NHL Central Scouting Lists 4 DU Players/Recruits

NHL Central Scouting listed three DU recruits plus Freshman Nick Shore on its final rankings for the NHL Draft to be held this summer in St. Paul, Minnesota.

There was some significant movement by all four DU representatives and it would be interesting to know why.
24. Scott Mayfield D, Youngstown (USHL) was #15
56. Nick Shore C, Denver (WCHA) was #38
70. Zac Larazza LW, USA-18 (NTDP) was #98
108. Josiah Didier D, Cedar Rapids (USHL) '12 was #198
Clearly, Mayfield fell due to a lack of offensive production (7g, 9a) this season at Youngstown (USHL).  He has to be considered a bit of a longshot to be selected in the first round unless the scouts are projecting some offensive upside that wasn't on display this season.

Nick Shore's fall was a little puzzling because he played really well this season for DU and really came on at the end of the year.

Zac Larazza didn't post big numbers this season for the USNDT but he rose 28 spots. There must be some intangibles there the scouts really like.

Finally, Josiah Didier made a meteoric rise. Word around town is that he is going to be an exceptional player.

Other draft eligible players/recruits include: Joey Laleggia, Larkin Jacobson, Matt Tabrum, Daniel Doremus, Matt Van Voorhis, Adam Murray.

Of those Doremus has an outside shot at being taken late and there's always the possibility that someone could take a flier on LaLeggia after the huge numbers he posted in the BCHL.
2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-18)
D Joey LaLeggia (Penticton Vees, BCHL)
F Larkin Jacobson (Janesville Jets, NAHL)
D-F Wade Bennett (Wichita Falls, NAHL)
F Matt Tabrum (Omaha, USHL)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)
D Dakota Mermis (U.S. Under-17)
D Josiah Didier (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (U.S. Under-18)
F Garrett Allen (Chicago, USHL)
F Daniel Doremus (Sioux Falls, USHL) 

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)

21 comments:

pesimisticfan said...

Mayfield is still likely to be selected in the 1st round. Though his offensive production dropped, he put on size which is why he'll most likely go between picks 22-30, if selected in the 1st round. Teams still look for that big stay at home defenseman. Look at Northeastern's Jamieson Oleksiak projected as a top 20, though is offensive numbers are minimal but his size is Tyler Myers like 6'7" 220. As far as Shore, the injury to his hand, and the thought that he sometimes dissapears in games was a factor in his drop. He is still considered a 2nd-3rd round grab. Larazza is an interesting move. His production was low, but he made a major jump. Scouts feel that he will be a good bottom 6 NHL forward after 4 years at DU and after he puts on size. Apparently, he has great work ethic and is a grinder, in the mold of a Ryan Callahan. But he is a project. Josiah Didier has major upside. Considered to be an offensive defenseman, that is a year older than most, he also plays the body well. This was a good find by Steve Miller.

Anonymous said...

I heard the Detroit Red Wings were in town and looking at N. Shore, earlier in the year at a home game.

pesimisticfan said...

I doubt the Wings will go the college route again, after their dissapointment with the progression of last year's 1st round pick Riley Sheahan from Notre Dame. I see them going in the direction of a European or a European playing in the CHL, like Vladislav Namestnikov.

dggoddard said...

Wouldn't surprise me if a team like the Wings took Nick Shore in the 2nd Round.

Their people probably got plenty of good looks at him when he played for the USNDT in Ann Arbor.

pesimisticfan said...

Surprisingly, I see Shore going to either Florida, Boston, or Phoenix/Winnipeg. I think he fits those systems best.

Mr. Spackler said...

Sheahan not developing ... are you kidding me ? last year, he was the youngest player in college hockey; did you watch any ND games this year; stats don't tell the whole story on a player's development; he did have a slow start, but he was their top pk forward all year on a team that was second in the ncaa in shorties; and him and Lee were like men among boys during the ncaa tourney. no doubt that the Wings will keep going to the ncaa well because they want their draft picks to go straight to the nhl instead of toiling in their farm system for years.

Anonymous said...

Can we talk a little about who this mystery D man is and who we might replace Allen with. DG, you must have a little insight? Any chance we could get a list of players who have expressed interest in coming to DU in the next few years. I know Demopulous mentioned DU at one point. He is coming on strong in the USHL looks to be developing pretty well.

Anonymous said...

Must say I'm surprised by the Scott Mayfield drop. Every mock draft I've seen recently has him going in the first round (usually around the low 20's).
The consensus on him seemed to be that his numbers were only low because of the team he was on. I'd be surprised if there wasn't at least one team in the late first round that still wanted him.

dggoddard said...

1). Its possible that the USHL team that has the rights to the player doesn't know he won't be back next season.

2). Its possible that DU hasn't told the player that they have a spot open for him in 2011.

3). Or its possible that DU doesn't want to distract the player with the USHL playoffs starting this week.

So for whatever reason they don't want Chambers to spill the beans.

Either way, I'd expect a D-man and possibly a forward to be added to the 2011 class within a couple of weeks. DU has 18 scholies, which current players have them makes speculating extremely difficult.

DU has plenty of great prospects who have committed already. Figuring out who comes in when, is the tricky part.

Anonymous said...

Really can anyone say they have a better recruiting class than us?? Hands down we should be number #1..

dggoddard said...

Like Colborne in 2008, Mayfield is 6'4 and 190-200 lbs. The weight means that he is likely four years away from being ready.

That's a long time for NHL GM's to sit around with no return on their investment.

Anonymous said...

Any thoughts if Adam Murray will get drafted?

Anonymous said...

Adam Murray is 20 now...pretty sure he is ineligible...

pesimisticfan said...

Doubtful Murray will be drafted. This year's goaltending draft class isn't extremely strong, but it has depth and Murray's been passed over the past two seasons.

pesimisticfan said...

Matt Donovan has exploded since joining the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 6 games ago, with 1 Goal 4 Assists (5 Points) 10 PIM and is a +1.

Anonymous said...

Anyone have any insight on players that have expressed interest in playing at DU or players with strong ties to DU?????? The two I can put out there are Demopoulos and Quinten Shore. Any names would be greatly appreciated!

dggoddard said...

Alex Carle, Stefan Demopoulos, Quentin Shore, Baker Shore, Seth Jones & Brian Hawkinson are the younger siblings of past, current or future Pioneers.

There may be others, but those are the ones most commonly mentioned.

Stefan Demopoulos is having a real nice season for the USHL Omaha Lancers. But he's 20 years old and is 5'8 170 lbs so probably not going to get a full ride at a Top-Tier WCHA school. His choices would appear to be creatively funding his own way or perhaps going to a smaller Eastern school.

Anonymous said...

Adam Murray WILL NOT be drafted!! He is too old!! His two year window was before his freshman season and before his sophomore season!!

pesimisticfan said...

Within the NHL's CBA a player can be drafted as long as they will be 18 by September 15 or 21 by December 31. Murray is eligible.

Anonymous said...

Murray is too old. But who cares anyhow? He sucks...

Pesimisticfan said...

He is def eligible, but will not be drafted.