World Juniors Hockey Championships 2011: Aftermath – Should Canada Be Concerned? (via THW)

Jeff Skinner (Photo: BridgetDS/Flickr)

Two losses two years in a row in gold medal games at the ultimate prospect tournament on earth - World Junior Hockey Championships have some Canadian hockey fans wondering if the rest of the world is catching up and maybe even surpassing our stranglehold as the talent hotbed for young ice gladiators. I quickly looked at the subject at THW and put this issue to rest. 

Fear not Canadian hockey fans. Canadian hockey at the grassroots level is far from on a downward spiral. While Team USA was missing NHLer Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks) and Sweden were without eligible prospects Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Phoenix Coyotes), Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (Edmonton Oilers) and Jacob Josefson (New Jersey Devils), imagine Team Canada roster with the following eligible players:

• Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers) – The dynamic forward still finding his way in the NHL, but shows glimpses of greatness. Even with Eberle and MPS on board, he is the cornerstone of the Oilers franchise.
• Tyler Seguin (Boston Bruins) – While this season has not been exactly a masterpiece, Seguin will soon be making every rink in the NHL his canvas. He possesses ridiculous upside.
• Jeffrey Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes) – Opportunistic scorer leads NHL in rookie scoring with 31 points in 40 games. Those who questioned his skating looking pretty foolish right about now.

Who else was eligible to play for Team Canada?

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NHL Top 100 Prospect Rankings (via THW)

My major preseason project over at The Hockey Writers - ranking the Top 100 NHL Prospects. I am currently working on the Top 250 Prospects in a search-able and sortable table format. Stay tuned!

Here's an excerpt from Part 4 (1 to 25), which links up to all four parts:
 
Notes:

• The list has been compiled with an emphasis on long term, top end potential. NHL readiness is taken under consideration as well.
• The pattern of ranking goaltenders particularly tough is evident in my entry draft rankings and is again the case here.
• When available, prospects are linked to their respective detailed prospect profile, which I have completed over last couple of seasons. Otherwise, the links will take the reader to HockeyDB.com or Hockeys Future.
• As noted above, to qualify for this list, a prospect has to be drafted or signed as a free agent and is eligible for the Calder Trophy
• The Top 100 will be released in a series of 4 articles.
• After the Top 100 prospects have been released, stay tuned for a mega listing of the Top 250 NHL prospects in a searchable and sortable table format. Find out which players narrowly missed getting into the Top 100 rankings.

*This article contains prospects ranked 1 to 25.
* To view prospects ranked 26 to 50, click here for Part 3.
* To view prospects ranked 51 to 75, click here for Part 2.
*To view prospects ranked 76 to 100, click here for Part 1.

Part 4: (Read on...)
http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-top-100-prospect-rankings-part-4-1to25/

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The Hockey Spy’s 2010 NHL Entry Draft Preview - "Home Page"

This marks the second year my annual monster draft preview has been hosted here at The Hockey Writers (THW). For last year’s detailed draft preview click here – 2009 NHL Entry Draft Preview.

*Also note, “We’re pleased to announce that The Hockey Writers will be hosting a webcast covering the entire First Round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, being held in Los Angeles on June 25th. We’ll be webcasting live from the Rbar, in the shadow of Nationwide Arena, from the beautiful Arena District in downtown Columbus, Ohio.”

*Check out and bookmark this link for more information on the Live Draft Coverage!

THW’s Live Draft Webcast – June 25th, 2010

Here are the Top 10 NHL 2010 Draft Prospects: 

1. Taylor Hall
2. Tyler Seguin
3. Cam Fowler
4. Nino Niederreiter
5. Erik Gudbranson
6. Brandon Gormley
7. Emerson Etem
8. Brett Connolly
9. Jeffrey Skinner
10. Ryan Johansen

I have now completed 17 detailed prospect profiles. Tune in to my "Home Page" preview article at The Hockey Writers for much more draft coverage and links to all the prospect profile as well as mock drafts.

Read on:
http://thehockeywriters.com/hockey-spy-2010-nhl-entry-draft-preview/

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