5. Michael Del Zotto (NYR-D)Drafted: '08 NYR 1st Round (20th Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - London Knights/Oshawa Generals (OHL)
- The young London Knight makes a great first pass and knows how to run a power-play. He looked sharp in the Rangers' first pre-season game, both taking the body and moving the puck. However, he was at fault for the first goal against for the Blueshirts. John Tortarella has already stated he'd like to keep two young defensemen on the squad, which will likely mean two of Del Zotto, Matt Gilroy, Bobby Sanguinetti, Corey Potter or Mike Sauer. Only 19, Del Zotto will find himself playing under the bright lights of MSG or back under the control of the Hunter Brothers in '09-'10.
4. Matt Duchene (COL-C)
Drafted: '09 COL 1st Round (3rd Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - Brampton Battalion (OHL)
- Will Matt Duchene follow the lead of the 1st (John Tavares) and 2nd (Victor Hedman) overall selections in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft into the big leagues? Like Del Zotto, Duchene will find himself either staying with Colorado or back in the OHL. While there's certainly no rush for Colorado to thrust him into the NHL, there is certainly plenty of room for the nifty centerman. It used to be Sakic and Forsberg down the middle for the Avs. Will this year's edition of the Avalanche feature Stastny and Duchene? I'd guess yes.
3. Evgeny Grachev (NYR-LW)
Drafted: '08 NYR 3rd Round (75th Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - Brampton Battalion (OHL)
- The most improved player in the Rangers' organization had a great first season in North America. He proved to be one of the elite players in the OHL, taking home Rookie of the Year honors playing alongside the previously mentioned Duchene. This year Grachev will find himself honing his skills with either the Rangers or the Hartford Wolfpack, the club's AHL affiliate. If the Ranger's first pre-season game was any indication, the hulking Russian badly wants to stay with the big club. Grachev hounded the puck and killed penalties all night, and was easily one of the better Rangers players on the ice. If Brandon Dubinsky continues to hold out, Grachev's chances only improve, as the Rangers will be looking for offense any way they can get it.
2. John Carlson (Was-D)
Drafted: '08 WAS 1st Round (27th Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - London Knights (OHL)
- John Carlson has all the tools to be an NHL stud on the blue line. Blessed with great size and a howitzer of a shot, Carlson seems to be NHL ready. In last year's camp, the young rearguard wowed the Washington staff as an 18 year-old, staying with the team all the way until the end of camp. The one problem for Carlson may be the amount of defenseman in the Caps' system. Their AHL affiliate is stacked, with defensemen such as Karl Alzner ready to make the jump. Like Del Zotto and Duchene, it's NHL or OHL for Carlson. He has already made the jump from junior hockey in New Jersey, to the USHL, to the OHL in three consecutive years. A jump to the NHL in year four would be impressive.
1. Nathan Gerbe (Buf-LW)
Drafted: '05 BUF 5th Round (142th Overall) Selection
'08-'09 Team - Portland Pirates (AHL)
- Nathan Gerbe has been told he's too small his entire life. Listed at 5'6'' (...yeah right, and Marty St. Louis is 5'8''), Gerbe makes up for what he lacks in height through tremendous skill, smarts, and work ethic. I say height, and not size, because this guy is jacked. Odds are if you come across Gerbe, he's either staying after practice working on his shot or getting a lift in at the gym. He had a fairly dissapointing ten game stint with Buffalo in '08-'09 last season - but that will only increase his drive. With injuries to Paul Guastad and Adam Mair, Gerbe's attempt to make the Sabres got a nice lift. I expected him to make the team before these injuries, and I certainly expect him to make it now. If the '08-'09 AHL Rookie of the Year lines up on the wing with Derek Roy or Tim Connolly, I think the Sabres will be pleased with the results this time around.
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