Dallas Stars Top 5
1. LW Jason Botterill
Team: Michigan (IHL)
Size: 6-3 205 pounds
Age: 20
drafted: 1/94
Botterill won many tournaments in his young hockey career. He is one of only three players ever to win 3 gold medals on World Junior Championships. Botterill also won 2 National titles in college. Since he was drafted, he evolved into a good power-forward that can play well defensively and put the puck in the net. The Dallas Stars were hoping to sign Botterill last year, but he chose to stay in Michigan which retarded his development somewhat. Now that his college career is over, he will most likely spend a year in the International Hockey League before making a jump to the NHL..
2. LW Brandan Morrow
Team: Portland (WHL)
Size: 5-11 200 pounds
Age: 18
Drafted:1/97
Many people are surprised to learn that the 1997 NHL Entry Draft first round pick, was never selected in a Major Junior Entry Draft. But through hard work, Morrow progressed very well over the past few seasons. He had a strong performance at the Top Prospects Game last January where he registered an assist and showed enough promise for the Stars to pick him in the first round. His ability to stay on his feet, handle the puck and use his body made him a very attractive pick for any team.
3. D Richard Jackman
Team: Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Size: 6-2 180 pounds
Age: 19
Drafted: 1/96
When a player gets drafted number one among defensemen in a defensemen-rich draft, it says something about him. Jackman is big and he's a tremendous skater for a player any size. He possesses good stickhandling, which allows him to pinch in the offensive zone. But the jewel of Jackman's skills is his defensive play. Jackman is big, he's an excellent backward skater and he has great hockey sense, all qualities needed for a defensive backliners. The downside about Jackman is he has a poor shot, which will probably prevent him from playing on the power-play in the NHL.
4. D Roman Lyashenko
Team: Yaroslavl (Rus)
Size: 6'0 175 pounds
Age: 18
Drafted: 2/97
The lanky Russian played for Team Russia at 1997 World Junior Championship and showed a very good hockey sense, excellent playmaking skills, good defensive skills, smarts and the abilities to find an open man and make something out of nothing. A fierce competitor, he doesn't shy away from physical contact, but it is obvious that he's not an enforcer. Instead, Lyashenko plays a steady two-way game.
5. G Roman Turek
Size: 6-3 195 pounds
Age: 27
Drafted: 6/90
The Chech goalie took a long time to come to the United States, but the Dallas Stars management is confident that he can be successful in North America. Turek is a big netminder who covers a lot of the net by using his huge frame. Considered to be a goalie who performes better on higher levels than on a lower ones, which makes him a good prospect even though he's already 27-years-old. He will never be a Patrick Roy caliber goalie, but it's reasonable to expect him to develop into a good back-up in the NHL.
Email: prospectsite@hotmail.com
