One quarter of S78 has been completed. Teams and players are just starting to learn what they are capable of. SMJHL rookies are just 16 games or so into their professional career.  What better time to start looking ahead to next year's draft?

Here follows my list of the top ten prospects eligible for the S79 SHL draft.  There are three main criteria that make up this evaluation, all pure numbers: TPE earned so far this season (as reported by the portal), current total applied TPE, and in-game results (*) from the first quarter of the current (S78) SMJHL season. I will note that all of the players in this list (including those outside of the top ten) are very close; there's really not much to choose among these players, and a lot can change in the next six weeks.

1. Javelin Bodine - RD - ANC
Earned TPE: 83  Applied TPE: 238  In-game Contribution: 86
SMJHL Draft: 1st round, 3rd overall

With a rookie league-best combination of earned and applied TPE, Bodine is part of a turn-around Anchorage team that has jumped from 14th place in S77 to 2nd overall in S78 so far. Bodine sits second in rookie D scoring with 14 points in 16 games.

2. Grindle Waters-Johnson - LW -  GFG
Earned TPE: 75  Applied TPE: 241  In-game Contribution: 67
SMJHL Draft: 1st round, 5th overall

Despite less than 18 minutes of ice time per game, Waters-Johnson is leading his team in goals, with 9 in 17 games, which is also tops among all rookies. The Japanese forward also has a league-high 241 applied TPE.

3. Dejana Kaptina - C - QCC
Earned TPE: 81  Applied TPE: 233  In-game Contribution: 72
SMJHL Draft: 1st round, 12th overall

Kaptina's 16 points are good for 3rd overall among rookies. She has been called on to play all roles for the Citadelles this season, and has shown she's up to the task.

4. Jason Bourne - RW - NL
Earned TPE: 71  Applied TPE: 241  In-game Contribution: 79
SMJHL Draft: 1st round, 4th overall

Like many of the rookies on this list, Bourne doesn't get much ice time, but he still managed 14 points for fourth-best on the Berserkers. He is also responsible defensively, with a +8 plus/minus rating.

5. Dieter Frühstück - RD - ANC
Earned TPE: 84  Applied TPE: 228  In-game Contribution: 69
SMJHL Draft: 1st round, 14th overall

Frühstück is a prototypical stay-at-home defender who leads the entire league in blocked shots. His offensive skills are nothing to be scoffed at either, as he has chipped in seven assists in 16 games.

6. Christina Fantobens - LW - YUM
Earned TPE: 83  Applied TPE: 238  In-game Contribution: 30
SMJHL Draft: 2nd round, 26th overall

Tied for rookie league lead in TPE earning and applying, Fantobens has shown that no-one works harder than her. Her 6 PP points is tops among rookies. Fantobens is part of a Malamutes squad that has jumped ten places in the standings from last season to now, and she is playing a big part in that.

7. Katharina Rosenthal - G - NL
Earned TPE: 83  Applied TPE: 235  In-game Contribution: 40
SMJHL Draft: 2nd round, 21st overall

Not many rookie goalies see significant ice time, but Rosenthal has been given the reigns and is steering NL to victory. Her total of 8 wins is tied for league lead among all goalies, not just the rookies.

8. Hughes Incorporated - LW - ANC
Earned TPE: 71  Applied TPE: 235  In-game Contribution: 83
SMJHL Draft: 3rd round, 36th overall

The third Anchorage player on this list, Incorporated has made the most of his limited ice time. Despite zero PP or PK time, he has managed 13 points in 16 games, and leads the entire team and all rookies in plus/minus at +16.

9. Badger Hennessy - C - NBB
Earned TPE: 78  Applied TPE: 226  In-game Contribution: 88
SMJHL Draft: 3rd round, 47th overall

With 20 points in 17 games, Hennessy leads all rookies in scoring. Being on a high-scoring Nevada team doesn't hurt, but no other player has raised his or her draft stock this much during the first quarter of the season.

10. Normand Marineau - C - COL
Earned TPE: 75  Applied TPE: 240  In-game Contribution: 42
SMJHL Draft: 2nd round, 17th overall

A natural playmaker, Marineau is part of a solid Colorado team that sits fifth overall. While not breaking any records so far in his first season, he contributes at both ends of the ice and is already an above-average face-off man.


Honourable Mentions: Hotdog Lunch, Barcus Juneau, Darby Reznor

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(*) As in some of my previous posts, the in-game results come from the Player Contribution model first described in this post.