Chicago
Joakim Nordstrom, C
After playing a full season with AIK of the Swedish Elite League, Nordstrom was signed to a three-year entry level contract by the Blackhawks this past May. Originally drafted 90th overall in 2010, Nordstrom has impressed Blackhawks scouts and management with his sound two-way game, hockey sense, and skating ability. Nordstrom has a game that is well suited for the NHL level as he does not shy away from physicality and likes to park himself in the front of the net for scoring chances. While he may realistically only have third line upside, Nordstrom has shown decent scoring ability at lower levels in Sweden and internationally, including a four goal performance at the 2012 WJHC. In short, Nordstrom does not possess high-end fantasy upside, but he is a good bet to make the NHL and could prove to be a nice value pick for those in deeper fantasy leagues. Nordstrom will play one more year with AIK in Sweden before making the jump across the pond.
Colorado
Garrett Meurs, RW
As a fan of the Ottawa Senators, I tried to watch 2011 first round pick Stefan Noesen and his Plymouth Whalers play whenever I could. When I did tune in, Meurs was a player who always seemed to stand out. After a so-so draft year, which concluded with him being taken in the fifth round by Colorado, Meurs bounced back by scoring 20 goals and tallying 33 assists in 2011-2012. The increase in production was nice to see, however scouts were more impressed with the physical game that Meurs added to his arsenal. He showed a consistent mean streak and was lauded for his team play and on-ice work ethic. If this past season was any indication, Meurs should take another step forward both offensively and defensively in 2012-2013, especially due to the fact that the Whalers may lose three of their top players from 2011-2012 in J.T. Miller, Andy Bathgate, and Jamie Devane. While he isn’t the biggest player, listed at 6-0, 175, a tenacious power game is always welcomed in the pros, no matter how large the player is.
Columbus
Mike Reilly, D
I have to admit, Reilly was a player who I knew little about until this summer when I saw him play for Team USA at the 2012 National Junior Evaluation Camp. Reilly was without a doubt the best defenseman on the ice throughout the short tournament, which also included the likes of Seth Jones, Jacob Trouba, Olli Määttä, Oscar Klefbom, Hampus Lindholm, and Connor Murphy, just to name a few. While this is obviously a small sample size, Reilly dominated at both ends of the ice and was Team USA’s best offensive weapon from the back-end. This past season, Reilly starred for the BCHL powerhouse Penticton Vees, leading the team in scoring from the back-end with 24 goals and 59 assists in 51 games. Reilly is committed to the University of Minnesota for 2012-2013 and is a virtual lock to make Team USA at the 2013 WJHC. If he plays in the WJHC as well as he did at the summer camp, then Reilly’s value should skyrocket in fantasy circles this season.
Dallas
Matej Stransky, RW
You won’t find too many players who improved as much from one year to the next as Stransky did in 2011-2012. Stransky scored 39 goals and tallied 81 points in 71 games this season, which was more than triple his production of 26 points in 71 games in his rookie WHL campaign. The Czech winger uses his 6-3, 201 frame to play an excellent power game mixed with a good amount of finesse and puck skills. He was easily the Saskatoon Blades’ best player in 2011-2012 and showed the Stars that he was more than worth his sixth round selection in 2011. Given how much Stransky improved last year, it will be interesting to see what he does for an encore in 2012-2013 as he will be even more physically and technically mature than most of his WHL peers. Stransky is just one of those players with excellent size and skill that NHL teams yearn for.
Detroit
Nick Jensen, D
Most of Detroit’s prospects are well known and heavily discussed due to the their past draft success, but Jensen is a player who is rarely, if ever, talked about in fantasy and real life hockey circles. Drafted 150th overall out of the USHL in 2009, Jensen has shown well at the NCAA level with St. Cloud State, scoring 11 goals and adding 44 assists in 77 games over the last two years. This past season, he was fourth in WCHA scoring by defensemen, finishing only behind Justin Schultz, Nate Schmidt, and Joey LaLeggia. Jensen was also named to the WCHA All-Academic team, which shows that he possesses a high level of intelligence and work ethic off the ice. On the ice, Jensen is lauded for his elite skating and his ability to rush with and move the puck. Right after he was drafted in 2009, Red Wings scout David Kolb told RedWingsCentral.com that Jensen’s “offensive upside is what (they’re) excited about, the skating ability. His skating is his best asset and he’s a good puck-mover.” After seeing him play with St. Cloud State in 2010, Kolb stated that Jensen “is almost impossible to beat one-on-one at this level because of his mobility…He likes to make open-ice hits and stand guys up at the blue line.” While Jensen is probably another two years away from signing a professional contract, he is one to keep an eye on in Detroit.
Stay tuned for Part 2, which will be posted in the coming weeks!