|
September
27, 2007
Recruiting Trail: Top 20 Defensemen
We're not ones to gloat, but we'd like to take
this opportunity to point out that the players who've topped
our list of incoming defensemen in each of the previous four
years have done pretty well. Ryan Suter, who sat atop the
2003 rankings, had a fairly productive year at Wisconsin prior
to turning pro at the end of the season. Alex Goligoski, who
put up 98 points in 118 career games for Minnesota, was our
top-ranked freshman rearguard in 2004. In 2005, Michigan's
Jack Johnson was the consensus choice as the No. 1 backliner,
and the honor went to Minnesota's Erik Johnson last year —
both will play in the National Hockey League this season.
This year's top incoming defenseman is Wisconsin's
Ryan McDonagh, the 12th overall selection in June's NHL Draft.
The rundown of the top 20 defensemen is dominated by the WCHA
and the CCHA — each conference boasts seven representatives.
The USHL (seven alums) and the U.S. NTDP (five) take up the
majority of the spots on our list.
Inside College Hockey compiled its 2007 Recruiting
Rankings with extensive input from college and junior coaches,
as well as professional scouts. Participants were asked to
evaluate recruits based on their projected impact at the college
level, not on their professional hockey prospects.
TOP
20 INCOMING DEFENSEMEN
|
| |
Name |
School |
Last
Team |
| |
Ryan McDonagh |
Wisconsin |
Cretin-Derham Hall (Minn.) H.S. |
"Physically, he's
a horse," Montreal director of player recruitment
and development Trevor Timmons said shortly after
the Habs took McDonagh in the first round of June's
NHL Draft. "He brings everything to the fold.
I don't expect him to stay too long at Wisconsin before
he dons one of our jersies."
|
| |
Kevin Shattenkirk |
Boston University |
U.S. NTDP |
His coach with the U.S.
NTDP, Ron Rolston, says his instincts and ability
to change the course of a game offensively from the
blue line are what set him apart from other defenders.
He's also extremely mobile.
|
| |
Jeff Petry |
Michigan State |
Des Moines (USHL) |
The son of former major
league pitcher Dan Petry, Jeff was named the USHL's
top defenseman in 2006-07. He scored 18-27—45
in 55 games for the Buccaneers.
|
| |
Ian Cole |
Notre Dame |
U.S. NTDP |
Had a breakout season
with the NTDP in 2006-07 after approaching his play
on the blue line with the K.I.S.S. method: Keep It
Simple, Son.
|
| |
Nick Petrecki |
Boston College |
Omaha (USHL) |
A highly touted prospect
two years ago, there are those who wonder if his development
has plateaued. We know this — you can't teach
size, and at 6-3, 215 pounds, Petrecki's a monster.
|
| |
Colby Cohen |
Boston University |
Lincoln (USHL) |
He'll be an instant upgrade
for the Terriers' power play. He's still a work in
progress in his own end, however, and his well-publicized
divorce from the U.S. NTDP last season raised questions
about his character.
|
| |
Kevin Quick |
Michigan |
Salisbury Prep |
Rare are the players from
Eastern prep schools who venture west. Wolverine fans
will be thrilled that Quick, a two-way defenseman,
opted to make the trek.
|
| |
Shane Sims |
Ohio State |
Des Moines (USHL) |
Sims' resume includes
being named Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League
West Division Best Defenseman
in 2005 and earning USHL All-Rookie honors in 2006
while helping Des Moines to the league playoff title.
|
| |
Cade Fairchild |
Minnesota |
U.S. NTDP |
Fairchild can carry the
puck and be creative offensively, which would fill
a huge void for a Gopher team looking to replace Alex
Goligoski, Erik Johnson, and Mike Vannelli.
|
| |
Brendan Smith |
Wisconsin |
St. Michael's (OPJHL) |
Smith, who hasn't been
a defenseman all that long, should give the Badgers
some offensive punch. He's still raw in his own end,
however.
|
| |
Bryan Brutlag |
Rensselaer |
Academy of Holy Angels (Minn.) H.S. |
| |
Ted Ruth |
Notre Dame |
U.S. NTDP |
| |
Cody Goloubef |
Wisconsin |
Oakville (OPJHL) |
The 2006 OPJHL Rookie
of the Year would have likely been ranked higher had
he not missed most of last season due to a hip injury
that required surgery.
|
| |
Brian Rufenach |
Clarkson |
Lindsay (OPJHL) |
| |
Derrick LaPoint |
North Dakota |
Green Bay (USHL) |
No player generated more
varied opinions than LaPoint, a 2007 All-USHL first-team
selection who scored 49 points in 59 games for the
Gamblers. Some thought he should be in the top five
on the list, while others felt he didn't belong in
the top 20.
|
| |
Joe Lavin |
Providence |
U.S. NTDP |
| |
Alain Goulet |
Nebraska-Omaha |
Aurora (OPJHL) |
| |
Ben Youds |
Minnesota State |
Shattuck St. Mary's (Minn.) |
The Brooklyn Park, Minn.
native scored 42 points in 61 games for Shattuck last
season. As a member of the U.S. Under-18 Select Team
that played in the 2005 Junior World Cup, he led all
defensemen in scoring.
|
| |
Vince Lo Verde |
Miami |
Waterloo (USHL) |
| |
Kevin Wehrs |
Minnesota |
Cedar Rapids (USHL) |
|
