Prospects Analysis: Top 3 Organizational Prospects - Pacific Division

2014-15 Prospect Season Preview: Pacific Division
Jon Litterine, RotoWire.com

With the new season just around the corner, it's time to go team-by-team and review the top prospects in each organization for the upcoming year. Teams in the Pacific Division are listed below.

(Notes: If a player has a number listed after his team, it represents his overall prospect ranking for the entire league. We rank the 100 top prospects. All stats listed are from 2013-14 season, any player with 25 or more games of regular season NHL experience are not included.)

Anaheim Ducks

1)John Gibson (G, Norfolk-AHL/Anaheim-NHL, 5): We all saw how dominant Gibson could be, both late in the regular season and in the playoffs. The Ducks still have Frederik Andersen on the roster and they signed Jason LaBarbera as a free agent this summer, but I highly doubt either of them will be an impediment to Gibson grabbing the number one job in 2014-15. There are going to be some growing pains along the way, but Gibson is the top goaltending prospect in the league and he has absolutely nothing left to prove in the minors. Assuming he can win the number one job, he will have massive fantasy value beginning this season.

2)Nicolas Kerdiles (C, University of Wisconsin-NCAA, 27): After a very productive sophomore season at Wisconsin (38P in 28GP), Kerdiles decided to forgo his final two years of college eligibility and signed with the Ducks. He finished the season in the AHL and he should begin next season there as well. Kerdiles' overall game has really developed since he was drafted in the second round in 2012. He was impressive at the World Juniors for Team USA and I expect him to make his NHL debut at some point during this upcoming season.

3)Kevin Roy (LW, Northeastern University-NCAA, 47): It's looking like the Ducks got a steal with their fourth round pick (97th overall) in the 2012 draft. Roy is tiny (5-10, 170 pounds) but he's an offensive wizard with the puck on his stick. He has 36 goals and 80 points in just 66 games through two years at Northeastern and those numbers should only rise during his junior year. As long as he bulks up a bit down the road, there's no reason he shouldn't become a productive offensive player at the NHL level.

Next In Line: 4. Nick Ritchie (LW, Peterborough-OHL, 49); 5. Shea Theodore (D, Seattle-WHL, 57)

Calgary Flames

1)Johnny Gaudreau (LW, Boston College-NCAA, 6): "Johnny Football" may be playing in Cleveland these days, but "Johnny Hockey" is coming to Calgary in the fall. Gaudreau made a mockery of college hockey last season with 36 goals and 80 points in just 40 games. It was one of the best individual seasons in NCAA hockey history. Gaudreau decided to pass on his senior season at Boston College and signed with the Flames. He played one game with Calgary at the end of the year and promptly scored a pretty deflection goal in that contest. Gaudreau is ridiculously small (5-7, 155 pounds) but he's also ridiculously talented. There are some who think his game won't translate to the NHL level. Obviously I'm not one of them. If he begins next season in the AHL it will only be because the Flames want him to bulk up and get use to playing against men. I fully expect Gaudreau to be one of the leading contenders for the Calder Trophy next year. You can count on one hand the amount of prospects that have his skill level.

2)Sam Bennett (C, Kingston-OHL, 12): Bennett is a skilled player who plays an in-your-face type of game despite only having average size (6-0, 180 pounds). He goes to the tough areas of the ice to score and never backs down from a challenge. A lot of people think that a fourth overall pick should be immediately put into an NHL lineup, but I'd send Bennett back to juniors for another year, get a ton of ice time and let him play for Team Canada at the World Juniors. But the Flames put Sean Monahan right into the lineup last season, so it's conceivable they could do the same thing with Bennett. If he cracks the Calgary roster he should be worth a late round draft pick.

3)Jon Gillies (G, Providence College-NCAA, 48): Gillies has had two fantastic seasons at Providence and he played well as Team USA's starting goalie at the World Juniors this past December. The Flames made a push to sign Gillies after this season ended, but Gillies thought he could use one more season in college. I politely disagree, but it's not the end of the world. Gillies should put up stellar numbers once again and then is likely to turn pro at the end of this upcoming season. The Flames made Mason McDonald the first goalie selected in the 2014 draft (34th overall), but Gillies is the better goaltending prospect by a wide margin.

Next In Line: 4. Mark Jankowski (C, Providence College-NCAA, 84); 5. Max Reinhart (C, Abbotsford-AHL, 86)

Edmonton Oilers

1)Darnell Nurse (D, S.S. Marie-OHL, 10): The Oilers have more skilled forwards than they know what to do with, but their defensive core stinks, to put it kindly. They massively overpaid to bring in both Nikita Nikitin and Mark Fayne this summer and they have enough defensemen under NHL contracts that it appears Nurse is looking at another season in the OHL. He didn't make Team Canada at last year's World Juniors (to the surprise of some) but he should be there this time around when the tournament is held in Montreal and Toronto. Nurse still needs to bulk up a bit, and while he may never be an elite offensive defenseman at the NHL level, he has plus puck skills.

2)Oscar Klefbom (D, Oklahoma City-AHL/Edmonton-NHL, 17): Klefbom began his first professional season in North America in the AHL and struggled. His play improved slightly during the season and injuries at the NHL level forced the recall of Klefbom late in the season. He suited up in 17 games for the Oilers and he played better in the NHL than he did in the AHL. Klefbom is the type of player who is more valuable in real life than in fantasy circles. I don't ever see him being much of a point producer, but he should have a long career as a shutdown type defender. It's probably about 50/50 as to whether he begins next season in the AHL or NHL.

3)Leon Draisaitl (C, Prince Albert-WHL, 20): Despite being just 18-years-old, Draisaitl is one of the most physically mature prospects to be drafted in recent memory. He dominated in the WHL last season (38G, 105P in 64GP) and because he already has an NHL body, I expect him to play next season in the NHL. Draisaitl's "A" game looks at lot like Anze Kopitar's. A big, physically dominating center that has the chance to make a serious impact in all three zones. So why was Draisaitl the third overall pick this past summer instead of the first? Because he tends to disappear for long stretches of time and his CHL Top Prospects game performance was underwhelming, to say the least. Draisaitl has a real chance to be the best player taken in the 2014 draft, but there's also a real chance he will be a gigantic bust. I fully expect one or the other. I don't see much middle ground here.

Next In Line: 4. Mitch Moroz (LW, Edmonton-WHL); 5. Martin Gernat (D, Oklahoma City-AHL)

Los Angeles Kings

1)Valentin Zykov (LW, Baie-Comeau-QMJHL): The Kings are the second team without a top 100 prospect (Colorado is the other) but their prospect pool is in far better shape than Colorado's. Los Angeles has several players who would be just outside the top 100, led by Zykov. The Russian's numbers dropped during his second year in the QMJHL, but he still averaged more than a point-per-game and he played well in the playoffs where Baie-Comeau made a deep run. Zykov is very solidly built (6-1, 205) and is extremely difficult to knock off the puck. He does his best work around the front of the net and in the corners and since he only turned 19 this past May, Zykov is a lock to play for Russia in the 2015 World Juniors.

2)Adrian Kempe (LW, Modo-Sweden): Kempe didn't get a ton of ice time with Modo this past season but the Kings saw enough to select him with the 29th overall pick this summer. I have doubts that Kempe will be much of an offensive threat at the NHL level, but he skates well and at the very least he should turn into a serviceable third-line player who can help out on the penalty kill.

3)Roland McKeown (D, Kingston-OHL): Two years ago, when he was a sixteen-year-old, there was talk that McKeown would be a top-three pick during his draft year. By the time the draft rolled around in 2014, he ended up being selected 50th overall. McKeown's main problem has always been that he tries to do too much on the ice. He's decently offensively and pretty solid defensively but he tries to do more than he should. He's not a number one or two-type defender. If he accepts the fact that he's more of a number three or four, he could have an effective NHL career.

Next In Line: 4. Martin Jones (G, Manchester-AHL/Los Angeles-NHL); 5. Kevin Gravel (D, St. Cloud State-NCAA)

Arizona Coyotes

1)Max Domi (C, London-OHL, 23): Domi was never a realistic option to crack the Coyotes roster out of camp last year and he ended up returning to London. He had a productive season (93P in 61GP) but he was mediocre in the playoffs and didn't make Team Canada for the World Juniors. I expect Domi to get a real look in camp this time around and I think he'd be worthy of a late round pick if he made the team. I also wouldn't be shocked if he's forced to spend one more season in London and is a key cog on Team Canada this coming December.

2)Brendan Perlini (LW, Niagara-OHL, 60): Perlini is a goal scorer. A big (6-3, 205 pounds) goal scorer. He skates well for a kid of his size and he has great hands. I can't see him playing in the NHL this coming season, but because he's so physically developed already I wouldn't be shocked if he's ready after just one more season in Niagara. Perlini scored 34G in just 58GP this past season and I expect that number to rise this year. The only thing Perlini did wrong all season long was that he played poorly in the playoffs, with just one assist in seven games.

3)Henrik Samuelsson (C, Edmonton-WHL, 80): The story on Samuelsson hasn't changed. Elite hockey sense, great hands and playmaking ability, terrible skater. It's hard to knock a kid who had 95P in 65GP this past season but there are definitely some who feel Samuelsson's poor skating will extremely limit his upside at the NHL level. He's been a dominant player in the WHL and helped lead Edmonton to the Memorial Cup title this year. I don't think we'll get a true sense of Samuelsson's long-term potential until he plays a full season of professional hockey.

Next In Line: 4. Brandon Gormley (D, Portland-AHL, 82); 5. Mark Visentin (G, Portland-AHL)

San Jose Sharks

1)Danny O'Regan (C, Boston University-NCAA, 62): After scoring 38 points in his freshman season at BU, O'Regan had just 22 last year. Part of that was the fact that the Terriers were a bad team, but O'Regan's individual play didn't help matters. He actually played well for Team USA at the World Juniors, but his collegiate season wasn't good. O'Regan is small (5-9, 170 pounds) but he is an extremely gifted playmakers and makes his line mates better. He really needs a bounce back season in his junior year at BU.

2)Mirco Mueller (D, Everett-WHL): Even after the decision was made to turn Brent Burns back into a defenseman for this upcoming season, the Sharks are still shorthanded on the back end. General Manager Doug Wilson is on record as saying that Mueller has a decent shot to make the team this season. I have a difficult time believing that Mueller will ever put up many points in the NHL, but he should be able to log major minutes and become a reliable defenseman for the Sharks in years to come.

3)Nikolai Goldobin (RW, Sarnia-OHL): To say that Sarnia was a poor team this past season would be an understatement. Goldobin was their best player by a mile and he had an extremely productive season (38G, 94P in 67 games) considering how little help he got. Goldobin is extremely inconsistent, even on a shift-to-shift basis. He's a gifted goal scorer, but his consistency needs major work. The Sharks are without a doubt hoping that Sarnia is a bit better this season and Goldobin's play improves as a result.

Next In Line: 4. Chris Tierney (C, London-OHL); 5. Freddie Hamilton (C, Worcester-AHL)

Vancouver Canucks

1)Bo Horvat (C, London-OHL, 22): I'd be extremely surprised if Horvat isn't playing in the NHL this season. Many think he's ultimately ticketed for a third-line, penalty killing type role in the NHL, but if that's all he ever is, he'll be an effective one. He's put up big point totals in juniors, so if everything breaks right I could still see him as a second line center. He doesn't have much left to prove in the OHL and since he's too young to be able to play in the AHL, I expect him to make the Canucks. The only thing that I think could alter that plan is if Vancouver is convinced they aren't going to compete this coming season and decide that as a result, Horvat should spend one final year in London.

2)  Jake Virtanen (RW, Calgary-WHL, 37): Virtanen is another goal scorer. He isn't terrific at setting up his teammates, but he almost always finishes when he has the opportunity. He scored 45G this past season in Calgary and the Canucks made him the sixth overall pick this past summer. I wouldn't have been surprised if Virtanen improved on that number this coming season, but it was announced over the summer that he needed shoulder surgery and he isn't expected to be ready to play until mid-to-late October.

3)Hunter Shinkaruk (C, Medicine Hat-WHL, 68): It was not a good year for Shinkaruk. He struggled early in the season, didn't make Team Canada at the World Juniors and then underwent hip surgery in late December that ended his season. He ended up playing just 18 games. If that wasn't enough, Shinkaruk's name was in constant trade rumors this offseason. When he's at his best, Shinkaruk plays a hard working game, has great hands and excels on the power play. This is a huge year for his development, to say the very least.

Next In Line: 4. Nicklas Jensen (LW, Utica-AHL/Vancouver-NHL, 69); 5. Thatcher Demko (G, Boston College-NCAA, 81)