" My indecision about where the Devils pool would rank from 4-9 was nothing compared to my indecision about whether to rank Holtz or Hughes first here. I think there’s this belief among readers that the gap between one player and the next are firm (or ought) to be. You probably expect more from me than throwing my hands up and saying “I don’t know.” But sometimes that’s just where you settle. The reality is that I think there are real cases for both kids at No. 1.

Holtz has the makings of a potential first-line winger (and should be a top-six one at minimum). He’s got a coveted blend of skill, power and shooting which allows him to create his own looks and then finish off of them with a variety of release points and shot types (or play off of the puck from a playmaker and get open with his timing). He’s got a pro frame and strength (6-foot, 195 pounds) which allows him to play through bumps, win battles, and get off the wall. But he’s also got underrated playmaking sense (I’ve often argued that his ability as a shooter is overstated and his ability in facilitation has been understated). He still needs to get a little quicker and play a little quicker to maximize those tools but if he can develop a little more pace (he’s not slow!), he’ll be the goal-scoring winger everyone believes he can be at even strength and he’s always going to have power-play upside. After an at-times bumpy post-draft season, he has really begun to figure out how to make his game work in North America in the AHL this season. His small-area skill has improved. He’s looking to hang onto the puck and attack more, and is getting to his spots with relative ease in the AHL. He also only just turned 20 a couple of weeks ago. He still needs to work on his one-timer, which he doesn’t always get the most of, but his wrist shot release and power are both high-end. He’s got soft touch off of his forehand and backhand, and he’s a dual-threat inside the offensive zone. "

" After winning a Clarkson Cup and the USHL’s forward of the year award (after he led the league in goals and five-on-five goal differential), Coronato has stepped right in at Harvard to become an impactful NCAA forward. He’s not the guy there, like some other players selected as high as he was tend to become with their college programs, but that’s not how Harvard typically operates anyways and the Crimson have two Olympians in Nick Abruzzese (Maple Leafs) and Sean Farrell (Canadiens). I’m actually very much looking forward to watching how Coronato handles the increased responsibility he’ll have as a go-to guy while his team’s two leading scorers are in Beijing. There’s has never been any questioning Coronato’s effort level or his ability to make something happen in the home plate area. He’s a determined, competitive player with the small-area skill package, detail and skating (he’s got good speed, for sure) needed to play that kind of game. He’s also got rare spatial awareness which helps him understand where he is in relation to pressure and play off of it. And then he’s got a hard, quick release which rattles off of the heel of his blade and great feel around the net. There’s a belief among many scouts and folks around the USHL and NCAA that even if he doesn’t become a dynamic, top-of-the-lineup guy, that his floor bottoms out as a diligent, hard-working middle-six scorer. That’s a darn good player. I think he’s got a chance to be more than that, too.

Former Chicago Steel teammate Ryan Ufko sums up the crux of Coronato’s game pretty plainly though: “His work ethic is out of this world.” "

" I strongly debated ranking Zellweger as high as No. 2 here. That’s how impressive he has been in the last year and a half. He has become a bit of a marvel for his skating-transition package and the way it allows him to control play all over the ice (including, despite his 5-foot-9 frame, defensively). He’s a one-man exit-entry machine. He almost never puts himself into tough spots but when he does and he needs to track back, his skating helps him recover. Despite being the youngest defenceman to make Team Canada’s world junior team, I thought he was one of its most impressive players right through from the summer showcase and December selection camps in Calgary to the short-lived tournament in Edmonton. He uses his feet to buzz around the ice and carry pucks off the line or in transition better than just about any defenceman in the CHL. The way he hugs corners and rounds the net, or turns under opposing players, or spins off of pressure, is extremely impressive. But he also just always seems to play well. I love how quickly he reads the play when he gets the puck. It’s catch, survey, and quickly skate or outlet. Rinse, repeat. He almost never waits too long to make a decision. His wrister is showing improved pop with an early release off of his toe. He playing a feistier game this year and rises to the challenge in battles to keep sequences alive or skate them away from danger. He’s got a silky first touch, catching difficult passes mid-stride into a planned movement or a cross-ice pass. He’s just an effortless four-way skater who uses his feet to be in constant motion with and without the puck offensively, as well as to swallow up carriers in the neutral zone with tight gaps, virtually gluing himself to the hips of opposing players. He’s got the ability to play a highly-active roving style.

Here’s Everett coach Dennis Williams offering a bit of a different perspective on Zellweger from a recent conversation: “Olen’s a terrific young man. Obviously, his skill set and his play speaks for itself but his attention to detail, his character, and how he approaches each game is unbelievable. And I really think for him over the last 18 months, his play without the puck has really improved. We know he can get up the ice and join the rush and (has a) skill set offensively but he has continued to improve without the puck. He just wants to be on the ice all of the time and to me, he’s a great culture piece.” "

- Jacob Holmes (D)