NHL 2013 Draft Rankings – War Room March Edition Top 120

Guest post by Eldon MacDonald

This is the second of four posts on the top 120 prospects – the NHL 2013 Draft Rankings – War Room Edition.

Gangs of New Jersey (2013 NHL Draft Host)

Here are some of the major groupings for round three (61 to 90):

1. The Second Round Crowd: The players with the greatest chance to make it to the second round. I suspect three to four will make it.

Michael McCarron, Team USA U18
Peter Trainor, Rimouski
Pavel Buchnevich, Cherepovets
Dillon Heatherington, Swift Current
Michael Downing, Dubuque
Jonathan-Ismael Diaby, Victoriaville

2. The Just Got Traded Crowd: See how much better I am with my new team.

Adam Tambellini, Surrey
Matt Murphy, Halifax

3. The Size is Probably Holding Me Back Crowd:

Lucas Wallmark, Karlskrona
Juuso Ikonen, Blues (SM-liiga)

4. The Goalie Wild Cards: Every goalie is a wild card, every draft!

Marcus Högberg, Linköping
Jonathan Desrosiers, Rimouski
EamonMcAdam, Waterloo

5. The Back From Injury Guys: It’s never too late; just show us your best stuff, guys.

Yan Pavel Laplante, PEI
Kurt Etchegary, Quebec
Zach Nastasiuk, Owen Sound (has been back for a while but I didn’t want to add a new category just for him)

6. The Newly Injured Guy: Don’t worry, Mitch, you’ll be back.

Mitchell Wheaton, Kelowna

7. The Downers: Players who have not quite met the early season expectations or who have just entered a rough stretch.

Nick Moutrey, Saginaw
Stephen Harper, Erie
Marc-Oliver Roy, Blainville-Boisbriand
Scott Oke, Rimouski
Wilhelm Westlund, Färjestad
Mason Geertsen, Vancouver

8. The Holding Steady Guys: It could go either way for these guys.

Bogdan Yakimov, IzhstalIzhevs
Viktor Crus-Rydberg, Linköping
Vincent Dunn, Val d’Or
Tommy Vanelli, Minnetonka
Gustaf Olofsson, Green Bay
Emile Poirier, Gatineau

Historic Success Rate

Some of these guys will turn out as planned but historically only about 24% or 7 players from below will make it as full time NHLers.

Other Rankings:

NHL – Combined rankings of the NHL’s mid-season 4 lists at the TheHockeyWriters.com

Bob MacKenzie – Mid-season poll of NHL scouts at TSN

Chris Ralph – The Next Ones Top 100 Midterm Rankings at the TheHockeyWriters.com

NHL 2013 Draft War Room Top 120 March Rankings (Part 2: 61-90)

[See Part 1: NHL 2013 Draft Rankings – War Room March Edition (Part 1: 91-120)]

61. McCarron, Michael

USA NDP U18, USHL, RW, R, 6’5, 227 lbs.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL: 43, Bob MacKenzie: 49, Chris Ralph: 80
YTD: 40g 23pts +5
Feb-13 4g 3pts +3
Jan-13: 10g 8pts -1
Dec-12: 4g 2pts -1
5 Nations: 4g 3pts
Commit: Western Michigan
Commentary: Big guys like Michael often take a little more time to develop. Scouts are likely to place a pretty high ranking on this guy as his skating is starting to improve. He also has decent mitts for a big guy and he is not afraid to use that difference-maker size. Still a work in progress but progress is being made.
Trending upward.

62. Trainor, Peter

Rimouski, QMJHL, LW, L, 5’11, 185 lb
1^st year draft eligible – 2011
Other rankings: NHL unranked
YTD: 62g 93pts +32
Feb-13: 12g 19 pts +8
Jan-13: 10g 21pts +8
Dec-12: 10g 14pts +3
Commentary: Four points out of the QMJHL scoring lead, Peter has all the attributes (skating, shot, pass, desire, willingness to be a difference maker) except for size. Consistently the best player for Rimouski night after night.
Trending stationary.

63. Buchnevich, Pavel

Cherepovets, MHL, C, L, 6’0, 165 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 47, Bob MacKenzie 57, Chris Ralph 47
YTD: 24g 23pts -2
5 Nations: 4g 7pts
Commentary: Highly skilled Russian – skating, shot, hands, forechecking. Has stood out above most of the crowd in International competitions but has not been quite as impressive at home.
Trending downward.

64. Tambellini, Adam

Surrey, BCHL, LW/C, L, 6’4, 177 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 84, Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70), Chris Ralph 99
YTD: 49g 60pts
Commit: University of North Dakota
Commentary: Really took off since his trade to Surrey (22 points in just 13 games). The son of Edmonton GM, Steve Tambellini and the brother of Jeff Tambellini who had six seasons in the NHL, Adam needs to use his time at university to fill out his lean 6’4, 177 lb. frame. Size, skills, pedigree, starting to have results.
Trending upward.

65. Fitzgerald, Ryan

Valley Jr, EJHL, C/RW, L, 6’2, 176 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 63, Bob MacKenzie 56, Chris Ralph 54
YTD: 28g 33pts
Feb-13: No regular season games played
Jan-13: 7g 5pts
Dec-12: 7g 11pts
Commit: Boston College
Commentary: The son of 17 year NHLer, Tom Fitzgerald, Ryan was the MVP at the 2012 All-American Prospects game and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, NS. Has the skating and passing skills as well as the bloodlines; could improve the defensive end of his game.
Trending stationary.

66. Heatherington,Dillon

Swift Current, WHL, D, L, 6’3,196 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 60, Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70), Chris Ralph 93
YTD: 65g 24pts +20
Feb-13: 13g 4pt +3
Jan-13: 11g 4pts +7
Dec-12: 11g 4pts +6
Commentary: Tall guy who skates well, has a long reach which he combines with an active stick. If he develops his puck skills and works on his physical game, he could develop into a real good player.
Trending stationary.

67. Downing, Michael

Dubuque, USHL, D, L, 6’3,190 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 68, Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70), Chris Ralph 69
YTD: 39g 21pts +17
Feb-13: 7g 5pts +5
Jan-13: 9g 5pts +4
Dec-12: 6g 4pts +1
Commit: University of Michigan
Commentary: Michael Downing was the captain of Team USA at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Tournament and then won a gold medal as part of Team USA at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, NS. Skates well for a big guy and likes to play physical – generally likes to keep things simple.
Trending stationary.

68. LaPlante, Yan Pavel

PEI, QMJHL, LW, L, 6’0, 170 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 290
YTD: 12g 7pts +6
Feb-13: 10g 7pts +5
Jan-13: Injured
Dec-12: Injured
Commentary: Won a gold medal on Team Canada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka; however, Yan was also injured at that tournament and just returned to the PEI lineup in February. Yan Pavel has been PEI’s best player just about every game since his return per PEI GM Gord Dwyer. A defensively responsible forward who has that explosiveness to excite a crowd.
Trending upward.

69. Moutrey, Nick

Saginaw, OHL, LW, L, 6’2, 208 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 66, Chris Ralph 81
YTD: 58g 38pts +2
Feb-13: 11g 5pts -3
Jan-13: 11g 8pts +1
Dec-12: 10g 9pts +2
Commentary: After putting up reasonable numbers in December and January, Nick has started to tail off. Watching him the other night, he was barely visible. However, he still has a decent skillset of skating, puck handling, hockey IQ and willingness to play physical as well as the size requirements to be an NHLer. However, he will have to notch it up a bit or you will likely see his stock drop off sharply.
Trending downward.

70. Wheaton, Mitchell

Kelowna, WHL, D, E, 6’5, 225 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 85, Chris Ralph 89
YTD: 39g 8pts +20
Feb-13: Injured
Jan-13: 3g 0pts -1
Dec-12: 12g 2pts +4
Commentary: Late-bloomer, huge stay at home defenseman currently out with an upper body injury. Part of the Kelowna Rockets draft “D” crew along with Madison Bowey and Jesse Lees.
Trending stationary.

71. Harper, Stephen

Erie, OHL, LW, R, 6’2, 200 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 52; Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70), Chris Ralph 70
YTD: 62g 36pts -30
Feb-13: 12g 6pts -10
Jan-13: 11g 3pts -5
Dec-12: 10g 10pts +0
Commentary: Size, NHL shot, goes to the net, good on the boards, potential power forward, needs to improve his consistently.
Trending downward.

72. Wallmark, Lucas

Karlskrona, Allsvenskan, C, L, 5’10, 172 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 90, Chris Ralph 90
YTD: 16g 10pts -6
5 Nations: 4g 5pts
Commentary: Special teams demon, Lucas has that vision that accentuates his high-end passing skills to make him a special player. Needs to improve his strength to be considered a top-end prospect.
Trending stationary.

73. Ikonen, Juuso

Blues, SM-liiga, LW, R, 5’9,170 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 62, Chris Ralph 52
YTD: 54g 26pts +5
5 Nations: 4g 3pts
Commentary: Major talent, good results in Finnish top league – size is the wild card that will likely keep this guy out of the 2^nd round.
Trending stationary.

74. Etchegary, Kurt

Quebec, QMJHL, C, L, 5’11, 185 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 71, Chris Ralph 59
YTD: 25g 20pts +9
Feb-13: 10g 8pts +6
Jan-13: 9g 7pts +0
Dec-12: Injured
Commentary: He’s back; not high-end but a warrior out there – the guy every team wants on their side. It is no coincidence that the Remparts have looked more like a team and have performed better since his return. This was Kurt’s second major injury so that may have an impact on where he is picked.
Trending upward.

75. Yakimov, Bogdan

IzhstalIzhevs (Loan),VHL, C, L, 6’5, 202 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 73, Chris Ralph 73
YTD: 16g 13pts +6
Commentary: Huge, raw prospect. May not get drafted at all or could go 2^nd round. Does not have imposing skills but that size is hard to miss.
Trending stationary.

76. Murphy, Matt

Halifax, QMJHL, D, L, 6’1, 200 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 148, Chris Ralph 63
YTD: 62g 33pts +16
Feb-13: 11g 6pts +6
Jan-13:11g 4pts +11
Dec-12: 11g 3pts -10
Commentary: Plus 14 in 22 games since been traded to Halifax, Matt is a mobile, speedy defenseman of reasonable size who has been rapidly improving the defensive part of his game. Has a nice shot and can contribute offensively as well.
Trending upward.

77. Diaby, Jonathan-Ismael

Victoriaville, QMJHL, D, L, 6’5, 231 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 61, Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70)
YTD: 61g 25pts +12
Feb-13: 11g 8pts +9
Jan-13: 10g 4pts +0
Dec-12: 12g 5pts +2
Commentary: Huge, will fight, can skate, had a terrific February. Still raw but one more month like February and you will not keep him out of the second round.
Trending upward.

78. Crus-Rydberg, Victor

Linkoping J20, SWE J20, C, R, 6’0, 187 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL107, Chris Ralph 79
YTD: 18g 21pts +14
5 Nations: 4g 4pts
Commentary: Reasonable size, reasonable skills – so far not enough to make him an elite prospect, just a good one. A player to watch at the U18’s.
Trending stationary.

79. Dunn, Vincent

Val d’Or, QMJHL, C, L, 5’11, 175 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 74, Chris Ralph 98
YTD: 51g 49pts +19
Feb-13: 12g 9pts +8
Jan-13: 3g 0pts -1
Dec-12: 9g 8pts -6
Commentary: Top pest in the QMJHL – motor mouth on full throttle. Decent skills and good persistence – can go over the line (got suspended for racial-type comments) but for the most part keeps it together.
Trending stationary.

80. Vanelli, Tommy

Minnetonka, HS MN, D, R, 6’2, 175 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 106, Bob MacKenzie 60
YTD: 27g 35pts +23
Feb-13: 7g 8pts +8
Jan-13: 8g 9pts +7
Dec-12: 9g 12pts +6
Commit: University of Minnesota
Commentary: Probably the top D on the USA 2012 Ivan Hlinka team. Has that “it” factor – breakout skating, breakout passes, vision. A bit lean, could use some more poutine – like most high schoolers.
Trending stationary.

81. Nastasiuk, Zach

Owen Sound, OHL, RW, R, 6’1, 191 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 45, Bob MacKenzie 54, Chris Ralph 75
YTD: 56g 33pts +18
Feb-13: 11g 7pts +2
Jan-13: 13g 8pts +6
Dec-12: 9g 4pts +1
Commentary: The son of Grey Cup winner (Toronto Argonauts) Paul Nastasiuk, Zach is a solid two-way player who is likely to grace an NHL team 3^rd line some day. After undergoing a bit of a scoring drought, Zach appears to have got his game back. He is the type of player coaches count on night after night – could improve his skating a bit.
Trending upward.

82. Olofsson, Gustaf

Green Bay, USHL, D, L, 6’2, 185 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings: NHL 78, Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70), Chris Ralph 87
YTD: 48g 18pts +11
Feb-13: 8g 4pts +0
Jan-13: 8g 1pt +3
Dec-12: 8g 2pts +2
Commit: Colorado College. Younger brother, Frederik has comitted to the Tigers as well.
Commentary: Calm, steady defenseman, not flashy. Going forward, it’s tape to tape; going backwards, it’s excellent one on one D. Although born in Sweden, Gustaf and his family have been in the US for about three years so English is not a problem.
Trending stationary.

83. Roy, Marc-Oliver

Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL, C/LW, L, 6’1, 180 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 79, Chris Ralph 49
YTD: 59g 61pts +11
Feb-13: 11g 6pts -3
Jan-13: 11g 12pts +0
Dec-12: 9g 13pts +5
Comments: Two way forward who plays the PP and PK. Good compete level with reasonable skills – had a poor February.
Trending downward.

84. Högberg, Marcus

Linköping J20, SWE J20, G, L, 6’3, 196 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 96
YTD: 11g 2.20 .914
Commentary: Big guy who has a habit of turning it up as the season goes on. You may hear a lot more about this guy before the year is out – could rise significantly.
Trending upward.

85. Desrosiers, Jonathan

Rimouski, QMJHL, G, R, 6’1, 184 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 104, Bob MacKenzie (61 to 70)
YTD: 38g 2.94 .904
Feb-13: 2g 2.77 .882
Jan-13: 5g 2.58 .901
Dec-12: 10g 2.49 .914
Commentary: Just returning from injury, Philippe is still in the process of getting his game back.
Trending downward.

86. Poirier, Emile

Gatineau, QMJHL, LW, L, 6’1, 183 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 59, Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70), Chris Ralph 53
YTD: 59g 58pts -1
Feb-13: 12g 9pts -1
Jan-13: 11g 9pts -1
Dec-12: 10g 12pts -1
Commentary: Decent size, decent skills, decent compete. Needs to reduce his windup time to make his shot more effective – how long does it take to say Robert Guertin Arena three times?
Trending stationary.

87. Oke, Scott

Rimouski, QMJHL, RW, L, 6’3, 201 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2011
Other rankings – NHL Unranked
YTD: 51g 61pts +17
Feb-13: 12g 8pts -3
Jan-13: 5g 9pts +5
Dec-12: 5g 6pts -1
Commentary: Has slowed down recently after Peter Trainor was moved to another line. Still, I like the combination of size and skating ability.
Trending downward.

88. Westlund, Wilhelm

Färjestad, Elitserien, D, L, 6’0, 179 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 94, Chris Ralph 74
YTD: 24g 1pt -1
Commentary: Stay at home defenseman with decent skills. Not large enough or offensive-minded enough to spark the interest from scouts that his level of play might warrant.
Trending downward.

89. Geertsen, Mason

Vancouver, WHL, D, L, 6’4, 203 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 76, Chris Ralph 84
YTD: 68g 14pts -23
Feb-13: 13g 0pts -6
Jan-13: 14g 3pts -7
Dec-12: 11g 3pts -3
Commentary: The darling of pugnacity and truculence aficionados has struggled since being traded to Vancouver.
Trending downward.

90. McAdam, Eamon

Waterloo, USHL, G, L, 6’2, 185 lb.
1^st year draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 120; Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70)
YTD: 26g 3.51 .897
Commit: Penn State
Commentary: The son of a lacrosse goalie, Eamon was the MVP at the USHL Top Prospects game. Gold Medal with Team USA at the Junior A World Hockey Challenge in Yarmouth, NS and a silver medal Junior Club World Cup in Russia with Waterloo where Eamon was named the best goaltender. On a rough stretch as he has lost his last five games.
Trending downward.