NHL Prospect Watch -- Central Division

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

[Thanks for the write-ups so far]

Chicago Blackhawks
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Columbus Blue Jackets
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Detroit Red Wings
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Nashville Predators
Name: Chet Pickard
Acquired: NAS 1st round 2008, 18th overall
Position/Projection: starting G
Report: Pickard's greatest asset is his mental game, staying very at ease in the net. He plays a butterfly style and uses his size effectively. Pickard covers the net with efficiency and has become proficient in corralling the many pucks that inevitably come into contact with his upper body. He plays his angles well, and likes to play the puck. "He's a much more relaxed, patient, 'stand-upish' goalie, and waits for the puck more than other guys," described Mitch Korn, goaltending coach for the Nashville Predators. Pickard needs "to elevate the urgency and quickness,” Korn said. “He's got the quickness, but he's got to get out of that comfort zone, the junior speed and crank it a couple of notches." So far with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, he has a 29-15-5 record with an impressive total of 12 shutouts.

Name: Ryan Ellis
Acquired: NAS 1st round 2009, 11th overall
Position/Projection: top pairing D
Report: The common refrain heard throughout the league is that if Ellis were just three inches taller, he'd be a sure-fire top-five selection. Unfortunately, in many ways, the NHL is a big man's league and Ellis' dynamic power play quarterbacking abilities and offensive production may be overshadowed by his lack of height. Ellis has an outstanding shot from the point and is consistently able to jump-start the offense with a well-timed pass or breakout through the defensive zone. He has also worked on his defensive abilities and has drawn praise for his effort and leadership. His strong positional play often makes up for his lack of physical dominance. This season with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, he’s totaled 5 goals and 15 assists in 59 games.

Name: Jonathon Blum
Acquired: NAS 1st round 2007, 23rd overall
Position/Projection: top pairing D
Report: Blum demonstrates outstanding mobility and often takes the initiative to carry the puck up ice. What makes Blum so good is his explosive skating ability. Because he is not very large, he uses technique and a good poke-check to wrestle the puck away from opponents. He has amazing ice presence and is very rarely caught out of position, a key aspect of being an NHL defenseman. Blum still needs to work on his strength and body size, because being less than 180 pounds as a defenseman hardly bodes well for anyone in professional hockey. This season with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, he’s totaled 3 goals and 8 assists in 56 games.

Best of the rest:
LW Blake Geoffrion -- decent checking winger, needs to get stronger
D Teemu Laakso -- fringe D, has some offensive and checking potential
G Jeremy Smith -- will get stuck behind Pickard, but is not bad
C Ben Ryan -- strong shooting and playmaking skills, but can't spell b-a-c-k-c-h-e-c-k
C Jani Lajunen -- skinny playmaker who packs a physical punch


St. Louis Blues
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