Eagles top 10 under 25
#1 Cam Ward
22 years old
The goalie of the future has risen in Edmonton, as Ward is probably the only RHL prospect in history to have a Conn Smythe trophy under his belt before going pro in the RHL. While not really impressing during the regular season, Ward shone in the playoffs and his play took a tiny bit of the sting away from the Oilers loosing the Cup final.
NHL playoffs: 23gp 15w 8l 2.14gaa .920 save %
NHL season: 28gp 14w 8l 2sol 3.68gaa .882 save %
arrival: RHL17
acquired: RHL13 trade with FUN
projection: allstar goaltender
#2 Jack Johnson
19 years old
The Eagles pulled off the coup of the RHL16 draft, as they acquired the 2nd overall pick so they could take this franchise defenseman. Johnson had a standout rookie campaign with the University of Michigan, finishing with 32 pts in 38 games and also played a huge role for Team USA at the WJC, which earned him a first team allstar selection.
NCAA season: 38gp 10-22-32
arrival: RHL19
acquired: RHL16 draft, 2nd overall
projection: allstar defenseman
#3 Jeff Carter
21 years old
This lanky pivot is well on his way to becoming an impact player. While most rookies tail off as the season progresses and the games become more intense, Carter kept getting better and was playing a crucial role for the Flyers at season’s end. He just needs to keep on doing what he’s doing and the blue and silver will have themselves a worthy centre for years to come.
NHL season: 81gp 23-19-42 12 min/g
Acquired: RHL13 trade with AVI
arrival: RHL17
projection: allstar centre
#4 Alex Radulov
20 years old
Radulov took a big step forward this year in his development, as he was named the CHL Player of Year and led the Quebec Remparts to the Memorial Cup. Hopefully for the Eagles, his career follows the path of former CHL MVP’s Lemieux, Sakic, Richards and Hawerchuk, and not that of Varlamov, Ling, Poulin and Fogarty.
QMJHL season: 62gp 61-91-152
arrival: RHL19
acquired: RHL15 draft, 14th overall
projection: 1st line scorer
#5 Andrew Ladd
20 years old
Ladd has the big-time skills that made him the Eagles third highest draft pick ever in the RHL at 6th overall (Jack Johnson-2nd overall in RHL16 and Ryan Smyth-4th overall in RHL3). He was in and out of the lineup most of the season for the Canes, but he dressed for every game of the Cup final when things really counted.
NHL season: 29gp 6-5-11, 11 min/g
acquired: RHL15 draft, 6th overall
arrival: RHL17
projection: 1st line power forward
#6 Mike Cammalleri
24 years old
The Toronto product had great years in 05-06, both in the NHL and the RHL. He jumped out of the gate in RHL15 as one of the top goal scorers and ended with decent numbers (53gp 20-13-33). He also proved that his 109-point season in the AHL during the lockout was no fluke.
NHL season: 80gp 26-29-54, 17 min/g
arrival: now
acquired: RHL13 trade with AVI
projection: 1st line centre, powerplay specialist
#7 Christian Ehrhoff
24 years old
The German national team defenseman struggled during the regular season, but in what is certainly a good sign, he upped his game in the playoffs and registered 8 points in 11 games while playing 20 minutes a night. His offensive touch will be invaluable to the Eagle’s powerplay in the future.
NHL season: 64gp 5-18-23, 18 min/g
arrival: now
acquired: RHL13 trade with ROV
projection: top 4 defenseman, powerplay quarterback
#8 Guillaume Latendresse
19 years old
After electrifying Canadiens faithful during the 05-06 pre-season with his goal scoring prowess, Latendresse ultimately was sent back to junior. He started slowly and had a terrible WJC tournament, but eventually his game came around as he ended with 40+ goals. It will not be long before the chants of GUY-GUY-GUY return to Montreal.
QMJHL season: 51gp 43-40-83
arrival: RHL19
acquired: RHL16 draft, 13th overall
projection: 2nd line forward, powerplay specialist
#9 Devin Setoguchi
19 years old
The Alberta product enjoyed another solid year in 05-06 with the Saskatoon Blades and Team Canada at the WJC after just failing to make the Sharks as an 18-year-old. San Jose has always been able to spot great talent playing the CHL, and Setoguchi looks to be no exception.
WHL season: 65gp 36-47-83
arrival: RHL20
acquired: RHL16 draft, 12th overall
projection: 2nd line forward
#10 Antoine Vermette
24 years old
Vermette proved he had an important role to play on the potent Senators last year. While getting the nod for the PK consistently, he also delivered his first 20-goal campaign. Should get even more responsibility in Ottawa with the departure of Havlat and Smolinski. Vermette absorbed it all in on the Eagles’ pro squad in his rookie year, seeing limited action (4GP 0-1-1).
NHL season: 82GP 21-12-33, 13 min/g
arrival: now
acquired: RHL13 trade with CAP
projection: 2nd line forward, penalty kill specialist
Just missing the cut:
#11 Petteri Nokelainen F, 20
#12 Matt Stajan F, 22
#13 Petr Budaj G, 23
#14 Ryan Potulny F, 21
#15 Timofei Shishkanov F, 23
22 years old
The goalie of the future has risen in Edmonton, as Ward is probably the only RHL prospect in history to have a Conn Smythe trophy under his belt before going pro in the RHL. While not really impressing during the regular season, Ward shone in the playoffs and his play took a tiny bit of the sting away from the Oilers loosing the Cup final.
NHL playoffs: 23gp 15w 8l 2.14gaa .920 save %
NHL season: 28gp 14w 8l 2sol 3.68gaa .882 save %
arrival: RHL17
acquired: RHL13 trade with FUN
projection: allstar goaltender
#2 Jack Johnson
19 years old
The Eagles pulled off the coup of the RHL16 draft, as they acquired the 2nd overall pick so they could take this franchise defenseman. Johnson had a standout rookie campaign with the University of Michigan, finishing with 32 pts in 38 games and also played a huge role for Team USA at the WJC, which earned him a first team allstar selection.
NCAA season: 38gp 10-22-32
arrival: RHL19
acquired: RHL16 draft, 2nd overall
projection: allstar defenseman
#3 Jeff Carter
21 years old
This lanky pivot is well on his way to becoming an impact player. While most rookies tail off as the season progresses and the games become more intense, Carter kept getting better and was playing a crucial role for the Flyers at season’s end. He just needs to keep on doing what he’s doing and the blue and silver will have themselves a worthy centre for years to come.
NHL season: 81gp 23-19-42 12 min/g
Acquired: RHL13 trade with AVI
arrival: RHL17
projection: allstar centre
#4 Alex Radulov
20 years old
Radulov took a big step forward this year in his development, as he was named the CHL Player of Year and led the Quebec Remparts to the Memorial Cup. Hopefully for the Eagles, his career follows the path of former CHL MVP’s Lemieux, Sakic, Richards and Hawerchuk, and not that of Varlamov, Ling, Poulin and Fogarty.
QMJHL season: 62gp 61-91-152
arrival: RHL19
acquired: RHL15 draft, 14th overall
projection: 1st line scorer
#5 Andrew Ladd
20 years old
Ladd has the big-time skills that made him the Eagles third highest draft pick ever in the RHL at 6th overall (Jack Johnson-2nd overall in RHL16 and Ryan Smyth-4th overall in RHL3). He was in and out of the lineup most of the season for the Canes, but he dressed for every game of the Cup final when things really counted.
NHL season: 29gp 6-5-11, 11 min/g
acquired: RHL15 draft, 6th overall
arrival: RHL17
projection: 1st line power forward
#6 Mike Cammalleri
24 years old
The Toronto product had great years in 05-06, both in the NHL and the RHL. He jumped out of the gate in RHL15 as one of the top goal scorers and ended with decent numbers (53gp 20-13-33). He also proved that his 109-point season in the AHL during the lockout was no fluke.
NHL season: 80gp 26-29-54, 17 min/g
arrival: now
acquired: RHL13 trade with AVI
projection: 1st line centre, powerplay specialist
#7 Christian Ehrhoff
24 years old
The German national team defenseman struggled during the regular season, but in what is certainly a good sign, he upped his game in the playoffs and registered 8 points in 11 games while playing 20 minutes a night. His offensive touch will be invaluable to the Eagle’s powerplay in the future.
NHL season: 64gp 5-18-23, 18 min/g
arrival: now
acquired: RHL13 trade with ROV
projection: top 4 defenseman, powerplay quarterback
#8 Guillaume Latendresse
19 years old
After electrifying Canadiens faithful during the 05-06 pre-season with his goal scoring prowess, Latendresse ultimately was sent back to junior. He started slowly and had a terrible WJC tournament, but eventually his game came around as he ended with 40+ goals. It will not be long before the chants of GUY-GUY-GUY return to Montreal.
QMJHL season: 51gp 43-40-83
arrival: RHL19
acquired: RHL16 draft, 13th overall
projection: 2nd line forward, powerplay specialist
#9 Devin Setoguchi
19 years old
The Alberta product enjoyed another solid year in 05-06 with the Saskatoon Blades and Team Canada at the WJC after just failing to make the Sharks as an 18-year-old. San Jose has always been able to spot great talent playing the CHL, and Setoguchi looks to be no exception.
WHL season: 65gp 36-47-83
arrival: RHL20
acquired: RHL16 draft, 12th overall
projection: 2nd line forward
#10 Antoine Vermette
24 years old
Vermette proved he had an important role to play on the potent Senators last year. While getting the nod for the PK consistently, he also delivered his first 20-goal campaign. Should get even more responsibility in Ottawa with the departure of Havlat and Smolinski. Vermette absorbed it all in on the Eagles’ pro squad in his rookie year, seeing limited action (4GP 0-1-1).
NHL season: 82GP 21-12-33, 13 min/g
arrival: now
acquired: RHL13 trade with CAP
projection: 2nd line forward, penalty kill specialist
Just missing the cut:
#11 Petteri Nokelainen F, 20
#12 Matt Stajan F, 22
#13 Petr Budaj G, 23
#14 Ryan Potulny F, 21
#15 Timofei Shishkanov F, 23
posted by Chris - Eagles at
10:32 p.m.
4 Comments:
Sigh. I basically gave Cam Ward to the Eagles since that was back in the pre-M-contract days. I figured I'd have to pay him a ridiculous amount of money before he'd even be rated, and then he'd likely suck for a couple disks.
Oops.
By
Martin, at 11:04 p.m.
Love the projections, just wondering who the source is for that. I'd take Carter at #1, still think Ward is a fluke. Stupid Carolina...
By
Howard, at 1:08 p.m.
>Martin
Yeah, so did I. The change in prospect contracts came at exactly the right time for a player like Ward, but a season too late for others (Yakubov, Spiller, Sjostrom...) Pretty good trade overall though for both of us I think:
To EAG: Tjarnqvist/Parrish/Yakubov/Spiller/Ward/$1000000
To FUN: S.Niedermayer/EAG1
Yakubov's been a bust. Spiller continues to drop down the depth chart in PHX. The cash was good, but I had given YDP $2.8M to get Niedermayer.
Howie: Agreed... stupid Carolina. But I am more of a Canes fan then ever. Might have something to do with Ward, Ladd and Johnson though. ;)
I think my top three are interchangable, if you look at future potential. Ward got the nod at #1 because of his Conn Smythe, which is an incredible accomplishment. But he didn't steal the Cup, and he ended up against a backup in the finals. If the Oilers win, it would've been Pronger all the way. He should have got it anyways in MHO.
Anyone can get hot (look at Boucher with the shutout record), but we'll see if Ward can be an elite goalie or if his hot streak came at the absolute perfect time.
By
Chris - Eagles, at 2:46 p.m.
>Jun
Don't for a second think I would ever openly cheer for them. A guy doesn't forget a team beating the Habs and the Oil in the same playoffs...
But hey, if Ward becomes a stud with at 1.5gaa and .940% and Ladd scores 40 this year, the team probably wins more games because of it. I won't mind. ;)
So if that makes me a closet Canes fan right now, then I accept that.
I remember in 03-04 I actually ended up following the Coyotes reasonably closely. I think I had like 6 or so guys on their squad (Doan, Comrie, Mara, Sjostrom, Spiller, Boucher, maybe more), so I was always curious to see how they did.
If Doan got a hat-trick, Mara went +3 and Boucher was a wall, they were more likely to win the game. So I guess I was a bit of fan because I wanted my players to do well, which in turn helped the team do better.
Now that I only have Comrie and Boynton, I won't follow them as closely. Consider it the ebb and flow of how my NHL interest is partially influenced by my RHL squad...
By
Chris - Eagles, at 10:33 a.m.
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