Dominik Bokk – McKeen's Hockey

NHL PROSPECTS: 22-23 European Prospect Musings #2 – Prospects coming into focus in the stretch run

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 16:28:41 +0000

While the NHL All-Star Game has just wrapped up and NHL teams are gearing up for whatever trade deadline transactions they may intend to conduct at the end of the month, most European leagues are in the stretch run for playoff spots, with a few leagues just a half dozen games away from “the best time of the year”. Looking across Europe and even into Russia, there are plenty of interesting prospect notes, but not a whole of stories that have NHL teams licking their chops about a young man who is guiding the fortunes of his respective league, much less his team.

We’d like to take a look at some of the more notable stories that have been developing to this point in the season.

230103 Rögles William Wallinder, 3 januari 2023 i Växjö.
Foto: Jonas Ljungdahl / BILDBYRÅN

Sweden

Coming into the season as a favorite, Rogle has certainly not had the season it was expecting and is currently mired in 11th, yet only four points away from 8th place. The team has nonetheless seen several young draftees grow into bigger, if not chief roles. It was expected that Detroit’s Marco Kasper would grow on last season, and he has, putting up eight goals and 20 points to date. A number of his assists have come on the power play, and he’s had a top nine role pretty much all season. As a third-year pro, Adam Edstrom (NYR) is in the midst of a career season, even if his 12 points to date are only minimally more than what he’s produced the past two years. His role has grown and he’s looking a lot more at home in his 6’8”, 225-pound body.

Another Rangers pick, Oliver Tarnstrom, has taken on a much smaller role, but also suited up for 32 games now while Ottawa’s 2022 3rd rounder Oskar Pettersson has found himself in a Rogle jersey for 21 games, which might have been more had he not spent several weeks playing for the WJC squad. Each has two points in the SHL this year. Buffalo’s SHL recent 7th rounder Linus Sjodin has suited up for 41 games (six points) himself, although this is his second full season in the SHL.

But the real story on the prospect front have been the defensemen William Wallinder (DET) and Adam Engstrom (MON). A recent second rounder, Wallinder was already a contributing regular last season, but his role has grown into that of the team’s go-to player on the blueline. He not only leads all defensemen with 23 points in 41 games but is third on the entire team in scoring. At the same time, Engstrom has wiggled his way into what is basically a top 4 role, contributing 10 points in 32 games along the way. That actually has him 5th overall in the SHL in junior rookie scoring. The world got to see how far he’s come when he put up three points and a +6 at the WJC for Team Sweden. His star is rising considerably on the prospect front.

As should come as no surprise, the top scorers in the league continue to be veterans, with recent Maple Leaf Antti Suomela having led the way most of the season. His 24 goals and 48 points in just 38 games were good for tops and have him producing at a clip that few players have played at in the SHL over the past decade. He is however now trailing UFA and linemate Patrik Karlkvist, who has collected 50 points in 41 contests. Recent San Jose Shark Jonathan Dahlen, who headed back to his heart and hometown team Timra to play his first ever season of SHL play, is sitting 9th in league scoring with 17 goals and 32 points. The 25-year-old had 12 goals for the Sharks just last season.

But all eyes are still on Örebro HK forward Leo Carlsson, who’s coming off a 6-point WJC performance. He’s not blowing anything out of the water with his five goals and 18 points in 34 games, but as usually happens in a top pro league, vets tend to be relied upon more down the stretch run. His name still tops the list of draft eligibles, but we think NHL teams have got to have Axel Sandin-Pelikka ranked among their top 20 prospects for next summer’s event. And we’d advise any and everyone who is stat watching to disregard his mere five points in 22 games and the quiet assist at the WJC. His coaches already trust him. He’s getting PP time and he’s getting time at the end of the game when something is on the line. His understanding of the game, ice usage, and situations is simply something you don’t see much in a player this age.

A teammate of his in Skelleftea and on the U20 club is Zeb Forsfjall. The young man with a slight build has 10 games of SHL play and is looking like a lock for the U18 Worlds this spring. He is the younger brother of 20-year-old Mans Forsfjall who is undrafted but looking like quite the overage option in this summer’s draft, often found on the first line and having put up two goals, 13 points, and a +14 thus far this season. Would be fascinating if the brothers are both selected next summer.

There’s a whole bunch more going on across the nation in the SHL, Allsvenskan, and U20 circuit with a number of draft-eligible players getting shifts in pro hockey, but we continue to be very impressed with the J20 Nationell Noah Dower Nilsson, whose 48 points in 28 games means he’s clipping at a 1.78 PPG pace, which is a league-high. It’s only been good enough to get him into one game of SHL action, but the mother club Frolunda is chock full of options and, well, Detroit prospect Liam Dower Nilsson (22 games) looks to be blocking his path to the bigs at the moment.

Boston Bruins fans will be happy to hear that Latvian pick Dans Locmelis isn’t far behind Nilsson in U20 production with 47 points in 35 games, good for 6^th in the league. Lulea would have loved to test him at the SHL level by now, but that won’t be happening as Locmelis is scheduled to begin playing for the University of Massachusetts next fall. Expect this well-schooled and very experienced young man to have an instant impact on college hockey next season.

As the draft approaches, we’ll be spending time at the site with the likes of defenseman Theo Lindstein (22 games for Brynas), Frolunda two-way forward Otto Stenberg, and Danish surprise Oscar Molgaard (31 games and six points for HV71), but we’ll wrap up our look at Sweden with overage defenseman Oskar Asplund. In the midst of his second full season of HockeyAllsvenskan play, the heady two-way 5’11” defenseman already has five goals and 27 points in 39 games. It has earned him two games of SHL play with Skelleftea and overall, he reminds us a bit of former overager Adam Wilsby, who was selected in the 4th round by Nashville in the 2020 draft. Wilsby is currently suiting up for Milwaukee of the AHL. Asplund is even in the same organization.

Joakim Kemell of Finland celebrates after scoring 2-2 during the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship final between Canada and Finland on August 20, 2022 in Edmonton.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN /

Finland

The Finnish Liiga is well on its way to the finish line and one of the more astounding trends is that there are few players currently scoring at a PPG pace. Even the league leader Michael Joly has just 49 points in 48 games. Perhaps not surprising in light of that, but astounding nonetheless, is that Joona Ikonen (an undrafted 24-year-old) leads the league in goal-scoring behind Joly’s 21 goals with just 20 markers. Yes, in some cases, individual team scoring is simply spread across more shoulders, but the lack of individual scoring prowess is more akin to what we usually see in the SHL.

What this means is that a few current and former prospects are putting up numbers that are eyebrow-raising to say the least. Former Winnipeg Jets draft pick Sami Niku couldn’t edge out a solid NHL job despite at times outstanding AHL numbers. He was suiting up for the Montreal Canadiens just last season. At age 25, he decided he needed more job security and perhaps one very impressive season in Europe to get his name back into the minds of NHL GMs. Well, his nine goals and 37 points in 46 games for JYP is likely doing the trick while simultaneously making him the league’s top scorer among defensemen. An appearance at the men’s World Championship is all but a lock and then the question will be if Niku gets an offer that has a spot in an NHL line-up somewhat set in stone.

This past week, the Islanders moved arguably their top prospect in Aatu Raty to the Vancouver Canucks as part of the Bo Horvat trade, but his brother Aku Raty (ARI) is having himself a fine season for Ilves with 29 points and a +16 in 41 games. It’s a career best for the 21-year-old and is coming at a time where Arizona is going to want to decide on whether to sign him to an ELC. Really arriving on the scene has been Tampa Bay’s 2021 7th rounder, the 6’2”, 210-pound Niko Huuhtanen. Certainly, his 77 points in 64 games for the Everett Silvertips meant that he was already on the map for most prospect watchers, but he’s reinforced the belief that there’s a pro here with a sense for offensive generation, as his 15 goals and 27 points in 36 games go to show this season. That puts him within the top 40 in league-wide scoring, ahead of i.e., solid Maple Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen, who himself is doing just fine with 24 points in 46 games for HIFK.

One name you’re not seeing is that of U18 and WJC star Joakim Kemell (NAS), whose 11 points and -14 rating in 32 games have him flying far below expectations. Quite the opposite is the case for Patrik Puistola (CAR), who leads all U23 players with 13 goals and 34 points in 48 games. That not only has him 12th in league scoring but means he’s the clear-cut go-to player for his Jukurit team, something that has to have the Hurricanes brass mighty excited about.

When it comes to Finland’s top junior league, there are not many NHL-drafted players currently plugging away at it, but Buffalo’s Viljami Marjala is second in league scoring with 48 points and a +29 in 31 games. He’s also put up two points in four games for Liiga club TPS and it’s felt he’ll conclude the season with the big club one way or another. You may remember that Marjala spent the past two seasons with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. It was felt Nashville went a very safe route in picking all-round defenseman Kasper Kulonummi in the 3rd round last summer. His 39 points in 33 games has him second to teammate Leevi Sorvali (42 in 39 contests) league-wide in defenseman scoring. He’s seen 5 games of Liiga action for Tappara this season, which - in case you hadn’t heard - is Finland’s most hockey-crazy town.

True prospect fans will surely be wondering what 2024 top prospect Aron Kiviharju has been up to in recent weeks. Many had hoped to see him on this winter’s WJC squad, but the season has seen a more conservative approach. Having just turned 17, Kiviharju has gotten into 14 games of Liiga action (two assists and a +1 rating) while only being able to suit up for 20 U20 league games this year, in which he’s impacted play fairly considerably with a 1-16-17 and +11 statline. All fine, but not screaming superstar just now. Still, the U18 Worlds is where he’s expected to show the international scouting community just how far he’s come.

Germany

The DEL has been of special interest this year, but not so much due to any particular up-n-coming young players making noise.

No, it’s been all about a certain prospect making a major comebokk on the prospect scene. Oh yes, that play on words just couldn’t be skipped out on as former St. Louis Blues 1st rounder and current Carolina Hurricanes asset Dominik Bokk has spent all season letting the hockey world know he is not to be forgotten after, well, pretty much having gone forgotten in the Hurricanes organization. As we mentioned in the fall, he’s been playing for league newbie Frankfurt Lions after having won the championship with Berlin last season, with whom his cameo had little to do with Berlin’s fate when all was said and done. Now he’s spent most of the season leading the entire DEL in scoring, currently coming in at 24 goals and 49 points in 43 games. He’s doing it for a team that entered the year with but an outside shot at the playoffs and it has to be clear to anyone watching that he’s technically and physically a number too good for this league, one filled with former NHL and AHLers. His scoring has often been timely, and he’s constantly been able to create and make his teammates better.

If he hasn’t renewed Carolina’s interest, there must be a few teams out there wondering if this is your classic case of a late bloomer. Once the DEL year is over, he’s basically a lock for the men’s WC tournament, which will surely make him one of the more interesting viewings from an NHL standpoint. Or could he be part of a trade deadline package before that?

Unfortunately, Bokk was caught in an awkward check this weekend and will miss the remainder of the regular season with a shoulder injury.

What’s also been noteworthy this year is the goaltending position. Primarily young, German-born goaltenders have found themselves getting plenty of ice time and holding their own in the process. Yes, 26-year-old Maxi Franzreb is making the most of the season, getting more starts than any U27 goaltender and shining brightly with a 2.28 GAA and .925 save percentage. Mirko Pantkowski (24) has become a full-fledged starter himself, going 21-15 thus far for Cologne. But the kids really opening eyes are Arno Tiefensee (20), Florian Bugl (20), Tobias Ancicka (21), and - in a cameo appearance - Daniel Allavena (23), who went 4-1 over an emergency 5-game stretch for Munich. For the other three, Ancicka has 30 starts for Berlin as the go-to number 1 in goal, Bugl has gone 15-7 for Straubing since having initially filled in for the injured starter, and Tiefensee is way up there in the league with a 2.17 GAA, .919 SV%, and 10-5 record for Mannheim.

This century simply hasn’t witnessed this many German goalies successfully carrying this much responsibility in goal in Germany’s top league. And as everyone knows, NHL history is full of goaltenders signed out of Europe as free agents in their mid- to late 20s. Some of whom have ended up having successful careers, so these are names you’re going to want to have in the back of your mind moving forward. Also, if you’re wondering who the next minor league UFA signings á la Julian Napravnik and Kai Wissmann may be, two Ingolstadt Panthers have arrived on the scene this year in a big way, both quite unexpectedly. Defenseman Leon Huttl is just 22 and of average size, but his 19 points in 45 games have been accompanied by a +21 rating and he’s been effective in all three zones for a team that has experienced major injury hits to every position. Up front, Polish-born Wojciech Stakowiak has been the team’s fully unexpected all-everything contributor. Now 23, he was coming off of five- and six-point seasons, but now has 15 goals, 31 points, and a +16 in 46 games, finding himself on the ice in all key situations.

We already chronicled how a number of U21 players had started getting a shot to kick off the season and we must say, it hasn’t stopped. The number of players 21 and under who have gotten a shot in the DEL this season has been astounding, with 16-year-old defenseman Max Merkl (Nuremberg), 17-year-old defenseman Paul Mayer (Mannheim), and 18-year-olds Edmund Junemann (Düsseldorf) and Lukas Ullmann (Ingolstadt) having basically come out of nowhere to get into a handful of games. With injuries on the blueline, Ingolstadt even reacquired 18-year-old defenseman Niklas Hubner out of Finnish juniors, and he’s suited up for each of the last seven games. We commented some years ago about how particularly the SHL was able to regularly churn out players aged 16-21 who were taking fairly regular shifts. The DEL knew it had to follow suit in order for the quality of players to increase and provide the nation with more quality depth. Just that seems to be happening as we write.

Russia

The Matvei Michkov watch has been gaining momentum since he was loaned out to HK Sochi. After just three scoreless games with St. Petersburg and then an eye-popping 10 goals and 14 points in 12 games with SKA’s VHL outfit, Michkov found himself in the show on a scoring line with a Sochi team that had an offensive role to offer. The result has been five goals and nine points in 17games, with three of those points coming in the two most recent games. All things Russia continue to be taboo, but in a time where Connor Bedard is running away with the first overall pick status, the hockey world has got to be back to asking whether Michkov isn’t still the second-best option at this summer’s draft?

Like with the Finnish Liiga, players clipping at a PPG pace are hard to come by in the KHL this year. Former NHLer Dmitri Jaskin is back to his scoring ways though, leading the league with 33 goals (3^rd with 50 points) in 59 games, closely followed by German national Brooks Macek, who has 31 in 52 games. At the same time, impending 26-year-old free agent Marat Khairullin is having a career year for SKA with 25 goals and 50 points, blowing his previous high of 32 points out of the water. Will he be sought after like Andrey Kuzmenko was last offseason?

Pleasantly though, several NHL prospects are making some real noise with career years. It simply must be pointed out that Carolina’s 21-year-old defensive prospect Alexander Nikishin, who measures in at an imposing 6’4” and 216 pounds, leads ALL defensemen in scoring with 10 goals and 49 points in 57 games. It’s basically a season for the ages in a league still dominated by older veterans. The question is when and if he’s coming over and just how his game will translate. But he’s clearly the NHL asset with the most traction in Europe this season. Almost just as impressive is the work being put in by Colorado’s Nikolai Kovalenko , who checks in at 6th overall in league scoring with 19 goals and 48 points in 50 games. A chip off the old block, it’ll be interesting to see if Colorado feels Kovalenko’s work is in line with an ELC this offseason.

Two other highly touted prospects keeping things extremely fascinating are New Jersey’s Arseni Gritsyuk (21) and Minnesota’s Marat Khusnutdinov (20). Whereas Gritsyuk pretty much arrived on the scene last season with 22-16-38 in 52 contests, he’s now heading towards the playoffs with Omsk sporting 13-21-34 numbers as more of a set-up man for Reid Boucher (25 goals) and Vladimir Tkachev (20 goals). It’s Khusnitdinov who is truly arriving this season as his 11-26-37 and +12 statline for SKA marks a true step in development, far outweighing anything done the past three seasons, where he already showed some glimpses of what was to come. Hard to imagine that GM Bill Guerin won’t be looking to get him over to North America for next season.

Out of the nation’s second tier league, VHL, there are three players who have caught our eyes as being noteworthy. Up front, Detroit’s 2022 2nd rounder Dmitri Buchelnikov, who can be quite the wizard with the puck on his blade, has 14 goals, 27 points, and a +9 in just 32 games. He’s also chipped in 12 points in four MHL contests as well as two points in 10 KHL games for St. Petersburg. In short, he’s having a wildly successful DY+1 season. On the defensive side, we let you know that we’d be closely watching LA Kings’ draft pick Kirill Kirsanov and he hasn’t disappointed in a developmental capacity. After starting off on fire, his overall game has leveled out to a sound 13 points and +13 rating in 28 games, but he’s been a PPG player in five MHL games and has gotten his feet wet in nine KHL contests (one assist, -5 rating). The 6’1”, 198-pound defender is right on track in his development. The league is also playing host to a 23-draft prospect who has been gaining traction. Alexander Rykov is a mid-sized forward who has 11 points in 20 games for Chelyabinsk and has even gotten into six KHL games (no stats) for Traktor. He’s exactly the type of player we’d have loved to see at the U18 Worlds this spring.

Another young man we’d like to make mention of is 19-year-old forward Nikita Grebyonkin. After a very impressive draft year in the junior circuit MHL, collecting 77 points and a +42 in 67 total games, Grebyonkin has spent the majority of this season loaned out to Amur Khabarovsk with whom he’s put up nine goals, 23 points, and a +3 in 40 games. Already a fan favorite for the club’s faithful, Grebyonkin is generally a player who just hasn’t played in a spotlight location. What we’re seeing is an astute 5^th pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs whose slick style and 6’2”, 180-pound frame is looking very promising moving forward. That said, his skating is that of a later round draft pick.

The notes are currently minimal on both the NHL and prospect fronts in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Switzerland, but there are a few player situations developing there that we’ll look to highlight in the next edition. The upcoming playoffs will surely give us much to muse about as the spring rolls around.

EUROPEAN PROSPECT MUSINGS: 2022-23 European Leagues Underway with Notable Performances

Chapin Landvogt — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 18:24:17 +0000

European Prospect Musings - #1 for the 22-23 Season

The European leagues are all underway and most already played anywhere from six to 20 games this season, meaning a whole lot of names in the prospect world have started shining brightly. Or, well, brighter. A look across the major leagues continues to show continued use of U21 players in regular roles while some second league teams are sporting a bunch of young men worth watching, particularly those already drafted.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable players and situations thus far in this young season.

Sweden

Örebro's Leo Carlsson during the SHL ice hockey match between Örebro and Oskarshamn on September 24, 2022 in Örebro.
Photo: Fredrik Karlsson / BILDBYRÅN

For a league still widely considered the best pro European circuit west of the KHL, SHL teams opened up the season with rosters chock full of interest for NHL teams. One of the most watched teams this winter will be Örebro HK, because forward Leo Carlsson, who already collected nine points in 35 SHL games last season as a 16/17-year-old, is widely regarded as a top 15 prospect in next summer’s draft. He was part of Sweden’s U18 outfit that took gold last spring, but only got into two matches (2-1-3), so the scouting world didn’t get to gush over him in the same manner it did for the team’s big horses. More on that in a second.

For now, rest assured that Carlsson’s star is on the rise. In eight games thus far, he’s already put up seven points, including two goals, while seeing his fair share of top six minutes. That has him tied for 11th in league-wide scoring. That also has him firmly on top of the prospect charts in the SHL and also ahead of the next closest NHL property, Columbus’ Samuel Johannesson, whose six points in eight games isn’t all that shabby either, especially in light of his being a defenseman.

But now back to those big horses at the U18 tournament, four of whom are now dressing for Djurgarden of the Hockey Allsvenskan, the nation’s second highest tier of pro hockey. Built to gain quick promotion, each of Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Liam Ohgren, Noah Ostlund, and Calle Odelius, listed in the order they were drafted this past summer, is a regular thus far and all have gotten at least one point to date. The ever creative Ostlund leads the way with three assists. Vegas prospect Carl Lindbom builds part of the goaltending tandem to boot.

Coming into the season, we were looking to see big things from defenseman Theo Lindstein, who did seem to be likely to kick things off with Brynas of the SHL. Instead, he’s been a 17-year-old on the U20 team and has four points and a +7 in six contests. Also gaining note as a first time draft eligible currently in Sweden’s U20 circuit is forward Noah Dower Nilsson. Ah, that name will look familiar as he is the younger brother of Detroit’s 2021 5th rounder Liam, who is taking a regular shift for Frolunda (two assists in eight games just now). Fascinating here is that Liam had five goals in 16 U20 level games his draft year, but little brother Noah is raising eyebrows with 12 goals, 18 points, and a +7 in just 11 U20 games this season, making him the league’s second most deadly goal scorer. He continues to be one to watch all winter long.

One team that can be happy with its Swedish first rounder from this past summer is the San Jose Sharks. Having just concluded their European tour, the Sharks organization have seen young, hulking forward Filip Bystedt put up four points in eight SHL games. This can be seen as a bit of a relief because the upside of his production was really one of the biggest questions this past summer when assessing where exactly this technically sound forward should be drafted.

On the overager front, we’ll continue to be very interested in seeing what the undrafted Ake Stakkestad does this season. After a very noticeable WJC, the take-no-prisoners Stakkestad is a key part of the attack for Allsvenskan club Karlskoga. He’s put up five points in their first six games, something you love to see from a kid who clearly feels he’s been overlooked for several drafts now.

Finland

Across the Baltic Sea bay in Finland, a number of youngsters found themselves in the opening day line-ups of their respective Liiga teams, and even more for some of the Mestis clubs. Things have evened out as many have since found themselves back on the respective junior teams, but a few draftees have definitely raised an eyebrow or two. Eetu Liukas of the New York Islanders has gone from a successful 4th line role with Finland’s summer WJC club to a first line banger role for HPK. With six points and a +3 in 12 games, Liukas has surpassed expectations while his 37 penalty minutes indicate he’s doing just what’s to be expected from a guy who bangs and gets under opponents’ skin. Some in those parts feel there’s a real Esa Tikkanen aspect to this young man. But he’s bigger!

Seattle can also be happy with the progress of recent 2022 pick Jani Nyman, who started the season with Ilves U20 squad. But five goals and six points in two games quickly had him up and in the line-up for their Liiga team, with which he now has four goals and six points in seven games. At the same time, forwards Patrik Puistola (CAR), Joakim Kemell (NAS), Roni Hirvonen (TOR), Aku Raty (ARI), and Antti Saarela (CHI) are all scoring at just over 0.5 points per game. But to be clear, there’s no Leo Carlsson style prospect making his way through Liiga action at this point. Many hoped it would be 6’3, 207-pound Kasper Halttunen, who has suited up seven times for HIFK, but only has one assist. Of course, he’s got nine points in five games with the team’s U20 team and we’re talking about a big boy who won’t turn 18 until next June.

Of course, all eyes are on defenseman Aron Kiviharju. Yes, yes, we’re talking about a 16-year-old who is only 5’10” and 165 pounds, but after his top four minutes at the U18, including PP time, the scouting community has been waiting anxiously to see if this kid can already hold his own in Liiga play. A real maybe for Finland’s WJC team and an absolute certainty for their U18 team in Switzerland next spring, Kiviharju has six assists and a +7 in eight games for his club’s U20 team. Again, he’s just 16 and has gotten into four Liiga games, seeing 9-14 minutes per match.

Germany

As Germany’s season kicked off, Arizona draft picks Julian Lutz and Maks Szuber were part of the equation for Munich, but just two of many options the returning finalist has in a year where it is a heavy favorite. Each is playing a minimal role for the loaded favorite. More interesting thus far has been the play of former St. Louis Blues 1st rounder Dominik Bokk, now a property of the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s lacing up his skates for the newly promoted Frankfurt Lions after having won the championship with Berlin last season. But truth be told, his role with the champion last spring was rather minimal, as was his playoff production. His role now is much more critical for Frankfurt as the team needs Bokk to spearhead the offense, something he hasn’t been able to do for any of his clubs in recent years.

Et voila - enter the 22-23 season. No doubts thus far that he understands his expectations and what this season means to him moving forward! After nine games, he’s got eight goals, 12 points, and a +10 rating, making him the most lethal player in the league to date. It’s what you want to see for a guy who has looked as derailed as a prospect as he has.

Also of note in this short season is 5’10, 183-pound Nikita Krymskiy. You shouldn’t know him, but he was a part of Team Germany at last spring’s U18 Worlds, where he got into two games. He was actually coming off an interesting season where he had a half a point per game in Germany’s third pro circuit but was then surprisingly recruited by the Krefeld Penguins of the DEL2, a team widely expected to make its way back into the DEL next spring. Thus far, the still 18-year-old Krymskiy has four goals and six points in seven games, making him the highest scoring U21 player in the league and 4th best on a team filled with players featuring predominantly higher league experience.

Also a part of Team Germany’s U18 team last spring, forward Philipp Krening very quietly collected three assists in four games at that tourney after coming off an injury-plagued winter that only allowed him to get into 16 AlpsHL games for the Red Bull Juniors, in which he still put up 10 points. As such, it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise that he kicked off the year with Munich of the DEL, collecting two points in six games. Once a few players returned to the line-up, he was sent back to the juniors, where he put up four points in two contests and is now looking to take a regular shift for Red Bull Salzburg of the ICEHL, which is one step down from the DEL. Yes, it can all get a bit confusing, but Krening has debuted there strongly, already getting his first assist in Salzburg’s most recent CHL game. If he can keep this up, the setback during his initial draft year may end up only having been just that - a setback.

A very interesting development is taking place in Nuremberg, where a 21-year old Elis Hede has looked real good in his first two DEL games of the season (one game-winning goal). Of note is that the Finnish national was basically raised in Germany, where his father spent most of his career. If you recognize the name, it’s probably because after spending a good portion of his teens with the Red Bull Academy, he laced up his skates for the Chicago Steel of the USHL for the 19-20 season. After two complete seasons as a solid lower line option for HIFK of the Finnish Liiga, the Ice Tigers’ GM - former Washington Capital Stefan Ustorf - quickly snatched Hede off the market as the youngster believes he’s made for greater things offensively. And now he appears to be in just the right place to make that happen.

Russia

No season has been in progress longer thus far than Russia’s, and we don’t need to get into the clouds hanging heavily over Russia’s ice hockey scene in these worrying times.

One thing of note we’d quickly like to point out is that It took top 2023 draft prospect Mikhail Gulyayev just SIX games to pick up a point in all three major Russian hockey leagues (MHL, VHL, & KHL) this season. The 2023 draft eligible defenseman has spent the bulk of the season with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, for whom he has a single assist in 10 games. That has been notable.

But the KHL isn’t exactly chock full of youngsters playing key roles. Minnesota first rounder Danila Yurov kicked things off well with three points in the first four games, but now only has four total in 17 games. This is something that hasn’t been uncommon for players his age. The most effective young draftees have clearly been last year’s rising star, Winnipeg’s Dmitri Rashevsky (14 points in 18 games), and now Colorado’s Nikolai Kovalenko (10 points in nine games). These mid-round picks are making noise for their respective teams while Carolina defender Alexander Nikishin is one of the league’s top-scoring defenseman with 10 points in 17 games. A few others like Mikhail Vorobyov (PHI) and Zakhar Bardakov (NJD) are clipping at a pace of 0.5 points per game for the first 18 games of the season.

For the nation’s second tier league, VHL, we’ll be closely watching LA Kings’ draft pick Kirill Kirsanov. The well-built, high-flying defender has nine points in the first 10 games for St. Petersburg’s farm team and has added another five in four games for the U20 outfit. He’s having the type of season that should have him banging on the door to the KHL by Christmas. In better times, he’d surely be a topflight candidate for a WJC team.

FRISCO, TX USA - MAY 1: Russia's Matvei Michkov #17 skates to the bench after scoring a third period goal against the Czech Republic during preliminary round action at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center on May 1, 2021 in Frisco, TX USA. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/HHOF-IIHF Images)

In the nation’s MHL, top 2023 draft prospect Matei Michkov does have five points in four games but had been out a good while with an injury after a preseason check at the KHL level. His time to shine will surely come as the season progresses. Third in league scoring right now is 5’7” Yegor Klimovich, who is just 17 and has, well, 17 points in 13 games. It’s impressive at that age for a U21 league, size be damned. But the team that can perhaps be happiest with MHL output thus far is Detroit. We knew that Dmitri Buchelnikov was pretty amazing with his 41 goals and 75 points in 56 MHL contests last season, but the eight points in two games this year has him looking far too good for this league. He has eight KHL contests under his belt this season, with but one goal to show for them. It should be noted that there are dozens of players in this league who are currently above or hovering around a point-per-game pace.

Czech Republic

The most prospect-worthy news from the Czechia was and continues to be up-n-comers Eduard Sale and Jakub Dvorak. The left winger who was clearly one of the best players at last spring’s U18 tourney, Sale looked great again this summer and now has five points in eight top league games for Brno. Meanwhile, the 6’5”, 203-pound Dvorak has been plugging away in lower pairing minutes for Liberec, suiting up for all nine games and collecting an assist and +3 rating. More and more is indicating that we’ll be seeing both at this winter’s WJC and that each could be first rounders in next summer’s draft. That’s a surefire thing for Sale, with the only real question being how much he can make himself a topic for the top 10?

There are plenty out there who see this young man having a very productive NHL career and we’re among them.

PECULIAR::

In one of the odder prospect stories, Seattle Kraken springtime free agent signee Sam Bucek, a 23-year old former member of the USHL’s Chicago Steel and QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes who scored 54 goals in 69 top league games in Slovakia last season, broke off his engagement with Seattle this summer in order to sign with Neftekhimik of the KHL. One can only imagine in today’s heated international climate that this odd move was surely financially motivated. Well, his time in the KHL has already come to an end after six scoreless games. He is once again a free agent for the highest bidder, should there now be such a thing.

PROSPECTS: 2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW – One Drafted and One Draft Eligible Prospect from Each Scouting Region

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 13:39:38 +0000

The 2023 scouting season is upon us! As we head into a new draft season, we, at McKeen’s Hockey, have made a few changes to our roster of writers and scouts. This piece serves as an opportunity to not only meet the team, but also preview some of the players to watch across the globe this hockey season. We asked our staff to give us one draft eligible player and one already drafted player from their region to keep a close eye on.

Director of Scouting/Ontario Region - Brock Otten

https://twitter.com/BrockOtten

2023 Player to Watch: Beau Akey, D, Barrie Colts

"Akey is a highly mobile two-way defender with the Colts who will likely take on a top four role on a strong Barrie team this year. He would have likely been on the Canadian Hlinka team this summer had he not picked up an injury at the beginning of camp. Akey is a preseason regional favourite of mine and after a strong preseason performance, he looks poised to be a steady riser over the season."

Already Drafted to Watch: Ben Gaudreau, G, Sarnia Sting

The San Jose Sharks draft pick heads into the OHL season as my preseason favourite to be the OHL's top netminder (Jim Rutherford award) this year. He doesn't have an NHL contract yet and is playing for one this season, but I fully expect him to earn one. The athletic Gaudreau should also be the starting netminder for Canada at the WJC's this year.

Benjamin Gaudreau of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Assistant Director of Scouting/Western Canada Region - Derek Neumeier

https://twitter.com/Derek_N_NHL

2023 Player to Watch: Riley Heidt, C, Prince George Cougars

The Cougars haven't had a winning season since 2016-17, but they also haven't had a prospect as good as Heidt to help turn that tide until now. His hockey sense and puck skills are high-end, and he has the right mental makeup to handle the pressure that will be placed upon him as his team's number one center and best player.

Already Drafted Player to Watch: Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers

The reigning WHL Player of the Year has already accomplished a lot (including winning World Juniors gold) but will have a new challenge this season: leading his Blazers team as they host the 2023 Memorial Cup. It barely seems possible that Stankoven could be more dynamic or terrorizing offensively, but he always finds a way to surpass expectations.

Western Canada Region - Arlo Schulz

2023 Player to Watch: Andrew Cristall, F, Kelowna Rockets

"Cristall begins this season under the radar as all eyes are on Connor Bedard in the WHL this year, but that won't last long. Cristall had a terrific rookie season last year and with the young Rockets returning almost their entire roster, they won't need time to gel and Cristall could explode out of the gate. He possesses elite offensive instincts, a slick set of hands, and is constantly creating something out of nothing in the offensive zone. He lacks explosiveness but focused on his skating during the offseason and showed well at the Hlinka in August. He projects as a 1st-rounder and could shoot up draft boards as the year progresses."

Already Drafted to Watch: Mats Lindgren, D, Red Deer Rebels

"Lindgren is a beautiful skater who was projected to go in the top two rounds last draft but slipped to the 4th round (Sabres) amid concerns about his inconsistency and offensive upside. An effortless mover who can carry the puck with ease and distribute well, Lindgren was one of the youngest players in his draft class and could take a massive step forward in his D+1 season. He requested a trade and was dealt to the Rebels, where he will assume greater responsibilities and play in all situations. His skillset is tailor-made for the modern game, as a mobile defenseman with terrific instincts. It will be fascinating to watch if the rest of his game catches up to his potential this year."

Sweden Region - Jacob Smeds

https://twitter.com/Scouting_Jacob

2023 Player to Watch: Kalle Carlsson, C, Örebro HK

Kalle Carlsson is a potential riser throughout the season. He is a playmaker who creates space for his teammates with his strong skating and high hockey IQ. In the same way that his hockey sense allows him to thrive offensively, he can also play defense efficiently thanks to his smartness.

Already Drafted to Watch: Jonathan Lekkerimäki, RW, Djurgårdens IF

Lekkerimäki is a pure goal scorer with tremendous offensive instincts. In the offensive zone, he works hard off the puck to create space to shoot. He also brings the puck to the net to challenge goalies in tight using his soft hands. Lekkerimäki is looking to establish himself at the pro level in the Swedish second tier league this winter and his preseason bears the promise of a smooth transition from the junior leagues.

211021 Djurgårdens Jonathan Lekkerimäki under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Djurgården och Oskarshamn den 21 oktober 2021 i Stockholm.
Foto: Andreas L Eriksson / BILDBYRÅN / COP 106 / AE0062

Eastern Canada Region - Éloi Biondo

https://twitter.com/eloi632211

2023 Player to Watch: Etienne Morin, D, Moncton Wildcats

Etienne Morin is a mobile two-way defenseman who can move the puck up the ice very effectively and make plays in the offensive zone. He averaged 21 minutes a game last year as a rookie blue-liner for the Wildcats and tallied an impressive 34 points in 70 games. Morin could’ve probably played at the most recent Hlinka-Gretzky cup tournament, but Team Canada probably preferred a more steady and physical option on their blue line— something that Morin will have to work on this upcoming season.

Already Drafted Player to Watch: Jordan Dumais, RW, Halifax Mooseheads

Dumais was one of the most polarizing prospects for the most recent NHL Draft. The undersized winger has been scoring at historic rates in the QMJHL and is poised for another big year with the Moose. Such numbers and offensive abilities would usually guarantee you of a high-end draft pick. However, Dumais’ skating and physical tools are just not what you want in an NHL prospect, which made him a third-round selection by the Columbus Blue Jackets, instead of a higher selection. It will definitely be very interesting to see how he progresses this upcoming season.

Western Canada Region - Adam Tate

https://twitter.com/ADTate39

2023 Draft Eligible Player to Watch: Riley Heidt, C, Prince George Cougars

Having led the Cougars in scoring last season, Riley Heidt will be looked upon to be the “do everything” centre for the team again this year. Coming off a strong showing in this past summer’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, I’m looking forward to seeing if he can solidify a middle of the 1st round draft ranking.

Already Drafted Player to Watch: Owen Pickering, D, Swift Current Broncos

The first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year’s NHL draft, Owen Pickering is looking to improve his raw talents in Swift Current this season. If his skating and offense can start to catch up to his size and transitional skills, he could very well secure a spot on Canada’s WJC roster this year.

Russia Region - Viktor Fomich

https://twitter.com/RUSProspects

2023 Player to Watch: Roman Kantserov, W, Stalnie Lisy Magnitogorsk, MHL

Roman Kantserov is a winger whose every movement is just oozing attacking skill. He might not always be showing that on a consistent basis, but when he is on his game he is definitely as electrifying to watch as the top Russian guys like Matvei Michkov or Mikhail Gulyayev. He still should be evaluated more closely to find out what outweighs here: skill or inconsistency.

Already Drafted Player to Watch: Nikolai Kovalenko, W, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL

For Colorado Avalanche wing prospect Nikolai Kovalenko, last season was one to forget due to a heavy concussion that left a question mark on his NHL upside. After an amazing start to this KHL season, he suffered another concussion. Even though he is back now, we have the same questions about his health and ability to reach the NHL level in two years (when his KHL contract is up). This season should provide some answers though.

Director of Video Scouting - Will Scouch

https://twitter.com/Scouching

2023 Player to Watch: Caden Price, D, Kelowna Rockets

After a strong Hlinka camp and tournament performance logging tons of minutes, Price is exactly the defender I'm looking for. Mobile, quick, skilled, jumps into offensive situations, deceptive with the puck and a reliance on his feet to do a lot of defensive work. There's creativity in spades to execute plays well, and his youth in this draft class combined with his current ability are tantalizing to consider. He's been ranked in late first rounds at times but I get the feeling that keen-eyed observers will come around a little more.

Already Drafted Player to Watch: Simon Robertsson, W, Skellefteå AIK

I've been a big believer in Robertsson and believe that patience will be rewarded with more development in Sweden. A slow start in the SHL gave way for a relatively strong finish in very limited minutes, but Robertsson's shot, evasive skill, and improving straight line speed could make him a more threatening SHL scorer this season. There may be better players out there right now developing, but Robertsson's offensive upside is hard to ignore and still has plenty of time to emerge against men.

Video Scout - Zack Szweras

https://twitter.com/Zack_Szweras

2023 Player to Watch: Otto Stenberg, W, Frölunda, SHL

Stenberg is an exciting offensive winger, with plenty of creativity as both a playmaker and scorer. Stenberg captained team Sweden to a silver medal recently in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He also led the team in scoring. After a strong tournament, Stenberg has a good chance to increase his draft stock with his flashy and crafty play.

Already Drafted Player: Noah Ostlund, C, Djurgardens IF, SHL

Ostlund, the 16th overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2022 NHL Draft, is poised for a larger role at the pro level. Ostlund will split time between the J20 and HockeyAllsvenskan for Djurgårdens IF. He produced over a point per game in the J20 last season but will be looking to achieve that playing against men. Ostlund is a strong playmaking centre, who will have a chance to crack Sweden’s World Junior roster in December too.

Djurgården's Noah Östlund celebrates after 1-2 during the final in the Junior SM for J20 between Djurgården and Linköping on April 10, 2022 in Nyköping.
Photo: Tobias Sterner / BILDBYRÅN /

Central Europe Region - Chapin Landvogt

https://twitter.com/Csomichapin

GERMANY

2023 Player to Watch: Linus Brandl, F, Mannheim Jungadler (DNL)

In a season where not a single name stands out as a surefire draft pick next summer, the 6-foot Brandl has followed up a somewhat eye-opening, yet unassuming Gretzky Hlinka Cup (2-3-5 in 4 games) by kicking off the DNL season with 5-5-10 in 6 games. Brandl won't stick out with any specific tool, but he simply never fails to produce. He just "gets it" when it comes to generating offense with what he has. Pro play is in the cards this season.

Already Drafted to Watch: Dominik Bokk, RW, Frankfurt Lions

The DEL's new team has brought in a big fish in Dominik Bokk, who already concluded last season (minimally) helping Berlin grab the league title. Growing long in the prospect tooth and clearly not looking like a player in Carolina's plans, the 22-year-old has kicked off things with a bang, going 4-3-7 with a +4 in his first 4 games of the season.

SWITZERLAND

2023 Player to Watch: Leo Braillard, F, Biel-Bienne U20

Playing together with skilled overager Mattheo Reinhard, Braillard has put up 7-3-10 numbers in 6 U20 games thus far. Already having represented Switzerland at every level between U16-U18, he has been a constant producer for his club, having captained the U17 outfit last season for which he put up 62 points in 30 games. A U18 Worlds appearance at home next spring is a given after his 4-1-5 output at the Gretzky Hlinka Cup this summer.

Already Drafted to Watch: Simon Knak, RW, HC Davos

After being drafted as an overager, Knak went from being a productive winger for the Portland Winterhawks to chugging away in the pro ranks as a 19-year-old to the tune of 15 points in 51 games. A multi-year captain of the U20 team, Knak is back at it for Davos this season and has a 1-1-2 statline in 4 NL games this year. More importantly, he's playing a line higher than last year, averaging just over 14 minutes a night.

Ontario Region - Dylan Krill

https://twitter.com/dylan_krill

2023 Player to Watch: Cam Allen, D, Guelph Storm

Allen is a high-end two-way defenseman who looked like a veteran in his rookie year. After a strong Hlinka tournament where he served as captain for team Canada, Allen will look to have a big season with Guelph, establishing himself as the premier defenseman of the 2023 NHL Draft.

Already Drafted Player to Watch: David Goyette, C, Sudbury Wolves

The 61st overall selection by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 draft, David Goyette was my favourite player last year because of his blend of high-end creativity and puck skills with elite skating. After finishing with the most points by a rookie, he will look to have another big season on an improved Sudbury team.

David Goyette of the Sudbury Wolves. Photo by Robert Lefebvre /OHL Images.

Slovak and Czech Region - Matej Deraj

https://twitter.com/MatoDeraj

2023 Player to Watch: Ondrej Molnár, W, HK Nitra

Molnár is an electric winger who has nifty hands, good hockey sense and a dangerous shot, although he’s more of a playmaker. His biggest asset is his skating; he’s quick, agile and his acceleration is at the top level. The main room for improvement is in his defensive game and awareness. Overall, an intriguing player to watch who’s dangerous every time he steps on the ice.

Already Drafted Player to Watch: Adam Sýkora, W/C, HK Nitra

Sýkora has gained a lot of confidence since last year. The second-round pick of the 2022 draft had impressed everybody with his tremendous worth ethic and compete level, but the expectations are now higher for the Rangers prospect. I believe Sýkora will use his speed and skills to improve his last year’s point record and earn a call-up to the Men’s National Team.

Eastern Canada Region - Charles Lassonde

https://twitter.com/cl_hockeyscout

2023 Player to Watch: Mathieu Cataford, RW, Halifax Mooseheads

Cataford has been outstanding since the second half of the last season with Halifax. He elevated his game to a higher standard and had a strong showing in the playoffs. Despite a quiet Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, I really think that everything is set for Cataford to establish himself as a 1st round pick or at least a second-round selection in the 2023 NHL draft. His skating remains the weakness in his game, but his skill level, intensity, hockey sense and responsible 200-feet game style will quickly erase the doubts of the scouts in Cataford’s game

Already Drafted to Watch: Tristan Luneau, RD, Gatineau Olympiques

The Anaheim Ducks 2nd round pick has already been sent back to Gatineau after getting two points (1 goal and 1 assist) in his only exhibition game with the Ducks. Despite dealing with injuries in the 2020-21 season, Luneau surely didn’t show the best of himself last year. Knowing him from the M18AAA in Quebec, I’m sure that he’ll be in a better shape and ready to bring his game to the level he knows it can be.

AHL Coverage - Josh Bell

https://twitter.com/JoshuaBell31

Already Drafted to Watch: Yaroslav Askarov, G, Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

The Nashville Predators 11th overall draft pick in 2020 is finally making the trip overseas, joining the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals as he adjusts to the North American game. Touted as the next Carey Price in his draft year, the Russian netminder will likely be sharing the crease with another strong goaltending prospect in Connor Ingram, but Askarov will get his share of starts and is one injury or hot streak away from taking over the starting reins.

Already Drafted to Watch: Jiri Kulich, C, Rochester Americans (AHL)

One of my favourite prospects in the 2022 NHL Draft, Kulich is entering his first professional season in North America. He had a remarkable 2021-22 campaign, leading all rookies in points in the top-Czech men’s league before captaining the Czechs in the World Under-18s, leading the tournament in goals and being named MVP. Plus, he finished over a point-per-game at the U20s. I’m excited to see how he adjusts in the AHL.

U.S. Region - Ethan Hetu

https://twitter.com/EthanHetu

2023 Player to Watch: William Whitelaw, C/RW, Youngstown Phantoms

The University of Wisconsin commit starred last year at Shattuck St. Mary’s alongside top 2024 prospect Macklin Celebrini and now will play his draft season as “the guy” for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms. Whitelaw is a creative playmaker and an aggressive, pace-pushing offensive generator. Whitelaw has said that he’d like to improve his defensive game and become the most well-rounded player of the 2023 class, so it’ll be intriguing to see how he evolves as he strives to commit more to the 200-foot game.

Already Drafted Player to Watch: Lane Hutson, D, Boston University

Concerns about how Lane Hutson’s size (he is listed at five-foot-nine, 155 pounds) would limit his game’s translatability to more difficult levels of hockey caused the dynamic blueliner to have to wait until the 62nd pick of the 2022 draft to hear his name called. A more difficult level of hockey has now arrived for Hutson, who at Boston University will look to continue to break the mold of what the modern NHL defenseman “should” look like.

Lane Hutson

Russia Region - Dmitri Blokhin

https://twitter.com/DVBlokhin

2023 Player to Watch: Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Omsk Yastreby VHL

Gulyayev shines bright and stands out among Russian draft eligibles because of his hockey IQ. He is really great with the puck in the offensive zone and he’s also very confident and reliable in the defensive end. He has a high skill level, playmaking and quarter-backing ability, and character. He started this season with VHL team Omskiye Krylia and already played several games with Avangard KHL. The expectations are high for him.

Already Drafted to Watch: Alexander Perevalov, F, Kunlun Red Star KHL

Selected in the 3rd round of the 2022 draft by the Carolina Hurricanes, Perevalov has high expectations due to his talent level. His last season was a controversial one with his play being inconsistent and his character being questionable. Nevertheless, he gets a trade from CSKA system in the new season and finds himself with the Kunlun Red Star KHL team. He's already showing more confidence, and in a recent game against CSKA he scored 2 goals and was successful in the game winning penalty shot. If his growth is consistent, he'll be able to develop his talent to 100% and play in the NHL after his current contract expires.

Eastern Canada Region - Benoit Belanger

https://twitter.com/BenoitGBelanger

2023 Player to Watch: Miguel Tourigny, D, Shawinigan Cataractes

At just 16, he turned heads with a stellar performance in the President's Cup Championship and Memorial Cup. His calm play, his intelligence, his maturity, combined with his skills, make him a player with great potential. He did very well during the U18 Hlinka-Gretzky tournament. Very good across 200 feet, very good hockey sense, with good passing and skating skills. He is a player to watch.

Already Drafted to Watch: Angus Booth, D, Shawinigan Cataractes

After an emotional and experience-filled season, including a President's Cup and a Memorial Cup appearance, Booth saw that memorable season come to a close with his 4th round selection by the Los Angeles Kings. It will be a totally different situation for him this year, with a team starting a junior cycle again. But it will be interesting to follow how he will react to this challenge and if he will be able to take his level of play to another level. I'm curious to see the full extent of his intelligence being passed on to his younger teammates.

Finland Region - Mikko Kuikka

https://twitter.com/mijukui83

2023 Player to Watch: Arttu Karki, D, Tappara U20 SM

“Karki is a very mobile defenseman with good shooting skills. Overall, he is a puck moving defenseman with good size (187cm) and good skating. At the moment, Karki is a 2nd/3rd-round talent, but if he has another great year, he could climb higher.”

Already Drafted Player to Watch: Joakim Kemell, W, Jyp

“Kemell is a strong shooter who can also create his own chances. Drafted by Nashville Predators 2022 Draft as a first-round pick, he is playing this season at Jyp Jyvaskyla (Finnish liiga) as a loan player from Nashville Predators. I hope he makes this an injury free season that will show his real potential playing at the men's level.”

GERMAN PROSPECT MUSINGS 2022 #1 – Weak draft group, Rossmy’s late season surge, Germany host U18 World Championship, and more

Chapin Landvogt — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 18:03:29 +0000

Bennet Rossmy. Photo by Dan Hickling, Hickling Images

German Prospect Musings

The DEL season has now concluded and there are ultimately few surprises in the grand scheme of things. The reigning champion Eisbären Berlin, featuring draftees Dominik Bokk and Johan Södergran as well as overage draft-eligibles Tobias Ancicka and Bennet Rossmy, can be found at 1st overall while Krefeld is the team that finished last, meaning it will be relegated if the Frankfurt Lions of the DEL2 manage to win the DEL2 championship, for which they are still in the running. Many factors led to the last place finish for a Krefeld team that entered the season with a ton of established European pros and former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Jeremy Bracco, who did become the team’s top scorer. Saddening is that no DEL team was more ready and willing to provide ice time to youngsters, including regular shifts for WJC performers Alexander Blank, Justin Volek, Maciej Rutkowski, and Nikita Quapp, who of course is a Carolina Hurricanes prospect.

Quapp did end up seeing a bit of ice time this year but cannot claim to have been more than average behind a porous defense, one that had for several stretches of the season only had four or five bodies, with the top three long since lost to injury. In fact, his 4.04 GAA and .875 save percentage tell a much different story. His teammate Blank has, however, - in conjunction with his outstanding WJC performance - become the nation’s top overager on the draft front and perhaps its best prospect available for this draft. Should the team truly be relegated, which would be as unfathomable for the German ice hockey scene as seeing Modo or HV71 or Djurgarden drop down in Sweden, both young men will definitely be playing their ice hockey elsewhere next season.

What the DEL season did show was teams getting hit by Covid at various junctures and a ton of rescheduled games, which often led to 4-game weeks for several teams. This led to a situation where any number of teams could look like world-beaters on one evening, and juniors the next. Powerhouses such as Mannheim and Munich each suffered through various losing streaks and the odd blowout loss along the way.

Poor year on the prospect front

Despite all the thin line-ups and number of games that saw junior-aged players dressed (if for no other reason than) to prevent the team from having to forfeit a game, several players did manage to gain considerable ice time and throw their name into this summer’s draft hat. In addition to Blank, Munich’s Filip Varejcka and Maks Szuber each assumed much larger roles with more considerable ice time than anyone would have imagined coming into the season. It’ll be Szuber’s third go at it despite first turning 20 in August. For Varejcka, who has never quite been able to obtain draft consideration, it’s his last shot at age 21. A host of other young men saw some time with the DEL club, including Sebastian Cimmermann and Thomas Heigl, but the biggest disappointment this season has been Germany’s top overall prospect for this year’s draft, Julian Lutz.

It’s no real fault of his own. Lutz was injured right before the season began and despite being known as a fitness nut and winner of many internal fitness competitions within the Red Bull organization, couldn’t make it back into the line-up until several weeks ago. Coming back has been a slow process and his 1-2-3 and +3 scoreline in 13 games isn’t screaming “Yes, I’m a top 90 pick”, but simply being back has given his draft chances quite the boost. What we’ll now have to see is just how far Munich goes this spring, as Lutz is eligible for the U18 Worlds being hosted right here in Germany (more on that later). When healthy, the DEL club has more than enough organizational depth to do without Lutz, but will he become integral enough to a go at the championship to dispatch him to the U18 team?

We may know very soon.

Another young man who was thought to spend his initial draft year in the DEL was 17-year-old Luca Hauf. Yes, he got into 12 games with the aforementioned last place club but had zero points and a minus rating. It was a step too much for him. He continued to ravage the nation’s 3rd league to the tune of 32 points in 25 games and the nation’s junior league with 14 points in four games, but most interesting has been his three points and +2 in seven DEL2 contests with the Frankfurt Lions. Yes, that’s right, with the one team that could replace Krefeld in the DEL next year. His spring in the DEL2 will also determine if he’ll be able to participate in the U18 worlds.

Both Lutz and Hauf would be 2/3rds of U18 Germany’s first line.

A couple of other top candidates for the big tourney are Moritz Elias and Leo Hafenrichter. Fans of CHL leagues will recognize those names right away, as both were drafted by and began the season with a WHL and OHL club, respectively. Both returned. Both have since been playing regularly in the DEL2. Neither has done much in the point production department, but each has been an integral part of some interesting playoff success.

Elias’ Heilbronn Falcons knocked off the Dresden Loewen, who had spent much of the season in first place and finished 2nd overall. Kassel was a huge favorite coming into the season, but Hafenrichter’s Bad Nauheim just took them out in seven games. It’s doubtful that either team will survive the next round of the playoffs, so there really should be no danger of missing out on the U18 tournament. Both will be needed for their skillset, but also their knowledge of North American players, seeing as how Germany will be in a group with both Canada and the USA.

Lastly, we’d like to mention Roman Kechter, who plays in Sweden for Rögle BK, the same club top prospect Marco Kasper is playing for. As opposed to Kasper, whose name is popping up everywhere as a 1st round option for the draft, Kechter has taken a fairly large step back in his prospect status this season after having gained 21 games of DEL experience as a 17-year-old last season. That making his way into the SHL shouldn’t be expected was clear, but Kechter has played a bit of a menial role for the club’s U20 team, collecting 15 points in 31 games. Granted, he just turned 18 in mid-February and will have not only the Swedish junior playoffs to build his status with, but also the tournament in Landshut and Kaufbeuren. Of course, Kechter is currently seen as a Swedish prospect.

All things considered, the top names for first year eligible German prospects are going to need to make use of a big season-concluding tournament in order to really make themselves into possibilities for the draft. At this juncture, only Lutz seems to be a sure-fire pick and even that will be mostly based on what he did last season.

Late season splurge

Rossmy, Germany’s U18 captain last spring, was basically the top first year eligible prospect in Germany last season aside from Haakon Hänelt, a Washington Capitals draft pick who has come to play all of seven games for the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL. But Rossmy spent the bulk of this season showing the NHL scouting community that they were right to take a wait and see approach in drafting him. He wasn’t able to produce in the DEL in over twenty games from the Eisbären Berlin and his DEL2 play didn’t see him chip in at the level he did just last season as a 17-year-old.

Well, something went click in this year’s relegation round, when it mattered most. There he exploded for four goals, 11 points, and a +8 rating in just five games. Once the class was retained for his Lausitzer Foxes, Berlin called him back up and he promptly scored his second DEL goal of the season in a 5-1 victory over Augsburg. To jog your memory, the 6’3”, 195-pound winger was part of Germany’s U20 team this winter and will spend the rest of the season with 1st place Berlin, which starts its playoff run this week.

Junior champions decided

The junior season has concluded in Germany’s top three junior circuits, namely the DNL (U20), U17, and U15, and it’s been a dandy of a season for a bunch of young people have missed out on championships over the past two years, particularly with respect to the DNL.

That’s where we’ll start as this end result was the season’s biggest surprise. The new champion is the Eisbären Berlin Juniors and despite the DEL team’s many achievements, it’s the first ever title in four attempts for the boys from the German capital. Adding to the nuance was that Berlin had to defeat Cologne in a Best-of-Three series, one that featured three very hard-fought battles ending 4-3 in OT, 5-3, and then 3-2. In fact, it’s the first time since 2010 that a team other than the Mannheim Jungadler had won the title. In total, Mannheim has taken the prize 17 times in the league’s 20-year history. Cologne had disposed of Mannheim rather convincingly in the semifinals with results of 3-0 and well, 3-0. Quiet for Mannheim in those losses were both Ralf Rollinger and Luigi Calce, who have spearheaded the team’s attack and are draft eligible for the first time this year.

The top scorer of the playoffs was Pascal Steck (member of last spring’s U18 team in Texas) with 3-8-11 in five games, but Berlin’s Kevin Handschuh proved the hero with the game-winner in the final and his league-leading 8th tally. The league’s top scorer this season was Veit Oswald, with 28-23-51 in 31 games, a player you can count on seeing at the upcoming U18 Worlds. First turning 18 on August 31st, he’ll be one of the youngest players technically available in this summer’s draft.

Mannheim did however wrap up the championships at the U17 and U15 levels, continuing to lead the nation’s charge in prospect development. Names we’ll be following very closely in the coming years are Kevin Bicker, Linus Brandl, Lua Niehus, Max Herzogs, twins Gustav and Rihards Griva (GER-LAT dual citizens), and newly acquired defenseman Paul Mayer. These are all players who are first draft-eligible between 2023-25, but the younger guys have already been getting considerable ice time with the higher league teams.

Germany hosting U18 Worlds

The last time Germany hosted the U18 Worlds was in 2011, when the JT Miller and Seth Jones-led USA defeated the Mika Zibanejad-led Team Sweden in a thrilling 3-2 overtime dual. That tournament also featured a line for Russia that set all tournament scoring records, namely Nail Yakupov and Nikita Kucherov flanking Mikhail Grigorenko.

There’ll be no Team Russia or Belarus at this year’s tourney and that means there will only be eight teams. The scouting community was licking its chops to see no less than Slovakia added, but the Slovaks are hosting the D1B U18 Worlds and that just couldn’t be pushed off for a number of financial and organizational reasons. For Germany, that will stiffen the competition with little time to prove itself. The good news is that no-one will be relegated, and each team is making the playoffs. That makes the preliminary round a warm-up and jostling for initial playoff opponents. Otherwise, it’s clear as day that Germany will be an underdog, even with Latvia also participating in the tournament. The Latvians have traditionally been a nightmare for the German squad at this event.

For now, Germany is holding a camp consisting primarily of DNL and Red Bull Academy junior players. The big name on the team is, of course, Lutz, but no less than goaltenders Philip Dietl and Leon Willerscheid, defensemen Leo Hafenrichter, Niklas Hübner, and Michael Reich, as well as fellow forwards Moritz Elias and Luca Hauf spent time this season playing DEL or DEL2 hockey. In addition, forwards Daniel Assavolyuk and Philip Krening spent the season with RB Hockey Juniors in the AlpsHL while Nikita Krymskiy spent the entire season playing Oberliga hockey. There is some verifiable pro experience on the team.

In addition, coach Alexander Dück’s U18 squad will play several test games against the nation’s U17 team, which features players such as defensemen Mayer, Niehus, and Alex Vladelchtchikov as well as forwards Bicker, Brandl, Noah Samanski, Julius Sumpf, and Paul Vinzens. There are many involved in Germany’s junior ranks who feel this wave of players trumps many of the current, older candidates. As such, the opportunity is there for several underagers to still be a part of the upcoming U18 Worlds. And that’s taking into account that Willerscheid and the highly touted Edwin Tropmann are 2005-born players who are already currently in the U18 camp, meaning their spot on the team is basically chiseled into stone.

Prospect tidbits

The season ended disappointingly for the RB Hockey Juniors of the AlpsHL. The team started the year strongly and then saw things get tougher once all the players returned from the canceled WJC. In the pre-playoffs, the team quickly lost its best-of-three series 2-0. With that, the season was over for a good handful of young men the scouting community would have loved to see in continued action.

For Germany, that meant that the aforementioned Krening could concentrate on the upcoming U18 Worlds. A bit lost in the fray, Krening is a first eligible prospect who missed a good chunk of the season to injury. The 5’11”, 175-pounder is however one of the most promising skill players in this year’s prospect batch and actually managed to put up 6-4-10 and a +2 in the 16 games he did play. That had him on pace for approximately the same amount of points we saw out of Lutz last year. We’ll be keeping a close eye on him should he be representing Team Germany in Landshut.

In North America, several players we’d like to touch upon have seen their college seasons come to an end while one more finds himself playing in the NCAA’s Final Four this week, namely Julian Napravnik of Minnesota State University. With 49 points in 38 games, he’s currently 4th overall in the nation in scoring. It will be interesting to see what that means as a soon-to-be free agent, who will naturally look to add to his scoring feats and trophy cabinet on the biggest weekend of his young career to date.

Two others we’d like to point out are Lukas Kälble and Tommy Pasanen, both of whom suited up for Clarkson this winter. The former was a 5th year senior and led the team’s blueline in scoring with 7-15-22 in 32 games. He has signed with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL and has one point in three games. Highly sought after by German pro teams, Kälble is reported as now wanting to make his way up the North American minor league circuit with an NHL contract in site down the line. The 6’4”, 218-pound Pasanen completed his first season of play with seven points in 28 games, but the righty shot was also a +16. He has another three years of NCAA eligibility and is a name we’ll be keeping close tabs on as his career progresses.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: CAROLINA HURRICANES – RANK: #14 – TIER III

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 15:28:03 +0000

Carolina Hurricanes

#14 Carolina - Carolina has drafted for quantity as much as quality over teh last few seasons, and their system reflects that, lacking too many top flight guys, but going very long on that next tier.

Seth Jarvis. Photo by Keith Dwiggins/Portland Winterhawks

Seth Jarvis - RW

To say Jarvis’ AHL debut was a success would be an understatement. With the pandemic allowing underage players to participate in a few pro games last season, Jarvis made the most of his opportunity, posting seven goals and 11 points in just nine games for the Chicago Wolves. He led the league in scoring at the moment in time when he was sent back to Portland to finish the season in the WHL. There he added 27 more points in 24 games to close out an extremely successful draft-plus-one campaign.

Jarvis is a supremely talented player with electrifying skills. His skating and stickhandling make him a force in the neutral zone, creating turnovers and leading the rush the other way. In the offensive zone, Jarvis attacks with pace and is able to execute at top speed. He sees the ice well and is a creative playmaker but can also finish with precision in a variety of ways. He displayed a keen sense of time and space at the faster AHL pace and adapted well. Ineligible for the AHL this upcoming season, the odds are the Hurricanes will send Jarvis back to Portland for a final junior season, as they generally like to let their prospects over-ripen. However, one could argue that Jarvis has nothing left to prove at the junior level and excelled playing against men last season already. His ability to play wing or center could see him earn a spot in the NHL in 2021-22 with a strong training camp. - AS

Dominik Bokk - RW

Currently 21-years-old, Dominik Bokk is a former 1st rounder of the St. Louis Blues who was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes in the deal that sent defenseman Justin Faulk to St. Louis. Entering the 20-21 season, Bokk had parts of three SHL seasons - including two full seasons - under his belt, having peaked to date with 23 points for Rögle BK in the 18-19 season. A strong WJC with six goals as well as an uptick in his SHL goalscoring from eight to 11 took place in the 19-20 season, but this year began in a manner that quickly had him in limbo. Surprisingly scheduled to play for DEL bottom feeder Krefeld heading into the season, the delayed DEL start led to Bokk looking for greener pastures, landing once again in Sweden and admittedly with his third SHL organization, Djurgarden.

A team desperate for offense at the time of his arrival, the Stockholmers lived through 20 games of Bokk’s most ineffective play as a professional. Known for his fantastic mitts, some shake-n-bake moves, and a strong ability to find teammates in scoring positions, Book couldn’t muster up more than his three points despite being given a prime opportunity on a scoring line upon his arrival. Carolina brought him over to the AHL once the league got going and it proved to be the breath of fresh air that Bokk so desperately needed. Suiting up for 29 games with the Chicago Wolves, Bokk's first sojourn to North America saw him rack up nine goals and 18 points, most over the second half of his AHL season, finding a real groove while learning what challenges await him as part of a Carolina system that is generally stacked with forward prospects. The key is that he has gotten acclimated and was able to make some noise. Carolina will be needing to look for some affordable, extra scoring on the wings over the next few seasons and one of those could be Bokk. - CL

Ryan Suzuki - C

All things considered; it was a very successful season for the former Hurricanes first round pick. After helping Canada win silver at the World Junior Championships, Suzuki joined the Chicago Wolves of the AHL with the OHL on hiatus. With Chicago, Suzuki was very productive and impressive in a bottom six role for the Wolves, his first taste of pro action. The younger brother of Montreal’s Nick Suzuki, Ryan appears well on track to be an NHL player.

The two areas of Ryan’s game that needed to be improved upon to find success at the pro level definitely improved this season. The first would be his assertiveness and aggressiveness with the puck, showing a willingness to attack the middle and play through contact. The second would be his confidence in using his shot and being more deliberate with the puck. By improving these two areas, Suzuki was able to be a more consistent and reliable offensive player and it improves his odds of becoming a high-end middle six forward at the NHL level. He will need to continue to get stronger and quicker, however he will get the opportunity to return to Chicago this upcoming season, where he will take on a larger role and show that he can be an offensive leader in the AHL before moving on to the next challenge at the NHL level. - BO

Noel Gunler - RW

After not getting much ice time with his hometown team Lulea HF, Gunler was traded to Brynäs IF in the first months of the 2020-21 season. His role significantly improved after the move, as he was getting more Top six and power play minutes. He was given a chance in 32 Swedish Hockey League games, and his production was alright for a 19-year-old: eight goals and five assists, a total of 13 points.

The Swedish winger is a skilled shooter, he proved his abilities in both SHL and the World Junior Championships (four goals in five matches). He still projects as a second-line forward, due to his awesome shot, size (6-2”), physicality and overall offensive abilities. His PPG was the 3^rd highest behind two Top seven 2020 NHL Draft picks, Alexander Holtz and Lucas Raymond, out of all D+1 SHL players. A pre-draft consensus 1^st round candidate himself, he has the potential to become one of the steals of last year's draft. He was surprisingly taken in the second round (41^st overall) by the Hurricanes. Gunler is expected to start the next season with Brynäs, which is a really good move. The 19-year-old needs to spend more time with the pros, working on his weaknesses (his play without the puck, consistency issues) and after improving his production, he should find his way to North America. - MD

Ville Koivunen - LW

A winger who has not been receiving near the amount of respect he is deserving of, Koivunen parlayed a U20 season this year into a league Rookie of the Year award and a three-year extension with Karpat’s main club. His reputation as an offensive weapon was only strengthened with a 10-point performance at the U18 championships. Koivunen brings a combination of puck skills and hockey sense that should allow him to continue performing at a top six clip as he moves into the men’s leagues on a full-time basis this year. For those reasons, he was a terrific second round selection by Carolina this year.

Equally talented in a set-up capacity or as a finisher, Koivunen plays off of his linemates well, and demonstrates very mature poise on the puck, regardless of the level of pressure being placed on him by the defense. His skating will need some real improvement before he can be considered NHL-ready, which considers technique, leg strength, and just the stamina/drive to keep his feet moving and prevent splaying throughout the entirety of the shift. All of the impact tools are here for a future top six winger, with relatively small tweaks standing in the way of success. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Jamieson Rees - C

A highly competitive, yet skilled forward, Rees’ development has gone very well since being drafted by the Hurricanes in the second round of the 2019 Draft. Even with the OHL on hiatus this past season, Rees was able to carve out a significant role on the Chicago Wolves in the AHL as an underage player (playing on an exemption). Rees (and Ryan Suzuki, for that matter), brought energy, tenaciousness, and offensive production in a checking line role on a very strong Wolves team.

Rees is most electric and dangerous in transition, where he can use his speed to push the pace. However, he loves to drive the middle and crash the net; playing the pest role is something he seems to really enjoy. While Rees has the individual puck skill and creativity to consistently create chances, he is equally adept at finishing off plays and finding open space in the slot to use his high end shot release. A well-rounded player, it seems likely that Rees should at least be able to carve out a long career as a versatile and valuable third line forward. However, he will need to learn to play with more discipline as the penalty issues that plagued him in the OHL were also an issue in his first pro season. Look for Rees to play another full season in the AHL before pushing for playing time in Carolina. - BO

Pyotr Kochetkov - G

Looking back at Kochetkov's season it started very hopefully, as he was given a full-time backup roster spot (with the possibility to prove himself as a potential starter too) at Vityaz KHL team, but unfortunately, he didn't use that opportunity very well. Additionally, at the same time, the team's third goalie had a breakout season, so it didn't take long until Kochetkov found himself not in the position to succeed anymore. A trade to the Torpedo team at the KHL deadline solved the situation a bit, as he was able to get himself some starts again, but still, that couldn't really save his season.

Kochetkov has signed with the Hurricanes but was immediately loaned back to Torpedo for the coming season. He will have to compete for his starts there again, as, judging by the roster situation in Torpedo, he won't be getting those handed to him. What he really needs to do next season to further his development (aside from winning as many starts as possible) is to work on his technique and consistency, as he is still a pretty raw goalie, which is worrying considering his age. In other words, the Canes goaltending coaching staff will need to address that and do their work to make him an NHL level goalie. - VF

Jack Drury - C

Ivy Leaguers typically stay in school for the full four years, or at least three, but the pandemic we are still living through has led to far stranger things than a talented player walking away from Harvard after only two seasons in uniform. A player who has always been able to contribute above the level of his disparate skills, Drury leveraged the global pandemic to leave school early, not to sign an NHL contract, but to sign for a season in Sweden with SHL Vaxjo, with whom he captured a league title, leading the team in scoring in the postseason to boot. Drury is the type that requires numerous viewings to truly appreciate, as none of his individual skills, on their own, stand out. He just gets the job done.

Carolina has a fairly deep organization, both at the NHL level and in the minors, so there is no reason to expect Drury to play in the NHL for any significant length of time in 2021-22. But with six of the centers either clearly above him or vying for NHL time with him looking at expiring contracts at the end of the upcoming season, Drury’s timeline to a strong NHL opportunity is relatively short. The lack of any one selling tool perhaps limits Drury to a middle six upside, but by this time, it would surprise roughly no one if he exceeded his tools yet again once he gets to the NHL. - RW

Joey Keane - D

An AHL All-Star as a rookie in 2019/20, Keane was rewarded midseason with a trade from the Rangers to the Hurricanes (in exchange for Julien Gauthier). In his first full season with the Canes organization, Keane continued to be an AHL stand out with the Checkers. This led to the reward of a cup of coffee with the Canes, allowing management to evaluate his future prospects with the organization.

The highlight of Keane’s game is his mobility. An elite level skater in all four directions, Keane always seems to be a step ahead of the competition. A tenacious physical player, Keane stands out in the defensive end, first and foremost, because of his ability to quell transitional attacks. Offensively, he will take his chances to lead and jump into the attack, given his quickness. However, his decision making is still called into question at times, leading some to believe that he may settle into more of a defensive role at the NHL level. Keane stands to receive a chance to be a full time third pairing defender next year if he has a strong camp and preseason as he will likely be competing with the recently acquired Ethan Bear for playing time. While his upside remains a bit of a question mark, his odds of becoming an NHL defender, in some capacity, seem good. - BO

Tuukka Tieksola - RW

Even though there was some disappointment over Tieksola not making the Finnish World Junior squad this year, he did experience a breakout performance in Liiga with Karpat. His 18 points in 37 games was the sixth best production by a U20 player in Liiga. The speedy and crafty winger turned this performance into a contract with the Hurricanes.

Tieksola’s game revolves around his quick feet and hands. Shifty and elusive in the offensive zone, he is great at finding soft spots in coverage. His top end speed can be an asset in transition too, and he has really dialed up his physical intensity level since being drafted to become a competent forechecker and boards player. Even with a contract in hand, the Hurricanes will be loaning Tieksola back to Finland for the year. He will rejoin Karpat and look to improve his production and establish himself as a go-to offensive player in Liiga. He projects as a middle six scoring option for Carolina but is probably still a few years off of reaching that potential. - BO

Aleksi Heimosalmi - D

A recent second round selection by Carolina, Heimosalmi was one of the breakout stars of this year’s World Under 18’s, earning the tournament’s top defender honor. Blessed with excellent skating ability, Heimosalmi is a dynamic puck mover, but he will look to improve his play in his own end as he becomes a Liiga regular this season with Assat.

Anttoni Honka - D

Since being drafted in 2019, Honka has done nothing but improve and is coming off of his best season yet in Liiga with JYP. The smooth skating offensive defender will return to Finland for another year and then should be ready to cross the pond and push for the Carolina roster.

Scott Morrow - D

Another recent second round selection, Morrow was billed as one of the 2021 draft’s best skaters. However, he has seen limited action above the prep school level and remains a long-term project, albeit one with high upside. Morrow will suit up for UMass this year, which has done a terrific job of developing defenders in recent years.

David Cotton - LW

Cotton had a very good first pro season with Charlotte after four very strong seasons at Boston College. The strong two-way center is someone who projects as a middle six forward for the Hurricanes and could see action as early as this year in Carolina.

Eetu Makiniemi - G

Fresh off his first full season as a starter in Liiga, Makiniemi has signed with Carolina and will head to North America to play in the AHL this year. He will compete to be the starter in Charlotte and has the package of size and athleticism that could make him a back-up at minimum in the future.

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

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

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

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

PROSPECT CRITERIA

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

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

2021 World Junior Championship: Looking at Team Germany‘s likely line-up

Chapin Landvogt — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 20:46:09 +0000

The German Ice Hockey Federation didn’t waste any time letting the world know about the pool of players it plans on taking to next month’s WJC. Coach Tobias Abstreiter’s official nomination took place on November 18^th and consisted of three goaltenders, nine defensemen, and 15 forwards. The federation also made it a point to list the one goalie, three defensemen, and six forwards who’d be next up in emergency situations, with an ever-present Covid-related threat (which has already ended up being the case; more on that later). This list of extras includes first time draft eligible forward Haakon Hänelt and defenseman Fabrizio Pilu, both of whom would surely have been welcomed additions as far as the scouting community is concerned.

At this early juncture, we naturally know that several of the 27 players nominated will need to be cut for the final roster and those cuts will almost certainly include one defenseman and at least two forwards. The team will also spend a comfy period in quarantine in Alberta before playing test games against Austria (Dec. 21) and the Czech Republic (Dec. 23). This will all come on the heels of a preparatory camp the federation is holding in Füssen, Germany, starting on December 6^th.

What we know

Clearly, the most glaring absentee from the list of nominees is that of defenseman Moritz Seider. In fact, for a tournament of this nature, taking place in a day and age where the NHL is not in full swing, it will stand as an immeasurable loss for Team Germany, which may otherwise have had very realistic thoughts of competing for a medal. Seider may not have been coming in as the tournament’s top defenseman, but possibly as its most accomplished and pro-experienced. Alas, the Detroit Red Wings have not officially released him for the WJC and this decision probably has more to do with Seider himself simply wanting to stay put with Rögle of the Swedish SHL, where he can continue to play at a very high level without interruption, than with anything else.

As of now, his absence is one of the bigger hits any team at this tournament will have to endure heading in.

Roster notes

Ten of the nominated players recently participated in Germany’s annual fall tournament, the Deutschland Cup, as part of “Top Team Peking” (consisting solely of U23 players), facing off against the German and Latvian national teams. The youngest player currently on the roster is Cologne’s defenseman Luca Münzenberger, who just turned 18 this past week and will first be eligible for the NHL draft next summer. One goaltender and five forwards are returning from last winter’s WJC entry while more than half of the current roster was born in 2002 and thus, will also have the opportunity to be part of team Germany in next winter’s WJC.

Of note here is that all other IIHF U20 tournaments have been cancelled and this means that no team will be relegated from this winter’s WJC, something a federation like Germany rarely gets to plan with from the outset.

Outlook

Germany managed to survive last winter’s tournament with a fairly strong preliminary round that featured a win over the host Czech Republic and then a thrilling relegation round victory over Kazakhstan that saw Germany convincingly win games one and three of the series. Due to the thrill of prior first rounders Seider and Dominik Bokk (CAR) as well as top 2020 prospects Tim Stutzle (OTT), Lukas Reichel (CHI), and JJ Peterka (BUF), the team was one no scout wanted to miss out on.

Now the onus is on the program to take the next step, as it will be looking to make the playoffs and then possibly make some noise once there. This might be the program’s one big shot when you consider that the aforementioned top prospects are now in their WJC prime, so to speak, and will be leaned on heavily to ensure any possible success. Although the tournament is being held halfway around the world in Alberta, Canada, it will have a very central European feel to it as the German squad will be accompanied by Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, all nations that Germany has arguably been at eye level with, if not ahead of, in recent years.

Germany will kick off the tournament against Finland and Canada in Group A, which may be exactly what Abstreiter and co. would have wished for had they made the schedule themselves. After competing in the “Group of Death” last winter, the Germans will be tested right off the bat against an always deadly Finnish team and the home country favourite Canada, both of which will serve as ideal warm-ups for the contests against Switzerland and finally Slovakia – the nations Germany will surely need to beat in order to assure itself a playoff spot.

Goalies

It’s hard to tell right now who the starter will be. Tobias Ancicka was on last year’s squad and got bombed to the tune of a 5.25 GAA and .794 save percentage in basically 1.5 outings. He was also off to a less than impressive start in the DEL2 this season and has since tested Covid-positive. He has already been replaced by emergency call-up Jonas Gähr, who has seen little action this season.

Arno Tiefensee, a 6-4” Mannheim Adler loanee, is currently playing DEL2 hockey, and has had trouble keeping the puck out of the net in two outings for Heilbronn. He is nonetheless considered one of Germany’s absolute top talents in goal and has been fairly dominant in his DNL career.

That brings us to the youngster in the group, Florian Bugl, who has been outstanding as the 18-year old starter for Red Bull Akademie, a U20 squad playing pro in the Alps Hockey League. A 7-4 record while sporting a .923 save percentage against men has more than a few believing that he could be primed for the starting job in light of Ancicka’s absence.

One way or another, Germany is entering the tournament with several interesting options, but no clear-cut go-to man.

Defensemen

We need to start off here by pointing out that Moritz Seider probably would have been looking at more than 25 minutes per game of ice time if he were on board. That might even be selling him short. With him out of the equation, that crucial ice time will need to be spread out among a number of other defenders and everyone remaining is new to the WJC. That alone will be a huge reason why the two test games and then the openers against Finland and Canada will be of immense importance in having no less than the top four crystalized and ready for war in the final two games of the preliminary round.

At this point, fans should expect Simon Gnyp, Tommy Pasanen, Max Glötzl, and Maks Szuber to be the likely top four by the time that game against Switzerland swings around. Aside from their experience at the pro level or internationally for Germany in recent years, they are simply the most talented players in the group at this point. Defensive-minded Lucas Flade and Mario Zimmermann are already in their second seasons of DEL2 play while Steven Raabe has 25 games of DEL action under his belt, and was very effective in a two-way capacity in the country’s third pro circuit. Niklas Länger and the aforementioned Luca Münzenberger appear to be looking in from the outside, but the latter is not only one of the bigger players in the line-up, but he also has been highly effective in the DNL this season (Germany’s top junior circuit).

We would be remiss to analyze the blueline without mentioning that Glötzl was the top German defenseman available in this fall’s draft and is still considered the country’s top undrafted defensive prospect. At the same time, Pasanen is scheduled to play for Clarkson this season and very much models his game after Moritz Seider. Pasanen is a righty shot of good size and has clearly taken some tips from the guy this team will be so sorely missing. For Gnyp and Szuber, this WJC will be an excellent opportunity to get their names more firmly entrenched on the map for the international scouting community.

Forwards

What is clear entering this tournament is that any chances Germany has of making the playoffs, much less medaling, will have to come on the backs of top 35 picks Tim Stützle, Lukas Reichel, and JJ Peterka. They were already the prized prospect names of last year‘s tournament and now they will need to really make some music in light of there no longer being veterans like Dominik Bokk or Taro Jentzsch to lean on for offensive support, much less a breakout and PP stud on the blueline.

Stützle is currently injured (arm), but the program feels he will be back in time for the test games before Christmas. Reichel and Peterka have been on the ice for a while now and are as ready as anyone, with Reichel in particular having looked very good at the recent Deutschland Cup. Their role on this team is unquestioned, but what about the rest of this forward corps?

Returnees from last year’s squad include Nino Kinder and Jan Nijenhuis. Both are staring at a regular season in the DEL and will play important complimentary roles at this tournament. Neither is expected to scoring much, which is something Germany will have to find elsewhere in order to relieve its top three in some capacity. Kinder contributed two points at the last WJC and had a fairly solid season with Winnipeg Ice of the WHL last season, albeit in a lower line capacity.

Czech-born Filip Reisnecker has OHL experience and is currently locked in for DEL hockey after a fantastic 2019-20 season in Germany’s Oberliga. Josh Samanski spent last season with Owen Sound of the OHL and is a current member of Ravensburg of the DEL2. He measures in at 6-3” and is the son of Canadian John Samanski, who has spent the bulk of his playing and coaching career in Germany. The experience these two have in North American will surely be advantageous. Middle six roles are in the cards.

The most likely candidates to add true secondary scoring will be Florian Elias and Manuel Alberg. The latter has spent time in the OHL, WHL, and USHL, and is now scoring at about a point-per-game pace for Red Bull Akademie. Solidly built, he is a complimentary winger who is strong along the boards and deft in transitioning with the puck. The former went undrafted this past fall and is a skill player who we felt was draft-worthy this year. He missed out on showcasing himself to the scouting community when the U18 Worlds were cancelled, but has been outstanding in recent weeks for Top Team Peking as well as Mannheim Adler, with whom it looks like he will spend this season. In the past few years, each of these players has spent time on a line with one or more of the big three internationally.

Two fairly unknown players who could have a bigger impact than anyone outside the German ice hockey scene would imagine are Julian Chrobot and Elias Lindner. Chrobot is playing DEL2 hockey and has showed off his high-level skating in scoring several goals already this season. He has strong puck skills and is currently playing with a ton of confidence. Lindner is a player coaches trust and has 10 points and a +7 rating for Red Bull Akademie in 14 games this season. He is in full swing heading into the event. He also quietly had seven points in five games for the German U18 entry that gained promotion from the B-Group back in the spring of 2019. Both players bring good size and have likely flown under the radar a bit for international audiences, so they will be looking to make an impact in Edmonton.

That leaves young DEL2 lower liner Justin Volek, miniature winger Markus Schweiger, previously USHL-bound Jakob Borzecki, and tiny tot QMJHLer Sam Dubé as the forwards who are going to have the hardest time staying on this roster. They each have their merits, and the scouting community would have to be particularly curious about what bruiser Borzecki could do at this tournament, but none of them brings anything to the table that isn’t already covered more capably by the other eleven guys up front.

It will be interesting to see who sticks and that may just come down to any injuries sustained before the tournament begins.

Extras

In prior years, a player like Jan-Luca Schumacher would have been part of just about any German U20 team. After being a top scorer in the DNL for several years, the undersized playmaker has six points in 12 career DEL2 games. But there is too much quality now on Germany’s top lines and Schumacher may be obsolete for the time being. Of the other players listed above, the aforementioned Hänelt is the guy many felt would make the team. He didn’t look out of place in the Deutschland Cup, scoring a tremendous goal along the way, and is scheduled to be a regular piece of Berlin’s puzzle this season when DEL action gets underway, but quite frankly every player nominated ahead of him is just in a better flow and has been playing meaningful hockey this season.

Most interesting omission

For those really in the know on the German prospect front, probably the most disappointing – albeit understandable – omission from Coach Abstreiter’s nominations is that of 16-year old forward Julian Lutz, who has already amassed 13 points and a +10 rating in 12 games with Red Bull Akademie. The team’s second leading scorer will first be eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft, but we will take this opportunity to point out that he is already looking like the next German forward to be talked about in the same breath as Draisaitl and Stützle.

Yes, he’s that good.

Synopsis

This Team Germany will be worth watching, but it would have been so much more interesting had Moritz Seider also been part of the fun.

The team may have a truly impressive first line of attack, but it is filled with question marks from that point on. Can any of the three unproven goaltenders steal a game or two, especially considering the probable starter is out of the picture? Will a blueline that hasn’t spent a minute playing WJC hockey be able to get in synch by the time things really matter? Can any of the mostly unproven forwards step up to the occasion and provide a second wave of scoring to relieve the stars, who will get a ton of attention from the opposition?

There is no reason to think this team can’t compete with, and perhaps beat, any of Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia or Switzerland, but there is really no reason to think it should defeat any other opponent it faces. When it comes to medal ambitions, this squad remains a clear underdog.

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Carolina Hurricanes Top 20 Prospects

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 21:29:15 +0000

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

Seth Jarvis, C (13^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jarvis led his team in scoring last year and finished second to Adam Beckman in the WHL with 98 points. From January on, he had 63 points in 26 games. An explosive player in transition, he is at his best when he can attack with pace. His first step quickness allows him to turn plays around in an instant. He has an uncanny ability to dart in and out of traffic, changing his angles of attack and his pace to sneak past defenders. His hands can also keep up with his feet. He maintains possession through his quick stops, starts, and turns, and is difficult to stick check because of how he manages space. Jarvis also possesses a high-end intelligence level, both with and without the puck, exceling in all three zones. Equal parts playmaker and goal scorer, he can beat you in a lot of different ways. His explosiveness, puck skill, finishing ability, tenaciousness, and high IQ make him a potential high-scoring impact first line winger. He also can provide versatility by playing multiple roles and that should endear him to coaches at the next level rather quickly. - BO

Dominik Bokk, RW (Trade: Sep. 24, 2019. Originally: 25^th overall, 2018 [St. Louis]. Previous ranking: 1)

Bokk has elite skills but displays consistency issues as well. He has an accurate and fast wrist shot and can score from almost any angle. He rarely scores outside the circles, and his shot is lethal from the rush. He also possesses strong puck control and can deke his way through traffic. He has the vision to find an open teammate as well. Bokk is a frustrating prospect in the sense that he sees the ice well, and has all the technical tools, but does not always use them. There are some concerns that he is too much of a skills player and lacks the instincts to make the right play at the right time to win a game, which also could explain his consistency issues. Without the puck, he still has a lot of work to do on his game which might be instinct-related. I would like to see him get more into open spaces, while defensively he needs to cover the ice better and be more active. All-in-all, Bokk is still a year or two away from playing in the NHL and Carolina needs to work on his all-around game if he is to reach his considerable potential. - JH

Ryan Suzuki, C (28^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Suzuki projects as a premier playmaking center who has among the best vision and touch of any pivot in the OHL. That said, many parts of his game are still a work in progress. After a trade from Barrie to Saginaw, he formed instant chemistry with Cole Perfetti, and his play and commitment away from the puck really seemed to improve. At his best, Suzuki can drive the play with his strong skating ability, creativity, and penchant for working the half wall. He is especially dangerous on the powerplay with his vision and pinpoint passing ability on both his forehand and backhand. He still needs to improve his confidence in his shot, his ability to fight through traffic, the consistency of his zone entry success, offensive zone turnovers, and defensive commitment in the neutral and defensive zones. That said, he has already shown improvements. We saw him initiate challenges for the puck more consistently. And we saw him drive the middle to open up room for linemate Perfetti. As an NHLer, Suzuki certainly projects as a top six, playmaking center. Suzuki’s game is not as mature as his brother Nick (Montreal), however he does have the similar potential. - BO

Jake Bean, D (13^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

In addition to patience on one of the top power plays in the Eastern Conference, Bean also brings a strong defensive game when penalty killing. Despite early concerns where skating and confidence were concerned, he quickly earned top minutes providing the Checkers with stability on the back end. He continues to get better offensively, carrying the puck well, and has gotten better at reading when to rush the puck or pass. A worrisome note is that while he may have gotten better at knowing when to let go of the puck, passing the puck and making the right play is another thing. Consistency throughout the season was a struggle as a really good game with several points one day would be followed by a game where he turns the puck over multiple times. Bean will have to work on bringing the same high intensity throughout the entirety of next season and avoiding neutral zone turnovers as much. He can skate, shoot, his hands are good, he protects the puck well, and his individual skill is NHL level, but the details in puck movement need to be tightened up before he takes up an eventual top four spot in the NHL. – SC

Noel Gunler, RW (41^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Gunler has three high end elements to his profile. First off, the man can skate. Not in the elite speed sense, but he takes off quickly, is very agile, and he moves well in four directions. Gunler has skills. He is far ahead of his age-cohort in his ability to create scoring chances on his own. Gunler can shoot. He is actually more natural as a finisher with his heavy wrister than as a creator. He reads goalies well, knowing when to fire and he doesn’t need to be in tight to pick his spot either, as he has the power to connect from long range. He will let a linemate do the heavy lifting, emerging at the critical moment in a high danger spot. Unfortunately, his effort level varies not just game-to-game, but shift-to-shift, and within a given shift as well. He can be a game breaker, and he can also be a completely transparent fifth wheel. He has also rubbed a lot of people in Sweden the wrong way and has rarely played internationally for his homeland. He could be a future first line weapon, and he could fail to establish himself as a regular NHL’er. – RW

Joey Keane, D (Trade: Feb. 18, 2020. Originally: 88^th overall, 2018 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 4)

With the Hartford Wolfpack, Keane found his stride immediately as a professional and kept it up with Charlotte Checkers after being traded from the Rangers, earning 7 points in 9 games. Keane is a strong skater, skilled passer, creative puck handler and quick shooter. He is a threat no matter where he is on the ice and creates plays from all zones. His first games with Charlotte were shaky, but as his confidence grew, he proved that he could contribute with anyone to find the back of the net. Being so offensively driven and having been given a lot of freedom in his major junior years, Keane has slacked off on the details of his defensive game, not always being as present as he should be away from the puck. He will be starting next season back in the AHL, which means he will have to be better on the back end. He has all the tools and an opportunity to earn a top defensive spot in the NHL in the future and the changes to be made are so minute that he should grow into them within the next two seasons. - SC

Jamieson Rees, C (44^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

A competitive firecracker, Rees is an ultra-intense offensive forward who had one of the better point-per-game averages in the OHL last season. That said, his style of play, coupled with his average size, has created injury issues. He also struggles towing the line between playing hard and playing reckless, resulting in several suspensions, limiting his time on ice and hampering his development. An explosive skater, and aggressive player, he pushes the pace on the attack and will look to drive the net. He is often the first man into the offensive zone to apply pressure. He plays a physical two-way game and excels as a penalty killer because of his tempo. His decision making with the puck needs to improve as turnovers can be an issue, especially in the offensive zone. He has the skill level, but with a tendency to force the issue or overhandle the puck. This was exasperated last season on a weak Sarnia team, leading to frequent frustration. That said, Rees is a very talented prospect. He needs to stay healthy, avoid penalties, and continue to mature. He has the makings of a very reliable middle six forward who can play in a variety of situations. – BO

Tuukka Tieksola, RW (121^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Tieksola was one of the top players in the Finnish U20 league in 2019-20. There were many moments when he looked too good for the junior level – he probably should have spent more time playing against men in Finland’s second-highest league. He is a highly skilled winger with a great blend of speed, skill and vision. More of a playmaker than goal-scorer, but he is a good finisher with a precise shot. A smooth skater, Tieksola has very quick feet and uses crossovers to accelerate. He plays at a fast pace and can execute plays at high speeds. He sees the entire ice and moves the puck really well – finding lanes for cross-ice passes. He is dangerous on the power play. Slick and crafty, he plays with poise and can hold on to the puck in the final third. Not particularly physical, but he plays with good effort and intensity. An exciting prospect with lots of potential – it will be interesting to see if he can earn ice-time in the Liiga next season. - MB

Patrik Puistola, RW (73^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Puistola split the 2019-20 season split between three Liiga teams. He had very limited ice-time with Tappara, was loaned to Jukurit and later on to KooKoo. He was one of the bright spots on the Finnish World Junior team. Puistola is a talented goal-scorer and extremely dangerous around the net. He is an excellent finisher and has a scorer’s touch in tight. His wrist shot is quick, and he does not need a whole lot of room to score. He has swift hands and overall, his stickhandling is very good. He has some impressive dekes in his repertoire and exhibits confidence with the puck. The main area for needed improvement is his skating. He has a bit of a choppy and ineffective stride. His balance could be much stronger as well. He is quite physical and does not shy away from contact. In fact, Puistola likes to engage physically and seems to enjoy physical confrontations. He signed a two-year contract with JYP, in Liiga, where he will try to take on a bigger role. - MB

Pyotr Kochetkov, G (36^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

After a breakout 2019 season that saw Kochetkov named the top goaltender at the year’s World Junior Championships, the Hurricanes made him a second-round selection in his third year of NHL draft eligibility. The 2020 season was much more uneven for Kochetkov, bouncing around between four different teams, in addition to failing to secure a full-time spot in the KHL. He is certainly still intriguing because of his athleticism and size combination. He is extremely quick in the crease, displaying a somewhat unorthodox, aggressive, scrambling style in the crease that may need some refinement in North America. A late season trade to Vityaz Podolsk did bring about better fortunes for Kochetkov, so perhaps the 2020-21 season will be the year he establishes himself as a full time KHL netminder. Of course, he possesses the potential to be a starter for Carolina somewhere down the line. - BO

Jack Drury, C (42^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Drury, nephew of former NHLer Chris Drury, just completed his sophomore season at Harvard. He spent two seasons playing for Waterloo in the USHL before joining the Crimson where he finished second on the team in scoring as a sophomore. Drury also played in the World Junior Championship in both of his collegiate seasons and he was a named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team as a freshman. Drury plays bigger than his 6-0” frame. He is a solid two-way forward who can obviously score. A mainstay on the penalty kill, he has an active defensive stick and causes turnovers. Drury is physical and will fight for the puck along the boards. He has good speed and a quick shot. He is capable of setting his teammates up but also has success scoring himself. The center also has really soft hands and makes difficult passes look effortless. He has been expected to return to Harvard as a junior, but recently rumors have spread that he might spend the 2020-21 playing in Europe as all Ivy League schools will be foregoing the Fall Sports schedules. – JS

Morgan Geekie, C/RW (67^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 10)

As a relatively recent third round selection, Geekie seemed like a longshot to earn a spot on Carolina’s 2020 playoff roster, although he managed to play the exhibition game leading into qualifiers. He finished third in points this season with the Charlotte Checkers, managing to put his passing and shooting skills in the spotlight. He is a smart player who plays a full 200-foot game and does well at killing penalties since his forechecking positioning is so strong. Geekie will need to keep working on his physical game and keep getting bigger and stronger before he makes a full time jump to the Carolina Hurricanes. He has the potential to earn an early call up next season where this year’s postseason experience will be good for such a consistent player and he can turn into a permanent third line fixture with Carolina. Geekie is clever and an asset thanks to his persistence and work ethic department, he has the drive to make it based on motivation alone, let alone his strong skill. – SC

Vasily Ponomarev, C (53^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ponomarev had a solid, if unspectacular, CHL debut season with Shawinigan. He is a powerful skater with strong legs and an impressive first few steps, who can play strong on the puck and win more positional battles than you might expect for a player of his stature. His other offensive tools also project well. Ponomarev has an accurate wrist shot that he releases quickly and on which he is able to change the angle before firing, giving it deception. He may be even more gifted as a playmaker. He reads space on the ice exceptionally, and is creative, helping him find elusive passing lanes. Thanks to his ability to process the game, he was also used regularly on the penalty kill. Responsible at both ends, his work ethic was appreciated by his coaching staff. Even if his skill game is not enough to project as a top six NHLer, he is versatile enough to make it work further down the lineup, keeping him out of boom-or-bust territory. He could be primed to take a big step forward in his second North American season. – RW

Jeremy Bracco, C/RW (UFA: Oct. 16, 2020. Originally: 61^st overall, 2015 [Toronto]. Previous ranking: 6^th [Toronto])

Previously the dark sheep of the Toronto organization, Bracco’s talent and hockey IQ are unquestionable but it is hard to determine where he fits in his return to play. From powerplay to odd man rushes, he takes the lead in capitalizing on breaks and has proven to be dangerous. He can skate and shoot, and he knows when to make a pass or when to hold onto it. He has enough experience to earn an NHL callup, but the adjustment may be harder in terms of physicality and space. A weak spot seems to be knowing when to let go of the puck, oftentimes he gets himself into trouble by holding onto the puck too long and getting closed out and cut off. Given the chance, Bracco could do well as a third liner but discipline on and off the ice will need to be established first. Regardless of personal matters, Bracco remains a top talent and a forward who is capable of putting up 30+ point seasons in the NHL, he will hopefully come back next season better than ever, with a new chance in a new organization, after signing with Carolina as a free agent. - SC

David Cotton, C (169^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

The sixth-round draft pick spent one season in the USHL after being drafted and before joining the Eagles. Cotton stayed on campus for four full seasons, signing with Carolina (along with his brother, Jason) following the season. The Texas native played U16 hockey in Colorado before joining prep school in Massachusetts. As a high school athlete, he was named to the All-USA Hockey First Team. Cotton is a two-way forward and plays well defensively but has contributed his fair share of points as well and captained the Eagles as a senior. Cotton is an intimidating presence on the ice and can skate well with his 6-2”, 201-pound frame. He protects the puck well. He has excellent, soft hands, allowing him to corral and dish passes even under pressure and through traffic. Defensively, Cotton is pesky and aggressive. He also has a long reach, which he uses well. He will have to show what role he can play in the AHL before he earns an NHL debut. - JS

Eetu Makiniemi, G (104^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Makiniemi was a relatively unknown prospect when the Hurricanes selected him in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. However, that should not be the case any longer. He was named the best goalie in Finland’s second-highest league. He was stellar in many games and gave his team a chance to win almost every night. He is a hybrid goalie with very good skating ability. He is highly flexible, athletic, and has the ability to make extension pad saves. He also has strong recovery speed, and he makes big saves in key moments. He stays composed even when the stakes are high. There are two things that he has improved a great deal: consistency and rebound control. In the junior level, he occasionally let in some easy goals that he should have saved. His rebound control used to be an occasional issue but has gotten much better lately. There is no doubt in my mind that Makiniemi has NHL potential. He will likely get at least a decent amount of starts in the Liiga next season. - MB

Anttoni Honka, D (83^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Honka had a fairly good season with JYP in the Liiga. However, his World Juniors performance left me wanting more. He has very good puck skills, he handles the puck with ease and has some deception in his game. He is also a smooth skater, light on his feet, and moves well in all directions. He does not have blazing speed, but his skating is an asset, nonetheless. The main concerns are still his defensive game and decision making. He needs to defend the middle of the ice more effectively, as he gets caught out of position and does not keep his gaps tight enough. I would like to see him apply more stick pressure defensively. His style of play is quite risky, and I am not sure if that will translate to the NHL. He shows flashes of high-level skill and vision, especially on the power play, but his game is too erratic right now. I am interested to see what kind of progress he will make next season, now that he has finally re-signed with the Hurricanes. - MB

Kirill Slepets, RW (152^ndoverall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Slepets is a strong skater who plays an active game away from the puck. He has good quickness in his first few strides and can spin off pressure along the boards. However, he lacks in explosiveness and his balance could be a tad stronger. He is always in motion and does not quit on plays. He works tirelessly and constantly puts pressure on opponents. He is shifty with the puck and carries it well through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone. He shows good offensive vision, and he can execute an effective passing game without much flash or dash. However, at the moment he does not play a very physical game. He needs to show more situational toughness and win puck battles at a higher rate. He has offensive skill; he moves well and plays with a good approach. Slepets is an interesting player who has potential to improve his overall game and reach an NHL ceiling. – MB

Zion Nybeck, RW (115^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

I would understand if you experience a touch of cognitive dissonance seeing Nybeck ranked near the end of the Hurricanes’ top 20, as he was the SuperElit’s leading scorer last season as a 17-year-old in a U20 league. He plays with great touch and is a high-end playmaker. His vision is advanced, and he successfully walks the fine line between playing creatively and simply. Our concerns are two-fold. First off, he is tiny (he looks up to Cole Caufield). Second, his skating is a problem. He has a low center of gravity which helps but has little power to his stride. Either one of those things could prevent him from ever reaching his full potential, but if he does, look out! The other elements of his game are incredibly impressive, particularly the aforementioned puck skills, but also his advanced IQ, most prominent in his offensive reads. He even has a strong shot for a smaller player (again, he still looks up to Caufield there). Boom or bust for sure, but few systems have players with this type of upside this far down their list. - RW

Blake Murray, C (183^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Coming into this past season, the focus for the 6-2” power center was on improving his footspeed, consistency, and engagement level without the puck. His goal scoring ability has never been questioned, as he put up 30 in his draft year (and 35 this year). However, it was the lack of a more well-rounded game that caused Murray to slip all the way to the sixth round. Encouragingly, those finer points definitely took a nice step forward in 2019-20. While his explosiveness could still stand to improve, his top speed and ability to cut and change direction with the puck have been upgraded. Additionally, Murray’s willingness to use his size to his advantage without the puck became more consistent. This bodes well for the future as he returns to Sudbury next year for his draft +2 season and will look to hit the 40-goal mark. Barring continued improvements to his skating, Murray projects as a middle six goal scoring forward. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to stick down the middle, but he has the size and touch to in traffic to be able to succeed at the pro level. - BO

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: SWEDEN – Top Prospects Dominated by Defensemen

Jimmy Hamrin — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 14:57:09 +0000

Brynäs Victor Söderström during the hockey match in SHL between Brynäs and Djurgården
Photo: Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN

Sweden’s top prospects are dominated by defenseman. Victor Soderstrom leads a group of defenders soon to be NHL-bound in significant roles while there is no sure thing among the top forwards.

Outside of North America, Sweden is the country where NHL clubs most often goes to find prospects, and in the last three years, defensemen have been drafted high, specifically. As a Swedish based prospect writer, almost every article I write in recent years seem to be about defenseman. That does look to change over the 2020 and 2021 drafts with forwards featured at the top of most listings.

Some of the already highly drafted defenseman are already making impact in North America with Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) emerging as a star, but also guys like Adam Boqvist (CHI), Rasmus Sandin (TOR) and Erik Brannstrom (OTT) ready to make an impact. The development curve for defensemen is often longer and this season we have seen a guy like Rasmus Andersson (drafted 2015) take big steps on the Calgary blueline. Meaning, the most NHL ready today might not the be the best defenseman in the long run.

Back in Sweden a majority of the top prospects are defenseman. As a matter of fact, the top four on my best Swedish prospects are all defenseman. I have Victor Soderstrom (ARI) leading the group slight ahead of Philip Broberg (EDM) and the two big risers from the 19/20 season in Nils Lundkvist (NYR) and Albert Johansson (DET).

Victor Soderstrom close to making the Coyotes blue line in terms of development. He is by far the most NHL ready defenseman of all the top prospects from Sweden. His hockey sense and skill level are already good enough for the NHL and with more consistency and strength he will be a top four defenseman for many years in this league. I even see potential as a top pairing. Soderstrom played over 20 minutes per game at the SHL level and produced well offensively. The fact that he is a right-handed defenseman with Coyotes being strong on the left side (Ekman-Larsson, Chychrun and Hjalmarsson) will open a spot for him sooner if he can take advantage of the opportunity.

Philip Broberg played an exhibition game with the Oilers prior to the bubble playoffs. He had impressed at the training camp but at that exhibition game it became clear he still is one or two years away from the NHL. The long-term projection is still high even though I have put Soderstrom ahead of him (had it the other way around before their draft). Broberg ‘s excellent reach, puck skills and skating are what impressed the Oilers management at the camp and made him get a chance over 2018 draftee Evan Bouchard, for example. In the game he played Broberg got in some trouble early and looked very raw. Soderstrom’ game is more ready in that he plays smarter and has shown that he can use his tools effectively. Broberg became better during that game and his toolbox is stronger long term than Soderstroms but there is no guarantee he will learn to use all of it. Broberg will need to show more consistency in a bigger role in the SHL this upcoming season before he gets another look at the NHL. With Broberg and afore-mentioned Bouchard, Ethan Bear (2017 draft) and Caleb Jones (2017 draft) the Oilers have an interesting blueline in the pipeline after suffering over a decade on that position.

Nils Lundkvist had a breakout season in the SHL and has little to prove there. He earned a spot on the national men’s team and was ready to compete for a spot. The Covid-19 pandemic change the scenario and he will therefore play another year in Sweden. I do not see that as a bad thing as one extra year in the SHL had not hurt any prospect yet. He will get a chance to grow and play with higher expectations on his shoulders. The right-handed defenseman is a terrific passer with strong decision-making. With a strong right side (Fox, DeAngelo and Trouba) the Rangers will have no need to hurry Lundkvist. If we lived under normal circumstance and Lundkvist joined a September camp, he probably would have started in the AHL. To compare with Soderstrom and Broberg, Lundkvist is more simplistic and less powerful in his game. He cannot match Brobergs skating combined with size/reach nor Soderstroms puck skills combined with smooth skating.

Albert Johansson was a player I thought fell too low in the draft as he had shown first round upside. This season he came up in the SHL and played too well for them to send him down. He got a bigger and bigger role and his puck skills combined with a strong hockey sense and puck skills makes Detroit’s famous Swedish scout Hakan Andersson look brilliant again with the 60^th pick in 2019. Johansson is a smart defenseman that has an NHL future written all over him and he plays a team first game. Maybe not as a top pair defenseman but as a second or third pair. Detroit signed him but there is no need for them to rush him and he will play his last junior season as a strong SHL defenseman on one of the top teams in the league. Johansson may yet surprise us and become the best of the group, but he is not as smooth as Soderstrom as fast or big as Broberg or as smart as Lundkvist which makes his ceiling lower. He still makes inconsistent decisions and lacks strength in the defensive side of the game.

After those top four on my list, I only have one more affiliated defenseman as a strong make-NHL candidate. I rank him seventh in total and the player I am talking about is Mattias Norlinder. He was snubbed his first draft eligible year but got picked 64^th his second year of eligibility. What makes him so interesting is his elite skating ability. Norlinder is not top-pair skilled but a solid puck mover with above average hands. He can help his team in any role. He reads the game well and will become an efficient two-way defenseman in a second or third pairing. He was signed by a top club in the SHL after being a top defenseman in Allsvenskan last season. Beside his skating and puck-moving the upside is not high enough for him to compete with the other defensemen on this list. Size is also an important component for this type of defenseman that relies so much on his skating. If there is good reach combined with strong skating and hockey sense, he becomes much more effective. Norlinder is average sized while a guy like Broberg is 6´4. It is not the only difference between those two but Broberg’s floor will always be higher, as well as his ceiling.

When it comes to forwards, the top guys usually step over the ocean and are ready earlier. Elias Pettersson (VAN) is of course a big star and Emil Bemstrom (CBJ) is a regular with Columbus. Other recent teenagers like David Gustafsson (WPG), Isac Lundestrom (ANA) and Lias Andersson (NYR) have all played 20 plus games in the big league.

Putting those to the side there are a group of forwards still in Sweden that are offensively skilled who I am not sure if they have what it takes to earn a top six forward spot and they are all not good enough in other areas to play in a another role. That group include Nils Hoglander (VAN), Samuel Fagemo (LAK), Jonathan Dahlén (SJS) and Dominik Bokk (CAR). There is no denying their offensive skills though. Sweden also has one really interesting prospect who can play in various roles who I also see as a good bet to become an NHL player and that is the smart power forward, Filip Hallander (PIT).

The two most interesting now are Hoglander and Fagemo though. They were both among the top players at the World juniors and they produced big numbers. Hoglander is a smallish but strong balanced board winger with elusive skills and elite puck skills. I am not sure if his hockey sense is good enough and he has yet to put up points at senior level. He showed at the World juniors that he was a decent playmaker and had various ways to attack, which is what I have not seen him do at senior level. Size will be a factor, even if it is not the biggest concern as he is strong and physically competitive beyond his size. Hoglander plays individually and needs to get better at using his teammates and help drive the play. There will always be a lower ceiling if a player cannot play various roles, the power play for example; Hoglander has yet to show that he can set up a power play or to be a finisher.

Fagemo is simpler to understand. He is a one-way forward with strong instincts and a good shot. He really has a knack for scoring goals which always is useful. His numbers, as well as the underlying ones, will suggest that he will keep scoring goals. But what happens he when he does not score? Fagemo’s defensive game is not strong as his skating is not elite. He will need good support to be successful as a top six forward in the NHL. And that could be the problem. If he gets a slotted chance with the Kings, he may succeed and be able to stick in the NHL but if he does not? He will have hard time earning his coaches trust playing the way he is now. To be become a top six winger in the NHL is extremely hard and there are many who compete for those spots. And if you are not a star (and he is not), you will need other circumstances to run in your favor. So, for both him and Hoglander, I do not deny their skills as a top six forward, it is more that their style of play is not dynamic enough for me to see them as a sure thing.

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – CAROLINA HURRICANES – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 5

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:19:37 +0000

Carolina Hurricanes

“We won’t be drafting defense in the first round as long as I’m here…I’ve got to have more offense, I want to lose five to four, not two to one…If we lose five to four, I’ll at least have fun.”

Carolina Hurricanes’ owner Tom Dundon, as told to Lauren Ohnesorge, Senior Staff Writer, Triangle Business Journal, Dec. 12, 2018

Dundon took over as majority owner of the Hurricanes on January 11, 2018. It has only been two drafts since he famously uttered the words above, but the Hurricanes have not drafted a blueliner in either of the first two rounds in either draft class. In fact, in their 2018 draft class, they only selected one defender in six picks, that coming in the sixth round. The ‘Canes made more picks last year, and three of their 12 picks (all of which taken in the third and fourth rounds) were used on defensemen.

The veracity of his statement aside, it leads me to question the wisdom of such an approach. The Hurricanes have nine defensemen on their roster approaching the play-in round. The crew members are all still within their respective primes, with 30-year-old Jake Gardiner standing as the only one whose age begins with a ‘3’.

As much as that approach would not have made a difference in the team’s acquisitions of stars Brett Pesce and Jaccob Slavin, drafted in the third and fourth rounds respectively, Gardiner, Dougie Hamilton, Brady Skjei, and Haydn Fleury were all first rounders, even if only the latter was drafted directly by Carolina.

Perhaps Dundon’s thinking is to avoid drafting defensemen early because he can trade for former first rounders or sign them as free agents instead, like three of the four above were. In which case, the approach would seem to entail a leveraging of the forces in the player market. On the other hand, the ‘Canes have also recently experienced the reverse, as last February, they traded a former first round pick, winger Julien Gauthier, who had yet to fully establish himself as a full-time NHLer, to the Rangers for blueliner Joey Keane, who had been drafted in the third round 20 months previously. So, what is the difference between drafting a defenseman in the first round and trading your first rounder for a different defenseman?

If Dundon’s thinking is to draft for skill and foster a high scoring environment, that is clearly not yet the case. Over the last two seasons the Hurricanes have averaged 3.07 goals for per game (14^th overall) and surrendered 2.76 per game (8^th). The combined total of 5.83 goals (both sides) per Hurricanes game over the last two seasons ranks 21^st in the NHL. In other words, Dundon’s teams haven’t played in many 5-4 games.

Of course, we would be remiss if we did not look at how much more and more top end young defensemen contribute to the offensive game. We need look no further than two of the finalists for this year’s Calder Trophy, in Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar. Both were top ten picks in their respective drafts and bring dynamic skill to the game, generating offensive chances better than most forwards, much less other defenders. I will not fault Carolina for drafting Andrei Svechnikov second overall in 2018, leaving Hughes on the board, and there does not seem to have been any defenders available when Carolina chose Ryan Suzuki 28^th overall last summer that would currently have the team regretting its choice, but at some point soon – maybe even this year – they might want to rethink such a blanket approach to drafting. No team should go too long with only three of its top 15 prospects lining up on the blueline.

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 10: Boston University Terriers forward Jake Wise (17) spins around to take a shot on goal during Beanpot Tournament Championship game between the Northeastern Huskies and Boston University Terriers on February 10, 2020, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mark Box/Icon Sportswire)

Dominik Bokk, RW (Trade: Sep. 24, 2019. Originally: 25^th overall, 2018 [St. Louis]. 2019 Rank: 2 [St. Louis])

Bokk has elite skills but displays consistency issues as well. He started last season with only two points in his first 19 SHL games. He received ice-time and power play shifts all year, so it was not a usage issue which is often the case with young talents. After a good showing at the WJC he started to really pick up his game. He scored in his first five games back and had 10 goals in a span of 13 games before hitting another slump without hitting the net in his last nine games before the pandemic ended the season.

Scoring 10 goals in 13 SHL games is rare as a junior player. He has an accurate and fast wrist shot and can score from almost any angle. He rarely scores outside the circles; his shot is lethal from the rush. He also possesses strong puck control and can deke his way through traffic. He has the vision to find an open teammate as well.

Bokk is a frustrating prospect in the sense that he sees the ice well, and has all the technical tools, but does not always use them. There are some concerns that he is more of a skill-product and lacks the instincts to make the right play at the right time to win a hockey game, which also could explain his consistency issues.

Without the puck, he still has a lot of work to do on his game which also can be an instinct issue. Offensively I would like to see him get more into open spaces and defensively he needs to cover the ice better and be more active. All-in-all, Bokk is still a year or two away from playing in the NHL and Carolina needs to work on his all-around game if he is to reach his considerable potential. - JH

Ryan Suzuki, C (28^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

In Ryan Suzuki, the Carolina Hurricanes have a premier playmaking center who has among the best vision and touch of any pivot in the OHL. The issue is that many parts of his game are still a work in progress. A trade from the Barrie Colts to the Saginaw Spirit was certainly great for Suzuki and his development. He formed instant chemistry with top 2020 NHL draft talent Cole Perfetti, and under coach Chris Lazary, his play and commitment away from the puck really seemed to improve.

At his best, Suzuki can drive the play with his strong skating ability, creativity, and penchant for working the half wall. He is especially dangerous on the powerplay with his vision and pinpoint passing ability on both his forehand and backhand.

The aforementioned issues that still need to be ironed out include his confidence in his shot, his ability to fight through traffic, the consistency of his zone entry success, offensive zone turnovers, and defensive commitment in the neutral and defensive zones. But, as stated, his overall game really started to make strides once he got to Saginaw. We saw him initiate challenges for the puck more consistently. And we saw him drive the middle to open up room for linemate Perfetti.

As an NHL player, Suzuki certainly projects as a top six, playmaking center. The Hurricanes are likely going to need to be patient with Ryan. His game is not as mature as his brother Nick (of Montreal), however he does have the same potential. - BO

Jake Bean, D (13^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

After making the roster as an extra for the Carolina Hurricanes playoff run in 2020, Bean’s future seems to have brightened even more. Although he was without a callup last season, he managed to lead the AHL Charlotte Checkers for points as a defenseman. Not only bringing patience to one of the top power plays in the Eastern Conference, he also brings a strong defensive game when penalty killing.

Despite getting off to a slow start where skating and confidence were concerned, Bean soon earned top minutes providing the Checkers with stability on the back end. He only continues to get better where his offensive play is concerned and continues to carry the puck well and has gotten better at reading when to rush the puck or pass. A worrisome thing to note is the fact that while he may have gotten better at knowing when to let go of the puck, passing the puck and making the right play is another thing. Consistency throughout the season was a struggle for Bean who would have a really good game with several points one day and the next would falter and turn the puck over multiple times in a game.

He will certainly have to work on bringing the same high intensity game throughout the entirety of next season and avoiding turning the puck over in the neutral zone as much. He can skate, he can shoot, his hands are good and he protects the puck well, his individual skill is NHL level but the details in the way he moves the puck need to be tightened up before he takes up an eventual top four spot with the Hurricanes. - SC

Joey Keane, D (Trade: Feb. 18, 2020. Originally: 88^th overall, 2018 [NY Rangers]. 2019 Rank: 10 [NY Rangers])

After being traded from the Rangers at the deadline, Keane added another solid blueline piece to the Carolina Hurricanes’ growing collection. With the Hartford Wolfpack he found his stride nearly immediately upon stepping on the ice for his rookie professional year and did the exact same thing with the Charlotte Checkers after the trade, earning seven points in nine games.

Keane embodies the idea of the new age of offensive defensemen as a strong skater, skilled passer, creative puck handler and quick shooter. He is a threat no matter where he is on the ice and creates plays from all zones. His first games with Charlotte were shaky as they tried to find appropriate partners for him but as his confidence built, he found a way to prove that he can contribute to finding the back of the net with all teammates.

Being so offensively driven and having been given a lot of freedom in his major junior years, Keane has since slacked off on the details of his defensive game, at times being on for goals scored and not being as present as he should be away from the puck. Keane will be starting next season in the AHL with the Checkers again which means he will have to be better on the back end. Keane has all the tools and an opportunity to earn a top defensive spot on Carolina’s roster in the future and the changes to be made are so minute that he should grow into them within the next two seasons. - SC

Jamieson Rees, C (44^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

A competitive firecracker, Rees is an ultra-intense offensive forward who had one of the better point-per-game averages in the OHL last season. The issue is that Rees’ style of play, coupled with his average size, has created injury issues. He has also had a difficult time towing the line between playing hard and playing reckless. This has resulted in several suspensions. Over the last two seasons in the OHL, Rees has played less than 40 games both times. Moving forward, staying on the ice will be necessary for his development.

An explosive skater, Rees brings aggressiveness to all facets to his game. He pushes the pace on the attack and will look to drive the net to create scoring chances. He is often the first man into the offensive zone to apply pressure on the forecheck. He uses physicality to play a two-way game and excels as a penalty killer because of the tempo that he plays at.

Rees’ decision making with the puck will definitely need to improve as turnovers can be an issue, especially in the offensive zone. He has the skill level, but he has a tendency to try to force the issue or overhandle the puck. This was exasperated this season on a weak Sarnia team, as on many nights there was an element of frustration to his game.

That said, Rees is a very talented prospect. He just needs to stay healthy, stay out of the box, and continue to mature. He has the makings of a very reliable middle six forward who can play in a variety of situations. - BO

Tuukka Tieksola, RW (121^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

He is a highly skilled winger with a great blend of speed, skill and vision. More of a playmaker than goal-scorer, but he is a good finisher with a precise shot. A smooth skater, Tieksola has very quick feet and uses crossovers to accelerate. He plays at a fast pace and can execute plays at high speeds. He sees the entire ice and moves the puck really well – finding lanes for cross-ice passes.

He is dangerous on the power play. Slick and crafty, he plays with poise and can hold on to the puck in the final third. Not particularly physical, but he plays with good effort and intensity. An exciting prospect with lots of potential – it will be interesting to see if he can earn ice-time in the Liiga next season. - MB

Patrik Puistola, RW (73^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Puistola is a talented goal-scorer and extremely dangerous around the net. He is an excellent finisher and has a scorer’s touch in tight. His wrist shot is quick, and he does not need a whole lot of room to score. He has swift hands and overall, his stickhandling is very good. He has some impressive dekes in his repertoire and exhibits confidence with the puck.

The main area for needed improvement is his skating. He has a bit of a choppy and ineffective stride. His balance could be much stronger as well. He is quite physical and does not shy away from contact. In fact, Puistola likes to engage physically and seems to enjoy physical confrontations. He signed a two-year contract with JYP, in Liiga, where he will try to take on a bigger role. - MB

Pyotr Kochetkov, G (36^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

He is certainly still intriguing because of his athleticism and size combination. He is extremely quick in the crease, displaying a somewhat unorthodox, aggressive, scrambling style in the crease that may need some refinement in North America.

A late season trade to Vityaz Podolsk did bring about better fortunes for Kochetkov, so perhaps the 2020-21 season will be the year he establishes himself as a full time KHL netminder. Of course, he possesses the potential to be a starter for Carolina somewhere down the line. - BO

Jack Drury, C (42^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

Drury plays bigger than his 6-0” frame. He is a solid two-way forward who can obviously score. A mainstay on the penalty kill, he has an active defensive stick and causes turnovers. Drury is physical and will fight for the puck along the boards. He has good speed and a quick shot. He is capable of setting his teammates up but also has success scoring himself. The center also has really soft hands and makes difficult passes look effortless.

He has been expected to return to Harvard as a junior, but recently rumors have spread that he might spend the 2020-21 playing in Europe as all Ivy League schools will be foregoing the Fall Sports schedules. - JS

David Cotton, C (169^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 10)

Cotton is a two-way forward and plays well defensively but has contributed his fair share of points as well and captained the Eagles as a senior. Cotton is an intimidating presence on the ice and can skate well with his 6-2”, 201-pound frame. He protects the puck well. He has excellent, soft hands, allowing him to corral and dish passes even under pressure and through traffic. Defensively, Cotton is pesky and aggressive. He also has a long reach, which he uses well. He will have to show what role he can play in the AHL before he earns an NHL debut. - JS

Eetu Makiniemi, G (104^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

He is a hybrid goalie with very good skating ability. He is highly flexible, athletic, and has the ability to make extension pad saves. He also has strong recovery speed and he makes big saves in key moments. He stays composed even when the stakes are high. There are two things that he has improved a great deal: consistency and rebound control. In the junior level, he occasionally let in some easy goals that he should have saved. His rebound control used to be an occasional issue but has gotten much better lately.

There is no doubt in my mind that Makiniemi has NHL potential. He will likely get at least a decent amount of starts in the Liiga next season. - MB

Morgan Geekie, C/RW (67^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

He is a smart player who plays a full 200-foot game and does well at killing penalties since his forechecking positioning is so strong. Geekie will need to keep working on his physical game and keep getting bigger and stronger before he makes a full time jump to the Carolina Hurricanes. He has the potential to earn an early call up next season where this year’s postseason experience will be good for such a consistent player and he can turn into a permanent third line fixture with Carolina.

Geekie is clever and an asset thanks to his persistence and work ethic department, he has the drive to make it based on motivation alone, let alone his strong skill. - SC

Anttoni Honka, D (83^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

The main concerns are still his defensive game and decision making. He needs to defend the middle of the ice more effectively, as he gets caught out of position and does not keep his gaps tight enough. I would like to see him apply more stick pressure defensively.

His style of play is quite risky, and I am not sure if that will translate to the NHL. He shows flashes of high-level skill and vision, especially on the power play, but his game is too erratic right now. I am interested to see what kind of progress he will make next season. - MB

Kirill Slepets, RW (152^ndoverall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 19)

He is shifty with the puck and carries it well through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone. He shows good offensive vision and he can execute an effective passing game without much flash or dash. However, at the moment he does not play a very physical game. He needs to show more situational toughness and win puck battles at a higher rate.

He has offensive skill; he moves well and plays with a good approach. Slepets is an interesting player who has potential to improve his overall game and reach an NHL ceiling. - MB

Blake Murray, C (183^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 17)

Encouragingly, those finer points definitely took a nice step forward in 2019-20. While his explosiveness could still stand to improve, his top speed and ability to cut and change direction with the puck have been upgraded. Additionally, Murray’s willingness to use his size to his advantage without the puck became more consistent.

This bodes well for the future as he returns to Sudbury next year for his draft +2 season and will look to hit the 40-goal mark. Barring continued improvements to his skating, Murray projects as a middle six goal scoring forward. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to stick down the middle, but he has the size and touch to in traffic to be able to succeed at the pro level. - BO

Dominik Bokk – McKeen's Hockey

NHL PROSPECTS: 22-23 European Prospect Musings #2 – Prospects coming into focus in the stretch run

EUROPEAN PROSPECT MUSINGS: 2022-23 European Leagues Underway with Notable Performances

European Prospect Musings - #1 for the 22-23 Season

Sweden

Finland

Germany

Russia

Czech Republic

PROSPECTS: 2022-23 SEASON PREVIEW – One Drafted and One Draft Eligible Prospect from Each Scouting Region

Director of Scouting/Ontario Region - Brock Otten

Assistant Director of Scouting/Western Canada Region - Derek Neumeier

Western Canada Region - Arlo Schulz

Sweden Region - Jacob Smeds

Eastern Canada Region - Éloi Biondo

Western Canada Region - Adam Tate

Russia Region - Viktor Fomich

Director of Video Scouting - Will Scouch

Video Scout - Zack Szweras

Central Europe Region - Chapin Landvogt

Ontario Region - Dylan Krill

Slovak and Czech Region - Matej Deraj

Eastern Canada Region - Charles Lassonde

AHL Coverage - Josh Bell

U.S. Region - Ethan Hetu

Russia Region - Dmitri Blokhin

Eastern Canada Region - Benoit Belanger

Finland Region - Mikko Kuikka

GERMAN PROSPECT MUSINGS 2022 #1 – Weak draft group, Rossmy’s late season surge, Germany host U18 World Championship, and more

German Prospect Musings

Poor year on the prospect front

Late season splurge

Junior champions decided

Germany hosting U18 Worlds

Prospect tidbits

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: CAROLINA HURRICANES – RANK: #14 – TIER III

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

2021 World Junior Championship: Looking at Team Germany‘s likely line-up

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Carolina Hurricanes Top 20 Prospects

Seth Jarvis, C (13th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dominik Bokk, RW (Trade: Sep. 24, 2019. Originally: 25th overall, 2018 [St. Louis]. Previous ranking: 1)

Ryan Suzuki, C (28th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Jake Bean, D (13th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Noel Gunler, RW (41st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joey Keane, D (Trade: Feb. 18, 2020. Originally: 88th overall, 2018 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 4)

Jamieson Rees, C (44th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Tuukka Tieksola, RW (121st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Patrik Puistola, RW (73rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Pyotr Kochetkov, G (36th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Jack Drury, C (42nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Morgan Geekie, C/RW (67th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 10)

Vasily Ponomarev, C (53rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jeremy Bracco, C/RW (UFA: Oct. 16, 2020. Originally: 61st overall, 2015 [Toronto]. Previous ranking: 6th [Toronto])

David Cotton, C (169th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

Eetu Makiniemi, G (104th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Anttoni Honka, D (83rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Kirill Slepets, RW (152nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Zion Nybeck, RW (115th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Blake Murray, C (183rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT: SWEDEN – Top Prospects Dominated by Defensemen

Sweden’s top prospects are dominated by defenseman. Victor Soderstrom leads a group of defenders soon to be NHL-bound in significant roles while there is no sure thing among the top forwards.

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – CAROLINA HURRICANES – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 5

Carolina Hurricanes

Dominik Bokk, RW (Trade: Sep. 24, 2019. Originally: 25th overall, 2018 [St. Louis]. 2019 Rank: 2 [St. Louis])

Ryan Suzuki, C (28th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

Jake Bean, D (13th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

Joey Keane, D (Trade: Feb. 18, 2020. Originally: 88th overall, 2018 [NY Rangers]. 2019 Rank: 10 [NY Rangers])

Jamieson Rees, C (44th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Tuukka Tieksola, RW (121st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Patrik Puistola, RW (73rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Pyotr Kochetkov, G (36th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

Jack Drury, C (42nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

David Cotton, C (169th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 10)

Eetu Makiniemi, G (104th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Morgan Geekie, C/RW (67th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Anttoni Honka, D (83rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

Kirill Slepets, RW (152nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 19)

Blake Murray, C (183rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 17)

Seth Jarvis, C (13^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Dominik Bokk, RW (Trade: Sep. 24, 2019. Originally: 25^th overall, 2018 [St. Louis]. Previous ranking: 1)

Ryan Suzuki, C (28^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Jake Bean, D (13^th overall, 2016. Previous ranking: 3)

Noel Gunler, RW (41^st overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joey Keane, D (Trade: Feb. 18, 2020. Originally: 88^th overall, 2018 [NY Rangers]. Previous ranking: 4)

Jamieson Rees, C (44^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Tuukka Tieksola, RW (121^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Patrik Puistola, RW (73^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Pyotr Kochetkov, G (36^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 8)

Jack Drury, C (42^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Morgan Geekie, C/RW (67^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 10)

Vasily Ponomarev, C (53^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jeremy Bracco, C/RW (UFA: Oct. 16, 2020. Originally: 61^st overall, 2015 [Toronto]. Previous ranking: 6^th [Toronto])

David Cotton, C (169^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 11)

Eetu Makiniemi, G (104^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 12)

Anttoni Honka, D (83^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 13)

Kirill Slepets, RW (152^ndoverall, 2019. Previous ranking: 14)

Zion Nybeck, RW (115^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Blake Murray, C (183^rd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Dominik Bokk, RW (Trade: Sep. 24, 2019. Originally: 25^th overall, 2018 [St. Louis]. 2019 Rank: 2 [St. Louis])

Ryan Suzuki, C (28^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

Jake Bean, D (13^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 8)

Joey Keane, D (Trade: Feb. 18, 2020. Originally: 88^th overall, 2018 [NY Rangers]. 2019 Rank: 10 [NY Rangers])

Jamieson Rees, C (44^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Tuukka Tieksola, RW (121^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Patrik Puistola, RW (73^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Pyotr Kochetkov, G (36^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 7)

Jack Drury, C (42^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 12)

David Cotton, C (169^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 10)

Eetu Makiniemi, G (104^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: UR)

Morgan Geekie, C/RW (67^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Anttoni Honka, D (83^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

Kirill Slepets, RW (152^ndoverall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 19)

Blake Murray, C (183^rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 17)