ESPN Insider Top 50 Prospects List

[Jntg4]

I know, ESPN and Hockey are usually not a great combo... but here's the Hawks and the rest of the division.

Chicago Blackhawks:
4. C Teuvo Teravainen
31. C Brandon Pirri
Just Missed List. D Adam Clendening

Colorado Avalanche:
Just Missed List. D Chris Brigras

Dallas Stars:
30. RW Brett Richie
32. D Jamie Oleksiak

Minnesota Wild:
29. D Matthew Dumba

Nashville Predators:
3. RW Filip Forsberg

St. Louis Blues:
15. LW Dmitrij Jaskin
42. RW Ty Rattie

Winnipeg Blues:
21. D Josh Morrissey
39. C Nic Petan

Top 2 in league are C Jonathan Drouin (Tampa Bay) and C Evgeny Kuznetsov (Washington), while D Brandon Gormley (Phoenix) follows Forsberg and Teravainen to round out the Top 5.

In all, looks like we may have the best farm, at least at the upper levels, in the division.

Teravainen Quote:
"Though he has been just fine in league play over in Finland, Teravainen has stood out in a big way against players at his age level. Teravainen's a fantastic playmaker with unique offensive hockey sense and the skill to make all sorts of plays. He's a good skater as well, and has gotten better in his own end. He hasn't blown down the doors vs. senior-level competition, but his skill set leads to a projection that is very promising."
Pirri Quote:
"Unfortunately, Pirri is caught in a situation where he has a case to be in the NHL based upon skill level -- at least in a sheltered role -- but Chicago is a contender right now. His offensive mind is great and he could create in the AHL with the best of them. Pirri's skating is just average, however, and he's not the most imposing physical player."

 

[Probie2429]

I know, ESPN and Hockey are usually not a great combo... but here's the Hawks and the rest of the division.

Chicago Blackhawks:
4. C Teuvo Teravainen
31. C Brandon Pirri
Just Missed List. D Adam Clendening

Colorado Avalanche:
Just Missed List. D Chris Brigras

Dallas Stars:
30. RW Brett Richie
32. D Jamie Oleksiak

Minnesota Wild:
29. D Matthew Dumba

Nashville Predators:
3. RW Filip Forsberg

St. Louis Blues:
15. LW Dmitrij Jaskin
42. RW Ty Rattie

Winnipeg Blues:
21. D Josh Morrissey
39. C Nic Petan

Top 2 in league are C Jonathan Drouin (Tampa Bay) and C Evgeny Kuznetsov (Washington), while D Brandon Gormley (Phoenix) follows Forsberg and Teravainen to round out the Top 5.

In all, looks like we may have the best farm, at least at the upper levels, in the division.

Teravainen Quote:
"Though he has been just fine in league play over in Finland, Teravainen has stood out in a big way against players at his age level. Teravainen's a fantastic playmaker with unique offensive hockey sense and the skill to make all sorts of plays. He's a good skater as well, and has gotten better in his own end. He hasn't blown down the doors vs. senior-level competition, but his skill set leads to a projection that is very promising."
Pirri Quote:
"Unfortunately, Pirri is caught in a situation where he has a case to be in the NHL based upon skill level -- at least in a sheltered role -- but Chicago is a contender right now. His offensive mind is great and he could create in the AHL with the best of them. Pirri's skating is just average, however, and he's not the most imposing physical player."

Teuvo is a heck of a talent, but his size is a major detriment for him. He has been playing in the highest Finnish league for a couple years now against guys as much as 20 years older than him. It was still the right pick for the Hawks at the time. How many times can you select a player of his skill and talent level at # 18 in the 1st round? If Teuvo was just 15 pounds heavier and an inch taller during his draft year, he would have been a top 3 pick.

Watch out for Kevin Hayes too. He is second or third in all of NCAA hockey in point scoring this year as a senior at Boston College. He likely cracks the top 50 prospect mark next year with the season he has had.

 

[DMelt36]

Teuvo is a heck of a talent, but his size is a major detriment for him. He has been playing in the highest Finnish league for a couple years now against guys as much as 20 years older than him. It was still the right pick for the Hawks at the time. How many times can you select a player of his skill and talent level at # 18 in the 1st round? If Teuvo was just 15 pounds heavier and an inch taller during his draft year, he would have been a top 3 pick.

Watch out for Kevin Hayes too. He is second or third in all of NCAA hockey in point scoring this year as a senior at Boston College. He likely cracks the top 50 prospect mark next year with the season he has had.

I don't believe smaller players are as hindered in the NHL since they started cracking down more on obstruction calls. Speedy players have more ability to use that part of their game. Also, don't take this as a direct comparison of talents, but Martin St. Louis and Patrick Kane appear to be doing quite well despite their size limitations.

Good call on Kevin Hayes. Been reading/hearing that a lot of people think his talent was superior to that of his brother, Jimmy.