Charles-Edouard D’Astous – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2025-26 Late, Late Show: Sleepers

Peter Harling — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 19:37:15 +0000

One of the greatest joys of participating in fantasy hockey is drafting a player in the way late rounds that not many others have heard of, and to have that player go on to not only make your fantasy roster but have good value. Each year there is an influx of new fantasy prospects that have the potential to deliver value from the final rounds of your draft. These imports can come from Europe or the NCAA, or some late blooming prospects poised for a breakout. To help give you a competitive edge in your fantasy league, here are some of the prospects who could prove to be gems, mined in the late, late rounds.

Coming to America – European Imports

Arseni Gritsyuk, RW – New Jersey Devils

The European imports on this list are usually undrafted players, but Gritsyuk was selected by the Devils way back in 2019 129^th overall. He is a long-forgotten afterthought in many leagues. Since his draft he has quickly developed in the KHL winning the Rookie of the Year, and a Gagarian Cup. A highly skilled and offensive winger his best season was his last where he scored 44 points in 49 games. Signed by the Devils he will make his NHL debut right away. He should be drafted in the mid-rounds, but if he slips to the late rounds he would have tremendous value with good offensive upside, and little to zero wait time before he contributes.

Maxim Shabanov, RW – New York Islanders

For the second straight year the Islanders have signed the top free agent from Europe. Last year it was Maxim Tsyplakov who headlined this list and delivered with a 35-point rookie season. Can Shabanov follow suit? In Tsyplakov’s last KHL season he posted 47 points in 65 games, while Shabanov just had a 67-point season in 65 games. However, Tsyplakov has NHL size at 6-foot-3 while Shabanov is well undersized at 5-foot-8, 157 pounds. In the later rounds, that is a gamble I will make all day as it has very little risk with a potential massive payoff.

Viljami Marjala, LW – Edmonton Oilers

Originally drafted by Buffalo in 2021, he became a free agent and was signed to a two-year contract by the Oilers. The Finnish winger previously played junior in Quebec, but since has been developing in the Liiga and posted a 52-point season in 54 games with TPS. The Oilers prospect pool is thin, and he may need a season in the AHL before he is NHL ready, but he has great sleeper value.

Juho Lammikko, C – New Jersey Devils

Lammikko is actually coming back to America as he previously played 159 career NHL games with Florida and Vancouver. Lammikko has limited offensive upside, he posted a career total of 26 points in the NHL but can add some hits and is strong on draws. In a late round you would be getting a player that should play in the AHL but has solid NHL recall options when injuries occur. However, if Cody Glass fails to deliver on his new $2.5 million contract, Lammikko would offer a much more cap friendly fourth line center option for the Devils.

Charles-Edouard D’Astous, D – Tampa Bay Lightning

A 27-year-old, undrafted and unknown player that you want to draft is D’Astous. His resume highlights include such hits like, QMJHL, ECHL, and SHL Defenceman of the Year, Liiga First Team All-Star. The 6-foot-2 left shot defender posted 39 points and 67 PIM in 49 SHL games with Brynas last season, good for 15^th overall, and second overall in defence scoring. Tampa signed him to a one-year contract, he will play in the AHL, but if he hits it could be well worth a late round dart at the draft board.

Top Of The Class – NCAA Free Agents

Tim Washe, C – Anaheim Ducks

After he captained Western Michigan University to their first national championship, the Ducks signed the 6-foot-3, 215-pound center as a free agent to a one-year contract, and he made his NHL debut. Currently a RFA Washe brings size, a two-way game, leadership, physicality and a commanding presence in the face-off circle. He may top out as a AHL player or possibly a bottom six NHL center. He has limited upside, but in a dynasty league where he would have minors' eligibility and provide face off wins and greasy stats, he has some value.

Quinn Hutson, RW – Edmonton Oilers

The third and oldest of the Hutson brothers is a forward and the biggest at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds. Like his brothers he played NCAA at Boston University and lead the Terriers in scoring last year with 50 points in 38 games. The Oilers signed the free agent to a two-year contract, and he made his NHL debut playing in two games and burning the first year of the contract. He made a strong impression at the Oilers development camp but would be a long shot to make the NHL in his rookie year. At 23-years-old, he should need little AHL time before we know if he can make the cut in the NHL. Given his family pedigree, I will bet he makes it.

Carter King, C – Calgary Flames

The Calgary native signed a one-year contract after playing a key role in the NCAA with Denver, where he won two national championships. King finished the season in the AHL on an ATO with two points in two games. King was a near point per game player in his final two campaigns in NCAA forecasting to the NHL, after a season in the AHL he could be a solid bottom six, energy center for the Flames. Despite being sub six-feet tall he plays a physical game.

Luke Haymes, LW – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs signed the unheralded NCAA free agent to a two-year contract, and he finished the year in the AHL with the Marlies on an ATO. In his AHL audition of nine games Haymes made a strong impression with six points. The Ottawa native had strong sophomore and junior seasons with 1.16 and 0.82 points per game in each, showcasing his offensive upside. Still only 21-years-old and with three seasons of development in the NCAA at Dartmouth, Haymes is a legit prospect for the Leafs with top six upside. But it may be a season or two before he is ready for that role.

John Prokop, LD – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs double dipped in the NCAA free agent pool and landed the top defenceman in big 6-foot-3, 190-pound Prokop. While Prokop may have been one of the top free agent targets in the NCAA this year, his role will be as a big, physical defensive defender, which will not have the same value in fantasy leagues. His NCAA career stat line of 85 points and 83 PIM in 107 games is promising and gives some optimism that he can provide more offensive punch than last years free agent NCAA signing in Cade Webber.

Late Bloomers – Rookies

Tyson Jugnauth, LD – Seattle Kraken

After leaving Wisconsin and the NCAA in his sophomore season for the WHL, Jugnauth had a breakout season in his final year in junior leading the WHL in defence scoring with 89-points in 65 games. Drafted 100^th overall by the Kraken in 2022, his breakout performance earned him a three-year ELC, and he will begin his pro career in the AHL with Coachella. Jugnauth is still under the radar as a fantasy prospect with low Fantrax roster percentage making him a great value add.

Patrick Thomas, C – Washington Capitals

The Capitals signed their 2023 fourth round pick on the heals of his 104-point breakout season. The 20-year-old hit new highs across the board offensively but had quietly been a steady and consistent scorer throughout his junior career. There is some concern however as he has average size and we have seen senior players with big fourth seasons before that fail to make an impact in the NHL. But with a late pick, it is well worth a gamble.

Tuomas Uronen, RW – Vegas Golden Knights

The Finnish winger came to the CHL via the Import Draft in the 2023-24 season with the Ottawa 67’s, but injury limited him to just 11 games. He was traded to Kingston last year and had a breakout season with the Fronts scoring 38 goals and 90 points in 63 games. His play at the WJC winning Silver with Finland caught the Vegas managements eye and he was signed to his ELC. The Knights may have found a gem with the 2023 192^nd overall pick.

Tyler Thorpe, RW – Montreal Canadiens

As a member of the Vancouver Giants, 6-foot-5 Thorpe lived up to the name “Giant.” The massive winger plays a physical game, posting 69 PIM but also shows impressive skill for a man of his size. Passed over in the 2023 draft, the Canadiens spent a fifth-round pick in 2024 on him, and he signed with Montreal in April and made his AHL debut and posted two points. The big man is a prospect on the rise and a player to target in fantasy.

Blake Smith, LD – Toronto Maple Leafs

The NHL is certainly favouring big, physical defence again and Smith fits that bill perfectly. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound defender was undrafted, but posted 32 points and 54 PIM in 64 games this season in the OHL with Flint. The 20-year-old Oshawa native signed his three-year ELC with the Leafs and they hope he brings the aggressive physical edge he played with in the OHL. His offensive upside will be limited at the pro level, but if you need hits, PIM and blocks, Smith is your man.

NHL: 2025 European Free Agent Frenzy – 26 Players you may see with an NHL franchise next season

Chapin Landvogt — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 14:53:24 +0000

Färjestads David Tomasek 11 march 2025 i Gävle.
Photo: Jens Carlsson / BILDBYRÅN

For the second year running, NHL teams looking at plucking over older European players to jump right into the line-up have few options to target for a home run swing. Even if a few players in predominantly the KHL have burst out on the scene, few of them are actual free agents this summer while many of the players having surprise impacts in the SHL, Liiga, NL, and DEL belong to the “been there, done that” category or are even North American players who have gained somewhat of a new lease on life this season. Still, a couple of them are very likely to be signed to two-way contracts for next season by NHL teams sometime this spring.

Our top European free agent last spring was forward Maxim Tsyplakov, who came out of virtually nowhere to put up 31 goals for his KHL club and signed (almost just as surprisingly) with the New York Islanders. This season, he earned a spot right out of camp and has proceeded to become a regular player with solid third line production, showing himself to be more of a power forward set-up man than net front goalscoring presence. At the moment, he appears to be in line to re-sign with the team on a multi-year contract.

Alas, three of the other European players we were certain would find their way over were Swedish forwards Marcus Sylvegard (STL) and Oscar Eklind (PHI) as well as Czech standout Jakub Rychlovsky, all of whom have had very mixed results this year. While Eklind’s 20 points and +5 rating in 51 AHL games certainly haven’t indicated anything but a return to Sweden next season, Sylvegard’s 21 points in 35 AHL contests, as well as his fading prospects for making a jump to the NHL line-up this season, led him and the team to break ties, allowing him to jump back over to Växjö, for whom he’s already put up 12 points in 12 games. Rychlovsky has punched in just eight points in 38 AHL contests thus far.

Of our other candidates last spring, 6-foot-6 Canadian defenseman Nicolas Mattinen turned his monster season in the DEL into a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, for who’s farm team he’s only managed to suit up 19 contests for.

With those kinds of returns being nothing short of meager, we look at this year’s crop with skepticism that there’ll even be a Tsyplakov-style addition to be made, at least among players who haven’t yet had a crack at it with an NHL club in the past. Nonetheless, we are absolutely certain that teams will add a few of the following candidates as they go about creating system depth and, as always, hoping a player will ultimately surprise and proceed to have the type of careers we’ve seen from former European UFAs Artemi Panarin and Mats Zuccarello, to name a few.

Get ‘em while they’re hot!

Maxim Shabanov (RUS) - C/RW - 24 – 5-foot-8, 160 pounds - KHL

If he were even three inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, then we’d talk about Shabanov as a surefire NHL addition this summer. There are skills and hockey sense here that are clearly above average, and you’ll want to do yourself a favor and catch some of his highlights because he’s been the author of some very impressive plays the past few seasons. He’s a player with splash-n-dash. If things get too physical, he’s nifty at finding other ways to get his stick on dangerous pucks. With 64 points in 62 games at the time of this article, he’s now set personal KHL highs after seasons of 31 and then 50 points. As with Tsyplakov last season at this time, Shabanov has cooled down in recent weeks, going 1-6-7 in his past ten games after starting the season with 14 points in his first 12 games. What we can say is that his size will likely not prevent a team from signing him and his agency works for a long list of predominantly Russian players who have been drafted by or later signed with NHL teams, including recent Russian UFA signings Nikita Gusev and Alexander Barabanov.

David Tomasek (CZE) - C - 29 - 6-foot-2, 187 pounds - SHL

He led the Swedish SHL in regular season scoring last season with 25 goals and 45 points, albeit in 52 games. He had piqued interest. We know that teams were looking at him and he was in heavy consideration. Then he flopped with just one point in a horrific first round sweep in which his first-place club lost to the eighth seed. After that, he showed up at the Men’s WC for Czechia and was quite ok, going 1-3-4 and +3 in 10 games. He didn’t get signed by an NHL team. There were other interested parties around Europe, but Tomasek seemed to believe that he was already in the best place for his progress in Färjestad and this season has done nothing but back that up. At the moment, he’s leading the SHL - a league whose top scorer is often clipping at less than a PPG pace - with 57 points in 47 games. His team is gearing up for a long playoff run and yes, we know he’s getting some serious attention, despite his age. Tomasek has another year on his SHL contract but there’s an out clause should the NHL come knocking.

Charles-Édouard D’Astous (CAN) - D - 26 - 6-foot-2, 187 pounds - SHL

Without a doubt, the Quebec-born defenseman put up some very shiny numbers over the final three years of his QMJHL career. Never having been drafted, he spent three seasons trying to latch on in the AHL, playing the bulk of his games in the ECHL, where he even had a monster 21-22 season for the Utah Grizzlies. Will it now be the Utah HC that gives him another shot to head back west for some possible NHL action? It wouldn’t be surprising because D’Astous has gone from raising eyebrows with 17 goals and 46 points in 54 Liiga games last season to storming the higher octane SHL this season to the tune of 12-27-39 in 49 games for the upstart 1st place Brynäs club, going +26 in the process. Having somehow turned his earlier skating weaknesses into something that hardly holds him back, D’Astous has gained considerable interest in the international hockey community. We’ve seen plenty of mid-to-late 20s Canadian defensemen go from European success to an NHL contract (often with less success), and this is almost a certainty in D’Astous’ case.

Atro Leppanen (FIN) - D - 26 – 6-foot-0, 183 pounds - Liiga

It is very difficult to put a finger on what makes Leppanen so successful in Liiga play. At least for the game there, he seems to have an incredible read on how and when to make use of ice that is available while possessing a quirky shiftiness to buy himself the odd second here or there with the puck. He’s neither large nor the most beautiful skater out there, but one thing is certain, namely that Leppanen has set the all-time record for points by a defenseman in a single season in Finland’s top pro circuit. It took a long-range empty-netter to recently collect his 54th point of the season but that saw him surpass the previous record of 53 held by former late blooming NHLer all-star Brian Rafalski and Finnish legend Pekka Rautakallio, a defender who played three seasons of NHL hockey that saw him put up 35, 56, and then 68 points respectively for the Atlanta/Calgary Flames organization. Heavy company! Leppanen has only been a part of Liiga action for two seasons now, turning a 58-point performance in the second league Mestis (in 51 games) into 28- and now 61-point performances at the top level. We know he may finish the year in the Swiss NL. We know he has a contract in the bag for the SHL next season. What we don’t know is if an NHL team is ready to give him a look now based on performance rather than an analysis of his otherwise average-looking skillset and playing style.

Worth another look?

David Bernhardt (SWE) - D - 27 - 6-foot-4, 209 pounds - SHL

A 2016 draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers, Bernhardt looked like a legitimate prospect in the two seasons after being drafted. However, an injury here and there led to some stalling, and it took some time in the Finnish Liiga and then HockeyAllsvenskan to get back on track. Seasons with 56 and then 72 total points went a long way in solidifying his role with a MoDo team that finally made its way back into the SHL, where his first season as a top four defenseman in the league saw a good amount of growing pains, but nonetheless led to his statistically best top league campaign to date. This season has left the previous one in the dust, already having put up seven more goals and 15 more points in two fewer games to date. He’s also flipped a -21 into a +5 despite playing for a team still establishing itself. Will it all be enough to get a look in North America? It looks a lot like the season Hardy Haman Aktell had before signing with the Washington Capitals and the players aren’t all that different in size and style in the grand scheme of things.

Daniel Gazda (CZE) - D - 27 - 6-foot-1, 207 pounds - Liiga

A stoutly built righty shot, we mentioned Gazda last season after he collected 17 goals, 30 points, and a +11 rating in 52 games for Brno in what was his first season in Czechia’s top league. That earned him a shot in Finland, and he’s done nothing but run with it to the tune of 12 goals, 35 points, and a +20 in 51 games. The trickiness in his game is a good part of his repertoire and we’re seeing aspects of his game that has us thinking he’s watched plenty of tape on Adam Fox. If a team wasn’t quite ready to see him on North American ice after last season, it’s hard not to want to after what’s taken place this season.

Matias Mäntykivi (FIN) - C - 22 - 5-foot-11, 165 pounds - Liiga

No longer a Boston Bruins prospect, Mäntykivi is once again having a career year with 52 points in 59 games after putting up 49 in 60 games last season. That makes him one of Liiga’s key contributors. Topping a +25 last year with a +27 this year doesn’t hurt either. However, size and skating are still his weakness, and the NHL will only see so many players of his ilk break the mold and become regulars over time. Then again, much of what we see and hear about Mäntykivi was originally thought about Mats Zuccarello once upon a time as well. He may just have to keep putting up the big numbers before he gets a shot.

Dominik Pavlat (CZE) - G - 25 - 6-foot-2, 174 pounds - Czechia

Still young by goaltending standards, Pavlat was a statistically dominating goaltender in the Czech league last season and promptly found himself manning the net for the Ilves program in Finland, where he’s been even better. After concluding last season with a 2.16 GAA and .936 SV% in 29 regular season games, Pavlat finds himself with a 2.21 GAA and .913 SV% in 25 contests this year, platooning with fellow Czech native and New Jersey Devils prospect Jakub Malek. Those numbers may seem quite mortal, but they mean he’s third overall leaguewide in GAA and first overall in save percentage. Highly notable is also his 17-5-5 record, making him first overall in winning percentage for goalies as well. In a league that has seen an insane amount of games go to overtime this season, his five OT losses are tied for fewest among goaltenders with 25 or more starts. Still lightweight for goalies in the modern age, Pavlat has now put up two straight noticeable seasons in Europe and will be shooting for the Finnish championship this year. And we know that Liiga action gets a bit more attention than what Pavlat has been exposed to date.

Ludvig Persson (SWE) - G - 25 - 6-foot-1, 183 pounds - SHL

Now 25, Persson’s season has been notable for a number of reasons. North American scouts are well aware of who he is considering he was Miami University’s starter for three seasons before jumping over to man the nets as the go-to man for North Dakota in the 23-24 season. A minute-muncher, seeing at least 32 games of action in each of the past three collegiate seasons, Persson jumped on an opportunity to join the famed Brynäs organization which was heading back up to the SHL and had signed recent NHLers Jakob Silfverberg, Oskar Lindblom, Erik Källgren, and Victor Soderstrom. That team is now at the top of the SHL standings and Persson has been a big part of it. Actually, replacing Damian Clara (ANA), who went 10-1 in last year’s successful HockeyAllsvenskan playoffs, Persson was expected to be the clear back-up to Källgren, but has forced his way into a platoon, going 14-6 with two shutouts. His 1.75 GAA tops the entire league while his .925 SV% is second overall. Make no mistake, Persson has come to play with the big boys and any team that had him on the “Monitor his progress” list during his college career has surely taken notice. Is an SHL championship in the cards this season? That league-high winning percentage may be the ticket to a starting role in the hottest time of the year.

Theo Rochette (SUI/CAN) - 23 - C/LW - 5-foot-11, 172 pounds - Swiss NL

Having just turned 23 in February, we’re going to continue to mention the young former Memorial Cup winner because he’s not only still young and improving, but the nation’s top U24 player whatsoever, imports included. He was impressive with his 30 points and +4 in 46 games last season (with another 9 in 19 playoff games), but he’s upped the ante this season with 31 points and +8 in all of 38 games to date, long flirting with a PPG pace. NHL scouts are fully aware of him after 317 points in 271 career QMJHL games and six in four Memorial Cup contests. What also needs to be said is that his Lausanne club lost in the seventh game of last year’s finals. He won the Memorial Cup the year before. Some players just find themselves playing for winners. As we mentioned last year, Rochette looks like he has everything necessary to be the next Swiss player to take the Pius Suter path to the NHL.

Justin Schütz (GER) - LW - 23 - 5-foot-11, 185 pounds - DEL

After bursting out for 30 total goals and 47 points in 55 DEL contests last season, the now 24-year old Schütz (a former 6th round draft pick of the Florida Panthers) looked like he could be a hot topic for a team looking to add to its offensive stockpile at the AHL level, one possessing that je-ne-sais-quoi possibility with a year or two of minor league marinating. In four fewer games this season, Schütz is up to 26 goals and 46 points, while flashing a nice +20 despite pacing a team that has had plenty of ups and downs this season. A DEL regular for five seasons now, Schutz is constantly smiling and passionately riling up his teammates or protesting referee decisions, celebrating goals and assists with youthful enthusiasm. Although his skating doesn’t hold him back whatsoever in the DEL, it’s understandable that teams may see it as something less than a selling point. But that nose for the net has got to be tempting.

Off the beaten path

Eskild Bakke Olsen (NOR) - C/RW - 22 - 6-foot-0, 185 pounds - HockeyAllsvenskan

In general, it’s hard to imagine that an NHL team would be looking to add a slightly below-average skater like Bakke Olsen to its program at this stage, having not even seen what he could possibly do at i.e., the SHL level. Alas, the 22-year-old Norwegian already has four Norwegian league seasons under his belt and is in the midst of his second HockeyAllsvenskan season, one that has been an absolute revelation. Yes, some bells were already ringing last season when his 10-27-37 statline in the regular season was converted into 5-9-14 numbers in 12 games while playing together with St. Louis prospect Otto Stenberg. Now he’s been the go-to offensive player for his Karlskoga club, upping the ante to 9-44-53 in 48 games to date, coordinating most all attacks and running the power play. He’ll be in the playoffs again this season, so we’ll see what magic he can work with his Czech winger de choix Theodor Pistek - also 22 -, who himself is ready for bigger things next season. After successfully debuting with the Norwegian national team last season, expect budding playmaker Bakke Olsen to be a key figure at this spring’s Men’s WC.

Alex Breton (CAN) - D - 27 - 6-foot-1, 190 pounds - DEL

It’s been a magical season for Breton and it’s far from over as his Ingolstadt Panthers enter the DEL playoffs ranked first overall. After some decent years including the captaincy for the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL, two outstanding seasons in the ECHL led to a solid gig with Banska Bystrica - and then eventually Kosice - in Slovakia, with another tenure in the ECHL. Always capable of putting up some solid stats from the blueline, his 13 goals and 40 points last season earned him a heavier contract in the DEL, and he’s delivered like seldom before. While Canadian defenseman Nicolas Mattinen made headway as a dominant performer in the DEL last season, leading to a contract from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Breton has taken things a bit further, becoming the first DEL defender in over a decade to score 20+ goals in a regular season. As the playoffs approach, he’s put up 48 points and a +25 rating in 52 games. With sturdy size and a simply outstanding ability to be involved all over the ice, it’s hard to imagine a team won’t bring him in on a two-way contract.

Leon Hüttl (GER) - D - 23 - 6-foot-0, 180 pounds - DEL

We’ve seen Hüttl as a budding national team player who, despite slightly below-average size, gets better year after year and brings all the smarts and transitional abilities you’d want to see from a modern defenseman. This year has been a career year for the righty shot and like Breton, he’s been a cog in all aspects of the game for an Ingolstadt team with championship ambitions. We’ll also go so far as to peg him for the national team at this spring’s Worlds, which could go a long way in improving his status as an NHL target. What we’re certain of is that he’s ready to test the AHL and then see where things go from there. The 10 goals and 34 points to date have accompanied a +9 rating but only tell part of the story for a player who rarely sees less than 18 and half minutes of ice time a game.

Denis Kostin (RUS) - G - 29 - 6-foot-1, 205 pounds - KHL

In the midst of a career year, he’s one of the few Russian goaltenders of note whose KHL contract is running out at the conclusion of the season. Having more than paid his dues over many years of Russian minor league play, the 29-year-old required a monster 21-22 season in the VHL to finally get a KHL look, signing with a team that has done more losing than winning for quite a while now. This year, he’s taken the bull by the horns to the tune of a .931 SV% and six shutouts in 44 games of action. His 20-15 record has been just outstanding in light of his team’s 26-37 record after 63 games. We all know that there have been plenty of goaltenders who first hit their stride in their late 20s. A team willing to take a shot might just find themselves with one in Kostin.

Michal Kovarcik - (CZE) - C/RW - 28 - 6-foot-0, 176 pounds - Liiga

Truth be told, it’s hard to imagine that a 28-year-old Kovarcik who is scheduled to return to his hometown Trinec team in the Czech Republic wouldn’t want to see if his late-blooming offensive explosion - which already began last season - isn’t something he couldn’t turn into a shot at North American glory. A bit of a lightweight who isn’t always great on the eye, Kovarcik is in essence a highly skilled puckmover and a very fast point A-to-B skater. When he gets the wheels going, there haven’t been a lot of players in the Finnish Liiga in recent years who can keep up. Despite having suffered what may be a season-ending injury on March 5th, Kovarcik will end this season with the top PPG clip in the league, if not as the top scorer overall, should the aforementioned Leppanen not surpass him in the final two outings. Having never scored more than 30 points in a pro league campaign, Kovarcik popped last season with 15-30-45 numbers for surprise Jukurit. Jumping to Kärpät, he’s taken things to a whole new level with 13-49-62 in 52 contests, often setting up teammates in a manner that left opponents with little opportunity to react. Teams lacking in the playmaking department have tried taking less exciting routes in the past, so Kovarcik definitely presents a joker-in-waiting possibility.

Michal Kunc (CZE) - RW - 24 - 6-foot-0, 187 pounds - Czechia

If you’ve never heard of Kunc, don’t be hard on yourself. It’s been a six-year journey of incremental playing time at Czechia’s highest level that has seen the now 24-year-old break out in his far-and-away best season to date. A classic number 10 forward with stints on his team’s 3rd line for the first four seasons of top league play, Kunc broke out last year tying for second on the team with 11 goals (23 points) in 49 games, numbers indicative of the scoring problems his team experienced. But he obviously discovered that his hunched style with choppy, yet quick crossovers didn’t mean he can’t be more of a producer, exploding on the scene this season with 13 goals and 35 points this year, making him his team’s top scorer and 22nd overall in the league. The real eyebrow raiser though is that Kunc is strutting a +22 for an Olomouc team featuring 17 players with minus ratings. The next closest teammate has a +3. He’s been known to get involved in altercations in recent years too, so there’s some real bite and a will to succeed in this young man’s game.

Viljami Nieminen (FIN) - F - 23 - 5-foot-10, 181 pounds - Liiga

Viljami was born in Denver and his father spent parts of seven seasons in the NHL playing in a 3rd and 4th line capacity for seven different teams. Much like his father, Viljami can do everything well but does not stick out with any one particular strength. What we have been taking note of is that he’s all over the place. He skates well, he drives to the net, he makes strong (if not, exhilarating) passes, he takes one-timers, he forces errors with a hard forecheck - he does it all. His size is average and although his skating is very sound, you can’t classify him as a speedster. But we see absolutely no reason why Viljami - who definitely has pedigree - shouldn’t get a couple of AHL seasons under his belt to see if there isn’t something more here. Tools and wherewithal abound - and the 23-year-old has gone from 13 points as a young 10th forward last season to a 36-point powerplay performer in the top six this season.

Axel Sundberg (SWE) - RW/LW - 26 - 6-foot-2, 209 pounds - SHL

A very thickly built winger who skates with an upright back and hunched knees, creating a strong center of gravity, Sundberg only just made his debut in the SHL last season, having barely been a blip on the map coming up from the HockeyAllsvenskan, where he had a breakout year in the 22-23 season. This year he’s broken out a bit as a middle-six winger getting powerplay time, putting up 11-14-25 in 52 games in the process. What catches our eye is that although his skating style doesn’t pop out as anything fancy and his numbers are simply nice, but nothing to write home about, he’s incredibly strong along the boards and in holding onto the puck. In addition, he’s got quite an eye and is very sly at putting pucks in dangerous places or finding his teammates, while also ready to make his way to the goal when called for. He’s even found himself in the Ovechkin spot on the second powerplay unit. In short, he looks like just the type of player who can wreak some havoc on a North American ice surface.

Stanislav Skorvanek (SVK) - G - 28 - 6-foot-2, 192 pounds - Slovakia

The 29-year-old Skorvanek is not a player we’d keep throwing our eyes on if we weren’t living in a day and age where teams are platooning more than ever and constantly looking for 3rd string goalies who won’t be gobbled up on waivers whenever their services aren’t required. Alas, we saw him dominate in Slovakia in an impressive playoff run with a 10-8 record with a 1.83 GAA and .944 SV% in 18 games only to then make his WC debut for Slovakia last spring, where he went 3-1 with a 1.26 GAA and .954 SV% in 4 outings. This led to a nice contract in Czechia’s top league and things have only got better. His 21-13 record for contender Mountfield has accompanied a 2.03 GAA and .919 SV% with the playoffs just around the corner. He’s very composed and brings a lot of structure to the net. It would be interesting to see if he could be this spring’s Marcus Högberg-style signing.

Hidden gems?

Sebastian Cederle (SVK) - C - 25 - 6-foot-2, 190 pounds - Slovakia

There are players out there who can probably do more than their stats indicate but their coaches know they’re needed for other important tasks while certain other teammates have to be given the offensive roles for a lack of versatility. Cederle falls into this category. Now in his mid-20s, the two-way center knows how to dog and rag the puck as well as what his tasks are in his zone. After showing this incrementally in recent years, his role was pivotal in the playoffs last season, turning a 20-point season (41 games) into an 11-point playoff run (21 games). All he’s done this season is double down on his progress, scoring a career high 15 goals and 24 points in 34 games while being a key player in all important situations. His ice time is rarely under 18 minutes a night and when it is, his team is firmly in control of the game, meaning the coach can spread the ice time wealth. When things are tight, Cederle is on the ice. There will be astute hockey people who have seen the qualities he brings to the table and envision that there’s more in the tank moving forward.

Grigori Kuzmin (RUS) - LW - 21 - 5-foot-10, 187 pounds - KHL

He’s not big but he’s got wide shoulders and a strong core, and he’s coming basically out of nowhere to be on this list. Yes, those who follow the second tier VHL will point out that he’s been almost a PPG player there for three seasons, including 52 in 51 games last season. But as a predominantly 21-year-old player this season, the righty shot has not only forced his way into a stacked St. Petersburg line-up, he’s also put up over 20 points in 37 KHL games. Now, this might not pop out at anyone from the onset, but the youngster will first turn 22 in April and is a free agent after this season. In addition, his build-up has been slow but continual this season (for example, seven points in his last six games) and he’s figuring more and more into St. Petersburg offensive plans up front. If a team likes what it sees, then this would be the time to bring him into the fold before he signs what will likely be a 3-5 yearlong KHL contract, as he’s currently an attractive free agent target in Russia as well.

Filip Prikryl (CZE) - C/LW - 23 - 6-foot-1, 179 pounds - Czechia

The numbers (12-15-27 in 50 regular season games and +7) won’t jump out at you, but the former Saint John Sea Dog has spent the past three seasons turning into a more responsible, all-round player whose creativity is really starting to blossom. The fans love him in Budejovice and his playing time has swayed between 14-20 minutes in recent weeks, even getting in a good 18 and half minutes of play in two playoff games in which his team was shut out. What we’re seeing here is a player who looks like he could already make some nifty plays at the AHL level while showing his newfound understanding for three-zone responsibility. Some teams seem to operate with a mindset that they can add players like this and do the rest with their development group. Prikryl would be a nice case study.

Josh Samanski (GER/CAN) - C/LW - 22 - 6-foot-6, 190 pounds - DEL

Former OHLer and 2-time WJC contestant Samanski is a player we continue to keep our sites on and this season, it hasn’t been hard to do as he’s been pure eye candy for his Straubing Tigers. We already thought he’d be a player the NHL would take into consideration last summer after he arrived as a bonafide middle six forward at the ripe age of 21. Now he’s taken things to a whole new level. A very big boy who uses his size well to gain, protect, and battle for pucks, Samanski has done nothing but show continual bursts of speed, silky mitts, and a keen sense of creating and finishing all season long. Yes, he’s got a contract with DEL powerhouse Berlin next season, but if he continues on this pace, he’ll be putting up numbers we haven’t really seen from a youngster his age since Dominik Kahun earned himself an NHL contract. And Kahun was older and smaller when he did. Wearing an A on his jersey, Samanski already has a career high 40 points in 52 games as his team holds the prime spot for the upcoming wild card round. At this rate, you shouldn’t be surprised to see him suiting up for Team Germany at the upcoming Worlds either. SIDENOTE: His younger brother Noah is currently playing for the Powell River Kings in the BCHL.

Marko Stacha (SVK) - D - 22 - 6-foot-1, 196 pounds - Slovakia

After portions of two seasons in the WHL, Stacha hadn’t seemed to live up to the billing of an up-n-coming two-way defenseman, although he had put up some real nice outings for his nation in younger years. Then he had a pretty solid pro season as a 21-year-old last year and has pushed the limits again this year. He’s been more present physically (55 penalty minutes) while quietly putting up 15 points and a +12 for his Nitra club in what has nonetheless been a season marred by some injuries. His six points and +13 in 21 playoff games last season surely caught some scouts’ attention. Another shot at play in North America for the mobile defenseman seems imminent.

Simon Zajicek (CZE) - G - 23 - 6-foot--0, 187 pounds - Czechia

Some say he’s closer to 6-foot-2 than the reported six foot, but the undersized Zajicek has gone from being a promising goaltending with a losing record as a back-up to a winning 1b. His play has been raising some eyebrows and whereas his 2.12 GAA only has him ranked 5th in the league, his .930 SV% has him at the top of the list. Five shutouts are looking nice as well. His 15-13 record shows that he’s stolen the net from Philadelphia Flyers asset Matej Tomek. We don’t expect Zajicek in Czechia next season, but an NHL club may take a bit of a wait-n-see approach at this point in time. He looks ready for a crack at the AHL.

SIDENOTE

As always, it bears mentioning every year that above and beyond the players listed above, both the Swiss NL and KHL - among others - are chock full of former NHLers, NHL draft picks, AHLers, Canadian juniors, and college hockey players, not to mention former European free agent signings of NHL teams that have since returned to Europe. These leagues also employ a large number of established pros who you’ll see dressing for their respective national teams. Thus, these leagues also feature many players who were in the NHL in recent years or on the bubble to the NHL, usually as highly effective AHLers. Naturally, any number of these players could of course still be in the sightlines of NHL teams or maintain the connections that would see them return to a franchise in the coming months.

QMJHL Playoff Preview: Huskies leaders of the pack in the President’s Cup playoff

Michael Sanderson — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:23:49 +0000

The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are looking to complete what they could not in 2016: win a Memorial Cup.

They may just have the team to do it, but first they need to lay waste to the rest of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

That’s what they did in the regular season. Boasting three players from that 2016 Memorial Cup squad in league-leading scorer Peter Abbandonato, minute-eating defender Jacob Neveu and record-setting netminder Samuel Harvey, the Huskies set the record for most wins in a single season with 59 wins in 2018-19. Raphael Harvey-Pinard played five games for that 2016 Huskie crew in the regular season and was the team’s second leading scorer this year.

The Huskies are a very strong defensive unit that moves the puck fast and plays with intensity. They lost just one game in the 2019 portion of the schedule.

Noah Dobson, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Rouyn-Noranda made it count in the mid-season trading period as well, trading all of their picks in the first-through-fourth rounds in the next three seasons to acquire three players – Joel Teasdale from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Louis-Filip Côté from the Québec Remparts, and Noah Dobson from the defending Memorial Cup champion Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Teasdale boasts 42 points in 29 games, and Dobson added 36 in 28.

The Titan will not be defending their crown, as they missed the playoffs this season, allowing for a new champion that could be wearing red and black. The Huskies have another piece from last year’s champs: head coach Mario Pouliot joined the team, taking over as head coach and GM.

Joe Veleno, Drummondville Voltiguers

Another team in red and black, the Drummondville Voltigeurs, are the yin to the Huskies yang in terms of contending combatants. While the Huskies dominate with defensive play and timely scoring, the Voltigeurs try to outscore the opposition, and were very successful at it, especially in the second half. The Volts led the league in goals with 338 on the strength of Detroit pick Joe Veleno’s 104 points and Maxime Comtois’s 48 points in just 25 games.

They have the forward depth to put most teams to shame. Nicolas Guay has been an excellent winger with 40 goals. Gregor MacLeod was picked up at the beginning of the season from Québec and put up 84 points. Félix Lauzon’s two-way play was magnified by his 80 points, and Dawson Mercer, not draft-eligible until 2020, had 64 points with his blazing speed and great defensive instincts. This playoff season could be Mercer’s breakout party with the responsibility Steve Hartley and the Volts coaching staff put on his shoulders.

The Huskies, not to be outdone, outscored every team but Drummondville in the regular campaign.

Drummondville and Rouyn-Noranda both benefit from a different playoff format this year, as well. Due to travel issues, the league decided to toss out the previous 1-vs-16, 2-vs-15 format for a conference set-up, putting the league’s 12 Quebec-based teams in three divisions of four, and the Maritimes all in a single division of six. The two western-most divisions were shuffled into the Western Conference, while the East Division and the Maritime teams were linked into the Eastern Conference.

This plan creates an imbalance in the conferences, so the possibility of a crossover exists; if the ninth-best Eastern Conference team has more points than the eighth-best Western Conference team, the Eastern team joins the west for the playoffs, and the eighth-best Western team misses the playoffs. The tenth-based team in the east, if they too have more points than the remaining team in the west, could also cross over.

This possibility nearly happened, with the Saint John Sea Dogs tied in points and holding the tiebreaker over the Shawinigan Cataractes on the league’s final day of the regular season. The Sea Dogs lost in regulation, while the Cataractes lost in overtime, putting them one point ahead of the Dogs and into the final playoff spot. Shawinigan, who made the playoffs despite a 0-14-1-0 record in their final 15 games, will take on the Huskies, a team that has only lost eight times all season.

The first round will be 1-vs-8, 2-vs-7 and the second round will pit the four winners, highest remaining seed playing lowest remaining seed. The third round will be a free-for-all, with the team’s left over ranked by record and seeded one-through-four regardless of conference, and lastly the winners of the third round will meet in the league final.

The possibility of the best two teams meeting in the final is still there, and the two best teams in terms of points, Rouyn-Noranda and Drummondville, will have an easier ride than most one- and two-seeds.

The talent disparity between the Eastern and Western Conferences this year was a sight to behold, perfectly demonstrated by the Sherbrooke Phoenix. The Phoenix, with 77 points, finished third in the west and will have home ice against the Armada. Given the same results, if Sherbrooke was in the east, they would have finished in eighth place, and would be playing the Conference-leading and Memorial Cup hosting Halifax Mooseheads. Quite a jump in competition, and on the road, no less.

The Mooseheads overtook the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to win the East crown on the final day, and they will have home-ice assured for the first two rounds. While they received some criticism for potentially not doing enough during the mid-season trading period, making the fewest trades of any team, the Mooseheads are coming in with a very strong outfit that had a better 2019 than 2018. Head coach Eric Veilleux and the personnel struggled at times in terms of game-plan; Veilleux is a more defensive coach and the players he is directing are more offensive-minded, but he does his best coaching in the playoffs, and has a league final in 2013 and a Memorial Cup championship in 2012 to his credit.

Jared McIssaac

Samuel Asselin, acquired from the Titan in the season’s first week, had an excellent campaign and was the most consistent Moosehead over the 68 games, firing a league-topping 48 goals and 86 points for Halifax. Anaheim prospects Benoît-Olivier Groulx and Antoine Morand both shone in the regular season as well, with 80 and 70 points, respectively. Arnaud Durandeau kept pace as well, as the Islanders hopeful had 73 points of his own. Detroit prospect Jared McIsaac was second in defenceman points with 62 in 53 games. Having Edmonton prospect Ostap Safin back in the lineup in March after missing several months with recurring hip issues is a major boost to the scoring touch of the team.

Fans will keep a close eye on Raphael Lavoie, projected as potentially the league’s biggest draft prospect for this June’s NHL draft. Lavoie had a very hot February with 24 points in the month, and while he was kept off the scoresheet in his last three games, needs a big playoff and Memorial Cup to keep himself above the competition, namely Moncton’s Jakob Pelletier and Sherbrooke’s Samuel Poulin.

Ivan Chekhovich

The Drakkar are the Mooseheads’ biggest challengers in the east, and they held the title until the league’s final games. Much like the Huskies, the Volts and the Mooseheads, the Drakkar boast major scoring in their lineup. San Jose prospect Ivan Chekhovich was six points off the league leader in Abbandonato with 105 points, and Nathan Légaré, a 2019 draft hopeful, was tied for eighth in league scoring with 87 points and tied for second in the league with 45 goals. Their top four scorers all scored at least 35 goals, and they beefed up the back end with additions of Keenan MacIsaac from the Titan and Pascal Corbeil of the Armada.

The team did not sit pat with their goaltending either, as GM Steve Ahern acquired three capable goaltenders in Alex D’Orio from Saint John, Dereck Baribeau from Québec and Lucas Fitzpatrick from Shawinigan. Due to Baribeau’s injury in early January sidelining him for the rest of the regular season, D’Orio has been the team’s starting goaltender, and the Penguins’ signee has shown that with a contending team, he is a very good starting goaltender who can handle a lot of shots. The Drakkar do not give up a lot of shots, though, being fourth in the league in shots against at just 26-and-a-half.

Alexis Lafreniere

The Eastern Conference is the side to watch in the first two rounds, as they had seven teams breach the 85-point barrier to the west’s two. The Rimouski Oceanic, upset in last year’s first round by the Moncton Wildcats, bring in Alexis Lafrenière for his second playoff run, and they added big muscle in Calgary prospect D’Artignan Joly to a lineup that already boasted high-flying Tampa signee Jimmy Huntington and defensive leading scorer and Charles-Edouard D’Astous. Lafrenière’s 105 points already secures him as a top prospect for 2020, but he will want to get further than the opening round this time around. The Oceanic will go as far as 2019 prospect Colten Ellis can take them from the red line.

While Charlottetown traded away Arizona first rounder Pierre-Olivier Joseph to Drummondville, they were able to get New Jersey prospect Xavier Bernard in the deal. Matt Welsh is capable of stealing a series in net and would be talked about more in NHL circles if he was taller than 5-11”. A team could still take a flyer on him and be well-off; he never quits on a play and excels in making saves however necessary. Anaheim prospect Hunter Drew has made more great strides in his game, and 2019 potential picks Nikita Alexandrov and Brett Budgell are joined by sharpshooter Daniel Hardie and former Titan forward Jordan Maher for experience. Jim Hulton is a very good coach and an excellent motivator, and he has a group he can mold for a playoff run, despite selling off his best asset.

The Islanders’ first round opponents will be the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, who acquired Derek Gentille and Minnesota prospect Shawn Boudrias at the deadline. Ottawa pick Kevin Mandolese will have to earn his keep in the net against the Isles, and former Titan forward Mitch Balmas, two-time 40-goal scorer, will hope to improve upon his five goals in last year’s playoff run. The Eagles may be a year away, but this would be a very pivotal moment in the growth of this year’s core going forward, and they are more than capable of pulling off an upset.

Chicoutimi was a player in the Noah Dobson sweepstakes; as part of a handshake agreement, Dobson was sent to Rouyn-Noranda, but with mostly Chicoutimi draft picks. Those picks were sent to the Huskies by Chicoutimi for facilitation and the ability to acquire William Dufour. The trade was a part of the Titan’s deal for Olivier Galipeau last season; the Sags wanted the ability to re-acquire Dobson next year if faced with the possibility, but also take in Dufour as a potential core piece for the future. If Dobson went through Chicoutimi directly, the Saguenéens would not be able to re-acquire him for three years.

Chicoutimi under Yanick Jean have been rebuilding for a couple of years, but they have three of the first seven picks from last year’s first round on the team in Dufour, Hendrix Lapierre and Théo Rochette. All three have received international attention and will be important building blocks for the team in future years, and this team will gain valuable experience in the post-season, with the potential of netminder Alexis Shank stealing a game or two against Rimouski.

Jakob Pelletier is a player whose game gets better as the chips are down, and he is potentially the Wildcats’ most important player in their playoff push. Jeremy McKenna’s 97 points does not hurt either, but the Wildcats changed coaches in January and struggled to find their game at times this season. They made moves to get better at Christmas but saw a team that sold off players in Charlottetown and a team that more or less stood pat in Chicoutimi, adding just William Dufour and shuffling in Liam Murphy for Jesse Sutton, surpass them in the standings. The team is playing better under the watchful eye of John Torchetti, but the playoffs are a different animal.

Samuel Poulin is also a player who benefits when the checking gets close. He is big, fast and smart, and he can play physical as well as contribute offensively. The Phoenix scored more goals this year than any other year in their history, but do not have a scorer who jumps off the page; Poulin’s 29 goals tied for the team lead, matched by Alex-Olivier Voyer. Poulin will be relied upon heavily in the post-season, but the Phoenix have eight players with 42 points or more in the regular campaign.

The Eastern Conference is a wide-open group with good teams set to pack after the first round, while the West feature the two top teams in the league in the Huskies and the Voltigeurs. One would expect those latter two teams to make it to the final four, but any of the top seven teams in the east could make a run for the President’s Cup.

Who will meet the Mooseheads in Halifax at the 2019 Memorial Cup in May? The Huskies have recent history on their side, and the league’s wins record to boot. 16 more wins to their 59 they have already amassed seems most likely.

Predictions

First Round

Rouyn-Noranda over Shawinigan in 4

Drummondville over Gatineau in 4

Blainville-Boisbriand over Sherbrooke in 7 (with goaltending leading to the mild upset)

Victoriaville over Val d’Or in 6

Halifax over Quebec in 5

Baie-Comeau over Moncton in 5

Rimouski over Chicoutimi in 7

Charlottetown over Cape Breton in 6

Second Round

Rouyn-Noranda over Blainville-Boisbriand in 4

Drummondville over Victoriaville in 6

Halifax over Charlottetown in 7

Baie-Comeau over Rimouski in 6

Third Round

Rouyn-Noranda over Baie-Comeau in 6

Drummondville over Halifax in 7

League Championship

Rouyn-Noranda over Drummondville in 6

QMJHL Trade Deadline: Want to improve your QMJHL team this season? Pay up!

Michael Sanderson — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:43:55 +0000

The QMJHL’s silly season is upon us.

The league’s trading period opens up Sunday, and several trades are already in the books, some of which were consummated before the opening bell was officially opened. The period closes up on January 6. One thing to be expected this season: contenders will have to pay to make their teams better heading into the second half.

All eyes are on the Halifax Mooseheads this season as the Memorial Cup hosts in May. Because of this, the team has some extra pressure to build a contender. On paper, they are one of the strongest teams in the entirety of the Canadian Hockey League, but they have struggled a little bit with consistency. The team is noticing some potential issues that may need solving for the tourney, adding to their depth.

Now, if newspaper quotes are to be believed, Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell is not all that interested in blowing up the future for the present, as he observes that his team could be even better next season as presently constructed. However, this year is a guaranteed Memorial Cup berth, whereas future years are earned solely by hard work from August-to-May. The sure thing dictates that this declaration is just posturing, as a Memorial Cup host can expect a heightened market for any assets.

Further, this Mooseheads squad could use some tinkering. Edmonton Oiler forward Ostap Safin, acquired from Saint John at the start of the season, has been in and out of the lineup due to ongoing hip issues. Overager Jordan Maher has simply not been the best fit with the team with just four goals so far, despite his best efforts. Anaheim Ducks prospect Antoine Morand’s game has been as expected, but the numbers are not quite where they should be, with 28 points in 29 games. Potential first rounder Raphaël Lavoie has hit a bit of a snag this season, not looking like himself from last season; he is scoring less and seeing his focus wane at times this season. The offence, a strong suit in prior years, is sixth-best in the league right now, with a few blowouts augmenting the numbers.

New Jersey Devils defender Jocktan Chainey has seen his ice time drop and Chicago Blackhawks blueliner Jake Ryczek has seen his rise, but behind Jared McIsaac and Justin Barron, who have been solid, there is no big third defender option. Despite that, the team has solid defending numbers, tied for second-best in goals against.

To his credit, goaltender Alexis Gravel has been maybe the team’s most valuable player so far this season, but his backup option is Cole MacLaren, a decent choice but not a goalie you want starting against the OHL and WHL champions.

To that end, Halifax will be in on a defenceman this trading period, and potentially a second goaltender as well. If the price is right, they may also look to add to the forward group to try and jumpstart the offence.

Noah Dobson

Thankfully for the Mooseheads, the two biggest names available in the trading period are both defencemen. New York Islanders prospect Noah Dobson is the biggest fish in the pond, and right behind him is Arizona Coyotes draft pick Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

The price for Dobson will set the market, as he is the prize all teams are competing for. Dobson is a game-changer on defence, capable of controlling a game from the back-end, and has championship experience on the biggest stage. Joseph is a very solid consolation prize, as teams who find the price for Dobson too high may rather try to acquire one of the league’s hardest workers and smartest players. The Islanders also have very useful players to add into a Joseph trade to help a win-now team, such as Keith Getson or Anaheim Ducks prospect Hunter Drew, but it’s believed that Jim Hulton is not looking for far-off picks, preferring players that can help as early as next season in exchange for his assets. Having said that, the Islanders are in a contending position, and could choose either to stand pat or add to their team.

What is interesting in the Dobson speculation is that it is rumoured that any deal involving him will have to go through the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, as part of conditions of a prior deal for Bathurst last season. The Sags would rather the assets that Dobson would provide rather than use him this season, as Chicoutimi is a middling team with no real title aspirations this season. The suspense will run into the new year, as Dobson cannot officially be traded until his term with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships are over.

There are some top-level defender and forwards beyond those two, but in goal, most contenders seem to be set with one or two good goaltenders. There are many options for a team to buy for a playoff run – Minnesota Wild prospect Dereck Baribeau from Quebec, Pittsburgh Penguin signee Alex D’Orio in Saint John and fellow Penguin camp attendee Tristan Côté-Cazenave, to name three – but most of the top teams are set in net.

The changed playoff format this season could also have an effect on the trading period, due to the imbalance of talent between the Eastern and the Western Conferences. Starting this year, to prevent so many easy matchups in the first round and to cut down on potential travel, the league decided to drop the 1-vs-16 format and form two conferences of two divisions each. The Maritime teams and the Eastern-most Quebec teams form the 10-team East, and the rest create the eight-team West. There is the potential for wildcards to allow the top 16 teams to make the playoffs, but the weakness of this playoff format is best demonstrated by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. At the time of writing, the Eagles would hold home ice in the old playoff format, sitting in eighth spot in the league. Because of the new conference format, though, Cape Breton would be sixth in the East, drawing a tough, contending Baie-Comeau team, on the road no less, in the opening round, rather than 11th-place Quebec. That format change could influence some teams in terms of whether to buy, sell or stand pat this season.

Two definite contenders outside of Halifax that dominate the list of other potential buyers are the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Rouyn-Noranda are a very strong team built from within and coached and managed by last year’s Memorial Cup winner, Mario Pouliot. They are hard-working, very deep in net and on defence, and just one player on the entire roster has played for another Q team. Their wildcard is the potential return of injured Pittsburgh Penguin prospect Zachary Lauzon. His return would put the Huskies in limbo with their overagers, and they would have to make a decision on their 20-year-olds.

Joe Veleno

The Voltigeurs are maybe the league’s deepest team, led by Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxime Comtois and Detroit Red Wings first rounder Joe Veleno up front, Chicago Blackhawks first rounder Nicolas Beaudin and New Jersey Devils prospect Xavier Bernard on defence, along with Edmonton Oilers prospect Olivier Rodrigue in goal. Comtois’s return to the Q is maybe the biggest acquisition any team could have made this season. They are a rumoured team for Dobson, and adding Dobson to Beaudin and Bernard defensively would make Drummondville a very tough team to face in the playoffs with that three-headed monster on the back end.

One team that is certainly making some changes is the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. General Manager Steve Ahern has promised that several trades will be announced Sunday. They are heavily linked to the above-mentioned D’Orio.

Further with the Drakkar, Calgary Flames pick D’Artignan Joly has left the team on his own accord, awaiting a trade. Joly and the team have had a bumpy 2018, with player wanting to be more creative and team wishing he was more engaged and aggressive. Joly can absolutely score at this level, but he is an artist more than he is a worker.

Editor’s note – prior to publication, it was announced that Joly had been dealt to Victoriaville

The Rimouski Oceanic were a contender for the league title on paper this season, but they look up at the Drakkar at this point in the year and are facing a decision – do they go for it or hold back and go for it next year. According to bench boss Serge Beausoleil, they will be tentative, but not sell off players who won’t return, including captain Charles-Edouard D’Astous, who drew some interest from the Ottawa Senators in the summer. The Oceanic are the proud team of phenom Alexis Lafrenière, who will return to the league next season, and Rimouski could set themselves up to be an even better team next season.

The Moncton Wildcats may opt to do the same, as they have a high-flying offence, but many players also set to return for next season, namely potential first rounder Jakob Pelletier and Minnesota Wild pick Alex Khovanov, despite some issues on the defensive end. Unlike the Oceanic, though, players not returning next season or otherwise not in the plans for next season could be available for trade.

Among the anticipated sellers, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan have also had a move announced ahead of Sunday’s opening day for the mid-season trading period. They will acquire forward Anderson MacDonald from the Wildcats for a pair of picks. MacDonald has not had the bounce-back season either he or the Wildcats were hoping after he was surprisingly undrafted in last June’s NHL Entry Draft. MacDonald has battled injuries all year, and has played in only four games, largely on the fourth line, before being shuffled out of Moncton to the north of New Brunswick.

The Titan have also all but moved Dobson, fellow blueliner Keenan MacIsaac and forward Ethan Crossman, and will continue to take calls on defender Michal Ivan. The foursome all played key roles for the Memorial Cup winning Titan squad last year, as they look to set themselves up for a rebuild.

Editor’s note – Prior to publication, both Crossman and MacIsaac were dealt to Baie-Comeau

One can add the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to the list of potential sellers, as they may look into cashing in on the remaining assets from three straight strong playoff runs. Montreal Canadiens prospect Joël Teasdale is a name that would garner lots of interest, and they have many useful veterans they do not need this season – Rémy Anglehart, Alex Katerinakis, Luke Henman, Thomas Ethier and Charles-Antoine Giguère come to mind. The Armada could recoup a lot of assets for their collection of forwards.

Editor’s note – Giguère was traded to Moncton prior to publication

The Gatineau Olympiques could also cash in on a few of their players for the future, namely Minnesota Wild prospect Shawn Boudrias and overager Gabriel Bilodeau, who could put up points on a contender looking to upgrade their powerplay. So could Val-d’Or’s David Noel, a St. Louis Blues pick, who is 19, but is currently on the shelf with an eye injury.

The composition of the QMJHL’s top teams will look different between now and January, and despite the high prices, expect a lot of player movement this time around.