Thrashers CHL prospect update

Although the Atlanta Thrashers have eight prospects playing in the CHL this season, this crop includes three of the team’s top five prospects, the defensive trio of Jimmy Sharrow, Boris Valabik and Braydon Coburn, with representation across all three leagues of the CHL.

 

Braydon Coburn, D – Selected 8^th overall in 2003

 

Coburn returned to Portland for his fourth full season in the WHL. Despite having just three NHL draftees on their team, the Winter Hawks find themselves in the middle of the WHL’s US Division with a 10-8-1-1 record. Coburn is serving as the captain of the Winter Hawks this season. At 6’5, 224 lbs, Coburn continues to improve his overall game. A physical defenseman with offensive capabilities, Coburn has the tools to be a top pairing defenseman. He has put up good numbers so far this season, averaging nearly a point per game and adding 54 penalty minutes. Coburn has been named to play for Team WHL in the Canada/Russia Challenge and is expected to represent Canada at the 2005 WJC once again.

 

Team	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
Portland (WHL)	19	5	9	14	54	+1

 

 

Boris Valabik, D – Selected 10^th overall in 2004

 

The Slovakian redwood has only played in seven games this season due to a concussion sustained early in the season. Despite missing Valabik, the Kitchener Rangers currently hold the third place position in their division, benefiting from three other key players including Mike Richards, Jakub Kindl (2005 eligible), and Evan McGrath. In the seven games he has played, Valabik has not registered a point while accumulating 31 PIM. After missing roughly a month last season with a back injury, health has to be a concern for the Thrashers organization. Valabik needs to take advantage of his time in junior to improve his skating and further develop his defensive game. If his health improves, Valabik almost certainly will play for Slovakia in the WJC and should play a huge role in that team’s success, particularly against the North American teams as a physical presence. However, at this point, the first priority must for him to get healthy and get back into as many games as he can.

 

Team	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
Kitchener (OHL)	7	0	0	0	31	+1

 

 

Scott Lehman, D – Selected 76^th overall in 2004

 

Lehman is one of the new faces to the Atlanta Thrashers, having been selected in the 2004 Entry Draft. He has a frame that should grow to NHL standards and played a solid all-around style of play in 2003-04 to get him drafted. This year with the Toronto St. Michael Majors, Lehman has seen his point production go down slightly, but he has taken a larger role as a physically intimidating defender, both with a rough style of play and fighting. So far Lehman has registered just four points. His decreased point total is indicative of the entire team, who sits in second last in OHL scoring.

 

Team	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
Toronto St. Michael (OHL)	16	1	3	4	53	-5

 

 

Chad Painchaud, LW – Selected 106^th overall in 2004

 

Painchaud began the season with the Mississauga Ice Dogs and played reasonably well until being dealt on October 20 to the Sarnia Sting in a blockbuster deal. Since arriving with the Sting, Painchaud has struggled in his seven games, scoring only twice and adding one helper. The Sting made the move for Painchaud in an attempt to improve their offense, which has produced the fewest goals in the OHL this season with only 45 in 22 games. The speedy winger has played a total of 15 games this year and scored a disappointing five goals. However, the season is still young and there is plenty of time for Painchaud to put up the bigger numbers the organization expected out of someone they have hopes for as a second line player down the road.

 

Team	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
Mississauga (OHL)	8	3	3	6	11	+2
Sarnia (OHL)	7	2	1	3	0	-3

 

 

Jimmy Sharrow, D – Selected 110^th overall in 2003

 

The lanky defender was taken by the Mooseheads after putting up impressive numbers in his rookie year in the Q. Those numbers doubled the next season, and with 22 games played so far in 2004-05, Sharrow is once again on pace to set career high totals in goals and total points if he can remain healthy. He has added some weight in the offseason but remains a bit on the thin side for a defenseman, but has time to get stronger. With the strong Mooseheads team this year, Sharrow continues to serve as a dangerous offensive weapon from the blue line in set plays and also on the rush, using his good speed and puck handling abilities to get through the neutral zone. If he were not an American, Sharrow would have challenged for a spot in the QMJHL/Russia Challenge. Sharrow is a very versatile player who, over the course of the past two seasons, has played both the wing and defense. He sometimes looks lost at the forward position and is clearly better suited to play defense. Sharrow is being looked at for the US 2005 WJC team.

 

Team	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
Halifax (QMJHL)	22	6	10	16	30	+1

 

 

Guillaume Desbiens, RW - Selected 116^th overall in 2003

 

Desbiens is currently playing in his fourth season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL). Early on in the season his offensive numbers appear to be declining from the gains he made last season. However, he is on an early pace to break 200 PIM. The feisty winger has added some weight to his frame which has helped him play a more physically imposing role. Now listed at 6’2, 213 lbs, the 19-year-old has shown a willingness to drop the gloves and do what it takes to inspire his teammates. Desbiens’ production this season is disappointing, as he will need to produce more to move on professionally. After spearing Alexandre Picard (Lewiston), Desbiens received a game misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. However, two more games were added to the suspension by the QMJHL to make three total.

 

Team	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	19	5	5	10	85	-8

 

 

Juraj Gracik, RW – Selected 142^nd overall in 2004

 

Gracik rose to prominence quickly in the 2003-04 season, beginning with the Topolcany Jr team and quickly being promoted after scoring at nearly a goal a game pace to the senior team. At the top level in Slovakia, Gracik continued to perform, leading to his selection in the 2004 draft. After the season, Gracik made the decision to switch to the WHL and join the Tri-City Americans. Unfortunately, Gracik has been unable to adapt as quickly to the North American game as he did to the senior Slovakian league. In 20 games this year the slight power-forward has tallied just four points, including two goals. Tri-City has struggled to score goals as a team, with Marcus Jonasen leading the team with just seven goals at this point in the season. The team also suffered from the injury bug early in the season with two of its key defensemen (Logan Stephenson and Clayton Stoner) missing the first ten games. In addition to seeing limited ice time, all of these factors have likely played a role in Gracik’s diminished stats. While the skill is certainly there, the 18-year-old needs to prove he can excel in the North American style of play before being considered to contend for a spot in the NHL.

 

Team	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-
Tri-City (WHL	20	2	2	4	10	0

 

 

Dan Turple, G – Selected 186^th overall in 2004

 

Turple has had a tumultuous time in the OHL. He began with the Kingston Frontenacs, where he spent his rookie season and began his sophomore season. After nine games he was dealt to the Oshawa Generals, where he put up stellar numbers and a good record (20-7-3) en route to being selected by the Thrashers. He began this season with the Generals but on November 16 was traded to the Kitchener Rangers, joining fellow Thrashers prospect Valabik. In Oshawa, Turple was splitting time with Ryan Gibb before being moved. In Kitchener, he will have the starting job. In ten appearances with Oshawa, Turple posted a 4-4 record with a GAA of 3.71. A change of scenery may turn things around for Turple. He is eligible to play his first game with Kitchener on Friday, November 19.

 

Team	GP	W	L	T	SO	GAA	Save %
Oshawa Generals (OHL)	10	4	4	0	0	3.71	.872
Kitchener Rangers (OHL)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

 

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