Unknown Chicago Blackhawks Rookie Steals Show in First NHL Game

Although the Philadelphia Flyers managed to steal their second game in a row from the Chicago Blackhawks since falling to them in six games in the 2010 Stanley Cup final, the big story of the night (and one that was a nice surprise to the numerous NHL scouts in attendance) was Chicago rookie Andrew Shaw. Having been drafted in the fourth round (139th overall) in this past year’s draft, everyone expected that he would spend another year or two in junior before turning pro.

But like a few other of his brethren in the NHL world, Shaw was able to impress his employers enough and be placed on the Rockford IceHogs’ American League roster to start the 2011-12 campaign. It should not come as a shock to those who have followed him the past few years. Last season he posted a career-high 54 points in 66 games with the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario League, en route to leading them to an OHL Championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup. In that tournament, he led all players with seven points in just four games – and was awarded the OHL’s Hardest Working Player of the Year award.

Most players recently drafted are under the age of 20 and cannot be assigned to the minor leagues according to the rules of the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. But having been overage in the summer and turning 20 before September 15 of the current season, he became eligible for all three professional hockey leagues, allowing Chicago to expose him to higher competition, rather than allowing him to score at will in the OHL.

On January 4, he got the call from head coach Joel Quenneville, informing him that he would be joining one of the best teams in the NHL to Philadelphia, one of the toughest buildings in the league, to face off against the Flyers. Not only did he come along for the ride, but he managed to win a spot on the first line along with captain Jonathan Toews and sharpshooter Patrick Sharp (no pun intended).

As if that was not enough, Shaw decided to drop the gloves against Zac Rinaldo, the small, yet feisty Flyers forward with a knack for introducing opponents to the Wells Fargo Center ice. He did the same with Shaw, but even after a facial cut that sent him to the locker room, it was simply not enough to prevent him from performing some grade “A” stickhandling en route to his first NHL goal, off passes from Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith and the Conn Smythe Trophy winning Toews.

Not many fourth round draft picks even make it to the NHL, let alone the season after being drafted. Yet Shaw has already impressed Chicago management and is looking to stake claim to a permanent spot for what should be another impressive Stanley Cup run in the spring.

Live From the 2012 Winter Classic: Eric Lindros Among Flyers Alumni That Bring Back Memories

Just like it was 15 years ago, John LeClair shot down the wing on a 2-on-1 with Eric Lindros on the other side of the ice, looking to receive a pass. As the defenseman bit, LeClair coolly flipped a saucer pass across the ice to watch Lindros fire it past a flailing goaltender, culminating in a multitude of fans leaping to their feet with their arms raised high.

It seemed as if a dam had been lifted, allowing memories to rush back like a stream of water, to the pleasure of over 1,000 fans in attendance at the Flyers Skate Zone and to the players themselves. Eric Desjardins, Brian Propp, Joe and Jimmy Watson, Orest Kindrachuk, Bill Barber, Bernie Parent, Neil Little, Jeremy Roenick, Lindros, LeClair, and others, entertained fans for just under an hour as the Flyers alumni took to the ice for practice before heading to the locker room to speak with the media – with smiles on their faces as if they had rekindled the extinguished flames that were once vibrant NHL careers.

“What a great showing for us old guys,” Roenick exclaimed. As he spoke you could see the glow in his eye, like a child finally getting to meet a boyhood idol. “You talk about this weekend as being a celebration, but having something like this – bringing back guys like Clarkie, Bernie [Parent], [Rick] Tocchet, it really is historic. It’s a humbling experience being here with some of these guys. Seeing Eric and John, guys I battled against, this is a really good step back in time.”

“I had a good time,” Lindros said with a Don Cherry-like smirk as he peered around the locker room to examine the historic faces he had just laced up with. “Saw some old people. Big turnout for a little get-together.”

When asked about the fan turnout for the alumni skate, Lindros began to answer, but paused ever so briefly and looked up, deep in thought. In just a split second, the memories of the prime of his career – centering the famous “Legion of Doom” with LeClair and Mikael Renberg, the line that combined for 305 goals and 666 points in just over two seasons together – appeared in his mind like a movie reel. “I’m not surprised,” he finally muttered, a grin forming at the corners of his lips, perhaps thinking of the great times he shared with millions of Flyers fans for almost a decade – including a Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP, a Stanley Cup final appearance, and enough highlight reel plays to fill a YouTube account. “Flyers fans are so supportive of their team.”

“Flyers fans are like that,” LeClair chimed in from the next stall. “They really enjoy this and support us.”

As the media dispersed, Lindros sat, enjoying a few laughs with LeClair, Bob Kelly, and more. He signed a few pucks for the organization, a picture for Kelly, and a jacket for Reggie Leach’s young grandson, who was puttering around the locker room as if he were just mesmerized by a shooting star. As little Leach stared at the behemoth of a man (6-foot-5, for those that do not recall), Lindros talked with him about school, about treating his teachers right, doing his homework and catching up on the work he is missing by being here for the festivities. The tyke walked away like he had been given a message from God himself, while Lindros craned his head around the room. He took one last look at the legends and role players that donned the Orange and Black before, with, and after him. The former league MVP slowly walked out of the Philadelphia Flyers locker room, as he had done so many times.

 

Alan Bass, a former 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.

Live at the 2012 Winter Classic: Marketing and Branding the Event

As a chilling wind blew across the field at Citizens Bank Park – bitter enough to remind climbers of the slopes of Mount Everest – Daniel Craig and his ice crew continued to lay down layers of mist onto the surface of the rink that has become an annual event. By the end of the day on Wednesday, December 28, the ice surface was just over one inch thick, and on schedule to be ready in time for Friday morning’s media hockey game. Although this scene is one that has been constant since 2008 when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres faced off at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the first ever Winter Classic, the NHL has made it a point to ensure that the idea of the Winter Classic remains fresh each year, rather than becoming “just another event,” as so many detractors of the event have posited.

Brian Jennings, the NHL’s Executive Vice President of Marketing has been with the league since 1990, and is in charge of one of the largest sports marketing campaigns in the world – and a daunting task at that, considering the NHL’s standing among the four major sports in the United States. Yet somehow the NHL has managed to increase the event’s popularity in its fifth year of existence. According to Jennings, Winter Classic products made up for 15 of the top 20 items in the NHL.com store, and demand for the event’s products online and in the NHL store in New York is helping contribute to a double digit increase in sales – despite the announcement and jerseys coming much later than normal.

In addition, there was a worry that the lack of change in the Philadelphia Flyers’ logo would hinder sales of the products – but it wasn’t one that Jennings shared. “The Philadelphia uniform, Mr. Snider has a real passion for the Philadelphia logo itself, not a lot of alterations to that,” Jennings explained at a press conference at Citizens Bank Park. “In the past years, a lot of teams have allowed us to do a fusion type of Winter Classic uniform, but he felt strongly in what the (logo) represents.”

The league also released two commercials that grasp at the two sides to this year’s Winter Classic. The first one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuW_hvVQXUI) focuses on the rivalry between the Flyers and Rangers, citing the “City of Brotherly Love” as null and void for just one day in Philadelphia. The second is a take of the famous “Good Ol’ Hockey Game” song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd5dF5Tjg4E), instead focusing on the fun of an outdoor game in the cold of winter. These two ads have both contributed to the experienced and expected success of this year’s game.

Lastly, Jennings discussed how he and the league manages to keep this event special for the fans each year. Above all, he believes, the location of the game keeps it fresh. “The marketplace is what you look for in those periods of being unique,” he explained. “So you always want to tip your hat and acknowledge that you’re in a marketplace – Philadelphia – that has strong hockey roots. Each year we try to do things differently with our partners to showcase the game. I think you look to your partners, to see if they’re launching a new product or commercial, as a point of differentiation.”

Jennings concluded by explaining the process by which the league makes decisions on how to approach each year’s outdoor game. “When we do an event like this, we do a pretty extensive debrief. We look at what went well, or if something hadn’t gone well, how do we fix it, how do we make it special for the fans? I can tell you that the league has a very laser focus on what that fan experience is, from those that are walking into Spectator Plaza, those that are going into the stadium, and those that are watching from home.”

And if it’s any consolation for those worried about how this year’s Winter Classic will turn out, it’s already shaping up to surpass expectations – for the fifth year in a row.

Alan Bass, a former 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.

Why Did Claude Giroux Come “Out of Nowhere?”

See the original post on Hockey54.com!

The entire hockey world knows Claude Giroux’s name right now. Maybe it’s because he is currently out indefinitely with a concussion. Maybe it’s his league-leading 39 points. Maybe it’s his 15 power play points, his 23 even strength points, or simply his dazzling style of play that Philadelphia Flyers fans have witnessed for the past three years. But why is it that no one in the hockey world (outside of Philadelphia) had been talking about him before this season? Where did this kid come from and what is with this seeming ignorance of his hockey skill the past few years?

As it turns out, this “ignorance” has been there for much longer than his brief NHL career. After playing Midget AA in 2003-04 and jumping to Junior A, Giroux was hit by a bout of mononucleosis. Although he still managed to put up 40 points in 48 games, and claim the rookie of the year award, Major Junior teams were not too impressed with his accomplishments. In fact, through 20 rounds of Ontario League draft, every team in the OHL passed over him, leaving him a “free agent” (so to speak) in the Canadian League.

But Giroux was lucky enough to be invited to the Gatineau Olympiques’ training camp before the start of the Quebec Major Junior League season. After seeing his abilities, head coach Benoit Groulx brought Giroux onto the team and immediately received dividends, as Giroux potted two points in his first game, and three points in his third game.

Giroux went on to be named the QMJHL Rookie of the Month twice that season, and ended the season with 39 goals and 103 points in 69 games – enough to be named to the league’s All-Rookie Team. That summer, Giroux had the privilege to attend the NHL’s Scouting Combine and attend team interviews. In fact, one interview with the Columbus Blue Jackets, which was recorded in Gare Joyce’s book, Future Greats and Heartbreaks, shows the general opinion of Giroux around the NHL. “I watched you play lots of times,” Columbus scout Wayne Smith said to Claude Giroux. “You played great pretty well every time I saw you…on a good team, too. You’re going to play in the NHL…but where did you come from?”

Giroux, ranked 38th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, was not necessarily slated to be drafted in the first round. Many teams had him ranked in their second, or even third round, and although Columbus had him ranked 11th overall, their first selection in the 2006 draft came too early to snag Giroux off the board. But when the Flyers drafted him 22nd overall, he wound up being taken behind just four of the 400 players that were selected in his place in that 2005 OHL Draft. In the next two seasons in Gatineau, Giroux posted 218 points in just 118 games. Not included in those numbers was a record-setting 51 points in 19 games in the 2008 QMJHL playoffs, which resulted in a trip to the Memorial Cup. The next year, Giroux found himself in the NHL on a full-time basis.

Although people claim Giroux did not break out until the 2010 playoffs or the 2011 season, those in Philadelphia recognized his talents immediately upon his entrance to rookie camp in 2006. His hockey sense, his passing ability, and his incredible ability to turn on the jets when needed, peaked the attention of those involved with the Flyers, both internally and in the media. So when Giroux turned out to be the best Flyers player in a first-round exit against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, nobody really noticed, other than those watching the game.

Perhaps that’s why Giroux seemed to “come out of nowhere” this season, but it was to no surprise of those that watched him over the few years before the 2011-12 season. It was not long ago that a 5-foot-11, 172-pound forward from Hearst, Ontario would never even have sniffed the NHL, let alone become the league’s leading scorer more than a third through the season. But Giroux has proven time and time again that he does not need people’s recognition of his talents – he’ll score on you either way.

Alan Bass, a former 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.

Philadelphia Flyers First Ten Games: Pluses and Minuses

Ten games are already in the books and the Flyers sit at 5-4-1 with 11 points, good for second place in the Atlantic Division, behind the powerful, yet injury-riddled Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers have looked good at times thus far, but also terrible in certain games. It’s still a bit early to call them a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, specifically with so many new faces and still a questionable amount of chemistry on each line. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at the pluses and minuses of the Philadelphia Flyers’ first ten games of the 2011-12 NHL season:

 

+ Giroux-Jagr

Everyone in the Philadelphia area has known how talented Claude Giroux is. But his rise to superstardom is just starting to trickle through the NHL ranks. Jaromir Jagr is one of the best players in NHL history, sitting third all-time in points per game, behind Gretzky and Lemieux. There were questions about how much he had left in the tank, but he answered those questions with the rigor of a Rhodes Scholar. Together, the two create one of the most dangerous 1-2 punches in the NHL.

 

- Discipline

The Flyers are fourth in the league in penalty minutes per game, with 16.8. But the more troubling figure is their 56 minor penalties, which leads the league. Most of these are lazy penalties such as tripping, holding, or hooking, or stick fouls. The Flyers seem to commit these penalties at the most inopportune times, such as after they score a goal or in the midst of their own power play. Twelve Flyers already have at least six penalty minutes, which makes them as undisciplined as a fifth-grade class clown.

 

+ Defensive play/Coaching

The two may not seem to belong in the same category, but the Flyers’ great zone defense is reflective of the effectiveness of the coaching staff. Peter Laviolette’s trademark Box Plus-1 is generally holding opponents to the outside of the ice and creating numerous counter rush opportunities for the speedy forwards on Philly’s roster. The team ranks fourth in the league in blocked shots (albeit 16th in takeaways). The penalty kill has also looked fairly good, notwithstanding an 80.4 percent success rate.

 

- Bryzgalov

The largest goaltending pickup in Flyers’ history has been nothing to write home about just yet. Although he shows flashes of the great goaltender he is, Bryzgalov has made many fans as nervous and worried as a Jewish mother. His puckhandling skills rival that of a mite, while he simply looks careless most of the time. The Flyers surely didn’t pay millions of dollars for a .870 save percentage, a 3.45 goals against average, and a 28th league ranking in goals against per game. Bryzgalov clearly has the ability and the talent to be one of the best in the league – but he needs to start showing it.

 

+ Offensive Depth/Rookies

Every full-time Flyers forward has a goal already, and almost everyone looks like they belong on this roster. Five rookies (Sean Couturier, Matt Read, Harry Zolnierczyk, Zac Rinaldo, and Brayden Schenn) making impacts have also been a large point of interest for the entire organization. This has been the trademark of the Flyers since the lockout, and will be the main reason for their eventual success. The power play has been helped by this depth as well, ranked fourth in the league.

 

- Consistency

The first five games were great. After that, it pretty much went downhill. Their five-on-five goals ratio dropped from second in the league to 19th. They beat some good teams, then lost to those who were struggling. The team also has won just 43 percent of the games in which they scored, showing just how inconsistent this organization is throughout a game and how difficult a time they are having holding a lead.

 

Alan Bass, a former 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.

Can Flyers’ Replacements Pick Up The Scoring Slack?

During the 2011 NHL offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers abandoned numerous pieces of their offensive juggernaut – Ville Leino, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Nikolai Zherdev, Darroll Powe, Daniel Carcillo and Kris Versteeg – in exchange for some much different faces in Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek, Maxime Talbot, and Jaromir Jagr.

In the process, they lost 112 goals and 129 assists (241 points), plus-41 in offensive production, and 337 penalty minutes. In the faces they got back, they received 36 goals, 61 assists, 97 points, 167 penalty minutes and minus-7 in NHL offensive production, in addition to over 100 points in non-NHL production (Western League for Schenn and Kontinental League for Jagr). It doesn’t take a math professor to figure out that the numbers simply don’t add up.

Regardless of the Flyers’ intentions when they traded away their two franchise cornerstones in Richards and Carter, it is indisputable that in terms of right-now talent, the Flyers took a step back. Therefore, their offensive numbers are going to decrease as well, right?

Not so fast.

Although Carter, Richards, and Leino alone accounted for 78 of the Flyers’ 255 goals in 2010-11 (almost 31 percent), their replacements should not be looked at in terms of their offensive numbers only, but as a matter of how they will fit into the roster.

James van Riemsdyk had an impressive showing in the Flyers’ two playoff rounds last spring, scoring seven goals in just 11 games, but creating enough chances that he could have potted twice that number. With Claude Giroux still improving each year, expect those two to be paired together, with Giroux playing the center position. The best choice for that line could be to place the newly-acquired Jagr on the right wing, allowing a power forward (JVR), a slick playmaker (Giroux) and a talented goal scorer (Jagr) to create what could become one of the best lines in the conference. After Giroux scored 76 points last season, a pairing with the best European player of all-time and a young winger that can fight his way to the net could lead to an 85-point season, translating to over 25 goals and 50 points for Jagr and possibly 30 goals for van Riemsdyk.

On the second line, Danny Briere can be expected to play up front with young gun and Calder Trophy favorite Brayden Schenn and Scott Hartnell on the wing. Hartnell provides a physical presence on a line that would also include the energy and raw talent of a young Schenn and the experience and talent of Briere. This combination could see Briere repeat his 68-point performance, and possibly surpass that mark. Hartnell could also find himself with the second 50-point season of his career, while Schenn could prove his detractors wrong by netting 20 goals and 50 points.

A third line could feature grinder and hated former-Penguin Max Talbot at center with former-Blue Jacket Jakub Voracek on one side and former-King Wayne Simmonds on the other. Although both Simmonds and Voracek could be better suited playing on a second line in place of Hartnell, the two of them combine puck skill, scoring ability and a physical presence, along with Talbot’s energy, defensive play and ability to annoy the hell out of the opponent on a regular basis.

Depth has always been the key to the Flyers’ success in recent years, and 2011-12 will not be any different. Last season the Flyers had six players with 20 goals and eight players with 15. This year won’t be any different. Expect Briere, Giroux, Hartnell, van Riemsdyk, Jagr, and Schenn to hit the 20-goal mark, while Voracek, Simmonds and even Talbot to hit 15.

The team might look different – along with the face of the locker room. But even if there are chemistry problems, both on and off the ice, at the start of the season, expect the growing pains to dissipate rather quickly, and the Flyers to retain their offensive abilities that they’ve shown for the past four years.

 

Alan Bass, a former 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.

Philadelphia Flyers Rookie Camp Interview with top pick Sean Couturier

Sean Couturier was drafted eighth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in this year’s 2011 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota. The pick, acquired by the Flyers in the Jeff Carter trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, was the highest pick the team has had since 2007 – and just the second time in decades the Flyers have drafted this high. Couturier sat down with Alan Bass of PhilaPhans.com after his second day of Rookie Camp.

Alan Bass: For those fans that don’t know, tell them who Sean Couturier is, both on and off the ice.

Sean Couturier: I’m a pretty calm person, and I do my own thing. But when I get on the ice, I’m pretty intense, I work hard. I’m a two-way forward.

Q: Let’s start with the beginning: when did you first start playing hockey?

SC: I was about four or five when I started.

Q: Growing up, what was the best piece of advice your father gave you, whether it’s relevant to hockey or not (Sylvain Couturier was drafted 65th overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft)?

SC: Nothing specific, just being around him I learned a lot.

Q: When did you realize that you had the talent to eventually make it to the NHL?

SC: Since I was young I dreamed of playing in the NHL, so I’ve always made the sacrifice to be the best I can. All through minor hockey my goal was to play in the NHL someday. It takes a lot of hard work, you know?

Q: How often do you think about the missed opportunity after losing to Russia in the World Juniors?

SC: It was a tough loss, a tough ending. You never wanna finish a tournament like that. But you should take the positives of it. It was still great playing against the best in the world. So it was good overall.

Q: Who were your closest friends in the Q?

SC: I don’t know, we were all pretty close. I did room with Andrew Randazzo, so I was pretty tight with him.

Q: What do you enjoy doing away from the rink?

SC: Not much, just relaxing and maybe watching movies. Sleeping, too. I like The Hangover (laughs).

Q: Fast forward to the Scouting Combine. Tell me about that experience, in addition to interviewing with the teams.

SC: It was a pretty nervous time. You want to show everything you got to the media and each team. It was a pretty nervewracking time, but you just try to stay yourself and give everything you got. The Wingate [was probably the hardest test].

Q: How many teams did you interview with? What were some of the strangest questions they asked you?

SC: About 20. There wasn’t really any strange questions. It was pretty straightforward, just trying to get to know me as a player.

Q: The whole hockey world was shocked when Winnipeg took Mark Scheifle seventh overall instead of you. What went through your head initially, and did the thought of slipping down further pop into your mind?

SC: I didn’t really know what to expect going into the draft. Anything can happen. For sure I was a bit surprised. You always want to hear your name quickly, but again, I’m really lucky to be here.

Q: Did you know you were drafted by Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL (6th round, 133rd overall)?

SC: (Laughs) Yeah, I saw that in the media.

Q: Did they even contact you at all?

SC: Nope.

Q: You played with Brayden Schenn on Canada’s World Junior team this year, and are now fighting for a roster spot. Tell me how he improved your game.

SC: It was a great time there. He had a couple of games in the NHL already, so it was great to be around him. Just watching him play, he does all the little details right. Those are the things you have to do to be a pro.

Q: What are your first impressions so far of the Philly organization? The coaches, other players, management, fans, and media?

SC: Since I’ve been drafted, everything’s been great. I’ve been treated first-class. Seeing the fans here both days is great, it’s really special. It’s great to see how well they follow the team.

Q: Right now it looks like only you or Brayden will make the opening night roster – not both of you. If I’m Coach Laviolette, make your case to me why you’re more fit to do so right now.

SC: I don’t know (Laughs), you can’t really judge. A lot of things can happen in hockey.

Alan Bass, a former 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 Mock Draft: BT and Bass at it Again

This year, Bryan Thiel and Alan Bass continued their annual tradition of a mock draft. We will be publishing our picks 10 at a time over the next few days to preview the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota!

The odd picks (1, 3, 5, etc.) are BT’s, while the even picks (2, 4, 6, etc.) are Alan’s. Enjoy!

1. Edmonton Oilers

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Red Deer (WHL)

While there is the possibility that the Oilers trade out of this position if someone is enamored enough with one of the four or five players that could go first overall, expect them to keep it and target either Nugent-Hopkins or Adam Larsson. The Oilers have plenty of talent on the wings, so Gabriel Landeskog would simply be an addition to those riches, and with Nugent-Hopkins’ high-end puck sense and vision, he’d form a dynamic top-line with fellow number one Taylor Hall. Edmonton is fortunate though, that both Larsson and Nugent-Hopkins address a need for the franchise.

2. Colorado Avalanche

Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Kitchener (OHL)

There is also a possibility that the Avs may trade out of this pick, specifically if Bryan Murray and the Ottawa Senators desperately want to draft the star winger out of Kitchener. But if Colorado hangs on here, Landeskog would be a great addition, providing both offensive and defensive capabilities, in addition to a physical presence – one who can play on a first line with Matt Duchene or Paul Stastny. Defense is also a need right now, but Landeskog can provide more help in the short-term and the long-term, while Adam Larsson could take longer to develop.

3. Florida Panthers

Jonathan Huberdeau, C, Saint John (QMJHL)

Adam Larsson’s “slide” from first overall continues simply because there is a wealth on the back-end in Florida’s system. Back-to-back first round selections of Dmitri Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson (provided he can sign this time around) mean that the Panthers can concentrate on some needs up front. Huberdeau’s smooth hands put him in a great position to succeed alongside some of the young wingers Florida picked up last year, namely Quinton Howden. With solid two-way centres Scott Timmins and John McFarland in place, Dale Tallon can add that scoring centre he’ll need whether or not Stephen Weiss is around.

4. New Jersey Devils

Adam Larsson, D, Skelleftea (SEL)

Although the Devils do have Jon Merrill and Matt Corrente waiting to make the jump to the NHL, neither translate into a top-two defenseman. However, after winning the draft lottery, Lou Lamoriello will be able to replenish his blue line with the 6-foot-3 Swede, at one point a potential number one overall pick. Larsson will provide both offense and defense to the New Jersey organization and can help ease the transition to a new era when Martin Brodeur retires in the next two years.

5. New York Islanders

Dougie Hamilton, D, Niagara (OHL)

People have fallen in love with Hamilton’s all-around game and he’s certainly earned those endorsements. An all-around defenseman with a hulking 6’4″ frame and a flair for offense, Hamilton takes pride in his defense as well, making him a complete defenseman with a nasty side as well. Hamilton’s ascension through the draft ranks is difficult to overlook, but it’s well deserved. He’ll bring grit to the back end along with leadership and give the Isles a great potential top-pairing with Calin de Haan.

6. Ottawa Senators

Sean Couturier, C, Drummondville (QMJHL) 

If the Senators can’t move up to take Gabriel Landeskog (and believe me, they’ll try their best), then Couturier would be the next best choice. Although he seemed to hit a wall at points throughout the season, he performed well in the playoffs, averaging over a point per game. Couturier would make a great number-two center in 2011-12 behind Jason Spezza, and could take over the number one spot within a few years.

7. Winnipeg/Manitoba

Ryan Strome, C, Niagara (OHL)

The Niagara Ice Dogs and Marty Williamson have produced two players with top-ten potential in this year’s draft, and with the defenseman off the board, the Thrashers go with forward Ryan Strome. The NHL squad has a number of young wingers in the NHL right now and their defense is established, meaning that another young centre to help out Alexander Burmistrov is key. Like Burmistrov, Strome is a little smaller, but he’s a speedy, crafty centre with grit and toughness to go with it. While Strome is a talented player, it’s his ceiling as a prospect (which may be one of the highest in the draft) that will draw the interested parties.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets

Ryan Murphy, D, Kitchener (OHL)

Columbus has never had a franchise defenseman since their inception in 2001. However, with the selection of offensive defenseman Ryan Murphy, that will change for the next two decades. Murphy may still be a couple years away from the NHL, but once he fills out his 5-foot-11 frame and hones his defensive skills, he will anchor the Blue Jackets’ blue line for years. His 26 goals and 79 points this past season will translate well into NHL production, specifically when playing with Rick Nash.

9. Boston Bruins (from Toronto)

Nathan Beaulieau, D, Saint John (QMJHL)

After using the first pick they acquired from the Maple Leafs to draft Tyler Seguin last year, the second first rounder they got in the Phil Kessel trade will go to further stabilizing Boston’s blueline. That may sound silly considering Zdeno Chara is patrolling the blueline, but the hulking 34-year old won’t be around forever. The Bruins have a strong nucleus of young forwards doing the heavy lifting (Lucic, Horton, Bergeron, and Krejci are all 26 or younger), Brad Marchand and Seguin are long-term, controllable assets at centre, while Jordan Caron and Zach Hamil got call-ups this year to go along with a handful of other young forwards. Like Seguin, Beaulieau would find himself in a fortunate situation with the Bruins as the key cogs in this defense have a few years left, allowing him more time to grow and mature into the physical puck-mover he can be.

10. Minnesota Wild

Mika Zibanejad, C, Djurgarden (SEL)

After selecting center Mikael Granlund last year in the 2010 Draft, Minnesota will go with another two-way forward from Europe, one whose stock has risen drastically over the past year. Zibanejad is a bit of a project, but at 6-foot-2, 191 pounds, he is physically capable of stepping into the NHL next year. He and Granlund could make a great 1-2 tandem down the middle, contributing on both sides of the puck.

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. 28 Matthew Puempel

Nothing like an untimely injury to mess you up in your draft year. Just ask Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Brett Connolly, who suffered a season-ending hip injury just in time for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. However, it didn’t affect the scouts’ readings of his game, and he was ranked third – and taken sixth overall.

Peterborough Petes left wing Matthew Puempel dealth with similar problems this season, in which season-ending hip surgery hindered the end of his season, and caused his Petes to miss the playoffs by just three points.

“It was really tough at the start when I learned I needed surgery,” Puempel told NHL.com. “Our team was in a playoff spot at the time and we were battling hard, but we missed out.”

“I’m a lot more positive about it all now,” he said. “I battled through that adversity and, when you’re at the ultimate low, things can’t get any worse. I’m kind of looking forward to getting back and walking, and shortly after getting into more energetic rehabilitation and then being able to return to the ice sometime in June.”

But like the situation with Connolly, the hockey world understood how much of an impact Puempel can have on his team.

“At this point, a season-ending injury won’t affect our opinion (of Puempel),” NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards told NHL.com in late February. “We have more than enough viewings on him. I have 14 viewings. He will be checked over at the (NHL Scouting) Combine (May 29-June 4) by the doctors and as long as it is not career-ending, it should not make much of a difference.”

On the ice, the 6-foot, 190-pound Puempel has been successful in almost every aspect. With 64 points in his rookie Ontario League season and 69 points in his sophomore campaign, scouts have labeled him as a talented goal scorer. His hockey sense is arguably his best quality, as by watching him, it’s incredible to see the way he reads the play and anticipates what the other nine skaters are going to be doing before it happens.
However, scouts have clearly noticed the hole in his defensive game – the game that led him to a minus-33 rating on one of the worst teams in the OHL.

“My game is getting to the net and winning crease battles, going hard on the forecheck and creating turnovers,” Puempel said in an interview with ESPN.com.

“Scouts say that it’s a pretty fair reading of his game — a lot of juniors are better with the puck than without it,” said ESPN.com writer Gare Joyce. “With Puempel it’s the other way around. He creates his scoring chances by skating hard without the puck and getting into the dirty areas of the ice. For scouts, it’s something that shows through with more frequent viewing.”

“A smart player, first and foremost, and that’s not a knock,” an Ontario-based scout said this week. “He’ll play at the next level — there’s no doubt about that. It’s just a question of what his high end is. Is he creative enough to be a first-liner? A second-liner? Based on what he did as an underager you can’t rule anything out.”

“I think Matt just needs to continue to find a complete game and he made great strides in that direction,” Peterborough coach Mike Pelino told NHL.com. “I think throughout his whole youth, he was such a natural scorer. This year we’ve got him killing penalties and playing in key defensive situations, primarily to give him the opportunity to develop in those areas. As he continues to round out his complete game, he’ll continue to be that much more effective.”

“Puempel cites getting bigger and physically stronger as two aspects of his game he wants to improve upon as he develops,” said The Hockey News columnist Ryan Kennedy. “But with his big frame it’s hard to see how much else needs to be done. The fact he has some pretty good NHL mentors tells you all you need to know about the power forward game the youngster likes to play.”

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.