2011 NHL Draft: Sven Baertschi and the Best Wingers Remaining in Draft

The 2011 NHL draft is underway and the first eight players have been selected. The first overall selection made by the Edmonton Oilers was, as expected, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a center from the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League.

With the second pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche selects Gabriel Landeskog, the top winger in the draft from the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League

The third pick by the Florida Panthers was Jonathan Huberdeau, a center from the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL.

The top defenseman in the draft, Adam Larsson slipped to fourth and was picked by the New Jersey Devils. The fifth pick, which went to the New York Islanders, was Ryan Strome, a center from the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League.

The Ottawa Senators selected center Mika Zibanejad of the Swedish Elite League at No. 6 and the reborn-again Winnipeg Jets chose Mark Scheifele, a center from the Barrie Colts of the OHL with their first pick since 1996.

The Flyers chose center Sean Couturier from the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL. The Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins selected defenseman Dougie Hamilton of the Niagara Ice Dogs.

With defenseman and centers jumping off the board, there are plenty of wingers available. The depth of this draft is comparable to that of the 2003 draft and the wingers have plenty to offer the 2011 class in terms of good solid players.

Here is a look at eight wingers remaining in the 2011 NHL draft.

Joel Armia (Assat, Finnish Elite League)

Eighteen-year-old Joel Armia is the perfect example of a player in this year's draft that could be picked at No. 10 by Minnesota, or he could fall to the Red Wings at No. 24 and no one would be surprised.

Armia has size (6'3" and 190 pounds) and speed. He can be a human highlight reel when he scores. Armia's game has been compared to Finnish great Teemu Selanne. Although he's not quite as skilled and does not possess Selanne's speed and finishing touch, Armia has more power in his game than did Selanne at this point.

In 48 games last season playing for Assat of the Finnish Elite League, Armia had 29 points with 18 goals and was a plus-nine.

In comparison, prior to joining the Winnipeg Jets in 1992 as a rookie, Selanne scored 39 goals and had 62 points for Jokerit Helsinki, also of the Finnish Elite League.

Armia's major weakness is his inconsistent two-way play. Scouting reports note that he fails to stay involved for entire shifts and must become a better defensive player. Armia tends to play lazy at times and he may not come straight to the NHL.

Armia's stock dropped when his lackluster play caught up with him at the 2011 World Junior Championships. He recorded just one assist in six games as Finland finished a very disappointing sixth.

According to his coach in Finland, Pekka Rautakallio, Armia is a player that is willing to work to get better.

Rautakallio said of his game: “He’s going to be a different kind of Finn in the NHL. He just needs to add a couple more kilos to that frame of his. I know there have been comparisons to Teemu Selanne, but while they both have that sniper mentality, Teemu was quicker when he arrived in the NHL."

Goran Stubb, who is NHL director of European scouting, told NHL.com: "He's big and tall but surprisingly mobile for a player of his size. He has a very good feel for the game and moving the puck well with his line mates."

Goran continued: "He has a heavy wrist shot that he gets off quickly and is always looking for the empty spots on the ice. He's a sniper with a good selection of shots. You might have to look for him during some shifts but then suddenly he scores the winner."

Depending on which mock draft you read, the young Finnish sniper could play in Minnesota, Dallas or Detroit, and this is exactly what makes this draft so intriguing.

Armia is one of many skilled players that make this draft deep in terms of talent. The beauty of this year's draft is either teams love a player like this or they do not.

His selection, as well as many other players like him, could spawn a wave of activity by GMs that no one saw coming.

Alexander Khokhlachev (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)

Alexander Khokhlachev is a rare blend for a Russian hockey player. Not only can Khokhlachev score goals but also he is equally adept at setting them up. Listed as a left wing and center, Khokhlachev is a versatile player who has a great work ethic.

What makes him rare is that the 5'10" 190-pound Moscow native likes to play a two-way game.

He works just as hard at grinding on both ends of the ice with a solid forecheck and backcheck. He does not disappear on shifts and plays well on special teams.

NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards said of Khokhlachev: "He'll take a hit to make a play and he's not at all afraid. I've seen him get hit hard a few times and he just bounces right back into the play. His energy level is always there, and he's always working hard. Down the stretch for Windsor, he's played well. He's a skilled forward."

Khokhlachev is a smart player with a good hockey sense.This past season playing with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, Khokhlachev did not disappoint GM and part owner Warren Rychel.

Rychel traded up in the 2010 CHL Import draft to select the young Russian star and his returns proved worthy. Khokhlachev finished third in rookie scoring in the OHL with 76 points (34G, 42A) in 67 games.

However, during 2011 playoffs, Khokhlachev's game exploded. He led all rookies in scoring with 20 points (9G, 11A) in 18 playoff games, as Windsor lost to the eventual OHL champions, Owen Sound, in the third round.

His major weakness is his lack of strength, as Khokhlachev struggles along the boards and coming out of corners.

His play at times can be inconsistent but as he adapted to the North American style of play, his game showed much more consistency.

Teams are not overly concerned about his lack of strength and feel his work ethic will pay off in the weight room helping his body mature.

He plays a game very similar to his boyhood hero, Sergei Fedorov. Currently ranked on NHL.com as the 29th player on the board, Khokhlachev's name fails to appear on many mock first-round drafts.

The talented young Russian will be selected in the first round.

Last year Washington Capitals GM Gorge McPhee chose promising Russian Evgeni Kuznetsov with No. 26 pick in the first round. Do not be surprised if McPhee uses the same exact pick tonight to select another promising young Russian.

Khokhlachev in DC with a fellow hard-working Russian—some guy named Ovechkin—is a win-win situation for all involved.

Matt Puempel (Peterborough Petes, OHL)

In every draft and in every league, a player is drafted that teams are seen as taking a chance on because of injury. Last year in the NHL draft, that player was Brett Connolly, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning at No. 6 overall.

Connolly was limited to just 16 games during his draft season with injuries. The gamble by Tampa seems to have paid off, as Connolly bounced back this season to score 46 goals and 73 points with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL.

Windsor, Ontario, native Matthew Puempel is the risk-reward injury player this season. Although not as talented as Connolly, Puempel has a lot to offer any team that selects him tonight.

Puempel's season ended on February 21 with a hip injury. However, he still managed to lead the Peterborough Petes in scoring with 34 goals and 69 points in 55 games.

During the 2009-10 season as a rookie with Peterborough, Puempel led all OHL rookies in scoring with 64 points in 59 games en route to capturing both OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honors. He was also the youngest player in the history of the Petes to score 33 goals in a season. 

The knock against Puempel's game is his inconsistent play on defense. His minus-33 rating was fourth worst on his team.

Expected to make a full recovery, his operation was performed by renowned hip specialist Dr. Marc Philippon, who was the same doctor who operated on Mario Lemieux and Marian Gaborik.

NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards breaks down Puempel's game this way: "He is dangerous with the puck and has an excellent shot. He has the ability to make highly skilled passes through traffic and can make his line mates better. His goals are skilled goals. He goes to the net and he battles. He's not shy about getting involved in traffic and going to the net."

Jon Abbott, who acts as the play-by-play voice for the Ottawa 67s on Sports Radio Team 1200 in Ottawa, says: "Matt is a natural goal scorer and a very gifted offensive talent. He has demonstrated on numerous occasions he can single-handedly win a game. The real question mark surrounding his development is how he'll recover from his current hip injury." 

Many mock drafts have Puempel landing in Toronto.

Tyler Biggs (USA Under-18, USHL)

Tyler Biggs will succeed in the NHL. He is a clutch player that can be counted on to do anything from fighting for his teammates to scoring game-winning goals.

Biggs represented the US in two Under-18 World Championships, winning gold in 2010 and 2011. He scored the overtime goal, his second of the game, in the semifinal against Canada, propelling the US to the gold-medal game in 2011.

At the 2009 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Timmins, Ontario, he again led his team to gold when he scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Team Ontario in the final.

A native of Binghamton, N.Y., Biggs was a unanimous choice as captain in his first full season with the U-18 USA squad. He had 19 goals, 31 points and 161 penalty minutes. In 15 international games, Biggs scored six goals with 10 points.

For a big guy, Biggs can skate well. He stands 6'2" and weighs 210 pounds but, as you saw in the video above, can get up and down the ice quickly.

Biggs is never intimidated and posses natural leadership abilities according to Jack Barzee of
NHL Central Scouting.

"He has that leadership quality…that desire, that passion, that competitiveness. He just never quits,” Barzee said. "He's a young player who has taken the role as leader of his team. He does most of their fighting when they have to fight. He's kind of the guy that when someone starts picking on somebody, he's standing up for them. I think while wearing the 'C' may have taken a little away from his offensive finish, my gut feeling is that I can't think of anything else but an uphill path for Tyler."

His father was minor league legend Don Biggs, who was drafted in 1983 by Minnesota and in 1987. He played 11 games with the Philadelphia Flyers.

According to his U-18 coach Ron Rolston: "He's a big, strong kid and is an extreme character player. He skates well and is physical and tough. He shoots and attacks the net well with or without the puck. He's certainly someone on our team who's a physical presence, and he makes room for a lot of our skilled players.”

His lack of offensive output is the reason Biggs may not be a first-round draft choice. The physical aspect of his game has taken away a lot of his offense.

Now listed at No. 22 on Central Scouts final rankings, Biggs dropped 17 spots from his No. 5 midterm position ranking in January. Biggs will score and contribute enough to be a more than productive player in the NHL.

He is a safe pick and should always be a reliable player at the next level. He may not be a prolific goal scorer but then again, how many prolific goal scorers did the Boston Bruins have this year? They seemed to have a team filled with Tyler Biggs-type of players.

Toronto, who owns two picks in the first round, has been mentioned as a possible destination for Biggs with their second pick of the opening round, the 30^th overall selection.

If Biggs is available, No. 30 sounds like a great spot for Toronto to pick an American-born player whose parents are both Canadian. Biggs is headed to play for Miami (of Ohio) University next year.

Brandon Saad (Saginaw Spirit)

Brandon Saad's stock has dropped considerably because he did not make the U.S. team for the world juniors. His production also fell off in the second half of the season as he dealt with a groin injury, and he's now being talked about as a player who could go somewhere outside the top 10.

"You go out there and do your thing on the ice and in the end, wherever you end up, you'll be happy"...those words are from a recent interview given by Brandon Saad to George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press.

At 6'1" and 210 pounds, Saad is as solid a two-way player with as much upside as any in this year’s draft. As a rookie in Saginaw this season, Saad finished tied for second on the Spirit with 27 goals and finished the year with 55 points in 59 games.

Spirit coach Todd Watson said he believes the team that drafts Saad will be rewarded with a solid two-way forward.

"He can play the power play, he can play the penalty kill, he can play 5-on-5, he can play 4-on-4," Watson said. "He works hard in practice. He wasn't arrogant. He's a team player."

Saad, from Gibsonia, Pa. (a suburb of Pittsburgh), was thought to be a top-10 pick before the Ontario Hockey League season began this year. He was a big part of the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor and helped win gold at the World Under-18 championships.

Many believe a nagging injury caused Saad's game to suffer. He scored just four goals in his final 22 games but recovered in time to play well in the OHL playoffs. Saad picked a bad time to fall into a scoring slump and Saad himself will tell you that rushing back from a January groin injury did not help his cause.

"I had a groin injury and it lingered a little bit trying to come back early," Saad said. "It took a little time to heal those two months and lingered. Back at the end of the season and playoffs, I was back up to par.

"It might have been a little bit rushed. That's just something as a player you want to get back in the game and do the things you love.”

Saad recovered in time to finish third on his team in scoring during the 2011 Ontario Hockey League playoffs. He notched three goals and nine assists as the Spirit were eventually eliminated by the Windsor Spitfire, the defending Memorial Cup champions.

His defense is suspect at times but according to one NHL.com draft expert, “He fits the mold of a Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan, and that’s why some have him headed to Anaheim at No. 22.

Saad has been everywhere on the mock draft board. He has been as high as pick No.10 and Steven Hoffner of NHL.com does not even have Saad being picked in the first round.

Some project the Capitals, a team in need of two-way grit, as a destination for Saad at No. 26. However, I know one team that will never allow that to happen and do not be surprised to see him one day playing for his hometown Penguins as they choose him at No. 23.

Ty Rattie (Portland Winterhawks, WHL)

The Portland Winterhawks of the WHL have the potential to spot the NHL three players in tonight's first round and another in the second.

Right winger Ty Rattie joins defensemen Joe Morrow (No. 12 ranked), Tyler Wotherspoon (No. 40) and regular linemate Sven Baerstchi (No. 7) as the core of a Winterhawk team that played for the WHL championship this past season and is looking to become a part of the NHL tonight.

In 2010, eight players were drafted from Portland.  

In 2009-10, Rattie was one of eight rookies regularly in the lineup for Portland, recording 37 points (17-20--37) in 61 games. He scored his first career playoff goal against Spokane, in overtime of Game 7, sending the Winterhawks into the second round of playoffs for the first time in four years.

This past season he was second on the team with 12 power-play goals and finished the year with 28. He was fourth with 79 points and helped the Winterhawks finish atop the Western Conference for the first time since 2001.

In the 2011 Western Hockey League playoffs, Rattie had nine goals (9-13--22) in 16 games as Portland made it to the WHL championship.

According to the scoutingreport.org: At, 5'11" and 163 pounds, Ty Rattie is an excellent passer, with good vision and patience with the puck. He effectively used these tools to set up his teammates with tape-to-tape passes that often generated scoring chances, many for easy tap in goals.

Rattie is also an excellent shooter, able to get his shot away quickly and accurately, and though his goal totals aren’t overwhelming, this allows him to open up space for his teammates, and keeps defenders honest when they’re playing against him.

The biggest concern in Rattie’s game right now is simply that he needs to get stronger. Rattie tends to play primarily along the perimeter, and though he has been effective for the most part, one has to wonder how good he could be if he were able to play in the rough areas of the ice.

Rattie is a good skater, but he is by no means going to put you in awe with his speed – another aspect of his game that could use improvement. His defensive play improved a little over the season, but still needs work. There are stretches of time where you do not even notice him on the ice, which may be a byproduct of him playing away from the danger zones."

Rattie does not appear on many mock draft boards in the first round but some have him being selected as high as No. 18, where the Blackhawks will look to add depth at their forward position.

Tomas Jurco (Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL)

Saint John head coach Gerard Gallant, who recently led his team to the QJMHL championship said of his forward, Tomas Jurco, "He does different things at practice some guys would view it as being cocky, but Tomas does it because he wants to score a goal doing it. He has stickhandling and eye coordination to make those great plays. He's a big-bodied guy with a great skill level and competes really hard.”

NHL Central Scouting's Chris Bordeleau says of Jurco, "He's a very good skater with size and excellent puck skills. He has all the tools of a first-round draft pick.” The problem is, with this draft being so deep with talent and his issues with selfishness, Jurco’s name may not be called during the first 30 picks.

He is fast and has all of the skills that accompany his speed. His stickhandling ability may be the best in this draft. He is a very skilled player that surprises with his strength.

At 6'2" and 187 pounds, Jurco plays solid in front of the net.

In two seasons with the Sea Dogs, spanning 124 QMJHL games, Jurco has 57 goals, 50 assists and 107 points. He added 13 goals and 35 points in 40 playoff games.

He is one of nine Saint John Sea Dogs on the Central Scouting rankings list, which also includes two of his frequent line mates: Jonathan Huberdeau (No. 3 ranked) and Zack Phillips (No. 15). All three finished the season with seven game-winning goals.

Jurco scored just one goal in six games while representing Slovakia at the 2011 World Junior Championships.

Jurco has several videos displaying his stickhandling tricks and shootout moves on YouTube that have almost 200,000 views. This is also part of his weakness, as Jurco is not considered a top-notch teammate and is very selfish with the puck at times.

All offensive players hit slumps and Jurco is no exception. The problem is his selfishness causes his inconsistency to last longer than it should.

He lacks mental toughness at times and that is part of the reason he may or may not be drafted in the first round.

He has been as high as No. 13 to Calgary but realistically could end up next to Logan Couture in San Jose in a few seasons.

Sven Baertschi (Portland Winterhawks)

In 2010-11, Sven Baertschi led all Western Hockey League rookies in scoring with 85 points in 66 games and was named the WHL’s Western Conference Rookie of the Year. In the 2011 WHL playoffs, he ranked first among rookies and was tied for second overall with 27 points (10-17--27) in 21 games.

NHL Central Scouting's Blair MacDonald says of the Swiss native: "Baertschi is a finesse player. He has very quick hands and is a deft puckhandler. His radar vision probably makes him the best in the WHL at distributing the puck."

He represented Team Switzerland at the 2011 World Junior Championships playing alongside Portland teammate and N.Y. Islanders prospect Nino Niederreiter (fifth overall by in 2010). Baertschi had a goal and an assist in helping Switzerland finish fifth.

According to hockeysfuture.com: "Baertschi is a gritty, offensive-minded forward who had the good fortune of lining up with Ty Rattie and Ryan Johansen for much of the past season.

During the 2010-11 playoffs, Baertschi was arguably the Winterhawks most consistent forward. While not a physically dominant player, he did not shy away from tough play in close quarters."

He is a versatile good playmaking winger who has good stick skills and great vision.

His true strength is his ability to score goals. His wrist shot is very accurate and strong. Like most European offensive-minded players, Baertschi's defense is a question mark.

He does not like to play in front of the net and relies too much on his shot but he will learn in time where the money is made in the NHL. He is young and will overcome the lack of toughness many say he lacks.

His coach in Portland, Mike Johnston says his work ethic is what truly sets the 5'10", 180-pound winger apart.

Johnston says of Baertschi, "He's a quick, skilled, very fast type of player. I don't think anyone can stay on the ice as long as he does. We have to tell him to get off the ice 45 minutes after practice ends. He stays out there forever to work on his game. He works on inside-outside moves, quick shots and little foot movement."

Many mock drafts project him to go to Calgary at No. 13. Another mock draft had the Stanley Cup champion Bruins selecting him at No. 9 but with their selection of Dougie Hamilton, Baertschi begins a slight slide.