Dean Letourneau – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects – Biggest Risers and Fallers

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:00:37 +0000

Comparing the current ranking of prospects in our report to their previous ranking in our summer yearbook (which is a top 300), these are the affiliated prospects who have improved their stock the most this season.

Adam Jiricek

Adam Jiricek (STL)

Previous Ranking: 97, New Ranking: 24

Jiricek’s first year in North America (in the OHL) was all about adjustment and injury recovery. Now fully healthy, he’s been among the OHL’s best defenders and was named the top defenceman at this year’s WJC’s.

Harrison Brunicke (PIT)

Previous Ranking: 178, New Ranking: 25

Started the year in the NHL with Pittsburgh before being sent back to the WHL post WJC’s. Brunicke is really figuring out how to get the best out of his vast athletic potential.

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 22: Nick Lardis #76 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck during a game against the Nashville Predators on March 22, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

Nick Lardis (CHI)

Previous Ranking: 102, New Ranking: 26

There was definitely some concern about how Lardis’ skill set would translate to the pro level given his frame. However, he’s been an immediate impact player and is rocketing up Chicago’s depth chart.

Alexander Zharovsky (MTL)

Previous Ranking: 222, New Ranking: 31

Talk about a breakout. Zharovsky took the KHL by storm in his draft plus one year. We knew he had among the highest upside of any forward in last year’s draft due to his creativity and skill, but we didn’t expect him to be fulfilling it so quickly.

Matvei Gridin (CGY)

Previous Ranking: 150, New Ranking: 43

Gridin was viewed as a boom or bust prospect who needed to round out his game to be a successful pro. He’s been terrific in the AHL as a rookie and has adjusted to the pro game way quicker than many expected.

Roman Kantserov (CHI)

Previous Ranking: 136, New Ranking: 47

Kantserov just continues to get better and has emerged as the best offensive player in the KHL. While the recent track record for KHL to NHL success is bleak, Kantserov has to be ranked highly because of the upside he possesses.

Will Horcoff (PIT)

Previous Ranking: 175, New Ranking: 60

Even if the offensive production decreased post World Juniors, Horcoff still had a tremendous year that saw him emerge as one of the most dangerous players in college hockey between the dots.

Vaclav Nestrasil (CHI)

Previous Ranking: 196, New Ranking: 68

Nestrasil was one of the better freshmen in the NCAA this year with UMass. He just keeps getting better and better and with his frame and IQ, he seems like a safe bet to be a quality NHL player so long as his skating continues to improve.

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 21: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) makes a save during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota Wild on November 21, 2025, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Sergei Murashov (PIT)

Previous Ranking: 181, New Ranking: 73

Murashov’s growth in his second year in North America has been prolific. He’s been lights out in the AHL and even earned a cup of coffee in the NHL. The future starter for the Penguins in all likelihood.

Stephen Halliday (OTT)

Previous Ranking: 207, New Ranking: 85

Has there been a prospect in hockey more annually underrated than Halliday? He’s the USHL all time leading scorer. He was great in college. He was great in the AHL. And he’s been great in limited NHL action.

Charlie Stramel (MIN)

Previous Ranking: 263, New Ranking: 87

We all owe Stramel an apology for writing him off so early after he initially struggled at Wisconsin. He was one of the best players in college hockey this season for Michigan State and is back on track to be a quality NHL player.

Max Plante (DET)

Previous Ranking: 197, New Ranking: 90

Plante was great as a freshman at UMD, but he was even better as a sophomore, emerging as one of the NCAA’s best forwards and this year’s Hobey Baker winner.

Dean Letourneau (BOS)

Previous Ranking: 254, New Ranking: 96

What a difference a year can make. Letourneau was always going to be a long-term project, but he was written off by many after a rough freshman year. This year, he was one of BC’s best and most consistent players.

Benjamin Rautiainen (TB)

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked, New Ranking: 97

You might be asking yourself how the Lightning keep finding these guys to help keep them relevant. Rautiainen has exploded to be the top player in Liiga, a year after being drafted in the fourth round.

Eddie Genborg (DET)

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked, New Ranking: 102

Drafted for his physical approach, Genborg has improved his on puck play significantly and was an impact player in the SHL this year.

Comparing the current ranking of prospects in our report to their previous ranking in our summer yearbook (which is a top 300), these are the affiliated prospects who have seen their stock fall the most this season.

Mikhail Gulyayev (COL)

Previous Ranking: 62, New Ranking: 147

While the KHL can be tough on young defenders, we keep waiting for Gulyayev’s breakout to happen. Instead, he’s had a regression this year and that has to be concerning to the Avalanche.

Sam Colangelo (ANA)

Previous Ranking: 84, New Ranking: Not Ranked

The only player to go from being ranked inside of our top 100 to being not ranked (outside of our top 200). Colangelo just hasn’t been able to get over the hump and establish himself as an NHL player.

Brennan Othmann (CGY)

Previous Ranking: 90, New Ranking: 177

His third pro season was supposed to be a breakout year for him, where he would finally establish himself as an NHL player. Instead, he’s had his worst year statistically and found himself in a new organization after a trade to Calgary.

Carson Rehkopf (SEA)

Previous Ranking: 106, New Ranking: Not Ranked

Rehkopf had a pretty stagnant year in the OHL last year, but there was some hope that he could turn things around as a first year pro. Instead, a lack of consistency continues to plague him.

Joshua Roy (MTL)

Previous Ranking: 108, New Ranking: 198

It’s starting to look like Roy’s NHL future may come with another organization. He’s seen himself passed by other forward prospects for a role in Montreal and his AHL production has stagnated.

MCKEEN'S HOCKEY TOP 200 NHL-AFFILIATED PROSPECTS

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Michael Misa	SJ	C	19	6-1/185	San Jose (NHL)	45	9	12	21	10
2	Porter Martone	Phi	RW	19	6-3/205	Michigan State (NCAA)	35	25	25	50	78
3	Anton Frondell	Chi	C	19	6-2/205	Djurgardens (SHL)	43	20	8	28	16
4	Caleb Desnoyers	Uta	C	19	6-2/180	Moncton (QMJHL)	45	22	56	78	36
5	Zayne Parekh	Cgy	D	20	6-0/180	Calgary (NHL)	37	4	5	9	8
6	Brady Martin	Nsh	C	19	6-0/185	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	24	8	16	24	37
7	Daniil But	Uta	LW	21	6-6/215	Utah (NHL)	29	3	4	7	8
8	Dmitri Simashev	Uta	D	21	6-5/200	Utah (NHL)	28	0	1	1	23
9	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	21	6-1/215	Laval (AHL)	27	19	7	2.23	0.916
10	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	23	6-6/230	Grand Rapids (AHL)	39	26	8	2.33	0.915
11	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	21	5-11/170	Chicago (AHL)	52	27	29	56	24
12	Jake O'Brien	Sea	C	18	6-2/175	Brantford (OHL)	53	28	65	93	28
13	Tij Iginla	Uta	C	19	6-0/190	Kelowna (WHL)	48	41	49	90	29
14	Radim Mrtka	Buf	D	18	6-6/220	Seattle (WHL)	43	1	33	34	38
15	Igor Chernyshov	SJ	LW	20	6-2/190	San Jose (NHL)	28	9	10	19	6
16	Cole Hutson	Wsh	D	19	5-10/165	Boston University (NCAA)	35	10	22	32	26
17	James Hagens	Bos	C	19	5-11/195	Boston College (NCAA)	34	23	24	47	24
18	Konsta Helenius	Buf	C	20	5-11/190	Rochester (AHL)	63	21	41	62	22
19	Michael Hage	Mtl	C	20	6-1/190	Michigan (NCAA)	39	13	39	52	14
20	Roger McQueen	Ana	C	19	6-6/195	Providence (NCAA)	36	11	16	27	45
21	Gabe Perreault	NYR	LW	21	5-11/180	NY Rangers (NHL)	49	12	15	27	10
22	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	21	6-4/180	Chicago (NHL)	54	4	10	14	44
23	Carter Yakemchuk	Ott	D	20	6-3/210	Belleville (AHL)	54	10	30	40	36
24	Adam Jiricek	StL	D	19	6-2/180	Brantford (OHL)	55	19	40	59	33
25	Harrison Brunicke	Pit	D	20	6-3/195	Kamloops (WHL)	24	2	22	24	20
26	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	20	5-11/165	Chicago (NHL)	41	10	5	15	10
27	Nate Danielson	Det	C	21	6-2/185	Detroit (NHL)	28	2	5	7	4
28	Yegor Surin	Nsh	C	19	6-1/190	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	57	15	22	37	43
29	Braeden Cootes	Van	C	19	6-0/185	Sea-PA (WHL)	45	24	39	63	8
30	Jackson Smith	CBJ	D	19	6-4/200	Penn State (NCAA)	35	11	15	26	40
31	Alexander Zharovsky	Mtl	RW	19	6-1/165	Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)	59	16	26	42	38
32	Victor Eklund	NYI	RW	19	5-11/170	Djurgardens (SHL)	43	6	18	24	22
33	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	21	5-11/170	Abbotsford (AHL)	21	13	7	20	8
34	Scott Morrow	NYR	D	23	6-2/210	NY Rangers (NHL)	29	0	6	6	4
35	Kashawn Aitcheson	NYI	D	19	6-2/200	Barrie (OHL)	56	28	42	70	97
36	Liam Greentree	NYR	RW	20	6-3/215	Windsor (OHL)	52	38	36	74	63
37	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	21	5-11/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	60	4	19	23	14
38	Justin Carbonneau	StL	RW	19	6-2/205	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	60	51	29	80	64
39	Ilya Protas	Wsh	LW	19	6-3/185	Hershey (AHL)	69	29	37	66	40
40	Cole Reschny	Cgy	C	19	5-11/185	North Dakota (NCAA)	36	6	29	35	22
41	Anton Silayev	NJ	D	20	6-7/210	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	61	1	2	3	10
42	Rutger McGroarty	Pit	LW	22	6-1/200	Pittsburgh (NHL)	24	3	3	6	4
43	Matvei Gridin	Cgy	RW	20	6-2/190	Calgary (NHL)	37	6	14	20	2
44	Isak Rosen	Wpg	RW	23	6-0/175	Buf-Wpg (NHL)	37	6	4	10	0
45	Cole Eiserman	NYI	LW	19	6-0/195	Boston University (NCAA)	32	18	10	28	14
46	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	21	5-9/165	Hershey (AHL)	72	20	40	60	24
47	Roman Kantserov	Chi	RW	21	5-9/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	63	36	28	64	57
48	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	21	6-3/215	Seattle (NHL)	28	4	3	7	6
49	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	Det	RW	20	6-1/205	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	20	24	44	42
50	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	20	6-2/200	San Jose (AHL)	61	21	24	45	46
51	Jett Luchanko	Phi	C	19	5-11/185	Gue-Bfd (OHL)	38	7	36	43	34
52	Cayden Lindstrom	CBJ	C	20	6-3/215	Michigan State (NCAA)	31	3	7	10	94
53	Trevor Connelly	VGK	LW	20	6-1/160	Henderson (AHL)	46	14	35	49	18
54	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	22	5-11/160	Coachella Valley (AHL)	63	21	35	56	18
55	Isaac Howard	Edm	LW	22	5-11/190	Bakersfield (AHL)	47	24	26	50	12
56	Lynden Lakovic	Wsh	LW	19	6-4/200	Moose Jaw (WHL)	22	18	11	29	8
57	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	21	6-2/185	Laval (AHL)	57	5	19	24	56
58	Trey Augustine	Det	G	21	6-1/195	Michigan State (NCAA)	34	24	9	2.11	0.929
59	Yegor Zavragin	Phi	G	20	6-2/185	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	12	5	7	2.63	0.919
60	Will Horcoff	Pit	C	19	6-5/200	Michigan (NCAA)	40	25	14	39	64
61	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	22	6-3/215	Nashville (NHL)	47	6	2	8	17
62	Sam O'Reilly	TB	C	20	6-1/190	Ldn-Kit (OHL)	56	29	42	71	22
63	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	21	5-11/180	St. Louis (NHL)	32	3	7	10	5
64	Brayden Yager	Wpg	C	21	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	68	10	20	30	10
65	Joshua Ravensbergen	SJ	G	19	6-6/190	Prince George (WHL)	46	32	13	2.51	0.919
66	Cole Beaudoin	Uta	C	20	6-2/210	Barrie (OHL)	54	33	56	89	29
67	Michael Hrabal	Uta	G	21	6-7/215	Massachusetts (NCAA)	29	19	9	1.95	0.937
68	Vaclav Nestrasil	Chi	RW	19	6-6/185	Massachusetts (NCAA)	34	13	18	31	8
69	Stian Solberg	Ana	D	20	6-2/205	San Diego (AHL)	71	12	12	24	102
70	Maveric Lamoureux	Uta	D	22	6-7/215	Tucson (AHL)	65	5	15	20	75
71	Sascha Boumedienne	Wpg	D	19	6-2/185	Boston University (NCAA)	35	2	8	10	14
72	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	22	6-2/185	Laval (AHL)	45	10	24	34	18
73	Sergei Murashov	Pit	G	22	6-0/170	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	38	24	9	2.20	0.919
74	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	22	6-4/180	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	68	7	21	28	28
75	Pyotr Andreyanov	CBJ	G	19	6-0/205	Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)	26	13	8	2.59	0.919
76	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	21	6-1/185	Winnipeg (NHL)	32	1	4	5	12
77	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	24	6-4/200	San Jose (NHL)	50	5	7	12	22
78	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	22	6-1/195	San Diego (AHL)	70	10	31	41	29
79	Carter Bear	Det	LW	19	6-0/180	Everett (WHL)	53	36	41	77	56
80	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	22	6-4/205	San Jose (AHL)	65	22	38	60	22
81	Sacha Boisvert	Chi	C	20	6-3/190	Boston University (NCAA)	26	3	14	17	28
82	Julius Miettinen	Sea	C	20	6-3/200	Everett (WHL)	52	35	41	76	29
83	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	21	6-0/180	Springfield (AHL)	59	6	8	14	18
84	Cullen Potter	Cgy	C	19	5-10/170	Arizona State (NCAA)	24	12	14	26	16
85	Stephen Halliday	Ott	C	23	6-4/210	Ottawa (NHL)	30	4	7	11	2
86	Marek Vanacker	Chi	LW	20	6-0/175	Brantford (OHL)	60	47	35	82	33
87	Charlie Stramel	Min	C	21	6-3/215	Michigan State (NCAA)	37	19	25	44	32
88	Alex Bump	Phi	LW	22	6-0/195	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	36	11	15	26	22
89	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	21	6-0/165	Coachella Valley (AHL)	49	10	24	34	12
90	Max Plante	Det	LW	20	5-11/175	Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)	40	25	27	52	23
91	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	22	5-10/165	Utica (AHL)	29	1	18	19	13
92	Jack Nesbitt	Phi	C	19	6-5/185	Windsor (OHL)	55	25	33	58	67
93	Mikhail Yegorov	NJ	G	20	6-5/190	Boston University (NCAA)	35	16	15	2.73	0.904
94	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	22	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	55	22	36	58	2
95	Ilya Nabokov	Col	G	23	6-0/180	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	38	22	7	2.74	0.901
96	Dean Letourneau	Bos	C	20	6-7/215	Boston College (NCAA)	36	22	17	39	22
97	Benjamin Rautiainen	TB	C	20	6-0/175	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	59	25	52	77	20
98	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	23	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	37	13	20	3.08	0.901
99	Bill Zonnon	Pit	RW	19	6-2/185	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	35	14	32	46	6
100	Riley Heidt	Min	C	21	5-10/180	Iowa (AHL)	71	8	17	25	38
101	Juraj Pekarcik	StL	LW	20	6-2/185	Springfield (AHL)	69	11	24	35	10
102	Eddie Genborg	Det	RW	19	6-2/205	Timra (SHL)	43	9	16	25	24
103	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	22	5-11/185	Laval (AHL)	58	13	20	33	28
104	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	21	6-2/195	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	46	6	13	19	22
105	Luca Cagnoni	SJ	D	21	5-9/180	San Jose (AHL)	67	8	35	43	22
106	Cameron Reid	Nsh	D	19	6-0/190	Kitchener (OHL)	57	15	41	56	29
107	Eric Pohlkamp	SJ	D	22	5-11/205	Denver (NCAA)	43	18	21	39	33
108	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	21	6-0/175	New Jersey (NHL)	33	2	6	8	14
109	Felix Unger Sorum	Car	RW	20	5-11/170	Chicago (AHL)	72	17	49	66	20
110	Milton Gastrin	Wsh	C	18	6-1/195	MoDo Hockey (Allsvenskan)	39	10	14	24	4
111	Carter George	LA	G	20	6-1/195	OS-Soo (OHL)	46	23	17	2.73	0.907
112	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	21	6-4/185	Calgary (NHL)	18	2	2	4	2
113	Dmitri Buchelnikov	StL	LW	22	5-10/170	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	44	14	11	25	10
114	Ryker Lee	Nsh	RW	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (NCAA)	35	15	15	30	26
115	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	21	5-11/185	Calgary (NHL)	34	2	5	7	4
116	Terik Parascak	Wsh	RW	20	6-0/180	Prince George (WHL)	61	33	46	79	53
117	EJ Emery	NYR	D	20	6-3/185	North Dakota (NCAA)	38	3	10	13	32
118	Logan Hensler	Ott	D	19	6-3/195	Wisconsin (NCAA)	23	4	8	12	20
119	Emil Hemming	Dal	RW	19	6-1/205	Barrie (OHL)	46	26	37	63	22
120	Blake Fiddler	Sea	D	18	6-5/220	Edmonton (WHL)	63	11	25	36	38
121	Jakob Ihs Wozniak	VGK	RW	19	6-3/190	Bjorkloven (Allsvenskan)	36	9	14	23	12
122	Cameron Lund	SJ	C	21	6-2/195	San Jose (AHL)	37	9	16	25	12
123	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	22	6-0/175	Pittsburgh (NHL)	39	2	5	7	10
124	Artyom Duda	Uta	D	22	6-1/185	Tucson (AHL)	27	2	11	13	22
125	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	22	6-1/185	Hershey (AHL)	41	14	20	34	47
126	Gracyn Sawchyn	Fla	C	21	5-11/160	Charlotte (AHL)	35	6	17	23	12
127	Jack Ivankovic	Nsh	G	19	6-0/175	Michigan (NCAA)	35	25	8	2.15	0.921
128	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	21	5-8/160	Philadelphia (NHL)	43	5	12	17	16
129	Bryce Pickford	Mtl	D	20	6-1/185	Medicine Hat (WHL)	55	45	38	83	56
130	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	SJ	D	20	6-0/180	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	32	3	10	13	14
131	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	22	6-3/185	Coachella Valley (AHL)	35	19	10	3.13	0.901
132	Kieron Walton	Wpg	C	20	6-6/210	Sby-Pbo (OHL)	62	40	48	88	26
133	Ryan Ufko	Nsh	D	23	5-10/180	Milwaukee (AHL)	52	11	33	44	20
134	Tarin Smith	Ana	D	20	6-1/185	Everett (WHL)	65	16	55	71	98
135	Semyon Vyazovoy	Sea	G	23	6-2/170	Salavat Yulayev Ufa (Rus)	53	27	18	2.13	0.931
136	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	20	6-3/195	Rochester (AHL)	68	9	29	38	20
137	Tyson Jugnauth	Sea	D	22	5-11/170	Coachella Valley (AHL)	72	9	36	45	44
138	David Edstrom	Nsh	C	21	6-3/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	53	8	14	22	28
139	David Spacek	Min	D	23	5-11/175	Iowa (AHL)	59	7	29	36	16
140	Carl Lindbom	VGK	G	23	6-1/165	Henderson (AHL)	35	24	5	2.16	0.926
141	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	22	6-0/180	Winnipeg (NHL)	25	3	3	6	6
142	Amadeus Lombardi	Det	C	22	5-10/165	Grand Rapids (AHL)	47	16	26	42	22
143	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	21	5-11/175	Syracuse (AHL)	56	12	15	27	10
144	Henry Mews	Cgy	D	20	6-0/190	Michigan (NCAA)	10	0	9	9	6
145	Eric Nilson	Ana	C	19	6-0/165	Michigan State (NCAA)	35	3	8	11	41
146	Ben Danford	Tor	D	20	6-1/190	Osh-Bfd (OHL)	45	3	17	20	13
147	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	21	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	54	1	2	3	14
148	Henry Brzustewicz	LA	D	19	6-2/200	London (OHL)	59	19	35	54	57
149	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	22	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	48	10	19	29	56
150	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	20	6-3/200	Notre Dame (NCAA)	36	13	16	29	32
151	Luca Marrelli	CBJ	D	20	6-2/185	Cleveland (AHL)	32	4	12	16	10
152	Dylan Duke	TB	LW	23	5-10/180	Syracuse (AHL)	72	32	27	59	42
153	Jack Devine	Fla	RW	22	5-11/175	Charlotte (AHL)	63	18	25	43	57
154	Daniil Prokhorov	NYI	RW	19	6-6/220	Dynamo Moskva (KHL)	23	1	0	1	2
155	William Zellers	Bos	LW	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCAA)	38	18	16	34	29
156	Ethan Wyttenbach	Cgy	LW	19	5-10/180	Quinnipiac (NCAA)	40	25	34	59	20
157	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	21	6-1/170	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	13	14	27	14
158	Dmitry Gamzin	NYI	G	23	6-3/175	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	40	22	10	1.49	0.938
159	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	20	6-3/205	San Jose (AHL)	69	16	19	35	45
160	Lukas Fischer	StL	D	19	6-3/180	Sar-Soo (OHL)	65	8	36	44	88
161	Semyon Frolov	Car	G	19	6-3/200	MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL)	7	4	1	1.83	0.929
162	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	23	5-11/180	Providence (AHL)	57	17	25	42	51
163	Mason West	Chi	C	18	6-7/220	Fargo (USHL)	38	10	15	25	12
164	Shane Vansaghi	Phi	RW	19	6-3/210	Michigan State (NCAA)	35	4	7	11	28
165	Dominik Badinka	Car	D	20	6-3/185	Chicago (AHL)	68	6	8	14	16
166	Lucas Pettersson	Ana	C	20	6-0/175	Brynas (SHL)	41	10	10	20	0
167	Sawyer Mynio	Van	D	21	6-1/175	Abbotsford (AHL)	58	3	18	21	42
168	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	24	5-11/190	Henderson (AHL)	49	8	39	47	32
169	Quinn Hutson	Edm	RW	24	5-10/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	67	30	33	63	84
170	Vojtech Cihar	LA	LW	19	6-1/180	Kelowna (WHL)	31	12	19	31	14
171	Heikki Ruohonen	Phi	C	19	6-1/205	Harvard (NCAA)	28	6	13	19	18
172	Tristan Broz	Pit	C	23	6-0/180	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	47	16	23	39	41
173	Maksymilian Szuber	Uta	D	23	6-3/190	Tucson (AHL)	65	11	16	27	67
174	Kirill Kudryavtsev	Van	D	22	5-11/200	Abbotsford (AHL)	44	2	18	20	4
175	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	22	6-3/185	Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)	33	19	13	2.25	0.908
176	Hampton Slukynsky	LA	G	20	6-1/180	Western Michigan (NCAA)	39	27	11	2.30	0.915
177	Brennan Othmann	Cgy	LW	23	6-0/190	Hfd-Cgy (AHL)	40	9	14	23	62
178	Lasse Boelius	Ana	D	19	6-1/190	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	40	1	7	8	8
179	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	21	6-0/195	Manitoba (AHL)	65	8	8	16	18
180	Charlie Cerrato	Car	C	21	6-0/190	Penn State (NCAA)	23	7	20	27	20
181	Cole McKinney	SJ	C	19	6-0/200	Michigan (NCAA)	40	8	12	20	28
182	Michal Postava	Det	G	24	6-2/205	Grand Rapids (AHL)	25	17	6	1.71	0.937
183	Justin Robidas	Car	C	23	5-8/175	Chicago (AHL)	58	23	37	60	14
184	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	22	5-10/195	Coachella Valley (AHL)	63	11	24	35	26
185	Carson Wetsch	SJ	RW	20	6-1/205	Kelowna (WHL)	65	22	50	72	80
186	Vsevolod Komarov	Buf	D	22	6-2/182	Rochester (AHL)	55	4	7	11	60
187	Dylan Roobroeck	NYR	C	21	6-6/190	Hartford (AHL)	72	11	15	26	90
188	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	21	5-9/165	Cleveland (AHL)	68	14	32	46	66
189	Tim Washe	Ana	C	24	6-3/215	Anaheim (NHL)	39	2	3	5	14
190	Aiden Fink	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/160	Penn State (NCAA)	30	10	28	38	20
191	Florian Xhekaj	Mtl	LW	21	6-2/175	Laval (AHL)	64	17	12	29	182
192	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	24	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	16	11	5	16	14
193	Brodie Ziemer	Buf	RW	20	5-11/195	Minnesota (NCAA)	36	23	13	36	26
194	Nathan Behm	Chi	RW	19	6-2/200	Kamloops (WHL)	67	38	48	86	41
195	Ivan Ryabkin	Car	C	19	5-11/205	Chicago (AHL)	31	1	9	10	60
196	Jacob Quillan	Tor	C	24	6-1/205	Toronto (NHL)	23	1	2	3	2
197	Herman Traff	Ana	RW	20	6-3/215	Oskarshamn (Allsvenskan)	51	23	18	41	32
198	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	22	6-0/190	Laval (AHL)	57	23	22	45	32
199	Sandis Vilmanis	Fla	LW	22	6-1/190	Charlotte (AHL)	48	17	21	38	26
200	Miroslav Holinka	Tor	C	20	6-1/185	Edmonton (WHL)	59	37	43	80	24

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #20 Boston Bruins – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:26 +0000

ROCHESTER, NY - APRIL 04: Providence Bruins forward James Hagens (12) skates during the first period of the AHL game between the Providence Bruins and Rochester Americans on April 4, 2026, at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY. (Photo by Jerome Davis/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 20th (Last Year - 21st)
GM: Don Sweeney Hired: May 2015
COACH: Marco Sturm Hired: June 2025

When it comes to the Boston Bruins’ prospect pipeline, the theme seems to have been quality over quantity. For two consecutive drafts, the organization has added a player who projects as a potential difference-maker with their first-round selections.

The first was Dean Letourneau (96th) in 2024, who has emerged as a standout for Boston College following a somewhat challenging freshman campaign. Now producing at over a point-per-game pace, the 6-foot-7, 229-pound forward brings a rare combination of size and skill that makes him somewhat of an intriguing unicorn. Boston followed that up in 2025 by selecting Letourneau’s Boston College teammate, James Hagens (17th). The dynamic forward has continued to impress, producing well above a point-per-game pace across his first two NCAA seasons. Given his rapid development, there is a realistic scenario in which he could make his NHL debut in Boston as early as this spring. Over in North Dakota, William Zellers (155th) — acquired via trade from the Colorado Avalanche — is quietly building a strong résumé and continues to trend upward within the Bruins’ system. At the professional level, Fabian Lysell has continued to post solid offensive numbers with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, though the talented winger has yet to receive an extended opportunity to establish himself at the NHL level.

Looking ahead, Boston is well-positioned to further strengthen its pipeline. The Bruins currently hold four first-round selections over the next two drafts, which should provide opportunities to add high-end talent to the system.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
Bos	1	James Hagens	C	19	5-11/195	Boston College (NCAA)	34	23	24	47	24
Bos	1	James Hagens	C	19	5-11/195	Providence (AHL)	6	1	3	4	2
Bos	1	James Hagens	C	19	5-11/195	Boston (NHL)	2	0	1	1	2
Bos	2	Dean Letourneau	C	20	6-7/215	Boston College (NCAA)	36	22	17	39	22
Bos	3	William Zellers	LW	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCAA)	38	18	16	34	29
Bos	4	Fabian Lysell	RW	23	5-11/180	Providence (AHL)	57	17	25	42	51
Bos	5	Will Moore	C	19	6-3/180	Boston College (NCAA)	33	4	6	10	0
Bos	6	Dans Locmelis	C	22	6-0/170	Providence (AHL)	43	15	13	28	6
Bos	7	Elliott Groenewold	D	20	6-2/205	Quinnipiac (NCAA)	40	7	13	20	22
Bos	8	Chris Pelosi	C	21	6-2/185	Quinnipiac (NCAA)	35	18	16	34	12
Bos	9	Frederic Brunet	D	22	6-3/196	Providence (AHL)	65	12	24	36	30
Bos	10	Vashek Blanar	D	19	6-4/185	HV 71 (Swe J20)	30	5	10	15	57
Bos	10	Vashek Blanar	D	19	6-4/185	HV 71 (SHL)	3	0	0	0	0
Bos	11	Cooper Simpson	LW	19	6-1/180	Youngstown (USHL)	61	34	40	74	68
Bos	12	Simon Zajicek	G	24	6-2/185	Providence (AHL)	21	14	6	2.44	0.915
Bos	13	Philip Svedeback	G	24	6-3/191	Providence (NCAA)	18	8	6	2.32	0.918
Bos	14	Jonathan Morello	C	19	6-1/175	Boston University (NCAA)	36	6	7	13	18
Bos	15	Ryan Walsh	C	22	6-1/185	Cornell (NCAA)	33	10	23	33	33

James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA) (Currently with Providence Bruins, AHL)

This season, Hagens has really unlocked another level. His goal-scoring prowess has come alive, recording 23 goals on the year. He has been the main driver of BC's offence this season, creating chances for himself and his linemates and elevating the play of many around him. Hagens is now in the NHL, showing excellent speed in all three zones that has helped him dominate the Hockey East since coming back from the World Juniors, tallying 29 points in the 18 games he's played in the second half. Hagens gave Bruins fans a taste of what he can achieve at TD Garden during the Beanpot, taking home MVP with five points and two goals in two games. Boston College’s recent surge in the NCAA rankings is due to many factors, but the biggest factor has been the play of its first line center. Hagens is really setting himself up to slot into the Bruins’ top six next season, one that notably needs help at center. Really the only thing holding him back is the need to continue to add strength to withstand the rigors of the pro game at his size.
Dean Letourneau, C, Boston College (NCAA)

Sometimes players just take longer to develop. Letourneau was drafted as a long-term project, so perhaps it should have come as no surprise that he struggled as a freshman at BC. However, Dean Letourneau has proved the entire hockey world wrong with his play this season. He has become the other focal point of the BC offence, scoring 23 goals this season and chugging away at above a point-per-game. The biggest changes in his game this year have been the utilization of his size, his skating, and his IQ around the net. Letourneau is shaping up to be a very dangerous middle six center, which Boston has a habit of getting the most out of at the NHL level. Though he has made excellent strides, he may need an extra year in Chestnut Hill before he is truly ready to slot into the Bruins' lineup. The Bruins would be wise to be very patient with his development, allowing him to continue to build confidence at the NCAA level.
William Zellers, LW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Zellers has done nothing but shine everywhere he’s gone since being drafted in the third round in 2024. His incredible season with Green Bay last year was impressive, but his immediate impact in the lineup for North Dakota this year has been even more exciting. Though he has cooled off from his pace in the first half of this year, Zellers has shown excellent goal-scoring prowess at the NCAA level in just his freshman year. The World Juniors was a perfect example of how useful he can be in a lineup as a spark plug. Acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Charlie Coyle deal, Zellers’ motor makes him so annoying to defend against in the neutral and offensive zones. He finds open space so well and creates so many dangerous chances with that space. He will feature prominently in the middle six for Boston in the future and should definitely be on watch to explode in points during the playoffs. One would guess that Boston allows him to return to North Dakota for his sophomore season in hopes that he can develop into one of the more prolific scorers in the NCAA.
Fabian Lysell, RW, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Lysell is coming up on his fourth full season with Providence in the AHL. In that time, the 2021 first-round pick has only been called up to play NHL games once, a 12-game stint at the end of last season. He’s had some up and down seasons from a point scoring perspective, with this season being an up year on the back of a near 20% shooting percentage. He’s still the player who loves carrying the puck with speed through the neutral zone and going at defenders. He has the hands to match and if defenders don’t close their gap quickly, he has a powerful shot that can beat netminders from a distance. Defensively, he is passable, and for a speedy offensive sniper, that’s all you can really ask for. With the Bruins occupying the last playoff spot in the East, Lysell might not get the games he did at the end of last season. He’s a pending RFA and could look to go elsewhere if presented with the opportunity. Whether in Boston or somewhere else, Lysell projects as a middle six winger.
William Moore, C, Boston College (NCAA)

In a lot of ways, one could draw parallels between Moore's and the aformentioned Letourneau's freshman seasons. Moore has shown some promise in a development year at Boston College, but he has not received significant minutes and has not particularly shone with the 13-17 minutes a night he’s been getting. The usage of his size has definitely been better in his freshman year, as he has shown more determination along the boards than last season with the NTDP. One of the biggest issues this year has been a lack of pace and urgency in his game. Moore has not been involved in driving play in the neutral and offensive zones, though he showed flashes when some of his teammates were at the World Juniors. He has shown some solid offensive moments in the offensive zones, but they have not been plentiful in his first year. Moore will most likely stay at BC for at least the next two seasons. There is still a long development path ahead of him before he makes the jump to the NHL with Boston.
Dans Locmelis, C, Providence Bruins (AHL)

In his rookie season, Dans Locmelis has done a little bit of everything for Providence. He’s played on the wing, down the middle, on the power play, and on the penalty kill. He’s been thrown out in every situation and done very well. He is Providence’s Latvian Swiss army knife. Locmelis has 28 points through 43 games with 15 goals and 13 assists. He’s definitely a more shot-heavy player, but he can dish it as well. Locmelis’ game is very projectable to the NHL level. He has no problem using his size to throw his weight around or being aggressive on the forecheck. Although Locmelis has been thrown onto the wing to help Matthew Poitras get going at times, his more natural fit is down the middle. With a responsible two-way game, he pretty safely projects as a bottom six forward for Boston. There isn’t a lot of talent in the Bruins’ pipeline blocking his way, but the organization seems more likely to keep him in Providence for a little while longer.
Elliott Groenewold, D, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Groenewold has been making strides with Quinnipiac in his sophomore season, showing just how diverse his skillset is. His skating chops, compared with his 6-foot-4 frame, give him a reach and mobility that have made him quite adept at defending the rush. However, Groenewold tends to be a bit of a “wild man” in every zone. Great aggression, however, he will often bite at the worst times, showing that he still has much rounding out to do in his game. Offensively, he has shown steady improvement from last season. Nearly eclipsing 20 points this season, he has become somewhat of a driver in the neutral zone, showing solid transition potential. His shot is not all-powerful yet, and he hasn’t been the most accurate passer in the offensive zone, but the flashes are all there. Groenewold will be an impact two-way defenceman in the transfer portal this offseason, should he decide to leave Quinnipiac. As for his NHL upside, he shows some shut-down potential on a third pairing, but he will need to keep improving at this current pace to get to where he needs to be.
Chris Pelosi, C, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Killer instinct is the name of the game for Pelosi. He has been a presence in front of the net ever since his days in the USHL. In his sophomore season at Quinnipiac, he has been one of three forwards to score at a point-per-game pace. Pelosi is an incredibly annoying forward, heavy on the forecheck, physical in the defensive zone, always competing hard in puck battles. Where he is lacking in skate speed in both offensive and defensive zones, he makes up for it in IQ and positioning. Pelosi will often find himself in the right spot at the right time to bury a chance or block a shot. Given his strong performance and development this season, there's certainly a chance that the Bruins opt to sign him, hoping his aggressiveness makes him ready for a spot in the AHL, and potentially as a bottom six energy guy for their long-term future. The key for Pelosi is to continue to improve his skating so that the adjustment to the pace of the pro level is not too overwhelming.
Frederic Brunet, D, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Every year, Frederic Brunet has gotten better and better, and in his third AHL season, his work has culminated in a selection to the AHL All-Star team. In 65 games this season with Providence, Brunet racked up 36 points. What have been flashes of offence in the past have shown up consistently this year. He’s getting more pucks through traffic and on net. He’s constantly breaking the puck out either with long stretch passes or ridiculous solo efforts going blue line to blue line. Not just for a guy his size, but for anybody, Brunet is fast and doesn’t take long to get going. There aren’t many puck races he doesn’t win. He’s extremely solid defensively. Brunet positions himself well, and his decision-making doesn’t crack under pressure. He is doing so many things and all of those things at a very high level. With his talent in every zone, Brunet will surprise a lot of people once he sees some consistent time in the NHL. Boston isn’t short defensively, especially for lefties, but Brunet has legit top four potential.
Vashek Blanár, D, HV71 (SHL)

Blanár has gone from way-off-the-board draft pick that nobody knew to top 10 prospect in the Bruins system. The raw, toolsy LHD made the move to HV71’s U20 Nationell team and has been playing tons of minutes in all situations. He was even selected to Czechia’s WJC squad, although he didn’t play a single game. The upside is palpable with Blanár. He’s got a huge frame and moves very well for his size. His puck skills and playmaking have been on full display at the offensive blueline, where he routinely activates and makes cuts towards the net. Blanár’s quite offensively inclined, but he can take a few too many positional liberties and allow odd man rushes the other way. He’s fearless and energetic in his own zone, but his rush defence needs work. He lets puck carriers take the zone too easily and struggles to manage his gaps effectively. The developmental trajectory has been good so far, but the next step for Blanár is to continue to learn and grow at the pro level. It will take a few years, and a lot has to go right, but Blanár has an outside chance to become a bottom four, two-way defenceman who can kill penalties and even chip in on the power play in a pinch
Cooper Simpson, LW, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

A highly skilled winger, Simpson elected to play a full year in the USHL rather than head to college and that decision looks like a good one. He’s been dominant offensively at that level and oozes offensive upside moving forward.
Simon Zajicek, G, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Zajicek was a free agent signing out of Czechia this past offseason and he’s been terrific for Providence, splitting time with Michael Dipietro. Could be a diamond in the rough for the Bruins.
Philip Svedeback, G, Providence College (NCAA)

In the midst of another strong year for Providence, Svedeback suffered a leg injury that is threatening to cut his senior season short. Look for the Bruins to sign him when Providence’s season is complete.
Jonathan Morello, C, Boston University (NCAA)

A strong skater and two-way player, the Bruins aren’t quite sure what they have in Morello yet. His freshman season with Boston University has seen him settle into a depth role. A longer-term project still.
Ryan Walsh, C, Cornell University (NCAA)

An offensive leader for the Big Red since he entered the NCAA a few years ago, Walsh is a hardworking, intelligent winger. He profiles as a potential bottom six piece for the Bruins in the future.

NHL: Affiliated prospects who have made rapid progress this season – North America Part One

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:22:13 +0000

Early on in the season talent evaluators are often hyper focused on draft eligible players as they try to determine early rankings and watch lists. But what about the prospects already affiliated with NHL teams? Previously drafted (or signed) players often show off remarkable progression early in the year that is worth discussing as it elevates their projection as NHL players. This piece aims to highlight some of those players; players who have impressed our scouting staff with their improved play this season.

Here are the North American based prospects Part One:

Brock Otten - Director of Scouting

Harry Nansi - Wing, Owen Sound Attack, OHL (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Nansi had his supporters in the scouting community heading into the 2025 NHL Draft. Suffice to say, we were not one of them. We ranked Nansi 238th and a lot of that had to do with my own concerns over Nansi’s upside; I had him ranked 34th among Ontario players in my own personal rankings. We weren’t alone in having concerns about Nansi as NHL Central Scouting dropped him over 100 spots in their final rankings, leaving him unranked ahead of the draft. While he was unquestionably an intelligent player with an intriguing frame, we didn’t see NHL skating ability or skill. The Toronto Maple Leafs ended up selecting Nansi in the fifth round and the early returns of that pick have been extremely promising.

As part of a dominant first line for the Owen Sound Attack, Nansi currently finds himself in the top five of OHL scoring, along with his linemates Pierce Mbuyi and Tristan Delisle. The trio has also been deadly on the powerplay helping Owen Sound to one of the best records in the OHL’s Western Conference.

The reality is that Nansi still has some drawbacks to his game that could limit his effectiveness at higher levels. He’s still not a high-level skater, who lacks first step quickness. He’s still not a creative player who can get boxed in when pressured. His pace of play is best described as a crawl. At even strength, his production has been fairly pedestrian; a few goals at five-on-five and outside the top 40 of even strength production (as of writing this). He’s not necessarily a physical player in a traditional sense; he’s active in puck pursuit but there’s room for him to become a tougher player on/off the puck, especially if his projection puts him in the middle of an NHL lineup as a support player.

So why am I choosing him for an article highlighting players who have taken massive steps forward? Because, despite having identifiable areas of growth, he has been highly effective in a lot of other ways and has proven to be an excellent selection for a mid-round pick. While his first step quickness and edgework still need work, his top speed has improved, allowing him to be a more effective and consistent offensive contributor. Additionally, he’s made great strides as a playmaker, able to take advantage of his physical gifts and puck protection ability. While his goal-scoring production has lagged at even strength, he’s been an effective distributor. He’s top five in primary assists at both even strength and on the powerplay. He’s able to extend possession so effectively with how he shields the puck and his vision is excellent. He draws in pressure and dishes off; it’s that classic case of opening up space for his linemates to exploit.

What we’ve seen from Nansi in his post draft year is very encouraging and bodes well for him improving his NHL projection. Without continued growth as a skater, there could be a place for him as a complementary playmaking winger in the NHL.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-harry_nansi_-_2nd_period_1_4_-_1_16.mp4

An example of Nansi’s ability to maintain possession through checks by keeping the puck in his hip pocket. He’s been a load to handle for opposing defenders this year as he looks to extend possession and funnel pucks to the middle.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2-harry_nansi_-_2nd_period_1_4_-_1_16.mp4

An example of Nansi’s vision and playmaking ability. He’s directly set up at least a half dozen goals so far this year from his office behind the net. Here, he psychs out the defender with the no look pass to the slot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3-Nansi-Skating-Issues.mp4

A couple clips to help show Nansi’s need to improve his skating further. He can struggle to build speed and change direction quickly and this causes him to have to alter his pace a lot of the time at even strength. But, even then, as you can see in the front half of this clip, he has the vision to make a smart play to help Owen Sound create a chance from the point.

Linc Zdancewicz - U.S. Regional Scout

Dean Letourneau, Center, Boston College (Boston Bruins)

Dean Letourneau had a lackluster DY+1 season for Boston College last year as he moved along in what seemed to be a lengthy development path. However, he has come alive in his sophomore season for the Eagles, recording 11 points and five goals in 13 games, nearly quadrupling his point total in a third of the games played. How has this season come about and what issues has Dean Letourneau fixed from his freshman season. The main issues from his first year at BC were his lack of awareness and vision, struggles as a puck carrier, and the underuse of his physicality.

The first two issues I’ve identified held him back from producing real offense in his freshman season, however, he has flipped the script. Letourneau’s in zone offense has been expanded this season to where he has unleashed his terrifying shot upon the Hockey East. He has become much more aware of open space and has finally made use of his gargantuan reach and size in the zone.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-Letourneau-Bardown.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2-Letourneau-One-Tee-off-a-setup.mp4

These two goals are emblematic of how comfortable Letourneau has become with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. The confidence he has built from this increased awareness has led to a lethal shot.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/3-Letourneau-Reach-Assist-Behind-the-net.mp4

This play shows how well Letourneau can and has been taking advantage of his long reach in the offensive zone. I think only Dean Letourneau alone can make this play in NCAA.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/4-Letourneau-Rush-Support-Shot-v-UMass.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/5-Letourneau-Off-Puck-Smart-Entry.mp4

Both of these clips show Letourneau’s increased speed along with his increased awareness when entering the zone. He slips into an open spot to fire a quality chance in both clips, with plays like these, no wonder he has seen almost a 4x increase in points thus far this season.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/6-Letourneau-Puck-Carrying-v-UMass.mp4

I’ll add this clip here to show off how his puck carrying skills have improved too, his increased speed and confidence with the puck are on display here as he steals the puck off his teammate and generates a zone entry about 5 strides later.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/7-Letourneau-Opening-Shift-v-Maine.mp4

Finally, Letourneau’s use of his size has completely changed this season, he is rough and downright mean at points. Here is his first shift in BC’s second outing against Maine this season, he is wild, energetic, and a little off balance. Letourneau has been more physically imposing this season which has led to successes on offense and defense. Yes, he can improve his balance while skating but I prefer an uncontrolled monster to what was on display last season.

Overall, the strides Letourneau has taken have sped up his development to where he may only see one more season at BC before he is fully with the Boston Bruins as their second- or third-line center.

Jeremy Tremblay - QMJHL Regional Scout

Mateo Nobert, Center, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL(Vegas Golden Knights)

After decent production last year with the Armada, Nobert was drafted by Vegas 85th, in the third round. Even with some flaws in his game, Vegas saw the interesting profile of Nobert. All season long, he was showing some skill, his offensive abilities, and his two-way potential. But the physical game and his physical strength were not there yet. While Nobert is 6-foot-0, his 143 pounds were simply not enough for him to play physically. Between the start of the season last year and this year, he went from 143 pounds to 179 pounds which. 36 pounds of muscular mass in one year is a lot and it changed pretty much every aspect of Nobert’s game. He can now play a more physical game, finishing some hits. His overall strength has improved, and it shows in skating speed, his power in his shots, and his puck protection. Now that he can play physically, Nobert will need to learn how to use his new frame to his advantage. He still needs to improve his decision making with the puck, but the progress after getting drafted only a few months ago is hard to miss. Not bad for a player that will be 18 all season long. I will not be surprised to see Nobert slowly make his way to the NHL the way he is improving!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/1-NobertGoal1.mp4

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These are clips of Nobert’s game from last season, to visualize his improvements. Nobert was not often physically involved in a game because of his frame.

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This clip shows well that Nobert is looking bigger on the ice and that he is not afraid anymore to hit. He almost doubled his number of hits per game.

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The strides of Nobert were already good last year, but it was lacking some power. Now, his acceleration looks a lot better.

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We can see in this clip that Nobert's confidence is better than last year. Last year, Nobert was averaging 3.7 shot attempts per game and 0.95 passes to the slot. This year, he is averaging 4.3 shot attempts per game and 1.68 passes to the slot, showing that Nobert is creating more by himself.

Kyle Pereira - U.S. Regional Scout

Jayson Shaugabay, Winger - University of Minnesota-Duluth (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Shaugabay, a former fourth-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning (115th overall) is having a breakout NCAA season this year. As a freshman last season, the Warroad, MN native produced 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 36 games with UMD. This year, through 14 games, he’s already matched his assists total from last season, while racking up 19 total points. He’s been a part of one of the best lines in college hockey, and has been one of the main drivers behind it.

The shifty, playmaking winger has always been a dangerous play creator. He was lauded for his dangerous passing abilities and smarts, as well as his dazzling stickhandling, back when he was selected by the Lightning. This year has been no different. He continues to thrive as a playmaker, leading the team in passes to the slot (28).

The parts of his game that needed improvement came down to his skating ability and being able to play at his size at a higher level. For his size, while he is listed at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds on Elite Prospects, his latest measurements put him at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds (Tampa Bay Lightning development camp and UMD’s roster). As for his skating, while he is still not a burner, there is noticeable improvement with his lower-body strength and balance, as well as top speed.

Because of these improvements to his skating and adding a bit more weight to his frame, as well as how he translated his high-level playmaking from the USHL to college, he is quickly establishing himself as a top prospect in Tampa Bay’s pipeline.

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A compilation of Shaugabay (#17) with Green Bay in his draft year, showing off his playmaking abilities

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Shaugabay (#17) this season, showing off his playmaking at the collegiate level.

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Here’s another draft year compilation, this time showing his skating deficiencies at the time. His strides were short and his acceleration was lacking. Back checkers often were able to quickly catch up to him and force him to stop up or curl back up the boards. Defenders also fared pretty easily against him when he skated up ice, as he was easy to push off pucks and close off along the boards.

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Now, in 2025-26, his mechanics are very noticeably cleaner. He comes out of his crossovers significantly better and he utilizes his strong edges much more when coming up ice, making him harder to defend off the rush. Contact can still give him some issues, but he also looks stronger and able to push through contact much more often.

Kyle Dalla Zanna - Western Canada Regional Scout

Nathan Behm - Wing - Kamloops Blazers (Chicago Blackhawks)

Nathan Behm is putting up points at a torrid pace this season. The 66th overall selection by the Chicago Blackhawks in last year’s NHL Draft is now playing alongside top 2026 prospect and WHL scoring leader JP Hurlbert (ranked 24th overall in our first draft ranking), and their immediate chemistry has enabled Behm to maintain a position within the top five amongst league leaders in points since the start of the season.

Behm's dual-threat offensive game has taken a big step forward this season. He’s a high-skill attacker with a knack for finding seams, but his shot has been his biggest asset this season. He possesses a missile of a release that can beat goalies from anywhere, and his ability to score off the rush has been especially notable.

In his draft year, our team had qualms about Behm’s engagement and pace of play, which explains his selection outside the top two rounds. He coasted through shifts a little too often for our liking and would shy away from the hard areas. Even Blackhawks Director of Amateur Scouting Mike Doneghey voiced similar characteristics in their team’s draft recap. Behm has improved these areas of his game, and if he continues to do so, there is a strong possibility he reaches a middle six finisher as an NHL projection.

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Three clips highlighting Behm’s finishing ability off the rush and his chemistry with JP Hurlbert.

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An excellent end-to-end effort that showcases Behm’s hands, playmaking, and improved pace which leads to an assist.

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Behm engages this defender on the forecheck, cutting his lane off to separate him from the puck and create a turnover.

Liam Staples - Ontario Regional Scout

Jordan Charron - Wing - Soo Greyhounds (Pittsburgh Penguins)

It is a very positive reflection—one that raises the question of how many foresaw this outcome when the hockey landscape shifted with the CHL–NCAA eligibility rule changes, and how many players would benefit, and how quickly those benefits would take shape. Chase Reid and the Soo Greyhounds are experiencing that right now but Jordan Charron is another example of that. Charron began the 2024-2025 campaign playing for his hometown team, the Ayr Centennials in the GOJHL, originally selected in the sixth round by the ‘Hounds, Charron planned to go the NCAA route, he is committed to St. Lawrence University for the start of the 2026-2027 season but, once the new rule changes become official, he signed to play with the “Hounds.

Charron finished with 10 goals, 11 assists for 21 points in 48 games last season. Attracting the eye of the Pittsburgh Penguins who selected Charron in the fiftth round, 154 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. Charron was invited to the Penguins rookie camps and showcase in the summer. Safe to say, the work Charron put in this past summer is paying off as he has already surpassed his goal and point total from a season ago currently sitting at 17 goals, seven assists for 24 points in 25 games as of November 23rd. His skating has taken a noticeable step forward from last season - quicker feet, a faster first step, and improved overall pace.

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Charron possesses a pro level shot, showcasing he can score in a variety of different ways. What is most impressive is his explosiveness off that first step.

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Charron’s improved foot speed and lateral agility are shaping him into a dangerous player in transition.

Ben Misfeldt - North American Video Scout

Will Horcoff - Center, University of Michigan (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Will Horcoff was seen as more of a long-term project last season. A player who had a lot of tantalizing attributes but struggled to put them together in an impactful way. He was disappointing through the first half with the USNTDP but transitioned well to NCAA hockey. It was easy to see the potential in Horcoff last season - an intelligent, 6-foot-5, two-way forward with a pro style game, though I doubt many saw this year’s offensive explosion coming.

Two months into the 2025-26 season, Horcoff has been a goal scoring machine for the University of Michigan, with an astonishing 14 goals in 16 games. He has arguably made the biggest leap of any 2025 drafted player considering he had just 19 goals in 82 games during his time with the USNTDP. He has improved on his sluggish skating, has realized the advantage his size and reach can bring, and has developed into an elite net-front presence. He has done all that while also improving on his already sound defensive game.

Inevitably, the goal scoring will cool off as the season progresses (he’s shooting at nearly 27%) but even half the goal scoring rate would be seen as an improvement. The projection for Horcoff ahead of the draft was as more of a middle-six forward. As he adds strength to his frame, Horcoff projects to be a menacing player to play against. If he continues to improve his skating, I can envision him developing into a prized two-way top six centre at the NHL level.

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Here is an example of Will Horcoff’s strong net front presence. He easily positions himself between the defender and scores off the deflection. Goals and scoring chances from right around the net have been a common theme for Horcoff this season. He wasn’t known as a goal scorer before this season, but this year has figured out how to be a handful around the net, a very translatable NHL skill.

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This clip shows Horcoff’s wonky skating stride as he pursues on the forecheck. He’s very upright and the short strides are not generating near the power that his long legs are capable of. Despite that, he still makes a good read and intercepts the pass. The fact that he’s still able to get around relatively well with a flawed stride indicates there is a lot of potential with his skating.

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Horcoff already showed his defensive prowess last season with Michigan but has been at another level this season. Here he keeps his head on a swivel, stays high enough to be in position to block the pass and reads the puck carrier’s pass like a book. There are always a few solid defensive disruptions like this one each game.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #21

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:54:08 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 21st (May 2025 - 27th)
GM: Don Sweeney Hired: May 2015
COACH: Jim Montgomery Hired: July 2022

Thanks to the 2025 NHL draft, the Boston Bruins’ prospect pool has received a much needed shot in the arm. Thanks to the seventh overall pick, Boston landed James Hagens—a skilled forward once projected as a potential top three selection. He immediately becomes the organization’s top prospect and debuts at 14th in McKeen’s rankings.

The Bruins also struck in the second round, selecting William Moore, who now sits as their fourth-ranked prospect. Both Hagens and Moore are slated to suit up for Boston College, though there’s always a chance Hagens signs his entry-level deal early and pushes for a spot in Boston this fall.

At the trade deadline, Boston acquired Fraser Minten from Toronto, who slots in between Hagens and Fabian Lysell to round out the team’s top three. Both Minten and Lysell are nearly NHL-ready and could both challenge for a roster spot as early as this fall, though Providence may be their more likely starting point.

Beyond those names, the pool still lacks the depth to impact the NHL roster in the short term, meaningfully. Mason Lohrei, John Beecher, and Matthew Poitras are carving out roles, but the group isn’t strong enough to alter Boston’s contender status.

Still, there are encouraging signs. The Bruins added Matej Blumel during the off-season, who’s coming off a strong Calder Cup performance. Alongside him is a promising third-rounder, William Zellers, who impressed with 71 points as the USHL’s third-leading scorer in his rookie season.

The jury remains out on 2024 first-rounder Dean Letourneau (25th overall). Making the jump from high school to Boston University, he posted just three assists in 36 games as a freshman. Given questions about his readiness, his quiet debut does little to quiet skepticism.

With David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman anchoring the present, Boston appears committed to replenishing its future through the draft. For the first time in years, there’s a flicker of optimism that the next wave of Bruins talent might be worth the wait.

Boston Bruins Top-15 Prospects

1 - James Hagens

James Hagens had a disappointing draft year, but the Bruins were far from disappointed that they were able to snag him seventh overall in June’s NHL Entry Draft. Hagens came into last season with fans and scouts alike admiring his combination of elusive skating, elite hockey IQ, and high-end skill to the point that he was the projected first overall pick. After setting records with the USA in international tournaments (All Time tournament scoring marks in U17s, U18s) and being among the all-time point leaders in USNTDP history, Hagens’ step into the NCAA was not quite as seamless as many expected. The freshman didn’t put up the numbers that were expected centering Boston College’s first line but still ended the season with 37 points. A natural playmaker, Hagens has a skillset that will likely result in him being a key offensive piece in Boston for years to come. This year he is heading back to Boston College for another NCAA season, but the Bruins are lacking in center depth, and a year from now, there may already be a top six center role waiting for him.

2 - Fraser Minten

Little bit of a chaotic first pro season for Fraser Minten as he spent his time with four different teams(!) but was able to make the most of it. Fraser got traded mid-season to Boston, and it was probably the best for his development. Toronto had a stacked team and since Boston has become sellers this season, he has an easier time staying in Boston’s thinner roster. He creates chances off the rush thanks to his quick first steps, plays a responsible two-way game and is a dual scoring threat in the offensive zone. Fraser does not possess dynamic skills and is more of a play connector when getting his assists. Neither is he a sniper but he’s so strong around the net that he’s going to get his fair share of goals by slamming home rebounds. Fraser’s game is incredibly translatable to the NHL and since Boston is in a semi-rebuild there’s a huge opportunity for Fraser to make himself a permanent roster player.

3 - Fabian Lysell

Having spent three seasons playing professional hockey it looks like Fabian Lysell is ready to take the next step. His off-puck game still isn’t his strongest trait, but Fabian is an offensive player, and he has taken the necessary steps at the AHL level to become an acceptable defensive player. He’s not going to learn a ton more playing in the minor leagues and it’s time for Boston to see what they got by giving him an opportunity. One area of his game that immediately pops out is his skating. He loves to skate with the puck through the neutral zone, using his crossovers to shift from side to side to throw defenders off and when he gets past the defencemen he will drive hard towards the net. The skating combined with his versatile goalscoring ability and deceptive playmaking should project Fabian into a top six player. This season Fabian should be able to solidify a spot on the NHL roster playing a top nine role.

4 - William Moore

Boston’s fourth-ranked prospect and second-round pick this past draft failed to reach the expectations set before this season. Moore was hailed as a top prospect in the 2025 class during his GTHL days and opted to play in the NTDP, choosing the college route over the OHL. After looking like he was the sure-fire top forward that the program had to offer, Moore was taken after notable teammates Conrad Fondrk, Jack Murtagh, and Will Horcoff. Boston is buying low on the potential Moore showed to be a skillful, two-way center. His offensive upside stems from his stickhandling, solid enough passing vision, and ability to get open in space around the net, all of which were best displayed in his power play minutes for the NTDP. Additionally, he uses his size well enough to be an effective penalty killer. He won’t lay out foes in open ice, but he can quell a puck carrier’s momentum along the wall. Moore does suffer from effort issues and some weak overall offensive awareness, but these are issues that can be rounded out in the NCAA, especially the prospect assembly line known as Boston College.

5 - Georgii Merkulov

Much like Fabian Lysell, Merkulov has spent three seasons with the Providence and had great offensive numbers. However, his development has stagnated a bit and if Boston wants to see if Georgii is a capable NHL player, they need to give him an opportunity. There are no questions about his offensive game. The shifty Russian has amazing talent with the puck, using his great vision to find open lanes through traffic, throwing hard, accurate passes and is also quite deceptive when handling the puck in the offensive zone. There are issues with his off-puck game and it’s crucial that he works on this if he cannot be a top six player with the big club. Moving him from center to wing will alleviate that defensive pressure and would probably be best for his NHL path going forward. A good camp this preseason will probably result in an NHL spot for the start of the season as Boston has moved away from their previous talent.

6 - Dans Locmelis

Dans Locmelis took a big step forward offensively in his sophomore year at UMass, more than doubling his freshman production by jumping from 14 points to 33. The Latvian established himself as a dependable two-way center, earning minutes on the power play, penalty kill, and taking on tough defensive matchups. After the conclusion of his season at UMass, Locmelis jumped into the Providence Bruins’ lineup, piling up a dozen points in his first six games. Despite this offensive outburst, Locmelis is more known for playing a smart, responsible two-way game than being an offensive dynamo. His adaptability and work ethic make a bottom six role a very realistic outcome in Boston for Locmelis. His versatility will make him an asset throughout the lineup when needed, and he should settle in as a consistent penalty killer. Before that, he likely has a year or two in the AHL ahead of him.

7 - Dean Letourneau

Letourneau experienced a challenging freshman season, struggling to adapt to the college game. His skating remains a significant weakness, limiting his ability to be a consistent presence in both zones. While his size and strength offer the potential of a power forward, he often fails to use his physicality effectively. Puck handling remains inconsistent, though he has shown flashes of skill in tight areas. Defensively, he lacks awareness and engagement, contributing minimal impact. On the positive side, Letourneau has demonstrated solid puck protection and net-front presence, particularly during even-strength play. His willingness to engage in battles has improved slightly over time, but his effort remains inconsistent. Despite receiving power play opportunities, he did not make a meaningful impact. With all of that said, Letourneau could have a big year coming up. He should have played an extra year before playing at BC, especially as a fourth liner. With the poor start last year, there were improvements in multiple areas of his game as the season went on, including his confidence. Projection-wise, Letourneau projects as a bottom six forward. Significant improvements in skating, puck control, and physical assertiveness will be essential for him to maximize his size and develop into a reliable depth contributor.

8 - Matej Blumel

Matej Blumel has been a very effective offensive player in the last few seasons. All of them with the Dallas Stars AHL affiliate, he has now signed with the Bruins in hope of NHL play time. Matej can do a little bit of everything, plays all situations, is okay defensively but forechecks well and puts tenacious pressure on defenders. Rather than having extraordinary playmaking ability, he gets his assists more thanks to his play drive and the amount of puck touches he makes. An effective scorer on the rush by coming down his weakside in transition and firing off his strong wrist shot but also has the offensive instincts to find open areas and can frequently score with his one-timer. A future as a top six forward in the NHL is probably out of the picture as his playmaking game never really has taken off and he probably won’t be getting the same amount of power play time he had with the Texas Stars. He could still be an effective middle six winger but needs to be competitive consistently if he wants to find success in that role.

9 - Will Zellers

A recent acquisition from the Colorado Avalanche, Zellers decided to hold off on joining North Dakota this year to play his post draft year in the USHL after playing previously with the Shattuck St. Mary’s program. With the Green Bay Gamblers, Zellers was consistently one of the most dangerous players in the USHL this year, leading the league in goal scoring by a significant margin. Not only is Zellers a skilled finisher and a creative player, but he’s also a hard-working player who finds success in higher traffic areas. The work rate and skill combination give him a really solid chance of becoming a quality pro. The question mark remains his skating. For an undersized forward, he doesn’t have the kind of speed or explosiveness that you prefer to see and that’s why he was a third-round selection despite possessing solid upside. He’s going to need a few years at the collegiate level to improve that.

10 - Michael Dipietro

Michael DiPietro has finally broken out at the AHL level at 25, becoming one of the league’s top goalies. He’s a very aggressive and intense goalie who relies on speed and rapid movements to get things done. He skates very well and is so fluid, but because that is his whole identity, it can hurt him in certain areas. With the overly aggressive style of play, it means that he lacks composure in areas, often not setting his feet and opting to travel longer when he shouldn’t have to, just to grab a little bit more depth on the shooter. When hot in the AHL, he has shown backup potential in the NHL but given his erratic nature it’s not likely he can sustain a starter’s workload at the highest level. He’s knocking on the door to being NHL ready in some capacity, but with Korpisalo under contract, he will have to bide time and learn to be calmer to some degree.

11 - Frederic Brunet

Entering the final season of his ELC, the unassuming Brunet saw his first NHL action last season while serving as one of AHL Providence’s top two defenders. A good-sized all-round defenceman, Brunet will pop out at you with the odd, impressive play on the attack every now and again. With no less than eight solid NHL-caliber players ahead of him in Boston’s blueline pecking order, he’ll likely have to bide his time until trades/injuries enter the picture.

12 - Chris Pelosi

Drafted in the third-round as a developmental project right from the get-go, the tenacious Pelosi followed a 55-point season in the USHL with a fantastic 13-goal, 24-point freshman year at Quinnipiac. Thanks to his feistiness and determination around the goal mouth and in the slot, he keeps the opposition on its toes and proved deceptive last season with longer range wrist shots. Could mesh well this season with incoming freshmen Markus Vidicek and Antonin Verreault.

13 - Oskar Jellvik

After a monstrous 2023-24 season for Boston College, where he gelled brilliantly with linemate Cutter Gauthier, Jellvik’s drop in production this past season was one of the more notable NCAA drop-offs whatsoever. An upper body injury at the Beanpot Tournament in February then ended all hopes of him regaining his touch this season. A sound skater with a strong sense of creativity, the onus is now on him to bounce back into a top six role for the always competitive Eagles.

14 - Elliott Groenewold

A well-built native of Vermont, Groenewold made a seamless transition from the USHL to college hockey this past season, becoming an absolute minute-muncher on Quinnipiac’s blueline. Some nights were better than others, but there’s no real hesitation in his reads and ability to pressure attackers, often suffocating players on the rush or in the corners. Production may never be something to write home about, but he’s on track to compete for a lower line NHL job one day.

15 - Riley Duran

Having just completed his first full pro season, Massachusetts native Duran snuck into two contests for the Bruins this year due in part to his dependability as a fourth line grinder, a role that will surely be his only viable path to NHL employment. Alas, they do like their blue-collar combatants in Beantown and Riley’s solid skating ability and lunchpail nature makes him a serious candidate as a penalty kill and forechecking option down the road. Offensively, a non-factor.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #27 BOSTON BRUINS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sun, 18 May 2025 14:41:49 +0000

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 05: Boston Bruins center Fraser Minten (93) rushes up ice during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes on April 5, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

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Boston 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #31

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:00:05 +0000

_{BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 24: Boston Bruins right wing Fabian Lysell (10) eyes a face off during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers on September 24, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 31st (Previous Rank - 27th)
GM: Don Sweeney Hired: May 2015
COACH: Jim Montgomery Hired: July 2022

In their first season without the services of long-time leader Patrice Bergeron, the Boston Bruins faced the daunting probability of taking a step back and missing the postseason for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign. Contrary to that belief, the Bruins exceeded expectations, finishing with the fifth-highest point total in the league (109) to comfortably extend their playoff streak to eight years.

The 2023-24 season saw unexpected contributions from some of their younger players, particularly Matthew Poitras, who burst out of training camp to secure a roster spot as a 19-year-old. Despite having his season cut short due to shoulder surgery, he contributed five goals and 15 points in 33 games and fast-tracked his development as a vital piece to this club’s immediate short-term plans. Alongside him, Mason Lohrei and Jonathan Beecher took significant steps in their development, with all three playing 30-plus NHL games to help usher in a new era of Bruins hockey. All three are expected to be graduated and permanent members of the 2024-25 installment.

This influx of youth came at a critical time for Boston. With just four picks, the 2024 draft was the Bruins' lightest in four years, and they emerged with only one prospect to garner any real NHL potential for the future. Dean Letourneau, selected 25th overall, brings intriguing potential and currently ranks 138th in McKeen’s prospect ranking. Yet, with his experience limited to high school hockey, even he remains more unknown than typical first-rounders. Whether he develops into a steal or a bust at 25th overall remains a giant question mark.

Waiting in their depth, the club does have Fabian Lysell, who’s ranked 74th by McKeen’s. The 21-year-old winger is coming off a positive AHL sophomore season, where he averaged nearly a point per game to finish with 50 points (15 G, 35 A) in 56 games—sixth among U22 skaters. Additionally, Georgii Merkulov, ranked 183rd, saw his first cup of coffee in the NHL last year, suiting up in four games.

For now, Boston remains focused on their current roster, built around a core featuring Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and goaltender Jeremy Swayman. With their prospect pool ranking near the bottom of the league, the Bruins continue to tread water while waiting for reinforcements.

Boston Bruins Top-15 Prospects

1. Fabian Lysell

Lysell made some waves last year, for both good and bad reasons, but he is unquestionably Boston’s best prospect currently because of his significant offensive upside. On the positive end of things, he’s such a dangerous player in transition because of his speed and playmaking ability. He can create something out of nothing and he puts opposing defenders in a tough spot with his ability to attack with pace. On the negative end, his play away from the puck and his decision making with the puck were called into question this past year by scouts and even his own coach. It’s the reason why he has yet to play an NHL game despite producing at a great clip in his second AHL season. The upcoming Boston training camp will be a big one for Lysell to prove that he can make adjustments and play more of a team-oriented game.

2. Dean Letourneau

A major wild card heading into the 2024 NHL Draft, Letourneau ended up getting selected 25th overall by the Bruins. The massive forward is a major long-term project, but one with significant upside. Playing out of St. Andrew’s College (in the same AAA loop as Shattuck St. Mary’s), Letourneau was a wild card because how he would adjust to playing against better competition and he remains a mystery for that very reason. However, his combination of size and skill was just too much for Boston to pass up. His skating continues to make positive gains and he can really rifle the puck. As he fills out his frame, will his off puck play and physical engagement level become more consistent? Originally slated to play in the USHL for a season before heading to Boston College, Letourneau has accelerated his studies and will now suit up this coming year for the Eagles. His freshman year is sure to be heavily scrutinized.

3. Brandon Bussi

Barely eligible for this list based on his age (26), Bussi needs to be in the conversation as among the top young netminders outside of the NHL. His strong play with Providence is the reason why Boston felt so comfortable moving Linus Ullmark. The big, 6-foot-4 Bussi has a penchant for the highlight reel save; his play tracking ability and in crease movement are terrific. Pucks stick to him well, too, as he limits second chance opportunities. But what happens to Bussi this coming season? Joonas Korpisalo came over in the Ullmark trade and he will have the inside track (given his experience) at the backup role behind Swayman. However, Bussi will also require waivers to send to the AHL and there’s absolutely no chance he gets through given his pro performance thus far. Quite the dilemma.

4. Georgi Merkulov

Merkulov continued to produce for Providence in his sophomore season, inching close to the point per game mark. The dynamic forward is a potential scoring line forward for the Bruins in the near future. Heading into the year, the Bruins wanted Merkulov to focus on improving his off puck play and defensive zone coverage to help him stick as a center at the NHL level. By adding strength and increasing his intensity level, he was able to do that. This has made him a more consistent play driver; he’s now fully able to take advantage of his gifts as a creative playmaker. In a nutshell, he looks pro ready and should push for a permanent roster spot next season, providing Boston some depth and flexibility given the losses of DeBrusk and JVR. He should be in the mix for a top nine role during training camp.

5. John Farinacci

Poached from the Arizona Coyotes’ system after Farinacci played his senior year at Harvard in order to become a free agent, Arizona’s loss was Boston’s gain. Farinacci was as advertised with AHL Providence last year, playing a strong two-way game while chipping in offensively from time to time. He’s not the most dynamic offensive player, but he is incredibly efficient because of his off puck play and three zone awareness. He does almost everything well, but nothing elite. For that reason, he’s not likely to be a top six forward, with Farinacci’s future almost assured to be in the bottom six, but he could be a long-time fixture on the Bruins and eventually develop into a coaches’ favourite. One would expect him to earn games at the NHL level this year.

6. Oskar Jellvik

Lost in the hype machine at Boston College last year, Jellvik quietly had a tremendous sophomore season playing alongside Cutter Gauthier on BC’s other scoring line (outside of the NTDP trio). A playmaking winger, Jellvik oozes skill and creativity as he darts in and out of traffic to create time and space for himself and linemates. He consistently extends plays and has shown the previous season that he has the potential to be a scoring line forward at the NHL level if he can continue to develop at the collegiate level. With some graduations at BC, he could be in for a breakout year at the NCAA level this coming season. Boston fans should be excited about his upside and the growth shown in his game since being drafted.

7. Justin Brazeau

One of the best stories in the NHL last year. The road to the NHL has been a long one for Brazeau. The former OHL goal scoring leader didn’t even earn an NHL ELC despite being a dominant goalscorer with size because teams were concerned about his skating ability. He’s worked his way up from the ECHL, to the AHL, and now only recently earned an NHL contract from the Bruins. He was very effective to end last year for the Bruins and was pretty hard for Boston to take out of the lineup down the stretch because of his strong net front play and consistent effort away from the puck. Brazeau is still not the best skater…and he never will be. But there’s still a place in the league for power forwards like Brazeau who can find their way to the net and play a sound two-way game.

8. Riley Duran

Similar to John Farinacci, no one is expecting Riley Duran to become a future 30 goal scorer in the NHL. If he succeeds in making the Bruins roster full time, it will be in a bottom six role. However, his speed, strong work ethic, and physicality in puck pursuit make him an ideal role player in today’s NHL. He should be able to develop into a quality penalty killer at the pro level and will provide versatility to his coaches. Duran recently signed out of Providence College and will be turning pro full time this season, following his brief debut after signing at the end of last season. His offensive production as an AHL rookie should provide feedback as to how far away he is from an NHL role. It seems likely that Boston will be patient with Duran to allow him to build up confidence on the puck before pushing him into a depth role at the NHL level.

9. Michael DiPietro

Speaking of great stories, insert former top goaltending prospect Michael DiPietro. The former OHL goaltender of the year and Memorial Cup champion was cast aside by the Vancouver Canucks after a few frustrating seasons in their system. He passed through waivers and likely wasn’t even considered as a possible pick up by other NHL teams. However, the fresh start in Boston has revived DiPietro’s upside as an NHL netminder. He was consistently one of the best goaltenders in the AHL last season, splitting time with Bussi. Some players, especially goaltenders, just figure it out later in their careers and DiPietro is looking like one of those players. A fierce competitor, DiPietro’s best assets are his quickness in combination with his mental makeup. He has learned to harness his athleticism to become more composed and controlled in the crease. Will the Bruins be able to sneak DiPietro through waivers again next year after such a strong year?

10. Alec Regula

Rarely do players who have passed through waivers remain ranked inside an NHL team’s top ten prospects, but Regula had a very strong season in Providence to help keep him in Boston’s plans moving forward. They gave him a qualifying offer for that reason. Even with the signing of Nikita Zadorov, it is possible that Regula could earn a bottom pairing role or serve as a primary injury fill-in with the Bruins this year. The Taylor Hall/Nick Foligno deal with Chicago still has a chance to bear some fruit for the Bruins. 6-foot-4, 200+ pound defenders who can provide physicality while being mobile don’t grow on trees and that’s Regula’s MO. Just as stated with DiPietro, would someone bite on him this year if Boston tries to get him through waivers again?

11. Andre Gasseau

The third prospect the Bruins will have at Boston College, Gasseau is entering his junior season with the Eagles. The former NTDP player has proven to be a solid depth piece for BC in his first two years, playing a variety of roles. The big pivot is a solid two-way player and his future role in the NHL would almost assuredly be in the bottom six, that said, Boston will be looking for him to take on more offensive responsibility at the NCAA level first.

12. Trevor Kuntar

A physical, strong shooting, power center, Kuntar is coming off his first pro season with Providence. He was able to play a bottom six role for them and showed flashes of becoming a quality option for the Bruins down the line. The focus will be on continuing to improve his skating as he enters his sophomore pro year.

13. Dans Locmelis

The Bruins had high expectations for the Latvian pivot as he started his NCAA run with UMass last season, however his production failed to meet those expectations. This offseason, the focus has been on getting stronger and quicker. Recently, at Bruins development camp, management had great things to say about Locmelis and they are operating under the assumption that he has a breakout season as a sophomore.

14. Brett Harrison

There were definitely some concerns that Harrison’s transition to the pro level would be difficult, given his need to improve his skating and pace. That proved to be correct, as Harrison was limited to a depth role with Providence as a rookie. The former OHL standout will definitely be a long-term project for Boston.

15. Jonathan Morello

A fifth round selection by the Bruins in 2024, Morello is a very intriguing project due to his size and speed combination. He is lightning quick, plays with some jam, and shows upside as a goal scorer. After playing in the OJHL previously, Morello will suit up for Dubuque of the USHL next year before making a larger jump to Clarkson the following season

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT GUIDE: TWO-ROUND MOCK DRAFT

Brock Otten — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:03:17 +0000

#1. San Jose Sharks - Macklin Celebrini - C - Boston University (HE)

At this point, San Jose might as well announce this now. The entire hockey world knows that Celebrini is going to be its guy. This is a pivot without any true weaknesses who projects as a franchise leader for the Sharks moving forward. Think of the impact that Jonathan Toews had on turning the Blackhawks rebuild around.

#2. Chicago Blackhawks - Artyom Levshunov – D - Michigan State (B1G)

Part of me believes that Chicago might really like Sam Dickinson because of how much value they have been placing on skating in recent drafts, but another part believes that Levshunov will be the Hawks guy. We prefer Dickinson, but there’s no doubting that Levshunov has among the highest two-way upside of any defender in this draft. With his high-end skill and offensive aggressiveness, he’ll be able to give the Hawks a dynamic puck mover on both of their first two pairings (with Korchinski).

#3. Anaheim Ducks - Anton Silayev – D - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

On one hand, the Ducks haven’t used a Top 50 pick on a Russian based player (as in playing in the KHL, MHL, etc) since Stanislav Chistov in 2001. It’s obvious that they have preferences for other regions. However, what’s also obvious is the fit here. The Ducks have so many terrific puck moving defenders. The system is loaded. However, the team’s high end defensively oriented prospects have had their development stall like Noah Warren and Drew Helleson. Anaheim could see Silayev as an amazing fit beside guys like Mintyukov and Zellweger, allowing them to play freely and aggressively.

#4. Columbus Blue Jackets - Ivan Demidov – RW - SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)

The Jackets have had great success with young Russian players recently, even forming a great Russian kid line involving Chinakhov, Voronkov, and Marchenko. Not only is Demidov clearly the best player available at this point, but he also helps add significant skill to the wing for the organization that needs it. This is an offensive play driver solely needed.

#5. Montreal Canadiens - Cayden Lindstrom – C - Medicine Hat (WHL)

This is one of the best-case scenarios for Montreal. Is Lindstrom’s injury history a concern? Likely for some teams. However, the upside here is too large for Montreal to pass up. Not only is Lindstrom a fantastic young player, but he also helps the Canadiens get bigger and heavier up front, which was a reason for preferring Slafkovsky at first overall two years ago.

#6. Utah Hockey Club - Zeev Buium – D - Denver (NCHC)

Seems likely that Utah could lean towards taking one of the high-end offensive defenders available with this pick. In the last five drafts, the Coyotes have not taken a single player out of the OHL. This leads me to believe that Buium is a guy that the team could find really attractive at #6. He’s such an intelligent playmaker from the backend and he would really help Utah improve their transitional game and powerplay production.

#7. Ottawa Senators - Sam Dickinson – D - London (OHL)

Dickinson is the perfect defender for the modern era thanks to his high-end skating ability. He’s the kind of blueliner who projects as an all situations, minute eater. Given how terrific he has been in this year’s OHL playoffs (and the Memorial Cup), Ottawa likely sees him as a terrific fit as a “winner” who can help them get over the hump in the coming years. The Sens really need to hit on this pick and Dickinson is as safe as safe can be to be an impact player.

#8. Seattle Kraken - Beckett Sennecke – RW - Oshawa (OHL)

There is a ton of traction for Sennecke to be a high pick and Seattle strikes us as a likely landing spot. They’ve targeted the OHL pretty heavily and, playing in the Pacific, they want to load up their lineup with heavier players who can withstand the punishing style in the division. Sennecke oozes upside as an athletic winger still growing into his frame. He is skilled, physical, and intelligent. A great combination. Logic says Seattle finally uses their first on a defender, but something about this spot screams Sennecke.

#9. Calgary Flames - Tij Iginla – C - Kelowna (WHL)

Maybe this is far-fetched. But maybe it’s not. Teams don’t use top ten selections for the sole purpose of nostalgia. But how can you pass up the opportunity to draft an iconic name, who also happens to be worthy in this spot. Iginla was terrific in the second half of the year, and this gives Calgary an injection of skill and tenacity. He could have a similar impact to his father in Calgary.

#10. New Jersey Devils - Konsta Helenius – C - Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)

The Devils are a team that definitely don’t want to be picking in this range. The organization has been trying to escape the rebuilding phase, so would it not make sense for them to target a player who has great upside, but who can also make an impact pretty quickly? Helenius fits in well with the players already in New Jersey and the Devils have liked the region in recent drafts.

#11. Buffalo Sabres - Zayne Parekh – D - Saginaw (OHL)

Yeah, we know that the Sabres already have Dahlin and Power on the back end. That powerplay unit is already loaded. However, at some point, you have to say that Parekh is too good to let slide further. One of the draft’s most creative and intelligent defenders, Parekh is the ultimate wild card. He could go as high as the top five or fall out of the lottery all together. This would be great value for the Sabres.

#12. Philadelphia Flyers - Cole Eiserman – LW - U. S. NTDP U18

Often tagged as being the draft’s purest goal scorer, Eiserman had an up and down year with the NTDP. However, he still managed to break the program’s scoring record and that is impressive. Big wingers who can put the puck in the net do not grow on trees. While the Flyers could go defense here, having just dealt top prospect Cutter Gauthier for defender Jamie Drysdale, it seems unlikely that they will go that route.

#13. Minnesota Wild - Carter Yakemchuk – D - Calgary (WHL)

This seems low for Yakemchuk. But someone is going to need to fall a bit considering the talent available in the lottery. While Yakemchuk’s upside is significant, we think teams may have concerns over his puck management and skating combination. That said, he’s a great fit in Minnesota as a potential puck mover and triggerman who can help their powerplay and move quickly through the system.

#14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh Penguins) - Stian Solberg – D - Valerenga (Norway)

The draft is bound to get pretty wild around this point given the wild fluctuation among rankings. Solberg has had a ton of momentum the last month and we really like this fit. Solberg was tremendous at the World Championships, showing that he can impact the game in a lot of different ways. This is someone who can come in and be a defensive stalwart for the Sharks in the future.

#15. Detroit Red Wings - Berkly Catton – C - Spokane (WHL)

This is much lower than our ranking for Catton, but we realize that we may be more aggressive on him compared to the NHL community. He is the kind of play driver who can elevate Detroit’s first two lines in the future. He’s more skilled than Danielson and Kasper, but he has that same kind of high-end work ethic. If Catton is still available at fifteen, this should one hundred percent be his landing spot.

#16. St. Louis Blues - Trevor Connelly – LW - Tri-City (USHL)

Where does Connelly go? That’s one of the draft’s biggest questions considering the noise around his off-ice “issues.” However, we do think that someone bites considering Connelly has among the highest offensive upsides of any forward in this draft. The Blues need more firepower. They need more play drivers. Connelly is someone who can make this St. Louis team better down the line if he progresses well.

#17. Washington Capitals - Adam Jiricek – D - Plzen (Czechia)

It was a pretty tough draft year for Jiricek, after he missed the majority of the year with injury. However, he came into the year as a potential top ten selection for a reason. He’s talented and a potential two-way stalwart like his brother David. So many options here but could see the Caps lean defense if Jiricek is still on the board.

#18. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders) - Michael Brandsegg Nygard – RW - Mora (Allsvenskan)

The Hawks have really been focusing on selecting strong skaters in recent years, so there’s a chance that they team will jump on a guy like Jett Luchanko here. However, we like Brandsegg Nygard here for a few reasons. One, he’s one of the best players available. Two, he’s an excellent fit alongside some of the high-end skill that Chicago has brought in. His hard work and attention to detail could make him the kind of high-end role player that Chicago had during their Cup runs.

#19. Vegas Golden Knights - EJ Emery – D - U. S. NTDP U18

Did you know that Vegas has never drafted a player out of the U.S. NTDP? Seems wild, but this could be the year. Vegas has used their first selection on a center every year of existence. That kind of commitment is impressive. However, we believe that this is the year that the streak breaks. We love Emery’s physical tools and upside as a defensive stalwart, and he fits the exact mold of the kind of defender Vegas seems to love. The team’s defensive core is getting older, and he could be a great fit there in a few years.

#20. New York Islanders (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Michael Hage – C - Chicago (USHL)

We like this potential landing spot for Hage. He was, perhaps, the best player in the USHL in the second half of the year. This was the real Michael Hage, after he put some personal turmoil behind him. He has upside as a top six, power center and his skill is badly needed in a prospect pool that is currently lacking it.

#21. Los Angeles Kings - Jett Luchanko – C - Guelph (OHL)

We know the Kings love the OHL. Luchanko would be a great pick here. The tenacious and intelligent pivot brings speed and playmaking ability to the table and looks like a future fixture as a second line center. There aren’t a ton of natural pivots in the system right now, so it also makes sense for Los Angeles to target that position, if a good one is available.

#22. Nashville Predators - Leo Sahlin Wallenius – D - Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)

A strong skating, potential two-way defender, Sahlin Wallenius proved to be a bit of a chameleon in his draft year. What’s his real future role? Regardless, the physical tools are going to be intriguing to a team like Nashville.

#23. Toronto Maple Leafs - Harrison Brunicke – D - Kamloops (WHL)

This would be the first time since 2018 that Toronto uses its first-round selection on a defender. We’d say it’s needed. Brunicke is a strong skating rearguard with upside at both ends. He excelled defensively at the U18’s and he’s the kind of modern-day defender that Toronto sorely lacks. The organization would have also seen a fair amount of Brunicke while scouting Fraser Minten in Kamloops.

#24. Colorado Avalanche - Igor Chernyshov – LW - Dynamo Moskva (KHL)

We could see Colorado moving this pick at the draft for some immediate help after their disappointing playoff performance. However, if they keep this selection, a guy like Chernyshov could make a ton of sense. He can attack with speed and power, playing a North/South game that fits their system.

#25. Ottawa Senators (via Boston Bruins) - Liam Greentree – RW - Windsor (OHL)

Back-to-back OHL players for Ottawa in our mock, this time the team selects Windsor winger Greentree, who has the potential to be a Jason Robertson kind of player in the future. He is creative and skilled but needs to improve his skating. We believe improving the team’s skill and finishing ability on the wing should be a focus.

#26. Montreal Canadiens (via Winnipeg Jets) - Sam O’Reilly – RW - London (OHL)

With a strong OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup performance, O’Reilly has surged up draft rankings to close out the year. The physical, two-way center has more offensive upside than he has shown thus far playing in a secondary scoring role. Worst case scenario could see him developing into a Scott Laughton type, which would still be terrific value at this point of the first.

#27. Carolina Hurricanes - Alfons Freij – D - Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)

The Hurricanes always seem to love the same kind of players that the amateur scouting community love. Freij is one of those amateur scouting darlings this year that we (as a community) seem to love more than the NHL community (as a whole). The skating ability and skill are evident. He was a standout at nearly every international event for Sweden and projects as a skilled top four defende

#28. Calgary Flames (via Vancouver Canucks) - Cole Beaudoin – C - Barrie (OHL)

After drafting Iginla early, the Flames opt for a different kind of forward late in the first. Beaudoin projects as the kind of guy you win in the playoffs with. He brings versatility. He brings leadership. He brings consistency. He is an intelligent playmaker and can excel as a middle six complementary piece. Just seems very likely that at least one NHL team likes his intangibles enough to draft him in the first.

#29. Dallas Stars - Emil Hemming – RW - TPS (Fin-Liiga)

The Stars haven’t drafted a player out of Finland since Miro Heiskanen in 2017, but we’d say that has worked out pretty well. At this point, Hemming fills a need and represents the best player available. He brings tenaciousness and he is one of the draft’s best goal scorers from the wing.

#30. New York Rangers - Charlie Elick - D - Brandon (WHL)

Elick has a similar profile to Braden Schneider when the Rangers drafted him and that worked out pretty well. The size, skating, and physicality combination make Elick a potential shutdown defender for a decade. His decision making needs to improve, but New York has actually improved this component in several of their defensive prospects.

#31. Anaheim Ducks (via Edmonton Oilers) - Julius Miettinen – C - Everett (WHL)

Miettinen improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the year and represents a big body with skill. His skating took a big leap from the beginning of the year to the end, and it has really improved his projection as a top six forward. Anaheim really seems to favor forwards with a well-rounded profile and that’s Miettinen.

#32. Philadelphia Flyers (via Florida Panthers) - Ben Danford – D - Oshawa (OHL)

This pick might surprise some people, but Danford is a player who rocketed up rankings in the second half as part of an Oshawa team that went to the OHL finals. He’s one of the better defensive players in the draft; a shot blocking expert who has terrific defensive instincts. He’s also a strong skater who has shown flashes of more offensively. Shades of Oliver Bonk here and that worked out really well so far.

—----------------------------

#33. San Jose Sharks - Dean Letourneau – C - St. Andrew's (CHS-Ontario)

There’s definitely a chance that Letourneau goes in the first, but we feel that teams may be more comfortable using a second on a prep player given that many of those chosen in the first have not developed well. The Sharks can take a chance on Letourneau, given the team’s window is a ways away. The big man oozes upside because of his athleticism.

#34. Chicago Blackhawks - Henry Mews – D - Ottawa (OHL)

With the Hawks focusing so much on strong skating ability, Mews makes sense here. He’s a terrific four-way mover who possesses excellent upside as an offensive defender. He’s a creative rush attacker and his defense did improve over the course of the season.

#35. Anaheim Ducks - Terik Parascak – RW - Prince George (WHL)

A highly intelligent playmaker, Parascak makes up for only average skating by being a step ahead of others mentally. He’s skilled. He’s tenacious. He projects as a quality complementary piece in the top six and he would fit in perfectly with what Anaheim already has in the system.

#36. Philadelphia Flyers (via Columbus Blue Jackets) - Sacha Boisvert – C - Muskegon (USHL)

Why not double down on a top goal scorer? After drafting the draft’s best in Cole Eiserman, the Flyers now take one of the other best options in power center Sasha Boivert. His skating needs to continue to improve, but he can really fire it.

#37. Winnipeg Jets (via Montreal Canadiens) - Cole Hutson – D - U. S. NTDP U18

Wouldn’t it be fitting if the Jets used the Montreal pick to select Lane’s brother Cole? Cole battled some injuries this year, but he closed out the year on a high note by returning for the U18’s. He can control the tempo with his handling ability and mobility. His defensive game is also probably more advanced compared to Lane’s at the same age.

#38. Utah Hockey Club - Teddy Stiga – C - U. S. NTDP U18

Back-to-back NTDP members are chosen here as Stiga ends up being Utah’s pick. He is a terrific complementary piece who was one of the NTDP’s most improved players this year. He plays at a feverish pace, and he is skilled and intelligent enough to play with high end, creative playmakers. Could be the perfect future linemate for Logan Cooley.

#39. Ottawa Senators - Linus Eriksson – C - Djurgardens (Allsvenskan)

Erikson is a strong skating, two-way center with a strong chance of developing into an excellent and versatile middle six piece. He was solid for Sweden internationally this year and adds great depth to Ottawa’s center position down the line.

#40. Seattle Kraken - Will Skahan – D - U. S. NTDP U18

One of the draft’s most physical defenders, Skahan is big, reasonably mobile, and projects as a top four shutdown blueliner. Seattle has never really drafted a player like Skahan, and we would argue that in order for them to take that next step, they’ll need players like him in the Pacific.

#41. Calgary Flames - Dominik Badinka – D - Malmo (SHL)

Strong, two-way defender who played a ton at the SHL level. His true offensive upside was hidden by playing sheltered minutes against men. The Flames opt for defense here and have had some luck taking Swedish based defenders in recent years (Badinka is Czech but played out of Sweden).

#42. San Jose Sharks (via New Jersey Devils) - Andrew Basha – LW - Medicine Hat (WHL)

The Sharks opt for a bit of a safer selection at this spot after really rolling the dice with the previous two picks. Basha is an excellent complementary piece who projects as someone who can elevate the play of a creative and skilled pivot. He could be the perfect linemate for the likes of Celebrini, Smith, or Eklund because he is skilled and does the dirty work to open up ice.

#43. Buffalo Sabres - Maxim Masse – RW - Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Buffalo makes Masse the first QMJHL player off the board. He’s one of the better pure goal scorers in the draft and he plays a mature, pro style game that sees him get to the middle of the ice. The skating needs to keep improving, but this is a player who could fit in well with some of the others in Buffalo’s system.

#44. Pittsburgh Penguins (via Philadelphia Flyers) - Lucas Pettersson – C - MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)

With their first pick in the draft, the Penguins opt for Swedish center Lucas Pettersson. He’s a strong skating, two-way pivot who projects as a solid middle six piece who can play in a variety of different situations. Building up prospect depth needs to be a focus of Kyle Dubas, after the system was bled dry for the last half a decade.

#45. Minnesota Wild - Brodie Ziemer – RW - U. S. NTDP U18

A Minnesota native heading to the University of Minnesota, the Wild get the captain of this year’s NTDP. He projects as a terrific complementary piece in the top nine who can help bring out the best in more skilled players. He plays a heavier game, which fits in with the theme that Minnesota seems to be focusing on at the draft in recent years.

#46. Pittsburgh Penguins - Aron Kiviharju – D - HIFK (Fin-Liiga)

If there is a team that is going to take a chance on Kiviharju bringing everything together, the Penguins make a ton of sense. With a couple of seconds, they should be focusing on bringing in high upside players and Kiviharju is just that. Is there concern that he has plateaued? Absolutely. However, there’s also a chance that injuries this year really prevented him from being at his best.

#47. Detroit Red Wings - Leon Muggli – D - Zug (Sui-NL)

The Red Wings opt for Leon Muggli, a Swiss defender who really emerged as a top-notch NHL prospect this year. He showed well playing against men in the NL. He’s intelligent and mobile and should have a solid floor as an NHL rearguard in some capacity.

#48. St. Louis Blues - Matvei Shuravin – C - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

Long and lean Russian defender with intriguing two-way upside. He was a player who was hard to get a read on this year with his limited minutes in the KHL, however he has an intriguing combination of size and mobility. It’s possible that he reminds the Blues of drafting Colton Parayko back in the day.

#49. Utah Hockey Club (via Washington Capitals) - Yegor Surin – C - Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)

Utah and their scouts have not been shy about selecting Russian players in recent drafts. Surin is better than the 49th player selected. He is a competitive, but skilled pivot who could end up developing into a versatile player for Utah down the line. Maybe the perfect linemate for fellow Russian Daniil But?

#50. Chicago Blackhawks (via New York Islanders) - John Mustard – C - Waterloo (USHL)

One of the best names in the draft, but also one of the best skaters. Mustard had a breakout campaign in the USHL this year. He’s an explosive player and a talented goal scorer. However, he is also an intense competitor, something that should make Mustard an NHL player in some capacity if the offensive game doesn’t translate.

#51. Philadelphia Flyers (Compensation Pick for Jay O’Brien) - Ryder Ritchie – RW - Prince Albert (WHL)

Ranked as a first rounder by us, there is thought that we are higher on him than NHL scouts after a bit of a disappointing second half mired by injuries. Ritchie is a competitive winger who plays bigger than his size (excuse the cliche). He has solid upside as a complementary piece on a scoring line. This is a nice swing for Philadelphia with their compensation pick.

#52. Washington Capitals (via Vegas Golden Knights) - Marek Vanacker – LW - Brantford (OHL)

The Capitals opt for speedy Hamilton winger Marek Vanacker, the last of our first round graded players. He was extremely consistent all year long and has intriguing offensive upside because of the pace he can play at. Washington would be very familiar with him thanks to their scouting of Patrick Thomas.

#53. Nashville Predators (via Tampa Bay Lightning) - Heikki Ruohonen – C - Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-U20)

The Preds have long loved Finnish players, with a strong presence in that market. Ruohonen was one of the biggest risers in the second half of the year; he was excellent at the U18’s for the Finns. He is a competitive, two-way, power center eventually heading to Harvard.

#54. New York Islanders (via Los Angeles Kings) - Adam Kleber – D - Lincoln (USHL)

Kleber is a massive defender whose game really improved over the second half of the year. His mobility, in particular, really took a positive step forward. The USHL rearguard projects as a physical stay at home type, but he does flash some intriguing offensive tools too.

#55. Nashville Predators - Mikhail Yegorov – G - Omaha (USHL)

There has been a ton of talk about Nashville moving on from Juuse Saros, handing over the keys to Askarov. However, there isn’t much of a back-up plan behind Askarov if he doesn't pan out. Taking a goalie makes sense for the Preds in round two and Yegorov is an excellent athlete who their goaltending development coaches can really work with.

#56. St. Louis Blues (via Toronto Maple Leafs) - Luke Misa – C - Mississauga (OHL)

Misa is a speedy, two-way forward who projects as a solid middle six option for St. Louis down the line. He had a solid year for Mississauga in the OHL and is the type of player who could move quickly through the system as a later birthday.

#57. Montreal Canadiens (via Colorado Avalanche) - Tory Pitner - Youngstown (USHL)

Montreal has done well by selecting heady defenders in recent years and Pitner is definitely that. He’s one of the draft's most intelligent blueliners, especially in the defensive end. He competes hard and projects as a solid two-way, second pairing type.

#58. Anaheim Ducks (via Boston Bruins) - Tarin Smith – D - Everett (WHL)

A team with an already loaded defensive talent pool can afford to take chances on high upside defenders like Smith. He’s very raw, but his physical tools are excellent. He skates well. He can create offense. How it all comes together remains to be seen, but Anaheim can afford to be patient.

#59. Nashville Predators (via Winnipeg Jets) - Adam Jecho – C - Edmonton (WHL)

An enigma to the highest degree, Jecho is one of the draft’s ultimate boom or bust prospects. At times, he dominates in the offensive end with his size and skill. Other times, he looks lumbering, lazy, and disengaged. Which Jecho will emerge as the real one? Nashville has always loved wingers like this with high end physical tools.

#60. Carolina Hurricanes - Nikita Artamonov – LW - Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

This just seems like an amazing fit. The Canes have loved players like Artamanov. High end processor. Not the quickest or most physical, but efficient. They’ve also been one of the most aggressive NHL franchises in drafting Russian talent recently.

#61. New York Islanders (via Vancouver Canucks) - AJ Spellacy – RW - Windsor (OHL)

Spellacy was outstanding in the second half of the OHL season after he fully recovered from a knee injury. He has great length and speed and projects as a high end third line player who can be an elite penalty killer and defensive forward. The last Windsor forward NYI took worked out well.

#62. Calgary Flames (via Dallas Stars) - Raoul Boilard – C - Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

What’s the finished product going to look like with Boilard? This is completely unknown due to some consistency issues. However, the Flames need to improve their center depth in the organization and Boilard is a rangy pivot who could end up being a solid middle six piece.

#63. Seattle Kraken (via New York Rangers) - Jesse Pulkkinen – D - JYP (Fin-Liiga)

The first re-entry to go in this mock draft, Seattle has not shied away from selecting players outside of their first year of eligibility. Pulkkinen is a big offensive defender who plays an aggressive style. He needs major refinement, but the tools are there.

#64. Edmonton Oilers - Pavel Moysevich – G - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Have to think the Oilers go with a goalie here if there is one on the board that they really like. Moysevich is a re-entry who was fantastic in the KHL this past season. He is one of the draft’s best athletes and he could move quickly through the system.

#65. Utah Hockey Club (via Florida Panthers) - Jack Pridham – RW - West Kelowna (BCHL)

There is a connection between Utah (previously Arizona) and the St. Andrew’s College program of late. Pridham is a graduate of that program who had a solid year in the BCHL. He is a big winger with great skating ability. The upside is a bit of a mystery, but the tools are legitimate.

2024 NHL DRAFT: Top “Tier 2” Players Available with Video – Part Two – Forwards

Brock Otten — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 14:00:59 +0000

_{William Zellers of Shattuck-St. Mary's School (Shattuck-St. Mary's School)}

McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, provides a close examination of all the top "Tier 2" players available for the draft this year (USHS, BCHL, CJHL, etc). The second in the series highlights the forwards.

Logan Sawyer - Center/Wing - Brooks Bandits (BCHL/AJHL)

6’1, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.375

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/logan_sawyer_-_3rd_period_5_47_-_6_0.mp4

Notes: I wrote about Sawyer earlier this year when he won gold with Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. At that event, Sawyer started slow but finished strong; he was instrumental in Canada West’s strong medal round play. Born in Ontario, Sawyer is a former minor hockey teammate of London Knight forward and fellow 2024 draft-eligible player Sam O’Reilly. He has flip-flopped between center and the wing this year, but I believe his skill set is best suited for the wing long term. Sawyer’s best attributes would be his shot and overall scoring ability. A multi-faceted scorer, Sawyer is deadly with the one-timer, especially on the powerplay, but he also possesses a quick and powerful snapshot that beats goaltenders clean from a distance. Sawyer also has good hands, consistently showing an ability to catch pucks cleanly or beat defenders one-on-one. Once he builds a head of steam, he can be tough to stop one-on-one as his edgework is a strength, showcasing an ability to alter direction without losing speed, in addition to maintaining puck control through said quick cuts. Generally a high-volume shooter, Sawyer has flashed an ability to utilize the threat of his shot to help set up scoring chances for his linemates. Layering in that deception will be key to further development as a playmaker. Sawyer will also need to improve his explosiveness and work to length his stride to help him generate/maintain power. Physically, there is a clear need to build strength. He can be kept to the perimeter and easily separated from the puck. Rather than chip and chase, or look to work the cycle, Sawyer can be prone to trying to force plays with one-on-one move attempts that lead to turnovers. Defensively, he also needs work as he can be caught puck watching and said lack of strength limits his overall effectiveness. A Providence commit, Sawyer does have the potential to be a middle six-goal scorer. However, he’s very much a long-term project.

Jack Pridham - Wing - West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)

6’2, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 57.5, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.875

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jack_pridham_-_2nd_period_26_53_-_27_5.mp4

Notes: Another Ontario-born and raised player who travelled out West, Pridham is a product of the St. Andrew’s College system. A late-born 2005, Pridham outscored Arizona draft pick Jonathan Castagna last year. While consistency has been a bit of an issue with West Kelowna, Pridham has flashed pro potential and has generally intrigued scouts this year. It all starts with his skating ability. Pridham is explosive and quick, always looking to attack North/South and drive the net. He routinely beats defenders to the outside and is able to cut back into generating scoring chances in tight. As he gets in tight, he will lose control, but as he gains strength, look for him to be more consistently successful in these net drives, maintaining possession through contact. More of a playmaker than a shooter, Pridham uses his speed to draw defenders to him and shows good vision by finding open teammates in the slot, occasionally teammate and fellow 2024 eligible forward Callum Hughes (who will attend Boston University with him). The two have terrific chemistry. I also really like Pridham’s work rate. He’s not an overtly physical player, but he works hard on the forecheck to help force turnovers and consistently comes away from the puck along the wall and has an attacking mindset. Defensively, his positioning is sound and he closes quickly to apply pressure on the point. Overall, this is a highly athletic winger with size whose overall skill set is still developing. What’s the end game; what’s the upside? I think that’s still a bit of a mystery. How Pridham is able to weaponize his speed at the next level remains to be seen. However, Boston University is a great program for him to attend and despite lower production, I’d prefer him to the more hyped Logan Sawyer as a draft prospect.

Callum Hughes - Wing/Center - West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)

6’1, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 50.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/callum_hughes_-_1st_period_23_53_-_24_5.mp4

Notes: A teammate and frequent linemate of fellow 2024 eligible forward Jack Pridham, Hughes is cut from a similar cloth. He’s a high-energy player whose offensive production comes from his ability to outwork defenders in the slot, beat defenders wide with speed, and force turnovers/create scoring chances off of turnovers from the forecheck. Hughes started the year as a depth player for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, but he wasn’t incredibly noticeable. In the BCHL, he’s played fairly well and this has him ranked as a potential draft selection. Hughes’ future as a pro will likely be tied to his ability to develop as a penalty killer, two-way presence, and general agitator. He has good top-end speed, but his explosiveness and overall agility will need work for the type of role he’ll likely play at the NCAA level with Boston University. In a lot of ways, Hughes is a “poor man’s” Pridham. They play similar kinds of North/South games, but Hughes is just a little less dynamic. As such, he understands how to be that complementary piece who can get to the net and who can work to secure retrievals. As an ‘06, I’d probably want to see Hughes play at a higher level (either the USHL or the NCAA) before using a draft pick on him. This might give a better indication of his offensive upside and likelihood of being a successful role player.

JJ Monteiro - Wing - Salmon Arms Silverbacks (BCHL)

6’0, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jj_monteiro_-_1st_period_11_36_-_11_49.mp4

Notes: A natural center who has played the wing this year for Salmon Arms, Monteiro had a great start to the year playing a checking line role for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky. He was largely one of the team’s most consistently effective players and there were high hopes for him heading into this BCHL season. The production doesn’t jump off the page at you, but it’s important to note that Salmon Arms is a relatively low-scoring team. Monteiro is a classic or traditional “grinder,” and I mean that as a form of endearment. He’s a consistently effective presence away from the puck who competes for touches and has great instincts in all three zones. He gets his stick in passing lanes, applies pressure physically, and drives the net to create space. One would probably be surprised that he doesn’t see PK time for Salmon Arms, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t project as a solid two-way, PK guy down the line. The key for Monteiro will be improving his skating profile. He shows good speed in bursts but can struggle to move East/West while maintaining speed. Additionally, he seems to have trouble maintaining his stride, losing speed the longer he carries. To be a defensively oriented center (should he move back to his natural position) at the next level, adding and sustaining speed will be key. The offensive upside is also not likely high. Monteiro is at his best when he keeps things simple North/South, even if he does flash some nice one-on-one moves cutting into the slot. I believe that scouts will be impressed with how he’s been able to elevate his game in big situations this year, like the Hlinka/Gretzky or the BCHL Top Prospect’s game. The Providence College commit is definitely a potential mid-late round pick who could be a solid depth piece for an NHL franchise down the line.

Max Heise - Wing/Center - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

6’2, 161lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 45, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/max_heise_-_3rd_period_2_6_-_2_25.mp4

Notes: Not the type of guy you’d bother scouting just by looking at the stat line. Very seldom do draft-eligible forwards averaging under 0.50 points per game get a sniff from NHL scouts. But it’s easy to see why NHL Central Scouting has him ranked. He’s a versatile player for the Vees; a Swiss army knife who can excel in any situation and who has played both center and wing this year. Heise excels playing a powerful North/South game. He’s not the most efficient and cleanest skater, but he generates power with longer strides that allow him to build to a solid top speed. He uses that speed to drive wide, consistently beating opposing defenders to the net or to the slot. He also is effective on the forecheck and the backcheck; overall, he is a very active player in puck pursuit. He seems to have great attention to detail on the ice, winning battles along the wall to keep plays alive or getting his stick in passing lanes to be a disruptive force. There’s upside for him to develop into a premier defensive forward as he adds strength and fills out his frame. He could easily be one of those four-year guys at Michigan State who, maybe doesn’t get drafted now, but ends up getting signed down the line because his game and skill set are tailored to a depth role at the pro level. Unfortunately, Heise’s not the most creative or skilled, nor is he a terrific finisher. A lot of his net drives result in great scoring chances that he’s unable to finish on. A lot of his shots get blocked or fired wide as he tries to cut into the slot to rip a wrist shot in transition. But, as mentioned, the physical tools are definitely alluring and it’s important to note that his production is also down because of the depth of Penticton.

Ryan Zaremba - Wing - Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL/AJHL)

5’9, 163lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ryan_zaremba_-_1st_period_3_11_-_3_33.mp4

Notes: Zaremba is an undersized, but dynamic playmaking winger who really caught my eye with his strong play for gold medallists Canada West at the WJAC. Bottom line, he’s a fun player to watch. I have little doubt that, at some point, after he bulks up, he will be a top point producer for UMD at the NCAA level. His skating is a strength, maybe not so much in terms of explosiveness or top speed alone, but because of his agility and edgework as it works in combination with his speed. He picks up speed while changing direction and can stop/start on a dime, making him a very tough player to stop in transition. The hands are also solid as he can make plays at top speed, maintaining possession through his sharp cuts, and playing through defender's legs and sticks. He routinely dipsy doodles around the offensive zone, keeping possession for prolonged periods as he looks for passing options. However, there are a few problems limiting his production and impact. For one, he’s just not strong enough currently to find success in the middle consistently. He gets kept to the perimeter a lot and he’s a clear pass-first player whose shot does not give him dual-threat capabilities. He brings energy and he has a great motor; the effort is there. It’s more that he sticks to the perimeter often out of necessity. Additionally, since returning from the WJAC, he’s been incredibly snake-bitten. I know the mess of the AJHL teams merging with the BCHL didn’t help things or his development, but he has only three points in his last eleven games. Undersized tier 2 wingers who don’t hit the scoresheet don’t get drafted; it’s a harsh reality. The bottom line is that I totally do not anticipate Zaremba being selected, but I also wanted to note that I really like the long-term upside of the player once he fills out as part of an NCAA program.

Nathan Free - Wing - Brooks Bandits (BCHL/AJHL)

5’9, 152lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 57.5, Smarts: 45, Physicality/Compete: 40

OFP: 51.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/nathan_free_-_2nd_period_15_46_-_15_58.mp4

Notes: From one underside winger to another, the only difference is that, unlike Zaremba, Free has been trending up since the World Junior A Challenge. In fact, since Brooks joined the BCHL, Free has been averaging over two points per game. The Penn State commit is truly a dynamic offensive player. He plays a high-risk, high-reward kind of game from the wing. Offensive zone turnovers are plentiful due to his confidence with the puck and willingness to take on opposing defenders one-on-one. However, he routinely makes them miss and creates defensive breakdowns because of how he can keep the puck on a string. Free is a pretty good overall offensive player too. He shoots the puck well and has a very quick release. He also is a strong linear skater who builds to a solid top speed which he uses to his advantage in transition. He’s not as dynamic East/West as Zaremba (a natural comparison), but skating is not a weakness and is bound to only improve as he builds strength. The concerns I have with Free are related to how he sees the ice. As mentioned, offensive zone turnovers are commonplace as he tries to play through defenders in traffic. You’d love it if he had better vision to take greater advantage of his creativity. Additionally, he’s far from a strong two-way presence or physical player. Of course, both of these attributes could improve and if they do, Free is a player with significant offensive upside. You look at the freshman year that former Brooks forward Aiden Fink is having and have to wonder if Free is capable of the same. However, I liked Fink’s playmaking ability and off-puck play better last year. Even with some warts, Free is definitely a draft candidate, perhaps more than Zaremba who I’ve graded higher.

Matthew Van Blaricom - Wing - Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)

5’11, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 60

OFP: 53

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/matthew_van_blaricom_-_2nd_period_4_12_-_4_24.mp4

Notes: One of my favourite mid-round targets available this year. I fell in love with his game at the World Junior A Challenge and I’ve found myself checking in on him to watch Humboldt action since. Van Blaricom is a Tazmanian devil. His compete level is among the best in this draft class. He’s a consistent physical presence…and his hits hurt. This is not an easy player to match up against. But, Van Claricom is solid away from the puck in general. He always keeps his feet moving and is very effective and active in puck pursuit. He forces turnovers with great stick placement. He times cuts well to become a passing option. He crashes the crease and is great in the cycle. He’s the perfect complementary player at higher levels for high-skill guys; think Michael Bunting. Another reason for that is his shot. He has goal-scoring potential thanks to a heavy wrist shot and strong scoring instincts. From a skill perspective, Van Blaricom does show individual skill and creativity at the SJHL level. He loves using the inside/out move and catches defenders flat-footed pretty consistently. As he moves up the ladder, he’s probably not going to be someone counted upon to carry or make those skilled plays. Really the one thing missing from his game is a dynamic stride. He can build speed, but he’s not very explosive. He’s also not the most graceful on his edges and can slip into a wider stride that limits his mobility. Headed to Michigan Tech, either next year or after a year in the USHL, Van Blaricom has a chance to develop into a really solid pro player…and a potential fan favourite. He’s a guy that I really love and would start advocating for after round three.

Jonathan Morello - Center - St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL)

6’3, 192lbs

Grades: Skating: 60, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.625

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jonathan_morello_-_2nd_period_0_17_-_0_32.mp4

Notes: As mentioned when assessing teammate David Green, I’ve had the opportunity to see Morello live a few times this year and he’s a really impressive player at the OJHL level because of the advantage his speed/size advantage gives him. One time in Burlington he had a breakaway ten seconds into the game. For my money, he’s one of the best skaters in this draft class and that’s impressive for a 6’3 forward. He gets to full speed in only a few strides and he doesn’t lose speed through directional changes. Many OJHL defenders just can’t keep up with Morello stride for stride, especially when he builds a head of steam through the neutral zone. The rest of Morello’s game is best described as raw. His shot, puck skill, two-way effectiveness, and physicality all show the potential to be better in the long run, but right now probably best grade out around average. He does a lot of damage near the crease, which is great and shows a solid compete level to fight for positioning and willingness to play through traffic. His defensive game is inconsistent from shift to shift, which could be conditioning-related. At times, he does use his speed to be effective on the backcheck, but his placement/positioning and physical engagement can waver in this regard. I wish that he was just a little more physical given his quickness and length. That added element would really elevate him in my eyes. Without question, Morello is a long-term project. He’s headed to Clarkson but not until 2025/26, as he’s going to play a year in the USHL first. How his game develops will depend on Morello’s mindset and the development team surrounding him. The physical tools are just really alluring and give Morello a chance to develop into a quality PK, bottom six option. I’m not necessarily convinced he sticks at center long term, but again, Morello is intriguing due to the wide variety of outcomes for his development.

Dean Letourneau - Center - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

6’7, 210lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 55, Skills: 57.5, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 53.875

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dean_letourneau_-_3rd_period_14_37_-_14_49.mp4

Notes: The crown jewel of the Tier 2 market (no offense meant to the Shattuck boys) this year, Letourneau is a player with massive (pun intended) potential due to his size and skill combination. The million-dollar question is, how much of his success is due in part to him dominating physically against inferior AAA/Prep competition? I do believe the answer to that is…some of it. Letourneau can play through defenders at this level in a way that he wouldn’t be doing at the OHL level…even with his massive size advantage. However, much of his success can also be attributed to his high skill level. It’s rare to see 6’7 centers with the soft hands that Letourneau possesses. He’s so difficult to separate from the puck because of his size and reach, but also because of his ability to control the puck through traffic. I also believe that his skating ability has come a long way already compared to last year. There’s certainly still room for him to improve his explosiveness, in addition to his balance/edgework, but he can now build to a pretty solid top speed and has worked to make his stride more economical. At 6’7, he doesn’t need to be the world’s best skater because those long strides can simply cover more ground at a greater rate. The shot and compete level could probably both be graded down to a 50 right now, but this is taking into account the potential that both have to be above average (or even well above average) qualities. His shot is heavy, but the release will need to improve. Just basic physics for a bigger player. But as he works to improve his one-timer (getting pucks off his stick cleaner, elevating shots), it could be a huge weapon for him…even if he’s likely to be utilized more as a net-front presence as a collegiate player and pro. The compete level is just inconsistent. But as he fills out and improves his conditioning, look for the physical component to be a huge part of his game. How you view his true upside is likely tied to your opinion of his vision and play reading. And quite frankly, this is the area that is the toughest to read right now given the competition he is facing. All eyes will be on him at the end of the year as he likely finishes out the season in the USHL and then at the U18s for Canada. That should give us a better indication as the physical advantage becomes more neutral.

Jack Good - Wing - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

5’9, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jack_good_-_1st_period_13_52_-_14_4.mp4

Notes: Dean Letourneau’s running mate with St. Andrew’s, Good has never let his size hurt him as he’s moved up the hockey ladder. The main reason for that is the fact that Good is a high-level processor of the game. It’s why he has been the perfect complement to Letourneau. He finds soft spots in coverage, times cuts well, and has outstanding vision and poise with the puck. He’s obviously not the biggest or strongest, but he consistently finds his way to the net; most of his goals are scored within a few feet of the crease. Good also has a good motor. It’s cliche, but he’s one of those guys who plays larger than his size. He is an effective forechecker and he’s very effective in the neutral zone with an active stick to disrupt opposing entries. On the counterattack, Good is more calculated in his approach. You’re more likely to see him slow the game down, rather than speed it up. That’s going to bring to light whether his lack of pace will affect his offensive production at the higher levels. For a smaller player, you’d certainly like him to be a more dynamic skater. He’s not a poor skater by any means, but his quickness, speed, and agility would all grade out to average. Additionally, as mentioned, Good is someone who excels playing through traffic at the prep level, but given that’s where he is most effective, will he continue to be effective in those situations against bigger and stronger defenders? The harsh reality is that NHL teams tend to (and rightfully so because of limited success rates) ignore smaller wingers with question marks over pace and projection. A Merrimack commit, Good is probably going to need to work his way into the good graces of scouts by producing at the NCAA level before he gets a sniff.

Connor Arsenault - Center - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

6’2, 210lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 45, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 60

OFP: 51.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/connor_arseneault_-_2nd_period_5_55_-_6_12.mp4

Notes: The captain of St. Andrew’s College, Arsenault came into the season with a decent amount of hype, but a slow start to the year offensively really quelled that. However, he’s picked up his play in a big way in the last few months and is playing his best hockey at the current moment. He’s the team’s second-line center behind Letourneau and is a classic power center who excels at both ends of the ice. The first thing you notice is his physicality. Arsenault is a big hitter; he’s an absolute terror on the forecheck who gives opposing defenders nightmares. However, this physical approach carries over into all three zones. He’s just tough to play against and has a ton of potential as a shutdown center. This is especially true because he’s already a beast at the dot too; Arsenault rarely loses a key draw. From an offensive perspective, the only component of his game that has potential is his shot. Continued improvement in his release and accuracy, in addition to some added confidence could help him to become a quality goal scorer. As is, he’s best when he keeps things simple…and he does that most of the time. You’re most likely to find him net-front in the offensive zone when he’s not working the cycle or applying pressure in pursuit. He understands that his size and strength advantage are best utilized there as Arsenault already has a clear identity on the ice. If Arsenault was a better skater, I think we’d be talking about him as a potential top-100 pick because of how NHL teams could project him as an elite third-line center. But that will be the focal point of his development at Cornell. I think the mechanics are generally fine, so the 50 grade implies that I think he can get to league average with a greater focus on conditioning and power skating. Cornell is actually an outstanding choice for Arsenault based on his skill set and the type of system the Big Red uses. Former teammate Jonathan Castagna has had an outstanding freshman season for Cornell and his skill set was similar. I don’t see Arsenault being left off of NHL Central Scouting’s final list.

Ben Merrill - Center - St. Sebastian’s School (USHS-Prep)

6’4, 195lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 50, Skills: 55, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 50.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ben_merrill_-_1st_period_0_29_-_0_46.mp4

Notes: Getting good looks on video of some prep school players is very difficult, even in today’s day and age, and Merrill was one of those players. So maybe, my grading is based off of some weaker performances by him, rather than stronger ones with video not available. Regardless, I expected more from a player nearly ranked inside of NHL Central Scouting’s top 100 for NA. Look, I see the allure. Big center with obvious skill and playmaking ability who is far from a finished product. That said, we’re also looking at a late-born 2005 who is far from dominating at the Prep school level. I don’t like to put a lot of stock in limited USHL performances from prep school or high school kids; they’re put in a very difficult spot. But in two games with the Chicago Steel, it was plainly obvious that Merrill’s skating is not up to par for that level currently. He really struggled to get through the neutral zone and his lack of balance and power on his edges limited his elusiveness from USHL defenders. At the prep level, his ability to power through in a straight line is good enough, especially given his size/reach advantage. But at the higher levels, he’ll need to add power to his stride and improve his overall mobility. With that would come an improved ability to be a difference-maker away from the puck. The effort does appear to be there and he uses his reach to be an effective forechecker, but he’s often just that little bit slow to apply true pressure. As mentioned, the playmaking ability, passing skill, and vision do stand out as solid. Merrill is unquestionably a very long-term project. He’s going to play in Penticton next year (BCHL) and then is attending Harvard after that. If he hits his best-case scenario and really fills out physically and athletically, we’re looking at an NHL player five to six years down the line. If I’m an NHL team, I’d want to see him with Penticton next year first.

Gio DiGiulian - Wing/Center - Kent School (USHS-Prep)

6’1, 161lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/giovanni_digiulian_-_2nd_period_34_44_-_34_57.mp4

Notes: Good-sized winger with a strong skating base and a goal scorer’s touch. DiGiulian is a Cornell commit and he’s played both wing and center this year, splitting time between Kent School and the Yale Jr. Bulldogs. Moving forward he’s likely a winger and he does seem most comfortable playing on the right side. DiGiulian is at his best on the counterattack where he can use his speed to drive wide and beat defenders one on one. He has a heavy wrist and snapshot and profiles best as a North/South scoring winger. At the current moment, he does appear to be more offensively focused; his play away from the puck would not be considered a strength. That said, he does a good job of getting to the net at the prep level. Playing at Cornell in their program will be good for the development of his off-puck play and physicality. From a skill perspective, as mentioned, Digiulian appears best when he keeps things simple in that North/South attacking style. As he adds strength, he should be able to take greater advantage of his speed by driving the middle and playing through contact. He can be kept to the perimeter or separated from the puck, and when operating at full speed, he can lose possession. It’s that classic case of the hands needing to catch up to the feet. I could easily see NHL teams liking Digiulian’s potential as he fills out his frame and learns how to best leverage his speed to create scoring chances.

Jack Sadowski - Center/Wing - Kimball Union Academy (USHS-Prep)

6’0, 180lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 40

OFP: 50.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jack_sadowski_-_1st_period_4_15_-_4_27.mp4

Notes: One of the leading scorers in U.S. prep hockey this year, Sadowski is a University of New Hampshire commit. His game revolves around his excellent hockey sense and playmaking ability. Sadowski certainly doesn’t wow you with his physical tools. He’s an average skater. He’s not an intimidating physical presence. His play in the defensive zone leaves a lot to be desired. However, he impresses as an offensive catalyst who can slow the game down, operating at a higher level intellectually than his peers. His edgework and agility are his best traits as a skater and help him maintain possession by eluding physical pressure from defenders as he cuts and pivots to escape the opposition. It’s not uncommon to see him circle back to the point to collect pucks, operating as a point guard in the NBA would do. His shot is also a solid weapon for him and shows plus upside as he improves his strength and ability to work inside. As an NHL draft prospect, I’m not sure I see it. Ranked late by NHL Central Scouting on their midseason list, Sadowski currently lacks that “it” factor that would see him continue to dominate offensively as he moves up the ladder. There’s a need to improve his explosiveness and linear quickness to improve his pace. His game also lacks multi-dimensional layers to it. As mentioned, there’s a need for him to improve his off-puck play; it’s not uncommon to see him cheating the defensive zone or coasting back to the defensive end. Sadowski has already committed to playing in the BCHL next year with West Kelowna before heading to UNH. I’d probably want to see how his game looks at that level, or even further up the ladder (NCAA) before utilizing a draft selection on him.

Javon Moore - Wing - Minnetonka High (USHS-MN)

6’3, 180lbs

Grades: Skating: 57.5, Shot: 50, Skills: 55, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 53.625

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/javon_moore_-_3rd_period_14_14_-_14_26.mp4

Notes: Let’s be frank, the real test for Moore will be at the end of his high school season when he inevitably joins Sioux Falls (USHL) again, just as he did last year. Moore is such an impressive athlete. As a late born in 2005, and with his size/power, he can do pretty much as he wishes at the high school level. This is especially true considering the talent surrounding him on a dominant Minnetonka High team. Give Moore an inch and he takes a mile. He has such an impressive attacking mindset. He identifies quickly when defenders don’t have him gapped up and in those scenarios, he explodes into openings to create chances, often looking to get the puck to the middle or the net. His first step quickness is very impressive. Not only is he dangerous in transition, but he also explodes out of the cycle to make plays coming off the wall. Moore gallops to top speed in an instant, but his hands already work in sync with his legs, impressive for a young athlete. For that reason, high school defenders have a tough time boxing him in. In watching Moore, I was expecting his play in the defensive end to be pretty poor, but he’s actually more engaged than many high school top scorers. He uses his speed well to close in on blueliners at the point and he has a very active stick that helps him be disruptive as opposing players try to get into the middle. There’s certainly more room for him to grow as a physical player; in fact, it will likely be a necessity for him as he climbs the ladder. But, I’d expect him to blossom in this regard as he becomes accustomed to being a support player. I’d also heard and read some negative things about his vision and passing touch, but I think that’s better than expected for a player of his ilk too. He can seemingly drive the net at will, but he picks his spots well and has terrific chemistry with Hagen Burrows as the two consistently find each other in the offensive zone. Moore will need to learn to slow the game down a bit as he moves forward. When plays do die on his stick it’s because he loses control from trying to push forward before he’s secured possession or before his teammates have caught up to him. I also think that there is room for improvement in his shot. He doesn’t always catch pucks cleanly and has a tendency to fire off the toe or heel of the blade when pressured. He’s currently at his best in tight where his hands can take over. A Minnesota commit (I know, shocker), I’m very intrigued to see how Moore looks in the USHL to close the year. A strong performance could solidify his place in the first few rounds.

Hagen Burrows - Wing - Minnetonka High (USHS-MN)

6’2, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Hagen-Burrows.mp4

Notes: Unlike his linemate at Minnetonka High Javon Moore, Hagen Burrows started the year in the USHL and was operating at over a point per game for Sioux City. Upon returning to Minnetonka High, Burrows has, as expected, been one of the best players in high school hockey and is a Mr. Hockey candidate. Burrows may have good size, but he’s not really a power forward. He has good puck protection tendencies and habits and can play the net front or work the wall, but he’s not an overtly physical player. He relies on quick touches and pre-scans to move the puck hastily and he has really good hands, which allows him to play around defenders and not through them like teammate Moore. Burrows is far from the world’s most dynamic skater, his stride lacks power and his feet are a little heavy, but because he is so calculated and has great vision, he’s still able to be an impact player at the USHL and high school levels. Burrows is particularly strong coming off the wall or when working down low where he has a full field of vision. He draws in pressure and passes off; his playmaking ability is impressive for a bigger winger. Burrows’ scoring ability is worth mentioning too. He can one-time pucks cleanly, has a quick snapshot, and does work his way to the net front to utilize his size advantage. At the USHL level, his game was certainly more one-dimensional than it has been at the high school level. He’s more engaged physically with Minnetonka High and is stronger off the puck. It will be interesting to see if when he returns to the USHL at the end of the year, we see a more complete player than at the start with Sioux City. It could simply be that Burrows lacks the strength currently to be a true two-way threat at the USHL level where players are more advanced physically. A Denver commit, Burrows will be heading to the Pioneers program at the right time, as under David Carle, it seems like everything they touch turns to gold these days; their development program has become top-notch. As is, I like Burrows as a mid-round gamble to develop into a quality middle-six winger who can play a support role because of his strong playmaking ability.

William Zellers - Wing - Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep)

5’11, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 53

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/william_zellers_-_1st_period_18_57_-_19_12.mp4

Notes: Zellers is going to be a tough player for NHL teams to evaluate this year. I’m going to guess that opinions on him will be quite split among staff members as they have their final meetings in June. On one hand, Zellers’ production this year has consistently been fantastic. He was one of the best players for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and he’s carried that forward into being one of the highest-scoring players in the prep loop this year. You can’t argue that he possesses high-end skills. You can’t argue that he possesses high-end problem-solving skills and vision. For the kind of game that he plays, he’s also a fairly competitive young man who finds his way to the net consistently and who has no issue playing through the middle or having to take contact to make a play. Zellers is one of those “slippery” offensive zone wingers. He manages to escape coverage so consistently by anticipating the play ahead of others on the ice, and he has the skill to work around pressure, creating extra time by combining quick feet with quick hands. Now, notice how I said quick feet, I didn’t say overall strong skating. Therein lies one of the issues with Zellers and his NHL projection. He’s not a dynamic skater. He lacks power and his top speed is nothing to shake a fist at. He relies on his hands and ability to find space to carry the puck and create scoring chances. However, he does have excellent agility and is considerably more explosive on his edges than he is linear. Because of that, he’s able to consistently cut into the slot and leverage poor defensive coverage. With a quick release, he doesn’t need a ton of room either. In a lot of ways, there are similarities between Zellers and former OHL’er Cole Perfetti in terms of how they operate and their lack of dynamic skating despite possessing average size. The other issue is that one has to question how truly skilled Zellers is. Are average-sized wingers with skill and sense, but not elite skill, a dime a dozen in the grand scheme of things? As part of our midseason rankings, we ranked Zellers 95th and I believe the early to mid-fourth round makes sense for him. If he can improve his athleticism and physical tools over three or four years at North Dakota, his offensive skill set could make him a quality complementary piece in the middle of a lineup. Let us not forget that a guy like Jake Guentzel was drafted with similar concerns.

Aidan Park - Center - Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep)

6’0, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.875

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/aidan_park_-_2nd_period_3_37_-_3_52.mp4

Notes: Once considered one of the top American-born players eligible for this draft, Park’s development has plateaued a bit in recent years. While his offensive upside may not be viewed in the same light it once was, he is still an intriguing prospect with pro potential thanks to his versatility. Park is a competitive two-way center who has a clear on-ice identity built around his intensity level and ability to get to the net. He’s not a physical player in the classical sense; don’t expect him to be out there throwing open ice hits or dropping the mitts. But, he’s always engaged in all three zones, is consistently tenacious in puck pursuit, battles hard to win puck battles along the wall, and jousts for positioning near the crease. Park is also a very intelligent pivot who has a clear understanding of spacing and the importance of varying pace to layer deception into transitional attacks. He draws in pressure and attacks the middle to open up space and is almost always on the mark with his passes, which really benefits linemates Ryker Lee (2025) and Will Zellers at Shattuck. His shot and scoring instincts are sound. His skating is only slightly above average. His stride is inconsistent and he can struggle to build or sustain speed at times. But, three or four years at the University of Michigan should help to improve his power. Due to the fact that his motor never stops, his skating is generally not seen as a hindrance. The real question mark is Park’s upside. At the prep level, his IQ and motor help him be an impact player, but what happens as he moves up the ladder and those strengths are neutralized? Is Park more than just a potential bottom-six center? Once Shattuck’s season ends, Park likely joins the USHL and it will be interesting to see how his game has improved in the last year, as the perception is that it hasn’t really progressed.

Alex Lunski - Center - Minnetonka High (USHS-MN)

6’4, 200lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/alex_lunski_-_2nd_period_2_54_-_3_6.mp4

Notes: Often the top pivot on a dominant Minnetonka High team (no pun intended), Lunski is a power center who is headed to the University of St. Thomas. Considering his average production (in both high school and the NAHL), and late birthdate, one might wonder what the appeal is; Lunski is unquestionably a long-term project. The appeal is that Lunski is a very strong skater for a player of his size and he also flashes the skill and creativity to be an offensive contributor at the higher levels. Watching a lot of Minnetonka High, Lunski is confused for Moore quite often by announcers because both are so big and powerful on the ice. Yet, Moore is definitely the more refined player and that’s saying something since his game is pretty raw too. Lunski can put defenders on his back coming off the wall and his top speed is very impressive, making him an effective transitional player. Consistency and skill application have been the biggest issues. Even at the high school level (and especially at the USHL and NAHL levels), plays can die on his stick. He gets to the net and provides a physical presence on some shifts. On others, he’s less than noticeable. But with his size, power, and speed, there’s both a high floor and a decent ceiling depending on how his skill set develops at the college level. As mentioned, despite being a late-born 2005, Lunski is very much a long-term project who is going to require a lot of development to be an NHL player. Yet, it’s rare to find this kind of athletic ability in a big, playmaking center and thus the allure.

Carson Pilgrim - Center - Warroad High (USHS-MN)

5’11, 165lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.375

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/carson_pilgrim_-_1st_period_19_11_-_19_23.mp4

Notes: One of the highest-scoring players in Minnesota High School hockey the last two years, Pilgrim is a terrific offensive player. In reality, we in the scouting community should probably be asking ourselves what separates Pilgrim from someone like Will Zellers, who is consistently ranked much higher. Pilgrim has a similar offensive skill set but is the more dynamic skater at the same size. If you watch any of Pilgrim’s games at the USHL level the last few years (this year with Tri-City and last year with the NTDP U17s), it’s obvious that he can keep up at that level from a skating perspective. But I’d say the big difference is that Zellers is a more intense player away from the puck who is better at working through and attacking the middle. So that begs the question, what would you rather have? A more one-dimensional and dynamic offensive player yet to be tested at a higher level, or a more competitive, less dynamic, but equally skilled offensive player who has yet to be tested at a higher level? Pilgrim shoots the puck really well. He is lethal on the powerplay with that extra room to operate. He is very dangerous in transition because he is a dual threat and defenders have to respect both his shooting and passing ability. Once he adds strength and is able to withstand contact better, his offensive upside is pretty significant. But, I struggle to see him as a center long term. Additionally, he’s very much a boom or bust prospect and that proposition is scary for a high school player. How he finishes the year out with Tri-City in the USHL will likely go a long way in dictating where he gets drafted. A strong finish puts him in the top 100 conversation. A poor finish will cast doubt over whether his skill set translates and teams may opt to take a wait-and-see approach.

Nolan Roed - Center - White Bear Lake High (USHS-MN)

5’11, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/nolan_roed_-_1st_period_10_29_-_10_44.mp4

Notes: A St. Cloud commit, Roed has been terrific across a few levels this year. He started the year with Tri-City of the USHL and was a near-point-per-game player before returning to White Bear Lake as one of the top offensive players in Minnesota. Roed is a highly competitive two-way center who is very inside-focused. Does a lot of his damage tight to the crease and in the home plate area. His intensity and high IQ allow him to consistently find those soft spots in coverage and get inside leverage on defenders between the hash marks. He’s very active in puck pursuit and is extremely effective as a forechecker, showing a penchant for throwing his weight around and making his presence felt physically. He’s also hard on pucks in the defensive end and routinely uses his strength to push opposing players to the wall, where he separates them from the puck and starts the counterattack. A strong north/south skater, Roed shows well in quick bursts and is able to drive the net with consistency. There’s room for improvement in his edgework and agility to make him less predictable as he climbs the ladder, especially given his average size. Additionally, given that he does so much of his damage in close quarters, is that projectable moving forward to the pro level in the future given his average size? Will he be as consistently dangerous near the crease and along the wall against bigger and quicker NHL defenders? That’s the obvious reason why NHL Central Scouting has him ranked quite low despite a really solid year. All that said, I quite like Roed. The speed and competitive drive are impressive and when you combine that with an obviously strong processing ability, you have a player who could develop into a quality middle six type at the NHL level. I know I already mentioned him, but I recall reading and thinking similar things about a guy named Jake Guentzel when he had a great year in the USHL as a draft re-entry.

Caden Lee - Wing - Chanhassen High (USHS-MN)

6’0, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 50.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/caden_lee_-_1st_period_2_39_-_2_52.mp4

Notes: A competitive, power winger, Lee is not currently ranked by NHL Central Scouting, but has had a great year split between Chanhassen High and Cedar Rapids of the USHL. The best way to describe Lee is that he’s the kind of player who is out on the ice regardless of whether you’re up a goal or down one. Even as a USHL rookie, Cedar Rapids was using him in key defensive situations to start the year. His physical approach and ability to protect the puck under pressure are impressive. Lee is a very strong board player who projects as an excellent complementary piece at the collegiate level because of his ability to create space and extend the time of possession in the offensive end. Lee also shows excellent anticipation in the offensive end, working the give-and-go and timing his cuts well to get open looks. He can one-time pucks relatively cleanly and his scoring upside at the higher levels is intriguing. However, Lee’s upside is completely tied to his ability to improve his skating. He definitely would be classified as someone who has “heavy boots.” It’s the precise reason why he’s not ranked by NHL Central Scouting. He struggles to build or sustain speed and relies solely on his ability to put defenders on his back and his hands to help him create space in the offensive zone. If he can improve his quickness and speed at Minnesota State, he could end up being an interesting signing option down the line; Minnesota State has developed players like Lee well in the last decade.

Caton Ryan - Center/Wing - Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)

6’1, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/caton_ryan_-_2nd_period_18_55_-_19_7.mp4

Notes: Ryan is a player who was brought to my attention as a potential NHL draft pick by a former OHL assistant coach. The Clarkson commit was initially listed by NHL Central Scouting as a player to watch but failed to crack their midseason rankings. However, that could change on their final list with Ryan dominating the stat sheet to close out the CCHL season (six goals in his last five games as of writing this). Ryan’s game is highlighted by two things; his speed and his shot. He plays at a feverish pace and is always looking to attack the offensive zone with speed. He can be kept to the perimeter too much and does seem to have a need to add strength to play through contact (to limit turnovers), but his transitional play is a real strength. He understands spacing well when supporting the breakout and gets himself a lot of open looks to utilize his shot by settling into those soft spots by driving wide or altering his pace. As mentioned, the shot is also a real strength. A center at even strength, Ryan settles into a spot on the right side of the powerplay where he can use his one-timer and quick release to beat goalies cleanly. This is a multi-faceted goal scorer who I do believe profiles best on the wing at the NCAA and pro levels thanks to his speed and scoring touch. The rest of his game is a real work in progress and patience is going to be needed. He likely spends next year in the USHL or another NCAA feeder league before attending Clarkson, and I believe that step will be necessary for him. He needs to find a way to be more consistently involved when the game slows down at even strength, showing more poise down low to work the cycle. He forechecks hard and will use his speed to chip and chase, but when pressured along the wall, he can force bad passes or be stripped easily. His off-puck play is also inconsistent, likely due to some strength deficits. He kills penalties for Carleton Place because of his speed, but there’s a need to be more consistently hard on pucks in the defensive end. When you’re drafting in the later rounds, guys like Ryan should be potential targets because they possess a few tools that grade as above average, giving them upside as future pros. This is especially true when you consider that Ryan’s already progressed a lot in the last calendar, particularly as a skater.

2024 NHL DRAFT: MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON TOP 100 – Celebrini sits comfortably on top – Demidov and Parekh among risers in ranking – Strong defense group defines this draft class

Brock Otten — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 15:58:41 +0000

It’s time to update and expand our 2024 NHL Draft rankings. Since our preliminary ranking in December, we’ve passed some major events on the scouting calendar, like the World Juniors, CHL Top Prospect’s Game, World Junior A Challenge, and the USA Hockey All American Game.

Macklin Celebrini still sits comfortably at the top of our rankings. Not only has he continued to be a difference maker for Boston University, but he was also a solid contributor at the World Juniors for an underwhelming Canadian team, an impressive feat for a double underager. In our opinion, he is unquestionably the top prospect available this year and is the one player we view as a near surefire high impact player at the NHL level.

One player moving up our ranking inside the top ten is Ivan Demidov. While ice time issues have limited his impact at the KHL level, he has been an absolute monster at the MHL level and in a draft that we feel lacks high end upside, he stands out as a potential difference maker. One player falling inside of our top ten is Cole Eiserman. While the goal scoring ability is unquestionably impressive, we’ve been left wanting more from the rest of his game and feel that his development is showing signs of plateauing.

Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh is another big-time mover and shaker for us as he pushes his way inside the top ten. At this point, his production and offensive upside is too vast to ignore. Yes, there are questions regarding his defensive game. Yes, there are questions about how he fits into an NHL system given Saginaw’s unique modern approach. However, the skill and sense are so high end that we believe the reward outweighs the risk.

Other movers and shakers include Jett Luchanko (40th to 18th), Alfons Freij (32nd to 21st), Harrison Brunicke (HM to 25th), and Dom Badinka (58th to 28th). Luchanko is a speedy, playmaking pivot who brings consistent effort in all three zones. As he bulks up, he should be able to become a more consistent point producer. Freij has been terrific internationally this year for the Swedish U18 team and is starting to remind us of Tom Willander in regard to his steady presence on the ice at both ends. Brunicke is a very mobile, right-handed shot defender with size who remains a work in progress. He flashes high end skill and upside in the defensive end, and we believe that he is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. Dom Badinka has a similar profile to Freij in the sense that he has a very projectable frame and skill set. He has been steadily improving in the SHL this year with Malmo and the Czech blueliner projects as an all situations top four, right shot blueliner.

Overall, 2024 is still holding strong as a quality draft for defenders. In fact, 14 of our first round graded players are defenseman. On the other hand, the strength of this goaltending crop remains to be seen. OHL netminders Carter George and Ryerson Leenders remain our top ranked goalies and the only ones inside of our Top 70. There are others pushing up the list (like NTDP netminder Nick Kempf and WHL re-entry Lukas Matecha), but it’s not looking like the ideal year to use a high pick on a stopper.

In the coming weeks, expect to see a podcast on our new YT channel (here), where Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, Associate Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, and Director of Video Scouting, Josh Bell, debate the midseason list and provide some insight into why certain players are ranked where they are.

RK	Name	POS	TEAM	GP	G/GAA	A/SV%	TP	PIM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	25	22	19	41	10	6-0/190	13-Jun-06
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	52	14	39	53	24	6-3/195	7-Jun-06
3	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	23	20	25	45	16	5-11/170	10-Dec-05
4	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	57	3	8	11	8	6-7/210	11-Apr-06
5	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	32	27	19	46	66	6-4/215	3-Feb-06
6	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	49	38	44	82	37	5-11/170	14-Jan-06
7	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	30	8	20	28	40	6-2/200	28-Oct-05
8	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	40	12	19	31	6	5-11/180	11-May-06
9	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	37	38	22	60	28	6-0/195	29-Aug-06
10	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	49	25	49	74	40	6-0/180	15-Feb-06
11	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	48	24	29	53	95	6-3/190	29-Sep-05
12	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	48	35	28	63	25	6-0/185	1-Aug-06
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	46	28	41	69	25	6-2/200	1-Jan-06
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	34	17	31	48	40	6-1/160	28-Feb-06
15	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	26	7	27	34	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
16	Michael Brandsegg Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	32	6	7	13	14	6-1/195	5-Oct-05
17	Adam Jiříček	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	19	0	1	1	2	6-2/175	28-Jun-06
18	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	50	17	37	54	32	5-11/185	21-Aug-06
19	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	22	0	7	7	26	6-2/170	22-Mar-06
20	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	37	21	23	44	35	6-1/190	14-Apr-06
21	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	33	11	15	26	12	6-1/190	12-Feb-06
22	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	35	7	4	11	0	6-1/200	27-Jun-06
23	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	34	13	18	31	16	6-0/175	3-Aug-06
24	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	41	27	18	45	42	6-2/180	17-Mar-06
25	Harrison Brunicke	D	Kamloops (WHL)	46	10	11	21	45	6-3/185	8-May-06
26	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	47	23	44	67	32	6-0/185	8-Nov-05
27	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	46	8	34	42	46	6-0/185	9-Mar-06
28	Dom Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	15	2	10	12	39	6-3/185	27-Nov-05
29	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	46	19	26	45	53	6-2/180	28-Jan-06
30	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	18	10	14	24	8	6-2/190	30-Nov-05
31	E.J. Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	0	10	10	51	6-3/185	30-Mar-06
32	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	34	7	23	30	30	6-0/180	10-Apr-06
33	Dean Letourneau	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	14	14	11	25	6	6-7/210	21-Feb-06
34	Yegor Surin	C	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	37	19	27	46	104	6-1/190	1-Aug-06
35	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	38	15	17	32	18	6-5/200	24-Mar-06
36	Maxim Massé	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	51	26	26	52	16	6-2/190	7-Apr-06
37	Lucas Pettersson	C	MoDo Hockey (Swe J20)	36	20	23	43	38	5-11/170	17-Apr-06
38	Charlie Elick	D	Brandon (WHL)	51	4	19	23	47	6-3/200	17-Jan-06
39	Raoul Boilard	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	21	31	52	32	6-2/190	7-Jan-06
40	Matvei Gridin	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	41	20	30	50	28	6-1/185	1-Mar-06
41	Nikita Artamonov	LW	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	48	7	15	22	12	5-11/185	17-Nov-05
42	Jesse Pulkkinen	D	JYP (Fin-U20)	18	11	17	28	47	6-6/215	27-Dec-04
43	Leon Muggli	D	Zug (Sui-NL)	4	0	2	2	4	6-0/165	9-Jul-06
44	Teddy Stiga	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	24	25	49	26	5-10/155	5-Apr-06
45	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	7	1	1	2	0	5-10/165	25-Jan-06
46	Miguel Marques	RW	Lethbridge (WHL)	50	22	37	59	47	5-11/170	8-Mar-06
47	John Mustard	C	Waterloo (USHL)	39	22	18	40	22	6-0/185	16-Aug-06
48	Lukas Fischer	D	Sarnia (OHL)	52	4	22	26	50	6-4/180	6-Sep-06
49	Simon Zether	C	Rogle (Swe J20)	17	11	16	27	25	6-3/185	18-Oct-05
50	Luke Misa	C	Mississauga (OHL)	51	21	46	67	8	5-10/175	25-Nov-05
51	Sebastian Soini	D	Ilves (Fin-U20)	8	0	0	0	8	6-2/195	10-Jun-06
52	Carson Wetsch	RW	Calgary (WHL)	49	19	20	39	53	6-2/185	4-May-06
53	Terik Parascak	RW	Prince George (WHL)	52	31	42	73	37	5-11/180	28-May-06
54	Christian Humphreys	C	USN U18 (USDP)	35	15	25	40	14	5-11/170	4-Feb-06
55	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	41	11	26	37	44	5-10/160	28-Jun-06
56	Cole Beaudoin	C	Barrie (OHL)	48	23	25	48	23	6-2/200	24-Apr-06
57	Marek Vanacker	LW	Brantford (OHL)	51	27	34	61	41	6-0/165	12-Apr-06
58	Stian Solberg	D	Vålerenga (Nor)	34	3	9	12	12	6-2/200	29-Dec-06
59	Herman Traff	RW	HV71 (Swe J20)	22	11	7	18	69	6-3/195	31-Dec-05
60	Kamil Bednarik	C	USN U18 (USDP)	41	18	25	43	40	6-0/185	26-May-06
61	Tomáš Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	26	2	4	6	6	5-10/150	11-Feb-06
62	Carter George	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	41	3.09	0.914	-	-	6-0/160	20-May-06
63	Ryerson Leenders	G	Mississauga (OHL)	38	3.19	0.909	-	-	6-1/175	1-Jun-06
64	Tanner Howe	LW	Regina (WHL)	52	24	38	62	48	5-11/180	28-Nov-05
65	Colton Roberts	D	Vancouver (WHL)	50	7	17	24	45	6-4/195	8-Jun-06
66	Ben Danford	D	Oshawa (OHL)	51	1	30	31	21	6-0/175	6-Feb-06
67	Eriks Mateiko	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	40	19	19	38	18	6-4/210	18-Nov-05
68	Daniil Ustinkov	D	ZSC (Sui-NL)	18	0	1	1	0	6-0/200	26-Aug-06
69	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	40	2	7	9	12	6-0/175	15-Feb-06
70	Clarke Caswell	C	Swift Current (WHL)	51	16	37	53	14	5-11/170	2-Feb-06
71	Jakub Fibigr	D	Mississauga (OHL)	44	6	20	26	33	6-0/170	22-Jul-06
72	Ondrej Kos	LW	KOOVEE (Fin-Liiga)	14	3	2	5	8	6-1/150	7-Mar-06
73	Sam O'Reilly	RW	London (OHL)	52	15	30	45	24	6-1/175	30-Mar-06
74	Jack Berglund	C	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	37	14	18	32	18	6-3/210	10-Apr-06
75	Linus Eriksson	C	Djurgardens IF (Swe J20)	24	5	16	21	8	6-0/185	23-Mar-06
76	Tarin Smith	D	Everett (WHL)	54	7	30	37	45	6-1/175	24-Mar-06
77	Nick Kempf	G	USN U18 (USDP)	22	3.02	0.901			6-2/190	1-Mar-06
78	Melvin Fernstrom	RW	Örebro HK (Swe J20)	38	26	28	54	26	6-1/185	28-Feb-06
79	Alexander Zetterberg	C	Örebro HK J20	35	19	27	46	10	5-9/160	27-Apr-06
80	Spencer Gill	D	Rimouski (QMJHL)	50	9	23	32	50	6-3/180	17-Aug-06
81	Kevin He	LW	Niagara (OHL)	51	26	18	44	47	5-11/185	30-Apr-06
82	Aatos Koivu	C	TPS (Fin-U20)	23	15	14	29	28	6-0/165	22-Jun-06
83	Will Skahan	D	USN U18 (USDP)	40	2	7	9	63	6-4/210	14-May-06
84	Justin Poirier	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	52	40	20	60	58	5-8/185	4-Sep-06
85	Maxmilian Curran	C	Tri-City (WHL)	40	5	27	32	25	6-3/190	27-Aug-06
86	Tory Pitner	D	Youngstown (USHL)	33	7	14	21	34	6-1/185	6-Mar-06
87	Lukas Matecha	G	Tri-City (WHL)	29	3.14	0.910			6-3/195	21-Mar-05
88	Brodie Ziemer	RW	USN U18 (USDP)	41	20	22	42	14	5-10/190	22-Feb-06
89	Niilopekka Muhonen	D	KalPa (Fin U20)	25	4	6	10		6-4/185	28-Feb-06
90	Anthony Romani	D	North Bay (OHL)	51	44	40	84	16	6-0/180	12-Jul-05
91	Julius Miettinen	RW	Everett (WHL)	53	22	24	46	30	6-3/205	20-Jan-06
92	Luca Marrelli	D	Oshawa (OHL)	50	2	38	40	14	6-1/185	4-Oct-05
93	Filip Sitar	C	Malmo (Swe J20)	33	12	31	43	10	5-11/175	29-Jun-05
94	Noel Fransen	D	Färjestad BK (Swe J20)	36	17	21	38	16	6-0/185	7-Dec-05
95	William Zellers	LW	Shattuck St. Marys (USHS-Prep)	43	41	43	84	20	5-10/165	4-Apr-06
96	Gabriel Eliasson	D	HV71 J20	27	0	3	3	81	6-6/205	9-Sep-06
97	Kim Saarinen	G	HPK (Fin-U20)	22	2.34	0.918			6-4/180	22-Jul-06
98	Max Vilen	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	39	1	12	13	8	6-2/200	29-Jun-06
99	Gabriel Frasca	C	Kingston (OHL)	26	9	9	18	10	6-0/170	18-Feb-06
100	Harrison Meneghin	G	Lethbridge (WHL)	41	2.46	0.922			6-3/165	13-Sep-06
HM	Tanner Adams	RW	Providence (NCAA)	27	5	12	17	2	5-11/185	2-Sep
HM	Alexandre Blais	C	Rimouski (QMJHL)	53	18	48	66	30	5-10/155	14-Nov-05
HM	Viggo Gustavsson	D	HV71 (Swe J20)	33	1	10	11	38	6-2/195	11-Sep-06
HM	Andrei Krutov	LW	Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)	35	15	24	39	10	5-11/175	25-Apr-06
HM	Darels Uljanskis	D	AIK (Swe J20)	35	7	16	23	14	6-1/185	25-Aug-06
HM	Pavel Moysevich	G	SKA St. Petersburg (VHL)	19	2.31	0.927			6-5/175	29-Sep-04
HM	Ondrej Becher	C	Prince George (WHL)	42	19	40	59	32	6-1/175	22-Feb-04
HM	Veit Oswald	RW	EHC Munchen (DEL)	32	8	4	12	0	6-1/165	31-Aug-04
HM	Nathan Villeneuve	C	Sudbury (OHL)	47	18	21	39	52	6-0/185	13-Apr-06
HM	Petr Sikora	C	HC Ocelari Trinec (Cze U20)	27	12	21	33	26	5-11/170	2-Jan-06
HM	Oskar Vuollet	C	Skelleftea AIK (Swe J20)	32	17	24	41	6	5-10/170	3-Dec-05
HM	Kenta Isogai	F	Wenatchee (WHL)	49	25	48	73	22	5-11/155	28-Aug-04
HM	Marcus Kearsey	D	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	51	5	32	37	14	5-11/170	17-03-06
HM	Nate Misskey	D	Victoria (WHL	40	6	26	32	52	6-3/210	1-Dec-05
HM	Thomas Desruisseaux	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	52	10	34	44	16	5-11/160	10-Mar-06
HM	Jonathan Morello	C	St. Michaels (OJHL)	44	23	27	50	20	6-1/175	31-Jul-06
HM	Kieron Walton	LW	Sudbury (OHL)	47	15	19	34	12	6-5/205	22-Apr-06
HM	Adam Kleber	D	Lincoln (USHL)	33	5	13	18	20	6-5/205	24-Mar-06
HM	Riley Patterson	C	Barrie (OHL)	49	18	27	45	4	6-0/175	22-Mar-06
HM	Eemil Vinni	G	JoKP (Fin-Liiga)	27	2.5	0.9	-	-	6-2/285	18-Dec-06

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS – December 2023 – Top 32 – Macklin Celebrini leads the pack early by a wide margin

Brock Otten — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:40:04 +0000

NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 1: NCAA men's hockey at Lawler Rink on December 1, 2023 in North Andover, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

It’s time for a ranking update at McKeen’s Hockey as we approach the end of the calendar year. Hopefully you’ve all been following along with our early regional favourites series, where our regional scouts have been providing detailed breakdowns of some of their favourites for the 2024 Draft.

This article shows our top 32 and is available to everyone. For subscribers, we are providing our Top 64 with a few honorable mentions. Then in the new year, we will expand to a Top 100.

The top player on our list is Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini. One of the highest scoring players in the NCAA this year as a freshman, Celebrini has met the ultra-high expectations placed on him heading into the year. He is, in our opinion, a slam dunk to be the first player selected this year. Recently named to the Canadian World Junior camp roster, hopefully Celebrini can earn a roster spot and have a strong performance for Canada as a focal point of the team’s offensive attack.

Sam Dickinson of the London Knights. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

After Celebrini is where things get…murky. We see a group of seven players in competition for that second spot; Sam Dickinson, Cayden Lindstrom, Konsta Helenius, Cole Eiserman, Anton Silayev, Ivan Demidov, and Artyom Levshunov. How those seven players are ranked was heavily debated amongst our scouts. There truly wasn’t much of a consensus among our staff and we know that NHL scouts are having a similar debate at this current time. An argument could be made for any of these seven to be ranked second. Conversely an argument could be made for any of these seven to be ranked eighth. Hopefully a few of these players can truly separate themselves from the pack in the second half. In particular, we’re looking to see if the three defenders, Dickinson, Silayev, and Levshunov, can clean up some of their poor decisions with the puck.

Rounding out the top ten are forwards Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (Mora). Catton is a dynamic play creator who has a chance to jump into that second tier grouping if he can find a way to become a more consistent off puck player. While Brandsegg-Nygard is a winger who plays a game that should translate easily to the pro level in North America. He competes hard. He skates well. It’s just a matter of whether you feel that he has the offensive upside and skill to be a top six player. At this point, considering our high ranking of him, we do believe he possesses that upside.

Of the remaining 22 players currently in our first round, 11 are defenders. While we aren’t enamored with this draft crop (overall), we do really like the upside of this blueline crop. The question is, can the likes of Adam Jiricek and Aron Kiviharju hang on to a spot in our first round because there is no question that they have underperformed compared to their expectations thus far.

But what about the goalies? This is everyone’s favourite question. At this point, we don’t see any netminders worthy of first round consideration. But we did rank OHL goalies Carter George and Ryerson Leenders at the back of our Top 64. George has been the more consistent performer thanks to his excellent play reading ability and mature approach. This was on display at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky too, when he stole the starter’s job from Gabriel D’Aigle. Meanwhile, Leenders is unquestionably the better athlete and a netminder with a penchant for making the highlight reel save thanks to his quickness. He just doesn’t have as refined of a technical approach.

The List:

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	15-10-15-25
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	6-3/205	7-Jun-06	27-6-14-20
3	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	27-22-16-38
4	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/180	11-May-06	26-8-11-19
5	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	21-25-16-41
6	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	38-3-7-10
7	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	7-2-5-7
8	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	16-4-11-15
9	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/170	14-Jan-06	25-16-20-36
10	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	21-2-4-6
11	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	30-12-16-28
12	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/190	29-Sep-05	26-12-16-28
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	23-17-18-35
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	6-1/160	28-Feb-06	20-8-18-26
15	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	27-20-11-31
16	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	16-5-16-21
17	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	25-10-26-36
18	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	6-3/195	22-Mar-06	8-0-2-2
19	Adam Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	6-2/175	28-Jun-06	19-0-1-1
20	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	5-9/170	25-Jan-06	7-1-1-2
21	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	24-5-2-7
22	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-2/190	30-Nov-05	15-6-6-12
23	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	27-5-20-25
24	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-2/180	28-Jan-06	21-7-13-20
25	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	20-7-13-20
26	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	9-Mar-06	22-3-19-22
27	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	28-Jun-06	22-6-15-21
28	Maxim Masse	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-2/190	7-Apr-06	30-13-16-29
29	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6-5/200	24-Mar-06	19-8-10-18
30	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	22-13-8-21
31	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	23-1-4-5
32	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	27-8-12-20

Dean Letourneau – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: Top 200 NHL Affiliated Prospects – Biggest Risers and Fallers

Adam Jiricek (STL)

Harrison Brunicke (PIT)

Nick Lardis (CHI)

Alexander Zharovsky (MTL)

Matvei Gridin (CGY)

Roman Kantserov (CHI)

Will Horcoff (PIT)

Vaclav Nestrasil (CHI)

Sergei Murashov (PIT)

Stephen Halliday (OTT)

Charlie Stramel (MIN)

Max Plante (DET)

Dean Letourneau (BOS)

Benjamin Rautiainen (TB)

Eddie Genborg (DET)

Mikhail Gulyayev (COL)

Sam Colangelo (ANA)

Brennan Othmann (CGY)

Carson Rehkopf (SEA)

Joshua Roy (MTL)

MCKEEN'S HOCKEY TOP 200 NHL-AFFILIATED PROSPECTS

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #20 Boston Bruins – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 20th (Last Year - 21st) GM: Don Sweeney Hired: May 2015 COACH: Marco Sturm Hired: June 2025

James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA) (Currently with Providence Bruins, AHL)

Dean Letourneau, C, Boston College (NCAA)

William Zellers, LW, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Fabian Lysell, RW, Providence Bruins (AHL)

William Moore, C, Boston College (NCAA)

Dans Locmelis, C, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Elliott Groenewold, D, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Chris Pelosi, C, Quinnipiac University (NCAA)

Frederic Brunet, D, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Vashek Blanár, D, HV71 (SHL)

Cooper Simpson, LW, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Simon Zajicek, G, Providence Bruins (AHL)

Philip Svedeback, G, Providence College (NCAA)

Jonathan Morello, C, Boston University (NCAA)

Ryan Walsh, C, Cornell University (NCAA)

NHL: Affiliated prospects who have made rapid progress this season – North America Part One

Brock Otten - Director of Scouting

Harry Nansi - Wing, Owen Sound Attack, OHL (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Linc Zdancewicz - U.S. Regional Scout

Dean Letourneau, Center, Boston College (Boston Bruins)

Jeremy Tremblay - QMJHL Regional Scout

Mateo Nobert, Center, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, QMJHL(Vegas Golden Knights)

Kyle Pereira - U.S. Regional Scout

Jayson Shaugabay, Winger - University of Minnesota-Duluth (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Kyle Dalla Zanna - Western Canada Regional Scout

Nathan Behm - Wing - Kamloops Blazers (Chicago Blackhawks)

Liam Staples - Ontario Regional Scout

Jordan Charron - Wing - Soo Greyhounds (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Ben Misfeldt - North American Video Scout

Will Horcoff - Center, University of Michigan (Pittsburgh Penguins)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #21

Boston Bruins Top-15 Prospects

1 - James Hagens

2 - Fraser Minten

3 - Fabian Lysell

4 - William Moore

5 - Georgii Merkulov

6 - Dans Locmelis

7 - Dean Letourneau

8 - Matej Blumel

9 - Will Zellers

10 - Michael Dipietro

11 - Frederic Brunet

12 - Chris Pelosi

13 - Oskar Jellvik

14 - Elliott Groenewold

15 - Riley Duran

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #27 BOSTON BRUINS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – BOSTON BRUINS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #31

Boston Bruins Top-15 Prospects

1. Fabian Lysell

2. Dean Letourneau

3. Brandon Bussi

4. Georgi Merkulov

5. John Farinacci

Prospect System Ranking – 20th (Last Year - 21st)
GM: Don Sweeney Hired: May 2015
COACH: Marco Sturm Hired: June 2025