Sunday, February 17, 2013

Jonathan Drouin: The Human Hockey Highlight Film

Bobby Orr flies through the air after scoring ...
Bobby Orr flies through the air after scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal, May 10, 1970. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As I noted in The Next Ones 2013 NHL Draft Midterm Rankings, “The Jonathan Drouin Bandwagon is more like a German Transrapid TR-09 high speed train.”
Drouin is quickly becoming The Human Hockey Highlight Film, seemingly adding to his portfolio every time he hits the ice.
He is cementing the case for me, for having him ranked number one ahead of both tremendous talents – Seth Jones and his teammate Nathan MacKinnon – in my midterm NHL draft rankings (The Next Ones Top 100).

Coast-to-Coast Goal

His most recent masterpiece and goal-of-the-year candidate came yesterday against the Shawinigan Cataractes as the Halifax Mooseheads’ winger went coast-to-coast, ostensibly all the way from St. John’s, NL to Victoria, BC. He deceptively weaves through the opposing five players methodically in a silky smooth, brilliantly creative effort.
You do not need to speak French to comprehend Bruno Gervais’s reaction:

As Neate Sager responded:
“Someone call Bobby Orr to see if he had an out-of-body experience, because Halifax Mooseheads phenom Jonathan Drouin channeled the living legend on a coast-to-coast goal on Friday.” (Yahoo Sports)

Ridiculous Hat Trick

Drouin seems to want to show the hockey world just how many ways he can score – three beauties with one whilst short-handed, one even strength and one on the powerplay to complete the trick.

The Best Second Assist Ever?

This might be an overstatement, but Drouin’s deft puckhandling, hockey sense and resilience are all on fine display:

The following is an excerpt from my midterm rankings article on making the case for Drouin for number one:
“Before I am condemned to the asylum for even breaching the subject that Drouin deserves to be taken first overall over MacKinnon and Jones, let’s examine the evidence.
Two words sum up the case (or least make a good starting point) for choosing the sublime winger over the two aforementioned potential cornerstone prospects – hockey sense. Often used when describing, but what really do we mean when we talk about hockey sense. Not easy to put to words, but his awareness, vision, anticipation, poise and focus are all off the charts. Jonathan doesn’t just go where the puck is; he goes to where the puck will be.
While MacKinnon and Jones both possess high level of hockey sense to go with their superlative skills, Drouin is at another level in this aspect – a level rarely witnessed, even in the NHL.
If there was a school of hockey, Drouin would be at the top of class in his quest for a PhD in hockey sense. He is a student of the game and should only continue to develop his immense potential.”

Streaking

Drouin continues to make my life easier, making his case for going number one in Newark, New Jersey in June on a game in, game out basis.
Beyond the highlights is his consistent tantalizing play. He continues on the longest point streak in the QMJHL this season, hitting the score sheet in 18 consecutive games and counting, accumulating 37 points over that time (18 goals and 19 assists).
***
This article was originally published at The Hockey Writers
_________________________________________
Twitter: @ChrisRalphTHW

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NHL 2013 Draft War Room: Combination of NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings


Guest post by Eldon MacDonald
Max Domi
Max Domi: NHL Central Scouting has curious ranked Tie’s son as the 23rd rated North American skater (Terry Wilson/OHL Images.)
If you are like me, you are always slightly annoyed when NHL Central Scouting puts one four separate rankings for one draft. Thus, each year I take on the cumbersome task of combining the lists.
It takes about an hour to combine the lists, but two days to add the stats and other pertinent information.
For the first round I took the average of four separate December/January draft rankings and inserted the player from the European or Goalie rankings where the average ranking suggested.
For the remaining rounds, I simply inserted 5 European skaters and 3 goalies per round based on the average for the 2011 and 2012 drafts.

Outliers:

It is a little early to say who is right and who is wrong with their rankings so I will just list those prospects who I was surprised to see how high they were on Central Scouting’s lists and also those I was just as surprised to see how low they were on the lists.

The Top 5 Too Highs:
  1. 10 – Frederik Gauthier: I don’t dislike this ranking but I am kind of surprised that NHL CS has him this high,  so early, when he still has so much to work on and you are uncertain as to how much of that vast promise that he will be able to deliver.
  2. 17 – Mirco Mueller: Again, it is not so much that I disagree with this ranking; it is more that I would like to see this guy deliver the promise he showed at the U20’s to the Dub on a consistent basis before I jump all-in like CS.
  3. 23 – Shea Theodore: Has the skills but for me the defense is missing.
  4. 39 – Jimmy Lodge: I have watched this guy a few times; he has some offensive skills but the complete game is not there for me.
  5. 45 – Zach Nastasiuk: Has been on a roll and mostly downhill; did not have a great Top Prospects game.

The Top 5 Too Low:
  1. 31 – Max Domi: Tie is not going to be happy with this ranking for sure; for me, Max is a first rounder.
  2. 42 – Nikita Zadarov: I guess CS and I watched different games.
  3. 70 – Keaton Thompson: 2nd round, I can buy; 3rd round, not so much.
  4. 93 – Ryan Kujawinski: I am not sold on this guy either but 4th round seems a bit rough.
  5. 105 – Samuel Morin: Raw but he is 6’7, can be a bit mean, can skate fairly well, has reasonable skills – 2nd round for sure for me.

Peruse the combined rankings below and comment on some of your projected outliers. 

NHL 2013 Draft War Room: Combination of NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings

Legend:
  • # = Prospect ranking
  • CS# = NHL Central Scouting Ranking
  • NAS = North American Skater
  • NAG = North American Goalie
  • EUS = European Skater
  • EUG = European Goalie
  • Pos = Position
  • Nat = Nationality
  • S = Shoots (Left or Right)
Notes:
  • The table display approximately 30 of the prospects at a time; simply scroll down to view the other prospects.
  • Only a portion of the table displays by default; you can scroll over to see the rest of the player demographics and stats or select “View full-size workbook” option, which is the icon in the bottom right hand corner, to view the full table.

*This article was originally published at The Hockey Writers.
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2013 NHL Draft Top 100: The Next Ones Midterm Rankings


The most notable change in The Next Ones 2013 NHL Draft Midterm Rankings is a changing of the guard at the number one slot. On many rankings released in January, this comes as no surprise asSeth Jones has toppled Nate MacKinnon on many lists.
In what The Next Ones now views as more of a 1a1b and 1c, in terms of ranking the three at the top of the heap, Jonathan Douin has rather stealthily surpassed the two more highly touted, fine young guns ahead of him, in my midterm edition of the Top 100 draft rankings.
Yes – you have read this correctly; please read on and hear me out.
Jonathan Drouin
The secret is out – Halifax Mooseheads forward Jonathan Drouin is a sensational talent in his own right and now sits atop The Next Ones 2013 NHL Draft Midterm Rankings – Photo Mike Dembeck

The Great Nate Debate – Jones and Drouin Heat Up The Race for #1

At the start of the season, I would have bet that the phenom prospect Nathan (Nate) MacKinnonwould have went coast-to-coast, from start to finish in sole position as the number one rated prospect for the 2013 edition of the NHL Entry Draft, to be held in Newark, New Jersey.
In my eyes, this has been the case in the last five years – from Steven Stamkos (2008) to John Tavares(2009) to Taylor Hall (2010) to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011) all the way to Nail Yakupov (2012). Yes – the Edmonton Oilers swept up the last three consensus number one overall prospects over the last three drafts.
The ultra-explosive young centreman Nate is definitely still in this three thoroughbred race, but he has some healthy competition.

Enter Seth Jones

Size. Skating. Vision. Passing. Shooting. Puckhandling. The son of ex-NBA player Popeye Jonesseems to have everything you want in a franchise blueliner. He has also been firmly embedded as a probable top two pick in the 2013 NHL draft for some time.
After a slightly shaky start to the 2013 World Juniors, Seth had a very impressive tournament for the gold-medal winning Team USA squad. He topped that off with a solid evening at the CHL 2013 Top Prospects game.
Alongside his outstanding rookie season in the WHL, his remarkable feats to this point have been enough to vault him into the number one slot in a majority of the NHL draft rankings available and updated in January. With good reason; it might just be dependent upon the NHL franchise slotted to pick first overall in whether they want a dominant centreman, franchise defenseman or…

Enter Jonathan Drouin

I have been a believer in Drouin prior to the start of this season, having him ranking higher than most (7th overall) in my Preliminary Rankings.
Since then, Drouin has continued to make believers out of many scouts, NHL executives, writers and journalist. The Jonathan Drouin Bandwagon is more like a German Transrapid TR-09 high speed train.
He made a surprisingly (to some) huge impact on Hockey Canada and was given a deservingly substantial role with the World Junior squad. He performed admirably well in Ufa, despite the disappointing ultimate team result. (To MacKinnon’s credit, he was sparingly used and in my view improperly deployed throughout the tournament.)
Before I am condemned to the asylum for even breaching the subject that Drouin deserves to be taken first overall over MacKinnon and Jones, let’s examine the evidence.
Two words sum up the case (or least make a good starting point) for choosing the sublime winger over the two aforementioned potential cornerstone prospects – hockey sense. Often used when describing, but what really do we mean when we talk about hockey sense. Not easy to put to words, but his awareness, vision, anticipation, poise and focus are all off the charts. Jonathan doesn’t just go where the puck is; he goes to where the puck will be.
While MacKinnon and Jones both possess high level of hockey sense to go with their superlative skills, Drouin is at another level in this aspect – a level rarely witnessed, even in the NHL.
If there was a school of hockey, Drouin would be at the top of class in his quest for a PhD in hockey sense. He is a student of the game and should only continue to develop his immense potential.
Drouin has more than shown that he is not just along for the ride when playing with the uber-talentedNate MacKinnon.  In fact, no other player in this draft makes those around him better. I would compare this trait of Drouin’s to that of NFL quarterback Tom Brady - love him or hate him, Brady elevates the game of those around to stratospheric heights.
His hands – oh my, his hands. This kid is already a highlight reel machine and he should only come to develop his body of work more in the future.
Keep in mind, in choosing Drouin as the 1a prospect in this draft class, it is an interpretation and prognostication of the player he will be 5, 10, 15 and 20 years or more (if you look at the hockey lifespan of Selanne and Jagr) down the road.
The case can rather easily be made for his two companions sitting alongside him atop the rankings to be number one. MacKinnon and Jones, because of their physical development and skillset, are even more likely to make an immediate impact in the NHL sooner than Jonathan. Although he has shown on multiple occasions already in his short career, he can overcome almost any odds stacked against him.
However you view the top of this draft class, it is fantastic to see more than one prospect emerge to truly contend for the coveted first overall ranking, and ultimately be the first overall player selected in Newark, New Jersey in June of 2013.
The case for the top prospect is beyond any reasonable doubt not closed. The tremendous trio of talent at the apex of this draft all have much evidence yet to present in the coming years before anyone can deliver a final verdict.
***
Let’s get on with the rest of the midterm rankings. Any questions or comments are welcomed with respect to the rankings and where a prospect is currently ranked (or even omitted).
For comparison and reflection, check out:

The Next Ones 2013 NHL Entry Draft Top 100 Midterm Rankings:

Notes:
  • The table display approximately 30 of the prospects at a time; simply scroll down to view the other prospects.
  • Only a portion of the table displays by default; you can scroll over to see the rest of the player demographics or select “View full-size workbook” option, which is the icon in the bottom right hand corner, to view the full table.
  • CS NHL Central Scouting’s ranking – recall NHL CS segregates their rankings into North American and European skaters and goalies.
  • This is not a prediction of where a prospect will get drafted. This is my personal rankings of the prospects based on long-term potential to perform at the NHL level.
  • Detailed prospect profiles in The Next Ones format will be compiled and published throughout the season leading up to the draft. Check in often at: The Next Ones 2013 NHL Draft Guide.
*This article was originally published at The Hockey Writers
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Aleksandr Barkov - Brilliant Shootout Goal (Finnish Elite League)

SM-liiga
SM-liiga (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Aleksandr (Sasha) Barkov with a brilliant shootout goal in the Finnish Elite League. Barkov is ranked fourth in The Next Ones 2013 NHL Draft Midterm Top 100 Rankings.

Looks like he's game to compete with the recently coined Human Hockey Highlight Film - Jonathan Drouin.

Here's Barkov's masterpiece:

 
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