“Can stickhandle and move on the attack fairly well and despite average feet and agility still has some dangle to his game. His primary negative is his skating which still is a work in progress. Has a good shot, and probably is yet another long term Russian investment a team makes, looking for a later reward. -Bill Placzek, draftsite.com

“Great hands and frame, but sometimes you really wondering what is going on in his head when he’s on the ice (if anything at all).” -Cam Robinson, dobberprospects.com

“Has good size, excellence feet and terrific all-around skills and offensive capabilities. Poised with good size and hands. Seemed to out-shine the rest of the highly regarded US defenders in the Five Nations Tourney last August.” -Bill Placzek, draftsite.com

“Tall USA National Development defenseman with excellent mobility, playmaking prowess, passing ability, and calmness to his game. Moves the biscuit well and will activate from his defensive position. Capable as a power play quarterback and smart and able to get penalty kill time. Very responsible at reading the developing attack and as adept at being part of the attack. Needs a bit more time to get stronger and develop fully.” -Bill Placzek

“He’s a really good skater, has safe clears and his puck retrieval is excellent. The blueliner is very good on the penalty kill as well. At 6-2, 181 he’s already pretty strong and will only get better…” -Russ Cohen, EP Rinkside

“… With Knyazev it is the puck-moving talent (in a broad sense of it). But, while he got stronger during this season, it’s still a long way to go for him…” -Cam Robinson, dobberprospects.com

“Spence is a smart defenceman who can [move] around the ice with the puck. Seems to constantly have his head up to look for cracks in his opponents’ defence and then exploit it through his playmaking abilities.” -Ryan Biech, EP Rinkside

“Fits the push defender style well with his high end tools, mobility and power play quarterbacking prowess. Not completely polished in his own end, he is good without the puck and a smart hockey head in his own zone. Really good puck carrier with vision. Very agile and mobile but still needs to improve and get stronger if he is to progress to the highest level play. Lots to like in this development push defender. -Bill Placzek, draftsite.com

“His personality very much fits the realm of how he plays… It’s smooth. It’s under control. He’s a go-getter at the same time. He’s a leader, but he’s never in your face. I’d like him to get a little more abrasive… [he is a] typical puck-moving NHL defenseman, and could play in the League for a long time.” -NTDP U18 Head Coach John Wroblewski on Thrun’s game via Wes Crosby, nhl.com

“While Warren is a bit on the small side for a defender, his excellent skating makes up for that. He has great acceleration and speed and he gets to his top speed quickly and easily no matter which direction he is heading. His impressive footwork allows him to transition from defense to offense in a hurry. He has very good puck handling abilities to go along with his skating, which helps him exit the defensive zone well… has good vision and passing skills.” -Greg Boysen, The Hockey Writers

“Big wing who has been hampered by injury caused by a kneeing infraction, probably concussion related. He projects as a power forward with pace who gets to the front, and finishes checks with physicality. Kills penalties.” -Bill Placzek, draftsite.com

“Hamaliuk has a pro frame and the tools to be an effective north-south winger… question his offensive upside at the NHL level.” -Larry Fisher, The Hockey Writers

“Hamaliuk is a 6-foot-3, 190 lbs power forward who loves to get his nose dirty and has a knack for putting the puck in the net, which is often only a couple of feet from where he sets up shop.” -The Pipeline Show, EP Rinkside

“Mastrosimone is a shooter. Needs to up his effort away from the puck. His passes were okay, but because he seems to want to shoot everything he touches (and for good reason) … His skating seems to have improved over previous viewings, but he only goes hard when he sees an opportunity.” –Brian Fogarty, HockeyProphets.com

“… high energy wing that plays in all situation bringing it each and every shift, and leads by example. Has excellent vision and is sneaky in the attack zone, drawing opponents and then creating looks through teammates. Plays fast, shift and with high energy and some sandpaper each shift. Displays a really quick shot, and attacks the opponents to take back pucks in defensive end, and is relentless in the defensive end back checking, lifting the puck carrier’s stick to unearth the pick. An accomplish penalty killer who is 200 foot unselfish with the puck. A deceptive skater who can lull defenders and crank his acceleration into higher gear. A lightweight, but too much to like about him to not think he gets selected and might find a way into the bigs. May not be the most diligent in all zones, or very physical, but when it comes offense, he is the fuse that lights the powder keg.” -Bill Placzek, draftsite.com

“Big off-hand left winger with soft hands, great physical attributes and an improved skating gear and footwork. Handles passes and in the Five Nations U-17, had a hat trick against the Finns. Improving as an attacker as his legs and hands are coming together. He has good vision and now is playing at a confident tempo. His co-ordination has progressed and was surprisingly physical against the Russians and applied strong forechecking pressure throughout the match. Lets go with dangerous shots through heavy traffic. Just through open ice and his solid edging helps him cut out of traffic for a good look. He is still filling his frame in. -Bill Placzek, draftsite.com

“Teplý could be described as poor man’s Patrik Laine – he’s a big goal-scoring winger with a right-handed shot, has a great selection of shots, has an amazing release, is capable of making plays, his skating looks a bit clumsy, he isn’t consistent from game to game, and his defensive game isn’t very good – but Teplý’s tools aren’t quite as high-end as Laine’s, so I’m not putting him in the same tier. But there are definitely similarities between the two, and those are hard to ignore… split the season between the top level and the second-highest level…  -Jokke Nevalainen, dobberprospects.com