HC Indian Armed With Precise Shot

Simon Hjalmarsson
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Country: Sweden
Position: Left Wing
League: J20 SuperElit
Team: Vastra Frolunda HC Indians
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 161
Shoots: Left
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Strengths: Hjalmarsson is a great finisher blessed with a lightning quick release and ability to fire a variety of shots with superb accuracy. He was a great compliment to playmaker Eller this past season, and really stood out with his nose for the net. Hjalmarsson had a great WJC U18 where he established himself on the international stage showing good speed, grit, and goal scoring instincts. He is okay defensively and has fine skating ability.
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Weaknesses: Hjalmarsson lacks a bit of size, strength, and dynamite to his skating. He doesn't have a separation gear, which may keep him from being a dominant offensive force. Although he is certainly not scared to go into danger zones on the ice, his size is worrisome and may limit him from consistently being a threat as he moves up the ranks.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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41 games 31 goals 23 assists 54 points +12 91 PIM
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2007 WJC U18 Stats - Team Sweden

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6 games 4 goals 5 assists 9 points +8 4 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Put some more quality muscle on Simon's bones, and you have a potential gamechanger opponent's blueline in. His deadly array of shots and offensive instincts are definately intriguing, but he will need to continue to establish himself at a high level. DraftBuzz ranks Hjalmarsson in the top 25 and projects him to be drafted anywhere from 11-25.

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(photo courtesy of www.eurohockey.net)

Budding Giant

Jonathon Blum
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Country: USA
Position: Defense
League: WHL
Team: Vancouver Giants
Height: 6'0'''
Weight: 160
Shoots: Right
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Scouting Report: Rancho Santa Margarita, California native is mentally tough having dealt with the death of his sister (house fire) and illness to mother (cancer) all before the age of 17 .. Blum has a unique skating style as his knees unusually jut out in motion .. nonetheless his skating is so smooth, so controlled, and so expansive .. covers a lot of ice gracefully and has a sturdy stride .. played with Festerling in 5 on 5 action .. owns a great pair of hands and can stickhandle around players .. not overly physical but is diligent about initiating contact and uses the textbook move of exploding up into forwards .. is a great passer and even catches his own teammates off guard with his ability to execute under pressure as forwards barrel down on him .. played with Fransson on the powerplay .. is very active on the powerplay as he roams all over in the offensive zone presenting his forwards with options .. acts like a fourth forward and is confident in his offensive abilities .. shows a risky side as he likes to step up in the neutral zone and attempt dangerous takeaways, which sometimes backfires on him .. a frustrating defenseman as he can look unseasoned and unintelligent one period and steady the next .. loses focus lugging the puck up the ice and forces himself to scramble as a result .. prone to miscommunicating with his partner and needs to iron out periodic brain cramps .. Vancouver’s second pairing defenseman is an intriguing option in the first round who must get stronger and improve some areas defensively.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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72 games 8 goals 43 assists 51 points +37 48 PIM
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2007 Playoff Stats

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22 games 3 goals 6 assists 9 points +13 8 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Blum is a great pro prospect for his solid skating, superb hands, and decent defensive game. He compares to a less dynamic Bobby Sanguinetti and we believe Blum has the mental fabric to make it in the NHL. DraftBuzz thinks he is a top 35 talent and project him to be drafted anywhere in the range of 7 to 40. He is a prospect whose value has the potential to climb as he will be given more playing time and added responsibility with the subtraction of a few blueliners who should be turning pro (Franson -'87, Mikkelson-'87, Festerling-'86, and Thelen-'86).

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(photo courtesy of www.whl.ca)

Marshall, Marshall, Marshall

Kevin Marshall
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Country: Canada
Position: Defense
League: QMJHL
Team: Lewiston Maineiacs
Height: 6'1'''
Weight: 191
Shoots: Left
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Scouting Report: Lewiston’s gritty defenseman is much more than a pest .. such a reliable defensive presence already and compares to a slightly smaller Hannan .. has smooth acceleration and good straight line skating .. shows pretty odd agility as he tends to overemphasize stops and turns making him look as if he is stuck in sand for a second or two .. puts his head down and barrels into scrums to advance play .. never quits on a play and is a courageous battler .. routinely takes on bigger forwards and finds ways to stop them .. hits and hits hard but tends to go underneath his checks at times .. always in opponents faces saying something .. is a comical nuisance as his victims usually end up laughing in stride with him .. never lets up and always gives forwards the business after whistles .. makes beautifully simple plays and always finds a way to separate opponents from the puck .. steps up at the right times and keeps the play alive with good skating .. a very rough stickhandler and is not expected to lead the rush .. decent at getting his shots on net but lacks any real precision or power .. Marshall is an unheralded defenseman who has 2nd round talent and production packaged in 1st round competitiveness and technical understanding of the game.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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70 games 5 goals 27 assists 32 points +34 141 PIM
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2007 Playoff Stats (Including Memorial Cup)

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21 games 0 goals 7 assists 7 points -2 40 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Marshall is most likely one of those defensemen who an NHL team is hoping slides through the cracks this coming June 22nd/23rd. We think he is a stud defender, but also one who needs to develop his offensive talents some more. DraftBuzz sees him as a top 40 talent, and believe he will get drafted in the range of 25-50. He truly is a shut down defenseman who gets the job done with a combination of physicality, reliability, and superb decision making.

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(photo courtesy of Ron Morin)

On Tap...

Hey all,

With the draft fast approaching, we wanted to give a little heads up on what is on the way.

-More Profiles (upwards of 20).

-Comprehensive First Round Mock Draft (unlikely, but time permitting, we will extend it to two rounds long).

-New Top 60-100 with Commentary (This ranking will be more personal, and slanted to our preferences rather than the previous Top 30 ranking based on buzz, current end of season play, and projection.)

-June 22nd, First Round, Pick-by-Pick by analysis (real time commentary as draft is going on.)

Ryan McDonagh Q & A

DraftBuzz was able to catch up with Wisconsin recruit Ryan McDonagh before his departure for the NHL combine. In one of his most recent achievements, Ryan was crowned the 2007 Minnesota Mr. Hockey, which is an award given annually to the top senior high school player in the state. With each passing day, Ryan is looking like a top 15 lock and has a great shot at going top ten on June 22nd.

DB: What is your current height and weight?

RM: 6’1’’ 200 lbs

DB: Your well-rounded game and steady play are well documented in the scouting community, but how else would you describe your playing style? Is there a specific player you like to mold your game after?

RM: I’d like to be a guy that can be counted on to play strong defense late in a game to hold on to a lead. Someone who can also run a power play and be a contributor on the penalty kill as well. I’d like to be a player that my teammates can count on when I’m out on the ice.

DB: Not necessarily weaknesses, but what is something you hope to improve on next year?

RM: Becoming a stronger skater and improving my quick decision making skills.

DB: What have you done to prepare for the upcoming NHL combine? Have you focused specifically on improving interviewing skills and fitness training the past month or so?

RM: I’ve been doing a little bit of everything. Working out and conditioning for it has been the most important I’d say because I feel the interviewing process is all about being yourself and being honest with what you say about yourself and others.

DB: In your estimation, what teams and representatives have shown the most interest in you?

RM: I know that Minnesota is interested along with Columbus and St. Louis.

DB: Who has been the most challenging forward to play against in your hockey career so far?

RM: James Van Riemsdyk is a tough forward to play against. He is big and can skate very well for his size.

DB: If you could pick an NHL defender past or present to play on a pairing with, who would he be and why?

RM: I think it would be fun to be paired with Phil Housley or Bobby Orr because it would be fun to give them the puck and watch them make great plays and score great goals.

DB: What are your plans for this summer? Do you plan on training this summer in the weight room and on ice or will you take a break?

RM: I plan on working out a lot and skating whenever I can. I plan to get down to Wisconsin to start training with the team sometime in July.

DB: Do you have any plans on what field you would like to study or pursue academically in your time at Wisconsin?

RM: Something with Business maybe or Economics. I haven’t made up my mind yet though.

DraftBuzz would like to thank Ryan for his time and wishes him a happy, successful Draft Day.

The Complete Tip

Zach Hamill
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Country: Canada
Position: Center
League: WHL
Team: Everett Silvertips
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 190
Shoots: Right
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Scouting Report: The long tenured Silvertip center has technically played four years of CHL hockey and as a result is eligible to play in the AHL as soon as this coming season .. a calm presence on the ice who never looks rattled .. has come a long way from being a small, skinny centerman flashing tremendous raw skill to now being a complete forward with high end talent .. still adding mass to his frame, but is no longer considered a small player .. great skater with quiet individual ingredients as nothing about his skating style stands out .. owns a magnificent pair hands and ability to thread passes as he sees them .. floats around processing the play in the offensive zone and then gets himself into great positions to shoot or pass .. equally as good shooting the puck and elects to smartly put his shots on net regardless of what quality the shots are .. is an underrated goal scorer as he has great patience with the puck on his stick .. often waits for the goalie to give him daylight and once he sees an opening he fires .. high assist total comes in part from playing with goal scorer Beach .. works hard and is usually the first backchecker .. shows guts by going into the corners and does not hesitate to work his man over and rough him up .. not a hitter at all but is not soft .. overall hockey instincts are impressive as he always appears to know what to do in every situation .. a great defensive center for all of his offensive skill .. could stand to become a little more physical .. has added 10 pounds since last year but still needs to strengthen his lower body some more .. can get knocked off the puck easily at times .. A quiet and unassuming centerman who has the skill and smarts to make the NHL as a second line center.

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2006-2007 Regular Season Stats

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69 games 32 goals 61 assists 93 points +16 90 PIM
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2007 Playoff Stats

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12 games 2 goals 8 assists 10 points +/-0 16 PIM
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Draft Day Status/Projection: Hamill looks to be all over the place as far as rankings go, but we think he is a solid centerman in a draft full of risks and unknowns. DraftBuzz likens him to a less potent Sam Gagner. We rank him 8th, but can realistically see him getting drafted from the 12th pick to the 30th pick by a team who will like the option of playing him in the minors 2007-2008.

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(photo courtesy of www.everettsilvertips.com)