Brett Leason – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Marner and Tavares Leading Maple Leafs, Ducks Battling and More

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 15:51:24 +0000

_{TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 03: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitchell Marner (16) skates with the puck during the NHL Hockey match between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs on December 3rd, 2022 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire)}

In fantasy play, we try to look for any advantage we can, so it’s always helpful if there are reliable factors that we can consider that might impact a game's outcome. For example, all else being equal, a rested team should have an advantage over a tired one, right? That’s an easy assumption to make, but I wondered how reliable a factor that was, so I looked into it.

Teams on the second half of a back-to-back have a 31-40-6 record this season, but that’s a fairly small sample size for this kind of thing, so let’s take the results of every game dating back to the 2005-06 campaign. Looking at that, the record for teams playing on no rest is 3,560-3,394-943. If you count overtime/shootout losses among the defeats, that’s a .451 winning percentage, which is statistically relevant, but not dramatic.

What about playing on the road? That’s another obvious disadvantage, but how serious of a burden is it? Dating back to 2005-06, the road team has a 10,460-9,834-2,698 record, which is a .455 winning percentage. In other words, playing on the road is only a slightly smaller burden than playing on no rest. While we’re at it, let’s combine the two: A road team playing on no rest has a winning percentage of just .425 (2,298-2,464-640). So if you really want to bank on a team underperforming relative to their average, then taking a team on the second half of a back-to-back on the road is the way to go.

In the reverse, is there an ideal amount of rest for a team? Teams that had one day off between games have a winning percentage of .508 (12,265-9,101-2,759), two days is .521 (4,368-3,051-962), three days is .501 (1,106-845-255) and four or more days is .493 (1,034-822-242), so two days rest between games is the sweet spot, but difference in those winning percentages isn’t significant.

Ultimately, believing a team on the road or a tired squad will underperform is going to prove to be a fair assessment often, but it’s not a magic bullet. By the same token, key injuries don’t always lead to the results we might anticipate. The Avalanche certainly struggled early in the campaign when they had far more than their fair share of players on the shelf, but recently, the Maple Leafs have been defying expectations.

At the time of writing, Toronto is now 6-1-0 without Auston Matthews this season. On Wednesday, Toronto was missing Max Domi (lower body), Calle Jarnkrok (groin), David Kampf (lower body), Max Pacioretty (lower body) and Ryan Reaves (suspension) in addition to Matthews (upper body), and Toronto still managed to beat Vegas 3-0. To be fair, the Golden Knights had injuries of their own at the time of the contest, most notably to Mark Stone (lower body), but they were the healthier team and a top-tier contender, so the Maple Leafs continuing to excel under those circumstances is impressive.

Mitch Marner has been a major factor in Toronto’s continued success, providing six goals and 26 points through 20 appearances, and the Vegas victory was his third straight multi-point showing. He’s never reached the 100-point milestone before, but he’s come close and might finally hit that mark this campaign. John Tavares has also stepped up recently, supplying four goals and eight points across six appearances, giving him nine goals and 19 points through 19 outings.

Both are also playing on an expiring contract, and there are questions about their future with the team. The lack of playoff success has led to frustration regarding Toronto’s model of building the squad around four extremely expensive forwards. Going into the campaign, there was an assumption that at the least, the 34-year-old Tavares would take a significant pay cut from his current $11 million cap hit in his next contract given his declining production. That might still happen, but his play so far this season suggests that talk of his decline might have been overstated, and, especially with the cap rising, he might still be able to command a sizable payday. Then there’s Marner, who presumably expects a raise from his $10.903 million cap hit and will likely get it with Toronto or elsewhere.

The Maple Leafs certainly have some big front office questions to answer, in the coming months, but at least on the ice, things seem to be going well for now despite the challenges.

Anaheim Ducks

Mon vs SEA, Wed @ SEA, Fri vs LAK, Sun vs OTT

The NHL schedule next week contains some very heavy dates: There will be 11 games Monday, 15 on Wednesday, 14 on Friday and 12 on Saturday. Due to that, a lot of teams are playing four times despite the league taking Thursday off for American Thanksgiving.

Every team featured will be playing in four games, starting with the Ducks, who will host Seattle on Monday, play in Seattle on Wednesday and then return to Anaheim for contests against the Kings on Friday and Senators on Sunday.

The Ducks were also a team I highlighted last week and noted the squad’s underwhelming offense, but going into Friday’s action, Anaheim is on a three-game winning streak in which it’s tallied a combined 13 goals.

Trevor Zegras has gotten in on the action, supplying a goal and three points over that span, which doubles his season point total to six. We discussed last week that he had been dealing with some bad puck luck and has been playing a more complete game despite his offensive woes, so perhaps everything is starting to come together for him. He’s an intriguing buy-low candidate, especially because Zegras continues to serve in a top-six capacity.

If you’re looking for the hottest forward on the Ducks, though, then Brett Leason is your man. He didn’t start the campaign was much of a role, even being a healthy scratch in five of six games from Oct. 27-Nov. 8, but he’s taken off with two goals and seven points across his last five outings. Leason has also averaged 15:00 of ice time, including 1:28 with the man advantage, across his past four appearances, so he’s finally getting a solid opportunity. The 25-year-old still isn’t likely to be a major offensive force for long -- you'd have to go back to his junior days to find the last time he was a major scorer -- but he’s providing some solid short-term value.

On the blueliner, Olen Zellweger has two goals and four points over his last three appearances, bringing him up to four goals and eight points across 17 outings in 2024-25. The 21-year-old is serving on the top power-play unit, but the Ducks rank 27th with the man advantage, converting just 15.3 percent of the time, so it’s not as good of a role as it could be. Still, Zellweger should at least breach the 30-point mark this year as long as he stays healthy.

Boston Bruins

Tue vs. VAN, Wed @ NYI, Fri vs. PIT, Sun vs. MTL

After three straight losses to drop their record to 8-9-3, the Bruins fired head coach Jim Montgomery and named Joe Sacco as the interim bench boss. Boston’s first game under Sacco saw the Bruins outshoot Utah 31-21 en route to a 1-0 victory. Joonas Korpisalo was in net for the shutout, improving to 4-2-1 with a 2.38 GAA and .911 save percentage in eight appearances. Given Jeremy Swayman’s struggles -- he has a 5-7-2 record, 3.47 GAA and .884 save percentage in 14 outings -- it'll be interesting to see if Sacco leans on Korpisalo more than his predecessor.

Next week, though, both goaltenders will likely see use given the packed schedule. The Bruins will host the Canucks on Tuesday, play on the road against the Islanders on Wednesday and conclude the week with home tilts versus the Penguins and Canadiens on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Swayman has been part of the problem in Boston, but the Bruins also rank 31st offensively with just 2.33 goals per game. David Pastrnak continues to lead the charge with eight goals and 18 points through 21 outings, but he’s the only player with at least 15 points. Meanwhile, Brad Marchand (five goals, 14 points) and Elias Lindholm (three goals, 10 points) are the only other two Bruins who have hit the double-digit mark. To put that into context, 200 players have at least 10 points through Thursday’s action, which averages out to 6.25 players per team, so Boston is far behind the curve in terms of its scoring depth.

He's probably not the answer, but I am interested to see if Sacco tries to get Tyler Johnson into games. The 34-year-old forward has appeared in just five contests in 2024-25, averaging 13:31 of ice time in those outings. Although he hasn’t recorded a point this year, Johnson has proved in the past to be a decent secondary scorer, so maybe he could do some damage from the third line if given a chance to get into a rhythm by playing regularly.

Outside of that, though, the Bruins just really need more out of players who were already getting opportunities. The issue for Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha isn’t a lack of ice time, it’s just that they haven’t put up points with any regularity. Coyle has just four goals and an assist through 21 outings after recording 60 points in 2023-24. Zacha has three goals and seven points, but after showing some life from Nov. 7-12 (two goals and four points in three games), he’s on a four-game point drought.

Maybe the answer is simply to just some forward groupings and stick with it for a while. Coyle’s most common linemates this campaign are Marchand and Morgan Geekie, but that trio has only shared the ice for 11.9 percent of Coyle’s even-strength minutes. That’s a lot of line mixing, which might lead to an inability to develop chemistry. It’s something to monitor as we see what Sacco’s plans are to reverse the Bruins’ fortunes.

Los Angeles Kings

Mon @ SJS, Wed vs. WPG, Fri @ ANA, Sat vs. OTT

The Kings will start the week on the road against San Jose on Monday but return home to host the Jets on Wednesday. LA will then play in Anaheim on Friday and host the Senators on Saturday.

The Kings have seen modest success with their 10-7-3 record, but they have dropped three of their past four games, recording just seven goals over that stretch.

Quinton Byfield is among the cold forwards with only an assist across his past five outings. He has two goals and nine points through 20 appearances overall. Interestingly, he hasn’t recorded a single point on the power play in 2024-25 despite averaging a solid 2:07 of ice time with the man advantage. LA does rank 29th in power-play conversions at 14.3 percent, so that is an obvious factor, but you’d still expect at least some production there. Byfield’s 5.3 shooting percent is also a sharp drop from his 12.4 percent in 2023-24 -- he finished that campaign with 20 goals and 55 points -- so the young forward might have been somewhat unlucky through the first quarter of the season. Don’t be surprised if his production ticks up as the campaign progresses.

Philip Danault also has struggled to find the back of the net, tallying a single goal through 20 appearances, though he does have nine assists. His 3.2 shooting percentage is far below his 12.3 average from 2021-22 through 2023-24, so Danault is another LA forward who could enjoy an increase in production.

At the other end of the spectrum, Adrian Kempe is red hot, supplying four goals over his past three games (LA has totaled just six total goals in that span), bringing him up to nine markers and 18 points through 20 appearances. Even there, though, Kempe has just three power-play points. LA did far better with the man advantage in 2023-24, ranking 12th with a 22.6 success rate, so these players could see an increase in special-teams points.

Minnesota Wild

Mon vs. WPG, Wed @ BUF, Fri vs. CHI, Sat vs. NSH

One team that’s had no offensive issues -- or any issues, really -- is Minnesota. The Wild have won three of their past four games, improving to 13-3-3. They’ll look to keep the good times rolling when they host another high-end squad in Winnipeg on Monday. From there, Minnesota will play in Buffalo on Wednesday before returning home to play the Blackhawks on Friday and the Predators on Saturday.

Filip Gustavsson continues to be a key part of the Wild’s success with his 9-3-2 record, 2.07 GAA and .926 save percentage through 14 appearances. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in each of his past five starts. Marc-Andre Fleury, by contrast, isn’t turning heads with his play, but the 39-year-old has been a capable backup with a 4-0-1 record, 2.76 GAA and .904 save percentage in five starts.

Up front, Kirill Kaprizov is on a seven-game scoring streak with six goals and 13 points in that span, bringing him up to 13 goals and 34 points through 19 appearances in 2024-25. Even with his $9 million annual cap hit, he’s providing tremendous value. Kaprizov’s contract runs through 2025-26, but by the time it expires, the Wild will be in a far better cap position because Zach Parise and Ryan Suter’s buyouts will be far smaller factors. The Wild have roughly $14.7 million in dead cap space this year, but Suter and Parise will generate a combined $1,666,666 in dead cap space annually from 2025-26 through 2028-29 before coming off the books entirely.

Paying Kaprizov top dollar when the time comes makes sense given his reliability as a top offensive threat. Someone who doesn’t factor onto the scoresheet nearly as regularly is Frederick Gaudreau, but the 31-year-old has been playing like an elite recently, providing four goals and 12 points across his past 11 appearances. Gaudreau is worth having in your lineup while he’s this hot, but don’t expect it to last, and keep in mind that even with his recent rise in production, he’s still serving in just a third-line capacity. He is also on the second power-play unit instead of the top one and hasn’t gotten a point yet with the man advantage.

New Jersey Devils

Mon vs. NSH, Wed vs. STL, Fri @ DET, Sat vs. WSH

We’ve already touched on a lot of players who haven’t put up noteworthy power-play numbers, so let’s shift to New Jersey, which ranks second with the man advantage with a 31.8 percent success rate.

The Devils will host the Predators on Monday and the Blues on Wednesday. They’ll then play in Detroit on Friday before returning home to face the Capitals on Saturday.

New Jersey’s power play and offense in general is certainly part of the reason the squad is 13-7-2. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has played a significant role in that, providing two goals and 16 points, including seven with the man advantage, through 22 appearances. He was held off the scoresheet for the first six games of 2024-25 but has since recorded at least a point in 13 of 16 appearances.

Hamilton wasn’t much of a factor in 2023-24 due to injury, which led to Luke Hughes serving on the top power-play unit last year. Hamilton’s return to health means Hughes is averaging just 1:04 with the man advantage in 2024-25 and that’s eaten into the young blueliner’s production. The 21-year-old Hughes also missed New Jersey’s first nine outings because of a shoulder problem, which likely put him behind the curve. All this has led to him recording just two assists through 13 outings. Hughes might start to do better as he gets into a rhythm, but this is shaping up to be a sophomore slump campaign.

His elder brother, Jack Hughes, is doing just fine, though. He already has eight goals and 25 points through 22 appearances. The older Hughes is also red hot with six helpers across his past three outings, including five on the power play.

Of course, the Devils did just fine last season too and still missed the playoffs. The difference this year has been improved goaltending. Jacob Markstrom isn’t in Vezina Trophy contention, but he’s holding his own nicely with a 9-5-1 record, 2.54 GAA and .907 save percentage through 15 appearances. Jake Allen is also playing an arguably underrated role as the backup, providing a 4-2-1 record, 2.30 GAA and .916 save percentage in seven starts. Especially in a busy week, like the one upcoming, having two solid goaltenders is a huge luxury.

New York Islanders

Mon vs. DET, Wed vs. BOS, Fri @ WSH, Sat vs. BUF

The Islanders have two solid goaltenders too, though it hasn’t always felt that way this season. Ilya Sorokin has more-or-less fulfilled his end of the bargain with a 2.64 GAA and a .914 save percentage through 12 appearances, but Semyon Varlamov struggled early in the campaign. He has stabilized since, but that early damage has left him with a .903 save percentage, although his GAA has improved to a respectable 2.60.

Either way, it’s the offense that’s really the problem with the Islanders, and that’s what they’ll need more of next week. New York will host the Red Wings on Monday and the Bruins on Wednesday. They’ll then play in Washington on Friday and conclude the week with a home game versus the Sabres.

The Islanders have managed just four goals over their past three games and weirdly, Pierre Engvall scored two of them. Engvall had a three-game goal-scoring streak from Nov. 14-19, but the 28-year-old finished with just 10 goals and 28 points in 74 outings last season and has just five points through 12 outings in 2024-25 even after accounting for his recent hot streak, so don’t expect much from him going forward.

The player the Islanders really need to step up is Bo Horvat, but he’s been held off the scoresheet in five of his past six appearances, leaving him with five goals and 14 points through 20 outings. Those are abysmal numbers given his $8.5 million cap hit, but to be far, he’d usually get to play alongside Mathew Barzal, who hasn’t been in the lineup since Oct. 30 due to an upper-body injury. However, Barzal’s original timetable was 4-6 weeks, and there hasn’t been much in the way of updates, so you shouldn’t count on Horvat getting help from Barzal in the upcoming week.

Anders Lee is sometimes a great linemate. He has seven goals and 13 points in 20 outings in 2024-25, but he’s also streaky and is presently cold, having been held off the scoresheet in each of the Islanders’ past three games.

Then there’s Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who highlights the Islanders’ lack of depth. The 32-year-old forward is a fine forward, but he’s never recorded more than 43 points in a single campaign, so the fact that he’s on the top line and first power-play unit is far less than ideal. He has five goals and nine points through 20 appearances in 2024-25.

Horvat and Lee might heat up again, but the Islanders’ overall offensive situation isn’t likely to get a lot better until Barzal comes back.

New York Rangers

Mon vs. STL, Wed @ CAR, Fri @ PHI, Sat vs. MTL

The Islanders’ rivals, the Rangers, appear to be in a far better position. They have a 12-5-1 record and will look to build on that next week. The Rangers will host the Blues on Monday, play in Carolina on Wednesday and Philadelphia on Friday and finish the week by hosting the Canadiens on Saturday.

Artemi Panarin continues to be the Rangers’ top forward with 10 goals and 24 points in 18 appearances in 2024-25, but offensive depth has been a big part of the Rangers’ formula. They have eight players who have hit double digits in points: Panarin, Adam Fox, Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle, Mika Zibanejad, Reilly Smith, Kaapo Kakko and Vincent Trocheck. As noted before, the average team has 6.25 players who have hit that milestone. On top of that, New York has two players -- Chris Kreider and Filip Chytil -- who are sitting at nine points.

Among those who have been at the forefront of the Rangers’ attack, Cuylle is arguably the biggest pleasant surprise. The 22-year-old has seven goals and 15 points through 18 appearances. He established himself as a regular with the team last campaign but was in the lineup primarily because of his gritty play, finishing the 2023-24 regular season with 13 goals, 21 points, 56 PIM and 249 hits. Cuylle has continued to utilize his size, dishing out 75 hits this season (he ranks fifth in that category), but he’s adding an offensive element to his game.

What makes it even more impressive is that he’s averaging a modest 13:50 of ice time and is rarely used with the man advantage -- although that might be changing as he has spent the past two games on the second unit. Among those averaging under 14 minutes, Cuylle leads the league in points, ahead of Carolina’s Eric Robinson (five goals, 13 points).

One word of caution, though: Cuylle’s 21.9 shooting percentage is likely unsustainable.

Seattle Kraken

Mon @ ANA, Wed vs. ANA, Fri @ SJS, Sat vs. SJS

The Kraken has a fairly easy schedule next week. They have a set of games against Anaheim on Monday and Wednesday followed by one against the Sharks on Friday and Saturday. In both cases, Seattle is on the road for the first half of the set and at home for the second.

Defenseman Vince Dunn (upper body) might end up returning at some point during those four games, but the status of forward Jordan Eberle (lower body) is less clear. By the time you read this, though, that might change. Kraken coach Dan Bylsma told Scott Malone on Friday that there would be an update later in the day, but at the time of writing, that update hadn’t arrived yet.

Dunn is likely to serve on the top four and first power-play unit when healthy, which might eat into Brandon Montour’s power-play time and result in Ryker Evans losing his spot on the second unit. However, just three of Montour’s 13 points and two of Evans’ 11 have come with the man advantage anyway, so that change shouldn’t have a dramatic impact on either blueliner’s production. Dunn’s return might help Seattle’s overall power play a bit, which sits at 23rd with a 16.4 conversion rate, which would modestly boost the value of Seattle’s top forwards.

Either way, Joey Daccord is likely to continue to be the key to Seattle’s success. He has a 9-3-1 record, 2.31 GAA and .923 save percentage in 13 appearances in 2024-25, putting him in the very early conversation for the Vezina Trophy. Daccord did rank fourth in save percentage (.916) and fifth in GAA (2.46) among goaltenders who logged at least 30 games last season, but his 19-18-11 record kept him well outside of the award conversation. If Seattle continues to provide him with at least some support this year -- the Kraken’s 2.85 goals per game isn’t magical, but it is a step up from 2.61 in 2023-24 -- then Daccord’s a fair bet to get over 30 wins this campaign, especially with Philipp Grubauer not exactly demanding a bigger share of the workload with his 1-6-0 record, 3.11 GAA and .881 save percentage through seven outings in 2024-25.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Wolf making Calder case, Johnson rebounding and much more

Scott Cullen — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 19:02:34 +0000

_{VANCOUVER, BC - SEPTEMBER 25: Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) in net during their preseason NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on September 25, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)}

Each week, I’ll dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, Dustin Wolf is howling in Calgary’s net, Mason Marchment is delivering for Dallas, Kent Johnson returns to the Blue Jackets lineup and much more!

#1 When the Calgary Flames made room for goaltender Dustin Wolf last season, after he had been dominant in the American Hockey League, Wolf had a .893 save percentage in 17 games, which did not exactly bust down the door to his NHL career. The Flames then traded Jacob Markstrom to New Jersey in the offseason, giving Wolf the opportunity to share the crease with Daniel Vladar. Wolf has stopped 112 of 116 shots (.966 save percentage) while winning his past four starts, giving him a .926 save percentage in 11 games this season. He is gaining the edge on Vladar in Calgary’s crease competition and has a case to make for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.

#2 Dallas Stars power forward Mason Marchment has been thriving on a line with veterans Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin. In the past five games, Marchment has produced 10 points (4 G, 6 A) with 14 shots on goal. He also leads the Stars with 31 hits in 17 games, so the 6-foot-5 winger brings broad fantasy appeal. Marchment does have an on-ice shooting percentage of 13.0 percent, which is likely due for some regression, but it’s not unreasonable to expect him to keep producing offensively while skating with Duchene and Seguin.

#3 Last season was such a washout for Kent Johnson, the Columbus Blue Jackets winger who was the fifth pick in the 2021 Draft. Johnson has 16 points (4 G, 12 A) in 42 games and was demoted to the American Hockey League, which was a major disappointment for a player of his considerable gifts. With a new coach, Dean Evason, on the Blue Jackets bench, Johnson got a fresh start this season and is making the most of it. He missed more than a month with a shoulder injury, but Johnson returned to action Thursday and scored a pair of goals against Tampa Bay, giving him seven points (4 G, 3 A) in five games.

#4 When veteran centre Sean Monahan signed with Columbus as a free agent in the offseason, he was surely looking forward to the chance to play with Johnny Gaudreau. When tragedy struck, Monahan stepped up to be a leader on his new team, and after a four-point night against Tampa Bay on Thursday, he has 19 points (7 G, 12 A) with 57 shots on goal in 19 games. It would be the first season of his career in which he has averaged at least three shots on goal per game.

#5 While the San Jose Sharks endured a miserable 2023-2024 season, William Eklund did contribute 45 points (16 G, 29 A) in his first full NHL season. He has built on that this season, with his average time on ice climbing over 20 minutes per game. Eklund has 16 points (4 G, 12 A) in 21 games. His shot rate could use some improvement, but Eklund is skating on a line with Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund while getting first unit power play time, so there is reason to expect his production to continue.

#6 When the Sharks acquired defenceman Jake Walman from Detroit, it seemed like a good deal at a reasonable price, but he just had a career-high 21 points (9 G, 12 A) in 63 games, so it’s not like he came to San Jose with huge offensive expectations. Nevertheless, he is proving that he can chip in offensively, including 10 points (2 G, 8 A) with 25 shots on goal in the past eight games. He is playing a career-high 22:41 per game and thriving in that role.

#7 Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Travis Sanheim had a career-high 44 points (10 G, 34 A) last season and is being pushed into an even bigger role this season. He is playing 25:33 per game, surpassing 30 minutes in three of his past six games. In those six games, Sanheim has six points (2 G, 4 A) with 19 shots on goal and with Cam York and Jamie Drysdale injured, there is time for Sanheim on the Flyers’ top power play, too.

#8 Colorado Avalanche winger Artturi Lehkonen got a late start to the season as he recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, but the ever-reliable forward has found his place in the Avalanche lineup. In eight games since rejoining the active roster, Lehkonen has six points (3 G, 3 A) with 21 shots on goal while playing a career-high average of 22:51 per game. The only forward in the league with a higher average time on ice is Nathan MacKinnon (23:16) and Lehkonen is skating on a line with MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin, a spot that ought to allow for continued offensive production.

#9 With an uncomfortable history of shoulder injuries, Ottawa Senators centre Josh Norris has managed to stay healthy and relatively productive to start this season. In his past six games, he has five points (4 G, 1 A) and 13 shots on goal. He is one of five Sens (Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, Tim Stutzle, and Adam Gaudette are the others) with eight or more goals this season and Norris does hold a spot on Ottawa’s top power play unit.

#10 An injury to Brayden Point opened the door for Anthony Cirelli to get a shot at centering the first line for the Tampa Bay Lightning and it worked well for him. In his past six games, Cirelli has averaged 21:54 of ice time per game, while contributing seven points (4 G, 3 A) with 10 shots on goal. He had a career-high 45 points (20 G, 25 A) last season but if he is going to keep getting time with Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov, Cirelli should be able to fly past that point total.

#11 Dallas Stars rookie right winger Logan Stankoven is tied with the Flyers’ Matvei Michkov for the rookie scoring lead, as both have 15 points. Stankoven has five points (3 G, 2 A) in his past seven games but, more impressively, has 26 shots on goal while playing 15:25 per game. That kind of shot production in that ice time is a very encouraging sign. In the past two weeks, Stankoven has 14.26 shots on goal per 60 minutes of five-on-five play, which ranks fifth (minimum 60 minutes) behind Brady Tkachuk, Jesse Puljujarvi, Bobby McMann, and Zach Aston-Reese.

#12 Last season, when he was playing for the Los Angeles Kings, Pierre-Luc Dubois saw his reputation take a serious hit as he finished with 40 points (16 G, 24 A) in 82 games and had his effort frequently and very publicly questioned. He has six points (1 G, 5 A) in his past six games and while his shot rate is still way down, the Capitals are enjoying success with Dubois on the ice, outscoring the opposition 18-10 during five-on-five play, as he is making the most of his opportunity to play with Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson. With Alex Ovechkin out for the next 4-6 weeks with a broken fibula, the Capitals will need Dubois, McMichael and Wilson to help fill the offensive void. Andrew Mangiapane is getting the first opportunity to fill Ovechkin’s spot on the line with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas.

#13 Blue Jackets winger Dmitri Voronkov started the season slowly but is starting to find his groove on the top line with Monahan and Kirill Marchenko. In the past four games, Voronkov has five points (3 G, 2 A) with 12 shots on goal. Considering his production last season, when he had 34 points (18 G, 16 A) in 75 games as a rookie, Voronkov might be a decent buy-low option on a Blue Jackets team that is possibly more competitive than they were expected to be coming into the season.

#14 With Auston Matthews still out of the lineup, the Toronto Maple Leafs have seen that Bobby McMann can play a strong complementary role alongside John Tavares and Mitch Marner on the Leafs’ top line. In his past four games, McMann has scored goals while launching 20 shots on goal and playing more than 17 minutes per game. He only has one assist in 19 games, so he is not filling every category, but McMann also has 31 hits in 19 games, so he can contribute in that way as well, making him a useful option in deeper leagues, even if it’s in a short-term role.

#15 Hard driving New York Rangers left winger Will Cuylle is growing into a more significant presence in his second NHL season. He had 21 points (13 G, 8 A) and 249 hits in 81 games last season, but now has six points (3 G, 3 A) in his past five games, lifting him to 15 points (7 G, 8 A) in 18 games. On top of that, he has 75 hits, ranking third among forwards with 4.17 hits per game. That makes Cuylle a very valuable piece for fantasy managers.

#16 Veteran Seattle Kraken left winger Jaden Schwartz has enjoyed a long career of providing solid secondary scoring and he is continuing in that role for the Kraken. In his past five games, he has taken on a more prominent role with greater production, including four points (1 G, 3 A) and 17 shots on goal, while playing an average of 19:19 per game. Schwartz is playing with Chandler Stephenson and Daniel Sprong at even strength and the trio is all part of Seattle’s top power play unit.

#17 While his production has not taken off yet, Anaheim Ducks winger Frank Vatrano is showing positive signs. Last season, he set career highs with 37 goals and 60 points while playing a career-high 18:21 per game. Through 17 games this season, he has just two goals and seven points, but he has 26 shots on goal (with 18:26 ATOI) in his past six games, as he skates with veteran Ryan Strome and Troy Terry at evens and holds a spot on the Ducks’ top power play. Vatrano has been a consistent shot generator throughout his career, it’s a matter of him getting enough opportunities to turn those shots into production.

#18 Injuries have also provided a bigger role for Ducks right winger Brett Leason, a 6-foot-5 forward who had a career-high 22 points (11 G, 11 A) last season. In his past five games, Leason has seven points (2 G, 5 A) while averaging more than 14 minutes of ice time per game. This is a small sample, of course, but if he can continue to make offensive contributions, Leason could force his way into the Ducks’ top nine.

#19 With Samuel Ersson injured, Ivan Fedotov is getting more of an opportunity in the Philadelphia Flyers’ net. The 27-year-old netminder struggled early in the season, but in four starts in November, he has three wins and a .910 save percentage. That might not be enough to trust your fantasy goaltending situation to him, but if you’re in desperate shape, he just might be able to solve the issue in the short term. If not Fedotov, consider Utah’s Karel Vejmelka, who has just one win in eight appearances, but his .922 save percentage suggests that he deserves better.

#20 Another deep league goaltending consideration could be Montreal Canadiens netminder Sam Montembeault, who appears to be emerging from a bit of a rough patch. He has a .906 save percentage in XX games, but that has decidedly improved over the past three starts when he stopped 80 of 83 shots for a .964 save percentage. Montembeault also has the likelihood of playing more games since Cayden Primeau is struggling, with a .845 save percentage in seven games. If Primeau doesn’t get significantly better, then there is no reason for Montreal to run their goaltending in a tandem style rather than a clear No. 1 and clear No. 2 between the pipes.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – ANAHEIM DUCKS – Team Preview

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:00:04 +0000

_{WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 23: Ducks center Mason McTavish (37) stickhandles during the Anaheim Ducks versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on February 23, 2023 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)}

The rebuilding Ducks weren’t expected to make the playoffs in 2023-24, but there was still some hope that they might at least take a step forward compared to their 2022-23 finish under new bench boss Greg Cronin. Given that they finished the prior campaign with a 23-47-12 record, that couldn’t be a lower bar to exceed, but in the end, they had a similarly dreary showing in 2023-24, finishing at 27-50-5. It didn’t help that Trevor Zegras was limited to 31 contests last season after previously leading the Ducks offensively with 65 points, but even still, it’s hard to blame finishing 30th offensively (2.48 goals per game) and 30th defensively (3.57 goals allowed per game) on some injury issues

WHAT’S CHANGED? Jakob Silfverberg decided to end his NHL playing career, but the Ducks otherwise didn’t lose any major players over the summer. They didn’t make any major acquisitions either, though, with arguably the most noteworthy add being Robby Fabbri, who is projected to serve in a middle-six capacity after being grabbed in a trade with Detroit. However, that’s not to suggest Anaheim’s upcoming roster will be a near carbon copy of its previous one. Cutter Gauthier might make a big impact as a rookie, and we also should see youngsters Pavel Mintyukov, Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish take steps forward.

WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? If Gauthier lives up to the hype after scoring 38 goals and 65 points across 41 contests with Boston College last year, and becomes a prominent part of Anaheim’s top six, then that alone would be reason for celebration. Getting to see some measurable progress out of the aforementioned Mintyukov, Carlsson, and McTavish would also be a big deal. Outside of that, a lot of attention will be on 24-year-old goaltender Lukas Dostal, who had some absolutely stunning starts last year, but lacked consistency. If he can find his rhythm this season while the Ducks simultaneously get contributions from that young group, then Anaheim would be an exciting team to watch.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? When you’re a young team relying on prospects, the most obvious potential issue is that they need more time to develop than initially thought. McTavish, for example, made some strides last season, but he didn’t end up having the breakout campaign some hoped for. Anaheim might encounter similar growing pains again. Then there’s the issue of the team’s overall defence. Dostal had two 50-plus save performances last season, which is an amazing accomplishment, but also highlights the defensive shortcomings of those in front of him. Anaheim ranked 30th last year with 3.4 xGA/60. If the Ducks don’t improve meaningfully by that metric, then it's hard to envision them competing for a playoff spot even if everything else goes ideally.

TOP BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Trading Jamie Drysdale to Philadelphia in January was a difficult decision, but Gauthier could make it worth it. He has the potential to be the full package, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Anaheim use him in a top six capacity this season.

FORWARD

Troy Terry

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	24	31	55	0.70

While Terry had his third straight season with at least 20 goals and 50 points, his production dipped a bit from the previous two seasons. Part of that was a function of a declining shot rate, going from 2.69 shots on goal per game in 2022-2023 to 2.26 shots on goal per game in 2023-2024. He has still matured into a reliable first-line winger, even if not necessarily a star; a reliable contributor at both ends of the rink. Terry’s confidence has grown, and it is reflected in his play and how he has the patience to attack defenders one-on-one and make plays to generate scoring chances. He also plays a game that is not especially physical. Among the 223 forwards that have played at least 200 games in the past three seasons, Terry ranks 222nd (ahead of only Johnny Gaudreau) with 35 hits. Nevertheless, on a team that is depending on elite young talent, a proven performer like Terry is of vital importance to help those players get to the next level in their development. Part of the challenge when forecasting his production in 2024-2025 is that proliferation of young forwards at the top of the depth chart in Anaheim. That does leave some variability but, considering his performance in recent seasons, 25 goals and 60 points remain reasonable objectives.

Trevor Zegras

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	18	28	46	0.58

A broken ankle and lower-body injuries limited Zegras to just 31 games last season and while he managed just 15 points, he did have quality underlying numbers, so he does have a chance to deliver a bounce back season. For one thing, Zegras is a creative playmaker who can make highlight reel plays and there is an audacity to his game that is exciting. The challenge will be to turn his immense puck skills into better on-ice results. Since Zegras has not been able to improve in the faceoff circle, winning 40.6 percent of his draws, it could make sense to shift him to the wing, at least some of the time. That would free him up to focus more on the attack, which is an obvious strength to his game. He already has two seasons with more than 60 points, so he has offensive upside that could really pay off under the right circumstances. The question will be whether he finds those right circumstances in Anaheim next season. The Ducks are improving their depth of talent and there should be enough quality available that Zegras can play a top six role as well as first-unit power play. He had a career low on-ice shooting percentage (7.7 percent) last season, and his shooting percentage of 8.2 percent was down from the previous couple of seasons. If his percentages pick back up, Zegras should be able to once again challenge for 20 goals and 60 points.

Frank Vatrano

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	26	26	52	0.63

A sturdy winger who has always been able to generate shots, Vatrano reached his peak performance level in 2023-2024, setting career highs with 37 goals and 60 points. He also delivered 156 hits, the first season of his career in which he exceeded 100 hits. He added banger league value with a career-high 85 penalty minutes, too. What is wild about Vatrano’s impressive statistical breakout season is that his on-ice results were quite poor. The Ducks controlled 44.1 percent of shot attempts and 45.1 percent of expected goals during five-on-five play while Vatrano was on the ice. They were outscored 67-47. That was better than his first season in Anaheim but, still, there is a lot of room for improvement in his all-around impact. Vatrano played mostly with Ryan Strome and Mason McTavish, so there is talent around him, but their defensive play needs dramatic improvement if the Ducks are going to be more competitive. Putting aside the team impacts, fantasy managers are going to be interested in Vatrano because of his offensive production, coupled with hits and a strong shot rate as he recorded a career-high 3.32 shots on goal per game last season. It is probably fair not to expect Vatrano to repeat his career-best season, but he could still deliver 25 goals and 45-50 points, along with 100-plus hits.

Leo Carlsson

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	20	29	49	0.65

The second overall pick in the 2023 Draft, Carlsson made a smooth transition to the NHL as an 18-year-old centre. The 6-foot-3 pivot plays a game well beyond his years, particularly on the defensive end, where he has an active stick and plays a sound positional game. Carlson’s combination of size and skill offers tantalizing potential. He scored six goals in his first nine games and endured some injuries on his way to finishing with 12 goals and 29 points in 55 games. He missed time with a sprained MCL, a concussion, and another lower-body injury, which obviously didn’t help his development, but he showed well in the games that he played. That is barely scratching the surface of Carlsson’s potential, but it also might take some time for the skilled young forward to reach that potential. Carlsson’s play driving numbers – better than break-even in terms of Corsi percentage and expected goals percentage – while playing more than 18 minutes per game on a team near the bottom of the standings, were very encouraging. He shoots the puck well enough already to score from distance and has soft hands that serve him well when he has the puck in close to the net. These signs suggest that it’s not a reach to expect a significant offensive jump this season. Something along the lines of 20 goals and 50-plus points would be a move in the right direction.

Mason McTavish

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
77	23	33	56	0.73

The third pick in the 2021 Draft, McTavish continued to make progress in his second NHL season, ultimately finishing with one less point in 16 fewer games than he played in 2022-2023. His 1.65 primary points per 60 minutes of five-on-five play ranked 81st. Considering that he is 21 years old, this is a strong rate of production. While his possession numbers continue to improve, McTavish is still underwater there, with 45.4 percent Corsi and 46.8 expected goals percentage. A strong and physical forward who can win battles along the boards and use his body to effectively protect the puck, he should be able to improve his shot differentials. Last season, he did miss 18 games with a variety of injuries and while none of them were major, that is going to be something to monitor as his career progresses. When it comes to determining McTavish’s offensive upside in 2024-2025, it will depend on what kind of offensive opportunities are provided to him. On a team that also has Leo Carlsson and Trevor Zegras down the middle of the ice, McTavish is facing competition for prime scoring ice time. Considering where he is in his career, though, there should be more progress, so 20 goals and 50 points are reasonable targets for him this season.

Alex Killorn

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	22	28	50	0.63

Coming off career-highs of 27 goals and 64 points in 2022-2023, Killorn cashed in last summer as a free agent after years of being a quality contributor during the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup runs. The veteran winger was the beneficiary of an unsustainably high shooting percentage that season, though, so he was a natural candidate for regression in his first season with the Ducks. Sure enough, Killorn’s production dropped to 18 goals and 36 points in 63 games while playing a career-high 18:44 per game. That required a rather furious finish, which saw Killorn score 11 goals in his last 24 games. Even in his mid-30s, Killorn was still an effective play driver, his 51 percent Corsi ranking second among Ducks regulars and he was a reliable penalty killer. While his contract may not age well, in the short term, Killorn brings a professionalism and commitment that can help lead the young Ducks in the right direction. At his age, there is a decreasing likelihood that Killorn will bounce back to previous levels of production, so 15-20 goals and a 40-point season is a fair expectation, but some of that will depend on how well the younger players perform. If they are not ready to step into prominent roles, then Killorn could still be needed to score for the Ducks.

Ryan Strome

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	13	28	41	0.50

A veteran forward who can play centre or wing, Strome has put up back-to-back 41-point seasons in his first two years with the Ducks. While he is a capable complementary player at the offensive end, Strome’s defensive play has declined significantly in his first two seasons with the Ducks. Maybe some of that is a function of an inexperienced supporting cast, but the Ducks have been outscored 126-85 with Strome on the ice for five-on-five play across the past two seasons. In those two seasons, the Ducks have managed 43.7 percent of shots attempts and 41.3 percent of expected goals with him on the ice, so his poor results are backed by poor underlying numbers. That’s not going to cut it, especially when he is needed to be a veteran leader for this team. Strome’s ability to play multiple positions does give Anaheim more options when trying to put their lines together, but it would be most helpful if Strome added a dose of reliability wherever he ultimately fits in the lineup. If not, his ice time could continue to decrease. Last season, his ice time fell below 16 minutes per game for the first time since 2018-2019. At this point, with younger players pushing for bigger roles with the Ducks, it’s probably not reasonable to expect Strome to provide much more than the 40 points.

Robby Fabbri

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
75	16	17	33	0.44

A veteran forward who has had to overcome three ACL tears to continue his NHL career, Fabbri has skill and is obviously extremely resilient, but injuries have taken a toll on him. Despite tying his career high with 18 goals last season, Fabbri has been dependent on finishing at a high percentage – he had a shooting percentage of 18.9 percent across his last two seasons in Detroit – because he does not generate a lot of shots on goal. On the positive side, Fabbri scored 1.09 goals per 60 minutes last season, which ranked 47th among forwards that played at least 500 minutes. Fabbri’s ice time fell below 13 minutes per game last season, the first time he failed to meet that threshold since 2018-2019. Fabbri has some versatility that allows him to fill a middle six role for Anaheim. He has also been a poor defensive player, so that could potentially pose problems for a Ducks team that does not have an abundance of quality two-way forwards. In any case, Fabbri should be able to contribute secondary scoring as long as he is healthy, but he played 68 games last season and that was his most since playing in 72 games as a rookie, so it’s almost assured that he will miss time. That leaves some variability in expectations but something in the range of 15 goals and 30 points is a fair expectation.

Brett Leason

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	12	12	24	0.30

Leason is a 6-foot-5 winger who enjoyed something of a breakout season in 2023-2024, scoring 11 goals and 22 points, high-water marks to this point in his career. Leason’s size gives him an edge when it comes to battling for pucks and his ability to chip in offensively made him a valuable depth forward for the Ducks last season. For a player who tends to spend most of his time on the lower end of the depth chart, Leason does have a potent wrist shot, which makes him capable of scoring from distance. If he is going to be something more than a fourth-line player, the next challenge is for him to be able to generate more opportunities to use that shot. Leason’s best stretch came in the second half of the season when, upon returning from an upper-body injury, he tallied nine points (5 G, 4 A) in 14 games while he averaged 14:29 of ice time per game. He could not sustain those numbers over a longer period, and it would be unreasonable to expect that from him, but looking ahead, Leason could still contribute double-digit goals and 20-plus points, with some upward mobility if he manages to climb the depth chart.

DEFENCE

Cam Fowler

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	7	36	43	0.52

A steady veteran who has played 14 seasons in Anaheim, Fowler’s experience and steady hand is of major importance on a Ducks blueline that is developing young talent. Fowler has always been an adept distributor of the puck and has surpassed 30 assists in each of the past three seasons. He has averaged more than 24 minutes of ice time in each of those three seasons and he should remain in that kind of prominent role again. Oddly enough, Fowler led the Ducks in ice time during four-on-five play, even though his results have crashed hard in recent seasons. Across the past three campaigns, there are 113 defencemen that have played at least 300 minutes of four-on-five play and only three have a higher expected goals against and three have a higher goals against per 60 minutes than Fowler. Nevertheless, Fowler is of critical importance on this team, a consistent presence who has been durable, missing a total of seven games across the past four seasons. He is not a strong physical presence, instead relying on strong instincts and hockey IQ to put him in the right position. Considering his role and reliability, Fowler should find himself scoring in the range of 40 points once again.

Pavel Mintyukov

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
71	5	30	35	0.49

The 10th pick in the 2022 Draft, Mintyukov made his NHL debut last season, and it was a strong first season. He showed lots of potential, and it is going to be up to the young blueliner and the Ducks organization to develop him into a bona fide No. 1 defenceman. Mintyukov skates well and is not shy about using that skill to join the attack, entering the offensive zone with confidence. He recorded seven power play points in a 30-game span from November 1 through January 10, but he suffered a separated shoulder and missed more than a month of action and did not record another point with the man advantage for the rest of the season. Even so, Mintyukov averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game after returning from his injury and contributed nine points in 23 games. There were naturally some growing pains in his first NHL season, because he was 19 years old when last season started, and he was playing significant minutes on a team that was among the weakest squads in the league. For a top player like Mintyukov, though, that experience should be valuable, giving him the opportunity to step forwards into an even more significant role in his second season. Certainly, the hope will be that he manages to stay healthier than he did in his rookie campaign and that could reasonably lead to 35-40 points, possibly more if Mintyukov takes over as the quarterback on Anaheim’s top power play unit.

Radko Gudas

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
74	4	12	16	0.22

Despite missing 16 games last season, Gudas was one of just two defencemen to record at least 150 blocked shots and 200 hits last season (Detroit’s Moritz Seider was the other one). Gudas is a warrior who sacrifices his body for his team and the 34-year-old blueliner has been doing it for quite some time. He joined the Ducks as a free agent last summer and averaged 19:30 of ice time per game, the second highest average of his career, and his highest average time on ice since 2015-2016. Although Gudas has a well-earned reputation for borderline hits, that should not overshadow that he is an excellent defender, who had the lowest on-ice rate of expected goals against (2.28 xGA/60) among Anaheim defenders last season. He is known much more for his play without the puck, but Gudas also contributes at the offensive end, partly because he is ready and willing to fire the puck whenever the opportunity is there for him. Among the eight defensemen that played at least 200 five-on-five minutes for the Ducks last season, Gudas had the highest rate of shot attempts (11.83 iCF/60) and shots on goal (4.38 Shots/60). For fantasy managers, Gudas offers sneaky value because he last reached 20 points in a season in 2018-2019, but he provides hits, blocked shots and even a passable rate of shots on goal that can make him useful. His penalty minute totals make him even more valuable in banger leagues. At this stage of his career, there is little point in expecting a dramatic change, so Gudas should be expected to contribute 15-20 points.

Brian Dumoulin

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	4	14	18	0.22

Moving to Seattle resulted in an odd decrease in ice time, with Dumoulin averaging 17:01 of ice time per game after seven straight seasons averaging more than 20 minutes per game. That should get reversed in Anaheim, where the Ducks can surely use Dumoulin’s reliability on the blueline. He is a two-time Stanley Cup winner who was not merely a passenger on those Penguins teams – he was averaging more than 20 minutes per game on epic playoff runs. It is also unusual that Dumoulin saw this ice time reduced in Seattle because his on-ice results were quite strong, leading Kraken defencemen (minimum 500 five-on-five minutes) in both Corsi (53.9 percent) and expected goals percentage (54.5 percent). That doesn’t seem like a player who should have been playing less! Even at his peak, Dumoulin was never a big scorer, but he did have a career-high 25 points with Pittsburgh in 2022-2023. With a more prominent role on Anaheim’s blueline, Dumoulin should be able to find his way to 20 points, but he has surpassed 125 blocked shots and 100 hits four times each in his career. That kind of production in peripheral statistical categories might make him a worthwhile addition in deep leagues.

GOAL

John Gibson

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
43	16	23	5	0	0.901	3.60

Lukas Dostal

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
39	14	20	4	2	0.904	3.45

The post-John Gibson era in Anaheim is slowly approaching. With just three years left of the albatross eight-year deal that Gibson and the Ducks have been slogging through, and a bright new future with Lukas Dostal sitting front and center, it almost seems like Anaheim might just let the remainder of their veteran star's contract burn itself out at the Honda Center. While it seemed at the start of the 2023 season like Gibson might have been on the upswing, though, only Chicago's Arvid Soderblom served as a greater albatross in net as the year came to a close. While the Ducks continued to struggle with allowing quality shots in the high slot, a full season of both Gibson and Dostal made it painfully apparent that it wasn't just the team struggling - Gibson was struggling with them.

Things look bright for Anaheim with regards to how Dostal handled his first full season as half of an official NHL tandem, so the picture in Southern California isn't as bleak as it has been in recent years. While Dostal struggled almost as much as Gibson with net-front attacks, he was able to clean up the peripheral damage that Gibson had allowed to fester with poor defensive coverage outside the circles. His numbers matched up to a strong ability to stay on-angle and recover in time for rebound attempts in a way that Gibson hasn't been able to in at least a handful of seasons. Things won't truly turn around in net for the Ducks until Gibson's contract has finally reached an end, but the future looks much more promising now than it has since the Gibson-Frederik Andersen era.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WASHINGTON CAPITALS – RANK: #28 – TIER VI

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:20:36 +0000

Washington Capitals

#28 Washington - Washington has been trying to add some higher end players of late, but not enough of them. There may not be ten real future NHLers in this system.

Connor McMichael

Connor McMichael

It was an excellent development year for McMichael, especially given the circumstances surrounding his first pro season (thrust into the AHL as a 19-year-old because of the OHL’s cancellation). McMichael finished the season as Hershey’s leading scorer and was subsequently named to the AHL’s All-Rookie team. The 2019 first round selection has put himself firmly in competition for NHL playing time as early as this upcoming season.

The former London Knights star has the potential to be an extremely versatile player. He can play any forward position. He has the intelligence level to play in any situation. And he is a more than competent finisher, due to a great wrist shot and scoring instincts. While he may not project as a first line all-star at the NHL level, he does have a chance of becoming a consistent 20-goal scorer and someone who can play a middle six role for Washington in the near and distant future. Look for him to split the year between the AHL and NHL this upcoming season, likely serving as the Capitals’ top injury call-up. In that situation, he should establish himself as an NHL regular by the time the 2022/23 season comes along. - BO

Hendrix Lapierre

How good it feels to see a healthy Hendrix Lapierre! This past season Lapierre finally managed to distance himself from his previous injuries. Visually, he appeared much better equipped to play a more physically engaged brand of hockey. He was sturdier, stronger and he looked like he had added serious lower body power. It had been a difficult season for everyone last year (COVID-19), but especially so for Lapierre. He earned the nickname "King of Quarantines" after spending 63 days in administrative quarantine during the season, split between the camp for Junior Team Canada, the pro camp in Washington and a return to Chicoutimi with his junior team.

It was an emotional season for the young man from Aylmer, Quebec too. A heartbreaking cut at Team Canada junior selection camp, a surprise invitation to the Capitals camp, a trade after the season (In the QMJHL), etc. His periods of isolation (quarantine) had to be difficult, and it did prevent him from finding consistency early on. But he got better over the year, finally living up to some of his hype. A highly skilled player, Lapierre has the talent to be a top six forward for the Capitals in a few seasons. He will play this year with the AB Titan and should be among the leading scorers in the QMJHL. He just needs another year without injuries. - BB

Alexander Alexeyev

Despite Alexeyev being a first round pick back in 2019 and leaving a very good impression at every level where he has played so far, somehow, he continues to fly under the radar and is rarely mentioned in the conversation as an elite level prospect. Playing on loan to the KHL to start last season, Alexeyev was quick to adjust to the KHL game again after playing in North America the previous four seasons (WHL and AHL). Alexeyev showed that he doesn't have a lot of weaknesses and was very good at finding the balance between the defensive responsibilities and supporting the attack offensively. When the KHL season ended, Alexeyev returned to the AHL a more confident offensive player, which was converted to improved offensive production.

While the Capitals plans are unclear for their bottom pairing this upcoming season, Alexeyev will have to beat out NHL veteran Trevor Van Riemsdyk or fellow prospect Martin Fehevary for a role. He is likely ready to play on the third pairing right away after a very successful 2020/21 season. His potential probably lies on the Capital’s second pairing in the future, where he can play a variety of roles and be a steady presence on the blueline. - VF

Martin Fehervary

A former second round selection by the Capitals in 2018, Fehervary has progressed very well since. The former captain of the Slovak World Junior Team, Fehervary took an unconventional road by playing out of Sweden for the majority of his junior career. However, since signing and coming to play in North America two seasons ago, Fehervary has established himself as one of Washington’s top prospects. In his first pro year, he actually got into a couple NHL games, including a few in the playoffs for the Capitals. Last season, he played strictly in the AHL, but played very well, improving his offensive production, while remaining one of Hershey’s best defensive players.

The 6’2, 203lbs defender is a rock in the defensive end. His defensive instincts are sound. He brings a physical element. His high-end mobility makes him a suffocating presence and someone who should be able to at least fill a shutdown role at the NHL level. However, Fehervary’s confidence in using his plus skating ability to start the breakout and his confidence in his puck handling abilities have grown considerably in the last calendar year. He appears primed for an NHL role as early as this season, but he will need to beat out veterans like Trevor Van Riemsdyk and Matt Irwin for a spot on the third pairing. Fehervary projects as a second pairing defensive anchor and a long time NHL defender. - BO

Aliaksei Protas

A year after a breakout campaign with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL, hulking Belarussian forward Aliaksei Protas followed that up with a very strong performance in 2020/21. His 10 goals in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk were tied for the most by any U20 player in the top men’s league with Columbus first round pick Yegor Chinakhov. Following the KHL season, he joined Hershey of the AHL and performed admirably in a smaller sample size. Then to close out the year, he played for Belarus at the World Championships.

The 6’6, 215 lbs center is an absolute load to handle down low for opposing defenses, as he dominates the cycle game and works his way to the net. Not really your typical power forward, Protas relies more on his skill and puck protection ability to create in traffic. The key for him is to continue putting in the work to improve his skating ability. He will likely spend the entire upcoming season in the AHL, adjusting to the pace and strength of the pro game in North America. Protas projects as a middle six forward for Washington but will likely require several years of development before being ready for a full-time role. - BO

Garrett Pilon

Slow and steady wins the race. That saying certainly personifies Pilon’s professional development thus far in Washington’s system. The former WHL standout (and son to former NHL pugilist Rich Pilon) has slowly improved over the course of three seasons with Hershey of the AHL, finally breaking through as a top contributor last season. As a reward, Pilon was even given a small taste of NHL action. Now eligible for waivers this season, the Capitals will have a decision to make this training camp.

The highlight of Pilon’s game has always been the stocky center’s two-way play and awareness on the ice. A high-end playmaker, he has finally gained the confidence to be more creative at the AHL level and has learned how to control the pace from the middle, becoming a difficult player to separate from the puck. The finer points to his game, like his faceoff ability, strong neutral zone play, and positional versatility, make him a great candidate to earn a depth role on the Capitals this season. Given his progression, it seems unlikely that the Caps would risk sending him through waivers unless he really struggles at training camp. His upside may not be significant, but he does have the potential to be a high-end checking line player or depth option moving forward. - BO

Vincent Iorio

A 6’3, right shot defender, Iorio was a rock for a strong Brandon Wheat Kings team this past season. A late born ‘02, Iorio emerged as an all-situations, minute-cruncher for Brandon, anchoring the second pair behind New York Rangers first round pick Braden Schneider. Iorio is the modern day shut down defender, blending size, mobility, and physicality to stymie attackers. Using his strong four-way quickness, Iorio is aggressive in defending transitional attacks, stepping up early to angle attackers off, always minding a tight gap. Iorio is also a highly intelligent defender who makes a good outlet pass and possesses good awareness at both ends of the ice. This is what allows him to excel at the WHL level in all situations.

That said, Iorio’s game does appear to have some limitations. His even strength production was pretty limited, with the majority of his points coming on the powerplay. He is at his best when he keeps things simple because he does not possess the creativity or hands to be a topflight puck mover. The Capitals are likely hoping that Iorio’s offensive skill set can continue to blossom with Brandon and that he can eventually become a really solid #4 defender for them in the future. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Brent Johnson

Johnson is a toolsy defender, who even likes to play rough, despite his clear size disadvantage. He throws his body around, gets involved in scrums regularly, and often defends with an ornery edge. That said, Johnson’s best strengths come in the offensive end. His speed allows him to drive the transition, and he looks impressive carrying the puck up the ice. He isn’t the type to engage very deep in the offensive zone, but can control play rather well from the point, with quick and accurate puck movement from high to low, or a solid shot. Even though he comes across as an offensive-minded defender, he is not absent in his own zone, and played a regular shorthanded role for the Stampede of the USHL last year.

There is a valid question of how effective he can remain at higher levels against more uniformly bigger and stronger players, but Johnson has a dynamic element that is worth gambling on, especially if his lack of a high-level resume means he will have more to show in the coming years, which will include time playing collegiately for North Dakota. He will look to bounce back this year as a freshman after shoulder surgery ended his season in 2021. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Kody Clark

When the Capitals took Kody, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs legend Wendell Clark, in the second round in 2018, the hope was that he could develop into an elite power forward not all that dissimilar from their very own Tom Wilson. Unfortunately, the offensive side of things has been fairly slow to develop. Clark never reached the point per game mark in the OHL before graduating to the AHL and his first pro season was fairly underwhelming. However, Clark’s sophomore effort last year did show marked improvement from an offensive perspective, suggesting that there could be hope yet for him to become an NHL player.

An intense physical competitor, Clark is a human missile on the forecheck. He knows his role on the ice is to cause havoc by driving the net and by forcing turnovers on the opponent’s side of the ice. While Clark is not likely to be a Tom Wilson type, he could still be a serviceable checking line player for the Capitals in a couple of seasons. Washington will be looking for Clark to continue to show improvement offensively this season in the AHL before earning a look the following year (when he is waivers eligible in 2022/23). - BO

Brett Leason

It’s been quite the meteoric rise for Leason, who was passed over twice in the NHL draft before his skating caught up to the rest of his game and he exploded on the scene in 2018-19 with a monster season that included a point-per-game stint at the world junior under-20 tournament. This resulted in Leason hearing his name called in the second round of the draft by the Washington Capitals. Since then, while the pandemic has perhaps stalled the development of many other prospects around him, Leason has continued to blossom, with two successful seasons in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. Last year was another step forward, with 20 points in 33 games for the big winger.

Leason brings size, scoring punch and the motor of a player half a foot shorter. His skating continues to improve, and his hockey sense allows him to be effective with or without the puck. He uses his massive frame well and distributes the puck well, to go with an NHL-calibre shot. He could stand to be even more physical and continue to improve his first three steps. Already 22-years-old, it would be easy to discount Leason as a potential middle-six winger at best in the NHL, but he continues to make inroads and has beaten the odds thus far. With a fairly thin prospect cupboard in front of him, it’s not a stretch to think Leason could see a cup of coffee in the NHL this upcoming season, if the stars align. - AS

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

The upside may not be incredibly high, but Jonsson-Fjallby’s talents as a forechecker and penalty killer can be used at the NHL level. After parts of three seasons at the AHL level, the time is now for the Swedish spark plug to earn a fourth line role for the Capitals this season.

Mitchell Gibson

A former fourth round pick, Gibson had a solid freshman season for Harvard two seasons ago, establishing himself as the program’s starter. However, due to the pandemic, Harvard did not play last season, leaving Gibson with nowhere to play. He will look to get his development back on track this season as he re-assumes the starter’s role on what should be a strong Crimson team.

Garin Bjorklund

Bjorklund had an excellent post draft season with Medicine Hat (WHL) last year, as he emerged as one of the top netminders in Western Canada. Bjorklund has the skill set to be an NHL netminder and worked hard to correct some technical flaws to become a more consistent performer. He should be a contender for the WHL’s goaltender of the year this season.

Martin Has

The plan for Has was to have him play a full season in the OHL last year, after a partial year prior to that. But the pandemic had other plans and as such, Has played sparingly outside of a few international appearances for the Czech Republic (including the World Juniors). The stay-at-home defender can be an asset in the defensive end because of his strong transitional defensive ability, however his play with the puck needs to improve. His playing location this season remains a mystery, especially since he has not yet been signed by the Capitals.

Beck Malenstyn

The previous season was not a good one for the competitive and physical, former WHL winger. An achilles tear ended his season before it began and has even put the start of this season in jeopardy. Malenstyn will look to bounce back strong at some point with Hershey. He still possesses the potential to be an impact fourth liner for the Caps.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Washington Capitals Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 22:30:38 +0000

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

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Few 2019 draft selections progressed as well as McMichael did this past season with London, where he went from a strong complimentary piece to the lifeblood through which the offense flowed. A strong skater, he showed much more confidence when carrying the puck, allowing him to dominate touches. He can beat you in transition because of his speed and he can beat you down low because of how well he protects the puck and how sound his decision making is. We also saw a huge improvement in his shot, especially his powerful wrist shot, and he uses different shooting angles to deceive goaltenders. McMichael also showed improved strength away from the puck, and paired with his high-end IQ, is now a strong two-way presence. Originally projecting as a winger in the NHL, he has shown enough to alter this belief. He is a very versatile player. Given the improvements he made last year, it is not impossible to see him playing in the NHL next year with the Capitals. He already skates well enough for the NHL. At this point, his projection is that of a two-way, goal scoring forward who can play inside the first two lines. – BO

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Lapierre battled consistency and injury issues all season, but of his high-end IQ and skill combination make him a potential steal. Originally thought to a concussion victim, it was later found to be a cervical spine issue. He has a very dynamic skill level and can make the spectacular look easy. He is smooth with the puck in transition and is a precise, pass-first center. He is a strong skater, who gets separation through excellent acceleration. He can work well along the wall and behind the net, with crisp turns, making him elusive in coverage. Lapierre is also a terrific two-way player who excels in all three zones because of his high-end hockey IQ. He uses anticipation and a quick stick to force turnovers on the backcheck, which he excels at transitioning the other way. He needs to take a step forward as a goal scorer. His game can be too predictable at times and to keep the opposition on their toes, he could stand to become a more well-rounded offensive player, shooting more often. Even despite a poor year, his potential remains high as a two-way, all situations center who can make his teammates better players. – BO

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Alexeyev brings size (6-4”) and hockey IQ to the Washington organization. Making the jump from the WHL, he managed to make it through his first professional season with no serious injuries despite his shaky health track record. He struggled early in the beginning of the season to adjust to the pace of the AHL, but as the season went along his confidence grew and the skills that got him drafted began to show themselves, particularly in the form of his passing ability and offensive zone positioning. Alexeyev will need to demonstrate better conditioning when the next season gets underway to remain consistent throughout the full 60 minutes and he will need to find another gear to add more speed to his game. Numerous times last season opponents blew past him when driving the net and he will need to improve at keeping them to the outside. As he continues to develop and his game matures, there is little doubt that he has the overall ability to become a top pairing defenseman at the NHL level, it is simply a matter of opportunity and Alexeyev staying healthy, as he cannot sustain another serious injury without suffering major career setbacks. – SC

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Tight competition between Fehervary and fellow Hershey Bears roommate and first round pick Alexander Alexeyev has been good for Fehervary’s development, pushing him hard in order to see results. The results of that developmental push have been evident as the lanky Slovakian has managed to impress in his rookie North American professional season, often using his tremendous skating to sail past opponents and earn scoring opportunities. He is the complete package as a future NHL defenseman; he plays a physical and rough game, can skate, carry the puck, and his defensive zone coverage is good. The only downsides come in the form of patience, passing, and decision making with the puck. He is not as well known for his passing abilities as he is for his skating and skill level and at times it was evident this past season with turnovers and missed important passes that oftentimes led to icings or offsides. Fehervary will need to tighten up his passing and work on how he moves the puck as well as when he moves it in order to be able to make the right choices in the NHL. - SC

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Protas has a very solid offensive toolkit. His unique size and frame enable him to be an elite puck protector. He can pace the game to his level and allow plays to develop. He is able to shed defenders and maintain control just a half step longer than most which dovetails perfectly with his playmaking and passing. He has excellent vision and can play the half-wall or behind the net equally comfortably. He has a deft touch and can make highlight reel passes due to his soft hands and a great ability to hit teammates in stride. His shot is above average and enables him to always be a dual threat to defend. His willingness to shoot the puck has helped his offensive game blossom. The knock on Protas was always his cumbersome footwork and lack of pace, but he has made some serious strides in that part of his game as well. He still needs to work on his overall defensive commitment and has struggled in the faceoff dot but those have improved with coaching. He is still a long-term project but the potential upside here is much higher than most expected in his draft year. - VG

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Standing out in the NHL will always be hard due to Pilon’s style of play. A hard-working grinder who can skate and who keeps his feet moving at all times, there is nothing particular that stands out about the way that he plays. To get too the next level, he will have to broaden his play, bettering his offensive production and puck possession skills next season. A top penalty killer using speed and determination, Pilon works hard every shift but at the next level it is about putting all of those things together and he will have to have a better, more cohesive and consistent game to earn a bottom six spot on the NHL club. He is a passionate player, and he will also need to keep his temper and frustration in check to avoid spending more time in the box than on the ice. He will be a big-league asset soon enough should he continue to put his overall game together and mature. - SC

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Pinho is the flashy forward with good puckhandling skills that every team has or needs. For a sixth-round selection, he has taken the long route for his development, finally coming into his own this past season, finishing top in prospect points. For his performance with the Hershey Bears, Pinho earned a spot on the Washington Capitals playoff roster and managed to also make his debut suiting up for two playoff games. Throughout the season, he was a clutch player for Hershey, often earning overtime marker and tying goals. He dominates in the offensive zone and often times earns breakaways on turnovers and long passes. That being said, he needs to work on bringing that competitive level to every game and on further developing his defensive play. With the recent call up to the Capitals, Pinho may have earned his chance at next season’s roster as a member of the bottom six. - SC

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

After a decent season with the OHL Ottawa 67’s, Clark swung his talents over to the AHL’s Hershey Bears for his rookie professional season. He quickly realized that the next level would not be as smooth sailing as major junior and he was a scratch for majority of the first half of the season. Following in father Wendel’s footsteps, Clark brings the grit and offensive prowess to a mildly physical Hershey roster, but that is where his talents stop until he finds a way to keep up at the AHL pace. He is a strong skater but his puck possession was simply not there last season and he will have to find a way to get to the net if he wants to even be considered as a top priority call up option. Serving more time in the penalty box than often necessary, Clark will have to prove himself as a skilled player first more than anything in terms of next season and working his way towards a call up. He has the potential and skill to play as a bottom six forward in the NHL, but he still has a lot of learning to go before that will happen. - SC

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

For a player who was passed over two years in a row in the draft, Leason has managed to defeat the odds, becoming a second-round pick for the Capitals. He has the size to play and to stay safe at the next level, proving so during his rookie season with AHL Hershey, however speed and skill is another thing. This is where the Washington offensive prospect structure starts to thin out and with Hershey last season, Leason failed to mark more than five goals, a disappointing drop from the 36 goals he scored in major junior the year before to being a healthy scratch for Hershey towards the season’s end. Leason will have to find another gear and start playing up at a professional level, as right now he is simply not fast enough to cut it and if he cannot find another gear it will be uncertain if he will ever be given a chance with the Washington Capitals as a bottom six. - SC

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

With an expired contract and only nine games played this past season, it is unsure as to where Johansen will be playing next season. It is assumed the Capitals will re-sign him; however he has not had the best of progressions in the organization as his play has gotten worse over the course of his three seasons with the Hershey Bears. As a first-round pick, Johansen needs to perform better, he has offered little in the way of point production and the quantity of turnovers he gives up is just bad. Having missed the bulk of the season with a leg injury, Johansen will need to show that he spent the time off well to come back better than ever to prove to Capitals management that he is deserving of a call up at least. As the time goes by, the Capitals are drafting more and more high-quality defensemen and Johansen’s name is getting further and further down their organizational depth list. It is now or never to prove that his passing, hockey IQ, and composure with the puck are good enough for a bottom four spot in Washington’s lineup. - SC

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

For a Washington Capitals organization which may be missing a goaltender next season with the expiring contract of incumbent starter Braden Holtby, it means that the young prospects in the system are getting their much-awaited shot. Although the current future may be Ilya Samsonov, recent backup and first call up Vitek Vanecek has the talent and hockey IQ to read NHL speed plays and the focus to get him to the next level. With a tight goaltender race, Vanecek will have to show his composure every time he gets a chance to be up with the Capitals. His quick reflexes and athleticism in the net are what set him apart from his counterparts as he is very active and aggressive in his crease, he fights for positioning well, and sees plays with good vision. His rebound control could use a little work and his timing when playing the puck can sometimes be a worrisome issue, however the Capitals look to have a promising goaltender tandem for the future as Vanecek could manage the starting role just as well as Samsonov. - SC

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Despite starting his North American professional career off a little shaky, including a return trip to Sweden to finish the season, Jonsson-Fjallby has redeemed himself this past season, completing the full season in North America, finishing with 23 points. It is clear to see that the winger has the speed and the offensive hockey ability to make an impact at the next level when it comes to getting to the net and putting forth the necessary individual effort. That being said, he lacks instincts as a two-way player and in the defensive end, and there is little else to be said about his giveaways and ill-advised passes in the neutral zone and on breakouts. Jonsson-Fjallby is a difficult prospect to talk about because he has NHL-level skills, but his hockey sense is poor and hard to overlook. With any luck, he will find himself in a Capitals jersey within the next season as a first choice call up to a bottom six position. - SC

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

While some in the hockey world have dismissed Switzerland as a nation worth heavily scouting, the Capitals have always been believers. Look at NHLer Jonas Siegenthaler, their second-round pick in 2015, now an established NHLer. Look at Tobias Geisser, their first selection in 2017, albeit in the 4^th round. And look at Riat, taking in between the two blueliners, who signed an entry level deal with the Capitals in March after five successful seasons in the NLA. A speedy winger with intriguing puck skills, he has been the top scorer in his age cohort ever since being overshadowed by a young Auston Matthews in 2015-16, until finally being overtaken again last year. For an organization that rarely drafts out of Europe, Riat has a chance to convince the Capitals to change their scouting direction once more if he adapts well to the North American game this year. - RW

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A top scorer as a youth, Magnusson took off in his second season in SuperElit, finishing second in the league in scoring among all U18 players, behind only Carolina draft pick Zion Nybeck. Magnusson has a fine collection of offensive tools and can contribute as both a finisher as well as a playmaker. He has good instincts for the game and reads the play well, helping him to maximize his physical tools. On the other hand, he is very physically underdeveloped, and his skating is average at best. He is actually fairly explosive on his feet, but his strides are short, causing him to burn out too much energy too quickly. He earned a four game call up to Malmo’s senior side last year and is expected to have a chance to compete for a regular SHL role this season. Before even thinking of a move to North America, he will have to prove that his offense-first game can succeed against men at home in Sweden. – RW

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

At 5-9” Nardella is certainly undersized as defenseman go in professional hockey, however, do not be fooled as this crafty and highly offensive defenseman is a threat no matter where he is on the ice. He finished seventh on the Bears in points and tops for defenseman this past season, his rookie professional campaign. Having been trusted for a role on the Bears’ top powerplay unit, Nardella clearly shows his maturity and that he is focused enough to manage high pressure situations and smart enough to make the right plays. He also has the skill as a top-level skater and puckhandler to get to the net for scoring opportunities which can make him an asset in today’s game. The major downside is size and if the Capitals can get past that, rest assured that Nardella has the potential to be a top four pairing defenseman. The delay in cracking the Washington lineup simply comes from defensive depth and prospect hierarchy politics, because as a player Nardella offers nothing but good things to a team. - SC

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

A late arrival to the OHL made Has a bit of a mystery and a difficult player to evaluate. Some may wonder about why he only played a single game for the North Bay Battalion before being moved to Guelph. The answer is because the OHL has a rule that imports cannot be traded until they play at least one game for the drafting team. In Guelph, Has was eased into a top four role for the Storm, playing as a stay at home defender with partner Daniil Chayka (a top 2021 eligible player). At 6-4”, he certainly has good length and exhibits good gap control when containing the transition game of the opposition. As an offensive player, we saw Has struggle at times with his decision making and the pace of play in the OHL. It remains to be seen just how much potential he has as an NHL prospect moving forward. Next year he will return to Guelph and will likely resume his partnership with Chayka. As he becomes more comfortable, we should get a better idea of the type of player he is and can become. – BO

Garin Bjorklund, G (179^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Playing as art of a platoon with Ottawa draft pick Mads Sogaard, Bjorklund didn’t have the kind of year that scouts hoped of him, as consistency issues plagued him in his intermittent starts. Part of that may have come from not playing consistently as part of a routine. He still has the size (6-2”) and quickness to be an NHL netminder and the potential to turn it around given more regular time between the pipes. To his credit, he tracks the play well and seems to have a solid grasp of the technical nuances of the position. A former first round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, even in his struggles, he showed flashes of pro caliber ability, but was done in too often by juicy rebounds, and seeming to lose his composure after surrendering a bad goal. Reports of his commitment to the game are promising, and, even though he was outperformed last year on the whole by the Danish second round pick, more often than not, there was little to separate the two performance-wise, and there may be a lot of room for growth in this profile. – BO

Mitchell Gibson, G (124^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

If we want to search for rays of hope with Bjorklund (#17), we need look no further than Gibson, who struggled badly in his first post draft season making the adjustment from the NAHL to the USHL. Moving on to Harvard, his performance improved by several grades. Given the chance to play regularly, he took the bulk of a time-share from senior Cameron Gornet and kept the Crimson in pretty much every game, something he could not say for his time with Central Illinois. Gibson is on the smaller side for a modern netminder but moves well and fights for every puck. He did a good job at limiting second chances and has a knack for puck play as well. Where concerns remain are in his ability to track the play through traffic, where his height works against him, as well as his propensity to lose the finer details of his technique in the crease. A second season like the last one with Harvard and he will rise up this list. - RW

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Re-read everything written above about Garrett Pilon and just make him a winger instead of a center, and then lower the ceiling a fair bit. Considering how low we stated the ceiling was for Pilon, we are basically stating that Malenstyn projects as a replacement level player. His hands have promise, and he plays a hard and tough style of game, but it is hard to see him as more than an injury replacement callup. The simple fact is that his offensive contributions are meagre. Even in the WHL, he was a secondary scorer. Through two seasons in the AHL, he hasn’t exceeded 16 points, although, to be fair, he could have cracked 20 if last season wasn’t ended early due to the pandemic. He could have been a regular in the 1980s, but it is hard for players of his ilk to establish themselves in the NHL anymore, and we don’t see why Malenstyn will break that mold. - RW

Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)

One of the few of the next generation of the Sutter family to still retain NHL hopes, Riley Sutter’s projection was stunted over the previous two injury-plagued seasons. He has always carried the grit and smarts of his father’s generation, but the knock on him, from the time of his draft year, has been his heavy feet. Now, with only 63 combined games played in the last two years, split between the WHL and AHL, his chances have taken a hit with the missed development time. We can give him a mulligan for his poor numbers in his abbreviated rookie pro season, as he has solid puck skills and reads the opposition well, but he can scarcely afford a repeat of the last two seasons. A return to health and improved performance will help Sutter re-ascend this list. Continued injuries can end his NHL hopes. He has the size and strength to play a bottom six role in the future, but he has a ways to go to achieve that goal. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – WASHINGTON CAPITALS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 20

Ryan Wagman, Profiles by Brock Otten, Shaiyena Cote, Vince Gibbons, Ryan Wagman — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 17:26:50 +0000

Washington Capitals

While most competing teams make a habit out of trading draft picks (we see you, Pittsburgh Penguins!), the Washington Capitals, winners of the Metropolitan Division for five years running (which includes this season, truncated as it was, wherein the Capitals went into the pandemic-pause with a one point lead over Philadelphia in equal games played), have not.

True, they do not always have their full complement of seven draft picks, as they left draft weekend with only four players selected in three of the last five draft classes. But with the exception of the class of 2017, the Capitals have always had their own first rounder. In fact, 2016 and 2017 were also the only years in the previous five drafts that saw the Capitals without a second-round pick.

Spelling out the consequences of this approach, unlike the Penguins (one first rounder in five years), the San Jose Sharks (three first rounders in five years, one of which was traded away before playing a professional game)*, the recent vintage of the New York Rangers, who did not have a first rounder between 2013-16, and others, the Capitals are achieving long-term success without selling the future.

*The Penguins and the Sharks are also both without a first rounder going into the 2020 draft, but that is a topic for another year.

This is not to say that the Capitals haven’t traded some future assets for pieces in the here and now, but those assets are much more likely to take the form of a middle or late-round draft pick. Perhaps we can say that the organization is under the after-effects of the “once bitten, twice shy” mentality. After trading future star Filip Forsberg within ten months of selecting him 11^th overall, the Capitals prefer these days to use a more minor asset, picks from the back half of the draft, or youngish depth players, to make the upgrades they need to remain competitive at the highest level. If absolutely necessary, they will deal away a second-round pick, such as the one they shipped to San Jose for Brendan Dillon at this year’s trade deadline.

If anything, the Capitals feel more secure in trading away a later pick as they also try to add them when dealing away excess talent. Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2018, the Capitals have acquired five draft picks in various trades while shipping out six (two of which were conditional).

All else being equal, you would want your team to have more draft picks to play with than less, but if you have to move some picks for a roster upgrade, it is far better to send away something farther from the top. There have been numerous studies performed over the years, by people far more numerically savvy than myself, noting how the value of a pick at the top of the draft starts very high (on aggregate) and drops off rapidly, flatlining sooner than one might expect. In short, once we get past the first round, the expected value from a third rounder or a seventh rounder is not all that large. We might even say that that value can be replaced through the astute signings of undrafted talent from the collegiate or European ranks, such as Bobby Nardella further down this list, or Joe Snively, who was our first cut.

As of this writing, the Capitals own five picks for the 2020 draft and will sit out the second and seventh rounds.

Connor McMichael of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Iimages.

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Few 2019 draft selections progressed as well as McMichael did this past season with the London Knights, where he went from a strong complementary piece to the lifeblood through which the Knights’ offense flowed. This has many scouts re-evaluating his potential as an NHL player.

A strong skater, McMichael showed much more confidence when carrying the puck and this allowed him to dominate touches when on the ice. He can beat you in transition because of his speed and he can beat you down low because of how well he protects the puck and how sound his decision making is. He is just a solid all-around offensive player. We also saw a huge improvement in his shot that saw him nearly hit the 50-goal mark. His wrist shot is powerful, and he is great at using different shooting angles to deceive goaltenders.

McMichael also showed improved strength away from the puck, which when paired with his high-end IQ, makes him a strong two-way presence. Originally thought of by many to be an eventual winger at the NHL level, he has shown enough to alter this belief. This is a very versatile player. Given the improvements he made this year, it is not impossible to see McMichael playing in the NHL next year with the Capitals. He already skates well enough to be an NHL player.

His versatility will make him very valuable and he could fill a variety of different roles for Washington if he shows himself worthy at training camp. At this point, McMichael’s projection is that of a two-way, goal scoring forward who can play inside the first two lines. – BO

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

When people think of the Washington Capitals they think of their offensive prowess as a system and the big names on the attack which is why for the past few years the Capitals management has not had to bother drafting forwards with their first round picks. From goaltenders to defensemen, the Capitals have decided to build up their back end and defensive structure instead.

Alexeyev, their 2018 first rounder, is no exception to the defensive pattern and he adds size (6-4”) and hockey IQ to the game. Making the jump from the Western Hockey league’s Red Deer Rebels, he managed to make it through his first professional season with no serious injuries despite his shaky health track record. He struggled in the beginning of the season to adjust to the pace, but as the season went along his confidence grew enough for the skills that got him drafted to make themselves present, particularly in the form of his passing ability and offensive zone positioning.

Alexeyev will need to come back to the Bears better conditioned in order to remain consistent throughout all three periods and he will need to find another gear when it comes to skating and speed. Numerous times last season opponents blew past him when driving the net and he will need to get stronger in keeping them to the outside.

Overall as he continues to develop and his game matures, there is little doubt that he has the overall ability to become a top pairing defenseman for Washington, it is simply a matter of the Capitals finding the right time and Alexeyev staying healthy, as he cannot sustain another serious injury without suffering major career setbacks. - SC

ARLINGTON, VA - SEPTEMBER 12: Martin Fehervary of the Washington Capitals (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 5)

Having earned a spot on the Capitals 2020 playoff roster, as well as having suited up for his first playoff game in the NHL, Fehervary is off to a good start to the somewhat long and drawn out COVID-19 season. Tight competition between Fehervary and fellow Hershey Bears roommate and first round pick Alexander Alexeyev has been good for Fehervary’s development in the Washington organization, pushing him hard in order to see results. The results of that developmental push have been evident as the lanky Slovakian has managed to impress Capitals management is his rookie North American professional season, often using his tremendous skating ability to sail past opponents and earn scoring opportunities.

He is the complete package as a future NHL defenseman; he plays a physical and rough game, can skate, carry the puck, and his defensive zone coverage is good. The only downsides come in the form of patience, passing, and knowing when to hold onto the puck or to pass it. He is not as well known for his passing abilities as he is for his skating and skill level and at times it was evident this past season with turnovers and missed important passes that oftentimes led to icings or offsides. Fehervary will simply need to tighten up his passing and work on how he moves the puck as well as when he moves it in order to be able to make the right choices in the NHL when his time comes to suit up as a top four defenseman. - SC

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 8)

His shot is above average and enables him to always be a dual threat to defend. You have to respect his shot as he has been averaging 3.6 shots/game this season, over double his previous years. His willingness to shoot the puck has helped his overall offensive game blossom into one of the best in the WHL this past season.

The knock on Protas in his draft year was always his cumbersome footwork and lack of pace, but he has made some serious strides in that part of his game as well. He will never be mistaken for a speedster, but his speed has improved enough that it does not hinder his game anymore. He still needs to work on his overall defensive commitment and has struggled in the faceoff dot but those are both things have improved with coaching. He is still a long-term project but the potential upside here is much higher than most expected in his draft year. - VG

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 17)

For a player like Pilon, making the NHL and standing out will always be hard due to his style of play. Every team is in need of a hard working grinder who can skate and who keeps his feet moving at all times, however there is nothing particular that stands out about the way that Pilon plays and that is the main issue. The Capitals roster currently has its fast skaters and its fourth line grinders in the likes of Carl Hagelin and company, therefore Pilon will have to impress by broadening his play and bettering his offensive production and overall puck possession next season.

He finished fifth in team scoring with the Hershey Bears this past season and managed to establish himself as one of the AHL club’s top penalty killers with his speed and determination, both with and without the puck. It is clear that Pilon takes his hockey seriously and works hard every shift but at the next level it is about putting all of those things together and he will have to have a better, more cohesive and consistent game heading into next season in order to pull away from the pack and lead his way into a bottom six spot on the NHL club.

He is a passionate player and he will also need to keep his temper and frustration in check to avoid spending more time in the box than on the ice. As stated before, if the Capitals cannot find a spot for him, all teams are in need of a hard working grinder to do the dirty work and Pilon will be a big-league asset should he continue to put his overall game together and mature. - SC

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: UR)

Throughout the season, he was a clutch player for Hershey, often earning overtime markers and tying goals. He dominates in the offensive zone and often times earns breakaways on turnovers and long passes. That being said, he needs to work on bringing that competitive level to every game and on further developing his defensive play. With the recent call up to the Capitals, Pinho may have earned his chance at next season’s roster as a member of the bottom six. - SC

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 11)

He is a strong skater but his puck possession was simply not there this season and he will have to find a way to get to the net if he wants to even be considered as a top priority call up option. Serving more time in the penalty box than often necessary, Clark will have to prove himself as a skilled player first more than anything in terms of next season and working his way towards a call up. He has the potential and skill to play as a bottom six forward in the NHL, but he still has a lot of learning to go before that will happen. - SC

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

For a player who was passed over two years in a row in the draft, Leason has managed to defeat the odds, becoming a second-round pick for the Capitals. He has the size to play and to stay safe at the next level, proving so during his rookie season with AHL Hershey, however speed and skill is another thing. This is where the Washington offensive prospect structure starts to thin out and with Hershey this season, Leason failed to mark more than five goals, a disappointing drop from the 36 goals he scored in major junior the year before to being a healthy scratch for Hershey towards the season’s end. Leason will have to find another gear and start playing up at a professional level, as right now he is simply not fast enough to cut it and if he cannot find another gear it will be uncertain if he will ever be given a chance with the Washington Capitals as a bottom six. - SC

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

As a first round pick, Johansen needs to perform better, he has offered little in the way of point production and the quantity of turnovers he gives up is just bad. Having missed the bulk of the season with a leg injury, Johansen will need to show that he spent the time off well to come back better than ever to prove to Capitals management that he is deserving of a call up at least.

As the time goes by, the Capitals are drafting more and more high-quality defensemen and Johansen’s name is getting further and further down their organizational depth list. It is now or never to prove that his passing, hockey IQ, and composure with the puck are good enough for a bottom four spot in Washington’s lineup. - SC

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 14)

With a tight goaltender race, Vanecek will have to show his composure every time he gets a chance to be up with the Capitals. His quick reflexes and athleticism in the net are what set him apart from his counterparts as he is very active and aggressive in his crease, he fights for positioning well, and sees plays with good vision. His rebound control could use a little work and his timing when playing the puck can sometimes be a worrisome issue, however the Capitals look to have a promising goaltender tandem for the future as Vanecek could manage the starting role just as well as Samsonov. - SC

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 16)

That being said, he lacks instincts as a two-way player and in the defensive end, and there is little else to be said about his giveaways and ill-advised passes in the neutral zone and on breakouts. Jonsson-Fjallby is a difficult prospect to talk about because he has NHL-level skills, but his hockey sense is poor and hard to overlook. With any luck, he will find himself in a Capitals jersey within the next season as a first choice call up to a bottom six position. - SC

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 18)

A speedy winger with intriguing puck skills, he has been the top scorer in his age cohort ever since being overshadowed by a young Auston Matthews in 2015-16, until finally being overtaken again this year. For an organization that rarely drafts out of Europe, Riat has a chance to convince the Capitals to change their scouting direction once more if he adapts well to the North American game this year. - RW

Tyler Lewington, D (204^th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: UR)

With his contract expired and the end of his prospect eligibility coming up, Lewington has hopefully proved himself to be enough of an asset on the backend in the Washington organization to be offered a new contract.

He is a big body and has been a physical, mature presence on the ice for the AHL Hershey Bears. He plays a solid defensive game and often times lends his shooting ability in offensive situations which allows him to stand out with his overall in-game effectiveness as a two-way player.

He is a good defenseman with a promising future ahead and the potential to be a bottom four contributor either with the Capitals or another team should they choose not to resign him. There are slight discipline issues but nothing of concern with Lewington’s actual play and for a seventh round pick his development has surpassed anything expected when he was first drafted. - SC

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Having been trusted for a role on the Bears’ top powerplay unit, Nardella clearly shows his maturity and that he is focused enough to manage high pressure situations and smart enough to make the right plays. He also has the skill as a top-level skater and puckhandler to get to the net for scoring opportunities which can make him an asset in today’s game.

The major downside is size and if the Capitals can get past that, rest assured that Nardella has the potential to be a top four pairing defenseman. The delay in cracking the Washington lineup simply comes from defensive depth and prospect hierarchy politics, because as a player Nardella offers nothing but good things to a team. - SC

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)

At 6-4”, he certainly has good length and exhibits good gap control when containing the transition game of the opposition. As an offensive player, we saw Has struggle at times with his decision making and the pace of play in the OHL. It remains to be seen just how much potential he has as an NHL prospect moving forward. Next year he will return to Guelph and will likely resume his partnership with Chayka. As he becomes more comfortable, we should get a better idea of the type of player he is and can become. - BO

WHL: Revisiting the 2019 NHL Draft prospects from the west

Vince Gibbons — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 20:51:51 +0000

We are about halfway through the 2019-20 season for hockey across most leagues and most players have had time to settle into their team situation. Players have had a hot streak, a cold streak or established themselves as the consistent players that teams need them to be at this point. With that being said I took a look at production of last year’s NHL drafted players from the WHL and compared it to the early results of this season. The hope was to see a number of players who have taken a big step year over year in terms of production. A couple of players have moved on to men’s leagues which makes for a fairly drastic drop off in the year over year production but I left them in anyways.

I will supplement what the chart says below with some context for each player based what we have seen so far this season both team wise and individual player wise so don’t panic as of yet. The progression column shows the improvement in scoring rate for Goals, Assists, and Points with green being a very positive progression over last year’s totals, red being lower production, and white being closer to equal production year over year.

The likes of Kirby Dach (NHL), Lassi Thomson (SM-Liiga), and Brett Leason (AHL) have all started competing against men this season. While all three have started in three different leagues I have grouped them together as a drop in production is expected even by the most talented of prospects as they adjust to the pro game. Lassi Thomson’s goal production in Finland is more or less equivalent to his scoring rate in the WHL which is very impressive considering the talent and defensive mindedness of that league. He is another talented puck moving blueline that the Senators were ahead of the curve on last year and are seeing the rewards this season. Dach and Leason have both scored their first goals in the pros and have been reasonably productive as they transition to full time pro hockey even though neither has firmly established themselves as a top six player on their respective rosters. Dach is on pace for 13 goals in his rookie season in the NHL which is a very respectable total considering his limited minutes. He is a high end player and surely would have been a top forward at the World Juniors had Chicago released him for the tournament.

In terms of progression year over year two players really stand out, in John Ludvig for Portland, who is scoring goals at nearly 3 times the rate he did last year while nearly doubling his point production, and Aliaksei Protas, who has taken over the top line duties in Prince Albert and is scoring goals at over double the rate of last season. Protas’ skating has improved this year and while it is not ever going to be a strength it certainly has improved enough that he can keep up with the play. With his size, ability to protect the puck, and his deceptively good hands he could be a gem of a prospect taken only 91^st overall. Ludvig showed a strong defensive side to his game, and that he was a very intelligent player but never stood out with the puck on his stick during his draft year. This year he has been carrying the puck with more confidence and making plays that a season ago seemed to elude him. He has 13 power play points already including 5 goals compared to only 2 power play assists last season. He still has a long path to the NHL but has looked like good value for Florida at the 69^th pick.

Another defender that has really taken a step forward in production this year is Kaedan Korczak. He has a 71% improvement in his point rate from last season and is on pace to double his goal total from last season. His team isn’t massively improved although Lassi Thomson’s departure to Finland opened up some premium offensive minutes that he has been able to take advantage of. He is a very good skater that plays a tough physical brand of hockey that makes him a solid two way defender that can help a team in any situation.

There are a group of later round forward picks that have all had impressive spikes in production year over year. Adam Beckman, taken 75^th overall, is the top scorer in the WHL at the time of writing, first in goals and 5^th in assists. He has a very developed offensive game and is a high volume shooter (currently first in the league in shots). He finds soft spots in the defense and has a lightning quick release that enables him to be as productive as he has been over the past two seasons. Sasha Mutala had a disappointing season in some regards during his draft year. A key piece of the Hlinka-Gretzky winning Team Canada he was never able to put it together night in and night out. This year he has found his stride and been a much more consistent player. He is on pace to nearly double his point production over last season. Reese Newkirk was taken with the 147^th pick in the draft and has certainly outperformed his draft position this season. A 25% improvement in goal production coupled with a 55% increase in assists has made him a strong center on a top end Portland team. He has excellent pace and is relentless on the forecheck or when pursuing the puck. He is a player that derives his offense from playing the right way without the puck.

I have avoided discussing the top end guys until now because in terms of the stats they aren’t the most eye catching. Most of the top players had very strong seasons in 2019 which makes it more challenging to massively improve those numbers, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t stand out. The first round picks like Dylan Cozens (7), Peyton Krebs (17), Nolan Foote (27), and Brayden Tracey (29) have all shown upticks of at least 15% in overall production with Nolan Foote’s 38% the most impressive rise. That sort of predicable growth is what made all of them first round targets in the first place.

Cozens has done more this season with less as Lethbridge has aged out a good portion of its roster. Everything is driven from his play with the puck. His skating, passing and finishing ability are all high end skills that coupled with his size make him a highly coveted forward prospect.

Krebs has shown no ill effects from the unlucky Achilles injury he suffered in the offseason and continues to show that he is an elite play maker. He is the only player on the list averaging over one assist per game this season. His vision and responsible two way game continue to be stand out traits for a player that likely dropped a few picks after the injury.

Nolan Foote has always been a lethal shooter and that continues to be the case but he has really shown growth in his game as a playmaker. While he is never going to be an elite passer like Krebs or Cozens, Foote has shown he can move the puck when the defense tries to close down his shooting lane. A 76% increase in assist rate over last season is not just guys tapping in rebounds from his elite shot.

Finally we look at Brayden Tracey, a player about whom I was wrong last season. I often thought he was a passenger on a high end line with two 20-year-olds but his production this season has still grown by 15% despite losing his top two linemates. Tracey is still getting his goals at about the same rate as last season but his assist production this year is second among all the 2019 NHL Drafted players in the WHL - up 28% over last season. For a guy that almost made the Ducks out of camp to come back to Junior and perform at such a high level is impressive.

4^th overall pick Bowen Byram has had a real drop off in goals this season, down 71%. It is alarming but it doesn’t tell the entire story. Firstly, his overall game has grown as he is now relied on for all the hard matchup minutes. Byram shot rate is down slightly over last season from 2.88 per game to 2.62 and his shooting percentage is half of what it was last season but his 13% last season was not unsustainable so his goal scoring at this point looks like a bit unlucky rather than as some lost part of his game. I expect him to rebound in the second half of year. After being a late cut in Colorado he took a bit of time to get his legs under him at the junior level and I expect him to hit the ground running after a successful World Juniors.

Obviously this data doesn’t show the entire story about the progression of the 2019 draft class from the WHL but there were some interesting trends. The most noticeable was that all the forwards taken in the first round showed a solid steady growth rate of at least 15% in terms of production. While it isn’t as staggering as some of the others it is that steady growth over the next few seasons that make them all more probable NHL players. Players who underachieved last season that met expectations this year show the biggest growth, a guy like Sasha Mutala or the undrafted Josh Williams are prime examples of this.

Another interesting note is overage players like Kastelic, Focht, and Burzan have all seemingly plateaued despite having similar teams to the season before. Overager Matthew Wedman has had a big drop off in production as well. I am not against drafting overage players at all but it is an interesting outcome that I will follow over the next few seasons to see if that continues. Other players like Matthew Robertson, Cole Moberg and Gianni Fairbrother have fairly stable scoring year over year but are not expected to be big scorers at the next level so measuring them on statistical progression can be a bit misleading in terms of their value.

WHL 2019-2020 Season Preview – Eastern Conference

Vince Gibbons — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 22:00:28 +0000

One of the joys of junior hockey is that the age limitations force roster turnover of top teams in 3-4-year cycles creating a new league every couple of seasons. This ensures that no team stays at the top of the league for too long. The class of the league last season was the Prince Albert Raiders. Wire to wire the top team in the WHL with three lines of scoring, three defenders with over 40 points each, and an NHL-drafted goalie prospect in Ian Scott, they ticked all the boxes of a team that was able to dominate the league.

This year they will be without three graduated top overage forwards in Dante Hannoun, Noah Gregor, and Sean Montgomery, who combined for an impressive 101 goals. Top scorer from last year Brett Leason is still in pro camp and could play in the AHL this season if he continues to show well. If he does that is another 36 goals no longer with the roster. Does this leave the door open to another team in the WHL to dominate the 2019-2020 regular season? Does Prince Albert have the staying power to remain at the top? These articles will try to answer those questions months in advance. (Teams are listed in their projected divisional rankings). Today we look at the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference article will be published tomorrow.

Peyton Krebs. Photo by Robert Murray/WHL

East Division

Winnipeg ICE (1^st)

No team has had more season-over-season change than Winnipeg. Formerly based in Kootenay, the roster looks substantially different with a plethora of scoring options up front, something they have struggled mightily with the past few seasons. The import draft provided the ICE two gifted forwards in Michal Teply (Chicago, 4^th 2019) and Nino Kinder (undrafted). Both have been impact players in the early part of the season at well over one point per game. Peyton Krebs (Vegas, 1^st 2019) will be playing with some talent this year when he returns from his off season injury and will get a chance to showcase his playmaking skills on a team with finishers on both wings. Connor McClennon is their top prospect for this year’s draft; the smallish winger is like a waterbug out on the ice with some high end offensive skills. Perhaps the most interesting player on the roster though, is 2004 born Matthew Savoie who was not granted exceptional status for this season. Rumors of him sticking with the team all season anyway are out there so it will be fascinating to watch this all unfold, regardless. There is a ton of scoring talent in Winnipeg to potentially pace them to the top of the division.

Saskatoon Blades (2^nd)

The Blades roster lost Max Gerlach’s 42 goals but for the most part remains intact up front. Kirby Dach (Chicago, 1^st 2019) remains in camp and will likely get a few games in the NHL but should return to Saskatoon, where he will lead a very strong group. Eric Florchuk (Washington 7^th 2018) and Chase Wouters will have to provide more offense especially while Dach is still in the NHL. Kyle Crnkovic had a very solid draft minus one season and look for him to produce a lot of offense on the wing of one of the top two lines. Despite his size, he could force his way into a middle round pick in the upcoming draft. The final difference maker on this roster is between the pipes, where undrafted Nolan Maier has shown the pedigree to be a top goaltender in the WHL. Last season his .910 save percentage was in the top half of the league and with the relative stability of the defensive corps, he will look to build on that.

Prince Albert Raiders (3^rd)

Despite the loss of talent already mentioned this team still boasts a strong roster. Returning import player Aliaksei Protas (Washington, 3^th 2019) has hit the ground running with five points in his first three games this season. Playing with Cole Fonstad (Montreal, 5^th, 2019) expect for Protas to have productive minutes and improve on last season’s totals. Both players will be counted on to be primary producers this year rather than the secondary roles they had previously. Two draft eligible players of note on the roster are winger Ozzy Wiesblatt, who has good speed and vision, and Kaiden Guhle, a solid two way defender. This year they should be on both special teams units because of their high hockey IQ and solid passing skills. Recently acquired Boston Bilous was brought in to stabilize the net with Ian Scott having a shot at a pro hockey this year. These players make this roster dangerous and a tough out on any given night.

Brandon Wheat Kings (4^th)

Just missing the playoffs last season, Brandon has plenty of young talent looking to take a step forward. Led by Luka Burzan (Colorado, 6^th 2019) and his impressive 40 goals last season, this team is flush with ’02 born talented players. Ty Thorpe, Nolan Ritchie, Ridly Greig and Riley Ginnel plus late ’01 birthday Jonny Hooker have all shown flashes of being quality forwards. On the back end they have one of the WHL’s top draft eligible defenders in Braden Schneider who logs a lot of minutes. In goal, they have used an overage and an import spot for Jiri Patera (Vegas, 6^th 2017) to protect the blue paint which enables them to compete every night.

Moose Jaw Warriors (5^th)

The offseason trade of Jett Woo coupled with the graduations of Justin Almeida and Josh Brook has left Moose Jaw at the start of a rebuild. Brayden Tracey has looked the part in Ducks camp, exceeding expectations, but should be back in Moose Jaw soon enough. He is the last remaining part of a lethal power play unit from last season and will be expected to continue producing despite recent graduates. In terms of this year’s NHL draft, Daemon Hunt looks to be the top prospect on the Warriors. They also have an impact players for further down the road with Ryder Korczak a late ’02 and ’03 birth year Eric Alarie who have been torching the league in preseason and are both ready to contribute regularly.

Regina Pats (6^th)

The Regina Pats are going through what most host cities of the Memorial Cup go through. After trading away futures to ensure a strong showing, the cupboard looks a little barren with no Bantam first round picks on their roster, save overager Dawson Holt. Austin Pratt, who led the team in scoring last season, returns as a 20 year old and should be a point per game player this year. He is an intriguing player that never took off the way it was expected when he came up from Minnesota. He has a huge frame and good skating but has never been consistent enough to take over a game and garner much pro hype. With the roster in Regina he should get every opportunity to be successful.

Dylan Cozens. Photo by Erica Perreaux - Lethbridge Hurricanes

Central Division

Calgary Hitmen (1^st)

The Hitmen possess a roster with some serious depth at every position. The acquisition of Jett Woo in the offseason makes their defense corps one of the best in the WHL. Yegor Zamula (Philadelphia, UDFA 2018) Luke Prokop, Dakota Krebs, and Jackson van de Leest can all play a tough physical brand of hockey and play the game with a real edge. At forward they have a top list of options led by overage player Mark Kastelic (Ottawa 5^th, 2019). He has great size and plays a heavy game. Fellow overager James Malm has shown good offensive skills despite being a little undersized. With drafted centerman Riley Stotts (Toronto, 3^rd 2018) and Carson Focht (Vancouver, 5^th 2019) also capable of filling the net they have as well balanced a team as anyone. Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Adam Kydd have some offensive tools and both could hear their names called on draft day in 2020.

Edmonton Oil Kings (2^nd)

Despite being without the services of Trey Fix-Wolansky (Columbus, 7^th 2018), one of the more dynamic offensive weapons in the WHL the past few seasons, Edmonton looks the part of a playoff team. Matthew Robertson (NY Rangers, 2^nd 2019) leads a strong, experienced blue line. Up front they boast six bantam draft former first round picks in Dylan Guether, Liam Keeler, Quinn Benjafield, Jake Neighbours, Brendan Semchuk, and Josh Williams. With Neighbours being one of the top draft eligible players in the WHL this year, he will be a large part of the offense as Edmonton battles for tops in the division. Relying on experience in overage goalie Dylan Myskiw and 2000 born Todd Scott to hold down the crease, Edmonton looks capable of pushing for top spot in the East this season.

Medicine Hat Tigers (3^rd)

Medicine Hat will be led by a couple of Danish born players (checks notes again), yes two Danish players. Jonathan Brinkman and Mads Sogaard (Ottawa, 2^nd 2019) both hail from Aalborg, Denmark. Sogaard was a revelation last season starting in both the WJC and Top Prospects Game and having a huge role in Medicine Hat sticking with Edmonton in the first round of the playoffs. Brinkman is looking to make his mark in the WHL after going undrafted last season. The Tigers also possess a team with lots of experience with James Hamblin, Bryan Lockner, Brett Kemp, and Ryan Chyzowski all in as undrafted 19 and 20 year olds. Eric Van Impe leads the team defensively and plays a nice brand of physical hockey coupled with some pretty good offensive upside which should get plenty of looks from NHL scouts this year.

Lethbridge Hurricanes (4^th)

Any team with a player as dynamic as Dylan Cozens (Buffalo, 1^st 2019) has the ability to win on any given night. This year he will do it on his own back as there as Lethbridge’s depth took a serious hit in the offseason. Likely graduated players Jordan Bellerive (Pittsburgh, UDFA 2018), Jake Elmer (NY Rangers, UDFA 2019), Nick Henry (Colorado, 4^th 2017) and Jake Leschyshyn (Vegas, 2^nd 2017) will create opportunities for younger players like Logan Barlage and recently acquired Dino Kambeitz. Calen Addison (Pittsburgh, 2^nd 2018) is still there to quarterback the powerplay and has shown he can produce as well as any forward in the WHL. The crease is a platoon style early as both guys have started a couple of games and shown well. If the goaltending is good enough they will be a playoff team in the East, however they will be in tough competing with the depth of some other teams.

Red Deer Rebels (5^th)

Last season was disappointing in Red Deer despite the Rebels making the playoffs. This year with the youth the team is ‘blooding’ expectations are pretty low. There is no dynamic scorer in any of their overage players and Brett Davies (Dallas, 6^th 2017) has been underwhelming since coming over in trade last season. It will be scoring by committee if they have any success this year. The likes of Josh Tarzwell, Cameron Hausinger, and Chris Douglas will have to up their games as none have had a 20 goal season in a Rebels’ uniform. There is reason for optimism though, particularly along the blue line, as Red Deer sports a number of young up and coming defenders. Led by Dawson Barteaux (Dallas, 6^th 2018) and draft eligible Christoffer Sedoff on the top pairing, and youngsters Blake Gustafson, Mason Ward, and Joel Sexsmith will also garner scouts attention as the season goes on. With two solid WHL goalies on the roster, both Byron Fancy and Ethan Anders are capable of carrying a young team into the season with the stability they provide in the crease. The playoffs would be a stretch for them this year, especially with the strength of the Eastern Division likely competing for both Wild Card spots.

Swift Current Broncos (6^th)

Swift Current is just two seasons removed from a Memorial Cup and have a roster that lacks experience going into this season. The highlight of their roster is a pair of draft eligible Finnish players, winger Joona Kiviniemi who returned after leading the team in goals last season, and looks to improve on his 16 goals from a season ago, and Kasper Puutio who the was the first overall pick in the latest CHL Import Draft. Pro scouts will be following the progression of these two in the North American game and they should keep fans interested as the season moves along. Ben King has also shown flashes of potential as a power forward but has not been able to put it together night in and night out as of yet. Expect another long season out in Speedy Creek.

Washington Capitals 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:30:48 +0000

Many clubs in the Capitals’ position of always being in the hunt, always being buyers at the trade deadline, see their prospect stock stumble, mostly due to the combined effects of having fewer picks, picking later when they do make picks, and sometimes trading away still developing youth for the more reliable promise of tested veterans.

In many cases, teams supplement their prospect income with free agent signees, and Washington has been no exception, although to a lesser extent than many other teams, with only seven qualified having been brought into the organization – having been brought into professional hockey – as undrafted free agents. That said, the player’s inked by the Capitals off the free prospect market do not have the organizational impact that you see from free agents in other systems. While the two free agent collegians signed by Washington this year (Joe Snively from Yale and Bobby Nardella from Notre Dame) were considered for the top 20 list, none of the free agent signees ultimately featured in the list below.

Also incidentally not appearing anywhere in the top 20 below is a single product from the Capitals’ small draft class of 2017, when they did not select a single player prior to the fourth round.

The above factors would typically lead to a system that is among the bottom end of systems in the game, and while we have not yet scored out all systems as of this writing, and even without Chase Priskie, who would have likely been in the top six here were it not for his stated intentions to explore free agency after Washington’s right on him expire in mid-August as a college graduate, the Capitals have a decent system, buttressed by a top four who all profile to be top half of the NHL roster players.

The system, from the 30,000 foot view lacks for inspiration, but between minute munching, two-way defender Alexander Alexeyev, long-touted netminder Ilya Samsonov, who began to demonstrate the potential that had Capitals’ brass salivating for years in the second half of his season in North America, and their top two picks from the 2019 class, forward Connor McMichael and Brett Leason, there are four players here who could grow into future core pieces for a franchise that should reasonably expect to continue to contend for postseason glory.

What the system lacks, on the other hand, is the breadth and depth of the system that is also needed to ensure that a team can withstand the inevitable injuries that teams accrue over the course of a season. The AHL talent – at least those guys who will not be AHL rookies this year – has very few forwards who could be expected to play NHL roles yet, with the only young potential 2019-20 contributing players coming on the blueline. In fact, two of the following three players listed below after the aforementioned top three, and three of those in the 5-10 range are defensemen with at least one full season of AHL experience under their belts.

The moral here, if there is one, is that the Capitals have a better system than might be expected, but that the system may not be structured to help the NHL team as needed, depending on how those needs shake out. Expect their depth to be tested this year.

-Ryan Wagman

Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Icon Sportswire)

1 Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) Alexeyev is a great story wrapped in a very good player who has all the tools to be a top four defender in the NHL. He has good size, skates very well, and has more snarl in his game then most give him credit for. Couple all that with a defender who is an excellent passer both in his own zone as well as when quarterbacking a powerplay, and he shows real promise. He has had some injury trouble the past couple of seasons and had a tragic loss as his mother passed away mid-season in his draft year. Despite so many ups and downs he has been one of the top defenders in the WHL since his arrival from Russia. He projects as playing both sides of special teams although maybe on second units and he could be an very solid second pairing defender. - VG

2 Ilya Samsonov, G (22^nd overall, 2015. Last Year: 1) Having had good numbers in the KHL, Samsonov was destined to be a top goaltender in North America, however despite his cool demeanor, depending on the outcome of a play he can get easily frustrated and distracted. His playoff performance with AHL Hershey was less than desirable and he seemed to lack the maturity to keep his focus into the postseason. Samsonov is a very intense, high pressure goaltender and he has all the traits to be a starter in the NHL. It will be a matter of time and perhaps a chance at a better playoff run to build his confidence up before we see him make the leap to starting more than a game or two with Washington. There is no doubt that with his tracking abilities and poise Samsonov will see another call up to the NHL again this season and hopefully for a longer time frame in order to further his NHL experience. - SC

3 Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) McMichael was one of the most consistent performers for the London Knights this past season, despite being in his NHL draft year. His hockey IQ is his best asset as he is such an intelligent player in the offensive zone. He is also a great skater, which he uses in combination with his vision and anticipation to find those soft spots in the opposing defense. As a shoot first center, McMichael’s ability to create for his linemates will need to improve should he want to stick down the middle moving forward. A lot of that comes from a need to play with more intensity, especially with the puck on his stick. He needs to attack the middle of the ice with more ferocity. While scouts are unsure as to whether McMichael is a center or wing in the future, he profiles as a strong two-way middle six forward who can provide versatility and goal scoring to the Capitals in the future. - BO

4 Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Leason’s skating has improved by leaps and bounds since his first time through the draft. He is now an average skater but it is now enough to enable his many other skills to shine through now that he can keep up with play. He is an underrated passer with good instincts in the offensive zone. He is a monster on the cycle game and below the dots where he can tire out opponents forcing them to chase the game. His shot is lethal and he is an excellent net front presence as he battles and keeps his skill free to tip pucks or reach loose pucks. If the scoring doesn’t translate he can still be an effective energy guy that can tilt the ice and generate offensive zone time. At his best he could be a power forward with 20-25 goal potential. -VG

5 Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) An aggressive import from Slovakia, Fehervary played full time in the SHL last season, in his last year qualifying for junior hockey. He finished the season ranked sixth on HV71 in ice time. All told, he had a good, but not great, season. He played in his customary aggressive style, with quick skating, physicality, and good reach. His game was well suited to the SHL level and he had mostly good underlying numbers. The one area where his stats were not as strong was in his on-ice save percentage. While that rate is usually luck-related, with only a single season of data, it is hard to tell for sure. He still has NHL potential, with the look of a third pairing blueliner. His skating, reach and aggressiveness will becoming a strong defensive defender. He should be playing n North America next season, most likely in the AHL, which will go a long way in pushing his development along. - JH

6 Jonas Siegenthaler, D (57^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 12) Siegenthaler really stepped up at the end of last season and managed a good enough performance as a call up to the Capitals to earn a spot as one of their starters for this coming season. He is a strong and smooth skating defenseman who has a very high hockey IQ which makes him an asset to any team. As a bottom pairing defender with the Capitals to start this season, it will be up to Siegenthaler to work his way up the ladder a little more. An added bonus is his playoff experience from last season, having already proved himself in the most high pressure of situations. It should be a relatively easy transition from training camp into NHL mode this season with fewer nerves to worry about. It is safe to say that Siegenthaler’s time in the AHL is done if he can clock his first full season with the Capitals in 2019-20. - SC

7 Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016, Last Year: 2) It is debatable whether Johansen is a good skater. His crossovers and edgework are fine but he lacks consistency with his speed in-game. If he can continuously maintain an urgency to his game and avoid being caught standing still then he will be on the right track to earning his first call up to the Capitals next season. For now, he will remain at the AHL level with the Bears until he finds the maturity in his game to take him to the next level. As a first rounder in 2016, Johansen has the skill to play the NHL and the potential to be a second pairing defenseman but he is still only scratching the surface with his development. Johansen will most likely be relegated to another two seasons in the AHL before being in position to gain a full time roster spot with the Capitals. - SC

8 Aliaksei Protas, C (91^stoverall, 2017. Last Year: IE) Protas is a monster on the ice. His presence is as noticeable as his shadow. He needs to work on his feet as he is slow and cumbersome as he moves around the rink. That said, he has pretty good puck skills and is a very deft passer. He is able to create from the halfwall or from behind the net where he can hold on to the puck for longer than most. He uses his size very effectively although his overall game is not especially physical. He gained more scouting notoriety as he upped his offensive game drastically in the WHL playoffs, playing a key role in pushing the Raiders to a WHL championship. If he can improve his skating stride there is some potential there. - VG

9 Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 9) Riley is the latest chapter in the Sutter family dynasty with the Capitals selecting him in the third round of the 2018 draft. He was on a good pace last year, with 41 points through 38 games, before suffering a severe lower body injury that cost him the remainder of the regular season (although he managed to return for the end of Everett’s postseason run, as well as a cameo with AHL Hershey in their playoffs). Sutter is a solid two way forward with good size and smarts. He is versatile and can play either center or on the wing, has a nose for the net, and an above average shot. He projects to be a bottom six forward at the highest level and will most likely be used in checking roles as he moves up. As he turns 20 in October, he could still return to Everett for another season, but the ods suggest he will spend next season in the AHL. - KO

10 Connor Hobbs, D (143^rd overall, 2015. Last Year: 4) Hobbs is a great team player and a solid passer compiling 15 assists over the course of the season. He is not the smoothest of defensemen and may seem somewhat scrambly but he gets the job done. Although he plays a more gritty and passionate game than other defensemen on this list, his maturity on the ice is what will carry him to the next level. His positioning is good and he is dynamic and capable of playing an offensive role which only adds to his value. Hobbs plays with vibrant energy and his progression with the Capitals organization has been good and will only get better should he stay focused. That being said, expect him to play another full year in the AHL before earning a call up. The unorthodox, late blooming defenseman has the potential to be a Tory Krug type of defender, but will need another full year in the AHL to come into his own. - SC

11 Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 13) One would expect the son of former NHL’er Wendell Clark to be quite the physical aggressor and that expectation happens to be a correct one. Kody Clark is an intense competitor who is very active on the forecheck and in puck pursuit. He also has great lower body strength which makes him difficult to separate from the puck as he works the wall and prolongs possession for his more skilled linemates. There are some limitations to Clark’s offensive game and subsequently his offensive ceiling. His puck skill, creativity, goal scoring instincts, hands, and vision would all have to be classified as average. Likely the key to Clark’s development moving forward will be the development of his defensive game. This will determine whether he becomes more than just a fourth line agitator and energy player. -BO

12 Colby Williams, D (173^rd overall, 2015. Last Year: Not ranked) Among defensemen in the Washington system, Williams is on the smaller end but that does not stop him from making smart plays. He plays a physical game, is strong on the boards and does well at keeping the puck on his stick. His shot production and offensive play needs to improve a little more before he can be considered for a call up to the NHL. He is a mature enough player to earn the call and he plays with enough determination and control that he would be a solid addition to the Capitals’ roster. It is hard to estimate at this point whether or not Williams will play another full year with the Hershey Bears or be sent up for a few games. If he checks off every area of development, he could emerge on a third pairing in time. - SC

13 Shane Gersich, C (134^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 5) Gersich is a high energy and entertaining forward to watch and having already won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018 he has high pressure experience with the big club under his belt already. Unfortunately however, Gersich fell short this season with Hershey as he did not quite live up to expectations. Gersich is a very fast and skilled player with a great set of hands but these skills were lost as he adjusted to the pace of his first professional season while making the jump from NCAA. Gersich had a great development camp and it is without question that he will be better adjusted and prepared this coming season when he starts with Hershey. It is well known that the Capitals have a strong forward lineup but a spot on the Capitals’ roster is not too far away for Gersich as he is certainly dynamic, aggressive and skilled enough to be a bottom six forward once he gets the call. - SC

14 Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 14) Vanecek is a tricky case with the Washington Capitals in terms of goaltenders in their system as they have a lot of goaltending talent and it is quite a competitive system in terms of skill. On the smaller end of the standard goaltender size spectrum, Vanecek moves well, has good vision and keeps rebounds low which are all things that make him a contender for a spot on the Capitals. Last season, Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov nearly split the starts evenly. Vanecek finished in the top 20 in the AHL for his goals against average which is a testament to his athleticism. His temperament may be stable enough for an NHL club however consistency is an issue and he needs to work on being more stable in net if he wants to earn a spot as a backup goaltender in the future. - SC

15 Eric Florchuk, C (217^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Florchuk has been a mixed bag this past season but he has some offensive skills and good hockey IQ. He is a pass first player who makes smart plays in all three zones. He needs to add some strength to continue to develop into his pro-sized frame. He is a responsible two-way player who back checks hard and gets in on his forecheck well. He projects as a bottom six forward that helps on the penalty kill and contributes to an overall team game. While not the most exciting or high skilled forward in the system, he looks like great value for literally the final pick of the 2018 draft.- VG

16 Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 7) When he is at his best, Jonsson-Fjallby is a highly energetic and quick player to play with and tough to keep up when paired against. His speed makes him a force to be reckoned with and his hockey IQ has improved drastically in the last year. He has become a smart and reliable two way player, whereas once his defensive game was insubstantial. His backwards skating is weak and his consistency and ability to read the play needs to drastically improve. Jonsson-Fjallby still has the potential to be a bottom six forward but first he needs to complete a full season in North America - last season did not go as planned and he returned back home to play with Djurgardens in the Swedish Hockey League - and prove that he has made a proper adjustment to the ice size and style of North American professional hockey. - SC

17 Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 17) Pilon is a hard working forward capable of winning battles, allowing for good puck possession. He is dynamic and has a good head on his shoulders where playmaking is concerned. He creates offensive opportunities and passing is certainly a strength of his with his goal/assist ratio only proving that fact. He is a clean, but physical player who gets well into the tough spots and adds notable pressure to create turnovers. However, good two way players are a valuable commodity and Pilon needs to find an extra gear and find a way to keep up the tempo in all zones and not just the offensive end to move to the next level. His level of comfort moving from the Everett Silvertips of the WHL to the AHL has been shifted somewhat and it will be up to him to manage his transition better in order to be noticed as a potential bottom six center with Washington. - SC

18 Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 11) Last season, Riat left his childhood team of Geneve-Servette for NLA competitor Biel-Bienne, and there was some hope that the fresh start would allow him to take that next step in his development as a prospect. And while he had a decent season with his new team, Riat did not take any such steps. His point production barely budged (from 24 to 25 points in an equal number of games) and according to first-hand accounts, the skilled winger didn’t look any better in producing the way either. He is still an agitating winger whose feet are as quick as his hands, but with his NLA contract expiring this summer, this will be a critical year for him to show that his greasy game would be worth an ELC from the Capitals. - RW

19 Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not ranked) Last season was rough for Malenstyn and presumably not how he expected to start off his professional career. With only a meager 16 points throughout 74 games, the regular season was disappointing. He started to pick up steam as he hit the playoffs only for Hershey to be eliminated, killing his momentum. It is optimistic to say that he will need a confidence boost next season in order for him to be able to showcase his skills better. When on his game, Malenstyn is a natural goal scorer and great at gaining puck possession, but he will have to have a much better showing in order to prove to Washington that he still has NHL upside. With his shot and natural scoring ability, he will have to find the back of the net more than just 7 times next season to reach even ensure that he can remain in the AHL long term. - SC

20 Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The Capitals selected the towering Czech defenseman in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. Has spent the past two seasons with Tappara U20 and unless he makes the Liiga team this year, it is reasonable to think that he will stay at the U20 level. His shooting ability stands out, with a wrist shot that is hard and accurate, while his slap shot features a lot of power and a good wind up. He also has a knack for getting shots through on the net. His other attributes project to be more around average and the jury is still out on whether he has enough upside to play a significant role in the NHL at his maturation. His acceleration and overall mobility need work and although he shows promise in his defensive and physical games, there is room for improvement in those areas as well. – MB

The 2019 NHL Draft: Draftee Perspectives on the First Step to the NHL

Shaiyena Cote — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 18:03:08 +0000

The end of June signifies a time of growth and development in the elite hockey world as the National Hockey League’s general managers along with coaching staff, scouts, owners, players, parents/families and fans get to see the fruition of all the hype of a season long observation of eligible prospects get drafted in the most prestigious event in the hockey world, the NHL Entry Draft. This year 31 teams picked 217 players over two days.

I attended last year’s draft in Dallas as a spectator but this year I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend for the first time with full credentials allowing me an excellent learning experience. Although not a research project, my perspective as a student offered me many different opportunities to observe the draft process first hand.

The draft took place over two days in Vancouver, hosted by the Vancouver Canucks with round one taking place on day one with team staff, players, families, and of course all of the curious fans paying close attention to who would go in the 31 spots of the first round. Day two consisted of rounds two through seven and although day one is stressful, many of the players who will be chosen in the first round have an idea that they will be drafted. The top five picks have been speculated about for months, however this year the one and two spots were undecided for many people until the first overall pick going to New Jersey was announced, which ended all the speculation as to the very top of the draft class.

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 21: Kaapo Kakko, Jack Hughes, and Kirby Dach pose for a photo onstage after being selected in the top three in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Speculation over Kaapo Kakko and Jack Hughes had been raging for months, with both competing in both the World Junior and later the World Men’s Championships, Kakko for Team Finland and Hughes for the US. It so happened that Finland won both events, thereby giving Kakko the distinction of winning world gold at every level of the IIHF world championships all by the age of eighteen (he also won gold at the 2018 WU18 tournament). Jack Hughes meanwhile had impressive numbers with both the U18 and U20 US teams and had a good showing at the IIHF World Championship as well. Debates were ongoing and heated as to which order they would be drafted right up until the New Jersey Devils put an end to all the speculation by picking Hughes first over all, leaving the New York Rangers to select Kakko from TPS of the Liiga as the second overall pick.

This year’s draft was far less diverse than last year’s where the top six of the first round were from six different countries, as this year saw 22 North American players being selected in the first 31 picks. With the high likelihood that Hughes and Kakko will start with their respective big clubs, it should still be noted that the number of players to start in the NHL has slowly been decreasing over the years with many of the draftees moving on to the AHL, returning back to their countries to fulfill contracts, returning to their respective major junior teams, completing a pro year in another league in preparation for the NHL or committing to an NCAA school.

All that being said, I do not want to take anything away from the excitement and energy the draft brings to the hockey world, especially to the prospects with a firmly realistic look at the work that lays in front of them once they are drafted in order to make a successful jump to the NHL. In fact, I want to focus on the positivity and optimism that I encountered with the many prospects that I had the opportunity to interview about their draft experience. Over the course of three days I had the chance to speak with many prospects and draftees about their draft experience, ranging from first rounders to fifth rounders, including four of the top five picks.

I spoke with both Jack Hughes, (1st overall, New Jersey) and Alex Turcotte, (5th overall, LA) the day before the draft, after they participated in an informal instructional skate with local minor hockey players. Hughes came across as laid back but seemed confident that he would go first overall. “Today was a lot of fun (skating with kids), it was like being out on the ice with my brothers when we were younger.” Brother Quinn Hughes, (7th overall 2018, Vancouver), along with Jake Virtanen (6th overall 2014, Vancouver) joined the 2019 top six rated prospects minus Kakko on the ice with the kids.

Most of the attending prospective draftees toured Vancouver with their families and were able to travel freely around the city. Unfortunately for both Hughes and Kakko, being so easily recognized meant traveling with handlers and not being able to explore Vancouver like many of the other draftees did. In fact, other than the top 31 picks many of the draftees are unknown to fans, so they were free to sight see and shop with family or in small groups.

“I look up to Jack which sounds funny, being the older brother and looking up to your younger brother, it’s not usually what older brothers do. I’m excited for him, having been there myself a year ago, I know some of what he’s feeling, except he’s going higher than I did”, stated Quinn when asked about Jack and the possibility of his younger brother going first overall.

“I think it was cool to be drafted in the city where my brother plays,” stated Jack after he was drafted, who seemed to take the whole draft experience in stride. If Jack was nervous it didn’t really show, as he is cool, calm, and collected with the press, laid back with his buddies and fellow draftees and accommodating with people like myself who he just seemed to enjoy engaging in small talk about sharing a birthday one day apart from mine and playing hockey.

I had worked for Alex Turcotte’s grandfather, Rheal, as a coach with his Turcotte Stickhandling North American hockey school for four years, which, when I told Alex, he was excited to hear as he has also worked at his grandfather’s hockey school. Turcotte was engaging and excited the day before the draft but said he was “a little nervous” about being drafted. “Being told you’re going high and actually waiting to see the outcome is nerve wracking”, he concluded.

Dylan Cozens (7th overall, Buffalo) had similar feelings to Turcotte as he was actually slated to go higher than he did. Cozens is from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and is the first draftee from the Yukon to ever go in the first round, “I didn’t really set too many expectations, just was excited and wanted to enjoy the moment and just take it all in. You know it’s something that I’ve worked towards my whole life, so I just wanted to enjoy it as much as I could.”

When asked about his overall experience in Vancouver, Cozens stated, “it was a great experience, I got to walk around the city lots and you know I was just trying to enjoy it as much as I could. It’s a stressful time but it’s the best day of my life so I’m just enjoying it all.” I joked with Cozens that he had his answers memorized due to doing so many interviews and being asked similar questions. At this writing Cozens is rehabbing a thumb injury sustained in development camp and will be returning to the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL.

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 21: Ryan Suzuki shakes hands with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman after being picked twenty-eight overall by the Carolina Hurricanes during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

I interviewed Ryan Suzuki (1st round, 28th overall, Carolina) on day one when he’d finished his press gallery interviews. Suzuki had been ranked at the 22^nd spot going into the draft, “I think I was just hoping to go first round somewhere and I mean the Hurricanes believed in me and they selected me so I’m just super excited to be drafted to them and get started with them.” When asked about his overall experience in Vancouver, Suzuki stated, “Uh, it was a little nerve wracking at the start but um, I think once you’re drafted, it’s a big sigh of relief and I’m just super excited right now.”

I know both the Suzuki brothers and I was fortunate to catch up with both Ryan and older brother, Nick (13th overall, 2017 originally to Vegas, currently with Montreal) on day two of the draft as they watched to see where friends and former teammates would be picked in rounds two through seven. Nick had hoped for Ryan to go to Montreal but overall was happy that his brother was chosen in the first round. “I was hoping that Ryan would go higher but I’m glad Carolina picked him. Now we’re off to our development camps in a couple of days and we’ll see where we end up at the end of camp, I don’t think we’ll be playing each other any time soon.” stated Nick. Following development camp Ryan will be returning to the Barrie Colts of the OHL while Nick is rostered to Laval of the AHL as of this writing, so Nick is right that they won’t be playing each other any time soon.

The last first rounder that I interviewed was Brayden Tracy (29th overall, Anaheim), I asked him about his draft experience and he replied, “Yeah, I kinda knew where I was going, ah a little bit late first so I was just kinda sitting there relaxing and then pick 25, I kinda got a little bit nervous and then luckily I got my name called. It’s words you can’t describe, honestly I think it’s just a bunch of nerves going through your body but other than that (I feel) super excited and I’m very honored to be picked by such a great organization.” As of this writing Tracy will be returning to the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.

I conducted only two interviews with second rounders and they both happened to be goalies. I caught up with Pyotr Kochetkov, (2nd round, 36th, Carolina), as he was shopping for draft souvenirs at the Canucks store. Kochetkov was friendly and all smiles but wanted to keep it short and sweet while speaking through his interpreter so I just asked how he felt about being drafted, “I just wanted to go before the third round” he replied. I practiced my limited Russian by replying, “spasibo” (thank you). Kochetkov is listed on Elite Prospects as returning to SKA-Neva, St. Petersburg of the KHL next season.

(editor’s note – when I caught with Kotchetkov and his agent/interpreter before the start of the second round, he was pretty sure that his name would be called in the second round).

Hunter Jones, (2nd round, 59th, Minnestota), was the second goalie I interviewed. Jones was outgoing and excited to share his draft experience, “I didn’t really have like, a lot of expectations going into it. I was obviously ranked pretty high for the draft, so, um, starting the day off I was pretty eager to get things going but, you know, I kinda knew where teams had me in their depth of drafting so, it was as I hoped, I finished with a second round selection. So, an unbelievable experience so far. It’s been amazing.” When asked about his family experience in Vancouver he replied, “Ah, it was great, I flew in on Thursday morning and I went to go sight see a little bit and you know see the town, go for a little walk and I love it here, it’s great, great city and yeah I’m sure the away games will be a lot of fun.” Jones, at this writing, is returning to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL.

Alex Campbell, (3rd round, 65th, Nashville) is from Chateauguay, Quebec, was drafted out of the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL along with teammate and first rounder Alex Newhook (16th, Colorado). I asked Campbell the same question about his draft experience and he replied, “Nah, I mean for the draft, even before the season I realized I wasn’t really on any of the lists so coming to this, it’s kinda, just here for the experience” I asked, “just happy to be here?”. Campbell replied, “Yeah, exactly.” When asked about his Vancouver experience Campbell said, “Yeah well I played in Victoria so it’s not too, too far. I kinda knew the west coast a bit but I just kinda visited around. (I’m from) Montreal.” I speak French so I asked him if he spoke French, “Yup, lots of French actually,” When I mentioned the fact that there’s not a lot of French spoken in Nashville he replied, “Nope, nope, but a lot of country music.” It turns out that Campbell is a country music fan, “Yeah a country boy, so there we go.” Campbell will be playing for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL for the 2019-2020 season prior to starting his commitment to Clarkson University of the NCAA. (Side note: teammate Newhook is committed to Boston College, NCAA)

BROSSARD, QC - JUNE 28: Montreal Canadiens prospect Gianni Fairbrother (59) tracks the play during the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp on June 28, 2019, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

When I asked Gianni Fairbrother, (3rd round, 77th, Montreal) if he’d had any expectations he told me, “No, I didn’t really know what to expect obviously I thought that there’d be a chance or a possibility so uh, I just kinda came with an open mind and thankfully it happened”. I asked Fairbrother how his French was considering he was drafted to Montreal, “(Laughing), I haven’t done it in a couple of years.” Asked about his family experience he replied, “Well I’m actually from here so it’s my home town so it’s definitely cool for it to be here. Ten minute drive (from home).” Fairbrother will be back playing for the Everett Silvertips of the WHL for the upcoming season.

I had the pleasure of conducting my first French interview with Rouyn-Noranda Husky and 2019 Memorial Cup winner Alex Beaucage, (3rd round, 78th, Colorado) who hails from the small Québec town of Trois-Rivières. I asked Beaucage if he had any draft expectations he replied, “Yes, but I knew not to have too many, it doesn’t matter what round and it didn’t bug me too much (going 3rd round) as long as they called my name, (the rest) it wasn’t important.” Asked if his family was with him and what his experience in Vancouver had been like, Beaucage told me that “Yep” his family was with him, “It’s been great, it’s very different from Trois-Rivières, it’s a lot bigger but it’s a super nice place. It’s so much fun (here) and it’s different from where I’m from but it’s been so much fun.”

This interview was fun for me as French is my second language and I speak Ontario French which is different from Quebecois French but I liked challenging myself to interview Beaucage in his native language which seemed to surprise him but also made him comfortable in speaking with me. It’s undeclared at this writing where he’ll be playing next season.

Version française de l’interview:

(Moi) Est ce que tu avais des expectations avec la Draft?
(Alex Beaucage) Uh, oui mais je sais de ne pas mal faire trop uh, c’est peu importe la ronde ça me dérangeait pas trop trop tant qu’ils me faisaient l’appel c’est pas important.
Et est-ce que ça c’est ta famille?
Ouais
Comment est-ce que tu as trouvé Vancouver?
C’est super, c’est différent de chez nous, c’est beaucoup plus gros mais c’est une super belle ville.
Et tu viens d’où?
Trois-Rivières, Québec. Mais ça c’est super de la fun, c’est différent de chez nous mais c’est super de la fun!

I asked Anttoni Honka, (3rd round, 83rd, Carolina) if his draft experience had met his expectations, “Yeah, of course, I talked at the Combine with maybe twenty teams about a contract.” I asked Honka how he had liked Vancouver and his experience in the city, his reply was, “Yeah it is a nice city, it was lots of fun to be here with family and my brothers and mum and dad, so it was fun.” As of this writing Honka will be playing for JYP Liiga in Jyväskylä, Finland.

I caught Aliaksei Protas, (3rd round 91st, Washington) as he was in between phone calls. I asked the Belarus native about his expectations for the draft, “No, I didn’t have nothing, I just was here hoping somebody would draft me.” I then asked him about his experience in Vancouver, “Oh yeah, it’s pretty good city. No, I’m here without family, yeah, they stayed at home, but I was in Vancouver not too long ago, I was in Langley about two months ago. Yeah, it’s a very nice place.” At the time of this writing, Protas is going back to the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL for the upcoming season.

**
Jordan Spence, (4th round, 95th, LA), was born in Australia, has both Canadian and Japanese citizenships and was drafted into the QMJHL out of the Maritime Junior Hockey League. I asked him if he had any expectations, “Not really, I’m happy to be here. I’m just happy to be drafted.” About his experience in Vancouver, “I’m just happy to be here with family.” Spence seemed a little overwhelmed at being drafted fourth round. Spence is expected to return to the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL next season.

The Finns had a solid showing at this years’ draft with Matias Maccelli, (4th round, 98th, Arizona) being one of several selected. I asked Maccelli about his draft expectations, “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, I was excited and happy to be here.” About his experience in Vancouver he replied, “Yeah we had fun, I think they (family) had fun too,” Maccelli is expected to be playing with Ilves of the Liiga in Tampere, Finland for the upcoming season.

I found Hunter Skinner, (4th round, 112th, Rangers) standing with his family, I asked him about his draft expectations, “I mean I was just hoping to get drafted, I mean it’s a dream come true.” I followed that up with asking him if he had enjoyed his time in Vancouver, “Yes, I got here Friday morning, toured all around, got some food. My mum had a little difficulty getting here but, yeah, we toured around, we came and watched the first round, enjoyed that and now I’m back here today.” I ended with asking him if he was related to Jeff Skinner (7th overall, 2010, Carolina now with Buffalo), “I don’t know, I’ve never looked into whether we’re related. That would be cool though.” Skinner has recently left the USHL and the NCAA track to play for the London Knights of the OHL for the coming season and ironically has been assigned number 53 for the New York Rangers (Jeff Skinner wears number 53).

Leevi Aaltonen, (5th round, 130th, Rangers) was the last Finn that I interviewed. I asked him if he had been disappointed to not be drafted until the fifth round, “Yeah, a little bit, we expect maybe second to fourth round but now fifth round, but it’s all good and I’m very excited.” I asked Aaltonen if he had family there to experience Vancouver with, “No family, just my agent and my Finn friend Mikko. Yeah, this has been an unbelievable trip.” (Mikko is Mikko Kokkonen 3rd round, 84th, Toronto). Aaltonen will be playing for KalPa of the Liiga in Kuopio, Finland this coming season under head coach Sami Kapanen, father of Kasperi Kapanen (22nd overall, 2014, Pittsburgh now Toronto). (Side note: Mikko Kokkonen will be playing for Jukurit of the Liiga in Mikkeli, Finland).

Czech player Martin Hugo Has, (5th round, 153rd , Washington) did not have any expectations about the draft, “No, not really, I just went here and hoped for the best.” I asked Has about his experience in Vancouver, “Yeah, my dad is here with me, yeah. It’s my seventh time in Vancouver, (most recently the) World Juniors. It’s been good, this is a nice city.” Has was drafted by the North Bay Battalion of the OHL in the 2019 import draft but is planning to return to Tappara of the Liiga in Tampere, Finland for the 2019-2020 season.

It’s great to see that many of the draftees are finding the positives in the cities/teams that have drafted them, such as Alex Campbell being excited about being a country music fan drafted to Nashville, known as Music City. Cole Caulfield (15th overall, Montreal) used French in his social media post thanking Montreal for selecting him even though he had stated in a TV documentary that he had had four years of French in school but had not had to use it. As an American, French is not an official language. Seeing Caufield make the effort to reach out to his new fans in their language is heartwarming and shows the effort that these guys are willing to make to connect with their new fanbase in order to make the transition to the NHL easier.

Team development camps started within 2-3 days of the conclusion of the draft and all the new draftees were heading out all over Canada and the United States to their prospective new teams.

They were all excited to attend their first NHL development camps and start the process of making it to the NHL.

For some of these draftees the transition will be way easier than for others. For some there are of course the obvious language barriers, more subtle and less obvious adjustments are things like ice surface size, (Europe has larger ice surfaces compared to NHL size ice pads), training regiments, playing with men, going from being a billeted player and having things done for you to being the youngest player on a professional men’s team and having to do everything on your own. Then there is homesickness and adjusting to so many changes all at once; city, team, living arrangements, coaching style, demands of being in the NHL, and for many a new country and for some a new language (English or French) to learn all while still being a teenager.

In interviewing a selection of players; forwards, defense and goalies from Canada, Russia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Belarus, and the United States, I was really able to see the diversity of players. All the players were excited to learn about the cities they had been drafted to, although some were far more nervous about it than others. It was a little disconcerting speaking with the guys who did not have family with them. That was sad because the draft is the biggest day in their hockey lives up to that point and it must be difficult to not have family there to share it with. I did find all of the guys that I interviewed and all the others that I spoke with, to be accommodating and willing to talk. They all seemed genuinely excited to be drafted although some were a little miffed at not being selected in the round they thought they would be drafted in. Every single player, despite whether they were disappointed in where they went in the selection or not, still shared an overall excitement and happiness to be drafted, many said that although the process was nerve wracking it was still a dream come true no matter what round they were drafted in.

I would be neglectful in ending this article on the success of the draft for so many players without honorable mention about a few prospects that I was surprised to see not get drafted, especially the ones that I wrote prospect reports about and who I had watched play this past season. The first player that comes to mind is Billy Constantinou, a player that I watched play for the whole first half of the season with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL and who was invited to play in the Sherwin-Williams CHL Top Prospects game held this year in Red Deer in March as well as being invited to the NHL Combine in Buffalo in June.

Pavel Gogolev and Keegan Stevenson were also a pair of OHL Championship winning Guelph Storm forwards that were also possible draftees who were overlooked. Additional mention also goes to a pair of Oshawa Generals (OHL) wingers, Danil Antropov and Nando Eggenberger (note that Nando will be returning to Switzerland to play pro in the NLA for his former club team HC Davos) who were also skipped over. However, to take the disappointment of being passed over in the draft and to turn it into a positive, one only has to look at Brett Leason, (2nd round, 56th, Washington) who had been passed over in the previous two drafts but proved that if you work really hard and persevere you can still end up being drafted even years after you first gain eligibility. I guess the biggest lesson about making the NHL is to remember that everything takes time. Copyright © Shaiyena Cote 2019

Brett Leason – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD – Marner and Tavares Leading Maple Leafs, Ducks Battling and More

Anaheim Ducks

Mon vs SEA, Wed @ SEA, Fri vs LAK, Sun vs OTT

Boston Bruins

Tue vs. VAN, Wed @ NYI, Fri vs. PIT, Sun vs. MTL

Los Angeles Kings

Mon @ SJS, Wed vs. WPG, Fri @ ANA, Sat vs. OTT

Minnesota Wild

Mon vs. WPG, Wed @ BUF, Fri vs. CHI, Sat vs. NSH

New Jersey Devils

Mon vs. NSH, Wed vs. STL, Fri @ DET, Sat vs. WSH

New York Islanders

Mon vs. DET, Wed vs. BOS, Fri @ WSH, Sat vs. BUF

New York Rangers

Mon vs. STL, Wed @ CAR, Fri @ PHI, Sat vs. MTL

Seattle Kraken

Mon @ ANA, Wed vs. ANA, Fri @ SJS, Sat vs. SJS

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Wolf making Calder case, Johnson rebounding and much more

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – ANAHEIM DUCKS – Team Preview

FORWARD

DEFENCE

GOAL

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WASHINGTON CAPITALS – RANK: #28 – TIER VI

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Washington Capitals Top 20 Prospects

Connor McMichael, C (25th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Martin Fehervary, D (46th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Garrett Pilon, C (87th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Brian Pinho, C (174th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Kody Clark, RW (47th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Brett Leason, RW (56th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Lucas Johansen, D (28th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Damien Riat, LW (117th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Garin Bjorklund, G (179th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Mitchell Gibson, G (124th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Riley Sutter, RW (93rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – WASHINGTON CAPITALS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 20

Washington Capitals

Connor McMichael, C (25th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Martin Fehervary, D (46th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 5)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 8)

Garrett Pilon, C (87th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 17)

Brian Pinho, C (174th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: UR)

Kody Clark, RW (47th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 11)

Brett Leason, RW (56th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Lucas Johansen, D (28th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 14)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 16)

Damien Riat, LW (117th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 18)

Tyler Lewington, D (204th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: UR)

Bobby Nardella, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 5, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)

WHL: Revisiting the 2019 NHL Draft prospects from the west

WHL 2019-2020 Season Preview – Eastern Conference

East Division

Winnipeg ICE (1st)

Saskatoon Blades (2nd)

Prince Albert Raiders (3rd)

Brandon Wheat Kings (4th)

Moose Jaw Warriors (5th)

Regina Pats (6th)

Central Division

Calgary Hitmen (1st)

Edmonton Oil Kings (2nd)

Medicine Hat Tigers (3rd)

Lethbridge Hurricanes (4th)

Red Deer Rebels (5th)

Swift Current Broncos (6th)

Washington Capitals 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

The 2019 NHL Draft: Draftee Perspectives on the First Step to the NHL

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Hendrix Lapierre, C (22^nd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. Previous ranking: 6)

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 9)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 10)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 11)

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 12)

Oskar Magnusson, LW (211^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Garin Bjorklund, G (179^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Mitchell Gibson, G (124^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 17)

Beck Malenstyn, LW (145^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 18)

Riley Sutter, RW (93^rd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: UR)

Connor McMichael, C (25^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Alexander Alexeyev, D (31^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 1)

Martin Fehervary, D (46^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 5)

Aliaksei Protas, C (91^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 8)

Garrett Pilon, C (87^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 17)

Brian Pinho, C (174^th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: UR)

Kody Clark, RW (47^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 11)

Brett Leason, RW (56^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Lucas Johansen, D (28^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Vitek Vanecek, G (39^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 14)

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, LW (147^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 16)

Damien Riat, LW (117^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 18)

Tyler Lewington, D (204^th overall, 2013. 2019 Rank: UR)

Martin Hugo Has, D (153^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 20)