Re: Lesser known prospects you follow?
Tyler Graovac - Minny prsopect, large, uses body extremely well, needs to find himself fully in AHL and he could become a solid 3rd maybe 2nd line center...
Alan Quine - Smaller pick moving NYI prospect, Detroit drafted him originally and threw him back...
Alexey Marchenko - good Russian puck moving blue liner that is very responsible, behind Sproul and Ouellet, he could be a very interesting Detroit 2nd pairing D in a few years...
Morgan Ellis - slides a bit under the radar in Montreal, but Junior fans I'm sure are aware of him, but i think he qualifies as lesser known compared to Tinordi, and Beaulieu... He might be a minute muncher that can chip in 20-30 points eventually...
Greg Pateryn - starting to get attention, similar to Ellis with more offensive punch...lost most of last year to an injury...
Patrick Cehlin - projects as a good little mid line winger for Nashville... could slide into Nashville in a couple seasons as a below radar kid...
Martin Marincin - Good Slovak D man that for some reason Edmonton doesn't wanna use... he has good size, well rounded I could see him fitting into a minutes eating all situation defenceman behind the offensive studs the Oilers have, at 6-4, he could being some size to the back end and has a great shot... The Oilers need to really screw off with Fedun, Potter and other crap and give this guy 20-30 games...
Tobias Rieder - Smaller German forward that is a pure goal scorer with an elite level shot. His responsibility holds him back but if he ever gets it... 30-40 goals would be a decent project-able ceiling with the right line mates and role... 2 years from getting an oppertunity, but likely to be a top 5 AHL scorer soon, sits 30th as a rookie on an inept Portland team...
Patrik Nemeth - 6-3, 235 pound Swedish blue liner learning to be a big Texan customer. More of a stay at home guy, but I enjoy his play.
Daniil Tarasov - Dynamic Russian forward from the USHL, never drafted but you might see him within a year for the Sharks as a pure one way weapon. He is making a name for himself in the AHL now and should be on peoples radar... I'm not quite sure of projections, but he could be a hidden gem for a building team at the bottom of the standings...
Joni Ortio - Large Finn goalie for Calgary, failed his first North American attempt due to the fact he was playing small, I've seen him play once on a streamed game this year and he looks much better and comfortable for Abbotsford... Personally I feel Berra is a temporary goalie in Calgary, with Brossoit now out, I feel Ortio has little competition for oppertunity until Jon Gillies comes out of NCAA, even then Gillies might be a few years behind...
Laurent Brossoit - reminds me of a more talented Dubnyk... fitting he is in Edmonton considering he played in Rexall for years with the Oil Kings... Oilers should have originally drafted him... He is a legit goalie that will likely only be a mid level stopper at the NHL level but reliable...
Harri Sateri - San Jose keeper, better than Stalock the place holder, having a rough season, but should bounce back...
Audrey Makarov - Made big noise for the Russians before Vasilevski last year, he is a battling goalie with a good skillset... needs to play bigger an consistently, be he could see the NHL within 3 years.
Sergei Gaiduchenko - Huge Russian, 2007 Florida draft pick... He was in Prospect camp this season which surprised me as I never really expected him to cross, but the plot thickens as yesterday Florida's farm team cleared Dov Morris to open room, I thought for Michael Houser, but after a rough start the his KHL season, Gaiduchenko has been released today... he might be crossing... and with 6 KHL seasons under his belt (last year being excellent) he could come in and compete with Markstrom and possibly outplay, getting himself into an opportunity... I wouldn't go all in, but watch very closely how he adjusts if he crosses...
Many of my under the radar guys are European and in the AHL as many in North America don't catch on them quickly, unless your in the city they are playing... I check game sheets daily on most of these players and get a little excited every time I see them make a notable contribution... I also try and find games they are playing in to steam or watch on TV... Not all are fantasy worthy, just fun for me to watch...
Current Roster:
F: H Sedin, Plekanec, Perry, Cammalleri, Oshie, Stepan, Anisimov, Kunitz, Justin Williams, Little, Baertchi, Huberdeau, Eberle, Rattie, Hoffman, Holland, Horvat, Dano, Dal Colle, Kerdiles
D: Boumeester, Green, Carlson, Del Zotto, Myers, Alzner, M Staal, Pouliot, Gormley, Mueller
G: Varlamov, Mrazek, Niemi, Vasilevski, Ramo, Hellebuyck