Dmitri Gamzin – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: Victor Nuño – Dynasty Stock Watch – New York Islanders Edition

Victor Nuño — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 20:37:11 +0000

Team Outlook

There is no question that Matthew Schaefer has completely altered both the trajectory and timing of the competitive window for the Islanders. His historic season has accelerated the organization into more of a win-now phase, reshaping how they evaluate and deploy talent across the roster. With cornerstone pieces already in place at each position, Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, Schaefer, and Ilya Sorokin, the foundation is strong, but the supporting cast remains a work in progress.

This places the Islanders in a unique transitional phase, balancing immediate competitiveness with the need to develop and integrate younger talent. The prospect pipeline is not among the league’s deepest, but it carries increased importance as the organization looks to round out its roster with cost-controlled contributors. From a dynasty perspective, this creates both opportunity and volatility. Identifying which prospects can meaningfully support the current core, and which players may be overvalued relative to their long-term projection, will be key to gaining an edge.

Buy Candidates

Dmitri Gamzin, G

Gamzin is quietly emerging as one of the more intriguing goaltending prospects outside the NHL. Playing in Russia, he has shown strong composure and technical ability, with a calm, controlled style that projects well to higher levels. There are also some strong indicators beneath the surface. Hockey Prospecting gives him a 97% chance of becoming an NHLer, with notable comparables including Igor Shesterkin and fellow Islanders goaltender Sorokin. He was not drafted until age 21 and has already played 79 KHL games, which suggests his timeline may be shorter than that of a typical goalie prospect.

Goaltenders always carry inherent risk, but Gamzin’s profile is trending in the right direction. With Marcus Gidlof traded to St. Louis in the trade that brought Brayden Schenn to the Islanders, Gamzin’s stock gets a slight boost as the top goaltending prospect behind Sorokin in the Islanders’ system. The organization also lacks a clear long-term answer in net beyond its current group, giving Gamzin a realistic path to future value. If he were ever dealt to a weaker goaltending system, as Gidlof was, his stock could rise even more. This is the kind of profile that can reward dynasty managers who buy in before broader recognition sets in.

Kashawn Aitcheson, D

Aitcheson brings a highly projectable blend of physicality, mobility, and offensive upside that fits the mold of the modern NHL defenseman. While he has long been known for his edge and willingness to punish opponents, it was his offensive game that took a meaningful step forward this season. As captain of the Barrie Colts, he has helped lead the club to the Eastern Conference semifinals in the OHL playoffs as the second seed behind Brantford. He moves pucks efficiently, can support the attack, and now looks more capable of providing secondary offense than he did a year ago. His pNHLe via the NHL Rank King application is nearing 80, which feels like an unlikely outcome, so I would not buy expecting that level of offense at the next level.

From a fantasy standpoint, his appeal is especially strong in multi-category formats. Defensemen who can contribute across blocks, shots, and hits (BASH) often outperform expectations, and Aitcheson is trending toward that type of profile. Even if not every hit connects, the ones that do are often the kind that change momentum and force opposing forwards to keep their heads up. He plays with the sort of intimidation factor that can alter how opponents attack his side of the ice. One of his comparables is Cody Ceci, which feels like a reasonable stylistic match, though Aitcheson appears to show better decision-making and less panic with the puck at this stage. As his overall game continues to round out, his value is likely to keep rising, making him a strong buy before that progression becomes more widely recognized.

Victor Eklund, LW

Eklund remains one of the more exciting prospects in the Islanders’ system, and arguably one of the most dynamic offensive talents in their pipeline. He combines high-end skating with an aggressive, pace-driving style that allows him to attack defenders, generate chances off the rush, and keep pressure on in the offensive zone. While his SHL production dipped this season, he showed well at the U20 World Junior Championships, helping Sweden win gold and reinforcing the idea that he can elevate in high-pressure settings. Since arriving in North America, he has also made an immediate impression with AHL Bridgeport, which only adds to his appeal within a prospect pool that could use more speed and creativity up front.

What makes Eklund especially valuable in the Islanders’ system is that he brings skills their pipeline does not have in abundance. His Fantasy Hockey Life skater card points to elite transition play in the SHL when carrying the puck in and out of the zone, along with strong Fenwick numbers, loose-puck recoveries, and puck-battle results. He also offers some BASH value, with solid hit and block rates for a forward. There is still room for growth in terms of consistency and decision-making, but the combination of skill, pace, and competitiveness gives him a real chance to emerge as a top-six option and one of the organization’s more important forward prospects.

Sell Candidates

Cole Eiserman, LW

Eiserman’s value remains heavily tied to his elite goal-scoring reputation, and while that shot is very real, it may also be inflating his dynasty price. He can beat goalies in multiple ways and is dangerous whenever he finds space in his spots, but the rest of his game still carries notable concerns. His off-puck play remains underdeveloped, and there are holes in his transition game and puck-battle ability. He is not especially physical, and for a player whose fantasy appeal is so tied to scoring, that creates more risk than his name value may suggest.

The concern for fantasy managers is that if Eiserman tops out as more of a one-dimensional trigger man than a complete offensive driver, he may struggle to earn the kind of all-situations role needed to maximize his upside. If all he really does at a high level is shoot, he could end up limited to 14 minutes a night with much of his value tied to power-play deployment. That creates a wide range of outcomes, from a useful specialist to something more disappointing, with names like Filip Zadina, Daniel Sprong, or Anthony Beauvillier coming to mind as stylistic caution points. Given that he has had time to round out the weaker areas of his game and the progress has been modest, this may be the ideal time to sell while the goal-scoring hype still drives the market.

Kamil Bednarik, C

Bednarik is a strong real-life play driver, but his fantasy outlook appears far more limited than his name value may suggest. He works well within the flow of play, can support possession, and brings traits that should help him earn trust from coaches, especially in matchup and penalty-killing situations. The issue for dynasty managers is that those strengths do not always translate into meaningful fantasy value. At this point, he looks more like the type of player who could become an effective bottom-six center than someone with a clear top six offensive path.

That concern is reinforced by the production profile. While there have been flashes of skill and playmaking, he has not translated that into more than half a point per game in the NCAA, and Hockey Prospecting gives him just a one percent chance of becoming a star, which feels about right. As the Islanders’ system continues to evolve, players without a standout fantasy trait are at risk of being passed over by higher-upside options. If another manager still views Bednarik as a potential offensive breakout, this may be the right time to cash out.

Quinn Finley, LW

In his third NCAA season, Finley regressed to under a point per game at Wisconsin, despite the team around him being much better. That matters for a player whose fantasy case is already built more on efficiency and complementary offense than on driving play through elite tools. He is a smart player who understands spacing, gets to the right areas, and can capitalize on chances, but there is still a question of how much offense he will be able to create for himself and others at higher levels.

His pNHLe via the NHL Rank King application has dipped back to 45 after rising to 59 last season, reinforcing the idea that his long-term ceiling may be more modest than some managers hope. At best, he looks like a 50-60 point NHL winger, and even that may require the right deployment and supporting cast. If Wisconsin’s trip to the NCAA title game has boosted his profile in your league, this could be a good time to cash in before his value settles back into the range of a more limited NHL projection.

Summary

Player	Role	Key Insight
Dmitri Gamzin	Buy	Emerging goalie with long-term upside
Kashawn Aitcheson	Buy	Physical, mobile defenseman with multi-cat value
Victor Eklund	Buy	Dynamic offensive winger with upside
Cole Eiserman	Sell	Elite shot but potential one-dimensional scorer
Kamil Bednarik	Sell	Lacks clear high-end projection
Quinn Finley	Sell	Likely complementary winger with limited ceiling

2024 NHL DRAFT: RE-ENTRY CANDIDATES – EUROPE

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:21:32 +0000

In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year high end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind does. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).

For those unfamiliar, North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th, will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st, will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. In the last decade, NHL scouts have increased the rate with which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European based players especially attractive. However, these players have had a lot of success in recent years too. Look around the league and you see these players everywhere. For example, Calgary Flames standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. Ottawa Senators standout forward Drake Batherson was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Pyotr Kochetkov, one of the top young netminders in the NHL was also one.

Last year, eight “re-entry” candidates went in the Top 110; Adam Gajan, Yegor Sidorov, Vadim Moroz, Florian Xhekaj, Cole Knuble, Patrick Thomas, Ty Mueller, and Bogdan Konyushkov. In our “second chances” article last year (Part 1): (Part 2): (Part 3): We wrote about five of those eight. In total there were 40 taken, right around the trend of other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected). Additionally, of those 40, we identified and wrote about 28 (well over half of them) in our aforementioned second chances series. Just like in previous editions of this annual report, we aim to identify more.

In 2024, we have some very interesting candidates. Maybe not at the level of Adam Gajan, who was nearly a first-round pick, but there are definitely a few players who could…and should go inside the Top 100. Finland’s Jesse Pulkkinen seems like the top candidate to go first among this group and has had a terrific year offensively. Tri-City netminder Lukas Matecha has been terrific in the WHL as an Import and played in this year’s CHL Top Prospect’s Game. North Bay’s Anthony Romani has been among the leaders in OHL scoring all season. This article intends to highlight them and many other candidates who could be part of that 20% this year.

This is part three of the series, putting the spotlight on those re-entries available from leagues across Europe.

Finland

LANDSHUT, GERMANY - MAY 1: Finland's Jere Lassila #28 stick handles the puck away from Czechia's Jan Gaspar #26 during Bronze Medal game action at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fanatec Arena on April 30, 2022 in Landshut, Germany on May 1, 2022 (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Jesse Pulkkinen - Defense - JYP (Liiga)

Pulkkinen should be the first re-entry selected this season, the 6’6” defender has come leaps and bounds from last season where he put up only 4 assists in 43 games in Finland’s U20 junior league - this season he has 11 goals and 17 assists in 18 games in the same league. Safe to say his progression from last year has been significant. In the 29 Liiga games Pulkkinen has played this year, he hasn’t looked out of place and has screamed the word “potential” with his play. He has showcased his mobility at his size, and how he isn’t afraid of taking risks with the puck while activating from the blueline. He is quite aggressive defending and although his play can be inconsistent in the defensive end at times, his size and skating combo point to this being an area that he can improve on significantly post-draft. (Steven Graves)

Jere Lassila - Center - JYP (Liiga)

Team Finlands captian, and leading scorer at the 2024 World Juniors has enjoyed a fantastic season for JYP in Finland's best mens league where he has 26 points in 45 games. Twice passed over in the draft, 2024 will be the last year in which Lassila is eligible to be selected. Lassila is a very smart player who boasts great vision and work ethic on the ice. He is able to thread passes through multiple players with precision and accuracy. He has an incredible motor that just chugs along all game long - Lassila is proficient in winning his 50/50 puck battles even though his frame isn’t great. Lassila seems like a good bet to carve out a career as a bottom-6 energy guy in the NHL one day. (Steven Graves)

Benjamin Rautianen - Wing - Tappara U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

Rautianen, a 2005 born winger has been obliterating the Finnish U20 league this season. His 1.72 P/PG average ranks second in the league. He is very dangerous with the puck on his stick, able to weave through defenders, change directions quickly, and protect the puck at a high level. Rautianen is an offensive first player who is always trying to make something happen when the puck is on his stick. He could be worth the investment in the mid-late rounds of the draft if a team thinks he can continue to develop into a scoring winger at the NHL level. (Steven Graves)

Noa Vali - Goaltender - TPS (Liiga)

Vali is one of the more intriguing goaltending prospects in this year's class. He isn’t the biggest goalie standing at 6’1” but he is technically sound in how he positions himself for oncoming shots and is quite athletic in the net, never giving up on a play and always trying to make a save. Although his numbers don’t look amazing this season, for a goaltender his junior to get as many reps in the Liiga as he has - you can’t help but be impressed at what TPS has entrusted him with. Vali won’t be the first goalie off the board, but could definitely hear his name called in 2024, after being passed over completely in 2023. (Steven Graves)

Kasper Lundell - Center - HPK (Liiga)

Florida Panthers centreman Anton Lundell’s younger brother is in his second last year of draft eligibility in 2024. Kasper is a similar player to his older brother in that he is a strong two-way center that lacks foot speed. But what he lacks for in foot speed he makes up for with how he anticipates and reads plays at both ends of the rink. Kasper is great at putting himself into excellent positions at both ends of the rink, this allows him to nullify plays in the defensive zone and also be an important piece in transition as a trailing forward. The questions persist with Lundell as they always have, “what can he be at the NHL level?” And I don’t think we’re closer to that answer this year like in years past. (Steven Graves)

Janne Naukkarinen - Center/Wing - SaiPa (Liiga)

Naukkarinen has sort of come out of nowhere to become a productive player in the Liiga this season. The 6’1 forward has really impressed with his consistency, vision, smarts, skating ability and playmaking. While it’s unclear what kind of player he can develop into, he has an intriguing physical profile and set of skills to grab an NHL teams attention ahead of the 2024 draft. (Steven Graves)

Peetu Kiukas - Defense - SaiPa (Liiga)

Kiukas has enjoyed himself a stellar offensive season from the blueline this season and because of it he may have found himself on NHL team’s radars. Kiukas is a slick offensive blueliner that is able to facilitate offence in an efficient manner from the blueline. He is great at moving the puck, so naturally his first pass and puck retrievals are some of his best assets. He is a bit on the shorter side for a defender, standing at only 5’11” but he is a competent defender in the Liiga, even if he has his warts from time to time. (Steven Graves)

Nestor Noiva - Wing - Assat (Liiga)

Noiva is a fascinating prospect for this year's draft. He struggled to produce at a high rate in Finland’s under 20 league this season as one of the older players in the league but once he played against men he didn’t look out of place, at all. Noiva has, in his arsenal, a very good snapshot, and if given time and space will make you pay. He is also a hound around the goal mouth, not afraid to get his nose dirty to corral a rebound. He is a player I think teams are going to appreciate. I think in three years’ time he could continue to develop into a hard nose bottom six player in the NHL. (Steven Graves)

Santeri Huovila - Wing - JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

The leading scorer in Finland’s under 20 league has consistently shown flashes of offensive brilliance this season. But the question has to be asked if it is because he is developing, or if he is playing inferior competition? He has struggled to produce at Liiga level, although he just recently earned a contract extension with JYP and stands to earn more ice time next season. He is an aggressive offensive weapon who is always looking to score and create offense while on the ice. As a double overager for this draft, Huovila hopes he has shown enough offensive promise that an NHL team picks him in hopes he can harness that promise in the NHL one day. (Steven Graves)

Sweden

Luleås Isac Hedqvist under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Växjö och Luleå den 30 januari 2024 i Växjö.
Foto: Jonas Ljungdahl / BILDBYRÅN

Filip Sitar - Center/Wing - Malmo J20

After making the jump from AIK of the Allsvenskan to Malmo of the SHL, Sitar finds himself in a similar situation as last year. He has been piling on the points in the J20 but hasn’t had more than a cup of coffee with the senior team. He is still very intelligent and reads the ice exceptionally well. He still positions himself well off the puck and keeps an active defensive stick. The skating has even taken a step in the right direction, though there is still a way to go there. However, he is still being forced to the perimeter due to a lack of physical strength and intensity. His playmaking and passing ideas are quite good, yet there is a lack of precision on the execution. There is still a lot of room for growth, and betting on high IQ players gaining muscle and improving quickness isn’t completely ridiculous. However, teams must decide if the offensive upside is good enough to take a flyer on. (Felix Robbins)

Frans Haara - Defense - Skellfteå AIK (SHL)

While spending the year mostly a J20/SHL tweener, Haara got a nice long look in the top four of the senior squad filling in for an injured Axel Sandin-Pellika. He’s a mobile puck moving RHD who can skate it coast to coast and who looks comfortable jumping up as a 4th F on the rush as well. Straight line attacker lacks a bit of dimension/layers. A decent passer but wouldn’t say he’s much of a playmaker. He does have a booming shot, which he uses to generate a bit of offence. Haara seems to put a great deal of focus on play in his own zone at the SHL level, while showing much more offensive risk in the J20. He has the mobility to activate into play more than he does but chooses not to. I admire his commitment to playing a more well-rounded game. While his mobility is quite good and he’ll be a solid defender once he gets stronger, I wonder if he’s shown enough upside to entice NHL teams to take a flyer on him. However, right-shot defencemen are always coveted assets. Maybe he continues to build his 2-way game up from his strong skating and tops out as a bottom pair defensive puck mover – if he’s lucky. (Felix Robbins)

Svante Sjodin - Center - Orebro HK (SHL)

The youngest player eligible for the 2023 draft didn’t show enough to get drafted, but that may have been for the best. He was incredibly unrefined, but the straight-line skating and the work ethic was undeniable. This year, a clearer picture of what type of player Sjödin will be at higher levels has started to emerge. He’s added some delay to his skating patterns, so his rush attacks aren’t as predictable. He’s grown an inch and added a bit of muscle, helping him out-grind foes for possession along the wall and for prime netfront real estate. These promising steps have seen his point production in the J20 triple what it was last year. However, it was Sjödin’s contagious energy and his effort in the defensive zone that landed him a role with the senior club. With the steps he’s already taken this year combined with the fact that he’s got a ton of developmental runway left, I’m sure NHL teams are taking a good long look at Sjödin for a late round swing. (Felix Robbins)

Hugo Lejon - Wing - Vasterås IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)

Despite an impressive draft year campaign, the very skilled (but very raw) Hugo Lejon didn’t get his name called by any NHL clubs in 2023. He has bounced right back, putting up an obscene number of points in the J20 and earned an extended stay with the Västerås senior club. While the good parts of his tactical playmaking and deceptive on-puck game are still there, some positive growth has given more reason for optimism. His skating has taken a step, he’s showing more determination and a willingness to battle, and he’s getting more involved in play outside of the offensive zone - at least at the HockeyAllsvenskan level. He’s also developed some nice zing to his wrister, something that was missing from his offensive arsenal last year. Despite the encouraging signs, Lejon is still far from a finished product. His physical game still needs a good amount of work, and he could always get quicker. I think that with the improvement Lejon has shown this year, NHL teams would be wise to scoop him up before he becomes too hot of a commodity. (Felix Robbins)

David Granberg - Center - Luleå HF (SHL)

After a paltry draft year splitting time across multiple levels of play, Granberg took on a great deal more responsibility this year and has looked solid all the way. He’s worn the “C” for the Luleå J20 squad (scoring over a point per game doing so), done a stint with Piteå HC in the HockeyEttan, and had a taste of SHL action. The most consistent aspect of young Granberg’s play across multiple levels of hockey this season has been his strong commitment to his defensive game. He plays low, helping out his defensemen battle for retrievals and to provide a relief outlet to get breakouts started. He positions himself smartly away from the puck, reading play alertly and reacting appropriately. However, his offensive zone off-puck movement and willingness to drive to the net, which lead to so much of his production at the J20, hasn’t shown up at higher levels. He lacks the quickness and the strength to create space for himself. He lacks the hands, the creativity and the deception to do so for others. Granberg is an intelligent player with good physical habits and strong defensive instincts, but I worry that he may not have the offensive upside that NHL teams are looking for. If he can find some sort of space creator for himself in the SHL or learn how to be a more effective garbage collector, he may be worth taking a flyer on. (Felix Robbins)

Isac Hedqvist - Wing - Luleå HF (SHL)

It became very apparent very quickly that Isac Hedqvist was a standout prospect in an already deep Swedish prospect pool in 2023, yet he wasn’t selected by an NHL team. This year, Hedqvist has made those same teams look very foolish by bulldozing competition in the juniors and seizing an everyday spot on Luleå’s senior squad. His excellent motor is still running. He’s still quick on his feet. He’s still inside driven. He’s still tenacious in possession battles and never shies away from physical confrontation. His playmaking has taken a big jump. He sees passing lanes open up at their earliest and executes with precision. I love his involvement in all three zones, and he’s so dang feisty and competitive. I wouldn’t worry about his point totals in the SHL - His offensive contribution will come alongside physical maturation. Plus, he hit his previous year’s J20 point total in 20 less games. He could, however, stand to add some zing to his shot. Otherwise, I have nothing but praises to sing about Hedqvist. He is a stud of a prospect and really should have been drafted the 1st time. Hopefully NHL teams come to their senses and don’t make the same mistake twice. (Felix Robbins)

Isac Born - Center/Wing - Frolunda HC (SHL)

In his 3rd year of eligibility and enjoying his first full year with the Frolunda senior club, we have a pretty good idea of who Isac Born is. He brings a ton of energy to the lineup. He is a very strong skater who plays with a lot of pace. He gets his feet moving and keeps an active stick to mount pressure on puck carriers on the forecheck and in the defensive zone. He can generate some offence by carrying the puck in transition, slipping past defenders and funneling pucks to the net. Despite his excellent skating, he has a hard time moving off puck to get open, both in transition and on offence. As a result, he doesn’t get hit with many passes - most of his offensive possession time comes from grinding for pucks along the wall. At this point, it’s hard to see a path to North America for Born. He’s topping out as a bottom six energy forward with limited offensive production in the SHL, which doesn’t bode well for his NHL upside. You’ve got to really believe in his skating and work ethic to have him on your list for the upcoming draft. (Felix Robbins)

Lucas Nordstrom - Defense - Leksands IF J20

For a kid who didn’t play in the J20 at all in his draft year, Nordstrom has got a clean handle on the level of play. He’s an incredibly smooth skater with solid 4-way mobility. He’s calm, self-aware, and reads plays well. He looks very comfortable skating the puck out of his zone in transition and activating into play below the blue line. He keeps a clean gap and has a good, active stick. He definitely needs to pack on some pounds, as he’s ineffective at clearing the crease and physically knocking guys off the puck. He does have a willingness to battle, though. For someone who should profile as an offensive puck mover, the offence is limited. He tends to keep his passes short and simple, not showing much risk or creativity to his playmaking. He doesn’t show much deception or manipulation, and his hands are quite average. It’s rare to see a defensive puck mover make it in the NHL at his size, but the skating, the smarts and the physical/board play habits give reason for optimism. Nordstrom is an intriguing prospect, but he’s also still quite raw. NHL teams considering drafting him must be patient, as he’ll have a long developmental road ahead of him. (Felix Robbins)

Hugo Fransson - Defense - HV71 (SHL)

After a pair of rather disappointing years of draft eligibility, Fransson has finally had a stellar one his 3rd time around. He’s been playing pro all year long, splitting time between Nybro Vikings of the HockeyAllsvenskan, where he’s been very productive (4G, 13A in 26 GP), and HV71 of the SHL, where he’s been focused on his defensive and transitional play. Fransson is a smooth skating, mobile, offensive defenceman with solid defensive habits. He does a great job keeping his feet moving and instigating physically when engaging his man. When he’s not the first one in on retrievals, he makes sure to support his partner by staying close and open for a pass. Fransson has great vision. More than a few of his points this season have come from hard passes from his end to spring a streaking teammate for a breakaway. He’s also more than comfortable pinching and activating into play below the blue line, thanks to his excellent hands and agility. Fransson has shown he can be a very confident and dangerous playmaker who could probably distribute some pucks on a 2nd PP unit. Fransson isn’t perfect, however. He still needs to add a bit of mass to his fairly average frame, and sometimes the decision making after he’s retrieved pucks in his own end isn’t always great. Still, the pros outweigh the cons. Fransson is a very exciting offensive defenceman who is far from a liability in his own end. He can impact play in all 3 zones, and probably score a bunch of points while doing so. I think he’d be an incredibly intriguing option in the later rounds for NHL teams who need close-to-ready defensive depth with some offensive upside. (Felix Robbins)

Simon Carlsson - Goaltender - AIK J20

Carlsson gives his team a chance to win every night, and it shows in his numbers with AIK’s J20 squad. Watching him play tells more of the story. Stellar rebound control. Pucks shot at the chest and glove are swallowed up and never to be seen again. Kept a tight crease, no wild movements or adventures. Stays composed overall but can look a bit antsy when moving from the top of his crease and backwards. Could use a bit more agility, his lateral strides were consistently short and lacked power. He was able to mitigate that with some good athleticism/flexibility. Reads play very well, even through traffic. Goalies are voodoo, but Carlsson shows good habits and has a cool temperament. NHL teams could take a chance on him in the later rounds and let him marinate in Sweden - he might be something after a few years of pro hockey experience. (Felix Robbins)

Kalle Carlsson - Center - Örebro HK J20

Another year, another very productive season in the J20 for Carlsson. Will it be enough to get selected this time around? He has great vision and some interesting and creative playmaking ideas. I like the way he moves around the offensive zone, always on the hunt for some soft ice. He’s got nice hands that he uses to dance the puck around defenders sticks and come away with possession. Not sure it’ll ever be a separation tool, but he displays good patience and manipulation skills. His skating quickness is still not where it needs to be to be in the driver’s seat when on-puck, or to keep up with play off-puck. Instead, he relies on his hockey sense to read play and anticipate where the puck will end up, and paths accordingly. Same story on defence - he positions himself smartly in anticipation of incoming passes or skaters and uses a good stick to intercept the puck. While that is a nice workaround in many static situations, it renders him rather invisible in transition, limiting his impact on play as a whole. He’s also got to pack some more meat on his bones, as some pure strength would be a difference maker in forechecking and defensive situations. I think Carlsson’s intelligence, creativity and playmaking ability are standout traits of his that should have scouts mulling over whether or not it’s worth taking a risk on him. However, the skating may simply not be good enough to warrant a pick. (Felix Robbins)

Hannes Hellberg - Wing - Vasterås IK (HockeyAllsvenskan)

In his first full professional season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Hellberg has established himself as an offensive threat. He’s quite skilled on puck - he can chain moves together to open up passing lanes or to undress a goalie for a tap in goal. His wrister is a dangerous weapon for him up close and from a distance, and his release is quick. He doesn’t always see every potential play or pass option available to him, but there is still a decent amount of vision and awareness there. He’s got quick feet which helps his rush attack, though a tad more agility would really aid his ability to get around defenders. Despite his success on the offensive side of the puck, I didn’t find Hellberg’s involvement on defence or in transition too inspiring. He tends to let his teammates do most of the work along the wall, and he tends to cheat for offence along the opposing blue line too much for my liking. Compete and intensity is just as important as fine skill to team AND individual success. If he can figure out how to put even 20% more effort into his play in all three zones, I think Hellberg would be a very interesting option for teams looking for a skilled forward prospect in the later rounds. (Felix Robbins)

Russia

Pavel Moysevich - Goaltender - SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

The big Belarussian netminder (6’5) has been a revelation in the KHL this year, emerging as a potential star. He set the new save percentage record (.942) by a U20 player, beating Ilya Samsonov’s previous record of .936. NHL stars like Andrei Vasilevsky and Ilya Sorokin also find themselves on that list, putting Moysevich in some pretty impressive company. His size is so impressive. When he’s aggressive at the top of the blue paint, he gives shooters pretty much nothing, and when he collapses deep, he has great posture to remain upright, again, eating up space and making himself difficult to beat. He has quick pads for a bigger netminder and his rebound control is pretty refined for someone who is getting his first taste of the professional level. Being so slight, it’s obvious that he’ll need to improve his lower body strength to become more powerful in his pushes. He’s not the quickest post to post, relying on his sheer leg and wing span to make saves laterally. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of watching Matt Murray in his OHL draft year because of that. The upside here is tremendous and he should be ranked accordingly. (Brock Otten)

Ilya Ivantsov - Center - Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

A player in his final year of draft eligibility, Ivantsov has taken that next step as a KHL player this season. His 35 points were fourth among U21 players and Ivantsov was the only player in the top six yet to be drafted. He shines defensively with exceptional awareness and positioning. His high hockey IQ allows him to anticipate plays and win puck battles despite his smaller stature. He utilizes impressive stickwork to disrupt plays and excels on the penalty kill. Offensively, he has some projectable talent with strong drives to the net and playmaking ability. However, inconsistency has been an issue, leading to hesitation with the puck and a lack of assertiveness. Further development in offensive confidence and physicality could unlock his full potential as a valuable two-way forward in a bottom-six role. (Josh Bell)

Nikita Telegin - Center - Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL)

One of the MHL’s most improved players this year, Telegin offers a blend of finesse and physicality, making him a fairly versatile center. He’s a skilled puckhandler and an aggressive forechecker, impacting the game in all situations. He excels in faceoffs and provides a reliable, dependable presence on the ice. While not flashy offensively, Telegin has solid passing abilities and a surprising shot. He maintains excellent awareness, scanning for passing lanes, and pressuring opponents without the puck. However, his defensive game could benefit from bringing that forechecking pressure and improved lane coverage. Despite average skating, Telegin keeps pace with the play in most situations. His reliability and well-rounded skill set make him a potential candidate for bottom-six or depth roles. (Josh Bell)

Nikita Surayev - Wing - SKA (MHL)

When he was passed over last year, Surayev was one of the youngest players eligible (born September 12th). As one of the highest scoring players in the MHL this year, he’s put himself back on the draft radar. Surayev impresses with a dynamic blend of speed and skill. His puckhandling abilities, especially at high speeds, are noteworthy. His strong hockey IQ allows him to capitalize on scoring opportunities and excel in transition play. He does bring an impressive ability to put the puck in the net. Surayev does lack physical strength and needs to work on his defensive awareness and overall commitment though. If he can address these weaknesses, Surayev's offensive potential is promising, making him a prospect with NHL-depth upside. (Josh Bell)

Ilya Nabokov - Goaltender - Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

Another 2003 born player in his final year of draft eligibility, Nabokov has been a revelation in the KHL this season. Despite being slightly ‘undersized’ for a goaltender (6-foot, 179 pounds), Nabokov compensates with exceptional agility and athleticism. His strong positional awareness and anticipation skills are complemented by a quick glove hand and solid rebound control, limiting second chances. He has excelled in the KHL this season as a rookie and his impressive .930 save percentage is quite promising. His track record thus far leads me to believe that this isn’t a one-off season and the Russian netminder could very well be the real deal. Nabokov's raw talent and proven results in the KHL make him an intriguing goaltending prospect for a patient NHL team, despite going previously undrafted. (Josh Bell)

Dmitri Gamzin - Goaltender - CSKA Moskva (KHL)

Yup, you guessed it, another 2003 born player who has turned some heads this year. Gamzin shows off strong agility, reflexes, and anticipation skills, allowing him to make key saves and maintain a solid defensive stance. His technically sound game is complemented by impressive puck handling under pressure as well. He put up impressive statistics in the VHL (.922 SV%) and KHL (.937 SV%) this season, although I’d like to see him play with a heavier workload to really test how well he would translate to the NHL. His technical skills and athleticism make him a promising goalie, and he could be a late-round gamble for a team looking for some goalie prospect depth. (Josh Bell)

Mikhail Grass - Center - Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)

In a matter of a year, Grass has gone from being an MHL support player to being one of the top young centers in the KHL, earning a three-year contract extension from Metallurg. That kind of progression is impressive, especially when you factor in that Grass is a 6’4, 200lbs center. It’s clear that his game is still very raw, but what’s he going to look like in three years when his KHL contract expires? The skating is still a work in progress. He builds to a solid top speed for a big man and actually has good edgework, but the first few steps are lumbering and lack power. He also can struggle to corral pucks or maintain possession at full speed, which makes one wonder about the skill upside. However, he’s already a competitive two-way player. He is dangerous in the slot and near the crease. He flashes a very heavy shot (even if his release needs some work), that gives him excellent scoring potential. While he’s probably a draft longshot, don’t count out NHL teams from being enamored with his size and two-way upside. (Brock Otten)

Vladimir Mikhalyov - Wing - Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL)

Mikhalyov was on a few draft lists last year after a good year in the MHL, but he’s been even more impressive this year, splitting time between the KHL and MHL. He’s flashed high end creativity and puck skill at the KHL level, even scoring a highlight reel between the legs goal. He’s also a very intelligent off puck player who times cuts well and who succeeds in high traffic areas despite having only average size/strength. Additionally, his skating looks to have taken a nice step forward this year, improving his projection and upside. The MHL stats won’t blow you away, but context is important; his team is low scoring. What is also important is how well he’s played in the KHL as a 19-year-old with limited ice time. If he’s not on the radar of NHL teams, he definitely should be. (Brock Otten)

Makar Khanin - Wing - Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL)

Another 2005 born Russian forward who has taken huge steps forward this year. He’s gone from being an MHL depth player to being the highest scoring U20 player in the VHL, ahead of some NHL drafted players. He’s a high-end skill guy who is both creative and confident with the puck on his stick. More slippery than quick, he can keep the puck on a string to help him escape pressure in the offensive end. For an average sized guy, he’s not an extremely quick or dynamic skater. He’s also a pretty one-dimensional player at this point. But, that one dimension is pretty impressive. Khanin’s offensive upside is pretty significant and the rapid progression he has shown this year is bound to have drawn some eyeballs. (Brock Otten)

Amir Nugmanov - Wing - Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)

A longshot to be drafted because he’s undersized and not a dynamic skater, but Nugmanov deserves mention for his progression this year. One of the youngest players eligible last year, Nugmanov struggled to be an impact player at the MHL level and was never really on the draft radar. This year? He’s become a standout in the MHL and even earned a call up to the KHL level where he performed admirably. He makes up for a lack of elite size/strength/quickness by being tenacious. A tremendous forechecker, Nugmanov is quite the pest. He consistently forces turnovers with his energy and physicality, and he has the skill to capitalize on them. He also possesses a great wrist shot and a quick release, making him a quick strike player. Nugmanov is someone worth monitoring in the future. (Brock Otten)

Switzerland

Simone Terraneo - Defense - Ambrì Piotta - NL

One of the most appealing aspects of the Swiss NL is that it is chock full of former NHLers, even featuring players coming straight over from the NHL each and every season. And beyond that, the league attracts many of Europe’s top scorers every summer, plenty of whom are members of their respective national teams. Outside of the NHL, there may not be a league on the planet featuring this many pro athletes that were, at some point, an NHL property. So, when a young Swissman 21 or younger finds himself taking a regular shift in this league, it usually indicates that he’s someone NHL scouts have good reason to be watching. Enter Simone Terraneo, a defenseman in his DY+2 season who will nonetheless first turn 20 a day after the 2024 Draft concludes. When we first started taking notice of the 5’11”, 190-pound blueliner, he was captaining a disappointing Swiss U18 Worlds outfit in which he jumped out at us as the most competitive and overall effective player for his nation. There was little about his U20 league play that season that had us thinking he could perform at this level, but that’s exactly what he did in Kaufbeuren, Germany. And this had us very curious about his DY+1 season, which ended up being a resounding success. Terraneo proved far too good for the U20 circuit (22 points in 16 games) and suited up 35 times second leagueist Ticino Rockets, for whom he racked up 21 points. This pretty impressive performance, done entirely as an 18-year-old, did not lead to him being drafted, but it did secure an NL contract and he hasn’t looked back since. Mobile, physical, smart, and competitive, Terraneo has quietly put up 5 points and +3 in 34 games for a sub-.500 club while averaging a bit over 10 minutes of ice time per night. His 3 points and +3 at the WJC weren’t too shabby either. Seeing as how it took JJ Moser 3 years of eligibility to get drafted, we can see Terraneo sliding through once again, but he’s given the scouting world plenty of reason to give him a good hard look. (Chapin Landvogt)

Kevin Pasche - Goaltender - Lausanne - NL

At just 5’10”, 170-pounds, Pasche provides nothing in the way of ideal goaltending measurements, especially in a day and age where it’s commonplace to see 6’3” giants in goal, often even at the junior level. Instead, Pasche makes a living in the net with flashy hands and incredibly quick movements and slides. His legwork and balance, not only in stopping pucks, but batting them to the side boards, are often so lightning quick that you don’t notice he was actually down in the splits making a save because he’s right back up on his feet again in no time flat. His recovery time is simply fascinating. And when you’re his size, there aren’t many advantages to spending too much time on your knees, so he’s clearly made “recovery” a key component of his make-up. His numbers in two WJCs and an U18 Worlds won’t jump out at you in a particularly positive sense, but that he garnered the kind of trust from the program that saw him getting at least 3 outings in each of these three tournaments should. Now, before we get into the nitty gritty of why the scouting community simply can’t look past him at this point, it’s important to know that he’s playing his first pro season after two straight seasons with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. For a small Swiss netminder, that is a path less traveled. Heading into this season, it was felt he’d primarily be a second-league SL goaltender, likely platooning with fellow 21-year old Noah Patenaude, who spent three seasons in the QMJHL not long ago. Welp, a 9-4 record with a 1.76 GAA, 3 shutouts, and a .942 SV% quickly put an end to that. Joining NL club Lausanne at the end of October, Pasche has gone on to become the team’s 1A goaltender and almost hasn’t missed a beat, what with a 11-4-2 with a 2.10 GAA, 2 shutouts, and a .923 SV%. This makes him not only the top U25 goaltender in the league, but 5th overall in GAA and 6th overall in save percentage. The size will surely spook off a number of teams, if not a majority, but if Pasche were say 6’2”, it’s hard to imagine he’d slip through 7 rounds without hearing his name called. (Chapin Landvogt)

Tommaso de Luca - Center - Ambri-Piotta - NL

Italian U20 national team program center de Luca spent his draft year playing for the Spokane Chiefs of the WHL and truth be told, his 49 points in 65 games were not only good for 3rd in team scoring but were also clearly one of the better first year appearances a Swiss-trained player has had in Canadian juniors in recent years. There were voices out there who felt he was worthy of a late-round pick in last summer’s draft, even if we at McKeen’s were not one of them. There was then some surprise when de Luca decided not to remain in the WHL for another crack at it, especially in light of the continued opportunity to play with a talent like Berkly Catton. Seeing what’s become of import forwards Rasmus Ekström and Lukas Kral, we imagine Spokane surely wishes he had. But the call of pro-league payment in Switzerland can be a tempting one and de Luca has proven worthy of it, ultimately becoming one of the absolute few U20 players in the NL to find himself taking a regular shift. In fact, he’s now gotten into 35 games, having seen between 10-15 minutes of ice in 25 of them. He even collected a hat-trick in a recent outing. All in all, the former WHL playmaker now has nine goals and 16 points to go with a +1 for a team in the bottom third of the standings. If anything, de Luca’s performance has proven that he’s not only pro-ready, but capable of taking on responsibility. He’d have likely played more NL games this season, but represented Italy at the D1B WJC, where his 10 points in 5 games were good for 2nd on the team, tying him for 3rd in the tournament. Italy will host the D1A Men’s World Championships this spring and it’s hard to imagine that the decision makers would leave the most successful Italian scorer in the Swiss NL off the roster. (Chapin Landvogt)

Germany

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - DECEMBER 28: Germany's Roman Kechter #24 celebrates at the bench with teammates after scoring a first period goal against Canada during Preliminary Round - Group A action at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on December 28, 2022 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/IIHF)

Veit Oswald - Wing - Red Bull Munich - DEL

This is one of those seasons where someone who’s piqued our curiosity for several years now just simply arrives on the scene to make a convincing statement about what he’s all about. Now, we’ve talked about Veit Oswald in the past and were already feeling really good about him last fall, but this season has continued to unravel like a fairy tale ever since. And it’s one the 6’2” winger continues to be authoring with one feat after another. His climb from a solid lower line role last October and November, in which the youngster has gone from seeing between 8-12 to 15+ minutes of DEL ice time, has seen him pitted in all sorts of roles no-one could have possibly expected before the season, including some shifts here and there on the powerplay as well as in the waning moments of a tight lead. If anyone can be called the DEL’s shooting star, it’s Oswald! What has also made this season all that much more impressive is that he finally arrived on the scene internationally, serving as a key contributor to Germany’s successful effort to retain the class thanks to 3 goals, 5 points, 27 penalty minutes, and +1 in 4 contests, including several of the tournament’s absolute highlight reel goals. Before that, his name was surely just scribbled in the odd notebook here and there when his first year of draft eligibility saw him lead the German DNL in scoring and then earn a spot on the U18 team for a World’s tourney held right in his hometown of Landshut. His 3 points in 4 games there tied him for second in team scoring. He then entered the pro ranks the season thereafter, where he was solid in the country’s 3rd pro circuit, getting into 25 under-the-radar contests with Munich in the DEL (3 assists). That was accompanied by last winter’s WJC appearance, in which he had 2 points for a terribly low-scoring German side. Since coming home from Sweden in January, he’s taken his game to the next level. Four goals and 7 points in 10 games have accompanied a +5 rating, giving him 9 goals, 14 points, and a +4 in 38 total games to date. He was also selected to be part of a special Team Germany U25 outfit that looked mighty promising in several test games against the Slovakian national team earlier this month. Full of flair, possessing a strong motor, and constantly finding himself in the right place, it’s all but certain that Oswald will hear his name called at this summer’s draft, which will be a DY+2 affair for him. Despite that, a nice treat on top is that he first turns 20 on August 31st. We won’t be surprised if it’s with a DEL championship in his pocket. (Chapin Landvogt)

Roman Kechter - Wing/Center - Nuremberg Ice Tigers - DEL

Roman Kechter is a player we first talked about when he was 16 and found himself suiting up for 21 DEL games in the league’s pandemic-shortened 20-21 season, one in which admittedly many U21 players found themselves playing as cost-saving measures, if nothing else. Still, this made him one of the youngest players the league had ever seen. Also, he was coming in from his junior play with Rögle in Sweden, so he was certainly already understood as an above-average German talent. As normality returned, he and many other youngsters found themselves back in juniors and Kechter’s progress seemed to stall in Sweden. He improved, certainly, but the expectations after his DEL outing were obviously unrealistic and his decent, but by no means outstanding, showing with Rögle’s U20 outfit went largely unnoticed. A captaincy at the U18 Worlds couldn’t boost his draft chances. He then found himself in another 21 DEL games as well as 29 3rd league games (17 points) in his DY+1 season, which was accompanied by a solid WJC performance, but it was all too unspectacular for the 5’11”, 185-pounder to gain any notoriety. Having now just turned 20 in mid-February, Kechter has spent this season displaying a much different and more mature version of his abilities. Sure, his 17 points in 38 games are already a career high while his +2 rating sees him as one of only 5 players on his team without a negative rating, but he’s playing like a seasoned vet and making sound decisions across the board. His work outside of the offensive zone pops up as much as anything else. He also had himself a solid WJC, doing much of his team’s yeoman work in keeping an undermanned unit from getting relegated. Before that, he had formed a powerful line with Kevin Bicker and Moritz Elias in pre-tourney competition, one with which he put up 15 points in 5 preparation games. It only takes one team to like what they’ve seen to make the 3rd time around the charm for this budding forward talent, one who’s been reaping praise throughout the DEL this season. (Chapin Landvogt)

Adrian Klein - Defense - Straubing Tigers - DEL

Much like Kechter, Klein found himself in the DEL as a 16-year-old during the pandemic-shortened season. He actually got into 31 games at the time, scoring his first goal along the way. That was accompanied by another 9 pro games spread out among the 2nd and 3rd pro leagues as well as a U18 Worlds outing in Texas. Pretty nice experience for a player still a year removed from his draft, which came and went without much fanfare. The DEL time decreased in his draft year and even though the quality minutes increased in his DEL2, growing into what is now a 6’3”, 212-pound body had its growing pains and there was a lot of less-than-impressive hockey along the way. Or just the normal learning curve of an up-and-coming defenseman? A WJC appearance was in the cards as well that year, but it was especially clear at that event that he was still a good bit removed from his international peers. His DY+1 felt like a repeat of his draft year, admittedly getting in more DEL action while also experiencing a bit of a step back at both the DEL2 level and WJC. This brings us to this season where the best bet would be to assume more of the same, but he’s changed all that. Right from Day 1 of training camp, Klein played with a purpose and made it clear that he’s a capable DEL defenseman with upside. He’s even been paired the bulk of the season with former NHLer Justin Braun or DEL shooting star Nicolas Mattinen. With 2 goals, 7 points, and a +1 in all 48 games thus far, it’s clearly a career year to date, but what we like is that his 4-way ability has picked up considerably. His feet are moving. He’s got more urgency in his game. He catches and then launches pucks in almost one single motion. He’s heady. He’s aware. He blocks shots and battles out there. We’re seeing a level of confidence not yet seen from him. Whereas a drafting this summer is still highly unlikely, he should become a free agent topic in the coming years if he can continue blooming at the rate displayed this season. (Chapin Landvogt)

Czechia

Jiří Ticháček - Defense - Rytíři Kladno

Ticháček is a small (5'9") yet dynamic offensive defenseman who hasn't been selected in the last three drafts and now it's his last chance. He has taken a significant leap forward compared to last year. Although Ticháček plays for the worst team in the Czech Extraliga, he has a key role and even set a club record for points scored by a defenseman. Ticháček is limited by his height, which is probably the reason he hasn't been picked yet, but after a record-breaking season, he should at least have a chance to make the move to North America. He has exceptional puck-handling skills, remarkable agility and keen ice awareness. He's skilled at stealing the puck from opponents, but it's evident his weaker physical abilities hold him back a bit when it comes to defense. It's questionable whether he will ever make it to the NHL, but Ticháček's record-breaking season should not go unnoticed. (Matej Deraj)