Central Scouting Rankings Out: 4 Hawks in Top 10

The NHL central scouting bureau, the premier system for public information on scouts' views on NHL draft-eligible talent, has ranked 4 Winterhawks in the top 10 of their initial WHL rankings. This initial ranking separates out players by league. Sven Bartschi comes in at number two on the initial rankings. Bartschi, in his rookie season for the Hawks, has scored 33 points, including 16 goals, in his first 23 games in the WHL. Bartschi has a tremendous wrist shot, good speed, and a tenacity that and offensive instincts that create opportunities for himself and his teammates. Ty Rattie is the third ranked draft-eligible skater in the initial rankings. Rattie is tops on the Hawks roster in scoring and second in the entire WHL with 38 points in his first 23 games. Rattie skates well, has a quick and accurate shot, and has worked a nice chemistry with Bartschi.

Joe Morrow is 5th on the list, and second among defenseman. Morrow has 13 points in 14 games in the early season, viewed by scouts as a smooth skating defenseman who is solid in his own end, with tremendous offensive upside and a cannon of a slapshot. And finally, Tyler Wotherspoon is ranked 9th on the central scouting initial list. Wotherspoon, in his second season in the WHL, has 5 points and is a +5 rating. Wotherspoon, perhaps the most physical of the Hawks' defense, plays a very rugged game. In the mold of a Brett Ponich, but perhaps with a bit more offensive upside, Wotherspoon is the kind of defensive defensman that all teams covet.

Comparing this season's initial rankings to last season, the Hawks have the same number of skaters on the list as last season. Troy Rutkowski was tops for the Hawks on the initial rankings, coming in at number 5. Nino Niederreiter was 6th, Ryan Johansen 9th, and Brad Ross came in at 13th. Considering that Johansen went 4th overall in the NHL draft, and Niederreiter 5th, clearly there is a lot of time and a lot of room for changes. At this point last season, Niederreiter and Johansen, who both went in the top 5, combined for 17 goals and 38 points. This season, Ty Rattie and Sven Bartschi have combined for 30 goals and 71 points. So perhaps the Hawks will see another pair of players go early this coming June in St. Paul, Minnesota at the NHL entry draft.