Scout
06-26-2005, 06:10 PM
This is Brule's main competition for #2 overall.
For some, such as Benoit Pouliot of the Sudbury Wolves, one feeds off the other. When Pouliot reported to the Wolves in 2003 for his second training camp, the 11th round pick from 2002 was, not to be too cruel about it, a bean pole. He was 6-foot-3 and weighed 160 pounds.
This year, the left-winger showed up at camp weighing 185 pounds and his added bulk is helping him to terrorize OHL goalies. In his first 28 games, he scored 13 goals and 13 assists to put himself in a tie for 39th in the league and second among rookies. Oscar Clouthier, the Wolves' chief scout and assistant general manager, is not surprised by Pouliot's offensive output.
"When we drafted him, he was very shifty, but he was tall and thin and didn't have a whole lot of strength," said Clouthier. "He always had skill, but now, with the added strength, these skills work for him."
The Wolves started to notice some progression during the 2003-04 season, when Pouliot was playing with the Hawkesbury Hawks of the Central (Ont.) Junior Hockey League. He was scoring a point a game with the Hawks and the Wolves wanted to call him up halfway through year.
"He really started to turn it up about halfway through the year," said Clouthier.
Pouliot had a four-game audition with the Wolves at Christmas time and scored four points. But the Wolves had an agreement with the Hawks not to keep him for an extended period of time and Hawkesbury wanted him back for the stretch run and the playoffs.
"We stuck to our word, even though we knew he could have helped us," Wolves coach Mike Foligno said. "We bit the bullet."
Foligno doesn't regret cutting Pouliot a year ago in his first training camp as coach because sending Pouliot back to junior A gave him a better chance to grow and develop.
"Had he stayed with the Wolves, it would have taken longer," Foligno said. "He was able to become one of the best players in his league and he developed a sense of self-confidence to do it at a higher level."
Playing in Hawkesbury also meant that Pouliot was able to be closer to his dad, Sylvain, who was battling cancer. Pouliot is from St. Isidore, Ont., which is near Hawkesbury.
"He had leukemia about two years ago," Pouliot said. "It went away and came back. It was pretty hard."
His father died last February and would no doubt be beaming with pride to see his son's progress this year.
Clouthier says Pouliot is a classic case of a late bloomer.
"He just keeps getting better and better," Clouthier said.
Pouliot started filling out naturally over the course of last season, but it was a dedicated summer training regimen that packed the muscle on. After his stints with the Wolves last year — he also scored three points in four playoff games — he was motivated and knew how much he had to prepare himself for this season.
"I went to the gym five days a week and ate, and ate," said the 18-year-old Pouliot. "I just ate all the time — no shakes — and I gained weight."
Pouliot's late birthday (Sept. 29, 1986) means that he's not eligible for the NHL draft until next summer. Most players born in 1986 were drafted this past summer, but Pouliot is being assessed with the 87-born kids.
"So far, I'm doing pretty well, but I have to keep going," said Pouliot, who shot up the draft rankings of International Scouting Services with this hot start. In its December rankings, ISS has him pegged as the eighth-best prospect for next summer's draft.
Foligno has some glowing reports for teams that might be interested in a big forward with silky, smooth hands.
"He's not a project. He shows up to play every night," said the former NHLer. "He drives the net, he comes out of the corner. He's very hard to pin down. If you play physical, he'll hit back and he's got speed. He's getting better and better each time he goes on the ice and he's becoming a more consistent, well-rounded player."
This is a little outdated as it was for last season, but i think you get my point. He is tough to defend against and shot up from #8 overall at the beginning of the year to #2 as of June/05. Had a point a game and over 100 p.i.m. last year. I think he shot up past Brule because he is still improving every game and growing.
Scout
rinkrat
06-27-2005, 02:17 PM
Thanks,Scout.I watched Benoit at the prospects game,he was very impressive.He took time to say hi and sign some autographs for my kids.Seemed like a nice kid.I was also very impressed with Alex Bourret,he flies around like the Tazmanian Devil.I believe he knocked Bobby Ryan out of the game with a wicked bodycheck.
Scout
07-03-2005, 12:51 PM
More talent after Crosby in draft class
While everybody agrees that Sidney Crosby will be the No. 1 pick whenever the NHL gets around to holding its entry draft, Benoit Pouliot hasn't escaped attention in assessments of eligible hockey talent.
The six-foot-three Sudbury Wolves left-winger is No. 2 in rankings compiled by International Scouting Services which uses 25 scouts to check out teen talent in North America and Europe. One-third of NHL teams, about 15 major junior teams and numerous NHL agents use the independent service.
"He reminds us of Vincent Lecavalier in his draft year," says the latest ISS report. "His skating is exceptional and possesses a lot of creativity that he can use at high speeds.
"The impact of having Mike Foligno as his coach shouldn't be lost because his demand for work ethic will allow Benoit to leave junior hockey as prepared as any player. Once he adds more strength and size, we feel that he will be a high-skilled player in the NHL."
Gilbert Brule, the five-foot-10 Vancouver Giants centre, is No. 3 in the ISS rankings.
"He doesn't fear anyone and is more than willing to work along the boards," says ISS.
Jackson Johnson is the best all-around defenceman available, says ISS. The six-foot-one American, who'll play at the University of Michigan next winter, was with the U.S. under-18 team last season and is ranked No. 4 overall.
Bobby Ryan, the six-foot-one Owen Sound Attack right-winger, is No. 5.
"Has supreme playmaking ability and plenty of two-way polish in his game, which makes him one of the most NHL-ready of all 2005 draft-eligible players," says ISS. "Ryan's real genius is his ability to carry guys to the net and, as well, he has hands that are exceptional for a kid his size.
"Ryan has become a player that ISS sees as a franchise player and that will become evident at the next draft."
It is believed that the next entry draft will be conducted so that records of the 30 teams dating a few years will be taken into account to determine the order in which teams get to select the teens. All 30 teams would be in contention to land the first pick, with the weaker teams having a greater percentage chance to be first to the mic.
Six-foot-two Slovenian centre Anze Kopitar is No. 6 in ISS rankings.
"Slovenia has yet to produce a notable hockey player but that is all set to change," says ISS, adding Kopitar has "huge upside potential."
"It wouldn't surprise ISS staff at all if this kid was selected second overall."
Rounding out the ISS top 10 are Erie Otters centre Ryan O'Marra, Lewiston Maineiacs centre Alex Bourret, Wolves defenceman Marc Staal and Chicoutimi Sagueneens centre Marek Zagrapan.
London Knights defenceman Danny Syvret, 20, wasn't selected in the last two drafts but "has made incredible strides in the last 12 months."
"His ice awareness, passing skills and defensive abilities have led him to make huge leaps. Consequently, ISS believes that the third time will be the charm" for Syvret.
He's 44th on the ISS list.
Carey Price of the Tri-City Americans is the top-ranked goalie. Other goalies projected as first-rounders are Tuukka Rask of Finland and Ondrej Pavelec of the Czech Republic.
The service's preliminary rankings for the 2006 entry draft have American centre Phil Kessel entrenched at No. 1 followed by Czech left-winger Michael Frolik, Kessel's U.S. junior teammate and fellow centre Peter Mueller, Peterborough Pets centre Jordan Staal and American high school forward Jonathan Toews.
The top-rated goalies are Dustin Butler of the Portland Winter Hawks and U.S. under-17 netminder Joe Palmer.
Scout
bandwagonboy
07-25-2005, 10:11 PM
With 86 points can someone explain to me why Yellow Horn isn't ranked a bit higher? Not that I'm a fan of the kid, but obviously I think he's got a lot more talent and potential than many of the guys that were ranked higher than him.
Scout
07-31-2005, 09:38 AM
This i copied and pasted from another site:
By teams in the Dub:
4 players:
Spokane, Saskatoon, and Medicine Hat
3 players:
Portland, Seattle, Kootenay, Vancouver, Moose Jaw
2 players:
Tri-City, Kamloops, Kelowna, Calgary, Brandon, Prince Albert
1 player:
Prince George, Red Deer, Regina, Swift Current
No players:
Lethbridge, Everett
Draft picks by position:
Goalie: 5
Defense: 20
Center: 10
Center/Left Wing: 2
Right Wing: 4
Left Wing: 2
1st Round:
5. Carey Price, Tri City, Goalie, Montreal
6. Gilbert Brule, Vancouver, Center, Columbus
8. Devin Setoguchi, Saskatoon, RW, San Jose
20. Kenndal McArdle, Moose Jaw, LW, Florida
2nd round
31. Brendan Mikkelson, Portland, D, Anaheim
32. Tyler Plante, Brandon, Goalie, Florida
37. Scott Jackson, Seattle, D, St Louis
40. Michael Sauer, Portland, D, New York Rangers
46. Dustin Kohn, Calgary, D, New York Islanders
52. Chris Durand, Seattle, Center, Colorado
57. Matt Kassian, Kamloops, LW, Minnesota
3rd Round
64. Joe Barnes, Saskatoon, Center, Carolina
65. Kristopher Westbloom, Kelowna, Goalie, Minnesota
66. Brodie Dupont, Calgary, Center, New York Rangers
67. Kris Russell, Medicine Hat, D, Columbus
69. Gord Baldwin, Medicine Hat, D. Calgary
77. Dalyn Flatt, Saskatoon, D, New York Rangers
79. Cody Franson, Vancouver, D, Nashville
4th Round
102. Blair Jones, Moose Jaw, Center, Tampa Bay
110. Kyle Bailey, Portland, Center, Minnesota
111. JD Watt, Vancouver, RW, Calgary
124. Ray Macias, Kamloops, D, Colorado
5th Round
132. Darren Helm, Medicine Hat, Center/LW, Detroit
140. Taylor Dakers, Kootenay, Goalie, San Jose
144. Masi Marjamaki, Moose Jaw, RW, New York Islanders
151. Jeff May, Prince Albert, D, Detroit
154. Wacey Rabbit, Saskatoon, Center, Boston
156. Ryan Reaves, Brandon, RW, St Louis
158. Matt Keeley, Medicine Hat, Goalie, Calgary
6th Round
166. Jason Lynch, Spokane, D, Colorado
169. Mike Gauthier, Prince Albert, D, St Louis
170. Sean Zimmerman, Spokane, D, New Jersey
171. Nicholas Drazenovic, Prince George, C, St Louis
174. John Flatters, Red Deer, D, Philadelphia
177. Derek Reinhart, Regina, D, Columbus
179. Brett Sutter, Kootenay, Center/LW. Calgary
7th Round
199. Riley Emmerson, Tri-City, D, Minnesota
203. Adam Hobson, Spokane, Center. Chicago
207. Myles Stoesz, Spokane, D, Atlanta
211. Ryan Russell, Kootenay, Center, New York Rangers
214. Bretton Stamler, Seattle, D, Detroit
221. Myles Rumsey, Swift Current, D, Calgary
222. Kyle Cumiskey, Kelowna, D, Colorado
Scout
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