Brendan Leipsic – McKeen's Hockey

Boeser Days Ahead – Vancouver Canucks 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 15:00:42 +0000

REVIEW/STATE OF PLAY - Another 7^th place finish in the Pacific Division and their third season in a row under 75 points. The season was noteworthy as the final for Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and the beginning of a new era built around a promising group of prospects. Their results delivered another high draft pick used to select defenseman Quinn Hughes. He joins a group that boasts forwards Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, Elias Petterson, Jake Virtanen, and Hobey Baker award winner Adam Gaudette. They are joined by Hughes and Olli Juolevi on the blueline and Thatcher Demko in goal - all of whom could be in the lineup next season.

Another significant change in the off-season was the departure of President of Hockey Operations, Trevor Linden. The reasons for the change of heart after four seasons at the team that hung his number from the rafters are unclear, and all parties are being circumspect, but suggestions that the difference was one of philosophy on developing players.

VETERAN ADDITIONS BOLSTER DEPTH - Not sure the entire truth will emerge, but GM Jim Benning did acquire three veteran forwards (Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel, and Tim Schaller) in the off-season to solidify their third and fourth line and shelter the young stars. Others would argue that they block spots in which a young player could be developing in the NHL. Both coach Travis Green entering his second season and Benning sing from the same song sheet that the youth movement is under way and if someone is ready to play, they will. The three free agents are strong defensively and can kill penalties. They will make the Vancouver line-up deeper, with the goal of making it harder to play against them up and down the line-up.

The loss of the Sedins may not be easily filled with youth. Daniel tied for the team lead in scoring, along with 23 goals, though eclipsed in points per game by Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat. Henrik was right behind him in scoring and together they contributed 105 points. The hope is Elias Petterson can step in right away and contribute on the second line, either as center or on the wing. There is no question 28-year-old Sam Gagner was a disappointment in his first season with the Canucks scoring only 31 points in 74 games. Whether he finds chemistry with Petterson or is replaced at center, remains a big question going into camp.

Bo Horvat

The first line is set around 23-year-old Bo Horvat and 21-year-old Brock Boeser, who finished second in voting for best rookie. Boeser fired 29 goals in 62 games and if had not been injured would have challenged for the Calder. Horvat is a two-way force at center and led all forwards with 19:21 minutes of ice time, more than two minutes greater than any other forward. He took the most number of face-offs on the team with a 53.8% win rate, and17^th in the league with total wins (712). The biggest challenge they will face will be increased scrutiny as the fulcrum of the attack and drawing tough matchups. A slight regression would not be a surprising result.

DARK DAYS ON D WITH A PROMISING FUTURE - Alex Edler leads the defence group and the team leader in ice time per game (24:17), quarterbacking the power play and killing penalties. He is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season at 32-years-old and will be relied upon heavily again this season. He has a no movement clause, but if he chose to waive it he could be a trade chip at the deadline.

The supporting cast leave something to be desired. Michael Del Zotto had a healthy season, but only delivered 22 points. He led the team in total ice time but saw little time on the power play. He is also an UFA at seasons end and will be looked to anchor a spot in the top four. Chris Tanev has been injury prone and in trade rumours. Erik Gudbranson is a towering presence on the blueline, he seems slow in today’s NHL. Former 8^th overall pick Derek Pouliot was picked up at the start of the season and contributed 22 points and showed signs of improvement as the season wore on.

They have two potentially future elite blueliners in Olli Juolevi and Quinn Hughes. Hughes is likely going back to the University of Michigan but did not look out of place as an 18-year-old at the World Championships or the World Junior Championships. It will be a test of philosophy going forward. Juolevi had offseason surgery and is likely to start in the AHL with left shot defenders Edler, Del Zotto, and Pouliot ahead of him on the depth chart.

Thatcher Demko is one of the brightest goaltending prospects in the league and shone in his second season in the AHL. The starter is Jacob Markstrom who started 60 games last season with a 0.912 save percentage. He is backed up by Anders Nilsson. Demko will threaten for the backup role and may be ready to challenge Markstrom as the starter. He is the heir apparent in goal.

OUTLOOK - The Canucks made moves to make them better defensively up front and as a result should win more close games. There is a core of a contender down the road, but the coming season will be another learning one.

Vegas – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 12:05:12 +0000

Given the rare chance to build an organization from scratch, the Vegas Golden Knights could have taken many different approaches to building up. They could build for now, using the expansion draft to select veteran performers, maybe taking some salary off the books of their rivals in order to be competitive in year one.

They could have drafted with the far future in mind, selecting as bad of a roster as possible now, both as a means of losing a lot right away so as to select early in the entry draft in subsequent years. In this scenario, they would have swung deals with the other teams in the league to minimize the expansion draft’s impact on the present day collectives of the competition in exchange for higher end prospects who would not otherwise have been expansion draft eligible and as many future draft picks as possible.

They could also have drafted for the near, but not immediate, future. This scenario sees them drafting young players who could play in the NHL but are blocked at their respective positions. These players may still have some development left in store, but should be ready or almost ready to play in the NHL right away.

Vegas decided to take all three routes at once. Drafting players like Marc-Andre Fleury, David Perron, James Neal, and Jason Garrison to lend at least the veneer of present day respectability to the club.

For the far future goals, the Golden Knights were able to extort additional draft picks as part of many side deals to ensure that the newest NHL franchise would steer clear of players their incumbent owners saw as more valuable. For example, Vegas got a pick to ensure that they drafted Fleury. Minnesota, in order to protect their deep and young blueline crew, had to send former first-round pick Alex Tuch and a conditional future selection to Nevada so that Vegas would draft Erik Haula instead of Marco Scandella or Matt Dumba. The Islanders sent their first round pick to Vegas as coercion to draft the inured Mikhail Grabovski instead of Ryan Strome or Brock Nelson. Players who are on the early depth chart who fit this route include Brendan Leipsic, Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Oscar Lindberg, and Jon Merrill, among others. They are already NHLers and have a semi-reasonable chance of being able to play higher on a roster than they were able to with their previous clubs.

For the near future, look at how Vegas dealt with Anaheim’s blueline surplus. The Ducks had too many good young defensemen that needed protection. In exchange for former first rounder Shea Theodore, the Ducks ignored the talented players the Ducks had to expose and took on the anchor contract of Clayton Stoner instead. In the end, the Golden Knights were able to stockpile 12 picks in the seven rounds of their first draft, including three in the first round. Those on top of the near to NHL ready prospects they acquired as both near-term help and leverage for future trades.

The following list is both a top 20 and, considering the team has only 28 qualified players in the organization, a pretty good overview of the state of the franchise.

Cody Glass of the Portland Winterhawks

1 Cody Glass – With their first ever draft pick, the Golden Knights selected an effective two-way center with a gift for playmaking who projects as a potential top six center in the not-too-distant future. He has an extremely high hockey IQ, processing the actions on the ice rapidly. In addition to his scoring exploits, he is also a trusted penalty killer. He has a good frame, but needs to continue to add bulk to better withstand pro competition. A good player to get the ball rolling with.

Nick Suzuki of the Owen Sound Attack. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

2 Nick Suzuki – Outside of the physical game, Suzuki brings it all. Superb skating, a hard shot, silky puck skills, high hockey IQ, reliability. It is rare to see such a prolific scorer used with such frequency on the PK. Finished second in the OHL in shorthanded goals last year. Needs to focus more on utilizing his linemates instead of trying to create and finish plays on his own, but this is a dynamic talent who should meet the demands of both coaches and fans.

Erik Brannstrom (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

3 Erik Brannstrom – One of the most exciting talents in the 2017 draft class, Brannstrom is a puck moving, go-go-go defenseman styled after Erik Karlsson. This is not to presume a similar career path, but that he has a similar skill set. A dynamic skater who sees the ice very well and was built to move the puck. Loves to shoot and has a solid shot as well. He also has the same downsides that Karlsson had as a teen. Brannstrom is undersized and can be pushed around in his own zone. A prototype defender in the possession age.

4 Shea Theodore – For our money, the acquisition of Theodore was Vegas’ most impressive maneuver of the expansion draft. On almost any team except for Anaheim, he would be looked at as an NHL-ready blueliner who could be a building block for a future first or second pairing. An excellent skater with near-elite puck skills, he has already shown that he has little to nothing to prove in the AHL after two pro seasons and continued to produce in the NHL postseason.

5 Nicolas Hague – If Brannstrom is an Erik Karlsson starter kit, Hague is a blueline prospect built in the mold of Shea Weber or Brent Burns. The easy aspect of those comparisons is his immense size and almost as big point shot. The shot is impressive for both its power and its accuracy. He skates well enough for his size and has moderate puck skills as well. He likes to use his body to punish opponents but could stand to curb his enthusiasm a bit, if only to cut down on punishable infractions.

6 Nikita Gusev – An elite scorer in the KHL, our Russian scout compares Gusev’s reputation in Russia favorably to that of Artemi Panarin. He just signed a two-year extension to continue playing for SKA St. Petersburg, so he a future asset for Vegas. He has elite dangling skills which he combines with his plus skating to form a dynamic offensive presence. More a playmaker than a shooter, he will have to prove that his size deficiencies will not be an obstacle once he leaves for North America.

7 Alex Tuch – Surrendered by Minnesota to Vegas to prevent the latter from poaching one of their good young NHL blueliners, Tuch had a solid first professional season with Iowa, looking much like the player he was at Boston College. An average skater – although impressive with his plus sized frame – he is comfortable on the puck and has shown high end stickhandling ability in the past. Could use one more AHL season before the reins come off.

8 Brendan Leipsic – A long term injury derailed what was promising to be the best season yet of his young career, but Leipsic was very close to earning a spot on a crowded Maple Leafs roster. While he was out, other young players became more established, and then Leipsic was available in the expansion draft. Small but pugnacious, he has some of what made Brad Marchand and Brendan Gallagher successful NHLers. Very versatile forward who has scored everywhere he has gone.

9 Jake Bischoff – A smart two-way blueliner coming off a good career with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Bischoff was part of the package sent by the Islanders to Vegas to coerce the Golden Knights to draft the injured Grabovski. Bischoff has a great point shot and plays with high alertness, ready at all times to snatch a loose puck and begin the transition. A very good skater who relies on positioning more than brawn in his own zone. Needs to play with more aggressiveness.

10 Tomas Nosek – Vegas selected Nosek in the expansion draft from Detroit instead of some of the more famous and expensive names that the Red Wings dangled. He is willing to play in the dirty areas and shows promising offensive awareness. Was a top performer in Grand Rapids’ run to the Calder Cup last year with 22 points in 19 postseason games. High IQ player with moderate offensive capabilities and trustworthy in his own zone or killing penalties.

11 Maxim Zhukov – Although inconsistent, when he is on, Zhukov can absolutely steal games for his team. At his best, he allows few to no second chances and exudes calmness between the pipes. He has very good size, moves well and shows the ability to read the play, but if he lets in a bad goal early, is prone to following that up with a second, and sometimes third. More a shot blocker than a butterfly goalie, it is an open question where he will play next year.

12 Jake Leschyshyn – A sparkplug type with good wheels, Leschyshyn was in the middle of a solid draft year, scoring at a reasonable clip on a stacked Regina squad before being shut down due to injury. He has proven that he can put up big numbers playing a top six role, but will have to earn the spot in the Pats lineup. If he is over his health troubles, he could prove to be a steal at the end of the second round. Needs to prove he can withstand a physical game.

13 Keegan Kolesar – A wide-bodied power forward, Kolesar showed some offensive spark in last year’s WHL playoffs, where he was the leading scorer of the entire tournament. He plays a very hard game, and his flashes of offensive vision can put the lie to his first impression as a gritty winger. Comfortable playing in front of the net, he is a handful to defend against. His skating is powerful, if not very fast. A high floor, low ceiling player.

14 Griffin Reinhart – After three professional seasons, mostly spent in the AHL, Reinhart has little left to prove in the minors. Five years and two organizations removed from his day in the spotlight as the fourth overall draft pick, he has seen little development in the past few years. An intelligent player who can be tough to play against due to his size and positioning, his offensive contributions are not expected to be more than minimal. Foot speed is lacking and his blueline shot is not a grave threat.

15 Reid Duke – Currently best known as the first player signed by Vegas, the former Minnesota draft pick has some game as well. He plays a mature, intelligent game and is reliable in critical game situations. Basically an average skater, his hands are good and he plays with some sandpaper. He will never be a primary scoring option, but should be able to hold his own in a depth role and is not far from his realistic ceiling.

16 Oscar Dansk – After two years back in Sweden, Vegas signed former Blue Jacket Dansk to a one year deal in the offseason. Likely ticketed for third goalie/AHL starter duties, he has not developed as was hoped by Columbus who selected him in the second round of the 2012 draft. Not especially tall, he is relatively broad and a solid athlete. Can make some tricky saves. Needs to stop more shots than he did in his last AHL action.

17 Lucas Elvenes – A playmaker whose hands are better than his feet, Elvenes was over a point-per-game producer for Rogle’s U20 team in SuperElit, although he was shut out in 12 SHL games. He is very creative and is elusive due to his agility, but his skating ability and peripheral play – likely a function of his lack of muscular development thus far – will both need to show marked improvement before he will be ready to move on to the next level.

18 Jonas Rondbjerg – Not as flashy as most recent Danish NHL prospects, Rondbjerg instead plays a mature game and projects as more of a two-way forward down the line. He made the move from Denmark to Sweden last year, playing a well-rounded game in SuperElit, one of the better junior circuits outside of North America. His plus puck control is likely his best asset and suggests increased offensive output going forward.

19 T.J. Tynan – Signed by the Golden Knights as a free agent, Tynan was not re-signed by the Blue Jackets after his ELC expired. Significantly undersized, the former third rounder has proven to be able to contribute secondary scoring at the AHL level. A good skater with very quick hands, he has very good vision, but is not necessarily the most creative. Has a better chance to make an NHL impact with Vegas than he did with Columbus.

20 Nick Campoli – A very good skater who likes to carry the puck through the neutral zone and can generate offense once the offensive zone has been established, Campoli spent a large chunk of his draft year injured. Put up good numbers on an inconsistent Junior A team thanks to his vision, patience and a strong shot. Spent a lot of time outside the dots as he recovered from his injuries. He needs to bulk up to be able to compete in the corners or to create his own space in the offensive zone.

Although this system is still naturally shallow, the Golden Knights have done a marvelous job of stocking the shelves with dynamic, front-line young talent. They should not have too much difficulty in filing out the organization with lower ceiling prospects over the next year or two, but they have already done some of the hardest, heaviest lifting in getting some of the foundational pieces that will be coming into their primes as Vegas becomes competitive.

Vegas Golden Knights unveil their roster with more chips to fall.

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 16:19:24 +0000

The Vegas Golden Knights unveiled the first generation of a roster that will likely undergo many changes in the next few days. Rumours of pending trades abound as the NHL Draft gets underway in Chicago tomorrow night.

Marc-Andre Fleury becomes the biggest name on the roster, anchoring the team in net. James Neal brings his sniper’s touch and 238 NHL goals to lead the offense. He ranks 14^th in the NHL over the lasts six years with 165. There are other interesting acquisitions, with many likely acquired to be flipped in short order.

GM George McPhee has held all the cards so far, but the state of play remains in motion, with many chips left to fall. It is premature to analyze the Golden Knights today, so in the meantime here is their current roster.

For subscribers we have set up the team page, if you want to link to the player pages via the team page. You can also link from the tags at the bottom of the article.

Depth Chart

LEFT WING	CENTER	RIGHT WING
Jonathan Marchessault	Vadim Shipachyov	James Neal
David Perron	Cody Eakin	Reilly Smith
William Carrier	William Karlsson	Teemu Pulkkinen
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	Oscar Lindberg	Chris Thorburn

Brendan Leipsic	Erik Haula	Alex Tuch
Connor Brickley	Tomas Nosek	Tomas Hyka
Nikita Gusev	Reid Duke	David Clarkson
	Mikhail Grabovski

LEFT DEFENSE	RIGHT DEFENSE
Marc Methot	Colin Miller
Brayden McNabb	David Schlemko
Alexei Emelin	Trevor van Riemsdyk
Jason Garrison	Deryk Engelland

Jon Merrill	Nate Schmidt
Clayton Stoner	Shea Theodore
Griffin Reinhart	Luca Sbisa
Jake Bischoff

GOAL
Marc-Andre Fleury

Calvin Pickard
Jean-Francois Berube

PLAYER	POS	HT/WT	AGE	2016-17 STATS	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Reid Duke	C	6-0/195	21	Brandon (WHL)	59	37	34	71	81
Cody Eakin	C	5-11/190	26	Dallas (NHL)	60	3	9	12	49
Mikhail Grabovski	C	5-10/185	33	NY Islanders (NHL) - DNP Inj
Erik Haula	C	5-11/190	26	Minnesota (NHL)	72	15	11	26	28
William Karlsson	C	6-0/190	24	Columbus (NHL)	81	6	19	25	10
Oscar Lindberg	C	6-1/190	25	NY Rangers (NHL)	65	8	12	20	32
Tomas Nosek	C	6-2/210	25	Grand Rapids (AHL)	51	15	26	41	33
Vadim Shipachyov	C	6-0/190	30	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	26	50	76	22
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare	LW	6-0/195	32	Philadelphia (NHL)	82	4	4	8	20
Connor Brickley	LW	6-0/205	25	Charlotte (AHL)	69	15	11	26	57
William Carrier	LW	6-1/200	22	Buffalo (NHL)	41	5	3	8	21
Nikita Gusev	LW	5-9/165	25	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	57	24	47	71	8
Brendan Leipsic	LW	5-9/170	23	Toronto (AHL)	49	18	33	51	30
Jonathan Marchessault	LW	5-9/175	26	Florida (NHL)	75	30	21	51	38
David Perron	LW	6-0/195	29	St. Louis (NHL)	82	18	28	46	54
David Clarkson	RW	6-1/205	33	Columbus (NHL) - DNP Inj
Tomas Hyka	RW	5-11/170	24	Mlada Boleslav (Cze)	48	17	21	38	18
James Neal	RW	6-2/210	30	Nashville (NHL)	70	23	18	41	35
Teemu Pulkkinen	RW	5-11/190	25	Iowa (AHL)	47	18	18	36	36
Reilly Smith	RW	6-0/185	26	Florida (NHL)	80	15	22	37	17
Chris Thorburn	RW	6-3/225	34	Winnipeg (NHL)	64	3	1	4	95
Alex Tuch	RW	6-4/220	21	Iowa (AHL)	57	18	19	37	28
Jake Bischoff	D	6-1/195	23	Minnesota (B1G)	38	5	27	32	16
Alexei Emelin	D	6-1/220	31	Montreal (NHL)	76	2	8	10	71
Deryk Engelland	D	6-2/205	35	Calgary (NHL)	81	4	12	16	85
Jason Garrison	D	6-1/220	32	Tampa Bay (NHL)	70	1	8	9	14
Brayden McNabb	D	6-4/205	26	Los Angeles (NHL)	49	2	2	4	54
Jon Merrill	D	6-3/210	25	New Jersey (NHL)	51	1	5	6	24
Marc Methot	D	6-3/225	32	Ottawa (NHL)	68	0	12	12	24
Colin Miller	D	6-0/195	24	Boston (NHL)	61	6	7	13	55
Griffin Reinhart	D	6-4/215	23	Bakersfield (AHL)	54	7	14	21	42
Luca Sbisa	D	6-2/205	27	Vancouver (NHL)	82	2	11	13	40
David Schlemko	D	6-1/195	30	San Jose (NHL)	62	2	16	18	14
Nate Schmidt	D	6-0/195	26	Washington (NHL)	60	3	14	17	16
Clayton Stoner	D	6-3/225	32	Anaheim (NHL)	14	1	2	3	28
Shea Theodore	D	6-2/185	22	Anaheim (NHL)	34	2	7	9	28
Trevor van Riemsdyk	D	6-2/185	26	Chicago (NHL)	58	5	11	16	29
				2016-17 STATS	GP	W	L	GAA	SV%
Jean-Francois Berube	G	6-1/170	26	NY Islanders (NHL)	14	3	2	3.42	0.889
Marc-Andre Fleury	G	6-2/175	32	Pittsburgh (NHL)	38	18	10	3.02	0.909
Calvin Pickard	G	6-0/195	25	Colorado (NHL)	50	15	31	2.98	0.904

NHL Prospect Watch: A Leipsic of faith

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 22:11:11 +0000

Feb. 25, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Brendan Leipsic (49) moves toward the net as Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Noah Hanifin (5) defends in the second period at the Air Canada Centre. (Photo by Dan Hamilton/Icon Sportswire)

Through games on November 27, 2016, the leading scorer in the AHL is Marlies’ winger Brendan Leipsic (Toronto, 89/2012 – originally drafted by Nashville), LW, Toronto (AHL)). Should Leipsic hold on and finish the year with the scoring title, it would mark a break from the normal AHL points champ, more often than not an AHL veteran, instead of a legitimate NHL prospect of note. The last one of consequence was Brandon Pirri, who won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy with nearly one point per game in 2011-12 as a member of the Rockford IceHogs before his peripatetic NHL career took hold.

In the 2016-17 Hockey Prospectus Prospect Guidebook, we wrote that Leipsic is “hitting the make or break time for prospects.” Presumably, the Winnipeg native did not read the guide book, but he is nonetheless making it. He had always scored reasonably well in the categories of skating, shooting, stick handling and hockey IQ, with higher end grades for his physical game – he has a similar stature to, and plays a similar style as Brad Marchand. In his third year at the AHL level, Leipsic has earned a higher grade for his hockey IQ, as he seems to read the game better – in all zones, but especially in the offensive end – than your standard AHL forward stock. He keeps his stick in the right places to be disruptive and when he has the puck, he generally has a good idea of what to do with it. In short, his hockey IQ should now be considered as on-par with his physicality.

While some may be somewhat surprised at his upsurge on offensive production, upon deeper inspection, it should not be too surprising. He had moderate offensive totals in the WHL when the Predators made him a third round selection in 2012. His final two junior season with the Portland Winterhawks were stellar with 211 points in 133 regular season games in addition to 57 points in 41 postseason contests. Between Milwaukee and the Marlies in his first pro season (he was the highlight of the Leafs’ return for Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli), he put up 54 points in 74 games (0.73 PPG), second behind only Charles Hudon among 1994 born players that year. Last year, his numbers increased to 54 points in 65 games (0.83 PPG), gain among the league leaders in 1994-borns. As mentioned above, his current production places him atop the league leaderboard without any caveats needed.

He presently profiles as a solid middle six winger although the improvements to his skating, and puck skills hint that he may yet solidify a role in a good second line. Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is known to be very loyal to his players, and rookie Zach Hyman is one current beneficiary of his largesse, receiving second line minutes in spite of tepid production. There is reason to believe that Leipsic could outproduce Hyman right now. Reason including his three points in six NHL games cameo last year. I believe that Leipsic has enough versatility to contribute on either wing in a variety of roles, including both special teams units. He should be the first (next) callup on the Leafs in the case of an injury to any winger.

Kasperi Kapanen (Toronto, 22/2014 – originally drafted by Pittsburgh), RW, Toronto (AHL)

Kapanen, the primary return from Pittsburgh in the big Phil Kessel deal, has always been long on tools but lacking the tie that could bind it all together. He would show flashes against older opponents – he was already playing regularly against adults in Finland in his age 17 season – but has not really dominated at any level since completed in the WU18s. Last year, his first full season in North America, was solid, with 25 points in 44 games for a loaded Marlies team. Part of the reason for the low games played total was due to his inclusion in the roster for the WJC championship entry from Finland. Kapanen earned himself more than a few fans from that tournament by dint of scoring the gold medal winning goal in overtime.

In any case, he had been more notable for holding his own as an under-ager than for what he actually produced on the ice. That may be starting to change.

Previously, Kapanen’s best grades were in his skating and his puck skills. He also had a strong shot, but his instincts and physical game were both below average. While he still does not display much of a physical nature, his reads are vastly improved. He is receiving and earning time on the penalty kill for the Marlies and has shown a propensity in the first quarter of the season to make strong reads in his own zone, enabling the third generation professional hockey player to break up plays and boost the transition game. He is also driving play much more. Through 17 games, he has already fired 58 shots on net. This, after only registering 65 shots in 44 games for the Marlies last season.

While Leipsic is likely ready to contribute in the NHL now, Kapanen could still use more time with the Marlies to prove that his early season advances are for real. If he can keep this level of play up for a few more months, the Maple Leafs will have to find a way to make room for him on the NHL roster. At the very least, his new-found utility in defensive situations should provide some relief for the Toronto braintrust in that Kapanen does not need to be considered a top six or bust player any more.

Brett Lernout (Montreal, 73/2014), D, St. John’s (AHL)

A former third round pick out of Swift Current in the WHL, Lernout did not do much in his first full pro season to gain notice outside of standing around. He sure looks the part, at 6-4”, 205. That alone may have been enough to be Johnny-on-the-spot when the Habs were in an emergency situation late in the year, giving Lernout his NHL debut in a one game cameo. Until his final year of junior eligibility, Lernout was mostly a stay-at-home guy, spending roughly five minutes in the penalty box for every point he accrued. Not a great ratio.

His first year in the AHL was more of the same, but increased to six penalty minutes per point (73:12). In preparing the Hockey Prospectus Prospect Guidebook, we noted a physical player who had reasonable hockey IQ, but was below average in all areas that lead to puck possession and a positive goal differential. His puck skills, in particular, were pretty rough.

The Winnipeg native has seemingly taken his game to a new level early in the year. With seven assists in his first 20 games, and a team high +7, he is showing that we had either underrated him, or he has in fact made some much needed adjustments. While his physical game will remain his calling card, in a recent viewing, he showed better skating than he had last year, with plus acceleration through the neutral zone indicating that he could work out as a puck carrier in addition to making the simple first passes. His puck play is also now closer to average than previously. While we previously considered Lernout to be a basic injury replacement candidate, I now see a player who could fill in admirably as a decent #5 on the blueline.

Tom Parisi (Montreal, UDFA/2016), D, St. John’s (AHL)

Signed last spring as an undrafted free agent out of Providence College, the former NCAA champion was seen as a quiet defender who brought high hockey IQ to the table but little in the way of pizzazz. In his first 14 AHL games, nine coming this year, that assessment has played out reasonably well.

Parisi is a safe player, solid in his own zone and capable of boxing out opponents. He uses his stick well to defend and has decent puck management skills. When in the offensive zone, he can maintain possession, even when hounded, doing enough in one recent viewing to draw a penalty from a frustrated opponent. His shot is not a strength, something the Habs scouts no doubt understood when signing him, as he only scored 12 collegiate goals in four full seasons. When he wrists it in from the point, the best that can be said is that the puck will reach the destination. His slap shot has more oomph, but is still shy of being a weapon. Although older than Lernout by two years, Parisi is further away from being ready to contribute at the NHL level. Further, his ceiling is lower. There are signs that he could peak as a #6/7, but 23 years of age, his window to prove he can make it is smaller. Further hampering his aspirations is the relatively deep depth chart Montreal has among blueliners. With only Andrei Markov slated to become a UFA this summer, he must be hoping that Las Vegas selects a defenseman when they scour through the Montreal list in the spring.

Jack Roslovic (Winnipeg, 25/2015), C, Manitoba (AHL)

Color me convinced. Roslovic was taken towards the end of the first round in the 2015 draft, a selection that raised some eyebrows on the draft floor. Although he was one of the top producers on a stacked USNTDP squad in 2014-15, many viewed him as more of a two-way center, getting points due to the skills of his teammates more than his own contributions. He followed up his draft year with an impressive freshman season at Miami University, putting up 26 points in 36 games, tying for the team lead in points with Blackhawks’ prospect Anthony Louis.

Despite that, he was not offered a spot on the American entry to last year’s WJC. To top off his season, Roslovic decided that the collegiate route wasn’t for him, after all. Although he was eligible to play in the OHL and the London Knights had traded for his rights in anticipation of adding a premium talent to their as always stacked roster, Roslovic was also eligible to be the rare teenager afforded the chance to spend a full season developing in the AHL. With an ELC signed, that is just what the Jets did, preferring the flexibility of the AHL (and the ability to recall Roslovic on demand) to the rigidity of an OHL assignment that would see Roslovic ineligible to play professionally unless and until the Knights’ season was over.

So far, the Columbus native’s early exposure to the AHL shows that he is more than up to the task of playing with and against experienced players seven years and more his senior. Through 18 games, Roslovic is the leading scorer with the Manitoba Moose while tied with Buffalo phenom for the leading scorer among the few teenagers in the league. The pace of play in the AHL is certainly not too fast for him. He shows good vision and puck skills in all three zones. In a recent viewing, he took control of the puck on the half-wall in the offensive end, curled in to the hashmarks on his backhand and in a single, fluid motion, switched to his forehand and snapped a quick shot past the opposing goalies stick. The half-wall seems to be his preferred place of residence in the offensive end.

If added confidence allows more creativity to come to fruition, Roslovic profiles as a nice asset for a second line role in the near future who could move to the wing in a pinch. To be clear, I would be impressed if he was doing this at 21 instead of 19. Also, the Americans would be incredibly foolish to overlook Roslovic again when putting together their roster for the 2017 WJC.

Brendan Lemieux (Winnipeg, 31/2014 – originally drafted by Buffalo), LW, Manitoba (AHL)

I want to believe. As a junior with the Barrie Colts and then the Windsor Spitfires, Lemieux was the spitting image of his father, Claude. A feisty grinder who would put a hurting on anyone within spitting distance, but sometimes also hamper his own team due to extraneous penalties taken. He was also a decent scorer in the junior ranks, with his shot and puck skills both grading out as plus.

Unlike teammate Roslovic, Lemieux is finding the transition to the AHL to be more challenging. He can still skate, but the pace of the game seems to be too much for the first year pro. It is too early to say that he is overmatched at this level, but he is simply not yet involved enough in the game, playing a more peripheral role – which is odd to say for such an aggressive player. He still racks up the minor penalties, but he has not yet been able to disrupt the game like he did so often in the OHL.

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Prospect Edition

Peter Harling — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 11:51:25 +0000

This week in the waiver wire we look at farming for potential prospects that went undrafted in many leagues but are close to being fantasy relevant in the NHL and would be worth adding to your keeper roster.

Teemu Pulkkinen W, Detroit Red Wings – 28% Fantrax Owned

Pulkkinen is a small offensive winger at 5’10” 198 pounds but his offensive instincts and creativity make him a high-end prospect. He has quick hands and a sniper mentality. His shoot is very hard and accurate with a quick and dangerous release. Since arriving in North America he has developed his defensive game while with Grand Rapids. In his 44 games with Grand Rapids this season he scored 30 goals and had 27 assists before being called up to the NHL where he has one goal in seven games with the Wings. If he remains in the NHL for the remainder of the season or not, he is worth an add to your keeper roster.

Joel Armia RW, Winnipeg Jets – 24% Fantrax Owned

Stock in Armia went through the roof after his performance for Finland at the World Juniors, but has been in slow and steady decline since. His failure to crack the woeful Buffalo Sabres roster caused many to write this prospect off. But he has skilled hands and is efficient at scoring in close goals. He has excellent hand eye coordination and for a big man, has quick feet and soft hands and can dance around defenders. With a change of scenery in Winnipeg he is well worth investing in.

Eric Comrie, G Winnipeg Jets – 15% Fantrax Owned

The Jets prospect pool is perhaps the best in the NHL and with Comrie they boast one of the most underrated and perhaps best goalie prospects. Comrie has strong lateral movement going from post to post and has been training in the off seasons with Tri-City Americans owner Olaf Kolzig and alumni Carey Price. His performance at the World Juniors winning the Gold Medal with Canada was also very impressive. He may turn out to be the best goalie in his 2013 draft class.

Brendan Leipsic, W Toronto Maple Leafs – 12% Fantrax Owned

Recently acquired by the Leafs in the deal that sent Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli back to Nashville, Leipsic was previously best known for his antics including drinking from the opposition’s goalies water bottle. That move was just one of his irritable tactics that gets under players skins in the mold of former Leaf Darcy Tucker or Brendan Gallagher of the Montreal Canadiens. Like those players, Leipsic is a little small by NHL standards but is feisty and aggressive none the less and has begun to develop similar offensive upside. You will love to own this player, and hate him on other teams so it’s best to pick him up for cheap now.

Nick Paul, C Ottawa Senators – 6% Fantrax Owned

Best known from the Jason Spezza trade, Paul will soon establish his name on the merit of his play on the ice. Last season in the OHL, Paul helped lead North Bay to the Conference finals and this year has his team in a strong position to best last year’s high. Paul also gained notoriety after making team Canada at this year’s World Juniors where his two-way play stood out as much as his size. The Senators were adamant he was involved in the Spezza deal and it is beginning to look like they knew something few others knew. Be like the Sens and snap up Paul before the word gets out.

Tyler Graovac, C Minnesota Wild – 5% Fantrax Owned

Graovac has good size at 6’3” and was a late blooming scorer in junior. His offensive game has continued to develop in the AHL and has seen a small taste of NHL duty this season playing three games but did not produce any points. In 52 AHL games this season he has 16 goals and 19 assists

Honorable Mention

Andreas Johnson Toronto Maple Leafs, Chris Tierney San Jose Sharks, Mike Matheson Florida Panthers, Justin Bailey Buffalo Sabres, Mike McCarron Montreal Canadiens

Q & A with Morgan Klimchuk – Regina Pats

Randy Gorman — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:44:30 +0000

Morgan Klimchuk aims to be 'the hardest working guy on the ice' - and this drive and tenacity have been on display throughout a solid sophomore WHL season.

The Calgary native has also shown off his speed and goal-scoring abilities, and steadily enhanced his stock for the upcoming 2013 NHL Draft.

His career-high 31 goals are an impressive feat given his Regina Pats are among the league's lowest-scoring teams.

In fact, of the 24 WHLers to crack 30 goals so far this season, only two players have scored a greater percentage of their team's goals than Klimchuk.

Winnipeg Jets third-rounder Adam Lowry has accounted for a whopping 23.1 percent of Swift Current's goals (40 of 173), while Klimchuk currently ranks third among the 30-goal club having scored 19.5 percent of Regina's 159 goals. Pats' teammate Lane Scheidl is second at 20.7 percent (33 of 159).

Coincidentally, league goal-scoring leader Brendan Leipsic is at 15.1 percent (44 of 292) with Nicolas Petan and his 43 goals right behind at 14.7 percent.

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McKeen’s: Where did you play your minor hockey?

Klimchuk (MK): I played all my minor hockey in Calgary, first with the Shaw Metal’s Lightning right up until I reached bantam, and from there I played for the Calgary Buffaloes.

McKeen’s: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make coming from minor hockey, to playing in the WHL for the Regina Pats?

MK: Well the speed, and of course the strength of the guys in this league are tough to handle and you have to get stronger in order to keep up with that. I had to work a little extra on both my skating and my off-ice weight training to get stronger in both areas.

McKeen’s: Did you set any personal or team goals at the beginning of the season ?

MK: I try not to focus on the personal goals too much, team wise, it’s really big for us to make the playoffs this season, and that’s really what I’m focused on.

McKeen’s: How much international experience have you had with Team Canada at the under-17 or under-16 tournaments?

MK: Yes, I had the honor in both the U-16’s and U-17’s, and it was a great learning experience to play against the best international players for your country. I have taken what I’ve learned from these experiences into major junior here with the Pats.

McKeen’s: What are the major differences for playing at the International level, compared with the WHL club level in major junior?

MK: For sure, at the International level, the arena's are much bigger and you have more room out there, so it’s that much faster and a lot more skilled players you have to worry about. In the WHL, it’s fast, but much more physically demanding and defensive minded.

McKeen’s: You are a top 10 WHL draft-eligible prospect, and a top prospect for the NHL draft. How does that make you feel to be considered in that group?

MK: It’s an honor, I mean this will be another great draft year in the WHL, and just to have my name in there being compared to the other great players is very special, and I just look forward to how things will end up in June.

McKeen’s: Does it bother you that several NHL scouts will be watching and analyzing your game night after night?

MK: No, not really I try to be consistent and play the game the same every night. It’s good to know they are there, but I put it at the back of my mind.

McKeen’s: How important is off-ice training in the weight room and more specifically the development of core strength, to help battle bigger players by getting stronger in key areas of your body?

MK: That’s huge, I take my off-ice training very seriously. I train in the off season during the summer 5 days a week, along with yoga, which helps with balance, and the extra strength in the core will help when facing bigger players.

McKeen’s: What’s the strongest part of your game, and what are the things you want to work on?

MK: The strongest part of my game is my tenacity and work ethic. I’m always battling for pucks and I never want to give up on a play, and I just want to be the hardest working guy on the ice. The things I want to work on is my skating, especially my first four steps. It’s something that I have been working on over the past summer. I know coming into this year that I needed to improve on that if I’m going to play at the next level.

McKeen’s: I’ve observed that you have good hands to finish around the net, and also a great quick release shot. Do you constantly work on this with coaching staff and your linemates in practice?

MK: Yes, for sure, you don’t get a lot of time and space in this league to move the puck, and you have to let it go when you have the chance or an opening. And yes, I do work a lot with the coaches and my teammates to maneuver myself to get in position to get my shot away quick and accurate.

McKeen’s: Who has the greatest impact on your hockey career to date?

MK: I would have to say coach Pat Conacher, he taught me how to play defense. And how to round out my game, and he has been able to teach and show me what to expect for what it will be like at the pro level.

McKeen’s: What is it like to play for a team that is steeped in tradition like the Regina Pats?

MK: It’s huge, we take pride in the jersey we put on every night, and the legacy and tradition that goes along with that. We are playing for the Regina Pats, it’s one of the most cherished franchises in junior hockey, so you have to show up each night so as you're not embarrassing the team and yourself.

McKeen’s: How important is it to learn and play defense in order to become a complete player, and to go on and play at the pro level?

MK: Coach Conacher really stresses this, when I came into the league last year I needed to work on that. He made it simple for me and told me that he knew I could score goals, but playing at both ends of the ice is what it will take to play at the next level, and that I would have to do that here in order to earn ice time. It has worked out well for me, and I credit Pat for stressing how important that part of the game is, in order to play at the next level.

McKeen’s: Was there any player that you watched growing up that you admired and wanted to pattern your game after?

MK: I love the way Jonathan Toews plays, and the leadership role that he brings to his team each and every game. Just how he competes every game, he was one of the youngest captains to win a Stanley Cup, so I really admire his style of play.

McKeen’s: How important is play away from the puck, especially in the neutral ice area?

MK: You have to find open seams and holes throughout the neutral zone and look for passes from your teammates, as well as being responsible in that part of the ice defensively, to prevent odd man rushes.

McKeen’s: Do you pay much attention to the various rankings from scouting services throughout the season or do you just look ahead to draft day in June?

MK: You really can’t look too far ahead - or at the rankings at any given time. It’s a 72-game season , so things will likely change throughout the season. I take things day to day, obviously, you hear other players talking about it, but I try to focus on other things.

McKeen’s: Is there any other sports or things you like to do in the off season?

MK: In my spare time, I like to get away to play a little paintball for some fun. But I really just try to focus on hockey for much of my time.