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Top-10 Prospects : Detroit Red Wings (10-6) |
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It took the Red Wings a long time to allow several of their highly talented yougnsters to make the show. Fans were impatient and I know quite a few still are and want aging vets like Big Bert and Cleary to bugger off. Tatar and Nyquist certainly seem to have been worth the wait, as well as Riley Sheahan who won't be on this list due to 44 games played. I like the way the Wings draft, they usually draft safely in the first round due to drafting in the later portion of the round, then they swing for the fences on players with one discernible elite quality in the hopes that given time they can round out their game (Tatar's shot, Nyquist's speed, Jurco's hands etc). While I doubt we will ever see the likes of Datsyuk or Zetterberg (Hart trophy nominees and the guy they should rename the Selke after) in the later rounds as scouting advances, to get quality players semi-consistently as they seem to do is a major achievement. It's better to be lucky than good, and if you're good at getting lucky you'll rule the world.
As an aside...why did they trade Calle Järnkrok? Just putting that out there.
As always this list does not include players with 40+ games experience, ergo why those players are missing.
10. Mattias Bäckman : Defenseman, 6'2 178lbs, 155th Overall, 2011, 21 Years Old, Linköping in the Elitserien
54 games 6 goals 15 assists 21 points +25
Bäckman coming off a season that saw him take massive strides and be one of the best defenders in the Elitserien. The lanky offensive defenseman had all the tools to develop his defensive game, it was a matter of "if" not "when" though. He seems to have put the effort in and became Linköping's top defender leading the league in +/- (take it for what it's worth). Strong skating ability and excellent sticks skills go with some of the offensive creativity he brings to make a nice package for a mobile defender that can play in both ends of the ice (better in the offensive zone though). The largest area of concern is that he is a defender who struggles with the physical side of the game. He's outmuscled very easily, and really gets away with that weakness in an Elitserien where scrums and "grinding" aren't a continuous occurrence. Transitioning his game to the North American style will need time and a hard training regiment. The skills and abilities are all there, just need to wait 2-3 years to see if he can put it together in North America. He finished the year in the AHL with Grand Rapids and will start there this coming season.
Potential : 5-6 Offensive Defenseman
9. Andreas Athanasiou : Left Wing, 6'2 201lbs, 110th Overall, 2012, 20 Years Old, Barrie Colts in the OHL
66 games 49 goals 46 assists 95 points
The biggest question about Athanasiou was whether his hands and head could ever keep up with his feet. He seems to be turning the corner after his terrible draft year that saw him plummet from a potential late first pick to the fourth round. Athanasiou has elite game breaking speed and is one of the fastest players in the CHL, add that to what is a good frame and there is some potential here. He has improved his offensive repertoire from "skate fast shoot" to being more well rounded, but that's his primary weapon. Catching defenders at unawares and facing the goalie alone. Defensive work and learning to use linemates are areas he needs work on. Speed kills and it's easy to see why Athanasiou could carve out an NHL career if just as a specialty player. I hate to keep bringing him up, but a la Grabner. Next season he will start in the AHL/ECHL and begin his pro career.
Potential : 3rd Line Speedster
8. Xavier Ouellet : Defenseman, 6'0 181lbs, 48th Overall, 2011, 21 Years Old, Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL
70 games 4 goals 13 assists 17 points
While a big time point producer junior, most expect(ed) that he wasn't going to be quite that an big offensive defenseman in the NHL. He brings some fine qualities in that regard, but the usual expectations of him are a steady defender who is quietly capable in all three zones. He was an absolute workhorse in junior, playing any and every role necessary for the Armada. This was a 20 year old rookie season on a pretty good defense in Grand Rapids and it bodes well that he adjusted well. He's an amazing skater and moves the puck very well. He has sharp crisp passing abilities to go along with good vision. Skating is the key to his defensive abilities as well, he isn't the kind of guy that will take the body (outside of a few random monster hits), he will beat players to pucks and using his speed force players to make mistakes. He hit the rookie wall later in the season and couldn't maintain his excellent play that he showed in the first half of the season, but that isn't a big deal for a 20 year old in the AHL. Next season he will need to continue to get stronger since he's still very lanky. Another year or two in the AHL should be expected.
Potential : Second Pairing Two-Way Defenseman
7. Teemu Pulkkinen : Right Wing, 5'10 198lbs, 111th Overall, 2011, 22 Years Old, Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL
71 games 31 goals 28 assists 59 points
There was (maybe still is) a lot of fear that the diminutive and inconsistent Pulkkinen would not be able to adjust to the North American game. Especially because he seemed to hit a plateau in his development in the SM-liiga, not being able to reach the heights of his Rookie of the Year season. Pulkkinen breathed some hope into the embers of his development this season though as he led the Griffins in goals and points, including leading the AHL in goals by rookies (4th overall in the league). Pulkkinen has always been a darkhorse prospect, a guy with massive amounts of skill, but with inconsistencies to his game that were worrying. He lit up international tournaments and has been one of the highest scoring Finns in U20 international competition these past few years (something like 4th in U20 and 1st in U18). Yet defensive awareness has never really been a thing for him, something he still needs to learn (Babcock and the Wings might be the perfect place for that). Pulkkinen has an amazing shot, he has excellent hands, he skates pretty well, and when angry he is a seriously pesky player (see 2013 SM-liiga playoffs). He is very much a poster boy for boom/bust prospects, but another year like that in the AHL and the doubts will be dissipating.
Potential : Top-Six Sniper
6. Alexey Marchenko : Defenseman, 6'2 212lbs, 205th Overall, 2011, 22 Years Old, Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL
49 games 3 goals 15 assists 18 points
Before an injury that forced him to miss half of his rookie season including the playoffs, Marchenko was having an amazing first year in North America. He was rewarded for that early play with an AHL All-Star slot. The former MHL Best Defenseman winner was passed over in his first draft eligible year, then was picked the following year as a throwaway on a guy nobody knew would come over or not. He skates very well, controls the puck well and dictates the direction of play with authority. He was an offensive dynamo in the MHL and was on pace for a very strong season offensively. Marchenko to me is so strong on the puck and at moving, he constantly drives possession. I like his two-way game, I like how he plays and his transition to the NA game was pretty flawless. He does the little things right and reads the play so well. Next season will be an interesting year for him, he will likely start the year in Grand Rapids proving his ankle and speed are fine, but is likely the first call up.
Potential : Second Pairing Two-Way Defenseman
Thanks for reading.
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