European Leagues

MHL (Russia Jr.)
Khabarovsk Jr. 3 @ CSKA Jr. 4
Nikita Kucherov, CSKA Jr., 0-2-2, E, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals (MHL): 8 GP, 7-7-14, -5, 8 PIM
Season totals (KHL): 10 GP, 0-1-1, -1, 2 PIM

Nikita Kucherov assisted on a pair of Nikita Gusev goals, 1 on the power play, in CSKA Jr.'s 4-3 win over Khabarovsk Jr. CSKA Jr. draws Stupino on Monday.

Elitserien (Sweden):
Brynas 6 @ Lulea 5 (SO)
Johan Harju, Lulea, 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM, 3 SOG
Season totals: 13 GP, 4-2-6, +2, 6 PIM

Johan Harju took a minor for delay of game in Lulea's 6-5 shootout loss to Brynas. The forward also failed to convert on his chance in the penalty shot session. Lulea faces Djurgardens on Saturday.

MHL (Russia Jr.):
Khabarovsk Jr. 4 @ CSKA Jr. 2
Nikita Kucherov, CSKA Jr., 0-1-1, -1, 2 PIM, 6 SOG
Season totals (MHL): 7 GP, 7-5-12, -5, 8 PIM
Season totals (KHL): 10 GP, 0-1-1, -1, 2 PIM

Nikita Kucherov had a third period assist and a minor for hooking in CSKA Jr.'s 4-2 loss to Khabarovsk Jr. Kucherov also had a game-high 6 shots on goal for the Red Army Juniors. The two teams will rematch on Thursday.

SM-liiga (Finland):
JYP 3 @ Jokerit 2
Riku Helenius, JYP, DNP
Season totals: 5 GP, 2-3-0, 1 SO, 2.04 GAA, .912 sv%

Ex-Lightning forward Eric Perrin remained on fire with 1 goal and 1 assist in JYP's 3-2 win over Jokerit, including the game winning goal with 5:03 left in the game. JYP has climbed from the basement of the SM-liiga to 7th on the league table in the past couple of weeks. They face Tappara on Friday.

KHL (Russia):
Novokuznetsk 2 @ Cherepovets 3
Vasily Koshechkin, Cherepovets, Win, 29/31, 2.00 GAA, .935 sv%
Season totals: 10 GP, 6-3-0, 0 SO, 2.51 GAA, .925 sv%

Ex-Bruins pick Mikko Lehtonen had a pair of goals to lead Cherepovets to a 3-2 win over Novokuznetsk. Cherepovets faces Nizhnekamsk on Saturday.

MHL (Russia Jr.)
Chelyabinsk Jr. 5 @ Novosibirsk Jr. 1
Nikita Nesterov, Chelyabinsk Jr., 0-0-0, +1, 2 PIM, 1 SOG
Season totals: 16 GP, 5-6-11, +12, 12 PIM

Nikita Nesterov took a minor for elbowing in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 5-1 pasting of Novosibirsk Jr. Chelyabinsk Jr. faces Tyumen next on Saturday.

MHL (Russia Jr.):
Chelyabinsk Jr. 2 @ Novosibirsk Jr. 3
Nikita Nesterov, Chelyabinsk Jr., 0-0-0, -1, 0 PIM, 3 SOG
Season totals: 15 GP, 5-6-11, +11, 10 PIM

Nikita Nesterov was held scoreless in Chelyabinsk Jr.'s 3-2 loss to Novosibirsk Jr. They have a rematch on Tuesday against Novosibirsk Jr.

Now that the season has begun, it's time to update our prospect rankings here on Bolt Prospects. Readers of the site know the drill, as we update our rankings three times during the season and add Supplemental Rankings shortly after the draft each year. But, for new readers, or for those who might've forgotten the rules, here's our legal disclaimer regarding prospect eligibility.

Bolt Prospects considers any prospect 24 years of age or older on opening night of the Lightning's season to be an overage prospect and ineligible for inclusion on the list. As a consequence, older prospects like Mattias Ritola, Blair Jones, and Johan Harju are no longer included on our list. The exception to the 24 year old rule is NCAA players, who shall remain eligible for the rankings so long as they remain in college. Bolt Prospects also has rules pertaining to a player's graduation from prospect status that also determines eligibility for the rankings. For skaters, any player who has played 41 or more NHL games in a single season or 82 or more career NHL games is ineligible for the list. As a consequence, players like James Wright and Dana Tyrell are ineligible for the list. For goaltenders, any player who receives 30 or more NHL decisions in a single season or 41 or more NHL decisions in a career is ineligible.

With all that in mind, here are Bolt Prospects 2011-2012 Preliminary Rankings: