Hockey’s Top 50 Prospects: 10-1

10. Jonathan Bernier, G – Manchester Monarchs, AHL (Los Angeles Kings)

Bernier has been on everyone’s radar since he almost stuck with the Los Angeles Kings out of camp in 2007-2008. He’s not overly big but his hybrid style combines good movement and positional play with great athleticism. He’s been lights out for the Monarchs all season in the AHL and could probably be called the front runner for the AHL’s goaltender of the year. He’ll have a task ahead of him to unseat Jonathan Quick, but he shouldn’t be taken lightly.
NHL Comparable: Felix Potvin

9. John Carlson, D – Hershey Bears, AHL (Washington Capitals)

Carlson is just about everything you want an offensive defenseman to be. He’s a great skater with heads up hockey sense and ideal size. He packs a cannon from the point that he usually manages to get through traffic. He can play with a surly side if it’s needed. He’s still a bit of a defensive adventure though.
NHL Comparable: Gary Suter

8. Erik Karlsson, D – Binghamton Senators, AHL (Ottawa Senators)

Karlsson was playing really well for Ottawa before the Olympic break. By now, everyone likely knows his upside includes incredible hockey sense and vision. He’s also a very swift and evasive skater with incredible poise while handling the puck. His size will always be a concern, he’s not just short but he’s very slight. That will always raise questions about how he can handle defensive assignments against the league’s power forwards.
NHL Comparable: Tobias Enstrom

7. Nazem Kadri, C – London Knights, OHL (Toronto Maple Leafs)

The biggest myth out of the World Juniors is that Nazem Kadri had a bad tournament. He came in as the number three centre and by the Gold Medal game he was being rolled over the boards in every situation. He was Canada’s go-to guy in the face-off circle and he set up Jordan Eberle’s game tying goal. Kadri’s got dynamic speed and a game-breaking set of hands. He sometimes gets tunnel vision with the puck and fails to use his linemates effectively. He plays with edge and will finish the season with career highs in PIMs, fighting majors and +/- . He’s got a great wrist shot but needs to work on his one timer. He needs 15 pounds of upper body muscle but both Rob Blake and Dion Phaneuf thought he acquitted himself well in his one NHL game this season.
NHL Comparable: Doug Gilmour

6. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, LW – Timra, SEL (Edmonton Oilers)

MPS, as he’s known, must have heard the criticisms of his game last year at this time because he’s worked on what were his most evident flaws of last season. His finish is miles better this year than last year. He’s got pro speed and agility and incredible hockey sense. He’s big enough and strong enough to withstand the pro game on North American ice and will probably win a roster spot with the Oilers next year.
NHL Comparable: Thomas Steen

5. Colin Wilson, C – Milwaukee Admirals, AHL (Nashville Predators)

The big centre from Boston University started off his first pro season a little slow. He was a step behind the pace in Nashville to start off but his assignment in Milwaukee has been just what the doctor ordered. His skating is up to par, his hockey sense allows him to shine and with his physical strength, he’s a man among boys, even as a twenty-one year-old pro. He’s a great two-way player who’ll be in Nashville’s top six for a long, long time.
NHL Comparable: Rod Brind’Amour

4. Jacob Markstrom, G – Brynas, SEL (Florida Panthers)

Markstrom’s size is his biggest asset. He’s a great positional goaltender who takes up tonnes of room. He gets side to side really well and shows good athleticism when he’s caught out of position. As a goaltending prospect, he’s almost perfect. Markstrom’s biggest flaw is under his helmet. He doesn’t think the game very well for a goaltender and he still rattles way too easily. Maybe that’s a maturity thing but we’ll know if he can grow out of it.
NHL Comparable: Jose Theodore

3. Alex Pietrangelo, D – Barrie Colts, OHL (St. Louis Blues)

Pietrangelo is the best defenseman not playing in the NHL. His skating has improved in leaps and bounds from his draft year. The loping awkward stride he had as a 17 year-old is nowhere to be found now. He’s the smartest player on the ice night in and night out in the OHL. He’s playing physical when he needs to, he’s using his size to assert himself on the defensive side of the puck and no one is better at head-manning a rush from the back end.
NHL Comparable: Larry Robinson

2. Jordan Eberle, RW – Regina Pats, OHL (Edmonton Oilers)

Jordan Eberle is the most clutch Team Canada goal scorer not named Paul Henderson. He’s got incredible hands in tight, his hockey sense is incredible and while he’s about a half step too slow off the mark but he’s an incredibly evasive skater with a great cruising speed. His wrist shot allows him to put the puck just about anywhere he wants to. That he doesn’t panic when the pressure is on is going to make him the most loved Oiler since Ryan Smyth.
NHL Comparable: Joe Mullen

1. Nikita Filatov, LW – CSKA Moscow, KHL (Columbus Bluejackets)

Filatov is an explosive offensive talent. He’s got incredible hands, he’s an almost flawless skater with the ability to fire at top speed. Some have questioned his attitude in wanting to play more minutes in Russia as opposed to five minutes a night on the end of the Bluejackets bench. With Hitchcock out of the picture, everyone believes the Russian will be back in Columbus next season and can step into the Jackets line up as a major offensive contributor. After all, he’s been a point per game player in the KHL.
NHL Comparable: Alexander Semin