|
Milwaukee Prospects
Jonas Andersson (JOH-nas AN-duhr-suhn) · Right Wing
Shoots: Right · 6-3 · 202 lbs.
Born: Stockholm, Sweden · February 24, 1981
Drafted: 2nd rd, 1999 (33rd overall)
Acquired: 1999 NHL Entry Draft
A good, effective skater...Is well balanced and has quick acceleration...High overall skill level...An offensive minded winger...Likes to go straight to the net...Possesses soft hands and is a good, crisp passer...A good competitor with strong desire. (99-00 Predators media guide) A speedy winger who left Sweden at a early age. Andersson has fine offensive skills and seems to be a very popular prospect on the other side of the pond. Has the potential to become a good NHL-player. (www.eliteprospects.com)
Greg Classen (CLAW-suhn) · Center
Shoots: Left · 6-1 · 200 lbs.
Born: Aylsham, Saskatchewan · August 24, 1977
Drafted: Never drafted
Acquired: Signed as a free agent (3-27-00)
Classen will once again try to earn regular playing time with the Predators in 2002-03. However, he may have to settle for a reserve role once more. Plays a sound two-way game. Has decent offensive upside and good hands. Capable of playing both center and left wing. Must prove he can play the game at the highest level. Could use more muscle on his 6-1 frame. Needs to put his concussion problems behind him. Classen has had his development curbed by serious injury. With time, he could become a solid citizen in Nashville but will have to overcome his concussion woes. (TSN.ca)
Martin Erat (EE-rat) · Left Wing
Shoots: Left · 6-0 · 195 lbs.
Born: Trebic, Czech Republic · August 28, 1981
Drafted: 7th rd, 1999 (191st overall)
Acquired: 1999 NHL Entry Draft
Fast skater with a powerful stride and excellent acceleration...Sees the ice well, can read the game well and is usually first to the puck...Effective in the corners and along the boards...Drives to the net well, finds open space to receive a pass...Good competitor, works hard every game...Used in all situations...A talented puckhandler. (99-00 Predators media guide) "Erat is one of the many Predators who are not well known but who have a lot of potential. He has the speed and moves that are reminiscent of a young Pavel Bure -- but not the hands yet. By having played his junior hockey in Red Deer, he was able to shake off some of less admirable aspects of the Czech game and you'll hear a lot from him in the future." (Al Strachan, Toronto Sun) Has a low center of gravity, is surprisingly strong on the puck and in the corners. Has offensive creativity and excellent playmaking skills. Must do a better job of playing without the puck and not get caught out of defensive position. Could still add more strength in order to better fight off checks. (TSN.ca)
Mike Farrell (MIHK FAHR-ehl) · Right Wing
Shoots: Right · 6-0 · 222 lbs.
Born: Edina, Minnesota · October 20, 1978
Drafted: 8th rd, 1998 (220th overall)
Acquired: Trade with Washington for Alexander Riazantsev (7-14-03)
Skates well, has prototypical size and solid hockey sense. Can line up either on the blueline or right wing. As a forward, he's very raw. Will need to adjust to his newfound role and become very good at the forechecking game. Farrell's stock could be a lot higher as a versatile player. However, he won't see playing time back on the blueline unless injuries ravage the organization. These days, Farrell's a full-fledged winger.(TSN.ca)
Vernon Fiddler (FIHD-luhr) · Center
Shoots: Left · 5-11 · 195 lbs.
Born: Edmonton, Alberta · May 9, 1980
Drafted: Undrafted
Acquired: Signed as a free agent (5-6-02)
"He seems to have good wheels, he's always around the puck, he's got a lot of energy and a lot of hockey sense. He's one of those guys that if he gets a chance, he'll show hard work and consistency." (Barry Trotz, Predators Head Coach) Fiddler will be in tough for a roster spot as a center in the Predators organization. Plays with hockey smarts, displays two-way capability and sound face-off skills. Lacks a huge offensive upside. Isn't big or overly physical. Fiddler continues to work hard in order to obtain regular playing time in Nashville. While he'll never be a major scorer, he should be able to settle into a fourth-line role down the road--possibly even as a third-liner. (TSN.ca)
Brian Finley (BRIGH-uhn FIHN-lee) · Goaltender
Catches: Right · 6-3 · 205 lbs.
Born: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario · July 3, 1981
Drafted: 1st rd, 1999 (6th overall)
Acquired: 1999 NHL Entry Draft
A butterfly style goaltender who goes down on most shots staying square to the puck for rebounds...Has very quick, controlled, smooth movement...Possesses tremendous reflexes with very fast feet and legs...Gets pads down and extended quickly to handle shots...Is able to recover efficiently from scrambles...Goes to the paddle down technique to close off the lower net...Good with his blocker and glove hand, however tends to juggle the puck at times...Has excellent anticipation, timing...Rarely caught out of position...Very good concentration and focus...Poised and confident...A solid competitor and a quiet leader. (99-00 Predators media guide)
Dan Hamhuis (HAM-yoos) · Defense
Shoots: Left · 6-0 · 208 lbs.
Born: Smithers, British Columbia · December 13, 1982
Drafted: 1st rd, 2001 (12th overall)
Acquired: 2001 NHL Entry Draft
A very good, well balanced skater with good agility and excellent speed...A very skilled, intelligent defenseman who anticipates the play very well and makes good decisions...Is a confident puck carrier and is very capable of leading the offensive rush...Possesses excellent passing skills and is a strong playmaker...Has excellent stamina and logs a tremendous amount of ice time...A very strong competitor and a hard worker...Plays a very sound positional game and is very poised and efficient in the defensive zone...Is strong in the corners and in front of the net and has shown a mean streak at times...Specializes in the hip check along the boards and is a very good open ice hitter. (01-02 Predators media guide)
Darren Haydar (HAY-dahr) · Right Wing
Shoots: Left · 5-9 · 170 lbs.
Born: Milton, Ontario · October 22, 1979
Drafted: 9th rd, 1999 (248th overall)
Acquired: 1999 NHL Entry Draft
Gets to the holes with speed and scores...Has very good skills and skates well enough...Is a smart player who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. (99-00 Predators media guide)
Andrew Hutchinson (HUHT-chihn-suhn) · Defense
Shoots: Left · 6-2 · 198 lbs.
Born: Evanston, Illinois · March 24, 1980
Drafted: 2nd rd, 1999 (54th overall)
Acquired: 1999 NHL Entry Draft
Has a long stride with speed and good balance...A heads up player who is effective on both power play and penalty kill units...Has a good, low shot from the point...A steady positional player who communicates and works well with his partner...A hard worker who plays a simple game...Not a punishing hitter but effectively takes his man out of the play...Plays with poise and often avoids risky plays...Needs to continue to build his strength and work on his physical game. (99-00 Predators media guide)
Tomas Kloucek (KLOH-chehk) · Defense
Shoots: Left · 6-3 · 225 lbs.
Born: Prague, Czech Republic · March 7, 1980
Drafted: 5th rd, 1998 (131st overall)
Acquired: Trade from NY Rangers with Rem Murray and Marek Zidlicky for Mike Dunham (12-12-02)
Kloucek hopes to return to 100 per cent capacity in 2002-03, after stuggling last year coming off knee surgery. Is a no-nonsense type behind the blueline and never takes any prisoners. Hits everything that moves and plays with tremendous passion. Lacks both defensive polish and a sound offensive game. Hasn't fully recovered from a serious knee injury suffered in 2000-01. Kloucek needs to rebound and place himself back in the NHL. If he can still be a physical force, his defensive-zone miscues won't be nearly as noticeable.(TSN.ca)
"He could be the hardest hitter I've ever played with, and I've played with Darius Kasparaitis." (Andreas Johansson, Predators forward)
Jan Lasak (YAN LA-shak) · Goaltender
Catches: Left · 6-0 · 204 lbs.
Born: Zvolen, Slovakia · April 10, 1979
Drafted: 2nd rd, 1999 (65th overall)
Acquired: 1999 NHL Entry Draft
Plays an unorthodox butterfly style...Goes down on most shots...Has very quick reflexes and a strong glove hand...A very good competitor who plays with confidence...Has good anticipation. (99-00 Predators media guide) Has tremendous flexibility and quickness. Is already a big-game netminder. Can make spectacular saves look routine. Needs to show more consistency in order to climb the ladder to the next level. Could become a victim of the numbers game in Nashville. Lasak has already established himself internationally as a Slovakian national goaltender but may find the task somewhat more difficult within a deep Predators organization. Nevertheless, Lasak remains an excellent goalie prospect. (TSN.ca)
Curtis Murphy (MUHR-fee) · Defense
Shoots: Right · 5-8 · 185 lbs.
Born: Kerrobert, Saskatchewan · December 3, 1975
Drafted: Never drafted
Acquired: Trade with Minnesota for Peter Smrek (6-26-03)
''He's good offensively, and defensively he competes. I don't think he's been given the opportunities to crack the NHL because of his size." (David Poile, Predators General Manager)
Konstantin Panov (KAWN-stan-tihn PAN-ahv) · Left Wing
Shoots: Left · 6-0 · 195 lbs.
Born: Chelyabinsk, USSR · June 29, 1980
Drafted: 5th rd, 1999 (131st overall)
Acquired: 1999 NHL Entry Draft
A strong skater with good overall speed...A very good stick handler when in motion...Has a strong, accurate wrist shot with a quick release...Also has a good slap shot off the wing...Shows good hockey sense and is reliable in all game situations...A very strong two way player...Will take a hit to make a play. (99-00 Predators media guide)
Robert Schnabel (SHNAH-buhl) · Defense
Shoots: Left · 6-5 · 230 lbs.
Born: Prague, Czech Republic · November 10, 1978
Drafted: 5th rd, 1998 (129th overall)
Acquired: Claimed off waivers from Phoenix (1-2-01)
Schnabel's big and strong, but has never really been given much of a chance. (David Poile, Predators General Manager)
Ray Schultz (RAY SHUHLTZ) · Defense
Shoots: Left · 6-1 · 201 lbs.
Born: Red Deer, Alberta · November 13, 1976
Drafted: 8th rd, 1995 (184th overall)
Acquired: Signed as a free agent (7-21-03)
Is rugged along the blueline and a good team player. Packs quite a wallop and can be used as an enforcer. Is not talented enough to take a regular shift in the NHL. Has trouble with swift skaters. Tends to take bad penalties. Schultz could make a decent seventh defenseman in the NHL, mainly because of the toughness element he provides nightly. (TSN.ca) Schultz has always been on the bubble with the Islanders, and he was impressive enough that they gave him a one-way contract last year. (David Poile, Predators General Manager)
Ben Simon (BEN-ja-mihn SIGH-mohn) · Center
Shoots: Left · 6-0 · 200 lbs.
Born: Shaker Heights, Ohio · June 14, 1978
Drafted: 5th rd, 1997 (110th overall 0
Acquired: Signed as a free agent (7-14-03)
Has solid playmaking and defensive skills at the center position. Doesn't back down from physical challenges. Isn't very big and will need to get much stronger in order to compete in the NHL. Doesn't have high-end scoring ability. Simon's long-range projection is as a third- or fourth-line player. (TSN.ca)
Wyatt Smith (SMIHTH) · Center
Shoots: Left · 5-11 · 208 lbs.
Born: Thief River Falls, Minnesota · February 13, 1977
Drafted: 9th rd, 1997 (233rd overall)
Acquired: Signed as a free agent (7-15-02)
Smith will again try to secure a fourth-line center spot in the NHL, this time in Nashville. Has excellent defensive skills and is hard to knock off the puck. Won't ever pile up big numbers in the NHL. Needs to find his niche so as to not be lost in the shuffle. Smith has a chance to earn a spot as a fourth-line regular in the NHL. For now, he'll have to fight for his ice time. Versatility may be the key to his hockey future. (TSN.ca)
Scottie Upshall (UHP-shawl) · Right Wing
Team: Kamloops (WHL)
Shoots: Left · 6-0 · 184 lbs.
Born: Fort McMurray, Alberta · October 7, 1983
Drafted: 1st rd, 2002 (6th overall)
Acquired: 2002 NHL Entry Draft
A good skater with quick acceleration...Plays a solid all-around game...Has keen on-ice perception and uses his teammates well...Has the knack to position himself well in the offensive zone...Has the ability to create good scoring chances...Possesses great skills and has the ability to score in many different ways...Plays bigger than his size and does not shy away from the physical game...Plays a very consistent game and is always a standout player...Plays hard away from the puck. (02-03 Predators media guide) "He has a chance to be a good scoring winger. He finishes every check, will be in your face and makes things happen. He plays an abrasive style and plays on the edge." (Craig Channell, Predators director of amateur scouting) The best of the rest is super pest Scottie Upshall, a 5-11 left winger who plays much bigger than his size. He's highly skilled and gets under opponents' skin better than anyone. Has speed, quick hands, and great moves. Plays like a big man trapped in a small man's body and would be a legitimate top 10 candidate in most draft years. (USA Today) "Character and intelligence are the most appealing of his many assets." (David Boclair, THN writer)
© 2002-2003 ThePredatorsReport.com
The Predators Report is a non-profit fansite covering the Nashville Predators. It is not affiliated with the Nashville Predators or the NHL. All logos are property of the NHL. Scouting reports are the property of its respective owner.
|
|
