Prime time. The Big Show.
With the NHL moving the Entry Draft’s opening round to Friday night, giving national television in both Canada and the U.S. a chance to showcase this annual event in their evening schedules, look for plenty of glitz and glamour.
Here, then, is a look what the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau is saying about those future NHLers who are likely to be part of the Friday Night Lights — the predicted first-round draft choices:
Kyle Turris (i-Wisconsin)
6’1″, 170 lbs., Center, shoots right
“A skilled forward with great playmaking ability … has an accurate shot with a quick release … a fluid skater that has a nose for the net and the ability to control the flow of the game … not afraid of taking a hit and can perform under pressure … has good on-ice awareness and a good work ethic.”
James vanRiemsdyk (i-New Hampshire)
6’3″, 200 lbs., Left wing, shoots left
“A power forward with great physical presence and ability to protect the puck … shows good stickhandling skill … is a good skater with great acceleration … does not give up on the play and has an impressive work ethic … can play in all situations and has a hard shot.”
Max Pacioretty (i-Michigan)
6’2″, 203 lbs., Left wing, shoots left
“A competitive power forward with a good physical presence … has a very good wrist shot with a quick release … is a good skater with excellent first step quickness … strong in the face-off circle and does what it takes to help his team win … needs to improve his consistency around the net … effective on the penalty kill, but needs to improve his defensive anticipation.”
Mike Hoeffel (i-Minnesota)
6’2″, 186 lbs., Left/right wing, shoots left
“A power forward … has an excellent skating stride and speed … has good puck pursuit … plays tough in the corners and around the net … has a good shot with a quick release … needs to improve his puck handling in traffic and at top speed … needs to make more consistent decisions with the puck.”
Kevin Shattenkirk (i-Boston University)
5’11”, 193 lbs., Defense, shoots right
“An offensive defenseman with good puck skills … reads the play well and is heady in transition … has good mobility along with quick feet … needs to add a physical presence to his game … needs to improve consistency of his defensive game.”
Ryan McDonagh (i-Wisconsin)
6’1″, 200 lbs., Defense, shoots left
“A skilled offensive defenseman with the skill to rush the puck … has good first step quickness and makes quick accurate passes in the defensive zone … has a good shot from the point … strong along the boards as well as one-on-one in the corners … has the ability to dominate a game, but needs to play to his level every night … his offensive style sometimes leads to risky decisions.”
Tommy Cross (i-Boston College)
6’3″, 195 lbs., Defense, shoots left
“A stay-at-home defenseman with good lateral mobility and quickness … skates the puck quickly into open areas to expand his passing options … has a strong shot from the point and is effective running a power-play … can be physical in the defensive zone and in front-net coverage … very focused on his defensive game, but needs to realize his offensive skill and contribute more … needs to increase his tempo and play with more urgency.”
Nick Petricki (i-Boston College)
6’3″, 213 lbs., Defense, shoots left
“A stay-at-home defenseman with excellent speed and lateral quickness … has a strong physical presence on the ice with the ability to make the big hit … is quick to the puck and makes hard and accurate passes … needs to improve the consistency of his decision-making and discipline.”
