2008 NHL Entry Draft Guide - more player profiles

Gandalf had already posted the link to Jake Gardiner's profile in the Draft Guide, which at the time only profiled the top 30 North American players. Apparently they've been adding profiles, as Cody Goloubef, Justin Schultz and Derek Stepan now have profiles as well. (Thanks, DCB and wojo!)

I've pasted the scouting reports below, but go ahead and check out the profile links as well, as there's a lot of fun stuff there.

23 Jake Gardiner

NHL Central Scouting’s Jack Barzee
“Jake’s biggest attribute is that he might be one of the best skaters in the draft – he is just a pure skater. He used to be a forward and they made him a defensemen a few years ago and he loves being a defenseman. He is smart with the puck, unselfish and he’s careful. He is another one that has grown all year, I had him measured at 6’0” -- he might be almost 6’2” and that’s been not even a year. He’s a greyhound right now, wiry, but he’ll fill out. He is dynamic when he grabs the puck and goes. He has a very quick dangerous wrist shot – he gets it away like Joe Sakic does. The dimension of his quickness fools goalies. I liken him to Brett Hedican when he was in high school but maybe a little more polished. He’s an easy player to like.”

34 Cody Goloubef

NHL Central Scouting’s Jack Barzee
“When I first saw Cody I really liked his game. He is compact and he’s strong with a wide stance. He’s a good, powerful skater. He thinks the game well, has a really good shot and makes that first pass consistently. He is a solid two-way player that is going to play on your power-play. He played for a defensive style team at Wisconsin. His conservative play meant that I don’t think a lot of scouts have seen the offensive side of him enough, but he’s a potential top-four defensemen in the National Hockey League, maybe top-three. He’s playing against guys who are at least three years older than him - if he was playing in the USHL he might have the puck all the time and be dominating, but he handled it well -- he’s a solid kid.”

38 Justin Schultz

NHL Central Scouting’s Blair MacDonald
“Justin has really developed quickly as he was only playing midget hockey last year. He’s more of an offensive type defenseman, but is a really smart player. He knows when to move the puck at the right times and for defensemen that is a really hard thing to teach. Also, he has a nice knack for knowing when to jump up in the play – he can turn an even rush into an odd-man rush very easily; he knows when to jump up."

58 Derek Stepan

NHL Central Scouting’s Gary Eggleston
“Derek is a very good skater who accelerates quickly, pulling away from his opponent. He is quick on the forecheck and he possesses a surprising reach. He has very good hands with a quick-release shot and excellent passing. He is a smart player who will continue to improve.”

EDIT: I initially missed Justin Schultz, but I have now added him. Sorry, Justin!