Chiller Instinct’s

2009-2010 NHL Top Prospects Guide #16-#20

16 – Darren Helm, 5’11”- 172 lbs

Detroit Red Wings, Centre, 22

The NHL has its best tenacious player that combines skill and no regret; he has just one regular season point in 16 games to offset his rather impressive playoff appearances that have seen the Wings accumulate 31 of a possible 32 wins.  Due to the tremendous depth in Detroit, Helm has bided his time with Grand Rapids the past two years before riding in and providing the team with reliable face-offs and incredible energy.  He is both a Memorial Cup and Stanley Cup Champion, set to embark on his first regular NHL duty.

Helm is an absolute speedster, an immense fore-checker that punishes those in his way with bravado and ferocity.  An accident in training camp will see the former Medicine Hat Tigers’ and WHL star miss considerable time at the beginning of the season due to a problem with his ACL in his right shoulder.  Fellow rookie Justin Abdelkader will take up the slack in the mean time and look to kick down the door.  Helm defined kick the door down.

17 – Colin Wilson, 6’1”- 213 lbs

Nashville Predators, Centre, 19

The decorated and short NCAA career of elite prospect Wilson is a highly anticipated one in Music City.  While he could begin with the AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, do not count on it to last for long.  A groin injury was noted in training camp, so expecting fireworks to start the season for a team lacking depth up front could be too much to ask.

Two seasons ago, the Connecticut-born Wilson was superb in gathering 35 points (12 goals, three game winners), 91 shots, a +12 rating, the NCAA (Hockey East) Rookie of the Year Award, and an U18 Gold Medal with Boston University and the US National Development Program.  This past campaign saw the eventual Hobey Baker Finalist (conceding to teammate Matt Gilroy) wreak absolute dominance at the collegiate level, winning the National Championship, Best Forward honours, and First Team All-Star accolades.

Head Coach Barry Trotz must drool over the possibility of unleashing his talent with a Predators jersey on his back, but maintains reasonable expectations of any highly regarded rookie.  “I thought Wilson was really good up front,” Trotz said after a preseason win over Atlanta on 17 September 2009. “He’s a really good talent, I’m glad we drafted him.”  Behind Jason Arnott, Wilson will quickly become the face of the franchise, one so steeped in defensive talent.

18 – Matt Gilroy, 6’2”- 195 lbs

New York Rangers, Defense, 25

Fluid puck movement and smart decision making outline the 2009 Hobey Baker Award winner’s game.  Gilroy, from Boston University, came to training camp in New York with roster spots on defense wide open.  "He's got a fair whack at this thing," Rangers coach John Tortorella told nhl.com. "We have, I think, penciled in four 'D' and I'm not sure where those four 'D' will fit, but there are a couple of wide-open spots there and it's important that we develop some young defensemen. He's going to get a chance, just like a number of other people." 

A quintessential late-bloomer, Gilroy took a long, pensive road to the big leagues.  Growing up, Matt and his elder brother Timmy wore #98 and #97 respectively in homage to ‘The Great One’.  In August 1993, Timmy fell in an accident on his bike on the way to play in a neighborhood game, dying that night.  As an eighteen-year-old, the New York-born-and-raised youngster was a 5’7” 145 lb slight kid.  Whenever he could wear the #97 in honour of his brother, he did.  If not, a #9 or #7 was selected and the family sewed the corresponding number inside the jersey someplace.  

His coach at Boston University, Jack Parker, told a story in a 22 January 2009 article by George Vecsey of the New York Times about how he needed to persuade the staff to allow him onto the team.  “In reality, I was discouraging him — and he came anyway,” Parker said, recalling how Gilroy agreed to switch from forward to defense and to spend his first year as a practice player. Gilroy looked so good in an exhibition, however, that he earned a spot on the team. He is now a two-time all-American defenseman, a senior captain and a preliminary candidate for the annual Hobey Baker Award, given to the best college player.  Gilroy was given 23 different NHL offers after his stellar collegiate season.

19 – Peter Regin, 6’1”- 185 lbs

Ottawa Senators, Left Wing/Centre, 23

The ‘Great Dane’ has progressed from a mainstay in the Danish Junior program, up to a rising star with Timra of the SEL, then spent most of a season with the Senators’ AHL farm club in Binghampton, and now Regin has found his niche with Cory Clouston as a skilled forward in Ottawa. 

GM Bryan Murray and Clouston are well aware of the two-time Danish League Champion and 2004-2005 Danish Player of the Year’s on-ice proficiencies.  "We think Peter has been developing for the last three or four years (to play at) this level. Does that mean he's going to have ups and downs?  Absolutely.  He's not going to be at a high level the whole time.  But we think he's very ready, or very close to being ready to be a regular….he's not a 19-year-old coming over here.  He's 23 years old.”

His reward is a legitimate shot at forming a dynamic threesome with Mike Fisher and newcomer Alexei Kovalev.  Clouston had this to say in a 23 September 2009 interview quote on Rob Brodie’s article on nhl.com, "I think those two guys have played well together on the penalty kill," he said. "They communicate on the bench well. They've done an excellent job of reading and reacting and communicating. I think both of them could create some chemistry."

20 – Jack Hillen, 5’11”- 211 lbs

New York Islanders, Defense, 23

Excitement is brewing on Long Island with the addition of John Tavares to a roster that boasts young weapons Jeff Tambellini, Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo, and Josh Bailey.  Emerging late last season, Hillen gave the Isles a puck mover besides Bruno Gervais, after the departure of Chris Campoli via trade with Ottawa left a large hole.  Head Coach Scott Gordon desperately needs reliable bodies on the blueline and someone to quarterback the second-unit powerplay. 

A smooth skater out of Colorado College, he put up an impressive 76 points over four campaigns before spending a productive stint in Bridgeport (AHL).  Hillen should glide right into the Islanders’ defensive corps.  The Minnetonka, Minnesota-born defender can be overmatched along the boards and in front of the net, so his offensive prowess must be utilized to a greater degree than the 40 games last year.  Chances abound on a team with nothing much to lose and better puck protection up front on the immediate horizon.

27 September 2009 / Robin Keith Thompson