Victoria Royals Draft Rankings

[IR_Hockey]

Steven Hodges (55th) and Logan Nelson (108th) on being ranked for Top North American prospects in this year's NHL Entry Draft.

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Anyone else wonder how Steven Hodges got such a high ranking? Don't get me wrong I understand the kid can play all three zones and at a high level, but where is the consistency?

Thoughts?

[rednex50]

55th in N/A Skaters means he'll be lucky to be drafted by 4th round. Strong Russian/Swedish/Finish contingency, not to mention Goaltenders (N/A and Euros) and a few guys taken off the board because of a late playoff push. He has a great stride. He is a very good 2 way Centre, but yes...has struggled with #'s and consistency. Sometimes scouts notice and rank based on the intangibles, and not just the G's, A's and +/-.

[IR_Hockey]

55th in N/A Skaters means he'll be lucky to be drafted by 4th round. Strong Russian/Swedish/Finish contingency, not to mention Goaltenders (N/A and Euros) and a few guys taken off the board because of a late playoff push. He has a great stride. He is a very good 2 way Centre, but yes...has struggled with #'s and consistency. Sometimes scouts notice and rank based on the intangibles, and not just the G's, A's and +/-.

Totally agree with everything you said, I was still kind of shocked with the #55 is all.

[rednex50]

Oscar Moller is still the Highest Drafted Bruin, went late in the 2nd round and some mock drafts had him going mid-to late 1st rounds.

Last Season Topping was ranked mid-season at 31, but ended up not getting drafted at all.

[IR_Hockey]

Oscar Moller is still the Highest Drafted Bruin, went late in the 2nd round and some mock drafts had him going mid-to late 1st rounds.

Last Season Topping was ranked mid-season at 31, but ended up not getting drafted at all.

I am getting a sense over the last couple days that you are quite negative with your posts. Just an observation. Were you trying to make a point with your post?

[pontcanna]

Hodges, Nelson have scouts' attention at mid-season

BY CLEVE DHEENSAW, TIMESCOLONIST.COM JANUARY 11, 2012 10:06 PM


The overwhelming majority of elite American hockey players still prefer the NCAA, where the collegiate atmosphere provides a sort of cultural comfort zone.

But Victoria Royals forward Logan Nelson, a native of Rogers, Minnesota, has been rewarded for taking the major junior route in the Western Hockey League. The emerging two-way forward is listed as the 108th-ranked North American skater in the mid-season rankings for the 2012 NHL draft released Wednesday by Central Scouting.

The draft will take place June 22-23 at the Consol Energy Centre in Pittsburgh.

Victoria forward Steve Hodges, a native of Delta, is rated 55th as the Royals franchise looks to be represented in this year’s draft after being shut out in 2011.

“It’s a pretty good honour,” said Nelson, by phone from Regina, where the Royals are preparing to meet the Pats on Friday evening.

Nelson described himself as a “role player.”

However he describes himself, he’s developing into a reliable performer and is second in WHL rookie scoring with 17 goals and 40 points in 41 games.

“I’m going to keep doing my part by doing what I’ve been doing — be a good guy in the room and being a lean-on, go-to guy” he said.

“Sunny [former Royals leading scorer Kevin Sundher who was traded to Brandon this week] is gone and the team is going to need a go-to guy like he was. I believe I can step up.”

A growing number of scouts think so, too, and are taking notice of Nelson. That brings its own kind of pressure.

“You try to block it out and play as if they [scouts] are not there,” he said.

“You just go out and have fun playing. If you do that, things will be fine.”

The six-foot-one Nelson brings a rare blend of scoring skill and physicality.

“I try to be a physical presence and protect my teammates,” he said.

The five-foot-11 Hodges, a quicksilver skater, has 13 goals and 26 points this season.

“Steve has turned into a good, solid two-way player,” said Royals GM and head coach Marc Habscheid.

“That has to be a part of his game. Some guys get tricked into thinking you need huge numbers like 127 points in a season. But that isn’t the case. As long as you are a specialist, there are places on a team for you. Pro teams are made up of all kinds of players. Whatever tools are given to you, use them to the best of your ability.”

Habscheid predicted other draft-eligible Royals like Brandon Magee, Brett Cote, Zane Jones, Austin Carroll and newly-acquired Dakota Conroy would potentially be ranked as the draft approaches.

“I see a lot of our draft-eligible [1994 birth-year] guys right there in the mix, as well,” said Habscheid.