2002-03 Statistics: 45 GP, 31-31—62, 60 PIM

Central Scouting: 3rd among North American skaters
The Hockey News: 8th

Background: The hero of the Frozen Four, Vanek put on a show in Buffalo. Scouts admired that high skill level and clutch goal-scoring ability all season.

Scout's Take: "He's a great physical specimen, being barely 19 years old. He's powerful and he's got everything. He can skate like the wind and has the quickest hands I've seen on a kid that age in a long time.

"The rap on him is that some nights he doesn't show up. Personally, I think that's more of a function of the way he plays. He's not one of those guys who runs in and stirs everything up. He plays by reading what's going on and reacting to what happens. To say that he's lazy or doesn't have good work habits is silly.

"I don't know if he'll be a top five guy, but remember that it just takes one team to like him a whole lot and he's gone. I certainly think he'll go pretty early, and I don't think the team that takes him is going to want to rush him. I don't see him in a NHL role next year."

Projection: First round