Three Vancouver Giants players have been flagged by the latest NHL Central Scouting list of potential professionals.
In the scouting bureau’s mid-term rankings of top North American skaters and goalies, released on Jan. 12, Giants defenceman Colton Roberts was 24th of 224, while forward Tyler Thorpe was 110th, and centre Adam Titlbach was 223rd.
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Roberts, from Maple Ridge, was also on the preliminary Players to Watch List released in October by the NHL.
The right-shot defenceman was given a ‘B’ rating, meaning a player projected to be a second or third-round candidate at the 2024 NHL Draft to be held June 28-29.
Three other Giants made the preliminary list: defenceman Marek Howell, who did not make the mid-terms, and Titlbach were given ‘C’ ratings as potential fourth- or fifth-round picks, while Thorpe was given a W as a “watch” player for potential sixth- or seventh-round consideration.
For the mid-terms, players are only given numerical rankings.
Roberts was one of 18 WHL players selected to compete in the 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 24 in New Brunswick. In 40 games, the 17-year-old has seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points, including 11 power play points.
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Thorpe, 18, from Richmond, leads the Giants with 19 goals in 40 games, and has 33 points (third on Vancouver). He leads the team with 129 shots on goal. Ten of his 33 points have come on the power play, while he has also chipped in with two shorthanded points.
Titlbach, 17, from Litvinov in the Czech Republic has five goals and 15 points in 40 games so far this season, his first in North America. The 17-year-old has 70 shots on goal, four power play points and one game-winning-goal.
NHL Central Scouting Services (CSS) is a department within the league that ranks prospects based on how well they will translate to the professional game.
