Elias Salomonsson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #18 Winnipeg Jets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0000

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 20: Boston University Terriers defenseman Sascha Boumedienne (78) skates during the Hockey East semifinal game between the Boston University Terriers and the UConn Huskies on March 20, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 18th (Last Year - 23rd)
GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff Hired: September 2011
COACH: Scott Arniel Hired: May 2024

The Winnipeg Jets boast seven prospects within McKeen’s Top 200. It's a pipeline that received a notable boost at the NHL trade deadline with the acquisition of Isak Rosen (44th) from the Buffalo Sabres, along with a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 second-round selection. Now in his fourth season at the AHL level, Rosen has produced at nearly a point-per-game pace and enters the system as the Manitoba Moose’s top scorer.

In Manitoba, several other highly regarded prospects are working to establish themselves at the professional level. Names such as Brayden Yager (64th), Brad Lambert (141st), Nikita Chibrikov, and Colby Barlow (179th) remain key pieces within the organization’s future plans, though each is still searching for a consistent breakout in the AHL. While Winnipeg’s 2025 draft class was relatively small, the club did add an intriguing piece on the blue line with the selection of defenseman Sascha Boumedienne (71st) at 28th overall. One of the system’s biggest risers has been 2024 sixth-round pick, Kieran Walton (132nd). The forward is on pace for a second consecutive 90-point season and is trending toward finishing his OHL career at better than a point-per-game pace across four seasons.

At the NHL level, the Jets remain anchored by a stable core that includes Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey, Gabe Vilardi, and Cole Perfetti — all signed long-term. The organization is now waiting for the next wave of prospects to emerge and help push the club toward sustained contention.

From a draft capital perspective, Winnipeg has maintained a relatively stable outlook, retaining its first-round picks while only parting with its 2026 second-round selection in recent trades. However, a disappointing season that has seen the Jets fall near the bottom of the NHL standings could ultimately turn that 2026 first-round pick into a valuable opportunity to add another high-end piece to the pipeline.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
Wpg	1	Isak Rosen	RW	23	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	37	25	18	43	6
Wpg	1	Isak Rosen	RW	23	6-0/175	Buf-Wpg (NHL)	37	6	4	10	0
Wpg	1	Isak Rosen	RW	23	6-0/175	Grastorps (Swe Hockeyettan)	2	0	0	0	0
Wpg	2	Brayden Yager	C	21	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	68	10	20	30	10
Wpg	2	Brayden Yager	C	21	6-0/180	Winnipeg (NHL)	3	0	0	0	2
Wpg	3	Sascha Boumedienne	D	19	6-2/185	Boston University (NCAA)	35	2	8	10	14
Wpg	4	Elias Salomonsson	D	21	6-1/185	Winnipeg (NHL)	32	1	4	5	12
Wpg	4	Elias Salomonsson	D	21	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	29	1	8	9	10
Wpg	5	Kieron Walton	C	20	6-6/210	Sby-Pbo (OHL)	62	40	48	88	26
Wpg	6	Brad Lambert	C	22	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	34	6	7	13	18
Wpg	6	Brad Lambert	C	22	6-0/180	Winnipeg (NHL)	25	3	3	6	6
Wpg	7	Colby Barlow	LW	21	6-0/195	Manitoba (AHL)	65	8	8	16	18
Wpg	8	Danny Zhilkin	C	22	6-1/195	Manitoba (AHL)	62	12	12	24	21
Wpg	8	Danny Zhilkin	C	22	6-1/195	Winnipeg (NHL)	6	0	1	1	0
Wpg	9	Domenic DiVincentiis	G	22	6-2/185	Manitoba (AHL)	34	13	16	3.03	0.896
Wpg	10	Nikita Chibrikov	RW	23	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	53	6	10	16	28
Wpg	10	Nikita Chibrikov	RW	23	5-10/170	Winnipeg (NHL)	11	0	0	0	14
Wpg	11	Alfons Freij	D	20	6-1/195	Timra (SHL)	42	6	5	11	14
Wpg	11	Alfons Freij	D	20	6-1/195	Manitoba (AHL)	5	0	1	1	2
Wpg	12	Kevin He	LW	20	5-11/185	Nia-Fln (OHL)	60	39	38	77	26
Wpg	13	Zach Nehring	RW	21	6-3/180	Western Michigan (NCAA)	35	5	12	17	12
Wpg	14	Edison Engle	D	19	6-2/175	Brantford (OHL)	61	3	25	28	8
Wpg	15	Thomas Milic	G	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	20	13	2.64	0.905

Isak Rosen, RW, Rochester Americans (AHL) (Currently with the Winnipeg Jets, NHL)

In what will be his fourth full AHL season, there is little left to prove for Isak Rosen at this level. He was only three goals away from tying his career high in 24 fewer games. After being acquired by the Winnipeg Jets in a deadline deal for Logan Stanley, one has to wonder how long it will be before the Jets try out Rosen in a top nine role to see what they’ve acquired in him. He played with the NHL club after arriving receiving fourth line minutes. Rosen’s game may be one-dimensional, but it’s also highly effective. He attacks with lots of speed and then rockets the puck toward the net. He needs someone on his line who will feed him shooting opportunities, and Helenius’ emergence as that playmaker had benefitted them both this season. Can he find that partner in the Winnipeg system? Rosen is not a guy who plays a strong two-way or forechecking game, so he’ll have to play his way into a top six role. A 30-30 second-line winger is not out of reach for Rosen in the future.
Brayden Yager, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Yager is the type of prospect who is best seen as being the sum of his parts. There isn’t one element of the game that he truly excels at, but that’s OK because he can do everything at a medium to high level, and he does so while playing center. The true value of what he brings was best seen back in 2023-24, where he was the picture of consistency throughout the entire WHL regular season and then helped lead his Moose Jaw Warriors to a league championship as their go-to man down the middle, hopping over the boards for every big moment in every big game. He’s the type of player who probably won’t pull you out of your seat during a game or show up often in the highlights, but if you check the score sheet, you’ll see that he picked up a couple of points and won more faceoffs than anyone else. If the Jets want to get the most out of Yager long-term they will need to be patient and let him take another year or two to grow with the Moose.
Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA)

Boumedienne has taken even more solid steps in his development here in his sophomore season, with his skating standing out the most. His ability to create space in open ice on transitions, in his own zone and in the offensive zone has improved drastically from last season and the results were shown clearly at the World Juniors. Boumedienne has even massively improved his physical game, using his 6-foot-2 frame much more to kill opposing chances left and right. However, he has been a turnover machine this season, accounting for one too many slip ups a game that put his net minder in trouble. That tendency to just throw the puck holds him back from being a play driver at the next level and fixing those turnovers should be the spotlight of his development as he looks to play his junior year next season. There are bright spots of a solid two-way defenceman who can be relied upon in a bottom or mid-pairing role, he will just need to iron out the
Elias Salomonsson, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

It came as a surprise when the 21-year-old Salomonsson got the opportunity to make his NHL debut earlier this season, which happened sooner than expected. What was even more surprising, however, was that he played so well that the Jets gave him an extended look, and now the team will find themselves in a difficult position if they have to send him back down to the AHL. The right-shooting Swede is playing the same game and relying on the same talents that he did before, which consists primarily of using his slick skating ability to break pucks out of his own zone and help transport them safely down the ice. Luckily for him, that was a problem that Winnipeg desperately needed help solving. Will he be able to do anything else in the NHL at a high level? That's a little less certain, because he's failed to really prove it at other levels. Salomonsson might be nothing more than a one-trick pony, but at least it's a pretty impressive trick.
Kieron Walton, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Walton is now in his fourth season in the Ontario Hockey League and yet again improved on his point totals from the year previous. Simply put, someone who is 6-foot-6 shouldn’t be able to execute the things he does with the puck. Walton is anything but a perimeter player, driving to the net for chances and cutting across the ice to feed passes back against the grain. For a larger guy, his hands in tight are incredible, giving more faith he’ll be able to work in tighter windows as space closes in the NHL and AHL. He may not use his size much in a physical sense at this point, but his long reach and size allow him to protect the puck from defenders when putting his shoulder down and driving to the slot. He could work harder at being a physical presence, as this would very likely earn him in an NHL role in the coming years. Even without it, there’s a chance he becomes a top six skill forward, but a lack of a true B game does hurt his odds.
Brad Lambert, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

The Jets currently find themselves in a difficult position with Lambert. The fit between player and team hasn’t worked out as hoped in the years that followed after the Finnish forward was selected 30th overall in the 2022 draft, leading to a recent trade request that came from the prospect. However, his individual development appears to have stalled, with lackluster results in the AHL and an inability to prove that he belonged in the NHL in the handful of opportunities that were given to him. All parties probably agree that a mutual parting of ways would be ideal, but it’s always difficult for a team to trade one of their best young assets when his value is at its lowest. For his part, Lambert remains a tremendous skater and puck handler, and those are always in high demand around the NHL. This is an ugly situation that could continue to deteriorate if Lambert doesn’t find a way to turn his game around while the Jets carefully explore their options on the trade market.
Colby Barlow, LW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

The Jets were publicly quite thrilled that Barlow was still available for them at 18th overall in 2023, believing that they might have gotten the steal of that year's draft. It would be interesting to know how their front office feels now, though, as the forward prospect's stock has fallen precipitously ever since then. He's fast and powerful in straight lines, going hard to the enemy net to press for goals or pressuring the blueline while killing penalties, and he was successful in that way during his OHL days. His game is way too one note and predictable, however, which has made him ineffective at the AHL level so far. It was also telling how he was snubbed by Hockey Canada back when he was still eligible for the World Juniors, after being a go-to forward for them at earlier events. There are serious questions about how well he thinks the game and what that means for his NHL future. Barlow is under contract for two more seasons after this one, and the Jets badly need to see more growth out of him during that span.
Danny Zhilkin, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Zhilkin was fairly unremarkable and uneventful during his freshman and sophomore professional campaigns, but he has found a way to elevate himself and his impact on games this season. The two-way center is making strides in both directions, having already surpassed his combined point total from the previous two years, while also assuming a heavier defensive workload. He even dressed for a few games up with the Jets, where he was already trusted enough by the team's coaches to take faceoffs and kill penalties, which are tasks that he's been accomplishing ever since his early OHL days. There isn't very much long-term upside with Zhilkin, and he’ll probably never be particularly exciting to watch, but there are still ways that he can be a useful contributor on a successful team, and he seems to understand exactly what those are. If he can keep building upon what's working for him right now then he'll keep getting looks in the NHL as a depth forward, and he may even stick around there for the long haul.
Domenic DiVincentiis, G, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

The starting job between the pipes for Manitoba was blown wide open last season as the team went through long stretches where they couldn’t buy a save, yet it was DiVincentiis, the youngest of their goalie options, who turned out to be the biggest stabilizing presence. That was a welcome sigh of relief for both player and club, as he had lost his way a little bit at the end of 2023-24 and ended up as the backup for North Bay in the OHL by the time the playoffs rolled around. The Jets organization decided to play it safe this year and run a tandem between him and fellow goalie prospect Thomas Milic, making sure to not give either goalie too heavy of a workload, and that was probably the right call. DiVincentiis is a true Jack-of-all-trades netminder, with a perfectly adequate package all around, from his size to his technique to his reflexes to how well he processes the play in front of him. With enough patience and the right hands-on guidance there could be a future NHL goalie here.
Nikita Chibrikov, RW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Any optimism about Chibrikov that existed within the Jets organization is starting to disappear in a hurry. The offensive winger showed flashes of promise in the previous two seasons in both the AHL and the NHL, and he was expected to be a go-to player for the Manitoba Moose in 2025-26 after signing a two-year contract extension in October, but he hasn't been up to the task whatsoever, languishing near the bottom of the team in scoring. His eight-game cup of coffee with the big club this winter was pretty unremarkable, too. In his defence, injuries have played a part in slowing him down, and those issues might still be prevalent behind the scenes. Regardless of the causes of his struggles, Chibrikov's job is still to produce points, and he doesn’t have much in the way of a “B” game, so there will be problems for both him and the Jets if he doesn't find a way to start showing up on the score sheet again soon.
Alfons Freij, D, Timra IK (SHL) (Currently with Manitoba Moose, AHL)

This season in Sweden, he has taken on more responsibility and shown a steadier overall presence. Freij’s game is built on positioning and control in his own end. From a projection standpoint, Freij most realistically profiles as a depth NHL defenceman, with an outside chance of becoming a number four who can see powerplay time.
Kevin He, LW, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

Speed, tenacity, and scoring prowess are the highlights of He’s game. He’s always in attack mode and he’s worked hard to become a smarter player. He’ll turn pro next season and looks like a potential middle six player for the Jets.
Zach Nehring, RW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

Nehring helped Western Michigan capture an NCAA championship last year as an effective freshman, but his numbers have dipped as a sophomore. The big winger is a highly effective complementary player, but he’ll need to break out offensively at some point to prove that he has significant NHL upside.
Edison Engle, D, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Engle made the decision to jump to the OHL this year with Brantford before joining Ohio State next year. He’s a detail oriented defender who has been really good for Brantford at even strength this year. The question remains…what’s his future NHL role?
Thomas Milic, G, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

You have to give credit to Milic for battling to earn an NHL call up this year, even if it was under dire injury circumstances. The undersized netminder has the quickness to overcome his lack of size and could end up developing into an NHL back-up for the Jets.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 17:05:31 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 23rd (May 2025 - 16th)
GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff Hired: September 2011
COACH: Scott Arniel Hired: May 2024

With 11 players ranked in McKeen’s top 200, Winnipeg boasts a balanced blend of established NHL contributors and prospects poised to make an impact in the near term.

Anchored by a stable core—Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey, Gabe Vilardi, and Neal Pionk—all signed long-term, plus Cole Perfetti and Kyle Connor nearing extensions, the Jets are built for sustained contention.

That core did take a hit during the off-season, with their biggest offseason storyline was the departure of Nikolaj Ehlers to Carolina in free agency. While they offset the departure by signing a savvy veteran in center Jonathan Toews, it’s a big blow to their overall top six offense.

At the top of the prospect chart are Brad Lambert, Nikita Chibrikov, and Elias Salomonsson, each waiting for their opportunity to break into the NHL. In the AHL, the Manitoba Moose are set to welcome Colby Barlow and Brayden Yager as full-time pros after standout junior careers. The organization did take a hit, however, with Chaz Lucius forced into early retirement due to a rare tissue disorder.

One of the biggest risers in the system is Kieran Walton. In his draft-plus-one season with Sudbury (OHL), he exploded offensively, finishing with 92 points—22 more than his closest teammate—and placing top 10 in league scoring.

While Winnipeg didn’t have a large draft class in 2025, they did add a quality piece in defenseman Sascha Boumedienne with the 28th overall pick. Draft capital remains limited over the next few seasons, meaning continued growth will rely heavily on developing their existing pipeline rather than restocking it in bulk.

With a core still firmly in its prime and young talent pushing from below, the Jets are well-positioned to contend in the short term. The challenge now is balancing the drive to maximize the current window with the patience needed to let their next wave of talent reach full potential.

Winnipeg Jets Top-15 Prospects

1 - Brayden Yager

Yager has gone through two trades in the past calendar year, first involving his NHL team (going from the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Jets) and then again in the WHL a few months later. Through it all, Yager has stayed Yager, playing to the same strengths that have made him so consistently successful going as far back as his early teens: he's strong on pucks, reliable in all three zones, and has a wicked release on his shot. He's the type of player that doesn't necessarily jump out at you with his on-ice contributions, but when you look at a box score after a game you notice how many points he collected and how many minutes of ice time that he logged. Even though Yager wasn't initially selected by the Jets he should nevertheless be an ideal fit for the team's persona and style of hockey, making the NHL sometime soon as a trustworthy depth forward before steadily working his way up the lineup as he continues to develop.

2 - Brad Lambert

Playing on the second worst team in the entire AHL (Manitoba Moose) certainly didn’t have a positive effect on the development of Lambert last season. He saw his goal scoring numbers crash significantly and his overall offensive production was down. Not exactly ideal for the Jets’ top prospect. Is this a case of a lack of support hurting Lambert or a lack of development from Lambert? Truthfully, it’s a bit of column A and a little bit of column B. Lambert is, unquestionably, an extremely talented offensive player. He excels as a playmaker with his ability to push pace, thanks to his blazing speed, and with his elite hands and creativity. He can develop into a top six forward for the Jets and he may be given that opportunity next year. Yet, this past year has brought to light the fact that he still needs to upgrade his strength and improve the consistency of his physical engagement. He needs to play with more jam every shift, working to play through the middle of the ice, rather than just the perimeter.

3 - Elias Salomonsson

It’s been a long road back to prospect relevancy for Salomonsson, but he’s certainly achieved it. At one point in time, he was considered to be one of the top 2004 birth years on the planet. However, a disappointing couple of years in Sweden (around his draft year and draft year plus one), really did a number on his “stock.” He has since rebounded very well and is coming off an excellent first professional season in North America with Manitoba; the argument could be made that he was their best player this past season. His combination of length and mobility is a real asset in the defensive zone. He’s very difficult to beat one on one. Additionally, his puck management and overall offensive game has been better than expected, suggesting that his upside could be higher than initially believed. There’s a really good chance that if Salomonsson continues on this development path, he could be a quality top four defender for the Jets.

4 - Colby Barlow

While Barlow remains a quality NHL prospect, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that his two years of development post draft were slightly disappointing. Even a move to the stronger Oshawa Generals did not prevent his goal scoring from dipping for the second straight year. There’s still hope that Barlow can develop into a quality middle six, complementary winger. His two-way compete level is solid. He finds success playing that North-south power game. Of course, he still has that high-end shot, even if the production hasn’t been eye popping. So where’s the disconnect? His decision making with the puck and overall playmaking ability did not improve to the point where he could become a true primary play driver at the OHL level. Next season, he’ll turn pro and it will be interesting to see how his offensive game translates to the AHL level. We will get a better indication of how close Barlow is to an NHL position at that time.

5 - Sascha Boumedienne

Towards the end of his season, Boumedienne stood out on a Boston University team that had some incredible offensive defencemen. When given the opportunity, he showed off some solid offensive upside in his freshman season with BU. However, during his play against tougher opponents, his offence became muted in favor of some real, hard-nosed defensive stability. Sascha Boumedienne is still a raw prospect, which is apparent in his skating and defensive details, but it’s important to talk about how solid he played in the tough Hockey East conference. Jets fans have a lot to look forward to in this upcoming year and beyond for Sascha Boumedienne.

6 - Nikita Chibrikov

Despite the fact that an awkward play last January ended his season prematurely thanks to a lower body injury, you could make the argument that Chibrikov had a better developmental year than top prospect Brad Lambert. When healthy, Chibrikov was leading Manitoba in scoring and he performed extremely well in a small cup of coffee for the Jets that saw him score his first NHL goal. Chibrikov is a highly skilled player. He’s not big, but he’s so elusive in the offensive zone, adept at avoiding checks, because of his quick feet and quick hands. He doesn’t need a ton of space to execute, be it a quick wrister or a well placed pass. Through two years in North America, Chibrikov definitely looks like he could be ready to be a complementary piece on a scoring line at the NHL level. The question is will he be healthy to start next year and will he be able to continue to improve his conditioning this offseason?

7 - Kieron Walton

The big winger was one of the OHL’s most improved players this past season as he emerged as an offensive leader for the Sudbury Wolves. Walton is such a dangerous player in transition with his ability to play a North-south game. He’s a strong skater for a big man and he also has terrific hands. He routinely turns OHL defenders inside/out as he drives the net and works his way to the middle of the ice. Yes, he slipped to the sixth round last year, but a lot of that had to do with his poor second half and the inconsistency of his off puck intensity, and not his upside. The off puck play and physical engagement still needs to improve further, but given the positive steps forward taken this year, Walton’s projection and value as a prospect has improved greatly. He’ll return to the OHL next season, where the focus will be on rounding out his game further to prepare him for the pro game. Expect him to be one of the highest scoring players in Ontario in 2025-26.

8 - Domenic DiVincentiis

DiVincentiis is a very interesting case as a prospect. After having a very dominant OHL season, putting himself on the map, he followed it up with pedestrian numbers on a great team the following season. After he split time with Winnipeg’s AHL and ECHL teams this past year, he’s put up underwhelming numbers in the ECHL but pretty solid numbers in the AHL on a horrible Manitoba Moose. He’s got a pretty nice toolset, but the inconsistency in numbers and the sporadic poor performances are a bit concerning. He’s a very solid skater, great positionally, and seems to anticipate play at a high level. But his rebound control is very bad, leading to a lot of extra chances given up, and he gets beat cleanly more than you’d like to see, suggesting he may not be tracking shots into saves very well. He could be a backup in the NHL, but he needs to iron out these consistency issues and string together good seasons as a starter before that can happen.

9 - Kevin He

Much like fellow Jets’ OHL prospect Kieron Walton, He made extremely positive strides this year. One of the most energetic players in the OHL, He’s work rate is tremendous. He uses his speed to be a real difference maker without the puck. He’s extremely dangerous on the forecheck and he is a tremendous penalty killer. This is a player who is hungry to earn possession for his team. The big difference in He’s game this year was the improvement in his playmaking and decision making with the puck. As a draft eligible player, his game was too one note and predictable as an attacker; offensive zone turnovers were an issue. However, this past year he worked to refine his approach to play less “hero puck,” utilizing teammates more effectively by finding them in open space and altering his pace to help prolong possession. As He continues to improve his two-way game, he has a chance to become a very effective middle six player for the Jets in the future.

10 - Alfons Freij

What was supposed to be an excellent opportunity to get some pro experience in the HockeyAllsvenskan ended up being a season from hell for Freij. He stumbled out of the gate with Björklöven, barely produced points, and then got injured for three months, essentially missing the rest of the HA season and playoffs. In the games that he did play, though, Freij’s skating and playmaking still looked as dynamic as ever. He can carry the puck from end to end effortlessly. It’s just that he didn’t progress much in the areas he really needed to progress in. Namely, anything to do with the defensive side of play. Despite the tough year, Freij still has a ton of potential to reach his ceiling as an offensive puck moving defenceman. He’ll be on loan with Timrå in the SHL for the upcoming season, so hopefully a fresh start with a new team can be a mental reset and springboard him forwards in his development.

11 - Zach Nehring

An aggressive right shot wing with size, Nehring had a solid freshman season at Western Michigan with 30 points in 42 games. The question will be whether this season will be his last in college so that he can sign with Winnipeg, or if he’ll remain longer.

12 - Dmitry Rashevsky

Rashevsky signed a three-year deal with Avangard in the KHL this season, so Jets fans will have to wait a while longer to see him, if ever. The high-octane winger remains intriguing, consistently putting up solid offensive seasons in the KHL for the last three years.

13 - Jacob Julien

The tenacious Julien saw a dip in his offensive output in London this season, but followed that up with over a point per game in the Knights’ playoff run. Given the NHL factory that is London, he seems poised to make a smooth transition to pro hockey this season for the Manitoba Moose.

14 - Owen Martin

A third-round pick for Winnipeg this summer, Martin established himself as a strong checking center for a good Spokane team last season. Martin has yet to sign his ELC with the Jets, perhaps leaving open the NCAA door.

15 - Parker Ford

Ford notched his first NHL goal last season in his first stint with the big club and after spending two years now in the AHL, could be set to battle for a depth role with his high compete style come training camp.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #16 Winnipeg Jets – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sun, 25 May 2025 12:48:00 +0000

Winnipeg Jets forward Brad Lambert C (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

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Winnipeg 25 Prospects

AHL: Hall – AHL Rookies to Watch – Central Division

Dave Hall — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 13:00:19 +0000

_{CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 14: Frank Nazar #91 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at the United Center on April 14, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)}

We are back with our AHL rookie watch here at Mckeen's, highlighting a few of the American League's fresh skaters among their respective divisions.

We have already covered the Pacific Division, which included names such as Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Jagger Firkurs, and more. Today, we hit the Central Division, which has its own impressive crop of youngsters, some of whom have already kicked off their campaigns with a bang.

Let's dive right in.

Frank Nazar, C, Rockford IceHogs

If you enjoy dynamic, run-and-gun offence, Frank Nazar may just be your guy. Drafted 13th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the American pivot brings a unique and exciting skillset to the Chicago Blackhawks' future top-six. After all, there’s a reason he's earned his place as the Blackhawks' second-rated prospect at McKeen's Hockey.

Backed by showstopping speed and crafty edgework, Nazar excels at weaving through defensive coverage at a high pace. His quick hands make him a constant scoring threat, but it’s his ability to facilitate the play that could truly set him apart in the professional ranks.

Despite being cut short by injury, he made the most of his NCAA career, tallying 48 points in 54 games, 29 of which were assists. Most of that work came in the 2023-24 campaign, picking up 41 points to fire at a point-per-game pace with the Michigan Wolverines.

His impact extended beyond the NCAA; he played a pivotal role for Team USA in the 2024 World Junior Championship, recording eight primary assists en route to capturing gold against host Sweden. To put a cherry on top, his season was capped off by a brief three-game NHL stint, where he netted his first career NHL goal.

Despite the positives in his game, it doesn’t take long to distinguish where the real issues will lie in him realizing his true upside. Standing at 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, size remains a potential barrier. Luckily, he hasn’t let that deter him from finding his spot on the ice. Nazar plays like a dog on a bone and isn’t afraid to go to the hard areas of the ice. Despite his smaller frame, he consistently drives to high-danger areas, dropping the shoulder and getting into the middle of the ice.

For now, you’ll find Nazar forming his game among the AHL ranks, but don’t be surprised if he gets the call to Chicago sooner rather than later.

Nate Danielson, C, Grand Rapids Griffins

Nate Danielson, a Red Deer, Alberta native, is fresh from a long-winded 2023-24 season, filled with more firsthand experience in one year than most players see in their careers.

After three and a half years with the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he captained the team for half of that tenure, Danielson was traded to the Portland Winterhawks. There, he thrived during a deep playoff run, finishing with seven goals and 24 points across 18 games—good for fourth in playoff scoring— while posting a plus-13 rating.

A quick four-game sweeping loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors led to a brief two-game stint in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs with the Griffins, giving him a first taste of professional hockey. Though only two games, the experience gave him a quick crash course into what to focus on during the offseason.

“That was good experience for me,” Danielson told the media during development camp. “Making that jump to pro next year, I know the speed of the game. Everyone is older, bigger, and stronger, so knowing what to expect definitely helps.”

Danielson also played for Team Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship, notching a goal and two assists. In all, Danielson suited up for 79 games across three ranks.

Given Detroit’s typical protocol of " slow-cooking” their youngsters, a season with Grand Rapids seems likely for Danielson. While questions remain about his offensive ceiling at the NHL level, his solid fundamentals promise a bright future as a key part of Detroit's center depth and a must-watch prospect within the system during his first official professional campaign.

Bradly Nadeau, W, Chicago Wolves

Don’t look now, but at just 19, Bradly Nadeau nearly made the Carolina Hurricanes roster out of training camp, which is no small feat.

The New Brunswick native has taken an unconventional path. Moving across the country to play Junior-A hockey in the BCHL (Penticton Vees), Nadeau and his older brother, Josh, dominated the league, finishing as the top two scorers in 2023. In his draft-minus-one season, Bradly led the field with 113 points (45 goals, 68 assists), leading to his selection 30th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.

After one season at the University of Maine—where he again led his team with 46 points—Nadeau quickly turned pro and was even rewarded with a one-game “show me” match at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Nadeau is an offensive producer in every sense of the word and a versatile offensive weapon. He can thread passes or unleash a wicked shot off the rush. Now in his first professional season, the question remains whether he can be an instant difference-maker, as he has done at every level. But all signs point to Nadeau being one of the more exciting players in the league this year.

Felix Unger Sörum, RW, Chicago Wolves

Felix Unger Sörum, who made the leap from the Swedish circuit to North America this season, will join Nadeau in the Chicago Wolves lineup.

After a strong 2022-23 campaign in Sweden’s J20 Nationell league, he was promoted to the SHL last season, tallying 15 points in 35 games as an 18-year-old.

A natural playmaker, Unger Sörum excels at manipulating defenders and delivering smart passes, whether in tight spaces or in transition. While most don’t consider him a future high-end producer, there is no questioning his skill set and potential as a future middle-six NHL player.

Interestingly, the Canes brought him into the system this year and gave him an audition up the middle. Considered a natural winger, this adjustment does not come naturally, but one that Head Coach Rod Brind’Armour feels could provide the player with a deeper opportunity within the system.

"We put him at center just to see how camp went," Brind'Amour told The Hockey News. " You've got a special player there, and I think he might be better suited to play center just with the way he's built and the way he thinks the game."

"He's really taken the challenge on," Brind'Amour said. "We think he can be an elite player, so let's see if he can adapt and play that position. We definitely see a skilled player there who sees the ice well and maybe has a good makeup to be a good center. He's going to be a good player so we'll just see how that develops."

The Wolves opened their season with Unger Sörum centring a line alongside Nadeau and Tyson Jost. If that line sticks for an extended period, things could get spicy in Chicago,

Elias Salomonsson, RHD, Manitoba Moose

The Manitoba Moose have a deep roster of intriguing prospects, highlighted by Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov, but this year’s focus shifts to a new crop of rookie skaters, which includes Swedish right-shot defenceman Elias Salomonsson.

At 20, Salomonsson isn’t expected to be a high-end offensive blueliner, but his smooth skating and high hockey IQ make him a valuable asset on Winnipeg's future blue line. In fact, he’s already been turning heads in his first official crack at North American hockey and did not look out of place in either of his four pre-season matches. Now, with the Manitoba Moose, he’s already contributed his first goal and has racked up three points in just two games as a top-four defender.

With injuries continuing to plague Ville Heinola's young career, Salomonsson may soon be considered a potential call-up for the Winnipeg Jets.

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #18

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Derek Neumeier — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:00:20 +0000

_{MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 29: Winnipeg Jets forward Brad Lambert (47) tracks the play during the Winnipeg Jets versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 29, 2022, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 18th (Previous Rank - 13th)
GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff Hired: September 2011
COACH: Scott Arniel Hired: May 2024

The Winnipeg Jets are the epitome of a middling team striving to take that next step. With just three playoff series wins to show for their seven playoff appearances since moving to Manitoba, it’s been a constant battle for the Jets to improve.

Despite this, the team has managed to stay competitive both at the NHL level and within their prospect system. With seven prospects in our top 200 and the recent graduation of Cole Perfetti, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has ensured a steady influx of youthful talent.

The Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg’s AHL affiliate, has been home to an impressive crop of young players recently, all of whom have put together strong seasons early in their careers. Most notably, Brad Lambert (39th) is coming off a potent rookie campaign, finishing second among all AHL rookies with 55 points in 64 games. While he’s likely to start the year back on the farm, there’s a strong chance he will get his first taste of NHL action this season. Nikita Chibrikov (122nd), who finished with 48 points, also placed in the top 10 among AHL rookies. Chaz Lucius (105th) continues to be a highly regarded prospect, but his durability remains a concern. He has suited up in just 71 games since the start of the 2021-22 season, putting his development on hold for much of his post-draft career. When healthy, Lucius is an upside player, but the challenge has been keeping him on the ice.

On the backend, Ville Heinola (119th) continues to develop his game, and with 152 AHL games under his belt, it feels like his number should be called this upcoming season for full-time employment. He’ll be joined by 2022 second-rounder Elias Salomonsson (240th), who is set to make his North American debut after a solid career in Sweden.

Colby Barlow, who sits just outside our top 50 (53rd), is still a few years away, but another strong season with the Owen Sound Attack could see his ranking rise considerably.

GM Cheveldayoff was able to resolve a difficult situation with Rutger McGroarty, who effectively forced a trade, indicating he had no plans to join the Jets post NCAA. He moved him in a one for one trade for Brayden Yager. The two prospects are ranked closely by McKeens with McGroarty at 61st and Yager at 69th, representing a good value return with his hands tied. Yager will return to Moose Jaw for one more season in the WHL. After scoring 250 points across 211 WHL games, he is expected to go out with a bang in his fifth and final junior year.

Winnipeg Jets Top-15 Prospects

1. Brad Lambert

Getting to join the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds halfway through last season was exactly what the doctor ordered for Lambert’s development. He found himself excelling at a high level once again, he got to feed off other top prospects in his age group, he got to experience what it takes to win a league championship, and most important of all, he has carried over all that progress with him to the professional level. He had an incredible AHL rookie season with the Moose, finishing as the team’s top scorer. That barn can get pretty raucous at times, and the way that he was able to regularly feed off of that energy and use it to his advantage was a great preview to him being able to do it in the NHL. He is a thrilling center who is borderline elite with his skating ability and puck skills.

2. Colby Barlow

Barlow's game did not take a big step forward this season as expected, and while there's no reason to overreact or hit the panic button, the Jets surely would have had questions for him about what happened. In his defense, playing for an outgunned Owen Sound team that never really looked like a contender was probably a large part of the equation. And even though his assist totals cratered, he still cracked the 40-goal mark for the second consecutive year. He's an explosive skater, hard-nosed grinder, and an authoritative finisher, and he shouldn't need to make any serious adjustments to how he plays in order to be successful as an NHLer because his strengths are so useful in multiple roles and situations. He's an odds-on favourite to make the Canadian roster for the next World Juniors and might even wear a letter for that group.

3. Brayden Yager

Brayden Yager continued to terrorize WHL defences. The dynamic center amassed 95 points in 57 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors, showcasing his elite shooting ability and knack for finding teammates. He's quite strong and compact, which helps him out in various ways, whether that's staying on his feet as he fights through checks or generating a lot of power through his shot. While his offensive production is undeniable, consistency remains a talking point. There were stretches where he dominated, but there were also quieter nights. The bright spots, however, were undeniable. His work on the power play was a highlight, and his burgeoning two-way play suggests a well-rounded future. He'll need to add strength to compete at the NHL level, but the raw tools are undeniably there. Expect him to spend another year in the WHL before turning pro, but his NHL debut could be on the horizon soon.

4. Chaz Lucius

Is Lucius one of the unluckiest top prospects in the hockey world? It certainly seems that way. He’s only 21 years old but has already experienced his hockey career being beset with knee, ankle, and shoulder injuries that have all required surgery. It’s an incredible shame, too, because he always looks excellent when he’s healthy, and has shown no trouble at all adjusting to different leagues and levels of hockey. The greatest strengths of his game have always been in the offensive zone and around the opposing team’s crease, but that’s also an area where a lot of punishment is doled out, and there are now unfortunate yet unavoidable questions about whether his body will be able to withstand making a career out of playing that way. If good luck isn’t going to come to him naturally then he might need to make some adjustments to save his career.

5. Ville Heinola

If Heinola doesn’t make the Jets out of training camp next fall the reaction from some fans of the team could be riotous, because he’s a highly touted prospect who’s been on the cusp of making the team for five years in a row without being allowed to fully take that plunge. Making matters even more urgent, his waiver eligibility begins in 2024-25, so there would be a huge risk in trying to send him down again. He is a clever, fleet-of-foot defenceman who excels with puck retrievals and breakouts. There’s some offensive generation to his game as well, but it’s unlikely he’ll ever be a powerplay quarterback in the NHL. There are also concerns about his play-stopping ability that will be hard to ever shake. Winnipeg has three defencemen coming up for free agency this summer, so it feels like it’s going to be now or never for Heinola.

6. Nikita Chibrikov

After three straight years of splitting time across three levels of hockey, Chibrikov enjoyed newfound stability in 2023-24, dressing for 70 games with the Moose. And he must have had no complaints whatsoever about the single outlying game where he donned a different sweater, because that was his NHL debut with the Jets, and he got to celebrate it by scoring his first goal. He and fellow AHL rookie Lambert have found a lot of chemistry together, as they both possess blazing speed and slick hands that can make enemies miss, and they're bringing much-needed fresh blood into the organization's forward ranks. He’s also handled the increased physicality of hockey on this side of the world much better than was expected. As he continues to adjust to the structure of North American hockey his skill should gradually keep shining through.

7. Alfons Freij

Freij was a bit of a tricky prospect to get a comfortable read on this season. There were some games where he was a true standout, but in some others, you wouldn’t be able to pick him out of a police lineup. And while he would routinely dazzle you with his shifty footwork and deceptive dekes, a lot of those plays failed to result in goals, leaving his point totals on the season looking a little lackluster. Was he simply unlucky, or is there a disconnect somewhere in how he utilizes his teammates or reads the play? One way or the other, he possesses a high base level of skill, which could potentially be built up over time, and he’s going to keep getting looks with the Swedish national program and gain more access to their resources.

8. Elias Salomonsson

Injuries continue to be a recurring theme in Salomonsson's young career, but the good news is that they don't seem to be slowing down his long-term progression all that much. Him earning a legitimate roster spot and regular ice time on a great Skellefteå team has played a key role in keeping things on track, because they fought their way to back-to-back appearances in the SHL final, which provided him with more games to play in and a beneficial type of experience that not all prospects receive. He's a puck-moving defenceman who is slippery and serpentine on breakouts and at the offensive blueline, in an oddly similar way to Skellefteå alumnus John Klingberg, and has been rounding out his game in the time since his draft day by becoming more gritty and committed in his own zone.

9. Dmitry Rashevsky

Rashevsky isn’t exactly considered a top prospect, but when it comes to sheer entertainment value, there aren’t many others out there who can match him. He’s an offense-first winger who is almost monomaniacal about beating opposing defenders one-on-one, and it’s kind of hard to fault him for that, because he’s undeniably great at it. He’s endlessly confident, and at the drop of a hat is always ready to launch another attack. There were previous frustrations about him having horse blinders on too often and not working with his teammates enough, as well as about him not applying the same level of furious commitment to his off-puck play, but he’s made a lot of progress in those areas over the past three seasons in the KHL. Can he stick in the NHL with how he plays? If it does happen, he’ll be pretty unique among wingers in the league.

10. Jacob Julien

The secret to scouting doesn't lie with simply analyzing what a prospect is good or bad at right now, but rather, trying to project how they will develop and predict what their game will look like in the future. That was Winnipeg's philosophy when they drafted Julien, and so far it's looking pretty darn wise. The lanky center keeps growing into his body, the London Knights keep using their development expertise to grow his skillset, and the results of the project have been fantastic, with significant year-over-year growth. As of this writing he's one of the top scorers on a Knights team that is chasing an OHL title, and as their number one center he had back-to-back hat tricks to eliminate Kitchener in the second round. His long reach and fluid footwork make him hard to contain and help him navigate the ice while exerting minimum effort.

11. Danny Zhilkin

Zhilkin enjoyed some moderate success during his time in the OHL but had a disastrous first year in the AHL. Drafted relatively high because of perceived upside as a two-way center, there are now concerns because his progression in both areas seems to have stalled. None of his individual tools stand out enough and the overall package might not be enough to set him apart. Can he make a regular living in the NHL as a bottom six pivot?

12. Domenic DiVincentiis

It was a trying year for DiVincentiis, who battled injury and consistency issues, which cost him a roster spot at the World Juniors and then North Bay’s starting job in the playoffs. It was especially a shame because he had some wind under his sails coming into the season after an impressive sophomore campaign. An NHL future isn’t out of the question so long as he can get things back on track.

13. Thomas Milic

All Milic ever does is defy the odds and quiet his naysayers. After winning a WHL title in 2023 and then getting drafted as a re-entry prospect, he turned pro, before quickly surging up the organization’s goalie depth chart from fifth to third. His goalie IQ is miles above most of his peers. He’ll never be big, but does he have a bit of that magic that Dustin Wolf and Devon Levi possess as undersized netminders?

14. Dmitri Kuzmin

The jump to professional hockey proved to be a steep one this season for Kuzmin, as he failed to hold down a spot in the AHL and then didn’t really make any kind of statement a level lower in the ECHL. For as good as he is with the puck and as hard as he can shoot it, he’s not nearly quick or agile enough for his size, which he will need to rectify sooner rather than later.

15. Kevin He

Give a loud stick tap to He, who had to suit up for an atrocious Niagara team in his draft season but still came to the rink every day ready to play and to compete. There’s something to be said about getting consistently blown out on the scoreboard but still finding the inner will to pot 31 goals. He’s a speedster who is all gas and no brakes, but at least he knows how to finish plays.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #13 Winnipeg Jets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Profiles

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:02:11 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 29: Winnipeg Jets forward Brad Lambert (47) tracks the play during the Winnipeg Jets versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 29, 2022, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

What a difference a year makes. The Jets have had high expectations for a number of seasons, coach Rick Bowness had inspired the team to squeak into the playoffs in 2022-23, but ultimately lost in the first round of the playoffs. There was a lot of speculation to start the season around two key players in Mark Scheifele and elite goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, and their future on the prairies. In the summer, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff traded Pierre Luc Dubois for a healthy return in Alex Iaffalo, Gabriel Vilard, Rasmus Kupari, along with Montreal’s second in 2024 (37th) suggesting further change to come. He then surprised the hockey world by signing both his key free agents to eight-year, $8.5 million AAV contracts on the eve of the start of the season, cementing them as core pieces. Retiring coach Bowness, while missing some time for health reasons, did a masterful job producing a 100-point season, good for fourth in the league. Hellebuyck returned to Vezina trophy form, and there is optimism in Winnipeg again.

Cheveldayoff was an aggressive buyer at the deadline picks to acquire Sean Monahan, Tyler Toffoli and Colin Miller, all UFA’s this summer. The return was a first (2024), second (2025), third (2024) and a fourth-round picks (2026). Effectively clearing out significant draft capital. Whether any of those players return, with only a first-round loss to Colorado to show for it, Cheveldayoff sent a message that their window is now. The prospect system remains healthy, and relatively deep. There are seven prospects in our top 200, with a couple of players who could join Cole Perfetti as a graduate next season in Brad Lambert and Ville Heinola. They know their window for a championship is open, and with picks already gone, it would not be surprising to see any of the players move for more immediate help.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Brad Lambert	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	`22(30th)	64	21	34	55	38
					Winnipeg (NHL)	`22(30th)	1	0	1	1	0
2	Colby Barlow	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	`23(18th)	50	40	18	58	27
3	Chaz Lucius	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	`21(18th)	17	2	11	13	6
4	Rutger McGroarty	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	`22(14th)	36	16	36	52	6
5	Ville Heinola	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	`19(20th)	41	10	17	27	24
6	Nikita Chibrikov	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	`21(50th)	70	17	30	47	53
					Winnipeg (NHL)	`21(50th)	1	1	0	1	0
7	Elias Salomonsson	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	`22(55th)	31	2	9	11	58
8	Dmitry Rashevsky	RW	23	6-1/165	Dynamo Moskva (KHL)	`21(146th)	67	24	19	43	20
9	Jacob Julien	C	19	6-4/180	London (OHL)	`23(146th)	67	29	49	78	53
10	Danny Zhilkin	C	20	6-1/195	Manitoba (AHL)	`22(77th)	44	2	5	7	22
11	Domenic DiVincentiis	G	20	6-2/185	North Bay (OHL)	`22(207th)	42	27	9	3.13	0.895
12	Thomas Milic	G	21	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	`23(151st)	33	19	9	2.72	0.900
13	Daniel Torgersson	LW	22	6-3/200	Manitoba (AHL)	`20(40th)	52	1	8	9	12
14	Dmitri Kuzmin	D	21	5-10/175	Norfolk (ECHL)	`21(82nd)	24	2	7	9	4
					Manitoba (AHL)	`21(82nd)	18	1	2	3	6
15	Parker Ford	C	23	5-8/170	Manitoba (AHL)	FA(3/23)	72	18	23	41	57

1. Brad Lambert, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Getting to join the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds halfway through last season was exactly what the doctor ordered for Lambert’s development. He found himself excelling at a high level once again, he got to feed off of other top prospects who were his age, he got to experience what it takes to win a league championship, and most importantly of all, he has carried over all that progress with him to the professional level. He had an incredible AHL rookie season with the Moose, finishing as the team’s top scorer. That barn can get pretty raucous at times, and the way that he was able to regularly feed off of that energy and use it to his advantage was a great preview of him being able to do it in the NHL. He is a thrilling center who is borderline elite with his skating ability and puck skills.

2. Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Barlow's game did not take a big step forward this season as expected, and while there's no reason to overreact or hit the panic button, the Jets surely would have had questions for him about what happened. In his defense, playing for an outgunned Owen Sound team that never really looked like a contender was probably a large part of the equation. And even though his assist totals cratered, he still cracked the 40-goal mark for the second consecutive year. He's an explosive skater, hard-nosed grinder and an authoritative finisher, and he shouldn't need to make any serious adjustments to how he plays in order to be successful as an NHLer because his strengths are so useful in different roles and situations. He's an odds-on favourite to make the Canadian roster for the next World Juniors and might even wear a letter for that group.

3. Chaz Lucius, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Is Lucius one of the unluckiest top prospects in the hockey world? It certainly seems that way. He’s only 21 years old but has already experienced his hockey career being beset with knee, ankle and shoulder injuries that have all resulted in surgery being required. It’s an incredible shame, too, because he always looks excellent when he’s healthy, and has shown no trouble at all adjusting to different leagues and levels of hockey. The greatest strengths of his game have always been in the offensive zone and around the opposing team’s crease, but that’s also an area where a lot of punishment is doled out, and there are now unfortunate yet unavoidable questions about whether his body will be able to withstand making a career out of playing that way. If good luck isn’t going to come to him naturally then he might need to make some adjustments to save his career.

4. Rutger McGroarty, LW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

McGroarty is a very intriguing prospect, because his game is fairly pigeonholed, yet he’s an undeniable expert in two specific areas: in the cycle and at the net front. There’s actually an art to scoring greasy, blue-collar goals, and he seems to have mastered it. He is an absolute tank sometimes down low, with an abundance of lower-body strength, and once he gets himself dug in at the top of the crease, he can be nearly impossible to box out or win body positioning against. He’s also very hard to contain when he tries to take the puck from the wall or behind the goal line into a better scoring position. His feet are, unsurprisingly based on what was just said, quite heavy and slow, but he keeps working hard to improve his quickness and mobility. There was talk of him turning pro this spring, but he elected to spend another year in college.

5. Ville Heinola, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

If Heinola doesn’t make the Jets out of training camp next fall the reaction from some fans of the team could be riotous, because he’s a highly touted prospect who’s been on the cusp of making the team for five years in a row without being allowed to fully take that plunge. Making matters even more urgent, his waiver eligibility begins in 2024-25, so there would be a huge risk in trying to send him down again. He is a clever, fleet-of-foot defenseman who excels with puck retrievals and breakouts. There’s some offensive generation to his game as well, but it’s unlikely he’ll ever be a powerplay quarterback in the NHL. There are also concerns about his play-stopping ability that will be hard to ever shake. Winnipeg has three defensemen coming up for free agency this summer, so it feels like it’s going to be now or never for Heinola.

6. Nikita Chibrikov, RW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

7. Elias Salomonsson, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Injuries continue to be a recurring theme in Salomonsson's young career, but the good news is that they don't seem to be slowing down his long-term progression all that much. Him earning a legitimate roster spot and regular ice time on a great Skellefteå team has played a key role in keeping things on track, because they fought their way to back-to-back appearances in the SHL final, which provided him with more games to play in and a beneficial type of experience that not all prospects get to receive. He's a puck-moving defenseman who is slippery and serpentine on breakouts and at the offensive blueline, in an oddly similar way to Skellefteå alumnus John Klingberg, and has been rounding out his game in the time since his draft day by becoming grittier and more committed in his own zone.

8. Dmitry Rashevsky, RW, Dyanmo Moskva (KHL)

Rashevsky isn’t exactly considered to be a top prospect, but when it comes to sheer entertainment value, there aren’t many others out there who can match him. He’s an offense-first winger who is almost monomaniacal about beating opposing defenders one-on-one, and it’s kind of hard to fault him for that, because he’s undeniably great at it. He’s endlessly confident, and at the drop of a hat is always ready to launch another attack. There were previous frustrations about him having horse blinders on too often and not working with his teammates enough, as well as about him not applying the same level of furious commitment to his off-puck play, but he’s made a lot of progress in those areas over the past three seasons in the KHL. Can he stick in the NHL with how he plays? If it does happen, he’ll be pretty unique among wingers in the league.

9. Jacob Julien, C, London Knights (OHL)

10. Danny Zhilkin, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Zhilkin enjoyed some moderate success during his time in the OHL but had a disastrous first year in the AHL. Drafted because of perceived upside as a two-way center, there are now concerns because his progression in both areas seems to have stalled. None of his individual offensive tools stand out and the overall package doesn’t seem like it will be enough to set him apart, so his shot at becoming a future NHLer will rest on his skillfulness killing penalties, handling tough matchups, and eating a lot of heavy defensive zone minutes in general. Can he make a regular living in the NHL as a Bottom 6 pivot? He already has the commitment and shift-over-shift work rate in place, but he will still need to improve his top speed and mix in a little more sandpaper to his defending than he’s used to currently.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – December 26th, 2023 Game Review

Derek Neumeier — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 13:29:51 +0000

Gavin Brindley of USA during the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship between USA and Norway on December 26, 2023 in Gothenburg.
Photo: Carl Sandin / BILDBYRÅN

Slovakia 6 vs. Czechia 2

The most recent match between these hockey rivals and former nation siblings went in the favour of Slovakia, with the Slovakians riding a three-goal burst early in the third period to extend a narrow 2-1 lead into a 5-1 rout and eventual 6-2 finale. It was an impressive victory considering their last medal at this tournament was a bronze in 2015, as well as the fact that the two best eligible players for their country, Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec, are currently playing for their NHL clubs instead. Forward Servác Petrovský led the way offensively for the winning side, with two goals and one assist, while Samuel Honzek, Filip Mešár, Maxim Štrbák and Viliam Kmec all chipped in two points apiece. Czech starting netminder Michal Hrabal was never quite able to find stable ground in his crease, allowing six goals on 34 shots while looking shaky throughout.

Canada 5 vs. Finland 2

Canada's depth and balance will be their most important attributes at this year's event, and they utilized both masterfully on Tuesday, skating away with a 5-2 win in a game that they were in control of throughout, aside for some penalty troubles. Despite being assembled as more of a checking line, the trio of Nate Danielson, Owen Beck and Owen Allard was Canada's best overall, generating the first two goals and tilting the ice throughout most of their shifts. Projected 2024 1st-overall draft selection Macklin Celebrini also had a huge goal in the second frame on a net-front scramble that needed video review to be confirmed. Crucially, the undrafted Mathis Rousseau made 24 saves and looked plenty sharp, instilling some confidence about the team's seeming weakness between the pipes. Defenseman Arttu Kärki recorded assists on both Finnish goals, while goaltender Niklas Kokko turned aside numerous quality scoring chances but wasn't able to deny all of them.

United States 4 vs Norway 1

If the Americans were expecting a casual skate in their tournament opener, they were given a quick wake-up call, as the heavy underdog Norwegians came out ready to play hard. While the outcome of a U.S. win was easily predicted the narrowness of the 4-1 score and the back-and-forth exchange of scoring chances in the first half certainly wasn't. Gavin Brindley's 2-0 goal finally broke the dam for the red, white and blue, and he followed it up with another two and a half minutes later, snuffing out most of the spark that their opponents showed early on. The diminutive Markus Stensrud was simply sensational in net for Norway, making a multitude of stellar saves, and 40 overall, while preventing the score from getting obscene, which could end up being important later on in the tournament if goal differential comes into play as a tiebreaker.

Sweden 6 vs. Latvia 0

The last match of the day was by far and away the least eventful of the opening four, as the host Swedes outshot Latvia 35-20 and trounced them on the scoreboard to the tune of 6-0. At no point did the game ever really seem close, though that didn't deter the cheers from the raucous home crowd. Latvia had a five-minute powerplay just 25 seconds into the first period, on a nasty boarding penalty by Swedish defender Elias Salomonsson, but wasn't able to generate anything from it, and shortly after it ended it was obvious that a vitally important opportunity for them as underdogs had been unfortunately squandered. Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Filip Bystedt, 1st-round picks of the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks, respectively, each scored two goals apiece, while goaltender Hugo Hävelid didn't face the toughest of tests to earn the 20-save shutout.

Three Stars:

1) Gavin Brindley — United States

The first half of the game between the United States and Norway had all the necessary ingredients for an historic upset. However, Brindley had other ideas. A notorious workhorse and spark plug who was also part of the bronze medal-winning American roster last year, he narrowly pounded home a powerplay one-timer to make it 2-0 and then went beautifully bar down shortly afterwards to make it 3-0. That second marker took the wind out of Norway's sails for a while and they never fully recovered.

2) Maveric Lamoureux — Canada

Lamoureux didn't have a particularly flashy or exciting game, but that was by design, focusing his attentions instead on keeping the Finns quiet and under control over the course of his team-leading 24:50 of ice time. The rangy blueliner was a suffocating defensive presence and undoubtedly frustrating for his opponents to get through. He did, however, help create the game's opening goal when his shot from the point went off Danielson and in, and he was similarly rewarded on the score sheet in the dying minutes when he calmly buried an empty-net goal from center ice.

3) Adam Gajan — Slovakia

Things easily could have gone south for the Slovakian netminder Gajan after allowing a goal just 1:01 after puck drop, but to his credit he immediately bounced back and once again looked like the star player who was crucial in almost upsetting Canada in the quarterfinals of the 2023 tournament. Dialed in and on his toes, he kept things tight and tidy for the remainder of the game's opening 40 minutes, which in turn helped his confident teammates break the deadlock late in the second period and then produce their outburst of goals in the third.

MCKEEN’S 2024 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GUIDE – Team Sweden

Felix Robbins — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 13:18:29 +0000

After a disappointing 2022-2023 tournament showing by their standards, the medal-less Swedes are looking to return with a vengeance. Their roster is chock-full of high-end talent, opting to go with no draft year prospects. All but two players (Vancouvers Tom Willander and Ottawa’s Kevin Reidler) are playing in highly competitive men’s professional leagues. They have home ice advantage. To say the stage has been set for them to take a deep run at the gold would be putting it lightly. However, this is somewhat the same story we’ve heard for a while, save for the home ice advantage. The Tre Krona always feature highly skilled prospects on their team, yet never seem to play up to their potential. What’s going to be different this time?

The forward group consists of an imperious top 6, featuring lethal offensive talent in Noah Ostlund (Buffalo), Jonathan Lekkerimäki (Vancouver), Liam Öhgren (Minnesota), and Felix Unger Sorum (Carolina) among others. There are strong two-way players such as Filip Bystedt (San Jose), David Edstrom (Vegas), and Anton Wahlberg (Buffalo), as well as role players like Zeb Forsfjäll (Seattle) and Oskar Petterson (Ottawa) to fill out the bottom 6. I would expect an offensive-oriented top 9 with a checking bottom line.

Their defensive core is as solid as it could be, possibly one of the best and deepest in the tournament. A great combination of size, speed and skill, featuring the likes of Axel Sandin Pellikka (Detroit), Elias Salomonsson (Winnipeg), Tom Willander (Vancouver), and Matthias Hävelid (San Jose) to name a few. You can expect this D unit to make an impact in all three zones.

Perhaps the biggest question is in net, which features a completely new cast of players. Hugo Hävelid (2004) is the brother of D man Mattias, nephew of coach Magnus Hävelid, and has a proven track record in international tournaments. Melker Thelin (Arizona) has posted very respectable numbers in the HockeyAllsvenskan and HockeyEttan. Massive 6’6” Kevin Reidler (Ottawa) has struggled to start the year in the USHL, but has shown that he can bail out a team in the playoffs during his time in the Swedish J18 and J20. One of them must seize the starter’s job, and it will be very exciting to see who earns the spot.

With Canada and USA entering the tournaments as heavy favourites to win, the Swedes ought to have a pretty big chip on their shoulder. The potential for a gold medal winning team is there. It is up to them to prove that they aren’t just a good roster on paper, but on the ice as well.

Sweden’s first game of the round robin is against Latvia on the 26^th. They then play Germany on the 28^th, Canada on the 29^th, and finally the USA on the 31^st.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki of Sweden during a under-20 international friendly ice hockey game between Sweden and Switzerland on December 19, 2023 in Ängelholm.
Photo: Maxim Thoré / BILDBYRÅN / kod MT / MT0510

Ten to Watch

Jonathan Lekkerimäki – LW

It is often said that good things tend to come in threes. If you’re Jonathan Lekkerimäki, you hope that this continues to be the case. He is in his third pro season, where he has put up a formidable 10 G, 6 A in 24 GP with Örebro in the SHL. He is entering his third and final WJC at the U20 level with a chance for his third IIHF WJC medal - ideally a gold one. As the most tenured swede on the roster, Lekkerimäki is expected to be “the guy” and projected top scorer for the Tre Kronor. He has always been a shooter, but his physical strength and playmaking has taken a huge step. There are some questions about whether or not he has the drive to go inside or if he is content on the perimeter, but no question about his confidence in his abilities and his drive to improve. I expect that he’ll slot into the 1st line RW and 1st power play unit.

Noah Östlund - C

No matter how deep a team thinks they are down the middle, a top talent like Noah Östlund is going to push everyone down the depth chart. This is especially true internationally, where he has scored 14 points in 19 games played at the U20 level of play. Östlund is a speedy, intelligent, offensive dynamo who’s on the smaller side for a C. Despite a bit of mass amassing to do, he has the tools to deal with the physicality of the SHL and still be productive. He should be a lock for the top 6 and should be the 1st line center. However, I wonder if maybe he centers the 2nd line due to most of Sweden's more offensively talented players lacking a bit of size. No question he’s on the top power play unit as well. Östlund had a good showing last year at the WJC, but this year the expectation is for him to be an impact player for Sweden and someone who drives play whenever he’s on the ice.

Liam Öhgren – C/W

The last, but certainly not the least of the 2022 Draft’s “Djurgården 3” (Lekkerimäki, Östlund, Öhgren), Öhgren hasn’t made much of an impact at the WJC U20 yet despite heading into his 3rd tournament. For Sweden, this is the year he really needs to step up and step into the bigger role he’ll no doubt be expected to have. He’s lost a good portion of his SHL season to injury, so hopefully the tournament can serve as a springboard and propel him into the new year with a gold medal around his neck. Always a lethal scoring threat, Öhgren processes and plays the game at a high tempo. He has the ability to catch passes, make plays, and get his shot off in-stride - he doesn’t slow down for anyone. I imagine he’ll slot right into the top 6 - maybe even the 1st line, depending on how Sweden wants to spread the wealth of talent they have.

Axel Sandin Pellikka - D

If there's anyone on the Swedish team with a chip on his shoulder, it should be Axel Sandin Pellikka. He had a rough go of it last year at the WJC, both offensively and defensively. However, this year is going to be different. He has put up 9G, 4A in 25 games so far in his D+1 season, outscoring most forwards of his draft class in the very same league. If that is any indication of what’s coming to Goteborg in a couple days, look out! ASP is quite possibly one of, if not the best skaters at the tournament. He’s an offensive defenceman who you can’t take your eyes off of for a moment or give any space to whatsoever. He is an incredibly creative playmaker, reliable passer, and possesses a quick release to boot - a bonafide triple threat. He’s also a monster in transition - his rush patterns and mobility leaves forecheckers completely bewildered. He’s developed a more than competent defensive game, to top it off. He should be the undisputed 1D for Sweden and the PP1 QB.

Tom Willander – D

Unlike most Swedish players in their development journey, Tom Willander has taken the road less traveled and gone overseas to play college hockey. He’s acclimated nicely to North American ice, potting 8 points in 15 games in a key role with BU. Hopefully, this unorthodox D+1 has given him some sort of intel on how he needs to play against his North American counterparts, and gets him into the Canucks AHL affiliate sooner. Despite the tournament being on familiar turf, this will be Willander’s 1st tournament at the U20 level and only his 2nd time at a WJC event. Those unfamiliar with him can expect a smooth, efficient skater and a very active defender. He’s got an imposing physical edge as well, and he should be a strong two-way presence (leaning more defensively) on the backend for Sweden. Don’t be surprised if he assists a ton of Sweden's zone entries with his crisp passes as well. I expect him to log top 4 minutes and to be one of the teams most used PKers. There are going to be quite a few eyes on the 2023 11th overall pick (who some saw as a reach at the time), so hopefully he makes the moment count to dispel any narratives.

David Edstrom - C

Whatever the young Vegas draftee can do for his team, he will do. As a big, cerebral two-way center who plays solidly in all three zones, Edstrom will be relied upon to do a little bit of everything in his first WJC U20 tournament. He reads the ice well and pays close attention to detail - he’s probably one of the strongest off-puck forwards Sweden has. He’ll bring a ton of value offensively by getting his hands dirty on OZ retrievals and by floating to soft ice - a player profile that Sweden doesn’t have much of. Despite not being flashy, there isn't a doubt in my mind that Edstrom has the ability to anchor a line full of more dynamic talents with his intelligence and the completeness of his game. Sweden is so incredibly deep this year that a talent like David Edstrom will most likely end up centering the 3rd line. He’ll definitely play on the PK and perhaps even the PP as well, if needed.

Elias Salomonsson - D

After only seeing 3 games of international play last year, Elias Salomonsson is back with a vengeance. He’s really stepped up his game and carved out an identity for himself as a defense-first puck moving defenceman with Skelleftea AIK in the SHL, and that is what Sweden is hoping to get out of him here at the WJC. His excellent skating can be relied upon to shut down opponents, transport the puck, and join the rush. He doesn’t have the best hockey sense so he can’t make plays like his more offensive blueliners, but Salomonsson isn’t a black hole and should be able to provide some value with his above average passing and stickhandling ability. The Winnipeg Jets’ prospect should be a lock for a shutdown defenceman role with heavy usage on the penalty kill, but don’t be surprised if he surprises with stellar transitional play. Hopefully the unforced errors are kept to a minimum and he makes a quiet impact like the best defensive defensemen are known to do.

Mattias Hävelid – D

After missing the 2022 tournament due to injury, Hävelid is back in the yellow and blue and ready to make an impact. Hävelid has had a ton of international experience, and a productive experience at every level. So, while this is nothing new for the Sharks blueliner, he won’t be taking this opportunity lightly. Hävelid is an incredibly mobile offensive defenceman. Next to Axel Sandin Pellikka and Lane Hutson, his offensive toolkit may be the best among defencemen in the tournament. He’s got an absolute weapon of a shot and can let it go in so many ways. His passing game is mature and creative. He can handle the puck with flashy, yet dependable skill and can make the right play under pressure with ease. Hävelid will most likely be in the top 4 for Sweden, probably paired up with a defensive specialist like Elias Pettersson or Anton Johansson to make up for his weakness in his own end. The interesting question is in his PP deployment - I’ve pencilled Axel Sandin Pellikka into the 1st unit QB slot, but Hävelid may challenge him for that. No matter how you delegate the roles, opposing teams will have no quarter if they are undisciplined.

Otto Stenberg – LW

After a draft season with ups and downs and an explosion of points at the u18 worlds, Otto Stenberg is making his WJC U20 debut as a supremely talented winger struggling to find consistency in his game. With just 3 goals and 3 assists in 22 games in the SHL, the results aren’t anything to write home about. Despite the growing pains, Stenberg is a fierce competitor and has a history of always showing up for international bouts. Sweden is going to need the best version of him to win it all. Stenberg is a dynamic, perceptive playmaker with a great shot and silky-smooth mitts. He’s very manipulative with the puck on his stick and isn’t shy about attacking the middle. What he lacks in all-around game he makes up for in flashy skill, and he should be the perfect complement to a strong two-way center like, say, David Edstrom. I expect Stenberg to be a middle 6 wing and most likely see PP time - hopefully we see the young Blues prospect’s best version of himself.

Filip Bystedt - C

If Bysted could choose to have a repeat performance of last year, both in pro play and the WJC, I think he would. He had a phenomenal year with Linköping in the SHL last year as a D+1, but hasn’t quite taken that next next step this season. Still, one would hope that the 6’4 power center is looking at the tournament as a way to right the ship. The Sharks prospect is a great puck handler, likes to play with speed and knows how to take the puck to the net. He’s a solid playmaker and has a quick release. His skating is coming along nicely and he’s rounded out his game a bunch since his draft year. Adding to the sheer wealth of talent that Sweden has to offer, Bystedt will most likely find himself centering the 2nd line and playing in all situations. He is going to play a vital part in Sweden’s tournament ambitions, so let’s hope there’s some magic left over from 2022 in him.

Sleeper: Felix Unger Sörum – LW

When Carolina took Felix Unger Sörum at 62nd overall as one of the youngest players of the 2023 draft class, I don't think they expected him to last as long as he did in NHL camp and nearly seize a roster spot a few months later. The winger is a superb set up man. His passing and playmaking skills are his M.O., and he keeps defenders on their toes with his shifty body movement and stickhandles. He’s very intelligent and competitive, and his vision is borderline elite. He does lack size and unfortunately doesn’t have very strong skating to make up for that lack of size/physicality. However, his compete and playmaking ability is so good that it’s going to be impossible to take him out of the lineup. While he may initially end up getting pushed down the depth charts due to the talent on Sweden’s roster, Sörum will end up playing himself into a much bigger role with the team as the tournament goes on. Don’t sleep on Felix Unger Sörum - he is a sleeper in name alone.

Elias Salomonsson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #18 Winnipeg Jets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 18th (Last Year - 23rd) GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff Hired: September 2011 COACH: Scott Arniel Hired: May 2024

Isak Rosen, RW, Rochester Americans (AHL) (Currently with the Winnipeg Jets, NHL)

Brayden Yager, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Sascha Boumedienne, D, Boston University (NCAA)

Elias Salomonsson, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Kieron Walton, C, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Brad Lambert, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Colby Barlow, LW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Danny Zhilkin, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Domenic DiVincentiis, G, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Nikita Chibrikov, RW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

Alfons Freij, D, Timra IK (SHL) (Currently with Manitoba Moose, AHL)

Kevin He, LW, Flint Firebirds (OHL)

Zach Nehring, RW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

Edison Engle, D, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Thomas Milic, G, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #23

Winnipeg Jets Top-15 Prospects

1 - Brayden Yager

2 - Brad Lambert

3 - Elias Salomonsson

4 - Colby Barlow

5 - Sascha Boumedienne

6 - Nikita Chibrikov

7 - Kieron Walton

8 - Domenic DiVincentiis

9 - Kevin He

10 - Alfons Freij

11 - Zach Nehring

12 - Dmitry Rashevsky

13 - Jacob Julien

14 - Owen Martin

15 - Parker Ford

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #16 Winnipeg Jets – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

AHL: Hall – AHL Rookies to Watch – Central Division

Frank Nazar, C, Rockford IceHogs

Nate Danielson, C, Grand Rapids Griffins

Bradly Nadeau, W, Chicago Wolves

Felix Unger Sörum, RW, Chicago Wolves

Elias Salomonsson, RHD, Manitoba Moose

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – WINNIPEG JETS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #18

Winnipeg Jets Top-15 Prospects

1. Brad Lambert

2. Colby Barlow

3. Brayden Yager

4. Chaz Lucius

5. Ville Heinola

6. Nikita Chibrikov

7. Alfons Freij

8. Elias Salomonsson

9. Dmitry Rashevsky

10. Jacob Julien

11. Danny Zhilkin

12. Domenic DiVincentiis

13. Thomas Milic

14. Dmitri Kuzmin

15. Kevin He

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #13 Winnipeg Jets – Organization Overview – Top 15 Profiles

1. Brad Lambert, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

2. Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

3. Chaz Lucius, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

4. Rutger McGroarty, LW, University of Michigan (NCAA)

5. Ville Heinola, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

6. Nikita Chibrikov, RW, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

7. Elias Salomonsson, D, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

8. Dmitry Rashevsky, RW, Dyanmo Moskva (KHL)

9. Jacob Julien, C, London Knights (OHL)

10. Danny Zhilkin, C, Manitoba Moose (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

Risers

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Prospect System Ranking – 18th (Last Year - 23rd)
GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff Hired: September 2011
COACH: Scott Arniel Hired: May 2024