Aku Räty – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – UTAH HOCKEY CLUB – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #7

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:00:07 +0000

_{PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Tij Iginla is drafted by the Utah Hockey Club in the first round during the Upper Deck NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 7th (Previous Rank - 3rd)
GM: Bill Armstrong Hired: September 2020
COACH: André Tourigny Hired: July 2021

The Arizona Coyotes have officially relocated and rebranded as the Utah Hockey Club, and new owner Ryan Smith is eager and ready to bring fresh energy and direction to an otherwise disgruntled organization. The team wasted no time in bolstering its roster, both for the present and its future. In a draft podium blockbuster, Utah sent one of their top prospects (Conor Geekie) to Tampa Bay in exchange for Mikhail Sergachev. From there, they went on to inject a total of 11 new prospects into the pipeline.

Headlining that draft list is Tij Iginla, who instantly becomes the club’s top prospect, ranking 15th overall in McKeen’s rankings. Iginla, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, will not factor into the club’s immediate plans, but his potential as a future top six fixture in Utah is undeniable. Joining Iginla is Cole Beaudoin (156th), the team’s second first-rounder from 2024, who will return to the Barrie Colts to develop among the Junior system.

Ready to make an impact with the big club, however, is Josh Doan (67th), who already split his 2023-24 campaign between the Arizona Coyotes and the Tucson Roadrunners. After proving his ability at both levels, Doan is poised to take on a larger role. Meanwhile, towering defenceman Maveric Lamoureux (117th) will turn pro to kickstart his career in the AHL, though his size and right-handed shot could fast-track him to NHL games sooner rather than later.

In the pipeline, Russian prospects Dmitri Simashev (23rd) and Daniil But (31st) continue to develop as teammates with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL. Fellow Russian Artyom Duda, who spent his 2023-24 among the USport circuit, is expected to transition to the professional ranks with Tucson. In net, Michael Hrabal (129th) continues to showcase a solid ceiling as a University of Massachusetts standout.

The hope is that a fresh rebrand and a revitalized fanbase in Salt Lake City will jumpstart the franchise, which has seen just one playoff appearance in the last 12 years. With a young core featuring Clayton Keller (26), Barrett Hayton (24), Matias Maccelli (23), Mikhail Sergachev (26), Sean Durzi (25), and recent graduates Logan Cooley (20) and Dylan Guenther (21), the organization is eager to seek success to showcase their brand to the people of Salt Lake.

Utah Hockey Club Top-15 Prospects

1. Tij Iginla

The son of NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, Tij surged up draft boards all throughout the 2023-24 season before finally, and deservedly, ending up as the 6th overall selection. Much like his dad, he is confident and determined, has an incredible knack for putting the puck in the net, and oozes leadership traits. He's played mostly on the wing so far in his WHL tenure, but he'll start getting more looks at center this season, and there's a chance that his NHL future could be at that position because he’s so responsible, smart, well-balanced, hard-working, and can make his linemates better. Iginla is a big-game performer who has already become a huge fan favourite in Kelowna after just one season there, so the NHL's newest organization is surely thrilled to have a player like that as one of their first faces of the franchise.

2. Dmitri Simashev

Some Coyotes fans were surprised when their team picked Simashev with the 6th overall pick in 2023, but his play this season as a full-time defenceman in the KHL helped showcase precisely why the organization is so excited about him. With his size and exceptional skating ability he is already able to comfortably defend at a professional level, and if everything goes right in his development, he could become one of the best shutdown blueliners in the entire NHL, someone who is able to stick like glue to speedy superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. That’s significantly more important in defending these days than pure brawn. And while his offensive tools were only noticeable last year when you watched him closely enough and saw the right games, he's also made important progress at actually converting them to points for his stat line.

3. Daniil But

Like his Yaroslavl Lokomotiv teammate Simashev, But became a KHL regular this season and didn't look out of place at all against that level of competition. He's a very tantalizing prospect because of his overflowing toolbox, which includes the size, reach and puck control to maintain possession in the cycle, the speed and explosiveness to open up space on the rush, and the scoring and playmaking ability to generate goals in either style. While his point totals aren't eye-popping yet, the KHL is the best league in the world outside of the NHL, and huge and lanky guys like him usually need extra time to grow into their bodies. What’s most important to remember with But is that the foundation is in place to eventually build up to a uniquely high ceiling. It’s just going to be a little while before anyone gets to see the finished product.

4. Josh Doan

There weren’t a lot of feel-good stories coming out of the desert, even before news of the team’s move to Utah was confirmed, but Doan’s rapid development and immediate impact upon being called up to the NHL certainly count as one. Shane Doan was the face of that franchise for a long time, and despite some lofty expectations, his son has turned out to be the prince who was promised. It’s obvious, and quite impressive, how much he embraced the situation he was in. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit and leadership, and there is little question where he gets those attributes from. Regardless of his team’s new home, he’ll be a huge part of the organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations as a core roster player, and also as someone who can help instill a culture and identity.

5. Maveric Lamoureux

Injuries have robbed Lamoureux of a lot of games played over the past two seasons, so there’s something to be said about just how good he’s looked when he’s actually been in the lineup. It’s so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and he can easily gobble up mountains of minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders do when moving around the ice. This style of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skill, and luckily for Utah, Lamoureux has already made a lot of progress in this regard. His upside is a little murky to project right now, especially if the injury issues stick around, but the organization will happily be patient with him for as long as they can just to see what the final product looks like.

6. Michael Hrabal

The gargantuan Hrabal continues to trend in the right direction, albeit with some fits and spurts along the way. He won the starting job with UMass-Amherst this past season over another drafted goalie who was four years his senior, and put forth some stellar individual performances throughout the year. However, he struggled and faltered at bad times for Czechia at the World Juniors, letting in too many weak goals. He covers so much net naturally and without effort, but on the downside, and much like others just like him, still has issues at this age with pucks squeaking through under his arms and between his legs. Goalies his size usually need extra time to build enough strength to keep moving so much mass around their crease and to get everything about their play fine-tuned, and Hrabal is still on course to get there eventually.

7. Cole Beaudoin

Despite being 17 years old for almost all of his draft-eligible season, Beaudoin often looked like a man among boys when he stepped on the ice. Not only does he have a large and stocky frame to work with, he's a gym rat who is exceptionally strong and fit. He's a workhorse who possesses the ability to bully his way around the puck, along with the resilience to do so shift over shift. He turned a lot of heads at the IIHF U18s in the spring, steadily forcing his way up Canada's lineup and playing a leading role in their tournament-winning outcome, including playing a ton of minutes in the championship game. His NHL ceiling might be limited to more of a defensive role due to average levels of natural skill, but he has the potential to become one of the very best shutdown and matchup centers in the sport.

8. Aku Raty

Raty continues to make steady, upwards progress in his development. His stats in the 2023-24 regular season were almost identical to what they were last year, but they are more impressive when you remember that producing points in the AHL is more difficult than doing it in the Liiga or most other European leagues. His success wasn’t quite enough to say that he is clearly ready for permanent NHL duty, but at the rate he keeps getting better and better, that seems like it’s not far out. He’s a well-rounded winger who is impressively smooth, both in the way he moves and the way he moves the puck, and he doesn’t sacrifice his defensive responsibilities to make magic happen offensively. He projects more as a complementary player than the primary driver of a line, but there is value in the NHL for forwards who know how to thrive in that kind of role.

9. Will Skahan

Skahan's game will never be about generating offense or producing points, but that's OK, because he excels instead as an off-puck defender. He has the necessary tools and temperament to go toe-to-toe with the best forwards on opposing teams, and that's not an easy job to do or one that all blueliners are capable of handling. His dad was the strength and conditioning coach for Anaheim for 13 years, which surely provided him with some advantageous experiences and resources not available to other young players. There's really only one development path worth pursuing for Skahan, which is as a stay-at-home defender and penalty killer, but that role will always have a place in the NHL. He's incredibly effective in the way that he plays and he should be able to maintain his success as he continues to move up levels.

10. Julian Lutz

A major change of scenery, going from the top German pro league to Green Bay in the USHL, has turned out to be exactly what Lutz needed after a couple of seasons that were significantly hampered by injuries and limited ice time. He scored a hat trick in just his third game in his new environment and then he never looked back from there, quickly establishing himself as one of the most singularly dangerous players in the entire league. He’s embracing an identity as a power forward, relying on his big shot and soft hands around the net to rack up points, while also using his size and strength to bring a physical presence. He’s turning pro and will be heading to the AHL next season, but both he and his club will need to tread carefully about that, after all the missed games and moving around. He needs stability and consistency.

11. Justin Kipkie

The Victoria Royals took a step forward this season, and Kipkie has been a key part of their ongoing turnaround. He plays a lot of minutes right now, and they're not easy minutes, either. He leaves an outsized impact offensively and defensively, and few defenders his age have as hard of a shot as he does. There is a tactful maturity to how he uses his size and strength, though he'll inflict punishment, too, if challenged.

12. Sam Lipkin

Speaking bluntly, Lipkin didn't look particularly noticeable in his draft year. He was, however, playing for the Chicago Steel, which is one of the best organizations in the world at nurturing young hockey talent. Unsurprisingly, his performance immediately began to skyrocket the next season, which he then carried over into two more great campaigns with Quinnipiac, including an NCAA title in 2023. He is an impressive athlete who continues to find new ways to round out his game.

13. Artem Duda

Duda's development took an unusual turn last year, when his NCAA eligibility was denied due to prior games played in the KHL, and he opted instead to play at the U Sports level, which is unheard of for a high draft pick his age. Once a well-regarded two-way defender, it will be interesting to see if his development is still on the same pace after a handful of games against relatively weaker competition.

14. Miko Matikka

While Matikka has always been a prospect with intriguing tools, his application of them has been inconsistent. But a 20-goal season in the NCAA last year is no small feat, so the hope is that a new page has been turned. He's a lanky, loose winger who can do damage around the net with both his strength and feel for the puck, and he could become a forceful player if his development breaks just right.

15. Maks Szuber

Hockey in Germany is growing nicely, and Szuber is shaping up to be another example of how well the nation can produce hockey players. His transition to North America this season was so smooth, thanks to all the pro hockey that he played back home, that he earned a callup for his NHL debut. Once seen as a limited defensive defenseman at best, his offensive contributions are improving as he continues to gain experience and confidence.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Utah – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 18:00:12 +0000

TEMPE, AZ - MARCH 30: Arizona Coyotes Right Wing Josh Doan (91) follows the play during an NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and New York Rangers on March 30, 2024, at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

The desert dogs are finally on the move after a tumultuous time in Arizona. The word leaked out the franchise was moving to Utah after the season ended to a surprised hockey world, and the Coyotes players themselves. The state of Utah inherits the third overall prospect pool in the NHL with some prime pieces to build a winner out of. They have graduated two first rounders in Dylan Guenther (9th overall – 2021) and Logan Cooley (3rd – 2022). They own three prospects in the top 20 of McKeen’s prospect ranking including Russian teammates Dimitri Simashev (16th overall), and Daniil But (20th). They are joined by 18th ranked Conor Geekie, who could make the team next season. The fourth prospect at 55th overall is Josh Doan, one of the fastest rising prospects on this list. He has already made a strong impression in scoring nine points in 11 games in an NHL callup. He will also likely graduate next season.

GM Bill Armstrong has largely focused on acquiring picks and prospects in trades over his four years at the helm. He has amassed 14 picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, including seven in the first three rounds. He also has seven picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, also in the first three rounds. With new ownership comes a new boss. There was a level of dysfunction in the organization and bringing that to an end will be a benefit. It is an extremely young roster anchored by 25-year-old Clayton Keller. The high draft picks mentioned above are still a couple of years away. It is too early to determine if the philosophy has changed and how impatient the new ownership is to make an impression in Utah. The team has improved in recent seasons, and there are the chips to play if it wants to add more support around the kids.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Dmitri Simashev	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`23(6th)	63	4	6	10	18
2	Conor Geekie	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	`22(11th)	55	43	56	99	66
3	Daniil But	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`23(12th)	55	10	11	21	10
4	Josh Doan	RW	22	6-1/183	Tucson (AHL)	`21(37th)	62	26	20	46	32
					Arizona (NHL)	`21(37th)	11	5	4	9	0
5	Maveric Lamoureux	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	`22(29th)	39	9	24	33	53
6	Michael Hrabal	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	`23(38th)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
7	Aku Raty	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	`19(151st)	55	15	29	44	22
8	Julian Lutz	LW	20	6-1/185	Green Bay (USHL)	`22(43rd)	50	24	44	68	71
9	Justin Kipkie	D	18	6-3/195	Victoria (WHL)	`23(160th)	67	16	36	52	35
10	Sam Lipkin	LW	21	6-2/190	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`21(223rd)	39	15	20	35	37
11	Artyom Duda	D	20	6-1/187	Toronto Metro Univ. (Usports)	`22(36th)	12	2	5	7	10
12	Miko Matikka	RW	20	6-3/200	Denver (NCHC)	`22(67th)	43	20	13	33	41
13	Maksymilian Szuber	D	21	6-3/190	Arizona (NHL)	`22(163rd)	1	0	0	0	2
14	Matt Villalta	G	24	6-3/190	Tucson (AHL)	FA(7/23)	51	31	17	2.54	0.911
15	Nathan Smith	C	25	6-0/177	Tucson (AHL)	T(Wpg-3/22)	60	12	19	31	38

1. Dmitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Some Coyotes fans were surprised when their team picked Simashev with the 6th overall pick in 2023, but his play this season as a full-time defenseman in the KHL helped showcase precisely why the organization is so excited about him. With his size and exceptional skating ability he is already able to comfortably defend at a professional level, and if everything goes right in his development he could become one of the best shutdown blueliners in the entire NHL, someone who is able to stick like glue to speedy superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. That’s significantly more important in defending these days than pure brawn. And while his offensive tools were only noticeable last year when you watched him closely enough and saw the right games, he's also made important progress at actually converting them to points for his stat line.

2. Conor Geekie, C, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

It would be hard to overstate just how great of a season Geekie had, especially following his midseason trade to Swift Current. A finalist for WHL Player Of The Year, he was an utterly dominant force since opening night, and provided such a spark for his new Broncos club that they went into the playoffs with red-hot momentum behind them. His puck skills, hands and shot are all high end, and he continues to make essential improvements with his skating ability and how he uses his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time he is incredible to watch. While some time in the AHL might be the best thing for him long-term, it will be very, very hard for the Coyotes to keep him off their roster straight out of training camp.

3. Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Like his Yaroslavl Lokomotiv teammate Simashev, But became a KHL regular this season and didn't look out of place at all against that level of competition. He's a very tantalizing prospect because of his overflowing toolbox, which includes the size, reach and puck control to maintain possession in the cycle, the speed and explosiveness to open up space on the rush, and the scoring and playmaking ability to generate goals in either style. While his point totals aren't eye-popping yet, the KHL is the best league in the world outside of the NHL, and huge and lanky guys like him usually need extra time to grow into their bodies. What’s most important to remember with But is that the foundation is in place to eventually build up to a uniquely high ceiling, it’s just going to be a little while before anyone gets to see the finished product.

4. Josh Doan, RW, Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

5. Maveric Lamoureux, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Injuries have robbed Lamoureux of a lot of games played over the past two seasons, so there’s something to be said about just how good he has looked when he’s actually been in the lineup. It’s so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and he can easily gobble up mountains of minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders do when moving around the ice. This style of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skill, and luckily Utah, Lamoureux has already made a lot of progress in this regard. His upside is a little murky to project right now, especially if the injury issues stick around, but the organization will happily be patient with him for as long as they can just to see what the final product looks like.

6. Michael Hrabal, G, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

The gargantuan Hrabal continues to trend in the right direction, albeit with some fits and spurts along the way. He won the starting job with UMass-Amherst this past season over another drafted goalie who was four years his senior and put forth some stellar individual performances throughout the year. However, he did struggle and falter at bad times for Czechia at the World Juniors, letting in too many weak goals. He covers so much net naturally and without effort, but on the downside and much like others just like him, still has issues at this age with pucks squeaking through under his arms and between his legs. Goalies his size usually need extra time to build enough strength to keep moving so much mass around their crease and to get everything about their play fine-tuned, and Hrabal is still on course to get there eventually.

7. Aku Raty, RW, Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

8. Julian Lutz, LW, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

A major change of scenery, going from the top German pro league to Green Bay in the USHL, has turned out to be exactly what Lutz needed after a couple of seasons that were significantly hampered by injuries and reduced ice time. He scored a hat trick in just his third game in his new environment and then he never looked back from there, quickly establishing himself as one of the most singularly dangerous players in the entire league. He’s embracing an identity as a power forward, relying on his big shot and soft hands around the net to rack up points, while also using his size and strength to bring a physical presence. There is a lot to like about him, so he and the new Utah team will need to be careful when figuring out what is the best level for him to play at next season.

9. Justin Kipkie, D, Victoria Royals (WHL)

The Victoria Royals took a nice step forward this season after three straight finishes at the bottom of their division, and Kipkie is a key part of their ongoing turnaround. He plays a lot of minutes on that roster, and they're not exactly easy minutes, either, considering how young that roster is and how frequently they’re playing under siege. He leaves an outsized impact offensively and defensively, and few defenders his age have as hard of a shot as he does, which he is more than happy to utilize. There is a tactful maturity to how he uses his size and strength, though he'll get emotional and inflict punishment, too, if challenged. His performance faded down the stretch, in lockstep with the rest of his team, but if the Royals are playing meaningful hockey next spring you can expect Kipkie to be a heart-and-soul leader for them.

10. Sam Lipkin, LW, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Speaking bluntly but fairly, Lipkin didn't look particularly noticeable or stand out in any major ways in his draft year. He was, however, playing for the Chicago Steel, which is regularly one of the best organizations in the world at nurturing young hockey talent, evidenced in part by them winning the 2021 USHL championship. As such, the now-Utah scouts knew confidently that his growth was in good hands. Quite unsurprisingly, given the environment he was in and the staff he was working with, his performance immediately began to skyrocket the very next season, which he then carried over into two great campaigns with Quinnipiac as well, including an NCAA title in 2023. He is an impressive natural athlete who continues to find new ways to round out and elevate his game, which helps open up different NHL pathways for him.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – ARIZONA COYOTES – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #4

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:00:22 +0000

Top 20 Arizona Coyotes Prospects

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 15: Arizona Coyotes right wing Dylan Guenther (11) made his NHL debut during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Arizona Coyotes on October 15, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1. Logan Cooley - C

Cooley grew up in Pittsburgh during the peak of Sidney Crosby's career, and it's almost uncanny how much the former's game has been clearly influenced by the latter. While the former University of Minnesota center doesn't project to become a generational player like Sid has been, Cooley’s game is built around a very similar foundation: ample lower body strength and balance, excellent hockey sense, tenacious competitiveness, sublime puck skill, commitment in all three zones, and an advanced maturity for how he conducts himself. There were some scouts in the industry who argued for him to be the first prospect picked in the 2022 draft, and that argument is even stronger now. Arizona is trying to build things from the ground up (figuratively and literally), and Cooley is about as good as it gets as a foundational piece to build around.

2. Dylan Guenther - RW

Guenther started his 2022-23 season in the NHL and looked right at home, scoring at a nice clip. When Arizona let him go to the World Juniors and then back to the WHL afterwards it wasn't as a punishment — it was to let him stretch his legs a little more, add a gold medal that he didn't already have, maybe get a healthy crack at the Memorial Cup after injuries held him out during the previous year, and finally come back to the NHL as an even better player in 2023-24. It must feel like a punishment to all the junior-aged players he has gone up against though, because he was basically too good for that level already. He lit up the WHL playoffs in Seattle and barely looked like he was breaking a sweat while doing so. He should enjoy the moment, because once he's back in the NHL he won't be leaving again.

3. Dmitri Simashev - D

Simashev is a unicorn of a player, with a tantalizing amount of raw skill contained within a menacing physical package. He is a truly remarkable skater for such a gigantic defenseman. Not only is he explosive in a straight line, with long, flawless strides, but his crossovers and edge work are both essentially perfect. The way that he can pick the puck up behind his own net, reach his top gear within a few steps and then blow down the entire length of the ice without breaking a sweat is simply jaw-dropping. He can also gap up on opponents with ease, and good luck ever dumping the puck into his corner, because he's going to get to it first, quickly pivot, and then use his frame to help him shield the puck. His low point totals might suggest that he's not much of an offensive contributor, but he helps his team enter the attacking zone and set up, and if he sees an opportunity to take the puck all the way to the opposing net himself, he will do so. He also uses his elusive footwork well to control the offensive blueline. All that being said, he probably won't ever be a big point-scorer.

4. Daniil But - LW

When you have a 6’ 5” forward who can skate, shoot, handle the puck, and make plays how do you even begin to describe him? There might not actually be one single trait that But has that is elite, however his overflowing toolbox of very good traits makes him special. It's nearly impossible to miss someone that big during his shifts, yet he makes it even easier to notice him because he covers so much ice all the time with his skyscraper legs and how he works to get them churning to build momentum. He can also create with his hands, whether that's with a long sweeping move to get around a defender or some quick manoeuvring in traffic to maintain possession. He is a major threat on both the rush and in the cycle because he's just so powerful and hard to contain. Sometimes he plays with clever nuance, while at other times he is a bull in a china shop. He's pretty uncoordinated and clumsy right now, although it's obvious that he is still filling out his frame after a big teenage growth spurt. It's almost scary to think of how good But could potentially be when he's done developing.

5. Conor Geekie - C

Geekie did not seem to progress very much last season compared to his draft year, which is concerning when you consider the incredibly favourable situation he has been in, playing on a dominant Winnipeg Ice team. With talented linemates to work with, and opposing defense spread thin with too much to handle, it should have been a feast for a prospect with such an overflowing toolbox. Instead, he blended into the scenery more often than he stood out. Luckily for the Coyotes though, there is still a ton here for their development staff to work with. His puck skills, hands, and shot are all high end, and he should be able to make improvements with his skating ability while using his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time, Geekie is one of the scariest prospects in the country, and getting that to happen more frequently is the long-term focus.

6. Victor Soderstrom - D

After three seasons in North America, Soderstrom has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHLer, and questions are beginning to arise about where things are going to go with his career next. It's never a good sign when a player hits a plateau season over season in his early 20s. His mobility and hands are both still assets, but he is having trouble utilizing them in ways that make a positive difference. The offensive production isn't really coming along, and he's struggling with defending and moving pucks out of trouble. At the same time, the whole organization is going through growing pains, so further patience is needed to fully analyse the situation. The Coyotes want Soderstrom to be a key piece on their roster and will likely give him more chances to prove that he can be one.

7. Josh Doan - RW

Doan finds himself in a truly unique situation, not just as the son of a former NHLer who was drafted by the same organization that his father starred for, but also because he is already playing in the same state that his dad helped bring hockey to for the first time. If the built-in expectations and scrutiny created any unwanted pressure, the younger Doan certainly hasn't show that he’s been frightened by its effects. If anything, he seems to relish being a future face of hockey in Arizona. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit, and leadership, and there is little question as to where he gets that from. He'll be a huge part of this organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations, but also as someone that can help instil a positive culture and identity in the locker room.

8. Jan Jenik - C

It's a real shame that Jenik battled through injury issues last season, because if he had stayed healthy, he was on course to have a big breakout season in the NHL. He is one of the most well-rounded and complete players in the Coyotes organization, and it's hard to find any real faults in his game. Coaches love to send him over the boards in various situations because he's always around the puck or involved in the play, battling or thinking his way into earning copious puck touches. When he gets to work in the offensive zone, he is very hard to contain thanks to his size, puck skill, and offensive versatility. Everything about his game just screams long-term professional. Expect him to see a lot of NHL minutes this season if he is healthy.

9. Michael Hrabal - G

Coming up as a dominant, borderline generational netminder in his home country of Czechia, Hrabal is no stranger to expectations. Standing at 6’6”, it doesn’t take much for him to cover the net, even from his knees. His frame covers the twine so well when he’s down in a butterfly that his pads take away the entire bottom of the net. Despite this size, his mobility and footwork are also both big strengths of his. He navigates the crease well, going post-to-post with ease. His feet are very quick, kicking away stray pucks as needed. He has quick hands to match, especially his glove hand. Given his size, he tends to play back in his net too far, so he will need to learn to challenge a bit more to really cut down the amount of net he leaves open, especially when facing better shooters at higher levels. Goaltenders always take a longer path, and he will be no exception. That's not a concern though, as he has all of the tools in place to become a starting netminder in the NHL one day, or at least a likely reliable backup.

10. Maveric Lamoureux - D

Lamoureux missed the first half of last season due to injury, and once he was healthy joined a Voltigeurs team that struggled to climb out of the basement of the league. But what matters most about his profile is that when he was playing, it was in an important role, because he is very much a long-term project who needs as much ice time as possible if he's going to reach his full potential. It's so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and that kind of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skills for success. The hope is that his reach and range will help him eventually grow into a space-dominating player who can log top-four minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders moving around the ice.

11. Artyom Duda - D

In a strange twist of events, Duda has left Russia to pursue a scholarship at the University of Maine. Due to him having played at the KHL level already, there are hurdles to jump through regarding his eligibility, but this move should be great for his development. A smooth skating, two-way defender, Duda was a very high pick in 2022.

12. Julian Lutz - LW

For Lutz, the battle to stay healthy remains his largest hurdle. He has had issues with injuries the last two seasons, and this has prevented him from playing a significant role at the DEL level in Germany. The talent is there. Perhaps a move to North America (like say in the OHL) would be best for his development.

13. Aku Raty - RW

Raty was fantastic in Liiga action last year, finishing among the leading scorers on a strong Ilves team. Now the hard working, complementary winger will be coming to North America to get his first taste of action across the pond. If he has a good camp and performs well in the AHL, he could move through the system quickly.

14. Vladislav Kolyachonok - D

2022-23 was a positive year for Kolyachonok’s development as he emerged as one of Tuscon’s top defensive players. The key to his success remains his strong skating ability and he has a chance to crack the Arizona blueline full time soon.

15. Nathan Smith - C

After starting so well in the NHL after signing at the end of the 2021-22 season, Smith’s first full season in the AHL was a disappointment last year. His upside at the NHL level may be capped, but he needs to become a go-to offensive player with Tuscon first.

16. Sam Lipkin - LW

A former standout with the Chicago Steel, Lipkin had a remarkable freshman year with Quinnipiac. Not only did he capture an NCAA championship, but he was named ECAC rookie of the year. Lipkin is returning to college to continue to improve his skating, but the skill components of his game are progressing nicely.

17. Miko Matikka - RW

Matikka is a big, skilled winger with significant offensive upside. He played in the USHL last year but will be attending the University of Denver this year in hopes of earning a top six role immediately. The question is whether Matikka can improve his off-puck play.

18. Michael Kesselring - D

Acquired from the Oilers in exchange for Nick Bjugstad, Kesselring is a big defender with a surprisingly smooth stride. He saw some time with the big club last year and could be a contender for a permanent roster spot this year.

19. Ilya Fedotov - LW

A competitive winger with skill and upside who finally broke through as a KHL contributor last year. Fedotov has since moved to the SKA organization for next year and is still in Arizona’s long-term plans.

20. Maksymilian Szuber - D

The big German defender improved a lot last year in the DEL, impressing enough to earn both a WC invite and an ELC from the Coyotes. He’ll be loaned back to EHC Munchen again though, where it is hoped that he continues with his rapid progression.

NHL PROSPECTS: 22-23 European Prospect Musings #2 – Prospects coming into focus in the stretch run

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 16:28:41 +0000

While the NHL All-Star Game has just wrapped up and NHL teams are gearing up for whatever trade deadline transactions they may intend to conduct at the end of the month, most European leagues are in the stretch run for playoff spots, with a few leagues just a half dozen games away from “the best time of the year”. Looking across Europe and even into Russia, there are plenty of interesting prospect notes, but not a whole of stories that have NHL teams licking their chops about a young man who is guiding the fortunes of his respective league, much less his team.

We’d like to take a look at some of the more notable stories that have been developing to this point in the season.

230103 Rögles William Wallinder, 3 januari 2023 i Växjö.
Foto: Jonas Ljungdahl / BILDBYRÅN

Sweden

Coming into the season as a favorite, Rogle has certainly not had the season it was expecting and is currently mired in 11th, yet only four points away from 8th place. The team has nonetheless seen several young draftees grow into bigger, if not chief roles. It was expected that Detroit’s Marco Kasper would grow on last season, and he has, putting up eight goals and 20 points to date. A number of his assists have come on the power play, and he’s had a top nine role pretty much all season. As a third-year pro, Adam Edstrom (NYR) is in the midst of a career season, even if his 12 points to date are only minimally more than what he’s produced the past two years. His role has grown and he’s looking a lot more at home in his 6’8”, 225-pound body.

Another Rangers pick, Oliver Tarnstrom, has taken on a much smaller role, but also suited up for 32 games now while Ottawa’s 2022 3rd rounder Oskar Pettersson has found himself in a Rogle jersey for 21 games, which might have been more had he not spent several weeks playing for the WJC squad. Each has two points in the SHL this year. Buffalo’s SHL recent 7th rounder Linus Sjodin has suited up for 41 games (six points) himself, although this is his second full season in the SHL.

But the real story on the prospect front have been the defensemen William Wallinder (DET) and Adam Engstrom (MON). A recent second rounder, Wallinder was already a contributing regular last season, but his role has grown into that of the team’s go-to player on the blueline. He not only leads all defensemen with 23 points in 41 games but is third on the entire team in scoring. At the same time, Engstrom has wiggled his way into what is basically a top 4 role, contributing 10 points in 32 games along the way. That actually has him 5th overall in the SHL in junior rookie scoring. The world got to see how far he’s come when he put up three points and a +6 at the WJC for Team Sweden. His star is rising considerably on the prospect front.

As should come as no surprise, the top scorers in the league continue to be veterans, with recent Maple Leaf Antti Suomela having led the way most of the season. His 24 goals and 48 points in just 38 games were good for tops and have him producing at a clip that few players have played at in the SHL over the past decade. He is however now trailing UFA and linemate Patrik Karlkvist, who has collected 50 points in 41 contests. Recent San Jose Shark Jonathan Dahlen, who headed back to his heart and hometown team Timra to play his first ever season of SHL play, is sitting 9th in league scoring with 17 goals and 32 points. The 25-year-old had 12 goals for the Sharks just last season.

But all eyes are still on Örebro HK forward Leo Carlsson, who’s coming off a 6-point WJC performance. He’s not blowing anything out of the water with his five goals and 18 points in 34 games, but as usually happens in a top pro league, vets tend to be relied upon more down the stretch run. His name still tops the list of draft eligibles, but we think NHL teams have got to have Axel Sandin-Pelikka ranked among their top 20 prospects for next summer’s event. And we’d advise any and everyone who is stat watching to disregard his mere five points in 22 games and the quiet assist at the WJC. His coaches already trust him. He’s getting PP time and he’s getting time at the end of the game when something is on the line. His understanding of the game, ice usage, and situations is simply something you don’t see much in a player this age.

A teammate of his in Skelleftea and on the U20 club is Zeb Forsfjall. The young man with a slight build has 10 games of SHL play and is looking like a lock for the U18 Worlds this spring. He is the younger brother of 20-year-old Mans Forsfjall who is undrafted but looking like quite the overage option in this summer’s draft, often found on the first line and having put up two goals, 13 points, and a +14 thus far this season. Would be fascinating if the brothers are both selected next summer.

There’s a whole bunch more going on across the nation in the SHL, Allsvenskan, and U20 circuit with a number of draft-eligible players getting shifts in pro hockey, but we continue to be very impressed with the J20 Nationell Noah Dower Nilsson, whose 48 points in 28 games means he’s clipping at a 1.78 PPG pace, which is a league-high. It’s only been good enough to get him into one game of SHL action, but the mother club Frolunda is chock full of options and, well, Detroit prospect Liam Dower Nilsson (22 games) looks to be blocking his path to the bigs at the moment.

Boston Bruins fans will be happy to hear that Latvian pick Dans Locmelis isn’t far behind Nilsson in U20 production with 47 points in 35 games, good for 6^th in the league. Lulea would have loved to test him at the SHL level by now, but that won’t be happening as Locmelis is scheduled to begin playing for the University of Massachusetts next fall. Expect this well-schooled and very experienced young man to have an instant impact on college hockey next season.

As the draft approaches, we’ll be spending time at the site with the likes of defenseman Theo Lindstein (22 games for Brynas), Frolunda two-way forward Otto Stenberg, and Danish surprise Oscar Molgaard (31 games and six points for HV71), but we’ll wrap up our look at Sweden with overage defenseman Oskar Asplund. In the midst of his second full season of HockeyAllsvenskan play, the heady two-way 5’11” defenseman already has five goals and 27 points in 39 games. It has earned him two games of SHL play with Skelleftea and overall, he reminds us a bit of former overager Adam Wilsby, who was selected in the 4th round by Nashville in the 2020 draft. Wilsby is currently suiting up for Milwaukee of the AHL. Asplund is even in the same organization.

Joakim Kemell of Finland celebrates after scoring 2-2 during the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship final between Canada and Finland on August 20, 2022 in Edmonton.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN /

Finland

The Finnish Liiga is well on its way to the finish line and one of the more astounding trends is that there are few players currently scoring at a PPG pace. Even the league leader Michael Joly has just 49 points in 48 games. Perhaps not surprising in light of that, but astounding nonetheless, is that Joona Ikonen (an undrafted 24-year-old) leads the league in goal-scoring behind Joly’s 21 goals with just 20 markers. Yes, in some cases, individual team scoring is simply spread across more shoulders, but the lack of individual scoring prowess is more akin to what we usually see in the SHL.

What this means is that a few current and former prospects are putting up numbers that are eyebrow-raising to say the least. Former Winnipeg Jets draft pick Sami Niku couldn’t edge out a solid NHL job despite at times outstanding AHL numbers. He was suiting up for the Montreal Canadiens just last season. At age 25, he decided he needed more job security and perhaps one very impressive season in Europe to get his name back into the minds of NHL GMs. Well, his nine goals and 37 points in 46 games for JYP is likely doing the trick while simultaneously making him the league’s top scorer among defensemen. An appearance at the men’s World Championship is all but a lock and then the question will be if Niku gets an offer that has a spot in an NHL line-up somewhat set in stone.

This past week, the Islanders moved arguably their top prospect in Aatu Raty to the Vancouver Canucks as part of the Bo Horvat trade, but his brother Aku Raty (ARI) is having himself a fine season for Ilves with 29 points and a +16 in 41 games. It’s a career best for the 21-year-old and is coming at a time where Arizona is going to want to decide on whether to sign him to an ELC. Really arriving on the scene has been Tampa Bay’s 2021 7th rounder, the 6’2”, 210-pound Niko Huuhtanen. Certainly, his 77 points in 64 games for the Everett Silvertips meant that he was already on the map for most prospect watchers, but he’s reinforced the belief that there’s a pro here with a sense for offensive generation, as his 15 goals and 27 points in 36 games go to show this season. That puts him within the top 40 in league-wide scoring, ahead of i.e., solid Maple Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen, who himself is doing just fine with 24 points in 46 games for HIFK.

One name you’re not seeing is that of U18 and WJC star Joakim Kemell (NAS), whose 11 points and -14 rating in 32 games have him flying far below expectations. Quite the opposite is the case for Patrik Puistola (CAR), who leads all U23 players with 13 goals and 34 points in 48 games. That not only has him 12th in league scoring but means he’s the clear-cut go-to player for his Jukurit team, something that has to have the Hurricanes brass mighty excited about.

When it comes to Finland’s top junior league, there are not many NHL-drafted players currently plugging away at it, but Buffalo’s Viljami Marjala is second in league scoring with 48 points and a +29 in 31 games. He’s also put up two points in four games for Liiga club TPS and it’s felt he’ll conclude the season with the big club one way or another. You may remember that Marjala spent the past two seasons with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. It was felt Nashville went a very safe route in picking all-round defenseman Kasper Kulonummi in the 3rd round last summer. His 39 points in 33 games has him second to teammate Leevi Sorvali (42 in 39 contests) league-wide in defenseman scoring. He’s seen 5 games of Liiga action for Tappara this season, which - in case you hadn’t heard - is Finland’s most hockey-crazy town.

True prospect fans will surely be wondering what 2024 top prospect Aron Kiviharju has been up to in recent weeks. Many had hoped to see him on this winter’s WJC squad, but the season has seen a more conservative approach. Having just turned 17, Kiviharju has gotten into 14 games of Liiga action (two assists and a +1 rating) while only being able to suit up for 20 U20 league games this year, in which he’s impacted play fairly considerably with a 1-16-17 and +11 statline. All fine, but not screaming superstar just now. Still, the U18 Worlds is where he’s expected to show the international scouting community just how far he’s come.

Germany

The DEL has been of special interest this year, but not so much due to any particular up-n-coming young players making noise.

No, it’s been all about a certain prospect making a major comebokk on the prospect scene. Oh yes, that play on words just couldn’t be skipped out on as former St. Louis Blues 1st rounder and current Carolina Hurricanes asset Dominik Bokk has spent all season letting the hockey world know he is not to be forgotten after, well, pretty much having gone forgotten in the Hurricanes organization. As we mentioned in the fall, he’s been playing for league newbie Frankfurt Lions after having won the championship with Berlin last season, with whom his cameo had little to do with Berlin’s fate when all was said and done. Now he’s spent most of the season leading the entire DEL in scoring, currently coming in at 24 goals and 49 points in 43 games. He’s doing it for a team that entered the year with but an outside shot at the playoffs and it has to be clear to anyone watching that he’s technically and physically a number too good for this league, one filled with former NHL and AHLers. His scoring has often been timely, and he’s constantly been able to create and make his teammates better.

If he hasn’t renewed Carolina’s interest, there must be a few teams out there wondering if this is your classic case of a late bloomer. Once the DEL year is over, he’s basically a lock for the men’s WC tournament, which will surely make him one of the more interesting viewings from an NHL standpoint. Or could he be part of a trade deadline package before that?

Unfortunately, Bokk was caught in an awkward check this weekend and will miss the remainder of the regular season with a shoulder injury.

What’s also been noteworthy this year is the goaltending position. Primarily young, German-born goaltenders have found themselves getting plenty of ice time and holding their own in the process. Yes, 26-year-old Maxi Franzreb is making the most of the season, getting more starts than any U27 goaltender and shining brightly with a 2.28 GAA and .925 save percentage. Mirko Pantkowski (24) has become a full-fledged starter himself, going 21-15 thus far for Cologne. But the kids really opening eyes are Arno Tiefensee (20), Florian Bugl (20), Tobias Ancicka (21), and - in a cameo appearance - Daniel Allavena (23), who went 4-1 over an emergency 5-game stretch for Munich. For the other three, Ancicka has 30 starts for Berlin as the go-to number 1 in goal, Bugl has gone 15-7 for Straubing since having initially filled in for the injured starter, and Tiefensee is way up there in the league with a 2.17 GAA, .919 SV%, and 10-5 record for Mannheim.

This century simply hasn’t witnessed this many German goalies successfully carrying this much responsibility in goal in Germany’s top league. And as everyone knows, NHL history is full of goaltenders signed out of Europe as free agents in their mid- to late 20s. Some of whom have ended up having successful careers, so these are names you’re going to want to have in the back of your mind moving forward. Also, if you’re wondering who the next minor league UFA signings á la Julian Napravnik and Kai Wissmann may be, two Ingolstadt Panthers have arrived on the scene this year in a big way, both quite unexpectedly. Defenseman Leon Huttl is just 22 and of average size, but his 19 points in 45 games have been accompanied by a +21 rating and he’s been effective in all three zones for a team that has experienced major injury hits to every position. Up front, Polish-born Wojciech Stakowiak has been the team’s fully unexpected all-everything contributor. Now 23, he was coming off of five- and six-point seasons, but now has 15 goals, 31 points, and a +16 in 46 games, finding himself on the ice in all key situations.

We already chronicled how a number of U21 players had started getting a shot to kick off the season and we must say, it hasn’t stopped. The number of players 21 and under who have gotten a shot in the DEL this season has been astounding, with 16-year-old defenseman Max Merkl (Nuremberg), 17-year-old defenseman Paul Mayer (Mannheim), and 18-year-olds Edmund Junemann (Düsseldorf) and Lukas Ullmann (Ingolstadt) having basically come out of nowhere to get into a handful of games. With injuries on the blueline, Ingolstadt even reacquired 18-year-old defenseman Niklas Hubner out of Finnish juniors, and he’s suited up for each of the last seven games. We commented some years ago about how particularly the SHL was able to regularly churn out players aged 16-21 who were taking fairly regular shifts. The DEL knew it had to follow suit in order for the quality of players to increase and provide the nation with more quality depth. Just that seems to be happening as we write.

Russia

The Matvei Michkov watch has been gaining momentum since he was loaned out to HK Sochi. After just three scoreless games with St. Petersburg and then an eye-popping 10 goals and 14 points in 12 games with SKA’s VHL outfit, Michkov found himself in the show on a scoring line with a Sochi team that had an offensive role to offer. The result has been five goals and nine points in 17games, with three of those points coming in the two most recent games. All things Russia continue to be taboo, but in a time where Connor Bedard is running away with the first overall pick status, the hockey world has got to be back to asking whether Michkov isn’t still the second-best option at this summer’s draft?

Like with the Finnish Liiga, players clipping at a PPG pace are hard to come by in the KHL this year. Former NHLer Dmitri Jaskin is back to his scoring ways though, leading the league with 33 goals (3^rd with 50 points) in 59 games, closely followed by German national Brooks Macek, who has 31 in 52 games. At the same time, impending 26-year-old free agent Marat Khairullin is having a career year for SKA with 25 goals and 50 points, blowing his previous high of 32 points out of the water. Will he be sought after like Andrey Kuzmenko was last offseason?

Pleasantly though, several NHL prospects are making some real noise with career years. It simply must be pointed out that Carolina’s 21-year-old defensive prospect Alexander Nikishin, who measures in at an imposing 6’4” and 216 pounds, leads ALL defensemen in scoring with 10 goals and 49 points in 57 games. It’s basically a season for the ages in a league still dominated by older veterans. The question is when and if he’s coming over and just how his game will translate. But he’s clearly the NHL asset with the most traction in Europe this season. Almost just as impressive is the work being put in by Colorado’s Nikolai Kovalenko , who checks in at 6th overall in league scoring with 19 goals and 48 points in 50 games. A chip off the old block, it’ll be interesting to see if Colorado feels Kovalenko’s work is in line with an ELC this offseason.

Two other highly touted prospects keeping things extremely fascinating are New Jersey’s Arseni Gritsyuk (21) and Minnesota’s Marat Khusnutdinov (20). Whereas Gritsyuk pretty much arrived on the scene last season with 22-16-38 in 52 contests, he’s now heading towards the playoffs with Omsk sporting 13-21-34 numbers as more of a set-up man for Reid Boucher (25 goals) and Vladimir Tkachev (20 goals). It’s Khusnitdinov who is truly arriving this season as his 11-26-37 and +12 statline for SKA marks a true step in development, far outweighing anything done the past three seasons, where he already showed some glimpses of what was to come. Hard to imagine that GM Bill Guerin won’t be looking to get him over to North America for next season.

Out of the nation’s second tier league, VHL, there are three players who have caught our eyes as being noteworthy. Up front, Detroit’s 2022 2nd rounder Dmitri Buchelnikov, who can be quite the wizard with the puck on his blade, has 14 goals, 27 points, and a +9 in just 32 games. He’s also chipped in 12 points in four MHL contests as well as two points in 10 KHL games for St. Petersburg. In short, he’s having a wildly successful DY+1 season. On the defensive side, we let you know that we’d be closely watching LA Kings’ draft pick Kirill Kirsanov and he hasn’t disappointed in a developmental capacity. After starting off on fire, his overall game has leveled out to a sound 13 points and +13 rating in 28 games, but he’s been a PPG player in five MHL games and has gotten his feet wet in nine KHL contests (one assist, -5 rating). The 6’1”, 198-pound defender is right on track in his development. The league is also playing host to a 23-draft prospect who has been gaining traction. Alexander Rykov is a mid-sized forward who has 11 points in 20 games for Chelyabinsk and has even gotten into six KHL games (no stats) for Traktor. He’s exactly the type of player we’d have loved to see at the U18 Worlds this spring.

Another young man we’d like to make mention of is 19-year-old forward Nikita Grebyonkin. After a very impressive draft year in the junior circuit MHL, collecting 77 points and a +42 in 67 total games, Grebyonkin has spent the majority of this season loaned out to Amur Khabarovsk with whom he’s put up nine goals, 23 points, and a +3 in 40 games. Already a fan favorite for the club’s faithful, Grebyonkin is generally a player who just hasn’t played in a spotlight location. What we’re seeing is an astute 5^th pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs whose slick style and 6’2”, 180-pound frame is looking very promising moving forward. That said, his skating is that of a later round draft pick.

The notes are currently minimal on both the NHL and prospect fronts in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Switzerland, but there are a few player situations developing there that we’ll look to highlight in the next edition. The upcoming playoffs will surely give us much to muse about as the spring rolls around.

EUROPEAN PROSPECT MUSINGS: 2022-23 European Leagues Underway with Notable Performances

Chapin Landvogt — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 18:24:17 +0000

European Prospect Musings - #1 for the 22-23 Season

The European leagues are all underway and most already played anywhere from six to 20 games this season, meaning a whole lot of names in the prospect world have started shining brightly. Or, well, brighter. A look across the major leagues continues to show continued use of U21 players in regular roles while some second league teams are sporting a bunch of young men worth watching, particularly those already drafted.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable players and situations thus far in this young season.

Sweden

Örebro's Leo Carlsson during the SHL ice hockey match between Örebro and Oskarshamn on September 24, 2022 in Örebro.
Photo: Fredrik Karlsson / BILDBYRÅN

For a league still widely considered the best pro European circuit west of the KHL, SHL teams opened up the season with rosters chock full of interest for NHL teams. One of the most watched teams this winter will be Örebro HK, because forward Leo Carlsson, who already collected nine points in 35 SHL games last season as a 16/17-year-old, is widely regarded as a top 15 prospect in next summer’s draft. He was part of Sweden’s U18 outfit that took gold last spring, but only got into two matches (2-1-3), so the scouting world didn’t get to gush over him in the same manner it did for the team’s big horses. More on that in a second.

For now, rest assured that Carlsson’s star is on the rise. In eight games thus far, he’s already put up seven points, including two goals, while seeing his fair share of top six minutes. That has him tied for 11th in league-wide scoring. That also has him firmly on top of the prospect charts in the SHL and also ahead of the next closest NHL property, Columbus’ Samuel Johannesson, whose six points in eight games isn’t all that shabby either, especially in light of his being a defenseman.

But now back to those big horses at the U18 tournament, four of whom are now dressing for Djurgarden of the Hockey Allsvenskan, the nation’s second highest tier of pro hockey. Built to gain quick promotion, each of Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Liam Ohgren, Noah Ostlund, and Calle Odelius, listed in the order they were drafted this past summer, is a regular thus far and all have gotten at least one point to date. The ever creative Ostlund leads the way with three assists. Vegas prospect Carl Lindbom builds part of the goaltending tandem to boot.

Coming into the season, we were looking to see big things from defenseman Theo Lindstein, who did seem to be likely to kick things off with Brynas of the SHL. Instead, he’s been a 17-year-old on the U20 team and has four points and a +7 in six contests. Also gaining note as a first time draft eligible currently in Sweden’s U20 circuit is forward Noah Dower Nilsson. Ah, that name will look familiar as he is the younger brother of Detroit’s 2021 5th rounder Liam, who is taking a regular shift for Frolunda (two assists in eight games just now). Fascinating here is that Liam had five goals in 16 U20 level games his draft year, but little brother Noah is raising eyebrows with 12 goals, 18 points, and a +7 in just 11 U20 games this season, making him the league’s second most deadly goal scorer. He continues to be one to watch all winter long.

One team that can be happy with its Swedish first rounder from this past summer is the San Jose Sharks. Having just concluded their European tour, the Sharks organization have seen young, hulking forward Filip Bystedt put up four points in eight SHL games. This can be seen as a bit of a relief because the upside of his production was really one of the biggest questions this past summer when assessing where exactly this technically sound forward should be drafted.

On the overager front, we’ll continue to be very interested in seeing what the undrafted Ake Stakkestad does this season. After a very noticeable WJC, the take-no-prisoners Stakkestad is a key part of the attack for Allsvenskan club Karlskoga. He’s put up five points in their first six games, something you love to see from a kid who clearly feels he’s been overlooked for several drafts now.

Finland

Across the Baltic Sea bay in Finland, a number of youngsters found themselves in the opening day line-ups of their respective Liiga teams, and even more for some of the Mestis clubs. Things have evened out as many have since found themselves back on the respective junior teams, but a few draftees have definitely raised an eyebrow or two. Eetu Liukas of the New York Islanders has gone from a successful 4th line role with Finland’s summer WJC club to a first line banger role for HPK. With six points and a +3 in 12 games, Liukas has surpassed expectations while his 37 penalty minutes indicate he’s doing just what’s to be expected from a guy who bangs and gets under opponents’ skin. Some in those parts feel there’s a real Esa Tikkanen aspect to this young man. But he’s bigger!

Seattle can also be happy with the progress of recent 2022 pick Jani Nyman, who started the season with Ilves U20 squad. But five goals and six points in two games quickly had him up and in the line-up for their Liiga team, with which he now has four goals and six points in seven games. At the same time, forwards Patrik Puistola (CAR), Joakim Kemell (NAS), Roni Hirvonen (TOR), Aku Raty (ARI), and Antti Saarela (CHI) are all scoring at just over 0.5 points per game. But to be clear, there’s no Leo Carlsson style prospect making his way through Liiga action at this point. Many hoped it would be 6’3, 207-pound Kasper Halttunen, who has suited up seven times for HIFK, but only has one assist. Of course, he’s got nine points in five games with the team’s U20 team and we’re talking about a big boy who won’t turn 18 until next June.

Of course, all eyes are on defenseman Aron Kiviharju. Yes, yes, we’re talking about a 16-year-old who is only 5’10” and 165 pounds, but after his top four minutes at the U18, including PP time, the scouting community has been waiting anxiously to see if this kid can already hold his own in Liiga play. A real maybe for Finland’s WJC team and an absolute certainty for their U18 team in Switzerland next spring, Kiviharju has six assists and a +7 in eight games for his club’s U20 team. Again, he’s just 16 and has gotten into four Liiga games, seeing 9-14 minutes per match.

Germany

As Germany’s season kicked off, Arizona draft picks Julian Lutz and Maks Szuber were part of the equation for Munich, but just two of many options the returning finalist has in a year where it is a heavy favorite. Each is playing a minimal role for the loaded favorite. More interesting thus far has been the play of former St. Louis Blues 1st rounder Dominik Bokk, now a property of the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s lacing up his skates for the newly promoted Frankfurt Lions after having won the championship with Berlin last season. But truth be told, his role with the champion last spring was rather minimal, as was his playoff production. His role now is much more critical for Frankfurt as the team needs Bokk to spearhead the offense, something he hasn’t been able to do for any of his clubs in recent years.

Et voila - enter the 22-23 season. No doubts thus far that he understands his expectations and what this season means to him moving forward! After nine games, he’s got eight goals, 12 points, and a +10 rating, making him the most lethal player in the league to date. It’s what you want to see for a guy who has looked as derailed as a prospect as he has.

Also of note in this short season is 5’10, 183-pound Nikita Krymskiy. You shouldn’t know him, but he was a part of Team Germany at last spring’s U18 Worlds, where he got into two games. He was actually coming off an interesting season where he had a half a point per game in Germany’s third pro circuit but was then surprisingly recruited by the Krefeld Penguins of the DEL2, a team widely expected to make its way back into the DEL next spring. Thus far, the still 18-year-old Krymskiy has four goals and six points in seven games, making him the highest scoring U21 player in the league and 4th best on a team filled with players featuring predominantly higher league experience.

Also a part of Team Germany’s U18 team last spring, forward Philipp Krening very quietly collected three assists in four games at that tourney after coming off an injury-plagued winter that only allowed him to get into 16 AlpsHL games for the Red Bull Juniors, in which he still put up 10 points. As such, it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise that he kicked off the year with Munich of the DEL, collecting two points in six games. Once a few players returned to the line-up, he was sent back to the juniors, where he put up four points in two contests and is now looking to take a regular shift for Red Bull Salzburg of the ICEHL, which is one step down from the DEL. Yes, it can all get a bit confusing, but Krening has debuted there strongly, already getting his first assist in Salzburg’s most recent CHL game. If he can keep this up, the setback during his initial draft year may end up only having been just that - a setback.

A very interesting development is taking place in Nuremberg, where a 21-year old Elis Hede has looked real good in his first two DEL games of the season (one game-winning goal). Of note is that the Finnish national was basically raised in Germany, where his father spent most of his career. If you recognize the name, it’s probably because after spending a good portion of his teens with the Red Bull Academy, he laced up his skates for the Chicago Steel of the USHL for the 19-20 season. After two complete seasons as a solid lower line option for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga, the Ice Tigers’ GM - former Washington Capital Stefan Ustorf - quickly snatched Hede off the market as the youngster believes he’s made for greater things offensively. And now he appears to be in just the right place to make that happen.

Russia

No season has been in progress longer thus far than Russia’s, and we don’t need to get into the clouds hanging heavily over Russia’s ice hockey scene in these worrying times.

One thing of note we’d quickly like to point out is that It took top 2023 draft prospect Mikhail Gulyayev just SIX games to pick up a point in all three major Russian hockey leagues (MHL, VHL, & KHL) this season. The 2023 draft eligible defenseman has spent the bulk of the season with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, for whom he has a single assist in 10 games. That has been notable.

But the KHL isn’t exactly chock full of youngsters playing key roles. Minnesota first rounder Danila Yurov kicked things off well with three points in the first four games, but now only has four total in 17 games. This is something that hasn’t been uncommon for players his age. The most effective young draftees have clearly been last year’s rising star, Winnipeg’s Dmitri Rashevsky (14 points in 18 games), and now Colorado’s Nikolai Kovalenko (10 points in nine games). These mid-round picks are making noise for their respective teams while Carolina defender Alexander Nikishin is one of the league’s top-scoring defenseman with 10 points in 17 games. A few others like Mikhail Vorobyov (PHI) and Zakhar Bardakov (NJD) are clipping at a pace of 0.5 points per game for the first 18 games of the season.

For the nation’s second tier league, VHL, we’ll be closely watching LA Kings’ draft pick Kirill Kirsanov. The well-built, high-flying defender has nine points in the first 10 games for St. Petersburg’s farm team and has added another five in four games for the U20 outfit. He’s having the type of season that should have him banging on the door to the KHL by Christmas. In better times, he’d surely be a topflight candidate for a WJC team.

FRISCO, TX USA - MAY 1: Russia's Matvei Michkov #17 skates to the bench after scoring a third period goal against the Czech Republic during preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on May 1, 2021 in Frisco, TX USA. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

In the nation’s MHL, top 2023 draft prospect Matei Michkov does have five points in four games but had been out a good while with an injury after a preseason check at the KHL level. His time to shine will surely come as the season progresses. Third in league scoring right now is 5’7” Yegor Klimovich, who is just 17 and has, well, 17 points in 13 games. It’s impressive at that age for a U21 league, size be damned. But the team that can perhaps be happiest with MHL output thus far is Detroit. We knew that Dmitri Buchelnikov was pretty amazing with his 41 goals and 75 points in 56 MHL contests last season, but the eight points in two games this year has him looking far too good for this league. He has eight KHL contests under his belt this season, with but one goal to show for them. It should be noted that there are dozens of players in this league who are currently above or hovering around a point-per-game pace.

Czech Republic

The most prospect-worthy news from the Czechia was and continues to be up-n-comers Eduard Sale and Jakub Dvorak. The left winger who was clearly one of the best players at last spring’s U18 tourney, Sale looked great again this summer and now has five points in eight top league games for Brno. Meanwhile, the 6’5”, 203-pound Dvorak has been plugging away in lower pairing minutes for Liberec, suiting up for all nine games and collecting an assist and +3 rating. More and more is indicating that we’ll be seeing both at this winter’s WJC and that each could be first rounders in next summer’s draft. That’s a surefire thing for Sale, with the only real question being how much he can make himself a topic for the top 10?

There are plenty out there who see this young man having a very productive NHL career and we’re among them.

PECULIAR::

In one of the odder prospect stories, Seattle Kraken springtime free agent signee Sam Bucek, a 23-year old former member of the USHL’s Chicago Steel and QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes who scored 54 goals in 69 top league games in Slovakia last season, broke off his engagement with Seattle this summer in order to sign with Neftekhimik of the KHL. One can only imagine in today’s heated international climate that this odd move was surely financially motivated. Well, his time in the KHL has already come to an end after six scoreless games. He is once again a free agent for the highest bidder, should there now be such a thing.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – ARIZONA COYOTES – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 12:30:54 +0000

1 - Logan Cooley C US

The Arizona Coyotes are slowly building their next contender, stockpiling picks and prospects more aggressively than any NHL franchise has done before. Armed with the third overall pick at the 2022 draft, the Coyotes began to lay the foundation for their next era by selecting Logan Cooley, a center out of the U.S. National Team Development Program. Cooley instantly became the most promising prospect in the Coyotes’ system, and just one look at his game film from his draft year will show why. Despite playing on a USNTDP team fully stocked with top prospects, Cooley kept finding ways to stand out above the pack. There’s one word that best describes Cooley’s game: dynamic. Cooley’s puck skills are elite, and he’s always finding creative ways to get himself out of trouble and make his way through defensive coverage. When the puck is on his stick, Cooley’s linemates are always open for a pass. Cooley is more of a creative skater than a true burner, relying more on his edgework and stop-start ability than pure speed. While that fact of his game means his skating won’t set him apart at the NHL level the way his puck skills will, it also means he’ll have an easier time translating his offensive habits to the NHL level, where most defenders are strong enough on their feet to avoid being beaten through speed outright. Cooley has a wide-open offensive toolbox that is arguably the best in his age group, and he’ll head to the University of Minnesota next season with the expectation of being an instant impact scorer. With the Cooley pick, the Coyotes added an all-too-rare commodity to their system: a prospect with the chance to become an NHL number-one center in the NHL. - EH

2- Dylan Guenther RW WHL

At this time last year, one would have probably assumed that Guenther would play out the season with Edmonton (WHL) and then make a run at the Arizona Coyotes roster in 2022/23, possibly as a top Calder candidate. However, a knee injury suffered in the WHL playoffs this year has altered those plans. Guenther will not be ready for Coyotes training camp this year and that likely means he returns to the WHL for another year. The Coyotes will be patient and cautious with one of their top prospects. Guenther did have a great year for the Oil Kings last season and remains one of the top goal scoring wing prospects in the NHL. His combination of size and skill is impressive and rare these days. And while he’s not a power forward in the traditional sense, he took big steps forward this season as someone who can play that power game by driving the net and playing through contact. His shot is a major weapon, and his offensive zone awareness is at a near elite level. He is never likely to be a top end two-way player and there is still some room for improvement in his decision making/vision with the puck, but his development has him tracking towards being a quality top six winger for the Coyotes and someone who could potentially be a consistent 30 goal scorer. If his injury recovery goes according to plan, he should be ready to jump into Arizona’s lineup in 2023/24. - BO

3 - Matias Maccelli LW AHL

The only U22 forward in the AHL to have a better points per game average than Maccelli last season was top prospect Jack Quinn. Since being drafted in the fourth round in 2019, Maccelli has done nothing but progress positively. Two strong years in Liiga (in Finland), the first of which saw him named as Liiga’s rookie of the year. Then the aforementioned strong AHL debut last year. Granted, he did struggle in his first attempt at the NHL after a midseason call-up, scoring a single goal across 23 games (despite getting decent ice time and some powerplay responsibility). However, this was only the first bump in the road for Maccelli. The 5’11 winger is extremely skilled and creative, giving him significant upside as a top six NHL forward. Originally, there were concerns over his lack of speed, explosiveness, and ability to dictate pace, however he has made significant strides in these departments since being drafted. Of course, as his brief stint in the NHL showed, he still has room to grow as a player, but the potential for him to develop into a solid point producer for the Coyotes is very real. Look for Maccelli to secure a permanent spot on the Coyotes this year out of training camp, as he will be given every opportunity to jump into a top nine role. He may even be a nice sleeper for the Calder Trophy (still eligible because he played just under 25 games). - BO

4 - Conor Geekie C WHL

While Geekie's statistical output from the 2021-22 isn't especially notable, it doesn't sufficiently reflect how good of a hockey player he is — and just how much better he can become over time, with the right development. The 2nd overall pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft (behind Winnipeg Ice teammate Matthew Savoie) and the 11th overall selection by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, he possess an enticing and hard to find package of size, deft puck skill and advanced offensive vision. He has a natural touch for the puck, able to get it under control with ease or distribute it naturally on the forehand or backhand. He can also really lean into his wrist shots, getting enough power behind them that the speed and force can cause problems for goalies. Even better, with his bulky 6'4" frame he is able to fend off defenders more effectively than most of his peers, giving him more time to scan the play unfolding around him and find more opportunities to create offense. At his best, his skill package makes him a major headache for opposing defenders to handle. He is, however, a below-average skater. Skating will never be a strength for him, but something that he can improve — and needs to focus on improving — is his pace and willingness to keep his feet moving. He also had a bad tendency last season on a stacked team to hang back and let his teammates lead the charge. There were too many shifts where he wasn't noticeable, and that inconsistency ultimately showed up in his scoring totals. The Ice are primed for another championship-contending season in 2022-23, and Geekie is expected to be a bigger part of their efforts. - DN

5 - Victor Soderstrom D AHL

Arizona has been excited about getting Söderström into its lineup, but it ended up being just 16 pointless games last season and all he had to show for it was a -7 rating. He kicked the season off with the team but was eventually sent back to the AHL and re-called for a stint in January and again in April. In between, he enjoyed his most productive AHL outing to date, even if his 19 points in 32 games was accompanied by a -12 rating. The 11^th overall pick in the 2019 draft, Söderström was drafted straight out of the SHL. He upgraded an already impressive SHL season in his draft year with an even more impressive sophomore season for Brynäs, leading many to feel he was on the fast track to a spot in the desert. His six-point performance in the 2020 WJC only helped boost this impression. Alas, it’s been somewhat slow cooking since arriving in North America.A very confident player with the puck on his stick, Söderström has spent considerable time on learning and reinforcing his habits without the puck. His competitiveness continues to be one of his strongest traits. When suiting up for Arizona this past season, he never once saw less than 11:45 of ice time and only saw less than 15:20 minutes in two of his 16 outings. In a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, he chalked up over 20 minutes of ice time. As such, the question has not been whether he’s ready and willing to take a regular shift, but rather just how much he has to gain from an all-round perspective playing with a still growing club in the NHL when he could be an all-purpose player in the AHL. For now, Arizona will be going to camp with a spot open for Söderström right from the beginning, so opportunity abounds. - CL

6 - Josh Doan RW US

At face value, the selection of Josh Doan near the top of the second round at the 2021 NHL draft looked more like an organization hoping to please its fans than an organization looking to select the absolute best player available. Doan had gone undrafted in his first year of draft eligibility and was selected by the Coyotes after a 70-point campaign with the USHL’s Chicago Steel. But after a freshman year at Arizona State that saw Doan rank among the team’s top scorers, the Coyotes’ choice is looking wiser and wiser. In his first year in the NCAA, Doan began to show why he was such a high selection at the 2021 draft. Despite the lofty expectations that come with his name in Arizona, Doan’s game stands on its own merit. Doan has an active motor and wants to be the focal point of every shift. Offensively, his shot is his best weapon, and he’s got the ability to pick a corner on a goalie and score from a distance. He has the ability to fire strong shots from less than opportune angles, and his goal-scoring is his most translatable NHL tool. Doan also is comfortable with the physical side of the game, and he’s growing into his six-foot-two frame, learning to better use his size to consistently win battles for pucks. Defensively, Doan is more of a work-in-progress, but he should improve that side of his game as he gets more college hockey under his belt. Doan’s skating has improved since his draft year, but it still isn’t where it needs to be for him to comfortably project to the NHL level, He still very likely has an NHL future, but adding an extra gear to his skating could mean the difference between a future in an NHL bottom-six or a chance to stick on a scoring line. - EH

7 - Jan Jenik C AHL

Jenik is another in the line of Coyotes prospects who got an extended look at the NHL level last season: the life of a pro prospect on a rebuilding team. However, this was also in part thanks to the terrific sophomore season that Jenik had in Tucson. If you recall, Jenik was in the midst of a breakout season in the OHL nearly three years ago (pre pandemic), before injuring his knee at the World Junior Championships. This set him back a bit and his first pro season was somewhat turbulent. However, last year was a major step forward for the competitive center. Jenik has a very well-rounded profile. He is skilled and can beat defenders one on one to create time and space. He is quick and can drive the pace of play. He competes hard at both ends of the ice and can be utilized in any situation. As such, Jenik looks like a really solid bet to become a dependable middle six forward for Arizona in the next year or two. At the NHL level last year, Jenik played on the wing, but at the AHL level he played down the middle. This coming season, there is definitely an opportunity for him to grab one of Arizona’s top three center spots, along with Barrett Hayton and Travis Boyd. Worst case scenario, he splits the year between the NHL and AHL before being ready full time in 2023-24. - BO

8 - Maveric Lamoureux D QMJHL

At 6’7’’, it’s not surprising to see scouts drooling about what a defenseman like Lamoureux could become at the NHL level. Lamoureux impresses with his size, ferocity, and ability to skate very well for his aforementioned size. On the flip side, he should look to become more consistent in his game as he can make frequent mistakes defensively. Physically, his potential is immense. He can dominate down low by pushing around the opposition. He takes away space so well. However, his reads and reaction time need work if he wants to become a quality defensive player at the NHL level. As an offensive player, he can lead the attack, however, his reads are inconsistent, and turnovers can be an issue. Even though he possesses the potential to be an offensive catalyst, he is currently at his best when he keeps things simple. Did the Coyotes reach by selecting Lamoureux in the first round? It is way too early to make that assumption. His development could take a lot of different forms because of his athletic tools. Eyes will be fixed on him in Drummondville this season as he looks to help the Voltigeurs to a better record and become one of the Q’s top two-way defenders. - EB

9 - Artyom Duda D Russia

It’s hard to find a lot of prospects that would seem to me as controversial in terms of the game style as Artyom Duda. He is really enjoyable to watch in the attacking zone (especially when orchestrating the powerplay), as he got the skating, puck skills and a very dangerous shot. When it comes to his all-around game, I’d say watching him can be even annoying, as he leaves an impression that his game style is too relaxed and lacks intensity, which is not something you can get away with outside of the junior level. Still if we look at this season the positive side of him clearly prevailed, as his offensive production was just outstanding and that convinced the Coyotes management to draft him relatively early – at the start of the second round of the 2022 NHL draft. Considering the concerns that I have described above it would be very interesting to see Duda playing at least on the VHL level next season, but unfortunately, judging by the preseason it is not something guaranteed at all. If I understood correctly, he still has two more seasons on the current KHL contract, so the Coyotes fans will have to wait a bit, but at least at that point it might be clearer what we are getting in him and how his development is going, still I think it would be fair to say that we can have a Top4 NHL defenseman potential in our mind.

10 - John Farinacci C US

While John Farinacci’s development track hasn’t been the smoothest ride — just one look at his 2020-21 season confirms that — he has made steady progress since being drafted 76th overall at the 2019 draft, and he’s one of many quality Coyotes prospects currently playing college hockey. Farinacci has been a useful player at Harvard, but he hasn’t truly cemented himself as a high-end college player the way his teammates, fellow NHL prospects such as Matthew Coronato and Sean Farrell, have. There are positives and negatives to the outlook and projection of players who play specific roles in college, and Farinacci’s game is no different. On one hand, Farinacci is playing the sort of role he’s likely to occupy as a pro, getting extensive experience in the situations he’ll be asked to handle in pro hockey. He’s a leading penalty killer, and he’s a bit of a Swiss army knife, playing a versatile enough game to fill in the gaps anywhere he’s asked. The result of this is Farinacci should have a relatively easy time meeting the expectations of the professional game. But the downside associated with his college role has been that his upside as a pro player remains relatively limited. Beyond a decent shot that’s allowed him to score double-digit goals in each of his two college seasons, Farinacci lacks the offensive tools that will lead him to reliably create offense at the next level. There’s no separation gear to Farinacci’s game, and when he does go on the attack he doesn’t deceive or manipulate defenders, he doesn’t have the sort of habits that give confidence that his offense will translate to more difficult levels of hockey. The other aspects of his game will have to carry him, and to what degree his offense carries from college to pro hockey will determine his likelihood of having an NHL career. - EH

11 - Julian Lutz

The big German winger’s draft year was a disaster because of injuries; however, he remained a high pick for a reason. His combination of size, speed, and scoring ability make him a potential NHL player.

12 - Jack McBain

The Coyotes acquired the rights to McBain after a terrific senior year at Boston College. He should make an immediate impact for the Coyotes in their bottom six with his size and physicality.

13 - Nathan Smith

Similar to McBain, Smith had his rights acquired by the Coyotes and then immediately joined the team to finish the season. An intelligent two-way forward, he profiles as a future middle six player for Arizona.

14 - Vladislav Kolyachonok

The Belarussian defender split last season between Arizona and the AHL and could be positioned for a full-time role this year. His mobility is a major asset in the defensive end as he can be aggressive in closing quickly on attackers.

15 - Ivan Prosvetov

The massive netminder likely has the inside track at the back-up job behind Vejmelka this season after three (somewhat inconsistent) years in Tucson.

16 - Conor Timmins

Injuries have derailed a once promising career and Timmins has struggled to remain healthy as a pro so far. This coming season is a big one for the former Soo Greyhound standout.

17 - Aku Raty

Raty showed great improvement in Liiga last season, and the expectation is that his offensive game will continue to blossom. The former 5th round pick is a potential bottom six player for Arizona because of his strong off puck play.

18 - Rasmus Korhonen

The 6’5 netminder will try to establish himself as a full time Liiga player this year after playing out last year in Mestis (second division).

19 - Ben McCartney

McCartney was a pleasant surprise for the Coyotes last year, after a strong pro debut with Tucson. The hard-working winger is the perfect complement to more skilled players and is starting to look like a potential NHL player.

20 - Jeremy Langlois

A third-round selection of the Coyotes in 2022, Langlois is a competitive two-way defender. He will return to Cape Breton of the QMJHL and look to become one of the league’s elite defenders.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: ARIZONA COYOTES – RANK: #12 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:04:29 +0000

Arizona Coyotes

Arizona has finished with their Chayka-era punishments, and they still have four-six very interesting prospects, depending on how you define these things. Next step is improving system depth.

Dylan Guenther

Dylan Guenther - RW

The former first overall selection in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, Guenther exploded in his second full season with the Edmonton Oil Kings. This led to him becoming the 9th overall selection by Arizona, a pick acquired from Vancouver in the Oliver Ekman-Larsson trade. Guenther was an attractive piece to Arizona because of his well-rounded offensive skill set. He skates very well; he loves to have the puck on his stick as he crosses the blueline and backs down defenders well because they must respect his speed, skill, and shot. Guenther shoots the puck extremely well, with one of the most lethal releases in this year’s draft class. Guenther also possesses the creativity and hands to create for both himself and his linemates. Already at 6’1, 181lbs, Guenther also has the kind of size that is unique in skilled wingers, and this gives him an advantage in terms of leverage in puck protection.

Moving forward, Guenther will continue to improve his strength (on and off the puck), conditioning, and two-way play in order to become a reliable top six forward for the Coyotes. Look for him to return to the WHL next season where he would be a top candidate to lead the WHL in scoring with the remarkable Connor Bedard. After a really disjointed year that saw him play in only 12 WHL games, he needs to play a full year at the junior level before being a serious candidate for an NHL roster spot. After that, the sky's the limit for him as he projects as a first line NHL winger and the type of player who could contend yearly for the Art Ross Trophy and the Maurice Richard trophy. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Victor Soderstrom - D

It was an eventful season for the 2019 first round pick of the Arizona Coyotes, one that was kicked off by playing for the tradition-filled club AIK in Sweden’s second tier Allsvenskan. Soderstrom came out of the gates like gangbusters but slowed down a little bit to the tune of six points and +2 over 12 games, which had a few in the Swedish hockey scene wondering a bit after his impressive 16-point performance in the SHL the season before. His Allsvenskan season concluded with participation in the WJC, where he wore an “A” on his jersey and collected five points (all assists) in five games for a Swedish team that was knocked out by rival Finland in the quarterfinals.

A fantastic puck retriever who is incredibly confident with the puck in all situations, Arizona had Soderstrom in North America as soon as the NHL and AHL season were set to kick off. The move across the Atlantic, the first of his career, saw him start things off with the NHL club as a member of the taxi squad. A bit overwhelmed, he only got into two games with the Coyotes before being sent to their AHL affiliate for seasoning, where he ended up playing 32 games and collecting 10 points. The stint proved to be quite the learning experience, as he registered a -16 in the process, but his season did see him get into two more games with the Coyotes, where he averaged over 18 minutes of ice time per night and collected his first NHL goal and assist. There’s little doubt that Soderstrom continues to be a player Arizona will build on sooner rather than later and a summer of further upper body strengthening should have him on the fast track, perhaps as early as this fall, for a permanent roster spot. - CL

Barrett Hayton - C

It feels as if Hayton has been around forever as an NHL prospect, even if he is only 21 years of age. The former 5th overall pick and captain of Team Canada has had a fairly disjointed journey thus far. This year was no different for him. He started the year on loan in Finland, playing for Ilves, before returning to North America, where he split the season between the NHL and the AHL. At this point, the Coyotes are still waiting for Hayton’s offensive production to carry over from the OHL; he was not even at the 0.5 point per game mark this year with the Roadrunners.

However, it is way too soon to give up on this former junior star. Hayton is still a valuable prospect because of the versatility he provides. He can play in any situation or any position. He can be a net front presence because of his hands in tight and he can be an asset in puck pursuit because of his retrieval skills and puck protection ability. While his offensive upside may not be quite as high as we initially envisioned, he should still carve out a lengthy NHL career as a middle six forward. With all the moves Arizona has made this offseason, Hayton should finally secure a permanent lineup spot with the Coyotes for the upcoming season. - BO

Jan Jenik - C

Jenik had an excellent bounce back season this past year after injuring his knee at the 2020 World Junior Championships, and subsequently missing the entire second half of that year. After starting the year in Finland (much like Hayton), Jenik joined the Roadrunners when the AHL season started and performed admirably in his first pro year. He even earned a cup of coffee with Arizona and scored in both NHL games that he played in.

Jenik is a tenacious, but well-rounded offensive player. He loves to push the pace and attack in transition, exhibiting little fear as he attacks high traffic areas to put pressure on opposing defenses. Strong on his edges, Jenik is difficult to contain East/West, and the knee injury appears to have had no ill effects on his high-end agility and elusiveness. Highly skilled with the puck, Jenik is equal parts playmaker and finisher and projects as a middle six scoring option for the Coyotes. Look for him to start the season in the AHL again, and should he play well, he would earn a mid-season call up to try to secure a permanent place in the Arizona lineup. - BO

John Farinacci - C

Like a few other drafted prospects (and a few non-drafted players as well), Farinacci couldn’t play for his Ivy League team this year, as all schools under that umbrella suspended all sports due to the pandemic, so he returned to the USHL to stay active and to develop further. It worked. He only got into seven games at the league level with Muskegon, but made them count, with eight points and an off-the-puck game that was even more impressive, as he backchecked hard and demonstrated good use of a defensive stick to break up plays in his own end.

After those seven games, Farinacci left to play for Team USA at the WJC, a team he might not have made were it not for COVID-related last-minute omissions from Michigan and Boston University, but he managed to outplay a number of more highly touted players, on his way to scoring five times for the Gold Medal winning team. His goals came in a variety of looks and styles, some with brute force, some with timing, some with slick hands. Drafted with very little high-level experience to his credit, it was assumed that Farinacci would need an abundance of patience before he was ready. What he showed on a big stage last year was that he is more developed than many of us previously thought. Top six upside is still a possibility. - RW

Matias Maccelli - LW

Originally a fourth-round selection by Arizona out of the USHL, Maccelli has returned home to Finland the last two seasons and performed extremely well in Liiga with IIlves. Back-to-back 30 plus point seasons, in addition to some strong international performances, has Maccelli clawing at a roster spot with Arizona sooner, rather than later.

Maccelli’s offensive potential is huge as the 5’11 winger is a dynamo with the puck. Already one of the top offensive weapons in Finland at a young age, he is a near complete package as an offensive player. His shooting ability, creativity, quickness, and confidence with the puck are all above average. However, his play away from the puck and his decision making are still question marks. Even with Arizona rebuilding, it seems likely that Maccelli will spend some time in the AHL to start to get used to having less space to work with (having not played in North America the last two seasons), in addition to becoming a more complete player. He may just be the ultimate boom or bust prospect. If the offensive skills translate, he could be an elite top six forward. If not, he probably ends up heading back to Europe as his game is not tailored for a bottom six role. - BO

Vladislav Kolyachonok - D

A former second round selection by the Florida Panthers, Kolyachonok was acquired by Arizona recently as part of a sweetener for taking the contract of Anton Stralman, giving Florida cap relief. With the OHL on hiatus this year, Kolyachonok returned to Belarus to play in the KHL with Dinamo Minsk, where he was an everyday player. After the KHL season ended, he jumped to the AHL and finished the season with Syracuse.

Kolyachonok profiles as a reliable and suffocating defensive defender because of his strong defensive instincts and his elite mobility. Explosive in all four directions, Kolyachonok is exceptional at denying transitional attacks and at closing off space in his own zone. The question is...does he have the offensive upside to be anything more than a solid #5 who can anchor a penalty killing unit? The hope was for Kolyachonok to take a step forward in terms of offensive production and responsibility last season in Flint, but the loan to the KHL saw a reduction in both, rather than an increase. This coming season Kolyachonok will look to establish himself as a reliable two-way defender in the AHL, and if he performs well, hopefully the Coyotes can see to it that his offensive responsibilities (such as powerplay time) are increased slowly. - BO

Ivan Prosvetov - G

A massive goaltender (6’5), Prosvetov was the breakout star of the Coyotes farm system two seasons ago after a very strong pro debut with Tucson. The former Saginaw Spirit starter (OHL) followed that up with a respectable sophomore campaign that saw him act as the starter for a very weak Tucson team (he was better than the numbers would suggest). He even parlayed that into a cup of coffee with the Coyotes.

Prosvetov has always been an exciting prospect to watch because of his terrific athleticism, penchant for the highlight reel save, and his exuberant personality. The Coyotes have been working hard to help Prosvetov become less reliant on his athleticism, improving his anticipation and positioning so that he can better utilize his natural gift of size. At this point in time, the future in the Arizona crease is up for grabs. They have a fair amount of depth, but they need someone like Ivan to grab hold of a spot and prove that they can be an NHL netminder. The back-up position behind Carter Hutton will be fierce in training camp. Prosvetov will look to earn that spot, by beating out the recently acquired Josef Korenar, and continue his development at the NHL level. – BO

Josh Doan - RW

The top re-draft candidate in the 2021 draft class, Josh Doan, the son of longtime Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes legend Shane Doan, took his game to a new level this year, becoming a legitimate NHL prospect in the process. A late bloomer physically, Doan finished third in USHL scoring this year, (behind two teammates), with 70 points including 50 at even strength. The Coyotes decided, obviously, to keep it all in the family by selecting Doan early in the second round, keeping him in his home state.

He plays an assertive game with power and touch. A lot of his improvement this year can be attributed to an ability to process the game more quickly, in addition to improving his explosiveness as a skater. He is willing to play with skill at pace, allowing him to skate the puck in deep and force the defense to try to contain him. His shot is also powerful and sudden enough to beat good goalies from anywhere in the slot, which is his preferred area of attack. Committed to Arizona State for next year, it won’t take much more for him to profile as a middle six winger, with enough off-puck capability to play on a depth line as well. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Janis Moser - D

A breakout campaign in the NL (Switzerland’s top league) with EHC Biel-Bienne saw Moser enter the 2021 draft as one of the top re-entry candidates in his final year of draft eligibility. The Arizona Coyotes were obviously impressed with his star-studded turn in Switzerland (and his performance internationally) as they selected him in the second round. His offensive production (30 points in 48 games), in combination with his impact at both ends, saw him complete one of the most impressive, if not the most impressive, U21 season in league history.

Moser combines excellent sense and vision with strong mobility to be an impact player at both ends. While there is no question that he will likely need to bulk up to be a quality NHL player (currently listed at 172lbs), Moser does have the potential to be an impact, all situations defender for the Coyotes in the relatively near future. He has already inked his ELC with Arizona and is likely to make a push for a roster spot at the Coyotes’ upcoming training camp. This is a rebuilding club, so it would be shocking to see Moser go the entire season without seeing some sort of NHL action. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Kyle Capobianco - D

Now 24, this is a make-or-break season for the smooth skating, two-way defender as he gets (presumably) his final chance to crack the Coyotes roster full time. Given the state of the team’s rebuild, it seems likely that he does, but can he prove himself worthy of a spot long term?

Ty Emberson - D

Emberson turned pro this past season after captaining the Wisconsin Badgers as a junior. His offensive game has never truly developed, but he is a right shot defender with size, mobility, and physicality. After a few AHL seasons, he could push for a spot on Arizona’s third pairing.

Aku Raty - RW

The brother of 2021 selection Aatu, Aku is a hard-working two-way winger out of the Karpat program in Finland. His development stalled a bit this past season, but he will return to Liiga this year and look to take on more offensive responsibility to prove to Arizona that he deserves an ELC.

Carson Bantle - LW

2020/21 was a year to forget for the lanky winger as he struggled in his freshman year for Michigan Tech. So much so that he has transferred to Wisconsin. Drafted as a long-term project, the Coyotes are going to need to wait a few years to see what they have in Bantle.

Liam Kirk - LW

Talk about a breakout performance! Liam Kirk was the talk of the World Championships after scoring 7 goals for Great Britain, earning him an ELC with Arizona. The former Peterborough Pete can really shoot the puck and he will try to make an impact as a rookie in the AHL this coming season.

WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – FINLAND: Well Balanced Team with Medal Aspirations

Marco Bombino — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 15:28:16 +0000

Team Outlook

Finland has a team with all the elements to achieve a very good result at the World Juniors. Their defense is versatile with different types of players, they have enough offensive firepower to compete against the toughest opponents, and goaltending shouldn't be an issue either.

Joel Blomqvist is the favorite for the starter's role in net. The Pittsburgh Penguins second round pick has split this season between Finland’s top two leagues, the Liiga and Mestis. He is a technically sound netminder who displays a calm demeanour. A very good skater, he moves quickly post to post and across the crease. His rebound control is also an asset.

The other two goalies are Kari Piiroinen and Roope Taponen, both of whom have spent the season in Mestis. Piiroinen, who played against Kazakhstan at the 2020 World Juniors, has improved steadily over the course of the season. Taponen has posted very good numbers, albeit behind a strong defense. He is a consistent goalie with athleticism and quick reactions.

On defense, I would expect Ville Heinola and Topi Niemela to form the first pairing, just like at the national team camp in July. They were really good in the two intrasquad games. Both should get a lot of power play time at the World Juniors. In that July event, I also thought that Santeri Hatakka and Eemil Viro played very well on the same pairing. Viro particularly stood out due to his physicality and puck moving abilities.

Additionally, I would not be surprised if Kasper Puutio ends up being a top four defenseman on the Finnish squad. The Florida Panthers prospect has the good mobility and versatility to play in any situation. He makes accurate outlet passes, facilitates zone exits, and shows a smart head for the game.

Mikko Kokkonen, Ruben Rafkin and Matias Rajaniemi complete the defense. I think they are more defensive minded than the other five defensemen discussed above. All three should be able to handle their defensive responsibilities. Rafkin, who surprisingly went undrafted this year, has played quite well for TPS in the Liiga. He likely won't have a very big role on the Finnish team, but he is available to take part in the 2022 World Juniors as well.

At forward, there are a lot of interesting players, yet not much previous World Juniors experience. Aku Raty is the only returning forward, with Antti Saarela being sidelined due to injury and Patrik Puistola and Aatu Raty surprisingly left off the roster.

There are a lot of options at center. Captain Anton Lundell, who played in the 2019 WJC but missed last year’s tournament due to an untimely injury, will likely center the first line. Juuso Parssinen, Samuel Helenius, Roni Hirvonen and Henri Nikkanen have also been playing center this season, but one of them will have to move to the wing for the tournament. My bet would be Hirvonen, as he has played the majority of the 2019-20 season on the wing.

On the wing, Roby Jarventie, Kasper Simontaival and Aku Raty are the ones with the best offensive abilities. That being said, Mikael Pyyhtia could surprise some people due to his versatility. Undrafted Petteri Puhakka has speed, skill and could be effective in middle-six role. Boston Bruins prospect Matias Mantykivi is a very skilled player and has smarts but lacks in skating speed. Mikko Petman is a very physical player with a heavy shot and brings sandpaper and grit to the team.

The Finnish team, coached by Antti Pennanen, will play in Group A which also includes Canada, Germany, Slovakia and Switzerland. Canada is the clear-cut favorite to win the group, that goes without saying. The Finns shouldn't underestimate the other three opponents either. Germany has some very talented, high-end forwards, Switzerland usually has a speedy and very hard-working team, and the Slovaks have a better team than last year on paper. The Finns do have a great opportunity to finish at least second in the group which would put them in a good position for the quarterfinals.

Ville Heinola, Aku Räty of Finland during the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship game between Finland and Slovakia on December 28, 2019 in Trinec.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN

Players to Watch (in no particular order)

Ville Heinola

Heinola is a poised and skilled defenseman who excels on the power play. He processes the game quickly, he is an excellent problem solver and reads the game really well. He is calm with the puck and has the patience to look for a good passing lane – he moves the puck in a timely manner. He can deceive opponents with head fakes and subtle moves. He is not a high-end skater or the most dynamic player, but he is smart, cunning and makes a lot of plays. He keeps tight gaps and defends well with his stick. The Winnipeg Jets prospect is the lone player on the Finnish team with NHL experience, having played in eight games for the Jets in 2019. After a strong start to the 2019-20 season and a short stint in the AHL, he returned to Lukko in Finland, and didn't live up to the expectations in the second half. But he has been excellent this season, racking up assists and playing with greater consistency than ever.

Topi Niemela

Niemela is a mobile offensive defenseman who shows impressive maturity for his age. He is smooth with the puck and can start the play up the ice by carrying it or giving crisp, accurate passes to the forwards. His skating is high end. He has a quick first step, strong balance and he moves well laterally. He is eager to shoot and gets shots past the first defender regularly. His shot isn't a cannon, but he can pick his spots well. Defensively, he keeps tight gaps and actively uses his stick to break up plays. He plays with his head on a swivel and shows awareness of his surroundings. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has great tools and as he improves his physicality in the coming years and gains more experience at the pro level, we will see an even more complete player. As for the World Juniors, it wouldn't surprise me if he already were the top Finnish defenseman.

Roni Hirvonen

Hirvonen has been very good offensively in the Liiga this season. The Assat center is dangerous with the puck and creates a lot of trouble for defensemen. He is creative and crafty, has quick hands, and the ability to stickhandle in small spaces. He can dangle opponents and create space for himself and his teammates. He is a good finisher with a quick and accurate shot. Another thing that makes him valuable to his team is defensive reliability. He shows a lot of effort without the puck, regularly skates hard back to his own end, and is committed to playing for the team. He reads the game really well and makes the right decisions. The Toronto Maple Leafs second round pick has been playing consistently well for the national teams over the last few years and given how well he has started the season, I expect a strong performance from him at the World Juniors.

Roby Jarventie

Jarventie has been one of the top rookies in the Liiga this season. His chemistry with Arizona Coyotes prospect Matias Maccelli has been quite seamless as they are dangerous in offensive transitions and complement each other's skill sets well. Jarventie is a very skilled goal-scorer who can finish from close range or further out. The winger is cunning in the offensive zone and gets to spots where he can be a scoring threat. He has a lot of puck skill and his hands are quick and smooth. His skating features a great combination of agility and fluidity, and his top speed is very good. In order to become a more complete player, he will need to be more involved defensively and more consistent, not only game to game, but also within a game. Despite those shortcomings, the Ottawa Senators prospect should have a big role on the Finnish team at the World Juniors. His shooting ability is a real asset that should be utilized on the power play.

Juuso Parssinen

Parssinen is a skilled and intelligent center who battles responsibly in all three zones. He shows awareness, has good vision and quality passing skills, enabling him to make flashy plays quite often. He has good playmaking skills, as well as a potent, accurate wrist shot. His skating is not holding him back, but I wouldn't call it an asset either. He needs to improve both acceleration and top speed. However, he reads the game well and knows where to go, compensating for a lack of explosiveness and initial burst. He was very impressive in the Liiga last season after being promoted from the U20 league. However, this season hasn't been as encouraging. His confidence seems to be lost which is concerning. On a more positive note, he has been putting up points and improving at face-offs. The World Juniors will be very important for the Nashville Predators prospect – if he manages to play a strong tournament, it could give him much needed confidence for the remainder of the season.

Santeri Hatakka

Hatakka is one of the five returning Finnish players from the 2020 World Juniors, where he played a steady defensive game and did his job well. I have been impressed with his development in the Liiga this season. His assertiveness and willingness to battle stand out. The San Jose Sharks prospect defends well in tight areas and uses his physical attributes to his advantage. He is a great skater, he moves well in all directions, and can skate with the puck up the ice. Furthermore, his decision making with the puck has improved. He does not rack up points often, but he doesn't necessarily have to, because he is so strong defensively. Hatakka will be a big part of the Finnish defense at the World Juniors. I expect him to play a lot on the penalty kill and manage well in battle situations.

Brad Lambert

Lambert is considered one of the most talented players in his age-group and is already discussed as the potential first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, alongside Canadians Shane Wright and Matthew Savoie. Lambert is a dynamic and highly skilled forward. He has a quick first step, explosive speed, and he accelerates well with his crossovers. At times he looks faster with the puck than without it. He has an accurate wrist shot with a quick release, and he can shoot in stride and beat goalies cleanly even from a distance – a scoring threat whenever he is on the ice. Lambert has been quite impressive as a rookie in the Liiga. I think he has progressed defensively and become stronger in board and corner battles, where he can hold his own and won't give up the puck easily. I hope he will be given power play opportunities at the World Juniors as he has a terrific shot and exceptional puck skills.

Eemil Viro

Viro is a mobile defenseman with a strong blend of puck skill and physicality. A steady and reliable puck mover, he makes accurate passes that are easy to receive. He is a powerful skater with good acceleration and can carry the puck from his own end. He is agile, he can make quick changes of direction to shake off forecheckers, giving him more space to make a play. He also displays very good edge work. In his own end, he is strong physically. He battles hard and doesn’t give up an inch. He is willing to pay the price to win one-on-one battles and he recognizes when to pressure and when to contain opponents. He has performed well with TPS in the Liiga this season, contributing offensively, and his ice time has gone up more than three minutes per game from the past campaign. Keep an eye on this Detroit Red Wings third rounder.

Anton Lundell

Lundell has been excellent in the Liiga this season, scoring goals at an remarkable pace and continuing his impressive two-way game. He has been generating plenty of offensive opportunities and he has capitalized on his scoring chances at a good rate. His confidence level has been very high throughout the season. In addition to his offensive abilities, he has demonstrated the ability to play responsibly without the puck. Not only does he read the game very well, but he is also able to anticipate from time to time and take advantage of it. Additionally, his skating, which has required work, has improved since the past season. The Florida Panthers prospect has smoothed out his stride and he looks quicker as well. After missing last year's World Juniors due to injury, he will captain the Finnish team at the event this year.

Aku Raty

Raty has appeared in only two Liiga games this season after returning from an injury that occurred in September. Despite not playing a whole lot, I think it would have been surprising if he had been left off the World Juniors team. He was very good in last year's tournament, playing an energetic, dependable game and recording three points in a fourth-line role. The Arizona Coyotes prospect is a hard-working, relentless winger with speed and skill. He causes opponents trouble as he is active away from the puck and keeps his feet moving. He takes away time and space and his checking game is effective. Offensively, he sees the ice well, moves pucks into good spots, and makes plays. He uses cutbacks well while protecting the puck along the boards, changing direction on a dime. Raty is the kind of a player that can be trusted in any game situation.

Surprise Player – Mikael Pyyhtia

Pyyhtia has only two pro games under his belt, but he has been one of the top players for TPS U20 over the last two seasons. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect is an all-around forward with smarts, skill, and poise. He sees the ice well, reads the game and rarely makes a bad decision – reliable with and without the puck. He has a fluid stride, quick feet, and reaches a good top speed. Even if his ice-time is limited at the World Juniors, I think he could turn some heads. I don't think he has any one attribute that stands out the most, but he is versatile and good in all areas of the game.