NHL Draft Profiles: Incoming Forwards

Wisconsin recruit Turris, UNH's van Riemsdyk lead the way

History Analysis: Stats Table | Overview | Drafting College Players | Early Signings
Olshansky: Feeling The Draft From Miles Away
Starman: College Well Represented in Draft
Player Profiles: Dion Knelsen, Alaska | Ben Smith, Boston College | Billy Sweatt, Colorado College
Player Capsules: Incoming Forwards | Incoming Defensemen/Goaltenders | Current Collegians
Recruit Profiles: BC's Petrecki & BU's Cohen | UNH's van Riemsdyk & Wisconsin's Turris
Draft Day: American Dreams Realized | Getting Schooled | Who Says You Can't Go Home? | A Golden Day

June 22, 2007

Compiled by CSTV.com Staff

Below are the top 10 forwards in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft - as ranked by Hockey's Future - who will play college hockey as freshmen in the 2007-08 season. All rankings are among North American skaters.

Kyle Turris, Wisconsin (Burnaby Express, BCHL)

Height: 6'½"

Weight: 170 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 1

2006-07 Stats: 121 points (66 goals, 55 assists) in 53 games

Matt McInnis, Hockey's Future: "Turris is a dynamic player with all around great offensive skills. He skates well, handles the puck well and has an extremely accurate shot. He is dangerous every time he touches the puck in the offensive zone and he's willing to take the shot himself or set up a teammate. He has very good endurance and knows how to avoid getting hit. He will need to put on some muscle to help deal with the increased physical play at higher levels."

James van Riemsdyk, New Hampshire (U.S. National Team Development Program)

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 200 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 3

2006-07 Stats: 63 points (33g, 30a) in 42 games

Sean Ruck, Hockey's Future: "Van Riemsdyk is a big powerful winger who brings good speed to the table. He is a very complete talent and should be a top-5 pick in the draft."

Max Pacioretty, Michigan (Sioux City Musketeers, USHL)

Height: 6'1½"

Weight: 203 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 16

2006-07 Stats: 63 points (21g, 42a) in 60 games

Mike Hoeffel, Minnesota (U.S. National Team Development Program)

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 186 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 22

2006-07 Stats: 23 points (16g, 7a) in 44 games

Sean Ruck, Hockey's Future: "Hoeffel has a tremendous offensive upside. He can use his size to his advantage when he crashes the net."

Patrick White, Minnesota (Tri-City Storm, USHL)

Height: 6'½"

Weight: 186 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 23

2006-07 Stats: 9 points (8g, 1a) in 12 games

Ben Ryan, Notre Dame (Des Moines Buccaneers, USHL)

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 190 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 37

2006-07 Stats: 64 points (22g, 42a) in 59 games

Brad Malone, North Dakota (Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL)

Height: 6'1½"

Weight: 207 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 57

2006-07 Stats: 33 points (14g, 19a) in 57 games

Dave Starman, CSTV: "Brad's cousin, the Pittsburgh Penguins' Ryan Malone, worked as hard as any player I've ever been around, and I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say that Brad's just as competitive as the rest of the Malones."

Riley Nash, Cornell (Salmon Arm Silverbacks, BCHL)

Height: 6'¾"

Weight: 175 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 64

2006-07 Stats: 84 points (38g, 46a) in 55 games

Matt MacInnis, Hockey's Future: "He lists his favorite player as Steve Yzerman, which is quite fitting because Nash has a very good, but not flashy, offensive game and is reliable in every part of the rink. In addition to having the ability to stickhandle past opponents, Nash has a sound puck possession and cycling game. He will need to bulk up if he's going to be as effective along the boards at higher levels of competition. His size, however, is the only impediment at this point between a future career. He is a complete player."

Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Michigan Tech (Merritt Centennials, BCHL)

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 205 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 75

2006-07 Stats: 116 points (51g, 65a)

Matt MacInnis, Hockey's Future: "He's a big body with very, very good scoring abilities. Pierro-Zabotel is a pure finisher who rarely fails to convert on a chance within 10 feet. In some ways he compares to Tomas Holmstrom in the sense that he's willing to take some punishment in front of the net and he is very much an opportunist. He won't create many chances himself, but he will take advantage of them when they come along. His acceleration definitely needs improvement, although his all-around mobility is good enough to get by on with what he does on the ice. Defensively he's weak, but that aspect of his game can be rounded out in the future."

Paul Thompson, New Hampshire (New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, EJHL)

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 210 pounds

NHL Central Scouting Rank: 78

2006-07 Stats: 83 points (45g, 38a) in 44 games