TSN Pre-Draft Rankings
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Maxy
Registered Merica's Lover
<div align="center">TSN PRE-DRAFT RANKINGS</div>
With the SMJHL Entry draft only days away, the TSN analysts have gotten together in the war-room to do an analysis of every draftee in the upcoming draft. Each draftee has been assigned a potential grade, an NHL comparison and a projected SMJHL position. To save time, the entire document shall not be published here, but the top 12 prospects have been published here. Potential Scale Red=Unlikely to live up to potential purple= Somewhat likely to fulfill potential Green= Very likely to fulfill potential <div align="center">Number 12 Valts Pavasars Position-Center Nationality-Latvian Player Type- Offensive Forward Strength-Puck Handling Weakness-Endurance Agent-Valtsprav</div> Starting out our list of the top 12 prospects is the Latvian Center Valts Pavasars, the center is a pretty good skater with quite possibly the best hands in this upcoming draft, his puck handling skills are unmatched by comparable prospects and his eye for the net is very impressive as well. The weakness for young Valts is that he is a bit weak on his skates, he's got a pretty big body and could grow into that and develop the strength needed to play a high level of hockey but as it sits now he is easily knocked off the puck. Another problem for the center is that his faceoffs are sub-par for a true center. He has more skill than most but not much, the final knock on this prospect is his endurance. There are worries about this player as his endurance appears to be lacking, playing big minutes is a norm in the SMJHL and he hasn't proven he will be able to accomplish that as of now. Overall Prospect Grade- * * * 1/2 NHL Comparison-Claude Giroux Projected SMJHL Draft Ranking- Late first round, early second round <div align="center">Number 11 Zanish Zarins Position-Defense Nationality-Latvian Player Type- Defensive Defenseman Strength-Defense, Skating Weakness-Endurance Agent-Seene</div> Up next is the defenseman known as Zanish, the Latvian native is the best pure defensive player in the field, his defense itself is unrivaled and is a great asset coming into this season, a shutdown defenseman with very strong skating ability and some of the best checking out of this draft, he is a force to be reckoned with. A big body who's already got a very mature build, this does not mean he's without weaknesses, while a great skater, his offensive ability leaves much to be desired, very weak passing ability and scoring ability, he has the puck handling ability to change that, but as it sits it's one of his biggest weaknesses, more than anything Zanish's biggest weakness is his endurance, posting some of the worst stationary bike times in SMJHL combine history, he certainly needs to work on that if he has any hope of being a top defenseman in this league Overall Prospect Grade- **** NHL Comparison- Chris Pronger Projected SMJHL Draft ranking- Early second round <div align="center">Number 10 Elvis Smnulans Position-Defense Nationality-Latvian Player Type- Balanced Defenseman Strength-Endurance Weakness-Checking Agent-ElvisKR</div> Cracking the top ten is Elvis Smnulans, a very balanced player without many weaknesses Elvis is expected to be a boom or bust pick. Without glaring weaknesses, and one of the biggest bodies in the draft, but also without glaring strengths he could develop into a prototype defenseman or he could be a mediocre bottom 2 Dman. One place that Elvis has succeeded thus far is in his endurance, he has posted one of the better stationary times out of this defensive draft pool. While he may not have many weaknesses in being such a balanced player, he does have some, Elvis' checking is weaker than most. The other glaring weakness in the Latvian's game is his puck handling. With decent scoring, passing and defensive ability, his puck handling is lackluster and needs work. This does not stop him from being a very promising prospect, but he needs work Overall Prospect Grade * * * * 1/2 NHL Comparison- Hampus Lindholm Projected SMJHL Draft Ranking- Late first round pick <div align="center">Number 9 Emerson Byers Position-Center Nationality-American Player Type- Offensive Forward Strength- Faceoffs Weakness-Strength Agent-Jon</div> Cracking into single digit rankings is young Emerson Byers, the Californian is another player who could thrive but could also bust quite easily. Byers skillset is a bit baffling upon first look. Emerson has a great hand in the faceoff dot, with hand-eye that would rival most, he also has almost equal ability in shooting and passing, while this is usually seen as a good thing, in a league where most players play big minutes, it's good to have one valid strength on the offensive side of the puck. This strength of having two high potential skills, could prove dangerous for Emerson. As for his weaknesses, Emerson is a strictly offensive player, he lacks the ability to play defense and is easily knocked off the puck, this defensive liability is highlighted by his lack of wanting to play physical. Byers could be a huge offensive force someday, but if he wants to thrive in this league he's going to have to commit to one skillset and work on physical play. Overall Prospect Grade- * * * * NHL Comparison- Emerson Etem Projected SMJHL Draft Position- Mid-late first round <div align="center">Number 8 McLovin Position-Winger Nationality-American Player Type- Offensive Forward Strength- Scoring Weakness-Endurance Agent-Lemieux</div> The highest ranking American on our list, the man with one name, whether it's real or not, McLoving is a great offensive prospect with an astounding eye for the net given his young age. The sniper has proven to be one of the more potent scorers and has a very impressive skillset. With a good eye for the net, without sacrificing passing, and one of the better skaters in the league, McLovin has a great opportunity ahead of him. The winger does have some glaring weaknesses such as his mediocre strength and endurance. They are higher than some but not high enough for our liking here at TSN. McLovin is a bit more of a sure thing than the last few players, however his ceiling is a bit lower as well. Overall Prospect Grade- * * * 1/2 NHL Comparison- Patrick Kane Projected SMJHL Draft Position- Early-Mid Second <div align="center">Number 7 Johan Swanstrom Position-Winger Nationality-Sweden Player Type- Offensive Forward Strength- None Weakness-None Agent-BBH</div> The Swedish winger that is Johan Swanstrom has a very unique skillset in that he can do anything. He has no real strengths but at the same time has no real weaknesses. Johan is a strong skating forward who's not a liability in his own zone, but won't set the world on fire with his offense either, Swanstrom is a work in progress and once he is drafted, will be able to reach his potential. He's practically a blank slate with talent, he is what a GM wants because he can be molded to fit any roster need. Swanstrom is likely to be a prototypical forward in the league for seasons to come Overall Prospect Grade- * * * * 1/4 NHL Comparison- David Bolland Projected SMJHL Draft Position- Late first round <div align="center">Number 6 Vidrik Onoprienko Position-Winger Nationality-Estionia Player Type- Playmaker Strength- None Weakness-None Agent-JackCross</div> One of the few true passers in this coming draft, a family member of SHL Defenseman Vyacheslav Onoprienko, Vidrik has winning blood coursing through his veins and that is a very good thing in this day and age. Onoprienko has several strengths and as an offensive forward they're all in the right places, he's one of the better passers in the league, he's got a great eye for passing lanes, very strong on the puck, very disciplined and durable, Onoprienko has only 2 glaring deficiencies and that's the defensive and checking side to his game, but as a playmaker they are minor problems Overall Prospect Grade- * * * * NHL Comparison- Vinny Lecavalier Projected SMJHL Draft Position- Mid-Late first round <div align="center">Number 5 Johnny Cade Position-Defense Nationality-Canada Player Type- Two-Way Strength- Scoring Weakness-Endurance Agent-EdmontonHopeful99</div> Beginning the top 5 is Johnny Cade, When it comes to potential superstars in this league, Johnny Cade is what one should look for, this youngster is quite possibly the most talented scorer out of this draft, PERIOD, with an eye for the net unlike anyone else I've seen, he is the definition of an offensive Defenseman, that's not to say this potential stud is without weaknesses, when the puck is on his stick, he's one of the best, when it's not, he's got room to grow, with subpar defense, puck handling and endurance, Cade is a niche defenseman right now, he's a great point shot on the power play and can skate with the best of them, however he absolutely needs to work on his two way game, if he can accomplish this, he will dominate. Overall Prospect Grade- * * * * * NHL Comparison- Erik Karlsson Projected SMJHL Draft Position- Mid first round pick <div align="center">Number 4 Dominik Makarov Position-Goaltender Nationality-Russia Player Type- Hybrid Strength- Skating Weakness-Agility Agent-Maxy</div> When it comes to goalies in this draft, there are few that have superstar potential, more specifically I counted 3, the one that stands out most is the Russian, Dominik Makarov, the young stud has been making waves recently saying not only will he be the best goalie out of this draft, he will be the best PLAYER in this draft, while this is entirely possible, it's entirely possible he does not reach the potential he has shown in the past. Makarov has a wonderful skill set coming into the league, his biggest weakness by scouts was his skating, but at the combine, he posted a 70/99 on this very trait, considered his weakness this is incredibly impressive, with above average rebound control, style control, hand speed, reaction time and size, the only shortcoming this youngster has had, in the intangibles, has been agility, and even in that he was not horrible posting a 65/99 possible points. Makarov has every opportunity to be a star goalie in this league and without the stress of being drafted into the SHL (As he is Toronto Stars property) he will likely progress a bit easier than others Overall Prospect Grade- * * * * * NHL Comparison- Jonathan Bernier Projected SMJHL Draft Position- Early First Round Pick <div align="center">Number 3 Thomas King Position-Center Nationality-Austria Player Type- Sniper Strength- Scoring Weakness-Endurance Agent-Duddy</div> When it comes to Thomas King, the first of our top 3 prospects, the sky is the limit. A strong skating center with an eye for the net, he has scoring intangibles you simply can't teach and skating strength that is uncommon in most players as young as he is Duddy as a young center has several strengths to only a few minor weaknesses. Duddy has a scoring touch unlike most, great faceoff ability and above average strength, when it comes to weaknesses the young stud has only a couple, his endurance is below average which is likely the biggest concern, but he is also a bit of a defensive liability. If he can work on these he will be a franchise center no doubt. Overall Prospect Grade- * * * * NHL Comparison- Steven Stamkos Projected SMJHL Draft Position- Top 3 pick <div align="center">Number 2 Jhonas Skarsgaard Position-Winger Nationality-Sweden Player Type- Two-Way Strength- Defense Weakness-Strength Agent-STZ</div> Jhonas Skarsgaard is what every GM should be looking for in a winger, he has the offensive ability to make plays, with the defensive ability to stop them, he's light on his feet but is not afraid to throw a check. Overall the skillsket Jhonas has is one of the better ones I have seen in a prospect, the one area he is lacking is his strength. a smaller bodied forward he has a bit of a weak build. Jhonas more than anything needs to hit the weight room and I fully expect him to do that. Overall Prospect Grade- * * * * NHL Comparison- Sidney Crosby Projected SMJHL Draft Position- Top 2 Pick And now for the number one ranking <div align="center">Number 1 Magnus Vikstrand Position-Defense Nationality-Sweden Player Type- Two-Way Strength- Defense Weakness-Checking Agent-Teztify</div> When it comes to a sure thing... You simply don't get more sure fire than Magnus Vikstrand, the Swedish born defenseman has taken the league by storm the minute he announced his intention to play in the SMJHL, already drafted to an SHL team by the Edmonton Blizzard, he must play at least one season in the SMJHL before he will be permitted to play in the big leagues. Vikstrand is simply put built to be a champion. Amazing offensive ability, amazing defensive ability, the only real weakness the Defenseman has is his checking. Magnus has all the makings of a future Hall of Famer and we would be utterly shocked if Magnus does not end his career with several Stevens Trophy nominations and at the very least, one of them brought home. Overall Prospect Grade- * * * * * NHL Comparison- Scott Niedermayer Projected SMJHL Draft Position- 1st Overall Pick ~2100 Words
Muerto
Registered S15, S16, S24, S34, S38 Challenge Cup Champion
Lacking Uvis Zommers and Oliver Pettyfer otherwise great job!
S76 SMJHL DRAFT 3RD OVERALL PICK S77 SHL DRAFT 4TH OVERALL PICK IIHF TEAM NORWAY
JackCross
Registered S11, S19, S25 Challenge Cup Champion
Maxy
Registered Merica's Lover
Lem
Registered Posting Freak
teztify
Registered S7, S13, S15, S16 and S28 Challenge Cup Champion
edmontonhopeful99
Registered Junior Member
I don't think I deserve to be so high after one day... but thanks for the kind words!
Jogurtaa
Registered S37 Challenge Cup Champion and Everyone's Favorite Lateevan
Eh, Oliver only 14th. To bad after the good results in SMJHL prospect showcase. Uvis also. But great article, keep up the great job
Oliver Pettyfer / Isaac Cormier Hale / Eva Lykke Aparjode
Maxy
Registered Merica's Lover
FourFour
Registered S20, S21, S51, S53 Challenge Cup Champion
Ragnar
SHL GM The Gnometorious
Good article maxypoo. Smulaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnssssssss
Sigs by Me, Merica, High Stick King, Rum_Ham, Jess, vulfzilla, enigmatic, and Carpy
❤!! RIP to the big homies 701 and Mac !!❤
Joester09
Registered Posting Freak
"Johnny Cade is what one should look for, this youngster is quite possibly the most talented scorer out of this draft, PERIOD."
He's also dead if I remember my Outsiders
edmontonhopeful99
Registered Junior Member Quote:Originally posted by Joester09@Feb 22 2014, 12:32 PM .... :ph34r: I never said he was alive |
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