The NHL's Central Scouting Service released their mid-term rankings today and it's the pair of Russians in Yakupov and Grigorenko who are 1/2 followed by a ton of dmen. Here is the top 10:
RANK PLAYER TEAM LEAGUE HEIGHT WEIGHT POSITION
1 YAKUPOV, NAIL SARNIA OHL 5' 10.5" 189 RW
2 GRIGORENKO, MIKHAIL QUEBEC QMJHL 6' 3.25" 200 C
3 MURRAY, RYAN EVERETT WHL 6' 0.5" 201 D
4 FAKSA, RADEK KITCHENER OHL 6' 3.0" 202 C
5 RIELLY, MORGAN MOOSE JAW WHL 5' 11.5" 190 D
6 MAATTA, OLLI LONDON OHL 6' 1.5" 202 D
7 DUMBA, MATHEW RED DEER WHL 5' 11.75" 183 D
8 REINHART, GRIFFIN EDMONTON WHL 6' 3.75" 207 D
9 TROUBA, JACOB USA U-18 USHL 6' 2.0" 193 D
10 POULIOT, DERRICK PORTLAND WHL 5' 11.25" 186 D
Filip Forsberg is the #1 ranked European skater.
I'm always interested in seeing these rankings after the WJC to get the reactions from the "experts" after the most important draft eligible prospect tournament of the year.
Although the top 3 haven't moved, there is certainly some movement in the rest of the top 10. Faksa seems to have come out of nowhere as he was ranked 28th on ISS's December rankings. He played for the Czechs in the WJC and clearly made an impression - at least on the CSS scouts.
Here are some quotes on the two Russians:
There's no doubt the 18-year-old Yakupov, who patterns his game after former NHL great Pavel Bure, is the top prospect on the board at this stage in the season. While he'll be sidelined up to four weeks with a knee injury suffered playing for Russia in the gold-medal game at the World Junior Championship on Jan. 5, the 5-foot-10.5, 189-pound right wing certainly has the goods.
"He's a dynamic player who plays with offensive energy … he wants the puck and he loves to score," NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr told NHL.com. "But what he's learning now is how to play the game without the puck; he's not an individual player and he has a pretty good sense of responsibility."
After Yakupov, the only North American forwards listed among Central Scouting's top 10 are Grigorenko and No. 4 Radek Faksa of the OHL's Kitchener Rangers. Grigorenko, who had 2 goals, 5 points and a plus-2 rating in six games for Russia at the WJC, has team-leading totals of 25 goals and 58 points in 36 games for the Remparts.
"When Mikhail is on the ice, he controls the play and he's got deceptive speed for a 6-foot-3.25, 200-pound man," Marr said.
I know this team could use some quality 'D' in their pipeline but I look at this list of top heavy dmen and it makes me want to tank even harder.
I want as close to a sure thing as possible in this draft. We CANNOT miss. And to me, even the highest can't miss dman in a draft, can be unpredictable (Erik Johnson comes immediately to mind). They also require the ability to develop -- an area the Jackets don't exactly excel in. However, if a dman is the BPA when we draft then we have to take him.
My ideal scenario at this point is to finish dead last which will guarantee us one of Yakupov or Grigorenko. If we want one of those dmen then try to trade up and grab one. Also keep your eye on Galchenyuk - that kid could be a steal if he goes late first.
This team needs offense just as bad as defense and goaltending. A Yakupov *should* certainly help address that. Then look to fill immediate goaltending/defensive gaps through trade and/or free agency.
So all together now....
FAIL. FOR. NAIL.
-LTL
