Daniel Torgersson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #13 Winnipeg Jets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Profiles

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:02:11 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 29: Winnipeg Jets forward Brad Lambert (47) tracks the play during the Winnipeg Jets versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 29, 2022, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

What a difference a year makes. The Jets have had high expectations for a number of seasons, coach Rick Bowness had inspired the team to squeak into the playoffs in 2022-23, but ultimately lost in the first round of the playoffs. There was a lot of speculation to start the season around two key players in Mark Scheifele and elite goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, and their future on the prairies. In the summer, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff traded Pierre Luc Dubois for a healthy return in Alex Iaffalo, Gabriel Vilard, Rasmus Kupari, along with Montreal’s second in 2024 (37th) suggesting further change to come. He then surprised the hockey world by signing both his key free agents to eight-year, $8.5 million AAV contracts on the eve of the start of the season, cementing them as core pieces. Retiring coach Bowness, while missing some time for health reasons, did a masterful job producing a 100-point season, good for fourth in the league. Hellebuyck returned to Vezina trophy form, and there is optimism in Winnipeg again.

Cheveldayoff was an aggressive buyer at the deadline picks to acquire Sean Monahan, Tyler Toffoli and Colin Miller, all UFA’s this summer. The return was a first (2024), second (2025), third (2024) and a fourth-round picks (2026). Effectively clearing out significant draft capital. Whether any of those players return, with only a first-round loss to Colorado to show for it, Cheveldayoff sent a message that their window is now. The prospect system remains healthy, and relatively deep. There are seven prospects in our top 200, with a couple of players who could join Cole Perfetti as a graduate next season in Brad Lambert and Ville Heinola. They know their window for a championship is open, and with picks already gone, it would not be surprising to see any of the players move for more immediate help.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Brad Lambert	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	`22(30th)	64	21	34	55	38
					Winnipeg (NHL)	`22(30th)	1	0	1	1	0
2	Colby Barlow	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	`23(18th)	50	40	18	58	27
3	Chaz Lucius	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	`21(18th)	17	2	11	13	6
4	Rutger McGroarty	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	`22(14th)	36	16	36	52	6
5	Ville Heinola	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	`19(20th)	41	10	17	27	24
6	Nikita Chibrikov	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	`21(50th)	70	17	30	47	53
					Winnipeg (NHL)	`21(50th)	1	1	0	1	0
7	Elias Salomonsson	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	`22(55th)	31	2	9	11	58
8	Dmitry Rashevsky	RW	23	6-1/165	Dynamo Moskva (KHL)	`21(146th)	67	24	19	43	20
9	Jacob Julien	C	19	6-4/180	London (OHL)	`23(146th)	67	29	49	78	53
10	Danny Zhilkin	C	20	6-1/195	Manitoba (AHL)	`22(77th)	44	2	5	7	22
11	Domenic DiVincentiis	G	20	6-2/185	North Bay (OHL)	`22(207th)	42	27	9	3.13	0.895
12	Thomas Milic	G	21	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	`23(151st)	33	19	9	2.72	0.900
13	Daniel Torgersson	LW	22	6-3/200	Manitoba (AHL)	`20(40th)	52	1	8	9	12
14	Dmitri Kuzmin	D	21	5-10/175	Norfolk (ECHL)	`21(82nd)	24	2	7	9	4
					Manitoba (AHL)	`21(82nd)	18	1	2	3	6
15	Parker Ford	C	23	5-8/170	Manitoba (AHL)	FA(3/23)	72	18	23	41	57

1. Brad Lambert, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Getting to join the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds halfway through last season was exactly what the doctor ordered for Lambert’s development. He found himself excelling at a high level once again, he got to feed off of other top prospects who were his age, he got to experience what it takes to win a league championship, and most importantly of all, he has carried over all that progress with him to the professional level. He had an incredible AHL rookie season with the Moose, finishing as the team’s top scorer. That barn can get pretty raucous at times, and the way that he was able to regularly feed off of that energy and use it to his advantage was a great preview of him being able to do it in the NHL. He is a thrilling center who is borderline elite with his skating ability and puck skills.

2. Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Barlow's game did not take a big step forward this season as expected, and while there's no reason to overreact or hit the panic button, the Jets surely would have had questions for him about what happened. In his defense, playing for an outgunned Owen Sound team that never really looked like a contender was probably a large part of the equation. And even though his assist totals cratered, he still cracked the 40-goal mark for the second consecutive year. He's an explosive skater, hard-nosed grinder and an authoritative finisher, and he shouldn't need to make any serious adjustments to how he plays in order to be successful as an NHLer because his strengths are so useful in different roles and situations. He's an odds-on favourite to make the Canadian roster for the next World Juniors and might even wear a letter for that group.

3. Chaz Lucius, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Is Lucius one of the unluckiest top prospects in the hockey world? It certainly seems that way. He’s only 21 years old but has already experienced his hockey career being beset with knee, ankle and shoulder injuries that have all resulted in surgery being required. It’s an incredible shame, too, because he always looks excellent when he’s healthy, and has shown no trouble at all adjusting to different leagues and levels of hockey. The greatest strengths of his game have always been in the offensive zone and around the opposing team’s crease, but that’s also an area where a lot of punishment is doled out, and there are now unfortunate yet unavoidable questions about whether his body will be able to withstand making a career out of playing that way. If good luck isn’t going to come to him naturally then he might need to make some adjustments to save his career.

4. Rutger McGroarty, LW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

McGroarty is a very intriguing prospect, because his game is fairly pigeonholed, yet he’s an undeniable expert in two specific areas: in the cycle and at the net front. There’s actually an art to scoring greasy, blue-collar goals, and he seems to have mastered it. He is an absolute tank sometimes down low, with an abundance of lower-body strength, and once he gets himself dug in at the top of the crease, he can be nearly impossible to box out or win body positioning against. He’s also very hard to contain when he tries to take the puck from the wall or behind the goal line into a better scoring position. His feet are, unsurprisingly based on what was just said, quite heavy and slow, but he keeps working hard to improve his quickness and mobility. There was talk of him turning pro this spring, but he elected to spend another year in college.

5. Ville Heinola, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

If Heinola doesn’t make the Jets out of training camp next fall the reaction from some fans of the team could be riotous, because he’s a highly touted prospect who’s been on the cusp of making the team for five years in a row without being allowed to fully take that plunge. Making matters even more urgent, his waiver eligibility begins in 2024-25, so there would be a huge risk in trying to send him down again. He is a clever, fleet-of-foot defenseman who excels with puck retrievals and breakouts. There’s some offensive generation to his game as well, but it’s unlikely he’ll ever be a powerplay quarterback in the NHL. There are also concerns about his play-stopping ability that will be hard to ever shake. Winnipeg has three defensemen coming up for free agency this summer, so it feels like it’s going to be now or never for Heinola.

6. Nikita Chibrikov, RW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

After three straight years of splitting time across three levels of hockey, Chibrikov enjoyed newfound stability in 2023-24, dressing for 70 games with the Moose. And he must have had no complaints whatsoever about the single outlying game where he donned a different sweater, because that was his NHL debut with the Jets, and he got to celebrate it by scoring his first goal. He and fellow AHL rookie Lambert have found a lot of chemistry together, as they both possess blazing speed and slick hands that can make enemies miss, and they're bringing much-needed fresh blood into the organization's forward ranks. He’s also handled the increased physicality of hockey on this side of the world much better than was expected. As he continues to adjust to the structure of North American hockey his skill should gradually keep shining through.

7. Elias Salomonsson, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Injuries continue to be a recurring theme in Salomonsson's young career, but the good news is that they don't seem to be slowing down his long-term progression all that much. Him earning a legitimate roster spot and regular ice time on a great Skellefteå team has played a key role in keeping things on track, because they fought their way to back-to-back appearances in the SHL final, which provided him with more games to play in and a beneficial type of experience that not all prospects get to receive. He's a puck-moving defenseman who is slippery and serpentine on breakouts and at the offensive blueline, in an oddly similar way to Skellefteå alumnus John Klingberg, and has been rounding out his game in the time since his draft day by becoming grittier and more committed in his own zone.

8. Dmitry Rashevsky, RW, Dyanmo Moskva (KHL)

Rashevsky isn’t exactly considered to be a top prospect, but when it comes to sheer entertainment value, there aren’t many others out there who can match him. He’s an offense-first winger who is almost monomaniacal about beating opposing defenders one-on-one, and it’s kind of hard to fault him for that, because he’s undeniably great at it. He’s endlessly confident, and at the drop of a hat is always ready to launch another attack. There were previous frustrations about him having horse blinders on too often and not working with his teammates enough, as well as about him not applying the same level of furious commitment to his off-puck play, but he’s made a lot of progress in those areas over the past three seasons in the KHL. Can he stick in the NHL with how he plays? If it does happen, he’ll be pretty unique among wingers in the league.

9. Jacob Julien, C, London Knights (OHL)

The secret to scouting doesn't lie with simply analyzing what a prospect is good or bad at right now, but rather, trying to project how they will develop and predict what their game will look like in the future. That was Winnipeg's philosophy when they drafted Julien, and so far it's looking pretty darn wise. The lanky center keeps growing into his body, the London Knights keep using their development expertise to grow his skillset, and the results of the project have been fantastic, with significant year-over-year growth. As of this writing he's one of the top scorers on a Knights team that is chasing an OHL title, and as their number one center he had back-to-back hat tricks to eliminate Kitchener in the second round. His long reach and fluid footwork make him hard to contain and help him navigate the ice while exerting minimum effort.

10. Danny Zhilkin, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Zhilkin enjoyed some moderate success during his time in the OHL but had a disastrous first year in the AHL. Drafted because of perceived upside as a two-way center, there are now concerns because his progression in both areas seems to have stalled. None of his individual offensive tools stand out and the overall package doesn’t seem like it will be enough to set him apart, so his shot at becoming a future NHLer will rest on his skillfulness killing penalties, handling tough matchups, and eating a lot of heavy defensive zone minutes in general. Can he make a regular living in the NHL as a Bottom 6 pivot? He already has the commitment and shift-over-shift work rate in place, but he will still need to improve his top speed and mix in a little more sandpaper to his defending than he’s used to currently.

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 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #13

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 15:12:09 +0000

Top 20 Winnipeg Jets Prospects

1. Colby Barlow

There are a multitude of reasons why Barlow has already been so successful as a junior, scoring 46 goals for the Owen Sound Attack last season. He plays the North/South power game to a tee. A strong forechecker, he consistently applies pressure in pursuit, and has a clear understanding for using his size and strength to get to the middle of the ice and to the net. He also has a tremendous shot, one of the better ones from the 2023 draft class. Another thing that makes Barlow so valuable is his two-way effectiveness. An excellent penalty killer and a strong board player, he is not shy in using his strength to separate players from the puck. Very few top-end goal scorers are committed two-way players like he projects as at the NHL level. On the other hand, there were reasons why some scouts were sceptical. His lack of dynamic skating can negatively impact his ability to transport the puck. Additionally, there are some limitations to his puck skill and creativity, all also limiting his play creation in transition. He is at his best when keeping the game simple and playing a complementary North/South attacking style. Advanced physically, Barlow should only need one more year in the OHL before he could be ready to take on a full-time role with the Jets.

2. Brad Lambert

Lambert is difficult to get a confident read on, because his performances can swing wildly between highs and lows. When he reaches those highs, his performances can be thrilling. His skating is magnificent, and he can pull off some truly dazzling plays with the puck in motion at top speed. He can also be a lethal shooter when he wants to be. A midseason change of scenery to WHL Seattle last season was perfect for his development, as he turned in the longest stretch of high-level hockey in years, as he was consistently at the very top of the game, and he kept getting better as the playoffs rolled along. Opposing WHL teams simply have no answer for him when he plays like that. The challenge now for Winnipeg will be finding a way to get this version of Lambert to somehow show up on a regular basis.

3. Chaz Lucius

You have to feel for Lucius after all of the bad injury luck that he has already faced in his young career. After previously battling through hand, ankle, and knee issues, he had to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery after just six games with his new team, WHL Portland. The most recent loss was surely devastating for the Winterhawks as well, as he had fit in fantastically from the get-go, putting up 15 points during those six games. When healthy, the impact he makes is undeniable. Lucius is a natural goal scorer, with excellent shot mechanics and accuracy. He can also improve his shooting opportunities by fending off defenders with his reach and strength or by making smooth dekes to pull pucks into better shooting areas. The hope is that he can stay healthy from here on out and become the star he occasionally shows signs of.

4. Ville Heinola

On many other teams in the league Heinola would have been a regular, everyday NHLer by now. Unfortunately for him, he has been predominantly stuck in the minors for multiple seasons due to Winnipeg's defensive depth. His game has improved by leaps and bounds in the AHL though, and if the Jets don't give him a full-time chance at the sport's highest level this season, then he will have every right to be frustrated. He possesses and moves the puck at a high level and has largely ironed out defensive concerns that were previously apparent, though his lack of strength and reach will always be somewhat of a detriment. He's always been more of an even strength puck-mover than an offensive specialist, but his point production saw a notable uptick in 2022-23. Heinola might not reach his top four ceiling if the Jets don't commit now to taking the training wheels off.

5. Rutger McGroarty

There are few prospects in hockey who are better within 10 feet of the opponent's net than McGroarty. He's superb in 50-50 battles and with establishing body positioning through strength and sturdy balance, and he blends those abilities with top-tier anticipation and hand-eye coordination, which makes him an expert at scoring greasy goals. If that wasn't enough, he can beat goalies clean with his shot from in tight or just outside the crease if given even just a little time and space. His heavy boots are a problem, and probably always will be to some degree, but how he is able to work around that weakness and still find success in his own way is very impressive. There are a lot of natural leadership elements here to work with as well. McGroarty knows exactly what kind of player he is and is leaning into mastering the way he plays.

6. Nikita Chibrikov

There exists a fine line between possessing a lot of pure individual skill and knowing how to use that skill within the structure of a team game. That's the dilemma facing Chibrikov, and it has persisted for years. There is no denying his abundance of talent. A fast and fluid skater, he can make flashy, confident moves with the puck. He loves to challenge defenders one-on-one and has what it takes to beat them often. The problem is that his game hits the wall because he'll try to do too much by himself and not play off his teammates enough. The lack of diversification with his attack is holding him back at the KHL level, and it will be even worse in North America. Chibrikov could become an effective top six winger after learning how to make that necessary adjustment.

7. Declan Chisholm

The Jets organization is very deep with young defenders, so the competition to stand out is fierce. Chisholm recognizes the situation very well and has been continually elevating his game accordingly. He's a play driver from the back end, excelling when he has the puck on his stick and relishing the responsibility of making sure it successfully gets up the ice. His hands, feet, and vision all work very well in conjunction, and he has a very assertive and incisive mindset about beating opposing layers of defenders. Navigating through traffic is a breeze for him. He still needs to show progress off the puck, but he'll be fine if he can focus on tightening up his gap control. If the Jets don't make roster space for Chisholm this season, with his exemption from waivers running out, don't be surprised if another team jumps at the chance to add a good, young asset for no cost.

8. Dmitry Rashevsky

From a pure entertainment standpoint, Rashevsky is exceptional and nearly impossible to take your eyes off of. His bag of puck tricks is overflowing, and he rarely passes up an opportunity to try something dramatic and exciting. He also possesses a high-end motor, so if he tries something that doesn't pan out, he'll work hard to get the puck back on the same shift and try something else. He's such a natural at pulling pucks past sticks and skates and into shooting spaces, and then picking his spots to beat goalies clean. He's a late bloomer because it took him a while to master his style of play, but now he's a legitimate star in the KHL. His skating, strength, and conditioning all need further work, but if he can show some improvement in those areas, he has real upside as an NHL scoring threat.

9. Artemi Kniazev

Kniazev hasn't really changed a whole lot since his draft year, which can be both a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. He is a play-driving defenseman who operates at a high pace and wants to be a possession conduit for his team. He jumps at every opportunity to join the rush and is always ready to follow it all the way up into prime scoring territory. There is an aggressive confidence to him, which is a mentality that can be used to his advantage. Problems arise when he plays with that kind of fire a little frequently. It would also be nice to see him expand his game to additional dimensions. Even if Kniazev remains a fairly one-dimensional, pigeonholed kind of blueliner, he could be a specialist as a play driver as he continues to master his craft.

10. Elias Salomonsson

Salomonsson is a right-shot defenseman with slippery lateral mobility and smooth puck control, and those will always have value in the NHL. His primary job is to get pucks on retrievals, escape forecheck pressure, and help ensure the play heads successfully up the ice, whether that's by deferring with passes or through navigating the impending traffic himself. Overall, he succeeds in what he is supposed to do, and is increasingly being trusted to do it at Sweden's highest professional level. He's also relatively effective at the offensive blueline, keeping pucks in the zone and helping to find or create a multitude of scoring chances. At one point it looked like he could be a major point producer from the back end, however that hype has cooled off a lot. Concerns remain about how much bulk he can add to help withstand the rigors of a long NHL career without losing his mobility.

11. Domenic DiVincentiis

A seventh-round selection last year, DiVincentiis has rocketed up rankings thanks to his remarkable OHL season that saw him named as the league’s top netminder. He has learned to harness his athleticism to be more composed in the crease and consistency has followed.

12. Danny Zhilkin

The offensive production in the OHL never really reached the levels that Zhilkin was thought capable of, but he’s still a very intriguing prospect because of his speed and skill from the center position. How he adjusts to the pro level this year will be closely watched.

13. Dmitry Kuzmin

Terrific offensive defender who can be a difference maker in transition because of his skating ability and skill. Was a totally different player in the defensive end last year, becoming increasingly physically assertive despite his lack of size. Can that carry over to the pro level?

14. Fabian Wagner

While Wagner was fantastic offensively at the WJCs for Sweden last year, his production in Sweden probably gives a better indication of his NHL upside. He’s a pretty straight-forward player who can play a variety of different roles because of his IQ and skating ability. He could be a longtime fixture on an NHL third line in the future.

15. Daniel Torgersson

The Swedish missile, Torgersson struggled to be a consistent offensive contributor with Manitoba last year as an AHL rookie. As he gains confidence, he probably has more to give physically, too. Winnipeg will be looking for him to take a step forward as an AHL sophomore this season.

16. Oskari Salminen

There were ups and downs in Salminen’s first season in Manitoba after signing with Winnipeg last summer. He looked fantastic at times,but not so great at others. Finding that consistency will be key for him if he wishes to push for a backup spot in the NHL.

17. Zach Nehring

Drafted out of Shattuck St. Mary’s this year, Nehring is a power skating, North/South winger who can drive the net. He has great upside due to his physical tools, but he remains a long-term project. He’ll play with USHL Sioux Falls this year before going to Western Michigan in 2024-25.

18. Simon Lundmark

At this point, Lundmark may not have a ton of upside to offer for the NHL level, but he can still develop into a solid third pairing, PK type in the future. He moves well, thinks the game well, and has good reach. Just don’t expect much out of him offensively.

19. Kristian Vesalainen

The former highly touted first round pick was still qualified by the Jets as they retained his rights following a return to Finland. Is he still in their plans long term? That probably depends on how he plays in Liiga. He was good last year, but he’ll need to develop into one of the better players in Finland in order to earn another look from the Jets.

20. Thomas Milic

Milic was finally selected in the draft in his final year of eligibility despite strong play in the WHL over a few years. His gold medal performance for Canada at the WJCs last year have likely finally sealed the deal. Will the undersized netminder return to WHL Seattle for an OA year or will he turn pro? That will likely be determined at Winnipeg’s upcoming training camp.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #17 Winnipeg Jets

Derek Neumeier — Sat, 20 May 2023 12:07:09 +0000

A second season in a row saw them finish out of the playoffs. They were first in the Western Conference in January, only to collapse down the stretch. Familiar narratives arose about leadership in the dressing room and their inability to deal with adversity. One of the most promising teams in the league a couple of years ago with a very strong prospect pool, the future looked bright. Coach Rick Bowness replaced a dispirited Paul Maurice, who had walked away from the team mid-season in 2021-22, primarily because he felt he could not motivate his players properly and lost his passion. An emotional Bowness pulled no punches in a year end interview, after having made numerous emotional public appeals to the team leadership. Change is in the air on the prairies.

While they have only had one graduation from the last five drafts, there are some interesting pieces in the system. Ranking in our top 200, Chaz Lucius and Brad Lambert at #40 and #41 respectively both have tantalizing upside. Lucius has had injury issues, slowing his development, but holds much promise, even star ability. Lambert has been a polarizing prospect since his draft year, with wild swings in performance. His dominant side showed itself more in the second half of this season with a move to Seattle mid-season triggering an impressive string. Ville Heinola is ready for the NHL, but defensive depth in the organization has held him back. Winnipeg retains their first for the next three drafts but have thinned out the other rounds through trades. They only have four picks for the upcoming draft. Management has big decisions to make whether they are retooling or going for it.

Chaz Lucius

You really have to feel for Lucius after all of the bad injury luck that he has already faced in his young career. After previously battling through hand, ankle and knee issues he had to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery after just six games with his new team, Portland. The most recent loss was surely devastating for the Winterhawks as well, as he was an immediately fantastic fit and put up 15 points in those six games. When healthy, the impact he makes is undeniable. He is a natural goal scorer, with excellent shot mechanics and accuracy. He can also improve his shooting opportunities by fending off defenders with his reach and strength or by making smooth dekes to pull pucks into better shooting areas. The hope is that he can stay healthy from here on out and become the star player he is capable of being.

2. Brad Lambert

Lambert is difficult player to get a confident read on, because his performances can swing wildly between highs and lows. However, when he reaches those highs, his performances can be a real sight to behold. His skating is magnificent, and he can make some truly dazzling plays with the puck in motion and at top speed. He can also be a lethal shooter when he wants to be. A midseason change of scenery to Seattle is looking brilliant right now, because this is the longest stretch of hockey in years where he has been consistently at the very top of the game, and he kept getting better as the playoffs rolled along. Opposing WHL teams simply have no answer for him when he is playing like this. The challenge now for Winnipeg will be finding a way to get this version of Lambert to somehow show up on a regular basis.

3. Ville Heinola

On many other teams in the league Heinola would have been a regular, everyday NHLer by now. Unfortunately for him, he has been predominantly stuck in the minors for a few seasons due to Winnipeg's defensive depth. His game has improved by leaps and bounds in the AHL, though, and if the Jets don't give him a full-time chance at the sport's highest level by next year, then he will have every right to be frustrated. He possesses and moves the puck at a high level and has largely ironed out defensive concerns that existed previously, though his lack of strength and reach will always be somewhat of a detriment. He's always been more of an even strength puck-mover than an offensive specialist, but his point production did see a notable uptick in 2022-23. Heinola might not reach his top four ceiling if the Jets don't commit now to taking the training wheels off.

4. Rutger McGroarty

There are few prospects in hockey who are better within 10 feet of the opponent's net than McGroarty is. He's superbly good in 50-50 battles and with establishing body positioning through strength and sturdy balance, and he blends those abilities with top-tier anticipation and hand-eye coordination, which makes him an expert at scoring greasy goals. If that wasn't enough, he can beat goalies clean with his shot from in tight or just outside the crease if given a little time and space. His heavy boots are a problem, and probably always will be to some degree, but it's very impressive how he is able to work around that weakness and still find success in his specializations. There are a lot of natural leadership elements here to work with as well. McGroarty knows exactly what kind of player he is and is really leaning into mastering the way he plays.

5. Nikita Chibrikov

There exists a fine line between possessing a lot of pure individual skill and knowing how to use that skill within the structure of a team game. That's the dilemma that Chibrikov is facing, and it has persisted for years. There is no denying that he is a prospect with a lot of talent. He's a fast and fluid skater, and he can make flashy, confident moves with the puck. He loves to challenge defenders one-on-one and has what it takes to beat them often. The problem is that his game hits the wall because he'll try to do too much himself and not play off his teammates enough. The lack of diversification with his attack is holding him back at the KHL level, and it will be even worse in North America. Chibrikov could become an effective top six winger after learning that necessary adjustment.

6. Declan Chisholm

The Jets organization is very deep with young defenders, so the completion to stand out is fierce. Chisholm recognizes the situation very well and has been continually elevating his game accordingly. He's a true play driver from the back end, excelling when he has the puck on his stick and relishing the responsibility of making sure it successfully gets up the ice. His hands, feet and vision all work very well in conjunction, and he has a very assertive and incisive mindset about beating opposing layers of defenders. Navigating through traffic is a breeze for him. There is still progress that he will need to make off the puck, but he'll be fine if he can focus on tightening up his gap control. If the Jets don't make roster space for Chisholm next season, when his exemption from waivers runs out, don't be surprised if another team jumps at the chance to add a good, young asset for no cost.

7. Dmitry Rashevsky

From a purely entertainment standpoint, Rashevsky is exceptional and nearly impossible to take your eyes off of. His bag of puck tricks is overflowing, and he rarely passes up an opportunity to try something dramatic and exciting. He also possesses a high-end motor, so if he tries something that doesn't pan out, he'll work hard to get the puck back on the same shift and try something else. He's such a natural at pulling pucks past sticks and skates and into shooting spaces, and then picking his spots to beat goalies clean. He's a late bloomer because it took him a while to master how he plays, but now he's a legitimate star in the KHL. His skating, strength and conditioning all need further work, but if he can improve those areas, he has real upside as an NHL scoring threat.

8. Elias Salomonsson

Salomonsson is right-shot defenseman with slippery lateral mobility and smooth puck control, and those will always have value in the eyes of NHL teams. His primary job is to get pucks on retrievals, escape forecheck pressure, and help ensure the play heads successfully up the ice, whether that's by deferring with passes or navigating the impending traffic himself. Overall, he succeeds in what he is supposed to do, and is increasingly being trusted to do it at Sweden's highest professional level. He's also relatively effective at the offensive blueline, keeping pucks in the zone and helping to find or create scoring chances. At one point it looked like he could be a major point producer from the back end, however, that hype has cooled off a lot. Concerns exist about how much bulk he can add to help withstand the rigors of a long NHL career.

9. Danny Zhilkin

Zhilkin is a blue-collar center who always puts forth an honest effort. Everything about his game grades out as good, albeit not spectacular. While he doesn't really excel in any one area or have one true standout trait, he also won't be a liability for his team in any scenario. He projects nicely as someone who can carve out a long career in a middle six role, acting as a duct tape option that his coaches can use to patch up a variety of different problems. Most successful teams have a versatile player like that on their roster, and they are especially valuable in the playoffs when injuries start to add up and roles have to shift. It's a pretty safe bet that Zhilkin will work his way into the NHL at some point, but he might not be someone that you'd ever want on your fantasy team.

10. Leon Gawanke

Similar to Chisholm, Gawanke has done a good job of handling the competition among young defenseman in Winnipeg's system. He is lower on the depth chart, though, and also might be an eventual waiver target for a different team that is willing to actually make room for him. He shoots right, and boy, does he like to shoot. He's a genuine goal-scoring threat from the blueline, which isn't as common as it used to be but still holds value. The rest of his game grades out as capably average. He is a staple for Germany in international events, and while those teams rarely win games the tournaments still provide valuable playing experience that most other mid-level prospects don't have access to.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors –Chapin Landvogt, Ethan Hetu, Zack Szweras, Viktor Fomich, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 23:00:48 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 18: Jets right wing Cole Perfetti (91) makes a pass from the point during the Winnipeg Jets versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on January 18, 2022 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Cole Perfetti LW

Perfetti was selected with the 10^th overall pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2020 NHL draft. He can play both centre and wing and provides immense skill and hockey sense. He has the unique ability to quickly problem-solve due to his reads of the ice, finding the soft areas. He is often able to scan the ice and find the holes and exploit them. While he may not be the fastest or strongest player, Perfetti’s IQ and puck skills more than make up for it, allowing him to stand out on the ice. While he will make the smart, simple play to advance possession, he also has the ability to make creative passes that have fans salivating. His shot is another weapon, particularly his lethal wrist shot, making it difficult for opponents to decide whether to play the pass or the shot when covering Perfetti. He has had scoring success in each level he has played in. In his rookie year in the OHL, he netted 37 goals and 74 points in 63 games for the Saginaw Spirit. He then improved on that in his draft year, producing 111 points in 61 games, finishing second in points in the OHL only to fellow first rounder, Marco Rossi. The Perfetti success story continued as he was forced to play in the AHL in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the OHL, and he was still able to produce with 26 points in 32 games. This past season he split time between the AHL and NHL, with 15 points in 17 games in the AHL, and 9 points in 18 NHL games. While Perfetti could benefit from refining his skating stride, there is no question that he should spend the entirety on next season in a top-six role in the NHL. - ZS

2 - Brad Lambert C

Drafted 30^th overall this past summer, Lambert was selected much lower than anticipated earlier in the year, much like Finnish predecessor Aatu Räty in 2021. Lambert entered the season looking like a top three pick, but had a disappointing year in Finnish Liiga, unable to repeat his prior statistical exploits while giving the scouting community plenty of reason to doubt his upside. Even a mid-season switch in teams couldn’t change his scoring fortunes. Furthermore, this summer’s WJC did nothing to dissuade existing doubts, as he wasn’t even dressed for the final playoff games against Sweden and Canada. In all, he had but one goal and a -2 in five games for a team that took silver. This performance was a far cry from his goal, five points, and +6 in the two winter WJC contests in December before that event was cancelled. There is no denying how incredible a skater Lambert is and that his hands and shot are possibly enough to allow him to become a regular NHLer, if not a star, at his peak. The speedster had already spent the entire 20-21 season in the Finnish Liiga (15 points), contributed four points in seven WJC games, and was a PPG player at the U18 Worlds. Unfortunately, the kinks he had as a 16/17-year-old playing pro are still clear. Was the pressure of his high draft stock too much for him? Lambert has time and several exceptional tools. He also has bloodlines; his uncle Lane will be the head coach of the New York Islanders this season. It is currently uncertain where the mercurial Lambert will spend the upcoming season. – CL

3 - Rutger McGroarty LW

Rutger McGroarty, at least at first glance, might not look like the prototypical top-fifteen prospect for a modern NHL draft. But the fact that he was selected that high by the Winnipeg Jets at the 2022 draft didn’t surprise many, especially those who have been around McGroarty. Most prospects are best known for their on-ice talent, the things they bring to the table after the puck is dropped. The thing that most separates McGroarty, the captain of the USNTDP, the USA’s U18 World Championships side, and a potential future captain of the Michigan Wolverines, has been how his character influences his overall profile. McGroarty is an ultra-competitive, fiery winger who approaches every shift with the sort of passion that’s sure to instantly endear him to both coaches and fans. He lives in the dirty areas of the ice, consistently looking to overwhelm opponents ill-equipped to handle his physicality. He drives the net, plays in the corners, and his overall offensive game shows a lot of pro-ready habits. His raw offensive talent won’t be mistaken for being elite, but he shows an understanding of how to deceive defenders and use his speed and timing to manipulate defenses that some might not expect from him. There’s real NHL upside to his offensive game, but his overall projection rests on him addressing the biggest issue in his game: his skating. McGroarty’s stride needs some work, and he’s not efficient at maximizing the distance he covers with the energy he expends. He’s not a slow player, by any means, but his skating could be what holds his impressive production as a prospect from translating to the pro game. He has a chance to become a top-six power forward, but the likeliest outcome is as a middle-six player who quickly becomes part of the leadership core of his NHL franchise. - EH

4 - Ville Heinola D

Judging by how long Heinola has been in (and out) of Winnipeg’s plans in recent years, it’s hard to believe that he was drafted 19th overall as recently as 2019. After suiting up for eight games right after being drafted (five points, +3), he ultimately spent the season with Lukko of Liiga and was a key player on Finland’s WJC team. He got into another five NHL games a season later, with far less success, but had 13 points in 19 Liiga games and then another 11 in 19 AHL games, outings that sandwiched another fine WJC showing for his native country. This understandably left Jets fans with the belief that Heinola was on the brink of a full-time NHL job. The 21-22 season saw him suit up for more NHL action than ever, but despite five points in 12 games, the competition on the Jets’ blueline was too much to crack. His AHL production was the best of his career and was topped by five points in five playoff games. Average-sized, Heinola has long looked a tick less mobile and lacking in explosiveness than many of modern defensemen, but his skating has definitely advanced to a point where it’s no longer an impediment, but a strength. Upper body strength will continue to require improvement, but his offensive instincts and his prowess on the blueline look ready for a prolonged NHL stint. An overload on the left side of the Jets’ blueline means he may still have to wait. – CL

5 - Nikita Chibrikov RW

Nikita Chibrikov is coming off a remarkable season, producing at over one point-per-game at the age of 19 and playing against pros in the VHL, both very rare in Russian hockey. We have clear indications that he has outgrown the lower levels in Russia, and he needs to play in the KHL, yet the depth of his KHL organization means it wasn’t likely to happen still. That is, until one of the biggest blockbusters of the Russian offseason saw Chibrikov traded to Spartak Moscow. This move should be greatly beneficial to the young forward, as Spartak needs more attacking skill and Chibrikov has plenty of it. Now his goal is clearer: he needs to grab onto a KHL roster spot and show that he can hack at the top level in Russia. Although easier said than done, especially considering Chibrikov’s youth and lack of size, the glass is more than half full. Whether or not he seizes a scoring role for Spartak, this is Chibrikov’s final year of his KHL contract, and even bigger changes might follow if he isn’t given a big chance to shine this year, even if he is not yet ready for a move to North America. - VF

6 - David Gustafsson C

Gustafsson may lack in flash and excitement, but the 2018 2^nd rounder has become an effective pivot who coaches can trust for a third line role. While Winnipeg cycled through numerous fringe NHLers in that spot last season, Gustafsson quietly went about collecting 30 points over 47 AHL games, honing his craft in all situations. Much has changed since he suited up for the Jets 22 times in the 19-20 season. An impressive 17 points in 16 games for Tingsryd of the HockeyAllsvenskan in 20-21 were followed up by 19 points in 22 games with Manitoba, better production than the organization was expecting. Now 22, the 6’2” Gustafsson has a strong build and can handle himself on the ice. His play often hints at his intelligence and how well he reads plays. It feels like more can be tickled out of him and that he is the type to hold back a bit so as to play within himself and his role. That could be exactly what Winnipeg needs as of this season. Just re-signed to a two-year contract, Gustafsson isn’t necessarily getting any younger and his maturity is at a level where he would be a logical candidate as one of the two extras that remain with the big club to kick off the season, even if the team has an abundance of natural centers already on the roster. – CL

7 - Chaz Lucius C

Chaz Lucius was an interesting case at the 2021 NHL draft, as many had him projected around the top-10 prospects, including McKeen’s who had him ranked #9 overall in his class. Lucius ended up falling to 18th overall, where the Jets nabbed him. Lucius spent last season at the University of Minnesota and played well. He wasn’t the sort of overwhelming freshman talent that immediately makes waves, like Luke Hughes was at Michigan, for example, but he was an impact player on an extremely strong team and looked to be on the right path until injury issues derailed the second half of his campaign. Surprisingly, though, Lucius signed his entry-level deal this spring, and therefore won’t be eligible to continue his development in the NCAA. On the ice, there’s a lot to like about Lucius’ game. He’s a creative playmaker who has the puck skills, vision, and timing to be a strong driver of play. He’s also more tenacious than many give him credit for, and he utilizes the inside of the ice more effectively than many of his more perimeter-oriented peers. That being said, Lucius’ skating lacks the separation gear that allows many playmakers to thrive at a higher level, and he isn’t strong enough as a puck protector to create space consistently with his body. As a result, Lucius will need to find a way, either through his strength or his legs, to create space at more difficult levels of hockey. If he can develop that sort of skill, he can become a top-six player. If he can’t, he might struggle to translate his offense to the professional game. - EH

8 - Declan Chisholm D

Chisholm was selected 150^th by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2018 NHL draft. At selection, he was considered a two-way defenceman who saw the ice well, made good reads and could close gaps well. Since then, he has elevated his playmaking and continues to show solid gap control and physical pressure in his own end. On the other hand, he was seen as a limited offensive upside defenceman after only producing 20 points in 47 games. He has since improved those numbers over the next two seasons for the Peterborough Petes, finishing the 2019-20 season with 43 assists and 48 points in 67 games showing his improvement on reading plays and executing passes. He then took it to the next level the following season, putting up 69 points in 59 games. After that season came to an end due to the pandemic, his next steps were replicating his game in a tougher AHL league. In his first season as a professional, he played in 28 games, producing 13 points. Last season, it was evident that Chisholm was getting more confident and comfortable in the AHL, and he was able to scan the ice more and identify the open man. He finished the season with 30 points in 53 AHL games, enough to reward him with 2 games in the NHL. While there is nothing dynamic about Chisholm’s game, there is enough to see him carve a bottom-pairing role in the NHL one day. - ZS

9 - Morgan Barron LW

The 174^th overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft, Barron has worked his way from a late round selection to an NHL contributor. A massive centre standing at 6’4”, 220 Ibs who uses his large frame to protect the puck, Barron has a solid wrist shot that deceives goaltenders. When he was selected by the New York Rangers, he was coming off a season playing Canadian high school hockey, a rare path for NHL hopefuls. In his draft year, Barron was named captain of his team before netting 50 points in 46 games. The year after he was selected by the Rangers, Barron played at Cornell, where he produced 18 points in 33 games. He then improved his point totals over the following two seasons on campus, producing 34 points in 36 games as a sophomore, followed by 32 points in 29 games in his final season, during which he was team captain. He then signed his entry level contract with the Rangers and played the majority of the 2020-21 season for the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. In his first AHL season, Barron produced a point per game with 21 points in 21 games. This impressed the Rangers enough to give him a five game NHL cameo, where he was able to net his first NHL point. He carried his success into this past season, split between the AHL and the NHL. Barron had been producing in Hartford with 15 points in 25 games before being traded to the Winnipeg Jets in the deal that brought Andrew Copp to the Rangers. Barron was given more of a role in the NHL for the Jets playing in 14 games, contributing 4 points. Going into next season, Barron looks to solidify a role on the Jets bottom-six. - ZS

10 - Dylan Samberg D

Samberg was selected 43^rd overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2017 NHL draft. A big defenceman, standing at 6’4”, 216 Ibs, he has good speed given his size. Samberg has always been considered more for his defensive game than his offensive abilities. He has good gap control, physicality, and strong ability to win puck battles in the corner. Offensively, Samberg’s game started to elevate when he played in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He produced roughly 20 points in each of the two seasons he played for the Bulldogs while playing a top-four role defensively. After two seasons in college, Samberg signed his entry level contract with the Jets and played the entirety of the 2020-21 season in the AHL. His point production regressed, as expected, with seven points in 31 games, however his defence was still solid. This led to Samberg having an increased role in the AHL and playing some NHL games last season, which he finished with 12 points in 32 AHL games as well as five points over 15 NHL games. His transition game has seen improvement with more confidence in his ability to scan the ice and carry the puck through the neutral zone. Samberg will look to carve out a full-time role with the Jets in the upcoming season. - ZS

11 - Leon Gawanke

After a solid AHL season, the German two-way defender has put himself in the mix for a spot on the Jets this season and should, at the very least, be in line for an injury call up at some point.

12 - Danny Zhilkin

Zhilkin is a strong skating two-way center who can attack the net and play a variety of different roles. Winnipeg will be looking for him to improve his decision making with the puck and become a more consistent offensive player with Guelph this season.

13 - Elias Salomonsson

At one point, Salomonsson was thought to be the best 2004 born defender on the planet, but a poor draft year pushed him way down draft boards. The strong skating offensive blueliner will try to get his development back on track this year.

14 - Daniel Torgersson

A big, physical winger, Torgersson is a human torpedo on the ice, especially as he engages in puck pursuit. Just how much offensive upside he possesses will be determined over the next few years in the AHL. He will play with Manitoba this year.

15 - Dmitry Rashevsky

It was quite the breakout season for Rashevsky as he became one of the highest scoring young players in the KHL. He has one more year left on his KHL deal and should cross the pond after that.

16 -Dmitri Kuzmin

A highly skilled, puck moving defender, Kuzmin was a standout for a strong Flint team this season in the OHL. The Belarussian rearguard will return to the OHL this season.

17 - Wyatt Bongiovanni

An intelligent two-way center, Bongiovanni was solid over four seasons for Quinnipiac before signing with Winnipeg late last year. He may not be flashy or possess significant upside, but he could be a solid bottom six player for the Jets in the future.

18 - Mikhail Berdin

This could be a make-or-break year for Berdin in the Jets system. He will compete for playing time in Manitoba and needs to take a step forward to be considered the top goaltending call-up option.

19 - Arvid Holm

The big Swedish netminder was disappointing in his first pro season with Manitoba last year, so he will look to rebound nicely this year.

20 - Johnathan Kovacevic

The big, right shot former Merrimack College defender is coming off his best AHL season to date. However, age is catching up to him and the time is now for him to break through a crowded blueline and prove that he can play in the NHL.

2022 World Junior Championship: Team Sweden – Veteran Team a Known Commodity Heading into Tournament

Patrik Bexell — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 16:51:16 +0000

OVERVIEW

It is a roster with players from a few different leagues this year, something that is not as common when it comes to Sweden’s usual set up. Coach Tomas Montén has opted for a team built along a strong first and second unit and then role players to fill out the squad. The notable omission is Rögle’s (and Calgary Flames prospect) William Wallinder, who has ended up in more or less the same position as Victor Söderström and Helge Grans have previously.

Most of the Swedish players have professional experience after having played in SHL, HockeyAllsvenskan, Liiga and of course the NHL and AHL. Oscar Olausson, Fabian Lysell and Jeper Vikman are all in the North American junior hockey systems with previous experience from the professional ranks. This could benefit the Swedish team during the tournament; being used to the physicality of seasoned veterans and a higher tempo of play can come in handy in the North American rinks. The Swedish team is also a veteran team, none of the players are draft eligible and many of them are a known commodity, including strengths and weaknesses. As mentioned earlier, the most noticeable absentee is William Wallinder while the rest of the squad is more of the usual suspects than an unknown factor.

Luleå's goalkeeper Jesper Wallstedt during the ice hockey match in the SHL between Luleå and Växjö on 21 January 2021 in Luleå. Photo: Simon Eliasson / BILDBYRÅN /

G Jesper Wallstedt, (Luleå HF-Minnesota Wild, 20th overall, 2021)
Wallstedt is one of the SHL’s top goalies this winter and has been a rock for Luleå to lean on, with a 1.82 GAA and .923 SVS% with eight wins to his name in 17 games. The big goalie will be the cornerstone for Sweden’s progress in the tournament if Wallstedt is good, then Sweden will go far, if not, or if he gets injured, Sweden will likely crash out in the quarterfinals.

Wallstedt lives off his cold calculating brain, he reads the game well and he can handle every situation that will come up in play; be it a crowded crease, a tap from an opponent or any other thing that might cause a goalie to lose focus. This mental ability is also great in helping him to stay cool under pressure once he has let in a goal. He doesn’t dwell on it, but rather maintains focus and soldiers on. In addition to his steel focus, he reads the game well, and always position himself with his big frame towards the puck, something that means he soaks up shots and leave less, or next to no rebounds.

His weakness is his athleticism, which means that he saves everything he should, but he doesn’t make the same number of crazy/desperate saves like someone named Askarov.

Simon Edvinsson PLANO, TX USA - APRIL 29: Sweden's Simon Edvinsson #8 shoots the puck against team Switzerland in preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Children’s Health StarCenter on April 29, 2021 in Plano, TX USA. (Photo by Ryan McCullough/HHOF-IIHF Images)

D Simon Edvinsson, (Frölunda HC - Detroit Redwings, 7th overall, 2021)
There are not enough superlatives to describe this big smart defender, because he possesses all of them. He plays on Frölunda’s top pairing with former NHLer Christian Folin, and it has been Edvinsson that has stood out in the games this fall. HIs vision is second to none, add a fantastic hockey sense to that vision and sprinkle it with hands that can deliver pucks across the ice with a sniper’s precision and he would be a fantastic player. Now add his physical attributes to this; size, height, balance and willingness to play a physical game onto of what has already been said and you have Edvinsson.

He can do it all, and he will have to do it all as well because no other defender comes close to his skill on this team. He has played over 20 minutes game in the SHL, and he might top out over 25 in the WJC, he has 12 points (1+11) and he will be a Detroit Red Wing for life.

D Helge Grans, (Ontario Reign - Los Angeles Kings, 35th overall, 2020)
Grans is an offensive minded defender, he has good to great skating and also possesses solid awareness around the ice, especially when on the blue line, where he can shoot or pass the puck with ease. His shot is stronger than it gets credit for, and it will create some havoc for opposing goalies when he releases it. However, it is in the defensive zone in which he struggles. The last time I saw him in Sweden he had problems with gap control, and he wanted to do too much when it came to breakouts. As a 17-year-old he also struggled with the more physical part of the game. He has spent time on the North American surface and should have built up a better understanding of the game. It will be the defense that is his weakness, and it makes sense that he has been paired with Edvinsson who should be able to have a calming influence on Grans.

D Emil Andrae (HV71 - Philadelphia Flyers, 54th overall, 2020)
Andrae is a solid defender who has had a good year in Sweden’s second division HockeyAllsvenskan with 16 (2+14) points in 21 games. He has also been playing well in the U20 tournaments held in Europe before the World Junior Championships. He uses his refined technique on his skates to open up both passing and shooting lanes while in the offensive zone; while using the same technique to work hard to retrieve the puck, player, or both in the defensive zone. He doesn’t own the same kind of tool kit as Edvinsson but relies on many of the same things; skating, vision, intelligence and I would expect Andrae to be part of one of the power play units to really use his passing and vision in the offensive zone.

D Leo Lööf (Ilves - St Louis Blues, 88th overall, 2020, traded to Seattle in November 2021)
Lööf is interesting as he has left Sweden at a young age to develop in Ilves, Finland. Even though he was a force in his age group for Swedish powerhouse Färjestad, when the senior team brought in experienced players there was no longer room for the defender, and he left. His transition to Liiga has been smooth, and he has played all games for Ilves this season and scored three goals and three assists in the 26 games he has played.

The defender is tough as a boar and hits hard, something that will be on display in Alberta. His physical presence will bring something that many of the Swedish defenders do but don’t excel at.  While his defensive game has the most upside, Lööf is a two-way defender. He can hold on to the puck in the offensive zone, while creating lanes for himself and his teammates. With his balance and strength, it is tough to grab the puck off him. His first tw goals in Liiga were created largely by himself thanks to those previous mentioned qualities. I think his shot is average, but he knows when to use it and therefore it becomes more dangerous.

SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 09: San Jose Sharks left wing William Eklund (72) carries the puck during the San Jose Sharks game versus the Vegas Golden Knights on October 9, 2021, at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

C William Eklund (Djurgården IF - San José Sharks, 7th overall, 2021)
The disappointment of being sent back to Sweden for development, after having played nine games with the Sharks in NHL, will have to be turned into a revenge tour for the World Junior tournament. Eklund has all the qualities to have stayed in North America, he will now get the chance to showcase what he learned and lead a Swedish team into the tournament.

Eklund is a hard-working skilled centre that can play at all ends of the ice, he is also a very smart player. Hi intelligence leads him to scan the ice and find open teammates, and he does this while the game goes on at full speed around him. It is not like he slows the game down, it’s more like he can process the game faster than many others.

I think his passing game is stronger than his shooting game, but Eklund can shoot when he needs to, and he should be a force to be reckoned with at this level. He will find passing lanes that others can’t see, and it will cause a headache for defenders on all teams. Eklund has proven to be a great passer at all levels, and he should be the leading player for Sweden. He will want the puck on his stick, and he will want it a lot of time. This could mean that if you take him out of the game, Sweden will be a lot easier to deal with. His skill should be able to handle that, but it is something to look out for.

His work ethic is really strong, and he will be the engine that the Swedish team will run on. A lot will rest on the connection he has with his former teammate Alexander Holtz, but Eklund will be the first line centre Sweden needs, the question is if it will be enough.

Alexander Holtz and Lucas Raymond of Sweden against Santeri Tatakka of Finland during the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship bronze medal game between Sweden and Finland on January 5, 2020 in Ostrava.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN /

F Alexander Holtz (Utica Comets - New Jersey Devils, 7th overall, 2020)
The wrists of Alexander Holtz probably looks like a lumberjack, the release that Holtz possesses is fantastic; and he can change direction at the last second to really fool the goalkeeper. He can find the net from anywhere in the offensive zone, which will come in handy on the power play where he undoubtedly will be one of the shooting options for Sweden.

His strength is in the offensive zone, and he doesn’t need to have the puck on his stick for long to decide a game. Holtz is there to score, anything else is a bonus. His wide array of shots means that he will usually succeed. He can use his instincts, and I say instincts instead of hockey IQ, to find that area of the ice where the puck will arrive before hammering it home. There are instances where he uses the same instincts to pass the puck to a player in an even better position to score, but those are rare and far between.

Holtz has hockey IQ, but it is on the offensive side of the puck. He struggled a bit in SHL when it came to the defensive side of the ice, however the competition is limited in this tournament, and I think he will do a better job in the defensive zone than we have seen. If Sweden goes far, Holtz might very well come away with the top goal scorer award.

F Zion Nybeck (HV71 - Carolina Hurricanes, 115th overall, 2020)
Nybeck is a small kid, 5’8’’ and 183lbs, but he can find holes in a defense like no-one else. He is calmer than a cucumber and he will hold on to the puck for what many people will think is too long and drawing players in before he releases the puck either to a teammate or into the net. He can deke with the best of them, and with the added puck control, which is usually close to his skates, means that he draws power play opportunities.  His wrists are also strong, and he can release a wrist shot with skill and precision, and especially smart in the way that he can look to create a rebound instead of going for goal, thereby creating a higher scoring chance than for himself or for a teammate than the one he previously had. Nybeck can be a special team’s kind of player for Sweden, there are still cuts to be made. If he makes the team, he would most likely be a role-player on the third or fourth line, and being used on the power play.

F Fabian Lysell (Vancouver Giants - Boston Bruins, 21st overall, 2021)
Lysell fell in the draft because he moved teams’ midseason, and he didn’t get to play as much on the new team as he had hoped. There is a lot to like about the player though; he skates extremely well, he keeps his head high, he can accelerate fast, he uses his edges to create speed and change direction, and he reads the game well at that speed.

He can both shoot and pass which makes him a dual threat in something that is lacking a bit on the Swedish team.

His small stature gives him a bit of a disadvantage along the boards and especially in the defensive zone, Lysell’s quick mind and stickhandling is his own way of countering that weakness. His hard work and big engine lets him use his fantastic skating if there is a turnover, and he will turn on the afterburners and go for the opposing net no matter how long of a shift he has had.

F Isak Rosén (Leksands IF - Buffalo Sabres, 14th overall, 2021)
The elite puck handling, along with strong skating and a good shot made Rosen into a target in the 2021 draft. He hasn’t really lived up to that billing in SHL this season, albeit Leksand added in the offseason and didn’t really get the chance on the top lines that he maybe needed. Still, he has played well in a two-way role. He reads the game extremely well and you can usually find him in the right place before the puck gets there. He is a player that should excel in a competition against his peers, where he can use his skills to the fullest. Rosén has been competing for a spot on the third line in camp, and his upside is there, but the question that coach Montén is asking is if he can be used in a lower line role and still get the best out of his game.

Sleeper - F Daniel Torgersson (Frölunda HC - Winnipeg Jets, 40th overall, 2020)
Torgersson’s career has been spoiled by injuries to date. He has made a comeback from them over and over again and when he got back into shape this season, he was loaned out from Frölunda in the SHL to AIK in HockeyAllsvenskan. Torgersson’s physique is outstanding, as complicated as it can be due to the injuries, but he has built up his body extremely well and it means that he is tough to take the puck away from because of his upper body strength and his balance. His game is tactically astute, and he finds passing and shooting lanes to create a double edge sword.  He is also defensively secure, and it is between him and Rosén that I think the battle will be for one of the last centre positions on the team. If Torgersson makes it, quite a few will be surprised he fell as far as he did in the draft.

EXPECTATIONS

The Swedish line up has an axel of Wallstedt-Edvinsson-Eklund-Holtz. How far Sweden will go will depend on those four players. I don’t rate this Swedish team as strong as some of the other teams in previous years. They should emerge from their group, but I don’t expect them to win it, which will mean that they will face a tougher opponent in the quarterfinal, and that would mean that there is a chance of Sweden going out earlier than expected. If they make it through to the medal rounds, I would still be shocked to see them win a medal.

Predicted Depth Chart:

Goaltender
Jesper Wallstedt
Calle Klang
Jesper Vikman
Wallstedt is number one but Klang is a good number two, Klang should get a game or two and he will do his job with ease in those games. It Vikman is involved then Sweden is already out or has some injury problems.

Defense
Edvinsson–Grans
Lööf-Nyström
Andrae-Ohlsson
Forsfjäll-Sjöholm

The first three pairings are solid WJC pairings, but a lot will rest on Edvinsson’s shoulders. Not only will he be relied upon to create offense but also to hold up and cover Grans weaknesses. The most interesting player on defense is probably Lööf, who not many people will know about, but his strong overall play will mean that you can pair him with any other player on the roster. Grans is a player that I still see more as an offensive minded defender much in the Swedish school of hockey, but I am not sold on his usage. I am not sure on whom coach Montén will cut, but it will be between Forsfjäll-Sjöholm.

Forwards
Olausson–Eklund–Holtz
Stakkestad–Ljungman–Lysell
Torgersson–Niederbach–Rosén–Sjöberg
Magnusson–Ekmark–Nybeck–Stenman

With cuts still having to be made these are the practice lines, it is the four centres in the last two lines that still have to be decided. The first line is most likely set, and that is the line that needs to produce, the other three lines are more complementary lines. Montén has a preference to play players who know each other and that would point to Torgersson-Neiderbach getting the nod, the question then becomes what to do with Rosén? I can see him being used on the fourth line but with Montén’s other preference being players that are happy in their roles I can also see Rosén being cut, along with a player like Nybeck.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WINNIPEG JETS – RANK: #21 – TIER IV

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 12:22:57 +0000

Winnipeg Jets

#21 Winnipeg - The top of Winnipeg's system would cause envy in many of the systems ranked higher, but few teams are shallower. The Jets can't keep having 4-5 man draft classes.

Cole Perfetti

After a bit of a slow start in his first pro campaign (with Manitoba of the AHL), Perfetti finished exceptionally strong, and it has many in the Jets organization excited about his future. Perffeti had 18 points in his final 14 games of the AHL season and then went on to win a silver medal with Canada at the World Championships, scoring two goals at the event. The 10th overall selection in the 2020 Draft, of course, was not even supposed to play in the AHL this year, but due to the OHL hiatus, he was able to play in the league as a double underager.

Touted as one of the most intelligent forward prospects in the game, Perfetti has the ability to breakdown opposing defenses, dictating the pace with the puck on a string. He has already worked hard to improve his explosiveness as a skater, and his strength on the puck, and those improvements were noticeable in the AHL’s second half. Further improvement will be needed, but he is on his way to becoming a high-end top six forward at the NHL level. It is likely that Perfetti earns NHL time this year and is a candidate to break camp with the Jets to start the season. If he struggles, he is likely to be given an exemption to play in the AHL, yet again, rather than have to return to the OHL. - BO

Chaz Lucuis

One of, if not the, hardest North American players to scout this year, Lucius’ season began in late-February after missing the beginning of the season as he completed rehab from knee surgery, and ended approximately six weeks later with a stellar performance at the BioSteel All-America game, after which the USNTDP U18 ceased game activity to focus on the upcoming World U18 Championships, which Lucius was forced to miss due to a poorly timed COVID positive result.

Despite the late start and early ending, Lucius was still a first round selection by Winnipeg on the strength of a goal per game performance in the USHL (albeit in a small sample size). Lucius is a terrific goal scorer not because he is the most skilled player on the ice, but because he is a tireless worker who also happens to possess good instincts. He scans and reads the defense and finds their weaknesses with impressive quickness. While learning the defense, he also keeps aware of what his linemates are doing, so as to better make himself an outlet for them or find ways to make them outlets for him.

These instincts and that work rate help the University of Minnesota commit makeup for physical skills that are somewhat less impressive. As a Golden Gopher, he will firstly look to stay healthy, but secondly, look to get quicker and stronger so that he can reach his high-end potential as a first line forward. It is likely that Chaz plays at least two seasons in college, if only to be sure to be able to play with younger brother Cruz, who followed him one year later into the USNTDP program. His method of production should follow him up the ranks towards the NHL, but he must continue to improve physically. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Ville Heinola

Since the Jets selected Heinola 19^th overall in 2019 – which we admittedly thought was a bit of a reach at the time – they have given him chances to play in the NHL. Eight games immediately following his selection, and five more games last year. While the young blueliner was not able to secure full-time NHL employment in either season, he still performed admirably for a teenager in the greatest league in the world. Further giving a glimpse at his projectability, Heinola was fantastic during those same seasons in his stints in both the AHL and Liiga in his homeland of Finland, in both leagues playing far better than a U20 defender should.

If we had underrated him two years ago (and we did), it was largely due to his skating ability, which lacks the dynamism we see in many of the current crop of high-end defensive prospects. The lack of explosiveness can make Heinola look a bit static in comparison, but there are plenty of NHL defenders with similar skating ability, and like them, the prospect has developed a style of play that can function well without great speed, replying instead of positioning, patience with and without the puck, and lateral mobility, the latter a trait which is not always easy to spot. The signings of Brendan Dillon and Nate Schmidt means Heinola will have to work to make the Jets again, but even if he doesn’t this year, he is trending towards solid second pairing territory sooner than later. - RW

Dylan Samberg

While he did take a step forward last year, let’s call the season a stumble, as he was not able to maintain the trajectory he was riding as a collegian. Samberg was a rock on the blueline for Minnesota-Duluth for three years, playing an instrumental role in back-to-back Frozen Four Championships, while steadily improving his ability to provide offensive impact. That last element of his game was AWOL in Samberg’s professional debut last season, as he rarely moved up from the blueline in the offensive zone.

He has unteachable size, skates very well for his size (and in general) and has never hesitated to play a physical game, even if he has also not been the instigator as much as you might like. But even without producing offensively, Samberg’s rookie season was not a failure. He proved that he could be a workhorse at the pro level, playing in all situations, and comfortably playing close to 25 minutes per game. Winnipeg has many contenders for their bottom defensive pairing this year, and Samberg is still young enough that another year on the farm – or most of a year – would help him at least try to find an approach that allows him to contribute offensively. You can expect him to make his NHL debut this year and challenge for a permanent spot in the top six starting in 2022-23. - RW

Nikita Chibrikov

One of only two U18 players to receive extensive playing time in the KHL last year, Chibrikov demonstrated a broad array of exciting tools during his season-ending performance for Team Russia at the World U18 Championships where he was a standout.

Chibrikov excels in puck possession situations. Even though he doesn’t often break out highlight reel plays, the puck just sticks to him until he is ready to move it somewhere else. While puck skills are the highlight of Chibrikov’s package, there is much more to his game than that, as all of his tools project at above average, with the possible exception of his physical game, and that is only because he is still pretty slight. He is a fine skater, capable of dynamic burst of speed, and he is most effective playing a high-paced game, with sharp cuts and intermittent changes of pace to throw off the defense. However, with an average frame and average size overall, his lack of truly dynamic skating ability can partially explain why he fell to Winnipeg in the later second round. Chibrikov’s contract with SKA S. Petersburg has two years left to run, after which he will be ready to play in North America and begin to fulfill his top six – and maybe top line – projection. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Kristian Vesalainen

The big Finnish winger and former first round pick is coming off another indifferent season in North America, his third since crossing the pond. Splitting 2020/21 between Liiga (to start the year), Manitoba (AHL), and Winnipeg (NHL), Vesalainen continued to struggle to find the back of the net. In his three combined seasons in North America thus far, Vesalainen has scored only 17 goals combined. Granted, some of that time has been spent in the NHL, however it is impossible to argue that his development has not been disappointing thus far. Given his size, skating, and skill combination, Vesalainen has struggled to create or find scoring chances consistently, especially in the slot and near the crease, where he should be dominating.

The 2021/22 season is likely a make-or-break season for him. Anything less than making the Jets full time this season, even if it is in a checking line role, would be a disappointment. He needs to take that step forward and become a more consistent contributor. His potential remains as a middle six winger, however the odds of him reaching that potential have drastically decreased. This is Vesalainen’s final year of waiver exemption and, as such, could be his final kick at the can in the Winnipeg system before moving on to a new NHL team or returning to Finland. - BO

David Gustafsson

Even though his offensive capabilities were questioned previously, his last season proved that his upside may be higher than many gave him credit for. David Gustafsson was a PPG player in the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan and he was really close to doing the same in the AHL (19 PTS in 22 games). Nevertheless, he didn´t get much NHL time (four matches with the Jets), but he should be more than ready to get a bottom-six spot in the upcoming season. Despite being only 21, Gustafsson has already played in the NHL two years in a row. Even though his total of 26 matches combined is not a lot, it's still a nice accomplishment for the young Swede. He should at least double it the next season.

Gustafsson has a good size (6-2”, 196 lbs) and is a strong and hard-working center. Although he has proven his offense is noteworthy, he´s most likely going to be used as a bottom-six forward. It´s a fitting role for the Swedish prospect – he´s a smart, two-way player. He has improved his skating over the years but should learn to play more physical for a player of his size. He probably won't be used at the scoring role at the NHL level, but a bottom-six to middle-six place should be a good fit in the next couple of years. Gustafsson´s mature game proves he is NHL ready right away. - MD

Declan Chisholm

A mobile, and talented offensive defender, Chisholm is coming off of a successful first pro season with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. One of Winnipeg’s top defensive prospects, Chisholm’s development curve over the last two years shows great promise, as nearly every part of his game has improved considerably.

Originally a slick skating puck mover in the OHL, Chisholm worked hard to improve his play in his own end, even developing a bit of a mean streak by his graduation from the Peterborough Petes. His mobility will always be his meal ticket, as will his quick decision-making ability with the puck. In the AHL this past year, Chisholm showed versatility in being asked to play a variety of different roles for the Moose. While his upside may not be as high as a defender like Ville Heinola in Winnipeg’s system, Chisholm does have a chance to be a solid two-way, #4-5 defender for the Jets. Given Winnipeg’s now great system depth at the position, he will likely have to bide his time. However, do not sleep on this talented young defender. - BO

Mikhail Berdin

Berdin came to the KHL on loan at the start of the season and left a rather shaky impression: as he frequently looked nervous and allowed some bad goals. Returning to the AHL looked like a great solution, as he got a lot of starts there, but from a statistical perspective, it was by far his worst pro season. Last year was a year to forget for Berdin.

Almost immediately upon returning to North America, Berdin agreed on an extension with the Jets, showing their commitment to him and hope that he can develop into an NHL netminder. The issue is that his development may have stagnated. He needs to show that he has outgrown the AHL level (preferably already in the Jets preseason camp) to earn the newly vacated back-up spot (with Brossoit moving on). He needs to show that his game is more than his trademark puckhandling and occasional highlight-reel saves, but that he can be a consistent and confident presence in the net. Otherwise, there is a risk of getting labeled as 'good enough for the AHL, but not good enough for the NHL' and it is very hard to get rid of that kind of label. Additionally, he would need to pass through waivers if he does not win that back-up role behind Hellebuyck. - VF

Daniel Torgersson

The COVID pandemic disrupted the Swedish junior season, limiting the league to only a handful of games. This negatively impacted Torgersson, who was not ready for full time action in the SHL. The big, physical winger skates well for his size and his power forward approach was intriguing enough for the Jets to take him with an early second round selection in 2020. At the very least he projects as a high-end bottom six forward, even if his offensive skill set fails to develop to its potential due to his penchant for the big hit and ability to use his speed on the forecheck.

However, if his goal scoring ability can find some consistency, he could play higher up in the lineup. The development of his puck skill and confidence with the puck will be critical. He will look to be a full time SHL player with Frolunda this coming season. His offensive production will likely be low as he plays a bottom six role, however consistent ice time is the most important thing for him this year. Still a longer-term project, the true potential of Torgersson may not be revealed for another few seasons. - BO

Dmitri Kuzmin

Kuzmin, a recent third round selection by the Jets, is a high-end puck moving defender who dazzles with his four way mobility and quickness. A potential powerplay QB, Kuzmin was recently signed by the Jets and there is a possibility that he plays with Flint in the OHL, rather than return home to Belarus.

Anton Johannesson

Speaking of the J20 cancellation, this also negatively impacted offensive blueliner Anton Johannesson. Still recovering from an injury, he actually did not play at all last season, as once he was healthy, the J20 season was called off. Johannesson needs to stay healthy this coming season and should see action at a variety of different levels. His upside is still extremely intriguing.

Henri Nikkanen

2020/21 was a good season for the big, playmaking center. He not only established himself as an everyday player in Liiga, but his 13 assists were the third most by a U20 player in the league last year. Nikkanen has switched Liiga teams for this coming season, joining Pelicans. Hopefully he is able to continue to progress and could be a middle six candidate for the Jets in the future.

Simon Lundmark

A former second round pick by the Jets, Lundmark finally took that next step forward as an SHL defender this past season. The 6’2, right shot defender has plus mobility, but the question is, does he do other things well enough to be more than a depth option for Winnipeg in the future? Signed by Winnipeg, Lundmark will play in the AHL this season, a big year for his development.

Johnny Kovacevic

It has been a long journey for Kovacevic, a former third round pick by Winnipeg back in 2017. However, the former Merrimack College standout had a terrific sophomore season with Manitoba last season and has put himself in contention for a spot on Winnipeg’s blueline in the future. A massive right shot defender (6’5, 220 lbs), Kovacevic may not have a high ceiling, but he could be a reliable two-way presence on the third pairing.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Winnipeg Jets Top 20 Prospects

Rachel Howard — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 19:35:16 +0000

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

Cole Perfetti, C/LW (10^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Perfetti may not possess high end size or speed, but there are so many things to like about his game His best asset is his hockey sense. While he doesn’t possess game breaking speed, he can break down opposing defenses by being one step ahead of them. His preferred spot is the half wall, where he can survey the ice, quick hands and quick feet biding him time to make plays. He is a constant threat with the puck and turnovers are rare. He anticipates gaps, rebounds, and passes before they happen, and isn’t afraid to take a hit to make something happen. Perfetti possesses excellent edgework and lateral quickness. He is hard to contain due to his unpredictability. His wrist shot and release are terrific. He is creative in transition. There is doubt if he can stay down the middle at the next level. Perfetti also has steps to take as a two-way player, who can be relied upon in any situation. With his high-end hockey sense, he can likely improve some of his faults. He is a potential game breaking offensive forward who could one dayfind his way to the top of NHL scoring races. – BO

Dylan Samberg, D (43^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

The three years since Winnipeg used a second round pick on Samberg saw the big blueliner play a key role in two WJCs for Team USA, win two NCAA championships with Minnesota-Duluth and add 25 pounds to fill out his impressive frame, without any degradation in his quickness. He is a very good skater for his size, which is especially notable in his ability to recover after the puck goes the other way. While he can be physically imposing, playing the body against all manner of opponents, his off-the-puck game is much more than just a matter of brute force. He positions himself well and has a gigantic wingspan, allowing him to use that reach to break up rushes cleanly and legally. With the puck, he is functional enough to earn some second unit power play duties. He has a strong shot with a quick release. Moreover, he moves the puck well, without ever looking fancy. Samberg, more than anything else, makes the right play to put his team in an advantageous position. Finally signed to an ELC, Samberg could see NHL ice next season. - RW

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

At 6-4” and 228, Vesalainen can be an intimidating physical force, using his size to bust his way to the goal with pure momentum and strength. He is also an elite skater. Nimble and with impressive footwork, he achieves top speed quickly and is able to get separation on defenders when motoring through open ice. More of a shooter than a passer, he is deadly with his wrist shot anywhere from the faceoff dots in and is aware enough to open up passing lanes for teammates while looking shot. Despite his impressive raw package of skills, Vesalainen is perplexingly inconsistent and lacks assertiveness. Slow to adjust to the size of North American ice, he is prone to disappearing for a string of shifts and does not put up enough shots for a player as lethal with the puck as he is. 2019-20 was his first full season in N.A. competition and if he can figure out how to put his skillset together, he can be a top-line scoring winger; at worst, he is a rugged middle-six depth contributor. - TD

Ville Heinola, D (20^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Heinola showed promise in his eight-game NHL stint, but was eventually sent to the AHL before being returned to Finland. He plays with plenty of poise and makes sound decisions with the puck. He sees the ice really well and snaps accurate, crisp passes in all zones from simple outlets to longer passes up the rink. He has swift hands and picks pucks quickly off the wall to make plays. He also works well on the power play as his vision and passing skills are assets. He has an accurate shot from the point, whether it be a slap shot or wrister. He reads the game well defensively, has a quick stick and keeps tight gaps. However, Heinola could use his size more effectively in battles. He moves pretty well, but his skating is not high end, especially considering his size. He lacks explosive initial burst and could be quicker from a standstill and smooth out his forward stride. He makes up for the lack of quickness with his situational awareness. He has top pairing NHL potential, but the middle-pair is a more realistic projection. - MB

Declan Chisholm, D (150^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

One of the better skaters out of the OHL, Chisholm is aggressive in leading the attack out of the defensive zone, using first step quickness to create separation from forecheckers, and his speed and edgework to gain the opposing blueline. A competent powerplay QB, he creates lanes with agility and lateral quickness. Finally, his gap control defensively is solid as he stays ahead of incoming attackers and has learned to trust his mobility to play more aggressively to take away space. Increased strength and improved engagement elevated his effectiveness. This will be the area that Chisholm will need to continue to work on, as well as his decision making in transition. He will likely need some time to gain the confidence necessary to play aggressively as a pro. Previously, Chisholm had trouble with turnovers, but cleaned that up this past year, and gets a better feel for when to take a risk. He will likely need several years of seasoning at the pro level before he is ready for an NHL role, but he projects as a number 4-6 defender who can also quarterback the powerplay. The key will be just how much his defensive game progresses. – BO

Anton Johannesson, D (133^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Johannesson has missed a good chunk of the last two years to injury, which, when combined with his smaller frame, allowed the Jets to draft him in the fifth round. When healthy, he has showcased why he his high-end skills. A confident and competent mover, Johannesson excels in transition, using an effortless stride, strong agility, and quick hands to lead the attack. On the power play he is a very dangerous weapon because of how well he gets his shot through to the net and his ability to walk around defenders to create gaps in coverage. With the puck on his stick, it is rare to see him commit a turnover as his vision and decision making is sound. Needless to say, his upside as an offensive defender is very high. His size has held him back from being a consistently effective player in the defensive end. He isn’t strong in front of the net or along the boards and his overall awareness is raw. There is hope that as he fills out, he can become an adequate defensive player as his offensive skill set is definitely dynamic enough to play in the NHL. – BO

Sami Niku, D (198^thoverall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Three years removed from his dominant rookie AHL season, Niku has refined his craft and looks more like a future NHLer than a flash-in-the-pan. He impresses with splendid technical skating skill and inventiveness in moving the puck out and into the offensive zone. A superb puck-handler, he calls for the puck often and directs traffic through the neutral zone at even strength and the power play. His patience with the puck has improved significantly. Though he has improved defensively, he hasn’t looked entirely comfortable in his NHL stints, posting poor possession numbers and few points in transition while battling for ice time against veterans. Fighting through injuries -- including a preseason car accident with Vesalainen beside him -- Niku was not able to stamp himself into the NHL with regularity yet, with some hesitance and inconsistency in his play, but he very well could clinch a spot on their thinning blueline as soon as next season. As a seventh rounder, any NHL games played Niku registers is above market value for Winnipeg, but the 23-year-old’s story is only just beginning. - TD

Mikhail Berdin, G (157^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

One of the most entertaining players at any position in the AHL, Berdin’s talent level is matched only by his swagger. A hard-nosed and fierce competitor in the crease, the Russian held up exceptionally through backstopping a Manitoba team that sat at the bottom of the Central Division all season, posting a .910 save percentage and a record near .500 in spite of a weak defense in front of him. Athletic and creative in the blue paint, his anticipation and play-reading improved mightily from his 2018-19 rookie pro season, but he mostly relies on his reflexes and impressive foot quickness. While puck-handling is not the most important skill a goaltender can have, Berdin’s talent and confidence with the puck is Brodeur-esque and capable of forcing a team to abandon any forechecking or dump-and-chase style. His selection of his tools and aggression can hurt him at times, but he can make difficult saves look easy consistently with his high-energy style. A sixth rounder in 2016, Berdin is a legit NHL prospect who could even push an NHL like Connor Hellebuyck for starts in the future. - TD

Logan Stanley, D (18^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Time on ice is not a publicly available statistic in the AHL, but I have a feeling Logan Stanley is near the top of the boards. A 6-7”, 242lb behemoth capable of logging heavy minutes with consistency and presenting opposing forwards with long, impassable gaps and borderline unfair stick length, the 22-year-old is exactly what the Jets thought they were taking in the middle of the 2016 first round. His defensive game is one of the most polished out of any pro in his age group, but his offensive game has been fairly impressive as well, showing out during power-play deployments with his booming slap shot and improved technical skating ability -- he already moved around pretty well for a big man. What is frustrating in his game, though, are his inconsistent and confusing reads; he can pass the puck into a dangerous situation or sell out for a hit and give up inside position at times, and that will have to be coached out of him. Otherwise, Stanley plays such a simple stay-at-home game that I can’t imagine he would have much trouble playing in the NHL for a decade plus, perhaps starting with next season. – TD

Daniel Torgersson, LW (40^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A burgeoning power forward, Torgersson has shown an ability to complement skilled players extremely well in a top six role. He skates well enough to keep up with them in a straight line and has good explosiveness for his size. He can cover the puck and win battles with his reach and strength is hard to contain around the net and on the rush. A physical player, he shows well in all three zones, competing hard on the forecheck and along the wall in his own end. However, his skill set as an offensive player is only average, which suggests that his upside may be limited to the bottom six player at the NHL level, an assessment that his home club of Frolunda may agree with, as they have only sporadic time up with the senior side, regardless of his great production at the junior level. If he can improve his release and his ability to create with the puck at full speed, there may be more upside. – BO

David Gustafsson, C (60^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

It should go without saying that the Jets rushed Gustafsson to the NHL last season. Playing 22 games for Winnipeg at age 19, he had a Shot Attempt % of 29.9%, per NHL.com, worse than any forward who played in more than four games. Were it not for a fortuitous PDO, he likely would have seen the back of the NHL much sooner. To his credit, Gustafsson was much better in his 13 game stint in the AHL and was far more impressive playing on the top line for Sweden at the WJC, helping his homeland to a Bronze Medal. It should also be said that playing up a level or two is nothing new for the center, as he played two full seasons in the SHL as a teenager before coming to North America. Gustafsson is a large-framed center with a great track record on the draw. He is quicker than he is fast, plays a very reliable two-way game and is strong on his stick. Due to always playing above his age class, his offensive upside is still a mystery, but Gustafsson has enough in his bag to make it in a bottom six role assuming he lacks the skill set to play top six. - RW

Santeri Virtanen, C (105^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Virtanen plays a tenacious, purposeful two-way game. He manages well in the corners and along the boards – the physical attributes are there. He reads the game well and provides puck support. He is very strong at face-offs. More of a defensive forward, he can be utilized on the penalty kill due to his defensive reliability. He has pretty good puck handling skills and a fine shot as well. In order to be able to play in the NHL, his skating will have to improve. Not the most efficient skater, he often takes wide turns. His first few strides are clumsy. He could improve his endurance and be more agile as well. Virtanen had a very promising start to the 2019-20 season but couldn’t quite maintain that level of play for the remainder of the campaign. Next season will be very important as he will need to contribute more offensively. At this point in time, he projects as a depth forward at the NHL level. - MB

Nathan Smith, C (91^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Drafted as a 19-year-old, Smith has one of the more interesting, unique stories among all prospects in this book. In his first year of draft eligibility, Smith was playing high school hockey. That, in and of itself, is not that interesting. But he was not playing in Minnesota, or Massachusetts. No, Smith was playing high school hockey in Florida. The Tampa native was crushing all comers in the Sunshine State, but surprisingly more than held his own when he moved up a few notches to play with Cedar Rapids of the USHL. His skating was maybe a little unrefined, with more experience playing roller hockey than ice hockey growing up, but he was clever and showed a gift for playmaking. Smith is comfortable playing in the middle of the ice and has proven himself to be effectively creative with the puck after a successful freshman season at Minnesota State. His skating has also improved from what he showed in the USHL. We are still years away from knowing how Smith will turn out, but he has already come so far. - RW

Arvid Holm, G (167^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Holm is starting to look like a sneaky good pick by the Jets from 2017. He never had the big numbers playing on a bottom team in the junior league but was since picked up by Farjestad in the SHL which is a big organization with a strong program for goalies. Holm has since been a big surprise to many. He has the size that you want in a modern goalie, and he reads the play well with good vision. He now plays better positionally as well. Holm showed strong consistency and his team won 20 of his 30 starts. He is not a goalie with any standout tools, but the athleticism and his hockey sense both seem to be above average. He has recently signed with Winnipeg but will play the next season in the SHL. With the latest season in mind I would not rule out him to be a fringe starter/backup-goalie in the NHL in the future. - JH

Leon Gawanke, D (136^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

From an emerging but still, to this point, under-scouted hockey culture in Germany, Gawanke was top-ten in points and assists among rookie defensemen in the AHL in 2019-20 with Manitoba, a team starved of offense. This is an encouraging sign of things to come from a highly entertaining, risk-taking 21-year-old with little pro experience under his belt. Demonstrating a veteran-like ability to cut passes through traffic and walk the blueline on the power play, he is a very dangerous offensive defenseman, especially with his powerful slap shot. Never afraid to activate himself in transition, his powerful strides and quick acceleration allows him to jump into things with ease. Of course, he can get into trouble this way and will need to polish his anticipation and aggression, but he is still only 21 and has less than 50 pro games under his belt. With time, he can be a middle-pair puck-rusher with power play deployment. - TD

Simon Lundmark, D (51^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Smooth skating defensive prospect. Picked in the second round in 2019, Lundmark now looks more to be a depth prospect, as he did not take any big steps developmentally last season. If Lundmark reaches the NHL, it is most likely a bottom pair/7th defenseman role. He lacks the tools to be an offensively productive defenseman and is not that strong in defending his own end either. He moves the puck and his feet well and can be a solid breakout passer. He has played a bottom pair in SHL for two seasons now and will need to take a step forward in his team hierarchy to come closer to the NHL. For him to do that he will need to be more than a solid breakout passer. He sometimes complicates things and can get into trouble if he is under pressure from forecheckers. He will also need to be a stronger player in his own end when his team does not have the puck. If he does that, I can see value in a puck-moving defenseman in a third pairing role. - JH

Kristian Reichel, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jun. 15, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Undrafted out of the WHL, Reichel earned a two-year, two-way contract as one of the few bright spots on a dim Moose team in 2019-20. Signed as a fill-in depth player, the 22-year-old worked hard until earning a permanent top-six role alongside other Europeans such as Vesalainen and Gustafsson before the season was paused and eventually cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A sneaky and selective goal scorer, the Czech shoots hard and at a high percentage, thanks to an uncanny ability to locate dead spots in the ice, and he is ready for a shot before the defense can mark him. He is not much of a passer but can carry the puck low into the zone. Fast and intelligent, he can play a solid defensive game as well as flexibly play all three forward positions. Reichel proved he is a legitimate prospect after coming back from an injury early last season. Now he needs to show what his ultimate ceiling could be. – TD

Eric Comrie, G (Waivers: Dec. 19, 2019. Originally: 59^th overall, 2013 [Winnipeg]. Previous ranking: UR)

Always some team’s idea of a great third goaltender, someone you are comfortable subbing in for an injured regular for a month, but he now has 211 games of professional experience under his belt already and he still hasn’t definitively stamped out a claim for a regular NHL job. Comrie is a well-coached, technically competent netminder. His physical tools are only adequate though, which tells me that he is fairly likely to be maximizing his potential. If he can prove that wrong, he wouldn’t be the first goalie to bloom in his mid-20’s or later, but it doesn’t look likely. He can be a little stiff, with chunky movements, but the aforementioned technical ability along with a composed demeanor and never-quit approach, helps Comrie not get any less than his maximum. He doesn’t have any one obvious weakness, but likewise there is little to suggest he is ready for a bigger role. – RW

Pavel Kraskovsky, C (164^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 16)

Just as Kraskovsky seems to have lost a step from the peak of his prospectdom, he is taking a step forward as an offensive force in Russia. He was always correctly viewed as a defensive specialist, considering his career high through five full seasons in the KHL, where his career high was 18 points. Perhaps his first few months this year are portending of his turning a corner, but it isn’t likely. He has soft hands and plays the puck well, but his feel for finishing – not to mention his lengthy track record in that domain – is usually well below par. As he recently signed a two year extension with his lifelong club, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, this will be the last we report on Kraskovsky in this space, but even if he does one day come to North America, his ceiling would be as a low offense fourth liner who might be able to help out on the penalty kill. It’s not nothing, but it likely will be nothing for Winnipeg. – RW

Henri Nikkanen, C (113^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 18)

Another big, European center with a questionable offensive skill, there is a greater chance that Nikkanen has a greater ceiling than Kraskovsky, but also a greater chance that he never even reaches what Kraskovsky is capable of. Nikkanen put up impressive numbers in the Finnish junior ranks, but he doesn’t really have any big tools that provide confidence that he can continue to produce against men, when the game gets quicker. His skill with the puck, controlling in confined spaces, does give him a chance to get some action on a fourth line, with the caveat that despite his impressive size, he is not an aggressive player, which is to say that he is less likely to be supplement those bottom line minutes with time on the penalty kill. He also needs to show that he can keep up with the quicker pace physically, as his feet can seem heavy at times. What Nikkanen has working in his favor is his young age, giving him time to gain comfort in his physique. - RW

2021 World Junior Championship: Hamrin’s Swedish World Junior Roster

Jimmy Hamrin — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 17:15:31 +0000

In these weird times for hockey it is great to see that the World Junior Championships actually will be held this season and to a large degree with the ten participating nations bringing their strongest possible teams, with only a few notable exclusions currently anticipated. Canada will send a supreme team. USA has their 2001 powerhouse age group that dominated the 2019 NHL Draft. Russia recently won a senior national team’s tournament with their U20 team. And I am going to look into Sweden’s U18 WJC gold medal winners, and suggest my roster before Sweden actually announce theirs on December 3^rd.

First off, even if many of Sweden’s players who won the U18 are playing, they will not have a team that, on paper, should be able to beat USA, Canada AND Russia for a gold medal in this tournament. Last year’s result, finishing with a bronze medal, would be a respectable result again considering the competition. Sweden will be competitive with good goalies, top class defense and high-end wingers. Sweden’s weak position is at center where they lack a top elite talent.

Goalies

Hugo Alnefelt (TBL) was a strong starter already last season, being named Best Goalie in the tournament, and he was strong when they won at the U18s too. If he gets to start in this tournament as well comes down to how much the younger Jesper Wallstedt (2021) has closed in on him or has even surpassed him at this point. They both play at the SHL level and so far, Wallstedt clearly has outplayed Alnefelt. Wallstedt has saved 92% of the shots he has faced and 91% of the shots from the scoring area. Alnefelt has played a bit more but has much worse numbers, with 90% of the shots saved and 86% from the scoring area. If we deep dive into those numbers, we can see that Alnefelt has the better or similar numbers in almost all areas except from near range where Alnefelt saves 72% versus Wallstedt’s 83%. We will also need take into fact that Wallstedt plays on a stronger team (Lulea) at the top of the league while Alnefelt’s HV71 has struggled. Wallstedt has faces 26 shots per game while Alnefelt faced 31 shots per game. Wallstedt has a lower xG per game figure though and the goals he has let in has a higher xG value than Alnefelt’s.

That sums up my mind that the net should be Jesper Wallstedt’s to lose in this tournament if we look at the current season. That said, coaches rarely picks the starter only by the rationality of stats on single digit games. Alnefelt has had strong performances every time he has been chosen internationally and that should be accounted for and will be in his favour as Wallstedt has not had that opportunity yet (U18 got cancelled last spring).

My pick for a starter still will be Jesper Wallstedt. He is the best Swedish goalie prospect I have seen in at least a decade and his hockey sense is truly something special. Picking the third goalie I think you should go with a player who will be available next year, too, and my pick will therefore be Calle Clang (PIT) who has played in Allsvenskan with strong numbers so far. The only other junior goalie playing senior hockey in the top levels (SHL and Allsvenskan) is undrafted 19-year-old Matteus Ward.

Defenseman

Victor Soderstrom (ARI), Philip Broberg (EDM), Tobias Bjornfot (LAK) and Albert Johansson (DET) are no-brainers. These are the clear top 4. Johansson may surprise some, but he is looking like a tremendous pick by the Red Wings in 2019. He skates fast and has come further in adapting his game to senior level than both Broberg and Bjornfot. Broberg has the highest ceiling of the bunch and has the potential for a monster tournament. Soderstrom will probably be the most reliant defenseman of the team with his outstanding hockey IQ.

After those four it becomes more interesting.

If we start with the 2001 born players: Albert Lyckasen (BUF) has had a rough start to his season and left his Allsvenskan club in october after being cut from the team and sent down to third senior league. He has only played 3 games all season. For that reason, he will be counted out for my roster. Ludvig Hedstrom and Alex Brannstam have been regularly picked for this team over the years. Neither are drafted and they are non-flashy defensive defensemen. They both play for Djurgarden and of the two, Brannstam has played more on the SHL team with 5 games and an average of 06:30 TOI. They both have a shot of being that non-sexy defensive defenseman that coaches want for their roster. I see better options for that though. Another option here could be Gustav Berglund (DET). He plays regularly in Allsvenskan. He has been stable but has not earned a big role on the team playing around 14 minutes per game. He is a big and mobile defenseman with some good puck skills but has not provided much offense yet at the senior level. I do not see him as a strong candidate for WJC.

The 2002 age group muster up some exciting names. Among others, the recent NHL Draft had William Wallinder (DET), Helge Grans (LAK) and Emil Andrae (PHI) selected and they could make waves. Wallinder has been up and down, playing in Allsvenskan. His team has struggled, and he has been occasionally sent down to the junior team. He has his size and impressive mobility but still has much to learn about how to use those traits effectively. Grans started the season impressively and put up 6 points in the SHL, but his team has also struggled and are at bottom of standings and he has been sidelined (unfairly in my opinion) for games, too. He bring size, mobility, and strong passing ability. He should have a strong chance to earn a spot on the team. Andrae has also earned a spot on an SHL team. His ice time has varied from 6 - 20 minutes per game. He has not been spectacular but has handled himself well for an 18-year-old in his first season at the top level. He usually is more involved but plays more of a safe game now to stay on the team.

I would also advocate for one 2003 born defenseman and that is Simon Edvinsson (2021). He has been amazing in the junior league and has now come up and played a few games in the SHL. He is 6-5” with speed and skill. He is strong both offensively and defensively. He would be a great 7^th defenseman who can come in and stir things up.

All things considered, I will go for Victor Soderstrom, Philip Broberg, Tobias Bjornfot, Albert Johansson, and Helge Grans as locks. For the last two spots, Emil Andrae and Simon Edvinsson get the advantage for me. They are the most skilled players with the puck, and I think the team has strong defensive ability in the five guys named as locks to choose these options.

Forwards

Let’s start with the obvious names here. Lucas Raymond (DET) and Alexander Holtz (NJD) will be the offensive drivers for this team. They were the difference makers as underagers in the U18 gold medal and they were both contributors to the U20 bronze medal team already last season. The biggest question now is whether to keep them together on the same line or split them into two lines. The reason that has even come up as a question as they always have played together with success before is the fact that Holtz is playing with William Eklund (2021) in Djurgarden. Eklund (a probable first round pick) has taken the SHL by storm and that line (with former NHLer Jacob Josefsson in the middle) has been the team’s best line. Internationally Holtz and Raymond have had Karl Henriksson (NYR) to center their line and he is also an obvious inclusion to this roster. The smart hard-working center complements the two well. So how to solve this?

I would actually split Raymond and Holtz. I would keep Henriksson as Raymond’s center as they have played together more often historically, as both play for Frolunda. I will give Holtz and Eklund a strong two-way center like Albin Sundsvik (ANA). 6-2” Sundsvik is playing his second season as an SHL regular and although not a flashy player he would complement Holtz and Eklund fine. Raymond and Henriksson will need a new shooter to their line, and I can see Noel Gunler (CAR) fitting that profile well. Gunler has changed SHL teams since the draft and feels more confident on the ice again. At this level he will be a dangerous player having Raymond and Henriksson driving the play.

If Sweden is to succeed, they will also need some scoring depth in their bottom six with forwards who can take spots on the power play as well. Two players who I want to see get picked here are Theodor Niederbach (DET) and Oskar Olausson (2021). Both have been dominating in the junior league, Niederbach with 35 points in 19 games and Olausson with 27 points in 16 games. Also notable is that Olausson has gotten off to a strong start in SHL with 3 points in 7 games while averaging 8 min/game TOI. With Niederbach playing center the third player I would want for this line is 2019 first rounder Simon Holmstrom (NYI). He has not exceeded his development yet and took a questionable path by playing in the AHL at 18 last season. He has played in Allsvenskan this fall and has not impressed hugely there, either. All in all, he has a lot of potential and skill to use in this tournament.

That leaves only four spots for this group of 13 forwards and there are a lot of options to choose from. For the physical aspect, players like Emil Heineman (FLA) and Albin Grewe (DET) would do the job well and they also have some scoring touch to their game. Looking just at size and puck protection, players like Elmer Soderblom (DET) or Daniel Torgersson (WPG) would be good fits. All the four fit betters as wingers than centers in my opinion so to find a center for the fourth line I would look for either Arvid Costmar (VAN) or Daniel Ljungman (DAL). They both play on the same team and there Costmar is given more trust and he also has been used regularly on the PK for Linkoping’s SHL team. Costmar is more of a skilled player but he has shown that he can handle that role as well which will give him an edge here. I would not count out undrafted 2001 borns like Elias Ekstrom, Oskar Kvist or Jonathan Wikstrom for the final roster. All three have played SHL hockey this fall. In the roster for a since cancelled November event, 2003 born Simon Robertsson (2021) was picked for the team. He is a physically mature player but more of a goal scorer than a bottom six option for me. Maybe he could be the 13 forward to start.

Going back and forth, I believe I would pick Heineman over Grewe. Heineman is stronger and more mature in his game. I would pick Costmar over Ljungman, not long-term but for this tournament as I see him as being ahead as he has more experience at a higher level and has performed well this fall. I would also go with Elmer Soderblom in the 12^th spot. A 6-7” forward who can skate and handle the puck will be beneficial in the North American rink and give opponents some trouble in handling him. Then for the 13^th spot I would pick Daniel Ljungman over Grewe, Torgersson or any of the others mentioned. Ljungman can play both center and wing and is a smart player with a good shot who can be used well on a power play or in a shootout.

MY TEAM:

Goal:
Jesper Wallstedt - 02 (Hugo Alnefelt -01 and Calle Clang -02)

Defensive pairings:

Albert Johansson -01 – Victor Soderstrom -01
Philip Broberg -01 – Tobias Bjornfot -01
Emil Andrae -02 – Helge Grans -02
Simon Edvinsson -03

Forward lines:

Lucas Raymond -02 – Karl Henriksson -01 – Noel Gunler -01
William Eklund -02 – Albin Sundsvik -01 – Alexander Holtz -02
Simon Holmström -01 – Theodor Niederbach -02 – Oskar Olausson -02
Elmer Soderblom -01 – Arvid Costmar -01 – Emil Heineman -01
Daniel Ljungman -02

2020 NHL Draft Team Review: Central Division

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 12:31:20 +0000

This is the third of a five part series reviewing the 2020 NHL draft. Please click here for the Metropolitan Division and here for the Pacific Division.

Chicago Blackhawks

1/17 Lukas Reichel, LW, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL)

2/46 Drew Commesso, G, USNTDP (USHL)

3/79 Landon Slaggert, C, USNTDP (USHL)

3/81 Wyatt Kaiser, D, Andover HS (USHS-MN)

4/110 Michal Krutil, D, HC Sparta Praha U20 (Czech U20)

5/141 Isaak Phillips, D, Sudbury (OHL)

6/172 Chad Yetman, RW, Erie (OHL)

7/188 Louis Crevier, D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

I have very mixed feelings about the Blackhawks 2020 draft class. On the one hand, we had seven of their eight picks ranked in our top 217. The only pick we didn’t rank was sixth rounder Chad Yetman, a double overager, and even he scored 43 times in an abbreviated season in the OHL. I can accept that. On the other hand, only one of their picks was selected lower than where we had him ranked, and that was their final pick, Louis Crevier, who was ranked 186^th, and was drafted 188^th. In other words, the Blackhawks added a bunch of solid prospects to their system, but none that we would generally define as being value adds for where they were drafted.

There was a good mixture of positions (one goalie, four blueliners, and three forwards) and geographies represented here. Two Europeans, three CHLers, and three on the collegiate path. Although, whereas many other teams are eschewing CHLers in the later rounds, Chicago only drafted their CHLers this year with their last three picks. The picks skewed large, with all but Yetman coming in at least 6-0” tall, but Crevier more than making up for it, at 6-8”.

The players added to the system here are a nice mixture of those who have a history of strong production (Reichel, Commesso, Kaiser, Yetman) and those who are more known for their defensive prowess (Slaggert, Krutil, Phillips, Crevier). I suspect that we underrated Reichel in our final ranking, and that two of the players selected here establish themselves as NHLers in time, but I remain unconvinced that the Blackhawks added any impact, top half of the lineup, players and the best case outcome is essentially moderate.

Best value pick: Landon Slaggert

Even though Slaggert was drafted higher than where we had him ranked, his strong two-way game will help him crack an NHL roster once he is done at Notre Dame, where his father is an assistant coach. Not only does he have the feel of an NHLer, but he has been known to flash scoring skill on occasion, even if that was not his primary role with the USNTDP. He skates well, plays a grinding, in-your-face game, and there may be more points in his mitts than he has so far shown. I can say some of the same things about fifth rounder Isaak Phillips. He has a plus-sized frame, is a tremendous skater, and has a history of producing from the point. If he can play a little more mean, his value will jump.

Worst value pick: Wyatt Kaiser

Yes, it is always hard to scout high schoolers. Kaiser put up great numbers as the captain at Andover HS in Minnesota but struggled to assert himself in his limited time in the USHL with Dubuque. He is less physically developed than most of the other Chicago picks, but played a physically strong game in high school off the puck. He is expected to spend the entirety of 2020-21 back in the USHL, and will need at least three years at Minnesota-Duluth where he will look to add muscle, additional explosiveness in his stride to see if his loose collection of tools can eventually turn him into a useful asset for the Blackhawks. There is a hope here, but I would have been far more comfortable making this selection a few rounds later on.

Minnesota Wild

1/9 Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa (OHL)

2/37 Marat Khusnutdinov, C, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)

2/39 Ryan O’Rourke, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

3/63 Daemon Hunt, D, Moose Jaw (WHL)

5/146 Pavel Novak, RW, Kelowna (WHL)

Only five picks here, but what picks! Bill Guerin, a rookie GM had a smashing draft debut for the Wild. Not only do all of the players they selected have NHL upsides, their top pick, Marco Rossi, has star upside and an outside shot of playing in the NHL from day one. There had been some thought that the Austrian talent might return to Europe this year after leading the entire CHL in scoring last year, a pretty amazing feat for an 18-year-old. At present, those plans to play in Switzerland are on pause. He is smaller, albeit stocky, and is among the older first-time eligible players, with a Sep. 23, 2001 birthdate. On the other hand, his strength on the puck, combined with his talent, make him incredibly difficult to contain in the offensive zone, and he is just as likely to attack through the middle of the ice as he is to go wide. Considering that more height is unlikely, there isn’t much more he needs to accomplish before playing for the Wild.

If there is a notable downside to this draft class – size notwithstanding – it is on short turnaround time. Four of the five picks came out of the CHL, giving the Wild only two years maximum to integrate all but Marat Khusnutdinov into the system. Again, that shouldn’t be a big issue with a class with as much high-end potential as this one, but imagine a scenario such as what occurred to third rounder Daemon Hunt last year. The skilled defender had his arm cut badly with a skate blade, causing him to miss a significant chunk of his draft year. While none of the five players are late bloomers, a serious injury could stunt their continued development, forcing that player into the professional ranks before being ready. This downside is theoretical, but it is something to keep in mind.

Another thing I noted in examining these players is that the last three picks all have worn letters in recent years. O’Rourke was a rare 17-year old captain in the OHL. Hunt was an alternate last year and Novak also wore the ‘A’, but in international competitions for his native Czech Republic, instead of in league play. All told, this has the potential to be a great drafting start for Guerin. We will see next year if this approach becomes a trend.

Best value pick: Ryan O’Rourke

In one, very important sense, Marco Rossi was the best value pick for Minnesota. While we had him ranked 9^thoverall, exactly where he was drafted, he provides such a dynamic and varied offensive approach, that we had assumed he would actually be drafted higher than that. He has first line upside. O’Rourke was only taken nine slots after our ranking of him, but there was also some talk late that he could even be selected 10 spots higher than our ranking. He is a do-everything defender who doesn’t look too dissimilar to how Ryan Suter looked in the latter’s draft year. I’m not saying that O’Rourke will have a career anything like Suter’s, but I am saying that that style of player is the projection.

Worst value pick: No one

There is risk with every pick, every year, but in terms of expected value, the Wild did a fantastic job this year. Maybe Novak’s size and lack of physical game prevents him from maximizing his offensive instincts. Maybe Hunt’s time away from the ice this year did stint his development irretrievably. Maybe Rossi can’t handle the expectations of a first line center and only blossoms after a trade, like current Wild forward Kevin Fiala. Maybe Khusnutdinov never comes over or is held back by his slight figure. Maybe O’Rourke is never more than a replacement level seventh defender, who lacks any one elevator pitch tool to push him up the lineup. All of these things can happen, but I can also find a similar sounding statement on all 216 players selected. Value is about perception, and the Wild had a great value draft.

Winnipeg Jets

1/10 Cole Perfetti, C, Saginaw (OHL)

2/40 Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frolunda J20 (SuperElit)

5/133 Anton Johannesson, D, HV 71 J20 (SuperElit)

6/164 Tyrel Bauer, D, Seattle (WHL)

Once a deep and strong system, the Winnipeg Jets have seen their prospect strength dwindle in recent years, but for good reason, as many of those one-time top prospects, are now driving things at the NHL level, such as Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Jack Roslovic, and others. Since then, the Jets have often had few picks to work with. Over their last three drafts, including this one, they went from having six picks in 2018, to five last year, to four this year. That is no way to keep the pipeline running smoothly. Factor in some picks which have been less than impressive, and the Jets have a much higher hit rate than the industry at large in the ones that have worked out.

So here we are, with only four new members of the organization to consider. Thankfully, the first one of those is one of the prizes of the draft class in Cole Perfetti. For months, he was almost assumed to be going fourth overall to Detroit. When Detroit took Lucas Raymond instead, it seems as if the teams picking 5-9 already had a target in mind and Perfetti may not have been considered. Their loss was Winnipeg’s gain. While small and not the fastest player, he creates scoring chances seemingly at will, both for himself and for his linemates. His ability to read the defense and then tear through them is incredibly impressive for his age. In a scenario where the OHL is delayed, or even cancelled, he might be able to hold his own in the professional ranks now. Down the road, he has star potential.

I didn’t love their second pick Daniel Torgersson at that spot, but we loved getting Anton Johannesson in the fifth. If those two picks had been reversed (I’m not saying that Torgersson would have otherwise been available in the fifth. That wasn’t going to happen), I would have understood these picks much more, but in the end, they get both, putting a lot of this draft on the shoulders of Swedish scout Kjell Dahlin.

Best value pick: Anton Johannesson

The main thing that kept Johannesson available as late as the fifth round was his size. Not only is he 5-9”, but he is really slight as well. Very few players his size make it. But those that do tend to be special types, along the lines of Samuel Girard. He doesn’t need to be fierce, but it has to be a smaller handicap. Johannesson is a wonderful skater with fantastic puck skills to boot. His record of over one point per game in the SuperElit was no fluke. Physical development will play a literal outsized role in his projections.

Worst value pick: Daniel Torgersson

As small as Johannesson is, that’s how big Torgersson. If they split the difference, there would be two average sized 18-year-olds. He has classically great size, can exert that force onto opponents and he put up numbers just as good as Johannesson did in the SuperElit. Of course, Torgersson is a forward while Johannesson is a defenseman. The real difference is our Swedish analyst sees a case of a player leveraging his size advantage against the rest of the league to dominate, as opposed to succeeding through skill. From a skill perspective, he is far more energy line than top six.

Nashville Predators

1/11 Yaroslav Askarov, G, Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)

2/42 Luke Evangelista, RW, London (OHL)

3/73 Luke Prokop, D, Calgary (WHL)

4/101 Adam Wilsby, D, Sodertalje SK (Allsvenskan)

6/166 Luke Reid, D, Chicago (USHL)

7/202 Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, LW, Chicago (USHL)

7/209 Chase McLane, C, Tri-City (USHL)

I am of two minds about this Nashville draft class. I generally require two players who go on to have legitimate NHL careers for the class to be at least average, in the big picture. I believe strongly in the Predators’ top two picks, and so that requirement should be met. My concern is with almost everything that happened after they selected Evangelista in the second, a late riser who came on in his second season with the London Knights. He has a fourth line floor and a top 25^th percentile third liner is his ceiling. And Askarov is a top 15 goaltender in the league. Maybe the most athletic goalie prospect since Vasilevsky. A goalie has more inherent risk than a skater, but if such a thing as a good goalie prospect exists, Askarov is one.

After that though, there were few picks they made that were too limited tools-wise to have much hope in an NHL outcome. There is one notable exception that I will get to later, but most of their picks were head scratchers. Among other notable traits those picks had were they were largely overagers, as three of the five later round picks were in their second or third years of eligibility. Also of note that only two of their seven picks were out of the CHL, giving them a longer horizon on which to judge the outcomes of these picks.

Perhaps we are wrong, and this otherwise well-balanced draft class brings the organization more value than two NHLers. The Predators have hit on later-round, surprise picks in the past, and if any GM has earned some benefit of the doubt, it is David Poile. That caveat aside, I can only look at this draft class as a fair amount of opportunity squandered. But we go back to the top and remind ourselves that if Evangelista and Askarov both achieve what we expect they can, this will all be a moot point.

Best value pick: Gunnarwolfe Fontaine

If there is a past player I have covered who Fontaine reminds me of, it is fellow Predators’ prospect Rem Pitlick. Like Pitlick, Fontaine is short, skates really well, has a fantastic shot, and can create for others, while also not needing to be sheltered defensively. To top it off, they were both passed over in their respective first years of eligibility and kicked it up enough to be unmissable the next time around, still in the USHL. Fontaine isn’t as stocky as Pitlick though, and he will have to work on his physique at Northeastern, but he is tough enough to play against that I think he will make it work.

Worst value pick: Luke Prokop

The positives are impossible to ignore. Prokop has a massive figure, the ideal in a defensive defenseman. He plays an intelligent game, and he does not shy away from physical play. On the other hand, the negatives are not easy to miss, either. He really has no offensive tools to speak of. There are mixed opinions on his skating as well. In the 1980s there was room for this type of blueliner, although even then it was as a sixth defenseman. Once in a while these gambles pay off, but I wouldn’t be the one making the bet.

Dallas Stars

1/30 Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan (QMJHL)

4/123 Antonio Stranges, LW, London (OHL)

5/154 Daniel Ljungman, C, Linkoping J20 (SuperElit)

6/162 Evgeni Oksentyuk, RW/LW, Flint (OHL)

6/185 Remi Poirier, G, Gatineau (QMJHL)

In some ways, I view the Dallas Stars’ 2020 draft class much like I do with the Minnesota Wild’s. Few picks, but all excellent value selections. More than that, though, I see in the five players drafted here – or at least the first four, all of whom are forwards – an approach that signals an awareness on the part of GM Jim Nill and the Dallas scouting crew that the organization had been lacking in dynamic offensive skill. Anybody who paid attention to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, especially the Finals, could see how the team lacked a lock picker in their attack who could break open a tightly checking, suffocating defensive opponent. Even as we never advocate drafting for need, the lack of the lock picker is also a factor throughout Dallas’ pipeline. They simply didn’t have anyone who could play that role in the system.

All three of first rounder Mavrik Bourque, fourth rounder Antonio Stranges, and sixth rounder Evgeni Oksentyuk have high end skill elements in their games. The latter two picks are not NHL guarantees by any stretch, but they all provide that element of flash and creativity that can beat an NHL defense and that Dallas has been in short supply of for some time. Not that Bourque is a guaranteed success, but he is a special playmaker with a diverse and exciting blend of offensive talents as well as high end motor and quick-paced brain. He could easily have been off the board ten picks before the Stars had their chance. Fifth rounder Daniel Ljungman is also an offensively gifted player, even if his puck skills do not project to the level of the other three. Then again, he began the current SuperElit season scoring 12 times in 12 games, as clear an indication as any that he is ready to take his game to the next level.

Although I often prefer draft classes that are varied geographically and positionally or by player-type, I am on board with this outcome for Dallas, which not only went to the CHL for four of their five picks, but also neglected to draft a single defenseman among their five picks. The organization lacks defensive depth below the NHL level, even if their top prospect before the draft – and likely still the case after the draft – is blueliner Thomas Harley, but their NHL defenders all still retain youth, giving the organization more time to replenish that area of need later. Without having any top picks, this small draft class has a chance to change the complexion of the near-term future of the team.

Best value pick: Evgeni Oksentyuk

Oksentyuk, who spent his original draft year playing in his homeland of Belarus, playing in the local top pro league and playing for his homeland at both the WJC and the WU18s (second tier for the former and top level for the latter), was passed over in the NHL draft, but taken fifth overall in the CHL Import draft, and was full value for the Flint Firebirds. The pint-sized playmaker plays with great energy and hustle, putting himself in greasy areas with the confidence that he can finagle his way out with a juke or a sudden pass to an open teammate. His lean 5-8” stature will remain a concern, but Oksentyuk has a level of talent not often available in the late rounds of the draft.

Worst value pick: Remi Poirier

This is a default pick. We actually liked Poirier enough to consider him a draftable talent, but his selection does not bring with it anywhere near the level of potential additional value that any of their first four picks do. Poirier has average size for a goalie and put up numbers in the Q that were OK, but not really great. If they had selected fellow QMJHL netminder Samuel Hlavaj, I would have been more impressed. Poirier projects as organizational depth in net, opportunities notwithstanding. It’s not a bad pick, just uninspiring from where we sit.

Colorado Avalanche

1/25 Justin Barron, D, Halifax (QMJHL)

3/75 Jean-Luc Foudy, C, Windsor (OHL)

4/118 Colby Ambrosio, C, Tri-City (USHL)

5/139 Ryder Rolston, RW, Waterloo (USHL)

6/167 Nils Aman, C, Leksands J20 (SuperElit)

Like the plurality of teams in the Central Division, the Avalanche did not have the full complement of picks to use, and like the bulk of those teams with missing picks, Colorado made the most of what they had, hunting out value at every turn. Even though they have among the strongest young defensive cores in the game, Colorado used their first pick on another defenseman, seeing a future blueline that includes the likes of Calder Trophy winner Cale Makar, Bowen Byram, Samuel Girard, Conor Timmins, and Justin Barron. That is a hell of a high-ceilinged top five that can serve as the backbone of a Stanley Cup contender.

Something which, in my view, increases the chances of the Colorado picks eventually clicking, is that they mostly have at least one element to their games which is high end. Foudy and Rolston are both fantastic, potentially elite, skaters. Ambrosio has great hands. Barron has a remarkably well-rounded game, and his IQ and skating were both very advanced before he missed a large chunk of his draft year with a blood clot. Even sixth rounder Nils Aman, a double overaged pick, skates very well and has above average puck skills. It is often said that a player who does one thing great will get more chances to find a role than a player who does many things fine or slightly better. Whether hockey is a strong link, or a weak link sport is often debated, when it comes to scouting, the game is pointing in the direction of being a strong link activity.

Even noting that we are pretty impressed with what the Avalanche managed to do with only five picks, it has to be noted that a lot of this assessment depends on the assumption that they had full access to the recent medical reports of Barron. Before his medical condition came to light last year, he was largely considered as a candidate for a top 10 pick, not far removed from Jamie Drysdale and probably ahead of Jake Sanderson, who value as a prospect went up in the second half of last season – right while Barron was on the shelf. Barron also had a follow up surgical procedure in the week or so prior to the draft, which was reported as expected and planned. I can only presume, with this pick, the Colorado is comfortable that the issue is behind him and unlikely to recur.

Best value pick: Jean-Luc Foudy

The brother of former Columbus first rounder Liam Foudy, Jean-Luc had some first round buzz earlier in the season thanks to his elite skating, and hints of burgeoning playmaking which stemmed from a very impressive age 16 season with Windsor in the OHL. His draft year fell short of those expectations though and his contributions were more sporadic than had been hoped. The younger Foudy still flashes intriguing offensive tools and world-class athleticism (in addition to his NHLer older brother, their mother was an Olympic athlete and their father played in the CFL) improved consistency, will go a long way to pushing him up the depth chart. At minimum, the blazing speed will help him carve out a role on the penalty kill. Incidentally, much the same can be said about fifth rounder Ryder Rolston, son of longtime NHLer Brian Rolston. Ryder, a late-birthday 2001 born who played in the vaunted 2019 USNTDP class before spending last season with Waterloo, is a great skater who flashes impressive offensive tools, particularly his shot, but can be very inconsistent.

Worst value pick: Nils Aman

In one way, Barron is a winner here. We had him ranked as a mid-late second round pick, but that was largely based on uncertainly about his health. Colorado will know more on that front than we do. And considering his press coming into the 2019-20 season, there is still an argument that getting him 25^th overall was great value. On the other hand, we have Aman, a 20-year-old who has almost never played internationally for Sweden, and hasn’t shown the ability to regularly contribute against the best Sweden has to offer in the SHL. His SuperElit numbers last year were breathtaking – tied for second league-wide in points per game among players who have played at least 20 games – but he was also older than most of his competition. He skates well and has good puck skills, but nothing to the extent that an NHL future would be a good bet.

St. Louis Blues

1/26 Jake Neighbours, LW, Edmonton (WHL)

3/86 Dylan Peterson, C, USNTDP (USHL)

3/88 Leo Loof, D, Farjestad J20 (SuperElit)

4/119 Tanner Dickinson, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

5/150 Matthew Kessel, D, U.Mass (Amherst) (NCAA/Hockey East)

6/163 Will Cranley, G, Ottawa (OHL)

7/194 Noah Beck, D, Fargo (USHL)

Like the Chicago Blackhawks, whose draft class is discussed at length above, the Blues had a full draft class, with seven picks, and generally picked decent players with reasonable chances at an NHL career, but also sacrificed ceiling for floor more often than I like to see. Even getting two of the better defensive forwards in the draft with their first two picks, they still failed to add any dynamic talents to an organization that has had a light pipeline for some time. Blues fans might point to Ryan O’Reilly being both a top defensive forward, and a team leader, but players like that are rarely recognized as such at the draft and only emerge like a butterfly after the fact. Not that it stood in the way of the franchise’s first ever title in 2019, but this approach will make it harder for that type of success to be sustained.

If you disagree with the above, you might have more faith in rawer talents like Leo Loof – one of our Swedish analyst’s favorite sleepers from Sweden in this draft class – or Tanner Dickinson, who moved from Tier 1 hockey in the Detroit area to the OHL and was holding his own by year’s end, regularly displaying his great speed as the main driver of his success. You might like sixth round netminder Will Cranley for his size and decent work backstopping a successful OHL club, seeing a potential reprise of the Joel Hofer experience, who didn’t become the netminder for Canada’s Gold Medal winning U20 team until he was in his final junior season.

I will give St. Louis credit for getting a good mix of players on short and long timelines. Three CHLers will have short windows, which of course includes their top pick, Jake Neighbours. Neighbours might have more offensive upside than we have seen from him so far, as he does have very good puck playing skills, but he is a solid skater, with a stocky frame and a very good head for the game. He is the type of player for whom a short window is all that’s needed. The two OHLers (Dickinson, Cranley) might be harder to gauge, but I would expect to see some growth in their games over the next two seasons. As for the collegians (present and future), Peterson is closer to Neighbours in impact and timeline, collegiate eligibility or not, but Matthew Kessell’s and Noah Beck’s future professional prospects are likely to depend at least as much on system need at the time of their NCAA graduation than it does on their continued development.

Best value pick: Jake Neighbours

I considered putting down Will Cranley here, because he has a lot of raw potential, and could blossom with a greater share of the load in net, but his numbers were measurably worse than the 67s’ regular starter, Cedric Andree. There is risk in every goalie selection, but Cranley is very big, decently athletic, and shows good compete level. His selection is exactly how I would recommend teams target goalies. That said, Neighbours is clearly the best value pick for the Blues, because he plays an NHL-ready game. Every tool meets the requirements of a middle six scoring role, with the ability to play on both special teams’ units as well. There may be some questions about his ultimate offensive upside, but we believe that there is more to come.

Worst value pick: Matthew Kessel

In fairness, this is a sixth-round pick, so value is all relative. I considered Leo Loof for a moment, but we may have underrated him. Kessel is a very late bloomer. He has always had very good size, but didn’t show even a hint of two way capability at any stage of his career until his final USHL season in 2018-19, when he was a key contributor to Sioux Falls’ Clark Cup winning team. He kept some of those gains last year, as a fresh at UMass (Amherst), but even then, was in a depth role. I guess being a right-handed shot is a bonus, but I have never seen NHL-level assets in Kessel, and don’t see why his rights should have been locked in for three years now, instead of continuing to monitor his progress for a potential ELC offer down the road.

McKEENS NHL DRAFT GUIDE – FINAL MOCK DRAFT 2020 – TWO ROUNDS

Ryan Wagman and Brock Otten — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 13:48:42 +0000

I know, I know. You are not here for the preamble, so I will keep it extremely brief. For this mock, we are only looking at the part of the first round for which we know the order. That is, the top 29 picks, split amongst the teams that are no longer contending for the Stanley Cup. The 30th pick will go to the team that loses in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the Champions will pick 31st. Notably, Western Conference champs Dallas own their first round pick, while Eastern Conference champs Tampa’s pick belongs to San Jose as a result of the Barclay Goodrow trade. For the sake of timing, we are completing this mock with the presumption that the Lightning, with the better regular season pedigree, and one win away, will win.

We had to wait out a pandemic and two stages of a draft lottery to get here. In the first stage, we saw the third pick going to Ottawa, the pick they received from the currently hapless San Jose Sharks in the Erik Karlsson trade. The second pick was secured by the Los Angeles Kings. The first pick was reserved for a placeholder team, one of the eight teams who appeared in the play-in round but could not break through to the official first round of the postseason.

Those eight teams all had equal 12.5% (1 in 8) chances of winning the top pick, the lottery for which was held a few weeks ago. The New York Rangers won the honors. After the top three picks, the rest of the 4-15 set is set by regular season record. Picks 16-28 were also be decided by regular season record, including all teams who were knocked out in the first or second rounds of the postseason.

The picks made here are not based on insider intelligence, but through an understanding of the players available, and our knowledge of team tendencies and needs.

Let’s Draft!

1. New York Rangers - Alexis Lafreniere, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

There is a very reasonable argument to be made that the highest upside among the 2020 draft class actually belongs to Quinton Byfield. I have time for that argument, considering positional value (Byfield is a center and Lafreniere is a let winger), age (Lafreniere is a late ’01 born, while Byfield has an August 2002 birthdate, giving Byfield 10 extra month of physical development to come), and size (Lafreniere has good size, Byfield is a physical specimen). That said, I would not hesitate in the slightest to select Lafreniere here.
Lafreniere is ready to step right into an NHL roster and play a top six role on day one. The six years of team control that the Rangers would have would all be valuable years and they would be starting immediately. Byfield, on the other hand, may be ready to play in the NHL right now, but he would likely need a season or so before he can start to impose himself on the game. This is basically a parallel to the two players’ respective roles on the Canadian WJC roster. Both made the team, but Lafreniere was the tournament MVP, while Byfield barely saw the ice by the end. Although a winger, Lafreniere will soon be making his linemates better, much like John Tavares used to do across town in Long Island. RW

2. Los Angeles Kings – Tim Stutzle, LW, Adler Mannheim (DEL)

After Lafreniere, the gap in expected value between Stutzle and Byfield is slight at best. The Kings organization has a vested interest in German hockey, holding ownership over the Eisbaren Berlin franchise. At minimum, that should give them added comfort in terms of what they would be getting in Stutzle, likely more so than any other team. Stutzle’s game works at top pace, and he has enough elements to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup right away and work his way into a top line role in due time. As an added bonus, Stutzle will be able to maintain game shape in Germany until the NHL is up and running once again. RW

3. Ottawa Senators (from San Jose Sharks) - Quinton Byfield, C, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

We know that Lafreniere will not be available at this slot, giving Ottawa the easiest selection of the draft here. They simply take whoever is left on the board between Lafreniere, Stutze and Quinton Byfield. There is a pretty clear drop off in expected future value after these three in this first round. In this scenario, Byfield falls in Ottawa’s lap, and they will not be complaining to get a player they could begin grooming to be their future top line center. Physically overwhelming at the junior level, Byfield has the tools to continue dominating at the NHL level, although many believe that he needs to process the game a gear quicker to allow for all of his tools to play to their capacity at the top level. Ottawa will need more patience with Byfield than the Rangers or Kings would need with Lafreniere or Stutzle, but the payoff will be worth it. RW

4. Detroit Red Wings – Cole Perfetti, C, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

The Red Wings are the biggest losers with the draft lottery outcomes. After one of the worst seasons by any team this century, they certainly had to be hoping for a shot at one of the top three, even if the top pick was out of reach. Even though there is a drop off after the top three, the Red Wings will still get a high-end player at #4. There have been numerous rumors connecting the Wings with Perfetti, who has been playing just up the road from Detroit in Saginaw. There are good arguments to be had for Detroit to pick one of the big Swedes in this draft class, but Perfetti offers a better organizational fit for Detroit as the top center outside of Byfield. There is also something to the comp between Perfetti and Brayden Point, one of Detroit GM Steve Yzerman’s biggest draft prizes from his time atop the Tampa Bay organization. Patience will be important for Detroit with Perfetti – as it would be for anyone available at this point in this scenario – but he has first line center upside. RW

5. Ottawa Senators - Jake Sanderson, D, USNTDP (USHL)

The inclination here is to connect the Senators with one of the big Swedes considering the team’s history with drafting franchise changers from Sweden (Erik Karlsson, Daniel Alfredsson) and both Raymond and Alexander Holtz would be good fits at this stage of the draft. But before making the easy choice, I should point out that the Senators’ scouting staff is not at all the same as the staff that picked Karlsson and Alfredsson. The team has only drafted two players out of Sweden in the previous four drafts. If the Senators go to Sweden it wouldn’t be crazy, and they would more than likely draft Raymond in that case. But with Byfield already a Senator in this scenario, I like them drafting the top defenseman in the draft class. Sanderson and Drysdale are very close in our rankings, a matter of taste, really, and I think Sanderson is more likely here as the Senators under Pierre Dorion tend to go with bigger, more physical players. Sanderson has a clear physical edge on Drysdale at this stage in their respective careers. Sanderson is moving on to North Dakota next season, where he will be playing alongside former Sens’ first rounder Jacob Bernard-Docker. That could be the start of a long-term relationship between the two high end blueline prospects. RW

6. Anaheim Ducks - Jamie Drysdale, D, Erie Otters (OHL)

Drysdale is both arguably the best player available in this scenario, and fits a clear need for the Ducks, who have seen their once vaunted blueline depth dwindle in recent years due to some trades that didn’t exactly work out. The Ducks haven’t used a top pick on an OHL’er since drafting Max Jones in the 2016 first round, but Drysdale would bring a new dimension to their transition game, generally helping make Anaheim a faster paced team. He could reasonably be ready for the NHL by 2021-22. RW

7. New Jersey Devils – Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda HC (SHL)

A very good outcome for the Devils, Raymond would give the young team a third potential game breaking talent to go along with their two recent first overall picks Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Raymond is a truly dynamic puck player who can make things happen on any given shift and has excelled playing against youth, even if he has struggled to assert himself playing against men in the SHL. There are scenarios where Raymond is already off the board a few picks before New Jersey gets the chance, so they will take this if things play out like this. If Raymond is gone, I see them going to the other Swede, Alexander Holtz over one of the defensemen taken fifth and sixth. RW

8. Buffalo Sabres - Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa 67s (OHL)

The Sabres are once again entering a new regime. The Jason Botterill anti-CHL drafting is a thing of the past. New GM Kevyn Adams has no track record to look to for speculation about how the team might draft. There is a general sense though that metrics will play a deeper role in their selections, especially considering the mass layoffs among the Buffalo scouting staff. So the player who le the OHL in assists and points would be a good fit in that regards. Rossi’s overall hustle and grit would also help make Buffalo tougher to play against, giving opponents a second line after Eichel’s to worry about. RW

9. Minnesota Wild – Yaroslav Askarov, G, Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)

While not as much of a wild card at the draft as the new-look Sabres, this will also be the first draft for new Minnesota GM Bill Guerin, who had been an assistant GM with Pittsburgh for the five seasons prior to this one. He would certainly have seen the value of drafting goalies, but the Penguins had only one first round pick in his time as AGM. The Wild also have new Co-Directors of Amateur Scouting in P.J. Fenton and Darren Yopyk. Had the Penguins given their 2020 first rounder to Minnesota instead of deferring to their 2021 pick, I might have gone in a different direction here, but given the choice between a potential franchise goaltender (Askarov), and a few wingers who project as top six (Anton Lundell, Alexander Holtz, Jack Quinn), I see Guerin and company going with the one who can help define a franchise. RW

10. Winnipeg Jets – Alexander Holtz, RW, Djurgardens IF (SHL)

I get the sense that the Jets would sign off on this scenario in a heartbeat. It would not be hard to imagine an alternate scenario wherein Holtz is off the board at pick 5/6. Three years ago, the Jets drafted a big, skilled winger playing in Sweden named Kristian Vesalainen. Vesalainen has been jerked around since being drafted, spending time in the NHL, AHL, KHL and Liiga. Holtz is not the physical specimen that Vesalainen was, but his offensive instincts are more refined, and his draft year production put Vesalainen’s to shame. Holtz’ toolkit is robust and deep such that even though he is best known for his finishing skills, he can contribute in all facets. He may not be far at all from the NHL. RW

11. Nashville Predators – Jack Quinn, RW, Ottawa 67s (OHL)

With the level of talent still available levelling off, I see Poile and company looking for a player who can help sooner than later. While there aren’t any immediate contributors available, Quinn may be pretty close. The Predators showed no compunction in going to the OHL for their first rounder last year, and Philip Tomasino has taken huge steps forward in his first post draft year. Adding Quinn to a collection of prospects up front including Tomasino, Eeli Tolvanen, Egor Afanasyev, Rem Pitlick and others would give the Predators more offensive skill on the way than perhaps at any other time in franchise history. RW

12. Florida Panthers – Braden Schneider, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Dale Tallon is on the way out in South Florida and TBD is taking his place. With that much uncertainty surrounding the organization, I would generally proceed with a strict “Best Player Available” mantra. There are three forwards and two defenders who are all pretty close in terms of expected future value. In this case, I don’t mind going heavy on positional need, as most of the Panthers’ top prospects after 20191 first rounder, goaltender Spencer Knight are forwards, while the system is very shallow on the blueline. The organization is especially shallow on the right side of the blue line, so I will give the edge to Braden Schneider here over lefty Kaiden Guhle. But in truth, either would be a solid fit. RW

13. Carolina Hurricanes (from Toronto Maple Leafs) – Anton Lundell, C, HIFK (Liiga)

If the Hurricanes, under own Tom Dundon, are adamantly opposed to drafting a defenseman in the first round, I have a hard time imaging them springing for a goalie either. With three forwards of note to consider, I see them drafting the Finn Anton Lundell over either of Seth Jarvis or Dawson Mercer as the Hurricanes and Finnish prospects have been de rigueur for quite some time now. Also, Lundell is very good, plays a mature, NHL near-ready game, and has the versatility to play anywhere in the lineup, up or down the lines, at center or on the wing. I could also see the Hurricanes being the high team on Russian forward Rodion Amirov, but Lundell’s overall game, predicated on skills and smarts, would be hard to resist here. RW

14. Edmonton Oilers – Seth Jarvis, C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Look for the Oilers to continue to build organizational depth up front, as the team has long had a hard time putting the puck in the net without one or both of McDavid or Draisaitl on the ice. The German connection could be a thing if the Oilers were interested in JJ Peterka but recall that Draisaitl was drafted out of the WHL. Instead, I see them staying closer to home. Both Portland’s Seth Jarvis and Kamloops’ Connor Zary could be good fits here. While Zary could be a good fit in the way he can help control a slower tempo, with a speedy star like McDavid on the roster, the faster option is a better fit. Jarvis could be moved to the wing to play in the top six, or kept up the middle, allowing Edmonton to eventually move Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to a permanent top six wing position. Either way, Jarvis will make the Oilers that much more dangerous game in and game out. RW

15. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Pittsburgh Penguins) – Rodion Amirov, LW, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)

Given Toronto’s stated preference for speed, skill, and smarts in their prospects, some of the available options at this point are not great fits, such as defender Kaiden Guhle, or forwards Connor Zary or Dawson Mercer. The Leafs could really go in many different directions here, including trading down a ew spots to gain additional assets, but if I am keeping the pick, the best fits Toronto’s profile is Russian forward Amirov. He is physically underdeveloped, but his skill game is top six worthy, he reads the ice at a very mature level and can play at a good clip as well. Considering Toronto’s recent run of free agent signings from the KHL (Ozhiganov, Mikheyev, Barabanov), we know they are comfortable with bets on Russian talent. RW

16. Montreal Canadiens – Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)

One of the reasons I have respected how Montreal has drafted in the Bergevin era, is that they are willing to place bets on players from leagues outside the norm. Last year alone, they drafted players playing in Denmark and AAA in Alberta. This pick would not meet that definition, but it is a home run swing, nonetheless. Once Lapierre’s injury was reported to have been a neck injury and not a second concussion, some worries over his future were alleviated. There is also the slow start to his year to be considered, but coming into the season, many had assumed that the skilled playmaker would be long gone by this point. If Lapierre recovers his previous trajectory, this would be a big win. RW

17. Chicago Blackhawks – John-Jason Peterka, LW/RW, EHC Munchen (DEL)

Chicago would jump on Askarov if the Russian netminder somehow fell this far. Seeing as how he is not, and the strength of the system is defensemen – 7 of the club’s top 15 prospects is a blueliner, and that count doesn’t include Boqvist – look for the Blackhawks to add scoring depth. Two years ago, they signed Dominik Kahun as a free agent out of EHC Munchen in Germany. That worked out pretty well. Peterka is more of a scorer than the playmaking Kahun, but he also has a very reasonable top six projection. RW

18. New Jersey Devils (from Arizona Coyotes) – Kaiden Guhle, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

With Lucas Raymond already under wraps, and another first rounder coming up, the Devils can afford to diversify their approach, hearken back to the drafting of Ty Smith, and draft another defenseman from the WHL in the middle of the first round. Guhle is a much different style of defender than Smith but could be a compliment to him as the other left handed defender in the top four. Guhle skates well and is one of the more physical defenders in this draft class. RW

19. Calgary Flames – Connor Zary, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

The Flames need offensive talent for a second wave, especially if Johnny Gaudreau’s days are getting shorter in Calgary. Other than 2019 first rounder Jakob Pelletier, the cupboard is conspicuously empty. They could be opportunistic in this scenario and grab a future top six center in Connor Zary. His footspeed prevents him from being taken higher, but he reads the game very well and plays a positioning and puck skill game that doesn’t rely on being faster than opponents. Winger Dawson Mercer would also be a very worthy possibility here. RW

20. New Jersey Devils (from Vancouver Canucks) – Dawson Mercer, RW, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)

In this scenario, the Devils have already stocked up their system with Lucas Raymond and Kaiden Guhle. In adding Mercer to their group, they get another talented winger who could team up in a few years with recent high-end picks like Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and Michael McLeod. Mercer isn’t as flashy as Raymond – or as the centers – but he has excellent touch with the puck, and a highly advanced sense of where to be in the offensive zone to generate the most positive impact for his team. The WJC gold medalist from the 2020 event, he could be ready for the NHL faster than most other players still available. RW

21. Columbus Blue Jackets – Mavrik Bourque, C, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

If Columbus, which has not had their full complement of picks in recent years, as they have pushed to be a competitive playoff team, can be said to have a type, it is for instinctive forwards who play versatile games that could fit up and down the lineup. If there is a player available right now who could follow in the footsteps of Alexandre Texier and Liam Foudy, Bourque fits the bill. He has high end puck skills and instincts and plays a gritty game that maximizes his tools. The system is currently weaker on the blueline, but the draft class is forward heavy and those who should be considered in this range are already off the board (Schneider, Guhle). The dropoff in forward talent between this pick and when Columbus picks again (4th round) is far steeper than the dropoff among blueline prospects. RW

22. New York Rangers (from Carolina Hurricanes) – Jan Mysak, C, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)

Contrary to popular belief, the New York Rangers 2020 draft class will be judged on more than just what they get out of presumptive first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere. I often advocate for a diversified portfolio when teams make multiple picks in the first round, but four of the top 6 prospects in the Rangers’ system prior to the draft were defensemen, and the forwards available here are better anyway. Mysak fits in the Rangers’ worldview, considering their heavy lean towards European talents in the first round of late. While the skilled Czech pivot spent the second half of the season in the OHL with Hamilton, the first half of his draft year was played out against men in his homeland. The relative success of Filip Chytil should give the Rangers’ brass comfort in the Czech option and Mysak has outproduced his strong skill set for a while now. RW

23. Philadelphia Flyers – Dylan Holloway, RW, Wisconsin Badgers (NCAA/Big 10)

Both the Ron Hextall and Chuck Fletcher regimes have been very comfortable scouting the college bound talents and seven of the club’s top 15 prospects heading into the draft spent last year playing NCAA hockey. As such, the club would have had many extra opportunities to scout Holloway, who spent his first year of eligibility playing for the Badgers, occasionally outshining recent first round picks like Alex Turcotte (LA), Cole Caufield (Mtl), and K’Andre Miller (NYR). Holloway plays a powerful North-South game with speed and skill. When he remembers to slow the game down, his non-stop motor helps his tools play up. He can fit in an energy role if top six spots are unavailable. RW

24. Washington Capitals – Lukas Reichel, LW, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL)

Outside of 2019 first rounder Connor McMichael, the Capitals have a pretty downtrodden system, with a clear lack in offensive talent. Never a team to shy away from European prospects, Reichel is one of the players that could benefit from the late draft. The German dynamo has started his 2020-21 season very strong in international play, continuing on his upward trajectory in his “natural” draft year. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts with Reichel, and he might be no more than one year away from pushing for an NHL job. RW

25. Colorado Avalanche – Noel Gunler, RW, Lulea (SHL)

The Avalanche have done well in recent drafts by just seeing where the chips fall in front of them and then taking advantage of the best talent available. Thinking back to how Alex Newhook had some doubters at the time because of his being prominently left off some Canadian teams in international competition. Perhaps a similar bit of context will make it easier for the Avalanche to pull the trigger on Noel Gunler, who is seemingly always a late cut on various Team Sweden rosters. Gunler’s offensive tools are all high end and with a bit of glue to pull it all together over the next few years as part of an increased role with Lulea in the SHL, could turn out to be one of the best value picks of the entire 2020 draft class. RW

26. St. Louis Blues – Brendan Brisson, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)

St. Louis has spread the love in terms of where they have drafted from in recent years, although they have seemed to shy away from Finland in recent years. That said, the system is altogether lacking in high end talent at this time, with many of their best having graduated to the NHL. Brisson offers an exciting, point-producing talent who will require patience as he heads of the play for the Michigan Wolverines as soon as Big 10 hockey picks back up. Brisson has line driving capabilities but will need time to mature physically. RW

27. Anaheim Ducks (from Boston Bruins) – Sam Colangelo, RW, Chicago Steel (USHL)

The Ducks already have a defenseman in this scenario, in Jamie Drysdale. If they take Colangelo now, it is because they suspect he might not be around for their next pick (#36) as the Chicago winger is one of the few power forwards in this draft class. Further, the Ducks always take players with connections to the Steel (Jack Badini in 2017, Blake McLaughlin in 2018, and Jackson Lacombe in 2019). The Ducks still value players who play heavy games as in the golden days of the Pacific Division and Colangelo has enough skill with his sandpaper to fit in the more modern game. RW

28. Ottawa Senators (from New York Islanders) – Ridly Greig, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

In our scenario here, the Senators have already drafted Quinton Byfield and Jake Sanderson. Anything else is gravy, really. On poutine. The Senators under Pierre Dorion like players who are hard to play against. I can’t say that I disagree with that preference, even in the first round, where upside is king. At the very least, a skilled player who is tough to play against can find a home down the lineup if he doesn’t reach his perceived ceiling. A late bloomer, in the sense that he needed a few months into his draft year to find his stride, Greig is certainly tough to play against, despite his still growing frame. Greig is among those who have moved over to Europe (in his case, Sweden) to stay in game shape during the COVID-delays. RW

29. Vegas Golden Knights (from New York Islanders) – Helge Grans, D, Malmo J20 (SuperElit)

The Golden Knights may be among the top half dozen teams in the NHL, but their organizational depth betrays their expansion team status. Only three years into their existence, they were so good so soon that they have already traded away the bulk of the future advantage that similar teams tend to receive. A big right-handed shooter who could have given his draft stock a tangible boost with a good U18 performance, Grans plays a tight two way game, although his off puck play is currently more advanced than his offensive ability. If he can meld all of his tools together, he profiles as a strong option for the second pairing at maturity. RW

30. Dallas Stars – Kasper Simontaival, RW, Tappara U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)

Edmonton Oil Kings’ center Jake Neighbours feels like a Dallas type pick, but this team really needs some dynamic players in their lineup. Someone who can dangle through some opponents and has a knack for scoring. This team has long honed in on Finland and Simontaival certainly knows how to put the puck in the net, owning one of the most lethal shots in the draft class. He would offer a different look to anything currently in the system. RW

31. San Jose Sharks (from Tampa Bay Lightning) – Justin Barron, D, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

After pick 20 or so, the talent level of available prospects starts to flatten out considerably. So, you go with a player that makes you comfortable. Barron’s fans suspect he would have been long off the board by this point had he not missed a large chunk of the season to a scary blood clot issue. Now recovered, he could bring the Sharks a well-rounded, right-handed shot from the blueline who can take care of things in both ends. San Jose has heavily scouted the QMJHL in recent years, too, so they will surely have a good read on Barron. RW

32. Detroit Red Wings - Jacob Perreault, RW, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

It would certainly be a bit of a surprise if Perreault falls outside of the first round, but scouts are definitely concerned about the consistency of his effort level at both ends of the rink and the ability to get the most out of his skill set. One of the best goal scorers available, his upside is quite high and it’s why he could easily slot inside the top 20 too. The Wings snag him with the first pick of the second round, envisioning a potential powerplay set up that includes Perreault as the triggerman alongside the likes of Perfetti and Zadina. BO

33. Ottawa Senators - Ryan O’Rourke, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

O’Rourke is best described as a throwback style defender, whose game would have fit in well during the 1980’s-90’s. He plays the game hard and makes the opposition earn every inch of ice against him. However, his offensive upside may have been hidden given his role with the Greyhounds last year. His decision making with the puck is high end and he projects as a top four two-way defender in the future. Between the selection of Jake Sanderson in the first round and O’Rourke in the second, Ottawa is set to become a very difficult team to play against in a few years. BO

34. San Jose Sharks - Luke Evangelista, RW, London Knights (OHL)

Might be a bit of a shock to see Evangelista drafted ahead of a few other higher ranked OHL players, but don’t sleep on this breakout star for the London Knights. There are certainly NHL teams who see him as a potential first round selection and put a ton of stock into the London and Dale Hunter development program. San Jose would have seen a lot of Luke last year while checking in on the progress of Ryan Merkley and are likely to have been impressed with what they saw. A well-rounded winger, Evangelista’s potential as a playmaker could be higher than currently envisioned. BO

35. Los Angeles Kings - Dylan Peterson, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Peterson is the kind of player who NHL teams love a lot more than the independent scouting community. A big center who skates extremely well, Peterson profiles as both a potential playmaker and shutdown center, depending on how his development in college goes. No doubt, scouts would have taken notice of his improvement over the course of last year; the cancellation of the World U18’s likely hurt his chance of creeping into the first round with a strong performance. However, looking at the make-up of their division and conference rivals in the West, the Kings know that they will eventually need big forwards who can skate like Peterson. BO

36. Anaheim Ducks - Tyson Foerster, RW, Barrie Colts (OHL)

After taking Jamie Drysdale in round one, the Ducks turned their attention to goal scoring in the second round by selecting Barrie winger Tyson Foerster. Armed with one of the best shots in the draft, Foerster is lethal on the powerplay. His lack of a dynamic skating stride keeps him out of the first round, but his potential is too much to turn down in the early second. As he works to improve his pace and round out his game, Foerster could easily become a top six forward at the NHL level. BO

37. Nashville Predators (from New Jersey Devils) - Tyler Kleven, D, USNTDP (USHL)

No question, Tyler Kleven is another defender who NHL scouts are bound to like more than scouting agencies or independent scouts. While his offensive upside may be limited, the combination of his size, skating ability, and physicality, makes him a good candidate to develop into a modern-day shutdown defender. Nashville seeks to re-emerge as a tough team to play against again, a moniker that they held firmly a decade ago, but have lost touch with in recent years. This has caused a slide down the standings. Kleven, along with Dante Fabbro, can give the Preds those rocks on the back end that can allow players like Josi space to roam. BO

38. Buffalo Sabres - William Wallinder, D, Modo J20 (SuperElit)

Definitely a polarizing player for this year’s draft, Wallinder has physical tools in spades. A high-end mover from the back-end, he can dazzle at times and this has some scouts wondering about his high end potential if they are patient. The word patient is used because Wallinder is still learning to utilize his skill set, a fact that has other scouts questioning his IQ and vision on the ice. Whether you like him or not, defenders like Wallinder always go high in the draft because all it takes is for one franchise to believe in his potential. Buffalo, hoping to hit the jackpot, rolls the dice on the big Swede. BO

39. Minnesota Wild - Luke Tuch, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

When his brother Alex was draft eligible, and subsequently a first round selection, he was universally ranked in that first round range. While Luke does not appear to have the offensive upside of his brother, he is ranked as a possible second round selection by many publications (even if we have him well outside that range). Given Alex’s strong playoff performance this year and that bubble hockey proved that size, skill, and toughness still wins in the playoffs, look for Luke to be drafted earlier rather than later. After rolling the dice on Askarov in round one, Minnesota looks to secure a sure-fire NHL player here. BO

40. Winnipeg Jets - Jack Finley, C, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

One of the biggest players in the draft and also one of the youngest available, Finley’s raw potential is most certainly alluring. A potentially dominant playmaker down low once he fills out, Finley is a player who was starting to trend upwards before the WHL season was halted. Jack Finley’s father, long time NHL defender Jeff Finley, is a scout with Winnipeg, so there are obvious connections to the organization on top of him being a high upside selection. BO

41. Carolina Hurricanes (from New York Rangers) - Ty Smilanic, LW, USNTDP (USHL)

Smilanic is best described as an enigma because depending on what night you see him on, he could be one of the best or one of the worst players on the ice. If he can iron out some of those consistency issues, he could develop into a high-end offensive producer at the NHL level; no one doubts his skill level with the puck. Carolina, looking to add another skilled winger to their prospect pool, takes a chance on Smilanic. BO

42. Nashville Predators - Topi Niemela, D, Karpat (Liiga)

After taking Tyler Kleven with their first second round selection, the Predators took a different approach with their second pick in the round, selecting Finnish offensive defender Topi Niemela. A skilled playmaker from the back-end, Niemela may be lacking in the physical tools that Kleven possesses, but his high IQ and safe game allows him to move the puck effectively and it is easy to see his game translating well to the NHL level. BO

43. Florida Panthers - Marat Khusnutdinov, C, St. Petersburg (MHL)

Looking for a potentially elite two-way center, the Panthers select Russian forward Marat Khusnutdinov with their second-round pick. A powerful skater, Khusnutdinov is both a talented playmaker and a hard-working defensive center. There are some who question his upside as a top six forward, and because of that, the lure of the KHL is a real concern. However, there is no doubting that he deserves to be a top 50 selection and Florida makes a great pick here. BO

44. Toronto Maple Leafs - Jean Luc Foudy, RW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

It is definitely possible that the Leafs opt for a forward with a little more size who skates well (like Torgersson or Jarventie) at this position, however Foudy may be too alluring for Leafs’ management to pass up. After playing against his brother Liam in this year’s playoffs and seeing his speed make him one of Columbus’ most effective players, the Leafs opt for Jean Luc. Adding speed to the current lineup (and system) has to be a priority and JL Foudy is one of the draft’s quickest. He has time to iron out some of the concerns about his game (perimeter play, defensive consistency, shot confidence), and if Toronto is patient, he could turn out to be a steal. BO

45. Detroit Red Wings (from Edmonton Oilers) - Drew Commesso, G, USNTDP (USHL)

Askarov is very clearly the top goaltender available this year, but the second goalie off the board is much more of a mystery. There are a lot of players in contention for that honor. One of them is Drew Commesso, the starter for the U.S. U18 team. Commesso was consistently a standout in the USHL this year and has all the tools that teams are looking for in a potential starter. Looking to improve the team’s prospect depth at the position, Detroit takes the Boston University commit in hopes that he can be their goalie of the future. BO

46. Chicago Blackhawks (from Pittsburgh Penguins) - Nico Daws, G, Guelph Storm (OHL)

It is very possible that goaltenders go back to back at this spot in the second round, given the lack of goaltending depth in both Detroit and Chicago’s system. Looking for a goalie who is closer to the show, Chicago selects Nico Daws, an OHL netminder in his final year of eligibility. The OHL goaltender of the year, Daws improved his conditioning last offseason and the results were incredible. A massive netminder at 6’4, 200lbs, Daws looks and plays the part of a future standout for the Hawks and a possible replacement for Corey Crawford. BO

47. Montreal Canadiens - Jake Neighbours, LW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Neighbours, ranked inside or near the first round by nearly every publication (including us) takes a bit of a tumble at the draft due to a perceived lack of upside. However, he plays the kind of heavy game that the Canadiens are looking to inject into their system and lineup. Even if he only tops out as a high end third line winger, he could provide value to Montreal in that role. BO

48. Montreal Canadiens (from Chicago Blackhawks) - Ian Moore, D, St. Marks (USHS)

Montreal has taken two high end prep school defenders in recent drafts (Struble and Harris), so why not make it a trifecta? With so many selections this year, Montreal is most definitely going to select some players who will require patience (and also not require a contract offer for several years). Moore fits the bill. A high-end skater from the back-end, it remains unknown how Moore’s skill set will translate to a higher level. However, he is set to play for Chicago (USHL) this year and then attend Harvard the following year; two fantastic programs. This is the kind of high upside selection that teams with many picks always make. BO

49. Arizona Coyotes - Pick Forfeited

This selection was forfeited by Arizona as punishment for breaking league rules surrounding the individual testing of draft eligible players.

50. Calgary Flames - Daniel Torgersson, LW, Frolunda J20 (SuperElit)

Playing out of the West, and with some great power forward type prospects available in this range, it is very possible that the Flames try to inject size and skill into the organization with this selection. Will Cuylle could be a possibility, but Calgary opts for a better skater in Torgersson. Like any potential young power forward, consistency is an issue but the potential reward here is high. BO

51. Los Angeles Kings (from Vancouver Canucks) - Jeremie Poirier, D, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

No question, someone could take a chance on Poirier a heck of a lot earlier than this. He is one of the draft’s top offensive defender prospects. His ability to QB the powerplay and jump up into the rush is elite. However, concerns over his defensive commitment and four-way mobility could push him down the board on draft day. The Kings have one of the NHL’s best farm systems so they can afford to take the chance that Poirier can eventually put his skills to use at the NHL level. BO

52. Ottawa Senators (from Columbus Blue Jackets) - Thomas Bordeleau, C, USNTDP (USHL)

Bordeleau, the son of former NHL’er Sebastien, is an undersized, but well-rounded offensive center out of the U.S. Development program. The University of Michigan commit has one of the quickest releases in the draft class and his play through traffic really improved over the course of the last USHL season. The concern that his skating is not dynamic enough, given his lack of size, pushes him down the draft board slightly, but he ends up as a great selection for the Senators. BO

53. Carolina Hurricanes - Tristen Robins, C/RW, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Some draft publications have Robins in the first round. Some have him in the fourth round. Where will he truly fall come draft day? Our second-round ranking seems like a more likely reality. What is unquestionably true, however, is that Robins was one of the best players in the WHL in the second half of last season before the stoppage. If an organization is convinced that he can stick down the middle and that his offensive upside places him as a top six forward, he could go higher. Carolina is known to put a premium on hockey sense, over physical tools (at times) and it is very possible that they are the team that selects him. BO

54. Philadelphia Flyers - Will Cuylle, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

They may not be the Broadstreet Bullies anymore, but the Flyers will always be a team that looks to assert themselves physically. That said, this is also a team that finds themselves in the bottom half of the league in hits over the last three seasons. Adding a physical power forward like Will Cuylle would make a lot of sense. Cuylle may not have had the kind of offensive season that was expected of him, but he still possesses the upside to be a high-end middle six winger and is a better goal scorer than the numbers would indicate. BO

55. San Jose Sharks (from Colorado Avalanche) - Danil Gushchin, W, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

One of the NHL’s weakest farm systems, compounded by the fact that they gave up the third overall selection this year, San Jose will look to swing for the fences on a few selections this draft. Enter Danil Gushchin. A highly skilled offensive player, Gushchin is the definition of a boom or bust pick. When he is on, he is electric. When he is off, he is invisible. He will suit up with Niagara of the OHL this year and will look to develop more consistency in helping a young team make the playoffs. For San Jose, he can be a possible difference maker if his development goes according to plan. BO

56. Detroit Red Wings (from Washington Capitals) - Brock Faber, D, USNTDP (USHL)

Even with the selection of Moritz Seider last year, and a few good young defenders in the system, the Wings are likely to continue to add quality blueliners to the organization at this year’s draft. Faber is a favourite in the analytics community because of his offensive efficiency. An intelligent two-way defender, Faber’s high IQ is likely to interest Detroit due to the decision-making issues some of their current young defenders have. BO

57. Montreal Canadiens (from St. Louis Blues) - Shakir Mukhamadullin, D, Ufa (MHL)

The whipping boy of the internet scouting community, Mukhamadullin certainly has his detractors. Many believe that he will never be able to properly utilize his physical tools because he does not think the game well enough. However, he remains...a defender with high end physical tools and that alone will draw the interest of NHL scouts. His strong start to the KHL season does not hurt either. A few years ago, Montreal rolled the dice on another raw Russian defender (Romanov) and that has worked out pretty well so far. Seeing them do it again is not farfetched. BO

58. Boston Bruins - Ozzy Wiesblatt, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

A high energy winger who excels on the forecheck and in pushing the pace, it is not hard to see why the Boston Bruins could have interest in Wiesblatt. Universally ranked higher by scouts, Wiesblatt falls a bit in a similar way to Jake Neighbours, because of a perceived lack of upside. However, Boston has never been shy to select highly probable NHL players over those with higher upside but higher bust potential. BO

59. OTT (via NYI) - Martin Chromiak, W, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

After coming over to the OHL at the mid-way point of last season, Chromiak really found his game alongside the talented Shane Wright and fellow 2020 draft eligible prospect Zayde Wisdom. A terrific support player due to his vision and ability to control the wall, Chromiak has even more to show us as a potential offensive leader. As he gains confidence, look for his goal scoring ability to become a highlight of his skills package. Ottawa would have likely seen a lot of Chromiak this year, given the close proximity and his skill set would fit in well with the team’s current young core. BO

60. Los Angeles Kings (from Vegas Golden Knights) - Pavel Gogolev, LW, Guelph Storm (OHL)

If there is a team in the NHL who loves to take a chance on second- and third-year eligible players it is the Los Angeles Kings. One of the best available this year is Guelph Storm winger Pavel Gogolev, who emerged as one of the top offensive players in the OHL last year. Once a one-dimensional goal scorer, Gogolev has worked hard to add other layers to his game and it should make him an attractive top 100 selection this October. He could move quickly through LA’s system too, even if it is incredibly strong and deep. BO

61. Ottawa Senators (from Dallas Stars) - Zayde Wisdom, RW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

After taking Chromiak a few picks earlier, the Senators opt for his teammate and linemate in Zayde Wisdom with this pick. Wisdom is a hard-working complementary piece who plays a very well rounded game. This is a kid who is highly motivated and continues to work hard to improve his game. It is not hard to see him becoming an NHL player. The question is, will the Senators still be bad enough to earn a shot at Shane Wright in 2022? BO

62. Tampa Bay Lightning - Roby Jarventie, LW, Koovee (Mestis)

While Tampa Bay may opt for a high upside defender here such as Wyatt Kaiser, Emil Andrae, or Anton Johanesson, they instead take the enigmatic Jarventie. Jarventie is the kind of winger that all NHL teams are looking for these days; big, quick, and a skilled scorer. Yet, he disappears for stretches and his international performances have left some to be desired. However, Tampa, without a first rounder, sees the upside here and hopes that he can help to offset that loss by developing into a high-end NHL scorer. BO

Daniel Torgersson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #13 Winnipeg Jets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Profiles

1. Brad Lambert, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

2. Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

3. Chaz Lucius, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

4. Rutger McGroarty, LW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

5. Ville Heinola, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

6. Nikita Chibrikov, RW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

7. Elias Salomonsson, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

8. Dmitry Rashevsky, RW, Dyanmo Moskva (KHL)

9. Jacob Julien, C, London Knights (OHL)

10. Danny Zhilkin, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #13

1. Colby Barlow

2. Brad Lambert

3. Chaz Lucius

4. Ville Heinola

5. Rutger McGroarty

6. Nikita Chibrikov

7. Declan Chisholm

8. Dmitry Rashevsky

9. Artemi Kniazev

10. Elias Salomonsson

11. Domenic DiVincentiis

12. Danny Zhilkin

13. Dmitry Kuzmin

14. Fabian Wagner

15. Daniel Torgersson

16. Oskari Salminen

17. Zach Nehring

18. Simon Lundmark

19. Kristian Vesalainen

20. Thomas Milic

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #17 Winnipeg Jets

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 20 Prospects

2022 World Junior Championship: Team Sweden – Veteran Team a Known Commodity Heading into Tournament

OVERVIEW

EXPECTATIONS

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: WINNIPEG JETS – RANK: #21 – TIER IV

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Winnipeg Jets Top 20 Prospects

Cole Perfetti, C/LW (10th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dylan Samberg, D (43rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

Ville Heinola, D (20th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Declan Chisholm, D (150th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Anton Johannesson, D (133rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Sami Niku, D (198th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Mikhail Berdin, G (157th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Logan Stanley, D (18th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Daniel Torgersson, LW (40th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

David Gustafsson, C (60th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Santeri Virtanen, C (105th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Nathan Smith, C (91st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Arvid Holm, G (167th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Leon Gawanke, D (136th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Simon Lundmark, D (51st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Kristian Reichel, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jun. 15, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Eric Comrie, G (Waivers: Dec. 19, 2019. Originally: 59th overall, 2013 [Winnipeg]. Previous ranking: UR)

Pavel Kraskovsky, C (164th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 16)

Henri Nikkanen, C (113th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 18)

2021 World Junior Championship: Hamrin’s Swedish World Junior Roster

Goal: Jesper Wallstedt - 02 (Hugo Alnefelt -01 and Calle Clang -02)

Defensive pairings:

Albert Johansson -01 – Victor Soderstrom -01 Philip Broberg -01 – Tobias Bjornfot -01 Emil Andrae -02 – Helge Grans -02 Simon Edvinsson -03

Forward lines:

Lucas Raymond -02 – Karl Henriksson -01 – Noel Gunler -01 William Eklund -02 – Albin Sundsvik -01 – Alexander Holtz -02 Simon Holmström -01 – Theodor Niederbach -02 – Oskar Olausson -02 Elmer Soderblom -01 – Arvid Costmar -01 – Emil Heineman -01 Daniel Ljungman -02

2020 NHL Draft Team Review: Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks

1/17 Lukas Reichel, LW, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL)

2/46 Drew Commesso, G, USNTDP (USHL)

3/79 Landon Slaggert, C, USNTDP (USHL)

3/81 Wyatt Kaiser, D, Andover HS (USHS-MN)

4/110 Michal Krutil, D, HC Sparta Praha U20 (Czech U20)

5/141 Isaak Phillips, D, Sudbury (OHL)

6/172 Chad Yetman, RW, Erie (OHL)

7/188 Louis Crevier, D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Best value pick: Landon Slaggert

Worst value pick: Wyatt Kaiser

Minnesota Wild

1/9 Marco Rossi, C, Ottawa (OHL)

Cole Perfetti, C/LW (10^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dylan Samberg, D (43^rd overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 1)

Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW (24^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 2)

Ville Heinola, D (20^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Declan Chisholm, D (150^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Anton Johannesson, D (133^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Sami Niku, D (198^thoverall, 2015. Previous ranking: 5)

Mikhail Berdin, G (157^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 6)

Logan Stanley, D (18^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 7)

Daniel Torgersson, LW (40^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

David Gustafsson, C (60^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 8)

Santeri Virtanen, C (105^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 9)

Nathan Smith, C (91^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Arvid Holm, G (167^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Leon Gawanke, D (136^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Simon Lundmark, D (51^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Eric Comrie, G (Waivers: Dec. 19, 2019. Originally: 59^th overall, 2013 [Winnipeg]. Previous ranking: UR)

Pavel Kraskovsky, C (164^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 16)

Henri Nikkanen, C (113^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 18)

Goal:
Jesper Wallstedt - 02 (Hugo Alnefelt -01 and Calle Clang -02)

Albert Johansson -01 – Victor Soderstrom -01
Philip Broberg -01 – Tobias Bjornfot -01
Emil Andrae -02 – Helge Grans -02
Simon Edvinsson -03

Lucas Raymond -02 – Karl Henriksson -01 – Noel Gunler -01
William Eklund -02 – Albin Sundsvik -01 – Alexander Holtz -02
Simon Holmström -01 – Theodor Niederbach -02 – Oskar Olausson -02
Elmer Soderblom -01 – Arvid Costmar -01 – Emil Heineman -01
Daniel Ljungman -02