Tuesday, March 20^th,2014

Brendan Ross checking in here with some must-read prospect ramblings…

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The biggest piece of prospect news today is that the world’s top prospect (outside of Jonathan Drouin) not playing in the NHL is slated to make his NHL debut tonight for the Chicago Blackhawks. As I mentioned on twitter last week, Teuvo Teravainen is a top notch offensive dynamo who will likely earn good offensive  minutes with Patrick Kane out of the lineup. TT is a player I am more excited to see play than I was with Evgeny Kuznetsov.

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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” lang=”en data-scribe-reduced-action-queue=”><p>Sounds like it’s almost Teuvo Time in CHI. Teravainen expected to debut Tues at home vs. DAL. May start at C between Saad and Smith.</p>— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/statuses/448229330036875264″>March 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” lang=”en data-scribe-reduced-action-queue=”><p>Teravainen may also see time on CHI’s first PP unit, filling the spot usually occupied by (injured) Pat Kane.</p>— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie/statuses/448229711412359170″>March 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Please head over to my scouting website and download the free Youngblood OHL Playoff Guide. It’s full of previews, predictions, profiles, and rankings for both the 2014 NHL Draft and OHL Priority Selection Draft.

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At the 2013 NHL Draft, Los Angeles took a chance on goaltender Patrik Bartosak as a re-entry prospect. He finished second in the WHL in 2012-13 in both GAA (2.26) and save percentage (.935). He finished the 2013-14 season third in save percentage with an impressive .926 SV% and first in shutouts (8) despite playing on Red  Deer Rebels team who missed the playoffs. Needless to say, he’s been one of the top CHL goaltenders over the past two seasons and was recently recalled to the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs.

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The Maple Leafs haven’t exactly hit homeruns on their first round draft selections recently when not picking in the top 10 but their middle to  late draftees have really impressed.

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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” lang=”en data-scribe-reduced-action-queue=”><p>Congrats to <a href=”https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs”>@MapleLeafs</a> prospect Connor Brown <a href=”https://twitter.com/Breeze2Greeze”>@Breeze2Greeze</a> of the <a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%23OHL&src=hash”>#OHL</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/ErieOtters”>@ErieOtters</a> the 2013-14 <a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%23CHL&src=hash”>#CHL</a> Scoring Champion with 128PTS in 68GP</p>— CanadianHockeyLeague (@CHLHockey) <a href=”https://twitter.com/CHLHockey/statuses/445991453836468224″>March 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I remember following the draft, Leafs Director of Scouting Dave Morrison publicly said that he felt Carter Verhaeghe, drafted 3^rd round (82^nd overall), was capable of scoring over 100 points in the OHL. Verhaeghe started the season red hot but cooled off through the middle but finished with an impressive 82 points. Not the 100 that Morrison thought he could get but he was the Ice Dogs’ offensive leader.

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How about those Tampa Bay Lightning prospects? I absolutely admire the success the franchise is having. Stamkos was bound for success, Hedman has rounded into a top-flight defender but it’s the likes of Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat who are really separating this franchise from the rest of the league. The latter two, Kucherov and Palat, are ones that I have really taken a liking too. Kucherov came off a recent press-box vacatio0n and scored on his first shift last night. His upside is tantalizing but may take another year. I moved Daniel Sedin off my keeper team to make room for Kucherov. Palat is on a different development path as he has already earned the trust of the head coach often seeing more than 20-minutes of ice time. He’s challenging Nathan MacKinnon for the Calder Trophy race and remains the hottest rookie since January 1^st.  I also owned Palat in my keeper league but since he didn’t fit in as one of my 10 keepers, I regretfully had to deal him away.

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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” lang=”en data-scribe-reduced-action-queue=”><p>Ondrej Palat has more points (49) than Bobby Ryan, Nugent-Hopkins, Parise, H. Sedin and Lupul, among many others…Impressive <a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FantasyHockey&src=hash”>#FantasyHockey</a></p>— Brendan Ross (@RossyYoungblood) <a href=”https://twitter.com/RossyYoungblood/statuses/448288950709284865″>March 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” lang=”en data-scribe-reduced-action-queue=”><p>Did you know? With 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists), <a href=”https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TBLightning&src=hash”>#TBLightning</a> F Ondrej Palat has the most point among all NHL rookies since Jan. 1.</p>— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) <a href=”https://twitter.com/TBLightning/statuses/448237628580585472″>March 24, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Another surging rookie is Nicklas Jensen out of Vancouver as the young scoring winger has posted three goals and five points in his first eight NHL games. He’s a product of the Oshawa Generals’ program that seems to be really preparing their prospects well for quicker transitions to the pro leagues. Scott Laughton (Flyers) is close to ready and top NHL Draft prospect Michael Dal Colle will be another player who shouldn’t need a whole lot of seasoning.

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Vincent Trocheck, a graduate of the OHL,has always been a favourite prospect of mine. The fact that he’s forced the Panthers’ hand into calling him up and earning regular minutes as a FIRST year pro doesn’t surprise me but it certainly impresses me, especially considering the Panthers’ depth. Trocheck posted  16 goals and 41 points as an AHL freshman in 54 games with San Antonia, that’s second on the team. Since arriving in Florida ten games ago, Trocheck has two goals and three points but more telling is that he’s earning over 17-minutes of ice time. Get this player on your fantasy radars.

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Good news out of the WHL, Montreal prospect Tim Bozon is improving in his battle with meningitis which puts a smile on my face.

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With Clayton Stoner and Keith Ballard out of the lineup, the Wild are considering attempting to recall Mathew Dumba from the WHL if more defensive injuries strike. Not sure I would recommend that move as he can gain a lot from a long Portland playoff run.

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Future 2015 NHL Draft top pick, Connor McDavid, is a savior for the Erie Otters franchise…

The Canadian Hockey League’s poster boy not only put his Otters on the map upon being selected first overall in the Ontario Hockey League draft two years ago, but now could be credited with the biggest assist of his career with news that the Otters are staying in Pennsylvania

 

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Check back soon as I return with more prospect updates…off to the Windsor Spitfires  and  London Knights game, wish me luck as I hope to survive what could be an intense affair…

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Thanks for reading,

Brendan Ross

@RossyYounblood

As always, feel free to ask any fantasy related or prospect questions