With the regular season drawing to a close, it serves as a reminder that the NHL Draft is less than three months away. The seasons are over for many of the area players eligible for the draft, though a handful of prospects are still competing in their junior hockey seasons around the U.S. and Canada.
New England Hockey Journal talked to several NHL scouts based in and outside of the region to get their thoughts on some of the players who are expected to be chosen at the draft on July 7-8 in Montreal. The general feeling is that New England has a solid group, with a few players expected to be chosen in the first couple of rounds, but a larger portion who should make for a significant amount of activity in the middle-to-late portion of the draft.
Bridgewater, Mass., native Cam Lund has had a strong season in juniors, playing in the USHL for the Green Bay Gamblers. The fledgling power forward always had impressive physicality coming out of Cushing Academy and the USPHL NCDC with the Boston Jr. Bruins, but his stock has been rising steadily after November. Lund, and other New England natives used the season to boost their draft chances.
This draft progress report, the first in a series as we get closer to July, focuses on several forwards who are trending in the right direction as the draft process for all 32 teams kicks into high gear.
Cam Lund
Green Bay (USHL)
C, 6/7/04, right shot, 6-2/185
NCAA commit: Northeastern
He impressed at the league’s first regular season weekend in Pittsburgh, but then struggled through October to find consistent production. However, he turned it around before Thanksgiving and has been a player that several NHL scouts we’ve polled believe is on the right track and has a pro hockey future.
“You saw the size, the wheels, the big shot right away,” one Eastern Conference scout said. “The pace and effort at times wasn’t there, especially at the beginning of the season, where he seemed overwhelmed by the USHL’s speed compared to what he was used to. He started to figure it out, compete harder, get to the net more effectively, and it’s showed in his numbers and expanding role. There are still times where you have to look for him a bit, but I see him as a solid second-round option, and if he gets to the third, he’d be a nice value as a home run swing.”
He’s been primarily a center in his career, but with his speed and power game, Lund could be a nice fit on the wing as he progresses in his development. Northeastern has a blue-chip prospect on its hands, and look for him to make a noticeable impact next year when he is expected to make the jump to Hockey East.
"Lund got out of his comfort zone to play in the USHL," the scout added. "And he's been productive in doing it, so I give him credit for that. He's a much better player now than he was a year ago.
Forecast: Will be selected around pick 55-65
Video: Why Cam Lund is our No. 2 area draft prospect:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/9394616/video/692374335
Ben MacDonald
Nobles/EC Wizards
C, 2/22/04, left shot, 6-1/175
NCAA commit: Harvard
Scouts appear to be divided among MacDonald, James Fisher and defenseman Michael Fisher as the best draft prospect to come out of prep hockey.
MacDonald’s best attributes are his high-end hockey sense, pure talent and work ethic. From Weston, Mass., he's been on the radar for some time, and was one of prep hockey’s most-watched players this season.
“MacDonald is my No. 1,” a Western Conference NHL scout said. “He’s got the most skill, the most hockey sense and he seems like a really competitive, driven player who can play in the middle. I think what Ben lacks is that he just looks physically immature right now. He needs to put on some pounds. With Ben, I think it’s going to be a matter of time to improve his physical strength. His skating improved this year, too. He’s gotten quicker, and added some stuff like crossover speed and I think he’s on an upward trajectory. Dynamic offensive stick, can shoot and score, can make plays, very smart player at both ends and add in a really competitive guy.”
The knocks on MacDonald are strength and skating, but his stride is mechanically sound, so the general feeling is that he’ll add more power to his skating as he continues the maturation process.
Others aren’t as sold on his NHL upside, however.
“I wonder about the production,” said the Eastern Conference scout. “I just felt like with as smart and as skilled as he is, he left me wanting more on the scoring side. I think he’s a good two-way center and will be a pro, but he was utilized a lot this season and I just didn’t see the offensive pop I felt he was capable of providing. It will only get tougher to score as he goes up in levels.”
Forecast: Will be selected around pick 70-90
Video: Why Ben MacDonald is our No. 5 area prospect:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/9394616/video/692378847
James Fisher
Belmont Hill/EC Wizards
RW, 4/28/04, right shot, 6-2/170
NCAA commit: Northeastern
Although recently profiled as a rising draft option, it bears repeating that the Wilmington, Mass., native did more than any other area prospect to elevate his profile in the eyes of multiple scouts.
“He’s got NHL size, NHL skating, so he has a really good foundation,” said another NHL scout in the Western Conference. “He shoots the puck really well. He’s got some scoring ability. He also, at times, plays with a really hard edge to his game. I guess the ceiling would be a big, strong winger who skates well, can score and plays with some physicality. The floor there is if you take the scoring out, you have a big body that can skate with the physicality and edge. If he doesn’t make it, it’s going to be because he didn’t have enough awareness. That’s the knock I have on him: I question how smart of a player he is at times and he just needs to be more consistent as well.”
Another New England-based NHL scout has Fisher at the top of his list for area players and isn’t all that concerned about the vision and hockey sense.
“He just got better and better as I watched him progress from summer to fall to prep play,” the scout said. “I’ve seen him hit on some passes that showcased anticipation and the ability to read it. What I liked was his knack to make a big play at the right time, and I just get the sense that he’s still figuring out just how good he can be. He’s trending up.”
Another future Husky, he is getting a significant amount of USHL interest and would be a natural fit in that top junior league next season. He also has the option to return to Belmont Hill for his senior season as well, so we will see things play out in early May when the USHL has its annual draft.
Forecast: Will be selected around pick 75-100
Video: Why James Fisher is our No. 6 area prospect:
https://vimeo.com/showcase/9394616/video/692379266
