Welcome to the 2014 edition of “Top Shelf Prospects”. As we go through the Summer of 2014 I will be featuring a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will go team by team through the NHL bringing you a look at each Teams Top Prospects. I will be following the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no traded draft picks) and you can find all the articles here. Since we had an extensive NHL Draft preview, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in the 2014 draft, as there have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed. What I will be doing is linking you to those articles, as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year’s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2014-15 roster of the NHL team in question. I will also bring you one sleeper pick – a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as my darkhorse to make the NHL. For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
After the “Pesky Sens” used youth to navigate through a season full of injuries in 2012-13, make the playoffs and eliminate the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs much was expected from a maturing core in 2013-14, despite the loss of captain Daniel Alfredsson. It was expected that newly acquired Bobby Ryan could pick up Alfredsson’s scoring slack, and while he did that, there was still a major leadership void, and the Senators stumbled through the season, eventually finishing 5th in the Atlantic division and short of the playoffs.
This off-season things got worse. The Ryan trade meant the Senators were forced to watch as the Ducks used a top 10 pick on Nick Ritchie. Team captain Jason Spezza demanded a trade and is now in Dallas. Ales Hemsky who the Sens picked up at the deadline, and performed very well in Ottawa, followed him to the lone star state.
Still most of the Sens young players from the 2012-13 season are still around, and there are some other quality prospects that are ready to make their way to the NHL. As such, you can’t write the Sens off in 2014-15. They could improve simply by those youngsters taking the next step, and this team has surprised before when they were written off.
2014 Draft Picks (reviewed by LWOS): Andreas Englund, Shane Eiserman
Graduates: Robin Lehner, Cody Ceci, Stephane Da Costa, J-G Pageau,
Top Ottawa Senators Prospects
Top Prospect Curtis Lazar, Centre
Born Feb 2 1995 — Vernon, BC
Height 6.00 — Weight 189 — Shoots Right
Selected by Ottawa Senators round 1 #17 overall 2013 NHL Entry Draft
It was a near perfect season for Lazar. He again led the Oil Kings to one of the best records in the WHL, and through the playoffs to a second WHL title in his career. He and the Oil Kings topped it all off by winning the Memorial Cup, and getting revenge for the 2012 tournament. Lazar’s clutch goal in the third overtime of the Semi-Final against Val D’Or was one of many big plays he made for the Oil Kings on their journey. Along the way he was also a key member of Canada’s National Junior team scoring 3 goals and 7 points in 7 games.
At his best Lazar has great quickness and outstanding acceleration. He is able to use his quick and powerful stride to go wide on defence, and if he manages to get a step on them he puts it into another gear and drives the net hard. Lazar also uses his ability to change gears quickly to confuse defenders and coupled with very good agility, he is extremely dangerous off the rush. Lazar has good balance on his skates and effectively fights through checks and protects the puck, making him dangerous off the cycle.
Lazar is a pure goal scorer. He has an outstanding wrist shot and pro-level release which he uses to beat goalies. He also has an excellent slap shot. Add to this arsenal, the soft hands to finish plays in close and the quick hand eye co-ordination to make delections and pounce on rebounds and you can see why he had so many goals this season. Lazar also plays a rugged game and is willing to hit on the forecheck or battle along the boards, or in the cycle game. He’s not afraid to play in the dirty areas of the ice, be it in the corners or in front of the net. He could stand to be a little bit stronger and add some upper body mass in order to continue to play his style in the pros, but this is a concern for most junior players. Lazar also could be a bit more of a playmaker, as he does show good vision and passing skill at times, but doesn’t do it often enough.
Defensively, Lazar is amongst the best checking forwards in the draft. His two way game is excellent, as are his face-off skills. He plays his rugged game in all three zones, and uses his quick feet to keep himself in position and be hard on the back check. He helps out defenders down low and contains his man to the outside well, cutting down the shooting and passing lanes. He has a quick stick and intercepts a lot of passes, and is willing to block shots for his team. This well developed defensive game will serve him well on his transition to pro hockey.
Lazar is a tweener in that there isn’t much more for him to do in the WHL, but he may not be ready for the NHL and is not eligible for the AHL. This makes things tough on Brian Murray, but I expect to see Lazar back in Edmonton for one more year and again playing a key role at the World Juniors.
#2 Prospect Mark Stone, Right Wing
Born May 13 1992 — Winnipeg, MAN
Height 6.01 — Weight 205 — Shoots Right
Selected by Ottawa Senators round 6 #178 overall 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Mark Stone continues to progress and defy the odds of a sixth rounder becoming an important NHL player. He got in 19 NHL games this season and picked up 4 goals and 4 assists, impressive numbers in the circumstances. He also upped his point total in the AHL in his second year in the league despite playing only about two-thirds of the games from his rookie year.
Stone is a goal scorer, plain and simple. He has excellent hockey sense and a sneaky ability to find openings in a defence, even when the other team has put in a game-plan specifically focused on stopping him. He has soft hands in tight, and can bury rebounds and connect for tip-ins. He also has an NHL ready arsenal of shots including a deadly wrist shot, snap shot and one timer. His release is particularly quick, and deceptive, often leaving goalies wondering where the puck is as it bulges the twine behind them. Stone is not afraid of the tough areas of the ice and takes punishment in front of the net and in digging pucks out of the corner. He is not a particularly pretty playmaker, but he does get assists mainly through doing the dirty work of digging out pucks in corners and dishing them to teammates.
Stone’s biggest issue, and the reason he fell so far in the draft is his skating. He really has an awkward stride, and does not generate good top end speed or acceleration. As such he must rely on his hockey sense and positioning to avoid becoming a liability on the ice, especially defensively. His skating is something that he continues to work to improve and while he is making progress, he has almost become an average skater in the NHL. His stride has improved, but there is still work to be done particularly in his agility, first step quickness and his acceleration. If Stone can continue to improve this aspect of his game, he will be a sure fire NHLer, and possibly a full-time member of the Sens top six. Stone will attempt to break camp with the Sens next year, and I believe he will do just that. A bad camp though, and he’d be back to Binghamton as his spot is not guaranteed. In fact there is a lot competition for it between the youngsters.
#3 Prospect Matt Puempel, Left Wing
Born Jan 24 1993 — Windsor, ONT
Height 6.00 — Weight 196 — Shoots Left
Selected by Ottawa Senators round 1 #24 overall 2011 NHL Entry Draft
After three straight seasons being derailed with injuries in junior hockey (hip, concussion, shoulder) Matt Puempel finally had a relatively healthy year with the Binghamton Senators in the AHL. Putting up 30 goals in his first season of pro hockey, he showed the type of sniping skill that made him a first round pick in 2011.
Puempel is a pure sniper. He has a tremendous wrist shot and very quick and deceptive release. He also has a powerful and accurate one-timer. Puempel’s shooting ability is NHL ready, and is the envy of some players already playing in the league. He also has the quick and soft hands to bury pucks on rebounds and tip ins. In junior he showed flashes of great vision and passing ability, and the ability to add a playmaking option to his game, but he seems to have developed a bit of “shooting tunnel vision” over the last couple of years. While its hard to criticize him for that after scoring thirty goals in the AHL, he should work to develop that second option as it will keep defences honest and may lead to even more scoring chances.
Puempel has a smooth skating stride which leads to him having great top end speed, and acceleration. He is extremely dangerous off the rush, with his ability to drive wide and to the net. Good puck protection, and solid stickhandling aid him in this area as well. Puempel also brings good balance, and is agile, and has strong edgework.
Puempel’s defensive game has been steadily improving for two years now, both in Kitchener and Binghamton. Where he was once considered a defensive liability, he has shown much more of a willingness and the ability to backcheck. He played responsible hockey covering his point man and cutting down passing and shooting lanes. He reads the play well and can cause turnovers with good anticipation.
Puempel is a darkhorse to make the Sens team out of camp. There is a lot of competition, and not that many spots available. A tremendous camp could earn him one of those spots, but the Sens likely will send him back to the AHL for just a little more seasoning.
Super Sleeper Ryan Dzingel, Centre
Born Mar 9 1992 — Wheaton, IL
Height 6.00 — Weight 187 – Shoots Left
Drafted by Ottawa Senators, round 7 #204 overall 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Dzingel signed with the Senators following a solid three year NCAA career with the Ohio State Buckeyes. This last season he put up 22 goals and 46 points in just 37 games. He joined the Binghamton Sens and showed no problems making the jump to pro hockey, with 2 goals and 7 points in 9 games to end the year.
Dzingel is a smooth skater, with a text book stride. This gives him good speed and acceleration. He has good agility, and edgework which makes him dangerous one-on-one and allows him to slip past checks. Dzingel has good balance and is strong on the puck allowing him to work down low and maintain puck possession.
Dzingel is at his best as a playmaker, using his good vision and passing skill to set up teammates. He makes smart decisions, has good poise with the puck on his stick and excellent stickhandling allowing him to extend plays waiting for a teammate to get open. While he’s not known as a goal scorer, he does have a good shot and an accurate release. While Dzingel is not known as a big hitter, but does not shy away from being hit or from driving to the net to make a play. He is gritty and fully willing to battle in front of the net or in the corners.
Defensively Dzingel is already well developped. He is a strong defensive player who was used by the Buckeyes in tough matchups and penalty killing situations last year. He has good anticipation, breaking up plays and starting the transition, but is also courageous and willing to block shots.
Expect Dzingel to get his feet wet in the pro game in Binghamton. The Sens could be getting a real steal in a two-way third line centre in time if Dzingel can continue to develop.
A Senators seventh round pick in 2011, Dzingel is developping into an offensive threat for the Buckeyes and led the team with 38 points in 40 games last year. He is a smooth skater, with decent speed and acceleration. Dzingel is at his best as a playmaker, using his good vision and passing skill to set up teammates. He makes smart decisions, has good poise with the puck on his stick and excellent stickhandling allowing him to extend plays waiting for a teammate to get open. While he’s not known as a goal scorer, he does have a good shot and an accurate release. He is not known as a big hitter, but does not shy away from being hit or from driving to the net to make a play. He is a decent defensive player who was used by the Buckeyes in tough matchups and penalty killing situations last year.
The Senators system was once one of the top systems in the NHL but has slipped a bit. This isn’t a bad thing for the team though, as the reason it has slipped is due to the heavy graduations over the last two years. Having their young players in the NHL and contributing is never a bad thing, and so the Sens should still be happy with that. However Brian Murray will need to spin his magic over the next couple years and restock the cupboards at the minor league level shortly. There is depth there, but there isn’t a lot of blue-chip talent right now as Lazar is the only blue chip prospect who hasn’t graduated already.
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