There are plenty of young prospects to keep an eye on over the next week at the Thrashers' annual Prospect Development Camp. There's AHL rookie sensation Brett Sterling who piled up 55 goals with the Chicago Wolves, or 2006 first-round pick Bryan Little, who also projects to be an offensive star. Or Chad Denny- the defenseman with a blistering slapshot who loves to hit. Then there's Ondrej Pavelec, who was at the dangerous end of many of Denny's rockets from the point as a goaltender in the QMJHL this past season.

But one of the rising stars who didn't necessarily stand out last season might have one of the best chances of actually making the Thrashers roster in September.

Jordan LaVallee quietly put together a respectable rookie season in the AHL, scoring 16 goals and adding 18 assists as he learned the pro game before going on a tear, potting seven more goals and an assist in Chicago's 14 playoff games. Not bad for a rookie.

Looking back on his season during the playoffs the Oregon native who grew up in Massachusetts was happy with how things had gone.

"It was a great season. I think I learned a lot. We had a lot of great veterans on this team that were able to teach me a lot of the little things and obviously Coach Anderson has been around the game a long time so he always knew how to lend a helpful hand. So I think I learned a lot this year."

As a 6-4, 210 lbs winger LaVallee has power forward written all over him, and he doesn't mind throwing his weight around in the corners or using his size to make some space in front of the net. All he had to do this year was learn how to take care of that body, which is still packing on muscle.

"It was my first year out on my own not being with a family or anything," said the rookie pro who was used to being billeted with a host family while playing junior hockey with the Quebec Remparts. "You learn pretty quickly that you've got to get the right stuff in you. You have to be sure you're getting solid meals and not eating too much crap in between."

Coming out of last summer's prospect camp the Thrashers were happy with LaVallee's progress after coming back from a serious concussion in 2005 and they knew he had the physical tools to succeed. But this is the new NHL and size alone isn't enough. That's why he was told by the Thrashers staff that he needed to focus on his skating.

"They wanted me to work on my foot speed and my skating stride. That's something I put a lot of work into last summer after that camp and all this year. I think just being in the pro game, which is faster than what I was used to in junior, has helped that a lot."

It helped enough that LaVallee has gone from being a blue chip prospect taken in the fourth round (116th overall) in 2005 to being one of the most talked-about prospects in the Thrashers' system. He has been mentioned as a player who can play in a variety of situations and who could play on an offensive line or be effective as a checking or defensive forward. He simply doesn't have any glaring flaws in his game, and that fact has led to strong reviews from Atlanta's scouts, coaching staff and management. While the praise has probably been higher behind closed doors than it has been in front of the young forward (lest he get the idea that he doesn't need to keep working hard), LaVallee has gotten updates on where he stands.

"I've been getting very positive feedback from the staff in Atlanta and this summer will be very important for me," he said back in May. "The fact that my name has come up (as someone who should compete for a roster spot) is a very good thing to me. It means I'm on the right path but it means I can't slow down at all."

And that's exactly the attitude the coaching staff will be looking for this week at the Prospect Development Camp.

On top of his size, strong two-way play and good hands LaVallee will have one more ace up his sleeve in training camp when it comes time to decide if he's ready to play for the Thrashers. He has a huge head start on learning Bob Hartley's system thanks to a year spent playing for Patrick Roy in Quebec. When Roy decided to take over the coaching duties of the Quebec Remparts QMJHL team which he owned and managed he needed someone to act as a mentor while he learned the ins and outs of coaching. He turned to his old coach from Colorado- Bob Hartley. As a result the Remparts played a very similar style of hockey to the Thrashers, and LaVallee may have an advantage over other potential new players as a result.

"I think it helps me a lot. "Patrick plays almost the same system that Hartley runs in Atlanta, so that really gave me a two-year head start with his system. I know it already so it won't be hard for me to adjust."

And the system isn't the only similarity between the Thrashers and Roy's Remparts.

"Playing for Patrick- he's a real intense guy," said LaVallee. "He loves to win. It's what he does and it's what he did his whole career."

Sound like any other coaches you're familiar with?

At this point in the off-season it's hard to know how many roster spots will be up for grabs in training camp in September, but as long as there's one slot for a winger Jordan LaVallee's size, skill, experience and hockey smarts should keep him in the mix.

Click here for the complete Prospect Development Camp roster and schedule.