Wednesday, 29 April 2015

Patrik Laine

Team: LeKi
photo by iltalehti.fi

League: Mestis
Position: RW
Born: 19th April 1998
Height: 6.4       
Weight: 209
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2016

Size/StrengthExcellent
Skating
Average
Shot/Scoring
Good
Puckhandling
Good
Physical Play
Good
Offensive Play
Good
Defensive PlayGood
Hockey Sense
Good
Competitiveness
Good
 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths
1. Puckhandling
2. Size/Strength
3. Good Defensive Mind

Area’s For Improvement
1. Skating Agility
2. First Steps
3. Explosiveness


Scouting Report:
A towering power forward who uses his size to protect the puck and winning corner battles. Has good vision and an accurate shot. Is a very good puckhandler and very calm while carrying the puck, never panicks. Doesn't need a lot of space and keeps calm also with defenders pressuring him. A good pass receiver, able to handle inaccurate passes and bouncing pucks. Plays a responsible role in his own zone. Needs to work on his skating agility and is not an explosive skater. Possesses a good hand-eye coordination. Laine will be eligible for the 2016 draft, where he should be considered a top prospect. Plays good in all three zones and understand the game very well.             

NHL Potential: Power Forward, who has a great size and is good in both zones.  

Style compares to: Jakub Voracek

Monday, 27 April 2015

Jack Roslovic

Team: U.S. National U18 Team
photo by wcpo.com

League: USHL/USDP
Position: RW
Born: 29th January 1997
Height: 6.1       
Weight: 183
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/StrengthAverage
Skating
Good
Shot/Scoring
Good
Puckhandling
Good
Physical Play
Good
Offensive Play
Good
Defensive PlayGood
Hockey Sense
Average
Competitiveness
Good
 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths
1. Skating Agility
2. Work Ethic
3. Energy level

Area’s For Improvement
1. Balance
2. Eliminate Blind Passes
3. Sometimes tries to do too much


Scouting Report:
An energetic forward who brings a lot of speed and impulses to the ice. Is a very agile skater with explosive first steps and can go in different directions very fast even with the puck on his stick. Able to dance through the offensive zone with good puck protection and fast turns. Good in traffic areas, decent puckhandler and solid own zone play. Works very hard on the ice and is willing to battle in each shift. Great work ethic. Needs to work on his balance and tends to blind passes. He sometimes tries to do too much and might not possess high end scoring skills but he makes it up with his mindset and willingness to sacrifice his body to take one for the team. Can be found everywhere on the ice and is bringing energy to the ice in each shift.               

NHL Potential: 3rd liner, who brings a lot of energy to the ice and has a good work ethic.  

Style compares to: Jason Zucker

Saturday, 25 April 2015

Joel Eriksson Ek

Team: Färjestads
photo by farjestadbk.se

League: SHL
Position: Center
Born: 29th January 1997
Height: 6.2       
Weight: 185
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/StrengthGood
Skating
Average
Shot/Scoring
Good
Puckhandling
Good
Physical Play
Good
Offensive Play
Good
Defensive PlayGood
Hockey Sense
Average
Competitiveness
Good
 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths
1. Shot
2. Net Presence
3. Work Ethic

Area’s For Improvement
1. First Steps
2. Skating
3. No High End Scoring Skills


Scouting Report:
A gritty center with good size and likes to get his nose dirty. Uses his big body to protect the puck well and wins corner battles. Drives the net and goes into dirty areas. Tries to be in your face each shift and is a good agitator. Good net presence to screen and provoke rebounds. Has a nose for scoring and seems always in good position. Can play physical and is present in after whistle scrums. His first steps are not the fastest and his skating abilities are improvable. Eriksson Ek is a very competitive center with a good scoring touch and great work ethic. Besides his good shot, he might not have high end scoring assets but is doing all for the win and fits into NHL style hockey.             

NHL Potential: Two-Way Forward with good work ethic, who works good in all three zones.  

Style compares to: Mika Zibanejad

Friday, 24 April 2015

Auston Matthews

Team: U.S. National U18 Team
photo by thehockeynews.com
League: USHL/USDP
Position: Center
Born: 17th September 1997
Height: 6.2       
Weight: 194
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2016

Size/StrengthGood
Skating
Good
Shot/Scoring
Good
Puckhandling
Excellent
Physical Play
Average
Offensive Play
Excellent
Defensive PlayGood
Hockey Sense
Good
Competitiveness
Excellent
 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths
1. Puckhandling
2. Creating Chances
3. Hockey Sense

Area’s For Improvement
1. Physical Game
2. Shoot The Puck
3. Finnishing Plays


Scouting Report:
A complete player with good size and tremendous offensive skills. Creates offensive plays and scoring chances every time he hits the ice. Has great movement with the puck and puckhandling skills. Smooth zone entries and shows extraordinary patience while carrying the puck, never panics when under pressure and stays calm even when pressured by multiple defenders. Is always in motion and makes it hard for defenders to neutralize him. Never quits and always hustles back when the puck is lost, shows decent defensive mind. Needs to shoot more in certain situations and could work on his physical game. However, he makes players around him better in every shift and always manages to create something in the offensive zone. Shows great understanding of the game. Auston is eligible for the Draft 2016 and expect him to be a top pick          

NHL Potential: Captain Material, who is excellent in the offensive zone and possess hockey sense.  

Style compares to: Anze Kopitar

Wednesday, 22 April 2015

Denis Guryanov

photo by iihf.com
Team: Ladia Togliatti
League: MHL
Position: Winger
Born: 7th June 1997
Height: 6.2       
Weight: 192
Draft eligible for NHL Draft 2015

Size/StrengthGood
Skating
Good
Shot/Scoring
Excellent
Puckhandling
Good
Physical Play
Good
Offensive Play
Excellent
Defensive PlayAverage
Hockey Sense
Good
Competitiveness
Good
 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths
1. Shot
2. Offensive Play
3. Size/Strength

Area’s For Improvement
1. First Steps
2. Defensive Game
3. Lacking experience in pro league


Scouting Report:
A typical Russian power forward with good size and an absolute rocket shot. Loves to fire the puck and uses his whole shot arsenal to score. Shoots whenever he finds an open lane. Like many Russian players, he has good hands and is decent in 1vs1 situations. Uses his big body to make room for plays and brings himself in good shooting position, often wins corner battles. Is a good puck protector as well. Tries to be more responsible in his own zone but still needs to improve his defensive game. Has good top speed but his first steps could be more explosive. Finishes checks and has good balance. Guryanov is an offensive threat whenever he is having the puck in the offensive zone and can be an effective power forward because of his overall competitiveness, strength and great shot.           

NHL Potential: Power Forward, who has a rocket shot and plays a good physical with his big size.  

Style compares to: Blake Wheeler

Saturday, 11 April 2015

Kevin Porter

photo by: griffinshockey.com
Team: Grand Rapids Griffins
League: AHL
Position: Winger
Born: 12th March 1986
Height: 6.0       
Weight: 194
Drafted: 2004 4th round, 119th overall by Phoenix Coyotes

Size/StrengthAverage
Skating
Good
Shot/Scoring
Average
Puckhandling
Good
Physical Play
Below Average
Offensive Play
Good
Defensive PlayGood
Hockey Sense
Good
Competitiveness
Good
 Report Card – Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor

Strengths
1. Pass
2. Good Overview
3. Two-way ability

Area’s For Improvement
1. Physical Game
2. Size/Strength
3. Scoring


Scouting Report:
A complete player with average size, but who can play each forward position if needed. Has good top speed and uses his good overview to set up plays. Possesses a hard and accurate pass and although he rather passes than fires the puck, his shot is decent and he uses all of his shot arsenal. Is a good two-way forward who has a decent defensive mind and backchecks well. Though needs to stand better in shooting lanes and keeps his stick on the ice to interrupt plays in his own zone. No physical game at all but still isn't afraid to go into corner battles. Kevin is a very matured player who has experience and shows hockey sense. Is calm on the puck and shows puckhandling skills.         

NHL Potential: Playmaker, who has a good overview and a good pass to setup plays 

Style compares to: Frans Nielsen