2013 NHL Draft Rankings – War Room April Edition (Round 4: 91-120)

By Christopher Ralph April 10th, 2013

Guest post by Eldon MacDonald (edited by @ChrisRalphTHW)

Kamloop Blazers forward JC Lipon hopes to duplicate Tanner Pearson in getting drafted for the first time in his third year of eligibility (WHL.ca)

This is the first of four posts on the top 120 prospects for the entry draft in June in Newark, New Jersey – the NHL 2013 Draft Rankings – War Room Edition.

Gangs of New Jersey (2013 NHL Draft Host)

There have been some interesting changes in the round 4 crowds.

1. The Graduates: These are the players ranked in round 4 last month now ranked in round 3. They will be discussed in the round 3 post.

MacKenzie Weeger, Halifax
Myles Bell, Kelowna
Greg Chase, Calgary
Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau, Baie Comeau

2. The Newbies: These are players ranked in the fourth round for the first time.

Niklas Hansson, Defense, Rögle J20, Sweden – Smooth, puck-moving defenseman who we should get a chance to see at the U18s this month.
Will Butcher, Defense, USA NDP U18 – A rough start to the season, Will has really turned it up over the last month averaging over a point per game.
Patrik Bartosak, Goalie, Red Deer – Hot, hot, hot; what else can I say?
Matt Buckles, Centre, St. Michael’s, OJHL – Big-bodied power centre out of the OJHL; this guy used to be undersized but is now 6’2, 210 lb.
Brendan Burke, Portland – Big bodied goalie who just happens to be the son of Sean Burke, a former NHL goaltender. Yes, Brendan has had success but he is still a backup. The best is yet to come.

3. The Relegation Crowd: These are the players previously ranked in round 3.

Mason Geertsen, Vancouver – Mason has really struggled since coming to Vancouver. However, teams still love his truculence and pugnacity.
Scott Oke, Rimouski – Scott has not been the same guy since Peter Trainor was removed from his line. In addition, his main centre, Frederik Gauthier, really lost momentum at season’s end.
Stephen Harper, Erie – Attitude and results just are not there.

4. The Relegation to Below Crowd: These are the players previously ranked in round 4 now ranked lower.

Anton Cederholm, Rögle J20, Sweden – Anton had a rough end of the season and appears to have been left of the U18 team.
Philippe Desrosiers, Rimouski – It was a rough end to the season for Philippe and Rimouski.
Josh Burnside, Mississauga – Need to see a little more offense to be ranked 4^th round.
Saku Salminen, Jokerit, Sm-liiga, Finland – Of all the guys being relegated, this is the guy I could most likely be wrong on.
Antoine Bibeau, PEI – I still think Antoine will be drafted but he needs better numbers to go 4^th in his second year eligible.

5. The Big Risers Crowd: These are the big risers in round 4 from last month.

Roberts Lipsbergs, Seattle – Seattle is hot and Roberts is just about their hottest player.
Juuse Saros, HPK U20, Finland – Continued stellar play in the playoffs.

Historic Success Rate

Some of these guys will pan out as planned but historically only about 19% or 6 players from below will make it as full-time NHLers.

Round 4 – Players Ranked 91 to 120

(Stats as of March 31/13)

91. Hansson, Niklas

Rögle J20, SWE J20, D, R, 6’0, 172 lb
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL = beyond 270
YTD: 39g 23pts +26
Playoffs: 2g 0pts -3
Video:

92. Kivihalme, Teemu

Burnsville D Teemu Kivihalme is a sure top three round pick. Other Minnesotans who could go high are Jake Guentzel and Blake Heinrich.

— Let's Play Hockey (@LetsPlay_Hockey) April 3, 2013

Burnsville HS, MN HS, D, L, 6’1, 170 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 103
YTD: 25g 30pts
Playoffs: 3g 1pt
Feb-13: 5g 8pts
Jan-13: 9g 11pts
Video: YouTube courtesy of cityofburnsvillemn.

93. Hill, Tyler

Chicago, USHL, LW, L, 6’6, 225 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 115, Chris Ralph 92
YTD: 25g 10pts +7
Mar-13: 12g 4pts +3
Feb-13: 9g 4pts +3
Jan-13: 2g 0pts -1

94. Valiev, Rinat

Indiana, USHL, D, L, 6’1, 190 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 193
YTD: 36g 13pts -6
Mar-13: None
Feb-13: None
Jan-13: 9g 4pts -3
5 Nations: 4g 5pts
Video: YouTube courtesy of IndyIceHockey.

95. Houck, Jackson

Vancouver, WHL, RW, R, 6’0, 184 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 152, Chris Ralph 94
YTD: 69g 57pts -16
Mar-13: 6g 3pts -3
Feb-13: 12g 9 pts -12
Jan-13: 14g 13pts -2
Video: YouTube courtesy of goVancouverOnShawTV.

96. Lipsbergs, Roberts

Seattle, WHL, LW, L, 5’11, 195 lb.
Draft eligible – 2012
Other rankings – NHL 83
Playoffs: 5g 5pts +4
YTD: 64g 58pts -11
Mar-13: 8g 11pts +0
Feb-13: 13g 9pts +0
Jan-13: 9g 6pts -5
Video: YouTube courtesy of SeattleThunderbirds.

97. Saros, Juuse

HPK U20, FIN U20, G, L, 5’10, 181 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 57
Playoffs: 8g 1.76 .933
YTD: 37g 1.86 .933
5 Nations: 3g 2.35.929

98. Djuse, Emil

Södertälje, Allsvenskan, D, L, 6’0, 185 lb.
Draft eligible – 2011
Other rankings – NHL 127
YTD: 35g 13pts -6
WJC-U20: 6g 2pts +0
Video: YouTube courtesy of SodertaljeskTV.

99. Cassels, Cole

After my Cole Cassels love-fest from this afternoon, he makes a sensational steal, shorthanded, and forces a great save on the SH breakaway

— Blue Chip Prospects (@bcphockeyblog) April 10, 2013

Oshawa, OHL, C, R, 6’0, 178 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 81, Chris Ralph 65
Playoffs: 5g 1pt -1
YTD: 64g 43pts +7
Mar-13: 6g 5pts +5

Feb-13: 12g 8pts +5
Jan-13: 12g 8pts -2

Video: YouTube courtesy of JimKorn20.

100. Lees, Jesse

Kelowna, WHL, D, L, 6’0, 180 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL Unranked
Playoffs: 5g 0pts +0
YTD: 66g 30pts +37
Mar-13: 8g 3pts +2
Feb-13: 10g 2pts -4
Jan-13: 14g 11pts +13
Video:

101. Dahlström, Carl

Linköping J20, SWE J20, D, L, 6’4, 212 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 184
Playoffs: 5g 2pts -1
YTD: 37g 13pts +18

102. Geertsen, Mason

Vancouver, WHL, D, L, 6’4, 203 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 76, Chris Ralph 84
YTD: 73g 14pts -28
Mar-13: 8g 0pts -3
Feb-13: 13g 0pts -6
Jan-13: 14g 3pts -7
Video: YouTube courtesy of hockeyfightsplus.

103. Yakubowski, Jaimen

Lethbridge, WHL, LW, L, 5’10, 202 lb.
Draft eligible – 2012
Other rankings – NHL Unranked
YTD: 65g 50pts -6
Mar-13: 4g 2pts -5
Feb-13: 9g 5pts +0
Jan-13: 13g 9pts -2
Video: YouTube courtesy of hockeyfightsplus.

104. Aaltonen, Miro

Blues, SM-liiga, C/LW, L, 5’10, 169 lb.
Draft eligible – 2011
Other rankings – NHL 125
YTD: 32g 16pts -2
Mar-13: Injured
Feb-13: Injured
Jan-13: Injured
WJC-U20: 1g 3pts +2
Video: YouTube courtesy of Espoo Blues.

105. Butcher, Will

USA NDP U18, USHL, D, L, 5’10, 200 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 231
YTD: 59g 32pts +26
Mar-13: 11g 13pts +6
Feb-13: 7g 1pt +4
Jan-13: 10g 4pts +2
Video: YouTube courtesy of TheWindsorStar.

106. Oke, Scott

Rimouski, QMJHL, RW, L, 6’3, 201 lb.
Draft eligible – 2011
Other rankings – NHL unranked
Playoffs: 6g 2pts +2
YTD: 57g 71pts +17
Mar-13: 7g 10pts +1
Feb-13: 12g 9pts -3
Jan-13: 5g 8pts +5
Video: YouTube courtesy of alexlevesque96.

107. Malone, Sean

WNY Hockey Prospect & West Seneca, NY native @SeanMalone_13 named to the 23 man roster for 2013 IIHF Men's World U-18 Championship in Sochi

— WNY HOCKEY PROSPECTS (@wnyh2234) April 9, 2013

US NDP U18, USHL, C, L, 5’11, 185 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 134
YTD: 46g 30pts +22
Mar-13: 7g 4pts +5
Feb-13: 7g 3pts +4
Jan-13: 10g 7pts +7
Video: YouTube courtesy of USAHockeyHQ.

108. Bartosak, Patrik

Red Deer, WHL, G, L, 6’1, 188 lb.
Draft eligible – 2011
Other rankings – NHL 168
Playoffs: 4 1 1.25 .962
YTD: 55 5 2.26 .935
Mar-13: 7g 2 1.85 .947
Feb-13: 11g 1 2.25 .941
Jan-13: 9g 0 2.31 .930
Video: YouTube courtesy of ShawTVRedDeer.

109. Westlund, Wilhelm

Färjestad, Elitserien, D, L, 6’0, 179 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 94
Playoffs: 5g 0pts +0
YTD: 26g 1pt -1
Video: YouTube courtesy of gruvarbetarn.

110. Motte, Tyler

US NDP U-18, USHL, LW, R, 5’9, 184 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 146
YTD: 59g 36pts +20
Mar-13: 11g 8pts +8
Feb-13: 7g 2pts +2
Jan-13: 10g 8pts +7
Video: YouTube courtesy of Paul Dionne.

111. Buckles, Matt

St. Michael’s, OJHL, C, R, 6’2, 210 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 182
Playoffs: 14g 16pts
YTD: 50g 71pts

112. Cammarata, Taylor

Waterloo, USHL, C/LW, L, 5’7, 156 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL unranked, Chris Ralph 55
YTD: 53g 83pts +32
Mar-13: 9g 9pts +4
Feb-13: 10g 16pts +2
Jan-13: 10g 12pts +11
Video:

113. Glienke, Zach

Eagan HS, HS MN, LW, L, 6’3, 200 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings: NHL 154
Playoffs: 3g 4pts
YTD: 25g 60pts

114. Johnson, Luke

Lincoln, USHL, C, R, 5’11, 178 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 108
YTD: 53g 45pts +15
Mar-13: 12g 13pts +1
Feb-13: 10g 6pts +0
Jan-13: 8g 9pts +5
Video: YouTube courtesy of USHLinteractive.

115. Lipon, JC

8 – With 17 pts in 8 GP, @blazerhockey JC Lipon is the only player in the WHL who has registered a point in each of his team's playoff games

— WHL Facts (@WHLFacts) April 9, 2013

Kamloops, WHL, RW, R, 6’0, 181 lb.
Draft eligible – 2011
Other rankings – NHL 131, Chris Ralph 78
Playoffs: 5g 11pts +5
YTD: 61g 89pts +34
Mar-13: 6g 10pts +8
Feb-13: 11g 11pts +5
Jan-13: 11g 13pts -2
Video:

116. Mermis, Dakota

London, OHL, D, L, 5’11, 190 lb.
Draft eligible – 2012
Other rankings: NHL 211
Playoffs: 4g 4pts +7
YTD: 27g 11pts +15
Mar-13: 8g 0pts +4
Feb-13: 10g 2pts +3
Jan-13: 9g 9pts +8
Video: YouTube courtesy of CTVLondon.

117. Harper, Stephen

Erie, OHL, LW, L, 6’2, 200 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings: NHL 52; Bob MacKenzie HM (61 to 70), Chris Ralph 70
YTD: 67g 38pts -38
Mar-13: 7g 5pts -10
Feb-13: 12g 6pts -10
Jan-13: 11g 3pts -5.
Video: YouTube courtesy of InTheORadio.

118. Antonen, Joose

JYP-Akatemia, Finland-2, LW, R, 6’2, 183 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 125
Playoffs: JYP U20 6g 4pts +1
YTD: 30g 11 pts +6

119. Burke, Brendan

Portland, WHL, G, L, 6’3, 176 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings – NHL 242
Playoffs: 1 0 12.52 .600
YTD: 33 4 2.65 .908
Mar-13: 5g 0 2.83 .910
Feb-13: 6g 0 3.05 .901
Jan-13: 6g 3 1.84 .937
Video: YouTube courtesy of GoaltendingLLC.

120. Corbett, Jeff

Sudbury, OHL, D, R, 6’1, 180 lb.
Draft eligible – 2013
Other rankings: NHL 89
Playoffs: 2g 0pts -1
YTD: 45g 13pts +9
Mar-13: 3g 2pts +1
Feb-13: 5g 2pts +0
Jan-13: 9g 5pts +3

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 THW

Round 3 (Prospects Ranked 61-90)

Available here