The first round of the 2011 NHL draft will take place at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 24, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. Rounds 2 through 7 are June 25. Thumbnail sketches of top players in the draft, according to rankings of the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau, which released its final list Monday:
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS
Red Deer, WHL
6-foot-1, 164 pounds, center, shoots left
Born: April 12, 1993, in Burnaby, British Columbia
North American skater final rank: 1
Midterm rank: 2
According to NHL Central Scouting’s B.J. MacDonald: “(Nugent-Hopkins) has very good puck- handling capabilities. His on-ice awareness is very good. He’s one of those guys that knows where everyone is and where they should be and where the puck should go. He can dish both right or left, either on his backhand or forehand with that kind of vision. But not just the vision, but the fact he can lay that puck between the skate boot and the skate blade — that’s hard to find.”
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM
2010-11 Red Deer WHL 69 31 75 106 51
2009-10 Red Deer WHL 67 24 41 65 28
ADAM LARSSON
Skelleftea, Sweden
6-3, 200 pounds, defenseman, shoots right
Born: Nov. 12, 1992 in Skelleftea, Sweden
European skater final rank: 1
Midterm rank: 1
According to NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards: “Adam is one of the best skaters in this year’s draft. He has excellent speed and mobility. He also has patient puck-handling abilities and can surprise an opponent with a solid hit. His size and skating ability make him comparable with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman.”
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM
2010-11 Skelleftea SWE 37 1 8 9 41
2009-10 Skelleftea SWE 49 4 13 17 18
GABRIEL LANDESKOG
Kitchener, OHL
6-1, 207 pounds, left wing, shoots left
Born: Nov. 23, 1992, in Stockholm, Sweden
North American skater final rank: 2
Midterm rank: 1
According to NHL Central Scouting’s Peter Sullivan: “Gabriel does remind me of former Kitchener Ranger (and Philadelphia Flyers captain) Mike Richards. He sticks up for his teammates and is as strong at both ends of the rink as any player in the draft this year. He competes as hard if not harder than anybody. He’s got all the assets that you need to be a team leader and, for a potential No. 1 overall, that’s what you would want.”
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM
2010-11 Kitchener OHL 53 36 30 66 61
2009-10 Kitchener OHL 61 24 22 46 51
JONATHAN HUBERDEAU
Saint John, QMJHL
6-1, 170 pounds, center, shoots left
Born: June 4, 1993, in Saint-Jerome, Quebec
Hometown: Laval, Quebec
North American skater final rank: 3
Midterm rank: 4
According to NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Bordeleau: “He’s the type of player who can change the outcome of a game suddenly and quickly. He’s displayed unbelievably quick hands and an ability to set up and score goals. He definitely has NHL hands and playmaking ability. He’s also gritty and does not back down when challenged.”
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM
2010-11 Saint John QMJHL 67 43 62 105 88
2009-10 Saint John QMJHL 61 15 20 35 43
DOUGIE HAMILTON
Niagara, OHL
6-4, 187 pounds, defenseman, shoots right
Born: June 17, 1993, in Toronto
Hometown: St. Catharines, Ontario
North American skater final rank: 4
Midterm rank: 7
According to NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards: “He moves the puck well and makes good outlet passes. He does make good decisions with the puck, moves it very well out of his zone. He’s a big guy, he’ll take the body. He uses his size well. He can muscle people off the puck.”
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM
2010-11 Niagara OHL 67 12 46 58 77
2009-10 Niagara OHL 64 3 13 16 36
