The NHL Draft is here, and tonight Bill Armstrong and the Utah Mammoth are scheduled to select the 4th overall pick. The trades are flying around the NHL, with the rumors flying even faster. All indications from Armstrong are that Utah will stay at 4 and make the selection. However, things can always change on the draft floor.
We look at two players who have been heading in opposite directions since the NHL Combine. Anton Frondell and James Hagens have been ranked in the top 10 since the beginning of the season, but now have been sliding up and down, depending on the scout.
James Hagens
Hagens was the top-ranked player entering the season as he started his freshman year at Boston College. While other top forwards played junior hockey, Hagens took the challenge of playing against bigger, stronger men in the NCAA. Things worked out well for him as he registered 11 goals and 26 assists.
At 5'11, the concern with Hagens is his size, but the NHL has been more favorable to smaller players in recent years. The NCAA game did not have much effect on his size, as he is an elusive skater who can get himself out of dangerous situations. Speaking of dangerous, Hagens' speed with the puck causes trouble for the opposition's defenders.
After winning a gold at the World Juniors tournament, Hagens proved that he could play with the top talent at his age. Impressively, the Long Island native played top minutes for a very good Boston College team. He has a strong vision and can dish the puck off the rush well. He has a solid shot, but could use improvement in that area.
The talk around the league is that the New York Islanders would like to trade back into the top 10 to take the Islanders fan. The drop in the rankings recently could see Hagens going as early as 3 or as late as 15.
Anton Frondell
The Swedish pro has climbed up the rankings since the NHL Combine. Rumors have Frondell going as early as third to Chicago. If he remains available for the Mammoth at four, Armstrong will need to decide on the skilled center.
After playing center and wing at the pro level, Frondell has proven that he can play with the big boys. His shot, more specifically his one-timer, is elite, and he has smooth hands around the net. At 6'1, the concerns for Frondell's size are non-existent. He is not an overly physical player, but can grow more and will need a meaner streak in the NHL.
The real attraction for Frondell is for a team that is small up front, like Chicago. Plugging in a big body at center could help any team, and Frondell is not a liability defensively. Utah could move Hayton to the wing and put Frondell at the second center spot.
Although Frondell is a great prospect, I don't think he will be on the radar for Utah. Utah will look for more skill at this position as opposed to size.