21. Mark Stuart
Born: April 27, 1984, Rochester, Minn.
2002-03: Colorado College
Pos: D | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 209 | Shoots: L
Central Scouting: No. 17 North American skater

Mark Stuart is a safe pick. He's not flashy, but he's the type of player who will stabilize a blueline.

He's an all-around good player who plays tough at both ends. He has a big-time shot and handles the puck exceptionally well.

Stuart moves the puck with ease and makes a strong first pass. There's nothing great offensively to him, but he's a physical presence in front of his net.

"He is one of those guys you project to be three or four or five on your depth chart, and I do not see the upside to put him higher," said a college scout. "He is strong and can skate, but he does not control the game or anything like that. He is just a real good defenseman. He is a good, solid NHL player and nothing more."

Another scout called him a "rock back there in that he's sound and settles things down."

Stuart has enough hockey sense to know when to jump into the play, but he doesn't gamble. He'll play for a dozen years and nobody will notice him.

"He's just a dependable guy," said a scout.

YEAR    TEAM          LEA.  GP   G   A  Pts.  PIM
'00-01  USA           U17   64   3  16   19   120
'01-02  USA           U18   61   9  11   20   120
'02-03  Colorado Coll.WCHA  38   3  17   20    81
        USA           WJC    7   0   1    1     2

21. Hugh Jessiman
Born: March 28, 1984, Darien, Conn.
2002-03: Dartmouth College
Pos: RW | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 200 | Shoots: R
Central Scouting: No. 20 North American skater

Two years ago, Hugh Jessiman was on the fast road to nowhere. He was playing at a midget AA level on a high school team, and his development curve pointed downward.

But that was then and this is now.

Jessiman is the best player to come out of Dartmouth in a long time. He's a big, raw talent who can dominate a game. His defensive holes are fixable, and he's projected to be a strong forward at both ends of the ice.

"He had a great year, which is wild considering how he came out of a low grade of hockey two years ago," said a scout. "He's strong and he goes hard to the net. He has a great upside."

Jessiman has good hockey sense and good vision. He has soft hands around the net and likes to play the run-and-gun style. He has an explosive shot, and it's one that is fairly accurate. He helped his standing in the draft by scoring four goals in the final of the Auld Lang Syne tournament in Hanover, N.H., in December.

"He's a project, given where he was two years ago, but he looks very coachable," said a scout.

YEAR    TEAM             LEA.   GP   G   A  Pts.  PIM
'99-00  Brunswick School USHS   26   8  10   18    12
'00-01  Brunswick School USHS   26  15  10   25    14
'01-02  Brunswick School USHS   26  25  15   40    12
'02-03  Dartmouth        ECAC   34  23  24   47    48

The Hockey News says: Two-way forward

23. Richard Stehlik
Born: June 22, 1984, Skalica, Slovakia
2002-03: Sherbrooke
Pos: D | Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 245 | Shoots: L
Central Scouting: No. 49 North American skater

Richard Stehlik didn't opt in the draft last season and didn't cement his chances of going in the first round this time out.

At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, he reminds scouts of Ottawa's Zdeno Chara. The knock is his backward skating, which when you think about it is quite the liability for a defenseman.

"He has a booming shot, but it's not one he has been able to score with," a scout said. "If he could hit the net more, he'd get some goals."

Added a second scout: "There are times when he can really rock you (with a hit)."

Stehlik is what one scout described as "a mature individual," which means he can probably step in to the NHL faster than some of the other draft prospects this year.

"He is a mature player and big, and that's why he's attractive to some teams," said a scout.

But the object of assessing a draft prospect is to project what they can do over the next 15 years and not next season. Stehlik is a player scouts feel will be a solid, dependable No. 3 or 4 defenseman for years to come.

YEAR    TEAM       LEA.   GP   G   A  Pts.  PIM
'00-01  Skalica    Slo.   45   1   1    2    14
'01-02  Skalica    Slo.   35   1   0    1    12
        Slovakia   WJC     7   0   1    1    10
'02-03  Sherbrooke QMJHL  43   8  16   24   105

The Hockey News says: Two-way defenseman

24. Steve Bernier
Born: March 31, 1985, Vanier, Que.
2002-03: Moncton
Pos: RW | Ht: 6-2½ | Wt: 233 | Shoots: R
Central Scouting: No. 11 North American skater

Steve Bernier is the latest scoring weapon from the offensive factory more commonly known as the Quebec League. People say there's a touch of Mike Bossy in him, and Bossy's scoring feats secured his ticket into the Hall of Fame.

"This guy did it every night for me. You are looking at a pure goal scorer," said one scout. "He is just a great, great player."

Bernier has loads of talent and is already physically mature for his age.

His skating was considered suspect early in the season, but he showed scouts at the world under-18 championship there's little wrong with his wheels.

"He's a pure talent," said a scout.

Bernier had a so-so first half of the season, but came on strong in the second half. He's creative and can be a take-charge type of forward.

"It's all puck skills with this guy," said a scout. "He handles the puck well and obviously he can score. You can see that. He's more offense than anything else and he can do it well.

"He has finesse. He's so-so defensively, but that's the trade-off."

YEAR    TEAM     LEA.   GP    G    A   Pts.  PIM
'00-01  Ste-Foy  Mid.   39   17   35    52    49
'01-02  Moncton  QMJHL  66   31   28    59    51
'02-03  Moncton  QMJHL  71   49   52   101    90
        Canada   WU18    7    4    4     8    12

25. Jeff Tambellini
Born: April 13, 1984, Port Moody, B.C.
2002-03: Michigan
Pos: LW | Ht: 5-11 | Wt: 186 | Shoots: L
Central Scouting: No. 21 North American skater

Here's another prospect whose bloodline can be traced to the NHL. Jeff Tambellini's father, Steve, played for 10 years and is now vice president of player personnel for the Vancouver Canucks.

The younger Tambellini is an excellent skater with a great mind for the game. He has great acceleration and is quick off the mark.

"He's not very big, but it doesn't bother him," said a scout. "He gets knocked around, but nothing serious. He plays like a big player."

Tambellini led Michigan with 26 goals and 45 points and got stronger as the season progressed. He scored 15 goals in the second half of the season and took his game to another level in the playoffs. He was only the 12th freshman to be an all-CCHA second team all-star.

"He has come a long way from junior-A in B.C., to play at the level he played at," said a scout. "I like his speed and quickness. He uses his speed at both ends of the ice, especially when he pressures the defense.

"He has great puck control, and he's a great player off the ice."

YEAR    TEAM       LEA.   GP    G    A   Pts.   PIM
'99-00  Poco       Jr. B  41   30   34    64    n/a
'00-01  Chilliwack Jr. A  54   21   30    51     13
'01-02  Chilliwack Jr. A  54   46   71   117     23
'02-03  Michigan   CCHA   43   26   19    45     24

26. Brent Seabrook
Born: April 20, 1985, Delta, B.C.
2002-03: Lethbridge
Pos: D | Ht: 6-2½ | Wt: 220 | Shoots: R
Central Scouting: No. 25 North American skater

Brent Seabrook is a guy who puzzled a lot of scouts over the course of the season. He was outstanding one game, awful the next.

"You were never sure what you were going to get," said one scout. "If anything, he can be a little loosey-goosey, and sometimes I think he needs to think a little better."

Seabrook improved his stock over the second half, and he anchored Canada's gold-medal blueline at the world under-18 championship in Russia. He finished the tournament at plus-11.

"He did not have a great start to the season, but he had a great finish. He really stepped it up in Russia," said a GM.

His skating is above average, and he can play physically. Scouts like his leadership skills, but they question his intensity.

"Would I like to see him play with more intensity and more emotion? You bet," said a scout. "He has a good feel for the game and his position. He plays lots in all situations. He has a good shot and can pass the puck. I just wonder if he is mean enough."

YEAR    TEAM       LEA.    GP    G    A   Pts.  PIM
'00-01  Delta      Jr. B   54   16   26    42    55
'01-02  Lethbridge WHL     67    6   33    39    70
'02-03  Lethbridge WHL     69    9   33    42   113
        Canada     WU18     7    3    3     6     4

27. Dan Fritsche
Born: July 13, 1985, Parma, Ohio
2002-03: Sarnia
Pos: C | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 198 | Shoots: R
Central Scouting: No. 10 North American skater

Scouts like the fact Dan Fritsche is quick to react on the ice.

"Someone is thinking of moving the puck up the ice, and he's gone,'' said a scout. "He is ahead of the puck carrier before you know it. He's the type of player that whoever is playing with him has to be alert because he has somebody on his line who is all business."

Fritsche has six titanium screws in his shoulder,­ three in each,­ thanks to two shoulder surgeries, the last of which happened in December 2001. But that shouldn't hinder his chances of going high in the draft.

His hands are good, and he's smart with or without the puck. You would not pick him for your top line, but he could play on the second line if he continues to improve at a fast pace.

"He has the smarts to be a real good player," said a scout. "He could be a second-line player."

Another scout praised Fritsche's intensity.

"His work ethic is outstanding, and I wished more guys worked like he does," the scout said. "The one thing is his skating. He is not a pretty skater, but he gets the job done."

YEAR    TEAM       LEA.   GP    G    A   Pts.  PIM
'00-01  Cleveland  Jr. A  49   23   29    52    47
'01-02  Sarnia     OHL    17    5   13    18    20
'02-03  Sarnia     OHL    61   32   39    71    79

28. Eric Fehr
Born: Sept. 7, 1985, Winkler, Man.
2002-03: Brandon
Pos: RW | Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 187 | Shoots: R
Central Scouting: No. 15 North American skater

At the start of the season, Eric Fehr wasn't the first name scouts talked about when the Brandon Wheat Kings came to town. Times have changed.

"As the year went along, this guy came right along and he ended up doing a hell of a lot better than (teammate Ryan) Stone," said a scout.

At 6-foot-3 and 187 pounds, Fehr looks like a beanpole on the ice. He has great hands from in close and scouts like his scoring ability. He's an honest two-way player who gets involved in the play. His skating is good, and he is a tireless worker along the boards and in the corner.

"He is a good playmaker off the wing and he passes the puck well," said one scout. "He's a feisty guy, and you do not push him without getting pushed back."

Scouts can't wait to see what he will be like when he fills out, but the team that drafts him will have to be patient.

"There's room for growth and he'll get stronger," said a scout. "There's no doubt the skill is there. When he adds some weight and strength, he'll be a player."

YEAR    TEAM           LEA.   GP     G    A   Pts.  PIM
'00-01  Pembina Valley Mid.   36    45   13    58    30
'01-02  Brandon        WHL    63    11   16    27    29
'02-03  Brandon        WHL    70    26   29    55    76

29. Corey Perry
Born: May 16, 1985, Peterborough, Ont.
2002-03: London
Pos: RW | Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 184 | Shoots: R
Central Scouting: No. 35 North American skater

Corey Perry helped himself going into the draft by leading London in playoff scoring (23 points in 14 games).

He needed that surge because he had one of those proverbial hot and cold seasons.

"I guess what happened was he decided to forget about the draft and just play hockey," said one scout. "He started concentrating."

Perry did not play well in the Top Prospects Game, and while one game does not make or break a prospect, it left an impression that some scouts carried for a long time.

"You wonder when a guy doesn't show up with all of us in the stands," said a scout.

Perry cranked it up after the showcase game and made believers out of his critics.

"Maybe they (London) played him and he was tired," said a scout. "All I know is he was a better player in the second half."

The book on Perry is he's a good playmaker with decent size and good hands.

"He's a good example of someone who knows how to score, and you can't teach that," said a scout. "He needs to improve his skating."

YEAR    TEAM    LEA.   GP     G     A    Pts.  PIM
'00-01  Pbo     Ban.   67    73    46    119    20
'01-02  London  OHL    60    28    31     59    56
'02-03  London  OHL    67    25    53     78   145

30. Kevin Klein
Born: Dec. 13, 1984, Kitchener, Ont.
2002-03: St. Michael's
Pos: D | Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 187 | Shoots: R
Central Scouting: No. 18 North American skater

Kevin Klein was St. Michael's best defenseman this season without a doubt, which speaks well to his character and competitiveness.

Klein showed great maturity for a young player and was counted on in power play and penalty situations. His leadership skills were evident all year, and he proved he's more than a dependable stay-at-home blueliner.

"His game is in his own end and he's tough to play against," said a scout. "He is very stable, very reliable and very durable."

Scouts liked the fact Klein would come to the aid of his teammates at the drop of a hat.

"The only thing was, the rink at St. Mike's is just awful and to play half his games there was terrible.

"But he didn't let the rink bother him," the scout continued. "If you can play in there, you can play anywhere."

Klein doesn't go looking for trouble, but he doesn't back away from it either. He plays an in-your-face game and he's effective doing it.

"He's not a 1, 2 or 3 defenseman, but he is a hell of a No. 4 on an NHL team," said the scout.

YEAR    TEAM     LEA.    GP    G    A    Pts.  PIM
'99-00  Kit      Mid.            n/a
'00-01  Tor StM  OHL     58    3   16    19     21
'01-02  Tor StM  OHL     68    5   22    27     35
'02-03  Tor StM  OHL     67   11   33    44     88

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