A short list of players who can benefit most from the CHL Top Prospect Game

With the 2012 CHL Top Prospect Game about to kick off much of the talk has been around who is not participating, due to injuries.  While unfortunate, this situation has opened up opportunities for some players who are poised and ready to strut their stuff.  Here is a quick look at a few players that don’t always or haven’t gotten the right kind of attention that can really take advantage of this game:

Chris Driedger (G) – Calgary Hitmen – I have made no secret of the fact that I believe Driedger has been seriously undervalued by much of the scouting community as well as the National Team program in Canada.  Driedger oozes potential, he is big, athletic and never quits on a play.  He has shown dramatic improvement in his ability to track pucks this season and is a huge reason why the Hitmen are Major Junior’s hottest team at the moment.

Martin Frk (F) – Halifax Mooseheads – It has been a difficult year for Frk who came into the year as one of the hottest offensive prospects for the draft.  Frk had a long recovery from a concussion sustained during the pre-season and had some confusion surrounding his participation, or lack thereof, in the World Junior tournament.  Frk has begun to grab some that attention back.  There are very few pure shooters of his calibre around and while his skating speed and technique may be a concern there is no doubting his ability as a trigger man.  His shot can move nets, and he has a feistiness to his game that translates very well when thinking pro-potential.

Andreas Athanasiou (F) – London Knights – After electrifying the Ivan Hlinka U18 tournament this past summer, Athanasiou came into the season with the burden of high expectations and while improving on last year’s point production, the lofty expectations surrounding Athanasiou have worked more against him than for him.  This showcase is an excellent opportunity for the speedy and shifty Athanasiou to display his potential and push the tempo of the game which would have back in the good graces of many scouts once again.

Dalton Thrower (D) – Saskatoon Blades – In a draft with several high end defensive prospects, Thrower’s name seems to get lost a bit and that is a situation that requires remedy.  Thrower is a do-everything style defender who plays the game with a competitive fire and rugged toughness that translates extremely well to the NHL game.  He has some good offensive upside but will be most appealing because of his consistency and willingness to battle.  If you’re not familiar with Thrower, highlight him, he is the type of defender you love knowing you can throw out there in almost every situation as a coach.

 It may only be one game, but it is anything but an all-star game and some of these kids can improve their stock simply by showing up, while others will need to dazzle or grind it out to earn every possible glance from the thousands of eyes that will be racing around the rink looking for that one argument to make in their draft discussions come June in Pittsburgh.