*Post updated 11/15/11
Which other prospects could one day join Derek Stepan, Ryan
McDonagh and the rest of the young Rangers on Broadway?
Blueshirt Bulletin will be tracking the progress of the next
wave of youngsters as they compete and develop this season in the Canadian
junior leagues, college and abroad.
Below is a compilation of scouting reports, buzz and
analysis by scouts and hockey experts on Michael St. Croix.
We’ll update this as the season unfolds with the latest news
at the very bottom of this post.
Michael St. Croix
Drafted: 2011 – 4th round (106th overall)
HT: 5-11
WT: 179
Pos: RW
Shoots: R
Birthday: 4/10/93
Team: Edmonton, WHL
2009-2010 stats: 18g, 28a, 66gp, 30PIM, -21
2010-2011 stats: 27g, 48a, 68gp, 48PIM, +28
2010-2011 playoffs: 1g, 0a, 4gp, 9PIM
2011-2012 stats: 7g, 15a, 21gp, 19PIM, -1
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Scouting report entering the season from Blueshirt Bulletin
staff writer and author of The
Prospect Park, Jess Rubenstein:
“If you are a New York Ranger fan and you are trying to get
a good read on 2011 4th round pick Michael St. Croix then good luck to you. We
say that because when it comes to St. Croix the scouts are very much divided as
to his potential. You will not find any grey areas when it comes to what
the scouts think of St. Croix as they are going to either like what they see or
they won't. Ask 10 scouts and 5 will say NHL future while the other 5 say not a
chance. Our own notes from 2010 said that he needed a lot of work with
his skating which is not really a big deal as these days it is harder to find
prospects who don't need help with their skating. St. Croix suffers from being
a "generic" player which means between his size (5'11 180) and his
game that he does not stand out enough that he has to find a way to stand
out. St. Croix was originally seen as a late 2nd, early 3rd in the 2011
NHL draft but we hope that St. Croix does what many of those who fall into the
4th and 5th fail to do and use this drop to motivate him to get better.
In his 2011 season debut for his Edmonton Oil Kings, St. Croix got off to the
right start with a power play goal as Edmonton jumped out to a 3-0 lead before
holding off the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-2. St. Croix scored in the 2nd period
to give the Oil Kings at the time but this is what he has to do all year if he
wants that contract. At the junior level 9 power play goals will not help
you stand out so we want to see this number doubled this year.” (9/6/11)
What They’re Saying:
Elite Prospects – “A forward with very good offensive skills. A good passer and finisher. A
quick skater who could still develop his movement.”
Hockey’s
Future – “A speedster with soft hands and exceptional puck skills, St.
Croix has turned in a determined effort of late. Perhaps considered under-sized
in some quarters, the 5'11, 180 pound center brings an offensive flair to the
rink that is very similar to what hockey fans in St. Croix's backyard are
seeing from the current group of rookie forwards skating with the
NHL's Edmonton Oilers.” (12/27/2010)
The Hockey News Draft Preview – [Ranked 46th among 2011 NHL draft prospects] “Hope in Edmonton has been in short supply in
recent years and that’s not limited to the NHL. But the expansion
Oil Kings are starting to produce top-end talent and Michael St. Croix is the
latest to come out of the program. His father, Rick St. Croix, tended
net for the Flyers and Maple Leafs, so there is a pro pedigree in the
family. Ironically, St. Croix is a terror for netminders and came
into the WHL as a highly touted prospect who scored more than two points a game
in midget. Defensive play and overall strength are weaknesses right
now, though St. Croix has an elusiveness that helps him avoid getting caught by
big hits. Those moves also help him stymie opposing
blueliners. ‘He plays more of an east-west game than a north-south
game, so defensemen need to honor that, especially because of his
stickhandling,’ one scout said. ‘Speed is his biggest
asset. He sees the ice well and he distributes the puck well.’”
(Spring 2011)
Bruins
2011 Draft Watch – “Like McNeill, St. Croix is to be commended for
picking up his game and making a statement to scouts as the season went on.
Coming into it, the season, the Winnipeg native had high offensive expectations
given the flashes he showed as a rookie with the Oil Kings last year. He got
off to a slow start, and compounded with some indifferent defensive play, was
headed down in some NHL teams' eyes until he turned things around at mid-season
and finished the year strong. A very good skater who can dangle with the best
of them, he's got a lightning release and just seems to have that sixth sense
around the net when it comes to scoring goals or setting them up. He tallied 27
markers and 75 points in 68 games, finishing just three points off the scoring
lead to Dylan Wruck. His willingness to get his nose dirty and play more
responsible in all zones is precisely why his stock is up these days. Will it
be enough to get him into the first round? That remains to be seen, but even if
he doesn't crack the Friday night lineup, he won't be around long on Saturday,
as he has some of the best natural upside of any in this class. His average
size (5-11, 165) hurts him- he needs to get a lot stronger, but that should
come in time.” (3/21/2011)
THN.com –
“His statistics and achievements speak for themselves, but the essence to St.
Croix’s unique game is his style of play. A playmaker and goal-scorer, he
believes a big part of his game involves his vision, which contributes to his
impressive offensive abilities. St. Croix is able to set up
plays and get passes through the narrowest of lanes, but most importantly he
positions himself perfectly to finish the play. At the same time, his vision
grants him the confidence to get fancy with the puck and put on a show.” (4/28/2011)
The
Pipeline Show – Compilation of opinions from 10 NHL scouts:
“The Good: ‘He’s got very good hockey sense... he shoots the
puck better than most people think, he can really wire it, and he’s
pretty smart.’… ‘He’s not a big center but he still goes to the right places
and he has pretty good hands. He thinks the game well and his effort is usually
there.’… ‘Average skating but he’s quick. Fast feet, bad stride.’… ‘He has
crazy skills around the net. His work ethic is good on most nights. He
sometimes plays too much on the perimeter but when he does go to the net, he
drives there with speed.’…. ‘He sure knows what to do with the puck when he’s
got it and that’s an ingredient that all teams look for; great hands and a good
finisher.’… ‘Very smart player, he’s a guy that has good hockey sense and works
hard most nights. It’s tough when you are 17 to be the guy expected to carry
the offence for the entire team."… ‘He’s intelligent and a very good
play-making center.’… ‘I’m a fan. I like his game; he has good instincts, good
sense, I like his compete level and I like the way he plays the game. I wish he
was a little bigger and I wish he got around the ice a little better but I like
the way he plays and think that he’s got a lot of upside’…
“The Bad: ‘I think with Michael there are concerns about his
compete; he’s not a physical player. I have some concerns with him.’… ‘I think
the biggest knock on St. Croix is always going to be his skating.’… ‘What’s
going to hurt him is his foot speed and his ability to get into the tough zones
and fight for a puck.’… ‘He has trouble beating someone one-on-one or winning a
race to a loose puck.’… ‘He needs space to play and he can’t create it for
himself. When he gets hit, he’s hit, he doesn’t have the ability to roll off a
hit and use the momentum for himself.’… ‘I’m not a fan. I keep trying to figure
out what it is that I don’t like... I see a lack of defence and neutral zone
play, I never see him with the puck, it’s just a touch pass off his stick. I
think he’s an average skater.’
“The Bottom Line: The
scouts seemed to be split into two categories; those who wonder where he will
fit into a professional roster and those who are taken by his skill set and
willing to overlook his deficiencies because of it. ‘If he can’t play a top 6
role then he can’t play in the NHL because he’s not a checker.’… ‘His game will
have to evolve so he’s not bringing just offence to his game.’… ‘He’ll have to
be a top 6 guy because he doesn’t have a physical element in his game. But he’s
not consistent enough, yet, to be a top 6 guy.’… ‘If he’s going to make it at
the next level it’s going to have to be as a point producer because he’s not a
checker. I like his effort but all through his hockey career he’s always been
the point guy.’” (5/3/2011)
The
Scouting Report – [Ranked 51st among 2011 NHL draft
prospects] “Michael St. Croix had a solid, though not spectacular season
in the WHL this year. The skilled center built on his rookie campaign by
becoming a leader with the young Oil Kings, scoring 75 points and improving his
plus/minus rating by an impressive 49 points in his second year. St. Croix is a
competitive player who likes to set up his teammates, but can also finish when
he gets the chance. Next season will go a long way in determining what kind of
player St. Croix will be. If he can produce at the level he’s capable of, he
could quickly establish himself as one of the potential steals in the 2011
draft.” (5/30/2011)
Corey Pronman –
[Ranked 26th among 2011 NHL draft prospects] “Michael St. Croix came
into the season expecting to dominate offensively, and while he did well, he
didn't show the complete upside he's capable of. He's a solid skater, with a
very fluid and effective stride who has the agility and edge control to be
extremely elusive. St. Croix has plus puck skills and can make defenders miss
left and right, but also can make very good distributions if they back off him.
He's a well above-average power play weapon and can make a ton of things happen
from the left side of the offensive zone. He has a solid shot and is able to
score his mid-distances. His physical game is well below-average right now, and
it likely will top out at most as a fringe tool. St. Croix does go into the
physical areas and drives to the net, but he is relatively ineffective and
physically overwhelmed easily to the point it makes more sense for him to stay
on the perimeter. His hockey sense is solid to above-average, and offensively
his awareness is impressive. He makes lightning-quick decisions—sometimes it
even looks like he's rushing it by how quickly he moves the puck. St. Croix's
defensive game was bad in the first half, but made some progression in the
second half, although I'm not 100% he can stay at the center position.”
(6/3/2011)
ESPN -
“‘His play fell way off after a concussion in January,’ said one scout based in
Western Canada. ‘Right before that he was playing his best hockey of the
season. He'd been solid in the first half of the season. If you project him off
the first half rather than the end, you can see him the 30s. The final Central
ranking [59] isn't really fair. He has a knock on his skating. He's average to
just above average on skating. With his skating and his size, he has to be the
type of player who'll go into heavy traffic, in the tough areas on the ice. If
you look at Martin St. Louis, one of the real strengths of his game, an
under-rated part of his success, is his toughness. If St. Croix isn't shy after
his concussion, if you've seen him go in traffic and think that's he'll be
willing to do that, then the 30s aren't out of the question.’ And as stated
before, if you might be in the 30s in this draft, you have a shot at the
20s. Stockwatch: The better the scouts' memory, the higher his stock
rises.” (6/14/2011)
ESPN
NHL Draft Blog – “Small center produced for EDM of the WHL. Needs to
improve speed/quickness for size, but pays a price to score.” (6/25/11)
Hockey’s
Future – “Crafty forward, offensive skills. Diminutive forward whose game
is built on creating havoc for opponents in the attacking zone. Hampered by a
mid-season injury after a very productive offensive push through November and
December, but was inconsistent upon his return.” (6/29/2011)
Hockey’s
Future – “Ranked 59th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting,
St. Croix's stock has dropped over the past season. Somewhat undersized and at
times less physical and sure with the puck than others selected ahead of him in
the draft, if he develops, St. Croix could be a steal in the draft for the
Rangers. He has excellent vision, good skating and shifty moves, and was an
excellent playmaker for the Oil Kings this past season. St. Croix played in 68
regular season games, posting 27 goals and 48 assists, including nine power
play goals, 48 penalty minutes, and plus/minus rating of plus-28. He led the
Oil Kings in assists, ranked second in points and power play goals, and third
in goals and plus/minus rating. St. Croix is expected to play two more seasons
in the WHL prior
to becoming a professional.” (7/14/2011)
Corey Pronman – [Ranks St. Croix 4th among NYR prospects] “The Good: Michael St. Croix's
a solid skater with a very fluid and effective stride who has the agility and
edge control to be extremely elusive. St. Croix has plus puck skills and can
make defenders miss left and right, but can also make very good distributions
if they back off of him. He's a well above-average power play weapon and can
make a ton of things happen from the left side of the offensive zone. He has a
solid shot and is able to score his mid-distances. His hockey sense is solid to
above-average, and offensively his awareness is impressive. He makes
lightning-quick decisions—sometimes it even looks like he's rushing it by how
quickly he moves the puck. St. Croix's defensive game was bad in the first
half, but made some progression in the second half, although I'm not 100% he
can stay at the center position. The
Bad: His physical game is well below-average right now and it likely will
top out at most as a fringe tool. St. Croix does go into the physical areas and
drives to the net, but he is relatively ineffective and physically overwhelmed
easily to the point that it makes more sense for him to stay on the perimeter.
His top speed is a tad underwhelming too. Projection: An average second line forward who safely projects as a
below-average second to above-average third line forward.” (8/9/2011)
The Hockey News Yearbook – [Ranks St. Croix 7th among NYR
prospects] “Can score, but defensive play and strength are issues” (Summer
2011)
The
Prospect Park – “Laxdal is looking at St Croix to be one of his leading
scorers as we have heard from others that St. Croix has never looked
better. It is one thing when your own coach hypes you but when scouts are
saying St. Croix should be one of the leading scorers in the WHL that gets your
attention fast. 40 goals, 90 points
appears to be everyone's projection coming off a 27-48-75 season.” (8/29/11)
The
Prospect Park – “Michael St. Croix played for the most part like he was
afraid to make a mistake so he hurt his own cause because of that fear. His
defense was a lot better than we thought it would be but we never saw his
offense. St. Croix goes back to Edmonton
where his offense will return but he can not allow opportunities like this go
by as a goal or two would have raised his stock. Not one point means he better
do something this weekend or risk falling behind other prospects.” (9/17/11)
The
Province – “The Oil Kings are picked by some to have a playoff run in them
this year, and the 18-year-old, Winnipeg-born son of former Flyers goalie Rick
St. Croix is a major reason why. The 5-foot-11, 179-pound right-handed shot
uses his vision and his opportunistic scoring skills to produce and saw big
bump in his numbers last season (68-27-48-75, plus-28, 48 PIMs). He was the
fourth pick of the 2008 bantam draft.” (9/22/11)
Hockey’s
Future – [Ranked 17th among NYR prospects] “Drafted out of the WHL, Michael
St. Croix is a Winnipeg native, who is currently the revived Edmonton Oil
Kings franchise leader in career points. A playmaking center, with solid
two-way skills, St. Croix is somewhat undersized, but with very good speed and
excellent hockey sense. St. Croix, who was recently reassigned from the
Rangers' training camp, is expected to spend two more seasons in junior hockey.
St. Croix projects to be a top-nine forward in the NHL, but reaching that level
will require increased strength and physical development, more consistency in
tactical play, and a greater willingness to play in traffic areas.” (9/27/11)
The
Prospect Park – “Michael St. Croix (2011 4th) is struggling a bit
trying to find his offense after 5 games but that is not what concerns us. His
Edmonton Oil Kings were able to earn a 2-1 shootout win over the defending WHL
champion the Kootenay Ice but where was St. Croix? When your offense is struggling as is the
case with St. Croix is then you have to make sure your defense is there and
that you are not taking penalties. It is early but other than 1 good game we
see St. Croix fighting himself to establish his identity. The penalties that will always get you in
trouble with your coaches are tripping and holding calls. Both are clear signs
that you are (a) not moving your feet on defense and (b) were about to be
beaten on a play. We know St. Croix can
play better than he has and for Edmonton who is wanting to make a run this
year; they are going to need St. Croix to play well at both ends of the ice.”
(10/6/11)
The
Pipeline Show – “St. Croix, a Rangers 2011 draft pick had a break out
season last year with 75 points in 68 games. He's just below a point per game
pace this season with 15 in 16. I'll be honest I've never heard his name come
up in conversation when it comes to the WJC, but sometimes it only takes getting
hot at the right time, and the Winnipeg product can certainly do that. He's
currently riding a 9 game point streak with 13 points during the span. Last
season he put up 24 points during an 11 game streak.” (11/3/11)
The
Prospect Park – “It was exactly one month ago (October 8th) that Michael
St. Croix (2011 4th) played what we called a truly horrible hockey game.
No points, bad turnovers and a -2 as St. Croix had gone 5 games without either
a goal or a point. That was the last
game that St. Croix did not score in as 11 games later, Michael St. Croix is
now the hottest Ranger prospect with an 11 game scoring streak after a season
high 2-2-4 performance against the Royals. The game's first star has this
thing about 3 points as St. Croix was involved in the first 3 goals scored by
the Oil Kings tonight.” (11/8/11)
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