This season, 2011 fourth round pick Michael St. Croix has 25 goals and 42 assists in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Earlier this week at Blueshirts United, Gordie Clark said that St. Croix has a high hockey IQ:
“He’s a smart, smart kid with a lot of talent. It’s all about this summer for him—he needs to get that extra step, and then who knows with him? He is an interesting kid for us, for sure.”
At Hockey’s Future, Leslie Treff says that St. Croix projects to be more of a playmaker than a scorer, is very fast and has excellent hockey sense.
The Rangers love their hockey sense and St. Croix seems to fit into that mold. He has some skills and is putting up big numbers in his third year in Edmonton and should eclipse the 75 points he scored last season very soon. Maybe he makes a run at Team Canada next year for the World Juniors. If anything he adds nice depth to the prospect pool and gives them another piece to either trade or try to build around.
Update: 12:45PM: Steve Zipay says that Matt Rust has been added to the Rangers Traverse City team.
Rust spent the last four years playing with Carl Hagelin at Michigan. He had 13 goals and 27 assists two seasons ago, but only had 5 goals and 21 assists last season.
He is 5-10 and previously played with the US National Development team before going to Michigan.
At Hockey’s Future, Leslie Treff reviews the Rangers 2011 draft picks.
She thinks that fourth round pick Michael St. Croix could be a steal for them because of his good skating and vision.
With St. Croix and Shane McColgan, it seems like the Rangers took some players that have nice upside in the middle rounds. Those are the kind of players that I love to see the Rangers take. These guys were ranked high at one point and have talent. They may be undersized, but if they can play well, they will get spots with the Rangers.
At ESPN’s NHL Draft Blog, Gare Joyce gives the Rangers a B- for their draft this weekend.
He says that besides Jonathan Miller, the Rangers didn’t add much. He does say that 4th round pick Michael St. Croix is an “interesting player.”
Grant Sonier says that Miller is a combination of “sandpaper, skating and grit” and that St. Croix and Shane McColgan could surprise people.
Miller was the big Ranger pick this weekend, and since their second pick was a high school player, their draft grade doesn’t surprise me. I do think that overall the Rangers should have a better grade since Tim Erixon was basically a second round pick since they traded two to get him. When you really look at the Rangers draft, it’s Tim Erixon, Jonathan Miller, Steven Fogarty, Michael St. Croix, Shane McColgan, Samuel Noreau and Peter Ceresnek.
No. 106-NYR: St Croix – Small center produced for EDM of the WHL. Needs to improve speed/quickness for size, but pays a price to score.— ESPN NHL Draft Blog (@NHLDraftBlog) June 25, 2011
St. Croix is 5-10 and 175 lbs. He was ranked 65th by Future Considerations.
Central Scouting had him at 36 in the mid-term rankings and 58th in the final rankings.
Seems like an interesting pick with nice upside. He is a little smallish, but has skill. Click the video below and see his one handed goal.
This season, 2011 fourth round pick Michael St. Croix has 25 goals and 42 assists in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings.
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