Dmitri Samorukov – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Ethan Hetu, Arlo Schulz, Zack Szweras, Eloi Biondi — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 17:59:07 +0000

CALGARY, AB - SEPTEMBER 26: Edmonton Oilers Center Xavier Bourgault (54) and Calgary Flames Defenceman Rasmus Andersson (4) in action during the second period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the Edmonton Oilers on September 26, 2021, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Xavier Bourgault C

A teammate of Stars top prospect Mavrik Bourque on the QMJHL Champion Shawinigan Cataractes, Bourgault and Bourque formed possibly the best duo in the CHL this season. They both compliment themselves perfectly on the ice. Bourgault is an amazing offensive talent who has an amazing shot as well as good passing abilities. He can open up passing and shooting lanes with his tremendous skating ability. He has very good hockey sense as he knows where to always position himself on the ice. A lot of people were questioning Oilers GM Ken Holland's decision to pick Bourgault ahead of goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, but the early returns suggest that the Oilers got an amazing player in Xavier Bourgault that could fit amazingly well on a line with (possibly) Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid in the future (depending on what position he settles into as a pro). Speaking of which, Bourgault will start his pro career this season, likely in Bakersfield of the AHL. Depending on how he performs, he should move relatively quickly through the Oilers’ system and could even earn a look as early as this year. He has top six potential. - EB

2 - Philip Broberg D

The Edmonton Oilers selected Broberg with the 8^th overall pick of the 2019 NHL draft. He has quietly worked his way onto the NHL roster, playing a semi-regular role in their defensive rotation. After his draft year, Broberg spent the next couple of seasons playing in the SHL, where he produced 8 and 13 points over his next two regular seasons. While his offensive game may not have stood out in the SHL, he was able to harness his athleticism and raw tools to turn into more of a complete player. Standing at 6’3”, Broberg is a smooth skater with a fluid stride. He uses his silky stride to quickly transition pucks from his own end into the offensive zone. When defending, he exudes confidence and is not afraid to establish physicality and play aggressively. This past season, Broberg transitioned to North America and earned a role with Edmonton’s AHL team, the Bakersfield Condors, playing mostly in the top-four. While playing for Bakersfield, Broberg focused on improving his offensive game, making better decisions, reading plays earlier and setting up his teammates. He finished his AHL stint with 23 points in 31 games before getting the call-up to the NHL. Broberg played more sheltered minutes up with the Oilers, focusing on his defensive and transition games. He finished the year playing 23 NHL games, producing 3 points. Broberg will look to add to his NHL career and fight for a spot on the blueline in training camp. Whether the points are there or not, he should be able to establish himself as a top-six defender for the Oilers based on his defensive and transition play alone. - ZS

3 - Dylan Holloway C

A wrist injury delayed the start to Holloway’s pro debut this year, but his first season in the AHL was still a success. With each passing month for Bakersfield, his confidence grew and, as such, his production improved. There was some initial thought that Holloway would jump straight to the NHL from the University of Wisconsin, but the wrist injury he suffered caused Edmonton to take a more patient approach with him. He is a prototypical power winger. His skating ability is a major strength as his straight-line speed is terrific for a player of his size. Holloway also revels in the opportunity to play the body. He does not play around defenders; he plays through them. Over the course of his NCAA career, he developed into a top-notch defensive forward, too. The million-dollar question has always been, how effective will Holloway be as an offensive player at the NHL level? He is not an overly creative player, even if he has good hands. He finishes well in tight and can find his way to the net, but he does not own an upper echelon shot. In all, Holloway probably profiles best as a complementary piece on a scoring line who can clear space, play with pace, and support his linemates off the puck. It just so happens that Connor McDavid could use someone like that on his flank. This season, there is a chance that Holloway cracks camp with Edmonton as a bottom six player and from there, he should slowly develop into a quality, all situations winger for the Oilers. - BO

4 - Carter Savoie LW

The Denver Pioneers were the 2022 champions of NCAA Men’s Hockey, and Carter Savoie was a major reason why. Savoie was a fourth-round pick at the 2020 NHL draft and is the brother of Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie, the eighth overall pick at the 2022 NHL draft. Savoie is a five-foot-nine winger who scored at a goal-per-game rate in the AJHL. Upon coming to Denver, Savoie made an immediate goal-scoring impact, and his abilities as a sniper became even more clear as a sophomore when he potted 23 goals in 39 games playing next to Flyer’s prospect Bobby Brink. While Brink did much of the chance creation for Savoie, Savoie’s exceptional ability as a triggerman made that line click as well as it did. Savoie’s shot is good enough to allow him to be a scoring threat from the perimeter, and he often got himself into the right place at the right time. Like Brink, though, Savoie doesn’t skate as well as you’d want for an undersized player, and he doesn’t offer the same level of play-driving offensive generation as Brink. Ultimately, though, putting the puck into the net is still an extremely difficult thing to do, and Savoie has done that exceptionally well wherever he’s been. It’s possible that Savoie’s lack of tools outside of his shot keeps him from having an NHL impact, but if he can get a chance in the future to stick with one of the Oilers’ top playmakers, he could surprise a lot of people. He’s a goal-scorer, and there is always room for pure goal-scorers in the NHL. He’ll have to prove he can remain a top-flight sniper at the AHL level first, though. - EH

5 - Raphael Lavoie RW

The big winger is coming off of his first full pro season with Bakersfield after playing in Sweden for the majority of the pandemic. At this point, consistency remains an issue for Lavoie. He has significant potential as a goal scorer. He has a strong wrist shot, a quick release, and good scoring instincts. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s 6’4 and can protect the puck well from defenders with his reach and frame. However, some of the things that prevented him from becoming an elite QMJHL player also prevented him from becoming a reliable offensive contributor for Bakersfield last year. His skating and pace of play still needs to improve. He needs to use his size more away from the puck to win jousts and to get himself clean looks. Overall, his physical intensity level just needs to be higher. However, as stated, Lavoie does have top six potential as a complementary goal scorer. Patience will be key for Edmonton as they wait for him to improve and become a more consistent player. He will return to Bakersfield this coming season and should be given an opportunity to be a top six player with significant powerplay time. The key for Lavoie will be to outplay some of the standout forward prospects turning pro this year, as competition for ice time will be fierce. - BO

6 - Dmitri Samorukov D

The Oilers have definitely had to be patient with Samorukov. Drafted as a bit of a project out of the OHL, he has slowly emerged as one of the team’s top defensive prospects. First, it was in the OHL where he improved to the point of being one of the league’s best defenders, helping the Guelph Storm capture an OHL Championship in 2019. However, after an up and down first pro year, Samorukov returned to Russia to play in the KHL during the pandemic. Last season, he returned to Bakersfield to become one of the team’s top defenders. As a pro, his offensive production has not been terrific, as his offensive skills have not translated quite as well as some may have anticipated. However, he has stabilized his defensive approach to become very reliable in the defensive end. He plays with physicality. He is aggressive in taking away space. He can initiate the breakout and skate the puck out of trouble. Let us not forget that it took some time for Samorukov to become an offensive standout in the OHL too. This coming season he might have the inside track at a third pairing role with the main club in Edmonton. At the very least, he should be one of the team’s top injury call ups. He is close, very close, to realizing his potential as a second or third pairing defender for the Oilers. - BO

7 - Reid Schaefer LW

A late bloomer of sorts, Schaefer was six days too young for the 2021 draft which worked out to his advantage as he likely would have gone undrafted. Instead, a third season in junior with the Silvertips saw Schaefer break out with 32 goals to go with 88 penalty minutes, establishing himself as a budding power forward, before being selected by his hometown Oilers with the final pick of the first round in 2022. Schaefer skates well for a big man although it will never be a strength of his. His bread and butter is his physical play, as he protects the puck well and won’t be beaten along the boards and on the cycle. His shot release is also a weapon and will result in a lot of goals at every level simply by going to the right places and letting the puck find him long enough to get the shot off. Schaefer doesn’t carry the puck well and frankly isn’t an asset to his team with it on his stick, unless it’s to shoot. He does display decent awareness and hockey sense, which has led to some penalty-kill usage, and can make routine plays to teammates off the cycle but struggles in zone exits and in transition. It will be interesting to see what the future looks like for players like Schaefer in the NHL, which seems to be trending towards more transitional play and prioritizing speed. He is a long-term project and will need time to work on his skating, puck skills, and executing at a high tempo. Expect at least another year of junior in 2022-23, with the possibility of staying in the WHL for his overage year followed by some AHL seasoning. - AS

8 - Matvei Petrov LW

Heading into the 2021 NHL Draft, Petrov was highly hyped as one of the better Russian prospects available, but a poor showing in the MHL caused him to fall to the 6th round, where Edmonton selected him. A year later and that looks like an excellent selection as he exploded as a first-year player with the North Bay Battalion of the OHL. He exceeded all expectations to become one of the league’s best goal scorers as a 19-year-old. Petrov is a gifted scorer. Not only can he rip one-timers working the area near the wall on the powerplay, but he also owns a powerful and deceptive wrist shot that he uses when pressured. Even more surprising (based on his MHL play previously), Petrov showed well as a playmaker too, with especially good vision coming off the wall and when carrying in transition. Offensively, he has proven to be a player with few weaknesses. Away from the puck, is another story. Heading back to the OHL again this coming season, the Oilers will be looking for Petrov to improve his commitment to playing a 200-foot game, in addition to being more consistently involved and engaged physically. With another good CHL season, he could really vault himself up prospect rankings. He looks like a potential future contributor in a top six role for the Oilers. - BO

9 - Stuart Skinner G

In 2018, Stuart Skinner backstopped the Swift Current Broncos to a WHL Championship, emerging as a quality goaltending prospect. Since then…it has been quite a ride. A year in the ECHL, a few in the AHL. Skinner initially struggled at the pro level and there was some concern that he was not improving. However, he took a step forward in 2021 and then another last season. With his strong play in Bakersfield, he earned a look with Edmonton where he was largely terrific. There is a reason why it is stated that goaltenders take longer to develop. Now on the cusp of his 24th birthday, Skinner is poised to be the full time back up in Edmonton (behind the newly signed Jack Campbell). For the 6’4 netminder, his professional odds have always been staked to his ability to improve his athleticism and quickness. Over his pro career, Skinner has done that. He will never be confused with Dominik Hasek, but Skinner has worked hard to become quicker post to post to help him take greater advantage of his size and to help him track the play better. He squares to shooters well, controls rebounds, and makes the saves that he needs to make to keep his team in games. It is unknown whether Skinner has the potential to be a true number one netminder in the NHL, however, more will be known based on his performance this year. - BO

10 - Ty Tullio RW

Last season didn’t quite go according to plan for the Oshawa Generals, especially in the second half where they struggled mightily. However, one constant was the play of Ty Tullio. His final year in the OHL was a very positive one. It is hard not to notice Tullio on the ice. He involves himself in all aspects of the play, constantly working to get himself open, to earn touches, or to reacquire the puck for Oshawa. He’s not huge, but his compete level is very high. His best assets might be his release and his hands in tight, something that could make him a solid complementary goal scorer at the next level. As he turns pro this season with Bakersfield, the focus will be on Tullio to continue to get quicker and for him to build up strength. To play his game effectively at the pro level, he will need to be one of the stronger guys on the ice. Look for Edmonton to ease him into responsibility at the pro level. He probably starts in an energy role in the bottom six next year before moving up the lineup in his second/third pro seasons. If all goes according to plan, he could be a solid middle six option in the future and a possible fan favorite in Edmonton. - BO

11 - Tyler Benson

This is a make-or-break season for Benson in the Oilers organization. The former WHL star and playmaking winger has proven to be a standout at the AHL level but has yet to transfer that ability to the NHL level.

12 - Ryan Fanti

The Oilers signed Fanti as a free agent after a standout season with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The 6’3 netminder may end up in the ECHL this year thanks to the Oilers' pro depth in net.

13 - Markus Niemelainen

Niemelainen has always been an intriguing prospect because of his massive frame (6’6) and strong skating ability on the back end. It has taken some time for him to find a true role, but he seems to have settled into being a defensive first player and could be a depth piece for Edmonton this year.

14 - Olivier Rodrigue

The former QMJHL standout has struggled in his first two pro seasons. Rodrigue is an extremely athletic netminder, but he has struggled with his consistency and play tracking at the AHL level. He is likely playing for a QO this season.

15 - Maxim Beryozkin

Beryozkin has among the highest offensive upsides of any forward in the Oilers’ system currently. He will need to prove that he can score above the KHL level.

16 - Luca Munzenberger

The big and physical German defender is entering his sophomore season at the University of Vermont. His upside is limited, but he could develop into a third pairing stay at home type down the line.

17 - Joel Maatta

A teammate of Munzenberger’s at Vermont, Maatta is a pure defensive center who projects as a lockdown 4th liner and penalty killer. Edmonton will want to see more offense from him at the NCAA level.

18 - Michael Kesselring

The mobile defender with size is similar to Markus Niemelainen in that he skates well for a larger blueliner, but his future NHL projection is fairly murky. A few more years at the AHL level should give Edmonton an indication of a potential future role.

19 - Phil Kemp

Yet another defense first defender, Kemp is a little less athletic than the guys ranked ahead of him but is a little more composed. He played well for Bakersfield last season.

20 - James Hamblin

A nice surprise at the AHL level last season, Hamblin finished second in goals for the Condors. The former free agent signing out of the WHL is not the biggest or the quickest, but he has progressed well.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: EDMONTON OILERS – RANK: #11 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:03:14 +0000

Edmonton Oilers

#11 Edmonton - Much like their NHL club, the Oilers' system is very strong up top, and thins out far too quickly.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (75) at warm-up before the Edmonton Oilers versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2021, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Philip Broberg

The expectations are high for Philip Broberg, the 8^th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, but his last season did not scream “NHL ready.” Broberg has struggled throughout the last year with Skelleftea AIK in the SHL. His ice time dropped significantly after a promising start and his statistics were not great either. Broberg has very good offensive skills and his skating is absolutely exceptional, especially for a guy of his size (6-3”, 203 lbs). Although there are positives in his game, he did not look great with Skelleftea at all. Broberg was prone to make mistakes, mainly in his own defensive end. He finished the year with 13 points (3+10) in 44 SHL games, but also captained the Swedish U20 team at the World Junior Championships.

He is exactly a player who would benefit from coming to North America. Philip Broberg is a big (although not very physical) guy who skates extremely well; someone whose game will look a lot better on the smaller ice. He still has a lot of potential and there are things to like about his game, but the Oilers should not rush him to the NHL, even though their defense wouldn't mind some help. All in all, Broberg has the ability to become a top four defenseman if he can harness his raw abilities, even though he is a really divisive prospect. - MD

Evan Bouchard

After starting last year playing in the Allsvenskan (Swedish second tier), Bouchard returned to the NHL where his playing time was incredibly inconsistent. As an NHL Rookie, Bouchard did remain with the Oilers for the entire year, but he spent long stretches as an NHL scratch, leaving many to ponder how that was best for his development. When he did play, Bouchard saw time anchoring the Oilers’ second powerplay unit and was given some chances to showcase his puck moving ability.

The two keys to Bouchard’s development have always been his ability to improve his mobility/quickness, in addition to his ability to take away space from attackers in the defensive end. His four-way quickness and overall skating ability has definitely improved from his time with the London Knights. However, he is still working hard to bring his defensive game up to par, in addition to gaining the confidence with the puck to unlock his offensive potential. While Edmonton did resign Tyson Barrie and bring in other other veteran defenders, Bouchard still figures to be a permanent fixture in the lineup this season and will be brought along slowly, allowing him to build confidence so that he can eventually develop into a top four defender for the Oilers in the next few years. - BO

Dylan Holloway

An NHL-style North-South power winger, Holloway showed significant improvement in his second (and final) season with Wisconsin, although he looked more like his older, out-of-control, flying-by-the-seat-of-his-pants presence during his run with Team Canada at the WJC. He has since turned pro, and we have a pretty good grasp on what his ceiling and floor each look like. At his worst, he is a very strong skater, plays to (hard) contact, and is a bear to defend against. You could throw that player on an NHL third line tomorrow, and he would be effective. Maybe a little penalty prone, although he kept that issue in check last season, but he will make your attack deeper and his high motor forechecking would help to tenderize the defense. Not a superstar, but a positive contributor.

At his best, he does all of the above, but keeps to the right side of the law, and leads more cycle attacks, driving possessions with multiple scoring chances per shift, and personally scoring at a clear top six rate. Still not a superstar, but a star. Capable of playing both center and left wing, Holloway could break camp with Edmonton if they want to develop him on the wing and grow into middle six minutes this year. If the Oilers prefer his future down the middle, a year on the farm would be advisable. Used correctly, Holloway could be instrumental in helping Edmonton get to the next level as a team. - RW

Xavier Bourgault

An extremely well-rounded offensive player, Bourgault finished second to his center (and Dallas Stars first round selection) Mavrik Bourque on Shawinigan in points per game with 1.38. However, his 20 goals in 29 games did lead the team and was one of the highest goals per game rates in the QMJHL. A versatile forward who can play both center and wing, Bourgault is both highly skilled and highly intelligent. A magician with the puck, he can create scoring chances for himself or for his linemates, with the ability to beat defenders one on one and routinely come away with the puck in 50/50 battles.

A slighter forward (at 172lbs), Bourgault could definitely be more effective in his own zone with some added strength and increased physicality. Additionally, by adding more muscle, Bourgault would be harder to knock off the puck in the offensive zone too. At times, he does not secure the puck as well as he should, opting to extend his stick too far, allowing defenders to angle him off the corner. Whether you believe he is a center long term or sticks on the wing as he has played in Shawinigan later in the year, Bourgault does profile as a top six forward because of his well-rounded skill set. Depending on how his game develops further, this could be as a prime-time facilitator or as more of a complementary, support piece. His versatility was an attractive characteristic to the Oilers who look to support their star forwardS McDavid and Draisaitl. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Raphael Lavoie

After four strong QMJHL seasons and a performance for Canada at the World Junior Championships, the big winger started his pro journey in 2020/21. What a year to start that. Due to the pandemic, Lavoie actually secured a loan in Sweden with Vasby of the Allsvenskan to start the year. He performed very well in the second-tier Swedish men’s league, leading Vasby in scoring by a significant margin and his 23 goals were tied for fifth in the entire league. Following the conclusion of the Swedish season, he joined Bakersfield of the AHL with mixed results.

The key for Lavoie has always been an ability to find a consistent motor. A strong skater for a bigger winger, he has always gone through bouts of inconsistency because he stops moving his feet and his physical intensity wavers. Armed with a big shot and strong puck protection skills, he is at his best when he drives the net consistently and can get himself near the crease. Lavoie will play the entire year in the AHL this season, in all likelihood, as he tries to establish himself as a consistent top six scoring threat. From there, he could secure a top six spot on the Oilers and has the chance to be a consistent 20 goal scorer for the team down the line. - BO

Ryan McLeod

After a difficult first pro season with Bakersfield two seasons ago, McLeod was the breakout star of the Oilers’ system this past year, in his sophomore pro campaign. McLeod averaged a point per game for the Condors, earning a late season NHL call up that also saw McLeod play in Edmonton’s first round series loss to Winnipeg. While his offensive responsibilities and production were limited, McLeod did play good minutes for the Oilers on the penalty kill, bringing energy and pace to the lineup.

Entering the pro ranks from the OHL, McLeod was deemed a project. He had the combination of size and quickness that you look for in an NHL center these days. His skill and playmaking ability were never questioned. However, the consistency of his engagement level left some to be desired, preventing him from being the kind of dominant OHL player that he could have been. This past season in Bakersfield, McLeod finally figured out how to tap into his vast skill set to be an impactful player at both ends and it has made him a serious candidate to be a permanent Edmonton Oiler as early as next season. He projects as a solid two-way, middle six forward who can play in all situations. - BO

Carter Savoie

A somewhat divisive prospect in his draft year in the AJHL, Savoie was an offensive powerhouse with Sherwood Park, leading the league in goals with 10 red lights separating him from the runner-up. No one argued about his ability to put the puck in the net, but there was no shortage of skeptics who had concerns about his dedication away from the puck, and his size/speed combo. He hasn’t really grown physically in the last year, and his skating is still not exactly a strong point in his game, but his aforementioned ability of putting the puck in the net is still there, as he scored a very impressive 13 times in 24 games for the Denver Pioneers as a freshman, leading the team by five.

He is not the perfect player, but his brand of hockey is more than effective enough to have been well worth the 4^th round pick used on him by Edmonton. The Oilers should be in no rush to get him away from campus, as the more well-rounded his game becomes, the more effective he will be once he does move forward with his career. He needs to improve his play at even strength (half of his points came on the power play as a freshman) and grow more comfortable using his linemates. If everything works out, he could turn out as a Michael Cammalleri type player. - RW

Tyler Benson

It’s been a strange road for the former 1^st overall bantam pick, who took his talents to Switzerland last season for a 15-game stint amid the pandemic, before returning to North America for a third season in the AHL, where he managed a point per game. Through all of that, however, he didn’t get a sniff of the NHL. Benson is already 23 but has fought a myriad of injuries over his career thus far, leaving many to wonder exactly how much untapped upside remains for the former highly touted prospect.

The biggest concern besides durability, is his skating. Benson has sluggish feet and doesn’t move as well as one would like, but he does possess fantastic vision along with some grit and is aware defensively, which could be his ticket to eventually becoming a bottom-six player in the NHL as a late-bloomer. He signed a one-year two-way extension with the Oilers organization this summer and will have his work cut out to crack the team, which added depth up front and may not have as many available roster spots in training camp. It is certainly a make-it-or-break-it year of sorts for the winger, who is relishing the opportunity to make the jump to the NHL and show he belongs. Time will tell. - AS

Ilya Konovalov

Last season started poorly for Konovalov even before it began. During the offseason the new Lokomotiv coach brought his favorite goalie with him (former NA pro Eddie Pasquale). This left Konovalov as a backup with a rather limited number of starts. He did not play poorly during the season, however he was also never really given an actual opportunity to start the way he did the two years prior.

Given the situation last year, it was not surprising to see that Konovalov had signed with the Oilers as soon as possible after the KHL season had ended. Given the step back last season, he needs to be getting as many starts as possible this season and the Oilers' system should be good in that way. In general, in the case of Konovalov we have an effective goalie in terms of technique, however given his lack of size, his rebound control and ability to fight through traffic need to be improved. As he is a smaller goalie, he may not have the potential to be a starting netminder in the NHL, even if his performance to date has been strong. This season should tell us more about his potential. - VF

Dmitri Samorukov

A former standout with the Guelph Storm of the OHL, Samorukov is coming off of an excellent season in the KHL with CSKA Moskva after being loaned there by the Oilers for 2020/21. His +24 rating was the best in the KHL by any U22 player...and by a large margin. His offensive production tapered off towards the end of the season and he suffered a minor shoulder injury that put an early end to his season, but it was still a great year for his development.

Samorukov has always stood out because of his well-rounded, two-way skill set. He skates well. He moves the puck well. He has good defensive instincts and can play a physical game. He has a cannon of a point shot. There is a lot to like and a lot that would suggest Samorukov can develop into a quality second pairing defender for the Oilers. The question has always been about whether his offensive talent can truly stand out at the NHL level, or whether he profiles as more of a stay-at-home blueliner. With Evan Bouchard likely with the Oilers full time this season, the door should be open for Samorukov to receive top pairing ice time in the AHL, including powerplay time. This should give the Oilers a better indication of how close he is to the NHL level and how high his ceiling is. - BO

Stuart Skinner

The competition in Bakersfield is about to get intense, with Konovalov entering the fold this year. However, Skinner performed well in the AHL last season and has given himself a leg up on the previously more highly regarded Olivier Rodrigue. The former third rounder looks like he could develop to at least become a quality back-up for the Oilers in the future.

Tyler Tullio

It will be great for Tullio to return to the OHL this season, where he should be a go-to point producer for the Oshawa Generals. The competitive and determined winger needs to show that he can be more than a supportive piece; that he can create his own chances with pace and improve his play with the puck.

Cooper Marody

The time is now for Marody to secure a roster spot on the Oilers as he is out of options and will need to pass through waivers to go to the AHL this season. After three strong AHL seasons, the talented pivot will compete for a bottom six spot.

Olivier Rodrigue

The transition from the CHL to the AHL can be a difficult one for goaltenders. Shooters are more precise. The action moves quicker. Overall, Rodrigue’s first season in Bakersfield did not go extremely well. However, the athletic former second rounder is still a potential NHL netminder. Patience is a virtue when it comes to developing goalies.

William Lagesson

The blueline in Edmonton is looking pretty crowded at this point, so the 25-year-old Swedish defender has his work cut out for him to earn a spot this year. However, the physical two-way defenseman does have the ability to be a third pairing type, whether that is with Edmonton remains to be seen.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:09:56 +0000

These are our final prospect ranking prior to the start of the season. As a subscriber you can download the list in an excel chart and can link to the player pages in the chart found here. As always, the rankings you see below are based on our 20-80 scouting system looking at five categories for skaters (Skating, Shot, Puck Skills, Hockey Smarts, Physicality) and six for netminders (Athleticism/Quickness/Speed, Compete/Temperament, Vision/Play Reading, Technique/Style, Rebound Control, Puck Handling). Our prospect team spent large portions of their last few months pre-COVID in the rinks, watching the players below and many others, and further work on video (Instat Hockey has been a terrific resource in recent days) before passing judgement on their future projections.

The 20-80 scouting system is meant to allow players from different leagues in different parts of the world to be compared to one another, such that grades on a player in the OHL can be directly compared to grades from an AHL player, and to grades of someone playing in the MHL.

PROSPECT CRITERIA

Players under 26 years of age as of the September 15th prior (Sep. 15, 1994) to the season in question who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in any one season – or 25 last year (20 for goalies, 15 last season) are considered prospects

RANK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	ACQUIRED
1	Alexis Lafreniere	NYR	LW	19	6-1/195	`20(1st)
2	Tim Stutzle	Ott	C	18	6-1/185	`20(3rd)
3	Quinton Byfield	LA	C	18	6-4/215	`20(2nd)
4	Trevor Zegras	Ana	C	19	6-0/170	`19(9th)
5	Kirill Kaprizov	Min	LW	23	5-10/200	`15(135th)
6	Lucas Raymond	Det	LW	18	5-11/170	`20(4th)
7	Dylan Cozens	Buf	C	19	6-3/185	`19(7th)
8	Bowen Byram	Col	D	19	6-0/195	`19(4th)
9	Peyton Krebs	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`19(17th)
10	Jake Sanderson	Ott	D	18	6-1/185	`20(5th)
11	Moritz Seider	Det	D	19	6-3/185	`19(6th)
12	Jamie Drysdale	Ana	D	18	5-11/175	`20(6th)
13	Igor Shesterkin	NYR	G	25	6-1/190	`14(118th)
14	Alexander Holtz	NJ	RW	18	6-0/190	`20(7th)
15	Cole Perfetti	Wpg	LW	19	5-10/180	`20(10th)
16	Marco Rossi	Min	C	19	5-9/185	`20(9th)
17	Vasili Podkolzin	Van	RW	19	6-1/190	`19(10th)
18	Victor Soderstrom	Ari	D	19	5-11/180	`19(11th)
19	Nick Robertson	Tor	LW	19	5-9/160	`19(53rd)
20	Cole Caufield	Mtl	RW	19	5-7/165	`19(15th)
21	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	18	6-3/175	`20(11th)
22	Spencer Knight	Fla	G	19	6-3/195	`19(13th)
23	Philip Broberg	Edm	D	19	6-3/200	`19(8th)
24	Jack Quinn	Buf	RW	19	6-0/180	`20(8th)
25	Matthew Boldy	Min	LW	19	6-1/190	`19(12th)
26	Nils Lundkvist	NYR	D	20	5-11/180	`18(28th)
27	Seth Jarvis	Car	RW	18	5-10/175	`20(13th)
28	Ty Smith	NJ	D	20	5-10/180	`18(17th)
29	Grigori Denisenko	Fla	LW	20	5-11/185	`18(15th)
30	Barrett Hayton	Ari	C	20	6-1/190	`18(5th)
31	Alex Newhook	Col	C	19	5-10/195	`19(16th)
32	Thomas Harley	Dal	D	19	6-3/190	`19(18th)
33	Alex Turcotte	LA	C	19	5-11/185	`19(5th)
34	Vitali Kravtsov	NYR	RW	21	6-3/185	`18(9th)
35	Philip Tomasino	Nsh	C	19	5-11/180	`19(24th)
36	Connor McMichael	Wsh	C	19	5-11/175	`19(25th)
37	Dawson Mercer	NJ	C	19	6-0/180	`20(18th)
38	Ilya Sorokin	NYI	G	25	6-2/180	`14(78th)
39	Gabriel Vilardi	LA	RW	21	6-3/200	`17(11th)
40	Ryan Merkley	SJ	D	20	5-11/170	`18(21st)
41	Alexander Romanov	Mtl	D	20	5-11/185	`18(38th)
42	Kaiden Guhle	Mtl	D	18	6-2/190	`20(16th)
43	Samuel Poulin	Pit	LW	19	6-1/205	`19(21st)
44	K'Andre Miller	NYR	D	20	6-3/205	`18(22nd)
45	Scott Perunovich	StL	D	22	5-10/175	`18(45th)
46	Evan Bouchard	Edm	D	21	6-2/195	`18(10th)
47	Braden Schneider	NYR	D	19	6-2/200	`20(19th)
48	Juuso Valimaki	Cgy	D	22	6-2/205	`17(16th)
49	Cam York	Phi	D	19	5-11/175	`19(14th)
50	Anton Lundell	Fla	C	19	6-1/185	`20(12th)
51	Morgan Frost	Phi	C	21	5-11/180	`17(27th)
52	Owen Tippett	Fla	RW	21	6-1/200	`17(10th)
53	Albert Johansson	Det	D	19	5-11/165	`19(60th)
54	Liam Foudy	CBJ	C	20	6-0/175	`18(18th)
55	Kieffer Bellows	NYI	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(19th)
56	Arthur Kaliyev	LA	RW	19	6-2/190	`19(33rd)
57	Oliver Wahlstrom	NYI	RW	20	6-1/205	`18(11th)
58	Nils Hoglander	Van	RW	20	5-9/185	`19(40th)
59	Matias Maccelli	Ari	LW	20	5-11/170	`19(98th)
60	Tobias Bjornfot	LA	D	19	6-0/200	`19(22nd)
61	Jacob Bernard-Docker	Ott	D	20	6-0/180	`18(26th)
62	Connor Zary	Cgy	C	19	6-0/180	`20(24th)
63	Dominik Bokk	Car	RW	20	6-1/180	T(StL-9/19)
64	Ryan Suzuki	Car	C	19	6-0/180	`19(28th)
65	Dylan Samberg	Wpg	D	21	6-3/190	`17(43rd)
66	Jake Bean	Car	D	22	6-1/175	`16(13th)
67	Josh Norris	Ott	C	21	6-1/195	T(SJ-9/18)
68	Rasmus Kupari	LA	C	20	6-1/185	`18(20th)
69	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	19	5-9/165	`19(26th)
70	Drake Batherson	Ott	RW	22	6-1/190	`17(121st)
71	Jan Jenik	Ari	RW	20	6-1/180	`18(65th)
72	John-Jason Peterka	Buf	LW	18	5-11/190	`20(34th)
73	Kirill Marchenko	CBJ	LW	20	6-3/190	`18(49th)
74	Bode Wilde	NYI	D	20	6-2/195	`18(41st)
75	John Beecher	Bos	C	19	6-3/210	`19(30th)
76	Tyler Madden	LA	C	21	5-10/155	T(Van-2/20)
77	Jack Studnicka	Bos	C	21	6-1/170	`17(53rd)
78	Jake Oettinger	Dal	G	22	6-4/210	`17(26th)
79	Alex Formenton	Ott	LW	21	6-2/165	`17(47th)
80	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	19	6-3/200	`19(49th)
81	Calen Addison	Min	D	20	5-10/180	T(Pit-2/20)
82	Ty Dellandrea	Dal	C	20	6-0/185	`18(13th)
83	Akil Thomas	LA	C	20	5-11/170	`18(51st)
84	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	18	5-10/180	`20(30th)
85	Ian Mitchell	Chi	D	21	5-11/175	`17(57th)
86	Jason Robertson	Dal	LW	21	6-2/195	`17(39th)
87	Hendrix Lapierre	Wsh	C	18	5-11/180	`20(22nd)
88	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`20(29th)
89	Theodor Niederbach	Det	C	18	5-11/175	`20(51st)
90	Zac Jones	NYR	D	20	5-10/175	`19(68th)
91	Robert Mastrosimone	Det	LW	19	5-10/160	`19(54th)
92	Joe Veleno	Det	C	20	6-1/195	`18(30th)
93	Rodion Amirov	Tor	LW	19	6-0/170	`20(15th)
94	Jake Neighbours	StL	LW	18	5-11/195	`20(26th)
95	Julien Gauthier	NYR	RW	23	6-4/225	T(Car-2/20)
96	Justus Annunen	Col	G	20	6-4/215	`18(64th)
97	Egor Zamula	Phi	D	20	6-4/175	FA(9/18)
98	Shane Pinto	Ott	C	20	6-2/190	`19(32nd)
99	Noel Gunler	Car	RW	19	6-2/175	`20(41st)
100	Ridly Greig	Ott	C	18	5-11/165	`20(28th)
101	Jesse Ylonen	Mtl	RW	21	6-1/185	`18(35th)
102	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	20	6-0/195	`19(50th)
103	Mattias Norlinder	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`19(64th)
104	Olli Juolevi	Van	D	22	6-3/200	`16(5th)
105	Kristian Vesalainen	Wpg	LW	21	6-3/205	`17(24th)
106	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	20	6-4/195	`19(38th)
107	Jan Mysak	Mtl	C	18	5-11/180	`20(49th)
108	Cayden Primeau	Mtl	G	21	6-3/180	`17(199th)
109	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	LW	20	6-1/170	`19(79th)
110	Morgan Barron	NYR	C	22	6-2/200	`17(174th)
111	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	19	5-11/180	`19(20th)
112	Dylan Holloway	Edm	C	19	6-0/205	`20(14th)
113	Jack Dugan	VGK	RW	22	6-2/185	`17(142nd)
114	Alexander Khovanov	Min	C	20	5-11/195	`18(86th)
115	Jacob Perreault	Ana	RW	18	5-11/195	`20(27th)
116	Jake Evans	Mtl	C	24	6-0/185	`14(207th)
117	Adam Beckman	Min	LW	19	6-1/170	`19(75th)
118	Jett Woo	Van	D	20	6-0/205	`18(37th)
119	Nolan Foote	NJ	LW	20	6-3/190	T(TB-2/20)
120	Logan Brown	Ott	C	22	6-6/220	`16(11th)
121	Martin Kaut	Col	RW	21	6-1/175	`18(16th)
122	Jack Rathbone	Van	D	21	5-10/175	`17(95th)
123	Ozzy Wiesblatt	SJ	RW	18	5-10/185	`20(31st)
124	Ryan O'Rourke	Min	D	18	6-0/180	`20(39th)
125	Lukas Reichel	Chi	LW	18	6-0/170	`20(17th)
126	Jordan Harris	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`18(71st)
127	Lukas Dostal	Ana	G	20	6-1/170	`18(85th)
128	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/205	`19(45th)
129	Conor Timmins	Col	D	22	6-1/185	`17(32nd)
130	Lassi Thomson	Ott	D	20	6-0/190	`19(19th)
131	Eeli Tolvanen	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/175	`17(30th)
132	Kasper Simontaival	LA	RW	18	5-9/180	`20(66th)
133	Roni Hirvonen	Tor	C	18	5-9/165	`20(59th)
134	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	18	5-9/180	`20(38th)
135	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	Ana	C	20	6-1/195	`18(54th)
136	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	18	6-4/200	`20(44th)
137	Tyson Foerster	Phi	C	18	6-1/195	`20(23rd)
138	Helge Grans	LA	D	18	6-2/205	`20(35th)
139	Jonathan Dahlen	SJ	LW	23	5-11/185	T(Van-2/19)
140	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	18	5-11/175	`20(37th)
141	Alexander Alexeyev	Wsh	D	21	6-3/200	`18(31st)
142	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	Pit	D	21	6-2/170	`17(23rd)
143	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	18	5-10/160	`20(64th)
144	Oskari Laaksonen	Buf	D	21	6-2/165	`17(89th)
145	Filip Hallander	Tor	LW	20	6-1/185	T(Pit-8/20)
146	Serron Noel	Fla	RW	20	6-5/205	`18(34th)
147	Martin Chromiak	LA	LW	18	6-0/185	`20(128th)
148	Shakir Mukhamadullin	NJ	D	18	6-3/180	`20(20th)
149	Mattias Samuelsson	Buf	D	20	6-3/215	`18(32nd)
150	Janne Kuokkanen	NJ	LW	22	6-1/190	T(Car-2/20)
151	Ryan Johnson	Buf	D	19	6-0/175	`19(31st)
152	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	19	5-8/175	`20(124th)
153	Martin Fehervary	Wsh	D	21	6-1/190	`18(46th)
154	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	Buf	G	21	6-4/195	`17(54th)
155	Will Lockwood	Van	RW	22	5-11/175	`16(64th)
156	Isac Lundestrom	Ana	C	21	6-0/185	`18(23rd)
157	Michael DiPietro	Van	G	21	6-0/195	`17(64th)
158	Jonatan Berggren	Det	RW	20	5-10/185	`18(33rd)
159	Kevin Bahl	NJ	D	20	6-6/230	T(Ari-12/19)
160	Aliaksei Protas	Wsh	C	19	6-5/205	`19(91st)
161	Reilly Walsh	NJ	D	21	5-11/180	`17(81st)
162	Nick Abruzzese	Tor	C	21	5-9/160	`19(124th)
163	Tyler Tucker	StL	D	20	6-1/205	`18(200th)
164	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	19	5-10/170	`19(129th)
165	Klim Kostin	StL	C	21	6-3/195	`17(31st)
166	Brayden Tracey	Ana	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(29th)
167	Joel Hofer	StL	G	20	6-3/160	`18(107th)
168	Joey Anderson	Tor	RW	22	6-0/195	T(NJ-10/20)
169	Yegor Spiridonov	SJ	C	19	6-2/195	`19(108th)
170	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	19	6-1/205	`20(36th)
171	Joey Keane	Car	D	21	6-0/185	T(NYR-2/20)
172	Jared McIsaac	Det	D	20	6-1/195	`18(36th)
173	Jamieson Rees	Car	C	19	5-10/175	`19(44th)
174	Ivan Morozov	VGK	C	20	6-1/180	`18(61st)
175	Rem Pitlick	Nsh	C	23	5-11/200	`16(76th)
176	Tyce Thompson	NJ	RW	21	6-0/170	`19(96th)
177	Michael McLeod	NJ	C	22	6-2/195	`16(12th)
178	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	LA	C	21	5-11/190	`17(41st)
179	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	19	6-0/165	`19(214th)
180	Antti Tuomisto	Det	D	19	6-4/190	`19(35th)
181	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	18	5-9/155	`20(134th)
182	Luke Evangelista	Nsh	RW	18	5-11/170	`20(42nd)
183	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	18	6-1/180	`20(52nd)
184	Joni Ikonen	Mtl	C	21	5-10/170	`17(58th)
185	Olivier Rodrigue	Edm	G	20	6-1/165	`18(62nd)
186	Lucas Elvenes	VGK	RW	21	6-0/175	`17(127th)
187	Anthony Angello	Pit	RW	24	6-5/205	`14(145th)
188	Tuukka Tieksola	Car	RW	19	5-10/160	`19(121st)
189	Declan Chisholm	Wpg	D	20	6-1/190	`18(150th)
190	Cole Koepke	TB	LW	22	6-1/195	`18(183rd)
191	Valtteri Puustinen	Pit	RW	21	5-9/185	`19(203rd)
192	Ty Smilanic	Fla	C	18	6-1/175	`20(74th)
193	Patrik Puistola	Car	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(73rd)
194	Justin Barron	Col	D	19	6-2/190	`20(25th)
195	Andrew Peeke	CBJ	D	22	6-3/210	`16(34th)
196	Michael Vukojevic	NJ	D	19	6-3/210	`19(82nd)
197	Alec Regula	Chi	D	20	6-3/200	T(Det-10/19)
198	Connor Corcoran	VGK	D	20	6-1/185	`18(154th)
199	Jeremy Swayman	Bos	G	22	6-1/190	`17(111th)
200	Pyotr Kochetkov	Car	G	21	6-1/175	`19(36th)
201	Mikey Anderson	LA	D	21	6-0/195	`17(103rd)
202	Carter Savoie	Edm	LW	18	5-9/190	`20(100th)
203	Samuel Walker	TB	C	21	5-11/160	`17(200th)
204	William Wallinder	Det	D	18	6-4/190	`20(32nd)
205	Jack Drury	Car	C	20	5-11/180	`18(42nd)
206	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	18	5-9/185	`20(54th)
207	Cal Petersen	LA	G	26	6-3/190	FA(7/17)
208	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	18	6-0/200	`20(72nd)
209	Tarmo Reunanen	NYR	D	22	6-0/180	`16(98th)
210	Simon Holmstrom	NYI	RW	19	6-1/185	`19(23rd)
211	Aleksi Saarela	Fla	RW	23	5-11/200	T(Chi-10/19)
212	Anton Johannesson	Wpg	D	18	5-9/155	`20(133rd)
213	Lauri Pajuniemi	NYR	RW	21	6-0/185	`18(132nd)
214	Morgan Geekie	Car	C	22	6-2/180	`17(67th)
215	Shane Bowers	Col	C	21	6-2/190	T(Ott-11/17)
216	Sasha Chmelevski	SJ	C	21	5-11/190	`17(185th)
217	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	20	5-8/155	`18(43rd)
218	Cole Schwindt	Fla	RW	19	6-2/185	`19(81st)
219	Hugo Alnefelt	TB	G	19	6-3/195	`19(71st)
220	Nikita Okhotyuk	NJ	D	20	6-1/195	`19(61st)
221	Sampo Ranta	Col	LW	20	6-2/205	`18(78th)
222	Alexander Volkov	TB	LW	23	6-1/190	`17(48th)
223	Alexander True	SJ	C	23	6-5/205	FA(7/18)
224	John Leonard	SJ	C	22	5-11/190	`18(182nd)
225	Carl Grundstrom	LA	LW	23	6-0/195	T(Tor-1/19)
226	Dmitri Semykin	TB	D	20	6-3/200	`18(90th)
227	Cal Foote	TB	D	22	6-4/215	`17(14th)
228	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	18	5-11/175	`20(75th)
229	Alex Barre-Boulet	TB	C	23	5-10/165	FA(3/18)
230	Tristen Robins	SJ	RW	19	5-10/175	`20(56th)
231	Max Gildon	Fla	D	21	6-3/190	`17(66th)
232	Nikita Alexandrov	StL	C	20	6-0/180	`19(62nd)
233	Michael Benning	Fla	D	18	5-9/180	`20(95th)
234	Justin Sourdif	Fla	RW	18	5-11/175	`20(87th)
235	Tanner Laczynski	Phi	C	23	6-1/200	`16(169th)
236	Eamon Powell	TB	D	18	5-11/165	`20(116th)
237	Kaedan Korczak	VGK	D	19	6-3/190	`19(41st)
238	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	18	6-1/180	`20(47th)
239	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	21	5-10/175	`18(171st)
240	Pius Suter	Chi	C	24	5-11/170	FA(7/20)
241	Wade Allison	Phi	RW	23	6-2/205	`16(52nd)
242	Bobby Brink	Phi	RW	19	5-10/165	`19(34th)
243	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	18	5-10/180	`20(68th)
244	David Farrance	Nsh	D	21	5-11/190	`17(92nd)
245	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	18	6-2/185	`20(33rd)
246	Dmitri Voronkov	CBJ	LW	20	6-4/190	`19(114th)
247	German Rubtsov	Phi	C	22	6-2/190	`16(22nd)
248	Vitaly Abramov	Ott	RW	22	5-9/175	T(CBJ-2/19)
249	Alex Laferriere	LA	RW	19	6-0/175	`20(83rd)
250	Trey Fix-Wolansky	CBJ	RW	21	5-8/185	`18(204th)
251	Isaac Ratcliffe	Phi	LW	21	6-5/200	`17(35th)
252	Kale Clague	LA	D	22	6-0/180	`16(51st)
253	Landon Slaggert	Chi	LW	18	5-11/180	`20(79th)
254	Wyatt Kalynuk	Chi	D	23	6-1/180	FA(7/20)
255	Mikko Kokkonen	Tor	D	19	5-11/200	`19(84th)
256	Kevin Mandolese	Ott	G	20	6-4/180	`18(157th)
257	Daniil Tarasov	CBJ	G	21	6-5/185	`17(86th)
258	Evan Barratt	Chi	C	21	6-0/190	`17(90th)
259	Tyler Benson	Edm	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(32nd)
260	Yegor Korshkov	Tor	RW	24	6-4/215	`16(31st)
261	Hunter Skinner	NYR	D	19	6-2/175	`19(112th)
262	Riley Damiani	Dal	C	20	5-9/165	`18(137th)
263	Ryan McLeod	Edm	C	21	6-2/205	`18(40th)
264	Ilya Konovalov	Edm	G	22	6-0/195	`19(85th)
265	Will Cuylle	NYR	LW	18	6-3/205	`20(60th)
266	Evan Vierling	NYR	C	18	6-0/165	`20(127th)
267	Emil Heineman	Fla	LW	19	6-0/180	`20(43rd)
268	Zayde Wisdom	Phi	RW	18	5-10/195	`20(94th)
269	Hunter Jones	Min	G	20	6-4/195	`19(59th)
270	Ty Tullio	Edm	RW	18	5-10/165	`20(126th)
271	Jordan Spence	LA	D	19	5-10/165	`19(95th)
272	Dmitri Zavgorodny	Cgy	LW	20	5-9/175	`18(198th)
273	Alex Beaucage	Col	RW	19	6-1/195	`19(78th)
274	Matiss Kivlenieks	CBJ	G	24	6-2/190	FA(5/17)
275	Artyom Zub	Ott	D	25	6-2/200	FA(5/20)
276	Urho Vaakanainen	Bos	D	22	6-0/185	`17(18th)
277	Dmitri Samorukov	Edm	D	21	6-2/180	`17(84th)
278	Michal Teply	Chi	LW	19	6-3/185	`19(105th)
279	Colby Ambrosio	Col	C	18	5-8/170	`20(118th)
280	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	20	6-7/195	`19(37th)
281	Jeremy Lauzon	Bos	D	23	6-3/205	`15(52nd)
282	Dennis Gilbert	Col	D	24	6-2/200	T(Chi-10/20)
283	Trent Frederic	Bos	C	22	6-4/215	`16(29th)
284	Lucas Carlsson	Chi	D	23	6-0/190	`16(110th)
285	Zack Macewen	Van	RW	24	6-3/205	FA(3/17)
286	Brandon Hagel	Chi	LW	22	6-1/175	FA(10/18)
287	Vasily Ponomarev	Car	C	18	5-10/180	`20(53rd)
288	Jakub Zboril	Bos	D	23	6-1/200	`15(13th)
289	Garrett Pilon	Wsh	RW	22	5-11/190	`16(87th)
290	Jeremy Bracco	Car	RW	23	5-9/180	FA(10/20)
291	Dylan Sikura	VGK	RW	25	6-0/170	T(Chi-9/20)
292	Kyle Capobianco	Ari	D	23	6-1/180	`15(63rd)
293	Sami Niku	Wpg	D	24	6-0/175	`15(198th)
294	John Farinacci	Ari	C	19	5-11/185	`19(76th)
295	Jackson Lacombe	Ana	D	19	6-1/170	`19(39th)
296	David Cotton	Car	LW	23	6-3/205	`15(169th)
297	Erik Portillo	Buf	G	20	6-6/210	`19(67th)
298	Jacob Truscott	Van	D	18	6-1/170	`20(144th)
299	Mikhail Berdin	Wpg	G	22	6-2/165	`16(157th)
300	Cam Hillis	Mtl	C	20	5-10/170	`18(66th)

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Edmonton Oilers Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 20:42:19 +0000

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

Philip Broberg, D (8^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Broberg is a lanky defenseman with an impressive skillset. He has elite speed both with and without the puck. He defends his blueline well and is tough to beat when he uses his reach. Despite lacking in point production in the SHL, his possession metrics shone, and Skelleftea was a better team when he was on the ice. He is effective at getting the puck up the ice and is hard to catch. He will need to develop his offensive game to be more effective. He needs to control the pace more and to be more composed with the puck at slower paces. He is at his best at zone exits and entries. He needs to use his strengths when the game has slowed down as well as he does on the rush. He could explode with some adjustments to his game. He was the sixth defender on the team last season and will likely get a bigger role in 2020-21. He still is one to three years from competing for an NHL spot, but Edmonton should not rush Broberg. If he can get the time to figure out his game and mature physically, he has top pair potential. - JH

Evan Bouchard, D (10^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

As a rookie pro, Bouchard led AHL Bakersfield with 29 assists on a team that struggled to generate offense. He can generate offense on any given shift, using his slick hands and refined hockey IQ to facilitate the puck and create high-danger chances out of nowhere. He skates decently despite a bulky frame, a much-improved trait once thought of as a weakness, and his shot is speedy, capable of creating rebounds, and is one used with frequency. As polished as he is offensively, he can handle challenging defensive minutes with his physical and intelligent play in his own zone; never shying away from a chance to pin someone against the boards and using his long reach to disrupt play from below the goal line. It would be nice to see someone as skilled as him playing with more pace and energy, and that might come when he reaches the faster-paced levels of the NHL, which could come next season; if it was not for the impressive young blueliners already holding down the fort in Edmonton such as Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones, Bouchard would already be a NHL anchor. - TD

Raphael Lavoie, RW/C (38^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

A talented forward with size, Lavoie proved it last season with a solid first half contribution with Halifax, and then a strong showing with a contending Chicoutimi team before last season was cancelled. He is tall and needs to fill out, but his game will only improve with more weight. He is more of a finesse forward than a power forward, but he can protect the puck very well and loves to play in traffic. Lavoie has an excellent shot and creates plenty of opportunity to use it. His stickhandling worked well at the junior level, but will need refinement, as does his skating. Adding more bulk will give him more balance, but physicality is not in his nature. The potential is there for him to become a power forward in the future, but it would involve a Blake Wheeler-like transition in his game. He could benefit from playing with more snarl and passion. It would open more space for him when his hands or legs cannot. Beyond that, Lavoie is a strong option for a scoring winger with size at the top level and is ready for his professional career to begin. – MS

Dylan Holloway, LW (14^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Holloway proved himself to be a strong NCAA regular as a true freshman, even if expectations were too high. The delta between Holloway’s best case and worst-case outcomes is pretty slim. He will be a solid NHL’er, or a good one. He does a lot of things well. He is a strong skater who moves like a freight train when he gets going, with a thick, strong frame that he likes to throw around. He likes to lay into opponents near the boards and invites opponents to try the same on him. He can also slow things down once possession is established in the offensive zone and find room to make himself an passing option. For the most part, he plays aggressively. His size and strength also work in his favor when it comes to maintaining possession of the puck. Holloway keeps his feet moving at all times. He is a good stickhandler, but when he plays with the puck at top speed, he has a tendency to make poor decisions. He needs to improve his shot release, as he often double- or triple-clutches before releasing the shot. – RW

Olivier Rodrigue, G (62^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Rodrigue is a patient goalie who plays the refined style of many of the Quebec goaltenders before him. His temperament is evident not only in his own play but how calmly teams play in front of him; he commands respect at the junior level and his record speaks for itself. His quickness was among the best in junior hockey last season. Chief among concerns for Rodrigue are the fact that he has always played on a contending team as a junior. This sounds like a strength, and it is, but it is much easier to be unflappable and confident on a great team than a bad one. As well, he is slight-of-build, weighing in last season at only 165 pounds. While playing at a smaller weight never bothered a goalie like Ryan Miller, it comes with concerns in terms of handling the wear and tear of a long season, and Rodrigue has sustained injuries during playoff runs in his junior career. His ceiling is as a strong NHL starter. – MS

Carter Savoie, LW (100^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Savoie led the AJHL in goals last year with 53 in 54 games and possesses a high upside as a top six forward because of his skill and awareness. He impresses as a goal scorer with versatility to the ways he puts the puck in the net. He creates his own scoring chances by driving down the wing and using his lateral quickness and edgework to navigate traffic, creating shooting lanes. His shot is powerful and can beat goaltenders clean, even without a screen. Savoie is also a tenacious player who will drive the net and look for tip ins or rebounds near the crease. When he is challenged physically, he responds with a blend of hard hitting forechecks, after the whistle scrums, and a general chippiness. He is also a gifted puck handler. He is also an intelligent player without the puck. However, he is inconsistent, and has a tendency to disappear for stretches. Considering his lack of size, there is also concern that his skating is not explosive enough. Patience will be required as he moves on to the NCAA, but his potential is very high. – BO

Tyler Benson, LW (32^nd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Despite an overall fall in his numbers last season, Benson was the same intelligent playmaking winger/center hybrid as he long has been, and furthermore, he seems to have his injury issues behind him. His package of deft hands, smart decision-making, and crisp, accurate passing allow him to set up linemates from anywhere on the ice, and he is particularly adept at drawing defenders away from linemates to free them up for a dangerous feed. While the former Vancouver Giants star does not possess the blazing foot speed of some of his teammates and counterparts, it has not hampered his ability to change the flow of his game. What helps Benson’s chances of becoming a long-term option in the NHL ranks is that versatility and well-roundedness, and though he won’t ever put the puck in the net at a high rate, he can play a multitude of roles and create chances for teammates in high-danger areas almost at will. Expect him to be a middle-six option in the Oilers lineup in the near future and for years to come. – TD

Ryan McLeod, C (40^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

A second-round pick in the 2018 draft, McLeod fell down draft boards into the laps of Oilers management and looks to provide them some hidden value down the line. A lanky 6-3” center with a high-end defensive game and an offensive ceiling still to be determined, the OHL alum fared well in his rookie pro season as a 20-year-old playing in a variety of challenging roles. He split time between center and wing, exhibited high-grade defensive tools, and showed off some passing touch on the power play, playing up and down the lineup with a revolving door of linemates. A plus skater, McLeod likes to drive through defenders or use his long reach to pass around them in tight spaces, though he lacks urgency on offense. Smart and anticipatory on defense, he intercepts passes, makes easy changes on defensive assignments, and directs traffic up top in the defensive zone like a seasoned pro. He will have to develop into a more dangerous offensive option to be a surefire NHL weapon, but after just one pro year, he looks like -- worst case scenario -- a shutdown defensive center. – TD

Ilya Konovalov, G (85^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 9)

As opposed to the 2018-19 season, the 19-20 campaign was slightly disappointing for Konovalov. The Oilers draftee played a significant number of games for Lokomotiv – 40 in the regular season and five in the playoffs – but failed to make the same impression that he did last year. On the international stage, he was solid with the Russian B squad, but that was in a limited amount of games and not against the strongest opposition. In the playoffs, he had also looked better last year. Sophomore slump? Maybe, but next year he will have a veteran, import goalie to compete with for the starter position (Ed Pasquale) and it is yet to be seen whether he will be able to return to his old self. With that being said, Konovalov is still an interesting prospect, with excellent agility, fast movements, and a strong competitive drive. He needs to work on his consistency and overall technique to take a further step forward. Next year will be crucial to check if the Oilers had a good idea in spending a relatively high pick on him in 2019. – ASR

Tyler Tullio, RW (126^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Without great size, quickness, or dynamic puck skills, Tullio is an effective player in the offensive zone because of his awareness and intelligence level. While he is not often responsible for zone entries, he is extremely effective as a forechecker and in puck retrieval. Despite his size, he is terrific working the wall, using quick hands and feet to be elusive. His vision is terrific, anticipating breakdowns in coverage and routinely feeding his linemates around the slot for scoring chances. Tullio is also a great finisher, possessing a lightning quick release and the instincts to find openings and space near the crease. There is some concern about his ability to play with pace, especially when you consider his lack of size. His time will eventually come to showcase his offensive potential when he is dominating touches and leading his line. Tullio projects as a complementary skilled player who brings versatility, but who could actually have more game breaking ability than he has yet had a chance to show with any regularity. – BO

Dmitri Samorukov, D (84^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 10)

According to expectations around the hockey world, Samorukov had an underwhelming first pro year. The big Russian was projected to be a two-way force and capable of controlling the pace of games, as he was in his final OHL season leading Guelph to a league title, but instead struggled to play with the assertiveness that makes him such an intriguing pupil. While raw and (reasonably) inconsistent, Samorukov’s package screams NHL potential. After signing a one-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, he’ll spend the 2020-21 season playing in a top-tier pro league and hopefully work out his flaws overseas. At 6-3” and fairly strong, Samorukov wrestles pucks away at entry and can end plays before they happen against the boards and below the goal line. He is a very strong skater relative to his size, capable of carrying the puck out of the zone solo. He remains highly regarded in the organization and could shoot right back into the NHL conversation if his KHL stint goes well, but he must play with confidence to succeed. - TD

Cooper Marody, RW (158^th overall, 2015 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 7)

Marody is perhaps the most polarizing prospect in the Oilers organization. Full of skill and offensive creativity, the University of Michigan product is a dangerous cycle player with a muscular build and instinctual passing. However, he is a step slow and probably fits more in the NHL as a winger, a position made deeper and faster by new Oilers general manager Ken Holland, who acquired Tyler Ennis and Andreas Anthanasiou before the pause of the NHL season. A tough 2019-20 season slowed Marody’s development; he got sick in November and lost 10 pounds and was barely back into the thick of things before an upper-body injury ended his campaign in January. What the 23-year-old does well, he does exceptionally, notably his possession play and physical toughness in all three zones. While he is not a fast skater, he can hold his own and likes to carry the puck in transition with his quick and deceptive hands in spite of his lack of speed. He might be on his way to an NHL job if his health complies next season, and he is best suited as a winger on one of Edmonton’s two scoring lines if he can earn that job. - TD

Aapeli Rasanen, C (153^rd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 8)

The Finnish forward was drafted in the sixth round in 2016. He had previously played in Finland before jumping across the ocean to play in the USHL, where he went to further his career after being drafted. He had already represented Finland in international competition at the WU18s by that point. After one season with the Sioux City Musketeers, he joined Boston College. Rasanen recently finished his third season with the Eagles and signed with KalPa in Liiga. Rasanen led BC in face-offs with a 56.3% success rate. He also represented Finland in the World Junior championship twice during his collegiate career, recording the best face-off percentage in both tournaments. At 22 years of age, Rasanen plays a mature game. He is a solid forward who just recorded a career high in points. He has incredibly soft hands, especially while passing. While he can set teammates up, he can also score. Rasanen projects to be a top-nine forward once he returns to North America. - JS

Kirill Maksimov, RW (146^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

After a 40-goal season in the OHL and graduating to the pros, Maksimov brought with him some expectations as a potential future triggerman in the top-six of the Oilers forward depth chart. While the 21-year-old still has time to find his touch in that aspect, his rookie pro season (five goals in 53 games) doesn’t put him on the right track. However, the bruising, 6-3” Russian winger has a head start over his exclusively-offensive contemporaries: his penalty kill work and defensive game are impressive and deserving of recognition. He was used in a lot of defensive-zone draw and late-lead situations as someone who can hold shooters out of dangerous areas and change the pace of the opposition’s attack with stick checks and wonderful positioning. His speed is a concern, as is his inability to create shots for himself to let off his lethal wrister as he can make mistakes on offense, but his NHL future, unlike others in the system, is not solely predicated on offensive production. - TD

William Lagesson, D (91^st overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 12)

In the same boat as Bouchard, Lagesson would already be a solid contributor to an NHL defensive core if not for other young defensemen in the pipeline who can bring something similar to the table. That isn’t a knock on the Swede, more so a credit to how well the Oilers have fielded a young defensive lineup of late. Lagesson is an NHL-ready 24-year-old who has played the same scrappy, solid defensive hockey everywhere he has gone, and has proven he can do just that in the NHL after an eight-game trial in 2019-20. The best compliment you can give to a stay-at-home defenseman is that they are hard to notice, and he deserves that honor. He is smooth in his one-on-one defense, with tight gaps, an active stick, and the size to disrupt a forward’s stride. He is physical and competitive but not prone to taking excessive penalties, which boosts his value as a one-way guy. His ceiling is depth defensive role player, and he is more than ready to take it on. - TD

Philip Kemp, D (208^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Kemp jumped from two years at prep school to two seasons with the USNTDP, representing the U.S. in international play during that time. From the program, he entered Yale and totaled only eight points in both his first and second seasons, in the latter of which he was invited to the World Junior Championship. Kemp isn’t an offensive defenseman, but he can still occasionally contribute offensively. His selling point as a defender his is skating, which allows him to backcheck well - pivotal for any defender who wants to play pro hockey. He has a big frame at 6-3” and a long reach that he uses well. He also uses his speed to jump up in the rush. A seventh-round draft pick, he is performing above his draft value, but there is room for Kent - who just finished his junior season and will captain Yale - to improve. - JS

Markus Niemelainen, D (63^rd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 14)

Niemelainen had a good season with Assat in Finland's top league. He logged the second-most ice-time on the team and improved his overall game. He started to play more physically and his play with the puck also got better. A reliable and assertive defenseman with long reach, he primarily takes care of his own end. He is mobile with good acceleration and can reach a good top speed. The biggest knock against him continues to be a lack of offense. His play with the puck is no longer as cautious as it used to be, but he has never been a big point producer and that is unlikely to change. That said, the recent improvement in his game is a reason for some optimism. Niemelainen has a chance to carve out a career in the NHL as a depth defenseman. However, when he goes across the pond, he will very likely need a significant amount of development time first in the AHL. - MB

Maxim Denezhkin, C (193^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

The small-framed center had a strong season in the MHL with Loko Yaroslavl, but once again he had limited time in pro hockey, playing only one contest in the KHL and two in the VHL. It is clear that he has a rich arsenal of moves and creativity to generate attacks, but he needs to bulk up. Moreover, small players need to be flashy to be effective, and while he isn’t a slow skater, his agility and his style still leave some question marks on his game – especially so at the pro level. With that being said, Denezhkin is a hard-working, competitive forward who gives good effort at both ends of the ice and can be useful in any situation, even in penalty killing. He has good hockey sense and a strong passing game; therefore, he can still develop into a good player with the right coaching and some seasoning at home. With this type of player, patience is a must. – ASR

Maxim Berezkin, LW (138^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A goal scoring power winger with great size (6-4” and over 200lbs) who has been utilized in all situations in the MHL. He owns a good shot and is a half wall threat on the powerplay. A late-2001 born, Berezkin is a project and his skating needs plenty of work before he can be deemed ready to play in the faster paced rinks of North America. His feet are currently heavy, and it prevents him from consistently playing with pace. If he is to make up for his lack of pace, it will have to come from what he can do once the puck is already settled in the offensive zone. His strong shot has already been mentioned, but his ability to control and maneuver the puck is just as impressive. He also reads situations maturely and can be relied upon to make the correct decisions. Even if he maximizes those other traits, his below average skating will likely limit him to a bottom-line role, where his coaches will hope that he can put his giant frame to good use. – Brock Otten

Patrik Siikanen, LW (195^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 16)

A bit of a sleeper to end this list, Siikanen has steadily risen up the ranks in Finland, playing a regular role in Liiga before his 20^th birthday, despite never playing in a major tournament for Finland. Of only he could produce, though, as he has only two assists through his first 33 Liiga games. In all honesty, he was never a big scorer in the Finnish junior ranks either, but he still has some elements to recommend him for a possible NHL future. Despite his lack of numbers, he has a pretty good shot and should be expected to start finding the net as he gains experience and the confidence that should tag along. Second, he has good size – not like Berezkin, but lanky and strong. He uses his size well and knows how to make himself tough to line up against. As should be pretty obvious from this write-up, Siikanen does not project as any more than a fourth line grinder who can bring energy. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – EDMONTON OILERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 21

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:17:46 +0000

Edmonton Oilers

The 2018-19 Bakersfield Condors were a dominant outfit at the minor league level. They were the top team in both the Pacific Division and the Western Conference as a whole. Shane Starrett was a rock between the pipes. The defensive core, starring Ethan Bear, Caleb Jones, and Logan Day, was unbeatable. The offensive attack was led by talented stalwarts including Tyler Benson, Cooper Marody, Joe Gambardella, Josh Currie, and Patrick Russell.

This year’s Condors have been bad. They entered the COVID-19 suspension of play with a points percentage of .446, sixth out of seven in the division. Only three teams in the 31-team league have surrendered more goals, and each of those teams has played at least five more games than Bakersfield has.

Minor pro teams at all levels can see their overall quality fluctuate wildly from season to season as the parent club’s needs change. Players develop and graduate, and veteran players leave for greater opportunities. As we will see with the Oiler’s top minor league affiliate, it was all of the above as well as plain old regression and injury that led to the change in fortunes.

Let’s start with the blueline. Outside of winger Kailer Yamamoto, who played roughly one third of the 2018-19 season in the AHL, the only two NHL graduations from the farm to the Show were defenders Ethan Bear, who spent the entire season in the NHL, and Caleb Jones, who was recalled to Edmonton in November and spent all but six days of the rest of the schedule in the NHL. Logan Day was an interesting scouting find as a free agent out of an NCAA DIII who scored an entry level deal after a strong first professional season on an AHL contract, but he backslid at both ends of the ice. The new look D, including top ten pick Evan Bouchard, could not keep the puck out of danger.

That impacted the play of the netminders. Starrett saw his save percentage drop from a very good .918 to an execrable .874 in only 14 games as he dealt with a long-term groin injury that kept him on the shelf for nearly two months. Stuart Skinner assumed the mantle as starter and didn’t fare much better, with a .892 save percentage. A big goalie, he had been a highly touted junior, but his lack of athleticism didn’t help at all.

And what of the forwards, who contributed to a division trailing 162 goals scored? Of the players listed above, Patrick Russell spent the year in Edmonton, not that many noticed his five assists (no goals). I did not list him as a graduate above, as the 27-year old had already aged out of prospectdom. The other veteran of that bunch, Josh Currie, was fine, practically replicating his 2018-19 performance in a losing cause. He might have earned NHL time were the Oilers not finally ascendant. There other three were not so hot. Tyler Benson was perhaps passable, dropping from just shy of point-per-game status to a hair over .75 points-per-game, while shoehorning his first NHL recall. Cooper Marody was injured during the 2019 AHL Playoffs and was never at full strength this year, playing only 30 games and unable to find the handle, scoring only five times. I am prepared to extend him a mulligan, but he is already 23 and next season might be his last real chance to catch on at the highest level. Joe Gambardella, on the other hand, is already 26. He was highly touted as a collegiate free agent, but it looks like his window has closed after his scoring rate fell nearly in half, from 48 points in 50 games down to 28 points in the same playing time.

Perhaps better health, improvement from some of the first-year players this year, and new talent like incoming prospects Olivier Rodrigue in net and Markus Niemelainen on the blueline can swing Bakersfield’s fortunes back on the upswing.

200819 Skellefteå's Philip Broberg during the training match in ice hockey between Skellefteå and Modo on 19 August 2020 in Skellefteå.
Photo: Ola Westerberg / BILDBYRÅN

Philip Broberg, D (8^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

A high-end prospect with a strong long-term projection. Philip Broberg is a lanky defenseman with an impressive toolbox of skills. He has elite speed which he can use both with and without the puck. He defends his blueline well and is tough to beat when he uses his reach.

Broberg still has not excelled at point production but as an 18-year-old rookie in the SHL he played the part of a sixth defenseman well. He had strong underlying numbers and had the highest CF% and FF% among Skelleftea defenseman. Skelleftea were a better team with him on the ice than without him. He is effective at getting the puck up the ice and is hard to catch. Broberg isn’t just unlucky in production though, he will need to develop his offensive game to be more effective. He needs to be able to be control the pace more and to be more composed with the puck in lower pace situations.

His WJC performance was also a bit underwhelming due to inconsistent play. He is at his best at the zone exits and entries. When the game is standing still in either zone, he needs to learn how to use his strengths as well as he does on the rush. He is the type of prospect that could explode with some adjustments to his game. He was the sixth defender on the team this season and will likely get a bigger role next season.

He still is a year or two or maybe even three from competing for an NHL spot but Broberg is a player you would not want to rush. If he can get the time to figure out his game and get physically stronger, he can step right into the NHL and be effective right away. He has top pair potential. - JH

Evan Bouchard, D (10^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 2)

With 2019-20 being the much-anticipated rookie pro season of the reigning Max Kaminsky Trophy winner (top defenseman in the OHL), Bouchard certainly lived up to expectations. One of the top puck-moving defensive prospects on the planet, the 10th overall pick in the 2018 draft led the AHL Bakersfield Condors with 29 assists in just his age-19 season on a team that struggled to generate offense and finished with the fewest goals scored in the AHL Pacific Division (162).

He can and will generate offense on any given shift, using his magical hands and brilliant, mature hockey IQ to facilitate the puck and create high-danger chances out of nowhere. He skates decently for someone with a bulky 6-3” body, a much improved trait once thought of as a weakness, and his shot is speedy, capable of creating rebounds, and one used with frequency and confidence as he was top-ten among AHL defenders in shots on goal last season.

As polished as he is offensively, he can handle challenging defensive minutes with his physical and intelligent play in his own zone; never shying away from a chance to pin someone against the boards and use his long reach to disrupt play from below the goal line. It would be nice to see someone as skilled as him playing with more pace and energy, and that might come when he reaches the faster-paced levels of the NHL, which could come next season; if it was not for the impressive young blueliners already holding down the fort in Edmonton such as Ethan Bear and Caleb Jones, Bouchard would already be a NHL anchor. - TD

EDMONTON, AB - SEPTEMBER 14: Raphael Lavoie of the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Raphael Lavoie, RW/C (38^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Lavoie may have dropped to the Oilers’ laps in the second round in 2019, but he is still a talented forward with size. He proved it last season with a solid contribution in the first half with a lame-duck, Memorial Cup-hangover Halifax squad, and then a strong showing with a contending Chicoutimi team before the season was cancelled.

Lavoie is tall and needs to fill out, but his game will only improve with more weight. He is more of a finesse forward than a power forward, but he can protect the puck very well and loves to play in traffic. He has an excellent shot and creates plenty of opportunity to use it, as his 106 career Q goals suggest. His stickhandling works well at the Q level, but will need refinement, as does his skating. Adding more bulk will give him more balance and help him in the long run, but he is not a physical player.

The potential is there for him to become a power forward in the future, but it would involve a Blake Wheeler-like transition in his game. Much like Wheeler when he was drafted, he could benefit from playing with more snarl and passion. It would open more space for him when his hands or legs cannot at the higher levels. Beyond that, Lavoie is a strong option for a scoring winger with size at the top level and will debut with Bakersfield next season. He projects as a good up-and-down the roster scoring winger at the NHL level. - MS

Olivier Rodrigue, G (62^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Rodrigue was poised to cap off a very successful QMJHL career with a deep playoff run in Moncton before the season was terminated. He had gotten the attention of Team Canada and was their third goaltender for the World Juniors this past holiday season, and a strong campaign with his new Wildcats teammates was underway. Showing his value to the Oilers, Rodrigue was invited to the Edmonton playoff camp to get more experience and one-on-one time with goalie coach Dustin Schwartz.

He is a patient goalie who plays the refined style of many of the Quebec goaltenders before him. His temperament is evident not only in his own play but how calmly teams play in front of him; he is a goaltender that commands respect at the Q level and his record speaks for itself. His quickness is among the best in junior hockey, and his acceptance of his role as a third goalie with Team Canada is to be commended. He has seen reps at other international tournaments previous to this season, as well.

Chief among concerns for Rodrigue are the fact that he has always played on a contending team in junior hockey. This sounds like a strength, and it is, but it is much easier to be unflappable and confident on a great team than a bad one. As well, he is slight-of-build, weighing in this season at 165 pounds. While playing at a smaller weight never bothered a goalie like Ryan Miller, it comes with concerns in terms of handling the wear and tear of a long season, and Rodrigue has sustained injuries during playoff runs in his junior career. He is also in a dogfight with several other netminders in the organization for playing time. His ceiling is a strong NHL starter. - MS

EDMONTON, AB - SEPTEMBER 6: Tyler Benson of the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Tyler Benson, LW (32^nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

In his sophomore professional season, Benson fell victim to a team-wide regression as a member of the Condors, which finished sixth out of seven Pacific Division teams after winning the division title just a year prior. His scoring total dropped by 30 points from the 2018-19 season (albeit in 21 fewer games) and he struggled on defense to the tune of a -10 plus/minus rating.

However individually speaking, Benson was the same intelligent playmaking winger/center hybrid as he long has been, and he seems to have his injury issues behind him. Though he was fairly ineffective in his seven-game NHL trial run, that kind of depth facilitating forward would be a godsend for an Oilers team that struggles to generate much offense without its superstars on the ice. Benson’s package of deft hands, decision-making, and crisp, accurate passing allow him to set up linemates from anywhere on the ice, and he is particularly adept at drawing defenders away from linemates to free them up for a dangerous feed.

While the former Vancouver Giants star does not possess the blazing foot speed of some of his teammates and counterparts, it has not hampered his ability to change the flow of his game. What helps Benson’s chances of becoming a long-term option in the NHL ranks is that versatility and well-roundedness, and though he won’t ever put the puck in the net at a high rate, he can play a multitude of roles and set his teammates up for high-danger shots at will. Expect him to be a middle-six option in the Oilers lineup for years to come. - TD

Cooper Marody, RW (158^th overall, 2015 [Philadelphia]. 2019 Rank: 8)

A tough 2019-20 season slowed Marody’s development; he got sick in November and lost 10 pounds and was barely back into the thick of things before an upper-body injury ended his campaign in January. What the 23-year-old does well, he does exceptionally, notably his possession play and physical toughness in all three zones. While he is not a fast skater, he can hold his own and likes to carry the puck in transition with his quick and deceptive hands in spite of his lack of speed. He might be on his way to an NHL job if his health complies next season, and he is best suited as a winger on one of Edmonton’s two scoring lines if he can earn that job. - TD

Ryan McLeod, C (40^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

A plus skater, McLeod likes to drive through defenders or use his long reach to pass around them in tight spaces, though he lacks urgency on offense. Smart and anticipatory on defense, he intercepts passes, makes easy changes on defensive assignments, and directs traffic up top in the defensive zone like a seasoned pro. He will have to develop into a more dangerous offensive option to be a surefire NHL weapon, but after just one pro year, he looks like -- worst case scenario -- a shutdown defensive center. - TD

Aapeli Rasanen, C (153^rd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Rasanen recently finished his third season with the Eagles and signed with KalPa in Liiga. Rasanen led BC in face-offs with a 56.3% success rate. He also represented Finland in the World Junior championship twice during his collegiate career, recording the best face-off percentage in both tournaments. At 22 years of age, Rasanen plays a mature game. He is a solid forward who just recorded a career high in points. He has incredibly soft hands, especially while passing. While he can set teammates up, he can also score. Rasanen projects to be a top-nine forward once he returns to North America. - JS

Ilya Konovalov, G (85^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 15)

Sophomore slump? Maybe, but next year he will have a veteran, import goalie to compete with for the starter position (Ed Pasquale) and it is yet to be seen whether he will be able to return to his old self. With that being said, Konovalov is still an interesting prospect, with excellent agility, fast movements, and a strong competitive drive. He needs to work on his consistency and overall technique to take a further step forward. Next year will be crucial to check if the Oilers had a good idea in spending a relatively high pick on him in 2019. - ASR

Dmitri Samorukov, D (84^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

While raw and (reasonably) inconsistent, Samorukov’s package screams NHL potential. After signing a one-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, he’ll spend the 2020-21 season playing in a top-tier pro league and hopefully work out his flaws overseas. At 6-3” and fairly strong, Samorukov wrestles pucks away at entry and can end plays before they happen against the boards and below the goal line.

He is a very strong skater relative to his size, capable of carrying the puck out of the zone solo. He remains highly regarded in the organization and could shoot right back into the NHL conversation if his KHL stint goes well, but he must play with confidence to succeed. - TD

Kirill Maksimov, RW (146^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 11)

However, the bruising, 6-3” Russian winger has a head start over his exclusively-offensive contemporaries: his penalty kill work and defensive game are impressive and deserving of recognition. He was used in a lot of defensive-zone draw and late-lead situations as someone who can hold shooters out of dangerous areas and change the pace of the opposition’s attack with stick checks and wonderful positioning.

His speed is a concern, as is his inability to create shots for himself to let off his lethal wrister as he can make mistakes on offense, but his NHL future, unlike others in the system, is not solely predicated on offensive production. - TD

William Lagesson, D (91^st overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 20)

Lagesson is an NHL-ready 24-year-old who has played the same scrappy, solid defensive hockey everywhere he has gone, and has proven he can do just that in the NHL after an eight-game trial in 2019-20. The best compliment you can give to a stay-at-home defenseman is that they are hard to notice, and he deserves that honor. He is smooth in his one-on-one defense, with tight gaps, an active stick, and the size to disrupt a forward’s stride.

He is physical and competitive but not prone to taking excessive penalties, which boosts his value as a one-way guy. His ceiling is depth defensive role player, and he is more than ready to take it on. - TD

Philip Kemp, D (208^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 14)

His selling point as a defender his is skating, which allows him to backcheck well - pivotal for any defender who wants to play pro hockey. He has a big frame at 6-3” and a long reach that he uses well. He also uses his speed to jump up in the rush. A seventh-round draft pick, he is performing above his draft value, but there is room for Kent - who just finished his junior season and will captain Yale - to improve. - JS

Markus Niemelainen, D (63^rd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

The biggest knock against him continues to be a lack of offense. His play with the puck is no longer as cautious as it used to be, but he has never been a big point producer and that is unlikely to change. That said, the recent improvement in his game is a reason for some optimism. Niemelainen has a chance to carve out a career in the NHL as a depth defenseman. However, when he goes across the pond, he will very likely need a significant amount of development time first in the AHL. - MB

Maxim Denezhkin, C (193^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Moreover, small players need to be flashy to be effective, and while he isn’t a slow skater, his agility and his style still leave some question marks on his game – especially so at the pro level. With that being said, Denezhkin is a hard-working, competitive forward who gives good effort at both ends of the ice and can be useful in any situation, even in penalty killing. He has good hockey sense and a strong passing game; therefore he can still develop into a good player with the right coaching and some seasoning at home. With this type of player, patience is a must. - ASR

Edmonton Oilers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:22:34 +0000

With no shortage of first overall picks on the Edmonton roster, supplemented by a number of other one-time top ten selections, the hockey world was, in turns, amused and dismayed by the fact that the Oilers have been unable to rise above league also-rans. Even with the rarely disputed best player in the game, Connor McDavid on the team, and producing like a perennial Hart Trophy candidate, the Oilers have only reached the postseason once since 2006-07.

Embarrassing recent history aside, there is reason to believe that Edmonton is turning the page. The era of legacy management hires (Kevin Lowe, Craig MacTavish, etc) is over. Peter Chiarelli’s ill-fated run has also come to an end. Taking over is former long-time Detroit big boss Kenny Holland. Joining him are several other high ranking former Red Wings’ executives.

Change at the top, for a franchise so rooted in mediocrity as Edmonton (ironic, considering the city is still referred to in some circles as the City of Champions, harkening back to the days of Gretzky and company) is both necessary and welcomed. But does Holland have the horses necessary to back McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins and the few other high end players back to the postseason?

Maybe. At the time of this writing (near the end of July, 2019) the Oilers look to be icing a very young roster, one of the youngest in the league. In fact, of the five players with contracts over the age of 30, two are the team’s presumptive netminders, Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith. With so much youth on the roster, there comes uncertainty. Players have smaller track records from which to extrapolate accurate projections. Players are still pushing the envelopes on their potential. Yes, that even extends to McDavid and Draisaitl.

It is often said that a team should have youth up front and experience at the back, but the Oilers have more gray at forward than on defense. The only blueliner over the age of 26 is Kris Russell. There are five forwards older than that cutoff. A look at the players listed below suggests that the blueline will continue to get younger before it gains the experience behind the aforementioned cliché. Both of the top two prospects in the system, as well as three in the top five and four of the top ten are defensemen.

Considering how the root of much of the struggles in Edmonton over the last few years has been porous team defense, there is no question that turnover should be considered. But we should keep in mind that not only will not all of the team’s top defensive prospects pan out, they will need to supplement that youth with some experience on their rise up the standings.

-Ryan Wagman

Edmonton Oilers Defenceman Evan Bouchard (75) (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

1 Philip Broberg, D (8^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) In our opinion a solid choice inthe top ten of the draft, even if his statistical record left some fans wanting. Broberg’s skating alone and how he uses it is a lethal weapon to have on any team. His other assets include above average but not elite hockey IQ. Combined with his reach and speed he will be a strong top four or maybe even a top pairing defenseman. When he played in Allsvenskan, he showed strong flashes but didn’t get the trust to play a role where he could play out his full game, which is not uncommon for a 17-year-old defenseman in the Swedish pro ranks. He truly shined on the international stage and is a player that can take charge of a game and shift the momentum on one shift. He has some defensive flaws that he needs to correct and should continue work on his power play game. Next season, he will play with Skelleftea in the SHL and will have good opportunity to step up his development to be ready for the NHL within one or two seasons. - JH

2 Evan Bouchard, D (10^thoverall, 2018. Last Year: 1) The reigning Max Kaminsky trophy winner as the OHL’s top defender, Bouchard is one of the top puck moving blueline prospects on the planet. His vision is his best asset, as it is rare to see him turn the puck over. This, in combination with a booming point shot, make him an elite powerplay quarterback. His skating, once thought to be a weakness, has improved over his OHL career to the point that it should not be an issue at the NHL level. Where there is more concern is his defensive play and intensity level in traffic. In order to live up to his lofty potential as a top 3 defender for the Oilers, he will need to work harder in his own end and be more difficult to play against. With Edmonton’s blueline issues, the expectation is that Bouchard is thrust into a full time NHL role this year, whether he is truly ready or not. -BO

3 Raphael Lavoie, RW/C (38^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Lavoie’s drop in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft was one of the most surprising events of that occasion, but it allowed the Oilers to snag a top prospect in the second round. Lavoie is a tantalizing combination of size and skill, with a great shot, great north-south skating and a 6-4” frame. Despite that size, he is more of a finesse player than a power forward, and he has never shown the penchant to want to bang bodies. His 32 points in the playoffs this past season with the Halifax Mooseheads were huge for a team that ended up needing the help. Lavoie carried the Mooseheads at times in the playoffs, but was invisible for some games in the regular season. His consistency is an issue, like many prospects, but he is trending towards a strong second-line scoring option for the Oilers. - MS

4 Tyler Benson, LW (32^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 4) Appearing to finally be fully healthy, Benson enjoyed a magisterial rookie pro season with AHL Bakersfield in 2018-19. A speedy and creative forward, the former second-rounder’s natural playmaking ability — driven by top-notch vision, decision-making, and very crisp and accurate passes — can carry play from both the left wing and from the center position. After putting some debilitating hip injuries past him, he has seemingly gained an extra half step in his acceleration, making him a dangerous skating option. His shot is severely underused, and not much a weapon to begin with. He has potential to eventually become a top-six facilitating winger at the NHL level, something the Oilers need. - TD

5 Dmitri Samorukov, D (84^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 9) Without question, Samorukov has seen his stock rise more than any other OHL prospect this past season. His meteoric rise up the system is thanks to his strong play at the World Junior Championships, and for Guelph in the second half, leading them to an OHL Championship. In the second half of the OHL season, he was, quite arguably, the best defender in the league. Samorukov is a solid two-way defender who can impact the game at both ends of the ice. Offensively, he pushes the pace with his strong skating ability and puck skill, while defensively his physicality and intensity level make him a difficult player to match up against. He profiles as a top four defender with his new found confidence. It remains to be seen how quick Samorukov can climb through the Oilers’ system, but he is held in high regard by management and should be in the NHL sooner rather than later if he performs well at the AHL level. - BO

6 Kailer Yamamoto, LW/C (22^nd overall, 2017. Last Year: 2) A highly creative, smooth-skating winger, the former first-rounder creates plays out of thin air and is intense on the puck at all times. The quick-handed forward possesses strong hockey sense and the ability to drive play and carry a line from his position with his speed and vision. Though undersized, he packs a punch with plus upper-body strength and the tenacity to play low in the zone. He does not contribute much defensively, which makes him relatively useless if he is not putting up high-end offensive numbers. The organization hopes Yamamoto will soon line up with Connor McDavid on the Oilers’ top line, and while his development has been delayed by inconsistencies and injuries, his ceiling remains that of a first line staple. - TD

7 Ryan McLeod, D (40^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) Splitting the year between Mississauga and Saginaw, McLeod was able to get another playoff run under his belt, making the Conference Finals for the second time in his OHL career. He is a playmaking center with size and strong skating ability that allows him to dictate the pace of play in the offensive end. He excels on the man advantage with the way he controls the puck below the hash marks. McLeod’s two-way game made nice strides over his OHL career, but he is likely the type that will need to be a top 6 forward or fail to take that next step. His game lacks urgency at times and his intensity level and drive to play through traffic lacks consistency. There is likely to be a learning curve for McLeod at the pro level, even if his skating ability looks impressive at first glance. With patience, he could develop into a playmaking second line center, although one wonders where he will fit in with Edmonton’s depth down the middle. - BO

8 Cooper Marody, RW (158^th overall, 2015 [Philadelphia]. Last Year: 5) Like Benson, Marody made his presence known in his first full professional season, posting high-grade numbers with AHL Bakersfield (58-19-45-64) in 2018-19. The stocky, high-energy centerman has long possessed talent to achieve high point totals, but again, like Benson, had not had the health that complied with his NHL potential. He is a very smart player who reads the ice quickly and intelligently, likes to slow down the pace, and never hesitates to shoot from the slot. His stocky, muscular build makes him dangerous down low in the offensive zone, especially as a cycle player who generates shots for his linemates. The University of Michigan product is not very creative and does not have high-end speed or technical skating skill, but has depth scoring potential based off his shooting skill and vision. - TD

9 Olivier Rodrigue, G (62^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) The best goalie prospect in the QMJHL right now, Rodrigue is on Hockey Canada’s radar for international duty as one of the best goaltenders of his age group. Rodrigue deserves the honors; his quickness side-to-side and ability to seal the bottom of the net are top notch, and he is a main reason why the Drummondville Voltigeurs were contenders the last two seasons. What hurts Rodrigue is literal: injuries slowed his growth this season and he barely played in the playoffs. However, his 35-9-1 record this season is nothing to knock. Rodrigue was traded at the QMJHL draft, and will ply his trade with the Moncton Wildcats this season, who are also preparing for a title-contending season. As one of the best goalies in Canadian junior hockey, Rodrigue has NHL starter potential. - MS

10 Ethan Bear, D (124^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 7) An undersized, offensively-oriented d-man with speed to burn, Bear is looking like a solid hit by Oilers scouting on a fifth-round pick back in 2015. With short, powerful strides that generate a lot of speed, and with a low center of gravity that allows him to stay balanced when cutting or getting shoved from his sides. An electric shot from the blue line was a staple of the Condors’ power play units, as well as his vision and playmaking from the top of the zone. Furthermore, he looked as solid in his own zone as any Bakersfield rearguard. Bear played the best hockey of his pro career last season (52-6-25-31), improving upon an already impressive package of offensive skills that will allow him to have a long career as a depth defenseman with power play time. - TD

11 Kirill Maksimov, RW (146^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 13) Oilers’ management and fans alike have been searching for a triggerman for Connor McDavid. The John LeClair to his Eric Lindros. That’s where Maksimov comes in and why he has become an intriguing prospect for the organization. Armed with one of the best shot releases in the OHL, Maksimov is a true goal scorer. He also plays a high intensity game that sees him assert himself physically. That said, he is far from a polished product. Maksimov struggles with his decision making with the puck and can be turnover prone. He also had difficulty staying out of the box in the second half, something that infuriated Niagara Ice Dogs fans. A PCL injury suffered in the playoffs may hinder his ability to perform to his best at training camp. However, Edmonton may have to wait for him to adjust to the speed of the pro game and to work on keeping things simple. At his best, he could be first or second line goal scorer. - BO

12 Joel Persson, D (Undrafted free agent, signed May 18, 2018. Last Year: 12) Joel Persson is a good story. He played at lower levels until he was 23 years old without getting picked up by a club in either of Sweden's top two leagues. He finally had an opportunity in 2017 to play with SHL top club Vaxjo and took it with both hands. He quarterbacked a power play with rising star Elias Pettersson and excelled. He stayed in Vaxjo for an extra year and repeated his success without the Calder winner. Persson is an offensive defenseman with excellent stick work, poise and hockey sense. He is at his best on the power play and needs an offensive role to succeed. His NHL trajectory is probably going through the AHL. As a 25-year-old he will need to show good numbers in the AHL from the get go. As a right-handed puck-moving defenseman there could probably be an opening on the Oilers within the next season or so. - JH

13 Matej Blumel, RW (100^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Whenever a player is passed over at his first draft, for good reason, there is a black mark next to his name. When he cranks up the offense as an older player, skepticism is warranted. So why should we believe in Matej Blumel, who made his North American debut with a meagre 18 points in full season with Waterloo of the USHL and then exploded in his second year of draft eligibility with a 60 point season? First off, there were signs that his age 17 year exploits were simply a matter of a player getting used to a new brand of hockey in a new league in a new country as he was one of the Czech Republic’s better players at the WU18 that year. As for his scoring last year, he backs it up with serious foot speed, tantalizing puck skills, and evident hockey IQ. Heading to the NCAA’s European embassy in Connecticut next season, Blumel could fit as a bottom six forward if his offense regresses. - RW

14 Philip Kemp, D (208^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Kemp is a sturdy 6-3”, 200-pound defenseman. A forgotten NTDP player, he is a slick skater and a precise passer. The blueliner will play another year at Yale and continue to marinate. Now that Ken Holland is the GM for the Oilers, they won’t dare rush him. He can improve on the eight points he had last season, as he has more puck moving skill to develop. The hope is Kemp can me more than a simple puck transporter. He has to show that to earn a contract from Edmonton. He can be physical and has the frame and strength to do so, winning puck battles as a result, helping him earn a role at the NHL level. He has worn a letter in the past and probably will again for Yale this season. - RC

15 Ilya Konovalov, G (85^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) The young Russian had a tremendous season at home, winning the KHL Rookie of the Year award and making his debut for the Russian senior national team. Konovalov flew a bit under the radar, as he didn’t enjoy much exposure in spite of always posting good numbers in the Russian junior leagues. This season, however, was a turning point in his career, as he became the undisputed starting goalie for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, backstopping the team to the second round of the Gagarin Cup playoffs. Konovalov isn’t gifted with a huge frame, but he is very good at tracking the puck and challenging the forwards, relying on his athleticism and great reflexes to stop the puck after a scoring chance. He can improve his rebound control, but agility, lateral movement, and competitiveness are all at a very high level. After such a strong season in the KHL, he may be ready to cross the pond, but is under contract in Yaroslavl for two more years. -ASR

16 Shane Starrett, G (Undrafted free agent, signed Apr. 10, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) In a system as deep in goaltending prospects as ever, Starrett can still stand out, thanks to imposing size, mature mental composure, and a unique, deep-in-the-crease style for goalies of his size. After spending most of the 2017-18 season in the ECHL, the 25-year-old effectively stole the AHL starting job and had great success in the process (27-12-2, .912). A technically refined netminder, he shuts down holes along the posts well, tracks developing plays with laser focus, and can even go out and handle the puck to limit forechecking effectiveness. Though his size can bail him out at times, his tool selection can be sloppy and he would benefit from using his glove more. He has NHL size and discipline, and could be a big-league backup in the near future. - TD

17 Caleb Jones, D (117^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 14) A weighty, strong defenseman with some untapped speed in his game, Jones really found what works for him with AHL Bakersfield last year. The versatile blueliner with quick hands played high minutes and took on tough opponents, displaying a physical edge as well as a great stretch pass to get out of the zone. Most importantly, his mental discipline and overall patience improved from last season, though his speed still lags behind. Jones’ 2018-19 campaign was significantly better than his disastrous efforts a year prior, and he displayed his potential as a depth puck-moving defenseman, even earning an NHL cameo in that role near the end of the season. - TD

18 Cameron Hebig, LW (Undrafted free agent, signed Dec. 28, 2017. Last Year: 18) Signed as a free agent at the end of the 2017 calendar year, Hebig has been steadily rising among the Oilers’ prospect ranks. As a depth center with Bakersfield last year, the former WHL star put up solid stats (64-11-18-29) with five power play goals on the Condors’ second man-advantage group. The undersized center plays a solid 200-foot game, exhibits mature offensive anticipation, has lightning-fast hands, and possesses a pro-level wrist shot, albeit a criminally underused one. Hebig is not the best or fastest skater, but could be an intense and scrappy depth playmaker at the NHL level with an improvement in his acceleration and stop/start speed. - RW

19 Ostap Safin, RW (115^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 17) Injuries ground Safin to a halt this season; he hurt his hip with the Czech Republic U20 team in the summer and never fully recovered. He missed all of training camp, was traded to Halifax, suffered a setback and missed much of the season. In the playoffs, Safin was a shadow of his former self, recording two points in 23 games, and was scoreless in four Memorial Cup games. His injuries this season set his development back a year, and it makes him an unknown going forward. At his best, the 6-5” winger blazes down the right side and wires a strong shot. He is smart and can create with a pass or a shot, and uses his frame to create space. If he is fully recovered, Safin could be a middle-six winger who can provide much needed secondary scoring and responsible defensive play, and will be ready sooner rather than later. - MS

20 William Lagesson, D (91^st overall, 2014. Last Year: Not ranked) The biggest compliment you can give a depth defenseman is that they are hard to notice, and Lagesson deserves that honor. A very methodical blueliner with a beautiful simplicity to his game, he is a reliable one-on-one defender with solid gaps, an active stick, and the size to effect an opposing forward’s stride. The 2014 fourth-round selection moves the puck well and put up very respectable offensive numbers last season in the process (67-8-19-27). The best thing about him is how he does not have any noticeable flaws. Even his skating, which is a weak point, is masked by a gameplay style that does not require elite speed. He could contend for the bottom-pairing depth spot his ceiling suggests as soon as this upcoming season. - TD

OHL Playoff Preview: Western Conference – Trade deadline talent arms race makes for a wide open battle

Brock Otten — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 16:21:53 +0000

This week the 2019 OHL playoffs will kick off with first round action getting under way on Thursday. More so than any year that I can remember, the field is wide open. There are favorites to take home the J.Ross Robertson Cup, sure, but the sheer number of candidates to make it to the end is greater than previous years because of how many teams loaded up with talent at this year’s trade deadline. As difficult as it is, I will make my predictions. Just do not place any large bets or wagers based upon it.

First Round

Jean-Luc Foudy of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#1. London Knights vs. #8. Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: 5-1 for London

Analysis: The Spitfires limped into the playoffs with only one regulation win in their final ten games. Their punishment? A date with London, who narrowly held off Saginaw to take the #1 seed in the West. Even if I don’t expect this to be a close series, it will be a terrific experience for the Spitfires and their talented, young roster. Young players like Jean Luc Foudy and Will Cuylle will get a taste of the playoffs to know what is required of them when Windsor becomes a powerhouse again in a few years’ time. The Knights hold the clear advantage in nearly every area here. The team’s #5 defender, Joey Keane, would be Windsor’s #1. They outscore them by over a goal per game. And even if discipline issues creep up (London is the most penalized team in the Western Conference), their top-rated penalty kill is efficient enough to limit Windsor’s chances of getting back in games. Look for Evan Bouchard to have a big performance after last year’s poor showing in the first round that saw London get swept by Owen Sound.

Prediction: London in 4.

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Evan Bouchard (EDM): As mentioned, Bouchard did not have a good first round performance in last year’s playoffs, something that may have led to his slide to the 10th spot last June. To be honest, I wasn’t enamored with his performance this year either with his offensive production taking a step back and his defensive engagement continuing to be a concern. That said, the best players elevate their game when it matters most and I’ll be looking for Bouchard to do that this playoffs. As deep as London is on the blueline, they need him to be a dominant force at both ends if they want to go for the championship.

Liam Foudy (CBJ): Foudy was another player who looked overmatched in last year’s playoffs against Owen Sound. After a slow start to this year, Foudy finished the season well and ended up second in goals for the Knights. The Knights know that they will be getting production from Formenton and Hancock up front, but again, if they want to go far, they will need the speedy Foudy to be an impact player; someone who can use his speed and puck skills to create consistent scoring chances for himself and his linemates.

Jean-Luc Foudy (2020): It is a Foudy vs. Foudy match-up with Liam going against his younger brother Jean-Luc. Like Liam, Jean-Luc is an absolute lightning bolt on skates. He has shown a penchant for using his speed to be one of the OHL’s elite young playmakers, leading all OHL rookies in assists this year. He is a prime time prospect for the 2020 NHL Draft and it will be interesting to see if he is able to better his brother’s initial playoff performance.

Ryan McLeod of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#2. Saginaw Spirit vs. #7. Sarnia Sting

Season Series: 3-3 TIE

Analysis: The Sting have played the West Division champion Spirit extremely tight this year, including a recent 7-6 shootout victory in late February. Sarnia has a team of workhorses that just never give up on a play and that tenacity always plays well in the postseason. They have seven different players who had over 15 goals on the year, and that’s not including Jamieson Rees who would have hit that mark easily had he played all year. But Saginaw is a CHL ranked team for a reason. Lately one of the main reasons for their success has been goaltender Ivan Prosvetov, who has only two regulation losses in his last 16 and who finished in the top 5 of nearly every statistical category this year. Rookie winger Cole Perfetti has also been a remarkable story as the first U17 player since Taylor Hall, Steven Stamkos, and John Tavares to score more than 35 goals in a season. He is aided by the likes of Owen Tippett, Bode Wilde, Ryan McLeod, and Cole Coskey on a deep and balanced roster. I expect the Sting to give the Spirit a bit of a scare and be in most games. But the Spirit are rolling on too much of a high and have too much firepower to fall victim to an upset.

Prediction: Saginaw in 6

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Ryan McLeod (EDM): While his production for Saginaw since the trade from Mississauga has been a little underwhelming, McLeod has been a proven playoff performer so far in his OHL career. He was a huge part of Mississauga’s deep run in 2017 and I would expect him to bring himself back to that point per game production. His playmaking ability will be much needed if the Spirit want to eventually come out on top in the Western Conference.

Bode Wilde (NYI): Wilde has been sensational in his first OHL season after coming over from the USHL. No question he is in the conversation for the Max Kaminsky as the league’s top defender. His size and skating combination make him a lethal operator off the rush and very difficult to stop as he cuts through the neutral zone like butter. Defensively, there have been some ups and downs and now he will be getting into his first playoff action. I am very intrigued to see how he responds and looks to take over and control the play at both ends.

Ryan McGregor (TOR): A 2017 draft pick by the Leafs, McGregor is still without an NHL contract. He has had a very good season, establishing himself as one of the OHL’s elite two-way forwards. But a strong playoff series performance for Sarnia here, even if it is in a losing cause, would go a long way to proving to Toronto’s management that he deserves a place in their future plans.

Morgan Frost of the Sault Ste. Marie Grehounds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#3. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #6. Owen Sound Attack

Season Series: 2-0 for Sault Ste. Marie

Analysis: Two things are bad news for the Attack. The first, Morgan Frost avoided a longer suspension for cross checking and will be available for the entire first round. The second, Barrett Hayton is back and healthy, showing no rust whatsoever with four goals in two games to close out the year. That means that the ‘Hounds will be operating at full speed offensively and that does not bode well for the Attack, a team that has struggled to keep the puck out of their net this year thanks to inconsistent goaltending. Owen Sound also only has two 20 goal scorers in their lineup and no one operating at over the point per game mark. With a healthy lineup, the Greyhounds have the advantage here in nearly every facet. While I do worry about their depth and supporting cast as the rounds progress, I am confident that they should be able to get past a rebuilding Attack team pretty easily.

Prediction: Sault Ste. Marie in 4

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Barrett Hayton (ARI): Had to be a difficult year for Hayton to settle in and find a groove. Start the year in the NHL. Back to the OHL. Then off to the World Juniors. Then get injured. Through it all, his production has been fantastic with one of the highest point-pergame averages in the league. His game is tailored perfectly for the playoffs because of his high intensity level and how well he plays through traffic in the offensive end. He had a very successful playoffs last year for the Soo as a support player, now let us see how he does as a focal point.

Mac Hollowell (TOR): The front runner for OHL defender of the year was recently rewarded with a much deserved NHL contract from Toronto. Hollowell is an elite offensive defender who is great at using his above average mobility to jump up in the attack. He is also a major weapon on the powerplay, something that any team needs operating at a high level to make a deep run in the playoffs. This guy competes so hard and is easily one of the most underrated players to have played in the OHL in recent years.

Mack Guzda (2019): If Owen Sound hopes to stay in this series, they will need top shelf goaltending and that will have to come from Guzda. He came into the year very highly touted but consistency issues have continued to plague him as they did in his rookie year. He has the size and athleticism that NHL scouts are looking for, but he needs to show that he possess the mental makeup too. Not only will NHL scouts be looking closely at him here, but so will Hockey Canada for the 2019 U18 roster. He can’t afford to be a sieve and look overmatched.

Nick Suzuki of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

#4. Guelph Storm vs. #5. Kitchener Rangers

Season Series: 4-4 TIE

Analysis: With the way the Guelph Storm loaded up at this year’s trade deadline, bringing in Nick Suzuki, Markus Phillips, Sean Durzi, and Mackenzie Entwistle, one would have to consider them the heavy favorite here. And they have been playing some great hockey lately. But so have the Kitchener Rangers; a team that I do not believe can be completely written off. They have five 30 goal scorers, something that matches Guelph and their firepower. Guelph’s Anthony Popovich has struggled down the stretch and is being threatened by Nico Daws for the starting role, so I am slightly concerned about Guelph’s netminding. However, I believe the thing that sways this in Guelph’s favor is their veteran defense. Dmitri Samorukov has been playing out of his mind lately and along with Durzi, Gordeev, Phillips, Hanley, and Lalonde, make up one of the strongest and veteran-heavy defensive units in the OHL. Contrast that with Kitchener, which relies on youngsters like Mike Vukojevic and Donovan Sebrango to play key roles. The Rangers will push the Storm, but ultimately come up short.

Prediction: Guelph in 6

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Nick Suzuki (MTL): Took him a bit of time to really acclimate himself with his new surroundings in Guelph, but he has been on a tear lately and really seems to have settled in. In his last 11 games, he has 5 games with 3 points or more. Suzuki is such a good distributor, but he is at his best when he is active without the puck, forcing turnovers and putting pressure on the opposition in all three zones. He has traditionally performed very well in the playoffs in his career and I would expect nothing less from him here as Guelph gears up for a long run.

Dmitri Samorukov (EDM): Speaking of a tear, few defenders in the OHL have been as hot as Samorukov in the second half. Whether it was the confidence he gained from the World Juniors, or the increased role he received from the trade of Ryan Merkley, Samorukov has blossomed at the right time. He has become extremely aggressive offensively, using his skating ability to create off the rush. He still remains a physically aggressive stalwart in his own end; a true two-way force.

Riley Damiani (DAL): Earlier I spoke of underrated OHL players and few fit that category more than Damiani. Among 2000 born players in the OHL, only Akil Thomas and Barrett Hayton had greater point per game averages as he jumped from 37 points last year to 85 in 2018/19. He has an infectious energy about him on the ice and his dynamic playmaking ability and vision are one of the main reasons why Kitchener’s powerplay has been one of the league’s best this year.

Continued Western Conference Predictions

Conference Semi Finals

#1. London vs. #4. Guelph

#2. Saginaw vs. #3. Sault Ste. Marie

I am taking Guelph and Sault Ste. Marie here. I just was not crazy about what I saw from London in the last month of the year. They are relying on too many younger forwards to create offense and I think they lack a premier playmaker. And on defense, I think they lack the jam necessary to slow down an offensive juggernaut like Guelph. As for the Soo, I like them over Saginaw because I feel that their veteran leadership group consisting of Morgan Frost, Barrett Hayton, Mac Hollowell, Jordan Sambrook, and Keeghan Howdeshell can help to elevate the play of some of their younger support players. I think their abrasive style of play bodes better for playoff success, even though I see potential for Prosvetov to stand on his head. That is a true coin flip, but I am sticking with the Greyhounds.

Western Conference Final

#3. Sault Ste. Marie vs. #4. Guelph

I am all in on Guelph this year to take home the Western Conference title. I feel like they have been constructed the right way and have really found chemistry and hit their stride at the right time. Goaltending is a mild concern for sure, but in the West, I think everyone has similar concerns to a certain degree.

SEE OHL PREVIEW: EASTERN CONFERENCE- LINK HERE

OHL Championship Series

Niagara IceDogs vs. Guelph Storm

Another toss up for me. Ask me tomorrow and I may just choose someone different. Both of their regular season matchups were decided by a single goal. Honestly, this comes down to goaltending. I give Niagara the advantage at forward. I give Guelph the advantage on defense. But in net, I think you have to tip your hat in Stephen Dhillon’s direction. Especially considering that there is no guarantee that Anthony Popovich finishes the postseason as Guelph’s starter. So...I am selecting the Niagara IceDogs as this year’s OHL Champions!

2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series: OHL Summary

Shaiyena Côté — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:40:50 +0000

Every fall for the past sixteen years leading up to the international U20 tournaments and the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) hosts a series of six games between the Russian Ice Hockey Federation’s top major juniors and the top major juniors playing in the CHL. These games take place across Canada with two games being played in each of the CHL’s three leagues in six different team centers each year. Team Russia takes advantage of Russian players already in Canada playing for CHL teams by rostering them for games during this series.

The first set of games this year took place against the Western Hockey League (WHL) in Kamloops at the Sandman Centre home of the Kamloops Blazers, with the second game being held at the Langley Events Centre home of the Vancouver Giants. The WHL split the game wins with Russia leaving the series tied at one win apiece before coming here to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

The first of the two OHL games was played Thursday November 8^th at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena, home to the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. A few of the players of note rostered with team OHL for the first game were Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects Morgan Frost and Isaac Ratcliffe, Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Evan Bouchard, and Montreal Canadians’ prospect Nick Suzuki. Team Russia’s OHL rostered players included; Edmonton Oilers’ prospects Kirill Maksimov and Dmitri Samorukov of the Niagara IceDogs and Guelph Storm respectively; Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Alexey Lipanov of the Kitchener Rangers and Alexey Toropchenko the St. Louis Blues prospect also from the Guelph Storm, all of whom had the chance to join their countrymen to play against their teammates on the OHL team.

Isaac Ratcliffe of team OHL Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Team OHL got off to a quick start during the first game in Sarnia with Isaac Ratcliffe scoring minutes into the first period off a high slot pass from Arizona Coyotes’ prospect Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Ratclliffe’s goal resulted from one of only four shots in the first period, the shot itself was a bullet going high glove. Team Russia seemed a little shaky at the start, but they were most likely just trying to find their legs again after their previous two games in Western Canada. Both teams took some time to gain line familiarity and worked on finding chemistry throughout the first period.

A lot came out of the first period as three out of the four goals of the game were scored in the first. The second and game winning goal for Team OHL came at the end of the period in the form of a penalty shot. A long stretch pass came from the Canadian blueline on a change to forward Mackenzie Entwistle set him off on a break away. Having full possession of the puck with a good scoring chance the right call was made on the Russian defender Saveliy Olshansky who attempted to slow him down, resulting in Entwistle getting a penalty shot. The right shot Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect made no mistake as he whistled the puck past the blocker of the Russian goaltender, Daniil Tarasov, a Columbus prospect, placing it high in the top left corner.

Stepan Starkov of team Russia Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

The last goal to come in the first period was scored by team Russia. The goal came from an outside drive deep into Canada’s zone by KHL Sochi centre Stepan Starkov who made a clever backdoor pass back to Boston Bruins’ prospect and Ufa KHL centre Pavel Shen as he waited, open in the slot, to net the one-timer. That goal came with 43 seconds left in the opening period.

The second period had more flow as players on both teams became more familiar with each other and more comfortable with their lines. Yet to be really tested were the special teams as there was only one penalty to team Russia in the first period which was successfully killed off by the Russians as Canada’s power play looked to get a little sharper. The second period saw team Russia getting a little more frustrated as they ended up in the box three times with Toropchenko leading the way with four minutes. Team Canada had a roughing minor handed out to Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Ryan McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads.

Barrett Hayton of team OHL Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Team OHL worked well on circulating and moving the puck on the power play but failed to net one as Team Russia successfully shut down the Canadian powerplay. Team Russia’s frustration came after Barrett Hayton netted a highlight reel goal on a break with assists from San Jose Sharks prospect Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm and Owen Sound’s Brady Lyle. Hayton put his puck handling ability on show as he split the two Russian defenders and slipped through the middle leaving him with few options but to deke to avoid the goaltender’s poke check. Hayton’s goal came with half the game remaining but was enough to hold off the Russian team for another thirty minutes.

The rest of the game was played out in good form with both teams looking to up their offensive chances and shots on net. Although Team Russia excelled at killing penalties and quick breakouts, their efforts were shut down by the physicality and aggressive play of the Canadian defence. The third period ended with zero goals being scored and only six minutes in penalties. Evan Bouchard lived up to the hype about him as he played a very solid game and proved why he was drafted 10^th overall in 2018. He showed off his patience with the puck, ability to win battles along the boards and backchecked well on a Russian breakaway. Despite Team OHL outshooting Team Russia 23 to 19, Team OHL had the opportunity to further their lead but the Russian goaltender Daniil Tarasov of the Supreme Hockey League’s (VHL) Neftekamsk managed to come up with some good saves as the Canadians found holes in the Russian defence. Team OHL came out on top of game one with a final score of 3 – 1 but the next game didn’t not go as planned for the Ontario Hockey League Team as they fell to the Russian team by a larger margin than the Russians did in their previous meeting.

The second game of the two game Ontario series was played on November 12 and was won by Team Russia with Russia scoring four goals and a zero response from the Ontario team, a result which left the majority of the fans in the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ontario surprised. Team Russia outshot Team OHL 28 to 23 with the Russians shutting the OHL offence down almost completely in the third period, limiting them to only five shots on goal. The star of the game for Team Russia was their goalie Pyotr Kochetkov who stopped all shots, proving that both of Team Russia’s goaltenders were strong.

Game two saw few roster changes other than the addition of four hometown Oshawa Generals’ players to the lineup; Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Giovanni Vallati was rostered for both games, Florida Panthers’ prospect Serron Noel, undrafted Austen Keating and Boston Bruins’ prospect Jack Studnicka, who wore the ‘C’ for Team OHL, were all new additions to the lineup. Ryan Merkley, Giovanni Vallati, Liam Foudy, Barrett Hayton, MacKenzie Entwistle, Owen Tippett and Ryan McLeod were all dressed for both games.

Alexander Romanov of team Russia Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Game two got off to a quick start for Team Russia as they managed to score 57 seconds in giving them an early lead. Team Russia started with a lot more energy than they had in the previous game, and they were more fired up with a physical presence from the get go. The first period saw ten minutes in penalties in total and two goals from the Russians with one from Montreal prospect Alexander Romanov and the other from Pavel Shen again. Team OHL showed frustration with their lack of productivity and quality chances but were able to keep their penalties to a minimum while making good use of screens in front of the net as they tried to get shots off. MacKenzie Entwistle and Kevin Bahl both picked up penalties for Team OHL while the aforementioned Shen and Veniamin Baranov each picked up penalties for Team Russia. Although Team OHL was down two goals heading into the second period they did not lose their morale playing the second frame and stayed focused and ready to compete with the energized Russians.

The second period was a very entertaining and well played period. Although both teams played a fairly clean game despite a minor penalty given to Team Russia, they were also both kept off the scoreboard. The action bounced back and forth and Team OHL players Studnicka and Ottawa Senators pick Alex Formenton proceeded to stand out for their puck possession skills by making solid passes and getting to the net on rushes. The shots were almost even with the Russians finishing just behind the Canadians in the second as the MVP of the game for Team Russia, goalie Kochetkov put on a show in net turning away all ten good quality chances Team OHL had and flashing the glove multiple times. By the end of the period the OHL players were feeling the pressure of being blanked for another twenty minutes and Team Russia was feeling more confident with their lead.

The end of Team Russia’s Ontario Hockey League stint finished on a high note with the Russians effectively shutting Team OHL down, reducing them to a low five shots on net in the third period and a final score of 4 - 0. Team Russia scored twice as Alexander Yaremchuk and Kirill Slepets both found the back of the net later on in the period to add a softer cushion to their lead. Tempers started to flare a little as Kevin Bahl and Bulat Shafigullin both had roughing penalties and Ryan Merkley ended up with a misconduct penalty. Through all the commotion and short-handed play, Hunter Jones remained calm and collected in his net for Team OHL keeping them in the game as their offence struggled to get the puck down the ice. The period went by slowly for fans who had come to support Team OHL but for the small contingent of Russian fans bearing flags and hats the cheering for their team continued throughout the game and well after the buzzer sounded.

As a final note, the Russian team flew out to Quebec the day following the second game against the OHL for the final two games of the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Team Russia met the best of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) first on November 13^th in Sherbrooke and played their second game in Drummondville on November 15^th. Four Russian players playing in the QMJHL; Ivan Chekhovich playing for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, drafted by the San Jose Sharks; Alexander Khovanov playing for the Moncton Wildcats, drafted by the Minnesota Wild; Pavel Koltygin playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, drafted by the Nashville Predators and Dmitry Zavgorodniy playing for the Rimouski Oceanic, drafted by the Calgary Flames all joined Team Russia for both games. Russia won both games against the QMJHL (the second game in overtime) to take the six-game series 4 – 2. The fact that Team Russia flew across Canada, played six games in six different cities in ten days against teams made up of different players and still won the series is a possible testament to the strength and skill of Team Russia and the fact that they should not be underestimated in the upcoming World Junior Championship once final team selections are made.

Overall, the play of both teams in the Ontario two-game series was strong and there was a lot of talent showcased on the ice for both Russia and the OHL. Both teams had a few undrafted players to be considered for the 2019 NHL Draft. The 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series marked the start of development camps and tournaments leading up to the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship to be held jointly in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. With that being said, it will be interesting to see the finished product of Team Canada, once the CHL selection process is complete, and Team Russia, come December 26^th when the puck drops to mark the start of the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship.

Edmonton Oilers Prospect System Overview

Tom Dorsa — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:36:44 +0000

The Edmonton Oilers are in hockey purgatory. They have far too much young talent to be able to properly upheave everything and rebuild, but so little depth thanks to a number of perplexing decisions from general manager Peter Chiarelli. The Oilers have made their bed, and now they must lay in it, but how do you patch up a team with only one playoff series victory since 2006?

One tried and true method is by finding depth through the NHL Draft and from free agent prospect signings. With so many high first-rounders -- another in 2018 in dynamic defenseman Evan Bouchard -- the Oilers have top-end talent, but their depth lacks. Thankfully for the future of the franchise, Edmonton has begun to go with the trend in drafting smaller, more athletic forwards with later-round picks in the hopes of catching lightning in a bottle.

On a team built around three expensive but worthy centers -- Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- the Oilers find themselves in desperate need of young, inexpensive draft picks with enough skill and speed to log top-six minutes. Obviously it stings to lose Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, but in Kailer Yamamoto, Tyler Benson, and maybe even Ty Rattie, they're getting there with a new approach to building their roster.

Instead of drafting for specific roles and immediate team needs, they've started to draft for talent and let the club construct itself. This will pay major dividends when McDavid and Draisaitl -- already superstars -- get older and more experienced. But it's not just among the forwards that things are looking up, as the goaltenders in the system are pretty promising as well.

Cam Talbot has played more than 350 more minutes than the second-ranked goaltender in the league over the past two years, topping out at over 8,000 combined. It's clear he needs some relief in the form of a serviceable back-up, and the Oilers have three goaltenders in our top 20 prospects. Help is coming.

Defensively, Bouchard joins a group that already features steady top-four presences Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson as well as the developing and promising Darnell Nurse, whose ceiling might be as high as those other two. The Oilers are starting to fill out and become the consistent playoff contenders a team with the best player in the world should be.

Evan Bouchard

1 Evan Bouchard, D (10th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Straight from the NHL Draft, Evan Bouchard is the clear top prospect in the Edmonton system. With offensive tools that include superb vision, accurate and rapid passing skills, excellent athleticism and agility, and an unparalleled combination of lethal shots, the right-hander is a dynamic shot-generating defenseman. His 87 points in 2017-18 led all OHL defensemen despite playing on a London Knights team that got bounced in the first round of the playoffs. His responsibility and discipline defensively is above average, with NHL-ready rink sense, maturity, and durability. He's not overly physical, but should be good and ready to take on NHL size when his debut comes.

2 Kailer Yamamoto, RW (22nd overall, 2017. Last year: 2nd) Unlike the prototypical big, stocky, finesse-first forwards the Oilers have recently taken in high draft rounds, Kailer Yamamoto is undersized, speedy, and offensively gifted. A near elite skater and puck-handler, Yamamoto's offensive potential and smarts are combined with a tricky shot and various elusive moves to get past defenders. Yamamoto could be a future right wing to Connor McDavid at center -- a necessary addition given the lack of speed down the wing in Edmonton -- having shown potential for success with the Oilers after three assists in nine games as an 18 years old last year. 2018-19 will be his last year of WHL eligibility.

3 Ryan McLeod, C (40th overall, 2018. Last year: IE) Much like his brother, former first-round pick Michael, Ryan McLeod's game revolves around his intelligence and his wheels. He's seen as a two-way center with some untapped offensive potential, and with a player as mature and defensively stout as the younger McLeod is, that offensive upside is all that needs work; the issue is, he doesn't have a single dynamic scoring skill. The 18-year-old projects to fill out as more of a playmaker than a shooter on offense, as his speed and vision give him something to build on. McLeod was projected in our draft guide as a first-rounder, and could be a second-round steal for the Oilers if he pans out and provides something at the NHL level. The assist leader for Mississauga will be heading back to the Steelheads next year.

4 Tyler Benson, LW (32nd overall, 2016. Last year: 3rd) Tyler Benson's draft stock was decimated due to injuries in and prior to his draft season, but with the raw skill and stupendous playmaking abilities he possesses, it appears the Oilers got a steal in the early second round. Benson is a strong skater and has a solid, heavy shot, but his puck-possession and distribution sets him apart. His vision, creativity, and spot-on passing will make for an abundance of assists at the NHL level, and as long as his health permits it, he has a top-six future. He has some flaws to work on, mostly as far as defensive effort and backchecking goes. He will be turning pro in 2018-19, likely with Bakersfield, where he tallied three assists in five games in a late-season cameo last year.

5 Cooper Marody, C (Trade: Mar. 21, 2018 -- Philadelphia. Last year: Unranked -- Philadelphia) Cooper Marody missed large chunks of his freshman (mononucleosis) and sophomore (academic ineligibility) years at Michigan, but exploded onto the scene this past season with 51 points in 40 games with the Wolverines. The Big Ten scoring champion is a very smart, high-energy player with a gift for slowing the game down, reading the ice, and making the smart plays, which often involve his wicked wrist shot. He isn't very creative and doesn't have good raw speed, but is worth the risk, as the Oilers sent a third-round pick to Philly for the centerman who projects to be a bottom-six guy with some upside. Marody looks ready to turn pro, and given his spot-starts with the Condors, should be prepped to enter the pro system this season.

Olivier Rodrigue

6 Olivier Rodrigue, G (62nd overall, 2018. Last year: IE) One of three goaltenders of note in a position of pretty good depth for the Oilers, Rodrigue has the highest ceiling of the lot. Just the second netminder taken in this June's draft, the QMJHL product has a very light and athletic frame that allows him to glide across the crease and impede any opposing scoring chance. His reflexes and rebound control are insanely refined for an 18-year-old. His positional play will have to improve to make up for his lack of size (6-1", 155lbs), but his NHL potential is there. Just 18 years old, the goaltender will be honing his craft in the QMJHL in 2018-19, where he backstopped Drummondville with a 31-16-1 record last season.

7 Ethan Bear, D (124th overall, 2015. Last year: 11th) Ethan Bear is simply fun to watch. He is short and stocky, but he uses his puzzling physique to his advantage, as his strength on his skates and balance when cutting/pivoting is exceptional. He's got the wheels and vision to make things happen at five-on-five, and the electric shot all potential power play quarterbacks need. Last season, it seemed like the former fifth-rounder made something happen every time the puck was on his stick. The 21-year-old earned top pair minutes with Bakersfield last season, a sign of improvement in what had previously ailed him (defensive zone play), and could be a bottom-four presence on the Oilers roster this year.

8 Stuart Skinner, G (78th overall, 2017. Last year: 4th) Following a mid-season trade at the WHL ranks from Lethbridge to Swift Current, Skinner turned it on, and showed the high ceiling that scouts rave over. The big and sturdy netminder went 16-6-1 in 25 games with the Broncos, displaying decent agility for a goalie his size (6-3", 205lbs), his great net coverage, and improved focus. His lack of consistent focus has ailed him in the past and still does occasionally, but his mental game has taken the next step over the past season. The 19-year-old Skinner signed his entry-level contract with the Oilers and will have a chance to impress in the pro ranks this season.

9 Dmitri Samorukov, D (84th overall, 2017. Last year: 20th) An impenetrable physical force in his own zone, Samorukov has started to show off offensively as well. With OHL career highs in goals, assists, points, and shots, it's clear the young Russian is becoming more confident in his game. Still, his style revolves around what happens behind his blueline, as his great gaps, solid body strength, and active stick make for trouble for opposing forwards. His shot is unimpressive, but as a defensive defenseman, he has fundamentals to build upon. Jumping 11 spots from last season's rankings to now, the 19-year-old has gone from fringe prospect to an on-the-radar youngster in the eyes of the Oilers front office.

10 John Marino, D (154th overall, 2015. Last year: 14th) John Marino has been committed to improvement, and it seems like every year he irons out another flaw that had been holding him back. He has promising puck movement skills and the heads-up demeanor to push the play up ice at any given opportunity, but isn't afraid to use his good gap control and puck-shielding to suppress shots in his own zone. A long-term project at Harvard, the 21-year-old is a lanky 6-2" with room to grow and increase his subpar physical intensity and lack of creativity. Marino was a go-to shut-down defensive option in the USPHL and USHL, and is becoming such with the Crimson.

Kirill Maksimov

11 Kirill Maksimov, RW (146th overall, 2017. Last year: 8th) On its face, Kirill Maksimov's offensive explosion in the OHL last season -- going from a career-high 22 points to 80 -- looks like a one-off fluke. However, Maksimov's raw skill and knack for creating high-danger chances has long been there. He suffers from puzzling inconsistencies, but otherwise, his whole game is there; he's mobile, has great hands, possesses NHL-level size, and plays with responsibility. Edmonton has less skill down the wings than perhaps every other team in the league, and Maksimov could be part of a prospect influx that helps change that. He just has to give it 100% more often.

12 Aapeli Rasanen, C (153rd overall, 2016. Last year: 19th) Aapeli Rasanen is a sneakily good center prospect playing with Boston College. At the club level, he's been a middling player without NHL-caliber skills, but internationally, Rasanen has shined as a point-per-game player in the World Juniors. He lacks any dynamic individual skill a forward should possess, but has a solid two-way skillset, good vision and rink senses, and crisp passing ability. A decent skater, his ceiling is as a fourth-line checking-role forward, as the Finnish forward has played predominantly a depth role with some special teams time at the NCAA ranks. He's another long-term project, but his unteachable qualities are something to keep track of down the line.

13 Caleb Jones, D (117th overall, 2015. Last year: 5th) Caleb Jones' first full season was a rude awakening, as he went from being a near point-per-game player in the WHL to finishing with just 17 points in 58 games in the AHL, adding to that, a -25 mark. Jones was responsible for a lot of defensive breakdowns and opposing goals, and did little to compensate for it offensively. Still, there's a lot of potential for the younger brother of Seth Jones, as a mobile defenseman with a great stretch pass, near elite shot, and good physicality can still be an impact player if his vision and discipline improves. He should be higher up on the depth chart with Bakersfield this season, and his opportunities on the power play will increase.

14 Hayden Hawkey, G (Trade: Jun. 23, 2018. Last Year: unranked [Montreal]) Not only does Hayden Hawkey have one of the best names in the sport, but he has given reason to suspect that he could grow into an NHL netminder. The former Montreal sixth round pick has shown improvement year over year with Providence College and was one of the most difficult goaltenders in NCAA to score upon as a junior with a GAA just a touch above 2. Hawkey combines high end athleticism with good ability to track the play and a competitive streak. Suitably impressed, the Oilers gave Montreal a fifth round pick in the 2019 draft to acquire Hawkey’s player rights, although, with the netminder returning to school for a senior season, Edmonton will have only 12 months to bring him fully into the fold.

15 Joel Persson, D (Free Agent Signing: May 18, 2018. Last year: IE) Joel Persson's situation is an interesting one. The Oilers signed the 24-year-old right-hander to a one-year deal but opted to leave him in Sweden, where last season, he manned the top-pair for Vaxjo, the SHL champs. He's got a booming shot from the point coupled with good vision and is a very quick, smart decision maker. His gap control and defense at the blue line could use some work, and should improve over this season as his mobility and skate quickness are solid enough to become a formidable two-way force. Overall, Edmonton has a fine little project on their hands in Sweden with the offensively-majestic Persson.

Ty Rattie

16 Ty Rattie, RW (Free Agent Signing: July 1, 2017. Last year: Unranked) Ty Rattie has been around the block, but the 25-year-old still has the skillset necessary to be a go-to depth scoring option. The 2011 draft pick is a very cerebral player with quality two-way skills and smarts, but his game truly shines on offense, where his splendid shot and athleticism take over. Once a prolific, 120-point scorer in the WHL, he clearly has top-six skill, but his all-or-nothing positioning can get him in trouble all too often. He's been an electric AHL player with Bakersfield and did well in his short NHL stint last season, but still has a lot to prove for his third NHL organization at just 25.

17 Ostap Safin, RW (115th overall, 2017. Last year: 7th) Size isn't everything, but Edmonton has been adamant about drafting high-ceiling big men and hoping something sticks. Ostap Safin is that, but even at 6-5" and 190lbs, he has some high-quality offensive skills. His finesse play is lethal, as are his long reach and superhuman puck-protection abilities. His defensive game and his tendency to cheat up the ice will need some work, likely coming at the AHL level, but his 58 points in 61 games in the QMJHL -- his first year in North America -- screams of power-forward promise. The Oilers have been seeking a physically powerful, finesse depth scorer for countless seasons; Safin has the ceiling to fit that ideal.

18 Cameron Hebig, C (Free Agent Signing: Dec. 28, 2017. Last year: IE) After missing the entire 2016-17 season in the WHL with a mystery illness, Hebig posted 90 points in 62 games between Saskatoon and Regina last season. The right-shooting pivot is a point-scoring machine at his best and with no concern about his health, with patient but fast hands and a terrifying wrist shot. He is as creative with the puck as he is dangerous, finding better opportunities every time he flies down the ice even if it means sacrificing his own shot. If his health holds up, he could lead the charge for the Condors offense this season, where -- at 21 years old -- he'll be entering the pro ranks for the Oilers franchise.

19 Filip Berglund, D (91st overall, 2016. Last year: Unranked) Filip Berglund is much like a familiar name in Edmonton, Adam Larsson; Berglund's game centers around his size, his mental poise in his own zone, and his shooting ability. His game is much more strictly defensive, however, but his defensive capabilities are exceptional, combining good gap control with the ability to force forwards to the outside of the zone and limit dangerous passes and shots. He put up decent numbers for a third-pair defenseman on a fairly talented SHL team, Skelleftea, chipping in 13 points in 44 games. Berglund does not have a high ceiling as a prospect, but his floor (AHL top-four, NHL bottom-two or extra defenseman) is high enough for Edmonton to remain optimistic in his development.

20 Tyler Vesel, C (153rd overall, 2014. Last year: Unranked) The 24-year-old is coming off of a highly-successful college career captaining Nebraska-Omaha and did well enough in a cameo stint with Bakersfield to earn a one-year contract with Edmonton. It's been a long time coming for Vesel, originally drafted as sixth round over-ager, but the undersized forward's maturity, craftiness, and relentless effort oozes potential for a role as an effective checking-line forward in the pro ranks. At 24, he's older than the average prospect, and his experience should make a difference for the leadership core of the Condors roster. There's not much more Vesel can do to round his game out, but his competitiveness and adaptability should make him a welcomed presence in the AHL and perhaps the NHL.

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Brock Otten — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:51:07 +0000

The 2018 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off this week after the regular season wrapped up this past weekend. Heading into the playoffs, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are the clear favorites to come out of the OHL and represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Regina. They have spent the vast majority of the season as the top ranked team in the CHL, one of only two teams to chart the entire season (along with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL). But competition is always fierce and there are no sure bets in the OHL. Let us now take a look at each first round match-up.

Eastern Conference

#1 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. #8 - Ottawa 67’s

Season Series: Hamilton leads 5-0

Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: The Conference Champion Bulldogs face off against the 67’s after the Steelheads won on the final Sunday, securing the number 7 seed. Hamilton has been the cream of the crop of the Eastern Conference for the vast majority of the season. They have been extremely active in trades this year to give them the best chance of coming out of the East. The Bulldogs added Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Riley Stillman (Florida), Nic Caamano (Dallas), Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen (Toronto) to an already stacked lineup, giving Ottawa an extremely daunting challenge in round one. This team rolls three powerhouse offensive lines with Matthew Strome (Philadelphia), Will Bitten (Montreal), Mackenzie Entwistle (Arizona), Marian Studenic (New Jersey), and Brandon Saigeon being other top options. Forward Arthur Kaliyev (2019) is another name to watch. He is the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the OHL since Alex Galchenyuk and he is a potential lottery pick next year as a power winger. In net, the Bulldogs boast one of the OHL’s most improved players this year in Kaden Fulcher (Detroit).

Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ottawa, on the other hand, is a very young team. In a few years’ time, they could be Memorial Cup contenders. They could have five players drafted in the first three rounds this year (Kody Clark, Mitchell Hoelscher, Merrick Rippon, Kevin Bahl, and Carter Robertson). Offensively, they are paced by Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose), Travis Barron (Colorado), Austen Keating (2018) and Tye Felhaber. Chmelevski was a much hyped prospect who fell hard at last year’s draft (all the way to the 6th), but he has returned much stronger this season. His play away from the puck has greatly improved and it has taken his game to another level. But for all their talent offensively, the 67’s have had a very difficult time keeping the puck out of their own net this year. Overager Olivier Tremblay has not provided the stability that the team had hoped for when they brought him in early this year.

This one has all the makings of a quick series. This Ottawa team, as talented as they are young, is not yet ready for this type of challenge. The Bulldogs are one of the deepest teams in the OHL and their offensive firepower is likely to overwhelm an inexperienced defense and inconsistent netminder. One particular thing worth watching is the 67’s struggling penalty kill going up against one of the league’s best powerplay units from Hamilton. This has to be troubling for Ottawa because they also happen to be one of the league’s most undisciplined teams. And while Ottawa does have some great young offensive talent, the Bulldogs have one of the oldest defensive units in the league and are likely to limit the offensive chances of the 67’s. I look for Robert Thomas to have a big series here (and a big playoff performance overall). His points per game has taken a big dip since joining the Bulldogs, but I think he explodes this postseason.

Prediction: This Hamilton team is just too experienced and too talented for the 67’s. They have the advantage in nearly every area and should dominate. If Ottawa was getting better goaltending, I would say that they might be able to steal a game or two, but I do not even see that happening. Hamilton in 4.

#2 - Barrie Colts vs. #7 - Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: Mississauga leads 4-2

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: If I was a betting man, I would bet that this is the match-up that Barrie wanted to avoid in the opening round. In fact, it was probably the match-up every team wanted to avoid in the first round. Mississauga has underachieved all season long, but they have shown some signs of finally coming to life the last month or so. Offensive talent is not to be questioned. Their first two lines include names like Michael McLeod (New Jersey), Ryan McLeod (2018), Owen Tippett (Florida), Trent Fox, Albert Michnac (2018), and Mathieu Foget. This group of six matches up well against any top six in the Eastern Conference and it helps to explain why the Steelheads are the third highest scoring team in the Conference. And this excludes their leading scorer, defenseman Nic Hague (Vegas), who was the first OHL defender to score 30+ since Allan Rourke. But keeping the puck out has been a challenge at times. Swedish import and defensive stalwart Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles) has been injured and that has really challenged their younger defensive players to play more minutes than they are ready for. Furthermore, young netminder Jacob Ingham (2018) has had an awful sophomore season that has seen him essentially lose the starting job to Emanuel Vella.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This is potentially trouble because Barrie is the highest scoring team in the Conference and the 3rd highest scoring in the OHL. Their first line of Andrei Svechnikov (2018), Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa), and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota) has been absolutely shredding teams of late. The supporting offensive cast includes guys like Ryan Suzuki (2019), Jason Willms (2018), and Zach Magwood who work extremely hard in all three zones and bring energy that exhausts the opposition so that the first line can go to work. The Colts do not have any stars on the blueline, but they are a tight knit unit who work well with Barrie’s forwards to play a terrific team defense. In net, overager Leo Lazerev starts and while he does not necessarily win any games outright for the Colts, he is a mostly reliable presence. It should be noted that he has yet to win an OHL playoff series in his career and probably goes into this match-up with just as many question marks as Mississauga’s tenders.

There is no question that this is not your average #2 versus #7 seed match-up. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Mississauga largely dominated the season series, winning all three games in the new year by a combined score of 18-10. For whatever reason, the speed of Mississauga’s forwards gives the defense of Barrie a tough time and Lazerev has an .840 save percentage against the Fish this season. This is complicated even more by the fact that Andrei Svechnikov has been suspended for the first four games of the series for a head check. But I admit, I have a tough time picking Mississauga to win this series. I do not trust their defense to be able to handle Barrie’s depth up front. And if these games go to an offensive shootout like they did in the regular season, I think Barrie ends up coming out on top this time. Mississauga’s Mathieu Foget has also been suspended for the first four games of the series and his loss might actually be felt more because of Mississauga’s lack of depth. His acquisition really triggered the turnaround for the team. Barrie also needs to stay out of the box. In the regular season, they gave Mississauga almost double the amount of powerplays that they received and it cost them dearly with the Steelheads clicking at over 30% with the man advantage. If they can stay out of the box, and Lazerev can make a few saves, I still like Barrie to come out on top.

Prediction: The result of this series would not surprise me either way, even with the difference in seeding. But depth is critical in the playoffs and Barrie has the advantage there. I am excited to see how the Svechnikov/Luchuk/Sokolov unit handles the pressure of the playoffs. Svechnikov, in particular, can really cement himself as the #2 prospect available in the draft with a strong postseason performance once he returns from suspension (as long as Barrie does not get swept). Barrie in 7.

#3 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. #6 - North Bay Battalion

Season Series: Kingston leads 3-1

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: This is an intriguing match-up because of how differently these two teams approached the OHL season. Kingston brought in Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), Cliff Pu (Buffalo), Sean Day (New York Rangers), and Mitchell Byrne at the deadline to bolster an already solid line-up and make them contenders to come out of the East. While they failed to secure a division banner, the results post deadline have been mostly extremely positive. A healthy and re-invigorated Vilardi has provided the biggest boost, as his 1.87 points per game in Kingston is second to only Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis) in the OHL. His strength, on and off the puck, makes him a dominant force in all three zones and the type of player who works to tire and grind out opposing defenses.

Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson /OHL Images,

The North Bay Battalion were sellers at the deadline this year, shipping out veterans Cam Dineen (Arizona), and Brett McKenzie (Vancouver). Those moves only worked to light a fire under the Battalion roster and the team actually improved their record in the New Year thanks to the play of new acquisitions Matthew Struthers (2018), and Jake Henderson, as well as veterans Justin Brazeau (2018), and Adam Thilander (2018). Brazeau, in particular, is a player to watch. The 6-5” winger finished just inside the Top 20 of league scoring and was named as the East’s most underrated player in the recent coaches poll that was released.

If we are measuring up these two teams, we need to give the edge to Kingston in nearly every area. The Fronts lead the season series 3-1, winning the three most recent games (February on). The biggest advantage Kingston has is in net with Jeremy Helvig (Carolina) manning the crease. The overager and veteran netminder has 19 OHL playoff games under his belt and is unquestionably one of the league’s top netminders. Meanwhile, the Battalion will rely on either Christian Propp (2018) or Julian Sime, who have a combined zero OHL playoff appearances. Kingston also has a heavy advantage on special teams, with their powerplay and penalty killing units operating at a higher level. With Robertson and Vilardi operating down low on the powerplay, North Bay is going to need to stay out of the box to have any chance in this series. One wild card to keep an eye on is the health of Max Jones. Jones has been out since the end of January after undergoing surgery on a broken finger. It is likely he returns at some point in these playoffs and he can be a major x-factor.

Prediction: Ultimately, Kingston’s experience and leadership should carry them to a relatively easy victory in this match-up. Gabe Vilardi and Sean Day won a Memorial Cup together last year. Mitchell Byrne won an OHL Championship last year. And Cliff Pu and Max Jones won an OHL Title and Memorial Cup in 2016. Kingston in 5.

#4 - Niagara IceDogs vs. #5 - Oshawa Generals

Season Series: Tied at 1 game apiece

Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: Two teams that do not see a ton of each other match-up in round one. Niagara and Oshawa also happen to be two of the hotter teams in the OHL heading into the playoffs. The IceDogs are a team that rely on speed and energy to play an up tempo and offensively oriented style of game. They get after it on the forecheck and have a powerplay that has been much improved since the acquisition of overager Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh) from London. On top of Miletic, Niagara has a trio of offensive weapons that they rely on in Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Akil Thomas (2018), and Ben Jones (Vegas).

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Oshawa, on the other hand, prefers to slow things down and grind it out in the offensive end. Their fearless leader is Jack Studnicka (Boston), an excellent two-way center who makes an impact in so many different ways. A pair of first time draft eligible forwards support Studnicka; Serron Noel (2018), and Allan McShane (2018). Defenseman Matt Brassard (Vancouver) is also critical to their offensive success. He was one of the highest scoring defenders in the league in the second half and finished the year 7th in defensive scoring.

If we are truly comparing these two teams, it is difficult to determine who has a clear advantage. In goal, the nod should be given to Oshawa and their starter Kyle Keyser (Boston). Keyser has been a stable presence in net this year, definitely more so than Stephen Dhillon who has struggled for Niagara this year, or the inexperienced Colton Incze. Up front, I give the slight edge to Niagara because of their explosiveness and depth. On defense, the two teams boast slightly inexperienced units who are mobile, but can be mistake prone. Ultimately, I see two things possibly tipping the favor in Niagara’s direction. The first is special teams play. As mentioned, Niagara’s powerplay has been performing at a high level lately and Oshawa has one of the league’s worst penalty killing units. The second is home ice advantage, which Niagara owns after finishing the regular season on a 7 game winning streak.

Prediction: With home ice advantage, better special teams play, and a slightly more explosive offense, I like Niagara to win this series. Their goaltending concerns me slightly, but between Dhillon or Incze, they should be able to make enough big saves to at least get the IceDogs into the second round. But this one will be close. Niagara in 7.

Western Conference

#1 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #8 - Saginaw Spirit

Season Series: SSM leads 7-1

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson

Analysis: The juggernaut Greyhounds kick off their Memorial Cup push against the Saginaw Spirit, whose five game losing streak to end the season forced them down the standings and into this first round match-up. Sault Ste. Marie has nine NHL draft picks on their roster and two more potential first rounders for 2018. Up front, Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay), Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay), Jack Kopacka (Anaheim), Tim Gettinger (New York Rangers), Barrett Hayton (2018), and the underrated Hayden Verbeek pace the attack. But the real star is OHL 2nd leading scorer Morgan Frost (Philadelphia), one of the breakout stars of this season. On the backend, the Hounds are equally strong, led by Conor Timmins (Colorado), and Rasmus Sandin (2018). Neither seem to make a mistake with the puck and both are just as good in their own end as they are offensively. In net, Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) has been a steady presence who makes the saves when he needs to.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Saginaw’s strength actually starts in net where overager Evan Cormier (New Jersey) keeps the Spirit in a lot of games that they do not deserve to be in. This is important because the Spirit struggle to score goals. They were only one of three teams in the OHL to not score 200 goals on the season and the other two finished dead last in their conferences (Flint and Sudbury). Furthermore, their powerplay was a league worst 14.7%. There is definitely some offensive talent on this team, but the team’s best days are ahead of them as guys like Blade Jenkins (2018), Nicholas Porco (2019), Ryan Stepien (2020), Aidan Prueter (2020), and Damien Giroux (2018) gain experience. In fact, the team’s only NHL drafted forward, Brady Gilmour (Detroit) finished 9th in team scoring.

In all honesty, this series should not be close and is not likely to be close. The Spirit have a talented young roster, but they are not currently an equal to the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie has the advantage in nearly every area except maybe goaltending. Even then, Evan Cormier can only do so much. Heck, we might see the Greyhounds score more shorthanded goals than the Spirit score powerplay goals in the series.

Prediction: I want to say that Evan Cormier can do enough to steal a game for the Spirit in this series, but I cannot even see the Spirit winning a game. The Greyhounds are just too strong. SSM in 4.

#2 - Kitchener Rangers vs. #7 - Guelph Storm

Season Series: Kitchener leads 5-3

Logan Brown of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: This is an interesting first round match-up between two teams that did not end the regular season the way they wanted to. Kitchener, a strong team all season, struggled down the stretch, although managed to hang on to their Division crown. Meanwhile, the Guelph Storm were one of the league’s worst teams in the last few months that saw them lose their grip on the #6 spot in the West. Kitchener loaded up at the deadline by bringing in Logan Brown (Ottawa), Givani Smith (Detroit), Mario Culina, and Austin McEneny. I think it would be fair to say that Kitchener is still waiting to see the best out of three of those four, with Culina playing well so far as a starter. It has been the guys around all season like Adam Mascherin (Florida), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Joseph Gareffa, Logan Stanley (Winnipeg), and Riley Damiani (2018) that have been driving the team’s success. Moving into the playoffs, it will be about whether the newer faces can finally find chemistry or not. The health of defensive stalwart Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) could also impact the series.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Guelph, as mentioned, has also struggled down the stretch, especially when it comes to preventing goals. Goaltender Anthony Popovich (2018) appeared to tire of late after seeing a huge jump in workload this season. The defensive group, led by Ryan Merkley (2018), and Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton) also struggled, to the point where Merkley was a healthy scratch at times down the stretch. The Storm do have a hard working forward group who is capable of icing multiple scoring lines. The offensive leaders are unquestionably Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia) and Cam Hillis (2018), who along with Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis) form a quality first line.

Looking at this series a little more under the microscope, it is probably closer than people are making it out to be. The special teams match-up pretty well. Neither team has a dominant goaltender that one would qualify as a game-changer (no offense meant to Culina or Popovich). Both teams struggled down the stretch with team chemistry issues. The tipping point for me is experience. The Rangers have the clear advantage there, especially on the defensive end. Guys like Logan Stanley and Austin McEneny, who won a Memorial Cup together with Windsor last year, should really help to stabilize things, even without Connor Hall. I also look for longtime Rangers like Mascherin or Connor Bunnaman (Philadelphia) to really step up offensively to get this team over the first round hump.

Prediction: As mentioned, I feel like Kitchener’s experience advantage will help them come out on top in this series. I also feel that they have a much better team defense approach that likely plays out better for success in the playoffs. Guelph has talent, but they play a very high risk game that, without a ton of playoff experience, could be their undoing. It will be close, but Kitchener in 6.

#3 - Sarnia Sting vs. #6 - Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: Sarnia leads 5-1

Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: No offense meant to the rest of the Windsor Spitfires, but this match-up is about two things. The Sarnia offense (2nd best in the OHL) versus the goaltending of Michael DiPietro (Vancouver). The dynamic DiPietro is one of the few goaltenders in the OHL who is capable of stealing a series victory for his team. The Spitfires rebuilt, dealing off the majority of their veterans held over from their Memorial Cup victory last year, but decided to hang on to their star netminder for this reason. They battle hard in the offensive end behind the likes of Curtis Douglas (2018), Cole Purboo (2018), Cody Morgan (2019), Luke Boka, and Matthew MacDougall (2018). And they play smart in their own end thanks to Connor Corcoran (2018), Nathan Staios (2019), Grayson Ladd (2019), and Zach Shankar. But this team has zero NHL drafted players outside of DiPietro and are incredibly inexperienced.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Sting, conversely, were one of the biggest buyers throughout this OHL season, bringing in talented veterans like Cam Dineen (Arizona), Jonathan Ang (Florida), and Michael Pezzetta (Montreal). The lifeblood of the team is Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), the league’s leader in points per game this year and possibly the best offensive player in the OHL. He is currently zero for three in first round appearances and is likely to do everything in his power to finally reach the second round (and beyond). You could likely argue that overager Justin Fazio is the team’s second most important player in the series, especially considering that he has to match-up against DiPietro. The margin for error is slim.

One of Sarnia’s biggest strengths is on the powerplay where Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka (Calgary), and Drake Rymsha (Los Angeles) have a combined 34 powerplay goals this year. Problem is, Windsor takes among the least amount of penalties in the OHL so as long as Windsor can continue to stay out of the box, Sarnia is going to need to beat DiPietro 5 on 5. The question I have is, how will Windsor manage to score goals, at least enough goals to win this 7 game series? It will not be with the man advantage either (likely) as the Sting have the league’s top penalty killing unit. I am slightly worried about Sarnia’s inexperienced defense though, but that concern is more directed towards round two or three (if the Sting advance that far). Sarnia will need big guys like Ruzicka, Pezzetta, Jordan Ernst, and Hugo Leufvenius (2018) to crowd DiPietro’s space as much as possible and really make him uncomfortable. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Windsor fans can tell you, sometimes the best way to beat Michael DiPietro is through sheer luck and bad bounces.

Prediction: As much as I want to predict a Windsor victory, I do not see it in the cards. DiPietro will steal a few games and he will make Sarnia sweat. But the offensive firepower of Sarnia, combined with the inexperience of Windsor’s defense is likely to give the Sting too many scoring chances for the Spitfires’ star netminder to handle. Sarnia in 6.

#4 - Owen Sound Attack vs. #5 - London Knights

Season Series: London leads 4-2

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Analysis: As is usually the case, the 4/5 matchup in the Western Conference looks to be the closest match-up of the first round, and subsequently the most difficult to prognosticate. London traded off the vast majority of their big guns to retool to fight another day. Instead, the team played inspired hockey down the stretch led by a host of younger players eager to make their mark. When talking about London, we have to start with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2018), the lifeblood of the Knights. His 87 points are the highest by a blueliner since Ryan Ellis hit the 100 point mark in 2011. The speedy Alex Formenton (Ottawa) is also playing the best hockey of his OHL career thus far with 12 goals in 14 games to close out the regular season. And you cannot talk about London without mentioning how good the “kid” line of Liam Foudy (2018), Billy Moskal (2018), and Nathan Dunkley (2018) has been since the trade deadline. This trio was challenged to step up their games with increased ice time and they all responded accordingly.

Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Sound, on the other hand, was expected to be one of the top teams in the OHL this year but struggled to keep their star players healthy all year and subsequently struggled to perform consistently. That is, until the last few months when they have been, arguably, the OHL’s best. This team is scary good when healthy and they are now finally healthy. They roll three outstanding scoring lines, including a top unit of Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver), Kevin Hancock (2018), and Nick Suzuki (Vegas) that has been one of the OHL’s best over the last two seasons. They also have one of the OHL’s top offensive blueliners in Sean Durzi (2018), who if he did not get injured, likely could have challenged Bouchard for the defenceman scoring title. It is in net where Owen Sound has struggled this season as Olivier Lafreniere and Mack Guzda (2019) have battled to find consistency. No question, Owen Sound has to have their offense rolling to win because they are not going to win many 2-1 games.

So who has the advantage going into this match-up? Experience wise, the nod has to be given to Owen Sound...and by a wide margin. The Attack are returning the vast majority of a roster that lost in the Conference finals last season. The Knights are an extremely well coached team, but they are relying on a lot of rookies and sophomores in key roles and that can often prove to be a recipe for disaster in the postseason. The deciding factor in this series probably comes down to the goaltending. So long as Owen Sound can get at least adequate goaltending from one of Lafreniere or Guzda, they should win this series. But if their goaltending struggles and team is forced to constantly play catch-up, the series tips in London’s favor, a team with nothing to lose.

Prediction: I have to give the nod to Owen Sound here because now that they are fully healthy, they look like a tough team to stop. This is especially true for a team as inexperienced as London; even if they are extremely talented. The Attack can get the saves they need to win this one, even if London pushes them and makes them sweat. Owen Sound in 6

OHL Finals Prediction

When the field is finally narrowed down to two teams who battle it out for OHL supremacy, I expect those two teams to be the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

From the East I like Kingston for a couple reasons. The first is experience. As I already alluded to, they have a lot of players on that roster who have already won a Memorial Cup or OHL Championship (or both). That type of leadership goes a long way in the playoffs. The second is special teams play. The great Scotty Bowman always said combined special teams play was a great indicator of postseason success. Well the Fronts have the best powerplay in the league and the second best penalty kill. The third is goaltending. Jeremy Helvig is a veteran netminder who is about as consistent as they come. I have a ton of confidence in his ability to make saves when he needs to.

From the West, I like the Soo Greyhounds as they have looked about as dominant as anyone in the OHL has over the last few years. Their 116 points is the most since Barrie put up 116 in 2010. This team has it all. Special teams success. Good goaltending. Speed. Physicality. But most of all...depth. Drew Bannister’s players rarely seem to take a shift off and they rarely make mistakes with the puck. That composure at both ends of the ice makes them the favorite.

For the OHL Title, I am taking the Soo Greyhounds to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since they won back to back championships in the early 90ś.

Dmitri Samorukov – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Top 20 Prospects

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: EDMONTON OILERS – RANK: #11 – TIER III

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Edmonton Oilers Top 20 Prospects

Philip Broberg, D (8th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Evan Bouchard, D (10th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Raphael Lavoie, RW/C (38th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Dylan Holloway, LW (14th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Olivier Rodrigue, G (62nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Carter Savoie, LW (100th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Tyler Benson, LW (32nd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Ryan McLeod, C (40th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Ilya Konovalov, G (85th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Tullio, RW (126th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dmitri Samorukov, D (84th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 10)

Cooper Marody, RW (158th overall, 2015 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 7)

Aapeli Rasanen, C (153rd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 8)

Kirill Maksimov, RW (146th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

William Lagesson, D (91st overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 12)

Philip Kemp, D (208th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Markus Niemelainen, D (63rd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 14)

Maxim Denezhkin, C (193rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Maxim Berezkin, LW (138th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Patrik Siikanen, LW (195th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 16)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – EDMONTON OILERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 21

Edmonton Oilers

Philip Broberg, D (8th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Evan Bouchard, D (10th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 2)

Raphael Lavoie, RW/C (38th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Olivier Rodrigue, G (62nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Tyler Benson, LW (32nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

Cooper Marody, RW (158th overall, 2015 [Philadelphia]. 2019 Rank: 8)

Ryan McLeod, C (40th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

Aapeli Rasanen, C (153rd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Ilya Konovalov, G (85th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 15)

Dmitri Samorukov, D (84th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Kirill Maksimov, RW (146th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 11)

William Lagesson, D (91st overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 20)

Philip Kemp, D (208th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 14)

Markus Niemelainen, D (63rd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Maxim Denezhkin, C (193rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Edmonton Oilers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

OHL Playoff Preview: Western Conference – Trade deadline talent arms race makes for a wide open battle

First Round

#1. London Knights vs. #8. Windsor Spitfires

NHL Prospects to Watch:

#2. Saginaw Spirit vs. #7. Sarnia Sting

NHL Prospects to Watch:

#3. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #6. Owen Sound Attack

NHL Prospects to Watch:

#4. Guelph Storm vs. #5. Kitchener Rangers

NHL Prospects to Watch:

Continued Western Conference Predictions

Conference Semi Finals

#1. London vs. #4. Guelph

#2. Saginaw vs. #3. Sault Ste. Marie

Western Conference Final

#3. Sault Ste. Marie vs. #4. Guelph

SEE OHL PREVIEW: EASTERN CONFERENCE- LINK HERE

2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series: OHL Summary

Edmonton Oilers Prospect System Overview

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Philip Broberg, D (8^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Evan Bouchard, D (10^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Raphael Lavoie, RW/C (38^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 3)

Dylan Holloway, LW (14^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Olivier Rodrigue, G (62^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Carter Savoie, LW (100^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Tyler Benson, LW (32^nd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 5)

Ryan McLeod, C (40^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 6)

Ilya Konovalov, G (85^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 9)

Tyler Tullio, RW (126^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dmitri Samorukov, D (84^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 10)

Cooper Marody, RW (158^th overall, 2015 [Philadelphia]. Previous ranking: 7)

Aapeli Rasanen, C (153^rd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 8)

Kirill Maksimov, RW (146^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 11)

William Lagesson, D (91^st overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 12)

Philip Kemp, D (208^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Markus Niemelainen, D (63^rd overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 14)

Maxim Denezhkin, C (193^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Maxim Berezkin, LW (138^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Patrik Siikanen, LW (195^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 16)

Philip Broberg, D (8^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Evan Bouchard, D (10^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 2)

Raphael Lavoie, RW/C (38^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 3)

Olivier Rodrigue, G (62^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 9)

Tyler Benson, LW (32^nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 4)

Cooper Marody, RW (158^th overall, 2015 [Philadelphia]. 2019 Rank: 8)

Ryan McLeod, C (40^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 7)

Aapeli Rasanen, C (153^rd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Ilya Konovalov, G (85^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 15)

Dmitri Samorukov, D (84^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Kirill Maksimov, RW (146^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 11)

William Lagesson, D (91^st overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 20)

Philip Kemp, D (208^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 14)

Markus Niemelainen, D (63^rd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: UR)

Maxim Denezhkin, C (193^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)