Aleksi Saarela – McKeen's Hockey

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: Florida Panthers Top 20 Prospects

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 12:47:18 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Florida Panthers 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.

Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hailed as the top goaltending prospect heading into college hockey last season, Knight has only solidified the hype, leading Boston College to a regular-season Hockey East championship and earning a spot on Hockey East’s All-Rookie team thanks to a solid save percentage, while playing in all but one game. He can clear the puck quickly and tracks it very well. He possesses a quick stick when clearing the crease and he has quick reflexes. He won’t make many “wow” saves, but that is a good thing as it means he isn’t being caught out of position. While there are many qualities of Knight’s game to like, there are two that indicate his high likelihood of becoming an NHL goaltender - his size and speed in the net. He is 6-3” and fills the net nicely, leaving few obvious holes. The game gets quicker at each level and his ability to keep up and even excel as a freshman is a good sign for his ability to adapt. While he is expected to return to school for another season, he is already not far from being ready for the next step. - JS

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

The complete package offensively and with the potential to be one of the highest scoring players in the NHL, it is important to remember that it is hard for young Russian players to earn quality ice time in the KHL, regardless of player skill or production, and that was the case for Denisenko, who found himself in a bottom six role most nights with Lokomotiv. An exciting prospect because of the intensity he plays with, in combination with his high end skill level, he plays the game hard, brings a physical element, and loves to get under the skin of the opposition as a pest. While discipline can be an occasional issue, his ferocity is an integral part of his game as he looks to push the pace and attack the offensive zone. He has the speed, hands, and finishing ability, and the creativity to be one of the best players on the planet. Outside of discipline, Denisenko’s main knock is consistency. Given how hard he plays, he could easily start his NHL career in a checking line role and still find success, but he should be able to work his way up the lineup. – BO

Anton Lundell, C (12^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A big chunk of Lundell’s attractiveness is in the maturity of his game. He helps move the flow of the game in the right direction, winning a loose puck in his own end and dishing to a teammate better positioned to carry it up the ice; getting his stick on the puck as a forechecker, forcing a fumble; creeping away from coverage to make himself a target for a pass in a better spot; always being in the right side of the puck defensively; making the right pass out of pressure. I could go on. Lundell lacks flash, so a defender might shade away, but Lundell notices and makes the defender pay. He is effective in a high paced game thanks to his ability to process the game and anticipate. He is a very good puck mover. He is an accomplished finisher thanks to the accuracy of his wrist and snap shots. His top speed is fine, even if he lacks strong acceleration. His floor is in the NHL. The areas where he currently comes up short of awesome are all areas that can be improved with time. It is harder to teach what he already has. – RW

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Skilled winger Tippett has an exemplary attitude both on and off the ice and boasts a skill set and maturity level that even many seasoned players lack. He was on the cusp of making the Panthers’ roster last season as he was leading AHL Springfield in points as well as ice time among forwards. He has made one of the smoother transitions from the OHL to the AHL last season, perhaps only matched by Bruins’ forward Jack Studnicka in terms of performance and impact. His work ethic and shooting ability are both impressive, and his drive to make plays during special team’s situations makes him an asset. The only thing that needs slight work is Tippett’s defensive positioning but that will come with more time spent at the professional level. Overall, he is a fabulous forward and makes his presence felt every shift. The hope is that he stays healthy and continues to develop and by next season he should be making his NHL debut. - SC

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

After such a strong post draft season in 2018-19, Noel disappointed last season. Not only did his offensive game and consistency regress but didn’t even earn a sniff at the WJC. A very big power forward, Noel still possesses NHL impact potential. He skates well for a bigger player, showing the ability to drive through defenders on the way to the net. His hands and finishing ability in tight are excellent. When he is on his game, he also makes a large impact physically, using size, reach, and skating ability to close in on opposing players quickly. Unfortunately, he can struggle to create his own scoring chances because his puck skills and overall agility both still require development. Additionally, his physical game took a step back, as the consistency of his engagement level without the puck was absent. Florida will have to be patient with Noel as he moves to the professional level this season. He still projects as a middle six power forward who can score, however he may need more time in the AHL than originally thought. – BO

Ty Smilanic, C (74^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Despite missing close to one third of his draft year due to an assortment of injuries and illnesses, Smilanic always returned to action quicker than expected, even if his performance was rusty. As a result, his skillset was demonstrated inconsistently. He occasionally flashed plus straight-ahead speed and quality edge work. He is very good at creating room for himself and is a cycle master. He also has the wherewithal to change speeds, keeping defenders at bay and generating space to move the puck around. He can drive the play with both his feet and his decision making. He was sometimes too deliberate with the puck, limiting his effectiveness. This trait left some to occasionally question his creativity and offensive upside, but with none of the issues being chronic in nature, we should expect him to get back to his previous upwards trajectory in short order with Quinnipiac. Smilanic has a very good head for the game and will be, at bare minimum, a very reliable player who can be trusted to give his all in all situations. With a touch more flash, he will have opponents on their heels regularly. – RW

Aleksi Saarela, C (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89^th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 5)

Saarela has had a frustrating start to his North American career, good enough to earn call ups to the NHL but still not quite managing to stick for good. Now in his fourth organization (NYR, Car, Chi came first), he is a force when it comes to pure strength and stability on the ice, as he is an all-round skilled player. Despite being moved many times, he has done well at making the necessary adjustments needed to succeed since joining the Panthers’ system. Last season he finished second in forward points with the Falcons and managed to be a consistent member of their special teams as well. Next season he will have to do better at being present and not turning the puck over in the neutral zone. He is a good two-way player but he needs to avoid developing lazy habits in his own end or cheating and leaving too early when exiting the zone. Saarela deserves a break and has what it takes to be given a proper chance, where his skating, puck possession, and overall hockey sense can be put on show. He would make a decent addition to Florida’s bottom six. - SC

Cole Schwindt, C (81^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

It was a breakout season for the Mississauga Steelhead center, who finished the year exceptionally well and has positioned himself for an even larger breakout next year. Schwindt has the body and make-up of a terrific third line center. He plays and excels in all situations. He protects the puck well through traffic, using his wide base and reach to keep defenders at bay. He plays with intensity in all three zones and has become one of the better two-way forwards in the OHL. Additionally, his skating has improved further, giving him more of an extra gear to aid in his ability to generate offense in transition, and to help him be more effective away from the puck. Next year, Schwindt should continue to improve and has to be considered one of the more underrated prospects currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League. The offensive upside may be somewhat limited, but his game is so well rounded that it is difficult to see him failing to become an NHL player in the future. - BO

Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

A Texas product, Gildon spent his youth playing locally until he went to the USNTDP. He played in the WU-18 tournament, where he won a gold medal while scoring the most goals by a defenseman and being named to the tournament’s all-star team. The third-round pick signed with the Panthers after three years with the UNH Wildcats. Gildon has always been able to contribute offensively, and he led New Hampshire in scoring last season. He is a smooth skater with good stick handling skills. He is physical and isn’t afraid of taking a hit to play the puck, but because of his good defensive stick, he doesn’t need physicality to dislodge the puck from opponents. He appeared on the first power play unit and quarterbacked it well thanks to his vision and ability to cycle. He can weave through his opponents smoothly. He is gifted, but still raw, and needs a season or two in the AHL before hitting the NHL. – JS

Michael Benning, D (95^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Benning is a high upside puck moving defender with very intriguing offensive potential. He is at home on the point as a powerplay quarterback. His edgework is extremely crisp, creating power in his lateral movements. He can shift quickly without losing speed and get back into stride very smoothly, allowing him to spin off defenders to create passing and shooting lanes. He also shows well navigating traffic through the neutral zone as a facilitator in transition and is an overall aggressive offensive player. He is constantly looking to attack, leading the rush out of his own end. The question is whether Benning defends well enough to play consistently at even strength. He is undersized and has a tendency to get bullied in his own end, even if he is a willing combatant. He also plays a high-risk game, leaving him susceptible to being out of position defensively with the need to scramble. His overall game is quite raw, and it will be interesting to see how he handles a new challenge next year in the NCAA. – BO

Justin Sourdif, C/RW (87^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

While Sourdif’s offensive production doesn’t immediately jump out at you as elite, his even strength performance was quite strong, and right up there with some fellow WHL’ers who were taken in the first round. Sourdif perhaps gets lost in the shuffle because his physical tools leave some to be desired, but he is an extremely effective and well-rounded player. His speed and explosiveness are best summarized as average, however his brain operates more quickly and he can therefore play at a quicker pace. He is equal parts goal scorer and playmaker, and equally effective both with and without the puck. He possesses a strong wrist shot, a quick release, and is great at jumping gaps, anticipating openings before they happen. He can pick apart defensive zone coverage by changing pace and direction with the puck and has the hands and creativity to play through traffic. A strong two-way center, he uses his high IQ to apply pressure on both the forecheck and the backcheck. He is often the first forward back and is terrific at defending the middle, taking away shooting lanes in the slot. As he gains strength, second line center is not out of the question. – BO

Emil Heineman, LW (43^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Heineman came out of nowhere to light up the Swedish junior leagues in his draft year, scoring nearly a goal per game, and later looking at ease in a shorter cameo in the SHL. Time will tell if this was more a matter of skill blooming or simply being more physically mature than most of the competition, but he has some strong qualities. Heineman is an explosive straight-line skater who generates a great deal of speed coming down the wing. He is also a strong goal scorer with an NHL caliber wrist shot. He scores most often off the rush or with some room from the circles and understands how to slip behind defenders to get open. He is also a solid energy player who uses his speed to create havoc on the forecheck and who shows potential as a strong defensive forward. His puck skills, agility, and playmaking all level out as average, which probably limits his overall potential. That said, there is still enough there to suggest that, even if he doesn’t develop further as a goal scorer, he can be an effective NHL role player. – BO

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Kolyachonok has everything you would look for in a future shutdown defender at the NHL level. He has good size. He skates extremely well, showing an explosive first few strides and fluid lateral movement. This helps him to not only shutdown the transition game of opponents, but he is so quick to close in on attackers and loose pucks that teams have trouble setting up in the defensive zone when Kolyachonok is on the ice. Offensively, he has a big point shot and he makes a strong outlet pass. On the other hand, he is not a creative player or someone that should be expected to put up large offensive numbers at the next level. Playing a smart, composed, and safe game, Kolyachonok projects as a possible second pairing, defensively oriented defender at the NHL level. He returns to Flint next year where he will look to continue to evolve as a two-way defender, perhaps gaining confidence in his ability to use his strengths as a skater to help lead the breakout. - BO

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Heponiemi, who had a lot of success playing major junior and in the less gritty Liiga, had a very unkind season as he transitioned into the AHL this past season. As one of the lightest players in the AHL, he seemed to have difficulty holding onto the puck, often getting separated from it too easily and not winning his battles enough. Although still nifty and creative on the ice, there were certainly more limitations apparent as he took on a new league and level of play, with a lack of weight or the strength needed to be a strong puck carrier and offensive threat in the AHL. Of course there are always exceptions and players like Elias Pettersson who are exceptionally skilled, work hard, and who weigh under 180lbs, but those players are rare and for Heponiemi to prove himself as a great, he will have to get much stronger and dominant on the puck in another go-round in the AHL, to earn a callup as a bottom six forward. - SC

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42^nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Previous ranking: 10)

After playing top minutes with the Carolina Hurricanes feeder team in Charlotte and earning top power play ice time as well, the smooth skating forward was traded to the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline. Although he only managed to fit in five games before the COVID-19 break, Luostarinen brings starting line experience and strong skating and puck handling skills. He is not a terribly showy player, but his technical skills stand out when the puck is on his stick. He has the potential to make plays happen at the NHL level with the Florida Panthers as part of their quiet but deadly bottom six, however he needs to be better without the puck and more aggressive and physical when forechecking and battling. Luostarinen will start the season back in his native Finland with KalPa in the Liiga as European leagues are getting underway even while the game in North America is in wait-and-see mode, but expect to see him earn his first call up to the Florida Panthers later in the season. – SC

Kasper Puutio, D (153^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Despite spending much of his draft year on the worst team in the WHL, Puutio still managed to shine in his North American debut season. A slick skating puck mover, he combines high end agility and edge work to achieve solid speed and perfect crossovers, and as a result, his positioning is near flawless. Trusting in his wheels, he plays a very calm game, with tremendous poise. He generally makes the safe play in his own zone, but also has a knack for timing his plays such that he waits out the opposition to make a better pass than a more skittish defender would. The right-handed shot is more of a quick puck mover than a static blueline bomber. Without a lot of flash, he profiles as a potential #4/5 option on a solid team as long as he grows a little stronger, such that he can more vigorously defend his netminder’s crease. Puutio has returned to Finland for the 2020-21 season, back to the Karpat system he grew up in, and is now spending most of his playing against men in Liiga. – RW

Justin Schutz, LW (170^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

The young forward wrapped up the 19-20 season, his first as a full-time pro, with DEL regular season champion Red Bulls Munich, where he joined the slightly younger JJ Peterka on an all-kid line. Were it not for the names on the back of the jerseys, you would hardly be able to tell the two players apart on the ice. Their skating and style of play is that similar in the grand scheme of things. Of average height, but solidly built, Schutz reads the game very well and plays as if he's doing exactly what his coach is telling him to do, leading one to believe that he wasn't allowed to demonstrate his full abilities. Solid hands and puck decisions are accompanied by strong skating attributes and a very solid work ethic. He proved to be very adept in 1-on-1 situations, often those along the boards, against men at the pro level. He will return to the Munich club for another season next year. - CL

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

There is a lot to like about Hutsko, a former third-round draft pick. He went from Shattuck St. Mary’s to a key role in the middle of the USNTDP lineup. He also appeared in the World Hockey Classic U-17. As a freshman, he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and was awarded the Hockey East Rookie of the Year. He is a fast skater and makes his skating look effortless. He also drives the net hard. Hutsko has good stick handling abilities and played a regular role on BC’s power play. He is definitely more on the underrated side, however there is one big question mark surrounding his game that has seeing held him back— injuries. Hutsko has been injury prone throughout his career and missed nearly the entire 2016-17 season. He has had some bad luck, and whether or not he can stay healthy will decide ultimately what, if any, NHL career he can have. – JS

Devon Levi, G (212^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

It was quite the year for the 6-0” goaltender out of the CCHL. Not only was he the CCHL Top Goalie and MVP, but he was also honored as the CJHL top Goalie and MVP as the best player in all of Canadian Junior A. Levi also helped Canada East reach the final of the World Junior A Challenge, earning MVP at an event that features some of the best draft eligible players in the world. While he may not have the elite size that scouts are looking for, he makes up for it by utilizing his athleticism to cover his angles well, reading and reacting to the play as well as any goaltender available in North America last year. Outside of his height, he has practically everything a team might want in a goaltending prospect, not too dissimilar to Dustin Wolf from the 2019 draft class. A late bloomer who shows clear NHL qualities, Levi will head to Northeastern next year and be the starter for a top NCAA program. – BO

Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 13)

Often times goaltenders need more time to come into their own and develop than do skaters and this may be just the case for Montembeault, who has spent exactly 25 games up with the Panthers over the years, and has experienced moderate success. It just does not feel like he is ready to make the full time jump to the NHL and still has more room to develop. He is agile, quick, and tracks the puck well but he is still missing aspects of his game where it comes to reading how quickly NHL plays develop. He has the potential to start more games in the NHL, but for now it is up in the air as to whether he is capable of being a starter or not, depending on his continued development. Let it be known that Montembeault certainly has the compete level and spirit to do so but the rest is up to his physical performance in net. - SC

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – FLORIDA PANTHERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 4

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 19:33:33 +0000

Florida Panthers

One of the fun things about writing these little team essays to kick off each top 15 is that I get to discuss whatever interests me about a given team. Maybe they scout heavily from a particular geographic area, or they ignore an area altogether. Maybe the system is well-balanced, or particularly unbalanced.

The Florida Panthers have an excellent system. They have made some seriously funky selections over the years to raise the odd eyebrow. Some have worked out splendidly, or are in the course of doing so, like #11 Justin Schutz below, drafted out of the Red Bull Akademie playing in the Czech U18 league. Sometimes they don’t work out, like the majority of players they have selected in recent years who have taken the collegiate route. This clearly doesn’t apply to the likes of Spencer Knight, Max Gildon, or Logan Hutsko, all on this list, but too many of their collegiate prospects are in grave danger of not being worth an ELC once they exhaust their NCAA eligibility.

But these are not the points I wish to make about the exceptionally strong and deep Florida system. I also won’t spend too much time noting that the depth was significantly juiced through three trade acquisitions in the last 12 months which brought in top 15 prospects Aleksi Saarela, Eetu Luostarinen, and Chase Priskie, all three of whom have at one point belonged to the Carolina Hurricanes, but not all of whom were acquired directly from the Hurricanes.

The future is bright, Panthers fans. Enjoy it!

I want to instead talk about a Florida mistake. In recent years, many teams have been loading up on CHL prospects in the early rounds and using their middle/late round picks on collegians or Europeans. The CHL players are generally easier to scout accurately, while the others avenues can lead to more sleepers and late bloomers and the drafting team has more time to decide on offering a contract to a college-bound player or someone drafted out of Europe.

There are exceptions to the above paragraph of course. On the one hand, a team should absolutely draft top-level Europeans and college-bound players early. The Panthers do this regularly. Look on the list below. Their top two prospects, also known as their first-round picks in the two previous drafts, include a USNTDP alum who is now playing at Boston College, and a Russian playing at home. The team will reap the rewards of those picks for much of the next decade barring something truly unfortunate.

The other exception is drafting CHL players late if they are in their second or third year of draft eligibility. While the other developmental tracks tend to have more late bloomers, once in a while an 18 or 19 year old playing junior hockey in Canada makes a big leap and becomes worthy of draft consideration when he was an afterthought after his age-17 season. Whereas late rounders are generally lottery tickets and it makes sense to give organization as much lead time as possible before making a decision on a 17 year old headed to Michigan State, or Frolunda, if you feel an 18- or 19- year old from Kamloops or Rouyn-Noranda is a good bet to contribute at the professional level, than you should definitely use a pick on him, especially as you can sign him immediately (or within one year) and put him to work under your own coaches.

Not signing an overager draft pick is a massive failure at the draft table. Last year, the Panthers used their sixth and seventh round picks on two such 20-year-old players, in Greg Meireles of Kitchener and Matthew Wedman of Seattle. One COVID-19 interrupted season later, and the Panthers did not sign either of them. I am absolutely nit-picking about a system this deep, but what an avoidable waste of two draft picks.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: Boston College Eagles goaltender Spencer Knight (30) makes a glove save during the Beanpot consolation game between the Harvard Crimson and the Boston College Eagles on February 10, 2020, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

The Florida Panthers took a big gamble in using their first-round pick on a goaltender. Goaltenders are very rarely drafted in the first round because they can be very difficult to project. Knight spent two seasons with the USNTDP and also recorded the best save percentage in the tournament while earning a U18 World Junior Championship bronze medal. Knight also earned a World U-17 gold medal and suited up again with the U.S. in the World Juniors this past year. At the WJC, he was named one of the U.S.’ top three players.

He was hailed as the top goaltending prospect heading into college hockey, a big expectation for a freshman goaltender. But Knight has only solidified the hype, leading Boston College to a regular-season Hockey East championship and earning a spot on Hockey East’s All-Rookie team thanks to a solid save percentage.

He can clear the puck quickly and tracks it very well. He possesses a quick stick when clearing the crease and he has quick reflexes. Knight won’t make “wow” saves, but that is a good thing - it means he isn’t being caught out of position.

While there are many qualities of Knight’s game to like, there are two that indicate his likelihood of becoming an NHL goaltender - his size and speed in the net. He is 6-3” and fills the net nicely. The game gets quicker at each level and his ability to keep up as a freshman is a good sign. While he is expected to return to school for another season, he is already not far from being ready for the next step. - JS

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 1)

There is a reason why many consider Denisenko to be one of the top forward prospects on the planet; he is the complete package offensively and has the potential to be one of the highest scoring players in the NHL. After lighting up the last two World Junior Championships, Denisenko signed his NHL contract with Florida and will be heading to North America next season.

Some may point to Denisenko’s lackluster stats in the KHL and question why he is so highly regarded. It is important to remember that it is hard for young Russian players to earn quality ice time in the KHL, regardless of player skill or production, and that was the case for Denisenko, who found himself in a bottom six role most nights with Lokomotiv.

Denisenko is an exciting prospect because of the intensity he plays with, in combination with his high-end skill level. He plays the game hard, brings a physical element, and loves to get under the skin of the opposition as a pest. While discipline can be an issue at times, his ferocity is an integral part of his game as he looks to push the pace and attack the offensive zone. He has the speed, the hands, and finishing ability, and the creativity to be one of the best players on the planet.

The knock on Denisenko, outside of penalty issues, is his consistency. However, his potential remains sky high. It is highly likely that Dale Tallon and the Panthers are planning on Denisenko being a part of their lineup for the 2020-21 season. Given how hard he plays, he could easily start in a checking line role and still find success. However, eventually, he should be able to work his way up the lineup. - BO

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 2)

For the Panthers organization which boasts one of the lower fan attendance marks in the NHL, drafting and choosing the right fresh faces is everything. Tippett is by far one of the strongest draft picks Florida has made, and he is an ideal candidate to grow into a top six forward for the team, and as a member of their core group and one of the faces of the organization. The skilled winger has an exemplary attitude both on and off the ice and boasts a skill set and maturity level that even many seasoned players do not have.

Tippett was on the cusp of making the Panthers’ roster this past season as he was leading the AHL Springfield Thunderbirds in points as well as ice time among forwards. He has made one of the smoother transitions from the OHL to the AHL last season, with only Providence Bruins forward Jack Studnicka at his level in terms of performance and impact.

His work ethic and offensive shooting ability are both impressive, and his drive to make plays during special teams’ situations makes him an asset to have on the ice. The only thing that needs slight work is Tippett’s defensive positioning but that will come with more time spent on professional level ice.

Overall, he is a fabulous forward and makes his presence felt every shift. The hope is that he stays healthy and continues to develop and by next season he should be making his NHL debut. - SC

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 4)

After such a strong draft +1 season with the Generals in 2018/19, the expectations placed on Noel heading into this season were quite high. However, the year was a disappointment for him and his development. Not only did his offensive game and consistency regress (with both Oshawa and Kitchener), but he failed to earn an invite to the Canadian World Junior camp too, something that looked like a lock after his strong performance at the team’s summer showcase prior to the start of the season.

A 6-5” power forward, Noel still possesses the potential to be an impactful player in the NHL. He skates well for a bigger player, showing the ability to drive through defenders on the way to the net. His hands and finishing ability in tight are excellent. When he is on his game, he also makes a large impact physically, using his size, reach, and skating ability to close in on opposing players quickly to force turnovers.

Unfortunately, this season certainly brought to light some current limitations to his game. Noel can struggle to create his own scoring chances because his puck skill and overall agility are still areas that require development. Additionally, this year we saw his physical game take a step back, as the consistency of his engagement level without the puck was not present.

Many believed that a midseason deal to Kitchener would reignite his game, but it actually caused further regression. Florida will have to be patient with Noel as he moves to the professional level this season. He still projects as a middle six power forward who can score, however he may need more time in the AHL than originally thought. - BO

Aleksi Saarela, D (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89^th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Pre-season: 4 [Chicago])

For such a talented player, it has been a rather frustrating start to Saarela’s career in North America, constantly being good enough to earn call ups to the NHL but still not quite having what it takes to fully stay up with a club. The former third round New York Rangers draft pick was traded first to the Carolina Hurricanes, before stopping in the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization and now with the Panthers, spanning the last three of those teams in a single season.

Saarela is a force when it comes to pure strength and stability on the ice as he is an all-round skilled hockey player. Despite being moved many times, he has done well at making the necessary adjustments needed to succeed with the Panthers with their AHL affiliate in Springfield. Last season he finished second in forward points with Springfield and managed to be a consistent member of their special teams as well.

Next season he will have to do better at being present and not turning the puck over in the neutral zone. He is a good two-way player but he needs to make sure to not develop any lazy habits in his own end or cheating and leaving too early when exiting the zone. Saarela deserves a break and has what it takes to be given a proper chance, where his skating, puck possession, and overall hockey sense can be put on show. He would make a decent addition to Florida’s roster as part of their bottom six. - SC

Cole Schwindt, C (81^st overall, 2019. Pre-season: 9)

He plays and excels in all situations. He protects the puck well through traffic, using his wide base and reach to keep defenders at bay. He plays with intensity in all three zones and has become one of the better two-way forwards in the OHL. Additionally, his skating has improved further, giving him more of an extra gear to aid in his ability to generate offense in transition, and to help him be more effective away from the puck.

Next year, Schwindt should continue to improve and has to be considered one of the more underrated prospects currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League. The offensive upside may be somewhat limited, but his game is so well rounded that it is difficult to see him failing to become an NHL player in the future. - BO

Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: UR)

Gildon has always been able to contribute offensively, and he led New Hampshire in scoring this season. He is a smooth skater with good stick handling skills. He is physical and isn’t afraid of taking a hit to play the puck, but because of his good defensive stick, he doesn’t need physicality to dislodge the puck from opponents.

He appeared on the first power play unit and quarterbacked it well thanks to his vision and ability to cycle. He can weave through his opponents smoothly. He is gifted, but still raw, and needs a season or two in the AHL before hitting the NHL. - JS

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 6)

Offensively, he has a big point shot and he makes a strong outlet pass. On the other hand, he is not a creative player or someone that should be expected to put up large offensive numbers at the next level. Playing a smart, composed, and safe game, Kolyachonok projects as a possible second pairing, defensively oriented defender at the NHL level.

He returns to Flint next year where he will look to continue to evolve as a two-way defender, perhaps gaining confidence in his ability to use his strengths as a skater to help lead the breakout. - BO

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 5)

Although still nifty and creative on the ice, there were certainly more limitations apparent as he took on a new league and level of play, with a lack of weight or the strength needed to be a strong puck carrier and offensive threat in the AHL.

Of course there are always exceptions and players like Elias Pettersson who are exceptionally skilled, work hard, and who weigh under 180lbs, but those players are rare and for Heponiemi to prove himself as a great, he will have to get much stronger and dominant on the puck in another go-round in the AHL, to earn a callup as a bottom six forward. - SC

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42^nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Pre-season: 6 [Carolina])

He is not a terribly showy player, but his technical skills stand out when the puck is on his stick. He has the potential to make plays happen at the NHL level with the Florida Panthers as part of their quiet but deadly bottom six, however he needs to be better without the puck and more aggressive and physical when forechecking and battling.

Luostarinen will start the season back in his native Finland with KalPa in the Liiga as European leagues are getting underway even while the game in North America is in wait-and-see mode, but expect to see him earn his first call up to the Florida Panthers later in the season. - SC

Justin Schutz, KW (170^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Of average height, but solidly built, Schutz reads the game very well and plays as if he's doing exactly what his coach is telling him to do, leading one to believe that he wasn't allowed to demonstrate his full abilities.

Solid hands and puck decisions are accompanied by strong skating attributes and a very solid work ethic. He proved to be very adept in 1-on-1 situations, often those along the boards, against men at the pro level. He will return to the Munich club for another season next year. - CL

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

He is a fast skater and makes his skating look effortless. He also drives the net hard. Hutsko has good stick handling abilities and played a regular role on BC’s power play. He is definitely more on the underrated side, however there is one big question mark surrounding his game that has seeing held him back— injuries. Hutsko has been injury prone throughout his career and missed nearly the entire 2016-17 season. He has had some bad luck, and whether or not he can stay healthy will decide ultimately what, if any, NHL career he can have. - JS

Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Pre-season: 8)

He is agile, quick, and tracks the puck well but he is still missing aspects of his game where it comes to reading how quickly NHL plays develop. He has the potential to start more games in the NHL, but for now it is up in the air as to whether he is capable of being a starter or not, depending on his continued development.

Let it be known that Montembeault certainly has the compete level and spirit to do so but the rest is up to his physical performance in net. - SC

Chase Priskie, D (Trade: Feb. 20, 2020. Originally: 177^thoverall, 2016 [Washington]. Pre-season: 13 [Carolina])

After finishing second overall for defensive points on the Charlotte Checkers, Priskie was traded at the deadline to the Panthers, after which he immediately recorded four points in five games with the Thunder, getting off to a good start with his new organization. Priskie never got an NHL chance with the Carolina Hurricanes, but if he continues next season the way he started with Springfield there is no doubt that he will be one of the first defensemen called up to the Panthers.

He is smart with the puck, physical, and a good playmaker, which makes him deadly on the attack. He would fit well into Florida’s bottom four when he earns his chance, and it would be interesting to see how his smarts adapt to the NHL game. Priskie plays with such passion and fearlessness that his first call up should go well helping the Panthers look good for picking him up. - SC

John Ludvig, D (69^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: UR)

Ludvig had an explosion of offense this year playing with a high paced, dynamic offensive group that boasted numerous highly talented players. His point per game pace is a sign there is some offensive tools in there but do not mistake that for the bread and butter of his game.

He is a heavy player with a stocky frame that he uses to control his own zone. He is a physical, bruising defender that has an eye to make the responsible play, with and without the puck. He fits the mold of a bottom pairing guy that could play up a pairing with a more dynamic partner.

He can move the puck and makes sound decisions in his own zone. His gap control in the neutral zone is excellent and he can push players to the outside by taking good angles and taking away space. He will jump into the rush but is always a trailer and is not an end to end rusher as his point totals may indicate. At the blueline he is a cautious decision maker who keeps pucks active and moving, rather than making a cross-seam back door pass that can be picked off. - VG

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)

AHL Western Conference 2019-20 Season Preview

Tom Dorsa — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:20:02 +0000

The new hockey season is finally upon us, and with it, comes the return of the American Hockey League, which serves as the primary development league of all 31 National Hockey League franchises.

As the AHL’s 31 teams prepare to clash over the long winter stretch, hoping to lift the Calder Cup in June, their NHL parent clubs are bulking up their farm team’s rosters with some of their best and brightest prospects.

With the NHL season up and running, the rosters for the AHL teams in each organization are coming to fruition. The solid mix of veterans with familiar faces alongside some exciting, exuberant youthful prospects of many teams are giving fans in the AHL’s member cities hope for the present and the future, while giving NHL fans faces to look for as potential replacements for the parent clubs, if and when the need arises.

Let’s take a team-by-team look at the competitors in the AHL’s Western Conference, beginning with last season’s conference champions.

(Team rundown is listed by 2018-19 point totals, and are not a projection of 2019-20 conference standings.)

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

The Wolves, who paced the Western Conference with a 44-22-6-4 record in the regular season, lost their two leading scorers from last season over the summer. Daniel Carr, whose 71 points in 52 games led the AHL in points per game (1.37) last season, departed for the Nashville Predators system, while T.J. Tynan (led the league with 59 assists) joined the Colorado Avalanche organization.

Head coach Rocky Thompson might have trouble finding the same scoring, but will not have any issue on the blue line, with a defensive corps headlined by some top prospects like Nic Hague (4th in McKeen’s Vegas farm system rankings), Zach Whitecloud (6th), and Jake Bischoff (8th) all manning the defensive zone. Hague and Bischoff are presently up with Vegas, but both should spend significant time on the farm this year.

Chicago should maintain a spot near the summit of the Central Division standings, bolstered by all-world defense and solid goaltending.

Prospects to watch (quotes from the 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Nicolas Hague

“[T]he 2017 second-rounder has can’t-miss shutdown potential in a two-way package. His lanky, 6-6” frame makes him nearly unbeatable at the blueline, as his length and mobility give him a package that can compete with any AHL forward for space in the defensive zone.”

Lucas Elvenes

“[A] smooth skater with soft hands. He has skill, and his inconsistent scoring is a product of him being more of a perimeter player, as he likes to create from the outside and that play isn’t always there and his creativity isn’t enough in those instances.”

Dylan Coghlan

“[A]n impactful offensive-defenseman by virtue of his skating, his atomic bomb of a slapshot, and his vision and playmaking, which allow him to quarterback a power play unit. His ceiling is as a middle-pair puck-rusher, but we will have to see how he does with an increase in tougher minutes on a depleted AHL Chicago this season.”

Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)

The Condors made American Hockey League history last season with a stretch of 17 consecutive wins between January 12 and March 1. The win streak is tied for the second-longest in the 83-year history of the AHL, and allowed the Condors to soar (pun intended) to the Pacific Division regular season title.

Though they fell to the San Diego Gulls in the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, Bakersfield enjoyed its most successful season since the Oilers moved its primary development affiliate from Oklahoma City to Kern County, California, scoring more goals (242) and allowing fewer (182) than ever before.

With a solid group of top prospects from a deep Edmonton farm system, the Condors can be expected to contend alongside their California rivals for another Pacific Division crown.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Tyler Benson

“A speedy and creative forward, the former second-rounder’s natural playmaking ability — driven by top-notch vision, decision-making, and very crisp and accurate passes — can carry play from both the left wing and from the center position.”

Kailer Yamamoto

“A highly creative, smooth-skating winger, the former first-rounder creates plays out of thin air and is intense on the puck at all times. The quick-handed forward possesses strong hockey sense and the ability to drive play and carry a line from his position with his speed and vision.”

Cameron Hebig

“The undersized center plays a solid 200-foot game, exhibits mature offensive anticipation, has lightning-fast hands, and possesses a pro-level wrist shot, albeit a criminally underused one.”

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

After failing to make the playoffs in 2017-18, the Admirals returned to the postseason scene, losing to the Iowa Wild 3-2 in a five-game set. Riding a 14-game point streak through a hard Spring schedule, the Admirals made an improbable climb from seventh to second in the Central Division to end the season.

Milwaukee, celebrating their 50th season in the North American pro scene, look to rebound with an influx of solid Nashville prospects. Though AHL staples Adam Helewka and Dustin Siemens departed in the offseason, the introduction of prospects Rem Pitlick and Jeremy Davies (a New Jersey prospect traded in the P.K. Subban deal) will boost the offense.

Goaltender Troy Grosenick, one of the AHL’s best, will be back in the Admirals crease with a deeper team in front of him and head coach Karl Taylor.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Eeli Tolvanen

“His shot is mesmerizing, with speed, a wicked and deceptive release, and insane accuracy, while his skating has improved to compliment has lethal shooting. His excellent touch for the puck gives him an underrated playmaking game as well, as his hands can create space for himself and teammates while his elite stick skills enable him to dish passes over with ease.”

Rem Pitlick

“As solid as his shot is, Pitlick is also a clever playmaker, with good vision as he flies down the wing towards the net. While he will take risks to create offense, he is responsible in his own end, and has been a trusted penalty college for the University of Minnesota.”

Frederic Allard

“A former point-per-game blueliner in the QMJHL, his speed, shot, and offensive vision all grade out as average or better. He sees the ice and anticipates plays at a very mature level, and he has legitimate top-four potential if he can work on his defensive game, with his puck-moving and skating playing big roles in his projected big-league value.”

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

For the first time since the team formerly known as the Houston Aeros moved to Iowa, fans in Des Moines were treated to postseason hockey from an Iowa Wild team that won more games (37) and scored more goals (242) than in any past season.

The offense was paced by usual suspects like team captain Cal O’Reilly, but goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen carried the defensive efforts of the club with poise and consistency. First-year head coach Tim Army’s group knocked off Milwaukee in the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Although the AHL club made few big-name acquisitions in the offseason, their returning players should keep them afloat in their search for a postseason spot in the Spring of 2020.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Nico Sturm

“He has great size and skates very well, with intriguing puck skills to boot. He is close to ready and has a third line ceiling.”

Kaapo Kahkonen

“His calm, composed mentality in the crease bodes well for his highly-athletic, technically-refined butterfly style, and his maturity as a young netminder was on display for all of last season in Des Moines. From a talent standpoint, he projects to be a midtier NHL starter in the near future.”

Louie Belpedio

“A right-handed, puck-moving defenseman is an untouchable prospective asset to any organization, but throw in some offensive upside and a veteran level of composure, and you have a surefire future NHLer. His smarts are top notch, and his speedy skating and vision make his mission of exiting the zone as fast as possible an easy one most times.”

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

The Griffins are a team that benefits mightily from the Red Wings’ aggressive style of prospect development. A year after the debut of Filip Zadina -- the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft -- Grand Rapids will say hello to Joe Veleno and Moritz Sieder, two more first-round picks.

Add in Michael Rasmussen and Evgeny Svechnikov, you can argue that the Griffins have the most young, raw talent in the game, and head coach Ben Simon is prepared to put it all to use. Only three years removed from a Calder Cup championship (2016-17), the Griffins look primed for another run at the AHL equivalent of the Stanley Cup.

The Griffins fell victim to Chicago, the eventual conference champions, in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Filip Zadina

“His intense skating speed, technical footwork skill, and elite shooting prowess [are] capable of changing the game on every shift. Furthermore, even if the numbers don’t pop, the fact that he did it all as a teenager is incredibly impressive.”

Moritz Sieder

“Big, mobile right-shot defenseman who oozes confidence and has great hockey sense. He has the quickness to join the rush and he does so in a timely manner. The German blueliner is very gifted offensively, possessing high-level passing skills and a strong shot selection.”

Evgeny Svechnikov

“He is a beast with the puck, able to get inside position on anyone and his control and balance are incredible for his size. He doesn’t shy from playing hard defensively. We will have to see if his injuries continue to hold him back when he returns this season, but if his health holds -- and his consistency improves -- he can be a middle-six scoring wing in the NHL.”

San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks)

In their four years at SAP Center (after formerly playing in Worcester, MA), the Barracuda have never missed the playoffs. A beacon of consistency in the minor leagues in spite of an NHL club that is a perennial contender, there is no reason San Jose shouldn’t be hosting postseason games next Spring.

With the additions of Noah Gregor, Sasha Chmelevski, and Ivan Chekhovich -- along with a formidable returning core of players -- the Sharks boast a reinvigorated prospect pool ready to make things happen at the AHL level.

The Barracuda led the Pacific Division for much of the season before the Condors went on an incredible 17-game winning streak; San Jose finished second, four points behind Bakersfield. San Jose fell three games to one to San Diego in the first round of the playoffs.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Joachim Blichfeld

“[I]s a natural scorer with very good offensive instincts, has a great shot, and plays a pretty good all round game. He should be able to translate his game to a higher level of play. He will start as a bottom six forward, and could move up to a top six role if he settles in and produces even a portion of his WHL production.”

Sasha Chmelevski

“He is the type of forward who can excel in any situation and this versatility will make him an NHL player sooner rather than later. His best asset might be his shot release, which is lightning quick. But he is more than just a goal scorer, as he processes the game very well and is especially dangerous in transition with his ability to make quick decisions with the puck.”

Antti Suomela

“He still has the potential to be a top-six forward; a lethal skater and often deadly setup man, Suomela can contribute in many ways, even without the puck, as his anticipation for where the play is flowing is unreal. He still has the potential to be a top-six forward; a lethal skater and often deadly setup man, Suomela can contribute in many ways, even without the puck, as his anticipation for where the play is flowing is unreal.”

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

In their four years in Winnipeg, the Moose have played in the playoffs just once, missing the postseason last year with a very young and inexperienced team. With some of their younger players expected to make a leap this season, the Moose should be much improved.

Getting Sami Niku back to the AHL club is a major boost. Last season, Niku made the Jets roster but was a healthy scratch for the majority of the NHL campaign, and instead the mobile, smart defender will get some valuable reps instead of wasting away in the press box.

Youthful goalie Mikhail Berdin is anticipated as the club’s number-one goalie, and seems capable of the job after success in a somewhat-limited role last year. Head coach Pascal Vincent, the winner of the 2018 Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s most outstanding coach, is back behind the bench of the Jets’ affiliate.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Logan Stanley

“The physical beast is one of the tallest prospects (or player of any level) in hockey, and his high-end defensive game leans heavily on his near-incomparable length. With his long and impassable gaps, active stick, and ability to take any opposing forward off the puck, his defensive game is one that seems NHL ready at just 20 years old.”

Michael Spacek

“As one of the finest defensive players in the Winnipeg system, Spacek has a clear NHL future due solely to his hard work and intensity in all three zones, but he can be better than a defensive specialist. The Czech native’s high-end two-way game has translated well from the WHL to pro hockey, as his shot, passing skill, and of course, his maturity and responsibility as a defender has impressed in the Winnipeg system.”

Mikhail Berdin

“Extremely athletic and hard-nosed, Berdin plays a fundamentally refined game that minimizes high-danger chances. He also possesses the last-resort agility to shut down anything that he can’t immediately get to.”

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

A year removed from winning the Western Conference and coming just a game away from taking home the franchise’s second Calder Cup, the Stars missed the postseason last year amid injuries and recalls toward the end of the season.

In addition, Texas has bid farewell to their two longest tenured players this offseason. Travis Morin, the 2014 AHL Most Valuable Player, retired from pro hockey while Justin Dowling, the team’s captain last season, made the Dallas roster out of training camp and seems primed to stick in the NHL.

With that transition brings youth and excitement into head coach Derek Laxdal’s lineup, as 11 first-year pros will compete in their rookie season with the Stars, including goaltender Jake Oettinger and forward Riley Tufte, both former first-round picks.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Jason Robertson

“At his best, Robertson is a monster in possession who prolongs offensive zone time because of how well he protects the puck. He also possesses terrific instincts, a great release, and a high skill level with the puck that makes him a very complete offensive player.”

Jake Oettinger

“Not only is Oettinger one of the top prospects in the Dallas system, the 20-year-old is firmly among the elite goaltending prospects in the sport. He is a 6-5” behemoth in the crease, but with the mental composure of a veteran and the agility of an NHL starter, boasting one of the most impressive packages of netminding skill in the game today.”

Joel L’Esperance

“The 6-2” center plays a high-energy game in all three zones, forechecks hard, and has some solid technical skating skill for a big man. He has a splendid wrist shot and a hockey IQ that is as high as his experience from the college ranks would suggest.”

San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks)

After a somewhat surprising run to the Western Conference Finals that ended with a loss to Chicago, head coach Dallas Eakins was given a promotion to the Anaheim Ducks and now serves as the bench boss of the Gull’s NHL parent club.

What that means is, like with Texas, a lot of transition and a lot of unknown. Kevin Dineen was hired as the head coach in the offseason and now oversees a team with a lot of turnover from the year prior. Prospects like Hunter Drew and Andrew Morand will lead the club from the side of youth, while AHL scoring phenom Andrew Poturalski joins the fray after a Calder Cup championship with Charlotte.

The 2019-20 Ducks sure look like the 2018-19 Gulls, and San Diego will have to rediscover an identity to be in contention for a postseason spot as the winter turns to spring again.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Joshua Mahura

“A crisp, accurate, and heads-up passer, the 2016 third-rounder is a beast in transitional play, and is never afraid to start -- or join -- an offensive rush. Solid vision of up-ice development is aided by his tight gaps, which can force turnovers at the blue line and spark a chance the other way.”

Antoine Morand

“Knows where to be on the ice. He is a creator who distributes very well and can run an offense. He is a solid skater with great agility and strong edgework, but his size is a question mark going forward. Morand will have to bulk up to have extended success at the NHL level.”

Andrew Poturalski

“A decisive, speedy playmaker with quick hands and high-end vision, the 25-year-old possesses a ceiling of a depth scoring forward with potential to have a ton of success on the power play.”

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

The IceHogs failed to qualify for the postseason in a transformative 2018-19 campaign that saw their NHL parent club make many internal moves that trickled down to Rockford. Most notably, Jeremy Colliton getting a midseason promotion from AHL bench boss to NHL headman, leaving Derek King and crew without much time to implement their voices on the room.

Now, King will get a full season as head coach and an influx of well-regarded prospects at his disposal. Adam Boqvist and Nicolas Beaudin, two 2018 first-round picks, will man the blue line, while returning goaltenders Collin Delia and IIHF World Championships winner Kevin Lankinen can hold down the fort in the crease.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Aleksi Saarela

“Saarela is a hard-working, dynamic player who wins battles and moves so efficiently that his energy stays high throughout the entirety of each game. He is a great shooter and his accuracy is impressive which makes him a tough opponent to stop. He is an all-around fun and creative player to watch and with his hockey sense and skill, he has the potential to be a top six forward and lead a team despite his size.”

Adam Boqvist

“An elite offensive defender, Boqvist has the requisite tools to be a high scorer in the NHL. His skating stride is not only smooth, it is powerful, and it allows him to take risks by jumping up into the rush quite frequently. He also possesses fantastic scoring instincts for a defender, sliding down into the slot or using his agility to open up shooting lanes for himself at the blueline.”

Dylan Sikura

“From the standpoint of raw skating, he was one of the best in the AHL and in this very deep farm system. His playmaking has long been his calling card, and he loves to make space for teammates with his speed only to pass it off. He is a smaller center, but does not shy away from doing the dirty work on both ends of the rink.”

Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)

After winning two straight Kelly Cups in their final two years of action in the ECHL, the Eagles wasted no time bringing Calder Cup playoff action to Loveland, Colorado in their first season of AHL play. Finishing fourth in the Pacific Division before losing to Bakersfield in round one, it was a terrific start for an AHL expansion team.

Eagles head coach Greg Cronin has arguably a deeper team in the dressing room this season, and the Eagles can be expected to not only reach the postseason again, but perhaps go even deeper. Losing top scorer Andrew Agozzino and starting goaltender Pavel Francouz is a pain, but the addition of veterans T.J. Tynan and Erik Condra, as well as prospect Calle Rosen and the health of Conor Timmins bring balance to the club.

Like the Avalanche above them, they’re a team that preaches chaos and excitement over anything else. They’re incredibly fun.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Martin Kaut

“Although his offensive game was stagnant, his defensive game -- where his value is most apparent -- needed no adjustment from Europe to the North American style. His incredible rink sense make him a pest on the puck, and his willingness to play deep in the defensive zone is an unteachable, immeasurable talent.”

Shane Bowers

“Bowers is the type of player that specializes in performing the little things, doing the grunt work while his linemates hog the glory. He can accelerate the cycle game, bringing the puck in from the perimeter and putting a scoring chance in motion. He plays with energy and can be used in all situations.”

Logan O’Connor

“He is a wonderful skater with the acceleration of a top-line scorer, and possesses the smarts and discipline to consistently make a major impact in all three zones. His versatility is his strongest weapon, as he can play all three forward spots -- up and down the lineup -- with surprising effectiveness.”

Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona Coyotes)

Injuries bit the Roadrunners hard near the end of the 2018-19 season, and the team narrowly missed the playoffs directly because of it. In particular, the losses of defenseman Kyle Capobianco and forwards Michael Bunting and Nick Merkley all hit head coach Jay Varady hard, but the team is full of depth and excitement if their health cooperates.

This team won the Pacific Division title in 2018, with several of those players still suiting up in Tucson brick red and black. In their fourth year in Arizona, they should be expected to contend for the Pacific crown once again, so long as heavily-revered goaltending prospect Adin Hill can play up to his level.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Nick Merkley

“Agile and athletic, he has the edgework and plus acceleration to make up for his small, albeit stocky, stature. His creativity with the puck is fueled by his elite hands, and his shot is an ever-evolving weapon. It is difficult to tell what kind of player Merkley is going to be, but if he can finally stay healthy, the 22-year-old has the skill and potential to be a future top-six winger.”

Adin Hill

“At 6-6”, Hill’s size is the first thing that jumps out about the 2015 third-rounder, but his incredible technical refinement and immeasurable mental composure are major bright spots in the development of the Coyotes’ goaltender of the future. With both AHL Tucson and the NHL club, Hill displayed his excellent total package as a near-term big-leaguer.”

Tyler Steenbergen

“His 200-foot game, defensive responsibility, and effectiveness as a bottom-six, penalty-killing guy who can play all three forward spots reliably gives him something many players of his ilk have not: a surefire NHL ceiling.”

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

While no St. Louis Blues fan will trade their first and only Stanley Cup last season for a better prospect pool, the Blues are certainly lacking in terms of a competitive AHL team. Their 2018-19 season started about as poorly as their parent club’s, and the Rampage never got above a .500 winning percentage at any point of the season.

But a new year always brings promise and hope. Prospect winger Klim Kostin, a 2017 first-round pick, had a solid preseason with St. Louis and brings to his third season in the AHL a quest to be more disciplined and consistent, while goaltender Ville Husso looks for redemption after a disastrous season in 2018-19.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Ville Husso

“Husso had a horrendous season that further damaged his falling prospect stock. After a strong 2017-18 campaign, the Finn went 6-18-0 with a 3.67 GAA and .871 Sv% in 2018-19, eventually losing the clear-cut starting job to a slew of random cast-offs that featured Binnington and Jared Coreau. Husso still has the raw skill to make a name for himself, including his athleticism, size (and more importantly, the way he uses it), and his ability to read plays as they develop and position himself accordingly.”

Klim Kostin

“Though he went through another underwhelming AHL season, the 6-3”, 212lbs 20-year-old impressed scouts with his body control, momentum on his skates, and his physical, power-forward game. A fast shot and nifty puck-protection skills make Kostin a fun player to watch when he gets to enter the zone with momentum, though his lack of speed and assertiveness can hold him back.”

Mitch Reinke

“His speed allows him to frequently exit the defensive zone, while his vision and hockey sense give him the instincts to put the puck in the right place. He can jump into the play and let off his strong, accurate wrist shot, but he is more of a facilitator than anything.”

Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)

Since moving to Stockton from Glens Fall, New York, the Flames have not won a single playoff series. With their NHL parent club in a “win now” window, it has obviously been difficult for Stockton to establish a consistent winner in the AHL.

And with Calgary bulking up the big-league club for another potential run at the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, Stockton head coach Cail MacLean has his work cut out for him again. Especially without Jusso Valimaki, who tore his ACL in offseason training and is expected to miss the entire 2019-20 season, several others with the AHL Flames will need to step their games up this year.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Dillon Dube

“Shifty and quick on his feet, the former captain of Team Canada at the World Junior Championship exhibited plus value as a playmaking passer while also playing as a forceful, self-assured shooting option. His undersized frame is not a hindrance to his highend rough-and-tumble, forechecking game, as his play in the cycle is where he really shines as a passer and in-tight puck-handler.”

Matthew Phillips

“Grading out as an above-average skater and shooter, the Calgary native can impact games with his slippery skating, tricky shot release, and plus vision to create lanes for his linemates. At just 5-7” and 155 pounds, his physical game obviously lags, but he can be effective enough at separating himself from opposing defenders against the boards.”

Tyler Parsons

“A master scrambler, Parsons lacks technical refinement but more than makes up for it with competitiveness, play-tracking, and the reflexes to complement his all-out style of goaltending. The 2017 WJC gold medalist needs nothing more than a clean bill of health to continue his ascent up the ranks of NHL goaltending prospects, as the 2016 second-rounder projects to be a mid-tier NHL starter, but with more room to grow.”

Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)

The Reign suffered through a dreadful 2018-19 season, one that became increasingly hard as the campaign continued, with the Kings recalling many Ontario’s best players.

Matt Luff, Carl Grundstrom, and Austin Wagner joined L.A.’s forward group, Sean Walker and Matt Roy saw time on the blue line, and Cal Petersen played in the crease at some points in the year. Using a core of inexperienced defensemen, ineffective forwards, and whoever else the Reign could snag from ECHL Manchester was not a recipe for success.

New additions Jaret Anderson-Dolan (2017 second-rounder) and Rasmus Kupari (2018 first-rounder) hope to turn the tide, to say nothing of the possible return to help of 2017 first rounder Gabriel Vilardi, bringing excitement to San Bernardino county. The Reign could be a sneaky playoff team, or just die out early like last season, but unpredictability can be entertaining, at least.

Prospects to Watch (quotes from 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook):

Rasmus Kupari

“His greatest asset is, without doubt, his skating. Highly agile on his skates, he can make tight turns and cuts and he possesses strong edge control. He stops and starts well and has excellent top-end speed. He can maneuver with the puck in tight spaces and has a lot of puck skill as well.”

Gabriel Vilardi

“He possesses a great size and skill package down the middle and is a terrific playmaker who thinks the game at a high level and really can dominate possession down low. He is just so strong and difficult to separate from the puck. Vilardi played only four games for Ontario last year because of a lingering back injury that appears to be threatening his promising career.”

Jaret Anderson-Dolan

“Anderson-Dolan had a tough season last year battling injuries, but managed to finish the season strong. He finished the season by putting up 20 goals and 43 points in 32 games for the [Spokane] Chiefs, and 15 in 13 games in the playoffs, demonstrating that his multi-tool impact was still there.”

Chicago Blackhawks 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 10:50:04 +0000

Around one month into last season, the Chicago Blackhawks, meandering through a slow start, fired their coach, future Hall of Famer Joel Quenneville. He was replaced by Jeremy Colliton, who had been the head coach of the Blackhawks’ AHL club in nearby Rockford. The new youngest coach in the NHL had only been behind the bench at any level for five years, the first four of which were in Sweden, with Mora, which he helped guide from the Allsvenskan to the SHL before taking the Rockford job.

The hiring was curious for more reasons than just Colliton’s general lack of experience. For another thing, hiring coaches from the AHL has recently fallen out of vogue, at least directly, with many GMs preferring coaching retreads, or, if they want a new face, looking to the college ranks, as was done in Dallas and Broadway, following Philadelphia a few years ago. (Note that exceptions are sometimes made when the incumbent coach is fired or leaves at an awkward time – see Colorado and the hiring of Jared Bednar) Promoting assistants to the top job has also been popular, as we see with the most recent Stanley Cup winner in Craig Berube, or with Ottawa plucking DJ Smith from the backbench of Provincial rival Toronto.

In any case, Colliton’s promotion from Rockford does give us a chance to study how he incorporated some of his old charges from the farm into the NHL lineup. There were a few 2017-18 IceHogs who received significant time in the Chicago lineup in 2018-19. Looking at our top 20 from last year, big blueliner Carl Dahlstrom lost his eligibility after playing in 38 games. Luke Johnson also got into 15 games, retaining his prospect eligibility (which he will try to lose this year as a member of the Minnesota Wild). Netminder Collin Delia got 16 games in net when Corey Crawford was hurt, and put up numbers that were better than ostensible backup Cam Ward’s (although still not that great). Other players having played under Colliton for both teams include Gustav Forsling, Andreas Martinsen, John Hayden, Dennis Gilbert, and Alexandre Fortin.

Notably, none of the players listed above had outsized roles with Collliton’s Blackhawks’ squad as he was able to tell the difference in quality between good AHL players and NHL talent. The Blackhawks nonetheless finished around the same under Colliton as they were with Quenneville. Based on the list below, we also don’t expect the Rockford connection to play a greater role next year, as of the five players listed who primarily played in the AHL last year, three came to the organization from other teams in the offseason, meaning they had never played under Colliton. The two that are holdovers include Dylan Sikura, who actually only played for Colliton in Chicago, and Lucas Carlsson, who was still in Sweden, playing for Brynas, when Colliton was in Rockford.

Even with the overall record not changing much between the two coaches, and the new coach not utilizing much in the way of familiar faces in his new job, the Blackhawks did at least feel more energized under the younger coach. And with one of the deepest systems in the game, there is the hope that Colliton will be better equipped to utilize the young talent entering the system than his predecessor had been.

-Ryan Wagman

Adam Boqvist (27) of the Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire)

1 Kirby Dach, C (3^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Dach is a true game-breaker down the middle of the ice. Few centers bring the combination of size, speed and skill that he provides. He has the ability to make plays in open ice, beat guys one on one or make a pass that cut open defenses. He carries the puck through the neutral zone well and always plays with his head up. He can protect the puck as well as anyone down low and can make passes from anywhere on the ice. He is a very good shooter, too, but his game revolves around his passing ability and ability to hold onto the puck. His defensive game is intriguing as well as he uses his long reach to strip pucks and on the back check can quickly turn the play around with his physical dominance. He needs to improve his consistency over a full season, but he projects as a number one center but could play the wing as early as this season in the NHL. - VG

2 Adam Boqvist, D (8^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) An elite offensive defender, Boqvist has the requisite tools to be a high scorer in the NHL. His skating stride is not only smooth, it is powerful, and it allows him to take risks by jumping up into the rush quite frequently. He also possesses fantastic scoring instincts for a defender, sliding down into the slot or using his agility to open up shooting lanes for himself at the blueline. While his offensive game could best be described as dynamic, his defensive game can be summarized as “developing.” Boqvist is a high risk, high reward player who may never be a defensive stalwart but his reads and physical assertiveness will need to improve for him to be a reliable even strength player. He will either play with Chicago, or in the AHL this season. A year of minor pro would likely greatly help his defensive game and make him more equipped to handle the rigors of the NHL. - BO

3 Alex Nylander, LW (8^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Last Year: 3 [Buffalo]) Nylander is a rather controversial and inconsistent player to watch. At his best, he is a gifted playmaker and passer with a great way of seeing the play and anticipating where to be on the ice, however he is rarely at his best. Instead he lacks physicality or any sort of aggressiveness in his game which sees him often times back down from being first to the puck and battles as he is weak on the puck. For a forward with size and a good shot, Nylander has to make sure to keep his feet moving at all times and be stronger so that he can get the opportunities he deserves. He has the skill to be a middle six forward but he will need to make major adjustments to his attitude and consistency in order to make the next level work. He will need to be more aggressive and his work ethic will have to be much better than in previous seasons. - SC

4 Aleksi Saarela, C (89^th overall, 2015 [New York Rangers]. Last Year: 3 [Carolina]) Saarela is a hard-working, dynamic player who wins battles and moves so efficiently that his energy stays high throughout the entirety of each game. He is a great shooter and his accuracy is impressive which makes him a tough opponent to stop. He is an all-around fun and creative player to watch and with his hockey sense and skill, he has the potential to be a top six forward and lead a team despite his size. He flies under the radar but will still need a year in the AHL to gain enough momentum and confidence to be the same type of player once he moves up to the NHL. That being said, should Saarela have another great year and work on being more accurate with his breakout and regroup passes, his transition to the next level will be much easier. He will also need to better his coverage at both ends of the ice. - SC

5 Ian Mitchell, D (57^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 4) Overshadowed in the AJHL in his draft year by Cale Makar, Mitchell is likewise a second fiddle defender in the Chicago pipeline behind Boqvist. That said, he has clearly been the top blueliner for Denver for two years running. He is a fine skater, with four directional ability, and his hands are just as quick. He can dangle and is a natural at walking the blueline and moving off of it to help his team create offense. As good as he is offensively, he is just as sharp in his own zone. He plays with a mature sense of calm and can be relied upon in the hairiest situations. Even with Boqvist in the picture, I would not put a first pairing future past Mitchell, although second pairing is more likely. - RW

Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Sikura (95) (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire)

6 Dylan Sikura, D (178^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 3) With great speed and incredible hockey vision, Sikura has turned into an absolute steal as a sixth round pick for the Blackhawks. A former OJHL star, he spent four years at Northeastern to ramp up his offensive game to the high level he sits at now. In his first full pro year, he posted a 45-17-18-35 stat line with AHL Rockford while adding eight assists in 33 NHL games. From the standpoint of raw skating, he was one of the best in the AHL and in this very deep farm system. His playmaking has long been his calling card, and he loves to make space for teammates with his speed only to pass it off. He is a smaller center, but does not shy away from doing the dirty work on both ends of the rink. His shot will never be a legitimate weapon, but he can hide his biggest flaw by playing a distributor role instead. He could be a top-six forward -- he routinely plays all three positions -- as soon as this season. - TD

7 Niklas Nordgren, RW (74^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 5) Nordgren was having a strong 2018-19 season until he was injured, which caused him to miss the World Juniors and limited his season to only 15 Liiga games. The 5-9" winger is not the fastest of skaters but has very good passing skills, offensive instincts and vision. He can execute an efficient and quick passing game both in the neutral and offensive zones. He is smart in possession and constantly plays with his head up while scanning his options. Nordgren has a quick and very accurate wrist shot, as well as a hard slap shot, both of which can beat goalies cleanly. He has a goal-scorer's touch around the net. A lack of explosiveness in his skating is concerning, but his top speed is quite good and still improving. He has middle-six upside as an offensive-minded winger. - MB

8 Michal Teply, LW (105^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Teply has been a key player for the Czech youth national teams at the international level. The Blackhawks' third round pick is a very smart winger with no shortage of skill, either. Even when having limited time and space, he can deliver quality passes and stay poised under pressure. He makes quick decisions with the puck and reads the game at a high level. He has good shooting technique and mechanics, making for an accurate, high-velocity wrist shot. He is an agile and fluid skater with good coordination. He can carry the puck into the zone with relative ease, but he would be even more dangerous with improved acceleration, especially from a standstill. Teply projects as a middle-six winger at the NHL level. He will play for WHL's Winnipeg Ice this season. - MB

9 Alex Vlasic, D (43^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) A Chicago-area native, Vlasic gains notice as soon as eyes are laid upon him, considering his towering 6-6” size. His skating needs to be cleaned up, but he gets to a decent top speed, especially considering his frame. Vlasic is still incredibly raw and learning what he can and cannot do against advanced competition, especially as it pertains to his ability to read the play. He has surprisingly good hands and is capable of executing highlight reel passes. His long reach helps him overcome some of his defensive zone foibles, but he flashes enough to suggest that he can grow into competence there. Coupling in the fear factor, as he is not afraid to run guys over, and we have here a blueliner with outsized potential once he decides on the type of player he should be. - RW

10 MacKenzie Entwistle, C/RW (69^th overall, 2017 [Arizona]. Last Year: Not ranked) Like a Swiss army knife, there are many facets to Entwistle’s game. He has size. He skates well. He is a very intelligent player away from the puck and is effective in all three zones. He asserts himself physically and is an excellent forechecker. He can play all three forward positions and slide up and down a lineup depending on need. He provides leadership and is coming off back to back Championships with two different OHL teams. While Entwistle does not possess elite offensive tools, he is the type of player that the coaching staff in Chicago will absolutely love. And, as already alluded to, he is the type of player you win Championships with. His projection is likely of a bottom six forward who can anchor a penalty kill and he should move quickly through Chicago’s system, even if the offensive production is only mediocre. - BO

11 Dominik Kubalik, LW (191^st overall, 2013 [Los Angeles]. Last Year: Not ranked [Los Angeles]) Kubalik put together a breakout season with Ambri-Potta on the Swiss NLA. He was one of the top players for the Czech national tea, throughout the season as well, earning a spot on the team for the World Championships, where he recorded 12 points in 10 games. A skilled a sizeable winger who can score goals, he has a strong shot selection which features a quick release wrist shot and an accurate one-timer. Scoring goals comes naturally to him, especially from the circles. He also has the vision and passing skills to create offensive opportunities for others in the final third. Kubalik is a decent skater. His quickness used to be somewhat of an issue, but he has shown improvements in agility and foot speed. He has versatility and physicality to boot, allowing him to be used up and down an NHL lineup. - MB

12 Nicolas Beaudin, D (27^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) While Beaudin’s offensive numbers were down a bit from the previous season, he still showed his amazing passing ability. He can hit any teammate anywhere on the ice, putting them in an optimal scoring position. He adds to his great passing with excellent hockey sense, and 56 points from the blueline is nothing to sneeze at. He can read plays as well as anyone in the QMJHL. What still holds him back is his size and his acceleration. He is an undersized blueliner who does not play physical. While his movement and agility is excellent, his speed is just okay. His acceleration is what hurts his skating the most, although his edgework is great. He can overcompensate on both ends of the puck for this, but he can also make great breakouts and succeed in the offensive zone. He is a very talented offensive defender who can quarterback a power play at the NHL level. - MS

13 Brandon Hagel, LW (159^th overall, 2016 [Buffalo]. Last Year: Not ranked [not affiliated]) Hagel is a previously drafted but unsigned player that had to recommit himself in his 20 year old season to get a shot at a pro career. He excels with the puck on his stick, has very good vision and was a top five scorer in the WHL last season. His shot isn’t blow you away quick but he picks corners incredibly well which makes him a dual threat as a shooter and a passer. He played both special teams units and he is an excellent agitator which enables him to draw a lot of penalties. He needs to improve on his discipline as he can run a little hot and take himself out of his game with foolish penalties. Hagel has a chance to be a very good third line player who can be matched up against anyone and can contribute offense from a depth role but will take a couple seasons in the AHL before he sees any NHL ice time. - VG

14 John Quenneville, C (30^th overall, 2014 [New Jersey]. Last Year: 4 [New Jersey]) It is no secret that Quenneville’s path to success has been somewhat delayed and a little rocky. Last season with Binghamton in the AHL was good but saw him also spend a fair bit of time in the penalty box. He has the hands and natural skill to no doubt be playing in the NHL but where he will end up exactly is up to him. He will need to push himself harder to stay focused and stay caught up with the pace of the NHL game if he wants to be anything higher than a third liner. At his best, Quenneville is a dynamic, aggressive power forward who is hard to stop but this next season is a make or break year and it will be up to him to see if he can secure a full time spot in the lineup with the Blackhawks, an organization that prides itself on its forward development. - SC

15 Evan Barratt, C (90^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 12) After struggling through an occasionally trying freshman campaign, Barratt hit a new level with Penn State last season. He is a strong skater with good playmaking instincts. He reads opposing defenses very well and has a knack for finding linemates in motion. While his offensive game is solid, he doesn’t seem to have enough skill to play in a top six, but thankfully he more than makes up for it with strong defensive zone work. He is a trusted penalty killer and generally has his stick in the right place to break up plays and regain possession. He is also a willing combatant, happy to get his nose dirty and generally not fun to play against. Heading back for his junior season, I expect Barratt to sign next spring and work his way to a third line role. - RW

16 Jakub Galvas, D (150^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) The top scoring teenager in the Czech Extraliga last year, Galvas increased his offensive output by around 25% despite playing in two fewer games and once again having his season interrupted by the WJC. Despite lacking size, he is an all-situations defender, who uses his stick well in his own zone while also having a knack for filling in shooting and passing lanes with his body. He has very quick feet, which enable him to join or lead the rush and get back quickly if needed, which, on some occasions, is due to his own turnovers. The former fifth round pick is developing steadily and is readying himself for a big step up in competition as he will be playing in the Liiga for Jukurit this season. He still has much to iron out in his game, but between his skating and puck skills, he has a solid shot at a third pairing spot down the road. - RW

17 Alexis Gravel, G (162^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) Gravel is a big goalie who plays an efficient game. He had a big year last year when he needed to; Halifax was reliant on his game to get them to the big stage, and he was needed at times for a deep Mooseheads playoff run into May. While he carries a lot of muscle at 218 pounds, he can move around the crease quickly and puts himself in good position to make the second and third save when needed. In fact, he makes some tough saves look routine with his great puck tracking and anticipation. Gravel might have gained too much weight too quickly and sapped some quickness a year ago but showed this year that the added weight was not an issue. He has starter potential as he gets quicker and continues to progress. - MS

18 Philipp Kurashev, LW/C (120^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 16) Kurashev is a well-rounded and refined offensive player. For the second year in a row, he scored over one point-per-game, and also for the second year in a row, he impressed at the WJC, with seven points in seven games for Team Switzerland last holiday season while being the centerpiece of his team. In Quebec, he also had to deal with the extra attention of being the top center on his team, and thrived with a defensively-responsible offensive game as a player who can play a ton of minutes. Kurashev wrapped up his season with three games in the AHL with Rockford and finally four points over eight games with Switzerland at the world championships playing against men. He needs to improve his skating speed a bit, but he has the makings of a top-nine contributor at the NHL level. - MS

19 Lucas Carlsson, D (110^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) A highly aggressive and entertaining defenseman, Carlsson had a very solid 2018-19 campaign, his first in the North American pro ranks. He paced all of Rockford’s defensemen in most offensive categories on their top defensive pair. His speed and shot are average at best, but his fierce and enthusiastic drive in all three zones is what makes him an intriguing prospect. His stretch passes are tight and quick, but he is capable of weaving through the neutral zone with the hands and edgework that make him a fine two-way blueliner. He loves to join the rush as a trailer and let off a wrister, although his shot is average at best. Defensively, he is never hesitant to pressure an opposing forward with a hit against the boards or a sweep check at the line. He is still a while away from being an NHLer, and his play-tracking on defense will have to improve until then, but I would not be surprised to see him on the Blackhawks’ third pair in the near future. - TD

20 Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW (70^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 20) A gifted player and a fast skater, Altybarmakyan has already accumulated significative pro experience in the last few seasons and is now a full-time KHL player after moving to HC Sochi from SKA. The move panned out well for him as he found more time on ice and a former NHL superstar on the bench in Sergei Zubov. A dangerous player when the ice opens up, Altybarmakyan needs to improve his defensive game, his consistency, and his intensity before trying to move overseas. In the NHL it is hard to rely on talent alone, and at this point, he is nothing more than a project player. However, he has intriguing offensive potential and next year will be key to understanding what his real ceiling is. - ASR

Carolina Hurricanes Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 20:22:51 +0000

Strong at the top and deep throughout, new Carolina owner Tom Dundon and the General Manager he settled on, Don Waddell, have inherited a team that seems certain to rise in the standings and soon break a postseason drought that is already nine seasons long.

We can leave it to other analysts, in other spaces to debate whether Waddell’s long track record of failure can be easily brushed aside. As General Manager of the Atlanta Thrashers for all or parts of 12 seasons, the team made the postseason once despite the presence of Ilya Kovalchuk through most of that time period, as well as a few other supporting stars. As president of the Hurricanes before taking on the GM mantle, he took a direct part in over half of the Carolina drought.

It is probably also best to leave to others the task of sussing out Dundon’s apparent belief that his competitors in the NHL sphere are doling out far too much money to pay for managers, and hockey executives and he can experience the same level of success when buying suits from the bargain bin. There were more than a few stories over the past few months of young, bright executives passing over on the chance to be the new Hurricanes’ GM as the salary offered was reportedly less than they had been earning as assistant GMs in their current positions.

We could probably take a moment to note that the Hurricanes have always done a good job in their scouting, even though, prior to Dundon, they were known to have one of, if not the smallest scouting staffs in the game. The fact that they recently hired McKeen's alumnus Dave Burstyn as a pro scout should only fortify an organizational strength.

We can commend their change of course with regards to positional drafting. This team had built up a truly enviable young set of blueliners, largely through the draft, with career-long Hurricanes Justin Faulk, Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Noah Hanifin, and Haydn Fleury forming five sixths of the defense corps last season, and with more, including 2016 first rounder Jake Bean, on the way.

In fact, since calling out Bean’s name, Carolina made eight more picks in 2016, eight in 2017, and six this summer. Of those 22 players added to the organization, only five were defensemen, just one more than the number of goalies they drafted in that same span.

The 13 forwards express much of the hope for the immediate and short-term future for this franchise. Five of them are among the top seven prospects listed below and another three are included in the top 20.

Scoring goals was only one of the Hurricanes’ recent problems. They also had problems stopping the puck. It is fair to note that they would have made the postseason at least once in the past nine years if they had average NHL goaltending, instead of the slowly decaying Cam Ward and, last year, an in-over-his-head Scott Darling.

We count six young netminders among Carolina’s prospect stash. We only list one in the top 20, but two others are very close and would be safely in the top 20 in many other organizations. We can be confident in their skaters being polished into a strong NHL lineup, but if at least one of the netminders doesn’t pan out, their playoff drought will continue.

Andrei Svechnikov

1 Andrei Svechnikov, RW (2^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) An elite scoring talent, in the USHL, OHL and during international play, Svechnikov would often do it all himself, because he could. His skating, puck skills and hockey sense all grade out as high end. His shot, particularly a lethal wrister that can find twine when taken from nearly anywhere in the offensive zone, is a near elite weapon. That said, he is equally comfortable creating for his linemates as he is in manufacturing his own chances. Beyond his skills, the winger is also physically mature. He can play a heavy game if needed. Opponents have to take the body hard to stop Svechnikov when he has a bead on the net, and even then, then can only force him to change direction. At his best, he is unstoppable. After dominating the USHL at age 16, and crushing the OHL at 17, he is ready for the NHL at 18.

Martin Necas

2 Martin Necas, C (12^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1^st) Although he started his year making his NHL debut, Necas was quickly loaned back to his Czech league team, where he excelled as a teenager in a men’s league, that is, when he wasn’t representing his homeland on the international stage. He is a tremendously exciting talent, with exceptional quickness and high end vision. He has a selection of subtle feints making him very hard to read, and that allow him to cut through the offensive zone, leaving defenders in his wake. Despite his obvious offensive gifts, he has also demonstrated a willingness and ability to take care of his own end. He is still filling out his immature frame, but he is ready for the NHL now, and his first line upside within a few years.

3 Aleksi Saarela, C (Trade: Feb. 28, 2016 [NY Rangers]. Last Year: 6^th) Less than 12 months after being selected by the Rangers in the third round, Saarela was traded to Carolina, along with two future second rounders, for franchise legend Eric Staal. While it would be very unfair to expect that he could replicate the presence of the man he was dealt for, his first full season in the AHL showed him as a very talented player in his own right. Both his shot and his puck skills grade out as high end. He also is a fine skater who plays with a constantly churning motor, helping him overcome to an extent his relatively undersized physique. Still only 21 years old, he may not win an NHL job to start this season, but is likely to earn his first callup as the year progresses.

4 Janne Kuokkanen, LW (43^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 5^th) Not flashy, Janne Kuokkanen is instead a versatile, mature forward who plays a structured, consistent game in all three zones. His tools all grade out well, with notable stress on his puck skills, as he is incredibly tough to strip of the puck once he has it in his possession. Capable of playing both at center and on the wing, his one soft spot is that he may not be overly tough to line up against. But he a very good skater, has a strong shot, works hard, and can be put on the ice in any situation. Considering that in the two years since coming over from Finland, he has spent one season in the OHL and the next in the AHL, an extra season to consolidate his gains and push his boundaries could show a player with a higher upside than is even suggested by this placement.

5 Adam Fox, D (Trade: Jun. 23, 2018 [Calgary]. Last Year: 2^nd [Calgary]) Part of the big Noah Hanifin-Dougie Hamilton trade the Hurricanes swing with Calgary on day two of the NHL draft this year, word is that the Flames were dismayed as they were not able to sway to sway Fox to leave Harvard after his sophomore season. That said, it is hard to see what more he has to learn (on the ice, that is) at the Ivy League school. Over two seasons, he has averaged more than a point per game and his puck skills and offensive vision are among the best in collegiate hockey. He makes up somewhat for his lack of high end skating with a very impressive sense of anticipation. His ability to quarterback the attack is so impressive and advanced that he could be ready to jump into the NHL right after his junior season ends, and the Hurricanes will do everything in their power to convince him to.

6 Julien Gauthier, RW (21^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th) A bodybuilder who would probably be as safe without shoulder pads, Gauthier struggled to make an impact in his rookie pro season with AHL Charlotte. His high end shot still found the net at an acceptable rate, but the rest of his tools, as impressive as they may be in a vacuum, were not able to come to fruition with any consistency. He has ideal power forward size at 6-4”, 225, and is exceptionally strong, but is not a terribly aggressive player, and does not always recognize opportunities to strike. Considering his tremendous build, his fluid skating and soft hands are pleasantly surprising but he still needs to put a few more pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together before he can be deemed ready for the NHL.

7 Eetu Luostarinen, C (42^nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 10^th) A late bloomer who did not even get to Finland’s top junior level until his second year of draft eligibility, Luostarinen continued his rapid ascent last season, consolidating his status in Liiga, nearly doubling his scoring rate from the previous season. He is still rather lanky, but projects to have a big frame once he completes his physical maturity. Combined with his high end puck skills, above average skating ability and mature understanding of the game, a middle six outcome is within reach. There is an ongoing question of when that future will begin, at least in terms of the North American game. Luostarinen still has two seasons to run on his current contract with KalPa.

8 Jake Bean, D (13^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 2^nd) As productive as Bean was with a moribund Calgary Hitmen squad in the WHL, many assumed he would be able to get to another level after he was traded at mid-season to a strong Tri-City team. Unfortunately, Bean struggled in his half season with the Americans, before coming alive in the post-season. A second turn with Canada’s WJC entry did little to raise the bar either, as he was generally sued as the sixth or seventh defenseman on the international stage. He is a skilled blueliner, calm and composed on the puck whether getting it out of his own zone, or walking the blueline in the offensive end. He was adequate in his own zone at the junior level. Between the depth on defense in Carolina and Bean’s personal failure to take his game to new heights in two years since being drafted, the Hurricanes will be patient with him as he learns the professional game in Charlotte.

9 Lucas Wallmark, C (97^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 8^th) Among all skaters with at least 9 games played in the AHL last year, Wallmark led in points-per-game with 1.22. As gifted as he is with the puck – he was one of the most gifted with puck in the minor leagues – and as keen as his offensive instincts are, the former fourth rounder suffers from sub-par foot speed. It is certainly not fair to judge a player based on 19 NHL games over two seasons, but his paltry total of three points over that time did little to suggest that the rest of his game is good enough to overcome the aforementioned handicap. The fact that he is undersized and is susceptible to being manhandled (the ack of escapability hurts here again) also should bring a pause to his supporters. For as much as Carolina struggled to put the puck in the net over the last few years, he should receive an extended look, but Wallmark will have to both produce and improve his deficiencies to make his chance count.

Warren Foegele

10 Warren Foegele, LW (67^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 11^th) Rare is the player drafted directly out of a Canadian high school. While the rate of high end prospects attending elite Canadian schools is growing, they generally leave before their draft year. Warren Foegele was one unicorn who stuck around. Of course, he could not stay the course after enrolling at the University of New Hampshire, leaving early in his sophomore season and gaining some OHL experience before turning pro. After he completed his junior eligibility, he was thought to be a potential bottom six player, but turned those expectations on their head with a stellar AHL debut. He lacks any truly high end tools, but does everything at an above average level. His IQ and work rate also help him to maximize the tools that he does have. Although his two game NHL cameo exceeded everyone’s hopes, he will need to earn it once again, but is firmly on the radar for future contributions.

11 Valentin Zykov, RW (Trade: Feb. 29, 2016 [Los Angeles]. Last Year: not ranked]) Zykov took a bit step forward in his third pro year, second in the Carolina organization, finishing second in scoring for the AHL Checkers, and playing an impressive 10 games in the NHL. While his skating had previously held him back somewhat, he s now better at getting his plus-plus shot off, helped by a knack for finding soft spots in coverage and a solid ability to stickhandle his way free of stick checks. Part of the skating issue is related to a very wide frame (225 pounds on a 6-1” figure), but to his credit, he knows how to use his body effectively, while walking the line between physicality and discipline. The skating will limit his ultimate upside, but he has shown that he deserves a chance.

12 Jack Drury, C (42^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Don’t let Jack Drury’s point production in his draft year fool you. He lacks any truly dynamic elements to his game, but he has a lot of good ones to help make up for it. He gets to a good top speed, sees the ice well and demonstrates sound hockey intelligence. To his credit, his whole is greater than the sum of his parts. These are all good things, and they make Drury a fine prospect, but a good deal of his scoring came on the one of USHL’s best power plays (he led the league in both power play goals and assists) and a lot of those assists were secondary assists. Heading to Harvard, Carolina will have at least three years to track his development before they begin to pressure him to sign an ELC.

13 Saku Maenelanen, LW/RW (UFA: May 18, 2018. Last Year: IE) If this list were focused only on the likelihood of a player contributing this year and next year, Maenalanen would be a top three prospect in this system. Once upon a time a fifth round pick of the Predators, the rangy winger stayed in Finland, spending most of the past five seasons playing high level men’s hockey in Liiga, primarily with Karpat, winning two Liiga championships. He had kind of slipped off the radar after leading the WJC in goals in 2014 but re-emerged last season as one of the top players on a title winner, and earned a spot on Team Finland at the World Championships. He skates rather well for his size and shows a good commitment to the game in his own end. There are questions about how much offense he will be able to bring to the NHL level, but he will have a chance to play in the NHL right away.

14 Cliff Pu, RW (Trade: Aug. 2, 2018 [Buffalo]. Last Year: 9^th [Buffalo]) Lean but incredibly fast, Pu was the main return to Carolina from the long-dangled Jeff Skinner. While never a premier scorer in his OHL career, spent mostly with the London Knights, before moving to Kingston at mid-season last year, he has shown flashes of true puck skills since being drafted that hint that he can be more than just a straight line speedster. He has filled out his body nicely since being drafted as well, and while he is not a mean player, he can be effective in puck battles. His 200 foot game and ability to slot in on the penalty kill will be the key to a successful career for Pu as it is hard to see him being able to provide more than secondary scoring punch.

Roland McKeown

15 Roland McKeown, D (Trade: Feb. 25, 2015 [Los Angeles]. Last Year: not ranked) Acquired along with a first round pick from LA for Andrej Sekera a few years ago, McKeown s in the wrong organization to try to break through to a full time NHL role as a safe defenseman without high end offensive skills. To his credit, his second season in the AHL was far superior, at both end, to his first and his offensive game could be adequate at the next level. Adequate for this sense means that he could hold his own as a third pairing defender without putting his team in a bind. His strength is in his own zone work, whether it is filling up passing and shooting lanes and forcing his man to the outside. Also uses his stick well to keep gaps tight. He likely needs a new organization to be more than a seventh defenseman.

16 Stelio Mattheos, C (73^rd overall, 2017. Last Year: 9^th) A look back at Mattheos’ first post draft year and his scouting profile is a reminder that a player can do everything right, producing at high end levels and even improving upon core skills projections, and still drop in a team’s prospect rankings. In this case, it was more a reflection upon how the Hurricanes, as an organization, have continued to stockpile quality prospects while numerous AHLers have also shown similar skills while being much closer to NHL readiness. Despite his production levels, Mattheos is a brawny forward, who makes up in smarts what he lacks in footspeed, the latter of which is just average. He does have a strong shot which should allow him to contribute once he is ready for the AHL, but his skills are not exceptionally dynamic.

17 Nicolas Roy, C (96^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 7^th) Between his size and production over the final two seasons of his QMJHL career – which included a strong performance in the 2017 WJC, expectations for Roy were high going into his rookie professional season. Even as their remain reasons for optimism, he did not live up to expectations. He is a smart center who can lean on opponents for positioning, has a nice shot and soft hands that belie his 6-4”, 207 pound stature, but his lack of foot speed held him back. That deficiency is not so damaging at his size, but still held him back. He is young enough to refine his skating technique and climb this list, but it is not something everyone can do.

18 Andrew Poturalski, C (UDFA: Mar. 8, 2016. Last Year: 14^th) On the small side and lacking the foot speed you usually see in the smaller guys who succeed at the highest levels, Poturalski has earned continued looks thanks to his consistent ability to impact a game offensively. More instinctive than reactive, he has great vision for creating scoring chances for his linemates, and showed an improved ability this past season at finishing his own chances. He is not a fancy dangler, but is a very clever passer, rapidly identifying soft spots in coverage for himself or his teammates. Focusing on what he can do earns him a chance. Focusing on what he cannot do means he will only get so many chances to capitalize on those chances. This year might be his last one.

19 Morgan Geekie, C/RW (67^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 16^th) Despite leading Tri-City in scoring in his age 20 season, 2017-18 was a mild disappointment for Geekie, at least until the postseason arrived where he was one of the most prolific scorers in the league (27 points), despite only playing in 14 games. It would have been good to see him dominate for longer stretches during the regular season, but the main issue with Geekie’s chances of achieving professional success is that his tools are generally around average. He is tall and lanky, but not especially fast. It is hard to splice out how large a share of his production is due to his own play driving and how much a factor of playing on a strong team. He will likely have to prove himself lower down the lineup in Charlotte before he is considered for a potential NHL job.

20 Eetu Makiniemi, G (104^th overall, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) An extremely athletic goaltender who plays a composed game between the pipes, Makiniemi is a bit of a wild card, in that he has yet to play against men, or even in a prestigious international tournament. Tall and lean, he demonstrates a strong ability to read the game in front of him. Affiliated with Jokerit, the one Finnish club that is part of the KHL, presents a challenge in that the senior team has two goalies under contract with significant KHL experience. Makiniemi is still eligible to play at the U20 level, but may be better off being loaned to either a different Finnish organization where he can play senior hockey, perhaps even in the Finnish Mestis (second division).

Carolina – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 21:14:21 +0000

For many teams, a common organizational building tactic has been to go young with forwards while leaning towards experience on the blueline. The thinking behind this maxim is that forwards have been statistically proven to peak earlier while defensemen can be slower to develop. Also, as hockey IQ is more important (in aggregate) for blueliners, and as hockey IQ is inarguably at least somewhat a function of experience, you are bound to find smarter defensemen among the older set.

This is one of the most prominent ways by which the Hurricanes differ from the accepted wisdom. Their top four defensemen last year (Justin Faulk, Jaccob Slavin, Noah Hanifin, Brett Pesce) ranged from 20-25 years of age. One the other hand, five of their six oldest regular skaters were forwards (Lee Stempniak, Jay McClement, Viktor Stalberg, Derek Ryan, Jordan Staal). The one blueliner to break that straight flush (Ron Hainsey) was traded at the deadline to Pittsburgh.

Even including offseason moves, the blueline in Raleigh will continue to be exceptionally young. Three of their expected top six have 1991 birth dates and the other three are younger. If that all was not enough, two of the Hurricanes’ top prospects, Jake Bean and Haydn Fleury, are defensemen.

All of that said, on some level, the Canes recognize the skew of their NHL roster, as well as the presence from within of Bean and Fleury and have lately taken to focusing their player procurement efforts on adding youthful skill to the forward ranks. Outside of those two, there is only one other blueliner in the top 20. Looking at quantity of prospects instead of just quality, Carolina has almost as many prospect eligible goalies in the system as they do blueliners. There is some hyperbole in that statement, but also a grain of truth.

As the team understands that it will not have an acute need for replenishment along the blueline in the near future, they have focused heavily on forwards in their past few drafts. One way to measure their focus is through an examination of the top half of their recent drafts.

In Carolina’s last three draft classes, they made 17 total selections in the first four rounds. (why yes, they have been sellers, how did you know?) Only three of those 17 selections were used on defensemen. Three others were used on netminders. Which means that the Hurricanes have been laser focused on stockpiling young forwards over the past three years.

They see the unbalance in the team’s experience level on the blueline and the aging – and thereby slowing down – of their trusted forwards, and have been diligently working to restock that particular cupboard. A full 15 of the current top 20 are forwards.

Further, as it does not look like any of those big 15 are in line to secure a regular NHL job this year, we are likely to be seeing all, or almost all of them back in these lists next offseason. And considering that the Hurricanes need one or two of those talented youngsters to come to join last year’s sensation (Sebastian Aho) in order to pose a greater threat to playoff contention, if none of the young forwards make the team this year, they are likely to be in a position to make another high pick next year.

Martin Necas at the Ivan Hlinka 2016 tournament.

1 Martin Necas – Often the most dynamic, eye-catching player on the ice, the only real downsides to Necas’ status as a prospect are his rail thin frame and the fact that for all of his dominance, his point totals underwhelm. Both issues are likely elements of youth. He is supremely offensively gifted and is mature enough physically to be playing with men in the Czech Republic’s top league. Despite his lack of mass, has been willing to play in the dirty areas. Although a first round pick in the recent CHL Import Draft, he seems likely to return to Kometa Brno again this year.

Jake Bean of the Calgary Hitmen was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

2 Jake Bean – Hampered by injury in his first post draft season, when healthy, Bean was still a dynamic offensive presence from the blueline, producing at over a one point per game pace on a mediocre Calgary Hitmen squad. Not very physical, he is at least usually aggressive with his stick in coverage. With the puck, he is an animal, with near elite puck skills. Patient before shooting, when he does release, you can be sure that he has found a seam. Likewise, his passes are highlight reel worthy.

3 Haydn Fleury – Although his production in the WHL was solid, it always underwhelmed for a player once drafted seventh overall in the NHL draft. While his first year AHL numbers were not as strong, comparatively, Fleury’s overall game seems to have taken much needed steps forward. A good skater and puck mover, he has highly advanced defensive zone IQ. Calm and patient with the puck, his decisions in his own zone tend to be correct. A great penalty killer as well. Has second pairing upside.

Julien Gauthier of the Val-d'Or Foreurs was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, NY on Friday June 24, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

4 Julien Gauthier – One of several Hurricanes’ prospects to end the year with QMJHL champions Saint John, the chiseled Gauthier looks more like a linebacker on the Carolina Panthers than a future winger for the Hurricanes. A strong skater with an excellent wrist shot, it should not surprise that his best attribute is his physical game. He is simply imposing. Now ready for the AHL, he should be in a goal scorer’s role and he has the hands to succeed from tight and close.

5 Janne Kuokkanen – A solid skater with an above average shot as well as strong puck skills, Kuokkanen had a promising first season in North America, providing reliable secondary scoring for London during the regular season before turning things up a notch in the postseason. Strong on the puck with good possession skills, he is the type of player who helps drive play in the right direction. He has a high work rate, is prominent in all three zones and possesses high end hockey IQ.

6 Aleksi Saarela – A main part of the return from the Rangers in the trade of Eric Staal to Broadway, Saarela has always been a high-end scorer at the international level, while producing at a middle six clip in Liiga play. After coming over to the AHL to finish this last season, showed tremendous instincts for loose pucks, with plus short distance skating to win those foot races as well. A pestering player, he has a quick release on his snapshot and impressive puck skills.

7 Nicolas Roy – Formerly the top pick in the QMJHL Entry draft, Roy struggled in his first few years in the league before exploding in his first post NHL draft year. Although skating is a black mark against his name, the rest of his game is very impressive. Uses excellent size to create room for himself and has a powerful wrist shot that can be deadly from the slot on in. Not the guy you want leading the rush, but definitely a good asset to have join it as a trailer.

8 Lucas Wallmark – Seen as more of a playmaker in the SHL, Wallmark showed a pleasantly surprising goal scorer’s touch in his first season in the AHL, in spite of an average at best shot in his arsenal. A bit on the scrawny side, he can show some surprising physicality at times. Has plus puck skills and generally reads the game well in all three zones. Possesses middle six potential if he can continue to prove that his hockey IQ can supercede his average skating and thin frame.

Stelios Matheos

9 Stelio Mattheos – Similar to Roy above, once upon a time the number pick in the WHL bantam draft, Mattheos has been carving himself a nice career in the W, but has not been able to live up to his advance billing. He is smart and plays a solid two-way game, with no hesitation to use his strength and size to play in the dirty areas. Much of his offense comes from in tight. There should be more offense in the tank, as evidenced by his increased production when superstar Nolan Patrick was out of the lineup.

10 Eetu Luostarinen – One of many late bloomers in the Carolina system, Luostarinen has great two-way center potential. He looked far better in his Liiga debut than his numbers would suggest, after less than half a season playing at high level U20 hockey in Finland. Has strong situational awareness and uses his stick well in coverage. Also has very quick hands which work to his advantage in the offensive zone. A bit of a surprise selection but Carolina has earned the benefit of the doubt with their Finnish scouts.

11 Warren Foegele – A strong skater with plus hockey sense, Foegele has followed a strange path to the professional game. Drafted out of an Ontario-based high school, he moved on to the college game at New Hampshire, until he walked away a few games into his sophomore campaign to join the Kingston Frontenacs. In the OHL, he has been more productive at the most important times, elevated his scoring rate in both of his playoff campaigns and finishing his career with a great Memorial Cup performance.

12 Hudson Elynuik – Very tall and lanky, Elynuik accelerates very well, but has a sub-par top speed. He grinds out shifts, is patient with the puck and has strong puck protection skills. A solid shot is also evident, allowing him to improve his goal scoring output by over 50% from his draft year to his first post draft campaign. Want to see more commitment to a complete game, including increased use of his big frame, and more aggressiveness at both ends.

13 Callum Booth – Acquired last season by Saint John from Quebec to help in the later goings, he struggled a bit down the stretch, before picking things up in the QMJHL postseason, leading his new teammates to a title, losing only once in 18 games. Tall, Booth positions himself aggressively, cutting down angles. Poised and calm, when he is on, he is a game stealer. You can tell he is off as he seems slower to respond to passes and seems sluggish moving from post to post.

14 Andrew Poturalski – One of the top rookie scorers in the AHL this year, Poturalski was a late bloomer signed by Carolina as a free agent out of the University of New Hampshire. His hands are much quicker than his feet, which are average at best. He has great vision, finding soft spots in coverage for himself and for teammates. Carries the confidence to try to thread the needle on tricky passes. Delivers a decent shot, too, but his career prospects are centered on his ability to create for his linemates.

Alex Nedeljkovic

15 Alex Nedeljkovic – One of the most electric netminders of the 2015 WJC tournament, Nedeljkovic struggled immensely in his first pro season. He stopped barely 88% of shots faced in the AHL and spent around one third of his season in the ECHL as a result. Very athletic between the pipes, he overcame his lack of stature in the OHL through strong positioning and technique, an aggressive approach and very quick glove. With Daniel Altshuller not brought back, Nedeljkovic is the next in line for an NHL job.

16 Morgan Geekie – A late bloomer, Geekie jumped his production from 25 points in his first draft eligible season to 90 in his second time around. The improved results led to increased exposure and Carolina selected the Tri-City center in the third round. Only moderate on his feet, he combines high hockey IQ with a strong shot and well above average puck handling and passing ability. Very lanky, he needs to add more muscle to his frame.

17 Spencer Smallman – A fifth round pick who was a toss-up as to whether or not the Hurricanes would offer him an ELC, Smallman took a giant leap forward in his age 20 season for an exceptional Saint John team shattering previous career marks in both goals and assists. A strong skater with a great hockey mind, he works well as an aggressive complementary linemate to more offensively gifted players. An excellent penalty killer.

18 Luke Martin – A low upside, high floor defensive prospect, Martin was one of the youngest regulars in the NCAA last year, taking a regular shift on the blueline for Michigan. He is not much of a shooter and his puck skills are basically limited to making a good first pass out of the zone, but he skates very well for his size, and has advanced understanding of defensive zone positioning. Could stand to leverage his plus size more.

19 Matt Filipe – A feisty power forward in the USHL, with a strong wrist shot, Filipe showed much the same tool-set in his freshman year at Northeastern, although he found it harder to hit the back of the net. He is a strong skater and still plays a very physical brand of hockey. With some higher profile forwards having graduated, Filipe should be given a more offensive-driven and have more opportunities to take target practice with opposing netminders.

20 Steven Lorentz – Not very much upside here, but Lorentz has come a long way from being an afterthought drafted in his second year of eligibility. Seen as a project with limited scoring projection, but great size and a “character” guy, the long-time Peterborough Pete had a strong two-way overage season, finally earning an ELC from Carolina. Has high enough hockey IQ and work ethic to contribute in a depth role at the higher levels.

Once some of the higher end players on this list are ready enough to push the underwhelming bottom six forwards currently on the Hurricanes off, Carolina will be ready to complete for a postseason berth again. If this organization can get to the point where they are no longer automatic sellers at the deadline, it will be interesting to see if they go back to a more balanced approach at the draft.

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: World Junior Scouting

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:42:04 +0000

This week the Waiver Wire takes a look at some already drafted prospects participating in the World Junior Championship for the fantasy General Managers in deep keeper and dynasty leagues. Typically the WJC is a 19 year old tournament, but this year it has been dominated by draft eligible players headlined by Auston Matthews of the USA who is the consensus top ranked prospect. Finland has their dynamic duo of Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrick Laine along with defenseman Olli Juolevi from the London Knights. These players will be snapped up in the early rounds of your fantasy draft in dynasty leagues, but here are some names of players you may be able to add to your prospect roster with a waiver wire pick up now as they are already drafted.

1. Denis Malgin, C/LW Switzerland – Florida

Malgin was a fourth round pick of the Panthers in 2015 and was the offensive driving force for team Switzerland who had another impressive tournament and are a rising international force in hockey. Malgin scored nine points in six games, but only had one goal.

2. Christian Dvorak, C/LW USA – Arizona

The London Knights were well represented in this year’s WJC with draft eligible Matt Tkachuk, Juolevi, Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dvorak. In his draft year, Dvorak suffered an injury which cost him much of his season allowing him to fall under the radar. He had a strong season last year playing with Max Domi and Mitch Marner and is lighting up the OHL again this year. He was offensively strong for USA scoring three goals and five assists in seven games leading USA to a Bronze. Dvorak has top six upside and could be reunited with Domi in Arizona as soon as next season.

3. Adrian Kempe, LW Sweden – Los Angeles

Kempe was a first round pick of the Kings in 2014 and has made his North American debut this season in the AHL where he has an impressive 16 points in 21 games as a rookie for the Ontario Reign. Last year at the WJC he impressed with eight points in six games for Sweden and was a key offensive player again this year with three goals and eight points in seven games. Don’t be surprised if Kempe gets a cup of coffee with the Kings before the season ends, and expect him to push for a roster spot next season.

4. Dmytro Timashov, LW/RW Sweden – Toronto

Timashov had a breakout season in his draft year exploding for 90 points in 66 games for the Quebec Ramparts in the QMJHL. His stock rose higher in the Memorial Cup where he scored three goals and had four points in five games. He was a standout prospect in the Leafs rookie camp and training camp and was one of Sweden’s more dangerous offensive players at this year’s WJC scoring two goals and five assists for seven points in seven games. Timashov is well under the radar as a fifth round pick by the Leafs in 2015 but the Leafs believe he may be their best prospect from the draft after Marner.

5. Sebastian Aho, C/W Finland – Carolina

After going undrafted in 2014, Carolina snapped up Aho in the second round of the 2015 draft. Aho plays in Liiga, the pro league in Finland for Karpat and is having an impressive season scoring 21 points in 26 games this season. He has been playing on a line with the two draft eligible superstars Puljujarvi and Laine for Finland who almost certainly both are top five picks in the 2016 NHL draft. Aho has not looked out of place on the Finish top line scoring two points per game in the tournament with 14 points in seven games.

6. Pavel Kraskovsky, C Russia – Winnipeg

The tall and lanky Russian centre had a strong WJC performance on one of Russia’s top lines. Although Kraskovsky did not have a dominant offensive performance in terms of stats, his play received wide praise and at times was a standout. I first took notice of Kraskovsky in last year’s Subway super series CHL challenge where he was a dominant player in the game I saw. At 6’4” and only 185 pounds, he needs time and bulk before he will be ready to contribute in the NHL and to your fantasy roster. If you have a deep prospect bench, and can be patient, Kraskovsky cold pay dividends for you down the road.

7. Alex Nedeljkovic, G USA – Carolina

Both goalies for the U.S. are worthy of consideration for this list. Nedeljkovic played in more games, and was the go to goalie in the Bronze Medal game. Nedeljkovic was solid posting an impressive 1.66 GAA in six games. New York Rangers prospect and heir apparent to Henrik Lundqvist, Brandon Halverson only played in two games but posted an outstanding 0.65 GAA and a .973 save%. Both could project as future starting goalies.

Honorable Mentions:

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Kasperi Kapanen entered the tournament with high expectations and pressure after a disappointing showing last year. He started the tournament slow, but finished strong and was a positive factor in the medal round for Finland scoring five points in seven games in the end, including the game winning Golden goal in overtime. San Jose Sharks prospect Noah Rod was a standout for the Swiss scoring six points in six games. Aleksi Saarela was a 2015 third round pick of the New York Rangers who is playing for Assat in the Liiga league and has 15 points in 27 games this season. He was impressive for the Host team scoring seven points in seven games.

Aleksi Saarela – McKeen's Hockey

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

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Florida Panthers Top 20 Prospects

Spencer Knight, G (13th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Anton Lundell, C (12th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Ty Smilanic, C (74th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Aleksi Saarela, C (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 5)

Cole Schwindt, C (81st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Max Gildon, D (66th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Michael Benning, D (95th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Justin Sourdif, C/RW (87th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Emil Heineman, LW (43rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Previous ranking: 10)

Kasper Puutio, D (153rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Justin Schutz, LW (170th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Devon Levi, G (212th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Montembeault, G (77th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 13)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – FLORIDA PANTHERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 4

Florida Panthers

Spencer Knight, G (13th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 1)

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 2)

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 4)

Aleksi Saarela, D (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Pre-season: 4 [Chicago])

Cole Schwindt, C (81st overall, 2019. Pre-season: 9)

Max Gildon, D (66th overall, 2017. Pre-season: UR)

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52nd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 6)

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 5)

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Pre-season: 6 [Carolina])

Justin Schutz, KW (170th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Samuel Montembeault, G (77th overall, 2015. Pre-season: 8)

Chase Priskie, D (Trade: Feb. 20, 2020. Originally: 177th overall, 2016 [Washington]. Pre-season: 13 [Carolina])

John Ludvig, D (69th overall, 2019. Pre-season: UR)

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

AHL Western Conference 2019-20 Season Preview

Chicago Wolves (Vegas Golden Knights)

Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)

Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)

Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)

San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks)

Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)

Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks)

Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)

Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona Coyotes)

San Antonio Rampage (St. Louis Blues)

Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)

Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)

Chicago Blackhawks 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Carolina Hurricanes Prospect System Overview

Carolina – System Overview

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: World Junior Scouting

Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Anton Lundell, C (12^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 3)

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Ty Smilanic, C (74^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Aleksi Saarela, C (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89^th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 5)

Cole Schwindt, C (81^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 7)

Michael Benning, D (95^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Justin Sourdif, C/RW (87^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Emil Heineman, LW (43^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42^nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Previous ranking: 10)

Kasper Puutio, D (153^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Justin Schutz, LW (170^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 11)

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 12)

Devon Levi, G (212^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 13)

Spencer Knight, G (13^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 3)

Grigori Denisenko, LW (15^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 1)

Owen Tippett, RW/LW (10^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 2)

Serron Noel, RW/LW (34^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: 4)

Aleksi Saarela, D (Trade: Oct. 23, 2019. Originally: 89^th overall, 2015 [NY Rangers]. Pre-season: 4 [Chicago])

Cole Schwindt, C (81^st overall, 2019. Pre-season: 9)

Max Gildon, D (66^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: UR)

Vladislav Kolyachonok, D (52^nd overall, 2019. Pre-season: 6)

Aleksi Heponiemi, C (40^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 5)

Eetu Luostarinen, C (Trade: Feb. 24, 2020. Originally: 42^nd overall, 2017 [Carolina]. Pre-season: 6 [Carolina])

Justin Schutz, KW (170^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Logan Hutsko, C/RW (89^th overall, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Samuel Montembeault, G (77^th overall, 2015. Pre-season: 8)

Chase Priskie, D (Trade: Feb. 20, 2020. Originally: 177^thoverall, 2016 [Washington]. Pre-season: 13 [Carolina])

John Ludvig, D (69^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: UR)