Thursday, January 12, 2012

WHL Top 20 Mid Term 2012 Draft Eligibles

WHL 2012 Draft Eligible Top 20:

1) Ryan Murray D Everett - Ryan Murray spent most of the 2nd quarter on the IR due to a high ankle sprain. He did make Team Canada at the U-20s WJHC. He faired alright for an underager. Had some flaky moments but all in all was a stabilizer for the Team Canada defense, which will help his cause. Murray is back in Everett, who continues to be the worst team in the WHL. It will be interesting to see what kind of numbers he can put up to finish the year. His ranking in the #1 spot is tenuous. He should be the best two-way option in the draft from the back end. Last Rank: #1

2) Mathew Dumba D Red Deer - Dumba continues to be what he is, looking to make a big impact all over the ice, either through big hits, big shots or making crisp break out passes. I continue to worry about his defensive play as well as his ability to stand up to the rigor considering his style of play. Dumba is a bundle of energy that some team will have get focused. Very much an improvisor on the ice. Last Rank: #2

3) Morgan Rielly D Moose Jaw - Continues to rehab from a torn ACL that ended his season back in November. Offensive dynamo that can skate miles from the backend. Excellent surveyor of the ice that has a great feel for how to set the tempo for his team. Defensive play may be questionable due to a shorter stature, but makes up for it with quick footwork. Last Rank: #3

4) Cody Corbett D Edmonton - I'm cashing in my darkhorse here. Corbett, since he has arrived in Edmonton, has grown exponentially as a player. Lately has formed a top pairing with Mark Pysyk that may very well be the best pairing in the WHL. Corbett is everything that his teammate, Griffin Reinhart is, except he brings a more consistant physicality to his game. Corbett owns a cannon from the point, runs a power play really well, plays tough in the corners and doesn't get caught out of position often. I expect a big 2nd half from Corbett and his name to become more apparent from draft sources. Last Rank: #11

5) Griffin Reinhart D Edmonton - Reinhart continues to be a prospect that you wish just could be physical more often. Alas, he is not that player, but he brings a pleathora of other tools that make him a very effective player on the ice. Much like Corbett, he owns a cannon from the point, makes good first passes and is equally effective in the offensive and defensive ends. The only thing in question is whether or not his head is into every play. Last rank: #4

6) Henrik Samuelsson LW Edmonton - A newcomer to the list, Samuelsson completes the trifecta from the Oil Kings. Samuelsson is a mid season pickup for the Oil Kings from Sweden. American born player that doesn't hurt the import ratio. A stellar find for the Oil Kings. Very much a mule type player that does a lot of heavy lifting on the ice. Does his best work from below the hashmarks and around the net. Anyone looking for an around the net type scorer that competes physically should look the way of Samuelsson. Last Rank: NR

7) Damon Severson D Kelowna - Severson is very much cut of the Mark Pysyk mould where he is very dependable at both ends of the ice. As he continues to get more experience, he should become a top flight Dman in the WHL. Not a flashy player, but he just does the right things on the ice, including sticking up for teammates. A very good all around player. Last Rank: #6

8) Colton Sissons RW Kelowna - Sissons continues to score and be a power forward type. His ceiling will be dependent on how much he scores. He leads his Kelowna team with 21 goals but also is a team worst -15. Getting first line time in Kelowna, so he may be in over his head at the moment but there is room for him to develop. Fearsome hitter on the forecheck. Should be highly sought after come draft day. Last Rank: #7

9) Derrick Pouliot D Portland - Pouliot, once considered part of the "big 5" has slipped into the second tier of WHL players, in my eyes. An offensive dynamo, especially on the power play, where he can put up big chunks of points on the back end. Pouliot's defensive play is a little lacking. Misreads and s general lack of strength is causes for concern in the defensive end. Pouliot is starting to turn into a project for the team that drafts him. Last Rank: #5

10) Dalton Thrower D Saskatoon - Thrower has really added some offensive dimension to his game over the 2nd quarter. Has 31 points over 41 games. Continues to be a tough as nails, take no guff type defender. Throws big hits and is constantly in scrums. Still needs to mentally mature as a defender and understand whats needed to become successful. Needs to improve hockey IQ. Last Rank: #8

11) Tim Bozon LW Kamloops - Bozon continues to be a strong complementary player on a strong Kamloops team. Bozon continues with his above average two-way play. Not a lot of flash in his game but beings solid work ethic and a penchant for making the right play. Knows what to do with the puck when he is around the net. Bozon will be a solid early to mid draft pick for anyone looking for an all around player. Last Rank: #9

12) Coda Gordon RW Swift Current - Gordon plays a pretty similar game to Bozon, not flashy, relatively safe player that is dangerous around the net. Bozon plays with a little more tenacity in his game than Gordon does. Gordon is more of a surveyor on the ice that reacts to plays. Reads the ice really well. There is not a lot separating Bozon from Gordon. Last Rank: #10

13) Troy Bourke LW Prince George - Bourke continues to struggle on this year on a struggling Prince George team. Bourke is a highly skilled player that does not have much of a supporting cast. Bourke has drawn comparisions to a Zach Parise type, a shifty player that makes plays happen in the offensive zone. There is a pretty good player here but one that clearly cannot carry a team. Last Rank: #13

14) Lukas Sutter C Saskatoon - Sutter is the other newcomer to the list. Plays like a typical Sutter, tenacious and in your face. Has really picked up his offensive game this year, achieving nearly a point per game over this half season. Plays in a variety of roles with the Saskatoon team. Built like a fire hydrant and can handle the rigors of the long haul. Has really put it all together this year. Last Rank: #NR

15) Mike Winther C Prince Albert - Winther has really picked up his offensive player over the 2nd quarter of the season. Has established himself as an offensive go to player for a mediocre Prince Albert team. Winther is a dynamite skater that has done a better job of picking up pucks around the net, a big reason for his goal totals being up. I look for Winther to climb these charts as the season goes on. A solid two-way type, but a bit undersized. Last Rank: #18

16) Dominik Volek LW Regina - After a strong start, the numbers tailed off in the 2nd half for Volek much like the hot start of his team. Volek is still a solid prospect that looks to have hit a wall, with the grind that the schedule brings to most of the import types. Volek is a graceful skater with a quick release when he on his game. Doesn't mind mixing it up, but I'm not sure if he has the body type to handle it over the long haul. Last Rank: #14

17) Brendan Leipsic C Portland - Leipsic. much like his Portland team, has had a lot of ups and downs this year. When he's on, he's great, when he's off, he's invisible. Pint-sized offensive wizard that can really skate and handle the puck, but lacks strength to handle the corners or the front of the net. Leipsic looks to be more of a gamble as the season goes on. Leipsic is a player that is really missing the abilities of Ryan Johansen. Last Rank: #12

18) Brendan Troock RW Seattle - Troock's season lays at a stand still. He missed four weeks in December with a broken rib. A player that just can't get his season going with any momentum. His team has been mostly cold for the season and Troock has only made limited contributions to his team. All that being said, he very much has the look of a power forward. Needs to work on strength and smarts but the frame and speed is there. Will be very much a project for the team that drafts him. Last Rank: #15

19) Brandon Magee C Victoria - I love the way Magee plays the game. He's tenacious, play with a high motor and never gives up on a play. The thing lacking in his game is size. The size kind of hurts in battles but it will really hurt him when it comes to durability. He's nearly at a point a game for a Victoria team that has been very inconsistant. Last Rank: #16

20) Chandler Stephenson LW Regina - Stephenson's year has been one of wild inconstancy. He has a better 2nd quarter offensively after a very slow start to the year, getting him back near a point a game pace. Stephenson is a very good offensive player but one questions his dedication at times. Smallish player that is built like a fire hydrant. As Regina has cooled off, his play has picked up, a good sign for Stephenson. Last Rank: #20

No comments:

Post a Comment