Guest post by Eldon MacDonald

This is the seventh in a series of nine postings of the top 90 prospects for the 2013 NHL draft.

The players ranked 61 to 70 usually have about the same success rate as those ranked in the latter half of round two.

The players I have ranked from 61 to 70 can be broken down as follows:

The Lightweight Gang – Players whose weight or height may cause concern as to how well their game will translate to higher levels – Nicolas Petan, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Laurent Dauphin. The Heavyweight Gang – Players attractive for their size whose skill levels are not yet as attractive as their size – Mason Geertson, Michael McCarron and Saku Salminen The More to Come Gang – Players who you believe have more to show but have not yet shown the results you think they are capable of – Stephen Harper, Matt Murphy and Adam Tambellini. The Bubble Guy – Finally, there is always a player that you want to put up in the next round but there are only so many spots available. In this article, that guy is Dillon Heatherington.

Background

Round 3 – about a 24%success rate: The historical success rate for players ranked in round 3 is 24%. This means that in a normal year 7 to 8 of the players below are not going to make it as an NHL regular. Vitals: The vitals reading left to right are: Shoots Position Height and weight Birth date Citizenship League Team and player number Rankings: Check out some of the web sites listed below if you want a different perspective on the rankings:

Round 3 – 61 to 70 – Historical success rate of about 24%

61. Heatherington, Dillon:

a – Vitals: L – D – 6’4, 196 – 9-May-95 – CAN – WHL – Swift Current #2

b – Rank: NHL-WHL-12; TSN-73

c – Commentary: Mr. Positional – A 6’4 defenseman with excellent reach who excels at positional hockey and competes hard. He also skates well for such a tall guy and makes a good first pass. Has the size and skills to make the NHL; needs to accentuate his developing physical game.

d – YouTube video: Courtesy of hockeyfightvideos

62. Geertsen, Mason:

a –Vitals: L – D – 6’3, 199 – 19-Apr-95 – CAN – WHL –Vancouver#44

b – Rank: NHL–WHL-16; TSN-59

c – Commentary: The Belligerent One – More of a player mover than a puck mover, Mason shows that big man belligerence, those hard-won physical battles and that fighting ability that teams love to see in a big defenseman. There is still plenty of work to do to round out his game but the basis is there and he excels when he keeps his game simple and raw.

d – Twitter: mdoggy44

e – YouTube video: Courtesy of hockeyfightsplus

63. Petan, Nicolas:

a – Vitals: L – C – 5’9, 163 – 22-Mar-95 – CAN – WHL –Portland#19

b – Rank: NHL-WHL-15; TSN-62

c – Commentary: The Difference Maker – Smallish centerman at 5’9, 163 lb. who is willing to take control of his own destiny through hard work, willingness to be the difference maker and a bounty of offensive skills. He was the top-ranked WHL player per the TSN Player Rankings as of December 18, 2012. Nicolas won a gold medal with TeamCanada at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

d – Twitter: @petan19

e – YouTube video

64. Bjorkstrand, Oliver:

a – Vitals: R – RW – 5’11, 167 – 10-Apr-95 – DEN – WHL –Portland#27

b – Rank: NHL–WHL-11

c – Commentary: The Great Dane – Has that hockey instinct that you just can’t teach. Toss in a top-notch pair of hands, great skating and the willingness to go after the puck no matter where it is, and you may just have a hockey player there. Adapting well to the North American game in his first year in the Dub, he still needs to add weight and strength, and a little more physicality to his game. If he does, the 3rd round may just be back there in the distance.

d – Twitter: @OBjorkstrand

e – Youtube video: Courtesy of diuanders

65. Dauphin, Laurent:

a – Vitals: L – C – 6’0, 166 – 26-Mar-95 – CAN – QMJHHL –Chicoutimi#27

b – Rank: NHL–QMJHL-9; TSN-52

c – Commentary: The Promise – Talented centerman who is currently leading the QMJHL in rookie scoring. Laurent is a very good skater with excellent hands, good passing and good vision who is willing to perform the defensive role as well. If he adds some significant strength and weight, Laurent shows the promise to make it to the big league.

d – Twitter: @flippers27

e – Video: Courtesy of ajgguy63

66. Harper, Stephen:

a – Vitals: L – LW – 6’2, 200 – 25-Mar-95 – CAN – OHL –Erie#10

b – Rank: NHL-OHL-8; CR-THW-38; TSN-49; OHL-OHL-12

c – Commentary: Mr. Left Wing – Big, strong left winger with a decent shot who excels at standing in front of the net waiting for rebounds or going in the corner digging out pucks. Stephen can play in any situation.

d – Twitter: @stavy_10

e – YouTube video: Courtesy of IntheORadio

67. McCarron, Michael:

a – Vitals: R – RW – 6’5, 228 – 7-Mar-95 –USA– USHL -USAU18 – #24

b – Rank: NHL-USA-7; TSN-75

c – Commentary: Mr. Slam Bang – At 6’5, 227, Micheal is one of those guys who is just too big to miss out there or too big and intriguing to pass by in the draft. With some improvement in his skating, Micheal could be drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round as he has decent skills and often imposes his will on the flow of the game with the big hits.

d – Twitter: @MacAttackUSA93

e – YouTube video: Courtesy of USAHockeyHQ

68. Murphy, Matt:

a – Vitals: L – D – 6’1, 200 – 1-May-95 – CAN – QMJHL–Val d’Or#2

b – Rank: NHL-QMJHL-24

c – Commentary: Mr. All-Around – Talented defenseman with decent size, good skating, big shot, can play defensively or offensively. Matt started the season kind of slow which probably affects some of his rankings at this point, but has playing more and better of late – getting the minutes, PK, PP and even-strength. I expect him to be a riser as the season goes on.

d – YouTube video:

69. Salminen, Saku:

a – Vitals: L – C – 6’3, 198 – 20-Oct-94 – FIN – FIN-1 – Jokerit #71

b – Rank: NHL–FIN-6; TSN-71

c – Commentary: The Bod – Big-bodied Finn with decent skills who is mainly a defensive specialist who can play physical. If he improves his skating, there is room for a big body like Saku’s on many NHL rosters. Named to preliminary roster forFinland’s 2012-13 U20 Team. Played for TeamFinland at the 2012 U18 Worlds.

d – YouTube video: Courtesy of hockeycoachdotse

70. Tambellini, Adam:

a – Vitals: L – LW/C – 6’4, 177 – 1-Nov-94 – CAN – BCHL –Vernon#9

b – Rank: NHL– Not ranked

c – Commentary: Mr. Pedigree – A 6’4 center who can put the pedal to the medal; has an excellent shot and good release. He is also the son of Edmonton GM, Steve Tambellini. At 177 lb., he needs to fill out and get stronger but that can easily be cured by a little gym time. Size, skills, pedigree – could easily go in the 2nd round but should not pass through the 3rd unselected.

d – Twitter: @atambo9

e – YouTube video: Courtesy of vernoncentral.

Previously posted:

1 to 10

11 to 20

21 to 30

41 to 50

51 to 60

Next Up:

71 to 80