Faceoff Factor

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Jesse Marshall | Juniors

Sep 9, 10:54 PM | Hype this story!

Many draft gurus and CHL fans are already looking past this season to 2009 and the arrival of John Tavares in the NHL. But, they’d be foolish to skip over 2007/08. There is a strong crop of youngsters available again this year. If you’re a stat watcher, draft fan, or CHL fan, here are a few kids you’d better be prepared to see a lot of this coming year.

Steven Stamkos – C – Sarnia Sting (OHL) – 6’0 – 170lbs – Shoots R

Stamkos blistered onto the scene in 2006 as a 16 year old rookie recording an astounding 92 points in just 62 games. Many people started to draw comparisons to Tavares after his blistering start (45 points in 34 games), but the difference lies in balance. Stamkos’ game is very consistent and he seemed to perform every task asked of him. With good height and a good wingspan, Stamkos can protect the puck while he creates space to either pass or make a deathly accurate wrist shot. Stamkos has great offensive tools and a strong sense of the game. His rookie year was no hoax, he’ll be back and ready to lead the Sting to another playoff appearance.

Drew Doughty – D – Guelph Storm (OHL) – 6’0 – 185lbs – Shoots R

Drew Doughty is an offensive juggernaut. If you like the new style NHL defenseman, look no further. Doughty has a beautiful heads-up skating style and surveys the ice with a deliberateness that will frighten any opposing player. Coming off a 74-point season as a defenseman (21+53), Doughty will look to continue his steady style of game into his 3rd year of hockey at the OHL level. If his learning curve has taught us anything, it’s that Doughty knows the game and utilizes that knowledge to become better each time he steps onto the ice. Doughty is at the helm of a draft class loaded with gifted defensemen.

Luke Schenn – D – Kelowna Rockets (WHL) – 6’3 – 209lbs – Shoots R

Another of the talented right-handers available in this draft, Schenn turned a ton of eyes last year as his game progressed and his size increased. Schenn already has a huge frame and plays a heavyweight style of game. A versatile defenseman, Schenn can pass, shoot and fight with a consistency that is staggering. While he struggled a bit in his rookie year, he came back as a sophomore and showed he had learned from his bumps. Schenn needs to build off of his solid performance last year and continue to turn heads in the hockey world in order to solidify his position as one of the more talented defensemen in this draft class.

Kyle Beach – C – Everett Silvertips – 6’3 – 180lbs – Shoots R

Kyle beach is a nasty individual. He comes to the rink to play and doesn’t walk away with many friends. He will drop the gloves at the drop of a dime and has even resorted to mocking the birth defects of opposing players before squaring off with them on the ice. Beach, however, is gifted, and the talent is hard to ignore. His attitude and PIM’s turn-off a lot of people, but he doesn’t mail it in. Beach will need to play with a bit more discipline this year and prove that he’s an asset on the ice as a talented center, not just a physical presence. Last year, he put up a respectable 61 points (29+32) in 65 games, but a glaring 196PIM stands out as a real problem for this youngster. I have Kyle Beach in my preliminary top 10, many others don’t, but if Beach gets off to a hot start, you’ll hear his name with the likes of the others on this list before the year is half over.

Be sure to check back with Faceoff-Factor as we track the progress of these and many other youngsters as the year progresses.