Prospect Pulse: Roman Josi

Just because I feel like it today, Prospect Pulse will feature another Dane. Roman Josi is 6'0, 180 pound defenseman is rated 19th overall by the Red Line Report. Did you know that? Me either. He is first and foremost an offensive defender who excels at handling the puck. He boasts deceptively fast speed and doesn't sacrifice any of that speed when he is skating with the puck.

Using his speed and agility, Josi is adept at taking the puck coast to coast and seems to gain the offensive blue line at will. Is a good decision maker and jumps into the play regularly. Likes to coast into the slot and even deeper in the offensive zone but never seems to get caught out of position defensively. Josi's best defensive attribute, aside from his positioning, is his ability to make a break out pass. Team's cannot effectively fore-check him because he can burn teams with long tape to tape passes.

He displays excellent intelligence and is creative with the puck and anticipates the play without the puck. Scouts marvel at his soft hands (likely due to Palmolive) and how he can control the puck in tight spaces (thats what she said). Though he needs to get stronger, observers say you can't deny his ability to create something every time he touches the puck.

Prospect Pulse: Lars Eller

I realized far too late that I blew my chance for a Halloween appropriate Prospect Pulse when I profiled Ben Blood a little too early. Since no team has a Jack O'Lantern in their Top 20 prospects, I went with the Blues' Lars Eller.

Eller, a Danish product who learned the game in Sweden, was taken 13th overall in last June's draft. With that selection, the Blues made him the highest drafted Danish born and trained skater. He possesses a North American style game that is sound technically (his father is a former Danish national team member and current Danish Elite League coach) and defensively responsible.

That being said, he is not the 2nd coming of Mats Lindgren, the erstwhile Swedish grinder. Eller is a good playmaker and is adept at finding room to make a play. He has a good touch around the net, but by his own admission he would rather shoot than pass. In his draft year, the Dane put up 18-37-55 in the defense first Swedish junior league and helped his team to the championship.

In addition to the offensive prowess, scouts rave about Eller's work ethic. He apparently will never give up on a play and can give opposing defensemen fits with his tenacious forecheck. Though I can find scant mention of any weaknesses, Euro hockey websites note that he could improve his play without the puck. Eller is spending this season in Europe in the Swedish junior league, but may see time in the Elite League and will most definitely get some ice with the Danish National team.

Prospect Pulse: Nigel Williams

Williams, a Colorado draft pick, started last season with the University of Wisconsin Badgers. Upset with his lack of ice time, 1 game played, he bolted for the Ontario Hockey League over the Christmas break, and proceeded to tear it up, registering 36 points in 46 games as a defenseman.

Williams has followed up that success with a hot start in Sagninaw. In 7 games, he has registered 9 points. Standing 6'5 and weighing 225 pounds, Williams is that rare combination of size and skill. He has improved his point totals as he has progressed through hockey without sacrificing his mean streak.

Once projected to go as high at 11th overall in the NHL draft, Williams slipped to the 2nd round because of his problems at Wisconsin. Though the program was upset with Williams for leaving, he felt that he needed to play in order to develop. He has the size and speed to be an NHL defender but his decision making has not caught up with his puck skills. An avid roller hockey player, Williams is said to be fearless and easily coachable.

Though Williams is likely a few years away from the NHL, he continues to climb up the Avalanche list of top prospects, currently sitting at #6. Keep an eye on this one.

News You Can Use Late in the Day:

-Bob McKenzie feels that the NHL should have no problem handing Jesse Boulerice a long term suspension.

-After one game, Carey Price is the new Saint Patrick.

-The St. Paul police name Dwayne Roloson an honorary officer.

-Inside College Hockey names its pre-season All-Americans.

-Eric Duhatschek doesn't think that Boulerice's apology will help him.

-No link yet, but TSN was reporting that the Penguins and Lightning will indeed open next season in Prague.

-Oilers blogger Lowetide reports that Ethan Moreau's bruised foot may in fact be broken.

-The WHL has approved the sale of the Kamloops Blazers.

-Rocky Wirtz re-assigns Bob Pulford.

-Rob Ramage found guilty on all five counts. Loses US residency.

-Panthers prospect Shawn Matthias figures he can work himself into the NHL.

-Dave Scatchard is with the Rangers on a try-out basis.

-The Devils expect to be able to deal Richard Matvichuk soon.

-The Top 10 teams in Canadian college hockey.

-Mirtle with a look at each team's most used power play players.

-No sophomore jinx in sight for Paul Statsny.

-Ray Emery sent down to Binghamton for conditioning. Somebody warn the drivers.

-Niitymaki hopes to stick with the Flyers.

-A dandy of a fight courtesy of Fanhouse.

-On Frozen Blog notes that the NHLFA is enjoying its 10th Anniversary.

-Steve Yzerman tells the crowd in South Bend that they may be the new Hockeytown.

-Fanhouse wonders if fighting is on the rise in the NHL.

-Stan Fischler takes a look at what is ailing the Rangers. Maybe Scott Gomez could stop counting his money long enough to put up some points?

-The Sioux City Musketeers have put a lot of thought into nicknaming their lone French player. Please write to Illegal Curve and collect your 10 cents if you guessed Frenchy.

-The Beaver County Times reports that Michel Therien is furious over the Penguins lack of effort.

-Lightning Strikes notes that the Ottawa Senators are the second choice for who will play the Penguins in Prague next season.

-Two ex-Medicine Hat Tigers meet up in Motown.

-Suicide watches abound in Toronto as the Leafs are already in must-win territory.

-News and notes from around the AHL. Notice that the Moose make their debut tonight a full 8 days after the rest of the AHL.

-Mats Sundin still has hope for the season.

-John Buccigross' mailbag.

-Interesting website for the hockey fanatic.

-Battle of Alberta with a list of questions they would like to ask a coach.

-Scott Morrison laments on what the Boulerice incident will do to hockey.

-Razor will a slap in the face letter from Dallas to Buffalo.

-Ten Questions for the Bruins.

-The NHL will use a compresses schedule in 2008-2009.

-Marc Savard will continue to sit and rest his groin.

-Covered in Oil with thoughts on last night's snooze-fest in St. Paul.

-The Dallas Stars have activated Mike Ribeiro.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Kyle Kosior

Prospect Pulse

This tiny picture is the huge Simon Danis-Pepin. The Chicago Blackhawks second rounder (61st overall) currently patrols the blue line for the University of Maine Black Bears. Two things about Pepin intrigued me. First, he is a monster. Standing at 6-7 and weighing a modest 221, he is still pretty lanky. That being said, his wing span is a sight to behold. I saw him play the UND Fighting Sioux about a year ago, and players got tired trying to circumavigate his circumference. He is just that wide. Second, he is mean. Like Sean Avery after Elisha Cuthbert dumped him mean. He punishes people in front of the net and will literally chase opponents back to their bench. Adding fuel to the fire, he plays like an asshole. Seriously. Cheap shots, dirty hits, hits after the whistle, non-stop chatter (in French I presume) and a general distaste for anyone not wearing the same color as him were the norm over the 2-game series I saw him play.

Scouting reports on Danis-Pepin also note that he uses his size effectively and possesses good hockey sense. Blessed with offensive awareness and a keen understanding of how to play defense, Danis-Pepin needs to work on his foot speed, but is nevertheless a good skater. It is my belief that this foot speed issue is not as serious as it would be for a smaller player, as his long stride and positional strength, not to mention his condor-like wingspan, can help mask any deficiencies.

A definite project at this point, Danis-Pepin is just entering his junior year at Maine, where he will have an expanded role with the team. He noted in a Q and A that he is continuing to work on his defensive game, especially down low containment. If he can continue to grow into his body and hone his offensive skills, Chicago will have added another quality piece to their defensive puzzle.

News You Can Use in the Late Morning:

-Ryan Smyth skating with Joe Sakic at Avs' camp.

-Two Kostitsyn's in camp with the Canadiens. I saw the older one a few times with Hamilton last year, and he is blessed with a ton of offensive talent.

-Blue Jackets suspend Svitov.

-Sens' prospect a Golden Gloves champ.

-NHL adds new stats to its game reports.

-Ten rookies who may make an impact this year. No surprises really, unless Gagner makes the Oilers out of camp.

-Allan Houston eyes a Canada-US junior series.

-Will be Forsberg or a trade for the Senators?

-Bad luck seems to follow Leafs' Wozniewski.

-News on Sharks prospects and projects from Battle of California.

-Stars feel goal production can come from within the organization. Note the prospects they are keen on at the bottom of the article.?XM Radio noted that Junior Lessard was skating on a line with Mike Modano. I wonder if CBC's Scott Russell is jealous.

-A round up on Red Wings' news from Kukla's Korner.

-Flames want production from greybeard Owen Nolan.

-Training camp news from the Score. Note that former Devils' first rounder Adrian Foster is in camp with the Wild. Anyone remember the Devils going way off the board in selecting Foster? I thought it was Kevin Lowe up there.

-Manitoba Moose pressbox regular Tyler Bouck in camp with the Ducks. Must have had time to talk to Burke on his visits to Winnipeg. Also note that Moose d-man Max Fortunus is skating with the Canucks. Moose GM Craig Heisinger and Scout Bruce Southern do an excellent job finding talent.

- A live blog of the Penguins' first day of camp. (Hat tip, Mirtle)

-Stars' prospects struggle.

-Leafs want more games in Western Canada. Can Cole and Neale stay up that late?

-Mirtle with a Predators preview.

-Profile of the Caps' Chris Bourque.

-5 Questions from Islanders camp.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Kyle Kosior. (p.s. Go Riders!)

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