Atop Ol Turris
September 7th, 2008 by thewordbirdThe Phoenix Coyotes top out Chiller Instinct’s 2008-09 NHL Top Prospects Guide in a couple different manners. For one, the ‘Yotes have the deepest prospect pool and have 3 of the 30 top candidates for the Calder Trophy this year in my estimation. Second, Kyle Turris is a lock for a major role in Phoenix and his top-end skill compliments his hockey IQ quite nicely….
1) (F) Kyle Turris – Phoenix Coyotes (19 years old, 6’1”, 178 lbs)
Wayne Gretzky and company in Arizona are so high on the prowess and gifts of Turris that his services are all but a foregone conclusion this fall in Arizona. The U20 World Junior Gold Medal winner has turned pro after just one season in the NCAA ranks with Wisconsin, leading the Badgers with 35 points. Turris told the Capital Times, “….it was a tough decision because I love Wisconsin. I wouldn’t have traded this year in for the world. It was incredible. The college atmosphere, the lessons I learned. I couldn’t have had a better coach than coach (Mike) Eaves. He taught me so much.”
The Coyotes are beginning to bring along an enviable array of forwards that possess speed, ingenuity, and character. In bringing in All-Star centre Olli Jokinen to harness the first line and powerplay, pivots Martin Hanzal, Peter Mueller and Turris will all be afforded time to develop further. Captain Shane Doan, Todd Fedoruk and Daniel Carcillo will keep the opposition honest and could prove to be the ideal situation for the youngsters.
The New Westminster, British Columbian-born Turris has bloomed in every situation hockey has presented him with. Premature whispers (should you listen) tell you that he has a real shot at making the Canadian Olympic Team for 2010. In all fairness, projections like that are not fair but his gifts are something special. Former coach and NHL player Rick Lanz states, “The talent is already there. That’s what makes him so special. Unknowingly, he has surrounded himself with everything one would look for in a player. It all comes naturally to him. He gets it.” Kyle was the leading goal scorer at the Canada/Russia Super Series with seven markers. His aptitude for displaying elite talent at top speed is something all scouts look for and has been on display both at the BCHL level in Burnaby and at the NCAA level. The Vancouver Giants held his rights should he have advanced to the WHL at one point and assured him of a roster spot the year the Giants hosted and won the Memorial Cup. That is a very solid indicator indeed.
Robin Keith Thompson
7 September 2008
