Junkyard IceDog

Luca Caputi
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Country: Canada
Position: LW
League: OHL
Team: Mississauga IceDogs
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 190
Shoots: Left
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Scouting Report: The IceDogs sleeping giant has a wonderful frame that he has yet to grow into .. has received good icetime on an adequately talented team, playing on both the PP and PK .. takes draws on the PK with Legein on his wing .. has a long reach which is valuable on the kill .. a more reactive type of forward who cruises until he sees an opportunity to pounce on a loose puck .. first step quickness needs a lot of work as he has a slow pickup .. owns deceptive speed as his 3rd stride and on escalate his speed rapidly .. great along the boards with wingspan, long legs, and a quick stick .. crashes the net and stays there, which is becoming a lost art .. has the reaction and hands to make something of loose pucks that squirt loose in front of the net .. rebound goal hound .. surprising vision and pinpoint passing ability .. able to find open teammates and feather passes through traffic .. loses balance easily due to light weight and is not an effective hitter yet .. a mystery with regards to asserting himself physically .. sometimes willing to fight, sometimes willing to let teammates like Osala fight for him .. needs to find a balance between playing with both edge and skill .. Mississauga’s big LW is an underrated forward for this year’s draft who has the tools to become an impressive power winger.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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68 games 27 goals 38 assists 65 points +22 66 PIM
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2007 Playoff Stats

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5 games 2 goals 1 assist 3 points +1 0 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Caputi is a guy who is hard to get a read on; some rate him as high as the second round, some rate him as low as the fourth. We see him going late second-early third round. DraftBuzz likes his package of size and skill, and ranks him in the 40-50 range. Consistency is a normal issue with guys this young, so you have to project some and hope he puts it together. If the delivery does not get lost in the mail, a team could see themselves with a talented 6'3'' power forward who does the "little things."

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(photo courtesy of www.mississaugaicedogs.com)

Juicy Couture

Logan Couture
*****
Country: Canada
Position: Center
League: OHL
Team: Ottawa 67's
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 195
Shoots: Left
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Scouting Report: The 67’s pivot had a rough year health wise as he was sidelined with mononucleosis and a skate cut to the leg .. never really got into any sort of groove but did play well at the U18 .. skating is usually the first knock on him but this area should not be of much concern .. not an explosive skater or shifty mover, but generates impressive power with short and compact strides .. is well-built and looks very sturdy on his skates .. a methodical worker whose movements always look comfortable and controlled .. has a good hockey IQ .. causes turnovers with an active stick and smart, well-timed pressure .. owns above average hands and vision .. makes many nifty passes on both backhand and forehand, with pressure or without, looking or not looking .. solid on the draw and is a reliable center man .. makes a conscientious effort defensively but is not a standout in his own zone .. sets up at the half boards and waits to unleash his scary one timer on the power play .. has a sneaky wrist shot as he loves to cut into the middle and use defenseman as a screen .. does not look for trouble and seems to be focused solely on his offensive efforts .. not a physically punishing player by any means but is not afraid to take a hit .. a solid center who has many likeable qualities but needs to show a consistent, healthy, and successful post draft year.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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54 games 26 goals 52 assists 78 points -1 24 PIM
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2007 Playoff Stats

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5 games 1 goals 7 assist 8 points -1 4 PIM

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2007 WJC U18 - Team Canada

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6 games 2 goals 2 assists 4 points +3 2 PIM

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Draft Day Status/Projection: Logan Couture is a solid hockey player who should go on to have a steady NHL career. There have been some comparisons to Brad Boyes floating around, and there are some similarities, but we think he has the same on ice mannerisms as Patrik Elias. Because of his generally rocky season, DraftBuzz ranks him 16th but can see him going anywhere in the range of 7-20 on draft day. He will need to ramp up his offensive production a level higher, but if the stars align, we see him as a steady top six forward.

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(photo courtesy of http://photoblog.ohlphotos.com)

Legein of Doom

Stefan Legein
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Country: Canada
Position: RW
League: OHL
Team: Mississauga IceDogs
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 170
Shoots: Right
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Scouting Report: Forget all the one dimensional labels you have heard, Mississauga's charming RW is a very complete player .. a somewhat rough skater around the edges but has effective speed .. played PK with Caputi .. is a PK threat showcasing speed, quick hands, and skill.. has an enduring motor and will to compete .. a small guy whose fire makes his size irrelevant .. looks a bit light on his skates .. a good passer and makes sound decisions with the puck .. a dangerous forward with a healthy combination of anticipation, stickwork, and hustle .. great forechecker is routinely first to puck and shows no fear when defensemen line him up .. surprisingly is always mindful of not getting caught too deep while pressuring .. consistently yaps and loves to get involved in scrums .. dishes out checks but is selective in expending his energy .. knows when to shoot and when to pass especially on the PP .. played with Caputi and Owens on the man advantage .. Oakville native needs to show more go-to dominance offensively, add more weight, and smooth out his skating .. an under appreciated winger in this year’s draft who will get better with maturity.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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64 games 43 goals 32 assists 75 points +31 115 PIM
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2007 Playoff Stats

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5 games 2 goals 3 assists 5 points +0 0 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Legein is one of DraftBuzz's favorites and acknowledge he may even be too low in May's ranking at 30. Much more than a "pest," Legein has all of the parts to make it in the NHL as a great supporting top six line player ala modern day Sean Avery. We think he may surprise on draft day and can see him going in the 15-35 range to a team who needs a multitool, resilient player.

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(photo courtesy of www.mississaugaicedogs.com)

London's Armored Knight

Sam Gagner
*****
Country: Canada
Position: C
League: OHL
Team: London Knights
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 190
Shoots: Right
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Scouting Report: The second ingredient to London’s double headed monster exudes the on-ice charisma of a sure captain .. an all around force who meshes with Kane extremely well because of smarts and skills .. a great skater with impressive acceleration, agility, and straight line speed .. always in the “mix” and has that sixth sense on developing plays .. buzzes along in all three zones ready to initiate an offensive attack or support his defensemen .. is solidly built and athletic .. can transport the puck with a great lead pass or confident rush with a head of steam .. has extremely soft hands which often get overshadowed by his linemate’s .. is able to pull off some highly skilled moves in motion .. is the linemate who is relied on to go into danger areas and be the one to absorb contact in order to move the play .. admirably sticks with heavy checks and jostling .. a skilled passer with necessary vision to be a force blue line in .. plays the power play, penalty kill, and 5 on 5 .. is an opportunistic shooter who is a reliable threat to score .. superb on breakaways .. could stand to stick out more offensively .. needs to round out skating just a little more .. Gagner is a coach’s dream who has little to no visible flaws in his game.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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53 games 35 goals 83 assists 118 points +32 36 PIM

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2007 Playoff Stats

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16 games 7 goals 22 assists 29 points +1 22 PIM
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WJC - Team Canada (Limited Icetime)

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6 games 0 goals 0 assist 0 points +/-0 8 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Gagner is a pretty safe bet to be drafted top 10 and DraftBuzz has him rated 4th overall. If Kane moves on to the NHL, we are anxious to see Gagner get his chance to carry the London offense as the team's centerpiece. He is just a great all around pro prospect with top flight skills and mental game; it is obvious Gagner "gets it," and some team is going to be very happy in a month or so with his selection.

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(photo courtesy of Feldman)

Sugar Kane

Patrick Kane
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Country: USA
Position: RW
League: OHL
Team: London Knights
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 160
Shoots: Left
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Scouting Report: London’s electrifying right wing has done nothing but improve his draft stock week-to- week .. this special forward offers the most impressive array of offensive skills in the draft .. has an innate offensive sense about him that cannot be taught .. has resolute confidence when the puck is on his stick .. can sidestep, spinorama, deke, toe drag his way around anyone, anytime .. is proactive and can create a rush on a whim .. gets the green light from coach Hunter to press the play at all times .. not the most textbook skater but earns his dough with his shiftiness .. elusive and slippery to the utmost degree .. plays in all situations and can log longwinded shifts .. elite stickhandler .. shows impressive offensive zone fundamentals to back up his offensive flair .. takes basic shots and reinforces his knack for scoring goals .. can beat goalies with a snap, slap, wrist, backhand, or redirect shot that is accurate and hard .. is a light backchecker to say the least .. is muscled off the puck easily along the boards due to light weight .. is a target for heavy checks at times .. only has a willingness to go into rough areas of the ice when a scoring opportunity presents itself .. Kane is a prospect whose ordinary defense should not be a roadblock to success in the NHL .. he is a rare and dynamic talent who will soon be an exciting NHL player.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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58 games 62 goals 83 assists 145 points +42 52 PIM

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2007 Playoff Stats

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16 games 10 goals 21 assists 31 points +2 16 PIM
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WJC - Team USA

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7 games 5 goals 4 assist 9 points +2 4 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Kane is deserving of the number one overall selection. In our estimation, there are only two players who could overtake him as the top draft pick: Voracek and Van Riemsdyk. If a team like CHI or PHI prefers a little more brawn, while not minding a slight drop off in finesse, Kane may slip a spot or two. However, DraftBuzz ranks him #1 overall and expects him to be the first draft eligible selected on June 22nd.

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(photo courtesy of DEREK RUTTAN, The London Free Press)

DraftBuzz's May Top 30 Ranking

Here is DraftBuzz's list of the top 30 draft-eligible prospects for the NHL's 2007 Entry Draft:

(1) Patrick Kane ----------RW------London (OHL)--------5-10/160
(2) Jakub Voracek --------RW------Halifax (QMJHL)-----6-1/190
(3) Kyle Turris ------------C--------Burnaby (BCHL)------6-1/170
(4) Sam Gagner -----------C--------London (OHL)--------5-11/191
(5) James vanRiemsdyk --LW/C---NTDP (USA)---------6-3/200
(6) Karl Alzner ------------D--------Calgary (WHL)-------6-2/206
(7) Alexei Cherepanov ----RW------Avangard (RUS)------6-1/183
(8) Zach Hamill -----------C---------Everett (WHL)------5-11/180
(9) Lars Eller --------------C---------Frolunda (SWE)-----6-1/198
(10) Thomas Hickey ------D---------Seattle (WHL)-------5-11/182
(11) Billy Sweatt --------LW--Colorado College (WCHA)--6-0/180
(12) Ryan McDonagh -----D---Cretin-Derham (USHS)----6-1/200
(13) Mikael Backlund ----C--------Vasteras (SWE)-------6-0/194
(14) Oscar Moller ---------RW---Chilliwack (WHL)-----5-11/179
(15) Nick Petrecki --------D--------Omaha (USHL)-------6-3/213
(16) Logan Couture ------C---------Ottawa (OHL)--------6-1/195
(17) Colton Gillies --------C--------Saskatoon (WHL)-----6-4/189
(18) David Perron --------C/RW----Lewiston (QMJHL)---6-0/180
(19) Dana Tyrell --------C/W-------Prince George (WHL)-5-10/185
(20) Maxim Mayorov ----LW/RW--Leninogorsk (RUS)----6-2/187
(21) Kevin Shattenkirk --D---------NTDP (USA)----------5-11/193
(22) Jeremy Smith -----G----------Plymouth (OHL)-------6-0/160
(23) Patrick White ------LW/C-----Grand Rapids (USHS)--6-1/186
(24) Logan MacMillan ---C---------Halifax (QMJHL) -----6-1/172
(25) James O’Brien -------C--------Minnesota (WCHA)-----6-2/184
(26) Simon Hjalmarsson -LW/RW-Frolunda (SWE)-------5-11/161
(27) Angelo Esposito ------C-------Quebec (QMJHL)------6-1/180
(28) Max Pacioretty ------LW------Sioux City (USHL)-----6-2/203
(29) Keaton Ellerby ------D--------Kamloops (WHL)-------6-4/186
(30) Stefan Legein -------RW------Mississauga (OHL)-----5-9/170

Silent Rebel Yell

Brandon Sutter
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Country: Canada
Position: Center
League: WHL
Team: Red Deer Rebels
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 174
Shoots: Left
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Scouting Report: The hometown boy nicknamed "Brando" has above average hockey sense and as a result is always involved in the play .. has good anticipation of the developing play .. plays the point on the power play and mans the penalty kill .. has good hands .. owns a sneaky shot and is able to release off balance .. is a crisp passer and has solid vision .. able to advance the play under pressure but is by no means a playmaker .. is tall and lanky .. needs to fill out greatly .. agility is his best skating asset .. effective along the boards because he can stickhandle in tight spaces .. it remains to be seen whether more strength will improve skating .. goes into the battle zones but is not a force .. will hit and finish checks .. is assistant captain .. does not seem too comfortable yet in his frame as evidenced at times in his awkward stride ..blends in blueline in .. never consistently took charge and led that sustained kind of attack that you want to see in a top forward prospect .. tends to run out of gas more quickly than others .. is a hopeful type of draft pick for his size, hockey sense, and pedigree.
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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats
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71 games 20 goals 37 assists 57 points -3 54 PIM
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2007 Playoff Stats
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7 games 0 goals 3 assists 3 points +/-0 14 PIM
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WJC U18 - Team Canada
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6 games 1 goals 1 assist 2 points +/-0 0 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Sutter is the type of prospect who takes quality hours of sleep away from us at night. Pretty good in all facets of the game, is not necessarily underwhelming, but you wish the guy just did more and gave you a little something extra. Maybe he's not comfortable with his frame yet? Whatever the case may be, DraftBuzz ranks him 35 because he still has that "Marc Staal" next year potential explosion and projects his draft day range as 20-40.

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(photo courtesy of reddeerrebels.com)

One Sharp Blade

Colton Gillies
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Country: Canada
Position: Center/Defense
League: WHL
Team: Saskatoon Blades
Height: 6'4''
Weight: 182
Shoots: Left
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Scouting Report: Saskatoon’s young Colt is an impressive, towering centerman with elite skating ability… the ease with which he skates is a pure joy to watch … smooth accelerator with powerful crossovers … can blow by guys with straight line speed and can rotate from forwards to backwards at the drop of a hat … plays in all situations: 5 on 5, PK, and PP … already wears an A … is able to make plays on the penalty kill with agility, reach, and hustle … is a burgeoning threat on the rush … looks like a human freight train when dumping/banking the puck and chasing … owns a quick release that is not the most accurate or well placed … has good offensive sense and anticipation when the puck is on his stick … has fairly soft hands, receives passes well, and can stickhandle … adept at processing defender’s gap control and knows when to get rid of the puck … as a result makes some pretty passes from time to time … loves contact and finishes every check hard … is great along the boards with good puck protection and has the acceleration to roll out quickly for an offensive breakout/chance…could stand to think the game a hair quicker as he tends to chase the play a little too often … did not look comfortable or meshed with his linemates, which may have skewed his stats some … needs to be more consistent in driving to the net …can play defense as well, which shows attractive versatility … Gillies is a tantalizing blend of many talents who needs to show a little more confidence and ability to control the game.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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65 games 13 goals 17 assists 30 points -20 148 PIM
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WJC U18 - Team Canada

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6 games 2 goals 1 assist 3 points +3 10 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Gillies is a the ultimate draft day project. Because of his versatility, we would say a team has multiple shots at making Gillies a pro. He could make it as an energy line checker, top six power forward, or punishing second-third pairing defenseman. DraftBuzz has him ranked 17th and thinks he is a good bet to get drafted anywhere from 10th overall to 25th overall.

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(photo courtesy of Gord Waldner, The StarPhoenix)

The New Atkinson Diet: Speed, Guts, and Flair

Cam Atkinson
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Country: USA
Position: Center
League: USHS
Team: Avon Old Farms
Height: 5'7''
Weight: 165
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Scouting Report: Committed to BC, this soon to be Eagle plays with determination and hustle every shift .. small but wide tank plays with no fear .. an exciting playmaker boasts precise stickhandling and speed to burn .. is confident with the puck on his stick and will challenge opposing forwards and defensemen .. despite lack of size showed no lack of heart by going into corners full speed and battled hard along boards .. most importantly sacrificed his body in front of the net .. plays well in all three zones .. owns a quick, sneaky shot .. small dynamo will be challenged at next level but should continue to overcome small stature .. a savvy player who may suprise.
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Draft Day Status/Projection: DraftBuzz thinks he may appear on NHL team's radar screens beginning in the sixth round. There is also chance that he does not get drafted at all as teams may want to see how he handles the collegiate game. In any case, DraftBuzz admires the heart Atkinson plays with and ranks him in fifth round range because of other successful waterbugs like Recchi, St. Louis, and Gionta.

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(photo courtesy of www.bc.edu)

No Kidd-ing: Otter's Blueliner Severely Underrated

The Erie Otter's Captain Josh Kidd is one of DraftBuzz's hidden gems. Standing at a tall 6'5'' and commanding 218 pounds, the draft eligible from Ontario has quietly taken the reigns of the young team located in Pennsylvania. Aside from fellow '88 born Dan Pinckley, Kidd is in charge of leading a defense corps that features 6 blueliners all younger than him and a forward lineup that is just as green. Kidd is a smooth skating, mobile giant who moves the puck well. He has a heavy shot from the point, which he is not shy about releasing. DraftBuzz would have liked to see him be more physical, but believes his edge was tamed because his team needed him on the ice. That said, Kidd is very quick to help a teammate in need and routinely stepped up to opponent's taking liberties with his baby Otters.

DraftBuzz has him in the top 45, and thinks he has such great raw potential. We think he is on a steep developmental curve, and with a more seasoned team, it is possible that his prospect value skyrockets next year.