Updated: June 1st, 2009
1. Steven Stamkos (C) - Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Stamkos is the consensus 'franchise' player of his draft year. He is an excellent skater, effortless puckhandler and effective shooter with a great release. While this may all sound like overly-effusive praise, it is well-deserved in this case. Steven is projected to go 1st overall in his draft year, with no other players (some really good ones among them) even close to possessing the same potential impact on a franchise.
2. Drew Doughty (D) - Guelph Storm (OHL)
Doughty is a talented offensive rearguard; he uses his speed effectively and is creative with the puck. Drew possesses a high hockey IQ, has solid size, and is patient and confident with the puck. Defensively, he is very good at taking away the opponent's time and space, thereby limiting quality chances. Doughty is a top-end two-way defenseman and projects to be the type of player you can build a franchise around.
3. Nikita Filatov (LW) - CSKA Jrs (Russia)
Filatov could possess the greatest natural offensive talent in his entire draft class; he is the kind of forward who creates chances for himself and others. Nikita is an excellent skater with good top speed, very soft hands and a dangerous wrist shot. His effectiveness is neutralized in traffic; he is not a physical presence on the ice due to his size. Filatov will also need to improve defensively so as not to be a liability in his own zone.
4. Zach Bogosian (D) - Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Bogosian has the potential to be a top-pairing defenseman. He is a smooth-skating rearguard with a large frame that he uses effectively. Zach is very solid in his own zone and possesses a high hockey IQ; he can also move the puck up the ice and has an excellent shot from the point.
5. Cody Hodgson (C) - Brampton Battalion (OHL)
Hodgson has good all-around skills, not flashy in any one area but not deficient in any area either; he is developing into a good two-way player. Cody is an excellent skater but not a speedster and he is strong on the puck, with good hands and great on-ice vision but he is not 'flashy'; he is a smart player who seems to know how to use all of his skills to best advantage.
6. Luke Schenn (D) - Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Schenn is not projected to become an offensive-type rearguard but he does have the potential to top out as an elite shut-down blueliner. He is a strong player who is an effective physical presence on the ice. Luke's offensive skills are generally underrated and he could provide some modest production as he matures into his role.
7. Mikael Boedker (LW) - Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Boedker is an offensively-talented youngster with speed to burn. He is strong on the puck, with a good shot and a quick release. He is competitive and determined on the ice and will become a fixture among any team's top six after he adds the necessary muscle to compete at the NHA level.
8. Jacob Markstrom (G) - Brynas Jrs (Sweden)
Markstrom is a big netminder who can effectively block much of the net. He is very competitive and mentally strong when facing intense pressure. Jacob employs a butterfly style, supplemented with a good glove. His biggest deficiency is that he tends to go down too early and is not the quickest to regain his feet; control of his rebounds could also be improved.
9. Colin Wilson (C) - U.S. National Team Development Program
Wilson is an excellent combination of size, power and skill, with good hockey instincts to boot; he seems to 'think' the game on a higher level than would be expected for a young player. He makes his teammates better when playing with them and is very good at reading the developing play. Colin has good hands and a playmaker's patience with the puck, but he also doesn't shy away from using his hard shot regularly. He is also one of the best-conditioned athletes in his draft class.
10. Alex Pietrangelo (D) - Mississauga Ice Dogs (OHL)
Alex possesses a large frame which, along with his strong skill set, makes him a very attractive defensive prospect. He has a very high hockey IQ and excellent on-ice vision. Pietrangelo is very mobile, creative with the puck and has a very good shot. He is dependable in his own zone and he can run a power play effectively.
Zach Boychuk (C)
Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Boychuk is an undersized skill player who has made an impact playing in the defensively tough Western Hockey League. Despite his 5'-9" size, the quality skillset he possesses will make him an attractive player for a team that needs offensive ability at the pivot position.
Joe Colborne (C)
Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)
Colborne is a big kid who is still growing into his frame and learning how to use it effectively. He has very good on-ice vision and is an adept playmaker (like a young Joe Thornton). Colborne is also a decent skater but will hopefully learn to play with more of a physical edge.
Erik Karlsson (D)
Sodertalje HK (SEL)
Karlsson has the tools to become a top offensive rearguard; he possesses keen hockey sense and a high panic threshhold with the puck in the offensive zone. Erik is a budding powerplay specialist. Defensively, there is work to be done, as he is not big in size and he can make questionable defensive decisions.
Chet Pickard (G)
Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Pickard is a butterfly netminder who makes effective use of his size to guard the net. He has an efficient technique and possesses good rebound control. He needs to work on his puck-handling skills but this should improve with experience.
Luca Sbisa (D)
EV Zug (Swiss National League A)
Sbisa is a puck-moving defenseman with a good all-around game. He has excellent hockey sense and excellent offensive potential. Luca needs to improve his strength to be able to handle professional players, particularly power forwards.
Viktor Tikhonov (C)
CKSA VVS Samara HC (Russia)
Tikhonov is an aggressive forward who likes to play in traffic and can also put up some points. He sees the ice well, has above average stick skills and average skating skills. Viktor needs to improve his defensive abilities.
