Calgary, AB –Leading up to the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, California on June 25, WHL.ca and WHL Web TV, will highlights six WHL players who are highly ranked by NHL Central Scouting leading into the draft.  This week’s featured WHL player is Portland Winterhawks rookie forward Ryan Johansen.

CLICK HERE for Ryan Johansen goal highlights from the 2009-10 season.

Ryan Johansen – Portland Winterhawks

 

Hometown: Port Moody, B.C.

D.O.B: July 31, 1992

Ht: 6’ 3”

Wt: 192

WHL Bantam Draft: 2007, 7^th rd, 150^th overall

C.C.S Rank: 10^th among domestic skaters.

 

Ryan Johansen completed his rookie season in the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winterhawks, helping the team to a 48-point improvement in the standings from the previous season. The 17-year-old Port Moody, B.C. product finished second among all WHL rookies in points with 69, and tied for second in assists with 44 in 71 games this season.

 

Johansen joined the Winterhawks for the 2009-10 season and played a huge role in the revival of the Portland franchise. A big-bodied center, Johansen is an elite-level playmaker with great vision, great hands and terrific passing skills. His big frame and long arms enable him to protect the puck extremely well, and his ability to change pace makes him an elusive player for defensemen to corral. His intelligence and vision make him particularly effective on the power play. The former 7^th-round WHL Bantam Draft pick also has the puckhandling skills and soft hands to beat defenders one-on-one, and a strong and accurate shot to make him a scoring threat.

 

“He’s a big two-way centerman with really good passing skills and great vision,” said Winterhawks’ head coach and general manager Mike Johnston. “He’s a player that can do a little bit of everything for you…he can kill penalties, he can work a power play, he’s good defensively and he can create offense.

 

“He came in this year and I saw he was confident that he was capable of playing at the WHL level, and that confidence never wavered…he was very consistent right through the season for us,” said Johnston.

 

Johansen played last season for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, scoring five goals and 17 points in 47 games as a 16-year-old before making the jump to the WHL this year.

 

Although he hasn’t yet suited up for Team Canada at any level, Johansen did play in the Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game in Windsor, ON, in January.

 

Did you know…Johansen models his game after San Jose Sharks’ center Joe Thornton.

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Future WHL.ca 2010 NHL Top Prospect Profiles

May 27 – Nino Niederreiter, Portland, CLICK HERE
June 3 – Ryan Johansen, Portland
June 10 – Calvin Pickard, Seattle
June 17 – Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat
June 23 – Mark Pysyk, Edmonton
June 24 – Brett Connolly, Prince George
June 25 – 2010 NHL Draft