[sureLoss]

Red line report's November update is out:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...raft/19367001/

10. Matthew Barzal
9. Evgeni Svehnikov
8. Jeremy Roy
7. Dylan Strome
6. Zacha
5. Michell Marner
4. Oliver Kylington
3. Noah Hanifin
2. Jack Eichel
1. Connor McDavid

So far this season, the most notable shockers who fall into that category are an easy call to make. Swiss import Kay Schweri in Sherbrooke, Saint John defenseman Thomas Chabot, and Prince George center Jansen Harkins have each been standouts since Day 1, and at Red Line, we definitely can't say, "Yeah, we saw that coming!"

In the case of Schweri, he either didn't appear or never made the slightest impact on any of the four Swiss National under-18/under-20 teams we saw at various tournaments last season. And he was not a highly sought after commodity at last July's CHL import draft, where he was the 35th player selected.

Harkins is a slightly different story in that he was at least a high draft pick (second overall) in the 2012 Western Hockey League bantam draft. But unfortunately, he was with a franchise — Prince George — that is both geographically remote and for years had been a prospect development graveyard before new ownership took control last spring and shook the organization out of its collective coma.

Chabot had a somewhat promising debut in the Quebec League last season, but still finished with an abominable -29 rating on a Saint John squad that saw plenty of upheaval.

So there was no obvious indication (at least to us) that Schweri, Chabot, and Harkins were about to bust out in a major way when the puck dropped in September. But each has consistently been his club's best performer and catalyst most every night of the season so far.

Rising

Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan): Has been the unquestioned catalyst for a resurgent Shawinigan club. Makes things happen all over the ice and is the most quietly buzzed about prospect in the league.

Nick Merkley (Kelowna): Aside from leading the WHL in scoring, he has morphed into a team leader at 17 on one of top teams in the CHL.

Nikita Korostolev (Sarnia): Pure skills and a great frame. Should fill out into a monster and is going to score at every level.

Ivan Provorov (Brandon): Leading Brandon's killer power play with impressive quarterbacking skills. Elite talent also looks more comfortable in own zone with every viewing.

Dmytro Timashov (Quebec): Short stature is not a concern as he's involved all over the ice. Has consistently been the most dangerous forward in the Q so far this year.

Jake DeBrusk (Swift Current): Plays a tough, honest game and is scoring with regularity. We love his attitude and swagger.

Falling

Gustaf Franzén: What happened? Skating like an 18-wheeler powered by a SMART car engine.

Aleksi Saarela: Two years ago was talked about as a future star, but his development has stalled out and his game is stagnant.