Evgeni Svechnikov – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – SAN JOSE SHARKS – NHL Player Profiles

Scott Cullen – Forwards and Defense, Catherine Silverman - Goaltending — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 21:24:48 +0000

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 14: San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) and San Jose Sharks right wing Timo Meier (28) talk during a timeout during the NHL game between the San Jose Sharks and the Edmonton Oilers on February 14, 2022 at SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire)

FORWARDS

Timo Meier

An elite shot generator who had everything come together in 2021-2022, Meier had career highs in goal (35) and points (76) while launching 4.23 shots on goal per game, the highest rate of his career and fifth highest rate in the league. There had been signs of this kind of performance before, but last season Meier was a consistent force throughout the season and it’s not easy to generate shots and points at that rate, especially for a team that is struggling. Now that sets a new level of expectations for what he might be able to accomplish in the future, but if the Sharks are going to become a more competitive franchise, they will likely need more of the same from Meier. Furthermore, if he puts up another season like he did last season, there ought to be greater league-wide recognition for his performance because he was outstanding last season. Tempering expectations, Meier should be a reasonable bet for 30 goals and 65 points this season, with the understanding that if he can maintain his elite shot rates that he could very well be a point-per-game player.

Tomas Hertl

After committing to stay in San Jose with a new contract, Hertl responded by scoring 30 goals for the second time in his career and his 64 points also represented the second highest total of his career. A powerful and skilled center, Hertl also recorded a career high 105 hits and played a career high 19:56 per game. It was a very productive campaign, and he did all of this despite starting more of his shifts in the defensive zone, which does not seem like an ideal use of his talents. Hertl is solid defensively, that’s not the point, but the 28-year-old’s offensive skills set him apart to a greater degree, so it might make more sense to focus his efforts there, when possible. Hertl should be able to produce 25 goals and 60 points, with room to elevate further depending on his durability and how well his supporting cast in San Jose performs.

Logan Couture

The 33-year-old center continues to deliver solid results, and he put up 23 goals and 56 points last season while driving play in a positive way, at least relative to his teammates. Couture’s shot rate of 2.58 shots per game last season was his highest since 2017-2018, the season when he scored a career-high 34 goals, but he has established a level of productivity in the league, surpassing 20 goals nine times and topping 30 goals three times. The main question for the Sharks will be for how much longer can he produce at a first line level? He is under contract for five more seasons, and it seems unlikely that he will avoid decline in that time, but he is coming off a strong season and should be in position to be a productive scoring center again, good for at least 50 points, maybe even more.

Alexander Barabanov

After starting his NHL career as a spare part with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Barabanov has found stability in San Jose, producing 46 points in 79 games since joining the Sharks. Some measure of that production may reflect opportunity more than his own individual improvement, because Barabanov’s most common Sharks linemates have been Tomas Hertl and Timo Meier, so that is about as favorable as it gets for a Sharks winger. Barabanov also happens to be a relatively reluctant shooter, so having him in a playmaking role with the team’s top two goal-scorers does offer a stylistic fit. It’s hard to pin down a forecast for Barabanov because he seems so heavily dependent on linemates that are better players, so if he was to get bumped from the top line, his value could drop dramatically. As such, the reasonable play would be to expect 30 points from Barabanov, with the understanding that he has potential upside that could take him higher.

Kevin Labanc

A skilled 26-year-old winger, Labanc had stumbled since busting out for a career high 56 points in 2018-2019 and he had managed just six points in 21 games before he had to undergo shoulder surgery and that ultimately left him sidelined for the rest of the season. In his last eight games before surgery, Labanc had zero points and was averaging just 10 minutes of ice time per game, so he was at a relative low point. He has the playmaking skill to play in a top six role but after some injuries and inconsistency he will have to earn his way back into a significant spot with this team. Labanc could do it, because he has the puck skills and the shot to be a point producer in the National Hockey League but, coming off shoulder surgery, it is not going to be easy to get back to his previous level of production. If Labanc produced 35-40 points and managed to stay healthy, that would be a positive outcome, but there is a path to even more points if he could get back to his early career form.

Oskar Lindblom

Although the Philadelphia Flyers stuck with Lindblom while he recovered from Ewing’s Sarcoma, he had not been able to recapture his previous form, so the Flyers bought out the final year of his contract. That presented an opportunity for the Sharks to buy low on a 26-year-old winger who had shown real promise early in his NHL career. It is a worthwhile risk to take because Lindblom’s defensive play is solid enough, which raises the floor on his level of contribution, but if the 26-year-old can get his scoring touch back then he might have a chance to score 15 goals and 30 points to provide a favorable return on investment.

Luke Kunin

Picked up in a trade with the Nashville Predators, Kunin is a feisty winger whose on-ice results aren’t great, but teams that want guys who will go to battle are interested in players like Kunin because he hits a lot and will drop the gloves, if need be. He does have some level of skill, scoring 38 goals in 183 games across the past three seasons, but the challenge for the Sharks is taking the parts of Kunin’s game that they like and figuring out how to improve his possession results because, among the 232 forwards that have played at least 2000 5v5 minutes in the past three seasons, Kunin ranks 231^st in relative Corsi. If he can overcome those underlying numbers, Kunin could produce 15 goals and 25-30 points, while potentially adding huge hit totals – he had 223 hits last season, the first time in his career that he had more than 90 hits in a season.

Nick Bonino

A reliable veteran who struggled quite a bit last season, Bonino went 18 games without a point to start the season, though he ended up scoring eight goals in his last 15 games to finish with more respectable numbers. Still, 26 points in 80 games was the 34-year-old’s lowest per-game production since his rookie season of 2010-2011. Bonino tends to have the deck stacked against him, starting most of his shifts in the defensive zone, and even with his sound defensive play, his possession numbers have been terrible the past two seasons. Given his age, it’s fair to wonder if he will be able to turn that around. Setting an expectation for 15 goals and 30 points is reasonable enough, provided Bonino can maintain a top nine role.

Noah Gregor

A 24-year-old winger, Gregor has started to make his mark in the NHL by generating shots at a high rate but has not been able to finish his chances, scoring on just 6.4% of his shots on goal in his career. If he can’t finish at a higher rate, then Gregor will have to provide energy and physical play in a depth role. It is still relatively early in Gregor’s NHL career, so he will face a challenge from others just to secure a spot in the lineup, but if Gregor can play on a consistent basis, 25 points could be in his sights, and his scoring numbers could spike if he ever learns how to finish. He had scored 14 goals and 40 points in 43 AHL games, so it’s not like he is unfamiliar with the objective when he gets into the offensive zone. It has just proven to be difficult for him to finish his opportunities in the NHL.

DEFENSE

Erik Karlsson

Following a down season in 2020-2021, Karlsson bounced back in a big way last season. While he wasn’t peak Karlsson, he still put up 35 points in 50 games. Of course, injuries have played a bigger part in Karlsson’s career in recent seasons, as he has not played 70 games in a season since 2017-2018. Since 2013-2014, Karlsson has scored 497 points which ranks fourth among defensemen. His 0.82 points per game ranks second among defensemen (behind Cale Makar). With Brent Burns getting traded to Carolina, Karlsson should have a bigger role quarterbacking the Sharks power play, so if Karlsson could manage to stay healthy, he might have his best offensive production in several seasons. Try 45 points with potential for more if Karlsson manages to stay healthy. That health risk is not something to be ignored, either, since Karlsson has missed more than 10 games in four of the past five seasons.

Ryan Merkley

The 2018 first-round pick reached the National Hockey League last season and played 39 games for the Sharks. While he has potential, with the ability to generate offensive chances, he is also a work in progress when it comes to his play without the puck. That could leave him in a battle for a regular spot in the lineup, but the 22-year-old also offers offensive potential and that might hold some value for the Sharks. Merkley has 30 points, though just two goals, in 63 AHL games, so he has a little bit of an offensive track record that should offer more hope than the six points in 39 games that he scored for the Sharks last season.

Mario Ferraro

A bundle of energy who plays hard, which is exactly what the Sharks are trying to establish as their team identity. The 23-year-old was one of 11 defensemen to record at least 140 hits and 140 blocked shots last season, even though he was limited to 63 games after suffering a broken fibula. There is still room for improvement, with regard to how he can generate offense and how he defends the blueline. If Ferraro could produce more than 20 points that would count as progress, but that also might be enough, along with his hit and blocked shot totals, to give him fringe fantasy value in deep leagues.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic

There was a time when Vlasic was a premier shutdown defender but that is in the rearview mirror now and the 35-year-old’s role has been reduced significantly in recent seasons. He played a career-low 15:13 per game last season and is now an expensive depth defenseman. San Jose has been outscored 141-91 with Vlasic on the ice during 5-on-5 play in the past three seasons, so it’s understandable that his role is getting reduced and that reduced role limits what kind of scoring might come from Vlasic. Anything more than 15 points would be relatively surprising.

GOALTENDING

James Reimer

The San Jose Sharks quickly cleared up any lingering questions that fans might have had regarding their goaltending tandem positions a few weeks before training camp was set to open, dealing Adin Hill to the Vegas Golden Knights and leaving James Reimer with only backup Kaapo Kähkönen as his second-in-command.

The Sharks remain a hard team to figure out from a goaltending perspective, because they just can’t seem to put it all together – although Reimer, who will be 35-years-old before the season wraps up, has been their most successful option over the last handful of years. His .911 save percentage in all situations was peppered with consistently good games and very few poor ones, similar to the games that Antti Raanta posted for Carolina in Reimer’s old spot on the east coast; like Raanta, Reimer played a season that didn’t challenge for any Vezina nods but gave his team a known and consistent entity to play behind each night. Reimer’s game still has a few of the rough edges that have lingered as a tribute to the unorthodox development path he took – he didn’t receive formal goaltending coaching until later in his adolescence, giving him a style that relies more on his instincts than monotonous style and predictable footwork. But while he lacks some of the finesse of goaltenders who had earlier formal training, his affable personality shines through in how seamlessly he integrates himself into a team’s defensive system; he seems to rarely find himself fighting against those playing in front of him, and his lack of inconsistency over the last five or six seasons make it easy to trust that he’ll get the job done in the back while his teammates can focus their games more on offense. His biggest risk area remains his health; while he hasn’t missed extensive time recently, his laundry list of injuries over his career keep him firmly encamped among the goaltenders who will always need a reliable number two just in case the team is left without their services for a stretch.

Projected starts: 50-55

Detroit Red Wings 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:19:17 +0000

The current Detroit Red Wings’ organization is only three years removed from the last of a 25 year run of consecutive playoff appearances, but looking at the NHL roster, it might as well be a decade out. For the past three seasons, the team has accrued between 73-79 points while absolutely loading up and draft picks, both in the top ten and beyond.

In 2017, the Red Wings thankfully saw the writing on the wall, and sold at the deadline. The team made 11 total selections at the draft. In a vacuum, that is fantastic. But there is a good reason why the list below doesn’t feature that many names from that class. Let’s start with the five non-first round players drafted out of the CHL. NHL teams have two years to sign CHL picks before they lose their rights. After two years had passed, the Red Wings decided against signing any of them. Of the three college bound players, two have struggled to make an impact and are currently not locks to receive NHL deals at the end of their collegiate days, while the third is developing at a stately pace into the low ceiling number six defender he was also profiled as. The two European defenders are doing fine, if not blowing up. Finally, the first rounder, ninth overall pick Michael Rasmussen, lost his eligibility last year, but underwhelmed to the tune of 18 points in 62 games. There is still ample debate about his upside.

Red Wings fans might recognize the failures of the 2017 draft as endemic of the Tyler Wright era. For every Dylan Larkin success, there are three like Rasmussen, or Dennis Cholowski, or Yevgeni Svechnikov. All three still have room for growth, but all have underwhelmed.

That said, the Wings took a different approach to their 2018 draft class, another stacked class that saw Detroit add 10 players to the organization. Up and down that draft, upside was the word. Sixth overall pick Filip Zadina wasn’t able to win an NHL job, but he had a very impressive AHL campaign for an 18 year old and still has the look of a top six goal machine. Their second first rounder Joe Veleno took his game to a new level in the QMJHL. Beyond those two, I would hazard that at least three other players play – or are leveraged in a trade for someone who will – on the next Detroit playoff aspirant.

Wright’s final draft class in Detroit was named this June in Vancouver, before he left the organization to join former GM Kenny Holland in Detroit. Kris Draper, a former Red Wings’ icon, who had been a Special Assistant to the GM since retiring in 2011 will assume the role. It is far too early to judge the 2019 class, but on a personal level, I loved it. Detroit drafted three players we had ranked as first round talents, and a few more who received consideration. We ultimately ranked the Red Wings’ draft haul as third strongest in the league, behind only Carolina and New Jersey.

Detroit players will probably be able to work on their golf games again by the second week of April, but management and fans should feel confident that the team has a broad range of pieces that will keep the team relevant longer in the very near future.

-Ryan Wagman

1 Filip Zadina, LW (6^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) Arguably the third-best player in the 2018 NHL Draft, Zadina slipped to 6th overall and fell into the hands of the Detroit Red Wings, who opted to send the speedy scorer straight into AHL action last season. The results were hit and miss with Grand Rapids, as the former Halifax Mooseheads star posted a 59-16-19-35 season and earned some NHL action (9-1-2-3) near the end of the campaign. Though he struggled with some inconsistencies on offense, he exhibited his future NHL top-line talent all season long, as his intense skating speed, technical footwork skill, and elite shooting prowess were capable of changing the game on every shift. Furthermore, even if the numbers don’t pop, the fact that he did it all as a teenager is incredibly impressive. It would be good to see him use his legs more to create offensive pressure, and that will surely come around to the 19-year-old in time. - TD

2 Joe Veleno, C (30^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 2) Veleno is the rare prospect in the CHL who can play in the AHL at 19; the rules state 20-year-olds or players having played four full seasons of CHL hockey can play AHL, and Veleno is in the latter camp. His promotion is not unmerited; his game is tailor-made for the next level and he is ready for a new challenge. 104 points last season on a strong Drummondville team that relied on him as the centerpiece of the offence, while his defensive game is refined, especially in pursuit on the back-check. He doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game – he covers the ice well, handles the puck well, distributes and shoots at a high level, and can play in all situations. He is ready to step in sooner rather than later, but may need a bit of seasoning to establish his offensive rhythm before making his NHL debut. He projects as a responsible top-six center with strong offensive upside. - MS

3 Moritz Seider, D (6^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Seider, this year's surprise pick of the first round, is a big, mobile right-shot defenseman who oozes confidence and has great hockey sense. He has the quickness to join the rush and he does so in a timely manner. The German blueliner is very gifted offensively, possessing high-level passing skills and a strong shot selection. He is smooth with the puck and moves it well on the breakout. Seider is competitive, plays a hard-nosed game and protects the front of the net effectively. He constantly keeps his stick out in order to maintain good gap control and he is rock solid defensively. He has the tools to develop into a minute-munching NHL defenseman who is highly consistent and efficient in all three zones. - MB

4 Jared McIsaac, D (36^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 4) The major blow for McIsaac in 2019-20 is that his season is already cut short – he had shoulder surgery in the off-season and is only expected to return around the mid-way mark of the campaign. He also played for much of the second half of last season with a shoulder injury, so his 62 points in 53 games were all the more impressive. He is a very solid all-around defenseman who can control the game with his skating and his puckhandling. He also displays great gap control and a solid stick defensively, making him a very reliable rearguard. To reach his maximum potential at the NHL level, McIsaac will still need to bulk up, as he likes to get physical and pick his spots to lay a big hit on an unsuspecting forward. He is a do-it-all defender with top-pair upside as a solid, reliable, consistent rearguard. - MS

5 Robert Mastrosimone, LW (54^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Small but fearless, Mastrosimone is the type of player that is always taking the game to the opposition, forcing the latter to react. He reads the game at a high level, allowing him to put defenders on their heels even though his own skating speed is not much better than average. He packs a very hard shot, although he could stand to improve upon its accuracy. He also excels at creating opportunities for others. Another area in need of refinement is in picking his battles. It is one thing to be fearless, it is another to recognize that hanging back for an extra second might put him in a better position to impact not only the current shift, but the remaining shifts as well. Mastrosimone has top six upside and will have a chance to take on a scoring role from day one at Boston University. - RW

6 Albert Johansson, D (60^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Johansson is a smart and skilled two-way defenseman. He reads the game well, both defensively and offensively, and acts on it. He stays calm in stressful situations with good puck control. He delivers good breakout passes, long as well as short passes and he doesn’t need much room or time to deliver them. He is strong across the offensive blue line but needs to work on his shot. He can shoot hard but need to work on his accuracy when doing so. Johansson is coming off a strong season in which he showed developed rapidly. He was the best player on his team in SuperElit and has been promoted for SHL this upcoming season. He has a strong case as a future top four defenseman with his overall smarts and skill. He is a bit physically immature, and will need to grow into his body and get stronger before reaching his projection. - JH

7 Jonatan Berggren, LW/RW (33^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 5) Berggren earned a spot on Skelleftea’s SHL roster but suffered a season-ending back injury in November. In the limited time he played in the SHL, his game didn’t lift and had only three assists in 16 games. He has speed and skill but needs to develop his goal scoring to become more dynamic. He is not big but has the right tools to become effective anyway, especially with his strong legs and lower body. He will need a couple of years of development but has the potential to become a good NHL winger, fitting on a second or third line. If he can become a better shooter, he could look a bit like a lefthanded version of Viktor Arvidsson. He will need to develop his shot and show that he be effective at the SHL level this season and is still a couple of years from trying for an NHL spot. - JH

8 Antti Tuomisto, D (35^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Tuomisto has a strong understanding of the game, he sees the ice extremely well, and is a good playmaker at both ends of the ice. He is calm, poised and seldom gets rattled under pressure. He gives hard and accurate long passes out of the zone which arrive on the tape. He has a cannon for a slap shot, a precise wrist shot as well, and will likely score a good amount of goals at the pro level. His long reach is an asset in stick and puck battles, and he does not hesitate to be physical and play with an edge. Tuomisto logged plenty of ice-time in his draft year in the Finnish U20 league and he took advantage of the increased role. He will stay with Ässät U20 for the 2019-20 season as he is aiming to play college hockey before turning pro. - MB

9 Albin Grewe, RW (66^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) An aggressive power forward with nice hands, Grewe is a good playmaker and can be creative with the puck. He works hard both offensively and defensively and could emerge as a good middle six-winger. He uses his skating is a weapon at the junior level but his short stride probably won’t make his skating stand out at the NHL level. He isn’t big (6-0”) for the power forward style he tries to maintain. He produced well in SuperElit with his speed and creativity but didn’t muster up any points in 15 SHL games. He will play full time in the SHL this season. He can be used in various roles and has an agitative edge to his game. Grewe will need a few more years of development before he is ready to try to earn a spot on the Red Wings. - JH

Detroit Red Wings left wing Taro Hirose (53) (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)

10 Taro Hirose, LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 12, 2019. Last Year: IE) An undersized offensive dynamo who grew up in the hockey academies of Western Canada, Hirose was a top scorer for Michigan State from the moment he arrived on campus. As a junior last year, despite the severe lack of depth after the first line with the Spartans, he managed to lead the Big10 in scoring. Considering his primary linemates were, like him, undrafted, there was no question about his numbers being carried by more talented/heralded teammates. He is a solid, if unspectacular skater, but he plays at a higher pace, forcing opponents into frequent penalties with his edgework and stickhandling. His high IQ hockey is also unmistakable, as he can simply take over shifts with his ability to control the flow of the game. He needs to be less passive in his own zone to earn big minutes as a pro, but as his late season cameo showed, he can play in the NHL. - RW

11 Evgeni Svechnikov, LW (19^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 8) Suffering a knee injury in the Red Wings’ final preseason game, Svechnikov underwent surgery early last season and was forced to sit out the entirety of the 2018-19 campaign. He had his sights set on cracking the Detroit roster after performing well in limited NHL minutes the prior season, but this was not the first injury to set back his development, after he fought through a neck injury during the 2017-18 season. His prospect value and ceiling are still high, as his combination of intimidating size/strength and shooting ability is unlike that of many prospects in the system. He is a beast with the puck, able to get inside position on anyone and his control and balance are incredible for his size. He doesn’t shy from playing hard defensively. We will have to see if his injuries continue to hold him back when he returns this season, but if his health holds -- and his consistency improves -- he can be a middle-six scoring wing in the NHL. - TD

12 Malte Setkov, D (100^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 16) Setkov is an interesting long-term project for the Red Wings. He is a 6-7” defenseman who can move the puck well and is an agile skater. He is tall and lanky and looks like a taller version of Jay Bouwmeester on the ice. He isn’t as skilled with the puck as Bouwmeester, but if he can use his reach and mobility to shut down plays he will become a strong defensive defenseman. Last season, he moved up and down between SuperElit, Allsvenskan and the SHL. The plan for him this season is to be a regular in the SHL. He will need to fill out his body, play stronger and use his size better as a weapon in the physical game. He has decent bottom pair potential. - JH

13 Filip Larsson, G (167^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 15) Once we get past the two mild strikes of never having played a full season and having size that is slightly below average for the modern netminder, we are left with a goalie who has only ever stopped the puck at a near elite rate, excelling in Sweden’s SuperElit league, the USHL, and the NCAA respectively in the last three seasons. He has excellent lateral movement, and reacts well to stop second chances when they occur. Despite his lack of height, he tracks the puck through screens well. Larsson stays calm in one-on-one situations, where he can flash a quick glove hand. He is also a fine athlete, which shows most prominently in his balance and poise. He doesn’t lunge, but stays over his toes, square to the shooter. Next year he will make it four leagues in four years, as he turned pro after a single season with the Denver Pioneers. He is the Detroit goalie most likely to emerge as a long term NHL starter. - RW

14 Oliwer Kaski, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed May 28, 2019. Last Year: IE) Kaski put together a breakout season in the Liiga, amassing 19 goals and 51 points in 59 games. His terrific season did not go unnoticed as he was named the best player of the regular season and the best defenseman in the league as well. He is a sizeable 6-3” defenseman with a cannon for a shot from the point. His slap shot is very good with power, accuracy, and heaviness, featuring good wind up and technique as well. He skates well in all directions and shows nice agility considering his size. He is more of a puck mover than a puck rusher and he is poised in possession. Not very physical, he needs to use his size as an asset more often and be tougher to play against in the defensive zone. Kaski is a classic late bloomer with intriguing offensive abilities. - MB

15 Ryan Kuffner, LW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 12, 2019. Last Year: IE) Kuffner has a great hockey I.Q.; his hustle is evident, and he always makes smart plays. He can improve upon his speed, but he knows where to go without the puck and that leads to scoring chances with his pro wrist shot. He scored his 68th career goal this season to set the all-time goal scoring record at Princeton. He ended up with 75 before exhausting his eligibility. The winger was a big cog on the team who played in all situations. He is a very durable player and the Red Wings were smart to see what he could do at the NHL level. He didn’t earn a point with the Red Wings over 10 games. He will start next season in Grand Rapids, and he will have to impress Steve Yzerman, his new boss. He’s a third liner or bust kind of prospect. - RC

16 Alec Regula, D (67^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 14) Regula remains a project prospect for the Red Wings. He took some nice steps forward last year in London, but his skill set is still very raw. He possesses that size and mobility combination that all NHL teams covet on the backend now. Furthermore, he is a very a physical player who can be very difficult to play against. On the other hand, his decision making, both with the puck and without it, needs to be refined. He can take himself out of position defensively with his over aggressiveness, and he can be prone to turnovers with the puck. The potential is there for him to develop into an NHL defender after another year in the OHL and a few in the AHL. - BO

17 Gustav Lindstrom, D (38^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 13) Lindstrom got a good chance in the SHL last season. He was third in ice-time for Frolunda and earned second unit power play time as well. He is a puck skilled defenseman with some creativity to him but hasn’t seen his production take off yet. The soon-to-be 21 year-old will head to North America this season and will probably play in the AHL. His strengths are with the puck and his weaknesses are without the puck. He can play aggressively and block shots, but it is not a strength of his. He isn’t strong winning the puck and pushing the play up the ice with either his skating or his puck skills. If he is going to make the NHL, it will be as a top four defenseman and that now seems like a longshot. His development was fast-paced up until his draft year, but has slowed down since. - JH

18 Dominic Turgeon, C (63^rd overall, 2014. Last Year: 19) Although his ceiling is not as high as his prospect peers, Turgeon is one of the safest and most certain picks as a future NHLer in the Red Wings system, based on his smarts, ability to play a lockdown defensive role, and his timely offensive output. With AHL Grand Rapids over the past three seasons, he has manhandled opponents with his toughness, hockey IQ, and discipline as a shutdown defensive center, often facing and besting the opposition’s primary offensive unit. He is not the best of skaters, therefore his offensive output is sporadic, but he possesses a nifty wrist shot and command of his physical tools, which makes him useful in transition. Turgeon will never be more than a bottom-six NHL center, but he could carve out a long and successful career in that role as soon as this season. - TD

19 Otto Kivenmaki, C (191^st overall, 2018. Last Year: 20) Kivenmäki is a skilled and smooth skating center who finished the past Liiga season strong. He has good playmaking skills and vision, enabling him to run the power play effectively and set up his teammates for scoring chances. He is very shifty and has great acceleration, with top notch edge work. He can maneuver with the puck in tight spaces with relative ease. Kivenmäki's defensive game and physical game both are areas which require significant improvement if he is going to make it to the NHL, although his severe lack of size will make that difficult. His speed helps him catch opponents, especially on the backcheck. He has shown interesting offensive skills, yet he remains a long shot as far as the NHL is concerned. - MB

20 Kasper Kotkansalo, D (71^st overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Kotkansalo is a third pairing defenseman who plays his college hockey at Boston University. Through his first two collegiate seasons, he has 17 points in 78 games, a good hint at the type of player he is. He skates very well and is a good passer. He stays out of the penalty box and plays an edgy brand of defense. He will shoot the puck and occasionally threaten the net, but he is more of a mobile puck mover and a defender sent on the ice to make life difficult for the opposition. He has a chance to play the third pairing in the NHL and at 6-2”, 198 pounds, he could be a guy who kills penalties as well. For a 71st overall pick he is progressing nicely, but he will need at least one more season in college hockey. - RC

Detroit Red Wings Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:57:52 +0000

In 2016-17, the Red Wings missed the postseason for the first time in a quarter century. They missed again, more emphatically, last year, with their 73 points on the season falling 26 points shy of the final wild card spot.

While the team was seemingly clinging to their postseason hopes through at least mid-season in 2016-17, there was no question that they were not “going for it” last year. They did not quite tank, but they self-identified as sellers as the trade deadline neared and their most prominent off-season acquisition heading into 2017-18 was the one and only Luke Witkowski.

Now that they are a full season past the denial stage of mourning/rebuilding, we can see how the organization is planning to return the Red Wings to a place of prominence in the NHL. On the one hand, they were able to leverage some diminishing assets in 2016-17 to acquire additional draft picks, selecting 11 times in total. On the other hand, all of their extra selections came after the top two rounds. Picking four times in the third round is nice, but having extra picks in the first and/or second is better.

So while Detroit only had 10 draft picks this year, the extra picks were far more significant. In 2017, the Wings second pick was 38^th overall. This year, they selected four times by the time the 38^th pick was taken. They made seven of the first 84 picks. Not only that, but the drafting strategy the Wings took on this year was more centered on skill than on players who fit a certain role. They chose for upside instead of safety.

Not that anything was wrong with the selection of Michael Rasmussen ninth overall last year. Everyone loves 6-6” centers who are mobile and dangerous from the dots on down. On the other hand, he has long dealt with recurring injuries and an outsized portion of his production has come on the power play. He just might not be Eric Lindros.

Their next two highest picks of their 2017 draft class were blueliners who are more notable for IQ and two way play than any sort of dynamism. Systems need those players, and NHL teams need them too, but they are not the types of prospects on whom you can plan a rebuild.

With their first four picks of the 2018 draft, the Red Wings added players who all could have easily fit in the first round and do project as players who could be central to the next playoff team in Detroit.

Detroit looks to have another season of selling in store in 2018-19, but with the ascent of some of the products of the last two draft classes looking to be ready to contribute by 2019-20, as well as the maturation of previous draft hauls, such as Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, and Tyler Bertuzzi, they can now focus on building a team that will not just be competitive, but with some luck, could be an elite franchise again. The path back to greatness will not be linear, but at least they can now envision it.

Filip Zadina

1 Filip Zadina, LW (6^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) While we can understand the motives of Montreal, Ottawa, and Arizona in taking Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Brady Tkachuk, and Barrett Hayton with the third, fourth and fifth picks of the draft, respectively, we remain convinced that Zadina was the third best player in the 2018 draft class, closer to Andrei Svechnikov at number 2 than might be believed. He grades at a very high level as a skater, shooter, puck handler and for his hockey IQ. He plays with grit, energy, and a true nose for the net. Even if Zadina plateaued after two thirds of the QMJHL season with Halifax, the level he had been playing at for months is one that few ever achieve at any level. The fact that he upped his output when the lights were brightest suggests he could make good on the chance to make the NHL roster right away. Zadina is a building block.

2 Joe Veleno, C (30^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) The first and thus far only player granted “Exceptional Player” status by the QMJHL, Veleno played a mature game with Saint John, filling a middle six role up the middle as the Sea Dogs won the QMJHL title in 2017. Unfortunately, he slumped badly to kick off his draft year, as the only player of note left on a team in the beginning of a tear-down. He particularly struggled putting the puck in the net. After a midseason trade to Drummondville, with the pressure of being The Man off his shoulders, his season took off again and he more than doubled his goalscoring while improving his rate of helpers as well. Detroit was surprised to see him available at the end of the first round, and his high end skating, playmaking, and hockey IQ all suggest that he could one day be a number one center, with the second line as his floor.

3 Michael Rasmussen, C (9^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1^st) While it was fair to consider Rasmussen an overdraft at ninth overall in 2017, there is no question but that he profiles as an impact center in the NHL. If there were doubters, his performance in the WHL playoffs last season, with a ridiculous 33 points in 14 games, put such concerns to rest. He is an average skater, even considering his size, which might prevent him from being a true fist line center, but he is an incredible sniper and can be impossible to strip of the puck. That his strength comes with soft hands is a bonus. The Red Wings are expected to give him every chance to make the NHL out of camp this year. He will probably need to be eased into life in the NHL with sheltered shifts, but he should be a top six staple within two seasons.

4 Jared McIsaac, D (36^th overall. Last Year: IE) After being fortunate to nab Zadina at sixth overall in the first round, Detroit returned to Halifax with their second second rounder, taking all around blueliner Jared McIsaac. A fantastic skater who does everything at an above average level, he has already represented Canada at the WU18 tournament twice. It was not too long ago that McIsaac was considered the best offensive defenseman in the QMJHL (ahead of Noah Dobson). With Halifax expected to ramp up as they prepare to host next year’s Memorial Cup, expect McIsaac to put up a copious amount of points and gain even experience in the spotlight. If there is a future first pairing defender in this system, this is it.

Jonatan Berggren

5 Jonatan Berggren, LW/RW (33^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) One of the better skating forwards in the 2018 draft class, Berggren put up crazy numbers in the Swedish junior ranks and was one of the breakout stars of the WU18 tournament, but lasted to the second pick of the second round due to a lack of muscle and a lack of experience at the senior level. In his 10 games in the SHL, he failed to get his name on the scoresheet. He should see more time with Skelleftea’s senior team this year, and his skating and puck skills both graded very highly and will be his tickets to the NHL. His other attributes around average, but he shows flashes of a strong shot and enough vision to suggest a top six projection within a few years.

6 Dennis Cholowski, D (20^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th overall) Before leaving St. Cloud St. after his freshman season to sign an ELC with Detroit and proceed to play in the WHL with prince George and then Portland, Cholowski was easy to overlook, whether it was due to playing in the BCHL in his draft year, or due to minimal offensive production in college. That changed when he left for Major Junior. Nearly reaching one point per game in the rough WHL will do that. Cholowski is a highly skilled puck mover, with very high hockey IQ and the ability to play any number of roles at the highest level. He lacks a thundering shot, which may keep him from the first power play unit, but between his ability to read the game, move the puck in the right direction and play at a high pace, he could do most other things.

7 Filip Hronek D (53^rd overall, 2016. Last Year: 6^th) Were it not for an amazing draft class, Hronek could easily have been ranked among the top three in this system. Drafted in the second round after struggling to make an impact as an 18 year old in the Czech men’s league, Hronek came to the OHL and had zero adjustment period to the North American game. One year later, his transition from the OHL to the AHL went just as smoothly. He is a very good puck rushing blueliner who could stand to recognize danger a little better. He has also been sheltered, so his ability to play tough minutes is still a question. Those warts aside, he plays a very mature game with the puck and is not very far at all from the NHL.

8 Evgeni Svechnikov, LW (19^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 2^nd) Most players who performed as Svechnikov did last year in the AHL would be hard pressed to appear in a top 20 at all, much less in the top ten of a system as deep as Detroit’s. But even as his point per game average fell from 0.69 to 0.4 in AHL action, he still has a full set of tools, along with youth, to allow him to project into a top six at the NHL level with greater consistency and compete level. To his credit, he did not look completely out of place in a 14 game trial in the NHL, during which he scored his first two goals. He is very talented with the puck on his stick, with a long reach and strong hands and has a quick shot release. He is not bad away from the puck either. All the tools are there, he just needs to show the want to put them together.

9 David Pope, LW (109^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 19^th) The longest tenured prospect in the top 20, David Pope is the epitome of a late bloomer, who truly blossomed over his final two season at Nebraska-Omaha, with 72 points over those 69 games and a Hobey Baker nomination as a senior. Pope has a big frame, and is no more than an average skater, but he packs a very strong shot and above average puck handling skills as well as a sharp hockey mind. Late bloomer or not, he is already 23 and will have to prove himself soon. If he cannot do it within a full AHL campaign, it might never happen, but with some trade assets at LW in the NHL who could be moved by the deadline, we are optimistic.

10 Ryan O’Reilly, C/RW (98^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) To get a steal at the draft, you have to be willing to bet on a player’s upside overcoming his red flags. There are many players out there who are OK at a lot of things, but great at nothing, but only a few who can demonstrate high end tools, even if it is packaged with some subpar ones. O’Reilly, a Texas native, fits that mold. At is best, he has an NHL caliber shot, along with above average skating and puck handling. On the other hand, he can shy away from the game away from the puck and his effort level can waver. His instincts can also hurt him at times. With another year in the USHL in store before attending the U of Denver, Detroit will have a lot of time to let O’Reilly hone his game.

Joe Hicketts

11 Joe Hicketts, D (UDFA: Sep. 24, 2014. Last Year: 9^th) Little Joe Hicketts, packs a big punch despite being one of the smallest blueliners in pro hockey at 5-8”, 180. While his sophomore campaign in the AHL was not as statistically impressive as his rookie season was, he still profiles as a pretty safe third pairing blueliner who is very close to NHL ready. He plays a surprisingly physical game, is strong on his stick, and positions himself well to disrupt opponent attacks. Although he lacks a big shot from the point, he is patient and poised with the puck and is quick on his feet. He will be in consideration for the #6/7 role in Detroit this season.

12 Keith Petruzzelli, G (88^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8^th) By all accounts, Petruzzelli struggled in his first year with Quinnipiac. The anointed starter as a freshman for the Bobcats, a handful of poor performances caused him to lose the job to Andrew Shortridge. Perhaps we temper our previous enthusiasm a touch, but we still believe in Petruzzelli, particularly as his play ticked back up in the second half of the season. A lanky 6-6”, he has above average athleticism and played a competitive game in the net. The funny thing about goalies is that one extra save every two games can be the difference between fantastic and subpar. One save per game is the difference between sub and superstar. The heat will be on higher this year, but Petruzzelli has the tools to make it work.

13 Gustav Lindstrom, D (38^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 13^th) Drafted by the Red Wings in the second round in 2017 as a mature beyond his years defender who spent his draft year playing with men in Allsvenskan, he showed enough development in his first post-draft year to maintain that projection. He has very good puck control and a dangerous wrist shot, even if his involvement in the offense has been somewhat muted thus far. Although he needs to get stronger, he also showed some more hints of the ability to play a more physical game this year. The Wings have already signed him to an ELC, although Lindstrom is expected to spend next season playing in the SHL, with Frolunda.

Alec Regula

14 Alec Regula, D (67^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) At one time a USHL player committed to the University of Michigan, Alec Regula left the Chicago Steel after playing a supporting run in their Clark Cup Championship and spent his draft year in the OHL, with the London Knights. Seeing as how his offensive game blossomed while retaining his reputation for strong play in his own zone, it looks to have been a wise career choice. Although he lacks any specific impact tools, his overall collection, tied together by an advanced hockey mind, make the whole greater than the sum of the individual parts. He has ideal size, plus mobility and is strong on the puck. He might stay below the radar, but he has NHL upside.

15 Filip Larsson, G (167^th overall, 2016. Last Year: unranked) The Red Wings took a flyer on Larsson despite rather poor numbers in his draft year in the SuperElit and at the WU18s. Actually, his numbers were horrific in the latter. Since then, however, Larsson’s stock has taken off. He improved his save percentage with Djurgarden’s U20 team from .872 to .925 and was named the top goaltender in the USHL after a .941 save percentage in 30 games for Tri-City, which earned him a spot on Sweden’s WJC squad. He has average size, but moves around his crease at a solid level and does not give up on a play. He will have every chance to claim the starting job next year at the University of Denver.

16 Malte Setkov, D (100^th overall, 2017. Last Year: unranked) The towering Setkov left his native Denmark to improve his hockey fortunes with Malmo in Sweden at the age of 15. 6-6” and lanky, he is nonetheless a fairly strong skater and shows signs of upside in terms of puck skills and hockey IQ. When he keeps his game simple, he can be a very effective defender, able to get the puck out of his own zone and begin the transition, while making life difficult for opponents through a heavy game. At his worst, he seems uncoordinated and overthinks things, leading to bad decisions with the puck, or falling out of position. After spending most of last year in the Swedish second division, he will have a bigger opportunity to spend time in the SHL.

17 Libor Sulak, D (UDFA: May 24, 2017. Last Year: unranked) Undrafted despite solid performances growing up in the Czech hockey system, even spending his first draft eligible season in the Russian junior ranks, Sulak caught the eyes of Red Wings scouts in his age 22 season, his second season in the pan Central Europe EBEL. A fantastic skating blueliner, the Wings loaned him to Pelicans, in Finland’s top men’s league to continue his path. A very impressive season in Liiga followed, with 32 points in 42 games, eighth among all league defenders, and second among them in points per game. He even contributed a pair of assists in his two game cameo in the AHL with Grand Rapids. He needs to make some adjustments to his game off the puck, but he should be ready to spend the full season in North America.

18 Givani Smith, RW (46^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 5^th) Givani Smith, whose older brother Gemel had his first full year in the NHL last year with Dallas, is the embodiment of the trend in drafting to avoid limited skill power players in the early rounds. A former second round pick, the younger Smith has a near elite physical game, but lacks any other attributes that project as more than average. Outside of a star turn in the postseason last year with Kitchener, he has never reached 0.7 points-per-game in his OHL career. Between his size and his strength, he will continue to get chances, and there are some power forwards who simply take longer to realize their ceilings, but it is currently hard to see more than a bottom six grinder in Smith right now.

19 Dominic Turgeon, C (63^rd overall, 2014. Last Year: unranked) Unlike many of the other players on this list, Turgeon is not a big upside guy. He is a middle six center in the AHL who projects as a likely fourth liner in the NHL. Son of former first overall pick and landmark Hall of Very Good player Pierre Turgeon, Dominic is not so much a chip off the old block, but he has enough mobility and hockey IQ to play a definite NHL role as soon as this season. He received his first five game sin the NHL last season, and should be in line for a fair bit more next season. He has just enough offensive ability to stick.

20 Otto Kivenmaki, C (191^st overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) It is easy to go under the radar when you are only 5-8”, 150, or when you have never appeared for your country in a prominent international tournament. Missing much of the second half to injury and then signing a three year contract with Assat between the end of the season and the draft also likely nicked Kivenmaki’s draft stock. But despite the red flags, Kivenmaki is a very fast, very skilled center who plays with a fearlessness belying his stature. He scored at a point per game pace in the Jr. A SM-liiga (Finland’s top U20 league) and should move on to the senior Liiga this year.

Detroit – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:14:04 +0000

For years, the Detroit Red Wings deservedly held the reputation of being among the most astute drafters in the game. The rosters of those teams that famously went to 25 consecutive playoffs were littered with not only players that were developed in-house, but many of whom were mid and late round draft picks. Notable players drafted by the Red Wings after the second round include Vladimir Konstantinov (11th round, 1989), Sergei Fedorov (4th round, 1989), Niklas Lidstrom (3rd round, 1989), Slava Kozlov (3rd round, 1990), Mike Knuble (4th round, 1991), Tomas Holmstrom (10th round, 1994), Pavel Datsyuk (6th round, 1998), Henrik Zetterberg (7th round, 1999), Jonathan Ericsson (9th round, 2002), Valtteri Filppula (3rd round, 2002), Johan Franzen (3rd round, 2004), and Gustav Nyquist (4th round, 2008).

In addition to the remarkable run of middle and late round success experienced by the organization, notable about the above players is that, for all but Knuble, they were drafted out of Europe, particularly Sweden and Russia. The folks responsible for those selections deserve as much applause as we can give. But for all of their success drafting Europeans late, the Wings, like all other franchises, drafted many players in the later rounds who never panned out, including players from Europe as well as North America. Witness the 2011 draft class, whose top impact player (Dmitri Bykov) spent one season in the NHL before returning to Russia. Or 1996. The Red Wings got 49 games out of first rounder Jesse Wallin, and a grand total of zero out of the remaining eight players drafted.

Looking at their past few draft classes, the ones whose products are largely featured in this space, we can see that the Wings have continued to invest heavily in Europeans in the 3-7 rounds. Between 2011-2016, the Red Wings made 31 total selections in those rounds. 16 of the players taken were Europeans. I am no Don Cherry, bemoaning the growing wave of Europeans taking up spots from good old Canadian boys, but in Detroit’s case, there seems to have been the feeling that what worked in the past will continue to work in perpetuity. That had a magic touch with Europeans.

What they missed was that an undervalued edge that they once had was no longer undervalued across the NHL. High-end European players were no longer there for the taking. Russians were no longer so unwilling to come over to North America. The Europeans available after the second round were generally no better than the North Americans available at that point and could not promise any special value. And so we see that, despite such a heavy lean into Europeans in recent drafts, only three of the top 20 were actually drafted out of European leagues. With nine selections between the third and seventh rounds this year, the Red Wings may have learned that lesson. The sample is very small, but with only one of the nine drafted from a European league, the Red Wings seem to be ready to draft for talent, wherever it may be found.

Another downside to their recent approach, whether due to geographical lean, or simply how things have shaken out, is that the Detroit system, while deep in prospects that have NHL upside, is virtually bereft of true high-end, dynamic players. Of course, they have also very rarely had high picks, what with their long-time playoff streak finally coming to an end this past season, but they rarely were able to grab players who have developed into more than they had seemed on draft day. At present, none of the following twenty players, the top twenty in the pipeline, project as more than second line/second defensive pairing players.

1 Michael Rasmussen – A big player with skill, Rasmussen has uncommon touch for a man of his size (6-6”, 215). He is especially effective in the cycle when he is able to get a shot off from the half-wall on in. The Red Wings used a top ten pick on him despite the questions about the wrist injury that shortened his season and the fact that an outsized portion of his draft year production came on the power play. Needs to prove he can be a force at 5-on-5.

2 Evgeni Svechnikov – To Svechnikov’s credit, his 51 point rookie pro season (fourth among AHL rookies) ensured that no one would forget the talents that are inherent in the player drafted 19th overall in 2015. He plays a heavy game, has a very strong shot and plus puck protection skills. Despite the skill set, watching him this year, there was a sense that he would take shifts and games off and his intensity would waiver noticeably. His next hurdle will be consistency.

3 Tyler Bertuzzi – Essentially, the inverse of Svechnikov. Bertuzzi plays a very intense brand of hockey, which he supplements with enough skill to profile as a highly productive pest. In spite of injuries limiting his time on ice in his second season with Grand Rapids, Bertuzzi’s point production increased and he was lights out in a Calder Cup run. Can play in all situations and should be ready for his first full NHL season.

Dennis Cholowski

4 Dennis Cholowski – After a single season with St. Cloud State, the Wings signed Cholowski away from college. He will need at least two seasons before he is ready for the NHL, but the former first rounder is mobile and very steady in the back. He already demonstrates plus ability to read game situations and should be the type of player who is far more valuable in real life than in fantasy hockey.

5 Givani Smith – Although his scoring has yet to take off, stuck as he has been on a moribund Guelph team in the OHL, Smith, the Wings’ 2016 second rounder, has a power forwards’ build and playing style. A strong skater for his size, he has untapped puck skills and has been reliable in all situations for the Storm. Penalty minutes are a problem, as his exuberance often spills over into belligerence, but the tools are there for added offensive output given better teammates. This could be a big year for Smith.

6 Filip Hronek – Drafted only a few picks after Smith in 2016, Hronek had a stellar first season in North America, playing with Saginaw of the OHL, scoring over one point per game. Generally on the right side of the puck, Hronek’s effectiveness is easy to underappreciate, as he shows many of the little things that should allow him to move quickly through the system. He has plus mobility and very good puck moving skills.

7 Axel Holmstrom – Not related to longtime Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom, Axel’s game will remind many Wing’s fan of their former hero. While injuries made this past season (his third in the SHL) a write-off, he came to North America before the year ended and should spend most of next season in Grand Rapids. Not a great skater and not a threat from a distance, he is effective because he is next to impossible to dislodge from the crease. Great reads and soft hands.

8 Keith Petruzzelli – Although none of the skaters in the system project as first line/first pair players, Petruzzelli has the potential to one day be a starting netminder. That day is far into the future, but the future Quinnipiac goalie has incredible size, plus athleticism and a high compete level. He needs to also prove that he can hold up under a big work-load, as his 37 games played this year were a career high.

9 Joe Hicketts – A rare high-profile undrafted free agent out of the CHL, Hicketts fails the eye test, standing only 5-8”, 174. But he makes those inches count. On the offensive side of the game, he is aggressive and effective, sensing openings and attacking them. Off the puck, he needs a responsible partner as he will pull himself out of position chasing a play, but he uses his stick well and plays bigger than his size.

10 Vili Saarijarvi – Undersized (not as much as Hicketts, but still quite small), Saarijarvi has put up points from the blueline wherever he has gone. His amateur career ended on a strong note, with 15 points in Mississauga’s run to the OHL finals. He can be soft off the puck, but his plus mobility and puck moving skills will give him a good chance to be an impact player.

11 Ryan Sproul – Had injuries not made last season a near write-off, Sproul would not likely be eligible for this list. After three full AHL seasons, he spent all of last year in the NHL, but only got into 27 games. His ceiling may be that of a third pairing NHL defender, but he is already there. Does not have any standout tools, but has enough of everything that he should not be a liability in a sheltered role.

12 Jordan Sambrook – Another blueliner who does a little bit of everything, Sambrook was an instrumental player in Erie’s run to the OHL championship and the Memorial Cup title game. A two-way defenseman who has been pivotal on both special teams units, he will have to prove this year that he can continue to produce offensively on a much depleted OHL team. Another good year will move him up this list more than a few spots.

13 Gustav Lindstrom – The Wings’ 2017 second round pick, Lindstrom has strong puck skills and a high hockey IQ, made more interesting by the fact that he has only been playing in a competitive league for three years. He was competent as a rookie teenager in the Allsvenskan and there is more room for growth with this prospect than with most of the others in this region on the list.

14 Martin Frk – Exposed to waivers last year, Frk, a former Wings’ second rounder was claimed by Carolina. He got into only two games with the Hurricanes before they, too, exposed him and the Red Wings re-claimed their man. He spent another season with Grand Rapids and continued to prove that he is ready for an NHL chance. He has an NHL shot, but the rest of his game fails to excite. His career will be dictated by the percentages.

15 Jared Coreau – In his fourth season as a pro, after signing as a free agent out of Northern Michigan, Coreau finally received an NHL opportunity, appearing in 14 games for the Red Wings, shutting out both Montreal and L.A. A big body who guards his posts well and does a respectable job controlling rebounds, he is limited by his lack of athleticism, which affects his lateral movements. The team likes him, and exposed Petr Mrazek in the expansion draft, confident in Coreau’s ability to take over the backup job. Vegas passed over Mrazek, though, and barring a trade, Coreau will spend another season on the farm.

16 Zach Gallant – With strong acceleration and a wide array of shots to choose from, Zach Gallant, a third round pick from this year’s draft is one to watch. He has a tendency to vary his effort level from period to period, but at his best, is a strong 200 foot player wo plays a physical game. Stronger at moving the puck up the ice than at executing offensive zone entries.

17 Kasper Kotkansalo – The first of four third round picks made by Detroit this year, Kotkansalo held his own as a tough minutes defenseman with a struggling Sioux Falls squad in the USHL. He has limited offensive tools, but has loads of hockey smarts and a pro-sized frame. He will be taking his mature, relatively mistake-free game to Boston University next season.

18 Lane Zablocki – The last of Detroit’s third rounders on this list, Zablocki was potent offensively for both Regina and Red Deer in his draft year. Despite his plus numbers with both teams, his tools do not suggest a high end scorer as a pro. If anything, his physical game is his most impressive attribute thus far in his young career.

19 David Pope – A sleeper pick whose offensive game finally show signs of life in his third season at Nebraska-Omaha. Although the offensive improvement is nice, his off-puck game is even more impressive. A good penalty killing winger and a disruptive forechecker.

20 Dylan Sadowy – After a lost rookie professional season, Sadowy will either be way higher on this list next year, or way off. A strong offensive producer with a plus shot at the OHL level, he deserves at least one full, healthy season in the AHL before writing him off.

There are several more players besides the twenty above who were considered for inclusion, including Chase Pearson, Dominic Turgeon, Robbie Russo and Malte Setkov. This is a deep system, with many players who could play roles on future Red Wigs’ teams. In a salary cap world, it is important to be able to fill out the bottom half of the roster with lower cost, preferably homegrown, players and the Wings are positioned to do just that. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, they lack in players who look to be future team leaders. Dylan Larkin, once considered a future centerpiece, took a step back in his sophomore campaign. Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou are still young but neither has yet staked a claim in the top six.

This system-wide shortage is a consequence of drafting to type. In addition to over-drafting Europeans for much of the past decade, the Wings seem to overvalue size and a power game with their forwards and quiet competence among defensemen. Neither are bad things, per se, but they need more variety to round out a competitive NHL roster going forward.

2015 NHL Draft Guide – A draft to remember for QMJHL

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

2015 NHL Draft one to remember for QMJHL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The First Round Locks

Jeremy Roy (Sherbrooke)

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

Timo Meier (Halifax)

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

Jakub Zboril (Saint John)

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

Evgeni Svechnikov (Cape Breton)

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

Thomas Chabot (Saint John)

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

The Wild Card

Daniel Sprong (Charlottetown)

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

The Strong Possibilities

Anthony Beauvillier (Shawinigan)

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

Dennis Yan (Shawinigan)

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

Filip Chlapik (Charlottetown)

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

The Longshots

Nicholas Meloche (Baie-Comeau)

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

Nathan Noel (Saint John)

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

Dmytro Timashov (Quebec)

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

Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi)

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

2015 NHL Draft Guide – Youngblood: Generational top end supported by potential stars – Part 2

Brendan Ross — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 11:00:19 +0000

Appealing depth elevates 2015 class

In an NHL where many star players are drafted using lottery picks, it’s arguably more important for teams to hit on their middle round selections. Finding high-upside talent outside of the opening round can be a major influence in icing competitive teams. The 2015 class offers up those exact type of players as soon as the draft hits double digits.

Heading outside of the lottery picks, talent drops off slightly but there are upwards of 30 appealing players who have some high-upside qualities who could develop into special NHLers. Led by a cast featuring USHL scoring champ Kyle Connor, Swiss power forward Timo Meier, heart-and-soul sniper Travis Konecny, skilled Russian powerhouse Evgeni Svechnikov and Kelowna’s productive playmaker Nick Merkley, the middle first round options feature some potential home-run prospects.

Dazzling skilled forwards Jeremy Bracco and Daniel Sprong, slick puck moving defensemen Jérémy Roy and Oliver Kylington, and rangy high-potential European forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Denis Guryanov headline the wildcard candidates. Two-way pivot Colin White rebounded nicely from his bout with mononucleosis putting forth a great Under-18 World Championship performance showing scouts with timely goals why he’s considered a big-game player. Jansens Harkins, Brock Boeser and Anthony Beauvillier are talents being tossed around as first round potentials after each of them established themselves as top scoring options in their respective leagues.

Teams looking past the first round for high-skilled players that could develop into the next wave of Tyler Toffolis, Derek Stepans, Brandon Saads and Nikita Kucherovs, might be tempted by Swiss dynamo Denis Malgin, speedster Zach Senyshyn, smart winger Jack Roslovic, budding skilled wingman Blake Speers or highly competitive Americans Christian Fischer and A.J. Greer. On the other end of the spectrum, 2015 offers up a number of two-way players who would provide a stabilizing hard-to-play-against presence in the lineup with Nicolas Roy, Jordan Greenway, Graham Knott, Alexander Dergachev, Roope Hintz and Filip Ahl all fitting that billing perfectly. Whatever style player your team fancies, finding them after a stacked top 10 should not be an issue as the opening rounds are flushed with high-potential impact options at every position.

Photo by Tom Sorensen

Stocked blue line

On the blueline, the aforementioned Hanifin, Provorov and Werenski headline an extremely deep pool. Saint John defensemen Thomas Chabot and Jakob Zboril are names to watch in the opening round while Brandon Carlo (Tri-City), Noah Juulsen (Everett), Vince Dunn (Niagara), Mitch Vande Sompel (Oshawa), Travis Dermott (Erie) and Rasmus Andersson (Barrie) are a half-dozen other major junior candidates that are destined to hear their names called early on in Sunrise, Florida. Europeans Erik Cernak (Kosice), Jacob Larsson (Frolunda), Gabriel Carlsson (Linkoping) and Jonas Siegenthaler (ZSC) have each completed impressive seasons of their own, earning high praise from both international competition and club play. In a year stacked with star forwards, defensemen with big minute potential are plentiful which could allow teams to wait longer than usual to address their blueline needs.

Safe yet unspectacular goaltender crop

Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Between the pipes, consensus is split with no true top goaltender and, certainly, no first round worthy option. Barrie’s Mackenzie Blackwood, Sweden’s Felix Sandström, Czech Daniel Vladar and Russia’s Ilya Samsonov are the names thrown around most as top candidates at their positions. Finn Veini Vehvilainen was outstanding at the Under-18s and Matej Tomek pulled on the heart-strings of NAHL followers, earning enough praise to be in the conversation as well. It’s a rather pedestrian goaltending class without a frontrunner but the overall depth of top goaltenders appealing.

Having McDavid and Eichel as the main draws undoubtedly boosts the overall appeal of the 2015 draft class, causing envy among all teams missing out on these stud pivots. Fortunately, it’s a particularly strong Top 10 which offers up potential front-line star forwards and a trio of projected first-pairing defenders. As the picks begin to trickle out into the latter parts of the opening round, followers should expect a lot of movement with very little consensus creating a fun and unpredictable draft. The eastern regions, explicitly the Boston and QMJHL populations, are chocked-full with top prospects, furnishing the ’15 class with more players than normal out of these hockey markets.

With Connor McDavid driving the bus and Jack Eichel riding shotgun, the 2015 draft will undoubtedly be an exciting event as each of the NHL’s two conferences will welcome a future superstar. Looking to unseat the superb 2003 draft class, McDavid and his peers have some big foot steps to follow but if there are two players who can lead this group to stardom it’s McEichel, as both of these wonder kids are experienced in exceeding lofty expectations. The timing for an outstanding crop of future NHL stars couldn’t be better as storied franchises, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, look to rebrand their losing identities and are secretly trusting that their vital reclamation pieces lie somewhere within the upcoming 2015 draft.

Wheeler’s Final Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League

Scott Wheeler — Tue, 05 May 2015 13:00:19 +0000

Each season, I release three instalments of my rankings of the top 60 prospects for the NHL draft. This year, these rankings will be divided by league and produced in November, February, and May, and available online at McKeen’s for the first time.

Note on the rankings: The following rankings are compiled through extensive coverage and viewings of Ottawa 67s and Gatineau Olympiques home games, which provide the chance to watch and follow a hundred or-so draft eligible players in the OHL and QMJHL who make up the majority of the top end of the draft class (especially this year in a very QMJHL-populated class) from training camps through playoffs. For prospects from the NCAA, USHL, NTDP and abroad, I make sure I have several viewings before the first publication of these rankings in November. These viewings are cumulative from this year and last (while scouting the previous class). Events viewed beyond the CHL include the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, World Junior Development Camps, the Subway Super Series, Under 17s, Under 18s, club play internationally, marquee U.S. events, college tournaments, and a heavy focus on a select few European players in SHL and Swe. Jr. games.

May’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (overall ranking in brackets)

OHL:

Connor McDavid, Erie, C (#1)
Dylan Strome, Erie, C (#4)
Mitchell Marner, London, C/RW (#5)
Travis Konecny, Ottawa, C (#12)
Pavel Zacha, Sarnia, C (#13)
Lawson Crouse, Kingston, LW (#15)
Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia, RW (#34)
Mitchell Vande Sompel, Oshawa, D (#45)
Blake Speers, Sault Ste. Marie, C (#48)
Dante Salituro, Ottawa, C (#50)
Vince Dunn, Niagara, D (#53)
Mitchell Stephens, Saginaw, C (#54)
Matthew Spencer, Peterborough, D (#57)

QMJHL:

Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke, D (#11)
Daniel Sprong, Charlottetown, RW (#16)
Evgeni Svechnikov, Cape Breton, LW (#18)
Timo Meier, Halifax, RW/C (#19)
Jakub Zboril, Saint John, D (#20)
Anthony Beauvillier, Shawinigan, C/LW (#25)
Thomas Chabot, Saint John, D (#26)
Dennis Yan, Shawinigan, LW (#28)
Filip Chlapik, Charlottetown, C (#29)
Nicholas Meloche, Baie-Comeau, D (#30)
Nathan Noel, Saint John, C (#32)
Yakov Trenin, Gatineau, LW (#33)
Dmytro Timashov, Quebec, LW/RW (#44)
Nicolas Roy, Chicoutimi, C (#55)
Alexandre Carrier, Gatineau, D (#60)

WHL:

Mathew Barzal, Seattle, C (#7)
Ivan Provorov, Brandon, D (#8)
Nick Merkley, Kelowna, C (#17)
Jansen Harkins, Prince George, C (#24)
Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current, LW (#27)
Paul Bittner, Portland, LW (#31)
Ryan Pilon, Brandon, D (#38)
Brandon Carlo, Tri-City, D (#39)
Ryan Gropp, Seattle, LW (#40)
Noah Juulsen, Everett, D (#47)
Parker Wotherspoon. Tri-City, D (#59)

United States (NCAA, USHL, NTDP):

Jack Eichel, Boston University, C (#2)
Noah Hanifin, Boston College, D (#3)
Zach Werenski, Michigan, D (#6)
Kyle Connor, Youngstown, C (#10)
Brock Boeser, Waterloo, RW (#21)
Jeremy Bracco, NTDP, RW (#22)
Colin White, NTDP, C (#23)
Thomas Novak, Waterloo, C (#35)
Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, Omaha, C (#36)
Jack Roslovic, NTDP, C/RW (#41)
Christian Fischer, NTDP, C (#42)
Jordan Greenway, NTDP, LW (#56)

Sweden (SHL, Swe. Jr.):

Oliver Kylington, AIK/Farjestad, D (#14)
Jens Looke, Brynas, RW (#37)
Jacob Larsson, Frolunda, D (#43)
Joel Eriksson Ek, Farjestad, C (#49)
Sebastian Aho, Skelleftea, D (#51)
Filip Ahl, HV71, RW (#52)
Jesper Lindgren, Modo, D (#58)

Finland:

Mikko Rantanen, TPS, RW (#9)

Slovakia:

Erik Cernak, Kosice, D (#46)

Just missed: Erik Foley, Anthony Richard, Roope Hintz, Michael Spacek, Kay Schweri, Graham Knott, Gabriel Carlsson, Ethan Bear, Rasmus Andersson, Travis Dermott, Adam Musil, Tyler Soy, Glenn Gawdin, Alex Dergachyov, Denis Gurianov, Denis Kase, Jonas Siegenthaler, Julius Nattinen, Adam Marsh, Guillaume Brisebois, Zachary Senyshyn.

2015 NHL Draft – McKeen’s Top 120 Rankings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2015 NHL Draft – Top 20 QMJHL Prospects

McKeen's Hockey — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:13:10 +0000

Saint John defenceman Thomas Chabot and Halifax forward Timo Meier have followed similar paths this season.

Both were initially tabbed as early second-round projections - and have soared up the rankings throughout the campaign.

The pair are the top players from the QMJHL in the McKeen's rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft - Meier ranked 13th overall with Chabot at No. 15 - and Saint John teammate and blueline partner Jakub Zboril right behind in 16th place.

Chabot's progress has been particularly impressive considering a shaky start which included being a healthy scratch for an early game.

The native of Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, Quebec grew in confidence as a puckmover and offensive catalyst, taking advantage of his outstanding skating mobility.

He found a complementary partner in Zboril, whose steady all-around game brought a sense of stability to a Sea Dogs team that raced to a 20-9-5 record by Christmas.

Saint John came back to earth over the second half, however, due in part to a knee injury to Zboril that cost the Czech import 19 games.

Zboril's absence did present a silver lining though as unheralded blueliner Bailey Webster stepped into a bigger role and has thrived.

Saint John have five players ranked in the top 20 for the QMJHL - and a sixth just outside in fast-rising winger Mathieu Joseph - currently sitting 23rd on the Q list - 104th overall.

QMJHL	ALL	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	13	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
2	15	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
3	16	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
4	22	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
5	23	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
6	32	Guillaume Brisebois	D	Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)	6-2/170	21-Jul-97
7	36	Filip Chlapik	C	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-1/195	3-Jun-97
8	38	Daniel Sprong	RW	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	6-0/190	17-Mar-97
9	47	Anthony Beauvillier	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	5-10/175	8-Jun-97
10	49	Dennis Yan	LW	Shawinigan (QMJHL)	6-1/180	14-Apr-97
11	61	Callum Booth	G	Quebec (QMJHL)	6-3/200	21-May-97
12	64	Nicolas Roy	C	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-4/200	5-Feb-97
13	68	Samuel Montembeault	G	Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)	6-2/165	30-Oct-96
14	69	Yakov Trenin	LW	Gatineau (QMJHL)	6-2/195	13-Jan-97
15	73	Bailey Webster	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-3/210	8-Sep-97
16	80	Nathan Noel	C	Saint John (QMJHL)	5-11/175	21-Jun-97
17	84	Nicolas Meloche	D	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-2/200	18-Jul-97
18	87	Jean-Christophe Beaudin	RW	Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL)	6-1/185	27-Mar-97
19	92	Adam Marsh	LW	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-0/165	22-Aug-97
20	94	Loik Leveille	D	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	5-11/220	25-Sep-96

McKeen’s 2015 NHL Draft Rankings – March, 2015

McKeen's Hockey — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:58:11 +0000

Russian blueliner Ivan Provorov (Brandon) and Swiss forward Timo Meier (Halifax) continued to climb the McKeen's Top 30 rankings for March - identifying the top-eligible players for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Provorov moved up three spots to No. 5 overall - behind a top four that remains unchanged in Connor McDavid (Erie), Jack Eichel (Boston University), Noah Hanifin (Boston College), and Mitchell Marner (London).

Meier has also been on a steady upward trajectory, bolstered by steady improvements in skating. Having entering his second year in the QMJHL as a top 40 draft prospect, the native of Herisau, Switzerland caught stride in November leading into a strong performance at the Under-20 World Juniors.

Meier has been ripping up the Q since the World Juniors - scoring at a near goal-a-game pace (23-21-19-40) to surpass the 40-goal mark (56-42-44-86).

He climbs 11 spots to No. 13 overall - two back of another significant riser in Ottawa forward Travis Konecny.

Following a quiet start (15-2-9-11), the Clachan, Ontario native has grown increasingly sharper as the season goes on - buoyed by a spectacular showing at the CHL Top Prospects Game.

Another big riser this month is Farjestad forward Joel Ek Eriksson who vaults into the top 20 after putting on a convincing show at last month's Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic.

The native of Karlstad, Sweden scored 18 goals to tie for the lead in the J20 SuperElit - earning a promotion to the SHL where he has dressed for 34 games for the senior Farjestad team (34-4-2-6).

However, it was his performance at the Five Nations (4-4-0-4) that made believers of the NHL scouts. Ek Eriksson stood out among his peers at a tournament that included a number of disappointing performances from the likes of Swedish teammates Oliver Kylington and Filip Ahl, as well as Michael Spacek (Czech Republic), Jeremy Bracco (USA), and Brendan Warren (USA).

Russia won the tournament - backstopped by outstanding goaltending from Ilya Samsonov, who joins Ek Eriksson, Jacob Larsson (Frolunda), Jonas Siegenthaler (Zurich), and Jack Roslovic (NTDP) as newcomers to the first round.

Here is a look at the McKeen's Top 30 Rankings for the 2015 NHL Draft.

RANK	PREV	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB
1	1	Connor McDavid	C	Erie (OHL)	6-1/195	13-Jan-97
2	2	Jack Eichel	C	Boston University (HE)	6-2/195	28-Oct-96
3	3	Noah Hanifin	D	Boston College (HE)	6-3/205	25-Jan-97
4	4	Mitchell Marner	C	London (OHL)	5-11/160	5-May-97
5	8	Ivan Provorov	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-0/195	13-Jan-97
6	5	Lawson Crouse	LW	Kingston (OHL)	6-4/210	23-Jun-97
7	7	Zach Werenski	D	Michigan (B1G)	6-2/205	19-Jul-97
8	6	Dylan Strome	C	Erie (OHL)	6-3/190	7-May-97
9	9	Pavel Zacha	C	Sarnia (OHL)	6-3/210	6-Apr-97
10	12	Mathew Barzal	C	Seattle (WHL)	5-11/175	26-May-97
11	16	Travis Konecny	C	Ottawa (OHL)	5-10/175	11-Mar-97
12	11	Mikko Rantanen	RW	TPS Turku (Fin)	6-3/210	29-Oct-96
13	24	Timo Meier	RW	Halifax (QMJHL)	6-1/210	8-Oct-96
14	14	Kyle Connor	C	Youngstown (USHL)	6-1/185	9-Dec-96
15	20	Thomas Chabot	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/180	30-Jan-97
16	21	Jakub Zboril	D	Saint John (QMJHL)	6-1/185	21-Feb-97
17	10	Nick Merkley	RW	Kelowna (WHL)	5-11/190	23-May-97
18	NR	Joel Ek Eriksson	C	Farjestads (Swe)	6-2/180	29-Jan-97
19	18	Colin White	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	30-Jan-97
20	19	Paul Bittner	LW	Portland (WHL)	6-4/210	4-Nov-96
21	25	Brandon Carlo	D	Tri-City (WHL)	6-5/200	26-Nov-96
22	13	Jeremy Roy	D	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	6-0/190	14-May-97
23	15	Evgeni Svechnikov	LW	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	6-2/200	31-Oct-96
24	23	Jake DeBrusk	LW	Swift Current (WHL)	5-11/170	17-Oct-96
25	32	Jacob Larsson	D	Frolunda (Swe)	6-2/190	29-Apr-97
26	36	Jonas Siegenthaler	D	ZSC Zurich (Sui)	6-2/220	6-May-97
27	17	Oliver Kylington	D	Farjestads (Swe)	6-0/185	19-May-97
28	29	Brock Boeser	RW	Waterloo (USHL)	6-0/195	25-Feb-97
29	NR	Ilya Samsonov	G	Magnitogorsk (Rus)	6-3/200	22-Feb-97
30	NR	Jack Roslovic	C	NTDP (USA)	6-0/185	29-Jan-97