Draft Prospects -- Centers
Prior to the June 25-26 NHL Entry Draft at Los Angeles, newyorkrangers.com looks at the top 2010 draft prospects at each position to help give fans a sense of players who might be available to the Blueshirts when they make the No. 10 overall pick. Here are the top available centers.
OTHER POSITIONS: Left Wing | Right Wing | Defense | Goaltenders
CONSENSUS ROUND 1
Listed to the right of each player's name is his final ranking from NHL Central Scouting as well thehree major scouting publications. These are The Hockey News (THN), The International Scouting Service Draft Guide (ISS) and Red Line Report (RLR). Please note that these rankings are for informational purposes only, based on widely published reports with no relationship to preferences of the New York Rangers scouting staff.
CENTERS ELIGIBLE FOR DRAFT
|
RANKINGS
|
 |
| Nick Bjugstad |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 19 Overall Pick |
Center (Blaine Bengals, Minnesota High School)
Height: 6-4 - Weight: 188 - Shot: Right - Born: July 17, 1992
2009-10: 25 games; 29 goals; 31 assists; 60 points; 24 PIM
|
| NOTES: Highly skilled with big shot. Fiirst player from his school to win the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award as top senior player in state. Nephew of former NHL player Scott Bjugstad. Will attend the University of Minnesota. Hometown: Blaine, Minnesota (American) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 13
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 9 |
21 |
19 |
|
 |
| Alexander Burmistrov |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 8 Overall Pick |
Center (Barrie Colts, Ontario Hockey League)
Height: 5-11 - Weight: 157 - Shot: Left - Born: Oct. 21, 1991
2009-10: 62 games; 22 goals; 43 assists; 65 points; 49 PIM; Plus-32
|
| NOTES: Was third on team in playoff scoring with 16 points in Barrie's run to OHL final. Had four points at 2010 WJC. Terrific speed, agility, hockey sense with apparent desire to play in the NHL, but might need to bulk up. Hometown: Kazan, Russia (Russian) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 11
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 6 |
14 |
12 |
|
 |
| Mikael Granlund |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 9 Overall Pick |
Center (Helsinki IFK, Finland SM-Liiga) VIDEO: Scout's View
Height: 5-10 - Weight: 180 - Shot: Left - Born: Feb. 26, 1992
2009-10: 43 games; 13 goals; 27 assists; 40 points; 2 PIM; Plus-11
|
| NOTES: Has great work-ethic and determination. He's widely considered the second coming of Saku Koivu. Was highest-scoring rookie in Finland's top league and led Finland with six assists, seven points at World Juniors. Hometown: Oulu, Finland (Finnish) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 1
(European skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 10 |
15 |
3 |
|
 |
| Ryan Johansen |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 4 Overall Pick |
Center (Portland Winterhawks, WHL) VIDEO: At Combine | Profile
Height: 6-2 - Weight: 192 - Shot: Right - Born: July 31, 1992
2009-10: 71 games; 25 goals; 44 assists; 69 points; 53 PIM; Plus-17 |
| NOTES: Finished 2009-10 regular season second in scoring among WHL rookies. Known for outstanding on-ice vision. He has enormous upside as a top-six, power forward at NHL level, but needs to add bulk to his frame. Hometown: Port Moody, British Columbia (Canadian) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 10
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 12 |
8 |
9 |
|
 |
| Evgeny Kuznetsov |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 26 Overall Pick |
Center (Chelyabinsk Traktor, KHL) VIDEO: Scout's View
Height: 6-0 - Weight: 172 - Shot: Left - Born: May 19, 1992
2009-10: 35 games; 2 goals; 6 assists; 8 points; 10 PIM; Minus-6
|
NOTES: Tremendous skill with remarkable NHL potential. He was MVP of Six Nations Under-18 event and led Russia, fourth overall, with 12 points at World Under-18s. Had two goals at World Juniors. Also plays left wing.
Hometown: Chelyabinsk, Russia (Russian) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 3
(European skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 18 |
19 |
17 |
|
 |
| Brock Nelson |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 30 Overall Pick |
Center (Warroad Warriors, Minnesota High School)
Height: 6-3 - Weight: 205 - Shot: Left - Born: Oct. 15, 1991
2009-10: 25 games; 39 goals; 34 assists; 73 points; 38 PIM
|
| NOTES: Big, skilled center had point in every game and goals in all but two for 2.92 average. Nephew of former NHL player and 1980 Olympian Dave Christian. Was finalist for Minnesota Mr. Hockey. Will play at North Dakota. Hometown: Warroad, Minnesota (American) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 25
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 29 |
26 |
31 |
|
 |
| Tyler Pitlick |
 |
Drafted in Round 2
No. 31 Overall Pick |
Center (Minnesota State, Western Collegiate Hockey Association)
Height: 6-2 - Weight: 194 - Shot: Right - Born: Nov. 1, 1991
2009-10: 38 games; 11 goals; 8 assists; 19 points; 27 PIM; Plus-0
|
| NOTES: Great skater who also plays wing was finalist for Minnesota Mr. Hockey as high school senior and is nephew of former NHL player Lance Pitlick. WHL property of Medicine Hat, where he might spend next season. Hometown: Centerville, Minnesota (American) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 18
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 21 |
20 |
30 |
|
 |
| Jaden Schwartz |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 14 Overall Pick |
Center (Tri-City Storm, United States Hockey League)
Height: 5-10 - Weight: 180 - Shot: Left - Born: June 25, 1992
2009-10: 60 games; 33 goals; 50 assists; 83 points; 18 PIM; Minus-6
|
| NOTES: Great stick-handling skills and intensity make up for a lack of size. Youngest USHL scoring champion in 27 years. Named league's Offensive Player of Year and was First Team All-Star. Will play at Colorado College. Hometown: Wilcox, Saskatchewan (Canadian) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 28
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 30 |
23 |
18 |
|
 |
| Tyler Seguin |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 2 Overall Pick |
Center (Plymouth Whalers, OHL) VIDEO: At Combine | Profile
Height: 6-1 - Weight: 172 - Shot: Right - Born: Jan. 31, 1992
2009-10: 63 games; 48 goals; 58 assists; 106 points; 54 PIM; Plus-17
|
| NOTES: Won Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL's outstanding player for the 2009-10 season and had 10 points in nine playoff games. His tremendous scoring potential makes his entire team better whenever he is on the ice. Hometown: Brampton, Ontario (Canadian) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 1
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 2 |
2 |
2 |
|
 |
| Riley Sheahan |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 21 Overall Pick |
Center (Notre Dame, Central Collegiate Hockey Association)
Height: 6-2 - Weight: 202 - Shot: Left - Born: Dec. 7, 1991
2009-10: 37 games; 6 goals; 11 assists; 17 points; 22 PIM; Minus-12
|
| NOTES: Responsible and strong in all areas of the ice, he is particularly outstanding as a defensive-minded forward, yet still retains a legitimate offensive upside. Won Junior B Top Prospect Award in 2008-09 season. Hometown: St. Catharines, Ontario (Canadian) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 22
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 19 |
22 |
28 |
|
 |
| Jeff Skinner |
 |
Drafted in Round 1
No. 7 Overall Pick |
Center (Kitchener Rangers, OHL) VIDEO: Interview | Profile
Height: 5-10 - Weight: 187 - Shot: Left - Born: May 16, 1992
2009-10: 64 games; 50 goals; 40 assists; 90 points; 72 PIM; Plus-7
|
| NOTES: A great sniper and stick-handler who tied for OHL lead with 20 playoff goals and placed second with 33 points. A game-breaker who is always a threat to score. MVP of Team Orr at 2010 Top Prospects Game. Hometown: Markham, Ontario (Canadian) |
|
|
CENTRAL SCOUTING Ranked No. 34
(North American skaters)
|
| OTHER RANKINGS |
| THN |
ISS |
RLR |
| 25 |
9 |
7 |
|
