Devin Kaplan – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #10

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 14:13:14 +0000

Top 20 Philadelphia Flyers Prospects

1. Matvei Michkov

Move over Austin Powers, Matvei Michkov is the new International Man of Mystery. On talent alone, Michkov deserved to be selected inside the top five of this year’s draft. He had been hyped just as long as Bedard for the top of the 2023 class. However, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the corresponding ban on Russia from the IIHF threw a huge wrench into that narrative. His contract situation in the KHL (another three seasons, at minimum) further complicate things. However, the Flyers decided that the risk was worth the reward. An elite offensive player, Michkov is one of the most creative and gifted young players outside of the NHL. Over the next three years in the KHL, the Flyers will be looking for improved consistency away from the puck, improved utilization of his teammates, and improvements made to his explosiveness as a skater. All signs would point to Philadelphia receiving an immediate impact player once he arrives, rewarding their patience, just as the Wild were rewarded with Kirill Kaprizov.

2. Cutter Gauthier

One of the more recent additions to the Philadelphia organization, Gauthier was selected fifth overall in 2022 out of the USNTDP. He was a standout player for the program, including a strong performance at the U18s. Post-draft, he has continued that success, helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the World Juniors and contributing over one point per game as a freshman with NCAA Boston College. He plays a fearless game, driving the net, jumping into puck battles, and playing so with speed. He's a high-volume shooter who could pick his shots better, but you have to appreciate the confidence. He plays in a style that should allow him to seamlessly adjust to the NHL. He has already confirmed that he will stick in Boston for his sophomore season, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s wearing the orange, black, and white.

3. Tyson Foerster

Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 Draft, Foerster has had some issues with a nagging shoulder injury but has always been able to find his game. He spent the pandemic with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, easily transitioning to the higher level. He spent more time in the OHL in 2021-22 but returned to the AHL last season, even seeing time in the NHL. In fact, he almost looked better in the NHL than he had at any other level. Foerster has one of the best shots not in the NHL and does extremely well at creating offense, both for himself and his teammates. He plays hard and shows promising attention to the defensive side of the puck as well. His skating was a worry in his draft year but has steadily improved since then. He looks NHL-ready and likely makes the jump in 2023-24 as a middle-six producer.

4. Bobby Brink

The Flyers have been patient with Brink, which has proven to be the correct path. He was selected 34th overall in 2019 from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, where he had been named USHL Forward of the Year. Following the draft, he made the jump to the NCAA with the University of Denver, transitioning seamlessly with a strong rookie season, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. After a down sophomore campaign, Brink exploded in 2021-22, leading the entire NCAA in points (57) and was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He moved up to the AHL last season, continuing his upward development slope. He’s a very strong skater , who does well at getting off the wall and into the middle of the ice. He’s not far off from a middle-six role in the NHL.

5. Oliver Bonk

Bonk, the son of former Ottawa Senator standout Radek, has a game predicated on his strong positioning, anticipation, and awareness. One would probably expect nothing less from someone who grew up around the game. One of the smartest defenders available in the 2023 draft, he is a disruptive force in the defensive end. Additionally, what makes Bonk such a defensive asset is his ability to kickstart the transition game. As mentioned, his IQ is the strongest component of his game, and this is evident when he has the puck on his stick in the defensive zone. From an offensive perspective, there may be some limitations to his game. He is not a dynamic skater, either in terms of his linear quickness or his agility. He will jump up in the play and he does a great job of getting pucks through to the net, both skills based off his high intelligence level. However, he is not incredibly creative, and that lack of quickness hurts him as a carrier. There is a fairly safe road to Bonk becoming a dependable, longtime second pairing defender at the NHL level. The London Knight’s track record at developing blueliners is another factor in his favor.

6. Emil Andrae

One of the most exciting defensive prospects out there, Andrae is the picture of the modern defender. He thrives jumping up into the rush and leading the transition, using his light footwork to navigate through the opposition. Drafted 54th overall in 2020, he joined SHL HV71 during a rough season which saw the team relegated. He followed with an excellent season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, helping the team jump right back to the SHL and earning the Best Junior award, leading all rookies in points. He also starred on the Swedish WJC team, leading all defenders in goals and being named to the tournament All-Star Team. He’s a strong playmaker with excellent vision and has been improving his decision-making over the past few seasons. His size may be a concern, but he has the skill of a top four defender. He made the jump to North America at the end of last season and will look to build off a strong, yet brief cameo.

7. Helge Grans

Grans still has a lot of work left to do before he'll be ready to hack it at the NHL level. His play thus far in the AHL hasn't lived up to expectations, but the long-term upside that he possesses is undeniable. He checks off a lot of boxes that you want to see in a defenseman: athleticism, size, reach, mobility, and puck movement. Heck, he even shoots right-handed. Unfortunately, he still struggles to blend all these tools together. There are fair questions about his hockey sense and processing speed, and for a blueliner with his profile, you'd like to see more sandpaper and a stronger willingness to work hard to win positioning and pucks. Grans could be the type of prospect who blows up in his mid 20s, or he might never become much more than he is right now.

8. Carson Bjarnason

It was a tale of two seasons for Bjarnson in 2022-23, with a storybook start to his campaign but then a horror finish, as injuries derailed him during the back end of the regular season and again at the IIHF U18s. The good news for him now is that his long-term projection is still very promising. He is an impeccably well-rounded netminder, with plenty of natural net coverage, stoic mental composure, refined technique and stance, and clean movements in his crease. When he is at the top of his game, he can single-handedly steal wins for his team while making it look easy and routine. He has the right combination of traits to eventually become an NHL number one, and he'll get two more years’ worth of reps as a starter in the WHL to help prepare himself, while gaining valuable and transferable experience in that kind of role. Like almost all teenage goalies, he is still very much a project, with consistency concerns and the need to cut down on the number of weak goals he allows, but his foundation is solid.

9. Elliott Desnoyers

A later round pick selected 135th overall in 2020, Desnoyers moved to the Halifax Mooseheads from the Moncton Wildcats in 2020-21, suiting up as an alternate captain. He took a big step forward on the ice while also taking on more of a leadership role in 2021-22, wearing the ‘C’. He made the jump to the Phantoms last season and continued to show improvement as one of the more productive players on the team. He seems able to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup and succeed, playing a hard-fought game with an underrated amount of skill. Desnoyers plays a smart game, rarely making a mistake. He’s well on his way to becoming a solid bottom six contributor who could move up in the lineup in the appropriate situation. It is already safe to call him a draft success considering where he was selected and how he has since progressed.

10. Ronnie Attard

One of the older prospects not yet in the NHL, it’s been a long road for Attard. However, it seems like that road and the patience of Flyers’ brass with him has paid off. Selected 72nd overall in 2019 after a huge season with the USHL Tri-City Storm where he was named USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year, as well as USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then jumped to the NCAA’s Western Michigan University where the success continued, being named a two-time NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman within his three years there. Last season, he continued his rise, joining the Phantoms and fitting right in. He’s an aggressive, offensive defender that performs very well in transition. He has all the tools to be a reliable bottom-four defender at the next level and isn’t far off from making it.

11. Egor Zamula

This is a huge year for Zamula as he is no longer exempt from waivers. The puck moving defender has a real solid shot of finally becoming a permanent fixture on the Flyers’ blueline this season, but his defensive game still needs to show growth.

12. Ethan Samson

A two-way defender out of the WHL, Samson has developed incredibly well since being drafted. He holds the offensive blueline extremely well and makes opposing players earn touches in the defensive end. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the pro level this year.

13. Alexei Kolosov

An outstanding athlete, Kolosov was already a starter in the KHL as a 21-year-old last year, playing for hometown Minsk. He could move up the prospect rankings pretty quickly if he plays well with Lehigh Valley this year.

14. Alexis Gendron

Among the Q’s leading goal scorers last year, Gendron is deadly in open space. His speed can be deadly, but there are still concerns about his lack of size. He is likely returning to the Q for an overage year and is a contender to lead the league in scoring.

15. Olle Lycksell

While the Flyers’ depth chart looks pretty crowded right now, Lycksell has to be one of the favourites to be called up in a case of a long-term injury. He is a very creative playmaker and he was great after finally crossing the pond to play in the AHL last year.

16. Devin Kaplan

Kaplan plays such a mature, pro ready game already as a young prospect. He had a solid freshman year at Boston University, but there is a need for him to continue to become a more dynamic skater. Kaplan is a potentially elite bottom six player and penalty killer.

17. Samuel Ersson

Thrust into NHL action last year, Ersson held his own and managed to win six games for the Flyers as a rookie. The soon to be 24-year-old finds himself as part of a crowded crease, but he has NHL upside.

18. Denver Barkey

A tenacious worker, Barkey does so many things well and that’s why the Flyers used a third-round selection on him this year. He is a serious 2023-24 breakout candidate with the London Knights.

19. Samu Tuomaala

After a disastrous 2021-22 season, Tuomaala appears to have gotten himself back on track with a strong season in the Finnish second league. He still has the speed. He still has the big shot. But there are still questions about his hockey sense.

20. Zayde Wisdom

Possibly still feeling the after-effects of a wonky shoulder, Wisdom’s development has stalled in a big way. He was so good in that Covid shortened AHL season and he has yet to come close to matching that. Let’s see if he can get back on track this year as an AHL regular.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #14 Philadelphia Flyers

Josh Bell — Sun, 21 May 2023 12:53:44 +0000

The Cliff Fletcher era (since 2018) ended following another difficult season, with the GM stubbornly insisting the Flyers were close to contending and resisting any retooling. Even coach John Tortorella surprisingly called for a rebuild mid-season. Now, the franchise will be given the chance with newly named President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones, and new GM Danny Briere. The early signaling suggests they will be looking at investing in prospects for the next few years, and offseason talk has turned to who will move to attain future assets. Briere has a reputation for embracing analytics, and how that affects decision-making remains to be seen with Jones being more traditional in approach.

Philadelphia owns nine picks in the upcoming draft and four first rounders over the next three years. Look for them to add to that stockpile significantly in the coming months. They have the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft, which should net a quality prospect in a deep draft. They added Cutter Gauthier fifth overall last year. A confident player, who plays a fearless game, seems to fit the classic Flyers identity. He should be in the line-up very soon. They also have two NHL-ready prospects in Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink, so a youth injection next season seems inevitable. This should be a very transformed roster in a year’s time, with no veteran untouchables, with the possible exception of goalie Carter Hart. How deep the new regime will want to go remains to be seen. Whether to the foundations like Chicago, or something more in the middle. Stay tuned.

Cutter Gauthier of USA celebrates during the friendly under-20 ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2022 in Moncton.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN

Cutter Gauthier

One of the more recent additions to the Philadelphia Flyers, Cutter Gauthier was selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft from the USNTDP. He was a standout player in the program, including a strong performance at the Under-18s. Post-draft, he’s continued that success forward, helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the World Juniors and playing over a point per game as a freshman with Boston College in the NCAA. He plays a fearless game, driving the net, jumping into puck battles, and he does so with speed. He's a high-volume shooter that could pick his shots better, but you have to appreciate the confidence. He plays a game that seems like it will adjust to the NHL seamlessly. He’s already confirmed that he’s sticking in Boston for his sophomore season, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s wearing the orange, black, and white.

2. Bobby Brink

The Flyers have been patient with Bobby Brink, and that’s proven to be the correct path. Selected 34th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, where he was named USHL Forward of the Year. Following the draft, he made the jump to the NCAA and the University of Denver, fitting right in with a strong rookie season, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. He continued that for another season and then exploded in 2021-22, leading the entire NCAA in points (57) and was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He’s moved up to the AHL this season, continuing his upward development slope. He’s a very strong skater, who does well at getting off the wall and into the middle of the ice. He’s not far off from a middle-six role in the NHL.

3. Tyson Foerster

Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Tyson Foerster has had some issues with a nagging shoulder injury but has always been able to find his game. He spent the pandemic with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, easily transitioning to the next level. He did spend some more time in the OHL in 2021-22 but is back in the AHL this season and has even seen time in the NHL, almost looking better in the NHL than any other level. He has one of the best shots not in the NHL and does extremely well at creating offense, either for himself or his teammates. He plays hard and shows promising attention to the defensive side of the puck as well. His skating was a worry in his draft year but has been steadily improving. He looks NHL-ready and likely makes the jump in 2023-24 as a middle-six producer.

4. Emil Andrae

One of the most exciting defensive prospects out there, Emil Andrae is the picture of the modern defender. He thrives jumping up into the rush and leading transition, using his light footwork to navigate the opposition. Drafted 54th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Andrae joined HV71 in the SHL during a rough year where they were relegated. He had an excellent season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, helping the team jump back to the SHL and earning the Best Junior award, leading all rookies in points. He also starred on the Swedish World Junior team, leading all defenders in goals and being named to the All-Star Team. He’s a strong playmaker with excellent vision and has been improving his decision-making over the past few seasons. His size may lead to concern, but he has the skill of a top-four defender. He’s already made the jump to North America, where he’s already beginning to excel.

5. Elliot Desnoyers

A later draft pick at 135th overall in 2020, Elliot Desnoyers moved to the Halifax Mooseheads from the Moncton Wildcats in 2020-21 as the alternate captain. He took a big step forward before taking another big step as the captain in 2021-22. He made the jump to the Phantoms this season and has continued to improve as one of the more productive players on the team. He’s a player that seems to be able to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup and succeed, playing a hard-fought game with an underrated amount of skill. He plays a smart game, rarely making a mistake. He’s well on his way to becoming a solid bottom-six contributor that could move up in the lineup in the appropriate situation. Already with his development, it’s safe to call him a success considering where he was drafted and how he’s progressed.

6. Ronnie Attard

One of the older prospects not yet in the NHL, it’s been a long road for Ronnie Attard. However, it seems like that road and the patience of Flyers’ brass with him has paid off. The Flyers selected him 72nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft after a huge season in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm where he was named USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year, and USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then jumped to the NCAA’s Western Michigan University where the success continued, being named a two-time NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman within his three years there. This season, he’s continued his rise, joining the Phantoms and seeming to fit right in. He’s an aggressive, offensive defender that does very well in transition. He has all the tools to be a reliable bottom-four defender at the next level and isn’t far off.

7. Egor Zamula

After going undrafted, the Flyers signed Egor Zamula to an entry-level deal in 2018, just after his first season in North America in the WHL. He spent two more seasons with the Calgary Hitmen as a point-per-game defender. In 2020-21, he jumped to the next level and ever since has seemed on the cusp of being an NHLer. He’s seen some time with the Flyers in each season but just hasn’t made the permanent jump yet. The Russian is a two-way defender that moves very well. He can jump up into the rush or the offensive zone when he needs to but he’s just as comfortable sitting back and defending. He relies more on his active stick rather than his physical game, which shouldn’t be a problem in his translation to the NHL. He seems ready to make the jump and could be a middle-pairing asset.

8. Ethan Samson

Another late selection by the Flyers, he was drafted 174th overall in 2021 from the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. He’s been steadily improving his game after being drafted and just capped off a point-per-game season in what should be his final year in the Dub. He’s a very well-rounded prospect although he doesn’t have that one asset that will carry him to the NHL. He’s likely a two-way defender when all is said and done. He has some skill in his game, but only utilizes it in bursts. He’s shown that he can produce, thanks to a big shot and some accurate passing. He defends well, not afraid to mix things up physically. Given the averageness of his game, the NHL isn’t a guarantee, and it does seem more likely that he carves out an AHL spot for himself. He could be a call-up option as well though and lock down a depth defender role.

9. Alexis Gendron

Selected near the end of the 2022 NHL Draft, the Flyers waited until the 220th selection to call Alexis Gendron’s name. He’s had a steady progression through his three seasons in the QMJHL, seeing his production jump forward significantly each season. He has no fear in his game despite his 5-foot-9 frame, often getting into the high-danger areas and finding his way into puck battles. He has an intriguing amount of creativity on the ice and has shown that he can put the puck in the net or dish it out. He’s a bit more reactive instead of proactive, and his ceiling is quite limited. His development has been promising and he’s still young, but at this point, it seems likely that he peaks as an AHLer. Even if that is the case, that’s a good return on a seventh-round flyer.

10. Olle Lycksell

Drafted way back in the 2017 NHL Draft, 168th overall, Olle Lycksell is another prospect in the system where patience has paid off. Drafted out the J20 SuperElit, he split the following season between the J20 SuperElit and SHL before spending the next three seasons as a regularly productive forward in the SHL. This season, he’s made the move overseas to the AHL, even seeing some time in the NHL. He’s been one of the most productive forwards for the Phantoms, exceeding expectations for a sixth-round pick. The centreman has good hands, a great level of creativity, and a very accurate snapshot. It was once thought to be a stretch for him to reach the NHL, but it now looks like just a matter of time. He looks like he could be a reliable secondary scoring option in the bottom six.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Ethan Hetu, Zack Szweras, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 20:35:33 +0000

1 - Cutter Gauthier LW

Cutter Gauthier, the fifth-overall pick at the 2022 NHL draft, was a bit of a divisive prospect in his draft cycle. His first-round merits weren’t up for debate — pretty much everyone agreed on his chops as a top-half-of-the-first-round talent — but it was his status among the draft’s very best prospects that garnered the most debate. Sources within the game, such as Bob McKenzie of TSN’s rankings based on polls of NHL scouts, ranked him as a prospect deserving of top-five consideration, and the Flyers seemed to agree, while rankings from the media held his game in less of a high regard, ranking him more around the back of the top-ten or the early teens. The split in opinion on Gauthier can be largely explained by his on-ice profile. The merits of Gauthier’s game, the best aspects of his profile, read off like a coach’s wishlist for things he or she wants in a skater. Gauthier is fearless, always looking to create chances in any way he can, even in the dirty areas of the ice. He has a high work ethic, finding ways to remain active and close to the play on every shift. He’s physical, and he regularly engages in and wins board battles. Perhaps most importantly for his pro projection, Gauthier is a disciplined prospect, always working within the structure and system his coach provides for him. Some players want to excel in the game on their own terms, while Gauthier instead looks like a player keenly interested in maximizing his effectiveness within his coach’s vision rather than his own. That’s not to say he’s without high-end tools, his shot, for example, is among the very best in his class, but that is to say that his overall profile emphasizes the high likelihood of him being an impactful NHL-er rather than him having a chance at becoming a game-breaking star. - EH

2 - Cam York D

It was a pretty solid first full pro season for York, as he split time between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley before a foot fracture ended his season early. In Philadelphia, he was quarterbacking the top powerplay unit, a role that he is definitely being groomed for. York is a terrific distributor because of his vision and mobility. He remains composed at all times working the point because he has confidence in his ability to elude checks and consistently makes quick decisions under pressure. His composure translates to the defensive end too, where he is a breakout machine. Again, he rarely panics in the face of pressure and can either carry out or make a successful exit pass to clear the defensive zone. The highest scoring defender in the history of the U.S. NTDP, York’s offensive potential at the NHL level remains sky high. Defensively, his progression will be tied to his ability to add strength to help him win puck battles and positional battles more consistently. His positioning and reads are sound, but he was overwhelmed at times as a rookie playing on a struggling team. Even with the acquisition of Anthony DeAngelo, York figures to play the entire upcoming season with Philadelphia. DeAngelo will definitely cut into his powerplay time, but York should still play a consistent role, likely paired with a veteran such as Justin Braun, on the third pairing. Eventually, he should slide into a top four role and take over top powerplay responsibilities as one of the Flyers’ key young cornerstones. - BO

3 - Bobby Brink RW

Bobby Brink was the most productive scorer in the NCAA last season, and his success at the University of Denver is what led him to sign his NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. An early second-round pick at the 2019 draft, Brink’s offensive talent was never in doubt. Brink’s puck skills, his stickhandling, passing, and control of the flow of play with the puck on his stick is extremely good. He has this shiftiness to him that makes him a difficult task to handle for opposing defenders, and it’s impossible to guess what Brink will do next with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. There are few players in college hockey who create offense the way Brink does, and by the end of his brilliant junior campaign he looked like he’d mastered the art of creating offense against college defenses. The issue with Brink, and the reason he didn’t go in the first round in 2019, largely lies in the way he creates offense and his most talked-about tool: his skating. To address the first point, Brink creates offense from the outside, and rarely is one to use the more difficult areas of the ice to create his chances. For many players, they can survive doing so because of their ability to separate from defenders. Brink’s skating, while more developed than it was in his draft year, is still far from being sufficient enough to give him a separation gear, and he’ll struggle to play the same style of offense against NHL defenses. If Brink can improve his skating significantly, then he can be a similar player as an NHLer to who he was in college, but massive improvements in his skating are unlikely, what’s more likely is Brink either makes the necessary stylistic and habitual adjustments to survive as a scorer in the NHL or wholly fails to live up to the hype he generated as a college star. - EH

4 - Tyson Foerster C

The last two seasons have not been kind to Foerster, the Flyers’ 23rd overall selection in 2020. Two years ago, with the OHL on a pandemic related hiatus, Foerster suffered a leg fracture that limited his playing time with Lehigh Valley in the AHL. Last year, the injury bug bit again as a shoulder injury kept him out for the majority of the season until the Flyers returned Foerster back to the OHL to help Barrie with their playoff run. In reality, he should have been returned to the OHL at the very beginning of the season to help his development. On a positive note, he looked fully healthy at the summer World Juniors playing for Canada, where he had a strong tournament. Drafted with the potential of playing center, Foerster appears locked in as a winger now. It is there that he can take advantage of his outstanding shot, especially from a stand still. He also plays a competitive game without the puck, working hard to win battles, forecheck, and force turnovers defensively. The weak spot of his game, Foerster’s explosiveness and top speed, have improved since being drafted, however it will need to continue to improve over the next few years for him to become a top six forward for the Flyers. He projects as a middle six goal scorer who can be a weapon on the powerplay. This coming season, Foerster will likely spend the full season in Lehigh Valley, hoping to finally have a healthy campaign at the AHL level. - BO

5 - Egor Zamula D

Now fully healthy following back surgery in 2020, the former free agent signing out of Calgary (WHL) is coming off of a strong year in the AHL with Lehigh Valley, where Zamula was one of the team’s best defenders. He even earned a small cup of coffee with the Flyers; a reward for his strong play in the AHL. He is a strong and mobile two-way defender with the upside to be a difference maker at both ends. An excellent athlete, he is terrific at defending pace and closing off lanes in transition. He is aggressive with his gaps, and he uses his long reach to be disruptive. He can also have a positive impact on the transition game offensively as his long strides allow him to chew up space quickly and lead the attack through the neutral zone. He is not the most naturally skilled player with the puck, but he protects it well and sees the ice well enough to make quick decisions. The key for him is to continue to add strength and bulk to his wiry frame so that he can apply physical pressure more consistently and effectively at the NHL level. This coming season, he is likely ticketed for another AHL year, although he should also be one of the top injury call-ups for the Flyers. In a year or two, he should be ready for a third pairing role with the opportunity to work higher in the lineup down the road. - BO

6 - Ronnie Attard D

A third-round pick at the 2019 draft, Ronne Attard enjoyed an extremely successful career at Western Michigan University, and by the time he was a senior he had grown into being an all-situations top-of-the-lineup force for first-year coach Pat Ferschweiler. Attard’s time in college led him to make an immediate jump to the NHL with the Flyers, and Attard’s 15-game stretch as an NHL newbie was uneven. There were moments of promise, and Attard was even given looks on both of the Flyers’ special teams units. There were also moments where Attard looked like he badly needed additional development time in the AHL, times when the extremely talented and deceptive playmakers of the NHL were able to expose Attard’s inexperience to create offense. At times, Attard looked like he could weather the storm in the NHL, but those moments were too infrequent for him to comfortably project as an NHL defenseman immediately next season. If Attard can get some time as a top defenseman at AHL Lehigh Valley, he’ll learn to grow more comfortable with the professional game in a lower pressure setting. Attard is a big defenseman who moves well and can theoretically provide value at both ends of the ice. He showed enough as a college defenseman to reasonably have AHL number-one defenseman upside, and if he can stick as an NHLer and develop a bit more he could possibly anchor a bottom-pairing as a two-way defenseman who contributes on the secondary units of both special teams’ groups. - EH

7 - Noah Cates LW

Noah Cates’ four-year progression at the University of Minnesota-Duluth might look a bit puzzling to onlookers, as he never truly became a game-breaking offensive player after his point-per-game sophomore season. But in the absence of high-end offensive development, Cates has polished his game and become a true two-way force. The 23-year-old forward was a fifth-round pick at the 2017 draft and has an inside track to remain with the Flyers’ NHL club next season after scoring five goals and nine points in his first 16 NHL games. Cates, a six-foot-one left wing, is the kind of two-way player that NHL coaches will have a difficult time leaving out of their lineup. Despite his inexperience, Cates got time on the Flyers’ penalty kill and figures to have a future in that role in the NHL. Cates is a smart player, and he often puts himself in the right place at the right time. Some might attribute players who do that often as them simply being lucky, but Cates’ offensive game is largely based on opportunism. Cates creates his own luck, always reading the play and finding ways to be in the exact places his teammates want a linemate to be in. His raw tools won’t overwhelm, and his upside as an offensive generator in the NHL is limited, but if he finds ways to remain reasonably productive at the NHL level despite not having a ton of plainly visible offensive talent, that shouldn’t surprise anybody. As a potential penalty killer who gives his team sporadic bursts of scoring, Cates can forge a solid NHL career. He doesn’t have the most upside of any Flyers prospect, but he’s a decent bet to make an NHL impact and be someone coaches always find a way to fit in their lineup. - EH

8 - Wade Allison RW

Is there a player in professional hockey with worse luck than Wade Allison the last few seasons? He was penciled into the Flyers’ lineup this past season before suffering an ankle injury. Then upon returning he suffered an MCL sprain. Just when you thought he was healthy, boom…he acquired a serious arm laceration from a skate. When healthy, Allison is a middle six NHL forward. He has proven that at the NHL level already. His combination of size, skill, and power skating is impressive, and he can be a load to handle for even NHL defenders as he drives the net. Allison has looked particularly impressive on the powerplay at the NHL level, playing as the bumper or net front presence. That said, have all these injuries stunted his development? The coming season is a huge one for him. The Flyers, once again, have some openings in their middle six that he could grab hold of. Additionally, one of his top competitors for those spots, Bobby Brink, has been lost to injury. Allison needs to come to camp healthy and stay healthy. If he does, he should be a full time NHL player this season and a likely productive one. As the Flyers continue their rebuild, there is definitely a spot for a power scorer like Allison, so long as his body can hold up. - BO

9 - Elliot Desnoyers LW

Desnoyers was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers for his simple, off-puck, defensive brand of hockey. He was a high energy, depth player for Moncton in his draft year. However, after his draft season, Desnoyers completely transformed into a whole different player following a deal to Halifax. Captain of the Mooseheads, Elliot is now a confident puck mover that excels in transition and dictates the pace of the play. His skating is excellent, and he can blow past defenders with ease. Desnoyers also played for Team Canada in the most recent 2022 World Juniors and despite not playing a lot of minutes, he was an important piece for them as they won the gold medal. The only thing holding back Desnoyers is his size and the lack of an elite shot, but given his versatility, it is easy to see him eventually finding a role at the NHL level. That could be as more of a fourth line forechecker and penalty killer, or it could be as a high-energy, playmaking middle six forward. Desnoyers will start his pro journey this season in the AHL, and it seems likely that he will start lower in the lineup to build up confidence in his offensive game while playing against men. After a few years, look for him to be knocking on the door of the Flyers. - EB

10 - Emil Andrae D

The 54^th overall selection in the 2020 NHL draft by the Phillidelphia Flyers, Andrae is an undersized defenceman who exudes confidence on both sides of the ice. He plays with a ton of tenacity, never takes a shift off, and is committed to winning puck battles. Andrae has good four-way mobility, generating speed with strong crossovers and detailed footwork. He is quite gifted in the offensive zone, has a strong ability to scan the ice for open passing/shooting lanes to exploit. While undersized, he has a stocky frame, which allows him to be physical and results in him rarely losing his balance in battles. Since being drafted, Andrae has split the past few seasons between the SHL and Sweden’s second league Allsvenskan. Last season, his HV71 squad competed in the Allsvenskan, where Andrae elevated his game finishing with 33 points in 41 games. He also helped lead HV71 to the Allsvenskan championship with 11 points in 10 playoff games, helping them win promotion back to the SHL. Andrae has also had a ton of success internationally, being named Captain of both the January and August Swedish World Junior teams. At the recent tournament, he led his team in points with 8 in 7 games on his way to helping Sweden capture gold. Andrae also finished 2^nd in points out of all defencemen and was named to the Media All-Star team. He is poised for another strong season for HV71 and will look to dominate the SHL as he did the Allsvenskan last season. - ZS

11 - Samu Tuomaala

A strong skating sniper, Tuomaala’s development wasn’t handled in the best way this past season. The Flyers tried to start the 18/19-year-old at the AHL level but that failed, so they loaned him back to Finland where he also played sparingly. He will try to prove that he is worthy of a larger role in Liiga this season, starting the year with Jukurit from the very beginning.

12 - Jay O'Brien

Everyone’s favourite controversial first round pick, O’Brien’s development path has been a unique one. However, he’s finally found a home at Boston University and has been trending back upwards. The Flyers will be looking for O’Brien to become one of the NCAA’s best offensive players this season.

13 - Ivan Fedotov

Unfortunately, a black cloud is hanging over Fedotov because of his arrest and detainment in Russia after signing with Philadelphia. The promising netminder could have been Philadelphia’s backup this year but his career now hangs in jeopardy. On talent alone, he probably deserves to be higher in these rankings, but the circumstances dictate him being lower.

14 - Alexei Kolosov

A highly athletic Belarussian netminder, Kolosov will need to continue to refine his technical skills while playing in the KHL. He is a longer-term project but one with great potential.

15 - Ethan Samson

One of the WHL’s breakout stars last year, Samson emerged as a two-way threat on a rebuilding Prince George team. The big defender was drafted as more of a physical shutdown type, but his confidence and abilities with the puck have improved tenfold.

16 - Owen McLaughlin

McLaughlin showed significant growth playing in the USHL last season. He helped Sioux City capture a Clark Cup and was a consistent offensive force. The talented and intelligent playmaker will have to continue to upgrade his skating to be an impactful freshman with UND this season.

17 - Zayde Wisdom

After a breakout season at the pro level during the height of the pandemic, Wisdom really raised some eyebrows. However, a shoulder injury and the rehab of it definitely negatively impacted his development as he returned to the OHL last year with mixed results. Wisdom is a hard worker with skill, but hopefully he focused on getting back his speed and quickness this offseason.

18 - Devin Kaplan

An intelligent power winger, Kaplan is the prototypical third line player for today’s NHL. He just needs to focus on improving his quickness while attending Boston University.

19 - Isaac Ratcliffe

The upcoming season will be a huge one for the big winger (no pun intended). He has struggled to adapt to the pace of play in his first three pro seasons. If he does not become a consistent offensive force at the AHL level this season, he may not be qualified by the Flyers next offseason.

20 - Alex Bump

Very much a project pick that Philadelphia will have to be patient with. Bump is a power winger with a scorer’s touch. He needs to improve his quickness and overall skating ability (a trend in Philadelphia’s system). He will likely play with Omaha (USHL) this year before going to Vermont the following season. He could be one of the better players in the USHL this year.

2022 NHL DRAFT REVIEW: EASTERN DIVISION – SCOUT’S FAVOURITES

Brock Otten, Will Scouch, and Sam McGilligan — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 11:46:37 +0000

The 2022 NHL Draft has come and gone. Montreal was a gracious host to not only NHL organizations and selected players, but also to McKeens' very own Brock Otten, Will Scouch, and Sam McGilligan. The three were in Montreal and in the thick of the action last week. To recap the draft, the three have highlighted their favourite selections for both Conferences. Additionally, we have provided a listing of each team's selections, coinciding with where the McKeen's scouting team had them ranked.

Denton Mateychuk - photo by Candice Ward

Brock Otten’s Favourite Selections

-in no particular order

Reid Dyck (BOS, #183)

Dyck isn’t the most consistent netminder out there. Part of that had to do with the youth movement in Swift Current and just how many high danger chances he saw against him. Part of it is because of some technical flaws. However, he has shown an ability to steal games and he was a real standout at the U18’s for Canada. A bit of Matt Murray in his game from his draft year.

Jake Richard (BUF, #170)

A real diamond in the rough. Richard improved a ton in the second half of the USHL season. He was one of the youngest guys available this year and I believe that as he matures physically, his skating can improve a lot. His skill and sense below the goaline is very impressive. Really good player in traffic. Watch out for him in the future.

Denton Mateychuk (CBJ, #12)

Just how much you value Mateychuk depends on how you view his defensive game and I think it has more potential than people give it credit for. Yeah, his play near the crease and near the wall needs to be better and he needs to increase his physical intensity. But I really like how he defends pace and I think his offensive skill set is unique and exciting. By drafting Jiricek AND Mateychuk, Columbus clearly had a plan and I’m here for it.

Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

Unlike a few of my contemporaries, I wasn’t crazy about Hutson as a first rounder. I do think that there is a lot of risk here. But at the end of the second round? That risk is absolutely, one hundred percent worth it. He may be the most talented offensive defender available this year. How the rest improves remains to be seen, but at this spot, how could you be unhappy with this selection?

Calle Odelius (NYI, #65)

I can kind of understand why Odelius fell a bit. He does a lot of things well, but not a lot at an elite level. The one thing that he does do at a fairly elite level is skate and that is what has me excited about this selection. Between Odelius and Isaiah George, the Islanders took two of the better skating defenders available. That was obviously by plan. I really liked Odelius at the U18’s for Sweden and I think he has a great shot at outproducing this draft slot.

Adam Sykora (NYR, #63)

I figured that Sykora would go higher than this. Strong skater. Good physical tools. His game improved by leaps and bounds over the course of the year playing against men. Sykora looks like a really nice bet to be a strong middle six option and at #63, you can’t do much better than that. It will be interesting to see if he plays in the WHL this coming season.

Zam Plante (PIT, #150)

Love the value here. Plante is someone who consistently caught my attention when I watched him this year. Great energy in the offensive zone. Strong puck skill and boards play. As he matures physically, I think he could actually develop into a pretty good skater too, like his Dad. Plante is exactly the type of player that Pittsburgh has developed well the last decade.

Connor Kurth (TBL, #192)

One of the USHL’s most improved players this year, I was shocked to see Kurth go this low, especially with so many other re-entry USHL guys coming off the board. Needless to say, I love this pick. Kurth will need to continue to improve his skating and conditioning, but he is a terrific complementary offensive player because of his skill, finishing ability, and success playing through traffic. I think he develops into an NHL player for Tampa.

Nic Moldenhauer (TOR, #95)

If not for a couple freak injuries at the beginning of the year, I think Moldenhauer ends up being a top 50, maybe even first round selection. There is lots to like here. Good skater. Good at navigating traffic and finding success playing through the middle of the ice. Plays both ends. Regardless of whether he takes the NCAA route or comes to the OHL, I think Moldenhauer will prove to be a great pick and an eventual NHL player.

Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

Coming into the year, Miroshnichenko looked like a pretty solid bet to be a top ten pick. He has been unbelievable internationally. However, his play against men in the VHL did leave some to be desired and then of course he had that unfortunate cancer diagnosis. Sounds like he is healthy now and I think he has a chance to develop into a real solid top six forward for the Capitals. IMO, he has the potential to be the best goal scorer from this draft class.

TAMPERE, FINLAND - MAY 26: Slovakia's Adam Sykora #10 celebrates after scoring a first period goal against Finland during Quarterfinal Round action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at Nokia Arena on May 26, 2022 in Tampere, Finland. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Will Scouch’s Favourite Selections

Vladimir Grudinin (CAR, #156)

Part of me was stunned that NHL teams kept passing on Grudinin as long as they did, but I was also not surprised at the same time. It felt weird. Names like Dolzhenkov and Duda went as high as 120 picks higher than Grudinin, while Grudinin was clearly a more dynamic and mobile player playing at higher levels than the other two. Carolina was excited to land this player, I think, he’s massively mobile, just needs to work on making his forward stride more efficient generating separation, but his edges and skill are wonderful. I was a huge fan of this player, and I think Carolina got themselves a very good one.

Adam Sykora (NYR, #63)

Sykora is such a New York Ranger, I tell you what. Hard-working, intense, good skill, great defensive instincts, Sykora is just an admirable player that earns what he gets and has the advantage of youth. I was surprised he wasn’t picked at least in the top 40, and with the Rangers first pick, they got what I think is great value in Adam Sykora.

Jiri Kulich (BUF, #28)

The Sabres did an excellent job on Thursday night, capped off with selecting Jiri Kulich, who is a player I feel will be as good as he is strong at the end of the day. He’s smart, skilled, has a remarkable finishing ability, and is a smart positional player that can be knocked around a bit. The upside may not be as high with the finished product, but I feel Kulich will be a nice piece down the lineup in Buffalo that could be a power play option with the shot he has.

Gleb Trikozov (CAR, #60)

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Gleb Trikozov. He was in my top 10, and I love that he was the first name Carolina took. The tools are immense, and his issue is often consistency and bringing his intense puck skill game to his play off the puck defensively. An extremely exciting player to watch, Trikozov could be a massive get for Carolina at 60 with his dual threat offense and relative youth in the draft class.

Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

Who doesn’t love Lane Hutson? Who doesn’t want to see him moving and shaking off defenders at the blueline, deceiving with his skill and opening passing lanes to get pucks into scoring areas? He’s going to need to improve his ability to create separation with his edges and generate speed under pressure, but his fluid footwork and excellent skill level are an excellent foundation to build on. He’s determined and confident, and I just love this guy. Getting him almost in the 3rd round, especially as the 4th player off your list, is just a great swing.

Filip Mesar (MTL, #26)

Mesar was ranked in my top 15. I love how he gets around the ice, and the intelligence he brings to the table off-puck especially. He’s skilled, brings a great motor, and is up near the top of the pile when it comes to mobility and speed in multiple directions. I do also think there could be a psychological factor uniting Mesar with childhood friend Juraj Slafkovsky. He was the first player I profiled this year and I really enjoyed what I saw. If he can improve his finishing skill and shot quality, especially off the rush, he could be an excellent offensive player in multiple positions and roles.

Noah Ostlund (BUF, #16)

I was honestly stunned that Noah Ostlund went just one pick after Jonathan Lekkerimaki and ahead of Liam Ohgren. Ostlund is one of the fastest and most agile players in the draft. He anticipates pressure and uses skill to create space and lanes to connect with linemates, and just needs to develop a quicker first couple steps to get into that space and continue driving play up the ice. He’s a soft playmaker, finding teammates through traffic while also being able to open lanes with skill. He’s small and slight, and may take time, but patience could be greatly rewarded, and I adore the Sabres’ approach to the first round.

Denton Mateychuk (CBJ, #12)

Some love Denton Mateychuk as a top-10 talent, some even higher. Others see him as a fringe first round pick. Personally, I fell somewhere in the middle. He gains a ton in his game from his confidence and freedom, but the talent with his skill level and deception that drives those traits feels like it will need to improve in order to get the job done at higher levels. He’s not the most mobile coverage defender on defensive rushes, but he has a strong sense of timing on puck movement and drove safe, but strong pass completion in huge volumes. I’m frankly just glad we know where he went in the draft and we can stop arguing, to be honest, and I love that Columbus went all in on him. If it works, it’ll be a ton of fun.

Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

I was pleasantly surprised to see Washington hand a pick to Ivan Miroshnichenko. I had him ranked 28th, and had he played a full season as he was before his diagnosis, I could see him being closer to where Washington drafted him. He has an excellent release, and great strength on his frame to fend off pressure in the VHL, but his puck management and vision of the ice was a limiting factor in transition and the skill level agility seemed to be lacking from his game relative to what I remember from previous years. With his cancer in remission, I’m really hopeful Miroshnichenko’s toughest days are behind him, and will be fascinated to see where he ends up.

Alexander Suzdalev (WSH, #70)

This guy is all hands, creativity and agility, but the footwork and ability to escape pressure with his feet really limits his upside and caused a bit of a slide relative to my ranking. He drove excellent efficiency moving pucks up the ice in great volumes at the J20 level in my tracking, but his lack of pace and need for processing time really limited his impact at the HockeyAllsvenskan level. He may not be SHL ready next year, but he may also be too good for the J20 level if his skating and strength improve. The skill level, problem solving, and creativity is high end and in the early 3rd round, you could’ve done significantly worse.

FRISCO, TX USA - MAY 1: Russia's Ivan Miroshnichenko #10 shoots the puck and scores a first period goal against the Czech Republic during preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on May 1, 2021 in Frisco, TX USA. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Sam McGilligan’s Favourite Selections

1: Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

This was easily my feel-good moment for the draft. Ivan Miroshnichenko had unfortunately caught a lot of negative attention throughout the season due to not meeting pre-season expectations, resulting in him flying down draft boards. Then his illness was revealed, throwing his future in hockey into question. I wasn't sure where Miro was going to end up going in the draft but seeing him go in the first round was a fantastic moment. Add in that Washington is one of the best organizations for high potential players slipping due to medical reasons and this becomes one of, if not my favourite pick in the draft

2: Gleb Trikozov (CAR, #60)

Gleb is one of the most entertaining prospects I've ever watched. There is such a high-level toolkit across the board -- skating, shooting, hands, passing, you name it. There's inconsistency in the processing of the game but even then, sometimes Trikozov is able to come up with complex solutions to problems that just wow me. He's the epitome of the "raw, boom or bust" archetype but I think there's enough smarts there to bet on the boom. The Hurricanes grabbed a first level talent at 60th overall, and it might just be the best value pick of the draft.

3: Noah Östlund (BUF, #16)

Östlund is one of three players I can confidently say are my favourites in the class, so there's a little bias here. Nonetheless, Östlund is as intelligent and dynamic as any forward you can find in the class. I believed he was very likely to be the last of the Djurgårdens' forwards to be taken, so imagine the shock on my face when Buffalo took him above Öhgren. Östlund is a high ceiling, connector-type center that will make the life of everyone around him easier. A primary playdriver with insanely high potential in all three zones, Östlund is one of the few with true star potential in this class. Buffalo deserves a ton of credit for this one whether it works out or not.

4: Calle Odelius (NYI, #65)

Calle Odelius slipping this far shocked me quite a bit. I think Odelius is the easiest of the Swedish defenders to project to the NHL while also carrying a fair bit more upside than others think. Calle's ability to manipulate pressure into creating space for himself is near the top of the class. His actions once entering the space can be hit or miss, but some of the greatest plays I've seen from a defender this year have come from Calle Odelius in open space so there's legitimate upside if his processing can be refined. Even if that doesn't happen, Odelius has strong enough fundamentals to be a complimentary defensive/transitional option.

5: Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

If Lane Hutson is a few inches taller, he's a slam dunk top 10 guy. If Lane Hutson was just a bit more explosive, he's a slam dunk top 10 guy. If both of these things end up happening, then Hutson has "best player in the class" potential and that's not something I normally say lightly. As a Habs fan myself, I was internally screaming at the idea of picking Hutson and I'm beyond ecstatic he gets to enter the era of the Kent Hughes Canadiens. He fits everything that the team is looking for on the back end -- skill, manipulation, agility and brilliant decision making. The sky's the limit for this short defender.

6: Seamus Casey (NJ, #46)

Considering he has an argument amongst the best handlers in the draft regardless of position, Seamus Casey might just be the most skilled defender one could take this year, period. The problem with Casey is he seems less willing to activate and utilize his hilarious skill with the puck than you'd hope for someone of this talent. His NCAA career needs to be focused on re-integrating this ability with the puck across all facets of his game so that he becomes the ultimate transitional/OZ weapon that he was projected to be early in the year.

7: Vladimir Grudinin (CAR, #156)

This is probably just the best pure value pick there was in the draft. I think Grudinin is pretty clearly a first-round talent, yet he was found in the mid-late rounds of the draft. Vladimir spent the bulk of his season playing professional hockey in Russia across both the VHL and the KHL, never really looking too far out of the way in either league despite being undersized. His world class mobility helped circumvent that issue and allowed him to consistently play at the high pace these leagues demand. Once again, Carolina identifies and scoops up the value wherever it is.

8: Isaac Howard (TB, #31)

Isaac Howard's outfit alone could register him a spot on this list, but I'll defer to his hockey ability instead. This player managed to match pace with Cooley and Nazar, both highly regarded prospects in their own right, yet didn't earn similar draft stock due to some inefficiencies within his game that cast doubt on his ability to process professional hockey. I do think Howard is a level behind what those two considering the packages each currently offer, but I also believe Howard has upside in the same range due to the hilarious manipulative abilities he has. With the right development, Howard can contend with the best players in this draft.

9: Devin Kaplan (PHI, #69)

This was just a brilliant pick for pure value reasons. Kaplan frequently uses a fantastic set of hands and a great sense of space to be one of the smartest complimentary players the draft has to offer in both transition and the offensive zone. His skating doesn't create enough separation for his hands to be a primary creation threat, but there's nothing within his form that indicates this is an issue that can't be overcome. Considering this was the third round, Kaplan was one of the best picks a GM could make in that range.

10: David Jiricek (CBJ, #6)

I'm kind of surprised my pick for the best defender in the 2022 class fell out of the top five. He's everything NHL GM's look for -- skilled, dynamic, large but with lots of room for physical improvements and brutally aggressive. Jiricek's combination of skills make him a bit risky compared to Nemec, but the booming upside is so ridiculously high that I couldn't see the Flyers passing on him. Yet here we are, and the Blue Jackets were fortunate enough to have a true top pairing prospect fall on their laps. Jarmo made the easy, but right decision, and it immediately makes Jiricek one of the best selections in the draft.

2022 NHL DRAFT
Boston Bruins
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Matthew Poitras	C/W	54	73
Cole Spicer	C	117	82
Dans Locmelis	C	119	177
Frederic Brunet	D	132	NR
Reid Dyck	G	183	114
Jackson Edward	D	200	HM

Buffalo Sabres
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Matthew Savoie	C	9	6
Noah Ostlund	C	16	22
Jiri Kulich	C/W	28	15
Topias Leinonen	G	41	98
Viktor Neuchev	W	74	83
Mats Lindgren	D	106	35
Vsevolod Komarov	D	134	221
Jake Richard	W	170	111
Gustav Karlsson	C	187	NR
Joel Ratkovic Berndtsson	W	202	NR
Linus Sjodin	C	211	220

Carolina Hurricanes
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Gleb Trikozov	W	60	26
Alexander Perevalov	W	71	25
Simon Forsmark	D	101	68
Cruz Lucius	W	124	140
Vladimir Grudinin	D	156	32
Jakub Vondras	G	171	NR
Alexander Pelevin	D	205	NR

Columbus Blue Jackets
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
David Jiricek	D	6	5
Denton Mateychuk	D	12	17
Luca Del Bel Belluz	C	44	45
Jordan Dumais	W	96	72
Kirill Dolzhenkov	W	109	66
Sergei Ivanov	G	138	HM
James Fisher	W	203	NR

Detroit Red Wings
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Marco Kasper	C	8	24
Dylan James	W	40	63
Dmitri Buchelnikov	W	52	97
Anton Johansson	D	105	NR
Amadeus Lombardi	C	113	202
Maximilian Kilpinen	W	129	NR
Tnias Mathurin	D	137	122
Owen Mehlenbacher	W/C	201	216
Brennan Ali	C	212	103

Florida Panthers
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Marek Alscher	D	93	NR
Ludvig Jansson	D	125	102
Sandis Vilmanis	W	157	105
Josh Davies	W	186	199
Tyler Muszelik	G	189	HM
Liam Arnsby	C/W	214	197
Jack Devine	W	221	143

Montreal Canadiens
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Juraj Slafkovsky	W	1	3
Filip Mesar	W	26	16
Owen Beck	C	33	33
Lane Hutson	D	62	40
Vinzenz Rohrer	W	75	78
Adam Engstrom	D	92	HM
Cedrick Guindon	C/W	127	108
Jared Davidson	C	130	NR
Emmett Croteau	G	162	NR
Petteri Nurmi	D	194	HM
Miguel Tourigny	D	216	NR

New Jersey Devils
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Simon Nemec	D	2	4
Seamus Casey	D	46	39
Tyler Brennan	G	102	142
Daniil Orlov	D	110	131
Charlie Leddy	D	136	128
Petr Hauser	W	141	NR
Josh Filmon	W	166	148
Artem Barabosha	D	198	214

New York Islanders
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Calle Odelius	D	65	30
Quinn Finley	D	78	104
Isaiah George	D	98	61
Matthew Maggio	W	142	173
Daylan Kuefler	W	174	NR

New York Rangers
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Adam Sykora	W	63	48
Bryce Mcconnell-Barker	C/W	97	95
Noah Laba	C	111	NR
Victor Mancini	D	159	NR
Maxim Barbashev	W	161	183
Zak Karpa	C	191	NR

Ottawa Senators
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Filip Nordberg	D	64	NR
Oskar Pettersson	W	72	166
Tomas Hamara	D	87	76
Stephen Halliday	C	104	123
Jorian Donovan	D	136	194
Cameron O'Neill	W	143	191
Kevin Reidler	G	151	NR
Theo Wallberg	D	168	NR
Tyson Dyck	C/W	206	171

Philadelphia Flyers
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Cutter Gauthier	C/W	5	13
Devin Kaplan	W	69	69
Alex Bump	W	133	91
Hunter Mcdonald	D	165	NR
Santeri Sulku	W	197	206
Alexis Gendron	W	220	71

Pittsburgh Penguins
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Owen Pickering	D	21	37
Sergey Murashov	G	118	NR
Zam Plante	C/W	150	96
Nolan Collins	D	167	NR
Luke Devlin	C	181	HM

Tampa Bay Lightning
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Isaac Howard	W	31	23
Lucas Edmonds	W	86	116
Nick Malik	G	160	172
Connor Kurth	W	192	81
Dyllan Gill	D	223	NR
Klavs Veinbergs	W	224	NR

Toronto Maple Leafs
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Fraser Minten	C	38	101
Nicholas Moldenhauer	C/W	95	75
Dennis Hildeby	G	122	NR
Nikita Grebenkin	W	135	HM
Brandon Lisowsky	W	218	53

Washington Capitals
2022 NHL Draft Selections:

Name	Position	NHL Selection	McKeen's Ranking
Ivan Miroshnichenko	W	20	19
Ryan Chesley	D	37	34
Alexander Suzdalev	W	70	119
Ludwig Persson	W	85	88
Jake Karabela	W/C	149	84
Ryan Hofer	W	181	NR
David Gucciardi	D	213	178

MCKEEN’S 2022 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – 15 TOP SLEEPERS – McKeen’s team choice

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 23:50:36 +0000

One of the questions consistently asked of us on social media is “who are your favourite sleepers this year?” The concept of a draft “sleeper,” or a player currently flying under the radar is something that fascinates many draft followers. Everyone has their favourite, so we asked our scouting team to supply theirs!

Director of Scouting - Brock Otten

George Fegeras

George Fegaras – D - North York Rangers, OJHL (52GP-13G-35A-48PTS)

Rank: 100

I remember watching Fegaras in his OHL draft year with Richmond Hill of the GTHL and thinking he had some terrific potential as a two-way blueliner once his athleticism improved to match his size. Two years later he was one of the best defenders in the OJHL as a U18 player. The four-way mobility has improved a lot. He is way less stiff now. He can quarterback a powerplay with a heavy point shot. He applies himself physically in the defensive end. The decision making and skill application are still raw, but the upside is pretty high. Like any player drafted out of the OJHL, patience will be required. He is going to play in the USHL next year and then head to Cornell the year after. But, I think he has a really unique skill set and profile.

Jake Richard – RW - Muskegon, USHL (56GP-18G-29A-47PTS)

Rank: 111

The fact that NHL Central Scouting chose not to rank him is mind boggling to me. He was one of the most improved players in the USHL from start to finish. The hands and skill down low are really high-end. He is terrific at creating time and space for himself. He was invisible in the first half but was one of the most productive draft eligible players from the USHL down the stretch. A lot of that has to do with how much his skating has already improved. It still has a way to go, but what he can do offensively is innate. The upside is there as the physical profile matures.

Brady Stonehouse – RW – Ottawa 67’s, OHL (68GP-18G-17A-35PTS)

Rank: 139

There are a lot of undersized, but high energy forwards available this year and Stonehouse is my favourite of them. He fits the exact mould of a Cal Clutterbuck type who can carve out a long NHL career. He skates well. He is a real pest who loves engaging physically and playing through the middle. He has a good shot and scoring instincts. He also has more individual skill than people give him credit for; he can create scoring chances in transition. As the Ottawa 67’s become a dominant force over the next few years, he’ll be right in the thick of that success. Stonehouse just screams longtime pro to me.

Grayson Badger – RW – Dexter Southfield School, USHS-Prep (24GP-9G-23A-32PTS), Southshore Kings 18U AAA (23GP-7G-9A-16PTS)

Rank: 158

He might be one of the better skating forwards available this year. Problem is, he plays in the prep loop and not a lot of people have seen him or read about him. How he applies his quickness gives him the profile of a strong bottom six forward at the NHL level. However, he can dazzle with skill at times too. The hands need to catch up to his feet. If they do, he could play way higher in the lineup. The upside here is tremendous if the right development team can unlock his athletic tools.

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - MAY 1: Czech Republic's Ondrej Becher #21 celebrates after scoring a first period goal against Finland during bronze medal game action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on May 1, 2022 in Landshut, Germany. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Ondrej Becher – C – AZ Havirov U20, Czechia U20 (45GP-22G-14A-36PTS)

Rank: 192

Becher was terrific at this year’s U18’s for Czechia and it made me go back and watch some of his games from back in the Czech leagues. What I see is a player with a real projectable frame and skill set. He has a real attacking mentality with the puck and his skating/quickness has the potential to be a standout quality. Consistency is an issue, but in terms of “diamonds in the rough” from Europe this year, Becher would be my favourite. He would really benefit from coming to play in the CHL next year. His game would translate really well, and I believe it would have a real positive affect on his development.

Central Europe Regional Scout - Chapin Landvogt

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 27: Germany vs Czech Republic preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on December 27, 2021 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andrea Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Alexander Blank – C – Krefield Pinguine, DEL (48GP-5G-11A-16PTS)

Rank: Honorable Mention

Yes, the 5'11", 180-pounder is definitely an overager. Yes, he's relatively unknown to even the most studious prospect followers in North America. And yes, he's not been a big scorer since he was underwhelmed as a 17-year-old while tearing apart a B-level junior league simply to stick with the program his former national team father was coaching in. But the well-rounded Blank spent the 20-21 season putting his name on the map as one of the most effective U19 players in Germany's DEL. He then saw his role increase this season and made his way onto the WJC team, where he had three points in Germany's two games before the tourney was canceled. He's been with the men's national team along the way, even if he's rarely made the final cut. Now it's time to see if a team is ready to roll the dice on a kid who already has a ton of pro and international experience, while getting better and better every season, already a capable 3-zone player. No need to draw a blank if your favorite team takes this one with a later round pick. Just look forward to what he might bring to your organization's table.

Russian Regional Scout - Viktor Fomich

Ilya Rogovskiy

Ilya Rogovskiy – C – Loko Yaroslav, MHL (47GP-13G-14A-27PTS)

Rank: 151

Back in August 2021, during the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, a slightly undersized center named Ilya Rogovskiy was among the top guys on the U18 Team Russia and certainly wasn’t under the radar, but as the MHL season started he has found himself buried in the depths of his team’s forward roster, which lead to people not talking too much about him. I’d say it shouldn’t be a reason to overlook his talents: to start, he is pretty mobile and has no issues with separating himself from a defenseman and pretty often he will use that space to fire a precise right-handed wrister. With that being said I would call Rogovskiy more of a pass-first player, as he possesses good vision, quick hands and overall understands the attacking game well enough to be a competent playmaker, not to mention that he is always willing to go to the dirty areas. There are things to work on though, such as defensive game, face-offs and, of course, getting stronger, but the offensive package here is something I see as totally worth the risk.

Slovak Regional Scout - Matej Deraj

RED DEER, ALBERTA - DECEMBER 26: USA vs Slovakia preliminary round action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at WP Centrium on December 26, 2021 in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Maroš Jedlička – C – HKM Zvolen, Slovakia (44GP-17G-21A-38PTS)

Rank: 124

If it wasn't for a knee injury, he would probably have made his presence known at the Men's World Championship in Finland, alongside three top prospects from his country. Juraj Slafkovský, Šimon Nemec, and Adam Sykora. Slafkovsky and Nemec are likely top five picks, but Maroš Jedlička aims to be selected in the middle rounds. As a first year overager, he had a great season in the Slovak top tier league. He's become the leading scorer among all U20 players in the league (including 1st round prospects Nemec and Filip Mešár) and his PPG is the 6th highest in history among junior players. Jedlička is a versatile forward able to play all three positions; he's a fast skater with great work ethic and plays rough. He is able to kill penalties and play in the bottom-six, but he can also create dangerous plays and be a threat in the offensive zone. His all-around abilities and mature game should be a good reason for him to be selected somewhere in the mid rounds. Jedlička projects as a middle-six physical winger who might be really useful for his team in various situations.

Quebec Regional Scout - Éloi Biondo

Samuel Savoie

Samuel Savoie – LW _ Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL (64GP-18G-15A-33PTS)

Rank: 133

My sleeper pick for this year’s class would be Samuel Savoie. The 5’10”, 190lbs centerman didn’t ink his name a ton on the scoresheet this year (33 points in 64 games), but he makes up for it with the smaller details of his game. The small forward is everywhere on the ice; he goes into traffic, battles hard in the corners, forechecks well, and complements these attributes with tremendous speed. The energy he brings to a team is precious, as he always seems to always have a smile on his face when he’s on the ice and constantly communicates and looks to motivate his teammates in more challenging moments. Sam also plays like a wrecking ball, as he won’t hesitate to lay out opponents on open ice despite his smaller frame. With the efforts and combativity that he displays night in and night out, I could see Savoie grind himself a spot into an NHL team’s bottom six in the future.

Video Scout - Sam Happi

Tyler Duke – D – U.S. National U18 Team, USDP (54GP-3G-15A-18PTS), USNTDP Juniors, USHL (24GP-2G-9A-11PTS)

Rank: 132

Duke is fighting an uphill battle as a 5’9” defenceman without spectacular offensive results, but he plays a surprisingly well-rounded game and can really make some plays in transition. He reads the forecheck very well, effectively diagnosing pressure and moving the puck away from it, allowing Duke to transport the puck forwards in an efficient and controlled manner. The defenceman isn’t an easy target on defence either, packing an impressive physical punch for his size. His physicality and aggressive defensive play is actually one of the highlights to his game. Duke doesn’t skate well enough or possess enough puck skill to strike anyone as a future top-pair defenceman, but there is room now for these efficient two-way puckmovers in the bottom half of a team’s blueline, even if they are small. That outcome would be a strong value for where Duke is projected to land at the draft.

Ontario Regional Scout - Dylan Krill

Owen Van Steensel of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Van Steensel – LW – North Bay Battalion, OHL (66GP-10G-24A-34PTS)

Rank: 130

Owen Van Steensel has been my favourite late-riser in the OHL. He started in the bottom six, bringing energy and playing a defensive role well, but he gained his coaches trust by taking advantage of offensive opportunities and became a regular in the top six, playing heavy minutes and in key situations, both on the power play and penalty kill. Despite his slow start, he was able to finish strong. In the new calendar year, he produced eight goals and 20 assists in the remaining 35 games of the season. Van Steensel plays with a bite and gets under the skin of opponents, but he’s very disciplined, only taking six penalties in 66 games. There’s a real possibility that he slips into the late rounds due to his lower point totals and the fact that he wasn’t listed on the final NHL Central Scouting Rankings. However, a team could come away with a steal if he drops too far.

Western Canada Regional Scout - Adam Girard

Bowden Singleton - Oktoks Oilers

Bowden Singleton – RW – Okotoks Oilers, AJHL (60GP-20G-39A-59PTS)

Rank: Honorable Mentions

Reiger Lorenz tends to get most of the attention among NHL draft-eligible prospects in the AJHL, and rightfully so with the way he was able to be a dominant force in the league as a 2004-born forward. However, when watching Lorenz, it’s hard not to notice his Okotoks Oilers teammate and fellow draft-class member Bowden Singleton. Singleton kept pace with the offensive production of Lorenz for parts of the season, even though by the end of the year, the top ranked AJHL prospect was able to build more of a gap between the two.

Singleton's elusive skating and high-end playmaking abilities grab the attention of any spectator's eyes from the moment he hits the ice. He has continued to build on these abilities throughout his tenure in the AJHL, which allowed him to be among the top scorers in the league at just 17 years old. His top-end speed and strength may keep him out of going in the first three rounds, but a player with his instinct to find open ice and natural offensive abilities make him worth keeping on the radar for the later rounds of the NHL draft. While he may not be as NHL ready as other players available in this class, Singleton boasts great value in this range due to his NCAA eligibility and commitment to the University of North Dakota. This will allow him to continue to hone his skills toward building a pro-level style of game while playing for one of the top development programs in the NCAA. By the time Singleton comes out of university, he could be ready to make an impact for the organization that decides to target him on draft day this July.

Video Scout - Zack Szweras

Devin Kaplan – RW - U.S. National U18 Team, USDP (53GP-13G-35A-38PTS), USNTDP Juniors, USHL (22GP-8G-10A-18PTS)

Rank: 69

For my sleeper pick, I decided to go with USNTDP winger Devin Kaplan. The major hindrance on Kaplan’s game is his still raw skating ability and slow pace. However, what Kaplan lacks in quickness, he more than makes up for in his hockey sense, puck skills and physicality. He has played the role of a complementary two-way winger this season and has provided much needed defensive pressure and awareness to a team with loads of talented offensive-minded forwards. As an offensive player, Kaplan can bring a strong net-front presence, while helping out with puck battles down low using his large frame. On top of net-front, he also excels in the cycle, drawing pressure from oppositions before cycling the puck to his teammates. Any team, with the mindset of helping Kaplan improve his skating stride, should be eager to take a flier on this impactful two-way player in hopes of getting a middle-six winger who can play a large role on both special teams.

Head of Video Scouting - Will Scouch

Kenta Isogai – F – Youngstown Phantoms, USHL (59GP-10-12-22)

Rank: Honorable Mention

I absolutely adore this guy. He’s slender and can be soft under pressure at times, but I’m convinced if he were just a bit stronger and more built, he’d be highly regarded in the draft this year. He has been stuck with the Youngstown Phantoms battling for ice time, but Isogai brings speed, skill and confidence to the centre position that you just can’t ignore. He’s one of the more defensively involved and reliable forwards I’ve tracked, constantly hunting down puck carriers, applying pressure, and using skill and vision to turn play around. The production wasn’t there in the first part of the season, but I constantly feel like he’s “almost a thing” every time I see him play. He isn’t huge, but he’ll drop a shoulder and attack the net, and in full stride, he has the skill to embarrass USHL defenders. A player I’d love to nurture and let develop for years, Isogai is a pure skill/speed combo that may need to get stronger, but past a certain point in the draft becomes one of the more exciting names you could take a swing on, especially considering his relative youth with a late-August birthday.

Western Canada Regional Scout - Arlo Schulz

Hudson Thornton – D – Prince George Cougars, WHL (65GP-14G-31A-45PTS)

Rank: 182

Thornton quietly had a great season, posting 14 goals and 45 points in just 65 games from the blueline. Although undersized, Thornton is your prototypical new-era defenseman who skates and moves the puck well. He is a weapon in transition and loves to jump up into the play. He is adept at running the powerplay and is equally comfortable scoring or distributing the puck. As is usually the case with these kinds of prospects, Thornton's game in his own zone is rife with questionable decision making and a lack of strength. Unfortunately, Prince George has a poor track record of prospect development so it remains to be seen if Thornton can round out his game in the next couple of seasons, but there's no denying the talent is there. An exciting boom/bust prospect that represents plus value at the draft table for NHL teams in the middle rounds.

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Notes and Quotes – USA vs. Sweden, Gold Medal Game – Havelid leads composed Swedes to a championship

Chapin Landvogt — Mon, 02 May 2022 20:13:05 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - MAY 1: Sweden's Hugo Havelid #35 makes a against USA’s Gavin Brindley #16 during Gold Medal game action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena in Landshut, Germany on May 1, 2022 (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Notes & Quotes – SWE vs USA – Gold Medal Game

NOTES:

USA vs SWE for GOLD

Making a statement: The US came out firing on all cylinders and had Sweden back on their heels right from the get-go. The Ryan Leonard (2023) 1-0 goal at the 2:24 mark was absolute textbook, from the Devin Kaplan pass to the resounding force of that typical USNDTP determination. The goal followed several top-flight opportunities. At that point in time, it looked like this was going to be a long night for the Swedes.

Weathering the storm: What may arguably have ended up giving the Swedes the confidence they needed to win this game was how they not only persisted after allowing that first goal but calmed down the US momentum. You saw the calming influence of the Mathias Havelids, Calle Odelius’, and Jakob Norens of the world (all 2022). You saw the intelligent play of all three lines that were getting the bulk of the action. There was no throwing pucks away needlessly. The concentration was there. By the time the period had ended, it didn’t matter that a late US goal had tied it at two. It was clear to everyone in the stadium that the USA was not simply going to have its way with Sweden like it did so many other opponents throughout the tournament.

Right place, right time: Arguably the save of the day came from US defenseman Ryan Chesley, who otherwise had his least effective game of the tournament, like many of his colleagues. A high puck came bouncing into the US zone from afar and goalie Trey Augustine took a step out of the crease to engage. It slipped through. Had it not been for Chesley’s late stick pulling it out on the goal-line, we would have seen the tournament’s oddest goal.

Doin’ it Lekkerimaki style: The 1-1 goal was a heck of a wrist shot. It was such a ripper, that plenty in the stadium must have been surprised to see it come from a righty shot not named Jere Lekkerimaki (2022). Indeed, it was Oskar Pettersson (2022) that riffled it to the upper right-hand corner from a good 10-12 yards out. Truth be told, it wasn’t the type of goal you can allow when you’re going for gold.

Murphy’s Law: The USA had two clear-cut breakaways and a partial breakaway before the halfway mark of the game. In each instance, a shot was taken. There was no attempt made to deke out Hugo Havelid, who measures in at 5’10”, 175 pounds. There was no attempt to make him have to put his acrobatic athleticism on display. Noah Ostlund (2022), however, had a partial breakaway that led to a fluky, yet beautiful, goal (2-1) and then Liam Ohgren (2022) got a breakaway and deked out US goaltender Trey Augustine (2023) for another lovely goal, giving Sweden a 5-3 lead at that point. How often do you see one team fail to capitalize on such huge opportunities, only to the see the other then capitalize on theirs?

Pulling a Bedard: US forward Frank Nazar (2022) tied things up at two on a great pass from Tyler Duke (2022). He entered the zone with speed and after somewhat flubbing a drop pass, took a shot from an almost impossible angle around the right face-off circle that went in, well, pretty much in the same manner as several Connor Bedard (2023) goals in this tournament.

Instant karma is gonna get you: Lane Hutson (2022) told the press after the 6-1 victory over the Czech Republic that the US was a 2^nd period team. With the score tied at two heading into the second, the US not only couldn’t gain an edge despite a full out effort, but it then also found itself needlessly in the penalty box several times in succession, eventually leading to a 4-2 lead for the Swedes. One could say that this game’s second period is what cost them the game – and a gold medal.

The all or nothing game: For those who watched most of this tournament, we saw one of the strongest offensive outputs by a US team, perhaps ever. It started with the 8-3 victory over Canada and the US boys marched right through to the final, never scoring less than six goals. Then of all nights, they faced their greatest challenge and suddenly weren’t up to it. I think few would have a problem theorizing what would be in a Best-of-7 or Best-of-5 or even a Best-of-3 series. But the beauty of these tournaments is that gold goes to the one team that wins that one last game.

Top effort goes to waste: US captain Rutger McGroarty (2022) had arguably his best game of the tournament. He ended the day with two goals, both in comeback efforts, but he had the opportunity to be the day’s hero on several occasions. Not only was there a breakaway, but he was fed pucks for several more one-timers and a number of goalmouth scrambles could have seen him double his output. Unlike many of his teammates, he decided to make the most important game his best yet. But it was a performance that would have to settle for silver.

Sheer determination: By golly, this game hasn’t been decided by happenstance. This Swedish club didn’t just find a way to be victorious and take gold, it’s willed its way to this victory. It’s made use of just about every dangerous opportunity it’s had and then some. And the kids have thrown themselves into shots, fought around the net to protect their goalie, made intelligent decisions when it comes to moving the puck and simply getting it out of dangerous areas. There’s been no crumbling and feeling the pressure when the US has made a short and cut the lead. The composure has been convincing and extremely telling of the mental fortitude of these young men.

That important to his team: You may have noticed that top-scorer Lekkerimaki scored the empty-net goal to make it 6-4. But what does that say about coach Havelid’s faith in this mercurial scorer to have him out on the ice protecting a one-goal lead that late in the game. Maybe we’ve just been used to seeing him in all critical offensive situations, but we can’t pretend he doesn’t have the faith of his coach to be one of the guys protecting a lead. The proof was here tonight.

Hands of gold: We need to take this opportunity to talk about Noah Ostlund (2022) and just what he is. You see that he’s a bit smaller and weighs in at roughly 165 pounds. Then you watch him play hockey. Words like cerebral make pop into your mind. For good reason. He does things with rhyme and reason. All the time. He’s made amazing offensive plays and looks like a set-up man, but clearly knows how to score goals as well, having potted another two tonight. He creates and establishes zone control. He makes setting up the power play in the offensive zone very easy. And it feels like he takes every halfway important face-off his team has. Effectively, at that. He’s a cool, calm, and collective player. And he spent this gold medal game confirming what we had seen to date, namely that he’s a first round talent and just has “it”. Ironically, his performance today was everything we all expected of Logan Cooley (2022). These two don’t play all that differently, but the former outshined the latter on this evening.

MVPing it: Not much needs to be said about the performance goaltender H. Havelid had today – and in essence, with each and every game. He absolutely stood on his head and never crumbled despite repeated onslaughts. He looked like a wall, and one could easily tell that he was bringing his opponents to doubt themselves. He was just everything you want to see from a goaltender in a gold medal game. These tournaments are not just about seeing the talent, but seeing what talent steps up to the plate. And no-one stepped up to the plate here in Landshut more than Hugo.

Player of the game for Sweden: Hugo Havelid

Player of the game for the USA: Rutger McGroarty

QUOTES:

Press conference Gold Medal game

US forwards Cutter Gauthier and Rutger McGroarty

On his strong game, which didn’t result in a gold medal…

McGroarty: Obviously right now, it’s tough. You’re asking yourself what could have been done different. What if I had scored on this or that opportunity? You know what, we have a great team

On the team’s good start…

Gauthier: At the start, we were trying to force their defense to turn over the puck and get some good efforts on their goalie. He ended up being awesome. He’s a stud. But I felt that we had our legs today and the energy. The outcome sucks.

On cutting the deficit to 4-3 heading into the second intermission…

Gauthier: In the locker room, we talked about staying on them. I think we were ready for it. I felt like we had a lot of opportunities in the third and that particular goal definitely gave our team some juice and some energy. The guys were fired up in the locker room, but the puck didn’t end up bouncing our way.

On being physical from the get-go and putting a lot of pressure on the goalie, also physically…

Gauthier: Yes, it’s a key part of my game and I’ve been working on it all year. I use it when I can and in a big game like this, that’s what I’m trying to do. But their goalie had a really great game tonight.

US coach Adam Nightingale

On the shot clock being 51 to 15 in favor of the US…

Nightingale: I’m super proud of our guys. They should have no regrets. That’s our sport, a little bit. Hats off to the Swedes. They’ve got a good power play and they got a couple of goals with that. And then their goaltender played pretty well. It’s tough in a single-game elimination tournament, but that’s what it is and what we’ve trained for. It’s what you sign up for. This experience will pay off for this group of kids in the future. Because this is a group of kids that is going to win a lot for USA Hockey in the future.

On his feelings about the outcome…

Nightingale: There’s not much to say. It’d be crazy to think that I have words to help them here. They’ve done everything we’ve asked. Can’t say that we, as a staff, did everything perfect, but we don’t have any regrets. But the boys have nothing to hang their heads about. It’s just standard how we do things as a team, as a staff. How we interact with people on the road. How we treat support staff. How we approach things with humility. I think that’s important, especially when you’re talking about the top talent, to have that humility. This is a great example why. They should be super proud about what they’ve done the past two years.

On what the organization can take away from this tournament…

Nightingale: Like I said, no regrets. I think we’re the best team here from a conditioning standpoint, from a skills standpoint, from a play standpoint… It’s a credit to the guys. This is a tough, tough pill to swallow. But I did tell the guys after the game that when they look in the mirror, they shouldn’t just see the hockey player, they should see the person. We have a locker room full of great people with great parents who are supportive of what we do. It’s really critical in development. My words can’t make them feel better, I understand that.

On maybe learning something about his team in the course of the tournament…

Nightingale: You know, I thought we showed a ton of resiliency. With a group like this, your often up on teams early. We play in a really good league in the USHL, and we play a tough college schedule. I look at this tournament and look back to when we played Canada. That was a really good team, and we were up 2-0. The Canadians came back to tie it. But we did our thing, and nobody panicked. We made it 4-2. They made it 4-3. We still stayed with it. In both games against Czechia, we were down 1-0. And then today, I thought the guys really stayed with it. We probably just ran out of time, to be honest with you. But I’m just super proud of our guys.

Swedish players D Elias Salomonsson, LW Liam Ohgren, and G Hugo Havelid

On if we can now refer to Hugo Havelid as Hugo Boss…

Havelid: Maybe not yet, but hopefully soon. But not quite yet.

On what was going through Havelid’s mind during the game…

Havelid: It was a tough game for me physically. The USA put a lot of pressure on me. I had to put up with a lot and hold out, but the gold medal was on the line. So, I played for my life.

On the US’s attempts to get under his skin right from the beginning…

Havelid: It doesn’t faze me when they try to get me out of focus. It’s just fun. These are the games I live to play for, you know, semifinals and finals. Amazing games to play.

On when it started to set in that the Swedes were going to be able to win this game…

Ohgren: Maybe I’d say in the last 10 minutes when we had the 5-3 lead. I started to ask myself, “Is this really happening?” But you can never relax. The US has a very good team. They have a lot of great players, and you just have to keep bringing your best hockey out there. Thanks to Hugo, we were able to do that.

On the success of the power play in the second period when Sweden gained a 4-2 lead…

Ohgren: The power play has been good the whole tournament and luckily it was again today as well. We had some luck with the officiating today. We got some power plays and we had to kill some off too. But yes, our power play was really good.

On his two-goal night…

Ohgren: For the power play goal, I really am not on that side all that often. I’m usually positioned behind the net. But when I came up and got the puck from Mathias Havelid, I faked the pass and took the shot, which found a way in.

On how Elias Salomonsson felt to get back into game action after being suspended in the last game…

Salomonsson: I think it’s hard to watch your team play from the stands. I was more nervous up there than when I’m on the ice. It was great to back and we had quite a team effort today. We fought for 60 minutes, and Hugo was unbelievable. And now it’s time to party!

On the game Noah Ostlund had, including a surreal goal in the first period, one of his two…

Ohgren: Oh yes, he had a really great game and he’s had a really great overall tournament. He’s a fantastic player and I love playing with him. He’s an unbelievable playmaker and as you saw today, he can score too. So, yes, that first goal was a really big play.

On any possible advantage due to the fact that a number of these Swedish U18 team members got into pro action this past winter…

Ohgren: Yes, for sure. I think it’s really great to have that experience of playing against pro men. They are stronger, faster, and more physical. That experience is certainly of benefit for a number of players on our team.

Swedish coach Magnus Havelid

On his team’s achievements…

Havelid: Their effort was great. I mean, look at everything they went through. When we had that 4-3 lead after two, I told the guys that we are in a good position, especially considering that we’re the underdog. We knew we could get that effort, energy, and team spirit we needed for the third period and that of course helped a lot. And Hugo certainly had a great game. You need a good goalie. And we needed some goal-scorers as well. My best players played their best. The whole team put in the effort. Some players naturally had a lot of ice time, but some others didn’t get that many minutes, but they’re still so important. We had to do so much penalty killing, especially there at the end of the game in the third period. And we achieved that. That was the key. We have some very proud players and team staff. You have to believe you can do it.

On the US’s furious play to kick things off, including its first goal before Sweden had even taken a shot…

Havelid: Yes, the important thing was not to be too negative. We knew they were going to jump on us. You have to handle the situation on the ice. And you know that if you are something like two goals back, it’s going to turn into a long game. You’ve got to focus on the next shift, and you’ll eventually get your own goals as well. Otherwise, it gets to be too tough a situation if you allow too many goals against. You know that one team can be very good while the other plays in its own zone defensively. That second period…. We took some steps forward and scored some goals. That gave us energy.

On sharing this gold medal with his very own nephews…

Havelid: Yes, of course. That’s special. And my two daughters are here as well. But honestly, now I’ve got all these messages arriving on my phone and they’re from a lot of the coaches back in Sweden. Many of them coach these young men in their club teams and now they too are so proud of what we’ve done. We work so close together. I travel a lot in Sweden and visit the coaches. It’s a form of teamwork. Otherwise, it’s tough to get a team together that can perform here. I’m very happy for them.

On Sweden now having won two of the last three U18 tournaments…

Havelid: I think it’s a mix of immense work and good luck. When you win, you start to believe in it. That’s when you’re talking about a winning culture. But hey, it’s tough to win. Once it happens, you can start to believe in it. That was important because we started to win a couple of years ago. And that can be a lot of pressure for the coaches, because then you start to analyze everything too much and the negativity shows up. It’s so easy for that to become a factor. It’s such a fine line between a positive thing and a negative thing. As a nation, you work with development all the time. But you have to believe in what you do. And when you win, then everything thinks you’re doing the right thing.

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daily Update – May 2nd – Sweden wins Gold!

Zack Zsweras — Mon, 02 May 2022 18:49:45 +0000

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - MAY 1: Sweden's Jonathan Lekkerimaki #23 holds the World championship trophy with teammates behind him at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena in Landshut, Germany on May 1, 2022 (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Sweden 6-4 US

The gold medal match was set between the two teams who finished at the top of their respective Groups, United States the leader of Group A and Sweden the leader of Group B. Heading into the match, the United States were the only undefeated team, winning each of their games by at least four goals. Sweden on the other hand, started the tournament off with a shocking 3-2 loss to Latvia, however, ever since they have been on a tear getting consistent scoring from their top prospects as well as amazing goaltending from Hugo Havelid.

It didn’t take long for the United States to grab the early 1-0 lead, as Devin Kaplan made a crisp cross-ice pass to 2023 draft eligible Ryan Leonard who buried it past Hugo Havelid. The United States was looking to build off that momentum as they were dominating possession and shots on net. It wasn’t until seven minutes were remaining in the first, where Sweden was able to answer back, Oskar Pettersson received a feed in the neutral zone from Calle Odelius and ripped the puck on net beating Kenneth Augustine to tie the game. Shortly after their first goal, Noah Ostlund came flying into the offensive zone, bobbled the puck and with incredible hand-eye coordination batted the puck past Augustine to give Sweden their first lead of the night 2-1. Just when Sweden thought they had the momentum, US was able to strike right back. The play started with an outstanding defensive stop by Ryan Chesley, swinging possession in the US favour, where the puck was pushed up the ice by Frank Nazar who burst into the offensive zone went wide and squeaked the puck by Havelid to tie the game up a two apiece. Kenneth Augustine finished the first period allowing two goals on three shots, it was evident that the rest of the US team was going to have to play near perfect if they wanted to take home gold.

The second period was intensely close, neither team gave an inch. US had plenty of chances, but yet again Hugo Havelid kept the door shut, including on a breakaway from US captain Rutger McGroarty. It was the other captain who was the first person in the second period to find the back of the net in Liam Ohgren. Sweden, on the powerplay moved the puck around the outside, finishing it off with a goal through the five-hole by Ohgren to give Sweden the 3-2 lead. Sweden built off that momentum, drawing two more penalties giving them a minute 5-on-3 powerplay, where top 2022 draft eligible Noah Ostlund buried his second of the game extending the Swedish lead to 4-2. It didn’t take long for the United States to answer back, with 16 seconds of 4-on-4 Logan Cooley stick fought off a Swedish defender before feeding captain Rutger McGroarty who sniped the puck past Havelid ending the second period 4-3.

It was a close battle in the third before Jonathan Lekkerimaki created a 2-1 off a turnover, ultimately feeding Liam Ohgren who deked around Augustine to score his second of the night giving Sweden a two-goal lead with ten minutes left in the third period. As the third period winded down, US found themselves on a powerplay thanks to Logan Cooley drawing a slashing penalty. On that powerplay, Isaac howard made a perfectly timed pass to captain Rutger Mcgroarty who beat Hugo Havelid for his second of the night bringing the Swedish lead to one with three minutes remaining in the third period. US with all the momentum had many chances to tie the game up, pulled their goalie with just under two minutes left. However strong defence by Sweden and a late empty net goal by Jonathan Lekkerimaki killed all momentum and hope for the United States. Sweden took the lead to 6-4 with 30 seconds remaining on their way to win gold medal against the US team that everyone expected to dominate this game. The biggest difference in this game was goaltending. Hugo Havelid was able to continue his ridiculous play stopping 47 shots, compared to Augustine who was only tested 14 times, letting in 5 of them.

Noah Ostlund just scored a beautiful goal to give Sweden the 2-1 lead. What a few minutes for Sweden. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/9b5TjM0SGU

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Frank Nazar from a tough angle ties it up. 2-2 with four minutes to go in the first. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/e9WblORQbC

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Noah Ostlund has two goals with a power-play goal. That's four goals on 10 shots. 4-2 Sweden. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/UIUvmqaeXE

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Finland 4-1 Czechia

The first game of the day, the bronze medal match was an exciting one as it held tournament MVP Jiri Kulich and potential top 10 selection in the upcoming draft, Joakim Kemell. Coming into the game today, Finland was looking to bounce back from a devastating 2-1 loss to Sweden. Czechia on the other hand was looking to win a medal for the first time in this tournament since 2014 where they lost to the United States in the finals to capture silver.

This game started off well for Czechia as Adam Bares and Ondrej Becher were on a 2-on-1, with Bares feeding Becher who rifled the puck past Topias Leninonen giving Czechia the early 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, it was Finland’s turn to respond as a laser point shot from 16-year-old defenceman Aron Kiviharju was tipped past Czechia goalie Michael Schnattinger by none other than Joakim Kemell, tying the game up at one. That concluded all of the scoring in the first period as both teams played a closely-knit match. The tie was broken late in the second period as Joakim Kemell created a turnover, something which he has done many times throughout this tournament, giving Finland a 3-on-1. On the 3-on-1, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki fed Jere Lassila right in front of the net, but the shot was originally stopped by Schnattinger before Kaskimaki tapped the rebound right to Jokiam Kemell for his second of the night, giving Finland their first lead at 2-1.

It was more of the same for Finland as they added two more unanswered, both from captain Jere Lassila to finish the game 4-1 and capture the bronze medal. With this game finishing 4-1, it marked the first time this tournament that Jiri Kulich did not score at least one goal in a game. While Czechia is going home without a medal, their performance at this tournament will not be forgotten and is something that should encourage the future of hockey in Czechia.

Daily Top Performers:

Best Forward: SWE, Jonathan Lekkerimaki (1G, 3A, 4P)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki had an outstanding tournament, finishing at the top of the scoring leaderboard with 5 goals, 10 assists for a total of 15 points in only six games. While many may say that it was Noah Ostlund or Liam Ohgren who made the largest impact as a forward on this Swedish team, it has quietly been Lekkerimaki. He has used his brain, skill and patience to find the open passing lanes and exploit them putting his teammates in prime spots to score. While many already had Lekkerimaki as a top prospect for the draft, it is certain that he has justified being that high on people’s boards with his performance in this tournament and the gold medal game.

Liam Ohgren makes it 5-3 for Sweden on this breakaway. Just over 10 minutes to go in the finale. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/osPMOdksr1

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

Best Defenceman: SWE, Mattias Havelid (0G, 3A, 3P)

This marks the third time Mattias Havelid has been chosen as the best defenceman in our daily top performer section and it is because of the amazing work he has done this tournament on the back end for Sweden. Whether it is at even strength or on the powerplay, Havelid is always finding his teammates and advancing the puck up ice. While many expected Havelid’s teammates Calle Odelius and Elias Salomonsson to be large forces on the backend, it was ultimately Havelid who took the majority of the brunt force. It goes without saying that if Mattias Havelid was not on a scout’s radar before this tournament, he most definitely is now. It will be interesting to see where a team will take a gamble on Havelid in the upcoming draft.

Best Goaltender: SWE, Hugo Havelid (47SV, 4.00 GAA, .922 SV%)

For the third straight day Hugo Havelid has captured the best goaltender award and should be considered team Sweden’s MVP. If it wasn’t for Havelid’s play in net Sweden would not have made it out of the quarter finals. Havelid has been heavily relied on, especially the past two games making consecutive 40+ saves on route to securing Sweden’s gold medal win over US. After a shaky start to the tournament losing to Latvia and letting in three goals, Havelid bounced back and was an anchor in net. In a draft year with very few high-end goaltenders, it is obvious that Havelid has worked himself into many scouts’ eyes as the best goaltender in the upcoming draft.

Hugo Havelid with an absolutely mega save here late. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/DND34ASm1a

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

What an effort by the Americans, but not enough here. #U18Worlds pic.twitter.com/HgGqTS9UVL

— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) May 1, 2022

With the tournament at its end, here is the All-star team and MVP as voted by the media, compared to the All-Star team and MVP that I have chosen:

My All-Star Team

Forwards: SWE Jonathan Lekkerimaki – CZE Jiri Kulich – US Isaac Howard

Defence: US Ryan Chesley – CZE Mattias Havelid

Goalie: SWE Hugo Havelid

My MVP: CZE Jiri Kulich

Media All-Star Team

Forwards: SWE Jonathan Lekkerimaki – US Logan Cooley – CZE Jiri Kulich

Defence: US Lane Hutson – CZE Tomas Hamara

Goalie: SWE Hugo Havelid

MVP: CZE Jiri Kulich

2022 NHL DRAFT MCKEEN’S MID-SEASON RANKING TOP 100 – HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 16:42:02 +0000

Recently, we released our mid-season Top 100 for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft (found here). As you might expect, we were not able to fit all of our favourites inside of our mid-season ranking. In this article, we highlighted some honorable mentions. Our scouts spoke to some of their personal favourites that just missed the cut.

Lucas Edmonds of the KIngston Frontenacs. Photo by Robert Lefebvre/OHL Images.

Lucas Edmonds - Wing - Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

5”11, 183lbs

DOB: 2001-01-27

Edmonds is a very interesting case. Born and partially raised in Canada, Edmonds played the majority of his minor hockey in Canada and in the GTHL (a former minor hockey teammate of young Nashville Predators budding young star Phil Tomasino). However, he left to play in Sweden at the age of 16 and had been there since. A late bloomer physically, Edmonds made the decision to return home this year where he is playing and starring for Kingston as an overager. Typically, CHL overagers are not eligible to be drafted, however the NHL ruled that Edmonds falls under European draft eligibility because of his time there and as such can be selected in 2022. A fixture in the top five of OHL scoring through the first half of the OHL season, Edmonds excels because of his high-end vision and skill with the puck. The Frontenacs powerplay runs through Edmonds, and not Shane Wright, because of how well Edmonds navigates traffic and problem solves on the fly to maintain possession. A very well rounded offensive player, the only thing missing from his game is a lack of dynamic skating ability. Obviously given his lack of elite size, this is a concern. However, as stated, Edmonds is a late bloomer physically and with the right training, there is a chance this could be improved. For that reason, he is certainly a candidate for the first three rounds in 2022 if you believe that you can improve his explosiveness. - Brock Otten

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Beau Jelsma - Wing/Center - Barrie Colts (OHL)

5”9, 174lbs

DOB: 2004-04-28

Jelsma is a favourite of our video scouting team and our OHL scouting team and if you watch him play it is easy to see why. A little ball of energy, Jelsma is a lot of fun to watch. Early on in the year, he was making the most of limited ice time on a deep Barrie Colts’ team, consistently creating scoring chances by using his speed and skill to attack. However, after dealing Colorado Avalanche prospect Oskar Olausson at the trade deadline, Jelsma was elevated in the lineup and his offensive performance and consistency has improved. Jelsma may not be big, but he is strong and this allows him to not only play through contact, but also initiate it. His combination of quickness, skill, physical intensity, and goal scoring ability makes him a very interesting prospect. The true question mark about his game is his vision. Jelsma is always looking to push the pace, however, turnovers have been an issue from time to time as he tries to force things through the middle. Playing with older and more skilled players more consistently, can Jelsma identify passing lanes on the fly and do a better job of utilizing his linemates to help sustain pressure for longer periods of time? He is a player to watch in the second half, especially on a red hot Barrie Colts team who had previously underwhelmed this season. - Brock Otten

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Julian Lutz - Wing - EHC Munchen (DEL)

6”2, 185lbs

DOB: 2004-02-29

Entering this season, Julian Lutz was widely seen in the scouting community as the biggest thing out of Germany since, well, Tim Stützle. This was due in strong part to him putting on an incredibly promising show with the Red Bull Juniors in his DY -1 as primarily a 16-year-old, finishing second on his team in scoring in the AlpsHL, a fascinating central European pro league in which the U23 team plays against established men. A wonderful skater with powerful strides and a strong drive to the goal, Lutz can shoot with authority while seemingly always having an open eye for better-positioned teammates. As such, Lutz spent last season looking like a top 50 option for next summer's draft, if not possibly a first round talent. He even signed a contract with Red Bull Munich this past summer. Unfortunately for Lutz, who has also been underwhelming internationally in the last calendar year, he has missed the entire 21-22 season thus far. More worrisome is that his exact injury still has not been reported and although the team initially reported he'd return to action around mid-November, we're quickly headed into February and he has yet to suit up for anybody this season. As such, our leaving him out of the top 100 is based very much on what has NOT happened this season as opposed to what has. There is no body of work to grade this season. There's simply no measure on his progress or the level of his abilities to be made; not even with respect to when and if he'll play again. Will he be drafted, even if he doesn't play a minute this season? As long as the injury isn't career-threatening (and there's no indication it is), most certainly. Someone will take him based on what he has shown to date, which is an overall package of skill and physicality often worthy of that of a first round selection. Any return to action this season that sees him even somewhat thrive at the DEL level could catapult him right back into top 50 consideration, but the hockey world needs to see that this kid is going to play again. - Chapin Landvogt

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-HM-julian_lutz_-_2nd_period_12_55_-_13_7.mp4

Cruz Lucius - Wing - US U18 NTDP (USHL)

6”0, 176lbs

DOB: 2004-04-05

Lucius is the brother of Chaz Lucius, the 18th overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the most recent draft. Like Chaz, Cruz Lucius is currently playing his draft year with the NTDP and will join his brother at the University of Minnesota next season (assuming Chaz, who is having an excellent freshman season, hasn’t already graduated to the pro game by then). Cruz had 42 points in 42 games for the U17s last year, but has played only 8 games with the U18s in 2021-22 due to injury. He doesn’t boast the exceptional scoring ability that his brother possesses but is a shifty forward with good hands who can threaten off the rush. Lucius could be a candidate to rise if he can get healthy over the second half of the season, but the major question will be the degree to which his injuries have impacted his skill development. Without a standout skill like his brother Chaz, it will be more difficult for Cruz to establish himself as a prospect who demands a high selection on draft day. Lucius can stickhandle and he moves well, but he’s struggled to get to dangerous areas this year and I think that’s the root of his troubles in the games that he’s been healthy for this season. There have been times where he gets out in space and gets to really put his puck skills to use, and those are times where he looks like a top pick, but he hasn’t been consistent in those flashes. - Sam Happi

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-HM-cruz_lucius_-_2nd_period_17_46_-_17_58.mp4

Fabian Wagner - Wing - Linkoping J20 (Swe-J20)

6”0, 176lbs

DOB: 2004-05-07

Wagner seems to be flying a little under the radar in Sweden, perhaps as a result of the greater attention concentrated on his Linkoping teammate Filip Bystedt (a big, skilled centre rated as a near first-rounder by McKeen’s). Wagner has been similarly effective for Linkoping’s U20 team, sitting at just under the point per game benchmark. Moreover, Wagner has played eight SHL games this season: a signal that his game is near pro-level and that he isn’t simply riding the coattails of Bystedt and Linkoping’s other talented players. Like other facets of his profile, Wagner’s international resume isn’t quite as strong as Bystedt’s, but Wagner boasts a highly respectable seven points in nine U18 games, including four in five at the Hlinka tournament. Wagner is a skilled puck-carrier who navigates pressure very well on entries, able to control the puck through checks and establish offensive zone possession, but he’s still figuring out how to become an offensive threat after gaining the line. He is contained outside too easily and too easily settles to just go for a skate around the perimeter of the offensive zone. Learning to leverage his puck skills to get to the middle of the ice is the next challenge in Wagner’s development. - Sam Happi

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-HM-fabian_wagner_-_3rd_period_27_46_-_28_8.mp4

Santeri Sulku - Center/Wing - Jokerit U20 (FIN-U20)

6”3, 187lbs

DOB: 2004-06-13

Sulku is a 6’3” center with an excellent shot and pretty good instincts for space in the offensive zone. He has 24 points in 22 games in Finland’s junior circuit this season, nine of them being goals. As a scorer, Sulku inflicts his damage largely from stationary positions: one-timers or catch-and-release shots from the wing, quick shots off a pass into the slot, those types of plays. A result of that playstyle is that he’s quite powerplay-centric in his impact, excelling in slower situations where the puck can be worked around the offensive zone but not as dangerous in more fluid, often even-strength situations. His ability to threaten in motion with the puck is ultimately what’s holding him back from being a higher-level prospect. He doesn’t skate particularly well nor is he a great puckhandler, so Sulku isn’t a very consistent rush threat or a player that really commands the play in any direction. He’s often in the right spots to finish a play, but he doesn’t move the puck to the right spots himself, and teams are generally looking for players with more play-driving ability with their earlier draft selections. Still, finishing is a valuable skill to have and Sulku could have an NHL future if he can increase his speed and continue to get open at higher levels of play. - Sam Happi

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-HM-santeri_sulku_-_2nd_period_21_35_-_21_47.mp4

Devin Kaplan - Wing - US U18 NTDP (USHL)

6’3, 198lbs

DOB: 2004-01-10

Kaplan caught my eye early in the year, and setting aside his lackluster production, he brings a ton to the table worth exploring. He’s 6’3” and gifted with a great set of hands to attack opponents one on one with power and skill, with good north/south speed to get up the ice. Kaplan is a top-5 offensive transition player I’ve tracked to this point, and while not the most efficient player in transition, he’s a key transporter whenever he’s on the ice. There are inconsistent, but notable instincts to get pucks to the middle of the ice, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he’s still learning how best to apply his package of talents. He gives me strong Landon Slaggert vibes, and I won’t undervalue that type of player again. Big, quick, skilled, with some good data to back it up. - Will Scouch

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Top-100-HM-devin_kaplan_-_1st_period_11_2_-_11_14.mp4

Joel Jonsson - Wing - Mora IK J20 (Swe-J20)

5”9, 152lbs

DOB: 2004-03-09

This is a huge shot in the dark. He’s an undersized winger playing for Mora’s junior team, bringing excellent raw quickness and skill, driving great offensive transition results. He’s small, but rambunctious and has some of the best flashes of talent I’ve seen relative to the talk I’ve heard about him, which is almost zero. My tracking data isn’t as optimistic, but he’s an efficient, high volume offensive transition quarterback with questionable offensive threat generation at 5v5, but he has only just started playing J20 hockey this season and has plenty of raw talent to improve over the next few years. - Will Scouch

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Adam Sýkora - Winger/Center - HK Nitra (SVK)

5”10, 172lbs

DOB: 2004-09-07

An agile and feisty winger who plays a 200-foot game. Sýkora is always the first one on the puck; he is constantly making the defenseman’s job difficult with his tireless forechecking and fighting for the puck. Even though he’s undersized, Sýkora is fearless and doesn’t shy away from physical battles. He displays decent offensive qualities as well, but he’s best used as a forechecking forward and on the penalty kill. He’s willing to sacrifice his body and block a lot of shots. Sýkora is getting a lot of exposure in the 2021-22 season, since he’s playing on the same team as one of the top prospects for the next draft, Šimon Nemec. Sýkora started the year as a bottom six center, but was eventually moved to the wing, where he played the last year, and it more fits his playing style. He has recently moved from the bottom six to Nitra’s second line, which significantly helped his scoring. Sýkora’s weakness might be a lower ceiling, but there’s a lot to like about him; he’s a great skater and a fearless and dynamic two-way forward. He doesn’t have the same amount of potential as the upcoming top prospects from Slovakia but could be a fine middle-round pick. - Matej Deraj

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Kirill Kudryavtsev - Defense - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

5”11, 200lbs

DOB: 2001-02-05

Kudryavtsev started his first season in North America showing no difficulty adjusting to a new league and competition. As a rookie, Kudryavtsev has been very effective and has been relied on heavily, with an average time on ice of 23 minutes per game, spending time on both the power play and penalty kill. Kudryavtsev is contributing offense consistently throughout the season, currently 18th in points for defencemen, and 3rd for most assists for rookies. When you watch Kudryavtsev, you’ll quickly see that his defensive ability is where he’s best. Rarely ever out of position, Kudryavtsev is very aware of his surroundings and understands when he needs to be aggressive and use both his great stick positioning to apply pressure on puck carriers and block passing lanes, but also when to use his body to help protect the puck and initiate contact. What also stands out is his reaction time and ability to read and anticipate play. Understanding where he needs to be to suppress chances defensively, but also getting into open space to create passing options for his teammates. Only responsible for two penalties this year, Kudryavtsev is also very disciplined, making smart plays consistently that don’t cost his team. If points continue to come, then Kudryavtsev will be one of the top defencemen drafted from the OHL. - Dylan Krill

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Tnias Mathurin - Defense - North Bay Battalion (OHL)

6”3, 183lbs

DOB: 2001-01-15

The more games I watch of Mathurin, the more I’m becoming a big fan. Looking at his stats alone, nothing jumps out and catches your eye, but what is so intriguing about Mathurin is the fine details that he brings on a shift-to-shift basis. That includes being one of the most consistent defensive defensemen in the OHL at suppressing plays in his own zone and being very efficient at creating DZ exits and transitioning up the ice by either skating and carrying the puck or finding an open teammate to start the breakout. What impresses me most, is how poised and calm he looks in high pressure moments, whether it’s defending an odd man rush or escaping pressure in the DZ. Staying calm allows Mathurin to not become overwhelmed, so he can focus on the play in front of him and make the smart decision. The best part of Mathurin’s game is his gap control, but most specifically, his stick positioning and use of his body to defend. He is actively using his stick to apply pressure on the puck carrier, forcing them to make a play, but also uses his size appropriately, bringing physicality. It’s still a bit unknown how high Mathurin’s offensive ceiling is, but with his defensive abilities alone, he should be a target for many teams at the draft. - Dylan Krill

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Tomas Hamara - Defense - Tappara (Liiga/U20)

6”0, 185lbs

DOB: 2004-03-09

A solid puck mover, Hamara can have a very positive impact on the game from an offensive perspective. He blends quickness and solid puck skills to be an active and successful leader of the breakout, consistently pushing across the opposing blueline to help his team set up in the offensive zone. Once in the zone, he surveys the ice well and holds the opposing blueline with strong lateral pushes, making him a capable powerplay quarterback. A Czech defender who has played in Finland the last four seasons, Hamara has even earned a long look at the Liiga level this year and has not looked out of place. Hamara should also be a big part of the Czech team at the U18’s this April. He didn’t make our Top 100 over concerns that he does not have any standout qualities other than his mobility. His play in the defensive zone could be classified as average, and even his offensive upside remains a bit of a mystery. The U18’s will be a huge event for Hamara to prove that he should be ranked higher. - Brock Otten

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Cole Knuble - Wing - Fargo Force (USHL)

5”10, 170lbs

DOB: 2004-07-01

Cole Knuble, the son of former NHL netfront presence Mike Knuble, is definitely a different player than his father. He certainly possesses the same competitiveness as his Dad but is not blessed with the same kind of size and strength down low. Cole is more of a high-energy attacker who loves to drive the net and apply pressure on the forecheck. He has a high end shot and good instincts to find space in the middle too. His puck skills would probably best be classified as average giving him more of a bottom six projection at the NHL level. Additionally, he may not be the type of dynamic skater you like to see in a 5’10 winger whose game is predicated on the ability to attack. For that reason, he just missed our top 100. However, he is a player we like and someone who does have a shot at a long NHL career. Cole will attend Notre Dame next year and a few years at college will give him an opportunity to add strength to be a more consistent offensive contributor to match his high work rate. - Brock Otten

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Liam Steele - Defense - Stanstead College (CAHS)

6”4, 216lbs

DOB: 2004-04-21

What a story it would be to see Steele drafted this year, another NHL prospect out of Great Britain. And I would be shocked if he is not. Sure, he plays out of Stanstead College, a Canadian prep school out of Quebec (which Mark Jankowski was drafted out of). This makes evaluating him difficult. There is always a chance that scouts wait for him to head to the BCHL next year before heading to Cornell the year after, to see him against a bit better competition. However, big, physical defenders who move as well as Steele do not grow on trees, even if the finer points of his game and approach are extremely raw. His four-way mobility is smooth and he shows massive potential as a stay at home type, at the very least. He has been able to make an impact as a puck mover at the prep level this year, but it remains to be seen whether that is translatable. Given the many question marks, it seems reasonable to keep him outside of our Top 100 for the time being. However, he is still a player worth mentioning and is someone an NHL team could easily view as a higher selection with upside. - Brock Otten

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Matthew Morden - Defense - St. Andrew’s College (CISAA)

6”5, 200lbs

DOB: 2004-07-29

Much like Steele, Morden is a Canadian prep school defender who has an intriguing size/mobility combination. He looks like a man among boys oftentimes at the prep level, even playing against high end U.S. programs like Shattuck’s St. Marys. He stays with attackers well off the rush and is a potential beast down low. Morden also shows potential as an offensive defender at the level, consistently cycling down deep in the offensive zone to help maintain, gain, or prolong possession. Morden did recently play a couple games with Muskegon of the USHL and did not look out of place. Hopefully he sees a few more games at that level once the CISAA season is complete as it serves as a great comparison for scouts. As is, the physical tools are very alluring. Morden was one of my favourite defense prospects going back to his OHL draft year, and I love the fact that he’s headed to Harvard, who have developed defencemen really well under Ted Donato. - Brock Otten

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Jace Weir - Defense - Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

6’2, 185lbs

DOB: 2004-05-21

Weir’s numbers don’t jump off the page and suggest that he is a must draft prospect, but in the details of his game you can see the potential for him to make it at the next level. Weir staked himself as the top defender on the right side for Steve Konowalchuk’s Rebels this year, ahead of the previously drafted Kyle Masters, which shows how quickly his game has matured. The reason for this is his poise, particularly with the puck. He is a player that has a very calm and controlled style. He is a good passer and makes good decisions with the puck while also having some decent puck skills. He doesn’t wow you with an end-to-end rush, but he can hold the puck for an extra second and create a lane but will also take a hit to make a smart play in his own zone. He has worked himself onto the second powerplay unit in the last dozen games and has shown he can both distribute and shoot from the blue line. He isn’t overly physical, but he doesn’t get out matched physically. He uses his reach and stick to break up plays and is particularly effective with his gap control. His skating is fine, but he could use another gear at the top to show more dynamism to his game. Being a right shot with size only adds to the reasons I have him as a mid-round pick at this point. - Vince Gibbons

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Hunter Mayo - Defense - Red Deer Rebels

6’1, 200lbs

DOB: 2004-05-07

Hunter’s game is based around his competitive and highly engaged personality. He is a player that is hard to play against and doesn’t give an inch in any battle. Because of his competitiveness, he wins more battles than he should. He is a strong player along the wall where his thick frame allows him to lean on wingers and make them work constantly to keep the puck moving. In his own zone he is a presence where he can physically impose himself on his opposition, he is very strong in front of his own net and equally effective as a player defending the cycle. He plays within himself and rarely pinches or takes risks. His puck movement game is a bit pedestrian, but it suits his style of game. He is a strong penalty killer who has an active stick when he isn’t physically engaged and for his style of game rarely crosses the line discipline-wise. He provides a physical presence that teams always like to have in their lineup. Mayo doesn’t cherry pick his hits, and is willing to make an open ice hit, either at the offensive blue line or in the neutral zone. He picks his spots and rarely gets caught out of position after laying the body. His footwork can be a little clunky, but he gets to where he needs to be. He can jump his gap and lower a hit as good as anyone in the league these days and manages to do so within the rules. He is in control of his body when he hits. If he makes it, he will do so as a penalty killer and physical guy playing on the 3^rd pairing which is why he is still intriguing despite his limited offensive upside. - Vince Gibbons

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Kirill Dolzhenkov - Wing - Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

6’6, 235lbs

DOB: 2004-04-20

You might expect such a massive winger like Dolzhenkov to be a poor skater, especially since we currently have him ranked outside of our Top 100. But, that is actually not the case. There is certainly some room for improvement in his overall agility and ability to change direction, however Dolzhenkov is actually fairly quick in a straight line, especially for a guy his size. Due to this and his size advantage, he finds a lot of success driving the net. He is also a physical player who looks to use that huge frame to impose his will on the opposition. Offensively, his big shot is his biggest weapon, giving him solid potential as a goal scorer. His offensive contributions have been fairly inconsistent this year (although he has performed better lately), and our European scouting staff does wonder how well he anticipates play in the offensive zone. However, players like Dolzhenkov are pretty rare these days and if he closes the season well (hopefully earning a spot on the Russian U18 roster), he could easily push for a spot inside of our Top 100 before the draft. - Brock Otten

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Kyren Gronick - Wing - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

5’11, 185lbs

DOB: 2004-02-27

Gronick has perhaps slipped under the radar for the 2022 draft class so far but look for his trajectory to rise from now until June. He was the 2nd highest scoring 15-year-old in Saskatchewan in 2019-20, and burst on the WHL scene in the shortened pandemic mini-season in 2021 with the Prince George Cougars, posting 11 points in 17 games as a rookie. He started this season slowly, requested a trade, and was dealt back to his home province Saskatoon Blades, where his point pace has almost doubled so far. The Cougars are a weak program, so this move will likely be good for his development. Gronick is under six feet tall but has a fairly sturdy build with good strength on his skates. He is unafraid to go into corners and to the front of the net, able to create offense both off the rush and off the cycle with equal comfort. His skating is constantly improving, and he possesses a nice offensive skill set with good playmaking abilities and a soft pair of hands. He can kill penalties and is a threat to score shorthanded too. As his confidence continues to grow down the stretch, look for Gronick to establish himself as a mid-round prospect with a chance to shoot up the board on draft day. - Arlo Schulz

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Alexis Gendron - Center - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

5’10, 174lbs

DOB: 2003-12-20

Gendron is a late-born 2003 forward who plays for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL. He’s the son of former NHLer, Martin Gendron, who now works for the Philadelphia Flyers as their Eastern Canada amateur Scout. Gendron is a small, but speedy winger that doesn’t refuse any challenges on the physical side of the game. Gendron’s temper can get his team into trouble with undisciplined penalties at times, but at the same time it’s a trait that he’ll need to carry on in order to be successful at the next level. It’s about finding a balance. Despite his lack of size (only 5’10 and 175 pounds), he isn’t the kind of guy that gets intimidated by others and will play through contact because he often gets to the puck first after chipping the puck behind defensemen. Gendron’s quick hands and speed are his bread and butter on the ice. He’s one of the few players in this league that can make highly skilled plays at top speed. The release on his shot is pretty scary for goalies as well, as he’s accurate and powerful. On the downside, Gendron will need to improve more in his own zone. He has the tendency to cheat a little bit on the offensive side of things, which has resulted in odd man rushes for the opposing team at times. If you look at his stats (18 points in 31 games), you won’t be impressed by any means, but it’s the positive impact that he creates on the ice that is really intriguing with him. Just by using his speed, he puts the defensemen on their heels and that generates space for his teammates to gain the offensive zone. - Charles Lassonde

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Brayden Schmitt - Defense - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

5’11, 160lbs

DOB: 2004-03-18

Schmitt is an intriguing defenseman who has slowly improved throughout the season. Being with top offensive defender Miguel Tourigny early in the season didn’t really help him, because he had to focus more on the defensive side of things and had to cover up for Tourigny’s offensive-minded game style. Without Tourigny (who was dealt), Schmitt has thrived more and has appeared more and more confident and consistent on the ice. In my mind, he’s a defenseman that has a dual package, being good in transition and reliable in his own zone. He makes high percentage plays, which always eases the breakouts for his team. He also has played a big role on the power-play units (playing on both lines). His shots aren't lethal by any means, but he is able to generate scoring chances by simply finding the shooting lane and getting the puck there for rebounds. His main strategy in the offensive end is more to distribute pucks from the top of the umbrella, feeding guys like Tourigny, Pinard and Gendron. In the most recent stage of the season, he has begun to jump up even more and take offensive chances, which makes me believe that he’ll thrive even more as a defenseman without Tourigny in the line-up (more ice-time). - Charles Lassonde

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Fraser Minten - Center/Wing - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

6’1, 185lbs

DOB: 2004-07-05

Playing with our 75th ranked prospect Matthew Seminoff in Kamloops, Minten has been a consistent source of secondary scoring for the red hot Blazers. The duo works extremely well off of each other, grinding to wear down opposing defenders. Like Seminoff, Minten is an extremely versatile player. He is receiving tough defensive assignments and leading the penalty kill. But he also plays net front on the powerplay and has a solid understanding of how to slip in and out of coverage to get open looks. From my understanding, his skating has also improved considerably this season, which has allowed him to be more effective in transition. In terms of individual skill and creativity, Minten’s game does have some limitations. But as a hardworking, intelligent, two-way center, Minten does have potential as a middle six player and is someone who has a great chance of moving into our Top 100 before the draft. - Brock Otten

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Stefan Milosevic - Defense - Frolunda HC (SHL)

6”3, 214lbs

DOB: 2003-12-02

Milosevic is a bit similar to Jacob Moverare in the LA Kings system. He is big, strong and gets the job done, be it in the corners or in-front of the net. He has to do some work in regard to his skating, be it laterally and in a north-south direction. But his hockey IQ is very strong, and he uses that smartness to read the game well and position himself right on the ice. His shot is heavy, and he can place it with accuracy. The interesting thing with Milosevic, which makes him a bit of an outlier, is the fact that he has risen from Sweden's division 2 (the fourth level) to the SHL with Frölunda (albeit in limited minutes) in less than a year. He practices with Frölunda's trade team, and the confidence he has gained from Roger Rönnberg is impressive. I don't foresee him getting picked in any of the top three rounds, but it would not surprise me to see him being picked after the top 100 has passed. A team will find him intriguing and can use a later pick on a big strong defender and since he is in Frölunda, I predict it will be the Redwings. - Patrik Bexell

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Devin Kaplan – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #10

Top 20 Philadelphia Flyers Prospects

1. Matvei Michkov

2. Cutter Gauthier

3. Tyson Foerster

4. Bobby Brink

5. Oliver Bonk

6. Emil Andrae

7. Helge Grans

8. Carson Bjarnason

9. Elliott Desnoyers

10. Ronnie Attard

11. Egor Zamula

12. Ethan Samson

13. Alexei Kolosov

14. Alexis Gendron

15. Olle Lycksell

16. Devin Kaplan

17. Samuel Ersson

18. Denver Barkey

19. Samu Tuomaala

20. Zayde Wisdom

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #14 Philadelphia Flyers

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospects

2022 NHL DRAFT REVIEW: EASTERN DIVISION – SCOUT’S FAVOURITES

Brock Otten’s Favourite Selections

Reid Dyck (BOS, #183)

Jake Richard (BUF, #170)

Denton Mateychuk (CBJ, #12)

Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

Calle Odelius (NYI, #65)

Adam Sykora (NYR, #63)

Zam Plante (PIT, #150)

Connor Kurth (TBL, #192)

Nic Moldenhauer (TOR, #95)

Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

Will Scouch’s Favourite Selections

Vladimir Grudinin (CAR, #156)

Adam Sykora (NYR, #63)

Jiri Kulich (BUF, #28)

Gleb Trikozov (CAR, #60)

Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

Filip Mesar (MTL, #26)

Noah Ostlund (BUF, #16)

Denton Mateychuk (CBJ, #12)

Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

Alexander Suzdalev (WSH, #70)

Sam McGilligan’s Favourite Selections

1: Ivan Miroshnichenko (WSH, #20)

2: Gleb Trikozov (CAR, #60)

3: Noah Östlund (BUF, #16)

4: Calle Odelius (NYI, #65)

5: Lane Hutson (MTL, #62)

6: Seamus Casey (NJ, #46)

7: Vladimir Grudinin (CAR, #156)

8: Isaac Howard (TB, #31)

9: Devin Kaplan (PHI, #69)

10: David Jiricek (CBJ, #6)

MCKEEN’S 2022 NHL DRAFT GUIDE – 15 TOP SLEEPERS – McKeen’s team choice

George Fegaras – D - North York Rangers, OJHL (52GP-13G-35A-48PTS)

Jake Richard – RW - Muskegon, USHL (56GP-18G-29A-47PTS)

Brady Stonehouse – RW – Ottawa 67’s, OHL (68GP-18G-17A-35PTS)

Grayson Badger – RW – Dexter Southfield School, USHS-Prep (24GP-9G-23A-32PTS), Southshore Kings 18U AAA (23GP-7G-9A-16PTS)

Ondrej Becher – C – AZ Havirov U20, Czechia U20 (45GP-22G-14A-36PTS)

Alexander Blank – C – Krefield Pinguine, DEL (48GP-5G-11A-16PTS)

Ilya Rogovskiy – C – Loko Yaroslav, MHL (47GP-13G-14A-27PTS)

Maroš Jedlička – C – HKM Zvolen, Slovakia (44GP-17G-21A-38PTS)

Samuel Savoie – LW _ Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL (64GP-18G-15A-33PTS)

Tyler Duke – D – U.S. National U18 Team, USDP (54GP-3G-15A-18PTS), USNTDP Juniors, USHL (24GP-2G-9A-11PTS)

Owen Van Steensel – LW – North Bay Battalion, OHL (66GP-10G-24A-34PTS)

Bowden Singleton – RW – Okotoks Oilers, AJHL (60GP-20G-39A-59PTS)

Devin Kaplan – RW - U.S. National U18 Team, USDP (53GP-13G-35A-38PTS), USNTDP Juniors, USHL (22GP-8G-10A-18PTS)

Kenta Isogai – F – Youngstown Phantoms, USHL (59GP-10-12-22)

Hudson Thornton – D – Prince George Cougars, WHL (65GP-14G-31A-45PTS)

2022 IIHF U18 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Notes and Quotes – USA vs. Sweden, Gold Medal Game – Havelid leads composed Swedes to a championship

Notes & Quotes – SWE vs USA – Gold Medal Game

NOTES:

USA vs SWE for GOLD

QUOTES: