Ice Scoopz: Bottom 15 Picks NHL Entry Draft 2010

#15. Boston Bruins - John McFarland –LW/C– Sudbury – OHL
ISS – 39
CS – 15 NA
HN – 20
+ Top End Talent + Major League Shot
- Selfish - Bad Additude
- Poor Work Ethic
John McFarland is an intriging prospect as he once was highly touted and expected to go in the top 5 but now he continues to slip down the rankings and could possibly be a 2nd round pick now. The reason for the slip is because of some of his character flaws such as his lack of commitment to his team and his lack of effort most nights. Many believe this lack of effort is due to him not wanting to be in Sudbury with the Wolves and would be a different story if he were on a contender. Theres no doubt McFarland has incredible talent but only he decides when he wants to use it. He’s got an incredible release to go with his NHL calibre shot and he knows how to use his frame in traffic. He also has good hockey IQ but he struggles to find or use his teamates. The Boston Bruins have 2 top half first round draft picks so their able to take a gamble on the enigmatic McFarland. With some good coaching, tough love and maturing they might be able to steal a gem.

#16. Ottawa Senators - Jeff Skinner – RW/C – Kitchener Rangers – OHL
ISS – 9
CS – 34 NA
HN – 25
+ Hard Worker + Natural Finisher
+ Great Shot + 3 Steps Ahead
- No Second Gear - Poor Skater
Jeff Skinner has often been compared to Dany Heatley as they have the same pure goal scoring talent. The Ottawa Senators would love to add a goal scoring replacement to help boost their woeful offense and complement Jason Spezza. Skinner could easily be that guy. Many scouts are saying he’s the most underrated player in the draft and could/should be a top 10 guy. He has great vision and can see plays before the puck even gets to him. He loves to get to open space and tee off. A 50 goal scorer in the OHL. The only knocks on his game is that he also can be compared to Dany Heatley’s speed and skating abilitys. His skating is still rough around the edges but his strength and hockey IQ compensate as he still finds time and space to score.

#17. Colorado Avalanche - Derek Forbot – D – US Development Program
ISS – 10
CS - 9 NA
HN – 11
+ Big Time Size + Great skater
+ Very Mobile
- Not Physical - Hard to Project
Derek Forbot is a monster of a kid at 6’5” and 200 lbs. His size has scouts drooling is an understatment. For a big defenseman however he is a great skater and also an underated puck mover. His mobility is a surprise to many scouts and his offensive abilities are still quite raw. His defensive abilities on the other hand are above average. His main downside is that he doesn’t have a physical side to him. For a 6’5” frame he is fairly soft. He still has a lot to learn and the bright side is he’s eager to listen. Some good coaching will drastically help. Another downside to Forbot is he’s hard to project. He could just be another middle of the pack big bodied defenseman or a monster of a gem in this draft. The Avalanche will continue to add to their defensive core as the next wave is set to begin a changing of the guards on Colorado’s backend. Colorado could have a defensive cornerstone for the future or just a large depth clog, hopefully not the latter.


#18. Nashville Predators - Teemu Pulkkinen – LW/RW – Jokerit – SM LIIGA
ISS – 48
CS – 17 INT
HN – 50
+ Pure Goal Scorer + Laser Shot
+ Dominating Grown Men
- Poor Skating - Doesn’t Do The Dirty Work
It’s a known fact that Teemu Pulkkinen can score, he’s been doing that all season long amongst men. He managed to put up 41 points in 17 games played. Did I mentioned he scored 20 goals? He has a laser of a shot which he can release in a split second to the back of the net. He’s been compared to Teemu Selanne with a lot less foot speed. He’s not a great skater and is not one to battle for space or time but goals seam to come easy anyway. His shoot first ask questions later tendencies make it hard for him to play with fellow goal scrorers and to make best use of his abilities it would be wise to pair him with a playmaking first center. The Nashville Predators are desperate for offense and Pulkkinen could be that sniper they were waiting for.

#19. Los Angeles Kings - Emerson Etem – RW – Medicine Hat – WHL
ISS – 18
CS – 8 NA
HN – 17
+ Speed to Burn + Californian Native
+ Creates Own Chances
- Flys Solo - Defensive Play Liability
Everybody loves a draft day feel good story and this has the potential to be one. Emerson Etem is a Long Beach native and the Kings would love to have their first ever 1st round Californian on their roster. The Kings and Wayne Gretzky are the sole reasons why hockey exists in LA and by drafting Emerson Etem the cycle continues. Feel good story aside Emerson Etem has incredible game breaking speed and is probably the fastest skater in the draft so that alone is tempting to a team needing help for the future on the wing. Etems speed also creates most of his own chances for him. He managed to score 37 goals as a rookie in a dry low scoring WHL so there is potential for more. The only thing that should be troubling about this prospect is the fact he is awful away from the puck. He doesn’t have the same drive to regain possession. He also needs to learn to use his linemates more, something that could increase hims numbers drastically.

#20. Pittsburgh Penguins - Ludvig Rensfeldt – LW – Brynas Jr. – SWE-JR
ISS – 27
CS – 5 INT
HN – 32
+ Size and Skill Combo + Great Skater
- Not Exciting to Watch - Inconsistent
Rensfedlt has a great combination of skill and size. At 6’3” he has the size to become a great goal scoring power forward. He fits the bill as he’s not overly flashy or exciting to watch but none the less he gets the job done when it matters. Many scouts are saying his consistency is a major issue, as one night he can dominate but the next night you can’t tell if he’s actually playing or not. He should take the next step and join the SEL next season to continue his development and only then will scouts see his true talent levels. He’s a bit of a risk but his size and talent make it hard for scouts to pass incase he could be the next big thing. The Pittsburgh Penguins need a gritty crease crashing forward to replace Ruslan Fedotenko and Bill Guerin when his time is up. Pittsburgh needs to restock their cupboards starting with the left side it only makes sense to try and grab a potential 1st line powerhouse forward.

#21. Detroit Red Wings - Patrik Nemeth – D AIK Jr – SWE JR
ISS – 37
CS – 11 INT
HN – NR
+ Devestating Hitter + Shut Down Or Offense
+ Strong
- Relatively Unknown - Inconsistent
The Detroit Red Wings are known for their draft day steals and drafting abilities. This year the trend will continue as they will look to replace longtime Star and future Hall Of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom on the blueline. Patrik Nemeth could very well be that guy. Nemeth is extremely unrated and at #21 could be a steal of the first round. He is a very well rounded defensman and it’s very hard to pick out what he does best. Many scouts are saying his physical play and shut down abilities could be the factor and especially the factor that means most to Detroit. He still can find the back of the net but isn’t a flashy player. He struggled to find his game last season and shot on to the radar this season as he worked on his consistency so his stock still is low allowing him to slip late in the first round.

#22. Phoenix Coyotes - Quinton Howden – C/LW – Moose Jaw – WHL
ISS – 16
CS – 19 NA
HN – 23
+ Two-Way + Shut Down Specialist
+ Offensive Upside
- Checking Line Typecast - Weak Shot
Quinton Howden is one of the most complete players in the 2010 Entry Draft. He is a solid two-way player who has some offensive upside. Many scouts still believe he is destined to be a future third line NHLer but many also believe he still has a lot of room to develop. His offensive upside really showed during Moose Jaw’s playoff run where he managed to impress everyone with 20 points in only 10 games. Not bad for a checking line player. Ether way the Phoenix Coyotes would be happy at being able to draft a checking line shut down specialist with an offensive flair as their special teams and roleplayers need replenishing badly. With a little luck Howden could pan out to be a top line player than can be used in all situations.

#23. Buffalo Sabres - Jonathan Merrill - D – US Development Program
ISS – 11
CS – 21 NA
HN – 31
+ Nerves Of Steel + Well Rounded
+ Great With The Puck
- Immature - Off Ice Troubles
- Not Overly Physical
Jonathan Merrill is yet another big pucking moving blueliner from the United States. His frame has yet to comepletely fill out but yet he is a man amongst boys. He’s terrific with the puck in almost every situation and doesn’t have that panic factor many of his other towering blueliners have. He isn’t overly physical but he uses enough force to get the job done. He is an all round situation player and some scouts have even said they wouldn’t be surprised if he surpased many of his peers in the future. There is possible additude issues however as he was suspended for violating team rules but it was recently aired that is was over several girls complaining of sexual harassment from Merrill and another player. Merrill has said it was just “fooling around” and “hazing” the girls. That being said the Sabre might want to take a risk with Merrill as they could use some more defensive help and Merrill would fit in perfectly alongside Tyler Myers as a calming presence.

#24. Atlanta Thrashers - Kirill Kabanov – RW – Moncton – QMJHL
ISS – 45
CS – 31 NA
HN – 38
+ Elite Offensive Star + Crafty
+ No “Russian Factor” + Great Skater
- Selfish - Possible attitude Problems
- Defensively Unaware
No player in this year draft has as much contraversy and mystic around him than Kirill Kabanov. Kabanov at one point last season was ahead of the draft and still is thought to be one of the most talented players avaliable. A combination of bad luck and the Russian Federation has seen his stock free fall. Kabanov has game breaking talent and an offensive skill set that leave many teams wondering if all the troubles even matter. Kabanov is rumored to have attitude problems because of an incident at the Under 18’s but I believe it is due to snubbing the KHL and joining the CHL. He also suffered from a wrist injury most of the season that had to be corrected despite many saying he was exhiled from Moncton. He is fluent in English and insists North America is where he wishes to remain. An incredibly potent source of offense and can mesmorize fans and even the oppositition. The thrashers once apon a time had a smiliar player named Ilya Kovalchuk they need to replace.

#25. Vancouver Canucks - Mark Pysyk – D – Edmonton - WHL
ISS – 17
CS – 7 NA
HN – 16
+ Amazing Skating + Good Instincts With The Puck
+ Good First Pass
- Not Physical - Average Size
The Vancouver Canucks will be looking to add some more defensive help next Friday as they head to the draft. The Canucks have an aging blueline and look to retool as many of their backend is set to retire or exit their prime in the next few years. Mark Pysyk could be a good option for the Canucks as he’s a steady reliable defenseman who can really skate. Due to his skating he has great mobility and can dish the puck well. Though other than his skating nothing really stands out about Pysyk, he really doesn’t do anything bad. Above average which isn’t a bad thing when it comes down to it. His main issue many have said is his lack of physical play and his unwillingness to compete when it gets rough. He’s got only average size but still should be able to use a bit of muscle. He has learned to use his speed over physical play so that more than makes up for it. He also still has offensive potential and could be the ideal powerplay reargaurd.

#26. Washington Capitals - Evgeny Kuznetsov – C – Chelyabinsk – KHL
ISS – 19
CS – 3 INT
HN – 18
+ Highend Offensive Talent +Laser Wrist Shot
+ Quick
- Low Effort Levels - Poor Defensive Play
- “Russian Factor” - Incosistent
The “Kuz” as Kuznetsov is fondly nicknamed is from the stereotypical Russian forward mold. He’s very talented in the offensive zone but is usually no where to be found in the defensive zone giving many scouts the impression he just doesn’t care about anything other than scoring goals. A great offensize talent whose abilities are often overshadowed by his inconsistency. He bombed during the World Juniors but massacred the Under 18 Six Nations and was by far the best player on the ice in every game of the tournament. He has been compared to a poor mans Alexander Ovechkin and his laser of a wrist sho has drawn comparasons to fellow Russian Ilya Kovalchuk. The “Russian Factor” could hold many teams back from drafting him but the Washington Capitals have an inside track on the enigmatic forward. Their secret weapon is a fellow Russian and icon Alexander Ovechkin who should be able to get Kuznetsov to commit. A young offensive squad shouldn’t hurt ether.

#27. Montreal Canadiens - Brock Nelson – C- Warroad – US HIGH
ISS – 26
CS – 25 NA
HN – 29
+ Size Value + All Round Talent
+ Raw
- Plays Against Kids - Hard To Read
Brock Nelson is exactly what the Canadiens have been dreaming of since they became an undersized team. The Canadiens know the main reason they lost to the Flyers was because of size and going into the draft GM Pierre Gauthier knows it. Nelson is the perfect combo of size and skill up the middle, something the Habs covet. Nelson has a good all round game and brings a lot to the table when the games get rough. He has dominated the US High School scene for Warroad but many are saying Nelson is untested against real competition. The High School system is a far weaker system than the CHL and Nelson has only ever played High School hockey. That being said many scouts still believe that Brock Nelson could be a steal in the late 20’s. He has the raw talent to be a force but he just needs to be pushed up to play at the next level. Next season he’ll get that in North Dakota.

#28. San Jose Sharks - Beau Bennett – LW – Penticton – Junior A
ISS – 34
CS – 32 NA
HN – 35
+ Can Playmake And Or Score + Powerplay Specialist
- Has Effort Issues - Doesn’t Buy In Easily
- Lower League
Beau Bennett is yet another Calfornian kid set to go in the first two rounds. The San Jose Sharks could jump on the chance to bring a home state into their system. It’s not very often you find a Californian prospect whose first round worthy and fits your teams needs. The Sharks would love to add a quick forward who can score and pass to their lineup. Beau is a powerplay machine scoring over 50% of his goals while on the man advantage. He is equally as good with the puck as he is giving the puck to a fellow teamate. Bennett has soft hands and is dangerous around the net but struggles to play into a system. Another trait that have some scouts worrying is his lack of competitiveness. Big games don’t seam to get his drive up any higher and some nights he just doesn’t show up. It could just be because he dominated Junior A and is ready for a bigger challenge. It’s rumored he’ll be heading to the CHL this spring.


#29. Anaheim Ducks (PHI) - Dylan Mcilrath – D – Moose Jaw – WHL
ISS – 31
CS – 17 NA
HN – 26
+ Great Shot + Mean
+ Tough As Nails + Best Scrapper In The Draft
- Not Very Offensive - Slow but Steady
- No Breakout Pass
Dylan Mcilrath is one of my favorite players in this years draft. He’s an absolute monster just check out his youtube collection of fights. His teamates have nicknamed him “the Undertaker” for his ability to not only lay his victims out but to bury them in a scrap. He plays in a tough Western league and was voted the toughest player, that tells you everything about him. He has great size has already filled out. His mean steak is another one of his strong points and at times has been compare to Chris Pronger. He isn’t useless defensively ether he has the ability to shut down his opponents. He isn’t great with the puck but isn’t a liability ether. He does have a bullet of a slapshot from the point but rarely gets to use it. The Anaheim Ducks will look to add some mustard on the backend to help out Lucas Sbisa and the rest of the blueline prospects. Anaheim loves a shut down in your face player and has been missing that presence ever since Pronger left. An easy choice for a replacement.

#30. Chicago Blackhawks - Calvin Pickard – G – Seattle – WHL
ISS – 2 Goalie
CS – 1 NA Goalie
HN – 27
+ Cuts Of Angles Nicely + Doesn’t Get Rattled
+ The More Shots The Better
- Doesn’t Impress - Stand up Style
Calvin Pickard is getting set to follow in his older brother Chet’s footsteps. Chet was drafted was taken 18th overall 2 years ago by the Nashville Predators and Calvin is set to possibly be taken in the late first round as well. Clavin can challenge well and has great technique cutting off the shooters angles. He is a stand up goalie with great reflexs and knows how to read a play well. He played on a weak team which enabled him to see a lot of action and many scouts have said he’s benifitted from it. He’s good under pressure and doesn’t get himself down. He’s a solid choice in net but doesn’t stand out which has many scouts doubting. After Calvin Pickard the decent goalies thin out quickly so the Chicago Blackhawks will jump on the chance to get Pickard. The Hawks need to start adding back into the pipeline as the disgruntled Corey Crawford will be looking to move up or move on very shortly which works because Pickard still could use a lot more development time to build on his already good base.