STARS
Classement de l’an dernier: 26e
Classement NHL: 23e
Gradués: Pierre Engvall
1. Patrik Laine, RW, Winnipeg-NHL
April 19, 1998 | 6-foot-4 | 205 pounds
Tier: Special/elite bubble
Skating: 45
Puck Skills: 65
Physical Game: 60
Hockey Sense: 60
Shot: 80
Laine is one of the top young players in the NHL, with a 40-goal campaign already to his name and nearly 250 points by his 22nd birthday. He’s a dynamic player with the puck. He has such loose hands and with his large wingspan and great creativity he’s able to manipulate the puck at an elite level in open ice. He can dangle and make great passes, often making a ton of plays, but his moneymaker is his shot. His wrist shot and his one-timer are rifles, and he can hit crossbars and posts from range with consistency, showing the ability to beat even the best NHL goalies with a clean shot. Laine is a big, bulky forward, but I wouldn’t call him a mean or overly-physical player. While he is big, he lacks quickness and he can be eliminated by big, mobile defenders.
2. Artemi Kniazev, D, Chicoutimi-QMJHL
Jan. 4, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 183 pounds
Tier: Legit LNHV2 player
Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 40
Hockey Sense: 60
Shot: 60
Kniazev was one of the top players for one of the better teams in the QMJHL playing significant minutes in all situations. Kniazev is a very mobile player. His skating stands out consistently with how quickly he can rush pucks, how he can walk the blue line and close on checks defensively. Kniazev can make a good first pass and has some offense, although for a 5-foot-11 defenseman I wouldn’t call him a dynamic offensive player. He gets his offense from a great offensive brain that lets him see lanes and options quickly, a hard shot from the point, and his skating that allows him to impact play in transition. Because of his size, without being a truly elite skill and production type, he may never be an upper half of the lineup type. But the talent is intriguing and has been for many years.
3. Declan Chisholm, D, Peterborough-OHL
Jan. 12, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 190 pounds
Tier: Legit LNHV2 player
Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 50
Hockey Sense: 60
Chisholm has impressed me a lot the last two seasons with his trajectory. He hasn’t been a dominant junior player, but he played a big role on a good team last season and looks to have a toolkit that’s going to translate to higher levels. Chisholm is a 6-foot-1 defenseman who can skate, showing good speed and edges. He moves the puck very well, showing poise from the blue line and great outlets. He has flashes of high-end hands, and can attack with both speed and skill. He’s not a defender who is going to knock checks over, but I think he defends well enough and with his skating he should be fine versus better players.
4. Mattias Samuelsson, D, Western Michigan-NCHC
March 14, 2000 | 6-foot-4 | 220 pounds
Tier: Legit LNHV2 player
Skating: 50
Puck Skills: 50
Physical Game: 70
Hockey Sense: 55
Samuelsson is a tough evaluation because there isn’t a lot about his game that stands out at first glance and he doesn’t have great numbers. Coaches tend to play him a ton of minutes wherever he goes though, and he wore the captain’s letter at Western Michigan and with USA’s U20 team. He’s a big defender who is very hard to play against due to his size, physicality and ability to close on checks. He’s quick enough for his size to be able to skate at the LNHV2 level but not a burner. Samuelsson makes a good first pass with flashes of skill but his offense isn’t consistent. I think there’s enough to his game to become a third-pair defender who plays in defensive situations.
LNHV2 POTENTIAL
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW, Hershey-AHL: Jonsson-Fjallby has great speed with a quick-twitch stride and can certainly skate at an LNHV2 level. The question on his game is how much skill he has and how much offense he creates. It may not be enough to be a regular LNHV2’er, but he has enough skill to be on the bubble.
Mikhail Berdin, G, Manitoba-AHL: Berdin is an extremely athletic goalie, who can make the lateral save as good as anyone in the AHL. He’s done good work towards lowering the extra movements in his game, but he can still be a bit erratic with his decisions.
Adam Ruzicka, C, Stockton-AHL: Ruzicka is a big center with a high skill level who had a fine rookie pro season with Stockton. With the puck on his stick he has the offensive tools to be an NHL player, but his skating will need an extra gear for him to make it.
Ivan Fedotov, G, Chelyabinsk-KHL: Fedotov had a successful season in the KHL, being a quality goalie in that league. He’s a monster at 6-foot-6 and moves reasonably well for a goalie of that size. I’m not convinced his processing speed or lateral quickness are clear LNHV2 quality, but he has good flashes and is an intriguing athlete.
_________________
Clarence S. Campbell 2005-06
Coupe Stanley 2005-06
Lady Bing 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
La vie c'est comme le hockey, si tu lances pas au net, tu scoreras pas!
Ven 18 Sep - 13:30
