My WHL Top 10 for 2005

[HabLover]

Here is my Top 10 for the 2005 NHL Draft

1. Gilbert Brule - 1987, 5'10 180lbs, Vancouver Giants - Skilled center from Vancouver is leading his team in points and is on pace for 40+ goals, 90+ points and 200+ pims as a 17 yr old. Strong in the corners, deadly in the slot, the kid has been money in the bank up to this point in his career.

2. Chris Durand - 1987, 6'2 185lbs, Seattle T-Birds - Another skilled center from Canada, Durand has been slowed a bit after missing the start of the season due to an injury. A good skater, a good puckhandler, Durand can also play a two-way game which makes him a top prospect.

3. Devin Setoguchi - 1987, 6' 185lbs, Saskatoon Blades - A physical winger with a nice scoring touch, Seto is on pace for about 40 goals in his sophmore season. Was a member of Canada's gold medal U18 team this past summer in the Czech Republic.

4. Carey Price - 1987, 6'2 185lbs, Tri-City Americans - Big goalie from Williams Lake, BC has been on fire as of late. Named the top goalie at the U18 World Junior Cup this past summer where Canada won gold, Price has 5 shutouts so far this season in the WHL and 3 have come in his last 3 games.

5. Kenndal McArdle - 1987, 5'11 195lbs, Moose Jaw Warriors - McArdle is moving up the charts with his play of late and has been arguably the Warriors best player to date this season. Has an outside shot at 50 goals this season and is only a -5 on probably the worst team in the CHL to start this year.

6. Kris Russell - 1987, 5'9.5 159lbs, Medicine Hat Tigers - Pint sized D-man for the Tigers can flat out score! 16 goals so far this season, Russell was another member of the dominating U18 team for Canada that won gold this past summer.

7. Nick Drazenovic - 1987, 6'1 180lbs, Prince George Cougars - Hometown kid leads the Cougars in points so far this season. Has above average skill in all aspects of the game, but it's his vision and passing that will set him apart in the future. +7 on a sub .500 team shows he has a defensive game as well.

8. Dustin Kohn - 1987, 6'1 180lbs, Calgary Hitmen - Sophmore D-man for the Hitmen is showing a well rounded game so far this season. Playing with a number of NHL draft picks on D in Calgary, Kohn will only get better from the likes of Schultz, Rogers, Carson, etc.

9. Scott Jackson - 1987, 6'4 195lbs, Seattle T-Birds - Another draft eligible player out of Seattle, Jackson is more a stay at home kind of guy who uses his size and reach to his advantage. Jackson does see PP and PK time, but it's his +16 that is very impressive for this 2nd year guy.

10. Colton YellowHorn - 1987, 5'7 175lbs, Lethbridge Hurricanes - Mr. YellowHorn may be small, but leading the WHL in points to date gets him on my list for now. The 'Brocket Rocket' isn't the fastest guy, nor does he have the hardest shot, but his work ethic, instincts and passion have him headed for a bright future with Lethbridge.

 

[Blue Bullet]

No Brendan Mikkelseon is kind of a surprise.

 

[goteam]

Good list. Although if you are putting McArdle and Yellowhorn on there regardless of their size, I think Wacey Rabbit could be included. One of the top players on one of the best teams in the league this season.

 

[HabLover]

Good list. Although if you are putting McArdle and Yellowhorn on there regardless of their size, I think Wacey Rabbit could be included. One of the top players on one of the best teams in the league this season.

I don't think there are any concerns with McArdle's size??

Rabbit could be included and probably would have, but YellowHorn is having a great season at 17 and Lethbridge is near the top of the WHL. Rabbit is 18 and had a terrible year last season.

 

[WesternEliteHockeyPr]

Rabbit was born OCT 20th or so

Making him only 1.5 months older than Brule, Seto and some others.

 

[Lefty]

The Blades have a number of players who could go in this draft. Setoguchi is the only guy who should be in the Top 10 for the WHL though. Rabbit and Barnes I would put somewhere from 11-20, with Flatt in the 21-30 range. As for your top 10, I think its relatively good though I think I'd move Russell down a bit. Not that he is a bad player, but like Rabbit and Yellowhorn he will likely be drafted much lower due to his size.

Where do you think Barnes goes in the draft? I know he decided to opt out last season, mostly due to his lackluster play (in part due to his injury at the U18s?). He is a year older, much more mature and a much better player.

 

[HabLover]

The Blades have a number of players who could go in this draft. Setoguchi is the only guy who should be in the Top 10 for the WHL though. Rabbit and Barnes I would put somewhere from 11-20, with Flatt in the 21-30 range. As for your top 10, I think its relatively good though I think I'd move Russell down a bit. Not that he is a bad player, but like Rabbit and Yellowhorn he will likely be drafted much lower due to his size.

Where do you think Barnes goes in the draft? I know he decided to opt out last season, mostly due to his lackluster play (in part due to his injury at the U18s?). He is a year older, much more mature and a much better player.

I was considering Barnes in my Top 10 and for some reason I thought he was drafted last year. I wasn't sure if he opted out or not? I'm not sure if he's 1st round material yet, but for a big guy with some offensive skills I don't think he's far off. Right now I would say he's a 2nd or 3rd rounder.

 

[Lefty]

I was considering Barnes in my Top 10 and for some reason I thought he was drafted last year. I wasn't sure if he opted out or not? I'm not sure if he's 1st round material yet, but for a big guy with some offensive skills I don't think he's far off. Right now I would say he's a 2nd or 3rd rounder.

I wouldn't expect him to go in the 1st round... he is fast for a big guy and he has some pretty good offensive skills. When it all comes down to it though, he is a year older than the rest of the pack, which will probably drop him a round or two. If he had done this last season, I think we'd see him going in the 1st round. Late 2nd or early 3rd is what I expect though.

Have you seen Durand much? I only saw him once and he didn't really do much for me.

 

[Nik]

Decent list... solid. Good job.

 

[Vinland]

Blair Jones is another guy who is missing. Look for Price to be the 2nd pick from out west.
I think you have gotten caught up in states rather than upside. Overall not a bad list with each guy likely in the top 25 from the dub on any list.

 

[Whawks33]

No Mikkelson? no Sauer? Central scouting has both in their top 10 from the WHL. Both Sauer and Mikkelson are far better than Russell. I'd argue that by the end of the season, Sauer could end up the top ranked WHL defenseman for this draft year.

I'm also not convinced scouts or NHL GM's will see past YellowHorn's size. I wouldn't have him in the top ten.

 

[MS]

When it comes down to it, Russell and Yellowhorn will be hard-pressed to be in the top 20 or even top 30 WHL players selected. Russell, for ie, is pretty comparable to what Ian White was in his draft year, and White was the 33rd WHL player selected in 2002.

I recognize, though, this is probably a list of your ratings rather than where you think these players will actually go.

Tyler Plante and Brendan Mikkelson would seem to be near-locks to go in the first two rounds the way things are going, and probably deserve to be on any top-10 list.

Right now I'd have the top 10 as:

1) Gilbert Brule
2) Chris Durand
3) Carey Price
4) Devin Setoguchi
5) Kendal McArdle
6) Tyler Plante
7) Brendan Mikkelson
8) Blair Jones
9) Michael Sauer
10)Scott Jackson

Mark Louis has apparantly really come on for Brandon the last month or so, and might be on lists like this before too long. Same with Jeff May in Prince Albert.

 

[saskhab]

Rabbit's a very hot-and-cold player. Tons of puck skill, though. Not a first rounder, but a good 2nd round pick.

Joe Barnes is the man. He's going to make a NHL team very happy next training camp. I'd pick him in the early 2nd if I were a NHL GM. Big centremen with speed like his... can't pass those guys up.

Durand... He hasn't done much for me either, but then again, I'm a Blades homer, and believe that Setoguchi should be right after Brule.

 

[Vinland]

The more I look at it the worse the list is.

 

[HabLover]

No Mikkelson? no Sauer? Central scouting has both in their top 10 from the WHL. Both Sauer and Mikkelson are far better than Russell. I'd argue that by the end of the season, Sauer could end up the top ranked WHL defenseman for this draft year.

I'm also not convinced scouts or NHL GM's will see past YellowHorn's size. I wouldn't have him in the top ten.

I definitely thought about Mikkelson, especially after his performance against his own age at the U18 tourney where Canada won gold and he was named top D-man. I haven't thought his start to this season has been great, but he is for sure a guy that has loads of potential.

 

[Whawks33]

I definitely thought about Mikkelson, especially after his performance against his own age at the U18 tourney where Canada won gold and he was named top D-man. I haven't thought his start to this season has been great, but he is for sure a guy that has loads of potential.

I think part of that has had to do with some of the things that happened off the ice early in the season. Players cut, others leaving the team, in general a lot of unrest. I also think he's trying to do too much at the moment, as for the most part, the Winter Hawks defense is unseasoned. Lastly, I think the Hawks aren't using him to his strengths and potential.

I think the second half of the season will be one of much improvement for Mikkelson.

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

1)Brule 5'11 180
2)Setoguchi 6'0 185
3)Durand 6'2 185
4)Price 6'3 215
5)McCardle 5'11 195
6)Drazenovic 6'1 180
7)Mikkelson 6'2 180
8)Jones 6'0 185
9)Jackson 6'4 195
10)Gauthier 6'4 190

Mikkelson is still easily in the top 10. Yellow Horn, K.Russell, and Rabbit have all been impressive - but they're all shrimps. Gauthier is a guy that I like, along with Jackson - and imposing size will surely make scouts take notice.