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Top Five Canadian Prospects of the WHL |
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The Canadians of the WHL ended up winning the vote so here it is. The WHL has become in my mind one of the strongest leagues in junior and has been a big producer of top Canadian talent for a long time...hell it might even have taken over the OHL in that regard. It’s known for producing great defensemen, and that tradition has continued. As always this list only contains Canadian players, no goalies, no 2013/2014 draft eligible players and doesn’t include those who have played over 50 NHL games. This one was extremely difficult; the WHL just has so many great players that a top thirty would still be hard to do it justice.
1. Matt Dumba Defenseman (7th Overall 2012) 18 Years Old, Red Deer Rebels WHL, Property of the Minnesota Wild
I have Dumba at one because I think his skill set is very rare and that he has massive upside. Dumba combines amazing speed, great offensive instincts with a love of massive open ice hits. He has one of the deadliest shots in the CHL and gets power and speed behind it. He’s a decent playmaker as well, but it’s the shot that makes him a master of the PP. His physical brand of hockey is excellent and he gives some highlight reel hits. Defensively he still needs some work. He’s a willing player and his speed is very noticeable when getting back. His main issue is his decision making. He’s been prone to bad pinches and baffling decisions every now and then. It isn’t a big issue, just something that makes you cringe in what is otherwise a very well rounded game. Hell, he pretty much led his team in scoring. He’s also been known to be a good leader. If he was 6’3 instead of 5’11 he would have given Yakupov a serious run for his money for 1st overall.
Potential: Top Pairing Scoring Defenseman
Comparable: Dion Phaneuf with better foot speed
2. Morgan Rielly Defenseman (5th Overall 2012) 18 Years Old, Moose Jaw Warriors WHL, Property of the Toronto Maple Leafs
Rielly is known mostly for Burke’s gaff about having him as their number one choice, but he’s the best prospect the Leafs have seen in a long bloody time. He’s one of the smoothest skaters around and glides around the ice effortlessly. He brings elite offensive prowess from the backend and runs a PP like a champ. He thinks the game very well and has great passing skills. He’s very skilled at finding openings and on the PP he likes to make the back door play. His defensive game is solid. With so much speed he’s great at closing gaps and controlling the tempo of the game. His one weakness is probably his lack of physicality, though he doesn’t avoid contact.
Potential: 2-3 Offensive Defenseman
Comparable: Erik Karlsson
3. Ryan Murray Defenseman (2nd Overall 2012) 18 Years Old, Everett Silvertips WHL, Property of the Columbus Blue Jackets
If you only had one word to describe him, it would be reliable. Murray is an extremely mature player. He’s solid in pretty much every aspect of the game. He brings an excellent two-way game and has a great mind for the game. He’s a player that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and makes those around him look good with his reliability. He’s a very good skater and has great gap control. He has a very good stick check. He brings solid PP skills to the table and has a good shot; his passes are crisp and quick. Murray’s a leader and many think that he has the kind of attitude needed to be a captain at the NHL level. He is the Everett Silvertips, watching him in the playoffs was simply put...superhuman. He took over the games and carried what was a poor team almost singlehandedly. He’s so mature and his hockey sense is so good he will probably make the Jackets full time next season.
Potential: Number Two Two-Way Defenseman
Comparable: Ryan Suter
4. Ty Rattie Right Wing (32nd Overall 2011) 19 Years Old, Portland Winterhawks WHL, Property of the St. Louis Blues
Rattie rocketed up the charts this past season by dominating the league. He formed one of the deadliest lines in the CHL and meshes so well with Flames prospect Sven Bartschi. He’s got amazing hockey sense and always seems to be a step ahead of everybody in anticipation. He has some seriously sick hands and creativity, one of those guys that can stick handle in a phone booth. He’s a good shooter and showed massive improvements on his release last season, but he’s also a great playmaker. Defensively he’s very competent and competitive. He gets in the lanes and likes to cause turnovers. His play on the PP is great and when given any kind of room the puck is finding its way to the back of the net. His vast improvements through hard work are impressive and his average skating ability has gotten better each year.
Potential: Top-Six Scorer
Comparable: Milan Hejduk
5. Griffin Reinhart Defenseman (4th Overall 2012) 18 Years Old, Edmonton Oil Kings WHL, Property of the New York Islanders
Not only is he the second in the Reinhart brood of future NHLer’s, he also has one of the most kickass names ever. Reinhart is a strong two-way defender that mixes an interesting blend of shutdown ability and PP quarterback skills. He’s a strong skater and pretty mobile for a 6’4 player, he does need to improve his acceleration though. He’s got a very good and strong shot which he’s continued to improve and use more often. His passing skills are solid and he has a great first pass out of the zone. Reinhart does struggle at times when rushing the puck. He’s a physical player that uses his strength and size well in the defensive zone. He battles hard in the corners and wins the puck a lot. He could stand to try and get more of a meanstreak. His positioning is great in the defensive zone and is very hard to get by. Reinhart has very little risk as a potential NHLer, it’ll all depend on his improvement on his still raw offensive game.
Potential: 2-3 Two-Way Defenseman
Comparable: Brent Seabrook
Thanks for reading.
Bottom five up later. Releasing this what would be Sunday afternoon for most probably isn't a smart idea but oh well.
Follow me on Twitter @AdamFrenchReal
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