Conor Geekie – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – TAMPA BAY LIGHTING – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #30

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:00:39 +0000

_{NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 25: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Maxwell Crozier (65) looks on during a game between the against the against the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils on February 25, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Rank – 30th (Previous Rank - 29th)
GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018
COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013

The Tampa Bay Lightning continues to embody the "run it back" philosophy, relying on a veteran core to remain competitive year after year. It's hard to argue with the results, as they are just two years removed from three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances and back-to-back championships. However, with aging veterans and little value sitting on the shelves, the end of the runway may be in sight.

Julien BriseBois has been notably averse to first-round picks, having selected in the first round only twice since his hiring in 2018. Unless future trades are made, that trend could continue into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft after bringing back a familiar face in Ryan McDonough for a top 10 protected first pick.

However, for the first time in what feels like a decade, perhaps we’ve finally seen a change in strategy.

In a surprising move, the Lightning acquired top prospect Conor Geekie (ranked 32nd by McKeen’s) from the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for 26-year-old Mikael Sergachev. This trade gives Tampa Bay their first top 50 McKeen’s ranked prospect in quite some time and may signal a shift towards replenishing their prospect pool—an unfamiliar prospect for Lightning fans.

Adding the likes of Geekie, who may even see games in the 2024-25 campaign, is a step in the right direction, but there is still a long road ahead.

Gage Goncalves, a 2020 second-round pick, has been developing steadily in Syracuse, coming off a strong season with 58 points in 69 games to finish just outside the top 10 in AHL scoring. At 23 years old, he’s likely to be given a longer leash after a brief stint in the 2023-24 season.

Isaac Howard (157th), the Lightnings’ only first-round draft pick in the last five years, remains a key part of their future, though he will continue to develop at the collegiate level with Michigan State. While there’s hope he could see NHL ice time as early as this spring, the team’s status as a perennial playoff contender raises questions about whether rushing him into the lineup is the best course of action.

The recent swap of Steven Stamkos for Jake Guentzel indicates that the Lightning will continue their push to remain relevant as long as players like Victor Hedman (33), Nikita Kucherov (31), Brayden Point (28) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (30) are in town.

Tampa Bay’s championship window is still wide open, but with little depth, and a lack of draft capital, they are treading in dangerous waters for the future.

Tampa Bay Lightning Top-15 Prospects

1. Conor Geekie

One of the big pieces acquired from Utah in the Mikhail Sergachev deal, Geekie immediately became Tampa’s best prospect. The big power pivot is such a difficult player to stop North/South, as he drives the middle lane with speed and advanced puck protection ability. The former 11th overall selection nearly broke the 100-point barrier in the WHL last season and is ready to take that next step as a pro. The big debate surrounding Geekie revolves around his upside as an NHL player. When his size and power advantage is neutralized, how effective will he be as an offensive player? Does he think the game at a high enough level to drive play and make those around him better at the NHL level? Geekie’s future could take a variety of different turns. Could he be a top six power center cut from the same cloth as the Tkachuk brothers? Or is he destined to be more of a bottom six contributor? Tampa Bay will learn a lot more about Geekie’s upside this year at the pro level.

2. Ethan Gauthier

Gauthier, the son of former NHL defender Denis Gauthier, and the 37th overall pick in last year’s draft, had another successful season in the QMJHL, this time with Drummondville after an offseason trade. The physically assertive forward plays a pro style game that revolves around being able to earn touches between the hash marks. He drives the net, forechecks hard, and has continued to round out his game as a two-way player. Gauthier also shoots the puck well and his goal scoring ability is the component of his offensive arsenal that likely translates the best to the pro level. To be an effective pro, Gauthier continues to work on his skating, working to become more explosive and agile. He’ll return to the QMJHL this season and should be one of the league’s top forwards as a 20-year-old. Depending on the development of his off puck play and skating, he could be NHL ready, sooner rather than later.

3. Isaac Howard

Howard, the team’s only first round selection in the last five years, had a terrific sophomore season after hitting the transfer portal the previous offseason. Howard shifted from Minnesota-Duluth to Michigan State, and it had a very positive impact on his development. He led the Spartans in scoring last year and also played a crucial role for the United States at the WJC’s, helping them capture gold. Howard was noticeably stronger on the puck last season, helping him take greater advantage of his strong skating ability to generate scoring chances. He’s a very dangerous player on the counterattack, and despite his low goal total at Michigan State, actually possesses high upside as a goal scorer because of his quick release. Howard will return to Michigan State this year as a junior and he should be considered a preseason candidate for the Hobey Baker. He might just have the highest upside of any player in Tampa’s system.

4. Niko Huuhtanen

Huuhtanen continued on the terrific development path that he started after a breakout season with WHL Everett in 2022. Two years ago, he was the rookie of the year in Liiga and this past year he led Jukurit in scoring. The big power forward signed late last season and finished his year in the AHL, giving him a taste of what to expect this coming year, his first as a pro in North America. Huuhtanen is a throwback power winger who plays a very heavy game. He’s a relentless physical player who is still learning how to walk the line in terms of discipline. However, he is most effective when he plays the power game, dominating the wall and the net front area. Huuhtanen is a prolific goal scorer, too, thanks to a very heavy release and one timer. His positive development curve has put him on a path to become a quality middle six option for the Lightning in the near future.

5. Gage Goncalves

It’s been a long road for Goncalves. The former WHL standout has now played three seasons in the AHL, improving in each of them. He led Syracuse in scoring by a significant margin this past season and finally earned a cup of coffee with the Lightning. The two-way pivot has proven to be a versatile pro. He plays an intelligent game at both ends, excelling on and off the puck. His attention to detail as a defensive player is likely going to be the thing that gets him into the NHL in a depth role before he carves out a larger one. As an offensive player, his vision and playmaking ability stand out most. He understands how to alter pace to manipulate defenses and is hard on pucks to help his line prolong offensive zone time. This year, Goncalves will need to pass through waivers in order to go to the AHL, so it seems likely that if he has a good camp, he will be given a bottom six role in Tampa Bay.

6. Max Crozier

The Lightning have to be ecstatic about what Crozier showed this past season after turning pro. Earlier last season he did not look out of place in Tampa Bay when the Lightning were having serious injury issues on the blueline. Closing out the year with Syracuse, Crozier was a near point per game defender in the AHL. Full of confidence, we saw the full scope of the impact that he can have on the game at both ends. The 6-foot-2 right shot defender does a lot of things well. He defends well thanks to an aggressive approach, a long reach, and good mobility. He takes away space from opposing forwards and defends tight spaces well thanks to his physical assertiveness. Crozier also makes a clean exit pass and has flashed an ability to quarterback the powerplay, with a strong ability to get shots through traffic. While Crozier might not have significant NHL upside, he looks like someone who can be a stable #4 or 5 defender for many years.

7. Declan Carlile

Carlile is about to be a third-year pro after a strong performance at Merrimack College and is a standout in the defensive end. He projects as a quality stay at home defender at the NHL level and he may be ready for an NHL roster spot as early as this season. He has the size. He has the reach. He is mobile. He brings physicality. He has an active stick but is also aggressive in taking away space. Carlile looks like he can help anchor a penalty killing unit in the NHL. As an offensive player, his heavy point shot helps to generate scoring chances or goals and he can make a good exit pass, but he is at his best when he keeps things simple. Much like Max Crozier, Carlile looks like a long time NHL defender for Tampa Bay, but probably tops out as a third pairing type.

8. Dylan Duke

On a Michigan team full of potential front end NHL players, Duke stood out consistently for all the right reasons this past season, finishing third in scoring and first in goals on the Wolverines. It was a very promising junior season for the diminutive pivot. Duke has always been a highly skilled playmaker who creates time and space for himself with his hands, but upgrades to his strength, off puck play, shot, and skating really upgraded his projection as a pro. Somewhat surprisingly, Duke decided to turn pro, signing with Tampa Bay at the end of the season. It might have been wise for him to return to Michigan to continue to upgrade his physical tools; he would have had a shot at being one of the better players in College Hockey this year. However, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the AHL level. While he may still be a bit of a long shot given his lack of high-end physical tools, his upside remains intriguing.

9. Jack Finley

The massive center took a nice step forward in his second pro season with Syracuse last year. Teams have to be patient with bigger forwards as they grow into their frame and Finley has been no different. He dominated down low at the WHL level before turning pro but had to continue to upgrade his strength and conditioning in order to do that at the AHL level. Behind the net is his office and he has very good vision coming off the wall and the cycle. Finley has also had to adjust to the pace of the pro game, especially as an only average skater. He’s likely still a bit away from making an impact in Tampa Bay, but the Lightning have to be hoping that he can continue to develop into an Adam Lowry kind of high end third line center in the future. The Lightning will be hoping that Finley can inch closer to the point per game mark with Syracuse this year.

10. Daniil Pylenkov

Pylenkov’s development has been steady since the Lightning drafted him in 2021 in his second last year of eligibility. Now 23 (turning 24 soon), Pylenkov has emerged as one of the top young defencemen in the KHL. He still has a year remaining on his KHL deal so he won’t be coming over this year, but after that? He could be an option for Tampa as a bottom pairing defender. Pylenkov is certainly not a flashy player, however he’s a very crafty one. He makes a clean exit. He is a great stick on-puck defender. He makes sound decisions with his reads with and without the puck. His NHL upside is likely limited, but the progression of his offensive game in the KHL suggests that his projection could continue to improve. Defensive depth never hurts and Tampa has built that up well.

11. Hagen Burrows

Last year’s winner of Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey Award, Burrows was a fourth-round pick of the Lightning in 2024. The big winger was excellent last season, splitting time between the USHL and high school hockey. Burrows plays a mature game, tough to separate from the puck and an excellent playmaker coming off the wall. There’s a definitive need for him to improve his skating and he’ll try to do that at the University of Denver this season.

12. Hugo Alnefelt

Expectations were pretty high for Alnefelt a few years ago when he made the jump from the SHL to the AHL in Tampa’s system. At the time, he was considered one of the top European goaltending prospects. Since then, his development has stagnated to a certain degree. He has the tools to be one, but consistency has remained an issue for him. He will compete for the back-up job this year, but still has another year of waiver eligibility remaining.

13. Jayson Shaugabay

One of the most skilled and creative players in Tampa’s system, Shaugabay opted to play a full season in the USHL last season before making the jump to the NCAA. This allowed the diminutive forward to continue to build strength so that he can take greater advantage of his offensive gifts. Shaugabay will now head to Minnesota-Duluth this year and will likely be given a good shot to play a key offensive role as a freshman.

14. Lucas Edmonds

After a strong rookie season in the AHL two years ago, last season was a step back for Edmonds. No question, he’s a talented playmaker. However, there’s a strong need for him to upgrade his physical tools still to be a more consistent pro. 2024/25 is going to be a critical season for his development. A qualifying offer is likely dependent on his performance and progress.

15. Gabriel Szturc

The Lightning have had some good success signing free agents out of the CHL and the team dipped into that pool again a few times last year. Czech pivot and former Kelowna Rocket captain Gabriel Szturc is one such player. He’s a competitive, two-way, playmaker who, ignoring the cliche, plays much larger than his size. He projects as a versatile bottom six forward for Tampa Bay.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #3 Utah – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 18:00:12 +0000

TEMPE, AZ - MARCH 30: Arizona Coyotes Right Wing Josh Doan (91) follows the play during an NHL game between the Arizona Coyotes and New York Rangers on March 30, 2024, at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

The desert dogs are finally on the move after a tumultuous time in Arizona. The word leaked out the franchise was moving to Utah after the season ended to a surprised hockey world, and the Coyotes players themselves. The state of Utah inherits the third overall prospect pool in the NHL with some prime pieces to build a winner out of. They have graduated two first rounders in Dylan Guenther (9th overall – 2021) and Logan Cooley (3rd – 2022). They own three prospects in the top 20 of McKeen’s prospect ranking including Russian teammates Dimitri Simashev (16th overall), and Daniil But (20th). They are joined by 18th ranked Conor Geekie, who could make the team next season. The fourth prospect at 55th overall is Josh Doan, one of the fastest rising prospects on this list. He has already made a strong impression in scoring nine points in 11 games in an NHL callup. He will also likely graduate next season.

GM Bill Armstrong has largely focused on acquiring picks and prospects in trades over his four years at the helm. He has amassed 14 picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, including seven in the first three rounds. He also has seven picks in the 2025 NHL Draft, also in the first three rounds. With new ownership comes a new boss. There was a level of dysfunction in the organization and bringing that to an end will be a benefit. It is an extremely young roster anchored by 25-year-old Clayton Keller. The high draft picks mentioned above are still a couple of years away. It is too early to determine if the philosophy has changed and how impatient the new ownership is to make an impression in Utah. The team has improved in recent seasons, and there are the chips to play if it wants to add more support around the kids.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Dmitri Simashev	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`23(6th)	63	4	6	10	18
2	Conor Geekie	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	`22(11th)	55	43	56	99	66
3	Daniil But	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`23(12th)	55	10	11	21	10
4	Josh Doan	RW	22	6-1/183	Tucson (AHL)	`21(37th)	62	26	20	46	32
					Arizona (NHL)	`21(37th)	11	5	4	9	0
5	Maveric Lamoureux	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	`22(29th)	39	9	24	33	53
6	Michael Hrabal	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	`23(38th)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
7	Aku Raty	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	`19(151st)	55	15	29	44	22
8	Julian Lutz	LW	20	6-1/185	Green Bay (USHL)	`22(43rd)	50	24	44	68	71
9	Justin Kipkie	D	18	6-3/195	Victoria (WHL)	`23(160th)	67	16	36	52	35
10	Sam Lipkin	LW	21	6-2/190	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`21(223rd)	39	15	20	35	37
11	Artyom Duda	D	20	6-1/187	Toronto Metro Univ. (Usports)	`22(36th)	12	2	5	7	10
12	Miko Matikka	RW	20	6-3/200	Denver (NCHC)	`22(67th)	43	20	13	33	41
13	Maksymilian Szuber	D	21	6-3/190	Arizona (NHL)	`22(163rd)	1	0	0	0	2
14	Matt Villalta	G	24	6-3/190	Tucson (AHL)	FA(7/23)	51	31	17	2.54	0.911
15	Nathan Smith	C	25	6-0/177	Tucson (AHL)	T(Wpg-3/22)	60	12	19	31	38

1. Dmitri Simashev, D, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Some Coyotes fans were surprised when their team picked Simashev with the 6th overall pick in 2023, but his play this season as a full-time defenseman in the KHL helped showcase precisely why the organization is so excited about him. With his size and exceptional skating ability he is already able to comfortably defend at a professional level, and if everything goes right in his development he could become one of the best shutdown blueliners in the entire NHL, someone who is able to stick like glue to speedy superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. That’s significantly more important in defending these days than pure brawn. And while his offensive tools were only noticeable last year when you watched him closely enough and saw the right games, he's also made important progress at actually converting them to points for his stat line.

2. Conor Geekie, C, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

It would be hard to overstate just how great of a season Geekie had, especially following his midseason trade to Swift Current. A finalist for WHL Player Of The Year, he was an utterly dominant force since opening night, and provided such a spark for his new Broncos club that they went into the playoffs with red-hot momentum behind them. His puck skills, hands and shot are all high end, and he continues to make essential improvements with his skating ability and how he uses his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time he is incredible to watch. While some time in the AHL might be the best thing for him long-term, it will be very, very hard for the Coyotes to keep him off their roster straight out of training camp.

3. Daniil But, LW, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)

Like his Yaroslavl Lokomotiv teammate Simashev, But became a KHL regular this season and didn't look out of place at all against that level of competition. He's a very tantalizing prospect because of his overflowing toolbox, which includes the size, reach and puck control to maintain possession in the cycle, the speed and explosiveness to open up space on the rush, and the scoring and playmaking ability to generate goals in either style. While his point totals aren't eye-popping yet, the KHL is the best league in the world outside of the NHL, and huge and lanky guys like him usually need extra time to grow into their bodies. What’s most important to remember with But is that the foundation is in place to eventually build up to a uniquely high ceiling, it’s just going to be a little while before anyone gets to see the finished product.

4. Josh Doan, RW, Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

There weren’t a lot of feel-good stories coming out of the desert, even before news of the team’s move to Utah was confirmed, but Doan’s rapid development and immediate impact upon being called up to the NHL certainly count as one. Shane Doan was the face of that franchise for a long time, and despite some lofty expectations, his son has turned out to be the prince who was promised. It’s obvious, and quite impressive, how much he embraced the situation he was in. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit and leadership, and there is little question where he gets those attributes from. Regardless of his team’s new home, he’ll be a huge part of the organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations as a core roster player, and also as someone who can help instill a culture and identity.

5. Maveric Lamoureux, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Injuries have robbed Lamoureux of a lot of games played over the past two seasons, so there’s something to be said about just how good he has looked when he’s actually been in the lineup. It’s so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and he can easily gobble up mountains of minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders do when moving around the ice. This style of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skill, and luckily Utah, Lamoureux has already made a lot of progress in this regard. His upside is a little murky to project right now, especially if the injury issues stick around, but the organization will happily be patient with him for as long as they can just to see what the final product looks like.

6. Michael Hrabal, G, University of Massachusetts (NCAA)

The gargantuan Hrabal continues to trend in the right direction, albeit with some fits and spurts along the way. He won the starting job with UMass-Amherst this past season over another drafted goalie who was four years his senior and put forth some stellar individual performances throughout the year. However, he did struggle and falter at bad times for Czechia at the World Juniors, letting in too many weak goals. He covers so much net naturally and without effort, but on the downside and much like others just like him, still has issues at this age with pucks squeaking through under his arms and between his legs. Goalies his size usually need extra time to build enough strength to keep moving so much mass around their crease and to get everything about their play fine-tuned, and Hrabal is still on course to get there eventually.

7. Aku Raty, RW, Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)

Raty continues to make steady, upwards progress in his development. His stats in the 2023-24 regular season were almost identical to what they were last year, but they are more impressive when you remember that producing points in the AHL is more difficult than doing it in the Liiga or most other European leagues. His success wasn’t quite enough to say that he is clearly ready for permanent NHL duty, but at the rate he keeps getting better and better, that seems like it’s not far out. He’s a well-rounded winger who is impressively smooth, both in the way he moves and the way he moves the puck, and he doesn’t sacrifice his defensive responsibilities to make magic happen offensively. He projects more as a complementary player than the primary driver of a line, but there is value in the NHL for forwards who know how to thrive in that kind of role.

8. Julian Lutz, LW, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

A major change of scenery, going from the top German pro league to Green Bay in the USHL, has turned out to be exactly what Lutz needed after a couple of seasons that were significantly hampered by injuries and reduced ice time. He scored a hat trick in just his third game in his new environment and then he never looked back from there, quickly establishing himself as one of the most singularly dangerous players in the entire league. He’s embracing an identity as a power forward, relying on his big shot and soft hands around the net to rack up points, while also using his size and strength to bring a physical presence. There is a lot to like about him, so he and the new Utah team will need to be careful when figuring out what is the best level for him to play at next season.

9. Justin Kipkie, D, Victoria Royals (WHL)

The Victoria Royals took a nice step forward this season after three straight finishes at the bottom of their division, and Kipkie is a key part of their ongoing turnaround. He plays a lot of minutes on that roster, and they're not exactly easy minutes, either, considering how young that roster is and how frequently they’re playing under siege. He leaves an outsized impact offensively and defensively, and few defenders his age have as hard of a shot as he does, which he is more than happy to utilize. There is a tactful maturity to how he uses his size and strength, though he'll get emotional and inflict punishment, too, if challenged. His performance faded down the stretch, in lockstep with the rest of his team, but if the Royals are playing meaningful hockey next spring you can expect Kipkie to be a heart-and-soul leader for them.

10. Sam Lipkin, LW, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Speaking bluntly but fairly, Lipkin didn't look particularly noticeable or stand out in any major ways in his draft year. He was, however, playing for the Chicago Steel, which is regularly one of the best organizations in the world at nurturing young hockey talent, evidenced in part by them winning the 2021 USHL championship. As such, the now-Utah scouts knew confidently that his growth was in good hands. Quite unsurprisingly, given the environment he was in and the staff he was working with, his performance immediately began to skyrocket the very next season, which he then carried over into two great campaigns with Quinnipiac as well, including an NCAA title in 2023. He is an impressive natural athlete who continues to find new ways to round out and elevate his game, which helps open up different NHL pathways for him.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – Risers and Fallers

Brock Otten — Mon, 27 May 2024 19:22:48 +0000

Risers

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopfi of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – ARIZONA COYOTES – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #4

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:00:22 +0000

Top 20 Arizona Coyotes Prospects

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 15: Arizona Coyotes right wing Dylan Guenther (11) made his NHL debut during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Arizona Coyotes on October 15, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

1. Logan Cooley - C

Cooley grew up in Pittsburgh during the peak of Sidney Crosby's career, and it's almost uncanny how much the former's game has been clearly influenced by the latter. While the former University of Minnesota center doesn't project to become a generational player like Sid has been, Cooley’s game is built around a very similar foundation: ample lower body strength and balance, excellent hockey sense, tenacious competitiveness, sublime puck skill, commitment in all three zones, and an advanced maturity for how he conducts himself. There were some scouts in the industry who argued for him to be the first prospect picked in the 2022 draft, and that argument is even stronger now. Arizona is trying to build things from the ground up (figuratively and literally), and Cooley is about as good as it gets as a foundational piece to build around.

2. Dylan Guenther - RW

Guenther started his 2022-23 season in the NHL and looked right at home, scoring at a nice clip. When Arizona let him go to the World Juniors and then back to the WHL afterwards it wasn't as a punishment — it was to let him stretch his legs a little more, add a gold medal that he didn't already have, maybe get a healthy crack at the Memorial Cup after injuries held him out during the previous year, and finally come back to the NHL as an even better player in 2023-24. It must feel like a punishment to all the junior-aged players he has gone up against though, because he was basically too good for that level already. He lit up the WHL playoffs in Seattle and barely looked like he was breaking a sweat while doing so. He should enjoy the moment, because once he's back in the NHL he won't be leaving again.

3. Dmitri Simashev - D

Simashev is a unicorn of a player, with a tantalizing amount of raw skill contained within a menacing physical package. He is a truly remarkable skater for such a gigantic defenseman. Not only is he explosive in a straight line, with long, flawless strides, but his crossovers and edge work are both essentially perfect. The way that he can pick the puck up behind his own net, reach his top gear within a few steps and then blow down the entire length of the ice without breaking a sweat is simply jaw-dropping. He can also gap up on opponents with ease, and good luck ever dumping the puck into his corner, because he's going to get to it first, quickly pivot, and then use his frame to help him shield the puck. His low point totals might suggest that he's not much of an offensive contributor, but he helps his team enter the attacking zone and set up, and if he sees an opportunity to take the puck all the way to the opposing net himself, he will do so. He also uses his elusive footwork well to control the offensive blueline. All that being said, he probably won't ever be a big point-scorer.

4. Daniil But - LW

When you have a 6’ 5” forward who can skate, shoot, handle the puck, and make plays how do you even begin to describe him? There might not actually be one single trait that But has that is elite, however his overflowing toolbox of very good traits makes him special. It's nearly impossible to miss someone that big during his shifts, yet he makes it even easier to notice him because he covers so much ice all the time with his skyscraper legs and how he works to get them churning to build momentum. He can also create with his hands, whether that's with a long sweeping move to get around a defender or some quick manoeuvring in traffic to maintain possession. He is a major threat on both the rush and in the cycle because he's just so powerful and hard to contain. Sometimes he plays with clever nuance, while at other times he is a bull in a china shop. He's pretty uncoordinated and clumsy right now, although it's obvious that he is still filling out his frame after a big teenage growth spurt. It's almost scary to think of how good But could potentially be when he's done developing.

5. Conor Geekie - C

Geekie did not seem to progress very much last season compared to his draft year, which is concerning when you consider the incredibly favourable situation he has been in, playing on a dominant Winnipeg Ice team. With talented linemates to work with, and opposing defense spread thin with too much to handle, it should have been a feast for a prospect with such an overflowing toolbox. Instead, he blended into the scenery more often than he stood out. Luckily for the Coyotes though, there is still a ton here for their development staff to work with. His puck skills, hands, and shot are all high end, and he should be able to make improvements with his skating ability while using his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time, Geekie is one of the scariest prospects in the country, and getting that to happen more frequently is the long-term focus.

6. Victor Soderstrom - D

After three seasons in North America, Soderstrom has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHLer, and questions are beginning to arise about where things are going to go with his career next. It's never a good sign when a player hits a plateau season over season in his early 20s. His mobility and hands are both still assets, but he is having trouble utilizing them in ways that make a positive difference. The offensive production isn't really coming along, and he's struggling with defending and moving pucks out of trouble. At the same time, the whole organization is going through growing pains, so further patience is needed to fully analyse the situation. The Coyotes want Soderstrom to be a key piece on their roster and will likely give him more chances to prove that he can be one.

7. Josh Doan - RW

Doan finds himself in a truly unique situation, not just as the son of a former NHLer who was drafted by the same organization that his father starred for, but also because he is already playing in the same state that his dad helped bring hockey to for the first time. If the built-in expectations and scrutiny created any unwanted pressure, the younger Doan certainly hasn't show that he’s been frightened by its effects. If anything, he seems to relish being a future face of hockey in Arizona. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit, and leadership, and there is little question as to where he gets that from. He'll be a huge part of this organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations, but also as someone that can help instil a positive culture and identity in the locker room.

8. Jan Jenik - C

It's a real shame that Jenik battled through injury issues last season, because if he had stayed healthy, he was on course to have a big breakout season in the NHL. He is one of the most well-rounded and complete players in the Coyotes organization, and it's hard to find any real faults in his game. Coaches love to send him over the boards in various situations because he's always around the puck or involved in the play, battling or thinking his way into earning copious puck touches. When he gets to work in the offensive zone, he is very hard to contain thanks to his size, puck skill, and offensive versatility. Everything about his game just screams long-term professional. Expect him to see a lot of NHL minutes this season if he is healthy.

9. Michael Hrabal - G

Coming up as a dominant, borderline generational netminder in his home country of Czechia, Hrabal is no stranger to expectations. Standing at 6’6”, it doesn’t take much for him to cover the net, even from his knees. His frame covers the twine so well when he’s down in a butterfly that his pads take away the entire bottom of the net. Despite this size, his mobility and footwork are also both big strengths of his. He navigates the crease well, going post-to-post with ease. His feet are very quick, kicking away stray pucks as needed. He has quick hands to match, especially his glove hand. Given his size, he tends to play back in his net too far, so he will need to learn to challenge a bit more to really cut down the amount of net he leaves open, especially when facing better shooters at higher levels. Goaltenders always take a longer path, and he will be no exception. That's not a concern though, as he has all of the tools in place to become a starting netminder in the NHL one day, or at least a likely reliable backup.

10. Maveric Lamoureux - D

Lamoureux missed the first half of last season due to injury, and once he was healthy joined a Voltigeurs team that struggled to climb out of the basement of the league. But what matters most about his profile is that when he was playing, it was in an important role, because he is very much a long-term project who needs as much ice time as possible if he's going to reach his full potential. It's so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, and that kind of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skills for success. The hope is that his reach and range will help him eventually grow into a space-dominating player who can log top-four minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders moving around the ice.

11. Artyom Duda - D

In a strange twist of events, Duda has left Russia to pursue a scholarship at the University of Maine. Due to him having played at the KHL level already, there are hurdles to jump through regarding his eligibility, but this move should be great for his development. A smooth skating, two-way defender, Duda was a very high pick in 2022.

12. Julian Lutz - LW

For Lutz, the battle to stay healthy remains his largest hurdle. He has had issues with injuries the last two seasons, and this has prevented him from playing a significant role at the DEL level in Germany. The talent is there. Perhaps a move to North America (like say in the OHL) would be best for his development.

13. Aku Raty - RW

Raty was fantastic in Liiga action last year, finishing among the leading scorers on a strong Ilves team. Now the hard working, complementary winger will be coming to North America to get his first taste of action across the pond. If he has a good camp and performs well in the AHL, he could move through the system quickly.

14. Vladislav Kolyachonok - D

2022-23 was a positive year for Kolyachonok’s development as he emerged as one of Tuscon’s top defensive players. The key to his success remains his strong skating ability and he has a chance to crack the Arizona blueline full time soon.

15. Nathan Smith - C

After starting so well in the NHL after signing at the end of the 2021-22 season, Smith’s first full season in the AHL was a disappointment last year. His upside at the NHL level may be capped, but he needs to become a go-to offensive player with Tuscon first.

16. Sam Lipkin - LW

A former standout with the Chicago Steel, Lipkin had a remarkable freshman year with Quinnipiac. Not only did he capture an NCAA championship, but he was named ECAC rookie of the year. Lipkin is returning to college to continue to improve his skating, but the skill components of his game are progressing nicely.

17. Miko Matikka - RW

Matikka is a big, skilled winger with significant offensive upside. He played in the USHL last year but will be attending the University of Denver this year in hopes of earning a top six role immediately. The question is whether Matikka can improve his off-puck play.

18. Michael Kesselring - D

Acquired from the Oilers in exchange for Nick Bjugstad, Kesselring is a big defender with a surprisingly smooth stride. He saw some time with the big club last year and could be a contender for a permanent roster spot this year.

19. Ilya Fedotov - LW

A competitive winger with skill and upside who finally broke through as a KHL contributor last year. Fedotov has since moved to the SKA organization for next year and is still in Arizona’s long-term plans.

20. Maksymilian Szuber - D

The big German defender improved a lot last year in the DEL, impressing enough to earn both a WC invite and an ELC from the Coyotes. He’ll be loaned back to EHC Munchen again though, where it is hoped that he continues with his rapid progression.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – ARIZONA COYOTES – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 12:30:54 +0000

1 - Logan Cooley C US

The Arizona Coyotes are slowly building their next contender, stockpiling picks and prospects more aggressively than any NHL franchise has done before. Armed with the third overall pick at the 2022 draft, the Coyotes began to lay the foundation for their next era by selecting Logan Cooley, a center out of the U.S. National Team Development Program. Cooley instantly became the most promising prospect in the Coyotes’ system, and just one look at his game film from his draft year will show why. Despite playing on a USNTDP team fully stocked with top prospects, Cooley kept finding ways to stand out above the pack. There’s one word that best describes Cooley’s game: dynamic. Cooley’s puck skills are elite, and he’s always finding creative ways to get himself out of trouble and make his way through defensive coverage. When the puck is on his stick, Cooley’s linemates are always open for a pass. Cooley is more of a creative skater than a true burner, relying more on his edgework and stop-start ability than pure speed. While that fact of his game means his skating won’t set him apart at the NHL level the way his puck skills will, it also means he’ll have an easier time translating his offensive habits to the NHL level, where most defenders are strong enough on their feet to avoid being beaten through speed outright. Cooley has a wide-open offensive toolbox that is arguably the best in his age group, and he’ll head to the University of Minnesota next season with the expectation of being an instant impact scorer. With the Cooley pick, the Coyotes added an all-too-rare commodity to their system: a prospect with the chance to become an NHL number-one center in the NHL. - EH

2- Dylan Guenther RW WHL

At this time last year, one would have probably assumed that Guenther would play out the season with Edmonton (WHL) and then make a run at the Arizona Coyotes roster in 2022/23, possibly as a top Calder candidate. However, a knee injury suffered in the WHL playoffs this year has altered those plans. Guenther will not be ready for Coyotes training camp this year and that likely means he returns to the WHL for another year. The Coyotes will be patient and cautious with one of their top prospects. Guenther did have a great year for the Oil Kings last season and remains one of the top goal scoring wing prospects in the NHL. His combination of size and skill is impressive and rare these days. And while he’s not a power forward in the traditional sense, he took big steps forward this season as someone who can play that power game by driving the net and playing through contact. His shot is a major weapon, and his offensive zone awareness is at a near elite level. He is never likely to be a top end two-way player and there is still some room for improvement in his decision making/vision with the puck, but his development has him tracking towards being a quality top six winger for the Coyotes and someone who could potentially be a consistent 30 goal scorer. If his injury recovery goes according to plan, he should be ready to jump into Arizona’s lineup in 2023/24. - BO

3 - Matias Maccelli LW AHL

The only U22 forward in the AHL to have a better points per game average than Maccelli last season was top prospect Jack Quinn. Since being drafted in the fourth round in 2019, Maccelli has done nothing but progress positively. Two strong years in Liiga (in Finland), the first of which saw him named as Liiga’s rookie of the year. Then the aforementioned strong AHL debut last year. Granted, he did struggle in his first attempt at the NHL after a midseason call-up, scoring a single goal across 23 games (despite getting decent ice time and some powerplay responsibility). However, this was only the first bump in the road for Maccelli. The 5’11 winger is extremely skilled and creative, giving him significant upside as a top six NHL forward. Originally, there were concerns over his lack of speed, explosiveness, and ability to dictate pace, however he has made significant strides in these departments since being drafted. Of course, as his brief stint in the NHL showed, he still has room to grow as a player, but the potential for him to develop into a solid point producer for the Coyotes is very real. Look for Maccelli to secure a permanent spot on the Coyotes this year out of training camp, as he will be given every opportunity to jump into a top nine role. He may even be a nice sleeper for the Calder Trophy (still eligible because he played just under 25 games). - BO

4 - Conor Geekie C WHL

While Geekie's statistical output from the 2021-22 isn't especially notable, it doesn't sufficiently reflect how good of a hockey player he is — and just how much better he can become over time, with the right development. The 2nd overall pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft (behind Winnipeg Ice teammate Matthew Savoie) and the 11th overall selection by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, he possess an enticing and hard to find package of size, deft puck skill and advanced offensive vision. He has a natural touch for the puck, able to get it under control with ease or distribute it naturally on the forehand or backhand. He can also really lean into his wrist shots, getting enough power behind them that the speed and force can cause problems for goalies. Even better, with his bulky 6'4" frame he is able to fend off defenders more effectively than most of his peers, giving him more time to scan the play unfolding around him and find more opportunities to create offense. At his best, his skill package makes him a major headache for opposing defenders to handle. He is, however, a below-average skater. Skating will never be a strength for him, but something that he can improve — and needs to focus on improving — is his pace and willingness to keep his feet moving. He also had a bad tendency last season on a stacked team to hang back and let his teammates lead the charge. There were too many shifts where he wasn't noticeable, and that inconsistency ultimately showed up in his scoring totals. The Ice are primed for another championship-contending season in 2022-23, and Geekie is expected to be a bigger part of their efforts. - DN

5 - Victor Soderstrom D AHL

Arizona has been excited about getting Söderström into its lineup, but it ended up being just 16 pointless games last season and all he had to show for it was a -7 rating. He kicked the season off with the team but was eventually sent back to the AHL and re-called for a stint in January and again in April. In between, he enjoyed his most productive AHL outing to date, even if his 19 points in 32 games was accompanied by a -12 rating. The 11^th overall pick in the 2019 draft, Söderström was drafted straight out of the SHL. He upgraded an already impressive SHL season in his draft year with an even more impressive sophomore season for Brynäs, leading many to feel he was on the fast track to a spot in the desert. His six-point performance in the 2020 WJC only helped boost this impression. Alas, it’s been somewhat slow cooking since arriving in North America.A very confident player with the puck on his stick, Söderström has spent considerable time on learning and reinforcing his habits without the puck. His competitiveness continues to be one of his strongest traits. When suiting up for Arizona this past season, he never once saw less than 11:45 of ice time and only saw less than 15:20 minutes in two of his 16 outings. In a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, he chalked up over 20 minutes of ice time. As such, the question has not been whether he’s ready and willing to take a regular shift, but rather just how much he has to gain from an all-round perspective playing with a still growing club in the NHL when he could be an all-purpose player in the AHL. For now, Arizona will be going to camp with a spot open for Söderström right from the beginning, so opportunity abounds. - CL

6 - Josh Doan RW US

At face value, the selection of Josh Doan near the top of the second round at the 2021 NHL draft looked more like an organization hoping to please its fans than an organization looking to select the absolute best player available. Doan had gone undrafted in his first year of draft eligibility and was selected by the Coyotes after a 70-point campaign with the USHL’s Chicago Steel. But after a freshman year at Arizona State that saw Doan rank among the team’s top scorers, the Coyotes’ choice is looking wiser and wiser. In his first year in the NCAA, Doan began to show why he was such a high selection at the 2021 draft. Despite the lofty expectations that come with his name in Arizona, Doan’s game stands on its own merit. Doan has an active motor and wants to be the focal point of every shift. Offensively, his shot is his best weapon, and he’s got the ability to pick a corner on a goalie and score from a distance. He has the ability to fire strong shots from less than opportune angles, and his goal-scoring is his most translatable NHL tool. Doan also is comfortable with the physical side of the game, and he’s growing into his six-foot-two frame, learning to better use his size to consistently win battles for pucks. Defensively, Doan is more of a work-in-progress, but he should improve that side of his game as he gets more college hockey under his belt. Doan’s skating has improved since his draft year, but it still isn’t where it needs to be for him to comfortably project to the NHL level, He still very likely has an NHL future, but adding an extra gear to his skating could mean the difference between a future in an NHL bottom-six or a chance to stick on a scoring line. - EH

7 - Jan Jenik C AHL

Jenik is another in the line of Coyotes prospects who got an extended look at the NHL level last season: the life of a pro prospect on a rebuilding team. However, this was also in part thanks to the terrific sophomore season that Jenik had in Tucson. If you recall, Jenik was in the midst of a breakout season in the OHL nearly three years ago (pre pandemic), before injuring his knee at the World Junior Championships. This set him back a bit and his first pro season was somewhat turbulent. However, last year was a major step forward for the competitive center. Jenik has a very well-rounded profile. He is skilled and can beat defenders one on one to create time and space. He is quick and can drive the pace of play. He competes hard at both ends of the ice and can be utilized in any situation. As such, Jenik looks like a really solid bet to become a dependable middle six forward for Arizona in the next year or two. At the NHL level last year, Jenik played on the wing, but at the AHL level he played down the middle. This coming season, there is definitely an opportunity for him to grab one of Arizona’s top three center spots, along with Barrett Hayton and Travis Boyd. Worst case scenario, he splits the year between the NHL and AHL before being ready full time in 2023-24. - BO

8 - Maveric Lamoureux D QMJHL

At 6’7’’, it’s not surprising to see scouts drooling about what a defenseman like Lamoureux could become at the NHL level. Lamoureux impresses with his size, ferocity, and ability to skate very well for his aforementioned size. On the flip side, he should look to become more consistent in his game as he can make frequent mistakes defensively. Physically, his potential is immense. He can dominate down low by pushing around the opposition. He takes away space so well. However, his reads and reaction time need work if he wants to become a quality defensive player at the NHL level. As an offensive player, he can lead the attack, however, his reads are inconsistent, and turnovers can be an issue. Even though he possesses the potential to be an offensive catalyst, he is currently at his best when he keeps things simple. Did the Coyotes reach by selecting Lamoureux in the first round? It is way too early to make that assumption. His development could take a lot of different forms because of his athletic tools. Eyes will be fixed on him in Drummondville this season as he looks to help the Voltigeurs to a better record and become one of the Q’s top two-way defenders. - EB

9 - Artyom Duda D Russia

It’s hard to find a lot of prospects that would seem to me as controversial in terms of the game style as Artyom Duda. He is really enjoyable to watch in the attacking zone (especially when orchestrating the powerplay), as he got the skating, puck skills and a very dangerous shot. When it comes to his all-around game, I’d say watching him can be even annoying, as he leaves an impression that his game style is too relaxed and lacks intensity, which is not something you can get away with outside of the junior level. Still if we look at this season the positive side of him clearly prevailed, as his offensive production was just outstanding and that convinced the Coyotes management to draft him relatively early – at the start of the second round of the 2022 NHL draft. Considering the concerns that I have described above it would be very interesting to see Duda playing at least on the VHL level next season, but unfortunately, judging by the preseason it is not something guaranteed at all. If I understood correctly, he still has two more seasons on the current KHL contract, so the Coyotes fans will have to wait a bit, but at least at that point it might be clearer what we are getting in him and how his development is going, still I think it would be fair to say that we can have a Top4 NHL defenseman potential in our mind.

10 - John Farinacci C US

While John Farinacci’s development track hasn’t been the smoothest ride — just one look at his 2020-21 season confirms that — he has made steady progress since being drafted 76th overall at the 2019 draft, and he’s one of many quality Coyotes prospects currently playing college hockey. Farinacci has been a useful player at Harvard, but he hasn’t truly cemented himself as a high-end college player the way his teammates, fellow NHL prospects such as Matthew Coronato and Sean Farrell, have. There are positives and negatives to the outlook and projection of players who play specific roles in college, and Farinacci’s game is no different. On one hand, Farinacci is playing the sort of role he’s likely to occupy as a pro, getting extensive experience in the situations he’ll be asked to handle in pro hockey. He’s a leading penalty killer, and he’s a bit of a Swiss army knife, playing a versatile enough game to fill in the gaps anywhere he’s asked. The result of this is Farinacci should have a relatively easy time meeting the expectations of the professional game. But the downside associated with his college role has been that his upside as a pro player remains relatively limited. Beyond a decent shot that’s allowed him to score double-digit goals in each of his two college seasons, Farinacci lacks the offensive tools that will lead him to reliably create offense at the next level. There’s no separation gear to Farinacci’s game, and when he does go on the attack he doesn’t deceive or manipulate defenders, he doesn’t have the sort of habits that give confidence that his offense will translate to more difficult levels of hockey. The other aspects of his game will have to carry him, and to what degree his offense carries from college to pro hockey will determine his likelihood of having an NHL career. - EH

11 - Julian Lutz

The big German winger’s draft year was a disaster because of injuries; however, he remained a high pick for a reason. His combination of size, speed, and scoring ability make him a potential NHL player.

12 - Jack McBain

The Coyotes acquired the rights to McBain after a terrific senior year at Boston College. He should make an immediate impact for the Coyotes in their bottom six with his size and physicality.

13 - Nathan Smith

Similar to McBain, Smith had his rights acquired by the Coyotes and then immediately joined the team to finish the season. An intelligent two-way forward, he profiles as a future middle six player for Arizona.

14 - Vladislav Kolyachonok

The Belarussian defender split last season between Arizona and the AHL and could be positioned for a full-time role this year. His mobility is a major asset in the defensive end as he can be aggressive in closing quickly on attackers.

15 - Ivan Prosvetov

The massive netminder likely has the inside track at the back-up job behind Vejmelka this season after three (somewhat inconsistent) years in Tucson.

16 - Conor Timmins

Injuries have derailed a once promising career and Timmins has struggled to remain healthy as a pro so far. This coming season is a big one for the former Soo Greyhound standout.

17 - Aku Raty

Raty showed great improvement in Liiga last season, and the expectation is that his offensive game will continue to blossom. The former 5th round pick is a potential bottom six player for Arizona because of his strong off puck play.

18 - Rasmus Korhonen

The 6’5 netminder will try to establish himself as a full time Liiga player this year after playing out last year in Mestis (second division).

19 - Ben McCartney

McCartney was a pleasant surprise for the Coyotes last year, after a strong pro debut with Tucson. The hard-working winger is the perfect complement to more skilled players and is starting to look like a potential NHL player.

20 - Jeremy Langlois

A third-round selection of the Coyotes in 2022, Langlois is a competitive two-way defender. He will return to Cape Breton of the QMJHL and look to become one of the league’s elite defenders.

MCKEEN’S 2022 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: MOCK DRAFT #2

Sam Happi — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 12:08:00 +0000

*Of note, this mock draft was completed prior to the start of the Conference Finals, with Sam predicting how the results of those and the Stanley Cup would affect the end of the first round’s order.

Montreal Canadiens – C Shane Wright, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL

Expectations become high when you have the best OHL rookie season since Connor McDavid, and Wright has felt the other side of those expectations as his dominant, but not otherworldly so season has been perceived as underwhelming by many. In the grand scheme of things, though, Wright was still one of the OHL’s best players and no other draft eligible prospect has done enough to realistically unseat him as the draft’s top prospect. Wright’s wide-ranging offensive toolkit should make him the long-term number one centre for the Canadiens, a team who has struggled in past years to find talent for that position. They’ll be happy to be rid of that concern.

New Jersey Devils – C/W Matthew Savoie, Winnipeg Ice, WHL

Logan Cooley, despite having a strong case for the second-best player in the draft, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for a Devils team that already has Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, especially since Cooley’s connecting ability and two-way play, integral parts of his skillset, wouldn’t be as valuable out on the wing. Kemell would have been the natural choice in the fall, but the second half of his season hasn’t been nearly as strong as the first. Matthew Savoie has had an excellent draft season, can play both centre or wing, and has a great deal of powerplay acumen that could help New Jersey form one of the league’s premier top units, especially with triggerman Alexander Holtz in the system.

Arizona Coyotes – C Logan Cooley, USNTDP U18, USHL

The Coyotes are in the opposite situation of the Devils, possessing no real depth at centre (or anywhere else, but centre is considered the most important position to build at), so whereas Cooley seemed like a tough fit with the Devils, he is an obvious one in Arizona. He’s an excellent centre for a team with a lot of rebuilding in front of them to draft. Cooley is a strong two-way player with very good but not exceptional offensive upside, possibly making him better suited for the latter side of an eventual one-two punch for the team at the centre position. Cooley could be able to act as an adequate number one centre for the time being, with the idea of eventually being supplanted in that role by the type of top-of-the-draft star centre who the Coyotes, who don’t seem near any sort of breakup with the high side of the draft lottery, should still have several chances to grab.

Seattle Kraken – RD David Jiricek, HC Plzen, Czechia

A big, well-rounded right-shot defenceman is the type of player who can really stabilize a club, and the Kraken, still very young in their existence, are a team in need of stabilizing. Building a blueline is easier with a player to build around; bringing in a potential top-pairing staple would allow the Kraken to begin to determine the future of their blueline. This draft, uniquely, has two players who fit the description above in David Jiricek and Simon Nemec (even more interesting is the fact that both of them play in minor European leagues in Czechia and Slovakia, respectively). Jirichek seems to be the better liked of the two by most scouts, although it’s possible the Kraken lean towards Nemec if they favour a little more offensive punch.

Philadelphia Flyers – LW Juraj Slafkovsky, TPS Turku, Liiga

I’m not sure the Flyers will have any particular disposition towards any sort of positional need– they have some solid prospects all around but could use a high-impact prospect at each one. I think there’s tremendous potential for a club to fall in love with at least one of the Finnish prospects of Kemell, Juraj Slafkovsky, or Brad Lambert. Each one has their own reason– scoring for Kemell, exceptional physicality for Slafkovsky, and great speed for Lambert– but Slafkovsky’s stellar Olympic games has his stock quite high right now whereas Kemell and Lambert have had tough second halves to their seasons.

Columbus Blue Jackets – RD Simon Nemec, HK Nitra, Slovakia

Columbus already has some forward depth to their roster and plenty of scorers between Patrik Laine, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Cole Sillinger, Kent Johnson, and Emil Bemstrom. Additionally, a team having just experienced their first season removed from Seth Jones might feel the pull of a similarly big and mobile right-shot defender like Simon Nemec. There isn’t much depth to the right side of the Jackets’ blueline beyond Adam Boqvist, so this seems like a natural selection. If one of Nemec or Jirichek remain on the board at this point, I’d expect them to jump on it.

Ottawa Senators – RW Joakim Kemell, JYP, Liiga

Cutter Gauthier has been mocked to the Senators plenty after their surprise selection of Tyler Boucher last year, but I don’t know if the Senators will be eager to reach for another NTDP power forward considering the way Boucher played this past season. Despite his struggles over the second half, Joakim Kemell demonstrated some very real offensive skill with the start to his season and I expect there to remain plenty of believers in his ability as a scorer. He’d be an opportunity for the Senators to bet on skill, more akin to their Stutzle selection than the so-far less successful Boucher pick.

Detroit Red Wings – C Conor Geekie, Winnipeg Ice, WHL

It’s always difficult to predict what Detroit might do; perhaps they’ll run it back with a Seider-esque selection if one of the European blueliners fall to them (they could certainly use another quality defenceman or two). But Jirichek and Nemec may very well be off the board by pick 8, which likely leaves Detroit shopping for forwards. Michael Rasmussen doesn’t look like the top-six centre the Wings hoped him to be, but I could see them going back to the WHL for a centre with similar size, but far more skill to his game.

Buffalo Sabres – RW Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Djurgardens IF, SHL

The Sabres finally have some talent throughout their roster, making this pick a matter of accumulating depth and filling out their roster. Lekkerimaki has substantial scoring punch and was excellent at whatever level he played at this season, making him a strong choice for that type of pick. Adding a scoring winger never hurts.

Anaheim Ducks – LD Denton Mateychuk, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL

I really think Mateychuk has a good chance to jump into the top ten, a result of a combination of his excellent play this season and the apparent gap between the top two defenders in the class and the next grouping. The Ducks have some aging players on their blueline that will be up for replacement in the next few years, and Mateychuk brings an exceptional neutral zone game similar to Ducks’ long-term defenceman Jamie Drysdale. We’re seeing a lot of quick, aggressive defenders like Mateychuk find quick success, and I think the league is trending towards giving these types of defencemen more opportunities in the earlier stages of their careers.

San Jose Sharks – LD Pavel Mintyukov, Saginaw Spirit, OHL

The Sharks might also be inclined to go after a defenceman, given the uncertainty of their future at that position. Mintyukov had a bit of an up and down year, looking rather blunder-prone at first but settling things down over time. The one thing that is for sure is that Mintyukov has plenty of offensive skill: he’s extremely quick and agile, allowing him to walk the blueline and frequently activate forwards into the offensive zone. He has a strong set of hands and a good shot, making him a significant threat at those points. He put together an excellent season overall for Saginaw and played very well in the second half.

Columbus Blue Jackets – RW Danila Yurov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL

I have the Jackets taking Nemec, a defenceman, with their first pick, so it makes sense for them to look for a forward prospect that might be slipping down the board a little with their second try. In this mock, that forward is Danila Yurov. Yurov is well-accustomed to the professional game with over forty KHL games under his belt, but also found enough time between regular KHL appearances to dominate the MHL, Russia’s top junior league. He’s a strong forward with good speed and skill who might not be too far off from the NHL.

New York Islanders – LW/C Cutter Gauthier, USNTDP, USHL

Gauthier may not quite have the skill of teammates Isaac Howard and Frank Nazar, but his well-rounded offensive profile and more pro-suited game seem to have made him the most draftable NTDP forward in the class, especially after a strong showing at the U18s. Gauthier is a fast, strong power forward who does well to find opportunities around the slot with which to use his good shot and he’s eager to throw his body around, a trait the Islanders may value. His upside isn’t tremendous but he’s the type of solid all-around player that fits well with the Islanders’ identity.

Winnipeg Jets – C/RW Brad Lambert, Pelicans, Liiga

Winnipeg is a decent team with pretty solid depth at all positions. They’re more in need of an additional difference-maker than further depth, so they may be inclined to take a shot on Brad Lambert. Lambert is a terrific skater with impressive puck skills who entered the year as a top three candidate but underwhelmed in his draft season and has thus far failed to establish himself as a real contributor in Finnish professional hockey. It won’t be surprising if Lambert fizzles out in a third line, Kasperi Kapanen type role where he has little to contribute beyond excellent speed, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if he finally figures out the pro game and becomes the star he has potential to be.

Vancouver Canucks – LD Kevin Korchinski, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL

The Canucks blueline is in weird shape. The headliner, Quinn Hughes, is an outstanding player, but he’s followed by a couple of controversial veterans in Ekman-Larsson and Myers and then a hodge podge of so-so youngish players. It’s a blueline that could use another high-level prospect on the way, and so I think the Canucks may find themselves tempted with a player like Kevin Korchinski. Korchinski, a 6’2” defender for Seattle, exploded on to the draft scene with an absolutely stellar season that saw him total 61 assists in 67 WHL games. He’s a great skater with excellent vision up ice, a pair of traits which, combined with his frame, should make him difficult to pass up at this point in the draft.

Buffalo Sabres (from Vegas) – Frank Nazar C/RW Frank Nazar, USNTDP, USHL

Nazar is a dynamic forward with a lot of upside. Buffalo is extremely well-positioned to add some major talent at this draft– Lekkerimaki and Nazar would be a great haul, as would any combination of the players listed here. The small NTDP forward doesn’t always seem to be the type of players that NHL teams are super eager to snap up early at the draft, but they often go on to NHL success. Nazar is a great skater with impressive dual-threat offensive ability. He and teammate (and often linemate) Isaac Howard had similar statlines and are often ranked similarly, but I believe Nazar’s game is less perimeter-oriented and so he’s much more likely to be the first of the two to go at the draft.

Nashville Predators – LW Rutger McGroarty, USNTDP, USHL

Zachary L’Heureux and Fyodor Svechkov are the primary content of a Predators’ prospect pool that is rather weak overall. They could use a defensive prospect, but the next tier of defencemen is better suited for later in the first round, and the Preds’ forward group isn’t strong enough to justify forcing a defenceman. If they take a forward, they should be pretty happy with McGroarty: he’s a versatile offensive player with a great shot and good hands. Having three first-round calibre U20 forwards that can all play centre in the system is a luxury that Nashville would be happy to indulge in. McGroarty had a strong U18 tournament while captaining the American side.

Dallas Stars – LD Owen Pickering, Swift Current, WHL

If there’s a team that might reach a little on a defenceman in this range, it sure seems like it could be the Stars. They have some young firepower on its way on offence, but the blueline is one with little direction for the future. Heiskanen will lead the defence for a long time, but Thomas Harley is the only one of Heiskanen’s current supporting cast who doesn’t seem to be in his last few years with the club. Pickering is a 6’4” defenceman who skates well and rose throughout the season while putting up solid offensive results on a poor Swift Current team. He’s raw and has yet to really grow into his body but transports the puck fairly well and has a frame that NHL teams will like.

Los Angeles Kings – C Marco Kasper, Rogle BK, SHL

Kasper is a responsible 200-foot forward with professional experience in the Swedish league. He’s an effective physical player, winning battles around the boards and net, and does well finding space around the net for offensive opportunities. He captained Austria’s WJC team at the postponed tournament this winter and is a remarkably mature player who did not look out of place in the pro game. The Kings are currently made up of younger talent that supplement their older core, and Kasper is a player who could effectively support Kopitar and the offence in a 3C role before moving up to bigger things once the older core vacates their spots.

Washington Capitals – LW Liam Ohgren, Djurgardens IF, SHL

Ohgren has plenty of skill. He’s a shifty, agile skater that mixes gears well and can cut around defenders with ease. His wrist shot is a real weapon, and he has an intelligent eye as a playmaker. His 33 goals and 58 points in Swedish junior were quite the feat, not to mention the 25 SHL games that he played as an 18-year-old. Ohgren played alongside Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Noah Ostlund for Djurgarden’s J20, and most sources seem to have tabbed Lekkerimaki as the jewel of the trio, but Ohgren (and Ostlund) are no joke themselves. Ohgren was the highest scoring of the three and certainly has the skill to rival Lekkerimaki in my eyes; if a team snags him in this range, they’ll be very happy.

Pittsburgh Penguins – LW Isaac Howard, USNTDP, USHL

There isn’t much in the system here, so Pittsburgh might be inclined to take a bit of a shot with the idea of injecting some real talent to their depth chart. Howard is a dynamic offensive player that attacks defenders and scores a lot of goals, aided by a hard, deceptive shot. His 82 points in 60 games for the NTDP is an excellent mark and he excelled at the U18s, where he led the American squad in scoring. Howard’s aggressive offensive style, with him often going right at defenders one-on-one, can lead to quite a few turnovers and he’ll certainly need to make some adjustments for the pro game, but there’s no shortage of skill in this selection.

Anaheim Ducks – RW Jimmy Snuggerud, USNTDP, USHL

The Ducks already exceed their fair share of NTDP alumni, but Snuggerud’s booming shot and versatile game make him a strong fit for a team that is still filling out their forward ranks. Snuggerud is 6’2”, has a great shot, is responsible defensively, an effective forechecker, and can play some centre, which makes him about the exact type of player that every team would want to fill out their middle-six. A deficit of high-level playmaking ability will likely keep Snuggerud from any type of driving role in a top-six role, but he seems like a perfect fit for a complementary role. An effective day-to-day middle-six winger is solid value at this point in the draft and may be exactly what a Ducks team, that already has Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry, needs.

St Louis Blues – C/LW Jiri Kulich, Karlovy Vary, Czechia

Kulich’s two-way game should make him a good fit with the Blues’ identity and his stock is sure to be on the rise after a terrific display for the Czech side at the U18s. Kulich played in the Czech professional league and had a solid, unspectacular season, as is typical for his age. The scoring ability (he led the U18s with 9 goals in 6 games), skating, and overall well-roundedness that Kulich demonstrated at the U18s should have NHL teams bullish that there’s more to Kulich than what may have consistently shown at the pro level, and so he’s a candidate to rise on draft day.

Minnesota Wild – RD Seamus Casey, USNTDP, USHL

Casey’s 5’10”/161 lb frame is a difficult thing for a defenceman to overcome in his draft season without a spectacular offensive season, but the team that employs Jared Spurgeon should be especially aware that a small defenceman with skill and intelligence is very much capable of contributing at a high level. The Wild have their offensive weapons of the future in Kaprizov, Boldy, and Rossi, but haven’t given as much attention to their blueline yet. Casey provides a higher ceiling than some of the other defencemen that might garner late-first consideration and the current position of Minnesota’s blueline prospect pool is one where they should be shooting for impact players, not third-pair guys.

Toronto Maple Leafs – RW/C Filip Mesar, HK Poprad, Slovakia

Mesar played professional hockey in Slovakia, a bit of a difficult place to attract first round consideration but managed to catch the eye of scouts with a very strong Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and another solid pro season. He’s well-accustomed to playing above his age bracket, having two seasons of professional hockey and two U20 World Junior appearances under his belt at 18 years old. Mesar is a great skater with an excellent transition game, good hands and excellent passing skills, making him a nice fit for Toronto’s system. It would likely be ideal for Mesar to graduate out of the Slovakian league shortly and the Marlies could be a strong environment for him.

Montreal Canadiens – LW Ivan Miroshnichenko, Omsk Avangard, VHL

Miroshnichenko was pegged as a potential top-five prospect until his diagnosis with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was announced in March. He’s a strong power forward with a top-notch shot and excellent hands. He can barrel to the slot and beat goaltenders from all over the ice, making him a very dangerous offensive threat. His health is the concern, as there’s no saying when he’ll be able to return to hockey. But one thing is for certain: Miroshnichenko is fully deserving of a high pick, and I hope that a team will recognize that and support him through his recovery. Montreal snagged Wright at number one, so they can afford to take on a little more risk with their second first-rounder.

Arizona Coyotes – RW Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL

Here’s a team that badly needs talent, and Jagger Firkus has plenty. He’s extremely slight at 5’10”, 154 lbs, but Firkus was exceptional for Moose Jaw with 80 points in 66 games. He’s elusive, shifty, has a great release, and is always looking to work the puck to the slot. He reminds me of Seth Jarvis in a lot of ways, but with a little less puck skill. Firkus needs to bulk up and Jarvis’ 180 lbs on a 5’10” frame should probably be about the target. Arizona’s perpetual rebuild seems far from complete, as always, so they can afford to give Firkus some time to add strength and develop.

Buffalo Sabres – D Tristan Luneau, Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL

The Sabres have a third first rounder, having already grabbed forwards Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Frank Nazar in this mock. A former first overall pick in the QMJHL draft, Luneau had surgery last offseason and seemed to still be working his way up to full health for a good part of the year. He’s a two-way blueliner with a good outlet, a powerful shot, and a physical game. He’s fallen throughout the year as a result of his so-so draft season and rather average skating, but big right-shot defencemen that can chip in offensively are always prime targets at the draft and NHL teams might still view him highly.

Edmonton Oilers – D Ryan Chesley, USNTDP, USHL

With Evan Bouchard graduated and Philip Broberg knocking on the door, the Oilers are probably feeling that the time is just about right to bring in reinforcements to the prospect pool’s defensive corps. Chesley is a strong right-shot defenceman with an impressive transitional profile, consistently making the right reads on the breakout and moving the puck forwards efficiently. His offensive production wasn’t at the level usually seen from first round NTDP defenders, but he had a strong U18s and is ranked highly on Bob McKenzie’s scout poll, so this range isn’t unreasonable.

Tampa Bay Lightning – RW Jordan Dumais, Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL

Tampa hasn’t picked in the first round since 2019, so they’ll be looking to make the most out of this pick. Dumais ripped the QMJHL apart with 109 points in 68 games as a first-year draft-eligible but is most often ranked somewhere in the third round and didn’t even receive a combine invitation! He isn’t a great skater, doesn’t have the flashiest game, but is a highly intelligent forward with unreal offensive results. Current or former Lightning players like Brayden Point, Yanni Gourde, and Alex Barre-Boulet were overlooked by most teams for similar reasons, so I can see Tampa as one of the teams that will be interested in Dumais more than most.

Winnipeg Jets – C David Goyette, Sudbury Wolves, OHL

Goyette was an OHL rookie this season, since there were no games last year. He didn’t need much time to acclimatize though, immediately becoming Sudbury’s top-line centre as Quinton Byfield graduated to the NHL. As could be expected considering the circumstances, it was a bit of an up-and-down year for Goyette, but his season rates as quite impressive on an overall level. He skates well, has lots of puck skill, and was a dangerous scorer right from the get-go, but struggled with consistency throughout the year as he was effectively kept to the outside of the ice on some nights. Still, there’s lots of skill here and he deserves credit for putting together a nice season after being thrown right into the fire.

Arizona Coyotes – RW Adam Sykora, HK Nitra, Slovakia

This is pick number three for Arizona and the second near the end of the first round. Adam Sykora makes a fascinating upside pick for a team that already has eggs in a couple of baskets. He’s very young for the draft and won’t be eighteen until September, and yet he has two seasons of professional hockey in Slovakia under his belt and scored two goals in six games for Slovakia at the World Championships, where he was the youngest player in the tournament. He skates well, can score goals around the net, and has a very strong defensive game. This draft is loaded with talent from some of the smaller European hockey nations.

MCKEEN’S 2022 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: MOCK DRAFT #1

Zack Szweras — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 20:58:32 +0000

*Of note, this mock draft was completed prior to the start of the Conference Finals, with Zack predicting how the results of those and the Stanley Cup would affect the end of the first round’s order.

Montreal Canadiens: C Shane Wright, Kingston Frontenacs, OHL

While there has been speculation on who the Canadiens should select at first overall, Shane Wright is the clear-cut answer. Wright, who gained exceptional player status into the OHL at age 15 has been destined for NHL success from a young age. While his elite brain and two-way game are strong reasons for him to be selected first overall, he also produced this season putting up 94 points in 64 games for the Frontenacs. Wright provides the Canadiens with a potential top-six centre to pair with some already promising young talent with the likes of Kaiden Guhle, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and more.

New Jersey Devils: LW Juraj Slafkovsky, TPS Turku, Liiga

There was a large internal debate for this pick between Slafkovsky and Logan Cooley. While I feel Cooley may be the better prospect, Slafkovsky seems to be the perfect fit for the upcoming New Jersey team. Some NHL scouts believe Slafkovsky is close to NHL ready as he has NHL size and has already shown he knows how to use it, having great puck control and combining it with a good skating stride. The Devils already have a good centre depth with Hughes, Hischier and Mercer, adding the likes of Slafkovsky will fill a weakness on the wings and provide much needed scoring depth. A potential line of Slafkovsky-Hughes-Holtz should have Devils fans salivating.

Arizona Coyotes: C Logan Cooley, USNTDP U18, USHL

Arizona is in need of almost everything, so why not draft a centre who can do just about anything. Cooley is the perfect fit for the rebuilding Coyotes. He provides some elite offensive skill, including some wizardry with the puck on his stick, as well as solid play off the puck. Arizona has a shocking seven picks in the first two rounds. This should be a franchise defining draft for them and no better way to start it than securing a centre who should slot into their top-six in the next couple seasons. If Arizona is smart, they will send him to college for one year, let him develop and pair him with whatever top pick they get in next year’s draft.

Seattle Kraken: RD Simon Nemec, HK Nitra, Slovakia

Seattle’s GM Ron Francis looks to continue building his team from scratch, this year adding a potential franchise defenceman in Simon Nemec. After focusing on adding a franchise centre last year in Matty Beniers, Nemec adds a reliable force on the back end. Nemec’s game favours his offensive skill putting up 26 points in 39 games against men in the Slovakian league. He has also faced NHL competition participating in the World Championship where he has played nearly 19 minutes a night. Adding Nemec could give Seattle a bit clearer of an identity and direction the team is trying to build.

Philadelphia Flyers: RD David Jiricek, HC Plzen, Czechia

Philadelphia is in desperate need of a fresh start. With the end of their old core with the departure of long-time captain Claude Giroux, it is finally time for them to build a new core. While they made some bold decisions acquiring Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan Ellis, the best decision they can make is adding the towering, bruising, hard hitting David Jiricek. Unfortunately, due to a knee injury suffered in the World Juniors, Jiricek has not been able to show his growth and development for the majority of this season. However, he has shown enough raw skills, with his strong skating, hard shot and use of his big body to warrant a selection inside the top five. While it may take him a little longer to get to the NHL, he can turn into a homerun pick for the Flyers at five.

Columbus Blue Jackets (Via CHI): C/W Matthew Savoie, Winnipeg Ice, WHL

With their first of two first round picks, the Blue Jackets should elect to go the skill route and take the WHL rookie scoring leader Matthew Savoie who finished with 90 points in 65 games. The Blue Jackets received this pick from Chicago as part of the Seth Jones trade last year and look to continue to add to their deep prospect pool. After drafting the likes of Kent Johnson and Cole Slinger, there should be no reason why Columbus doesn’t take a flyer on Savoie and hope to round out his game around his elite skill. If one of the two right-handed defenceman, Nemec or Jiricek, make it to this slot at six, there is no doubt that Columbus will snatch them up.

Ottawa Senators: C Conor Geekie, Winnipeg Ice, WHL

This is probably one of the hardest picks to predict at this point. There is no certainty if Ottawa will keep this pick or deal it for immediate help, and if they do keep it who knows if they go off the board like last year. Now to get to who I believe they will take if they keep this pick, is Conor Geekie, brother of Seattle Kraken Morgan Geekie. One large hole in the Ottawa depth chart is at centre, and Geekie fits the mold of a Senators’ centre with a large frame, physical and high-end skill with slick puck handling and long reach to complement. There are concerns about his skating stride and if he will be able to keep up with NHL-level speed, but Ottawa takes the risk given his other attributes.

Detroit Red Wings: C/RW Brad Lambert, Pelicans, Liiga

It is no secret that the Red Wings need centre depth, kind of like the Senators. With this pick Steve Yzerman takes the speedy, skillful Finnish player that many have slid down their board due to poor production in Brad Lambert. If you watch the way Lambert plays the game, he deserves to be in the conversation for a top 10 pick. If any GM is willing to take the gamble on him it would be Yzerman, who has taken the risk before, for example Mo Seider and that has worked out pretty well. Lambert is in desperate need of a change of scenery. His game is probably better suited for North American style of play, so it will be interesting to see if whichever team drafts him brings him over to the CHL, with his rights currently owned by Saskatoon.

Buffalo Sabres: RW Joakim Kemell, JYP, Liiga

Back-to-back Finnish stars, who used to be teammates go in this mock draft. Buffalo with their first of three picks in this first round take one of the best scorers in this draft class in Joakim Kemell. Buffalo is in need of pretty much everything as they are finally starting to rebuild correctly, Kemell adds much needed scoring depth and an offensive piece to build around. As much as a centre would be ideal given the lack of depth after the Eichel trade, it is not worth it to reach for a centre here when they could draft one later with one of their other three picks.

Anaheim Ducks: LW/C Cutter Gauthier, USNTDP, USHL

The Ducks are in a fun phase in their rebuild, one where they are starting to win with their youth, however not winning enough to allow them to add a couple more pieces to their future core. The right piece for them is Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier has had a tremendous season for the NTDP playing mainly on the wing of Logan Cooley and providing scoring chances for himself and his teammates. At 6’2, Gauthier has a nice combination of size and speed which he uses to be effective in transition as well as on defence. Already having strong future centre depth lined up with Zegras, McTavish and Lundestrom, adding a scoring winger like Gauthier to complement will only boost them in the future.

San Jose Sharks: RW Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Djurgardens IF, SHL

After selecting William Eklund out of Djurgardens last year with their first pick, they go to the same well again selecting his teammate, Jonathan Lekkerimaki. Going into the year, Lekkerimaki was mainly known for his shot and goal scoring ability. However, as the year progressed, it was evident that Lekkerimaki was improving his playmaking ability and was starting to make smarter decisions with the puck. Looking at the Sharks prospect pool, they have plenty of playmakers, but are lacking true finishers, adding a player like Lekkerimaki could be an important piece in their rebuild.

Columbus Blue Jackets: LD Kevin Korchinski, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL

With their second pick in this draft, the Blue Jackets decide to go the defensive route, taking WHL offensive standout Kevin Korchinski. Korchinski was a playmaking machine this season producing 61 assists in 67 games for the Thunderbirds. He also has a strong combination of size and speed which he uses in transition and in the offensive end, to fend off oppositions and advance play offensively. The biggest knock on Korchinski is his lack of defensive awareness and his over-aggression to make a play. However, Columbus is willing to take a chance on him given his enormous offensive talent who has the ability to be a powerplay quarterback. After trading Seth Jones last year, adding Korchinski could help strengthen the backend of this retooling team.

New York Islanders: C Marco Kasper, Rogle BK, SHL

The Islanders are in a weird phase of aging veterans with very little in the cupboards in terms of the future. With what seems like their first lottery pick in forever, the Islanders decide to continue to build on their centre depth taking Austrian centre Marco Kasper. Kasper has spent the last couple seasons playing for a strong SHL team in Rogle and has proven to be a well-rounded player. Some of the skills he possesses include his long reach which he uses to defend well against men and his skating, which scouts rave about, especially his four-way mobility. While his offensive game is in question, given his low production in the SHL, he finished the SHL playoffs with 6 points in 13 games which is extremely impressive for an SHL player in his draft year.

Winnipeg Jets: LD Pavel Mintyukov, Saginaw Spirit, OHL

After focusing on drafting forwards in the past couple of drafts, the Jets decide to take a defenceman with their lottery pick this year. Granted Mintyukov is more of an offensive player than a defensive one. When Mintyukov has possession of the puck, look out, he is creative, speedy and aggressive with the puck, often moving it up ice to create offensive chances for Saginaw. His defensive efforts are concerning at times; however, some may be due to the unusual defensive play of Saginaw as a team. If the Jets draft Mintyukov and can fix some of the defensive issues, they will be left with a future top-pairing defenceman.

Vancouver Canucks: C/RW Frank Nazar, USNTDP, USHL

The Canucks are looking to add more offensive talent to their prospect pool and Frank Nazar will give you exactly that. Nazar has played the centre position almost exclusively this year for the USNTDP program but given his small stature at 5’10 a move to the wing in the NHL may be likely. Nazar has a great combination of speed and talent, often taking the puck from his own end and transitioning the puck into the offensive zone. Nazar was given the opportunity to play both special teams on top of being a top-six centre and has been able to make game-altering plays on both. His defensive game is probably the biggest concern as of now as at times he looks lost and unwilling to engage physically. Nazar could be a nice fit next to the likes of Elias Petterson and Brock Boeser for years to come.

Buffalo Sabres (Via VGK): LW Liam Ohgren, Djurgardens IF, SHL

With their second selection in the first round, Buffalo will go the Swedish route taking winger Liam Ohgren. At this point in their rebuild, Buffalo should focus on grabbing the best player available and not worry about positional depth. After drafting Isak Rosen out of Sweden last year and having three first round picks they may be likely to take at least one of the three Swedish forwards who project as first rounders (Lekkerimaki, Ostlund and Ohgren). With Ohgren, Buffalo will be getting another strong motor offensive player. Ohgren is a hard worker who relies on his strength and above average shot to attack defenders. Adding both Kemell and Ohgren could boost the goal scoring depth of Buffalo’s farm system.

Nashville Predators: RW Danila Yurov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, KHL

While there is some speculation that Russian players may fall in the draft due to the uncertainty of getting players over to North America, Nashville takes a chance on a player with top-10 talent in Danila Yurov. Nashville has a history over the last couple of years of drafting out of Russia with the likes of Fyodor Svechkov, Yegor Afanasyev and Yaroslav Askarov. Yurov is a bit of an interesting case for this year’s draft. He split time between the MHL and the KHL, where he dominated play in the MHL and then, when he was in the KHL, they would barely play him making it tough for evaluators to get a good read of his play against men. Yurov clearly has skill when you watch him play, often being able to combine his puck handling and speed to get around defenders. He also provides strong backchecking and defensive play as a forward. Time will tell if Yurov can develop into a strong middle-six winger.

Dallas Stars: LW Isaac Howard, USNTDP, USHL

The Dallas Stars have been killing it with their drafts over the past couple of years, taking players like Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque. They decide to continue adding to their forward pool by taking USNTDP winger Isaac Howard. Howard is an excellent player in transition, often understanding where the open lanes are on the ice and exploiting them. His best attribute is his shot, which has a quick release with good accuracy. When watching Howard play, he often drives play on a line with Frank Nazar on it. Howard could use some work on his skating and overall defensive play, but he could turn out to be another strong offensive forward for the Stars who are currently shifting into this new core.

Los Angeles Kings: C/LW Jiri Kulich, Karlovy Vary, Czechia

The Kings are finally shifting out of their rebuild into a contending team with the majority of their young talent coming up and contributing already. While they could go the defensive route and add a defender like Mateychuk, Pickering or Bichsel, they decide to continue adding offensive playmakers in Jiri Kulich. Kulich is coming off of winning the MVP award at the U18 tournament, which featured the likes of Logan Cooley, Frank Nazar, Connor Bedard and more. He is another player who skates well and is heavily involved in transition. When in the offensive zone, his number one tool is his shot, something that was featured in the U18 tournament, leading the tournament in scoring with nine goals in six games. Kulich has the chance to stick down the middle at centre but could also be moved to the wing depending on the Kings’ need.

Washington Capitals: LD Denton Mateychuk, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL

The Capitals dominant era is near the end, and they are probably starting to look at how to retool their farm system. While they currently have a lot of talent up front, it makes sense to add to the backend and take a prospect like Denton Mateychuk. Mateychuk is another high-flying offensively talented defenceman. He uses his speed to help transition the puck well and join the rush. When in the offensive zone, he is able to find the open passing lanes and set his teammates up. Mateychuk is also a fine defender, not outstanding but good enough to warrant a selection here.

Pittsburgh Penguins: LW Rutger McGroarty, USNTDP, USHL

Just like the Capitals, all signs point towards the end of a strong era in Pittsburgh with the likes of Malkin and Letang potentially out the door. While Pittsburgh’s prospect pool is fairly bare, they look to add a player with leadership, physicality and goal scoring ability in Rutger McGroarty. The captain of the USNTDP McGroarty has led this strong group of players to many wins this season, often helping by scoring 35 goals in 54 games. With the old Pittsburgh core out the door, it is nice to start the new core with a player with his kind of leadership.

Anaheim Ducks (Via BOS): LW Ivan Miroshnichenko, Omsk Avangard, VHL

It was a tragic moment in the hockey world when it was announced that Ivan Miroshnichenko was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. There is positive encouragement about his progression through Lymphoma, making teams think about using their first-round pick on him. The Ducks with multiple picks in the first round decide to take a chance on Miroshnichenko in hopes that he can get back to the level of hockey he was playing and turn into a top-six power forward. Miroshnichenko has a good combination of size and speed which he uses to protect the puck and cycle play. On top of that he also has a wicked shot, something which carried him to be a consensus top-5 pick at the start of the year.

St. Louis Blues: LD Owen Pickering, Swift Current, WHL

St. Louis is another one of those weird teams rocking an aging core, although their window seems to be more open than some others. The biggest hole in their depth chart and prospect pool seems to be defence, so they decide to add to it by taking the towering defenceman out of Swift Current, Owen Pickering. Pickering plays his game with good size and speed, often leading his team in zone exits and entries transitioning play to the offensive end. On top of his mobility and transition game, he also uses his size and speed to close gaps easily and lay the body when necessary. There is a bit of limited offensive upside in Pickering’s play but adding a reliable big puck moving defenceman at this point in the draft is worth it for the Blues.

Minnesota Wild: RW/C Filip Mesar, HK Poprad, Slovakia

Mesar is often the forgotten Slovakian in this year’s draft. Everyone knows the big names of Slafkovsky and Nemec and even Adam Sykora is getting attention after his play at the World Championship. Mesar should not be forgotten and probably will end up being a steal if he falls down to 24th overall. Mesar’s bread and butter is his smooth skating and strong playmaking ability. When he has the puck, he always has his eyes up scanning the ice for open teammates and a lane to feed the puck through. Minnesota has a knack for finding talent throughout the draft and it will not shock me if they find more talent, this time with Mesar. Minnesota is also reaching some cap trouble and may need to rely more heavily on some of their prospects developing soon. Mesar has already played against men in the Slovakian league the past two seasons.

Toronto Maple Leafs: RW Gleb Trikozov, Omsk Yastreby, MHL

Gleb Trikozov is one of the most polarizing prospects this year, even between our own scouts, there are people who absolutely love his game and some who don’t see how he will make much of an impact. I am one of the people who love Trikozov’s game. He has a strong combination of size and speed as well as slick hands, dominating play in the MHL. In transition it is nearly impossible to stop Trikozov as he brings the puck into the offensive end and when he is in the offensive end, he has the playmaking and scoring skills to generate scoring chances. Toronto is another team who has drafted plenty from Russia in the past and strikes me as a team not afraid to do so again.

Montreal Canadiens (Via CGY): RD Sam Rinzel, Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL

With their second pick in the first round, Montreal should focus on upgrading their defensive depth. Rinzel seems to fit the mold the new Canadiens’ regime is aiming for. He has a great toolkit with strong skating ability, good offensive game and size to back it up standing at 6’4. Rinzel may be more of a project than some other defencemen in this draft, however the upside he provides with his raw talent and good athletic ability is too tempting for a rebuilding team like Montreal to pass up on.

Arizona Coyotes (Via CAR): LD Lian Bichsel, Leksands IF, SHL

As mentioned up above, Arizona is in need of everything looking at their current roster and prospect pool. In Bichsel, Arizona is getting a strong defender who is already proving himself as a regular in Sweden’s top league the SHL. While he may not be the flashiest defender or have much offensive game, he provides good defensive intangibles including a long reach, physicality and good gap control. Even if his offence does not translate to the NHL Bichsel should make it as a regular on his defence alone. Adding Bichsel strengthens the backend prospect wise for Arizona, who can continue strengthening their prospect pool with five more picks left in the first two rounds.

Buffalo Sabers (Via FLA): C Noah Ostlund, Djurgardens IF, SHL

With their final pick in the first round, Buffalo addresses their lack of centre depth by taking a second Swedish player from the Djurgardens system in Noah Ostlund. Ostlund is a playmaking centre who plays well in transition due to his combination of speed and puck skills. What is more impressive about Ostlund is his play off the puck, always putting himself in position to be open allowing his teammates to rely on him when they are in trouble. Ostlund put up strong numbers in the Swedish junior league producing 33 assists in 32 games. Adding both Ostlund and Ohgren as they have done in this mock draft, would give Buffalo a pair of teammates who complement each other.

Edmonton Oilers: RW Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL

After making a deep playoff run this year, Edmonton is in a position to add to their offensive depth. This time taking Jagger Firkus, a winger with some of the best stickhandling ability in this draft. When Firkus has the puck on his stick, there is always a strong possibility of him pulling off an insanely creative move. On top of his puck skills, Firkus also has a speedy shot, with a quick release that can fool goaltenders. He was also one of the top rookie producers in the WHL this year, finishing the season with 36 goals and 80 points in 66 games for the Warriors. While Edmonton is very top heavy with their talent with McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman and more, adding Firkus can provide them with depth scoring and a middle-six piece for the future.

Tampa Bay Lightning: RD Seamus Casey, USNTDP, USHL

Tampa Bay’s farm system needs some replenishing and without first round picks in 2023 and 2024 they need to hit on this pick. With their pick, the Lightning decide to add to their defensive depth by taking USNTDP defenceman Seamus Casey. Casey is most comfortable in the offensive zone, using his strong playmaking ability to find teammates for good scoring chances. Casey was the USNTDP’s primary powerplay quarterback, using his playmaking ability to set up plenty of powerplay goals. The knock on Casey is that his defence is just okay, and his skating could be a problem once he reaches the NHL level, but the Lightning, who have developed a ton of players that are now on their Stanley Cup roster, are not worried about it and hope to turn him into a top-four defenceman.

Winnipeg Jets (Via NYR): C Nathan Gaucher, Quebec Remparts, QMJHL

With rumours circulating about Mark Scheifele potentially being dealt, it makes sense for the Jets to use their second first round pick on a centre. The Jets acquired this first round pick through the deadline deal with the Rangers for Andrew Copp. With Nathan Gaucher, the Rangers are getting a big bruising forward who uses his physicality in both the offensive and defensive end. In the offensive zone he is a strong net-front presence players, often winning positioning and puck battles extending offensive play for his team. The biggest flaws in Gaucher’s game are his poor skating and lack of awareness. Gaucher seems to have a safe floor as a bottom-six centre providing value physically, however the upside seems limited.

Arizona Coyotes (Via COL): C Owen Beck, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL

With their last pick in the first round Arizona should focus on continuing to improve their centre depth by selecting Owen Beck. Beck is another example of a two-way centre as he uses his combination of good speed and puck skills to help in transition, the offensive zone, on the penalty kill, basically wherever Mississauga needs him. While Beck is a well-rounded player, there isn’t much about his game that stands out as being great, which is why he projects as a top-nine centre. If Beck can add some muscle and improve physically, he will be an important bottom-six swiss army knife who can contribute on both special teams. Arizona can afford to give him as much time as he needs to develop considering they are in the thick of a rebuild.

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2022 NHL DRAFT FINAL RANKINGS – FIRST ROUND – TOP 32

Brock Otten — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 20:49:39 +0000

Shane Wright of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

Wow, was it ever great to have a somewhat normal scouting season again after the last two pandemic filled years. The Canadian Hockey League (OHL, QMJHL, WHL) played out a full season again and are in the midst of their Championship series’. The Swedish Junior leagues also returned to a full slate. The Under 18’s were exciting, with Sweden upsetting the gold medal favourites from the United States. Sure, we didn’t get a World Junior A Challenge and Canada didn’t participate in the Hlinka/Gretzky at the start of the year, but overall, the 2021/22 scouting season was significantly easier.

The only real challenge is the ranking of Russian/Belarussian players due to the sanctions lobbied against those countries for their unjust military campaign on the Ukraine. They did not play at the U18’s. They will not be allowed to enter the CHL Import Draft next year. Acquiring VISA’s may be difficult for them in North America next year, should they sign pro deals. And that’s without mentioning the ever-complicated KHL/NHL relationship that always muddles draft prognostication. Bottom line, where these players go in the NHL draft this year is the true wild card. Rather than try to predict that, we have ranked said players based on their talent level and where we believe they should go. Having had conversations with scouts, the sense is that the numerous circumstances surrounding them will lead them to drop.

As for our final list itself, Kingston Frontenacs center Shane Wright remains on top. Admittedly, it was closer than it was to start the year, with Logan Cooley and Juraj Slavkovsky really pressing him, but we ultimately felt that his combination of a high ceiling, and safe floor, in addition to his position (a true center), made him the most valuable player available. In our draft guide, we will go in depth on some concerns over his play down the stretch but know that Wright remains our number one heading into the 2022 NHL Draft.

Rounding out the top three are the aforementioned Cooley and Slafkovsky. Cooley slots slightly ahead due to his pace, skill, and ability to play down the middle. Whereas Slafkovsky’s strong international resume to close out the year pushes him up to three from number seven in our midseason list. Both of these players project to be impact players in the NHL…and quickly. It would not shock us if both were in the NHL for 2023/24.

At four and five we have everyone’s favourite debate; Simon Nemec vs. David Jiricek. We like Nemec’s processing ability slightly better and believe that he has more offensive upside than people give him credit for. Whereas Jiricek probably has a higher overall ceiling, but also a lower floor. Both defenders would be terrific selections for any NHL team this year and should develop into potential top pairing anchors.

Concluding the top ten are a slew of potentially dynamic offensive forwards; Matthew Savoie, Joakim Kemell, Brad Lambert, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Danila Yurov. All five come with some inherent risk; be it size concerns, production concerns, or contract concerns, but they each represent the opportunity for an NHL team to select a first line play driver.

When we look at the differences between our midseason list (released in January) and our final rankings, there were many players who climbed and many who fell. Let’s take a look at the five biggest risers and the five biggest fallers:

The Risers

Kevin Korchinski (from 46th to 18th)
Jonathan Lekkerimaki (from 21st to 9th)
Noah Warren (from 98th to 38th)
Lane Hutson (from 63rd to 40th)
Ryan Chesley (from 55th to 34th)

Bonus- Adam Sykora (from HM-Outside the Top 100 to 48th)

The Fallers

Seamus Casey (from 17th to 39th)
Ty Nelson (from 24th to 46th)
Simon Forsmark (from 27th to 68th)
Ludwig Persson (from 42nd to 88th)
Jorian Donovan (from 95th to 194th)

McKeen's Subcribers can access the full 224 player list with Honourable mentions HERE - link through to the player profile. As the draft in Montreal draws nearer, be sure to pick up our 2022 NHL Draft Guide, which will include many feature pieces, write ups on all players ranked (and HM’s), an early 2023 ranking, and much more. This guide should be available in the next week or so. You can go here to subscribe.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	HT/WT	DOB	NATION	TEAM	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Shane Wright	C	6-0/190	5-Jan-04	Canada	Kingston (OHL)	63-32-62-94
2	Logan Cooley	C	5-10/175	4-May-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	51-27-48-75
3	Juraj Slafkovsky	LW	6-4/220	30-Mar-04	Slovakia	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	31-5-5-10
4	Simon Nemec	D	6-0/190	15-Feb-04	Slovakia	HK Nitra (Svk)	39-1-25-26
5	David Jiricek	D	6-3/190	28-Nov-03	Czech	HC Plzen (Cze)	29-5-6-11
6	Matthew Savoie	C	5-9/180	1-Jan-04	Canada	Winnipeg (WHL)	65-35-55-90
7	Joakim Kemell	RW	5-11/175	27-Apr-04	Finland	JYP (Fin-Liiga)	39-15-8-23
8	Brad Lambert	C	6-0/180	19-Dec-03	Finland	JYP-Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	49-4-6-10
9	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	RW	5-11/170	24-Jul-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (SHL)	26-7-2-9
10	Danila Yurov	RW	6-1/175	22-Dec-03	Russia	Stalnye Lisy (MHL)	23-13-23-36
11	Pavel Mintyukov	D	6-1/195	25-Nov-03	Russia	Saginaw (OHL)	67-17-45-62
12	Frank Nazar	C	5-10/175	14-Jan-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	56-28-42-70
13	Cutter Gauthier	LW	6-2/190	19-Jan-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	54-34-31-65
14	Conor Geekie	C	6-3/195	5-May-04	Canada	Winnipeg (WHL)	63-24-46-70
15	Jiri Kulich	C	6-0/175	14-Apr-04	Czech	Karlovy Vary (Cze)	49-9-5-14
16	Filip Mesar	C	5-10/165	3-Jan-04	Slovakia	HK Poprad (Svk)	37-8-8-16
17	Denton Mateychuk	D	5-11/190	12-Jul-04	Canada	Moose Jaw (WHL)	65-13-51-64
18	Kevin Korchinski	D	6-2/185	21-Jun-04	Canada	Seattle (WHL)	67-4-61-65
19	Ivan Miroshnichenko	LW	6-1/185	4-Feb-04	Russia	Omskie Krylya (VHL)	31-10-6-16
20	Jagger Firkus	RW	5-10/155	29-Apr-04	Canada	Moose Jaw (WHL)	66-36-44-80
21	Liam Ohgren	LW	6-0/185	28-Jan-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	30-33-25-58
22	Noah Ostlund	C	5-11/165	11-Mar-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	32-9-33-42
23	Isaac Howard	LW	5-10/185	30-Mar-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	60-33-49-82
24	Marco Kasper	C	6-1/185	8-Apr-04	Austria	Rogle (SHL)	46-7-4-11
25	Alexander Perevalov	LW	6-0/190	16-Apr-04	Russia	Loko (MHL)	44-25-26-51
26	Gleb Trikozov	LW	6-1/185	12-Aug-04	Russia	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	35-23-22-45
27	David Goyette	C	5-10/170	27-Mar-04	Canada	Sudbury (OHL)	66-33-40-73
28	Sam Rinzel	D	6-4/180	25-Jun-04	USA	Chaska (USHS-MN)	27-9-29-38
29	Tristan Luneau	D	6-1/190	12-Jan-04	Canada	Gatineau (QMJHL)	63-12-31-43
30	Calle Odelius	D	5-11/185	30-May-04	Sweden	Djurgardens (Swe J20)	43-7-23-30
31	Jimmy Snuggerud	RW	6-1/185	1-Jun-04	USA	USN U18 (USDP)	59-24-39-63
32	Vladimir Grudinin	D	5-10/160	9-Dec-03	Russia	Krasnaya Armiya (MHL)	18-2-11-13