Isles Drafting: Offensive prospects

It’s Draft day ladies and gents. So while you wait anxiously take a look at some of the possible offensive players the Islanders might take with the 5th overall pick.

Ryan Johansen, Center, 6-3, 188 lbs. Port Moody, BC.
During the 08-09 hockey season Ryan Johansen playing in the BCHL for the Penticton Vees. During his time there Johansen netted 5 goals, 12 assists and 17 points in 47 games. During the playoffs he added another 4 goals, 3 assists and 7 points. The following season Johansen made the jump to the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. With the Hawks he managed to score 25 goals, 44 assists and 69 points in 71 games and finished the season a +17. Johansen also Participated in the 2010 CHL top prospect game as a member of team Cherry.

What the Scouts Say

B.J. MacDonald, NHL Central Scouting: "He has good on-ice vision and also angles well on the forecheck. He has the intelligence to play power-play as well as penalty kill. He can be shifty and has the ability to beat a defenseman one-on-one. Once he fills out and gains more strength he could turn raw talent into a valuable center at both ends of rink. He has displayed nice playmaking capabilities and this should continue at the next level." (NHL.com)

Hockey’s Future: “Scouts are keen on his puck skills and vision. Johansen is a skilled mover of the puck and possesses the size to become an effective power forward. He is versatile and his touch around the net will set him apart from the muckers and grinders.”

Mike Johnston, Portland Winterhawks head coach and GM: "Ryan Johansen has really good vision. He’s a prototypical big center – good hands, good vision, distributes the puck well, and protects the puck well in order to make plays. He’s a young kid who we use in a lot of different situations, the power play, penalty kill and key faceoffs." (NHL.com)


Nino Niederreiter, Left Wing, 6-2, 203 lbs. Chur, Switzerland.
“El Nino”, as he know in the hockey world, spent 09-10 season with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. During his one year there Niederreiter put up 36 goals, 24 assists and 60 points in a spam of 65 games. Then netting an additional 8 goals, 8 assists, and 16 points during the Winterhawks 13 playoff games. He left the team in December and January to represent Switzerland in the 2010 World Junior Championships. There he excelled on the world stage scoring 6 goals, 4 assists and 10 points in 7 games for the Swiss team. The previous year “El Nino” spent time playing hockey in his home land for a season with the HC Davos club.

What the Scouts Say

International Scouting Services: He has emerged from WJHC as a potential top 10 selection. Regarded as perhaps the best offensive prospect the Swiss have ever produced. He has great size and strength to go with very quick hands and a strong shot. (TSN.com)

E.J. McGuire, Director of NHL Central Scouting: "Plays in Portland but showed the world how good he could be in the (World Junior Championship) playing for the Swiss National Team. And after that tournament he kept getting better. He's shifty, he's skilled, he has a good stride and he loves battling in the corner." (NHL.com)

Hockey’s Future: “Good size and skill. Niederreiter is well developed physically and excels in big games. Rates very high on sheer skill, determination and personality.”

Mike Johnston, Portland Winterhawks head coach: "Nino is a combination of a power forward and scorer. He’s a guy who can play a very physical, very involved game. He has touch around the net, he has great instincts on where to be around the net and when he gets the puck on his stick he usually creates scoring chances or a goal. He’s a player who, personality-wise, is a great teammate, a real key focal point for the group. And he’s becoming a better two-way player."

Alex Burmistrov, Center, 6-0, 170 lbs. Kazan, Russia.
"I really hate the KHL. It's for old guys. I don't want anything to do with the KHL for a long, long time ... maybe ever." That what Burmistrov Told NHL fanhouse three days ago. The 18 year old Russian center has been doing a lot to convince NHL teams he wants to play in North America and in the NHL. Last Burmistrov jumped ship to North America to join the OHL’s Barrie Colts. During his time there he scored 22 goals, 43 assists, and 65 points in 62 games. He was also a key contributor in getting the Colts to the OHL finals. During their run Burmistrov scored 8 goals, 8 assists and 16 points. Prior to leaving for North America, he played for Ak Bars in the Russian junior league. In 09 he played for Russia at the U-18 Championships, as well as being a member of the Russian team at the World Junior Championship in 2010.

What the Scouts Say

E.J. McGuire, Director of NHL Central Scouting: “He's like a water spider out there on the ice. Light on his feet, but he's got a venomous strike like a snake when he goes on the offense. Speed and agility, great fakes and he'll bring players, fans, alike out of their seats. I'd compare him with a (Alexei) Kovalev, (Sergei) Samsonov or (Maxim) Afinogenov.” (NHL.com)

Hockey’s Future: “Burmistrov's main atributes are his speed and his playmaking ability. He is probably one of the more electrifying players in his age group, having the ability to create offesnive opportunites when none might be obvious. Burmistov's lack of size could hinder him at the pro level, but he passed his first test in North America by turning in a successful season in the OHL.”

International Scouting Services: “Burmistrov is a pure scoring, confident and speedy offensive threat who really takes advantage of the space his teammates can make for him. He has tremendous offensive instincts and is very tenacious in offensive situations.” (TSN.com)

Marty Williamson, Barrie Colts head coach: "He's got a great hockey IQ, and is a wonderful skater. He has a habit of playing well above his size and has a great feel for timing on the ice. He battles hard and is continually working on his shot to become an effective scorer, but he is a great passer and has great vision on the ice."