Sam Blazer got the rankings started Wednesday with Carson Meyer and Dan Dukart profiled Calvin Thurkauf yesterday. Before we get too deep into the rankings, I wanted to take a look at the players who just missed the rankings.
These were players who were ranked by at least one person but did not receive enough votes, or a high enough ranking to make it to the top 20.
There were three players who made at least one list but did not make the top 20 were Alex Broadhurst, Kole Sherwood and Sam Vigneault.
Reason For Ranking
Broadhurst and Vigneault had solid AHL seasons, scoring 41 and 22 points respectively. Broadhurst was second on the Cleveland Monsters in scoring, while Vigneault finished 10th. Broadhurst was able to parlay his AHL success into two games with the Blue Jackets this past season. Sherwood was eligible to play in the AHL but was sent back to the OHL for his over-age season. He had a decent season with 60 points in 57 games, but as one of oldest players in the league and playing on one of the league's top teams, more was expected. He had a strong playoffs with 26 points in 17 games as Kitchener lost in the Western Conference final.
Projection
AHL regular. Broadhurst and Vigneault are already here, and Sherwood will get there this upcoming season. All three players are similar in that they have a decent amount of skill; it’s just not high enough to get them out of the AHL.
Best Case Scenario
Strong AHL player, injury fill-in for a couple NHL games.
Each player has the same best case scenario. For Broadhurst, he is already at this level. Given his age and development so far, it’s unlikely that he grows past this point. Vigneault isn’t as old, but as an NCAA senior signee, he’s older than most AHL rookies and wasn’t a big point producer in college. Sherwood as the youngest of the trio has the most upside, but after the season he just had in the OHL, it’s hard to see him being much more than a quad-A player as well.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Broadhurst is a solid AHL player. He wears an ‘A’ and is a veteran leader. He’s played well in the AHL and brings that leadership on and off the ice. What’s holding Broadhurst back is his age. He’s 25 and is quickly losing his Calder eligibility. He’s a finished product at this point and there isn’t much upside to his game.
Vigneault’s size is his calling card. At 6-foot-5 he is a physical monster, making it tough for opposing defensemen to handle him. He skates fairly well for a player of that size and has enough skill to be effective at the AHL. However, it’s not enough right now for him to be an NHL prospect.
Sherwood can shoot the puck and score. He’s scored 30+ goals in each of the past two seasons. His skating is what’s holding him back from being a top 20 prospect. His stride isn’t good and he lacks upper echelon speed. He is going to be in for a big adjustment period in the AHL.
