Interesting Top Prospects List

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The CHL released it's invite list for the 2011 Top Prospects game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and on Rogers Sportsnet January 19th. Similar to the World Junior team but on a smaller scale as it's only one game, the list is always debated. There are some good discussions this year, and even some interesting names behind the bench. Neate Sager from Buzzing the Net has some interesting thoughts about Bobby Orr not coaching in this game.


This is the list taken from the WHL website (where by the way you can watch free games online over the holidays)

Team Cherry (Red)
Forwards (12):
Sean Couturier, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Phillip Danault, Victoriaville Tigres
Nicklas Jensen, Oshawa Generals
Tomas Jurco, Saint John Sea Dogs
Gabriel Landeskog, Kitchener Rangers
Mark McNeill, Prince Albert Raiders
Matthew Puempel, Peterborough Petes
Rickard Rakell, Plymouth Whalers
Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks
Tobias Rieder, Kitchener Rangers
Mark Scheifele, Barrie Colts
Ryan Strome, Niagara IceDogs

Defencemen (6):
Myles Bell, Regina Pats
Scott Harrington, London Knights
Joe Morrow, Portland Winterhawks
Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers
Duncan Siemens, Saskatoon Blades
Tyler Wotherspoon, Portland Winterhawks

Goaltenders (2):
Christopher Gibson, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
David Honzik, Victoriaville Tigres

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach -Don Cherry
Assistant Coach - Brian Kilrea, Ottawa 67’s
Assistant Coach - Bert O’Brien

Training Staff:
Russ Hammond, Guelph Storm
Brian Miller, Peterborough Petes

Team Orr (White)
Forwards (12):
Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks
Daniel Catenacci, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Jonathan Huberdeau, Saint John Sea Dogs
Colin Jacobs, Seattle Thunderbirds
Boone Jenner, Oshawa Generals
Lucas Lessio, Oshawa Generals
Shane McColgan, Kelowna Rockets
Vladislav Namestnikov, London Knights
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Red Deer Rebels
Zack Phillips, Saint John Sea Dogs
Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit
Vincent Trocheck, Saginaw Spirit

Defencemen (6):
Nathan Beaulieu, Saint John Sea Dogs
Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs
David Musil, Vancouver Giants
Xavier Ouellet, Montreal Juniors
Stuart Percy, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
Reece Scarlett, Swift Current Broncos

Goaltenders (2):
Jordan Binnington, Owen Sound Attack
Liam Liston, Brandon Wheat Kings

Coaching Staff:
Head Coach - Doug Gilmour, Kingston Frontenacs
Assistant Coach - Stan Butler, Brampton Battalion

Training Staff:
Joey Garland, Windsor Spitfires
Kevin Emo, Barrie Colts

At first glance I would agree with Neate that team Orr has the edge, but it should be close. Orr has Couturier, Landeskog, Siemens and Murphy. Cherry counters with RNH, Brandon Saad (who surprisingly didn't make team U.S.A for the WJC) and David Musil who like the Orr 4 are highly ranked. I could easily see Siemens as the first WHL drafted Dman this year, and he might be the first blueliner after Adam Larsson. That's a spot scouts will have to make a choice of between Murphy and Siemens. Murphy is a lot like Ryan Ellis was in his draft year, with the exception being he isn't representing Canada at the WJC, and for some reason didn't make the most recent U18 team. In the 2009 draft Victor Hedman was the obvious choice for the first defenceman. Ellis was taken after Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jared Cowen.

The absence of Michael St. Croix from the WHL is interesting. As Guy pointed out in an earlier post, we got wind that St. Croix was on the original list, but might (and could still be) and injury replacement. Most scouts we talked to figured his red hot play of late - 24 points over an 11 game streak - should have earned him a spot. The Oil Kings are obviously disappointed but there were questions about St. Croix earlier this season, and maybe his point bonanza started a week or to late. G.M. Bob Green told me today he feels this will motivate St. Croix even more, which is good news for OK fans as sometimes a kid can go the other way in these situations.

I hope Christopher Gibson is healthy by then as the Finnish born, Notre Dame (Wilcox, Saskatchewan schooled, and QMJHL goalie who speaks like he's lived all his life in Quebec will be a treat to watch. He won a National midget championship with the Hounds and has good numbers this year when he's played. Gibson from those I've talked to could be the first CHL goalie taken, as long as he returns and doesn't leave any doubt in the minds of head scouts about his health.

Doug Gilmour as a head coach with Don Cherry shouldn't surprise anyone as Cherry has long been a super fan of the now Head Coach of the Kingston Frontenacs. I haven't heard very many good reviews on Gilmour's coaching but the Frontenacs have made some noise this year and look ready for a playoff run so maybe 'Killer's' on the mark now. The franchise is desperate for some playoff success as by my count the reached the league semi-final only 3 times in the last 30 years and have missed the post season 2 of the last 3 years.

This is always a fun game to watch, but as the scouts will tell you it's only a small sample size compared to how many times these kids are viewed. Who it's really interesting for are the NHL G.M's. For some it might be the only time they watch some of these kids.