Adam Jecho – McKeen's Hockey

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #12 St. Louis Blues – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Tue, 27 May 2025 15:49:01 +0000

ST. LOUIS, MO - MARCH 23: St. Louis Blues center Dalibor Dvorsky (54) skates with the puck during a regular season game where the St. Louis Blues hosted the Nashville Predators on Saturday March 23, 2025, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis MO (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire)

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St. Louis 25 Prospects

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Czechia slowly shaking their “underdog” label as they compete for third-straight medal

Kyle Watson — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:44:42 +0000

Czechia scores on Canada in the 2025 World Junior Tournament. Photo by André Ringuette/IIHF.

OTTAWA — The Canadian Tire Centre crowd reached the loudest volume it had been in the tournament when Canada's Bradley Nadeau tied the game with 4:18 remaining against Czechia.

After Porter Martone sent them into the final intermission behind just a goal, Team Canada came out of the gates flying in the third period. It left everyone in the arena thinking, "Where's this been all week?"

All of a sudden, entries became smoother, passes were hitting tape consistently, shots were getting through traffic, and white jerseys were getting to every puck battle first. There was a glimmer of hope.

That glimmer was extinguished within two minutes when Andrew Gibson took Canada's second kneeing penalty of the evening. Adam Jecho's powerplay marker with 40 seconds remaining meant in back-to-back tournaments, Team Czechia would knock out Canada in the final minute of the quarterfinals.

CZECHIA LEADS WITH UNDER A MINUTE TO GO

Adam Jecho strikes on the power-play!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/leL90nGeAx

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2025

After losing to the Canadians in the semi-finals in 2022 and in the finals in 2023, Jecho is acutely aware of how important his goal was for his nation — beyond the game's scope.

"It's always special against Canada. They are a super tough opponent to play against, [especially] with the home crowd and getting that special energy," said the Edmonton Oil Kings forward. "It's definitely a big win.

The Czechs will fight for a medal for the fourth consecutive tournament. In May, the men's team won its first gold medal at the World Championships since 2005. Jecho indicates the nation is flourishing at the junior level.

"I think it's in a great spot. The last couple of years were awesome for Czech junior hockey."

Czechia is forcing its reputation to change from a team that can cause an upset to a legitimate consistent medal contender. They pride themselves on their ability to function as a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

"We're a great group. We are together on and off the ice," explained captain Eduard Šalé, playing in his third World Juniors. "That's our mentality and I think we showed it tonight."

Every single Czechia player went up to wish goaltender Michael Hrabal good luck before the game.

Every single one.

Talk about unity! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/5YydVO7eWD

— Kyle Watson (@kyle_nw) January 3, 2025

"When you have this jersey on you have one mindset: to play as long as you can," said Jecho. "We are super fortunate to play for this team."

In his first appearance at the tournament, Jecho says it's easy to find success with a leader like Šalé, who sets an example for the younger players.

"He's obviously an unbelievable player on the ice, but he's probably an even better person off the ice," said the 18-year-old. "He shows us the way and plays super hard every game."

Šalé's drive is evident when talking to him. When asked how it feels to be chasing the nation's all-time scoring record, he deferred focus to Saturday's semi-final matchup against the USA.

"We are focusing on the tournament," said the Seattle Kraken prospect. "I am the leader and have to do the right things to push this team in every game and try to win."

A brief history lesson

For the first time since 1980, Canada have been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the World Juniors in consecutive years.

A seventh-place finish in 1981 sparked the formation of the Program of Excellence, a milestone moment in Canadian hockey history.

In the tournament's infancy, Canada iced league all-star teams (OHL, WHL, or QMJHL) and defending Memorial Cup champions at the U20 level. It wasn't until the creation of the P.O.E. and the U17 and U18 programs that the nation sent its "best" junior-age players.

44 years later, there are more calls for drastic change in Hockey Canada's selection process. For starters, actually bringing the best players available to them.

Yes, there have been many years in which Canada has had major snubs and gone on to win gold. A few of those teams walked through the tournament. Competition has greatly increased over the years, though — can they afford to keep leaving this much talent at home?

You give yourself the best chance of winning, year in, year out, by taking the best players.

You have to trust that when these players put on the Maple Leaf, you’ll get an increase in physicality. You’ll get the PK’ers you need.

— Brock Otten (@BrockOtten) January 3, 2025

It's difficult to pose solutions when star players are nervous. This was a Team Canada full of U17, U18, and Hlinka-Gretzky Cup gold medal winners, OHL champions, and a WHL champion in captain Brayden Yager. It took them until that third period to look like it, though.

One possible solution would be pairing players who have pre-existing chemistry. Porter Martone and Carson Rehkopf have formed one of the deadliest duos in junior hockey this season but were not tried in the same lineup, let alone line or powerplay unit. Martone was also excellent alongside McKenna as he captained Canada to Hlinka gold this summer — they did not share the ice once in Ottawa.

Perhaps the pressure starts in the selection process when players are lambasted online for their inclusion over player x, y, or z. It can't be easy to play under those conditions — where each mistake feeds the narratives of faceless accounts on social media.

Hagens, BC Line shine against Switzerland

James Hagens scored twice as the USA sailed comfortably to a 7-2 win over Switzerland.

The top 2025 NHL Draft prospect is tied for second in the tournament scoring lead with eight points in five contests. He sits within touching distance of the 11 points Auston Matthews, Phil Kessel, and Matthew Tkachuk managed in their draft-eligible seasons at the World Juniors.

Having broken tournament scoring records at the U17 and U18 levels, Hagens is used to playing in the spotlight — and under the microscope.

"My dad will tell me pressure is a privilege," said the Hauppauge, NY native. "You can't let any of that stuff affect you - it's all outside noise. I'm grateful to be in that spot where there's pressure on you and your team, but when you're on the ice you have to let all that stuff go."

The confidence in Hagens' game is on full display in Ottawa and shone through today, with his line with Gabriel Perreault and Ryan Leonard combing for five of the Americans' seven goals. Against possibly the weakest competition they've faced in Team Switzerland, the 18-year-old phenom was running wild.

What a move!

James Hagens extends Team USA's lead to 2-0. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ip5pFcbLP9

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2025

Team USA's top line does it again!

James Hagens scores his second of the game to make it 6-1. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/X5WEhNbT3l

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2025

Hagens says it's easy to play with a guy like Leonard:

"He works so hard. That's a guy that everyone thrives off of, he leads us on and off the ice and steps up in big moments," said Hagens. "Guys watch him play and it sets up their next shift."

Leonard emerged from the game with a few battle scars, including a busted nose, after being hit with a few high sticks and a puck to the face.

"I don't know if he'll be doing any modelling," said Hagens.

Victor Eklund turning heads with Team Sweden

With an assist on Sweden's game-winning goal, draft-eligible winger Victor Eklund took his tournament totals to two goals and four helpers through five games. The Djurgården forward trails only Hagens in scoring among first-time draft-eligibles.

“I have been incredibly impressed by Eklund’s ability to drive play below the goal line and extend possession along the wall," said Director of Scouting, Brock Otten. "Opposing defenders have had a real hard time separating him from the puck and containing him along the wall. It’s had a real positive effect on Sweden’s offence and their ability to sustain pressure.”

"With another exceptional performance in the quarterfinals against Latvia, he is showcasing his all-around game at another level," said scout Viktor Åhlund. "Eklund brings a high pace every shift, delivering hits in the neutral zone, driving hard at the net, and battling for loose pucks and rebounds. He's constantly a strong force offensively, producing top-level plays and high-IQ solutions when under pressure.

"There are more games to be played, but for now, he is the number one Swedish prospect in this draft."

Parting Notes

New York Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi scored his first two goals of the tournament as Team Finland narrowly defeated Slovakia, 5-3. He plays with teammate Kasper Halttunen in London (OHL).
Finnish goaltender Petteri Rimpinen (DY+1) was excellent once again, he leads the tournament with a .941 SV% on 169 shots.
Washington Capitals prospect Eriks Mateiko scored twice as Team Latvia fell to Sweden, 3-2. He finishes the tournament tied for the goal-scoring lead with five goals — the record for a Latvian player is six.
Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs (DY+2) stopped 210 shots across five starts — an average of 42 a game.
Team Czechia features four St. Louis Blues prospects
- 2024 NHL Draft
  - 16th overall - D Adam Jiricek
  - 81st overall - F Ondrej Kos
  - 95th overall - F Adam Jecho
- 2023 NHL Draft
  - 106th overall, Jakub Stancl
St. Louis Blues first-rounder Dalibor Dvorský graduates from WJC eligibility with 10 goals and 20 points across 19 career games. That's the third-most by a Slovakian player in tournament history.

2025 WORLD JUNIORS: Team Preview – Team Czechia

Matej Deraj — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 18:00:28 +0000

Czechia has enjoyed a successful couple of years in the World Juniors, claiming a silver medal two years ago and then following it up with a bronze in 2024. While they are not among the favorites to win gold this time, their recent performances make them a team to take seriously. Reaching the semifinals for the fourth consecutive year is certainly within reach for this squad. However, they lack a true star player who could carry them to a medal.

At the previous World Juniors, the backbone of the Czech team was Sabres forward Jiří Kulich, who captained the team. Kulich won the scoring title at the tournament with 12 points and was named to the All-Star Team in both 2023 and 2024. While Czechia no longer has a player of Kulich's caliber, there are several candidates who could make a significant impact on their results
Last year’s No. 1 goaltender, Michael Hrabal, is expected to reprise his role as the starter. Although Hrabal struggled as an underager at the last tournament, he delivered his only standout performance against Canada (3-2 win) in the quarterfinals, helping his team reach the semifinals.

The defense will be anchored by Adam Jiříček (#16 in the 2024 NHL Draft), who recently returned from an injury, and Kings second-round pick Jakub Dvořák, who missed last year’s tournament. However, Czechia will miss Dominik Badinka (#34 in the 2024 draft), a Hurricanes prospect who declined invitations to previous U20 tournaments. Another surprising omission on the back end is Radim Mrtka, a projected first-rounder in the upcoming draft.

Czechia's top player is probably forward Eduard Šalé, who is having a solid season with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL. The Kraken prospect was initially expected to miss the tournament but will return for his final World Juniors. Šalé is set to lead the offense alongside other contributors such as Miroslav Holinka, Adam Jecho or Jakub Štancl.

Czechia boasts 14 drafted players, including two first-rounders (Jiříček and Šalé) and two potential high picks in Adam Novotný and Vojtěch Čihař. This is one of the stronger Czech teams in recent years, but their offensive depth is weaker than in the past two tournaments. If Šalé is at the top of his game, he could be one of the best forwards at the World Juniors. Their main rivals in the group stage will be Slovakia, and a victory against them would almost guarantee a top-two finish in the group, a favorable position for medal contention. However, Czechia has shown they can compete regardless of their group placement and should never be underestimated.

Key Players

Eduard Šalé, RW

Šalé has two World Juniors medals under his belt and has scored at a point-per-game pace in both tournaments. A skilled winger, he struggled at the junior level last season (38 points in 49 OHL games) but has played well in professional hockey, with over 50 games in the Czech league. Now thriving in the AHL with Coachella Valley, Šalé is expected to lead the Czech squad and will be crucial to their success as he aims to complete his medal hat trick.

Michael Hrabal, G

Hrabal, the team’s clear starting goaltender, was drafted 38th overall in 2023, making him the second-highest goalie pick of his draft class. At 6’6”, Hrabal combines size with excellent athleticism and quickness. Even though his performance last year was subpar, his clutch performance against Canada in the quarterfinals proved his potential. He currently plays for UMass in the NCAA, where he has posted solid numbers as a 19-year-old.

Adam Jiříček, D

The younger brother of the Wild´s newest prospect, David Jiříček, walks in his brother's footsteps. He played on the same team in his draft year, was a first-round pick, and missed half a season due to an injury sustained at the World Juniors. Now healthy, Adam Jiříček should be the key defenceman for Czechia at the World Juniors. He's a plus skater, plays a two-way game, and loves to join the rush. He defends well, uses his frame and helps his team in every situation.

Jakub Dvořák, D

Dvořák, a 6’4” defenseman drafted in the second round by the Kings in 2023, missed last year’s tournament but returns as a key player on the blue line. Mobile for his size and strong defensively, Dvořák also adds a touch of offense to his game. He plays for the Ontario Reign in the AHL and is expected to log heavy minutes in all situations.

Jakub Štancl, LW

Štancl is a two-way winger who drives to the net and fights for every puck. He’s also a solid skater with a decent shot. Štancl is one of three Blues prospects on the team (Jiříček, Ondřej Kos). He spent three years in Sweden and even got a shot at the highest level in the country, the Swedish Hockey League. He has been with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL this year, averaging more than a point per game. Štancl is a good complementary winger and should help his team to create more scoring chances.

Tomáš Galvas, D

Galvas was one of my favourite players from my region coming to the 2024 NHL Draft, but he was passed on by every team and went undrafted. Mainly due to his size, since 5´10” defencemen are rare in the NHL and he's only 154 pounds. His biggest asset is his skating – he's a smooth skater, agile and very quick. He likes to join the rush, carry the puck and create plays. He played well at the last World Juniors and should be an important member of the Czech defence, getting a likely power-play role.

Adam Jecho, RW/C

Jecho boasts a 6-foot-5 frame but has the offensive skill of much smaller players. He's someone who reminded me of Flames´ prospect Samuel Honzek in his draft year. Jecho has smooth hands, fluid skating, creates opportunities and works well around the net. He was an important member of the Czech squad that won silver at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He and Miroslav Holinka are teammates at Edmonton Oil Kings, they should bring their chemistry to the national team as well.

Miroslav Holinka, C/W

Holinka left a great impression at the Maple Leafs development camp before the season, rising in the team´s prospect system, as he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. He is a two-way, versatile forward, able to play all three positions. He may lack a standout trait but he's definitely useful in all situations and should be an important member of the Czech team. He's playing with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL, averaging almost a point per game.

Jiří Felcman, C

The Blackhawks prospect has spent most of his career in Switzerland. He plays with the SCL Tigers in the country´s top-tier league (NL), which is one of the best in Europe, a remarkable achievement for a foreign-born 19-year-old. Felcman is a true power forward, he's 6´4” and 200 pounds, plays with an edge, and works well as a net presence. He's going to play at his first World Juniors.

Petr Sikora, RW/C

Sikora has been up and down the lineup of the Czech reigning champions Oceláři Třinec, but he tried to use the best of every opportunity. He´s a feisty two-way forward, he´s dangerous on the forecheck and works well in front of the net despite his average 6-foot frame. Sikora is useful on special teams and should help his team no matter the line he´s on. He´s a Capitals pick (#178) from the sixth round of the last draft.

Sleeper Player

Vojtěch Čihař, RW/C

Čihař is having a great draft year with Karlovy Vary in the Czech league, cementing his status as the top prospect in the league after Radim Mrtka´s departure. He's been playing on the first line and using his opportunity very well. He is a versatile two-way forward with strong skating and a decent size with an offensive touch to his game. Čihař is a candidate for the first two rounds of the upcoming draft and if he puts up a solid performance at the WJC, his stock should go up.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – ST. LOUIS BLUES – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #14

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Josh Bell — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 13:00:34 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 14th (Previous Rank - 15th)
GM: Doug Armstrong Hired: July 2010 (Also President of Hockey Operations)
COACH: Drew Bannister Hired: December 2023

The St. Louis Blues shook up the hockey world in mid-August, making waves by successfully executing two offer sheets that landed them two key Edmonton Oilers graduates, Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. These additions bolster an immediate core that includes Jake Neighbours, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich, Brayden Schenn, Colton Parayko, Scott Perunovich, and Justin Faulk. These moves provide a clear signal that the Blues are committed to accelerating their retooling process, rather than waiting for a slow cook.

Unfortunately, despite carrying a few notable names for the future, the Blues’ prospect pool lacks immediate impact players. Among the few notable prospects currently marinating on the farm team are Zachary Bolduc (102nd), Zach Dean (123rd), Michael Buchinger (ranked 214th) and Tanner Dickinson, all of whom are continuing their development and could become NHL contributors within the next few seasons.

One of the most exciting young prospects in the system is Dalibor Dvorsky (37th), who transitioned to the OHL and lit up the league with 88 points in just 52 games with the Sudbury Wolves. Additionally, Adam Jecho (265th), Lukas Fischer (292nd) and Juraj Pekarcik (297th) will continue their development within the CHL.

Jimmy Snuggerud (66th), regarded as the organization’s premier sharpshooter, will return for his junior year with the Minnesota Gophers. Over 79 games, Snuggerud has posted 84 points, just above a point-per-game clip. The hope is that Snuggerud will make the leap to the NHL by the season’s end. Additionally, the Blues have some exciting pieces developing overseas, including recent draft picks Adam Jiricek (90th), Theo Lindstein (114th), and Otto Stenberg (121st).

After missing the playoffs in back-to-back season, the Blues have taken a turn in the opposite direction and to make matters worse, they have ridden themselves of most of their future picks with no second, third or fourth round picks at next year's draft table. While they may not be tracking as strong contenders right now, the Blues’ prospect depth carries a few underrated and talented names, offering the potential for a slightly smoother landing.

St. Louis Blues Top-15 Prospects

1. Dalibor Dvorsky

Drafted 10th overall in 2023, Dalibor Dvorsky's season was a story of adaptation. A brief stint in the SHL with IK Oskarshamn proved challenging, highlighting the struggle for ice time in a men’s league. However, the move to the OHL's Sudbury Wolves was a breath of fresh air. He exploded offensively, putting up a dominant 88 points in 52 games. His blend of size, skill, and skating translated well against his peers. While the offensive outburst is impressive, questions remain. Can Dvorsky replicate this production against tougher competition? There are also whispers about inconsistency in his game. Despite the point totals, there’s a need to see a more well-rounded effort at both ends of the ice. Overall, last season showcased his high offensive ceiling. He will likely spend next year in the AHL, where he'll face a steeper challenge. How he adjusts will determine if his scoring prowess can translate to the pro game.

2. Jimmy Snuggerud

Drafted 23rd overall by the Blues in 2023, Jimmy Snuggerud opted to stay in the NCAA for his sophomore year at the University of Minnesota. The decision paid off. He emerged as a top line forward, leading the Golden Gophers with 34 points (21 goals, 13 assists) in 39 games. He showcased a well-rounded skillset, combining impressive skating with a knack for finding the net. Not just a scorer, though. He displayed a strong work ethic and a willingness to battle for pucks along the walls. That performance earned him First-Team All-Big Ten honours. While there is a need to improve his decision-making at times, the overall development suggests he's on the right track to becoming a valuable NHL contributor. Having NHL bloodlines and the knowledge gained from a couple of years with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program have been huge factors in the steep upward trajectory of his growth, and he is only just getting started.

3. Adam Jiricek

Adam Jiricek entered the 2024 draft season as one of the most highly anticipated prospects, following an impressive track record in the Czech U17 and U20 leagues. The younger brother of David Jiricek, is known for his exceptional skating and showcased his skills at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, playing significant minutes and impressing scouts. However, his season proved challenging. Jiricek struggled to find offensive opportunities in his pro role, leading to a dip in confidence and performance. After brief stints in the U20 league and the 5-Nations Tournament, he suffered a concussion and a season-ending injury at the World Junior Championship. Despite these setbacks, Jiricek remains a first-round talent. His skating, defensive prowess, and offensive skills make him a promising future NHL defenceman. With time to develop and a strong all-around game, he’s well-positioned for success once he fully recovers and matures.

4. Zach Bolduc

Zach Bolduc, the 17th overall pick in 2021, enjoyed a strong rookie season with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Living up to his talented, opportunistic scorer label, he notched 25 points in 50 games, earning a call-up to the big club where he spent another 25 games. His hand-eye coordination and ability to finish around the net were on full display. However, questions about consistency remain. While flashes of brilliance were common, stretches of disappearing acts persisted. His decision-making also needs refinement, as evidenced by occasional turnovers. Despite these areas for improvement, the offensive explosion is undeniable. The Blues have a potential top six winger on their hands but unlocking his full potential hinges on developing a more well-rounded game. This season will be crucial in determining if Bolduc can translate his scoring prowess to the NHL level permanently.

5. Theo Lindstein

Theo Lindstein, the Blues' first-round pick (29th overall) in 2023, spent most of his season in Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan with Brynas IF. He had a solid year in terms of playing time – Lindstein logged a solid 49 games. However, the offensive production some craved wasn't quite there (four goals, 11 assists). His calling card remains his defensive acumen. His positioning and ability to shut down attackers stand out as strengths. But the offensive side of his game, once viewed as a potential strength, appears raw. Consistency with his puck skills and decision-making is lacking. While the lack of points might raise eyebrows, it's important to remember Lindstein is just 19. This stint was a chance to adapt to the pro game, and defensively, he seems to have done that well. The question for the Blues is can he develop his offensive tools and become a more well-rounded defenceman? The answer will determine his NHL timeline.

6. Otto Stenberg

Drafted 25th overall by the Blues in 2023, Otto Stenberg's season was a mixed bag. He split his time between three leagues, showcasing his versatility but raising questions about his long-term fit. In the SHL with Frölunda HC, his production was modest (six points in 31 games). However, he impressed at the World Junior Championships (WJC), contributing nine points in seven games. A loan stint with BIK Karlskoga in Sweden's second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan yielded nine points in nine games. Stenberg's calling card remains his well-rounded skillset. He boasts excellent skating, a strong shot, and solid hockey IQ. However, he’ll need to show that he can translate that into more consistent offensive production, particularly at the pro level. The Blues haven't signed him yet, and his future landing spot remains uncertain. But his flashes of brilliance suggest he has the tools to be a valuable asset, assuming he can put it all together.

7. Zach Dean

Zach Dean's first pro season with the Blues organization was a bumpy ride. Acquired from Vegas, Dean struggled to translate his dominant QMJHL scoring (70 points in 50 games) to the AHL. His point production in Springfield (nine goals, five assists in 49 games) was underwhelming. Some of this can be attributed to adjusting to a new team and tougher competition, but Dean's inconsistency was a recurring theme. There were flashes of his offensive brilliance – a highlight-reel goal here, smart playmaking there – but stretches of invisibility plagued his performance. Questions about Dean's defensive awareness also remain. While known for his physicality, his defensive positioning needs more work. The Blues likely view him as a long-term project, but Dean will need to find more consistency and improve his defensive play to earn an NHL call-up. Last season was a learning experience, but next year will be crucial in determining his NHL potential.

8. Michael Buchinger

Michael Buchinger is a smooth-skating defenceman with a strong two-way game. Standing at 6-foot-0 and 185 pounds, he combines mobility with intelligence, making him a reliable presence on both ends of the ice. Buchinger’s skating is fluid, allowing him to transition quickly from defence to offence and join the rush when needed. He has excellent puck-moving abilities, often making crisp, accurate passes to start breakouts or sustain pressure in the offensive zone. Defensively, Buchinger is sound in his positioning and uses his stick effectively to disrupt plays. He’s not overly physical but doesn’t shy away from contact, effectively using his body to win battles and protect his net. His hockey IQ is notable, often making smart decisions under pressure and reading the play well. While he could benefit from adding more strength, Buchinger’s overall skill set projects him as a dependable, top four defenceman with the ability to contribute in all situations.

9. Adam Jecho

Jecho is a player who can both dazzle and frustrate, making him a high-risk, high-reward prospect. At his best, the 6-fot-5 forward combines impressive skating, puck handling, and shooting ability, showing an elite skill set that makes him a standout. His size allows him to dominate opponents, and when he's fully engaged, he can be a game-changer. However, Jecho's inconsistency is a significant concern. His effort level often fluctuates, with too many shifts where he seems disengaged. His puck control and decision-making also vary greatly, leading to costly turnovers when he's not at his best. While these issues could be attributed to inexperience or a challenging season with a struggling Oil Kings team, they raise questions about his reliability. Despite the potential for frustration, Jecho’s raw talent makes him an intriguing project. If the Blues can address his inconsistency, he has the tools to develop into a standout player.

10. Lukas Fischer

Being a key defender on a struggling team can magnify a player's weaknesses while masking their strengths. Lukas Fischer, son of former NHLer Jiri Fischer and current Red Wings Director of Player Development, managed this challenge well in his draft year. As one of the youngest prospects in the draft, Fischer, who may reach 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, displayed significant potential as a two-way defender despite being raw. His mobility is solid for the currently 6-foot-3 defenceman, with good top speed and quickness, though his defensive footwork can be inconsistent, sometimes leaving him vulnerable to faster opponents. Fischer's physical play is also marked by inconsistency, and he can be too passive in key situations. However, he shows flashes of physical dominance, which could become more consistent as he matures. Offensively, he contributes in transition and from the point, suggesting potential growth with more experience and better teammates. Despite some uncertainties, Fischer's physical tools and NHL lineage make him an intriguing prospect.

11. Juraj Pekarcik

Juraj Pekarcik is a dynamic, physical winger with a blend of speed, skill, and aggression. His quick feet and strong frame excel in puck battles, while his heavy, accurate shot generates scoring chances. Pekarcik’s vision and anticipation create opportunities for teammates, and his relentless forechecking disrupts opponents. With continued development, he could emerge as a top six forward and key contributor for the Blues, making him an exciting prospect.

12. Colin Ralph

In his second season at Shattuck St. Mary’s, defenceman Ralph excels with his physical tools and effective use of size. His fluid skating, agility, and reach make him tough to beat off the rush. While he plays a simple offensive game and needs improvement in breakouts, his potential as a solid number four defenceman and penalty kill anchor is evident.

13. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Aleksanteri Kaskimaki is a highly skilled forward with impressive offensive instincts and a sharp hockey IQ. His ability to create scoring opportunities through precise passing and sharp shooting stands out. While his defensive play and consistency need refinement, Kaskimaki’s playmaking ability and offensive potential make him a promising prospect with significant NHL upside.

14. Quinton Burns

Quinton Burns is a robust defenceman known for his physicality and defensive reliability. His strong positioning and active stick make him effective in his own zone, while his hard shot and offensive zone awareness add value. Though his skating could improve, Burns’ solid defensive game and potential as a two-way player offer promising NHL upside.

15. Tanner Dickinson

Tanner Dickinson has faced setbacks, including a cancelled OHL season and a broken femur, but has shown promise since his return. Splitting time between the ECHL and AHL, Dickinson displays excellent playmaking, quick hands, and agility. His defensive skills and offensive potential suggest he could become a top six forward and power-play asset for the Blues.

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: TWO-ROUND MOCK DRAFT

Brock Otten — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:03:17 +0000

#1. San Jose Sharks - Macklin Celebrini - C - Boston University (HE)

At this point, San Jose might as well announce this now. The entire hockey world knows that Celebrini is going to be its guy. This is a pivot without any true weaknesses who projects as a franchise leader for the Sharks moving forward. Think of the impact that Jonathan Toews had on turning the Blackhawks rebuild around.

#2. Chicago Blackhawks - Artyom Levshunov – D - Michigan State (B1G)

Part of me believes that Chicago might really like Sam Dickinson because of how much value they have been placing on skating in recent drafts, but another part believes that Levshunov will be the Hawks guy. We prefer Dickinson, but there’s no doubting that Levshunov has among the highest two-way upside of any defender in this draft. With his high-end skill and offensive aggressiveness, he’ll be able to give the Hawks a dynamic puck mover on both of their first two pairings (with Korchinski).

#3. Anaheim Ducks - Anton Silayev – D - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

On one hand, the Ducks haven’t used a Top 50 pick on a Russian based player (as in playing in the KHL, MHL, etc) since Stanislav Chistov in 2001. It’s obvious that they have preferences for other regions. However, what’s also obvious is the fit here. The Ducks have so many terrific puck moving defenders. The system is loaded. However, the team’s high end defensively oriented prospects have had their development stall like Noah Warren and Drew Helleson. Anaheim could see Silayev as an amazing fit beside guys like Mintyukov and Zellweger, allowing them to play freely and aggressively.

#4. Columbus Blue Jackets - Ivan Demidov – RW - SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)

The Jackets have had great success with young Russian players recently, even forming a great Russian kid line involving Chinakhov, Voronkov, and Marchenko. Not only is Demidov clearly the best player available at this point, but he also helps add significant skill to the wing for the organization that needs it. This is an offensive play driver solely needed.

#5. Montreal Canadiens - Cayden Lindstrom – C - Medicine Hat (WHL)

This is one of the best-case scenarios for Montreal. Is Lindstrom’s injury history a concern? Likely for some teams. However, the upside here is too large for Montreal to pass up. Not only is Lindstrom a fantastic young player, but he also helps the Canadiens get bigger and heavier up front, which was a reason for preferring Slafkovsky at first overall two years ago.

#6. Utah Hockey Club - Zeev Buium – D - Denver (NCHC)

Seems likely that Utah could lean towards taking one of the high-end offensive defenders available with this pick. In the last five drafts, the Coyotes have not taken a single player out of the OHL. This leads me to believe that Buium is a guy that the team could find really attractive at #6. He’s such an intelligent playmaker from the backend and he would really help Utah improve their transitional game and powerplay production.

#7. Ottawa Senators - Sam Dickinson – D - London (OHL)

Dickinson is the perfect defender for the modern era thanks to his high-end skating ability. He’s the kind of blueliner who projects as an all situations, minute eater. Given how terrific he has been in this year’s OHL playoffs (and the Memorial Cup), Ottawa likely sees him as a terrific fit as a “winner” who can help them get over the hump in the coming years. The Sens really need to hit on this pick and Dickinson is as safe as safe can be to be an impact player.

#8. Seattle Kraken - Beckett Sennecke – RW - Oshawa (OHL)

There is a ton of traction for Sennecke to be a high pick and Seattle strikes us as a likely landing spot. They’ve targeted the OHL pretty heavily and, playing in the Pacific, they want to load up their lineup with heavier players who can withstand the punishing style in the division. Sennecke oozes upside as an athletic winger still growing into his frame. He is skilled, physical, and intelligent. A great combination. Logic says Seattle finally uses their first on a defender, but something about this spot screams Sennecke.

#9. Calgary Flames - Tij Iginla – C - Kelowna (WHL)

Maybe this is far-fetched. But maybe it’s not. Teams don’t use top ten selections for the sole purpose of nostalgia. But how can you pass up the opportunity to draft an iconic name, who also happens to be worthy in this spot. Iginla was terrific in the second half of the year, and this gives Calgary an injection of skill and tenacity. He could have a similar impact to his father in Calgary.

#10. New Jersey Devils - Konsta Helenius – C - Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)

The Devils are a team that definitely don’t want to be picking in this range. The organization has been trying to escape the rebuilding phase, so would it not make sense for them to target a player who has great upside, but who can also make an impact pretty quickly? Helenius fits in well with the players already in New Jersey and the Devils have liked the region in recent drafts.

#11. Buffalo Sabres - Zayne Parekh – D - Saginaw (OHL)

Yeah, we know that the Sabres already have Dahlin and Power on the back end. That powerplay unit is already loaded. However, at some point, you have to say that Parekh is too good to let slide further. One of the draft’s most creative and intelligent defenders, Parekh is the ultimate wild card. He could go as high as the top five or fall out of the lottery all together. This would be great value for the Sabres.

#12. Philadelphia Flyers - Cole Eiserman – LW - U. S. NTDP U18

Often tagged as being the draft’s purest goal scorer, Eiserman had an up and down year with the NTDP. However, he still managed to break the program’s scoring record and that is impressive. Big wingers who can put the puck in the net do not grow on trees. While the Flyers could go defense here, having just dealt top prospect Cutter Gauthier for defender Jamie Drysdale, it seems unlikely that they will go that route.

#13. Minnesota Wild - Carter Yakemchuk – D - Calgary (WHL)

This seems low for Yakemchuk. But someone is going to need to fall a bit considering the talent available in the lottery. While Yakemchuk’s upside is significant, we think teams may have concerns over his puck management and skating combination. That said, he’s a great fit in Minnesota as a potential puck mover and triggerman who can help their powerplay and move quickly through the system.

#14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh Penguins) - Stian Solberg – D - Valerenga (Norway)

The draft is bound to get pretty wild around this point given the wild fluctuation among rankings. Solberg has had a ton of momentum the last month and we really like this fit. Solberg was tremendous at the World Championships, showing that he can impact the game in a lot of different ways. This is someone who can come in and be a defensive stalwart for the Sharks in the future.

#15. Detroit Red Wings - Berkly Catton – C - Spokane (WHL)

This is much lower than our ranking for Catton, but we realize that we may be more aggressive on him compared to the NHL community. He is the kind of play driver who can elevate Detroit’s first two lines in the future. He’s more skilled than Danielson and Kasper, but he has that same kind of high-end work ethic. If Catton is still available at fifteen, this should one hundred percent be his landing spot.

#16. St. Louis Blues - Trevor Connelly – LW - Tri-City (USHL)

Where does Connelly go? That’s one of the draft’s biggest questions considering the noise around his off-ice “issues.” However, we do think that someone bites considering Connelly has among the highest offensive upsides of any forward in this draft. The Blues need more firepower. They need more play drivers. Connelly is someone who can make this St. Louis team better down the line if he progresses well.

#17. Washington Capitals - Adam Jiricek – D - Plzen (Czechia)

It was a pretty tough draft year for Jiricek, after he missed the majority of the year with injury. However, he came into the year as a potential top ten selection for a reason. He’s talented and a potential two-way stalwart like his brother David. So many options here but could see the Caps lean defense if Jiricek is still on the board.

#18. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders) - Michael Brandsegg Nygard – RW - Mora (Allsvenskan)

The Hawks have really been focusing on selecting strong skaters in recent years, so there’s a chance that they team will jump on a guy like Jett Luchanko here. However, we like Brandsegg Nygard here for a few reasons. One, he’s one of the best players available. Two, he’s an excellent fit alongside some of the high-end skill that Chicago has brought in. His hard work and attention to detail could make him the kind of high-end role player that Chicago had during their Cup runs.

#19. Vegas Golden Knights - EJ Emery – D - U. S. NTDP U18

Did you know that Vegas has never drafted a player out of the U.S. NTDP? Seems wild, but this could be the year. Vegas has used their first selection on a center every year of existence. That kind of commitment is impressive. However, we believe that this is the year that the streak breaks. We love Emery’s physical tools and upside as a defensive stalwart, and he fits the exact mold of the kind of defender Vegas seems to love. The team’s defensive core is getting older, and he could be a great fit there in a few years.

#20. New York Islanders (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Michael Hage – C - Chicago (USHL)

We like this potential landing spot for Hage. He was, perhaps, the best player in the USHL in the second half of the year. This was the real Michael Hage, after he put some personal turmoil behind him. He has upside as a top six, power center and his skill is badly needed in a prospect pool that is currently lacking it.

#21. Los Angeles Kings - Jett Luchanko – C - Guelph (OHL)

We know the Kings love the OHL. Luchanko would be a great pick here. The tenacious and intelligent pivot brings speed and playmaking ability to the table and looks like a future fixture as a second line center. There aren’t a ton of natural pivots in the system right now, so it also makes sense for Los Angeles to target that position, if a good one is available.

#22. Nashville Predators - Leo Sahlin Wallenius – D - Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)

A strong skating, potential two-way defender, Sahlin Wallenius proved to be a bit of a chameleon in his draft year. What’s his real future role? Regardless, the physical tools are going to be intriguing to a team like Nashville.

#23. Toronto Maple Leafs - Harrison Brunicke – D - Kamloops (WHL)

This would be the first time since 2018 that Toronto uses its first-round selection on a defender. We’d say it’s needed. Brunicke is a strong skating rearguard with upside at both ends. He excelled defensively at the U18’s and he’s the kind of modern-day defender that Toronto sorely lacks. The organization would have also seen a fair amount of Brunicke while scouting Fraser Minten in Kamloops.

#24. Colorado Avalanche - Igor Chernyshov – LW - Dynamo Moskva (KHL)

We could see Colorado moving this pick at the draft for some immediate help after their disappointing playoff performance. However, if they keep this selection, a guy like Chernyshov could make a ton of sense. He can attack with speed and power, playing a North/South game that fits their system.

#25. Ottawa Senators (via Boston Bruins) - Liam Greentree – RW - Windsor (OHL)

Back-to-back OHL players for Ottawa in our mock, this time the team selects Windsor winger Greentree, who has the potential to be a Jason Robertson kind of player in the future. He is creative and skilled but needs to improve his skating. We believe improving the team’s skill and finishing ability on the wing should be a focus.

#26. Montreal Canadiens (via Winnipeg Jets) - Sam O’Reilly – RW - London (OHL)

With a strong OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup performance, O’Reilly has surged up draft rankings to close out the year. The physical, two-way center has more offensive upside than he has shown thus far playing in a secondary scoring role. Worst case scenario could see him developing into a Scott Laughton type, which would still be terrific value at this point of the first.

#27. Carolina Hurricanes - Alfons Freij – D - Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)

The Hurricanes always seem to love the same kind of players that the amateur scouting community love. Freij is one of those amateur scouting darlings this year that we (as a community) seem to love more than the NHL community (as a whole). The skating ability and skill are evident. He was a standout at nearly every international event for Sweden and projects as a skilled top four defende

#28. Calgary Flames (via Vancouver Canucks) - Cole Beaudoin – C - Barrie (OHL)

After drafting Iginla early, the Flames opt for a different kind of forward late in the first. Beaudoin projects as the kind of guy you win in the playoffs with. He brings versatility. He brings leadership. He brings consistency. He is an intelligent playmaker and can excel as a middle six complementary piece. Just seems very likely that at least one NHL team likes his intangibles enough to draft him in the first.

#29. Dallas Stars - Emil Hemming – RW - TPS (Fin-Liiga)

The Stars haven’t drafted a player out of Finland since Miro Heiskanen in 2017, but we’d say that has worked out pretty well. At this point, Hemming fills a need and represents the best player available. He brings tenaciousness and he is one of the draft’s best goal scorers from the wing.

#30. New York Rangers - Charlie Elick - D - Brandon (WHL)

Elick has a similar profile to Braden Schneider when the Rangers drafted him and that worked out pretty well. The size, skating, and physicality combination make Elick a potential shutdown defender for a decade. His decision making needs to improve, but New York has actually improved this component in several of their defensive prospects.

#31. Anaheim Ducks (via Edmonton Oilers) - Julius Miettinen – C - Everett (WHL)

Miettinen improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the year and represents a big body with skill. His skating took a big leap from the beginning of the year to the end, and it has really improved his projection as a top six forward. Anaheim really seems to favor forwards with a well-rounded profile and that’s Miettinen.

#32. Philadelphia Flyers (via Florida Panthers) - Ben Danford – D - Oshawa (OHL)

This pick might surprise some people, but Danford is a player who rocketed up rankings in the second half as part of an Oshawa team that went to the OHL finals. He’s one of the better defensive players in the draft; a shot blocking expert who has terrific defensive instincts. He’s also a strong skater who has shown flashes of more offensively. Shades of Oliver Bonk here and that worked out really well so far.

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#33. San Jose Sharks - Dean Letourneau – C - St. Andrew's (CHS-Ontario)

There’s definitely a chance that Letourneau goes in the first, but we feel that teams may be more comfortable using a second on a prep player given that many of those chosen in the first have not developed well. The Sharks can take a chance on Letourneau, given the team’s window is a ways away. The big man oozes upside because of his athleticism.

#34. Chicago Blackhawks - Henry Mews – D - Ottawa (OHL)

With the Hawks focusing so much on strong skating ability, Mews makes sense here. He’s a terrific four-way mover who possesses excellent upside as an offensive defender. He’s a creative rush attacker and his defense did improve over the course of the season.

#35. Anaheim Ducks - Terik Parascak – RW - Prince George (WHL)

A highly intelligent playmaker, Parascak makes up for only average skating by being a step ahead of others mentally. He’s skilled. He’s tenacious. He projects as a quality complementary piece in the top six and he would fit in perfectly with what Anaheim already has in the system.

#36. Philadelphia Flyers (via Columbus Blue Jackets) - Sacha Boisvert – C - Muskegon (USHL)

Why not double down on a top goal scorer? After drafting the draft’s best in Cole Eiserman, the Flyers now take one of the other best options in power center Sasha Boivert. His skating needs to continue to improve, but he can really fire it.

#37. Winnipeg Jets (via Montreal Canadiens) - Cole Hutson – D - U. S. NTDP U18

Wouldn’t it be fitting if the Jets used the Montreal pick to select Lane’s brother Cole? Cole battled some injuries this year, but he closed out the year on a high note by returning for the U18’s. He can control the tempo with his handling ability and mobility. His defensive game is also probably more advanced compared to Lane’s at the same age.

#38. Utah Hockey Club - Teddy Stiga – C - U. S. NTDP U18

Back-to-back NTDP members are chosen here as Stiga ends up being Utah’s pick. He is a terrific complementary piece who was one of the NTDP’s most improved players this year. He plays at a feverish pace, and he is skilled and intelligent enough to play with high end, creative playmakers. Could be the perfect future linemate for Logan Cooley.

#39. Ottawa Senators - Linus Eriksson – C - Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Erikson is a strong skating, two-way center with a strong chance of developing into an excellent and versatile middle six piece. He was solid for Sweden internationally this year and adds great depth to Ottawa’s center position down the line.

#40. Seattle Kraken - Will Skahan – D - U. S. NTDP U18

One of the draft’s most physical defenders, Skahan is big, reasonably mobile, and projects as a top four shutdown blueliner. Seattle has never really drafted a player like Skahan, and we would argue that in order for them to take that next step, they’ll need players like him in the Pacific.

#41. Calgary Flames - Dominik Badinka – D - Malmo (SHL)

Strong, two-way defender who played a ton at the SHL level. His true offensive upside was hidden by playing sheltered minutes against men. The Flames opt for defense here and have had some luck taking Swedish based defenders in recent years (Badinka is Czech but played out of Sweden).

#42. San Jose Sharks (via New Jersey Devils) - Andrew Basha – LW - Medicine Hat (WHL)

The Sharks opt for a bit of a safer selection at this spot after really rolling the dice with the previous two picks. Basha is an excellent complementary piece who projects as someone who can elevate the play of a creative and skilled pivot. He could be the perfect linemate for the likes of Celebrini, Smith, or Eklund because he is skilled and does the dirty work to open up ice.

#43. Buffalo Sabres - Maxim Masse – RW - Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Buffalo makes Masse the first QMJHL player off the board. He’s one of the better pure goal scorers in the draft and he plays a mature, pro style game that sees him get to the middle of the ice. The skating needs to keep improving, but this is a player who could fit in well with some of the others in Buffalo’s system.

#44. Pittsburgh Penguins (via Philadelphia Flyers) - Lucas Pettersson – C - MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)

With their first pick in the draft, the Penguins opt for Swedish center Lucas Pettersson. He’s a strong skating, two-way pivot who projects as a solid middle six piece who can play in a variety of different situations. Building up prospect depth needs to be a focus of Kyle Dubas, after the system was bled dry for the last half a decade.

#45. Minnesota Wild - Brodie Ziemer – RW - U. S. NTDP U18

A Minnesota native heading to the University of Minnesota, the Wild get the captain of this year’s NTDP. He projects as a terrific complementary piece in the top nine who can help bring out the best in more skilled players. He plays a heavier game, which fits in with the theme that Minnesota seems to be focusing on at the draft in recent years.

#46. Pittsburgh Penguins - Aron Kiviharju – D - HIFK (Fin-Liiga)

If there is a team that is going to take a chance on Kiviharju bringing everything together, the Penguins make a ton of sense. With a couple of seconds, they should be focusing on bringing in high upside players and Kiviharju is just that. Is there concern that he has plateaued? Absolutely. However, there’s also a chance that injuries this year really prevented him from being at his best.

#47. Detroit Red Wings - Leon Muggli – D - Zug (Sui-NL)

The Red Wings opt for Leon Muggli, a Swiss defender who really emerged as a top-notch NHL prospect this year. He showed well playing against men in the NL. He’s intelligent and mobile and should have a solid floor as an NHL rearguard in some capacity.

#48. St. Louis Blues - Matvei Shuravin – C - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Long and lean Russian defender with intriguing two-way upside. He was a player who was hard to get a read on this year with his limited minutes in the KHL, however he has an intriguing combination of size and mobility. It’s possible that he reminds the Blues of drafting Colton Parayko back in the day.

#49. Utah Hockey Club (via Washington Capitals) - Yegor Surin – C - Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)

Utah and their scouts have not been shy about selecting Russian players in recent drafts. Surin is better than the 49th player selected. He is a competitive, but skilled pivot who could end up developing into a versatile player for Utah down the line. Maybe the perfect linemate for fellow Russian Daniil But?

#50. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders) - John Mustard – C - Waterloo (USHL)

One of the best names in the draft, but also one of the best skaters. Mustard had a breakout campaign in the USHL this year. He’s an explosive player and a talented goal scorer. However, he is also an intense competitor, something that should make Mustard an NHL player in some capacity if the offensive game doesn’t translate.

#51. Philadelphia Flyers (Compensation Pick for Jay O’Brien) - Ryder Ritchie – RW - Prince Albert (WHL)

Ranked as a first rounder by us, there is thought that we are higher on him than NHL scouts after a bit of a disappointing second half mired by injuries. Ritchie is a competitive winger who plays bigger than his size (excuse the cliche). He has solid upside as a complementary piece on a scoring line. This is a nice swing for Philadelphia with their compensation pick.

#52. Washington Capitals (via Vegas Golden Knights) - Marek Vanacker – LW - Brantford (OHL)

The Capitals opt for speedy Hamilton winger Marek Vanacker, the last of our first round graded players. He was extremely consistent all year long and has intriguing offensive upside because of the pace he can play at. Washington would be very familiar with him thanks to their scouting of Patrick Thomas.

#53. Nashville Predators (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Heikki Ruohonen – C - Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-U20)

The Preds have long loved Finnish players, with a strong presence in that market. Ruohonen was one of the biggest risers in the second half of the year; he was excellent at the U18’s for the Finns. He is a competitive, two-way, power center eventually heading to Harvard.

#54. New York Islanders (via Los Angeles Kings) - Adam Kleber – D - Lincoln (USHL)

Kleber is a massive defender whose game really improved over the second half of the year. His mobility, in particular, really took a positive step forward. The USHL rearguard projects as a physical stay at home type, but he does flash some intriguing offensive tools too.

#55. Nashville Predators - Mikhail Yegorov – G - Omaha (USHL)

There has been a ton of talk about Nashville moving on from Juuse Saros, handing over the keys to Askarov. However, there isn’t much of a back-up plan behind Askarov if he doesn't pan out. Taking a goalie makes sense for the Preds in round two and Yegorov is an excellent athlete who their goaltending development coaches can really work with.

#56. St. Louis Blues (via Toronto Maple Leafs) - Luke Misa – C - Mississauga (OHL)

Misa is a speedy, two-way forward who projects as a solid middle six option for St. Louis down the line. He had a solid year for Mississauga in the OHL and is the type of player who could move quickly through the system as a later birthday.

#57. Montreal Canadiens (via Colorado Avalanche) - Tory Pitner - Youngstown (USHL)

Montreal has done well by selecting heady defenders in recent years and Pitner is definitely that. He’s one of the draft's most intelligent blueliners, especially in the defensive end. He competes hard and projects as a solid two-way, second pairing type.

#58. Anaheim Ducks (via Boston Bruins) - Tarin Smith – D - Everett (WHL)

A team with an already loaded defensive talent pool can afford to take chances on high upside defenders like Smith. He’s very raw, but his physical tools are excellent. He skates well. He can create offense. How it all comes together remains to be seen, but Anaheim can afford to be patient.

#59. Nashville Predators (via Winnipeg Jets) - Adam Jecho – C - Edmonton (WHL)

An enigma to the highest degree, Jecho is one of the draft’s ultimate boom or bust prospects. At times, he dominates in the offensive end with his size and skill. Other times, he looks lumbering, lazy, and disengaged. Which Jecho will emerge as the real one? Nashville has always loved wingers like this with high end physical tools.

#60. Carolina Hurricanes - Nikita Artamonov – LW - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

This just seems like an amazing fit. The Canes have loved players like Artamanov. High end processor. Not the quickest or most physical, but efficient. They’ve also been one of the most aggressive NHL franchises in drafting Russian talent recently.

#61. New York Islanders (via Vancouver Canucks) - AJ Spellacy – RW - Windsor (OHL)

Spellacy was outstanding in the second half of the OHL season after he fully recovered from a knee injury. He has great length and speed and projects as a high end third line player who can be an elite penalty killer and defensive forward. The last Windsor forward NYI took worked out well.

#62. Calgary Flames (via Dallas Stars) - Raoul Boilard – C - Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

What’s the finished product going to look like with Boilard? This is completely unknown due to some consistency issues. However, the Flames need to improve their center depth in the organization and Boilard is a rangy pivot who could end up being a solid middle six piece.

#63. Seattle Kraken (via New York Rangers) - Jesse Pulkkinen – D - JYP (Fin-Liiga)

The first re-entry to go in this mock draft, Seattle has not shied away from selecting players outside of their first year of eligibility. Pulkkinen is a big offensive defender who plays an aggressive style. He needs major refinement, but the tools are there.

#64. Edmonton Oilers - Pavel Moysevich – G - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Have to think the Oilers go with a goalie here if there is one on the board that they really like. Moysevich is a re-entry who was fantastic in the KHL this past season. He is one of the draft’s best athletes and he could move quickly through the system.

#65. Utah Hockey Club (via Florida Panthers) - Jack Pridham – RW - West Kelowna (BCHL)

There is a connection between Utah (previously Arizona) and the St. Andrew’s College program of late. Pridham is a graduate of that program who had a solid year in the BCHL. He is a big winger with great skating ability. The upside is a bit of a mystery, but the tools are legitimate.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – TOP 32 FINAL RANKINGS

Brock Otten — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 16:00:27 +0000

It’s that time! The McKeen’s scouting staff has finalized our final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft ahead of the release of our draft guide releasing soon. This year, the McKeen’s team has made the executive decision to rank 300 players outright, rather than include honorable mentions. This is a change in our previous methodology.

As has been the case all season long, Macklin Celebrini remains our top ranked prospect and we expect him to be the first overall selection by the San Jose Sharks. Rounding out the top five are Russian winger Ivan Demidov, London defenseman Sam Dickinson, power center Cayden Lindstrom, and the fast-rising Tij Iginla. Iginla was ranked 12th on our midseason list, but his strong finish to the WHL season, coupled with his excellent U18 performance, has elevated him into our top five.

Filling out our top ten are Michigan State defender Artyom Levshunov, spark plug center Berkly Catton, towering defender Anton Silayev, Denver defender Zeev Buium, and Western defender Carter Yakemchuk. Buium moves up from 15th at midseason thanks to his remarkable consistency all year long, in addition to a great Frozen Four performance for Denver. While Russian blueliner Silayev moves out of our top five after a lukewarm second half that saw his offensive production drop off.

Other players who have elevated their stock significantly include Norwegian defender Stian Solberg, Oshawa winger Beckett Sennecke, NTDP defender EJ Emery, Finnish power forward Julius Miettinen, offensive blueliner Cole Hutson, gritty Barrie forward Cole Beaudoin, Oshawa defender Ben Danford, and speedy Brantford winger Marek Vanacker. Solberg jumps up over 30 spots, springboarding into our first round after a terrific second half in the Norwegian men’s league, followed by an eye-opening performance at the men’s World Championships. The athletic and projectable Sennecke also makes a huge jump, from the late first to the earlier first after an outstanding second half and playoff performance for Oshawa, helping the team make the OHL finals.

Other players who have seen their stock drop include Henry Mews, Adam Jecho, Maxim Masse, Raoul Boilard, Jesse Pulkkinen, Aron Kiviharju, and Simon Zether. Ottawa defender Henry Mews has fallen out of our first round due to consistency and defensive engagement concerns. We still value his upside but believe other players have had stronger second half pushes. The same can be said about Finnish defender Aron Kiviharju. Injuries derailed his development this year and his performance at the U18’s (albeit coming off a long layoff) was uninspiring.

As far as goaltenders go, none cracked our top 50. We love the depth for the position this year, and as such, we would feel more comfortable waiting longer to select our first netminder in 2024. Owen Sound’s Carter George, and Russian netminders Pavel Moysevich and Mikhail Yegorov are our top netminders.

Overall, the strength of this draft crop has really grown on us as a scouting team. Early on in the season, we weren’t enamored with the quality of top end players available, nor the depth. The defenseman group available has always been deemed as strong, but what has really elevated this crop is the fact that so many forwards finished the year well, altering their projection and draft standing. We feel that those drafting inside the top 20 have a great chance of grabbing a high impact player.

Look for the release of our 2024 Draft Guide soon (Week of June 10^th). It will include all of our rankings and reports, a mock draft, a preview of the 2025 NHL Draft, and much more.

Subscribers can see the full Top 300 Ranking here.

If you are interested in a subscription, you can learn more here.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	HT/WT	DOB	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	PTS	PIM
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	Boston University (HE)	38	32	32	64	18
2	Ivan Demidov	RW	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	30	23	37	60	20
3	Sam Dickinson	D	6-3/200	7-Jun-06	London (OHL)	68	18	52	70	30
4	Cayden Lindstrom	C	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66
5	Tij Iginla	C	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	Kelowna (WHL)	64	47	37	84	35
6	Artyom Levshunov	D	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	Michigan State (B1G)	38	9	26	35	44
7	Berkly Catton	C	5-10/170	14-Jan-06	Spokane (WHL)	68	54	62	116	41
8	Anton Silayev	D	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	63	3	8	11	10
9	Zeev Buium	D	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	Denver (NCHC)	42	11	39	50	20
10	Carter Yakemchuk	D	6-3/200	29-Sep-05	Calgary (WHL)	66	30	41	71	120
11	Zayne Parekh	D	6-0/180	15-Feb-06	Saginaw (OHL)	66	33	63	96	64
12	Michael Hage	C	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	Chicago (USHL)	54	33	42	75	53
13	Konsta Helenius	C	5-11/180	11-May-06	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	22	36	10
14	Beckett Sennecke	RW	6-2/175	28-Jan-06	Oshawa (OHL)	63	27	41	68	67
15	Cole Eiserman	LW	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	USN U18 (USDP)	57	58	31	89	34
16	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	Mora (Allsvenskan)	41	8	10	18	19
17	Liam Greentree	RW	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	Windsor (OHL)	64	36	54	90	33
18	Trevor Connelly	LW	6-0/160	28-Feb-06	Tri-City (USHL)	52	31	47	78	88
19	Alfons Freij	D	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	40	14	19	33	14
20	EJ Emery	D	6-3/185	30-Mar-06	USN U18 (USDP)	61	0	16	16	61
21	Jett Luchanko	C	5-11/185	21-Aug-06	Guelph (OHL)	68	20	54	74	36
22	Harrison Brunicke	D	6-2/185	8-May-06	Kamloops (WHL)	49	10	11	21	47
23	Stian Solberg	D	6-2/195	29-Dec-05	Valerenga (Norway)	42	5	10	15	47
24	Adam Jiricek	D	6-2/180	28-Jun-06	Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2
25	Emil Hemming	RW	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	40	7	4	11	0
26	Ryder Ritchie	RW	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	Prince Albert (WHL)	47	19	25	44	24
27	Dominik Badinka	D	6-3/185	27-Nov-05	Malmo (SHL)	33	1	3	4	6
28	Sacha Boisvert	C	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	Muskegon (USHL)	61	36	32	68	86
29	Julius Miettinen	C	6-2/205	20-Jan-06	Everett (WHL)	66	31	36	67	32
30	Yegor Surin	C	6-1/190	1-Aug-06	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	42	22	30	52	108
31	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	43	11	31	42	38
32	Marek Vanacker	LW	6-0/175	12-Apr-06	Brantford (OHL)	68	36	46	82	55

2024 IIHF U18 World Championship – McKeen’s Team Predictions

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:08:46 +0000

231226 Konsta Helenius of Finland ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Finland and Canada on December 26, 2023 in Gothenburg.
Photo: Carl Sandin / BILDBYRÅN / kod CS / CS0473

The 2024 IIHF U18 World Championships kick off early Thursday morning (Eastern time) in Finland. This is one of the most important events in the scouting calendar and as such, McKeen’s staff brings you their predictions for the tournament.

Medal Predictions

GOLD

Canada (7x)

USA (4)

SILVER

USA (5x)

Sweden (3x)

Finland (2x)

Canada (1x)

BRONZE

Finland (4x)

Canada (3x)

Sweden (2x)

USA (1x)

Czechia (1x)

James Hagens. Photo by Rena Laverty.

Award Predictions

TOURNAMENT MVP

James Hagens, USA (4x)

Tij Iginla, Canada (3x)

Porter Martone, Canada (2x)

Trevor Connelly, USA (1x)

Konsta Helenius, Finland (1x)

BEST DEFENDER

Henry Mews, Canada (3x)

Aron Kiviharju, Finland (2x)

Alfons Freij, Sweden (2x)

Cole Hutson, USA (2x)

Logan Hensler, USA (1x)

Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Sweden (1x)

BEST GOALTENDER

Carter George, Canada (4x)

Ryerson Leenders, Canada (2x)

Kim Saarinen, Finland (2x)

Nicholas Kempf, USA (1x)

Herman Liv, Sweden (1x)

Burning Questions

WHAT WILL BE THE SURPRISE OF THE TOURNAMENT?

“That the tournament will see many fantastic performances from players not eligible for the 2024 draft. I foresee many late 2006 born players and the 2007 born players in this tournament coming out and making names for themselves. Gavin McKenna, Matthew Schaefer, James Hagens, Logan Hensler, Luka Radivojevic, Adam Benák, Jakob Ihs Wozniak, Olivers Murineks and Niklas Aaram Olsen are just a few names that could really show out for their respective nations as underage talents.” (Steven Graves)

“Gavin McKenna will help Team Canada more than predicted.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“The surprise is that Sweden loses in the quarterfinals, failing to make the semifinals for the first time since 2015 (when they had a disastrous 8th place finish). This also would end their run of five straight medals. This is made possible by a round robin loss to the Czechs, setting up a date with either the US or Finland in the quarterfinals. I'm just not confident in Sweden's depth and goaltending, in addition to the fact that they don't have a true game breaker in the lineup up front.” (Brock Otten)

“Finland's goaltending will be better than most people expect, and it will make them a very hard out in the semifinals but then carry them to a bronze medal.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Kazakhstan doesn't score more than one goal all tournament. With the sheer power level of Group B, Kazakhstan can't break through for more than a single goal. However, that goal will come against Canada. Because, well, of course it will.” (Felix Robbins)

“I think the surprise of the tournament for many people is going to be Cole Hutson. With the Hutson name sort of comes the expectation of high-octane offense, and I think that certainly could be there, but I think this tournament could really help show the progress he's made in making his game more well-rounded. I've found him to be inconsistent at times but in what is likely to be a big role for the Americans, Hutson could really surprise some people if he strings together a bunch of quality games where he plays strong two-way hockey.” (Ethan Hetu)

“I think Jett Luchanko ends up being the top forward for Canada in the tournament. I think his skating and compete level will shine in this short tournament.” (Jamison Derksen)

“Czechia - They're my dark horse for a medal this year. They clinched silver at the last Hlinka Gretzky Cup and are bringing many players from that squad to the U18s. The offense looks particularly strong with top players like Adam Benák, Max Curran, and Ondřej Kos. Moreover, Czechia boasts decent secondary scoring, which is crucial when competing with top nations. If Czechia performs well, expected leaders Adam Jecho and Tomáš Galvas could elevate their stock and contend for the first round.” (Matej Deraj)

WHICH DRAFT PROSPECT WILL RAISE HIS STOCK THE MOST?

Leo Sahlin Wallenius
Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN

“Leo Sahlin Wallenius, when people see his combination of skating prowess and offensive efficiency against the best of his peers - they’re going to realize that he has the tools to be a top-4 option in the NHL one day.” (Steven Graves)

“Cole Eiserman will have a terrific tournament, helping his lately falling draft stock to rise.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“Jett Luchanko - I just see him featuring big for Canada as one of the team's natural centers. His speed will play really well on the bigger ice and I think they slot him between guys like Ritchie, Greentree, Martone, etc. He's going to prove that he is one of the draft's elite playmaking pivots.” (Brock Otten)

“Marek Vanacker's stock has been rising steadily throughout this season, but this will be his best opportunity yet to showcase his abilities, and his game will reach an entirely new level now that he finally has elite talent to work alongside.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Alfons Freij. I've been hyping him up all year long, and I think that he's got the perfect opportunity to prove that he deserves FIRM 1st round consideration. Maybe even assert himself as one of the top D in the draft class.” (Felix Robbins)

“I think Emil Hemming has a chance to raise his stock the most. It's an interesting thing with guys who play professionally earlier than their peers, I think many of them get tagged with being "high floor, but lower ceiling" as a result of the fact that they're often operating in limited roles with their pro teams. Hemming is an example of a player who has had question marks related to his upside due to his league play with TPS. If he has an excellent tournament against his peers he can really firmly cement himself as a first-round prospect.” (Ethan Hetu)

“I think Henry Mews has an awesome opportunity to revitalize his draft stock this tournament. It’s pretty easy to see him establishing himself as the #1 D on Canada’s blueline and having a huge tournament.” (Jamison Derksen)

“Tomáš Galvas - I feel like he needs to perform at a bigger stage to truly showcase his talent. Galvas had a strong year with Liberec in Czechia top tier league, however, he's still a bit in Adam Jiříček's shadow and doesn't get the recognition he deserves, in my opinion. He's a brilliant skater, a smart two-way defenseman who loves to join the rush and make plays with the puck. Due to Jiříček's absence, he should be the key defenseman for Czechia and show he belongs to the first two rounds of the upcoming NHL Draft.” (Matej Deraj)

WHICH DRAFT PROSPECT ARE YOU MOST INTRIGUED TO SEE PERFORM?

“Darels Uljanskis - I want to see just how good he is in a best on best tournament with his peers. He is the most promising talent among the 2006 born players out of Latvia, so I want to really see how his two-way game holds up playing lots of minutes for Latvia. This could be a big tournament for him, as this will be the place where the most eyes will be on him.” (Steven Graves)

“Definitely Kiviharju, who missed a good amount of time this season.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“Aron Kiviharju - Once hyped, now a bit of an afterthought because of injuries this year. What will we see from him now that he's (assumingly) healthy? Finland is going to need him at the top of their game because they are top heavy this year and will be playing the crap out of their big guns. Has his development truly plateaued?” (Brock Otten)

“Emil Hemming. He was a force of nature early in the season at the U20 level in Finland, but then his game cooled off a lot once he got called up to the Liiga. This tournament will be a fresh opportunity for him, and he has the potential to be one of the best players there and one of the top point producers.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Lucas Pettersson, since I haven't been too sure of what to make of him as of late. He's fallen out of my first round due to others in the region outperforming him, but I think being surrounded by very talented teammates is going to give him the chance to play a more elevated game and showcase the dominant offensive ability he's flashed throughout the J20 season. I feel like we'll get to know who Lucas Pettersson really is, once and for all.” (Felix Robbins)

“I'm most intrigued to see Aron Kiviharju here. It's a bit of an obvious answer, but the reality is he was once viewed as a high-end prospect but has had injuries completely derail his progress.This is his chance to really make his mark before the draft.” (Ethan Hetu)

“I think it will be pretty nice to see Liam Greentree with some better linemates after the season in Windsor. It’ll also be interesting to see how his skating looks on the bigger ice.” (Jamison Derksen)

“Konsta Helenius - After a massive year in Finnish Liiga, Helenius is ready to represent his country at the home tournament. As the anticipated leader of Finland's offense, all eyes will be on Helenius to see how he performs and elevates his stock. A successful tournament could put him in the top five conversation for the upcoming draft. He's an extremely smart, well-rounded player who projects as a future top centre. It'll be interesting to watch him play against his peers again after a successful season in the Finnish top tier league.” (Matej Deraj)

WHICH 2025 PROSPECT MAKES HIS MARK?

“Logan Hensler - Hensler is a name you’re going to start to hear more and more as the 2025 draft comes around. I think he is the best defender in the 2006 class of Americans, and I think he’s just scratching the surface on what he could be. He is going to impress with his skating and his two-way play the entire tournamen. Hensler will solidify himself as a top-5 player going into the 2025 draft. He has all the tools to be a top-2 NHL defender, and I think he’ll showcase why at the tournament.” (Steven Graves)

“James Hagens will prove himself to be the best available player for the 2025 NHL draft.” (Jeremy Tremblay)

“Matt Schaefer - This is such a tough question because of how many outstanding late born 2006's there are at this tournament like Hagens, Hensler, Martone, McQueen, etc. However, I think Schaefer is a guy people are underrating because his offensive production in Erie this year was pretty pedestrian compared to some of the other top young defenders out of the CHL in recent years. Yet, he proved at the U17's that he was one of the best defenders in this age group and I think he's up for the challenge here, to show that he's a candidate to be the best 2007 born defender.” (Brock Otten)

“James Hagens will have a tremendous tournament, leading the United States in scoring and cementing himself as the undisputed frontrunner to get picked 1st overall in the 2025 draft.” (Derek Neumeier)

“Viggo Nordlund. Undersized, shifty, dynamic playmaker from Skelleftea who absolutely took over the J20 Playoffs this season, scoring nearly 3 points per game. Like Victor Eklund at the Hlinka Gretzky, Nordlund is going to bulldog his way to the spotlight and show off that offensive toolkit as well.” (Felix Robbins)

“James Hagens - The obvious choice, but he's going to play a leading role on a really strong Team USA and is surrounded by exceptional offensive players. He's a dynamic creator and I think this tournament will mark the beginning of his hype cycle as teams that don't win the Macklin Celebrini lottery shift their focus towards him.” (Ethan Hetu)

“Definitely Luka Radivojevic, he will be leaned on heavily on the back end for Slovakia. I don’t expect Slovakia to have a great tournament but Radivojevic will be the one to watch in those Slovakia games.” (Jamison Derksen)

2024 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: GROUP B – Team Previews – Players to Watch

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:40:39 +0000

Alfons Frej.
Photo: Jesper Zerman / BILDBYRÅN /

On April 25th, the IIHF Under 18 World Championships will commence with Team USA looking to defend last spring’s gold medal victory over Sweden, which itself had an extremely impressive tournament in gaining silver. For Group B action at this spring’s event, spectators and tournament followers alike can expect some fierce competition and any number of combinations in the standings, as each of Canada, Czechia, and Sweden enter tourney action with their sights rightfully set on first place. Should they finish 1st through 3rd, chances are that they’ll avoid facing off against the returning world champions in the quarterfinals, a goal each will take seriously. At the other end of the spectrum, Team Switzerland will be absolutely focused on what should be their decisive preliminary round match against newbie Kazakhstan on the 26th, 24 hours after facing off against the Czechs. For the Kazakhs, that game will mark their first appearance in the elite pool since 2003. Rest assured that both clubs are well aware that relegation is once again part of the fun again.

Sweden

The reigning silver medalists are heading to Finland with a line-up worthy of a medal favorite status, even if not heavy on 1st round draft options. Amazingly, not a single player was part of last spring’s valiant silver medal effort yet features six players who got into SHL action this winter, one center who is currently taking a regular shift in the Hockey Allsvenskan finals, and in general, an entire squad that spent the vast bulk of the season playing in the nation’s top U20 circuit, many of whom were dominant offensive contributors. Throw in a couple of goalies who saw plenty of playing time this winter and you’ve got a fairly well-oiled squad that will get a load of attention from the scouting community. The group is for sure a toughie, but it’s hard to imagine the Swedes finishing anything less than 3rd in group play and if that means Finland in the quarterfinals, the Tre Kronor will be more than keen on having the opportunity to knock off their archrival in their home venue.

Top Players to Watch

Victor Eklund (F)

As impressive as the emergence of teammate and 2024 draft-eligible Linus Eriksson has been this season, Eklund is authoring a story that may end up being all that much better when all is said and done. A statistical playmaker by trade, the 6’1” lanky winger has been making sweet offensive music over the past weeks of playoffs for Djurgarden’s men's team, putting up 6 points and a +3 rating in 14 games. Incredibly strong on the puck and capable of turning on a dime, Eklund looks a bit like a taller, skinnier version of his brother William, a recent 1st rounder who just concluded a 45-point rookie season in the NHL. Although this will be Eklund’s final go-around at the U18 Worlds, he’s first eligible for the 2025 draft and all signs are that he too will jostle for a position among next summer’s top 10 draftees like his brother before him. First, he’ll want to put a nice exclamation mark on this season’s achievements with some solid production for what has to be seen as a medal contender. He could very well end up in the team’s top 6.

Linus Eriksson (F)

After chipping in 21 points and a +15 in 25 U20 league games for the ambitious Djurgarden organization, Eriksson was called up to the pro team and hasn’t looked back. Currently mired in the Hockey Allsvenskan championship series against Brynäs, Eriksson has shown no sign of being a junior player, handling all the rough stuff while continuing to score goals and make plays. In total, he’s collected 7 goals and 15 points in 40 pro games this season, often lining up with Djurgarden star Linus Klassen. As could be expected, his star has risen in draft rankings as well and this tournament should serve as one in which he solidifies whether he’s a 1st or 2nd round talent in the upcoming draft. Eriksson likes to drive the puck to the goal and has no qualms shooting rather than passing, which should be an admirable trait for the Swedes.

Alfons Freij (D)

Very smooth on his feet and possessing some often silky mitts, Freij has been a delight to watch all season as he brings all sorts of thrills to the table and can often be seen conducting his signature stick twirl in one hand when he scores. At 6’1”, 198 pounds, he has wonderful size, but is still very mobile and makes good use of his long stick. The author of 16 goals over 45 total U20 league games, Freij was already a PPG player at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer and will be counted on to be a top 2 defenseman at this tournament, hopefully keeping up the offensive production while at it. We won’t hold back in saying that he does have his detractors in the scouting community, so what he does at this tournament will likely decide if he’s a first round pick in June - or not.

Herman Liv (G)

Liv was a minute-muncher all season long for Örebro’s U20 outfit, ultimately standing in goal for well over 2000 minutes in that league’s regular season alone. All in all, he went 20-16 with a 2.82 GAA and then topped that off with a 6-2 record and 2.09 GAA in the playoffs. Already the nation’s starter last summer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he went 3-0 with a miniscule 1.60 GAA, he should be the man in net for the team this spring, which will make this team an emotional one for fans across the country as Liv’s father Stefan was a legendary Swedish goaltender who tragically passed away in the 2011 plane crash carrying nearly the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL team. Only 6-foot tall and weighing just 170 pounds, his presence in goal is reminiscent of Sweden’s most recent gold medal-winning goaltender Hugo Hävelid in more ways than one. Liv could easily end up being one of the top three goalies at this tournament.

Lucas Pettersson (F)

A regular offensive contributor at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer (4 points in as many games) and the WJAC-19 (8 points in 6 games), we currently see Pettersson as a likely high second round draft pick in this summer’s draft. One of a half dozen players on the team to get into SHL action this year (5 games), his 57 points and +27 in 44 U20 league games had him firmly implanted as one of the circuit’s most dominating offensive players, having played fewer games than the majority of his company in the upper echelon of the league. Here in Finland, we’ll be looking for him to be one of the offensive motors in the top six and although it would be unfair to expect him to produce like Otto Stenberg did last season, it is a role this Swedish team is going to need Pettersson to try to fill for this spring’s edition.

Leo Sahlin Wallenius (D)

Thought to be a bit of a stiff player by some, Wallenius is ultimately a very mobile defenseman who only measures in at 6-foot, 180-pounds. However, he plays like a defenseman who is four inches taller and there’s a lot of stretch to his stick and willingness to lean into opposition players. Moreover, there’s some sly offensive ability here as he enjoys walking the blueline every bit as much as he happily jumps up into the play to replace a forward or serve as the 4th man on the rush. After putting up five points in four Hlinka Gretzky Cup games and 19 through 19 games played with the U18 squad throughout the season, he also had 45 points and a +21 through 48 U20 league games, tying him for the league scoring lead among defensemen. Coming from the same Växjö program, he and Freij already build an experienced pairing with chemistry. This tournament could be decisive in pointing which of the two is actually the more impactful player.

Canada

Same procedure as every year for a Team Canada that is heading to this tournament chock full of players the scouts have been watching all winter long with other options having just come available as teams get knocked off in the CHL playoffs. With little time to gel being afforded to what is a bit of an all-star team among players not still active with their junior clubs, coach Gardiner MacDougall will have some interesting weapons to go with, several of the underage variety, including returnee Porter Martone. For the Canadians, the big battles against the Czechs and Swedes, which will come right in games 1 and 2, will be key for jockeying for the top spot in the group as well as getting the team ready for playoff competition. Having defeated Finland 5-1 in an initial test game, it’s hard to imagine this team won’t make the semifinals and thus, play for a medal. The team’s impressive overall construction and 3 lines of scorers places the gold medal very much in reach as long as the blueline group and goaltending can hold up their end of the bargain.

Top Players to Watch

Liam Greentree (F)

You don’t often see 90-point CHL scorers at this tournament, but thanks to Greentree and Gavin McKenna, Canada will be throwing two of them on the ice. Perhaps even together. For the burly, well-built winger who is widely considered a strong top 20 candidate for the upcoming NHL draft, this tournament will be about showing the scouting community that he’s ready to lead a team towards the promised land in a tournament where a player of his quality simply has to step up to the plate. He won’t be alone in this endeavor by any means, but he should be a part of the top six and an installation on the powerplay. We’re also thinking he’s going to need to drive the nets hard and be in on his share of the garbage goals around the goalmouth. On the personal front, his performance at this tourney may just mean the difference between being selected in the first rather than the second half of the first round.

Tij Iginla (F)

Expected to be a late addition to the team, Canada should be adding a player in Iginla who has all the makings of being the tournament’s top goal getter, if not its top scorer. Coming off a 47-goal season in the WHL, one in which he added another 9 goals and 15 points in 11 playoff games, Iginla may be the hottest player coming into the event. Son of NHL legend Jarome, Iginla has steadily made his way up the draft rankings all winter long, having raised eyebrows right off the bat with 13 goals in his first 12 games and 15 in the first 20. Possessing a heavy shot, plenty of moves, meticulous passing skills, and the ability to use his edges in a manner that perhaps his own father couldn’t even do, he’s going to be the type of player you can’t stop, but only hope to contain. A dominating performance in Finland would surely fortify him as a top 10 pick in the upcoming draft.

Porter Martone (F)

A 6’3” winger first eligible for the 2025 NHL draft, Martone is entering this tournament as a returnee who just spent this winter putting up 33 goals, 71 points, and a +25 in the OHL, chipping in another 6 points in 5 playoff games. We already saw at last spring’s U18 Worlds that Marone is a big fan of the bigger ice surface, where he can go on a deking tear while gaining speed or swerving through the masses. There’s a ton of skill here, but also a lot of the ideal prerequisites for a power forward and Martone always brings that “joker” quality to the table, as he can slice open a game at any given time. Doing so on an even more consistent basis could be just what Canada will need if the gold medal is to be obtained.

Maxime Masse (F)

At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, Masse informed the hockey world that he was in for a big winter by knocking in 5 goals in his first 4 games. With just one goal in his first 9 games with Chicoutimi of the QMJHL, it looked like he might not be able to live up to the expectations he had set, but his 35 goals over the next 58 games told an entirely different story. By the time the regular season concluded, he had amassed 75 points in 67 games and went on to add another 6 in 8 playoff games, the last of which being a goal just 8 days before tourney begin. Expect to see Masse placed next to a couple of like-minded offensive players and then we should see some fireworks. Like Iginla, Masse has the potential to be the tournament’s top goal scorer.

Gavin McKenna (F)

It’s already quite the claim to fame to say you’re Connor Bedard’s cousin (admittedly, by marriage), but McKenna may be the most marquee name of this tournament whatsoever coming off a 97-point regular season for the Medicine Hat Tigers, having done so entirely as a 16-year-old. That age bears taking to heart because McKenna is on track to the be the #1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, which is still a long ways away. A sniper and deker with off-the-charts offensive instincts, McKenna is already 6-foot tall and handles the puck as if there’s a magnet on his stick. Just seeing him here will be a treat for hockey fans across the world and there’s really no reason he can’t end up being the most impactful player at the tournament.

Henry Mews (D)

His seven points in five Hlinka Gretzky Cup games last summer told us that the righty shot defender was in for a big draft year season. He did not disappoint! When the dust settled on his OHL season with the Ottawa 67’s, Mews had put up 15 goals, 61 points, and a +16 with a healthy dose of penalty minutes sprinkled in over 65 games. Another 5 points were chipped in over 10 playoff games, which - truth be told - was a bit quiet for the defender with the heavy and accurate blueline shot, especially when one sees that those points were spread out over only 2 of ten games. He, if not Spencer Gill, will now have a chance to be the ne plus ultra on the powerplay for Canada and can be realistically viewed as one of the top 5 defensemen heading in the tournament.

Marek Vanacker (F)

Of decent, but below average height and weight, the 6-foot forward managed to pull off one of the biggest OHL point jumps you’re ever going to see, going from 16 points in his rookie season to 82 in his draft year. Despite playing for a team that missed the playoffs, he also managed to collect a +7. Not shabby! Knowing how to get feisty at times, Vanacker has thrown a bit of a wrench into the plans of prospect rankers leaving some to think he may be worthy of a late 1st round pick. All the more important for this top 6 forward to put an exclamation point on his fantastic regular season with a big U18 Worlds showing. But will he get the kind of situational ice time to do so? The competition within the team will be fierce, especially from the likes of Jett Luchanko, Cole Beaudoin, and underager Malcolm Spence, all of whom could just as easily been mentioned here.

Czechia

Outside of Canada, not a team at this tournament can feature this many players currently playing for a CHL junior club. There are another half dozen players on the team who spent their winters in Sweden or Finland. Those who do play domestically have put up dominating junior numbers and spent this season gaining pro experience as well, save for a few exceptions. That means that the combination of experience and talent is one that should have the Czechs right in the thick of things with regards to medaling. The team has a few big boys, but plenty of undersized players as well. The program is hoping that the CHL experience might pay off best against Team Canada, a rivalry that has grown considerably at no less than the U20 level in recent years. One way or another, the Czechs will be gunning for a top 2 spot in the group and it’s hard to imagine anything less than a 3rd place finish. We can guarantee that no-one is looking forward to facing the Czechs in the quarterfinals after their final’s appearance at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

Top Players to Watch

Adam Benak (F)

He’s as small as it gets but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more dynamic player and generator of offense in this tournament. Slick, crafty, and creative, Benak enters opposition zones looking to slice them apart and then use a variety of pathways to the goal. Primarily a playmaker, Benak understandably dominated U18 play in the Czech Republic while scoring at a PPG pace in the nation’s U20 circuit. He also got into 18 games in the country’s top league, ending the season having suited up for 60 games over several layers of the Plzen organization. This came off the tails of a 10-point outing in 5 Hlinka Gretzky Cup games last summer, which topped the tournament. Look for Benak to be no less than an absolute fixture on the top power play unit at this tournament as he continues to lay the tracks for “the little engine that could” rubric of the ever evolving 2025 draft rankings picture.

Max Curran (C)

One of the younger players available for the upcoming draft, Curran is an enticing 6’3”, 190-pound playmaking center hailing from the Slavia Praha program in Prague. A top import selection of the Tri-City Americans of the WHL, it’s safe to say that his initial season in North America wasn’t exactly what the doctor ordered for the American-based WHL participant, but in light of the team’s overall dearth of offensive production, his 32 points in 40 games had him on pace to finish among the top 4 team scorers, several of which are already drafted. Moreover, he’ll need to be a key contributor for this Czech team, bringing valuable international experience to the table in a group featuring a highly anticipated Team Canada. With his draft stock having dropped a wee bit, we’re betting on Curran delivering a notable performance over the next 12 days.

Jakub Fibigr (D)

Part of a huge wave of Czech players drafted by CHL clubs in last summer’s import draft, Fibigr may be the one player of that group who actually exceeded expectations. Ultimately, he put up 43 points in 61 OHL contests and little of what he had done before had indicated that he’d have such production in him. As such, his stock continued to rise all winter long. A first round playoff loss for his Mississauga team still saw him chip in 4 assists in 5 games. He’ll now man the left side of one of Czechia’s top two defensive pairings and will be bringing a whole lot of experience to the ho-down in Finland as the Czechs should feature one of the better defensive units.

Tomas Galvas (D)

Measuring in at solely 5’10” and 150 pounds, it may seem astounding that Galvas has gained top 3-round consideration for the upcoming draft, but the slick skating defenseman with dominating edgework has presented himself to be a cerebral player whose size doesn’t curtail his effectiveness. He’s already spent most the year playing pro hockey in the Czech Republic’s top pro league, where he unfortunately gained perhaps the most notoriety by getting decked with an open-ice check to the head. Still, despite missing time and only seeing roughly 10 minutes of ice time per game throughout the season, Galvas played with the poise of a veteran in gaining 7 points and a +8 while collecting 19 points in 23 U20-league games. His WJC performance was every bit as impressive, gaining an average of roughly 15 minutes of ice time per game for a very successful Czech club. There’s really no reason Galvas can’t be a difference-maker at this tournament as the heavy play of the favorites shouldn’t phase him in light of his experience.

Adam Jecho (F)

A veteran of three Hlinka Gretzky Cups, the 6’5” Jecho has had a strong winter putting up 47 points in 54 games for a disappointing Edmonton Oil Kings team in what was his first season in North America. He’ll be heading to Finland as one of the tournament’s heaviest players and can serve as a coast-to-coast winger for the team, hopefully adding a strong goalmouth presence when he’s not manning the power play from the faceoff circles. He’s got a lot to work with on this team and is quite familiar with a number of his teammates, so there may be more space and better feeds than what he was experiencing in the WHL this winter. A top tourney could lead to a first round selection this June.

Oskar Lisler (F)

At 6’1”, 196 pounds, Lisler is one of the more solidly built players on a team filled with smaller participants. In addition, he’s one of only two of the team’s players to spend the bulk of the season playing in the Swedish U20 league. Much like more ballyhooed teammates in North America such as Adam Titlbach and Jiri Klima, he hasn’t separated himself from the competition in a scoring capacity (10 goals, 17 points in 35 games), but he’s been on fire for the national team since the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and is clearly a go-to player in all situations for this coaching staff. We’re viewing Lisler as being one of the players who wouldn’t be drafted if the draft were today but will worm his way into a late round pick with an inspired performance in Finland.

Radim Mrtka (D)

We’ve often looked at the size of Czech and Slovak defenders developed in the course of time and wondered what the heck is in the water in Central Europe. Now enters Mrtka who, at age 16, already measures in at 6’4”, 183 pounds. It’s just not normal! And that any possible awkwardness in his skating may have as much to do with his age and the effects of puberty as anything else, Mrtka spent this winter showing himself to be an absolute shutdown machine who can contribute in the offensive zone (30 total points and +22 over 47 total games) at both the U20 and U17 levels in the Czech Republic. His Trinec program even entrusted him to suit up three times with the pro team. Start taking notes on him now because he’s in line to be a top prospect for the 2025 draft.

Petr Sikora (F)

One of the more prized Czech forwards for the upcoming draft, Sikora has been part of the Czech program for several years now and was already a chief contributor at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer. He’s coming off an outstanding season in the Czech Republic where the average-sized playmaker had 47 points and a +34 in 34 games. He also got into 22 games in the nation’s top pro league, where he’s expected to take on a bigger role next season. He’ll be expected to start all that “bigger role” stuff right here at the U18 Worlds as a top 6 forward with powerplay time.

Switzerland

A 3rd place finish and quarterfinal loss last spring was understood as getting the expected result for a Swiss team that should be heading into this tournament thinking almost solely about maintaining the class more. Unfortunately for Switzerland, it best compares with participants Latvia, Norway, and Slovakia, all of which are nations that will be conducting their preliminary round against each other in Group A. Instead, Switzerland will have to hope for a victory against a very unknown Team Kazakhstan in their most vital preliminary round task. That would likely see them avoid the relegation round and wrap up a playoff spot right off the bat. Even in the case of a victory, it’s hard to imagine the boys around captain Leon Muggli will be able to muster much should they face the US or Finland in the quarterfinals, having lost to the latter in a recent test game 7-0. Nonetheless, the Swiss will approach every game knowing the score is 0-0 to kick things off.

Top Players to Watch

Robin Nico Antenen (F)

At 6’2”, 187 pounds, Antenen provides ideal size while displaying a penchant for the fancy play here or there. Despite garnering international interest, Antenen stuck to his guns at home this winter and promptly became one of the top 17-year-olds in the country’s U20 league, chipping in 47 points in 55 total games. His play was so impressive that he got into 6 games of NL action in the course of the season. In Finland, you can expect the winger to ride shotgun with playmaker Jamiro Reber while creating space on the ice with his big frame and slick skating.

Christian Kirsch (G)

The future UMASS goaltender was already quite an interesting case at last year’s tournament thanks to his future plans and his 6’4” netfront presence as a 16-year-old. He ended up getting heavily hit in two outings but parlayed that experience into dominating play at Switzerland’s U20 level this season, going 22-5-1 in the regular season and then in winning the league championship with a 7-3-1 playoff record. His 2.32 GAA in the regular season was followed by a 2.17 GAA in the postseason. Large, rangy, and yet still quite athletic, we’d say the #1 job is his to run with if the program weren’t so high on the similarly sized Phileas Lachat. The NCAA crowd will nonetheless be excited to see what he can do here before he likely ventures over to the USHL in preparation for his 25-26 debut in college hockey.

Leon Muggli (D)

The heart-n-soul of this Swiss entry, Muggli will be the man with the “C” on his chest and is in line to rack up gobs of ice time. Whenever a situation is deemed to be critical, which should be often in this tough Group B play, you can expect to see Muggli on the ice. He’d probably just play all 60 minutes if you could fit an oxygen tank under his equipment. A tough-as-nails warrior who may be as valuable to the Swiss effort without the puck as he is with it, Muggli already has a U18 Worlds, Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and WJC under his belt. He’s also coming off a full season of NL play that even saw him suit up for 11 playoff games (2 points and a +4). He’s rightly the highest ranked Swissman for this summer’s draft and the reasons why should become quite apparent to all in attendance at this tournament.

Yannik Ponzetto (F)

Ponzetto is a gritty and active-in-the-corners type of player who was all over the ice at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer, often finding himself in the middle of top opportunities and collecting 3 points along the way. Not long thereafter, he found himself in the QMJHL and although his 14 points in 68 games for three different teams don’t scream “resounding success”, he’ll be bringing crucial international experience to the table and will serve as one of the key players for this Swiss team, especially when the going gets rough. There’s more to the package here and we suspect he’ll be very involved in anything promising the Swiss manage to put together.

Jamiro Reber (F)

We saw Reber flashing his goods at last summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Not the biggest player, he’s definitely got some jazz and above-average offensive instincts paired with some slick edges in tight corners. Despite only being one of the youngest players eligible for this summer’s draft, Reber put up a very impressive 41 points in 48 U20 league games for HV71 before leading the U18 team with 9 points in 5 playoff games. There’s some real jam in his game and he already represented Switzerland at the WJC this winter, so he’s coming in with some great tournament experience and chemistry with players such as Muggle, Antenen, and Daniil Ustinkov. Expect him to be a cog on the power play and a go-to first line player throughout the tournament.

Daniil Ustinkov (D)

After a full season of pro play (10 assists and a +13) and a WJC performance with a fairly regular shift, Ustinkov is clearly a key component of this Swiss outfit, what with his prior experience at this tournament and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer also factoring in. A shifty skater who can create a head of steam, Ustinkov should be in line for a whole lot of ice time, especially in key moments of the game. Adept at playing a physical game, his value should increase in bouts with group opponents Canada and Sweden. In the past, Ustinkov was a fixture on the powerplay and that shouldn’t change here. Being his draft year, this will be the last opportunity for Ustinkov to accentuate how NHL teams should view him as June approaches.

Kazakhstan

It’s been a long time coming for a hockey nation that has spent many years mired in the D1A and D1B echelons of the IIHF, 21 to be exact. We’ve seen the men’s team at the top level on a number of occasions and even the U20 squad has snuck into the WJC a couple of times, but the U18 level is one that has struggled to get ahead of its peers. As such, the promotion last spring was a monumental success and was achieved despite the fact that the Kazakhs lost to heavy favorite Denmark by a score of 8-3 along the way. Ouch! But the producer of former NHLer Nikolai Antropov enters tourney play knowing it's the heavy underdog but that an upstart win over Switzerland could mean all the difference in the world to retaining the class. Other than that, the program will be finding out just what it’s actually capable of, considering the team is sending 12 players from its own U20 league into the running, with the majority of the rest playing in Russian junior circuits, including 4 in the MHL.

Top Players to Watch

Semyon Cherkasov (F)

After three years as part of the Spartak Moscow program, Cherkasov returned home to suit up for MHK Astana to play in the Jastar, the nation’s own 12-team U20 league. There he was the league’s dominant scorer with 36-33-69 in 52 total games. Strong to the net despite his 5’9”, 154-pound body, Cherkasov has the makings of a playmaker but showed a keen sense of goalscoring from all sorts of angles. If he doesn’t produce in Finland, the D1A will once again be beckoning next spring.

Artur Glukhikh (F)

Still just 16, the 6’1”, 176-pound Glukhikh will be the player scouts will be most interested in seeing from Kazakhstan. He too played in the Jastar, being the driving force for Kamenogorsk with 30 goals and 52 points in 52 games and is expected to be one of the few players on the team who can provide offensive flair, especially in the department of goal-scoring. Like with most everyone on the team, this will be his first international appearance for his nation.

Asanali Sarkenov (F)

On a team full of smaller skaters, the 6’4”, 200-pound Sarkenov will not be hard to miss. A player not foreign to the penalty box, Sarkenov clipped at about a PPG pace in the Jastar but spent the great majority of the season playing in Russia’s MHL, where he had 8 points and 53 penalty minutes over 42 games. We’re anticipating that he’s going to let the beast out at this tournament, hoping to gain notice of the many scouts in attendance.

Mstislav Shipilin (D)

Still eligible for this tournament by a single day, Shipilin is the one player on the team who was also a member of Kazakhstan’s D1A U20 team and just concluded an entire season of MHL play as a 17-year-old. Just average in size, he does have a decent all-round package and will be expected to do a lot of the heavy lifting in Finland. Like his teammates, he’s lacking international experience, even if that D1A U20 Worlds gave him more than most.

Abylaikhan Toleubai (G)

Although 6’1”, Toleubai is a lightweight goaltender who will be experiencing his first international tournament for Kazakhstan. He’s coming off a season in the domestic Jastar league where he went 21-6 with a 2.10 GAA. Those numbers faltered a bit in the playoffs, where he lost the starting job on the way to the league championship. Together with tiny tot Danil Lytkin, he’ll have to be a magic man anytime he may stand in goal if his country is to stave off elimination. That he’s an open book heading in may be just the advantage he needs.

2024 NHL DRAFT: SCOUTING REPORT (VIDEO + GRADES) – Adam Jecho, C, Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL

Derek Neumeier — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 19:50:06 +0000

Adam Jecho.

Adam Jecho

2024 NHL Draft Eligible

Position: C, Shoots: R

H/W: 6’5”, 201lbs

Date of Birth: 2006-03-24

Adam Jecho is the type of prospect who can be equal parts exciting and frustrating to scout. He will show occasional flashes of tantalizing potential, looking like the type of player who could become a dominant force in the NHL one day, but he almost always follows them up with long stretches where he is bizarrely ineffective or missing in action altogether. Trying to calculate the draft value of a prospect like this requires a carefully nuanced approach, because both the risk and the reward are enormous.

The Czech import is blessed with a massive frame and more skill than guys his size usually possess. He can be an explosive skater at times, needing only a few pushes with his long strides to cover a lot of distance, and he can sometimes be hard to strip the puck from once his feet get churning and he puts a defender on his back. He's also no slouch as a shooter, with sharp goal-scoring instincts and the ability to bury his clean looks.

One might ask, then, why Jecho's scoring totals this season aren't higher than they currently are. And that's an important question, because it's a sign that something (or multiple somethings) isn't quite clicking for him. Part of the problem is certainly his situation, as the young and rebuilding Oil Kings are one of the worst teams in the entire Canadian Hockey League, and this is still his first year playing hockey in North America. That's an especially tough adjustment. However, there are separate and specific elements of his game that need to be improved, which will be discussed throughout this article.

The good news for Jecho is that the issues holding him back right now seem generally fixable, if given sufficient recognition and attention, while his current strengths aren't the type of traits that will erode or rust during the development process. He has a legitimate shot at becoming an effective and rare piece of an NHL roster puzzle, if things shake out just right for him moving forward.

Skating:

Jecho is neither a burner nor a dancer, but nevertheless still moves around the ice quite well. He generates power through his lower body and has long, fluid skating strides. He's at his best building up a head of steam in a straight line, though he also possesses the balance and edge work necessary to be adaptive with his movements. Like a lot of other big guys with athletic mobility, he has the luxury of being able to get where he needs to go while expending less energy than his smaller peers. What his skating may lack in flashiness it makes up for with basic effectiveness.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1-Jecho-rush-wrap-assist.mp4

Here’s a great rush from Jecho. He builds up a nice amount of speed to exit the zone with and then takes off once he gets the puck. He reaches the offensive zone with so much momentum that it backs up the opposing defenders, which provides him plenty of room to wrap all the way around the net.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2-Jecho-skate-to-stick-wrap-goal.mp4

Another wrap-around play here where he is able to beat the defender wide. The real beauty, though, is the balance and footwork he displays to receive the puck from behind with his back skate and then immediately pass it up to his stick.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3-Jecho-burst-forecheck-goal.mp4

This is a great example of how Jecho can be explosive at times and how he can catch opponents off guard with how quickly he attacks. Impressive stuff, too, with how he corrals the loose puck, shifts his weight and then snipes against the grain, all in one motion.

Grade: 55

Shot:

A player's goal-scoring totals alone sometimes don't paint an accurate picture of his actual shooting ability, and Jecho fits into this category. He owns a hard, heavy shot that comes off his stick quickly, both when he comes in bearing down with the puck or when he's trying to convert a puck that comes to him, whether that's off of a pass or a rebound or a bounce. The Oil Kings really struggle offensively as a team, and on the powerplay they usually utilize Jecho around the net front where he doesn't get many clean shooting looks, so it's fair to wonder if his counting stats would be higher right now if he was playing in a different environment.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4-SHOT-Jecho-2v1-goal.mp4

You can see Jecho sniff out this scoring chance before it becomes clear, which is a great goal-scoring instinct to have. The finish is pretty snazzy too. He’s able to fire almost instantly after the puck lands on his stick, and it’s a laser.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/5-Jecho-NZ-steal-big-snipe.mp4

Here’s another example of Jecho correctly recognizing an opportunity to generate a look at the net. And it sure is one ferocious shot. You can visibly see how much heat he puts on this one.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/6-Jecho-deke-goal.mp4

Nasty bit of stick work from him here, using it to get the goalie to bite and commit to dropping down, before then cleanly sliding the puck around and behind.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/7-Jecho-clear-snipe.mp4

Jecho doesn’t miss many of these kinds of looks. Now, getting this much time and space happens significantly less often in the NHL than it does in the WHL. The speed of his release isn’t a problem overall, but he’ll need to work on making it even faster if he wants to become a regular goal-scorer at the sport’s highest level.

Grade: 55

Skills:

Jecho is certainly not shy about carrying the puck and trying to make plays with it... for better and for worse. There are undeniably times where he can make magic happen, especially when he's blending his puck-handling with his speed while also using his frame to help protect the biscuit. He also displays some very good awareness and tendencies as a playmaker. However, he is painfully prone to bobbling or mishandling the puck at any given moment, leading to a high frequency of turnovers. This is probably the area that he should focus on the most with his individual skill training moving forward, trying to clean up these routine errors through a rigorous adherence to drills.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/8-SKILLS-Jecho-gravity-assist.mp4

Jecho has a great sense of gravity. He knows exactly what he’s doing here, dusting the puck off just long enough to draw the defenders towards him while timing the arrival of his passing target, which he hits perfectly. Heady stuff.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-Jecho-entry-gravity-smart-pass-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

Another impressive clip from him here. Gains the zone on the powerplay, draws penalty killing coverage in towards him using more of that gravity, but then turns and finds his wide open teammate for a pass.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/10-Jecho-look-off-assist.mp4

This is a sublime play, cutting to the middle and flashing some stick language that signals a shot is coming, before instead passing it deftly over to set up a one-timer goal.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/11-Jecho-awful-turnover-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

This is a very rough clip for Jecho. There’s just no excuse to turn the puck over this badly. It seems like a bad passing idea to begin with, but it’s made even worse by the pass being a muffin that goes right into the skates of a Lethbridge player.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/12-Jecho-bad-turnover.mp4

Another glaring example of him mishandling the puck. He has plenty of time and space to make a play, but instead it ends up in an unforced error that causes a change in possession.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/13-Jecho-bad-mishandle-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

Not much to say here other than “yuck.”

Grade: 50

Smarts:

To put it simply, with the tools that Jecho has in his toolbox he should be more impactful than he's been throughout this season, which then leads to questions about his overall hockey sense. When you watch him closely you begin to see instances where he's not processing the play around him quite as quickly or accurately as others on the ice are, and that holds him back. Are these limitations built deep into his hardware, or will they naturally start to fall away as he gains maturity and experience? The good news, though, is that he does have some important habits in place. He'll have a rough idea of what he needs to do most of the time and will usually apply himself, even if the execution isn't quite there. That means that there's potential for improvement in this area, though it's hard to calculate just how much refinement can be made over time.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/14-SMARTS-Jecho-aware-shoulder-checking-1.mp4

Watch Jecho’s head movement throughout this shift. He’s shoulder checking constantly, trying to take stock of where everyone on the ice is around him, which is an important habit to have. This awareness leads to a smart drive to the net for a deflection, though the puck doesn’t actually get sent his way, unfortunately.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/15-Jecho-entry-smart-curl-back-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

Jecho knows that his teammates on the ice need a change, so he takes a clever route to draw them some time, which also manages to bring all five Rebels back into their own defensive zone and then well away from the puck. He sticks with the play, too, and even manages to force a short-lized zone entry.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/16-Jecho-great-backcheck-break-up-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

This play is breaking fast, and Jecho knows that he doesn’t have enough time to sneak in more than a quick look or two behind him. No matter. He already knows that a Hurricanes player is rushing to the back door for a pass, and manages to disrupt the play at exactly the right time, mostly sight unseen.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/17-Jecho-PK-slot-break-up-block.mp4

Jecho isn’t an especially good penalty killer right now, but there are pieces there to work with. That’s an important decision he makes in this clip to position himself in the slot, possibly saving a goal. He also picks a good time to telescope out closer to the point, blocking the shot that comes toward him.

Grade: 55

Physicality/Compete:

This is by far the hardest area of Jecho's to analyze and grade. For a player of his size he is shockingly ineffective with his physical play right now. He doesn't fully understand how to leverage his natural advantages, and often comes out on the wrong side of body contact in ways that shouldn't happen. And while his compete level can be fantastic at times, helping him become a very disruptive force, his engagement wavers from shift to shift and can disappear for long stretches. All that said, these are things that can conceivably be ironed out over time, especially if he can find himself in an environment that is more conducive to his growth.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/18-PHYSICAL-Jecho-great-forecheck-cycle-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

This is a perfect example of how much of a menace Jecho can be on the forecheck. His fingerprints are all over this play, using his hustle to force the opposing players into making rushed decisions, which eventually leads to a scoring chance and gaining possession. He then makes a great spin play on the boards to protect the puck before passing it off to kickstart a brief cycle attempt for his line.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/19-Jecho-big-frame-puck-protect-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

This isn’t a fancy play whatsoever, but it does showcase how much of an advantage his huge frame is. The first defender on him just can’t get around his back on the backcheck, and then the second defender is thwarted by Jecho keeping the puck wide and out of reach.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20-Jecho-backcheck-hit-Made-with-Clipchamp.mp4

Great effort from him here on the backcheck, and it doesn’t look like he has to exert himself too much to knock over the Rebels player. Too bad he ends this play by taking an unnecessary penalty.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/21-Jecho-bumped-off-puck.mp4

This really isn’t much of a hit that Jecho receives, but it’s somehow enough to knock him over and force him to cough up the puck. Luckily, getting stronger on his feet should be something that comes to him over time.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/22-Jecho-knocked-over.mp4

Red Deer forward Jhett Larson is listed on the WHL website at 5-foot-8 and 178 pounds. That’s not the type of player who should be able to knock over someone of Jecho’s size along the boards, yet that’s exactly what happens in this clip.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/23-Jecho-light-bump.mp4

He’s the one initiating contact in this clip, but that’s an awfully soft bump on an opposing player that he had a clean hit lined up for. Making matters worse, the hit failed to be disruptive, allowing Calgary’s Carter Yakemchuk to easily spin off of it and then fire the puck away.

Grade: 55

OFP: 53.75

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scale, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 – Celebrini sits comfortably on top – Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking – Strong defense group defines this draft class

Brock Otten — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:58:41 +0000

It’s time to update and expand our 2024 NHL Draft rankings. Since our preliminary ranking in December, we’ve passed some major events on the scouting calendar, like the World Juniors, CHL Top Prospect’s Game, World Junior A Challenge, and the USA Hockey All American Game.

Macklin Celebrini still sits comfortably at the top of our rankings. Not only has he continued to be a difference maker for Boston University, but he was also a solid contributor at the World Juniors for an underwhelming Canadian team, an impressive feat for a double underager. In our opinion, he is unquestionably the top prospect available this year and is the one player we view as a near surefire high impact player at the NHL level.

One player moving up our ranking inside the top ten is Ivan Demidov. While ice time issues have limited his impact at the KHL level, he has been an absolute monster at the MHL level and in a draft that we feel lacks high end upside, he stands out as a potential difference maker. One player falling inside of our top ten is Cole Eiserman. While the goal scoring ability is unquestionably impressive, we’ve been left wanting more from the rest of his game and feel that his development is showing signs of plateauing.

Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh is another big-time mover and shaker for us as he pushes his way inside the top ten. At this point, his production and offensive upside is too vast to ignore. Yes, there are questions regarding his defensive game. Yes, there are questions about how he fits into an NHL system given Saginaw’s unique modern approach. However, the skill and sense are so high end that we believe the reward outweighs the risk.

Other movers and shakers include Jett Luchanko (40th to 18th), Alfons Freij (32nd to 21st), Harrison Brunicke (HM to 25th), and Dom Badinka (58th to 28th). Luchanko is a speedy, playmaking pivot who brings consistent effort in all three zones. As he bulks up, he should be able to become a more consistent point producer. Freij has been terrific internationally this year for the Swedish U18 team and is starting to remind us of Tom Willander in regard to his steady presence on the ice at both ends. Brunicke is a very mobile, right-handed shot defender with size who remains a work in progress. He flashes high end skill and upside in the defensive end, and we believe that he is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. Dom Badinka has a similar profile to Freij in the sense that he has a very projectable frame and skill set. He has been steadily improving in the SHL this year with Malmo and the Czech blueliner projects as an all situations top four, right shot blueliner.

Overall, 2024 is still holding strong as a quality draft for defenders. In fact, 14 of our first round graded players are defenseman. On the other hand, the strength of this goaltending crop remains to be seen. OHL netminders Carter George and Ryerson Leenders remain our top ranked goalies and the only ones inside of our Top 70. There are others pushing up the list (like NTDP netminder Nick Kempf and WHL re-entry Lukas Matecha), but it’s not looking like the ideal year to use a high pick on a stopper.

In the coming weeks, expect to see a podcast on our new YT channel (here), where Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, Associate Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, and Director of Video Scouting, Josh Bell, debate the midseason list and provide some insight into why certain players are ranked where they are.

RK	Name	POS	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	TP	PIM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06
11	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	48	24	29	53	95	6-3/190	29-Sep-05
12	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	48	35	28	63	25	6-0/185	1-Aug-06
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	46	28	41	69	25	6-2/200	1-Jan-06
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	34	17	31	48	40	6-1/160	28-Feb-06
15	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	26	7	27	34	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
16	Michael Brandsegg Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	32	6	7	13	14	6-1/195	5-Oct-05
17	Adam Jiříček	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2	6-2/175	28-Jun-06
18	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	50	17	37	54	32	5-11/185	21-Aug-06
19	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	22	0	7	7	26	6-2/170	22-Mar-06
20	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	37	21	23	44	35	6-1/190	14-Apr-06
21	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	33	11	15	26	12	6-1/190	12-Feb-06
22	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	35	7	4	11	0	6-1/200	27-Jun-06
23	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	34	13	18	31	16	6-0/175	3-Aug-06
24	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	41	27	18	45	42	6-2/180	17-Mar-06
25	Harrison Brunicke	D	Kamloops (WHL)	46	10	11	21	45	6-3/185	8-May-06
26	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	47	23	44	67	32	6-0/185	8-Nov-05
27	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	46	8	34	42	46	6-0/185	9-Mar-06
28	Dom Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	15	2	10	12	39	6-3/185	27-Nov-05
29	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	46	19	26	45	53	6-2/180	28-Jan-06
30	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	18	10	14	24	8	6-2/190	30-Nov-05
31	E.J. Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	0	10	10	51	6-3/185	30-Mar-06
32	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	34	7	23	30	30	6-0/180	10-Apr-06
33	Dean Letourneau	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	14	14	11	25	6	6-7/210	21-Feb-06
34	Yegor Surin	C	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	37	19	27	46	104	6-1/190	1-Aug-06
35	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	38	15	17	32	18	6-5/200	24-Mar-06
36	Maxim Massé	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	51	26	26	52	16	6-2/190	7-Apr-06
37	Lucas Pettersson	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	36	20	23	43	38	5-11/170	17-Apr-06
38	Charlie Elick	D	Brandon (WHL)	51	4	19	23	47	6-3/200	17-Jan-06
39	Raoul Boilard	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	21	31	52	32	6-2/190	7-Jan-06
40	Matvei Gridin	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	41	20	30	50	28	6-1/185	1-Mar-06
41	Nikita Artamonov	LW	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	48	7	15	22	12	5-11/185	17-Nov-05
42	Jesse Pulkkinen	D	JYP (Fin-U20)	18	11	17	28	47	6-6/215	27-Dec-04
43	Leon Muggli	D	Zug (Sui-NL)	4	0	2	2	4	6-0/165	9-Jul-06
44	Teddy Stiga	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	24	25	49	26	5-10/155	5-Apr-06
45	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	7	1	1	2	0	5-10/165	25-Jan-06
46	Miguel Marques	RW	Lethbridge (WHL)	50	22	37	59	47	5-11/170	8-Mar-06
47	John Mustard	C	Waterloo (USHL)	39	22	18	40	22	6-0/185	16-Aug-06
48	Lukas Fischer	D	Sarnia (OHL)	52	4	22	26	50	6-4/180	6-Sep-06
49	Simon Zether	C	Rogle (Swe J20)	17	11	16	27	25	6-3/185	18-Oct-05
50	Luke Misa	C	Mississauga (OHL)	51	21	46	67	8	5-10/175	25-Nov-05
51	Sebastian Soini	D	Ilves (Fin-U20)	8	0	0	0	8	6-2/195	10-Jun-06
52	Carson Wetsch	RW	Calgary (WHL)	49	19	20	39	53	6-2/185	4-May-06
53	Terik Parascak	RW	Prince George (WHL)	52	31	42	73	37	5-11/180	28-May-06
54	Christian Humphreys	C	USN U18 (USDP)	35	15	25	40	14	5-11/170	4-Feb-06
55	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	11	26	37	44	5-10/160	28-Jun-06
56	Cole Beaudoin	C	Barrie (OHL)	48	23	25	48	23	6-2/200	24-Apr-06
57	Marek Vanacker	LW	Brantford (OHL)	51	27	34	61	41	6-0/165	12-Apr-06
58	Stian Solberg	D	Vålerenga (Nor)	34	3	9	12	12	6-2/200	29-Dec-06
59	Herman Traff	RW	HV71 (Swe J20)	22	11	7	18	69	6-3/195	31-Dec-05
60	Kamil Bednarik	C	USN U18 (USDP)	41	18	25	43	40	6-0/185	26-May-06
61	Tomáš Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	26	2	4	6	6	5-10/150	11-Feb-06
62	Carter George	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	41	3.09	0.914	-	-	6-0/160	20-May-06
63	Ryerson Leenders	G	Mississauga (OHL)	38	3.19	0.909	-	-	6-1/175	1-Jun-06
64	Tanner Howe	LW	Regina (WHL)	52	24	38	62	48	5-11/180	28-Nov-05
65	Colton Roberts	D	Vancouver (WHL)	50	7	17	24	45	6-4/195	8-Jun-06
66	Ben Danford	D	Oshawa (OHL)	51	1	30	31	21	6-0/175	6-Feb-06
67	Eriks Mateiko	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	40	19	19	38	18	6-4/210	18-Nov-05
68	Daniil Ustinkov	D	ZSC (Sui-NL)	18	0	1	1	0	6-0/200	26-Aug-06
69	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	40	2	7	9	12	6-0/175	15-Feb-06
70	Clarke Caswell	C	Swift Current (WHL)	51	16	37	53	14	5-11/170	2-Feb-06
71	Jakub Fibigr	D	Mississauga (OHL)	44	6	20	26	33	6-0/170	22-Jul-06
72	Ondrej Kos	LW	KOOVEE (Fin-Liiga)	14	3	2	5	8	6-1/150	7-Mar-06
73	Sam O'Reilly	RW	London (OHL)	52	15	30	45	24	6-1/175	30-Mar-06
74	Jack Berglund	C	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	37	14	18	32	18	6-3/210	10-Apr-06
75	Linus Eriksson	C	Djurgardens IF (Swe J20)	24	5	16	21	8	6-0/185	23-Mar-06
76	Tarin Smith	D	Everett (WHL)	54	7	30	37	45	6-1/175	24-Mar-06
77	Nick Kempf	G	USN U18 (USDP)	22	3.02	0.901			6-2/190	1-Mar-06
78	Melvin Fernstrom	RW	Örebro HK (Swe J20)	38	26	28	54	26	6-1/185	28-Feb-06
79	Alexander Zetterberg	C	Örebro HK J20	35	19	27	46	10	5-9/160	27-Apr-06
80	Spencer Gill	D	Rimouski (QMJHL)	50	9	23	32	50	6-3/180	17-Aug-06
81	Kevin He	LW	Niagara (OHL)	51	26	18	44	47	5-11/185	30-Apr-06
82	Aatos Koivu	C	TPS (Fin-U20)	23	15	14	29	28	6-0/165	22-Jun-06
83	Will Skahan	D	USN U18 (USDP)	40	2	7	9	63	6-4/210	14-May-06
84	Justin Poirier	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	40	20	60	58	5-8/185	4-Sep-06
85	Maxmilian Curran	C	Tri-City (WHL)	40	5	27	32	25	6-3/190	27-Aug-06
86	Tory Pitner	D	Youngstown (USHL)	33	7	14	21	34	6-1/185	6-Mar-06
87	Lukas Matecha	G	Tri-City (WHL)	29	3.14	0.910			6-3/195	21-Mar-05
88	Brodie Ziemer	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	20	22	42	14	5-10/190	22-Feb-06
89	Niilopekka Muhonen	D	KalPa (Fin U20)	25	4	6	10		6-4/185	28-Feb-06
90	Anthony Romani	D	North Bay (OHL)	51	44	40	84	16	6-0/180	12-Jul-05
91	Julius Miettinen	RW	Everett (WHL)	53	22	24	46	30	6-3/205	20-Jan-06
92	Luca Marrelli	D	Oshawa (OHL)	50	2	38	40	14	6-1/185	4-Oct-05
93	Filip Sitar	C	Malmo (Swe J20)	33	12	31	43	10	5-11/175	29-Jun-05
94	Noel Fransen	D	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	36	17	21	38	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
95	William Zellers	LW	Shattuck St. Marys (USHS-Prep)	43	41	43	84	20	5-10/165	4-Apr-06
96	Gabriel Eliasson	D	HV71 J20	27	0	3	3	81	6-6/205	9-Sep-06
97	Kim Saarinen	G	HPK (Fin-U20)	22	2.34	0.918			6-4/180	22-Jul-06
98	Max Vilen	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	39	1	12	13	8	6-2/200	29-Jun-06
99	Gabriel Frasca	C	Kingston (OHL)	26	9	9	18	10	6-0/170	18-Feb-06
100	Harrison Meneghin	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	41	2.46	0.922			6-3/165	13-Sep-06
HM	Tanner Adams	RW	Providence (NCAA)	27	5	12	17	2	5-11/185	2-Sep
HM	Alexandre Blais	C	Rimouski (QMJHL)	53	18	48	66	30	5-10/155	14-Nov-05
HM	Viggo Gustavsson	D	HV71 (Swe J20)	33	1	10	11	38	6-2/195	11-Sep-06
HM	Andrei Krutov	LW	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	35	15	24	39	10	5-11/175	25-Apr-06
HM	Darels Uljanskis	D	AIK (Swe J20)	35	7	16	23	14	6-1/185	25-Aug-06
HM	Pavel Moysevich	G	SKA St. Petersburg (VHL)	19	2.31	0.927			6-5/175	29-Sep-04
HM	Ondrej Becher	C	Prince George (WHL)	42	19	40	59	32	6-1/175	22-Feb-04
HM	Veit Oswald	RW	EHC Munchen (DEL)	32	8	4	12	0	6-1/165	31-Aug-04
HM	Nathan Villeneuve	C	Sudbury (OHL)	47	18	21	39	52	6-0/185	13-Apr-06
HM	Petr Sikora	C	HC Ocelari Trinec (Cze U20)	27	12	21	33	26	5-11/170	2-Jan-06
HM	Oskar Vuollet	C	Skelleftea AIK (Swe J20)	32	17	24	41	6	5-10/170	3-Dec-05
HM	Kenta Isogai	F	Wenatchee (WHL)	49	25	48	73	22	5-11/155	28-Aug-04
HM	Marcus Kearsey	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	51	5	32	37	14	5-11/170	17-03-06
HM	Nate Misskey	D	Victoria (WHL	40	6	26	32	52	6-3/210	1-Dec-05
HM	Thomas Desruisseaux	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	52	10	34	44	16	5-11/160	10-Mar-06
HM	Jonathan Morello	C	St. Michaels (OJHL)	44	23	27	50	20	6-1/175	31-Jul-06
HM	Kieron Walton	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	47	15	19	34	12	6-5/205	22-Apr-06
HM	Adam Kleber	D	Lincoln (USHL)	33	5	13	18	20	6-5/205	24-Mar-06
HM	Riley Patterson	C	Barrie (OHL)	49	18	27	45	4	6-0/175	22-Mar-06
HM	Eemil Vinni	G	JoKP (Fin-Liiga)	27	2.5	0.9	-	-	6-2/285	18-Dec-06