A list of the top college prospects in this weekend’s NHL Draft in Toronto, and the Central Scouting Service’s report for each player.
RYAN WHITNEY
CSS Mid-season ranking: 4th
CSS Final ranking: 3rd
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
6-3 1/2, 202 lbs.
Defense, Shoots Left
Born: February 19, 1983
Ryan is a very strong skater with a long, smooth stride … has exceptional lateral mobility … possesses excellent passing and puck-handling skills … is very confident with the puck and has the ability to lead the offensive rush … has a low, hard shot from the point … an intelligent player with impressive hockey sense … anticipates the play very well and is very strong in one-on-one situations … has the ability to control the tempo of the game … has impressive strength and plays an aggressive game … an effective stick checker, utilizing his long reach … very strong along the boards and in front of the net … plays a very good positional game and can dominate the defensive zone … a tough competitor and consistent player.
CHRISTOPHER HIGGINS
CSS Mid-season ranking: 17th
CSS Final ranking: 9th
YALE UNIVERSITY
5-11, 192 lbs.
Center, Shoots Left
Born: June 2, 1983
A very good skater with a long smooth stride … impressive acceleration and can carry the puck at top-end speed … an intelligent player and creative playmaker … has very good hockey sense and sees the ice well … a confident and cool player who works well in pressure situations … has an excellent shot with a quick release … possesses strong puck-handling and passing skills … a natural scorer who displays good patience with the puck … a good competitor and a team leader … plays with an aggressive edge and is strong along the boards and in the corners … can deliver the big body check … will sacrifice himself to make the play.
JIM SLATER
CSS Mid-season ranking: 7th
CSS Final ranking: 11th
MICHIGAN STATE
6-0, 190 lbs.
Center, Shoots Left
Born: December 9, 1982
A very good skater with tremendous acceleration and impressive breakaway speed … is well-balanced and hard to knock off the puck … has good hockey sense and anticipates the play well … has a powerful and accurate shot … an effective two-way player who plays a solid positional game … has the ability to score the big goal … an abrasive player who thrives in a physical game … a tenacious forechecker who is very aggressive around the opposition’s net … a punishing body checker … a highly motivated player and an honest worker.
ERIC NYSTROM
CSS Mid-season ranking: 11th
CSS Final ranking: 13th
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
6′ 1″, 195 lbs.
Left Wing, Shoots Left
Born: February 14, 1983
A good skater with a smooth powerful stride … is strong on his skates and is hard to knock off his skates … has a hard wrist shot with a quick release … has a good scoring touch … a smart player with solid passing skills … a very good two-way player who knows his responsibilities and plays a sound positional game … effective in power play and penalty kill situations … an intelligent player with good hockey sense … plays aggressively along the boards and in the corners … stands his ground in front of the opposition’s net and will sacrifice himself to make the play … a reliable player and a tenacious forechecker.
ROB GLOBKE
CSS Mid-season ranking: 8th
CSS Final ranking: 14th
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
6-2, 200 lbs.
Center, Shoots Right
Born: October 24, 1982
A powerful skater with great acceleration … possesses natural scoring instincts … has an accurate shot with a quick release … has good puck-handling and passing skills … very effective on the power play and has the ability to make the big play … very good in one-on-one situations … has a good physical presence on the ice … has the ability to dominate and control the play when he takes advantage of his physical strength and size.
BARRY TALLACKSON
CSS Mid-season ranking: 27th
CSS Final ranking: 17th
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (WCHA)
6-4, 196 lbs.
Right Wing, Shoots Right
Born: April 14, 1983
Barry is a very strong skater with good speed and mobility for a player his size … has a hard wrist shot with a quick release and good scoring instincts … a tough player who is very effective in the corners and in front of the net … a power forward who drives hard to the net … a punishing body checker … is used in power play and penalty killing situations … needs to improve his consistency.
KEITH BALLARD
CSS Mid-season ranking: 19th
CSS Final ranking: 19th
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA (WCHA)
5-11, 196 lbs.
Defense, Shoots Left
Born: November 26, 1982
A well-balanced and agile skater with good speed … has strong puck-handling skills and likes to join the offensive attack … an excellent passer who sees the ice very well … has a good quick wrist shot and a heavy slap shot from the point … a gritty player and authoritative body checker … a tough competitor who plays an aggressive game … is very effective on the special teams … a very reliable player who is used in crucial situations … good at blocking shots and will sacrifice himself to make the play.
