[04-May-2026 15:31:54 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class 'WP_Widget' not found in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_news_feed_widget.php:3 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_news_feed_widget.php on line 3 [04-May-2026 15:31:55 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Class 'WP_Widget' not found in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_sidebar_menu_widget.php:3 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/widgets/mckeens_sidebar_menu_widget.php on line 3 [04-May-2026 15:31:45 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_editorials.php:22 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_editorials.php on line 22 [04-May-2026 15:31:46 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_tabs.php:50 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_display_tabs.php on line 50 [04-May-2026 15:31:47 UTC] PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function add_action() in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_heading.php:15 Stack trace: #0 {main} thrown in /home/mckeens/public_html/wp-content/themes/understrap-child/inc/shortcodes/mckeens_heading.php on line 15 Grayden Siepmann – McKeen's Hockey https://www.mckeenshockey.com The Essential Hockey Annual Sun, 28 May 2023 16:20:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/#respond Sun, 28 May 2023 16:20:45 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=181245 Read More... from MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL DRAFT – FINAL RANKINGS – TOP 224 Plus Honourable Mentions

]]> It’s that time! The McKeen’s scouting staff has finalized our final rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft ahead of the release of our draft guide in a few weeks. As per usual, our list runs 224 players deep to match the number of selections in the draft, but we have included over 300 players when you include our Honorable Mentions.

Much to the surprise of no one, Connor Bedard remains our top ranked player, as he has been all season long. In fact, our top three remains unchanged from our midseason rankings with Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson holding down the second and third spots, respectively. There has been one change in our top five with Will Smith leapfrogging Matvei Michkov into the fourth position following his dominant second half and U18’s.

Russian defender Dmitry Simashev remains our top ranked blueliner but has now moved into the top ten. His combination of size, mobility, physicality, and improving offensive skill set is going to be alluring to NHL teams and we feel that his upside is the highest in a weaker crop for defenders.

A trio of Swedish players are among our biggest risers from our midseason list, with Tom Willander, Anton Wahlberg, and David Edstrom all jumping up into the first round. All three were excellent in the second half of the season, which culminated with strong performances at the U18’s. Willander, in particular, has a huge fan in our Director of Scouting, Brock Otten. “If you were to ask me who my favourite defender in the draft class is, I’d probably say Willander. He rarely makes a poor play and I believe that we are underappreciating his potential as an NHL defender because of how efficient and safe his game can be. I would be shocked if he does not become a quality second pairing guy at the NHL level and I don’t think the other defenders ranked in the first have that same assurance,” said Otten.

Another massive jumper in our list is Hamilton Bulldogs winger Nick Lardis. 98th on our midseason list, Lardis now finds himself ranked just inside of our first round. His play with Hamilton, following a trade from Peterborough has vaulted him up draft boards, including ours. His combination of quickness and scoring ability gives him a solid projection at the NHL level.

Despite having two goaltenders inside of our first round at midseason (Carson Bjarnason and Michael Hrabal), we ended the year with none. Trey Augustine is now our top ranked netminder, ranked in the mid second round. However, Augustine, Bjarnason, Hrabal, and USHL Clark Cup MVP Jacob Fowler are all closely ranked in that range.

Look for the release of our 2023 Draft Guide in the next couple weeks. It will include all of our rankings and reports, a mock draft, a preview of the 2024 NHL Draft, and much more.

As a subscriber, link to our full ranking with links to the player pages here - McKeen's Draft Rankings - You can download the ranking as an excel file as well.

RANK PLAYER POS HT/WT DOB NATION TEAM GP-G-A-PTS
1 Connor Bedard C 5-10/185 17-Jul-05 Canada Regina (WHL) 57-71-72-143
2 Adam Fantilli C 6-2/195 12-Oct-04 Canada Michigan (B1G) 36-30-35-65
3 Leo Carlsson C 6-3/200 26-Dec-04 Sweden Orebro (SHL) 44-10-15-25
4 Will Smith C 6-0/175 17-Mar-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 59-51-75-126
5 Matvei Michkov RW 5-10/170 9-Dec-04 Russia SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL) 30-9-11-20
6 Zach Benson LW 5-9/160 12-May-05 Canada Winnipeg (WHL) 60-36-62-98
7 Dalibor Dvorsky C 6-1/200 15-Jun-05 Slovakia AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan) 38-6-8-14
8 Ryan Leonard RW 5-11/190 21-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 56-50-43-93
9 Dmitri Simashev D 6-4/200 4-Feb-05 Russia Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL) 33-1-11-12
10 Matthew Wood RW 6-3/195 6-Feb-05 Canada Connecticut (HE) 35-11-23-34
11 Oliver Moore C 5-11/185 22-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 60-31-43-74
12 Colby Barlow LW 6-0/195 14-Feb-05 Canada Owen Sound (OHL) 59-46-33-79
13 Nate Danielson C 6-1/185 27-Sep-04 Canada Brandon (WHL) 68-33-45-78
14 Axel Sandin Pellikka D 5-11/180 11-Mar-05 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 31-16-20-36
15 Daniil But LW 6-5/200 15-Feb-05 Russia Loko Yaroslavl-Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL) 32-18-14-32
16 David Reinbacher D 6-2/185 25-Oct-04 Austria Kloten (Sui-NL) 46-3-19-22
17 Eduard Sale LW 6-1/170 10-Mar-05 Czech HC Kometa Brno (Czechia) 43-7-7-14
18 Samuel Honzek LW 6-3/185 12-Nov-04 Slovakia Vancouver (WHL) 43-23-33-56
19 Mikhail Gulyayev D 5-11/170 26-Apr-05 Russia Omskie Yastreby (MHL) 22-2-23-25
20 Lukas Dragicevic D 6-1/190 25-Apr-05 Canada Tri-City (WHL) 68-15-60-75
21 Gabe Perreault RW 5-11/165 7-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 62-53-79-132
22 Otto Stenberg C 5-11/180 29-May-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 29-11-15-26
23 Tom Willander D 6-1/180 9-Feb-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 39-4-21-25
24 Calum Ritchie C 6-2/185 21-Jan-05 Canada Oshawa (OHL) 59-24-35-59
25 Andrew Cristall LW 5-9/165 4-Feb-05 Canada Kelowna (WHL) 54-39-56-95
26 Gavin Brindley C 5-8/165 5-Oct-04 USA Michigan (B1G) 41-12-26-38
27 Bradly Nadeau LW 5-10/165 5-May-05 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 54-45-68-113
28 Anton Wahlberg C 6-3/195 4-Jul-05 Sweden Malmo (Swe J20) 32-14-13-27
29 Riley Heidt C 5-10/180 25-Mar-05 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-25-72-97
30 Brayden Yager C 5-11/165 3-Jan-05 Canada Moose Jaw (WHL) 67-28-50-78
31 David Edstrom C 6-3/185 18-Feb-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 28-15-13-28
32 Nick Lardis LW 5-10/165 8-Jul-05 Canada Pbo-Ham (OHL) 69-37-28-65
33 Kasper Halttunen RW 6-3/205 7-Jun-05 Finland HIFK (Fin-Liiga) 27-0-1-1
34 Jayden Perron RW 5-9/165 11-Jan-05 Canada Chicago (USHL) 61-24-48-72
35 Oliver Bonk D 6-2/175 9-Jan-05 Canada London (OHL) 67-10-30-40
36 Quentin Musty LW 6-2/200 6-Jul-05 USA Sudbury (OHL) 53-26-52-78
37 Trey Augustine G 6-1/185 23-Feb-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 28-1, 2.14, 0.925
38 Tanner Molendyk D 5-11/185 3-Feb-05 Canada Saskatoon (WHL) 67-9-28-37
39 William Whitelaw RW 5-9/170 5-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 62-36-25-61
40 Ethan Gauthier RW 5-11/175 26-Jan-05 Canada Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 66-30-39-69
41 Gracyn Sawchyn C 5-11/160 19-Jan-05 USA Seattle (WHL) 58-18-40-58
42 Carson Bjarnason G 6-3/185 30-Jun-05 Canada Brandon (WHL) 21-19, 3.08, 0.900
43 Aram Minnetian D 5-11/190 19-Mar-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-7-24-31
44 Michael Hrabal G 6-6/210 20-Jan-05 Czech Omaha (USHL) 9-13, 2.86, 0.908
45 Jacob Fowler G 6-1/215 24-Nov-04 USA Youngstown (USHL) 27-9, 2.28, 0.921
46 Oscar Fisker Molgaard C 6-0/165 18-Feb-05 Denmark HV 71 (SHL) 41-4-3-7
47 Carson Rehkopf LW 6-1/195 7-Jan-05 Canada Kitchener (OHL) 68-30-29-59
48 Beau Akey D 5-11/170 11-Feb-05 Canada Barrie (OHL) 66-11-36-47
49 Danny Nelson C 6-3/200 3-Aug-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-20-26-46
50 Etienne Morin D 6-0/180 9-Mar-05 Canada Moncton (QMJHL) 67-21-51-72
51 Felix Nilsson C 6-0/175 22-Jun-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 36-19-22-41
52 Maxim Strbak D 6-1/205 13-Apr-05 Slovakia Sioux Falls (USHL) 46-5-13-18
53 Jakub Dvorak D 6-5/205 25-May-05 Czech Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia) 24-0-2-2
54 Carey Terrance C 6-0/175 10-May-05 USA Erie (OHL) 67-30-17-47
55 Jesse Kiiskinen RW 5-11/180 23-Aug-05 Finland Pelicans (Fin-U20) 31-20-23-43
56 Mathieu Cataford C 5-11/185 1-Mar-05 Canada Halifax (QMJHL) 68-31-44-75
57 Roman Kantserov RW 5-9/175 20-Sep-04 Russia Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL) 45-27-27-54
58 Tristan Bertucci D 6-1/170 12-Jul-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 63-11-39-50
59 Andrew Gibson D 6-3/195 13-Feb-05 Canada Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 45-7-14-21
60 Caden Price D 6-0/185 24-Aug-05 Canada Kelowna (WHL) 65-5-35-40
61 Charlie Stramel C 6-3/215 15-Oct-04 USA Wisconsin (B1G) 33-5-7-12
62 Coulson Pitre RW 6-0/170 13-Dec-04 Canada Flint (OHL) 59-25-35-60
63 Adam Gajan G 6-2/165 6-May-04 Slovakia Chippewa Steel (NAHL) 19-12, 2.57, 0.917
64 Hoyt Stanley D 6-2/185 4-Feb-05 Canada Victoria (BCHL) 53-4-34-38
65 Andrew Strathmann D 5-10/190 27-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 56-3-35-38
66 Hunter Brzustewicz D 5-11/185 29-Nov-04 USA Kitchener (OHL) 68-6-51-57
67 Luca Pinelli C 5-8/165 5-Apr-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 67-29-34-63
68 Cam Allen D 6-0/195 7-Jan-05 Canada Guelph (OHL) 62-5-20-25
69 Tanner Ludtke C 6-0/185 27-Nov-04 USA Lincoln (USHL) 57-32-34-66
70 Theo Lindstein D 6-0/180 5-Jan-05 Sweden Brynas (SHL) 32-1-1-2
71 Koehn Ziemmer RW 6-0/205 8-Dec-04 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-41-48-89
72 Carter Sotheran D 6-3/195 26-Jun-05 Canada Portland (WHL) 68-4-19-23
73 Arttu Karki D 6-1/175 8-Dec-04 Finland Tappara (Fin-U20) 36-13-26-39
74 Albert Wikman D 6-0/190 10-Mar-05 Sweden Farjestads (Swe J20) 43-2-10-12
75 Quinton Burns D 6-1/180 14-Apr-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 54-2-27-29
76 Nico Myatovic LW 6-2/180 1-Dec-04 Canada Seattle (WHL) 68-30-30-60
77 Jeremy Hanzel D 6-0/190 27-Feb-03 Canada Seattle (WHL) 66-13-35-48
78 Easton Cowan RW 5-10/170 20-May-05 Canada London (OHL) 68-20-33-53
79 Juraj Pekarcik LW 6-2/185 12-Sep-05 Slovakia HK Nitra (Slovakia) 30-0-3-3
80 Denver Barkey C 5-8/160 27-Apr-05 Canada London (OHL) 61-22-37-59
81 Martin Misiak RW 6-2/195 30-Sep-04 Slovakia HC Nove Zamky (Slovakia) 29-1-9-10
82 Drew Fortescue D 6-1/175 28-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 61-1-25-26
83 Felix Unger Sorum RW 5-11/170 14-Sep-05 Sweden Leksands (Swe J20) 42-10-36-46
84 Lenni Hameenaho RW 6-0/175 7-Nov-04 Finland Assat (Fin-Liiga) 51-9-12-21
85 Kalan Lind LW 6-0/160 25-Jan-05 Canada Red Deer (WHL) 43-16-28-44
86 Rasmus Kumpulainen C 6-2/190 8-Aug-05 Finland Pelicans (Fin-U20) 41-11-23-34
87 Alex Ciernik LW 5-11/175 8-Oct-04 Slovakia Sodertalje-Vasterviks (HockeyAllsvenskan) 25-3-9-12
88 Alexander Rykov RW 6-0/175 14-Jul-05 Russia Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL) 20-4-7-11
89 Scott Ratzlaff G 6-0/175 9-Mar-05 Canada Seattle (WHL) 25-8, 2.15, 0.918
90 Yegor Rimashevsky RW 6-3/200 1-Feb-05 Belarus MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 29-13-13-26
91 Jesse Nurmi LW 5-10/165 7-Mar-05 Finland KooKoo (Fin-U20) 41-21-29-50
92 Kaden Hammell D 6-1/175 12-Mar-05 Canada Kam-Evt (WHL) 67-8-18-26
93 Jayson Shaugabay RW 5-9/155 4-May-05 USA Warroad (USHS-MN) 31-33-63-96
94 Noel Nordh RW 6-2/195 25-Jan-05 Sweden Brynas (Swe J20) 38-13-14-27
95 Gavin McCarthy D 6-1/180 2-Jun-05 USA Muskegon (USHL) 42-8-19-27
96 Tyler Peddle LW 6-0/195 28-Jan-05 Canada Drummondville (QMJHL) 64-24-17-41
97 Francesco Dell'Elce D 6-0/165 23-Jun-05 Canada St. Andrew's (CHS-O) 51-20-42-62
98 Timur Mukhanov LW 5-8/170 17-Jun-05 Russia Omskie Krylia (VHL) 31-4-4-8
99 Larry Keenan D 6-3/185 15-Mar-05 Russia Culver Academy (USHS-IN) 49-11-26-37
100 Emil Jarventie LW 5-9/165 4-Apr-05 Finland Ilves (Fin-U20) 21-8-11-19
101 Matthew Mania D 6-1/180 11-Jan-05 USA Sudbury (OHL) 67-10-28-38
102 Juha Jatkola G 6-1/175 12-Sep-02 Finland KalPa (Fin-Liiga) 20-11, 2.16, 0.903
103 Zach Nehring RW 6-3/180 7-Mar-05 USA Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN) 48-34-40-74
104 Austin Roest C 5-9/175 22-Jan-04 Canada Everett (WHL) 60-32-46-78
105 Hedqvist, Isac C 5-10/165 22-Mar-05 Sweden Lulea (Swe J20) 41-14-20-34
106 Stephen Peck G 6-2/170 18-Jan-05 USA Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT) 28GP, 1.26, 0.948
107 Yegor Klimovich RW 5-9/160 14-May-05 Russia Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL) 36-19-30-49
108 Nikita Susuyev RW 6-0/170 6-Feb-05 Russia MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL) 38-11-17-28
109 Ethan Miedema LW 6-4/205 22-Mar-05 Canada Wsr-Kgn (OHL) 68-20-32-52
110 Luca Cagnoni D 5-9/180 21-Dec-04 Canada Portland (WHL) 67-17-47-64
111 Jakub Stancl LW 6-3/200 10-Apr-05 Czech Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20) 35-11-6-17
112 Aydar Suniev LW 6-1/200 16-Nov-04 Russia Penticton (BCHL) 50-45-45-90
113 Ty Henricks LW 6-4/205 28-Jun-05 USA Fgo-Mus (USHL) 47-9-10-19
114 Yegor Vinogradov C 6-2/180 17-Apr-03 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 53-7-10-17
115 Yegor Sidorov RW 5-11/180 18-Jun-04 Belarus Saskatoon (WHL) 53-40-36-76
116 Will Vote RW 5-8/155 22-Feb-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 60-16-29-45
117 Brandon Svoboda C 6-3/210 4-Feb-05 USA Youngstown (USHL) 59-16-10-26
118 Axel Landen D 6-1/185 29-Mar-05 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 44-10-6-16
119 Alexander Hellnemo G 6-2/180 5-Jan-04 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 15-8, 2.32, 0.916
120 Nikita Nedopyokin C 5-10/185 22-Mar-05 Russia SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) 37-14-18-32
121 Brady Cleveland D 6-5/210 1-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 54-0-6-6
122 Ondrej Molnar LW 5-10/170 8-Feb-05 Slovakia Erie (OHL) 34-4-15-19
123 Noah Dower Nilsson LW 6-0/175 25-Apr-05 Sweden Frolunda (Swe J20) 37-26-28-54
124 Jordan Tourigny D 5-10/165 28-Feb-05 Canada Shawinigan (QMJHL) 67-6-35-41
125 Cole Knuble C 5-11/175 1-Jul-04 USA Fargo (USHL) 57-30-36-66
126 Erik Pahlsson C 6-0/170 9-Apr-04 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 46-26-37-63
127 Eric Pohlkamp D 5-10/200 23-Mar-04 USA Cedar Rapids (USHL) 59-16-35-51
128 Dylan MacKinnon D 6-1/185 12-Jan-05 Canada Halifax (QMJHL) 61-6-17-23
129 German Tochilkin LW 6-2/180 24-Sep-03 Russia Kunlun Red Star (KHL) 21-4-2-6
130 Jake Fisher C 6-1/180 27-Mar-05 USA Cretin-Durham Hall (USHS-MN) 29-34-29-63
131 Damian Clara G 6-6/215 13-Jan-05 Italy Farjestads (Swe J20) 17-17, 2.79, 0.903
132 Aiden Fink RW 5-9/155 24-Nov-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 54-41-56-97
133 Bogdan Konyushkov D 5-11/175 20-Dec-02 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 64-2-23-25
134 Yegor Zavragin G 6-2/185 23-Aug-05 Russia Mamonty Yugry (MHL) 11-6, 2.49, 0.920
135 Ty Halaburda C 5-11/175 22-Apr-05 Canada Vancouver (WHL) 66-21-16-37
136 Cole Burbidge LW 6-1/160 26-Aug-05 Canada Saint John (QMJHL) 68-19-31-50
137 Daniil Karpovich D 6-3/210 6-Dec-04 Belarus Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 47-10-25-35
138 Andrei Loshko C 6-1/175 7-Oct-04 Belarus Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 67-22-48-70
139 Beckett Hendrickson C 6-1/175 24-Jun-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 51-13-21-34
140 Alex Pharand C 6-3/205 1-May-05 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 67-18-21-39
141 Zeb Forsfjall C 5-9/170 16-Jan-05 Sweden Skelleftea (Swe J20) 34-8-14-22
142 Joe Connor C 5-9/170 31-Mar-05 USA Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT) 28-21-23-44
143 Samuel Urban G 6-1/195 1-May-05 Slovakia Team Slovakia U18 (Svk2) 1-13, 4.51, 0.897
144 Mazden Leslie D 6-0/195 15-Apr-05 Canada Vancouver (WHL) 66-12-38-50
145 Maxim Fedotov D 5-10/170 22-Jan-02 Russia Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL) 64-9-17-26
146 Joey Willis C 5-10/170 14-Mar-05 USA Saginaw (OHL) 68-15-29-44
147 Artyom Kashtanov C 6-6/190 9-Dec-04 Russia Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 43-15-25-40
148 Angus MacDonell C 5-9/180 11-May-05 Canada Sar-Mis (OHL) 64-29-12-41
149 Konstantin Volochko D 6-0/170 19-Jun-05 Belarus Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL) 46-8-12-20
150 Hannes Hellberg LW 6-0/175 19-Jun-05 Sweden Leksands (Swe J20) 42-34-23-57
151 Carsen Musser G 6-4/215 19-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 14-6, 3.07, 0.890
152 Yaroslav Tsulygin D 6-0/160 19-May-05 Russia Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL) 44-0-2-2
153 Thomas Milic G 6-0/180 14-Apr-03 Canada Seattle (WHL) 27-3, 2.08, 0.928
154 Arno Tiefensee G 6-4/190 1-May-02 Germany Adler Mannheim (DEL) 13-10, 2.43, 0.910
155 Quinn Mantei D 5-11/180 23-Apr-05 Canada Brandon (WHL) 67-2-23-25
156 Matthew Soto RW 5-10/180 31-Aug-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 54-15-27-42
157 Matt Copponi C 5-10/165 3-Jun-03 USA Merrimack (HE) 37-14-15-29
158 Vojtech Port D 6-2/170 3-Aug-05 Czech RD-Edm (WHL) 48-4-13-17
159 Michael DeAngelo LW 5-11/180 19-Nov-04 USA Green Bay (USHL) 52-11-24-35
160 Matteo Mann D 6-5/225 31-Dec-04 Canada Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 45-0-5-5
161 Paul Fischer D 6-1/190 30-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 55-4-17-21
162 Hudson Malinoski C 6-0/175 19-May-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 44-16-53-69
163 Brad Gardiner C 6-0/180 6-Mar-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 68-19-20-39
164 Zaccharya Wisdom RW 6-0/175 29-Apr-04 Canada Cedar Rapids (USHL) 59-28-20-48
165 Jonathan Castagna C 6-1/185 20-Apr-05 Canada St. Andrew's (CHS-O) 50-29-43-72
166 Tanner Adams RW 5-11/185 2-Sep-05 USA Tri-City (USHL) 49-12-21-33
167 Grayden Siepmann D 5-10/185 26-May-04 Canada Calgary (WHL) 61-9-34-43
168 Axel Hurtig D 6-3/200 10-Jun-05 Sweden Rogle (Swe J20) 34-2-6-8
169 Ian Scherzer C 6-0/180 3-Jul-05 Austria Rogle (Swe J20) 30-3-4-7
170 Ryan Conmy RW 5-9/190 23-Oct-04 USA Sioux City (USHL) 60-33-29-62
171 Ethan Hay C 6-1/190 15-Jan-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 64-17-11-28
172 Rodwin Dionicio D 6-2/205 30-Mar-04 Switzerland Nia-Wsr (OHL) 50-15-35-50
173 Josh Van Mulligen D 6-2/180 26-Jul-05 Canada Medicine Hat (WHL) 68-1-8-9
174 Nikita Ishimnikov D 6-3/195 21-Apr-05 Russia Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL) 41-11-7-18
175 Justin Kipkie D 6-4/190 28-Jul-05 Canada Victoria (WHL) 67-8-25-33
176 Sawyer Mynio D 6-1/175 30-Apr-05 Canada Seattle (WHL) 68-5-26-31
177 Brady Stonehouse RW 5-9/180 6-Aug-04 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 68-37-20-57
178 Hunter Anderson LW 5-9/175 28-Apr-05 USA Shattuck-SM (USHS-MN) 48-52-47-99
179 Spencer Sova D 6-0/185 10-Jan-04 Canada Erie (OHL) 68-16-23-39
180 Oliver Tulk C 5-7/170 19-Jan-05 Canada Calgary (WHL) 68-24-36-60
181 Isac Born C 5-11/165 7-Jul-04 Sweden Frolunda (SHL) 36-2-3-5
182 Beau Jelsma C 5-9/175 28-Apr-04 Canada Barrie (OHL) 67-31-30-61
183 Carmelo Crandell RW 5-11/170 2-Mar-05 Canada Sherwood Park (AJHL) 49-17-37-54
184 Stanislav Yarovoy LW 6-2/195 26-Aug-03 Russia Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL) 45-9-7-16
185 Elliot Stahlberg LW 6-0/185 29-Mar-05 Sweden Farjestads (Swe J20) 35-9-12-21
186 Ivan Anoshko C 5-11/170 7-Oct-04 Belarus Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL) 53-21-32-53
187 Jake Livanavage D 5-10/175 6-May-04 USA Chicago (USHL) 48-6-30-36
188 Adrian Carnebo D 6-2/185 1-May-04 Sweden Djurgardens (Swe J20) 43-7-28-35
189 Jaden Lipinski C 6-3/205 2-Dec-04 USA Vancouver (WHL) 66-19-32-51
190 Ian Blomquist G 6-2/185 29-Mar-03 Sweden Vasteras (HockeyAllsvenskan) 4-11, 2.97, 0.904
191 Emil Pieniniemi D 6-2/170 2-Mar-05 Finland Karpat (Fin-U20) 31-1-12-13
192 Oskar Asplund D 5-11/175 18-Nov-03 Sweden Almtuna (HockeyAllsvenskan) 49-6-24-30
193 Daniil Davydov C 5-11/165 6-Mar-04 Russia MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL) 47-11-35-46
194 Victor Sjoholm D 5-9/175 8-Jul-03 Sweden HV 71 (Swe J20) 37-2-8-10
195 Aron Jessli LW 5-11/185 29-Oct-04 Norway Pickering (OJHL) 52-25-43-68
196 Adam Dybal G 6-1/165 2-Sep-05 Czech Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20) 29-15, 1.85, 0.942
197 Jonathan Fauchon C 5-10/170 13-Jan-04 Canada Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL) 53-25-40-65
198 Luke Mittelstadt D 5-11/175 22-Jan-03 USA Minnesota (B1G) 38-5-16-21
199 Owen Beckner C 6-1/175 27-Feb-05 Canada Salmon Arm (BCHL) 53-17-33-50
200 Ilya Kanarsky G 6-2/165 6-Dec-04 Russia AKM-Junior Tula Region (MHL) 4-19, 3.59, 0.919
201 Braeden Bowman RW 6-1/205 26-Jun-03 Canada Guelph (OHL) 54-33-39-72
202 Luke Coughlin D 5-9/170 11-Apr-05 Canada Rimouski (QMJHL) 37-5-14-19
203 Norwin Panocha D 6-1/185 24-Feb-05 Germany Eisbaren Juniors Berlin (DNL U20) 34-6-16-22
204 Cole Brown LW 6-2/180 27-Apr-05 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 60-17-25-42
205 Tomas Suchanek G 6-0/180 30-Apr-03 Czech Tri-City (WHL) 27-14, 3.05, 0.912
206 Vadim Moroz RW 6-2/185 20-Nov-03 Belarus Dinamo Minsk (KHL) 39-5-9-14
207 Davis Burnside RW 5-11/175 22-Sep-03 USA Ohio State (B1G) 40-14-7-21
208 Maros Jedlicka C 6-1/185 23-Oct-02 Slovakia HKM Zvolen (Slovakia) 39-17-18-35
209 Gavyn Thoreson RW 5-8/180 30-Oct-04 USA Andover High (USHS-MN) 31-41-56-97
210 Austin Burnevik RW 6-3/200 3-Jan-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 43-6-13-19
211 Elmeri Laakso D 6-1/185 19-Jul-04 Finland SaiPa (Fin-Liiga) 32-4-7-11
212 Frantisek Dej C 6-4/200 28-Feb-05 Slovakia HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2) 24-8-13-21
213 Matvei Maximov C 6-0/175 18-Jan-05 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 48-18-19-37
214 Connor Levis RW 6-1/190 5-Oct-04 Canada Kamloops (WHL) 68-27-40-67
215 Teddy Townsend C 5-10/160 2-Sep-05 USA Eden Prairie (USHS-MN) 27-14-25-39
216 Petter Vesterheim C 5-11/165 30-Sep-04 Norway Mora (Swe J20) 41-12-27-39
217 Justin Gill C 6-1/190 27-Jan-03 Canada Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 68-44-49-93
218 Alex Weiermair C 6-0/190 10-May-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 55-11-15-26
219 Jan Sprynar RW 6-1/175 26-Feb-05 Czech Rimouski (QMJHL) 60-23-17-40
220 Ty Higgins D 6-0/185 26-Sep-04 Canada Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) 68-13-28-41
221 Tom Leppa C 6-0/175 31-Jul-05 Finland Jokerit (Fin-U20) 45-19-12-31
222 Aaron Pionk D 6-1/175 16-Jan-03 USA Waterloo (USHL) 60-12-24-36
223 Hampton Slukynsky G 6-1/180 2-Jul-05 USA Warroad (USHS-MN) 28-1, 1.47, 0.941
224 Noah Erliden G 5-10/170 9-Sep-05 Sweden HV71 (Swe J20) 10-8, 2.93, 0.912
HM Matthew Andonovski D 6-1/200 14-Mar-05 Canada Kitchener (OHL) 67-0-16-16
HM Gleb Artsatbanov G 6-2/170 2-Mar-04 Ukraine Sparta Praha (Czechia U20) 13-10, 1.95, 0.938
HM Cale Ashcroft D 5-10/200 5-Aug-04 Canada Tri-City (USHL) 62-8-29-37
HM Alex Assadourian LW 5-8/170 24-Jul-05 Canada Sby-Nia (OHL) 66-12-29-41
HM Arvid Bergstrom D 5-11/160 12-Jun-05 Sweden Djurgardens (Swe J20) 41-2-21-23
HM Kevin Bicker LW 6-0/175 29-Jan-05 Germany Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20) 20-10-11-21
HM Philippe Blais-Savoie D 6-0/185 10-Jun-05 USA Tri-City (USHL) 61-2-9-11
HM Linus Brandl C 5-11/185 1-Apr-05 Germany Jungadler Mannheim (DNL U20) 32-25-22-47
HM Finn Brink LW 5-9/180 6-Apr-05 USA Maple Grove (USHS-MN) 31-31-38-69
HM Yaroslav Busygin D 6-3/185 14-Feb-03 Russia Vityaz Moscow Region (KHL) 42-1-2-3
HM Kalle Carlsson C 6-0/175 2-Mar-05 Sweden Orebro (Swe J20) 44-11-24-35
HM Adam Cedzo RW 5-10/165 23-Feb-05 Slovakia HC Ocelari Trinec (Czechia U20) 39-23-23-46
HM Aiden Celebrini D 6-1/185 26-Oct-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 47-5-16-21
HM Andon Cerbone C 5-8/150 13-Apr-04 USA Oma-Yng (USHL) 64-24-39-63
HM Chase Cheslock D 6-3/210 25-Oct-04 USA Rogers High (USHS-MN) 28-4-27-31
HM Sam Court D 5-10/180 7-Jan-04 Canada Brooks (AJHL) 52-13-59-72
HM Adam Csabi LW 5-10/160 17-Feb-05 Czech SaiPa (Fin-U18) 28-16-15-31
HM Nathaniel Davis D 6-1/185 15-Nov-04 Canada Burlington (OJHL) 45-10-26-36
HM Nathan Day G 6-2/180 4-Feb-05 Canada Flint (OHL) 17-10, 3.91, 0.874
HM Kocha Delic C 5-10/185 11-Mar-04 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 46-22-30-52
HM Tyler Duke D 5-8/180 19-Jul-04 USA Ohio State (B1G) 40-4-8-12
HM Filip Eriksson C 6-0/170 5-Nov-04 Sweden Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20) 11-5-5-10
HM Jiri Felcman C 6-4/190 17-Apr-05 Czech Langnau U20 (Sui-U20-Elit) 40-10-21-31
HM Samuel Fiala C 6-1/170 9-Apr-05 Czech Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia U20) 44-19-9-28
HM Mans Forsfjall D 6-0/180 30-Jul-02 Sweden Skelleftea (SHL) 52-2-12-14
HM Cooper Foster C 5-11/170 4-Jun-05 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 63-19-17-36
HM Salvatore Guzzo RW 6-0/185 17-Apr-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 58-17-11-28
HM Michael Hagens D 5-11/170 18-Feb-05 USA Chicago (USHL) 60-9-17-26
HM Sam Harris LW 5-11/190 14-Oct-03 USA Sioux Falls (USHL) 56-30-26-56
HM Jack Harvey C 5-10/175 31-Mar-03 USA Chicago (USHL) 62-40-34-74
HM Bogdans Hodass D 6-2/200 13-Apr-03 Latvia Medicine Hat (WHL) 56-11-24-35
HM Ryan Hopkins D 6-1/180 15-Apr-04 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 48-10-39-49
HM Ewan Huet G 6-0/170 8-Feb-05 Switzerland Lausanne (Sui U20-Elit) 14-12, 2.73  
HM Gustaf Kangas C 6-0/175 27-Jul-05 Sweden Vasteras (Swe J20) 27-7-13-20
HM Sean Keohane D 6-3/180 4-Nov-04 USA Dexter Southfield(USHS-MA) 32-4-12-16
HM Oiva Keskinen C 6-0/175 28-Feb-04 Finland Tappara (Fin-U20) 38-20-21-41
HM Ruslan Khazheyev G 6-4/200 20-Nov-04 Russia Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) 8-8, 2.38, 0.923
HM Matteo Koci D 6-0/165 7-Jun-05 Czech HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Czechia U20) 36-7-13-20
HM Ryan Koering D 6-3/185 11-Feb-05 USA Eden Prairie (USHS-MN) 27-6-10-16
HM Cameron Korpi G 6-2/150 26-May-04 USA Tri-City (USHL) 13-4, 2.52, 0.911
HM Sergei Kosovets D 6-5/250 17-Jul-02 Russia HK Sochi (KHL) 26-2-2-4
HM Artyom Kudashov D 6-0/160 10-Jan-05 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 42-2-7-9
HM Roman Kukumberg LW 6-0/185 21-Mar-05 Slovakia HC Modre Kridla Slovan (Slovakia2) 33-5-6-11
HM Emil Kuusla LW 5-9/165 11-Jan-05 Finland Jokerit (Fin-U20) 36-18-17-35
HM Jani Lampinen G 6-2/185 14-Feb-03 Finland Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-Mestis) 15-6, 2.35, 0.902
HM Charles-Alexis Legault D 6-3/205 5-Sep-03 Canada Quinnipiac (ECAC) 40-2-7-9
HM Aiden Long LW 6-3/190 13-Mar-05 Canada Whitecourt (AJHL) 50-19-27-46
HM Connor MacPherson RW 6-0/170 2-Mar-05 Canada Leamington (GOJHL) 43-28-35-63
HM Matthew Mayich D 6-2/185 21-Dec-04 Canada Ottawa (OHL) 64-5-17-22
HM Donovan McCoy D 6-0/200 11-Oct-04 Canada Peterborough (OHL) 65-2-11-13
HM Cole Miller C 6-4/175 4-Feb-05 Canada Edmonton (WHL) 61-10-9-19
HM Lucas Moore D 5-9/180 7-Jun-05 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 65-3-25-28
HM Josh Nadeau RW 5-7/145 22-Oct-03 Canada Penticton (BCHL) 54-44-66-110
HM Alexei Noskov G 6-2/205 13-Nov-04 Russia Taifun Primorsky Krai (MHL) 7-26, 3.86, 0.905
HM Owen Outwater LW 6-2/160 4-Jan-05 Canada Kingston (OHL) 62-16-25-41
HM Joe Palodichuk D 6-0/165 26-Feb-03 USA Fargo (USHL) 44-8-21-29
HM Petr Pavelec LW 6-0/200 10-Feb-05 Czech HC Vitkovice (Czechia U20) 46-8-5-13
HM Oliver Peer RW 6-0/165 9-Mar-03 Canada Windsor (OHL) 63-22-45-67
HM Chris Pelosi C 6-1/180 6-Mar-05 USA Sioux Falls (USHL) 43-13-6-19
HM Matthew Perkins LW 5-11/175 21-Jan-04 Canada Youngstown (USHL) 60-15-29-44
HM Nico Pertuch G 6-2/200 29-Jul-05 Germany EV Landshut (DNL U20) 15GP, 3.57  
HM Dominik Petr C 6-2/165 30-Apr-05 Czech Lukko (Fin-U20) 18-1-0-1
HM Chase Pietila D 6-1/180 3-Mar-04 USA Youngstown (USHL) 60-7-29-36
HM Chase Pirtle RW 6-2/185 8-Mar-05 USA Mount St. Charles 18U AAA (USHS-RI) 47-20-24-44
HM Benjamin Poitras C 5-10/175 18-Jul-05 Canada Sioux City (USHL) 61-14-24-38
HM Connor Punnett D 6-1/200 16-Jun-03 Canada Barrie (OHL) 66-14-34-48
HM Ivan Remezovsky D 6-1/165 8-Feb-05 Russia SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL) 45-0-13-13
HM Charlie Robertson G 6-3/165 2-Apr-05 Canada North Bay (OHL) 12-6, 3.17, 0.892
HM Pier-Olivier Roy D 5-9/175 5-Mar-04 Canada Victoriaville (QMJHL) 68-6-62-68
HM Rainers Rullers C 6-4/195 11-Dec-04 Latvia Zemgale (Fin-Mestis) 46-4-6-10
HM Bennett Schimek RW 5-11/180 15-Apr-03 USA Providence (HE) 37-11-9-20
HM Zach Schulz D 6-1/195 14-Jun-05 USA USN U18 (USDP) 51-1-9-10
HM Magomed Sharakanov D 6-1/200 11-Oct-04 Russia MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) 44-7-25-32
HM Cam Squires RW 5-11/165 11-Apr-05 Canada Cape Breton (QMJHL) 67-30-34-64
HM Julius Sumpf C 6-1/175 11-Jan-05 Germany RB Hockey Juniors (AlpsHL) 23-9-9-18
HM Alexander Suvorov RW 5-9/160 30-Nov-02 Belarus Severstal Cherepovets (KHL) 47-13-11-24
HM Gabriel Szturc C 5-11/185 24-Sep-03 Czech Kelowna (WHL) 56-24-55-79
HM Nikita Telegin C 6-1/155 21-Jun-05 Russia Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk (MHL) 22-6-4-10
HM Patrick Thomas C 5-11/160 21-Aug-04 Canada Hamilton (OHL) 66-17-39-56
HM Hudson Thornton D 5-11/180 4-Nov-03 Canada Prince George (WHL) 68-23-51-74
HM Jiri Tichacek D 5-9/170 30-Jan-03 Czech Rytiri Kladno (Czechia) 39-0-6-6
HM Djibril Toure D 6-6/200 5-Jun-03 Canada Sudbury (OHL) 57-5-11-16
HM Tuomas Uronen RW 5-11/180 19-Mar-05 Finland HIFK (Fin-U20) 39-20-23-43
HM Noa Vali G 6-0/160 19-Apr-05 Finland TPS (Fin-U20) 17-8, 2.38, 0.912
HM Nicholas Vantassell RW 6-4/195 18-Apr-04 USA Green Bay (USHL) 62-19-18-37
HM Visa Vedenpaa G 6-2/170 11-May-05 Finland Karpat (Fin-U20) 31GP, 0.886
HM Evgeny Volokhin G 6-3/170 6-Apr-05 Russia Mamonty Yugry (MHL) 20-6, 2.12, 0.927
HM Declan Waddick C 5-10/170 24-Jan-05 Canada Niagara (OHL) 64-28-21-49
HM Saige Weinstein D 6-0/180 30-May-05 Canada Spokane (WHL) 57-4-14-18
HM Ethan Whitcomb LW 6-4/190 13-May-04 Canada Muskegon (USHL) 53-24-24-48
HM Raul Yakupov RW 6-1/180 21-Jun-04 Russia Reaktor Nizhnekamsk (MHL) 49-32-29-61
]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/mckeens-2023-nhl-draft-final-rankings-top-224-honourable-mentions/feed/ 0 2023 NHL DRAFT: SECOND CHANCES PART ONE – CANADA – 2nd and 3rd year NHL draft re-entry candidates https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-draft-chances-part-canada-2nd-3rd-year-nhl-draft-re-entry-candidates/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-draft-chances-part-canada-2nd-3rd-year-nhl-draft-re-entry-candidates/#respond Sun, 05 Mar 2023 19:33:15 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=180460 Read More... from 2023 NHL DRAFT: SECOND CHANCES PART ONE – CANADA – 2nd and 3rd year NHL draft re-entry candidates

]]> In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year high end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind does. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).

The million-dollar question is…are we still playing catch-up as a scouting community following the resumption of play post pandemic? Last year, this was definitely the case as leagues returned to full seasons. But are certain players still growing exponentially as they try to recover lost development time? This is particularly true of players in the CHL and in Europe, where most junior leagues halted.

For those unfamiliar, North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th, will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st, will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. Recently, NHL scouts have increased the rate with which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European based players especially attractive. However, these players have had a lot of success in recent years too. Look around the league and you see these players everywhere. For example, Calgary Flames standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. Ottawa Senators standout forward Drake Batherson was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Standout Tampa Bay Lightning rookie defender Nick Perbix was one.

Last year, four “re-entry” candidates went in the Top 100; Dmitri Buchelnikov, Lucas Edmonds, Mikey Milne, and Aidan Thompson. In our “second chances” article last year (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) we wrote about three of those four. In total there were 42 taken, right around the trend of other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected). Additionally, of those 42, we identified and wrote about 25 (over half of them) in our aforementioned second chances series. Just like in previous editions of this annual report, we aim to identify more.

In 2023, we have some very interesting candidates. Adam Gajan stole the show at this year’s WJC’s for Slovakia and has been a standout in the NAHL and USHL this year. Eric Pohlkamp was one of the MVPs of the WJAC and has been at the top of the USHL defenseman scoring race all year. Austin Roest has been top ten in WHL scoring all year long and has taken huge strides forward. This article intends to highlight them and many other candidates who could be part of that 20% this year.

OHL

Spencer Sova of the Erie Otters. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images
Spencer Sova - Defense - Erie Otters

Ranked 126th by us at McKeen’s last year, there was actually a time, early on last year, where Sova was considered a likely top two round selection. However, issues with his defensive consistency and the application of his skill set to create consistent scoring chances led to him going unselected in 2022. It was quite the fall from grace. This year Sova has returned to Erie a more confident and assertive player. He finds himself near the top of the defenseman goal scoring race and has been much more consistent at both ends. Defensively, he is showing a greater intensity level and has made himself more difficult to play against. Offensively, he is using his fantastic skating ability to lead the attack and take more chances to jump up in the play. He looks poised running the point of the powerplay and has really worked hard to make his shot a weapon. One of the elite skaters in the OHL, it would be somewhat shocking if Sova went unselected again given the improvements that he has made this year. Now, it should be said that the Erie Otters have struggled mightily the last month or two and Sova’s production has dipped. However, his play has remained at a high level. (Brock Otten)

Linus Hemstrom - Wing - Kingston Frontenacs

Coming into this OHL season, I actually had a Swedish scout/agent reach out to me to let me know to keep a close eye on Hemstrom in Kingston this year. A former highly touted Swedish prospect at a younger age, he had battled some injuries recently and was now fully healthy. Lately, he seems to have hit a wall on a rebuilding Kingston team and his production has suffered. However, early on in the year he was looking fantastic. His speed is the first thing that jumps out at you. He can really fly. Dynamic in transition, Hemstrom can also use his speed to forecheck and has shown promise as a two-way player. His true offensive upside may be a bit of a mystery, but it is impossible to ignore how he started the year. I believe that eventually he will develop into a solid pro prospect. If he stays in Kingston next year, I would expect him to have a very good 19/20-year-old season, especially if he focuses on improving his conditioning this offseason. (Brock Otten)

Djibril Touré - Defense - Sudbury Wolves

What an interesting story Touré is. Signed as a free agent by the Wolves out of the CCHL, Touré is a classic late bloomer. Yes, he’s already 19 years old (as a 2003 born), but he feels physically immature compared to his peers. Standing at 6’7 and just over 200lbs, Touré is a big, lanky young man. However, the allure here is in his athleticism. He moves quite well and quite fluidly for such a massive defender. Every game he has an impressive rush or two, going end to end, using his frame to protect the puck as he carves up the neutral zone. In the defensive end, he plays a mean game and relishes the opportunity to play the body. His reads at both ends are a major work in progress. However, it is his first year playing at the OHL level and one has to wonder if, with more experience, his decision making can improve. It is hard not to be incredibly curious about Touré’s upside given his unique athletic profile and the “rawness” of his game. (Brock Otten)

Oliver Peer - Center/Wing - Windsor Spitfires

Even as an OHL rookie last year with limited ice time, Peer was the kind of player who always drew your eye because of his skating ability, work ethic and IQ. It seemed inevitable that his production would improve this year with more ice time and improve it has. He’s now over a point per game and is the perfect swiss army knife for a strong Windsor team. There are so many pro quality habits and attributes in Peer’s profile. He skates well. He plays both ends well and has a great stick in the defensive zone. He is skilled enough to play with the puck and he knows how to find his way to the net. He can be used in any situation and at any position. I actually believe that he is capable of more offensively if he were to be given the reins in Windsor next year as an OA. His pro upside may be somewhat limited, but he does enough things well to suggest that he could one day develop into a capable bottom six NHL player. (Brock Otten)

Rodwin Dionicio - Defense - Windsor Spitfires

What Dionicio has managed to accomplish since being traded to Windsor and since returning from the World Junior Championships has been incredibly impressive. Well over a point per game with Windsor, the 2004 born Swiss defender has positioned himself well to be drafted this year in his second year of eligibility. He has worked hard to clean up some issues in his decision making that led to inconsistency last year with Niagara. This is allowing his high-end skill to shine through on a nightly basis. Additionally, Dionicio has worked hard to improve his four-way mobility, which has helped him improve in the defensive end too. What we have now is a physically assertive and skilled two-way defender with size who is flourishing on a strong Windsor team. (Brock Otten)

Patrick Thomas - Centre/Wing - Hamilton Bulldogs

Stuck in a bottom six role on the top-heavy Hamilton squad last season, Patrick Thomas managed to be the only 2004 born player to play every playoff game for the Bulldogs in 2022. The defensive minded centreman has finally had the opportunity to showcase his offensive ability this season. Now playing on the wing with a pair of former Peterborough Petes, Thomas has been a large asset to the recent success of Nick Lardis and Sahil Panwar. Thomas’ playmaking ability has been elevated greatly this season, he’s gained the ability to drive play and generate high-end chances for his teammates. He has established himself as Hamilton’s most valuable penalty killing forward and as a threat in the faceoff dot. Thomas doesn’t make many mistakes with the puck, and he always seems to be in the right places. His skating mechanics are flawless, and he is relentless on the attack. A player that wasn’t really on anyone’s radar last season, has been able to make a name for himself with increased ice time, given the Bulldogs departures this season. Thomas isn’t going to light up the score sheet at the next level, but he certainly has the potential to be a supporting bottom six penalty killer who you want on the ice to defend a lead in the final minutes. (Joely Stockl)

Brady Stonehouse - Wing - Ottawa 67’s

Brady Stonehouse has been an energy player from the minute he stepped into the Ontario Hockey League. His ceiling limits him, but there are absolutely no doubts about his work ethic and drive to produce. Putting the puck in the net hasn’t been an issue for him this season, and he’s been able to play his own game while doing so. Last season, his lack of production was a big reason why his name didn’t get called at the 2022 draft. Stonehouse is a player that you can put in practically any situation and expect him to get the job done. He can be an aggravator in front of the net, and he likes to get into other player’s heads, but he is usually able to get away with it. Identifying where he fits in an NHL lineup has been the question with Stonehouse, but he has produced enough this season to show potential as a bottom six utility player at the next level. His work ethic is what ultimately separates him. Stonehouse isn’t going to be a top end producer by any means, but his immense energy, adaptability, and developed offensive smarts have made him an appealing prospect. (Joely Stockl)

Pano Fimis - Centre - Erie Otters

Pano Fimis is a name that a lot of scouts and analysts expected to be selected at the 2022 NHL Draft. With an impressive performance at Leafs rookie camp, and a successful season playing on two bottom feeder teams (Niagara & Erie), Fimis will hopefully be able to hear his name called at this year’s draft. He has developed into a much more mature play driver this season. He has been the “go-to” guy in most situations, and he has performed well under the pressure. Fimis has a strong ability to find his teammates in high traffic areas and the ability to take control of the play in the offensive zone. Last season, Fimis struggled with consistency and with his 200-foot game. He is so creative with the puck, and he is able to make decisions quickly, but he wasn’t able to produce consistently or survive in his own zone. This year, he has been more well-rounded and been able to hold down the fort defensively. He isn’t a defensive minded centre by any means, but he has learned how to keep his head above the water. His combination of hockey IQ and offensive creativity should give Fimis another opportunity to get drafted this summer, especially with the all-round improvements that he has made. (Joely Stockl)

Zak Lavoie - Wing - Niagara IceDogs

Lack of skill has never been a concern in Zak Lavoie’s game, but it is his tendency to rely on his teammates to get him the puck that holds him back. Lavoie trusts himself with the puck in the offensive zone, he has a deceptive release and the ability to shoot through traffic. Without the puck though, he lacks the ability and drive to get into the right spaces to receive or intercept passes. He often hides behind the defense, hoping to be found through traffic. In Mississauga (where he played until December 2022), he was able to receive passes in difficult areas more often when playing alongside Owen Beck/Luca Del Bel Belluz. Lavoie is most definitely a support player, and likely a longer-term project for any team that potentially selects him, but he has the potential to be a depth goal scorer. While playing for the IceDogs, he has looked uncomfortable in some offensive zone situations when he is forced to be the play driver. Having said that, Lavoie’s defensive game has become an asset with some penalty kill minutes while playing with Niagara. His shot and acceleration with the puck are the strongest aspects of his game and are currently translatable to the next level. Selecting Lavoie is going to take a team that is willing to develop and nurture him long term, but he can be a middle/bottom six scoring winger if he is able to make better decisions and be more aware away from the puck. (Joely Stockl)

WHL

Jeremy Hanzel - Defense - Seattle Thunderbirds

Hanzel has always been a toolsy blueliner with a lot of long-term upside, thanks to a rangy, fluid skating style, the ability to handle the puck well at full speed, and a frame that has room left to fill in. The problem has been him knowing how to maximize his tools and put everything together effectively and consistently. Perhaps playing on a Thunderbirds team with an embarrassment of riches prospect-wise has rubbed off on him, as his game has taken major strides from last season to this one. One of the biggest signs of his growth was how he played while talented teammate Kevin Korchinski was off at the World Juniors for a month, taking the larger slice of the pie with aplomb and producing 10 points in 11 games. It's also worth mentioning that the vast majority of his offense this season has come at even strength, as he doesn't get much cushy powerplay time. There's a lot to like about Hanzel, and even better, there's likely even more upside still that hasn't been tapped into yet. (Derek Neumeier)

Hunter Mayo - Defense - Red Deer Rebels

There aren't many players in the WHL who are stronger and sturdier than Mayo is, and nowhere does that show better than his wicked cannon of a shot from the point. He can absolutely bomb pucks and has enough control and accuracy to beat goalies clean on a regular basis, a skill that seems like it should translate somewhere beyond the junior level. His 14 goals are good for third among all WHL defenders (as of writing this), and nine of those have come with the man advantage. He's not very fast or agile, nor does he have much reach, but he nevertheless does a good job of hanging onto pucks under pressure and being difficult to beat in battles. He's a smart player who knows what he's good at and what he's not, leaning into the former and minimizing the latter to get by. He's thriving right now in Red Deer with the grinding, blue collar way the Rebels always play. Could Mayo one day find the same sort of success on an NHL team that properly lets him play to his strengths? (Derek Neumeier)

Jake Sloan. Photo by Brian Liesse.
Jake Sloan - Center - Tri-City Americans

There will probably always be a place in the NHL for lengthy, strong, two-way centers who are capable with the puck and know how to handle themselves directly in front of the enemy's crease. That's Sloan in a nutshell, at least stylistically. He's not going to pull you out of your seat with any fancy or exciting plays, but he makes the job difficult for opponents physically and gets results the ugly way. His 47 points in 45 games (as of writing this) don't lie, even though he is getting prime powerplay time on an outgunned Americans club that he wouldn't be getting on a lot of different teams. Crucially, he's gotten notably quicker and smoother with his skating compared to last season, taking his biggest weakness and improving it to a level that's at least not a total deal-breaker for his potential. There's still a lot of work to be done before the NHL looks likely, though, especially when it comes to generating more offense at even strength. (Derek Neumeier)

Egor Sidorov - Wing - Saskatoon Blades

The appeal of Sidorov as a prospect is almost comically straightforward: he's really, really good at scoring goals, and does it with incredible frequency. He's certainly not a Connor Bedard level of goal-scorer (nobody in the WHL is, or might ever be again), but he's nevertheless one of the best in the league and has already eclipsed the 30-goal mark this season, following up his 23 tallies in 58 matches last year. And this is in spite of playing on a Blades team that isn't exactly great at setting him up for easy finishes. Give him the slightest bit of time and space to get a clean look and lean into his stick and the puck is almost always finding twine. He's also excellent in the preceding couple of seconds, dusting or dragging the puck into the precise shooting spot he likes. The big question is whether or not he'll ever get quick enough to adjust to the NHL level, where such time and space are rare luxuries, especially since everything else about his game is lacklustre — if he's not scoring, he's not contributing much. Still, a player like Sidorov is absolutely worth the gamble with a late-round pick. (Derek Neumeier)

Marcus Nguyen - Wing - Portland Winterhawks

Trying to stand out on a deep, successful team is no small feat. Younger players often get a little lost in the shuffle, working within smaller, more limited roles compared to their older, more experienced peers. So, give Nguyen credit for standing out as much as he does, even if it doesn't happen all the time. When you really notice him, it's usually in a big way. He's a notoriously fast skater, able to burst past opponents with his acceleration and then keep himself separated when he reaches his top gear. He's also pretty dangerous when these situations happen, with slick puck skills and a legitimate finishing touch. He doesn't get to play on Portland's lethal top powerplay unit, so he makes his penalty killing time count, using his quickness and speed to pressure the blueline and generate dangerous shorthanded chances going the other way. He's also a perfect 4-for-4 in the shootout so far this year. There's not a ton of depth or variety to Nguyen's game, but some players have been able to carve out niche NHL careers primarily by being fast penalty killers who are also able to capitalize on the frequent breakaways and odd man rushes they generate (your Michael Grabners of the world). (Derek Neumeier)

Borya Valis - Wing - Regina Pats

Just how much can a prospect absorb and improve by playing alongside an elite, generational peer? It does seem to happen to a degree from time to time, and it's a question that could be asked about a lot of players currently on the Regina Bedard’s Pats, including Valis. There's no doubt that his game is improving at a nice pace, with an increasing level of point production and a larger impact overall across all three zones. He's an athletic winger with pretty good reach, pretty good hands and pretty good skating ability, and that is a recipe that can satiate at the NHL level when the steps are followed correctly. Unfortunately, Valis often leaves you wanting more, and the concern is that will always be the case. Will his game nosedive when Bedard is no longer drawing the lion's share of opponent attention? Or will he learn from his phenom teammate's words and actions, and eventually discover the keys to unlocking more of his potential? That jury is still out. All that being said, prospects picked in the later rounds of the draft are always longshots, and there's more to like about Valis as a longshot compared to the wide majority of his peers. (Derek Neumeier)

Grayden Siepmann - Defense - Calgary Hitmen

Siepmann was one of the more surprising players to go unselected at the 2022 draft. After all, NHL teams usually covet right-shooting defensemen with high-end skating ability. He was also already playing on the top pairing for the Hitmen and was projected to keep that role for the next two seasons on the rebuilding roster (so far, so good). However, a lackadaisical passivity that seeped into far too many of his shifts was a key concern that scouts had, which amplified related worries about his scrawny frame and lack of strength. Apparently, he took that criticism and his draft snub seriously, though, as he has been significantly more assertive this season, driving more play with the puck on his stick, being more alert with his carry-outs, jumping up in transition more frequently, and keeping tighter gaps. He displays a very impressive understanding of how to defend while relying predominantly on his feet. He likely won't be a big point producer at higher levels, but the tools are there for him to be a difference-maker in all three zones through his puck possession and transition abilities. (Derek Neumeier)

Austin Roest - Center - Everett Silvertips

A top ten scorer in the WHL as of writing this, Roest has more points than any other undrafted, 2004-born WHL player by a substantial margin. Everett started the season without many of their top forwards from last year and eventually decided to become sellers before the trade deadline, creating an opening for others on the team to step up, and the son of former NHLer Stacy Roest has been absolutely thriving with the newfound opportunity. He's a well-rounded center who is making notable progress in a number of areas, including skating, finishing, playmaking, off-puck play and faceoffs. His offensive game doesn't quite pop as much as his scoring totals might suggest, but he plays a very mature, fleshed-out game that makes a positive difference in a variety of ways. If he can continue going down this path he'll keep increasing his odds of eventually carving out an NHL job as a plug-and-play forward, which are always useful to have on a roster. (Derek Neumeier)

Jackson DeSouza - Defense - Kelowna Rockets

DeSouza shows real signs of being a traditional late bloomer, the type of player who continues making a lot of development progress long after he's out of juniors. Not only is it obvious that he's still filling out his huge frame and working on his coordination, he missed a lot of playing time at a crucial development period in his career, back when COVID was at its worst. But this season in Kelowna, you can really see the seed starting to grow now that it's being watered. Playing on their top defensive pairing, he's using his strength and tenacity to intimidate and physically manhandle opponents, while also utilizing increasingly flexible footwork and a long reach to be a monster with his gaps. His effectiveness and confidence with the puck are growing steadily, though that's never going to be the calling card of his game. He's even wearing a letter on his sweater. It's not difficult to envision a future where DeSouza is an NHL defender who plays on the third pairing at even strength, while also being trusted as a key penalty killer. (Derek Neumeier)

Gabe Klassen - Center - Portland Winterhawks

Klassen has been passed over in two straight drafts, though that hasn't been due to a lack of familiarity from scouts. He was a high WHL bantam pick, he has scored at a decent clip, and Portland is a top-tier junior organization that NHL bird dogs pay close attention to, so he's been a known commodity for a while now. It just hasn't been a commodity that teams were overly interested in. But you can't deny that he keeps making steady, notable progress year over year, and those types of guys are hard to ignore or count out. As of right now he is the captain of the Winterhawks, their first-line center, and someone who plays on both sides of their special teams. His short stature and lack of high-end footspeed are undeniable concerns, but he's very smart, tenacious and competitive, and those attributes when combined can sometimes make up for physical limitations. He could realistically make the NHL one day as a bottom six forward who can plug different holes, doesn't need micro-managing from coaches, and who brings good off-ice intangibles. (Derek Neumeier)

Tomas Suchanek. Photo by Kristin Ostrowski.
Tomas Suchanek - Goalie - Tri-City Americans

Sometimes you can learn a lot about a prospect just by seeing them play in a different environment, and that looks like it might be the case with Suchanek. The Czech netminder has been playing between the pipes for a Tri-City team that has a lot of trouble defending, and he's had issues in turn finding stability and consistency. However, when given the chance to represent his home nation at the past two World Juniors tournaments he looked superb, even taking underdog Czechia within one goal of winning gold this past January. There's no one thing that is overly exceptional about his game, but he brings a bit of size, a bit of athleticism, a reasonably technical form, and a competitive mental edge. Get everything going at the same time and he can steal the odd game in dramatic fashion. His performances have seen a marked uptick over the past month as the plucky Americans try to lock down a playoff spot. A few years of NHL developmental polish might be able to do wonders for him and elevate him as a legitimate prospect. (Derek Neumeier)

Bogdans Hodass - Defense - Medicine Hat Tigers

Can athleticism be a substitute for pure skill? To a certain degree, yes. Nobody will ever mistake Hodass for a proficient puck-handler or particularly pretty skater. However, he's rangy, strong and fit, and that allows him to regularly stay involved in the play and around the puck, which is sometimes what defenders are mostly hoping for while defending, through their positioning and gap control. And don't look now, but the skill is starting to come along. His puck management has made progress. His skating mechanics are a little cleaner. He even has 24 points in 38 games (as of writing this), driven primarily by a bomb of a shot from the point that can bore holes in goalies or generate juicy rebounds. Playing on a bad, thin Medicine Hat team the past two years has been a blessing in disguise, allowing him enough playing time to grow, learn and try new things. Hodass making the NHL is far from a guarantee, but he is destined for pro hockey at some level, and his improvement over the past couple of years is an encouraging sign that he will continue finding ways to keep improving. (Derek Neumeier)

Thomas Milic - Goalie - Seattle Thunderbirds

If Milic doesn't hear his name get called at some point during 2023 draft weekend in June there are going to be a lot of furious hockey fans, both in Seattle and across Canada. As a goaltender with the Thunderbirds, he has provided impeccable steadiness and reliability over the past three seasons, which included a somewhat underdog run to the WHL finals in 2022 where he was between the pipes for every single second of his team's 25 games, a truly remarkable feat for a goalie. Internationally, he has been a rockstar, highlighted most by a heroic performance as Canada's starting goalie at the 2023 World Juniors, posting a .932 save percentage and regularly bailing his team out with some huge saves en route to winning gold. Yes, he's not the biggest netminder, and that's a natural disadvantage that can't be improved or altered, but guys his size can still succeed in the NHL when their technical abilities and mental makeup are top notch, and he checks off those boxes. Only a small handful of goalies get picked every year, and it's hard to imagine there are many who will be available in the 2023 draft who will go on to have better careers long-term than Milic will. (Derek Neumeier)

QMJHL

Halifax, Nova Scotia - Jan 14:Justin Gill #19 of the Sherbrooke Phoenix looks to make a play against Cameron Whynot #17 of the Halifax Mooseheads during the QMJHL game between the Halifax Mooseheads and Sherbrooke Phoenix on January 14 2023 at the Scotiabank Center in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Trevor MacMillan/Halifax Mooseheads)
Justin Gill - Center/Wing - Sherbrooke Phoenix

Justin Gill has taken a massive step in his development this year, as he currently stands eighth in points in the QMJHL, while last year, he was not even producing at a point per game pace. As an over-ager last year, it was understandable for NHL teams to prefer someone a year younger who has been producing at a similar pace as Gill. That being said, this year has certainly been different, and although being a double over-ager might scare some teams away, Gill should definitely garner some attention from NHL teams. Along with Joshua Roy, Gill has been nearly unstoppable and has led his team to third place in the QMJHL. His offensive game is quite diversified, as he is a dual threat forward who can not only score impressive goals with his shot, but who can also be a super effective playmaker. What makes him super translatable is that he has an excellent vision of the ice, always aware of where his teammates are and how he could work with them to create a scoring chance. Not to mention he can play both center and winger. I would not say that he is guaranteed to be picked by a team this year, but the possibility is absolutely there. (Jérémi Plourde)

Maxime Pellerin - Center - Victoriaville Tigres

Maxime Pellerin is another player who is a double over-ager, but who has been absolutely carrying his team offensively, along with Tommy Cormier. This year, he is 10th in the league in points, and has also taken a massive step production-wise. Although he is not a particularly good skater, he might draw some interest thanks to his goal scoring instincts. He is a perfect fit for a bottom six scorer in the NHL, he just needs to continue to get better. He has an excellent one-timer that not many QMJHL goaltenders can save when he has time to use it. His wrist shot is quite accurate, and I really like how he hides his intentions before shooting, something that he does super often and that is absolutely an NHL level play. I would like to see him play at a higher pace, and also be more physical, as he has the frame to do so. What makes him efficient and what could draw interest from teams the most is his off-puck game, he’s always well positioned and ready for when he gets the puck. There might be some execution problems, but if he prevents himself from overcomplicating plays and sticks to simpler paths, things should go well for him at higher levels. (Jérémi Plourde)

Yoan Loshing - Center - Moncton Wildcats

Yoan Loshing is a player who saw his teammate Maxim Barbashev be picked by the New York Rangers last year, but who was not given a chance by an NHL team. This year, Loshing is scoring at a much better pace than Barbashev, actually at over a point per game pace, on a middle of the pack Moncton Wildcats team. Although his rather small frame might be a concern of some NHL teams, there is no doubt to me that the skill is absolutely present. Loshing probably had the best shot in the entire QMJHL draft class last year and was also the fastest straight-line skater. This alone will not bring you to the NHL, but if a team is confident enough in their development system to work with Loshing to round out his game and unlock a more translatable overall game, you could get an absolute steal. He definitely has the relentless forechecking attitude, and he can be quite physical, laying booming hits, even if he is a small player. I could see the possibility that some NHL scout falls in love with his game while watching Étienne Morin, notable defenceman for this year’s draft, who also plays with Moncton. (Jérémi Plourde)

Markus Vidicek - Center - Halifax Mooseheads

Markus Vidicek has been in the shadow of the leading point scorer in the QMJHL, Jordan Dumais, both this year and last year. I was honestly surprised his name was not called in Montréal last year, as he was scoring at almost a point per game pace. I am guessing some teams were worried about his defensive effort or his somewhat weak frame, but I believe that a player like Vidicek, with the immense puck skill and creativity he has, should not be overlooked. This year, he is proving why he is among the top playmakers and all-around offensive players in the QMJHL, as he has so far scored 69 points in only 56 games. Now it is obvious that some of this production is inflated due to him playing with Dumais, but he has his own noticeable role on the team. Every once in a while, Vidicek displays flashes of amazing puck handling skills, which makes you think that if you are patient with him and develop him well, the reward could be high. He is tremendously energetic, always very hungry for the puck, especially in the offensive zone. In the NHL, I could see him become a Jake Evans type player, a great energetic forechecker with flashes of amazing skill and determination. He would have to continue to improve his speed to become that though. (Jérémi Plourde)

Jonathan Fauchon - Center - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Jonathan Fauchon is certainly one of the players who has improved the most since last year out of anyone on this list. Last year with Blainville, he played in a very defensive role, and he only managed to score at a little under half a point per game pace, which is likely why NHL teams were reluctant to draft him. This year, he has stepped up as the number one center for the Armada, scoring at well above a point per game pace, and leading his team in points by an astonishing 21-point margin. Not only has Fauchon been able to keep up his defensive prowess, but he has figured out how to use his speed to become an offensive threat. He’s excellent at working with open ice, carrying the puck in the offensive zone and always playing at a great pace. He’s a great forechecker and backchecker, always involved low in the defensive zone, and always ready to assist his teammates along the boards. He is not very big, but there is still a lot to like with Fauchon, and since he has improved so much since last year, the two-way center should be an interesting over ager to consider this year, with him just having turned 19. He probably has the most upside out of anyone on this list. (Jérémi Plourde)

Pier-Olivier Roy - Defense - Victoriaville Tigres

Pier-Olivier Roy is another player who has exploded offensively. The 5 '10 defender only had 26 points in 66 games in his draft year last year, which is why teams did not really consider picking him over other QMJHL defenceman like Langlois, Luneau or Lamoureux, who were offering more. That being said, Roy has been an offensive monster this year, scoring at a point per game pace, third in his team in points. He is also third in the entire league for points among defencemen. Roy is a tremendous passer, often connecting with teammates in ways you would not think of, but also often making the simplest but most efficient passes. He is a strong and smooth skater, excellent at both carrying the puck or completing stretch passes to a teammate on the breakout. He is always confident with the puck. He is super mobile at the blueline, both with his feet and his hands. He always showed great skill and upside but did not have many opportunities to show for it last year. This year, he has been given a much bigger role, and has been excellent at it. (Jérémi Plourde)

Daniil Bourosh - Center - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Daniil Bourosh has emerged as one of the best goal scorers in the QMJHL this year, sharing the 8th place in the league in goals. He is producing at over a point per game rate and is one of the youngest over agers being born in April 2004. He is currently the same age as some QMJHL top prospects from this year’s draft, like Ethan Gauthier and Tyler Peddle. He’s obviously a few months older, but he is quite ahead of some of them in his development. Although you could have made the argument to draft him last year, Bourosh was probably not bringing enough for some NHL teams. This year, the Belarussian looks like a much more translatable goal scoring power forward. His main way of finding success offensively is without a doubt his shot. There are many guys in this list who have amazing shot, and Bourosh is absolutely one of them. His one-timer is especially what is the scariest, it is impressively powerful and precise. His skating definitely needs improvement, but the goal scoring instincts, in addition to his great shot are what could draw some interest for the draft. (Jérémi Plourde)

William Rousseau - Goaltender - Quebec Remparts

William Rousseau has been stellar for the Québec Remparts this season, as he currently holds a .913 sv%, good enough to be tied for third in the league. Although a big part of his statistical success has been because he is on the best team in the entire QMJHL, Rousseau has also been himself an important part of his team’s success. He only has one more regular time loss than his backup, but he has 13 more wins. He is super mobile laterally, always ready to power slide his way from one post to the other. He plays rather low, which he might have to be careful with, especially given his size, but he’s very good at finding the puck in traffic and at using his lateral mobility. The Trois-Rivières native has taken a while to develop, and it is understandable that NHL teams did not take a chance on him last year, but this year feels different. He has taken such a massive step since last year, and there’s also a pretty solid possibility that he wins the memorial cup, or at least participates in it, which would be a big addition to his resume and would draw some interest from some NHL teams. (Jérémi Plourde)

AJHL

Hudson Malinoski - Center - Brooks Bandits

Back in 2017, Malinoski ended up with a torn vertebral artery after falling off his roof. After a successful experimental surgery, Malinoski was kept out of hockey for a year and had to work his way back up the hockey ladder. Passed over in his WHL draft and a late bloomer physically, Malinoski (2004 born) is now playing in his first year in the AJHL with Brooks and he’s been one of the best players in the league as a rookie. The Providence College commit was also great for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge, finishing with seven points in six games. He has a very intriguing package of size (6’1), speed, and skill. Not only is he a strong and powerful linear skater who seems to love attacking the offensive zone with speed, but his edgework and agility also seem like real strengths, as he uses this to help him navigate traffic to get his shot off. He has a really good shot, part of why he is frequently utilized on the point of the powerplay. More of a playmaker at the AJHL level, he has great scoring potential because his release is deceptive, and he creates a ton of velocity on the shots in his arsenal. Without question, adding strength to his frame will be the next step at Providence, as he can be knocked off the puck or knocked off stride too easily at times. However, NHL scouts would have unquestionably taken notice of his performance this year. (Brock Otten)

Sam Court - Defense - Brooks Bandits

It’s been a long and winding road for Court. A former high pick in the WHL draft, he’s bounced around the last few years in order to keep his NCAA eligibility. A former University of New Hampshire commit (it sounds like he’s decommitted), Court played last year, his initial NHL draft year, with Avon Old Farms in the U.S. prep loop. Rather than play in the USHL (his rights held by Fargo), Court returned to Canada this year to play in the AJHL with the storied Brooks Bandits. It’s been a good move as Court currently leads the AJHL in defenseman scoring by a significant amount. In a lot of ways, Court reminds me of former Brooks’ defender Zach Bookman, who tore up the AJHL last year, but failed to get drafted (although is having a great freshman year at Merrimack this season). He’s not big. He’s not the world’s most dynamic skater, especially for an undersized/average sized defender. But he is skilled. He makes quick and sound decisions with the puck. His overall IQ as an offensive defender is very high. As a defender, he’s far from a pushover physically. However, with his roving tendencies, he can take himself out of the play and does not possess the kind of high-end mobility to recover consistently. His upside as a future pro player will likely be tied to his ability to move the puck and quarterback the powerplay. It will be interesting to see which NCAA program Court settles on, if he has indeed de-committed from UNH. (Brock Otten)

Andrew Ness - Goaltender - Fort McMurray Oil Barons

Is Ness a classic late blooming goaltender? All signs would point to yes. He has gone from playing in (more like starring in) the Manitoba U18 league last year to being one of the best goalies in the AJHL this year for Fort McMurray. This has earned him a scholarship to Bemidji State and his strong performance at the WJAC surely turned some heads in the NHL scouting community. Ness is extremely athletic, which is impressive given his length (at 6’2). He covers post to post extremely well and is able to challenge shooters by being aggressive. He can fall into some scrambling tendencies, which opens up some holes and makes him susceptible to the odd “bad” goal, but he has significant potential because of his quickness and play tracking ability. (Brock Otten)

BCHL

Tate Taylor - Defense - Surrey Eagles

One of the most improved players in the BCHL this year, Taylor is a classic late bloomer. Not only did he hit a growth spurt late, but he also switched positions from forward to defense late in minor hockey. This year, he appears fully comfortable and has gained significant confidence in his offensive abilities. An aggressive offensive defender, Taylor is a master facilitator and one of the highest scoring defenders in the BCHL. However, Taylor has also worked hard to improve his play in the defensive end to add an element of physicality. A Clarkson commit, Taylor will need to continue to focus on skating development, but he has significant potential as an offensive defender at the college level (at the very least). (Brock Otten)

Josh Nadeau - Wing - Penticton Vees

Already one of the better players in the BCHL last year, Nadeau went unselected in his first year of draft eligibility likely due to size concerns. Nadeau has returned to the BCHL to dominate even more alongside his brother Bradley, a potential top 50 pick this year. A Maine commit, Josh is an electric offensive player. He has great hands and creativity, and his high-end agility gives him great elusiveness at the junior level. Of course, there will be concerns that his offensive dominance does not translate to the higher levels, but one has to wonder if the NHL team that selects Bradley, also selects Josh in the later rounds in hopes of unlocking the immense upside of both. (Brock Otten)

Ryan Hopkins - Defense - Penticton Vees

Hopkins was ranked by us at #207 last year after winning a BCHL Championship and earning a spot on the BCHL All Rookie team. But it wasn’t enough for the Maine commit to get drafted. He has returned to Penticton and has become one of the best defenders in the BCHL, improving his production and confidence from an offensive perspective. He has also worked hard to improve his overall mobility and quickness, helping him to take that next step as an offensive defender. Of course, he remains a highly competitive and suffocating player in the defensive end, one with a penchant for the big hit and who rarely loses a 50/50 battle. There is certainly a path to the NHL for a feisty, right shot defender like Hopkins and it would not be surprising to see him selected this time around. (Brock Otten)

Luca Di Pasquo - Goaltender - Penticton Vees

Another player ranked late by us last year (205), Di Pasquo was a standout in the NAHL before moving to the BCHL this year. In both stops, he has been one of the best netminders in his league. Now in his final year of draft eligibility, scouts may be interested in securing the rights to this future Michigan State Spartan. Di Pasquo’s biggest strength in the crease is his athleticism. Ultra quick post to post, he routinely makes highlight reel saves. He has worked hard to refine his movements and looks quieter in the crease this year, resulting in less scrambling, taking him out of position. Yes, playing behind a dominant Penticton team helps, but his strong play has also been a big part of their success. (Brock Otten)

MJHL

Warren Clark - Defense - Steinbach Pistons

Clark is a really interesting case because of his late growth spurt and the somewhat non-traditional market he currently plays in. The MJHL hasn’t had an NHL draft pick since 2018 (Matthew Thiessen). Yet, Clark is bound to generate some NHL interest because of his profile. He has jumped from around 5’11 to 6' 5 the last few years, he has some really intriguing athletic tools, and he plays the right side. Born in late August, Clark missed being first time draft eligible this year by only a few months. His linear quickness and ability to control the puck are very impressive and this allows him to be an impressive playmaker leading the attack or when holding down the offensive blueline. In a lot of ways, he looks like London Knights defender (and Montreal Canadiens prospect) Logan Mailloux on the attack. However, the rest of his game is very raw. His four-way mobility will need to improve and his defensive play is inconsistent at best. Headed to St. Cloud State, Clark could be a draft target for teams intrigued by his physical tools and upside. (Brock Otten)

 

 

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Connor Bedard. Photo by Candice Ward.

Many important scouting events have come and gone, such as the World Junior Championships, the World Junior A Challenge, the Biosteel All American game, and the CHL Top Prospect’s Game. That means it is time for McKeen’s Hockey to update our draft rankings for the 2023 NHL draft. Back in November, we released our preliminary top 50 (found here). This time around, we have expanded our ranking to a top 100 (plus 20 honorable mentions).

The first round of this list continues to be dominated by the Western Hockey League. Four of our top ten and nine of our top 32 (first round graded) are WHL players. The United States has a very strong presence in our first round ranking too, with eight players playing south of the Canadian border.

Positionally, forwards continue to dominate the vast majority of our first-round spots, with only six defenders and two goaltenders bucking that trend. Of particular interest, we do not have a defender ranked inside of our Top 13. Is it possible that no defender is drafted inside of the top 10 in Nashville this June? According to our scouts…yes. However, it is also important to note that this is exceptionally rare. The last time no defender was taken inside of the Top 10 was 1983 (Bobby Dollas at 14th overall to Winnipeg)!

Several players made huge leaps upward in our midseason rankings. Among them are Ryan Leonard, Oliver Moore, Dmitri Simashev, Oliver Bonk, David Reinbacher, and Quentin Musty. Leonard is a strong two-way goal scoring winger with an athletic skill set. Oliver Moore is one of the best skating forwards available this year and also plays a mature two-way game. Both have stood out positively of late for the U.S. NTDP. Dmitri Simashev is a massive defender who brings physicality and mobility, but who is also gaining confidence in his offensive abilities. Oliver Bonk has emerged as one of the top defensive defenders in the OHL; a fact that was on display at this year’s Top Prospect’s Game. David Reinbacher continues to perform well in Switzerland and was a standout for an overmatched Austrian squad at the WJC’s. All three defenders are surging up our rankings and could finish the year even higher with continued strong play. Meanwhile, Quentin Musty has played very well in Sudbury post coaching change and his upside remains extremely intriguing.

Without further ado, here is our Top 100 (with 20 honorable mentions):

RANK PLAYER POS TEAM HT/WT DOB GP-G-A-PTS
1 Connor Bedard C Regina (WHL) 5-10/185 17-Jul-05 34-42-43-85
2 Adam Fantilli C Michigan (B1G) 6-2/195 12-Oct-04 22-16-24-40
3 Leo Carlsson C Orebro (SHL) 6-3/200 26-Dec-04 31-5-13-18
4 Matvei Michkov RW HK Sochi (KHL) 5-10/170 9-Dec-04 14-4-2-6
5 Will Smith C USN U18 (USDP) 6-0/175 17-Mar-05 36-28-41-69
6 Andrew Cristall LW Kelowna (WHL) 5-9/165 4-Feb-05 36-26-36-62
7 Zach Benson LW Winnipeg (WHL) 5-9/160 12-May-05 41-25-41-66
8 Nate Danielson C Brandon (WHL) 6-1/185 27-Sep-04 45-23-33-56
9 Eduard Sale LW Kometa Brno (Cze) 6-2/175 10-Mar-05 34-3-5-8
10 Dalibor Dvorsky C AIK (Allsvenskan) 6-1/200 15-Jun-05 27-4-7-11
11 Ryan Leonard RW USN U18 (USDP) 5-11/190 21-Jan-05 34-25-27-52
12 Oliver Moore C USN U18 (USDP) 5-11/185 22-Jan-05 37-21-26-47
13 Brayden Yager C Moose Jaw (WHL) 5-11/165 3-Jan-05 48-20-35-55
14 Dmitri Simashev D Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) 6-4/200 4-Feb-05 15-0-0-0
15 Colby Barlow LW Owen Sound (OHL) 6-0/195 14-Feb-05 42-36-27-63
16 Lukas Dragicevic D Tri-City (WHL) 6-1/190 25-Apr-05 44-13-42-55
17 Axel Sandin Pellikka D Skelleftea (SHL) 5-11/180 11-Mar-05 19-2-3-5
18 Mikhail Gulyayev D Avangard Omsk (KHL) 5-11/170 26-Apr-05 12-0-1-1
19 Daniil But LW Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) 6-5/200 15-Feb-05 12-1-0-1
20 Carson Bjarnason G Brandon (WHL) 6-3/185 30-Jun-05 17-14-2, 2.90, .911
21 Calum Ritchie C Oshawa (OHL) 6-2/185 21-Jan-05 43-19-25-44
22 Gavin Brindley C Michigan (B1G) 5-8/165 5-Oct-04 26-3-14-17
23 Gabe Perreault RW USN U18 (USDP) 5-11/165 7-May-05 39-35-41-76
24 Matthew Wood RW UConn (HE) 6-3/195 6-Feb-05 27-9-16-25
25 Riley Heidt C Prince George (WHL) 5-10/180 25-Mar-05 44-19-41-60
26 David Reinbacher D Kloten (Sui-NL) 6-2/185 25-Oct-04 36-2-17-19
27 Caden Price D Kelowna (WHL) 6-0/185 24-Aug-05 44-5-19-24
28 Ethan Gauthier RW Sherbrooke (QMJHL) 5-11/175 26-Jan-05 45-17-32-49
29 Quentin Musty LW Sudbury (OHL) 6-2/200 6-Jul-05 32-12-36-48
30 Kasper Halttunen LW HIFK (Fin-Liiga) 6-3/205 7-Jun-05 24-0-1-1
31 Otto Stenberg C Frolunda (Swe J20) 5-11/180 29-May-05 23-8-12-20
32 Michael Hrabal G Omaha (USHL) 6-6/210 20-Jan-05 6-9-3, 3.18, .899
33 Samuel Honzek LW Vancouver (WHL) 6-3/185 12-Nov-04 31-17-26-43
34 Jayden Perron RW Chicago (USHL) 5-9/165 11-Jan-05 37-16-18-34
35 Carson Rehkopf LW Kitchener (OHL) 6-1/195 7-Jan-05 42-19-18-37
36 Roman Kantserov RW Stalnye Lisy (MHL) 5-9/175 20-Sep-04 38-21-22-43
37 Oliver Bonk D London (OHL) 6-2/175 9-Jan-05 43-9-19-28
38 Beau Akey D Barrie (OHL) 5-11/170 11-Feb-05 42-7-29-36
39 Timur Mukhanov C Omskie Krylia (VHL) 5-8/170 17-Jun-05 28-3-4-7
40 Koehn Ziemmer RW Prince George (WHL) 6-0/205 8-Dec-04 44-26-36-62
41 Bradly Nadeau LW Penticton (BCHL) 5-10/165 5-May-05 37-31-42-73
42 Tom Willander D Rogle (Swe J20) 6-1/180 9-Feb-05 30-4-15-19
43 Luca Pinelli C Ottawa (OHL) 5-8/165 5-Apr-05 44-20-27-47
44 William Whitelaw RW Youngstown (USHL) 5-9/170 5-Feb-05 35-20-15-35
45 Trey Augustine G USN U18 (USDP) 6-1/185 23-Feb-05 14-0-2, 2.29, .925
46 Theo Lindstein D Brynas (SHL) 6-0/180 5-Jan-05 19-1-1-2
47 Mathieu Cataford C Halifax (QMJHL) 5-11/185 1-Mar-05 45-22-31-53
48 Charlie Stramel C Wisconsin (B1G) 6-3/215 15-Oct-04 23-5-4-9
49 Kaden Hammell D Kam-Evt (WHL) 6-1/175 12-Mar-05 45-6-10-16
50 Alexander Rykov RW Chelmet Chelyabinsk (VHL) 5-11/170 14-Jul-05 20-4-7-11
51 Maxim Strbak D Sioux Falls (USHL) 6-1/205 13-Apr-05 29-5-10-15
52 Tanner Molendyk D Saskatoon (WHL) 5-11/185 3-Feb-05 43-6-19-25
53 Anton Wahlberg C Malmo (Swe J20) 6-3/195 4-Jul-05 32-14-13-27
54 Carey Terrance C Erie (OHL) 6-0/175 10-May-05 43-20-11-31
55 Cam Allen D Guelph (OHL) 6-0/195 7-Jan-05 39-4-15-19
56 Tyler Peddle LW Drummondville (QMJHL) 6-0/195 28-Jan-05 45-18-13-31
57 Gracyn Sawchyn C Seattle (WHL) 5-11/160 19-Jan-05 43-15-32-47
58 Jesse Nurmi LW KooKoo (Fin-U20) 5-10/165 7-Mar-05 35-19-27-46
59 Carter Sotheran D Portland (WHL) 6-3/195 26-Jun-05 45-3-16-19
60 Nikita Susuyev RW MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL) 6-0/170 6-Feb-05 34-9-16-25
61 Aram Minnetian D USN U18 (USDP) 5-11/190 19-Mar-05 38-5-18-23
62 Arttu Karki D Tappara (Fin-U20) 6-1/175 8-Dec-04 30-12-22-34
63 Noah Dower Nilsson LW Frolunda (Swe J20) 6-0/175 25-Apr-05 26-24-21-45
64 Scott Ratzlaff G Seattle (WHL) 6-0/175 9-Mar-05 17-5-0, 2.26, .917
65 Andrew Strathmann D Youngstown (USHL) 5-10/190 27-Feb-05 29-2-23-25
66 Kalan Lind LW Red Deer (WHL) 6-0/160 25-Jan-05 41-15-27-42
67 Jesse Kiiskinen RW Pelicans (Fin-U20) 5-11/180 23-Aug-05 27-17-21-38
68 Etienne Morin D Moncton (QMJHL) 6-0/180 9-Mar-05 43-15-31-46
69 Coulson Pitre RW Flint (OHL) 6-0/170 13-Dec-04 41-19-22-41
70 Felix Nilsson C Rogle (Swe J20) 6-0/176 22-Jun-05 26-16-17-33
71 Hunter Brzustewicz D Kitchener (OHL) 5-11/185 29-Nov-04 42-3-30-33
72 Jakub Dvorak D Bili Tygri Liberec (Cze) 6-5/205 25-May-05 24-0-2-2
73 Andrew Gibson D Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 6-3/195 13-Feb-05 38-7-11-18
74 Ondrej Molnar LW Erie (OHL) 5-10/170 8-Feb-05 16-2-7-9
75 Martin Misiak RW Nove Zamky (Svk) 6-2/195 30-Sep-04 29-1-9-10
76 Luca Cagnoni D Portland (WHL) 5-9/180 21-Dec-04 44-12-34-46
77 Lenni Hameenaho RW Assat (Fin-Liiga) 6-0/175 7-Nov-04 35-5-10-15
78 Alex Ciernik LW Sodertalje (Swe J20) 5-11/175 8-Oct-04 11-7-7-14
79 Denver Barkey C London (OHL) 5-8/160 27-Apr-05 43-12-28-40
80 Oliver Tulk C Calgary (WHL) 5-7/170 19-Jan-05 46-19-22-41
81 Oscar Fisker Molgaard C HV 71 (SHL) 6-0/165 18-Feb-05 28-4-1-5
82 Matthew Mania D Sudbury (OHL) 6-1/180 11-Jan-05 43-7-18-25
83 Gavin McCarthy D Muskegon (USHL) 6-1/180 2-Jun-05 20-4-14-18
84 Noel Nordh RW Brynas (SHL) 6-3/195 25-Jan-05 10-1-0-1
85 Jacob Fowler G Youngstown (USHL) 6-1/215 24-Nov-04 13-6-3, 2.63, .914
86 Aydar Suniev LW Penticton (BCHL) 6-1/200 16-Nov-04 33-26-31-57
87 Emil Jarventie LW Ilves (Fin-U20) 5-9/165 4-Apr-05 21-8-11-19
88 Danny Nelson C USN U18 (USDP) 6-3/200 3-Aug-05 38-12-16-28
89 Yegor Klimovich RW Sibirskie Snaipery (MHL) 5-9/160 14-May-05 28-9-21-30
90 Adam Gajan G Green Bay (USHL) 6-2/165 6-May-04 5-1-0, 2.48, .906
91 Quinton Burns D Kingston (OHL) 6-1/180 14-Apr-05 36-1-20-21
92 Grayden Siepmann D Calgary (WHL) 5-10/185 26-May-04 45-8-27-35
93 Yegor Zavragin G Mamonty Yugry (MHL) 6-2/185 23-Aug-05 9-6-1, 2.55, .919
94 Owen Beckner C Salmon Arm (BCHL) 6-1/175 27-Feb-05 36-12-21-33
95 Aiden Fink RW Brooks (AJHL) 5-9/155 24-Nov-04 43-30-50-80
96 Matthew Soto RW Kingston (OHL) 5-10/180 31-Aug-05 44-13-22-35
97 Eric Pohlkamp D Cedar Rapids (USHL) 5-10/200 23-Mar-04 31-12-20-32
98 Nick Lardis LW Pbo-Ham (OHL) 5-10/165 8-Jul-05 41-21-16-35
99 Jayson Shaugabay RW Warroad (USHS-MN) 5-9/155 4-May-05 18-22-39-61
100 Brad Gardiner C Ottawa (OHL) 6-0/180 6-Mar-05 45-17-11-28
HM Ethan Miedema LW Wsr-Kgn (OHL) 6-4/205 22-Mar-05 45-12-22-35
HM Brady Cleveland D USN U18 (USDP) 6-5/210 1-Apr-05 34-0-5-5
HM Joey Willis C Saginaw (OHL) 5-10/170 14-Mar-05 44-9-17-26
HM Juraj Pekarcik LW Nitra (Svk) 6-1/185 12-Sep-05 26-0-3-3
HM Spencer Sova D Erie (OHL) 6-0/185 10-Jan-04 44-14-17-31
HM Zeb Forsfjall C Skelleftea (SHL) 5-9/170 16-Jan-05 10-1-0-1
HM Kalle Carlsson C Orebro (Swe J20) 6-0/175 2-Mar-05 34-6-21-27
HM David Edstrom C Frolunda (Swe J20) 6-3/185 18-Feb-05 22-10-12-22
HM Felix Unger Sorum RW Leksands (Swe J20) 5-11/170 14-Sep-05 32-9-30-39
HM Alex Pharand C Sudbury (OHL) 6-3/205 1-May-05 44-16-14-30
HM Tuomas Uronen RW HIFK (Fin-U20) 5-11/180 19-Mar-05 31-13-19-32
HM Tanner Adams RW Tri-City (USHL) 5-11/185 2-Sep-05 27-8-10-18
HM Mazden Leslie D Vancouver (WHL) 6-0/195 15-Apr-05 45-8-25-33
HM Juha Jatkola G KalPa (Fin-Liiga) 6-1/175 12-Sep-02 16-10-6, 2.14, .909
HM Connor Levis RW Kamloops (WHL) 6-1/190 5-Oct-04 43-11-25-36
HM Owen Outwater LW Kingston (OHL) 6-2/160 4-Jan-05 39-10-18-28
HM Easton Cowan RW London (OHL) 5-10/170 20-May-05 44-12-17-29
HM Rasmus Kumpulainen C Pelicans (Fin-U20) 6-2/190 8-Aug-05 36-11-20-31
HM Emil Pieniniemi D Karpat (Fin-U20) 6-2/170 2-Mar-05 26-0-10-10
HM Austin Roest C Everett (WHL) 5-9/175 22-Jan-04 46-26-35-61
]]> https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2023-nhl-draft-mckeens-mid-season-top-100-ranking/feed/ 0 2023 NHL DRAFT: EARLY SEASON FAVOURITES SERIES WITH VIDEO – WEST – Carson Bjarnason, Kalan Lind, and Grayden Siepmann https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhl-draft-early-season-favourites-series-video-west-carson-bjarnason-kalan-lind-grayden-siepmann/ https://www.mckeenshockey.com/nhl-blog/2022-nhl-draft-early-season-favourites-series-video-west-carson-bjarnason-kalan-lind-grayden-siepmann/#respond Wed, 16 Nov 2022 19:21:14 +0000 https://www.mckeenshockey.com/?p=179660 Read More... from 2023 NHL DRAFT: EARLY SEASON FAVOURITES SERIES WITH VIDEO – WEST – Carson Bjarnason, Kalan Lind, and Grayden Siepmann

]]> First Round Favourite: Carson Bjarnason, G, Brandon Wheat Kings
Carson Bjarnason. Photo by Jarret Gale.

There are few prospects eligible for the 2023 NHL draft who have seen their stock skyrocket since the start of the season as much as Carson Bjarnason has. Not only has the 17-year-old netminder been the undisputed MVP of his Brandon Wheat Kings team thus far, he has also been one of the best goalies in all of junior hockey.

Bjarnason wasn't exactly an unknown commodity beforehand. The Carberry, Manitoba, native suited up for 23 games for the Wheaties last season, and also made Canada's roster for the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup as their backup goalie, winning the only game he started as part of the gold medal-winning roster. While he flashed traces of upside previously, it was clear that there was still a lot of work that he needed to do before he could be considered a top prospect.

Fast forward a few months and it's truly impressive just how much of that work he has already accomplished, and how quickly he is improving overall.

Bjarnason checks off almost all of the main boxes that scouts look for in a goaltender. He's big, he's athletic, he's technically sound, and his mental game is quite strong. Put all those pieces together and you get a goalie who can steal games for his team and look very comfortable and methodical in the process.

This first sequence shows Bjarnason at his best. He starts by staring down this rush from Andrew Cristall of the Kelowna Rockets, one of the most dangerous players in the WHL right now. Cristall tries to go backhand but has nothing to shoot at, as the goalie is in prime position and has his holes closed off through textbook form. The rebound dribbles loose and is quickly passed by the first trailing Kelowna forward right to the stick of the second trailing forward in the home-plate area, but Bjarnason immediately resets in his stance, pushes cleanly back to the middle, and drops back to his knees to gobble up the second shot, but this time with no rebound.

Here is another example of Bjarnason being highly effective but making it look easy. Matt Savoie gets around a Brandon defender and creates a shot from in tight but has absolutely nowhere to go with it, as Bjarnason is completely square to the shot. He also has his skate anchored to his right post, preventing himself (and the puck) from getting pushed into the net if Savoie forces the issue.

While Bjarnason isn't the fastest or most limber goalie, he has no trouble going post to post to challenge cross-ice scoring chances. Make note of how active his feet are in this clip, keeping himself ready for both a shot and a pass when the puck comes into the circle. The Rockets player chooses pass, but Bjarnason reacts reflexively and robs Cristall again, while also keeping the puck from squeaking out for a rebound.

Bjarnason displays incredible composure and focus for a goaltender his age, especially with the added responsibility of being his team's starter and having to face quality scoring chances and a high volume of shots playing behind a young roster. It's not uncommon for him to face more than 30 shots per contest, and neither the quality nor the quantity seems to faze him. Having to go toe to toe with a dangerous Conor Geekie on a lengthy breakaway? No problem. Geekie elects to go to his backhand, but the bottom of the ice is sealed off and the chance is emphatically turned aside. That's a big-time save

Pushing for the Top 50: Kalan Lind, C/RW, Red Deer Rebels

Kalan Lind. Photo by Rob Wallator.

Trying to get a confident assessment of Lind is tricky, as he has worn many different hats and looked like a very different player at various points throughout the past two years. After scoring 20 goals in 61 games as a 16-year-old WHL rookie last season, he has just two goals in 19 contests thus far. After looking great for Canada and helping them win gold at this past summer's Hlinka Gretzky Cup as a Bottom 6 defensive center and key penalty killer, he has been used primarily as an offense-first winger in Red Deer, including significantly more time on the powerplay than on the penalty kill.

However, when looking at all of this from a different angle, it highlights Lind's strongest attribute and what will surely be his main calling card as a potential NHLer: his versatility. While most NHL roster spots are taken up by players who excel at specific things or fit neatly into certain roles, there will always be jobs to be had for “plug and play” guys, players who can seamlessly move up or down a lineup, or transition into different roles or positions if injuries occur or if a coach wants to shake up his lines.

Lind is at his very best when he keeps his engine revved high and is playing a professional style of blue-collar hockey, which is, coincidentally, exactly how the Rebels have been built and are coached to play. This shift highlights him at his very best, making an impact on the ice in a variety of different ways, even if it doesn't result in a goal. He lays a heavy hit in the defensive zone, goes in hard on the forecheck to apply pressure and send another hit, and then finally uses up the last of his gas by transitioning the puck out of his zone, beating a defender one on one and getting a backhand shot on net.

Lind isn't the fastest or most physical player right now, but he's not yet fully developed physically. He's only listed at 155 pounds on the WHL website, which seems almost comically low, especially given his penchant for laying the body. However, when you watch him closely you can see the athletic foundation that is in place, and can start to envision just how much more speed and power he is going to generate once he's able to add more functional muscle into his frame. Here is another nice rush of his, this one from the Hlinka, attacking a Finnish defender head on and putting the puck through his triangle, before showing nice patience to beat the second defender and feeding the puck to a trailing teammate for a prime scoring chance.

It's a real shame that he's not killing more penalties for the Rebels right now, because that's going to be a necessary skill that he needs to bring at the professional level, as he doesn't possess enough pure skill to make it based solely on his offensive abilities. Luckily, scouts did get to watch that side of his game on full display during the high stakes of the Hlinka, and the results were encouraging. Watch how he plays through the pain of blocking a shot on the penalty kill during the gold medal game against Sweden, staying involved in the play and eventually prying the puck away from an opposing player, which leads to a zone clear.

While there's no doubt that Lind has some amount of NHL upside and is drawing his fair share of attention from team scouts in the lead-up to the 2023 draft, just how high he gets picked will likely depend on how much progress he makes this season on the offensive side of his game, as it is currently a bit of a question mark with him. His point totals thus far aren't exactly inspiring, and he needs to become a lot more reliable with his puck management. Watch how this turnover unfolds, as he has the extra time and space of a powerplay to work with, but tries and fails to beat Jagger Firkus one-on-one, instead of trying to draw the penalty killer toward him and feeding the puck laterally to his wide open teammate.

Here is another example of Lind's puck management and how it needs to get better. He gets a little too focused on heading north with the puck that he doesn't shoulder check or otherwise recognize just how close the backcheck pressure is behind him, leading to him getting pickpocketed. Learning to put his head on a swivel more often and better recognize peripheral activity will go a long way toward his overall effectiveness.

Notable Mid Round Candidate: Grayden Siepmann, D, Calgary Hitmen

Grayden Siepmann. Photo by Brian Liesse.

Siepmann was one of the more surprising omissions from the 2022 NHL draft, after playing his way up to the Hitmen's top defensive pairing and then making an appearance with Canada at the IIHF U18s. That said, prospect development is a marathon, not a sprint, and it's safe to say that he has used the sting of not getting picked to light a fire under himself and take notable strides as a player, putting him right back in the attention of scouts.

One of the knocks on Siepmann last year was a tendency towards passive, lackadaisical play, which was frustrating to watch at times because he is a magnificent skater. He never seemed to take full advantage of his strongest attribute to be a serious play-driver difference-maker. That criticism must have eventually found its way to him at some point, however, because he has become a significantly more engaged and assertive player than he was previously. He is taking advantage of many more opportunities to activate in transition, and as a result he has been consistently driving play up the ice for his team and putting up numbers on the score sheet, averaging just over a point per game thus far.

Whether with the puck or without, his quickness and agility navigating up ice are creating odd-man rushes and spreading out opposing defenses. He starts this clip off by carrying the puck for a zone exit, but the real genius is how he then passes it off and heads directly to the Swift Current net without it, which draws the attention of a Broncos defender, freeing up a wide-open shot for a teammate in a high-danger area.

Siepmann doesn't have to rely solely on his feet to move the puck, either. He does a very good job of keeping his head up and his senses on high alert, processing the play as it unfolds around him, and he is adept at making tape-to-tape passes across long distances. Watch here how he correctly identifies a teammate who has some space and is looking to break into the offensive zone, before sending a perfect pass that leads to a breakaway goal.

Another reason that likely hurt his draft stock last season is his size, as not only does he stand about 5-foot-10, but he’s also pretty light and scrawny, and it doesn't look like there is a whole ton of room left on his frame that can be filled out over time. While that is an undeniable disadvantage to a degree, he is still able to use his skating and conditioning to be an effective defender. Players don't always need to overpower speedy forwards when defending the rush in the NHL, they primarily just need to stick with them and disrupt them. The more Siepmann continues to learn how to maximize his skating to minimize the weaknesses of his stature and strength, the better it bodes for his future at the upper levels of hockey.

 

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