The 2014 NHL Draft is nearly three weeks away and TSN Scout Craig Button is sticking to his guns, for the most part, in his final list of the Top 100 draft eligible players.
[b]Foster Moreau Womens Jersey[/b] . Sam Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice completes his sweep of Buttons rankings, finishing in the top spot for the seventh time. Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, Leon Draisaitl and Michael Dal Colle round out an identical top five from the previous list. "Its my projection of where players will be in three to five years time as they progress and mature," explains Button. "There will never be agreement on any ranking of this type and it is never static or without debate. There is nothing final about the players as they will develop and progress into NHL players of varying skills and types." Ekblad is the outlier of an emerging trend in the Top 100. Of the top 10 ranked skaters, seven are forwards. If the list were to mirror the upcoming draft, only seven defencemen would be selected in the first round and 28 in the top 100 - with some of those blueliners spending time at forward. "Each draft has its own unique personality and must be treated as such," adds Button. "We get hyped as we anticipate the next potential superstar and while this draft may not have that hype, it has players who will be stars in their own right and will help their NHL teams compete for the Stanley Cup." A few surprises shook up the rankings with Calgary Hitmen defenceman Travis Sanheim making the leap from 32 down to No. 8. The 6-foot-3 standout was a plus-25 in 67 games for the Hitmen, who finished third in the WHLs Eastern Conference but fell in the opening round of the playoffs in six games. Centre Vladislav Kamenev also caught Buttons attention, slicing his ranking by more than half in a jump from the No. 25 spot to No. 12. The Russian junior league product played just 15 games this season but did manage 10 points and a plus-10 rating. The final ranking, however, was not so kind to some. After reaching a high of the No. 8 spot on the previous list, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds centre Jared McCann nearly fell out of the top 20. Despite his 27 goals and 62 points in 64 games this season, McCann managed just one goal in March. "What history tells us is that this draft will be like all others, with players not achieving greatness and its steals, whereby the question inevitably becomes - how did they get him there?" said Button. "But make no mistake, the players have reached for their goal of playing in the NHL and all sacrifices are worth it because with no sacrifice, there is no reaching ones potential. That we can all agree on." For Craig Buttons final list click here.
[b]John Matuszak Raiders Jersey[/b] . Particularly when speaking in the stadium of Tuesdays opponent: Manchester City. "Maybe they dont fear us as before," Pique said on Monday, "because in the last two years we didnt win the Champions League.
[b]Hunter Renfrow Raiders Jersey[/b] . -- Masahiro Tanaka knows that first appearance in a spring training game for the New York Yankees will be scrutinized.Montreal Canadiens defenceman Douglas Murray has been suspended three games for an elbow to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Mike Kostka during Tuesday nights 3-1 loss. With just over two minutes remaining in the third period, Kostka carried the puck over the blue line into the Canadiens zone when he was met by the raised elbow of Murray. Murray was assessed a match penalty on the play. On Wednesday, the Lightning announced that Kostka was diagnosed with a concussion and have not yet set a timetable for his return. Coach Jon Cooper said that Kostka is doing well, but has no recollection of the hit. Though Lightning captain Steven Stamkos called Murray a “clean, honest player,” he took umbrage with the hitt on Kostka.
[b]Ronnie Lott Jersey[/b]. "But that play was dirty," Stamkos said to the Tampa Bay Times. "Thats a flying elbow right to the jaw, and (Kostka) is absolutely knocked out on the ice. I dont think anyone can argue the fact, if theyve seen the replay and seen multiple angles of the replay, that was a dirty play." Murray told Montreal reporters that he never intended to hurt Kostka. "Hes cutting through, and Im trying to finish my check,” the 34-year-old Swede said. "I dont think Im a dirty player." In his nine seasons in the NHL, Murray has never been disciplined by the league. Murray becomes the 30th player to be suspended during the 2013-14 season and the first Canadien. ' ' '
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