By Mark Janzen /
With the NHL regular season about to begin, we take a look at some of the top NHL prospects with connections to B.C. Some are on the cusp of becoming full-time NHLers, and others are on the rise or just getting their first taste. Here are some prospects to keep an eye on as a new season begins and a new group of NHL prospects take another step towards unlocking their potential.
Cody Hodgson – Born: Toronto, ON - NHL Club: Vancouver Canucks
2008-09 Season: GP – 53 G – 43 A – 49 PTS – 92 (Brampton – OHL)
The Canucks are very high on Hodgson and there’s a good chance he’ll make the team out of camp. A lingering back injury kept him on the sidelines early in exhibition, but now that he has returned, he will have every opportunity to stay with the big club.
Karl Alzner – Born: Burnaby, BC - NHL Club: Washington Capitals
2008-09 Season: GP – 48 G – 4 A – 16 PTS – 20 (Hershey – AHL)
According to Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, Alzner needs to ‘wow’ them for him to make the team. Washington has a deep defence and it’s going to take a special effort for this defensive defenseman to take a veteran’s spot.
Evander Kane – Born: Vancouver, BC - NHL Club: Atlanta Thrashers
2008-09 Season: GP – 61 G – 48 A – 48 PTS – 96 (Vancouver – WHL)
It didn’t take long for Kane to make his mark in Atlanta as he scored five goals in four games in the Prospects Tournament. Kane has been playing on a line with Marty Reasoner and Colby Armstrong and, at this point, looks to have a very good chance of making the team.
Landon Ferraro – Born: Trail, BC - NHL Club: Detroit Red Wings
2008-09 Season: GP – 68 G – 37 A – 18 PTS – 55 (Red Deer – WHL)
Like most Red Wings prospects, Detroit plans on bringing Ferraro along slowly. He needs to mature physically and continue develop in the WHL. He did get a goal and two assists in a prospects tournament and a goal in a main camp scrimmage.
Kyle Beach – Born: Vancouver, BC - NHL Club: Chicago Blackhawks
2008-09 Season: GP – 54 G – 24 A – 39 PTS – 63 (Eve/Let – WHL)
Was recently sent back to the Lethbridge Hurricanes for more seasoning in Junior. With little wiggle room under the Blackhawks’ salary cap, Beach won’t get any time in the NHL unless there are drastic injuries.
Tyler Myers – Born: Houston, TX - NHL Club: Buffalo Sabres
2008-09 Season: GP – 58 G – 9 A – 33 PTS – 42 (Kelowna – WHL)
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, there should be one spot available on the blueline and there’s plenty of talk that spot could be filled by Myers. If Myers continues to look good early on and in exhibition play, it might be his spot to lose.
Colten Teubert – Born: White Rock, B.C. – Los Angeles Kings
2008-09 Season: GP – 60 G – 12 A – 25 PTS – 37 (Regina – WHL)
Teubert was impressive at rookie camp as he continued to show the aggressive style that has the Kings excited. There is a bevy of young defenceman in L.A. so Teubert will have another year of development in the WHL before jumping to the pro game.
Jon Blum – Born: Long Beach, CA – Nashville Predators
2008-09 Season: GP – 51 G – 16 A – 50 PTS – 66 (Vancouver – WHL)
The Predators have three spots available on the blueline and, despite the odds, Blum believes he has a shot. Blum made it to main camp and could be a real threat to the three front-runners for the positions, including former Giant Cody Franson.
Stefan Elliot – Born: Vancouver, BC. – Colorado Avalanche
2008-09 Season: GP – 71 G – 16 A – 39 PTS – 55 (Saskatoon – WHL)
For Elliot, this year’s camp is more about next year. Elliot will return to Saskatoon for another season of development. But a good performance in this year’s camp will really help him next year when a few of the Avs veteran defensemen could be on their way out. |