Anton Olsson – McKeen's Hockey

2024 U18 Division 1A World Championship – Team Previews + 2024 and 2025 Draft eligibles scouts are watching

Chapin Landvogt — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 22:34:30 +0000

The U18 Worlds will soon be upon us!
But before the main event takes place later on in April, the world will witness what nation will participate in next spring’s event. With relegation out of the world’s top group once again a part of the equation, the D1A U18 Worlds has seen its significance grow once again, already starting with last spring. Hosted by France, Team Kazakhstan emphatically made its way into the top echelon after many years of absence, going 4-1 to gain first place at a tournament in which host France was relegated despite two losses first coming in overtime. The favorite at the time may have been Denmark but despite actually crushing Kazakhstan 8-3 in the tourney’s 3rd game, a 5-3 loss was coupled with a 3-2 OT victory over France to see Denmark finish one point behind the Kazakhs.

And that begs to question whether Denmark, which will be hosting this year’s edition in the port city of Frederikshavn, can view itself as entering this year’s event as the favorite once again? With geographical neighbor Germany having been relegated last spring, the current answer to that question is likely a negative. Not only that, but Japan enters tourney play having not only defeated the Danes last spring but finding itself on a bit of a streak in international friendly play, having defeated i.e. Germany not too long ago in a tournament in Slovakia.

But this event is perhaps more pertinent for the scouting community as it will be giving both the NHL, various junior ranks, and independent services a prime opportunity to view a large handful of prospects who are either dotting the junior ranks of Sweden, playing in various locations in North America, or are part of the famed Red Bull Academy in Salzburg. Even more interesting is that despite the odd draft candidate of interest for the 2024 draft, there are even greater insights to be won here for those looking towards the 2025 draft, as several late dates of birth in 2006 are coupled with a rather large portion of 2007-born youngsters who are already expected to be key performers for their various nations.

So, without further ado, we’d like to take an inside look at what scouts will be looking at for each team.

The favorites

Denmark

A host nation for this event is often either the team that was just relegated out of the top group or the one most expected to gain promotion. Surely there are other criteria, but Denmark is going to be a team to beat, and this is for good reason, as the club will not only feature a good handful of players who had an impact last spring, but many who are playing their junior hockey in the hockey big brother nation of Sweden. Granted, the team will no longer have an Oscar Molgaard, Anton Olsson, or Albert Schioldan to lean on, but there’s more than enough collective talent here to skate circles around several opponents at this tournament. And they will have returnee Anton Linde, a U20 league player for the Växjö program and author of 6 points last spring in a top six role. He’s expected to be the captain for head coach Flemming Green’s team.

Other catalysts on the team will be Swedish blueline legionaries Markus Jakobsen, Oliver Kristensen, Oliver Nielsen, and Frederik Rundh, all of whom spent this season getting plenty of ice time for their respective U18 clubs. In fact, Jakobsen even suited up primarily for Malmö’s U20 team, getting into over 30 games of action. The same can be said of forwards Oliver Dejbjaerg Larsen, Tristan Petersen, and moreover Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, with the latter two being of special interest. Petersen is 6’4”, 208 pounds and played the majority of the season with Jakobsen in Malmö’s U20 team, putting up a humble 8 points. That’s certainly notable but measuring in at 6’2” and 181 pounds, Klyvo went 26-22-48 and +28 in 40 total U18 league games for the famed Frölunda program. As impressive as that is for anyone, he’s only 16. It goes without saying that he’ll be one of the key tournament attractions all week long.

But Denmark will also be able to build on the experience of a number of domestic players who spent the winter playing pro hockey in Denmark’s second division. Among the more notable players are defensemen Frederik Amondsen, Jeppe Bertram, Viggo Damgaard, and Jesper Oelsen as well as forwards Mikey Bergmann, Andrew Bjergstad, William Bundgaard, Oliver Green, Philip Neergard-Henrichsen, Linus Rorth, Sebastian Stromstad, Peter Truelsen, Tobias Villadsen, and William Uhre. Damgaard’s father was a long time captain of the men’s national team and Truelsen has put up nice numbers while weighing in at 6’2”, 198 pounds. The 6’1” Bundegaard took things even further, suiting up for 46 top league games (10 points) after collecting 15 points in 10 second league games. But of all these players, each of whom has been able to establish himself at this level, it's the 16-year olds Green and Rorth who everyone is waiting to see at this tournament, just like the aforementioned Klyvo. Green impressively put up 28 points in 25 games while also getting into 40 top league games (5 points), making him the youngest player in the circuit. Rorth’s 7 top league games paled in comparison, but his 35 points in 33 second league contests had the nation talking.

Outlook:

There are no goalies returning from last year’s group, but Tobias Christensen and Patrick Tiedjen tended goal at both the U18 and 2nd pro league levels. Nondescript at the moment, they look like the one possible weakness. The rest of the team is bursting at the seams with players who, in comparison to the bulk of the competition at this tournament, have been seeing prime competition and topflight development. There’s experience, size, speed, and plenty of players who spent this winter putting pucks in the net. Although Linde would have to be seen as the star of the team in light of last spring’s performance, the youngster Kyvo will be playing in his hometown in front of plenty of friends and family. Seems like he’ll be gunning to create a fairy tale and he’ll have more than enough support in this endeavor.

Germany

It’s been almost 10 years since Germany revamped its modi operandi with the introduction of the PowerPlay26 program, one that has seen the development of the sport grow in leaps and bounds with respect to competitiveness. In light of the recent success of the men’s team at the Olympics and World Championships as well as the U20 outfit’s continual ability to find a way to remain in the world’s top group, it can be stated how much of a setback the relegation was last spring, getting handedly defeated by group newbie Norway. On paper, the loss was very disappointing as it wasn’t necessarily the least talented group Germany had thrown on the ice in recent years, but it became one of the least successful. Now, an even more talented group is going to be hitting the ice to get the program back where it feels it should be, among the world’s best. And the most endearing part is that this group is chock full of players currently of possible interest for the 2025 NHL draft.

In net, the Germans will turn to Linus Vieillard who we saw in goal last summer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and shortly thereafter at a U17 tourney in the Czech Republic. He followed that international experience with a masterful U20 league season for Berlin, with whom he was one win shy of taking the DNL championship. Lennart Neisse (Brantford Bandits) and Erik Eder both saw plenty of action this winter, even if both were in platoons of sorts with their respective teams.

The blueline will be one the scouting community will be keeping a real close eye on, seeing as how 17-year-old Max Merkl already debuted in the DEL last season and then spent the bulk of this season getting pro minutes in the top three leagues in Germany, including 7 more DEL outings. His 10 points in 5 DNL games clearly showed he had little to gain from remaining in the junior ranks. More importantly, Carlos Händel (Malmö Redhawks) and Max Bleicher (EV Füssen) are 2007-born defenders who are probably the best all-round defensemen on the team, especially in the areas of skating and offensive generation. Each is currently looking like a very likely draft candidate in 2025 and as impressive as the righty shot Händel’s 23 points in 28 U18 league games is, Bleicher’s 14 points in 35 3rd league games raised plenty of eyebrows. 21 points in 11 U20 and U17 games, all as a 16-year-old, show how ready he is for greater tasks. The remaining 4 defensemen have all been part of the program for two seasons now, but we’re hoping one of them is going to step up as a true top 4 option.

The one returnee from last spring’s squad is Elias Pul, a player who has had a decent, but quiet season for the RB Juniors program in Salzburg. The two-way center will surely play an important role here, likely teaming up with Nick Maul, another RB product who was Germany’s most notable player at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup last summer. Heavy two-way play and plenty of strong corner work will be expected of the multifaceted Clemens Sager, who got into 4 DEL games this year, and he may be complemented by Tobias Schwarz and Simon Seidl, each with a healthy portion of DEL2 experience this season and fresh winners of the DNL championship, having beaten Sager’s Polar Bears from Berlin in the process. The two have plenty of offensive acumen, but can they now bring it at the international level?

Some unknown excitement will be contributed by Tim Schütz (Okanagan Hockey Academy) and Max Brunner (Lidigö, SWE), two players whose true progress abroad has been hard to assess. But the real excitement in this squad will be provided by 2025 draft-eligibles David Lewandowski, Mateu Späth, Dustin Willhöft (who actually grew up in Frederikshavn), and perhaps 6’2” Timo Kose. All four were dominant DNL players this season despite being up to 3 years younger than many opponents. Lewandowski and Späth even gathered some valuable experience in Germany’s 3rd league, both serving as instant scorers for their teams and Lewandowski being named the junior player of the year. The latter will be able to continue playing with junior linemate Lenny Boos who has come on strong this season and has impressed when pitted against international competition. Perhaps most exciting up front has been the emergence of Elias Schneider, a 16-year-old who doesn’t turn 17 until July 8th. Despite his tender age, he finished 4th overall in DNL scoring (52 points in 38 games) and then tacked on 19 points in 13 playoff games. He wasn’t necessarily expected to take on a big role in the U20 team, but after 20 points in 4(!) U17 games, they couldn’t hold him back. He may be the most purely skilled forward on the team.

Outlook:

This outfit has the most interesting group of forwards, several wildly exciting defensive prospects, and a goalie who could easily be tops in the tournament. It’s also entering the fray with a chip on its shoulder, knowing it failed miserably by being relegated last spring. It enters play with two recent lopsided test game victories over Hungary but having suffered a 5-3 loss to archrival Austria in its final test game. What will that mean considering they open up tourney play with a contest against those very same Austrians? In essence, that first game and the final bout against Denmark will be decisive in Frederikshavn. Japan remains a team that Germany will have to tread water carefully with, but victories over Hungary and Ukraine are expected. It’ll be a very sad state of affairs for the hockey world if this group of 2025 draft-eligible players is spending next spring at a D1A U18 Worlds, so the push for promotion this year should be considerate.

The contenders

Austria

It’s strange thinking that a nation that recently spent several years in the top division of the U20 Worlds had to gain promotion out of the D1B group to even get to this event this year. And after the Austrians lost to Poland to kick things off last spring, it took a perfect record the rest of the way including close bouts against geographic neighbors Italy and Slovenia to get to this year’s event. With a collective sigh of relief, the Austrians have no reason to hide here due to the number of players involved who are either playing abroad or are part of the nation’s Salzburg-based Red Bull program.

Perhaps the most pressing argument for Austria’s competitiveness can be found in goal. Both Patrick Grascher (17-4) and Luca Haitzmann (13-1) had wonderful records at the U18 level in Austria, but last spring’s 3rd stringer Mika Haim looks to have the inside edge on the starting job after going 9-5 in platoon duties for Red Bull’s U20 squad. If there’s any platooning done in Frederikshavn, program fave Haitzmann should be the guy teaming up with Haim. The blueline is anchored by a concrete top 4 group featuring returnees Fabian Baumann, Gregor Biber, Johannes Gruber, and Paul Reiner. Not only do they bring the solid tourney experience of yesteryear, but Baumann (AlpsHL) and Reiner (ICEHL) spent the bulk of the season playing pro hockey while 6’3” Gruber plied his trade in North America and 6’3” Biber spent the year in a top 6 role for Rögle’s U20 team. It may be the most established quartet of any in the tournament. It’ll then be exciting to see if and how the three 16-year-olds Max Bärnthaler, Mario Hofegger, and particularly Niko Uschan are made use of. Whereas the 6’2” Hofegger spent considerable time in Austria’s U20 league, the lightweight Uschan (just 110 pounds!) put up 6 points and a +15 in 20 U20 level games while also chipping in 9 points in 9 games in Austria’s 4th pro circuit. All three will use any ice time here as an audition for greater tasks next season.

Up front, some new heroes will have to step up to the plate, as not one of the returnees from last spring’s tournament had more than 1 point. A 5-3 victory over Germany in the final test game several days ago says that this may not be a problem. Still, the overall class of the group is severely lacking, with only a few players of note leading the charge. First and foremost is 6’3”, 187-pound Felix Haiböck who already got into 11 AlpsHL games with the Red Bull Juniors, collecting 3 assists. For the program’s U20 squad with 41 points and a +28 in 35 games. Johannes Neumann didn’t produce a whole lot in 22 U20 league games for Rögle, but the undersized 17-year-old was a steady producer for the U18 squad. Both return from last year’s event. Leon Buzek (AAA in the US) and Benedikt Krainer (U18 in Finland) have gained strong experience abroad, while winger Leon Kolarik and returnee Luca Kogler are both part of the top 9, if not top 6 equation. Still, its two underagers up front who’ll be worth watching. 16-year-old David Watschnig returns from last spring’s tournament and led the entire nation in scoring at the U18 level with 82 points and a +36 in 38 games. 15-year-old Paul Sintschnig has raised eyebrows with his scoring acumen and may even be a second line winger in Denmark. Both are extremely promising and Watschnig appears to be a lock to head abroad next season. There’s reason to believe we may have another Marco Kasper on our hands here and it’s not just because both are from Klagenfurt.

Outlook:

If the go-to players are able to set the pace and successfully eat up the important minutes, this team can play for promotion. The depth is questionable, as is the international quality throughout the line-up. What the team can’t afford is to take a day or two off. They’ll head into the first match-up of the tournament against Germany feeling confident, but Denmark is going to be a hard nut to crack for this group and neighboring Hungary will play them harder than anyone else. There’s more than enough talent here to steer clear of relegation despite being the group’s newbie from below.

Japan

A side that just keeps getting better and better, the Japanese entry was hit or miss last spring, gaining two regulation wins, suffering two regulation losses, and winning one in OT. The club has also put up some nice results against the likes of Germany, Ukraine, and Slovakia in various test tournament events throughout the winter but remains an almost mystical club as so many of its team members play their hockey in Japan, which is somewhat undocumented at this level. Returning from last spring’s club should be goaltender Yuichiro Takase, who got into one game without allowing a goal against or changing the outcome, and forward Miura Hyuga, who himself played sparingly in the five games he suited up for.

As for the rest of the team, we’ll just have to see which line-up they throw out on the ice in Frederikshavn as no roster was provided at the time this article was established. We certainly hope to see 15-year old Darius Odermatt, a dual citizen who was born in Switzerland, even if a player that age rarely makes it into the U18 national team. It’s also hard to imagine Japan entering the tournament without Sazuku Kudo in goal seeing as how he already played at the D1A U20 Worlds. The same could be said about U20 veteran defensemen Ryunosuke Shirozu and Akira Suzuki.

To be noted is that Kenta Isogai never played for his national team at an IIHF event, so we’re not expecting Japanese-born players who have spent years away from the homeland.

Outlook:

The Japanese squad has become very unpredictable in recent years, almost always good for an upset here and there. That was not different last spring. The teams brought in have generally been fast and hard-working, yet undersized throughout the line-up. What viewers should expect is a team ready to pounce on mistakes and teach underprepared teams a lesson. We wouldn’t mind seeing a couple of young men stand out and turn into options for clubs in Europe and North America, but it should be denoted that the entire forward corps will be new aside from the aforementioned Hyuga.

The ones with nothing to lose

Hungary

After a 2-0 win over France, 3-2 OT loss to Ukraine, and 4-2 win over Japan last spring, Hungary entered the final day of 2023 tourney play with an outside shot at promotion. A 7-0 shellacking at the hands of Denmark changed all that. Now the Hungarians bring in a widely inexperienced team that will feature just 2 returnees on the blueline and 4 returnees in the forward ranks. Topping that off, there’s no telling if those veterans will even be the team’s most dependable players as all have been playing in spots around the hockey world that feature rather inferior competition in the grand scheme of things. Still, one of those returnees is the 6’2”, 186-pound defender Ven Bendeguz who just turned 17 roughly a month ago. Already in his second appearance, the swift-skating blueliner has been playing in Sweden for a number of years now and was a regular contributor for Södertälje’s U18 squad this winter. A year away from draft eligibility, he’ll be one to watch throughout this tournament. Döme Szongoth is one of the tourney’s oldest players and is coming off a strong year with Ingolstadt’s DNL club, so he’ll have to be a guiding light while 16-year old Dominik Nagy, who just wrapped up a solid U18 season in Sweden, gains valuable experience as one of the most promising players in the program. Looking like the team’s overall leader is Krysztian Franyo, a 6’2” returnee who took a regular shift at the D1A U20 Worlds last December.

Goalies Dominik Kiraly (Canada) and Viktor Pasztor (Finland) each put up winning records this winter while gaining reps abroad but are coming off test games in which opponents were not exactly held off the scoreboard. Theoretically, both should be strong suits of this outfit. A bigger question is who is going to score. Returnee Oliver Barna (Canada) and Kolos Feher (Finland) both scored a good number of goals for U18 programs abroad while a handful of other forwards were sprinkled around mostly Finland’s junior ranks, but the majority of players are coming from junior programs in Hungary and only returnee Balint Lobenwein spent much time playing primarily for a U20 outfit, where he put up 35 points in 32 games. Scouts will be most in tune at watching a trio of 2+ underagers. Marcell Mayer (16) spent the season in Hungary but is thought to be heading abroad next season. Agoston Schmidt (16) just wrapped up his second season in Finland playing for TPS’ U16 club, for whom he put up 43 points in 38 games. Impressive, but only good enough for 50th overall in league scoring. This brings us to the most enticing player the Hungarians could put on the ice, namely 15-year old Doman Szongoth. Already 6’1” and 185 pounds, Szongoth led Finland’s U16 circuit with 76 points in 33 games on the strength of 49 goals. The KooKoo program had no qualms in having him conclude the season with the U18 team, where he added another 17 points in 18 games. The chances are that Szongoth will be a top six forward already next week.

Outlook:

Unless a goaltender steps to the plate and wins a couple of games on his own, the team is very realistically playing against relegation. The game against Ukraine on the 18th is already being viewed as the must-win contest. The 8-0 and 7-3 losses to Germany didn’t bode well but the team has hopefully learned from them. Otherwise, the scouts will be looking at individual players and a few of these young men will likely find themselves in programs abroad next season if they put on a good display here. In essence though, all eyes will be on the younger Szongoth who is on pace to be a hot topic for the 2026 draft.

Ukraine

That Ukraine is even here under the current circumstances in world affairs is an achievement unto itself. As any astute fan can imagine, the team will consist of players who are currently playing their hockey and taking their next steps in development basically across the globe. Not only can this lead to an above-average level of unfamiliarity with each other, but also to different levels of play that are hard to measure in a short period of time. What the team will not lack is any pride in wearing the colors of their nation. For many, this is a pinnacle showing of self-identification.

Still, the roster will feature precious few returnees from last year’s event. Only 2 defensemen and 3 forwards will be returning, and the goalie contingent will be completely new to the event. Fortunately for Ukraine, they’ll have a trio of players coming in that is fully intact from U18 league play in Norway, where the three have played dominating roles, most particularly Mykhailo Haponenko, whose 69 points in 30 games led the way and was topped off by another 5 in 4 U20 league games. His radar partner is Daniil Kurayev, who himself put up 51 points in 28 games, will accompany him here on what should be the top line.

Most interesting however is 16-year old defenseman Mykola Kosarev who put up 14 goals and 35 points from the blueline - in only 22 games. This tames the achievements of his older peers in the same league, especially considering he also got into 8 U20 games for Norwegian powerhouse club Stavanger and added another goal and 7 points. Whereas it’s already felt he’ll be playing in a more notable league next year, the underager will have a wonderful opportunity to present himself to eyes that had not yet seen him here at this event as his star the largest of the group, as interest should be there from CHL and USHL clubs. His defensive partner could be returnee Aleksii Yektiekhov, a vet of the D1B U20 WJC, who put up 28 points in 55 Czech U20 games for Pardubice. Even if not, Yektiekhov should be general of the blueliners and out there in all important situations.

In addition to featuring a line-up with a majority of the players spread out all across Europe (only one player active in Ukraine), there are 9 participants who are busy in lower level leagues across North America. Artem Chepil and Danyil Denisenko are the most notable of the group, both having excelled as offensive weapons for the respective programs, the Boston Hockey Academy and HCAA U18 respectively. Everyone else appears to be an open book. Who will take this opportunity to shine?

Outlook:

Of the three goaltenders, only Illia Semekha has spent any significant time in goal this season. Last spring’s 6’2” starter Alex Levshin has only played in one game this season. The incongruity in net, with the lack of a clear-cut starter, should be a weakness right out of the gate. The team is coming from all over the place and will have precious little time to come together. On top of it all, not a player on this team is playing regularly in any major junior or pro league of note. Lastly, there’s no France to serve as a buffer zone this year, instead being replaced with a heavy German team with considerable aspirations. Ukraine is the clear underdog, even if the team will likely have more crowd support in Denmark than anyone outside of the event’s host.

HLINKA GRETZKY CUP REVIEW – Sweden – Disappointing result – Strong tournament

Steven Graves — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 19:05:49 +0000

Sweden’s performance at the Hlinka Gretzky was actually quite good, despite a fifth-place finish at the tournament. The way the tournament is structured, the Swedes got incredibly unlucky and finished third in the pool even though they had only lost one game. Other than the one loss against the Americans, they played really well in the tournament. The first two games resulted in a 11-1 thrashing of the Germans, then a 6-1 loss against the Americans. Because of the results of the rest of the games in the pool, the Swedes needed to come away with a win by at least six goals against the Czechs in their third game in the tournament to get into the semi-finals. They were up 4-0 after two periods but the Czechs locked in during the third period and the Swedes came away with a 4-2 win. This meant that the Swedes failed to make the Semi Finals for the first time since 2013, and they would be playing the Swiss for fifth place - where they would prevail with a 3-2 win in overtime as Linus Eriksson scored 35 seconds into the extra period.

Top Five

Leo Sahlin Wallenius

Keep your ears open for this kid's name this season, Sahlin Wallenius I thought had a coming out party of sorts at the Hlinka for this Swedish team, and a kid I think will shoot up draft rankings this year. This Swedish defender caught my eyes whenever he was on the ice. Sahlin Wallenius really showcased just how good his transition game was. It was a regular occurrence to see him retrieving the puck in the defensive end and carrying the puck into the offensive zone using his great skating ability and subtle head fakes to great effect in doing so. He was also so poised from the blueline. Everything he does looks so casual and calculated. He was great at defending against speed using strong gaps and an active stick to great effect to slow down, then close out on his opponents. When he got control of the puck in the offensive end, he tended to go for a lap around the ice, trying to open up his teammates for scoring chances. This worked on many occasions and it seemed like his coaches trusted him the most of any defender on the team as he was on the ice more than all of them. He was probably the single most impressive Swede in the tournament.

Alexander Zetterberg

Zetterberg was electric all tournament long. He was the straw that stirred the Swedish drink for most of the tournament. The small yet skilled forward was really effective in how he was able to pick up the puck in the neutral zone, enter the offensive zone and control the pace of play. He was very dangerous when attacking the outside in transition due to how fast and agile he is. On many occasions throughout the tournament, Zetterberg was able to use his great vision to find open teammates for excellent scoring chances. He isn’t just a small, offensive forward though - he would often be the first forward on the backcheck, using his stick to great effect to disrupt his opposition and create many turnovers because of it. Although Zetterberg was so effective at creating offense when he was on the ice for the Swedes, he would at times hold onto the puck longer than he maybe should have in the offensive zone, while looking off teammates to do something himself. This is a tiny gripe, and one many offensive players his age deal with but something that stood out throughout the tournament.

Herman Liv

It’s crazy that the best goalie in the tournament went 4-0 with a .937 save percentage yet his team finished in 5th. That should let you know just how unlucky the Swedes were in their group stage. Liv was stellar all tournament long, he single-handedly kept the Swedes in the game against the Czechs with many big saves during key moments. Liv isn’t the biggest goalie, but he moved really well side to side and showed a never give up mentality no matter where the puck was. He had lightning quick reflexes and was excellent at tracking the puck. His size may hamper his impact at the next level, but in my eyes, he was clearly the best goalkeeper at this tournament.

Hugo Zetterlund

Zetterlund was a guy that wasn’t really on my radar until this tournament. He really stood out in the tournament with his ability to read the play a step ahead by putting himself in excellent positions to create or finish off an offensive opportunity. It was impressive how he was able to get lost in coverage and find open ice when he wasn’t on the puck. Although his high IQ was more noticeable in the offensive end, he used his positioning to great effect to hamper the opponent’s breakout by putting himself and his stick in position to take away passing lanes. Zetterlund also showcased his skating ability and motor, with how he and his line were playing hard on the puck and giving their opponents as little space as possible. He also has good four-way mobility - he was great at maneuvering around the ice with deceptive fakes with his feet that would give him just a little more time and space to find a play. Zetterlund and his line were great all tournament long for the Swedes.

Alfons Freij

I thought Freij played a stellar tournament. He was excellent for the Swedes on the breakouts, able to retrieve the puck well and zip an outlet pass to one of his streaking forwards with great effect throughout the entire tournament. In the offensive zone, he excelled at moving the puck efficiently to his forwards for scoring opportunities. He was also quite effective at getting the puck to the net from the point, he did a great job at moving across the blueline until he found a lane to shoot and put the puck on net. His skating was also quite impressive, he didn’t carry the puck out of his zone often, but when he did, he showcased his fluid skating stride. Defensively it was a bit of a mixed bag, for a guy who has good size already at his age, I found he struggled to box out in front of the net and use any sort of physicality all together. In the game against the Germans for example, he had excellent positioning on a smaller German forward along the boards but was unable to come away with the puck after getting out muscled. All in all, though, it was a very pleasant tournament for Freij.

Disappointments

Anton Olsson

Olsson was a guy I was really excited to get to watch coming into the tournament. He has been a guy I have foreseen as one of, if not the top defender in the ‘06 Swedish age group. At the Hlinka - however, he failed to live up to my expectations of him. He wasn’t very assertive in the offensive zone. It felt like he wanted to get the puck off his stick as quickly as possible and on many occasions forced plays in the offensive zone. In the defensive zone he was better, he was quite aggressive when defending and wasn’t afraid to throw his body around and be physical. However, throughout the four games played Olsson was quite undisciplined taking a total of five penalties, none as bad as the unsportsmanlike conduct call against the Czechs that allowed them to make it 4-2, with just over three minutes remaining. The Swedish team was very dejected after that goal. It wasn’t a great showing for Olsson, but there is talent here, so here’s hoping this was just a down event for him.

Karl Sterner

Sterner I thought started out quite strong against the Germans. He scored his only point of the tournament in that game and like everyone else on the Swedish team from this game, looked great in the offensive zone. Throughout the rest of the tournament, however, he was really nowhere to be seen. When he would do something of note - it wouldn’t be for the best reasons. In the game against Germany for example, he had the puck at the goal line and looked off teammates in better positions to score, just so he could try a low percentage shot that rimmed around the boards and out of the offensive zone. This made me question his decision making with the puck, and his overall hockey IQ. On top of suspect IQ, I didn’t like his willingness to float in the offensive end instead of attacking and pressuring a puck carrier, he was too much of a passenger at this tournament for me. Sterner is still a promising Swedish forward for the 2024 draft, but this tournament he just didn’t showcase that much.

NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS: 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Preview – Players to Watch

Brock Otten — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:19:17 +0000

The first scouting event of the new draft season is right around the corner, and everyone is rightfully excited. On July 31st, action gets under way at the 2023 Hlinka/Gretzky Cup in Breclav and Trencin, with Canada looking to repeat as Champions. Last year, Canada captured gold on the back of strong play by Cal Ritchie, Brayden Yager, and Cam Allen, and they enter this year’s tournament as the favourites again. Once again, Russia will not be participating due to the ongoing war with Ukraine, and Germany will be taking their usual spot.

Let’s go over some of the players to watch for each team.

Group A

Czechia

Adam Jecho - Forward

Amazingly, this will be Jecho’s third Hlinka/Gretzky Cup. He’s still looking for his first goal at the event but should definitely earn it this year as one of the top forwards in the tournament. A potential lottery pick, he has recently signed on with Edmonton of the WHL for this year. The big winger is dynamite in transition with his size and speed.

Adam Jiricek - Defense

The younger brother of top Columbus prospect David Jiricek, Adam plays a similar kind of game. He can have a real positive impact on the game offensively but is still finding his footing as an elite two-way player. He is another potential lottery selection on this roster.

David Svozil - Defense

Another brother of a solid NHL defense prospect, David is the sibling of Stanislav. He too is a smooth skating puck mover, but he has a larger frame than his brother giving him a bit better defensive upside.

Tomas Galvas - Defense

Intelligent, two-way defender with high end skating ability. Galvas has already seen action in the Czech Extraliga. There will be questions about his high-end upside, but this is going to be a big tournament for him to prove that he belongs in the first round conversation like his teammates.

Jakub Fibigr - Defense

If you hadn’t guessed, the defense should be the strong suit of this Czech team with four potential high selections coming into the season. Fibigr is also a smooth skating defender, but one with the potential to quarterback the powerplay and put up points.

Adam Benak (2025) - Forward

One of the few 2007 born players at the event this year, Benak is an incredibly talented center who dazzled at the U17’s last year as an underager, even pulling off “The Michigan.” His role on this Czech squad could be more support oriented, but he’s a potential top prospect for 2025.

Germany

Manuel Schams - Defense

The likely captain of this Germany squad, Schams has been relied upon to be the top defender in the ‘05 age group thus far. A two-way defender and possibly Germany’s best hope to have a 2024 draft selection, look for him to eat heavy minutes.

Rio Kaiser (2025) - Defense

Kaiser is a raw defender with great upside thanks to his massive 6’7 frame. He is a late born 2006, so he’s not NHL draft eligible until 2025. Recently selected by Peterborough in the Import Draft, he will stay in Germany this year.

David Lewandowski (2025) - Forward

The 2007 age group is a much better one for Germany with several players showing the potential to be potential NHL draft selections. Lewandowski is a rangy pivot with strong puck protection skill, and he could be the team’s first line center despite being an underager.

Gustavs Griva (2025) - Forward

Another 2007 born player on the roster who will likely play a large role. Latvian born, but German raised winger who also has a twin on the team (Richards). While both are great players, Gustavs is the likely higher touted for now.

Carlos Handel (2025) - Defense

Yes, another high end 2007. Handel could be one of the top defenders on this German team as an underager. He’s going to be playing this year in Sweden with the Malmo program. There is high hope that he can turn into a Seider/Reinbacher type of prospect in the future.

Sweden

Alexander Zetterberg - Forward

No, he is not the son of former Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg, but there is apparently some distant relation between the two. What is certain is that Zetterberg enters the year as the top 2006 born Swedish player eligible for the draft (there are other strong late 2005’s). As such, the diminutive, but skilled and feisty center will be counted upon to be an offensive leader for this Swedish team.

Alfons Freij - Defense

An aggressive offensive defender with quick feet, Freij has the potential to be the first Swedish defender selected in 2024. He is ultra confident with the puck on his stick, and he was good for Sweden in a depth role at last year’s World Junior A Challenge, an event containing some pretty solid older prospects.

Anton Olsson - Defense

Not to be confused with the Nashville stay at home defender of the same name. This Anton Olsson is much more offensively oriented and fleet of foot. He should help anchor the blueline with Freij, as he did at last year’s U17’s.

Lucas Pettersson - Forward

Pettersson is an intelligent two-way center who has great playmaking chops. He was the second leading U17 scorer in the Swedish J20 league last year behind Zetterberg and he should form a great 1/2 punch down the middle for Sweden.

Karl Sterner - Forward

Lately there seems to be a big Swedish forward with intriguing athletic potential available every year at the draft. This year, that player appears to be Sterner. He shows an ability to put defenders on his back and control the wall. The skill, size, and skating combination will be very interesting to watch this year.

Linus Eriksson - Forward

Don’t let the limited production at last year’s U17’s fool you, Eriksson was one of Sweden’s top players at the event. He uses his strong skating ability to impact the game in all three zones and has the creativity to be a topflight playmaker. Eriksson’s upside is very high, and he will be one to watch at this tournament and throughout this season.

Victor Eklund (2025) - Forward

A large contingent of the top end forwards on this Swedish team are late birthdays. Victor is the younger brother of top San Jose Sharks prospect William Eklund. He plays the game in a similar way, as a slippery and creative playmaker. However, he did struggle at the J20 level last year and at the U17’s.

Viggo Nordlund (2025) - Forward

Kind of a similar player to Zetterberg…and yes, he is also a late born 2006 player. Nordlund was very noticeable at last year’s U17’s due to his combination of vision, passing ability, and strong agility. He can really keep the puck on a string, and he should play a top six role at this event.

Love Harenstam (2025) - Goaltender

In contention to be the best 2007 born goaltender on the planet, there is no guarantee that Harenstam sees considerable action given that he is an underager. However, he is a player to watch based on his immense upside as the next great Swedish netminder…and of course his amazing name.

United States

Trevor Connelly - Forward

One of the key figures on this U.S. team, Connelly was already an impact player in the USHL last year as a 16-year-old for Tri-City. He brings size, speed, and skill and is a lethal scorer from inside the dots. He also competes hard away from the puck and could ultimately be a first round pick next June.

Mac Swanson - Forward

Not the biggest forward, but Swanson is incredibly skilled. He was a near point per game player in the USHL as a 16-year-old for Fargo and was one of the best players in last year’s Clark Cup playoffs. His playmaking ability and vision are near elite. This tournament will be a big test for him. Players at his size (5’7) need to produce to be drafted.

AJ Spellacy - Forward

A big power forward playing for the Windsor Spitfires who was having a terrific rookie year prior to a season ending knee injury. He was a surprise addition to camp given his injury timeline but ended up making the team. He brings a ton of physicality and energy to the ice and can be a difference maker in transition.

Aidan Park - Forward

One of a few California kids on this roster, Park is a Shattuck St. Mary’s standout who is committed to the University of Michigan in the future. He’s an intelligent two-way forward with good skill and speed who didn’t look out of place in limited USHL action last year.

William Zellers - Forward

Another Shattucks St. Mary’s player on the roster, Zellers is a high IQ support winger who should play on the first two lines of this U.S. team. The Boston University commit is also a member of the Green Bay Gamblers.

Owen Keefe - Defense

Expect Keefe to be a defensive anchor for the U.S. at this event. He’s got a very polished and mature defensive game already thanks to strong mobility, reach, and a high IQ. The Muskegon (USHL) defender is a Boston University commit.

Will Felicio - Defense

Felicio is an undersized, but talented offensive defender who can run the powerplay and move the puck. He was a member of the USHL All Rookie team last year after a great season with Madison. Look for Felicio to run a potentially dangerous powerplay at this event.

Thatcher Bernstein - Goaltender

One of the top goalies in the prep school scene last year as a 16-year-old, Bernstein appears to have the inside edge to be the starting netminder for this U.S. team. He has the size that NHL teams are looking for and he’ll be playing for Dubuque this year in the USHL.

Ryker Lee (2025) - Forward

Lee is yet another Shattuck St. Mary’s player and is perhaps the only one guaranteed to return to the program this year as a late born 2006. He is a highly creative and skilled offensive player who could play a top six role on this team despite some size/strength deficits.

Group B

Canada

Sam Dickinson - Defense

Dickinson, a London Knights defender, is a potential top ten selection this year as a dominant two-way player. He controls the play with his combination of length and mobility, and he can have a profound impact on the transition game. Look for him to be one of the better defensemen at the event.

Henry Mews - Defense

Another potential top ten selection on the blueline out of the OHL, Mews is a different player than Dickinson, but he is equally effective and intriguing as a prospect. He oozes offensive potential thanks to his high-end vision and touch. He will also be an integral part of this Canadian Hlinka team.

Zayne Parekh - Defense

Look for Parekh to quarterback to the top Canadian powerplay after a record-breaking season in the OHL. His 21 goals set a new record for scoring by a U17 defender in the OHL. He’s a hybrid style defender with a high skill level and the skating ability to play aggressively with the puck.

Berkly Catton - Forward

The former first overall pick in the WHL by Spokane, Catton will be one of the main forwards to keep an eye on at this event. He is a potential top five selection thanks to the pivot’s complete game and skill level. He can do it all on the ice.

Cayden Lindstrom - Forward

Lindstrom is a huge, but lanky forward who is still learning how to unlock his physical potential. He can be an absolute force on net drives already and flashes high end skill in transition. Imagine how good he’ll be once he fills out his frame? Expect him to be a draft riser over the course of the year and it could start with a strong performance here.

Maxim Masse - Forward

One of the few players from the QMJHL on the roster this year, Masse was the CHL Rookie of the Year last season. Masse is a skilled scoring winger who also has good size and plays hard away from the puck. The Hlinka/Gretzky offers him an opportunity to show scouts that he has worked hard to improve his skating.

Michael Misa (2025) - Forward

The lone 2007 born player on this Canadian roster, Misa was granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada to enter the OHL early. He did not disappoint in his rookie year, albeit in the face of some injuries. He is a dynamic force when attacking with pace because of his ability to blend speed and skill. His shot is insanely good too. Look for him to be among the team’s offensive leaders despite his age.

Porter Martone (2025) - Forward

Expectations for Martone at this event will be quite high after he was great for Canada in a depth role at the U18’s as an underager. The late born 2006 winger plays a power game and has the size and skill to dominate down low.

Malcolm Spence (2025) - Forward

Another late 2006 born forward on this roster who could play a large role, Spence is an athletic beast. His rookie year with Erie had its ups and downs, but he did enough to flash his high-end offensive upside thanks to his combination of size and skill. Of all the players on this Canadian roster, Spence is the one that I’m most intrigued to see improvement from.

Gabriel D’Aigle (2025) - Goaltender

The last time we saw D’Aigle, he was thrust into action in the medal round for Canada at the U18’s despite being only 16. While he wasn’t fantastic, he held his own under the circumstances and should be one of the best goalies at this event. He’s not NHL draft eligible until 2025 with a late November birthday.

Finland

*of note, top Finnish ‘06’s Aron Kiviharju and Konsta Helenius will compete with Finland in the upcoming U20 showcase in Plymouth instead of the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup.

Veeti Vaisanen - Defense

There is some thought out there that Vaisanen has a chance to push ahead of Kiviharju as the top Finnish defender available this year. With Kiviharju out of the event, he will get his chance to shine. He’s a highly mobile two-way defender who will need to show that his offensive capabilities are high end.

Niilopekka Muhonen - Defense

Muhonen is a big defender who has already been playing at the U18 level for a year now, suiting up at last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky and this year’s U18’s. He’s already very polished in the defensive end and has great upside as a shutdown type. Does he have the upside to match? He could easily be a first-round pick next June if he shows that.

Joona Saarelainen - Forward

Likely to be the first line center and primary play driver for this Finnish entry, Saarelainen is a skilled, but undersized pivot. He played at this tournament last year as an underager and will try to use that experience to help Finland overcome the loss of their two best players.

Roope Vesterinen - Forward

Another undersized, but skilled forward, Vesterinen was lethal at last year’s U17’s, helping Finland take bronze. He thinks the game at a high level and has the high-end skating ability to beat defenders one on one.

Emil Hemming - Forward

A nice contrast to the undersized, high skill forwards in the age group for Finland, Hemming is a skilled power winger who excels driving the middle. The question for Finland is, do they load up a first line with their three top forwards or try to balance out the roster?

Petteri Rimpinen - Goaltender

Rimpinen was on Finland’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup squad last year as an underager and returns this year as the starter. He may not have the elite size scouts are looking for (currently listed at 6’0), but he does have the athleticism. He was terrific in the Finnish junior leagues last year and has a chance to be the tournament’s best goaltender.

Switzerland

Daniil Ustinkov - Defense

Ustinkov is a player that many scouts will have their eyes on at this tournament, to see how he can lead a strong ‘06 group for Switzerland. He’s a dynamic offensive defender who looks to consistently push pace and who looks poised running the point of the powerplay. He already has a ton of experience at this U18 level internationally too.

Jamiro Reber - Forward

Heading into the tournament, Reber is the other top talent for Switzerland. He is slick and skilled, making him difficult to contain as he pushes into the offensive zone with speed. He’s leaving Switzerland to play in Sweden this year as part of the HV71 program.

Leon Muggli - Defense

Muggli has long been the captain of this strong ‘06 group and he will help anchor the defense along with Ustinkov and Gian Meier. He doesn’t have the flash of Ustinkov, but he is a hyper intelligent blueliner who excels in the defensive end.

Gian Meier - Defense

A big right shot defender, Meier is going to get a ton of ice time at this tournament as part of a strong defensive group for the Swiss. A raw player still trying to find his game, it will be interesting to track his development this year.

Yannik Ponzetto - Forward

Already signed on to play with the Halifax Mooseheads this season, Ponzetto is another integral piece of the forward group along with Reber. The big winger plays a power game, which should blend well with Reber’s skill on the top unit.

Christian Kirsch - Goaltender

Likely to be the starting netminder for the Swiss, Kirsch is a hyper athletic netminder with size. We saw him struggle at the U18’s this year as an underager, but he’s fared much better against his own age group. He has a commitment to UMass and is a draft pick of the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL).

Slovakia

Ondrej Maruna - Forward

Drafted by Charlottetown in the Import draft this year, there is belief that he will end up in the QMJHL this year. He’s a versatile two-way forward with size who may just be the top NHL draft prospect of this 2024 Slovak group. He played at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup as an underager last year too.

Theo Kiss - Forward

A UMass commit who has been playing with Mount St. Charles Academy the last few seasons, Kiss will likely play with Des Moines of the USHL this year. He is a very creative and skilled offensive player and it will be interesting to see what he can do on a larger stage.

Tomas Pobezal (2025) - Forward

The only true star of this 2006 Slovak group, Pobezal has already been on the international stage for a few years now. He played at both last year’s Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and this year’s U18’s. Thanks to a late birthday, he’s not draft eligible until 2025. This will be a big event to prove that he belongs in the conversation with some of the other top Slovaks who have dominated the tournament recently.

Luka Radivojevič (2025) - Defense

The son of former OHL’er and NHL’er Branko Radivojevič, Luka is quite different from his father. He’s a smooth skating, puck moving defender without the elite size his father had. He has been playing in Sweden the last two years and is part of a much stronger 2007 group for the Slovaks.

Tobias Tomik (2026) - Forward

Likely the youngest player at this entire event, Tomik is a December born 2007. He’s already been playing a level up Internationally for the Slovaks and now faces his next challenge as part of the U18 group. He is a pure shooter with high end goal scoring potential.

2021 NHL DRAFT: CENTRAL DIVISION REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:33:40 +0000

2021 NHL Draft Review

Time to review the draft, in depth. As I have done in previous seasons, this review will cover the league one division at a time. For each team, we will offer a quick summary of their draft class, a deeper look at their first pick/first rounder(s), and then a look at what we think to be the best value pick of their draft class, and a final look at their worst value pick. Once the divisions have all been covered, a final article will go over some other miscellaneous trends of the draft that was (odds & ends), and the annual McKeens shadow draft class. Let’s dig in.

Central Division

Dylan Guenther. Photo by Andy Devlin

Arizona Coyotes

1 (9) Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

2 (37) Josh Doan, RW, Chicago (USHL)

2 (43) Ilya Fedotov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)

2 (60) Janis Jerome Moser, D, EHC Biel-Bienne (NL)

4 (107) Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, D, Sparta Sarpsborg (Norway)

4 (122) Rasmus Korhonen, G, Assat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

5 (139) Manix Landry, C, Gatineau (QMJHL)

6 (171) Cal Thomas, D, Maple Grove HS (USHS-MN)

7 (223) Sam Lipkin, LW, Chicago (USHL)

New General Manager Bill Armstrong’s first draft for the Coyotes (he was GM at the 2020 draft, but per the terms of his contract, was not allowed to participate in the draft) was a curious one. Looking at not being involved on Day One, he pulled off a morning of the draft blockbuster, sending Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland to Vancouver for a package including three overpriced veterans each on their final year under contract, and three draft picks, including a top ten pick in this draft, a second rounder next year, and a seventh rounders in 2023. This trade followed a similar deal made a few days prior, where Arizona picked up the dying contract of Andrew Ladd from the Islanders for a second-round selection, and picks in future drafts. The last trade on the draft floor (so to speak) saw the Coyotes leverage their extra picks in later years by sending a 2022 seventh rounder to Montreal for a late seventh rounder this year.

What made the Arizona draft curious though, were not the trades, but many the players they selected. The first pick was a chalk selection, as Dylan Guenther was a top ten talent for anyone, in any draft class. After taking that WHL star, the Coyotes focused almost exclusively on Europeans and college-bound players, with one exception in the fifth round. Furthermore, almost without exception, the players they selected after Guenther were drafted higher than expected, often by a long distance. That one QMJHL player was also the only pick they made of a player standing under 6-0” tall. The final note here goes to their first of three second rounders, Josh Doan, son of Coyotes’ legend Shane Doan, who was invited to announce the pick. A second-year eligible player, the younger Doan may be seen as a nepotism pick by some, but those people will not be familiar with the player. One of the most improved players in the USHL this year, Doan at pick 37 is maybe a touch high, but that is within range of where he belonged, if on the high end of that range. He is advanced enough to be paying dividends to the Coyotes sooner than later.

First round pick – Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), 9^th overall

One of the biggest, purely offensive weapons in the draft class, there was no guarantee that Guenther would be available at pick nine, as he grades out as plus almost across the board. He has a big shot, is a talented puck handler, skates very well, and reads the game very well without shirking duties in his own end. He has the size, and the strength should come, although he is not naturally physically aggressive. That said, he is not shy and will play in the greasy areas and take punishment to make something good happen for his team. After a few years of drafting players for their maturity and two-way sensibilities, Guenther is a nice change of pace as a projected top line scoring winger.

Best value pick(s) –Manix Landry, C, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), 139^th overall

As mentioned above, Landry was the only player selected by Arizona this year who stands under 6-0” tall. Not by much, by 5-11” isn’t 6-0”. Already the Gatineau captain in his draft year, he doesn’t have top six projection, and none of his physical tools really sticks out, but he has always been able to maximize what he has with the hockey IQ expected of the son of an NHLer (Father Eric played briefly with Montreal and Calgary and for many years in Europe afterwards). The younger Landry also plays gritty enough and with enough energy and positive intangible qualities to be a bottom six option in a few years. Not an exciting pick, but very good value for the fifth round.

Worst value pick – Ilya Fedotov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL), 43^rd overall

There were other options for this slot, but they were later rounders. Seventh rounder Sam Lipkin didn’t look like an NHL draft pick in my many viewings of him with Chicago. Sixth rounder Cal Thomas was maybe the third best NHL prospect on his high school team and the second-best defender after the undrafted Henry Nelson. Fourth rounder Emil Martinsen Lilleberg was playing in Norway and was in his third year of eligibility, but in fairness, Swedish teams had already taken notice and he will be in the SHL next year. So Fedotov gets the nod here as the Russian winger was taken in the middle of the second round and we don’t know that he does anything at a level high enough to profile to a top six or middle six slot. His production also doesn’t suggest a player who produces above his tools. He is a lanky young man who skates well and has some decent playmaking ability but is overly mistake prone and reactive. Arizona scouts clearly disagree but we think they could have nabbed him far later if they would have waited.

Allan_Nolan (2) photo by Keith Hershmiller

Chicago Blackhawks

1 (32) Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

2 (62) Colton Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)

3 (91) Taige Harding, D, Fort McMurray (AJHL)

4 (105) Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga (OHL)

4 (108) Victor Stjernborg, C, Vaxjo HC (SHL)

6 (172) Ilya Safonov, C, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

7 (204) Connor Kelley, D, Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA/NCHC)

7 (216) Jalen Luypen, C, Edmonton (WHL)

Like a number of other teams this year, Chicago went big at the draft. By which, I mean that they went almost exclusively for big players. Their first four selections measure in at 6-2”, 6-4”, 6-7”, 6-4”. Among the back half are two more big guys, and two at 5-10”, but even one of that latter duo weights over 200 pounds. Considering the lack of scouting opportunities this year, size doesn’t need too many looks to assess. Other notable points about the Blackhawks’ draft class include the even split between centers and blueliners, as the team did not select any goalies or wingers, and that fact that fully half of their draft class came from Western Canada, none of whom appeared in more than 28 games last year. Finally, as you may have heard, the team used their second-round pick on Saskatoon center Colton Dach, younger brother on current Blackhawks’ rising center Kirby Dach, a pick made the day after they traded for Seth Jones, teaming him up with brother Caleb, the return from another offseason trade.

I do have to wonder how, if at all, Chicago’s draft class would have differed were they not able to come to an agree with Columbus on the eve of the draft to acquire Seth Jones and the last pick of round one, in exchange for Adam Boqvist and pick 12 (a few other picks went in each direction in this trade). What direction would Chicago have headed with pick 12? Would they have taken the most powerful player available at that time, found another way to trade to do so, or even taken one of the two top goalies? We can’t know for sure, but we do know that the draft had started to overweight size and strength by the time Chicago selected Nolan Allan to end day one and can only assume that their strategy changed after the domino effect put into motion by Ottawa’s selection of Tyler Boucher at #10 overall.

First round pick – Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL), 32^nd overall

Once upon a time a top three pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, Allan has since developed into a poised and reliable own zone defender. He makes the first pass to kickstart the transition. He can be relied upon to defend against the opposition’s best at the junior level. He played a similar role, including PK time, for Team Canada at the recent WU18s, helping his nation to a Gold. The offensive promise that he showed in AAA hockey in Saskatchewan has not yet shown up in the WHL. While not completely useless in the offensive zone, he is a fifth wheel of sorts. If Chicago is current about Allan, he is a number four in the mold of Nicklas Hjalmarsson. If not, he will be more of a number six along the lines of a different former Blackhawk, Slater Koekkoek.

Best value pick – Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL, 105^th overall

Think Nolan Allan, but two inches taller and 15 pounds heavier. Del Mastro is similarly a big, stay at home defender who was highly touted as a Bantam player, showed minimal offensive ability as a junior, although he has had far less time to prove himself at that level due to the OHL cancellation last year. He even played a similar role as Allan for Team Canada at the U18 championships, albeit Del Mastro was rustier with the puck. Del Mastro’s upside and downside are similar to those of Allan but getting the former in the fourth round makes it tremendous value.

Worst value pick – Taige Harding, D, Fort McMurray Oil Barons, AJHL, 91^st overall

A giant (6-7”, 236) in his second year of draft eligibility, Harding added a bit of offense from the blueline this year, going from six points in 46 games in his first draft year, to 13 in 16 games this year. The son of an old Hartford Whalers draft pick, the younger Harding learned to use his size to better establish positioning and succeeded as a 19-year-old in the AJHL. The problem with the pick, beyond the player not really having a clear NHL skillset, is that he likely could have been drafted far later than the third round, indicating that the Blackhawks overvalued him to a large degree.

Södertäljes Oskar Olausson under ishockeymatchen i Hockeyallsvenskan mellan Södertälje och AIK den 29 januari 2021 i Södertälje.
Foto: Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN

Colorado Avalanche

1 (20) Oskar Olausson, RW, HV 71 (SHL)

2 (47) Sean Behrens, D, USNTDP (USHL)

3 (92) Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque (USHL)

7 (220) Taylor Makar, C/LW, Brooks (AJHL)

Not much to say here. Three forwards with good size and one blueliner deciding lacking in size. Of the four picks, the last three will be moving on to college hockey next season, while the first-round pick, the one drafted out of Europe, will be coming to North America to play in the OHL. It is fair to point out that the Avalanche have generally stayed clear of the CHL over the last few drafts, and Olausson is likely to be the only player in the system playing Canadian Major-Junior next season.

If a trend can be spotted out of four picks, it is a complete disregard for drafting young, first-time eligibles. Second rounder Behrens is the only 2003 born player among the quartet. Olausson is a late-birthday 2002 player, while the other two picks are not only re-drafts, but multiple re-drafts. Buyalsky was in his fourth year of eligibility and Makar was in his third year.

First round pick – Oskar Olausson, RW, HV 71 (SHL), 28^th overall

Like all junior aged players in Sweden, Olausson was forced to join the SHL once the junior leagues were cancelled around mid-season due to the pandemic. That said, Olausson was in the process of forcing his way up to the SHL anyway, with 27 points in 16 games before a stint with the Swedish WJC team and a brief period in the second tier HockeyAllsvenskan. He brings a big frame, plus skating and stickhandling and a lack of ego enabling to take on a bottom six role as needed, with the willingness to do the unheralded dirty work in his own zone. He could develop into a decent middle six player with special teams utililty.

Best value pick – Sean Behrens, D, USNTDP (USHL), 47^th overall

While lacking in the size that seemed to be all the rage at the draft this year, Behrens plays a fearless style of hockey, and you rarely notice his dimensional disadvantage on the ice. His skill set is moderate, but he always wrings every ounce of it from his body, pushing the pace and setting his team up for success in all zones. Headed to the University of Denver, the Avalanche will be keeping a close eye on Behrens, whose overall game is not too dissimilar to that of former Pioneer stalwart Ian Mitchell. I believe that he will be able to fit into an Avalanche blueline that already features the likes of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Samuel Girard, acting as the more stable presence while the others play more dynamically.

Worst value pick – Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), 92^nd overall

To be clear, I don’t think that Buyalsky was a bad pick at all, but the other option was a late seventh rounder, and Taylor Makar’s selection was suspiciously close to the announcement that his older brother Cale had signed a long-term contract extension with the club. Was the drafting of Taylor a quiet stipulation of his agreement to terms? Maybe. Either way, Taylor is a big winger who has demonstrated good playmaking at the AJHL level, even if he is already 20 years old, and there is scarcely such thing as a risk in the seventh round. As for Buyalsky, he is even older than Makar, turning 21 a few weeks after the draft. A speedster from Kazakhstan, he came to North America last December to play in the USHL and immediately added an exciting element to Dubuque’s attack. He is painfully thin but has decent skill to go along with his wheels. The only real element of risk in his pick is his age, which indicates less room for growth. In a draft class with more than four players, Buyalsky would be very unlikely to be featured in this spot.

Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Dallas Stars

1 (23) Wyatt Johnson, RW, Windsor (OHL)

2 (47) Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops (WHL)

2 (48) Artyom Grushnikov, D, Hamilton (OHL)

3 (73) Ayrton Martino, LW, Omaha (USHL)

3 (79) Justin Ertel, LW, Western Capitals (MJAHL)

4 (111) Conner Roulette, LW, Seattle (WHL)

5 (138) Jack Bar, D, Chicago (USHL)

5 (143) Jacob Holmes, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

6 (175) Francesco Arcuri, C, Steel Wings Linz (AplsHL)/Kingston (OHL)

7 (207) Albert Sjoberg, LW, Sodertalje SK J20 (J20 Nationell)

The previous few Dallas drafts prior to 2020 were marked by an abundance of lower upside, “safer” picks. They had physical gifts, but skill was lacking (Miro Heiskanen was an exception). Even 2019, with Thomas Harley, an offensive defender, as their first rounder, saw the team draft for safety with their other picks. While that approach sometimes leads to a late rounder blooming into a bottom of the lineup player, more often than not it leads to a player who doesn’t even garner an Entry-Level Contract. The 2020 draft saw Dallas go in another direction, selecting three forwards with skills to dream on. Sure, they might bust, but those low upside guys also have bust as their respective floors. Anyway, when Dallas named two-way center Wyatt Johnston as their 2021 first rounder, I immediately thought of Ty Dellandrea, a player with a similar profile at the time he was drafted. More smarts than skills, and by a mile. A solid pick for the second round, but not so much on Day One.

More on Johnston soon, but Dallas did a 180 on Day Two, stocking the system with high upside prospect after high upside prospect, giving them, all things considered, one of the draft classes I am most optimistic about in the league. Overwhelmingly North American, only one of their ten players selected don’t have some pre-existing ties to a North American league. They stayed away from goalies, a position of relative strength in the system. And even shied away from defensemen, with only three of the ten players known to patrol the blueline. Unlike many other teams, they were not too concerned with size, and Dallas was the landing spot for a few smaller players who fell further than their respective talent levels would have dictated. The 2021 draft class has the strength to be organization defining for a generation.

First round pick – Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL), 23^rd overall

A tremendous forechecker, Johnston, despite his pedigree as a sixth overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection two years ago, has not shown much offensive punch. Due to the cancellation of the OHL last year, his only game action in the last 12 months was a bottom six role for Team Canada at the WU18s. He was a valuable member of that Gold Medal winning team, but even there he didn’t show as a probable first round pick. He will do the little things right, paying attention to detail, and playing hard in all three zones. His stick work is good enough for a bottom six role, and he has a grinder’s mentality, but will need to improve his skating to reach that ceiling.

Best value pick – Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 47^th overall

While Johnston was a role playing for Team Canada, Stankoven was the team’s third highest scoring draft eligible forward. He is a fantastic stick handler, playing courageous at both ends. He recognizes opportunities in an instant and has the skills to capitalize on them. His ability to put the puck in the net is up there with anyone drafted this summer. He is also a gifted skater, with great edges and four-way mobility. So why was he still available in the middle of the second round? Because he is 5-8”. The NHL, as a group, is still deciphering the lessons of Alex DeBrincat and Cole Caufield. Stankoven will join that duo and continue to change minds about the need for size in the NHL.

Without giving profiles of them here, Dallas had quite a few high value picks this year, and I should at least mention Ayrton Martino, Jack Bar, Francesco Arcuri, Conner Roulette, and Albert Sjoberg as steals where they were selected.

Worst value pick – Justin Ertel, LW, Summerside Western Capitals (MJAHL), 79^th overall

While I had some mild concerns about Artyom Grushnikov and Jacob Holmes, neither of whom played at all last season, they had decent pre-draft year pedigrees, and both were expected to be drafted and were drafted near those expectations. Ertel is a different case. He was planning to play for St. Andrew’s the prestigious Ontario prep school, as a stepping stone to NCAA hockey at Cornell, but hockey was cancelled all over Ontario, not just in the OHL, so Ertel went to the Maritimes to play in the relatively obscure MJAHL. He showed enough skill and hockey smarts to gain notice of draft-worthiness, but there is little reason to think that he wouldn’t have still been available two rounds later than the Stars made the move for him. With a draft class of this strength, it won’t hurt Dallas, but it was a bit of a head-scratcher.

210121 Luleås målvakt Jesper Wallstedt under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Luleå och Växjö den 21 januari 2021 i Luleå.
Foto: Simon Eliasson / BILDBYRÅN / COP 159 / SE0026

Minnesota Wild

1 (20) Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL)

1 (26) Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg (WHL)

2 (54) Jack Peart, D, Fargo (USHL)

3 (86) Caedan Bankier, C, Kamloops (WHL)

4 (118) Kyle Masters, D, Red Deer (WHL)

4 (127) Josh Pillar, C, Kamloops (WHL)

6 (182) Nate Benoit, D, Mount St. Charles HS (USHS-RI)

At the cost of a late third round pick, Minnesota traded up two spots in the first round, and snagged the goalie most pundits and scouts – including ourselves – rated as the top goaltender in the draft. We have historically been shy about ranking goalies as first rounders in the past, Wallstedt was an obvious first rounder, who is technically refined, experienced at high levels, and checks all of the boxes for a future NHL starter. More on him soon. The Wild had a second first rounder, and snagged a top defensive prospect in Carson Lambos, a player who might have been off the board much earlier if not for a medical concern that cropped up late in the season.

If the Minnesota draft was just those two first rounders, it would be cause for great optimism for the Wild and their fans. But they continued to pick up good upside, focusing on the blueline, where they used three of their remaining five picks, including one – second rounder Peart – who we had rated as having first round value. The other notable element of the Minnesota draft class was their clear lean towards the WHL, from where four of their seven picks emerged. Even if only Wallstedt lives up to his advanced billing, this draft will be monumental for the Wild. In that case, all other NHL contributions from the remainder of the draft class will be bonuses. And we think there will be more.

First first round pick – Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL), 20^th overall

We were not alone in ranking Wallstedt as the best goalie in the 2021 draft. In fact, the Detroit Red Wings may have been the only team that preferred Sebastian Cossa (probably not, but they were in the minority). Furthermore, we believe that Wallstedt is more advanced at this stage than either Yaroslav Askarov or Spencer Knight were in the past two years. His ability to read the play is especially impressive, helping him stay prepared for whatever the opposition is cooking up. His other tools all also grade out as above average and better. He has a year remaining on his SHL contract and should be competing for time in the Minnesota crease by 2022-23.

Second first round pick – Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg ICE (WHL)

A smooth, fast skater with a well-rounded tool kit through the rest of his game, Lambos already had a very impressive WHL rookie campaign under his belt before the pandemic threatened his follow-up. During the enforced layoff, he had the chance to keep playing in Finland, for the JYP organization, and he excelled in their junior ranks, making a seamless adjustment from the North American game. Lambos expected to return to the WHL at the end of his Finnish experience, but two games after he got back to Winnipeg, an undisclosed medical issue emerged that forced him off the ice again. His medicals are reportedly fine now, giving Minnesota a second first rounder drafted substantially later than was expected before the year began.

Best value pick – Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force (USHL), 54^th overall

To be honest, Minnesota’s best value picks were their two first rounders, but getting Jack Peart at #54 was a third coup for Bill Guerin and the Wild. After crushing in the Minnesota high school ranks at Grand Rapids HS, Peart went back to Fargo of the USHL where he showed zero issue adjusting to the vastly improved level of play. By the postseason, he was the Force’s number one defender, helping lead the team to the Clark Cup finals. Peart is not physically imposing, but his reads and decision making are both incredibly impressive, convincing us to give him a first round ranking in our draft guide. Peart is also the third Minnesota Mr. Hockey to have been drafted by the Wild

Worst value pick – Caiden Bankier, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 86^th overall

As much as we loved Minnesota’s first three picks, the remainder of their selections left us unmoved. None of the four was especially egregious, but third rounder Bankier was their first reach, so he gets the dreaded ‘Worst Value Pick’ spot here. He has good size and decent creativity with the puck, but nothing about his game suggests top size potential, and his style hasn’t fit bottom six characteristics either. In other words, he looks like a tweener. That’s totally fine in the fifth round or later but is gearing for disappointment as a third rounder.

Fyodor Svechkov. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Nashville Predators

1 (19) Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL)

1 (27) Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

3 (72) Anton Olsson, D, Malmo (SHL)

4 (115) Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago (USHL)

4 (124) Jack Matier, D, Ottawa (OHL)

6 (179) Simon Knak, RW, HC Davos (NL)

As the first round was proceeding, the Predators decided that they would rather have two first round picks than have one first and two seconds, and I can’t say that I disagree. The Carolina Hurricanes felt differently, and a trade was born, allowing Nashville to finish Day One with two new talented forwards to add to their prospect pool. To make up for the forward lean on Day One, they went heavily on defense on Day Two, using the first three of their remaining four picks on blueliners.

Curiously, the Predators returned to Carolina on Day Two for another trade up scenario, moving up 11 spots in Round Three by sacrificing their fifth-round pick. With two moves of this nature, it seems fairly clear that Nashville had specific prospects targeted and preferred to miss out on an extra lower probability player in order to secure the player they really wanted. In the end, they have added six new talents to their pool, all of whom have reasonable claims to a future in the NHL. A final, minor note, Nashville didn’t seem to get caught up in the size rush this year, with only one of their six picks measuring in with above-average size, in fourth round blueline Jack Matier.

First first round pick – Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL), 19^th overall

A well-rounded offensive force who plays with an exciting combination of pace and touch, Svechkov had a very strong regular season split between Russian juniors (MHL) and the nation’s second tier senior league (VHL). But he really shot into wider prominence with a thrilling performance at the WU18s, where his ability to move the puck in the offensive zone was mesmerizing. Nashville has never been shy about drafting Russian players at the top of their draft classes, and Svechkov is next in line. He could be ready for the NHL once his Russian league contract expires after the 2022-23 season.

Second first round pick – Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

The former third overall pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft, L’Heureux solidified his status as one of the top draft talents out of the Q with a well-rounded game that emphasizes a wicked shot and a prominent aggressive nature. That latter aspect turned off a few teams and prognosticators, as it led to a pair of suspensions for the winger last year, forcing him to miss time as his team competed for postseason standings. Notably, neither suspension occurred due to a normal, run-of-play type incident, but due to behavior that was, or at least should have been avoidable. Assuming that maturity could stem those types of behaviors in the future, he profiles as a force in a middle six role.

Best value pick – Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago Steel (USHL), 115^th overall & Jack Matier, D, Ottawa 67s (OHL), 124^th overall

These two are of a pair, both defenders being selected in the fourth round by Nashville, when both could easily have been off the board a full round or more earlier than when the Predators finally announced their names around half an hour apart. Although both blueliners are right-handed shots, the rest of their respective profiles couldn’t be more different. Ufko is small, but vicious, with a pronounced aggressive streak and a huge point shot. His skating needs a little work, but he is headed to a defensive factory at UMass and big things should be in his immediate future. Matier is huge, but skates well. He missed the year due to the OHL cancellation, but looked sharp at the WU18s, showing enough puck movement skills that he can profile to at least be viable in a third pairing role if paired with a more dynamic player. Either or both of Ufko and Matier could play a role in the NHL, which is more than can be said for many fourth rounders.

Worst value pick – Anton Olsson, D, Malmo Redhawks (SHL), 72^nd overall

We were probably lower on Olsson as a draft prospect than most other venues, but on its face, a third-round pick for the Swedish defender is not bad value. The only reason he ends up here is that Nashville traded up to get him, so his cost is both the #72 pick, as well as pick #147. Olsson can look good at times, but his feel for the game offensively can also be sorely lacking, leading to questions about his upside. If Olson in the third round is a team’s worst value pick, that team had a pretty good draft.

Zachary Bolduc. Photo courtesy of the QMJHL.

St. Louis Blues

1 (17) Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)

3 (71) Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

5 (145) Tyson Galloway, D, Calgary (WHL)

7 (198) Ivan Vorobyov, RW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)

One of the smallest draft classes this year, the Blues will benefit from also snapping up perhaps the best value pick in the entire draft. Not much else to state about their draft, as there was no other clear trend in their selections. The four players are all from different geographical locations and range from undersized (Vorobyov) to supersized (Galloway). If their top two picks pan out, this draft class will be deemed a success. If not, it will be a failure. With smaller draft classes, there is no room for error.

First round pick – Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL), 17^th overall

A playmaking, two-way center, Bolduc’s production in his draft year was a mild disappointment, with point-per-game rates very similar to what he put up in the previous season, albeit with a vastly different shape. Whereas he scored almost three goals for every assist in 2019-20, last year the ratio was practically flipped, with nearly two assists for every goal scored. At times, his play seemed passive, which could impact his effectiveness, but a touch of added confidence should help him grow in all three zones, into a solid middle six center projection.

Best value pick – Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea AIK (SHL), 71^st overall

Granted, we had Robertsson ranked too high for the draft. We focused too much on his discrete tools – which are all individually very impressive – and less on his overall game and how those tools all work together. The son of former NHL defender Bert Robertsson, young Simon split his draft year between the Swedish junior ranks, which he dominated before the league was cancelled half-way through, and the SHL, where his ice time and impact were both severely limited. He wore a letter for Sweden at the U18s, and performed fine, if not exceptionally. Robertsson has easy top six upside if he can put it all together, and bottom six value if he doesn’t. Getting that in the middle of the third round is a heist, and the Blues knew it, trading up with San Jose to get this pick, at the cost of a later third rounder and a sixth-round pick.

Worst value pick – Ivan Vorobyov, RW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL), 198^th overall

A seventh-round pick would rarely be chosen for this dishonor, but the Blues didn’t give us much to choose from. Their first three picks ranged from solid to exceptional vis-à-vis draft value. Vorobyov is a second time eligible winger who still hasn’t filled out a severely underdeveloped frame. He put up good numbers in the MHL last year (6^th leading scorer among the U19 set, with more stress on playmaking than finishing. Four games over the last two years in the VHL, Russia’s second men’s league constitute his sole experiences above junior hockey, and he has never been selected to represent Russia internationally, even for exhibition games. He is no more a gamble than any player picked in the seventh round, but for St. Louis, he is the biggest gamble of their 2021 draft class.

Chaz Lucius. Photo courtesy of USA Hockey/Rena Laverty

Winnipeg Jets

1 (18) Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL)

2 (50) Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)

3 (82) Dmitri Kuzmin, D, Dinamo Molodechno (Belarus)

5 (146) Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL)

I can simply repeat much of what was written in this section about the St. Louis draft class. Winnipeg drafted only four players, and at least three of them already look like great value selections. Also like the Blues, the Jets selected three forwards and one defender. If four is enough of a sample size to detect any trends (it usually isn’t), we can at least note that three of Winnipeg’s four picks were out of Russia/former Soviet Union states, although one of those players is expected to move to North America as soon as next season, with third rounder, defender Dmitri Kuzmin signing his Entry Level Contract. His most likely next destination is in the OHL, where Flint controls his CHL player rights.

The above paragraph notwithstanding, Winnipeg hasn’t drafted seven or more players in a single year since 2017, and they had not even drafted six players in a season since 2018. It is exceedingly difficult to maintain a competitive organization when your team has only four or five picks every year while other teams are selecting seven or more. It will be interesting to see if GM Kevin Cheveldayoff continues to trade picks for present help or finally starts to hold onto those assets.

First round pick – Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL), 18^th overall

Although his draft year was impacted at both beginning and end by injury, Lucius showed more than enough when he was healthy enough to take the ice that the first half projections placed on him previously were accurate. He was expected to go even higher in fact, but his foot speed was seemingly impacted by his pre-season knee surgery and that may have caused him to slide a few spots to Winnipeg. Skating aside, Lucius is a special offensive talent. His sense of timing and positioning lead to the bulk of his goals – helped along by a quick shot, of course – but he can also contribute as a playmaker thanks to his great ability to read the defense and exploit the smallest of gaps. He could explode with a fully healthy freshman season at Minnesota.

Best value pick – Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL), 50^th overall

Like St. Louis, Winnipeg managed to grab a player on Day Two who we had ranked as a first round talent. In this case, Chibrikov is small, but very feisty, and in possession of an exceptional offensive skill set. A creative player with high-energy, his development can go in a number of ways, and his ultimate projection will follow accordingly. Greater offensive consistency is all that stands in his way for a top six outcome, but the energy, reads, and overall mobility would also fit in a bottom six, disruptor role. A full year playing against men in Russia will go a ways towards unveiling his continued path.

Worst value pick – Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL), 146^th overall

This is once more not truly a low value pick. Rashevsky led the top Russian league, the MHL, in goals scored in 2019-20, his second year of draft eligibility, but went undrafted. Now 20 years old, and still exceptionally thin, he made his senior hockey debut last year and was pretty solid, especially in his time in the second tier VHL, where he put up 22 points in 30 games split between two teams. Rashevsky is not currently under contract in Russia, although there has yet to be any indication that Winnipeg wants to lock him in place just yet. If there is a low value element to this pick, it is the question of what is different about Rashevsky now than in the previous two years where he wasn’t selected? Even if there is no difference, perhaps the true answer is that he simply should have been drafted last year.

2021 NHL DRAFT: NASHVILLE PREDATORS REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:11:21 +0000

Fyodor Svechkov. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Nashville Predators

1 (19) Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL)

1 (27) Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

3 (72) Anton Olsson, D, Malmo (SHL)

4 (115) Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago (USHL)

4 (124) Jack Matier, D, Ottawa (OHL)

6 (179) Simon Knak, RW, HC Davos (NL)

First first round pick – Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL), 19^th overall

Second first round pick – Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Best value pick – Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago Steel (USHL), 115^th overall & Jack Matier, D, Ottawa 67s (OHL), 124^th overall

Worst value pick – Anton Olson, D, Malmo Redhawks (SHL), 72^nd overall

2021 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: McKeen’s Team Review – Draft Risers, Disappointments and Takeaways

Thu, 13 May 2021 11:23:16 +0000

While there was some skepticism over the occurrence of the 2021 IIHF World Under 18’s due to the covid pandemic, recognition must be given to the cities of Plano and Frisco, Texas for hosting a successful tournament. The tournament concluded last Thursday, with a victory for Team Canada over Team Russia in the gold medal match. Without question, the story of the tournament was the success of the underagers, with the likes of Shane Wright, Connor Bedard, and Matvei Michkov dominating statlines and play. However, the purpose of the tournament is to provide NHL scouts with an opportunity to watch some of the best draft eligible players before the upcoming NHL Draft (in July this year). That could not have been more critical this year, with so many interruptions, delays, stoppages, and cancellations across the many junior leagues around the globe. A large chunk of Team Canada, for example (those OHL players) saw their only action of the season at the event. As such, we have asked the team at McKeen’s to reflect on what they saw at the tournament with a three-question survey. Let this serve as our review of the event.

Which two 2021 Draft eligible players raised their stock the most in your opinion? Who really impressed you?

Brock Otten

"One of the players who raised their stock the most for me was actually a Canadian player from my region (or at least he was prior to the shutdown this season); Mason McTavish. I have always viewed McTavish as a first round candidate. However, last season, I saw some things in his game that had me pondering what kind of NHL upside he had. I thought there was a lot of room for development in his skating ability, particularly his first step explosiveness, and in his decision making with the puck. McTavish’s play in Switzerland definitely helped to alleviate concerns over his skating as it looked much improved from the games I had watched prior to the U18’s. However, it was his performance at the U18’s that convinced me that he actually is an incredibly intelligent player. The power game and his scoring potential were already impressive features sure to spark the interest of scouts. But how polished his play away from the puck looked for Canada, and how he excelled in defensive assignments likely won over any that were still on the fence. He looked every part the dominating two-way, physical center that all NHL scouts are looking for these days. For me, McTavish has entered the conversation for the best forward available in 2021. Much like Matty Beniers, it is just so easy to see his game translating well to the NHL level."

The second player that really caught my eye was Aleksi Heimosalmi, of Finland, who was named the top defenseman at the event. His mobility on the backend was a real asset for Finland, in terms of starting their breakout, gaining the offensive zone, and creating from inside the blueline. I had heard some real positive things about him heading into the tournament, but he made a real believer out of me. He is the type of defender that seems perfectly made for the modern NHL. I think that this is a guy who will be rocketing up everyone’s draft list before final rankings come out."

Will Scouch

"Canada’s team was remarkably impressive from start to finish, and I would argue the most consistently impressive player of the group was Brandt Clarke. I had high expectations considering the on-paper issues I had seen with Clarke outside of the offensive zone in the Slovakian professional league, but regardless of not-elite mobility and power generation, the pros of Clarke’s game were on display, and are extremely strong. His ability to control an offense from the blueline, create play, step into play himself, and chip in defensively all locked him in at 6 on my board, and could easily take him a spot or two higher on the big day. I have no idea what a couple years of development could bring to his ability to cover ice and diversify his defensive rush talent, but I was surprised at just how dominant he looked at times.

Prokhor Poltapov was the strangest change relative to what I expected of anyone in the tournament. I’ve seen him play many times, and tracked five games of his, and not only are his games inconsistent in a variety of factors, but his shift-by-shift output fluctuates immensely. At times, he goes end to end with raw strength, skill, and aggression to attack the net, but far, far more often, he’s inactive, slow, and reliant on soft pressure from opponents. While I don’t think his game projects as a top end power forward in the NHL to the level we saw at times in this tournament, he clearly showed just how strong and determined he can be on a big stage. I’ll be very curious to see where he goes in the draft, and while I wouldn’t be calling his name in the first round, he showed that I may have been too skeptical going into this tournament."

Viktor Fomich

"Nikita Chibrikov might had been in shades of flashy guys like Michkov a bit in this tournament, but he was good in that role: did a lot of things right and points came too. Additionally, since the team fought hard you would have to think that Chibrikov, as the captain, deserves some credit there too — all that should further establish him as a first-round candidate. From lesser known prospects Nikolai Makarov deserves a mention: he is big, albeit not slow and was able to successfully transfer his consistent performance from the MHL season to this tournament. He could be an interesting later round draft pick candidate."

Chapin Landvogt

"Forward and captain Bennet Rossmy. One of the largest players in the line-up, he was active in bringing his abilities to the table throughout Germany's four games. Having received the captaincy after top prospect Haakon Hänelt was lost to injury in camp, Rossmy continually looked to throw his weight around, gaining 26 penalty minutes in the process, and impact the games in any manner he could, even having found the back of the net along the way (which Germany didn't do much) and leading the team with two points in the tournament. Unfortunately, he often looked like he was trying a bit too hard and had his share of puck losses, turnovers, and poor decisions throughout, but if teams knew nothing about him beforehand, they'd surely denote him after this event.

Although all three of Germany's goaltenders got a start, Nikita Quapp got into two and put on a performance that only confirmed the progress he made this past winter in making it to the DEL. There were several real nice saves against the Czech Republic and Russia, and there was a definite difference in composure to that of his two teammates. With size and quickness from post to post on display, the results were less important than the analysis of his tools, as Germany's team defence was simply overwhelmed at times.

Outside of Germany, Isak Rosén and Samu Tuomaala popped out at me as two players who probably improved their draft positions. Despite Sweden's woes against Canada and Finland's excellent tourney until facing archrival Sweden, both went a long way in deciding what fate their country was going to have in this tournament. In a year like this, the tournament they had may end up meaning a 10-15 spot jump in many scout's notebooks."

Mason McTavish. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Raine Hernandez

"Mason McTavish: Outside of Canada's underagers stealing the spotlight, I thought Mason McTavish looked fantastic, playing in a very important role for Canada, becoming a force on both ends of the ice. With 11 points in seven games, McTavish certainly solidified himself as a legitimate 2-way center with high scoring upside, and should be considered as a lock for the top-20. All things considered, McTavish's growth from his last game in the OHL makes you realize how much closer his name could have been to the top-10 had there been an OHL Regular Season.

Dylan Duke: It was tough deciding between Samu Tuomaala and Dylan Duke for the last spot, but I believe Dylan Duke certainly improved on his stock simply due to the talent that was missing on Team USA's roster due to injuries/COVID protocols. I just loved the energy that the Michigan commit was able to play with in his expanded role. Whenever his team needed something to happen, Duke stepped up with his tenacity and sheer will to get his team that extra goal."

Sam McGilligan

"The two prospects that raised their stock the most for me were Mason McTavish (CAN) and Aleksi Heimosalmi (FIN).

In his D-1 year, I had a few concerns with McTavish, most notably his skating and overall lack of structure in his game. After his move to EHC Olten it didn’t take long for those concerns to dissipate. His skating was notably improved, and he combined his relentless motor with more strategic/purposeful off-puck movement. I caught quite a few of his games, but most were early on in the season. I started noticing his rise across multiple outlets and heard talk of his play taking an even further step as the season progressed, but I didn’t get to see that with my own eyes until he wore the Canadian jersey. He reminds of John-Jason Peterka, but with a better understanding of where and when soft spots in coverage will open up in medium/high danger areas, as well as better goal scoring ability all together. He impressed me the most.

Heimosalmi was a player I had a smaller sample size to work with before the tournament. I only had a few viewings and came away with the impression that he was more of a shooter than a passer, and I only noticed him actually attack dangerous parts of the ice a handful of times. I liked his tools, but I wasn’t sure I liked how he used them. At the U18’s, Heimosalmi proved why small sample sizes are dangerous. He showed a lot more than I had previously seen, most notably in his deception to open up passing lanes both in transition and in the offensive zone. There are still flaws, but I was definitely wrong about him, and plan to revisit his league play games to get a more accurate assessment of what he can offer.

Other names that notably impressed me were Pinelli, Stankoven, Ceulemans, Poltapov, Chibrikov and Rosen."

Ryan Wagman

a) Danila Klimovich, Belarus. As one NHL scout told me, "He wasn't in our notes before. He is now." He is raw and the bust potential is high, but he is on the map and he has some crazy puck skills.
b) Fyodor Svechkov / Prokhor Poltapov / Nikita Chibrikov, Russia - Perhaps it is the benefit of having played a roughly full season, but those three all looked strong for Russia (never mind the team's 2022 and 2023 eligible guys) and all made good cases for being selected in the first round this July. I bet at least two, if not all three are day one picks.

Fyodor Svechkov. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Mikael Holm

"Since I of course focused on Sweden I have to choose two Swedish players. The first one is Carl Lindbom, the Swedish goaltender. He had two rough games versus Canada but I don’t think you can blame him too much on letting in that many goals because Canada was insane this tournament. Lindbom also had barely played a game since the shutdown of J20 Nationell in November. He was on the bench as a backup for Djurgården in the SHL a few times but the only games he played were intrasquad games and one pre-tournament game before coming into this tournament. If we’re being completely honest, Sweden wasn’t great in the early stages of this tournament. They were outplayed by Belarus most of the game but Lindbom only let in one goal and Sweden could win 5-1. Against Switzerland they had similar issues but were a little bit better but once again Lindbom had a very good game and helped the Swedish team to victory. His performance in the quarter final where Sweden beat the US 5-2 was outstanding and he rounded the tournament off with a shutout against Finland in the Bronze medal game. He finished the tournament with a save percentage of .918 but if you remove the Canada games where his teammates let him down, he had a save percentage at .967%. He was one of the biggest reasons Sweden were able to win a medal in this tournament.

The other player that really had a nice tournament for Sweden was Isak Rosén. His performance in this tournament is actually historic. He scored seven goals for Sweden in this tournament and that is a record for a Swedish player at the U18 World Championships. Outside of his goalscoring proficiency, Rosén was always showing off his skills and smooth skating. With this tournament and his toolset in mind, I wouldn’t be against selecting him inside the top-15 of the draft this summer. The big thing that was holding him back, in my mind, was the consistency in his game. He tended to disappear from games and maybe he didn’t always keep his motor running but I think he showed at this tournament that he is a player that can do the hard work together with the fun work.

I’d like to give two honorable mentions to William Strömgren and Arvid Eljas. Strömgren started this tournament as an extra skater and that was insane to me because he is such a talented offensive player. He does have some issues with his competitive levels and work ethic, but I think he showed when he finally got the chance in the top-six that he is improving in those parts of his game.

Arvid Eljas was a player I was intrigued by before the tournament. He is a fun player with really nice hands and he is very calm on the puck. He had a very nice showing this tournament and I would be surprised if he isn’t drafted this summer. His line with Gabriel Kangas (a 2022 draft eligible player) and Albert Sjöberg (another 2021 draft eligible player) caused issues for every single team they faced in this tournament with their speed, skill and forechecking."

Which 2021 Draft eligible player was most disappointing for you and what does that mean for your NHL outlook for them?

Brock Otten

"After playing so well at the U20’s in Edmonton, I had really high hopes that Stanislav Svozil would be one of the best defenders at this event. And while the Czech’s did struggle a bit, you would have a hard time convincing me that he was even in the Top 20 of defenders at the event. Not exactly what you like to see from a potential first round pick. He had a real chance to show that he could lead this Czech group but struggled to provide any sort of positive offensive outcomes. You cannot evaluate based solely on one tournament; however, I was on the fence as to Svozil’s high end offensive ceiling at the NHL level before the tournament, and his performance did not inspire a lot of confidence in my beliefs. I am starting to wonder if Svozil is more of a second-third round caliber prospect whose ceiling may not be that of a top three NHL defender.

I know we said only one, but I am going to list two. Even though they won bronze, I think most would agree that Sweden’s performance at the event left some to be desired. Consistency was definitely an issue. That said, higher end forwards like Lysell, Rosen, and Stromgren, all had their moments of brilliance. One guy who I expected to be in that group based on what I had seen and read previously was Simon Robertsson. Yet, I found him to be a passenger for much of the tournament and I did not see a player with the skill or creativity to be considered a first round lock come July. Again, only one tournament, but he was the most disappointing forward for me at the U18’s. Like Svozil, it has certainly made me wonder about the type of upside he possesses at the NHL level."

Will Scouch

"I honestly have had zero clue what to expect out of Matvei Petrov any time I’ve seen him this year, but I expected to at least see his shooting talent on display at least some of the time. Petrov has shown volume shooting tendencies in the MHL, but his release and threat from anywhere is apparent often. I didn’t see much of anything from Petrov, andhttps://www.mckeenshockey.com/players/matvei-petrov/ I’m not surprised the Russian team pulled him from the lineup as the tournament went on. I was skeptical going in due to his one-dimensional game and overall passive play outside of his shot, but his lack of diversity was exposed in this tournament with no goals on seven shots, and just one assist in the 7-6 circus against the United States."

Viktor Fomich

"Matvei Petrov clearly was the most disappointing player on the Team Russia, didn't look motivated enough for some reason and was deservingly scratched during the course of the tournament. Since his MHL performance this season also left some questions, I think on draft day some teams will be questioning themselves if Petrov's raw tools are good enough to overlook the questionable toolbox when thinking of spending a rather high draft pick on him."

Chapin Landvogt

"I clearly have to say forward Sebastian Cimmermann. Yes, he had a nice counterattack goal against the US (one the goalie should have had), but he seemed to have very little overall puck contact and was always chasing the play. He was physically overmatched in most instances. In addition, he was on a line with Thomas and Nikolaus Heigl, both teammates of his at the Red Bull Academy, and both having had far less experience than him this past winter, yet both were far more visible and positively active. In essence, I didn't really see anything that would have me think that an NHL team would want to use one of its seven standard picks on him.

Outside of Germany, I'm going to have to say Red Savage. For the role he had and the hopes the USA had as the host, and as the tournament's premiere nation over the past 10-15 years, one point and a -1 rating in five games isn't what you want from a kid in a top nine, much less top six role when your standards are that of USA Hockey."

Raine Hernandez

"Simon Robertsson: I thought heading into the tournament that Simon Robertsson was going to light up this tournament the same way Tuomaala did, but it just never seemed that Robertsson was the most dangerous player on the ice and generating high quality dangerous shots outside of the games against Latvia and Belarus. I had really thought and hoped that Robertsson was going to use this U18 platform to take that next step into solidifying himself as a mid-to-late first round pick but following some of the other fringe first rounders having much more eye-popping performances, it's hard to say where he places in the draft."

Sam McGilligan

"I try not to over-value individual tournaments, especially when it comes to determining a players NHL outlook. There are many plausible reasons why a player may or may not play well in any 5-10 game sample size, and there are many instances in the past of a player whose stock had fallen after a poor tournament when they should have been drafted higher based on club play alone. That being said, I came away… whelmed, from Dylan Guenther. Maybe that’s my fault for placing expectations that were too high, but for a player discussed as a potential top three pick, I was expecting more. There were long stretches where I didn’t notice him on the ice. I’m not as convinced as others that he’s a lock for a first line role in the NHL and this tournament didn’t help change my perspective on that. Regardless, I hope he proves me wrong."

Ryan Wagman

"I tend not to look for disappointments, but American defender Roman Schmidt was the one (healthy) US blueliner who could have advanced his draft stock with a good tournament, but he brought nothing to the table offensively, and struggled some with his reads defensively. Not sure it has much negative impact on his draft stock, but the opportunity is lost now, along with hopes for a medal on home ice for Team USA."

Mikael Holm

"I was disappointed with Anton Olsson this tournament. Olsson started this year being ranked as a first round pick on a lot of boards but his play this season in the SHL has made him fall down the rankings. He started to show improvements at the end of the year with his Malmö Redhawks, as they soared from the bottom of the standings to being in the qualifiers to the playoffs. That made me hopeful for his performance in this tournament because he has shown his qualities against his own age group before. He didn’t have a great showing in this tournament. He was supposed to be a leader on the defensive end and log a lot of minutes for Sweden. He did log a lot of minutes, but his leadership wasn’t there. He threw away passes consistently, he was too passive in his own zone and his pairing with Sjöholm was a legitimate disaster. They had a tough time defending in the transition and were losing the puck in the offensive zone way too many times. I had hoped for a different tournament from Olsson, but this wasn’t good enough (although the Swedish coaches selected him as one of their best players this tournament for some reason?) and I will have a hard time figuring out where he should go in this summer’s draft, if he should even be picked at all."

What was (or were) your biggest takeaway(s) from the event?

Brock Otten

"I am sure that I will not be alone here...but it has to be the performances of the 2022 and 2023 draft eligible players. Look at the gold medal game. Both for Canada and Russia their best players were not draft eligible this year. Canada; Shane Wright and Connor Bedard. Russia: Matvei Michkov, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Danila Yurov, Sergei Ivanov. Then go down the rosters of other teams and you see Brad Lambert, Lane Hutson, Mattias Havelid, Joakim Kemell, etc. In particular, the 2004 birth dates may have been the best players on a disappointing U.S. entry. Some may not realize it yet, but next year’s American U18 team is absolutely stacked with talent. How can you not be excited for the future of the sport given what you saw in Texas? If you’re a rebuilding NHL team who lands in the top three of both of these future drafts, it has the potential to really change your fortunes quickly."

Will Scouch

"I don’t know how you can’t have the 2022/2023 class be the takeaway. I’m not the person to throw the entire 2021 class in the trash, but the names on display eligible for next year and the year after were so much fun to watch. Of course, Shane Wright, Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, and Brad Lambert were there and doing their thing. If you weren’t impressed by those guys at least some of the time, you are incorrect. Beyond the obvious, Danila Yurov? Legit. Ivan Miroshnichenko? Legit. Mattias Hävelid, Ludvig Persson and Noah Östlund were some of the more impressive and consistent Swedes on the team, even if they were held off the scoreboard a bit more than the previous names. Sergei Ivanov unexpectedly took over the Russian net immediately and looked strong throughout. Lane Hutson and Vladimir Grudinin had strong, flashy moments of skill and deceptive carrying talent. Defenders David Jiricek, Elias Salomonsson, and David Moravec may not have been dominant or as consistently notable, but there were moments where their talents were on display, and all could still be high end picks next year. The future of the game is bright, and so many names showed at least pieces of what they could be capable of as they get older and more experiences."

Viktor Fomich

"2022 and 2023 NHL drafts are looking really interesting already at this point."

Chapin Landvogt

"Two takeaways, both pleasant. First, it was very nice to see that Belarus, Latvia, and Germany - basically in that order - were able to compete so well for most of the tournament. Until Germany got whipped by Finland, all three seemed to be able to skate and mix it with the big boys in a manner giving the impression that they definitely belong here. In light of Germany actually being without four top-two liners including their top prospect for this age group, they can be satisfied with what they showed in what was really a group of death.

Secondly, the sheer dominance shown by Canada really was eye-opening. I mean, most of these kids played south of 35 games this winter, if even that, and there was no participation from the nation's QMJHL talents. This group was thrown together and just killed it right from the first game. It really didn't matter who they played; no team could skate with them for 60 minutes. And what Canada did in dismantling a nation like Sweden - well that really sent some shockwaves through the hockey community."

Raine Hernandez

"It was a blast getting to watch IIHF hockey with a crowd again, and overall, what a fantastic slate of high-level hockey we got to watch. It was great to see the growth of so many players from this event. I feel the main takeaway from this entire tournament is without a doubt the performances of all of the OHL-based prospects and how impressive they have looked despite the lack of game-time from certain players. Brandt Clarke and Mason McTavish (as mentioned previously) were the most impressive among the draft eligibles, meanwhile Francesco Pinelli, Chase Stillman, Brennan Othmann, Brett Harrison all looked the part and played their roles for one of the most historic U18 teams in tournament history. Last but not least, despite not playing a single minute of game action since the original stoppage, Wyatt Johnson, Ryan Winterton, and especially Ethan Del Mastro, showed massive strides in their development since the last time we saw them in the OHL"

Sam McGilligan

"I’m convinced, now more than ever, that when we look back at this draft 5 years down the line, a lot of the best players will be picked outside of the lottery picks. I came away relatively whelmed by most of the projected 21’ first rounders and there weren’t too many that raised their stock. Meanwhile the prodigies (Wright, Bedard and Michkov) utterly dominated the tournament. I’m sure I’m not the only one saying this, but the stars of the 22’ and 23’ class were the most prominent players in Texas. I think that post-draft development is going to be the biggest indicator of who becomes a star, and that there are going to be quite a few players drafted in the 2nd round and beyond that could become something significant if they end up drafted by the right team. This is somewhat true every year, but even more-so for 2021 because of the clear lack of obvious superstar talent and all the circumstances that players/teams have had to overcome because of the pandemic."

Ryan Wagman

"The 2021 draft class may be relatively weak, but a) many of this year's finest are actually late birthdates and lost their chances to appear at this event when last year's showing was cancelled due to the still new COVID pandemic; and b) The next two draft classes will be awesome. Shane Wright, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Brad Lambert may be the headliners from those at this event, but there are so many more, like fellow participants in this year's U18 in David Jiricek, Gabriel Szturc, Danila Yurov, Ludwig Persson, Lian Bichsel, Ryan Chesley, Lane Hutson, Logan Cooley, Isaac Howard, Rutger McGroarty, Charlie Stramel, Danny Zhilkin, and many more."

Mikael Holm

"Round one of Connor Bedard vs Matvei Michkov. It is going to be a pleasure following these players through their careers. They have immense scoring talent, and it is going to be a lot of fun following their years before the draft. Michkov will almost certainly play a lot of minutes in the KHL and will probably create some more history. Bedard will torch the WHL for two years before it’s time for their draft and I can’t wait to see which teams will get them. It will be a fun rivalry where they will try to one-up each other with lacrosse goals and snipes for, hopefully, at least 20 years."

2021 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Team Sweden Preview

Mikael Holm — Sat, 24 Apr 2021 13:14:04 +0000

It seems strange to consider that Sweden is still the reigning Under-18 World Champions given they won the final against Russia in Örnsköldsvik two seemingly very long years ago, securing their first gold medal in the IIHF U18 World Championships.

While the U18s have not been a tournament where Sweden has found a lot of success over the years, they have performed better in the last decade or so. The U18s don’t approach the same status in Sweden in popularity as the World Juniors but the last tournament in Örnsköldsvik opened some eyes as the national broadcast station SVT aired the tournament.

Sweden comes to Frisco with a strong group of players with a great mix of offensive talent like Fabian Lysell and Simon Robertsson, the usual strong defensive group, and a feisty bottom six that could cause some trouble for any team in this tournament. However, there is an issue that has followed Sweden the last couple of years in international play and it is the center depth. Coming into this 2021 U18’s Victor Stjernborg was the clear number one center and now, with him not being able to play, Sweden has been weakened through the middle, just like in the World Junior Championships earlier this year. Now they will be required to rely on Arvid Eljas, Liam Dower-Nilsson, Noah Hasa and Noah Östlund. They are all very solid players but there is no clear star player or number one center.

The player that might surprise people in this tournament with a strong showing is Noah Östlund. Östlund is a player that is eligible for the 2022 draft but will be taking on big responsibilities in this tournament. With Victor Stjernborg not joining the roster in Frisco, Östlund has moved up the pecking order and will fight for the number one center spot along with Dower-Nilsson and Eljas. Perhaps they won’t rely on a number one center. Sweden might utilize their forward depth and roll out three strong lines with a clear fourth line that will do the dirty work.

If you look past the centers, the forwards are very strong. Their top six could include Fabian Lysell, Simon Robertsson, William Strömgren and Isak Rosén. Lysell and Robertsson played together in camp prior to the tournament. I believe that it would be best for the team if they were split up and put with Strömgren and Rosén. That way Sweden’s top six wouldn’t just be extremely dangerous offensively, it would be incredibly dynamic. Pair Robertsson with Rosén and you have two players where you never know if they are going to shoot the puck, or pass it, but whatever they choose, it will be dangerous.

Pairing Lysell and Strömgren together you relieve Strömgren of puck carrying duties and instead have Lysell with his exceptional speed and carrying skills, bring the puck into the offensive zone. There Strömgren can focus on finding open ice to score or create. The most important element of these pairings is that Robertsson and Lysell are both two very good forecheckers, which isn’t Strömgren and Rosén’s strongest asset. Lysell and Robertsson could take on a big chunk of that part of the game which would help Rosén and Strömgren create offense, where they excel.

The center issue isn’t the only concern Sweden needs to resolve to be successful. Their goaltending situation is not as solid as it looked in the last tournament. Last time around they had, perhaps, their strongest duo in a very long time in Hugo Alnefelt and Jesper Wallstedt. This year they come into the tournament with two goalies who have played a combined one game since November in club competition. Both Viggo Andrén and Carl Lindbom (younger brother of New York Rangers prospects Olof) will have the opportunity to seize the number one spot but they both need to have an outstanding tournament if Sweden wants to fight for the gold.

Behind Andrén and Lindbom is one half of the Hävelid twins, who both are on this roster. In goal Sweden have Hugo Hävelid and just in front of him is Mattias Hävelid playing on defense. Their father Niclas is a former NHL player for the Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers and New Jersey Devils. Their uncle Magnus was the head coach of the Swedish U18 team that won gold in 2019. So, maybe the answer is simple for Sweden when it comes to the U18 World Championships, have at least one Hävelid on the team and it is a guaranteed gold. But it is probably not that simple.

Ten players to keep an eye on

Luleå's Fabian Lysell during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Rögle and Luleå on 5 January 2021 in Ängelholm.
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN

Fabian Lysell RW, Age: 18, H/W: 5-10/175/, Shoots: R

After a tough season with not that big of role for his SHL team, Lysell now has the opportunity to show how good he really is to those who still doubt him. Lysell plays at the highest gear consistently and uses that in all situations. He is great on the forecheck, he is great with the puck on his stick, and he creates chances for himself and his teammates with his elusiveness. His season in the J20 Nationell in Sweden was dominant and if he brings his A-game, he could dominate this tournament as well.

Simon Edvinsson, D, Age: 18, H/W: 6-4/200/, Shoots: L

Edvinsson will be the most important defenseman on this team, and he needs to show why for Sweden to have a fruitful experience in Frisco. Edvinsson is a big, mobile defenseman that is fundamentally solid in his own zone but has issues with his decision making and breakout passes. He can carry the puck like no one else. He has exceptional skill but when put under pressure he tends to do peculiar things, particularly in the third period.

Skellefteå's Simon Robertsson during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Skellefteå and Brynäs on 5 December 2020 in Skellefteå.
Photo: Ola Westerberg / BILDBYRÅN

Simon Robertsson, RW, Age: 18, H/W: 6-0/190/, Shoots: L

Robertsson is, along with Lysell, the most important forward on this team. He is a great player in transition, using his above average speed and skill to create space for himself with the puck. Without the puck he is a selfless player who is always moving, trying to find open space for himself or create it for his teammates. He has a very good shot that he can beat the goalie with from anywhere on the ice. He is a good playmaker that on a consistent basis sets up his teammates in dangerous areas.

Noah Östlund, C, Age: 17, H/W: 5-9/145/, Shoots: L

Östlund is a smart, creative center with good speed and finishing abilities. He only played 10 games with Djurgården’s J20 team this season but in those 10 games he scored seven goals and eight assists. Surprising production as a 16-year-old in a league where pretty much everyone was older than him. He is rated as the best player born in 2004 among Swedish prospects but he has tough competition.

Elias Salomonsson, D, Age: 16, H/W: 6-0/175/, Shoots: R

Salomonsson is the main guy competing with Östlund for the title as best Swedish player born in 2004. Salomonsson is the archetype of a typical Swedish defenseman. He is good in almost any area of the game and will probably play top-4 minutes in this tournament. He is the next big defensive talent to come from Sweden and when he is on the ice, he is the commander-in-chief. He is an incredibly smart player who makes the game look easy to him. He is dangerous on the power play with his shot. While it is not incredibly powerful, it is sneaky. Salomonsson could be one of the players for next years draft that comes out of this tournament with a lot of hype.

William Strömgren LW, Age: 17, H/W: 6-3/175/, Shoots: L

Strömgren is an exciting player to watch. He has incredible hands that could make a defenseman at any level look like a fool. He also has a knack for finding loose pucks in the offensive zone and scoring. His shot is very strong, and he can utilize it in a lot of different ways. He can use it on a one-timer, he can create some space with his hands and get off a snapshot or a wrist shot. He is a big threat offensively but needs to work on his all-round game. He can become a passenger too often, not taking initiative on his own. He also has a tendency to take some bad penalties and when it comes to the knockout stages, it could cost the team. To Strömgren’s credit, he has been working on his deficiencies during the season and in the last couple of games he has played, he has looked better.

Liam Dower-Nilsson C, Age:17, H/W:6-0/175/,Shoots: L

Dower-Nilsson will have to take on a lot of responsibilities this tournament after Victor Stjernborg wasn’t able to join Team Sweden for the tournament. Dower-Nilsson is a smart center with a decent two-way game. He is a huge threat on the power play, where he usually plays behind the net. He can control the power play from Gretzky’s office, and it is quite fascinating to see. He is a pass first guy that can use his hands to get out of tough spots, but he won’t blow you away like a Strömgren. Dower-Nilsson will probably play the most out of the centers on this team and he is vital to Team Sweden’s chances to win gold.

Isak Rosén RW, Age: 18, H/W: 5-11/155/, Shoots: L

Rosén is possibly the most fun player on this team and even in the 2021 NHL Draft class this summer. Predicted to go in the first round, he is a player that takes control of the offense on his team. He is a very good skater with a solid finishing ability. He weaves in and out of traffic in the offensive zone like it is the easiest thing in the world. His hands are silky smooth, and he can set up his teammates from anywhere on the ice. He has trouble finding consistency and Sweden need him to be consistent to walk away from this tournament as two-time champions. He also needs to be more than a passenger in the defensive zone. Pairing him with either Lysell or Robertsson should help him enough defensively that he can take care of the parts of his game that makes him a possible first round pick this summer.

Anton Olsson D, Age: 18, H/W: 6-1/185/, Shoots: L

Coming into this season, Olsson was a player that a lot of people were certain was a first round pick. He looked like a defensive first kind of guy that could move well and string together some nice breakout passes. Now the question is if he is even that. Playing for Malmö in the SHL for almost the entirety of this season, he hasn’t really shown that he is the player people thought before the season. He has had trouble getting the puck out of the zone, his team barely gets into the offensive zone when he is on the ice and even his defensive game, which was talked about as one of the best in this summer’s draft, hasn’t been great. Olsson is going to be a very important part of this Swedish team and he will play a lot of minutes. He needs to get back on track and show why he should be considered in the earlier rounds this summer.

Simon Forsmark D, Age: 17, H/W: 6-1/190/, Shoots: L

Forsmark is what a lot of people hoped Olsson to be. He is a very defensively sound, puck-moving defenseman. He is born in late 2003 which means he is eligible for the 2022 draft. He has gotten opportunities to play in the SHL this season and he has not done badly. He will probably play on the third pairing and log heavy defensive zone minutes, but he can provide offense as well. Watch Forsmark be one of the most solid defensemen on the roster while also being one of the youngest.

Sleeper – Arvid Sundin LW, Age: 17 H/W: 5-10/175/ Shoots: L

Sundin is quick and evasive with his skating, his hands are very good, and he is effective at utilizing those tools to create space for himself and his teammates. He owns a nice shot that he doesn’t deploy enough. He has scored most of his goals this year after winning the puck in his own zone and going on a breakaway where he just picks a corner to score. Sundin and Brynäs teammate Joel Holmli will probably play on a fourth line together and teams need to watch out because they could cause some havoc with their speed and smarts.

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s April Rankings – Pre-U18 World Championship – Top 64 (Subscribers)

Brock Otten — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 21:00:58 +0000

Scouting the draft certainly has not been easy this year. We could go on at length about that. Delays to the WHL season. The (recent) cancelation of the OHL season. Shortened junior seasons in Europe. Constant disruptions due to covid protocols. Rink restrictions. A greater reliance on video. These are the struggles that independent scouting agencies like ourselves have had to endure in order to evaluate and rank the best the 2021 NHL Draft has to offer. But the show must go on. Just because scouting has been different this year does not mean that our scouts have not been putting in the work. That work just looks a little different.

It has been over two months since the release of our preliminary Top 32 ranking. This time around, for our mid-season ranking, we will be increasing the length of our list to 64, along with some honorable mentions.

While the top 5 remains unchanged from our previous list (Beniers, Power, Hughes, Wallstedt, Edvinsson), there have been some pretty significant changes to the way we have ranked the players inside the Top 15. Chaz Lucius, Matthew Coronato, and Sebastian Cossa have made significant jumps, while Carson Lambos, Zachary L’Heureux, and Corson Ceulemans have seen large drops.

Lucius, of the U.S. National Development Team, was injured early on in the season, severely limiting our views of him. Now fully healthy, he is playing exceptional hockey (averaging over a goal per game in the USHL) and has moved up into our Top 10. Coronato has sustained his high level of play from earlier in the USHL season, leading the USHL in goal scoring. While Sebastian Cossa has been sensational to start the WHL season in Edmonton, currently leading the ‘Dub” in save percentage. His 6’6 frame and stopping ability are going to make him very attractive to NHL scouts inside the lottery range. The last time we had two goalies taken inside the Top 15 was 2006 when Jonathan Bernier (11th) and Riku Helenius (15th) were selected. There is a very real possibility of that happening again in 2021.

Carson Lambos is definitely a widely debated prospect these days. His play in Finland (on loan) was indifferent and, unfortunately, his season was ended early due to a medical procedure which halted his WHL season two games in and has prevented him from playing at the World Under 18’s in Texas. Ultimately, our scouts are less sure of his high-end offensive potential than they were a year ago, or even several months ago. Zachary L’Heureux is a talented player, no doubt, but his inability to stay in the Halifax lineup due to suspensions has become a concerning trend. And Ceulemans’ play since the AJHL returned has not been at the same level as it was before the stoppage. His play at the U18’s in support of Brandt Clarke on Team Canada will go a long way in determining his value for the draft.

In total, there are seven new faces ranked inside of our first round compared to last time. Those would be the aforementioned Chaz Lucius, Logan Stankoven, Aidan Hreschuk, Jack Bar, Ayrton Martino, Simon Robertsson, and Ville Koivunen.

Of course, this list is far from being set in stone. The IIHF World Under 18’s in Texas, which commence at the end of April, will be highly scrutinized. With the cancellation of events like the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, the World Junior A Challenge, and the Five Nations, this will be the first time scouts will have an opportunity to compare the top talent against one another. While it is important to not use a single tournament as the basis of your evaluation on a player, there is no doubt that the results of the U18’s will have wide sweeping effects on the year end lists of NHL scouts. Of our ranked top 64, 32 (exactly half) are scheduled to play at the U18’s.

While tempering projections based on the U18’s will be one challenge, the other main one is the cancellation of the OHL season. Typically, nearly 20% of all players drafted come from the Ontario Hockey League. While some of the top players have played in Europe (like Brandt Clarke and Mason McTavish) or will be participating in the Under 18’s (like Ben Gaudreau and Wyatt Johnson), others will have their evaluations and grades based upon their performances last season. That is unless the CHL and Hockey Canada can successfully stage a prospect tournament in a bubble setting sometime before the draft (which is apparently being discussed and on the table). Where to slot OHL based players inside our final rankings will be a challenge.

As mentioned, this time around we have ranked the Top 64. Of course, there were several players who just missed this list. Our ‘Honorable Mentions’ for midseason were as follows (alphabetically): Eric Alarie, William von Barnekow, Josh Doan, Liam Gilmartin, David Gucciardi, Jayden Grubbe, Samuel Helenius, Brent Johnson, Tristan Lennox, Robert Orr, Kyle Masters, Connor Roulette, Joshua Roy, Ryan Winterton, and Trevor Wong.

Without further ado...the McKeen’s April top 64 rankings for the 2021 NHL Draft.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Matthew Beniers	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/175	5-Nov-02	24-10-14-24
2	Owen Power	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-6/215	22-Nov-02	26-3-13-16
3	Luke Hughes	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-2/175	9-Sep-03	38-6-28-34
4	Jesper Wallstedt	G	Lulea (SHL)	6-3/200	14-Nov-02	12-10, 2.23, .908
5	Simon Edvinsson	D	Vasteras (Swe 2)	6-4/200	5-Feb-03	14-0-5-5
6	Chaz Lucius	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/175	2-May-03	12-13-5-18
7	Dylan Guenther	RW	Edmonton (WHL)	6-0/170	3-Apr-03	12-12-12-24
8	Brandt Clarke	D	Nove Zamky (Svk)	6-1/180	9-Feb-03	26-5-10-15
9	Fabian Lysell	RW	Lulea (SHL)	5-10/175	19-Jan-03	26-2-1-3
10	William Eklund	LW	Djurgardens (SHL)	5-10/175	10-Dec-02	40-11-12-23
11	Kent Johnson	C	Michigan (B1G)	6-1/170	18-Oct-02	26-9-18-27
12	Aatu Raty	C	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	6-2/185	14-Nov-02	35-3-3-6
13	Matthew Coronato	LW	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/180	14-Nov-02	50-46-37-83
14	Cole Sillinger	LW	Sioux Falls (USHL)	6-0/195	16-May-03	31-24-22-46
15	Sebastian Cossa	G	Edmonton (WHL)	6-6/210	21-Nov-02	12-0, 1.61, .939
16	Mason McTavish	C	Olten (Sui 2)	6-0/200	30-Jan-03	13-9-2-11
17	Francesco Pinelli	C	Acroni Jesenice (Slv)	6-0/185	11-Apr-03	13-5-6-11
18	Logan Stankoven	C	Kamloops (WHL)	5-8/170	26-Feb-03	6-7-3-10
19	Oskar Olausson	RW	HV 71 (SHL)	6-1/180	10-Nov-02	16-3-1-4
20	Ryder Korczak	C	Moose Jaw (WHL)	5-10/170	23-Sep-02	13-3-11-14
21	William Stromgren	LW	MODO Hockey (Swe 2)	6-3/175	7-Jun-03	27-3-6-9
22	Isak Rosen	RW	Leksands (SHL)	5-11/155	15-Mar-03	22-0-1-1
23	Aidan Hreschuk	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/180	19-Feb-03	43-5-28-33
24	Jack Bar	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/190	24-Oct-02	32-5-10-15
25	Corson Ceulemans	D	Brooks (AJHL)	6-1/190	5-May-03	8-4-7-11
26	Simon Robertsson	RW	Skelleftea (SHL)	6-0/190	5-Feb-03	22-1-1-2
27	Ayrton Martino	LW	Omaha (USHL)	5-10/170	28-Sep-02	36-18-36-54
28	Zachary L'Heureux	LW	Halifax (QMJHL)	5-11/195	15-May-03	33-19-20-39
29	Xavier Bourgault	C	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-0/170	22-Oct-02	29-20-20-40
30	Stanislav Svozil	D	Kometa Brno (Cze)	6-1/180	17-Jan-03	30-1-2-3
31	Ville Koivunen	LW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-11/160	13-Jun-03	38-23-26-49
32	Brennan Othmann	LW	Olten (Sui 2)	5-11/170	5-Jan-03	34-7-9-16
33	Samu Tuomaala	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	5-10/175	8-Jan-03	30-15-16-31
34	Mackie Samoskevich	RW	Chicago (USHL)	5-10/175	15-Nov-02	36-13-24-37
35	Nikita Chibrikov	LW	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	5-10/160	16-Feb-03	16-1-1-2
36	Jack Peart	D	Fargo (USHL)	5-11/180	15-May-03	22-1-13-14
37	Carson Lambos	D	Winnipeg (WHL)	6-0/200	14-Jan-03	2-0-0-0
38	Anton Olsson	D	Malmo (SHL)	6-1/185	26-Jan-03	39-0-4-4
39	Zach Dean	C	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-0/175	4-Jan-03	23-10-10-20
40	Evan Nause	D	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-2/185	20-Jan-03	32-4-18-22
41	Fyodor Svechkov	C	Lada Togliatti (VHL)	6-0/180	5-Apr-03	38-5-10-15
42	Justin Robidas	C	Val d'Or (QMJHL)	5-7/175	13-Mar-03	35-19-17-36
43	Red Savage	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/175	15-May-03	39-16-22-38
44	Daniil Chayka	D	CSKA (KHL)	6-3/190	22-Oct-02	11-1-1-2
45	Benjamin Gaudreau	G	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/165	11-Jan-03
46	Sasha Pastujov	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/185	15-Jul-03	34-23-29-52
47	Logan Mailloux	D	SK Lejon (Swe)	6-3/215	15-Apr-03	19-7-8-15
48	Liam Dower Nilsson	C	Frolunda (Swe Jr)	5-11/170	14-Apr-03	16-5-12-17
49	Prokhor Poltapov	LW	Krasnaya Armiya (MHL)	5-10/160	1-Feb-03	61-25-27-52
50	Sean Behrens	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-9/175	31-Mar-03	39-6-25-31
51	Vincent Iorio	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/190	14-Nov-02	20-4-7-11
52	Roman Schmidt	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-5/210	27-Feb-03	38-3-10-13
53	Artyom Grushnikov	D	Hamilton (OHL)	6-2/185	20-Mar-03
54	Victor Stjernborg	C	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	5-10/200	22-May-03	30-2-2-4
55	Wyatt Johnston	C	Windsor (OHL)	6-0/180	14-May-03
56	Zachary Bolduc	C	Rimouski (QMJHL)	6-1/175	24-Feb-03	27-10-19-29
57	Ryan Ufko	D	Chicago (USHL)	5-9/175	7-May-03	52-10-28-38
58	Colton Dach	C	Saskatoon (WHL)	6-2/185	4-Jan-03	17-8-6-14
59	Brett Harrison	C	KOOVEE (Fin Jr)	6-1/175	7-Jun-03	7-4-5-9
60	Chase Stillman	RW	Esbjerg (Den Jr)	5-11/175	29-Mar-03	8-9-7-16
61	James Malatesta	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/180	31-May-03	32-10-13-23
62	Alexander Kisakov	LW	Dynamo Moskva (Rus Jr)	5-9/160	1-Nov-02	61-36-37-73
63	Ethan Del Mastro	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-3/195	15-Jan-03
64	Kirill Kirsanov	D	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	6-1/195	19-Sep-02	29-0-3-3

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s Staff Honourable Mentions for the First Round

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:45:11 +0000

Recently, we at McKeen’s Hockey released our preliminary Top 32 ranking for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In any year, that first list is always a difficult one to create as regional scouts try to determine how their prospects compare to those in other regions. However, the global COVID pandemic made that exercise infinitely more difficult this season, especially with many players on loan to other leagues/countries and the OHL/WHL still on hiatus.

If you recall, we listed 11 honorable mentions who just missed the cut on that initial list. The intent of this article is to highlight some of those honorable mentions (in addition to a few others) who have a chance to move into the first round later this season. Each of our regional scouts has submitted the player(s) they feel fit the criteria and should be closely monitored as the season progresses.

Europe

Simon Robertsson - RW - Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

Robertsson is a smart offensive winger. He is a top six forward talent with good traits to reach that potential. He has a powerful skating stride and uses it effectively and can shift his pace when needed, too. He does not just skate at top speed and can be agile in tight places. One thing that also sticks out with Robertsson is his quick release. He is a good goal scorer and strong from the right side on a power play. He plays more with his head than power though. He can read defenses well and uses his skills to manipulate the space around him. He detects open spaces well and acts fast creating chances for himself and others. He lacks high elite traits (from an offensive point of view) and is therefore ranked outside our top 32 at this moment. He prematurely plays a 12^th/13^th forward role in the SHL and that is the only hockey he plays now while junior hockey is shut down. The situation is not beneficial for him and maybe a loan to Allsvenskan would be preferable. - Jimmy Hamrin

*BONUS

Simon Robertsson is a player that has caught my eye as a potential steal if he’s not drafted in the 1st round this year. His ability to generate speed and use open ice to attack the neutral zone with and without the puck has taken big steps since last year. His offensive tools are diverse, but his shot has been a hallmark. His release is excellent and his quick footwork and agility allows him to find open ice quickly and let his shot go. My tracking work isn’t as optimistic as I am on him, but his offensive transition success rate is excellent across both bluelines, and he hasn’t lost a step in his transition to the SHL. His ability to clog the neutral zone and cut off transitions has steadily improved game over game in my work, all while registering stronger and stronger pass completion rates. With his natural instincts away from the puck, and the fundamental tools he has, I would like to see him build on his puck skill over time and show a bit more confidence in the offensive zone to put defenders on their heels a bit more, as he seems to be sticking more to the perimeter in the SHL. I’ve got Robertsson in my 2nd tier, and ranked side by side with Simon Edvinsson at 10/11 overall. Exciting player with tons of potential. - Will Scouch

Anton Olsson - D - Malmo (SHL)

Olsson is a highly competitive and physical defenseman with good puck skills. He plays a two-way game and plays well with the puck. He is a good skater with a long stride and strong balance. His potential in the defensive zone is higher than in the offensive zone. He can use his skating and defensive smarts to play with good gap control and does not shy away from being physical either. With the puck, he has good individual puck skills. He is a good first passer and has a good shot. He can also deke creatively and has good control of the puck. Although he has the skill, he does not have the offensive hockey IQ to use it effectively in the offensive zone. He plays simplistic with the puck and does not have power play potential. I can see him more as a defensive second or third pair defenseman. His competitiveness stands out but nothing else is elite in his game. For that reason I see him more as a second round pick for the draft but that said, he plays regularly in the SHL at 17 which is not common by a player with his traits. - Jimmy Hamrin

Samuel Helenius - C - JYP (Liiga)

Samuel Helenius has been one of the few bright spots for JYP in the Liiga this season. He brings energy and physicality each night, plays well on the penalty kill and can chip in offensively. He also played really well as a fourth-line center at the World Juniors. The massive forward moves well and can reach a good top speed. He has smoothed out his stride and his mobility has improved. In his own end, he clogs passing lanes, applies stick pressure and plays with his head on a swivel. He reads the game well and shows awareness of his surroundings. In the offensive zone, he knows where to go to be effective. He has an accurate and hard wrist shot with a quick release, and he does not need many chances before the puck is in the back of the net. Helenius is physical and tenacious, finishes his checks with authority and pressures opponents into bad decisions. He can cover a lot of the ice. I think he could sneak into the late first round if he keeps improving his offensive game. Overall, I like how his game is trending. He has been a player to watch for a few years already, but his skating has gotten much better and it has enabled him to emerge as a quality NHL draft prospect. - Marco Bombino

Kirill Kirsanov - D - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Kirill Kirsanov seems to be the kind of a defenseman who likes to play cerebral game, and while there is still some progress to be made, his defensive awareness is already good enough to not look too shabby at both the KHL and WJC levels. Additionally he is already pretty physical and is competent at both shooting the puck and distributing it to teammates. The limiting factor here is the skating, as it isn't remarkable in any way, therefore I am quite skeptical about his first round chances. With that being said, while Kirsanov doesn't look like a stereotypical first round pick, I can't exclude that in the year of pandemic, and playing all season long might be beneficial for his chances. At this point I can think of Kirsanov developing into someone like Vladislav Gavrikov and that ceiling sounds totally worthy of a second round pick to me. - Viktor Fomich

Fyodor Svechkov - C/LW - Lada Togliatti (MHL/VHL)

Evaluating Russians can be tough, but I am relatively confident with my read on Svechkov. He might be one of the smarter and more dynamic positional centers available in this draft. He can play with pace, but doesn’t often have to. He can play with skill, but doesn’t often have to. He is a tremendous offensive transition driver, maintaining control on 60/80 total offensive transitions against VHL competition, and his ability to drive dangerous shot attempts is impressive. Of his team’s ten total dangerous shot attempts through five games tracked, Svechkov has taken four of them. That’s the other side of the coin. Lada Togliatti is… not a good hockey team. Svechkov’s pass percentage is well below average, but his head is in the right place. Teammates giving up pucks under no pressure, flying through the neutral zone before Svechkov can even spot them, and plenty more funny business can hide the positives in Svechkov’s game. His work rate and intelligence anticipating board cycles is not matched by many of his linemates, and with his ability to grab turnovers and turn play around, leading to excellent transition results, I am willing to bet that he will continue to put up better and better results, especially if he can get himself onto a better program. - Will Scouch

North America

Artyom Grushnikov - D - Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)

Grushnikov is a player who has long been hyped as one of the top Russian players available for the 2021 draft. The last few years, he has played up a level with the Russian National team, excelling at the U17’s two years ago as a 16 year old and playing at the Hlinka/Gretzky and World Junior A Challenge last year as a 17 year old. Touted as a strong two-way defender, there is a certain level of mystique surrounding Grushnikov’s true offensive capabilities because he has been playing with players older than him, thus requiring him to play more of a simple game while deferring to older linemates or defensive partners to lead the breakout or entry. Following the most recent CHL Import Draft, Grushnikov signed on with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL, which would have been a terrific litmus test for him. Hamilton has a strong forward group, but needed an all situations, top pairing defender to eat minutes and help facilitate offense. Needless to say, playing for the Bulldogs would have given scouts a much better idea of his offensive skill set. Unfortunately, the OHL has yet to begin the year and this has left Grushnikov in limbo. If, or when, the OHL can actually commence, he could quickly move up draft boards if he shows the necessary progression from a year ago. His mobility and tenaciousness could make him a strong stay at home, top six defender at minimum. - Brock Otten

Benjamin Gaudreau - Goaltender - Sarnia Sting (OHL)/Tristan Lennox - Goaltender - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

McKeen’s already had two goaltenders in their preliminary Top 32 (Wallstedt and Cossa), however these two OHL netminders are not far behind. Coming out of U16 in North Bay, Gaudreau was thought to be one of the best goaltending prospects out of Ontario in recent years. His rookie season in Sarnia had many ups and downs, mostly because of Sarnia’s defensive struggles. Hung out to dry on many occasions, Gaudreau faced over 35 shots on most nights, yet he held his own and flashed the ability to steal games for Sarnia. He is an extremely technically sound goaltender whose strength lies in his ability to track pucks and cut down angles. Lennox, on the other hand, has already played two OHL seasons with an October 2002 birth date. Despite the hype which preceded him, Lennox’s 2019-20 season did not go according to plan. He suffered a lower body injury while starting for Canada at the Hlinka/Gretzky and when he returned to the OHL in late September, his game never got on track as he struggled with consistency and positioning. Lennox is still extremely highly regarded, as his inclusion at this year’s Canadian World Junior camp would indicate (even if he was cut). Interestingly enough, he recently signed an ATO with the Toronto Marlies. His combination of size and athleticism is intriguing and he is certainly capable of being one of the OHL’s (and CHL’s) elite netminders. No question, if the OHL is able to start, both of these goaltenders have the potential to push Sebastian Cossa as the second best goaltender available behind Jesper Wallstedt, and subsequently could be considered first round candidates. - Brock Otten

Chaz Lucius - C - USDP (USHL)

Lucius garnering a spot as a Honorable Mentionee in our first draft ranking set is paying homage to past accomplishments. Like most young players from the OHL or the WHL, Lucius has yet to play in a competitive game this year. Unlike his cohort north of the border, who are prevented from playing due to the pandemic preventing their respective leagues from starting, Lucius has not yet suited up due to a reported lower body injury. Lucius tied for the U17 team lead in scoring last year across all competition, along with Sasha Pastujov, and looked pretty sharp in a relatively brief cameo playing up with the U18s. Scouts who have tracked the USNTDP class closely are still convinced that the highest skilled forwards on the roster are Lucius and Pastujov. The hope is that Lucius returns soon enough to give scouts something recent to chew on before slotting him in their own teams’ draft lists. If he isn’t too rusty, there aren’t any current U18 members who have been playing well enough to keep him from a top six role. - Ryan Wagman

(update – Lucius made his league debut last Friday – Feb 19 – scoring twice in a victory over the league leading Chicago Steel)

Aidan Hreschuk - D - USDP (USHL)

Without any real flash or pizzaz to his game, Hreschuk is the early favorite to be the second defenseman drafted out of this year’s USNTDP class. His size is moderate to average, but he plays a strong, gritty game defensively, with good work along the boards and a dependable defensive stick. He is vocal, too, an underrated trait that speaks to his maturity as a player and a potential leader. While his defensive contributions might be the first that catches the eye – that is what caught my eye first – Hreschuk also has intriguing offensive elements to his game. He is a very smooth skater, helping his average foot speed play up. He takes direct routes to the play on both sides of the puck. In the offensive zone, he is liable to drive the net with the puck and do his part to generate scoring chances. His game reminds me a bit of Brock Faber’s from last year’s USNTDP, but with maybe a touch higher upside. The Southern Californian is committed to play at Boston College starting next year. - Ryan Wagman

Mackie Samoskevich - C - Chicago Steel (USHL)

Before an injury kept him off the ice since January 8 (he returned this Sunday – Feb. 21), allowing Matt Coronato to run away with the scoring lead on the team – and the USHL in total – Samoskevich was neck and neck with his high scoring teammate in terms of draft stock. In fact, I would often flip the two in my own internal preference list after almost every game in the early going. Samoskevich is a dynamic skater, with great short area speed and quickness. He can win any puck race and would blow by opposing defenders with regularity. He is on the slighter side and doesn’t grind very much in the dirty areas, but the Michigan commit has a very high skill level and is the type of center that makes his linemates look better thanks to his work. He is a play driver and phenomenal passer, currently sitting at just under one assist per game. What Samoskevich really needs to improve upon over the remainder of the season is his game-to-game consistency. Whereas Coronato famously started the season on a 19 game point streak, Samoskevich has six multi-point games (including a season opening five point performance against Muskegon), but also six games where he failed to put his name on the scoresheet. Like with Lucius, a return to action, which we are expecting in a couple of weeks*, could play an outsized role on Samoskevich’s draft stock - Ryan Wagman

*He returned this Sunday – Feb. 21 – scoring an overtime winner against the USNTDP U17 squad,

Brent Johnson - D - Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)

I was recently pointed in his direction on a livestream and I’m glad that I was. Johnson is a quick, skilled defensive defenseman who has continuously gotten more and more comfortable on USHL ice after playing at the 16U level, and just two years removed from AAA hockey in his hometown of Dallas, Texas. His ability to create turnovers, grab pucks and quickly turn them around through carrying or hard, quick passing decisions is an excellent fundamental set of strengths for a modern defender. He is mobile, can be physical if necessary, and at the time of writing, has registered 13 points in 14 games since the new year compared to just 5 points in his previous 14. He is a fast riser in my books and is on the verge of breaking into my 1st round. His puck management can be a bit panicky under pressure, but he is evasive with his feet and hands, and is rarely taken out of the play. With a few years of development there could be a real player here who seems to be staying well under the radar. - Will Scouch

Logan Stankoven - C - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Logan Stankoven is a great small area skater as his low center of gravity and strength on his skates enable him to make quick explosive turns and pivots. This helps him be a very effective forechecker where despite not being overly physical, he is highly effective by quickly closing off space, forcing turnovers and preventing clean zone exits. He has been a volume shooter and led all draft eligible players in shots and goals last time the WHL played. His shot is a real weapon with his quick release. He does not have incredible power on his shot but it leaves his stick so quickly that he is still able to beat goalies from midrange positions. What also impresses is the developing 200 foot game, as he is relentless with his back pressure as well as on the forecheck. His defensive awareness in his own zone helps him get into lanes, rare for a player in his draft -1 season. There are two concerns with his game that keep him out of the first round for me. The first is he is only an average passer/playmaker which can make him a bit one dimensional offensively and the second is his size. - Vince Gibbons

Conner Roulette - LW - Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Conner Roulette was one of the more interesting players to have a strong draft -1 season in the WHL. On a team that had suffered from regression from most of its top talents, Roulette was able to carve out a top six role where he produced effectively at 5-on-5. He is an effective player that has good skill, good use of his body, a good shot, good puck handling skills, and good passing skills. What makes him stand out is his effort, particularly in the offensive zone. He works very hard in the cycle game, goes and gets pucks, wins more than his fair share of 50/50 battles, and is always willing to drive to the net. His offensive skill is solid overall but he lacks any truly dynamic skill. His puck handling is not a weakness but for a player with his offensive instincts it sometimes lets him down as he can be prone to turning the puck over. - Vince Gibbons

Evan Nause - D - Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

It’s easy for Evan Nause : he has faults that go with his positive qualities. What do I mean by that? He is not flashy. He will not carry the puck from one end of the ice to the other. He is not going to deke five players before scoring a Lacrosse style goal. Does that mean he can't do it? I do not know. But above all, there is no need to do so. He is efficient and that’s what matters. The fact that he's not flamboyant and doesn't rack up a ton of offensive stats makes him less noticeable; he goes under the radar for the moment in my opinion. However, he is a great player and I believe that the more he develops, the more you will notice his tremendous qualities. He is an excellent skater, he moves the puck very well and he is excellent in transition (the quality of his first pass is really impressive). He can be used as much to lead a power play as to defend a one goal-lead or kill a penalty. Right now what most keeps him from being classified as a 1st round player is his focus on doing the little things well instead of trying to impress. Plus, he had to adapt to a change of league, and a new team, in the complicated times of COVID-19. We can already see a certain adaptation on his part since the Christmas break, as we see him more at ease, more comfortable. He is definitely a type of player every coach would want on his roster. The offensive side and the points will come, no doubt about that. - Benoit Belanger

Justin Robidas - C - Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL)

He is 5-7” tall. That’s it. I do not agree at all with that but it is the sad reality, even still in 2021. Seriously, that's the only explanation I see. It's true that there aren't many established players with this size in the NHL. It's cliché, but I don't find that to be a factor in Justin Robidas' case. He has a lot of energy and grit. He likes to get involved in 1-on-1 duels. He goes in the corners, in front of the net, and in traffic. Of course, for a center, in order to offer excellent support in all three zones, he must still add physical maturity. So far, he is doing very well using his high IQ and excellent vision for the game. He is a great skater and an excellent playmaker. It might take a little longer than for other players but I believe in the end he will become a pro one day. His coaches never hesitate to send him out in any situation, powerplay or penalty killing. He is a real catalyst and he has the seed of a captain with his leadership. I would love to see him land at the end of the 1st round in the draft because I think that's where he stands in terms of talent and Hockey IQ. - Benoit Belanger

Joshua Roy - C/RW - Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

On several lists (not to say “all lists”), he finds himself behind Zachary Bolduc, L’Heureux and Dean. Yet statistically, Joshua Roy is doing very well. Among players born in 2003, he is (as I write these lines) the leader in goals (13) and points, with 24. So what's the matter with Joshua Roy? I will attempt an explanation, which may not be the answer but a hypothesis. When we watch Joshua Roy play, he doesn't seem like the most involved player. He is not the one who is going to go into the physical fights, the 1-on-1 duels. This is reflected in his low number of penalties he receives (just 4 penalties so far in his junior career). When you look at him closely, he seems lazy at times, uninvolved and/or interested. With experience, I would say that this is often a criticism that is attributed to certain talented players. One assumption is that they see the "game" in a superior way to others. This means they don't have to shout out in one-on-one battles to get to their end. Roy is skilled enough to do this without committing physically. He has incredible eye/hand coordination. His puck handling is excellent and he uses his body well to win his duels. In addition, the quality of his shot is excellent. He manages to change the angle of his shot just before he shoots and he has excellent accuracy. His skating is mediocre. He is not particularly explosive, but he is average. It is mostly his intelligence that makes him such a formidable player. He is constantly in the right place on the ice (especially in the offensive zone). He has always impressed me with his ability to successfully exit the zone. Additionally, he shows an ability to play the off-wing as he is a left-hander that has played as a right winger since the start of the current season (in both St-John and Sherbrooke). Recently he was traded following a request on his part and he landed in Sherbrooke a month ago. His lack of involvement in the game at times and his lack of consistency in energy are currently why he is pushing out of the 1st round of the draft. Scouts may be worried that his game won't translate well to the professional level, where it takes a lot more consistent commitment. - Benoit Belanger

Zach Dean - C - Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Zach Dean possesses two attributes that you need to have in order to break into the NHL, which are skating and smarts. His skating compliments the way he thinks the game on both ends. Offensively he is able to make tight turns with his edge work which allows him to skate in small spaces to move around his opponents. When faced with double coverage against the boards he is able to read the issue and either use his speed to move the puck closer to the net or move the puck up the boards to a teammate who is closer. In the defensive zone he is the support player you want. He will not overuse his energy to follow opponents with the puck but read the ice and understand where his opponents and his teammates are going to be. Once he understands where the puck will be played he will support his teammate if there is a 50/50 battle in the corner to gather the loose pucks or assist his teammate if they turn the puck over in the defensive zone. His smarts also help him enter the zone with the puck. If he understands he can move past a player he will take the chance but if he is evenly matched one on one he will dump the puck in and use his speed to chase the puck down. His weakness is his upper body strength which does not help him in 50/50 battles as he is usually the support player and not the fighter in the dirty areas. - Scott Crawford

Anton Olsson – McKeen's Hockey

2024 U18 Division 1A World Championship – Team Previews + 2024 and 2025 Draft eligibles scouts are watching

The favorites

Denmark

Outlook:

Germany

Outlook:

The contenders

Austria

Outlook:

Japan

Outlook:

The ones with nothing to lose

Hungary

Outlook:

Ukraine

Outlook:

HLINKA GRETZKY CUP REVIEW – Sweden – Disappointing result – Strong tournament

Top Five

Leo Sahlin Wallenius

Alexander Zetterberg

Herman Liv

Hugo Zetterlund

Alfons Freij

Disappointments

Anton Olsson

Karl Sterner

NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS: 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup Preview – Players to Watch

Group A

Czechia

Germany

Sweden

United States

Group B

Canada

Finland

Switzerland

Slovakia

2021 NHL DRAFT: CENTRAL DIVISION REVIEW

2021 NHL Draft Review

Central Division

2021 NHL DRAFT: NASHVILLE PREDATORS REVIEW

2021 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: McKeen’s Team Review – Draft Risers, Disappointments and Takeaways

Which two 2021 Draft eligible players raised their stock the most in your opinion? Who really impressed you?

Brock Otten

Will Scouch

Viktor Fomich

Chapin Landvogt

Raine Hernandez

Sam McGilligan

Ryan Wagman

Mikael Holm

Which 2021 Draft eligible player was most disappointing for you and what does that mean for your NHL outlook for them?

Brock Otten

Will Scouch

Viktor Fomich

Chapin Landvogt

Raine Hernandez

Sam McGilligan

Ryan Wagman

Mikael Holm

What was (or were) your biggest takeaway(s) from the event?

Brock Otten

Will Scouch

Viktor Fomich

Chapin Landvogt

Raine Hernandez

Sam McGilligan

Ryan Wagman

Mikael Holm

2021 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Team Sweden Preview

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s April Rankings – Pre-U18 World Championship – Top 64 (Subscribers)

2021 NHL DRAFT: McKeen’s Staff Honourable Mentions for the First Round

Simon Robertsson - RW - Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

Anton Olsson - D - Malmo (SHL)

Samuel Helenius - C - JYP (Liiga)

Kirill Kirsanov - D - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Fyodor Svechkov - C/LW - Lada Togliatti (MHL/VHL)

Artyom Grushnikov - D - Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)

Benjamin Gaudreau - Goaltender - Sarnia Sting (OHL)/Tristan Lennox - Goaltender - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)