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41 Zach Boychuk - C - Carolina Hurricanes
Height: 5-9, Weight: 175

After getting a two-game taste of NHL hockey last season with the Hurricanes, Boychuk continued to polish his game in the WHL for the rest of the 2008-09 season. The highlight of his season was no doubt his gold medal win for Team Canada at the 2009 WJC. On the squad coached by Pat Quinn, Boychuk made an impact despite not being one of the big three scorers on the team. The soon-to-be 20-year-old is a pure goal scorer. He has good hands and an accurate shot. His best attribute is his speed and acceleration which he uses to create many of his scoring chances. Boychuk will need to learn how to play against bigger and stronger defenders than he is used to in the WHL.

42 Nazem Kadri - C - Toronto Maple Leafs
Height: 6-1, Weight: 177

Kadri progressed well as a player throughout his three seasons in the OHL, first with Kitchener, then last season with the London Knights where he put up a career-best 78 points in 56 games. Kadri has a wide array of talents, but it’s his explosive and dynamic skating ability that sets him apart from other prospects. While not big, he competes hard and gets involved in the dirty areas. Kadri needs to work on his play away from the puck, but there is no denying he has the offensive skill set to eventually emerge into a top-flight forward. The soon-to-be 19-year-old will likely be returned to junior from Maple Leafs training camp.

43 Max Pacioretty - LW - Montreal Canadiens
Height: 6-2, Weight: 203

While the Canadiens went into complete overhaul mode in the off-season, one name who the organization held onto and is highly regarded in the system is Pacioretty. He nearly made the team out of camp, but was sent to the AHL for some seasoning before being recalled mid-season, where he got into 34 games, and scored 11 points. He was eventually returned to the AHL near the end of the year. Pacioretty is a unique blend of size and skill, and while he may appear to be more of a playmaker, the strong-skating winger is slowly learning how to use his 6’1, 205 lb frame to drive to the net and score. A power forward in training, the 20-year-old is a good bet to stick with Montreal this year, and should eventually emerge into a top-six forward in a couple of seasons.

44 Dmitry Kulikov - D - Florida Panthers
Height: 6-0, Weight: 190

Kulikov came over to North America last season and immediately started turning heads with his well-developed offensive game and smart defensive play. Kulikov is a smooth puck-moving defenseman who can create offensive with his patience and vision. His skating ability is top notch. His speed allows him to rush deep in the offensive zone and get back, and his agility allows him to make up a lot of ground when he needs to in the defensive end. Kulikov can also create offense from his hard and accurate shot, something that he did quite frequently in a Memorial Cup run for the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Kulikov was a first-round pick of the Panthers in June.

45 Alex Goligoski - D - Pittsburgh Penguins
Height: 5-11, Weight: 180

Yet another offensive defenseman, Goligoski got his break this past season with Pittsburgh when Sergei Gonchar went down with a serious shoulder injury. In 43 games with the big club, Goligoski fared very well and did not look too out of place. The former University of Minnesota standout does his best work while on the power play where is fully capable of taking charge. He is an excellent passer with great vision. If he is to live up to his full potential, he will need to watch his play in the defensive zone and bring a more physical aspect to his game. The 24-year-old should stick full time in the NHL this season.

46 Viktor Tikhonov - C - Phoenix Coyotes
Height: 6-2, Weight: 187

Just a handful of games shy of officially graduating as a prospect, Tikhonov brought a lot to the Coyotes as a rookie. While he didn't have the highest profile on the team entering the season, he did end up making a big impression. Tikhonov showed that at the age of 20, he already played a responsible two-way game beyond his years. Tikhonov took on a checking line role and filled in admirably, but he also showed signs that he has something more to offer. Tikhonov boasts an exceptional playmaking ability and a good scoring touch in front of the net. He is a definite candidate to assume a bigger role this season for Phoenix.

47 Jordan Eberle - C - Edmonton Oilers
Height: 5-10, Weight: 174

Eberle has quickly established himself as a goal-scoring machine at both the WHL and international levels. In three full WHL seasons, Eberle’s goal totals outnumber assists. He also put together an impressive string of goals while representing Canada at the U20 WJCs. While he is not a big, physical player, he is a smooth offensive operator. Eberle is a sophisticated blend of creativity and offensive intelligence; combine that with a nice wrist shot and the Oilers have themselves quite the sniper in their pipeline. With Edmonton still in a transition phase, the 19-year-old will likely see NHL ice sooner rather than later.

48 Ivan Vishnevskiy - D - Dallas Stars
Height: 5-11, Weight: 176

The Russian blueliner spent most of the year with the Peoria Rivermen before getting a short late-season call-up to Dallas. Vishnevskiy, a talented offensive defenseman, is still evolving defensively. Vishnevskiy owns a cannon of a point shot and a smooth skating stride. The 2006 first rounder got stuck in a different system behind several other offensive defensemen last year. However, with Sergei Zubov now gone, Vishnevskiy may get more opportunity.

49 Mattias Tedenby - LW - New Jersey Devils
Height: 5-10, Weight: 176

It’s been quite some time since the New Jersey Devils have had a prospect of Tedenby’s ilk in the organization. While he had a rather pedestrian season in the Swedish Elite League with HV-71, he exploded in the playoffs, totaling six goals and three assists in 18 games, seemingly coming into his own. He carried that over to the Devils prospect camp in the summer, where he was by far and away the best player on the ice. The diminutive Swede may be undersized at 5’10, 175, but he is a potential game breaker for the Devils. He possesses an impressive offensive skill set, highlighted by splendid puckhandling skills and electrifying speed. He’s under contract in Sweden for one more year, but could make an impact in New Jersey as soon as 2010-11.

50 Jamie Benn - LW - Dallas Stars
Height: 6-2, Weight: 185

Last season was a dominant performance by Kelowna Rockets star Jamie Benn.  His 46 goals in just 56 games last season confirmed Benn’s WHL star power – not to mention his time with Canada in the WJCs. He will try his hand at the pro game in 2009-10, likely with the Texas Stars. Armed with a sniper’s shot and release, Benn seems to pick up loose pucks and deposit them in the back of the cage almost at will. The fifth-round pick moves on from the junior ranks to the top 50 for the first time since he was drafted in 2007.

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