Subban to replace Pulock at Top Prospects Game

Thursday, 01.10.2013 / 11:14 AM | Mike G. Morreale  - NHL.com Staff Writer

The Canadian Hockey League on Thursday announced that defenseman Ryan Pulock would not play in the 2013 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game due to a wrist injury that could sideline him two weeks.

Pulock will be replaced on Team Cherry by Jordan Subban of the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League. The Top Prospects Game is scheduled for Wednesday at Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at 7 p.m. ET.

Subban, who ranks 12th among defensemen in the OHL with 27 points on seven goals and 20 assists, is No. 17 on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary rankings of players in the league. The 5-foot-9, 175 pound blueliner is the youngest of the Subban brothers -- defenseman P.K. Subban and goalie Malcolm Subban.

"Jordan has an excellent shot that is hard and accurate," NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards told NHL.com. "He forces the goaltenders to make a save every time. I have seen several of his point shots get tipped in front for goals."

Edwards was asked if Jordan is in any way similar to P.K., who stars on defense for the Montreal Canadiens.

"Both P.K. and Jordan are guys [the late] EJ McGuire used to consider high risk, high reward," Edwards said. "They make long stretch passes, carry the puck out of the zone and jump up into the rush. Jordan is used on the power play unit and has very good puck-handling ability. He skates very well with very good mobility."

Pulock, a 6-foot-0.5, 211-pound force for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, is second in the league among defenders this season with 38 points, including 10 goals and a plus-4 rating.

The Wheat Kings announced that their 18-year old captain sustained a chipped bone in his wrist in a 7-2 loss to the visiting Calgary Hitmen on Tuesday.

Pulock missed six games earlier this season after taking a puck to the face Nov. 16 against the Kootenay Ice.

Pulock finished third among league defenders last season with 60 points, while also finishing with an eye-popping plus-43 rating.

"He does everything well," Central Scouting's Peter Sullivan told NHL.com. "He's got the hardest shot I've seen in years. He's so smart. The thing that's even more impressive is I've seen him take seven or eight super hits -- body checks and hip checks -- laying guys into the boards. He's got all the tools to be a top pick."

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale

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