, breathtaking moves, both on and off the ice, with a stick and a puck.

“Based on his YouTube clips alone, Jurco should be a household name considering he’s also eligible for the 2011 NHL draft,” said Yahoo! Sports writer Nathan White. “But to this point he’s still one of the Canadian Hockey League’s best kept secrets.”

Playing at the World Junior Championship helped Jurco progress his skills and prove to scouts that he was more than simply an offensive sensation.

“I played against all those best Under-20 players in the world so it was pretty hard,” he said. “It was hard to play for Slovakia because we were trying to get to playoffs and trying to play defensively. It’s kind of not my role. In St. John, we’re playing offensively. But I was playing on the penalty-kill there and trying to help the team the best I could. I can say I like it. It proved I can play defensively…not only offensively.”

“He’d certainly be in there among the top two or three guys (in the QMJHL) for sure,” said one scout in an interview with Yahoo! Sports, citing Drummondville’s Sean Couturier and Yannick Veilleux of the Shawinigan Cataractes as other players to watch. “He’s a smart player, he knows where to shoot the puck, how to find the open areas, and one thing he does really well is read off his linemates regarding positioning. I don’t know if a lot of people pick that up or not, he’s got that ability to read off their position and he’s pretty good at getting himself open.”

The young Slovak has impressed scores of scouts with his vision, skating, size (6-foot-2, 193 pounds), and of course, his hands. But it’s his dedication to the game and desire to succeed that may ultimately lead him to professional glory.

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 19 Brandon Saad

When draft time comes around, NHL squads often enjoy selecting a player from their neck of the woods, and that’s no secret. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they won’t be drafting high enough to grab Gibsonia, PA native Brandon Saad in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Not to worry, though. The Penguins’ influence has rubbed off on Saad and, in fact, was one of the main reasons why he started playing hockey as a tyke. Although he hadn’t yet been born when the Penguins won their first two Stanley Cups in the early 1990s, Saad says his love of the game started with watching NHL legend Mario Lemieux dance around the ice, and was furthered by other stars through the years, culminating in current NHL superstar Sidney Crosby.

Saad, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound left wing, is rated 19th overall among North American prospects by NHL Central Scouting. Developed partially by the US National Developmental Team, he may be the first American-born player to hear his name called in June. After scoring 26 points in 24 games with the USNTDP in 2009-10, Saad joined the Sagniaw Spirit of the Ontario League and took it by storm, posting 27 goals and 55 points in 59 games.

“I think you can project him to be a 35-goal scorer in the NHL,” said one Eastern Conference scout in an ESPN.com interview. “You go through all the major areas: smarts, skating, desire, size, he’s got it all. He’s capable of going straight to the NHL after the draft.”

Saad has been described as an NHL-capable power forward, and is very coachable. When his USNTDP coach, Kurt Kleinendorst, took away his ice time for poor play, Saad didn’t sulk or make excuses. He understood that he needed to work harder, and did just that.

“He dominates down low below the circles cycling the puck,” said Kyle Woodlief of Red Line Report. “It is very tough to separate him from the puck. He is very strong on his stick and skates.

“When he wants to take the puck down low to cycle it there aren’t too many people who are going to take it from him. He can just drag guys on his back straight to the net. He wins all those one-on-one battles in the corner. He out-muscles guys along the walls. You can’t move him in front of the net.”

In the 2010 NHL Draft, the United States set a record with 11 Americans selected in the first round. However, none of those were selected in the top ten. Saad, although humble, hopes to change that trend.

“That’s a pretty big honor, but nothing that I’d look too much into,” Saad said in an NHL.com interview. “I still have to work hard and play my game. The draft is a big moment in people’s lives and it’ll be something special, but I don’t look at it and focus on it too much.”

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 18 Boone Jenner

There is nothing like a couple of older brothers to beat the skill into you. Literally.

Okay, so it wasn’t only his brothers that go Oshawa Generals center Boone Jenner to where he is today. But it sure helped the Dorchester, Ontario native.

“I had skates on for as long as I can remember,” Jenner said in an interview with NHL.com. “My brothers were 3 and 4 years old when I was born, so my dad got me into it right away. Having two older brothers was an influence. They made me a better hockey player. I’d always compete with them and they’d give me tips on how the next level would be. One is pretty big, and I actually played against him last year.”

The 6-foot-1, 193-pound young’un has had two solid, consistent years for the Generals. This season, he posted 25 goals and 66 points in 63 games. He also had a plus-10 rating – a 33-point increase from the previous year. Although he won’t be leading the NHL in points anytime in the next couple decades, there is some great upside to Jenner, who figures to be a late first-round draft pick in June at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

“Boone does what it takes to win,” said NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards to NHL.com. “He blocks shots, wins battles along the boards and is an outstanding forechecker. He wants to be first to the puck every time. He’s solid on his skates and fights through checks on his way to the net. He sees the ice very well and has excellent anticipation. His puckhandling and overall puck skills are very good, he’s used in all situations and logs a lot of ice every night.”

“Boone sees himself just as much as a playmaker as he does a scorer and his goals and assists are pretty much even at this point in the season,” wrote The Hockey News columnist Ryan Kennedy back in 2009 when Jenner was playing for AAA minor midget Elgin Middlesex Chiefs. “When the game is on the line, however, Jenner often takes matters into his own hands.”

Jenner looks to have the potential to be a second-line forward in the NHL at best. At worst, he could be a solid checking-line forward that can contribute some goals when necessary. His hockey sense is off the charts, and his competitiveness drives scouts to take more and more looks at him. However, the rest of his game needs improvement at all points. His skating is his worst attribute, as he lacks the ability to put it into another gear and explode past defenders. His size is a plus, as he has almost completely filled out his tall frame. But scouts would still like to see him use that size more to his advantage. Lastly, Jenner’s hands have potential to make some beautiful passes and snipe some big-name goaltenders – but he could always use some improvement, as does almost everyone at his age.

Nonetheless, Jenner will be a project forward for any team that takes a chance on him. But if he works hard enough, that project could garner an “A” for his organization’s scouting staff.

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 17 Ty Rattie

If you want to thank someone for Portland Winterhawks forward Ty Rattie’s dedication, commitment, and hard work in hockey, thank Jeff Shaw. Rattie’s junior high teacher, Shaw helped lift Rattie up when he was falling behind with his grades and slacking off in school. “He was the one who said I needed to improve and since then I’ve always been able to get good marks and be focused in everything,” said Rattie in an interview with Yahoo! Sports.

The 6-foot right wing has been tearing it up all year in Oregon, finishing the regular season with 28 goals and 79 points in 67 Western League games. Originally selected second overall in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft, Rattie had large expectations thrust upon him, and he has failed to disappoint. He is ranked 17th overall by NHL Central Scouting, and is one of the most-hyped prospects for the upcoming 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing alongside fellow NHL first round draft picks Ryan Johansen and Nino Niederreiter, Rattie has learned a great deal, helping to develop his all-around game and become an even better player. However, it’s more than just those two players who have helped him out.

“[Defenceman] Brett Ponich and [left wing] Riley Boychuk are the big leaders here, but I’d say it comes back to playing with Sven Baertschi, who’s a big prospect here,” said Rattie. “He’s the hardest worker at practice, on and off the ice and I can’t say enough good things about playing with him.”

Rattie is an incredible skater with soft hands, and an impressive ability to slide the puck through even the most nimble defenseman. Just watch this video of Rattie scoring a goal against the Prince George Cougars (a goal that sparked the famous Teddy Bear Toss). His hockey sense is also second-to-none, as one can see watching him throughout the duration of a game.

Something that is not so apparent, however, is Rattie’s play without the puck. He often is caught gliding around the ice, not 100 percent sure where to go. “My positioning when I don’t have the puck is a liability right now, so I’m working on that with the coaches [Mike Johnston and assistant Travis Green, a former NHLer]. There’s always one thing in a player’s game which he has to work on. When I watch video, I can see myself drifting away from the play or not picking up my guy. That’s something which also eventually has to get better.”

At just 167 pounds, Rattie also drastically needs to increase his size. He can handle physical play at the Major Junior level, and has yet to sustain a major injury, but the same style and frame most likely won’t succeed in the NHL. However, if he’s able to bulk up a bit, there’s no reason not to expect him to be on an NHL roster sometime soon.

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 16 Mark Scheifele

Although the NCAA has been grabbing more and more upcoming NHLers, the Canadian Hockey League still seems to have the advantage and pull when trying to recruit teenage hockey players. That advantage was apparent when center Mark Scheifele left Cornell before the season even started to play in the Ontario League – after the Barrie Colts traded their veteran goaltender and a draft pick to Saginaw to obtain Scheifele’s rights.

That turned out to be a great move for the budding junior player.

“Going over the pros and cons, they were kind of in a rebuilding stage so I knew that I’d get a good amount of ice and power play and penalty kill time,” Scheifele said in an interview with The Hockey News. “I just thought it’d be a good opportunity and knowing Barrie, they’re a good organization. I thought it was a good place to go.”

In 66 games this season, Scheifele potted 22 goals and 75 points – albeit with a minus-22 rating. But remember, he is playing on a team that is currently one of the worst in the OHL, after losing stars such as Aleksandr Burmistrov and Alex Pietrangelo.

“You look at our hockey club — if we had Kyle Clifford and Burmistrov, we’d be talking about a completely different team and maybe [Scheifele] would be playing a secondary role on our second line or third line — who knows?” Barrie head coach and Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk said in an interview with Hockey’s Future. “But that’s a part of junior hockey. We weren’t sure what was going to happen with those guys. We thought that there was a chance that they could be back, but we also thought that they could make it. So that changed the dynamics of our team a little bit. It’s put guys into positions that they might not have had otherwise. It’s a good thing for them and it’s up to them to take advantage of it.

“He gets pressure every night that he’s out there because a lot of times he’s out there playing against number-one lines and he’s got to be on his toes. But he loves that challenge,” Hawerchuk continued. “You see it in him as a player. It’s not an easy thing to do — you’re in your first year as a player in this league and all of the sudden you’re asked to play a top-line role, but so far so good.”

Scheifele has great size (at 6-foot-3, 175 pounds) and has both the stickhandling ability and hockey sense to succeed in the NHL. Although his skating and defensive play could use some work, the biggest thing he must improve is his faceoff ability, which is crucial to succeeding as a two-way center in the pros.

“I like Joe Thornton’s playmaking ability, but I really model my game after [Pavel] Datsyuk, just because of the way he plays defense and the way he is on offense — always going towards the puck and always around the puck,” Scheifele explained. “He’s such a well-rounded player.”

If Scheifele can become just half the player Datsyuk was (who, by the way, plays on the team Scheifele grew up cheering for), his NHL team will be dancing in the streets.

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 15 Zack Phillips

When you are a talented player on arguably the best Major Junior team in Canada, your statistics are most likely going to be exceptional. Saint John Sea Dogs center Zack Phillips is no different. His 38 goals and 95 points in 67 Quebec Major Junior League games this season helped spark their dominance in the Q, en route to 58 wins and 119 points, the most of any Canadian League team in 2010-11. Phillips finished the season tied for sixth in the QMJHL in points, and second on Saint John to 2011 draft prospect Jonathan Huberdeau.

After dominating play at Eaglebrook Pre-prep School against some of the best AAA players in the world, Phillips committed to play the 2009-10 season at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. However, just before the hockey season started, he dropped his commitment and headed to the QMJHL, where he was picked up by Saint John. Playing on the fourth line that season, he managed to put up 44 points in 65 games – including 30 of those points in the final 32 games. “At the time, I thought the college route might be better for me as a player and a person,” Phillips said in an interview with Yahoo! Sports. “I was really small growing up, my second year down there I grew nine inches and started to get more notice for my hockey and thought this [the QMJHL] might be the better route.”

The 6-foot-1, 181-pound center upped his game in year two of the Q, posting the aforementioned 95 points, along with an impressive plus-48 rating. His numbers were helped by playing with QMJHL stars Huberdeau and Stanislav Galiev – one of whom has already been drafted (Galiev, Washington Capitals, 3rd Round), the other of whom will be drafted this summer.

Phillips’ biggest strength is his hockey sense. He understands the game well, knows where to be and where not to be, and simply gets it. He also has soft hands, can make great passes, and is willing to and capable of playing consistent defense.

“Zack is a very talented two-way ice hockey player who has a bright future ahead of him,” said Jeff Quebec, Eaglebrook School’s Director of Ice Hockey. “He sees the ice extremely well and is a creative playmaker and pure goal scorer. Zack was a strong student-athlete at Eaglebrook and played a large role in the success of our teams during his two years here. He served as one of our captains and displayed strong leadership both on and off the ice. I am very proud of him and look forward to seeing another one of my former Eaglebrook School players drafted by the National Hockey League.”
Something that scouts have noticed Phillips needs to improve on is his skating. In the new NHL, as everyone knows, having speed and high-level skating ability is crucial to anyone’s success. Phillips is great in traffic and able to maneuver around bodies. But on the rush and on the backcheck, he is often caught and overtaken by opposing skaters.

But if Phillips can improve his skating just a bit, you can expect him to make an impact in the NHL in just a couple years. And any team who drafts him understands the talent they will be getting.

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.

2011 NHL Draft Prospects: No. 14 Mark McNeill

This article was originally featured on NHL.com

Ask someone to name the best power forwards in the NHL right now, and names on the list likely would include Rick Nash, Ryan Getzlaf and Mike Richards.

Prince Albert Raiders center Mark McNeill might be added to that list in the coming years. Ranked 22nd by NHL Central Scouting in its mid-term rating of North American skaters, McNeill has been wowing scouts across North America with his impressive ability to make plays and power his way to the net. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound center led his team with 49 assists and was second with 81 points in 70 games.

“He’s one of those kids that has the ability to do so many different things,” Raiders coach/GM Bruno Campese told NHL.com. “He’s got so much upside to him. … He’s a powerful skater and has great hockey sense. He’s got very good basic skills and he’s got the ability to be a real tough person to play against. He’s got the mental capabilities to understand the game as well.”

“One thing I like about him is that he’s a right-handed center, which is good to have,” said NHL Central Scouting’s B.J. MacDonald. “He’s really composed and has a real pro-style game. He has a nice touch, can dish, and has nice, soft passes. His on-ice awareness is very good and he’s paid attention to detail at both ends of the rink. He has good defensive-zone coverage as well as being offensive at the other end.”

McNeill originally developed a love for hockey because of his father, Bernie, and the experience he had in the game.

“He played in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings,” McNeill said of his father, “then went to go play pro in Australia. He’s the one that got me into the game and I’m really thankful of him for that.”

After being placed on a line with Igor Revenko and Brandon Herrod this season, the threesome combined for 83 goals and 200 points. That success saw the team clinch a playoff spot for the first time since the 2006-07 season.

“We have a couple younger guys this year, but that’s not going to hold us back,” said McNeill on the team’s prospect for success. “We’re a hard-working team that comes to play every day. We’re still working and getting better, but we’re pushing for a playoff spot.”

John Gibson of the U.S. National Team Developmental Program is following a similar path blazed by his predecessor, Jack Campbell.

Another aspect of McNeill’s game that scouts like is his ability to play physically and his willingness to drop the gloves. His 53 penalty minutes almost double the 27 he had in 68 games last season.

“Fighting is definitely part of the game,” said McNeill. “When it comes down to it and you need a momentum swing or you need to step up for your teammate, I’m definitely ready to go.”

Though feisty on the ice, Campese describes McNeill as a calm, level-headed guy who always acts with the utmost professionalism. In fact, it’s his maturity and willingness to learn that makes McNeill so likable.

“He is very coachable,” Campese said. “We’ve had lots of one-on-one discussions this year. He’s getting lots of attention from certain people, whether it’s media or scouts. We’ve had lots of conversations about maintaining focus. He’s extremely appreciative of any kind of coaching. He’s a smart individual who really gets it.

“I can see him being a first-round pick. I really believe he has all the attributes. He’s got certain gifts that other players just don’t have. That really bodes well for playing in the NHL.”

“All around I think he’s got a real solid game,” said MacDonald. “I think his offensive game will improve the older he gets and the more confident he gets. I think he’ll be a better offensive player than he’s showing right now.”

If being a better offensive player will increase his current point-per-game scoring rate, the rest of the WHL (and even the NHL) should be nervous for upcoming seasons. But simply waiting a few years isn’t going to make him successful, and McNeill knows it.

“I like to be good in front of the net, on the power play and the penalty kill,” he said. “I want to become strong on draws and just develop my all around game.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work and determination.”

Alan Bass, a writer for The Hockey News and THN.com, is the author of The Great Expansion: The Ultimate Risk That Changed The NHL Forever. He has worked for the Philadelphia Flyers’ Fan Development department, going to schools throughout the tri-state area to teach about fitness and the importance of teamwork. He is the General Manager of the Muhlenberg College Division II hockey team as well. You can contact him at Alanbasswriting@aol.com.