Richards Rated #3 In CHL

Courtesy of Prospects Hockey

In early January, 18 members of the hockey community – scouts, media and coaches – were contacted and asked if they would like to serve on the panel for Prospects Hockey inaugural rankings issue.

The intention was to give our readers a good cross-section of the Canadian Hockey League’s best players ranked in a pecking order by those whose job it is to keep track of the CHL’s 56 teams. In the end, 15 of 18 responded, with one panelist – an NHL scout – doing so under the condition he remain anonymous.

Our panel was provided a provisional list of 20 defencemen, 45 forwards and eight goaltenders, spread evenly across the CHL’s three member leagues. Based on the level of national and regional exposure of the players on the provisional list, it was decided that the top five “national” players would be ranked, followed by a top 10 for each league. This method arrived at the final Top 35 declared in the pages that follow.

Panelists voted by grading a player from 0.5 to 5 in each of five categories.

1. Game-breaking ability/skill level

2. Physical tools

3. Two-way game

4. How they project as a professional

5. Intangible elements

Within those categories, panelists were asked to keep a few things in mind. The first was “two-way game,” which was meant to both reward and penalize in equal measure, for both forwards and defencemen. In other words, a prolific scorer who was regarded as a defensive liability would be heavily deducted in this category. Conversely, if a player was deemed to be quite adept in his own zone, while also being able to contribute offensively, he was given high grades. For goaltenders, their ability to handle the puck was substituted in this category.

Second was “intangibles,” where panelists were asked to grade players based directly on how they compared them to others on the list. Other factors like leadership and character were also to be applied in this category.

The maximum marks a player could score was 25. Panelists were asked to reserve a “full” grading in each category only for players they felt were on par with “superstar” status. For players deemed a “4,” the guideline of consistent league All-Star and/or world junior player was provided as a benchmark. Marks were to be applied in descending order down to 0.5.

The Rules

Panelists were asked to vote only on players whom they had seen in person. In the case of players whom panelists had seen in action on television – including the World Junior Championship – gradings were allowed to be cast, but they were counted at only half the rate of a “full” grading. In the end, most panelists voted only on players whom they had seen in person. In the rare cases where “half” marks were counted, they tended to reflect the voting of the panel as a whole.

The Panel

Rob Andrusevich, Lucas Aykroyd, Mike Davies, Darren Desaulniers, Scott Fisher, Dave Gross, Jim Hulton, Joey Kenward, Mike Koreen, Terry Koshan, Marc Lachapelle, Greg Meacham, Willy Palov, Tim Wharnsby

1. Dion Phaneuf – Defence, Red Deer Rebels

NHL Status: Calgary’s first-round pick (12th overall) 2003 Entry Draft

When the Calgary Flames nabbed Phaneuf in last year’s NHL Entry Draft, GM/coach Darryl Sutter knew he had a special player. Based on Phaneuf’s progression during the 2003–04 WHL season, and his performance with the Canadian team at the World Junior Championship in Finland, the Edmonton native could be making his Flames debut as early as next fall, barring an NHL lockout. Phaneuf is a force at both ends of the ice, punishing opponents who stray in the Red Deer zone, while contributing offensively as well. He used all his impressive talents in Finland, earning a spot on the WJC All-Star Team. One of our panelists, a veteran of many World Junior tournaments dating back to the early 90s, called Phaneuf the most dominating blueliner he had ever seen at the event.

2. Sidney Crosby – Forward, Rimouski Oceanic

NHL Status: Eligible 2005

They’ve mentioned Sidney Crosby’s name in the same breath as Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux since he was just 14 years old. The Great One himself even anointed Crosby as a possible “Next One” last summer. The 16-year-old centre for the Rimouski Oceanic has done nothing to prove him wrong since. The Cole Harbour, N.S., native is running away with the QMJHL scoring title in his rookie season, and he became the youngest player ever to record a point at the World Junior Championship. He is a virtual lock to go No. 1 overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

3. Michael Richards – Forward, Kitchener Rangers

NHL Status: Philadelphia’s first-round pick (24th overall) 2003 Entry Draft

Memorial Cup winner, first-round NHL pick, first-round OHL pick, silver-medal-winning Canadian junior player and gold-medal-winning under-18 Canadian player. What does Michael Richards put at the top of his resumé? His ability to play at both ends of the ice. “A big part of the game, especially in the NHL, is an emphasis on two-way centres,” said Richards, who won the Memorial Cup with the Rangers in 2003 (see photo). “Throughout my junior career I have tried to be a good two-way player and be relied upon in both ends of the ice.” Richards’s well-rounded ability, including being equally adept on both the penalty kill and the power play, is why so many hockey people see a bright future for him in the professional ranks.

4. Braydon Coburn – Defence, Portland Winter Hawks

NHL Status: Atlanta’s first-round pick (eighth overall) 2003 Entry Draft

Coburn is perhaps the true sleeper of the outstanding draft class from 2003. Although other players got more attention from that crop, our panel’s ranking of Coburn at No. 4 across the CHL shows how well regarded the towering blueliner is by hockey insiders. At 65 and almost 200 pounds, Coburn is a towering presence at the back end and can move the puck up the ice in impressive fashion. Many observers believe his game is more suited to the professional ranks, which often draws comparisons to NHLers Chris Pronger and Jay Bouwmeester. Already flush with good skills, if Coburn develops more of a mean streak, he will become an elite NHL defenceman.

5. Jeff Carter – Forward, Soo Greyhounds

NHL Status: Philadelphia’s first-round pick (11th overall) 2003 Entry Draft

Jeff Carter is such a good skater with a powerful stride, he can beat even the best defenceman with a burst of speed. Over the past 18 months, Carter has developed more than any other top-tier CHL forward. Already an underrated playmaker who uses his long reach effectively, particularly in traffic, Carter could become unstoppable once he fills out his 63, 185-pound frame. His quick-release, combined with his adept ability at tipping shots in front of the net, illustrate his offensive upside. The native of London, Ont., comes from good pedigree as his father, Jim, played for the Oshawa Generals in the mid-1970s.