Five to Watch at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Simon Després of the Saint John Sea Dogs is the top-rated QMJHL prospect and CHL defenceman heading into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on Friday June 26, 2009, at 7:00 pm at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Here are another five top-rated CHL players that all competed at the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
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Simon Després– Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Hometown: Laval, QC
D.O.B: July 27, 1991
Ht: 6’4 Wt: 214 Shoots: L
Rank: 8
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Simon Després scored two goals and 30 assists for 32 points in 66 games for the Sea Dogs. He was selected first overall by the Sea Dogs at the 2007 QMJHL Entry Draft and was named to the rookie all-star team last season. He was recognized as the QMJHL Defensive Player of the Week in November and later participated in the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge for the second straight season. He competed with Team Canada as an assistant captain at the 2009 World Under-18 Hockey Championships and won gold at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He has also represented his home province of Quebec most recently at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
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“I think for a potential pro player, he’s got the size and mobility. I’ve seen him many games, and he never seems to make a bad play. He’s never going to get 100 points, but definitely, when you want a guy to play defense, he’s your guy. He does it all, he’ll block shots and he moves the puck at the right time.” – NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Bordeleau.
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Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Simon Després.
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Jared Cowen – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Hometown: Allan, SK
D.O.B: January 25, 1991
Ht: 6’5 Wt: 218 Shoots: L
Rank: 9
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Jared Cowen scored seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 48 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Cowen was the first overall selection of the Chiefs at the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft. He scored 18 points as a 16-year-old rookie and helped Spokane win a 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup. That season he was also named the Western Conference Scholastic Player of the Year. He competed at the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge and the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament winning gold with Canada. Prior to that he won a bronze medal with Team West at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and played for Team Saskatchewan at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
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“Jared Cowen made his name last year as a Memorial Cup winning member of the Spokane Chiefs and the comparisons that were thrown around at that time were that of Zdeno Chara. Physically he looks big, strong and rangy. Offensively he has that kind of contribution and if he, despite the pressure that we are putting on him, blossoms into half the player that Chara is he is going to be a solid NHL player for years to come.” – Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J McGuire.
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Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Jared Cowen.
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Carter Ashton – Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Hometown: Saskatoon, SK
D.O.B: April 1, 1991
Ht: 6’4 Wt: 212 Shoots: L
Rank: 12
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Carter Ashton scored 30 goals and 20 assists for 50 points in 70 games. His 30 goals led the Hurricanes with 10 scored on the power play. He scored his first WHL career hat-trick November 16 as first star of a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings. Ashton won a gold medal with Canada at the 2008 Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He also won bronze with Team West at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and played for his home province of Saskatchewan at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.
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“Carter is a solid prototypical power forward; he knows the game and really is astute at the power-play and penalty kill, offensive and defensive parts of his game. He has been complimented for being hockey smart, perhaps the savvy coming from his dad who played 998 games in the NHL.” – Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J McGuire.
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Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Carter Ashton.
Nazem Kadri – London Knights (OHL)
Hometown: London, ON
D.O.B: October 6, 1990
Ht: 6’0 Wt: 180 Shoots: L
Rank: 15
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Nazem Kadri finished second in Knights scoring behind John Tavares with 25 goals and 53 assists for 78 points in 56 games. In 24 of those games Kadri recorded multi-point efforts. He also added 21 points in 14 playoff games. He was named the second best stick-handler in the OHL’s Western Conference Coaches Poll. He was named to the Team OHL roster for the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge and competed as a member of the Western Conference All-Stars at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic. Last season he competed in the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup as a member of the Kitchener Rangers.
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“He’s big, lanky and skilled. He uses his size to accentuate his puck skills. Size, reach, stick handling ability, those long kinds of stick movements that Mario (Lemieux) used to make, like (Vincent) Lecavalier makes.” – Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J McGuire.
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Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Nazem Kadri.
Ryan Ellis – Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Hometown: Freelton, ON
D.O.B: January 3, 1991
Ht: 5’9 Wt: 183 Shoots: R
Rank: 16
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Ryan Ellis scored 22 goals and 67 assists for 89 points in 57 games to lead all OHL defencemen in scoring. He also recorded a plus-minus rating of plus-52. His 31 playoff points led the Spitfires to an OHL Championship and Ellis added four points in six games capturing the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup title. Ellis was named the OHL’s Defenceman of the Year after winning Defenceman of the Month honours three out of a possible six times this season. OHL coaches recognized Ellis as having the hardest shot, being the smartest player, and the best offensive defenceman in the Western Conference. He was part of the gold medal winning Team Canada at the World Junior Championships this winter and also competed at the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge and the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic.
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“He’s a really smart, heady defenseman. His puck movement is excellent and the way he moves the puck around the zone is excellent. He’s a real high-end offensive guy. He’s got a great shot and he gets it through to the net. A lot of guys have their shots blocked, but he’s got a real knack for getting it through, and that leads to a lot of tip-in and rebound goals. He’s a smaller guy, but he’s not afraid of taking the body. He shows no fear of getting involved in scrums, he’s not intimidated.” – NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards.
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Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Ryan Ellis.
Photo of Simon Despres by Aaron Bell/CHL