Ethan Samson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #25 Tampa Bay Lightning – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:58:36 +0000

Sam O'Reilly of the London Knights. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images.

Prospect System Rank – 25th (Last Year - 29th)
GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018
COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013

The Tampa Bay Lightning operate with a philosophy shared by only a handful of NHL organizations. That's to identify the pieces needed to win now and find a way to put him on the roster no matter the cost. When a team has made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons and captured two Stanley Cups along the way, few are inclined to question the approach.

The Lightning remain driven by a familiar core that continues to produce at an elite level. With Nikita Kucherov (32), Victor Hedman (35), Brayden Point (29), Andrei Vasilevskiy (31), Jake Guentzel (31), Anthony Cirelli (28), and Brandon Hagel (27) still anchoring the roster, Tampa Bay is clearly intent on extending its championship window for as long as possible. True to form, general manager Julien BriseBois once again targeted a specific addition at the trade deadline, acquiring veteran forward Corey Perry for a 2028 second-round pick. While Tampa Bay still retains most of its selections in the 2026 draft — missing only a first- and fourth-round pick — the organization is on the verge of entering a fourth consecutive draft without a first-round selection.

Despite the lack of high-end draft capital, the Lightning still features four prospects within McKeen’s Top 200 rankings. Leading the group is Sam O’Reilly (62nd), acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in a 2025 trade. Now in his fourth and final season of junior hockey, the forward is producing at just over a point-per-game pace across his OHL career. He is joined by fellow OHL standouts Marco Mignosa and Ethan Czata, both of whom continue to show encouraging development with their respective clubs.

Perhaps the most intriguing name on the rise is 2025 fourth-round selection Benjamin Rautiainen (97th). The Finnish forward has broken out in Liiga this season, emerging as one of the league’s top offensive producers. Whether these prospects remain in the system long enough to make a lasting impact is always an open question in Tampa Bay. But if history is any indication, the Lightning will continue prioritizing contention and remain a factor in the playoff picture for a few more seasons.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
TB	1	Sam O'Reilly	C	20	6-1/190	Ldn-Kit (OHL)	56	29	42	71	22
TB	2	Benjamin Rautiainen	C	20	6-0/175	Tappara (Fin-Liiga)	59	25	52	77	20
TB	3	Ethan Gauthier	RW	21	5-11/175	Syracuse (AHL)	56	12	15	27	10
TB	4	Dylan Duke	LW	23	5-10/180	Syracuse (AHL)	72	32	27	59	42
TB	4	Dylan Duke	LW	23	5-10/180	Tampa Bay (NHL)	1	0	0	0	0
TB	5	Ethan Czata	C	19	6-2/180	Niagara (OHL)	63	25	28	53	79
TB	5	Ethan Czata	C	19	6-2/180	Syracuse (AHL)	3	0	0	0	17
TB	6	Daniil Pylenkov	D	25	6-1/195	Dynamo Moskva (KHL)	64	9	45	54	22
TB	7	Jayson Shaugabay	RW	21	5-9/155	Minnesota Duluth (NCAA)	40	11	32	43	18
TB	8	Maxim Groshev	RW	24	6-2/195	Syracuse (AHL)	58	3	18	21	22
TB	8	Maxim Groshev	RW	24	6-2/195	Tampa Bay (NHL)	2	0	1	1	0
TB	9	Everett Baldwin	D	19	6-0/180	Saint John (QMJHL)	62	15	29	44	46
TB	10	Joe Connor	LW	21	5-10/175	Northeastern (NCAA)	36	13	14	27	20
TB	11	Jan Golicic	D	19	6-5/190	Gat-BLB (QMJHL)	57	5	39	44	38
TB	12	Noah Steen	LW	21	6-1/195	Orebro (SHL)	52	12	10	22	18
TB	12	Noah Steen	LW	21	6-1/195	Syracuse (AHL)	5	1	0	1	5
TB	13	Marco Mignosa	RW	21	6-0/170	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)	65	35	54	89	33
TB	14	Ethan Samson	D	22	6-1/195	LV-Syr (AHL)	40	5	13	18	24
TB	15	Lucas Mercuri	C	24	6-3/190	Syracuse (AHL)	67	14	12	26	132

1. Sam O'Reilly, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Sam O’Reilly is going to need a bigger trophy case with two OHL Championships, one Memorial Cup, and a World Juniors bronze medal, plus a chance to earn more with a surging Rangers squad. Coming back from being one of Canada’s more productive forwards at the WJC, Sam was traded to London’s rival Kitchener, and he hasn’t missed a beat, going well over a point per game with his new team. O’Reilly is no stranger to being traded, as this past offseason, he was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Isaac Howard. There is a lot to love with the potential fit with Jon Cooper for O’Reilly as a utility middle-six forward. He’s a very projectable player with good smarts and the ability to find loose pucks, earning him points wherever he goes. O’Reilly might be a rare player who doesn’t have a weakness in his game, finding success in all three zones, particularly in his own end. I could see the Bolts bringing him up to the NHL to start next season, over bringing a Sabourin or Curtis Douglas back, even if just on a rotational basis with an AHL conditioning stint mixed in.

2. Benjamin Rautiainen, C, Tappara (Liiga)

Benjamin Rautiainen has emerged as one of the most compelling late-bloomer stories in Finland this season. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning after going undrafted twice, Rautiainen has taken a significant step forward in his age-20 Liiga campaign. After posting 33 points in 50 games last year, he led the league scoring, and his 77 points broke the U21 scoring record set by Saku Koivu and the first 70-point season in almost 20 years. He earned Liiga MVP honours for his efforts. The growth in his game is tangible. Long criticized for perimeter habits and average explosiveness, Rautiainen now plays with far more pace and conviction. His edge work and agility have improved, allowing him to manipulate defenders off the rush and operate as a primary transition carrier. A natural playmaker, he controls entries, delays effectively, and attacks the middle with deception. While not overly physical, he protects pucks efficiently and competes more consistently away from them. Given Tampa Bay’s development track record, Rautiainen projects as a legitimate middle six NHL winger with offensive upside if his skating continues trending upward.

3. Ethan Gauthier, RW, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

Gauthier is enjoying a moderately successful season with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch as a pro hockey freshman. He's the youngest player on that team, and they're fairly deep at forward, but he's still finding ways to earn his minutes and chip in offensively. A former first overall pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft, his highly touted scoring abilities more or less came as advertised, playing a key role for the Canadian team that won gold at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and then leading Drummondville in playoff scoring as they captured the league title in 2024. And yet, it could simultaneously still be argued that he hasn’t fully lived up to his potential, as he will sometimes go quiet for long stretches. The quality of his shot is undeniable, but he can struggle to find enough time and space to properly utilize it, usually because of a mix of both effort and elusiveness. If Gauthier can smooth out the rough edges in his game that could clear the way for him to become a feared NHL goalscorer.

4. Dylan Duke, LW, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

It is impossible not to like and respect Duke with the way that he plays hockey. He is a mix between a buzzsaw and a bulldog, and he instantly becomes the hardest working player on the ice regardless of where or when he goes over the boards. He’s utterly fearless and relentless for a smaller forward, pinballing around the ice as he inserts himself into the play however he can. It also needs to be said, however, that there’s a certain kind of brilliance to how he gets inside and under opposing players to win battles, and he has a real sixth sense for getting to rebounds and loose pucks before anyone else does. He’s leading the Syracuse Crunch in goals this season, and it’s no surprise because he’s so in tune with himself and so hyperaware of what his strengths are. Will Duke’s success carry over to the NHL one day? Probably not to the same degree, because guys like him usually have a hard time sustaining it and surviving the grind. But bet against him at your own peril.

5. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

The Niagara Ice Dogs have been pretty mediocre through late January and February, but Czata has been a huge bright spot. His production has skyrocketed, scoring in a variety of ways from crashing the net to using his heavy wrister as well as retrieving pucks from down low to sustain play in the offensive zone. He’s progressed quite well since his debut OHL season and is looking like he’ll make the NHL in some sort of capacity. His consistency of reads with the puck and decrease in turnovers have been very noticeable from his earlier days with the Dogs. The Bolts have a sneaky good find at pick 56 in 2024 with Czata. At the next level, he’s a guy who can score in different ways and have an impact in front of the net even when not scoring. His big hits and smarts will help him fit in well in a gritty Tampa Bay bottom six.

6. Daniil Pylenkov, D, Dymano Moscow (KHL)

It's tough to find any major holes in Pylenkov’s game. The former seventh round draft pick has improved year over year and is thriving in his role as the number one defenceman for Dynamo Moskova. He lacks the flash and high-end skill to be a high-end player in the NHL, but his patience and intelligence allow him to be effective in all areas of the ice, in all situations. He facilitates well along the blue line, running the first power play unit, and can activate in the offensive zone playing as a fourth winger when called upon. His positioning is sound, shutting down plays in the neutral zone and keeping forwards to the outside. In the defensive end, he patrols the middle of the ice and battles hard in the corners and in front of the net. On breakouts, he is always in a supportive position and can snap passes up ice to start the rush. At 25 years old, his development is likely complete and if he does come over to North America, his game is probably good enough to slot into a bottom pair role. This past season, though, he signed a two-year extension, which likely prevents him from coming to North America before he turns 27, if he even planned on doing so.

7. Jayson Shaugabay, RW, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

Shaugabay’s development over the last couple of seasons has pushed his name up the list of Tampa Bay Lightning prospects to watch. He has been on an upward trajectory each year since being drafted, culminating in his second NCAA season being his first point-per-game season since he played high school hockey in 2022-23. He has played with the Plante brothers with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, which brings into question whether he can lead his own line and pull his own weight, while maintaining his point-production. He’s certainly trending in the right direction towards becoming an NHL player for a Lightning organization that has consistently found such talents in the later rounds. Shaugabay is a playmaker with a high hockey IQ and excellent stickhandling chops to push the pace. He needs to continue improving his skating ability and bulking up in the NCAA to improve his odds at making the NHL level. If he can continue to do that, he projects as a third line scoring winger. However, he is right on that line when it comes to projecting him, as he could go on to be an AHL all-star who struggles to find a role in the NHL.

8. Maxim Groshev, D, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

Groshev is easily one of the most fascinating prospects in Tampa Bay’s system, primarily because he shifted from playing forward to playing defence at age 23, which is almost unheard of that far into a player’s career. What’s even more surprising is just how well the switch has gone for him, fitting into the Syracuse Crunch’s blueline almost seamlessly, and even holding his own for a couple of games up with the Lightning. He has a genuine knack for breaking pucks out of his own end, and he isn’t shy about taking calculated risks to do so. Maybe defence is the position that he was always destined to play, because he was often quite frustrating to watch as a forward, struggling to fully understand how best to use his size and athletic gifts to make a positive difference. Groshev is a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and it would be an absolute shame if he and the Lightning didn’t agree to terms about bringing him back, if for no other reason than to see how his story unfolds from here, this close to the NHL.

9. Everett Baldwin, D, Saint John's Sea Dogs (QMJHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

After spending last season in the United States, playing mostly in the USHS prep circuit, Baldwin decided to commit to the QMJHL for the 2025–2026 season before ultimately joining Providence College in the NCAA the following year. It was a smart move for Baldwin, who presently plays around 20 minutes each game. The young defender finished with 44 points in 62 games, a solid production, finishing ninth in defensive scoring in the QMJHL. Baldwin is an agile skater, very mobile with and without the puck. He likes to lead the charge offensively, and he supports attacks well. He is not the most creative defender, but he shows great intelligence with the puck and does well to funnel pucks to the middle of the ice, using his mobility to his advantage to evade pressure. The physical side of the game is a work in progress, but the frame suggests that it could be there sooner than later. Since being drafted last year, Baldwin has improved a lot in all aspects of the game. Will it be enough for him to play in the NHL? His play at the NCAA level will give a better indication of that.

10. Joe Connor, LW, Northeastern University (NCAA)

Being a crafty, shoot-first winger who excels in transition, Joe Connor is putting together a solid resume at Northeastern University. His stick handling is used so well when he’s entering the zone, making him and any teammate that trails him, deadly off the rush. Connor also has his deadly shot as a weapon, specializing in set ups off the faceoff. He isn’t terribly fast, but he is fearless as his 5-foot-10 body has been tossed around by the Hockey East and Connor is right back on his feet after every hit. Connor is annoying to defencemen when he gets around them to receive an outlet pass, but can have a habit of flying up too early and becoming a non-factor in the defensive zone. Additionally, he can be a bit of a wild man when passing, needing to gain better vision and accuracy in the offensive zone. Though his game is chaotic, Joe Connor is an intriguing player who will at least play meaningfully in Syracuse, Tampa’s AHL squad, soon. He will receive even more promising development to eventually make the NHL. Just look at how many homegrown guys the Lightning have on their roster now.

11. Jan Golicic, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

The massive Slovenian defender has had another good year in the QMJHL, especially following a trade to the Armada. He brings physical play and improved confidence with the puck.

12. Noah Steen, LW, Örebro HK (SHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

Steen is having his best season to date in the SHL. The Norwegian winger is a hard worker who projects as a potential bottom six forward for Tampa.

13. Marco Mignosa, RW, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

Now in his overage OHL season with the Soo Greyhounds, Mignosa continues to improve his all-around game. Upgrading his speed and explosiveness got him drafted last year.

14. Ethan Samson, D, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

Recently acquired by Lightning, Samson is a former WHL standout whose development had stalled in the Flyers' system. He needs to play his way into Tampa’s long-term plans.

15. Lucas Murcuri, C, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

Mercuri's rights were acquired by the Lightning after Carolina had decided that they would not be signing him following his four years at UMass. The big power forward has found an immediate role in the AHL with Syracuse as a Tom Wilson lite, lending promise to a potential fourth line role with Tampa.

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #12

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:23:37 +0000

Porter Martone of the Brampton Steelheads. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images.

Prospect System Ranking – 12th (May 2025 - 14th)
GM: Daniel Brière Hired: May 2023
COACH: Rick Tocchet Hired: May 2025

The Philadelphia Flyers have entered a new chapter, anchored by Matvei Michkov’s arrival, Rick Tocchet’s hiring, and a wave of impressive draft additions.

Armed with six picks in the first two rounds of the 2025 draft, GM Daniel Brière enjoyed a significant influx of elite talent. Headlining the haul was sixth overall selection Porter Martone, McKeen’s 10th-ranked prospect, followed just six picks later by Jack Nesbitt. Carter Amico, Jack Murtagh, and Shane Vansaghi rounded out a class that sees all five land inside the organization’s top 11 prospects.

They join an emerging young core that already features Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and newcomer Jakob Pelletier—each under the age of 26 and already contributing at the NHL level.

Now sitting second on Philadelphia’s prospect list is Jett Luchanko, a dynamic, two-way center set to compete for an NHL roster spot as early as next fall. On the blue line, Oliver Bonk is closing in on a pro debut, while forward Denver Barkey—his teammate with the OHL’s London Knights—is also set to make the jump after chasing a Memorial Cup together.

With Tocchet behind the bench and Michkov poised to become the face of the rebuild, the Flyers’ plan is clear: surround their elite talent with a deep supporting cast developed from within. They may still be a few years away from legitimate contention, but the foundation is now firmly in place.

Philadelphia Flyers Top-15 Prospects

1 - Porter Martone

After three strong seasons in the OHL, the Flyers made Martone the sixth overall pick in 2025. Last year, as captain of the Brampton Steelheads, Martone finished seventh in league scoring and had a very successful individual season despite Brampton’s disappointment as a team. Martone is a unique player. He’s highly skilled and intelligent, operating as an equal parts playmaker and goal scorer. He’s also 6-foot-3 and loves to get under the skin of opponents by towing the line as a pest similar to the likes of Corey Perry. This coming season, Martone decided to leave the OHL to play at Michigan State, a new challenge for the budding power winger. With the Spartans Martone will focus on improving his pace, making his off puck play more consistent, and continuing to learn to use his physical approach to be a dominant offensive player. There is no doubt that Martone possesses top line upside as an NHL player.

2 - Jett Luchanko

One has to wonder if the Flyers were unhappy to see Luchanko stick with last place Guelph this year, rather than move to a contender for a long playoff run. On the other hand, this did allow him to finish the year at the AHL level with Lehigh Valley, an approach that worked wonders for a similar prospect and player, Mike Richards, back in the day. Luchanko is your classic hard-working pivot, similar to Richards…although he’s a significantly better skater. He competes and is effective in all three zones. He can play any role; his versatility is impressive. He excels as a playmaker, both when he’s attacking with speed through the middle or when he slows the pace and operates along the periphery. He already cracked Philadelphia’s opening night roster last year and he could do so permanently next season if he has a good offseason. His game is mature enough to handle a middle six role already, without sacrificing upside.

3 - Oliver Bonk

After graduation from the OHL, it will be interesting to see how his unique skill set translates to the pro level, given the kind of role he took on under Dale Hunter in London. His offensive production is driven by shot-slot generation from playing the bumper on the power play and from off puck movement. Will he continue to be able to play that role at the next level? I think of Alec Regula as a former Knight who had similar usage and he’s had a tough time transitioning. However, Bonk is more than that. He defends well. He blocks shots. He’s a special teams anchor on both sides for London. Given that his on-puck play may not translate quite as well, the key for him will be the continued improvement of his defensive game and physical intensity. Realistically, he projects as a jack of all trades number four defender who can play a variety of different roles for the Flyers.

4 - Alex Bump

After an extremely promising freshman campaign two years ago, Bump followed that up with an even more impressive sophomore season year for Western Michigan, emerging as one of the top forwards in collegiate hockey. As such, his prospect status is on the rise. Bump is a do it all kind of forward. He’s extremely effective at driving play in transition thanks to improved skating, strong protection skill, and a creative approach. He has a wicked shot thanks to a deceptive and quick release. He works hard to earn touches and competes in all three zones making him a versatile player. This is a player who may not need much more seasoning before he’s NHL ready; his game is very mature. Now signed by the Flyers he will begin his pro career this coming season. He should move through the system quite quickly and could even be a sneaky roster candidate for the Flyers out of camp.

5 - Jack Nesbitt

The Flyers pulled off a minor shock at the 2025 draft by selecting Nesbitt as high as they did, 12th overall. But it’s easy to see why the Flyers were so enamored by Nesbitt. The massive pivot was one of the most improved players in the OHL this past year, dramatically altering his game to help him unlock his upside as a physically dominant two-way center. What Philadelphia is banking on is that Nesbitt is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of. As his frame fills out, what kind of effect will that have on his game? Can Nesbitt develop into an Adam Lowry kind of player for the Flyers in the future, who can anchor their third line and take on key defensive assignments? Does he have more offensive upside than that? It will be interesting to see Nesbitt develop with the Spitfires over the next few seasons.

6 - Yegor Zavragin

Yegor Zavragin’s development has been going the proper way that you’d want from a Russian pick. Just two years after being drafted, he’s already ascended to being a starter in the KHL, a rare feat. He’s extremely quick on his feet, both making rapid adjustments with strong edges, and exploding laterally. He’s great transitioning up and down and has good athletic ability allowing him to stretch out to make big stops. He has solid positioning, can be over aggressive, but he generally uses smart routes through the crease, amplifying his quick movement. He struggles with moving excessively and has a habit to not set his feet or over slide into a save taking him out of position. He tracks pucks just fine, but he doesn’t read shots well and poorly reacts with his hands. When screened, he struggles fighting for vision and can let pucks blow by him. His early KHL success is promising, but he’s still very raw. If his development continued at this pace he would be a starter in the NHL but fits a tandem role or good backup much better.

7 - Jack Murtagh

Having turned 18 on August 22nd, Jack Murtagh will be one of the youngest freshmen in college this upcoming season. Besides his obvious age advantage, the Flyers saw plenty of strengths on the ice from his past year with the NTDP to make him an early second-rounder in the 2025 NHL Draft. You could go on and on about his offensive habits. He is always moving in the offensive zone, creating chance after chance for himself and his teammates. Being a strong skater certainly helps with that offense, but Murtagh is a consistent worker bee in the neutral and defensive zone. His tendency to be annoying to play against is visible in a lot of his viewings, but it could be more consistent. Murtagh will have heavy competition for premium ice time on a stacked BU forward core, however, his work ethic and grit will lead many to say, this kid is only 18?

8 - Nikita Grebyonkin

Nikita Grebyonkin was impressive as a first-year pro in North America last season, particularly because he played well at both the AHL and NHL levels while experiencing a midseason trade. While playing with the Toronto Marlies and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season in the AHL, Grebyonkin showcased a unique combination of speed and skill that makes fans salivate about his NHL potential. Grebyonkin has good speed that allows him to get in quickly on the attack, and he’s got nice hands in tight that can paralyze goalies. He even looked quite good in a bottom six role in limited action with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, so there’s definitely a real player here with top nine NHL potential. Grebyonkin obviously still has some room to work on his game, as he could probably shoot the puck more to make better use of his quick release, but he made great strides last season and should be ready for full-time NHL action soon.

9 - Spencer Gill

Spencer Gill was the first QMJHL player drafted in 2024, taken 59th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. The lanky 6-foot-4 right-hand defenceman showed a great two-way game in his draft year, scoring 46 points in 65 games as well as five points in five playoff games. The following season, he maintained similar production with 35 points in 51 games before an ankle injury ended his campaign in February. This summer, Gill announced that he weighs officially 216 pounds, which is a 31-pound difference from last year. He will play the 2025-2026 season with the Armada and will likely join Lehigh Valley in 2026-2027. Gill plays with pure confidence. In the defensive zone, he uses his imposing frame to physically force turnovers and likes sharp, long passes when exiting the defensive zone to support offensively. Off the puck, he moves impressively well for his size, creating opportunities and joining rushes. Additionally, Gill has notably a very good shot from the point, which he uses often. Gill has a fairly high ceiling, if everything goes well, he could be a reliable second pair defenceman one day.

10 - Carter Amico

After being sidelined for the season with a kneecap injury, Carter Amico is set to come back with a vengeance. He showed a high level of physicality in his short sample size of games that included appearances against various college programs. Amico is going to bring the boom to the Hockey East next season. In addition to his shut-down style, he is a solid puck carrier who is as good at retrievals as he is at throwing opponents on the ground. Boston University will be a big jump for a prospect who has been out for so long, that’s undeniable. However, it’s a guarantee that Amico will be the Terriers' most physical player this season, and that’s what the Flyers drafted him for.

11 - Shane Vansaghi

Opponents know Shane Vansaghi is coming because they feel it. He’s a big power forward who leverages his size to forecheck and dish out hits. He’s shown flashes of playmaking, which makes him an endearing prospect, but he still has plenty of room to grow in that department. If he can improve his skating and playmaking at Michigan State next season, there is reason to believe a middle six role is achievable.

12 - Denver Barkey

Barkey has spent the past two seasons tearing up the OHL with the London Knights. He’s earned 184 points in 114 games primarily off his precision passing. He sets up his teammates well and can also score goals off one-two passes. As an undersized forward, it will be easier to project him when he plays for Lehigh next year, a middling AHL team, versus arguably the most dominant CHL team.

13 - Carson Bjarnason

Albeit some shaky few playoff games, Bjarnason has steadily improved his regular-season stats in each of his four years with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Compared to most goalie prospects in the NHL, Bjarnason has one of the clearer paths to the national. He’ll need a few seasons, like most goalies in the AHL, with Lehigh to be truly NHL-ready.

14 - Samu Tuomaala

Tuomaala has proven that he can leverage his shooting skill into being a reliable top six scoring threat at the AHL level. He proved to be a consistent source of offence for the Phantoms last season. Assuming he can stay healthy, Tuomaala can prove he could be a depth-scoring option for the Flyers next season and earn a call-up opportunity. He’ll first have to show he can get more out of his shot and that his -19 was a one-off.

15 - Ethan Samson

Ideally, for a prospect, you want them to take a step forward without one back; for Samson, that is not the case. Last season, Samson doubled his point production to 24 points, but also was the worst of the defensive group for the Phantoms with a -12. His lackluster offence doesn’t make up for his lackluster defence, so Samson will need to take big steps in the right direction with Lehigh next year if the NHL is anywhere in his future.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #14 Philadelphia Flyers – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Mon, 26 May 2025 15:08:32 +0000

EDMONTON, AB - OCTOBER 15: Philadelphia Flyers Center Jett Luchanko (17) attacks the offensive zone on a power play the first period of the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Philadelphia Flyers on October 15, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire)

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Philadelphia 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #17 Philadelphia Flyers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Derek Neumeier, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:24:11 +0000

Daniel Briere had an eventful first season as a rookie General Manager with more than his share of challenges, but received positive reviews for many of the moves he has made. He inherited an organization that had been run with Chuck Fletcher as GM, and stubbornly stuck to the belief they had a competitive team coming out of the Covid seasons. Briere and President of Hockey Operations, Keith Jones began a process of rebuilding. Briere started his tenure by watching the overall 2nd ranked prospect on this list, Matvei Michkov, fall to the team at pick number seven at the 2023 NHL Draft over concerns on whether he would be coming to North America soon. Rumours that he may be coming over as as soon as next season have been growing, with suggestions that Flyers and SKA (his Russian team) are discussing that possibility. He had earlier, once again very quietly, orchestrated the addition of giant goaltender Ivan Fedotov from Russia, surprising many.

He then moved defenseman Ivan Provorov for a first-round pick in 2023, adding talented Oliver Bonk at 22nd overall and a second-round pick 2024. The next big challenge was a trade demand from top rated prospect Cutter Gauthier (fourth overall on this list) that was a leftover from the previous regime. In accommodating his request, management did an excellent job of keeping it quiet and getting the best possible return in defenseman Jamie Drysdale from Anaheim along with a second-round pick in 2025. At the end of the day and wheeling and dealing, he has four picks in the first two rounds of both the 2024 and 2025 drafts. After surprisingly calling for a rebuild, under the previous regime, John Tortorella received a full buy-in from the team for a surprising first half of the season from a disciplined unit. That should not suggest the Flyers are done with their rebuild. They need to add some more high-end pieces before they are ready to truly begin the climb. They will utilize all of their picks.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Matvei Michkov	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	`23(7th)	48	19	22	41	26
2	Oliver Bonk	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	`23(22nd)	60	24	43	67	32
3	Emil Andrae	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`20(54th)	61	5	27	32	66
					Philadelphia (NHL)	`20(54th)	4	0	0	0	0
4	Ronnie Attard	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`19(72nd)	48	10	17	27	37
					Philadelphia (NHL)	`19(72nd)	12	0	2	2	6
5	Carson Bjarnason	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	`23(51st)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
6	Denver Barkey	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	`23(95th)	64	35	67	102	28
7	Alexei Kolosov	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	`21(78th)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
8	Samu Tuomaala	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`21(46th)	69	15	28	43	12
9	Elliot Desnoyers	LW	22	5-10/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`20(135th)	63	6	16	22	23
10	Carter Sotheran	D	18	6-3/195	Portland (WHL)	`23(135th)	66	13	27	40	68
11	Helge Grans	D	21	6-2/205	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	T(LA-6/23)	56	1	7	8	24
12	Olle Lycksell	RW	24	5-11/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`17(168th)	38	19	20	39	14
					Philadelphia (NHL)	`17(168th)	18	1	4	5	6
13	Ethan Samson	D	20	6-1/195	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`21(174th)	63	3	9	12	56
14	Yegor Zavragin	G	18	6-2/185	Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk (VHL)	`23(87th)	17	13	1	1.60	0.943
15	Alex Bump	LW	20	6-0/195	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`22(133rd)	38	14	22	36	27

1. Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent assortment of global repercussions, have prevented North American hockey fans from watching Michkov shine at prestigious events like the World Juniors. And that's a real shame, because if his high scoring totals in the KHL are any indication, he could have put on quite a show. He has a razor-sharp ability to dissect opposing defenders one-on-one or carve his way through larger crowds of traffic, and is one of the best pure finishers in the world for his age group. There is a certain incisiveness to his mindset that sets him apart from others. Will he be a true superstar in the NHL? That will depend on whether he can become fast enough to create more separation on the smaller North American ice surfaces, because there are times right now where he gets bottled up too easily.

2. Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (OHL)

Bonk is like a young defenseman version of Costco: he offers everything and the quality is always good, though you'll rarely get anything that's truly top of the line. Every NHL team needs blueliners who can play in all situations, move up or down defense pairs as needed, and provide a stabilizing presence throughout without any worries or problems, and he is the epitome of that. It's no coincidence that London continues to be one of the best teams in the OHL with Bonk logging tons of minutes for them. The more you watch him, the more you appreciate the amazing nuance and fine details of his game. He'll probably join the Flyers at a young age and start out in a limited role, before steadily taking on more and more minutes until he eventually becomes one of their most trusted go-to guys.

3. Emil Andrae, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Andrae received a decent look up with the Flyers back in October, but from what they saw the organization’s brass decided that he wasn’t quite ready for the challenge, so they sent him down to the AHL to let the year play out for him there instead. Nevertheless, the franchise is still committed to a serious youth movement, so come next training camp he should get another heavily scrutinized trial. For a defenseman his size he plays incredibly hard, which is always a bonus in Philadelphia. He’s also well above average when it comes to driving offense from the back end, and he deserves full marks for his mental makeup. That’s a great foundation to have in place, so now the big X-factor for him becomes his skating, which will need to keep improving, and improving a lot, to counterbalance the aforementioned deficiencies in his stature.

4. Ronnie Attard, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Attard has always been a late bloomer, so Flyers fans need not be too concerned that he hasn’t seemed fully equipped for full-time NHL duty yet, despite being 25 years old now and getting looks with the big club intermittently across the past three seasons. And out of all the types of prospects that teams should be extra patient with, right-shooting defensemen with size and prior track records of contributing offensively should be right at the top of the list, because they have outsized value if they can find a way to put all the pieces together. All that said, the team wants healthy internal competition for most roster spots, so if Attard isn’t careful he could get left in the dust by others. He isn’t going to get handed a job no matter how appealing his upside may be.

5. Carson Bjarnason, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Bjarnason's underwhelming stats this season are more of a reflection of Brandon's lackluster roster, and not the performance or long-term upside of their starting goalie. That whole team had neither a hope nor a prayer in the opening round of the playoffs, and they looked and acted like it. There were too many games throughout the year when Bjarnason was clearly not dialed in, and that's never ideal, but there were also plenty that the Wheat Kings never would have had a chance of winning without his heroics. Thinking big-picture, the Flyers are likely still content with the draft capital they spent on him, because he has everything that you'd want to see in a young goaltender, including size, refined technique, fluid mobility in the crease, and the ability to hang in there during games where he gets pelted with rubber.

6. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL)

Barkey is the type of prospect who seems like he was born to play hockey. There is such a natural ease to how he thinks and feels the game. At the same time, he's far from laid back or casual. Few can match his focus, competitive drive and desire to win, but all of those seem second nature to him as well. He might not possess as much raw skill as other top prospects have, but his production explodes this season because he knows exactly which parts of his game he can improve, and how to do so. His lack of size and strength will persist and unfortunately hinder his NHL impact to some degree, but there is little doubt that he will eventually work himself onto the Flyers in some capacity and find ways to stick around for a long time.

7. Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

The trend toward bigger puck stoppers in the NHL is well-documented by now, and the disadvantages experienced by smaller ones is undeniable, but the Flyers have to be optimistic about Kolosov because of his track record in the KHL over the past few seasons. He was the number one goalie for Minsk Dynamo for two years in a row and put forth a valiant effort during the league’s most recent playoffs, but didn't get the goal support he needed from the team in front of him. His reflexes are quite quick and he does a good job of staying in control while being active in his crease, which are essentially these days for non-giant netminders. He's already made the anticipated move to Lehigh Valley in the AHL and will be given a fair shot to win the starter's job there next season.

8. Samu Tuomaala, RW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Tuomaala has had a bit of a rocky development since getting drafted, bouncing around a handful of different clubs in Finland and then surprisingly being snubbed for his home nation's representation at two straight World Juniors tournaments. However, his first full season in North America was an encouraging course correction, spending the entirety of it with the Phantoms and establishing himself as a productive Top 6 winger for them. He's a slippery offensive creator with the ability to make defenders miss, as well as a deceptively heavy shot for a guy his size. His limitations have stemmed from his lack of strength and top-line speed. The Flyers have shown an eagerness to test out many of their prospects in NHL action, so Tuomaala could get his first look with the big club as early as next fall if he has a notable training camp and preseason.

9. Elliot Desnoyers, LW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

Desnoyers has come a long way in his hockey career riding on hard work, will, and sheer determination. That’s not to say that he’s necessarily lacking in talent, but it’s been those other intangibles that have really set him apart and taken him further than others have gone, including being drafted, making the always-contested Canadian roster for the World Juniors, and getting to dress for NHL games. That’s a draining way to play, however, when it’s pretty much all you’ve got going, and sooner or later everyone’s engine starts to clunk out after it’s been pushed into the red zone for too long. His second season in the AHL was a significant step back from his first, which doesn’t bode well for where his career is going to go from here. It’s not too late for him, but will he be able to mix in other ways of being successful?

10. Carter Sotheran, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

In his draft year Sotheran looked like a prospect who was on the cusp of taking a big step forward, and we're seeing that exact outcome loud and clear this season. He's become more impenetrable defensively, his offensive contributions have increased, and he's just really come into his own overall, and he's doing so as a go-to player on one of the best teams in the entire Canadian Hockey League. All of his progression ultimately stems from huge increases to his confidence and comfort level, which is visible with how he carries himself on the ice, especially when it comes to jumping up in the play. There is tremendous value in right-shooting blueliners with mobility, size, and the capability of impacting the play across all three zones, so the Flyers must be thrilled that they were able to add one to their prospect pool using a mere 5th-round draft pick.

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 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #10

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 14:13:14 +0000

Top 20 Philadelphia Flyers Prospects

1. Matvei Michkov

Move over Austin Powers, Matvei Michkov is the new International Man of Mystery. On talent alone, Michkov deserved to be selected inside the top five of this year’s draft. He had been hyped just as long as Bedard for the top of the 2023 class. However, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the corresponding ban on Russia from the IIHF threw a huge wrench into that narrative. His contract situation in the KHL (another three seasons, at minimum) further complicate things. However, the Flyers decided that the risk was worth the reward. An elite offensive player, Michkov is one of the most creative and gifted young players outside of the NHL. Over the next three years in the KHL, the Flyers will be looking for improved consistency away from the puck, improved utilization of his teammates, and improvements made to his explosiveness as a skater. All signs would point to Philadelphia receiving an immediate impact player once he arrives, rewarding their patience, just as the Wild were rewarded with Kirill Kaprizov.

2. Cutter Gauthier

One of the more recent additions to the Philadelphia organization, Gauthier was selected fifth overall in 2022 out of the USNTDP. He was a standout player for the program, including a strong performance at the U18s. Post-draft, he has continued that success, helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the World Juniors and contributing over one point per game as a freshman with NCAA Boston College. He plays a fearless game, driving the net, jumping into puck battles, and playing so with speed. He's a high-volume shooter who could pick his shots better, but you have to appreciate the confidence. He plays in a style that should allow him to seamlessly adjust to the NHL. He has already confirmed that he will stick in Boston for his sophomore season, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s wearing the orange, black, and white.

3. Tyson Foerster

Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 Draft, Foerster has had some issues with a nagging shoulder injury but has always been able to find his game. He spent the pandemic with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, easily transitioning to the higher level. He spent more time in the OHL in 2021-22 but returned to the AHL last season, even seeing time in the NHL. In fact, he almost looked better in the NHL than he had at any other level. Foerster has one of the best shots not in the NHL and does extremely well at creating offense, both for himself and his teammates. He plays hard and shows promising attention to the defensive side of the puck as well. His skating was a worry in his draft year but has steadily improved since then. He looks NHL-ready and likely makes the jump in 2023-24 as a middle-six producer.

4. Bobby Brink

The Flyers have been patient with Brink, which has proven to be the correct path. He was selected 34th overall in 2019 from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, where he had been named USHL Forward of the Year. Following the draft, he made the jump to the NCAA with the University of Denver, transitioning seamlessly with a strong rookie season, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. After a down sophomore campaign, Brink exploded in 2021-22, leading the entire NCAA in points (57) and was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He moved up to the AHL last season, continuing his upward development slope. He’s a very strong skater , who does well at getting off the wall and into the middle of the ice. He’s not far off from a middle-six role in the NHL.

5. Oliver Bonk

Bonk, the son of former Ottawa Senator standout Radek, has a game predicated on his strong positioning, anticipation, and awareness. One would probably expect nothing less from someone who grew up around the game. One of the smartest defenders available in the 2023 draft, he is a disruptive force in the defensive end. Additionally, what makes Bonk such a defensive asset is his ability to kickstart the transition game. As mentioned, his IQ is the strongest component of his game, and this is evident when he has the puck on his stick in the defensive zone. From an offensive perspective, there may be some limitations to his game. He is not a dynamic skater, either in terms of his linear quickness or his agility. He will jump up in the play and he does a great job of getting pucks through to the net, both skills based off his high intelligence level. However, he is not incredibly creative, and that lack of quickness hurts him as a carrier. There is a fairly safe road to Bonk becoming a dependable, longtime second pairing defender at the NHL level. The London Knight’s track record at developing blueliners is another factor in his favor.

6. Emil Andrae

One of the most exciting defensive prospects out there, Andrae is the picture of the modern defender. He thrives jumping up into the rush and leading the transition, using his light footwork to navigate through the opposition. Drafted 54th overall in 2020, he joined SHL HV71 during a rough season which saw the team relegated. He followed with an excellent season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, helping the team jump right back to the SHL and earning the Best Junior award, leading all rookies in points. He also starred on the Swedish WJC team, leading all defenders in goals and being named to the tournament All-Star Team. He’s a strong playmaker with excellent vision and has been improving his decision-making over the past few seasons. His size may be a concern, but he has the skill of a top four defender. He made the jump to North America at the end of last season and will look to build off a strong, yet brief cameo.

7. Helge Grans

Grans still has a lot of work left to do before he'll be ready to hack it at the NHL level. His play thus far in the AHL hasn't lived up to expectations, but the long-term upside that he possesses is undeniable. He checks off a lot of boxes that you want to see in a defenseman: athleticism, size, reach, mobility, and puck movement. Heck, he even shoots right-handed. Unfortunately, he still struggles to blend all these tools together. There are fair questions about his hockey sense and processing speed, and for a blueliner with his profile, you'd like to see more sandpaper and a stronger willingness to work hard to win positioning and pucks. Grans could be the type of prospect who blows up in his mid 20s, or he might never become much more than he is right now.

8. Carson Bjarnason

It was a tale of two seasons for Bjarnson in 2022-23, with a storybook start to his campaign but then a horror finish, as injuries derailed him during the back end of the regular season and again at the IIHF U18s. The good news for him now is that his long-term projection is still very promising. He is an impeccably well-rounded netminder, with plenty of natural net coverage, stoic mental composure, refined technique and stance, and clean movements in his crease. When he is at the top of his game, he can single-handedly steal wins for his team while making it look easy and routine. He has the right combination of traits to eventually become an NHL number one, and he'll get two more years’ worth of reps as a starter in the WHL to help prepare himself, while gaining valuable and transferable experience in that kind of role. Like almost all teenage goalies, he is still very much a project, with consistency concerns and the need to cut down on the number of weak goals he allows, but his foundation is solid.

9. Elliott Desnoyers

A later round pick selected 135th overall in 2020, Desnoyers moved to the Halifax Mooseheads from the Moncton Wildcats in 2020-21, suiting up as an alternate captain. He took a big step forward on the ice while also taking on more of a leadership role in 2021-22, wearing the ‘C’. He made the jump to the Phantoms last season and continued to show improvement as one of the more productive players on the team. He seems able to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup and succeed, playing a hard-fought game with an underrated amount of skill. Desnoyers plays a smart game, rarely making a mistake. He’s well on his way to becoming a solid bottom six contributor who could move up in the lineup in the appropriate situation. It is already safe to call him a draft success considering where he was selected and how he has since progressed.

10. Ronnie Attard

One of the older prospects not yet in the NHL, it’s been a long road for Attard. However, it seems like that road and the patience of Flyers’ brass with him has paid off. Selected 72nd overall in 2019 after a huge season with the USHL Tri-City Storm where he was named USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year, as well as USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then jumped to the NCAA’s Western Michigan University where the success continued, being named a two-time NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman within his three years there. Last season, he continued his rise, joining the Phantoms and fitting right in. He’s an aggressive, offensive defender that performs very well in transition. He has all the tools to be a reliable bottom-four defender at the next level and isn’t far off from making it.

11. Egor Zamula

This is a huge year for Zamula as he is no longer exempt from waivers. The puck moving defender has a real solid shot of finally becoming a permanent fixture on the Flyers’ blueline this season, but his defensive game still needs to show growth.

12. Ethan Samson

A two-way defender out of the WHL, Samson has developed incredibly well since being drafted. He holds the offensive blueline extremely well and makes opposing players earn touches in the defensive end. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the pro level this year.

13. Alexei Kolosov

An outstanding athlete, Kolosov was already a starter in the KHL as a 21-year-old last year, playing for hometown Minsk. He could move up the prospect rankings pretty quickly if he plays well with Lehigh Valley this year.

14. Alexis Gendron

Among the Q’s leading goal scorers last year, Gendron is deadly in open space. His speed can be deadly, but there are still concerns about his lack of size. He is likely returning to the Q for an overage year and is a contender to lead the league in scoring.

15. Olle Lycksell

While the Flyers’ depth chart looks pretty crowded right now, Lycksell has to be one of the favourites to be called up in a case of a long-term injury. He is a very creative playmaker and he was great after finally crossing the pond to play in the AHL last year.

16. Devin Kaplan

Kaplan plays such a mature, pro ready game already as a young prospect. He had a solid freshman year at Boston University, but there is a need for him to continue to become a more dynamic skater. Kaplan is a potentially elite bottom six player and penalty killer.

17. Samuel Ersson

Thrust into NHL action last year, Ersson held his own and managed to win six games for the Flyers as a rookie. The soon to be 24-year-old finds himself as part of a crowded crease, but he has NHL upside.

18. Denver Barkey

A tenacious worker, Barkey does so many things well and that’s why the Flyers used a third-round selection on him this year. He is a serious 2023-24 breakout candidate with the London Knights.

19. Samu Tuomaala

After a disastrous 2021-22 season, Tuomaala appears to have gotten himself back on track with a strong season in the Finnish second league. He still has the speed. He still has the big shot. But there are still questions about his hockey sense.

20. Zayde Wisdom

Possibly still feeling the after-effects of a wonky shoulder, Wisdom’s development has stalled in a big way. He was so good in that Covid shortened AHL season and he has yet to come close to matching that. Let’s see if he can get back on track this year as an AHL regular.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #14 Philadelphia Flyers

Josh Bell — Sun, 21 May 2023 12:53:44 +0000

The Cliff Fletcher era (since 2018) ended following another difficult season, with the GM stubbornly insisting the Flyers were close to contending and resisting any retooling. Even coach John Tortorella surprisingly called for a rebuild mid-season. Now, the franchise will be given the chance with newly named President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones, and new GM Danny Briere. The early signaling suggests they will be looking at investing in prospects for the next few years, and offseason talk has turned to who will move to attain future assets. Briere has a reputation for embracing analytics, and how that affects decision-making remains to be seen with Jones being more traditional in approach.

Philadelphia owns nine picks in the upcoming draft and four first rounders over the next three years. Look for them to add to that stockpile significantly in the coming months. They have the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft, which should net a quality prospect in a deep draft. They added Cutter Gauthier fifth overall last year. A confident player, who plays a fearless game, seems to fit the classic Flyers identity. He should be in the line-up very soon. They also have two NHL-ready prospects in Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink, so a youth injection next season seems inevitable. This should be a very transformed roster in a year’s time, with no veteran untouchables, with the possible exception of goalie Carter Hart. How deep the new regime will want to go remains to be seen. Whether to the foundations like Chicago, or something more in the middle. Stay tuned.

Cutter Gauthier of USA celebrates during the friendly under-20 ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2022 in Moncton.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN

Cutter Gauthier

One of the more recent additions to the Philadelphia Flyers, Cutter Gauthier was selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft from the USNTDP. He was a standout player in the program, including a strong performance at the Under-18s. Post-draft, he’s continued that success forward, helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the World Juniors and playing over a point per game as a freshman with Boston College in the NCAA. He plays a fearless game, driving the net, jumping into puck battles, and he does so with speed. He's a high-volume shooter that could pick his shots better, but you have to appreciate the confidence. He plays a game that seems like it will adjust to the NHL seamlessly. He’s already confirmed that he’s sticking in Boston for his sophomore season, but it shouldn’t be long before he’s wearing the orange, black, and white.

2. Bobby Brink

The Flyers have been patient with Bobby Brink, and that’s proven to be the correct path. Selected 34th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft from the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, where he was named USHL Forward of the Year. Following the draft, he made the jump to the NCAA and the University of Denver, fitting right in with a strong rookie season, and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. He continued that for another season and then exploded in 2021-22, leading the entire NCAA in points (57) and was named the NCHC Forward and Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He’s moved up to the AHL this season, continuing his upward development slope. He’s a very strong skater, who does well at getting off the wall and into the middle of the ice. He’s not far off from a middle-six role in the NHL.

3. Tyson Foerster

Selected 23rd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Tyson Foerster has had some issues with a nagging shoulder injury but has always been able to find his game. He spent the pandemic with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, easily transitioning to the next level. He did spend some more time in the OHL in 2021-22 but is back in the AHL this season and has even seen time in the NHL, almost looking better in the NHL than any other level. He has one of the best shots not in the NHL and does extremely well at creating offense, either for himself or his teammates. He plays hard and shows promising attention to the defensive side of the puck as well. His skating was a worry in his draft year but has been steadily improving. He looks NHL-ready and likely makes the jump in 2023-24 as a middle-six producer.

4. Emil Andrae

One of the most exciting defensive prospects out there, Emil Andrae is the picture of the modern defender. He thrives jumping up into the rush and leading transition, using his light footwork to navigate the opposition. Drafted 54th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Andrae joined HV71 in the SHL during a rough year where they were relegated. He had an excellent season in the HockeyAllsvenskan, helping the team jump back to the SHL and earning the Best Junior award, leading all rookies in points. He also starred on the Swedish World Junior team, leading all defenders in goals and being named to the All-Star Team. He’s a strong playmaker with excellent vision and has been improving his decision-making over the past few seasons. His size may lead to concern, but he has the skill of a top-four defender. He’s already made the jump to North America, where he’s already beginning to excel.

5. Elliot Desnoyers

A later draft pick at 135th overall in 2020, Elliot Desnoyers moved to the Halifax Mooseheads from the Moncton Wildcats in 2020-21 as the alternate captain. He took a big step forward before taking another big step as the captain in 2021-22. He made the jump to the Phantoms this season and has continued to improve as one of the more productive players on the team. He’s a player that seems to be able to be plugged in anywhere in the lineup and succeed, playing a hard-fought game with an underrated amount of skill. He plays a smart game, rarely making a mistake. He’s well on his way to becoming a solid bottom-six contributor that could move up in the lineup in the appropriate situation. Already with his development, it’s safe to call him a success considering where he was drafted and how he’s progressed.

6. Ronnie Attard

One of the older prospects not yet in the NHL, it’s been a long road for Ronnie Attard. However, it seems like that road and the patience of Flyers’ brass with him has paid off. The Flyers selected him 72nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft after a huge season in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm where he was named USHL Player and Defenseman of the Year, and USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then jumped to the NCAA’s Western Michigan University where the success continued, being named a two-time NCHC Best Offensive Defenseman within his three years there. This season, he’s continued his rise, joining the Phantoms and seeming to fit right in. He’s an aggressive, offensive defender that does very well in transition. He has all the tools to be a reliable bottom-four defender at the next level and isn’t far off.

7. Egor Zamula

After going undrafted, the Flyers signed Egor Zamula to an entry-level deal in 2018, just after his first season in North America in the WHL. He spent two more seasons with the Calgary Hitmen as a point-per-game defender. In 2020-21, he jumped to the next level and ever since has seemed on the cusp of being an NHLer. He’s seen some time with the Flyers in each season but just hasn’t made the permanent jump yet. The Russian is a two-way defender that moves very well. He can jump up into the rush or the offensive zone when he needs to but he’s just as comfortable sitting back and defending. He relies more on his active stick rather than his physical game, which shouldn’t be a problem in his translation to the NHL. He seems ready to make the jump and could be a middle-pairing asset.

8. Ethan Samson

Another late selection by the Flyers, he was drafted 174th overall in 2021 from the WHL’s Prince George Cougars. He’s been steadily improving his game after being drafted and just capped off a point-per-game season in what should be his final year in the Dub. He’s a very well-rounded prospect although he doesn’t have that one asset that will carry him to the NHL. He’s likely a two-way defender when all is said and done. He has some skill in his game, but only utilizes it in bursts. He’s shown that he can produce, thanks to a big shot and some accurate passing. He defends well, not afraid to mix things up physically. Given the averageness of his game, the NHL isn’t a guarantee, and it does seem more likely that he carves out an AHL spot for himself. He could be a call-up option as well though and lock down a depth defender role.

9. Alexis Gendron

Selected near the end of the 2022 NHL Draft, the Flyers waited until the 220th selection to call Alexis Gendron’s name. He’s had a steady progression through his three seasons in the QMJHL, seeing his production jump forward significantly each season. He has no fear in his game despite his 5-foot-9 frame, often getting into the high-danger areas and finding his way into puck battles. He has an intriguing amount of creativity on the ice and has shown that he can put the puck in the net or dish it out. He’s a bit more reactive instead of proactive, and his ceiling is quite limited. His development has been promising and he’s still young, but at this point, it seems likely that he peaks as an AHLer. Even if that is the case, that’s a good return on a seventh-round flyer.

10. Olle Lycksell

Drafted way back in the 2017 NHL Draft, 168th overall, Olle Lycksell is another prospect in the system where patience has paid off. Drafted out the J20 SuperElit, he split the following season between the J20 SuperElit and SHL before spending the next three seasons as a regularly productive forward in the SHL. This season, he’s made the move overseas to the AHL, even seeing some time in the NHL. He’s been one of the most productive forwards for the Phantoms, exceeding expectations for a sixth-round pick. The centreman has good hands, a great level of creativity, and a very accurate snapshot. It was once thought to be a stretch for him to reach the NHL, but it now looks like just a matter of time. He looks like he could be a reliable secondary scoring option in the bottom six.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Ethan Hetu, Zack Szweras, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 20:35:33 +0000

1 - Cutter Gauthier LW

Cutter Gauthier, the fifth-overall pick at the 2022 NHL draft, was a bit of a divisive prospect in his draft cycle. His first-round merits weren’t up for debate — pretty much everyone agreed on his chops as a top-half-of-the-first-round talent — but it was his status among the draft’s very best prospects that garnered the most debate. Sources within the game, such as Bob McKenzie of TSN’s rankings based on polls of NHL scouts, ranked him as a prospect deserving of top-five consideration, and the Flyers seemed to agree, while rankings from the media held his game in less of a high regard, ranking him more around the back of the top-ten or the early teens. The split in opinion on Gauthier can be largely explained by his on-ice profile. The merits of Gauthier’s game, the best aspects of his profile, read off like a coach’s wishlist for things he or she wants in a skater. Gauthier is fearless, always looking to create chances in any way he can, even in the dirty areas of the ice. He has a high work ethic, finding ways to remain active and close to the play on every shift. He’s physical, and he regularly engages in and wins board battles. Perhaps most importantly for his pro projection, Gauthier is a disciplined prospect, always working within the structure and system his coach provides for him. Some players want to excel in the game on their own terms, while Gauthier instead looks like a player keenly interested in maximizing his effectiveness within his coach’s vision rather than his own. That’s not to say he’s without high-end tools, his shot, for example, is among the very best in his class, but that is to say that his overall profile emphasizes the high likelihood of him being an impactful NHL-er rather than him having a chance at becoming a game-breaking star. - EH

2 - Cam York D

It was a pretty solid first full pro season for York, as he split time between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley before a foot fracture ended his season early. In Philadelphia, he was quarterbacking the top powerplay unit, a role that he is definitely being groomed for. York is a terrific distributor because of his vision and mobility. He remains composed at all times working the point because he has confidence in his ability to elude checks and consistently makes quick decisions under pressure. His composure translates to the defensive end too, where he is a breakout machine. Again, he rarely panics in the face of pressure and can either carry out or make a successful exit pass to clear the defensive zone. The highest scoring defender in the history of the U.S. NTDP, York’s offensive potential at the NHL level remains sky high. Defensively, his progression will be tied to his ability to add strength to help him win puck battles and positional battles more consistently. His positioning and reads are sound, but he was overwhelmed at times as a rookie playing on a struggling team. Even with the acquisition of Anthony DeAngelo, York figures to play the entire upcoming season with Philadelphia. DeAngelo will definitely cut into his powerplay time, but York should still play a consistent role, likely paired with a veteran such as Justin Braun, on the third pairing. Eventually, he should slide into a top four role and take over top powerplay responsibilities as one of the Flyers’ key young cornerstones. - BO

3 - Bobby Brink RW

Bobby Brink was the most productive scorer in the NCAA last season, and his success at the University of Denver is what led him to sign his NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. An early second-round pick at the 2019 draft, Brink’s offensive talent was never in doubt. Brink’s puck skills, his stickhandling, passing, and control of the flow of play with the puck on his stick is extremely good. He has this shiftiness to him that makes him a difficult task to handle for opposing defenders, and it’s impossible to guess what Brink will do next with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. There are few players in college hockey who create offense the way Brink does, and by the end of his brilliant junior campaign he looked like he’d mastered the art of creating offense against college defenses. The issue with Brink, and the reason he didn’t go in the first round in 2019, largely lies in the way he creates offense and his most talked-about tool: his skating. To address the first point, Brink creates offense from the outside, and rarely is one to use the more difficult areas of the ice to create his chances. For many players, they can survive doing so because of their ability to separate from defenders. Brink’s skating, while more developed than it was in his draft year, is still far from being sufficient enough to give him a separation gear, and he’ll struggle to play the same style of offense against NHL defenses. If Brink can improve his skating significantly, then he can be a similar player as an NHLer to who he was in college, but massive improvements in his skating are unlikely, what’s more likely is Brink either makes the necessary stylistic and habitual adjustments to survive as a scorer in the NHL or wholly fails to live up to the hype he generated as a college star. - EH

4 - Tyson Foerster C

The last two seasons have not been kind to Foerster, the Flyers’ 23rd overall selection in 2020. Two years ago, with the OHL on a pandemic related hiatus, Foerster suffered a leg fracture that limited his playing time with Lehigh Valley in the AHL. Last year, the injury bug bit again as a shoulder injury kept him out for the majority of the season until the Flyers returned Foerster back to the OHL to help Barrie with their playoff run. In reality, he should have been returned to the OHL at the very beginning of the season to help his development. On a positive note, he looked fully healthy at the summer World Juniors playing for Canada, where he had a strong tournament. Drafted with the potential of playing center, Foerster appears locked in as a winger now. It is there that he can take advantage of his outstanding shot, especially from a stand still. He also plays a competitive game without the puck, working hard to win battles, forecheck, and force turnovers defensively. The weak spot of his game, Foerster’s explosiveness and top speed, have improved since being drafted, however it will need to continue to improve over the next few years for him to become a top six forward for the Flyers. He projects as a middle six goal scorer who can be a weapon on the powerplay. This coming season, Foerster will likely spend the full season in Lehigh Valley, hoping to finally have a healthy campaign at the AHL level. - BO

5 - Egor Zamula D

Now fully healthy following back surgery in 2020, the former free agent signing out of Calgary (WHL) is coming off of a strong year in the AHL with Lehigh Valley, where Zamula was one of the team’s best defenders. He even earned a small cup of coffee with the Flyers; a reward for his strong play in the AHL. He is a strong and mobile two-way defender with the upside to be a difference maker at both ends. An excellent athlete, he is terrific at defending pace and closing off lanes in transition. He is aggressive with his gaps, and he uses his long reach to be disruptive. He can also have a positive impact on the transition game offensively as his long strides allow him to chew up space quickly and lead the attack through the neutral zone. He is not the most naturally skilled player with the puck, but he protects it well and sees the ice well enough to make quick decisions. The key for him is to continue to add strength and bulk to his wiry frame so that he can apply physical pressure more consistently and effectively at the NHL level. This coming season, he is likely ticketed for another AHL year, although he should also be one of the top injury call-ups for the Flyers. In a year or two, he should be ready for a third pairing role with the opportunity to work higher in the lineup down the road. - BO

6 - Ronnie Attard D

A third-round pick at the 2019 draft, Ronne Attard enjoyed an extremely successful career at Western Michigan University, and by the time he was a senior he had grown into being an all-situations top-of-the-lineup force for first-year coach Pat Ferschweiler. Attard’s time in college led him to make an immediate jump to the NHL with the Flyers, and Attard’s 15-game stretch as an NHL newbie was uneven. There were moments of promise, and Attard was even given looks on both of the Flyers’ special teams units. There were also moments where Attard looked like he badly needed additional development time in the AHL, times when the extremely talented and deceptive playmakers of the NHL were able to expose Attard’s inexperience to create offense. At times, Attard looked like he could weather the storm in the NHL, but those moments were too infrequent for him to comfortably project as an NHL defenseman immediately next season. If Attard can get some time as a top defenseman at AHL Lehigh Valley, he’ll learn to grow more comfortable with the professional game in a lower pressure setting. Attard is a big defenseman who moves well and can theoretically provide value at both ends of the ice. He showed enough as a college defenseman to reasonably have AHL number-one defenseman upside, and if he can stick as an NHLer and develop a bit more he could possibly anchor a bottom-pairing as a two-way defenseman who contributes on the secondary units of both special teams’ groups. - EH

7 - Noah Cates LW

Noah Cates’ four-year progression at the University of Minnesota-Duluth might look a bit puzzling to onlookers, as he never truly became a game-breaking offensive player after his point-per-game sophomore season. But in the absence of high-end offensive development, Cates has polished his game and become a true two-way force. The 23-year-old forward was a fifth-round pick at the 2017 draft and has an inside track to remain with the Flyers’ NHL club next season after scoring five goals and nine points in his first 16 NHL games. Cates, a six-foot-one left wing, is the kind of two-way player that NHL coaches will have a difficult time leaving out of their lineup. Despite his inexperience, Cates got time on the Flyers’ penalty kill and figures to have a future in that role in the NHL. Cates is a smart player, and he often puts himself in the right place at the right time. Some might attribute players who do that often as them simply being lucky, but Cates’ offensive game is largely based on opportunism. Cates creates his own luck, always reading the play and finding ways to be in the exact places his teammates want a linemate to be in. His raw tools won’t overwhelm, and his upside as an offensive generator in the NHL is limited, but if he finds ways to remain reasonably productive at the NHL level despite not having a ton of plainly visible offensive talent, that shouldn’t surprise anybody. As a potential penalty killer who gives his team sporadic bursts of scoring, Cates can forge a solid NHL career. He doesn’t have the most upside of any Flyers prospect, but he’s a decent bet to make an NHL impact and be someone coaches always find a way to fit in their lineup. - EH

8 - Wade Allison RW

Is there a player in professional hockey with worse luck than Wade Allison the last few seasons? He was penciled into the Flyers’ lineup this past season before suffering an ankle injury. Then upon returning he suffered an MCL sprain. Just when you thought he was healthy, boom…he acquired a serious arm laceration from a skate. When healthy, Allison is a middle six NHL forward. He has proven that at the NHL level already. His combination of size, skill, and power skating is impressive, and he can be a load to handle for even NHL defenders as he drives the net. Allison has looked particularly impressive on the powerplay at the NHL level, playing as the bumper or net front presence. That said, have all these injuries stunted his development? The coming season is a huge one for him. The Flyers, once again, have some openings in their middle six that he could grab hold of. Additionally, one of his top competitors for those spots, Bobby Brink, has been lost to injury. Allison needs to come to camp healthy and stay healthy. If he does, he should be a full time NHL player this season and a likely productive one. As the Flyers continue their rebuild, there is definitely a spot for a power scorer like Allison, so long as his body can hold up. - BO

9 - Elliot Desnoyers LW

Desnoyers was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers for his simple, off-puck, defensive brand of hockey. He was a high energy, depth player for Moncton in his draft year. However, after his draft season, Desnoyers completely transformed into a whole different player following a deal to Halifax. Captain of the Mooseheads, Elliot is now a confident puck mover that excels in transition and dictates the pace of the play. His skating is excellent, and he can blow past defenders with ease. Desnoyers also played for Team Canada in the most recent 2022 World Juniors and despite not playing a lot of minutes, he was an important piece for them as they won the gold medal. The only thing holding back Desnoyers is his size and the lack of an elite shot, but given his versatility, it is easy to see him eventually finding a role at the NHL level. That could be as more of a fourth line forechecker and penalty killer, or it could be as a high-energy, playmaking middle six forward. Desnoyers will start his pro journey this season in the AHL, and it seems likely that he will start lower in the lineup to build up confidence in his offensive game while playing against men. After a few years, look for him to be knocking on the door of the Flyers. - EB

10 - Emil Andrae D

The 54^th overall selection in the 2020 NHL draft by the Phillidelphia Flyers, Andrae is an undersized defenceman who exudes confidence on both sides of the ice. He plays with a ton of tenacity, never takes a shift off, and is committed to winning puck battles. Andrae has good four-way mobility, generating speed with strong crossovers and detailed footwork. He is quite gifted in the offensive zone, has a strong ability to scan the ice for open passing/shooting lanes to exploit. While undersized, he has a stocky frame, which allows him to be physical and results in him rarely losing his balance in battles. Since being drafted, Andrae has split the past few seasons between the SHL and Sweden’s second league Allsvenskan. Last season, his HV71 squad competed in the Allsvenskan, where Andrae elevated his game finishing with 33 points in 41 games. He also helped lead HV71 to the Allsvenskan championship with 11 points in 10 playoff games, helping them win promotion back to the SHL. Andrae has also had a ton of success internationally, being named Captain of both the January and August Swedish World Junior teams. At the recent tournament, he led his team in points with 8 in 7 games on his way to helping Sweden capture gold. Andrae also finished 2^nd in points out of all defencemen and was named to the Media All-Star team. He is poised for another strong season for HV71 and will look to dominate the SHL as he did the Allsvenskan last season. - ZS

11 - Samu Tuomaala

A strong skating sniper, Tuomaala’s development wasn’t handled in the best way this past season. The Flyers tried to start the 18/19-year-old at the AHL level but that failed, so they loaned him back to Finland where he also played sparingly. He will try to prove that he is worthy of a larger role in Liiga this season, starting the year with Jukurit from the very beginning.

12 - Jay O'Brien

Everyone’s favourite controversial first round pick, O’Brien’s development path has been a unique one. However, he’s finally found a home at Boston University and has been trending back upwards. The Flyers will be looking for O’Brien to become one of the NCAA’s best offensive players this season.

13 - Ivan Fedotov

Unfortunately, a black cloud is hanging over Fedotov because of his arrest and detainment in Russia after signing with Philadelphia. The promising netminder could have been Philadelphia’s backup this year but his career now hangs in jeopardy. On talent alone, he probably deserves to be higher in these rankings, but the circumstances dictate him being lower.

14 - Alexei Kolosov

A highly athletic Belarussian netminder, Kolosov will need to continue to refine his technical skills while playing in the KHL. He is a longer-term project but one with great potential.

15 - Ethan Samson

One of the WHL’s breakout stars last year, Samson emerged as a two-way threat on a rebuilding Prince George team. The big defender was drafted as more of a physical shutdown type, but his confidence and abilities with the puck have improved tenfold.

16 - Owen McLaughlin

McLaughlin showed significant growth playing in the USHL last season. He helped Sioux City capture a Clark Cup and was a consistent offensive force. The talented and intelligent playmaker will have to continue to upgrade his skating to be an impactful freshman with UND this season.

17 - Zayde Wisdom

After a breakout season at the pro level during the height of the pandemic, Wisdom really raised some eyebrows. However, a shoulder injury and the rehab of it definitely negatively impacted his development as he returned to the OHL last year with mixed results. Wisdom is a hard worker with skill, but hopefully he focused on getting back his speed and quickness this offseason.

18 - Devin Kaplan

An intelligent power winger, Kaplan is the prototypical third line player for today’s NHL. He just needs to focus on improving his quickness while attending Boston University.

19 - Isaac Ratcliffe

The upcoming season will be a huge one for the big winger (no pun intended). He has struggled to adapt to the pace of play in his first three pro seasons. If he does not become a consistent offensive force at the AHL level this season, he may not be qualified by the Flyers next offseason.

20 - Alex Bump

Very much a project pick that Philadelphia will have to be patient with. Bump is a power winger with a scorer’s touch. He needs to improve his quickness and overall skating ability (a trend in Philadelphia’s system). He will likely play with Omaha (USHL) this year before going to Vermont the following season. He could be one of the better players in the USHL this year.

2021 NHL DRAFT: METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 19:53:16 +0000

2021 NHL Draft Review

Time to review the draft, in depth. As I have done in previous seasons, this review will cover the league one division at a time. For each team, we will offer a quick summary of their draft class, a deeper look at their first pick/first rounder(s), and then a look at what we think to be the best value pick of their draft class, and a final look at their worst value pick. Once the divisions have all been covered, a final article will go over some other miscellaneous trends of the draft that was (odds & ends), and the annual McKeens shadow draft class. Let’s dig in.

Metropolitan Division

Scott Morrow. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Carolina Hurricanes

2 (40) Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U Prep (USHS-MN)

2 (44) Aleksi Heimosalmi, D, Assat (Liiga)

2 (51) Ville Koivunen, LW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

3 (83) Patrik Hamrla, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech)

3 (94) Aidan Hreschuk, D, USNTDP (USHL)

4 (109) Jackson Blake, RW, Chicago (USHL)

5 (136) Robert Orr, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

5 (147) Justin Robidas, C, Val-d’Or (QMJHL)

6 (170) Bryce Montgomery, D, London (OHL)

6 (187) Nikita Quapp, G, Krefeld Pinguine (DEL)

7 (200) Yegor Naumov, G, MHK Krylia Sovetov Moskva (MHL)

7 (209) Nikita Guslistov, C, Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

7(219) Joel Nystrom, D, Farjestad (SHL)

Carolina traded its first-round pick on Draft Day, to Nashville, for two second rounders. The Hurricanes acquired an additional second rounder from Columbus in exchange for Jake Bean, and then traded away their own second rounder to Los Angeles for extra picks in both the third and fourth rounds. One of those extra third rounders was then traded to LA for a later third rounder as well as an extra fifth rounder. They got another third rounder from Detroit as part of the Alex Nedeljkovic/Jonathan Bernier swap, and then finally traded away their own, natural third rounder to Vegas for a third rounder next year. Shortly thereafter, Carolina traded away its own fourth round pick to Ottawa for extra picks in the fifth and sixth rounds. That doesn’t account for all of the pre-shuffling done to the picks that Carolina eventually made, as they had already added a few late round selections from trades in 2019 and 2020. At the end of the two days of drafting, Carolina had added 13 prospects to its already overflowing system.

When a team makes close to double its allotted picks, there are bound to be some head scratchers, and the new Hurricanes include their share. For example, it is rare for teams to draft multiple goaltenders in a single year, although it happens occasionally. But drafting three goalies in a single year? It has not happened, but rarely, and this was only the second such occurrence in the seven-round era of the draft, which began in 2005. Here is the full list:

Montreal, 1972 (Michel Larocque, Dave Elenbaas, Yves Archambeault, Graham Parsons)

Philadelphia, 1972 (Daryl Fedorak, David Hastings, Raynald Boutin)

Minnesota North Stars, 1974 (Pete LoPresti, Dave Heitz, Brian Holderness)

Washington, 1974 (Garth Malarchuk, Kelvin Erickson, Bob Blanchet)

Buffalo, 1975 (Bob Sauve, Don Edwards, Len Moher)

NY Rangers, 1975 (Doug Soetaert, Bill Cheropita, Tom McNamara)

St. Louis, 1976 (Mike Liut, Paul Skidmore, Jim Bales)

Montreal, 1977 (Robert Holland, Richard Sevigny, Barry Borrett, Mark Holden, Carey Walker, Jean Belisle, Bob Daly)

Philadelphia, 1977 (Yves Guillemette, Pete Peeters, Steve Jones, Mike Laycock)

St. Louis, 1978 (Jim Lockhurst, Bob Froese, Carl Bloomberg)

Winnipeg, 1981 (Marc Behrend, Bob O'Connor, Greg Dick)

Boston, 1983 (Allan LaRochelle, Terry Taillefer, Norm Foster)

Buffalo, 1983 (Tom Barrasso, Daren Puppa, Marc Hamelin)

Winnipeg, 1985 (Daniel Berthiaume, Tom Draper, Dave Quigley Jr)

New Jersey, 1988 (Chad Erickson, Bryan LaFort, Charles Hughes II)

Minnesota North Stars, 1989 (Bryan Schoen, Scott Cashman, Arturs Irbe)

Quebec Nordiques, 1989 (John Tanner, Sergei Mylnikov, Paul Krake)

Minnesota North Stars, 1990 (Roman Turek, Jeff Levy, J.P. McKersie)

New Jersey, 1990 (Martin Brodeur, Mike Dunham, Corey Schwab)

Los Angeles, 1991 (Pauli Jaks, Craig Brown, Andre Bouliane)

Minnesota North Stars, 1991 (Mike Torchia, Geoff Finch, Derek Herlofsky)

Detroit, 1992 (Greg Scott, C.J. Denomme, Ryan Bach)

Quebec, 1992 (Manny Fernandez, Steve Passmore, Aaron Ellis)

Anaheim, 1993 (Joel Gagnon, Mikhail Shtalenkov, Tom Askey)

Boston, 1994 (Yevgeni Ryabchikov, John Grahame, Neil Savary)

NY Rangers, 1997 (Jason McLean, Shawn Degagne, Johan Holmqvist)

Florida, 1999 (Alex Auld, Jean-Francois Laniel, Jonathan Charron)

Nashville, 1999 (Brian Finley, Jan Lasak, Kyle Kettles)

Los Angeles, 2001 (Terry Denike, Cristobal Huet, Sebastien Laplante)

Tampa Bay, 2002 (Joseph Pearce, Fredrik Norrena, Vasili Koshechkin)

Vancouver, 2002 (Lukas Mensator, Robert McVicar, Matt Violin)

Nashville, 2003 (Teemu Lassila, Rustam Sidikov, Miroslav Hanuljak)

Philadelphia, 2003 (David Tremblay, Rejean Beauchemin, Ville Hostikka)

San Jose, 2004 (Thomas Greiss, Jason Churchill, Derek Macintyre, Brian Mahoney-Wilson)

Philadelphia, 2015 (Felix Sandstrom, Matej Tomek, Ivan Fedotov)

Carolina, 2021 (Patrik Hamrla, Nikita Quapp, Yegor Naumov)

Just check out that Montreal draft from 1977 – seven goalies! Of course, in many of those early years, teams could just keep making selections for as long as they wanted. Carolina threw in five blueliners five forwards to go along with the goalie trio, and made selections from around the hockey playing world, including – as this is Carolina – two picks among their first three, from Finland.

First pick – Scott Morrow, D, Shattuck St. Mary’s U18 Prep (USHS MN), 40^th overall

A pick with significant risk of flopping, but also the potential for a significant reward, if Morrow learns to play away from the puck, and his high-end skating and puck skills, with which he dominated at the prep level against weak competition. Playing against low level opponents for much of the last two years, he did not have to worry about risk taking as he was simply bigger, faster, and more skilled than everyone on the ice. In a late draft-year cameo with Fargo of the USHL, he was met with the limits to his approach for the first time. His risky plays were easily snuffed by opponents. The tools are as good as any defenseman in this draft class, outside of top six picks Power, Hughes, and Edvinsson, but he will need a complete reassessment of how to play his game in order to achieve his potential ceiling. His next steps will be made at UMass, which has an impressive recent history of developing blueliners. Carolina was perfectly positioned to take on this type of risk considering the sheer number of picks they had to play with.

Best value pick(s) –Justin Robidas, C, Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL), 147^th overall

Carolina drafted quite a few players marginally later than we had them ranked, suggesting a lot of good value was accrued, but Robidas was the one and only pick among their baker’s dozen that we would wholeheartedly classify as a steal. In a draft that prioritized size, Robidas was easy to slip through the cracks, standing only 5-7” and all. Son of longtime NHL’er Stephane Robidas, young Justin is a born leader – he wore the ‘A’ in his draft year and is slated to wear the ‘C’ this coming season – skates well, is reliable in all ends, and has impressive puck skills, to boot. He plays a fearless style as well, allowing you to sometimes forget his lack of height. If the Hurricanes give him any kind of chance at all, Robidas will maximize his potential.

Worst value pick – Patrik Hamrla, G, HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czech), 83^rd overall

If you take three goalies, it stands to reason that you have misgivings about the first one. Look at that list above, of the 35 times in NHL history that a team selected three or more goalies in a single draft class. The goalies listed after each team and year are listed in the order they were selected. How many of the 35 panned out? Michel Larocque, Bob Sauve, Tom Barrasso, Martin Brodeur, Roman Turek, Manny Fernandez, and Thomas Greiss. That is one out of five. Beyond that, you have to wonder why Hamrla didn’t get into a single game at the WU18s, as the Czech team’s top two goalies, Oliver Satny and Tomas Suchanek, both struggled mightily. If I have to pick one goalie out of the Carolina three – all of whom are 6-3”, and between 190-200 pounds, I will take sixth rounder Quapp, but that’s just a hunch. None of the three are sure things, even for goalies.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 28: Michigan's Kent Johnson in action during their loss to Notre Dame, 2-1, Saturday, November 28, 2020, at Michigan's Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire)

Columbus Blue Jackets

1 (5) Kent Johnson, C, Michigan (NCAA/Big 10)

1 (12) Cole Sillinger, LW, Sioux Falls (USHL)

1 (25) Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks (AJHL)

3 (69) Stanislav Svozil, D, HC Kometa Brno (Czech)

4 (101) Guillaume Richard, D, Tri-City (USHL)

5 (132) Nikolai Makorov, D, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)

5 (133) James Malatesta, LW, Quebec (QMJHL)

6 (165) Ben Boyd, C, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

7 (197) Martin Rysavy, LW, HC Prerov (Czech 2)

After a few years of shallow draft classes, GM Jarmo Kekalainen fully embraced the rebuild this year, admitting that their second-round adventures were the best the previous core could achieve, and trading NHL assets for additional picks, and ending up as the only team with three first rounders, only the second time in team history to have had that distinction. At first blush, the Blue Jackets did a far better job selecting their three new candidates for ‘Face of the Franchise’ status than they did in 2013, when they had selected Alexander Wennberg, Kerby Rychel, and Marko Dano in the draft’s opening round.

Columbus leaned towards bigger players, with only fifth rounder James Malatesta measuring under 6-0”. Another interesting tidbit about this draft class is the presence of two Czech-based players, giving the Blue Jackets a full third of all Czech-based drafted players. Beyond that, the team actually drafted more North American than they have usually done in recent years, with only one Russian player joining the two Czechs, as opposed to the six North Americans they drafted. There are more than a few players here who should be a part of the next competitive Columbus team.

First first round pick – Kent Johnson, C, University of Michigan Wolverines (NCAA/Big 10), 5^th overall

There was not another person in this draft class with a greater puck handling game than Johnson. Some of the moves he pulled off this year, there isn’t a defender in the sport at any level who could stop him. Now, that will change as teams see more video of him, scout him more, come to expect his brand of trickery. There are a few things that Johnson needs to clean up before being ready for the NHL, and the path to retaining his style of play while adjusting to a top six NHL role might be thinner than the Blue Jackets hope, but they should still be expecting a top line caliber forward (he is a center for Michigan, but I expect him to be a winger down the line). He needs to learn to make the simple play more often, and show the ability to make the adjustment to the defense, instead of making the defense always adjust to him. If he can pull that off, he will be an All Star.

Second first round pick – Cole Sillinger, LW, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)

One of the better finishers in the draft class, Sillinger left the WHL for the USHL last year due to the uncertainty surrounding the former league in terms being able to have a season. He made the adjustment to the new league seamlessly, winning the USHL Rookie of the Year award despite only playing roughly 60% of the season. Unlike most finishers, he has a solid two-way game, and is strong enough off the puck to be putu on the ice to defend late leads. Sillinger, son of former Blue Jacket Mike Sillinger, and born in Columbus while his father was a team member, lacks Johnson’s upside, but he might be closer to his own ceiling and more ready to play in the NHL.

Third first round pick – Corson Ceulemans, D, Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

The only team with three first round picks, Columbus went for a blueliner after nabbing the two high end forwards to kick off their draft. The Blue Jackets’ reward for sending the last month and change of Nick Foligno’s contract to Toronto, Ceulemans has a very well-balanced game, with equal parts offense and defense, just as able to kill a rush as to generate one. He has a strong NHL frame and puts it to good use, with a physical side that few offensively inclined defenders display these days. He will spend the next few years with Wisconsin, where he will have to show that he can make the adjustment from the AJHL to a significantly higher level of the sport. He has #2/3 upside.

Best value pick – Stanislav Svozil, D, HC Kometa Brno, Czech, 69^th overall

An absolute steal of a pick, Svozil had a lot of people giving him first round grades earlier in the year, but moderate performances in both the WJC and the WU18s. But even with those tournaments in consideration, he should have been selected sometime in the second round, considering his strong skating ability and hockey IQ, refined over two seasons playing against men in the Czech pro leagues. It is fair to question his offensive upside, but even there, he flashes enough hints of ability that I would not be surprised to see him one day getting regular, if not primary, power play minutes at the highest level. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Svozil ends up a more valuable NHLer than Ceulemans one day, even if it would be a mild upset.

Worst value pick – Ben Boyd, C, Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL, 165^th overall

This is no disrespect to Boyd, a big center who puts that size to use. He was just way off the radar and never showed any substantial offensive upside. In the sixth round, taking gambles should be encouraged and this placement is not meant to chide Columbus either. Boyd is on the younger side of this draft class, and more development could very well be coming. This distinction is really just a way of noting that we quite liked Columbus’ approach to the draft this year and saw no faults in any of their other picks.

.Jack Hughes. Photo by Rena Laverty/USA Hockey

New Jersey Devils

1 (4) Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP (USHL)

1 (29) Chase Stillman, RW, Esbjerg U20 (Denmark U20)/ Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

3 (68) Samu Salminen, C, Jokerit U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

4 (100) Jakub Malek, G, VHK Vsetin (Czech 2)

5 (129) Topias Vilen, D, Pelicans (Liiga)

6 (164) Viktor Hurtig, D, Vasteras IK J20 (J20 Nationell)

7 (203) Zakhar Bardakov, C, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

Early as it is, I have to admit that I liked Tom Fitzgerald’s first draft more than I do this one. How much was actually by his design, I cannot say, but I can say that I had a few plausible choices for ‘worst value pick’ from this draft class. On the other hand, the Devils made the absolutely correct decision with their first pick, and I’m not even considering the PR boost they got from drafting the brother of recent #1 overall pick Jack Hughes in making that assessment. While Hughes has a touch more potential to fail to reach his ceiling that do the players selected in the top three (Power, Beniers, McTavish), it just so happens that his ceiling is higher than them all, partially due to his birth date, and partially due to his tools and how raw they are.

If there was anything truly curious about the New Jersey 2021 draft class, it is that, after Hughes, all of the other picks were based in Europe, at least this year. Even their second first rounder, Chase Stillman, ostensibly an OHL player, played most of his season in Denmark, before joining up with Team Canada for the WU18s. Their day two included two Finns, a Czech, a Swede, and a Russian. I can only presume that if they had any additional picks, they would have used them on players from Slovakia, Germany, Austria, and/or Switzerland. Incidentally, New Jersey has drafted players from each of those countries, with the exception of Germany, in recent years. Thankfully, Nico Daws, who they drafted out of the OHL last year, spent time last year in Germany, so they have covered all of the main hockey bases in Europe. Size may have been a mild theme for them, though, as every player they selected this year is at least 6-0” tall. Fitzgerald was a 6-footer, too.

First first round pick – Luke Hughes, D, USNTDP (USHL), 4^th overall

Bar none, Hughes was the best skater in the 2021 draft class. That is almost to be expected given what we know about his older brothers, Quinn and future teammate Jack. Where he starts to differ from his brothers is that Luke also has ideal NHL size for a blueliner, already standing 6-2”, and given his birthdate being less than one week before the cutoff, he has more room for additional biological growth than practically all players drafted this year. More than just a speed demon, Hughes’ other tools also all grade out as plus, and the only reason he wasn’t talked about as much as top two picks Power and Beniers was that a laceration from a skate to his leg knocked him out for the second half of the season, including the WU18s. He was healthy before the draft, though, and after a season or two at Michigan, he will be ready to start the climb towards future #1 NHL defender.

Second first round pick – Chase Stillman, RW, Esbjerg U20 (Denmark U20)/Sudbury (OHL)

Son of longtime NHLer Cory Stillman, and brother of current Blackhawk Riley Stillman, Chase lacks the upside traditionally associated with the first round, but his floor was among the highest of those available as Day One wound down. The most impressive element of his game is his physicality. Not in the sense that he is a face-puncher, but that it can be miserable to play against him. He skates well enough, and demonstrates solid decision making, allowing for him to be utilized in all manner of roles and in all situations. Had the Devils still owned their second-round pick, which would have been only seven spots later, I suspect that Stillman would have still been available, and would have been more understandable. Using that late first rounder that they received from the Islanders in the Kyle Palmieri deal on Still says more about what they thought of the other options than an indication on Stillman’s projected future role with the club.

Best value pick - Zakhar Bardakov, C, Vityaz Podolsk (KHL)

Drafted in his third year of eligibility, Bardakov broke into the KHL this year and showed a lot of same strengths and weaknesses as did Stillman. He has a big frame, skates well, and is reliable in all three zones and all situations. On the down side, Bardakov’s offensive potential isn’t much to get too excited about. Furthermore, as a 20-year-old, there is only so much more growth that we can expect out of his game. Even so, as a seventh-round pick who Russian contract expires after next season, he could provide near-immediate value to the club, if only in a bottom-line role. Also, Yegor Sharangovich had a fairly similar profile as a 20-year-old when the Devils used a fifth-round pick on him in 2018.

Worst value pick – Jakub Malek, G, VHK Vsetin (Czech 2), 100^th overall

I admit that I might have a blind spot in player evaluation, as I am generally not very high on goalies who played in lower-level European leagues and have little to no international competitive experience. And that’s where Malek falls. He is a very big guy who has never played above the Czech second division. Even that experience has been limited. Had the Devils drafted Topias Vilen in the fourth round and held off on Malek until the fifth round, I would have had a real dilemma as to who to put here. They drafted both though, so I suppose it’s really a case of ‘no harm, no foul.’.

TRINEC, CZECH REPUBLIC - DECEMBER 29: Kazakhstan vs Finland preliminary round action at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship at Werk Arena on December 29, 2019 in Trinec, Czech Republic. (Photo by Matt Zambonin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

New York Islanders

2 (52) Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga)

3 (93) Tristan Lennox, G, Saginaw (OHL)

4 (125) Cameron Berg, C, Muskegon (USHL)

5 (157) Eetu Liukas, LW, TPS (Liiga)

6 (189) Aleksi Malinen, D, JYP (Liiga)

7 (221) Tomas Machu, D, Draci Sumperk (Czech 2)

The Islanders recent draft history has not been especially kind. Sure, some of their first rounders have hit big (Barzal, Beauvilier), and a few others are trending in the right direction (Dobson, Wahlstrom), but even among the top end picks, there have been prominent flops (Dal Colle, Ho-Sang), and there has been an absolute lack of impact from any pick outside of the first round, with literally zero earning extended time since the 2014 draft class. Among the top candidates to break that post-first-round losing streak are a pair of Finnish prospects in Robin Salo and Otto Koivula, both listed in our top 15 for the Islanders (see upcoming McKeens annual). Another top prospect, Ruslan Iskhakov, spent last season in Finland as well.

Perhaps seeing a trend, the Islanders went heavy into Finland this year. Their first pick, taken in the second round, was as close to a no-brainer as one can get after the top few picks. More on Raty below, but him being available where he was is ridiculous. The Islanders went back to Finland for picks in the fifth and sixth rounds as well. The Islanders didn’t draft any smaller players, with all six picks standing 6-0” or taller, but one was a goalie, so that doesn’t really count, and two of the other five are exactly 6-0”, and only two of their skater picks measure in at 6-2” or greater, so I wouldn’t go so far as to say the Isles targeted size. I am not yet sure that this draft class will break that cycle of emptiness past the first round, but I am more optimistic about these picks than I have been about any recent NYI draft

First pick – Aatu Raty, C, Karpat (Liiga), 52^nd overall

There were a few players selected on day two of the draft for whom many in the preseason thought would be first round candidates, or even locks. Only Raty was in consideration as a top five pick. There were even voices that had him as the favorite for first overall before the 2020-21 season kicked off. Admittedly, Raty’s season did not go as hoped. He struggled a fair bit in the first half, to the extent that he wasn’t selected for Finland’s WJC roster, which was especially surprising as he had been a member of their WJC team in 2019, and was pretty good, to boot. So Raty’s stock had clearly dropped, but he was already turning things around in the second half. He spent the bulk of the season playing against men in Liiga, albeit in limited minutes and roles. He still has a sublime skillset with the puck and still lacks any glaring weaknesses in his projection. The Islanders getting him in the second round – late in the second no less! – is nothing short of grand larceny. And as if to emphasize that point, Raty put up 14 points in six games with Finland’s U20 team in summer tournaments.

Best value pick – Cameron Berg, C, Muskegon (USHL), 125^th overall

I might be biased, having followed Berg’s progression for two seasons now, but the value isn’t even that the Islanders drafted a player with third round talents in the fourth round. It’s that Berg should have been drafted last year, after one of the best second halves in the USHL. His second year of eligibility was another step forward for the second half of his first go-round, exceeding one point per game playing with San Jose prospect Daniil Gushchin. He showed more skill as a playmaker, without losing any of the fire of his shot. He added more grit to his game. If he can improve his skating even marginally at Nebraska-Omaha, he will have middle six NHL upside.

Worst value pick – Eetu Liukas, LW, TPS (Liiga), 157^th overall

To be honest, the Islanders didn’t have any poor value picks this year. Seventh rounder Tomas Machu wasn’t really on our radars, but he’s massive and played a big defensive role against men in the Czech second division last year, and should be a featured blueliner on the Czech WJC team this year. Liukas isn’t a bad gamble for the fifth round either. He can shoot the puck, he’s quite physical, and plays a reliable two-way game. He is simply the only other Islanders’ pick, besides Machu, which didn’t cause me to immediately say “nice pick”. It was fine. There is fourth line upside here if it all works out.

Brennan Othmann of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

New York Rangers

1 (16) Brennan Othmann, LW, EHC Olten (SL)/Flint (OHL)

3 (65) Jayden Grubbe, C, Red Deer (WHL)

3 (75) Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

4 (104) Brody Lamb, LW/RW, Dodge County HS (USHS-MN)

4 (106) Kalle Vaisanen, LW, TPS U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

4 (112) Talyn Boyko, G, Tri-City (WHL)

5 (144) Jaroslav Chmelar, RW, Jokerit U18 (U18 SM-sarja)

7 (208) Hank Kempf, D, Muskegon (USHL)

After a few years of picking at the top, a result of their stated goal to rebuild, the Rangers have turned their organization back around, to a position around the middle of the pack. Seemingly as a result, instead of holding a ton of top picks, drafting for immediate upside, Chris Drury’s first draft as GM saw him focus on complementary types with the first few picks, and extremely raw players later on. It would be fair to categorize their first three picks, and the final one, in the complementary bucket, while their fourth and fifth rounders fit the mold of dart throws on long term upside. For three of the four in the second grouping, part of that supposed upside rests in their extreme physical dimensions, with Boyko, in particular fitting that bill, as the second 6-8” netminder drafted by the Rangers in the past two drafts.

A final note, that may be more coincidental than anything, on Day Two, the Rangers drafted exclusively from three geographical buckets. Canada was represented by three players out of the WHL. The US was represented by two players headed to the college route, one of whom played in high school last year and the other a USHL veteran. Finally, Europe was represented by two players drafted out of the Finnish junior leagues, one a native Finn, the other a Czech import. Both played in the year-ending WU18 tournament, along with the Rangers first rounder, an OHL’er who happened to spend the Ontario-wide hockey cancellation playing in Switzerland.

First round pick – Brennan Othmann, LW, EHC Olten, SL/Flint Firebirds (OHL), 16^th overall

Othman does a lot well, but the one area where he truly stands out is as a finisher, given a very strong shot and a willingness to follow it to the net, and pay the price to collect rebounds. He impressed during the OHL cancellation by playing in the Swiss second men’s division, where he teamed up wit the draft’s eventual third overall pick, Mason McTavish. Othmann lacks the flash of recent Rangers’ first rounders, but he brings a solid combination of upside (2^nd line) and certainty (pro-style game, solid frame, well-rounded, grit). His year end work with Gold-Medal winning Team Canada also showed that he could produce respectably playing with other high-end talents, without looking like a passenger.

Best value pick – Ryder Korczak, C, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL), 75^th overall

Korczak is small, and his production tis year with Moose Jaw was a step down from what he did in the full season before he was draft eligible, but there is still more than enough to like in his profile, suggestive of a player who can find a way to contribute at the NHL level. A gifted playmaker, he thinks nothing of taking physical punishment to make a play, his numbers should also improve if the level of his linemates improves. He has also worn the ‘A’ for the Warriors for two seasons already, a testament to the intangibles he brings.

Worst value pick – Brody Lamb, LW/RW, Dodge County Wildcats (USHS-MN), 104^th overall

A rambunctious winger who scored at a breathtaking clip in the Minnesota high school ranks, Lamb struggled to adjust to the higher level of play in the USHL after his prep season had ended. He can shoot the puck and gets involved physically, but his game lacks the structure that most other draft eligible have and it is hard to see him progress to the point of NHL utility. In fact, it is hard to even now how long it would take if he were to make that leap. Committed to Minnesota, he is lined up to spend two years in the USHL as an intermediate step before entering the collegiate world. Even if he does figure it out, the timeline is so long that the implied value in the selection can only diminish. As a seventh-round pick, he would have made a lot more sense.

Samu Tuomaala.

Philadelphia Flyers

2 (46) Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

3 (78) Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo-Molodechno (Belarus)

4 (110) Brian Zanetti, D, Lugano U20 (U20 Elit)

5 (158) Ty Murchison, D, USNTDP (USHL)

6 (174) Ethan Samson, D, Prince George (WHL)

7 (206) Owen McLaughlin, C, Mount St. Charles Academy 18U AAA (USHS-RI)

From 2014 until 2018, under the stewardship of former General Manager Ron Hextall, the Flyers drafted seven goaltenders across five years. It only took two drafts under current GM Chuck Fletcher for the Flyers to add another netminder to their pool. A good one, too. Third round pick Alexei Kolosov was the third goalie drafted this year, and the first after the first round. We had him ranked fourth among his fellow crease guardians, but either way the young Belarussian is now the team’s top puck stopping prospect.

Beyond that little tidbit, there isn’t much to note trend-wise, besides perhaps the organization’s stronger lean towards European talent than any year since 2018, where they selected three out of Sweden. First pick (second round) Samu Tuomaala was actually the first Finn drafted by Philadelphia since (scroll, scroll, scroll) Joonas Lehtivuori, a fourth rounder from 2006. Kosolev was actually the first player drafted out of Belarus in franchise history, as the other Belarussian they selected (Maxim Sushko, 4^th round, 2017) was playing in the OHL at the time. As for Switzerland, homeland of fourth rounder Brian Zanetti, he was the third Swiss national drafted by the Flyers, and the second who was actually playing in his homeland at the time, after 2003 fourth rounder Kevin Romy. Neat factoids, if not that meaningful.

First pick – Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 46^th overall

A top performer for Finland’s WU18 team – and one of the best in the entire tournament on any team - Tuomaala is small, but can fly, and has a well-rounded set of tools for the offensive zone, and a promising sense of responsibility off the puck. He even plays with a healthy dose of grit. In fact, if teams weren’t so inexplicably drawn to size this year, he could easily have been a good fit in the late first round. The Flyers have already signed him to an Entry Level Contract, although they have loaned him back to Karpat to continue his development at home for another season. Expect Tuomaala to battle for a spot on Finland’s WJC roster as well. This is their best – although not only – value pick.

Best value pick – Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo-Molodechno (Belarus), 115^th overall

On the smaller side for a modern netminder, Kolosov is nevertheless a very promising young ‘tender. He split his regular season between the Belarussian league and Belarus’ KHL squad and put up numbers that surpassed his crease-mates with both clubs. He was also Belarus’ starter during the World Championships and is expected to play for his homeland in the upcoming Winter Olympics. The question is whether he will leave his club team for the Olympics, or if he will join Erie of the OHL, where he would have played last year if the OHL had had a season. His best trait is his ability to read the flow of the game, while he has no obvious real weak spots.

Worst value pick – Ty Murchison, D, USNTDP (USHL), 158^th overall

With all due respect to Murchison, who has had his good moments for the USNTDP, and has decent size, there were eight draft eligible defensemen on the USNTDP last year, and I would have drafted seven of them before calling on the Arizona State commit. Not only that, three of the ones I would have preferred (Ty Gallagher, who was eventually drafted, and Jacob Martin and Ethan Straky, who were not) were still available at the time. It isn’t that Murchison is bad, but there is just mothering about his game that sticks out as an NHL-level tool.

Pittsburgh Penguins

2 (58) Tristan Broz, LW/C, Fargo (USHL)

5 (154) Isaac Beliveau, D, Rimouski (QMJHL)

7 (194) Ryan McCleary, D, Calgary (WHL)

7 (215) Daniel Laatsch, D, Sioux City (USHL)

7 (218) Kirill Tankov, C, SKA-Varyagi im. Morozova (MHL)

With only five more players added to the system, once again, the Penguins went (relatively) without at the draft. It has now been nine draft classes in a row in which Pittsburgh has made fewer than the allotted seven picks. Next year is already slated to make a ten-draft run with missing picks, as the Penguins’ third rounder has already been dealt to Los Angeles. Furthermore, they are still stuck on only two first rounders in that nine-year stretch.

On the one hand, missing picks isn’t that big a deal when you are winning, and the Penguins have done an awful lot of that over the years, with two Stanley Cups. On the other hand, the team hasn’t escaped the first round (which meant a loss in the playoff qualifiers in 2020) in three years, and the NHL roster core isn’t getting any younger. At some point – a point that they may have already passed – the Penguins will need to bring fresh faces into the lineup, and the best place to find fresh faces has traditionally been from within. Teddy Blugers was the last prospect to rise from within to secure a regular NHL job, and the prospects they keep adding with the picks they do keep are in his vein; well-rounded, lunch bucket, bottom half of the lineup types. Someday soon, Crosby and Malkin won’t be able to carry the torch anymore and the Penguins won’t have anyone ready to step up in their place. Not that anyone can really take over from those two, but there won’t even be any legitimate top six options left.

First pick – Tristan Broz, LW/C, Fargo Force (USHL), 58^th overall

Not that Broz is going to be the guy to jump into a top six spot in the next few years, but he could be a really good third line option. He looks like an NHL forward with his frame and smooth, clean skating stride. His puck skills are OK, but he reads the zone very well and is a talented playmaker, who will take a hit to make the play. He doesn’t get shy when the games get tighter, and was the primary reason behind Fargo’s reaching the Clark Cup finals last year. I expect him to play three years at Minnesota, but Broz might not need any additional AHL seasoning after that. A strong pick for the end of the second round. Good thing, too, as Pittsburgh had to wait for nearly 100 more players to be taken off the board before they could make another selection.

Best value pick – Daniel Laatsch, D, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), 215^th overall

Laatsch is no sure thing, but for a late seventh round pick, one of the final ten players selected (although not Pittsburgh’s last selection), he is a very fun, intriguing gamble. A unique player, he is very tall, but also very thin. His offensive game will occasionally flash an awkward utility, as he drives the puck deep into the offensive zone, but his core skills are better suited for simplicity. Despite his reed-thin frame, he has fearless physicality. The USNTDP grad, who needed a year away from the program to be draft-worthy, Laatsch is headed to Wisconsin, which has done a solid job developing blueliners in recent years. I don’t know that he fits into a traditional NHL role, but he could have real value within a few years.

Worst value pick – Ryan McCleary, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL), 194^th overall

As I have mentioned a few times in this series, there is almost no such thing as bad value in the seventh round. They are all gambles by that point, with minimal honest expectations of ever playing in the NHL. But when a team only makes five picks, and three of those are in the seventh round, I have to pick someone. So why McCleary? Two reasons. First, when you only have five picks, it is imperative that you swing for the fences. McCleary is physically underdeveloped and has never demonstrated a big upside, even in U18 hockey in Saskatchewan. The best we can say about McCleary is that he will take the hit to make the play, and that he was born in September, 2003, making him one of the youngest players drafted this year. Second, the other four guys Pittsburgh drafted have more elements going for them. We will know more once he plays a full season in the WHL.

Vincent Iorio. Courtesy of the WHL.

Washington Capitals

2 (55) Vincent Iorio, D, Brandon (WHL)

3 (80) Brent Johnson, D, Sioux Falls (USHL)

4 (119) Joaquim Lemay, D, Salmon Arm (BCHL)

5 (151) Haakon Hanelt, LW/RW, Eisbaren Berlin (DEL)

6 (176) Dru Krebs, D, Medicine Hat (WHL)

6 (183) Chase Clark, G, Jersey Hitmen (NCDA)

With only six picks – missing the all-important first rounder, but not quite making up for it by having an extra sixth rounder instead of picking in the seventh, Washington went heavy on the blueline this year, using four of the six picks on a rearguard, five picks, if you include the goalie. While the positional lean may have been a fluke of circumstance, how the Washington draft board shook out in this pandemic season, what is absolutely not a fluke, but a systemic lean that goes back years, is the team’s preference for drafting players out of Western Canada. Two of five in 2020. Two of four in 2019. Four of seven in 2018. None in 2017, but three of seven in 2016. I could go on. Of their six picks this year, three were out of the WHL and one more came from the BCHL. At least we can say that Washington didn’t follow the herd this year, fetishizing size and brawn. Their first pick is big, as is the goalie selection (Clark is actually huge). But the others are average sized, or smaller.

First pick – Vincent Iorio, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), 55^th overall

The one big skater drafted by the Capitals this year, Iorio is a very good skater for his size, and has a strong defensive zone game, but has never shown much propensity for offensive zone impact. On a rate basis, his 12 points in 22 games last year with the Wheat Kings was far and away his best junior hockey showing. His best anywhere since playing at the 14U level for Shattuck St. Mary’s back in 2016-17. His feet, length, and ability to make clean, yet hard defensive stops allow for a safe projection of a number four with some PK utility as a ceiling.

Best value pick – Brent Johnson, D, Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL), 80^th overall

Small, but occasionally very feisty, Johnson had a very strong debut season in the USHL, his first of high-level hockey. A strong puck rusher with a knack for sticking his nose everywhere, his play was often unrefined, but his risks paid off far more often than they backfired. As his game matures, he will need to learn when to take a chance and when to play conservatively, both in terms of offensive risks as well as in his physical play, to avoid injuries like the shoulder ailment that ended his season early. The North Dakota commit is a fun player to watch and easy to root for, especially if you like to see growth of the game. Johnson is a native Texan.

Worst value pick – Joaquim Lemay, D, Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL), 119^th overall

In his second year of eligibility, the nomadic Lemay, a Quebec native, made his debut in the BCHL, after a year spent playing prep hockey in Rhode Island. He was OK. His ability to play and move the puck is his only real positive, while on the downside, he can play a bit shy, and his skating is average at best. Committed to Nebraska-Omaha, he may need another year in the BCHL or the USHL (Lincoln owns his rights and has protected him ahead of training camp), before going to campus. Were he taken with a later round pick; it would be a fine gamble. In the fourth round, for an organization that rarely takes all seven of its picks, it seems to be a needless risk with a marginal upside.

2021 NHL DRAFT: PHILADELPHIA FLYERS REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 19:32:27 +0000

Samu Tuomaala.

Philadelphia Flyers

2 (46) Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

3 (78) Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo-Molodechno (Belarus)

4 (110) Brian Zanetti, D, Lugano U20 (U20 Elit)

5 (158) Ty Murchison, D, USNTDP (USHL)

6 (174) Ethan Samson, D, Prince George (WHL)

7 (206) Owen McLaughlin, C, Mount St. Charles Academy 18U AAA (USHS-RI)

First pick – Samu Tuomaala, RW, Karpat U20 (U20 SM-sarja), 46^th overall

Best value pick – Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo-Molodechno (Belarus), 115^th overall

Worst value pick – Ty Murchison, D, USNTDP (USHL), 158^th overall

Ethan Samson – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #25 Tampa Bay Lightning – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Rank – 25th (Last Year - 29th) GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018 COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013

1. Sam O'Reilly, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

2. Benjamin Rautiainen, C, Tappara (Liiga)

3. Ethan Gauthier, RW, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

4. Dylan Duke, LW, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

5. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

6. Daniil Pylenkov, D, Dymano Moscow (KHL)

7. Jayson Shaugabay, RW, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)

8. Maxim Groshev, D, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

9. Everett Baldwin, D, Saint John's Sea Dogs (QMJHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

10. Joe Connor, LW, Northeastern University (NCAA)

11. Jan Golicic, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

12. Noah Steen, LW, Örebro HK (SHL) (Currently with Syracuse Crunch, AHL)

13. Marco Mignosa, RW, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

14. Ethan Samson, D, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

15. Lucas Murcuri, C, Syracuse Crunch (AHL)

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #12

Philadelphia Flyers Top-15 Prospects

1 - Porter Martone

2 - Jett Luchanko

3 - Oliver Bonk

4 - Alex Bump

5 - Jack Nesbitt

6 - Yegor Zavragin

7 - Jack Murtagh

8 - Nikita Grebyonkin

9 - Spencer Gill

10 - Carter Amico

11 - Shane Vansaghi

12 - Denver Barkey

13 - Carson Bjarnason

14 - Samu Tuomaala

15 - Ethan Samson

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #14 Philadelphia Flyers – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #17 Philadelphia Flyers – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

1. Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)

2. Oliver Bonk, D, London Knights (OHL)

3. Emil Andrae, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

4. Ronnie Attard, D, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

5. Carson Bjarnason, G, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

6. Denver Barkey, C, London Knights (OHL)

7. Alexei Kolosov, G, Dinamo Minsk (KHL)

8. Samu Tuomaala, RW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

9. Elliot Desnoyers, LW, Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)

10. Carter Sotheran, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #10

Top 20 Philadelphia Flyers Prospects

1. Matvei Michkov

2. Cutter Gauthier

3. Tyson Foerster

4. Bobby Brink

5. Oliver Bonk

6. Emil Andrae

7. Helge Grans

8. Carson Bjarnason

9. Elliott Desnoyers

10. Ronnie Attard

11. Egor Zamula

12. Ethan Samson

13. Alexei Kolosov

14. Alexis Gendron

15. Olle Lycksell

16. Devin Kaplan

17. Samuel Ersson

18. Denver Barkey

19. Samu Tuomaala

20. Zayde Wisdom

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #14 Philadelphia Flyers

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospects

2021 NHL DRAFT: METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Carolina Hurricanes

Columbus Blue Jackets

New Jersey Devils

New York Islanders

New York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Washington Capitals

Prospect System Rank – 25th (Last Year - 29th)
GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018
COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013