Dmytro Timashov – McKeen's Hockey

Toronto Maple Leafs 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 13:16:46 +0000

Although he was only hired as the General Manager of the Maple Leafs less than six weeks prior to the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, the 2019 draft was Dubas’ third at the helm. Some forget, but he, along with Mark Hunter served as interim GMs for a few months in 2015, a time period which included that draft.

The 2015 draft has already been a tremendously successful draft for Toronto, as the team selected current superstar Mitch Marner with the fourth overall choice. While that selection could be excused as the aforementioned Hunter had also come from the storied London Knights’ organization in the OHL, second rounder Travis Dermott has also been very impressive, racking up his 100^th NHL game late last season. The Leafs also still have high hopes for the second second rounder of that haul, Jeremy Bracco.

None of the players selected by Dubas and company in 2018 have yet to appear in the NHL and the same is obviously true for the recent 2019 haul. We have three draft classes – two of which were wholly under his philosophy for player acquisition and the third one a joint function – to understand the Dubas MO and make judgments about it.

The first thing I think about when looking at those three draft classes is the complete absence of size concerns with the players picked. In the 2015 draft, working in tandem with Hunter, Toronto blended big and small players. Marner, Dermott, and Bracco are all smaller than the average NHLer, but later picks Andrew Nielsen, Stephen Desrochers, and Nikita Korostelev are all built large. Neither of the last two draft classes, led by a singular Dubas, had that characteristic. Of the eight skaters the Maple Leafs drafted in 2018, only one stands taller than 6-0”, the 6-1” fifth rounder Filip Kral.

2019 featured more of the same. Six players were drafted. Three stand 5-11” ad the other three all stand 5-9”. Five of the six are also on the slight side. Of course every player they drafted had supporters both inside and outside of the organization, but Toronto ensured that this wave would not bring size or strength to the NHL team. That said, the team has not been completely size averse in their prospect acquisition. Shortly before the 2018 draft, Toronto gave an ELC to undrafted winger Mason Marchment, a 6-4” crasher who plays a game based on strength. This offseason, they signed Ilya Mikheyev from the KHL, whose frame is above league average in the current climate.

Mikheyev is not alone among Toronto’s top 20 who has above average size, with Lamoriello acquisitions Eemeli Rasanen and Yegor Korshkov more known for their impressive figures than they skill components of their games. But even with Rasanen’s gigantic 6-7”, 209lbs frame, the pipeline for the Leafs is full of smaller players. As more of them graduate to the NHL, we will learn a valuable lesson about how well a team can do when it skews so drastically to smaller players. Further, we will see if the team brings in (or calls up) lesser, bigger players, just for the sack of adding a different dimension. It will be fascinating to watch, even if former GM Brian Burke is rolling in his comically loose tie as he watches it.

-Ryan Wagman

1 Rasmus Sandin, D (29^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 3) Sandin is a versatile defenseman capable of leading rushes and quarterbacking them as well. He is a skilled player with a good shot and great hockey sense. He sees the plays before they happen and stays one step ahead and remains focused while doing so. Last year with the Marlies was an adjustment year after he came from Sault Ste. Marie, and as the season went on, he managed to become more comfortable with the pace of the play. His only downfall, which he will hopefully grow out of, is not knowing when to let go of the puck as he tends to hold onto it for too long. With more maturity and experience he will become smarter with how and when he carries the puck to avoid giving up too many turnovers. Sandin has the potential to lead as a top pairing blueliner with the Maple Leafs at his peak. - SC

2 Nick Robertson, LW (53^rd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) What Robertson lacks in size, he makes up for in skill. One of the youngest 2019 draft eligible players, he is one of the most creative players in the OHL. He uses great edgework and quick hands to open up space to operate; ripping off his powerful wrist shot, or a cross ice pass to an open teammate. His puck control draws defenses in to him, which opens up those lanes and space for his linemates. He is also very tenacious on the puck in the offensive end and is terrific at forcing turnovers with his quick feet and stick. Far from a finished product, he needs to mature physically to help him gain an extra step in his stride and to make him stronger playing through checks. The Leafs can afford to be patient with Robertson in hopes that he hits the growth spurt that his brother Jason did (a top Dallas prospect). The upside here is incredibly high, with Robertson possessing the skill set to be a front line player. - BO

3 Jeremy Bracco, C/RW (61^st overall, 2015. Last Year: 11) Bracco is a creative playmaker to say the least and every play holds different possibilities thanks to his level of hockey sense. He is a powerful and agile skater that can easily maneuver around opponents with his edgework, often opting to use his inside edges for turns rather than traditional crossovers. There is nothing bad to be said about his level of skill, but without the puck he will need to be more present in keeping pressure on opponents in the defensive zone. Physicality is another weak point to his game and he will have to start to play more physically next season if he wants to prove he is ready for a more intense level. Bracco has the potential to be a top six forward with Toronto and his game is certainly NHL ready. Due to the Maple Leafs’ offensive strength he may have to settle for a lower spot until he gradually works his way up. - SC

4 Ilya Mikheyev, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 6, 2019. Last Year: IE) A smooth-skating forward with a good knack for the net, Mikheyev is coming off a stellar season in the KHL, even if the campaign was ruined right at the climax as he picked up an injury during the playoffs. He still managed to earn a nod as a All-Star. The Leafs signed a forward who always plays hard no matter what, and can even be useful on the penalty killing, although in the NHL he won’t go that far on will alone. In Russia, he also scored plenty of clutch goals and showcased himself as a very talented player with great hands and an excellent shot. Mikheyev can play on any line and show great energy, will, and technique. The Leafs may have found a diamond in the rough here, and he can become a very valuable player should he manage to adapt fast to his new reality. - ASR

5 Trevor Moore, LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Jul. 26, 2016. Last Year: Not ranked) Moore is a sparkplug of a player and he brings 100% effort every time his feet touch the ice. He never quits on a play and his angling on the forecheck is superb. His shot is nothing spectacular and his hands are alright, but he can move and he is lightning quick which makes up for his average puck skills. The major reason why he has been successful is his natural skill combined with his work ethic, as they balance each other out and make him a persistent threat capable of forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them. Moore had the opportunity to finish the season up with the Maple Leafs last year and will be starting this season up with them as well. He is a good bottom six forward at the NHL level, capable of playing on the penalty kill especially well. He will need to keep improving the speed at which he moves the puck to see his game reach new heights. - SC

6 Timothy Liljegren, D (17^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1) When Liljegren is at his best he can be a great playmaker and a strong passer capable of making crisp, tape-to-tape passes. On the contrary, when he is not on his game, he stands still, fails to play the body, makes bad passes, and causes turnovers. He can be terribly inconsistent from one shift to the next which he will needs to improve upon if he wants to succeed at the next level. He will also have to aim for higher offensive production and more shots in the coming year, as he has paled in comparison to Sandin, whose shots per game nearly double that of Liljegren’s. Hope is not lost for Liljegren, however, as he still has potential and has managed to do well with the Marlies as a top four defenseman. With a more consistent season and an improvement in physical play, he could start as a bottom four defenseman and work his way up in the NHL. - SC

7 Joseph Woll, G (62^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 12) A large netminder with remarkable athleticism, Woll proved last season that he can also be a workhorse in the sense that he can withstand seeing a lot of rubber on any given night and still keep his team in the game. The USNTDP grad spent three years at Boston College, consistently chipping away at his save percentage, raising it each year, from a starting place of .913 to .915 and finishing off at .919. There were collegiate goalies with better numbers, but few who played as much, or against as strong a set of opponents. Woll’s technical game is also a strength, in part assisted by his ability to read the flow of the game and anticipate puck movement. The Leafs will give him time to grow accustomed to the pro schedule in the AHL, in hopes that he could be a starting option once Frederick Andersen’s contract expires after the 2020-21 season. - RW

8 Mac Hollowell, D (118^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 19) A true testament to Hollowell’s maturity is how well he handled playing in the AHL playoffs after his OHL season finished. The leading defenseman scorer in the OHL last year, he is more than an undersized offensive defender. He has the ability to play in any situation, with his lack of size at 5-9”, really the only strike against him. He is a great skater. He is aggressive and tenacious in the defensive end, willing to block shots or take a hit to make a play. He quarterbacks the powerplay well and is extremely aggressive in jumping up in the play at 5 on 5. It comes down to how effective Hollowell will be at the pro level, and how well he can defend with his diminutive stature. The Toronto Maple Leafs are very high on him and feel that he can be an NHL defender for them down the road. The best case scenario likely sees him as a Jared Spurgeon type. - BO

9 Yegor Korshkov, RW (31^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) A talented but fragile player, Korshkov had to pass through uncountable injuries over the last three seasons that have prevented him from showing his full potential. With a fresh start in Toronto, he may finally get the chance to play a full season as a healthy player and show all his potential. He has an NHL body with smooth skating ability and soft hands. However, he may lack the consistency and the conditioning necessary to play at a high level. Considering his age, this is nothing that can’t be resolved with some good coaching – something that he will certainly receive within the Maple Leafs system. In the KHL, Korshkov showed glimpses of elite playing, but he needs to be more consistent. - ASR

10 Eemeli Rasanen, D (59^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8) Räsänen's past season was hampered by an injury, limiting him to only 23 games. After spending the end of the season with the Marlies, he now returns to Jokerit in an attempt to have a bigger role in the KHL. He is a massive right-shot defenseman with strong physical tools and decent puck moving abilities. He can find his teammates with simple and accurate passes. He has a hard shot. The main issue continues to be his skating. His stride is fairly powerful but he lacks in mobility and backwards skating ability. He also has work to do on his play reading and positioning without the puck, particularly in his own end. Räsänen is a long-term project whose overall game and especially skating require quite a bit of refinement. - MB

11 Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, C (76^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 16) If there is one prospect who has frustrated Toronto Maple Leaf fans, it is Der-Arguchintsev, affectionately called SDA. He opened eyes at last year’s training camp, earning a long look and a contract thanks to his creativity as a playmaker. Unfortunately, his OHL season was a major disappointment as other areas of his game failed to progress. While his hands are terrific, he remains a perimeter player who lacks the strength to fight through checks or create chances consistently below the hash marks. His shot also remains very weak, which affects his effectiveness as a playmaker. It is too early to give up on SDA as a potential top six forward down the line, especially given his physical immaturity, but the coming OHL season will be a big one for his development as definitive NHL prospect. - BO

12 Mikko Kokkonen, D (84^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Kokkonen is a stable, physically mature two-way defenseman. He can start the attack with accurate long-range passes which is an asset for his team's transition game. He has a solid shot and is adept at getting his shots through bodies and on to the net. He most often prefers to make the safe play instead of taking risks. On the downside, he lacks explosiveness and has less than stellar lateral agility. He can also struggle on the breakout due to not processing the game quickly enough. Kokkonen has proved himself against high end competition for several years. He had a respectable season in the Liiga as a 17-year-old and will look to build on that in the upcoming season. That said, he does not truly excel in any areas of the game which may ultimately limit his NHL potential. - MB

13 Michael Koster, D (146^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) For both of the last two seasons, Koster has split his time between his hometown Chaska High – captaining the squad both years – and with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm. While he was an offensive force from the blueline back home, with the Storm he played a more conservative, defense-first game. That being the case, he was still able to demonstrate his high end speed and flash puck skills occasionally, pushing opponents back on their heels as he rushed the offensive zone. His draft stock was helped by his USHL work, as he proved that he could hold his own and even succeed against the more uniformly bigger and more talented level of opponent he faced in that league. Koster is expected to spend all of next season in the USHL before joining the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2020-21. He is a long-term project, but has top four upside. - RW

14 Dmytro Timashov, LW (125^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 10) Timashov is a fun player whose feet never stop moving. He can play a physical game and is dynamic enough to play well on both powerplay and penalty kill. He is much weaker in the defensive zone than the offensive zone and will need to work on his defensive positioning, especially when on penalty kill as his movement seems unsure and his timing is sometimes off. Notwithstanding, he is a smart player and has enough natural skill to be considered for a bottom six roll in the future. His development in the AHL with the Marlies has been good and his last year had over 40 points, which could cause him to be a front-runner for a call-up to the NHL if he can repeat that production. Playing another year as a top forward will give him the responsibility and confidence to be able to try skating at the NHL level. - SC

15 Teemu Kivihalme, D (140^th overall, 2013 [Nashville]. Last Year: Not ranked [Not Affiliated]) The former Predators’ draft pick joined the Toronto organization after two impressive seasons with Karpat in the Liiga. Kivihalme is a high-end skater with terrific two-way mobility He gets around the ice effortlessly and has very good speed. He can carry the puck up the ice and controls the puck well at high speeds, yet he is more effective when delivering the puck quickly to the forwards. In order to become an everyday NHL defenseman, he needs to gain toughness, strength, and to round out his defensive game. His positioning and decision making in the offensive zone can be somewhat questionable at times, but with small refinements, those shortcomings can be fixed. Kivihalme’s development is trending upwards and he will challenge for a roster spot on the Leafs’ defense sooner than later. - MB

16 Ian Scott, G (110^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Scott is a polarizing goalie as he has all the physical traits, and has met all of the statistical targets that you look for in a prospect goalie. Height (6-3”), GAA (1.93) and SV% (.932) are all fantastic and yet often he leaves you wanting just a bit more. He uses his body well and is effective at getting in front of the first shot however he can be challenged when forced to move cross ice. He makes some excellent saves off the rush and has impressive agility that enables him to make saves he shouldn’t get to. On the other hand, he does seem to let in a few that he probably shouldn’t. If he can avoid the soft goals he could project as a NHL backup after some experience in the minors. - VG

17 Pontus Holmberg, LW/C (156^th overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Holmberg is a good late round pick as he has bloomed late and a nice set of skills. He has a lot of good traits in his game that could translate well to the NHL, like the way he can cover the puck in the corners and create scoring chances from there. He has strong balance which will get stronger with more overall strength. His production hasn’t taken off yet but should with more strength and poise. He won a roster spot in the SHL last year and had an okay rookie season in a small role. He should be able to earn a bigger role this season and his game should rise accordingly. Holmberg isn’t a sure thing to make the NHL but if he can continue to take steps forward in his development, he could become a creative middle six forward. - JH

18 Jordan Schmaltz, D (25^th overall, 2012 [St. Louis]. Last Year: 15 [St. Louis]) The Leafs acquired a reclamation project in Schmaltz in an offseason trade that sent Andreas Borgman to St. Louis, and only time will tell if they win the trade. A first-round pick in 2012, the lanky right-hander has had a rocky developmental path, but can still make a future splash in the NHL as a solid skating, mature two-way defender. An intelligent playmaker, his anticipation on offense is matched only by his smarts on defense, which helps him shut down opposing forwards with tight blueline gaps. Though he is not much of a shooter, his vision and sense in transition allow him to hit friendly open sticks with relative ease. He possesses some intriguing skill, but he simply ran out of time with the Blues; with time, he could be more with Toronto, such as a decent depth blueliner at the NHL level. - TD

19 Adam Brooks, C (92^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 17) Brooks stood out in his major junior years with the Regina Pats in the WHL and has so far had the same growth pattern at the professional level with the Marlies. His rookie year was a decent start and last season saw him double his points total to 40. He is a quick and smooth skater who likes to carry the puck and is confident in his zone entries. He can struggle to hold onto the puck the same way he did in major junior and his play in the neutral zone led to many turnovers this past season. Brooks has a good set of hands but he has less space now and he will have to be more aware while carrying the puck. He will also need to work on moving the puck quicker and being less selfish. He is natural playmaker with the potential to be a second line center if he really pushes himself, but has been building his game to also fit in a bottom six role. - SC

20 Pierre Engvall, LW (188^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 14) Engvall is a surprisingly good prospect to be occupying the last spot on this list, however he does not yet play a mature enough game to meet the NHL criteria. He is a strong skater and reads the play well, is a good team player, and can play every forward position well. He does not have a particularly quick or powerful shot but it is at least accurate. He will need to up his intensity and work on gaining momentum in the physical side game before getting to the next level, taking better advantage of his plus size. With a more high pressure attitude, he could end up being listed as valuable special teams contributor and an everyday bottom six forward in the future. Engvall will have to make sure that he starts the season working hard and carries that work ethic through the whole season. - SC

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 15:15:16 +0000

Thommie Bergman was a big defenseman whose career was centered in the 70s. An early Swedish transplant to the North American game, he had a few years in a depth role with the Red Wings before moving to the old WHA to play with the original Winnipeg Jets where he found an offensive component to his game. Bergman eventually moved back to the Wings for a few more seasons before heading back home to Sweden for a three-year run in his mid thirties before hanging up his skates.

As is the case with many old pros, Bergman moved into coaching, spending six seasons behind the bench in his native land, mostly in lower leagues, but also one season in the SHL with Skelleftea. He spent a few years out of the public eye before emerging in 1993 as a scout for the Anaheim Ducks with whom he worked for five seasons.

The Mighty Ducks drafted six players out of Sweden in those five years, two of whom (Johan Davidsson and Michael Holmqvist) played in the NHL for a combined 239 games. After that, Bergman disappeared again, emerging as a Swedish scout for Toronto in 2005 and he has been in the Maple Leafs’ employ ever since. From his inauspicious beginnings as a scout for Anaheim, Bergman is now widely recognized as a super scout.

In his first draft with Toronto, the Leafs used a sixth-round pick on a big winger named Viktor Stalberg. In his second draft, a seventh-round pick was used on Carl Gunnarsson. Toronto did not select a player out of Sweden over the next two years, and their three Swedish selections from 2010 did not have the success experienced by Stalberg or Gunnarsson, nor did their Swedish pick from 2011.

In fairness to Bergman, picks from the range of the draft where his recommendations were being selected were not often successful, and the success of those first two had earned him a long leash. The Maple Leafs have selected at least one prospect from the Sweden in each draft since 2010 and without fail, they have exceeded expectations, even the ones who did not go on to NHL fame.

Between the reins of John Ferguson Jr., Cliff Fletcher, Brian Burke, Dave Nonis, Lou Lamoriello and now Kyle Dubas, Bergman has been a constant. The Maple Leafs’ system is now chock full of Swedish prospects, and many, if not all of them, have Bergman’s fingerprints all over them.

Although we lack proof, it is hard to imagine that the two Swedish first rounders picked by Toronto in recent years who were already playing in the OHL in their draft year, were not selected without Bergman’s input and blessing. So, as we look at a Toronto system whose top four players were born, raised and schooled in Sweden, in addition to another two from the top ten and a seventh in the next group of ten, we know where the credit lies. We can also look at how pivotal those Swedish players were in the Calder Cup championship run by the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

Tommie Bergman will turn 71 years young shortly before the next WJC in Vancouver but is still going strong. As new GM Dubas, himself with a scouting background, grows accustomed to his present role, he can rest assured that he has an asset in Bergman that most other teams would kill for.

Timothy Liljegren

1 Timothy Liljegren, D (17^th overall, 2017 Last Year: 1^st) As the only 18-year-old defenseman to play regularly in the AHL last year, the bumps were expected and Liljegren experienced his share. But he also had his moments of magic. He regularly demonstrated high end puck carrying skills and the mobility that had him seen at one time as one of the top prospects eligible for the 2017 draft. He is a fantastic passer and has nice whip on his wrist shot from the point, all indicative of a strong top four blueliner, with top pairing potential. He could occasionally show his youth and inexperience when defending against first rate talent, although his instincts are in the right places. He will provide tight coverage but can sometimes fail to finish a check or close strongly enough. He has even shown the occasional willingness to use his still developing body. The things he lacks are coachable. The things he has are less so.

2 Andreas Johnsson, LW (202^nd overall, 2013. Last Year: 11^th) Andreas Johnsson was impressive in his first full campaign in North America. He was fantastic in his second season. Not only did he produce at a point per game clip in the AHL, during the regular season, and at 1.5 points per in a AHL postseason run that ended in a title and the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoffs MVP, but he also brought his highly skilled, and gritty game to the NHL scoring three times in 15 combined regular season and playoff games for the Leafs. Johnsson has all of the tools needed to be a high-end top nine winger with top six upside. His IQ shows on both sides of the puck and seems to have a magnetic attraction to getting the biscuit on his stick. His time is now.

3 Rasmus Sandin, D (29^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) In addition to his years under the watchful gaze of Thommie Bergman, Sandin spent much of his draft year in Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL, where Toronto GM Kyle Dubas took his first steps as a hockey executive and still has deep connections. So it is fair to say that the Maple Leafs knew what they were getting when Sandin was available to them in the first round. The most impressive facet of his game is his highly advanced hockey brain, but his skating ability and puck skills also both grade out as above average. Undersized, but not without a physical element to his game, he is a prototypical modern age defenseman, one who can gain control of the puck and make the right plays in getting it into a favorable position.

4 Carl Grundstrom, RW (57^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th) For the second year in a row, Grundstrom finished his Swedish season and then came to Canada to get his feet wet in the AHL. This time, with their lengthy playoff run, he got enough ice time to prove that he belonged, scoring eight goals during the postseason campaign. A rugged power winger, Grundstrom has a very good motor, and excellent hands. His first few steps are above average, and he can gain separation. Once he gets the puck, he moves it along quickly but with purpose. His strength is also evident in his ability to maneuver with the puck under heavy coverage without coughing it up. He will likely spend the majority of 2018-19 in the AHL before taking the next step.

Yegor Korshkov

5 Yegor Korshkov, RW (31^st overall, 2016. Last Year: 15^th) Drafted by Toronto in his third year of eligibility, Korshkov has since improved his offensive output year over year in the KHL, finishing last year fifth among all skaters aged 22 and under. Although a physically imposing specimen, his game is centered more around a high-end hockey IQ and impressive offensive skills. He sees the game very well and is able to create chances for himself, or his linemates. He also moves very well for his size, suggesting an ability to hold up in the fast-paced style of play Toronto prefers. The main question with Korshkov is when he will come over. Toronto is interested, but he is expected to play at least one more season in Yaroslavl.

6 Garret Sparks, G (190^th overall, 2011. Last Year: unranked) After appearing in 17 NHL games in the Maple Leafs’ lost season of 2015-16, it was largely expected that Sparks would have graduated from this list long ago. Instead, the rebuilding Maple Leafs sent him back to the AHL and his 1.79 GAA and .936 save percentage both led the league last year, earning him a well deserved Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the top netminder in the circuit. A highly athletic goalie who skates very well for his position, he plays an aggressive game, and is calm under pressure, trusting in his quick legs to get him out of jams. He has also improved upon his propensity to let one bad goal snowball. He has a good chance of stealing the backup job in the NHL this season.

7 Calle Rosen, D (UDFA: May 16, 2017. Last Year: 10^th) One of two undrafted free agent defenders signed out of Sweden in the 2017-18 offseason, Rosen started slower than Andreas Borgman, but was more integral to the AHL Marlies in the second half, exhibiting a real dynamic element from the blueline. A high-end skater with very impressive puck skills, he excels when he dips into the offensive end as a trailer on the rush. He is very poised on the puck and has a strong enough shot that his goal scoring rate should with more North American experience. Ostensibly an offensive defenseman, he is competent off the puck, although his slight frame will necessitate that he be protected to an extent.

8 Eemeli Rasanen, D (59^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 16^th) A gigantic defender with intriguing natural gifts, Rasanen is a big presence from the point, although his production in his first post draft year was a mild disappointment. He skated very well for his size and has a killer point shot, although his wrist shot can also get through the crowd and on net. A bit of a gentle giant the 6-7” Finnish blueliner was fine in Kingston of the OHL, but often left you wanting to see more. Like many players of his stature, it looks like slow development is the best course and he has returned to Finland to spend 2018-19 with Jokerit, competing against KHL competition. The step up in competition might be the challenge he needs.

9 Sean Durzi, D (52^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Although he spent some time on the sidelines last year due to an ankle injury, Durzi’s production when he was healthy was top notch, with his 1.23 points per game rate placing him second among all OHL defensemen and earning him a call in the second round in his second year of draft eligibility. Like most of the defensemen above him on this list, Durzi has above average mobility and puck skills while lacking somewhat in the size department. The right-handed shot grades out as above average in most of his core attributes, outside of physicality. His vision is advanced although he needs to time his pinches better. His tracking ability suggests that he has value off the puck as well.

10 Dmytro Timashov, LW (125^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 18^th) After struggling at times in his first year as a pro, Timashov began to right the ship in his follow up campaign, flashing dynamic playmaking abilities in both the regular season and the postseason for the Marlies. Still inconsistent, the core elements of above average skating – with edgework that help that attribute play up – and very impressive puck skills suggesting that his sneaky skill set will allow him to continue to improve. Short but stocky, he has strength although he rarely initiates physical play. There is a boom or bust quality to Timashov’s overall game, but his ability to generate offense will ensure that he gets as many chances as he needs to end up on the right side of that coin flip.

11 Jeremy Bracco, C/RW (61^st overall, 2015. Last Year: 5^th) In a lot of ways, Jeremy Bracco has a lot in common with the player immediately above him on this list. Slightly better wheels perhaps, slightly less dynamic as a play maker. Where Bracco still has ground to make up is in his ability to not be an anchor away from the puck. For that reason, he often found himself on the press-box last season, especially in the postseason, appearing in only four games. As with Timashov last year, it is far too early to condemn Bracco as a bust after only one year in the AHL, especially when we see that his scoring numbers were actually pretty good. More will be expected of him is his follow-up, but he has the good to deliver.

12 Joseph Woll, G (62^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 8th) A highly athletic netminder, Woll had some ups and downs in his sophomore season at Boston College, as well as his second stint with Team USA at the WJC, although for both teams, he consistently kept his squad in the game. A pure butterfly goalie, he enjoys handling the puck and can help kickstart the transition. He can struggle seeing the puck cleanly and is known to whiff with his glove, but he has some elements of a promising netminder and the Maple Leafs, who have enough at the pro level to staff their NHL, AHL, and ECHL squads, will let him take his time on campus.

13 Josh Leivo, RW (86^th overall, 2011. Last Year: 7^th) Josh Leivo shouldn’t be on this list. After putting up 10 point in 13 NHL games in 2016-17, he was expected to make the NHL roster out of camp. And he did. But then he spent nearly the entire season in the press box, dressing only 16 times, a victim of head coach Mike Babcock’s preference for veteran grinders on the fourth line. In fairness to Babcock, Leivo lacks in pace and does not have a reputation as a defensive stalwart, although he knows how to handle himself in his own zone. Leivo plays a strong game, knows how to push possession and has a fantastic shot. With three more games played, he will graduate from this list.

14 Pierre Engvall, LW (188^th overall, 2014. Last Year: unranked) A late round find from Sweden in the mold of Victor Stalberg (see above), Engvall performed very well in his first season in the SHL, earning an ELC after the season there ended, and he continued to impressed in a cameo with the Marlies. Engvall has a long, rangy frame, skates quite well and earns accolades for his offensive tool kit. He can get the puck nicely through the neutral zone and shows strength on the puck. He still has to develop his game away from the puck and can come across as a bit soft despite his length, but to his credit, he spent this year adjusting to two new levels of competition. A full, healthy AHL campaign will teach us a lot about what is in his future.

15 Igor Ozhiganov, D (UDFA: May 17, 2018. Last Year: IE) A 25-year-old with six full seasons in the KHL under his belt, Ozhiganov is a prospect in the technical sense of the word, if not in the pure sense. While his final season with CSKA Moscow was a bit of a disappointment, there was great speculation that his diminished role on the club as at least as much a reaction of his coaches to the rampant rumors that would be leaving after the season for North America, as it was about anything to do with his actual level of play. A beefy right-handed shooter, he offers a bit of everything, including fine wheels, solid offensive instincts and skills, and a mature overall game. Ozhiganov could make the Leafs out of camp in a #6/7 D role, or spend some time getting acclimated to the North American game in the AHL first.

Semyon Der-Arguchintsev

16 Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, C (76^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A smooth skater with slick skills with the puck, Der-Arguchintsev is so slight that it is a wonder his full last name can fit on the back of his uniform. Notably, if he was born one day later, he would not even have been eligible for the draft until next June. His lack of strength shows up in his shot as much as it does in the parts of the game that are normally attributed to physicality, but he is as projectible as anyone from the 2018 draft class. His hockey smarts currently are more geared towards the offensive side of the puck, but his ability to process the game bodes well to continued development in that area. He is one to watch.

17 Adam Brooks, C (92^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 6^th) One the one hand, for a player who led the WHL in assists for two years running, with a combined 169 over 138 games, to put up only 19 points in a roughly full first season in the AHL was a letdown. He still shows a knack for setting up teammates with a clever pass, helping extend possessions and moving the puck in the right direction, but the finishing was lacking. On the other hand, Brooks was pleasantly surprising in both his willingness and his ability to play a two-way game. A slight 5-11”, he plays a cerebral game, and can be suitable for a variety of roles. I expect improved offensive output in his second season with the Marlies, but it is fair to question how much better he can be.

18 Dakota Joshua, C (128^th overall, 2014. Last Year: unranked) In a system teeming with speed and skill, it can be easy to overlook Joshua, a beefier power forward playing for a non-powerhouse NCAA program. Although he played a critical role as a junior for the Buckeyes, helping the team to the Frozen Four, he was more of a secondary offensive threat than a primary scorer. A solid two-way player who has decent hands although not a frequent puck player. His utility in his own zone and the penalty kill, as well as his sheer strength when moving the puck, should be enough to convince the Leafs to offer him a contract after completing his collegiate eligibility this season.

19 Mac Hollowell, D (118^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A teammate of first rounder Rasmus Sandin’s with Sault Ste. Marie, Hollowell is tiny in a system already loaded with smaller defenders. After being overlooked in his first year of draft eligibility, he more than doubled his offensive output in his second go-round. Despite the gaudy point numbers (56 points in 63 games in the regular season), Hollowell’s tools are only around average. Where he stands out is in his feet as he is an excellent skater as well as his hockey smarts. He plays within his limitations and generally makes the right play. A critical part of one of the best possession team in the CHL, the hope as that he can carry some of that to the pros within two seasons.

20 Fedor Gordeev, D (141^st overall, 2017. Last Year: unranked) Still new to the blueline, the gigantic (6-6”, 212) Gordeev can struggle to take care of business in his own end. On the other hand, playing with a moribund Flint squad in the OHL, he nearly doubled his point production, showing more assertiveness with the puck from the blueline. He skates well for his size and has begun to play with the jam expected of a player with his imposing stature. Gordeev still has a way to grow, in his game if not in his frame, but it cannot hurt for an organization so saturated with smaller defenders to have a few bigger men as points of comparison and to offer a different look.

Toronto – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 11:57:55 +0000

Apres Matthews, le deluge. After Matthews, comes the flood. The Brian Burke era in Toronto, begun with so much truculence and aggression – at least from the front office – ended with a whimper. As good as Phil Kessel was in Toronto – and he was good, even if he could never live down the price paid to get him – the Maple Leafs were a decade-long tire fire, broken up only by the vagaries of a strike-shortened season.

Freed from Burke and his pugilistic bent to team building, the Leafs tanked hard and began the rebuild with a hyper-skilled approach to the draft. In three consecutive years, Toronto had a top ten choice and maxed out on each, selecting William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews in consecutive years.

In the latter two years, the Maple Leafs also had a number of extra picks to play with and it seemed like each and every selection was made with upside in mind. In fairness, the organization left over by Burke was fairly barren, with Connor Brown and Josh Leivo representing the best of a bad lot. Even with the top picks of those two drafts already NHL stars, nine of the 20 players drafted in those two classes are ranked among the current top 20. The talent influx was so great, the Leafs had to literally walk away from three of the players they selected, for sheer lack of available contract space.

Not only did the Leafs run out of contract room. Between the high end players drafted, and a few others signed as free agents from Europe, the team found itself at the draft this year with a loaded talent base, and now actually in need of some of character players. If not exactly hearkening back to the days of “truculence and aggression”, they have now turned their sights on players who, while not lacking in skill, are more fitting to the high-energy, two-way types that new head Coach Mike Babcock likes to use to fill out the bottom end of the NHL roster.

Whereas in the last two years they took hyper-talented players like Dmytro Timashov, Martins Dzierkals, and Adam Brooks with their mid-round picks, all three offensive minded junior hockey producers who made up in points what they lacked in size and strength, this year, those middle round picks were used on Vladislav Kara, Fedor Gordeev, and Ryan McGregor. These three all have in common questions about their offensive skills, and plaudits about their two-way games. They also all have projectable frames, especially the 6-6”, 215 pound Gordeev.

A system can never have enough talent in its ranks, but there is something to be said for having diversity in the types of talents available. The approach to their 2017 draft class is not necessarily a statement about a new direction for their scouting staff, as much as it an admission that they did not have enough of that type of player and that the talented youngsters they already had did not seem like locks that they could remain effective when playing down in the lineup. That said, some of the putatively offensive players in the system have already been accruing experience playing bottom six minutes in the AHL, such as Timashov, and Trevor Moore.

Timothy Liljegren

1 Timothy Liljegren – Seen as one of the top draft prospects 12 months ago, Liljegren’s draft year was slowed by being repeatedly shuffled between levels and teams, as well as a bout with mononucleosis. One of the best skaters available in the 2017 draft class, his raw puck skills verge on the elite, although they have not often showed themselves yet in game situations. Can be devastating when he plays the aggressor. Effectiveness in his own zone comes and goes, but flashes enough to expect that part of his game to grow and improve with time and steady development.

Toronto Maple Leafs Right Wing Kasperi Kapanen (37). (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

2 Kasperi Kapanen – One of the main pieces coming back to Toronto in the Phil Kessel trade, Kapanen took a big step forward last year, finally converting his mature and toolsy game into high end offensive production. A strong skater, he regularly shows good instincts with and without the puck. He has quick hands, which he combines with good patience with the puck. Plays with high energy and effort levels. Showed in the NHL playoffs that he was ready for a middle role with the Leafs.

3 Travis Dermott – Although he missed a stretch of time to injury, when healthy Dermott was showed a dynamic, puck moving modern day game from the blueline in his rookie pro season. Undersized, but he maximizes every inch and pound of his frame, catching opponents off-balance with some explosive hits. Can create danger with the puck on a rush. Very mature defensive game highlighting aggressiveness and positioning. Heads up player who loves to walk the line.

Carl Grundstrom HELSINKI, FINLAND - JANUARY 4: Sweden vs Finland semifinal round - 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

4 Carl Grundstrom – A hard working forward with a strong and diverse collection of offensive tools, Grundstrom’s prospect stock took a big step forward last year between great performances for Sweden at the WJC, for Frolunda in the European champions Hockey League and in a late season cameo with the Marlies in the AHL playoffs. An excellent skater with a high hockey IQ and great hands, he is expected to play in Sweden again this year, but could be in the NHL sooner than later.

5 Jeremy Bracco – Ending his junior career on a high, winning both a WJC gold medal and a Memorial Cup, Bracco’s decision to leave Boston College only five games into his freshman season seems to have paid off. He is a fantastic skater with breathtaking puck skills. Undersized but with a nose for the net, he will sometimes play possum only to strike with deadly force once opposing defenders are occupied with one or other of his linemates. Has near elite hands.

6 Adam Brooks – The two-time defending assist leader in the WHL is finally going to bring his sublime passing skills to the AHL this year. Forced into an overage WHL season due to the Marlies’ numbers crunch last year, Brooks creates plays for linemates more through his high hockey IQ and instincts than through pure puck skills. Although undersized, he is more than functional in his own zone and plays a valuable role in getting the puck back and beginning the transition to an offensive attack.

7 Josh Leivo – Along with Garret Sparks, one of only two prospects left in the system from the Brian Burke era, Leivo plays with some of the jam that characterized that time in Maple Leafs’ history. Hampered by injuries throughout his pro career, he produced very well with the NHL club when healthy last year, but that was rare. A solid skater with energy who loves to crash the net, this year is likely his last chance to break through with Toronto.

8 Joseph Woll – By far the highest upside goalie among all netminders in the system, Woll had a very promising first NCAA season with Boston College. Very strong at blocking the bottom half of the net, thanks to quick legs. Likes to challenge the shooter when the puck is straight ahead, but will play deeper in his crease the closer the puck is to the walls. He reads plays fairly well, but can get in trouble due to sloppy footwork.

9 Andreas Borgman – A dynamic skater with great acceleration who relishes open ice hits, Borgman signed as a free agent this spring after helping to lead HV71 to an SHL title. He plays a two-way game, although his play is stronger in his own end than when supporting the attack. He reads the play well and tends to keep a tight gap. His upside is somewhat limited due to his moderate offensive tools, but between his skating and his off-puck work, he will play in the NHL.

10 Calle Rosen – It is not by design that the two talented Swedish blueliners signed by Toronto this offseason rank one next to the other. Of the two, Rosen is more physically unassuming, but carries a bomb from the point. He is also a powerful skater who demonstrates good puck control and precise passing. He is advanced positionally, but can exhibit a general lack of poise when playing without the puck. Has top four upside, but needs own zone refinement to get there.

11 Andreas Johnsson – A smart, smallish player with great instincts, Johnsson proved last year that his game can translate nicely to North America. While he was not the offensive force that he had been in the SHL, he was still able to flash soft hands and a very hard shot. Has a special talent for getting off clean shots through a maze of legs. Will play in the dirty areas, but avoids getting directly involved in puck scrums. Can get to a second gear with his feet.

12 Frederik Gauthier – Although he has less offensive upside than anyone on this list, excepting (probably) the goalie, Gauthier is almost exactly what Mike Babcock looks for in a fourth line center. Huge, with a gigantic wingspan, he plays a strong possession game and is great defensively, particularly on the penalty kill. Solid skater for his size. Has good faceoff technique. Can be used for tough shifts, leaving the favorable situations for his more talented teammates.

13 Kerby Rychel – An offensive force as a junior, Rychel’s game has slowly been morphing into that of his father Warren’s since turning pro. Of course he will never be a 1980’s style goon, but it is fair to point out that he has gone from a bruising power forward with good discipline to a bruising, undisciplined power forward. To his credit, he is a strong skater and he loves to unleash his powerful shot. Attitude issues helped him get traded from Columbus. Will need to earn his chances with Toronto.

14 Martins Dzierkals – The most effective player on last year’s Latvia entry at the WJC, Dzierkals is an exciting player with great puck skills. Drafted out of Latvia before moving on to Rouyn-Noranda, the Maple Leafs had an extra year before needing to sign him to an ELC, so he will play with the Marlies this year on an AHL-only contract. He is a dynamic offensive threat who grades very well on both his skating and puck skills. Plays with more jam than many players his size.

15 Yegor Korshkov – A big physical winger who’s playing style seems more geared to the North American game than the KHL where he is now entering his fourth season. Korshkov uses a variety of shot types to threaten opposing netminders, although his release could stand to be quicker. Although his shot is the stronger tool, his tendency is to play in a passing role. A 200-foot player, his KHL contract expires after this season.

16 Eemeli Rasanen – As awe-inspiring as Rasanen’s towering 6-7” frame is, he also has game to go along with his length. A very good skater, particularly for his size, can be part of the rush instead of only a trailer. His short area quickness still needs refinement. Better at moving the puck around than teeing one up from the point. Came along defensively in leaps and bounds in his first OHL season. Very comfortable at closing gaps and pushing opponents to the walls. Uses his size, but plays clean.

17 Andrew Nielsen – A big boy with an even bigger shot, Nielsen was the runaway scoring leader among Marlies’ defensemen as an AHL rookie, thanks largely to his cannon. In many cases, the facts embedded in the last sentence would be enough for a top ten or even top five ranking. Nielsen lands here due to his clunky, slow skating. He can get away with it at times in his own zone due to great reach and a willingness to get inside opponents and force them to the outside.

18 Dmytro Timashov – A fantastic scorer in the QMJHL with sublime playmaking skills, Timashov still flashed those elements of his game in his first pro season, but struggled in general at even strength. He was still able to get himself into position to score, but was not able to capitalize nearly as much as he did as a junior. Although short, he is stocky, and his stature should not be what holds him back. Needs to prove he can produce on a depth line before moving up.

19 Miro Aaltonen – A small skill player, Aaltonen had a great season in the KHL before signing as a free agent with Toronto. Never signed by Anaheim, which drafted him in 2013, he developed for a few years in Liiga before his year in Russia. He can be selfish on the puck, has a strong enough shot that his approach often pays off. Will shoot from anywhere. His skating is average at best, which results in him disappearing from the action when the puck is not on his stick.

20 Rinat Valiev – Although his second pro season was beset by injuries, Valiev still has a lot to recommend him as a potential third pairing NHL blueliner. He has a solid frame, coupled with excellent mobility and edge work. He makes smart plays in all zones and helps the puck keep moving in the right direction. Can play a very strong game, as well, although could do better at maintaining discipline. Has been passed on the Toronto depth chart, but still worth keeping an eye on.

Even with so many breathtaking young talents already established in the NHL, the Maple Leafs still have an upper echelon system bursting with the next wave. Fully rebuilt from Brian Burke’s mismanagement, Toronto has been able to target different types of players giving the system both breadth and depth. The next question the management team will have to answer is how it plans to integrate their youth now that there is legitimate NHL talent up and down the NHL roster.

2016 NHL Draft Guide: Toronto Maple Leafs draft strategy

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 13:13:14 +0000

04 June 2015: Combine participant Center Auston Matthews #135 runs as part of the Fitness testing during the 2016 NHL Scouting Combines at the Harbor Center Center in Buffalo, NY. (Photo by Jerome Davis/Icon Sportswire)

In his second year with the team, it is clear to many observers that Director of Player Personnel Mark Hunter has sole rein over the draft. More than anything else, something that has been echoed by Leafs personnel, the scouting staff under Hunter are on the look-out for skilled players. Gone are the truculent days of Brian Burke. Last year’s selection of Mitchell Marner, a slight puck wizard with a strong sense of responsibility for the 200-foot game and a penchant for puck possession is the template. There are never that many Marner’s to go around, but this team will stockpile picks – they currently own 12 in this year’s draft – and are capable of finding mid- to late-round offensive gems such as Dmytro Timashov and Martins Dzierkals as well.

Last year’s draft – their first under the current regime – was split fairly evenly between forwards and defencemen (five and four, respectively), and I would not expect any great positional bias. They did lean towards CHL players, not surprising considering Hunter’s long association with the London Knights, but also continued a long-standing trend of taking a player from Sweden, out of respect to Swedish super scout Thommie Bergman. With more picks and knowledge of the limitations placed on them in terms of contracts, expect this year’s draft to devote a few picks to players who will give the team a longer decision period – in other words, non-CHLers, for whom the Maple Leafs will have more than two years to decide on whether or not to offer them ELCs.

Possible picks: With the first overall pick in the draft, the Maple Leafs have the pick of the litter. It is widely assumed that the team will use that pick on Auston Matthews, the Arizona native and USNTDP alum who took the rare path of eschewing North American amateur hockey for the professional game in Switzerland. He excelled there with 46 points in 36 games and lit up the scoreboards during both the WJC and World Championships – the latter also against adults. The only other realistic option for the number one slot is Finnish sniper Patrik Laine, owner of the best shot in this draft class. Laine produced numbers in the Finnish men’s league, although not to the extent of Matthews, but Laine’s production at the WJC and World Championships was even better. The smart money is on the center, Matthews, but both players have future NHL star written all over them. The Leafs have a second first rounder, coming at the tail end of the round, a remnant of last summer’s Phil Kessel trade with Pittsburgh. If they don’t trade down, they could draft a player like Riley Tufte, a big man who skates like a smaller one, if he is still available, Rasmus Asplund, an intelligent Swedish winger with plus speed or Sam Steel, who, although he did not live up to his preseason hype, still had a very strong year with Regina. Sam Steel

In later rounds, expect the Leafs to draft a netminder for the first time since 2013, maybe a Zach Sawchenko or Connor Ingram in the middle rounds. Naturally, a Swedish prospect or two will be drafted by the Leafs. If not the aforementioned Asplund, maybe Matthias From (technically, he’s Danish, but plays his amateur hockey in Sweden).

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: World Junior Scouting

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:42:04 +0000

This week the Waiver Wire takes a look at some already drafted prospects participating in the World Junior Championship for the fantasy General Managers in deep keeper and dynasty leagues. Typically the WJC is a 19 year old tournament, but this year it has been dominated by draft eligible players headlined by Auston Matthews of the USA who is the consensus top ranked prospect. Finland has their dynamic duo of Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrick Laine along with defenseman Olli Juolevi from the London Knights. These players will be snapped up in the early rounds of your fantasy draft in dynasty leagues, but here are some names of players you may be able to add to your prospect roster with a waiver wire pick up now as they are already drafted.

1. Denis Malgin, C/LW Switzerland – Florida

Malgin was a fourth round pick of the Panthers in 2015 and was the offensive driving force for team Switzerland who had another impressive tournament and are a rising international force in hockey. Malgin scored nine points in six games, but only had one goal.

2. Christian Dvorak, C/LW USA – Arizona

The London Knights were well represented in this year’s WJC with draft eligible Matt Tkachuk, Juolevi, Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dvorak. In his draft year, Dvorak suffered an injury which cost him much of his season allowing him to fall under the radar. He had a strong season last year playing with Max Domi and Mitch Marner and is lighting up the OHL again this year. He was offensively strong for USA scoring three goals and five assists in seven games leading USA to a Bronze. Dvorak has top six upside and could be reunited with Domi in Arizona as soon as next season.

3. Adrian Kempe, LW Sweden – Los Angeles

Kempe was a first round pick of the Kings in 2014 and has made his North American debut this season in the AHL where he has an impressive 16 points in 21 games as a rookie for the Ontario Reign. Last year at the WJC he impressed with eight points in six games for Sweden and was a key offensive player again this year with three goals and eight points in seven games. Don’t be surprised if Kempe gets a cup of coffee with the Kings before the season ends, and expect him to push for a roster spot next season.

4. Dmytro Timashov, LW/RW Sweden – Toronto

Timashov had a breakout season in his draft year exploding for 90 points in 66 games for the Quebec Ramparts in the QMJHL. His stock rose higher in the Memorial Cup where he scored three goals and had four points in five games. He was a standout prospect in the Leafs rookie camp and training camp and was one of Sweden’s more dangerous offensive players at this year’s WJC scoring two goals and five assists for seven points in seven games. Timashov is well under the radar as a fifth round pick by the Leafs in 2015 but the Leafs believe he may be their best prospect from the draft after Marner.

5. Sebastian Aho, C/W Finland – Carolina

After going undrafted in 2014, Carolina snapped up Aho in the second round of the 2015 draft. Aho plays in Liiga, the pro league in Finland for Karpat and is having an impressive season scoring 21 points in 26 games this season. He has been playing on a line with the two draft eligible superstars Puljujarvi and Laine for Finland who almost certainly both are top five picks in the 2016 NHL draft. Aho has not looked out of place on the Finish top line scoring two points per game in the tournament with 14 points in seven games.

6. Pavel Kraskovsky, C Russia – Winnipeg

The tall and lanky Russian centre had a strong WJC performance on one of Russia’s top lines. Although Kraskovsky did not have a dominant offensive performance in terms of stats, his play received wide praise and at times was a standout. I first took notice of Kraskovsky in last year’s Subway super series CHL challenge where he was a dominant player in the game I saw. At 6’4” and only 185 pounds, he needs time and bulk before he will be ready to contribute in the NHL and to your fantasy roster. If you have a deep prospect bench, and can be patient, Kraskovsky cold pay dividends for you down the road.

7. Alex Nedeljkovic, G USA – Carolina

Both goalies for the U.S. are worthy of consideration for this list. Nedeljkovic played in more games, and was the go to goalie in the Bronze Medal game. Nedeljkovic was solid posting an impressive 1.66 GAA in six games. New York Rangers prospect and heir apparent to Henrik Lundqvist, Brandon Halverson only played in two games but posted an outstanding 0.65 GAA and a .973 save%. Both could project as future starting goalies.

Honorable Mentions:

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Kasperi Kapanen entered the tournament with high expectations and pressure after a disappointing showing last year. He started the tournament slow, but finished strong and was a positive factor in the medal round for Finland scoring five points in seven games in the end, including the game winning Golden goal in overtime. San Jose Sharks prospect Noah Rod was a standout for the Swiss scoring six points in six games. Aleksi Saarela was a 2015 third round pick of the New York Rangers who is playing for Assat in the Liiga league and has 15 points in 27 games this season. He was impressive for the Host team scoring seven points in seven games.

2015 NHL Draft Guide – A draft to remember for QMJHL

Scott Wheeler — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 15:03:09 +0000

2015 NHL Draft one to remember for QMJHL

As the 2014 NHL Entry Draft came to a close at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia last summer, there was a notable lack of talent from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

The draft was so thin in QMJHL-bred players that just one prospect, Halifax’s Nikolaj Ehlers, was selected in the first round when he was taken ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets.

For the Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) other two leagues, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL), the 2014 NHL Draft was a strong one.

A total of 10 OHL players were selected in the first round, as well as nine WHL products.

A year later though, the QMJHL is proving its lack of NHL draftees isn’t going to be a recurring theme.

Sometimes, everything just seems to fall neatly into place. This June, in Sunrise at the home of the Florida Panthers, it appears the stars have aligned for the QMJHL.

As many as a dozen QMJHL prospects could realistically be taken inside this draft’s first round, while only six OHL (Connor McDavid, Dylan Strome, Mitchell Marner, Travis Konecny, Lawson Crouse and Pavel Zacha) and six WHL players (Mathew Barzal, Ivan Provorov, Nick Merkley, Jansen Harkins, Jake DeBrusk and Paul Bittner) have played their way into surefire first round contention.

And while it’s unlikely we see a QMJHL player taken inside the top 10, the sheer breadth and depth of the talent in this year’s QMJHL-developed class is unmatched by the other junior hockey programs.

For the QMJHL, the group is not strictly Eastern Canadian-born players either, and the draft represents a strong recruiting process that brought in some of the CHL’s best imports.

It has been years since the QMJHL saw such strength in their graduates.

Beyond the singular Nikolaj Ehlers pick in 2014, the previous five drafts had also shown that while the QMJHL boasted strength, it wasn’t going to produce the most prospects in any draft.

The 2013 NHL Draft, the QMJHL’s strongest in recent memory, saw six players taken inside the first round, highlighted by the first and third overall selections. But once again, the OHL stood strong, with eight selections in the first round. In year’s prior, 2012 saw just Mikhail Grigorenko selected, while 2011 and 2010 saw five and two players taken in the first thirty picks respectively.

The following is a list of 14 QMJHL players who should feature prominently in the 2015 NHL Draft.

The First Round Locks

Jeremy Roy (Sherbrooke)

Roy is a stud defensemen who can do it all, and while he lacks the size of some of the class’ top defensemen, his versatility and strong year-end performance with Canada’s U18 team make him a surefire first rounder.

Timo Meier (Halifax)

Like Drouin with MacKinnon and Ehlers with Drouin, Meier has been forced to live in the shadow of his high-flight teammate, now Ehlers. In his own right though, Meier has the blend of size and skill that’s impossible pass up in the first round.

Jakub Zboril (Saint John)

Don’t take Zboril’s omission from the disappointing Czech Republic World Juniors squad as any indication that the NHL’s best and brightest scouts will make the same mistake. Zboril’s two-way presence and heavy shot make him an easy first round selection. He was taken fifth overall in the QMJHL import draft for a reason.

Evgeni Svechnikov (Cape Breton)

Svechnikov’s production matched his near-towering size and undoubted skill this season, and it makes him one of the class’ most dynamic, NHL-ready wingers. Every team wants big, top-six wingers with some snarl. Lots to work with and gifted enough that if he falls, it won’t be out of the first round. Named as the QMJHL Rookie All-Star Team’s right wing.

Thomas Chabot (Saint John)

Chabot is one of 2015’s most reliable prospects. He’s not as flashy as some of the other best defensemen in this year’s draft, but he makes smart, calculated decisions both with and without the puck. He plays in all situations and is capable of logging big minutes. The type of top-four defensemen every coach wants on his side.

The Wild Card

Daniel Sprong (Charlottetown)

There aren’t 30 more talented players in the 2015 NHL Draft. There might not even be 10. But despite oozing raw, gifted talent, Sprong has become a polarizing figure among scouts, a forward knocked for being streaky or weak defensively. Still, in the first round, when a team is looking for a star that might unwarrantedly fall, Sprong’s that guy. Sprong’s a risk worth taking.

The Strong Possibilities

Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan)

Some players are small and that size works against them. Others use their diminutive stature to their advantage. And while Beauvillier appears small, his low centre of gravity gives him deceptive strength to match his first round talent. His size doesn’t prohibit him in the faceoff circle either, where he excels. Named to the league’s Second All-Star Team for a reason.

Dennis Yan (Shawinigan)

Another import, Yan’s body of work is limited to just one season in the QMJHL. That inexperience shouldn’t prohibit him, as he’s thrived internationally with the United States and was Shawinigan’s deadliest scorer down the stretch. Yan’s an extremely talented winger who grew to provide the Cataractes with another scoring threat beyond Beauvillier.

Filip Chlapik (Charlottetown)

Like Zboril, Chlapik was mysteriously left off the Czech national team at the World Juniors. Not to worry though, his performance this season spoke for itself. Burdened by the same labels of inconsistency as his teammate Sprong, Chlapik earned his Rookie All-Star Team selection.

The Longshots

Nicholas Meloche (Baie-Comeau)

Size. Strength. Reliability. If that’s what a team with a first round pick is looking for on draft day, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Meloche as their guy. Unlikely to be a first round pick but Meloche’s standout playoff performance certainly helps.

Nathan Noel (Saint John)

Noel’s a two-way centre who projects more as a middle-six forward than a top-six one but his complete game may be of interest to a team with one of the first round’s final picks. More than likely a second round selection but Noel’s an interesting package who may have been held back by a low-scoring team.

Dmytro Timashov (Quebec)

Not only was Timashov named the QMJHL Rookie All-Star Team’s left wing, he was also awarded the league’s Rookie of the Year honour. While the draft’s depth will more than likely push the Quebec Remparts breakout star into the second round, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising to see a team take a chance on him.

Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi)

Heralded as the QMJHL’s next big (in more than one way) star when he was taken first overall in 2013, Roy hasn’t lived up to the billing. Despite possessing the size most teams drool over, it’s probable Roy falls out of the first round. If he’s taken inside the first 30 picks, it will be out of an intriguing, developing, untapped potential.

2015 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Top 120 Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:17:44 +0000

Ilya Samsonov made the most of his opportunity in front of NHL scouts last month in the Czech Republic.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound native of Magnitogorsk helped lead Russia to victory at the Five Nations Tournament.

Samsonov showcased a full package of skill and smarts while upsetting Team USA in a 5-4 overtime win - being outshot 51-to-16 - and then shutting down Sweden 5-1 in the final game.

He played this season in the MHL with Stalnye Lisy, Magnitogorsk's junior team, and will get another chance to bolster his draft stock at the U18 World Championships next month in Switzerland.

A number of Samsonov's U18 teammates could draw some draft interest with strong showings in Zug and Lucerne, the two host cities for the U18 Worlds.

Big, strong-shooting winger Denis Gurianov of Lada Togliatti is rated in the second round - 40th overall - on the McKeen's Top 120 rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Mikhail Vorobyev (Salavat Ufa) is rated 78th overall and is a smart, well-structured pivot in the classic old Russian style, while diminutive winger Kirill Kaprizov (Novokuznetsk) is listed as a late third-rounder - 89th overall. Just 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Kaprizov was a creative force throughout the Five Nations and demonstrated that he has the courage and work ethic to help overcome the size factor.

Samsonov is the top-rated goaltender in the McKeen's rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft - debuting in the first round in the 29th spot.

Drafting goalies in the opening round has becoming increasingly less common. In fact, only six goaltenders have been selected in the first round over the past eight drafts (2007 to 2014). That compares to the five-year period from 2002 to 2006 in which a total of 14 goalies were first-round picks.

Samsonov is one of 11 goaltenders to earn spots in the McKeen's Top 120 rankings.

Mackenzie Blackwood of the Barrie Colts is next on the goalie list - ranked as an early second-rounder at 33rd overall - while a pair of QMJHL goalies hold down the next two spots - Callum Booth of Halifax at 61st and Samuel Montembeault of Blainville-Boisbriand in the No. 68 spot.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
6	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
7	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
9	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
11	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
12	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
13	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
14	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
16	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
17	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
18	Joel Ek Eriksson	C	Farjestads (Swe)	6-2/180	29-Jan-97
19	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
20	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
21	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
22	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
23	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
24	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
25	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97
26	Jonas Siegenthaler	D	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-2/220	6-May-97
27	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
28	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
29	Ilya Samsonov	G	Magnitogorsk (Rus)	6-3/200	22-Feb-97
30	Jack Roslovic	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	29-Jan-97

31	Erik Cernak	D	Kosice (Svk)	6-3/200	28-May-97
32	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
33	Mackenzie Blackwood	G	Barrie (OHL)	6-4/215	9-Dec-96
34	Tom Novak	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/180	28-Apr-97
35	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
36	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
37	Blake Speers	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/180	2-Jan-97
38	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
39	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
40	Denis Gurianov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-2/185	7-Jun-97
41	Noah Juulsen	D	Everett (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Apr-97
42	Jordan Greenway	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-5/225	16-Feb-97
43	Alexander Dergachyov	RW	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-4/200	27-Sep-96
44	Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson	C	Omaha (USHL)	6-1/195	31-Oct-96
45	Jeremy Bracco	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-9/175	17-Mar-97
46	Zachary Senyshyn	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/195	30-Mar-97
47	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
48	Ryan Gropp	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/185	16-Sep-96
49	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
50	Jens Looke	RW	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	11-Apr-97
51	Robin Kovacs	RW	AIK (Swe)	6-0/170	16-Nov-96
52	Glenn Gawdin	C	Swift Current (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Mar-97
53	Nikita Korostelev	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/195	8-Feb-97
54	Travis Dermott	D	Erie (OHL)	5-11/195	22-Dec-96
55	Gabriel Carlsson	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-4/185	2-Jan-97
56	Adam Musil	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	6-2/200	26-Mar-97
57	Mitchell Vande Sompel	D	Oshawa (OHL)	5-10/180	11-Feb-97
58	Christian Fischer	RW	NTDP (USA)	6-1/215	15-Apr-97
59	Brendan Guhle	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-1/185	29-Jul-97
60	Dennis Gilbert	D	Chicago (USHL)	6-2/200	30-Oct-96

61	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
62	Sebastian Aho	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/175	26-Jul-97
63	Ryan Pilon	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/210	10-Oct-96
64	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
65	Austin Wagner	LW	Regina (WHL)	6-1/180	23-Jun-97
66	Graham Knott	LW	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/195	13-Jan-97
67	Michael Spacek	C	Pardubice (Cze)	5-11/190	9-Apr-97
68	Samuel Montembeault	G	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-2/165	30-Oct-96
69	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
70	Daniel Vladar	G	Kladno (Cze)	6-5/185	20-Aug-97
71	Kyle Capobianco	D	Sudbury (OHL)	6-1/180	13-Aug-97
72	David Kase	C	Chomutov (Cze)	5-11/170	28-Jan-97
73	Bailey Webster	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-3/210	8-Sep-97
74	Felix Sandstrom	G	Brynas (Swe)	6-2/190	12-Jan-97
75	Jesper Lindgren	D	MoDo (Swe)	6-0/160	19-May-97
76	Keegan Kolesar	RW	Seattle (WHL)	6-1/215	8-Apr-97
77	Kevin Davis	D	Everett (WHL)	6-0/185	14-Mar-97
78	Mikhail Vorobyev	C	Salavat Ufa (Rus)	6-2/195	5-Jan-97
79	Vince Dunn	D	Niagara (OHL)	6-0/185	29-Oct-96
80	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
81	Gustav Bouramman	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/185	24-Jan-97
82	Matej Tomek	G	Topeka (NAHL)	6-2/180	24-May-97
83	Lukas Jasek	RW	Trinec (Cze)	5-11/165	28-Aug-97
84	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
85	Roope Hintz	LW	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	6-2/185	17-Nov-96
86	Mitchell Stephens	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/185	5-Feb-97
87	Jean-Christophe Beaudin	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/185	27-Mar-97
88	Filip Ahl	LW	HV 71 (Swe)	6-3/210	12-Jun-97
89	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	Novokuznetsk (Rus)	5-9/185	26-Apr-97
90	John Marino	D	South Shore (USPHL)	6-0/175	21-May-97

91	Chaz Reddekopp	D	Victoria (WHL)	6-3/220	1-Jan-97
92	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
93	Parker Wotherspoon	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/170	24-Aug-97
94	Loik Leveille	D	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	5-11/220	25-Sep-96
95	Adam Gaudette	C	Cedar Rapids (USHL)	6-1/175	3-Oct-96
96	Justin Lemcke	D	Belleville (OHL)	6-2/200	13-Feb-97
97	Gabriel Gagne	RW	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	6-5/190	11-Nov-96
98	Thomas Schemitsch	D	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-3/205	26-Oct-96
99	Jesse Gabrielle	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/205	17-Jun-97
100	Jonne Tammela	LW	KalPa (Fin)	5-10/180	5-Aug-97
101	Christian Jaros	D	Lulea (Swe)	6-3/200	2-Apr-96
102	Ales Stezka	G	Liberec (Cze)	6-3/180	6-Jan-97
103	Ethan Bear	D	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/200	26-Jun-97
104	Mathieu Joseph	RW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	9-Feb-97
105	Jeremiah Addison	LW	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	21-Oct-96
106	Devante Stephens	D	Kelowna (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Jan-97
107	Michael McNiven	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-0/205	9-Jul-97
108	Jeremy Lauzon	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-2/195	28-Apr-97
109	Luke Opilka	G	NTDP (USA)	6-1/195	27-Feb-97
110	Philippe Myers	D	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-5/195	25-Jan-97
111	Adam Werner	G	Farjestads (Swe)	6-5/185	2-May-97
112	Brendan Warren	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-0/190	7-May-97
113	Julius Nattinen	C	JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin)	6-2/190	14-Jan-97
114	Colton White	D	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/185	3-May-97
115	Samuel Dove-McFalls	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-2/205	10-Apr-97
116	Veeti Vainio	D	Blues (Fin)	6-2/170	16-Jun-97
117	Matt Bradley	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-11/185	22-Jan-97
118	Tyler Soy	C	Victoria (WHL)	5-11/170	10-Feb-97
119	Dmytro Timashov	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/190	1-Oct-96
120	A.J. Greer	LW	Boston University (HE)	6-2/205	14-Dec-96

Beauvillier and Timashov proving size not an issue ahead of draft

Scott Wheeler — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:00:18 +0000

In one of the strongest NHL draft contingents ever for the QMJHL, it’s two of the league’s smaller players who rank first and second among eligible forwards in scoring.

Anthony Beauvillier, a diminutive 5’9” forward with the Shawinigan Cataractes, and Dmytro Timashov, a 5’9” rookie with the Quebec Remparts, currently sit fourth and eighth respectively in league scoring.

In a class that consists of star QMJHL forwards Timo Meier (6’1”), Daniel Sprong (6’0”), Filip Chlapik (6’1”) and Evgeni Svechnikov (6’3”), it’s the little guys finding their way onto the scoreboard more often.

A year removed from a lone first round draft pick out of the QMJHL (Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg) and Beauvillier has played his way into several top 30 rankings, with Timashov not far behind and rising.

Beauvillier’s 1.48 points per game ranks him between the first two drafted QMJHL prospects in 2014 in their draft year’s. Ehlers, who was drafted ninth overall, posted 1.65 points per game in his draft year playing parts of the year with CHL Player of the Year Jonathan Drouin, who contributed on 32 of his 104 points. Equally as impressive for Beauvillier, the speedy 2015 draft-eligible forward’s 39 goals in 56 games pace him at a 44-goal 63-game pace, just shy of Ehlers’ 49 in his draft year. This, despite playing without elite talent, bouncing on and off of a line with another potential first round pick in Dennis Yan and a handful of undrafted forwards.

Barbashev, who was taken 33^rd overall by the St. Louis Blues, finished his draft year with a lesser 1.42 points per game on a similarly built Moncton team that also found themselves in the middle of the pack. It’s Barbashev’s selection that better helps put Beauvillier’s impressive production in context as a comparable.

Unlike his undersized goal-scoring counterpart, Timashov uses his size to create in a different way, serving as a distributor, rather than Beauvillier’s shoot-first mentality. In fact, the elusive passer has already surpassed the assist totals for all 2014 draftees out of the QMJHL, with 61 assists in 56 games. Playing with 2013 second round pick Adam Erne, Timashov has served as a set-up man for one of the league’s more prolific finishers.

Timashov, who is of Ukrainian dissent, has led his team in scoring as a first-year player in the QMJHL and on North American ice. He has previously represented Sweden internationally, posting point per game totals at last year’s Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament (U18) after dominating Sweden’s junior ranks with MODO J20, with a few games with the senior team in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

In their own ways, they have shown not only that size can be overcome, but that there are different paths to success.

Beauvillier uses strong puck-handling skills and a strong, low centre of gravity stride to beat his opponents, either coming off the left wing or down the middle. Timashov uses equally impressive speed to create chances off the rush, unafraid to hang onto the puck until an opportunity presents itself or stop up and find a seam through the middle of the ice.

Both have used an elusive knack for the game to outwit opponents and find their ways among the most dynamic forwards in the QMJHL. When the draft rolls around in June, don’t be surprised if they’re both gone within the first two rounds – and rightfully so.

McKeen’s 2015 NHL Top 75 Draft Rankings (Jan-2015)

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:24:53 +0000

A quick demographic breakdown of the McKeen's Top 75 rankings suggests the 2015 NHL Draft is shaping up to have not only good depth but also balance.

The five primary regions are represented fairly equally with the QMJHL leading the way with 17 prospects ranked - followed closely by the OHL (16), Europe/International (16), the WHL (15), and the U.S. (11).

RANK	PREV	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	6	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	5	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
6	7	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
7	11	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	22	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
9	4	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	9	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
11	18	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
12	10	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
13	17	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
14	8	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	26	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
16	13	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
17	14	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
18	12	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
19	16	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
20	NR	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
21	15	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
22	20	Matthew Spencer	D	Peterborough (OHL)	6-1/200	24-Mar-97
23	30	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
24	NR	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
25	19	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
26	28	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
27	24	Jansen Harkins	C	Prince George (WHL)	6-1/180	23-May-97
28	NR	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
29	NR	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
30	NR	Jens Looke	RW	Brynas (Swe)	6-0/180	11-Apr-97
31	NR	Mackenzie Blackwood	G	Barrie (OHL)	6-4/215	9-Dec-96
32	21	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97
33	25	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
34	NR	Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson	C	Omaha (USHL)	6-1/195	31-Oct-96
35	NR	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
36	NR	Jonas Siegenthaler	D	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-2/220	6-May-97
37	29	Tom Novak	C	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/180	28-Apr-97
38	NR	Blake Speers	C	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	5-11/180	2-Jan-97
39	NR	Alexander Dergachyov	RW	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)	6-4/200	27-Sep-96
40	NR	Nikita Korostelev	RW	Sarnia (OHL)	6-1/195	8-Feb-97
41	NR	Sebastian Aho	RW	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	5-11/175	26-Jul-97
42	23	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
43	NR	David Kase	C	Chomutov (Cze)	5-11/170	28-Jan-97
44	NR	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
45	NR	Gabriel Carlsson	D	Linkopings (Swe)	6-4/185	2-Jan-97
46	NR	Filip Ahl	LW	HV 71 (Swe)	6-3/210	12-Jun-97
47	NR	Glenn Gawdin	C	Swift Current (WHL)	6-1/190	25-Mar-97
48	NR	Adam Musil	RW	Red Deer (WHL)	6-2/200	26-Mar-97
49	NR	Jeremy Bracco	RW	NTDP (USA)	5-9/175	17-Mar-97
50	NR	Ryan Pilon	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-2/210	10-Oct-96
51	NR	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
52	NR	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
53	NR	Graham Knott	LW	Niagara (OHL)	6-3/195	13-Jan-97
54	NR	Daniel Vladar	G	Kladno (Cze)	6-5/185	20-Aug-97
55	27	Jordan Greenway	LW	NTDP (USA)	6-5/225	16-Feb-97
56	NR	Michael Spacek	C	Pardubice (Cze)	5-11/190	9-Apr-97
57	NR	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
58	NR	Ryan Gropp	LW	Seattle (WHL)	6-2/185	16-Sep-96
59	NR	Felix Sandstrom	G	Brynas (Swe)	6-2/190	12-Jan-97
60	NR	Parker Wotherspoon	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-0/170	24-Aug-97
61	NR	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
62	NR	Roope Hintz	LW	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	6-2/185	17-Nov-96
63	NR	Noah Juulsen	D	Everett (WHL)	6-1/175	2-Apr-97
64	NR	Zachary Senyshyn	RW	Sault Ste Marie (OHL)	6-1/195	30-Mar-97
65	NR	Erik Cernak	D	Kosice (Svk)	6-3/200	28-May-97
66	NR	Brendan Guhle	D	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-2/180	29-Jul-97
67	NR	Mitchell Stephens	C	Saginaw (OHL)	5-11/185	5-Feb-97
68	NR	Mitchell Vande Sompel	D	Oshawa (OHL)	5-10/180	11-Feb-97
69	NR	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
70	NR	Jesse Gabrielle	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-11/205	17-Jun-97
71	NR	Denis Gurianov	RW	Lada Togliatti (Rus)	6-2/185	7-Jun-97
72	NR	Rasmus Andersson	D	Barrie (OHL)	6-0/215	27-Oct-96
73	NR	Dmytro Timashov	LW	Quebec (QMJHL)	5-9/190	1-Oct-96
74	NR	Justin Lemcke	D	Belleville (OHL)	6-2/200	13-Feb-97
75	NR	Matej Tomek	G	Topeka (NAHL)	6-2/180	24-May-97