Alec Regula – McKeen's Hockey

AHL: Hall: 11 Prospects in Make-or-Break Seasons

Dave Hall — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:57:11 +0000

_{LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 03: Los Angeles Kings Left Wing Alex Turcotte (38) celebrates a goal during a game between the New Jersey Devil and the Los Angeles Kings on March 3rd, 2024 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Rob Curtis/Icon Sportswire)}

A tale as old as time: a promising former junior star struggling to make the leap to the NHL.

Each year, some players see their dreams slip further out of reach, whether due to injuries, a failure to adapt their game, or simply falling out of favour with their team.

The pressure intensifies when a prospect reaches the ages of 24 to 26. Whether fair or not, hockey seems to have an unspoken rule: if a player hasn't solidified their spot by this age, the window to realize their potential begins to close rapidly. While a few defy the odds and break through the pattern, the margin for error narrows considerably.

Time may be on the verge of running out for these NHL hopefuls. Here’s a look at some players battling to keep their dreams alive as they approach one of their final opportunities to crack an NHL lineup.

Kole Lind, 25, Dallas Stars

Kole Lind, originally drafted 33rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks, has yet to implant his game at the NHL level. He is nearly 26, and with just 31 games on his resume, that dream is fading away by the day. Despite the lack of opportunity, his play in the AHL has steadily improved, going from a 17-point rookie campaign to subsequent seasons of 44, 35 (in just 46 games), 62, and most recently, 65 points. All of this is positive growth, but the question remains: can he translate this success to the NHL?

Now part of the Dallas Stars organization, Lind will be competing against names like Logan Stankoven and Colin Blackwell on the right side, with the likely scenario being that he remains a valuable call-up option rather than securing a permanent roster spot. Yet, given the lack of current depth on the wing in Dallas, the prospect of him seeing games doesn’t feel too far-fetched.

Valtteri Puustinen, 25, Pittsburgh Penguins

Valtteri Puustinen, a 2019 seventh-round pick, has defied expectations by becoming a consistent producer for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, highlighted by back-to-back 20-goal campaigns. Heck, he even posted 20 points in 53 NHL games during his only true audition last year (2023-24).

His play earned him a two-year extension, and at 25, Puustinen feels on the verge of becoming a fringe NHL player. However, his defensive acumen and play off the puck need polishing to establish trust with head coach Mike Sullivan. While a return to the minors seems likely, the time is now for Puustinen to make his move toward becoming a full-time NHL player.

Jett Woo, 24, Vancouver Canucks

Jett Woo, once known for his high-powered offensive ability in junior hockey, has struggled to maintain that form at the pro level. At one point, he was even utilized as a fourth-line winger. Slowly but surely, Woo has grown his game, though, posting improved point totals in consecutive seasons, including a career-high 31 points last season.

Now 24, Woo has become known more for his physical, hard-nosed style of play rather than his offensive contributions. He has placed himself in a position to be one of the Canucks’ top call-up options on the right side, but whether he can stick in the NHL remains to be seen. The reality of him becoming a full-time AHLer is becoming increasingly obvious with each season.

Alec Regula, 24, Boston Bruins

Alec Regula, a right-shot defender with a large 6-foot-4 frame, was selected in the third round of the 2018 draft. That pick was soon followed with high hopes after a career-high 60-point season with the London Knights in his draft-plus-two year. However, Regula’s career has been marred by inconsistency and injury since turning pro.

Now, after consecutive seasons focused primarily on AHL reps, Regula is trending in the right direction and could contribute at the NHL level soon. However, a recent summer surgery may derail his chances this season, but as a right-shot defender, his options will likely remain open a bit longer.

Raphaël Lavoie, 24, Edmonton Oilers

Raphaël Lavoie’s skillset puts him in a challenging spot when it comes to fitting into the Edmonton Oilers scheme. Known for his booming, NHL-caliber shot, the Quebec native has made a name for himself with his offensive contributions, scoring 71 goals across 202 AHL games.

However, his lack of foot speed and dynamic ability creates a dead-end road to evolving into a bottom-six role, which feels like his only pathway toward carving a spot within this team. At 24 years old, Lavoie may need an injury to a top-six player to get his shot at the NHL level, or perhaps a change of scenery where his offensive skills can be better utilized.

Alex Turcotte, 23, Akil Thomas, 24 & Samuel Fagemo, 24, Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have long been lauded for their deep prospect pool, but at some point, these youngsters have to prove themselves, right? Sitting atop those expectations is Alex Turcotte, who has yet to truly establish himself since being drafted fifth overall in 2019. Injuries have played their part, but given the pedigree, his 0.67 point-per-game clip at the AHL level doesn’t necessarily scream top-5 pick. With his sights set on making the NHL team out of camp, the time for him to bring his A-game is now.

While their pedigree may not be as high, Akil Thomas and Samuel Fagemo, both 24, are also feeling the pressure to translate their AHL success to the NHL. Both players showcase two varying playing styles. With Thomas much more ready to provide bottom-six minutes, the time is ticking for both to take that next leap in development. Fagemo has proven his ability to score at the AHL level, so now it’s time to take that release to the pro level.

Adam Beckman, 23, New Jersey Devils

Adam Beckman, a third-round pick by the Minnesota Wild in 2019, had a standout junior career, including a 107-point season with the Spokane Chiefs. However, his transition to pro hockey has sung a slightly different tune, with just 108 points in 181 AHL games and only three assists in 23 NHL games.

This summer, Beckman was given a fresh start with the New Jersey Devils in a trade, but he faces stiff competition on a young and talented Devils roster. At this point, his best chance may come as a top call-up option, but at 23, time is running out for him to establish himself as a full-time NHL contributor.

Grigori Denisenko, 24, Vegas Golden Knights

Grigori Denisenko appeared to get the fresh start he needed after being plucked off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights early into the 2023-24 season. In Florida’s system, he managed just 63 points in 101 AHL games over three years and was soon on track to become a potential first-round disappointment. In Vegas, however, his game enjoyed some rejuvenation, nearly matching his previous three-season total combined, with 56 points in 65 games.

Despite his improved play, Denisenko, now 24, faces an uphill battle to crack the Golden Knights’ roster, especially given their depth. With only 32 NHL games under his belt, he’ll need to make his mark soon if he hopes to secure a spot in the league.

Trey Fix-Wolansky, 25, Columbus Blue Jackets

Trey Fix-Wolansky has everything you want in a middle-six forward: speed, work ethic, and consistent production at every level he’s played. Everything, that is, except size, since he is just 5-foot-7. At 25 years old, the window is closing for him to make a permanent jump to the NHL. Despite his size, Fix-Wolansky has proven himself to be a formidable player, and with a new coach in Columbus, he may still have a shot at breaking through. However, how many more 60-point AHL seasons will it take for him to earn that permanent role, if ever?

Playing Blue Jackets hockey is still well on his radar, and if a teetering AHL tweener is all the upside he has, then he’s not the worst player to have in that role. The problem is, with 224 AHL games under his belt, he’s trending awfully close to being considered a league veteran, which has put a long list of players without a chair in North America over recent years.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #31

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:00:05 +0000

_{BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: Boston Bruins right wing Fabian Lysell (10) eyes a face off during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers on September 24, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 31st (Previous Rank - 27th)
GM: Don Sweeney Hired: May 2015
COACH: Jim Montgomery Hired: July 2022

In their first season without the services of long-time leader Patrice Bergeron, the Boston Bruins faced the daunting probability of taking a step back and missing the postseason for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign. Contrary to that belief, the Bruins exceeded expectations, finishing with the fifth-highest point total in the league (109) to comfortably extend their playoff streak to eight years.

The 2023-24 season saw unexpected contributions from some of their younger players, particularly Matthew Poitras, who burst out of training camp to secure a roster spot as a 19-year-old. Despite having his season cut short due to shoulder surgery, he contributed five goals and 15 points in 33 games and fast-tracked his development as a vital piece to this club’s immediate short-term plans. Alongside him, Mason Lohrei and Jonathan Beecher took significant steps in their development, with all three playing 30-plus NHL games to help usher in a new era of Bruins hockey. All three are expected to be graduated and permanent members of the 2024-25 installment.

This influx of youth came at a critical time for Boston. With just four picks, the 2024 draft was the Bruins' lightest in four years, and they emerged with only one prospect to garner any real NHL potential for the future. Dean Letourneau, selected 25th overall, brings intriguing potential and currently ranks 138th in McKeen’s prospect ranking. Yet, with his experience limited to high school hockey, even he remains more unknown than typical first-rounders. Whether he develops into a steal or a bust at 25th overall remains a giant question mark.

Waiting in their depth, the club does have Fabian Lysell, who’s ranked 74th by McKeen’s. The 21-year-old winger is coming off a positive AHL sophomore season, where he averaged nearly a point per game to finish with 50 points (15 G, 35 A) in 56 games—sixth among U22 skaters. Additionally, Georgii Merkulov, ranked 183rd, saw his first cup of coffee in the NHL last year, suiting up in four games.

For now, Boston remains focused on their current roster, built around a core featuring Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and goaltender Jeremy Swayman. With their prospect pool ranking near the bottom of the league, the Bruins continue to tread water while waiting for reinforcements.

Boston Bruins Top-15 Prospects

1. Fabian Lysell

Lysell made some waves last year, for both good and bad reasons, but he is unquestionably Boston’s best prospect currently because of his significant offensive upside. On the positive end of things, he’s such a dangerous player in transition because of his speed and playmaking ability. He can create something out of nothing and he puts opposing defenders in a tough spot with his ability to attack with pace. On the negative end, his play away from the puck and his decision making with the puck were called into question this past year by scouts and even his own coach. It’s the reason why he has yet to play an NHL game despite producing at a great clip in his second AHL season. The upcoming Boston training camp will be a big one for Lysell to prove that he can make adjustments and play more of a team-oriented game.

2. Dean Letourneau

A major wild card heading into the 2024 NHL Draft, Letourneau ended up getting selected 25th overall by the Bruins. The massive forward is a major long-term project, but one with significant upside. Playing out of St. Andrew’s College (in the same AAA loop as Shattuck St. Mary’s), Letourneau was a wild card because how he would adjust to playing against better competition and he remains a mystery for that very reason. However, his combination of size and skill was just too much for Boston to pass up. His skating continues to make positive gains and he can really rifle the puck. As he fills out his frame, will his off puck play and physical engagement level become more consistent? Originally slated to play in the USHL for a season before heading to Boston College, Letourneau has accelerated his studies and will now suit up this coming year for the Eagles. His freshman year is sure to be heavily scrutinized.

3. Brandon Bussi

Barely eligible for this list based on his age (26), Bussi needs to be in the conversation as among the top young netminders outside of the NHL. His strong play with Providence is the reason why Boston felt so comfortable moving Linus Ullmark. The big, 6-foot-4 Bussi has a penchant for the highlight reel save; his play tracking ability and in crease movement are terrific. Pucks stick to him well, too, as he limits second chance opportunities. But what happens to Bussi this coming season? Joonas Korpisalo came over in the Ullmark trade and he will have the inside track (given his experience) at the backup role behind Swayman. However, Bussi will also require waivers to send to the AHL and there’s absolutely no chance he gets through given his pro performance thus far. Quite the dilemma.

4. Georgi Merkulov

Merkulov continued to produce for Providence in his sophomore season, inching close to the point per game mark. The dynamic forward is a potential scoring line forward for the Bruins in the near future. Heading into the year, the Bruins wanted Merkulov to focus on improving his off puck play and defensive zone coverage to help him stick as a center at the NHL level. By adding strength and increasing his intensity level, he was able to do that. This has made him a more consistent play driver; he’s now fully able to take advantage of his gifts as a creative playmaker. In a nutshell, he looks pro ready and should push for a permanent roster spot next season, providing Boston some depth and flexibility given the losses of DeBrusk and JVR. He should be in the mix for a top nine role during training camp.

5. John Farinacci

Poached from the Arizona Coyotes’ system after Farinacci played his senior year at Harvard in order to become a free agent, Arizona’s loss was Boston’s gain. Farinacci was as advertised with AHL Providence last year, playing a strong two-way game while chipping in offensively from time to time. He’s not the most dynamic offensive player, but he is incredibly efficient because of his off puck play and three zone awareness. He does almost everything well, but nothing elite. For that reason, he’s not likely to be a top six forward, with Farinacci’s future almost assured to be in the bottom six, but he could be a long-time fixture on the Bruins and eventually develop into a coaches’ favourite. One would expect him to earn games at the NHL level this year.

6. Oskar Jellvik

Lost in the hype machine at Boston College last year, Jellvik quietly had a tremendous sophomore season playing alongside Cutter Gauthier on BC’s other scoring line (outside of the NTDP trio). A playmaking winger, Jellvik oozes skill and creativity as he darts in and out of traffic to create time and space for himself and linemates. He consistently extends plays and has shown the previous season that he has the potential to be a scoring line forward at the NHL level if he can continue to develop at the collegiate level. With some graduations at BC, he could be in for a breakout year at the NCAA level this coming season. Boston fans should be excited about his upside and the growth shown in his game since being drafted.

7. Justin Brazeau

One of the best stories in the NHL last year. The road to the NHL has been a long one for Brazeau. The former OHL goal scoring leader didn’t even earn an NHL ELC despite being a dominant goalscorer with size because teams were concerned about his skating ability. He’s worked his way up from the ECHL, to the AHL, and now only recently earned an NHL contract from the Bruins. He was very effective to end last year for the Bruins and was pretty hard for Boston to take out of the lineup down the stretch because of his strong net front play and consistent effort away from the puck. Brazeau is still not the best skater…and he never will be. But there’s still a place in the league for power forwards like Brazeau who can find their way to the net and play a sound two-way game.

8. Riley Duran

Similar to John Farinacci, no one is expecting Riley Duran to become a future 30 goal scorer in the NHL. If he succeeds in making the Bruins roster full time, it will be in a bottom six role. However, his speed, strong work ethic, and physicality in puck pursuit make him an ideal role player in today’s NHL. He should be able to develop into a quality penalty killer at the pro level and will provide versatility to his coaches. Duran recently signed out of Providence College and will be turning pro full time this season, following his brief debut after signing at the end of last season. His offensive production as an AHL rookie should provide feedback as to how far away he is from an NHL role. It seems likely that Boston will be patient with Duran to allow him to build up confidence on the puck before pushing him into a depth role at the NHL level.

9. Michael DiPietro

Speaking of great stories, insert former top goaltending prospect Michael DiPietro. The former OHL goaltender of the year and Memorial Cup champion was cast aside by the Vancouver Canucks after a few frustrating seasons in their system. He passed through waivers and likely wasn’t even considered as a possible pick up by other NHL teams. However, the fresh start in Boston has revived DiPietro’s upside as an NHL netminder. He was consistently one of the best goaltenders in the AHL last season, splitting time with Bussi. Some players, especially goaltenders, just figure it out later in their careers and DiPietro is looking like one of those players. A fierce competitor, DiPietro’s best assets are his quickness in combination with his mental makeup. He has learned to harness his athleticism to become more composed and controlled in the crease. Will the Bruins be able to sneak DiPietro through waivers again next year after such a strong year?

10. Alec Regula

Rarely do players who have passed through waivers remain ranked inside an NHL team’s top ten prospects, but Regula had a very strong season in Providence to help keep him in Boston’s plans moving forward. They gave him a qualifying offer for that reason. Even with the signing of Nikita Zadorov, it is possible that Regula could earn a bottom pairing role or serve as a primary injury fill-in with the Bruins this year. The Taylor Hall/Nick Foligno deal with Chicago still has a chance to bear some fruit for the Bruins. 6-foot-4, 200+ pound defenders who can provide physicality while being mobile don’t grow on trees and that’s Regula’s MO. Just as stated with DiPietro, would someone bite on him this year if Boston tries to get him through waivers again?

11. Andre Gasseau

The third prospect the Bruins will have at Boston College, Gasseau is entering his junior season with the Eagles. The former NTDP player has proven to be a solid depth piece for BC in his first two years, playing a variety of roles. The big pivot is a solid two-way player and his future role in the NHL would almost assuredly be in the bottom six, that said, Boston will be looking for him to take on more offensive responsibility at the NCAA level first.

12. Trevor Kuntar

A physical, strong shooting, power center, Kuntar is coming off his first pro season with Providence. He was able to play a bottom six role for them and showed flashes of becoming a quality option for the Bruins down the line. The focus will be on continuing to improve his skating as he enters his sophomore pro year.

13. Dans Locmelis

The Bruins had high expectations for the Latvian pivot as he started his NCAA run with UMass last season, however his production failed to meet those expectations. This offseason, the focus has been on getting stronger and quicker. Recently, at Bruins development camp, management had great things to say about Locmelis and they are operating under the assumption that he has a breakout season as a sophomore.

14. Brett Harrison

There were definitely some concerns that Harrison’s transition to the pro level would be difficult, given his need to improve his skating and pace. That proved to be correct, as Harrison was limited to a depth role with Providence as a rookie. The former OHL standout will definitely be a long-term project for Boston.

15. Jonathan Morello

A fifth round selection by the Bruins in 2024, Morello is a very intriguing project due to his size and speed combination. He is lightning quick, plays with some jam, and shows upside as a goal scorer. After playing in the OJHL previously, Morello will suit up for Dubuque of the USHL next year before making a larger jump to Clarkson the following season

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #27 Boston Bruins – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Wed, 29 May 2024 21:07:47 +0000

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: Boston Bruins right wing Fabian Lysell (10) eyes a face off during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers on September 24, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

The Bruins successfully transitioned to the new era without Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, both retired. They finished with 109 points, good for seventh in the league after setting records the previous season with 135. They once again advanced to the second round of the playoffs, only to fall to the Florida Panthers once again. GM Don Sweeney was quite reserved this season, after moving out a lot of draft capital last year prior to the 2023 playoffs, including their first three picks this year. He moved two first round picks (2023 and 2024), a second (2025), third (2024), and a fourth round (2025) picks for Tyler Bertuzzi, Dmitri Orlov and Garnet Hathaway, who all moved on after the season. The draining of all that fresh blood into the system meant the remaining prospects and younger players had an opportunity to step up and the Bruins saw their first graduations in a few seasons. John Beecher and Mason Lohrei, both established themselves in the line-up this season.

The new core of their team is just entering their prime in David Pastrnak (26-years-old), Charlie McAvoy (26) and rising star goaltender Jeremy Swayman (25), who was outstanding in the playoffs. While that is an excellent base to build upon, the rest of the crew are a solid support group, and credit must be given to coach Jim Montgomery in getting the most out of them. Given low expectations going into the season, their efforts will be a confidence booster. After a quiet year, Sweeney will have some options this coming season, if not in draft picks to offer. He will look to add to that core, and the franchise is retooling for further playoff success.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Fabian Lysell	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	`21(21st)	56	15	35	50	37
2	Brandon Bussi	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	FA(3/22)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
3	Georgii Merkulov	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	FA(4/22)	67	30	35	65	20
4	John Farinacci	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	FA(8/23)	71	12	26	38	16
5	Oskar Jellvik	LW	21	5-11/175	Boston College (HE)	`21(149th)	41	13	29	42	16
6	Reid Dyck	G	20	6-3/190	Swift Current (WHL)	`22(183rd)	35	25	7	2.70	0.911
7	Justin Brazeau	RW	26	6-5/220	Providence (AHL)	FA(2/24)	49	18	19	37	14
					Boston (NHL)	FA(2/24)	19	5	2	7	2
8	Riley Duran	C	22	6-1/175	Providence (HE)	`20(182nd)	35	9	7	16	18
9	Alec Regula	D	23	6-4/211	Providence (AHL)	T(Chi-6/23)	55	4	22	26	41
10	Michael DiPietro	G	24	6-1/205	Providence (AHL)	T(Van-10/22)	30	18	9	2.51	0.918
11	Andre Gasseau	C	20	6-4/205	Boston College (HE)	`21(213th)	40	12	17	29	27
12	Trevor Kuntar	C	22	6-0/205	Providence (AHL)	`20(89th)	70	10	10	20	113
13	Dans Locmelis	C	20	6-0/170	Massachusetts (HE)	`22(119th)	30	7	7	14	4
14	Brett Harrison	C	20	6-2/189	Providence (AHL)	`21(85th)	47	5	9	14	8
15	Frederic Brunet	D	20	6-3/196	Providence (AHL)	`22(132nd)	48	2	10	12	21

1. Fabian Lysell, RW, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Lysell has made some waves this year, for both good and bad reasons, but he is unquestionably Boston’s best prospect currently because of his significant offensive upside. On the positive end of things, he’s such a dangerous player in transition because of his speed and playmaking ability. He can create something out of nothing, and he puts opposing defenders in a tough spot with his ability to attack with pace. On the negative end, his play away from the puck and his decision making with the puck have been called into question this year by scouts and even his own coach. It’s the reason why he has yet to play an NHL game despite producing at a great clip this season. Next year’s Boston training camp will be a big one for Lysell to prove that he can make adjustments and play more of a team-oriented game.

2. Brandon Bussi, G, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Barely still eligible for this list based on his age (25 turning 26), Bussi needs to be in the conversation as among the top young netminders outside of the NHL. His strong play with Providence is the reason why trade rumours have swirled around Boston’s netminders (especially Ullmark) this season. It will also be the reason why they will swirl this offseason too. The big, 6’4 Bussi has a penchant for the highlight reel save; his play tracking ability and in crease movement are terrific. At this point, given the trade rumours and Swayman’s RFA status, in combination with Bussi’s pending waiver requirements, it would be shocking to see Bussi not in the NHL next year as Boston's back-up. Due to his age, his high end upside as an NHL netminder remains a bit of a mystery, however, he looks the part of an NHL goalie in some capacity.

3. Georgii Merkulov, C, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Merkulov continues to produce for Providence, inching close to the point per game mark as an AHL sophomore. The dynamic forward is a potential scoring line forward for the Bruins in the near future. Heading into the year, the Bruins wanted Merkulov to focus on improving his off puck play and defensive zone coverage to help him stick as a center at the NHL level. By adding strength and increasing his intensity level, he’s been able to do that. In a nutshell, he looks pro ready and should push for a permanent roster spot next season, providing Boston some cap flexibility given DeBrusk and JVR’s pending UFA status. He's probably not a future leading scorer for the Bruins, but he has a chance to be a long time middle six contributor.

4. John Farinacci, C, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Poached from the Arizona Coyotes’ system after Farinacci played his senior year at Harvard in order to become a free agent, Arizona’s loss is Boston’s gain. Farinacci has been as advertised with Providence this year, playing a strong two-way game while chipping in offensively from time to time. He’s not the most dynamic offensive player, but he is incredibly efficient because of his off puck play and three zone awareness. He has focused his development the last few seasons on improving his skating and improving that further will be the key to him developing into a high end two-way NHL player. Not likely to be a top six forward, Farinacci’s future is almost assured to be in the bottom six, but he could be a long time fixture on the Bruins and eventually develop into a coaches’ favourite.

5. Oskar Jellvik, LW, Boston College (NCAA)

Lost in the hype machine at Boston College this year, Jellvik quietly had a tremendous sophomore season playing alongside Cutter Gauthier on BC’s other scoring line (outside of the NTDP trio). A playmaking winger, Jellvik oozes skill and creativity as he darts in and out of traffic to create time and space for himself and linemates. He consistently extends plays and has shown this year that he has the potential to be a scoring line forward at the NHL level if he can continue to develop at the collegiate level. This includes upgrading some of those physical tools, like strength on the puck and quickness. However, that's why he took the NCAA route, to help him improve physically. Boston fans should be excited about his upside and the growth shown in his game this year.

6. Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

“Positive progression” has been the underlying theme of the Bruins system this year and Dyck is another great example of that. Dyck struggled mightily with consistency in his draft plus one year, but he’s really transformed himself this year and has closed out the year playing some of the best hockey in the entire WHL. The 6’4” netminder has all the tools that you like to see in today’s NHL netminder. He’s athletic. He’s competitive. He makes post to post saves look easy. Dyck is currently unsigned by the Bruins, but given the progress he showed this year, they would be foolish not to offer him an ELC. Depending on what happens with his contract situation, Dyck could either turn pro or return to the WHL as an OA in hopes of impressing another NHL organization.

7. Justin Brazeau, RW, Providence Bruins (AHL)

One of the best stories in the NHL this year. The road to the NHL has been a long one for Brazeau. The former OHL goal scoring leader didn’t even earn an NHL ELC despite being a dominant goal scorer with size because teams were concerned about his skating ability. He’s worked his way up from the ECHL, to the AHL, and now only recently earned an NHL contract from the Bruins. Since then, he’s been pretty hard for Boston to take out of the lineup because of his strong net front play and consistent effort away from the puck. Brazeau is still not the best skater…and he never will be. But there’s still a place in the league for power forwards like Brazeau who can find their way to the net and play a sound two-way game.

8. Riley Duran, C, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Similar to John Farinacci, no one is expecting Riley Duran to become a future 30-goal scorer in the NHL. If he succeeds in making the Bruins roster full time, it will be in a bottom six role. However, his speed, strong work ethic, and physicality in puck pursuit make him an ideal “role player” in today’s NHL. He should be able to develop into a quality penalty killer at the pro level and will provide versatility to his coaches. Duran recently signed out of Providence College and will be turning pro next season. His offensive production as an AHL rookie should provide feedback as to how far away he is from an NHL role. It seems likely that Boston will be patient with Duran to allow him to build up confidence on the puck before pushing him into a depth role at the NHL level.

9. Alec Regula, D, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Rarely do players who have passed through waivers remain ranked inside an NHL team’s top ten prospects, but Regula has had a very strong season in Providence to help keep him in Boston’s plans moving forward. With a few defenders set to become UFA, it is possible that Regula can earn a bottom pairing role with the Bruins next year. It’s also possible that he doesn’t receive a qualifying offer and becomes a free agent. However, given his strong defensive play this year, that seems unlikely. The Taylor Hall/Nick Foligno deal with Chicago still has a chance to bear some fruit for the Bruins. 6’4”, 200+lbs defenders who can provide physicality while being mobile don’t grow on trees and that’s Regula’s MO. If he gets let go by Boston, there's a definite chance that he can catch on with another team as a bottom pairing defender.

10. Michael Dipietro, G, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Speaking of great stories and speaking of players formerly passed through waivers, insert former top goaltending prospect Michael Dipietro. The former OHL goaltender of the year and Memorial Cup champion was cast aside by the Vancouver Canucks after a few frustrating seasons in their system. The fresh start in Boston has revived Dipietro’s upside as an NHL netminder. He’s consistently been one of the best goaltenders in the AHL this year, splitting time with Bussi. Some players, especially goaltenders, just figure it out later in their careers and Dipietro looks like one of those players. A fierce competitor, Dipeitro’s best assets are his quickness in combination with his mental makeup. Will the Bruins be able to sneak Dipietro through waivers again next year after such a strong year?

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 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #27

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 20:08:04 +0000

Top 20 Boston Bruin Prospects

BRIGHTON, MA - JULY 06: Boston Bruins forward Fabian Lysell (21) waits for his turn at a drill during Boston Bruins Development Camp on July 6, 2023, at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1. Fabian Lysell

Lysell wasted no time after the Bruins selected him 21st overall in 2021. After hearing his name called, he decided to come to North America, where he has been extremely impressive so far. He spent his first season in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants, leading the team in points with 62. Last season, he was just as impressive after having move up to the AHL. Lysell’s ability to generate offense has been on full display since coming overseas, highlighted by his ability to stickhandle like the puck is on a string as well as his high-end passing skill. He’s incredibly elusive and creative but needs to pick his opportunities better. There are also some consistency concerns in his game as he seems to lose confidence in himself on occasion. If Lysell can put the pieces together, and he did that very well last year as an AHL rookie, he could very well be a top six playmaker in the near future.

2. Mason Lohrei

After going undrafted in 2019, Lohrei has been making the Bruins look good. They surprisingly called his name 58th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft and he has since responded very well, earning USHL Defenseman of the Year honours in 2020-21, leading all defenders in goals (19), assists (40), and points (59). But he wasn’t done there. He joined Ohio State University the following season and was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie Team. Last season, his final one in the NCAA ranks, didn’t have the same lustre around it, but he was playing on a weaker team. Lohrei’s two-way potential is still there. He contributes at both ends, carrying the puck well in transition, showing promising mobility, playing physically, and being trusted to be on the ice in all situations. He’s still a bit of a project and there is a need for some refinement in his game if he’s going to succeed in the NHL, but he could be a reliable bottom-pairing defender.

3. Matthew Poitras

Looking at the type of player that the Bruins value, Poitras is the perfect fit. A coach’s dream, he never takes his foot off the gas, being dependable in all scenarios, and being patient in his play. He’s not a player who is going to be overly dynamic at the next level, but he’s capable of having flashes. A recent draftee, Poitras was selected 54th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft from the OHL’s Guelph Storm. He took a big offensive step forward last season, nearly doubling his offensive output from his rookie season and finishing second in the league in assists. This largely comes from his hardworking style of play, as the puck usually ends up on his stick, which won’t happen as much as he moves up. Tenacious players tend to make it against all odds, so you can bet on Poitras reaching the NHL in due time.

4. Reilly Walsh

After splitting his draft year between the USHL’s Chicago Steel and Prep school Proctor Academy, the Devils bet on Walsh and selected him 81st in the 2017 NHL Draft. He then moved on to the NCAA with Harvard University where he spent three years, playing consistent, productive hockey without shining too brightly. He signed with the Devils and jumped to the AHL in 2020-21 where he continued that trend of consistency. After being on the trade block this season, the Bruins acquired him in the offseason, for Shane Bowers, and are looking for him to take that next step. Walsh is an offensive defender who moves very well with the puck on his stick, isn’t afraid to jump up into the rush, and has a great shot. He has quick edges and a level of deception in his game. The defender likely caps out as a bottom-line defender, but a contributing one who could see time on the power play as well.

5. Brandon Bussi

In terms of trending prospects, it’s nearly impossible to ignore Bussi at this point. An undrafted goaltender, Bussi had been biding his time, waiting for an NHL team to bet on him. After his third NCAA season with Western Michigan University, the Bruins did just that, signing him to a one-year contract as a collegiate free agent. With a .910 save percentage over his NCAA career, expectations weren’t overly high, more in line with a “let’s see” approach. He jumped to the AHL last season and was remarkable in net. He took over the Providence crease as the number-one netminder and ran with it, sitting near the top of the league in all categories. He was even named to the AHL All-Star Classic and AHL All-Rookie Team. It remains to be seen how high Bussi can climb, but he’s still young at 24 and his size, positioning, and mobility all suggest that he’s well on his way to the next level.

6. Alec Regula

Acquired recently in the Taylor Hall/Nick Foligno swap with the Chicago Blackhawks, Regula is a hulking, stay-at-home defender entering his fourth season of professional hockey. The good news for Boston is that he will be eager for a fresh start and an opportunity to establish himself as an NHL regular. The bad news is that he is no longer exempt from waivers and the team already has an extremely deep pro blueline. What ultimately ends up happening with Regula at training camp will be interesting, but there is no question that he could be a steady, third pairing defender immediately. He’s got size. He’s got reach. He’s very mobile for such a large defender. He’s an intense physical competitor. The puck skills are relatively limited. Long gone are the days where he used to play the netfront, bumper position for the London Knights on the powerplay a-la Zdeno Chara (he scored 27 goals for London in 2020). However, he definitely has a projection of an NHL defender who can pair well with a more aggressive offensive type, especially given his right shot. Boston will have to make room for him, trade him again, or risk losing him on waivers to another NHL franchise for free.

7. John Farinacci

The captain of Harvard in the NCAA, Farinacci played out his NCAA eligibility in order to earn free agent status, opting not to sign with the Arizona Coyotes who had originally selected him. Almost immediately upon earning said status, Farinacci signed with Boston, gaining status as a potential roster option for this upcoming season. He plays a polished two-way game and can find success playing a heavy style, making him a suitable bottom six candidate to start with. How much upside does Farinacci have? That remains to be seen. His shot might be his best asset as a pro, although his patience and playmaking ability did improve during his senior year. Even if he tops out as a high end third line option, Farinacci would bring a ton of value to Boston as a free agent signing. He can kill penalties, play a variety of different roles, and should move quickly through the system, helping to fill the gaps left by some of Boston’s high profile exits.

8. Georgii Merkulov

After going undrafted and relatively unnoticed in his first year of draft eligibility back in 2019, playing with the MHL’s Kapitan Stupino, Merkulov made a change. He decided to head overseas, joining the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms where he spent two seasons, going undrafted both times. He next moved on to the NCAA and Ohio State University, where he spent just one year before the Bruins swooped in and signed him as a free agent. That’s been looking like a great move so far, as Merkulov was a top player on the Providence Bruins last season. He has an excellent shot, has a knack for creating separation, and is a strong playmaker as well. He struggles in the face-off dot and his defensive awareness and effort aren’t always there, but he’s well on his way to being a secondary scoring option at the NHL level.

9. John Beecher

When the Bruins drafted Beecher back in 2019, 30th overall, he was coming off a fine season with the USNTDP and heading to the NCAA’s University of Michigan. He spent three seasons with the Wolverines, where it seemed like his development stalled, never really taking the next step in his game. Now in the AHL, he has shown some improvement with his physicality and ability to get off the wall, even chipping in offensively fairly well, but there is still concern with his lack of consistency and failure to take over games or drive a line. He tends to sit back too often, letting the play come to him. Whether or not he makes the NHL as a consistent contributor is a real question, and it’s hard to see his ceiling as more than a bottom six role player, despite his physical gifts.

10. Riley Duran

A lesser known but promising piece of the Bruins’ pool is Duran. Selected in 2020 way down at 182nd overall out of high school, the forward made the shift to the USHL the following season but didn’t take off. In 2021-22, he jumped to the NCAA where he emerged as a real prospect of note with Providence College. So much so that he was named to Team USA at the 2022 World Juniors. He has strong positioning, plays with high energy, and isn’t afraid to jump into puck battles. His skill level isn’t overly exciting - he’s more of a reliable depth player. As the Bruins tend to prefer, Duran has good size at 6-foot-2 and will continue to build strength before he reaches the next level. His ceiling isn’t very high, but he seems like a player who could plug into a third- or fourth-line role while able to play up if needed.

11. Brett Harrison

Drafted 85th overall in 2021, Harrison’s shot is a bright spot, getting a great deal of weight behind a full arsenal of shots. He does well getting to the front of the net as well. His skating stride, shot selection, and overall consistency are red flags in his game though. His development has seemed to stall since being drafted. It's hard to see him as more than a depth piece but he could cut out a bottom six role for himself if everything goes to plan.

12. Dans Locmelis

2022-23 was a coming out party for the talented Latvian center. He was among the best players in the Swedish J20 league and visibly improved his skating to become a more dangerous and consistent offensive player. He will attend UMass this year and should have a good season.

13. Jakub Lauko

Even though the offensive production wasn’t terrific at the AHL level, Lauko filled in admirably with Boston last year to help offset injuries with the big club. This coming season Lauko is no longer exempt from waivers, so it is a big year for the speedy winger.

14. Marc McLaughlin

Don’t expect McLaughlin to ever be a big-time offensive contributor as that’s not his game, but with his work ethic and defensive awareness, he profiles perfectly as a fourth line center and penalty killing anchor.

15. Trevor Kuntar

After three years at Boston College, Kuntar is turning pro this year after signing with Boston. The big, power center is a capable goal scorer but it will be interesting to see how his skating and pace translates to the pro level.

16. Andre Gasseau

A big, two-way center, Gasseau was surprisingly fantastic as a freshman with Boston College last year, flashing more offensive upside than he was perceived to have. It will be interesting to see him grow with the program and continue to develop as an offensive play driver.

17. Frederic Brunet

Even though Brunet finished second in defensive scoring in the QMJHL last year, it looks like the plan might be for him to return as an OA this upcoming season as he is currently without an ELC. Training camp performance may dictate where they start the talented offensive blueliner.

18. Oskar Jellvik

Another player in the Bruins/Boston College pipeline, Jellvik is a skilled playmaking forward who just finished his freshman year after coming over from Sweden. He remains a long term project, but one with terrific offensive upside.

19. Ryan Mast

Even though the offensive production was adequate in the OHL, don’t expect Mast to be a big-time offensive contributor at the pro level. How his defensive game transitions to the pro level this year will dictate whether he can be a long term NHL fixture on the blueline.

20. Beckett Hendrickson

The son of long time NHL forward Darby Hendrickson, Beckett is coming out of the NTDP and will be playing with Sioux Falls in the USHL this year before heading to the University of Minnesota the following year. A lunch pail type, Hendrickson will be looking to prove that he has offensive upside.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Chicago Blackhawks

Josh Bell — Thu, 25 May 2023 18:04:38 +0000

If tanking doesn’t exist in the NHL, nobody told Chicago. Kyle Davidson took over as GM in October 2021 after Stan Bowman was suspended. He has been actively emptying the roster since, moving veterans and even younger players such as Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat for draft picks. Patrick Kane finally moved on for yet more picks. It worked. The depleted roster gave it their best, but still lost a lot of games and won the Connor Bedard sweepstakes. Once the next draft is complete, they will have a robust and deep pipeline of talent to build around. They currently have eight picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 draft. They have six first round picks, and a whopping 21 picks in the first three rounds, over the next three drafts through 2025.

In his first draft, Davidson eight picks in the first three rounds, including three firsts which he used to add Kevin Korchinksi (ranked #23 by McKeen’s), Frank Nazar (#29), and Sam Rinzel (#85). They represent the 2^nd through fourth ranked Chicago prospects on our list. The #14 ranked prospect, Lukas Reichel, produced 15 points in 23 games in his NHL call up and looks to have earned a roster spot for next season. The most likely scenario is to continue to accumulate young talent. In addition to the first overall pick, they also have the #19, #35, #44, #51 and #55 picks in the first two rounds alone. They have the opportunity to package some picks to move in the order and add another premium prospect. The addition of Bedard immediately changes the trajectory of the timeline and Davidson may want to use those pieces to add younger roster players.

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 10: Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel (27) looks on during a game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Lukas Reichel

Everything that Reichel does out on the ice just seems so natural to him. Even as a yet-to-be-drafted teenager playing against men in Germany's top professional league he looked confident, comfortable, and mature well beyond his years, like he was already a seasoned veteran. That same aura followed him to the AHL and now NHL, and Chicago has to be hoping that he will be a leader as they slowly and methodically attempt to build their next Cup-contending team. He always seems to be thinking the play ahead of everyone else, always knows what his next move should be, and almost always executes his intentions successfully. He might not have the skating, shot or playmaking to become one of the very top point producers in the league, but you can expect him to be in the 50-70 point range pretty consistently, and for those seasons to start happening soon.

2. Kevin Korchinski

One of the best offensive defensemen in all junior hockey, Korchinski racked up a ridiculous amount of points this season, and isn't slowing down. However, what's important to remember about him is that there is still an enormous amount of growth potential within his game. He's still skinny and slight within his tall frame and could really increase his strength and power if he commits hard to his gym habits. There also remains a lot of work to be done with his reads, decision-making and overall puck management, as a lot of possessions for Seattle end when coming off of his stick. On one hand, those existing issues are concerning. On the other hand, though, if you look at how effective and successful he already is despite these flaws it suggests a salivating potential for just how high his ceiling might reach. The sky is the limit.

3. Frank Nazar

Nazar finally returned to action late in the season after a long injury layoff, and there was an undeniable amount of rust for him to shake off before he could really showcase why he was picked by the Blackhawks at 13th overall. Luckily for him, his Michigan team made it all the way to the Frozen Four semifinals, so he was granted a few extra opportunities to get back into the swing of things. He is an electrifying prospect because his feet are always moving, he can manipulate the puck with the best of them, and he can see the ice very well at high speeds, which includes lanes for him to attack the net himself, or opportunities to set up a teammate for a better look. He is a little on the smaller side, but he should be able to overcome that with his drive and tenacity.

4. Sam Rinzel

The Blackhawks never expected anything truly elite out of Rinzel right away, so they won't be concerned at all that his 2022-23 season was solid, though not spectacular. And they certainly won't regret taking him as high as 25^th overall. The focus has always been on his tantalizing tools, and being patient as he learns to master those tools while moving from high school hockey to the more competitive USHL, and then to a very good University of Minnesota program next year. Rangy, mobile, right-shooting defensemen hold immense value in the NHL, and teams have to pay a premium to add them or accept playing the long game in developing them. However, the signs of growth are showing, such as helping the USA win gold at the World Junior A Challenge. If Rinzel pops it won't be right away, but the wait will have been worth it.

5. Drew Commesso

Goaltending prospects don't come much steadier and more consistent than Commesso does, as evidenced by his save percentage numbers of the past four seasons. That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, as his numbers are consistently pretty good. He's a well-rounded, technically sound netminder who has neither any standout traits, nor any real notable weaknesses. Everything about his game is solid, albeit not spectacular: his play-tracking, his technique, his reflexes, his positioning, and so on. Even his size and natural net coverage is pretty average That said, sometimes that's all you need out of a goalie to win a championship. He helped his Boston University team reach the Frozen Four, only to be undone in the semifinals against Minnesota, the top-ranked team in the nation. He projects as becoming at least an NHL backup, with a starter's job not out of the question.

6. Ethan Del Mastro

Del Mastro has won gold medals playing internationally for Canada in three straight years, first at the IIHF U18s in 2021, and then the World Juniors in both 2022 and 2023. He played 20 total games across those three tournaments, and over than span he scored exactly zero goals. That's not his whole story as a prospect, but it is a good reflection of it. He's a big, responsible defender who is well-suited to a modern shutdown role, with competent skating and puck-handling abilities. He can still go old school and dish out some punishment too, though. And don't look now, but his offensive game is also coming along, scoring at a point-per-game pace with both of his teams this year, Mississauga, and Sarnia. There might not be a prospect in Chicago's pipeline who has a safer NHL floor than Del Mastro, and a top four ceiling is a realistic possibility.

7. Ilya Safonov

Safonov is a fantastic example of the value that teams can find by scouting and drafting re-entry prospects. Passed over in both 2019 and 2020, the Blackhawks took a flyer on the hulking Russian center in the 6^th round, 172^nd overall, in 2021, and right now that pick is looking incredibly shrewd. He really grew into a capable, difference-making two-way power forward in the KHL, and perhaps most impressively, he was named the captain of his team at just 21 years of age, the youngest in franchise history. He's so strong, athletic, gritty and competitive that he is a lot to handle physically, even at the hands of veteran Russian pros and former NHLers. He can chip in points as a net-front presence, though his real value comes from how well he defends and matches up against opposing lines. Chicago will do their damnedest to get him to North America as soon as they can.

8. Colton Dach

Just how good is Dach, really? It's a difficult question to answer. As a big center with plus hands and an older brother, Kirby, who is succeeding in the NHL, the profile is very exciting. However, COVID precautions limited his games in 2020-21, his Kelowna Rockets were eliminated in the opening postseason round in 2021-22, and injuries have sidelined his current season, including knocking him out of the World Juniors just three games in. He's back on the ice now, going deep into the playoffs with Seattle, but he doesn't look 100% yet and his team is deep enough and talented enough at forward to not need to rush him. Chicago might be a little concerned about whether or not all those missed games, and resultant opportunities for growth in such crucial years of his development, will hinder his long-term potential.

9. Alex Vlasic

Vlasic jumped straight into the NHL after leaving Boston University and turning pro in the spring of 2022, dressing for 15 games for a Blackhawks team that was out of the playoff hunt and wanted a closer look at one of their top prospects. While he wasn't necessarily bad in that tryout, and even scored his first career NHL goal, Chicago elected to take the safe route with his development and let him refine his game down in the AHL for most of this year, which made total sense. As expected, he used his gargantuan reach and fleet feet to provide a stout defensive presence, while also getting to work on his offensive contributions a bit, or at least more than he would have in the NHL. Whether in 2023-24 or later, Vlasic will almost certainly end up on the Hawks as a shutdown defender.

10. Nolan Allan

It should be clear by now that the Blackhawks put a premium on defensive defensemen, and Allan is the one they paid the highest price for, using the last pick of the first round in 2021 to go a little off the board and secure his rights. They undoubtedly would have had high expectations for him to grow his game in the proceeding years, though the gains so far are relatively modest. Sure, Hockey Canada brought him along for the World Juniors, and the powerhouse Seattle Thunderbirds paid a pretty penny to bring him in for their full-throttle quest for a WHL title, but he hasn't fully reached a point yet where he has been a truly top-tier player. His skating and puck movement remain a little limited, and he could stand to be more of a physical presence. That said, growth in those areas is still achievable.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:10:02 +0000

1 - Lukas Reichel LW

Like his fellow countryman and top prospect J.J. Peterka, Reichel was a standout in his first pro season in North America last year. He averaged over a point per game for Rockford of the AHL and earned a short stint in the NHL. Granted, there were some struggles at the NHL level, especially from a strength perspective, but Reichel should now understand what it takes to be a consistent offensive player at the top level. In reality, a lack of strength is the only thing holding him back from being a quality top six NHL contributor. He is skilled. He is intelligent. He skates well and continues to improve his ability to push pace and attack. He is improving his reads in all three zones and projects as a well-rounded two-way player. Like his uncle Robert, Lukas should have a long and prosperous NHL career. The Blackhawks have not made their intentions this year a secret. It is clear that they have entered full rebuild mode and will be giving Reichel every opportunity to secure a full-time role in Chicago out of training camp. If he performs well, he could get an opportunity to play with someone like Patrick Kane (as long as Kane isn’t traded) at even strength and on the powerplay. As such, Reichel is certainly a preseason Calder candidate. Long term, he has the potential to be a first line winger as part of a new generation of Blackhawks being ushered in. - BO

2 - Frank Nazar C

The Chicago Blackhawks traded a lot for the right to draft Nazar 13th overall at the 2022 NHL draft, sending former top center prospect Kirby Dach to the Montreal Canadiens in order to secure that draft pick. With his selection, Nazar instantly became the Blackhawks’ new top center prospect, and he heads to the University of Michigan next season with the expectation of being an instant impact scorer. Nazar spent his draft year at the U.S. National Team Development Program, and he had a solid year, scoring above a point-per-game rate. Nazar’s speed proved too much to handle for many USHL defenders. Nazar’s skating is his best tool overall. He’s a genuine burner, with the ability to beat defenders with his pace alone. Nazar complements his straight-line speed with strong edgework, and he has an ability to manipulate defenses with his skating that’s more advanced than his peers. Nazar’s stride looks effortless, and despite often operating at high speeds he rarely burns out and finds himself at the end of shifts without enough energy to properly compete. Nazar relies more on his feet than his hands to create offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates, but that’s not to say he has any deficiencies with the puck on his stick. He’s a quality stickhandler and his puck skills are strong enough to keep up with the pace of the game that he plays at. But while there is genuinely quite a bit of upside to Nazar’s overall profile, there is also some risk. Nazar lacks the prototypical size many scouts want to see from their NHL centers, and Nazar may need to alter some of his habits in order to thrive at the professional level. At lower levels, Nazar’s speed alone can be enough to beat defenders, but when he reaches higher levels of hockey, he’ll need to expand his overall arsenal. It’s an open question as to whether Nazar has enough of a complete game to stick at center, but what’s not up for debate is the raw potential in his game. He has a chance to become a dynamic, top-of-the-lineup offensive player, although he’s no guarantee to realize that potential. - EH

3 - Kevin Korchinski D

What a year it was for Korchinski, who started the season off fairly slowly, drawing concerns from scouts about his on-ice decision-making. After Christmas Korchinski exploded, piling up the points as the T-Birds embarked on a memorable post-season run that saw them erase series deficits to beat the favored Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers in game 7s on the road, before falling in the WHL finals in a series whose scheduling conflicts forced them to play an extra road game. Korchinski had much to do with that run, finishing the season at a near-PPG pace. His draft stock shot up and he was ultimately selected 7^th overall by the Blackhawks. A powerful skater with a long, efficient stride, Korchinski can reach full flight quickly and is adept at walking the blueline, making him a dangerous threat on the powerplay. He carries the puck with ease and confidence and is passing is crisp, although his reads can be questionable at times. Korchinski’s biggest improvement as the year progressed, was becoming more decisive with the puck and thinking the game at a quicker pace. Improvement on his wrist shot and getting it through traffic would also help Korchinski become more of a dual threat from up top on the powerplay. Like all young players, he needs to become stronger and fill out his lean frame, in order to play defense at the next level. Korchinski will almost certainly be returned to junior for his draft+1 season, although the possibility of a 9-game tryout to start the year remains. - AS

4 - Sam Rinzel D

The Chicago Blackhawks have made the direction of their franchise no secret. GM Kyle Davidson is playing the long game, beginning to stockpile draft picks and acquire high-upside players that might require more time and patience than other NHL franchises could typically afford to give them. Their selection of Sam Rinzel 25th overall at the 2022 draft raised eyebrows from some, as Rinzel was a divisive prospect who did not receive universal first-round acclaim. But taking rankings out of the equation, Rinzel is the exact sort of prospect who fits the Blackhawks’ plans. Rinzel, who spent most of his draft season playing at the high school level in Minnesota, is a raw prospect who offers a tantalizing package of tools. Rinzel is big and skates quite well for someone his size. Rinzel is an aggressive defenseman, and he has shown flashes of game-breaking ability from the blueline. But with the upside Rinzel presents comes significant red flags and question marks in his game. First and foremost, Rinzel is extremely talented but also quite raw — he’ll need a lot of work to get to a point where he’s pro-ready — and he’s also not shown a level of defensive competence that gives any confidence in his ability to sustain his aggressive style of play in more demanding and competitive hockey settings. Rinzel will need to find a way to make the proper adjustments to his game to make him a viable two-way defenseman while also maintaining the sort of uber-aggressive, uber-creative style that’s set him apart so far. Simply maintaining the identity of his game, the identity that has made him a top prospect in the first place could be challenging given the demands of college and professional coaches. But Rinzel, who will spend another year in the USHL before playing college hockey as a Minnesota Gopher, has a lot of time to improve. He’s a true boom-or-bust prospect, and it’s far too early to reasonably project his NHL future. All we can do at this point is eagerly observe how he handles higher levels of hockey and how his game changes, if at all when faced with additional adversity. - EH

5 - Drew Commesso G

While Russian phenom Yaroslav Askarov got most of the attention (by far) of the 2021 draft’s goalie class, Drew Commesso led a second tier of goalie prospects that saw five netminders go in the second and third rounds of the draft. Commesso himself was selected 46th overall by the Blackhawks, and upon his selection, he instantly became the Blackhawks’ most promising drafted goalie prospect. Commesso is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program, and he’s spent the past two seasons stopping pucks for the Boston University Terriers. Commesso isn’t a big goalie, but at six-foot-two he stands tall enough where size won’t be a concern for his ability to play in the NHL. Like many young goalies, Commesso has been a bit inconsistent, and he’s had brilliant games for the Terriers as well as games he’d like to move on from. His performance was enough for him to earn a spot with the United States Beijing Winter Olympics squad. Commesso is a poised goalie who rarely panics in the crease, carefully taking the time to square up to shooters and challenge incoming rushes. He moves very well in the crease, and his athleticism serves him well when his technique isn’t enough. Commesso will need to put together a more consistent college season before he’s ready to turn pro, and even if he does as soon as next season, he’s still likely a decent way away from the NHL. Ultimately, Commesso has a chance to become a starting goalie in the NHL if things break right. - EH

6 - Wyatt Kaiser D

Wyatt Kaiser’s game isn’t exactly a difficult one to get a handle on. What he does well is relatively easy to see, and he doesn’t go to any particularly great lengths to hide the things he needs to improve. The thing that sticks most about Kaiser is his skating. Kaiser moves exceptionally well. His skating checks all the boxes. He accelerates well, has the edgework to make quick turns, and remain an elusive presence when shuttling pucks through the neutral zone. He’s not an overwhelmingly deceptive skater, but he the shifts where he gives opposing skaters fits as they attempt to interrupt him are common enough to give confidence in his offensive projection. Kaiser also spent nearly as much time killing penalties as he did on the power play, and his speed allows him to get around the defensive zone quickly and get to loose pucks before heavier-footed opposing attackers. While Kaiser isn’t an overwhelming physical presence, he also isn’t shy about that side of the game and will get his hands dirty when he needs to. But just as Kaiser’s qualities as a skater are immediately evident, as are the shortcomings in his other offensive tools. Kaiser’s playmaking is fine, but he relies far more on his feet to create separation and chances than he does his abilities as a reader of the play and a facilitator of his teammates. The result of Kaiser’s less impressive other offensive tools is that his projection on that side of the ice as a pro is limited. Still, there’s enough to Kaiser’s game to give him NHL upside, and he could be a nice, well-rounded bottom-pairing piece if he continues to show he can weather difficult minutes and if he can find more ways to create offense beyond just using his excellent skating. - EH

7 - Alec Regula D

A hulking, right shot defender, Regula, much like the team’s other top pro prospects, is well positioned to become a full time NHL defender this coming season. He played in 15 games to close out last season and became fairly battle tested as the Hawks coaching staff had him playing over 20 minutes per game in all situations. Does that give him a leg up heading into the year? It does seem likely. The 6’4, former London Knights standout, combines his great length with great four-way mobility. For a defender of his size his skating ability is very impressive, and this can make him an asset at both ends of the ice. His offensive potential may be somewhat limited at the NHL level (unless Chicago opts to use him in the bumper role on the powerplay like London coach Dale Hunter used to), due to average transporting and passing skills, however his defensive potential is quite high. Regula has great instincts as a shot blocker and his reach is extremely disruptive when protecting the slot and the net front area. As he gains confidence, look for the physical side of his game to become relatively dominant too. A potential top four defender, Regula could reach that potential as early as this season on a rebuilding Chicago team. - BO

8 - Ethan Del Mastro D

The 105th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Ethan Del Mastro had a great season as the captain of the Steelheads, displaying strength on both sides of the puck consistently. The former 12th overall selection in the 2019 OHL Draft had a good rookie season, finishing with seven points (7A) in 57 games. Unfortunately for Del Mastro, he was forced to miss the 2020-2021 season due to Covid-19. Fortunately for Del Mastro, he got the opportunity to play in the U18 World Championship. During the 2021-2022, Del Mastro had a breakout season, finishing with 48 points (7A,41A) in 68 games, which was 14th in the league for points by a defenseman, 10th in the league for assists by a defenseman, 2nd on the team for assists and 4th on the team for points. Del Mastro also got the opportunity to play in the U20 World Junior Championship. Del Mastro’s best assets are his competitiveness and physicality. Del Mastro is a strong defender who utilizes his size and reach to make it difficult on opponents trying to enter the offensive zone or find space in the slot. He’s consistently in the play and has the motor to out-battle opponents for the puck. He plays an aggressive style that forces opponents to second think about going into the corners because he’s so physical. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Del Mastro will once again be looked to be a leader for the Steelheads and be one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, and also one that every team will not look forward to play against. - DK

9 - Paul Ludwinski C

The 39^th overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Paul Ludwinski is the type of player that any fan gets excited for when they’re on the ice. He brings such great energy each shift and seems to have a motor that never quits. Ludwinski was the 5th overall selection in the 2020 OHL Draft after a successful season as the captain of the Toronto Marlboros. He has always played a strong responsible game and displays great leadership. Unfortunately for Ludwinski, him and others were unable to play during the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid-19 shutdown. Ludwinski was able to adjust quickly to the OHL because of his hockey sense and responsible play. His role was limited due to being on a talented Frontenacs team, but he was still able to be effective and make the most of his minutes. When he was given to chance in the top-6 due to injuries, he never disappointed and looked like he belonged. Finishing the season with 43 points (16G,27A) in 67 games, Ludwinski was 6^th on his team in points, and also tied for first in goals in the playoffs with seven, also adding five assists as well in 11 games. Ludwinski’s best assets are his competitiveness and hockey sense, especially his play away from the puck. Each shift Ludwinski is on the ice, you know. You could argue that on the majority of his shifts, he is the hardest working player on the ice. He battles hard in the corners and never backs down from any opponents. Ludwinski is so effective because he does so much without the puck. He finds open space quickly and understands where to be at all times in all three zones. Making it easy for teammates to play with. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Ludwinski will look to take a step forward as he continues to grow as a strong 200ft player. - DK

10 - Arvid Soderblom G

Among AHL rookie netminders last season, Soderblom was a major standout. His .919 save percentage was second best behind AHL Goaltender of the Year Dustin Wolf among first year goalies. Needless to say, it was a very successful North American debut for the big Swedish netminder. As such, the Hawks actually cut ties with pretty much all other goalies previously in the pro system: a massive vote of confidence for Soderblom. With Drew Commesso likely still a few years away, he will have a solid chance to prove that he can be Chicago’s goaltender of the future. The former free agent signing out of Sweden takes away the bottom of the net so well with quick pads and strong lateral movement. He definitely has that combination of size and athleticism you want from the position today. Coming into his first pro season in North America, there were some concerns about his play tracking ability, positioning, and rebound control; essentially the technical elements, however all of these attributes proved to be further along in development than anticipated. As such, the Hawks find themselves with perhaps an NHL ready netminder. With only Alex Stalock and the injury prone Petr Mrazek in his way at the pro level, it seems inevitable that Soderblom gets more than a handful of games at the NHL level this coming season. However, there is also prevailing thought that suggests Chicago does not want to throw Soderblom to the wolves this season, given how poor the Blackhawks likely end up being. There is no need to rush him, especially given the strong potential he has thus far shown. - BO

11 - Isaak Phillips

The Hawks have high hopes for Phillips, a highly athletic defender with intriguing upside at both ends. He is probably more suited to a defensive role in the future, but he has improved considerably in recent seasons.

12 - Colton Dach

After trading older brother Kirby, the Hawks still have the younger Colton, who they drafted in 2021. His skating took a nice step forward this year and he may end up being one of the better forwards in the WHL this season.

13 - Nolan Allan

A surprise first rounder in 2021, Allan has a safe projection as an NHL defender because of his combination of size, mobility, and physicality. The hope is that his offensive game can continue to improve.

14 - Gavin Hayes

Hayes is a power winger with a big shot. He improved with each passing month in the OHL last season and could be a breakout candidate this year with consistent ice time and responsibility.

15 - Alex Vlasic

A similar prospect to Nolan Allan, Vlasic is also a big defender with mobility who has a chance to be a shutdown type for the Hawks. He jumped from Boston U straight to the NHL last season but may require some AHL time this year.

16 - Ryan Greene

Chicago’s second round selection this year, Greene is a skilled center with a strong skating stride. He will play for Boston University this season as a freshman.

17 - Landon Slaggert

The University of Notre Dame winger has a game tailored to be a standout bottom six winger in today’s NHL. He competes hard at both ends, skates well enough, and has strong off puck awareness.

18 - Josiah Slavin

The younger brother of NHL defender Jaccob, Josiah is a big winger who had a solid first full pro season after turning pro from Colorado College. He might be a full time NHL player this season.

19 - Michal Teply

A skilled playmaking winger, Teply is coming off his first full pro season in North America after playing a middle six role for Rockford. He will look to take on more responsibility and earn an NHL call up this season.

20 - Jaxson Stauber

The Hawks signed Stauber, a standout at Providence, as a free agent this offseason. The 6’3 netminder will likely back-up Soderblom in Rockford this season.

TOP 15 PROSPECTS: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – RANK: #22 – TIER IV

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:54:11 +0000

Chicago Blackhawks

OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC - DECEMBER 28: Germany vs Czech Republic preliminary round action of the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship at Ostravar Arena on December 28, 2019 in Ostrava, Czech Republic. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Lukas Reichel - LW

The second German first rounder in 2020 after Ottawa’s Tim Stützle, Reichel enjoyed a fantastic 20-21 season, taking a huge step in not only his maturity and statistical development, but by going from a 2nd/3rd line winger in the 19-20 season to a first line center for DEL champion Eisbären Berlin. Teaming up with former NHL draft pick Marcel Noebels and Olympian Leo Pföderl, Reichel’s line proved to be the cream of the crop in the DEL and Reichel saw his production jump by eight points and +19 in just five more games than his already impressive draft year output. His winter - and Team Germany’s - may have even been better had a bout with Covid and the tourney regulations regarding respective Covid protocols not prevented him from participating in the WJC.

After winning the league championship, Reichel - the nephew of former NHLer Robert Reichel - found himself in a top six role for Team Germany at the men’s World Championships, putting up six points and a +5 in nine total games, although most of those points were collected in the first two games. A heavy check to the head in Game 3 against Kazakhstan ended his day but didn’t knock him out of the tournament. Still, he wasn’t quite the same player afterwards, gaining just one more point along the way. Reichel signed his ELC shortly thereafter and is expected to remain in Berlin for the 21-22 season. Another performance in a top line gig similar to last season could very well have him on the fast track to an NHL job with Chicago, although his NHL breakthrough may just have to come on the wing. - CL

Landon Slaggert - LW

Slaggert is a funny player. The son of one of Notre Dame’s assistant coaches (technically, an associate head coach), and a graduate of the USNTDP program, he gets most of his attention for being an agitator. Some play to score, but Slaggert loves to tussle. Physicality is the point. He will regularly go out of his way to make a hit and create a memory in the mind of the opposing player. And yet, almost unnoticed, he put up close to one point per game as a freshman on a pretty mediocre team, finishing third on the Fighting Irish in points, between only his older brother Graham, and Alex Steeves, who signed as a free agent with Toronto.

So, what is he really? In all honesty, once he turns pro, you can expect the agitating side of his game to be the focal point for his development. His elite energy level is perfectly suited for a bottom six role, neutralizing the opposition’s top scoring forwards at even strength and on the penalty kill. But even in a lower line role, he should be an impactful player for his team. He has quickness in his feet, and flashes above average hand-eye coordination, and the ability to execute the odd bit of magic with his stick. He doesn’t have Brad Marchand upside, but if he is put in a situation where he plays as the third wheel with two other skill guys, he will leave that impression on occasion. - RW

Wyatt Kalynuk - D

Already 20-years-old when he was drafted by Philadelphia, Kalynuk was not compelled to stay on campus for the full four years to become a free agent, instead walking away after a very strong junior campaign, signing with the Blackhawks as a free agent. It would then be an understatement to say that his professional debut exceeded expectations. An offensive-oriented puck moving skilled defender, he topped the point-per-game mark over eight games in the AHL and came four NHL games away from losing prospect eligibility status. In fairness, his ice time in the NHL was fairly sheltered, playing third pairing minutes, although his ice time did gradually increase as the season progressed, and he was the recipient of regular time on the power play.

This year’s Chicago roster will look very different from what he accustomed to as a first-year player, as the turnover on the blueline is especially acute. As good as Kalynuk looked last year, he cannot be said to be guaranteed the same role in 2021-22, even if he did more than hold his own. The top four seems fairly locked up between newcomers Seth Jones and Jake McCabe, along with holdovers Connor Murphy and Calvin De Haan, with five youngsters competing for the remaining three NHL jobs, including former top prospect Ian Mitchell, and the player immediately following Kalynuk on this list. The tools are there for Kalynuk to succeed, but to cement his spot, he will need to convince the coaching staff that he does not need to be limited in his deployment. - RW

Nicolas Beaudin - D

The 2020/21 season was an extremely successful one for the former first round pick out of Drummondville. He lit up the AHL in his sophomore season, earning an extended call up with the Blackhawks where he performed very admirably in a third pairing role, even seeing some powerplay time. He then closed out the season by helping Canada win gold at the World Championships, again in a third pairing role.

Beaudin’s skating ability has always been his calling card and the key to his success. Originally drafted as primarily an offensive defender, Beaudin has worked hard to be more consistently engaged in the defensive end. He is not the biggest defender, but he has added strength to help him win those battles near the crease and along the wall and he has learned how to use his mobility to be better at defending transitional attacks. It appeared that Beaudin would be a shoo-in to start the year with the Blackhawks, however management brought in Seth Jones, Jake McCabe, and Caleb Jones this offseason. That likely pushes Beaudin to the AHL yet again, where he would be one of the Hawks’ top call-up options. His upside is probably that of a #4-5 defender who can play the powerplay and this potential should be reached within the next two seasons. - BO

Alec Regula - D

While the offensive production certainly did not carry over from London in his first AHL season, Regula did draw strong reviews for his work in the defensive end, improving significantly over the course of his rookie year with Rockford. The hulking, right shot defender even earned a late season call up to Chicago, as a reward for his strong play.

Originally acquired in a trade from Detroit for Brendan Perlini, Regula had developed into a very versatile player in the OHL before turning pro. He was being utilized in the bumper position on the powerplay. He was anchoring the penalty kill. He could be on the ice in any situation. As a first year pro, Regula played it relatively safe offensively, working to make quicker decisions with the puck as he adjusted to the pace of play. As he gains confidence and adjusts, he still may become more involved as an offensive player. At face value, his size, physicality, and mobility make him an ideal defensive defender for the modern NHL. With a strong start to the next AHL season, Regula could position himself to be the first call up to Chicago should the Hawks suffer an injury to their d-core. Otherwise, they will likely opt to be patient with the big rearguard, hoping that he can develop into the dominant two-way defender that he was with the London Knights. - BO

Drew Commesso - G

Bearing in mind the small sample, Commesso was one of the better goalies in the Hockey East conference as a freshman last season. As a USNTDP grad, who got better and better as his draft year wore on, but given his abbreviated post-draft season, there isn’t much change to his scouting report, other than the fact that he still hasn’t proved – or been able to prove – that he can handle a starter’s workload. He has average size, solid athleticism, and keeps his feet moving over the course of the game. The area of his game in which he has shown the most potential is actually in his puck handling, as he has long enjoyed skating out of his crease to play the puck, and he does it quite well.

There are some who are very high on Commesso and some who are not yet convinced that he represents the best future bet for Chicago between the pipes. Given his playing time so far, both viewpoints are reasonable, especially considering his steady performances. Chicago seems to also be on the fence so far, as reports were out there connecting them to one of this year’s draft class’ two big goalie prospects (Jesper Wallstedt and Sebastian Cossa), although those died down when they traded down as part of the Seth Jones deal. Commesso clearly has NHL starter upside, but we will need a full season of collegiate hockey to feel secure in that projection. - RW

Colton Dach - C

The younger brother to budding Chicago Blackhawks star Kirby Dach, Colton is following in his brother’s footsteps by playing with the Saskatoon Blades and by being selected by Chicago at the draft. Dach’s game improved significantly in his second year in the WHL as he averaged a point per game in a secondary scoring role for a very deep Blades team.

Like his brother, Colton’s offensive potential and projection are quite high because of his size (6’4, 205lbs) and skill combination. Dach has the ability to dominate shifts down low because of how well he protects the puck, and he is adept at finding soft spots in coverage without the puck. Scouts also like Dach’s versatility as he has shown an ability to successfully play the wing or center, adapting his game to suit the needs and requests of his team and coaching staff. However, at this point, Colton does not skate quite as well as his brother. There is room for improvement in his explosiveness and in the dynamics of his stride (East/West). This would allow him to be a more consistent offensive player and more successful when operating at a quicker pace. Colton could also stand to be a more consistent physical player, as he does not always use his size to the best of his advantage. Most definitely a project who will require patience, Dach does have extremely alluring potential. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Nolan Allan - D

As witnessed with a strong supporting performance at the Under 18’s for Canada, Nolan Allan has a chance to be a long time stay at home NHL defender. He combines good size and reach with excellent mobility and physical intensity, making him a very efficient and consistent defensive player. While he was a bit of a surprise first round selection, it is easy to see why the Blackhawks valued him so greatly.

Allan’s four-way mobility is excellent, as his stride, in addition to his pivots, are clean and efficient. This allows him to be very effective defending in transition, as he steps up quickly to address attackers, often forcing dump-ins because forwards are unable to get around him. Allan is also a physically aggressive player who picks his spots well to go for the big hit and who rarely misses an assignment near the crease; he can be suffocating. He is your classic modern day NHL stopper. However, Allan’s offensive potential appears to be limited due to his lack of innate puck skill. He can clear forecheckers with his feet but needs to be paired with a more confident puck handler to help initiate clean exits. Inside the offensive zone, Allan will often elect to dump pucks into the corner and rarely jumps up into the play to hold the line or keep pucks in, opting to play an extremely conservative brand of defense. Perhaps as he gains confidence, these tools will grow. As of right now, Allan likely projects as a quality third pairing defender who can anchor a penalty killing unit. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Ethan Del Mastro - D

The expectations for Del Mastro heading into this OHL season were pretty high after he showed such great progression in his rookie season, finishing the year as one of Mississauga’s best defenders. However, due to the OHL cancellation, the only game action Del Mastro saw this year was at the U18’s where he helped Canada win gold. While he started slowly in more of a third pairing role, he eventually earned the trust of the coaching staff and became a very valuable member of that gold medal winning squad.

The main allure of Del Mastro is that he skates significantly better than the average 6’4, 205 lbs, physically imposing defender. His long strides are both smooth and powerful, allowing him to pick up speed quickly. Del Mastro also relishes the opportunity to play the body and is extremely physically aggressive. This gets him into penalty trouble at times, but this is the trade-off for a player who prides himself in being difficult to match up against. While Del Mastro does show potential as a puck mover because of his linear power, his offensive skill set is currently most effective when kept simple. Just how high his offensive upside is remains to be seen. Does he have the vision, creativity, or hands to be a strong two-way force or is he more likely to become a stay-at-home defender at the NHL level? Del Mastro will be a leader for the Mississauga Steelheads this year and should see considerable ice time in all situations, aiding in his development as a two-way player. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Evan Barratt - C

A prospect who has been mostly under the radar since his time with the USNTDP, Barratt has slowly and gradually improved his overall game, but the pace of improvement has been so slow and gradual, that it has been barely perceptible. In his time with the program, he was overshadowed by the likes of Quinn Hughes, Brady Tkachuk and Josh Norris, even though Norris was the only one who outproduced him. Playing for Penn State may have continued to keep his expectations lowered, as the school still lacks the cache of the premier college programs, unlike conference rivals Notre Dame, Michigan, and Minnesota.

There was some mild buzz during and after his 43-point sophomore campaign, but Barratt’s inclusion with the American WJC entry had a diminishing impact on his standing, and his scoring regressed to around one point per game in his final season on campus. Barratt’s first pro campaign was again a quiet one, yet only two members of the IceHogs topped his output. You may have also noticed a trend here, in that Barratt consistently puts up solid numbers – not team leading, but close – yet the numbers themselves are not eye-popping, and the way he gets there isn’t exciting, so he is overlooked. Even if it’s boring, he has a good shot, and though he may seem plodding, he plays hard and gets his licks in. The upside is moderate, but he’ll earn it without fanfare. - RW

Michal Teply - LW

The 6’3 playmaking winger started his pro career last year, however he struggled with Rockford as he adjusted to the speed and strength of pro players. He will hope to be better in his sophomore campaign and will try to earn more offensive responsibility this season.

MacKenzie Entwistle G

Entwistle may not have the potential to be a top six player at the NHL level, but he has everything you want from an elite level bottom six player. The competitive two-way forward can play any position and is ready for a full-time role at the NHL level this season.

Wyatt Kaiser - D

A third-round selection in 2020 out of high school, Kaiser had a terrific freshman year for UMD last year, earning a spot on the NCHC all-rookie team. The smooth skating two-way blueliner is a prospect on the rise in the Blackhawks system.

Isaak Phillips - D

With the OHL on hiatus, Phillips was able to play in the AHL a year early and, perhaps surprisingly, he was extremely effective as a first-year pro. Blessed with high-end physical tools, Phillips showed great progression as an offensive player last year, to go with his already refined defensive approach. With a full AHL season on the horizon, Phillips is another Blackhawks prospect trending upwards.

Jakub Galvas - D

After spending two years in Liiga as an everyday player, the Czech defender will head to North America for the first time this year to play with Rockford in the AHL. Far from a flashy player, Galvas succeeds as a two-way defender because he keeps things simple.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:09:56 +0000

These are our final prospect ranking prior to the start of the season. As a subscriber you can download the list in an excel chart and can link to the player pages in the chart found here. As always, the rankings you see below are based on our 20-80 scouting system looking at five categories for skaters (Skating, Shot, Puck Skills, Hockey Smarts, Physicality) and six for netminders (Athleticism/Quickness/Speed, Compete/Temperament, Vision/Play Reading, Technique/Style, Rebound Control, Puck Handling). Our prospect team spent large portions of their last few months pre-COVID in the rinks, watching the players below and many others, and further work on video (Instat Hockey has been a terrific resource in recent days) before passing judgement on their future projections.

The 20-80 scouting system is meant to allow players from different leagues in different parts of the world to be compared to one another, such that grades on a player in the OHL can be directly compared to grades from an AHL player, and to grades of someone playing in the MHL.

PROSPECT CRITERIA

Players under 26 years of age as of the September 15th prior (Sep. 15, 1994) to the season in question who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in any one season – or 25 last year (20 for goalies, 15 last season) are considered prospects

RANK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	ACQUIRED
1	Alexis Lafreniere	NYR	LW	19	6-1/195	`20(1st)
2	Tim Stutzle	Ott	C	18	6-1/185	`20(3rd)
3	Quinton Byfield	LA	C	18	6-4/215	`20(2nd)
4	Trevor Zegras	Ana	C	19	6-0/170	`19(9th)
5	Kirill Kaprizov	Min	LW	23	5-10/200	`15(135th)
6	Lucas Raymond	Det	LW	18	5-11/170	`20(4th)
7	Dylan Cozens	Buf	C	19	6-3/185	`19(7th)
8	Bowen Byram	Col	D	19	6-0/195	`19(4th)
9	Peyton Krebs	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`19(17th)
10	Jake Sanderson	Ott	D	18	6-1/185	`20(5th)
11	Moritz Seider	Det	D	19	6-3/185	`19(6th)
12	Jamie Drysdale	Ana	D	18	5-11/175	`20(6th)
13	Igor Shesterkin	NYR	G	25	6-1/190	`14(118th)
14	Alexander Holtz	NJ	RW	18	6-0/190	`20(7th)
15	Cole Perfetti	Wpg	LW	19	5-10/180	`20(10th)
16	Marco Rossi	Min	C	19	5-9/185	`20(9th)
17	Vasili Podkolzin	Van	RW	19	6-1/190	`19(10th)
18	Victor Soderstrom	Ari	D	19	5-11/180	`19(11th)
19	Nick Robertson	Tor	LW	19	5-9/160	`19(53rd)
20	Cole Caufield	Mtl	RW	19	5-7/165	`19(15th)
21	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	18	6-3/175	`20(11th)
22	Spencer Knight	Fla	G	19	6-3/195	`19(13th)
23	Philip Broberg	Edm	D	19	6-3/200	`19(8th)
24	Jack Quinn	Buf	RW	19	6-0/180	`20(8th)
25	Matthew Boldy	Min	LW	19	6-1/190	`19(12th)
26	Nils Lundkvist	NYR	D	20	5-11/180	`18(28th)
27	Seth Jarvis	Car	RW	18	5-10/175	`20(13th)
28	Ty Smith	NJ	D	20	5-10/180	`18(17th)
29	Grigori Denisenko	Fla	LW	20	5-11/185	`18(15th)
30	Barrett Hayton	Ari	C	20	6-1/190	`18(5th)
31	Alex Newhook	Col	C	19	5-10/195	`19(16th)
32	Thomas Harley	Dal	D	19	6-3/190	`19(18th)
33	Alex Turcotte	LA	C	19	5-11/185	`19(5th)
34	Vitali Kravtsov	NYR	RW	21	6-3/185	`18(9th)
35	Philip Tomasino	Nsh	C	19	5-11/180	`19(24th)
36	Connor McMichael	Wsh	C	19	5-11/175	`19(25th)
37	Dawson Mercer	NJ	C	19	6-0/180	`20(18th)
38	Ilya Sorokin	NYI	G	25	6-2/180	`14(78th)
39	Gabriel Vilardi	LA	RW	21	6-3/200	`17(11th)
40	Ryan Merkley	SJ	D	20	5-11/170	`18(21st)
41	Alexander Romanov	Mtl	D	20	5-11/185	`18(38th)
42	Kaiden Guhle	Mtl	D	18	6-2/190	`20(16th)
43	Samuel Poulin	Pit	LW	19	6-1/205	`19(21st)
44	K'Andre Miller	NYR	D	20	6-3/205	`18(22nd)
45	Scott Perunovich	StL	D	22	5-10/175	`18(45th)
46	Evan Bouchard	Edm	D	21	6-2/195	`18(10th)
47	Braden Schneider	NYR	D	19	6-2/200	`20(19th)
48	Juuso Valimaki	Cgy	D	22	6-2/205	`17(16th)
49	Cam York	Phi	D	19	5-11/175	`19(14th)
50	Anton Lundell	Fla	C	19	6-1/185	`20(12th)
51	Morgan Frost	Phi	C	21	5-11/180	`17(27th)
52	Owen Tippett	Fla	RW	21	6-1/200	`17(10th)
53	Albert Johansson	Det	D	19	5-11/165	`19(60th)
54	Liam Foudy	CBJ	C	20	6-0/175	`18(18th)
55	Kieffer Bellows	NYI	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(19th)
56	Arthur Kaliyev	LA	RW	19	6-2/190	`19(33rd)
57	Oliver Wahlstrom	NYI	RW	20	6-1/205	`18(11th)
58	Nils Hoglander	Van	RW	20	5-9/185	`19(40th)
59	Matias Maccelli	Ari	LW	20	5-11/170	`19(98th)
60	Tobias Bjornfot	LA	D	19	6-0/200	`19(22nd)
61	Jacob Bernard-Docker	Ott	D	20	6-0/180	`18(26th)
62	Connor Zary	Cgy	C	19	6-0/180	`20(24th)
63	Dominik Bokk	Car	RW	20	6-1/180	T(StL-9/19)
64	Ryan Suzuki	Car	C	19	6-0/180	`19(28th)
65	Dylan Samberg	Wpg	D	21	6-3/190	`17(43rd)
66	Jake Bean	Car	D	22	6-1/175	`16(13th)
67	Josh Norris	Ott	C	21	6-1/195	T(SJ-9/18)
68	Rasmus Kupari	LA	C	20	6-1/185	`18(20th)
69	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	19	5-9/165	`19(26th)
70	Drake Batherson	Ott	RW	22	6-1/190	`17(121st)
71	Jan Jenik	Ari	RW	20	6-1/180	`18(65th)
72	John-Jason Peterka	Buf	LW	18	5-11/190	`20(34th)
73	Kirill Marchenko	CBJ	LW	20	6-3/190	`18(49th)
74	Bode Wilde	NYI	D	20	6-2/195	`18(41st)
75	John Beecher	Bos	C	19	6-3/210	`19(30th)
76	Tyler Madden	LA	C	21	5-10/155	T(Van-2/20)
77	Jack Studnicka	Bos	C	21	6-1/170	`17(53rd)
78	Jake Oettinger	Dal	G	22	6-4/210	`17(26th)
79	Alex Formenton	Ott	LW	21	6-2/165	`17(47th)
80	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	19	6-3/200	`19(49th)
81	Calen Addison	Min	D	20	5-10/180	T(Pit-2/20)
82	Ty Dellandrea	Dal	C	20	6-0/185	`18(13th)
83	Akil Thomas	LA	C	20	5-11/170	`18(51st)
84	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	18	5-10/180	`20(30th)
85	Ian Mitchell	Chi	D	21	5-11/175	`17(57th)
86	Jason Robertson	Dal	LW	21	6-2/195	`17(39th)
87	Hendrix Lapierre	Wsh	C	18	5-11/180	`20(22nd)
88	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`20(29th)
89	Theodor Niederbach	Det	C	18	5-11/175	`20(51st)
90	Zac Jones	NYR	D	20	5-10/175	`19(68th)
91	Robert Mastrosimone	Det	LW	19	5-10/160	`19(54th)
92	Joe Veleno	Det	C	20	6-1/195	`18(30th)
93	Rodion Amirov	Tor	LW	19	6-0/170	`20(15th)
94	Jake Neighbours	StL	LW	18	5-11/195	`20(26th)
95	Julien Gauthier	NYR	RW	23	6-4/225	T(Car-2/20)
96	Justus Annunen	Col	G	20	6-4/215	`18(64th)
97	Egor Zamula	Phi	D	20	6-4/175	FA(9/18)
98	Shane Pinto	Ott	C	20	6-2/190	`19(32nd)
99	Noel Gunler	Car	RW	19	6-2/175	`20(41st)
100	Ridly Greig	Ott	C	18	5-11/165	`20(28th)
101	Jesse Ylonen	Mtl	RW	21	6-1/185	`18(35th)
102	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	20	6-0/195	`19(50th)
103	Mattias Norlinder	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`19(64th)
104	Olli Juolevi	Van	D	22	6-3/200	`16(5th)
105	Kristian Vesalainen	Wpg	LW	21	6-3/205	`17(24th)
106	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	20	6-4/195	`19(38th)
107	Jan Mysak	Mtl	C	18	5-11/180	`20(49th)
108	Cayden Primeau	Mtl	G	21	6-3/180	`17(199th)
109	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	LW	20	6-1/170	`19(79th)
110	Morgan Barron	NYR	C	22	6-2/200	`17(174th)
111	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	19	5-11/180	`19(20th)
112	Dylan Holloway	Edm	C	19	6-0/205	`20(14th)
113	Jack Dugan	VGK	RW	22	6-2/185	`17(142nd)
114	Alexander Khovanov	Min	C	20	5-11/195	`18(86th)
115	Jacob Perreault	Ana	RW	18	5-11/195	`20(27th)
116	Jake Evans	Mtl	C	24	6-0/185	`14(207th)
117	Adam Beckman	Min	LW	19	6-1/170	`19(75th)
118	Jett Woo	Van	D	20	6-0/205	`18(37th)
119	Nolan Foote	NJ	LW	20	6-3/190	T(TB-2/20)
120	Logan Brown	Ott	C	22	6-6/220	`16(11th)
121	Martin Kaut	Col	RW	21	6-1/175	`18(16th)
122	Jack Rathbone	Van	D	21	5-10/175	`17(95th)
123	Ozzy Wiesblatt	SJ	RW	18	5-10/185	`20(31st)
124	Ryan O'Rourke	Min	D	18	6-0/180	`20(39th)
125	Lukas Reichel	Chi	LW	18	6-0/170	`20(17th)
126	Jordan Harris	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`18(71st)
127	Lukas Dostal	Ana	G	20	6-1/170	`18(85th)
128	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/205	`19(45th)
129	Conor Timmins	Col	D	22	6-1/185	`17(32nd)
130	Lassi Thomson	Ott	D	20	6-0/190	`19(19th)
131	Eeli Tolvanen	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/175	`17(30th)
132	Kasper Simontaival	LA	RW	18	5-9/180	`20(66th)
133	Roni Hirvonen	Tor	C	18	5-9/165	`20(59th)
134	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	18	5-9/180	`20(38th)
135	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	Ana	C	20	6-1/195	`18(54th)
136	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	18	6-4/200	`20(44th)
137	Tyson Foerster	Phi	C	18	6-1/195	`20(23rd)
138	Helge Grans	LA	D	18	6-2/205	`20(35th)
139	Jonathan Dahlen	SJ	LW	23	5-11/185	T(Van-2/19)
140	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	18	5-11/175	`20(37th)
141	Alexander Alexeyev	Wsh	D	21	6-3/200	`18(31st)
142	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	Pit	D	21	6-2/170	`17(23rd)
143	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	18	5-10/160	`20(64th)
144	Oskari Laaksonen	Buf	D	21	6-2/165	`17(89th)
145	Filip Hallander	Tor	LW	20	6-1/185	T(Pit-8/20)
146	Serron Noel	Fla	RW	20	6-5/205	`18(34th)
147	Martin Chromiak	LA	LW	18	6-0/185	`20(128th)
148	Shakir Mukhamadullin	NJ	D	18	6-3/180	`20(20th)
149	Mattias Samuelsson	Buf	D	20	6-3/215	`18(32nd)
150	Janne Kuokkanen	NJ	LW	22	6-1/190	T(Car-2/20)
151	Ryan Johnson	Buf	D	19	6-0/175	`19(31st)
152	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	19	5-8/175	`20(124th)
153	Martin Fehervary	Wsh	D	21	6-1/190	`18(46th)
154	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	Buf	G	21	6-4/195	`17(54th)
155	Will Lockwood	Van	RW	22	5-11/175	`16(64th)
156	Isac Lundestrom	Ana	C	21	6-0/185	`18(23rd)
157	Michael DiPietro	Van	G	21	6-0/195	`17(64th)
158	Jonatan Berggren	Det	RW	20	5-10/185	`18(33rd)
159	Kevin Bahl	NJ	D	20	6-6/230	T(Ari-12/19)
160	Aliaksei Protas	Wsh	C	19	6-5/205	`19(91st)
161	Reilly Walsh	NJ	D	21	5-11/180	`17(81st)
162	Nick Abruzzese	Tor	C	21	5-9/160	`19(124th)
163	Tyler Tucker	StL	D	20	6-1/205	`18(200th)
164	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	19	5-10/170	`19(129th)
165	Klim Kostin	StL	C	21	6-3/195	`17(31st)
166	Brayden Tracey	Ana	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(29th)
167	Joel Hofer	StL	G	20	6-3/160	`18(107th)
168	Joey Anderson	Tor	RW	22	6-0/195	T(NJ-10/20)
169	Yegor Spiridonov	SJ	C	19	6-2/195	`19(108th)
170	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	19	6-1/205	`20(36th)
171	Joey Keane	Car	D	21	6-0/185	T(NYR-2/20)
172	Jared McIsaac	Det	D	20	6-1/195	`18(36th)
173	Jamieson Rees	Car	C	19	5-10/175	`19(44th)
174	Ivan Morozov	VGK	C	20	6-1/180	`18(61st)
175	Rem Pitlick	Nsh	C	23	5-11/200	`16(76th)
176	Tyce Thompson	NJ	RW	21	6-0/170	`19(96th)
177	Michael McLeod	NJ	C	22	6-2/195	`16(12th)
178	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	LA	C	21	5-11/190	`17(41st)
179	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	19	6-0/165	`19(214th)
180	Antti Tuomisto	Det	D	19	6-4/190	`19(35th)
181	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	18	5-9/155	`20(134th)
182	Luke Evangelista	Nsh	RW	18	5-11/170	`20(42nd)
183	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	18	6-1/180	`20(52nd)
184	Joni Ikonen	Mtl	C	21	5-10/170	`17(58th)
185	Olivier Rodrigue	Edm	G	20	6-1/165	`18(62nd)
186	Lucas Elvenes	VGK	RW	21	6-0/175	`17(127th)
187	Anthony Angello	Pit	RW	24	6-5/205	`14(145th)
188	Tuukka Tieksola	Car	RW	19	5-10/160	`19(121st)
189	Declan Chisholm	Wpg	D	20	6-1/190	`18(150th)
190	Cole Koepke	TB	LW	22	6-1/195	`18(183rd)
191	Valtteri Puustinen	Pit	RW	21	5-9/185	`19(203rd)
192	Ty Smilanic	Fla	C	18	6-1/175	`20(74th)
193	Patrik Puistola	Car	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(73rd)
194	Justin Barron	Col	D	19	6-2/190	`20(25th)
195	Andrew Peeke	CBJ	D	22	6-3/210	`16(34th)
196	Michael Vukojevic	NJ	D	19	6-3/210	`19(82nd)
197	Alec Regula	Chi	D	20	6-3/200	T(Det-10/19)
198	Connor Corcoran	VGK	D	20	6-1/185	`18(154th)
199	Jeremy Swayman	Bos	G	22	6-1/190	`17(111th)
200	Pyotr Kochetkov	Car	G	21	6-1/175	`19(36th)
201	Mikey Anderson	LA	D	21	6-0/195	`17(103rd)
202	Carter Savoie	Edm	LW	18	5-9/190	`20(100th)
203	Samuel Walker	TB	C	21	5-11/160	`17(200th)
204	William Wallinder	Det	D	18	6-4/190	`20(32nd)
205	Jack Drury	Car	C	20	5-11/180	`18(42nd)
206	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	18	5-9/185	`20(54th)
207	Cal Petersen	LA	G	26	6-3/190	FA(7/17)
208	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	18	6-0/200	`20(72nd)
209	Tarmo Reunanen	NYR	D	22	6-0/180	`16(98th)
210	Simon Holmstrom	NYI	RW	19	6-1/185	`19(23rd)
211	Aleksi Saarela	Fla	RW	23	5-11/200	T(Chi-10/19)
212	Anton Johannesson	Wpg	D	18	5-9/155	`20(133rd)
213	Lauri Pajuniemi	NYR	RW	21	6-0/185	`18(132nd)
214	Morgan Geekie	Car	C	22	6-2/180	`17(67th)
215	Shane Bowers	Col	C	21	6-2/190	T(Ott-11/17)
216	Sasha Chmelevski	SJ	C	21	5-11/190	`17(185th)
217	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	20	5-8/155	`18(43rd)
218	Cole Schwindt	Fla	RW	19	6-2/185	`19(81st)
219	Hugo Alnefelt	TB	G	19	6-3/195	`19(71st)
220	Nikita Okhotyuk	NJ	D	20	6-1/195	`19(61st)
221	Sampo Ranta	Col	LW	20	6-2/205	`18(78th)
222	Alexander Volkov	TB	LW	23	6-1/190	`17(48th)
223	Alexander True	SJ	C	23	6-5/205	FA(7/18)
224	John Leonard	SJ	C	22	5-11/190	`18(182nd)
225	Carl Grundstrom	LA	LW	23	6-0/195	T(Tor-1/19)
226	Dmitri Semykin	TB	D	20	6-3/200	`18(90th)
227	Cal Foote	TB	D	22	6-4/215	`17(14th)
228	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	18	5-11/175	`20(75th)
229	Alex Barre-Boulet	TB	C	23	5-10/165	FA(3/18)
230	Tristen Robins	SJ	RW	19	5-10/175	`20(56th)
231	Max Gildon	Fla	D	21	6-3/190	`17(66th)
232	Nikita Alexandrov	StL	C	20	6-0/180	`19(62nd)
233	Michael Benning	Fla	D	18	5-9/180	`20(95th)
234	Justin Sourdif	Fla	RW	18	5-11/175	`20(87th)
235	Tanner Laczynski	Phi	C	23	6-1/200	`16(169th)
236	Eamon Powell	TB	D	18	5-11/165	`20(116th)
237	Kaedan Korczak	VGK	D	19	6-3/190	`19(41st)
238	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	18	6-1/180	`20(47th)
239	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	21	5-10/175	`18(171st)
240	Pius Suter	Chi	C	24	5-11/170	FA(7/20)
241	Wade Allison	Phi	RW	23	6-2/205	`16(52nd)
242	Bobby Brink	Phi	RW	19	5-10/165	`19(34th)
243	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	18	5-10/180	`20(68th)
244	David Farrance	Nsh	D	21	5-11/190	`17(92nd)
245	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	18	6-2/185	`20(33rd)
246	Dmitri Voronkov	CBJ	LW	20	6-4/190	`19(114th)
247	German Rubtsov	Phi	C	22	6-2/190	`16(22nd)
248	Vitaly Abramov	Ott	RW	22	5-9/175	T(CBJ-2/19)
249	Alex Laferriere	LA	RW	19	6-0/175	`20(83rd)
250	Trey Fix-Wolansky	CBJ	RW	21	5-8/185	`18(204th)
251	Isaac Ratcliffe	Phi	LW	21	6-5/200	`17(35th)
252	Kale Clague	LA	D	22	6-0/180	`16(51st)
253	Landon Slaggert	Chi	LW	18	5-11/180	`20(79th)
254	Wyatt Kalynuk	Chi	D	23	6-1/180	FA(7/20)
255	Mikko Kokkonen	Tor	D	19	5-11/200	`19(84th)
256	Kevin Mandolese	Ott	G	20	6-4/180	`18(157th)
257	Daniil Tarasov	CBJ	G	21	6-5/185	`17(86th)
258	Evan Barratt	Chi	C	21	6-0/190	`17(90th)
259	Tyler Benson	Edm	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(32nd)
260	Yegor Korshkov	Tor	RW	24	6-4/215	`16(31st)
261	Hunter Skinner	NYR	D	19	6-2/175	`19(112th)
262	Riley Damiani	Dal	C	20	5-9/165	`18(137th)
263	Ryan McLeod	Edm	C	21	6-2/205	`18(40th)
264	Ilya Konovalov	Edm	G	22	6-0/195	`19(85th)
265	Will Cuylle	NYR	LW	18	6-3/205	`20(60th)
266	Evan Vierling	NYR	C	18	6-0/165	`20(127th)
267	Emil Heineman	Fla	LW	19	6-0/180	`20(43rd)
268	Zayde Wisdom	Phi	RW	18	5-10/195	`20(94th)
269	Hunter Jones	Min	G	20	6-4/195	`19(59th)
270	Ty Tullio	Edm	RW	18	5-10/165	`20(126th)
271	Jordan Spence	LA	D	19	5-10/165	`19(95th)
272	Dmitri Zavgorodny	Cgy	LW	20	5-9/175	`18(198th)
273	Alex Beaucage	Col	RW	19	6-1/195	`19(78th)
274	Matiss Kivlenieks	CBJ	G	24	6-2/190	FA(5/17)
275	Artyom Zub	Ott	D	25	6-2/200	FA(5/20)
276	Urho Vaakanainen	Bos	D	22	6-0/185	`17(18th)
277	Dmitri Samorukov	Edm	D	21	6-2/180	`17(84th)
278	Michal Teply	Chi	LW	19	6-3/185	`19(105th)
279	Colby Ambrosio	Col	C	18	5-8/170	`20(118th)
280	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	20	6-7/195	`19(37th)
281	Jeremy Lauzon	Bos	D	23	6-3/205	`15(52nd)
282	Dennis Gilbert	Col	D	24	6-2/200	T(Chi-10/20)
283	Trent Frederic	Bos	C	22	6-4/215	`16(29th)
284	Lucas Carlsson	Chi	D	23	6-0/190	`16(110th)
285	Zack Macewen	Van	RW	24	6-3/205	FA(3/17)
286	Brandon Hagel	Chi	LW	22	6-1/175	FA(10/18)
287	Vasily Ponomarev	Car	C	18	5-10/180	`20(53rd)
288	Jakub Zboril	Bos	D	23	6-1/200	`15(13th)
289	Garrett Pilon	Wsh	RW	22	5-11/190	`16(87th)
290	Jeremy Bracco	Car	RW	23	5-9/180	FA(10/20)
291	Dylan Sikura	VGK	RW	25	6-0/170	T(Chi-9/20)
292	Kyle Capobianco	Ari	D	23	6-1/180	`15(63rd)
293	Sami Niku	Wpg	D	24	6-0/175	`15(198th)
294	John Farinacci	Ari	C	19	5-11/185	`19(76th)
295	Jackson Lacombe	Ana	D	19	6-1/170	`19(39th)
296	David Cotton	Car	LW	23	6-3/205	`15(169th)
297	Erik Portillo	Buf	G	20	6-6/210	`19(67th)
298	Jacob Truscott	Van	D	18	6-1/170	`20(144th)
299	Mikhail Berdin	Wpg	G	22	6-2/165	`16(157th)
300	Cam Hillis	Mtl	C	20	5-10/170	`18(66th)

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Chicago Blackhawks Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 20:32:18 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Chicago Blackhawks prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Mitchell is on the smaller side but is more solid and able to play hard against top opponents. He does not have the flash of some previous top Chicago prospects, but his upside is very high nonetheless and his floor is high as well. His tools all rate as average or better, but his hockey sense and instincts help everything play up, giving him a package that is greater than the sum of its parts. A right-handed shot, he can play on both sides of the point, something helped along by very strong lateral mobility. His defensive footwork is solid as well, and Mitchell generally finds himself in the right spot to nullify most chances against, allowing him to be trusted against much bigger players. He has even been known to drop the occasional opponent with a big hit, belying his compact stature. Mitchell still has the puck moving chops that saw the Blackhawks use a late second rounder on him out of the AJHL in 2017, but as he has greatly refined the rest of his game in college, he now looks like a potential #2/3 defender in short order. – RW

Lukas Reichel, LW (17^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Reichel was deemed worthy of a first-round selection because of his strong performance in the DEL last year, his high-end IQ as an offensive player, and his well-rounded approach to the game. His best asset is the way he thinks the game. He is excellent at finding space in the offensive zone, playing with resilience through traffic. He flashes play driving ability but appears much more comfortable as a strong complementary scoring winger. His pro-level goals have largely come from dirty areas, which makes it easy to see his game translating to the next level. Reichel also excels down low and when working the half wall as his agility is excellent, which makes him tough to pin. His board work has been outstanding, and he shows no worries in using his body to protect the puck, holding his own against extreme physical pressure from men despite his relatively light weight. His skill level is good but not elite. The same could be said for his speed and functional success in transition. - BO

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67^th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. Previous ranking: 2)

A hulking right shot defender; Regula possesses a unique skill set. He moves extremely well, possessing both power and fluidity in his stride. His ability to play in the buffer position on the power play gives Regula addition means of contributing. He uses quick hands to finish off plays in tight, with a forward’s touch. He is an incredible asset in his own end because of his reach. He was among the league leaders in takeaways per game last year and he suffocates attacking forwards because of that mobility and reach combination. One area that really improved for him was his decision making with the puck in the defensive end. His poise and patience improved and as such, he cut down on his giveaways and improved his ability to start the breakout effectively. The Hawks should be elated to have added Regula to their prospect stable, following a deal from Detroit. He projects as a second pairing, all situations defender who could move quickly through the system, so long as his processing ability holds up to the speed of the pro game. – BO

Drew Commesso, G (46^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Commesso’s specialty is not just allowing his own defenders to start a counterattack from the defensive faceoff dots, but he will regularly shove the puck past the blueline, on the tape to give the rush a major kickstart. Commesso’s numbers have been impressive, with save percentages of .917 and .920 at the different levels played by the USNTDP last year. He cannot be compared to his predecessor, Spencer Knight, but he is a good goaltender in his own right. He has decent size, is agile and plays an athletic game with quick limbs. He keeps his composure in tough situations and rarely lets a bad goal get him down. The Boston University commit has yet to face a heavy workload. There are also elements of his game that will need marked improvement, including his coverage of the posts, where he can leave too many holes, or his ability to control rebounds, preventing second and third chances. - RW

Pius Suter, C/LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jul. 16, 2020. Previous ranking: 3)

Following five years in the ZSC Lions program, Suter signed with Chicago after an NLA scoring title and MVP season. He is a relentless puck hound, pushing the pace and attacking. He does the majority of his damage within a few feet of the net. Of course, his finishing ability and shot are also strengths and it is what makes him a successful and consistent goal scorer. He is also a competitive two-way player who uses his strong skating ability to apply back pressure and force turnovers. These traits make Suter a terrific penalty killer. He still has to prove his slight frame will not hinder his play in the NHL. Even if the offensive skill set does not fully translate, there is certainly a good chance that Suter can become a valuable bottom six forward because of his speed and tenacity. Look for him to make an immediate impact (in some shape or form) for Chicago next year. – BO

Landon Slaggert, C (92^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

His game is pure high energy grinder, but Slaggert also has sneaky skills in his mitts. You will first notice him when he bumps an opponent off the puck along the boards, but you should also note how he picked up the puck himself after forcing the turnover and proceeded to flip it stealthily to a linemate streaking up the opposite wing. Son of a coach, he is eminently coachable. Playing with higher end players, it is clear how Slaggert’s subtle skills can play at a higher level. That said, he will be better as a playmaker than a finisher thanks to his vision and reading. That ability to read the ice also helps him immensely on the other side of the puck, where he is an asset to his team. He is a fun player to watch and easier to appreciate than most prospects with his nondescript point totals. He is a swift skater who follows the play and never gives up on the puck. He is a future NHL’er who should be able to fit in wherever he is needed, up or down the lineup. – RW

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196^th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 4)

Not drafted until his third year of eligibility, Kalynuk did a lot well, but nothing spectacularly at the time. Three years at Wisconsin later, the last of which saw him wearing the “C”, the pick looks like a Ron Hextall era steal, even if the Flyers will never reap the rewards from that shrewd bit of scouting. As an overager, Kalynuk was eligible to leave school early and declare free agency, which he did this summer, finally signing with Chicago in July. The Blackhawks are getting a solid two-way defender with sneaky puck skills and a solid point shot, who uses stick and body positioning for defensive stops. He is a good enough skater to keep up with most, without being dynamic. Kalynuk reads the game well and tends to make the right decision to help extend possession for his team. The Blackhawks would be well-served to give him a half to a full season in the AHL to acclimatize to the speed of the professional game, but it should not be long until he is ready for a third pairing role in the NHL, with room for additional minutes on either or both of the special teams units. - RW

Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Barratt couples a heavy game with good hustle and a very strong, effective shot to help tilt the ice in his team’s favor. Nominally a center, he is most effective playing along the boards and behind the net, suggesting a future move to the wing. A top player in his age group with the national program before he was drafted, he got off to a slower start in college hockey, but picked things up as a sophomore, earning a spot on the American WJC team, and he maintained those gains as a junior. He has learned to better utilize his very strong wrist shot, even finding opportunities to shoot from a distance. Barratt follows his shots to the net, getting rebounds and making goalies uncomfortable. He mostly plays a North-South game, although he is not averse to circling back to create room or a different attack angle. Some time on the farm should allow him to get in work both at center and the wing, finding a spot that works best for him within the organizational structure. His versatility and energy would be a boon to the team as an affordable talent in a bottom six role. - RW

Michal Teply, LW (105^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Teply has become an enigmatic forward for the ICE. At times he controls the ice with his size, good speed, and flashes of elite level hands and shooting ability, while other nights he is a passenger on a team with a lot of good talent. Plus/minus isn’t a great stat but Teply was second worst on the team in that regard. It shows his play away from the puck still needs some work. When Teply is on his game he is on the forecheck pressuring opponents, establishing the cycle game and making skilled net drives. He is a volume shooter and has pretty good vision from the wall toward the middle of the ice. He isn’t an overtly physical player despite having dominant size and doesn’t always play with the intensity you would hope to see. He has all the physical tools and flashes moments where he puts it all together however they are too infrequent to project future NHL stardom just yet. - VG

Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Over the past two seasons, Carlsson has been Rockford’s number-one defenseman. He plays top-pair minutes coupled with time on both special teams’ units, putting up points and learning the intricacies of North American defensive play. This has helped the Swede go from fringe farmhand to a legitimate future NHLer. Aggressive with the puck but calm without it, the 23-year-old has a high stress threshold and never seems to panic defensively, waiting patiently for a chance to stick check, hit, or lock someone up against the boards at the right time. He is not particularly quick but plays with pace, carrying the puck through the neutral zone and making defenders miss with his edgework and fantastic hands. He loves to push the play forward and join the rush as a trailer but prefers to pass in most situations instead of using his below-average shot. His lack of skating speed is the only thing pushing him back from being an immediate NHL defenseman, and with the way he plays, his inability to close on top-end forwards might be an issue. For now, he has impressed his way up the depth chart and could possibly make the Chicago roster out of training camp next season. - TD

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Previous ranking: 9)

After ripping up the WHL for 102 points in his final year with Red Deer, Hagel made a quick adjustment to the pro ranks in his first full year in the AHL. His 19 goals led the Rockford roster and earned him a short NHL stint at just 21 years old, but don’t let those goal numbers fool you, as he is a dual-threat passer and scorer. Initially a Buffalo Sabres sixth rounder who went unsigned, Hagel has speed and shooting ability that makes him a playmaker and someone who has to be played tight and hard by defenders. While he is not a blazer, he skates well with his light and lanky frame to drive play. Without the puck, he competes for net-front position and has the poise to operate in that area against stronger players. A fine defensive player, he kills penalties for Rockford and can play deep in the zone at even strength. Without many flaws in his skillset, it was encouraging to see his offense really shine in his first AHL year. A long future as a checking line, depth-scoring winger who can match up against any other line seems inevitable after some more AHL time. - TD

Artur Kayumov, LW (50^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

A former second round selection, Kayumov has been developing slowly, but well, in Russia and recently finished his second full season in the KHL with Lokomotiv. Among U23 players, his 16 goals were second behind top NHL prospect Kirill Kaprizov in the league last year. The 5-11” winger is a dangerous goal scorer because of his quickness, skill level with the puck, and his powerful release. Currently unsigned by Chicago, Kayumov has a contract with Lokomotiv until the end of 2021-22, and if recent events have told us anything, it would appear likely that he plays out that contract before making the jump to the NHL for 2022-23. While this does seem pretty far down the road, Kayumov could be worth the wait and does project as a top six goal scorer and a high impact player, as his game is already practically devoid of any significant weaknesses. - BO

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

One of the QMJHL’s top defensemen in 2018-19, Beaudin was relied upon by Drummondville for basically everything. He played top pair minutes, including both special teams, and was a key factor in everything they did in the offensive zone with his 49 assists being second among all defenders in the Q. His transition to the AHL, playing the same style, was a struggle. He had difficulty putting up points at the higher level and did not seem to improve his pace of play with the puck, which is concerning for a more offensively oriented defenseman. The former first rounder showed why he was taken with such a high 2018 pick; his vision and maturity are both top notch. He sees the game exceptionally well and plays with ice in his veins. He is so good at maneuvering around the ice, waiting for lanes to open and finding his teammates. He defends well with his smarts, which keeps his gaps even and effective and his stick play is great. Patience is arguably his biggest strength, but that lack of assertiveness is worrying as he is a 5-11” defender who might top out as a tweener without more pace to his game. - TD

Jakub Galvas, D (150^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Galvas had a rather promising season with Jukurit in the Liiga. The Czech defenseman started really well which set expectations high, but ultimately, he was unable to maintain that level of play and faded somewhat as the season went on. The main issues were a lack of consistency and inability to win one-on-one battles on a regular basis. He must be more assertive and stronger in his own end. That said, he also brought many good elements to the team. He is a smooth-skating defenseman, light on his skates and has good four-way mobility. He moves effortlessly around the ice. Not only is his skating fluid, but he also handles the puck with ease, has swift hands and good puck control to operate in tight quarters. He displayed flashes of skill, but those occasions were few and far between in the past season. He has one year remaining on his contract with the Finnish club. - MB

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Another high draft selection out of Russia by the Blackhawks, Altybarmakyan, similarly aged to Kayumov, has actually signed with Chicago and appears ready to make the jump to North America after a strong KHL season with HK Sochi. The 5-11” winger plays a heavy game and does the majority of his work in tight by driving the net and playing in the slot. With a well-rounded toolkit, Altybarmakyan projects as a middle six winger who can use his speed and power to drive the pace and open up space. Given the state of the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding the AHL season, it appears there is a chance he stays in the KHL next year on a loan from Chicago, as his rights were recently traded to SKA. But he certainly seems much closer to making an impact in the NHL than Kayumov, if only due to contractual elements. – BO

Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 15)

A point-per-game player with Quebec of the QMJHL before graduating to the Chicago pro system, Kurashev’s game is one with insane offensive skills that can be inconsistent from shift-to-shift. For the Swiss World Junior team in 2019, he was one of the tournament’s best players and exhibited exactly what his game is in a nutshell, dynamic scoring potential but only in short flashes. He has puck-handling skill, decent speed, and a bullet shot that can beat goalies from distance. He is deadly with the puck on his stick on the power play and can pass better than he is given credit for. He will need to be better off the puck, as he can wander away from the play and fail to find open ice, and he is not much of a helper defensively. He is an undoubted boom or bust prospect, and with more consistency can be a top-six scoring winger, but with none, might not stick long-term at all. – TD

Niklas Nordgren, RW (74^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 18)

As a smaller winger without great skating ability, there is a great deal of risk with Nordgren, that if he isn’t putting up big numbers, he will not be able to contribute at the highest levels. He has a strong shot, but it isn’t elite. He is an impressive stick handler, but he lacks a real dynamic element with the puck. He reads the game well but is not a strong enough defender to project a shut-down role or heavy rotation on the penalty kill. Perhaps most concerning is that Nordgren, despite his solid collection of tools, has yet to really break out in men’s league hockey in Finland. He has been spending the bulk of the previous four seasons playing in Finland’s top U20 league, contributing well over one point per game, but has done barely anything in Liiga across 41 games. Still not signed to an NHL contract, Nordgren will need to take that next step sooner than later. - RW

Michael Krutil, D (110^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A big, right-handed defender, Krutil has yet to receive much playing experience outside of the Czech junior ranks. While he may not have the high-end potential of some other defenders ranked higher up Chicago’s organizational ladder, his size, physicality, and mobility make him an attractive stay at home defenseman option. He skates well enough to evade pressure in the defensive end with the puck and shows fluid four-way agility that allows him to stay ahead of attackers in transition. He also has good reach and makes life very difficult for skilled players in the corners and middle of the ice. He plays a very safe and simple game that fits within team structure and does not take chances with the puck. He has NHL potential as a PK anchor and third pairing defender. Drafted by Kelowna in the most recent CHL Import Draft, there is a chance he moves over to North America this year once play safely resumes. - BO

Isaak Phillips, D (141^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Another bigger blueline body from the 2020 draft class, Phillips is a 6-3” defender who possesses intriguing athletic tools. His mobility is an asset, especially when you combine it with his reach. He is very difficult to beat in transition because his gap control is excellent. He has the potential to develop into a high-quality defensive player at the next level. However, his game is also extremely raw. He is not as decisive with the puck as you would like to see. His physical intensity level wavers and he can get lost in his coverage assignments from time to time. He shows flashes of serviceability across all of his tools, but rarely shows more than that, other than his skating, although the steps forward he took in his draft year were promising. Patience will be required, but the pay-off could definitely be large if he can fully harness his athleticism. - BO

MacKenzie Entwistle, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 12, 2018. Originally: 69^th overall, 2017 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: UR)

While Entwistle is further along in his development – closer to reaching his ceiling – than at least the half dozen prospects immediately ahead of him on this list, we cannot rank him any higher as that ceiling is rather modest and there is less of a chance for Entwistle to exceed those projections than the younger players we have chosen ahead of him. He has plus-plus size, which he knows how to utilize, he is fleet of foot, and plays an effective and reliable two-way game. While he stepped forward a touch in his final year of junior hockey, and he was slightly more productive in his professional rookie season than anticipated, Entwistle’s ability to drive the play offensively has never been demonstrated for any lengthy stretch. His hands are OK, but he has struggled to finish too often. Even though he is more likely to play in the NHL than the next half dozen or more higher up this list, it is exceedingly difficult to see him as anything more than a versatile, fourth line energy forward. - RW

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

McKeens Hockey; Article by Ryan Wagman — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:50:55 +0000

I write these words less than 24 hours after the Dallas Stars took game one of the Stanley Cup Finals against the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning. Unlike most seasons wherein the end of the Stanley Cup marks the beginning of off-season player movement, this year teams have taken an early start to the transactional Ferris wheel as many expect the upcoming offseason (from the awarding of the Cup, through to the draft in the first week of October to the start of the 2020-21 season perhaps as soon as early December, pending COVID trends in North America) to be especially turbulent.

We have seen a few trades of NHL pieces, one deal which impacted this guidebook, as Toronto sent Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh and Swedish winger Filip Hallander was among those coming back to Toronto. Hallander was our selection for the second-best prospect in the Penguins system and now holds that title for the Maple Leafs. That trade knocked the Penguins down a few slots on our organizational rankings and allowed Toronto to go the other way accordingly.

Of course, with the draft roughly 17 days away, and with it a complete re-shuffling of the organizational rankings, this is just a snapshot in time of how every team’s system shakes up. We will re-run this list, incorporating the drafted players, in our pre-season fantasy guide, where we will expand the lists up to 20.

What you are about to dive into is a comprehensive list of all prospect eligible players on all 31 teams. To hold prospect eligibility, a player needs to 25 or younger, as of September 15, 2020. All skaters need to have played less than 60 career games, with no more than 35 of those games coming in a single season (or 25 for this past shortened season). For goalies, the age criteria remain the same, but the games played benchmark drops to 30 career games and 20 in a given season (or 15 last year). Any cutoff that does not hew exactly to the Calder Trophy award criteria is, by nature, arbitrary, but we aim to be inclusive for all players who have not yet cemented NHL jobs and/or have not had a prolonged chance to prove himself capable – or incapable.

We rank 15 per team, as depth is as important as the high end. Our goal is to identify players who could – if they have an advocate for them within the team’s braintrust – play a role in the NHL. These players were identified through our thorough vetting of each prospect across the globe, assigning scores, or grades, to five areas for skaters (skating, shot, puck skills, smarts, physicality) and six for netminders (athleticism/speed/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, positioning/technique, rebound control, and puck handling). Depending on the position, the grades are run through an algorithm to come up with an overall future projection (OFP).

The OFP, if the scout is being honest, measures the future role we anticipate the prospect being able to hold. A 50 score is the lower threshold to be a regular 4^th line forward, or bottom pairing defender. Grades over 56 are potential top line/pairing skaters. The grades in between, obviously project to the middle of the lineup.

As we are reminded every year, development is not linear. Some players take unexpected sudden leaps forward (see Marino, John), and others stagnate (see Ho-Sang, Josh), and many do exactly what we expect of them when they are given the chance. As much as I trust the analysts in our team, I can also tell you that this exercise is always humbling. There will be at least one player who we rate highly who bombs. There will be at least one player who did not feature on his team’s top 15 who becomes an NHL regular next year. We accept those errors in judgment and promise you, our faithful subscriber, that we will learn from them and refine our work for next year, as we learn just as NHL teams learn.

Until then, please enjoy this snapshot view of the future of the beautiful, frozen game. Putting this together has provided at least some sense of normalcy during this crazy summer.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired
Ana	1	Trevor Zegras	C	19	6-0/170	Boston University (HE)	`19(9th)
Min	2	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	23	5-10/200	CSKA (KHL)	`15(135th)
Col	3	Bowen Byram	D	19	6-0/195	Vancouver (WHL)	`19(4th)
Buf	4	Dylan Cozens	C	19	6-3/185	Lethbridge (WHL)	`19(7th)
Fla	5	Spencer Knight	G	19	6-3/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(13th)
VGK	6	Peyton Krebs	C	19	5-11/180	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(17th)
Ari	7	Victor Soderstrom	D	19	5-11/180	Brynas (Swe)	`19(11th)
Mtl	8	Cole Caufield	RW	19	5-7/165	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(15th)
Van	9	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	19	6-1/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`19(10th)
Edm	10	Philip Broberg	D	19	6-3/200	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`19(8th)
Tor	11	Nick Robertson	LW	19	5-9/160	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(53rd)
Col	12	Alex Newhook	C	19	5-10/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(16th)
Det	13	Moritz Seider	D	19	6-3/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`19(6th)
Fla	14	Grigori Denisenko	LW	20	5-11/185	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(15th)
Min	15	Matthew Boldy	LW	19	6-1/190	Boston College (HE)	`19(12th)
NJ	16	Ty Smith	D	20	5-10/180	Spokane (WHL)	`18(17th)
LA	17	Alex Turcotte	C	19	5-11/185	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(5th)
Nsh	18	Philip Tomasino	C	19	5-11/180	Nia-Osh (OHL)	`19(24th)
Pit	19	Samuel Poulin	LW	19	6-1/205	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	`19(21st)
Wsh	20	Connor McMichael	C	19	5-11/175	London (OHL)	`19(25th)
LA	21	Gabriel Vilardi	RW	21	6-3/200	Ontario (AHL)	`17(11th)
NYR	22	Igor Shesterkin	G	24	6-1/190	Hartford (AHL)	`14(118th)
Dal	23	Thomas Harley	D	19	6-3/190	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(18th)
Ari	24	Barrett Hayton	C	20	6-1/190	Arizona (NHL)	`18(5th)
NYR	25	Nils Lundkvist	D	20	5-11/180	Lulea (Swe)	`18(28th)
LA	26	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	19	6-2/190	Hamilton (OHL)	`19(33rd)
Cgy	27	Juuso Valimaki	D	21	6-2/205	DNP - Injured	`17(16th)
Det	28	Jared McIsaac	D	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(36th)
NYR	29	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	20	6-3/185	Hartford (AHL)	`18(9th)
Edm	30	Evan Bouchard	D	20	6-2/195	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(10th)
NYR	31	K'Andre Miller	D	20	6-3/205	Wisconsin (B1G)	`18(22nd)
Edm	32	Raphael Lavoie	RW	19	6-4/195	Hal-Chi (QMJHL)	`19(38th)
NYI	33	Ilya Sorokin	G	25	6-2/180	CSKA (KHL)	`14(78th)
Det	34	Albert Johansson	D	19	5-11/165	Farjestads (Swe)	`19(60th)
Ari	35	Matias Maccelli	LW	19	5-11/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(98th)
Van	36	Nils Hoglander	RW	19	5-9/185	Rogle (Swe)	`19(40th)
Ari	37	Jan Jenik	RW	20	6-1/180	Hamilton (OHL)	`18(65th)
Phi	38	Cam York	D	19	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`19(14th)
Phi	39	Morgan Frost	C	21	5-11/180	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`17(27th)
Ana	40	Lukas Dostal	G	20	6-1/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`18(85th)
LA	41	Tobias Bjornfot	D	19	6-0/200	Ontario (AHL)	`19(22nd)
SJ	42	Ryan Merkley	D	20	5-11/170	London (OHL)	`18(21st)
NYI	43	Kieffer Bellows	LW	22	6-0/200	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(19th)
NYI	44	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	20	6-1/205	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(11th)
LA	45	Rasmus Kupari	C	20	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	`18(20th)
CBJ	46	Liam Foudy	C	20	6-0/175	London (OHL)	`18(18th)
LA	47	Tyler Madden	C	20	5-10/155	Northeastern (HE)	T(Van-2/20)
Mtl	48	Alexander Romanov	D	20	5-11/185	CSKA (KHL)	`18(38th)
NYI	49	Bode Wilde	D	20	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(41st)
Ott	50	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCHC)	`18(26th)
Cgy	51	Jakob Pelletier	LW	19	5-9/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(26th)
LA	52	Akil Thomas	C	20	5-11/170	Nia-Pbo (OHL)	`18(51st)
Wpg	53	Dylan Samberg	D	21	6-3/190	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`17(43rd)
Chi	54	Ian Mitchell	D	21	5-11/175	Denver (NCHC)	`17(57th)
Ott	55	Josh Norris	C	21	6-1/195	Belleville (AHL)	T(SJ-9/18)
NYR	56	Matthew Robertson	D	19	6-3/200	Edmonton (WHL)	`19(49th)
VGK	57	Pavel Dorofeyev	LW	19	6-1/170	Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`19(79th)
Dal	58	Jake Oettinger	G	21	6-4/210	Texas (AHL)	`17(26th)
Ott	59	Drake Batherson	RW	22	6-1/190	Belleville (AHL)	`17(121st)
LA	60	Samuel Fagemo	RW	20	6-0/195	Frolunda (Swe)	`19(50th)
Col	61	Justus Annunen	G	20	6-4/215	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`18(64th)
Bos	62	John Beecher	C	19	6-3/210	Michigan (B1G)	`19(30th)
Phi	63	Egor Zamula	D	20	6-4/175	Calgary (WHL)	FA(9/18)
NYR	64	Zac Jones	D	19	5-10/175	Massachusetts (HE)	`19(68th)
CBJ	65	Kirill Marchenko	LW	20	6-3/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(49th)
VGK	66	Jack Dugan	RW	22	6-2/185	Providence (HE)	`17(142nd)
StL	67	Scott Perunovich	D	22	5-10/175	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(45th)
Bos	68	Jack Studnicka	C	21	6-1/170	Providence (AHL)	`17(53rd)
Dal	69	Ty Dellandrea	C	20	6-0/185	Flint (OHL)	`18(13th)
Min	70	Calen Addison	D	20	5-10/180	Lethbridge (WHL)	T(Pit-2/20)
NYR	71	Julien Gauthier	RW	22	6-4/225	Charlotte (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Van	72	Olli Juolevi	D	22	6-3/200	Utica (AHL)	`16(5th)
NJ	73	Nolan Foote	LW	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	T(TB-2/20)
NJ	74	Janne Kuokkanen	LW	22	6-1/190	Cha-Bng (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Ott	75	Alex Formenton	LW	21	6-2/165	Belleville (AHL)	`17(47th)
Det	76	Robert Mastrosimone	LW	19	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	`19(54th)
NYR	77	Morgan Barron	C	21	6-2/200	Cornell (ECAC)	`17(174th)
Mtl	78	Jesse Ylonen	RW	20	6-1/185	Pelicans (Fin)	`18(35th)
Car	79	Dominik Bokk	RW	20	6-1/180	Rogle (Swe)	T(StL-9/19)
Nsh	80	Egor Afanasyev	RW	19	6-3/205	Windsor (OHL)	`19(45th)
Ana	81	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(54th)
Min	82	Alexander Khovanov	C	20	5-11/195	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(86th)
Det	83	Joe Veleno	C	20	6-1/195	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`18(30th)
NJ	84	Kevin Bahl	D	20	6-6/230	Ottawa (OHL)	T(Ari-12/19)
Car	85	Ryan Suzuki	C	19	6-0/180	Bar-Sag (OHL)	`19(28th)
Van	86	Jett Woo	D	20	6-0/205	Calgary (WHL)	`18(37th)
Mtl	87	Mattias Norlinder	D	20	5-11/180	MODO (Swe 2)	`19(64th)
Min	88	Adam Beckman	LW	19	6-1/170	Spokane (WHL)	`19(75th)
Bos	89	Jeremy Swayman	G	21	6-1/190	Maine (HE)	`17(111th)
Wpg	90	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	21	6-3/205	Manitoba (AHL)	`17(24th)
Tor	91	Filip Hallander	LW	20	6-1/185	Lulea (Swe)	T(Pit-8/20)
Fla	92	Owen Tippett	RW	21	6-1/200	Springfield (AHL)	`17(10th)
Car	93	Jake Bean	D	22	6-1/175	Charlotte (AHL)	`16(13th)
Ott	94	Shane Pinto	C	19	6-2/190	North Dakota (NCHC)	`19(32nd)
Col	95	Martin Kaut	RW	20	6-1/175	Colorado (AHL)	`18(16th)
Van	96	Jack Rathbone	D	21	5-10/175	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(95th)
Tor	97	Nick Abruzzese	C	21	5-9/160	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(124th)
Bos	98	Urho Vaakanainen	D	21	6-0/185	Providence (AHL)	`17(18th)
Wsh	99	Alexander Alexeyev	D	20	6-3/200	Hershey (AHL)	`18(31st)
NYI	100	Simon Holmstrom	RW	19	6-1/185	Bridgeport (AHL)	`19(23rd)
LA	101	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	21	5-11/190	Ontario (AHL)	`17(41st)
Car	102	Joey Keane	D	21	6-0/185	Hfd-Cha (AHL)	T(NYR-2/20)
Wsh	103	Martin Fehervary	D	20	6-1/190	Hershey (AHL)	`18(46th)
StL	104	Tyler Tucker	D	20	6-1/205	Bar-Fnt (OHL)	`18(200th)
SJ	105	Yegor Spiridonov	C	19	6-2/195	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)	`19(108th)
NJ	106	Joey Anderson	RW	22	6-0/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(73rd)
Col	107	Conor Timmins	D	21	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	`17(32nd)
StL	108	Klim Kostin	C	21	6-3/195	San Antonio (AHL)	`17(31st)
Mtl	109	Cayden Primeau	G	21	6-3/180	Laval (AHL)	`17(199th)
SJ	110	Jonathan Dahlen	LW	22	5-11/185	Timra IK (Swe 2)	T(Van-2/19)
NJ	111	Reilly Walsh	D	21	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(81st)
Buf	112	Oskari Laaksonen	D	21	6-2/165	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`17(89th)
NJ	113	Arseni Gritsyuk	RW	19	5-10/170	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	`19(129th)
Wsh	114	Aliaksei Protas	C	19	6-5/205	Prince Albert (WHL)	`19(91st)
Cgy	115	Dustin Wolf	G	19	6-0/165	Everett (WHL)	`19(214th)
StL	116	Joel Hofer	G	20	6-3/160	Portland (WHL)	`18(107th)
VGK	117	Ivan Morozov	C	20	6-1/180	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(61st)
Mtl	118	Jake Evans	C	24	6-0/185	Laval (AHL)	`14(207th)
Nsh	119	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	21	5-10/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	`17(30th)
Wpg	120	Ville Heinola	D	19	5-11/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`19(20th)
VGK	121	Lucas Elvenes	RW	21	6-0/175	Chicago (AHL)	`17(127th)
TB	122	Cole Koepke	LW	22	6-1/195	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(183rd)
Ana	123	Isac Lundestrom	C	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	`18(23rd)
NYR	124	Tarmo Reunanen	D	22	6-0/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`16(98th)
Mtl	125	Jordan Harris	D	20	5-11/180	Northeastern (HE)	`18(71st)
Ana	126	Brayden Tracey	LW	19	6-0/175	MJ-Vic (WHL)	`19(29th)
Phi	127	Tanner Laczynski	C	23	6-1/200	Ohio State (B1G)	`16(169th)
Chi	128	Alec Regula	D	20	6-3/200	London (OHL)	T(Det-10/19)
Buf	129	Mattias Samuelsson	D	20	6-3/215	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(32nd)
Car	130	Jamieson Rees	C	19	5-10/175	Sarnia (OHL)	`19(44th)
Edm	131	Olivier Rodrigue	G	20	6-1/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(62nd)
Fla	132	Serron Noel	RW	20	6-5/205	Osh-Kit (OHL)	`18(34th)
Det	133	Antti Tuomisto	D	19	6-4/190	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	`19(35th)
Dal	134	Jason Robertson	LW	21	6-2/195	Texas (AHL)	`17(39th)
Mtl	135	Joni Ikonen	C	21	5-10/170	DNP - Injured	`17(58th)
Nsh	136	Rem Pitlick	C	23	5-11/200	Milwaukee (AHL)	`16(76th)
Ott	137	Logan Brown	C	22	6-6/220	Belleville (AHL)	`16(11th)
TB	138	Samuel Walker	C	21	5-11/160	Minnesota (B1G)	`17(200th)
Phi	139	Wade Allison	RW	22	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`16(52nd)
Wpg	140	Declan Chisholm	D	20	6-1/190	Peterborough (OHL)	`18(150th)
NJ	141	Tyce Thompson	RW	21	6-1/180	Providence (HE)	`19(96th)
VGK	142	Connor Corcoran	D	20	6-1/185	Windsor (OHL)	`18(154th)
Ana	143	Jackson Lacombe	D	19	6-1/170	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(39th)
NYR	144	Lauri Pajuniemi	RW	21	6-0/185	TPS Turku (Fin)	`18(132nd)
Car	145	Tuukka Tieksola	RW	19	5-10/160	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	`19(121st)
CBJ	146	Andrew Peeke	D	22	6-3/210	Cleveland (AHL)	`16(34th)
Ana	147	Axel Andersson	D	20	6-0/180	Moncton (QMJHL)	T(Bos-2/20)
Car	148	Patrik Puistola	LW	19	6-0/175	Tap-Juk-Koo (Fin)	`19(73rd)
NJ	149	Michael McLeod	C	22	6-2/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(12th)
Car	150	Pyotr Kochetkov	G	21	6-1/175	SKA-VIT (KHL)	`19(36th)
NJ	151	Michael Vukojevic	D	19	6-3/210	Kitchener (OHL)	`19(82nd)
NYI	152	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	20	5-8/155	UConn (HE)	`18(43rd)
Wpg	153	Sami Niku	D	23	6-0/175	Manitoba (AHL)	`15(198th)
TB	154	Hugo Alnefelt	G	19	6-3/195	HV 71 (Swe)	`19(71st)
NJ	155	Nikita Okhotyuk	D	19	6-1/195	Ottawa (OHL)	`19(61st)
NYR	156	Hunter Skinner	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	`19(112th)
LA	157	Mikey Anderson	D	21	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	`17(103rd)
Col	158	Shane Bowers	C	21	6-2/190	Colorado (AHL)	T(Ott-11/17)
NYI	159	Joshua Ho-Sang	RW	24	6-0/175	Bri-SA (AHL)	`14(28th)
LA	160	Cal Petersen	G	25	6-3/190	Ontario (AHL)	FA(7/17)
Col	161	Sampo Ranta	LW	20	6-2/205	Minnesota (B1G)	`18(78th)
Wpg	162	Mikhail Berdin	G	22	6-2/165	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(157th)
Bos	163	Jeremy Lauzon	D	23	6-3/205	Providence (AHL)	`15(52nd)
Nsh	164	David Farrance	D	21	5-11/190	Boston University (HE)	`17(92nd)
Van	165	Will Lockwood	RW	22	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`16(64th)
NYI	166	Sebastian Aho	D	24	5-10/175	Bridgeport (AHL)	`17(139th)
Wpg	167	Logan Stanley	D	22	6-7/225	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(18th)
Buf	168	Ryan Johnson	D	19	6-0/175	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(31st)
Van	169	Michael DiPietro	G	21	6-0/195	Utica (AHL)	`17(64th)
VGK	170	Kaedan Korczak	D	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	`19(41st)
Car	171	Jack Drury	C	20	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`18(42nd)
StL	172	Nikita Alexandrov	C	19	6-0/180	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	`19(62nd)
Col	173	Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	20	5-10/175	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(171st)
Nsh	174	Juuso Parssinen	C	19	6-2/205	TPS Turku (Fin)	`19(210th)
Chi	175	Pius Suter	C	24	5-11/170	ZSC Lions (NLA)	FA(7/20)
Fla	176	Aleksi Saarela	RW	23	5-11/200	Rfd-Spr (AHL)	T(Chi-10/19)
Bos	177	Trent Frederic	C	22	6-4/215	Providence (AHL)	`16(29th)
CBJ	178	Dmitri Voronkov	LW	20	6-4/190	Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)	`19(114th)
Ott	179	Lassi Thomson	D	19	6-0/190	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(19th)
Car	180	Morgan Geekie	C	22	6-2/180	Charlotte (AHL)	`17(67th)
CBJ	181	Trey Fix-Wolansky	RW	21	5-8/185	Cleveland (AHL)	`18(204th)
Ott	182	Vitaly Abramov	RW	22	5-9/175	Belleville (AHL)	T(CBJ-2/19)
TB	183	Alexander Volkov	LW	23	6-1/190	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(48th)
Tor	184	Mikko Kokkonen	D	19	5-11/200	Jukurit (Fin)	`19(84th)
Ott	185	Kevin Mandolese	G	20	6-4/180	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	`18(157th)
CBJ	186	Daniil Tarasov	G	21	6-5/185	Assat Pori (Fin)	`17(86th)
LA	187	Carl Grundstrom	LW	22	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	T(Tor-1/19)
LA	188	Kale Clague	D	22	6-0/180	Ontario (AHL)	`16(51st)
Ott	189	Artyom Zub	D	24	6-2/200	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	FA(5/20)
Edm	190	Tyler Benson	LW	22	6-0/200	Bakersfield (AHL)	`16(32nd)
Det	191	Jonatan Berggren	RW	20	5-10/185	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`18(33rd)
Tor	192	Yegor Korshkov	RW	24	6-4/215	Toronto (AHL)	`16(31st)
Dal	193	Riley Damiani	C	20	5-9/165	Kitchener (OHL)	`18(137th)
VGK	194	Zach Whitecloud	D	23	6-2/210	Chicago (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Buf	195	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	21	6-4/195	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`17(54th)
Car	196	David Cotton	LW	23	6-3/205	Boston College (HE)	`15(169th)
Chi	197	Wyatt Kalynuk	D	23	6-1/180	Wisconsin (B1G)	FA(7/20)
Min	198	Hunter Jones	G	19	6-4/195	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(59th)
LA	199	Jordan Spence	D	19	5-10/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(95th)
Cgy	200	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	20	5-9/175	Rimouski (QMJHL)	`18(198th)
Col	201	Alex Beaucage	RW	19	6-1/195	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	`19(78th)
TB	202	Dmitri Semykin	D	20	6-3/200	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	`18(90th)
CBJ	203	Matiss Kivlenieks	G	24	6-2/190	Cleveland (AHL)	FA(5/17)
StL	204	Ville Husso	G	25	6-3/205	San Antonio (AHL)	`14(94th)
Phi	205	Bobby Brink	RW	19	5-10/165	Denver (NCHC)	`19(34th)
NYI	206	Otto Koivula	C	22	6-4/220	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(120th)
Car	207	Eetu Makiniemi	G	21	6-2/180	KOOVEE (Fin 2)	`17(104th)
NYI	208	Anatoli Golyshev	RW	25	5-8/180	Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)	`16(95th)
Chi	209	Evan Barratt	C	21	6-0/190	Penn State (B1G)	`17(90th)
Buf	210	Erik Portillo	G	20	6-6/210	Dubuque (USHL)	`19(67th)
Fla	211	Cole Schwindt	RW	19	6-2/185	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(81st)
Chi	212	Michal Teply	LW	19	6-3/185	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(105th)
Ott	213	Mads Sogaard	G	19	6-7/195	Medicine Hat (WHL)	`19(37th)
Buf	214	Jonas Johansson	G	24	6-4/205	Rochester (AHL)	`14(61st)
TB	215	Cal Foote	D	21	6-4/215	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(14th)
StL	216	Niko Mikkola	D	24	6-5/200	San Antonio (AHL)	`15(127th)
NYI	217	Robin Salo	D	21	6-1/190	SaiPa (Fin)	`17(46th)
Bos	218	Jakub Zboril	D	23	6-1/200	Providence (AHL)	`15(13th)
Buf	219	Will Borgen	D	23	6-2/200	Rochester (AHL)	`15(92nd)
Pit	220	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	21	6-2/170	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`17(23rd)
SJ	221	Sasha Chmelevski	C	21	5-11/190	San Jose (AHL)	`17(185th)
Ari	222	Kyle Capobianco	D	23	6-1/180	Tucson (AHL)	`15(63rd)
Det	223	Keith Petruzzelli	G	21	6-5/180	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`17(88th)
Wsh	224	Garrett Pilon	RW	22	5-11/190	Hershey (AHL)	`16(87th)
NJ	225	Nikola Pasic	RW	19	5-10/185	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	`19(189th)
TB	226	Alex Barre-Boulet	C	23	5-10/165	Syracuse (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Edm	227	Ryan McLeod	C	20	6-2/205	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(40th)
NYI	228	Samuel Bolduc	D	19	6-3/210	BLB-She (QMJHL)	`19(57th)
Ott	229	Joey Daccord	G	24	6-2/195	Belleville (AHL)	`15(199th)
StL	230	Hugh McGing	C	22	5-9/180	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(138th)
Edm	231	Cooper Marody	C	23	6-0/180	Bakersfield (AHL)	T(Phi-3/18)
Tor	232	Jeremy Bracco	RW	23	5-9/180	Toronto (AHL)	`15(61st)
Phi	233	German Rubtsov	C	22	6-2/190	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`16(22nd)
Wsh	234	Brian Pinho	C	25	6-1/195	Hershey (AHL)	`13(174th)
Col	235	Logan O'Connor	RW	24	6-0/170	Colorado (AHL)	FA(7/18)
Buf	236	Casey Fitzgerald	D	23	5-11/190	Rochester (AHL)	`16(86th)
NJ	237	Daniil Misyul	D	19	6-3/180	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`19(70th)
Ari	238	John Farinacci	C	19	5-11/185	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(76th)
Edm	239	Aapeli Rasanen	C	22	6-0/195	Boston College (HE)	`16(153rd)
Pit	240	Anthony Angello	RW	24	6-5/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`14(145th)
Mtl	241	Cam Hillis	C	20	5-10/170	Guelph (OHL)	`18(66th)
Cgy	242	Mathias Emilio Pettersen	RW	20	5-9/170	Denver (NCHC)	`18(167th)
SJ	243	Alexander True	C	23	6-5/205	San Jose (AHL)	FA(7/18)
NYI	244	Reece Newkirk	C	19	5-11/175	Portland (WHL)	`19(147th)
Dal	245	Dawson Barteaux	D	20	6-0/180	RD-Wpg (WHL)	`18(168th)
Bos	246	Jack Ahcan	D	23	5-8/185	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	FA(3/20)
Det	247	Seth Barton	D	21	6-2/175	Mass-Lowell (HE)	`18(81st)
Fla	248	Max Gildon	D	21	6-3/190	New Hampshire (HE)	`17(66th)
Ari	249	Aku Raty	RW	19	6-0/175	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`19(151st)
Wpg	250	David Gustafsson	C	20	6-1/195	Winnipeg (NHL)	`18(60th)

Alec Regula – McKeen's Hockey

AHL: Hall: 11 Prospects in Make-or-Break Seasons

Kole Lind, 25, Dallas Stars

Valtteri Puustinen, 25, Pittsburgh Penguins

Jett Woo, 24, Vancouver Canucks

Alec Regula, 24, Boston Bruins

Raphaël Lavoie, 24, Edmonton Oilers

Alex Turcotte, 23, Akil Thomas, 24 & Samuel Fagemo, 24, Los Angeles Kings

Adam Beckman, 23, New Jersey Devils

Grigori Denisenko, 24, Vegas Golden Knights

Trey Fix-Wolansky, 25, Columbus Blue Jackets

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #31

Boston Bruins Top-15 Prospects

1. Fabian Lysell

2. Dean Letourneau

3. Brandon Bussi

4. Georgi Merkulov

5. John Farinacci

6. Oskar Jellvik

7. Justin Brazeau

8. Riley Duran

9. Michael DiPietro

10. Alec Regula

11. Andre Gasseau

12. Trevor Kuntar

13. Dans Locmelis

14. Brett Harrison

15. Jonathan Morello

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #27 Boston Bruins – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Fabian Lysell, RW, Providence Bruins (AHL)

2. Brandon Bussi, G, Providence Bruins (AHL)

3. Georgii Merkulov, C, Providence Bruins (AHL)

4. John Farinacci, C, Providence Bruins (AHL)

5. Oskar Jellvik, LW, Boston College (NCAA)

6. Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

7. Justin Brazeau, RW, Providence Bruins (AHL)

8. Riley Duran, C, Providence Bruins (AHL)

9. Alec Regula, D, Providence Bruins (AHL)

10. Michael Dipietro, G, Providence Bruins (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #27

Top 20 Boston Bruin Prospects

1. Fabian Lysell

2. Mason Lohrei

3. Matthew Poitras

4. Reilly Walsh

5. Brandon Bussi

6. Alec Regula

7. John Farinacci

8. Georgii Merkulov

9. John Beecher

10. Riley Duran

11. Brett Harrison

12. Dans Locmelis

13. Jakub Lauko

14. Marc McLaughlin

15. Trevor Kuntar

16. Andre Gasseau

17. Frederic Brunet

18. Oskar Jellvik

19. Ryan Mast

20. Beckett Hendrickson

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Chicago Blackhawks

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Top 20 Prospects

TOP 15 PROSPECTS: CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – RANK: #22 – TIER IV

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Chicago Blackhawks Top 20 Prospects

Ian Mitchell, D (57th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Lukas Reichel, LW (17th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. Previous ranking: 2)

Drew Commesso, G (46th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Pius Suter, C/LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jul. 16, 2020. Previous ranking: 3)

Landon Slaggert, C (92nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 4)

Evan Barratt, C (90th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Michal Teply, LW (105th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Lucas Carlsson, D (110th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Previous ranking: 9)

Artur Kayumov, LW (50th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

Jakub Galvas, D (150th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Lukas Reichel, LW (17^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alec Regula, D (Trade: Oct. 28, 2019. Originally: 67^th overall, 2018 [Detroit]. Previous ranking: 2)

Drew Commesso, G (46^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Landon Slaggert, C (92^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Wyatt Kalynuk, D (Free Agent, signed: Jul. 16, 2020. Originally: 196^th overall, 2017 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 4)

Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Michal Teply, LW (105^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Brandon Hagel, LW (Free Agent, signed: Oct. 30, 2018. Originally: 159^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Previous ranking: 9)

Artur Kayumov, LW (50^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 10)

Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

Jakub Galvas, D (150^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 15)

Niklas Nordgren, RW (74^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 18)

Michael Krutil, D (110^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Isaak Phillips, D (141^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

MacKenzie Entwistle, C/RW (Trade: Jul. 12, 2018. Originally: 69^th overall, 2017 [Arizona]. Previous ranking: UR)