When the Calgary Flames drafted WHL'er Ryan Howse in the 3rd round (74th overall) they hoped the diminutive winger would prove to become a valuable prospect for the organization. Well, Howse, 5-11, 195 lbs, has grown a few inches, added a few pounds, and continues to improve on what was a breakout season for the WHL's Chilliwack Bruins in 2008-09.2009-10 has Howse with an impressive 34 goals and 50 points in 46 games. He is playing with more jam than in recent years, and along with the jump in production (he scored 30 goals last season) he has also become a better two-way player, something that is key for players with any aspiration of making the jump to the NHL one day.
Much of Howse's improvement in play without the puck can be attributed to new Bruins head coach and ex-NHL'er Marc Habscheid. Habscheid is a demanding coach who holds his players - even his best ones - accountable at both ends of the rink.
Some of his improvement with the puck might be attributed to a new backhand shot that Howse has added to his arsenal. Habscheid explains the forwards' backhander this way:
"A couple of times he's come down on his off-wing, toe-dragged the puck to his backhand and tried to get it off really quick. Maybe I don't have a good memory, but it's like nothing I can remember seeing before. It's pretty impressive."
It's a shot that Howse has been practicing, where he brings the puck in close to his body and shoots it almost like a backwards snap-shot.
Ryan Howse now has 76 goals for the Bruins in his career, 5 more than ex-Bruin Oscar Moller who is now playing for the Los Angeles Kings.
Howse, blessed with great skating, can hope that his path to the NHL goes as smoothly as Moller's did, who made the jump to the NHL directly from juniors last season.
Until then, he has another year left of eligibility in the WHL, and if AHL seasoning is in store for him it won't be a long drive to the rink as the Flames AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, play just 15 minutes up the road from Chilliwack.
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NHL Central Scouting have released their complete rankings of 211 players for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
The International Scouting Services have released their Mid-Term Rankings for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
