Alex Steeves – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – TOP 20 FANTASY POINTS – A Capitals rookie finding his form, the Avalanche captain back on track, Luke Evangelista, Matvei Michkov, Vladislav Gavrikov, and so much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 19:43:55 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, a Capitals rookie finding his form, the Avalanche captain back on track, Luke Evangelista, Matvei Michkov, Vladislav Gavrikov, and so much more!

#1 After scoring 49 points (30 G, 19 A) in 37 games for Boston College as a sophomore last season, Ryan Leonard was signed and joined the Capitals late in the season but managed just one goal in nine regular-season games before contributing one assist in eight playoff contests. Nevertheless, the eighth pick in the 2023 Draft was considered a possible Calder Trophy candidate entering the season. He opened the season with eight points (3 G, 5 A) and 37 shots on goal while averaging 13:54 of ice time in 19 games, which was not going to keep him in the Calder Trophy race. He has picked up the pace more recently, however, tallying 10 points (4 G, 6 A) with 23 shots on goal while playing 15:20 per game in his past nine games. He is getting first unit power play time, which certainly raises his offensive ceiling.

#2 When Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog returned to action during last season’s playoffs, it was a feel-good story since it was his first NHL action since 2022, but it was also fair to wonder how much he could contribute this season as he is now 33 and coming back from a serious injury. He started this season slowly, with zero goals, four assists, and 22 shots on goal through 16 games. He has found his footing since then, though, putting up 10 points (5 G, 5 A) with 26 shots on goal in his past 11 games. He is skating with Brock Nelson and Ross Colton on Colorado’s second line and is getting top power play time, so Landeskog may be a good bet to produce at a high level for the rest of the season.

#3 As the Nashville Predators look for reasons to be optimistic, right winger Luke Evangelista is starting to become a factor offensively. In his past six games, Evangelista has eight points (2 G, 6 A) and a dozen shots on goal while averaging 17:39 of ice time per game. He had a career-high 39 points (16 G, 23 A) in 2023-2024, but with 18 points (4 G, 14 A) in 26 games this season, he’s on pace to soar past that total. Evangelista is skating on Nashville’s top line, with veterans Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos.

#4 After scoring 63 points (26 G, 37 A) in 80 games and finishing fourth in Calder Trophy voting last season, Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov entered his second season with lofty expectations. It didn’t start out very well, as head coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged Michkov’s poor physical conditioning early in the season when he had just three points (1 G, 2 A) and 17 shots on goal in his first nine games. The tide may be turning for him, though, as Michkov has six points (3 G, 3 A) and 15 shots on goal in his past five games.

#5 A big free agent addition in the offseason for the New York Rangers, defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov is not necessarily known as a big point producer, with 33 points in 2021-2022, when he played for Columbus, counting as his career high, but he has been cooking lately. In his past seven games, Gavrikov has seven points (4 G, 3 A), seven shots on goal, and is averaging 25:35 of ice time per game. With Adam Fox injured, the Blueshirts will need Gavrikov to fill a big role at the top of their defensive depth chart.

#6 Buffalo Sabres winger Josh Doan put up 19 points (7 G, 12 A) with 88 shots on goal in 51 games as a rookie for Utah last season but has taken on a more substantial role with the Sabres in 2025-2026. In his past seven games, Doan has seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 20 shots on goal and while, like many Sabres wingers, he moves around the lineup, he is getting time on PP1. Six of Doan’s 19 points (8 G, 11 A) in 27 games this season have come via the man advantage.

#7 In his prime, Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn was a fantasy hockey star, producing points and hits like few others. He’s now 36 and plays a supporting role in Dallas, but he’s been awfully effective even with limited ice time. Benn suffered a collapsed lung in the preseason, so he was not ready to play at the start of this season, but in nine games, he has eight points (3 G, 5 A) with 11 shots on goal while playing just 12:50 per game. That ice time is starting to tick up – 15:40 per game in the past three – and with Tyler Seguin out with a torn ACL, there may be a greater need for Benn to fill a role in Dallas’ top six, at least until Matt Duchene is healthy.

#8 With the Nashville Predators showing signs of life, maybe centre Ryan O’Reilly won’t hear his name in trade rumours quite so often. The 34-year-old pivot is a valuable player and one that contenders seek out, but he has been doing his part to help the Preds. In his past five games, O’Reilly has eight points (3 G, 5 A) and six shots on goal. That shot rate is obviously too low, but O‘Reilly is averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game in that stretch.

#9 Centre Elias Lindholm may not be exactly what the Boston Bruins hoped he would be when they signed him as a free agent in the summer of 2024, but he has also picked up seven assists in his past four games, giving him 16 points (4 G, 12 A) in 19 games this season. It’s not all gold for Lindholm right now, though, as he’s rocking a 44.0 percent Corsi percentage and, for a player with a strong two-way reputation, that’s not good enough.

#10 A solid secondary scoring option for the Toronto Maple Leafs, left winger Bobby McMann has delivered six points (3 G, 3 A) with seven shots on goal in his past three games. McMann scored 20 goal and 34 points last season and, with eight goals and 14 points in 27 games this season, he’s on pace for more. He does move around the lineup and there is a ceiling on his offensive production because he doesn’t always have a reliable power play role.

#11 Former Maple Leafs prospect Alex Steeves is starting to make his mark for the Boston Bruins. Steeves, a 25-year-old rookie, started the season in the AHL with has earned chance with the Bruins and is making the most of it. In his past five games, Steeves has six points (5 G, 1 A) with 10 shots on goal while averaging 15:36 of ice time per game. With David Pastrnak injured, Steeves is skating on Boston’s top line with Lindholm and Morgan Geekie and getting second unit power play time.

#12 Florida Panthers left winger A.J. Greer contributed 17 points (6 G, 11 A) in 81 games last season, skating on the Panthers’ fourth line. He also had a career-high 130 penalty minutes, which fit with his style of play. While his style has not changed, injuries in Florida have provided Greer with more opportunities and he is starting to take advantage of them. In his past five games, Greer has averaged 15:47 of ice time per game while producing five points (2 G, 3 A) with 15 shots on goal. He has been skating on a line with Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe and is showing that he may be able to legitimately fit in the top nine.

#13 Toronto Maple Leafs veteran Max Domi had a miserable start to this season, with six points (3 G, 3 A) and 36 shots on goal in his first 23 games. He has, however, picked up five assists in the past three games and is skating at right wing on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. So long as he’s in that spot, there is a chance for Domi to salvage this campaign.

#14 Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Darren Raddysh has turned into an offensive force on the blueline since injuries thrust him into a big role, including as the quarterback on PP1. In his past 10 games, Raddysh has averaged more than 24 minutes per game, putting up 15 points (2 G, 13 A) with 25 shots on goal. Not bad for a guy who couldn’t count on a regular spot in the lineup before injuries decimated the Tampa Bay blueline.

#15 Vancouver Canucks superstar defenceman Quinn Hughes has slumped recently, with a modest two points (1 G, 1 A) in his past six games, a stretch in which the Canucks have managed just one win. Hughes had 13 assists in the previous six games, so there is some regression in real time happening here, and there is no reason to move Hughes unless there is a long-term reason that his production should stay down. As of now, it’s probably wise to stay invested in one of four defencemen in the league scoring at least a point per game. (Cale Makar, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Zach Werenski are the others.)

#16 Having won back-to-back Vezina Trophies as the league’s top goaltender, an injury to Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck is naturally a big deal. Even if his numbers aren’t quite as strong this season, it’s not like a .913 save percentage in 14 starts was a problem for the Jets, but now Hellebuyck is out for four-to-six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. That leaves journeyman Eric Comrie to fill the starter’s role in Hellebuyck’s absence, and Comrie has a .897 save percentage in 11 starts.

#17 The Anaheim Ducks are in a tough goaltending spot, as Lukas Dostal is out with an upper-body injury for two-to-three weeks, and Petr Mrazek is facing a similar timeline with a lower-body injury, leaving Ville Husso as the de facto starter for the Ducks. Husso has appeared in four games this season, posting a .859 save percentage, which is obviously not good enough, but he does have a .901 save percentage for his career, so there is some reason to hope that he can be an adequate option for the next few weeks.

#18 Veteran New York Islanders right winger Kyle Palmieri suffered a torn ACL, ending his season. On the play that it occurred, Palmieri even managed to get an assist, stealing the puck from Flyers defenceman Emil Andrae on his way to the bench, giving it to Jonathan Drouin, who set up Emil Heineman for a goal. Palmieri finished his season with 18 points (6 G, 12 A) in 25 games and with Palmieri out, rookie Max Shabanov moves up to the Islanders’ top line. Shabanov has nine points (3 G, 6 A) and 24 shots on goal through his first 16 NHL games.

#19 Philadelphia Flyers left winger Tyson Foerster will be out for two to three months with an upper-body injury, halting his rising momentum. In his last seven games before he was injured, Foerster scored six goals and had 15 shots on goal. His absence does create more room in the Flyers’ top six for winger Owen Tippett, who is heating up with 12 points (4 G, 8 A) and 24 shots on goal in his past 10 games.

#20 St. Louis Blues rookie right winger Jimmy Snuggerud is going to be re-evaluated in six weeks after suffering a broken wrist. Prior to injury, he had been slumping, managing zero points and nine shots on goal in his last seven games. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, a third-round pick in 2022, has been called up to the Blues and is getting a shot in their top nine after he managed seven points (3 G, 4 A) in 16 AHL games.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sat, 17 May 2025 14:15:06 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 28: Easton Cowan (53) of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during the third period of the NHL pre-season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on Sept 28, 2024, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

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Toronto 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #29

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 18:00:33 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 30: Fraser Minten (39) of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates during the first period of the NHL pre-season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on September 30, 2023, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC(Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 29th (Previous Rank - 25th)
GM: Brad Treliving Hired: May 2023
COACH: Craig Berube Hired: May 2024

The beat goes on for the Maple Leafs, who once again fell short in the NHL playoffs. Despite having several high-calibre talents anchoring the top half of their lineup, few teams have struggled as much as Toronto to find postseason success. As expected, the combination of consistently making the playoffs but failing to advance has taken its toll on the club’s prospect pool, as they now find themselves dropping toward the league's basement in our McKeen’s prospect rankings.

With five players consuming nearly 63% of their overall cap space, the need for affordable, talented options is greater than ever. On the positive side, the Leafs managed to graduate two players in 2023-24: Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson—the latter of whom may seek a more prominent role elsewhere? Knies, however, stands out as the team’s most promising graduate in years, following a 35-point rookie season. He has a strong chance of securing a top six role, potentially filling the secondary scoring void the team has long sought.

While the depth of the prospect pool is limited, there are still some reasons for optimism for the future. Easton Cowan (35th ranked), their 2023 first-round pick and the team’s lone prospect within McKeen’s top 50, is coming off a stellar season, racking up numerous accolades, including being named to the OHL First All-Star Team, winning the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player, and earning OHL Playoff MVP honours with the most points by any skater (34). He even enjoyed a 42-game point streak midway through the season. While the Leafs will have to wait a few seasons to realize Cowan’s impact at the NHL level, he’s a promising addition to an otherwise underwhelming prospect pool.

Rounding out their remaining three top 200 prospects are 2022 second-rounder Fraser Minten (106th), who’s slated to turn pro this fall, and two defencemen—Topi Niemelä (144th) and recent pick Ben Danford (161st).

In addition to their homegrown talent, the Leafs have also added a few NCAA recruits, most notably Jacob Quillan, who brings a versatile two-way game that adds some much-needed dynamism to the farm system. His development will be intriguing to keep tabs on, as he could serve as a low-key and cost-effective bottom-six option in the not-so-distant future.

With only one pick (second round) in the top four rounds of the 2025 Entry Draft, Toronto’s amateur scouting team will need to work overtime next year to find worthy talent to bolster this free-falling depth chart.

Toronto Maple Leafs Top-15 Prospects

1. Easton Cowan

42 games. That’s the number of games in a row that Easton Cowan registered a point during the stretch run last year, one of the reasons why he was named the Red Tilson Award winner as the OHL’s most outstanding player. He helped the Knights capture an OHL title and emerged as one of the best players in the CHL, one year removed from being a “reach” in the eyes of most Leafs’ fans. He has gone from being an overdraft in the eyes of the media and the fan base, to someone Leafs’ fans are extremely excited about in a matter of a calendar year. With improvements made to his puck skill, playmaking touch, and strength on the puck, Cowan has managed to alter the perception of his NHL projection. He’s still got a solid floor because of his high-end skating ability, two-way effectiveness, and great motor, however with the improvements made to his on-puck play, he’s become a potential top six forward down the line. It would be fair to say that few prospects in the NHL have improved their fortune more than Cowan did last season.

2. Fraser Minten

The former 38th overall pick started last season in Toronto after a terrific training camp, but he was returned to the WHL after only a few games. This was best for his development as it was deemed important that Minten return to the WHL to continue to improve his on puck play and offensive production. The captain of this past year’s Canadian WJC team, Minten likely doesn’t have significant offensive upside at the NHL level. He plays a pretty simple game; get to the net and get pucks in deep. He’s not a dynamic skater. He’s not a dynamic handler. However, he has a clear understanding of how he needs to play in order to be successful. While Minten is not likely to be a top six forward in the future, he projects as a high end third line player who can play the kind of heavy game that has been lacking in the playoffs for the Maple Leafs in recent seasons. For that reason, Toronto fans should be excited about the possibility of Minten taking up a permanent spot in the lineup in the near future.

3. Topi Niemela

After a stagnant development year in Liiga two seasons ago, Toronto couldn’t wait to get Niemela over to North America last season so that they could get him the kind of ice time and responsibility that they wanted for him. The top defensive prospect in the Leafs’ system, Niemela has rewarded this confidence in his abilities with a very strong rookie year with the Marlies. Not only did his offensive game translate seamlessly thanks to his high-end mobility and vision, but he was better defensively than anticipated. He defended small areas well with more intensity than previously shown and he adjusted to the small ice well from a decision-making standpoint. After bringing in three veteran defenders this offseason, Niemela is almost assured to be ticketed for the Marlies again and that’s just fine. Toronto can now afford to be cautious with his development in hopes that he can become a top four defender down the road.

4. Ben Danford

Just like Easton Cowan last year, the Leafs shocked a lot of people when they selected Oshawa defender Ben Danford in the first round this past draft. Danford had a strong second half with the Generals, helping them reach the OHL finals. During that time, he improved his confidence with the puck and overall decision making considerably. A terrific skater, it helped to reshape the perception of Danford’s upside as a possible two-way defender at the pro level. Even if the offence never comes around, Danford is strong enough defensively to be a highly effective NHL defender. He’s competitive. His mobility gives him a nice advantage as a transition defender. He is already an expert shot blocker, a testament to his strong defensive IQ. Danford will return to the OHL this season, to an Oshawa team that has a chance to repeat as Eastern Conference champions. Putting together a full season of strong play will be the focus.

5. Nikita Grebyonkin

Fresh off winning a KHL Championship with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, the Leafs were able to sign the talented winger, bringing him over to North America for this season. This is huge for the Leafs, to get him into the fold after a breakout KHL season at 21. Armed with high end offensive tools, an argument could be made that Grebyonkin possesses the highest upside of any forward in the system. He’s a dynamic transitional attacker because of his speed and handling ability; he routinely takes on defenders one on one and wins. Over the last two seasons in the KHL, he’s managed to fill out his 6-foot-2 frame, and it’s helped him be more consistent off the puck and when fighting through contact against pro sized defenders. This bodes well for his adjustment to the AHL level this year, assuming that he doesn’t break training camp with the Leafs.

6. Dennis Hildeby

The massive Swedish netminders’ first pro season in North America had to be considered a big (no pun intended) success. Hildeby was excellent as the starter for the Marlies, posting a save percentage above .910 and showing terrific consistency for a younger netminder without a ton of pro experience. We quickly forget how meteoric Hildeby’s rise has been. A classic late bloomer, he’s only got a season as an SHL back-up and now a season as an AHL starter under his belt at 23. However, the marked improvement in his athleticism and quickness have helped unlock his potential in recent years and now he looks like a potential NHL netminder. One would assume that Toronto would like to see Hildeby play another full year in the AHL this season, before giving him a full-time look. Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz should split time on the main club, leaving Hildeby as the top call up option.

7. Artur Akhtyamov

Grebyonkin wasn’t the only Russian prospect in the system to experience a breakout year at 22 (turning 23). Akhtyamov, a 6-foot-1 netminder, had quite the season as well. He won the VHL’s top goaltender award, a VHL championship, and played well in the KHL as Ak Bars Kazan’s backup. This prompted Toronto to sign him, bringing him over for the upcoming season. The problem will be finding playing time for all of these players. Matt Murray was brought back as depth and one would think that he and Hildeby will get the bulk of the action with the Marlies. That could leave Akhtyamov in the ECHL. The netminder could take some time adjusting to the pro level in North America anyway. He’s highly athletic and a solid play tracker, but netminders his size can sometimes struggle with the adjustment. Between him and Hildeby, the Leafs have built up some nice pro depth behind Joseph Woll, as they inevitably battle for the future of Toronto’s crease.

8. Ryan Tverberg

Injuries have not been kind to the former UConn Husky as he has started his pro career in Toronto’s system. When he’s been on the ice, Tverberg has played well. His speed, tenacity, and strong two-way approach have transferred well. He’s still very much on track to become a quality bottom six, penalty killing anchor for the Leafs in the future. However, lower body and upper body injuries limited him to 46 games with the Marlies in his first pro season. The focus this season will be on staying healthy, while continuing to be a valued contributor to the Marlies. Toronto’s AHL club should look totally different next year with so much movement on the depth front. That could clear a path for Tverberg to take on a critical AHL role, which would be outstanding for his development.

9. Roni Hirvonen

Speaking of injuries, Hirvonen is lucky to still be playing after a scary eye injury at the beginning of last season. Narrowly avoiding disaster, Hirvonen returned half-way through the year to a depth role on the Marlies. The team’s former second round pick showed flashes of being a quality two-way forward in limited action. Hirvonen is best described as one of those jack-of-all-trades types. He’s not elite in any category, but his well-rounded skill set, and high IQ make him a potential middle six type in the future. Much like Tverberg, Hirvonen stands to earn more ice time with the Marlies this season and that will be positive for his development. There’s a need to add strength to his undersized frame to help him be stronger on pucks and be an even more effective two-way option.

10. Noah Chadwick

Without a doubt, Chadwick was one of the WHL’s breakout players this past season with Lethbridge. He went from being a 6th round long shot to one of the WHL’s top defenders in a matter of a single season. One of the reasons for that has been an uptick in usage. He took over as the top powerplay quarterback and did a very good job running that unit, even if Lethbridge’s powerplay was one of the weaker statistically in the WHL last season. Another reason has been the improvement made to Chadwick’s skating. He’s improved his carrying ability and his confidence with the puck, which in turn made him a standout at both ends in his draft year plus one. The next steps? Chadwick’s skating still needs to improve overall. He can still struggle with his agility and overall footwork, even if he’s a standout rush defender. I’m sure the Leafs would like to see him use his size more consistently too, to be a physical standout in the defensive end. All things considered; his rapid progression has made him a very intriguing prospect in the system moving forward.

11. Alex Steeves

It’s now or never for Steeves in the Maple Leafs’ organization. The 24 (turning 25) year old has continued to improve in the AHL and was one of the Marlies’ best players last year. He’s ready to show that he can be a full time NHL player. He has continued to improve his skating and pace of play, and his versatility as an effective player, on and off the puck, makes him an ideal candidate for a bottom six role in today’s NHL.

12. Nick Abruzzese

13. Nick Moldenhauer

Moldenhauer had a solid freshman year for the Michigan Wolverines last season, playing a critical middle six role. The skilled and competitive forward just needs to keep improving his strength to overcome his lack of size, given the way that he likes to play through traffic. As a sophomore, he’ll get an opportunity to play more and could be in for a breakthrough season.

14. Joe Miller

If you’re only stat watching, Miller’s sophomore year probably looked like a lateral year for his progression. However, Harvard was not a high scoring team last season and Miller actually led them in scoring in his second go-round in the NCAA. Yes, Miller is small, but he’s a highly intelligent player. Will the lack of a true standout athletic or skill-based quality hurt his chances of being a solid pro? It will likely be at least another season before we know.

15. Ty Voit

Expectations were sky high for Voit last season, coming off a breakout performance with OHL Sarnia. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury wiped out pretty much his entire pro debut. That means this season will essentially serve as his introduction to pro hockey. Voit’s not big, but he’s quick and a dynamic playmaker. If he bounces back, he’ll move up this list considerably next time.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #25 Toronto Maple Leafs – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Fri, 31 May 2024 15:55:55 +0000

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 07: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Easton Cowan (53) and Detroit Red Wings Right Wing Lucas Raymond (23) in action during the game between Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings on October 7, 2023 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI (Photo by Allan Dranberg/Icon Sportswire)

Another first round playoff loss has Leafs Nation calling for heads and an offseason of change. The inability of the so-called ‘core four’ to move the playoff needle while in their prime, while commanding 53.8% of the Leafs cap space ($46,653,000), is under a glaring spotlight. If you add Morgan Reilly on defense at $7.5 million, you are at 62.4% of your cap, and clearly not much room to add around the edges. Depth has been an issue for years, particularly on defense and in goal. With all five players having full no-movement clauses, GM Treliving’s hands are largely tied. So, the first head to roll was coach Sheldon Keefe, replaced by veteran coach Craig Berube. This will be Treliving’s second summer as GM and he has not been afraid to pull the trigger on a blockbuster in his past career. Both John Tavares and Mitch Marner are free agents after next season, and it will take all his ingenuity to get something done before then.

Under both Kyle Dubas and Brad Treliving, the Leafs have been active in adding firepower for youth and picks for a number of years. Last year’s first round pick Easton Cowan (28th) was one of only two first round picks in the last five seasons. He enjoyed a remarkable year, including a 42-game point scoring streak, and is looking like a steal if he continues the same trajectory. They graduated Nicholas Robertson (53rd, 109) and Matthew Knies (57th, 2021) out of the last five drafts, so the scouting staff and development team have had some successes despite a dearth of picks. The team has already moved multiple picks but retain their first for the coming year. Brendan Shanahan has a brand-new boss in Keith Pelley, CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, who may not grant the same patience the Shanaplan has received in the past. Expect change.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Easton Cowan	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	`23(28th)	54	34	62	96	64
2	Fraser Minten	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	`22(38th)	43	22	26	48	25
					Toronto (NHL)	`22(38th)	4	0	0	0	2
3	Topi Niemela	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	`20(64th)	68	8	31	39	43
4	Dennis Hildeby	G	22	6-5/210	Toronto (AHL)	`22(122nd)	41	21	11	2.41	0.913
5	Nikita Grebyonkin	RW	20	6-2/185	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`22(135th)	67	19	22	41	17
6	Alex Steeves	C	24	5-11/185	Toronto (AHL)	FA(3/21)	65	27	30	57	26
7	Nick Abruzzese	C	24	5-10/175	Toronto (AHL)	`19(124th)	71	16	36	52	24
8	Ryan Tverberg	C	22	6-0/190	Toronto (AHL)	`20(213th)	46	9	23	32	18
9	Roni Hirvonen	C	22	5-9/175	Toronto (AHL)	`20(59th)	37	7	6	13	8
10	Noah Chadwick	D	18	6-3/185	Lethbridge (WHL)	`23(185th)	66	12	44	56	24
11	Nicholas Moldenhauer	C	19	5-10/170	Michigan (B1G)	`22(95th)	41	8	13	21	2
12	Artur Akhtyamov	G	22	6-2/170	Neftyanik Almetievsk (VHL)	`20(106th)	19	10	5	2.00	0.927
					Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)	`20(106th)	17	6	7	2.51	0.921
13	Veeti Miettinen	RW	22	5-9/160	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	`20(168th)	37	20	15	35	0
14	Joe Miller	C	21	5-8/150	Harvard (ECAC)	`20(180th)	32	13	14	27	8
15	Ty Voit	C	20	5-9/160	Newfoundland (ECHL)	`21(153rd)	5	2	6	8	0

1. Easton Cowan, RW, London Knights (OHL)

42 games. That’s the number of games in a row that Easton Cowan has registered a point in the OHL, ending in the second round of the playoffs. Ending just short of the CHL record held by Alex Radulov (50 games). He has gone from being an overdraft in the eyes of the media and the fan base, to someone Leafs’ fans are extremely excited about in a matter of a calendar year. With improvements made to his puck skill, playmaking touch, and strength on the puck, he has managed to alter the perception of his NHL projection. He’s still got a solid floor because of his high-end skating ability, two-way effectiveness, and great motor, however with the improvements made to his on puck play, he’s become a potential top six forward down the line. It would be fair to say that few prospects in the NHL have improved their fortune more than Cowan has this season.

2. Fraser Minten, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

The former 38th overall pick started the year in Toronto after a terrific training camp, but he was returned to the WHL after only a few games. This was best for his development as he needed to continue to improve his on puck play and offensive production. The captain of this year’s Canadian WJC team, he likely doesn’t have significant offensive upside at the NHL level. He plays a pretty simple game; get to the net and get pucks in deep. He’s not a dynamic skater. He’s not a dynamic handler. However, he has a clear understanding of how he needs to play in order to be successful. He does project as a high-end third line player who can play the kind of heavy game that has been lacking in the playoffs for the Maple Leafs in recent seasons. For that reason, Toronto fans should be excited about the possibility of him taking up a permanent spot in the lineup in the near future.

3. Topi Niemela, D, Toronto Marlies (AHL)

After a stagnant development year in Liiga last year, Toronto couldn’t wait to get Niemela over to North America this year so that they could get him the kind of ice time and responsibility that they wanted for him. Undoubtedly the top defensive prospect in the Leafs’ system, he has rewarded this confidence in his abilities with a very strong rookie year with the Marlies. Not only has his offensive game translated seamlessly thanks to his high-end mobility and vision, but he’s been better defensively than anticipated. He’s defended small areas well with more intensity than previously shown and he’s adjusted to the small ice well from a decision-making standpoint. Nestled tight to the salary cap, one would have to believe that Niemela could be given an opportunity to replace pending UFA T. J. Brodie next season on the Leafs’ roster. He is a potential top four defender.

4. Dennis Hildeby, G, Toronto Marlies (AHL)

The massive Swedish netminders’ first pro season in North America has to be considered a big (no pun intended) success. He was excellent as the starter for the Marlies, posting a save percentage above .910 and showing terrific consistency for a younger netminder without a ton of pro experience. We quickly forget how meteoric Hildeby’s rise has been. A classic late bloomer, he’s only got a season as an SHL back-up and now a season as an AHL starter under his belt, at 22, turning 23. However, the marked improvement of his athleticism and quickness helped unlock his potential and now has the appearance of a possible NHL netminder. Even with Samsonov and Martin Jones coming off the books, one would assume that Toronto would like to see him play another full year in the AHL next season. Joseph Woll would have the inside track at a spot and the team likely signs/trades for a veteran to work with him. Either way, Leafs brass must be ecstatic with Hildeby’s development.

5. Nikita Grebyonkin, RW, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

The Leafs have signed Nikita Grebyonkin to a three-year, entry level deal and he will be making the jump to North America next season. This is huge for the Leafs getting him into the fold after a breakout KHL season at 21-years-old. Armed with high end offensive tools, an argument could be made that Grebyonkin possesses the highest upside of any forward in the system. He’s a dynamic transitional attacker because of his speed and handling ability; he routinely takes on defenders one on one and wins. Over the last two seasons in the KHL, he’s managed to fill out his 6’ 2” frame and it’s helped him be more consistent off the puck and when fighting through contact against pro sized defenders. This bodes well for his adjustment to the AHL level next year.

6. Alex Steeves, C, Toronto Marlies (AHL)

It’s now or never for Steeves in the Maple Leafs’ organization. The 25-year-old has continued to improve in the AHL and has been one of the Marlies’ best players. He’s ready to show that he can be a full time NHL player. A pending RFA, it seems inevitable that he will be given a qualifying offer in hopes that he can battle for a depth role next year. He has continued to improve his skating and pace of play, and his versatility as an effective player, on and off the puck, makes him an ideal candidate for a bottom six role in today’s NHL. The issue is that Toronto has built up terrific depth there, especially with the acquisition of Connor Dewar and the emergence of Bobby McCann. No longer waiver exempt, it seems like that Steeves will be given a shot in another organization should he fail to crack Toronto’s roster next year.

7. Nick Abruzzese, C, Toronto Marlies (AHL)

It was another good season for the former Harvard captain, his second full pro year. He led the Marlies in assists and continued to improve his strength on the puck, critical for a somewhat undersized forward with his vision and playmaking ability. Abruzzese is a high IQ player, one of, if not the smartest player in the Leafs’ system. He understands how to control the pace of the game and he works hard to earn touches; it’s cliche but he plays bigger than he looks. Due to Toronto’s depth at forward, he didn’t get a look this year despite a few cups of coffee in previous seasons. That should not be taken as a slight. He’s still very much in Toronto’s plans moving forward. However, much like Alex Steeves, Abruzzese is not exempt from waivers next year. That means that he’ll be in the mix for a bottom six roster spot like several others. Is he a trade candidate?

8. Ryan Tverberg, C, Toronto Marlies (AHL)

Injuries have not been kind to the former UConn Husky as he has started his pro career in Toronto’s system. When he’s been on the ice, Tverberg has played well. His speed, tenacity, and strong two-way approach have transferred well. He’s still very much on track to become a quality bottom six, penalty killing anchor for the Leafs in the future. However, lower body and upper body injuries have limited him to a half year with the Marlies. The focus next year will simply be on staying healthy, while continuing to be a valued contributor to the Marlies. Toronto’s AHL club should look totally different next year with so many players in flux with the organization. That could clear a path for Tverberg to take on a critical AHL role, which would be outstanding for his development.

9. Roni Hirvonen, C, Toronto Marlies (AHL)

Speaking of injuries, Hirvonen is lucky to still be playing after a scary eye injury at the beginning of the year. Narrowly avoiding disaster, Hirvonen returned halfway through the year to a depth role on the Marlies. The team’s former second round pick showed flashes of being a quality two-way forward in limited action. He is best described as one of those jack-of-all-trades types. He’s not elite in any category, but his well-rounded skill set, and high IQ make him a potential middle six type in the future. Much like Tverberg, Hirvonen stands to earn more ice time with the Marlies next year and that will be a positive thing for his development. There’s a need to add strength to his undersized frame to help him be stronger on pucks and be an even more effective two-way option.

10. Noah Chadwick, D, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

Without a doubt, Chadwick was one of the WHL’s breakout players this season with Lethbridge. He went from being a sixth round long shot (in 2023) to one of the WHL’s top defenders in a matter of a single season. One of the reasons for that has been an uptick in usage. He has taken over as the top powerplay quarterback and has done a very good job running that unit, even if Lethbridge’s powerplay was one of the weaker statistically this season. Another reason has been the improvements made to his skating. He’s improved his carrying ability and his confidence with the puck, which has in turn made him a standout at both ends in his draft year plus one. The next steps? Skating still needs to improve overall. He can still struggle with his agility and overall footwork, even if he’s a standout rush defender. I’m sure the Leafs would like to see him use his size more consistently too, to be a physical standout in the defensive end.

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

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #24

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:04:34 +0000

Top 20 Toronto Maple Leaf Prospects

1. Matthew Knies

The Maple Leafs used the 57th selection in 2021 on Knies after he spent two seasons with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm. He then jumped up to the NCAA with the University of Minnesota and quickly became one of the biggest topics of conversation in the prospect world as he contributed a point-per-game as a freshman. His efforts were rewarded by USA Hockey, as the teenager was added to the American rosters for both the Olympics and the World Juniors, and Knies performed admirably in both tournaments. He looked even better last season, being named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. The Maple Leafs rewarded him with an entry-level contract and a call-up to the big club just in time to make a mark on the NHL postseason. He is on his way to becoming a reliable, two-way, second-line winger thanks to his size, strength, ability to steal pucks, break up passes, and find or create open space in the offensive zone.

2. Nick Robertson

Ever since Robertson was drafted in the second round in 2019, he has seemed on the edge of breaking into the NHL lineup full-time. In his DY+1, he had 55 goals in just 46 games with the Peterborough Petes, leading the OHL in goals and being named CHL Sportsman of the Year. The Maple Leafs called him up for the playoffs, to end the year, and he looked poised to stick. Unfortunately, myriad injuries have plagued him and he has three-straight injury-plagued seasons spent bouncing between the AHL and NHL. He’s too good for the AHL but can’t seem to stick in the NHL just yet. When healthy, Robertson is a highly energetic forward with an excellent shot. He’s extremely hard on pucks and seems to always be in the mix. He has the potential to join Knies in the Maple Leafs' top six as a focus of the team’s offense, if he can only stay healthy.

3. Topi Niemela

Drafted 64th overall in 2020, Niemela was coming off his rookie season in the Liiga, showing off his skill in Finland’s best league. His follow-up campaign was stunted due to Covid, but he managed to shine at the 2021 World Juniors, leading all defenders in goals (two), assists (six), and points (eight) en route to a bronze medal, earning the honor of Best Defenseman in the tournament. Niemela was back with Karpat in 2021-22, taking a big step forward while once again posting a stand-out World Juniors. Last season, under contract with the Leafs, but loaned back to Karpat, he seemed to stall a bit offensively in the Liiga, although he was still impacting the game in nearly every other way. That was enough for the Maple Leafs, who brought him overseas to the AHL to finish his season. An intelligent, calm, mobile defender who moves the puck very well and rarely makes a mistake, he’s well on his way to becoming a middle-paring defender at the highest level.

4. Easton Cowan

One of the top players in last year’s OHL playoffs, Cowan, known as “Cowboy” to his teammates, shot up draft lists late in the year and ended up being one of the surprises of the first round. His late season transformation from complementary piece to primary play driver had many in the industry re-evaluating his upside, including Mckeens. A very well-rounded player, he competes hard physically. He is lightning quick and can play in all situations. He sees the ice well and has great offensive instincts. He has a quick release that gives him scoring potential. Best of all, his puck skill and puck protection ability showed significant growth over the year suggesting that he might just be hitting the tip of the iceberg regarding his potential. There’s a safe floor here because of his excellent work rate and skating ability. However, under the watchful eyes of the Hunters with the London Knights, Cowan may possess more offensive upside than originally thought, giving him an intriguing ceiling. Next year, London will enter the year as one of the favourites to repeat as Western Conference champions and Cowan will resume his role on the first line.

5. Ty Voit

Despite losing his entire draft year to the pandemic and the OHL-cancelled season, the Maple Leafs bet on what they had already seen in Voit’s rookie season, drafting him in the fifth round in 2021. He responded with 80 and 105-point seasons, respectively including leading the league in assists (81) in the final season, likely his last in the OHL. Voit is an excellent playmaker with great vision and is very light on the ice. There is some worry about his 5- 9”, 150-pound frame and how that will translate to the NHL, but he’ll have plenty of time in the AHL to get comfortable in a more physical league. There’s also some worry about his defensive effort that the AHL coaching staff will need to work on. He has the skill to be a top-six forward, but his shortcomings bring some questions as to whether or not he’ll reach that, especially as his size is not very conducive to bottom six play.

6. Fraser Minten

A recent addition to the Maple Leafs’ system, Minten was drafted 38th overall in 2022 after taking a big step forward in his development with the WHL Kamloops Blazers. He was even better last season as the team’s alternate captain, producing over a point per game. He’s a two-way presence and plays a very smart game. Combined with underrated skill, he’s an exciting asset. Minten is well-rounded and likely won’t be an overly offensive player at the next level, but will be a reliable, dependable piece who could be trusted in big moments with the game on the like. His game is already close to being pro-ready and he likely could make the jump if the Maple Leafs decide he’s ready, although a final WHL campaign is in the cards first. At this point, he’s on his way to becoming an excellent 3C who could move up and see time on the penalty kill.

7. Roni Hirvonen

The Maple Leafs selected Hirvonen out of the Liiga in 2020 second round. He was coming off his rookie season with Assat, and adjusting well from the junior ranks. He has since spent every season in the Liiga, moving to HIFK for the past two seasons, as a productive two-way presence. He also helped Team Finland bronze and silver medals, in the 2021 and 22 WJCs, respectively, serving as the captain in the latter edition. He is a hard-working centreman who grinds to ensure that his team has the puck, consistently jumping into the dirty areas, and often winning puck battles. He is reliable defensively and has a nice level of skill to complement the rest of his game. This skill is especially evident in his quick hands and light feet. Hirvonen’s game looks like it will translate quite seamlessly into a bottom-six role.

8. Nick Abruzzese

After a 2018-19 season leading the USHL in assists (51) and points (80), the Maple Leafs drafted Abruzzese 124th overall. His next step was joining NCAA Harvard, where he was a star as a freshman, being named Ivy-League Rookie of the Year among other accolades. After losing his 2020-21 season to the pandemic, he returned for one final year as the captain, averaging over one point per game, albeit without producing the same level of offense as he had as a freshman. with the season included an appearance for Team USA at the Olympics and an NHL contract, playing nine games with the Maple Leafs. He spent last season with the Toronto Marlies, as one of the team’s most productive players. He’s well on his way to becoming an intelligent, productive bottom nine forward.

9. Nikita Greybonkin

Grebyonkin was selected 135th overall in 2022. He was the alternate captain for MHL Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk, where he had a strong sophomore season. Last season, he took a big step in in his development, making the jump to the KHL on loan to Amur Khabarovsk. He led all rookies in points with 26 in 45 games. The winger is a strong playmaker with the ability to finish as well, although that may be dampened in the NHL. He protects the puck well and has strong awareness in the offensive zone. His defensive efforts are not consistent and his skating has been a concern, although the latter issue should be addressable through good coaching. Grebyonkin is a bit of a project and will take some time to reach his ceiling, but he could become an intriguing depth option.

10. Joseph Woll

As with many netminders, it’s been a long road for Woll - but it looks like it’s paid off. Drafted back out of the USNTDP 62nd overall back in 2016, the team has been patient with him. Woll was a fixture on the Team USA junior team, playing in the Under 17s, Under 18s, and twice at the World Juniors - winning medals in every event. He had a strong collegiate career for Boston College, maintaining great numbers throughout. He jumped to the AHL in 2019-20, and while he struggled out of the gate including a few injury struggles, his 2022-23 season was a coming-out party, dominating in the AHL and receiving regular call-ups to the NHL, including a star turn in the playoffs. He’s a calm, intelligent goaltender and plays an excellent technical game. He looks ready to stick in the NHL.

11. Nick Moldenhauer

Moldenhauer had a strong year in the USHL with Chicago after he deferred his arrival to the University of Michigan until this upcoming year. He has a motor that never stops in the offensive end and he navigates and handles traffic well despite his lack of size.

12. Dennis Hildeby

A massive Swedish netminder, Hildeby had a very good 2022-23 season in the SHL with Farjestad.. This year he will play in the AHL with the Marlies, where he will compete for playing time with the other goalies in the system making their pro debuts.

13. Ryan Tverberg

Through the last two seasons, Tverberg has been a standout at UConn because of his ability to push pace and create offense through his tenacity. He has now turned pro and will play with the Marlies this year. He has a chance to be a quality bottom six option in the future.

14. Alex Steeves

Depending on the health of Nick Robertson, the 12th forward spot in the Leafs’ lineup is probably up for grabs at training camp and Steeves will have a great shot at it after two terrific years with the Marlies. He’s worked hard to improve his skating and can excel in a variety of roles.

15. Artur Akhtiamov

The best goaltender in the VHL last year (Russia’s second league), there is a lot of optimism surrounding Akhtiamov heading into his first pro season in North America. Lightning quick in the crease, he has NHL potential.

16. Mikko Kokkonen

Without question, Kokkonen’s first full pro season in North America was a disappointment as his poor play with the Marlies resulted in a demotion to the ECHL. The former highly touted third round pick will look to get things back on track this year.

17. William Villeneuve

Villeneuve was excellent for the Marlies last year in his first pro season out of the QMJHL. There was some concern that his skating would hinder him as a pro, but that was not evident last year. A competent puck mover, his mobility will need to continue to improve for him to be an NHL’er.

18. Vyacheslav Peksa

With so many netminders signed, the Leafs are expected to loan Peksa back to Europe this season. Peksa still has to refine his athleticism in the crease, working to improve the technical components of his game.

19. Mike Koster

Koster showed considerable improvement in his junior season with Minnesota, emerging as a go-to defender for the Gophers. Returning for a senior year, he should take over as the primary powerplay quarterback on a talented team and his offensive production could jump yet again.

20. Brandon Lisowsky

A lethal shooter who can really fire the puck. Has the ability to score in multiple ways and brings high energy to the offensive zone. Size is the big deterrent currently but he’s working to get stronger on the puck and improve his playmaking ability. He should have a huge draft +2 season for Saskatoon this year.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Josh Bell — Sun, 14 May 2023 15:03:49 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 21^st (23^rd last year)

The Leafs finally made it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004. GM Kyle Dubas found the right mix to beat Tampa Bay, only to fall to Florida in five games. A core built around the big four as they are known – John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander - drew criticism for their inability to rise to the occasion once more. Morgan Rielly on defense completes the group that Dubas has invested the hopes of the Leaf faithful since taking the reins in 2018. He dealt considerable draft capital over the years, keeping only two first round picks, Rasmus Sandin and Sean Durzi, now both traded away for veteran help. The team acquired Luke Schenn, Erik Gustafsson, Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, Ryan O’Reilly while moving out two firsts (recouping the Bruins first for Sandin), two seconds, and two thirds, and some spare parts. The shelf is bare heading into the draft. Dubas is without a contract and whether he remains in charge is the big offseason decision. Whether to break up the big four is a close second.

Despite the depletion of future assets, the team has seven players ranked within our top 200. Their top two prospects, Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson are on the verge of making the NHL and playing a key role. Topi Niemela should join them at some point in the next few seasons. They were all drafted in the second round in 2019, 2020, and 2021 respectively. Knies looked at home on the top line during the playoffs. Robertson has been on the verge of the NHL for the past two seasons and could join Knies in the top six in the near future. The Leafs have numerous UFA’s this season, and are always skating around the cap. Any addition of young legs on entry level contracts will help.

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 27: Toronto Maple Leafs Winger Matthew Knies (23) skates with the puck during the Round 1 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 5 between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 27, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire)

Matthew Knies

After two seasons in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm, the Toronto Maple Leafs used the 57th selection in the 2021 NHL Draft on Matthew Knies. He then jumped up to the NCAA and the University of Minnesota became one of the biggest topics of conversation in the prospect world as he was a point-per-game player as a rookie. Team USA took notice, adding him to the roster for the Olympics and the World Juniors. He looked even better this season, being named the Big Ten Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. The Maple Leafs rewarded him with an entry-level contract and a call-up to the big club. He’s on his way to becoming a reliable, two-way, second-line winger thanks to his ability to steal pucks and break up passes or find open space in the offensive zone.

2. Nick Robertson

Ever since Nick Robertson was drafted 53rd overall in 2019, it seems as though he’s right on the edge of breaking into the NHL lineup full-time. In his DY+1, he had 55 goals in just 46 games with the Peterborough Petes, leading the OHL in goals and being named CHL Sportsman of the Year. The Maple Leafs called him up for the playoffs, to end the year, and he looked poised to stick. But ever since, a myriad of injuries has plagued him and he has three-straight seasons of numerous injuries while bouncing between the AHL and NHL. He’s too good for the AHL but can’t seem to stick in the NHL just yet. When he’s healthy, he’s a highly energetic forward with an excellent shot. He’s extremely hard on pucks and seems to always be in the mix. He has the potential to join Knies in the Maple Leafs' top six as a focus of the team’s offense.

3. Topi Niemela

Drafted 64th overall in 2020, Topi Niemela was coming off his rookie season in the Liiga, showing off his skill in the best league in Finland. He returned the following season, the shortened campaign due to the pandemic, but truly shined at the 2021 World Juniors, where he led all defenders in goals (two), assists (six), and points (eight) en route to a bronze medal and being named Best Defenseman in the tournament. He was back with Karpat in 2021-22, taking a big step forward while once again standing out at the World Juniors. This season, he seemed to stall a bit in his offensive output in the Liiga, however, he’s still impacting the game in nearly every other way. That was enough for the Maple Leafs, who brought him overseas to the AHL. An intelligent, calm, mobile defender that moves the puck very well and rarely makes a mistake, he’s well on his way to becoming a middle-paring defender.

4. Ty Voit

Despite losing his entire draft year to the pandemic and the OHL-cancelled season, the Maple Leafs bet on what they had already seen in Ty Voit’s rookie season, drafting him 153rd overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. He responded with an 80-point season and then a 105-point season, including leading the league in assists (81) in what could be the end of his OHL career. He’s an excellent playmaker with great vision and is very light on the ice. There is some worry about his 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame and how that will translate to the NHL, but he’ll have some time in the AHL to get comfortable in a more physical league. There’s also some worry about his defensive effort that the AHL coaching staff will need to work on. He has the skill to be a top six forward, but his shortcomings do bring some questions as to whether or not he’ll reach that.

5. Fraser Minten

A recent addition to the Maple Leafs’ system, Fraser Minten was drafted 38th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft after taking a big step forward in his development with the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. He was even better this season as the alternate captain, playing over a point per game and catching the eye of scouts. He’s a two-way presence that plays such a smart game. Combined with some underrated skill, he’s an exciting asset in the system. He’s well-rounded and likely won’t be an overly offensive player at the next level, but will be a reliable, dependable piece that would be trusted in big moments with the game on the like. His game is already close to being pro-ready and he likely could make the jump if the Maple Leafs decide he’s ready. At this point, he’s on his way to becoming an excellent 3C who could move up and see time on the penalty kill.

6. Roni Hirvonen

The Maple Leafs selected Roni Hirvonen out of the Liiga in the 2020 NHL Draft, 59th overall. He was coming off of his rookie season with Assat, seeming to adjust well from the junior ranks. He’s spent every season since in the Liiga, moving to HIFK for the past two seasons and being a productive presence. He’s also helped Team Finland to a bronze and a silver medal, serving as the captain in the 2022 edition. He’s a hard-working centreman that fights hard to ensure that his team has the puck, consistently jumping into the dirty areas and often winning puck battles. He’s reliable defensively and has a nice level of skill to complement the rest of his game. This skill is especially evident in his quick hands and light feet. He’s another piece that seems like he will translate very easily into a bottom six role.

7. Nick Abruzzese

After a season where he led the USHL in assists (51) and points (80), the Maple Leafs drafted Nick Abruzzese 124th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. After his breakout season in the USHL, he took the next step, joining Harvard University in the NCAA. He took another massive step forward here as a rookie, being named Ivy-League Rookie of the Year among a large series of other accolades. After losing his 2020-21 season to the pandemic, he returned for one final year as the captain, not matching his 2019-20 output but still layering over a point per game. He finished the season with an appearance on Team USA at the Olympics and an NHL contract, playing nine games with the Maple Leafs. He’s spent this season with the Toronto Marlies, as one of the team’s most productive players. He’s well on his way to becoming an intelligent, productive bottom nine forward.

8. Nikita Grebenkin

A mid-round pick in the most recent draft, Nikita Grebyonkin was selected 135th overall in 2022. He was the alternate captain for Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk in the MHL, where he had a strong sophomore season, taking a noticeable step forward. This season, he took a big step in the right direction, making the jump to the KHL on loan to Amur Khabarovsk. He led all rookies in points with 26 in 45 games. The winger is a strong playmaker who does have the ability to finish as well, although that may be dampened in the NHL. He protects the puck well and has strong awareness in the offensive zone. His skating has been a concern, but nothing that can’t be addressed in development, and his effort in the defensive zone isn’t consistent. He’s a bit of a project and will take some time but could become an intriguing depth option.

9. Joseph Woll

As with many netminders, it’s been a long road for Joseph Woll - but it looks like it’s paid off. The goaltender was drafted back in 2016, 62nd overall by the Maple Leafs and the team has been patient with him. Woll was drafted out of the USNTDP and jumped to the NCAA’s Boston College after. He was a fixture on the Team USA junior team, playing in the Under 17s, Under 18s, and the World Juniors twice - winning medals in every event. He had a strong career in Boston, maintaining great numbers. He jumped to the AHL in 2019-20 and while he struggled out of the gate and suffered through some injuries, his 2022-23 season was a coming-out party, playing dominantly in the AHL and getting regular call-ups to the NHL. He’s a calm, intelligent goaltender who plays an excellent technical game. He looks ready to make the jump and stick in the NHL.

10. Rodion Amirov

There’s a ton of uncertainty around Rodion Amirov, likely their top prospect, who was unfortunately diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2022. He hasn’t played since but of course, at this point, his health is more important than anything. He was in Toronto continuing to train but ended up going back to Russia to undergo additional treatments. Amirov was drafted 15th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, likely too low for the highly skilled forward. He’s incredibly intelligent, rarely making a mistake on the ice. He moves very well, and his offensive potential is very high. He’s solid in his own end as well though. Amirov has all the makings of a top six winger. He was playing in his second season in the KHL when he was diagnosed, getting more and more comfortable playing against men. Again, his health is the priority here and discussions about his hockey future come second.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 21:42:46 +0000

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Left Wing Nicholas Robertson (89) in action during the regular season NHL game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on April 26, 2022 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON.(Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Nick Robertson LW

Robertson, the 53^rd selection in the 2019 draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, has landed all over the place on prospect rankings the past couple of seasons. Robertson exploded in his DY-1 season, netting 55 goals and 86 points in 46 OHL games, skyrocketing his value as a prospect. Since then, Robertson has transitioned over to the AHL where he continues to look like a promising prospect when healthy. Unfortunately, he has not been able to stay healthy throughout a full season. In his draft year, he was dealing with wrist and rib injuries, followed by knee injury in the 2020-21 season and lastly the fibula injury he suffered this season. When healthy, Robertson has shown his skill, producing a point per game last season, including 16 goals in 28 games. Robertson is best known for his goal scoring ability, whether at the OHL or AHL level. He has a lethal curl and drag release which he uses to beat goalies. On top of his goal scoring ability, he is tenacious, which is seen in his puck battles and forechecking ability. He has also improved his vision over the past couple of years, opening up his game from only being a one-dimensional scorer to the added threat of being able to set up his linemates. Robertson is coming into training camp this year fighting for a top-nine left wing role for the Maple Leafs and should receive the opportunity if he stays healthy. - ZS

2 - Matthew Knies LW

While it took him until late in the second round of the 2021 NHL draft to hear his name called, Matthew Knies didn’t hesitate in his rise through the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top prospect rankings. Knies had a solid draft year in the USHL but didn’t really garner top prospect consideration until this past season, his freshman year at the University of Minnesota. As a Gopher, he excelled. He quickly became an impact player on a Minnesota team filled with quality prospects, and his strong play earned him looks with USA Hockey’s World Juniors squad and their team for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Knies’ profile as a prospect is a well-balanced mix of throwback power forward style with modern habits and a modern toolbox. Knies’ ever-active motor means he’s always making his presence felt on the ice. He’s physical, highly aggressive, and never one to back down from the dirty areas of the ice. Knies has a great feel for the offensive side of the game and his hands are sneakily good. While his game is built on aggression, he knows when he needs to slow things down and play with the type of finesse and deception required to fool talented NCAA defenders. His physical tools and overall versatility provide safety to his projection, and his intriguing combination of size and skill informs much of its upside. If Knies can learn to round out his game and adjust to the challenges of scoring as a pro player, he can become a valuable top-six winger at the NHL level. - Ethan Hetu

3 - Topi Niemela D

A 3^rd round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020, going just five picks after Toronto selected fellow Finn Roni Hirvonen, Niemelä is one of the top defensive prospects outside the NHL. While his slight build has long been a concern, Niemelä is so solid in his stickhandling, passing, shooting, and overall puck-management game that size looks like it won’t play a role in his career. Very shifty and adept at avoiding contact while prancing about on the ice, his skating gives him extra opportunities in seeking out defense-splitting passes through the neutral zone or new avenues in getting pucks to the goal from the blueline. Highly adept at faking a slapshot only to hit a teammate perfectly for a one-timer, Niemelä has been a WJC star for two straight tournaments, earning a bronze and a silver in the process. He finished seventh in defenseman scoring in Liiga play last season thanks to a blistering start with 22 points in his first 25 games. A machine in transition and a wizard on the opposition blueline, Niemelä has signed his ELC and is scheduled to play on loan with his hometown Kärpät this season. Although Toronto has plenty of options on the blueline and a number of cap-related issues to tend to, Niemelä is a player they are very much looking forward to bringing into the fold. – CL

4 - Rodion Amirov LW

Rodion Amirov was selected 15th overall by Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020 and had been active at the highest level for the past few seasons with the Salavat Yulayev Ufa team (KHL). Unfortunately, Amirov was diagnosed with brain cancer in February 2022. It stopped him from finishing his last hockey season. However, his treatment in Germany went well and he is back in Russia with a chance at playing this year. Amirov is an intelligent and quick-moving forward who works well in all three zones. He is great on both the backcheck and forecheck. He never gives up on a play and his competitiveness is one of the keys to his success on the ice. A strong skater, Amirov can also push the pace of attack and will look to beat defenders one on one as he drives the net. The full extent of his offensive potential remains a bit of an unknown, however he has the athletic and physical tools to be a high impact player. The wildcard is his health. Recovery is priority number one. If Amirov can get in some games this season in Russia, he should make the jump to North America the following season, given that he is already under contract with the Maple Leafs. - DB

5 - Roni Hirvonen C

Drafted 59th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020, the 5’9”, 172-pound Hirvonen makes up with skill and heart what he lacks in size. Serving as Finland’s captain at the 2022 WJC, he collected seven points in as many games, helping to guide his team to within inches of a gold medal. Alas, he could only add a silver to the bronze he collected at the 2021 tournament. Calm, collected, and constantly ready to seek a creative route to buy his team more time, Hirvonen isn’t afraid to sacrifice himself to make a play. The WJC performance topped yet another productive season of improvement. After a strong year of Liiga play for Ässat in 20-21, he upped the ante for his new club HIFK, with five more points despite playing eight fewer games, before an even more productive postseason run. A hard worker who takes his defensive duties seriously, Hirvonen has signed his ELC and is scheduled to be loaned back to HIFK where he is all but guaranteed a top six role. With a large entourage of forward prospects in their system, Toronto can provide Hirvonen with all the time he needs although continued progress this season in Finland will almost assuredly see him come to North America for the 23-24 season. - CL

6 - Pontus Holmberg C

Holmberg was selected 156^th overall in the 2018 NHL draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs and has exceeded expectations with his play in the SHL over the past couple seasons. He is a gifted playmaker who combines that ability with strong skating and good offensive awareness to set up his teammates. When Holmberg has the puck, he does not try to overcomplicate things, rather he opts for the simple plays to advance the puck. His awareness and above average skating help him complete many of his transitions, whether it is through a pass or by carrying the puck himself. Since Holmberg was drafted by the Leafs in 2018, he has played almost exclusively in the SHL, improving his point totals each year. In the 2020-21 season, he produced 23 points in 45 games before leading the playoffs in points with 14 in 14 games, helping his Växjö Lakers to earn the SHL championship. Holmberg carried that success into this past season, which he finished with 41 points in 46 games. After his SHL season was over, he came over to North America to play for Toronto’s AHL team, the Marlies, putting up 4 points in 6 games. This upcoming season, Holmberg is expected to have a prominent role with the Marlies and will be a name to watch if the Leafs forward group deals with injuries. The Leafs have had plenty of success in turning late round picks into valuable depth including the likes of Pierre Engvall and Andreas Johnsson. There is no reason why Holmberg can’t follow in their footsteps. - ZS

7 - Nick Abruzzese C

Abruzzese was passed over twice in the draft (2017, 2018) before being selected 124^th by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019. He turned heads in 2019, producing 80 points in 62 games for the Chicago Steel in the USHL, but it wasn’t until his first season with Harvard that fans truly started to remember his name. As a freshman, Abruzzese finished in the top 5 in scoring in all of the NCAA and took home a bunch of honors, including the NCAA Rookie of the Year award. Since his breakout campaign, he has dealt with a hip injury as well as losing his entire sophomore season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When play resumed, Abruzzese continued to show his line-driving playmaking game, producing 24 assists in 28 games, while playing in the Olympics for Team USA and earning an NHL contract, which allowed him to participate in 9 games for the Leafs. Abruzzese’s game truly excels when he is able to slow the game down. He has a strong ability to scan the ice and quickly problem solve using his slick and elusive hands. He needs to work on improving his explosiveness in his skating if he hopes to gain a role in the middle-six in the NHL. Abruzzese hopes to fight for a bottom-six role this year, however, is more likely to end up in a top-six role with the AHL Marlies. When injuries do occur, he is expected to be one of the names the Maple Leafs will call on to fill a depth role throughout the year. - ZS

8 - Fraser Minten C

Trading out of the first round in order to jettison the contract of Petr Mrazek, the Leafs used their early second round selection to take Minten, a competitive two-way center with Kamloops of the WHL. While our Western scouting team was only lukewarm on Minten heading into the draft, there is a safe projection for him as a pro player. He has good size. He is already a decent skater with the chance to become an above average one. He has strong two-way instincts and projects as someone who is tough to play against and who can play a shutdown role. The key will be the development of his offensive skills, in particular his play with the puck. Can Minten develop into a high-end playmaker who can make plays with pace? That remains to be seen. Best case scenario, Minten grows into a quality middle six center who can play in all situations. Worst case scenario, he likely ends up as a fourth line pivot and penalty killing specialist. He will return to Kamloops this season and the hope is that he can cross the point per game plateau while becoming a more consistent offensive threat. - BO

9 - Ty Voit C

The 153rd overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, Ty Voit looks like great mid-round pick for the Leafs after having a breakout year for on the Sting. Voit had a good rookie season, finishing with 28 points (8G,20A) in 49 games. Unfortunately for Voit, he was forced to miss the 2020-2021 season due to Covid-19. During the 2021-2022 season, Voit was a standout player for the Sting, finishing the year with 80 points (26G,54A) in 67 games, which was 19th in the league for points, 10th in the league for assists and 1st on the team for assists and points. Voit’s best assets are his playmaking and hockey sense. He has the ability to anticipate plays and see passing lanes before they open, making high-danger scoring chances consistently. He can drive play well, but isn’t selfish with the puck, always knowing where his teammates are and being able to execute the perfect pass-through traffic when needed. He’s a threat with the puck and is hard to contain because he’s so shifty and uses deception and his quick hands to beat opponents to get into the slot. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Voit will once again be looked to be a leader both on and off the ice for the Sting. His offensive talent is undeniable, but he also showed strong defensive play as well, which he will look to continue to grow and improve. You could also expect an increase in points. - DK

10 - Alex Steeves C

Steeves went undrafted through his entire period of eligibility for the NHL draft. After a dominant season at the University of Notre Dame in 2020-21, where he produced 32 points in 29 games, he was awarded an entry-level contract by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Steeves wasted no time showing how he can be valuable to the Maple Leafs in the future by finishing third in scoring on the Marlies this past season with 46 points in 58 games. His play with the Marlies earned him a brief opportunity with the Maple Leafs, where he played bottom-six minutes and was able to produce his first NHL point in three games. Steeves has a combination of slick hands while transitioning the puck and a smooth but not overpowering skating stride. He pairs that with a quick pull and drag move to create scoring chances and rebounds for his teammates. While the Maple Leafs forward depth is extensive, it is pretty clear that Steeves will get an opportunity in training camp to earn a bottom-six role with the NHL club. More likely though, he will begin the season in a top-six role for the Marlies again, looking to replicate the strong season he had last year. With the strong possibility of injuries occurring, it may not be long until we see Steeves earn a role with the Maple Leafs and make a more significant impact in the NHL. - ZS

11 - Brandon Lisowsky

A favourite of our Western scouting team, Lisowsky was someone we had ranked much higher heading into the 2022 Draft. He may lack ideal size, but he is ultra quick and has a terrific shot. Improving his consistency and strength will be the key.

12 - Nicholas Moldenhauer

Moldenhauer’s draft season was slowed by injury, but he finished the year strong. He is a very versatile player because of his quickness, tenacity, and skill. It looks like he will play another year with Chicago of the USHL before deciding on an NCAA program to attend. The OHL remains an option too.

13 - Ryan Tverberg

Tverberg was outstanding for UConn as a sophomore last season, emerging as a top scoring threat. He likely settles in as more of a high energy, penalty killing forward at the pro level, but the offensive improvements are encouraging.

14 - Mikhail Abramov

The skilled playmaking center was predictably average in his first pro season with the Marlies. There were bound to be growing pains as he lacked the strength to likely be a difference maker in the AHL. Hopefully gains made to his conditioning and quickness can help him be better in his second year.

15 - Semyon Der-Arguchintsev

SDA is like a further along in development Abramov. Also, a skilled passer, his vision with the puck is his best quality. He too, needs to focus on getting quicker and stronger to become a more consistent offensive threat.

16 - Veeti Miettinen

A speedy offensive winger, Miettinen’s creativity with the puck gives him significant offensive potential. However, he’s been only average with St. Cloud State. His play away from the puck and his strength on it need to improve.

17 - Dmitri Ovchinnikov

After signing the speedy, skilled forward to an ELC this year, the team has agreed to loan him back to the KHL for another year. He will hopefully become a regular with Sibir Novosibirsk before playing with the Marlies the following season.

18 - Erik Kallgren

The former Arizona Coyotes farm hand was thrust into NHL action with Toronto this past season; a second attempt to make it in the North American pro loop. Kallgren was solid enough to show NHL potential and will be in the mix as an injury replacement again this year.

19 - Mikko Kokkonen

There is some concern that the former third round selection’s development has stagnated. A mobile and intelligent puck mover, it is important to get him back playing with the Marlies this season full time to truly assess where he is at.

20 - William Villeneuve

The big right shot defender was a Memorial Cup champion this year with Saint John, and an offensive standout, yet again, in the QMJHL. There are still concerns about his mobility and his projection, but the Leafs should have a better indication of his potential after his first pro season ends this year.

NCAA: Big Ten Conference Tournament Preview and Predictions

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 15:46:41 +0000

The NCAA tournament is selected through a mathematical formula called the Pairwise. The top 16 seeds make it, but six seeds are reserved for the tournament winners from each DI conference. Once those six tournament berths are awarded, the remaining 10 slots are awarded to the teams in order of their Pairwise ranking.

ANN ARBOR, MI - JANUARY 31: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Matthew Jennings (19) moves the puck away from Michigan Wolverines forward Jimmy Lambert (23) during the Michigan Wolverines game versus the Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday January 31, 2020 at Yost Ice Arena Center in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

***

At the conclusion of a remarkably tight Big Ten schedule, the postseason is upon us. Inappropriately named, the Big Ten has but seven teams competing in Men’s Hockey (the talk of the University of Illinois making it eight has quieted down of late). Seven competitors requires some creativity in setting up a playoff, and the conference has risen to that challenge with a structure that gives the top seeded team a bye week while the runners-up play the basement dwellers, the three seed plays the six and the fourth and fifth seeded teams square off in best of three series in the home arenas of the higher ranked teams. Those short sets all take place this weekend, Friday, Saturday, and, as needed, on Sunday.

I mentioned above that the conference this year has played remarkably tight. Penn State come away as the regular season champions, but only one victory (three points) ahead of runners-up Ohio State. The same three-point gap between Penn State and Ohio State is the gap between OSU and sixth seed Michigan State. If Wisconsin could only keep the puck out of their own net once in a while – they surrendered 124 goals in 34 games, a full 30 goals more than the next most porous team – the parity in the conference could have been historic. Alas.

Before we get into the matchups, we should discuss another notable aspect of the Big Ten in 2019-20. I had written above about how Wisconsin couldn’t stop the puck and further how their inability in that domain was significantly worse than the rest. This is notable less due to Wisconsin’s own ineptitude in net, but due to the other six teams all featuring goaltenders who could be the objects of NHL teams’ attentions once their seasons are over. This is even more remarkable as only Minnesota has a drafted netminder (two, in fact). As for Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan State, they all field starting goalies who were overlooked at the draft but are legitimate candidates to be offered Entry Level Contracts as undrafted free agents after this season or in the near future. As I write about each team in their first-round matchup, I will spend extra time introducing you to the goalies of record.

Regular Season Champ (First Round Bye): Penn State (20-10-4, 12-8-4-1 Big Ten)

The regular season champs play an exciting brand of high-event hockey. They scored 79 goals in conference play and 121 overall both marks that topped their peers. On the other hand, only Wisconsin allowed more than their 70 goals against in conference play. They took 64 shots on net more than the runners up and their shots allowed total was closer (albeit marginally) to the bottom than the top of the conference. They had the best power play, and the best penalty kill, although the latter unit got a ton of practice, as the Nittany Lions were among the most penalized teams in the conference.

One might think that a team like this is all offense, and they wouldn’t be half wrong. Penn State had six players reach the 25-point mark, with three scoring at a point-per-game clip. Those six top scorers were a savvy, veteran crew, which included the team’s top five scorers from last season (Nate Sucese, Evan Barratt, Alex Limoges, Liam Folkes, and Brandon Biro), joined by blueliner Cole Hults. Of that group, Barratt most has the look of a future NHLer, albeit unlikely to be more than a third liner. That said any of them could reasonably find their ways up the pro ranks.

In net, we have Peyton Jones, whose brother Nolan plays baseball in the Cleveland system. Peyton has near idea; size at 6-4” and over 200 pounds. He is impressively mobile for his size. The senior has been a workhorse throughout his collegiate career, with this year’s 30 starts (s0 far) being his fewest in a full season. He saved his best season for last though, improving his save percentage from barely over .900 to a lofty .919. Between his size, athleticism and ability to stop pucks, he should find his way to the AHL next season, likely on an NHL deal.

Drafted players: Kevin Wall (CAR), Clayton Phillips (PIT), Evan Barratt (CHI), Denis Smirnov (COL), Cole Hults (LA)

2 Ohio State (18-11-5, 11-9-4-1 Big Ten) vs 7 Wisconsin (14-18-2, 7-15-2-2 Big Ten)

Like Penn State, Ohio State can score with the best, but occasionally has had trouble keeping the puck out of their own net. In fact, in conference play, they have surrendered exactly as many goals as they have scored, 62 apiece. They tied for 2^nd in the conference on points with Michigan and Minnesota but win the tie breaker as they have more victories. If goal-differential was the tie breaker instead, the Buckeyes would have finished in fourth. The funny thing is, when they won the conference last year, their goals allowed metrics were practically the same as this year. The difference between 2018-19 and now is that they have scored significantly less this year.

Despite the presence of the gifted playmaker Tanner Laczynski and a rapidly improving Quinn Preston on the roster, among others, they have not made up for the graduation of top line current pros Mason Jobst and Dakota Joshua. In fact, there is a pretty big dropoff in production after OSU’s top four scorers – Laczynski, Preston, Carson Meyer, and Gustaf Westlund – and the rest of the roster. With two of those four graduating after the season, this may be the end of a window of contention for Ohio State that saw them make the tournament four years in a row, including one appearance in the Frozen Four, after not getting out of the conference for seven straight years.

Manning the crease for OSU is big Tommy Nappier. In the last two years as a full-time starter, his save percentage has been between .929-.934. He is tall and broad-shouldered. Some would consider him portly. (Some scouts have used less-polite terms). But he doesn’t just rely on his frame to block pucks. He plays an aggressive, athletic game. He challenges the shooters, can scramble back to the goal line in a pinch. His reactions are quick, and I would recommend slightly toning down the aggressiveness, as he can get caught out on occasion being too far from the goal mouth, but his track record is phenomenal. Nappier has been one of the better goalies in the NCAA over the last two years and I would be somewhat surprised if he isn’t offered an NHL contract in the next month or so.

Then we have Wisconsin. Rarely does a team with so much talent on the surface play so poorly. Among Big Ten schools, only Minnesota (14) has more than Wisconsin’s 12 drafted players. And none of the other schools have more than the Badgers three first rounders. And I am not even considering Dylan Holloway here, who is widely expected (including by us) to be a first round pick this June.

The Badgers can score with the best of teams in the NCAA. Their 110 goals are behind only Penn State in the conference and are tied for 13^th nationally. The problems is that despite icing a blueline which includes five drafted players, they cannot keep pucks out. Their total of 3.65 goals allowed per game ranks third last nationally. That is partially a function of giving up too many prime scoring chances, as they rank 51/60 in shots allowed per game. That also underscores how poorly they have done in stopping the shots that they have faced. Starting netminder Daniel Lebedeff has an ugly .894 save percentage, the worst among all netminders in NCAA who have played in at least 25 games. If I lower the threshold to 20 games, two others slip below. The Finnish sophomore was no better as a freshman, nor really in his pre-collegiate days. His feet are all over the place, he is too often not square to the shooters. He is the only starting netminder in the conference that I would unequivocally state has no professional future in North America.

Of course, I wouldn’t say that about some of the skaters in front of him. Cole Caufield has flashed the elite goal scoring prowess that made him a first rounder last year, although he has slowed down in the second half of the year. Fellow first rounder Alex Turcotte also shows flashes of greatness albeit not as consistently game to game as one would prefer. The third first rounder on the roster, K’Andre Miller has shown more of a nasty side this year, although not always well timed nastiness. He still has first pairing potential for the NHL, but seems to have regressed some this year. For me, the Badger who has improved the most this year has been blueliner Ty Emberson. Always a very strong physical defensive presence, he has shown a bit more willingness to get involved at the offensive end. Wisconsin can be a really fun, but extremely frustrating team to watch. Even though most of the Badgers’ high-end players are underclassmen, Wisconsin may be hard pressed to keep players like those mentioned in this paragraph on campus for another year, considering how this year has gone.

Ohio State drafted players: Carson Meyer (CBJ), Tanner Laczynski (PHI), Ryan O’Connell (TOR), Layton Ahac (VGK)

Wisconsin drafted players: Ty Emberson (ARI), Linus Weissbach (BUF), Max Zimmer (CAR), Josh Ess (CHI), Tyler Inamoto (FLA), Jack Gorniak (MON), K’Andre Miller (NYR), Wyatt Kalynuk (PHI), Owen Lindmark (FLA), Alex Turcotte (LA), Cole Caufield (MON), Ryder Donovan (VGK)

Prediction: Ohio State in three, with the final being a nail biter.

3 Michigan (16-14-4, 11-10-3-2 Big Ten) vs 6 Michigan State (15-17-2, 11-11-2-0 Big Ten)

The first year of the post-Quinn Hughes era in Michigan has been underwhelming, but altogether not bad. The team offense was middle of the pack nationally, down around one-third of a goal from 2018-19. Thankfully for the Wolverines, they have more than made up for the set back by hacking over a full goal per game off of their goals allowed. Their 2.12 mark ranks eighth nationally and tops among Big Ten schools. They actually play a fairly well controlled team game and tend to control the possession, generating shot totals near the national lead.

The main challenge is that Michigan struggles to turn those shots into goals. Senior Jake Slaker was the only skater with more than eight goals on the year, and he was also the only one with more than 21 points. The two heralded freshman from the USNTDP class of 2019, first rounders Cam York and John Beecher, had solid debuts, but neither really dominated. I expect both to take over the team next year, especially Beecher, whose physical tools are rarely seen, but they aren’t there just yet. Not helping things is the step back from team captain William Lockwood, whose point production was cut by one third compared to last season.

As discussed above, Michigan’s defense has been the key to the team staying in games all year. As promising as Cam York is, and as solid as the likes of Jack Summers, Keaton Pehrson, and Luke Martin are, the lynchpin to that defense stood between the pipes, as it so often has for Big Ten teams this year. For the Wolverines, the player generally between the pipes has been Strauss Mann, who has become s the workhorse this year after splitting time in the net as a freshman last year. Listed at only 6-0”, Mann was never looked at as a top prospect, but maybe he should have been. Prior to going to school, he spent a year with Fargo of the USHL. He put up a .932 save percentage and led the Force to a championship. This was not a team loaded with NHL caliber talent, either, with only one skater who appeared in the playoffs who had been, or would be, drafted. Mann wasn’t great as a freshman for the Wolverines, but sits on a .936 save percentage now, sixth in the nation. What he lacks in size, he makes up for with positioning, staying square to the shooter, a good glove hand, and strong lateral mobility. Another season like this one and NHL teams will be more willing to overlook his stature.

Michigan State are a long way removed from their 2007 championship, but this season, as mediocre as it has seemed on the surface, was a big step in the right direction. Their 15 victories are their top mark since 2014-15. The Spartans still lack the offensive firepower to truly be a national contender, and their goals per game mark of 2.35 was only 48^th nationally and worst in the Big Ten. The team has two drafted forwards, but they combined for only nine points on the season – equal to the contributions of the team’s two drafted defensemen.

Clearly, Michigan State lacks in high end NHL talent, but there are a few players here who have earned the attention of NHL scouts. Big center Patrick Khodorenko, a senior, was not drafted out of the USNTDP, but has been at or close to a point per game since his sophomore season. His skating is a bit on the rough side, but his hockey IQ, great hands and sheer presence, should earn him an ELC. And still only 21 years old, he is quite young for a college senior. Big blueliner Jerad Rosburg, the son of an NFL coach, plays with a football mentality, as a physical and imposing stopper. The senior also is proving capable with the puck. Winger Mitch Lewandowski and defender Dennis Cesana still have eligibility after this year and lack the size of Khodorenko or Rosburg, but they have ensured that MSU should not be taken lightly.

Those four aside, the key to Michigan State’s hopes of winning the Big Ten for the first time and getting back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012, rest in the form of another senior in netminder John Lethemon. After a rough freshman season, Lethemon was OK for the Spartans as a sophomore and as a junior, with .903 and .905 save percentages, respectively. Which is to say that he .937 mark this year was somewhat unexpected. He is a 6-3” butterfly netminder with a good glove and a conservative style that keeps him in the paint. He is very calm and tries to minimize the room an opponent has to shoot. He can scramble if needed, but his success has been a function of being ready for the first shot.

Michigan drafted players: Jack Becker (BOS), Luke Martin (CAR), Nick Pastujov (NYI), William Lockwood (VAN), John Beecher (BOS), Eric Ciccolini (NYR), Cam York (PHI)

Michigan State drafted players: Mitchell Mattson (CGY), Cole Krygier (FLA), Christian Krygier (NYI), Josh Nodler (CGY)

Prediction: Michigan State with the upset in three games. No more than five goals in any one game.

4 Minnesota (14-13-7, 9-8-7-4 Big Ten) vs 5 Notre Dame (14-13-7, 9-9-6-4 Big Ten)

Finally, we have our matchup of the mediocre. With all due respect to the two stories programs of Minnesota and Notre Dame – the former is a five time champion and the latter has reached the Frozen Four four times since 2008 – 2019-20 has simply not been their year for either school. In fact, neither school is likely to make the NCAA tournament barring a lengthy run in the Big Ten tournament. In Big Ten, Minnesota was the slightest bit better, as both teams won nine conference games, but Notre Dame has one extra loss while the Golden Gophers have an extra win. Minnesota scored four more times than they allowed while Notre Dame was dead even. Stepping outside of conference play, the two teams were even tighter, with identical 14-13-7 records, with goal differentials within two goals of one another. Even in head-to-head play, they were evenly matched up. Each team won once, and tied twice. The biggest differences in the teams are that Minnesota attempts fewer shots, but counters that with a better penalty kill and a better propensity for drawing penalties.

While they do a poorer job of controlling possession, I would say that Minnesota has better talent up and down its lineup, and not just because they have way more drafted players to draw from. The Golden Gophers get relatively little offense from their blueliners, but have a few talented forwards who can dazzle if not as consistently as one might wish. Samuel Walker is an undersized dynamo, with great speed and playmaking chops. Sampo Ranta, when he is at his best, is a very dangerous scoring threat, assertive and possessing a great wrist shot. I should also mention Brannon McManus and Blake McLaughlin, former teammates with the Chicago Steel, who have been strong secondary sources of offense this year.

Notre Dame’s offense is more evenly distributed, partially out of necessity as they lack any real dynamic threats, Senior Cam Morrison was the team’s leading scorer. Even though he has not lived up to his promise as a second round pick, he has a knack for winning puck battles and a quick shot. Undrafted Alex Steeves has been more impressive, nearly tripling his freshman year production thanks to his puck skills and strong shot, which help him overcome his skating limitations (he isn’t a bad skater, but that is what kept him from being drafted). Notre Dame does have the upper hand when it comes to offensive contributions from the blueline, with both Matthew Hellickson and Spencer Stastney strong puck movers. The former as a passer and the latter with his legs.

But we really just want to talk about goalies, don’t we? Minnesota not only has the only drafted goalie in the conference, they have the only two drafted goalies in the Big Ten. Jack Lafontaine and Jared Moe split the crease relatively evenly this year and both had equal .915 save percentages, although Moe’s GAA was approximately 0.25 lower. LaFontaine is the more experienced netminder and in my views he has been the steadier of the two. I would imagine he will get the first game and Minnesota will play the hot hand as they can. Ironically, even as the only two drafted netminders in the conference, I would out five others from within the conference ahead of them in terms of pro potential at this point in their respective careers.

One of those five is Notre Dame’s fourth year starter, Cale Morris. While he dealt with some injuries this year, and his .917 save percentage is his worst mark since his one game freshman campaign, scouts I have spoken with still unanimously mention him as a good goalie, one who they were surprised returned to Notre Dame for his senior season. He was already named the Mike Richter Award winner in his sophomore season, his first as a starter, considering his amazing .944 save percentage. He may be on the smaller side at 6-1”, but his has plus mobility, anticipates the play well and has a quick glove. He will be in demand once his season ends.

Minnesota drafted players: Ben Brinkman (DAL), Blake McLaughlin (ANA), Sampo Ranta (COL), Robbie Stucker (CLB), Tyler Nanne (NYR), Scott Reedy (SJ), Samuel Walker (TB), Ryan Zuhlsdorf (TB), Jack Perbix (ANA), Jackson Lacombe (ANA), Ryan Johnson (BUF), Jack LaFontaine (CAR), Bryce Brodzinski (PHI), Jared Moe (WIN)

Notre Dame drafted players: Nathan Clurman (COL), Nicky Leivermann (COL), Cameron Morrison (COL), Jacob Pivonka (NYI), Spencer Stastney (NAS), Matthew Hellickson (NJ), Trevor Janicke (ANA)

Prediction – Notre Dame in a road sweep. Low scoring games both.

Predicting the rest of the tournament

After the opening round, the teams are re-seeded with single game elimination deciding things the rest of the way. If the predictions above play out, we will see the following:

1 Penn State vs 6 Michigan State

2 Ohio State vs 5 Notre Dame

Call me crazy, but I like Michigan State in front of John Lethemon over Peyton Jones and Penn State in an upset. The teams each went 2-2 in head-to-head matchups during the season. I think Khodorenko and Lewandowski can crack the often porous Penn State defense

Ohio State takes down Notre Dame in the other contest, although, again, the two teams are pretty evenly matched.

Finally, I will go with Ohio State winning the tournament over Michigan State because Cinderalla doesn’t always go all the way

NCAA 2019-20 Season Preview: Big Ten

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:01:14 +0000

With seven schools participating, the Big Ten is inappropriately named. Even if/when the University of Illinois is granted a Division I team and joins the conference to which their other intramural athletics belong, there will only be eight schools in the Big Ten. Once upon a time, there were only ten schools in the historic conference, but it has been 20 years since that was last the case, as Penn State – then without a Division I hockey program – was granted entry to give the conference a round 11 teams.

Until that fateful day arrives when the Fighting Illini grow the sport, the Big Ten will be stuck on seven teams. And they are good teams, with rich histories (except for Penn State, which doesn’t yet have a history). Four different current Big Ten schools have made the Frozen Four championship game in the past decade, but somehow none have walked away with a title. The situation was almost comical in 2018, when the Frozen Four featured three squads from the Big Ten, plus one from the NCHC. The lone NCHC squad naturally ran the table for the title. The most recent Big Ten school to win the National Championship was Michigan State, which won all the marbles in 2007, capping off a run of four titles by three Big Ten schools in six years.

As always though, there is hope in the Midwest that the Big Ten will find a new champion this year. The seven schools have all recruited well and the schools are well coached, with one school in particular bringing in a veritable murderer’s row of high-end talent to supplement an already strong core. But we’ll get to that below. Let’s walk through the schools.

Michigan Wolverines

One the one hand, superstar Quinn Hughes is gone, off to the NHL to quarterback the building Vancouver Canucks’ power play. Fellow blueline stalwarts Joseph Cecconi and Nick Boka have also moved on. The only other significant departure is center Josh Norris, who missed the second half of last season to injury, who turned pro to sign with Ottawa. On the other hand, literally the rest of the team has returned, including captain Will Lockwood, passing on the chance to join Hughes in the Vancouver season to play out his senior year in Ann Arbor.

Besides Lockwood, the star attraction on the Wolverines’ roster this year will be Hughes’ direct replacement, highly touted freshman defender Cam York, like Hughes an alumnus of the USNTDP program, and likewise a first-round pick, having been selected last June by Philadelphia. He is expected to drive the offensive attack from day one. Another USNTDP first rounder joining the team along with York is big center John Beecher, who played a depth role with the UNSTDP last year, but is a fantastic skater and has enough in his hands to expect him to play a two-way top six role with Michigan. After Lockwood and Beecher, the offense features a number of upperclassmen who can contribute to the attack in Jake Slaker, Nick and Michael Pastujov, and Jake Becker. I would also keep an eye on sophomore Nolan Moyle, graduate transfer Jacob Hayhurst, who comes over from RPI, and incoming freshman Eric Ciccolini, who starred in Junior A in Ontario, who all have sleeper potential.

If Michigan is to be a successful team and not just a collection of talented players, they will need one or both of their returning netminders, Strauss Mann, and Hayden Lavigne to step up and stop more than 90% of shots faced, which neither managed last season.

Drafted Players: D Luke Martin (Car, 2^nd round, 2017), D Cam York (Phi, 1^st round, 2019), C Jack Becker (Bos, 7^th round, 2015), C John Beecher (Bos, 1^st round, 2019), RW Eric Ciccolini (NYR, 7^th round, 2019), RW Will Lockwood (Van, 3^rd round, 2016), LW Nick Pastujov (NYI, 7^th round, 2016)

Michigan State Spartans

After three consecutive last place finishes in the conference and having not finished above fifth since 2013-14, the Spartans return with an experienced roster with no lack of skilled players, attempting to turn around the school’s on-ice fortunes. Veteran Head Coach Danton Cole is only his third year in East Lansing, and to his credit, the number of players of interest on the squad has continued to rise, although perhaps not to the extent promised through his years coaching the USNTDP, as precious few of his former charges have followed Cole to MSU.

One who has been able to experience Cole in both location is bis center Patrick Khodorenko, who along with winger Mitchell Lewandowski, is expected to lead the attack, helping supporters move on from, if not outright forget, Taro Hirose, a 2018-19 Hobey Baker Finalist and the Big Ten player of the year, but skipped his senior year to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. At least he will be close by. Candidates to replace Hirose on the first line include seniors Logan Lambdin and Sam Saliba, or star recruit Josh Nodler, although in the latter scenario, either Nodler or Khodorenko would have to move to the wing, as both are natural centers. Nodler at least is a gifted play maker and could fill a similar function on the top line. The other big recruit to the Spartans is Switzerland native Nicolas Muller, who has a long international history for his mother land as well as a history of offensive production in the Swedish junior leagues.

Whichever wingman Cole chooses for his two big returning forwards, the team will not improve in the standings until they tighten up their defensive core. Twin blueliners Cole and Christian Krygier were both passable as freshmen, and Christian looked good in the national colors at the mid-summer World Junior Summer Showcase event. Tommy Miller and Jerad Rosburg round out a reasonable, if unspectacular top four. Similar compliments could be laid upon the returning netminders, Drew DeRidder and John Lethemon. Both stopped a touch better than 90% of the shots they faced last year, although they faced far too many shots for that to be enough. Their brand of high event hockey will be fun to watch, but without a tightening up in the back, they will fall short all too often.

Drafted players: D Christian Krygier (NYI, 7^th round, 2018), D Cole Krygier (Fla, 7^th round, 2018), C Mitchell Mattson (Cgy, 5^th round, 2016), C Josh Nodler (Cgy, 5^th round, 2019)

Minnesota Golden Gophers

When Big Ten Hockey got going, the Golden Gophers were the clear team to beat, winning the regular season title for the first four seasons of the conference’s existence, before a precipitous fall from grace in 2017-18, when they found themselves in the unfamiliar and uncomfortable position of fifth in a seven team conference. Minnesota rebounded to third last year, but it is now clear that their days of homogeneous rule of the roost are over. Hockey in Minnesota still takes on religious fervor and the university team is still an institution, usually getting the pick of local stars, which they have supplemented with the occasional import from another state or nation. But really, this team is, per usual, mostly homegrown, with only eight of 27 roster players with a listed birthplace from out of state.

The top three scorers from last season are all gone, as well as some key blueliners, but the depth of talent in Minneapolis will make the team a threat once again. Speedster Sammy Walker between gifted wingers Blake McLaughlin and Sampo Ranta, all of whom are entering their sophomore seasons, are primed to grow into high end collegiate threats on their way to pro careers. Versatile forward Brannon McMannus took that step forward last year, and an additional step forward on his part could have him firmly in the cross hairs of NHL scouts. Incoming freshmen Ben Meyers, Bryce Brodzinski (the reining Minnesota Mr. Hockey), and Jack Perbix all have a history of offensive production and could challenge for top six roles from the get-go.

The blueline is similarly pro aspiring, with six drafted defenders among them. Tyler Nanne may be the grizzled veteran who will be relied upon to quarterback the power play, but freshmen Ryan Johnson and Jackson LaCombe could both be stars in short order. Both primary goalies from last year are gone, but the two primary incoming tenders are both NHL draft picks in Jack LaFontaine, who previously spent two years at Michigan, and was fantastic in the BCHL last year, and Jared Moe, who was steady, if unspectacular over two seasons with Waterloo of the USHL. If the Golden Gophers can harness the collective talents of the players to play as a cohesive unit under decorated head coach Bob Motzko, they could credibly challenge for the top of the conference once again.

Drafted players: G Jack LaFontaine (Car, 3^rd round, 2016), G Jared Moe (Wpg, 6^th round, 2018), D Ben Brinkman, (Dal, 6^th round, 2019), D Ryan Johnson (Buf, 1^st round, 2019), D Jackson LaCombe (Ana, 2^nd round, 2019), D Tyler Nanne (NYR, 5^th round, 2014), D Robbie Stucker (Clb, 7^th round, 2017), D Ryan Zuhlsdorf (TB, 5^th round, 2015), RW Bryce Brodzinski (Phi, 7^th round, 2019), LW Blake McLaughlin (Ana, 3^rd round, 2018), RW Jack Perbix (Ana, 4^th round, 2018), LW Sampo Ranta (Col, 3^rd round, 2018), C Scott Reedy (SJ, 4^th round, 2017), C Samuel Walker (TB, 7^th round, 2017)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Another program with exceptional coaching, Jeff Jackson enters his 15^th year behind the bench at South Bend, and his 21^st season altogether as a head coach at the NCAA level. The Fighting Irish have a deep veteran roster, augmented by a number of talented recruits. While the squad may not be at the level as the ones which went to the Frozen Four in back to back years, they still will be competitive on a nightly basis and could compete for supremacy in the Big Ten.

The main challenge for the team will be overcoming the graduation of Bobby Nardella, and the early exit of Andrew Peeke, both players going on to NHL contracts. Thankfully, the defensive core still has more than their fair share of pro prospects, with senior Tory Dello hoping a big deal gets him a similar free agent contract as it did for former teammate Nardella. He is joined by four drafted players, with New Jersey pick Matthew Hellickson the likely quarterback. I also expect to see a big jump forward from Nashville pick Spencer Stastney. The blueline will be protecting the net of Cole Morris, whose .930 save percentage last season was actually a letdown after an incredible .944 mark, and accompanying Mike Richter Award, in 2017-18.

Pushing the pace on offense will be a squad that does not look to have one or two central figures, but figures to attack in waves. Captain Cal Burke, a senior, will be looking to earn an NHL contract offer after being among the team’s offensive leaders as a junior. Colorado draft pick Cam Morrison has disappointed since a strong freshman campaign, and he will have ample motivation to finish his collegiate career with a bang. Sophomore Alex Steeves will also want to step forward to put his name back in the crosshairs of NHL scouts, after being overlooked at the draft despite a very strong draft year in the USHL. Trevor Janicke is the most highly touted new recruit, but I wouldn’t sleep on Max Ellis also doing well in his rookie collegiate season.

Drafted players: D Nate Clurman (Col, 6^th round, 2016), D Matthew Hellickson (NJ, 7^th round, 2017), D Nick Leivermann, (Col, 7^th round, 2017), D Spencer Stastney (Nas, 5^th round,, 2018), C Trevor Janicke (Ana, 5^th round, 2019), LW Cam Morrison (Col, 2^nd round, 2016), C Jacob Pivonka (NYI, 4^th round, 2018).

The Ohio State Buckeyes

On the one hand, all of the schools in the Big Ten (with the possible exception of Minnesota) are more known for the exploits on the gridiron than on the ice sheet. That is especially true with THE Ohio State. Between appearances in the Frozen Four in 1997-98 and their triumphant return in 2017-18, the Buckeyes only even reached the year end tournament six times over 20 years, never getting past the first round. In that same time span, the Buckeyes’ football time won 10 Big Ten titles, and two national championships. Now they enter the 2019-20 season coming off three consecutive Tournament appearances, only the second time in school history they have achieved such a run of success. It says here, they could set a new record this year with a fourth consecutive showing, even though their roster has less drafted talent than most others.

With two of the top three scorers last season gone, the offensive drive will be centered on Hobey Baker candidate Tanner Laczynski, whose skills and overall game have improved year over year through three years in Columbus. His skating has gotten more fluid and he has always been an exquisite puck handler and playmaker. He should be ably assisted by Carson Meyer, who acclimatized quickly after transferring from Miami to OSU. I also expect Swedish center Gustaf Westlund to take a big step forward in his sophomore season. As far as newcomers to the squad, look out for Michael Gildon, the only regular skater from last season’s elite USNTDP squad who wasn’t drafted, but capably demonstrated a knack for playing with top end talent and creating space for them. He could grow into a third wheel role on a top six line.

Forwards aside, OSU’s chances for success will once again lie squarely with the defensive half of the team. That include the blueline squad’s ability to keep their own end clean while kick-starting the counterattack with regularity. Matt Miller is the most common defenseman to remain active in the offensive zone, but I expect to see more contributions on the scoresheet from Wyatt Ege this year. Newcomer Layton Ahac could also help give the transition game more of a push. Behind that deep blueline squats one of the more underappreciated netminders in the college game in Tommy Nappier. He has ideal pro size at 6-3”, 194 and took over a regular role as a sophomore last year with sparkling numbers including a 1.86 GAA and a .934 save percentage. A follow up performance that even approaches last year’s will make OSU a tough out no matter how much their offense produces.

Drafted Players: D Layton Ahac (Vgk, 3^rd round, 2019), D Ryan O’Connell (Tor, 7^th round, 2017), LW Miguel Fidler (Fla, 5^th round, 2014), C Tanner Laczynski (Phi, 6^th round, 2016), RW Carson Meyer (Clb, 6^th round, 2017).

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State’s rise to a legitimately strong hockey school in only seven years as an NCAA accredited program has been nothing short of spectacular. They were close to a .500 team in their debut in 2012-13 and then fell hard in their follow up, finishing with a record of 8-26-2. In the five years since, their cumulative record has been 104-70-17, which included two seasons which finished I the NCAA tournament. On the strength of those finishes, the Nittany Lions have been able to recruit a number of high-end players to further the school’s on-ice exploits, while paving the way for subsequent NCAA entry Arizona State to reach the tournament in a similarly quick period of time. Their quick ascension was also said to be a driving factor in the push for the University of Illinois to seek NCAA status for their Ice Hockey team.

Penn State is well positioned for a strong eighth season, with eight of their top ten-point getters from 2018-19 returning, as well as their starting netminder. And while he wasn’t in their top ten in points last season, Aarne Talvitie would easily have made the cut were he not injured during the 2019 WJC as he had been one of Finland’s best players prior to the injury. Talvitie is also returning. Augmenting the likes of veterans Brandon Biro, Evan Barrett, Liam Fowlkes, and Alex Limoges up front, the Nittany Lions are bringing in a few solid recruits from the USHL in Connor MacEachern and Connor McMenamin, as well as Kevin Wall from the BCHL. If Denis Smirnov can rebound and produce like he did as a freshman, the attack will be exceptionally difficult to contain.

The blueline is similarly deep, led by veterans Cole Hults, Kris Myllari, and Paul DeNaples. Joining them this year are a pair of BCHL recruits in Kenny Johnson (brother of Pittsburgh Penguin, Jack) and Mason Snell, as well as a high-profile transfer from fellow Big Ten program Minnesota in Clayton Phillips. The Penguins draft pick was granted a transfer exemption and will not need to sit out for a season before suiting up, as would almost always be the case with a transferring junior.

Drafted Players: D Cole Hults (LA, 5^th round, 2017), D Clayton Phillips (Pit, 3^rd round, 2017), C Evan Barratt (Chi, 3^rd round, 2017), C Nikita Pavlychev (Pit, 7^th round, 2015), RW Denis Smirnov (Col, 6^th round, 2017), C Aarne Talvitie (NJ, 6^th round, 2017), RW Kevin Wall (Car, 6^th round, 2019)

Wisconsin Badgers

If we look at talent in a vacuum, Wisconsin may be not only the best team in the Big Ten, but in the discussion for the best team in the nation. This is nothing new, and yet the Badgers have not made it to the NCAA tournament since 2013-14, and have only had a record above .500 once in the five subsequent seasons. The lack of team-wide success has been buffluding to the six time nation champions, but head coach Tony Granato has recruited very well and the program continues to add top end players to its ranks on an annual basis, with the most recent freshman class considered by many to be the finest in NCAA hockey. Those players, some of whom we will discuss momentarily, supplement a core which lost only one of its top ten scorers. Despite their previous inconsistency, there was a lot of talent among that holdover bunch as well.

Very little has changed between the goaltending or the defensive crew from last year. Every goalie who appeared in a game is back, and incumbent starter Daniel Lebedeff will be expected to play more steady, reliable brand of hockey between the pipes as the presumptive starter once again. The only regular blueliner to depart was team captain Peter Tischke, who graduated. The five returnees are all NHL drafted and K’Andre Miller still has the look of a future star at the highest levels. If he can stay healthy and in line with team rules, that ascent can begin now. Wyatt Kalynuk and Josh Ess are both smart puck movers, while Tyler Inamoto and Ty Emberson are both more renowned for strong play in their own ends.

With all due respect to holdover forwards like Sean Dhooghe and Linus Weissbach, all eyes this year will be on Wisconsin’s A-rated recruits among the forwards. They include a pair of top half of the first round NHL draft picks from the USNTDP in Alex Turcotte (5^th overall) and Cole Caufield (15^th overall), in addition to their teammate with the USNTDP Owen Lindmark an another mid-round pick in Ryder Donovan. There are also some who think that the true top recruit to Madison is 2020 draft eligible forward Dylan Holloway, who spent last year tearing up the AJHL, and has already represented Canada at last year’s WU18 tournament and this past Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Holloway could be a lottery pick this year if he proves able to produce at the NCAA level as a true freshman. It can be very difficult for so many top talents to gel as a team, but if they can manage it, the Badgers can push for a seventh title. It might be now or never as some of their more prominent drafted players could be turning pro as soon as the 2019-20 comes to a close.

Drafted Players: D Ty Emberson (Ari, 3^rd round, 2018), D Joshua Ess (Chi, 7^th round, 2017), D Tyler Inamoto (Fla, 5^th round, 2017), D Wyatt Kalynuk (Phi, 7^th round, 2017), D K’Andre Miller (NYR, 1^st round, 2018), RW Cole Caufield (Mtl, 1^st round, 2019), C Ryder Donovan (Vgk, 4^th round, 2019), C/LW Jack Gorniak (Mtl, 4^th round, 2018), C Owen Lindmark (Fla, 5^th round, 2019), C Alex Turcotte (LA, 1^st round, 2019), LW Linus Weissbach (Buf, 7^th round, 2017), LW Max Zimmer (Car, 4^th round, 2016).

Big Ten Top Draft Eligible Players

Dylan Holloway, C, Wisconsin
Michael Gildon, LW, Ohio State

Holloway is the only first-time draft prospect of note in the conference, and likely the first collegiate drafted in 2020. I think Gildon should have been selected last season and a solid freshman campaign for the Buckeyes could see him selected in his go-round.

Big Ten Top Free Agents

Brandon Biro, Penn State
Tommy Nappier, Ohio State
Mitchell Lewandowski, Michigan State
Patrick Khodorenko, Michigan State
Cale Morris, Notre Dame

The Big Ten is the conference to be for NCAA free agents this year and I would add names like Alex Limoges (Penn State), Nate Sucese (Penn State), and Brannon McManus (Minnesota) as players to watch.

Dropping the puck on the 2018-19 NCAA season – Part 2 – Hockey East, NCHC, Big 10

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 17:54:50 +0000

In yesterday’s look at the NCAA season that is slowly cracking open. We touched upon the Atlantic 10, WCHA, and ECAC conferences. While national champions have come from the latter two conferences in recent years, there is no doubting that the strength of the collegiate game lies in the three conferences discussed here.

Hockey East

While some of the more well-known traditional powerhouses are based in the northeast, the vaunted Hockey east conference had a down year last season and seem to be in line for a repeat (in relative terms) this year. There are teams that were also-rans last year and who will likely continue to be league doormats this year. Chief among those is Vermont. Outside of leading scorer, who left school early to sign an ELC with Tampa, the majority of last year’s roster has returned, but the roster was not a strong one. There are three players who have been drafted by NHL clubs on the roster, but none has yet made a strong case that they are worthy of high-level professional careers after leaving the Catamounts. If there is a player to watch, it is junior captain Matt Alvaro, the leading returning scorer. Despite their conference schedule opener, in which they shut out Boston University by a 4-0 total, Merrimack will be in tough to be a factor as the year draws out. Defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic, a Winnipeg draft pick, plays a strong two-way game, but each of the top four point getters from last year have moved on and the team will need younger players to step up and contribute in ways they never have. The early season results are promising, but it is far too early to assume the growth is real. That said, netminder Craig Pantano was strong in partial duty last year and may be the type of unsung hero the Warriors need to stay competitive. New Hampshire used to be a staple at the NCAA conference, but they have been on the outside looking in for each of the last five years. Unlike the other bottom feeding systems, the Wildcats have a few impressive players available to them. Sharks’ pick Mike Robinson barely played last year as a freshman, but he seems to have a grip on the job early on and has performed well so far. Athletic Panthers’ prospect Max Gildon leads the blueline, and senior captain Marcus Vela (San Jose) is the center-piece of the offensive attack. Joining the attack will be veterans Ara Nazarian, Liam Blackburn, and Charlie Kelleher.

In the next rung of teams in Hockey East, we can look at UConn. Still a relative neophyte to the upper rungs, the Huskies are only in their fifth season in the conference, after migrating from the Atlantic. They are an interesting team in that the majority of their players of note are European-raised players, including their top two netminders, Adam Huska (NYR) and Tomas Vomacka (Nsh), blueliner Philip Nyberg (Buf), and forwards Ruslan Iskhakov (NYI) and Jachym Kondelik (Nsh). A few scoring forwards of note who have not been drafted include a pair of juniors in big Benjamin Freeman and Alexandre Payusov. A seeming concussion sustained by Iskhakov in the season’s second game could be a big setback to the team if he is unable to recover in a speedy fashion. The Maine Black Bears were seemingly ready to get back on the upswing, if not quite reach the heights that the program has in the past thirty years, which has seen them crowned NCAA champs twice, and reach seven other Frozen Fours. Unfortunately, days before the opening game, defender Patrick Holway, a Detroit pick, left the team due to unstated personal issues. In his absence, the team will lean more heavily on senior Rob Michel, the team captain, and sophomore Brady Keeper, both of whom have two-way bonafides. Up front, the team will rely on Detroit pick Chase Pearson to generate offense, and he will be joined by freshman Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup, one of the top scorers in the USHL last year. More than anything, though, Maine’s hopes will rest on the crease work on Boston pick Jeremy Swayman, who was stellar as a freshman, earning Hockey East All-Rookie team honors and playing for Team USA in the WJC. He needs to be at least as good again for the school to have designs on a Tournament berth.

Next up are a couple of Massachusetts schools in UMass and UMass-Lowell. The UMass-Lowell River Hawks have been a solid contender ever since Norm Bazin took over the head coaching duties of a floundering program in 2011-12. They rarely get the press they deserve as they tend to lack in high profile, drafted players. With only four drafted players at present – only one of whom was taken before the sixth round, expect the team to be a sleeper again. Most of their top scorers return, led by Kenneth Hausinger, Ryan Dmowski, and Ryan Lohin (TB). The team has seen more turnover at the blueline, but Croix Evingson (Wpg) is slated to take a step forward, while Detroit pick Seth Barton has gotten his collegiate career off to a good start. Swedish puck mover Mattias Goransson could also garner NHL looks. Also, while Christoffer Hernberg had the lion’s share of the goaltending workload last year, Rangers pick Tyler Wall seems to have the coaches’ trust this time around. UMass Amherst does not have the recent success of Lowell to look back to, but they do have one of the top prospects in the collegiate game on the roster in Cale Makar (Col). The talented blueliner was strong last year, both as a freshman for the Minutemen as well as for Team Canada in the WJC, and should be even better this year, in what is likely his final season on campus. He is joined on the blueline by Mario Ferraro (SJ) and Marc Del Gaizo, both skilled puck movers. The forwards are less imposing as a group, but most of the big producers return from last year, led by Mitchell Chaffee, John Leonard (SJ), and Oliver Chau, who has missed the start of the season due to illness. A couple of exciting freshmen in Bobby Trivigno and Anthony Del Gaizo (Marc’s older brother), coming off strong USHL campaigns, make the team more of a scoring threat. Incumbent starting netminder Matt Murray returns, and he will be challenged by Finnish freshman Filip Lindberg.

Staying in the state of Massachusetts, powerhouses BC and BU have both gotten off to lousy starts to their respective seasons, but both have far too much talent up and down the roster not to expect brighter days ahead. Boston College may have the most deserved pessimism among the two, having scored only five goals in their first three games. Toronto pick Joseph Woll has as much talent as any collegiate netminder and he should keep the Eagles in most games, but he will need help. The most likely offensive presence is in the form of freshman Oliver Wahlstrom, a top draft pick of the Islanders and a pure sniper if such a beast exists. Another freshman with the burden of great expectations is Minnesota pick Jack McBain. Among returning forwards, Logan Hutsko (Fla), David Cotton (Car) and Graham McPhee (Edm) are the most consistent offensive threats. The talented and undersized Jacob Tortora could also take a step forward. The blueline lacks a true dynamic two-way threat, but Michael Karow (Ari) and Casey Fitzgerald (Buf) can both hold their own and Michael Kim is a good college player. Boston University also has a star between the pipes in Jake Oettinger, a former Dallas first rounder, who has been inconsistent, but with high end flashes in his collegiate career. The Terriers are deepest along the blueline, with five drafted players, all of whom deserve their high press. They are led by co-captain Dante Fabbro (Nsh), and supplemented by skill in David Farrance (Nsh) and Chad Krys (Chi), and more defensively centered defensemen, such as Cam Crotty (Ari) and Kasper Kotkansalo (Det). Up front, there are former first rounders including Shane Bowers (Col) and Joel Farabee (Phi) and later picks who are almost as talented in Patrick Harper (Nsh) and Jake Wise (Chi). Co-Captain Bobo Carpenter, a senior, has long been rumored to be a free agent contract beneficiary after graduation. While they have not done so yet, this team is chock full of players who can beat you on any given night.

Although Northeastern will no longer be able to rely on NCAA superstars Dylan Sikura or Adam Gaudette, they are still loaded with talent up and down the lineup and feature a stud netminder in Cayden Primeau (Mtl). An offensively inclined team, the attack includes assistance from the blueline in the form of Jeremy Davies (NJ), Ryan Shea (Chi), Eric Williams, and freshman Jordan Harris (Mtl). Even absent Gaudette and Sikura, the Huskies feature freshman Tyler Madden (Vancouver) and Matt Filipe (Car) up front, in addition to proven producers including Zach Solow, Brandon Hawkins, Grant Jozefek, and many more. In a conference full of outstanding goaltenders, it should be no surprise that our top ranked team, Providence, has one of their own in Hayden Hawkey (Edm), who is more than just a fantastic hockey name. Like with Northeastern, the Friars get a lot of offense from the blueline, led in their case by Jacob Bryson (Buf), Ben Mirageas (NYI) and Spenser Young. The Friars can also roll three solid scoring lines if everyone performs up to expectations. Philadelphia first rounder Jay O’Brien has been slow to start, but he should acclimate from the prep ranks to Hockey East in short order to take a place of prominence alongside player including Kasper Bjorkqvist (Pit), Brandon Duhaime (Min), Jack Dugan (Veg), Josh Wilkins, and Scott Conway. Any of the last four teams mentioned could feasibly end the year as Hockey East champions and pose legitimate title hopes. But if the last two seasons are any indication, they will have to prove they can hang with the titans from the Midwest.

National Collegiate Hockey Conference

For each of the past three seasons, when it came time to crown a national champion, the last team standing was a member of the NCHC conference. To give an idea at the depth of strength in this conference, the threepeat of sorts was accomplished by three different schools. One of those schools was not Miami University, although RedHawks were a finalist in 2009, their best ever finish. After three losing seasons, for them to threaten the powerhouses atop the conference once league play begins would be a shocker. Florida prospect Karch Bachman, one of the speedier players in the college ranks, may finally be ready to be a legitimate offensive contributor if his first few games are an indication. The team has some talent from the blueline as well, namely Grant Hutton, who is expected to have a few NHL options to choose from at the end of his senior season, and freshman Derek Daschke. The top new recruit though, and Miami’s big hope for the future, is Johnny Gruden, a top line player with the USNTDP last year and a fourth round pick by Ottawa. The team has a number of other solid players dotting the roster, but lacks much in the way of dynamic skill. A team with more higher end talent on the roster but a less cohesive team game is Nebraska-Omaha. Up front, there are offensively inclined forwards sch as Frederik Olofsson (Chicago), Steven Spinner (Washington) and Zach Jordan (watch out for this guy). Colorado pick Tyler Weiss should also be fun to watch, as he was often pigeon-holed into a bottom six role last year in the USNTDP, but his inherent skills suggest a higher ceiling. Pittsburgh draft pick Ryan Jones and Arizona pick Dean Stewart lead the blueline. Incumbent netminder Evan Weninger returns, but his position is not entrenched and Philadelphia prospect Matej Tomek will challenge after leaving North Dakota, where he never got a chance to play.

At this point, Western Michigan is probably also an underdog. Flyers’ prospect Wade Allison has dynamic scoring potential, and is one of, if not my absolute favorite player to watch in the college game, but he has not played since last January due to a lower body injury, and there are only rumors about the imminence of his eventual return. In his absence, St. Louis pick Hugh McGing will play a prominent role in the attack along with free agent Dawson DiPietro and Vegas pick Paul Cotter. Senior Colt Conrad is also auditioning for an NHL contract, after scoring at a point per game pace last year. From the blueline, the player to watch is Mattias Samuelsson, recently a second round pick of Buffalo’s. As he is more of a defensive defenseman, watch for smaller Cam Lee to add to the offense from behind. The squad will need more steadiness in net than they have received of late to launch a strong challenge for postseason play. Colorado College is a team on the rise, but it may be a year too soon to put them near the top. After four seasons with no more than eight victories, they took off with 15 wins last year, and should breach a .500 record this year with continued development from some of their key contributors. Netminder Alex Leclerc is too small to garner NHL interest, but is a very good collegiate goalie. Up front, Florida pick Chris Wilkie is ready to contribute after sitting out last season as a transfer. He joins a quarter of talented upperclassmen in Nicholas Halloran, Mason Bergh, Trey Bradley, and Westin Michaud. I also have my eyes on freshmen Benjamin Copeland and Erik Middendorf, both of whom were overlooked at the draft last year after strong seasons in the USHL. Although the forwards drive the Tigers’ attack, the defensive corps is not without talent, particularly in the forms of Kristian Blumenschein, and Benjamin Israel.

Three years removed from a championship, the North Dakota team that takes the ice today bears little resemblance to the title team. The only players of note with ties to the title are Dallas pick Rhett Gardner, a beefy two-way forward, and Hayden Shaw, a smaller, reliable and non-flashy defender. Hope and indeed expectations for continued contention is drawn from the Fighting Hawks’ recent recruiting classes. The blueline is receiving a talent injection from freshmen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Jonny Tychonick, who were ironically both drafted early by Ottawa last June. They join Colton Poolman, whose game is very reminiscent of brother Tucker’s. Versatile forward Grant Mismash, a Nashville pick, is expected to take his game up a notch up front. The team also needs to figure out which of Adam Scheel or Peter Thome (Clb) will take over as the starter from the departed Cam Johnson. Denver has more connections to their recent title, but now that Dylan Gambrell and Henrik Borgstrom have both turned pro, the core has changed. The team still has the makings of a contender though, with dynamic defender Ian Mitchell (Chi) set to be the main attraction. He is joined by a couple of freshmen blueliners of whom greatness is expected in Slava Demin (Veg) and Sean Comrie. Up front, the team will have to take a committee approach to scoring, as there is skill, but little of it is truly high end. There is a trio of drafted freshmen who could be better than anticipated in Cole Guttman (TB), Mathias Emilio Pettersen (Cgy), and Brett Stapley (Mtl). They join big game hero Jarid Lukosevicius. As with North Dakota, the Pioneers have to answers questions in net, as heralded recruit Filip Larsson is out indefinitely and Devin Cooley, who has taken the reins to start the season, is largely unproven.

The best hope for a fourth different NCHC championship in four seasons is St. Cloud State, which was actually the top ranked team in the country heading into the playoffs last year. There are teams in this conference with more NHL-bound talent than at St. Cloud State, but the Huskies do not lack in that regards either, while they fill in at the edges with a high caliber of support player. Former Montreal first rounder Ryan Poehling is ready to take the next step offensively and breach one point per game. Helping him to fill the nets are Patrick Newell, Robby Jackson, Blake Lizotte, and Easton Brodzinski. The blueline is similarly deep and skilled, led by tiny Jack Ahcan, Nick Perbix (TB), Jon Lizotte (no relation to Blake) and Jimmy Schuldt, who surprised many by ignoring the lure of the NHL after his junior season. Finally, in net, the team is equally comfortable going with David Hrenak (LA) or Jeffrey Smith, both of whom have displayed the ability to stop pucks at an above average rate in the NCAA. Of course, the NCHC could easily claim another title from a repeat champion. Last year’s champions, Minnesota-Duluth, were not expected to make a strong push, as they had a very young roster and were widely thought to be a season or two way from their “window”. Amazingly, only three of their top ten scorers from last year are gone. The blueline returns three sophomores who both spent time on the American WJC squad in Scott Perunovich (StL), Mikey Anderson (LA), and Dylan Samberg (Wpg). Netminder Hunter Shepard is still anonymous, despite his workhorse status on last year’s title run. Up front, former Dallas first rounder Riley Tufte is overdue to breakthrough, as he has been slowly refining his game to the point where he is nearly unstoppable down low. Helping out with the attack will be Peter Krieger, Nick Swaney (Min), and freshman Noah Cates (Phi). This year’s Bulldogs may be even better than last year’s champs.

Big 10

While last season saw the NCHC claim the crown for the third year in a row, it should not be forgotten that each of the other three teams in the Frozen Four came out of the Big 10. Of course, Michigan State was not one of those teams. The Spartans are now 11 years removed from their most recent title. They should see their wins total grow for the third year running, but are still not quite a challenger. They return nine of their top ten scorers from last year and Taro Hirose, Mitch Lewandowski, and Patrick Khodorenko are expected to lead the team once again. As promising as that trio is, it is unclear where the secondary scoring will come from. Starting netminder John Lethemon is good enough to keep MSU in games, but should not be expected to steal too many. After the Spartans, any team could reasonably reach the NCAA tournament, but some are less likely than others. Next up would probably have to be Penn State. It is easy to forget that the Nittany Lions have only been back in the NCAA for six seasons. Most of their top scorers from last year are returning, but the talent level is still something short of dynamic. Chicago pick Evan Barratt could be ready for the next step and Colorado pick Denis Smirnov is probably the most talented of the bunch. Upperclassmen Chase Berger, Brandon Biro, and Nathan Sucese are auditioning for NHL scouts and are productive, if not necessarily exciting players. The blueline is a relative weakspot, led as it is by Cole Hults (LA) and Kris Myllari. In net, Peyton Jones has had a nice career thus far, but it is unclear that he can be anything more than adequate at this level.

Since a pair of Frozen Four appearances earlier in the decade, Minnesota has been a bit of a hit-or-miss team. Last year saw a bit of both, but without second leading scorer Casey Mittelstadt on the team, the Golden Gophers could struggle once again to get back to the top. As always, they are exceptional recruiters, with this year’s star freshmen including Blake McLaughlin (Ana), Sampo Ranta (Col), and the draft eligible blueliner Benjamin Brinkman. Some of the returning players who could be critical include forwards Rem Pitlick (Nsh), Scott Reedy (SJ), Thomas Novak (Nsh), Brent Gates (Ana), and Tyler Sheehy along with blueliners Clayton Phillips (Pit), Ryan Zuhlsdorf (TB), and Tyler Nanne (NYR). In the early going it seems that last year’s backup netminder, Mat Robson, has surpassed former starter Eric Schierhorn. If Robson can maintain his performance over the full season such as he has in a part time role, the Gophers could be better than expected. The talent is here, but it needs to come together. Put anther way, Minnesota’s talent with Penn State’s structure could be a front runner. Wisconsin won 20 games in 2016-17 after combining for 12 victories in the two seasons prior, eliciting visions of grandeur. Unfortunately, the team sunk back down to 14 wins last year, prompting a rethink of the team’s standing. The Badgers are a team whose strength is on the blueline with five drafted players – all underclassmen - taking charge. Returning from last year are the physical Tyler Inamoto (Fla), the quiet puck mover Josh Ess (Chi), and offensively inclined puck rusher Wyatt Kalynuk (Phi). Joining them this season are a pair of USNTDP grads in checker Ty Emberson (Ari) and the dynamic K’Andre Miller (NYR), who has superstar potential. Veteran Peter Tischke rounds out the blueline corps. Up front, Wisconsin is not as exciting, but Sean Dhooghe, among the smallest high level players I have ever watched is a joy. Linus Weissbach (Buf) and Max Zimmer (Car) look like they will contribute and I have reasonably optimistic expectations of Tarek Baker as well. Like much of the conference, the Badgers are unsettled in net.

Notre Dame has been to the Frozen Four for both of the last two seasons, but the graduation of Jake Evans, the school’s number three scorer since the turn of the century, will have an impact. That said, the Fighting Irish are constantly restocking, so the team should be a strong competitor once more. Cale Morris was exception in net last year, winning the Mike Richter Award as the top goalie in the nation and will still be very good even if he takes a step back. Big Andrew Peeke (Clb) and mobile Matthew Hellickson (NJ) make a strong start to the blueline while veteran Bobby Nardella along with new recruit Spencer Stastney (Nsh) look like a good second pairing with two way capability. The top players up front include Callahan Burke, Cam Morrison (Col), and Dylan Malmquist. Even big Joe Wegwerth can overcome his stiff hands by being a tank in the opposing crease. Freshmen Jacob Pivonka (NYI), Graham Slaggert, and Alex Steeves could also go a long way to giving the Irish attack the needed depth to succeed. Ohio State does not have the flashy names that dot the rosters of most of the rest of the Big 10, but they have talent up and down the team and can win in many ways. They seem to be using a rotation in net, with both incumbent starter Sean Romeo and the younger Tommy Nappier in line to play a good amount. None of their key blueliners have been drafted, but any of Wyatt Ege, Grant Gabriele, Matt Miller, Gordi Myer, or Sasha Larocque can hurt you. There is a smattering of NHL interest up front, such as power forward Dakota Joshua (Tor), playmaker Carson Meyer (Clb) who transferred from Miami, smaller dynamo Mason Jobst and Hobey Baker candidate Tanner Taczynski (Phi). I could go on, but that might be enough to get back to the Frozen Four.

As good as Notre Dame and Ohio State are, not to mention Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Penn State, if the Michigan Wolverines get even halfway decent work in net, they could be the best team in the country. Quinn Hughes was a top ten pick last year by Vancouver and is as dynamic as blueliners get. This will be his last tune-up before moving to the NHL. First line center Josh Norris had a fine freshman season and then was one of the main pieces moving from San Jose to Ottawa in the Erik Karlsson trade. Will Lockwood (Van) is healthy again and provides an agitating, skilled presence. The Pastujov brothers, Nick (NYI) and Michael, provide strength and skill up front. Minnesota pick Nicholas Boka is a talented puck mover from the blueliner who can get the puck moving in the right direction when Hughes is catching his breath. Luke Martin (Car) and Joseph Cecconi (Dal) has shutdown qualities. Brendan Warren (Phi) can contribute offense while playing the tough minutes up front. Moving down the lineup there are other surprises in store as well. Ohio State may be a safer bet, but Michigan has the best chance among any team in the nation, to dominate any given night.