Hockey's Future - The #1 Online Prospects Resource

BEST SKATER: Niklas Kronwall, D, 22 - Kronwall is a great skater with good lateral movement and phenomenal speed. His skating allows him to play a very effective offensive game while still being sound defensively.

RUNNER UP: Nathan Robinson, LW, 21

BEST STICKHANDLER: Jiri Hudler, 19, C - Hudler is a dazzling puckhandler who has a phenomenal offensive arsenal. He has been able to demonstrate it on every level that he has played on so far. 

RUNNER UP: Igor Grigorenko, 20, RW

BEST PLAYMAKER : Jiri Hudler, 19, C  - Hudler has God-given hockey sense, on-ice vision and playmaking ability. This makes him a great offensive threat. He has 58 assists in 76 Extraliga regular season games.

RUNNER UP: Tomas Kopecky, 21, C

BEST AGITATOR: Darryl Bootland, 21, RW - Bootland is a very good agitator who loves to get his nose dirty on every shift. 322 pims in just 54 ECHL games indicates his toughness. 

RUNNER UP: Ryan Barnes, 23, LW

SMARTEST PLAYER: Jiri Hudler, 19, C - Hudler displays a very impressive hockey sense and smartness on the ice for a 19-year-old. Though being undersized Hudler has managed to overcome this and still be an impact player.

RUNNER UP: Pär Bäcker, 21, C

MOST GENTLEMANLY PLAYER: Miroslav Blatak, 21, D - Blatak plays a calm defensive game where he uses his head instead of his strength. Is rarely involved in any rough situations.

RUNNER UP: Tomas Fleischmann, 19, LW

BEST TWO-WAY FORWARD: Tomas Kopecky, 21, C - Kopecky combines good work ethic, skills and hockey sense to form a strong two-way game. In his first full pro-season Kopecky had 17 goals and 38 points in 70 games as well as a very good plus-18 rating.

RUNNER UP: Jari Tolsa, 22, LW

BEST POWER FORWARD: Darryl Bootland, 21, RW - Bootland is a physical presence who has scoring touch and solid hands in tight. 81 pims in 31 regular and playoff season games with the Grand Rapids indicates that he has grit, while his 4 goals and 10 points need improvement.

RUNNER UP: Tomas Kopecky, 21, C

BEST SHOT POWER: Niklas Kronwall, 22, D - Kronwall´s offensive arsenal includes a great point-shot which is hard and accurate. He has been using his shot more often this season and was awarded with career numbers, 5 goals and 18 points in 50 games.

RUNNER UP: Tomas Kopecky, 21, C

BEST RELEASE: Igor Grigorenko, 20, RW - Grigorenko has a very good, hard wrist shot with a quick release. As a natural sniper Grigorenko he has had the opportunity to demonstrate his shooting skills both with HC Lada and the Russian National team.

RUNNER UP: Tomas Kopecky, 21, C

BEST ACCELERATION: Niklas Kronwall, 22, D - Kronwall has very quick feet and great acceleration.

RUNNER UP: Nathan Robinson, LW, 21

BEST FIRST PASS: Derek Meech, 19, D - Meech hasn’t posted any impressive numbers in the WHL yet, but he has a well developed hockey sense and strong passing skills. 

RUNNER UP: Niklas Kronwall, 22, D

HARDEST WORKING PLAYER: Jari Tolsa, 22, LW - Tolsa is a great team player who gives you 110% every time he steps out on the ice. Hard work and solid skills has taken him to Elitserien, and if all goes as planned it will take him to the NHL as well.

RUNNER UP: Matt Ellis, 21, LW

BEST BODYCHECHER: Niklas Kronwall, 22, D - Kronwall anticipates the play well and is very aggressive all over the ice. He is a big time hitter who has sent many players crawling on the ice this season.

RUNNER UP: Darryl Bootland, 21, RW

BEST VISION: Jiri Hudler, 19, C - Hudler has impressive hockey sense and on-ice-vision. He is able to demonstrate his skill best when on the powerplay.

RUNNER UP: Jari Tolsa, 22, LW

STRONGEST PLAYER: Paul Ballantyne, 21, D - Ballantyne is extremely effective physically, as he can both move and hit you well. He has been adding muscle since being drafted in 2000 and should only improve in this area. 

RUNNER UP: Ryan Barnes, 23, LW

BEST REACH: Jonathan Ericsson, 19, D - Ericsson possesses a huge frame (6-foot-5) and is very smart with the stick. When battling in the corners he uses his stick effectively to unload the attacking forwards.

RUNNER UP: Tomas Kopecky, 21, C

BEST LEADER: Paul Ballantyne, 21, D - Ballantyne, a former Sault Ste. Marie captain, is a great leader both on and of the ice. He isn’t your typical captain who yells and makes noise, as he let’s his performance do the job.

RUNNER UP: Niklas Kronwall, 22, D