[sureLoss]

Riley Tufte could be a real interesting project pick. 6'5'' 190lbs. Projected to be a 1st round pick by central scouting but could drop into the 2nd round.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=787578

While most forwards his size are assumed to eventually become power forwards, that may not be the case for Tufte. He has traits commonly associated with more skilled forwards such as strong skating ability and excellent hands.

"I don't see him being a guy that's going to be a huge pounder and the prototypical power forward, but I see him understanding how to use his size more and make that a part of his game because he's going to have to to be a successful player in the NHL," NHL Central Scouting's David Gregory said. "There's going to be that sweet spot somewhere in between that skilled and power forward for him in my mind. Maybe it's a Rick Nash-type of player where he has unreal hands for a big guy but can eventually understand he's using his size because it can give him such an advantage."

Bigger players that are skilled come along only so often, and that helps make Tufte out to be a more interesting prospect, but he realizes what skills he has and how best to use them.

"I think I'm a good skater, but I still need to work on it a little more," Tufte said. "I kind of call myself a power forward that likes to make plays and put the puck in the net."

One aspect of Tufte's game that helps set him aside and differentiates him from being a typical power forward is his ability to get a shot off in difficult areas of the ice or in tough situations. Good hands on a big forward can help set him apart from others relying on their size alone to get them by.

"I think when you have a player that big that has the mobility and the stick skills that Riley has, it makes him a tough combination to hold back and I think that will happen at every level as he adjusts to the level of play; he has that upside," Gregory said. "He gets his shot off so quickly, he can move in traffic and get clear to make a pass or shoot the puck, and those are things that when a guy has the size that he does it's a great combination."

"Riley's got a great future ahead of him," Fargo coach Cary Eades said. "He's almost 6-6 and can skate like the wind. His game was maturing and growing here. He's adding some more stop and start to his game, a little more physicality, winning more puck battles, utilizing his size, speed, and strength to go to the net and getting to the net creating scoring chances. He was tied for our team lead in scoring goals with five. He was really showing some nice progression."