What organization is the deepest with their top 3 prospects?
In my mind it is between Phoenix, Chicago, and L.A. All 3 organizations have great depth, but each of their top 3 prospects are leaps and bound above other teams top 3.
Phoenix is stacked up front with Peter Mueller, Martin Hanzal and the latest to be added to the team Kyle Turris. These three players are going to be a force to be reconed with in the near future and once they make the big show … they are going to DOMINATE. Gretzky is going through a rough time right now in the desert, but he will be getting some help as early as this season with Mueller expected to take over the number 1 center position, and Hanzal expected to play the wing on the 2nd or 3rd line. Turris is still a couple of years out, but he will probably be the best of the three. Drafted 3rd overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft, this kid is a pure hockey player with loads of talent yet to be realized.
Chicago. What else needs to be said. Toews, Kane, Barker. Toews and Kane are already being sloted in for rookie of the year candidates and they haven’t even played a game. The two teenagers are going to be playing together on the 2nd line for the Blackhawks this year, and despite their young age, are going to be relied on heavily for offensive production. Playing behind Lang and Havlat will show the two young stars how its done, but don’t be suprised if Toews or Kane lead the team in scoring this year. Barker has a little more experience being a whoping 21 years of age. He is one of several youngsters on Chicago’s blueline and will see increased minutes this year. Along with Keith and Seabrook, the Blackhawk’s blueline is going to be stacked for years to come.
The Los Angeles Kings. With more of a well balanced top 3, the Kings have Johnson, Bernier, and O’Sullivan as the future of the club. Johnson is arguably the 3rd best prospect in the NHL behind only Eric Johnson and Jonathan Toews. This kid is expected to play with Rob Blake this year, and who better to be mentored by than a former Norris trophy winner in Blake. Who knows, a Norris trophy could easily have Jack Johnson’s name on it before it’s all said and done. Bernier already seems to have the edge in net for the Kings, as it looks like he will be the starting goalie for L.A. (at least for the time being). He looked amazing in his first start, allowing only 1 goal in his first NHL start. O’Sullivan got his first taste of the NHL last season, but looks to increase his ice time this year hoping to crack one of the top two lines. O’Sullivan is one heck of a gifted player who has tremendous skill and the best part is, he has a group of teamates who are just as gifted if not more so than he is. With the likes of young stars such as Kopitar, Frolov, Brown, Cammalleri, and recentely added vets Handzus, Nagy and Calder, O’Sullivan has all the chance in the world to develop into a highly successful player.
These are my opinions, what are yours.