Dmitry Sokolov – McKeen's Hockey

Minnesota Wild Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:14:25 +0000

A debate in hockey analytics circles that has been circulating for some time is whether the sport is a weak-link game or a strong-link game. In other words, people question whether the best constructed rosters are those with the highest top end talent, or those with an edge on the bottom.

Another way of looking at the question is to ask whether the best team is the one that wins the battle when the third and fourth lines, or the third blueline pairing, is on the ice, or is the victor the team who can win the head-to-head matchups between strengths, when the first lines/pairings are skating?

Considering the recent Stanley Cups won by the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and other super stars, as well as the fact that those first lines, when they have the edge of play on the ice, still have to beat an NHL goalie to put their team in front, it seems the weight of the evidence is that hockey is a strong-link game.

Another point of evidence in favor of marking hockey as a strong link game is that if it were a weak-link game, the Minnesota Wild would have made it past the second round of the playoffs more than once in their existence.

New GM Paul Fenton inherits a franchise that is deep in decent players, both at the NHL level as well as up and down the system. Similarly, it is a franchise that is shallow in high-end players, in the NHL and on the farm. When former GM Chuck Fletcher went all in on free agency a few years ago, locking up the rest of the respective careers of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the thinking was that those players could lead the Wild to prolonged glory.

Now, Ryan Suter and Zach Parise are both fine players. I would go so far as to say that Suter has consistently been in the second tier of defensemen in the league. But what those two have proven, both in Minnesota and for their previous teams, is that their success comes when they are surrounded with players of a similar talent level. When they are head and shoulders above the rest of their roster, they are simply not good enough to be the strong-link of a championship team.

As we look at Minnesota’s top 20 prospects, we see that past is in danger of becoming prologue. There are a few fine players, players who could have Zach Parise-type NHL impact, and then a whole bunch more who fit as supporting players at the highest rung. The system is deep, but almost entirely lacking in players who one could safely project to be the leading lights of a championship roster. Paul Fenton has only had a few months to begin to mold the organization to his vision, but his first draft class did little to move the needle. Barring the possibility of a healthy Alexander Khovanov elevating his game by a few tiers, nobody in their 2018 draft class seems likely to force opposing teams to plan around them.

1 Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 3^rd) If this system has one potential difference maker, this is it. Only 21 years old, Kaprizov has already played for most of four seasons in the KHL – including KHL All Star Game appearances in each of the last three - and finished above 40 in both of the last two, seasons punctuated by star turns in the WJC (12 points in seven games) and the Olympics (nine points in six games) respectively. Kaprizov grades very highly as a skater, for his ability to shoot an handle the puck, and for his on ice vision, especially in the offensive zone. Kaprizov, despite being somewhat undersized and lacking any appreciable experience on smaller ice surfaces, could play in a top six role in the NHL this year, but his contract with CSKA Moscow still has two season left to run.

Luke Kunin

2 Luke Kunin, C (15^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 1^st) After captaining the Wisconsin Badgers as a sophomore, and also wearing the C for Team USA as they took home gold at the WJC, Kunin was ready to play in the NHL. He was shuttled back and forth between Minnesota and their AHL team in Iowa for most of the year, before tearing the ACL in his left knee in early March, ending his season. Despite going through other tribulations in his rookie pro season, Kunin consistently demonstrated traits to his game which will work out over the long haul, provided his skating – one of the clear strengths of his game is not impacted permanently by the knee injury. A high energy skill player for the middle six is still in Kunin’s immediate future.

3 Jordan Greenway, LW (50^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 4^th) Another ready for primetime player, Greenway was one of three collegians chosen to represent Team USA at the Winter Olympics last year, and he scored once in PyeongChang. Over the last two seasons, Greenway’s game has begun to catch up to his outsized frame. At 6-6”, 227, he is certainly physically imposing, but he also moves very well for his size and has the offensive tools to suggest a player who could peak in the 50 point per season range. Greenway also plays a physical, heavy game befitting his stature, but his NHL success will come from his ability to play a skill game first and foremost. He can add a dimension to the Wild attack that was not there in recent years.

4 Filip Johansson, D (24^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Although a surprise when he was called to the podium in the first round in June. Johansson was one of the highest IQ defenders available in the 20128 draft class. The Leksands blueliner, who split last season between the men’s team and their U20 squad, has great vision and plays a highly poised game. His reads are very mature and he moves the puck smoothly. He is strong for his size, and projects for more there as he fills out. On the other hand, Johansson will likely never be a big offensive contributor. He lacks the skating chops to lead a dangerous rush and his point shot is not the most threatening. He certainly fits the Wild prospect MO, in that he has a low ceiling, but a pretty high floor.

5 Louis Belpedio, D (80^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 8^th) Another defender whose key selling point as a prospect is his high IQ, Louie Belpedio played a full four seasons with Miami University, the last two wearing the C on his chest. As a senior, he contributed much more to the RedHawks’ attack then ever before, with a career high 30 points in 37 games. That said, his offensive tools suggest more of a two-way contributor as a pro. His point shot does not suggest much power play time in his future, but he moves the puck fairly well. Belpedio also plays a physical game for his size. The right shooting defender is likely in line to receive a NHL cameo this year, but would be best served by a full season on the farm.

Jack McBain

6 Jack McBain, C (63^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A big body with a full set of tools, McBain might have been drafted before the third round had he played in the OHL – or even in the USHL – instead of spending the last two years with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the OJHL. The leading U18 player in that circuit, McBain had the opportunity to play on the bigger stage both in the mid-year WJAC and to close out the season at the WU18 tournament. Headig to play for Boston College next year, McBain has the offensive skill set to do well, but may struggle at first to acclimate to the greater pace of play than what he had experienced so far in his career.

7 Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 6^th) An athletic netminder, the Wild finally signed Kahkonen four years after drafting him with a fourth round pick. Playing at a remarkably steady high level for the past two seasons with Luuko in Liiga, Kahkonen’s game has only improved since backstopping Finland to a Gold Medal in the 2016 WJC. He will likely report to Iowa for his first season in North America, where he will be able to work on his play reading ability and rebound control away from the bright lights of the NHL, but the only thing between him and the backup job for the Wild is Alex Stalock. In other words, not all that much.

8 Ivan Lodnia, RW (85^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 9^th) After years with the likes of Connor McDavid, Alex DeBrincat, and Dylan Strome, the top NHL prospect on the Erie Otters last year – especially after Taylor Raddysh was traded to Sault Ste. Marie - was none other than Ivan Lodnia. A good skater with the ability to impress with the puck on his stick, he earns plaudits for his commitment to the play at both ends, with or without the puck. Expected to play a key role with a rebuilding Erie again this year, Lodnia will have the chance to answer the question of whether he can be a leading offensive creator without having superstars by his side.

9 Alexander Khovanov, C (86^th overall, 2018. Last Year; IE) There is a not unreasonable chance that in 12 months, Khovanov sits at the top of this list. I wouldn’t bet on it, but there is a chance. The second overall pick in the 2017 CHL Import Draft, he contracted Hepatitis A in an offseason trip to the Caribbean. When he was finally healthy enough to play, his fitness level was very low, but he still managed to show flashes of high end offensive skill. With a full offseason of good health and proper training, we may see an energized player who can turn those flashes into a consistent high level of play. There is also the risk that what we saw is what he is, but his illness is rare enough in hockey circles and his demonstrated skill set is high enough that he has earned the benefit of the doubt at least until the 2018-19 season begins.

10 Mason Shaw, C (97^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 10^th) After Khovanov, we have another one for whom we have to give the benefit of the doubt in Mason Shaw. After tearing up the WHL as an undersized draft eligible forward, Shaw tore the ACL in his right knee in the second game of the preseason prospects tournament in Traverse City and didn’t play again until a late season, one game cameo in the AHL for Iowa. A fine skater with sublime puck skills, he earned Minnesota’s respect with the way he rehabbed from his injury. Shaw is expected to return to Medicine Hat for one final year before fully embarking on his professional career.

11 Brandon Duhaime, RW (106^th overall, 2016. Last Year: unranked) Drafted in his second year of eligibility, after contributing to a Clark Cup Championship for the Tri-City Storm, Duhaime looked like a decent plugger, playing with aggression and energy, with a little bit of skill. After two seasons with Providence, some of the roughness around his game has been scraped off and a potential middle six winger is emerging. He has a big body and skated very well. He has also shown the hands of a decent playmaker. The Florida native may be more than an organizational depth piece although he needs to learn to walk the disciplinary line a bit better in his junior year with the Friars.

12 Connor Dewar, LW (92^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Ignored in his first year of eligibility, Connor Dewar turned heads in his second go-round, leading the generally defensive Everett Silvertips with 38 goals in the regular season, followed by 26 points in 22 games as his team went to the WHL finals. Further, he gets the puck on net a lot, such that there is minimal risk of his goals being due to luck on the percentages. Dewar is not a high end skater, and he is on the smaller side, but he thinks the game at a high level and both his shooting and puck handling skills rate as above average. He is a bit of a late bloomer, but another season like the last one could help to cement his projection as a bottom six winger at the highest level.

Dmitry Sokolov

13 Dmitry Sokolov, RW (196^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 12^th) When he was drafted, Sokolov was seen as a gamble on a player who had a very high ceiling as a scoring winger, but who was very likely to be undone by poor conditioning, subpar skating, and a complete lack of attention to the game away from the puck. He may never look like Duncan Keith, and his skating is still a likely problem, but Sokolov has started to show a recognition of the need to play across all 200 feet and earned himself a spot on Team Russia’s most recent WJC entry after being ignored by his homeland for the previous two seasons. He is also still in possession of a near-elite shot and tied for the OHL lead in goals scored with 50. He’s not there yet, but he took a step closer this year.

14 Nick Seeler, D (131^st overall, 2011. Last Year: unranked) In a system full of players with low ceilings and high floors, Nick Seeler sticks out for having the highest floor and quite probably the lowest ceiling. A bruising, stay-at-home defender, he is a bit of an anachronism in the modern game, as his mobility is only around average and his puck skills are less than that. His combined 21 points over 128 professional games is not a fluke. Neither are his 204 penalty minutes in that span. He is a big hitter, can kill penalties and knows how to clear opponents from in front of his goalie’s crease. He is expected to man the third pairing for the Wild this year.

15 Nick Swaney, C (209^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 13^th) Drafted by the Wild in his third year of eligibility, Swaney played a key supporting role with NCAA champions Minnesota-Duluth as a freshman last year. He is undersized, but knows how to drive play in the right direction with his impressive speed, vision, and smart passing ability. He needs to add bulk – without losing speed – in order to not be a liability off the puck and be more able to withstand physical defending. Swaney has scored wherever he has played so it may just be a matter of time before he begins to score at a high rate in the NCAA, but between his draft pedigree and unassuming frame, he will need to continue proving himself.

16 Justin Kloos, C/RW (UDFA: Mar. 29, 2017. Last Year: 15^th) The Wild organization have long made a habit of scouting heavily in their own backyard, and Kloos has a chance to be a mild success story. The former Minnesota Mr. Hockey and four year regular with the University of Minnesota, he was never drafted, but worked tirelessly and had the brains to make it work wherever he played. He continued his success as a pro, tying for third in scoring as a rookie with Iowa and making his NHL debut to boot. Kloos will have every opportunity to win a third line/extra forward NHL job this year.

Kyle Rau

17 Kyle Rau, C (UFA: Jul. 1, 2017. Last Year: unranked) The winner of Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey award the year before the honor went to Kloos, the two were also teammates for two years with the Golden Gophers. With 50 points last year in Iowa, the flea sized Rau is coming off his best season as a pro, and signed a two year contract extension with the Wild in June, but is likely still below Kloos on the depth chart. Between the two, Rau is the better skater and more gifted with the puck on his stick, but is also much smaller and has had more opportunities already to prove that he may not be a regular NHLer. He will also age out of consideration for this list before the end of October.

18 Sam Anas, C (UDFA: Apr. 15, 2016. Last Year: 20^th) In case you thought we had already discussed enough undersized free agent signee forwards already, this is the last one. I promise. Dante Salituro was not really considered for a spot. Anas not only could borrow most of Rau’s hockey gear, they rate similarly when looking at their various hockey attributes. Both are gifted playmakers who are more likely to pass than shoot. Both are similarly effective in their physical gifts. Rau is a slightly better skater and gets his nose dirtier, and both will age off the list before its time for the next one. Anas should get a look-see when injuries create room on the NHL roster.

19 Eric Martinsson, D (UDFA: May 2, 2018. Last Year: IE) Another free agent signing, Martinsson is neither a forward nor particularly undersized. Coming off an SHL championship and an appearance in the finals of the Hockey Champions League with Vaxjo in the SHL, he is a quick thinker with nice playmaking chops. This will not be his first experience in North America, as he has a year in the USHL under his belt. A power play point man for Vaxjo, his shot lacks the heft to play that role much in North America, but he moves the puck well and is agile if not very fast. Already 25, his window to make it in the NHL is small.

20 Carson Soucy, D (137^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 11^th) Big and rangy, the Wild had high hopes for Soucy coming off four years with Minnesota-Duluth. His first year pro results, with 15 points in 67 games, are approximately what we can expect from him moving forward. He is competent enough that the Wild did not hesitate to play Soucy in the NHL postseason when Ryan Suter went down to injury. He has refined his hockey sense over the last few years and can play a physical game, but even though he can let one rip from the blueline, don’t expect much in the way of offensive contributions going forward.

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.

2018 WJC in Review: Russia

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 12:36:37 +0000

After an underwhelming performance in the 2018 WJC, in which Russia was eliminated without much fanfare in the quarterfinals, there are rumblings in Russia that longtime U20 coach Valeri Bragin may finally be making way for a successor at the helm.

Although they outscored the opposition by two goals across five games, Russia only won two of those contests, a pair of 5-2 victories over Switzerland ad Belarus, respectively. The tournament began with a 5-4 loss to the Czech Republic, and the final score did not do justice to how they were actually outplayed for much of the game, as they scored twice in the last 2.5 minutes to make the result more respectable on a surface level.

Part of the problem with this year’s Russian team was team selection. Another part was team usage. Both items seemingly led to the mediocre performance and will play a role in Bragin’s likely future employment prospects.

SPISSKA NOVA VES, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 17: Russia's Andrei Svechnikov #14 skates with the puck during preliminary round action against Belarus at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Starting with roster selection, there are still murmurings regarding the decision to leave Alexei Lipanov, a third round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning last year and the regular linemate of Andrei Svechnikov with Barrie of the OHL, off of the final roster. As the offense did not provide a consistent attack outside of the two games against the relative top flight minnows, a strong playmaking center who already has significant chemistry with the most talented natural goalscorer of the Russian team would have played a big role in their ability to produce. Instead, Svechnikov, seen universally as a top five prospect in the upcoming NHL draft, failed to score, garnering five assists in five games without lighting the lamp himself. With a roster including 12 forwards but eight blue-liners, only one of whom provided much in the way of offensive impact, surely one of those could have been sacrificed for Lipanov.

An area that extends through both roster selection and player usage is found between the pipes. Between the three goalies on the roster, only Mikhail Berdin is widely regarded as having NHL potential. The Winnipeg draftee is excelling in the USHL and looked strong in last year’s WJAC and the pre-tournament Canada-Russia Super Series. He never saw the ice. There are numerous strong netminding prospects who have eligibility for Russia in this event. Columbus draft pick Daniil Tarasov has returned strong from a long injury layoff. Kirill Ustimenko, a Philadelphia pick, has been hard to beat in the Russian junior ranks. Ilya Konovalov has looked good in both the KHL and VHL. Instead, Bragin brought Alexei Melnichuk and Vladislav Sukhachyov to Buffalo.

Melnichuk was handed the reins, but lost them part way through the opener to the Czech Republic after surrendering four goals in 40 minutes. Not a good look, but he was victimized by great passing plays in his own zone by a few very talented Czech forwards. Sukhachyov took over and never looked back. He was adequate, but victimized repeatedly by lost concentration and a weakness for shots high and glove side. There is no reason to think that Sukhachyov was the best bet among the goalies available to Russia to help the U20 side medal.

But there are rampant rumors of protectionism. Reports have surfaced out of Russia that Sukhachyov’s father is a well-known bureaucrat. Bragin has been known to favor Russian-based players in the past at the expense of seemingly more talented players located in North America. Choosing a player as a sop to a politician of some renown would be a new level, but along the same scale.

Moving on, there were other reasons to be concerned at Bragin’s usage of the players at his disposal outside of the crease. Take the aforementioned Svechnikov. Not only is his talent level respected on all levels, but his production at the WJC was up to expectations. Even if he failed to score himself, reaching the point-per-game level as an underager at the WJC is rare and to be applauded. So why is it that Svechnikov’s name appears four times among the bottom eight forwards when looking at game—by-game ice times? He never played even 13 minutes in any game and was on the ice for fewer than 13 minutes in three contests.

Similarly underutilized were Georgi Ivanov and Alexei Polodyan, who tied for fourth in team scoring with four points each. Both players demonstrated promising puck skills and solid offensive instincts, but were generally confined to the bench for large parts of all games.

It is hard to argue with the ice time given to Vitali Abramov, a scoring sensation from the QMJHL, even though he was limited to a single goal (no assists) at the tournament. His experience and success on North American ice has afforded him a longer leash than most. But I cannot say the same about someone like Marsel Sholokhov or Artyom Manukyan, who both received far more ice time than Svechnikov, Ivanov or Polodyan.

Of course, the tournament was not all bad for Russia. There were some individual contributors who more than lived up to their advance billing and wore their national colors with honor. Chief among those was St. Louis first rounder Klim Kostin. One of the handful of WJC participants who is playing North American pro hockey (with San Antonio of the AHL), Kostin was sensational. Not only was he an offensive force, leading the team with eight points, but he was committed to the game at both ends, willing to sell out his body to make defensive stops. He was almost unstoppable at times, making both defenders and goalies look foolish. For a highlight of that ability, check out this goal he scored against Belarus (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6cefb5).
Dmitry Sokolov showed well in his first national team exposure in three years. Although a purely offense only player, the Minnesota Wild prospect led the team in shots with 18 and always seemed to be around the puck. Blackhawks pick Artur Kayumov also had a strong tournament, showing a high hockey IQ in all three zone and good production, tying with Svechnikov for second in team scoring.

As a unit, the blueline was disappointing, with only one defender showing up on the scoresheet more than once. While NHL draft picks Yegor Zaitsev and Dmitri Samorukokv were not able to showcase their games to their drafting teams, undrafted 19 year old Vladislav Syomin made a case for hearing his name called in his third year of eligibility this summer. He is 6-3” and over 200 pounds and makes sure that every inch and pound is put to good use, playing a heavy, hit-filled game. He had been starting to produce offensively in league play in Russia, both in the MHL and VHL and the former KHL first round pick should be prepared for NHL suitors in short order.

The other Russian to improve his draft stock was Polodyan. A smooth puckhandler was a frequent source of danger and plays with enough energy to be appreciated by his coaches.

Assuming that Bragin is out as the Russian U20 coach, it ill be interesting to see if the next head honcho is more willing to either play more skilled 18 year olds instead of relying very heavily on 19 year old and whether he is more open to taking North American based players who have less of a history with the national squad. Russia is ready for a new direction.

WJC 2018 – Team Preview – Russia

Ryan Wagman — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 19:38:34 +0000

Despite rarely rating as a favorite before the tournament begins, Russia has medaled in each of the past seven WJCs, picking up one gold (2011), three silvers (2012, 2015, 2016) and three bronzes (2013, 2014, 2017). It should come as no surprise if 2018 sees the cycle repeated once more.

Russia, under head coach Valeri Bragin, has picked up a reputation of generally icing older squads. That reputation is somewhat earned and this year’s squad (albeit before final cuts have been made) has an average of 18.75 years of age, younger only than team Canada by around five weeks. On the other hand, the youngest squad, the Swiss, are only around five younger on average. Likely to be of more significance in Buffalo this year is that the Russians will likely be icing one of the tournament’s smaller lineups, ranking ninth in height and eighth in weight (again, before final cuts are made).

Even more pressing from Team Russia this year is that, for the first time since that Gold Medal winning 2011 squad, they are not led by a stud in net, after having enjoyed the services of Andrei Vasilevskiy, Ilya Sorokin, Igor Shestyorkin, and Ilya Samsonov in recent years.

For Russia to return to the podium for an eighth straight year, their chances seemingly hinge on outgunning the opposition. Their roster features a number of players justly feted for their offensive potential, including high profile NHL prospects such as Vitali Abramov (Clm), Andrei Altybarmakyan (Chi), Klim Kostin (StL), Dmitry Sokolov (Min), Mikhail Maltsev (NJ), and German Rubtsov (Phi), who may be joined by a very prominent player under consideration for the 2018 draft in goalscorer extraordinaire Andrei Svechnikov. Of the top five teams, they are both the most likely to finish in third, as well as the most likely to be bumped from the top five by an upstart.

Ten to Watch

Alexei Melnichuk, G

Coming up through the St. Petersburg organization as a youth, Melnichuk had never received any consideration for national play prior to this year. Now, in his last year of eligibility for the junior program, rumors in mid-December make Melnichuk the odds-on favorite to receive the lions-share of the starts in net for Team Russia at the 2018 WJCs. His recent rise to prominence is based on stellar league play over the last season and a half with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg in the VHL, Russia’s version of the AHL. His SV% last year was tops in the league for all under-20 netminders, and is currently second in that subset to Vladislav Sukhachyov, who is on the roster bubble. Melnichuk also held his own in two starts this year with the parent KHL club. Where he really raised his profile though was in the recent CIBC Canada-Russia series. He appeared in five game, putting up a 1.96 GAA and a .926 save percentage, exuding calmness. He lacks prototype size between the pipes, but positions himself well to make the save if he does not need go post-to-post. If the Russian starter is not Melnichuk, look for Sioux Falls (USHL) netminder Mikhail Berdin, a Winnipeg draftee to take over. He is currently third in the USHL in save percentage.

Yegor Zaitsev, D

One of the last picks in last year’s NHL draft, the Devils selected Russian blueliner Zaitsev 205^th overall in his second year of draft eligibility after he split his age 18 season mostly between Dynamo Moscow of the KHL and junior side Dynamo Balashikha. A steady, all-situations type, Zaitsev is thought by some as a leading candidate to wear the ‘C’ for Team Russia in Buffalo. He lacks typical NHL size, but plays a rugged game. He is better in his own zone than in the offensive end or carrying the puck. Although lacking in quickness, he moves around relatively well. Despite his lack of offensive production, he has spent time on the power play in domestic play in addition to penalty kill duties. His passing ability and hard shot suggest that there might be more offense in the tank here, but he has never demonstrated that element to his game at any level of play, at least as far back as the U17 level in his homeland. Expect more of a steady minute-muncher on this year’s Russia squad, who, if he ends up on a highlight reel, it will be for executing a big hit.

Dmitri Samorukov, D

Although he often struggled to leave much of an impression with a very young Guelph Storm in his draft eligible season, the tall and lanky Samorukov had a very strong finish to his season with Team Russia at the World U18 championship and represented good value for Edmonton when the Oilers popped him as a third round draft choice. With the Storm better from top to bottom this year, Samorukov, whose father was a high level soccer netminder in Russia in his day, is displaying much more of an offensive game in the OHL. His expected role with Team Russia should be the virtual opposite of how the team will use Zaitsev. Samorukov is very strong with the puck, and is a strong skater. Although not a big hitter, he has the frame to eventually be that player. For now, there are weaknesses to his game away from the puck, but if he can play in Buffalo like he did last year at the WU18s, the Valeri Bragin will take it. The former second overall CHL Import draft pick has a chance to cement his reputation as a big game player in this tournament.

Vitali Abramov, RW/LW

A player who should have been drafted well ahead of 65^th overall, where the Columbus Blue Jackets nabbed him after he lit up the QMJHL as a rookie in 2015-16, the undersized Abramov was overlooked again last year, as he was overlooked by Team Russia for the 2017 WJC, despite being well on his way to a league-leading offensive output of 104 points for a mediocre team in Gatineau. He was not far removed from making the Blue Jackets out of camp this year, before being sent back to the Q. He started the season strong again, but with Gatineau rebuilding, Abramov was recently shipped off to Victoriaville. He is a great skater who can beat many high-end defenders wide and is clear silk with the puck, able to pull rabbits out of his stick thanks to his dexterous hands and seldom-matched creativity. He will always be on the small side, but that has never yet held him back and he has plenty of experience killing penalties. There is little to suggest that he will be a liability in his own zone. He is the early favorite to be Russia’s primary option for creating offense. If he succeeds in Buffalo, Russia will be fine.

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I - NOVEMBER 14: CIBC Canada Russia Series game #5 between Team Russia and Team QMJHL on November 14, 2017, at the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown, P.E.I.(Photo by Vincent Ethier/QMJHL Media)

Andrei Altybarmakyan, RW

When the Blackhawks selected Altybarmakyan in the third round last summer, more than a few eyebrows were raised. A fantastic offensive producer in the Russian junior leagues, the undersized winger gained some international prominence during a very strong performance at this year’s Canada-Russia series. For one thing, he put to bed most concerns about his size, as he played a game much bigger than his 5-11”, 183 pound listing. He plays a power forward game with a wide stance that helps hi get into position to unleash a very quick wrist shot. He does not play a fancy game, but his hands are quick enough in tight areas. Back in Russia, he has struggled to impose his game at the KHL level (no points in 13 games for SKA St. Petersburg), but has shown the ability to play with adults, having already scored seven times in 20 games with SKA’s VHL farm team. Known as Barmen (his name is a mouthful even for native Russians), his aggressive style of game should serve him well on all sides of the puck. Expected to play a 200 foot game as part of a versatile middle six.

Klim Kostin

Klim Kostin, C/LW

A big player with a mature power game, Kostin has flown a little bit under the radar in the AHL as an 18 year old with San Antonio. On the other hand, as one of only three skaters under the age of 19 playing in the AHL, the fact that he is more than holding his own with the Rampage, with 11 points in his first 26 games, speaks volumes. The numbers look even better after realizing that only six of his teammates are currently outscoring him. He is a smooth skater who has a good shot, but prefers to set up his teammates. Kostin has fantastic vision and is capable of a string of pretty passes. He reads the opposition very well and his reactions show plus hockey IQ within. He seems fully recovered from the injuries that kept him off the ice for much of his draft year. As one of the younger players projected to make the Russian WJC roster, he may be given a bottom six role to start, even though he has one of the highest career upsides among his projected teammates. The tournament represents a great opportunity for the St. Louis to re-establish his place in the hockey prospect world.

Mikhail Maltsev, LW

Drafted by New Jersey in the fourth round in 2016, Maltsev has spent the last season and a half getting acclimated to the professional game, spending most of his time in the VHL with SKA-Neva St. Petersburg, growing more and more comfortable asserting himself on the offensive side of the rink. Always an aggressive player away from the puck, he uses his plus frame to good effect. Coupled with an active stick and good vision, he should be a primary call for coach Bragin for key defensive zone faceoffs. He is a strong skater for his size and demonstrates intriguing playmaking traits once he gets the puck moving in the right direction. Listed as a winger, he nonetheless has earned a reputation as a faceoff wizard and may play more often as a pivot for Russia. Although unlikely to threaten for the team lead in scoring, his ability and willingness to play in all situations bodes well for his chances to lead the team’s forwards in ice time, if nothing else. His North American style game should also work well in the smaller rinks in Buffalo, and once the tournament reaches the elimination matches, where Russia will likely get the chance to play one of Canada of the USA.

German Rubtsov, C

At least until Svechnikov is drafted next June, Rubtsov holds the distinction as the highest drafted player on the Russian squad at this year’s WJC, having been selected 22^nd overall by Philadelphia in 2016. He got into five games at last year’s tournament, but failed to register a single point before suffering a scary looking facial fracture that limited him to 16 games over the rest of the season. In fact, Rubtsov used the tournament last year to springboard his career from the Russian leagues over to North America, staying in Quebec to play for Chicoutimi. Early this season, the Sagueneens dealt the rangy center to Acadie-Bathurst and he has been a point-per-game player for both squads. A dynamic skater and puck handler, he seems to be lacking only some consistency (perhaps a side effect of being moved from team to team with some frequency) to see his game truly take off. The type of player who always seems to have the puck on his stick, he is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. While he has a good pro-looking frame, he does not play a physical game. Likely to play a top six, offense-first role for Team Russia in Buffalo.

Dmitry Sokolov, RW/C

One of the best pure goalscorers in the OHL since his debut with the Sudbury Wolves in the 2016-17 season, Sokolov’s being named to the 2018 Russian WJC squad offers some late redemption for a player whose commitment to defense has long been derided. In fact, Sokolov was kept out of the national picture since contributing one point per game for Russia in the WU18 in 2015 as an underager. 78 goals in two OHL seasons was not enough to overcome the persistent questions about his fitness level and his commitment to the game away from the puck. In general the only questions about his defensive game in the past have been whether he was merely disinterested in his own zone, or acutely incapable. As for his fitness level, any player measuring below six feet but tipping the scales at upwards of 220 pounds will always face sceptics. Finally, though, with continued production at the OHL level, including a nine points in six games production for the Wolves in last season’s playoffs, as well as two points in the two games of the OHL portion of the Canada-Russia series, and Sokolov will get to audition for an ELC on the biggest amateur stage there is.

SPISSKA NOVA VES, SLOVAKIA - APRIL 13: Russia's Andrei Svechnikov #14 celebrates at the bench with teammates after a third period goal against Sweden during preliminary round action at the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Andrei Svechnikov, RW

Although Team Russia does not often play draft eligible players at the WJC, Svechnikov would not be the first, as Ivan Provorov also played a pivotal role in a Silver Medal winning side in 2015. Svechnikov, whose older brother Yevgeni was a first round pick of Detroit in 2015, is both a better prospect than his sibling, and likely Provorov as well – we project him to go second in the 2018 draft. He is a pure goal scorer. Although he has missed a big chunk of the first half to a hand injury, a recent hat trick in league play should not allow us to presume that there is any rust in his game. Averaging a Colts’-high four shots on net per game, scoring at nearly a goal per game pace, he has mostly been lined up with Team Russia hopeful Alexei Lipanov. Valeri Bragin would do well to keep the prolific duo together for this tournament. Last year, as one of the youngest players in the USHL, with Muskegon, Svechnikov finished sixth in league scoring, with 29 goals and 58 points in 48 games – the second best U17 scorer in the league finished with 27 points. This here is a superstar in the making.

Sleeper

Mikhail Berdin, G

Currently sitting in third place in save percentage among USHL netminders, Berdin was just as good last year and more than held his own whenever he has been called upon to represent Russia on the international stage. One of the few North American based goalies outside of the American or Canadian rosters at this WJC, there is speculation among Russian reporters whether he will be named the starter ahead of the above-profiled Melnichuk. Tall and lanky and with very impressive athleticism, the Winnipeg Jets prospect has great recovery ability and got to show off earlier this season in a very different manner when he scored an empty net goal. He has not yet committed to any level of play beyond this season, so he may be playing for a professional contract at this tournament.

Minnesota – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:32:51 +0000

Justin Pogge was a talented young netminder who was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round of the 2004 draft. At the time, he was considered to have potential, but not as a goalie to build around. To wit, the next year, the Leafs used their first round pick on a goalie as well. In the 2005-06 season, Pogge was taking his game to another level, and in the middle of a fine junior season, he had an insanely good performance to lead Canada to a Gold at the WJC. Suddenly, Pogge was seen as the goalie of the future.

Emboldened by his recent good run, Toronto decided to trade their most recent first rounder, shipping Tuukka Rask to Boston for Andrew Raycroft, assuming that the latter could hold the fort until Pogge was ready.

You might know where this is headed. Pogge was never as good again as he was in the WHL and WJC in 2006. Raycroft could not relive his great rookie season after the trade to Toronto. And Tuukka Rask won a Vezina Trophy guarding the net for Boston and is still an above-average netminder to this day.

What does this all have to do with the Minnesota Wild system, you might be asking? Last offseason, the Wild system was considered shallow and weak. There were a few players with promise, but little that seemed close to the NHL or that was viewed as likely top six/top four talent. And then came the 2016-17 WJC and suddenly pundits the world over were praising the Wild for drafting four seemingly dynamic talents in Luke Kunin, Joel Eriksson Ek, Kirill Kaprizov, and Jordan Greenway.

In fairness to the pundits, those are good players, and we rank them at the top of the Wild system for good reason. But the Pogge example recapped above should be a reminder that we need to step away from the rush to anoint every two-week hero as a future NHL star.

The first two are relatively safe for high end prospects, but are more middle six types than top line scoring champs. Kaprizov has dynamic offensive qualities, but just signed a new three year contract extension with his KHL team. Greenway has always had great physical tools, but had never really put it all together until last season. He could be a first line winger, or a fourth liner.

The simple fact is that while many pundits base rankings largely off of performances in the high profile junior tournaments, including the Ivan Hlinka and the WU18 in a prospect’s pre-draft year and the WJC afterwards, it is always best to look at his entire body of work before deciding what he is, what he is likely to be, and how that reflects on his organization.

The Wild have not made the mistake of betting the farm on any of their Fab Four prospects. They do not seem to have/ gone out of their way to actively block any of them, but have thankfully not made any other moves to rashly clear space for their future. There are many good young hockey players, who, over a two week period can look like (or literally be) world beaters. But the best long term players are those who can perform at a high level night-in and night-out.

June 24, 2016: Luke Kunin dons his Wild sweater after he was selected by Minnesota as the 15th pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

1 Luke Kunin – If it is possible for a two-way forward to be dynamic, Kunin is. There is not a single facet of his game that does not grade out as well above average. His wrist shot is deadly from the slot on in. He has great speed and thinks the game several steps ahead, allowing him to get the jump on opponents before even testing out his wheels. An aggressive player, he is always in motion, he has a way of finding space where there should not be any. Improved this year in setting the pace defensively, as well. Ready for a middle six NHL role.

2 Joel Eriksson Ek – Despite opening the season with five points in nine NHL games, Eriksson Ek was then sent back to Sweden to be ensured of receiving a heavy workload all season. It was a good idea, as JEE’s game took big strides with Farjestad and he was also lethal for Tre Kronor at the WJC. He has a blistering shot, which he combines with very good stickhandling ability and a high-end hockey brain. This year, there will be no need to send him back across the pond. He is ready.

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 26: Canada forward Mathieu Joseph (11) collides with Russia forward Kirill Kaprizov (7) during the World junior Hockey Championships(Photo by Dan Hamilton/Icon Sportswire)

3 Kirill Kaprizov – After scoring more than double the points of any other U20 player in the KHL while also tying for the scoring lead at the WJC, many would fairly contend that Kaprizov is ready for the NHL if it were not for his having also signed a three year extension with CSKA in the KHL. An offensive powerhouse with a near-elite shooting/puck-handling combo. Strong for his size with superior hockey intelligence. He reads the game well in all three zones.

4 Jordan Greenway – In my shortlist for most improved prospects of 2016-17, Greenway showed the ability to create offense for himself, instead of relying on more talented linemates to capitalize on space he helps create. Possesses an extra-large frame that he uses to perfection to shield the puck. Strong both in front of and behind the net. Makes life miserable for defenders. He will never be the most creative player, but his style can work on any line.

5 Mike Reilly – Considered a big prize when the Wild landed him as a free agent after he left college and would not sign with the team (Columbus) that drafted him, Reilly has already proven himself as a plus offensive defenseman at the AHL level, without yet breaking through to regular NHL duty. A good skater who has demonstrated eager defensive play in the AHL, he has been limited to sheltered use in the NHL and has not capitalized, despite good possession rates. Will get another chance this year.

6 Kaapo Kahkonen – A calm and consistent netminder, Kahkonen has a great combination of size and athleticism. He is very flexible and quick going from post to post. A proven winner at the international level, he helped backstop Finland to a WJC gold in 2016. A strong puck handler, he can be let down occasionally by rebound control. He is a highly competitive netminder who holds up well in traffic and has always demonstrated solid anticipation.

7 Gustav Olofsson – The injury prone Olofsson finally had a completely healthy season last year, appearing in 72 combined games between the NHL and AHL. He has also (perhaps not coincidentally) begin to attempt more offensively than in the past, joining rushes, and scoring the odd goal when he can step in from the point and unleash a shot from the high slot. His decision making in his own zone is generally rather strong. The trade of Marco Scandella may have opened up a regular NHL job.

8 Louis Belpedio – Drafted as a two-way defenseman out of the USNTPD program, Belpedio has seen his offensive game improve steadily over his first three seasons at Miami. Even with his strong collegiate numbers, he is actually stronger in his own zone. Uses his stick very well to break up zone entries. Keeps tight gaps, attacking the puck carrier. Although he is not large, he uses his body well and can play rough as the situation demands. He is also a strong skater who looks sharp rushing the puck up ice.

9 Ivan Lodnia – Minnesota did not have a first or a second round pick this year as they loaded up on veterans at the trade deadline. Lodnia, a player who some thought should have gone higher, was their first selection. A very good skater with great stickhandling, he was able to put up very impressive numbers while filling a depth role with a loaded Erie team. What likely caused his stock to drop was his no-show in the OHL postseason (two points in 22 games).

10 Mason Shaw – Small and slight, Shaw was drafted largely on the back of his high end playmaking and vision, as evidenced by finishing fifth in the WHL in assists in his draft year. A decent skater who plays with surprising jam, he generally puts himself into position to succeed. Has also performed well internationally, with a strong performance as an underager with Canada’s WU18 squad in 2016. Will need to prove that his size will not be an impediment, but the talent is there.

11 Carson Soucy – A big two-way blueliner, Soucy is a below average, but one of the rare players who actually looks faster when carrying the puck than without. He does not project to be an offensive contributor as a professional, but should be reliable to move it up the ice. Uses his long reach very well to break up plays. When he plays physical, he can be impactful, but breaks out that part of his game judiciously. Low ceiling, high floor prospect.

Dmitry Sokolov of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

12 Dmitry Sokolov – Whatever else we might say about the Wild’s recent draft history, they do have a tendency to strike for high offense, under-valued players in the seventh round. Sokolov, who finished second in OHL goal scoring to Alex DeBrincat, is one of the more notable of this subset. Stocky to the point of being rotund, he is dynamic when he sniffs the opponents goal, but MIA in his own zone. His shot and puck skills are high end, everything else is lacking.

13 Nick Swaney – A Minnesota area native, the undersized Swaney spent the last two seasons putting up big numbers for Waterloo of the USHL, finally convincing a team to draft him in his third and final year of eligibility. He is an offensive creator and play driver, thanks to good hands and reads. He has decent speed, but his short area quickness is more impressive. Owns a very quick shot release. Also responsible defensively. Headed to Minnesota-Duluth.

14 Christoph Bertschy – After a promising rookie season in the AHL, Bertschy’s offense fell off drastically in his second go round. As the missing points were all assists, that may not be as much a reflection of his own development, but that of his linemates. He still shows some offensive flair, with strength on the puck and some wiggle in his legs. He generally plays with positive energy and effort, but can be caught napping in his own zone. Needs to be more consistent to get more than a cup of coffee.

15 Justin Kloos – In a case of backyard scouting, the Wild signed Kloos after he completed his four years NCAA eligibility with the nearby Golden Gophers. Small, but quick, Kloos has a hard shot and plays an intelligent brand of hockey, always seeming to be central to the action on offense. Relied upon mostly for his offensive capabilities as a collegian, he will have to show more of a two-way game to graduate to the NHL, as his tools, while good, do not warrant top six expectations.

16 Mario Lucia – Son of longtime NCAA head coach Don Lucia, Mario Lucia is a head-down, bread and potatoes player who missed much of the second half of his first pro season with a broken clavicle. He has a good hard shot, but no other really outstanding tools. Has good size and strength but does not play in an overly physical manner, although he does exert visible effort. His offensive development has seemingly stalled in his collegiate days, and he now profiles as a bottom six winger.

17 Ales Stezka – Drafted as a top junior goaltender out of the Czech Republic, Stezka subsequently came to North America for a two-year stint in the USHL, which culminated in a Clark Cup championship, and is now returning to his parent organization of Bili Tygri Liberec. Although prone to the odd bad goal, seemingly a matter of wavering focus, he has great size, generally reads the play well and does a good job at limiting second chances.

18 Andrei Svetlakov – Drafted this year in his third year of eligibility, Svetlakov seems to have more in the tank than his KHL numbers have suggested. A warrior who has battled back from concussion problems, he has a very good shot which he does not unleash as often as he should. A versatile role player in the KHL, as he has been used up and down the lineup and on both special teams units. Recently signed a three year extension with CSKA.

19 Steve Michalek – A high end college goalie with Harvard, Michalek has already proven himself in the rough waters of the AHL, doing a solid job of backing up Alex Stalock. Exudes calmness. Not the best athlete, which limits his future projection to that of an NHL backup, but is already almost there and goes into 2017-18 as the putative third stringer. Can be aggressive, which will sometimes get the best of him, leaving him out of position. Minimizes second chances.

20 Sam Anas – A pint-sized sparkplug with Quinnipiac, Anas had his moments in his first pro season after signing with Minnesota as a free agent. At his best, he can be a mesmerizing stickhandler with a quick shot release. At his worst, he is literally invisible. Only 5-8” and slight, he has the wheels to avoid too much trouble, and the bravery to go hunting for it anyway. Has not yet provided enough presence on the ice to force his way to the NHL.

The Wild in recent years have done a better job of not wasting picks on low-upside players and as a result, have a decent system both in terms of depth and in terms of high end talent. Although they have always tried to scout well in their home state of Minnesota, they have not limited themselves and have plucked good players from all walks of the hockey development life.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Minnesota Wild

Grant McCagg — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 15:06:47 +0000

The Wild didn’t go far to find their top pick…plucking Luke Kunin from the University of Wisconsin after his exemplary freshman season that saw him net 19 goals and all-rookie team honours. His sniper mentality and great one timer will fit in well with a Minnesota team that will be looking for goals after the departure of Vanek. Kunin’s compeititveness will also be welcome…and should be vying for a roster spot within a couple of years.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	15	16	Luke Kunin	LW	USA	6-0/195	Wisconsin (B1G)
4	106	148	Brandon Duhaime	RW	USA	6-0/200	Tri-City (USHL)
7	196	150	Dmitry Sokolov	RW	RUS	6-0/220	Sudbury (OHL)
7	204	NR	Braydyn Chizen	D	CAN	6-7/190	Kelowna (WHL)

Dmitry Sokolov at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Brandon Duhaime is another gritty, competitive winger who helped Tri-City in the USHL championship. He may have gone a little higher than we expected being a 1997 passed over last season, but after the top 100 or so the picks are all over the board….if you like a player you step up and take him at that point. Dmitri Sokolov was top ten on many draft lists last summer…then he showed up at Sudbury’s training camp about 40 pounds overweight, and things went downhill from there with the scouting world. The Wild will be hoping to get him into better shape…worth a gamble in the 7th round.

Grade – C-: Drafting one prospect ranked in McKeen’s top 120 hurts the Wild’s grade..the price you pay for having one pick in the top three rounds. Kunin keeps the grade from being lower…may be a top six forward.

OHL Prospect Watch: Fischer nets benefits, Sokolov swells

David Burstyn — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 21:42:22 +0000

The Windsor Spitfires took a late flyer on Christian Fischer in the 2013 OHL Draft (11th round, 213th overall), and are now reaping the benefits.

The native of Wayne, Illinois found instant success in his OHL debut and has been terrific in the first half for the Spitfires, emerging as the team's leading scorer.

Initially committed to go the NCAA route, however, just days after completing his fall orientation at the University of Notre Dame, he opted to sign an entry-level NHL contract.

Selected 32nd overall in the NHL draft last summer, Fischer joins an impressive posse of OHL-bred prospects in the Arizona stable that includes Ryan MacInnis, Dylan Strome, Brendan Perlini and Christian Dvorak.

Fischer gives the Coyotes' prospect pool a true potential power forward - something they currently lack.

He plays to the style and identity of the Spitfires as he is a gutsy, hard-nosed competitor who brings a contagious work ethic. His game has been further enhanced with the acquisition of Brendan Lemieux in December as the duo formed instant chemistry. Fischer has racked up 18 assists in the 18 games since Lemieux's arrival and climbed among the top 15 league scorers.

Despite all the helpers this season, scoring has never been a problem for Fischer who notched 31 goals in 66 league games with the USNDTP U18 squad in the USHL last year. His totals were all the more impressive considering he was slotted in more of a defensive role yet still found ways to constantly contribute offensively. A strong performance at the 2015 U18 World Championships helped vault him into the second round of the NHL draft.

Employed by Coach Thompson on both special teams, Fischer’s two-way game has been a shot in the arm for the Spitfires who currently sit atop the West Division standings due in part to his attention to detail with and without the puck.

His overall game continues to develop, most notably his skating which has marked some improvement. He helps compensate for mobility weaknesses by constantly moving his feet and attacking all areas of the ice.

Here are notes and observations on some other OHL prospects on the McKeens watch list.

Dmitry Sokolov (2016), C, Sudbury

The third-overall pick in the 2015 Import Draft has laboured through his first North American season as he battles with consistency which has resulted in him being benched for periods at a time in games. Easily the most skilled player on Sudbury's roster - is the current goal and points leader - however he knows it and does not lead by example with his on-ice work habits. Sokolov is an opportunistic player who takes advantage of power play time to record his points; and is not as effective in even-strength situations. His skating mechanics are somewhat slushy and it takes him a while to get going. Adding on 15 pounds in his first month abroad has not helped matters as he is playing over-weight and it has negatively impacted his game.

Ben Gleason (2016), D, Hamilton

The Ortonville, Michigan native was granted a new lease on life in his sophomore season thanks to an early-season trade out of London where he could barely crack the line-up. Thrust into a top pairing role on the Bulldogs' back end, Gleason has flourished and now ranks among the OHL's top 15 blueline scorers. A swift and agile skater, he is able to rush the puck up ice with ease - exploiting good athleticism and a strong acceleration gear. One attractive trait about his puckrushing is that he does not slow down with the puck in possession. However, he is not blessed with an overly imposing frame at 6-0, 170 which tends to hamper his defensive game. Too often he gets danced around in his own zone and, as he offers very little in terms of physical 'push back', he can be rather easy to play against. Steadily gaining confidence in utilizing his shot more assertively - has scored an impressive seven goals, albeit none in his last 18 games. Projecting his NHL chances, he ranks as a long-shot given his size, physical play, and offensive sizzle.

Tye Felhaber (2016), C, Saginaw

More was expected from Felhaber after a highly successful rookie campaign where he finished fifth in team scoring (63-20-17-37). However, he has struggled with consistency and consequently has been bounced between the third and fourth lines. He does see occasional time on the power play in an attempt to bring out his game as he oozes the type of puck skills and offensive ability that can break open a game. Possesses excellent vision and an outstanding stick, but is far too uninvolved to take advantage of those skills. Only an average skater who lacks pop, yet is very shifty and elusive and can side-step players and spin off checks. Employs more stops and starts to his game, but rarely challenges the dirty areas and keeps things generally to the outside. Despite having good tools, his unwillingness to compete and move his feet in defensive situations may have him on the outside looking in at this point.

Dylan Wells (2016), G, Peterborough

Began this season on a high note by winning gold at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial where he was spectacular all tournament, and especially in a semi-final shoot-out win against the Russians. The top goaltender selected in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection - 22nd overall - Wells has backed up veteran Matthew Macina and has yet to show signs of flat out winning over the starting duties for the Petes. Wells has instead struggled this season - allowing five or more goals in ten games - or half his total appearances (20). Despite a shaky sophomore OHL campaign to date, Wells does look the part of a projectable goalie as he is a great skater who moves effortlessly in his crease and challenges shooters aggressively. Though blessed with a good-sized frame (6-1/185) however, he tends to make himself smaller in the crease due to a compact stance which can result in him being beaten upstairs. Wells needs to find more game-to-game consistency as he is prone to guessing on shots at times - and his game unravels as a result.