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#26: The Dallas Stars Top-10 Prospects |
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Adam French and Brian Huddle here to bring you part 26 of the 30 part installment; better get to know your prospects, in today’s segment we look at the Dallas Stars. For those who are wondering the series will be completed by next week as Brian will then be off scouting the OHL mostly full-time.
1.
Reilly Smith, Right Wing,
Miami University (Ohio), NCAA,
69th overall, 2009, 20 years old,
6’0, 168.
Smith is a top notch skater with excellent breakaway speed and very smooth transitions. He has a lot of offensive creativity and really likes to shoot the puck with his excellent snap shot. His hands are good though better at receiving hard passes and puck control than dangles. He is a decent playmaker but is definitely a shoot first guy that likes to get close to the net, a lot of the time he looks like a puck hog. His biggest issues are size as he’s extremely skinny and in a more physical league he could get snuffed out and his attention to detail in his own zone, he often misses assignments and his breakneck speed isn’t used as often when going back to his own zone.
Upside: Top-6 Sniper
NHL Comparable: Phil Kessel-Lite
2.
Jamieson Oleksiak, Defenseman,
Northeastern University, NCAA,
14th overall, 2011, 18 years old,
6’7, 246.
Oleksiak is a strong skater with great long strides that make him deceivingly fast for his size, though he lacks quick acceleration. He is a big strong defender who likes to initiate contact and with his insane size for his age he mows down anybody in the corners. His athleticism is second to none, so don’t let the 246 lbs at 18 fool you, he is all muscle. While he has a decent shot he is slow to release it and looks awkward when he does, his real strength is in his own end where he uses his long stick and overpowers players. Oleksiak needs to work on his transition game and his reads, he pinched a lot in the first half of the season then not enough in the second, getting more consistent and growing his physical and offensive game will be key to him reaching his lofty potential or being another big project.
Upside: 2-3 Two-Way Defender
NHL Comparable: Zdeno Chara with less offense and meanness
3.
Jack Campbell, Goaltender,
Windsor Spitfires, OHL,
11th overall, 2010, 19 years old,
6’2, 185.
Campbell is the typical butterfly style goalie who covers a lot of the net and dominates the lower part of the net. He has a quick glove hand but is still vulnerable up high. He has very quick reflexes and really good leg movement. His athleticism is solid and he can recover to make desperation saves. The one problem I see with Campbell is that he is a different player without USA stitched on his sweater. He has dominated every single international event to the point of being one of the best junior international goalies of all time yet was an unmitigated disaster in Windsor. He has all the tools but will need to have better showings in league play.
Upside: Starting Goalie
NHL Comparable: Tuukka Rask
4.
Scott Glennie, Right Wing,
Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL,
8th overall, 2009, 20 years old,
6’1, 185.
Glennie is a speedster who has really good breaking speed and can break away from pursuers with ease. He has a good shot and loves to go high and try to pick the corners. His playmaking is not great and he can be a giveaway machine when he gets too fancy and really excels when playing a simple game. He is not a physical guy and can at times play too much on the perimeter for a guy with his scoring touch. He needs some work in his own end but he is relatively solid and showed good strides this past year. Glennie has always played second fiddle and has never really taken that next step he needs to, to become the player he has the potential to be.
Upside: 2nd Line Scorer
NHL Comparable: Justin Williams
5.
Patrik Nemeth, Defenseman,
AIK, Elitserien,
41st overall, 2010, 19 years old,
6’3, 218.
Nemeth is a very smooth and quick skating defender and has very good acceleration for a guy of his size. He uses his quick feet and good closing speed to break up plays well and often attempt to decimate the opposing forward. Though young Nemeth has shown a penchant for throwing his weight around in a usually docile SEL. His puck skills are not great and if it were not for his solid positioning he would be in a lot of trouble. The offensive potential is not there but his rough and tumble style combined with his exceptional play in his own end should give him all he needs to carve his own niche in the NHL.
Upside: 4-6 Shutdown Defenseman
NHL Comparable: Marc Methot
6.
Alex Chiasson, Right Wing
Boston University, Hockey-East (NCAA)
38th Overall, 2009, 20 years old
6’4, 190 lbs
A big boy with a long reach and some solid tools as a power forward project, Chiasson shows mobility but will need work on the mechanics of his stride to bring out his full skating potential. He’s got a nose for the net, but needs to get meaner. A good shot with a solid release highlight his offensive tools, and the ability to protect the puck well adds to it. He’s got some things to learn on the defensive side of the puck but has shown good understanding and the potential to grow. Some have questioned his commitment to the game.
Upside: 2nd-3rd Line Power Winger
NHL Comparable? Blake Wheeler
7.
Brett Ritchie, Right Wing
Sarnia Sting, OHL
44th Overall, 2011, 18 years old
6’3, 210 lbs
While big, Ritchie isn’t as bruising as some would hope. He plays a solid game on the cycle, and is a real threat around the net and in the slot. He skates well, though lacks acceleration in his initial strides and some balance issues. He possesses a heavy shot with some accuracy in it, as well. Sometimes he gets caught up in playing the perimeter, and needs to drive hard to the net to be effective.
Upside: 2nd-3rd Line Power Winger
NHL Comparable? Ryan Clowe
8.
Philip Larsen, Defense
Texas Stars, AHL
149th Overall, 2008, 21 years old
6’0, 185 lbs
A defender who shows the ability to do everything well, but nothing extremely well. He plays a smart game to highlight his above average skating. He finds seems with his passing and is a noticeable defenseman on the offensive side of the game. He’s poised defensively as well, though will need to strengthen his body for the rigors of big forwards.
Upside: 4-5 Two-Way Defender
NHL Comparable? Tobias Enstrom
9.
John Klingberg, Defense
Vastra Frolunda, SEL
131st Overall, 2010, 19 years old
6’1, 172 lbs
A beautiful skater who can frustrate at times, Klingberg is more like a fourth forward than a defenseman. He joins the rush often, and shows high vision when moving the puck. His skating is beautiful on the ice. At times he can cost his team with how high he plays, and he’s a defensive Work-In-Progress at the moment. He could stand to get much stronger and shoot the puck more, as well.
Upside: 4-5 Offensive Defender
NHL Comparable? Can’t think of anything at the moment.
10.
Brenden Dillon, Defense
Texas Stars, AHL
Free Agent Signing, 2010, 20 years old
6’2, 203 lbs
Something of a late bloomer who came out of nowhere as an offensive blueliner in the Dub this past season, Dillon grew and was able to take advantage. Dillon is mobile with slightly above average skating. He’s more likely to project as a stay-at-home type with his physical brand of hockey but can flash a decent first pass from time to time. He’s a strong kid with a good work ethic, but lacks a true upside.
Upside: 5-7 Stay-at-Home Defender
NHL Comparable? Kevin Bieksa
Thanks for reading.
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