Thursday, May 26, 2011

E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Markus Granlund #66

By Eldon MacDonald

66. Markus Granlund - “Captain Finland” - C - Finland

Vitals: Size - 5’10”, 163 lb.; Shoots left; Born 16-Apr-93 - Oulu., FIN
Team: HIFK U20, FIN U20
2010-11 Stats: 40-20-32-52-49 + U20 playoffs - 5-4-5-9-6 + U18 - 6-2-8-10-6-(+4)
Rankings:
60 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
60 - The Hockey News per TSN
63 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (9th European skater)
64 - The Scouting Report's Top 100
66 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
69 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
HM - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts (HM’s = 61 to 85)
88 - ISS per TSN
Draft result:
45 - Calgary Flames

Markus Granlund is not only the brother of Minnesota first round pick Michael Granlund, he is also a hockey star in his own right. This year, he had 52 points in 40 games in the Finnish U20 leaguHe and looked good internationally as well as Captain of the Finnish U18 team. At the Five Nations tournament in February, Micheal was fourth in scoring and first on the team. He followed that up with a strong performance at the U18’s where he was tied for eighth in scoring with ten points in six games and tied for the lead on his team in plus-minus with a +4. Last year he won a bronze medal playing with his brother playing at the U18’s.

OK, so what can the boy do? Well, he can make plays so amazing that you will drop all your popcorn in your beer and not even know it. He also has an awesome passing ability, elite hands and vision and is prepared to work as hard as necessary to get the job done. The downside to Micheal is his size and strength. He will have to really work on his strength training to be successful at the next level because it really affects his game not only by getting knocked down or off the puck but also by keeping his game way too perimeterish for a kid of his talents. Where does he go in the draft??? I would like to think Markus would be steal in the third round if a team thinks he can get strong enough for the pros, if not, he could fall to 4th or 5th due to a high risk factor.



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