E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120: Shane Prince #39

By Eldon MacDonald

39. Shane Prince - “The Eel” - LW - USA

Vitals: Size - 5’11”, 185 lb.; Shoots left; Born: 16-Nov-92 - Spencerport, NY
Team: Ottawa, OHL
2010-11 Stats: 59-25-63-88-18-(+43) + OHL playoffs 3-1-0-1-0-(-6)

Rankings:
31 - NHL Central Scouting's Final Rankings (26th North American skater)
33 - Kirk Luedeke's Top 50
39 - E-Mac's 2011 NHL Entry Draft Top 120
39 - Future Considerations Final Rankings
43 - Bob MacKenzie's June Poll of Scouts
45 - hfboards Readers’ Poll
46 - Christopher Ralph's Top 210
52 - The Hockey News per TSN
57 - Cory Pronman's Top 100
66 - The Scouting Report's Top 100 Skaters
72 - ISS per TSN
Draft result:
61 - Ottawa Senators

I hate it when most reviews of Shane Prince start with the negatives so I will start out with positives from his coach, Chris Byrne, who was quoted on Draft Tracker as saying, “"His speed is high, high-end. He is quick and skilled. He's done a good job of working both ends of the rink, which is something we worked on a lot last year." In addition, Shane has the right attitude, work ethic and passion for the game to succeed so that is the main reason Shane had such an electrifying season this year - playing on the Ottawa 67’s big line with Ryan Martindale and Tyler Toffoli. Shane also has elite hands and playmaking skills to add to an eel-like elusiveness and agility that make him an extremely, effective offensive player.

Most of the criticisms of Shane Prince surround his size and whether his game can graduate with him to the next level. However, his work ethic on and off the ice suggest he will work to address this shortcoming so that the team that drafts him will get a player they will be proud of and will contribute to their offense up to expectations. Shane, as can be seen from the above, is a consensus second round pick.