Eberle to be evaluated by Hockey Canada

I reported it last night on Global Sports, and today Falcons head coach Rob Daum confirmed on the TEAM 1260 that Oilers prospect Jordan Eberle (photo courtesy Springfield Falcons) will be in Springfield tomorrow. I'm told Hockey Canada officials will monitor his play and that he could receive an invite to play for Canada at the World Hockey Championship. Last year Eberle had 9 point in 9 games with the Falcons down the stretch and if he's anywhere near that production this time around he'll likely get a late call up from the Oilers. I just spoke to Eberle and he'll join Guy and myself for a quick conversation Tuesday night shortly after 7 pm MST. More details here.

Oil Kings GM Bob Green was in Phoenix last week watching listed player Henrik Samuelsson. The Oil Kings had hoped that his older brother Philip, whom they drafted would have come north but he ended up at Boston College and is now a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect. Henrik wasn't taken in the 2009 WHL draft but shortly after the Oil Kings listed him. Bob Green is very high on the 6.02, 193 pound forward who plays for the PF Chang Midget program in Arizona and has a cannon for a shot. Sameulsson attended Oil Kings training camp last year and last week was invited to attend the United States national development camp for it's U17 team, the camp takes place March 27-30.

In all 3 CHL leagues the regular season is over and all 3 leagues today announced it's playoff schedules. Click on WHL, OHL and QMJHL for each league's schedule.

Draft and TPS Re-set

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Recently on The Pipeline Show we had a chance to speak with an executive from two different NHL teams to get a draft review and we also checked in with one of our NCAA regulars to get a college update.

Pittsburgh's Jay Heinbuck answered fan questions in regards to draft decisions and also offered up some updates on prospects already in the Penguins system. Kevin Prendergast touched on why some RFAs got new contracts while other did not including Josef Hrabal who was bought out by the club. An Oiler draft review is also covered.

Brad Elliot Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald talks about the upcoming expansion of the WCHA conference to include Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha. We also discussed the draft from the NCAA perspective and got an update on the Fighting Sioux nickname debate surrounding UND.

Most people probably followed the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on TV or on their computers, watching a online version of the TV coverage. That said, you might have missed the TEAM 1260's draft coverage but now you have a chance to re-live the big event from a perspective you didn't get the first time.

The Draft was packed full of twists and turns, drama and excitement. From who would go #1 right through to the Penguins selection 30th overall, this was an event that was hard to predict but our panel tried to do so anyway.

Relive the draft with this unique look back. Follow along with us, get a good laugh as you use hindsight as you hear us make our predictions of which player will be selected by each team as the event goes on.

Dean and I were joined by Wil Fraser and Robin Brownlee plus we also heard live updates from the draft floor courtesy Jason Gregor. Our post-draft show features interviews with the voice of the Oil Kings A.J. Jacubec, USCHO.com writer Jim Connolly and Hockey Hall of Fame writer Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal. Why did I make an on-air apology to Matty? There's only one way to find out.

It was a fun and exciting day... and you can relive it all conveniently broken up into segments so you can tune in to specific parts of the draft.

Listen to the June 30th show HERE and check out the 2009 NHL Draft HERE.

Wednesday Reset

Just a heads up if you missed Tuesday night's show, as Guy says, if you missed it live, click the archive.

We started off with our opening face off debate. Guy and I took sides on whether the Oilers should have given up a first round pick for a top forward. Should Sam Gagner get the Robert Nilsson treatment of being a healthy scratch. Who the better 2010 draft eligible prospect is between Regina's Jordan Weal or Prince George's Brett Connolly. Should the NHL go to 1 minute power plays in overtime, an experiment the AHL has used this year, and finally who will come out on top if Calgary and Vancouver should meet in the WHL final. As I type this, I'm watching the Giants dismantle Tri City, however the Americans are without stud goaltender Chet Pickard because of a concussion. It also doesn't help when you score on yourself, as Americans D-men Brett Plouffe and Riley McIntosh did in the 2nd period of this one. Speaking of goals, if you didn't see the ridiculous performance from Medicine Hat Tigers forward Tyler Ennis on the weekend, go right now to the Tigers website and watch their plays of the week. The number one goal is one of the nicest individual efforts I've seen this year.

Our first guest last night was a rising prospect for the 2009 draft, Kyle Palmieri from the U.S. National development team. TPS has heard Zach Parise as a comparison from more than one scout, and it just so happens that he's from New Jersey. Where's he headed next year, check out the link below to find out.

From there we spoke with another potential draftee for this June. Phillip Samuelsson of the USHL's Chicago Steel. He's the son of Ulf and the property of the Edmonton Oil Kings, but it sounds like he's headed down the college route. Is Phillip a chip off the old block? (hopefully without the hit on Cam Neely) You can listen for yourself.

The top of the hour brought us the saving grace for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Goaltender Torrie Jung has been nothing short of spectacular for the 2nd year team and spoke about the current playoff run they are on. We also chatted with Jung about his future with Tampa Bay.

Bad Ass trivia was split with Guy's flaming hot/not and my fantasy pick up as well as few other notes about prospect hockey.

We then hit the AJHL thanks to Spruce Grove assistant coach Ryan Marsh. The Saints are one of top teams in the country and their captain is heading to New Hampshire. Spruce Grove earned a bye in the first round of the AJHL playoffs which began last weekend. Marsh also talked to us about The Hockey Program at Vimy Ridge Academy and Donnan Schools.

Finally, we had some bonus time last night before Corey Graham took over with the post game show, and had the chance to run and interview Guy and I did a while back with hall of fame forward Ron Francis.

You catch all the interviews listed above by heading to The Pipeline Show website.

2009 Draft Prospect Performers Of The Week

Each week, International Scouting Services (ISS), Sports Management Worldwide (SMWW), Hockey Now, and The Pipeline Show recognize the Top Draft Eligible player from each of the WHL, OHL, QMJHL, & USHL leagues for the upcoming 2009 NHL Entry Draft based on their play over the course of the week. You can hear some of them Tuesday's on TPS.

Ontario Hockey League – Calvin de Hann, Oshawa Generals
Calvin de Haan wins this week’s OHL award after posting 2 goals and 4 assists in 4 games for the Generals. de Haan, who assumed an a greater role on the Oshawa blueline after the departure of Michael Del Zotto, currently sits 7th amongst defensemen and 5th amongst rookies in scoring this season with 7 goals and 52 points. The native of Carp, ON logs a lot of minutes in all situations and is very confident with the puck on his stick.

Calvin de Haan
Defense
Born May 9 1991 -- Carp, ONT
Height 6.00 -- Weight 170 -- Shoots L

Western Hockey League – Brayden Schenn, Brandon Wheat Kings

Brayden Schenn picks up another award this week after notching 2 goals and adding 4 assists alongside a plus- 6 rating in 3 games. Schenn, a native of Saskatoon, SK has 28 goals and 60 points for Brandon, who currently sit third in the WHL’s Eastern Conference. Schenn has great hands and hockey sense as well as the ability to be physical when necessary.

Brayden Schenn
Center
Born Aug 22 1991 -- Saskatoon, SASK
Height 6.00 -- Weight 196 -- Shoots L

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League – Jordan Caron, Rimouski Oceanic

Jordan Caron (left at the Top Prospects Game) takes home another draft performer of the week award after recording 3 goals and 4 assists in 3 games for the Oceanic. Caron has 32 goals and 25 assists for 57 points in 49 games this season, his third with Rimouski. Caron is a player with good size who plays a well rounded two-way game. The Oceanic are hosting the 2009 Memorial Cup.

Jordan Caron
Center
Born Nov 2 1990 -- Sayabec, PQ
Height 6.02 -- Weight 196 -- Shoots L

United States Hockey League – Philip Samuelsson, Chicago Steel

Philip Samuelsson wins his first award after putting up 5 assists and a plus- 3 rating in 3 games this week.

Samuelsson is currently in his rookie season in the USHL and has posted a solid 17 assists from the Chicago blueline. Samuelsson is known for his checking ability and a strong shot from the point. He's the son of former NHLer and current Coyotes assistant coach Ulf, and is property of the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL.

Philip Samuelsson
Defense
Born Jul 26 1991 -- Scottsdale, AZ
Height 6.02 -- Weight 195

CSB Mid-Term Rankings (NA - skaters)

There is lots of movement on the list of skaters in North America but there is no surprise at the top where John Tavares is ranked #1. Seen here as he joined the London Knights last week, Tavares had a terrific WJC that answered a lot of questions scouts had.

Matt Duchene is now #2 on the list which is a bit of a eyebrow-raiser for me. Despite not playing in the WJC he moves ahead of Jared Cowan (falls to #7) and is still above Evander Kane (#3) who has more points and did play for Canada in the WJC. Jordan Schroeder comes in at #4.

The top ranked defenceman in North America isn't Cowan or Ryan Ellis or even Russian Dmitri Kulikov... it's someone named Simon Despres! Despres plays for the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL and I know zippo about him but will get educated tomorrow night on The Pipeline Show as we are slated to welcome beat writer Nathan White to the program.

Speaking of Ellis, he's rated the 15th best skater in N.A. and that's behind Chicago Steel blueliner John Moore (8th).

A couple high school kids make a big impact on the list coming in at #14 and #16. Chris Kreider is a 6'2 forward and Zach Budish is an even bigger winger weighing in at 6.2" and 229 lbs.


The Brandon Wheat Kings are well represented at the top of the list with Brayden Schenn #5 and Scott Glennie #12. Glennie (pictured) is someone I think would be of interest to the Edmonton Oilers who I expect to be on the hunt for a scoring forward with above average size.

A few other guys fitting that category are Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Carter Ashton #10 (6'4, 210 lbs.), Zack Kassian #24 from Peterborough (6'2.5, 212 lbs.) and further down is Kamloops Blazers forward Jimmy Bubnick (6'1.5, 190 lbs.).

The top rated forward available in the USHL is Louis Leblanc, a Quebec-born product who plays for the Omaha Lancers this year and is committed to Harvard in the NCAA. He'll also join us tomorrow night on The Pipeline Show after recetnly being named a 2009 Draft Prospect Performer of the Week.

Some other local notables: Edmonton Oil Kings forward Tomas Vincour obviously didn't have a WJC that impressed the scouts as he's tumbled from 1st round consideration all the way down to #79 on the list... Edmonton products rate well with Dylan Olsen of the Camrose Kodiaks coming in at #23 and Levko Koper from Spokane at #44... The top ranked Oil Kings property is actually Philip Samuelsson of the Chicago Steel. The big blueliner is ranked #59 but has yet to officially committ to a NCAA program so a future with the Oil Kings (who drafted him back in 2007) is still possible...