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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Calgary
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New York Rangers Prospects Report
Thanks for the format Jiri!!
One of the goals of the Rangers organization is to constantly add quality prospects to the system. Below is a prospect report on the Future Rangers.
Goaltenders:
Pascal LeClaire
NHL Rights: Columbus Blue Jackets (#1 ranked goalie, #2 ranked prospect)
Hockey's Future Rating: 8.0/B
Scouting Report: After a disastrous first season in the AHL, the Repentigny, Quebec native has bounced back in a big way, even having a successful debut for the big club in Columbus. The only problem for Leclaire is that, like Ilya Bryzgalov, he is behind a very good young goaltender, Marc Denis, in the Blue Jackets organization.
Ryan Munce
NHL Rights: LA Kings (#19 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 7.5/C
Scouting Report: Munce has another year of eligibility in the OHL and appears to be going back to Sarnia. His tremendous pre-draft season was followed up by a rather disappointing post-draft season. He remained a work-horse for Sarnia and Team Canada. Munce is coming out of the OHL which has a recent terrible record of developing goaltenders. Might develop into a solid NHL goaltender or at least a serviceable back-up.
Partick Ehelechner
NHL Rights: San Jose Sharks (#2 ranked goalie, #9 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 6.5/B
Scouting Report: A move to the major juniors would be a great move for Ehelechner, where he could get ample playing time and start adjusting to the NHL game. Having impressed in Halifax, the German netminder was selected by the Sudbury Wolves in the CHL Import Draft, where Ehelechner will likely become the Wolves' starting goalie. Without a doubt, Ehelechner has the talent to play in the AHL someday. With more playing time, Ehelechner's rapid development should be accelerated. In many regards, Ehelechner's true potential is unknown. A third-string NHL goalie is a safe bet, but with the proper development, it's possible Ehelechner could become a number one goalie.
Defensemen
Denis Grebeshkov
NHL Rights: LA Kings (#1 blueliner, #1 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 8.0/B
Scouting Report: Grebeshkov has the potential of being a top four NHL defenseman. He is already mature beyond his age and has earned the trust of Vladimir Vujtek, the head coach of Super League’s gold winning team. Denis is NHL ready for this upcoming season and has been compared to Wade Redden. Has signed a contract with the LA Kings and is now playing in North America. He is playing with Manchester of the AHL as he goes thru the adaptation process to the smaller rinks and the North American style of game. Once Grebs gets acclimated, there should be no obstacle to his assent to a future NHL top 2 pairing a couple of years down the line.
Mark Popovic
NHL Rights: Ducks (#2 ranked blueliner, #5 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 7.0/A
Scouting Report: Popovic almost made the Anaheim roster out of camp in 2003, but the team decided he would be better served playing top-pairing minutes in Cincinnati. He'll be in Anaheim within the next year and a half and will be a mainstay on the blueline and powerplay for many years there after.
Nathan Saunders
NHL Rights: Ducks (#16 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 6.0/B
Scouting Report: After having a strong rookie camp and receiving an invite to the Ducks training camp in 2003, Saunders is well on his way to impressing the organization. He is currently playing out his final year of QMJHL eligibility with Moncton but would be eligible to play as an overager next year if the Ducks decide to keep him in major junior. Saunders is never going to be star player, and most likely won’t find himself on the top two pairings of an NHL team. However, he is the type of player which every team could use anywhere as a #5-7 defenseman. How far he is from potentially breaking into the NHL depends a great deal on where he plays in 2005-06, but right now its safe to assume he will be ready to try to make the jump around 2007-08.
Logan Stephenson
NHL Rights: Coyotes (#11 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 6.0/B
Scouting Report: Stephenson has time to develop into a solid prospect. He has the ability to become a top four defensemen in the NHL. He will return to Tri-City for the 2004-05 season and help shutdown opponents and help make another push for post season play.
Denis Grot
NHL Rights: Canucks (#19 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 6.0
Scouting Report: With Grot finally playing in his first full season in the Russian Super League, he has been able to establish himself as a defenseman in an elite league. His future in the NHL will most likely be as number four or five defenseman who can quarterback the second unit of a power play. While there is an outside chance the Canucks will sign Grot for next year to play in Manitoba, the more likely scenario is for Grot to return to the Super League to develop for one more year.
Forwards
Eric Staal
NHL: Hurricanes
Hockey's Future Rating: 9.0 - Graduated to NHL
Scouting Report: Should be a top line offensive talent and potential leader of the Hurricanes for the next decade and beyond.
Raffi Torres
NHL: Oilers
Hockey's Future Rating: 8.0 - Graduated to NHL
TSN Player Report: Has a strong lower body, which enables him to keep possession of the puck in the corners, and a nice scoring touch. Is developing a solid all-around game. Top 6 winger
Konstantin Zakharov
NHL Rights: Blues (#3 forward, #4 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 8.0
Skills: No future analysis at this time. Very good speed and agility, good balance and accelerates well. Very Smart passer, Considerable finishing skills.
Nikita Alexeev
NHL: Tampa Bay
Hockey's Future Rating: 7.5 - Graduated to NHL
Scouting Report: Alexeev was the guy the Lightning wanted in the 2000 draft. Before their 5th overall pick was sent to the New York Islanders in a draft day trade, the Lightning had planned on nabbing Alexeev with it. Alexeev is part of the core in Tampa Bay, a welcomed addition to Rick Dudley's rebuilding process. It will take another season before he makes an impact on the team. He should develop into a solid top line player.
Mikhail Yakubov
NHL Rights: Hawks (#2 forward, #6 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 7.0
Scouting Report: Huge upside as a possible first line center or a can’t miss NHLer in some forward role. His move into the Western League of Canada allows some transition to the culture and will help in him acquiring more muscle to his huge skinny frame
Dimitri Chernykh
NHL Rights: Islanders (#12 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 7.0
Scouting Report: Chernykh is already a mature player with significant of experience of playing against adult players in Russia’s Upper League. His size does not impress, but his defensive play and overall speed definitely would make his a good prospect. Chernykh is not a natural sniper, but would make a great third line two way forward with some scoring ability. His ability to create things is what makes him special. This player has many tools and he utilizes them all, making him a hard puzzle to solve for defences.
Konstantin Pushkarev
NHL Rights: LA Kings (#9 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 7.0/C
Scouting Report: Pushkarev was the wildcard of the Kings' 2003 draft. He was selected in the second round as the Kings fought off several suitors looking to trade up to draft him. He's still developing in the Russian leagues and is likely several years away from being considered an option for the NHL roster. His strength is an area in need of improvement if he wants to play on the smaller and more physical North American rinks
Roman Voloshenko
NHL Rights: Wild (#4 forward, #7 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 7.0/C
Scouting Report: Roman Voloshenko’s NHL appeal lies in his great offensive upside, including a great shot, as well as his work ethic in the defensive zone. The young forward needs to improve on his skating and to further develop his hockey sense in order to boost his upside. He spent the 2003-04 season playing against adult players in the Russian secondary High League for the Soviet Wings and filled in an impact role on the squad towards the end of the season and in the playoffs. Towards the end of the season he has also overtaken Mikhail Yunkov in the draft rankings. The young forward’s stock has also skyrocketed after his strong performances at April’s 2004 U18 WJC and February’s U18 Five Nations Tournament. Reflecting the track of last year's Islanders pick Dmitri Chernykh, Voloshenko may be slated by some services to be picked in the first round, but will likely end up being selected mid second round.
Ivan Khomutov
NHL Rights: Devils (#8 overall)
Hockey's Future Rating: 7.0/C
Scouting Report: Khomutov has a great size/skill package and is versatile enough to play either wing or center. He also displays a strong two-way game. In the hopes of accelerating his development, the Devils signed Khomutov over the offseason with the hopes that he will blossom offensively with more ice time in Albany. He still is a ways off from the NHL, but his future is very bright.
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