By Sportsnet Connected /

Sportsnet’s regional analysts give their thoughts on the most exciting young prospects among the Canucks, Leafs, Oilers, Sens, and Flames.

Toronto Maple Leafs Report

With Barry Davis
With many new faces heading to the Toronto Maple Leafs, heightened interest has surrounded the likes of prospects such as Victor Stalberg, Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak and Jonas Gustavsson. Sportsnet Connected reporter Barry Davis weighs in on the future hope of the Leafs during training camp.
According to Davis, the one player that has really turned heads is Victor Stalberg who was a late bloomer that became a dominant player in college last year and was a Hobey Baker finalist. Says Davis, “At 6-3, 191 pounds, he has the body to be a solid power forward to go along tremendous speed.”
“Kadri is very good with the puck and can score some dynamic goals,” says Davis. “He needs to get much stronger to play in the NHL. Expect him to start the season with the OHL’s London Knights.”
Davis notes that Bozak is a smart two-way player who knows how to be at the right place at the right time. “Bozak scored a highlight-reel goal in his first pre-season game and looks to be the most “NHL-ready” prospect in camp,” says Davis.
“At 6-3, Gustavsson covers a lot of net but also loves to come out and challenge shooters,” says Davis. “He will start the year backing up Toskala but coach Ron Wilson won’t hesitate to give him more action if he deserves it.”

Ottawa Senators Report

With Ian Mendes
With the Dany Heatley saga finally behind them, Senators reporter Ian Mendes looks to the future of the franchise with two former first round picks who are ready to have a significant impact for the team this season.
The club is banking on the fact that Swede Erik Karlsson is ready to emerge as the puck-moving defenceman they desperately covet.
“A first-round pick (15th overall) in the 2008 Draft, Karlsson is described as a smart, smooth-skating defenceman with an offensive upside,” says Mendes.
“He was selected as the best defenceman at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championships in Ottawa. Karlsson will be given every opportunity to make the Senators team out of training camp this fall. “
Another young player ready to take the next step in the organization is ·Nick Foligno.
“After playing his first full season in 2008/09, the former first round pick in the 2006 draft is coveting a spot amongst Ottawa’s top six forwards. The 21-year-old really blossomed under new head coach Cory Clouston in the final weeks of the regular season and he finished with 17 goals.”
Looking to this season, Mendes believes a 25-goal campaign is not out of the question for him in 2009/10 if he gets to play significant minutes.

Edmonton Oilers Report

With Gene Principe
As the Edmonton Oilers began their main camp, Sportsnet Connected reporter Gene Principe observed some noticeable young talents looking for a roster spot with the big club.
At the top of the list, according to Principe, would be Jordan Eberle. “The World Junior hero, thanks to his semi-final scoring heroics, has been impressive at camp by displaying a great knack for the net,” says Principe. “His patience with the puck along with a soft set of hands should serve him well for years to come.”
Principe says Alex Plante is starting to realize some of the promise expected of him when they took him in the first round of the 2007 draft. The blueliner is coming off a strong season with the Calgary Hitmen and is expected to turn pro and play on the Oilers top farm team in Springfield.
Devan Dubnyk is a 6-5 netminder who has shown a steady progression for getting better and showing growth every season. Says Principe, “He has an outside chance of being the backup with Edmonton, but more than likely he will be pencilled in as the number one netminder on the farm.”  

Calgary Flames Report

With Roger Millions
With 23 players on NHL one-way contracts, serving youth is not a huge probability with the Calgary Flames. Despite this, Flames reporter Roger Millions believes that 2007 first round draft choice Mikael Backlund has every chance to make this year’s club.
“Backlund, since the first shift of training camp, has teamed up with Olli Jokinen and Jarome Iginla,” says Millions.
“Performing on the left side with likely the Flames most gifted forwards, Backlund won’t be devoid of offensive chances. That will no doubt prove whether or not he is top six forward material coming out of camp.”
Millions also believes youthful defenceman Adam Pardy will get a chance to play an even bigger role with the Flames this season.
Pardy, who signed a new two-year one-way deal in the off-season, may very well become a top four defenceman on the team. Brent Sutter has experimented with Pardy tinkering with the thought of pairing him with Dion Phaneuf.
“A strong skater, Pardy is the kind of stay-at-home skater that just may work with Phaneuf who has been known to freelance on occasion. The feeling is Pardy may also benefit with the prescence of Jay Bouwmeester,” says Millions
“Similar in stature, Pardy could stand to grow by watching “Jay-Bo” perform on a nightly basis.”

Vancouver Canucks Report

With Dan Murphy
Sportsnet Connected reporter Dan Murphy talks about two prospects that have a chance to stick with the Vancouver Canucks.
“With all due respect to John Tavares, there was no better Junior player on the planet in the past year than Cody Hodgson. The Canucks’ uber prospect did it all last season – from World Junior gold (tourney’s leading scorer), to CHL player of the year, to a lengthy playoff run with the Brampton Battalion – so the next logical step would seem to be the NHL. Hodgson’s path to the show was derailed slightly as he was forced to miss most of training camp with a back injury but he has since been cleared to play and acquitted himself quite well in his first exhibition game.
“And who knew that Hodgson’s biggest challenge for one of the final roster spots would come from another rookie? Russian Sergei Shirokov has created the biggest buzz in Vancouver this pre-season. The shifty forward left $500,000 on the table in the KHL for a crack to play in the best league in the world. And with two goals and two assists in his first two exhibition games, Shirokov has forced head coach Alain Vigneault to take a long, hard look.”

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