Alexei Melnichuk – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: San Jose Sharks Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 21:27:01 +0000

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

Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

A move to the London Knights to play under Dale Hunter last offseason may have saved Merkley’s status as a top end defensive prospect, as he improved considerably in terms of maturity and engagement level. Merkley’s best assets are his four-way mobility and his creative playmaking. His edgework is high end, as his lateral movement is so fluid and explosive. He plays a higher risk style of game, pushing the pace, which leads to the odd turnover, but he did cut down on those turnovers last year by playing less selfishly and by selecting pinches more carefully. Even without a great shot, he moves well enough to keep defenders guessing. Previously prone to tantrums when things were not going his way, he appears to have figured out how to control his emotions more effectively. Additionally, we saw him more consistently engaged physically in his own zone. The Sharks would be wise not to rush him, ensuring that he can build up confidence at the professional level without becoming frustrated and reverting back to his previous tendencies. He still projects as a quality top four puck moving defender who can anchor a powerplay unit. – BO

Ozzy Weisblatt, RW (31^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

The competitive Weisblatt is an abrasive energy player. His speed and relentless pursuit of the puck makes him valuable in a variety of situations. He was a difference maker last year, finishing the shortened season second in team scoring, and among the leaders for all U18 players in the WHL. While not large, he is extremely quick, with the acceleration, powerful stride, and breakaway top speed to be a threat, with and without the puck. He will look to attack quickly in transition and is aggressive trying to beat defenders wide to the net. He is also one of the first back to the defensive end, applying back pressure and trying to force turnovers. Wiesblatt also has strong edgework that allows him to change direction quickly at full speed. He is an intelligent playmaker who demonstrates poise with the puck in all situations. At times, he can be too predictable in his attacks, leading to costly turnovers. He does not have a ton of confidence in his shooting, often passing up shot opportunities to pass instead. Even if Wiesblatt’s offensive abilities fail to translate, he could be an effective middle six piece who fits on both special teams’ units. – BO

Thomas Bordeleau, C (38^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Bordeleau greatest asset is a wicked wrist shot which he loves firing right over the goalie’s shoulder. He can fire it off successfully whether he is static or in motion, and his lightning release gives the netminder no time to set up. Before he prepares the shot, Bordeleau can also impress with his stick skills. His hands are quick and soft, and he regularly pulls off creative maneuvers. He is a dynamic zone entry machine, and his unpredictable approach leaves defenders guessing, and generally coming up short. He used to limit his effectiveness by staying to the offensive perimeter, but by last season’s second half, he was pushing play up the middle as well, and pulling it off more often than not. Bordeleau will have to show that he can more consistently play with the type of effort needed to succeed in the tough parts of the ice. Even with his greater willingness to play on the inside, that effort is not yet consistent. At higher levels, the outside path will prove much harder for generating scoring chances. He needs to keep his feet moving and get his nose dirty to reach his top six scoring forward potential. – RW

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 3)

Dahlen is kind of an odd bird in the way that he chose to play in Allsvenskan in three of the last four seasons, although almost all teams in the SHL would have wanted to sign him. He is creative with strong offensive instincts. He has developed his playmaking and is a more dynamic offensive driver than earlier in his career. He is strong both on the power play and at even strength, generally serving as his line’s play driver. His top speed is average by NHL standards, but he has impressive agility and is very elusive with the puck in the offensive zone. Dahlen’s defensive play is okay but still not great and it can cause him to disappear during parts of games as he rarely plays the PK, wins battles in his own end, or turns the play around all on his own. He will need to improve on that side of the game to reach the highest level. He is a top six forward talent. The 22-year-old will probably play in Sweden for at least one more year, maybe even two. He is still a good prospect, and if he can keep developing, could reach his ceiling. - JH

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Spiridonov is a limited skater technically but has good balance has at least average speed. He is strong and smart and makes good decisions. He is strong along the boards and in tight areas, works hard and is smart without the puck. He finds open spaces offensively; he has good instincts getting ready to shoot and he plays responsibly defensively. He has the assets to be a useful player on both a power play and a penalty kill. He is good at getting open to shoot but his accuracy and timing on the puck could be better, and he hasn’t yet proven himself as a goal scorer, although he is fine as a playmaker. On the penalty kill, Spiridonov is particularly good at reading passing lanes and disturbing the play. He can detect where the play is going and act appropriately, rather than react after the fact. He has very limited men’s level experience, with much of his success coming in the Russian junior leagues. The lack of elite puck skills and limited skating give Spiridonov a third line ceiling, but his work ethic, strength, PK capabilities, and team play would fit that role, where he could provide offensive depth. - JH

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

The concern around Chmelevski has long been his skating, and in his first full AHL season, that lack of speed and agility was obvious. Though his puck skills and menacing wrist shot release have made him a lethal offensive option, he had trouble getting past the more mobile defenders of the pro ranks and was hesitant to carry the puck through the neutral zone. Even if he never improves on his feet, he still projects as a long-term NHL piece, as he excels in every other facet of the game. He processes the game at a high speed and makes great decisions with the puck, both offensively and defensively, and has shown himself capable as a penalty-killer. He dealt with injuries for stretches of the 2019-20 season but still posted a solid scoring line and exhibited an ability to score goals in different ways, including as a net-front guy and rebound goblin. Chmelevski's shot and hockey sense give him top-six potential in the future, but with his lack of speed and the uncertain ability to take on heavy responsibility on defense, the Sharks could ultimately deploy him as a middle-six two-way center once his time comes. - TD

Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

Not long ago, it was difficult to decide whether True was even a legitimate prospect worthy of being on the radar of an NHL organization. An undrafted center without particularly impressive numbers as a WHL overager has since progressed into one of the most heralded prospects in the San Jose system. He is a dangerous power forward with a plethora of offensive tools, the most notable of which is his overpowering size and balance, which makes him capable of driving the net and playing the cycle against nearly anyone. Possessing a hard shot and great passing skill, his offensive game is more than just grinding; he can set himself or anyone else up for a quality scoring chance from just about anywhere in the zone, though sometimes his decision making and skating speed lags behind his puck skills. Importantly, True is mean, and while that comes with some discipline issues, it also includes a likable assertiveness and aggression. He showed exactly what he can be during a brief NHL recall last season, a bottom six play-driving, cycling center who is hard to defend against. - TD

John Leonard, LW (182^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

A sixth-round draft pick, Leonard is a good example of a solid investment and solid development not ending on draft day. Leonard signed with San Jose following his junior season at UMass, and the late bloomer has not disappointed. He spent two seasons in the USHL where his offensive output increased from five goals and nine points to 19 goals and 34 points. Still, neither total was enough for an NHL team to draft him in his first two years of eligibility. His game picked up in a big way in college, and after finally hearing his name called at the draft following his freshman season, he netted a career-high 40 points as a sophomore and was on pace to eclipse that total as a junior, as he led the country in goals and led UMass in scoring before COVID-19 put an early end to the season. The junior was also named New England’s best forward as well as a Hobey Baker finalist. He has soft hands and is able to easily grab loose pucks. He is not afraid to shoot - as evidenced by his goal total — and has a quick release. The former afterthought now has some projecting top six potential. – JS

Tristen Robins, C (56^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Robins used a terrific second half last season to lead the Saskatoon Blades in scoring. There is a lot to like about him as a very well-rounded offensive player. He plays with pace both with and without the puck and has an elusiveness that makes him a constant threat. The transition to center showcased his ability to create with the puck on his stick and unlocked a new level of confidence. An aggressive shooter, he possesses a quality release which he utilizes for quick strikes coming through the middle. He works the give and go well with his linemates and is always looking to attack. He keeps his feet moving in the offensive zone and can be a menace to defend as he slips behind defenders. Robins is also a competent two-way player whose play without the puck really improved after that aforementioned move to the middle. He uses his speed well to apply back pressure and to angle off forwards in the neutral zone, forcing turnovers. Adding strength will be key for Robins’ effectiveness in traffic and in the cycle. – BO

Brandon Coe, RW (98^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

While North Bay struggled to find the win column consistently last season, Coe was able to elevate his game to become an offensive leader. The major allure of his game comes from his size and speed combination. He is very explosive and powerful for a 6-3” forward, consistently blowing past defenders in transition. However, he is more than just a North-South player, as his lateral quickness and edgework are strong, too, allowing him to cut in and out of traffic at top speed. Coe has also learned to use his size more effectively to protect the puck down low and has gained confidence in his heavy shot being a weapon. There is a question of whether he thinks the game well enough to be more than just a change of pace energy player at the NHL level. Additionally, he needs to improve his play away from the puck to become a more consistent three zone player. His physical tools are intriguing but developing them into a cohesive player will be a project. – BO

Danil Gushchin, LW (76^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Gushchin needs to play with an edge to be successful. It is clear that when he does so, his skill set can absolutely shine. His hands and feet are both very quick and deceptive. He is capable of pulling off fantastic zone entries. Despite lacking in size, he is incredibly dogged on the puck and skilled at sheltering it from backcheckers, earning himself more than a few penalties. In short, his puck skills are above and beyond is age group. But he does not always play with that edge, which can be spotted by a more lackadaisical approach to puck handling and an excess of turnovers. Gushchin doesn’t have blazing speed, but his feet play up thanks to edgework and agility that can dazzle. His ability to make extra sharp cuts plays into his usage on zone entries as he can carve up multiple layers of the defense. When he loses that edge, his feet stop moving, he stops taking risks, and he functionally disappears. Gushchin tends to be more “on” when his team has the puck, and flat when they don’t. He can go from an expert reading of the play to a disinterested bystander in a single shift. – RW

Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Knyazev saw modest growth in his second season in North America for a much-improved Sagueneens team last year. His 43 points were tops among blueliners on the club, and among the top ten in scoring among defensemen in the QMJHL. He also fine-tuned his defensive game as he improved his play-reading on the smaller ice. His skating is the focal point of his play, and the gatekeeper to his success; it allows him to cover a lot of ice in a short time and in all directions. Not only fast, Knyazev is agile and reaches top speed quickly. He is an offense-first defender and thinks the game with offense in mind. He continued his play as a defensive sharpshooter with a second-consecutive year with double digits in goals. His 11 goals were the most on the team on the back end. His abilities slotted in well next to massive blueliner Louis Crevier, as the pint-sized Knyazev had more permission to freewheel with the big Crevier minding his post. Knyazev is still a project for the pro game, and undersized, but he has the foundation to be a solid powerplay contributor and speedy defender at the NHL level. - MS

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 20191. Previous ranking: 8)

Hamaliuk moved to Kelowna to help them compete for a Memorial Cup but like most of his teammates never really took stride last year. When his game is on, he is an imposing albeit somewhat lumbering figure on the ice. He is excellent in the cycle game where his size and reach help him dictate play along the walls. He has decent hands that work with his game, he can carry off the wall, and is a solid net front guy. He scores a lot of goals from the goal mouth where he can use his strength to finish off plays in traffic. His skating is a bit of a concern as he looks a step behind the play through the neutral zone and is reliant on others to get the puck in the zone. Defensively he is physical and willing to engage to make a play. It was somewhat of a disappointing season to only collect 31 points in 56 games after being brought in to bolster the offense, after nearly being a point-per-game player last season. - VG

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Blichfeld is yet another steal from untapped regions of Europe taken with a seventh-round pick by an organization deserving of tons of credit in the way they get max value out of every draft selection. After dominating the WHL in his final season with Portland with a league-best 114 points, his transition to the pros was a highly-anticipated one, and the Danish winger delivered with 16 goals and 16 assists in just 44 games of action as an AHL rookie. A big reason for his success with the Barracuda is his heavy, rapid shot, which is a weapon at even strength and on the power play (five of his 16 goals came on the man-advantage). Grading out as an average skater, Blichfeld is not really one to carry the puck, but does a superb job at finding open areas of the ice away from the puck to receive shooting chances. With steady hands and decent awareness of the ice, he is a fairly versatile player who could kill penalties and be a depth scorer in the NHL. - TD

Alexei Melnichuk, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 10)

A late free agent signing, Melnichuk alone was responsible for moving the Sharks up two slots in our organizational prospect rankings. On the smaller side for a modern netminder, he gained some notoriety two years ago when a hot start with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg in Russia’s second men’s league, led to an invitation to wear the national colors during the Junior Super Series. Melnichuk excelled in the tune up series and earned a spot on the Russian WJC team as the backup. He bombed in his only game. That might have prevented him from being drafted, but two years later, with a stellar (mostly) full season debut in the KHL to his name, Melnichuk was back in the crosshairs of NHL scouts. He moves well in his crease and likes to challenge shooters when he can. He works hard for his saves and reads the games well, although the numbers at InStatScout make clear that he can really struggle with shots to the top corners, the bane of many smaller netminders. If Melnichuk adapts well to the AHL, he may be in the NHL before long. - RW

Jacob McGrew, RW (159^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Jake McGrew is a California native who has done enough to earn himself a look from as a late round flier. Unfortunately, his career has been derailed by a couple of season-ending knee surgeries. Last season started with high expectations after his first 30 goal season in 2018-19. He jumped out of the gate with five goals in his first six games and looked to be breaking out, but another season ending knee surgery put a halt to a promising overage campaign. At this point he seems to be a long shot to make the NHL and may even struggle to play in the AHL next season. When he is healthy, he plays an up-tempo game and has a great release that enables him to score goals. If he gets healthy, he has a shot at be a middle six forward if he can get his development back on track and avoid any more long-term injuries. - VG

Brinson Pasichnuk, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 31, 2020. Previous ranking: 12)

If you don’t have picks, you have to attack the free talent pool with gusto. Two members of the Sharks’ top 15 were free talent pickups, and the depth of the system includes a clean dozen others who received some consideration. Pasichnuk is the only one of the bunch that was added in 2020. A physical defender – although one who plays relatively clean – with a big shot from the point, the Arizona State graduate was one of the top NCAA free agents last offseason. Lauded for his maturity, on and off the ice, Pasichnuk may have a chance to break right into the San Jose NHL lineup whenever the 2020-21 season begins. In truth, he very well may deserve to rank higher on this list than the Spinal Tap number, as he has almost a sure-fire NHL player. The challenge is that that he is also older than most of the players above him and his ceiling may not be far above his floor. - RW

Santeri Hatakka, D (184^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Hatakka split the 2019-20 season between the Liiga and Mestis, Finland’s second-highest league. He also has a solid, yet unspectacular World Juniors tournament. He role was limited in the Liiga as he averaged fewer than 11 minutes of ice-time per game. A strong skater with very good acceleration, he moves well in all directions and can carry the puck from his own end. Stickhandling needs work, though, as he has occasional problems controlling the puck efficiently and keeping up his pace. His willing ness to battle has always stood out. Furthermore, he defends well in tight areas and is very assertive in the defensive zone. He did not have the strongest season possible, but he showed glimpses of potential in the Liiga and could break out as soon as the upcoming season if he can move up the depth chart. Overall, Hatakka is a mobile defenseman with strong physical tool and some untapped offensive potential. - MB

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

A smart and versatile forward who finally put his sense to use offensively, scoring a career high 15 goals in his junior season with the Golden Gophers, Reedy has a few tools that suggest he could make a career for himself on the fourth line, playing in the corners and eating up some minutes on the PK. Before he gets there though, he has to show that he can regain some of the speed he showed in his first year with the USNTDP program. To his credit, his feet move well, but his legs are heavy. That means he can maneuver around small spaces nimbly enough but falls behind when the game opens up. He will have to stress his power credentials more and rely very heavily on his hockey IQ to overcome the skating deficit. Of course, he also has to sign, which he still has not as of this writing. He could become a free agent if he plays out his senior year without putting pen to paper with the Sharks. - RW

Lean Bergmann, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

In his current state, Bergmann is the definition of a raw prospect. He can score, he has very quick hands for someone his size, and he can effectively utilize his size and strength to create offensive chances for himself. The German loves to drive the net, with and without the puck, and has the physicality to make it happen. As a net-front power-play guy, he can get bumped off the puck in front of the goal pretty easily, which makes me fear for how ineffective his body strength would actually be at the NHL level. He is a good shooter and has solid skating speed, especially at 200+ pounds, but has little passing game. He played on the penalty kill with the AHL Barracuda and competes hard. He focuses his energy on shoveling pucks on goal and wearing down his opponents, which is precisely what an NHL team would want out of a depth player like Bergmann can be in the near future. - TD

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – SAN JOSE SHARKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 25

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 11:45:50 +0000

San Jose Sharks

On the bright side, the San Jose system is not the worst in hockey. At least not now. For every team (there aren’t many) that is currently leaner, we have to remind ourselves that the Sharks will not have a first round pick whenever the 2020 draft actually happens. That pick, a lock for a lottery (if there is one), was transferred to Ottawa as part of the big Erik Karlsson trade.

I am sure that they will add some nice prospects with their pair of second rounders and the late first round pick they got in trade from Tampa Bay, but not having a high end first rounder while other teams will be injecting heavy doses of talent into their systems will likely knock the Sharks into the league basement when we re-do this exercise as part of the 2020-21 annual guidebook.

How do things get so bad? In a large part, this is related to the natural success cycle that many teams go through. Their top players are all veterans and are all very good, and the organization did whatever it could to maximize their chances at postseason success. While it’s true that the core of Joe Thornton, Brent Burns, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, and Logan Couture never won a Stanley Cup, they were always in the hunt. This will be only the second season since the lockout in which the Sharks did not qualify for the postseason, and in those 15 seasons, they got past the first round nine times, including four appearances in the Western Conference finals and one trip to the Stanley Cup.

One may lament the lack of rings, but San Jose should be proud of the success they experienced.

But that’s over now. Marleau left the team twice. Pavelski is with Dallas. Thornton is 40. Vlasic is 33 and struggling. Burns is 35 and still going strong, but 35 is not the new 25. Karlsson and Tomas Hertl will be healthy again, Couture still has time left before exiting his prime. Timo Meier and Evander Kane may be ready to become the new core up front. Yet there is no guarantee that the new core will have anywhere like the success of the old core. There are serious questions about the team’s goaltending as incumbent starter Martin Jones with two straight seasons with save percentages below .900.

In short, this is an organization that should be preparing to bring in fresh faces to a lot of spots in the lineup. There is not a single area, in the NHL or anywhere in the system, that can be fairly considered deep. We see three players who could, with some luck and the right opportunity, emerge as top half of the lineup players, although one has shown an unwillingness to stick with the slings and arrows of player development outside of his native Sweden. Another is among the more mercurial prospects in the sport. And even going deeper into the system, Martin Jones’ replacement is not yet here, with not a single goalie featuring in their top 15.

Finally, we remember that having a deep system is a numbers game, as the attrition rate is frightfully large. In the past four drafts, the Sharks have drafted five players thrice, and six once. San Jose has eight picks for 2020 at present. They need to make them count to supplement the new core. - RW

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: San Jose Sharks defensemen Ryan Merkley (6) in action during a NHL preseason game between the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks played on September 20, 2018 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

It has not always been easy for the highly touted Merkley in the Ontario Hockey League. Through his four years in the league, he has endured trades (from organizations who became too distraught with him), benchings (from coaches who grew distraught with him), and snubs from Hockey Canada. However, a move to the London Knights to play under Dale Hunter this offseason may have saved Merkley’s status as a top end defensive prospect. No bones about it, Merkley had a terrific year playing under Hunter and improved considerably in terms of maturity and engagement level.

Merkley’s best assets are his four-way mobility and his creativity as a playmaker. His edgework is among the best in the OHL, as his lateral movement is so fluid and explosive. This makes him very difficult to contain when he is manning the point. While he will likely always play a higher risk style of game by pushing the pace, and you will have to live with the odd turnover from him trying to beat a defender one on one, he did cut down on those turnovers this year by playing less selfishly and by selecting his times to pinch more carefully. His shot has never developed to become a huge weapon, but he moves well enough to keep defenders guessing.

Where we saw the biggest improvements this year from Merkley were in his defensive engagement and in his attitude on ice. Previously prone to tantrums when things were not going his way, we saw little of that in London. He appears to have figured out how to control his emotions more effectively, committing fewer undisciplined penalties and behaving maturely when things do not go his way. Additionally, we saw him more consistently engaged as a physical player in his own zone.

While it is extremely encouraging to see Merkley taking some steps forward, it is also important to temper expectations as he approaches his first pro season. The Sharks would be wise not to rush him, to ensure that he can build up confidence at the professional level without becoming frustrated and reverting back to his previous tendencies. In the future, he projects as a quality top four puck moving defender who can anchor a powerplay unit. - BO

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

A two-way center who is good in many areas but without having elite skills. Spiridonov is a limited skater technically but has good balance and is not slow, with at least average speed. He is strong and smart and makes good decisions all over the ice. He is strong along the boards and in tight areas of the game but lacks a flashy offensive game. He works hard and is smart without the puck. He finds open spaces offensively; he has good instincts getting ready to shoot and he plays responsibly defensively.

He has the assets to be a useful player on both a power play and a penalty kill. On the power play I would like to see him improve his shot. He is good at getting open to shoot but his accuracy and timing on the puck could be better. He has yet to prove himself as a goal scorer. He is an okay playmaker. On the penalty kill he is particularly good at reading passing lanes and disturbing the play. He can detect where the play is going and act rather than react to a play when it is already happening.

Spridonov has yet to play in the KHL and if he does, it will probably be in a limited role. In VHL, Russia’s second pro league, is where he probably will play most of his next season trying to develop his game. His contract with St Petersburg is for one more year. The lack of elite puck skills and limited skating makes me project him as a third line center at best. His work ethic, strength, PK capabilities, and team play are what you look for a player in that role. He has good instincts to put up some points offensively as well in that role. - JH

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. 2019 Rank: 8)

Originally a 2nd round pick of the Senators in 2016, Dahlen has been traded twice, played one season in the AHL and returned to Sweden for the 2019-20 season. He is kind of an odd bird in the way that he chose to play in Allsvenskan although almost all teams in the SHL would have wanted to sign him. He was named the top forward and league MVP in Allsvenskan scoring 77 points in 51 games and had five points in the first playoff game before the pandemic ended the season.

He is creative with strong offensive instincts. He has developed his playmaking and is a more dynamic offensive driver than earlier in his career. He is strong both on the power play and at even strength. He likes to be the driver as well and is not that comfortable when playing a smaller role on a line. His top speed is average by NHL standards, but he has impressive agility and is very elusive with the puck in the offensive zone.

His defensive play is okay but still not great and it can make him invisible during parts of games as he rarely plays the PK, wins battles in his own end, or turns the play all on his own. He will need to improve on that side of the game if he wants to reach the highest level. He is a top six forward talent and that is a tough position to reach in the NHL. I believe he will take his time before he steps over to North America again. The 22-year-old will probably play in Sweden for at least one more year, maybe even two. Still a good prospect and if he can keep developing, he could reach his ceiling. - JH

SAN JOSE, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Sasha Chmelevski of the San Jose Sharks (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

Chmelevski is a future NHLer and a certified steal three years removed from being selected by the Sharks in the sixth round. However, the concern around the Huntington Beach native has long been his skating, and in his first full AHL season, that lack of speed and agility was obvious. Though his puck skills and menacing wrist shot release made him a lethal offensive option, he had trouble getting past the more mobile defenders of the pro ranks and was hesitant to carry the puck through the neutral zone in fear of being unable to weave past defensemen as he did in the OHL.

Even if he never improves on his feet, I would bet a large sum on the former American WJC star becoming a long-term NHL piece, as he excels in every other facet of the game. He processes the game at a high speed and makes great decisions with the puck, both offensively and defensively, where he has shown himself capable as a penalty-killer. He dealt with injuries for certain stretches of the 2019-20 AHL season but still posted a solid 42-11-16-27 line and exhibited an ability to score goals in different ways, sometimes as a net-front guy and rebound goblin.

Chmelevski's shot and hockey sense give him top-six potential in the future, but with a lack of blistering speed and the uncertain ability to take on heavy responsibility on defense, the Sharks could deploy him as a middle-six two-way center as soon as his NHL career kicks off, which will be in the near future. - TD

Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. 2019 Rank: 20)

The emergence of True over the past couple of seasons is one of the most fascinating development stories in hockey, and another example of San Jose’s terrific job of scouting otherwise unheralded European players. Not long ago, it was difficult to decide whether the Danish forward was even a legitimate prospect worthy of being on the radar of an NHL organization. An undrafted center without particularly impressive numbers as a WHL overager progressed into one of the most heralded prospects in the San Jose system.

True is a dangerous power forward with a plethora of offensive tools, the most notable of which is his freakish size and balance, which makes him capable of driving the net and playing the cycle against nearly anyone. Possessing a hard shot and great passing skill, his offensive game is more than just 90s-style grind; he can set himself or anyone else up for a quality scoring chance from just about anywhere in the zone, though sometimes his decision making and lack of skating speed lags behind his puck skills.

Most importantly for someone who plays this style, True is mean, and while that comes with some discipline issues, it also includes a likable assertiveness and mental aggression. True earned a brief NHL recall to the struggling Sharks and showed exactly what he can be long-term, a play-driving, cycling center who can be hard to defend against in the bottom-six of a good Sharks forward lineup. - TD

John Leonard, LW (182^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

His game picked up in a big way in college, and after finally hearing his name called at the draft following his freshman season, he netted a career-high 40 points as a sophomore and was on pace to eclipse that total as a junior, as he led the country in goals and led UMass in scoring before COVID-19 put an early end to the season. The junior was also named New England’s best forward as well as a Hobey Baker finalist. He has soft hands and is able to easily grab loose pucks. He is not afraid to shoot - as evidenced by his goal total — and has a quick release. The former afterthought now has some projecting top six potential. - JS

Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 12)

Knyazev saw modest growth in his second season in North America for a much-improved Sagueneens team this year. His 43 points were tops among blueliners on the club, and among the top ten in scoring among defensemen in the QMJHL. He also fine-tuned his defensive game as he improved his play-reading on the smaller ice.

His skating is the focal point of his play, and the gatekeeper to his success; it allows him to cover a lot of ice in a short time and in all directions. Not only fast, Knyazev is agile and reaches top speed quickly. He is an offence-first defender and thinks the game with offence in mind. He continued his play as a defensive sharpshooter with a second-consecutive year with double digits in goals. His 11 goals were the most on the team on the back end.

His abilities slotted in well next to massive blueliner Louis Crevier, as the pint-sized Knyazev had more permission to freewheel with the big Crevier minding his post. Knyazev is still a project for the pro game, and undersized, but he has the foundation to be a solid powerplay contributor and speedy defender at the NHL level. - MS

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 20191. 2019 Rank: 13)

Hamaliuk moved to Kelowna to help them compete for a Memorial Cup but like most of his teammates never really took stride this year. When his game is on, he is an imposing albeit somewhat lumbering figure on the ice. He is excellent in the cycle game where his size and reach help him dictate play along the walls. He has decent hands that work with his game, he can carry off the wall, and is a solid net front guy. He scores a lot of goals from the goal mouth where he can use his strength to finish off plays in traffic.

His skating is a bit of a concern as he looks a step behind the play through the neutral zone and is reliant on others to get the puck in the zone. Defensively he is physical and willing to engage to make a play. It was somewhat of a disappointing season to only collect 31 points in 56 games after being brought in to bolster the offense, after nearly being a point-per-game player last season. - VG

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

A big reason for his success with the Barracuda is his heavy, rapid shot, which is a weapon at even strength and on the power play (five of his 16 goals came on the man-advantage). Grading out as an average skater, Blichfeld is not really one to carry the puck, but does a superb job at finding open areas of the ice away from the puck to receive shooting chances. With steady hands and decent awareness of the ice, he is a fairly versatile player who could kill penalties and be a depth scorer in the NHL. - TD

Alexei Melnichuk, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 4, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

That might have prevented him from being drafted, but two years later, with a stellar (mostly) full season debut in the KHL to his name, Melnichuk was back in the crosshairs of NHL scouts. He moves well in his crease and likes to challenge shooters when he can. He works hard for his saves and reads the games well, although the numbers at InStathockey make clear that he can really struggle with shots to the top corners, the bane of many smaller netminders. If Melnichuk adapts well to the AHL, he may be in the NHL before long. - RW

Jacob McGrew, RW (159^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

At this point he seems to be a long shot to make the NHL and may even struggle to play in the AHL next season. When he is healthy, he plays an up-tempo game and has a great release that enables him to score goals. If he gets healthy, he has a shot at be a middle six forward if he can get his development back on track and avoid any more long-term injuries. - VG

Brinson Pasichnuk, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 31, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

A physical defender – although one who plays relatively clean – with a big shot from the point, the Arizona State graduate was one of the top NCAA free agents this year. Lauded for his maturity, on and off the ice, Pasichnuk may have a chance to break right into the San Jose NHL lineup whenever the 2020-21 season begins. In truth, he very well may deserve to rank higher on this list as he is almost a sure-fire NHL player. The challenge is that that he is also older than most of the players above him and his ceiling may not be far above his floor. - RW

Santeri Hatakka, D (184^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

A strong skater with very good acceleration, he moves well in all directions and can carry the puck from his own end. Stickhandling needs work, though, as he has occasional problems controlling the puck efficiently and keeping up his pace. His willingness to battle has always stood out. Furthermore, he defends well in tight areas and is very assertive in the defensive zone.

He did not have the strongest season possible, but he showed glimpses of potential in the Liiga and could break out as soon as the upcoming season if he can move up the depth chart. Overall, Hatakka is a mobile defenseman with strong physical tool and some untapped offensive potential. - MB

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

To his credit, his feet move well, but his legs are heavy. That means he can maneuver around small spaces nimbly enough but falls behind when the game opens up. He will have to stress his power credentials more and rely very heavily on his hockey IQ to overcome the skating deficit. Of course, he also has to sign, which he still has not as of this writing. He could become a free agent if he plays out his senior year without putting pen to paper with the Sharks. - RW

Lean Bergmann, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

He is a good shooter and has solid skating speed, especially at 200+ pounds, but has little passing game. He played on the penalty kill with the AHL Barracuda and competes hard. He focuses his energy on shoveling pucks on goal and wearing down his opponents, which is precisely what an NHL team would want out of a depth player like Bergmann can be in the near future. - TD

Russia 2019-20 Season Preview: Top Prospects to Watch

Alessandro Seren Rosso — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 14:19:13 +0000

The 2019-20 KHL season started around one month ago, but as the season is still young it is still possible to have a look at the teams and the players seeking possible surprises or confirmations of previous assessments. Who are the contenders? Who are the top prospects in the league? Are there any 2020 draft candidates getting significant time on ice? This article will focus on players who are playing in the KHL or have a good chance to play in the KHL, although it will touch on prospects from lower levels towards the end.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - DECEMBER 16: forward Kirill Kaprizov (77) of Russia National Team celebrates the score during Euro Hockey Tour Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland on December 16, 2018, in VTB Ice Palace at Park of Legends, Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Anatoliy Medved/Icon Sportswire)

Western Conference

Championship contenders

CSKA Moscow - The reigning KHL champions, led by Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota) and Mikhail Grigorenko, and backstopped by Ilya Sorokin (Islanders) started the KHL season on a positive note and is now the second seed in the Tarasov Division, in a prime position to try to win back-to-back titles. Kaprizov is currently among the league’s top scorers, with Mikhail Grigorenko not so far behind. CSKA is again counting on strong production by undrafted Konstantin Okulov, whose contract is set to expire this spring. CSKA Moscow has a high number of players in a contract year and is likely to see most of them actively seeking NHL options next summer, including Okulov.

SKA St. Petersburg - A perennial contender, this summer SKA lost a few key players, the most important being Nikita Gusev, and started some kind of rebuild, focusing on a younger roster. However, the team currently sits on second place in the Western Conference. Vladimir Tkachyov is having a career year and is looking excellent on the attack for the St. Petersburg franchise. In goal, undrafted Alexei Melnichuk is posting incredible stats as he won the starting goalie position off Pyotr Kochetkov (Carolina), who didn’t look sure between the pipes. Melnichuk’s contract is set to expire next spring. Blue chip prospect Vasili Podkolzin is yet to score his first KHL points, even if he already played ten games with St. Petersburg.

Vityaz Podolsk - The main sensation of the first month of the regular season, Vityaz is now the first seed of the Western Conference, led by the former Washington Capitals star Alexander Semin. Vityaz is mostly a young, fast, and well-coached team without many superstars or hot prospects, but with solid options on both offense and defense like Semin and former NHL prospects Jakub Jerabek and Miro Aaltonen. While it’s hard to think that Vityaz will keep the pace for the whole season, it is certainly interesting to see what the underdogs can achieve.

Eastern Conference

Championship contenders

Avangard Omsk - Runners up last year, Avangard Omsk, coached by Bob Hartley, strengthened up their lineup signing former NHL prospects Sven Andrighetto and Nikita Scherbak – among others. After a strong season last year, it is expected that Artyom Manukyan (Vancouver) will make another jump forward in his progress, however he is still out with an undisclosed injury. 2019 fifth-round pick Arseni Gritsyuk (New Jersey) had a strong start in the MHL and it is expected that Hartley will call him up at least once this season.

Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg - The Ural franchise made some noise this summer signing former Stanley Cup champion Pavel Datsyuk and also managing to sign to a new four-year deal with their top prospect, Anatoli Golyshev (Islanders). However, Datsyuk only played a couple of games and Golyshev is yet to debut this season as both picked up injuries in the summer. Avtomobilist was excellent in the regular season last year but failed during the playoffs – this season they will certainly want to revert the trend.

Ak Bars Kazan - After a disappointing first-round exit last time around, Ak Bars tried to shake things up hiring former Boston Bruins forward Dmitri Kvartalnov as their new bench boss. The team also got fresher blood into its lineup and is now featuring Danila Zhuravlyov (Colorado), and Dmitri Voronkov (Columbus) – both already scored their first points in the KHL. As usual, Ak Bars have one of the best lineups in the league, and among its leaders we can find Canadian forward Justin Azevedo, in his sixth season with the team, one of the longest-serving foreign players in the KHL.

Top NHL prospects to watch

Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota) - One of the best players in the league, Kaprizov is currently the KHL top scorer and one of the hottest prospects around. An offensively gifted player, Kaprizov can find the crease from multiple positions and showcases great poise.

Ilya Sorokin (Islanders) - The netminder is young, but already a veteran in the KHL and is as usual posting monster-like stats backstopping a very competitive CSKA side. Just like Kaprizov, he is set to move to the NHL after the 19-20 season as his contract will expire.

Vasili Podkolzin (Vancouver) - The 2019 first-rounder isn’t looking out of place, even if he has yet to get on the scoresheet. So far, Podkolzin has only enjoyed limited time on ice, but it might change after the WJC, especially if he has a strong performance there. Podkolzin is finding it a bit hard to translate his game to pro hockey thus far, but it is most likely just a matter of time.

Alexander Romanov (Montreal) - Last year’s WJC top defenseman started the season on a positive note with CSKA with his usual calmness and reliability in the defensive zone. He is patrolling the blue line with great poise and is growing at a good pace.

Andrei Altybarmakyan (Chicago) - Changing teams was good for Altybarmakyan, who is now enjoying top line minutes with HK Sochi and is scoring at a good rate. A technically-sound player, the St. Petersburg native with Armenian roots is poised for a strong 19-20 season and perhaps a call to the national team.

Artur Kayumov (Chicago) - Lokomotiv had a rocky start of the season, failing to find the net with consistency, but Kayumov already netted two pucks and is certainly going to get more as the season goes on. The smooth-skating forward is making good strides forward, but is still at least at a couple of years before he can have a real chance in the KHL.

Grigori Denisenko (Florida) - Denisenko was expected to take on a prominent role with Lokomotiv, and while he had some time on ice, he hasn’t delivered so far. Now the team has changed its head coach and anything can happen – but a player with his talent should start to score as soon as possible.

Danila Zhuravlyov (Colorado) - The gifted defenseman is enjoying a good role in a stacked Ak Bars lineup and this is also a great sign of trust from his coaches. Zhuravlyov is delivering with good performance on the blue line and some interesting offensive runs, but he should be less shy and play and shoot the puck more regularly. That being said, he has all the time in the world.

Dmitri Voronkov (Columbus) - Zhuravlyov’s teammate is also enjoying a good time on ice and has earned his coaches’ trust and has already scored his first KHL goal as well as had his first fight this year. Not overly physical, but a player who isn’t shy of the physical play, he can play on either center or wing and can develop into a very solid option for the bottom-six lineup spots at the NHL level. His versatility and strong play of this season can earn him a trip to the 2020 WJC.

Kirill Slepets (Carolina) - The breakaway specialist has yet to play in the KHL this year as he played only in the VHL, the Russian’s second tier league, but is expected to have his debut soon. He has some of the best wheels in Russia and it will be exciting to check how he will fare with the pros.

Pavel Dorofeyev (Vegas) - A smooth skater with soft hands, Dorofeyev is one of the few positive things for Metallurg so far in the season as the team is now sitting in one of the bottom spots in the Eastern Conference standings. Dorofeyev is developing nicely and is expected to play a leading role at the upcoming WJC.

Daniil Misyul (New Jersey) - The physical defenseman is a great competitor and a player who plays bigger than his size. He needs to cut down penalties and become more involved in the offensive play – his production mostly lies on his cannon of a shot – but he has all the tools to develop into a capable NHL defenseman.

Honourable Mentions

Nikolai Kovalenko (Colorado), Pyotr Kochetkov (Carolina), Artyom Manukyan (Vancouver), Anatoli Golyshev (Islanders), Rushan Rafikov (Calgary), Danil Savunov (Arizona).

Top 2020 NHL draft prospects to watch

Yaroslav Askarov, SKA - The best goaltending prospect in Russia, at least since the times of Andrei Vasilevsky, Askarov is now playing pro hockey in the VHL and is expected to have his KHL debut soon. Will he start at the 2020 WJC?

Rodion Amirov, Salavat Yulaev - The forward has a great shot and an excellent nose for the net. A late-2001 born, he recently had his first KHL assist and certainly his first KHL goal is just a matter of time. First-round talent.

Alexander Nikishin, Spartak - A player with an NHL body and smooth hands, Nikishin is an offensive defenseman who likes to join the rush and play the puck. He is finding himself often on the ice for Spartak and this means that the late-2001 born is on the right path to become a reliable player in the future.

Shakhir Mukhamadullin, Salavat Yulaev - The defenseman is having steady ice time on a strong Salavat Yulaev lineup, and this is something that you meet rarely in the KHL. He needs to keep on working and gaining weight, but he has all the tools to become a first-round selection this year.

Alexander Pashin, Salavat Yulaev - A gifted scorer with a smallish frame, Pashin has yet to have his debut at the pro level. He started very well this season in the MHL, but he needs to gather more experience. After a strong performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, many scouts have his name on their draft list.

Marat Khusnutdinov, F, SKA
Pavel Tyutnev, F, Lokomotiv
Maxim Groshev, F, Neftekhimik
Ivan Didkovsky, F, Dynamo Moscow
Vsevolod Skotnikov, G, CSKA
Maxim Beryozkin, F, Lokomotiv
Dmitri Ovchinnikov, F, Sibir
Kirill Kirsanov, D, SKA
Ilya Rychkov, F, SKA
Maxim Motorygin, G, Dynamo Moscow

Older players

F Nikita Rtishchev

D Mikhail Gordeyev

D Danila Galenyuk

Top undrafted players who can make the jump next year

F Konstantin Okulov, CSKA

G Alexei Melnichuk, SKA

F Daniil Vovchenko, Severstal

2018 WJC in Review: Russia

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 12:36:37 +0000

After an underwhelming performance in the 2018 WJC, in which Russia was eliminated without much fanfare in the quarterfinals, there are rumblings in Russia that longtime U20 coach Valeri Bragin may finally be making way for a successor at the helm.

Although they outscored the opposition by two goals across five games, Russia only won two of those contests, a pair of 5-2 victories over Switzerland ad Belarus, respectively. The tournament began with a 5-4 loss to the Czech Republic, and the final score did not do justice to how they were actually outplayed for much of the game, as they scored twice in the last 2.5 minutes to make the result more respectable on a surface level.

Part of the problem with this year’s Russian team was team selection. Another part was team usage. Both items seemingly led to the mediocre performance and will play a role in Bragin’s likely future employment prospects.

SPISSKA NOVA VES, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 17: Russia's Andrei Svechnikov #14 skates with the puck during preliminary round action against Belarus at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Starting with roster selection, there are still murmurings regarding the decision to leave Alexei Lipanov, a third round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning last year and the regular linemate of Andrei Svechnikov with Barrie of the OHL, off of the final roster. As the offense did not provide a consistent attack outside of the two games against the relative top flight minnows, a strong playmaking center who already has significant chemistry with the most talented natural goalscorer of the Russian team would have played a big role in their ability to produce. Instead, Svechnikov, seen universally as a top five prospect in the upcoming NHL draft, failed to score, garnering five assists in five games without lighting the lamp himself. With a roster including 12 forwards but eight blue-liners, only one of whom provided much in the way of offensive impact, surely one of those could have been sacrificed for Lipanov.

An area that extends through both roster selection and player usage is found between the pipes. Between the three goalies on the roster, only Mikhail Berdin is widely regarded as having NHL potential. The Winnipeg draftee is excelling in the USHL and looked strong in last year’s WJAC and the pre-tournament Canada-Russia Super Series. He never saw the ice. There are numerous strong netminding prospects who have eligibility for Russia in this event. Columbus draft pick Daniil Tarasov has returned strong from a long injury layoff. Kirill Ustimenko, a Philadelphia pick, has been hard to beat in the Russian junior ranks. Ilya Konovalov has looked good in both the KHL and VHL. Instead, Bragin brought Alexei Melnichuk and Vladislav Sukhachyov to Buffalo.

Melnichuk was handed the reins, but lost them part way through the opener to the Czech Republic after surrendering four goals in 40 minutes. Not a good look, but he was victimized by great passing plays in his own zone by a few very talented Czech forwards. Sukhachyov took over and never looked back. He was adequate, but victimized repeatedly by lost concentration and a weakness for shots high and glove side. There is no reason to think that Sukhachyov was the best bet among the goalies available to Russia to help the U20 side medal.

But there are rampant rumors of protectionism. Reports have surfaced out of Russia that Sukhachyov’s father is a well-known bureaucrat. Bragin has been known to favor Russian-based players in the past at the expense of seemingly more talented players located in North America. Choosing a player as a sop to a politician of some renown would be a new level, but along the same scale.

Moving on, there were other reasons to be concerned at Bragin’s usage of the players at his disposal outside of the crease. Take the aforementioned Svechnikov. Not only is his talent level respected on all levels, but his production at the WJC was up to expectations. Even if he failed to score himself, reaching the point-per-game level as an underager at the WJC is rare and to be applauded. So why is it that Svechnikov’s name appears four times among the bottom eight forwards when looking at game—by-game ice times? He never played even 13 minutes in any game and was on the ice for fewer than 13 minutes in three contests.

Similarly underutilized were Georgi Ivanov and Alexei Polodyan, who tied for fourth in team scoring with four points each. Both players demonstrated promising puck skills and solid offensive instincts, but were generally confined to the bench for large parts of all games.

It is hard to argue with the ice time given to Vitali Abramov, a scoring sensation from the QMJHL, even though he was limited to a single goal (no assists) at the tournament. His experience and success on North American ice has afforded him a longer leash than most. But I cannot say the same about someone like Marsel Sholokhov or Artyom Manukyan, who both received far more ice time than Svechnikov, Ivanov or Polodyan.

Of course, the tournament was not all bad for Russia. There were some individual contributors who more than lived up to their advance billing and wore their national colors with honor. Chief among those was St. Louis first rounder Klim Kostin. One of the handful of WJC participants who is playing North American pro hockey (with San Antonio of the AHL), Kostin was sensational. Not only was he an offensive force, leading the team with eight points, but he was committed to the game at both ends, willing to sell out his body to make defensive stops. He was almost unstoppable at times, making both defenders and goalies look foolish. For a highlight of that ability, check out this goal he scored against Belarus (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6cefb5).
Dmitry Sokolov showed well in his first national team exposure in three years. Although a purely offense only player, the Minnesota Wild prospect led the team in shots with 18 and always seemed to be around the puck. Blackhawks pick Artur Kayumov also had a strong tournament, showing a high hockey IQ in all three zone and good production, tying with Svechnikov for second in team scoring.

As a unit, the blueline was disappointing, with only one defender showing up on the scoresheet more than once. While NHL draft picks Yegor Zaitsev and Dmitri Samorukokv were not able to showcase their games to their drafting teams, undrafted 19 year old Vladislav Syomin made a case for hearing his name called in his third year of eligibility this summer. He is 6-3” and over 200 pounds and makes sure that every inch and pound is put to good use, playing a heavy, hit-filled game. He had been starting to produce offensively in league play in Russia, both in the MHL and VHL and the former KHL first round pick should be prepared for NHL suitors in short order.

The other Russian to improve his draft stock was Polodyan. A smooth puckhandler was a frequent source of danger and plays with enough energy to be appreciated by his coaches.

Assuming that Bragin is out as the Russian U20 coach, it ill be interesting to see if the next head honcho is more willing to either play more skilled 18 year olds instead of relying very heavily on 19 year old and whether he is more open to taking North American based players who have less of a history with the national squad. Russia is ready for a new direction.

WJC 2018 – Team Preview – Russia

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 19:38:34 +0000

Despite rarely rating as a favorite before the tournament begins, Russia has medaled in each of the past seven WJCs, picking up one gold (2011), three silvers (2012, 2015, 2016) and three bronzes (2013, 2014, 2017). It should come as no surprise if 2018 sees the cycle repeated once more.

Russia, under head coach Valeri Bragin, has picked up a reputation of generally icing older squads. That reputation is somewhat earned and this year’s squad (albeit before final cuts have been made) has an average of 18.75 years of age, younger only than team Canada by around five weeks. On the other hand, the youngest squad, the Swiss, are only around five younger on average. Likely to be of more significance in Buffalo this year is that the Russians will likely be icing one of the tournament’s smaller lineups, ranking ninth in height and eighth in weight (again, before final cuts are made).

Even more pressing from Team Russia this year is that, for the first time since that Gold Medal winning 2011 squad, they are not led by a stud in net, after having enjoyed the services of Andrei Vasilevskiy, Ilya Sorokin, Igor Shestyorkin, and Ilya Samsonov in recent years.

For Russia to return to the podium for an eighth straight year, their chances seemingly hinge on outgunning the opposition. Their roster features a number of players justly feted for their offensive potential, including high profile NHL prospects such as Vitali Abramov (Clm), Andrei Altybarmakyan (Chi), Klim Kostin (StL), Dmitry Sokolov (Min), Mikhail Maltsev (NJ), and German Rubtsov (Phi), who may be joined by a very prominent player under consideration for the 2018 draft in goalscorer extraordinaire Andrei Svechnikov. Of the top five teams, they are both the most likely to finish in third, as well as the most likely to be bumped from the top five by an upstart.

Ten to Watch

Alexei Melnichuk, G

Coming up through the St. Petersburg organization as a youth, Melnichuk had never received any consideration for national play prior to this year. Now, in his last year of eligibility for the junior program, rumors in mid-December make Melnichuk the odds-on favorite to receive the lions-share of the starts in net for Team Russia at the 2018 WJCs. His recent rise to prominence is based on stellar league play over the last season and a half with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg in the VHL, Russia’s version of the AHL. His SV% last year was tops in the league for all under-20 netminders, and is currently second in that subset to Vladislav Sukhachyov, who is on the roster bubble. Melnichuk also held his own in two starts this year with the parent KHL club. Where he really raised his profile though was in the recent CIBC Canada-Russia series. He appeared in five game, putting up a 1.96 GAA and a .926 save percentage, exuding calmness. He lacks prototype size between the pipes, but positions himself well to make the save if he does not need go post-to-post. If the Russian starter is not Melnichuk, look for Sioux Falls (USHL) netminder Mikhail Berdin, a Winnipeg draftee to take over. He is currently third in the USHL in save percentage.

Yegor Zaitsev, D

One of the last picks in last year’s NHL draft, the Devils selected Russian blueliner Zaitsev 205^th overall in his second year of draft eligibility after he split his age 18 season mostly between Dynamo Moscow of the KHL and junior side Dynamo Balashikha. A steady, all-situations type, Zaitsev is thought by some as a leading candidate to wear the ‘C’ for Team Russia in Buffalo. He lacks typical NHL size, but plays a rugged game. He is better in his own zone than in the offensive end or carrying the puck. Although lacking in quickness, he moves around relatively well. Despite his lack of offensive production, he has spent time on the power play in domestic play in addition to penalty kill duties. His passing ability and hard shot suggest that there might be more offense in the tank here, but he has never demonstrated that element to his game at any level of play, at least as far back as the U17 level in his homeland. Expect more of a steady minute-muncher on this year’s Russia squad, who, if he ends up on a highlight reel, it will be for executing a big hit.

Dmitri Samorukov, D

Although he often struggled to leave much of an impression with a very young Guelph Storm in his draft eligible season, the tall and lanky Samorukov had a very strong finish to his season with Team Russia at the World U18 championship and represented good value for Edmonton when the Oilers popped him as a third round draft choice. With the Storm better from top to bottom this year, Samorukov, whose father was a high level soccer netminder in Russia in his day, is displaying much more of an offensive game in the OHL. His expected role with Team Russia should be the virtual opposite of how the team will use Zaitsev. Samorukov is very strong with the puck, and is a strong skater. Although not a big hitter, he has the frame to eventually be that player. For now, there are weaknesses to his game away from the puck, but if he can play in Buffalo like he did last year at the WU18s, the Valeri Bragin will take it. The former second overall CHL Import draft pick has a chance to cement his reputation as a big game player in this tournament.

Vitali Abramov, RW/LW

A player who should have been drafted well ahead of 65^th overall, where the Columbus Blue Jackets nabbed him after he lit up the QMJHL as a rookie in 2015-16, the undersized Abramov was overlooked again last year, as he was overlooked by Team Russia for the 2017 WJC, despite being well on his way to a league-leading offensive output of 104 points for a mediocre team in Gatineau. He was not far removed from making the Blue Jackets out of camp this year, before being sent back to the Q. He started the season strong again, but with Gatineau rebuilding, Abramov was recently shipped off to Victoriaville. He is a great skater who can beat many high-end defenders wide and is clear silk with the puck, able to pull rabbits out of his stick thanks to his dexterous hands and seldom-matched creativity. He will always be on the small side, but that has never yet held him back and he has plenty of experience killing penalties. There is little to suggest that he will be a liability in his own zone. He is the early favorite to be Russia’s primary option for creating offense. If he succeeds in Buffalo, Russia will be fine.

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I - NOVEMBER 14: CIBC Canada Russia Series game #5 between Team Russia and Team QMJHL on November 14, 2017, at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown, P.E.I.(Photo by Vincent Ethier/QMJHL Media)

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW

When the Blackhawks selected Altybarmakyan in the third round last summer, more than a few eyebrows were raised. A fantastic offensive producer in the Russian junior leagues, the undersized winger gained some international prominence during a very strong performance at this year’s Canada-Russia series. For one thing, he put to bed most concerns about his size, as he played a game much bigger than his 5-11”, 183 pound listing. He plays a power forward game with a wide stance that helps hi get into position to unleash a very quick wrist shot. He does not play a fancy game, but his hands are quick enough in tight areas. Back in Russia, he has struggled to impose his game at the KHL level (no points in 13 games for SKA St. Petersburg), but has shown the ability to play with adults, having already scored seven times in 20 games with SKA’s VHL farm team. Known as Barmen (his name is a mouthful even for native Russians), his aggressive style of game should serve him well on all sides of the puck. Expected to play a 200 foot game as part of a versatile middle six.

Klim Kostin

Klim Kostin, C/LW

A big player with a mature power game, Kostin has flown a little bit under the radar in the AHL as an 18 year old with San Antonio. On the other hand, as one of only three skaters under the age of 19 playing in the AHL, the fact that he is more than holding his own with the Rampage, with 11 points in his first 26 games, speaks volumes. The numbers look even better after realizing that only six of his teammates are currently outscoring him. He is a smooth skater who has a good shot, but prefers to set up his teammates. Kostin has fantastic vision and is capable of a string of pretty passes. He reads the opposition very well and his reactions show plus hockey IQ within. He seems fully recovered from the injuries that kept him off the ice for much of his draft year. As one of the younger players projected to make the Russian WJC roster, he may be given a bottom six role to start, even though he has one of the highest career upsides among his projected teammates. The tournament represents a great opportunity for the St. Louis to re-establish his place in the hockey prospect world.

Mikhail Maltsev, LW

Drafted by New Jersey in the fourth round in 2016, Maltsev has spent the last season and a half getting acclimated to the professional game, spending most of his time in the VHL with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg, growing more and more comfortable asserting himself on the offensive side of the rink. Always an aggressive player away from the puck, he uses his plus frame to good effect. Coupled with an active stick and good vision, he should be a primary call for coach Bragin for key defensive zone faceoffs. He is a strong skater for his size and demonstrates intriguing playmaking traits once he gets the puck moving in the right direction. Listed as a winger, he nonetheless has earned a reputation as a faceoff wizard and may play more often as a pivot for Russia. Although unlikely to threaten for the team lead in scoring, his ability and willingness to play in all situations bodes well for his chances to lead the team’s forwards in ice time, if nothing else. His North American style game should also work well in the smaller rinks in Buffalo, and once the tournament reaches the elimination matches, where Russia will likely get the chance to play one of Canada of the USA.

German Rubtsov, C

At least until Svechnikov is drafted next June, Rubtsov holds the distinction as the highest drafted player on the Russian squad at this year’s WJC, having been selected 22^nd overall by Philadelphia in 2016. He got into five games at last year’s tournament, but failed to register a single point before suffering a scary looking facial fracture that limited him to 16 games over the rest of the season. In fact, Rubtsov used the tournament last year to springboard his career from the Russian leagues over to North America, staying in Quebec to play for Chicoutimi. Early this season, the Sagueneens dealt the rangy center to Acadie-Bathurst and he has been a point-per-game player for both squads. A dynamic skater and puck handler, he seems to be lacking only some consistency (perhaps a side effect of being moved from team to team with some frequency) to see his game truly take off. The type of player who always seems to have the puck on his stick, he is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. While he has a good pro-looking frame, he does not play a physical game. Likely to play a top six, offense-first role for Team Russia in Buffalo.

Dmitry Sokolov, RW/C

One of the best pure goalscorers in the OHL since his debut with the Sudbury Wolves in the 2016-17 season, Sokolov’s being named to the 2018 Russian WJC squad offers some late redemption for a player whose commitment to defense has long been derided. In fact, Sokolov was kept out of the national picture since contributing one point per game for Russia in the WU18 in 2015 as an underager. 78 goals in two OHL seasons was not enough to overcome the persistent questions about his fitness level and his commitment to the game away from the puck. In general the only questions about his defensive game in the past have been whether he was merely disinterested in his own zone, or acutely incapable. As for his fitness level, any player measuring below six feet but tipping the scales at upwards of 220 pounds will always face sceptics. Finally, though, with continued production at the OHL level, including a nine points in six games production for the Wolves in last season’s playoffs, as well as two points in the two games of the OHL portion of the Canada-Russia series, and Sokolov will get to audition for an ELC on the biggest amateur stage there is.

SPISSKA NOVA VES, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 13: Russia's Andrei Svechnikov #14 celebrates at the bench with teammates after a third period goal against Sweden during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Andrei Svechnikov, RW

Although Team Russia does not often play draft eligible players at the WJC, Svechnikov would not be the first, as Ivan Provorov also played a pivotal role in a Silver Medal winning side in 2015. Svechnikov, whose older brother Yevgeni was a first round pick of Detroit in 2015, is both a better prospect than his sibling, and likely Provorov as well – we project him to go second in the 2018 draft. He is a pure goal scorer. Although he has missed a big chunk of the first half to a hand injury, a recent hat trick in league play should not allow us to presume that there is any rust in his game. Averaging a Colts’-high four shots on net per game, scoring at nearly a goal per game pace, he has mostly been lined up with Team Russia hopeful Alexei Lipanov. Valeri Bragin would do well to keep the prolific duo together for this tournament. Last year, as one of the youngest players in the USHL, with Muskegon, Svechnikov finished sixth in league scoring, with 29 goals and 58 points in 48 games – the second best U17 scorer in the league finished with 27 points. This here is a superstar in the making.

Sleeper

Mikhail Berdin, G

Currently sitting in third place in save percentage among USHL netminders, Berdin was just as good last year and more than held his own whenever he has been called upon to represent Russia on the international stage. One of the few North American based goalies outside of the American or Canadian rosters at this WJC, there is speculation among Russian reporters whether he will be named the starter ahead of the above-profiled Melnichuk. Tall and lanky and with very impressive athleticism, the Winnipeg Jets prospect has great recovery ability and got to show off earlier this season in a very different manner when he scored an empty net goal. He has not yet committed to any level of play beyond this season, so he may be playing for a professional contract at this tournament.

Alexei Melnichuk – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: San Jose Sharks Top 20 Prospects

Ryan Merkley, D (21st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Ozzy Weisblatt, RW (31st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Thomas Bordeleau, C (38th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 3)

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. Previous ranking: 5)

John Leonard, LW (182nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Tristen Robins, C (56th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Brandon Coe, RW (98th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Danil Gushchin, LW (76th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Artemi Knyazev, D (48th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55th overall, 20191. Previous ranking: 8)

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Alexei Melnichuk, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 4, 2020. Previous ranking: 10)

Jacob McGrew, RW (159th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Brinson Pasichnuk, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 31, 2020. Previous ranking: 12)

Santeri Hatakka, D (184th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

Lean Bergmann, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – SAN JOSE SHARKS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 25

San Jose Sharks

Ryan Merkley, D (21st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. 2019 Rank: 8)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

Alexander True, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Jul. 18, 2018. 2019 Rank: 20)

John Leonard, LW (182nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Artemi Knyazev, D (48th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 12)

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55th overall, 20191. 2019 Rank: 13)

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Alexei Melnichuk, G (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 4, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Jacob McGrew, RW (159th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Brinson Pasichnuk, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 31, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

Santeri Hatakka, D (184th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)

Lean Bergmann, LW/RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Russia 2019-20 Season Preview: Top Prospects to Watch

Western Conference

Championship contenders

Eastern Conference

Championship contenders

Top NHL prospects to watch

Honourable Mentions

Top 2020 NHL draft prospects to watch

Older players

Top undrafted players who can make the jump next year

2018 WJC in Review: Russia

WJC 2018 – Team Preview – Russia

Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 1)

Ozzy Weisblatt, RW (31^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Thomas Bordeleau, C (38^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. Previous ranking: 3)

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 4)

John Leonard, LW (182^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Tristen Robins, C (56^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Brandon Coe, RW (98^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Danil Gushchin, LW (76^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 20191. Previous ranking: 8)

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Jacob McGrew, RW (159^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

Santeri Hatakka, D (184^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 14)

Ryan Merkley, D (21^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Yegor Spiridonov, C/LW (108^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Jonathan Dahlen, LW/C (42^nd overall, 2016 [Ottawa]. 2019 Rank: 8)

Sasha Chmelevski, C (185^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 2)

John Leonard, LW (182^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Artemi Knyazev, D (48^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 12)

Dillon Hamaliuk, LW (55^th overall, 20191. 2019 Rank: 13)

Joachim Blichfeld, RW (210^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Jacob McGrew, RW (159^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Santeri Hatakka, D (184^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Scott Reedy, C/RW (102^nd overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 13)