HF's Top Ten Prospects

Hockey's Future has finally released their top ten prospects for the upcoming season.

The Top Ten looks like this.

10. Karl Alzner
9. Jonathan Bernier
8. Alex Pietrangelo
7. Kyle Okposo
6. Jakub Voracek
5. James vanRiemsdyk
4. Drew Doughty
3. Kyle Turris
2. Carey Price
1. Steven Stamkos

Overall, I can't complain with the Top Ten. The only thing that I can complain about is the inclusion of Carey Price. It's not because I am a Boston Bruins fan but he was in the NHL for most of last season. He's not a prospect in my eyes. What I find so funny is with Price, some Montreal fans are looking for a Plan B already after "Price's collapse" in the playoffs last season. Why do some Canadiens fans think the Montreal sweater automatically turns a goalie into Ken Dryden or Patrick Roy?

The Southeast division doesn't want to see another young defenseman in Washington but they will with Alzner. Unlike Mike Green, Alzner is more of a defensive defenseman then an offensive defenseman. He should be in the NHL this season.

Jonathan Bernier will have his first professional season this year. He has already been assigned to Manchester of the American Hockey League where he will be the Number 1 goalie for the Monarchs. He has done almost everything a player in junior hockey can do. He already has played very well in the American Hockey League at the end of last season.

Out of the players listed in the Top Ten, Pietrangelo might be the rawest. Even though he was the third defenseman picked in 2008. He could be the best from this draft. He hasn't filled out his body out. It might be a bad thing that he might be in the NHL this season because he could use one more year in juniors. That might not happen with Erik Johnson out for the season with a torn ACL.

The New York Islanders might be one of the worse teams this season in the Eastern Conference but their future looks bright with Kyle Okposo. He sped up his development by leaving the University of Minnesota during the Christmas Break to turn pro. With the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season, he had nine goals and 19 assists in 35 contests. He played nine games with the Islanders and had two goals and three assists. Expect him to be on Long Island all season.

Jakub Voracek will be with the Columbus Blue Jackets this year. He has out grown the QMJHL but can't go to the AHL. He's apart of the new wave of young talent in Columbus. The question is will Ken Hitchcock use Voracek this season? Hitchcock is very hesistant to use young plaayers. It will be hard not to use Voracek with all the talent he possesses.

If you want the next great power forward, his name is James vanRiemsdyk. He had 34 points including 11 goals in 31 contests. He plays an all around games. Expect a big sophomore year from him at the University of New Hampshire. I wouldn't be surprised if signs with Philadelphia after New Hampshire's season is over this year.

The Kings are loaded on defense already, now they add Drew Doughty to the team. He has the most offensive potential of an defensive prospect. Don't expect too much points from him this year because the Kings will continue to struggle this season even though with all the great young players on the team.

The Phoenix Coyotes will be fun too watch this season with all their young players. Kyle Turris is one of those players. After one year at the University of Wisconsin, Turris joined the Coyotes at the end of the year. He had 11 goals and 24 assists in 36 games. With the Coyotes, he had one assist in three contests. He could be a Calder Trophy finalist this season.

Steven Stamkos looked good this weekend for the Tampa Bay Lighting. Yesterday he almost sniped one past Henrik Lundqvist but he hit the cross bar. The only thing that he did to hurt his team was the penalty he took with under a minute left in the game yesterday. It won't be long before he's finding the back of the net.

That's My Take

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)