Next season should bring along more young players into the NHL, and while most fantasy hockey owners will focus on names such as Cody Hodgson, Taylor Hall, and Alex Pietrangelo, let's look at some other names that could help fantasy teams in the near future.
Here are five NHL prospects who are on my radar for 2010-11.
Logan Couture - C, SJS
Couture has had a fantastic rookie season on the AHL, recording 20 goals and 54 points in just 41 games. The 9th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Couture has been compared to NHL great Steve Yzerman. While this is certainly an unfair comparison, it does speak of Couture's elite skill level. Since being drafted his skating and strength has improved. Couture is a fierce competitor on the ice and shows the type of work-ethic that should ensure success at the NHL level.
Couture didn't look out of place in his two brief stints with the San Jose Sharks this season. The question is, will there be room for him to make the team out of camp this fall? The good news for him is that the Sharks have several free agents this summer including Patrick Marleau (UFA), Joe Pavelski (RFA), Devin Setoguchi (RFA), Scott Nichol (UFA), Manny Malhotra (UFA), Rob Blake (UFA), and Evgeni Nabokov (UFA).
There are enough bodies moving around in San Jose this summer, especially centers, that Couture should have a very legitimate shot at securing a permanent roster spot for next season.
Kevin Shattenkirk - D, COL
Shattenkirk was drafted 14th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. The good news for fantasy hockey owners is that after three seasons at Boston University he is ready to turn pro and will do so later this month. Shattenkirk is a highly gifted offensive defenseman. He skates well, makes a good first pass, and knows when to jump into the offensive zone.
The Avalanche are in the midst of a youth movement and could have as many as three defensemen leaving this summer through unrestricted free agency (Brett Clark, Ruslan Salei, and Adam Foote) and with John-Michael Liles as really the only proven offensive threat the door could be wide open for Shattenkirk to seize a roster spot in 2010-11.
P.K. Subban - D, MON
Subban is already a well known commodity but often not regarded in the same breath as fellow prospect defensemen such as Alex Pietrangelo or even John Carlson. But the roving defenseman is absolutely tearing up the AHL in his rookie season and has 14 goals and 47 points in 64 games to prove it.
Subban will likely endure a career of being recognized as a 'high risk/high reward' type player, but his offensive abilities are unquestionable. What is questioned, though, is if he can make the Canadiens out of camp next season. The Habs have six defensemen under contract for 2010-11 but it is my opinion that if the team thinks Subban will make them better they will make room for him.
Lars Eller - F, STL
Eller is not a guy who projects as a top-line forward per se, but he is the type of player that has a combination of good offensive skills and dependable two-way play that makes me think that it's possible he could play a key role for the Blues in 2010-11.
The Blues have a lot of talent up front, and a lot of interchangeable parts. It's not inconceivable to think that based on the overall young age of the forwards that Eller could find himself in a top-6 role at some point next season.
Michael Grabner - F, VAN
Grabner was drafted 14th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. If you want a comparison, think Mason Raymond but faster and with a better shot. Grabner needs to show the work ethic that Raymond possesses but it has improved over the past two seasons in the AHL.
The Canucks will have some room up front next season and will likely want to plug those holes with youth coming through the system. The team probably won't be big spenders on the free agent market with pending UFA's Ryan Kesler and Raymond due hefty pay raises and a hole to fill on defense if Willie Mitchell is not re-signed.
Grabner showed some chemistry playing on a line with Kesler and Raymond in a brief callup this season and the line was touted as perhaps the fastest in the NHL.
He could be a candidate for 20+ goals in his rookie season in 2010-11.
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