Alexei Toropchenko – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – ST LOUIS BLUES – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 14:35:05 +0000

REVIEW: A year after posting a dominant 49-22-11 record, St. Louis dipped to 37-38-7 in 2022-23, bringing its run of four straight playoff berths to an end. Although the Blues still had a solid offensive core with Jordan Kyrou, Pavel Buchnevich, Brayden Schenn and Robert Thomas each recording at least 65 points, St. Louis went from finishing third in goals per game in 2021-22 (3.77) to 17th last season (3.17) due to a lack of depth. Seattle had an amazing nine players with at least 20 goals in 2021-22 but just three last year (Thomas finished with 18) due primarily to a swath of forwards regressing. On top of that, they didn’t have Ville Husso anymore after he played a key role in pushing them to the playoffs in 2021-22 with his 25-7-6 record, 2.56 GAA and .919 save percentage in that campaign. With Husso gone, St. Louis deployed Jordan Binnington in 61 games, but he wasn’t up for the task, posting a 3.31 GAA and an .894 save percentage. Backup Thomas Greiss was just as bad, finishing with a 3.58 GAA and an .896 save percentage. With the season lost, St. Louis was a major seller at the deadline, moving Ivan Barbashev, Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko in a series of trades that arguably marked the end of an era.

What’s Changed? Greiss retired, opening the door for Joel Hofer to slide into the backup role. The Blues also leveraged some of their freed cap space to acquire Kevin Hayes from Philadelphia for just a sixth-round pick and even got the Flyers to retain half his $7,142,857 annual cap hit for the next three seasons. Hayes proved to be a poor signing for Philadelphia, but he might give the Blues back some of their lost offensive depth. Outside of that, St. Louis didn’t make significant additions as it instead starts to shift its focus towards the future.

What would success look like? Although the Blues have seen plenty of turnover since their 2019 Stanley Cup championship, this team isn’t without bounce back potential. The offensive core of Thomas, Brandon Saad, Buchnevich, Jordan Kyrou, Hayes, Schenn and Jakub Vrana is loaded with question marks, but when they’re all clicking at the same time, they make for a dangerous combination.

What could go wrong? Even that wouldn’t solve the goaltending issue though. Binnington was a huge part of the Blues’ 2019 championship, but since then his career has been on a consistent downward slope. At the age of 30, a rebound isn’t impossible, but after setting a new career low in save percentage for the fourth straight year (excluding his one-game stint in 2015-16), it seems improbable.

Top Breakout Candidate: Maybe Hofer will be the solution in St. Louis instead of Binnington? The 23-year-old goaltender did post an encouraging 2.50 GAA and .921 save percentage in 47 AHL contests last season. Granted, Hofer also had a 3.22 GAA and .905 save percentage in six starts with St. Louis in 2022-23, but that’s a small sample size and even then, it was an improvement over Binnington. Given the veteran goaltender’s struggles, Hofer has an opportunity here that he might take advantage of.

Forwards

Jordan Kyrou

Even though he scored a career high in goals, the Blues coaching staff and front office had a lot of criticism for Kyrou’s play this year. In some ways it was more of the same, he is still one of the most lethal players in the league off the rush and he is very tough to stop when he reaches his second gear. He doesn’t need to get a lot of power on his shot to score and offense comes easy for him. The Blues were more concerned with his habits after plays were broken up or when he didn’t have the puck. Perhaps his -38 set off some red flags with the coaching staff. It’s something that isn’t entirely in his control, but his tendency to push for offense and carry the puck through traffic can lead to some headaches for the coaching staff. Firewagon hockey moments are going to happen with talented players, but a majority of Kyrou’s offense came in transition last year. Some players can get by with this, it just becomes tougher when your team loses a couple of Jenga pieces like the Blues did with Perron and eventually O’Reilly at the trade deadline. The Blues might have expected more out of Kyrou, but they can certainly do worse than him if he is just a scoring winger.

Pavel Buchnevich

A mid-round sleeper in fantasy hockey almost every year, Buchnevich picked up where he left off with the Blues last year. He was the one player on the team that is hard to critique because he excelled in just about every area last year. Buchnevich was their only top player who could score without living and dying off rush chances and provided a much needed forechecking element to their top lines. He doesn’t have a huge frame, but he reads exits well and he can get a lot of torque on his shot without much time or space. It’s surprising how accurate he is because he uses a sweeping motion to shoot the puck and creates a launching pad type of effect instead of settling it down or dusting it off. Catches goaltenders off-guard and he was even better as a passer, ranking second behind Thomas in scoring chance setups. He doesn’t need to be the primary puck carrier or distributor to be effective and masters the details of the game when it comes to scoring. The only thing you can criticize him for, is that he could have shot the puck more and injuries limited him to only 63 games. St. Louis’ best all-around player entering this season.

Robert Thomas

Thomas proved that his 2022 season wasn’t a fluke at the very least, remaining one of the league’s premier playmakers. He is someone who can excel in both phases of the game, having the speed to keep up with St. Louis’ powerful rush offense and capable of slowing the game down when the Blues start cycling. He is at his best when he can pull up in the offensive zone and wait for a lane to open up along the wall, almost like he is setting up a power play at five-on-five. That part of his game didn’t change much, it's just hard to make these plays at the same rate as he did the previous season, which is why he went from sixth in the league in 5-on-5 primary assists to 33^rd. Still in the upper echelon of the league, there shouldn’t be any concerns about Thomas’ ability as a playmaker. He is also a very selective shooter, firing the puck at an incredibly low rate and makes up for it by being a strong finisher. Also made progress with helping out the defense on zone exits instead of cherry-picking for entries. Likely the Blues centerpiece going forward and has big shoes to fill with O’Reilly now in Nashville.

Brayden Schenn

You can usually count on Brayden Schenn to hit the 20-goal mark in a full season, and it doesn’t matter how good or bad the rest of his stats are. His deceptive release is always going to make him a viable option on the power play, as he can beat goaltenders on some awkward looking shots, and he is very good at not telegraphing where the puck is going. Even strength play is a different story. Schenn is a deliberate player with the puck, so it can be tougher for his skill to translate here. Most of his goals come off breakaways or a passing play that somebody else started. He was a tough stylistic fit at times because he is a slower player on a team with a lot of speed on the wings and had to play all over the lineup last year. Still showed some decent chemistry with Kyrou at times, creating some quick-strike offense with breaking up plays high in the zone and catching defenses off guard. Also coming off one of his strongest seasons as a playmaker and was third on the Blues in scoring chance setups at 5-on-5. The main concerns with Schenn are his defensive play and the five years left on his contract going forward.

Kevin Hayes

Even with Hayes having a rebound season where he was injury free, it was all but a certainty that he was getting traded. He was healthy scratched in December despite leading the team in points and moved from center to wing in favor of rookie Noah Cates. Despite any progress he was making, it was clear that he wasn’t going to be a long-term fit in Philadelphia, this is even before mentioning his contract which carries a cap hit over $7 million AAV for the next three years. Thus, he was sent to St. Louis with the Flyers retaining half of his cap hit. Few players had a tougher time both on and off the ice than Kevin Hayes over the past couple of years, so it was encouraging to see show signs of the player he was in his prime. The fit with St. Louis is intriguing, because they’re at their best off the rush and Hayes is the type of center who loves to regroup in the neutral zone and attack from there. The Blues have some good speed on the wings to complement him, so it’s really just a matter of whether he can hold his own defensively, which is where some of the friction with the Flyers coaching staff started. The Blues have him for three more years, but at under $4 million AAV he is a nice placeholder to have.

Jakub Vrana

The story around Jakub Vrana is that he could easily be the biggest steal in the league if he gets the playing time. The “if’ part just never happens. Since 2020, only Auston Matthews has scored more goals per 60 minutes, which sounds impressive except that Matthews has played almost 100 more games during that time. Playing only two games with Detroit last year before entering the Player’s Assistance Program, Vrana eventually passed through waivers and spent two stints in the AHL before St. Louis decided to take a chance on him with the only risk being his $5.25 million AAV cap hit. His short stint with the Blues was business as usual for him, he scored 10 goals while playing a third line role and showed flashes of being the game-breaker he was at times in Washington and Detroit. His speed and shot are something a lot of teams dream they could have, so this is a potential coup for St. Louis if they can get regular playing time out of him. Of course, this is exactly what the Red Wings were saying a year ago.

Kasperi Kapanen

Claimed off waivers by St. Louis after three frustrating years in Pittsburgh, the winger made a good first impression in first few games with the Blues, scoring twice in his first three games and tallying 14 points in only 23 games to end the year. Possessing blazing fast speed, a decent shot and puck skills, it’s easy to see why the Blues wanted to take a gamble on him even with one year left on his contract. The Blues seem to be putting a focus on team speed and Kapanen is a guy who can certainly help that. It didn’t work in Pittsburgh, as he ended up being a one-dimensional player who fought to get the puck out of his own zone more than he created off the rush. He could break the game open at times but was usually a drag on any line he was on, and he gave back most of the offense he created. This is something you live with if a player is finishing his chances, but with only seven goals in 43 games, Pittsburgh opted to move on. His shooting slump immediately turned around in St. Louis, so he at least enters next season on a positive note and a fresh start.

Brandon Saad

Now one of the oldest forwards on the team, Saad is in an interesting situation going forward. He is one of the only wingers in the top-nine who brings some level of defensive play, which balances out some of the one-way players the Blues brought in like Kapanen and Vrana. He’s also signed for three more years on a non-cheap contract and is coming off one of the lowest-scoring seasons of his career. Most of that is due to him having only four points on the power play despite getting consistent minutes on the second unit. Saad was a consistent driver of offense and scoring chances for years and this part of his game started to hit a decline last year. The saving grace is he can still finish at a decent rate and the Blues were a positive territorial team with him on the ice. Some of that is a by-product of being attached at the hip to Ryan O’Reilly for most of his minutes, but Saad is a smart player who still has decent wheels to help drive the play north. Saad’s skillset always paired best with a strong, play-driving center (ROR, Kadri, Toews), so he could be thrusted into a different role this year with the Blues having a void there.

Sammy Blais

Sammy Blais’ career with the Rangers might as well be a write-off. His first season was cut short with a knee injury and did not play much beyond the fourth line this past year. He did not score a goal with the Blueshirts over 54 total games. Returning to St. Louis as part of the Tarasenko deal rejuvenated his career. He was playing more and got back to being the skilled agitator that he was during the team’s Cup run. He actually set a career high in goals and points in his 31 games with the Blues, which probably tells you more about how happy he was to be back on a team where he’s comfortable. He might not get the same minutes or linemates he did in the second half of last year as the Blues brought in some reinforcements around the trade deadline, but he is the type of player who can move up and down the lineup if he needs to. The hot streak he had to end the year probably helps his case. That said, Blais has yet to play a full NHL season because he plays like a bowling ball and will miss a lot of games with prolonged wear and tear.

Jake Neighbours

There were reasons to be optimistic about Jake Neighbours’ going into his rookie year. The Blues liked him enough to keep him around for a full nine-game audition the previous season & he fits the mold to be a good complementary piece on almost any line. He has great hands and can play the intense, forechecking game most coaches want from their energy line players. Things didn’t go as well as they hoped. Neighbours scored only 10 points, seven of which came during the month of January and struggled to find his niche at the NHL level. Injuries and demotions soon derailed his season. The NHL game doesn’t come easy to everyone and Neighbours is a good example of that. He was never projected to have a high offensive ceiling, but he never got a chance to show what he could do either, as his offense was limited to breakaways and turnovers. He showed some ability to play the checking game, but never really established himself as an impact player. He and the Blues are hoping next year goes better.

Defense

Justin Faulk

The nice thing about a defenseman like Justin Faulk is he can play whatever role you put him in at an adequate level. He wore a lot of hats in his early days with Carolina and has done the same with the Blues. Focusing on offense and helping the Blues transition game the last, Faulk has set career highs in points. His great wrister helps with that, as it’s common to see him score double-digit goals like he did last year. He has also been playing big minutes in the NHL since he was 19 years old and has gotten better with not making careless plays out of his own zone. Probably gets lost in the shuffle as one of the NHL’s better puck-moving defensemen. Can play the shutdown role and kill penalties but doesn’t defend entries well. He carries a lot of weight around and has a short reach, so he tends to get burned when going for the big hit or when he needs to turn. It’s something the Blues have worked around before, but it’s tougher to hide when the majority of their games are played off the rush. The Blues score a lot of goals when Faulk is on the ice, but they give up a lot as well.

Torey Krug

Nobody is ever going to confuse Torey Krug with a shutdown defenseman, but you can at least bank on his teams to score more goals than they give up. Last year was only the second time in his career where that didn’t happen, as the Blues owned only 45% of the 5-on-5 goals when Krug was on the ice. Every defenseman has a year like this and it’s a little more concerning when it happens after they turn 30, as that is the time most hit a wall. With Krug, it’s a little complicated. He was still a great puck-mover and the Blues best defenseman at producing scoring chances. The main thing that changed for him was he struggled mightily to retrieve pucks and handle forecheck pressure. This could just be age and injuries piling up, but Krug is usually a reliable player here and could not get to loose pucks with the same level of efficiency last year. Some players can work around this, but it is tough to adapt when this part of the game has been so easy for Krug his entire career. He also missed almost 20 games with injuries and saw a reduction in ice-time to the 18–19-minute range, his lowest since his early days in Boston.

Colton Parayko

Now two years removed from back surgery, the Blues don’t have any concerns about the durability of their cornerstone defenseman. The version of Parayko they’ll get for the next seven years, however, is something they might be worried about. In some cases, you can deal with a low-event defenseman who plays the minutes Parayko does, especially on a team as chaotic as last year’s Blues. It becomes more of a problem when that guy makes $6.5 million AAV until the year 2030. Parayko’s size and puck-handling will always make him a useful player. He just isn’t the same guy who could rush the puck out of the zone and be a threat to break the game open anymore. It’s an interesting development because the tougher parts of his game are the one thing that has held up post-surgery, while his offense and the more dynamic aspects have suffered. That and the Blues lacked a real shutdown guy all of last year and Parayko is the one guy who can fill that role by default. Things could be worse. The defensive strengths are still there, and the offense is at times, but the Blues are lacking a dominant top defenseman if this is the new normal for Parayko.

Nick Leddy

Looking at his profile, it might surprise some folks that Leddy has never been a great play-driver or someone who creates a lot of offense in volume. An effortless skater, Leddy is usually one of the top defensemen in the league at leading zone entries, translating this to tangible results has been a problem for most of his career. Part of it is because he isn’t the best at starting exits and needs a partner who can dig the puck out so he can skate it out of the zone after the first forechecker. He was able to put this to use with the Blues last year, as St. Louis scored at a decent clip with him on the ice. His skills as a passer definitely help a little. You might not create many chances with him on the ice, but the ones you get will be good. His issues as a defender, however, can be tougher to work around. He will often give forwards the blue line when they enter the zone and plays more of a shot-blocking role and someone who absorbs damage rather than kills plays. Leddy’s always been an interesting player to watch for this reason. Some defensemen can be best described as “minute eaters” and it’s a fitting description for the long-time Islander.

Goaltending

Jordan Binnington

There might not be another goaltender in the NHL that has the same track record of inconsistency that Jordan Binnington does. While his St. Louis predecessor Jake Allen has struggled throughout his career with up-and-down weeks during each season, Binnington’s rises and falls seem to follow entire seasons as he goes; he’s either an unstoppable force or an easy-to-goad replacement-level netminder with a hot head and a trigger-esque temper that throws his game into a tailspin. That makes it hard to tell just what St. Louis is gambling on this year; he’ll either be the underdog capable of playing to prove his doubters wrong, or he’ll be the former Stanley Cup Champion who insisted he had an unflappable personality but was all too easy to coax into costly mistakes after just a bad goal or two.

From a technical standpoint, Binnington has the ability to play a game that preaches crisp edgework and an almost bored-looking depth management style designed to rattle his opponents and prevent him from overcommitting to bad shots. But over the last two seasons, he’s also shown a side to his game that exaggerates his technique and pushes him out of position, allowing baffling goals that seem to rattle him more than they should. His game doesn’t rely on a smooth rhythm nearly as much as Allen’s does, so it’s a different problem in St. Louis right now – but as yet another year approaches, it’s hard not to wonder just why the Central Division club’s starters seem to be so easy to throw off their games.

Projected starts: 60-65

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Difference makers in the final week of the season

Scott Cullen — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 19:01:41 +0000

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, players that might make a difference in the final week of the season, including Alex Lyon, David Perron, and Thomas Novak, plus some keeper league options to consider.

#1 In a season with some unexpected goaltending performances, Florida getting clutch performances out of 30-year-old Alex Lyon is one of the bigger surprises. With the Panthers pushing for a playoff spot, and Sergei Bobrovsky injured, the job has fallen to Lyon. He stopped 56 of 58 shots in Thursday’s 7-2 win over Ottawa, marking his fifth straight win, and he has a .961 save percentage in those five starts.

#2 Veteran winger David Perron is finishing strong for a Red Wings squad that has generally been fading down the stretch. Perron has put up 16 points (8 G, 8 A) with 36 shots on goal in his past 16 games. He is making the most of his opportunity on Detroit’s top line with Dylan Larkin and Dominik Kubalik. That trio has been excellent, capturing 59.2% of expected goals and 68.1% of goals during five-on-five play.

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 19: Nashville Predators center Thomas Novak (82) is shown during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers, held on December 19, 2022, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire)

#3 Nashville’s improbable push for a playoff spot has been due in no small part to the emergence of young players who have been thrust into bigger roles. Center Thomas Novak is still widely available in fantasy leagues, despite scoring 30 points (13 G, 17 A) in his past 26 games. The 25-year-old had seven points (1 G, 6 A) in 27 games as a rookie last season, and started this season in the American Hockey League, so maybe it should not be surprising that he is so readily available, but his production deserves respect.

#4 On a lesser scale, Predators center Cody Glass has at least established his credentials as an NHL player and has contributed six points (4 G, 2 A) and 17 shots on goal in his past seven games. He has been averaging more than 17 minutes of ice time per game since the trade deadline, and the Preds remain in the playoff hunt into the final week of the regular season.

#5 Although he was held off the scoresheet in Thursday’s 4-1 win against Minnesota, Penguins right winger Bryan Rust has finished strong in what has otherwise been a relatively disappointing season. The industrious winger has eight points (5 G, 3 A) and 30 shots on goal in his past nine games, giving him 20 goals for the fourth consecutive season. Rust has scored on just 9.6% of his shots this season, his lowest mark since 2015-2016.

#6 After erupting for a career-high 35 goals last season, Calgary Flames winger Andrew Mangiapane has 17 goals and 40 points heading into the final week of the regular season. However, he has been finding the scoresheet more frequently, putting up eight points (4 G, 4 A) in his past 11 games, as he continues to thrive on a line with Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman. That trio has controlled 66.8% of expected goals and 72.9% of goals during five-on-five play. If the Flames somehow manage to reach the postseason, a lot of credit will be due to that line.

#7 Last week, I hit on several St. Louis Blues players that are providing good value late in the season. Add one more this week: Alexei Toropchenko. The 23-year-old scored a goal in Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Rangers, giving him six points (4 G, 2 A) and 15 shots on goal while playing nearly 14 minutes per game in his past six games.

#8 Consistency is sometimes elusive for the Rangers’ Kid Line, but Alexis Lafreniere has delivered seven points (2 G, 5 A) in his past seven games. He has scored 35 of his 39 points at even strength, the same as Matt Boldy, Alex DeBrincat, and Brad Marchand, among others.

#9 The top five defensemen when it comes to goals this season are largely who one might expect to finish in that top tier – Erik Karlsson, Dougie Hamilton, Roman Josi, and Cale Makar hold down four of the top five spots. Tied with Josi, and one goal ahead of Makar, is Carolina Hurricanes blueliner Brady Skjei who has nine points (6 G, 3 A) with 38 shots on goal in his past 13 games.

#10 Frequently a reluctant shooter, Blue Jackets center Jack Roslovic has put up eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 15 shots on goal in his past seven games. He has 44 points (11 G, 33 A) on the season, one off the career-high 45 points that he produced last season. Roslovic is having some late season success with rookie Kent Johnson on his wing.

#11 The Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Avalanche are the only two teams that still have five games remaining on their respective regular-season schedules. For fantasy squads that need every possible edge, finding a few extra games can make a difference. A couple of Sabres worth considering:

Owen Power – Buffalo’s rookie defenseman has six assists in his past five games. There is a ceiling on his offensive upside as long as Rasmus Dahlin is quarterbacking the top power play unit, but five games from Power could offer more potential than three games from other defenders.

Casey Mittelstadt – With Tage Thompson working his way back from injury, the Sabres have kept Mittelstadt with Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch. Mittelstadt could stand to shoot more but has delivered nine assists in his past five games.

#12 And a couple of Avs that could offer a late season lift:

Samuel Girard – Although Devon Toews and Bowen Byram are even better options, especially when Cale Makar is missing games, Girard has four points (1 G, 3 A) in his past five games, giving him a career-high 35 points but he also has a career-high 111 blocked shots and his 64 hits is one away from his career best, set last season.

Evan Rodrigues – With Gabriel Landeskog and Artturi Lehkonen out, Rodrigues has the opportunity to skate on Colorado’s top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen – a good place to ride their coattails to more points. When Rodrigues gets more ice time, the points have followed. He has 26 points (10 G, 16 A) in the 39 games in which he has played more than 17 minutes.

#13 The Top 10 scorers since the March 3 trade deadline, among players that were traded before the deadline:

Sammy Blais, St. Louis – 16 points (6 G, 10 A) in 18 GP

Marcus Johansson, Minnesota – 14 points (4 G, 10 A) in 16 GP

Timo Meier, New Jersey – 13 points (9 G, 4 A) in 18 GP

Rasmus Sandin, Washington – 13 points (1 G, 12 A) in 15 GP

Jakub Vrana, St. Louis – 12 points (9 G, 3 A) in 17 GP

Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis – 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in 17 GP

Tyson Barrie, Nashville – 11 points (3 G, 8 A) in 19 GP

Patrick Kane, N.Y. Rangers – 10 points (5 G, 5 A) in 15 GP

Mattias Ekholm, Edmonton – 10 points (3 G, 7 A) in 17 GP

Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg – 10 points (6 G, 4 A) in 17 GP

While players like Meier, Tarasenko, and Kane would have been rostered in most leagues, there was significant value to be found via unexpected sources. Blais is the most obvious, but Johansson, Sandin, and Vrana have seen a significant upgrade in their respective value since the deadline. Kane might have been the biggest name to move, but his production has been mediocre and he is nursing an injury, with an eye towards getting healthy for the postseason.

#14 If you’re looking for some keepers for next season, consider Nick Schmaltz and Barrett Hayton of the Arizona Coyotes. Schmaltz has 33 points (14 G, 19 A) in his past 30 games and while he is not going to keep scoring on more than 22% of his shots, as he has during that hot stretch, he has a good thing going with Clayton Keller. Hayton has had similar success, putting up 28 points (13 G, 15 A) in his past 32 games and he has been generating more shots on goal, so he has not been as dependent on an inflated shooting percentage. The Coyotes should have some new faces up front next season, but Schmaltz and Hayton have shown in the second half of this season that they can be reliable offensive contributors.

#15 He has missed time following sports hernia surgery and has bizarrely seen his ice time cut this season but hold on to Winnipeg Jets right winger Nikolaj Ehlers. He has 36 points (12 G, 24 A) in 42 games but has played just 15:49 per game, a significant drop from the career-high 18:04 per game that he played last season. There could be changes in Winnipeg in the offseason, but Ehlers should be considered part of the solution there, with a bigger role than he has had in 2022-2023.

#16 A deeper cut for potential keepers for next season is Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The 22-year-old pivot has scored 14 points (5 G, 9 A) in his past 18 games, lifting him to a modest career high of 39 points. This late surge does show some promise and Kotkaniemi should still be on his career ascent, even though he is wrapping up his fifth NHL season.

#17 While most fantasy managers would already be inclined to keep Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart, he is probably even more valuable than expected. Not only does Reinhart have 64 points (30 G, 34 A) in 79 games, but he has done this with a five-on-five on-ice shooting percentage of 6.5%, which is very low for a scoring forward. That is the first time since 2017-2018 that it has been under 8.0%, so he is likely due to pick up more assists next season.

#18 On the surface, Ottawa Senators winger Alex DeBrincat has had a disappointing season, going from 41 goals in 2021-2022 to 26 goals this season. That does not mean that the 25-year-old sniper is not worth keeping for next season. His shooting percentage dropped to 10.1% this season, the second lowest mark of his career, but he generated 3.27 shots on goal per game this season, compared to 3.29 per game last season. A simple boost in shooting percentage could be enough for DeBrincat to get back to pushing for 40 goals. There is, admittedly, some uncertainty in where DeBrincat could play next season, as he is a restricted free agent due a high qualifying offer, but he is a good bet to be more productive in the 2023-2024 season.

#19 Known more for his defensive acumen, Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek has still produced a career high 61 points (23 G, 38 A). The fascinating part is that Eriksson Ek is one of four players to have at least 10 fewer goals than their expected goals total on Natural Stat Trick. He has scored 23 goals with 34.45 expected goals, so it is reasonable to believe that there is even more offensive production possible. The other forwards to have missed their expected goals total by more than 10 are Carolina’s Stefan Noesen along with Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson.

#20 Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid has run away with the scoring race, currently leading teammate Leon Draisaitl by 25 points. The last time a player won the scoring race by that wide a margin was in 1990-1991, when Wayne Gretzky had 32 more points than Brett Hull. McDavid has done this with massive power play production (69 of 148 points with the man advantage), so he has not even needed a lofty on-ice shooting percentage during five-on-five play. His on-ice shooting percentage of 9.4% is higher than last season but is still the second lowest mark of his career. This is all to say that even if the Oilers power play is not quite as dominant next season that McDavid still has some statistical wiggle room in his quest for another huge scoring season.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – ST. LOUIS BLUES – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Chapin Landvogt, Ethan Hetu, Dylan Krill, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 20:44:46 +0000

ST. LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 22: St. Louis Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich (48) during a NHL game between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the St. Louis Blues on November 22, 2021, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire),

1 -Scott Perunovich D

Last year was actually Perunovich’s rookie pro season. The former Hobey Baker winner injured his shoulder after turning pro and missed the entire 2020-21 season. Splitting time between St. Louis and Springfield, he was an immediate stand out. In the AHL, he was one of the league’s best defenders, even as a rookie. With the Blues, even in a limited role, he was impressive. That is why the Blues activated Perunovich from the IR in the middle of the playoffs and put him in the lineup and on the powerplay. Of course, the Blues had to activate him off the injured list in the first place because he missed an extended period of time after wrist surgery. Is he proving to be injury prone as an NHL player? Too early to say, but the undersized defender does need to stay healthy this year to prove that he is durable enough to be a longtime NHL player. What is clear is that Perunovich is talented enough to be a top four, puck moving defender. He skates well. He is highly intelligent. He is competitive. He has the potential to be one of the NHL’s elite powerplay quarterbacks. The only question mark is durability. Looking at St. Louis’ blueline currently, one might wonder how Perunovich can earn playing time. Their depth is strong. Yet, you could also argue that they need to find a way to get him in there every game because he has the talent to be a difference maker. - BO

2 - Zachary Bolduc C

55 goals. That’s how many goals Zachary Bolduc scored for the Quebec Remparts last season, and it is entirely possible that he breaks the 60-mark next season. Bolduc plays a very projectable game as a top 6 player: He’s relentless in transition, can score from anywhere on the ice and dangle with ease through opponents. This playstyle is what made the St. Louis Blues draft him 17^th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. Playing in his DY-1 season with the Oceanic Rimouski alongside Alexis Lafrenière made a lot of people question if he was really all that great or if he was just a product of the superstar. In his draft +1 year, he proved all the doubters wrong and was a crucial piece for the Rimouski Oceanic. Returning to the QMJHL this season, there is still lots of room for him to improve. He can stand to get quicker. He can continue to improve his off puck play and consistency playing through traffic. He can continue to improve on his decision making with the puck. Thus far, his progression has gone extremely well, and he does appear to be tracking towards being a future top six contributor for the Blues. - EB

3 - Jake Neighbours LW

The Blues were so impressed by Neighbours and his ability to excel in a support role that they gave him a nine-game audition to start the 2021/22 season. While they did ultimately return him to Edmonton, it speaks volumes as to their love for him as a player. The return to Edmonton was great for Neighbours, however, as he captained the Oil Kings to a WHL Championship. Off the puck, Neighbours is at his best. He is relentless on the forecheck and backcheck and has both the speed and strength to force turnovers regularly. He is also an intelligent complementary offensive piece with how he finds soft spots in coverage, works to maintain possession along the wall, and gets himself to the net front. While his finishing ability and hands probably only grade out to being average, perhaps limiting his offensive potential at the NHL level, he does so many other things well that it is very likely he carves out a long career in the NHL as a middle six player who can play in a variety of different situations. There is a strong chance that Neighbours makes St. Louis in a checking line role this season, however, they may also opt to send him to the AHL to allow him to build confidence in his offensive abilities and adjust to the speed of the pro game. Either way, he is likely very close to being a full time St. Louis Blue. - BO

4 - Jimmy Snuggerud RW

While Jimmy Snuggerud might have fallen under the radar a bit by playing frequently on a line with 2022 top-five picks Logan Cooley and Cutter Gauthier, Snuggerud’s rise up draft boards to ultimately being selected 23rd overall by the Blues wasn’t simply due to him riding his linemates’ coattails. No, Snuggerud is a promising, intriguing prospect in his own right. So much of his game is devoted to maximizing whoever he’s playing with. Cooley and Gauthier are both top prospects on their own but playing with Snuggerud undoubtedly gave their games a strong boost. HIs six-foot-one frame is well-filled despite being on the younger side for his draft class and displays his strength regularly on the ice. Snuggerud is an adept protector of the puck, and he approaches board battles tactically, finding the best way to leverage his strength into success in physical engagements. He knows he’s stronger than many other players, but he doesn’t simply rely on that strength to carry his game. He views his strength as simply one of his tools, and that approach is evidenced by his well-rounded offensive approach. He’s just as comfortable setting up teammates from the perimeter as he is heading through the middle of the ice and creating chances from the more difficult areas other wingers would stay away from. Snuggerud’s small-area game is quite developed as well, and he’s just as comfortable finding a play along the boards as he is firing a crisp open-ice pass. The most notable weakness in his game is his skating, and his lack of a separation gear could limit his offensive upside in the NHL. If Snuggerud can keep his skating above water and continue to create space for playmaking through his puck protection, he could be a scoring-line power forward in the NHL. If his offense plateaus due to his lack of foot speed, there’s still a promising NHL future for Snuggerud a role player. - EH

5 - Joel Hofer G

A late bloomer, Hofer just keeps getting better, season after season. In 2020, he was a standout in the WHL with Portland and backstopped Canada to a gold medal at the World Juniors, capturing the tournament’s top goaltender award in the process. Even last season, his second pro year, he showed remarkable growth over the course of the season. He helped Springfield advance deep into the Calder Cup playoffs and was one of the AHL’s best netminders in the closing months. That bodes well for this year, where he will be carrying a ton of confidence and momentum as a player and prospect. The Blues’ goaltender of the future has pushed through a crowded crease (St. Louis has four netminders under the age of 22 under contract) to rise to the top. In a lot of ways Hofer resembles current NHL netminder Matt Murray. With a tall, lanky frame (6’5, 172lbs), he takes away the bottom of the net so well and his positioning and play tracking ability are sound. He will need to continue to improve his agility and quickness to better challenge pro shooters and have more control over his body, but he has the potential to be the heir apparent to Jordan Binnington in St. Louis’ crease. The Blues will send Hofer back to the AHL this coming season in hopes that he can be one of the league’s top netminders. If he plays like he did in last year’s playoffs, he will be. - BO

6 - Nikita Alexandrov C

It is hard not to see Alexandrov developing into an NHL player in some shape or form. He is such a versatile player, with a game that has few weaknesses. He is a competitive two-way player. He is poised with the puck and has good vision down low. He is a strong forechecker. He is a strong skater. One might look at his mediocre AHL production last year and question his NHL upside, however he still finished fifth in team scoring on a very stacked veteran team. He was among Springfield’s best players in the AHL playoffs, helping them go on a deep run. For those reasons, many believe that Alexandrov is actually very close to earning a spot in the Blues’ lineup. He could easily start lower in the lineup and eventually earn his way up. For now, the Blues will send the former QMJHL standout back to Springfield for another season, where they hope that he will take a step forward offensively and be a leader at the AHL level. Even with a ton of fringe veteran depth at the forward position, he could play his way into an injury callup should the need arise. A projected middle six forward, Alexandrov may be among the game’s most underrated prospects. - BO

7- Simon Robertsson RW

The 71^st overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft, Robertsson was viewed higher in the public sphere before falling to the third round into grateful the hands of the St. Louis Blues. Robertsson is best known for his wicked shot, which has a precise release point that is often accurate while packing a punch. When he doesn’t have the puck, Robertsson always seems to be lurking in the high-danger scoring areas waiting for a pass from his teammates. When transitioning the puck, he loves to attack the middle of the ice, using speed and deception to get inside access. He is also a proficient forechecker, often being aggressive in his opportunities to strip the opposition of the puck. Robertsson split the past couple of seasons between the J20 and the SHL. In his draft year, he produced 20 points in 15 J20 games while also adding 2 points over 22 SHL games. This past season he produced similarly, with 14 goals and 23 points in 21 J20 games, while playing a more limited role in the SHL, often between 2-11 minutes per game, in which he scored 5 times in 48 appearances. Blues fans are hoping that he is given a larger scoring role in the SHL this year and is able to prove why many in the public sphere believed he should have been selected higher. - ZS

8 - Michael Buchinger

The 88th selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Michael Buchinger was one half of one of the best young defense pairings in the OHL last season, playing with 2023 NHL Draft eligible Cam Allen. After missing the 2020-2021 OHL season due to the Covid-19 shutdown, Buchinger, like others, had to make the adaptation quickly to standout in his draft year. During the 2021-2022 season, Buchinger was able to compliment Allen’s play perfectly, having great positioning away from the puck, understanding when to play conservative to allow Allen to be more aggressive and just making smart and simple plays with great execution. One thing that stands out with Buchinger is that he always looks calm and plays with such poise, never looking overwhelmed. Being utilized in all situations, Buchinger was a big asset to the Strom, eating big minutes and playing on both special teams. At the end of the season Buchinger finished with 44 points (5G,39A) in 63 games, which was 17th in points and 12th in assists in the league by a defenseman and also 2nd in points in the league by a rookie defenseman. Buchinger’s best assets are his hockey sense and competitiveness. He seems to make other teammates better when he’s on the ice, doing the dirty work and making the simple plays so efficiently. He’s a great puck mover, especially in transition where he’s able to connect on stretch passes through traffic to move the puck quickly out of the defensive zone. Buchinger is very effective along the boards, using both a strong active stick to apply pressure and his body to use physicality when needed to knock his opponents off the puck. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Buchinger and his teammate Cam Allen will be one of the leagues best defensive pairings in the league. You could expect an increase in points. - DK

9 - Tanner Dickinson C

Dickinson was in the midst of a breakout year with the Soo Greyhounds when it all came crashing down. Sent flying into the boards, the speedy forward suffered a broken femur and missed the rest of the season. In fact, Dickinson is still rehabbing the injury as of this writing, in order to be ready for the start of Blues’ training camp, but that is no guarantee. As alluded to, skating is his strength. He is lightning quick. Dickinson loves to attack the offensive zone with pace, pushing defenders back on their heels. He also uses his speed to apply pressure on both the forecheck and backcheck. His strength on and off the puck, along with his physical involvement were all significantly improved, at least before the injury. How the injury impacts his development moving forward remains to be seen. That said, the Blues should be happy with how he performed in the OHL and with the progression he has already shown. At some point, when healthy, Dickinson will play at the AHL level this year. Tempering expectations will be important as he regains his touch and confidence. However long term, he possesses some intriguing qualities that could make him an NHL player in some capacity. - BO

10 - Aleksanteri Kaskimaki LW

A solidly built 6-foot, 182-pound multi-dimensional forward, Kaskimäki was selected in the third round of this summer’s draft by the St. Louis Blues. Fully expected to continue his development with the HIFK program in Helsinki, where he could split time between the senior and U20 teams, Kaskimäki got his name entrenched in the scouts’ notebooks when he scored 3 goals at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, then proceeded to put up 19 goals, 40 points, and a +19 in just 31 games for HIFK’s U20 squad. A brief stint in for the Liiga side was also successful. All this earned the strong-skating lefty shot a spot at the U18 Worlds, where he contributed 4 points over 6 games, helping his nation win the bronze. His late tip-in goal against Canada to push the game to overtime was one of the tournament highlights. Kaskimäki is a hustler who looks to create space for his wrist shot, a preferred weapon that has exceptional velocity. Shifty in tight corners, he makes optimal use of his husky build to protect the puck and bully his way through traffic. Give him space and he can deke. He is also very comfortable moving through traffic and parking himself in the opposition slot. Overall, Kaskimäki is a raw player who St. Louis can be patient with over the next few seasons. A strong fall could very well lead to a spot at the WJC in Moncton. – CL

11 - Leo Loof

A steady stay at home defender, Loof switched from his native Sweden to playing in Finland last season and the results were excellent as he helped Ilves to a third-place finish. He will play in Liiga again this year and continue to improve his confidence with the puck.

12 - Tyler Tucker

The focus for Tucker has always been to improve his feet and that’s exactly what he has been doing. The stocky defender already wore an “A” for Springfield last season in his second year of pro and his throwback, physical style could make him a future third pairing type.

13 - Matt Kessel

Kessel, a steady and physical stay at home defender with a big shot, turned pro at the end of last season and was an impact player for Springfield, helping them advance deep into the AHL playoffs. If he continues to improve his mobility, he could move quickly through the system.

14 - Arseni Koromyslov

A raw two-way defender, Koromyslov had a bit of a disappointing draft year in the MHL and was selected late in the fourth round by St. Louis. He possesses some intriguing skills but will take time to develop.

15 - Alexei Toropchenko

The former Guelph Storm winger closed out last season with the Blues. The big forward can drive the net and control the puck down low, but his offensive game looks limited.

16 - Hugh McGing

The speedy and creative undersized forward was much better in the AHL as a sophomore, but he will need to take another step forward offensively this season in order to stay in St. Louis’ plans.

17 - Dylan Peterson

The Blues knew that Peterson was going to be a project pick when they drafted him in 2020. The big center skates well and has the profile to be a great shutdown pivot, however his puck skill and IQ limits were unknown. He took a big step forward as a sophomore with Boston University and could do so again this season as a junior.

18 - Keean Washkurak

Washkurak proved to be a solid depth piece for Springfield in his first pro season. The high energy forward can kill penalties and excel on the forecheck. His pro potential may be limited.

19 - Colten Ellis

The former third round pick played most of his first pro season in the ECHL thanks to St. Louis’ goaltending depth. He may have to again this season too.

20 - Noah Beck

The older brother of Calgary prospect (and OHL’er) Jack Beck, Noah is a big, right shot defender who is coming off a breakout year at Clarkson. He is quite mobile for his frame (6’4) and is improving in the defensive end. Not to be confused with the TikTok star and former soccer player.

St. Louis Blues 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:06:09 +0000

In 2017-18, the St. Louis did not have its own AHL club, leaving it to split most of its minor pros between the San Antonio Rampage (then belonging to Colorado) and the Chicago Wolves (ostensibly a Vegas affiliate), with some players sent further afield, most notably Jordan Binnington to Providence, and Jake Walman to Binghamton. The NHL Blues missed the postseason.

Last season, St. Louis took over the San Antonio AHL club, as Colorado opened their own, more local team in-state. All of the Blues’ top tier minor leaguers were housed together, and coached as one unit in South-Central Texas. The Blues, as we all know, won the Stanley Cup for the first time in the franchise’s 52 year history. It would be so easy to correlate the two facts. After all, the aforementioned Binnington earned his first NHL recall around mid-season and took a last place team on a run for the ages, ending only in a parade. Right?

Of course not. For every AHL success story in the organization last year (Binnington was really the only one), there was another story of a once highly-touted prospect who took a step backwards. Think about how Binnington earned the call. The St. Louis goalies were playing poorly, with backup Chad Johnson earning a trip to the waiver wire while incumbent starter Jake Allen continued to disappoint with erratic play. St. Louis had been grooming Finnish puck stopper Ville Husso as the heir apparent in between the pipes , but the latter had seemingly hit a wall last season. Repeatedly. Husso’s two previous seasons in the AHL – one with Chicago and the second with San Antonio were very impressive. But he was having trouble stopping beach balls last season.

Binnington, on the other hand, one year after being shunted to a different organization’s AHL club, had a save percentage .056 higher. Why not go with the hot hand? To be honest, it wasn’t even a case of a hot hand. Binnington’s .927 AHL save percentage was practically the same as his .926 mark with Providence from the year before. And he maintained that .927 level over the remainder of the regular season with St. Louis, finally slowing down a touch in the postseason.

If we want more success stories from St. Louis’ first season with a full time affiliate in San Antonio, we could point to Jordan Kyrou, who seemingly mastered the level in his first season as a pro, although could not impact the NHL roster and was slowed by a knee injury requiring offseason surgery in the second half. Sammy Blais was also almost as good in his second season in Texas, earning a prolonged stint in the NHL and a relatively regular role in the postseason to boot. He didn’t exactly improve his projection, but he maintained it. Mackenzie MacEachern also earned his first NHL recall and did well enough even if he never saw the ice in the playoffs. Mitch Reinke proved to be a nice NCAA free agent signing as a rookie pro.

But there is also a downside. Jake Walman was repatriated by the organization and struggled mightily. Klim Kostin continued to tease with potential but still hasn’t taken a step forward. Erik Foley missed the entire season with concussion symptoms. Most of the other prospects on the farm simply failed to do much of anything. The Blues still had their parade and should be OK with the stasis on the AHL front, but we can rest assured that the new AHL franchise had no real role on the title, even if it should be to the organization’s benefit in the long run.

-Ryan Wagman

St. Louis Blues center Jordan Kyrou (33) (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)

1 Jordan Kyrou, RW/C (35^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 3) An AHL All-Star last season, the Blues’ top-ranked prospect earned that honor as one of the most consistently dangerous players in the league. With San Antonio, the 21-year-old posted a 47-16-27-43 stat line in a season -- his first as a pro -- that featured some brief stints up in the NHL. His ferocious speed is matched by few opposing defensemen, and his acute technical footwork only plays it up. His shot is developing into a strong auxiliary weapon capable of testing netminders from mid-to-high danger areas, while his playmaking is coming along as well, though only tied to his speed. As a center, he is incredibly disciplined defensively, and his calm and composed mental game allows him to stay focused on the task at hand. Though the Blues are plenty stacked on centers at the moment, the club has an elite one-two punch of young pivots in the established Robert Thomas and the emerging Kyrou, who will have his shot at an NHL spot this training camp. - TD

2 Dominik Bokk, RW (25^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 4) Bokk had a sneaky good first full SHL season. His 23 points were third among junior-aged players. He at least showed that his progress as a player is steadily moving forward in his career. This upcoming season he will play a bigger role on a smaller SHL. He still has much to improve in his all-around game, but his pure skills are elite. His puck handling and creativity on the power play stand out. He has the offensive tools needed for a top line forward in the NHL, but he still has much to learn in how to use them effectively. His compete level needs to be higher including in his offensive game, such as going hard for his own rebounds instead of gliding out admiring his shot or learning when to make the boring, effective play rather than the pretty play with the puck. He has a high ceiling, but is a couple of years away before reaching it. - JH

3 Klim Kostin, RW (31^st overall, 2017. Last Year: 2) A top-five prospect in the St. Louis system for the third season running, Kostin was a risky pick back in 2017. But the hulking Russian has shown some flashes of downright dominance as an offensive player with San Antonio and in recent international appearances, enough to maintain a high spot on this rundown. Though he went through another underwhelming AHL season, the 6-3”, 212lbs 20-year-old impressed scouts with his body control, momentum on his skates, and his physical, power-forward game. A fast shot and nifty puck-protection skills make Kostin a fun player to watch when he gets to enter the zone with momentum, though his lack of speed and assertiveness can hold him back. He is still very young for an AHL player, and is still adjusting to the differing styles on the small ice. He may never be the player that drew comparisons to Evgeni Malkin during his draft year, but he can still be a useful NHL player within a year or two. - TD

4 Scott Perunovich, D (45^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 11) Two years of collegiate hockey, two NCAA championships. The team won thanks to efforts up and down the lineup, but Perunovich was the leading scorer as a freshman, and finished third on the team last year, leading all blueliners and only four points back of the top. He lacks the pure speed of the prototypical modern day blueliner, but he is an exceptionally shifty skater and slips past the first line of defense to pinch in deep at every opportunity. He will always need help in his own zone as he is small and lean, but if his partner can get the puck, Perunovich is the type that will ensure his team keeps it through the conclusion of a scoring chance. He has the tool set to play on a second unit in the NHL and receive power play time as well, a very valuable contributor as long as his weaknesses are kept in mind. - RW

5 Samuel Blais, LW (176^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 6) Rarely does a sixth-round pick play NHL hockey, and even more scarce are those that have the instant impact Blais had at that level. Inserted into the Blues lineup midway through their playoff run, the former QMJHL star was a spark of non-stop energy and a physical edge on every shift, playing all over the lineup and producing throughout. Aside from the hard work and grittiness that has drawn the respect of his teammates, the left-hander excels at getting into the right positions away from the puck, using his whippy, heavy shot at any opportunity. His offensive vision is not as impressive as his sizzling shot, but the 23-year-old is capable of making space for teammates by drawing defenders his way through his dominant puck-protection skills. He projects to be a depth scorer and energy line winger going forward, but his versatility and reliability can push him up into the top six if his coach needs a jolt. At 23, he is NHL ready. - TD

6 Tyler Tucker, D (200^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) A real throwback defender, Tucker is one of the most physical defenders in the OHL. He is very effective at lining up attacking forwards as they cut across the blueline or attempt to cut to the middle of the ice. There are more facets to his game than just brutality. He has proven himself to be a very capable offensive defender who can quarterback the powerplay effectively with a good low shot and improving vision. His skating has also improved greatly in the last year. While further gains need to be made, especially to his four way mobility, there is no doubt that if he had progressed as a skater like this in his draft year, he would not have been a seventh round pick. Tucker’s high end projection would be a 4th or 5th defender who can play in a variety of situations and bring some toughness. - BO

7 Keean Washkurak, C (155^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The best way to describe Washkurak’s game is that he plays much bigger than his size of 5-10”. He backs down from no challenge on the ice and is bound to be a coaches’ favorite as he moves up in levels because of this. When you combine his strong skating ability with his tenaciousness, on and off the puck, you have a terrific energy player who can provide change of pace, forechecking, and strong penalty killing to his team. It remains to be seen just how good his offensive game can become. He shows good vision when operating as a puck carrier below the hash marks and identifies passing lanes well. He will need to improve his ability to handle the puck and make plays at his top speed, in addition to his shot, if he wants to be more than a bottom six forward at the NHL level. There will always be places in the lineup for players like Washkurak. -BO

8 Nikita Alexandrov, C (62^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The German-born Russian Alexandrov turned heads last season, nearly doubling his point total from the previous year by adding mass to his frame and developing his skating ability. He was a decent skater, but refined his stride and position this season, and it paid off. He is a rock with the puck thanks to his anchored legs; he can spread out and make himself nearly impossible to knock off the puck. It has paid dividends along the wall and on the forecheck, as he is much stronger on his feet. Alexandrov is a two-way threat who is always able to jump in transition to form an offensive chance. He has the hockey sense to play low in the lineup, and the offensive ability to keep him in the top-six. - MS

9 Mitch Reinke, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 25, 2018. Last Year: 17) Not often do smooth-skating, offensively-inclined, right-handed defensemen go undrafted like Reinke, but judging by his rookie season with San Antonio, the Blues found themselves an absolute gem with the Michigan Tech product. Completing a 76-12-33-45 season with the Rampage as a rookie is a remarkable accomplishment, and one fueled by his skilled, heads-up offensive play. His speed allows him to frequently exit the defensive zone, while his vision and hockey sense give him the instincts to put the puck in the right place. He can jump into the play and let off his strong, accurate wrist shot, but he is more of a facilitator than anything. His defensive game will need to improve, especially his initial blue line defense and stick activeness, but he has shown some nastiness around the boards. Reinke, whose ceiling appears to be middle-pair puck-rusher, is arguably NHL ready, but it depends on what kind of game the Blues coaching staff wants him to play. - TD

10 Dakota Joshua, C (128^th overall, 2014 [Toronto]. Last Year: 18 [Toronto]) Drafted in the fifth round by Toronto in the pre-Kyle Dubas days, the current Maple Leafs regime is more about speed and skill than size and muscle and traded the graduating Joshua to St. Louis for future considerations before his rights were set to expire. All of which is not to say that he is not a player without skill. He protects the puck well with a long reach and has good enough hands to play in tight quarters. His shot is also an effective weapon. Joshua plays in a style that accentuates his size and strength, with his offensive game generally of secondary importance. He is a moderate skater, but it plays up thanks to his smarts and size. His ceiling isn’t much above the fourth line, but he is pretty close to being there now and could be an NHL contributor sooner than later. - RW

11 Erik Foley, LW (78^th overall, 2015 [Winnipeg]. Last Year: 9) Once in a while, we have a previously highly touted prospect who misses a full season to reasons out of his control. Foley is one of two in these pages (see also Timmins, Conor from Colorado) who missed a critical season of development due to post concussion symptoms. The skilled forward who averaged close to one point per game over both his sophomore and junior seasons at Providence is still in there, but without playing in game situations for now over 12 months, the rust has accumulated. As of this writing, there is no news regarding his status for the upcoming season, or at all. Consider this a place-holder then. Should he return to full health, there is no reason that his ability to drive the net with speed and protect the puck could not play on a middle six. - RW

12 Ville Husso, G (94^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 7) All while the previously unheralded Jordan Binnington stole the show in the crease, Husso had a horrendous season that further damaged his falling prospect stock. After a strong 2017-18 campaign, the Finn went 6-18-0 with a 3.67 GAA and .871 Sv% in 2018-19, eventually losing the clear-cut starting job to a slew of random cast-offs that featured Binnington and Jared Coreau. Husso still has the raw skill to make a name for himself, including his athleticism, size (and more importantly, the way he uses it), and his ability to read plays as they develop and position himself accordingly. He is an incredibly mature and calm netminder, even in epic defeats, maintaining a soft composure in the crease. He may never be better than an “okay” goalie after previously showing starter-potential; regardless, he will need another year or two. - TD

13 Colten Ellis, G (93^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Ellis is a goaltender with a ton of talent. He is very quick, especially with his feet, and can track the puck with the best junior goalies in Canada. His biggest issue is one that can be solved with time and coaching from goalie coach David Alexander as he is raw. His movements are quick and his anticipation is top-notch, but he has a lot of wasted movement that could be refined. His fundamentals are solid, and he has the confidence to make it, but he needs to further refine his skills. His puckhandling is adequate, but simple. On a team where Jordan Binnington came out of nowhere to win a Cup, the Blues of all teams are fine with letting Ellis marinade a bit until he is ready, but he definitely has star goaltender potential. - MS

14 Alexei Toropchenko, RW (113^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 16) One of those players who passes the eye test quite often, but who just has not translated that to consistent production in the OHL. His playoff and Memorial Cup performance this year aside, Toropchenko continues to be an enigma offensively. He has the toolbox, be it long powerful strides that allow him to work effectively driving the puck to the net, or a quick wrist shot that has the ability to beat goaltenders clean. His lack of production could possibly be attributed to a limited hockey IQ and vision. With his size and skill advantage, he should be way more of a consistent threat, both with and without the puck on his stick. Patience will be required as the high end potential is quite alluring. If his playoff performance in this year’s OHL playoffs was his breakthrough moment, then the Blues could have a good one. - BO

15 Hugh McGing, C (138^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Drafted in his third year of eligibility, the undersized McGing has been quietly producing at fine levels since his age 18 year with Cedar Rapids of the USHL. One might consider his first post draft year to have been a mild disappointment, as he only equalized his point accumulation from the previous year, and in one additional game, to boot. On the other hand, the shape of his production shifted, as he went from a player who put up two assists for every goal over his underclassmen years to getting over half of his production from finishing as a junior. McGing is a shifty skater with plus hands but lacks the high end speed we would like to see in a player of his stature (5-9”, 174). He will finish his eligibility at Western Michigan before the Blues decide whether or not to offer him an ELC. At this point, I would consider a contract to be likely for the two-way forward. - RW

16 Jake Walman, D (82^nd overall, 2014. Last Year: 5) With limited offensive upside at this level, Walman instead plays the type of game that has made fellow Blues defensemen some of the toughest in the game to play against; he is physical, plays tight to his opposition, and is very aggressive with his stick. The 2014 third-rounder had a borderline awful 2018-19 season. He is smart and composed, lulling opponents to the outside of the lanes and playing assertively with his body and stick to force tough shot angles. A solid skater, he is one who can shut down rushes the other way with his foot speed, rarely losing inside position on an opposing forward. He has a good shot from the point and decent setup skills, but does not play forcefully enough on offense. He was a sleeper pick to make the Blues’ NHL roster last season, but failed, and it looks like Walman -- who now appears to be a depth d-man at best -- will simmer in the AHL again in 2019-20. - TD

17 Nolan Stevens, C (125^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 8) Standing 6-3”, Stevens reinforces the Blues’ stress on developing players with overwhelming size to succeed in their physical, possession-oriented lineup. Although his numbers with San Antonio (57-9-9-18 last season) are not turning any heads, his play as one of the Rampage’s most consistent two-way threats is inspiring. He is a very reliable two-way centerman who plays deep in his own zone, has the wheels to exit the zone with the puck, and can be a beast on the cycle with the playmaking vision and skill to make something happen out of the set behind the net. He is hard on the puck and can force it away from others with his long reach. However, his straight-line speed is horrid, and he has little in terms of shooting prowess. Before turning pro, there were concerns that Stevens was being carried by offensive catalysts like Dylan Sikura (CHI) and Adam Gaudette (VAN) with Northeastern. His first year in the AHL did little to combat that theory, and he looks like a career AHLer or up-and-down guy right now. - TD

18 Mackenzie MacEachern, LW (67^th overall, 2012. Last Year: Not ranked) One of the biggest surprises among Blues prospects last season was the onset of MacEachern, whose physical scoring game from his days at Michigan State looked to be around again with San Antonio and St. Louis last year. At 25, he has been knocking on the door of a full-time NHL depth winger role in spite of being an afterthought for most of his pro career. His combination of size and hand quickness/puck-handling proficiency is very intriguing, while his high-end work ethic and maturity make him an impactful penalty killer at both levels. Whether he is a long-term option in the Cup champs’ 12-man forward unit is an open question, but it is one that would not have been entertained as recently as last offseason. At 25, he is NHL ready as he is basically finished developing. - TD

19 Nathan Walker, LW (89^th overall, 2014 [Washington]. Last Year: 16 [Washington]) Despite his lack of size, Walker does well to make up for that in the speed and playmaking departments. He is quick and aggressive and plays with determination and the right amount of grit in his game to prove himself at the next level. Having already been present during the Washington Capitals recent Stanley Cup win, Walker knows a thing or two about playing at the NHL level, however consistency is key and that is something he will need to work on more next season. His last season with the Hershey Bears was his strongest year yet as a pro but he is still failing to prove himself to be better than a bottom six forward. He will need to work on finding more ways of getting to the net and staying cool and consistent throughout the season to prove to the St. Louis Blues that he is worthy of earning a spot on their roster. - SC

20 Joel Hofer, G (107^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Hofer has what teams look for in goaltenders these days. He is over 6-3”. Within that frame he is very athletic and quick. In his draft year he had firmly established himself as a backup ready to take a starter’s role, however Swift Current wasn’t the same team when he got a chance to start and his numbers dropped off playing on a team that struggled in all aspects of the game. He had a nice little uptick in performance after being traded to Portland but hasn’t shown much statistical progression year over year. When he is on he has a lot of poise and agility where he can make highlight reel saves and keep composed while under siege. He battles hard even when his team is overmatched, outshot and caved it. He endured a lot mentally this year and he seems to have come out the other side well. This strong mental side is key to becoming a very effective back-up goalie which is what Hofer projects to in the NHL. - VG

St. Louis Blues Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:37:16 +0000

In prospect news, last season was a tale of two halves for the St. Louis Blues. These two organizational quirks and traits had conflicting effects on the future of the franchise and the development of the system below the NHL team. Let's review.

The bad thing is: the Blues did not have an official AHL affiliate last season. Their prospects, some of their top farmhands at that, spent time on four different AHL teams with completely different organizational parents in three different divisions; San Antonio (COL), Chicago (VGK), Manitoba (WPG), and Binghamton (NJD). This negatively impacted some of their most promising pupils, such as Ivan Barbashev and Jake Walman, who were forced to play with franchises indifferent to their development.

With the AHL expanding to 31 teams, the Blues will receive the outright services of the San Antonio Rampage in 2018-19, marking the franchise's welcomed return to having their own farm team to run as they see fit. To give your prospects reps in the second-best league in North America on teams with which they have no connection is a bad idea all around, but they had no choice. Thankfully, they do this season.

The great part is (and we really want to emphasize great): One thing the Blues do better than perhaps any other team in the league is look ahead to the future at every trade opportunity even if they are in contention for a playoff spot. In two consecutive seasons, St. Louis has dealt away a key contributor to their team's offense despite playing for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

At the 2017 trade deadline, it was Kevin Shattenkirk to Washington, and last season, Paul Stastny packed his bags after being shipped to Winnipeg. The Blues' results in those seasons: Western Conference semifinalists in 2017, and a single point out of postseason qualification in 2018. Most of the other 30 teams would become prisoners of the moment, selling the future out to contend for the present, but the Blues somehow manage to do both. That is what a clear sense of direction from the front office looks like.

In those two trades, the Blues acquired useful forward Zach Sanford, power play catalyst Brayden Schenn, prospect Dominik Bokk (or the pick that was used to select him), and two more future draft picks from conditions listed at the time of the trade. All in all, the Blues have raised a prospect pool that will help the likes of Schenn, Vladimir Tarasenko, and Alex Pietrangelo contend both right now and later on, as a franchise should do.

Robert Thomas

1 Robert Thomas, C (20th overall, 2017. Last year: 1st) Maybe the most singular mark of a great player is the ability to change the game when you take the ice, forcing everyone around you to play at your pace and by your style. Robert Thomas has done that and more in his OHL career, headlined by last season's 75-point campaign (24 goals, 51 assists) in only 49 games. One of the most intelligent players at his age level, he is also a gifted skater and playmaker, a center with creativity and patient, reserved vision. Most of his many assists are compiled the same way: Thomas exhibits his unparalleled smarts and calmness to draw multiple defenders to him, then flashes his creative genius to whip the puck to an open man for the shot. What makes the 19-year-old extra special is his ability to play a multitude of roles, making him a definite future NHL star; his two-way game is excellent, he can go hard on the forecheck, and he has enough shooting talent to be a go-to goal-scoring option. He will get a serious look at training camp and could be in contention for the Blues' roster spot in October.

2 Klim Kostin, C/RW (31st overall, 2017. Last year: 3rd) Looking back at the 2017 draft, how Klim Kostin is a Blues prospect still makes no sense. The Penguins traded their first-round selection to St. Louis for Ryan Reaves, a fourth-liner whom Pittsburgh eventually traded away anyway, netting St. Louis one of the most skilled forward prospects in the AHL. Kostin competed as an 18-year-old rookie in the AHL last season, netting six goals and 22 assists for a mediocre San Antonio club that missed the postseason. An impressively agile skater for his 6-3" height, he is a brilliant playmaker, one who can thread crisp and accurate passes through traffic with ease, but also has a fast, albeit underdeveloped, shot. His high-end hockey sense shines through shift after shift, and his well-roundedness in many regards project him to be a top-six forward at the NHL level. A very mentally and physically mature player, it is likely he will start next season with San Antonio, but could hold his own in the NHL already. Truly an untouchable prospect with loads of potential for the price of a fourth-line forward through trade.

3 Jordan Kyrou, C (35th overall, 2016. Last year: 4th) With each passing season, Jordan Kyrou has posted better offensive numbers than the year before, reaching a climax last season as he led the Sarnia Sting in scoring by over 35 points and being the third-leading scorer in the OHL (39 goals, 70 goals, 109 points). He makes offense happen at will with his blazing top speed, effortless acceleration, and supreme balance, a trio of skating skills that make the 20-year-old dangerous on every shift. A World Junior gold medalist, he is more than just a superb skater, with great puck movement skills and the vision to thread passes through the defense and rack up assists. His two-way game is mature and reliable, as the center can cut down passing lanes and battle along the boards to reestablish puck possession effectively. Kyrou's skillset projects to be better used on the wing than at center, but the righty has the talent and refined gameplay style to produce anywhere he goes. He will have reps at all forward spots with San Antonio this season.

4 Dominik Bokk, LW (25th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) In June, Dominik Bokk became just the second German to be selected in the first-round of the NHL draft in the last 15 years, joining Leon Draisaitl. When taking only raw talent into account, Bokk is more than worthy of the pick. After dominating the German junior leagues at just 16, he moved to Sweden in an effort to challenge himself, and promptly posted over one point per game with the Vaxjo junior squad. His offensive skills were on full display all season long, exhibiting the gameplay style that makes him equal parts a goalscorer and a playmaker. With great patience on the puck, he can wait for passing lanes to open and slide passes through, or weave through stymied defenders to generate shots. His first few steps give him a separation gear that few defenders his of his age and competition level can equal. His offensive game is pro-level, but for North American success, the 18-year-old will have to play with more physical intent and be more attentive away from the puck. Making a big impact in his first full SHL season will be the next big test for the winger.

Jake Walman

5 Jake Walman, D (82nd overall, 2014. Last year: 6th) The first defenseman on the prospect rankings and the only one in the top ten, expectations are high for Jake Walman, especially as the Blues undergo somewhat of a changing of the guard on defense with Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester both aging. Walman spent time with both the Chicago Wolves and Binghamton Devils last season as one of a few prospects impacted by the lack of an official Blues farm team, compiling four goals and sixteen assists in a limited role over 59 games. His game is not that of a make-or-break offensive dynamo, however it is a defense-first style that has much top-four NHL upside. A patient and smart defender, he lulls opposing forwards into the outside perimeter and utilizes an aggressive stick to jab the puck away, displaying an intelligent play-reading ability that extends to all three zones. A good skater, he is capable of sensing developing plays and finding the open ice with his wheels to create offense, and has a sizzling shot from the point. A spot on the NHL roster might be in the cards in 2018-19, but even if he starts the campaign with San Antonio, it marks a welcome retreat from bouncing around the AHL.

6 Samuel Blais, LW (176th overall, 2014. Last year: 10th) It is rare for a round-six draft pick to make the NHL, but Samuel Blais, a late 2014 pick, played 11 games for St. Louis last season; he has already given the Blues more than what was originally expected out of the former QMJHL star, and he is just getting started. A near point-per-game player with San Antonio last season (17 goals, 23 assists, 40 points in 42 appearances), he brought his 80-point talents from the "Q" right to pro hockey, using his non-stop motor and unwavering energy to find ways to score in the AHL and briefly, the NHL. The left-hander excels at positioning himself away from the puck for quality shots on goal, and has a goal-scorer's shooting skill in his quick-whip release and accuracy. His offensive zone vision is not as impressive, but he can execute crisp passes to open teammates. His defensive zone efforts will have to improve, but with an NHL-ready 6-2" body, he should be able to make a difference with his size against the boards. He projects to be a middle-six scoring winger with a high variety of difficult shots at the major-league level.

7 Ville Husso, G (94th overall, 2014. Last year: 8th) Ville Husso was one of several top Blues prospects whose development was hindered by the shared affiliation in San Antonio last season. Though he is considered one of the better goaltending prospects in the game, he and Colorado's Spencer Martin split time in the Rampage crease in a situation with no real winner. Now unencumbered by split loyalties among his coaches, he has all the time in the world to return to the incredible Liiga form he showed before and shortly after the Blues drafted. A relatively average-sized puckstopper, he has the otherworldly athleticism to counter the lack of a huge frame, as his lateral movement and reflexes are both very good. He gets every inch out of himself by playing at the lip of the crease and extending all of his tools, but most notably, he is an outstanding competitor with incredible intensity and the calmness to remain unfazed in odd-man rushes and defensive breakdowns. If Jake Allen falters any time soon, the Blues' net is Husso's for the taking.

8 Nolan Stevens, LW/C (125th overall, 2016. Last year: 15th) After an impressive run of four years at Northeastern University, three of which were with better than point-per-game rates, Nolan Stevens brings his high end physical game to the Blues’ pro system after signing his entry-level contract last spring. The son of Los Angeles Kings head coach John Stevens tallied 24 goals and 18 assists in 38 games in his senior year in the NCAA, stats overshadowed by college superstars Dylan Sikura and Adam Gaudette but not numbers to write off as fluky. A physically imposing force on the cycle, Stevens can play a setup man game from behind the net and around the boards effectively, while being arguably even better away from the puck thanks to above-average hockey sense and the ability to get net-front positioning easily. Though not a great skater, he is very comfortable moving around with the puck and mobile enough to make something happen with speed. His skillset is one that can very easily translate to the professional ranks, and at the NHL level, he projects to be a middle-six guy that wins puck battles, is hard on the forecheck, and puts up respectable point totals.

9 Erik Foley, LW (Trade: Feb. 26, 2018 [Winnipeg]. Last year: 11th [Winnipeg]) The primary named return from the Paul Stastny trade back in February, Erik Foley was considered a steal by Jets pundits as a third-rounder back in 2015. The Hockey East Player of the Month for November 2017 scored 16 goals with 19 assists in 38 games last season, leading the Providence Friars in scoring before signing his three-year ELC with the Blues in March. It is understandable why the Jets parted ways with Foley in favor of trade deadline help, but his athleticism, net-front drive, and ability to carry his own line from the wing could come back to bite them as he is now with a division rival. He has plus wheels, good finishing ability, and uncanny ability to protect the puck and play physically around the boards, making him a pretty versatile and useful player at the wing. His two-way game is not a strongsuit, nor are his hands, but both can be masked as he learns to play a style that benefits him in the AHL.

Niko Mikkola

10 Niko Mikkola, D (127th overall, 2015. Last year: 12th) There will always be a place on an NHL team for defensemen who are 6-5" and can skate. The Blues signed Niko Mikkola, originally a fifth-round pick out of Finland, to his ELC in May after he had yet another strong season in the Liiga, posting two goals and nine helpers in 50 games with Tampere. Mostly a stay-at-home defenseman but with the mobility to evade trouble in his own zone, he should be an easy fit if he makes the big team soon. He is a very physical defender with an aggressive stick and no hesitance to play the body of an opposing forward, which can lead to penalty minutes (54 in 2017-18), but a controlled crazy can go a long way for a big defenseman. He is calm with the puck and has a good, accurate shot when he has time to release it from the point, but will not often pinch or skate down further into the zone for offense. All in all, he is the very definition of an old-school defenseman, but the 22-year-old Finn is well-coordinated on his feet and with some AHL seasoning could become more than serviceable in the NHL.

11 Scott Perunovich, D (45th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Drafted in his third year of eligibility in 2018, Perunovich certainly had to improve upon some crazy, unstructured seasons in high school and in the USHL. As a star puck-rushing defenseman for both Minnesota-Duluth and the 2018 U.S. World Junior squad, he put himself on the radar and earned the second-round selection with which he was taken by St. Louis. The left-hander led the NCAA National Champions in scoring with 11 goals, 25 assists, and 36 points in 42 games, using his dynamic skating ability, heavily-offensive playing style, and creativity to drive offense at an almost constant rate. He has the puck poise and vision to thrive as an offensive defenseman in the pro ranks, but needs much work done defensively back at Duluth to have an NHL future. His size doesn't help, but he could mirror Shayne Gostisbehere or Torey Krug with a touch more defensive seasoning.

12 Evan Fitzpatrick, G (59th overall, 2016. Last year: 14th) Evan Fitzpatrick rode a January trade in the QMJHL ranks, where he was shipped from Sherbrooke to Acadie-Bathurst, to a Memorial Cup title as an absolute dynamite addition to an already strong junior team. Down the stretch for the QMJHL champs, he went 17-3-0 with a 2.24 GAA and .915 Sv%, upping those marks in the postseason to 2.10 and .925 as he backstopped the Titan on their run. His high-end athleticism gives him the capacity to play lights out when he's on his game, and an improving compete level provides a stable focus even when trying to defend late leads. His 6-3" frame is big and plays even bigger with his tendency to challenge shooters at the lip of his crease. Fitzpatrick will battle for the backup spot in San Antonio this season.

13 Austin Poganski, RW (110th overall, 2014. Last year: 13th) After four full seasons in the NCAA that featured three 20-point seasons in a middle-six role, an NCAA championship, and playing with guys like Brock Boeser and Nick Schmaltz, Austin Poganski makes the transition to the AHL with the ELC he signed in March. He is a pretty well-rounded player and quite mature for his age, displaying great awareness and two-way reliability. On offense, he is dangerous with and without the puck, but mostly as a net-front passing option with good finishing skills. His positioning away from the puck is aided by his ability to move around well on his feet despite a big, lanky body. He should be given a top-six roster spot with San Antonio right out of the gate to start the season, and projects to be a potential fourth-line depth scorer if all pans out.

14 Tyler Wotherspoon, D (Free Agent Signing: Jul. 1, 2018. Last year: IE) It is difficult to permanently crack a blueline depth chart with Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie, and Travis Hamonic, especially with top prospects like Juuso Valimaki and Rasmus Andersson ahead of you. Such was the case for Tyler Wotherspoon, a talented defenseman with NHL potential in his own right. A hard-hitting defensive defenseman, he displays a certain intensity within his own defensive zone on every shift and has the smarts to push shots to the outside, making things easier for his goalie. His game does not stop there, as his mobility and above average shooting ability give him a solid offensive game, scoring seven goals and 37 points with the AHL Stockton Heat in 2017-18. He will likely start the season with San Antonio, but seems like a great option via recall for the inevitable injuries.

Jordan Schmaltz

15 Jordan Schmaltz, D (25th overall, 2012. Last year: 9th) The clock continues to tick on Jordan Schmaltz, though the Blues have shown a commitment to the 24-year-old and have been patient in his development. The former North Dakota star defenseman posted five goals and 18 assists in 31 games with SA, as well as an assist in 13 appearances with St. Louis last season. A long-term project from the moment he was drafted in the first round six years ago, he can make up for the wait with production generated by his solid skating, mature and quiet gameplay style, and intelligent anticipation of the evolving play. He is an intriguing playmaker from the point, looking for passes and open sticks when he has the puck. He has raw skill, but at 24, the right-hander is likely at his ceiling right now; how he can contribute to the Blues in a full-time role remains to be seen.

16 Alexei Toropchenko, RW (113th overall, 2017. Last year: 19th) A winger with a lot of above-average offensive tools, Alexei Toropchenko is by every definition a raw prospect, but his potential continues to show. With 17 goals and 22 assists in his first season in North America, he showed flashes of brilliance for the Guelph Storm, using his quick feet and blazing acceleration to storm past defenders and his power forward-esque frame to get net-front chances. His vision is about average, but the Russian loves to the shoot the puck, something he does well with a heavy and effortless wrist shot. The left-hander's main big issue is consistency, which happens to be perhaps the largest problem one could have. If he can bring his A-game on a more frequent basis as he transitions to the pro game, he has great middle-six power wing potential.

17 Mitch Reinke, D (UDFA: Mar. 25, 2018. Last year: IE) Mitch Reinke has one thing most college free agent signings don't: an NHL game under his belt. Just a week after finishing his three-goal, 24-point sophomore season at Michigan Tech, he laced them up for the Blues, getting his pro career off on the right foot. He is a very smart 22-year-old puck-mover with exceptional rink senses and some nastiness along the boards for a guy who stands at just 5-11". His game revolves around his ability to get the puck up the ice and onto a forward's stick, but he can jump into the play with his agility and let loose a good wrister. With an ELC signed in March, Reinke will jump to San Antonio to start 2018-19.

18 Nikolaj Krag Christensen, LW (209th overall, 2016. Last year: 16th) It might seem complicated, but you'll want to learn how to say Nikolaj Krag Christensen's name. The Danish forward has some flashy, albeit raw skill that could become more of an asset as he begins to transition into bigger pro leagues, headlined by swift, elusive stickhandling skills. He tallied three goals and seven assists for Rungsted of the top-tier Danish league last season, showing a combination of slick playmaking and a good wrist shot. A big-bodied winger, the 20-year-old has the physicality of a stay-at-home defenseman down in his defensive zone, and uses that to play effectively down low in the o-zone. How he will adjust to a bigger, better league is the most important question going forward, and one that will have to wait as he is slated to continue developing in his native Denmark.

19 Tanner Kaspick, C (119th overall, 2016. Last year: 18th) A big and sturdy center, Tanner Kaspick has grown in a different way in each of his four full WHL seasons. This season saw perhaps the biggest spurt, as the lefty finished as a point-per-game player between the Brandon Wheat Kings (where he served as captain) and the Victoria Royals. His plus shot gives him the capability to wire one in from anywhere on the ice, and his playmaking grades out as average thanks to his dangerous abilities on the cycle, from where he can use his big body to make plays happen. He boasts a skillset that will translate well to the pro ranks, a foray that will begin this season.

20 Trenton Bourque, D (175th overall, 2017. Last year: not ranked) Trenton Bourque is impossible to label. Without a single OHL regular season goal in 215 games, he is not an offensive defenseman, but is great at moving the puck up the ice and skating through the neutral zone. As someone who works exclusively out of the transition, he is not a defensive-defenseman, but has great rink senses and is very physical. Bourque (62-0-17-17 last season) has a future ceiling that is just as hard to project as he is to label, but solid two-way skills on which to build, like his plus skating for his size, good gap control and d-zone coverage, as well as impressive hockey IQ that helps him lead effortless transition play. Drafted as an overager in 2017, the 20-year-old is still unsigned as of this writing and could return to Owen Sound for a fifth year in the OHL.

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Brock Otten — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:51:07 +0000

The 2018 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off this week after the regular season wrapped up this past weekend. Heading into the playoffs, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are the clear favorites to come out of the OHL and represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Regina. They have spent the vast majority of the season as the top ranked team in the CHL, one of only two teams to chart the entire season (along with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL). But competition is always fierce and there are no sure bets in the OHL. Let us now take a look at each first round match-up.

Eastern Conference

#1 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. #8 - Ottawa 67’s

Season Series: Hamilton leads 5-0

Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: The Conference Champion Bulldogs face off against the 67’s after the Steelheads won on the final Sunday, securing the number 7 seed. Hamilton has been the cream of the crop of the Eastern Conference for the vast majority of the season. They have been extremely active in trades this year to give them the best chance of coming out of the East. The Bulldogs added Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Riley Stillman (Florida), Nic Caamano (Dallas), Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen (Toronto) to an already stacked lineup, giving Ottawa an extremely daunting challenge in round one. This team rolls three powerhouse offensive lines with Matthew Strome (Philadelphia), Will Bitten (Montreal), Mackenzie Entwistle (Arizona), Marian Studenic (New Jersey), and Brandon Saigeon being other top options. Forward Arthur Kaliyev (2019) is another name to watch. He is the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the OHL since Alex Galchenyuk and he is a potential lottery pick next year as a power winger. In net, the Bulldogs boast one of the OHL’s most improved players this year in Kaden Fulcher (Detroit).

Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ottawa, on the other hand, is a very young team. In a few years’ time, they could be Memorial Cup contenders. They could have five players drafted in the first three rounds this year (Kody Clark, Mitchell Hoelscher, Merrick Rippon, Kevin Bahl, and Carter Robertson). Offensively, they are paced by Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose), Travis Barron (Colorado), Austen Keating (2018) and Tye Felhaber. Chmelevski was a much hyped prospect who fell hard at last year’s draft (all the way to the 6th), but he has returned much stronger this season. His play away from the puck has greatly improved and it has taken his game to another level. But for all their talent offensively, the 67’s have had a very difficult time keeping the puck out of their own net this year. Overager Olivier Tremblay has not provided the stability that the team had hoped for when they brought him in early this year.

This one has all the makings of a quick series. This Ottawa team, as talented as they are young, is not yet ready for this type of challenge. The Bulldogs are one of the deepest teams in the OHL and their offensive firepower is likely to overwhelm an inexperienced defense and inconsistent netminder. One particular thing worth watching is the 67’s struggling penalty kill going up against one of the league’s best powerplay units from Hamilton. This has to be troubling for Ottawa because they also happen to be one of the league’s most undisciplined teams. And while Ottawa does have some great young offensive talent, the Bulldogs have one of the oldest defensive units in the league and are likely to limit the offensive chances of the 67’s. I look for Robert Thomas to have a big series here (and a big playoff performance overall). His points per game has taken a big dip since joining the Bulldogs, but I think he explodes this postseason.

Prediction: This Hamilton team is just too experienced and too talented for the 67’s. They have the advantage in nearly every area and should dominate. If Ottawa was getting better goaltending, I would say that they might be able to steal a game or two, but I do not even see that happening. Hamilton in 4.

#2 - Barrie Colts vs. #7 - Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: Mississauga leads 4-2

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: If I was a betting man, I would bet that this is the match-up that Barrie wanted to avoid in the opening round. In fact, it was probably the match-up every team wanted to avoid in the first round. Mississauga has underachieved all season long, but they have shown some signs of finally coming to life the last month or so. Offensive talent is not to be questioned. Their first two lines include names like Michael McLeod (New Jersey), Ryan McLeod (2018), Owen Tippett (Florida), Trent Fox, Albert Michnac (2018), and Mathieu Foget. This group of six matches up well against any top six in the Eastern Conference and it helps to explain why the Steelheads are the third highest scoring team in the Conference. And this excludes their leading scorer, defenseman Nic Hague (Vegas), who was the first OHL defender to score 30+ since Allan Rourke. But keeping the puck out has been a challenge at times. Swedish import and defensive stalwart Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles) has been injured and that has really challenged their younger defensive players to play more minutes than they are ready for. Furthermore, young netminder Jacob Ingham (2018) has had an awful sophomore season that has seen him essentially lose the starting job to Emanuel Vella.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This is potentially trouble because Barrie is the highest scoring team in the Conference and the 3rd highest scoring in the OHL. Their first line of Andrei Svechnikov (2018), Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa), and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota) has been absolutely shredding teams of late. The supporting offensive cast includes guys like Ryan Suzuki (2019), Jason Willms (2018), and Zach Magwood who work extremely hard in all three zones and bring energy that exhausts the opposition so that the first line can go to work. The Colts do not have any stars on the blueline, but they are a tight knit unit who work well with Barrie’s forwards to play a terrific team defense. In net, overager Leo Lazerev starts and while he does not necessarily win any games outright for the Colts, he is a mostly reliable presence. It should be noted that he has yet to win an OHL playoff series in his career and probably goes into this match-up with just as many question marks as Mississauga’s tenders.

There is no question that this is not your average #2 versus #7 seed match-up. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Mississauga largely dominated the season series, winning all three games in the new year by a combined score of 18-10. For whatever reason, the speed of Mississauga’s forwards gives the defense of Barrie a tough time and Lazerev has an .840 save percentage against the Fish this season. This is complicated even more by the fact that Andrei Svechnikov has been suspended for the first four games of the series for a head check. But I admit, I have a tough time picking Mississauga to win this series. I do not trust their defense to be able to handle Barrie’s depth up front. And if these games go to an offensive shootout like they did in the regular season, I think Barrie ends up coming out on top this time. Mississauga’s Mathieu Foget has also been suspended for the first four games of the series and his loss might actually be felt more because of Mississauga’s lack of depth. His acquisition really triggered the turnaround for the team. Barrie also needs to stay out of the box. In the regular season, they gave Mississauga almost double the amount of powerplays that they received and it cost them dearly with the Steelheads clicking at over 30% with the man advantage. If they can stay out of the box, and Lazerev can make a few saves, I still like Barrie to come out on top.

Prediction: The result of this series would not surprise me either way, even with the difference in seeding. But depth is critical in the playoffs and Barrie has the advantage there. I am excited to see how the Svechnikov/Luchuk/Sokolov unit handles the pressure of the playoffs. Svechnikov, in particular, can really cement himself as the #2 prospect available in the draft with a strong postseason performance once he returns from suspension (as long as Barrie does not get swept). Barrie in 7.

#3 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. #6 - North Bay Battalion

Season Series: Kingston leads 3-1

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: This is an intriguing match-up because of how differently these two teams approached the OHL season. Kingston brought in Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), Cliff Pu (Buffalo), Sean Day (New York Rangers), and Mitchell Byrne at the deadline to bolster an already solid line-up and make them contenders to come out of the East. While they failed to secure a division banner, the results post deadline have been mostly extremely positive. A healthy and re-invigorated Vilardi has provided the biggest boost, as his 1.87 points per game in Kingston is second to only Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis) in the OHL. His strength, on and off the puck, makes him a dominant force in all three zones and the type of player who works to tire and grind out opposing defenses.

Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson /OHL Images,

The North Bay Battalion were sellers at the deadline this year, shipping out veterans Cam Dineen (Arizona), and Brett McKenzie (Vancouver). Those moves only worked to light a fire under the Battalion roster and the team actually improved their record in the New Year thanks to the play of new acquisitions Matthew Struthers (2018), and Jake Henderson, as well as veterans Justin Brazeau (2018), and Adam Thilander (2018). Brazeau, in particular, is a player to watch. The 6-5” winger finished just inside the Top 20 of league scoring and was named as the East’s most underrated player in the recent coaches poll that was released.

If we are measuring up these two teams, we need to give the edge to Kingston in nearly every area. The Fronts lead the season series 3-1, winning the three most recent games (February on). The biggest advantage Kingston has is in net with Jeremy Helvig (Carolina) manning the crease. The overager and veteran netminder has 19 OHL playoff games under his belt and is unquestionably one of the league’s top netminders. Meanwhile, the Battalion will rely on either Christian Propp (2018) or Julian Sime, who have a combined zero OHL playoff appearances. Kingston also has a heavy advantage on special teams, with their powerplay and penalty killing units operating at a higher level. With Robertson and Vilardi operating down low on the powerplay, North Bay is going to need to stay out of the box to have any chance in this series. One wild card to keep an eye on is the health of Max Jones. Jones has been out since the end of January after undergoing surgery on a broken finger. It is likely he returns at some point in these playoffs and he can be a major x-factor.

Prediction: Ultimately, Kingston’s experience and leadership should carry them to a relatively easy victory in this match-up. Gabe Vilardi and Sean Day won a Memorial Cup together last year. Mitchell Byrne won an OHL Championship last year. And Cliff Pu and Max Jones won an OHL Title and Memorial Cup in 2016. Kingston in 5.

#4 - Niagara IceDogs vs. #5 - Oshawa Generals

Season Series: Tied at 1 game apiece

Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: Two teams that do not see a ton of each other match-up in round one. Niagara and Oshawa also happen to be two of the hotter teams in the OHL heading into the playoffs. The IceDogs are a team that rely on speed and energy to play an up tempo and offensively oriented style of game. They get after it on the forecheck and have a powerplay that has been much improved since the acquisition of overager Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh) from London. On top of Miletic, Niagara has a trio of offensive weapons that they rely on in Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Akil Thomas (2018), and Ben Jones (Vegas).

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Oshawa, on the other hand, prefers to slow things down and grind it out in the offensive end. Their fearless leader is Jack Studnicka (Boston), an excellent two-way center who makes an impact in so many different ways. A pair of first time draft eligible forwards support Studnicka; Serron Noel (2018), and Allan McShane (2018). Defenseman Matt Brassard (Vancouver) is also critical to their offensive success. He was one of the highest scoring defenders in the league in the second half and finished the year 7th in defensive scoring.

If we are truly comparing these two teams, it is difficult to determine who has a clear advantage. In goal, the nod should be given to Oshawa and their starter Kyle Keyser (Boston). Keyser has been a stable presence in net this year, definitely more so than Stephen Dhillon who has struggled for Niagara this year, or the inexperienced Colton Incze. Up front, I give the slight edge to Niagara because of their explosiveness and depth. On defense, the two teams boast slightly inexperienced units who are mobile, but can be mistake prone. Ultimately, I see two things possibly tipping the favor in Niagara’s direction. The first is special teams play. As mentioned, Niagara’s powerplay has been performing at a high level lately and Oshawa has one of the league’s worst penalty killing units. The second is home ice advantage, which Niagara owns after finishing the regular season on a 7 game winning streak.

Prediction: With home ice advantage, better special teams play, and a slightly more explosive offense, I like Niagara to win this series. Their goaltending concerns me slightly, but between Dhillon or Incze, they should be able to make enough big saves to at least get the IceDogs into the second round. But this one will be close. Niagara in 7.

Western Conference

#1 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #8 - Saginaw Spirit

Season Series: SSM leads 7-1

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson

Analysis: The juggernaut Greyhounds kick off their Memorial Cup push against the Saginaw Spirit, whose five game losing streak to end the season forced them down the standings and into this first round match-up. Sault Ste. Marie has nine NHL draft picks on their roster and two more potential first rounders for 2018. Up front, Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay), Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay), Jack Kopacka (Anaheim), Tim Gettinger (New York Rangers), Barrett Hayton (2018), and the underrated Hayden Verbeek pace the attack. But the real star is OHL 2nd leading scorer Morgan Frost (Philadelphia), one of the breakout stars of this season. On the backend, the Hounds are equally strong, led by Conor Timmins (Colorado), and Rasmus Sandin (2018). Neither seem to make a mistake with the puck and both are just as good in their own end as they are offensively. In net, Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) has been a steady presence who makes the saves when he needs to.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Saginaw’s strength actually starts in net where overager Evan Cormier (New Jersey) keeps the Spirit in a lot of games that they do not deserve to be in. This is important because the Spirit struggle to score goals. They were only one of three teams in the OHL to not score 200 goals on the season and the other two finished dead last in their conferences (Flint and Sudbury). Furthermore, their powerplay was a league worst 14.7%. There is definitely some offensive talent on this team, but the team’s best days are ahead of them as guys like Blade Jenkins (2018), Nicholas Porco (2019), Ryan Stepien (2020), Aidan Prueter (2020), and Damien Giroux (2018) gain experience. In fact, the team’s only NHL drafted forward, Brady Gilmour (Detroit) finished 9th in team scoring.

In all honesty, this series should not be close and is not likely to be close. The Spirit have a talented young roster, but they are not currently an equal to the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie has the advantage in nearly every area except maybe goaltending. Even then, Evan Cormier can only do so much. Heck, we might see the Greyhounds score more shorthanded goals than the Spirit score powerplay goals in the series.

Prediction: I want to say that Evan Cormier can do enough to steal a game for the Spirit in this series, but I cannot even see the Spirit winning a game. The Greyhounds are just too strong. SSM in 4.

#2 - Kitchener Rangers vs. #7 - Guelph Storm

Season Series: Kitchener leads 5-3

Logan Brown of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: This is an interesting first round match-up between two teams that did not end the regular season the way they wanted to. Kitchener, a strong team all season, struggled down the stretch, although managed to hang on to their Division crown. Meanwhile, the Guelph Storm were one of the league’s worst teams in the last few months that saw them lose their grip on the #6 spot in the West. Kitchener loaded up at the deadline by bringing in Logan Brown (Ottawa), Givani Smith (Detroit), Mario Culina, and Austin McEneny. I think it would be fair to say that Kitchener is still waiting to see the best out of three of those four, with Culina playing well so far as a starter. It has been the guys around all season like Adam Mascherin (Florida), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Joseph Gareffa, Logan Stanley (Winnipeg), and Riley Damiani (2018) that have been driving the team’s success. Moving into the playoffs, it will be about whether the newer faces can finally find chemistry or not. The health of defensive stalwart Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) could also impact the series.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Guelph, as mentioned, has also struggled down the stretch, especially when it comes to preventing goals. Goaltender Anthony Popovich (2018) appeared to tire of late after seeing a huge jump in workload this season. The defensive group, led by Ryan Merkley (2018), and Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton) also struggled, to the point where Merkley was a healthy scratch at times down the stretch. The Storm do have a hard working forward group who is capable of icing multiple scoring lines. The offensive leaders are unquestionably Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia) and Cam Hillis (2018), who along with Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis) form a quality first line.

Looking at this series a little more under the microscope, it is probably closer than people are making it out to be. The special teams match-up pretty well. Neither team has a dominant goaltender that one would qualify as a game-changer (no offense meant to Culina or Popovich). Both teams struggled down the stretch with team chemistry issues. The tipping point for me is experience. The Rangers have the clear advantage there, especially on the defensive end. Guys like Logan Stanley and Austin McEneny, who won a Memorial Cup together with Windsor last year, should really help to stabilize things, even without Connor Hall. I also look for longtime Rangers like Mascherin or Connor Bunnaman (Philadelphia) to really step up offensively to get this team over the first round hump.

Prediction: As mentioned, I feel like Kitchener’s experience advantage will help them come out on top in this series. I also feel that they have a much better team defense approach that likely plays out better for success in the playoffs. Guelph has talent, but they play a very high risk game that, without a ton of playoff experience, could be their undoing. It will be close, but Kitchener in 6.

#3 - Sarnia Sting vs. #6 - Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: Sarnia leads 5-1

Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: No offense meant to the rest of the Windsor Spitfires, but this match-up is about two things. The Sarnia offense (2nd best in the OHL) versus the goaltending of Michael DiPietro (Vancouver). The dynamic DiPietro is one of the few goaltenders in the OHL who is capable of stealing a series victory for his team. The Spitfires rebuilt, dealing off the majority of their veterans held over from their Memorial Cup victory last year, but decided to hang on to their star netminder for this reason. They battle hard in the offensive end behind the likes of Curtis Douglas (2018), Cole Purboo (2018), Cody Morgan (2019), Luke Boka, and Matthew MacDougall (2018). And they play smart in their own end thanks to Connor Corcoran (2018), Nathan Staios (2019), Grayson Ladd (2019), and Zach Shankar. But this team has zero NHL drafted players outside of DiPietro and are incredibly inexperienced.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Sting, conversely, were one of the biggest buyers throughout this OHL season, bringing in talented veterans like Cam Dineen (Arizona), Jonathan Ang (Florida), and Michael Pezzetta (Montreal). The lifeblood of the team is Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), the league’s leader in points per game this year and possibly the best offensive player in the OHL. He is currently zero for three in first round appearances and is likely to do everything in his power to finally reach the second round (and beyond). You could likely argue that overager Justin Fazio is the team’s second most important player in the series, especially considering that he has to match-up against DiPietro. The margin for error is slim.

One of Sarnia’s biggest strengths is on the powerplay where Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka (Calgary), and Drake Rymsha (Los Angeles) have a combined 34 powerplay goals this year. Problem is, Windsor takes among the least amount of penalties in the OHL so as long as Windsor can continue to stay out of the box, Sarnia is going to need to beat DiPietro 5 on 5. The question I have is, how will Windsor manage to score goals, at least enough goals to win this 7 game series? It will not be with the man advantage either (likely) as the Sting have the league’s top penalty killing unit. I am slightly worried about Sarnia’s inexperienced defense though, but that concern is more directed towards round two or three (if the Sting advance that far). Sarnia will need big guys like Ruzicka, Pezzetta, Jordan Ernst, and Hugo Leufvenius (2018) to crowd DiPietro’s space as much as possible and really make him uncomfortable. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Windsor fans can tell you, sometimes the best way to beat Michael DiPietro is through sheer luck and bad bounces.

Prediction: As much as I want to predict a Windsor victory, I do not see it in the cards. DiPietro will steal a few games and he will make Sarnia sweat. But the offensive firepower of Sarnia, combined with the inexperience of Windsor’s defense is likely to give the Sting too many scoring chances for the Spitfires’ star netminder to handle. Sarnia in 6.

#4 - Owen Sound Attack vs. #5 - London Knights

Season Series: London leads 4-2

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Analysis: As is usually the case, the 4/5 matchup in the Western Conference looks to be the closest match-up of the first round, and subsequently the most difficult to prognosticate. London traded off the vast majority of their big guns to retool to fight another day. Instead, the team played inspired hockey down the stretch led by a host of younger players eager to make their mark. When talking about London, we have to start with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2018), the lifeblood of the Knights. His 87 points are the highest by a blueliner since Ryan Ellis hit the 100 point mark in 2011. The speedy Alex Formenton (Ottawa) is also playing the best hockey of his OHL career thus far with 12 goals in 14 games to close out the regular season. And you cannot talk about London without mentioning how good the “kid” line of Liam Foudy (2018), Billy Moskal (2018), and Nathan Dunkley (2018) has been since the trade deadline. This trio was challenged to step up their games with increased ice time and they all responded accordingly.

Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Sound, on the other hand, was expected to be one of the top teams in the OHL this year but struggled to keep their star players healthy all year and subsequently struggled to perform consistently. That is, until the last few months when they have been, arguably, the OHL’s best. This team is scary good when healthy and they are now finally healthy. They roll three outstanding scoring lines, including a top unit of Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver), Kevin Hancock (2018), and Nick Suzuki (Vegas) that has been one of the OHL’s best over the last two seasons. They also have one of the OHL’s top offensive blueliners in Sean Durzi (2018), who if he did not get injured, likely could have challenged Bouchard for the defenceman scoring title. It is in net where Owen Sound has struggled this season as Olivier Lafreniere and Mack Guzda (2019) have battled to find consistency. No question, Owen Sound has to have their offense rolling to win because they are not going to win many 2-1 games.

So who has the advantage going into this match-up? Experience wise, the nod has to be given to Owen Sound...and by a wide margin. The Attack are returning the vast majority of a roster that lost in the Conference finals last season. The Knights are an extremely well coached team, but they are relying on a lot of rookies and sophomores in key roles and that can often prove to be a recipe for disaster in the postseason. The deciding factor in this series probably comes down to the goaltending. So long as Owen Sound can get at least adequate goaltending from one of Lafreniere or Guzda, they should win this series. But if their goaltending struggles and team is forced to constantly play catch-up, the series tips in London’s favor, a team with nothing to lose.

Prediction: I have to give the nod to Owen Sound here because now that they are fully healthy, they look like a tough team to stop. This is especially true for a team as inexperienced as London; even if they are extremely talented. The Attack can get the saves they need to win this one, even if London pushes them and makes them sweat. Owen Sound in 6

OHL Finals Prediction

When the field is finally narrowed down to two teams who battle it out for OHL supremacy, I expect those two teams to be the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

From the East I like Kingston for a couple reasons. The first is experience. As I already alluded to, they have a lot of players on that roster who have already won a Memorial Cup or OHL Championship (or both). That type of leadership goes a long way in the playoffs. The second is special teams play. The great Scotty Bowman always said combined special teams play was a great indicator of postseason success. Well the Fronts have the best powerplay in the league and the second best penalty kill. The third is goaltending. Jeremy Helvig is a veteran netminder who is about as consistent as they come. I have a ton of confidence in his ability to make saves when he needs to.

From the West, I like the Soo Greyhounds as they have looked about as dominant as anyone in the OHL has over the last few years. Their 116 points is the most since Barrie put up 116 in 2010. This team has it all. Special teams success. Good goaltending. Speed. Physicality. But most of all...depth. Drew Bannister’s players rarely seem to take a shift off and they rarely make mistakes with the puck. That composure at both ends of the ice makes them the favorite.

For the OHL Title, I am taking the Soo Greyhounds to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since they won back to back championships in the early 90ś.

St. Louis – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:49:39 +0000

In 2010-11, for the first time, the AHL had 30 functioning franchises, finally ensuring that each NHL team would have a representative in the second best hockey league in North America.

It was fun while it lasted. After seven years, there will once again be an NHL team without an AHL affiliate. As is the case every off-season, certain affiliate contracts expire and organizations move their minor league teams to different cities. This summer, the Senators moved from Binghamton, New York, to Belleville, Ontario. The Canadiens moved from St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Laval, Quebec. The Devils left Albany, New York to take over the abandoned Binghamton market.

Also, the Blues’ affiliation with the Chicago Wolves ended. The NHL expansion Vegas Golden Knights were quick to move in to the arena by O’Hare International Airport, while the Blues sat on their hands and will be without an AHL team this year, as the AHL did not follow the NHL into expansion.

Instead, the Blues have elected – or were forced into accepting – a halfway solution that will see them continue to rely on the Wolves to develop (some of) their AHL based prospects. This is admittedly an odd situation to be in. As it happens, Vegas, as an expansion team, does not yet have a full complement of prospects to farm out to the AHL. They have some, but most of the players under the control of the expansion team are either too young for the AHL, or being counted on to make up the team’s inaugural NHL roster.

To complete the Wolves’ roster, the Blues will be able to send some of their prospects to Chicago to continue their development. That solution will hold until and unless the Wolves run out of roster space. Leftover Blues prospects will reportedly be sent to other AHL affiliates, through arrangements that have not yet be finalized or publicized.

There are certainly positives to this arrangement from the Vegas perspective, not forcing them to stock their AHL affiliate with subpar free talent. Likewise, the Blues can avoid the annual hassle of poring through the AHL free agent bin and simply focus their energies on the players they have under ELCs. Further, it is our understanding that, as part of the Vegas system, the Blues would not be responsible for hiring, nor paying coach salaries.

The downside is far broader. Primarily, the Blues will not have their own coaches in charge of the development of some of their best young players, including Vince Dunn, Ivan Barbashev, Tage Thompson and others. There may well be a great deal of mutual trust between the respective Vegas and St. Louis GMs that would allow for the Blues to feel confident enough that their prospects would remain on the right path under outside guidance. Perhaps the strength of having a sizeable share of the roster all reporting to the same team (albeit a different team than the one that is signing the checks) will ensure that Chicago’s coaching staff is as attentive to the future Blues as they are to the future Golden Knights.

I would be more concerned with the leftover prospects that the Blues have to find shelter for elsewhere. Those players will be playing for coaches with literally no incentive to prioritize their development. What will - and can - the Blues do when one of their guys becomes a press box regular?

Robert Thomas of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

1 Robert Thomas – A late riser up draft boards last year, Thomas is a highly intelligent player who plays a very strong two-way game. One of the better defensive forwards in the OHL, he is also a high-end skater and began to demonstrate that he also has quality playmaking chops. A very creative player and is extremely patient with the puck, able to draw extra coverage on himself before squeezing the puck to a suddenly open linemate. Has enough of a shot to project increased goal scoring going forward.

2 Vince Dunn – One of the best skating blueliners in the AHL last year, Dunn sometimes receives flack for his defensive zone work and decision making, but there is no denying what he can bring to a team offensively from the point. The top scoring rookie defensemen in the league, he is dynamic with the puck on his stick. Can begin the transition and lead the rush up ice. Great at distributing the puck in the offensive zone. Can also threaten goalies with a sharp wrist shot from the point. Can be very feisty as well. Still has room to improve, but is a very exciting talent.

Klim Kostin, Russia

3 Klim Kostin – Limited to 31 games across six different levels largely due to a shoulder injury, Kostin’s draft stock was in free-fall for most of the second half of the season. Even without recent looks or big numbers to go by, it was a shock that he lasted until the last pick of the first round, considering that he was once thoughts of as a near lock to go in the top five. Has fantastic hockey intelligence and is a gifted puck handler. Noted for a North American style game before he was hurt. Assuming a return to full health, he will be a steal.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

4 Jordan Kyrou – One of the most improved players in the OHL last year. He nearly doubled his assist total, proving that his playmaking ability is high end. Knows what he wants to do with the puck well before he gets it on his stick. Very quick passes often leave defenders unprepared. Extremely intelligent, he anticipated very well on defense and limits his mistakes. A versatile player, he projects as a middle six forward who can play in the middle or on the right, as his team needs.

5 Ivan Barbashev – A dynamic offensive player who bring plus skating and stickhandling to the mix, Barbashev was up and down between the NHL and AHL last year, but more than held his own as he grew accustomed to the game at its highest level. Has enough of an extra gear that he drew more than his share of penalties in the AHL. Can be tenacious on the forecheck. Has very soft hands and good vision, capable of highlight reel passes. Has average size and defensive zone understanding. Can play center or on the wing.

6 Jake Walman – Overcoming a serious injury in his sophomore season, Walman finished his collegiate career strong. A good skater who uses his stick very aggressively in defense. His shot and puck skills are both very impressive. Plays with patience along the blueline. Will not shoot until a lane emerges, such as waiting out a shot blocker, to step around him. Reads the play well in all three zones. Not one for being the focal point of puck scrums, preferring to support his partner from behind. Has top four upside.

7 Tage Thompson – Getting the red marks out of the way first, Thompson is a poor skater. His feet are slow and he takes too long to get to his top speed. All the rest of his game grades out very well. He has great size and competes very well at both ends. Loves to play near the net, looking to screen the goalie. Has very good hands, both soft and quick. He can handle the puck with aplomb, or protect it in the corners. Can pick it with his snapshot. With just a little more speed, he would project as a middle six winger.

8 Ville Husso – As a sign for the depth in goaltending in this system, even after leading the Liiga in both’ GAA and save percentage in 2015-16, Husso still had to spend around one third of his first North American season in the ECHL. It seemed to do the trick. He was much better after finally getting the call up to the AHL. He has ideal size, likes to challenge shooters, and deadens shots against, limiting rebounds. Calm regardless of the traffic around him. He moves well enough to maintain starter projections.

9 Jordan Schmaltz – In his fifth year after being drafted in the first round, Schmaltz finally made his NHL debut last year. A good skater who reads the game well and plays a mature, quiet style, he showed better ability to participate in the offensive game in his second season in the AHL. Can walk the line on the point, and is more likely to look for a pass than to let one rip himself. Has a solid frame, but defends more with refined positioning than through physicality.

10 Samuel Blais – A strong trigger man in the QMJHL, Blais brought all of his game to the AHL last year. A high energy offensive player, he keeps his feet moving at all times in all zones, but excels in the offensive zone at getting himself open for a pass and scoring chance. Has a very quick shot release with nice whip as well. High variety of shots makes him very difficult to defend against. Plaudits aside, his shooting percentage was sky high (21.1%) and is bound for regression.

11 Oskar Sundqvist – After playing a marginal role in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2016 Stanley Cup championship, Sundqvist was seldom used by the Penguins last year and was not dressed at all in the postseason. A physical, two-way forward, he began to grow accustomed to the North American game in his second season since coming over from Sweden. His skating says “grinder”, but his quick hands and occasional flashy moves suggest a higher upside. Came to St. Louis in the Ryan Reaves trade on draft day.

12 Niko Mikkola – A tall and lanky blueliner with plus mobility, Mikkola is also very agile and pivots well. Not really an offensive defenseman, he has shown steady improvement in his puck skills since being drafted. More likely to pass the puck out of his own zone than to rush it up the ice. A minute muncher in Liiga, he is the type of reliable defenseman that can be counted on in all situations. He is fairly aggressive and is a very strong obstacle for forwards who like playing near the crease.

13 Austin Poganski – After flashing great finishing skills during North Dakota’s championship campaign of 2015-16, Poganski had a mildly disappointing follow-up as his offensive production had stagnated. He still showed a consistent, two-way game. He is alert and quick to capitalize on the mistakes of opponents. Willing to take risks if he senses a good chance in the offing. Has a big frame and moves well despite his size. Shows above average vision.

14 Evan Fitzpatrick – One of the top goalies of the 2016 draft class, Fitzpatrick is a better prospect than his numbers would indicate. Very effective when he is on top of his game, he has sometimes struggled behind one of the weaker teams in the Q over the past two seasons. Has high end athleticism and likes to come out to challenge shooters. Needs to show better compete as he can shrink in tight and late situations.

15 Nolan Stevens – Although limited to only 17 games due to injury, Stevens was scoring at a near elite level for Northeastern when he was healthy. A big forward who plays the cycle game well in the offensive zone, his first few steps are strong, although his top speed is average at best. Very comfortable skating with the puck and equally likely to pass as to shoot. Has man strength, but not an aggressive player. Going back to school for his senior season.

16 Nikolaj Krag Christensen – A very smart, projectable forward, Christensen held his own in his first season playing in the more competitive Swedish league, after having spent his entire youth to that point in Denmark. He has very good offensive vision and flashes slick mitts on occasion. Big bodied, he also does not back down in his own zone. He will be spending this season in Mestis, the second men’s division in Finland and seems ready for the test.

17 Adam Musil – One of several lower upside, hard-working, two-way forwards in the St. Louis system. Son of longtime NHLer Frantisek Musil, Adam Musil played an offensive role for the Czech squad in the last WJC. He has some stickhandling and playmaking ability, but lacks the creativity to continue in that type of role at the next level. Has a very big frame and uses it often, crashing and banging his way to puck retrieval.

18 Tanner Kaspick – A beefy and versatile forward who flashes a plus shot, Kaspick demonstrated commendable growth to his game last year despite missing close to half the season due to injury. He is a very hard worker who plays a heavy, physical game befitting his stature. Presuming that Nolan Patrick spends the season in the NHL, Kaspick will be relied upon very heavily to help drive Brandon’s offensive attack.

19 Alexei Toropchenko – Raw and toolsy, Toropchenko used the WU18 to catapult his reputation as a prospect. He has a very projectable frame and plays a more physical game than most Russian prospects. He likes to shoot the puck and scored at an impressive clip in the Russian junior ranks. A strong skater who needs to iron out a few technical kinks before earning a plus grade, he also flashes occasional plus hands, although more consistency is needed.

20 Mackenzie MacEachern – Although a decent offensive producer during his NCAA days, MacEachern’s offensive tools all grade out somewhat below average. His potential is instead wrapped up in his 200-foot game. A very hard worker who has earned a central PK role, he makes good decisions and completes his checks. He has good size, but is not overly aggressive. He has a very limited upside, but is a safe player who will minimize mistakes.

With few exceptions in either area, the St. Louis Blues veer towards players who combine high hockey IQ and strong skating. Although this year’s muddled AHL situation portends some stalled development along their AHL players, they have enough of their higher profile prospects still playing as amateurs that the big picture future should not be too unduly affected.

McKeen’s 2017 NHL Draft Rankings (Subscribers) – Top 125 – May 31st, 2017

Iain Morrell — Wed, 31 May 2017 14:16:51 +0000

MCKEEN'S 2017 NHL DRAFT GUIDE - Learn more here!

Nico Hischier will make National Hockey League history as the first name called in Chicago at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

The New Jersey Devils hold the first overall selection having won the draft lottery, and will be looking at three prospects in particular who have risen to the top of the 2017 draft class.

Switzerland's Nico Hischier #18 leans in for the face-off during preliminary round action against the Czech Republic at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Hischier is a very attractive choice having 'checked all the boxes' during an outstanding North American debut with the Halifax Mooseheads. The native of Naters, Switzerland led all rookie scorers in the QMJHL and finished 10th in league scoring, while delivering strong performances for his country at both the U20 and U18 World Junior Championships (WJC).

A fast and dynamic skater with high-end puck skills, Hischier distinguished himself for his two-way diligence and his ability to contribute in every area of the ice and - by extension - the game. He possesses a high hockey IQ and is a very creative player combining both structure and innovation.

It will be an agonizing decision if New Jersey opts to pass on Hischier in favour of the other prime attraction - Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Winnipeg native entered the 2016-17 season as the consensus top choice after a standout season in which he tied for the league playoff scoring lead with 30 points in 21 games (13-17-30) and earned WHL Playoff MVP honours.

Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Photo by Tim Smith/Brandon Sun

Patrick was injured during that playoff run however and underwent sports hernia surgery last July. His groin/abdominal problems would re-surface after playing in Brandon's opening five games, and sideline him for 34 games and force him to miss the U20 WJC.

Returning in January, Patrick still managed to finish fifth on the Wheat Kings in scoring with 20 goals and 46 points despite playing in just 33 games.

However he suffered another health setback late in the regular season - an unspecified upper-body injury - and missed the WHL playoffs.

Nolan Patrick would be the first Manitoban selected first overall in the NHL draft - with Nico Hischier set to become the first-ever Swiss-born player.

A third option emerged for New Jersey this spring at the U18 WJC where defenceman Miro Heiskanen turned in a commanding performance for Finland and effectively threw his hat into the ring.

Finland's Miro Heiskanen #2 lets a shot go during relegation round action against Latvia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

It makes some sense for the Devils to consider adding a potential building block on the blueline given the loss of Adam Larsson in last summer's Taylor Hall deal.

Heiskanen would be the first Finnish-born player to go first overall.

CENTRE STAGE

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires sits at No. 4 on the McKeen's Top 125 - ranking the best prospects available for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Gabriel Vilardi of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward led Windsor with 29 goals and 61 points - in just 49 games - and then played a central role in helping the Spitfires win the Memorial Cup, highlighted by a four-assist performance in a win over the top-ranked Erie Otters.

Big, highly-skilled, and ultra competitive, Vilardi brings plenty of meat to the plate - but the skating has raised concerns about how impactful an NHLer he can be. Described as a 'knock kneed' skater, he will have to continue upgrading his quickness and explosiveness.

The Kingston, Ontario native can play on the wing but showcased at the Top Prospects Game in January that he is very effective playing in the middle.

The fifth-ranked prospect is Casey Mittelstadt, the top American-born player.

Mittelstadt ripped apart the high school circuit averaging 2.56 points per game (64 points in 25 games) and earning Minnesota’s distinguished Mr. Hockey award as the state’s top senior skater. He fell short though of leading his hometown Eden Prairie to a state championship, falling in the semi-finals.

Mittelstadt was questioned about returning for his senior year amid concerns that his development could be stunted. However, he helped allay some of those concerns with impressive stints in the USHL, wrapped around his high school season, recording 30 points in 24 games - for a 1.25 points-per-game average which was tops in the league.

Sharp-shooting winger Owen Tippett of the Mississauga Steelheads is next at No. 6.

The Peterborough, Ontario native infuriated with his inconsistent (and incomplete) defensive work habits but, at the end of the day, may be the best goal-scoring prospect in this draft class.

He finished fifth in the OHL with 44 goals and added another 10 goals in 20 playoff games.

Slick-skating defenceman Cale Makar of the Brooks Bandits is ranked seventh.

The Calgary, Alberta native was among this season's biggest risers - shooting up the draft chart and dazzling with his skating and skills while leading Brooks to the RBC Cup final.

Makar still has plenty of growing to do in terms of learning how to harness and deploy his exceptional talents. His education will be in good hands for his upcoming freshman season at the University of Massachusetts. Makar may benefit most by staying on the NCAA collegiate route for at least two years, though the lure of the NHL is all powerful.

Sorting out the rest of the top 10 has been a convoluted journey since the initial rankings were published last fall. That's not unusual - but this season the rankings seemed to be in a larger state of flux. There's not much to separate the next dozen or so players - all of whom could conceivably land a top 10 spot.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks was another big riser, moving up from 24th - in the preliminary ranking - to grab the No. 8 position.

A cerebral two-way pivot with good size and skill, the Winnipeg native led Portland and tied for seventh in WHL scoring during a spectacular breakout season - in which he more than tripled his rookie numbers from 2015-16.

Glass begins a run of centremen with seven of the next ten players being pivots; Michael Rasmussen (10th), Elias Pettersson (11th), Martin Necas (12th), Robert Thomas (15th), Nick Suzuki (16th), and Lias Andersson (17th).

KLIM PICKINGS

The wildcards for this year's draft will begin with swift-skating Swedish defenceman Timothy Liljegren

The native of Kristianstad, Sweden has been a prime name for 2017 since he was 16 years old - and was ranked No. 4 on our preliminary list. However, he was sidelined early by a bout of mononucleosis and struggled to find his game after returning.

There's no denying the physical gifts as he is a strong, fast skater with a good skill set featuring a heavy wristshot.

Klim Kostin

However, his hockey sense and overall decision making have continually come into question as the scrutiny on his game intensified. He doesn't seem to possess an innate feel for pressure and can be prone to stickchecks and turning pucks over on outlets. Can this part of his make-up develop and mature? Perhaps. It's a risk NHL teams must weigh before considering him as a top selection.

Another 'hot potato' pick will be Dynamo Moscow forward Klim Kostin who began the season at No. 5 in the rankings following a solid showing at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial. The Penza native captained Russia and led his team in scoring (5-4-3-7) while flashing an intriguing mix of size, skill and creativity.

He also put in a decent showing at the Canada-Russia series in November, albeit not enough for World Junior team coach Valeri Bragin to include him on the U20 roster. However, Kostin underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January and missed an opportunity to further convince NHL scouts at the U18 WJC in April.

Strong and skilled with the puck, Kostin can create openings with his stickhandling and 1-on-1 abilities, but must work on his skating and consistency.

Eeli Tolvanen

Eeli Tolvanen also watched his stock soften as the season progressed after beginning as a top 10 pick (8th).

The native of Vihti, Finland tied for third in the USHL with 30 goals and then helped Sioux City reach the Clark Cup Finals. Tolvanen possesses sharp offensive instincts and a lethal shot, yet there are concerns about how his slight frame and dimensional game will translate to higher levels.

No player fell further in the rankings this season than towering Russian winger Nikita Popugaev.

The Moscow native fired 19 goals in his first 25 games with Moose Jaw, however his play tailed off in December and he was dealt a month later to Prince George where he continued to sputter.

Popugaev brings great size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds as well as a strong shooting arsenal. His skating needs to come along though, particularly his footwork and overall agility.

But the bigger concern is how badly he wants it - as his work ethic and defensive play regressed to alarming levels over the second half.

PLENTY OF FINNISH

Finland gave advance warning that they would be a big factor at the 2017 NHL Draft when they captured gold at the 2016 U18 WJC.

It was Finland's first gold medal at the event since winning the first two tournaments in 1999 and 2000 - and was accomplished with a predominantly underage blueline.

They followed up this year at the U18's with a silver medal, led by the splendid duo of Miro Heiskanen and Urho Vaakanainen.

Heiskanen's exploits were well chronicled, however Vaakanainen's play may have turned just as many NHL heads. His smooth skating, subtle skills, and innate feel for the game were on full display throughout.

Vaakanainen could turn out to be one of the best players from this draft.

Expect the Finns to be high profile at this draft - as they could place up to seven players in the opening round plus another half dozen in the second.

In all, there are 16 Finnish-born players in the McKeen's Top 125 including a number of potential sleepers such as Joni Ikonen (59th), Aleksi Heponiemi (65th), Emil Oksanen (76th) and U18 WJC captain Aarne Talvitie (77th).

Finland's Santeri Virtanen #22 carries the puck during semifinal round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Gritty two-way centre Santeri Virtanen threw his name into the ring with an impressive showing at the U18 WJC after missing most of the season to injury.

His late rise wasn't a total surprise as he had initially been slotted as a potential 50-70 pick after a good showing at the Ivan Hlinka last fall.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	Nation
1	Nolan Patrick	C	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/200	19-Sep-98	Canada
2	Nico Hischier	C	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/175	4-Jan-99	Switzerland
3	Miro Heiskanen	D	HIFK Helsinki (Fin)	6-0/170	18-Jul-99	Finland
4	Gabriel Vilardi	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-3/200	16-Aug-99	Canada
5	Casey Mittelstadt	C	Eden Prairie (USHS-MN)	6-1/200	22-Nov-98	USA
6	Owen Tippett	RW	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/200	16-Feb-99	Canada
7	Cale Makar	D	Brooks (AJHL)	5-11/180	30-Oct-98	Canada
8	Cody Glass	C	Portland (WHL)	6-2/180	1-Apr-99	Canada
9	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	Frolunda (Swe)	6-3/205	1-Jun-99	Finland
10	Michael Rasmussen	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-6/215	17-Apr-99	Canada
11	Elias Pettersson	C	Timra (Swe 2)	6-2/165	12-Nov-98	Sweden
12	Martin Necas	C	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-0/170	15-Jan-99	Czech
13	Urho Vaakanainen	D	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-0/185	1-Jan-99	Finland
14	Juuso Valimaki	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/205	6-Oct-98	Finland
15	Robert Thomas	C	London (OHL)	6-0/190	2-Jul-99	Canada
16	Nick Suzuki	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	10-Sep-99	Canada
17	Lias Andersson	C	HV 71 (Swe)	5-11/200	13-Oct-98	Sweden
18	Isaac Ratcliffe	LW	Guelph (OHL)	6-5/200	15-Feb-99	Canada
19	Erik Brannstrom	D	HV 71 (Swe)	5-10/175	2-Sep-99	Sweden
20	Timothy Liljegren	D	Rogle (Swe)	6-0/190	30-Apr-99	Sweden
21	Klim Kostin	C	Dynamo Moscow (Rus)	6-3/195	5-May-99	Russia
22	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	Sioux City (USHL)	5-10/175	22-Apr-99	Finland
23	Conor Timmins	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	18-Sep-98	Canada
24	Kailer Yamamoto	RW	Spokane (WHL)	5-8/160	29-Sep-98	Canada
25	Jason Robertson	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-2/195	22-Jul-99	USA
26	Ryan Poehling	C	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	6-2/195	3-Jan-99	USA
27	Nicolas Hague	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-6/215	5-Dec-98	Canada
28	Josh Norris	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	5-May-99	USA
29	Shane Bowers	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-1/185	30-Jul-99	Canada
30	Cal Foote	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-4/215	13-Dec-98	USA
31	Henri Jokiharju	D	Portland (WHL)	6-0/180	17-Jun-99	Finland
32	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	HPK (Fin)	6-4/195	9-Mar-99	Finland
33	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/190	12-Sep-99	Canada
34	Kole Lind	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/180	16-Oct-98	Canada
35	Jesper Boqvist	C	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	30-Oct-98	Sweden
36	Grant Mismash	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	19-Feb-99	USA
37	Keith Petruzzelli	G	Muskegon (USHL)	6-5/180	9-Feb-99	USA
38	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-2/165	1-Jul-99	Canada
39	Maxime Comtois	C	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-2/200	8-Jan-99	Canada
40	Adam Ruzicka	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-4/205	11-May-99	Slovakia
41	Morgan Frost	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/170	14-May-99	Canada
42	Filip Chytil	C	Zlin (Cze)	6-0/180	5-Sep-99	Czech
43	Nikita Popugaev	LW	Prince George (WHL)	6-6/220	20-Nov-98	Russia
44	Jake Oettinger	G	Boston University (HE)	6-4/210	18-Dec-98	USA
45	Josh Brook	D	Moose Jaw (WHL)	6-1/185	15-Jun-99	Canada
46	Santeri Virtanen	C	TPS Turku (Fin Jr)	6-2/195	11-May-99	Finland
47	Kyle Olson	C	Tri-City (WHL)	5-11/165	22-Mar-99	Canada
48	Evan Barratt	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	18-Feb-99	USA
49	Max Gildon	D	NTDP (USA)	6-3/190	17-May-99	USA
50	MacKenzie Entwistle	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-3/180	14-Jul-99	Canada
51	Stelio Mattheos	RW	Brandon (WHL)	6-1/195	14-Jun-99	Canada
52	Marcus Davidsson	C	Djurgardens (Swe)	6-0/190	18-Nov-98	Sweden
53	Michael DiPietro	G	Windsor (OHL)	6-0/195	9-Jun-99	Canada
54	David Farrance	D	NTDP (USA)	5-11/190	23-Jun-99	USA
55	Stuart Skinner	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	6-3/210	1-Nov-98	Canada
56	Matthew Strome	LW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-4/210	6-Jan-99	Canada
57	Alex Formenton	LW	London (OHL)	6-2/165	13-Sep-99	Canada
58	Eemeli Rasanen	D	Kingston (OHL)	6-7/215	6-Mar-99	Finland
59	Joni Ikonen	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-10/170	14-Apr-99	Finland
60	Scott Reedy	C	NTDP (USA)	6-1/205	4-Apr-99	USA
61	Sasha Chmelevski	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-11/190	9-Jun-99	USA
62	Filip Westerlund	D	Frolunda (Swe)	5-11/180	17-Apr-99	Sweden
63	Ian Mitchell	D	Spruce Grove (AJHL)	5-11/175	18-Jan-99	Canada
64	Maxim Zhukov	G	Green Bay (USHL)	6-3/190	22-Jul-99	Russia
65	Aleksi Heponiemi	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/150	9-Jan-99	Finland
66	Ostap Safin	LW	Sparta Praha (Cze Jr)	6-4/200	11-Feb-99	Czech
67	Jack Studnicka	C	Oshawa (OHL)	6-1/170	18-Feb-99	Canada
68	Nick Henry	RW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/190	4-Jul-99	Canada
69	Markus Phillips	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/200	21-Mar-99	Canada
70	Jarret Tyszka	D	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/190	15-Mar-99	Canada
71	Kirill Maksimov	RW	Niagara (OHL)	6-2/195	1-Jun-99	Russia
72	Jake Leschyshyn	C	Regina (WHL)	5-11/185	10-Mar-99	Canada
73	Alexei Toropchenko	RW	MVD Balashikha (Rus Jr)	6-3/190	25-Jun-99	Russia
74	Kirill Slepets	LW	Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr)	5-10/165	6-Apr-99	Russia
75	Olle Eriksson Ek	G	Farjestads (Swe Jr)	6-2/185	22-Jun-99	Sweden
76	Emil Oksanen	LW	Espoo United (Fin 2)	6-1/190	25-Sep-98	Finland
77	Aarne Talvitie	C	Espoo Blues (Fin Jr)	5-10/200	11-Feb-99	Finland
78	Reilly Walsh	D	Proctor Academy (USHS-NH)	5-11/180	21-Apr-99	USA
79	Ivan Lodnia	RW	Erie (OHL)	5-10/180	31-Aug-99	USA
80	Jonah Gadjovich	LW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-2/210	12-Oct-98	Canada
81	Ben Mirageas	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-1/180	8-May-99	USA
82	Dylan Samberg	D	Hermantown (USHS-MN)	6-3/190	24-Jan-99	USA
83	Antoine Morand	C	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	5-10/180	18-Feb-99	Canada
84	Morgan Geekie	C	Tri-City (WHL)	6-2/180	20-Jul-98	Canada
85	Alexei Lipanov	C	MVD Balashikha (Rus 2)	6-0/165	17-Aug-99	Russia
86	Jack Badini	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/200	19-Jan-98	USA
87	Brady Lyle	D	North Bay (OHL)	6-1/205	6-Jun-99	Canada
88	Lucas Elvenes	C	Rogle (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	18-Aug-99	Sweden
89	Zach Gallant	C	Peterborough (OHL)	6-2/190	6-Mar-99	Canada
90	Lane Zablocki	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	5-11/190	27-Dec-98	Canada
91	Kevin Hancock	C	Owen Sound (OHL)	5-11/185	2-Mar-98	Canada
92	Alexandre Texier	C	Grenoble (Fra)	6-0/190	13-Sep-99	France
93	Noel Hoefenmayer	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/190	6-Jan-99	Canada
94	Nate Schnarr	C	Guelph (OHL)	6-3/180	15-Jun-99	Canada
95	Jonas Rondbjerg	RW	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe Jr)	6-0/175	31-Mar-99	Denmark
96	Ivan Chekhovich	LW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-10/180	14-Jan-99	Russia
97	Robin Salo	D	Sport (Fin)	6-1/190	13-Oct-98	Finland
98	Luke Martin	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-4/215	20-Sep-98	USA
99	Cale Fleury	D	Kootenay (WHL)	6-1/205	19-Nov-98	Canada
100	Mikey Anderson	D	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-May-99	USA
101	Mason Shaw	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-9/180	3-Nov-98	Canada
102	Linus Nyman	RW	Kingston (OHL)	5-9/160	11-Jul-99	Finland
103	Gustav Lindstrom	D	Almtuna (Swe 2)	6-2/190	20-Oct-98	Sweden
104	Marian Studenic	RW	Hamilton (OHL)	6-0/165	28-Oct-98	Slovakia
105	Jack Rathbone	D	Dexter (USHS-MA)	5-10/175	20-May-99	USA
106	Artyom Minulin	D	Swift Current (WHL)	6-2/200	1-Oct-98	Russia
107	Kalle Miketinac	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/190	2-Apr-99	Sweden
108	Dmitri Samorukov	D	Guelph (OHL)	6-2/180	16-Jun-99	Russia
109	Ian Scott	G	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-3/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
110	Austen Keating	C	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/170	7-May-99	Canada
111	Maksim Sushko	RW	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/185	10-Feb-99	Belarus
112	Tyler Inamoto	D	NTDP (USA)	6-2/195	6-May-99	USA
113	Ty Lewis	LW	Brandon (WHL)	5-11/180	5-Mar-98	Canada
114	Drake Batherson	C	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-1/190	27-Apr-98	Canada
115	Rickard Hugg	C	Leksands (Swe Jr)	5-10/185	18-Jan-99	Sweden
116	Scott Walford	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-1/195	12-Jan-99	Canada
117	Jordy Bellerive	C	Lethbridge (WHL)	5-10/195	2-May-99	Canada
118	Matthew Kellenberger	D	Oakville (OJHL)	6-0/175	11-Jan-99	Canada
119	Johnathan Kovacevic	D	Merrimack (HE)	6-4/215	2-Jul-97	Canada
120	Nick Campoli	C	North York (OJHL)	5-11/190	16-Feb-99	Canada
121	Mario Ferraro	D	Des Moines (USHL)	5-11/185	17-Sep-98	Canada
122	Michael Pastujov	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/195	23-Aug-99	USA
123	Tyler Steenbergen	C	Swift Current (WHL)	5-10/190	7-Jan-98	Canada
124	Mark Rubinchik	D	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-0/180	21-Mar-99	Russia
125	Kasper Kotkansalo	D	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-2/200	16-Nov-98	Finland