Blues Prospect Roundup... 2016-11-28 This will include only prospects that have yet to play a professional game in the EHE. Graduated prospects: Brandon Carlo, Trevor Murphy, Scott Wilson, Nic Petan, Ryan Kujawinski, Kyle Platzer...as you can see quite an extensive list of prospects who have made the professional jump this year. LW's Andrew Mangiapane - 2016 EHE Draft - Went through the whole 2015 EHE draft and the Blues picked him up with their last pick in the 2016 draft. He has been performing quite well in the real AHL this year producing just under a PPG clip. He is an undersized winger that uses his smarts and quickness to create chances for his teammates while still being dangerous in the scoring zones. He should be a top 6 player for the EHE Wolves next season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LF-KDqiPdI Dennis Yan - 2015 EHE Draft - He is curently playing for the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. He is constantly improving his defensive game which is about the only thing that needs to be worked on. Great release and shot, solid skating ability, has a motor that never shuts off. Relentless on the forecheck and is able to find empty spaces in order to get his shot off. Will most likely make the jump to the AHL next season and will be a top 6 winger in two years for the EHE Wolves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTdi1w9DogU C's Logan Brown - 2016 EHE Draft - A big frame center who still has a bunch of developing to. To be fair he has definitely underwelmed me so far this year with his play on a stacked Spits team. But the same can be said about the whole stacked Spits team. He has been and always will be a pass first player with a mid level shot to this point. Hockey sense through the roof, very strong on the boards and in the corners but still needs to get stronger to make the jump to play with men. Needs to work on his skating ability. Best thing about him is he makes the players around him better, and oozes potential. Still a few years away from making a professional splash. Ryan Donato - 2015 EHE Draft - Son of Ted, Ryan is a member of the Harvard squad and is emerging as one of college hockeys best all around players. He has always thought the game well, and had most of the tools to suceed but lacked the skating ability for which is made up for in hustle and determination. Always seems to find his teammates with the puck and finds a way to get into open ice. I expect him to make the jump to the professional ranks after this season and will see him as a top 3 C for the EHE Wolves in 2 years. RW's Tage Thompson - 2016 EHE Draft - I think I had a massive boner when he fell to me at 43rd overall in this previous draft. I don't want to ruin a good thing but he could be a huge steal falling that far. Coming off a stellar freshman campaign playing for a well below average UConn squad he has continued to dominant games at the NCAA level for another medicore Huskies squad. Using his size, smarts, shooting ability. As a sophmore he is hands down the best all around player and leading scorer of his Huskies team. I expect him to have a huge showing at this upcoming WJC. No word out yet when he will turn pro but the EHE Blues are hoping sooner rather then later please and thank you! http://thehockeywriters.com/uconns-tage-thompson-upping-production/ Noah Rod - 2015 EHE Draft - He most certainly does not posses the greatest offensive skillset out there but there are some things during the game you will not beat him at. He gets under players skin, hits hard, skates hard, forechecks hard and never loses a puck battle. He will do whatever it takes to help his team win on any given night. Currently playing in his home country for Genève-Servette he is playing some very productive 200 foot hockey. He should make the jump to NA hockey next season and start creating havoc over here. Think Antoine Rousselish... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=451DMa9NXKU Nick Sorensen - Initial EHE draft - truthfully one of my prospects I know very little about. I see that he has played some games at both NA professional ranks this season and has played well from what I have heard and read. Sounds like he will be a top 6 winger for the EHE Wolves next season and will be in the Blues top 9 soon enough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpmJsPWIVc4 D Gabriel Carlsson - trade with CBJ - Gabby is a big stay at home D man who has been playing with men since he was 17. As a 19 year old he is already Linköping's shutdown defenceman playing big minutes against the oppositions best players. He will never put up any big numbers offensively but a tandem of Werenski and Carlsson for the NHL's Bluejackets squad gives them the best of both worlds and very dangerous for other teams. He signed an ELC with the Jackets this spring and could push for an NHL Starting job as soon as next season. As for the EHE, it is looking like a Carlo/Carlsson shutdown pairing in the years to come..sorry teams!! Lucas Johansen - 2016 EHE Draft - was very excited to get him with the 31st pick last year but it appears he has taken a stride back from where he was last year most likely due to the lack of firepower up front in Kelowna. He is a solid puck mover with a very high hockey IQ. Lacks size so will usually try to avoid most physcial play and big hits. He positions himself well during 1 on 1's and uses his active stick well. Will need a few more years of seasoning and filling out before he can make the jump I think. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJcRNBXkFTI G's Alex Nedeljkovic - 2015 EHE Draft - his professional career is off to quite a cold start to stay the least. He is a smallish framed, athletic goaltender who likes to play deep in his net. This could be his downfall in the pro ranks unfortunately, your athletisicm will not make up for bad positioning when the pro's are shooting. I am convinced he will get some of his flaws straightended out here shortly and at worst will be an NHL backup goalie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Met-2mwI1FE Carter Hart - 2016 EHE Draft - came in to the 2016 draft hoping to snag either Hart or Gustavsson with one of my early 2nd rounders. Hart fell into my lap and now I feel like a genious. He is leaps and bounds the best goaltender in the CHL IMO. He is somewhat "undersized" at 6'2 for todays standards but his positoning and ability to read plays makes up for that ten fold. Moves post to post better then most professional goalies already and plays with a Carey Price calmness that is uncanny. Should start for Canada at this years WJC and will be one of the best goalies at the tournament. Very happy to have him on board! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIdruCXGBj4
