Calle SJALIN – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: BELL – 2024 Trade Deadline – Insight into Each NHL Team’s New Prospects

Josh Bell — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:00:01 +0000

_{ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 08: Anaheim Ducks right wing Jacob Perreault (64) on the ice making his NHL debut during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers played on January 8, 2022 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire)}

The 2024 NHL Trade Deadline has come and gone. Some teams bolstered their lineup with the hopes of a deep playoff run (I’m looking at you, Vegas Golden Knights), and others sold off help now for potential later (Calgary Flames).

While the focus of the trade deadline is always the big NHL names that move teams - the Jake Guentzals, the Noah Hanafins, the Tomas Hertls - quite often there are names attached to these big moves that fly under the radar. Sure, some of the top prospects might get a mention or two, but the unsigned guys, the guys that likely need a fresh start, and some of the forgotten names get, well, forgotten.

If your team acquired a new prospect within the two weeks leading up to the deadline, I’ve got you covered. Here’s a brief scouting report on every prospect moved over the 14 days leading up to the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

Zakhar Bardakov, F, Colorado Avalanche

Zakhar Bardakov embodies the classic power forward archetype, standing at an imposing 6-foot-2, 198 pounds. His prowess lies in net-front presence, excelling in board battles, and tip-ins. While possessing a powerful and accurate shot, Bardakov's offensive awareness and overall skill is a work in progress. Though not the fastest skater, his adequate skating is complemented by a strong penalty-killing ability and relentless forechecking. Expect Bardakov to evolve into a bottom-six winger, contributing on special teams and wearing down opponents.

Cole Brady, G, Dallas Stars

Cole Brady displays promise with good reflexes and occasional moments of brilliance. However, consistency remains a challenge for him. With continued development, the 6-foot-5 netminder has the potential to get a look in the NHL, but that role very much remains to be determined. Fine-tuning his technique and enhancing consistency are crucial steps for reaching his full potential and continuing to climb the ladder.

Riley Damiani, C, Calgary Flames

Despite standing at 5-foot-10, Riley Damiani's speed and strong work ethic make him a valuable prospect in the pipeline. Known for defensive play initially, Damiani has showcased offensive potential, particularly on the power play, with a good shot and adept plays in tight spaces. However, enhancing his offensive consistency is a priority. Damiani is projected to be a reliable two-way center contributing at the NHL level, likely in the bottom six.

David Edstrom, C, San Jose Sharks

David Edstrom, a raw, yet talented center with a 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame, exhibits effective skating, decent acceleration, and balance. While not flashy, he uses his size and strength for puck protection and board battles. Edstrom demonstrates offensive potential with a strong shot and glimpses of playmaking ability. Despite solid defensive efforts, his awareness can be inconsistent. With added muscle and refined defensive skills, Edstrom has the potential to be a top-six center excelling on both ends of the ice. More likely, expect him to fit into the middle six.

Artyom Grushnikov, D, Calgary Flames

Artyom Grushnikov may lack offensive flair, but his exceptional skating and hockey IQ make him a coveted asset in any farm system. Known for shutting down plays in the neutral zone and maintaining tight gap control, Grushnikov reads the game well. He’s not going to appear often on the scoreboard, but he occasionally contributes with his skating ability. Expect Grushnikov to develop into a reliable, shutdown defenseman excelling in his own zone.

Jeremy Hanzel, D, Nashville Predators

Jeremy Hanzel could be a hidden gem for the Nashville Predators. The defender combines modern offensive skills with intelligence. Hanzel, a deceptive puck handler, creates space and finds teammates with slick moves. While his defensive game is under development, Hanzel's offensive potential is evident. Refining defensive awareness and positioning is crucial for him to become a well-rounded defenseman.

Ville Koivunen, F, Pittsburgh Penguins

Selected likely too low in the 2021 NHL Draft (51st overall), Ville Koivunen may not be a guaranteed star, but he does have the potential to develop into just that. Skilled, with a nose for the net, Koivunen's shifty puck handling and high hockey IQ make him a very promising player. While his defensive awareness could stand to improve, Koivunen's overall game is strong. With added strength, he could become a top-six winger, and be a key returning piece in the Jake Guentzal trade.

Cruz Lucius, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Cruz Lucius, a right-wing prospect, boasts an impressive offensive skill set thanks to his ability as a playmaker. Standing at 6-foot, 179 pounds, Lucius’ key contributions come in his own end though through his retrievals and support in the defensive end. He lacks the shot that his brother, Chaz, has, but don’t underestimate it. The biggest opportunity for Lucius is to add a level of consistent pace to his play, which will be a determining factor in his future success.

Jan Mysak, F, Anaheim Ducks

Jan Mysak brings a well-rounded skill set to the Anaheim Ducks, with strong hockey IQ and vision. His above-average skating aids offensive transitions, and his versatility allows him to play center and wing. Mysak's scoring threat is enhanced by a strong shot and the ability to find open ice. Mysak was on a strong path forward in his development, and it will be interesting to see how he does with the change of scenery. A personal favourite since the NHL Draft, I believe Mysak could develop into a top-six winger still.

Dmitri Ovchinnikov, F, Minnesota Wild

Dmitri Ovchinnikov possesses good hands and a knack for scoring in tight spaces. Playing a smart, offensive game with a strong compete level, Ovchinnikov plays a very fast game and utilizes his agility effectively. While not the biggest player at 5-foot-10, he plays a bigger game and consistently pushes the pace of play. Continued development and added strength could see Ovchinnikov as a reliable middle-six forward with an intriguing offensive upside.

Jacob Perreault, W, Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens fans have reason to be excited about Jacob Perreault, a right-handed winger with a strong skating stride and elite shot. He seems to have taken a bit of a step back in his development, but a move to a new organization in his home province could be just what he needs to get back on track. His play off the puck will be one of the biggest question marks moving forward, as he’s been quite inconsistent. If the Habs development team can get him on track, Perreault could still become a dangerous NHL sniper.

Mathias Emilio Pettersen, W, Dallas Stars

You never truly know how a prospect is going to develop, and Mathias Emilio Pettersen is an example of that. Drafted 167th overall in 2018, he’s progressed very well and has become a very reliable asset in the AHL. His vision and ability to set up teammates are top-notch, accompanied by a powerful and accurate shot. Questions about his size and strength linger, but if he continues on the path he’s on, Pettersen has the potential to be a bottom-six, contributing forward.

Vasili Ponomaryov, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins fans can anticipate excitement with Vasili Ponomaryov, a tenacious two-way center excelling in puck pursuit and offensive spark. His stickhandling and creativity make him a threat in transition, and relentless forechecking creates turnovers. Ponomarev's balance and lower-body strength contribute to his competitiveness. With tightened defensive play and improved positioning, Ponomarev could evolve into a reliable middle-six pivot. He’s been another favourite of mine since his draft year.

Calle Själin, D, Buffalo Sabres

Calle Själin, a 24-year-old lefty, is a reliable puck-moving defender who makes smart decisions in his own zone. While not a physical force, his effective defending stems from skating and positioning. His offensive upside does appear to be quite limited, he tends to be a safer, more passive player which will always limit the excitement he brings to the ice. But Själin's reliability and intelligence could be enough to earn him a look in the future, maybe even carve out a spot on a bottom-pairing line.

Kirill Slepets, W, Toronto Maple Leafs

Kirill Slepets is a winger who brings tremendous speed, and solid skill and creativity. Slepets' ability to navigate defenders and create scoring chances is impressive, particularly on the power play. He’s on the smaller size at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, but his skating might just be enough to make up for that. With his KHL contract ending, the Russian forward could be an intriguing option for the Maple Leafs next season if he decides to sign.

Graham Sward, D, Colorado Avalanche

Graham Sward, a two-way defenseman, demonstrates solid positioning and awareness. Standing at 6-foot-3, 192 pounds, his high on-ice intelligence compensates for some much-needed skating improvements. His movement of the puck is strong, especially in transition. Sward's ability to read plays and make smart decisions positions him as a potential reliable bottom-pair defenseman, but his movement does need some improvements to reach that potential.

Ty Taylor, G, Edmonton Oilers

The future is uncertain for Ty Taylor, drafted by Tampa Bay back in 2018. With an uninspiring NCAA career and mixed performance in professional leagues, including playing in Scotland, Taylor's pro aspirations may be quickly fading. He has good size at 6-foot-4, 201 pounds, and has had glimpses of technically sound play (especially back in his BCHL days), but he has yet to take significant steps forward since his draft year. Granted - goalies are weird.

Jack Thompson, D, San Jose Sharks

Jack Thompson is a well-rounded defenseman who can contribute offensively and excels in his own zone. Thompson's major asset is his skating, allowing him to thrive in all three zones. Not afraid to join the rush, he possesses a booming slapshot and efficient breakout passes. Defensively, Thompson is positionally sound and reads the play well. While not the biggest defender, his mobility allows him to shut down plays effectively. With continued development, Thompson has the potential to be a top-four force contributing on both ends.

Luke Toporowski, C, Minnesota Wild

Luke Toporowski is a centreman with a high motor and relentless work ethic. His speed creates scoring chances, and his well-rounded two-way game is evident. He did seem to be stalling in his development this season, but a move to the Minnesota pipeline could be just what he needs to get on the right track. Toporowski's good defensive awareness and positioning suggest he could become a valuable two-way center with continued development.

Cade Webber, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs fans can anticipate the imposing presence of Cade Webber on the blue line, standing at an impressive 6-foot-6. Known for his physicality that challenges opponents, his zone exits are a strength. Don’t expect him to be on the scoresheet too often though, as his offensive talent is not what attracts scouts to his game. Instead, Webber has the potential to become a shutdown defenseman, contributing effectively on the penalty kill. He could be a piece that the Maple Leafs have long been searching for.

EUROPEAN PROSPECT ROUNDUP

Chapin Landvogt — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 19:51:45 +0000

210521 Juraj Slafkovsky of Slovakia ahead of the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship game between Belarus and Slovakia on May 21, 2021 in Riga.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN / kod SH / SH0105

The 21-22 season has been underway for over eight weeks now, with the KHL having kicked off the fun already at the end of the summer. This past weekend marked a basically European-wide break in regular season action so that just about everybody’s national team can participate at a number of tournaments across the continent. This applies not only to the men’s teams, but also the U20, U18, and in some cases, U17 sides.

This also serves as an excellent time to take a look at a number of drafted and yet undrafted prospects throughout the continent and fortunately for the hockey world, there’s been a ton of interesting news on the prospect front!

One of the most interesting developments of the season can be seen in the KHL, where Winnipeg Jets 5th round draft pick, Dmitiri Rashevsky, taken as an overager in his third year of eligibility, has exceeded many expectations in popping in 14 goals and 24 points over 27 games thus far. That’s good for 19th in scoring throughout the entire league. He’s also sporting a strong +13 rating and thanks to some real good offensive company playing for Dynamo Moscow, there’s really little reason to think he’ll slow up all that much this season. It’s safe to say he’s the highest scoring 21-year-old in the KHL just now.

Making less noise in the KHL this season is Yaroslav Askarov (NAS), who has a very respectable 2.01 GAA and .904 save percentage in five KHL outings with SKA, but only a 1-1-2 record to show for it. That he’s spent four games with the club’s VHL affiliate, putting up a 2-2 record with almost identical stats doesn’t have to mean anything in the long term, but it also means he’s not quite at where recent star Russian goaltending prospects like Igor Shestyorkin and Ilya Sorokin were at his age. Alas, there is still some hockey to be played this year.

The KHL is naturally chock full of recent or older NHL draft picks, but few are looking as good at the moment as Arseni Gritsyuk (NJD). The mid-sized lefty shot has shown that his bursts of speed are effective against Russia’s best at the men’s level and he’s currently got five goals and 10 points in 18 games, having often received sheltered minutes along the way this season. Another Devils draft pick doing fine in the KHL is 2020 first rounder Shakir Mukhamadullin who is taking a regular shift for traditional power Salavat and has three goals and seven points in 27 games. He had just as many goals last season in 39 games, but it’s the overall comfort and wherewithal of his defensive game that’s sticking out. There’s routine there, and a calmer sense of urgency.

Of course, this is and continues to be the eventful year of the Matvei Michkov watch. Being 16 and getting into 10 KHL games (3 points) is a feat in and of itself, but his 11 goals and 18 points in seven games in the junior level MHL went to show that he’s ready for much more daunting tasks. He’s debuting in the Russian national team this weekend, where he’s got the hockey Twitterworld jumping out of the seats over his “Michigan goal” against Sweden. Getting phone calls from Alex Ovechkin is the icing on the cake for now and the hockey world is simply praying that the soon-to-be 17-year-old will be part of the WJC-fun in Edmonton next month.

And while the prospect talked is covered in kind by Michkov, Alexander Perevalov is quietly tearing apart the top junior league with 17 goals, 33 points, and a +21 in 22 games while fellow top 2022 prospect Ivan Miroschnichenko continues to turn heads with his nine points in 20 VHL games, meaning the 17-year-old is playing a solid role against men in Russia’s second highest pro circuit.

Nordic bliss

Next door in Finland, there’s no less noise being made by a few of the nation’s top youngsters. The biggest news in Liiga is Toronto Maple Leafs pick Topi Niemela, a defenseman taken in the 3rd round of the 2020 NHL Draft, is fifth overall in league scoring with four goals and 18 points in 20 games. We are talking about a 19-year-old kid who’s barely 170 pounds soaking wet. He was already a sensation for Finland at last winter’s WJC and he’ll be looking to return to Edmonton as Suomi’s go-to guy on the blueline.

He may very well be joined on the team by the OTHER biggest sensation in Liiga play this year, namely the just now draft-eligible Joakim Kemell and boy, has this kid been something special. His 12 goals lead the league, and his 18 points have him tied for second overall in league scoring, one point behind the league leader. More amazingly is that he’s done it in just 16 games, five less than the league’s top point producer. Some hockey people knew he’d be a player this year after no less than his five goals and six points in five Hlinka Gretzky Tournament games, but his season has been off the charts. There’s no other way of putting it.

Also doing well for themselves are a couple of smaller, offensively oriented defensemen. Anttoni Honka (CAR) has already got 13 points in 20 games after a fantastic 31 in 58 games last season. He’s really done nothing less than steadily produced since Carolina drafted him. Then there’s former Detroit Red Wings 2015 pick Vili Saarijarvi. Yes, of course, he had plenty of time in North America and now his rights belong to Arizona, but after 36 points for Lukko in 50 games last season, he’s currently chugging away with four goals and 15 points in 20 games this season. In short, it’s looking like a career year for the 24-year-old who was in action this past weekend for his national team.

Speaking of offensive defensemen, when directing our eyes towards the future, there’s no getting around Kasper Kulonummi, a 17-year-old who currently has 15 points in 19 games for Jokerit’s U20 program. It is of note seeing as how he had six assists at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and had a point in every game for his nation at a U18 outing this weekend.

As we continue looking westward, Sweden is once again providing the world with plenty to talk about at the U21 level. No team is more aware of this than the Detroit Red Wings. To begin, defenseman Simon Edvinsson has basically been the best U21 player in the country. Sure, his nine points and +7 in 16 games for Frolunda, a team always in the hunt for the championship, has been sweet, but we just can’t emphasize enough how solid he’s been in an all-round capacity. His understanding of his position and how to use his enormous body to his advantage is clearly beyond his years.

His teammate Elmer Soderblom is a giant at 6’8”, 238 lbs., and has seen his development take a considerable boost after what was already a strong 20-21 showing. He’s been getting first line minutes on a term with four solid lines, and it’s resulted in eight goals and 11 points in 19 games. There’s also first year SHLer Theodor Niederbach who has managed to stick with the big club through 19 games. His four points are nothing to write home about, but he’s showing a keen sense of doing what’s necessary to stick in the line-up and assume the role necessary in a line-up that is full of established offensive players.

And keeping in line with Frolunda, the Red Wings also drafted Liam Dower Nilsson, who has gotten into seven games (zero points) with the big club but has also chipped in 17 points in 14 U20 league games, so he too is right on track with his progression as he still looks to throw his name into the WJC team hat.

Then there are defensemen William Wallinder and Albert Johansson. Both are playing top four minutes of late for their SHL clubs Rögle and Färjestad, respectively. Wallinder has been very hot of late, having chipped in three goals and eight points in 16 games while Johansson has nine points in 17 games. Both have been showing plenty of the attributes that got them drafted and their upwards projection continues to have experts in the business looking at these guys as viable future NHLers.

That’s a lot of Swedish for one club, especially considering the Red Wings also have Jonatan Berggren doing just fine in his first season with the team’s AHL club (seven points in 10 games thus far).

But both the SHL and Allsvenskan are filled with plenty of other draftees and young men the NHL teams have their eyes on. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Pontus Holmgren (12 points) continues to be a strong contributor for Växjö, for whom he was the playoff MVP in last season’s championship run. Filip Cederqvist (BUF) and Linus Karlsson (VAN) are chugging along just fine with 11 points apiece, both having larger SHL roles than ever before. The same can be said for Calle Själin (NYR) and Ole Lycksell (PHI), but their 11 points are a little more special, as Själin is a defenseman and Lycksell has collected his in just 14 games.

When it comes to the Allsvenskan, we’d like to mention two defensemen in particular. One is Emil Andrae, a Flyers second rounder who is playing for HV71 this season, a team that has won 14 of 15 games and is on a concrete mission to gain its way back into the SHL. Andrae’s 13 points in 12 games has contributed to this endeavor thus far, even if Philadelphia would ideally like to see him suiting up for an SHL club. Then there’s Axel Bergkvist, who is playing for Mora and who’s rights belong to Arizona. He’s still just 21, has 13 points in 14 games, and is only two seasons removed from a 52-point year with Kitchener. He’s not tall, but well-built and we all know some guys are just late bloomers, so Bergkvist is one we’ll watch throughout the season.

Sweden’s 2022 draft watch has become very exciting as well, as just about all eyes have been on Djurgarden. Top prospects Liam Öhgren, Noah Östlund, and Jonathan Lekkermäki all did some major damage at the nation’s U20 level before getting a shot with the SHL club. Öhrgren has spent the most time in the bigs, collecting two points over 14 games. Östlund has gotten into seven games and Lekkermäki into three, both remaining pointless, but the latter has an impressive 16 goals and 25 points in just 16 U20 league games. Each is just 17-years old, and health and injuries will continue to play a role in just how much they play in the SHL, but that’s not looking like an issue for fellow 17-year-old Marco Kasper, the super Austrian who has four goals and six points in 16 contests for Rögle. His feat is quite impressive in light of the team’s role as a championship contender and in that it features a U20 outfit chock full of impressive players, including several who have already been drafted. We’d also like to mention that Kasper has six points in six CHL games for Rögle as well.

Not to be forgotten in all the hoopla around the 2022 prospects is the fact that 6’2”, 185 lbs. Leo Carlsson of Örebro has chalked up four points in 14 SHL games. He’s just 16 and first eligible for the 2023 draft. Will we see him suiting up for Sweden at the U18 worlds? His chances of being part of that outfit are very high.

Slavic revival

The Hlinka Gretzky Tournament this summer was a “case in point” in what some had been saying was on the way, namely that the Slovakian program had a special wave of players on the way up. Indeed, it’s looking so good that some in the region are reminiscing about the days when Peter Stastny and Zdeno Cigar were ushering in the Zigmund Palffys, Miro Satans, and Peter Bondras of the world, with the Marians Hossa and Gaborik soon to follow. There are several key reasons for this.

To begin, the 6’4”, 225 lbs. Juraj Slafkovsky has been trucking down a road to a top 10 selection for well over a year now. Sure, he’s got but three points in 14 Liiga games this season, but his 17 points in nine U20 league games as well as his six goals and nine points in five Hlinka Gretzky Tourney outings have shown him to be among the best anywhere in his age group. Scouts naturally love his size and jam, as Juraj isn’t one to take anyone’s crap. And why should he with a body like his? That he can do some playmaking and rocket off shots has got more than a few just licking their chops about the possibilities.

Behind him, albeit not all too far, are defenseman Simon Nemec, likely one of the top five defensemen available in this draft class, and forward Filip Mesar, who debuted for the Slovakian men’s team this past weekend at the Deutschland Cup. Both are 17, both are playing in Slovakia’s top men’s league, and both scored at over a PPG pace at the Hlinka Gretzky event. Also getting a long look this winter are Jakub Krizan, a left wing who is clipping at more than a PPG pace in the U18 and U20 leagues while having collected five points in nine second league games, and Alex Sotek, a right winger who has suited up for five different clubs in four different leagues but sticks out thanks to his nine goals and 34 points in just 18 U20 league games. Then there’s Adam Sykora, who hasn’t put up a whole lot of points this season (just four) but takes a fairly regular shift in Slovakia’s top league and is expected to make the WJC squad as a part of its defensive conscious.

All this is without even spending time on defenseman Jozef Kmec (Prince George Cougars) and center Servac Petrovsky (Owen Sound Attack), both of whom are doing just fine for their CHL clubs.

The fun naturally doesn’t stop there as the group of boys establishing themselves for the 2023 draft may even be more impressive. Defenseman Maxim Strbak is just 16 but honing his craft as a regular contributor in Finland’s U20 league. Winger Frantisek Ridzon has seen two games of action in both of Slovakia’s two highest pro circuits, but at 16 is making a laughingstock of the nation’s U20 league with 25 points in 16 games. One of his Nitra colleagues is Ondrej Molnar, who had six points at the Hlinka this summer, and has been the driving force of the Slovakian U18 squad that also plays in Slovakia’s second highest men’s league. Questionable is if any of them can really compare to Alex Ciernik, son of former part-time NHLer Ivan Ciernik, who is making serious noise with Södertälje’s U20 team, for which he’s got 21 points in 19 games. He too was a prime contributor at the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament (seven points) and has been playing in Sweden for the past four seasons.

Now, for the really astute among our readers, you’ll probably have noticed that nearly a dozen names have been provided here without a word about the most exciting, up-and-coming Slovak out there, namely Dalibor Dvorsky. Yep, we’re talking about the 16-year-old who had 12 points at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He’s the same kid who is second in scoring in Sweden’s U20 league with 27 points in 18 games. By the way, the leading scorer has two more points in two more games. Dvorsky’s feats have also led to two appearances with AIK’s men’s team, which plays in the Allsvenskan. This season is still young, so we really don’t know just what accomplishments Dvorsky will be capable of, but if he’d manage to lead the “J20 Nationell” in scoring, he’d be the youngest player ever to do so.

In light of all this, it’s a true shame that Slovakia’s U18 team isn’t even in the top IIHF group. Yep, the opportunity to gain promotion has been squashed two springs in a row by the worldwide pandemic. Nonetheless, insiders are already contemplating what Slovakia may be capable of doing at next spring’s D1A U18 event.

Some fans out there may be wondering what the big brother Czechs think of all this, considering they’ve continued to have the upper hand internationally for the better part of this decade. What we can definitely say is that righty shot defenseman David Jiricek is doing all he can to get himself into top 10 draft consideration. At 6’3”, the two-way rearguard has four goals and nine points in 20 games at the highest level in the Czech Republic. He’ll be returning to the WJC, probably with a letter on his chest, and one’s got to think that it’s a prime goal of his to outshine Nemec in gaining the better draft position. He’s certainly making that case in pro play this fall.

Tidbits from elsewhere

In Austria, the Red Bull Hockey Juniors (a U23 outfit) have started to pick things up in the professional league AlpsHL, where the kids for several nations - predominantly Austria and Germany - play against grown men. The start was a rough one, but there’s been an upswing in recent weeks and one of the highlights of this move up the standings has been 17-year-old Austrian Luca Auer, a righty shot forward who has 10 goals, 25 points, and a +18 in 18 games. For perspective, Danjo Leonhardt led the team in scoring last winter with 35 points in 32 games while Julian Lutz made headlines with his 13 goals, 26 points, and +13 in 31 games, granted as a 15- and 16-year-old. Auer has a motor and loves to drive the net. He’s also got a mid-July birthday, so you know where he's at draftwise.

It’s also been a while since Slovenia has provided the NHL world with a legitimate prospect, but one young man who is playing in Germany is doing his darndest to change that. Currently leading the Krefeld U23 side that plays in the Oberliga Nord, Germany’s third pro circuit, in scoring is forward Marcel Mahkovec. He’s got an impressive 5-12-17 in just 13 games and has also chipped in 6-9-15 in 8 games for the club’s DNL team. That he’s just 17 is what has many wondering just how high his prospects are? Compact and creative, Mahkovec has suited up 23 times for Slovenia’s U19 selects for various test games and tournaments, putting up 23 goals and 44 points in the process. Also look to see him on the nation’s men’s team, even if only at lower levels of international play.

Finally, we don’t spend a whole lot of time looking at overagers, or more specifically, kids who just aged out of the draft picture entirely, but we’d like to throw some light on two young men in Switzerland’s NL who you may want to keep in the back of your mind for down the road. One is 21-year-old defenseman Mika Henauer who is in his fourth season of pro hockey. He already gained our attention last year by becoming a top four option for Bern basically out of nowhere, putting up 3-14-17 in the process. He was one of the youngest regular blueliners in the league. After 22 games this season, he’s already collected 3-8-11 and continues to grow in importance for his team.

The other name we’d like to bandy about is that of Nando Eggenberger. Yes, you know it. The former Oshawa General once looked like a possible up-n-comer but fell off the map completely after a terrible 19-20 season. Now 22, he’s coming off his best season to date (12 goals in 50 NL games) and looking to put a whole new spin on things, already collecting 16 points in 21 games. To be certain, Eggenberger has a power forward body and can be difficult to handle along the boards and in the corners. The question has always been whether he’s going to start scoring at some point. He is on pace to blow away career highs and place his name into World Championship consideration for the Swiss side.

2017 NHL Draft Grades: Metropolitan Division – New York Rangers

Ryan Wagman — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 12:52:01 +0000

Shortly after 1:00pm CST, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Reilly, a defenseman from RPI as the 217^th player selected, bringing the 2017 Entry Draft to an end. With a few days of hindsight between me and the bowels of the United Center, the urge to spew out hot takes flushed away, it is time to analyze the strategies and selections employed by the league’s 31 teams.

The analysis will focus on the first five rounds, as it is clear to most long-time observers that the final two rounds are often taken up with long-shots, favours to regional scouts, among other reasons. I will, of course, call out some astute late picks, but will not judge a team for the names called in the final hour. The apocryphal story of Pekka Rinne, drafted as an eighth round after-thought in 2004 based mostly on his play in game warm-ups. Few other scouts would have seen him at all, and he has had a very good career, which is not yet over. For the most part, though, those picks have little statistical likelihood of having NHL careers and teams should not be judged there.

Each draft class will be graded using the 20-80 scale that we use in our player specific scouting reports throughout the site. In this context, a 50 is essentially an average grade in light of the picks the team had on draft day. A 20 would mean the draft is an unmitigated disaster while an 80 would be the best draft class of all time. As those things can only be truly seen in retrospect, most classes will trend towards 50 at this point, so pay attention to those we see as outliers.

Finally, all grades are incomplete. Actual winners and losers in this draft class will not be known until 2023 at the earliest, after those who will have “made it” will have played out their entry-level contracts. What I am looking at here is whether, knowing what we know now, the drafting team got good value.

RD	#	CS	MCK	PLAYER	P	AGE	HT/WT	TEAM
1	7	3-E	17	Lias ANDERSSON	C	18	5-11/200	HV 71 (Swe)
1	21	11-E	42	Filip CHYTIL	C	18	6-0/180	PSG Zlin (Cze)
4	123	199-N		Brandon CRAWLEY	D	20	6-1/205	London (OHL)
5	145	44-E	hm	Calle SJALIN	D	18	6-1/180	Ostersunds (Swe D1)
6	157	50-E		Dominik LAKATOS	LW	20	6-0/180	Bili Tygri Liberec (Cze)
6	174	98-N	hm	Morgan BARRON	C	18	6-2/200	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)
7	207	NR		Patrik VIRTA	C	21	5-10/180	TPS Turku (Fin)

RD	#	PLAYER	P	TEAM	GP (W)	G (L)	A (T)	PTS (GA)	PIM (Sv%)
1	7	Lias ANDERSSON	C	HV 71 (Swe)	42	9	10	19	18
1	7			HV 71 (Swe Jr)	3	2	0	2	2
1	21	Filip CHYTIL	C	PSG Zlin (Cze)	38	4	4	8	16
1	21			Zlin (Cze Jr)	2	0	0	0	0
4	123	Brandon CRAWLEY	D	London (OHL)	61	7	20	27	114
5	145	Calle SJALIN	D	Ostersunds (Swe D1)	34	5	10	15	26
5	145			Timra (Swe 2)	2	0	0	0	0
5	145			Timra (Swe Jr)	1	0	1	1	0
6	157	Dominik LAKATOS	LW	Bili Tygri Liberec (Cze)	41	10	12	22	80
6	157			Benatky nad Jizerou (Cze 2)	7	2	5	7	4
6	174	Morgan BARRON	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	46	28	22	50	15
6	174			Sioux City (USHL)	5	0	0	0	2
7	207	Patrik VIRTA	C	TPS Turku (Fin)	49	14	12	26	22

New York Rangers – Draft Grade: 40

Lias Anderson (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/HHOF-IIHF Images)

With a big trade on the morning before the draft, sending Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to Arizona in exchange for controversial prospect Anthony DeAngelo and the 7^th overall pick, the Rangers were in a position to make serious waves on the draft floor. After all, this team, which has traded away their first rounder far more often than they have traded to add first rounders, would be making their highest selection since 2004, when they popped Al Montoya with the 6^th pick. Montoya has finally found a niche as a decent backup netminder, but that pick did not work out too well.

Filip Chytil (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

This time, the Rangers used that prestige pick on highly skilled Swedish forward Lias Andersson. Depending on who you talk to about Andersson, you might hear a scout praise his plus skating, or his plus shot, or his plus puck skills, or his plus hockey IQ. That is a lot of plusses. That said, there are few scouts who would talk about all of those things which is another way of pointing out that his game is inconsistent. He was a solid first rounder, but is a bit of a reach at seventh overall. We similarly felt that their “natural” first round pick, Czech forward Filip Chytil was a slight reach. Talented and performing admirably amongst men in the Czech Extraliga, he earns a lot of above-average grades, but lacks a stand-out skill. After those two, the Rangers stood pat until the fourth round and three of their remaining five picks were used on overagers, a sign that the team recognized the need to have more near-ready replacements available in the AHL.

Best value: Calle Sjalin, D, Ostersunds (5/145): Although Ostersunds is only the third-highest ranking league in Sweden, Sjalin was the top scoring U19 player in the circuit. His hockey smarts are his most notable trait and Sjalin will be moving up a grade to play in Allsvenskan with Leksands next year.

Biggest head-scratcher: Brandon Crawley, D, London (4/123): A rugged double-overager, Crawley at least can boast of his roots in Glen Rock, New Jersey, a town not far from the NJ-NY state line. More physical than skilled, it is hard to see more than seventh defenseman as his upside.