Hockey's Future Top 50

[Big Ev]

Odd that Merrill is so high, and Faulk is nowhere to be found.

Why is Emerson Etem on the list? Why is Simon Despres there?

It's a solid list, but there are some definite question marks

Simon Despres is pretty solid.

It's a top 50 people, there are obviously going to be some that you disagree with. Some people can't even name 50 prospects let along rank them

[lockedge]

Simon Despres is pretty solid.

It's a top 50 people, there are obviously going to be some that you disagree with. Some people can't even name 50 prospects let along rank them

Hah, true enough :P
My contentions with Despres and Etem have mostly lingered since their draft years. Despres has improved somewhat but he's more or less riding on potential than displayed ability right now, and I feel there's at least ten other dmen who have progressed past him, while offering up similar potential.
Same with Etem, really.

But it is a top 50 list, you're right. I just think some guys are getting their spots because of their draft position rather than how they've played and developed.

[Big Ev]

Despres is gonna be limited offensively but he has helped his team dominate this season. Only 7 losses the whole year. He just won the Top D award for the Q.

[Carcillo]

My contentions with Despres and Etem have mostly lingered since their draft years. Despres has improved somewhat but he's more or less riding on potential than displayed ability right now, and I feel there's at least ten other dmen who have progressed past him, while offering up similar potential.

Despres has nothing but improved since his draft day. He almost made Pens out of the training camp last fall. Look at our D and you'll notice how much that says about Despres. But he was sent down and he was the best D-man in QMHJL this year. Despres is a top-prospect and has been excellent since his draft day.

Despres is easily worthy of a spot in a top-50 prospects list.

[Big Ev]

Despres has nothing but improved since his draft day. He almost made Pens out of the training camp last fall. Look at our D and you'll notice how much that says about Despres. But he was sent down and he was the best D-man in QMHJL this year. Despres is a top-prospect and has been excellent since his draft day.

Despres is easily worthy of a spot in a top-50 prospects list.

I'd put him a bit lower on the list but he would still be in the Top 50. I don't know if he's a "top prospect" but if you consider all Top 50to be top prospects then sure.

and to play devil's advocate to my own comment, if he didn't play well this year then there would have been serious concerns.

[Carcillo]

I'd put him a bit lower on the list but he would still be in the Top 50. I don't know if he's a "top prospect" but if you consider all Top 50to be top prospects then sure.

and to play devil's advocate to my own comment, if he didn't play well this year then there would have been serious concerns.

I don't consider everyone on that list as being a top-prospect but most of them are - and Despres is one of those guys who is a top-prospect. Despres has really high upside - not so much from fantasy point of view but for a real hockey team. Had it not been Despres Pens wouldn't probably had the luxury in trading away Goligoski. Goligoski may put up more points but Despres has all the tools to be a better D-man in NHL than Goligoski is.

As for your last sentence - couldn't the same be said about every prospect in the world?

[Big Ev]

I don't consider everyone on that list as being a top-prospect but most of them are - and Despres is one of those guys who is a top-prospect. Despres has really high upside - not so much from fantasy point of view but for a real hockey team. Had it not been Despres Pens wouldn't probably had the luxury in trading away Goligoski. Goligoski may put up more points but Despres has all the tools to be a better D-man in NHL than Goligoski is.

As for your last sentence - couldn't the same be said about every prospect in the world?

It is said for guys who go back for their 4th year in the CHL. You basically need to dominate that year or else is looks bad on you. You're 3-4 years older than most players in the league.

[Carcillo]

It is said for guys who go back for their 4th year in the CHL. You basically need to dominate that year or else is looks bad on you. You're 3-4 years older than most players in the league.

It may have been Despres' 4th year in the CHL but he's still only 19-years old. So it's not like he was playing an overage season this year.

[Big Ev]

It may have been Despres' 4th year in the CHL but he's still only 19-years old. So it's not like he was playing an overage season this year.

I don't think the age matters. If you're a top prospect and you don't dominate in your 4th year, it will be frowned upon. You gotta be a lot better than the average CHL player in your 4th season.

Jared Cowen, Ryan Ellis, Simon Despres, etc. all had to dominate this year, and they all did.

[Mr. Guru]

I agree with Big Ev...actually I'll take it one step further and say if you don't have above average stats in the CHL after your draft year, then its frowned upon.


As for THN top 50....I think their list is way more accurate. Their ranking comes from "a blend of ratings provided by a panel of 18 NHL scouts". How can you argue that?

Someone asked for THN's top 50 so here it is...

1. Schenn
2. Johansen
3. Kuznetsov
4. Gudbranson
5. Tarasenko
6. Niederreiter
7. Ellis
8. Markstrom
9 Boedker
10. Campbell
11. Coyle
12. Gormley
13. Kadri
14.Kassian
15. Erixon
16. Hodgson
17. Smith
18. Kreider
19. Adam
20. Granlund
21. Leddy
22. Rundblad
23. Schwartz
24. Dalpe
25. Caron
26. Gjugstad
27. Leblanc
28. Morin
29. Filatov
30. Cormier
31. Connolly
32. Josefson
33. Faulk
34. Palmiere
35. Moore
36. Petry
37. Allen
38. Tatar
39. Loktionov
40. Cowen
41. Jarnkrok
42. Hishon
43. de Haan
44. Lehner
45. Colborne
46. Bennett
47. Merill
48. Eakin
49. Forbort
50. McIlrath

[wendelclark17]

the two lists do have different parameters though. For instance Bernier is no longer on the THN list and neither is Ekman-Larsson where as they are still on the HF list

[dmvincent]

I agree with Big Ev...actually I'll take it one step further and say if you don't have above average stats in the CHL after your draft year, then its frowned upon.


As for THN top 50....I think their list is way more accurate. Their ranking comes from "a blend of ratings provided by a panel of 18 NHL scouts". How can you argue that?

Someone asked for THN's top 50 so here it is...

1. Schenn
2. Johansen
3. Kuznetsov
4. Gudbranson
5. Tarasenko
6. Niederreiter
7. Ellis
8. Markstrom
9 Boedker
10. Campbell
11. Coyle
12. Gormley
13. Kadri
14.Kassian
15. Erixon
16. Hodgson
17. Smith
18. Kreider
19. Adam
20. Granlund
21. Leddy
22. Rundblad
23. Schwartz
24. Dalpe
25. Caron
26. Gjugstad
27. Leblanc
28. Morin
29. Filatov
30. Cormier
31. Connolly
32. Josefson
33. Faulk
34. Palmiere
35. Moore
36. Petry
37. Allen
38. Tatar
39. Loktionov
40. Cowen
41. Jarnkrok
42. Hishon
43. de Haan
44. Lehner
45. Colborne
46. Bennett
47. Merill
48. Eakin
49. Forbort
50. McIlrath

Thank you FG!
Really appreciate it, rep to you!

[Mr. Guru]

no problem buddy

[4horsemen]

No I think he (Kadri) should be much lower.

I'm curious to know why you feel this way?

I've watched this guy play a lot and I'm very excited by what I've seen. You could certainly knock him for some of his silly decisions with the puck but this is all part of the learning curve......his skills are undeniable and he'll be getting primo minutes in Toronto next year.

It seems that a sentiment has developed around these boards within the past 6 months that Kadri somehow hasn't lived up to expectations, if this is true I'd use it as a great buy-low opportunity. Kadri will be a more useful fantasy option next year than 90% of this list, bank it!

[Dean Youngblood]

I'm curious to know why you feel this way?

I've watched this guy play a lot and I'm very excited by what I've seen. You could certainly knock him for some of his silly decisions with the puck but this is all part of the learning curve......his skills are undeniable and he'll be getting primo minutes in Toronto next year.

It seems that a sentiment has developed around these boards within the past 6 months that Kadri somehow hasn't lived up to expectations, if this is true I'd use it as a great buy-low opportunity. Kadri will be a more useful fantasy option next year than 90% of this list, bank it!

Lots of Leaf haters out there. Kadri is deserving of his rank.