Over the past month we here at Defending Big D have been getting fans of the Dallas Stars ready for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by offering a series of prospect profiles. With the Stars possessing two 1st round selections this year (at 3rd and 29th overall), there have been a lot of names to discuss.
Now, however, we’re going to start digging a little deeper and take a look at players that Stars fans should watch out for in the other rounds. The worst kept secret about drafting and development in the NHL is that the most successful organizations regularly uncover talent outside of the 1st round. Every pick has value and can be turned into NHL talent, given that the team making the selection did their due diligence with scouting.
Today we’ll focus on Dallas’ 2nd round pick (39th overall), and in the next two weeks there will be additional articles about the rounds to follow.
So, why were these upcoming six prospects in particular chosen for this spotlight? The Stars currently have the following needs in their prospect system that should be priorities to address this draft:
- A goalie with high potential to be a starter
- Creative, playmaking forwards that can excel on the powerplay
- Dynamic, game-breaking forwards at even strength.
- Left-shot defensemen with Top 4 upside/
(For further reading, feel free to check out the March 2017 edition of the Defending Big D Prospect Rankings.)
Important note: these views are entirely my own, developed through personal scouting, research, and analysis of the team’s prospect pool. I have no first-hand or insider knowledge about which players the Stars are actually targeting for this pick.
While there’s no guarantee that any of these players will still be available at 39th overall (the draft is always full of surprises), they have ultimately been chosen based on an accumulation of various rankings and recent league-wide draft trends that suggest a high likelihood that they will still be around.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some notable individuals.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan – Center – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Anderson-Dolan was rocketing up draft boards over the last few months of the 2016-17 regular season and got rewarded for his hard work by being named captain of the Canadian team at the IIHF U18s. He hit a roadblock there, however, as he went pointless in five games while Canada failed to medal. That might keep him from getting selected in the 1st round, but nevertheless, he remains a compelling forward prospect. He possesses keen offensive instincts, a phenomenal work ethic and a lethal wrist shot, a combination that helped him generate 39 goals this season in the WHL.
Jesper Boqvist – Left Wing – Brynäs (SHL)
When it comes to raw, unbridled offensive talent, there aren’t very many prospects in this draft that can do the things with a puck that Boqvist does. He displays great speed, fast hands and an elusiveness that seems to come naturally to him, making him hard to strip of the puck. When he gets into a dangerous area he’s equally capable of doing damage by setting up a scoring play or finishing it himself with a decisive, accurate flick of his stick. Needs a lot of work with his consistency and defensive play, but he could have a sky-high ceiling for a team that’s willing to develop him patiently.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph – Defense – Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
There is no shortage of things to like about Joseph’s game, and that is going to draw him some heavy attention from teams come draft weekend. A two-way, puck-moving defenseman, he is a quick skater that moves his feet well and can cover a lot of ground with his long strides. He keeps pucks in at the blueline and gets a lot of power behind his shots. Coaches and scouts rave about his hockey sense and work ethic. He just got better and better all year, and considering he’s currently 6’2” and only 163 pounds, there’s ample reason to believe his improvement will continue. Enormous upside.
Antoine Morand – Center – Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
Some clubs might gloss over Morand because he’s only 5’10”, but they’d be missing out on a prospect that has the potential to be a serious difference-maker at the NHL level. He’s quite strong and thick for a small player and not afraid to go to the dirty areas, often with the puck on his stick. Where he does his best work, however, is from the wall. He uses his hands and his smarts to separate from defenders, scanning the play in front of him before threading picture-perfect passes to open teammates. Add in some exceptional vision and creativity and you have a valuable addition to any powerplay.
Keith Petruzelli – Goaltender – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Measuring in at a massive 6’5”, Petruzelli naturally covers a lot of net simply by just being in his crease. Don’t be fooled, though: he’s more than just a big body, as he also plays the position well. Stays square and relies primarily on his size to let pucks hit him, as he should, but isn’t afraid to shoot out a leg or his glove to make a save. Tracks the play well and actively follows it around with his body. Has a methodical focus to his game that usually takes longer to develop. Hasn’t played a lot the last two years, but his size, athleticism and composure are all highly important attributes for goalies.
Robin Salo – Defense – Sport (Liiga)
Salo is the type of defenseman that you really have to pay close attention to notice because he plays such a simple, mistake-free game. A defender in the mold of someone like Marc-Edouard Vlasic or Dan Hamhuis, he quietly goes about his business disrupting opposing chances in his own zone by using proper positioning and a good stick, before then turning the puck back up ice with a smart first pass. Logged 20:23 per game in 2016-17, second-most on his team, while playing in Finland’s top league. A safe bet to have a long, reliable NHL career even if his ceiling likely isn’t on a team’s top pair.