Among European players eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft, there are several prospects capable of making an impact in the League sooner rather than later. Those top prospects will be on display at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on June 27-28.
"There have been stronger draft years for Europeans and this year is average compared to those," NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb told NHL.com. "But I do think 4-6 players could be drafted in the first round."
Stubb has identified two players in a class of their own among the international ranks: right wing Kasperi Kapanen of Kalpa in Finland and center/right wing William Nylander of Modo in Sweden.
Peterborough Petes coach Jody Hull is accustomed to seeing forward Nicholas Ritchie take over games as he did two months ago against the Kingston Frontenacs.
The only difference being Hull never witnessed a five-goal outburst from his 6-foot-2.25, 231-pound power forward.
Ritchie finished that Feb. 7 game with a career-high six points in a 7-6 shootout loss to Kingston. It was a remarkable display of skating, shooting and toughness from the No. 7 player on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of the top North American skaters for the 2014 NHL Draft.
It marked the first five-goal game for an Ontario Hockey League player since Ritchie's brother, Dallas Stars prospect Brett Ritchie, scored five times for the Niagara IceDogs against the Petes on Nov. 4, 2012.