Five to Watch at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants headlines another group of five CHL players, all of which competed at the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, that are projected first round selections at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft which takes place Friday June 26, 2009, at 7:00 pm at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.

Evander Kane – Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Hometown: Vancouver, BC
D.O.B: August 2, 1991
Ht:  6’1  Wt:  180  Shoots:  L
Rank: 3

Evander Kane of the Vancouver Giants scored 48 goals and 48 assists for 96 points in 61 games to finish fourth in WHL scoring in just his second season.  He added another seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 17 playoff games.  He began the 2008-09 campaign with a 22 game point-streak and registered 27 multi-point games including two five-point games.  He was twice named the Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week and helped Canada win gold at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa.  Prior to this season, Kane also won gold with Canada at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and played for Team Pacific at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.  Kane has MasterCard Memorial Cup experience having won a title with the Giants on home ice in 2007 with one assist in two games.

"He has power forward qualities from the blue line in. He's the type of player who doesn't like being denied access to the net. You can almost see when he's got the puck he's going to the net and defying people to stop him. He'll be a 200-pound forward in the National Hockey League. He plays like he's 6-2, 6-3, bigger than his size. He's surprised a lot of people with his strength going to the net." – NHL Central Scouting’s Blair MacDonald.

Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Evander Kane.


Zack Kassian – Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Hometown: LaSalle, ON
D.O.B: January 24, 1991
Ht:  6’3   Wt:  212   Shoots:  R
Rank: 10

Zack Kassian scored 24 goals and 39 assists for 63 points in 61 games for the Petes and led the club with 136 penalty minutes.  He was considered the second best body checker in the Eastern Conference Coaches Poll this season.  Kassian competed for Team OHL at the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge and scored a goal and an assist for the Eastern Conference All-Stars at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic.  Internationally, Kassian recently competed at the 2009 World Under-18 Hockey Championships for Canada finishing fourth but won gold with Canada at the event in 2008.  He also won gold for Team Ontario at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

"Kassian is one of the toughest guys in the OHL and probably the entire draft. Last season as an under-ager there were overage guys in the league who would not take him on. He has not fought much this season (because) he has not had to. He is at his best when he is playing physical and tough along the boards. He protects the puck very well and fights through checks. He has very good play-making and puck-handling abilities." – NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards.

Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Zack Kassian.


Landon Ferraro – Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Hometown: Burnaby, BC
D.O.B: August 8, 1991
Ht:  5’11  Wt:  169   Shoots:  R
Rank: 18

Landon Ferraro led the Red Deer Rebels in scoring as a second year player with 37 goals including 12 on the power play with 18 assists for 55 points in 68 games including 13 multi-point games.  He was named the team’s most valuable player.  Selected second overall at the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft by the Rebels, Ferraro represented Team Pacific at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and also played for Team British Columbia at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.  He registered the fastest lap time of 14.009 seconds to win the Fastest Skater competition at the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.

"He's very good defensively. He has very good defensive positioning; he's always on the right side of the puck. If there's a turnover he's in good position right away. And he comes back deep in his own zone to help. He's very strong defensively, as well as being an offensive threat." – NHL Central Scouting’s Blair MacDonald.

Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Landon Ferraro.


Jordan Caron – Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Hometown: Sayabec, QC
D.O.B: November 2, 1990
Ht:  6’3   Wt:  200   Shoots:  L
Rank: 21

Jordan Caron scored a team-high 36 goals adding 31 assists for 67 points in 56 games including 20 multi-point games for the Oceanic.  He also scored two goals in four games at the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup.  This season he went on a 17-game point scoring streak beginning at the end of January.  Caron was named the QMJHL Offensive Player of the Week in October and was later named to Team QMJHL for the ADT Canada Russia Challenge.  He played for Team Quebec at the 2007 Canada Winter Games. 

"Jordan is a very steady, dependable player. He works hard. He's not a flashy player, but he plays his position well and also gets his fair share of points." – NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Bordeleau.

Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Jordan Caron.

Calvin de Haan – Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Hometown: Carp, ON
D.O.B: May 9, 1991
Ht:  6’0    Wt:  165    Shoots:  L
Rank: 25

Calvin de Haan finished second in Generals scoring with eight goals and 55 assists for 63 points in 68 games as a rookie in the OHL.  His 63 points were good for seventh overall amongst rookies as well as defencemen.  He was honoured as an Eastern Conference All-Star at the 2009 Subway OHL All-Star Classic and was a first team all-rookie defenceman.  He was recognized him as the third smartest player, third best playmaker, and third best offensive defenceman in the 2008-09 OHL Eastern Conference Coaches Poll.  He made his debut with Team Canada at the 2009 World Under-18 Championships.

"Calvin shows a lot of patience and poise for a young defenseman. He has high-end puck skill and passing ability. He has a very good shot, hard and accurate, and a very good ability to get the puck through traffic to the net. He sees the ice very well and moves the puck through traffic. His skating is excellent, mobility, agility and speed. His biggest asset is his hockey sense. He makes very few mistakes." – NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards.

Click here to view a complete NHL Prospect Profile for Calvin de Haan.

Photo of Evander Kane by Aaron Bell/CHL