E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Daniel Catenacci #53

By Eldon MacDonald

53. Daniel Catenacci - “McSpeedster” - C - Canada

Vitals: 5’10” - 179 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 9-Mar-93 - Newmarket, ON
Team: Sault Ste. Marie, OHL
2010-11 Stats: 67-26-45-71-117-(+5) + U18 7-0-2-2-22-(+1)

Rankings:
25 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
35 - Future Considerations Final Rankings
35 - The Hockey News per TSN
37 - hfboards Readers’ Poll
42 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (37th North American skater)
45 - Kirk Luedeke's Top 50
50 - Bob Mac Kenzie's June Poll of Scouts
51 - ISS per TSN
53 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
53 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
59 - The Scouting Report's Top 100
Draft result:
77 - Buffalo Sabres

Former Canadian and world figure skating champion Paul Martini said it best at TheStar.com, “"He (Daniel Catenacci) has that sixth gear that others don't have. It's genetic, a God-given, innate sense." So it isn’t much a surprise that Daniel won the fastest skater competition at the 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Skills Competition. So besides, the wheels, Daniel also possesses the dangle, the shot, the gameliness and drive that one expects in a top prospect. However, Daniel is not without his problems as was abundantly evident at the U18’s where he ended up being the 13th skater or odd man out. Daniel sometimes tries to do it all himself and when that happens good things tend not to follow. Also, sometimes he has trouble keeping himself under control as 117 minutes in penalties suggest.

How does Daniel project at the next level? Good question but there is a growing tendency to believe that Daniel needs to re-invent himself from a scoring forward to an energy player with the ability to pot a few goals and kill penalties. Daniel is already a decent two-way forward so such a reincarnation is not out of the question. In any case, most believe Daniel Catenacci has a future in the NHL.

Where does Daniel Catenacci go in the draft? Bob MacKenzie’s poll of NHL scouts had him 30th in January but I suspect his U18 performance will drag him down somewhat. Second is a likelihood but where in the second is anybody’s guess.