E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: 111 to 120

By Eldon MacDonald

Well, I don’t have time to do a proper write-up on these guys (111 to 120 in the rankings) as day two of the draft is fast approaching. However, I did put together a few words on all of them to give you some idea of who they are.

111. Joel Lowry - “The Twofer” - LW - Canada

Vitals: Size - 6’2”, 185 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 15-Nov-91 - Calgary, AB
Team: Victoria, BCHL
2010-11Stats: 42-24-43-67-35 + BCHL playoffs 12-5-12-17-6
Rankings:
111 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
124 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (95th North American skater)

Draft result:
140 - Los Angeles Kings

Yes, Joel Lowry is Adam Lowry’s older brother and Dave Lowry’s son. Playing in the BCHL, he simply wasn’t good enough last year to be drafted. However, a year later and after leading the Victoria Grizzlies in points in the playoff (2nd in the regular season) there is every reason to believe that his luck will change this year. Could there be a twofer with with his brother???

Joel is likely to be a third-line power forward type of guy, will grind it out, go to the net, all the things you expect from a Lowry. And yes, he can drop em too.






112. Jordan Binnington - “The Goalie” - G - Canada

Vitals: Size - 6’2”, 158 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 11-Jul-93 - Richmond Hill, ON
Team: Owen Sound, OHL
2010-11Stats: 46-1-3.05-.899 + OHL playoffs 7-0-3.21-.894 + Memorial Cup 4-1-1.42-.951
Rankings:
84 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (3rd North American goalie)
112 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120

Draft result:
88 - St. Louis Blues

Hmm, yes, I love humble pie, it is my favourite. And I have been eating it every since I said that NHL Central Scouting did not know what they were doing in rating this guy so high, 3rd best North American goalie. After all, he had a lousy season (.899 save percentage) and his playoff numbers didn’t look too hot either (.894 save percentage) but they put him in for the last two games of the OHL playoffs and he played so well that Owen Sound became the OHL champions. And then came the Memorial Cup and Jordan played even better. He was unbelieveable and there were high expectations for him in the semi-final game against Mississauga, a rematch of the OHL finals. How did he do? He did nothing because they didn’t play him in one of the most incomprehensible moves I have seen in junior hockey. By the way, Owen Sound lost that game, big time, and were knocked out of the Memorial Cup.

Jordan just has that look and feel of an NHL goalie and I am sure he is going to be one someday.







113. Chase Balisy - “Ballsy” - LW - USA

Vitals: Size - 6’0”, 171 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 2-Feb-92 - Fullerton, CA
Team: Western Michigan, CCHA
2010-11Stats: 37-12-17-29-8-(+4)
Rankings:
113 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
Unranked - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings

Draft result:
170 - Nashville Predators

Once highly regarded, he was passed over last year as he was distracted by some off ice things in his life. However, those distractions appear to be behind him and he had an excellent freshman year at Western Michigan.

Chase is not particularly big, not particularly strong, not particularly fast but he is good at protecting the puck and passing it of to his teammates. He is also an intelligent player and can put up the points.






114. Johan Sundstrom - “Godzilla” - C - Sweden

Vitals: Size - 6’3”, 196 lb.; Shoots right; Born: 21-Sep-92 - Göteborg, SWE
Team: Frölunda, Swedish Elite League (Elitserien)
2010-11Stats: 41-1-0-1-10 + J20 playoffs 7-8-7-15-2
Rankings:
HM - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts (HM’s rank 61 to 85)
68 - ISS's Final Listing per TSN
74 - The Hockey News's List per TSN
84 - The Scouting Report's Top 100
114 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
151 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (24th European skater)

Draft result:
50 - New York Islanders

Well, he didn’t have a good year in the Swedish Elite League, just one goal in 41 games. So, they let play him play with his age group for the playoffs and it was like releasing Godzilla in downtown Manhattan, chaos, he cleaned up and had 15 points in 7 games.

Johan is a power forward who will drive to the net. He has a decent top speed but his gears and turns are not top notch. He is likely to end up as a defensive forward if he makes it to the NHL and at 6’3’’, 196 lb., there is a chance that will happen.





115. David Honzik - “The Czech Goalie” - G - Czech Republic

Vitals: Size - 6’3”, 194 lb.; Shoots right; Born: 9-Aug-93 - Karlovy Vary, CZE
Team: Victoriaville, QMJHL
2010-11Stats: 36-1-3.54-.884 + QMJHL playoffs 9-0-3.28-.919
Rankings:
43 - Kirk Luedeke's Top 50
55 - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts
115 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
131 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
213 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (8th North American goalie)

Draft result:
71 - Vancouver Canucks

A Czech goalie with size who played in the QMJHL for Victoriaville. Not too good in the regular season (.884 save percentage), he stepped it up in the playoffs (.919 save percentage) and converted quite a few of the naysayers.






116. Andrej Stastny - “Mr. Happy” - C - Slovakia

Vitals: Size - 6’4”, 215 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 24-Jan-91 - Povazska Bystrica, SVK
Team: Vancouver, WHL
2010-11Stats: 32-10-20-30-40-(+2) + WHL playoffs 4-0-0-0-11-(-5) + U20 6-1-1-2-0-(-1)
Rankings:
116 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
247 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (185th North American skater)

Draft result:
Undrafted

Mr. Happy (Stastny in English means happy) is a 6’4’’, 215 lb. center from Slovakia who played for the Vancouver Giants in the WHL in the second half of the season. Showed flashes of why he should be drafted (after going undrafted the last two years) and at his size I think someone will take chance on him.






117. Michael Mersch - “Badger Mike” - LW - USA

Vitals: Size - 6’1”, 196 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 2-Oct-92 - Park Ridge, IL
Team: University of Wisconsin, WCHA
2010-11Stats: 39-8-10-18-30-(+23)
Rankings:
HM - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts (HM’s rank 61 to 85)
HM - Kirk Luedeke's Top 50 (HM’s rank 51 to 58)
71 - The Hockey News's List per TSN
85 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
97 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
108 - ISS's Final Listing per TSN
109 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (83rd North American skater)
117 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120

Draft result:
110 - Los Angeles Kings

Solid guy, does all the little things, can pass, can score but and I mean but, he is slow. Can some skating instructor do a Brian Boyle remake on him, if so, you have second line talent.




118. Tobias Rieder - “The German Roadrunner” - C/W - Germany

Vitals: Size - 5’10”, 180 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 10-Jan-93 - Landshut, GER
Team: Kitchener, OHL
2010-11Stats: 65-23-236-49-35-(+9) + OHL playoffs 7-0-2-2-4-(-1) + U20 6-1-1-2-0-(-1)
Rankings:
70 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
78 - The Scouting Report's Top 100
94 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (73rd North American skater)
97 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
118 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120

Draft result:
114 - Edmonton Oilers

Small guy, not strong, has the speed and the hands. Started the season afire and then the embers just went out as he faded big time in the stretch. However, some still like what he did early in the season and believe he is still a player who can develop.







119. Zac Larraza - “Mr. Upside” - LW - USA

Vitals: Size - 6’2”, 194 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 25-Feb-93 - Scottsdale, AZ
Team: US NDP U18, USHL
2010-11Stats: 49-8-5-13-20 + U18’s 6-1-4-5-4-(+4)
Rankings:
90 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (70th North American skater)
91 - The Scouting Report's Top 100
106 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
119 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120

Draft result:
196 - Phoenix Coyotes

Has the size and skating that make a lot of people believe that this guy has a lot of upside that we have yet to see. His offensive game hasn’t taken off in spite of appearing to have a decent skill set to make it happen.






120. Harrison Ruopp - “Uopp” - D - Canada

Vitals: Size - 6’2”, 193 lb.; Shoots right; Born: 17-Mar-93 - Zehner, SK
Team: Prince Albert, WHL
2010-11Stats: 54-0-9-9-98-(+8)+ WHL playoffs 6-0-0-0-9-(-7)
Rankings:
120 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
134 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (102nd North American skater)
178 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210

Draft result:
84 - Phoenix Coyotes

Uopp me once, shame on you; Uopp we twice, shame on me. Most WHL payers were smart enough not to get uopped twice. If you don’t believe me just ask Duncan Siemens for a reference. Uopp is a big Saskatchewan farm boy who is a horse in the backfield and doesn’t allow anyone to plough through to his goalie. Although you won’t see much offense from him, he can skate reasonably well, has a decent shot and can make a decent pass. However, it is that physical, intimidating presence that will be “the sell” for scouts.