Florida Panthers Top Prospects: 10-6

10. Tyson Barrie, D, 20, Victoria, British Columbia (PR: 13)

5’10, 190lbs

Drafted 3^rd round (77^th overall) in 2009

 The BC Native has already gotten a taste of the NHL. A quick 4 game stint in just his first season pro goes to show that Barrie has the makings of a great offensive defenseman. Barrie, who was the WHL defenseman of the year in 2010, and the runner-up in 2011, has shown off his skill on the big stage at the WJC. Even though he was on the losing team he proved to many that he was a prospect to look out for. In his first season pro, he has been a top PP QB for the Lake Erie Monsters. With 30 points in 47 games, 20 of them have come with the man advantage.

“We feel that Barrie has great tools, to become a top end offensive defenseman in the NHL. He is a great skater who moves with ease and can make quick easy passes which is great for the power play. He won’t be a guy to be counted on to be a physical beast on the back end but he can hold his own defensively. He is a guy who is very close to being a permanent member of the pro roster, if he can just strengthen up any weaknesses and harness his strengths, he can be a top end defenseman easily because he sure has the skill.”

9. Jeremy Morin, LW, 20, Auburn, New York (PR: 11)

6’1, 190lbs

Drafted 2^nd round (40^th overall) in 2009

 Someone who may be in need of a boost of confidence is Morin. After having a dominate year with the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL, he quickly turned pro and started having success in the AHL. After an impressive stint in the NHL, he moved to the World Juniors which was cut short due to injury and then his come back to the AHL lasted only 3 games before he suffered a neck and head injury which caused him to miss the rest of the year. Maybe with the lingering effects of his injury, this season he has saw limited success in the AHL and only a brief stint in the NHL.

“When we drafted Morin, the big draw was that he had the ability to be an elite goal scorer, because he had a lethal shot. His skating at the time he was drafted was weak and its almost become a strength now. It’s a shame that his injury derailed a good rookie season, and he really hasn’t looked the same since. What he needs to do is get back to goal scoring and he could easily be a top 6 winger in this league. If not he still has the abilities and skills to be a bottom 6 winger, as he can play a good physical game and has really worked on the defensive side. If he can pull it back together he could easily be up in the pros as soon as next season.”

8. Brock Nelson, C, 20, Warroad, Minnesota (PR: 12)

6’4, 192lbs

Drafted 2^nd round (32^nd overall) in 2010

 It’s been an offensive awakening for Brock Nelson in his sophomore season. With North Dakota losing a lot of its top offensive players, somebody needed to step up.  And Nelson sure has, jumping already from the 21 points as a freshman to 39 points and 23 goals this season. As a member of the 2011 US World Junior team and has now become one of the top scorers at a top program has vaulted Nelson up the charts.

“When we drafted Nelson, we projected as an elite 3^rd liner, a guy who could win face-offs and become a dominate defensive forward with his size and add some offense. That is still the projection for him, but adding with this offensive out burst and his skating being top notch, there is the potential for more and we are excited about the progress so far. We hope he decides to turn pro very soon but he is still a few years away from the NHL.”

7. Jon Merrill, D, 19, Brighton, Michigan (PR: New)

6’3, 209lbs

Drafted 2^nd round (37^th overall) in 2010/ Re-acquired in trade with Calgary

Its been a wild ride this season for Merrill. After coming off an excellent freshman year with the University of Michigan, being one of their top defenseman. He entered his sophomore year suspended. Instead of turning pro or heading to the CHL, Merrill decided to ride out his suspension, getting his first game action in December at the WJC with the US. After finishing the tournament, he returned back to school with his suspension lifted. Since then he has played 14 games, potting 10 points and continuing to show that he is one of the better defenseman prospects out there.

“Merrill was a top end talent that fell to us in the 2^nd round, once we traded him and then he was traded again, we pushed very hard to get him back. There is something very special about Merrill but the only problem is his attitude and lifestyle has got him into trouble a few times. We aren’t too worried about that as he is young and he just oozes talent. He is a great two-way defenseman who is excellent offensively. He needs to work on his defensive game but he really has huge potential. We actually hope he returns for another year at the University of Michigan so he can dominate his junior year, and then turn pro where we believe he can make the quick jump.”

6. Luke Adam, C, 21,St.John’s, Newfoundland (PR: New)

6’2, 203lbs

Acquired in trade with Washington

Early success tampered off for Adam, after starting off his rookie season with 6 points in 4 games, he ended his long stint going 20 games without a point. Though his 52 games did see him get 20 points and a spot as one of the rookies at the All-Star game, he was sent back to the AHL in early February. The 2011 AHL rookie of the year, has struggled since returning, a point per game player the last time he was in the league, he now has 6 points in 10 games. The Newfoundland native may just need to get his confidence back, and when he does a call-up back to Buffalo will surely be in the books.

“It’s hard not to be happy about Adam’s progression so far. As a rookie of the year in the AHL, and showing that he can be a legit threat in the NHL shows us that he is a guy we need to keep around. With the combination of size and skill the chance to get Adam in a trade was not a hard one to make. He is still young and has definitely hit a rough patch in his career, but we are confident he will power past this and become a regular NHLer, and his next call-up will surely be his last.”