Lehtonen tops Future Watch 2004 list

For the second year in a row, Chicago Wolves goaltender Kari Lehtonen leads The Hockey News‘ Future Watch ranking of the top 50 prospects in hockey.

All told, 24 of the 50 players on the list have skated in the American Hockey League this season.

Lehtonen, the second overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by Atlanta, heads the list compiled by The Hockey News with input from NHL executives.

Ten of the AHL players on the list were selected to participate in last week’s 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic (five missed the event due to injury or NHL recall).

The Hockey News Future Watch 2004 appears in the February 17 issue of the magazine.

# Name AHL Team
1 Kari Lehtonen, G Chicago
3 Ryan Miller, G Rochester
8 Milan Michalek, F Cleveland
11 Hannu Toivonen, G Providence
12 Scottie Upshall, F Milwaukee
14 Ryan Kesler, F Manitoba
16 Ray Emery, G Binghamton
18 Carlo Colaiacovo, D St. John’s
19 Fedor Tyutin, D Hartford
20 Mike Komisarek, D Hamilton
22 Niklas Kronwall, D Grand Rapids
23 Jiri Hudler, F Grand Rapids
28 Chris Higgins, F Hamilton
29 Denis Grebeshkov, D Manchester
30 Anton Babchuk, D Norfolk
31 Jeff Woywitka, D Toronto
35 Maxime Ouellet, G Portland
36 Lukas Krajicek, D San Antonio
39 Alexander Perezhogin, F Hamilton
40 Vaclav Nedorost, F San Antonio
41 Jani Rita, F Toronto
43 Jason Bacashihua, G Utah
44 Mike Cammalleri, F Manchester
49 Shaone Morrisonn, D Providence