May 21, 2011
Top 100 NHL Draft Prospects
81-90

by Corey Pronman

For a description of the methodology in these rankings, including the Projected Peak and Statistical Comparables (courtesy of Iain Fyffe), please see the Introduction. We'll be revealing more of the Top 100 every few days leading up to the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Full list of Top 100 NHL Draft Prospects

81. Alan Quine, Center, Peterborough-OHL

Alan Quine, the former second overall pick in the OHL draft came into the season with sizeable expectations, but didn't produce as some would have hoped which was partly due to Peterborough being brutal this year. He's a solid skater, with a very good first step and a pretty fluid stride. Quine's puck skills are above-average, with the hand-eye coordination to make defenders miss and make in-tight plays. He's very effective with the puck when he gets space on the power play, and can create a lot in that situation. Quine's physical game right now is below fringe level and while on occasion he has shown decent work ethic along the walls, he frequently hangs around the perimeter and when he does engage he is easily knocked off the puck. His hockey sense is decent, and in the offensive zone is a grade above that but his defensive zone coverage could use some work. Quine has a good skill set, but his work ethic is sporadic and he has the tendency to disappear for sizeable time frames.

Projected Peak GVT: 1.3

Statistical Comparable: Brent Gretzky

82. Ryan Sproul, Defense, Sault Ste. Marie-OHL

Ryan Sproul started the year out of the OHL and off the draft radar, but a major growth spurt, signing with the Greyhounds and a terrific second half has skyrocketed Sproul's draft stock. He moves at a pro-level with great agility and mobility for a big defenseman. Sproul can move the puck at a decent level and while he doesn't show stick-handling prowess, I have seen spurts of creativity from him on the power play. His shot tool is above-average and he can really lean into one-timers from the point with a pretty quick windup. Sproul is still a little physically immature which is natural after a big growth spurt, but once he's done growing he has a chance to be a plus physical player, but at the moment despite his height he isn't that effective physically, relying on his long reach to suffocate forwards. Sproul's major liability is his hockey sense, as it grades as a 35 grade tool. His decision-making is horrid in every zone on the ice and it goes beyond basic rawness. With or without the puck he's a mess with his positioning and decision-making, and despite his impressive tools, the lack of hockey IQ really kills his value.

Projected Peak GVT: 3.7

Statistical Comparable: Bryan Allen

83. Viktor Arvidsson, Right Wing, Skelleftea-J20 SuperElit

Viktor Arvidsson had a decent year in Sweden's Junior league, and even got in a couple of games at the SEL level. He's an above-average skater who darts around the ice with his desirable top speed, and shows terrific agility and control on his edges. His puck skills also grade as above-average as he can be very hard to check in open ice and get the puck from, and also shows good distribution skills when he has room to operate with. Arvidsson has a solid shot tool that can score from moderate distances, but despite the fact he will go to the high percentage areas, he scored a below-average number of goals from that area. His physical game is well below fringe level and while he does work hard and pressures opponents, he isn't physically capable for the pro game. Arvidsson's hockey sense grades as below average to fringe-average as despite moment of good vision with the puck, he does try to overdo it too much with the puck and for a finesse player, his finesse game has to have fewer mistakes.

Projected Peak GVT: 2.3

Statistical Comparable: Par Backer

84. Pontus Netterberg, Right Wing, HV71-J20 SuperElit

After a second consecutive solid season in Sweden's Junior league, Pontus Netterberg enters his second year of draft eligibility. Netterberg is a below-average skater, his mechanics aren't great and it affects his start-ups, but his top speed touches fringe-average. His puck skills are above-average and Netterberg can show some flashes of soft hands and impressive offensive creativity. He's a solid finisher, who pots away his fair share of chances from the high percentage areas and from outside the crease area as well. His physical game projects as pro-average, maybe even solid-average, and while he's listed currently at 6'2", 200 lbs. his frame is much thinner than that and has a ways to fill out. Netterberg doesn't mind playing physical and driving to the traffic areas, but he's still a little slight strength-wise and can get knocked off his skates a little too easy for a player his size. His hockey sense is below-average: in addition to his poor defensive positioning, he takes off too quickly from his own end and he can get a little too cute when he has the puck.

Projected Peak GVT: 3.3

Statistical Comparable: Per Svartvadet

85. Andrew Fritsch, Right Wing, Owen Sound-OHL

Fritsch quietly had a solid season from a counting numbers perspective in Owen Sound. He's a fringe-average skater whose top speed gets to average, but his mechanics aren't the most ideal. He's decent with the puck, showing solid vision and instances of creativity but he isn't the kind of player to consistently try to make things happen on his own. Fritsch prefers to hang around the high slot and play a goal-scorer's game while letting his teammates create the initial offense. His shot mechanics are decent and he can score from a distance, but his frame and overall strength are not at a high enough level for him to consistently score from the crease area despite the fact he does attempt to do so. His hockey sense is solid and he is the kind of player who can really anticipate the flow of play in the offensive zone and always seems to find ways to be involved in the play despite the fact it doesn't look like he's doing much.

Projected Peak GVT: 4.6

Statistical Comparable: Jeff Heerema

86. Anton Zlobin, Right Wing, Shawinigan, QMJHL

Anton Zlobin turned some heads at the Under-17's last year, but a season below expectations in Shawinigan has somewhat hurt his stock. His skating is a solid tool, as he has a good first step and gets to a nice top speed. He has above-average puck skills and can distribute, protect the puck and make decent moves in open ice, although he has been a victim of doing too much with the puck. His shot tool is solid with good velocity and can score from mid-distances, although it can be kind of inaccurate. He's a fringe physical player, but despite the fact that he has a pretty strong lower base, he isn't involved in the physical play much. Zlobin's hockey sense is fringe, as his even-strength positioning isn't very refined, he takes off out of his own zone too quickly and he doesn't cover his assignments well. He also turns the puck over at a high rate. His work ethic is fine though and when the puck is near him he pressures the puck carrier well. He can also be somewhat effective on the penalty kill.

Projected Peak GVT: 3.2

Statistical Comparable: Daniel Goneau

87. Seth Griffith, Left Wing, London-OHL

Seth Griffith didn't really do much at the Under-18's playing a small amount of minutes, but his play in London—especially in the latter part of the year—got some attention . He's a pro-average skater whose top speed doesn't reach average, but he's agile, accelerates well, is elusive in open ice and also shows good lateral movement when he plays the point on the power play. His puck skills are solid to above-average, as Griffith can make good moves with the puck to create space for himself, and really excels as a distributor. His passes come off his stick quickly and he can make mid-distance distributions quite effectively. Griffith has a well below-average frame and despite the fact he forechecks and backchecks hard he's a very slight player who isn't that effective in the physical game. His hockey sense is solid, which is evident in how he controls the play so calmly yet reacts very well in tight situations. I don't think his offensive skills are enough to overcome the physical deficiencies, but he could be an energy guy if he puts on some more muscle and finds a way to survive in the pro game.

Projected Peak GVT: 3.8

Statistical Comparable: Mike Zigomanis

88. Dillon Simpson, Defense, North Dakota-WCHA

Dillon Simpson is a rare case of a 17-year-old defenseman getting significant playing time on a college powerhouse. Simpson is a solid to above-average passer and thinker who really flourishes when he has the puck on the power play. He shows good awareness with the puck, drawing coverage and threading the puck through lanes accurately while showing a bit of flash at times, as seeing him try a spin move to avoid pressure isn't out of the norm. He has two major holes in his game though as he has two sub-40 tools in his skating and physical game. On the latter, he is listed at around 6'2", 200 lbs. but he is definitely not within that barometer and he simply isn't effective along the walls. His skating tool lacks any sort of explosiveness, and he has a very sluggish stride. On the power play, Simpson can be a little one-dimensional too and his shot isn't really that much of a threat.

Projected Peak GVT: 6.1

Statistical Comparable: David Tanabe

89. Joachim Nermark, Center, Linkoping-SEL

Joachim Nermark exploded offensively in the summer Ivan Hlinka tournament and had a surging stock in the early months, but as the draft season progressed his performance left a lot to be desired, especially with how he did at the Under-18's. He's a pro-average skater, who moves pretty fluidly and has improved that aspect of his game from the previous season. He's solid on the puck, relying more on protection and passing skills than dekes, but does show a good move here and there. His offense is at its best when he has the puck, has time to see the ice and can make plays. His physical game is decent, and will be able to be average at that aspect at the highest level size-wise, and does display a good work ethic in the physical areas and staying tight on his check. Nermark's hockey sense though is fringe, and it really hurts his value. He disappears on the ice for stretches not for a lack of hustle, but just gets lost in the action. He makes poor decisions with the puck, often trying to do too much, and is often a victim of poor positioning. He has the skill to be one of the better forward prospects to come out of Europe this year, but the team that takes him will be going off tales of great performances and a hope of better things to come, because it looks like he has to run into the chances for his offense to take over.

Projected Peak GVT: 5.3

Statistical Comparable: Tommy Westlund

90. Travis Ewanyk, Center, Edmonton-WHL

Travis Ewanyk may not have put up the counting numbers this season in the WHL, but he has gotten praise for other areas of his game that could make him a productive player. Ewanyk skates at an average level, moving pretty fluidly and showing decent agility. His puck skills are fringe and likely will hold him back from ever being an offensive points producer. He is coordinated enough to bring the puck up on the rush, but is limited to a straight north-south type of game in that regard. He projects as a solid physical player, as he's the kind of forward who comes at defenders hard on the forecheck and is a pest to deal with in front of the net when he plants himself in front of the goalie. His frame also has a notable amount of muscle mass on it for a 1993 birthdate. Ewanyk thinks the game at a solid level, and shows a defensive game that is pretty advanced. He's good on draws, covers his assignments well, and is an absolute horse in terms of his work ethic from shift to shift which when combined with his skating and physical game allowed him to cover even the best WHL forwards and be an effective shutdown guy. He has the potential to be one of those forwards who takes a lot of defensive zone draws against top competition, and still manages to put up decent possession numbers.

Projected Peak GVT: 0.7

Statistical Comparable: Jerred Smithson

Corey Pronman is an author of Hockey Prospectus. You can contact Corey by clicking here or click here to see Corey's other articles.