Lisa Guerrero

lisaguerrerorshl@yahoo.com

Gentlemen, sorry for the long delay but I was busy with work and writing up this article. First I want to thank those select few GMs who emailed me directly with there suggestions. I decided to do what no analyst has done, I took it upon myself to review all the 183 players under the age of 24 in the RSHL. Some GMs have obviously given some thought to the future of there teams, where as others are satisfied with having geriatrics sitting on their bench.

Anaheim MightyDucks

David Tanabe
Originally drafted in the 11^th round (322^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, +2 in rerate.
Power play specialist. Loves to lug the puck up ice and create scoring chances

Christian Ehrhoff
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (29^th overall) in season 2
Solid Defensive minded defenseman, should work out to be a ^#3 or ^#4 player if he continues to work hard

Tony Salmelainen
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (73^rd overall) in season 2
Likely will end up as a 3^rd liner, but if words his ass off could go as high as 2^nd line. One minor league scout was quoted as saying "(He) has been a spark plug and created chances every game, but if this kid had more finish, he could be leading this league in goals."

Analysis
Well with a roster of 42 players and only 3 players on the team under the age of 24, the MightyDucks will likely continue their current trend... downward... The MightyDucks have one of the older average ages in the league including 4 player over the age of 37, the team average is 29 years old. Although its great to be able to rely on veterans, you have to realize that players get old and they tend to slow down and lose their skills.

It might be time for GM Mohammed to consider that thought, last season the Ducks finished 9th in the West, but only managed 19th overall in the league. So far this season the Ducks are off to a respectible 3-3-0-0 record, but will they end up missing the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row? How will the older players fair after 60 games are played?

Atlanta Thrashers

Antoine Vermette
Drafted in the 1^st round (25^th overall) in season 2.
This kid should see an abundance of ice time in the not so distant future, will likely see himself landing 1^st or 2^nd line duty as he has a lot of untapped offensive potential

Patrick Sharp
Drafted in the 30^th round (897^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 53, +11 in rerate.
He is not flashy and shouldn't be expected to put up anything resembling big numbers in the RSHL. However, he has the look and makeup of a 3^rd line center capable, at times, of moving up a line or two or even shifting to wing when necessary

Doug Lynch
Drafted in the 3^rd round (85^th overall) in season 2.
Defenseman with an offensive flair, could find himself in a ^#3 - ^#5 slot.

Charlie Stephens
Drafted in the 28^th round (837^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 60, +2 in rerate.
I think this guy could become a very solid third line guy if he continues to develop.

Jozef Balej
Drafted in the 2^nd round (55^th overall) in season 2.
From what I've seen of him, I was impressed with how well he played in his last season of junior. He's got speed and more speed, with a rocket of a shot and some slick moves.

Analysis
Last season the Atlanta Thrashers finished 6^th overall in the league good enough for home ice advantage in the playoffs. Now they do have fairly fairly short roster to begin with, 29 players, so there must be concern for depth if injuries settle in. The team has done a good job assembling a group of forwards, but the bigger question will be how will the defensive group work together.

The Thrashers have already extended an offer to a couple of their prospects, at the time of this report Antoine Vermette has already dressed in all 5 games for the big club, as well Doug Lynch has been on the big club but remains a healthy scratch. Of thier remaining prospects they will probably end up as depth in the form of lesser killd players on the 3^rd & 4^th lines.

Boston Bruins

Jason Jaspers
Originally drafted in the 28^th round (834^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 66, -1 in rerate.
Jaspers will probably not amount to more than a defensive type specialist on the checking line, as I don't see him holding down any real time on a regular basis.

Fedor Fedorov
Originally drafted in the 20^th round (594^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 61, +2 in rerate.
This is the younger brother to superstar Sergei Fedorov, although this one doesn't seem to know where the defensive zone. It's hard to say where Fedor will end up, he's got the offensive skills but causes big problems for his current minor league coach.

Derek Mackenzie
Originally drafted in the 27^th round (787^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, -2 in rerate.
Has good face-off ability and two-way skills. Is an industrious center with a history of scoring ability in the junior ranks. Will likely settle into a checking role.

Lynn Loyns
Originally drafted in the 30^th round (894^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 54, +8 in rerate.
He works his butt off every shift, and makes a decent fourth liner, with some possible upside

Analysis
The Boston Bruins are off to a great start in S2, but how long will that hold out? The Bruins have a good mix of players on this team, including a good mix of ages. The oldest player on the team is Joe Nieuwendyk at 38, and is only 1 point of the team lead. Looking into the future the Bruins could be in trouble, as it appears the 'youth' of the team is a group of tenacious checkers, good to have, but someone will have to be able to go down and score some goals.

Buffalo Sabres

Tuomo Ruutu
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (3^rd overall) in season 2.
Franchise player, this kid the sense and skills to lead this team one day, so long as management realizes that and holds on him.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard
Originally drafted in the 9^th round (264^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, +1 in rerate
Great creativity with the puck, is patient. A knock against him is his small stature and ability to get knocked off the puck.

David Hale
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (22^nd overall) in season 2.
He'll be an above average stay at home dman. He'll hit, fight and play a sound position game, although he won't be overly physical. Likely will be ^#2 to ^#4 dman.

Mikhail Kuleshov
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (95^th overall) in season 2.
Has decent size, but doesn't' use it to it's full ability, very limited defensive skills will probably land him on the checking line and limited ice time.

Martin Samuelsson
Originally drafted in the 23^rd round (684^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 64, -2 in rerate.
If he can adjust his speed & skating to the smaller surface (and more physical game), he could still be a player probably landing on the ^#2 or ^#3 line.

Joffrey Lupul
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (14^th overall) in season 2.
First line winger. Goal scorers mentality, creative instincts and unlimited offensive potential.

Dustin Brown
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (41^st overall) in season 2.
Has excellent goal-scoring potential and a feel for lighting the lamp. Though will need to add more strength and stamina and must continue to make adjustments in order to become a great pro.

Ivan Huml
Originally drafted in the 13^th round (384^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, -5 in rerate.
Good shooter, decent skater, timid, questionable desire, poor defense.

Analysis
GM Letasy has a good young squad, in thier prospects have a couple sure fire players that will make an impact in Buffalo, and in fact 4 of their 8 prospects are already contributing members of the Sabres pro team, including the team leading scorer. The team currently have 34 members on the team and have an average age of 26, so will be able to use this corp for some time to come.

The future looks good for this team considering they finished 28^th overall last year, it would appear the fact they drafted 3 1^st round players has really worked to their advantage, congrats on making some smart decisions.

Calgary Flames

Stephen Weiss
Originally drafted in the 10^th round (288^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, +4 in rerate.
Has the full skill-set to be a ^#1 center in the league, but same as so many others the biggest knock against him is his small frame. Due to this will likely be better suited to ^#2.

Jarret Stoll
Originally drafted in the 18^th round (512^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, +5 in rerate.
Stoll is going to be a RSHL'er for a long time. At worst he'll be a solid 3^rd line player, but he could easily be a productive second line player he is a dependable two-way player with great character..

Jamie Lundmark
Originally drafted in the 14^th round (392^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, no change in rerate.
Has enough versatility to fill in anywhere up front. Is an exciting offensive talent with both blazing speed and a well-rounded game. Owns intriguing goal-scoring upside.

Mikhail Yakubov
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (39^th overall) in season 2.
He plays a strong game and will use the body to get things done. He is a good skater and uses it to his advantage. He is a great puckhandler and can be depended upon to win crucial faceoffs. He doesn’t quit and is a surprisingly effective two-way forward. He can score or setup linemates effectively. He works well with and without the puck.

Chris Kelly
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (129^th overall) in season 2.
A well-rounded player who is known for his leadership and penalty killing ability, Kelly could easily land a job with the Pro club as a fourth line player in the future.

Kris Vernarsky
Originally drafted in the 28^th round (812^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 55, +5 in rerate.
Although he lacks offensive talent, he possesses the size and defensive skill to be a strong checking center which will probably see him land a ^#4 line role, or as high as ^#3 if he works his ass off.

Jordan Leopold
Originally drafted in the 8^th round (212^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, +6 in rerate.
Has tremendous offensive potential. Moves the puck quickly out of danger and likes to start the transition game. Is positionally sound. Can log big minutes. Will likely evolve into a ^#1 or ^#2 defenseman.

Dan Hamhuis
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (9^th overall) in season 2.
Moves the puck well out of the defensive zone. Has loads of offensive potential. Is also capable of playing a sound defensive game. Though is a little small to be top 2, will likely be ^#3 or ^#4.

Rostislav Klesla
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (149^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 73, no change in rerate.
Possesses great hockey sense and scoring instincts from the blueline. Makes good decisions in the defensive zone most of the time. Has ideal size and loves to hit people, Klesla still has high expectations out on him but I'm not so sure he'll completely fulfill, but will more so settle into a ^#2 type role.

Barret Jackman
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (89^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 75, -2 in rerate.
Big defenseman who understand the role of a defensive defenseman, and excels at portraying that image, not much in the way of offensive upside. Might find himself in the penalty box on a regular basis.

Garnet Exelby
Originally drafted in the 12^th round (332^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, +2 in rerate.
Another defensive defenseman who doesn't take any prisoners when lining up opponents along the blueline. Is very steady, if unspectacular in the defensive zone. Also will likely find himself sitting in the box a little too often for the coach's liking I'm sure.

Lukas Krajicek
Originally drafted in the 16^th round (452^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 67, +2 in rerate.
He is undoubtedly a power play quarterback in-waiting for the Flames. There are some concerns about his willingness to be physical. He prefers to stick check and play positional hockey rather than take the body or deliver a hit. Despite that, he has shown that he will fight if the situation arises. Will likely find himself in a second set role simply because of the depth on the blue line here.

Kurtis Foster
Originally drafted in the 24^th round (692^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 63, +1 in rerate.
Foster is best known for his cannon shot, which has been clocked in excess of 100-mph. Unfortunately, the rest of his game is still a work in progress. Blessed with good size and good offensive instincts, he'll be in competition for a roster spot probably in the ^#5 or ^#6 position

Vaclav Nedorost
Originally drafted in the 11^th round (329^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 68, -1 in rerate.
Nederost possesses all the tools to become an above-average RHSL center. Has size, great speed and effective passing skills. He also knows where to be in the defensive zone. But with the depth in Calgary he may not be given the opportunity to play up to his potential.

Gregory Campbell
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (64^th overall) in season 2.
Campbell is a player destined to play on a checking line, and is very, very effective in his role. He is a speedy skater who has the ability to shift gears and turn quickly, wreaking havoc on defenders. While not inept offensively, Campbell simply is better suited to play as a checking line player and future penalty killer.

Juraj Kolnik
Originally drafted in the 25^th round (749^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 67, +5 in rerate.
Has a goal-scorer's mentality and instincts. Uses his quick release to perfection and is especially dangerous in the high slot. Would be likely to see him playing top 6.

Stanislav Chistov
Originally drafted in the 6^th round (152^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 72, -1 in rerate.
Skates like the wind and is incredibly shifty. Has tremendous offensive upside that can intimidate defenders, especially when he attacks them one-on-one. Although he needs a lot of work without the puck. Must learn how to better play within his team's system, and doesn't shoot the puck enough.

Mattias Weinhandl
Originally drafted in the 10^th round (272^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 72, -2 in rerate.
Weinhandl is a very talented player with great vision and the potential to be a solid all around player that has a good shot at being second line winger in the future.

Pavel Vorobiev
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (43^rd overall) in season 2.
Vorobiev plays a grinder's game and has great overall potential. He does the small things on the ice and loves to get his hands dirty. He is a strong forechecker that plays bigger than he is. He works hard down low and fights for positioning around the net. He is very skilled and an effective skater. He can play on the special units and is a very versatile forward.

Kyle Wanvig
Originally drafted in the 17^th round (509^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 63, +1 in rerate.
Has NHL size, strength and a prototypical north-south game from the wing position. Displays the untapped potential of a power forward.

Scottie Upshall
Originally drafted in the 13^th round (389^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 54, +6 in rerate.
Upshall is inked in as an important part of the future of the franchise with his skill, grit and leadership. He is expected to reach a position patrolling the 3^rd line.

Timofei Shishkanov
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (50^th overall) in season 2.
Has very slick moves and deceptive skating ability. Loves to rush down his off-wing (left) and create havoc for defenders. Should translate into top 6 playing time.

Tomas Malec
Originally drafted in the 20^th round (579^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, +1 in rerate.
Moves the puck very well up ice. Has good mobility and offensive upside. Is a solid team player. Doesn't back down from physical challenges.

Jason King
Originally drafted in the 23^rd round (682^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 55, +12 in rerate.
He has no one skill that is elite... average skater, shooter, defender, checker, etc... Although I don't see any parts of his game that are "weak". Will be a very solid addition to the 2^nd line.

Analysis
This is obviously a team that is built for the future, with youth in mind having 24 of their 34 man roster under the age of 24. When 50% of your team is 23 or less, you end up with an average age even lower at 22.

This team exceeded a lot of analysts expectations when they didn't finish dead last in the league, infact only missed a playoff spot by 4 points. Time will tell if the pure potential of each individual can / will pan out, if the patience of GM Haidar (previously another GM) will pay off. In a few years this team could be a dominating force pushing everyone aside on their way to the RSHL cup, but then again, maybe not...

Columbus Bluejackets

Cody McCormick
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (111^th overall) in season 2.
McCormick is going to be an effective role player in the RSHL, being able to fight, but brings something to the ice other than pure goon tactics. He has a future as probably a third liner, especially if he can get a little faster to become a more fearsome fore-checker to match his hitting ability.

Joni Pitkanen
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (5^th overall) in season 2.
Pitkanen has a complete package of skills: he's good skater and playmaker, a quick decision-maker, a world class puck handler and has a big frame. Pitkanen has a fine shot and a very deft passing touch as well. Will likely be the ^#1 or ^#2 defenseman no matter where he plays.

Aaron Johnson
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (51^st overall) in season 2.
Johnson shows huge offensive upside, although his defensive play needs work like most young players as well he needs to add strength and learn leverage in his zone. Will probably get his initial time as a powerplay specialist.

Kristian Kudroc
Originally drafted in the 17^th round (499^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, -2 in rerate.
He's big and likes to hit, but he can't skate and not a great 'hockey' sense about him. Would be more of a depth player.

Frederick Meyer
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (118^th overall) in season 2.
Solid defenseman with a decent offensive upside, should end up in a top 4 role.

Alexei Smirnov
Originally drafted in the 18^th round (522^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, -2 in rerate.
Smirnov has the talent to compete and dominate the RSHL. The question is does he have the will to do so? He has an excellent combination of size, speed, and strength. If he can overcome his inconsistencies and laziness, he can use his talent in the RSHL.

Boyd Gordon
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (34^th overall) in season 2.
Gordon is a solid, if unspectacular, who's slight frame may prove to be a hindrance in pro hockey. Will likely end as a checking forward or depth player.

Darryl Bootland
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (124^th overall) in season 2.
His physical play makes him very strong in the corners and difficult to knock off the puck while he is most dangerous around the opposition's net. Bootland has the ability to make an impact in the RSHL.

Analysis
The Columbus Bluejackets have just recently brought in new management, and it would appear they have walked into a good situation. Last season the team made the playoffs in the inaugural season, even securring home ice advantage in the first round. So one would think things are going fairly well in Bluejacket territory, well with the addition of a few key players, specifially on defense they should be able to increase point production due to the offensive potential.

Chicago Blackhawks

Brett Lysak
Originally drafted in the 6^th round (156^th overall) in season 2.
Depth Player.

Travis Moen
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (65^th overall) in season 2.
Not expected to amount to much more than a part time enforcer, doesn't have the skills to hold down a fulltime RSHL pro contract for more than just depth.

Analysis
In season 1, the Blackhawks were in an 'outside looking in' situation, they finished 25th overall and 11 points from the post season. The team must be assuming they are going to win it all and soon as the future obviously isn't even on their radar at this point. With 30 players on their roster and only two players under the age of 24 there could be alot of long nights in the windy city.

Colorado Avalanche

Brian Sutherby
Originally drafted in the 12^th round (348^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 68, -1 in rerate.
He is not an offensive player, he has the heart and soul defensive center. Will likely end up in a checking role and killing penalties.

Jim Vandermeer
Originally drafted in the 18^th round (528^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 67, +6 in rerate.
Solid defensive workhorse, not big offensive upside, but can be sure to cover his own end, likely top 4 dman.

Matt Pettinger
Originally drafted in the 19^th round (561^st overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, +1 in rerate.
Works very hard and never takes a shift off. Loves to play a crash-and-bang style and is especially effective in the corners. An effective checking line type player.

Matt Ellison
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (42^nd overall) in season 2.
Ellison is and a playmaker that is able to increase the tempo, flow and productivity of his linemates. He is a good skater with excellent balance.

Analysis
The Avs are a team that doesn't have a large farm team, meaning the team doesn't have an abundance of depth as for some reason GM Tsang decided to trade away the majority of their depth to anyone willing to offer a little cash, though did scramble to rectify that later in the year. As a result the team don't have a large number of prospect, and those that they do have are mainly of the defensive-checking type role. Although I'm not sure if that is part of their master plan.

Fortuneatly the Avs do do have the luxury of having their team leaders to be players who happend to all-star calibre as well very young in their own rights. As they will be expected to produce for some time.

Dallas Stars

Jeff Taffe
Originally drafted in the 20^th round (600^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, +2 in rerate.
He's an effortless skater and a great puckhandler. He is able to make those 1 on 1 moves to get around the opposition and create open space for himself or his teammates. He is considered more of a playmaker than a scorer

Jiri Hudler
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (38^th overall) in season 2.
Hudler is a dazzling puckhandler who has a phenomenal offensive arsenal. He is a good skater with great foot-speed which he uses to avoid opponents in the corners effectively. His god-given hockey sense, on-ice vision and playmaking ability make him an offensive threat on every shift.

Brandon Reid
Originally drafted in the 13^th round (373^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 66, -4 in rerate.
Possesses excellent vision and hockey sense. Is a brilliant skater and tenacious forechecker. Can put up solid numbers if given enough ice time. Though his 5'8" frame won't be intimidating anyone anytime soon.

Nathan Smith
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (98^th overall) in season 2.
He is known for being a very hard worker, showing intensity on the ice while leading by example for whatever team he has played for. Smith has a very good hockey sense which gives him the ability to be an above average passer as he sees the ice very well and have good defensive awareness in his zone.

Branislav Mezei
Originally drafted in the 14^th round (408^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, no change in rerate.
Has shown some promise in previous leagues he's played in, should evolve into a top 4 defenseman, but more so a defensive specialist.

Shaone Morrisonn
Originally drafted in the 14^th round (393^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 64, +5 in rerate.
Morrisonn is a good skater with a long, smooth stride, and above average acceleration. He makes a good outlet pass. He is a power play fixture, and features a low, accurate shot from the point. Defensively he plays a good positional game, but still needs to improve his overall play in his own zone.

Owen Fussey
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (82^nd overall) in season 2.
A very hard worker, Fussey loves to hit and is not afraid of anyone. He is a good skater and has a hard shot. He is a consistent player, and also works hard defensively if he needs to on every shift.

Fredrik Sjostrom
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (15^th overall) in season 2.
Has a terrific combination of speed, skill and defensive instincts. Is willing to take a hit in order to make a play. Will portably see himself with top 6 responsibility in the future.

Miroslav Zalesak
Originally drafted in the 25^th round (727^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 63, -1 in rerate.
The best aspect of Zalesaks game is his skating ability, and is starting to learn how to use that speed to the best of his advantage, not only with the puck which he has always been good at, but for getting back on defense. He doesn’t have the natural ability to know where the puck will be on defense, but he is fast enough to make up for it

Analysis
Season 1 was a long one for the fans in Dallas, the team did finish only 8 points out of the playofffs, but more importantly only 7 points from dead last. Although the future does look brighter for this franchise, GM Barbosa has shown his commitment to the team and has made some changes to hopefully chang the outlook of this team. The team currently had 9 players that fall in to this report, and have 4 of them currently part of the big club – including 1 on the 1^st, and others seeing PP & PK unit time. Only time will tell if the Stars will turn into a team that will compete for the cup, but their future does look brighter.

Detroit RedWings

Jason Spezza
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (142^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, +5 in rerate.
Has a wealth of playmaking talent. Uses his size and reach very well in the offensive zone. Displays all the tools to eventually be a great top-line center, although needs some serious work on his defensive game. Will likely be ^#1 or ^#2 C.

Rickard Wallin
Originally drafted in the 22^nd round (639^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 63, +5 in rerate.
Smooth, intelligent player with terrific puck skills. Deft stickhandler with excellent vision of the ice and playmaking skills. Has very soft hands and a magic touch around the net, but doesn't really have a goal-scorer's mentality and needs to shoot the puck more.

Brad Boyes
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (58^th overall) in season 2.
He is blessed with incredible hands and an uncanny hockey sense. He can control the puck as if it were magnetically drawn to his stick. His passing skills are amazing, clear and crisp tape to tape passes that rarely seem to roll on edge.

Brooks Laich
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (86^th overall) in season 2.
Works harder than anyone else on the ice everywhere he plays. A tireless forechecker and backchecker, he is able to create many scoring chances on the ice. Considering the depth he's playing behind will likely result in a 3^rd or 4^th line position, but has the potential to play higher.

Anton Volchenkov
Originally drafted in the 6^th round (159^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, -1 in rerate.
Strong skater and a very hard hitter who likes to let it be known he’s on the ice. Makes solid pinches to lay the body and catches many forwards off guard. Could stand to work on his overall quickness, but should be able to fill in a top 4 role.

Martin Grenier
Originally drafted in the 27^th round (798^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, +4 in rerate.
Can brawl with the best of them and is never shy about playing a physical brand of hockey. Will likely be limited to a depth role covering injuries, or if the team wants to goon it up.

Maxim Kondratiev
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (89^th overall) in season 2.
Kondratiev is an offensive defenseman with good speed and puck-handling abilities. He has a good shot and never hesitates to use it.

Tomas Surovy
Originally drafted in the 20^th round (583^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, +2 in rerate.
Has excellent vision and hockey sense. Is very good at setting up linemates. Possesses a knack for being in good position all over the ice. Like so many other young players, needs to learn to play defense.

Stephane Veilleux
Originally drafted in the 24^th round (699^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, +4 in rerate.
Has good size, defensive instincts and the ability to play a physical game. Also owns some offensive upside and can play both wing or center. Will likely see ^#2 or ^#3 line duty.

Darcy Hordichuk
Originally drafted in the 25^th round (738^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 67, +1 in rerate.
Enforcer who can play a regular shift without being a defensive liability but has a mean streak and can really intimidate opponents.

Igor Radulov
Originally drafted in the 17^th round (506^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 63, +3 in rerate.
Radulov is a great skater with good balance. He is a good stickhandler with soft hands who is able to maneuver through traffic without getting knocked off the puck that easy. He works hard down low and in the corners and doesn’t have a problem getting physical. Though he doesn't seem to be able to sting too many big games together.

Aleksander Suglobov
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (53^rd overall) in season 2.
He has great speed and excellent puck handling skills, able to burn many defensemen with his raw talent. Lack of a physical presence also negatively impacts Suglobov’s defensive game.

Anton Babchuk
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (37^th overall) in season 2.
A Strong positional player and shot blocker, he is able to keep the opponents in front of him. He is a solid skater with good speed which also makes him a very effective power play quarterback.

Analysis
The Detroit RedWings were 1 win away from hoisting the Stanley cup, but it would appear rather than just reload and try again Wing managment has decided to go into a 'rebuilding' mode?!? Currenlty the team has 13 players under the age of 24 and more just over, including 3 currntly active on the Pro club. For having such a large roster, 39, they do have a relativly low average age of the team, at 26.

The team has done a good job assembling the youth, as a good mix of forwards and defensemen who should be able to contribute in the future.

Edmonton Oilers

Greg Mauldin
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (121^st overall) in season 2.
Mauldin possesses excellent speed, quick accurate shot and vision with the puck. He can create offense in tight quarters or just as blow past a defenseman on the fly.

Alexei Semenov
Originally drafted in the 9^th round (522^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, no change in rerate.
A defenseman who can skate, hit, play a hard nosed physical game and a cannon of a slap shot. If he continues to work hard could see himself as high as a ^#2 defenceman.

Fedor Tyutin
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (30^th overall) in season 2.
Tyutin is a very Strong defenseman who is sound at all aspects of the game, and has no glaring weaknesses. He is all-around very sound, and his consistency for a 21-year-old is remarkable. By the time he's fully developed he could be a ^#1 or ^#2 dman.

Matthew Spiller
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (52^nd overall) in season 2.
Spiller is a good overall skater who doesn't make many mistakes in the defensive zone. His game is very simple: Play physical and play the body.

Jakub Cutta
Originally drafted in the 17^th round (492^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 68, -2 in rerate.
Cutta is a stay-at-home defenseman. He is a good passer, and often sets up offensive rushes with long outlet passes. He is a very Strong skater with excellent acceleration.

Denis Grebeshkov
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (31^st overall) in season 2.
Denis Grebeshkov is a solid defenseman with a promising offensive upside. He possesses impressive speed and great coordination. As well moves well through traffic and does not hesitate to mix it up with anybody. Some scouts have this 20 year old projected to play as high as ^#1 or ^#2.

Taylor Pyatt
Originally drafted in the 7^th round (192^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 74, no change in rerate.
Power forward. Boasts a tremendous combination of size and skating ability. The jury is still out on his offensive upside.

Konstantin Koltsov
Originally drafted in the 20^th round (589^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 62, +9 in rerate.
His toughness is underrated because he takes hits as well as gives out hits along the boards in order to make plays. Koltsov has excellent hockey sense and uses his teammates well. Projected to be a 3^rd liner winger.

Milan Michalek
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (27^th overall) in season 2.
Michalek has All-star potential, and is a GREAT two-way player. He should be a first liner, depending on how his offense develops.

Sean Bergenheim
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (61^st overall) in season 2.
Bergenheim is fast and quite a Strong player although he isn't very big. He has good puckhandling skill. He is more of a speedster than playmaker. Look for a 2^nd or 3^rd line checker.

Branko Radivojevic
Originally drafted in the 10^th round (289^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 73, +1 in rerate.
Radivojevic is a young and still developing player who plays a solid 2 way game. He consistently plays hard, is a good skater with size who takes and makes hits, solid defensively and still has some offensive upside.

Tim Jackman
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (91^st overall) in season 2.
A very well-balanced skater with a wide stance and a long stride... Has good passing skills and effectively works the give-and-go... Handles the puck well and is Strong coming out of the corners.

Analysis
The Edmonton Oilers held the distinct luxury of winning the RSHL lottery and wining the right to select the any player they wanted from the draft, well they decided it would be in their best interst to move said player in a subsequent move. Well the reason the team was able to hold such good odds in the lottery was based on the fact the team finished 2 points of of last place, and 12 points from the playoffs.

The Oilers have done a good job of seemingly finding themselves some solid prospects that will help the franchise I the future. Specifically being able to build around their (will be) strong defensive core. Which is a good thing as the team doesn't seem to be headed anywhere fast, the team does already boast a young group of players, averaging 24 years old over 30 players. So it's still possible the team will gel and form a lethal dominating force in the RSHL, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Florida Panthers

Kris Beech
Originally drafted in the 18^th round (511^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, -3 in rerate.
Beech is an exceptional skater, and he uses it to blow by opponents. Sees the ice incredibly well, which makes him an excellent setup man. He is above-average defensively, which could see him becoming a two-way threat, who will get significant penalty kill time.

Niklas Kronwall
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (60^th overall) in season 2.
Kronwall is a small-sized defenseman with exceptional offensive skills. He is very smart and possesses great hockey sense which compensates for his small frame. He is a great skater with good lateral movement and phenomenal speed. Projected to be top 4 dman.

Analysis
The Panthers are a team that finished relatively stong in Season 1, only 1 point out of having home ice advantage in the playoffs. The team does this with a fairly typical average age of 29 over 34 players, although 1 posibble concern here is the fact the Panthers have only 2 players under the age of 24. Does it mean they will fall apart, not likely. With that said, they have a total of 5 players 34 years old or older, so they will likely have to start looking at some younger players sooner than later. Not really much to say about what they have now as it's only 2 guys.. but they should be able to help the team defensivly down the road.

Los Angeles Kings

Josef Vasicek
Originally drafted in the 14^th round (412^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, +4 in rerate.
Has great size and athleticism. Is tough, intelligent and displays a Strong work ethic. Plays a sound two-way game. Should be a 1^st or 2^nd line player, and have the versatility to slide out to the wing.

Mike Danton
Originally drafted in the 28^th round (832^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, +4 in rerate.
Best way to describe Danton is to say he has heart, he does every bit of what his job requires and then some. Also shown some flair of offensive ability, but more likely suited to a 3^rd or 4^th line checker. Just whatever you do, don't cross this guy, he's got connections.

Dmitri Kalinin
Originally drafted in the 8^th round (222^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 74, +3 in rerate.
He has great endurance and can log considerable ice time, offensively he is gifted as well. Has a good shot. I think it's a matter of system and confidence. When those two things are in place, he will fill a nice role admirably. If he continues to work hard, could easily find himself as a top 2 defenseman

Bryce Lampman
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (77^th overall) in season 2.
Lampman is a Strong, solid puck moving defenseman who can be described by one word: solid. He isn’t a dazzling or superstar level player, but he makes the smart play, and rarely makes big mistakes

Henrik Zetterberg
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (112^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 74, +3 in rerate.
Zetterberg has a creative mind as an offensive player as well definitely a solid defensive player, easily will be a top 6 player for a long time to come.

Tuomas Pihlman
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (47^th overall) in season 2.
Pihlman plays a power forward type game, and with his size, he is able to play that style quite effectively. Pihlman has good hands and a better than average shot. He also skates well for a man of his stature.

Chad Wiseman
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (107^th overall) in season 2.
Wiseman is a very good skater and passer. In one on one situations he takes advantage of his quickness very well. Has a tendency to ignore the defensive part of the game.

Nicholas Dimitrakos
Originally drafted in the 15^th round (429^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, +2 in rerate.
As the game goes on he understands the score more, and what kind of plays he can make at different times – and he's making great plays. He's a good skater, he makes good passes and he's got a good quick shot.

Analysis
The Kings are a team that are fairly well balanced throughout, in comparasion to other teams would have to be considered one of the younger teams with an average age of 27. Last season they finished in the bottom half of the top 8, so their players had the luxury of gaining some playoff expireince, it's likely that tase has only made them hungrier and would want more, well with some of the prospects gracing this team that feat will be likely sometime in the future.

The team holds 8 'prospects' including some future 1^st & 2^nd line calibre players. So far it would appear that GM Mattiello has a knack for finding diamonds in the rough, next just needs to deal with the apparent fued between he and Edmonton. But 1 peice of advice, watchout for that Danton kid, rumor has it he doesn't like not getting his way.

Minnesota Wild

Nick Schultz
Originally drafted in the 9^th round (262^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, +2 in rerate.
He has shown signs of offensive skill but as long as he stays Strong in both zones and doesn't sacrifice one for the other he should remain a top 4 d-man.

Tim Gleason
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (40^th overall) in season 2.
Is willing to jump up and lay a hit on an opponent and has added grit to his game, even willing to fight. Offensive instincts aren’t great and sometimes makes bad pinches, Likely a 3^rd to 6^th type player.

Ramzi Abid
Originally drafted in the 13^th round (382^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, -1 in rerate.
Solid scoring two-way power winger who will get most of his points driving to the net. Hard worker who goes to the net, has good hands and can pass well. Nice size but needs to add some more strength. Tends to take unnecessary penalties.

Damian Surma
Originally drafted in the 34^th round (999^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 53, +7 in rerate.
Works very hard and plays a sound two-way game. Is capable of scoring goals. Has plenty of lower-body strength. A 3^rd line checker is probable.

Matt Keith
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (72^nd overall) in season 2.
Will likely be a role player, filling in on the 3^rd line. Willing to throw his body around to make the play.

Analysis
Well what to say about the Wild, in S1 they finished dead last, only managing 63 points (although I seem to recall there were outside sources affecting their total). They would then be able to benefit from 2 1st round draft picks, oh wait, they turned around and moved those players to new homes. Well regardless, the Wild do have a fairly young team here, oh you mean they signed a 41 year old RW, well even with that, they average out to only 27 years old so other than the 1 aforementioned winger the rest of the team will have plenty of time to work together to form a coheisive unit.

Montreal Canadiens

Christopher Higgins
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (44^th overall) in season 2.
Higgins is gaining a reputation for his leadership, heart, versatility, and finely tuned defensive instincts. He has good speed and a knack for delivering hard hits. Although smaller in stature, Higgins nonetheless is an excellent two-way prospect.

Grant McNeill
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (104^th overall) in season 2.
On a defensive standpoint, McNeill is a defensive defenseman who worries mainly about his zone. He seldom joins the offensive rush and prefers to pass it out of the defensive zone.

Garth Murray
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (110^th overall) in season 2.
He plays a hard-nosed game complemented by his good speed and good puck-handling skills. He is both a solid playmaker who always looking to setup his teammates as well as an opportunist who gets into positions to bang rebounds home and score goals in close to the crease.

Karl Stewart
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (101^st overall) in season 2.
Stewart is hardworking and creates breakaways with his speed, but doesn’t always cash in. His edginess could get him called in some real trouble with penalties.

Analysis
The Montreal Canadiens were a team that were very disappointed at the end of regular season, as they were in the bottom 8, a place no one likes to be. The team was only 1 win away from playoffs, and of course to only make matters worse had they played in the opposit conference they would've been in for sure. But I'm not here to dig up old wounds, it's just fun to reminicse.

The Canadiens organization does have some solid looking two-way players that will be able to step onto the team some time down the road. Although the way their season has started I'm sure GM Vardy was hoping to get them dressed and out ther helping now.

Nashville Predators

Ryan Kesler
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (46^th overall) in season 2.
An excellent two-way player, Kesler is comfortable playing anywhere on the ice, whether it is in the defensive zone, either skating the puck up or chasing down forwards in the neutral zone, or in the offensive zone, Kesler is a very versatile player. Possessing excellent top speed, agility, and acceleration.

Jay Bouwmeester
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (122^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 72, +3 in rerate.
Has incredible skating ability, a keen sense of when to join the rush, size and hockey smarts, though not in his favor he plays a very passive game. With his size he should have a meaner streak, but even without will undoubtably be a ^#1 or ^#2.

Kurt Sauer
Originally drafted in the 16^th round (459^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, +1 in rerate.
Sauer has a very good shot, skates extremely well, can move the puck out of his end and sees the ice and makes crisp passes that can lead to some wicked transition opportunities. Offensive abilities are limited, has positioned himself to be a defensive specialist.

Carlo Colaiacovo
Originally drafted in the 13^th round (361^st overall) in season 1. Originally rated 63, +3 in rerate.
Carlo is a solid all around defenseman with no significant weaknesses in his game. He is also very mobile, able to join the rushes and read the play well. He has recently become known more for his ability to quarterback the powerplay. Will easily slid into a top 4 role, with work getting as high as ^#2.

Rick Nash
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (108^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 74, +3 in rerate.
Rick Nash is going to be a superstar. He has everything you want in a five tool player; speed, strength, skills, intelligence and character/presence.

Roman Tvrdon
Originally drafted in the 6^th round (158^th overall) in season 2.
Has shown some offensive flair in his junior days, but not sure the desire is there to translate into scoring in the big league. Has had injury troubles in the past that could see him hampered against getting higher than 4^th line.

Denis Shvidki
Originally drafted in the 19^th round (553^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, -4 in rerate.
Shvidki is very dangerous cutting to the net, and possesses a great deal of offensive creativity, making it hard for defenders to know what to expect. Although if he is physically hounded regularly, he can tend to disappear and play a quiet game.

Analysis
Here we have a team that changed ownership shortly after the RSHL's inception, but that fact hasn't stopped GM Paxton from working to build a solid product for the fans in Nashville. The Predators have 7 preospects included in my report, although can't truley categorize them all as prospects, as JayBo, Nash & Shvidki have all played more than ²/₃^rds of games in S1.

The Predadors hae a solid group of youth available to them, ranging from an expected Maurice Richard winner, to potential Norris trophy winner to career minor leaguer. In addition to the 'BIG 2' their biggest help should com on the back end, filling out the defensive corp from within.

New York Islanders

Matthew Lombardi
Originally drafted in the 25^th round (736^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 60, +12 in rerate.
Lombardi has great vision, stellar stick handling and a great shot. His offensive abilities have never been in doubt, though his small size and lack of defensive abilities are a definite knock against him.

Michael Cammalleri
Originally drafted in the 16^th round (465^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 68, +1 in rerate.
Has excellent playmaking skills and a nose for the net. Plays with intelligence and is usually in the right place at the right time. Though has had injury troubles in junior days, mainly contributed to his small size, he could stand to bulk up to protect himself.

Steve McCarthy
Originally drafted in the 18^th round (525^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 68, +1 in rerate.
Has excellent offensive instincts for a blueliner. Is already a gifted passer, as he sees the ice extremely well and loves to lead the rush up ice. Could stand to add more bulk to his frame, but has top 4 playing ability.

Michal Barinka
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (48^th overall) in season 2.
He has a great size skill ratio, and is solid in the corners and in clearing his front. A good skater with impressive strength, agility and balance and takes advantage of his assets in one on one situations. Will likely fill ^#5 or ^#6 position.

Zbynek Michalek
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (78^th overall) in season 2.
Michalek has good offensive upside with a skill set and size that translates well to the RSHL. Once he applies more consistent effort towards the physical and defensive aspects of the game he should see his stock rise.

Ilya Kovalchuk
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (16^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 79, +5 in rerate.
Has awesome offensive instincts, a tremendous shot and can blow by people with superior skating ability. Loves to come down his off-wing (left) and get into one-on-one situations with defenders. Could easily end up the Art Ross winner 1 day. Does need to take advantage of his team mates around him.

Raffi Torres
Originally drafted in the 17^th round (496^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 66, +7 in rerate.
Torres is a physical player, who can score and just flies out there. Loves to deliver bone crushing hits on the opposition, so works well along the board to win pucks. His energy should translate into 2^nd line playing ability.

Alexander Semin
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (18^th overall) in season 2.
Very Strong puckhandling, wrist shot, and quite a good playmaker. He has a well rounded offensive game and plays at a high level down low. Needs work on his toughness and his defensive play, as well to as some extra muscle.

Analysis
The Islanders 1^st EVER pick still remains with the teams and is their undoubtably leader for sometime to come, the reason this is so astounding is he's only 21 years old. But he's not the only potential star on this prospect list, they have a number of players with good offensive upside to them which is probably a good thing as in S1 the Islanders just securred the final 8^th seed, and were the lowest scoring playoff bound team, in the Eastern Conference.

New York Rangers

Nolan Yonkman
Originally drafted in the 17^th round (498^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, -5 in rerate.
His size is his main asset. He will never be a star, but he would be a valuable fifth or sixth defenseman. If he improves his offensive skills, he could become a top four blueliner. Has had injury problems that have lowered his value.

Scott Hartnell
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (145^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 75, +1 in rerate.
Hard working, physical "team" player who is a strong defensive forward who would stand up for his teammates. Expected to be a Power forward type player using his body to dominate others.

Zdenek Blatny
Originally drafted in the 23^rd round (685^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 64, +1 in rerate.
Big frame, decent hands, and is pretty smart with the puck as well versatile enough to play any forward position. In order to see time in the pros will likely adapt to a more defensive style game.

Tomas Kurka
Originally drafted in the 24^th round (696^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 67, -5 in rerate.
Kurka is a very talented player. He has a lot of very good tools, such as a very smooth skating stride, and is tough to knock off the puck. Although has shown a disinterest in playing the defensive part of the game.

Justin Williams
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (96^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 74, +3 in rerate.
He is a decent working player with some skill who's fast, skilled, and is very good in both ends of the rink. The big question here is whether he can produce consistently.

Analysis
It seems fairly wel known the rivalry between GM Texeira and the San Jose organization, well to fuel that fire the Rangers found themselves finish the seaon with the exact same record as the Sharks but the Rangers sat out of the playoffs, while the Sharks moved into the 2^nd round.

So the Rangers must be focussing on their team to build a winner so they can enjoy the RSHL cup. The team has only 5 prospects included in this report, but only have an average age of 27 on the team so there is still some growing to be done here, the Rangers will be able to look forward to mainly depth players, with 2 notable exceptions both of whom are seeing 2^nd line duties.

Ottawa Senators

Eric Staal
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (10^th overall) in season 2.
Staal is a do-everything kind of player. An excellent skater who has good size, he has a nice release and displays very good accuracy. In addition an offensive star in the future, will also a responsible player in his own end. Top 6 player.

Matthew Stajan
Originally drafted in the 19^th round (557^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 55, +16 in rerate.
Stajan has a good shot when he uses it, but in the offensive end he is more of a playmaker, exhibiting good passing skills and awareness of where his teammates are at all times. He has worked hard with coaching staff to better learn how to over come his deficiencies.

Steve Eminger
Originally drafted in the 9^th round (253^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 66, +3 in rerate.
Eminger is a player who's offensive skill is supposed to be the equal of his defensive skill and for whatever reason he played as if he were a one way stay at home defenseman. Should be a ^#1 or ^#2 player.

Ron Hainsey
Originally drafted in the 14^th round (399^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, +1 in rerate.
Hainsey is a puck-moving defenseman, with solid skating, good lateral movement, and a quick, smooth stride. He has great vision, and hockey sense. He has had trouble avoiding injuries, could hamper his future in the RSHL.

Krystofer Kolanos
Originally drafted in the 12^th round (340^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 73, -4 in rerate.
Kolanos has excellent hands and big-time scoring potential. He's a very talented prospect but there are questions about his future, he's already suffered a Grade 3 concussion and there are questions about whether he can get back to his form again.

Marcel Hossa
Originally drafted in the 11^th round (306^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, -3 in rerate.
Hossa has great balance, which he combines with his deceptive speed to beat opposing players one-on-one. He has a quick release, Although he's a better passer than he is a finisher. Could find himself lining up on the 2^nd line.

Ales Hemsky
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (146^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, +3 in rerate.
Hemsky easily has the talent to become a guy who is among league leaders for points because with his passing skills he just needs somebody with finish on his line. If he continues to work at his development he could find himself playing ^#1 line minutes.

Jani Rita
Originally drafted in the 16^th round (471^st overall) in season 1. Originally rated 67, -3 in rerate.
Rita is a gritty winger with speed and size, and has a plus shot. He is a pretty solid specimen, and can grind it out in the corners with the big men. He tends uses his speed to good advantage on the forecheck, which should see him play as his as 2^nd line.

Analysis
The Ottawas Senators will be looking to make waves after their S1 performances, this was a team thatw was picked to own home ice advantage going into the playoffs, but ..... Fortunatly the team is well stocked with young prospects that should make an impact in the RSHL one day. If the scounts are right and GM Cadez's players all progress as expected the team should be dominating a few years down the road. The Senators are all expected to be top caibre players in their position one day, which begs the question, since Ottawa didn't draft these players (except for Stajan & Staal), why did other GM's give up on their potential?

Philadelphia Flyers

Analysis
Well it's hard to do an analysis of the teams players under the age of 24 when the team has no players under the age of 24. Mr Koehler, was this by design?

Pittsburgh Penguins

Alexander Svitov
Originally drafted in the 11^th round (315^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 66, +1 in rerate.
Has great size and two-way potential. Can play the role of instigator to perfection. Possesses above-average offensive upside, watch for him to land on ^#2 or ^#3 line.

Marian Gaborik
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (15^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 80, -2 in rerate.
Gaborik is still very young and yet already shows in his career that he is a big scoring threat, he finished in the top 4% of the league in scoring last season. He has the skill to remain a top scorer for years to come as he is naturally gifted and a constant offensive menace.

Marek Svatos
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (19^th overall) in season 2.
Svatos is a very small (5’11”, 175 lbs), shifty, winger that possesses true breakaway speed. He has good all around offensive skills, possessing Strong puck handling skills and a quick and accurate shot . Should be able to crack the top 2 lines.

Analysis
The Pittsburgh Penguins were one of the lucky teams that did manage to make the playoffs, they would tie down the 7^th seed and face the eventual Stanley Cup winner. The Pens who have their 1st ever pick still on their team who is a Franchise type player, but still only 22, along whith him they hold a couple others that have untapped offensive potential, and if the deveolpement continues on pace they should be contributing on the big club soon enough.

Although with only 3 players, the team may want to give some thought to looking into some younger players they can develop for the future of their team.

Quebec Nordiques

Derek Roy
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (20^th overall) in season 2.
Roy has great determination, and a skill set to go along with that grit. He is a tireless worker, who has the speed and leg strength to put any defenseman on edge, and he is a fearless competitor.

Steve Ott
Originally drafted in the 18^th round (519^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 66, +2 in rerate.
Gets by on hard work and dogged determination. Excels at mucking the puck out of the corners who has some offensive upside. Should be a 3^rd or 4^th line checker /agitator.

Mike Komisarek
Originally drafted in the 8^th round (214^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, -2 in rerate.
Komisarek is an aggressive player who loves to hit, and hard. He is a Strong skater, with surprising mobility for a player his size. Plays a patient game when necessary, and is able to make a solid first pass out of the defensive zone. Continuing his development should see him end up as a^#2 or possibly ^#1.

Mark Popovic
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (63^rd overall) in season 2.
Is a skilled puckmover and a two-way threat. He has Strong offensive tools, such as a hard accurate shot. Could stand to add some more bulk to help his defensive game, but should see ^#3 or ^#4 minutes.

Ryan Bayda
Originally drafted in the 15^th round (430^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 70, -2 in rerate.
Bayda is a very good skater, with good agility and balance. He is a very smart player, who is a good playmaker who has a very accurate shot. Will probably see himself settle as a 3^rd line checker.

Jonathan Cheechoo
Originally drafted in the 14^th round (395^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, +6 in rerate. italics
Is very deft at handling the puck and maneuvering his way through defenders. Has good scoring instincts and knows his way around the offensive zone, but is still a very solid 2 way player, can play both PP & PK.

Jason Pominville
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (70^th overall) in season 2.
Slight in stature, Pominville lacks an aggressive dimension and, like many natural scorers, but is by no means a defensive stalwart. His offensive abilities with his quick shot and excellent playmaking abilities could see him playing between 2^nd & 3^rd lines.

Colton Orr
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (116^th overall) in season 2.
Orr developed an all around game, with bone crushing checks and solid work along the walls in the offensive zone. Has a "take no prisoners" approach to hitting allows teams to play without the fear of the "Coltrain" getting them in his tracks. - No relation to Bobby Orr

Analysis
The Nordiques have done a nice job of keeping youth in in their organization, and have found some players that should be able to help bring the glory back to la belle province. Currently the team hold 9 prospects in their system, and they are varying in skills they bring to the club, GM Nellis has alraedy seen fit to offer seemingly fulltime positions to 2 of these players, and for their given role they don't look out of place.

Last season the team was located in Carolina and finished a full 16 points from the post season, well you have to belive that the Nords will be eager to get off on the right foot, and show the fans in Quebec why they should keep buying their tickets.

San Jose Sharks

Michael Zigomanis
Originally drafted in the 21^st round (606^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 68, -2 in rerate.
Zigomanis is not a very big player, but he has loads of offensive talent. He is a very creative player offensively, has excellent vision of the ice. He has very soft hands, and is an excellent passer, Although his defensive part of the game leaves something to be desired.

Martin Havlat
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (29^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 78, +2 in rerate.
Has supreme offensive upside, tremendous speed and tenacity. Already plays a sound two-way game and scores highlight-reel goals. Can play either wing effectively. Will be a 1^st line player for a long time.

Analysis
The San Jose Sharks managed to sqeak into the playoffs in the 8th & final seed, where they proceeded to overtake the ^#1 seed in 7 games before only narrowly falling to the ^#2 seed in 7 games, this season already a number of analysts have the Sharks pencilled in as the cup winner, only time will tell if that dream will come true.

Of the youth of the Sharks the team isn't very deep with only 2 players qualifying for this report. Both players have huge offensive potential but the big difference between them is the fact that 1 plays on the 1st line, where the other spends his time on the farm.

St Louis Blues

Tomas Plekanec
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (57^th overall) in season 2.
He possesses great speed and balance, excellent stickhandling with good vision. He's also a Great passer and scorer. Not overly physical, will probably end up as a ^#2 or ^#3 line player.

Kyle Wellwood
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (106^th overall) in season 2.
Kyle has good offensive skills and instincts, he reads plays well and can initiate rushes. He is very adept at handling the puck, and has a nice finishing touch around the net. Although he isn't overly fast, nor big, which are to drawbacks against his game.

Paul Martin
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (16^th overall) in season 2.
Martin is very fast and excellent on his feet. He is able and willing to led his team up the ice and start the attack with his good speed and fine passing abilities. This defenceman, with good hands, can contribute on offense and play well on defense. With his skating abilities and talents will likely be a solid ^#2 dman.

Oleg Saprykin
Originally drafted in the 8^th round (217^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, +1 in rerate.
Possesses an impressive array of offensive skills. Combines good speed and nifty puck-handling ability with a feisty disposition.

Jordan Krestanovich
Originally drafted in the 30^th round (893^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 64, -1 in rerate.
Works extremely hard on the ice and is a player coaches like to count on in pressure situations. Will act a a 4^th line checker.

Trent Hunter
Originally drafted in the 20^th round (593^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 64, +12 in rerate.
Has good size and plays a very sound, all-around game. Is versatile enough to be used in any situation. Has great offensive potential, and a real knack for finding the back of the net. Top 6 position.

Patrice Bergeron
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (8^th overall) in season 2.
Drives the net with authority, and loves to create offense when in possession of the puck. Has the versatility to play C or RW. Although he has struggled with injuries, if he could bulk up a bit more that would probably avoid that issue.

Nathan Robinson
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (136^th overall) in season 2.
Has a very good stride in his skating, but is a little small for the typical RSHL player, if he can stick will likely be locked into a 4^th line role.

Analysis
Season 1 saw the Blues finish in 7^th overall but proceed to fall in 4 straight to the 2^nd overall seed. Since then the team virtually reloaded and is prepared to improve upon their previous totals.

The Blues have assembled a good mix of players, with some offensive guys, as well some that will act in more of a depth role in the form of checkers. According to GM D'Amour he's got some Calder cup hopefulls mixed in, currently four of their prospects are dressing for the Blues games.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Randy Jones
Originally drafted in the 5^th round (147^th overall) in season 2.
Has good size and upside. Is still young enough to develop to see time playing with the the big team.

Analysis
Well the T-Bay Lighting have obviously had other things on their mind other than building a franchise, oh right of course, they won the Stanley Cup over 29 other teams, and until someone else does that same feat there is no taking that away from GM Palmer's squad.

Although on the Lightnings side, it may be something to consider having some youth in your organization. Currently the teams average age is 31, there has been some talk whether the teams sponsors would leave to make room for the 'Geritol' marketing department.

Toronto Mapleleafs

Christian Backman
Originally drafted in the 24^th round (720^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 63, +9 in rerate.
Moves the puck well out of the defensive zone. Has an excellent frame and displays plenty of poise from the back end. Jury is still out on his offensive abilities. Should see top 4 minutes none the less.

Milan Bartovic
Originally drafted in the 28^th round (840^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 63, +4 in rerate.
Milan will be a solid contributor whose offensive upside will be clearer after some more time in the minors. His speed allows him to force turnovers on the forecheck and always gives him a chance to get back on defense.

Analysis
The Mapleleafs have the shortest roster I can think of, currently have a grand total of 25 players, 2 of which are goalies. The Mapleleaf doctors must have their player taking their vitamins to help fight any injuries, of the 2 players included in this report the team has 2 prospects that should turn into players that can help out their team with their different skill sets they bring to the game.

Vancouver Canucks

Riku Hahl
Originally drafted in the 23^rd round (662^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 67, -2 in rerate.
Riku Hahl is a young player already with his share of injury problems, that combined with his lack of offensive punch means his future is unclear. However, he is a tenacious checker, along with his speed and solid defensive game should see some 4^th line duties come his way.

Simon Gamache
Originally drafted in the 21^st round (623^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 64, -2 in rerate.
Simon is a gritty kid who drives to the net, who has a tendency to try to be a little too flashy with his stick work with not much skill. He'll be fighting for a spot on the 4^th line mainly in the role as a checker.

Thomas Pock
Originally drafted in the 3^rd round (76^th overall) in season 2.
Pock is an offensive defenseman who readily jumps into the rush when he sees an opportunity. He is a mobile skater in all directions, possesses good hands and stick-handling abilities, as well not a defensive liability.

Alexander Frolov
Originally drafted in the 6^th round (171^st overall) in season 1. Originally rated 72, +4 in rerate.
Has excellent size and reach. Is a sniper in the making. Loves to rush with the puck, especially coming down his off-wing (left). Excels in the corners.

Nikolai Zherdev
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (1^st overall) in season 2.
Zherdev's superb vision allows him to make smart passes. He is a great puckhandler and handles the puck well at high speeds and in traffic. With his great hands and excellent skating he is always a threat to score. Will be an offensive leader in the RSHL if his development continues on pace.

Josh Olson
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (115^th overall) in season 2.
Olson may be a big guy, but his speed is very deceptive. He's a Strong puckhandler, especially for someone as big as he is. The main knock on Olson has always been his lack of willingness to get physical and bang with smaller players on the boards. Will probably see 3^rd or 4^th line duties.

Dany Heatley
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (6^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 82, -3 in rerate.
Is a very dangerous offensive player, excels at setting up linemates but can also bury his chances. Has the size to compete in high-traffic areas. Has 1^st line written all over him, but has some legal situations that must be worked before exclusively focusing on the game.

Jordin Tootoo
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (36^th overall) in season 2.
Rated as the hardest hitter in the league, Tootoo does not shy away from the rough stuff. He has the potential to be a 2^nd or solid 3^rd line winger, As well the ability to be a feisty winger, chipping in offensively and racking up a good amount of PIMS

Martin Erat
Originally drafted in the 19^th round (569^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 68, +8 in rerate.
Has a low center of gravity, is surprisingly strong on the puck and in the corners. Has offensive creativity and excellent playmaking skills. He must do a better job of playing without the puck and not get caught out of defensive position. Could still add more strength in order to better fight off checks.

Nathan Horton
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (4^th overall) in season 2.
Horton is a Strong skater for a bigger player, and is extremely aggressive on the ice, loving to rough up his opponents, and make it unpleasant for opposing defenders to linger around him. Has already had some injury troubles, will be interesting to see if that will hamper his playing style.

Analysis
Last season the Canucks narrowly missed out of wining the Presidents Trophy, they tied the Flyers record exactly and only lost on goals scored. Well as it stands the Canucks have a good group of young prospects that should evolve into solid players in RSHL someday, but does it really matter now? Likely these players will all be moved on to new homes with new teams and those new players will have been traded away as well.

It seems apperent to me that GM Loconte is more interested in the wheeling and dealing of the Vancouver Canucks, than building anything of substance, how else do you explain the 114 lifetime trades pulled off so far.

Winnipeg Jets

Andy Hilbert
Originally drafted in the 17^th round (502^nd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 66, -1 in rerate.
Has shown a definite offensive flair in previous league, but the question is can that translate to the RSHL? Has excellent on ice vision, along with good hockey sense, also has a history of fighty injuries, if he can shake them could land on the 2^nd or 3^rd line.

Justin Mapletoft
Originally drafted in the 22^nd round (638^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 65, -2 in rerate.
Mapletoft is an excellent puck handler with intelligent hockey sense, a very crafty pivot who is smart around the net. He uses his wingers effectively which makes him very dangerous down low as he has a great snap shot with a quick release. He is a solid two way player.

John-Michael Liles
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (11^th overall) in season 2.
This guy has a long future ahead of him, Although he's not very big, the style he plays is all heart. Has great offensive potential, and carries himself with an abundance of confidence for such a young player. Top 4 dman, with extra time on special teams.

Trevor Daley
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (49^th overall) in season 2.
He is an incredible skater who can take the puck from one end of the ice to another with ease. He has a great shot and good vision of the ice as well. His offensive instincts are already refined, so he knows when to join or lead the rush.

Dennis Seidenberg
Originally drafted in the 14^th round (398^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, -2 in rerate.
Seidenberg is a very smooth skater, moves the puck well, and is fundamentally sound. He doesn't exhibit a chippy streak, but he isn't afraid to get hit or mix it up physically.

Lasse Kukkonen
Originally drafted in the 4^th round (105^th overall) in season 2.
Solid defensive player who understand his limitations and plays within his capabilities. Handles all responsibilities in his own end well. Likely will be a depth player.

Adam Hall
Originally drafted in the 10^th round (283^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 71, +1 in rerate.
He's a gritty, physical winger...and his strength in front of the net gives him a lot of chances for garbage goals. He's not a finesse type of a player, but he uses his strength to crash the net and score. With that willingness to sacrifice his body will probably end up as a top 6 forward.

Radim Vrbata
Originally drafted in the 7^th round (201^st overall) in season 1. Originally rated 73, -1 in rerate.
Has tremendous hands and vision, he's got elite skating ability and a good release and knows where to be in order to score goals. Not afraid to take punishment in order to make plays.

Pavel Brendl
Originally drafted in the 16^th round (453^rd overall) in season 1. Originally rated 69, no change in rerate.
A natural goal scorer who sees the ice very well. So much attention gets paid to his marksmanship as a shooter, that it sometimes fails to be mentioned that he has an above-average passing touch, too. Some people feel he's been pushed too quickly in the NHL, that he still has the potential to play top 6 minutes.

Chuck Kobasew
Originally drafted in the 11^th round (313^th overall) in season 1. Originally rated 67, +1 in rerate.
Chuck Kobasew is a hard working and highly talented winger. He has a knack for finding the back of the net and doesn't show any quit. A top drawer prospect in anyone's eyes.

Brent Burns
Originally drafted in the 1^st round (26^th overall) in season 2.
Has tremendous size and skating ability which caused his coach to decide to move him from RW to D as he was mature enough to handle the conversion. Being as he's only recently changed position is very raw for the blueline position, and needs a lot of development time.

Dan Fritsche
Originally drafted in the 2^nd round (45^th overall) in season 2.
Fritsche is a Strong, all-around player, there appears to be no major flaws in his game. He has added an element of grit to his game, making him more of a physical force on the ice than one would expect.

Analysis
The Wiinpeg Jets are an organization that have many analysts, and GM's scratching their heads... In season 1 the team was challenging for a top seed in their conference then it seemed almost all of a sudden the team up and changed it focus , then went and did that a couple more times to where we sit today. GM Talvio has done an admirable job assembling the talent that he has, the group he has now should be able to evolve and turn into a very solid hockey team. Of couse 1 concern has to be what about the fans who have to endure during this self imposed 'growing period'.

Currently the team has 12 players on this prospect list, and also have 8 1^st round picks in the upcoming S3 draft, so no matter how you look at this Winnipeg has a team build for the future.

I hope all of you enjoyed reading this article, this is only my opinion and not meant to cause any problems in the RSHL.

Lisa Guerrero

Sportscaster with Style