It takes a special type of player to be considered a monster. There are lots of players in the league that are good at one or two things and easily find themselves a role on the team. Then there are players that stand out among the rest, the type of player that can dominate a game as soon as they step on the ice. The type of player who excels at almost everything and the one you want on the ice when the game is on the line. These are the type of players that can be considered one of McGuire’s monsters. Here is a look at the top 20 forwards and top 10 defenseman 25 years of age and younger.

Forwards:

#1) Emilio Merritt – Drafted by Detroit in 2012, Merritt is the perfect example of what a monster is. He can dominate on offense with a wicked shot and great passing, and is a top defensive player who can crush any opponent. No matter what situation Detroit faces, Merritt is always the best player to have on the ice. Don’t be surprised to one day see his number hanging in the rafters of the Joe Louis Arena.

#2) Rudy Caffrey – Another 2012 draft pick (by St. Louis), Caffrey is very similar to Merritt in that he can dominate a game completely in scoring, but also is quite responsible in his own end. While he doesn’t have Merritt’s flair for taking the body, he always helps his defense with his strong defensive play.

#3) Brandon Lucido – Yet another 2012er (drafted by Chicago). Lucido lacks the shot of the first two selections, but makes up for it by his fantastic passing game combined with his stellar checking and positional play. Able to fill any role on the team including top penalty killer and go to guy on the powerplay. While his career numbers haven’t been overly impressive to this point, he is on one of the powerhouses in the league and at his young age hasn’t been thrust into the #1 role on the team yet.

#4) Vitaly Sevruk – Imagine that, another 2012 draft pick. This Devil also epitomizes what the 2012 draft was all about, players who excelled at both ends of the rink. If you need offense, Sevruk will give you that. An incredible passer, Sevruk also boosts an effective shot. If you need defense, Sevruk is your man again. He easily will be a centerpiece of the Devils for the next 15 years.

#5) Dorle Haas – It can easily be argued that the 2012 draft was the best draft in the history of the GHL. When Vancouver took Haas, there was some heads turned. No one doubted Haas’ immense talent. However he was known in his junior career as only ever putting in a minimal effort. While there are concerns his pro game my suffer from his lack of focus, when he is on the game Haas is arguably one of, if not the best player in the entire league. Offensively he is just ridiculous, and defensively he is stellar. Given the right linemates to help him concentrate on the game, Haas can be expected to put up stellar numbers.

#6) Rudolf Synek – Carolina must have done something right in a previous life after they had Rudolf Synek fall to them in the 2014 draft. He has quickly helped the ‘Canes do a 180 degree turn and are now one of the better young teams in the league. While Synek likely won’t score a ton of goals, he helps the offensive immensely with his slick passing skills and dominates in his own end of the ice. While defensively he is not amazing at anything, he still is very good all around and almost never makes mistakes.

#7) Stanislav Fedotov – Like Haas, Fedotov’s skill was overlooked by a lot of GM’s due to his perceived bad attitude. So Colorado was thrilled when he slipped to the middle of the 1st round in the infamous 2012 draft. Currently in his first season on the pro team, Fedotov has not been doing much scoring however his defensive play has been stellar and he is getting better all the time. He most likely will spend his career in a shut down role however he is able to provide ample offense when he is called upon.

#8) Brantt Sciardi – The #1 overall pick in 2014, Sciardi is getting his first shot in the pros to prove why he was taking at the top of the draft. Blessed with a great shot, impressive defensive awareness and the ability to crush anyone with a bone jarring hit, Sciardi is the type that all opposing players fear when he steps on the ice. He is the type you always want on the ice at the end of the game to shut down the other team. He should have a long career in the swamp.

#9) Radim Crystar – Crystar inexplicably slipped to 11th overall in the 2008 draft where the Flames were thrilled to have snagged him. While his offense is solid, it is his defensive game that makes other GM’s drool about him. Much like Sciardi, he can instill fear into his opponents and has the ability to end a players career with every hit.

#10) Stacy McInnis – The first player not taken in the 1st round on this list, McInnis’ wild play scared many GM’s away and finally was selected in the 2nd round, 55th overall. After a whirlwind career in which he went from Vancouver to Atlanto to Colorado back to Vancouver then to Boston and then Chicago, McInnis seems to finally found his game after being moved to the New York Rangers. While he hasn’t done much offensively in his career, McInnis seems to be a bit of a late bloomer and it is in his 3rd pro season that he has stepped up to be a leader on his club. Blessed with a great shot and solid defensive abilities, it should be a long time before McInnis ever has to hire a moving truck again.

#11) Yan Champagne – And another player from the 2012 draft. Champagne has a knack for scoring that is unrivaled on this list, and even league-wide. He can score like it is going out of style and has the hopes and dreams of Capitals fans riding on his shoulder. Despite his high scoring, Champagne fell down the list due to his one flaw: lack of physical play. While he is stellar at backchecking, Champagne only knowledge of the body check is from being on the receiving end of it. However his offensive flair and his solid contribution game in and game out still elevate him to Monster status.

#12) Doug Kudelski – In a lot of ways he is like Champagnes counterpart. Also drafted in the 2012 draft not long after Champagne, Kudelski also displays incredible offensive flair. While he hasn’t put up the numbers to show it, he is on a very deep Colorado squad that cuts into his icetime. He does lack the checking game that Champagne has but relies more on his positional play. Physical play isn’t out of the question for Kudelski, but he isn’t going to scare many teams for that reason. However, like Champagne while he may not be a stereotypical physical monster, he will became a point producing monster throughout his career.

#13) Lennart Ricardsson – An overlooked player from that magnificent 2012 draft, Ricardsson managed to slip to the middle of the 1st round. This is likely due to the fact that he does not have any specific skill that he excels at. Rather, Ricardsson is the type of player that does everything very well but nothing amazingly. He is solid in all aspects of the offensive game, and plays a great defensive game. While he isn’t the most physical player he still will throw his weight around when needs be and is a good player to have on the ice whether you are up or down a goal late in the game.

#14) Vit Rejda – The 10th player on this list from the 2012 draft, Rejda fits into the monster mold of Champagne and Kudelski. The former rookie of the year displays some of the top offensive talent in the league and should be the ‘Canes leading scorer for years to come. He isn’t the best checker or hitter (although he is no slouch either) but makes up for it with his knack of being in the right place at the right time.

#15) Darren Finnegan – Imagine that, someone not taken in 2012. Finnegan was selected in 2014 by the Blue Jackets, but soon would be calling Chicago home after a blockbuster trade. What I like to refer to as a responsible offensive player, Finnegan will put up a fair amount of points over his career with his great shooting and playmaking skills. He also won’t hurt you defensively as he can backcheck with the best of them and is known to step it up and go for the big hit every once in awhile.

#16) Samuel Huot – drafted in 2009 by the Calgary Flames, Huot now calls Colorado home. More of a defensive orientated player, he is a goalies best friend when he is on the ice. Huot can lay the body with the best of them and his backchecking helps take a ton of pressure of the defense. Offensively he is not stellar, nonetheless he has a knack for setting up the play with fantastic passes. With him on your line your team won’t let in to many goals on his shifts.

#17) Robert Zahuranec – due to reports of his up and down play, Zahuranec fell into the 2nd round of the 2012 draft. However he seems to have smartened up after a trade and is the 4th Avalanche on the list. While he is still improving his game, Zahuranec is a dominant two way player. With a deadly shot and great defense he will definitely carve a long professional career and see a lot of time on both the PK and PP.

#18) Rick Dega – drafted 3rd overall in 2009, Dega is one of the key members of the young Coyotes. A playmaker by nature, Dega could thread a needle with a puck although won’t score a ton of goals in his career. He is also defensively responsible, always in the right place at the right time showing off his high level of hockey sense. This more then covers from his lack of a physical game, the only true downfall to his status as an elite player.

#19) Shane Fantin – picked 38th overall in 2012 by Vancouver, Fantin is a bit of a late bloomer. Several teams gave up on him as he found himself traded to Dallas, then Phoenix, then Ottawa before he finally ended up in New Jersey, where he helps form the stellar young nucleus they have. Fantin is best suited as a shut-down type of player but can also contribute offensively. While his shot and passing skills are nothing to write home about, they are not terrible either. He also plays a solid defensive game with the ability to crush the opposition with a thundering hit. He is a player the other team always takes note of when he steps on the ice.

#20) Stefan Bengtsson – The Buffalo Sabres turned some heads when he was selected 4th overall back in 2008 ahead of the more highly touted Rotislav Novotny and Viktor Zubov, Bengtsson seemed to be lost in the shuffle in Buffalo, but a trade to the Colorado Avalanche seems to have revived his young career. While critics are quick to point out his flaws, including a poor passing game and the fact that he gets caught out of position frequently, no one can argue his strengths. Possessing a hard shot, a great backchecker and a earth shaking bodycheck, Bengtsson has all the tools to be one of the better two-way forwards in the league.

Honourable Mentions:
Rotislav Novotny
Marat Varlamov
Jaromir Kubina
Colin Timms
RJ Haile
Anthony Turgeon
Petr Kolovecky
Greg Klotsman
Pat Breault
Miguel Jacque
Sami Ericksson
Vadim Yazykov

Defense:

#1) Leopold Segina – There is no debate as to who the top defenseman in the league is, none other then the one and only Segina. Drafted 1st overall in 2010 by the Flyers, Segina possesses all the tools to be a top player. A great shot from the point, passing ability and easily can bring the puck up the ice, his great offensive abilities only add to his amazing defensive abilities. He easily has a hall of fame career ahead of him.

#2) Bruno Lavergne – Another former 1st overall pick (in 2013), young Lavergne is still quickly improving his game as he plays on the Devils blueline. With all around good offensive skills to go along with fantastic defensive skills, he will be an important part of the Devils climb to the top for many many years.

#3) Ivo Eisen – taken right after Lavergne in 2013, many had predicted prior to the draft that Eisen would be taken in the top spot. However Tampa Bay are glad he fell to them as he has quietly turned into one of the top dmen in the league. Blessed with a great shot and is strong on the puck, the only knock against his offensive game is his struggles with the outlet pass. However that is easy to overlook thanks to his strong defensive play. It will be another 15 years before we know who deserved to be the top pick of the 2013 draft, Eisen or Lavergne.

#4) Milan Svejda – A 2nd rounder in 2011 (32nd overall) by the Blues, Svejda was moved to the Minnesota Wild while still in junior and has rocketed up their system, rivaling veteran Jesse Houde as the Wilds best player. A great shot, good offense, and a great backchecker, Svejda is usually in position and can throw the body. What more could you ask for in a defenseman?

#5) Sylvain Morrissette – taken 21st overall in 2009 by the Wild, Morrissette was actually traded for the previous entry on the list and now is a member of the St. Louis Blues. With a deadly shot and great defense, along with a penchant for going for the hit, Morrissette looks to have a long career ahead of him. His lack of passing is the only thing holding him back from being just behind Segina on the list.

#6) Pavel Ostaltsov – Colorado used the 4th overall pick in 2010, Ostaltsov has been referred to as an offensive defenseman and many overlook his stellar defensive play. While his distaste for hitting lowers his value in many GM’s eyes, he amazing backchecking and the fact that he is always in the right place at the right time more then make up for his lackluster physical play. He should have a long career with several Norris trophies in his house by the time it is over.

#7) Alexei Ostrovsky – The 7th overall pick in 2009 by the Los Angeles Kings, Ostrovsky is an offensive dyanamo from the blueline. Already with a Norris trophy under his belt, Ostrovsky can spark any powerplay with his amazing playmaking and shot from the point. While his defensive play has come under fire, he is sound enough in his own end to get by since he rarely finds himself out of position/

#8) Viktor Zubov – Montreal snapped Zubov up with the 5th pick in 2008. Zubov is more of a stay at home defenseman but also excels moving the puck up the neutral zone into the other teams end. While he often gets overlooked in Montreal because of the big three, Zubov is just as vital to the Canadiens success as any of them.

#9) Nikos Wetzel – Snagged by Carolina with the 2nd overall pick in 2010 behind Segina, he is the only defenseman in the league that actually is arguably better then Segina in his own zone. A strictly stay at home defenseman, his lack of any offensive flair puts him near the bottom of the list. But any dman that displays his defensive skills is welcomed by any GM. He is almost like having a 2nd goalie on the ice when he plays.

#10) Garry Bolonsky – the 2nd overall pick in 2011 by the Blues, Bolonsky is the only true offensive defenseman on the list. While he is more then capable to hold his own in the defensive end with solid but unspectacular skills all around, it is his offensive flair that makes him dangerous. With a great shot and ability to move with the puck, Bolonsky should put up some great numbers over his career.

Honourable Mentions:
Francis Cloutier
Jamie Wilsons