There is some very bad news for fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Contrary to popular opinion, the June 2010 N.H.L. entry draft is actually top heavy with excellent prospects. In fact one N.H.L. scout who has a history of finding top notch players for various teams, told me that the first 10 players to go in the draft might all be very good pros, and that the top 4, might all become franchise players, anyone one of whom might be picked first over all. Of course the Leafs, have traded away their first round , second round, and fourth round picks in the draft, the first two going to Boston in the Phil Kessel trade, and the fourth round pick was traded last year to Florida for Mike Van Ryn.
There are 3 players who are mentioned most often by scouts as the top prospects, but further research indicates that in fact there are 4 who all have the potential to go first, and all 4 have the skills to be franchise players in the National Hockey League. The three who get the most attention, are Taylor Hall, a 6’1”,185 pound left winger with the Windsor Spitfires, Tyler Seguin, 6’1”, 186 pound centre of the Plymouth Whalers, and Cam Fowler, a 6’2” 190 pound defenseman, also with Windsor. The fourth player you can add to this group, is Kirill Kabanov, A 6’3”, 176 pound left wing, with the Moncton Wildcats, a native of Moscow.
Taylor Hall gets the most attention so far. In the 2008/09 season he scored 38 goals, 52 assists, for 90 points in 63 games and was a +29. In 14 games this year, he has 12 goals, 16 assists, for 28 points. Hall is described by scouts as a “dynamic finisher”, who scores a ton of goals. He can dominate a game, is a great skater, handles the puck well, can turn defensemen inside out,and works effectively on both power play as well as penalty kill. The scouts love that he has size, skill, speed and hockey sense. Some have suggested that had Hall been available last June, he may have been selected ahead of first pick John Tavares. Of concern to other scouts, is what they describe as a degree of selfishness. One scout suggested that if his team lost a 4-3 game but he had scored a hat trick, that Hall might be more focused on his totals, as opposed to the team loss. This is not a shock to others who have scouted him either. What is difficult to determine, is whether or not this is a trait that will fade as he matures, or if this will be an ongoing problem at the N.H.L. level.
Every scout loves Tyler Seguin. Last season , he had 21 goals, 46 assists, and was a +14 in 61 games. In 11 playoff games last spring, he had 5 goals along with 11 assists. So far this season, he has 15 goals, and 11 assists in 12 games. A facet of his game that gets the professionals excited, is that the centre is equally effective and hard working , in all 3 zones of the rink. The Plymouth Whaler also has that rare trait of “vision”, in that he “processes” the game, and can “find people”. One scout described this facet of his mental skills as so elite that it is “mind boggling” to those watching him play. Another talent assessor suggested that Seguin’s scoring accomplishments are notable, because he does not have a great team around him.
Cam Fowler, is a native of Farmington Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. In 14 games so far with Windsor, he has 18 assists, along with 2 goals and is a +11. Scouts have described him as a brilliant skater who very quickly creates separation between himself and opposing players skating with him.
Russian Kirill Kabanov of the Moncton Wildcats, was described to me by one long time scout, who has a superb record for finding N.H.L caliber players anywhere and everywhere, as perhaps the “ THE SINGLE MOST TALENTED PLAYER IN THE DRAFT”. Kabanov was described additionally as a “phenom” with great hands, size, and skill.
Other junior hockey players who scouts are talking about as potentially good or very good future N.H.L. players, include Erik Gudbranson, a 6'3",199 pound blue liner with the Kingston Frontenacs. Last season in 63 games, he scored 3 goals to go along with 19 assists. In 10 games this year, he has 6 assists. Also on many scouting lists are Brandon Gormley, a 6’2”, 190 pound defenseman with the Moncton Wildcats, along with 3 centers'. The trio are Steven Shipley, 6’2” 204 pounds, with Owen Sound, Joey Hishon, 5’10”, 190 pounds, also with Owen Sound and the Ottawa 67’s 6’,3”, 190 pounds, Ryan Martindale. In 2008/09, Shipley had 16 goals and 23 assists in 63 games. This season in 14 games, he has scored 6 goals and 9 assists. Joey Hishon had 37 goals,and 44 assists in 65 games last season, while scoring 3 goals and nine assists in 14 games this year so far. Ryan Martindale scored 23 goals and 24 assists in 53 games in 2008/09, and in 13 games this season , he has 5 goals and 11 assists.