NsHL Calgary Flames

1. Patrik Laine LW/RW - (Height 6.04 -- Weight 206) Tampere, FINLAND
Laine is an imposing forward with a lethal shot that he likes to use on the off-wing, especially on the power play. A dominant offensive player in junior hockey, he has worked to become more aware of his defensive responsibilities. Like fellow countrymen Jesse Puljujarvi he played in Liiga as a 17-year-old. More of a sniper than a playmaker, Laine nonetheless has stick handling and passing skills that are extremely advanced for a player of his age. His offensive decision making, particularly when to hold the puck, when to shoot, and when to make a play and what type of pass to use, separate him from other young prospects.

2. Dante Fabbro D - (Height 6.00 -- Weight 189) Whistler, BC, CANADA
Fabbro is a rare commodity in this day and age as he’s a right-handed defenseman that has a great shot. General managers salivate over seeing blue-liners with that ability, and GM Drummond was one of them. He may not be flashy, but he makes the smart plays. He also doesn’t compound mistakes when he makes one, and doesn’t get rattled when things get tough.

Committed to Boston University in the fall, Dante broke out this season with Penticton as he tallied 14 goals and 53 assists. There was some question on if the BCHL is a tough enough league, but he showed that he could hang with the best with his performance on the international stage. He notched eight assists at the World Under 18 Championships for Team Canada.

3. Taylor Raddysh RW - (Height 6.02 -- Weight 209) Caledon, ONT, CANADA
Raddysh poured in 24 goals in playing 67 games. The dramatic difference for him is his assist total. He had just six in his rookie year. He finished with 49 this year. His passing ability jumps out at you when you see him play. For a power forward, it is an impressive display.

Raddysh’s size and strength allow him to gain an advantage in winning loose pucks. Once he gets the puck, his decision-making ability allows him to read plays, sometimes one to two steps ahead of his competition. His passing then allows him to hit teammates in stride, whether it’s DeBrincat from the slot, or Strome streaking toward the goal. But when he wants to do it himself, he’s a powerful finisher.

4. Rinat Valiev D - (Height 6.02 -- Weight 208) Nizhnekamsk, RUSSIA
Valiev is a dynamic skating defenseman. He has offensive ability and is a strong stickhandler. He also displays an edge to his game and is willing to drop the gloves to protect teammates. He has both the strength and versatility whose physical side is complemented by some sharp playmaking skills. Rinat could be a sleeping giant.

5. Andreas Johnson RW - (Height 5.10 -- Weight 183) Gavle, SWEDEN
A 7th round selection that will turn some heads. A fast-skating winger with very good hands and vision. Johnson can set plays up as well as take the shot himself. Plays with lots of energy. Very nifty stickhandler. Won the SHL's rookie of the year award in 2014 before taking the league by storm this year. Finished 21st in overall points, his 35 points (22 goals, 13 assists) in 55 SHL games was good enough for third in U24 scoring but it also made him the league's highest-scoring U21 forward. Johnson finished third in the league in shots in the regular season with 153. His stature may be slight by NHL standards. He has an unbelievable knack for finding open spaces. Because of this, he consistently gives himself time when he receives a pass to either set up and pick his spot in the net, or unload a heavy (and I mean, *heavy*) and accurate one-timer. Andreas also led all players with 25 points in 12 games at the inaugural Champions Hockey League tournament, which brings together Europe's best squads (excluding the KHL).

6. Tyler Bertuzzi LW - (Height 6.01 -- Weight 178) Sudbury, ONT, CANADA
Bertuzzi is a high-energy, high-effort player who has some offensive upside. His bread and butter is his ability to get under the skin of opponents but he has emerged as an opportunistic goal scorer during his junior career, his final season saw him produce his best season, 43 goals and 98 points in 68 games. Bertuzzi is not afraid to fight and he forechecks hard with consistency.

7. Ville Husso G - (Height 6.03 -- Weight 205) Helsinki, FINLAND
Husso is very big at 6-foot-3 and thus covers a lot of the net naturally. He's also very quick and has great agility. Calm in net. Working with minimal movements, the way it should be done, and never flailing around with his arms or legs, but just staying square. Not average quickness and is able to move fluidly in the crease both while on his feet and while in the butterfly. Shows excellent puck-handling abilities, even under pressure. Tends to look a little robotic in net at times. Husso sees shots through traffic very well and is very focused. Husso's glove hand quickness has improved and can make flashy saves, robbing shooters of a high goal. Really impressed all season with his strong, consistent play in Finland’s top men’s league.

8. Ludwig Bystrom D - (Height 6.01 -- Weight 208) Ornskoldsvik, SWEDEN
Ludwig can straight-up wheel from the blueline. He is a mobile in all directions and has the top gear to lead a rush out of his own end. Bystrom's best traits are his hockey sense and puck-moving which are plus. He has such great poise with the puck and can make all the right plays under pressure and has the ability to make difficult passes. Bystrom tends to make good reads and uses his stick well to disrupt plays. Has grown since his draft year and is much better able to handle the rigors of the pro game.

9. Adam Brooks C - (Height 5.10 -- Weight 174) Winnipeg, MAN, CANADA
Every few seasons, there’s one 19 or 20-year-old player in the Western Hockey League that comes out of nowhere and utterly dominates the league offensively. Often they’re players that had to mature physically, and once their growth caught up with their on-ice talent or awareness they were able to tear the league apart. Players that figured the league out and got in a position to excel. So when he was still available at #89, the Flames promptly selected the 20 year old.

This year’s “small guy with big numbers” is Regina centre Adam Brooks.

In his first season of draft eligibility, Brooks had 11 points and 4 goals. To nobody’s shock, he wasn’t selected. Last season, he had 62 points and 30 goals, scoring at a point-per-game pace and leading the Pats in scoring. Again, he wasn’t selected. This season, which was completed before he turned 20, saw him put up 120 points and 38 goals and lead the WHL in scoring. And he did this as a 5’10”, 175-pound player on a team that wasn’t wildly stacked with elite WHL talent.

10. Cam Dineen D - (Height 5.11 -- Weight 184) Toms River, NJ, US
Cam Dineen mentally processes and executes the game so fast and efficiently. A thinking man…

Just how did a kid who was playing Junior B step into the OHL and torch it from the back end, finishing second among rookies behind guaranteed 2016 first-rounder Alex Nylander with 13 goals and 46 assists for 59 points in 68 games?

"Cam is very cerebral, great mind for the game, knows his position very well,” Battalion assistant coach Ryan Oulahen said back February 2016.

“You don’t see him make very many mistakes,” he added.

Dineen’s game starts with his anticipation and vision, which translates into goal-scoring and playmaking.

Notable mentions
Alex Lintuniemi D, Kyle Wood D, Noah Gregor C, Francis Perron LW, Freddie Hamilton C/RW, Jonathan (Jack) Walker W, Petter Granberg D, Jack LaFontaine G

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