While most of the attention in the second half of the NHL season will on the intense race for the Stanley Cup, one other interesting storyline will be developing -- the battle for the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft.
Long shots for the playoffs like the Islanders, Thrashers and Maple Leafs will all be positioning themselves to have a chance at nabbing one of the consensus top two prospects -- center John Tavares or defenseman Victor Hedman.
Fantasy owners will also be intensely intrigued by the upcoming draft since Tavares and Hedman could both be impact players next season if all the cards fall into place.
But while we all wait to find out the fate of the 2009 draft class, there are still plenty of already Fantasy-eligible prospects in the player pool.
We here at CBSSports.com have compiled a list of promising young players that are just itching for their chance at NHL stardom. We could have spent weeks dissecting all the players available for long-term keeper eligibility, but we focused on 15 prospects we feel have a bright future ahead in Fantasy.
Our countdown begins with our 15th ranked Fantasy prospect and leads up to the top player we feel should be on every long-term keeper roster. Enjoy.
15. Ville Leino, LW, Detroit: Leino probably can't be considered a prospect since he spent the last seven seasons playing in Finland's top professional league, but he qualifies as a long-term keeper since he hasn't gotten much time on the Red Wings roster and keeps bouncing between the NHL and AHL. The 25-year-old winger had his best pro season in 2007-08 with Jokerit Helsinki. He scored 28 goals and 49 assists in 55 games. Fabian Brunnstrom was Detroit's first choice for bringing in an overseas import, but when they lost out on him they went for Leino. The 6-1, 188-pound Fin impressed Detroit management with his offensive prowess and hockey sense in the preseason, but it wasn't enough to earn him a roster spot. Instead of heading back overseas, Leino took a demotion to Grand Rapids (AHL). After he overcame a groin injury early in the season, Leino has returned to playing at a high level. He has 11 goals and 26 assists in 44 games. He even scored in his NHL debut Saturday against the Capitals. Leino is a free agent in the offseason, but Detroit could bring him back at a reduced price if they have trouble signing Johan Franzen, Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson. If not, some other NHL club might try out the Finnish star.
14. Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas: Benn is by no stretch of the imagination an elite prospect. He was nabbed in the fifth round of the 2007 draft because he wasn't a well-rounded player. But no one is going to deny this kid has a knack for scoring. Benn began his juniors career with 42 goals in 2006-07 and has amassed 102 goals in his last three seasons. He is flying high in 2008-09 for Kelowna (WHL) with 31 goals and 25 assists in 37 games. He is well on his way to having a career season and continues to feed off a strong showing for Team Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championships (four goals, two assists). Everyone is expecting Benn to get a long look at Stars training camp next season, but he needs to show Dallas he has improved on defense and can use his 6-2, 200-pound frame to be a physical force before they put him on the roster.
13. Cody Franson, D, Nashville: Franson slipped all the way to the third round in 2005 because he was a liability on defense and a work in progress on offense. The latter came to him in 2005-06 with Vancouver (WHL) and he has been a promising offensive blue liner ever since. But his defense was a little suspect up until this season. He has been below minus-1 just twice in 43 games this season for Milwaukee of the AHL. He is a hulking presence at 6-5, 217-pounds. Franson is developing into a top NHL prospect, but can't get the call to the show because Nashville is stacked along the blue line. The Predators could have some openings on defense heading into 2009-10, so Franson could be a call away.
12. Tyler Ennis, C, Buffalo: Ennis' short stature (5-8, 150) is what's keeping him from being an elite prospect. He has pure offensive talent, as well as the speed and quickness to run circles around the opposition. He has been doing it on the junior level for a few seasons and had his breakout season in 2007-08 with Medicine Hat (WHL). His 43 goals and 48 assists in 70 games made him an enticing pick at 26 by Buffalo in last year's draft. He is having another fine season with Medicine Hat, totaling 25 goals and 30 assists in 43 games. He also did well at the 2009 World Juniors with three goals and four assists in seven games for Canada. But he has yet to turn pro and take on hulking defenders on a nightly basis. If he can follow in the footsteps of Nathan Gerbe, another small Buffalo forward, Ennis could have a future in the NHL.
11. Jonathon Blum, D, Nashville: We talked with Franson about how deep Nashville is on defense, and Blum is another prospect waiting in the wings. The Predators selected Blum with the 23rd pick in 2007. He is playing in his final season of junior hockey and what a year it has been. Blum just returned from the 2009 World Junior Championships where he captained Team USA. He had two goals and two assists in six games. He has been even better for Vancouver of the WHL. He has 16 goals and 41 assists in 40 games after totaling 63 points last season for the Giants. Blum has outstanding mobility on the blue line and is rarely caught out of position defensively. The only knock on him is he is well under 200 pounds. Blum needs to bulk up without losing a step.
10. Angelo Esposito, C, Atlanta: The 19-year-old Montreal native was a key part of the Marian Hossa deal in 2007-08 that sent the former All-Star to Pittsburgh. Esposito was the Penguins first-round choice in 2007 (20th overall). He is lauded for his creative playmaking skills and great hands, but knocked for his unwillingness to fight for the puck and work hard in traffic. Esposito did well at the 2009 World Junior Championships by scoring three times and totaling four points as Canada won gold for a fifth straight year. He has 20 goals and 16 assists in 30 games for Montreal of the QMJHL. Atlanta could put Esposito in the AHL at the end of the junior season, but he will definitely get a serious look in training camp next season.
9. Bobby Sanguinetti, D, N.Y. Rangers: New York fans are just itching for Sanguinetti to be added to the Rangers roster, but the 20-year-old defenseman still needs to work on his defense. There are few questions about his offensive skills. He knows how to jump the zone, he is a good passer and skater and can move the puck through traffic. Sanguinetti, who was the 21st pick in 2006, projects as a first-pairing defenseman in the NHL. However, he could add some bulk to his 6-3 frame and his defensive skills are still a bit lacking. He is at minus-15 in 46 games for Hartford (AHL). Sanguinetti might make his NHL debut late in 2008-09, but his ETA for full-time duty is looking like 2009-10 at the earliest.
8. John Carlson, D, Washington: There are very few, if any, knocks against the 19-year-old defenseman. He is as promising of a two-way defenseman you are going to find on the prospect circuit. He slipped to 27th in the 2008 draft, but Washington was more than happy to scoop him up. Carlson was headed to the University of Massachusetts before London sweet-talked him into playing in the OHL. Everyone lauded Carlson for the move since London has a history of developing NHL talent (i.e. Patrick Kane, Rick Nash, Dennis Wideman) and he hasn't disappointed. Carlson has 13 goals and 40 assists in 42 games. He is a great playmaker on the blue line, but doesn’t sacrifice offense for defense. He plays in all situations, including short-handed, and is extremely coachable. The Capitals will surely love that. The earliest we will likely see Carlson is 2009-10, but maybe 2010-11 is a safer bet.
7. Simeon Varlamov, G, Washington: Varlamov has NHL experience, but since he appeared in only two games, we opted to still consider him a prospect. The 20-year-old netminder is widely considered Russia's greatest goalie prospect since Ilya Bryzgalov. He is a hybrid butterfly/stand-up goalie that has great athleticism. He has a quick glove hand, which is considered one of his greatest strengths. He has made a smooth transition to North American hockey with a 16-5-0 record, 2.43 GAA and .913 save percentage in 21 games for Hershey (AHL). Let's not forget that he was 2-0-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .953 save percentage in his brief stint with the Capitals this season. Right now, his path is blocked to the NHL by Jose Theodore and Brent Johnson, but looks like the future in net for Washington.
6. Drayson Bowman, LW, Carolina: Bowman was selected 72nd overall in 2007, but impressed Carolina brass when he showed up to training camp. His shot is as good as anyone in the Carolina organization and there is definite potential here. Bowman was one of Team USA's leading scorers at the 2009 World Juniors with three goals in six games. He had his breakout junior season in 2007-08 with Spokane (WHL). He lit the lamp 42 times and added 40 assists in 66 games. He is red hot again in 2008-09 with 25 goals and 27 assists in 40 appearances. He has gotten better defensively, but his future is on the offensive end. If all goes well for Bowman, he could be a regular in 2009-10 for Carolina.
5. Michael Del Zotto, D, N.Y. Rangers: Del Zotto was the second pick in the OHL (juniors) draft in 2006 behind Steven Stamkos, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL draft. Del Zotto was taken 20th overall in last year's draft by the Rangers and many consider that a steal since Del Zotto has top-10 talent. He just slipped because many believe his numbers were inflated at Oshawa playing with the likes of Stamkos and Tavares, who projects as the top pick in 2009. But Del Zotto is no slouch. He has top offensive instincts and projects as a future quarterback on the power play because of his solid skating and passing skills. Del Zotto has totaled 36 goals and 127 assists over his last three seasons in the OHL. He just needs to improve a bit more defensively and be more of a physical presence on the ice before New York gives him a serious look.
4. Luca Caputi, LW, Pittsburgh: The Penguins were able to get Caputi at cheap value before his breakout performance in 2007-08. Pittsburgh selected the Toronto native in the fourth round in 2007 after he totaled 27 goals and 38 assists in 68 games for Mississauga (OHL). He returned to the OHL in '07-08, but this time with Niagara. He finished fourth in points with 111 and scored 51 times in 66 games. Caputi shot up the prospect rankings. He joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton late last season and had eight points in 19 games during the playoffs. He has played 46 games for Wilkes-Barre this season, totaling 13 goals and 22 assists. Caputi has the physical skills to be a power forward in the NHL. He isn't afraid to play in front of the net and will fight for the puck in the corners. The real hype surrounding the 20-year-old forward is the damage he might do playing alongside the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
3. Thomas McCollum, G, Detroit: The Amherst, N.Y., native was the second goalie selected in the 2008 draft behind Chet Pickard, as Detroit nabbed McCollum 30th overall. It’s not like Detroit needs help in net right now with Chris Osgood and Ty Conklin, and Jimmy Howard waiting in the wings. But McCollum was just too good to pass up late in the first round since he has franchise goalie written all over him. McCollum is as sound as they come in net. He hardly lets the puck get away from him on rebounds and stays squared to the shooter. He hasn't had worse than a 2.50 GAA on the junior level and his save percentage has been .914 or better. McCollum had a sub-par 2009 World Juniors, but it wasn't all his fault since Team USA was weak. If somehow McCollum can make his way through the Detroit system, he is going to be a hot commodity down the road.
2. Jordan Eberle, C, Edmonton: Eberle is a bit undersized at 5-10, 175 pounds, but he has used his God-given talents to become a dynamite scorer. Eberle blew up for 42 goals and 75 points last season in 70 games for Regina (WHL) and snuck into the first round as the 22nd pick to Edmonton. He is not the typical Canadian forward all about physical play and toughness, but his confidence with the puck is exceptional. Just ask the field in the recent World Junior Championships. Eberle burned the competition for six goals, seven assists and a plus-9 rating as Canada won the gold. Edmonton gave serious consideration to adding Eberle to the roster out of training camp, but felt it was best for one more year of junior hockey. Coach Craig MacTavish was impressed with Eberle's speed and ice awareness, and believes he will be ready to make the same jump that Sam Gagner did when he finally turned pro. Could that be in 2009-10? Only time will tell.
And our pick as the top Fantasy prospect ...
1. Cody Hodgson, C, Vancouver: We have talked plenty about Team Canada at the 2009 World Juniors, and outside of Tavares, Hodgson was arguably the second most influential skater on the roster. He ended up leading Canada with 16 points and 11 assists in their gold medal run. Vancouver nabbed him with the 10th pick in last year's draft. Hodgson could make his way to the show in 2009-10, although, many project he might be two years away from making a meaningful NHL contribution. He had a 40-goal, 45 assist season for Brampton (OHL) in 2007-08 and already has 61 points (30 goals) in 34 games this year. Hodgson is not a flashy player, but is a solid two-way option. He will fit perfectly into Vancouver's defensive-style of play because he gets it done at both ends of the ice. He is extremely smart with the puck and has first-line NHL talent.
Do you have a question for our Fantasy staff? You can e-mail us at DMFantasyPucks@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy Pucks in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.
