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Full list of NHL Organizational Rankings
Tampa Bay Lightning Top 10 Prospects
1. Vladislav Namestnikov, Center
2. Mark Barberio, Defense
3. Nikita Kucherov, Left Wing
4. Cory Conacher, Left Wing
5. J.T. Brown, Right Wing
6. Slater Koekkoek, Defense
7. Alex Killorn, Center
8.Tyler Johnson, Center
9.Richard Panik, Right Wing
10.Nikita Gusev, Left Wing
Organizational Ranking: 7th
System Overview: One of the trademarks I've seen so far from the Yzerman administration has been the trend to take risks and to accumulate as much organizational talent as possible with three of their top 10 prospects being free agent signings. The result has been a quick rebuild of their farm system into one of the league's best. Their AHL team won a title on the backs of several quality prospects.
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1. Vladislav Namestnikov, Center
2010-11 Ranking: 4th
Date of birth: 11/22/1992
Age: 19
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 175
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 63 GP, 22 G, 71 P (London-OHL)
Acquired: First round, 27th overall in 2011 by Tampa Bay
The Good: Namestnikov is a complete package prospect who can excel in seemingly every aspect of the game. He skates well, has good hand-eye coordination, is creative with the puck, plays great defense, drives the physical areas, is tough, and has high-end hockey sense. His vision/sense stands out amongst his other tools, but Namestnikov has the offensive package to score at a significant level and play the tough, defensive minutes at the same time.
The Bad: He's a little undersized and needs more strength, which could lead to slightly below-average physical play at the pro level.
Projection: He could be a below-average top line center.
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2. Mark Barberio, Defense
2010-11 Ranking: 6th
Date of birth: 03/23/1990
Age: 22
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 200
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 74 GP, 13 G, 61 P (Norfolk-AHL)
Acquired: Sixth round, 152nd overall in 2008 by Tampa Bay
The Good: I remember talking to a scout last year who said "the sky was the limit" for Barberio. I thought he was exaggerating, but Barberio went and punctured the sky this year as he won AHL defenseman of the year. 2.66 shots/game at 21 in the AHL is generally great for a forward, never mind a defenseman. He's a plus skater who can fly up the ice, shows good four-way mobility, and generates a powerful first step. Barberio is a good all-around player with the puck in terms of hands, vision, and being able to rush it up. He's a smart player who tends to make good decisions.
The Bad: His defense has improved a lot, but he probably could still use a little work on that area. Barberio works hard off the ice, but he could still use some more strength.
Projection: He could be a #3 defenseman, and that may be a little conservative.
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3. Nikita Kucherov, Left Wing
2010-11 Ranking: 2nd
Date of birth: 06/17/1992
Age: 19
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 165
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 23 GP, 24 G, 43 P (CSKA-MHL)
Acquired: Second round, 58th overall in 2011 by Tampa Bay
The Good: Nikita Kucherov's skill set gets described by one NHL exec as the kind that will "keep you on the edge of your seat." He's an above-average skater and puck-handler, and a high-end passer. He has all the components to control the puck in the pro game and be a true offensive weapon. He's also a high-end shooter who shows great mid-distance finishing ability. Kucherov makes difficult plays with consistency, but also doesn't mind driving to the net.
The Bad: His physical game is pretty brutal due to his limited size/strength level. His defensive game could be a little better, but it's not horrible.
Projection: He could be a good second line winger.
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4. Cory Conacher, Left Wing
2010-11 Ranking: N/A
Date of birth: 12/14/1989
Age: 22
Height: 5'8''
Weight: 180
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 75 GP, 39 G, 80 P (Norfolk-AHL)
Acquired: College free agent
The Good: A relative unknown signed out of a lesser name hockey school, as a rookie pro all Conacher did was win the AHL MVP. He's a high-end skater who simply jets up the ice and can make defensemen turn their hips regularly. He's a complete offensive player with good if not high-end puck skills and good vision as well. He's a tough player who loves to throw his body around who works hard in battles.
The Bad: Some scouts have said he's "built like a truck" in regards to his strength level, but size will be Conacher's main impediment to being a legit high-end prospect.
Projection: He could be a good second line winger.
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5. J.T. Brown, Right Wing
2010-11 Ranking: N/A
Date of birth: 07/02/1990
Age: 22
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 170
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 29 GP, 24 G, 47 P (Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth-WCHA)
Acquired: College free agent
The Good: Brown plays a high pace game due to his high-end speed and the tremendous amount of energy he brings to every shift. He's undersized but shows average physical game potential because of his on-ice work ethic and willingness to use his body with fine strength for a player his size. Brown also has a booming shot that flies off his tape when he winds into it. He has a solid skill level as well.
The Bad: It's at least somewhat questionable if he can play the same physical style in the NHL as he did in college. Besides that, Brown has no real glaring hole.
Projection: He could be an average second line forward.
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6. Slater Koekkoek, Defense
2010-11 Ranking: N/A
Date of birth: 02/18/1994
Age: 18
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 184
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 26 GP, 5 G, 18 P (Peterborough-OHL)
Acquired: First round, tenth overall in 2012 by Tampa Bay
The Good: Koekkoek is an above-average if not a high-end skater with a powerful first step and great four-way mobility. He's a pretty smart player as well who makes the right plays under pressure, has some creativity as a passer, and shows good defensive awareness. He has a solid physical game who doesn't mind playing the body.
The Bad: Koekkoek suffered from a shoulder injury that kept him out most of the season. I've also heard divided opinions from scouts on his ultimate upside, with some saying he has a lot, but most saying he seems like a low risk/medium reward player.
Projection: He could be a good second pairing defender.
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7. Alex Killorn, Center
2010-11 Ranking: 9th
Date of birth: 09/14/1989
Age: 22
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 205
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 34 GP, 23 G, 46 P (Harvard University-ECAC)
Acquired: Third round, 77th overall in 2007 by Tampa Bay
The Good: Killorn is a skilled power forward who was a first team All-American in the NCAA East. He has grown into his frame and has the strength to effectively battle off pro defenders. He's pretty good protecting the puck in the corners and has fine balance as well. Killorn has a solid skill level and can make plays to his teammates. His skating has also improved significantly and he'll certainly be able to skate with pros. He could be NHL-ready.
The Bad: There's no real clear weakness to Killorn other than he lacks a standout skill.
Projection: He could be an average second line forward.
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8. Tyler Johnson, Center
2010-11 Ranking: Unranked
Date of birth: 07/29/1990
Age: 22
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 175
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 75 GP, 31 G, 68 P (Norfolk-AHL)
Acquired: Free agent
The Good: After signing as a free agent out of the WHL, Johnson was the third highest scorer on the AHL champions in his first pro season. He has a very impressive skill set as he's a high-end puck possession player with great hands and passing ability. He's also an equally impressive skater who can flash plus speed.
The Bad: His size is an obvious hindrance and he projects as a well below-replacement level physical player. Johnson also needs quite a bit of work on his defensive play.
Projection: He could be a second line forward.
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9. Richard Panik, Right Wing
2010-11 Ranking: 3rd
Date of birth: 02/07/1991
Age: 21
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 218
Shoots: Left
Statistics: 64 GP, 19 G, 41 P (Norfolk-AHL)
Acquired: Second round, 52nd overall in 2009 by Tampa Bay
The Good: Panik has all the tools you want in an NHL forward. He's an above-average, effortless skater with high-end puck skills, good playmaking ability, and a hard shot. He has the big body to play a power game and a good strength level to be effective at it in the pro level. Panik is a dynamic player who can wow scouts with flashes of brilliance and can create a scoring chance out of nothing.
The Bad: Panik needs to work on his defensive game. The coaching staff in Norfolk helped him notably in that area this year, but improvement could still be made. Consistency has always been his main problem although I didn't hear about it as much this season as I did when he was in the OHL.
Projection: He could be a top-six winger.
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10. Nikita Gusev, Left Wing
2010-11 Ranking: N/A
Date of birth: 07/08/1992
Age: 20
Height: 5'9''
Weight: 163
Shoots: Right
Statistics: 34 GP, 30 G, 76 P (CSKA-MHL)
Acquired: Seventh round, 202nd overall in 2012 by Tampa Bay
The Good: Gusev was second in Russia's junior league in scoring this season, and tied Nail Yakupov for second in scoring on Russia's World Junior team. He's a very skilled player with high-end puck skills and well above-average vision. Gusev plays with a flashy element to his game with the ability to bring spectators out of their seats.
The Bad: Size is the main issue with Gusev and he doesn't really project to even have a notable physical game. He has fine speed but lacks a top gear you would want from a small forward.
Projection: He could be a top-six winger.
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The Next Five
11. Anders Lindback, Goaltender: He's a big, athletic goalie who reads the play pretty well. He's ready to push for an NHL starting job.
12. Dmitri Korobov, Defense: Signed out of the KHL this offseason, Korobov has an NHL body, plays well in his own end, and while he's not an offensive guy, he's not a null puck-mover either. If there's room, he could be a third pairing defender right away.
13.Brian Hart, Right Wing: Hart is a skilled big winger with a plus shot. He could use his body a little more, though, and needs a quicker first step.
14. Nikita Nesterov, Defense: He's a little undersized but he's very physical, skates well, and makes a good first pass.
15. Dylan Blujus, Defense: Blujus is a gifted playmaker who can make plays from the blue line. He needs to improve his mobility.
The Sleeper: Dannick Gauthier, Left Wing
Gauthier led the loaded Sea Dogs in scoring as an over-age player in the CHL. He's a skilled player with some flash to his game.
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Tampa Bay Lightning Organizational Top 10
Players 22 or under as of 09/15/2012 or still considered a prospect as defined here.
1. Steven Stamkos, Center
2.Victor Hedman, Defense
3. Brett Connolly, Left Wing
4. Vladislav Namestnikov, Center
5. Mark Barberio, Defense
6.Nikita Kucherov, Left Wing
7. Cory Conacher, Left Wing
8. J.T. Brown, Right Wing
9. Slater Koekkoek, Defense
10. Alex Killorn, Center
That Stamkos kid has been decent so far, ranking second in skater GVT this season. I don't think much explanation is needed there. Hedman is a simply fantastic player who is tracking way up, and while it's hard to see him passing Stamkos on a ranking anytime soon, I think he will significantly close the gap over the next few years. A big man with his skating, skill, and hockey sense has all the tools to be one of the league's best, and with the really tough minutes he played this year, his emergence as an elite D is beginning. Making the call between Connolly and Namestnikov wasn't easy, but I'm a Connolly fan. I love his skating, and he has a well-rounded offensive game to combine with that element to still project as a potential top line forward.
Corey Pronman is an author of Hockey Prospectus.
You can contact Corey by clicking here or click here to see Corey's other articles.
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