Name: Adam Krause

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 175 lbs.

09-10 team: Hermantown High School(Minnesota)

09-10 stats: 31 games, 37 goals, 29 assists, 66 points

Prospect Info:

Krause is a lesser-known prospect that played high school hockey in Minnesota for Class A powerhouse Hermantown. He's a late-blooming prospect whose game really took off this past year, to draw the attention of NHL scouts. As a senior this year, he helped lead Hermantown to the Class A state title game, and was named a finalist for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey Award.

Krause is a big center that plays an excellent defensive game, and is strong along the boards. He possesses a very heavy wrist shot, and was reliable in the face-off circle.

Recently, he was selected by the Chicago Steel of the USHL with the first overall pick in the USHL Entry Draft. After playing in the USHL for a year, Krause has made a verbal commitment to play college hockey near his hometown for the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Strengths: Defensive play, size

Needs to Improve: Skating, playmaking

Links of Interest:

UMD Adds Hermantown's Krause-Duluth News-Tribune-August 2009

Krause focused on 09-10-Howie Hanson Blog-Fall 2009

Every day is Hockey Day for Krause-Fox 21 Duluth-January 2010

Krause Gets Defensive-Minnesota Hockey Hub-March 2010

On WCH...

November 10, 2009:"Adam Krause-Not a flashy player, but good things are always happening when he's on the ice. He'll be on the NHL Draft radar this year."

January 11, 2010:"199. Adam Krause-Hermantown(Minnesota-Duluth)-I was surprised at how low he was ranked here. I had him ranked much higher."

March 14, 2010: "I was impressed with Adam Krause's play. I thought he was borderline to get drafted, and this probably helped."

Final Analysis:

Krause lacks the high-end scoring potential to be taken very early in the NHL Draft, but with his big frame and smart play, he's a fairly safe bet to be a decent NHL prospect down the road. He'd likely never be more than third or fourth line checking forward, but could be very valuable in that role. Krause would likely be a solid pick anywhere from the fourth round on, though he could slip later into the draft as teams try more 'home run picks' in  the later rounds over safer bets with less upside.

He'll get a year in the USHL next season, and then potentially three or four years at Minnesota-Duluth, which should give him plenty of time to add muscle and focus on the physical aspects of his game that could make him an NHL regular.