E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Tomas Jurco #33

By Eldon MacDonald

33. Tomas Jurco - “Mr. YouTube” - RW - Slovakia

Vitals: Size - 6’2”, 190 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 28-Dec-92 - Kosice, SVK
Team: Saint John, QMJHL
2010-11 Stats: 60-31-25-56-17-(+46) + QMJHL playoffs 19-6-12-18-(+9) + U20 6-1-0-1-0-(+0) + Memorial Cup 4-4-1-5-2-(+3)

Rankings:
20 - Craig Button's Top 30 of 24-May-11
23 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
25 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (20th North American skater)
25 - ISS per TSN
26 - Guy Flaming - The Pipeline Show Top 30
28 - The Hockey News per TSN
29 - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts
33 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
35 - hfboards Readers’ Poll
35 - Kirk Luedeke's Top 50
35 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
38 - The Scouting Report's Top 100 Skaters
40 - Future Considerations Final Rankings
Draft result:
35 - Detroit Red Wings

Last year (2009-2010) I went to see Tomas Jurco play the last game of the regular season and I said to myself that this guy is definitely top 15 for 2011, maybe top10, he was that good. This year at the Memorial Cup, he again showed why I was so high on him last year. However, in between there were too many periods of uninspiring performances as Tomas had a just OK 2010-11 season rather than the awesome one his skills make him capable of.

When he is on, Tomas shows puck handling skills that few can equal in this year’s draft. He can also score goals - he is one the stars of the YouTube viewers because he uses those slick hands that make the impossible come true. He can also exhibit a determined and persistent effort on the forecheck and will not avoid physical contact. He also has the size and balance to be effective down low.

When he is not on, it must be because of bad wiring because he doesn’t appear to have much connection with the game, particularly without the puck. Yes, there are other areas of his game that he could improve on but it is only the uneven compete level that is holding him back from that top 10 or top 15 pick.

I have Tomas at 33 but the rankings show anywhere from 21 to 40 and they are all valid. If your team has a master electrician in the front office, Tomas Jurco could be the steal of the draft. Happy wiring!!!