My updated top 5 as of Dec 31, 2012:
1. Seth Jones - Not playing nearly as bad as you read here, will be a powerhouse if he plays Worlds as a 19 year old.
2. Mackinnon - Outshone by his Halifax line mate, but still has obvious skills that will translate to the pro game.
3. Drouin - Continues to prove he is one of the better prospects in the draft, underrated defensive game. Clutch player.
4. Monahan - IQ, no weaknesses to his game. Does everything well. Winner.
5. Nichuskin - Flashes of dominant power game, major projection but love his size and skill. If he gets it will almost be impossible to stop.
You do really hold a grudge against big European Cs, eh? Yeah, Barkov didn't have the best imaginable WJC-performance, but he was still very solid, especially considering he is one of the tournament's youngest players. I mean, you look at a young lad who has all the necessary tools to be a number one center at the NHL-level.
-elite Hockey-IQ and instincts
-elite two-way game
-a good and accurate shot
-brilliant passing
-although he won't lay out huge hits, he is very effective at using his size and body offensively and defensively
-excellent puck-skills
-high effort and hard work
-the very important ability to fill his coach given systematical task almost perfectly, which demonstrates his great discipline
The only thing he needs to improve on is his acceleration, that will come with time, training and adjustment to his big body though and certainly isn't an aspect that will hold him back at the NHL-level.
He even has much more potential than Grigorenko, your big enemy from last year's draft, who by the way displays his NHL-level tools and already mature game with every match that passes more and more. Look, he already is a top player in one of the top 3 European leagues at the age of 17, outplays NHLers this season and outscores nearly every Finnish player and prospect of all time at his age.
Note: I don't care where he is supposed to go in this draft right now, I'm talking about his NHL-projection, which is certainly up there with the best of them in this draft. In terms of talent he deserves to be ranked top 3 in my opinion.
Hopefully my English is understandable.
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