Prospect Notes:
Five make McKeen's Top 120

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

A just published ranking of the top NHL prospect has three Dallas Stars prospects in the Top 60 and a total of five in the Top 120.

McKeen's, a Canadian based publication that focuses heavily on prospects and the NHL draft, listed left wing James Neal as the Stars top prospect and placed him 42nd among NHL prospects.

Defenseman Matt Niskanen (51st), defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy (60th), center Perttu Lindgren (93rd) and defenseman Niklas Grossman (112th) were the others that made McKeen's list of the Top 120 skaters among NHL prospects.

Two criteria are considered for listing on McKeen's top prospect list: long-term potential and NHL preparedness. All prospects are rated for their long-range potential on a scale of superstar to fringe. All five of the Stars' prospects on the list were projected as "above-average" NHL players.

The top rated NHL prospect among forwards and defensemen was center Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. The top rated goaltending prospect was Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens. None of the three Stars' goaltending prospects made McKeen's Top 30 goaltending prospects list.

Player Pos Rank McKeen's Comment Excerpt
James Neal LW 42 "Has the right attitude and toolset to be a solid top-six scorer down the line."
Matt Niskanen D 51 "Executes effortlessly at top speed and is a smart point shooter, packing a sizzling wristshot and one-timer."
Ivan Vishnevskiy D 60 "Smallish but highly-gifted offensive rearguard ... fluid, effortless skater with superb first-step quickness and acceleration."
Perttu Lindgren C 93 "Talented all-around playmaker with tremendous vision ... very opportunistic and quick to pounce on mistakes and loose pucks."
Niklas Grossman D 112 "Towering defensive-minded blueliner with deceiving mobility and a very heavy slap shot."

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