Avalanche Guaranteed An Explosive Player In 2013 NHL Draft

Last night was pretty bittersweet as a longtime Colorado Avalanche fan.  The 2012-13 season came to an end, with the team finishing dead last in the Western Conference and with the 2nd worst record in the entire league.  With that being said, it's probably a good year to be bad.  Not only was it a shortened season, but it's also one of the best NHL draft years in recent memory.

With Colorado's loss to the Wild last night, it ensured that the team would be picking in the top 3 of the 2013 NHL Draft.  The draft lottery goes tomorrow night, with Colorado having an 18.8% chance of picking first, a 25% chance of picking second and a 56.2% chance of picking third. I have my fingers crossed that the Avalanche will end up having a shot at picking Seth Jones first overall and that's no secret.  But, regardless of what happens the team will be getting an elite prospect with all three being likely NHL-bound next season.

Now, I came across some videos last week that really gives you a great look at the skating ability of the top three prospects in Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin.  The videos are property of Sport Testing and were taken during the 2013 CHL Top Prospects skill testing earlier this winter.  Take a look below.  It's pretty impressive to see how dynamic MacKinnon is, how well Drouin handles the puck and how athletic and smooth Jones is considering his 6'4 frame.

Seth Jones

Nathan MacKinnon

Jonathan Drouin

Seven WHL Players Invited To Team Canada Under-18 Camp

Team Canada has named their squad for training camp for this year's edition of the Under-18 team.  Just like last year, 7 WHL players had their name called for the squad.  This year, it sounds like more names will be added to the below list once the 2nd round of CHL playoffs come to an end next week, but I don't think that has been confirmed anywhere.  The training camp roster consists of two goalies, seven defencemen and twelve forwards, so realistically the team could be final, who knows.  The actual event runs in Sochi, Russia this time around, with Canada's first exhibition game going on April 14th.

As you can see below, the WHL players on the roster are Dillon Heatherington, Joe Hicketts, Josh Morrissey, Shea Theodore, Morgan Klimchuk, Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart.  Out of those guys, both Morrissey and Reinhart were invited last year. 

This event is famous for being a great jumping point for prospects looking to elevate their stock in lead up to the NHL Draft.  This year, 4 of the 7 WHLers on the list will be looking to do just that.  The 4 are Heatherington, Morrissey, Theodore and Klimchuk, with Point, Reinhart and Hicketts being 2014 draft-eligible.

Heatherington is a great skating defensive defenceman with size and the ability to make a good outlet pass.  He has a low panic threshold and he's been one of my most improved prospects over the last 12 months.  I have him rated as a 1st rounder, which is likely higher than what many other people think.

Klimchuk is a great skating offensive forward with a dynamite shot and a nice mix of grit.  I think an event like this could really give him a great showcase, just because he can fill a number of different roles.  A good tournament could definitely make him a solid 1st rounder on most teams lists.

Theodore is also a great skating defenseman with good offensive skill.  He's got a great shot and loves to rush the puck.  He could be the Derrick Pouliot of the 2013 draft, with one team liking him enough to make him a top 15 pick.  For now, I have him rated as an early 2nd rounder.

Morrissey is also an offensive defender, but has shown the ability to play in many defensive situations.  He skates well, distributes well and is a character kid.  I could see him as a player with a letter on his chest for this event.

Here is the roster named today.

Name	S/C	Ht.	Wt.	Born	Hometown	Club Team	Pro Status
Goaltenders
Philippe Desrosiers	R/D	6’1”	187	08/16/95	St-Hyacinthe, Que./Qc	Rimouski (QMJHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Spencer Martin	L/G	6’2”	192	06/08/95	Oakville, Ont.	Mississauga (OHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Defence
Dillon Heatherington	L/G	6’4”	196	05/09/95	Calgary, Alta./Alb.	Swift Current (WHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Joe Hicketts	L/G	5’8”	174	05/04/96	Kamloops, B.C./C.-B.	Victoria (WHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.
Dylan Labbé	L/G	6’2”	189	01/09/95	St-Benjamin, Que./Qc	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Roland McKeown	R/D	6’1”	186	01/20/96	Listowel, Ont.	Kingston (OHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.
Samuel Morin	L/G	6’6”	203	07/12/95	St-Henri, Que./Qc	Rimouski (QMJHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Josh Morrissey	L/G	6’0”	185	03/28/95	Calgary, Alta./Alb.	Prince Albert (WHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Shea Theodore	L/G	6’2”	175	08/03/95	Aldergrove, B.C./C.-B.	Seattle (WHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Forwards
Sam Bennett	L/G	6’0”	168	06/20/96	Holland Landing, Ont.	Kingston (OHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.
Clark Bishop	L/G	5’11”	173	03/29/96	St. John’s, N.L./T.-N.-L.	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.
Laurent Dauphin	L/G	6’0”	183	03/26/95	Repentigny, Que./Qc	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Jason Dickinson	L/G	6’2”	176	07/04/95	Georgetown, Ont.	Guelph (OHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Frédérik Gauthier	L/G	6’4”	215	04/26/95	Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Que./Qc	Rimouski (QMJHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Yan-Pavel Laplante	L/G	6’0”	172	04/23/95	Ste-Martine, Que./Qc	P.E.I. (QMJHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Morgan Klimchuk	L/G	5’11”	180	03/02/95	Calgary, Alta./Alb.	Regina (WHL)	2013 Dft./Rep.
Connor McDavid	L/G	5’11”	175	01/13/97	Newmarket, Ont.	Erie (OHL)	2015 Dft./Rep.
Alexis Pépin	R/D	6’2”	196	04/24/96	Candiac, Que./Qc	P.E.I. (QMJHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.
Brayden Point	R/D	5’8”	155	03/12/96	Calgary, Alta./Alb.	Moose Jaw (WHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.
Sam Reinhart	R/D	6’0”	182	11/06/95	West Vancouver, B.C./C.-B.	Kootenay (WHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.
Nick Ritchie	L/G	6’2”	218	12/05/95	Orangeville, Ont.	Peterborough (OHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.
Invited, unable to attend
Darnell Nurse	L/G	6'5"	192	02/04/95	Hamilton, Ont.	Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)	2014 Dft./Rep.

A Scouting Report On Seth Jones

Here is a report I filed on the Portland defensive standout from earlier this season.  Give it a read.  Interesting to note that I said I didn't see Jones passing MacKinnon.  How things change!

Seth Jones – RD - 6-4 – 206 lbs – Portland Winterhawks – Oct. 3rd, 1994 DOB

This was my first viewing of the season of Seth and he was very solid.  Played a well rounded game, made several excellent one-on-one plays defensively, laid the body when necessary, had a few great stretch passes, skated the puck well a few times and showed off his huge slapshot.  I've had him rated 2nd to MacKinnon for over a year now and I don't see that changing right now, but it's pretty clear to me at this stage that Jones is a force to be reckoned with as a prospect. 

Still noticed some growing/transition pains in the viewing that could have just been him not being terribly comfortable in the WHL game quite yet.  Played both the PP and the PK during the game and was paired with Layne Viveiros on what you could call the Winterhawks 3rd D pairing.  With that being said, the Hawks have shown a willingness to often rotate pairings.  Jones was likely up around 20 minutes played on this night.

Skating Ability: 7.5

For his size, Jones is an excellent skater.  Has a long, smooth and powerful stride.  Is very mobile and has great reflexes and shows off great agility when needing to go side to side or needing to quickly transition from skating forwards to backwards.  I would still expect him to grow, so this will need to be an area he continues to work hard at to improve through this season and beyond.

Puck Skills: 7

 At this stage, this would probably be the area that I would want him to focus on the most.  He handles the puck fine, but in order for him to eventually develop into a two-way threat as a defenceman, he will need to improve his puck handling ability.  It definitely doesn't hinder him right now, but it's always an area to work on for him.  He made a few great plays with the puck in the game, including on the powerplay where he was forced to tip-toe the blueline a couple of times and keep the puck away from a defender. 

Passing Ability: 7.5

Moves the puck well.  Made several different kinds of passes in this viewing, from short one-touch passes on the breakout to one very long and accurate stretch pass in the 3rd period.  Was definitely impressed with his ability to read the play, react and put the puck on a teammates stick.  This area of his game is a big reason why I think he will eventually be a big time point scorer, he's just very smooth when passing.

Finishing Ability: 7.5

 I am rating this as a 7.5 basically for one reason, he has a killer shot.  It's extremely hard and he has the ability to get it on net, despite traffic.  I think he may have had one shot blocked all game, and he actually fired at least a half-dozen shots on the cage in this viewing.  I'm definitely impressed with this area of his game and it's an area he has improved on since the last time I saw him play.

Physical Play: 7.5

 He's an imposing player and definitely isn't afraid to hit and play the body.  Had several good hits during the game, but didn't always looked like a 'killer' in situations where he could have been.  Would like to see him be more aggressive in this part of his game, just because I think it's a dynamic element that not many players have at his age.

Intangibles: 7.5

For a kid who started the game fairly late, he thinks the game well.  You can almost tell he has athletic bloodlines just by the way he plays because he's very quick in his decision making and rarely made a mistake.  I noticed two mistakes he made during this entire viewing and both were related to him just being a bit cautious in his defensive-zone coverage of an opposing player.  Overall he has a total package with his intangibles and I don't think you can question his hockey sense at this time.

Defensive Play: 7.5

Stood out as a solid defensive player in the viewing.  Was tested on several occasions during one-on-one plays and passed with flying colors, standing up the defender and calmly poking the puck away.  Is definitely a treat to watch at both ends of the ice, but his defensive play is definitely rounding into form.  Played a regular shift on the PK.

Tyson Baillie Is A WHL Forward To Watch For 2014

This kid deserves his own post.

I was going through some files on my old laptop over the weekend and found a report I had written on him in the fall of 2011. He was a fresh 16 year old rookie then. It described him as being quick, shifty, aggressive, hard working and having some great offensive instincts.

He's clearly continued that. He put up 56 points in 67 games this year, his second full WHL season. He's also had a good playoff so far, scoring a hat trick last night in Game 7 of the Rockets first round series vs. Seattle.

He's a late '95, so he has the advantage of playing an extra year in the WHL before his draft year, just like guys like Sam Reinhart and Hunter Shinkaruk.  He's only listed at 5'10, but he's 185 pounds. We'll see if he still has some growing left to do.

For me, he's one of those guys that fits somewhere in the top 45 for the 2014 NHL Draft. He's also among the group of skilled, hard working but 'undersized' forwards from the WHL for 2014 along with Brayden Point (MJ), Sam Reinhart (KTN) and Jayce Hawryluk (BRN).

Should be interesting to see if he can continue to boost his stock this postseason and see what his measurements are next fall for his 3rd full WHL season and draft year.

Find his WHL roster page below.

http://www.whl.ca/roster/show/id/9119

Which WHL Players Will Try Out For Team Canada?

Team Canada is set to begin camp for this year's World Juniors in 8 days in Calgary, Alberta.  Tomorrow, Team Canada will announce their tryout roster for that camp.  It's speculated that the list could be as large as 38 names, with Bob McKenzie re-iterating that point this afternoon.

Last week it was reported that Team Canada and head scout Kevin Prendergast would be naming 14 or 15 players from the WHL to the tryout camp.  So, as a bit of a project today I decided to throw some names out there and try to see if I can get most of them correct.  We'll see tomorrow, but below you'll find my predictions for WHL guys named to the tryout squad.  Keep in mind that they are that, predictions.  They aren't necessary a list of players who I would pick if it were up to me.

Goalies (2)

Laurent Brossoit - Edmonton Oil Kings - Essentially a lock to be invited.  After Bruins prospect Malcolm Subban, the major favourite to start, it's a bit of a free-for-all.  Brossoit is in that group to be named as a backup for the team.  From everything I've seen, I would expect St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Binnington to be a hot contender for this spot along with Brossoit, with a slight edge to the OHL goalie right now.

Eric Comrie - Tri-City Americans - Might be quite a bit younger than Brossoit, but this kid's got game. Has had a fantastic season this year for the Americans and is tracking to be a potential 1st rounder in the 2013 NHL Draft. Would take a massive performance to end up on this squad, but he'll soak up some valuable experience regardless of how things play out.

Defencemen (6)

Mathew Dumba - Red Deer Rebels - Definitely a kid in the mix for a roster spot. Has a great history with Hockey Canada, serving as team Captain for the Under-18 squad in the past.  

Morgan Rielly - Moose Jaw Warriors - Some bold people out there have essentially called him a lock already for this team and I actually agree.  A dynamic skater who will be a 1A PP QB option and a top 4 guy overall.

Griffin Reinhart - Edmonton Oil Kings - A big body who can play a shutdown role and provide some offence if needed.  I think he finds a way onto the team, but camp will determine a lot for him.  This year's event is in Russia on a big ice surface, so that's something that will play into things too.

Ryan Pulock - Brandon Wheat Kings - The lone draft-eligible D to make my list but he's very deserving. Smooth two-way defender with a bomb of a shot.  Like for Comrie, experience during an event like this will be huge for him going forward.  Health is a bit of a question for him right now, having missed 5 straight games currently.

Duncan Siemens - Saskatoon Blades - Has gotten stronger as the season has gone along for the Blades. Can provide a physical, shutdown game at a different level than any other WHL guy on this list and that's why he cracks it, in my opinion.

Tyler Wotherspoon - Portland Winterhawks - Plays a safe, shutdown game on D. I think he cracks this list mainly because of the injury to Ryan Murray. Murray won't be there to provide his defence and leadership.  If Canada needs to help replace those attributes, this Flames prospect is a guy who might fit the bill.

Forwards (7)

Travis Ewanyk - Edmonton Oil Kings - This gritty forward would have been in the running to make the team, but an injury during the recent Super Series might have cost him a chance.  He hasn't been on the ice since being hurt in that game and it might mean he gets an invite, but won't actually have the ability to contend for a spot.

JC Lipon - Kamloops Blazers - A dynamic offensive player who is tied for the WHL lead in scoring with 45 points.  Have heard from a few sources that Hockey Canada is very high on him, making me think he earns at least a tryout here.

Adam Lowry - Swift Current Broncos - A man-mountain who can play the wing, centre, provide leadership and play in every situation possible.  I have him penciled in to make the final roster, so it only makes sense that he gets that started with a camp invite.

Mark McNeill - Prince Albert Raiders - Similar situation to Lowry.  Can fill a number of different roles and is very versatile. Hasn't had the best background with Hockey Canada for some reason, but I have to think he'll have every chance to make this team this time around.

Ty Rattie - Portland Winterhawks - The WHL doesn't have the most pure offence to offer up to Hockey Canada this year, but one of the guys who fits that bill is Rattie.  Pure scorer who will definitely garner interest for a final roster spot.

Hunter Shinkaruk - Medicine Hat Tigers - The lone draft-eligible forward on this list but he deserves a shot to try and make the team. Has a good history with Team Canada and has produced on the big stage before.

Colton Sissons - Kelowna Rockets - See above with Lowry/McNeill.  Sissons is a gritty guy with size and a lot to like.  You would have to think one of these three guys makes the team and it will be a battle for all three to separate themselves from the pack. Sissons has at least earned a chance to show what he can do.

Others

Chris Driedger - Calgary Hitmen - G - If there was going to be a 3rd WHL goalie invited, it would likely be him.

Keegan Lowe - Edmonton Oil Kings - D - Grit and physicality but is a darkhorse to be named to the tryout camp.

Derrick Pouliot - Portland Winterhawks - D - Extremely dangerous puckmover, but I would call him a darkhorse for an invite considering the stable of names on the depth chart already.

Michael St. Croix - Edmonton Oil Kings - FW - Extremely talented offensively but with guys like Nugent-Hopkins, Huberdeau and MacKinnon set to make the squad, I'm just not sure where he fits. I fully expect him to stay in the WHL and use the month to climb up the scoring rankings.

Colin Smith - Kamloops Blazers - FW - He's tied with Lipon in WHL scoring, so why doesn't he get an invite?  I'm not exactly sure.  Remember, this is a prediction.  I've heard how much HC likes Lipon, but haven't heard the same about Smith.  For me, I would have Smith there instead, but again, I don't make the calls.  Wouldn't be shocked if he was indeed picked to take part in tryouts and he might be the 15th guy on the list tomorrow if Ewanyk isn't on it because of injury.

So, there's my guesses for who are among the 15 names from the WHL to be invited to tryout camp for Hockey Canada at the WJC.  Looking up and down at the roster I've chosen, it's pretty clear that D continues to be a strength for the WHL.  I'm excited to see how things play out tomorrow and finally find out which WHL players will earn the chance to show much they want to represent their country this year. 

Morgan Klimchuk Is On The Radar In 2013

The Regina Pats have a knack for developing somewhat undersized guys into legitimate NHL prospects.  Guys like Jordan Eberle and Jordan Weal are recent examples. But, a new name has arrived on the NHL draft scene from the Pats and his name is Morgan Klimchuk.

He stormed out of the gate in his WHL career with a fantastic rookie year in 2011-12, posting 18 goals and 36 points for Regina.  Coming into this season I called him a kid who will one day be a point-per-game player and someone to watch as a potential late-first round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Well, he's ahead of schedule with those predictions this season as Klimchuk leads the Pats in goals with 11 and is second in points with 21 in only 22 games.  As expected, NHL teams are definitely taking notice of his offensive contributions. But to me, it's the other parts of his game that set him apart and make him an NHL prospect to keep your eyes on.

The first thing about his game you will notice is his blazing speed.  He's extremely quick, with great top end speed and the ability to change directions on a dime. His mobility and shiftiness make him extremely hard to defend.  Along with those abilities come an aggressive mindset.  He's definitely a shoot-first player, but he doesn't waste his shots. He picks his spots, is able to find seams in the defence and make his chances count.

He might not be the biggest kid in the world at 5'11 and 180 pounds, but that doesn't hold him back.  He's a hound on the puck, is always one of the hardest workers on the ice and is showing a commitment to rounding out his defensive game. 

At this point of the season, Klimchuk is definitely living up to the expectations that the Pats and draft watchers had for him.  So where does he fit into the 2013 NHL Draft? It's hard to tell.  It's a deep year with a ton of talent to choose from. 

If I had to take a stab at it, I would say Klimchuk has shown enough grit, skill and determination to have his name potentially called near the end of the 1st round in 2013.  Some teams might like him more than that, others might like him less. 

But one thing is for sure.  Morgan Klimchuk is on the radar for the 2013 NHL Draft.

Dillon Heatherington: On The Rise

The Swift Current Broncos have another dynamite NHL draft prospect on their hands.

Last year it was guys like Graham Black (New Jersey) and Coda Gordon (Calgary) earning the call at the 2012 NHL Draft, in 2011 Swift Current had a trio of players picked in Adam Lowry (Winnipeg), Reece Scarlett (New Jersey) and Richard Nedomlel (Detroit).  All five of those players have developed nicely since their draft year and are all well on their way to becoming good pro hockey players and maybe even NHL regulars.

But, I think defenceman Dillon Heatherington could be the guy that ends up the best of all.  He's been on my radar since I first saw him as a 16 year old last season and has continued to grow since that time. It's safe to say he's on the rise. This season I have had the chance to see him play in 4 games so far, including last week in Swift Current.  That game was probably the best showing I've seen from him in the last 12 months.

So what exactly will an NHL team be getting by selecting a player like Dillon Heatherington.  Well, in my opinion, he's really a kid that does it all on the ice.

He's got very good size at 6'4 and 196 pounds.  He skates well, with a big powerful stride and the mobility to stop and backpedal on a dime.  He's got good reach, an active stick and has the smarts to always be on the correct side of the puck.  His physical play has also shown solid growth this season, engaging the body more and learning to use his size and weight in the corners and in battles for loose pucks.  He competes hard and rarely gets exposed by a forecheck.  Very smart with the puck and if he doesn't have a passing lane in his own zone, he'll simply chip the puck out and avoid any risks. He's been paired mostly with Devils prospect Reece Scarlett this season, playing top-pairing minutes against other teams top lines.

Offensively, his game has also grown since last year.  In 2011-12 he was counted on to be mostly a defensive player as the Broncos battled many injuries and his minutes were increased because of it.  As it turns out, those minutes have really increased his development speed and it looks to have really given him a push in the right direction.  He makes a strong first pass and is able to use his skating ability to join the rush if he wants.  From my viewings, he does appear to be a guy that will have offensive value more as a player that starts the rush with a pass, rather than a guy who leads the rush or unleashes huge shots from the point.

It's been a steady climb up my rankings for Heatherington and I think that will only continue.  Coming into this season I had him as an honourable mention in my rankings, sitting in the 13-15 range among WHL players for the 2013 NHL Draft.  Looking back at that list now, I wouldn't hesitate to call him a top 12 WHL player in that ranking and a guy I expect to be picked inside the top 90 at the NHL draft next June.