10 Prospects That Will Make an NHL Impact in 2011-12
As we all hypothesize about the players that will be selected in the first round of this year's NHL Entry Draft, the fact remains: There is no certainty that they will be playing in the NHL in the upcoming season.
There are very few players that can crack the lineup of the team that drafted them right away without development.
Prospects can sometimes spend years in the minors before they are called up.
The following list is of players who have either done their time in junior and/or the AHL or who are guys yet to be drafted who, I feel, are NHL ready.
You should see them all make some waves during the 2011-2012 NHL season.
10. Sean Couturier
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Sean Couturier is a big forward with a knack for scoring.
He posted back-to-back 96 point seasons with the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Couturier is one of several players seen to be NHL ready in the upcoming draft. Whichever team ends up selecting the defensively responsible centreman will like to get him going ASAP.
9. Erik Gudbranson
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Erik Gudbranson was drafted third overall by Dale Tallon and the Florida Panthers in last year’s draft.
He is a shut-down defenseman that has the ability to chip in offensively if need be.
The 6’4”, 200 pound Gudbranson should put on enough weight to shake up the opposition and be ready for the NHL this season.
If he’s a big hitter now, I’m curious to see the damage that he’ll be able to do once he bulks up!
8. Brett Connolly
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Steve Yzerman and the Tampa Bay Lightning must have really liked what they saw in Brett Connolly, last year’s sixth overall pick in the draft.
After all, Connolly was sidelined for most of his previous season with the Prince George Cougars due to a hip injury.
He had quite the bounce-back season last year, scoring 46 goals and adding 27 assists in just 59 games.
The Lightning may have an opening for a top-six winger, as Simon Gagne is an impending unrestricted free agent.
Connolly looks like he could be a great option to fill the void.
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7. Adam Larsson
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Many pundits are calling Adam Larsson the best overall player available in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
The 6’3”, 220-lbs monster of a defenseman has already played three professional seasons in the Swedish Elite League—at 18 years old!
He certainly has the size required to play at the NHL level, but is he in the right head space? It has been reported that Larsson may opt to play another year in Sweden before crossing the Atlantic.
I believe that once all is said and done and Larsson is selected in the top three, he’ll want to join the team that drafts him sooner than later.
6. Jacob Markstrom
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With Tomas Vokoun almost assuredly catching the first flight out of South Florida come July 1, the Florida Panthers will be in need of a starting goaltender.
Enter Jacob Markstrom.
The tall Swede was drafted 31st overall by the Panthers in 2008, a pick probably made with some foresight in knowing when Vokoun’s contract was to expire.
The 21-year-old has played four seasons professionally: three in the Swedish Elite League and one with the Rochester Americans. He was called up to the Panthers, but only played part of one game.
The Panthers are a team in the midst of a rebuild. With nothing to lose, it’s evident that Markstrom will get some playing time this season.
5. Nazem Kadri
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The 2011-2012 season will be Nazem Kadri’s first full year in the NHL.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ first pick in 2009 Draft (seventh overall) bookended an impressive showing with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies with two stints with the big club.
With a full professional season under his belt, Kadri will seek a position as a top-six forward on the Maple Leafs.
4. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
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It is all but certain that the Edmonton Oilers will draft the Red Deer Rebels’ superstar center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins first overall in St. Paul.
His flashy offensive game will complement an already extremely talented group of (very) young forwards in Edmonton.
Nugent-Hopkins will likely get to play in the NHL as early as possible. The Oilers would surely like to get him some playing time with the rest of the Brat Pack.
3. Ryan Johansen
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After the Columbus Blue Jackets shocked the hockey world by drafting Ryan Johansen with the fourth overall pick last summer, they were not disappointed.
Johansen made some serious strides in his game, scoring 40 goals and registering 92 points for the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks.
Johansen will certainly see some playing time with the Jackets this season, and I think that he’ll put up a fight for the Calder Trophy.
2. Gabriel Landeskog
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Gabriel Landeskog’s North American playing style will pay dividends in the NHL.
Though he is currently ranked as No. 2 in the draft, the young Swede is the most likely player to make an immediate impact in the league, seen as the draft’s most NHL-ready player.
Landeskog’s willingness to go to the dirty areas is a refreshing take on the role of a top-ranked prospect.
I’d expect to see him making an impact in an NHL jersey—I’m not certain as to which one just yet—at the start of the 2011-2012 season.
1. Brayden Schenn
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There are two buzz words when it comes to NHL prospects: Brayden Schenn.
The Los Angeles Kings have been biding their time with the phenom that they drafted fifth overall in 2009.
The 19-year-old played games in the WHL, the AHL and the NHL last season, as well as on Canada’s World Junior team, on which he was named the tournament’s MVP.
Schenn is ready for the big leagues, and will make an immediate impact with the Kings.
For more 2011 NHL draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated NHL mock drafts, NHL draft rumors, NHL draft results and draft grades.
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