Continuing from yesterday, here are players 11-20 of my top-30 players that I like the best in this years draft. And as a side note, this isn’t who I think will be the first 30 players selected, but more who I think the best 30 NHL players will be when it’s all said and done.
11- Thomas Chabot, D, Saint John
He’s a little behind the “elite” guys in this year’s draft, but I have a felling he closes the gap quickly because of his smarts and great work ethic. Chabot is a great skater, with NHL size and he has the ability to move the puck in a hurry.
12- Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle
He’s a dynamic player that will likely end up being a point-a-game player in the NHL one day, but my concern is can he stay healthy? And that is why I have him out of my top-10.
13- Colin White, C, USA U-18
Colin White is the kind of guy that teams win Stanley Cups with. The guy plays a bit like a “Junkyard Dog” with the puck and his compete level is one of the highest in the draft. Players like him generally have long NHL careers.
14- Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon
He plays a real smooth game, but I think the talent he was playing with inflated his numbers a little. I also don’t recall a Russian defenceman that I’d consider “elite”, so I think the likelihood is he ends up being a solid second pairing guy.
15- Jake DeBrusk, LW, Swift Current
He’s kind of in the same boat as White for me, where I just love his compete level and willingness to go to the net. He scores dirty goals and should do that in the NHL for a long time.
16- Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Farjestad
You’re probably getting a sense by now that I love competitive players that play a 200-foot game. Eriksson Ek does that and has the skill to be a quality top-9 player, with second line upside.
17- Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS
He has the tools to be a top-7 guy, but at times doesn’t seem to have the motor that I’d like to see out of him. I’d like to see him drive the net more, use his size and play more physical.
18- Gabriel Gagne, RW, Victoriaville
Size, size and more size is all you need to know to like Gagne. He’s also got a great work ethic, skates well and has an outstanding shot. I see him being a quality top-9 guy that plays at around 6”5, 225lbs.
19- Vince Dunn, D, Niagara
One of the better skating defenceman in this year’s draft, Dunn moves the puck well and has good offensive instincts. Reminds me of a poor-man’s Duncan Keith at times.
20- Pavel Zacha, C, Sarnia
He’s got the tools to be top-10 – size, skating and skill – but I’m not sure he has the compete level to ever be a top line guy. Something is just missing for me.
Thanks for reading
Ian
11- Thomas Chabot, D, Saint John
He’s a little behind the “elite” guys in this year’s draft, but I have a felling he closes the gap quickly because of his smarts and great work ethic. Chabot is a great skater, with NHL size and he has the ability to move the puck in a hurry.
12- Mathew Barzal, C, Seattle
He’s a dynamic player that will likely end up being a point-a-game player in the NHL one day, but my concern is can he stay healthy? And that is why I have him out of my top-10.
13- Colin White, C, USA U-18
Colin White is the kind of guy that teams win Stanley Cups with. The guy plays a bit like a “Junkyard Dog” with the puck and his compete level is one of the highest in the draft. Players like him generally have long NHL careers.
14- Ivan Provorov, D, Brandon
He plays a real smooth game, but I think the talent he was playing with inflated his numbers a little. I also don’t recall a Russian defenceman that I’d consider “elite”, so I think the likelihood is he ends up being a solid second pairing guy.
15- Jake DeBrusk, LW, Swift Current
He’s kind of in the same boat as White for me, where I just love his compete level and willingness to go to the net. He scores dirty goals and should do that in the NHL for a long time.
16- Joel Eriksson Ek, C, Farjestad
You’re probably getting a sense by now that I love competitive players that play a 200-foot game. Eriksson Ek does that and has the skill to be a quality top-9 player, with second line upside.
17- Mikko Rantanen, RW, TPS
He has the tools to be a top-7 guy, but at times doesn’t seem to have the motor that I’d like to see out of him. I’d like to see him drive the net more, use his size and play more physical.
18- Gabriel Gagne, RW, Victoriaville
Size, size and more size is all you need to know to like Gagne. He’s also got a great work ethic, skates well and has an outstanding shot. I see him being a quality top-9 guy that plays at around 6”5, 225lbs.
19- Vince Dunn, D, Niagara
One of the better skating defenceman in this year’s draft, Dunn moves the puck well and has good offensive instincts. Reminds me of a poor-man’s Duncan Keith at times.
20- Pavel Zacha, C, Sarnia
He’s got the tools to be top-10 – size, skating and skill – but I’m not sure he has the compete level to ever be a top line guy. Something is just missing for me.
Thanks for reading
Ian