NHL Draft Watch 2012: Right Wing

This piece is on those Right Wingers who will probably be available by the time the Stars pick in the first round. Each player’s name is linked to their Elite Prospects page. The rankings I am using are the latest that have been published by those scouting groups.

Colton Sissons

Age: 18

Height: 6”0

Weight: 172lbs

Nationality: Canadian

Shoots: Right

Current Team: Kelowna Rockets

Current League: WHL

Current Stats: 41 Games, 21 Goals, 9 Assists, 30 Points, 41PIM, -15

Rankings:

CSS Midterm: 14th in North America

Future Considerations: 24th

THG: Honourable Mention – NR

ISS: 25th

Colton Sissons is the Captain of the Kelowna Rockets and moulds his game to the style of Ryan Getzlaf. Colton Sissons plays a high tempo game of hockey has excellent vision, excellent hockey IQ and good skating skills. In previous seasons he has been noted for his two way game, however with a -15 rating it is questionable whether this is the case. He is the highest ranking WHL forward on the CSS Midterm list. As a piece of trivia Jamie Benn played for the Kelowna Rockets when he played in the WHL.

Video of a Short Handed Goal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u-R7nmf8v8&feature=related

Not afraid to stand up for his team mates:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcMI0JFyza0

Sebastian Collberg

Age: 17

Height: 5”11

Weight: 174lbs

Nationality: Swedish

Shoots: Right

Current Team: Frölunda J20/Frölunda:

Current League: SuperElit/Elitserien

Current Stats:

Frölunda J20: 14 Games, 4 Goals, 5 Assists, 9 Points, 14 PIMs

Frölunda: 25 Games, 0 Points.

Rankings:

CSS Midterm: 2nd in Europe

Future Considerations: 11th

THG: 11th

ISS: 15th

Sebastian Collberg is a very skilled forward and doesn’t shy away from contact. However he doesn’t have the best stature to endure the kind of physicality that occurs in North America. He needs to work on his two way game but has elite scoring abilities. However his effectiveness when playing against bigger/more physical is questionable. He is current playing in the Elitserien and has been held pointless for 25 games played. It would appear his lack of size and strength is a serious problem at the top level leagues at this moment in time. In the WJC he had 7 points in 6 games.

Nice Shootout move:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MonKfWrztvg

Martin Frk

Age: 18

Height: 6”0

Weight: 201lbs

Nationality: Czech

Shoots: Right

Current League: QMJHL

Current Time: Halifax Mooseheads

Current Stats: 10 Games, 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 3 Points, 8 PIMs, -11

2010-2011 Stats: 62 Games, 22 Goals, 28 Assists, 50 Points, 75PIMs, -14

Rankings:

CSS Midterm: 25th in North America

Future Considerations: 20th

THG: 20th

ISS: 17th

Martin Frk was considered a potential elite forward when entering this season, however he has caught the plague of injuries that have effected this years draft class. He is a typical power forward with natural strength who needs to work on his two way game. He is a good skater but by no means the best along with excellent hockey vision and a killer instinct. He is also a bit of a chirper.

Shoot out goal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljodJR2qHSM

Age: 17

Height: 5”11

Weight: 165lbs

Nationality: Finnish

Shoots: Right

Current League: SM Liiga/Jr A SM Liiga

Current Team: Jokerit/Jokerit J20

Current Stats:

Jokerit: 18 Games, 4 Goals, 2 Assist, 6 Points, -5

Jokerit J20: 11 Games, 12 Goals, 8 Assists, 20 Points

Rankings:

CSS Midterm: 7th In Europe

Future Considerations: NR

THG: 24th

ISS: NR

Teuvo Teräväinen is a good playmaker and has good puck handling skills. He is however quite small and has been doing well in the SM Liiga considering his lack of size compared to some of those he will be playing against. He has exceptional hockey vision and could be one of the first Finnish players to be drafted in this years draft.

Goal Video, also as a point of interest it is very clear from this video how much smaller he is compared to the other players on the ice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6YDh1a_J0M

Age: 18

Height: 6”4

Weight: 194lbs

Nationality: Canadian

Shoots: Right

Current League: OHL

Current Team: Plymouth Whalers

Current Stats: 33 Games, 5 Goals, 11 Assists, 16 Points, 94PIMs, +14

Rankings:

CSS Midterm: 33rd In North America

Future Considerations: 26th

THG: Honourable Mention

ISS: 27th

Tom Wilson is a hard hitting power forward who can find the net. His physicality cannot be understated and he is a force along the boards and in front of the net. From looking for videos of his play its clear that he doesn’t score highlight reel goals but he can get them into the net. Looking at his +/- numbers he clearly has a good two way game. He has good skating and with the room to become even more of a physical force Tom Wilson could be one to keep an eye on in the future if he makes it to the NHL.

Goal from Ivan Hilka Tournament: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrcFRKi19Us

Tom Wilson hit then fight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZGqTEMuzZQ&feature=related

My Opinion

Of the five listed I think only three are potential picks for the Stars, Colton Sissons, Martin Frk and Tom Wilson. Sebastian Collberg and Teuvo Teräväinen are good players however looking at the Stars Draft History we have developed a trend of picking bigger more physical players. Collberg and Teräväinen are too small and slight to fit into that category. That being said Colton Sissons is also borderline on that issue. I personally think that there would be better players available by the time we draft than Tom Wilson and Martin Frk. Colton Sissons would be the most likely candidate for us to draft. However in my opinion all three would end up being good prospects for the Stars.