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Kelowna�s Ryan Olsen (27) has already eclipsed last season�s goal production. (CP)

CHECKING IN ON THE KIDS

A quick glance at how the Jet draft picks over the last two years are developing:

THE 2012 DRAFT CLASS

NameRound/OverallPosTeam

Jacob Trouba1/9DMichigan Wolverines

Has been very steady for an underachieving Wolverines team as a freshman, with 11 points -- including five goals, four on the power-play -- in 16 games. Will line up with Seth Jones, the projected first- or second-pick overall in the next NHL entry draft, for the Americans' top defensive pairing at the World Junior Championships.

Lukas Sutter2/39 CSaskatoon Blades

His numbers are way down from a year ago -- 3G, 6A in 35 games/had 59 in 70 last season -- but the Blades are turning a nightmare start around, having gone 7-3 in their last 10.

Scott Kosmachuk3/70RWGuelph Storm

Kosmachuk can snipe -- he's got 18 goals and 18 assists in 34 games after firing 30 last year. Was the OHL and CHL's player of the week in late November.

Connor Hellebuyck5/130GUMass-Lowell Riverhawks

Arguably the hottest of all Jet prospects, Hellebuyck has a .977 in his last four appearances, is currently riding a shutout streak of 123 minutes and has been named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week for the last two weeks. Currently 3-1 with a 1.68 GAA and a .939 save percentage.

Ryan Olsen6/160CKelowna Rockets

Has 16 goals and 11 assists for the Rockets, already having eclipsed last year's goal total of 15 while with Saskatoon.

Jamie Phillips7/190GMichigan Tech Huskies

Third on the Huskies' depth chart, Phillips has started just one game and appeared in three this season. But his numbers, in limited time, are better than the other two puckstoppers -- a .905 save percentage and 2.48 GAA.

THE 2011 DRAFT CLASS

Mark Scheifele1/7CBarrie Colts

The shine is still on Scheifele's star. He'll play right wing on Canada's No. 1 line at the world juniors, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jonathan Huberdeau. Has 21 goals and 48 points in 29 games for Barrie before joining Team Canada.

Adam Lowry3/67LWSwift Current Broncos

The big winger, now 6-5 and 201 pounds, is 8th in the WHL in scoring after 38 games with 23 goals and 23 assists, both career highs.

Brennan Serville3/78DMichigan Wolverines

Scored his first goal as a Wolverine this week in a 2-0 victory over Western Michigan. Called a 'project' by head coach Red Berenson earlier this season.

Zach Yuen4/119DTri-City Americans

Decent numbers for the Americans -- 3G, 14A -- although his league-leading plus-45 rating from last season is down to minus-6 on a team that doesn't score as much as it did a year.

Austen Brassard5/149RWBelleville Bulls

Has spent some time on the Bulls' top line, but his offensive numbers are down. He has seven goals and four assists so far this season after going 27-24 a year ago.

Jason Kasdorf6/157G Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers

The freshman goaltender has grabbed the No. 1 duties at RPI after starting the year third on the depth chart. Sports a sparkling .945 save percentage and 1.46 GAA.

Aaron Harstad7/187DColorado College Tigers

Missed the Tigers last road trip to Minnesota with a shoulder injury. Wisconsin product has a goal and three assists in 16 games.

-- Ed Tait

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 21, 2012 C3