.






May 30, 2007
By Scott Erskine
PA SportsTicker Hockey Editor
yahoo.com



ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - They may be years away from the NHL, but the stars of tomorrow got their first taste of life in the big leagues.

With the 2007 NHL Entry Draft less than a month away, the top six North American prospects were introduced to the media during a luncheon at the Anaheim Marriott on Wednesday, and they appeared to be quite prepared for the future.
  

Ranked No. 1 by the NHL Central Scouting Service, 17-year-old Kyle Turris is more than ready for the spotlight. A skilled playmaking center who scored 66 goals in 53 games for the Burnaby Express of the British Columbia Hockey League this past season, Turris has met with several clubs thus far and came away impressed each time.

"I went out for dinner with a couple of teams, and they're all great guys," said the 6-5 Turris, who idolizes Steve Yzerman. "They just kind of want to find out more about you. ... It's more just to find out what kind of kid you are than put you under the spotlight."

Turris, who hails from New Westminster, British Columbia, was named the top prospect by the CSS after being ranked fifth at mid-term.

Right behind Turris is Buffalo native Patrick Kane, who appears to be a seasoned veteran when conducting interviews. Moving up from No. 4 to No. 2, the 18-year-old right wing also is well-versed on the ice, having collected 62 tallies and 145 points in 58 games with the London Knights to win the Ontario Hockey League scoring title this campaign.

With the Chicago Blackhawks holding the first pick in this year's draft, Kane would have no problem beginning his career in the Windy City should he be selected ahead of Turris.

"Four or five years down the road, I think they could be a Cup contender, especially with all the young talent they've got," said Kane, a member of the United States' bronze medal-winning team at this year's World Junior Championship. "I think being part of that franchise would be fun. If that comes, then I'll be happy to go there and I'll work my hardest to try to make them a Cup contender."

Left wing James vanRiemsdyk doesn't care where he winds up. The 18-year-old will be happy just to join Brick, New Jersey native Jim Dowd as one of the few prospects to emerge from the state.

"Jim Dowd has paved the way for a lot of the younger guys coming out of New Jersey," the Middletown resident said. "It's quite an honor just to be put in the same breath as him and to be considered a top prospect coming out of New Jersey."

A 6-3, 200-pound left wing, vanRiemsdyk recorded 33 goals and 63 points in 42 contests with the U.S. National Under-18 team in 2006-07. Considered a power forward, the third-ranked prospect believes he can strive in all areas of the game.

"I'd say I'm a pretty good all-around player," said vanRiemsdyk, who will attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall. "I can be used in a lot of different situations, whether it be power play, penalty kill, stuff like that. I've got a good offensive touch. I think I need to just work on getting stronger and better conditioned, get my body ready to play at the next level."

The cousin of Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan, defenseman Keaton Ellerby also has no problem getting his nose dirty, as evidenced by his 120 penalty minutes in 69 games with the Western Hockey League's Kamloops Blazers this season. The 6-4 1/2, 186-pounder says he actually enjoys dropping the gloves.

I don't mind fighting if it comes around," said the fourth-ranked Ellerby, who also had two goals and 23 assists with the Blazers. "I come from a pretty tough family, so I don't mind doing it. ... I've fought probably close to 20 times since I've been in the league."

The 18-year-old Ellerby apparently is also good at it. When asked what his record was in those 20 fights, he modestly replied, "Probably 19-1."

Fellow defenseman Karl Alzner does not have much of a desire to fight. But the fifth-ranked prospect from the WHL's Calgary Hitmen is very interested in playing in the NHL.

"All I want is to go to a team that's going to give me a chance," said the 18-year-old stay-at-home blue-liner. "It'd be tough to go into an organization where they have a bunch of depth on D and young guys coming up. So a team that's in a rebuilding process right now, I think, would be the ideal situation for myself."

A good skater who registered eight tallies and 47 points in 63 games in 2006-07, Alzner is a huge fan of Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer. So when he got the opportunity to visit the Ducks' locker room Wednesday, it was a dream come true.

"It's cool. You're just in awe," the 6-2, 206-pound Alzner said. "You see how guys prepare for their games, and I want to prepare the same way they do because I want to eventually be in their position. But you don't want to interrupt them too much.

"I didn't want to get in the way of a guy like Niedermayer or (Chris) Pronger. They're both stretching and doing their own thing, so I just kind of sat back and observed everything I could take in."

Sixth-ranked prospect Sam Gagner has been in plenty of NHL locker rooms in his young life. The son of former center Dave Gagner, the 17-year-old center with the movie-star looks apparently learned a lot from those times.

"He understands all aspects of the game, he's stronger than I was and he just knows how to get better," said Dave Gagner, who is an assistant coach with his son's London Knights of the OHL. "He works really hard at it. He's very dedicated about those things. He would spend 30, 40 hours a week on the rink, either with his friends or by himself, just working on little tricks and things. It built his work ethic and his love for the game."

All that work is paying off for Sam Gagner, who notched 35 goals and 118 points in 53 games for London this campaign. The 5-10 3/4, 191-pound center, who possesses a good wrist shot and quick release, also was the youngest member of Team Canada's gold medal-winning squad at this year's World Junior Championship.

Despite his father's career choice, Sam Gagner did not feel obligated to follow suit.

"I think the way he brought me up is, he hasn't really put too much pressure on me to be a hockey player," the younger Gagner said. "It could've been difficult, but the way he handled it made it really easy for me."

The way the top six prospects handled themselves Wednesday was very impressive. They all hope to be able to continue doing it for many years to come.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news?slug=stfinalsprospects&prov=st&type=lgns