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	Stonkus a Hidden Gem?
	Alexei Stonkus will be a bit of a project for the Isles, but he could turn out to be another steal. The tall d-man has a bit of a flare to him and likes to play an active game. Some have compared him to a taller Darius Kasparaitis. Not a bad comparison.

2002 Selections
RD	#	Selection	Pos.	Ht	Wt	From
1	22	Sean Bergenheim	W	5-11	194	Jokerit, FIN
3	87	Franz Nielsen	C	5-11	172	Malmo, SWE
5	149	Marcus Paulsson	W	6-1	185	Morrum, SWE
6	189	Alexei Stonkus	D	6-0	174	Yaroslavl, RUS
7	220	Brad Topping	G	6-1	185	Brampton, OHL
8	252	Martin Chabada	LW	6-1	202	Sparta, CZE
9	283	Per Braxenholm	D	6-3	215	Morrum, SWE

D Alexei Stonkus: 6-0, 174 lbs. Born June 6, 1984 in Yaroslavl, Russia. This could be a potential steal for the Islanders. Stonkus was rated 29th among Europeans by the CSB in their final report. What's odd is that the Islanders scouts have a totally different opinion on him than the piece posted below from RussianProspects.com. Islanders head scout Tony Feltrin states that Stonkus is quite unusual compared to normal Russian defenseman because he loves to play physical, and has a zest for the game. RussianProspects says Stonkus does not play the physical game at all. Who is right? I'll trust Feltrin. "He plays the game with passion," said Head Amateur Scout Tony Feltrin. "That will better his chances at making the NHL and the jump to the North American game. He's physical, he plays with an edge. He is a good open ice hitter and moves the puck well. I like his mobility." Stonkus was actually rated sixth by CSB among European skaters back in November.

Here is the profile on Stonkus from RussianProspects.com:

Talent Analysis:  
Alexei Stonkus is an average sized defenseman. He is a mobile, skilled player with raw talent.  At 171 pounds he does not play physical hockey. In order to be able to deliver hard hits, Alexei needs to improve his strength, especially upper body strength. Alexei's maturity level is impressive, - he plays with great effort and pose, rarely making mistakes. Alexei is aware at all times where he is on the ice and chooses his positions very well. He is a solid stick handler and skater, though could use a bit more speed . He also possesses an impressive hockey sense and is offensive minded. His appeal is exactly in his offensive potential. Alexei will not be a feared physical presence, but he can develop into a mobile and smart defenseman who quarterbacks the power play and is not a liability in his own end of the ice. One observer called him the smaller version of the highly touted Russian prospect Anton Babchuk. In fact the two played together for part of the 5 Nations Tournament in Tyumen.

Back In Russia and International Competition:  
Alexei has been a member of the Russian National '84 Team since 2000 and has mainly played on Russia's second defensive pairing. He was the only defenseman to score a goal at the Five Nations Tournament in Tyumen and has been developing into a solid power play quarterback. He will likely compete at the 2002 U18 WJC. In Russia, Alexei's rights are owned by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, a team famous for catching talent early from remote Russian areas and developing them into solid prospects. During the beginning of the 2001-02 season, Lokomotiv loaned Alexei to Elemash Elektrostal - a team that boasts many Team Russia '84 players. There Alexei got a chance to play in the Upper League and with his Team Russia teammates.

NHL:
Alexei Stonkus is a capable offensive minded defenseman. He is a potential top four defenseman. Alexei has the tools to become a second power play unit quarterback. He is elible for the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and will likely be drafted in the second or third round.

ALEXEI STONKUS’S FIRST NORTH AMERICAN INTERVIEW
BY: EUGENE BELASHCHENKO

DATE: 06/03/02  

Alexei Stonkus is a promising offensive defenseman. He is one of several available out of Yaroslavl at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, joining Denis Grebeshkov and Denis Grot. He is a member of the Russian ’84 Junior Team and spent most of the last season with Elemash Elektrostal, on loan from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. RussianProspects and HF writer Eugene Belashchenko caught up with Denis, while he was visiting Toronto for the pre-draft physical examinations and NHL team interviews.

Alexei, how are you? Everything is good. First of all, can you tell me where you were born, how you started to play hockey?
I was born in Yaroslavl. My father took me to play hockey.

Who influenced your development as a hockey player the most? 
My father, he took me to hockey from my childhood.

How would you describe your style of play to those who are not familiar with you? 
Well, I am an attacking defenseman.

In what characteristics of your game do you feel you need to work on the most?
I need to work on every aspect of the game – but most of all on my passing.

You spend most of the past season with Elemash. Did you set any goals at the beginning of the season? Do you believe that you achieved those goals?
Well, I started the season off with Yaroslavl’s second team. There I had goals to move up. When I was transferred there [to Elemash – EB] the goals changed to play better with the guys and go to the World Championships [U18 – EB]. 

In April you did play at the World Championships. It seemed you guys did play well together, since you finished the tournament “silver”. So, you guys had success everywhere, except for the last game. What were impressions regarding the tournament? How did you play there? 
My level of play was a bit worse then it was in Tyumen [5 Nations Tournament in Tyumen]. But, besides that, everything was great except for the last game, of course.

What were your impressions regarding the last game?
Well, we simply weren’t prepared for the game. 

What was your role on the ’84 national squad? Did you get a lot of minutes on the power play, short handed?
I did not play often on the power play. I played more on defense, -- short handed. I played with Shinin, and we played well together. 

This year you were invited to the annual NHL draft which this year is held in Toronto. The Central Scouting Bureau ranks you 29^th amongst European skaters – which gives you a very solid chance to get drafted very high in the draft. What are your feelings regarding this? Do you feel the pressure of the upcoming draft?
No, nothing really.

Currently you are undergoing pre-draft preparations where you have to take various physical tests? Do you have any impressions regarding them? Is there a difference between those what you are doing in Toronto and what you usually did in Elemash?
Of course, I would say very significant differences. Things weren’t like this in Elemash.

What did you while with Elemash that differed from this?
Well, in Elemash we mainly exercised to stay in shape, -- here it seems the more the better.

Is this your first visit to Toronto?
Yes

I understand you guys went to Toronto Maple Leafs game against Carolina. What did you think? Do you think there are any differences between the NHL and hockey in Russia?
The game here is definitely faster, more physical. Besides that, it is also made into a great show.

What are your plans for next year?
To make Yaroslavl’s main squad.

G Brad Topping: 6-1, 185 lbs. Born June 5, 1984 in Strathroy, Ontario. Comes from the same junior team as Raffi Torres. Was a surprise to still be available in the seventh round, but it could be due to the fact Brampton had a poor season. "I like his package," said Islanders' OHL scout Doug Gibson. "He has very good size and he's very athletic. Topping faced a ton of shots this year. His stats don't do him much justice to be honest." Topping, the 16th-ranked North American goalie by NHL Central Scouting, played in 50 games, recording a 3.42 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. The netminder is a combination butterfly-standup style goaltender. His already 6-1, 185-frame is something that Gibson likes a lot. "The bigger you are, the more net you'll cover," said Gibson. "It's pretty simple." Puckhandling will be one of the area's Gibson expects Topping to improve upon. "He's not Rick DiPietro with the puck," said Gibson.

 

"He understands that's an area he needs to improve." But there's one thing that stood out for Gibson that was very important in factoring the team's decision to draft Topping. "Every time I saw Brad play this season, he gave his team a chance to win," he said. "That's important for every goaltender."

From Hockey's Future:

Brampton's 2nd choice, and the 27th overall selection in the 2000 OHL priority draft, Topping posted solid rookie stats last year. He collected 14 wins with a respectable save percentage of .904.
Topping set several club records in 2000/2001:
The longest undefeated streak (9 games), best Goals Against Average(2.70) and Save Percentage(.904).
As a result he earned the honour as a member of the league's second all-rookie team.
The first goaltender taken in the 2000 OHL Priority Selection, Topping has lived up to his billing in his second season in the league. He showed great poise and confidence in his rookie year as a 16-year-old, setting a club record with a 9-game unbeaten streak while filling in for an injured Brian Finley. Those attributes have not waned in his second season, as he continues to combine technically sound play with an upflappable even keel under pressure.

While he shared goaltending duties in the early going with fellow 17-year-old Joey Biasucci, Topping appeared to have difficulty settling into his role and getting into a groove as a #1 netminder. However, Topping has assumed the bulk of the workload since October and is once again displaying the form that made him the team's top rookie in 2001.
Topping was named the OHL's Goaltender of the Month in January of 2001.

Topping has good size, and uses that size to his advantage when cutting down angles and staring down shooters. He may not have Grant Fuhr's glove, and may not have Dominik Hasek's spine, but Topping will put himself in position to make the save more often than not. Rarely is he caught out of his net and rarely does he commit himself prematurely.

While he has struggled with it in recent games, Topping's puckhandling has been above average since he entered the league, and well above what one would expect from a goalie only a year and a half removed from Bantam hockey. Again, he's not Martin Brodeur, but is quite effective at stopping shoot-ins behind his net or clearing the zone when killing penalties.

"He is basically a pretty quiet kid... (Topping) is a stand-up goalie and he's very consistent. He doesn't get too rattled. He also gets along with everybody and he's extremely positive about everything that goes on"
-- Brampton Battalion Head Coach Stan Butler

"We were under a lot of pressure and so was he, but he came up big for us... He gave us a bit of confidence and allowed us to move the puck up. We weren't worried about other teams getting shots on us because we knew he'd be there for us.
-- Former teammate Jonah Leroux

- Ranked third by CSB among OHL goaltenders. Took part in Canada's 6 Nations competition camp back in August of 2001. He was Brampton's 2nd-round choice, 27th overall, in 2000 OHL Priority Selection.

From the Brampton Battalion website:

Personal Notes:

Brad completed his grade 12 studies at Turner Fenton Secondary in 2001-02 and also took OAC courses ... had a 78 percent average during his rookie season with the Battalion and was scholastic player of the month in October, 2000 ... was an honour roll student at Colbourne Public School in Strathroy from grades four to eight, and at Strathroy High School in grades nine and 10 ... was captain of his elementary school's soccer, volleyball and basketball teams in 1997 while in grade eight ... during his first year in high school, 1998-99, he was captain and most valuable player on the midget volleyball team ... played for South Africa in the 1999 North American Roller Hockey Championships in Atlanta ... is a third generation goaltender, following his father, Gary, who was a late cut of the London Knights of the OHL in 1978 ... Gary played five seasons with the Strathroy Blades Jr. B team (1973-78) and was a member of the Ontario Senior A champion Aylmer Hornets in 1988-89 ... Gary was also an outstanding athlete in baseball and track and field ... Gary works for an automotive refinishing company in London ... mother, Carol, was also an excellent athlete and played hockey, fastball, basketball, volleyball, and bowling ... Carol is a Customs and Duties Administrator with Cobi Foods Inc., in Ingersol, Ont. ... her grandparents are from the "old" Czechoslovakia and her mother, who resides in Strathroy, continues to speak and write Czech ... Brad's younger sister, Ashleigh, attends North Meadows Public School in Strathroy and is an active dancer in jazz, Irish and tap ... Brad spends his spare time listening to music and is a fan of Bon Jovi and the Tragically Hip ... favourite teams are the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs because they are original six teams, while Dominek Hasek, Curtis Joseph and Martin Brodeur are his favourite players.

 

2002 Draft Central - Page 1

2002 Draft Central - Page 3