panoo

Written by DJ Powers
on 06/12/2007

This year's NCAA Top 20 eligible prospects for the NHL Entry Draft is comprised of 12 forwards, seven defensemen and one goaltender. The 20 players ranked represent 16 schools in four conferences. For the second consecutive year, the CCHA leads the way with seven, followed by the ECAC Hockey League and the WCHA with five apiece and three from Hockey East. The University of Minnesota and the University of Notre Dame each have more than one player in the Top 20. Players appearing on the NHL Central Scouting Service's Final Rankings are so noted.

1. Bill Sweatt, LW
Freshman, Colorado College
6'0 186 lbs.
DOB: 9/21/88 Shoots: Left
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 27th among North American skaters

2006-07 season: Bill Sweatt finished his stellar freshman campaign leading all Tiger rookies in scoring with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) and earning Colorado College's Bob Johnson Award as the team's top rookie. Of Sweatt's 26 points, 15 came in Colorado College's final 17 games. He missed five early games due to a bout with mononucleosis. Sweatt also represented the United States at the 2007 IIHF U-20 World Junior Championships in Sweden, helping the Americans win a bronze medal.

Talent Analysis: Sweatt has unbelievable speed, but what sets him apart from so many other collegiate speedsters, rookies or otherwise, is his ability to make plays at high speeds. He also has great acceleration. Sweatt possesses great hands and is smart in his decisions with the puck. Rarely can he be found turning the puck over. Sweatt's superb defensive play and awareness is one area that has progressed quite nicely this season, and has made him an effective penalty killer. Sweatt also possesses excellent on-ice vision and has a keen sense of being able to find open spaces and knowing where the play is going to end up. While Sweatt has all of the necessary tools for future success, adding size and strength to his 6'0" frame will be essential to his pursuit of achieving that success.

Colorado College head coach Scott Owens' comments on Sweatt: "We've been very impressed with Billy's overall performance. His overall speed and ability to open things up were such that they were obvious from day one. Sometimes Billy goes so fast that it's hard for guys to stay up with him. He has a very good team game concept and we feel confident with him in all areas. He's been really good for us."

HF's January feature on Sweatt.

2. Jim O'Brien, C
Freshman, University of Minnesota
6'2 189 lbs.
DOB: 1/29/89 Shoots: Right
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 38th among North American skaters

2006-07 season: Jim O'Brien was the youngest player in college hockey this season. The Maplewood, MN native capped a strong freshman year with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 43 games. In April, O'Brien participated in the IIHF U-18 World Championships in Finland, helping Team USA to capture the silver medal. He posted seven points (three goals, four assists) in the tournament.

Talent Analysis: His 6'2 frame, strength and his ability to use to them to great advantage are O'Brien's strengths. While it is quite evident that he is still growing into his body, it's the immense potential of what he can do with it when he does that has many scouts taking serious notice. As good as O'Brien has shown that he can be in offensive situations, he's even better in defensive situations. He has the potential to become a very good defensive forward. His intelligence, willingness to block shots and the great care he takes in being responsible in his own end have helped make him an excellent penalty killer. He is also versatile in that he can play as a defenseman as well. O'Brien is an excellent skater combining powerful strides with deceptive speed. He isn't one to shy away from the physical side of the game and can deliver some very solid checks. With further physical development, O'Brien will become a more effective and intimidating presence on the ice.

Minnesota head coach Don Lucia's comment on O'Brien: "Jimmy, I think more than anything is extremely hard working, very dedicated and has high expectations for himself. You project players and where they are today but more importantly, where they can get to. Jimmy has a pretty good top-end where he can get to and I think he's going to get there with his dedication, commitment and work ethic."

HF's February feature on O'Brien.

3. T.J. Galiardi, C
Freshman, Dartmouth College
6'2 172 lbs.
DOB: 4/22/88 Shoots: Left
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 31st among North American skaters

2006-07 season: T.J. Galiardi capped his sensational season leading all Dartmouth rookies in scoring with 31 points (14 goals, 17 assists). His eight power play goals also led the team. The Calgary, AB native was named to the ECAC Hockey League's All-Rookie Team as well as the recipient of Dartmouth's Booma Award as the team's top rookie.

In April, Galiardi left Dartmouth College due to academic reasons and his future status is unknown.

Talent Analysis: Galiardi is an instinctive playmaker with tremendous scoring capability. He is very smart, patient and creative with the puck. Those features along with his great on-ice vision help make him an efficient puck distributor who can easily find open teammates as well. One characteristic that makes Galiardi such an outstanding player is his ability to blend those brilliant puck skills with the mental side of the game. He can be deceptive and what the opposition is reading isn't always what he is thinking. While Galiardi is a strong competitor and has the puck skills needed to be successful, being more aggressive more often in his puck pursuits would not only make him more difficult to play against but also make him a much more valuable asset to his team. Galiardi is also a superb skater, combining power and speed with immense fluidness in his long strides. As he continues to develop his size and strength, the power and quickness in those strides will become more pronounced.

Dartmouth head coach Bob Gaudet's comments on Galiardi: "T.J. broke into the college ranks and developed very quickly. T.J. has got an offensive flare. The offensive side of the game appears to come very naturally to him as far as the understanding and hockey intellect side of it. When his body (development) catches up, T.J. is going to be even more dominant and really something special."

HF's February feature on Galiardi.

4. Dion Knelsen, C/LW
Freshman, University of Alaska (Fairbanks)
5'9 180 lbs.
DOB: 1/4/89 Shoots: Left
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 201st among North American skaters

2006-07 season: As the youngest player to ever don an Alaska Nanooks jersey, Dion Knelsen enjoyed an outstanding freshman year that was capped with being named a CCHA All-Rookie Team honorable mention and receiving Alaska's Doug Desorcie Award as the top rookie. The Three Hills, AB native led the Nanooks in rookie scoring with 22 points (five goals, 17 assists). In April, Knelsen participated in the IIHF U-18 World Championships in Finland as a member of Team Canada.

Talent Analysis: Knelsen is a highly intelligent player that sees, thinks and understands the game extremely well. However, what separates him from many other collegiate players is how well he knows the players he plays with and against. What makes it even more remarkable is the fact that Knelsen is able to take that knowledge and use it to his benefit. One asset that immediately stands out about Knelsen are his superb hands. He has great poise and patience with the puck and moves extremely well with it. Knelsen also possesses excellent on-ice vision and as good as his sense of awareness is, his ability to exploit open spaces is even better. His low center of gravity combined with his quickness and mobility allows him to move efficiently through traffic, often making him a difficult player to contain. As Knelsen's development progresses, so will the skills that he can bring to his team.

(Now former) Alaska head coach Tavis MacMillan's comments on Knelsen: "Maturity-wise, Dion is way beyond his years. You can talk to him as a coach about coaching things because he understands and sees the game that well. Off the ice and in the classroom, Dion has been special. He's one of those kids that you don't have to tell him what to work on because he just does it. Dion will make it because he wants it and he knows how to get there."

HF's January feature on Knelsen.

5. Ben Smith, C
Freshman, Boston College
5'11 195 lbs.
DOB: 7/11/88 Shoots: Right
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 133rd among North American skaters

2006-07 season: When Brian Boyle (LA) moved back to play defense this season, no Eagles player took more advantage of the situation than Ben Smith. As he earned his way up to the top line, his team reaped the benefits. The Avon, CT native led Boston College in rookie scoring with 18 points (ten goals, eight assists) playing in all 42 games this season. Of his ten goals, six came on the power play. Smith's excellent season earned him Boston College's Bernie Burke Award as the Most Outstanding Freshman.

Talent Analysis: Smith is a well-built, instinctive player who can adapt to just about any type of situation with ease. One attribute that sets Smith apart from many young collegians is his keen ability to assess situations to make the best possible plays both offensively and defensively. Smith has demonstrated that he can score from just about anywhere, but where he is particularly dangerous is in the slot area. He is quick, strong on his skates and transitions quite well. Though Smith made marked improvement in his overall speed, it's an area that should continue to get even better with further development.

Boston College assistant coach Greg Brown's comments on Smith: "When Ben came in the biggest hurdle was the adjustment to the speed of college hockey. He worked very hard at getting up to speed and he's become fundamentally sound. Ben really understands the game and how things happen out there. We're excited about the potential of what he's going to be able to do for us next year."

6. Brendan Nash, D
Freshman, Cornell University
6'3 205 lbs.
DOB: 3/31/87 Shoots: Left
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 169th among North American skaters

2006-07 season: Nash became a main stay on the sizeable Cornell blueline, playing alongside sophomore Jared Seminoff on the team's top defensive unit. The Kamloops, BC native posted 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in 29 games. Seven of his 14 points, including both goals, came on the power play. Nash capped his outstanding freshman campaign with a selection to the ECAC Hockey League's All-Rookie Team.

Talent Analysis: Nash is a smart, offensive-minded defenseman who possesses a nice combination of size, mobility and puck skills. He uses his 6'3 frame and long reach to great advantage, particularly in protecting or stripping the puck. He's also not afraid to join the offensive play. Defensively, he is solid and keeps things pretty simple. Nash has great poise and patience with the puck, but what sets him apart from many young defensemen is in his timely passing ability, particularly on power plays. Though he skates quite well for a big man, Nash needs to work on having quicker feet. Developing speed and strength are two areas that will be paramount to his future success.

Cornell head coach Mike Schafer's comments on Nash: "With Sasha Pokulok and Ryan O'Byrne signing pro contracts last summer, Brendan had a lot of responsibilities as a freshman and he did a tremendous job. He logged as much ice time as we could possibly give him and played in all situations. It's just a matter of Brendan continuing to excel. We expect big things from him next year and I think he'll be one of the top defensemen in our league."

7. Brock Trotter, C
Redshirted Freshman, University of Denver
5'10 170 lbs.
DOB: 9/18/87 Shoots: Right
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: N/A

2006-07 season: A year after suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Brock Trotter emerged as a better, wiser and more appreciative player. The Brandon, MB native led the Pioneers with 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) playing in all 40 games this season. His 24 assists also led the team. He was the first freshman to lead Denver in scoring in two decades. Trotter's stellar season earned him the team's Leading Scorer and "Star of the Year" awards.

Talent Analysis: Trotter is an instinctive, multi-dimensional player who is equally adept in both offensive and defensive situations. He possesses great vision, awareness and anticipation, and utilizes those attributes effectively regardless of where he is on the ice. While Trotter is not an overly physical player, he has the capability to deliver some pretty solid checks. One of Trotter's greatest assets are his hands, whether it's in making nice tape-to-tape passes or keeping the puck on his stick. Continuing to add size and strength should help to not only make Trotter tougher to play against but also add power to his quickness and speed.

Denver head coach George Gwozdecky's comments on Trotter: "After sitting out a year, Brock was starting over again in many ways, especially in his timing and confidence. He is the kind of athlete, not only physically but also intelligence-wise, where he picked it up again pretty quickly. We're very fortunate that Brock has the skills and the attitude that makes him as good in our own zone as he is the offensive zone and that's kind of player that you can build around."

8. Jeremie Dupont, G
Freshman, University of Nebraska-Omaha
6'2 175 lbs.
DOB: 12/18/88 Catches: Left
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 23rd among North American goaltenders

2006-07 season: Jeremie Dupont is the youngest player to ever play for Nebraska-Omaha. After a shaky start to his collegiate career, the Richmond, ONT native emerged as the Mavericks starter in goal. He played in 31 games this season, posting a 13-10-6 record that included one shutout. His outstanding freshman campaign earned him Nebraska-Omaha's Newcomer of the Year Award and a CCHA All-Rookie Team honorable mention. Dupont is the son of former NHLer Jerome Dupont.

Talent Analysis: Dupont is a tall, thin butterfly style goaltender that possesses superb agility. His lateral movement was one noteworthy area that progressed quite nicely this season and should continue to improve with further development. He is positionally very sound and good on his angles. He does a good job of staying square to shooters and has shown a willingness to challenge them as well. Dupont is intelligent and remarkably mature for a player his age. While Dupont possesses a good glove, his proficiency with it was shown infrequently this year. Adding strength to his large frame will help to make Dupont even more impressive in the future.

Nebraska-Omaha head coach Mike Kemp's comments on Dupont: "Jeremie is an extremely focused and intense young man. His level of maturity is incredible. I think what Jeremie has been able to do so far at 17 and 18 in the college game makes me really looking forward to seeing him when he's 21 because he's going to be a dominant type of player. Jeremie understands the game and he's got that kind of bred instinct in him."

9. Justin Braun, D
Freshman, University of Massachusetts
6'1 180 lbs.
DOB: 2/10/87 Shoots: Right
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 209th among North American skaters

2006-07 season: Justin Braun enjoyed a stellar freshman season that was capped with being named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and earning UMass' Rookie of the Year honor. The Vadnais Heights, MN native logged extensive ice time and was a key cog in helping to lead the Minutemen to their first ever NCAA Tournament berth. Braun posted 14 points (four goals, ten assists) playing in all 38 games.

Talent Analysis: Braun is a steady, hard-working defensive defenseman with excellent stick work. Braun's intelligence, superb on-ice vision and sense of anticipation allow him to effectively take away passing and shooting lanes, as well as aid in his ability to move the puck. He can also make good outlet passes as well. Though Braun is a very good skater and strong on his skates, he needs to develop some quickness. Defensively, Braun is fundamentally sound and is quite good in one-on-one situations. With further growth and development, most of Braun's weight and strength issues should eventually resolve themselves.

UMass head coach Don Cahoon's comments on Braun: "Justin has a very tenacious, competitiveness to him, where he just stays with battles. He has the great capacity to grind in an effort that just demands that mental toughness. Justin's demonstrated that he's been able to adjust to the level of speed of college hockey quite seamlessly. He has done a good job of working on staying in the present so hopefully we'll be able to continue to develop him into a very good player."

10. Ryan Thang, LW
Freshman, University of Notre Dame
6'0 188 lbs.
DOB: 5/11/87 Shoots: Right
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: N/A

FULL STORY