Faceoff Factor

FF's Official 2009 NHL Entry Draft Top 30

Jesse Marshall | NHL Entry Draft

Jun 23, 02:55 PM | Hype this story!

This year’s ranking was done by committee. Alex Kirshner, Mike Farkas, and I combined our rankings and made this final one as an average of where we had each player.

Thanks to Alex and Mike for providing great discussion. I think we made a great team.

Without further delay, here is our official top 30 for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft!

1. Victor Hedman – D – Modo (SEL) – 6’6 – 220lbs. – Shoots L – Dec. 18, 1990

Mike Farkas – This is about as good a defensive prospect I’ve seen come into a draft since I saw Jay Bouwmeester as a Medicine Hat Tiger. He’s every bit of 6’6”, 220 lbs. and can skate so fluidly, especially for a man his size. Turned pro in arguably the world’s second best league at 17 full-time, and then dominated it at age 18. 21 points in 43 games from the blueline as an 18 year old are nearly unheard of numbers. Very good with the puck on his stick and leading the rush. Very good in the offensive zone. Just about as good in the defensive zone. The only knock on him is that he doesn’t go around murdering people – to that, I say neither did Nicklas Lidstrom. Think: a more offensive-minded version of Jay Bouwmeester. He will be a star and likely the best thing to come out of this draft.

2008-09 SEL Stats: 43GP – 7G – 14A – 21Pts – 52PIM

2. John Tavares – C – London (OHL) – 6’0 – 195lbs. – Shoots L – Sept. 20, 1990

Jesse Marshall – Tavares is a fantastic package of offensive ability and flair. He has an innate ability to make amazing things happen in the offensive zone and can beat opponents in a plethora of manners. He has superb puck handling, puck control, and sniping skills. The deficiency we most hear about is his skating, but he drastically improved upon it this year. His poor performance in the clutch time of the playoffs this year hurt his stock considerably, but Tavares has the ability to step into the NHL and bring people out of their seats. He is an amazing combination of hockey sense and firepower.

2008-09 OHL Stats: 56GP – 58G – 46A – 104Pts – 54PIM

3. Matt Duchene – C – Brampton (OHL) – 5’11 – 200lbs – Shoots L – Jan. 16, 1991

Alex Kirshner – A versatile center, Duchene models his game after Pens’ captain Sidney Crosby. In his words, this means that he’s willing to do whatever he can to help his team win. He’s one of the purest offensive talents in the draft, but he’s also the best two-way forward available. He has game breaking speed, which is the building block of his game. He’s an extraordinarily smart player to boot, while his leadership abilities have been likened to Steve Yzerman’s. Assuming the Colorado Avalanche take him, he will look excellent centering a second line behind Paul Stastny for years to come.

2008-09 OHL Stats: 57GP – 31G – 48A – 79Pts – 42PIM

4. Brayden Schenn – C – Brandon (WHL) – 6’0 – 198lbs. – Shoots L – Aug. 22, 1991

JM – Brayden Schenn is future captain material. He plays the game with an immense amount of emotion and intensity. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Schenn fights night in and night out to protect his teammates and the crest on his jersey. He has a great set of offensive capabilities, including a great shot, excellent vision, soft hands and a drive to go to the front of the goal. He sets the tone in the game and dictates the way it is played while he is on the ice. Additionally, Schenn plays a mature two-way game, causing havoc in all three zones. Like his older brother, Brayden is a tough customer and plays the game in a very old-school fashion. He will pay a great dividend to whichever team drafts him.

2008-09 WHL Stats: 70GP – 32G – 56A – 88Pts – 82PIM

5. Magnus Sevensson-Paajervi – LW – Timra (SEL) – 6’1 – 201lbs. – Shoots L – April 12, 1991

MF – This is a Swedish forward that can leave any would-be defenseman in absolute awe. Not only is he one of the straight away speediest players in the draft but he’s also got the size to go with it – at 6’1”, 201lbs. He’s the type of forward that is going to lull you to sleep a little bit as he crosses the blueline and then as soon as the gap closes – bam – MSP has already gone wide on you, passed you and put a puck in your net. Real flashy player but a little one-dimensional. Not a very committed player defensively and there are questions about his passing ability. Think Markus Naslund in terms of style or maybe Marian Hossa without the defense.

2008-09 SEL Stats: 50GP – 7G – 10A – 17Pts – 4PIM

6. Evander Kane – C – Vancouver (WHL) – 6’1 – 176lbs. – Shoots L – Aug. 2, 1991

AK – Kane’s finest attribute as a hockey player is his stick-handling. He can dangle with the puck like a miniature Pavel Datsyuk, a skill that was the catalyst in his domination of the WHL last season with the Vancouver Giants. He’s a fast skater who always keeps his legs pumping. His main drawback is his small stature. Only 160 pounds, it remains to be seen how much growing he has left to do. If he doesn’t get bigger, he’ll have some serious adjustments to make at the next level if he’s to be a top six forward.

2008-09 WHL Stats: 61GP – 48G – 48A – 96Pts – 89PIM

7. Jordan Schroeder – C – Univ. of Minnesota (NCAA) – 5’8 – 175lbs. – Shoots R – Sept. 29, 1990

AK – Schroeder’s hockey IQ is through the roof. He’s not a big guy by any stretch of the imagination at 5’8’‘, but you’ll rarely catch him making a boneheaded decision with the puck on his stick. His playmaking vision has the potential to be the best in the draft class if he is surrounded by players who can finish. He’s surprisingly unafraid to go to the dirty areas for such a small player. He has shown an ability to score highlight reel goals from all over the offensive zone. He uses his instincts well and is another very complete player, the best to come out of the NCAA this year.

2008-09 NCAA Stats: 32GP – 13G – 27A – 40Pts – 29PIM

8. Jared Cowen – D – Spokane (WHL) – 6’5 – 220lbs. – Shoots L – Jan. 25, 1990

AK – Cowen is a prototypical big, mean defenseman. He moves quite well for a 6’5’‘ blueliner, but shouldn’t be expected to contribute much offensively in the NHL. Cowen might develop into an Adam Foote-esque shutdown defenseman before too long. He knows how to win, as he was a key figure on a Spokane Chiefs team that won the Memorial Cup in 2008 (before infamously breaking the trophy in the post-game celebration). There are question marks surrounding Cowen since he suffered a rather serious knee injury last season, but the hope is that the injury is totally behind him.

2008-09 WHL Stats: 48GP – 7G – 14A – 21Pts – 45PIM

9. Dmitry Kulikov – D – Drummondville (QMJHL) – 6’1 – 183lbs. – Shoots L – Oct. 29, 1990

JM – Kulikov is an extremely solid defenseman that is very well rounded. He’s often praised for his offensive capabilities, but he is not strictly one dimensional. He can play defense with the best of them and exhibits strengths on all parts of the ice. He’s stellar on the man-advantage and can both distribute and shoot the puck with efficiency. He’s a very humble individual that doesn’t show a ton of emotion on the ice. His first pass is great, and he can be played in virtually any situation. The QMJHL rookie of the year could be NHL ready sooner than many think. His well-rounded game could get him selected early in the first round.

2008-09 QMJHL Stats: 57GP – 12G – 50A – 62Pts – 46PIM

10. Olivier Ekman-Larsson – D – Leksand (Swe2) – 6’2 – 176lbs. – Shoots L – July 17, 1991

MF – OEL is domination by anticipation. He’s one cool customer with and without the puck. He plays a real smooth, composed game. Aided by a slick skating stride and impressive hockey sense, OEL plays a positional game on defense, and like most Swedes of his ilk, he likes to combine stick work and proper timing to thwart oncoming rushes. A couple of knocks on him are that he’s not very strong and the level of competition (second tier Swedish – Allsvenskan) isn’t as tough as the competition Hedman faces. That said, he made the best of it, in a league where he’s playing against men he led the league in +/- (+44) and recorded the most points in his age group (including forwards) with 17 in 39 games. In terms of style, think something in the Niklas Krownall area.

2008-09 Swe2 Stats: 39GP – 3G – 14A – 17Pts – 32PIM

11. Ryan Ellis – D – Windsor (OHL) – 5’9 – 173lbs. – Shoots R – Jan. 3, 1991

JM – Ellis has the most impressive offensive skill set of any defenseman in this draft. His presence on special teams is invaluable and he’s constantly involved in what’s happening offensively. He’s got an accurate and powerful shot as well as a knack for distributing the puck in an effective manner. A former scholastic player of the year, Ryan’s hockey smarts are just as good as his book smarts. While he is an offensive dynamo, he still pays attention to the defensive side of the puck and honors his responsibilities in his own zone. His size is a concern for his NHL future, and he registered the highest body fat percentage of any player at the NHL combine. However, he should put on an inch or so before he is done growing.

2008-09 OHL Stats: 57GP – 22G – 67A – 89Pts – 57PIM

12. John Moore – D – Chicago (USHL) – 6’2 – 189lbs. – Shoots L – Nov. 19, 1990

MF – Didn’t get a ton of exposure this year as he played in the USHL. The first thing to note about Moore is his skating; he might be the best skater in the draft. He’s what you want in a two-way defender, good passer, good smarts, poise, and the ability to carry the puck up the ice. Seems like a genuinely good kid that loves the game, and is more likely to improve his game with time because of it. Could be one of those guys that goes off the board very early (top 10 or 12). Think something in the Scott Niedermayer or Jay Bouwmeester mold.

2008-09 USHL Stats: 57GP – 14G – 25A – 39Pts – 50PIM

13. Scott Glennie – RW – Brandon (WHL) – 6’1 – 177lbs. – Shoots R – Feb 22, 1991

AK – Glennie has an excellent wrist shot that he can score with from the perimeter. He’s got breakneck speed and an often underestimated ability to play two-way hockey. Glennie absolutely loves to score goals and is more than willing to work for them. He’s one of the purest goal scorers in the class, but unlike many other snipers, what sets him apart is his commitment to team defense and making his teammates better. He can play either the wing or center, and was centered last year by projected top six pick Brayden Schenn when both played for Brandon of the WHL. Glennie knows how to play with good players.

2008-09 WHL Stats: 55GP – 248G – 42A – 70Pts – 25PIM

14. Jacob Josefson – C – Djurgarden (SEL) – 6’0 – 187lbs. – Shoots L – March 2, 1991

MF – Josefson is a mature center from Djurgården program in the Elitserien. He’s a pretty well-rounded two-way center that has excellent playmaking abilities. Plays a very smart game, a very traditional centerman. Fairly crafty, above average skater. Attention to detail defensively. Knock on him is that he doesn’t have the highest skill set in the top 15 of this draft class and he lacks goal scoring ability. Below average shot. Maybe in the Henrik Zetterberg or Derek Roy mold.

2008-09 SEL Stats: 50GP – 5G – 11A – 16Pts – 14PIM

15. Nazem Kadri – C – London (OHL) – 6’0 – 167lbs. – Shoots L – Oct. 6, 1990

JM – A broken jaw slowed Kadri down a bit this year or we might find him higher in this ranking. Kadri has a long reach that he uses to play a possession game. He’s a fine skater with a good first step that can forecheck with the best of them. He had a sub-par showing at the combine in terms of his weight-training exercises and various other physical tests, but he has yet to really fill out his frame so that should come with time. Kadri may not have the ceiling that some of the other centers in this draft have, but he has the skills to play in the big leagues one day and his commitment to defense already has him on the right path. A strong player in the offensive zone, his reach enables him to get to loose pucks and play keep away. He’s also an extremely effective penalty killer because of it. _

2008-09 OHL Stats: 56GP – 25G – 53A – 78Pts – 31PIM

16. Zack Kassian – RW – Peterborough (OHL) – 6’3 – 210lbs. – Shoots R – Jan. 24, 1991

JM – Kassian is hands down the toughest customer in this draft class. He’s as strong as a bull and plays the game with an immense amount of fire and energy. Kassian is great in the boards, fantastic in using his body, and has a grossly underrated shot. Kassian will drop the gloves with pretty much anyone and didn’t see a lot of fights this year because of his reputation as a bruiser and a tough customer. His skating could use a little bit of work but it isn’t a big enough eye sore to drop him in the ranking any. He’s a big body that is the template for what a power-forward should be. He disappointed a bit in the playoffs and on the international stage but there’s no reason to believe that he can’t be NHL ready in a short period of time based on his attitude and size.

2008-09 OHL Stats: 61GP – 24G – 39A – 63Pts – 136PIM

17. Simon Despres – D – Saint John (QMJHL) – 6’4 – 205lbs. – Shoots L – July 27, 1991

AK – Despres is hulking defenseman with good size and strength. He clears his own crease very well (an NHL goalie’s dream) and has taken a liking to sticking up for his teammates. The most underrated aspect of his game is his puck-moving ability, which has drastically improved over the years. He makes a very sound breakout pass. Despres went from 14 to 32 points between his last two campaigns with the St. John Sea Dogs. His nasty physical edge reminds some of Chris Pronger and is justified in that comparison by his 74 penalty minutes last season.

2008-09 QMJHL Stats: 66GP – 2G – 30A – 32Pts – 74PIM

18. David Rundblad – D – Skelleftea (Swe-Jr) – 6’2 – 189lbs. – Shoots R – Oct. 8, 1990

MF – Rundblad owns outstanding offensive instincts. He can carry the puck through all three zones and whether it is via shot or sultry dish it will end up in the back of your net. He’s very confident and creative with the puck on his stick, although sometimes it’s a little more reckless than you’d like. Already is a trusted power play stalwart in the Elitserien. Possesses good size too. Needs some work on the defensive side of his game. Doesn’t use his size well enough in his own end either. Resembles Mike Green, maybe Mark Streit.

2008-09 Swe. Jr. Stats: 10GP – 8G – 7A – 15Pts – 2PIM
2008-09 SEL Stats: 45GP – 0G – 10A – 10Pts – 8PIM

19. Louis LeBlanc – C – Omaha (USHL) – 6’0 – 178lbs. – Shoots R – Jan. 26, 1991

JM – This future Harvard University center is a great puck-carrying center that has excellent vision and uses his smarts to create chances for both him and his teammates. LeBlanc has great hands and an excellent knack for distributing the puck effectively. I see him developing into a true playmaking center at Harvard. His skating is solid and he isn’t afraid to take the puck to the net and get dirty every once in awhile. Some question his conditioning and his ability to log big minutes, but that should improve at Harvard. Overall a young kid of staunch character that is very selfless.

2008-09 USHL Stats: 60GP – 28G – 31A – 59Pts – 78PIM

20. Carter Ashton – RW – Lethbridge (WHL) – 6’3 – 205lbs. – Shoots L – April 1, 1991

AK – Ashton is a very prototypical power forward. His draft stock has been helped by a very complete game. He kills penalties, plays on the powerplay, plays physically, and scores goals. Like so many others in this class, he has some nastiness to him. His character is very well regarded. Though there is nothing flashy about him, he brings a lot intangibles that help his team win games. His father, Brent, played in the NHL for a decade and a half, largely with the now defunct Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques.

2008-09 WHL Stats: 70GP – 30G – 20A – 50Pts – 93PIM

21. Landon Ferraro – C – Red Deer (WHL) – 5’11 – 165lbs. – Shoots R – Aug. 8, 1991

MF – Ferraro is a fairly underrated prospect because he comes from a bad Red Deer Rebels team. Make no mistake about it; this guy is a goal scoring machine. He’s a speedy sniper in every sense of the word – er – words. The son of Ray is very smart, very mature and can play well on both sides of the puck. A little light in the size department and probably won’t be an elite playmaker anytime soon but he’s a fairly safe bet. Tough call on a comparison here, without dwelling on it too much, I’ll say Patrick Sharp-ish.

2008-09 WHL Stats: 68GP – 37G – 18A – 55Pts – 99PIM

22. Stefan Elliott – D – Saskatoon (WHL) – 6’1 – 180lbs. – Shoots R – Jan. 30, 1991

JM – Elliott is the prototype for what a new defenseman in the NHL has to be. I’m actually amazed that he fell out of the May ISS ranking and isn’t much higher on most lists. He might have that Thomas Hickey effect where he gets taken really early. Overall, Elliott can log big minutes in any situation. Former Penguins assistant coach Lorne Molleken exhibited a lot of trust in Elliott this year. He can skate, take offensive superstars one on one, play in the boards, shoot, and pass. He has a crisp, quick wrist shot that he uses from the point to keep pucks low and generate rebounds and tip-in’s. The WHL scholastic player of the year is not far off from being NHL ready.

2008-09 WHL Stats: 71GP – 16G – 39A – 55Pts – 26PIM

23. Peter Holland – C – Guelph (OHL) – 6’2 – 185lbs. – Shoots L – Jan. 14, 1991

MF – Holland is a player that combines excellent tools with a projectable frame. He is a smooth skater that has been used in every situation including the point on the power play for Guelph. A high-level shot that overshadows his average playmaking abilities. When he wants to be he can be in the Eric Staal mold. When he’s not – Tyler Arnason, or worse. Holland has some character issues and some determination issues. He doesn’t put in a consistent effort every night, much less every shift. Seems to lack smarts. Tends to get caught on the perimeter of the action as a spectator. Very high bust potential.

2008-09 OHL Stats: 68GP – 28G – 39A – 67Pts – 42PIM

24. Jordan Caron – RW – Rimouski (QMJHL) – 6’2 – 202lbs. – Shoots L – Nov. 2, 1990

AK – Caron is somewhat of a hybrid. He’s part power forward, part perimeter player. He exhibits no fear in going hard to the net and taking a beating in order to create havoc in the crease that lead to goals for his team. He doesn’t spend all his time in there, though, and can play a finesse game at times. There are injury concerns regarding Caron; he’s missed moderate chunks of time over his junior career with the Rimouski Oceanic. He is a solid playmaker, especially considering how much time he spends down low.

2008-09 QMJHL Stats: 56GP – 36G – 31A – 67Pts – 66PIM

25. Kyle Palmieri – F – US-NTDP – 5’10 – 191lbs. – Shoots R – Feb. 1, 1991

AK – Palmieri wears his heart on his sleeve and plays the game with immense emotion. He’s a great skater with nice burst who is slick with the puck on his stick. He also plays smart hockey when the puck’s not on his stick, and he knows where to be in order to make a stout defensive play or score a goal. There’s nothing spectacular about him, but he brings a little bit of everything to the table. Though none of us on the outside can say anything for certain, he is said to be as team-oriented a player as there is. A beast in the weight room, he dominated nearly every physical test at the NHL combine.

2008-09 USDP Stats: 33GP – 15G – 15A – 30Pts – 51PIM

26. Tim Erixon – D – Skelleftea (SEL) – 6’2 – 190lbs. – Shoots L – Feb. 24, 1991

MF – For Erixon, there’s nothing that really sticks out of his game – for better or for worse. He’s very smart, seems like almost every move is calculated. Otherwise, he’s just a solid all-around performer, a steadying influence on a D pairing. Not fancy, just a good passer with good instincts in both ends of the ice. Not a sexy pick, but he’s one that seems very likely to make it at the next level. He did put together quite an impressive offensive performance at the U18 WJC though. Tough call on a comparison here, Mattias Ohlund came to mind, so did Henrik Tallinder.

2008-09 SEL Stats: 45GP – 2G – 5A – 7Pts – 12PIM

27. Chris Kreider – Phillips Academy (HS) – 6’2 – 201lbs. – Shoots L – April 30, 1991

JM – This Andover product put up some of the most dominating offensive performances of anyone in the draft in 2009, but one thing to remember is that he was doing it at the prep level against no-so-staunch competition. Whatever the case, Kreider is a fantastic physical specimen that can skate for days and has the ability to drive inside or outside with the puck. Almost seemingly scored at will for Phillips and dominated all over the ice. He has a level head and a great demeanor. He will attend Boston College in the 2010-2011 season. Maybe some risk involved with this pick because of his age and competition level, but the reward is through the roof for a team willing to wait on this powerful players arrival.

2008-09 HS Stats: 26GP – 33G – 23A – 56Pts – 10PIM

28. Drew Shore – C – US-NTDP – 6’3 – 190lbs. – Shoots R – Jan. 29, 1991

AK – Shore goes to the the net and loves to both bully players on the opposing team and stand up for his teammates. He shoots hard, skates hard, and works hard. In the past, he has been knocked for playing too soft a game for someone as talented as he is, but those cries have generally been muffled lately. Some nights, he could stand to be more physical between the whistles. Other nights, he seems like a physical force. That makes his future role in the NHL a bit fuzzy at this point. Shore is a bit of a wild-card right now.

2008-09 QMJHL Stats: 56GP – 36G – 31A – 67Pts – 66PIM

29. Toni Rajala – RW – Ilves Jr. (Fin-Jr) – 5’10 – 163lbs. – Shoots L – March 29, 1991

MF – Probably the biggest sleeper in the whole draft. The only drawback on him is size. Central Scouting listed him at 5’10”, 163 lbs. but I’m not sure that he’s above 5’8” 155 lbs. – I’ll take their word for it. I’ve known about Rajala since he burst on the scene in Finland at the age of 14 and he hasn’t disappointed one bit. He’s fast, explosive, dynamic and fiesty. A complete dynamo offensively that can put pucks in the net like nobody’s business. He’s even coming along defensively and has a strong work ethic. His last chance to impress came at the U18 WJC, he scored 19 points in the tournament, a new record. He beat Alex Ovechkin’s record of 18 points in eight games. Now you’re thinking, “oh, that’s only one point” but here’s the thing, Rajala did it in just six games! Think smaller version of Marian Gaborik.

2008-09 Fin. Jr. Stats: 31GP – 14G – 17A – 31Pts – 18PIM

30. Zach Budish – RW – Team South West (MHSEL) – 6’3 – 229lbs. – Shoots R – May 9, 1991

JM – An absolute physical monster, Budish has one of the most intimidating on-ice presences in this draft. He tore his ACL playing football this year, which hurt his stock a bit, but he showed no ill effects of the injury at the combine and doctors report that he will fully heal with no nagging problems. A future University of Minnesota forward, Budish can dominate in the boards and has an extremely underrated wrist shot. His skating is a bit of an eyesore but that should improve at the collegiate level. Budish is a real bruiser and can use his physical presence to dominate the game.

2008-09 MHSEL Stats: 15GP – 14G – 13A – 27Pts – 12PIM

There you have it, folks. Thanks for reading. Our three round mock draft starts tomorrow. Be sure to stop back and check it out.

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