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WINNIPEG - Winnipeg's NHL team has strong goaltending and a solid foundation of young players to build upon, but needs to add depth, particularly at the forward position, in order to be a surefire contender.
“This team has a core to build around but lacks the overall depth needed to carry them into a position to be a lock for a playoff spot in 2011-12,” said an NHL Eastern Conference pro scout.
“Free agency is key for them as they have limited depth in the minors. They are a team that could go either way in the next few years. Amateur scouting will be key.”
We asked our scout to assess the former Atlanta Thrashers roster and comment on each player who finished the 2010-11 season with the club.
He also provided an overall grade for each position, with the forwards scoring a B-minus and the defence and goaltending each rating Bs.
The scout ranked each of the team’s units in the top half of the league, with the goaltending coming in at ninth, the defence at 11th and the forwards at 14th.Bear in mind, this assessment comes before free agency and the roster is certain to change considerably before the puck drops at MTS Centre in the fall.
But this gives us an opportunity to see what this team has to offer and judging from our scout’s assessment, it should be a team that, at very least, is in the mix for a playoff spot.
FORWARDS
Nik Antropov
C, 31, Kazakhstan
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 76 | 16 | 25 | 41 | -17 | 42 |
| Career stats | 679 | 172 | 240 | 412 | +49 | 569 |
SCOUT SAYS: Top-6 skill. Crafty with the puck. Has a wow factor but consistency and game-by-game, shift-by-shift motivation is a problem. Possible PK guy. 2nd unit PP.
Eric Boulton
(UFA), LW, 34, Halifax, N.S.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 69 | 6 | 4 | 10 | +1 | 87 |
| Career stats | 549 | 27 | 46 | 73 | -18 | 1150 |
SCOUT SAYS: Role player who has a tough time and is hanging on at this level. The effort is always there but his skills and overall reads are not.
Alexander Burmistrov
C, 19, Russia
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 74 | 6 | 14 | 20 | -12 | 27 |
| Career stats | 74 | 6 | 14 | 20 | -12 | 27 |
SCOUT SAYS: Vision is good and he can set good layer passes and break through seams in the offensive zone. Sees the ice as a chess board. Good player who is destined for top-6 designation.
Patrice Cormier
C, 20, Moncton, N.B.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 4 |
| Career stats | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 4 |
SCOUT SAYS: Young player who seems to be figuring it out quickly. Has two gears and agility to go with puck skill. A good young prospect who can play now and will only get better.
Radek Dvorak
(UFA), RW, 34, Czech Republic
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 66 | 7 | 15 | 22 | +22 | 24 |
| Career stats | 1118 | 215 | 341 | 556 | +1 | 394 |
SCOUT SAYS: 3rd line piece who can skate. His stick is busy and he is capable at killing the odd penalty. He hasn’t found his stride here. Low-end, third-line skill guy. I wouldn’t have much interest.
Evander Kane
LW, 19, Vancouver, B.C.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 73 | 19 | 24 | 43 | -12 | 68 |
| Career stats | 139 | 33 | 36 | 69 | -10 | 130 |
SCOUT SAYS: Hasn’t reached his full potential yet. On-ice demeanour and attitude are improving. Has a good touch and finish and is dangerous in the offensive zone with room to shoot. Is getting stronger. Top-6 with special team attributes.
Andrew Ladd
(RFA), LW, 25, Maple Ridge, B.C.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 81 | 29 | 30 | 59 | -10 | 39 |
| Career stats | 402 | 92 | 116 | 208 | +32 | 219 |
SCOUT SAYS: Has surprised of late with his attention to details and ability to get into open ice for scoring positions. Intelligence drives his game. Good second-line player.
Bryan Little
C, 23, Edmonton, Alta.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 76 | 18 | 30 | 48 | +11 | 33 |
| Career stats | 282 | 68 | 81 | 149 | -2 | 95 |
SCOUT SAYS: Has the speed and aptitude of a decent second-line player. He is a puck carrier but doesn’t really have high-end puck skill. Puck finds him.
Ben Maxwell
C, 23, North Vancouver, B.C.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -7 | 9 |
| Career stats | 32 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -10 | 17 |
SCOUT SAYS: Has the overall look and skill of a future NHL regular. He has the skill but has a tough time with the speed of the NHL. Still a prospect who could likely find a home on a team’s bottom 6. Similar to Brett MacLean in that regard. Heady type who relies on his crafty puck skill. Should have a chance to make this club.
Rob Schremp
(RFA), C, 24, Fulton, N.Y.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 63 | 13 | 13 | 26 | -20 | 16 |
| Career stats | 114 | 20 | 34 | 54 | -23 | 26 |
SCOUT SAYS: Individual puck skill is top end. Not a great sense of the game and his overall IQ is not there. Minor leaguer.
Jim Slater
C, 28, Lapeer, Mich.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 36 | 5 | 7 | 12 | +4 | 19 |
| Career stats | 371 | 47 | 53 | 100 | +4 | 280 |
SCOUT SAYS: Skates well, good energy player with secondary scoring potential. Good at both ends of the ice.
Tim Stapleton
C, 28, Forest Park, Ill.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 45 | 5 | 2 | 7 | -10 | 12 |
| Career stats | 55 | 8 | 2 | 10 | -12 | 14 |
SCOUT SAYS: No report.
Anthony Stewart
(RFA), RW, 26, La Salle, Que.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 80 | 14 | 25 | 39 | -10 | 55 |
| Career stats | 185 | 18 | 33 | 51 | -14 | 93 |
SCOUT SAYS: Top-6 skill. Crafty with the puck. Has a wow factor but consistency and game-by-game, shift-by-shift motivation is a problem. Possible PK guy. 2nd unit PP.
Chris Thorburn
RW, 28, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 82 | 9 | 10 | 19 | -4 | 77 |
| Career stats | 354 | 28 | 43 | 71 | -12 | 438 |
SCOUT SAYS: Tries to play the heavy but doesn’t see much respect from opponents in that category. Fourth-line role type who has limited hockey IQ. Acquired taste.
Blake Wheeler
(RFA), RW, 24, Robbinsdale, Minn.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 81 | 18 | 26 | 44 | +10 | 46 |
| Career stats | 244 | 57 | 70 | 127 | +42 | 145 |
SCOUT SAYS: I have always questioned the attitude. Skill is there. Has a decent touch on the puck but is limited in physical battles. An underachiever who is a risky signing. If he puts it all together he could be a decent 2nd liner. I don’t see him getting there.
FORWARDS OVERALL GRADE: B- or 14th in league
DEFENCE
Zach Bogosian
(RFA), 20, Massena, N.Y.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 71 | 5 | 12 | 17 | -27 | 29 |
| Career stats | 199 | 24 | 35 | 59 | -34 | 137 |
SCOUT SAYS: Poised for long term success as a 2nd set hybrid-type. Physicality is ahead of schedule. Offensive attributes will come. Top 4 piece on any team.
Dustin Byfuglien
26, Minneapolis, Minn.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 81 | 20 | 33 | 53 | -2 | 93 |
| Career stats | 341 | 75 | 87 | 162 | -17 | 361 |
SCOUT SAYS: Unique blend of power and skill. Bomb of a shot. Decent two-way player who has many diverse attributes. Foundation is there to build around.
Tobias Enstrom
26, Sweden
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 72 | 10 | 41 | 51 | -10 | 54 |
| Career stats | 318 | 25 | 145 | 171 | -6 | 178 |
SCOUT SAYS: Originally anticipated as a one-way type puck rusher who has added stability to his game in his own end. Two-way defenceman who is a threat in open ice. Skating is refined. A good piece on any team.
Johnny Oduya
29, Sweden
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 82 | 2 | 15 | 17 | -15 | 22 |
| Career stats | 382 | 20 | 76 | 96 | +36 | 189 |
SCOUT SAYS: Good hockey IQ, in his own zone in particular. Has the size and uses it well. Especially good at puck-tracking in his zone and can kill penalties.
Ron Hainsey
30, Bolton, Conn.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 82 | 3 | 16 | 19 | +3 | 24 |
| Career stats | 488 | 34 | 135 | 169 | -30 | 238 |
SCOUT SAYS: Has a fair bit to offer at both ends. Agility is there. He skates pretty well but top-end speed is average. Intelligence gets him out of many situations. First pass is usually good.
Freddy Meyer
(UFA) 30, Sanbornville, N.H.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -7 | 8 |
| Career stats | 281 | 20 | 53 | 73 | -20 | 155 |
SCOUT SAYS: Low-end piece who has likely peaked and would offer up as a 6-7 guy. Skill is still there. On the gradual decline.
Mark Stuart
27, Rochester, Minn.
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | |
| 2010-11 | 54 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 47 |
| Career stats | 306 | 14 | 27 | 41 | +29 | 308 |
SCOUT SAYS: Power type who is a low-end 5, more of a pretty steady 6. Defensive zone play is safe. A piece here, but hard to see him as a top-8 asset.
DEFENCE OVERALL GRADE: B or 11th in league
GOALIES
Chris Mason
35, Red Deer, Alta.
| GP | W | L | SOL | SO | GAA | SV% | |
| 2010-11 | 33 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 3.39 | .892 |
| Career stats | 286 | 128 | 99 | 30 | 21 | 21 | .911 |
SCOUT SAYS: OK backup who can give you performance at a decent price. He carries his glove hand low and it hurts him at times. Average with the puck. Doesn’t roam a lot and plays it pretty safe. Top one-third of backups in the league.
Ondrej Pavelec
23, Czech Republic
| GP | W | L | SOL | SO | GAA | SV% | |
| 2010-11 | 58 | 21 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 2.73 | .914 |
| Career stats | 119 | 41 | 51 | 16 | 6 | 3.03 | .908 |
SCOUT SAYS: Bona fide starter. Has the quick extensions that give him the ability to sit back a little more than most. Agility is an asset.
GOALIES OVERALL GRADE: B or 9th in league