Carsen Twarynski – McKeen's Hockey

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: SEATTLE KRAKEN – RANK: #32- TIER VII

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 00:42:47 +0000

Seattle Kraken

#32 Seattle - This system has only 13 eligible prospects. This system can't really be judged on a list like this until at least 2023.

Matthew Beniers. Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Matthew Beniers

The 2021 season was an extremely impressive one for Beniers, capped off with his selection by the Kraken, their first in franchise history. Even without getting onto the scoresheet with regularity (he was limited to three points in seven games), Beniers was playing in a critical two-way top six role for the United States at the World Junior Championships. He also finished his freshman season with Michigan with one point-per-game, with 14 of his 20 points marked as primary points (goals and first assists).

The allure of Beniers is far more than his offensive production as he projects as a first line, two-way center in the mold of a Jonathan Toews, or a Patrice Bergeron. No matter where he plays as he establishes himself in the NHL, he will be making his linemates better, even if they suck up with accolades. He can play a ‘meat-and-potatoes’ game, being disruptive on the forecheck, and killing the clock on the penalty kill, and he can thrill with skill. He is involved in every play, even if they are not going to directly lead to scoring chances. His speed and ability to enter the offensive zone are also major highlights to his repertoire. It would be ideal to see Beniers return to school for one more year, taking on a more offensive-minded role, and focusing on skills growth. His upside could be first line even without it, but a little bit more creative play will give him a better idea of what he can accomplish before hitting the NHL, and ideally make his professional transition that much smoother. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Will Borgen

The expansion Seattle Kraken, as of the offseason doldrums of August, have five sure thing blueliners that they should feel confident about lining up with game in, game out. Giordano, Larsson, Soucy, Dunn, and Oleksiak are all guaranteed regular minutes. There are six other seasoned pro defenders who seem to be fixing to fight for the #6/7 roles. Lauzon, Carrick, Cholowski, and the Fleury’s, Cale and Haydn, no longer have prospect eligibility, but Borgen does! A 2015 fourth rounder, Borgen was brought along slowly by Buffalo, spending two full seasons in the AHL, honing his stay-at-home game, before finally spending all of last season up with the Sabres, albeit watching from the press box far more often than he got to take the ice.

Like the others (except possibly Carrick) with whom he will be fighting for an NHL job this year, Borgen offers very little offensively. To his credit, though, he has great size, shoots from the right side, is mobile, has shown that he knows how to play within his limitations, and relishes playing the body. The Seattle system is very shallow at present, as they have not had to build up too much depth as they won’t have their own AHL team right away. Borgen is the most NHL-ready who still qualifies for this list. The upside is low, but he could be on their bottom pairing on day one and no one would bat an eye. - RW

Joey Daccord

A relatively anonymous prep school goalie drafted very late in his second year of eligibility, Daccord was the first player of note to play for Arizona State after that institution joined the NCAA ranks in 2015. His numbers improved dramatically year-over-year through his three year stretch on campus, GAA dropping from 4.03 to 3.51 and finally to 2.35, while his save percentage saw a mirroring rise, from .892, to .909, and ending at .926. The Senators promised him an NHL game after signing, but his first full pro season was split between the AHL and ECHL. Daccord got a more prolonged NHL exposure last year, even earning his first win for the Senators, but he hurt his leg in mid-March, ending his season early.

Not that he had done enough by that point to convince Ottawa management that he should be their goalie of the future, but the injury did make it easier for the Sens to give more time between the pipes to the likes of Filip Gustavsson, Marcus Hogberg, and Anton Forsberg, and feel OK about exposing Daccord to the expansion draft. Seattle nabbed him, although with the big money contracts they gave to Philip Grubauer and Chris Driedger, more AHL is in store for Daccord, who will need to stay healthy and turn more of his promise into consistent performance. - RW

Ryan Winterton

Like some other OHL players, Winterton’s only game action this year was at the Under 18’s, where he was impressive in a checking line role for Canada. One of the youngest players available this year (September 4th birthday), Winterton’s physical tools appear to have improved greatly, making him a very intriguing selection by the Kraken in the third round.

Winterton profiles as an extremely versatile player at the next level. He can play any of the forward positions. He can work in the slot or bumper position on the powerplay with his quick hands and size. He can kill penalties because of his strong two-way awareness and ability to get his stick in passing lanes. He can be a support player on a scoring line because of his ability to win battles down low and because of his terrific wrist shot that allows him to finish off chances. He has also shown the ability to play center and lead transitional attacks, backing down defenders and driving the net. Just how much offensive potential Winterton has is the real mystery. At times in his rookie season in the OHL, especially later in the year, Winterton flashed creativity and the ability to create time and space for himself with his hands. However, at the U18’s, he played much more of a North/South, linear game. We should get a better read of what he is capable of in Hamilton this season as the OHL returns. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Ryker Evans

In his second (and final) year of draft eligibility, Regina Pats defender Ryker Evans finished the WHL season as the leader in assists by blueliners with 25 (over an assist per game). Ranked by us at McKeen’s last year, Evans worked hard to improve his skating, the consistency of his physicality, and his reads in the defensive end to be a more complete overall player. This is what made him a high selection by Seattle this year.

He may not be the kind of dynamic skater you want to see from an average sized defender, but he has made some necessary adjustments to his game. What the next step for him is remains to be seen. He could return to the WHL for his overage season, or he could turn pro and play in the AHL with Charlotte, who will be Seattle’s AHL affiliate this season. If he returns to Regina in order to further improve his two-way play and physical tools, Evans has a chance to be one of the WHL’s elite defenders. In terms of a high-end upside, Evans likely profiles as a second or third pairing defender who can also play on the powerplay. As an “older” drafted player, he could move through the system faster than some of Seattle’s other prospects. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Luke Henman

The very first player in history to be signed by the Seattle Kraken, Henman has proven to be an extremely consistent QMJHL player. He is not an elite player, but he is someone who is well rounded and brings a lot to the table. This includes being a terrific leader for Blainville-Boisbriand. He sets an example with his consistency and the excellence of his game in all facets. In addition to being such a complete player, Henman has also led the Armada in scoring the last two seasons.

He may not have the skills to be an impact player in the NHL, however, he executes the small details very well. He is responsible over 200 feet, and he is appreciated by everyone, as much for his qualities as a hockey player as for his qualities as a person. This should lead him to play at least a few games in the NHL at some point. He's still a little slight to face the more rigorous demands of the pro game, but it's something that can be easily improved. He will play in the AHL this coming season and could be a third- or fourth-line winger for the Kraken in a few years. - BB

Alexander True

After three full seasons of pro hockey, there was hope that True could jump to the NHL full-time in 2020-21, but he ended up splitting time between the Sharks (seven games, one point) and the Barracuda (27 games, 20 points). The summer got hectic for True, who went to the World Championships and appeared in seven games for his native Denmark. Then, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, returning to the area where he played junior and delivered the championship-winning overtime goal in 2017. On the Kraken, True looks to become a full-time NHLer on a forward corps that certainly figures to have some open slots available to be grabbed in training camp.

True is a typical power forward with a developing set of hands and a mean streak. He saw penalty-killing duties for the Sharks last season and didn’t allow a goal. He utilizes his massive frame well and is starting to round out his offensive skills. His poor skating is probably what kept him from being drafted initially but is being improved. He struggles with discipline, takes far too many minors, and is likely limited in terms of upside at the NHL level, but certainly has the potential to be a full-time bottom of the lineup asset who could contribute on the penalty kill and even as the net-front body on the powerplay. - AS

Kole Lind

Kole Lind has taken a step in each of his first few seasons as a pro, culminating in seven NHL games with the Canucks during the most recent Covid shortened season. His game is that of a power forward where his skill level can surprise a bit. He has very good hands and a heavy shot that make him an offensive weapon. He doesn’t drive play as much as you would like for a player that plays the game like he does.

His skating is fine, but he doesn’t have the pull away speed or the high agility to be a very strong rush player or one on one attacker. His game away from the puck is still a work in progress and he may never improve enough on that side of the puck to make him a lock for consistent NHL minutes. He has shown that he can help offensively though and if he was paired with a defensively sound center, he could perhaps fit into a middle six role that suits his game more than a bottom six role would. He should get a great chance to open the year in the NHL on a new Seattle team looking to unearth a few gems in a bottom six role. - VG

Justin Janicke

Janicke’s role with the USNTDP was always as a bottom six forward, grinding, competing in board battles, and making sure that the opponent doesn’t have an easy time when his more skilled teammates were on the ice. He can get a second gear to push defenders back, is a creative passer, and has a decent shot release to boot. He might be able to produce more if given a bigger role and will try to earn one when he joins his older brother, Anaheim prospect Trevor, at Notre Dame this season.

Sometimes players like Janicke can be underutilized on the US U18 team, masking their true potential as offensive players as they conform to the role they are asked to play. While Janicke likely develops into a potential checking line player for the Kraken, there is a chance that his offensive skill set continues to improve at a quality program like Notre Dame. The answer to “what is Janicke’s high end upside,” likely is not answered any time soon as he probably spends at least three years in college before making the jump to the professional ranks. As mentioned, Justin will simply try to establish himself as a useful rotation player this coming season before earning greater trust. - - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Ville Ottavainen

Selected by Seattle in his second year of draft eligibility, Ottavainen had a much better 2020/21 season after returning home to Finland after playing the year prior for Kitchener in the OHL. With Kitchener, Ottavainen was limited to more of a depth role because of the depth of the Rangers and it prevented him from really showcasing his talents. Playing in the JYP program this past season, Ottavainen split the year between their U20 team and the main Liiga club.

One of the main reasons that Ottavainen put himself back on the scouting map was that he was able to improve his skating, in particular his explosiveness in all four directions. A big (6’4) right shot defender, Ottavainen's lack of power limited his effectiveness offensively and defensively playing with Kitchener in the OHL during his draft year. But, by making improvements to his skating, he was able to play with significantly more confidence back home in Finland. A potential two-way defender, with the potential to still develop into a powerplay quarterback, Ottavainen will remain in Finland again, where he will look to play a larger role in Liiga this coming season. He remains a long-term project, but the growth shown thus far remains encouraging. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Jacob Melanson

Injuries have really hurt the development of the hard hitting, power forward thus far in his young career. A combination of upper body injuries and a trade demand limited him to only 18 games in his draft year, but his finish to the year with Acadie-Bathurst was strong. He could be a breakout candidate in 2021.

Semyon Vyazovoi

A sixth rounder by the Kraken this year (the team’s inaugural draft), Vyazovoi performed well in the MHL this past year, posting the third best save percentage in the league. He will continue his development in Russia this season and is most definitely a longer-term project for the organization.

Carsen Twarynski

Selected from the Philadelphia Flyers organization, this former Kelowna Rockets (WHL) star has had difficulty putting up any sort of offensive numbers at the pro level the last three seasons. However, he does have NHL experience, can bring a physical element, and competes hard. He is a possible short-term solution in the bottom six until Seattle fills out their depth.

Philadelphia Flyers Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:44:44 +0000

The name of the game in Philadelphia is depth. Even after graduating Nolan Patrick, Travis Sanheim and Robert Hagg to the NHL last year, the Flyers’ system is still bursting at the seams with prospects of all shapes and sizes, high ceilings and high floors and every position. Were it not for severe injuries, Anthony Stolarz and Samuel Morin might also have graduated from this list last year.

The amazing thing with this system is that it may be even deeper by this time next year. Despite having many players who might be ready to contribute in the NHL, barring injuries, there is seemingly only one spot up for grabs to start the year, with one of Oskar Lindblom or Danick Martel primed to grab a bottom six job on the left wing. Sanheim and Patrick should consolidate their spots as full time NHLers and the rest will likely continue to marinate in nearby Lehigh Valley.

Unlike some teams, the Flyers do not prioritize one geographical region over another when it comes to scouting. They are truly equal opportunity for their scouting staff. Looking at where their prospect played last year, we see two in the QMJHL, five from the OHL, three in the WHL, five in the USHL, one American high schooler, six playing college hockey, eight Swedes, and three Russians. I suppose one could point out that Philadelphia lacks any players from Finnish extract. The Flyers’ Finnish scout, Juuso Riksman, must be frustrated.

Beyond sheer depth, one area where Philadelphia has focused on more than any other team over the length of the Ron Hextall regime (starting in 2013-14) is in drafting netminders. The irony of that focus is clear in that Hextall himself was the last consistently above average goalie employed by the Flyers and he hasn’t strapped on the pads since before the turn of the century. There are three netminders listed among Philly’s top 20, but each of the eight whose rights they currently control would be in contention for the top 20 with a less top-heavy organization.

Of course, a good number of the players in the Philadelphia system will not see the light of day in the NHL. Some are not high priority prospects and others could see their primes passed by as they fall victim to the numbers game. For example, the Flyers draft heavily from Europe, and are not at all averse to leaving prospects overseas to develop there, only bringing them over when it is clear the player is ready, or especially well-suited to the North American game. Lindblom fits the latter description as does Mikhail Vorobyov, who did not make the cut here (but would elsewhere). The one other European prospect who is playing in the AHL, Radel Fazleev, was actually drafted out of the WHL, so doesn’t really count there. Others, namely the 12 present and future collegians, will be given as much time as they need and/or want on campus before Philadelphia will offer them an ELC.

Whether it is star players or role players, the Flyers have it all. If the system is not as highly vaunted next year, it can only be because Hextall cashed in a few chips from his reservoirs in trade for NHL talent during the season.

Joel Farabee

1 Joel Farabee, LW (14^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) More than any other player in this system, Farabee, the first of two first round picks made by the Flyers this year, has the tools and temperament to be a force at both ends of the ice. He gets very high grades for his skating ability, puckhandling skills, and the hockey IQ needed to make it all work. Were Farabee two inches taller and/or 20 pounds heavier, he would not have been available at 14, but considering the size of his two older brothers, he may yet get up there. A stronger playmaker than a goal scorer, he has nevertheless showed a promising finishing touch at every level and every setting at which he has played. Heading to BU next year, Farabee may be one and done and should not need more than two years on campus before turning pro.

2 Carter Hart, G (48^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 9^th) Goalies are notoriously difficult to project. But there are not many goalies who put up GAAs below two for two consecutive seasons in the WHL. He also topped that benchmark leading Canada to WJC Gold last year. Carter Hart was named league MVP in his final season with Everett, which he can add to his three consecutive (a record) Del Wilson Trophies, as the top WHL netminder. Although he is on the small side for modern goalies, Hart is a phenomenal athlete, read the game like a pro, and has a daunting competitive instinct. He has a very strong technical game as well. In short, he is the type of goalie teams make room for once they are ready.

3 Morgan Frost, C/LW (27^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8^th) His selection in the first round of the 2017 draft was fairly surprising, but 12 months later, the Flyers are laughing. Frost leapt from 62 points in 67 games in his draft year to an eye opening 112 points in the same number of games the following year. Although he is a strong skater with an NHL shot, Frost truly excels in his puck handling abilities and through a very high hockey IQ. Really, the only place where he is not at least above average is in his physical game. Even there, while he will always be on the small side, he has begun to play with more jam and there is no reason why he should not be able to hold his own. He might get an NHL opportunity to kick off the season, but another year in the OHL would suit him best.

4 Wade Allison, RW (52^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 7^th) Despite missing over one third of last season with a lower body injury, he still nearly led Western Michigan in scoring and finished sixth in the nation in points per game with 1.36. As successful as he has been through most of two seasons in NCAA and considering his mature build, he might be ready to contribute at the NHL level this year, but is expected to return to WMU, where he will wear the ‘A’ on his chest. He plays a hard-charging style, with plus speed, a good shot and a keen understanding of the game and how to be effective. He projects as a shift disturbing secondary scorer and fan favorite. Presuming a fully healthy junior season, he will likely turn pro upon its conclusion.

German Rubtsov

5 German Rubtsov, C (22^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th) Although Rubtsov’s point totals in the QMHL were underwhelming, a relatively healthy season and a solid showing for Team Russia at the WJC means that we cannot be truly disappointed by the former first rounder’s development. He is also still young enough that we should put more stick in his tools than his production in his first full season in North America. Rubtsov has game breaking speed and is a pinpoint passer. While he does not generally play a very aggressive game, he knows how to use his average sized frame to good effect. The upside may not be more than middle six center, but he is still trending in that direction.

6 Isaac Ratcliffe, LW (35^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 5^th) A physical specimen at 6-6” and over 200 pounds, Ratcliffe took a promising step forward in his first post-draft season, breaching 40 goals in the process for an improving Guelph squad. A decent skater for his size, he makes his impressions in the OHL through the inability for defenders to handle him in the dangerous areas of the ice. He skates well enough for his size, but his ability to get the puck on the net – and often enough, in the net – will be his ticket to the NHL. Somewhat unfortunately, for as big as Ratcliffe is, he does not play a heavy game. He has enough finesse to make it, but learning to better use his bulk will help him.

7 Adam Ginning, D (50^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A very big young man, Ginning skates quite well for his size, and uses his big frame exceptionally in his own end. His positioning is advanced, and he can control a gap with the best of them. Not just big, he is strong and once he gets in on the hands of an opposing forward, he does well in shutting down the rush. On the other hand, Ginning offers little to his team’s offensive game. He will rush with the puck and his hands lack subtlety. The Flyers have been down this path before with Samuel Morin, although Ginning has flashed hints of offensive instincts. The floor is high here, but it isn’t far from the ceiling.

8 Jay O’Brien, C (19^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Last year, the Flyers shocked insiders with the selection of Morgan Frost in the first round. History repeated itself this year when they popped Jay O’Brien with their second first rounder. There was no doubt that O’Brien was the most talented prep player in the 2018 draft class, but few other organizations, if any, saw him as a first-round talent. He certainly has a full kit of high end offensive tools, from a lethal shooting repertoire, to some fancy puck handling moves and above average offensive instincts to go with them. He gets to a nice top speed, although his first few steps lack in bite. The challenge with scouting a player like O’Brien is that he was so much better than his competition, and rarely played at higher levels, that it is very hard to know how much it will translate. We’ll find out next season at Providence.

9 Philippe Myers, D (UDFA: Sep. 21, 2015. Last Year: 3^rd) Philippe Myers’ drop from 3^rd in the Flyers’ system to 8^th is less a sign that he has regressed than it is a matter of the Flyers drafting well and other players simply improving more. To a lesser extent, Myers did not hit the ground running in his AHL debut, although in the big picture he was fine between a few questionable decisions. The undrafted signee is a big player who skates like a much smaller one. He is generally competent with the puck and more than that off of it. He offers an imposing physical presence, even if he is not a snarling beast on the blueline. It is still amazing that he made the type of step he did immediately after going undrafted in his age 17/18 season.

Pascal Laberge

10 Pascal Laberge, C (36^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 12^th) Despite production that could best be described as disappointing, Laberge still flashes the tools that had the Flyers excited to use a second-round pick on him two years ago. Both the shot and his puck skills grade out very highly and he skates well to boot. He should be able to find a role that fits at the pro level, as he is known to receive regular shifts on the PK and plays a solid all-around 200-foot game. Assuming his concussion troubles can be a thing of the past, Laberge probably ends up as a top nine player, able to contribute to the offensive attack, but lacking the killer instinct to take advantage of all opportunities that come his way.

11 Tanner Laczynski, C (169^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 16^th) Somewhat of a late bloomer when the Flyers used a sixth-round pick on Laczynski in his second year of draft eligibility, the budding playmaker’s game has turned up a few notches in the two seasons since going to Ohio State. After finishing fifth in team scoring as a freshman, he led the Buckeyes as a sophomore, with a four-point edge on the runner-up. Through hard work, he has also turned a former weakness – his skating – into at least an average tool, without any degradation to his other tools. His puck skills are still his selling feature, but he has also taken strides as a finisher and shows an advanced understanding of the game. This is what a sleeper looks like.

12 Alex Lyon, G (UDFA: Apr. 5, 2016. Last Year: Unranked) In many other systems, Alex Lyon, who signed with the Flyers as an undrafted free agent after a dominant three year run at Yale, would be considered a likely goalie of the future candidate. With Philadelphia, he is aiming for future backup rights, as Carter Hart is one of the best goalie prospects in the sport. Lyon is an aggressive goalie, quick with a poke check and enjoys playing the puck. He is an above average athlete for the position and does a good job at preventing juicy rebounds. As part of his second pro season, he earned a callup to the 11 and held his own in an 11-game trial. With two veterans in the system with one year remaining in their contracts, his chance for a full time NHL job will arrive soon enough.

13 Oskar Lindblom, LW (138^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 6^th) To his eternal credit, Oskar Lindblom produced at a fair clip in his first full season in North America and spent 23 games in the NHL as a reward for his efforts. While we maintained faith in players like Pascal Laberge and German Rubtsov for their tools, excusing so-so production, Lindblom is almost an inverse. Outside of high end puck skills, none of his tools grade out as much above average. He is a strong player despite roughly average size and he is very comfortable playing the net front. He forechecks heavily and his overall intensity might be the key in overcoming his physical abilities. As mentioned above, there may be an NHL job in Philadelphia with his name on it this season.

14 Carsen Twarynski, LW (82^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: Unranked) Like Lindblom above, Carsen Twarynski is an intense, net-front winger who uses his brawn and willingness to take punishment as a means to rack up the goals. With 45 of those last year for Kelowna, it seems to be working. Twarynski is a solid skater, who has decent hands and clearly knows how to finish, although the offensive package does not seem like enough to profile as a top six winger in the pro ranks. He did score a goal for Lehigh Valley in a five-game run at season’s end, but needs a full season of the same to prove that last year’s number were not a stone fluke.

David Kase

15 David Kase, C (128^th overall, 2015. Last Year: Unranked) In his third year after being drafted, former fifth round pick David Kase finally left his native Czech Republic for improved competition in Sweden and impressed enough with Mora that the Flyers extended an ELC offer to the speedy center. This is not a dynamic offensive weapon, but Kase has enough puck skills to go along with his high-end skating ability to suggest a middle six role in his future. He also demonstrates enough hockey sense to overcome his slight frame. He will, of course, need to prove that he can handle the AHL first, but he is trending in the right direction.

16 Jack St. Ivany, D (112^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Like Tanner Laczynski above, St Ivany, a product of the growing Southern California youth hockey scene, was not really ready in his first season of draft eligibility. He would flash intriguing tools on the blueline, but the whole was less than the sum of the parts. In his second go-round, he added a more dynamic element to his game, improving his offensive output from 10 to 36 points in close to the same playing time. He has a big, strong frame, and moves well for his size. He can contribute at both ends of the ice and his offensive tools grade out as roughly average for a blueliner. He also uses his size well without getting into penalty trouble. Not expected to join Yale until 2019-20, St. Ivany is a longer-term project.

17 Samuel Morin, D (11^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 14^th) Morin, already rated as a disappointment for a former fairly high first round pick, suffered through a very frustrating, very painful season in 2017-18, as a series of injuries limited him to 20 games between the regular season and the postseason, including two regular season contents for the Flyers. Next season figures to be more of the same, as a torn ACL suffered in the AHL postseason is expected to keep him out of action until February. Morin will always have awe-inspiring size but serves as a reminder that a “safe” prospect is not really safe is his upside is so low that a failure to develop even a little bit will make him not good enough for a regular NHL role. Injuries don’t help either.

18 Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW (48^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 19^th) Small, but feisty, Aube-Kubel may be a tweener. He has enough skill to play top six minutes at a solid level for the AHL but lacks the tools to do so in the NHL. To his credit, the former second rounder has upped the tenacity from a game that already was known for energy in juniors, without diminishing his productiveness at all. He skates well and seems to have a good head for the game in all situations, but lacks the creativity to be a driver of the offense at the highest level. The floor is good enough for an NHL job, but is most likely that of a fourth liner who could help on the penalty kill.

19 Mark Friedman, D (86^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 20^th) It is easy for a player like Friedman, lacking in size or in any standout tools, to be overlooked. There is always someone else with higher expectations, more highlight reel plays to his name. But Friedman has met every challenge thrown his way this far in his career, whether in the USHL, the NCAA, and now, the AHL. He is a fluid skater, who gets an edge from his first few steps, and he moves the puck at a smart clip. His reads are fairly mature and he has a good sense of when to ump in deep into the offensive zone attack. A right-handed shot, he has established himself as one to watch and a potential injury replacement in the NHL as soon as this year.

20 Anthony Stolarz, G (45^th overall, 2012. Last Year: 13^th) We have already looked at Wade Allison, Samuel Morin and Philippe Myers, critical components of the Flyers’ prospect depth, who missed large chunk of last year with injury. So, it is only right that we spare a moment’s thought for Stolarz, the former second round pick whose strong 2016-17 season had him on the verge of an NHL backup job, but was limited to only four games total, between the AHL and ECHL, last season. He still has the ideal size you look for in a modern day netminder, standing a towering 6-6”, 209 lbs., but already 24 years old, this may be his final chance to claim an NHL future, if not in Philadelphia, then elsewhere.

State of the CHL: The Western Hockey League

Vince Gibbons — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 16:45:59 +0000

The ebbs and flows of Junior hockey is part of what makes each season so interesting and entertaining. Powerhouse programs must reset every couple of years and out of those ashes new teams move to take over the league and dominate the game. This year in the WHL is no different with a couple of teams really taking steps forward with a good shot at becoming the WHL Champions and Memorial Cup Contenders. With the trade deadline recently passing (and what a wild ride that was this season), the rosters have stabilized and these will be the teams going forward.

Moose Jaw and Swift Current have taken the league by storm this year as they battle for home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Their division also boasts a Brandon Wheat Kings team that has been in and out of the CHL top 10 standing all year as well as the 100^th Memorial Cup hosts Regina Pats so game in and game out there has been highly competitive hockey, for critical points in the standings. Out in the West things are as competitive as ever with Everett, Portland, Kelowna and Victoria all within 4 points of each other at the top of the Western Conference. Everett continues to impress league-wide, with a sound defensive game and high end goaltending and solid team game. The other top teams of the East are sporting high end offensive talents like Cody Glass (Por), Skyler McKenzie (Por), Matthew Phillips (Vic), Kole Lind (Kel), and Dillion Dube (Kel) who are all having excellent seasons having been previously drafted into the NHL.

The Eastern Conference:

East Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Moose Jaw Warriors 48-38-7-1-2-79

Jayden Halbgewachs. Photo by Marc Smith

Moose Jaw has been an offensive dynamo all season and at the trade deadline were able to add pieces that will help stabilize the back end and the defensive game. The scoring is being led by two 20 year olds in Brayden Burke (Unsigned) and Jayden Halbgewach (signed SJS) who are sitting one and two in the WHL in scoring. These two might not even be the most offensive players on the team as Brett Howden missed 24 games and has only lately seemed to be hitting his stride. At the deadline Moose Jaw addressed their biggest needs by grabbing a big stay out home defenseman in Brandon Schuldhaus from Red Deer as well as top scoring defenseman and recent World Juniors Gold Medalist Kale Clague (LAK 2016) from Brandon. His dynamic puck moving skills should only enhance this team’s offensive prowess. The largest contribution from a draft eligible player has to have come from Jett Woo. He has been a consistent defender in all situations showing a strong competitive fire in his own zone. He isn’t a dynamic player but more of a jack of all trades defender who can chip in offensively while playing steady responsible minutes. This team has set themselves up to come out of the East as they have the top offensive numbers averaging nearly 0.75 of a goal per game more than anyone else in the league. That coupled with the roughly 3.00 overall goals against average is a strong indicator of future success for this win-now franchise.

Swift Current Bronco’s 49-33-12-3-1-70

Tyler Steembergen, Swift Current Broncos. Photo courtesy of Swift Current Broncos,

Swift Current possess the most dynamic duo in the league this year and it really hasn’t even been that close. Tyler Steenbergen (Ari) is averaging over one goal per game with 36 in 34 games while averaging an assist per game at 35 assists in 34 games. Even more impressive is Aleksi Heponiemi (Fla) who has 89 points in just 37 games (2.41ppg). Throw in an amazing overage year for Glenn Gawdin (Cgy) and they were a one line team who were impressing night after night. Over the course of the season a number of key additions have been made to balance out the scoring and ensure the team kept rolling with a few key members at the WJC. Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn, and Giorgio Estephan now lead a more than capable supporting cast of forwards who will help the offense. On the defensive side Colby Sissons (NJ) has taken a big step offensively while maintaining his strong defensive play. Finally the addition of Stuart Skinner (Edm) as a true #1 has been a great add as they push for a seemingly inevitable clash with Moose Jaw in the Eastern Final. Riley Stotts (2018) had been their best draft eligible prospect but was moved out to add Gennaro and Malenstyn so they look pretty thin for 2000’s on the roster.

Brandon Wheat Kings 48-28-15-3-2-61

Stelios Matheos, Photo by Tim Smith, courtesy of the WHL

You can assess what Brandon thought of their chances of coming out of the East this year by what they did at the deadline. After being in and out of the CHL top 10 most of the season Brandon traded away their MVP and perhaps the top defenseman in the league this year to a divisional rival in Moose Jaw. Brandon had been paced by Ty Lewis and Stelio Mattheos up front both on pace for 40 goals seasons but that didn’t look to be enough to get past one let alone both of Moose Jaw and Swift Current. Brandon has a lot of young talent to build around going forward with Chase Hartje (2018) and Luka Burzan (2018) coming over in the deal for Clague, as well as the home grown Cole Reinhardt (2018). The nicest future piece could be the speedy play in Jonny Hooker (2020) who has not looked out of place in a his 31 games.

Regina Pats 49-24-20-5-0-53

As the Host of this year’s Memorial Cup Regina has a spot already booked in the tournament but has been adding veteran players throughout the season to ensure a strong showing. The team has been built around an impressive top pairing for Josh Mahura and Cale Fleury. Both log big minutes in all situations creating offense while shutting the door on some of the top forwards in the WHL. Mahura has taken another step this year and his offensive production has been amongst the league leaders from the back end. Cameron Hebig has adjusted quickly to add some 20 year old offense after a slow offensive starts to the season for Nick Henry (Col) and Jake Leschyshyn (VGK). Sam Steel (Ana) is really the straw that stirs the drink for this team offensively as he averages over 1.3 ppg heading into the last 20 games of the season. This team is poised to be the top wild card which is a pretty favorable outcome heading out of the division and avoiding the top three teams in the conference. Despite trading away a lot of youth to keep the team strong for a host season the club have managed to keep Emil Oksanen (2018) on the roster through the deadline. He is a fast, offensive minded right shot winger who is averaging just under a point per game while looking to be drafted in his second year of eligibility.

Saskatoon Blades 48-23-22-2-1-49

Saskatoon will likely make the playoffs as the Central Division is really struggling to produce anything that resembles a challenge for the Wild card. Saskatoon has to be pleased with the development of Eric Florchuk (2018) and Chase Wouters (2018) who have both been solid contributors. While neither looks to be a high end offensive talent at the pro level both have shown themselves to be effective secondary producers in junior. Throw in the development of Kirby Dach (2019) and Saskatoon looks ready to take over the division as some of these teams start to age out of their current rosters.

Prince Albert Raiders 47-18-20-7-2-45

As the division basement dwellers standing suggests they are weaker than all the previously mentioned teams. That said they likely would make the playoffs as a 2 or 3 seed in the Central division. The team plays a structured game and while there aren’t big name drafted players Vojtech Budik (Buf) has acquitted himself well on the back end. The real jewel of Prince Albert’s roster is Cole Fonstand (2018) who leads all WHL draft eligible players in primary points with 34 in 47 games. Overall he averages .98 points per game and is able to drive offense despite being undersized on a team that doesn’t have a ton of high end support for him.

Central Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Medicine Hat Tigers 48-24-19-5-0-53

The Tigers lead the Central division by a pretty wide margin in what could be the worst division in the CHL this season. The team is led in all respects by David Quenneville (NYI) who drives play with his excellent transition game and is leading the WHL in defensive scoring this year with 53 points. Medicine Hat has a pretty young team that is gaining confidence with each victory this year. That youth is led by 2018 draft eligible Ryan Chyzowski, who has good size and can play in all three zones. He has earned power play time in the second half of the season which should help improve his production (15G, 17A) as we close out the season.

Lethbridge Hurricanes 47-22-21-4-0-48

Lethbridge has been a team in flux. Earlier in the season they seemed to be making a push acquiring Lane Zablocki (Det) from Red Deer but then at the deadline shipped him to Victoria to help them make a push. Once the decision to move out some veterans had been made they moved major assets in Stuart Skinner (Edm) and Giorgio Estephan to bring back some youth and draft picks. In a division where a win one lose one record pulls you ahead for a playoff spot the team is not a serious contender to oust any of the power house teams in the Eastern division. Through all this transition one thing has been a constant; undersized defender Calen Addison (2018) has been driving offensive chances and using his great vision and playmaking to produce points at a very high level (G-7-A-33-PTS-40).

Kooteney ICE 47-21-23-3-0-45

Kooteney has been in the basement of this division since the departure of Sam Reinhart (Buf) to the NHL. This current incarnation’s place in the standings is more the rest of the division getting worse than it is of team gaining legitimacy as a force in the Central. The most impressive piece on this roster is 16 year old Peyton Krebs (2019) who looks every bit the part of a first overall pick from the 2016 Bantam Draft. He is near a point per game playing in all situations and is second on the team scoring in his Draft -1 year, very impressive.

Calgary Hitmen 47-15-26-5-1-36

The Calgary Hitman had a fire sale this season and while most of the assets collected came back in draft picks a good number of draft eligible players remain part of the roster. With Jake Bean (Car) moved out Vladislav Yeryomenko (2018) has become the number one defender for this team. He is aggressive and skates very well with and without the puck and is starting to show better playmaking skills. In addition a rookie in Jackson Van De Leest (2019) has shown he is capable of helping shoulder more minutes on the back end. Those kids coupled with the a nice collection of 17 year olds in Riley Stotts (2018), Carson Focht (2018), Tristen Nielsen (2018), and Egor Zamula (2018) are all getting valuable minutes for the remainder of the season.

Red Deer Rebels 47-11-25-8-3-33

The Rebels have under achieved throughout the early part of the season forcing management’s hand to start rebuilding. Two key pieces in the rebuild look to be Kristian Reichel (2018) and Alex Alexeyev (2018). While playing in the Czech league Reichel was overlooked but this year in Red Deer coupled with a strong showing at the WJC have him moving up draft boards. His skating is very strong which has helped him establish himself as a 200 foot player capable of producing and defending. Alexeyev has been impressive this year and he has dynamic skating and excellent vision and passing skills. He needs to work on his game in his own zone and can have mental lapses in his own zone but he has a ton of potential. They have also been running a 2019 eligible goalie as a starter for most of this season. Ethan Anders‘ (2019) numbers have been respectable despite a number of breakdowns defensively in front of him.

Edmonton Oil Kings 46-13-27-4-2-32

Edmonton’s Memorial Cup victory seems a long time ago as the organization has had another tough season after building back to back Memorial Cup teams just a few years ago. The offense comes from the stick of Trey Fix-Wolansky (Unsigned) who is a very dangerous undersized player. Brett Kemp (2018) may be a late round pick this year despite the team’s struggles overall. The real developmental progression for the Oil Kings is in the 2001’s where Matthew Robertson and Liam Keeler both have shown some real promise.

The Western Conference:

U.S. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Everett Silvertips 48-30-16-1-1-62

Everett seems to be built for playoff hockey. Carter Hart (Phi), after being afflicted with mono to start the season, has rebounded to put up some ridiculous numbers. His sparkling 1.51 GAA in 24 games is leaps and bounds better than anyone else in the league. By comparison only three other goalies have a GAA under 3.00 (at least 20 games played) and the best of them is at a 2.77. His save % of .953 is 40 points higher than the next goalie who has played at least 20 games. The scoring is well distributed on this team but the real punch comes from two overage players that have produced while still buying into the defense first system of head coach Dennis Williams. Both Matt Fonteyne and Patrick Bajkov have really shown something this year as they both average well over 1.00 ppg. 2018 draft eligible Riley Sutter has shown that he too can generate offense while playing a sound defensive game. He has good size and speed that sets him apart from other draft eligible forwards in this year’s draft.

Portland Winterhawks 47-28-15-1-3-60

Portland boasts some of the most offensively gifted players in the league. Undersized Skyler McKenzie (Wpg) has a shot at eclipsing 100pts this year and is still targeting a 50 goal season. He likely is the third best forward on his line as he skates with Cody Glass (VGK) and Kieffer Bellows (NYI) on a nightly basis. On the back end they are led by Henri Jokiharju (Chi) and the recently added Dennis Cholowski (Det). Both of these defenders can carry the puck and distribute it at a high level. John Ludvig is the most likely 2018 prospect for this team. He is a pretty effective defensive defenseman capable of making a good first pass while playing a strong physical game.

Seattle Thunderbirds 47-25-16-4-2-56

After losing Matt Barzal (NYI), Ryan Gropp (NYR), and Ethan Bear (Edm) a by-committee approach has led to solid season in the US Division for Seattle. The team sports five players in Nolan Volcan (Unsigned), Donovan Neuls (Unsigned), Zack Andrusiak (Unsigned), Austin Strand (LAK) and Sami Moilanen (Unsigned) who all average right around 1.00 ppg. Seattle has been looking for a stabilizing force in net as three goalies have played over ten games each already this season. The duo of Dorrin Luding (Unsigned) and Liam Hughes (Unsigned) will be asked to deliver solid performances down the stretch if they have any hopes of catching either Portland or Everett.

Tri-City Americans 46-23-16-7-0-53

Juuso Valimaki of the Tri-City Americans.

A highly competitive team that relies on the strength of their back end and strong overage goaltending to compete in a challenging division. The deadline acquisition of Jake Bean (Car) from the Calgary Hitmen really sets the expectations for the group heading into the last 20 games. Dylan Coghlan (Vgk) , Bean and Juuso Valimaki (Cgy) all put up excellent offensive numbers. Up front Morgan Geekie (Car) has been very consistent this year averaging the 1.25 ppg he did in his draft season. Isaac Johnson leads the charge for 2018 potential draft picks as he has a big frame and some decent offensive skills for an overage player. Highly touted Michael Rasmussen (Det) has continued to show his goal scoring prowess this season dispute struggling to stay in the lineup.

Spokane Chiefs 47-25-19-1-2-53

Jaret Anderson-Dolan, photo by Larry Brunt/Spokane Chiefs

The optics of being last in the division do not reflect the strength of this team and their potential to win a round as a wild card in the playoffs. Jaret Anderson-Dolan (LAK) has been a consistent and steady force for this team as it started without one of the most dynamic players in the league in Kailer Yamomoto (Edm). Now 20 games in Yamamoto has rounded back into form and is averaging 1.48 PPG. Add in the early season trade the brought in Zach Fischer (Cgy) the team has a nice balanced group of forwards. On the back end they boast Ty Smith (2018) who has a real shot at going in the top 10 of this year’s NHL entry draft. Despite his stature he projects to be a dynamic playmaker that can carry the puck with speed, while displaying excellent vision and playmaking ability.

B.C. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Kelowna Rockets 46-29-14-2-1-61

Cal Foote of Kelowna Rockets

Kelowna’s roster is loaded to bear and despite a lot of injury trouble with key players have been able to battle to the top of the B.C. Division. Kelowna was able to provide the captain for team Canada in Dillon Dube (Cgy), while also providing minute munching defender Cal Foote (TBL). Foote brings the gritty toughness you love in a top pairing defenseman while still being a good playmaker and shooter. Kole Lind (Van) has been pacing the offense this year along with Carsen Twarynski (Phi) as both are on pace to hit 40 goals this season. While being loaded with current draft picks the team still has a number of pieces NHL teams will covet over the next few drafts, Kyle Topping (2018), Libor Zabransky (2018), and Nolan Foote (2019) have all been large contributors to the team’s success this year which bodes well over the next few seasons.

Victoria Royals 48-27-17-3-1-58

Matthew Phillips (Cgy) has been one of the top goal scorers in the entire WHL over the past three seasons and with him signing his ELC in December will very likely be gone after this year. With a goal scoring talent like that leaving town Victoria has a gone all in this year adding Tanner Kaspick (StL), Noah Gregor (SJS), Lane Zablocki (Det), Andrei Grishakov, and Jeff De Wit, showing a real commitment to making their way out of the Western Conference. Tyler Soy (Ana) who early in the season was recognized as the CHL player of the week has had points in 13 of his last 15 games while the new players have since established some chemistry with their new team. In net Griffen Outhouse leads the league in shots faced and saves giving him a very respectable .912 Sv% this season which puts him 3^rd in the league for goalies who have played in over 20 games. If he can stay hot into the playoffs Victoria has a real chance at making the Western Final.

Vancouver Giants 47-25-15-4-3-57

Ty Ronning (NYR) paces Vancouver’s offense with his impressive 42 goals in just 49 games this season. This is even more impressive given that Tyler Benson (Edm) has continued to be plagued by injury problems, missing 13 games already this year after having missed 39 in 2017 and 42 in 2016. Milos Roman (2018) has taken advantage of this and has been providing a playmaking presence on the team with his 21 assists with many projecting him to be a top 60 pick this year.

Kamloops Blazers 47-21-23-1-2-45

Kamloops shipped out a number of their top guys at the deadline with key personnel Garrett Pilon and Ondrej Vala both leaving for Everett. The strength of the U.S. division means that a team stuck in neutral in the B.C. division is a long shot to make the playoffs and Kamloops would have to play lights out down the stretch to even catch a Wild Card spot.

Prince George Cougars 48-18-23-4-3

With Dennis Cholowski (Det) joining the Cougars this summer rather than continue along the college route there was a heightened expectation that was never reached this year. He was impressive scoring 13 goals and 26 assists prior to the trade deadline but could not carry the team. A major hole in the team this season has been scoring with just one player (Josh Maser) with over 20 goals. Nikita Popugaev (NJD), a promising Russian import was expected to lead the line offensively however his commitment to a total team game was lacking, as was his commitment to play in North America as he jumped ship back to Russian after only 13 games. There are a couple of promising youngsters that could hear their names called at the 2018 NHL Entry draft this year including Ilijah Colina, and Jackson Leppard. Leppard is a power forward with a big body and frame that can really shoot the puck, while Colina is a small speedy winger who was in the bottom six in Portland until heading north of the border. Since joining Prince George he has scored 6pts in 9 games in an expanded role with his new team.

***

This season the WHL has two highly competitive divisions and five elite teams in Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Everett, Portland and Kelowna all with a real shot at making the Championship series. The wildcard format is very practical this year, as without it a quality team would be left out of the playoff picture in each Conference. While it is a much debated structure in hockey this season in particular shows the practicality of having potential divisional cross over teams as it ensures that the best 16 teams in the WHL get a shot to go for the Ed Chynoweth Cup, which would not have been the case in a pure divisional playoff structure.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Philadelphia Flyers

Grant McCagg — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 18:09:39 +0000

June 24, 2016: German Rubtsov dons his Flyers cap after he was selected by Philadelphia as the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

The Flyers have taken advantage of having a plethora of top 90 picks in the past two drafts and done a solid job in restocking the prospect cupboard. German Rubtsov is a two-way center who plays with intelligence in all three zones…when he’s dialed in he’s highly competitive and strong on the backcheck...but one shouldn’t underestimate his offensive skills either. He has the upside to be a number two center…at worst he’ll compete for a third-line position in the future. Laberge was highly regarded by the Flyers and considered a solid first-round talent. He brings a pro shot, vision and puck skills…expect his goal totals to rise now that his wrist injury is fully healed, and once he learns to play a more competitive 200-foot game he’ll be a solid pro.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	22	22	German Rubtsov	C	RUS	6-2/180	Team Russia U18 (Rus)
2	36	30	Pascal Laberge	RW	CAN	6-1/175	Victoriaville (QMJHL)
2	48	42	Carter Hart	G	CAN	6-0/180	Everett (WHL)
2	52	36	Wade Allison	RW	CAN	6-2/205	Tri-City (USHL)
3	82	76	Carsen Twarynski	LW	CAN	6-2/200	Calgary (WHL)
4	109	87	Connor Bunnaman	LW	CAN	6-1/210	Kitchener (OHL)
5	139	NR	Linus Hogberg	D	SWE	6-1/185	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe)
6	169	NR	Tanner Laczynski	C	USA	6-1/200	Lincoln (USHL)
6	172	NR	Anthony Salinitri	C	CAN	5-10/170	Sarnia (OHL)
7	199	NR	David Bernhardt	D	SWE	6-3/190	Djurgardens (Swe)

Carter Hart at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Pascal Laberge at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Carter Hart had a terrific WHL season that saw him rewarded as the CHL Goalie of the Year...a rare feat for a draft eligible goalie. He has the skills and competitiveness to battle for the number one goalie position some day. Wade Allison was our favourite pick in the 50’s…he was simply a beast in the second half of the regular season and USHL playoffs, and has top-two winger upside….surprising that he didn’t go in the top 50.

Carsen Twarynski is one of the most competitive players in the draft…there will be no issues with his work ethic. A strong north-south skater...he’ll need to keep working on his agility and first step. He also has some puck skills and a decent shot.

Connor Bunnaman of the Kitchener Rangers was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Connor Bunnaman is another forward prospect with size who also needs to keep working on his feet, but he plays a smart game and has some offensive upside along with a competitive edge. Tanner Lacynski bounced back from the disappointment of not being drafted to have a terrific USHL season. He is a crafty center with solid playmaking ability. Hogberg isn’t a dynamic offensive guy but he defends and moves the puck well. Uses his stick and smarts more than his brawn, and is good with the puck. Salinitri is a little on the small side, but he’s quick and has some skill..if he plays he will have to be a point producer and not a bottom line player. Bernhardt has size, can move the puck and displays some puck skills. He’s aggressive and has a good shot, but the main concern would be with his hockey sense.

Carsen Twarynski at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Grade- A: After stocking up on defencemen and a couple of undersized wingers with high picks in recent years, the Flyers picked up several forwards with a nice combination of size and skill, as well as the top goalie on many draft lists. The team has an impressive mix in its prospects crop.

NHL Draft Watch: Bean, Twarynski playoff standouts for Hitmen

Grant McCagg — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:49:42 +0000

Watched the Red Deer-Calgary playoff game the other night. Here are my observations on the top prospects eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft.

Jake Bean (Calgary) - Bean is a quarterback out there....very smart..sees the ice very well, smart passer...makes a crisp accurate two-line pass with ease...knows how to lead the player so he can be moving when he gets the pass. Competes okay.. not a bruiser but finishes his checks.. He has improved defensively in large part because of his intelligence.. reads the play well. In comparison to McAvoy...not as good all-around, won't be as strong or rugged.. not as competitive but has more offensive upside...better offensive instincts and shot. Take your pick...both would be nice adds to any team.

Jakob Stukel (Calgary) - bit of a one-way guy.. not always involved... would like to see him compete and skate harder at times. Has some offensive instincts though and a good shot....4th round perhaps? Considering he's a 97....would like to see a bit more from him beside power play goals.

Beck Malenstyn (Calgary) - looks awfully good out there at times...big kid, smooth skater, decent speed....even scored a nice goal last night with a well-placed shot. One night he looks like someone you/d never draft, the next he looks like a top 90 guy. Not the smartest player, his compete can be in and out but last night he worked fairly hard and played well. He doesn't have very good hands or vision...if you can teach him to compete every night perhaps there is some bottom line center upside. 4th-5th round you are considering him.. he keeps producing in the playoffs - his stock may rise.

Carsen Twarynski (Calgary) - he's my favourite after Bean.. plays a hard rugged style, not a pretty, agile skater but moves okay north south. Hits hard and often, has some smarts and not without some offensive skills...should have had one last night but was robbed on a great save.. has decent shot and vision. He looks like a third or fourth line NHLer down the road. 3rd round pick for me.

Jordy Stallard (Calgary) - played on the wing with Matteo Gennaro and Twarynski ....got a little more involved physically than he did at center because he has no choice on the boards. Not rugged by any means, but was willing to take a hit to make a play last night, and throw a couple of hits even if they were soft. Scored nice goal and set up Carsen nicely for what could have been another. It was a fast-paced game last night and he had trouble keeping up at times.. not overly quick off the hop.. needs to get stronger. 4th round guy...not sure what he is - a winger or a center.. Can he play a bottom line role? Tough to define him at this point.

Josh Mahura (Red Deer) - he thinks he's the new King Clancy... only problem is they eliminated the rover from the game in the 1920's. Up ice constantly.. rarely in his defensive position. He didn't play much the first half of the game.. played a bit more as time went on.. but doesn't look like he's a Sutter type with his mindset. Not very big or physical...not seeing much from a defensive standpoint yet. Skates okay and can move the puck...but also tries to make risky plays.. bit of a riverboat gambler type. Need to see more of him, but first impression is mid-round guy at best.

Brandon Hagel (Red Deer) - Has good chemistry with Jake Debrusk...looks for him often and sets him up frequently.. Very good vision and a smart passer. Skating is okay good competitiveness, there are things to like. May have third-line NHL upside...3rd round likely..4th at the latest.

Jeff de Wit (Red Deer) - He was pretty invisible in this game. instincts and compete aren't great...not an especially good skater. Behind the play quite a bit. Played less and less as the game went on. Late draft perhaps.

Carsen Twarynski – McKeen's Hockey

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: SEATTLE KRAKEN – RANK: #32- TIER VII

Philadelphia Flyers Prospect System Overview

State of the CHL: The Western Hockey League

The Eastern Conference:

East Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Moose Jaw Warriors 48-38-7-1-2-79

Swift Current Bronco’s 49-33-12-3-1-70

Brandon Wheat Kings 48-28-15-3-2-61

Regina Pats 49-24-20-5-0-53

Saskatoon Blades 48-23-22-2-1-49

Prince Albert Raiders 47-18-20-7-2-45

Central Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Medicine Hat Tigers 48-24-19-5-0-53

Lethbridge Hurricanes 47-22-21-4-0-48

Kooteney ICE 47-21-23-3-0-45

Calgary Hitmen 47-15-26-5-1-36

Red Deer Rebels 47-11-25-8-3-33

Edmonton Oil Kings 46-13-27-4-2-32

The Western Conference:

U.S. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Everett Silvertips 48-30-16-1-1-62

Portland Winterhawks 47-28-15-1-3-60

Seattle Thunderbirds 47-25-16-4-2-56

Tri-City Americans 46-23-16-7-0-53

Spokane Chiefs 47-25-19-1-2-53

B.C. Division GP-W-L-OTL-SOL-PTS

Kelowna Rockets 46-29-14-2-1-61

Victoria Royals 48-27-17-3-1-58

Vancouver Giants 47-25-15-4-3-57

Kamloops Blazers 47-21-23-1-2-45

Prince George Cougars 48-18-23-4-3

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Philadelphia Flyers

NHL Draft Watch: Bean, Twarynski playoff standouts for Hitmen