THN: Pietrangelo is #1
Pietrangelo jumped from 5th in 2009 to 1st in 2010 on THN's Future Watch List.
The Hockey News’ Brian Costello put up a blog today previewing Future Watch 2010. Alex Pietrangelo was named the Number 1 “future” player to watch for in 2010.
Each year the Hockey News starts evaluating prospects after the WJC Tournament. They get information from each NHL teams “Top 10″ and cross reference that with thoughts from a panel of 23 scouts. The cut off is 50 NHL games played. Some players with less are ruled out based on the Hockey News’ criteria. Alex had four first place votes and seven votes to be in the “Top 4″. Only 11 of 50 prospects received at least one first place vote.
Pietrangelo spent the entire season form Training Camp through his departure for the World Juniors with the St. Louis Blues. He appeared in a total of 9 Games and registered his first NHL goal and his second NHL assist. After the WJC he was traded from the Niagara Ice Dogs to the Barrie Colts in the OHL. Since coming to Barrie, Alex has 3 Goals and 16 Points in 15 Games.
Pietrangelo has helped the Barrie Colts clinch an OHL playoff spot. Image via ontariohockeyleague.com
There has been some banter amongst some Blues fans that Pietrangelo lacks the desire and will to take his game to the next level. I would agree that he is not 100% ready for the NHL after two not so hot performances against the USA in two key WJC games. However, let’s not get crazy here. From seeing him play at the WJC, I can say he has a great desire to win and make an impact every time he has the puck on his stick. He is not Chris Pronger, not will he ever be. At the 2008 NHL Draft he was compared to Zubov (no Pronger comparisons there). Alex has the physical tools to play the NHL game, he is just requiring a little more time than those drafted above him.
Perhaps an honor like this one, where industry professionals and experts have quantified his potential, will deter some of the ludacris calls against Alex’s ability to make it and excel in the NHL.
