Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

With the Tenth Pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Tampa Bay Selects...

June 17, 2012, 1:13 PM ET [9 Comments]
Brian Huddle
CHL and NHL Prospects • RSSArchiveCONTACT



11. Jacob Trouba
12. Cody Ceci
13. Brendan Gaunce
14. Zemgus Girgensons
15. Olli Määttä
16. Tom Wilson
17. Sebastian Collberg
18. Matt Finn
19. Andrei Vasilevski
20. Slater Koekkoek
21. Henrik Samuelsson
22. Derrick Pouliot
23. Tomas Hertl
24. Hampus Lindholm
25. Nicolas Kerdiles
26. Scott Laughton
27. Ludvig Bystrom
28. Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves
29. Oscar Dansk
30. Malcolm Subban

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tampa has their goalie of the future, along with a host of talent that teams would drool over. (Hello Stamkos!) Having gone from a long playoff run to no spot in the Top 8 this year, Tampa returns to the draft floor hoping to add another high end piece to their group going forward.

"With the tenth overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Tampa Bay is proud to select, from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League: Morgan Rielly."



Stevie Y has never backed down from a high end prospect with some injury concerns, having taken Brett Connolly not too long ago. Morgan is of the same ilk; a high-end offensive defenseman, having missed most of his draft year with a knee injury, though Morgan did return briefly in the playoffs.

His numbers are fantastic this season, with a PPG pace in the small sample we have to analyze. Morgan is an elite skater. He's explosive out of the gate and has the lateral mobility to shake defenders and hold strong gaps defensively. He has the ability to turn on a dime with strong edgework, and uses his wide-based skating to go end-to-end on a regular basis.

Offensively, Morgan is a standout, using high end passing skills to rack up apples. He walks the line well, keeping his head up and looking for all options. He anticipates well and will hold onto the puck until the last minute when a hole opens up. He can get shots in on net well, as well. He's the definition of what teams look for in a Power Play Quarterback, having the ability to play either point.

Defensively Morgan has a long reach and an active stick. He steps into lanes well and has solid positioning for a guy known for his O.

While there aren't many questions -- the injury is one of them. In his short stint after coming back, his game didn't seem to miss a beat, but it's very hard to tell. He can at times get too fancy and turn pucks over, but with maturity it's something that can be ironed out.

Rielly is a home run waiting to happen. All it takes is one team to take a chance.
Join the Discussion: » 9 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Brian Huddle
» Top 10 Prospects: New Jersey Devils
» Top 10 Prospects: Washington Capitals
» 2013 Draft - Early Season Top 30
» Central Scouting Releases Preliminary List
» Top 10 Prospects: St. Louis Blues