NHL Central Scouting Midterm rankings

[MrBoDangles]

Walker?

Should have stayed in the Hockey hotbed of Minnesota so he could have been noticed like his buddies at Edina.

[spectatorfun]

I think that if Iverson had to do it over he would have stayed too. He would have been better off in Minnesota where he could have played and got better. I think they promised him a lot but it is a sales job.

[Stick Save]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=699869

3 projected first rounders from Minnesota with Glover at 27, Dougherty at 29 and Collins at 32

The highest High school player is Snuggerud at 61 followed by Slattery at 67 and Spinner at 70.
Pleasant surprise to see Miguel Fidler at 180. Was not expecting to see him on here.

Pretty light for guys playing High school in minnesota it seems

Looks like Keegan Iverson is 64... Played at Breck before Portland.

Probably would have ranked higher if he had stayed in high school. Hasn't really found his niche at Portland.

Probably... not.

I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night - with the varying levels of competition, range of skill on team rosters, and the short season. These factors can only have a negative effect on a professional teams draft decisions.

I am not sure where Keegan will land come draft day as this is nothing more than a mid-term report, but I would make the case that he will rank more accurately - and likely higher, than he would by staying in MN. They are competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night.

And I know for sure he is getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley. Hate to break that to us Minnesotans, but...

[green4]

Looks like Keegan Iverson is 64... Played at Breck before Portland.

Probably would have ranked higher if he had stayed in high school. Hasn't really found his niche at Portland.

Probably... not.

I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night - with the varying levels of competition, range of skill on team rosters, and the short season. These factors can only have a negative effect on a professional teams draft decisions.

I am not sure where Keegan will land come draft day as this is nothing more than a mid-term report, but I would make the case that he will rank more accurately - and likely higher, than he would by staying in MN. They are competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night.

And I know for sure he is getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley. Hate to break that to us Minnesotans, but...

I agree he will be more likely to be ranked accurately in the WHL when he is "competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night." and "getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley" but I disagree that will get him ranked higher.
Playing against some of the best kids in his age group could expose some of his weaknesses and lower his draft stock. Compared to playing here in Minnesota where he would be a dominate force and would be tough to see some of his weaknesses and like you said "I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night" That probably hurts your chances a little bit but how far would you drop him for playing in the high school leagues? Its too hard to tell because the league is so inconsistent. You obviously don't want to miss out on a big time player by ranking them too low but you have to be conservative at the same time.
In the end if he had stayed and looks like an amazing player but know he is a risk because of the league he plays in they will demote him a little bit but some team will be tempted to take him before what? the 4th round like he is right now.
My point is because its so hard to accurately rank players in the high school league he could be mistaken as a better player than he is and thus be drafted higher here in Minnesota compared to the WHL
Just my thoughts

[spectatorfun]

Totally agree. That is why it is better for these kids to stay here and not be tempted by the WHL. Minnesota kids are better off staying at home and not going to the WHl. Iverson and Walker are perfect examples of reasons not to go. Stay home!

[MrBoDangles]

Looks like Keegan Iverson is 64... Played at Breck before Portland.

Probably would have ranked higher if he had stayed in high school. Hasn't really found his niche at Portland.

Probably... not.

I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night - with the varying levels of competition, range of skill on team rosters, and the short season. These factors can only have a negative effect on a professional teams draft decisions.

I am not sure where Keegan will land come draft day as this is nothing more than a mid-term report, but I would make the case that he will rank more accurately - and likely higher, than he would by staying in MN. They are competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night.

And I know for sure he is getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley. Hate to break that to us Minnesotans, but...

He (Iverson) was projected as a possible first rounder pretty much on arrival at Portland. What has changed since then?

How about Walker? Great talent! But now three of his former Edina teammates are in the NHL's rankings and Walker is nowhere to be found playing in the CHL.

I've seen plenty of kids dominate against the best out there in their birthyear, but then seem very average playing against only year older kids. They're great hockey players that need time to mature. 15/16 year old trying to step into the CHL is going to be a bad move more times than not.

Seems that the opposite of what you say is true.

[Stick Save]

Probably would have ranked higher if he had stayed in high school. Hasn't really found his niche at Portland.

Probably... not.

I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night - with the varying levels of competition, range of skill on team rosters, and the short season. These factors can only have a negative effect on a professional teams draft decisions.

I am not sure where Keegan will land come draft day as this is nothing more than a mid-term report, but I would make the case that he will rank more accurately - and likely higher, than he would by staying in MN. They are competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night.

And I know for sure he is getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley. Hate to break that to us Minnesotans, but...

He (Iverson) was projected as a possible first rounder pretty much on arrival at Portland. What has changed since then?

How about Walker? Great talent! But now three of his former Edina teammates are in the NHL's rankings and Walker is nowhere to be found playing in the CHL.

I've seen plenty of kids dominate against the best out there in their birthyear, but then seem very average playing against only year older kids. They're great hockey players that need time to mature. 15/16 year old trying to step into the CHL is going to be a bad move more times than not.

Seems that the opposite of what you say is true.

I understand your points, it just seems we are finding it far too easy to take two kids and assume what could or would have been had they stayed home. These players draft rankings are all very fluid right now, right up until draft day. As far as Iverson being projected in the 1st round, no draft projecting done prior to this year for the '96 class is really worth a darn. He is still a high 3rd round projection right in with Snuggerud and Slattery.

As for Walker he may be drafted or he may not, but this is just his 1st year of eligibility, and there is no way of knowing if his rating would have been higher or lower if he stayed at Edina.

But let's keep in mind that whether you're drafted in the 1st, 3rd or 6th round, you still will have to make it happen at your local NHL training camp...and a player's hidden weaknesses will certainly be exposed there. So this is where accurate draft ranking, at least beyond the top 40, sort of becomes less important in my mind.

[DrGaf]

Is this list automatically updated? I don't see lil Gaf on there.

[teamduster]

One thing is certain you won't see anyone like Blake Wheeler come out of Minnesota High School hockey for years and years if ever.

Walker plays over 80 games and at Edina what does he play 28 games

And you can get drafted as a 19 and 20 year old happens all the time.

How does playing at Edina increase his odds of being drafted?

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

[MrBoDangles]

One thing is certain you won't see anyone like Blake Wheeler come out of Minnesota High School hockey for years and years if ever.

Walker plays over 80 games and at Edina what does he play 28 games

And you can get drafted as a 19 and 20 year old happens all the time.

How does playing at Edina increase his odds of being drafted?

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

We just had three first round draft choices in 2010. One year! Bjugstad is is really starting to turn it on this year.

Less games, but are still on the ice almost every day with practice. Add up the Elite league games and other Summer teams and...... On the ice plenty.

You can get drafted at older ages here, too.

Look at Walker's three buddies at Edina. Was Walker that much less of a player when compared to them? Why not on the list?

"Top four rounds"??? They were at the top of their year class here in Minnesota which usually means first or second round. I know Vancouver was a terrible team last year, but they inserted the little freshman into the first line in his first game. Wasn't he a third liner at Benilde?

The CHL and USHL should play some games....... There's a reason for the steady climb (now over 30%) of Americans/Canadians that make it to the NHL through college hockey. And a college degree is the big bonus!!

[almostashappy]

And a college degree is the big bonus!!

So what's the hockey equivalent of hanging a curve ball?

Cue scorekeeper and his enthusiastic description of the WHL college scholarship program in three, two, one.....

More to the topic, I'm interested how MN kids have moved up or down in the rankings since the preseason list came out (both those playing HS hockey and those who are not).

[gitter]

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

Those are marginal stats, even in the CHL as a rookie.

The bottom line is, if you're good enough, it doesn't matter where you play, someday you'll play hockey 24/7.

This is a very good read, by someone who has more hockey IQ than 99.99% of this "Bored".

http://www.letsplayhockey.com/online-ed ... -wait.html

[Stick Save]

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

Those are marginal stats, even in the CHL as a rookie.

The bottom line is, if you're good enough, it doesn't matter where you play, someday you'll play hockey 24/7.

This is a very good read, by someone who has more hockey IQ than 99.99% of this "Bored".

http://www.letsplayhockey.com/online-ed ... -wait.html

Looked up Scoring Leader stats on the 218 WHL rookies. Rookie does not mean 16 years old, but instead their 1st year in the league. Was pleasantly surprised to see Tommy Vannelli is currently 4th in the league in rookie scoring with 33 points! But he will turn 19 before his rookie season ends. 16-year olds Baer and Gabrielle are ranked 25th, and 39th respectively.

If you filter the list to only show 1997 birth years (16s), here are the top-10 rookies:

1. Mathew Barzal
2. Tyler Soy
3. Giorgio Estephan
4. Glenn Gawdin
5. Alec Baer
6. Adam Musil
7. Matteo Gennaro
8. Jansen Harkins
9. Keoni Texeira
10. Jesse Gabrielle

So if you consider those as marginal stats in this league, well ok then!

[Shinbone_News]

Probably would have ranked higher if he had stayed in high school. Hasn't really found his niche at Portland.

Probably... not.

I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night - with the varying levels of competition, range of skill on team rosters, and the short season. These factors can only have a negative effect on a professional teams draft decisions.

I am not sure where Keegan will land come draft day as this is nothing more than a mid-term report, but I would make the case that he will rank more accurately - and likely higher, than he would by staying in MN. They are competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night.

And I know for sure he is getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley. Hate to break that to us Minnesotans, but...

I agree he will be more likely to be ranked accurately in the WHL when he is "competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night." and "getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley" but I disagree that will get him ranked higher.
Playing against some of the best kids in his age group could expose some of his weaknesses and lower his draft stock. Compared to playing here in Minnesota where he would be a dominate force and would be tough to see some of his weaknesses and like you said "I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night" That probably hurts your chances a little bit but how far would you drop him for playing in the high school leagues? Its too hard to tell because the league is so inconsistent. You obviously don't want to miss out on a big time player by ranking them too low but you have to be conservative at the same time.
In the end if he had stayed and looks like an amazing player but know he is a risk because of the league he plays in they will demote him a little bit but some team will be tempted to take him before what? the 4th round like he is right now.
My point is because its so hard to accurately rank players in the high school league he could be mistaken as a better player than he is and thus be drafted higher here in Minnesota compared to the WHL
Just my thoughts

I was on the record as being an Iverson skeptic.

Until he got MVP at last years prospects game. Pretty sure that's exposure on a level with being a stud at single-A Breck. The truth is he's got size and brawn enough that he'll do fine as a grinder all the way up to the show. IMHO.

[puckbreath]

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

Those are marginal stats, even in the CHL as a rookie.

The bottom line is, if you're good enough, it doesn't matter where you play, someday you'll play hockey 24/7.

This is a very good read, by someone who has more hockey IQ than 99.99% of this "Bored".

http://www.letsplayhockey.com/online-ed ... -wait.html

Looked up Scoring Leader stats on the 218 WHL rookies. Rookie does not mean 16 years old, but instead their 1st year in the league. Was pleasantly surprised to see Tommy Vannelli is currently 4th in the league in rookie scoring with 33 points! But he will turn 19 before his rookie season ends. 16-year olds Baer and Gabrielle are ranked 25th, and 39th respectively.

If you filter the list to only show 1997 birth years (16s), here are the top-10 rookies:

1. Mathew Barzal
2. Tyler Soy
3. Giorgio Estephan
4. Glenn Gawdin
5. Alec Baer
6. Adam Musil
7. Matteo Gennaro
8. Jansen Harkins
9. Keoni Texeira
10. Jesse Gabrielle

So if you consider those as marginal stats in this league, well ok then!

What's strange about him, is that even with all those points, he's still a -3 !?!

[puckbreath]

Probably... not.

I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night - with the varying levels of competition, range of skill on team rosters, and the short season. These factors can only have a negative effect on a professional teams draft decisions.

I am not sure where Keegan will land come draft day as this is nothing more than a mid-term report, but I would make the case that he will rank more accurately - and likely higher, than he would by staying in MN. They are competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night.

And I know for sure he is getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley. Hate to break that to us Minnesotans, but...

I agree he will be more likely to be ranked accurately in the WHL when he is "competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night." and "getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley" but I disagree that will get him ranked higher.
Playing against some of the best kids in his age group could expose some of his weaknesses and lower his draft stock. Compared to playing here in Minnesota where he would be a dominate force and would be tough to see some of his weaknesses and like you said "I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night" That probably hurts your chances a little bit but how far would you drop him for playing in the high school leagues? Its too hard to tell because the league is so inconsistent. You obviously don't want to miss out on a big time player by ranking them too low but you have to be conservative at the same time.
In the end if he had stayed and looks like an amazing player but know he is a risk because of the league he plays in they will demote him a little bit but some team will be tempted to take him before what? the 4th round like he is right now.
My point is because its so hard to accurately rank players in the high school league he could be mistaken as a better player than he is and thus be drafted higher here in Minnesota compared to the WHL
Just my thoughts

I was on the record as being an Iverson skeptic.

Until he got MVP at last years prospects game. Pretty sure that's exposure on a level with being a stud at single-A Breck. The truth is he's got size and brawn enough that he'll do fine as a grinder all the way up to the show. IMHO.

I was skeptical of his winning that award at the time, and still am.

[teamduster]

other than the top 30 players

after that anything can happen

wasn't Besse ranked 255

[puckbreath]

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

Those are marginal stats, even in the CHL as a rookie.

The bottom line is, if you're good enough, it doesn't matter where you play, someday you'll play hockey 24/7.

This is a very good read, by someone who has more hockey IQ than 99.99% of this "Bored".

http://www.letsplayhockey.com/online-ed ... -wait.html

Money quote; “Unfortunately these days, even more so than when I was in high school, parents are living vicariously through their kids and are chasing something that is not there.”

[gitter]

Looked up Scoring Leader stats on the 218 WHL rookies. Rookie does not mean 16 years old, but instead their 1st year in the league. Was pleasantly surprised to see Tommy Vannelli is currently 4th in the league in rookie scoring with 33 points! But he will turn 19 before his rookie season ends. 16-year olds Baer and Gabrielle are ranked 25th, and 39th respectively.

If you filter the list to only show 1997 birth years (16s), here are the top-10 rookies:

1. Mathew Barzal
2. Tyler Soy
3. Giorgio Estephan
4. Glenn Gawdin
5. Alec Baer
6. Adam Musil
7. Matteo Gennaro
8. Jansen Harkins
9. Keoni Texeira
10. Jesse Gabrielle

So if you consider those as marginal stats in this league, well ok then!

Don't forget there is the O and Q up there too. Vanelli's 33 is pretty solid for a rookie defenseman.

[Stick Save]

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

Those are marginal stats, even in the CHL as a rookie.

The bottom line is, if you're good enough, it doesn't matter where you play, someday you'll play hockey 24/7.

This is a very good read, by someone who has more hockey IQ than 99.99% of this "Bored".

http://www.letsplayhockey.com/online-ed ... -wait.html

Trent Klatt's interview really could have been great. To hear about his own experience in the decisions and route he took to realize his dream is a great story. It would be a great viewpoint, from a great player, to have in the back pocket to share with a family faced with their HS/Junior Hockey decisions. If they are feeling immense pressure, they don't need to. Stay home.

Instead Klatt ends up jeering down the road of ultimate knowledge with this statement, "With years of experience in all levels of hockey, Klatt has come to the conclusion that [ALL] players should stay and play in high school rather than moving up early."

It was hard at that point to read much further as you pretty much know what will follow; that playing junior hockey is way too much pressure for any, and all players; that all of these parents are living vicariously through their kids; and that every kid will be "sacrificing everything" to go and try and realize their dream outside of Dr. Klatt's universal Minnhock prescription.

"The University of Minnesota’s Jake Bischoff is proof that staying to play in high school will not hinder a player’s development." - Proof? Does poor Jake know that he is now the only proof needed for all MN hockey players that will ever live? Talk about pressure.

The whole premise that all kids leave for juniors as a result of their dysfunctional parents is utter nonsense. They don't chain up the Minnesota players in the WHL or other junior leagues as far as I know. The Iversons and Walkers are still playing there, I don't think against their will. But for all I know their Dad's won't let them back home...at least without an NHL mid-term draft ranking.

Again, the article could have been great. Great player! 99.99% IQ for the rest of us? - Nah.

[puckbreath]

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

Those are marginal stats, even in the CHL as a rookie.

The bottom line is, if you're good enough, it doesn't matter where you play, someday you'll play hockey 24/7.

This is a very good read, by someone who has more hockey IQ than 99.99% of this "Bored".

http://www.letsplayhockey.com/online-ed ... -wait.html

Trent Klatt's interview really could have been great. To hear about his own experience in the decisions and route he took to realize his dream is a great story. It would be a great viewpoint, from a great player, to have in the back pocket to share with a family faced with their HS/Junior Hockey decisions. If they are feeling immense pressure, they don't need to. Stay home.

Instead Klatt ends up jeering down the road of ultimate knowledge with this statement, "With years of experience in all levels of hockey, Klatt has come to the conclusion that [ALL] players should stay and play in high school rather than moving up early."

It was hard at that point to read much further as you pretty much know what will follow; that playing junior hockey is way too much pressure for any, and all players; that all of these parents are living vicariously through their kids; and that every kid will be "sacrificing everything" to go and try and realize their dream outside of Dr. Klatt's universal Minnhock prescription.

"The University of Minnesota’s Jake Bischoff is proof that staying to play in high school will not hinder a player’s development." - Proof? Does poor Jake know that he is now the only proof needed for all MN hockey players that will ever live? Talk about pressure.

The whole premise that all kids leave for juniors as a result of their dysfunctional parents is utter nonsense. They don't chain up the Minnesota players in the WHL or other junior leagues as far as I know. The Iversons and Walkers are still playing there, I don't think against their will. But for all I know their Dad's won't let them back home...at least without an NHL mid-term draft ranking.

Again, the article could have been great. Great player! 99.99% IQ for the rest of us? - Nah.

I agree, it isn't all. It's only 99.9%

[Stick Save]

Gabrielle and Baer will be in the top 4 rounds of the draft next year should they have stayed at Eagan or Benilde??

Baer has 15 pts in 37 games
Gabrielle has 11 pts in 23 games

Pretty good stats for rookies in the toughest junior hockey league in the world.

Those are marginal stats, even in the CHL as a rookie.

The bottom line is, if you're good enough, it doesn't matter where you play, someday you'll play hockey 24/7.

This is a very good read, by someone who has more hockey IQ than 99.99% of this "Bored".

http://www.letsplayhockey.com/online-ed ... -wait.html

It would only seem fitting that Klatt should come home and coach HS hockey, instead of all of the other really bad interests outside our state. Curt Giles in all of his years of experience, at all levels of hockey (895 NHL GP), should conclude that all former MN NHL'ers should come back home and coach HS hockey. Every other decision is a bad one because it is not the path he took, and he is the proof.

Let's Play Hockey would gleefully publish it. Klatt, respectively, could then serve a lifetime seat on the MN Coaches Association...where he would be in good company.

Sorry, getting a bit carried away here. All in fun!

[bafata88]

I agree he will be more likely to be ranked accurately in the WHL when he is "competing with, and against some of the best players in the world on any given night." and "getting 50 times the looks playing in Portland, than he would be in Golden Valley" but I disagree that will get him ranked higher.
Playing against some of the best kids in his age group could expose some of his weaknesses and lower his draft stock. Compared to playing here in Minnesota where he would be a dominate force and would be tough to see some of his weaknesses and like you said "I haven't met a hockey scout that doesn't share the opinion that evaluating HS players is like a crap shoot on any given night" That probably hurts your chances a little bit but how far would you drop him for playing in the high school leagues? Its too hard to tell because the league is so inconsistent. You obviously don't want to miss out on a big time player by ranking them too low but you have to be conservative at the same time.
In the end if he had stayed and looks like an amazing player but know he is a risk because of the league he plays in they will demote him a little bit but some team will be tempted to take him before what? the 4th round like he is right now.
My point is because its so hard to accurately rank players in the high school league he could be mistaken as a better player than he is and thus be drafted higher here in Minnesota compared to the WHL
Just my thoughts

I was on the record as being an Iverson skeptic.

Until he got MVP at last years prospects game. Pretty sure that's exposure on a level with being a stud at single-A Breck. The truth is he's got size and brawn enough that he'll do fine as a grinder all the way up to the show. IMHO.

I was skeptical of his winning that award at the time, and still am.

And your skepticism is based on what?

[nobama]

captain turnover would be 1 cause for concern for anyone afflicted with that disease

[puckbreath]

I was on the record as being an Iverson skeptic.

Until he got MVP at last years prospects game. Pretty sure that's exposure on a level with being a stud at single-A Breck. The truth is he's got size and brawn enough that he'll do fine as a grinder all the way up to the show. IMHO.

I was skeptical of his winning that award at the time, and still am.

And your skepticism is based on what?

The same thing as his coach said; other players were just as deserving.

If not more deserving (that's mine).

But at least he's modest

"But I think I did pretty well. I was really happy with the way I played and it was a great performance.

"I'm really proud of myself."