Columbus Blue Jackets have deep prospect pools in NCAA and Europe

by Richard Greco
on

T.J. Tynan - Notre Dame University

Photo: Notre Dame forward T.J. Tynan, one of the Blue Jackets’ highest NCAA draft picks, experienced a bit of a down year on the score sheet in his junior season (courtesy of Scott A. Schneider/Getty Images)

A majority of  their early draft picks come from the CHL, but the Columbus Blue Jackets fill out the rest of the system with low risk role players from the NCAA and goaltenders from Europe. Forward prospects like fifth round pick Seth Ambroz and third round pick T.J. Tynan fit into this criteria. Goaltenders Joonas Korpisalo and Anton Forsberg highlight the Blue Jackets’ prospects playing in Europe.

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2013 ISS Draft Rankings: MacKinnon reclaims top spot from Jones

by ISS
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Nathan MacKinnon - Halifax Mooseheads

Photo: Halifax Mooseheads forward Nathan MacKinnon capped a memorable postseason with an MVP performance at the 2013 Memorial Cup Tournament (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

 

Portland Winterhawks defenseman Seth Jones had a nice run atop the ISS Hockey rankings for the 2013 NHL Draft. But, in that scouting organization's final release before next month's draft, Jones has been supplanted by the Halifax Mooseheads' Nathan MacKinnon as the top prospect according to ISS.

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Pittsburgh Penguins well represented at all levels of post-season play

by Ian Altenbaugh
on

Scott Harrington - Pittsburgh Penguins

Photo: Selected in the 2nd round of the 2011 NHL Draft, defenseman Scott Harrington has quickly developed into one of the Penguins most promising defensive prospects. (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL)

If the old adage that says success breeds more success is correct, then the future for the Pittsburgh Penguins appears quite bright. The organization has many players who went the distance in their respective post-seasons, including three who competed for a Memorial Cup, two who played in the NCAA Frozen Four, and roughly a dozen more currently competing in the NHL and AHL playoffs.

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Top prospect Emerson Etem and other early round picks living up to the hype for Anaheim Ducks

by Jason Lewis
on

Sami Vatanen - Anaheim Ducks

Photo: Finnish defenseman Sami Vatanen made his North American debut in 2012-13 and ranked in the top five in points among AHL blueliners (courtesy of Bob Frid/Icon SMI)

Normally when you look at a team's top prospect list, the top end of it is a mixture of sleepers and blue chip prospects. There are players who live up to the hype, others who create it out of nowhere. Sometimes organizations struggle with top picks panning out, but that is not the case with the Anaheim Ducks.

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Gillies has strong base to build on for next season

by Richard Murray
on

John Gibson and Jon Gillies - Team USA

Photo: Providence College goaltender and Calgary Flames prospect Jon Gillies (R) received a good education as the backup to Team USA goaltender John Gibson (L) at the 2013 World Junior Championship (courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Not many freshmen have a lot of success at the NCAA Division I college hockey level. But Providence College goalie Jon Gillies did more than just have a successful freshman season, as he was one of the best goalies in the country.

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