I've done all the profiles on the prospects, heres my top 10 based on the guys I covered.
1. Scott Glennie
2. Peter Holland
3. Jeremy Morin
4. Zack Kassian
5. Tomas Tatar
6. Carter Ashton
7. Toni Rajala
8. Ryan Ellis
9. Carl Klingberg
10. Zach Budish
HM. Kyle Palmeri, Joonas Nattinen, Louis Leblanc, Drew Shore, Landon Ferarro
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Who We should Draft (Vol. 4)
Carter Ashton
If there is a guy in this years draft who fits the mold of a Rangers draft pick, its Carter Ashton- high character, very intelligent on the ice (as well as being a fantastic student off the ice) and knows how to play in all three zones. Ashton netted 30 goals for a so so Lethibridge team in the WHL, showing that he has the ability to put the puck in the net. Ashton stands at a legit 6'3" and has a frame that can use some filling out, but he should be able to play at around 220. His dad, Brent Ashton, was a former NHL player who enjoyed a very solid 14 year career in the league - The younger Ashton is more talented than pops.
the downside? Ashton would fit in with the Rangers of right now with his attitude sometimes. Its not a poor one, and he'll never be called lazy but he just doesn't have that battle level that you'd like to see out of a player (opposed to a guy like Klingberg, who isn't as talented but has tremendous battle level.) Ashton also has questionable upside and while he should be able to fill a role on the bottom six if he doesnt pan out as a top six forward, the Rangers really cant afford to miss with this pick.
My Rating (1-10) 6 - I like Ashton and think that he has a reasonable amount of upside to justify taking him with the #19 pick. Hes not going to be the best player available at this spot, though.
Player Comparisons: Dustin Brown
Chances hes around at 19: 90% - someone may take a chance on him earlier, but I doubt it.
Zack Budish
Bust or Boom. You have to be wary about drafting any kid straight out of high school (one of the reasons I want the rangers to stay away from Chris Kreider at 19) but say the Rangers trade down and pick up an additional 2nd round pick, I'd love to take Budish. 6'3" 225 - this dude already has an NHL frame. Hes committed to play hockey at the University of Minnesota next year.
The book on Budish isn;t very long - there isn't a ton of scouting that goes on with the NJHS scene and he missed his entire senior season after tearing his ACL in a football game. The bust potential with kids straight out of HS is extremely high.
My Rating (1-10) 4.5 and may get as high as 8 - Like I said, bust or boom. I love this dudes upside.
Player Comparison: John Leclair
Chances he'll be around at 19 - 100%, chances I'll be pissed if we take him at 19 - 100%
Tomas Tatar
I LOVE this kid. Small, shifty, enthusiastic and just oozing with upside. Tatar put his name on the map by having an excellent, and i mean excellent, World Junior Championship on a very weak team. Hes playing in a pro league in slovakia right now and is more than holding his own.
Like Budish, there isn't much of a book on Tatar. Hes listed at 5'10" and 165 but both are pretty generous.
My Rating (1-10) 6.5 - Really, really like this kid and just by watching him I think he has the type of game that will translate very well to the NHL.
Players comparison - Sergei Samsonov/Brian Gionta hybrid.
Chances hes around at #19 - 100%, hes a kid id love to take with a late first if we trade down. If we took him at 19 there'd be a bit of an outrage, but I believe in this dude.
If there is a guy in this years draft who fits the mold of a Rangers draft pick, its Carter Ashton- high character, very intelligent on the ice (as well as being a fantastic student off the ice) and knows how to play in all three zones. Ashton netted 30 goals for a so so Lethibridge team in the WHL, showing that he has the ability to put the puck in the net. Ashton stands at a legit 6'3" and has a frame that can use some filling out, but he should be able to play at around 220. His dad, Brent Ashton, was a former NHL player who enjoyed a very solid 14 year career in the league - The younger Ashton is more talented than pops.
the downside? Ashton would fit in with the Rangers of right now with his attitude sometimes. Its not a poor one, and he'll never be called lazy but he just doesn't have that battle level that you'd like to see out of a player (opposed to a guy like Klingberg, who isn't as talented but has tremendous battle level.) Ashton also has questionable upside and while he should be able to fill a role on the bottom six if he doesnt pan out as a top six forward, the Rangers really cant afford to miss with this pick.
My Rating (1-10) 6 - I like Ashton and think that he has a reasonable amount of upside to justify taking him with the #19 pick. Hes not going to be the best player available at this spot, though.
Player Comparisons: Dustin Brown
Chances hes around at 19: 90% - someone may take a chance on him earlier, but I doubt it.
Zack Budish
Bust or Boom. You have to be wary about drafting any kid straight out of high school (one of the reasons I want the rangers to stay away from Chris Kreider at 19) but say the Rangers trade down and pick up an additional 2nd round pick, I'd love to take Budish. 6'3" 225 - this dude already has an NHL frame. Hes committed to play hockey at the University of Minnesota next year.
The book on Budish isn;t very long - there isn't a ton of scouting that goes on with the NJHS scene and he missed his entire senior season after tearing his ACL in a football game. The bust potential with kids straight out of HS is extremely high.
My Rating (1-10) 4.5 and may get as high as 8 - Like I said, bust or boom. I love this dudes upside.
Player Comparison: John Leclair
Chances he'll be around at 19 - 100%, chances I'll be pissed if we take him at 19 - 100%
Tomas Tatar
I LOVE this kid. Small, shifty, enthusiastic and just oozing with upside. Tatar put his name on the map by having an excellent, and i mean excellent, World Junior Championship on a very weak team. Hes playing in a pro league in slovakia right now and is more than holding his own.
Like Budish, there isn't much of a book on Tatar. Hes listed at 5'10" and 165 but both are pretty generous.
My Rating (1-10) 6.5 - Really, really like this kid and just by watching him I think he has the type of game that will translate very well to the NHL.
Players comparison - Sergei Samsonov/Brian Gionta hybrid.
Chances hes around at #19 - 100%, hes a kid id love to take with a late first if we trade down. If we took him at 19 there'd be a bit of an outrage, but I believe in this dude.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Who we should draft Vol 3 - Ellis and Klingberg
Yeah, I'm a day late with this. I might do both parts 3 and 4 tonight if I have the time.
Ryan Ellis
Ellis is an interesting player. His draft status seems to rise and fall depending on how people feel on that certain day. I personally like Ryan Ellis and as much as I'd like to stay away from drafting a defenseman again, I think that his abilities are almost too good to pass up. Hes an offensive defenseman who shined at the world junior championships - some have said that he is the best offensive defenseman they've ever seen at the junior level.
Hes undersized and could use much more work in his own end. The first two games of the memorial cup for Ellis have been the worst I've seen him play. Some of that may be due to rust, but it kinda makes you wonder...
My Rating (1-10): 6 - Hed be our best offensive defenseman and is a true PP QB. Our blue line would be the envy of the league and would be the most productive unit in 4-5 years time.
Player Comparison: Sergei Gonchar - I've heard people compare him to Paul Coffey.
Chances he will be around at 19 - 30%: If he really tanks at the memorial cup that percentage will go up but hes so talented him almost sure that some team will snatch him up before we get a chance.
Carl Klingberg
Klingberg is a limited upside player - He doesn't have nearly the celing of a guy like Peter Holland or Zack Kassian but what he does have is a non stop motor, great size, and pretty solid offensive potential. Standing at 6'3", 205 pounds, Klingberg has all the makings of a possible 2nd line powerforward who plays more of a north american game.
The downside? yeah well, he doesn't have that upside you'd liek to see from a first round pick. He isn't a guy Id like the Rangers to pick with their 19th pick. hes a guy I'd be ok with them picking in the late first/early 2nd if they trade down.
My Rating (1-10): 5 - Not a meh pick because I like his game, but hes not a top line guy unless he really takes a step forward soon.
Player comparison: Johan Franzen - Yeah I know hes a first liner for Detroit but he wouldnt be that productive on any other team.
Chances hes around at 19: 100%
Ryan Ellis
Ellis is an interesting player. His draft status seems to rise and fall depending on how people feel on that certain day. I personally like Ryan Ellis and as much as I'd like to stay away from drafting a defenseman again, I think that his abilities are almost too good to pass up. Hes an offensive defenseman who shined at the world junior championships - some have said that he is the best offensive defenseman they've ever seen at the junior level.
Hes undersized and could use much more work in his own end. The first two games of the memorial cup for Ellis have been the worst I've seen him play. Some of that may be due to rust, but it kinda makes you wonder...
My Rating (1-10): 6 - Hed be our best offensive defenseman and is a true PP QB. Our blue line would be the envy of the league and would be the most productive unit in 4-5 years time.
Player Comparison: Sergei Gonchar - I've heard people compare him to Paul Coffey.
Chances he will be around at 19 - 30%: If he really tanks at the memorial cup that percentage will go up but hes so talented him almost sure that some team will snatch him up before we get a chance.
Carl Klingberg
Klingberg is a limited upside player - He doesn't have nearly the celing of a guy like Peter Holland or Zack Kassian but what he does have is a non stop motor, great size, and pretty solid offensive potential. Standing at 6'3", 205 pounds, Klingberg has all the makings of a possible 2nd line powerforward who plays more of a north american game.
The downside? yeah well, he doesn't have that upside you'd liek to see from a first round pick. He isn't a guy Id like the Rangers to pick with their 19th pick. hes a guy I'd be ok with them picking in the late first/early 2nd if they trade down.
My Rating (1-10): 5 - Not a meh pick because I like his game, but hes not a top line guy unless he really takes a step forward soon.
Player comparison: Johan Franzen - Yeah I know hes a first liner for Detroit but he wouldnt be that productive on any other team.
Chances hes around at 19: 100%
Friday, May 15, 2009
Who We should Draft Vol 2 - Glennie, Morin, Rajala
In this installment I'll be covering Scott Glennie, Jeremy Morin and Toni Rajala
Scott Glennie
He's #1 on my list for a reason. His top gear, hands, and offensive instincts are a package of skills that the Rangers desperately need. Hes a very, very good bet to make the NHL and be an extremely useful player. He was seen more as a finisher coming into this season but racked up a ton of assists before missing some time with a broken elbow he suffered in a collision with the net. He came back from the injury and performed very well in the WHL playoffs and was amongst the league leaders in playoff points before his team was eliminated.
Of course, there is a reason he isn't a stone cold lock for the top 10, or even the top 15. He plays a pretty wreckless game and doesn't have the type of frame that allows one to play that type of a game for a prolonged period of time. His injury this year was a fluke but the worry that he'll suffer a more serious one in the Pros that isn't a fluke is a pretty big concern. He also needs to work on his play with out the puck.
My Rating (1-10) 8.5: I'm a huge, huge fan of his game. While the injury concerns are there, I think that not picking a kid because he "might" get hurt is the wrong way to go about things. First line talent all the way.
Chances he'll be around when we pick - 15%. Hes got a chance to go in the top 10 and I'd almost bet on him being taken before pick #15. If he lasts that long, I would jump up a few spots to grab him.
Player Comparison: Mike Gartner-lite if everything breaks right. Geoff Sanderson is a safe comparable, and he happens to be one of my favorite players ever.
Jeremy Morin
Its been an up and down year for Morin. He was in the top 10 of most publications when they released their first draft ranking for the year but as the year went on and questions about his character arose along with his mediocre on ice performance, he fell all the way out of the first round...
until the u-18 tournament.
Jeremy Morin's game is simple - Shoot the puck in the net. Hes arguably the best pure goal scorer in the draft (including John Tavares) and if he had a smoother year with the US NDTP, he would have most likely been the first American selected in the draft. His talent is undeniable, he has a hard, accurate shot that he can get off in a moments notice. He compliments his hard shot with excellent hands around the net, which makes him money on anything below the hashes. His coaches at the NDTP have said that while he doesn't have Kessel's skating ability, hes got the same type of goal scoring instincts, and that he may score even more than Kessel. Hes a better skater with the puck than with out it and has magical hands - a scout noted "Morin could handle the puck in the rain and keep it from getting wet"
His footspeed isn't terrible (better than Tavares'), but hes got to improve it in order to score at the same rate in the NHL. The questions about his attitude and problems with the NTDP have caused his stock to drop, so its important that the Rangers really follow up with him before draft day and make sure they know exactly what they're getting with Morin should they choose to go in that direction.
My Rating (1-10) 8.25: Jeremy Morin is a top 10 talent, but how many times have we heard that term applied to a player who falls for what ever reason and then how often do we see them meeting expectations? It doesn't happen often. With that said, Jeremy Morin has the skills to become a very, very good first line sniper, something that our Orginization lacks.
Player Comparison: Kovalev at the top of his game.
Chances hes around at #19 - 90% - Some team may scoop him up earlier because of his high celing, but he should be around when we pick.
Toni Rajala
if there was one guy who has been a buzz player the last month, its Toni Rajala. Rajala had become some what of a "youtube" sensation over the past years. At first sight you wouldn't think much of him, playing at a very small 5'9" and probably 150 pounds. Though when you see him motor down the wing and unleash a cannon of a shot, especially coming out of a guy his size you start to understand the intrigue. His hands are pretty good, and he isn't afraid to dangle with the puck in traffic.
Of course, his size and strength are not up to par and he's probably 3, closer to 4 years away from the NHL. Hes gone to the traffic areas more than he used to but still doesn;t do it with the regularity that you see the successful smaller guys in the league do it.
My Rating (1-7): 5.5 but could be an 8 - as of right now I think hes a project but hes got some skills for sure. I wouldn't take him at 19 but if we traded down or acquired a late first/early second rounder and he was there, I'd take him.
Player comparison: Jiri Hudler, Brian Gionta, Mattias Tedenby Plus.
Chances hes around at 19 - 100%
Scott Glennie
He's #1 on my list for a reason. His top gear, hands, and offensive instincts are a package of skills that the Rangers desperately need. Hes a very, very good bet to make the NHL and be an extremely useful player. He was seen more as a finisher coming into this season but racked up a ton of assists before missing some time with a broken elbow he suffered in a collision with the net. He came back from the injury and performed very well in the WHL playoffs and was amongst the league leaders in playoff points before his team was eliminated.
Of course, there is a reason he isn't a stone cold lock for the top 10, or even the top 15. He plays a pretty wreckless game and doesn't have the type of frame that allows one to play that type of a game for a prolonged period of time. His injury this year was a fluke but the worry that he'll suffer a more serious one in the Pros that isn't a fluke is a pretty big concern. He also needs to work on his play with out the puck.
My Rating (1-10) 8.5: I'm a huge, huge fan of his game. While the injury concerns are there, I think that not picking a kid because he "might" get hurt is the wrong way to go about things. First line talent all the way.
Chances he'll be around when we pick - 15%. Hes got a chance to go in the top 10 and I'd almost bet on him being taken before pick #15. If he lasts that long, I would jump up a few spots to grab him.
Player Comparison: Mike Gartner-lite if everything breaks right. Geoff Sanderson is a safe comparable, and he happens to be one of my favorite players ever.
Jeremy Morin
Its been an up and down year for Morin. He was in the top 10 of most publications when they released their first draft ranking for the year but as the year went on and questions about his character arose along with his mediocre on ice performance, he fell all the way out of the first round...
until the u-18 tournament.
Jeremy Morin's game is simple - Shoot the puck in the net. Hes arguably the best pure goal scorer in the draft (including John Tavares) and if he had a smoother year with the US NDTP, he would have most likely been the first American selected in the draft. His talent is undeniable, he has a hard, accurate shot that he can get off in a moments notice. He compliments his hard shot with excellent hands around the net, which makes him money on anything below the hashes. His coaches at the NDTP have said that while he doesn't have Kessel's skating ability, hes got the same type of goal scoring instincts, and that he may score even more than Kessel. Hes a better skater with the puck than with out it and has magical hands - a scout noted "Morin could handle the puck in the rain and keep it from getting wet"
His footspeed isn't terrible (better than Tavares'), but hes got to improve it in order to score at the same rate in the NHL. The questions about his attitude and problems with the NTDP have caused his stock to drop, so its important that the Rangers really follow up with him before draft day and make sure they know exactly what they're getting with Morin should they choose to go in that direction.
My Rating (1-10) 8.25: Jeremy Morin is a top 10 talent, but how many times have we heard that term applied to a player who falls for what ever reason and then how often do we see them meeting expectations? It doesn't happen often. With that said, Jeremy Morin has the skills to become a very, very good first line sniper, something that our Orginization lacks.
Player Comparison: Kovalev at the top of his game.
Chances hes around at #19 - 90% - Some team may scoop him up earlier because of his high celing, but he should be around when we pick.
Toni Rajala
if there was one guy who has been a buzz player the last month, its Toni Rajala. Rajala had become some what of a "youtube" sensation over the past years. At first sight you wouldn't think much of him, playing at a very small 5'9" and probably 150 pounds. Though when you see him motor down the wing and unleash a cannon of a shot, especially coming out of a guy his size you start to understand the intrigue. His hands are pretty good, and he isn't afraid to dangle with the puck in traffic.
Of course, his size and strength are not up to par and he's probably 3, closer to 4 years away from the NHL. Hes gone to the traffic areas more than he used to but still doesn;t do it with the regularity that you see the successful smaller guys in the league do it.
My Rating (1-7): 5.5 but could be an 8 - as of right now I think hes a project but hes got some skills for sure. I wouldn't take him at 19 but if we traded down or acquired a late first/early second rounder and he was there, I'd take him.
Player comparison: Jiri Hudler, Brian Gionta, Mattias Tedenby Plus.
Chances hes around at 19 - 100%
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Who We Should Draft Vol. 1 - Kassian and Holland
Its been a while since I last posted an entry. In fact, I think this is my first post since the end of the season one I did a few weeks ago.
I've decided to do a three or four part series highlighting players I'd like for the Rangers to strongly consider drafting. I've mentioned a few of these names a bunch of times but I've never really gotten too deep into who they are and what kind of game they play.
Zack Kassian
Prior to the lock out, a premium was placed on big, physical forwards who could score and the smaller, shiftier forwards were mosly passed on and rarely made a big time impact unless they were really good. With the elimination of the redline and the crack down on obstruction penalties, it is now the smaller, quicker fowards who enjoy success in the league while the bigger, more physical forwards either really have to be able to move (Getzlaf, Carter, Iginla) or they have to be really good at other aspects of the game to make up for their lack of foot speed(Brown, Morrow, Lucic.) Zack Kassian falls into the second group of players.
Zack Kassian can be described in one word: intimidating. Standing at 6'3" and 215 pounds, Kassian is one of the most strongest players in the OHL. A Quick youtube search would allow one to learn very quickly what the tough guys in the OHL have learned the hard way -This dude can throw a punch.
On top of tossing competitors around like pizza dough, Zack Kassian brings much more to the table that make him a very attractive target in this years NHL draft. Kassian played top line minutes on a middle of the pack Peterborough Petes team this season and put up more than a point a game. Kassian Displays a pretty good set of hands and offensive awarness for a guy his size and has a cannon of a slap shot when he has time to let it rip. Hes shown a willingness to drive to the net and stick up for his teammates, regardless of the situation.
On the down side, Kassian's skating is about average to below average right now, which is not uncommon for guys who are as big as he is. Its good enough to get away with on the OHL level but its something that will for sure need to be improved on before he takes the next step to get to the NHL. Hes style of play leads to him taking bad penalties at crucial times, which can become a huge problem in the NHL. There is also question as to how much offensive upside he has and if hes worth taking high in the first round of this years draft considering how deep it is in talent.
My Rating: (1-10) 7 : I'm a fan of Kassian. I think his physical game would be very welcome on the Rangers. If I had a better feeling of him turning into a top 6 guy (Not saying that I don't think he will, but im not comfortable enough to say that I'd bet a testicle on it.) Those who worry about his offensive upside have a legit concern. The intrigue with this pick is that if he were to tap out his potential, hed look awfully good on a line with Evgeny Grachev and Brandon Dubinsky.
Chances he will be around at Pick #19 -60%. ISS has him ranked at exactly 19, but there will be a team out there who will probably be willing to take him earlier than that, perhaps even as high as 10. Infact, if he is around at pick #18, I bet the Habs take him.
Player Comparison: Todd Bertuzzi if all goes well. I think hes got a decent chance of becoming a Dustin Brown type player.
Peter Holland
I've been high on Peter Holland since the first time I heard of him. The more time passes (Holland hasn't played a game in months, mind you) the more I warm up to the thought of drafting him.
The first thing that stands out about Holland are his skills. Hes got good size, is a very good skater has a great shot that he learning to use more and a very sound defensive game. He's the type of guy who can score a PP goal and follow it up with a Short Handed goal the next minute if his team were to take a penalty. If you catch him on a good day, itd be hard not to compare him to a guy like Eric Staal. He's calm and collected, the word panic is not in his vernacular.
Unfortunatley for Holland, that last strength is also one of his weaknesses. There are times where he looks a little disinterested on the Ice or that he lacks intensity. He isn't a guy who drives the net with regularity or really uses his size/speed combo well enough to really exploit the advantage he has over kids in the OHL. The good news for Holland is that these things are easily fixable, and hes got the attitude to get it done.
My Rating (1-10) 7.5: Its a skaters league and Holland can move. Holland really strikes me as a guy who will fly under the radar a bit on draft day (he won't slide out of the first round, or probably even the top 20) but will break out in a big way next year and make people wonder why he fell that far in the first place ala Cody Hodgson. I know the Rangers are stacked with Centers but chances are that they'll need another one in 2 or 3 years. If they want to go with Holland on Draft day, they've got my approval to do so (not that they need it, but there will be atleast one guy who isn't a family members of his who will not be bitching about this pick if it happens)
Chances he'll be around at #19: 75% - Again, it doesn't help that Montreal is looking to add size too their roster but they may value one of the other big guys in this part of the first round more. ISS actually had him at 11, but its very, very unlikely that he goes that high.
Player Comparison: Eric Staal/Jeff Carter type if all goes well. More likely to develop into a Jason Arnott type.
I've decided to do a three or four part series highlighting players I'd like for the Rangers to strongly consider drafting. I've mentioned a few of these names a bunch of times but I've never really gotten too deep into who they are and what kind of game they play.
Zack Kassian
Prior to the lock out, a premium was placed on big, physical forwards who could score and the smaller, shiftier forwards were mosly passed on and rarely made a big time impact unless they were really good. With the elimination of the redline and the crack down on obstruction penalties, it is now the smaller, quicker fowards who enjoy success in the league while the bigger, more physical forwards either really have to be able to move (Getzlaf, Carter, Iginla) or they have to be really good at other aspects of the game to make up for their lack of foot speed(Brown, Morrow, Lucic.) Zack Kassian falls into the second group of players.
Zack Kassian can be described in one word: intimidating. Standing at 6'3" and 215 pounds, Kassian is one of the most strongest players in the OHL. A Quick youtube search would allow one to learn very quickly what the tough guys in the OHL have learned the hard way -This dude can throw a punch.
On top of tossing competitors around like pizza dough, Zack Kassian brings much more to the table that make him a very attractive target in this years NHL draft. Kassian played top line minutes on a middle of the pack Peterborough Petes team this season and put up more than a point a game. Kassian Displays a pretty good set of hands and offensive awarness for a guy his size and has a cannon of a slap shot when he has time to let it rip. Hes shown a willingness to drive to the net and stick up for his teammates, regardless of the situation.
On the down side, Kassian's skating is about average to below average right now, which is not uncommon for guys who are as big as he is. Its good enough to get away with on the OHL level but its something that will for sure need to be improved on before he takes the next step to get to the NHL. Hes style of play leads to him taking bad penalties at crucial times, which can become a huge problem in the NHL. There is also question as to how much offensive upside he has and if hes worth taking high in the first round of this years draft considering how deep it is in talent.
My Rating: (1-10) 7 : I'm a fan of Kassian. I think his physical game would be very welcome on the Rangers. If I had a better feeling of him turning into a top 6 guy (Not saying that I don't think he will, but im not comfortable enough to say that I'd bet a testicle on it.) Those who worry about his offensive upside have a legit concern. The intrigue with this pick is that if he were to tap out his potential, hed look awfully good on a line with Evgeny Grachev and Brandon Dubinsky.
Chances he will be around at Pick #19 -60%. ISS has him ranked at exactly 19, but there will be a team out there who will probably be willing to take him earlier than that, perhaps even as high as 10. Infact, if he is around at pick #18, I bet the Habs take him.
Player Comparison: Todd Bertuzzi if all goes well. I think hes got a decent chance of becoming a Dustin Brown type player.
Peter Holland
I've been high on Peter Holland since the first time I heard of him. The more time passes (Holland hasn't played a game in months, mind you) the more I warm up to the thought of drafting him.
The first thing that stands out about Holland are his skills. Hes got good size, is a very good skater has a great shot that he learning to use more and a very sound defensive game. He's the type of guy who can score a PP goal and follow it up with a Short Handed goal the next minute if his team were to take a penalty. If you catch him on a good day, itd be hard not to compare him to a guy like Eric Staal. He's calm and collected, the word panic is not in his vernacular.
Unfortunatley for Holland, that last strength is also one of his weaknesses. There are times where he looks a little disinterested on the Ice or that he lacks intensity. He isn't a guy who drives the net with regularity or really uses his size/speed combo well enough to really exploit the advantage he has over kids in the OHL. The good news for Holland is that these things are easily fixable, and hes got the attitude to get it done.
My Rating (1-10) 7.5: Its a skaters league and Holland can move. Holland really strikes me as a guy who will fly under the radar a bit on draft day (he won't slide out of the first round, or probably even the top 20) but will break out in a big way next year and make people wonder why he fell that far in the first place ala Cody Hodgson. I know the Rangers are stacked with Centers but chances are that they'll need another one in 2 or 3 years. If they want to go with Holland on Draft day, they've got my approval to do so (not that they need it, but there will be atleast one guy who isn't a family members of his who will not be bitching about this pick if it happens)
Chances he'll be around at #19: 75% - Again, it doesn't help that Montreal is looking to add size too their roster but they may value one of the other big guys in this part of the first round more. ISS actually had him at 11, but its very, very unlikely that he goes that high.
Player Comparison: Eric Staal/Jeff Carter type if all goes well. More likely to develop into a Jason Arnott type.
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