Strong top-end talent has NHL teams awaiting the 1994 entry draft as anxiously as the 1993 event.
Last June’s draft was considered the best in years, but this June’s early selections may be every bit as good.
“I asked for a list of the top 10 prospects and 1 like all of them,” said Mighty Ducks of Anaheim general manager Jack Ferreira.
“I think they’re all going to play in the NHL and are going to be veterans in the NHL.”
Among the top prospects are center Jeff O’Neill of the Guelph Storm, goalie Jamie Storr of the Owen Sound Platers, left winger Jeff Friesen of the Regina Pats and left winger Jason Botterill of the Michigan Wolverines.
All are ranked tops in their categories by the Central Scouting Bureau. the NHL combine that provides confidential rankings for league teams.
The first listing of the season is dated Dec. 20. Two more will follow before the June 28-29 draft in Hartford.
O’Neill is ranked No. 1 among forwards and defensemen in the Ontario League, Storr best of the OHL goalies, Friesen first in the Western League and Botterill No. I among U.S. college players.
Pre-season favorite O’Neill is followed by Windsor Spitfires’ defenseman Ed Jovanovski in the OHL. Jovanovski is a strong candidate to go first overall.
Neither O’Neill, nor Jovanovski were invited to try out for the Canadian national junior team.
The 1994 draft is not considered as deep in prospects as last year-hut is expected to match up well in the first half of the first round. A standard of excellence was established in 1993.
Five of the top seven players chosen-Alexandre Daigle, Chris Pronger, Chris Gratton. Rob Niedermayer and Jason Amott-are playing in the NHL this season.
The other two. Paul Kariya of the Canadian Olympic team (Anaheim) and Viktor Kozlov of Moscow Dynamo (San Jose Sharks), are playing for other teams by their choice.
The next CSB list will be a composite ranking of all North Americans. This one is done by leagues and special categories, including one labeled, “Others.” It features two of the best prospects in the draft.
Center Radek Bonk of the Las Vegas Thunder is No. 1 and right winger Brett Lindros of the Canadian Olympic team is No. 2.
Not listed by CSB are teenagers playing in Europe, the best of whom is defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky of the Soviet Wings.
Others of note are right winger Vadim Sharifjanov of Ufa Salavat, left winger Alexandr Kharlamov of Central Army, a pair of Russians, and two Swedes-defenseman Mattias Ohlund of Pitea and center Johan Davidsson of HV71.
It has already been decided the expansion Florida Panthers and Mighty Ducks are choosing first and second, respectively, in the entry draft.
Speculation is that Panthers’ GM Bob Clarke will not pick a European first overall. But it’s hard to believe Clarke would ignore players from overseas.
Clarke was a big supporter of Swedish sensation Mats Sundin when he was available in 1989. Sundin was chosen first overall by the Quebec Nordiques.
