#5 Prospect: Theo Peckham

Current Rank: #5Summer 2009: #2Theo Peckham's slide from #2 overall prospect to fifth overall comes down to one thing: conditioning. Falcons coach Rob Daum was quoted on Bob Stauffer's show earlier this fall talking about Peckham and conditioning. In the interview, Daum suggested that Peckham's slow start in the AHL this season was due to slow recovery from his ankle injury and not being able to stay in shape. Daum ended the exchange with a comment about conditioning being an issue with him even when healthy.Having said that Peckham (6.02, 220) is still the best defense prospect in the organization. He's strong as an ox, appears to love the hitting game and when healthy (as he was last season) appears to be capable of playing defense in the NHL. At least two of his coaches have commented on Peckham's penalty-killing ability, plus his ability to read plays and eagerness to enter the fray. These are valuable assets. Also, Jonathan Willis' study last season into...