Login

Muerto · 09-30-2015, 04:04 PM

<div align="center">

KFAN RADIO PRESENTS

THE TOP 10 S26 SHL DRAFT PROSPECTS

With the regular season over, the playoffs in full effect, and the S26 SHL Draft just a couple of weeks away, KFAN's scouting department has compiled our list of who we believe to be the top ten prospects available.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. LW - Conall Macleod (HFX) *TWF

- HT : 6'2" - WT : 203 lbs - Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland -

- 19 GOALS - 23 ASSISTS - 42 POINTS - +14 - 14 PIM - 31 HIT - 157 SHT - 14 SB -

[Image: ToewsPassSeabrookGoal.gif]

Macleod hit the SMJHL ground running, he has been the post-to-post leader in TPE,and he has delivered as promised. The Halifax Raiders were so impressed by him that they made him their first ever draft pick and named him Captain of the team. He has shown a great deal of activity and a positive attitude inside and outside the locker room.

On the ice he displays strong offensive instincts, able to make plays but also has a deceptively accurate shot. He also exhibits a strong defensive awareness, which makes sense given he is a two-way forward. He is not an overly physical player, but when you have speed and puck skills, you don't really need to be! He was a catalyst for Halifax, finishing as the 3rd best scoring rookie in the league.

Looks to be a legitimate SHL player as he shows no signs of slowing down, he may want another year to commit to Halifax but he will be ready to play when he gets the call.

SMJHL DRAFTED : 3rd OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. D Kristoffer Ruud (COL) *TWD

- HT : 5'11" - WT : 213 lbs - Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden -

- 15 GOALS - 25 ASSISTS - 40 POINTS - -8 - 10 PIM - 13 HIT - 84 SHT - 58 SB -

[Image: EJ+pass.gif]

Ruud had the double honor of being the first overall pick in the S25 SMJHL Draft, and also the first ever pick for the Colorado Mammoths. He was hyped to be a special player, and he has not disappointed!

Few defensemen in the league like to join the rush as much as Ruud, his fluid stride and exceptional puck-handling skills make him as dangerous offensively as he is defending. He had the most points and scored twice as many goals as any other rookie defensemen, and was 4th overall in Rookie scoring, despite playing on a team with virtually no quality send-downs to shelter him. He rarely hits anyone, but also rarely takes needless penalties.

He got better and better as the season went on, constantly improving, and his play has been instrumental in Colorado's surprising playoff run. He was the blue rock for Colorado, playing over 23 minutes a night, and will anchor a team's blue line in the SHL. He projects to be a future superstar.

SMJHL DRAFTED : 1st OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. D Wyatt Wøllker (VAN) *OFD

- HT: 6'3" - WT: 205 lbs - Birthplace : Bjøndthewall, Iceland -

- 7 GOALS - 31 ASSISTS - 38 POINTS - +11 - 45 PIM - 41 HIT - 75 SHT - 45 SB -

[Image: Weber-goal.gif]

Wøllker has had a very successful rookie season - he has lived up to the hype about being a top offensive defenseman, nabbed 5th overall by the Vancouver Whalers, as he led all rookie D in assists and was second in points amongst that group. He was able to crack the top 10 in league-wide defense scoring, assists, as well as the top 10 rookie overall scoring.
He also had the best +/- rating amongst the rookie defensemen.

However, he has been very consistent defensively as well, he does not throw the body very often but he plays to get his stick on the puck, and turn the play the other way. Very strong skater and puck-handler, he can transition the play by carrying it up the ice quickly. Plays well positionally, and blocks a reasonable number of shots. Plays on powerplay and penalty kill units, has the conditioning to play 20+ minutes a night.

Has trained consistently and is among the Top TPE Earners of the draft class, and projects to be a future top-line defender.

SMJHL DRAFTED : 5th OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. D Mikelis Grundmanis (MTL) *TWD

- HT : 6'3" - WT : 230 lbs - Birthplace: Riga, Latvia -

- 7 GOALS - 23 ASSISTS - 30 POINTS - +3 - 42 PIM - 42 HIT - 52 SHT - 39 SB -

[Image: Subban.GIF]

Grundmanis is a big body who plays a solid defensive game. While not being overly punishing, his size allows him to box out opposing players and make it difficult to get around him. He has a very good skating stride and is able to make precision passes on the breakout. The Montreal Impact were a stacked team up front, but they drafted Grundmanis to fill a hole in their defense, and he did so admirably, even showing some offensive flair as he netted 7 goals.

He is a very dedicated player who has never lagged in his training, constantly pushing his way up the charts and making scouts notice him. He has the potential to be playing in the SHL as early as next year, for the right team.

SMJHL DRAFTED : 11th OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. LW Mainio Mäkinen (KEL) *OFF

- HT: 5'11" - WT : 175 lbs - Birthplace: Jyväskylä, Finland -

- 10 GOALS - 17 ASSISTS - 27 POINTS - +6 - 24 PIM - 50 HIT - 75 SHT - 6 SB -

[Image: MaxDomiGoal5673.gif]

Mäkinen was a true diamond in the rough, drafted by Kelowna in the third round, and has outperformed all expectations. A tirelessly hard worker, Mäkinen is often seen on the ice after all others have left, constantly working to improve his game.

Despite a slow start, Mäkinen found his stride and elevated his game to be a contributor to the second-half success of the Knights, even scoring his first pro hat trick. 'The Maniac' is adored by his teammates for his positive attitude and limitless enthusiasm.

Mäkinen is a very good skater with a deft touch with the puck, he uses his speed and puck-handling to make room for himself and his linemates. Despite being a smaller player, he is not afraid to mix it up or go to the dirty areas. Projects to be a top-6 player in the SHL.

SMJHL DRAFTED: 21st OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. D Cody Black (VAN) *TWD

- HT: 5'9" - WT : 185 lbs - Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada -

- 3 GOALS - 21 ASSISTS - 24 POINTS - +9 - 81 PIM - 86 HIT - 40 SHT - 41 SB -

[Image: ITSKINDOFLIKEPEE.gif.pagespeed.ce_.RJGe5941a1.gif]

[Image: ITSKINDOFLIKEPEE.gif.pagespeed.ce_.RJGe5941a1.gif]

Black is a tough as nails defender who throws his body around like he had another 6 inches of height and 40 pounds of body mass, and seems to always want to punch someone in the face. But he is more than a tiny ball of untapped rage and Manitobean fury, as he is very strong defensively, keeping the crease clear of bodies. He can skate and pass the puck very well also, and worked very hard to develop his other hockey skills beyond shoving his fist down his opponent's throat.

He is one of the vocal leaders of not just his own team, but the entire rookie class, and has not missed a single week of practice since before the Prospects Tournament. He certainly has the potential to be a lottery pick, as he has shown not only a competitive mean streak, but a dedication to getting better and being a team first player. Any team would be thrilled to have him on their roster, as he projects to be a solid 2nd pairing defender sooner than later!

SMJHL DRAFTED : 7th OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. D Scott Robertson (PGF) *TWD

- HT: 6' - WT: 217 lbs - Birthplace: Ithaca, New York, USA -

- 7 GOALS - 23 ASSISTS - 30 POINTS - +3 - 40 PIM - 8 HIT - 63 SHT - 26 SB -

[Image: Hockey-fight.gif]

Robertson has 3 loves in life: scoring, fighting, and his moustache. Chosen by Prince George in the second round, Robertson's play can only be described as sane if comparing him to his teammate Eoin MacGregor. Robertson has above average offensive skills, which led to his 30 points, and he also had 4 fights on the season - despite having only 8 hits! Nobody is quite sure why he snaps and loses his temper so frequently, but it has been suggested that you best not say anything uncomplimentary about his sweet 'stache.

Robertson had a very strong season, and was able to maintain pace in his training and development and simultaneously show a positive attitude and sense of humor, another leader amongst the rookie class when it came to keeping people engaged and amused. He projects to be a top 4 defenseman in the SHL.

SMJHL DRAFTED : 12th OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. C Patrick McEichel (VAN) *OFF

- HT : 6'2" - WT : 195 lbs - Birthplace: Canusa, Ireland -

- 15 GOALS - 23 ASSISTS - 38 POINTS - +10 - 12 PIM - 38 HIT - 98 SHT - 3 SB -

[Image: matthias-one.gif?w=632&h=321]

McEichel was one of the steals of the SMJHL Draft, selected in the 4th round by Vancouver, he quickly established himself as a centerman who could play with and keep up with his elite linemates for the Whalers. He was a top 10 rookie scorer, with a nice mix of goals and assists. He is a strong skater with a great shot, and can handle his own in the faceoff circle.

He has been committed to training and developing his skills all season, and is likely going to be the first centerman chosen in the upcomign draft. He may need another season back in the SMJHL but if he keeps at it, he will surely crack an SHL roster and be a valuable piece of the puzzle.

SMJHL DRAFTED : 28th OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. D Clayton Fuller (HFX) *TWD

- HT : 6'3" - WT: 205 lbs - Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA -

- 1 GOAL - 29 ASSISTS - 30 POINTS - +8 - 39 PIM - 43 HIT - 31 SHOT - 61 SB -

[Image: SecondhandRewardingAsiaticwildass.gif]

[Image: SecondhandRewardingAsiaticwildass.gif]

Fuller had an interesting start to the season, getting drafted by Vancouver, but then traded to Halifax before the season started due to the Defensive depth of the Whalers roster.

He found a home with the Raiders, where his strong skating and defensive acumen were sorely needed. He is a pass-first defender, who rarely shoots the puck, but his ability to create breakouts and hit the forwards with the stretch pass led to him almost making the top ten for assists league-wide. He has been a beast in the gym, consistently working out and improving his skills, and has definitely shown he has what it takes to be a top player.

SMJHL DRAFTED : 26th OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. LW Tony Pellegrino (COL) *OFF

- HT: 6'5" - WT : 190 lbs - Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA -

- 19 GOALS - 20 ASSISTS - 39 POINTS - -2 - 68 PIM - 122 HIT - 122 SHT - 6 SB -

[Image: OblongFlamboyantCopperhead.gif]

Tony P. was chosen early, 4th overall by the Colorado Mammoths with their second pick, while he was still known as GOAT Billi. Fortunately, he changed his name to be part of the Pellegrino family, though!

Tony showed some great skill with the puck, sniping in 19 goals for the expansion squad, but he is an all-around player as he also was top 3 in the league for hits. He is a prototypical power forward with good instincts in both ends.

He could and should be ranked higher, but he has gone on public record as stating he does not want to be drafted so he can be a free agent, but I can't see every SHL team passing on him, surely one will select him and try to convince him to play for them.

SMJHL DRAFTED : 4th OA

------------------------------------------------------------------------

</div>

Agree/Disagree? Anyone you think should or shouldn't be on this list? Comment below and give us your opinions!

OTHER ARTICLES IN THE KFAN REPORT ON THE S26 SHL DRAFT

S26 SHL Draft Prospect Rankings (All Players)

S26 SHL Draft Prospects : Ranked by Position