The NHL in 2015? Here's a Peak

The NBA and the NFL have the quasi-professional ranks, also known as the NCAA, to serve as its development arm. Watch all those college games now to develop an understanding of who just might help your NBA or NFL team.

Baseball and hockey operate off the grid a bit in the United States. You might catch a college game here and there. But nothing regular, from the start of the season to the tournaments, on a national broadcast level. And junior hockey?

Well, that's where the Lounge comes in. We are trying to create better consumers of the National Hockey League by offering glimpses of who might emerge in the next few years to be the star or solid regular.

Above, are the highlights of the Top Prospects Game on Wednesday night in Windsor, Ontario. The players come from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League, the three top junior circuits in North America, if not the world.



Taylor Hall of the Windsor Spitfires is expected to be taken first overall in the 2010 NHL draft this June in Los Angeles. But you might want to fill out your team's shopping plans by taking a few notes off the highlights from last night. But listen to the comments of Adam Kimelman of NHL.com, who went on "NHL Live" to fill out the roster of prospects who will join NHL general managers on the main stage at Staples Center during the draft.



Don't have time to go to NHL.com to queue up the highlights of every game? Well, the above report is the short version, which gets you through all the action. No waiting for endless calls of trifectas, three-balls, treys and the other oral graffiti that makes up an ESPN or local TV sports report. In the Lounge, we boil it down to hockey. Enjoy.

THE SCOREBOARD
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
At New Jersey 2, Florida 0
St. Louis 4, at Montreal 3 OT
Vancouver 3, at Edmonton 2 OT
The standings are here.
Recap by Sportsnet.
Three stars by Puck Daddy.

EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
All-Star Game at Ontario, Calif.
American 10, National 9 SO
The recap is here.

CANADIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Top Prospects Game at Windsor, Ontario
Team Cherry 4, Team Orr 2
The recap is here.

QUEBEC MAJOR JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Prince Edward Island 5, Shawinigan 4 SO
The standings are here.
The roundup is here.

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
At Prince Albert 4, Brandon 1
Kootenay 8, at Swift Current 6
Chilliwack 2, at Kelowna 1 SO
At Portland 5, Kamloops 2
At Everett 3, Vancouver 2
The standings are here.
The roundup is here.

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE
Lincoln 6, at Tri-City 2
At Sioux Falls 8, Team USA 2
The standings are here.