BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca
The Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game combines the intensity of a playoff battle with the star-studded rosters of an all-star game.
There's no better time to measure up a player's skills against his peers when the top 40 prospects get that rare chance to stand out in front of a collection of National Hockey League scouts.
The annual event will take place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ont., the third consecutive time the event is held in Ontario. The previous two were in Windsor and Oshawa.
There's always a memorable moment standing out from each game. Fights are not uncommon in the prospect showcase. These players aren't always intent on playing nice, as evidenced by the dust-up between Western Hockey League heavyweights Dylan McIlrath and Alexander Petrovic in last year's game.
It's the chance for each prospect to exhibit what he does best, and in most cases, a star emerges. Everyone knew Gilbert Brule's name before the 2005 game at Pacific Coliseum, but he left an even bigger mark after an impressive four-point night.
The lack of familiarity amongst the players on both teams gives prospects another obstacle to overcome. It's one of many ways the event is one of the most unpredictable and entertaining in each calendar year.
How can a player stand out?
The most obvious two ways are either with a big goal or a fight. The most memorable moments are usually one or the other, but the important thing these players need to remember is to play their game. It may sound like a tired cliché, but there's nothing wrong with playing the same style as one does in league play.
The most important eyes watching are those of NHL scouts, who are already more than familiar with each player's style to this point. It doesn't make much sense to change a player's game just to earn more press clippings.
How important is the game in ranking a prospect?
As any NHL scout will tell you, the game is part of the overall book of knowledge on every prospect. It's unlikely any prospect will see his stock rise dramatically after this game, just as it won't plummet with a poor outing.
Cody Eakin left an impression two years ago as Team Orr's player of the game with two goals. His teammate on Team Orr, then Quebec Remparts forward David Gilbert, also scored twice in the 6-1 win. Eakin was selected near the end of the third round by Washington, while Gilbert was picked two spots ahead of Mr. Irrelevant, with the third-last pick in 2009.
Will the injury bug stop here?
Several years ago Sidney Crosby made headlines when he decided not to participate in the game after a physically-draining world junior tournament just weeks prior to the 2005 event. He was criticized for his unwillingness to make the trip from Rimouski, Que. to Vancouver, B.C., but as many noted at the time, Crosby had so much to lose and so little to gain. He was still the first-overall pick in the draft and was able to get some much-needed rest for a title run with the Oceanic.
The top pick in the 2009 draft, John Tavares, perhaps should have taken a cue from Crosby. Tavares elected to play in front of his former home fans in Oshawa, but was unable to provide them with another memorable moment after taking a big check.
Similarly to Tavares, Austin Watson was playing in his former rink after a trade the week prior to last year's game. The former Windsor Spitfires forward was a one-man wall in blocking shots while on the penalty kill. One shot from Brandon Gormley caught him in an awkward spot and Watson ended up missing six weeks of league play with a broken ankle.
How will the hype translate?
Two of the top three prospects will take part in the game on opposite sides. Sean Couturier and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will get the chance to go head-to-head in a rare meeting between non-league opponents. Last year, the top two picks in the draft, Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin, were also adversaries, with Hall taking player of the game honours for his team.
But the hype doesn't always translate into success. Portland's Ryan Johansen failed to leave a mark, but still wound up being drafted fourth-overall. In 2006, Jonathan Bernier was beat on six of 29 shots, but was the first goaltender chosen at No. 11 by Los Angeles.
The top prospect, Gabriel Landeskog, will miss the game due to injury. Ottawa 67's forward Shane Prince may have a chip on his shoulder as he gets the chance to showcase his skills as a late addition in place of Landeskog. Four years ago Stefan Legein stepped in as an injury add-on and scored the insurance goal in an empty net.
