So last time I talked prospects I mentioned that I’ve never been ice fishing before, and I probably never will be. I don’t do well in really cold weather (I’m sure living in Southern California my whole life has something to do with that). I went snowboarding in Tahoe once many many years ago and couldn’t have been more miserable. Not only did I suck at snowboarding but I didn’t pack enough warm clothes so the entire trip I was freezing my balls off. Needlees to say that was the 1st and only time I’ve gone on a snowboarding trip. Okay enough of my blabbering, lets get to some young’uns who might be able to help your team(s) this year:
Mika Zibanejad – C (Ott): I have to admit I’m not really all that thrilled with this 18 year old from Sweden. I am however extremely thrilled with this 18 year old from Sweden. Back to Mika – I don’t expect much but he is more than likely going to be the #2 Center in Ottawa. Considering he didn’t do much in his short stint with the Swedish Elite League last year this is a real long shot.
Jacob Josefson – C (NJ): So this is the start of my New Jersey Devil prospect division. For some reason they have some rookies who seem to be in the right situation to produce. First is JJ. Thanks to Travis Zajac’s injury, Josefson will (more than likely) be given the opportunity to skate with Kovalchuk on the top line. He’s a former 1st round pick so I don’t think he’ll be overmatched. And there’s always that one in a million chance he clicks with Kovy right off the bat and stays there all year…
Mattias Tedenby – LW (NJ): Josefson definatley has the better opportunity, but Tedenby is just as good a prospect. They are both swede’s so more than likely the two of them end up on the 3rd line together when Zajac comes back. But if anything happens to one of the top 6 Wingers in New Jersey (Zubrus, Clarkson, Parise, Kovy) Tedenby will be the first guy to get the call.
Adam Larsson – D (NJ): So here is the prize of the NJ rookies. Drafted just over 3 months ago Larsson is now threatening to make the Jersey roster out of preseason. (Side note: Does New Jersey know they don’t have to draft players from Sweden?) Anyway back to Larsson. The thing that makes me excited about him is that no other Defenseman on New Jersey have any offensive ability. Which means he could see significant time on the Power Play… Could be this year’s Cam Fowler.
Jeremy Morin – LW (Chi): This Morin was going to start in the AHL but it looks like he could crack the roster thanks to a concussion to Ben Smith. It’s a deep Chicago roster although Left Wing is probably their weakest spot. If Morin gets a chance he’s got real Goal scoring ability (47G in 58 OHL games in 2009).
Nino Niederreiter – LW (NYI): Yet another one of the Islander’s young guns, El Nino had a cup of coffee with the big club last year. (In fact he played in 9 games – just 1 game short of qualifying as a full year in the NHL). After being sent down, Niederreiter proceeded to treat the WHL like his personal toilet. He had 41 Goals and 29 Assists in just 55 Games. This year he’ll be thrown into the mix with the rest of the young talent on the Isle’, and if he can stay healthy (he suffered a strained groin on Friday – must have been one heck of a night!) then it looks like he’ll be skating with fellow young guns John Tavares and Matt Moulson on the top line.
Jacob Markstrom – G (Fla): Markstrom struggled last year in his first full AHL season (2.98GAA/.907SV%) but the talent is there and the Florida goaltending shituation is uglier than than this thing.
Mark Scheifele – C (WPG): Speaking of ugly, take a look at the Center depth chart in Atlant…. errrrr…. Winnipeg. It’s not good and if Scheifele keeps producing like he has been in the preseason (8 Points in 5 games) there is no doubt he’ll start (and finish) the year in Winnipeg. You should jump on this bandwagon right now, MS could be this season’s Jeff Skinner.
