Hagen Burrows – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #29

The McKeen's Scouting Team — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 20:03:10 +0000

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

Prospect System Rank – 29th (May 2025 - 26th)
GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018
COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013

The Tampa Bay Lightning are fresh off an eighth straight playoff berth and haven’t skipped a beat despite bidding farewell to long-time captain Steven Stamkos. They finished with the NHL’s seventh-highest point total, still powered by the familiar core of Nikita Kucherov (31), Victor Hedman (31), Brayden Point (29), Andrei Vasilevskiy (30), and now newcomer Jake Guentzel (30).

True to form, GM Julien BriseBois continued to prioritize the present over the future, dealing his 2025 first-round pick along with 2026 and 2027 first rounders to bolster the middle six. It’s a familiar trade-off in Tampa—maximize the window now, worry about tomorrow later.

That approach has inevitably taken a toll on the prospect pool. In addition to the graduation of Connor Geekie, the offseason saw their top-ranked prospect, Isaac Howard, moved out, which was a necessary decision given his unwillingness to sign with the club. In return, they acquired Sam O’Reilly, who now claims the top spot in their pipeline.

Beyond O’Reilly, the depth is thin. 2023 second-rounder Ethan Gauthier has joined the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch alongside Dylan Duke and Niko Huuhtanen. While all three continue to develop, none project as immediate difference-makers at the NHL level.

Years of trading premium picks for playoff reinforcements have left the organization reliant on uncovering late-round steals and shrewd external acquisitions to keep the system afloat.

The upside? The Lightning’s core remains firmly in its prime, and as long as it does, the team’s championship window stays wide open. BriseBois is all-in once again, betting that this veteran group has another Stanley Cup run left in them—even if it means the cupboard stays bare.

Tampa Bay Lightning Top-15 Prospects

1 - Sam O'Reilly

Acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Isaac Howard, O’Reilly emerged as one of the OHL’s premier two-way players. The offensive numbers didn’t completely pop off, but the details in O’Reilly’s game greatly improved. He looked noticeably quicker and stronger, allowing him to become an elite shutdown pivot who can protect leads late in games and kill penalties. He’s a very intelligent player who shows great promise as a playmaker too; he’s patient and poised with the puck. Next year, O’Reilly will be counted upon to be the go-to offensive player for London and that will be terrific for his development. His projection hasn’t likely changed from being a quality middle six pivot who can play in all situations, however, as the physical tools continue to be upgraded, he becomes more and more likely to reach that projection.

2 - Ethan Gauthier

Ethan Gauthier was the first QMJHL player taken in the 2023 NHL Draft, selected 37th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning. After a point-per-game draft year with Sherbrooke, he was traded to Drummondville, where he helped capture a QMJHL title. In 2023-2024, the right winger produced 71 points in 64 games and 25 points in 19 playoff games, finishing second in postseason scoring. His 2024–25 season followed a similar pattern with 62 points in 50 games, plus 12 in seven playoff contests, ranking second in playoff points per game. He also appeared in all five of team Canada’s World Junior games in 2025, and even played three games in the AHL with Syracuse. Gauthier has, so far, developed as expected. He has maintained a high work ethic while showing his reliability as an elite junior goal scorer, with 20 goals in 26 games over his last two playoff campaigns. His lethal one-timer can be fired from anywhere with impressive accuracy. He is also a strong player who imposes his power forward style. Next season, he will likely play full time with Syracuse in the AHL, and a lot of questions will be answered, especially regarding his skating and pace.

3 - Max Crozier

It’s been a slow burn for Crozer, a fourth-round selection out of the USHL in 2019. He played four years at Providence College and has now played two seasons split between the AHL and NHL level. At every stop, he’s been a highly effective two-way defender and it seems like only a matter of time before Crozier is patrolling Tampa’s blueline permanently. When he played for the Lightning, he performed well, but depth has kept him with Syracuse. However, he recently signed a new deal, and Crozier is also no longer exempt from waivers next season, suggesting his roster spot might be locked up. Crozier took a big step forward offensively in the AHL this past year. He’s quarterbacking the power play. He’s still bringing it physically and operating as a shutdown defender. The big right shot defender was among the league leaders in ice time this past year, averaging over 25 minutes per game. Needless to say, Crozier is NHL ready.

4 - Ethan Czata

The physically intense, two-way forward was a second-round selection of the Lightning this past year and has already been rewarded with his ELC, a rarity this quickly for players drafted outside of the first round. It’s a testament to how the Lightning view Czata as a potentially elite third line player in the future. He’s versatile thanks to a well-rounded skill set and the ability to play any forward position. He’s physically assertive and projects as an above average defensive player at the NHL level. Offensively, he started the past year well for the Niagara IceDogs but faded a bit down the stretch. This season, he’ll look to become more consistent with the puck and should receive a ton of ice time for an improving Niagara team. He’ll also look to improve his finishing ability, an area that needs refining, especially given how many looks he earns in tight with his hard work through the middle of the ice. Tampa is likely hoping that Czata can develop into the next Anthony Cirelli for them.

5 - Dylan Duke

A former standout with the U.S. NTDP and at the University of Michigan, there was some concern about Duke’s ability to translate his skill set to the pro game. However, he was excellent for Syracuse as a rookie, leading the Crunch in goal scoring and even earning a brief NHL call-up that saw him score his first NHL goal. Duke’s hard-working nature, high IQ, and quick feet have allowed his lack of size to be a relative non-factor in the AHL. He’s now put himself in a position to push for a depth spot with the Lightning next year. Duke’s upside isn’t likely to be extremely high. He probably tops out as a complementary third line winger. However, Tampa has maintained their success through developing similar players extremely well. The focus for Duke will need to be improving his strength on the puck further and then he’ll put himself in a position to be that next man up.

6 - Connor Kurth

2024-25 was a great season for Kurth, a former scoring star in the USHL, as he emerged as a go-to offensive player for Minnesota in his junior year. As a result, the Lightning signed him to an ELC, and he has a chance to move fairly quickly if he performs well in a system without a ton of offensive firepower. Kurth is a stocky play driver who is more skill oriented than reliant on power. However, his game did add more truculence to it this past year and it was one of the main reasons why he was able to finally break out offensively. The other main reason was improvement to his quickness and pace of play. There’s likely to be an adjustment period for Kurth at the pro level, just as there was for him when he moved from the USHL to the NCAA; he’s going to need time to adjust to the pace and strength of the pro game. However, as his progress this year has shown, he has the well-rounded game to be a middle six contributor for Tampa Bay down the line.

7 - Niko Huuhtanen

Huuhtanen came into the 2024-25 season with a fair amount of hype after two great years in Liiga with Jukurit. The big power forward was even considered a sneaky candidate to earn a role with the Lightning. However, his first pro season with Syracuse showed that he’s still got some work to do before being ready for the NHL. There’s no question that he still has NHL upside. He drives the net effectively playing a north-south power game. He hits like a truck. He has a heavy shot that could end up being a weapon on the power play. However, his pace of play lags behind. Dating back to his draft year, skating has been the knock on Huuhtanen, but he’s worked hard to improve it, including those two years in Finland after playing in Everett (WHL). Yet, there’s a need to improve it further to be successful in North America.

8 - Jack Finley

Finley got a late start to his third professional season after injuring himself prior to the start of the season. After returning in January, Finley was one of Syracuse’s top players. The big pivot has the ability to dominate down low and near the net front. His skating has come a long way as a pro too, to the point where he can be the focal point of offensive attacks. This offseason will be a big one for Finley as he prepares to try to earn a roster spot in Tampa Bay next year. He’s out of options, so Tampa Bay will need to make a tough decision if they feel that his game is still not ready. A more likely scenario sees him catch on as Tampa Bay’s fourth line center to start the year, so long as he has a good training camp. Finley’s NHL upside isn’t significant, but there’s a chance he could be a very good bottom six player and a secondary power play option.

9 - Everett Baldwin

One of the pre-draft favourites of the McKeen’s scouting team this past year, Baldwin was a terrific selection by the Lightning in the fifth round. While drafting out of the prep loop can be a little bit tricky, Baldwin’s strong skating ability gives him a foundation to work with, even if many aspects of his game need refinement. A Providence College commit, Baldwin has elected to spend this coming season in the QMJHL with Saint John, an excellent decision for his development. The Sea Dogs are trying to turn things around next year and Baldwin should receive a ton of ice time in all situations. He has a chance to have a big offensive season from the blueline and that will give us a better indication of his true upside. Make no mistake, Baldwin is a long-term project, as many prep players are, but Tampa’s patience could pay off in a big way as he learns to refine his approach.

10 - Daniil Pylenkov

Daniil Pylenkov was a nice pick up for the Lightning a few years ago in the seventh round of the draft. He has developed well over the last few seasons into a very serviceable two-way defenceman. He lacks the flash that your typical modern defenceman may possess but makes up for it with patient decision making on both sides of the puck. He has become a valuable distributor on Dynamo Moskva’s power play, snapping the puck around well and firing tippable shots from the point. Defensively he is responsible in his positioning and does a good job breaking up plays with an active stick. He has just re-signed with Dynamo Moskva for the next two seasons so it is unlikely he will be playing for Tampa in the near future if at all. If he does come over, he will likely need some time in Syracuse to continue his growth but may get some looks with the Lightning on their bottom pair at some point in the near future.

11- Jayson Shaugabay

The University of Minnesota-Duluth will be led by two undersized playmakers: Max Plante and Jayson Shaugabay. Shaugabay had two fewer points in 13 more games than the former yet is still an offensive threat with his passing. Minnesota-Duluth hasn’t loaded up with talent like some other NCAA programs, so a lot of weight will be put on Shaugabay’s shoulders to put up points this season as their number two forward.

12 - Gabriel Szturc

Szturc was signed last summer by the Lightning as an undrafted free agent after a couple of point per game seasons with the Kelowna Rockets. He made the transition to the AHL this year, where he scored 19 points in 54 games. He has a decent shot, but not much high-end offensive skill beyond that. He’ll likely serve as a middle six winger in Syracuse, where he can continue to develop his production.

13 - Hagen Burrows

It’s hard not to like a prospect with size who has a sniper-esque shot like Burrows has. Unfortunately for Burrows, he is a poor skater and a slow skater. Playing at the NCAA level last year, it was clear his skating issues were holding him back, scoring one goal in 39 games. Entering his second season with Denver, Burrows will look for a larger role, although that hinges on his skating improvements.

14 - Roman Schmidt

Roman Schmidt is simply a big shutdown defenceman. You won’t get many points out of him, however, he balances that out with how little he gives up. He plays a physical brand of hockey that leaves a mark. He isn’t afraid to mix it up with his opponents or stand up for a teammate. He’ll be in the AHL with Syracuse for now, but at 6-foot-5 and a right shot, it shouldn’t be long before he gets his first NHL game.

15 - Dyllan Gill

In the upcoming season, Gill is looking to keep his injuries behind him. Gill has had two shoulder surgeries that have caused significant missed time the past two seasons. He’s a two-way defenceman with some moderate offensive potential. The seventh-round draft pick has shown he can improve when he’s on the ice, and that seems to be the hardest part. He’ll be with the Crunch full-time next season but may split some time in the ECHL.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #26 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Sun, 18 May 2025 14:59:01 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - JULY 07: Tampa Bay Lightning pick Isaac Howard stands between management during the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on July 07, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

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Tampa Bay 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – TAMPA BAY LIGHTING – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #30

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 13:00:39 +0000

_{NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 25: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Maxwell Crozier (65) looks on during a game between the against the against the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils on February 25, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Rank – 30th (Previous Rank - 29th)
GM: Julien BriseBois Hired: September 2018
COACH: Jon Cooper Hired: March 2013

The Tampa Bay Lightning continues to embody the "run it back" philosophy, relying on a veteran core to remain competitive year after year. It's hard to argue with the results, as they are just two years removed from three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances and back-to-back championships. However, with aging veterans and little value sitting on the shelves, the end of the runway may be in sight.

Julien BriseBois has been notably averse to first-round picks, having selected in the first round only twice since his hiring in 2018. Unless future trades are made, that trend could continue into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft after bringing back a familiar face in Ryan McDonough for a top 10 protected first pick.

However, for the first time in what feels like a decade, perhaps we’ve finally seen a change in strategy.

In a surprising move, the Lightning acquired top prospect Conor Geekie (ranked 32nd by McKeen’s) from the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for 26-year-old Mikael Sergachev. This trade gives Tampa Bay their first top 50 McKeen’s ranked prospect in quite some time and may signal a shift towards replenishing their prospect pool—an unfamiliar prospect for Lightning fans.

Adding the likes of Geekie, who may even see games in the 2024-25 campaign, is a step in the right direction, but there is still a long road ahead.

Gage Goncalves, a 2020 second-round pick, has been developing steadily in Syracuse, coming off a strong season with 58 points in 69 games to finish just outside the top 10 in AHL scoring. At 23 years old, he’s likely to be given a longer leash after a brief stint in the 2023-24 season.

Isaac Howard (157th), the Lightnings’ only first-round draft pick in the last five years, remains a key part of their future, though he will continue to develop at the collegiate level with Michigan State. While there’s hope he could see NHL ice time as early as this spring, the team’s status as a perennial playoff contender raises questions about whether rushing him into the lineup is the best course of action.

The recent swap of Steven Stamkos for Jake Guentzel indicates that the Lightning will continue their push to remain relevant as long as players like Victor Hedman (33), Nikita Kucherov (31), Brayden Point (28) and Andrei Vasilevskiy (30) are in town.

Tampa Bay’s championship window is still wide open, but with little depth, and a lack of draft capital, they are treading in dangerous waters for the future.

Tampa Bay Lightning Top-15 Prospects

1. Conor Geekie

One of the big pieces acquired from Utah in the Mikhail Sergachev deal, Geekie immediately became Tampa’s best prospect. The big power pivot is such a difficult player to stop North/South, as he drives the middle lane with speed and advanced puck protection ability. The former 11th overall selection nearly broke the 100-point barrier in the WHL last season and is ready to take that next step as a pro. The big debate surrounding Geekie revolves around his upside as an NHL player. When his size and power advantage is neutralized, how effective will he be as an offensive player? Does he think the game at a high enough level to drive play and make those around him better at the NHL level? Geekie’s future could take a variety of different turns. Could he be a top six power center cut from the same cloth as the Tkachuk brothers? Or is he destined to be more of a bottom six contributor? Tampa Bay will learn a lot more about Geekie’s upside this year at the pro level.

2. Ethan Gauthier

Gauthier, the son of former NHL defender Denis Gauthier, and the 37th overall pick in last year’s draft, had another successful season in the QMJHL, this time with Drummondville after an offseason trade. The physically assertive forward plays a pro style game that revolves around being able to earn touches between the hash marks. He drives the net, forechecks hard, and has continued to round out his game as a two-way player. Gauthier also shoots the puck well and his goal scoring ability is the component of his offensive arsenal that likely translates the best to the pro level. To be an effective pro, Gauthier continues to work on his skating, working to become more explosive and agile. He’ll return to the QMJHL this season and should be one of the league’s top forwards as a 20-year-old. Depending on the development of his off puck play and skating, he could be NHL ready, sooner rather than later.

3. Isaac Howard

Howard, the team’s only first round selection in the last five years, had a terrific sophomore season after hitting the transfer portal the previous offseason. Howard shifted from Minnesota-Duluth to Michigan State, and it had a very positive impact on his development. He led the Spartans in scoring last year and also played a crucial role for the United States at the WJC’s, helping them capture gold. Howard was noticeably stronger on the puck last season, helping him take greater advantage of his strong skating ability to generate scoring chances. He’s a very dangerous player on the counterattack, and despite his low goal total at Michigan State, actually possesses high upside as a goal scorer because of his quick release. Howard will return to Michigan State this year as a junior and he should be considered a preseason candidate for the Hobey Baker. He might just have the highest upside of any player in Tampa’s system.

4. Niko Huuhtanen

Huuhtanen continued on the terrific development path that he started after a breakout season with WHL Everett in 2022. Two years ago, he was the rookie of the year in Liiga and this past year he led Jukurit in scoring. The big power forward signed late last season and finished his year in the AHL, giving him a taste of what to expect this coming year, his first as a pro in North America. Huuhtanen is a throwback power winger who plays a very heavy game. He’s a relentless physical player who is still learning how to walk the line in terms of discipline. However, he is most effective when he plays the power game, dominating the wall and the net front area. Huuhtanen is a prolific goal scorer, too, thanks to a very heavy release and one timer. His positive development curve has put him on a path to become a quality middle six option for the Lightning in the near future.

5. Gage Goncalves

It’s been a long road for Goncalves. The former WHL standout has now played three seasons in the AHL, improving in each of them. He led Syracuse in scoring by a significant margin this past season and finally earned a cup of coffee with the Lightning. The two-way pivot has proven to be a versatile pro. He plays an intelligent game at both ends, excelling on and off the puck. His attention to detail as a defensive player is likely going to be the thing that gets him into the NHL in a depth role before he carves out a larger one. As an offensive player, his vision and playmaking ability stand out most. He understands how to alter pace to manipulate defenses and is hard on pucks to help his line prolong offensive zone time. This year, Goncalves will need to pass through waivers in order to go to the AHL, so it seems likely that if he has a good camp, he will be given a bottom six role in Tampa Bay.

6. Max Crozier

The Lightning have to be ecstatic about what Crozier showed this past season after turning pro. Earlier last season he did not look out of place in Tampa Bay when the Lightning were having serious injury issues on the blueline. Closing out the year with Syracuse, Crozier was a near point per game defender in the AHL. Full of confidence, we saw the full scope of the impact that he can have on the game at both ends. The 6-foot-2 right shot defender does a lot of things well. He defends well thanks to an aggressive approach, a long reach, and good mobility. He takes away space from opposing forwards and defends tight spaces well thanks to his physical assertiveness. Crozier also makes a clean exit pass and has flashed an ability to quarterback the powerplay, with a strong ability to get shots through traffic. While Crozier might not have significant NHL upside, he looks like someone who can be a stable #4 or 5 defender for many years.

7. Declan Carlile

Carlile is about to be a third-year pro after a strong performance at Merrimack College and is a standout in the defensive end. He projects as a quality stay at home defender at the NHL level and he may be ready for an NHL roster spot as early as this season. He has the size. He has the reach. He is mobile. He brings physicality. He has an active stick but is also aggressive in taking away space. Carlile looks like he can help anchor a penalty killing unit in the NHL. As an offensive player, his heavy point shot helps to generate scoring chances or goals and he can make a good exit pass, but he is at his best when he keeps things simple. Much like Max Crozier, Carlile looks like a long time NHL defender for Tampa Bay, but probably tops out as a third pairing type.

8. Dylan Duke

On a Michigan team full of potential front end NHL players, Duke stood out consistently for all the right reasons this past season, finishing third in scoring and first in goals on the Wolverines. It was a very promising junior season for the diminutive pivot. Duke has always been a highly skilled playmaker who creates time and space for himself with his hands, but upgrades to his strength, off puck play, shot, and skating really upgraded his projection as a pro. Somewhat surprisingly, Duke decided to turn pro, signing with Tampa Bay at the end of the season. It might have been wise for him to return to Michigan to continue to upgrade his physical tools; he would have had a shot at being one of the better players in College Hockey this year. However, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the AHL level. While he may still be a bit of a long shot given his lack of high-end physical tools, his upside remains intriguing.

9. Jack Finley

The massive center took a nice step forward in his second pro season with Syracuse last year. Teams have to be patient with bigger forwards as they grow into their frame and Finley has been no different. He dominated down low at the WHL level before turning pro but had to continue to upgrade his strength and conditioning in order to do that at the AHL level. Behind the net is his office and he has very good vision coming off the wall and the cycle. Finley has also had to adjust to the pace of the pro game, especially as an only average skater. He’s likely still a bit away from making an impact in Tampa Bay, but the Lightning have to be hoping that he can continue to develop into an Adam Lowry kind of high end third line center in the future. The Lightning will be hoping that Finley can inch closer to the point per game mark with Syracuse this year.

10. Daniil Pylenkov

Pylenkov’s development has been steady since the Lightning drafted him in 2021 in his second last year of eligibility. Now 23 (turning 24 soon), Pylenkov has emerged as one of the top young defencemen in the KHL. He still has a year remaining on his KHL deal so he won’t be coming over this year, but after that? He could be an option for Tampa as a bottom pairing defender. Pylenkov is certainly not a flashy player, however he’s a very crafty one. He makes a clean exit. He is a great stick on-puck defender. He makes sound decisions with his reads with and without the puck. His NHL upside is likely limited, but the progression of his offensive game in the KHL suggests that his projection could continue to improve. Defensive depth never hurts and Tampa has built that up well.

11. Hagen Burrows

Last year’s winner of Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey Award, Burrows was a fourth-round pick of the Lightning in 2024. The big winger was excellent last season, splitting time between the USHL and high school hockey. Burrows plays a mature game, tough to separate from the puck and an excellent playmaker coming off the wall. There’s a definitive need for him to improve his skating and he’ll try to do that at the University of Denver this season.

12. Hugo Alnefelt

Expectations were pretty high for Alnefelt a few years ago when he made the jump from the SHL to the AHL in Tampa’s system. At the time, he was considered one of the top European goaltending prospects. Since then, his development has stagnated to a certain degree. He has the tools to be one, but consistency has remained an issue for him. He will compete for the back-up job this year, but still has another year of waiver eligibility remaining.

13. Jayson Shaugabay

One of the most skilled and creative players in Tampa’s system, Shaugabay opted to play a full season in the USHL last season before making the jump to the NCAA. This allowed the diminutive forward to continue to build strength so that he can take greater advantage of his offensive gifts. Shaugabay will now head to Minnesota-Duluth this year and will likely be given a good shot to play a key offensive role as a freshman.

14. Lucas Edmonds

After a strong rookie season in the AHL two years ago, last season was a step back for Edmonds. No question, he’s a talented playmaker. However, there’s a strong need for him to upgrade his physical tools still to be a more consistent pro. 2024/25 is going to be a critical season for his development. A qualifying offer is likely dependent on his performance and progress.

15. Gabriel Szturc

The Lightning have had some good success signing free agents out of the CHL and the team dipped into that pool again a few times last year. Czech pivot and former Kelowna Rocket captain Gabriel Szturc is one such player. He’s a competitive, two-way, playmaker who, ignoring the cliche, plays much larger than his size. He projects as a versatile bottom six forward for Tampa Bay.

2024 NHL DRAFT WRAP UP: The best value picks plus the biggest surprise in each round

Brock Otten — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 18:58:05 +0000

What a draft week it was! The Sphere in Vegas lived up to the hype, and then some. Perhaps, this is biased, but it was one of the most impressive spectacles that I have ever been part of. Derek Neumeier (our assistant director of scouting) and myself were blown away by the production. The feedback from fans was similar in nature; no question the live draft in Vegas was a massive success for the NHL.

But what about the actual draft action itself? Like any draft, there were things that went according to script and there were surprises.

From our Top 100 on our final draft rankings, 97 of said players were drafted. The only ones not selected were Alex Zetterberg, Daniil Ustinkov, and Tomas Galvas. Galvas was the highest of those three at 70th overall.

Let’s take a look at some of my favourite selections, some of the biggest surprises, and some of the best undrafted players.

ROUND ONE

Favourite Selection: Sam Dickinson (#11) to San Jose

Dickinson had been our favorite defender in this class nearly all season long and we really like the value San Jose got at #11 after trading up from #14 a few days prior. Dickinson is such a safe bet to a top four defender for the organization; the kind of player who can eat serious minutes for them when they’re ready to take that next step again as a playoff contender.

Favourite Selection: Stian Solberg (#23) to Anaheim

This represents one of the best fits in the draft for us. Solberg improved so much in the second half, and we saw that at the World Championships, where he was a standout playing tough minutes against NHL players with Norway. His game still needs further refinement, but he projects as the perfect partner for the likes of Olen Zellweger or Pavel Mintyukov (even though all three are left-handed shots) with his physical intense defensive presence. It’s obvious Anaheim really liked him as they traded up into this slot with Toronto.

Biggest Surprise: Terik Parascak (#17) to Washington

This one caught a lot of people by surprise on the draft floor. There was probably more talk that Parascak could be a “faller” due to concerns over pace/quickness, in combination with his average size. Even Parascak was incredibly surprised to be taken this early, with a look of bewilderment following the announcement of his name. Our Western scouts are still a bit leery of his NHL odds, but there’s no denying that he was one of the draft’s most intelligent players. Washington is banking on that, hoping that he can have a Joe Pavelski type career.

Biggest Surprise (bonus): Beckett Sennecke (#3) to Anaheim

This one wasn’t as big of a surprise to those on the floor because there was a ton of chatter about this about an hour prior to the draft. However, it’s obvious Sennecke had no idea because he was visibly shocked to hear his name, creating one of the most genuine and honest draft reactions of the weekend. Anaheim is banking on Sennecke’s athletic upside and second half improvements, which is often an intelligent thing to do.

ROUND TWO

Favourite Selection: Teddy Stiga (#55) to Nashville

Look at all the teams clamoring to sign Jake Guentzel this offseason, because of how good of a complementary offensive player he is. Stiga proved that same thing this year, playing alongside potential 2025 first overall pick James Hagens. He’s a hard worker. He’s skilled. His skating improved over the year. There’s a ton to like and we really like the fit in Nashville for him. These are the types of players Nashville had an abundance of when they were dominating the West.

Favourite Selection: Carter George (#57) to Los Angeles

Admittedly, I was a bit worried that Carter George would drop a bit because of his lack of size in a size-crazed industry (concerning goaltenders). So, it was great to see George go in the second round to Los Angeles. There’s a deep-rooted connection to Owen Sound there and George is a heck of a goaltender. He’s so polished and refined already; he’s a big game goaltender.

Biggest Surprise: Ilya Nabokov (#38) to Colorado

Speaking of goaltenders, it was a shock to see 21-year-old Ilya Nabokov as the first netminder taken…and this early. Granted, his resume spoke for itself this year as the KHL’s playoff MVP. Colorado obviously wasn’t a big fan of their goaltending this year and by selecting Nabokov, they’re taking someone who can be a potential difference maker very soon, a lot sooner than your average draft eligible netminder.

ROUND THREE

Favourite Selection: Tarin Smith (#79) to Anaheim

Anaheim has had tremendous luck drafting electric offensive defenders like Smith in recent years. Mintyukov, Zellweger and Rodwin Dionicio all fit the mold. Zellweger even came from the same Everett (WHL) program as Smith. He is very raw. However, his offensive upside from the backend is extremely high. With such a strong and deep talent pool in place, Anaheim could afford to take a chance on him.

Favourite Selection: Matvei Shuravin (#97) to Florida

We ranked Shuravin #34 in our final rankings but did realize that we were higher on him than we expected him to be selected this weekend. It would appear that his weaker second half really pushed him down some draft boards. However, that’s Florida’s gain as they selected an athletic defender who showed some terrific flashes this year at both the KHL and MHL levels.

Biggest Surprise: Henry Mews (#74) to Calgary

Personally, I had somewhat expected Mews to fall at the draft. I didn’t believe that he would be a top 40-45 pick. However, I also did not expect him to slide all the way to the mid third. He’s a fairly dynamic offensive defender. I certainly have questions about his projection, but this represents great value for Calgary, especially after they grabbed Zayne Parekh in the first.

ROUND FOUR

Favourite Selection: Heikki Ruohonen (#107) to Philadelphia

We felt that Ruohonen was being massively underrated this year due to the fact that he stayed in the Finnish U20 league in order to preserve his NCAA eligibility. He’ll play in the USHL next year then head to Harvard. The physically imposing two-way power pivot is someone who could dramatically outperform his draft slot.

Favourite Selection: Hagen Burrows (#128) to Tampa Bay

We get the concerns over the feet. Burrows needs to improve his skating. But the 2024 Mr. Hockey Award winner plays a mature, pro-style game. He is a strong playmaker, and he can find his way to the net. Once he fills out his frame, he could be a terrific middle six NHL player.

Biggest Surprise: Trevor Hoskin (#106) to Calgary

As someone who covers Ontario, I just didn’t see this one coming. I thought that maybe Hoskin had a chance to go late in the draft after a strong World Junior A Challenge performance, however, this early? It’s very, very rare to see a double re-entry selected from Canadian Tier 2, let alone almost in the Top 100. We’ll see how this one works out for Calgary in the long run.

Biggest Surprise (bonus): Aron Kiviharju (#122) to Minnesota

I mean, how could we not include Kiviharju here. Yes, we expected him to fall. But, to the end of the fourth? So, what’s next for Kiviharju? Would he consider coming to the OHL next year to help recover his former top prospect status?

ROUND FIVE

Favourite Selection: Luke Misa (#150) to Calgary

No question, we could have listed this as the biggest surprise of round five. Seeing Misa fall to the mid-5th round was shocking. However, this is also an excellent value pick by Calgary. Did Misa close out this past OHL season on a high note? No. But, does he have the skating ability, tenacity, and skill to be an NHL player in some capacity? Absolutely.

Favourite Selection: Justin Poirier (#156) to Carolina

At some point, a player becomes just too good to pass up, even if you have concerns over projectability. In the 5th round, Poirier is terrific value for the Hurricanes. The size, skating, and IQ components of his game are dicey. But you can’t argue with the production and the offensive upside. Bottom line, you’re not going to find many guys in round five who could be top six scorers and that’s Poirier.

Biggest Surprise: Max Graham (#139) to New Jersey

No offense intended to Graham, but when he was drafted, I turned to Derek (who also scouts the West for us) and asked him who? He was flabbergasted that Graham, a double overager, was selected. He didn’t come close to hitting the point per game mark as a 20-year-old and it certainly brings to light questions over NHL upside.

ROUND SIX

Favourite Selection: Anthony Romani (#162) to Vancouver

I get the hesitation from NHL scouts. Is his offensive skill set translatable? He’s purely a complementary guy; one of the “quietest” CHL leading scorers in recent memory. But, at some point you have to bet on players who think the game at an elite level and that’s Romani. One team used a 17th overall selection on a player with pace/strength concerns, but high-end hockey sense, and another used the 162nd overall pick. Who got the best value?

Favourite Selection: Luke Ashton (#165) to Columbus

A re-entry out of the BCHL, Ashton is a really intriguing defensive prospect. He’s big. He’s mean. He’s athletic. He flashes high end skill. How it all comes together at a higher level remains to be seen. But we really like the upside. We also really like that he’s going to Minnesota State, a program that has developed defenders like him well.

Biggest Surprise: Stevie Leskovar (#174) to Minnesota

Again, no offense meant to Leskovar, but Derek had the same reaction to him as I did Graham. If you had told me that Leskovar would be drafted ahead of Leenders, Fibigr, and Finn Harding from that same Mississauga team, I would have called you crazy. Leskovar is a big, mean, throwback on the back end. He got better this year in his first full year with the Steelheads. But an NHL draft selection?

ROUND SEVEN

Favourite Selection: Ryerson Leenders (#219) to Buffalo

It worked with Devon Levi. It could work again with Leenders. He’s on the smaller side, but he’s very athletic. Quick post to post and solid in scramble mode, Leenders just needs to refine his approach and improve technically. He’s capable of stealing games and he could end up being a draft steal when all is said and done, similar to the way Florida got Levi (then traded him to Buffalo).

Favourite Selection: Erik Pahlsson (#213) to Nashville

We’ve had Pahlsson ranked for a few years now, so it was great to see him finally get selected after a solid year in the USHL. Again, there are some projection concerns over the athletic profile, but he finds a way to be productive. He’s intelligent. He’s shifty. He’s probably going to produce at the college level too with Minnesota.

Biggest Surprise: Alex Zetterberg Goes Undrafted, but Mac Swanson gets selected

Again, you hit a point in the draft where players are worth selecting despite some limitations. Mac Swanson’s size and skating combination are worrisome, but he’s one heck of a smart player. If he hits, he’s going to be a home run. The same could be said of Alex Zetterberg, the Swedish equivalent, who did nothing but produce this year. If you’re taking a chance on Swanson this late, Zetterberg deserved to go too.

OUR BEST UNDRAFTED PLAYERS

Tomas Galvas

The undersized defender was one of the draft’s best skaters, but it wasn’t enough for NHL teams. He’ll need to take his offensive game to another level. Would be great to see him in the CHL next year.

Daniil Ustinkov

Ustinkov started the year as a potential first round candidate and ended up not being selected. Concerns over his processing ability ultimately scared off teams. Does he come over to London next year to try to turn his career around?

Alex Zetterberg

Again, this one feels like a misstep. Yes, he’s small. Yes, there are strength concerns. But he’s ultra talented. Few players available in the 7th round would have had the upside of Zetterberg.

Nolan Roed

Our aggressive ranking of Roed came mostly from me, as he was a player I was very impressed with at the USHL and high school levels. I liked the competitive drive in his game. Next year’s Joe Connor?

Lukas Matecha

He just couldn’t recover from his poor second half. If he can put together a more consistent season next year, he’ll be back on the draft radar.

Matthew Van Blaricom

This one is shocking to me. Loved the aggressive and tenacious approach. Had a terrific WJAC. Here’s hoping that he goes somewhere next year (USHL, NCAA) where he can show that he should have been selected.

Frankie Marrelli

I get it. He’s an undersized stay at home type. But this young man is just such a smart defensive player. He competes hard and he’s going to get better at the offensive end too.

Gian Meier

A breakout performer at the U18’s with Switzerland, we figured someone would take Meier given the flashes he showed this year as a two-way defender.

2024 NHL DRAFT: Top “Tier 2” Players Available with Video – Part Two – Forwards

Brock Otten — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 14:00:59 +0000

_{William Zellers of Shattuck-St. Mary's School (Shattuck-St. Mary's School)}

McKeen's Director of Scouting, Brock Otten, provides a close examination of all the top "Tier 2" players available for the draft this year (USHS, BCHL, CJHL, etc). The second in the series highlights the forwards.

Logan Sawyer - Center/Wing - Brooks Bandits (BCHL/AJHL)

6’1, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.375

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/logan_sawyer_-_3rd_period_5_47_-_6_0.mp4

Notes: I wrote about Sawyer earlier this year when he won gold with Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. At that event, Sawyer started slow but finished strong; he was instrumental in Canada West’s strong medal round play. Born in Ontario, Sawyer is a former minor hockey teammate of London Knight forward and fellow 2024 draft-eligible player Sam O’Reilly. He has flip-flopped between center and the wing this year, but I believe his skill set is best suited for the wing long term. Sawyer’s best attributes would be his shot and overall scoring ability. A multi-faceted scorer, Sawyer is deadly with the one-timer, especially on the powerplay, but he also possesses a quick and powerful snapshot that beats goaltenders clean from a distance. Sawyer also has good hands, consistently showing an ability to catch pucks cleanly or beat defenders one-on-one. Once he builds a head of steam, he can be tough to stop one-on-one as his edgework is a strength, showcasing an ability to alter direction without losing speed, in addition to maintaining puck control through said quick cuts. Generally a high-volume shooter, Sawyer has flashed an ability to utilize the threat of his shot to help set up scoring chances for his linemates. Layering in that deception will be key to further development as a playmaker. Sawyer will also need to improve his explosiveness and work to length his stride to help him generate/maintain power. Physically, there is a clear need to build strength. He can be kept to the perimeter and easily separated from the puck. Rather than chip and chase, or look to work the cycle, Sawyer can be prone to trying to force plays with one-on-one move attempts that lead to turnovers. Defensively, he also needs work as he can be caught puck watching and said lack of strength limits his overall effectiveness. A Providence commit, Sawyer does have the potential to be a middle six-goal scorer. However, he’s very much a long-term project.

Jack Pridham - Wing - West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)

6’2, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 57.5, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.875

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jack_pridham_-_2nd_period_26_53_-_27_5.mp4

Notes: Another Ontario-born and raised player who travelled out West, Pridham is a product of the St. Andrew’s College system. A late-born 2005, Pridham outscored Arizona draft pick Jonathan Castagna last year. While consistency has been a bit of an issue with West Kelowna, Pridham has flashed pro potential and has generally intrigued scouts this year. It all starts with his skating ability. Pridham is explosive and quick, always looking to attack North/South and drive the net. He routinely beats defenders to the outside and is able to cut back into generating scoring chances in tight. As he gets in tight, he will lose control, but as he gains strength, look for him to be more consistently successful in these net drives, maintaining possession through contact. More of a playmaker than a shooter, Pridham uses his speed to draw defenders to him and shows good vision by finding open teammates in the slot, occasionally teammate and fellow 2024 eligible forward Callum Hughes (who will attend Boston University with him). The two have terrific chemistry. I also really like Pridham’s work rate. He’s not an overtly physical player, but he works hard on the forecheck to help force turnovers and consistently comes away from the puck along the wall and has an attacking mindset. Defensively, his positioning is sound and he closes quickly to apply pressure on the point. Overall, this is a highly athletic winger with size whose overall skill set is still developing. What’s the end game; what’s the upside? I think that’s still a bit of a mystery. How Pridham is able to weaponize his speed at the next level remains to be seen. However, Boston University is a great program for him to attend and despite lower production, I’d prefer him to the more hyped Logan Sawyer as a draft prospect.

Callum Hughes - Wing/Center - West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL)

6’1, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 50.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/callum_hughes_-_1st_period_23_53_-_24_5.mp4

Notes: A teammate and frequent linemate of fellow 2024 eligible forward Jack Pridham, Hughes is cut from a similar cloth. He’s a high-energy player whose offensive production comes from his ability to outwork defenders in the slot, beat defenders wide with speed, and force turnovers/create scoring chances off of turnovers from the forecheck. Hughes started the year as a depth player for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup, but he wasn’t incredibly noticeable. In the BCHL, he’s played fairly well and this has him ranked as a potential draft selection. Hughes’ future as a pro will likely be tied to his ability to develop as a penalty killer, two-way presence, and general agitator. He has good top-end speed, but his explosiveness and overall agility will need work for the type of role he’ll likely play at the NCAA level with Boston University. In a lot of ways, Hughes is a “poor man’s” Pridham. They play similar kinds of North/South games, but Hughes is just a little less dynamic. As such, he understands how to be that complementary piece who can get to the net and who can work to secure retrievals. As an ‘06, I’d probably want to see Hughes play at a higher level (either the USHL or the NCAA) before using a draft pick on him. This might give a better indication of his offensive upside and likelihood of being a successful role player.

JJ Monteiro - Wing - Salmon Arms Silverbacks (BCHL)

6’0, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51.75

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jj_monteiro_-_1st_period_11_36_-_11_49.mp4

Notes: A natural center who has played the wing this year for Salmon Arms, Monteiro had a great start to the year playing a checking line role for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky. He was largely one of the team’s most consistently effective players and there were high hopes for him heading into this BCHL season. The production doesn’t jump off the page at you, but it’s important to note that Salmon Arms is a relatively low-scoring team. Monteiro is a classic or traditional “grinder,” and I mean that as a form of endearment. He’s a consistently effective presence away from the puck who competes for touches and has great instincts in all three zones. He gets his stick in passing lanes, applies pressure physically, and drives the net to create space. One would probably be surprised that he doesn’t see PK time for Salmon Arms, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t project as a solid two-way, PK guy down the line. The key for Monteiro will be improving his skating profile. He shows good speed in bursts but can struggle to move East/West while maintaining speed. Additionally, he seems to have trouble maintaining his stride, losing speed the longer he carries. To be a defensively oriented center (should he move back to his natural position) at the next level, adding and sustaining speed will be key. The offensive upside is also not likely high. Monteiro is at his best when he keeps things simple North/South, even if he does flash some nice one-on-one moves cutting into the slot. I believe that scouts will be impressed with how he’s been able to elevate his game in big situations this year, like the Hlinka/Gretzky or the BCHL Top Prospect’s game. The Providence College commit is definitely a potential mid-late round pick who could be a solid depth piece for an NHL franchise down the line.

Max Heise - Wing/Center - Penticton Vees (BCHL)

6’2, 161lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 45, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/max_heise_-_3rd_period_2_6_-_2_25.mp4

Notes: Not the type of guy you’d bother scouting just by looking at the stat line. Very seldom do draft-eligible forwards averaging under 0.50 points per game get a sniff from NHL scouts. But it’s easy to see why NHL Central Scouting has him ranked. He’s a versatile player for the Vees; a Swiss army knife who can excel in any situation and who has played both center and wing this year. Heise excels playing a powerful North/South game. He’s not the most efficient and cleanest skater, but he generates power with longer strides that allow him to build to a solid top speed. He uses that speed to drive wide, consistently beating opposing defenders to the net or to the slot. He also is effective on the forecheck and the backcheck; overall, he is a very active player in puck pursuit. He seems to have great attention to detail on the ice, winning battles along the wall to keep plays alive or getting his stick in passing lanes to be a disruptive force. There’s upside for him to develop into a premier defensive forward as he adds strength and fills out his frame. He could easily be one of those four-year guys at Michigan State who, maybe doesn’t get drafted now, but ends up getting signed down the line because his game and skill set are tailored to a depth role at the pro level. Unfortunately, Heise’s not the most creative or skilled, nor is he a terrific finisher. A lot of his net drives result in great scoring chances that he’s unable to finish on. A lot of his shots get blocked or fired wide as he tries to cut into the slot to rip a wrist shot in transition. But, as mentioned, the physical tools are definitely alluring and it’s important to note that his production is also down because of the depth of Penticton.

Ryan Zaremba - Wing - Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL/AJHL)

5’9, 163lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ryan_zaremba_-_1st_period_3_11_-_3_33.mp4

Notes: Zaremba is an undersized, but dynamic playmaking winger who really caught my eye with his strong play for gold medallists Canada West at the WJAC. Bottom line, he’s a fun player to watch. I have little doubt that, at some point, after he bulks up, he will be a top point producer for UMD at the NCAA level. His skating is a strength, maybe not so much in terms of explosiveness or top speed alone, but because of his agility and edgework as it works in combination with his speed. He picks up speed while changing direction and can stop/start on a dime, making him a very tough player to stop in transition. The hands are also solid as he can make plays at top speed, maintaining possession through his sharp cuts, and playing through defender's legs and sticks. He routinely dipsy doodles around the offensive zone, keeping possession for prolonged periods as he looks for passing options. However, there are a few problems limiting his production and impact. For one, he’s just not strong enough currently to find success in the middle consistently. He gets kept to the perimeter a lot and he’s a clear pass-first player whose shot does not give him dual-threat capabilities. He brings energy and he has a great motor; the effort is there. It’s more that he sticks to the perimeter often out of necessity. Additionally, since returning from the WJAC, he’s been incredibly snake-bitten. I know the mess of the AJHL teams merging with the BCHL didn’t help things or his development, but he has only three points in his last eleven games. Undersized tier 2 wingers who don’t hit the scoresheet don’t get drafted; it’s a harsh reality. The bottom line is that I totally do not anticipate Zaremba being selected, but I also wanted to note that I really like the long-term upside of the player once he fills out as part of an NCAA program.

Nathan Free - Wing - Brooks Bandits (BCHL/AJHL)

5’9, 152lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 57.5, Smarts: 45, Physicality/Compete: 40

OFP: 51.25

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/nathan_free_-_2nd_period_15_46_-_15_58.mp4

Notes: From one underside winger to another, the only difference is that, unlike Zaremba, Free has been trending up since the World Junior A Challenge. In fact, since Brooks joined the BCHL, Free has been averaging over two points per game. The Penn State commit is truly a dynamic offensive player. He plays a high-risk, high-reward kind of game from the wing. Offensive zone turnovers are plentiful due to his confidence with the puck and willingness to take on opposing defenders one-on-one. However, he routinely makes them miss and creates defensive breakdowns because of how he can keep the puck on a string. Free is a pretty good overall offensive player too. He shoots the puck well and has a very quick release. He also is a strong linear skater who builds to a solid top speed which he uses to his advantage in transition. He’s not as dynamic East/West as Zaremba (a natural comparison), but skating is not a weakness and is bound to only improve as he builds strength. The concerns I have with Free are related to how he sees the ice. As mentioned, offensive zone turnovers are commonplace as he tries to play through defenders in traffic. You’d love it if he had better vision to take greater advantage of his creativity. Additionally, he’s far from a strong two-way presence or physical player. Of course, both of these attributes could improve and if they do, Free is a player with significant offensive upside. You look at the freshman year that former Brooks forward Aiden Fink is having and have to wonder if Free is capable of the same. However, I liked Fink’s playmaking ability and off-puck play better last year. Even with some warts, Free is definitely a draft candidate, perhaps more than Zaremba who I’ve graded higher.

Matthew Van Blaricom - Wing - Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)

5’11, 175lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 60

OFP: 53

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/matthew_van_blaricom_-_2nd_period_4_12_-_4_24.mp4

Notes: One of my favourite mid-round targets available this year. I fell in love with his game at the World Junior A Challenge and I’ve found myself checking in on him to watch Humboldt action since. Van Blaricom is a Tazmanian devil. His compete level is among the best in this draft class. He’s a consistent physical presence…and his hits hurt. This is not an easy player to match up against. But, Van Claricom is solid away from the puck in general. He always keeps his feet moving and is very effective and active in puck pursuit. He forces turnovers with great stick placement. He times cuts well to become a passing option. He crashes the crease and is great in the cycle. He’s the perfect complementary player at higher levels for high-skill guys; think Michael Bunting. Another reason for that is his shot. He has goal-scoring potential thanks to a heavy wrist shot and strong scoring instincts. From a skill perspective, Van Blaricom does show individual skill and creativity at the SJHL level. He loves using the inside/out move and catches defenders flat-footed pretty consistently. As he moves up the ladder, he’s probably not going to be someone counted upon to carry or make those skilled plays. Really the one thing missing from his game is a dynamic stride. He can build speed, but he’s not very explosive. He’s also not the most graceful on his edges and can slip into a wider stride that limits his mobility. Headed to Michigan Tech, either next year or after a year in the USHL, Van Blaricom has a chance to develop into a really solid pro player…and a potential fan favourite. He’s a guy that I really love and would start advocating for after round three.

Jonathan Morello - Center - St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL)

6’3, 192lbs

Grades: Skating: 60, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.625

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jonathan_morello_-_2nd_period_0_17_-_0_32.mp4

Notes: As mentioned when assessing teammate David Green, I’ve had the opportunity to see Morello live a few times this year and he’s a really impressive player at the OJHL level because of the advantage his speed/size advantage gives him. One time in Burlington he had a breakaway ten seconds into the game. For my money, he’s one of the best skaters in this draft class and that’s impressive for a 6’3 forward. He gets to full speed in only a few strides and he doesn’t lose speed through directional changes. Many OJHL defenders just can’t keep up with Morello stride for stride, especially when he builds a head of steam through the neutral zone. The rest of Morello’s game is best described as raw. His shot, puck skill, two-way effectiveness, and physicality all show the potential to be better in the long run, but right now probably best grade out around average. He does a lot of damage near the crease, which is great and shows a solid compete level to fight for positioning and willingness to play through traffic. His defensive game is inconsistent from shift to shift, which could be conditioning-related. At times, he does use his speed to be effective on the backcheck, but his placement/positioning and physical engagement can waver in this regard. I wish that he was just a little more physical given his quickness and length. That added element would really elevate him in my eyes. Without question, Morello is a long-term project. He’s headed to Clarkson but not until 2025/26, as he’s going to play a year in the USHL first. How his game develops will depend on Morello’s mindset and the development team surrounding him. The physical tools are just really alluring and give Morello a chance to develop into a quality PK, bottom six option. I’m not necessarily convinced he sticks at center long term, but again, Morello is intriguing due to the wide variety of outcomes for his development.

Dean Letourneau - Center - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

6’7, 210lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 55, Skills: 57.5, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 53.875

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/dean_letourneau_-_3rd_period_14_37_-_14_49.mp4

Notes: The crown jewel of the Tier 2 market (no offense meant to the Shattuck boys) this year, Letourneau is a player with massive (pun intended) potential due to his size and skill combination. The million-dollar question is, how much of his success is due in part to him dominating physically against inferior AAA/Prep competition? I do believe the answer to that is…some of it. Letourneau can play through defenders at this level in a way that he wouldn’t be doing at the OHL level…even with his massive size advantage. However, much of his success can also be attributed to his high skill level. It’s rare to see 6’7 centers with the soft hands that Letourneau possesses. He’s so difficult to separate from the puck because of his size and reach, but also because of his ability to control the puck through traffic. I also believe that his skating ability has come a long way already compared to last year. There’s certainly still room for him to improve his explosiveness, in addition to his balance/edgework, but he can now build to a pretty solid top speed and has worked to make his stride more economical. At 6’7, he doesn’t need to be the world’s best skater because those long strides can simply cover more ground at a greater rate. The shot and compete level could probably both be graded down to a 50 right now, but this is taking into account the potential that both have to be above average (or even well above average) qualities. His shot is heavy, but the release will need to improve. Just basic physics for a bigger player. But as he works to improve his one-timer (getting pucks off his stick cleaner, elevating shots), it could be a huge weapon for him…even if he’s likely to be utilized more as a net-front presence as a collegiate player and pro. The compete level is just inconsistent. But as he fills out and improves his conditioning, look for the physical component to be a huge part of his game. How you view his true upside is likely tied to your opinion of his vision and play reading. And quite frankly, this is the area that is the toughest to read right now given the competition he is facing. All eyes will be on him at the end of the year as he likely finishes out the season in the USHL and then at the U18s for Canada. That should give us a better indication as the physical advantage becomes more neutral.

Jack Good - Wing - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

5’9, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/jack_good_-_1st_period_13_52_-_14_4.mp4

Notes: Dean Letourneau’s running mate with St. Andrew’s, Good has never let his size hurt him as he’s moved up the hockey ladder. The main reason for that is the fact that Good is a high-level processor of the game. It’s why he has been the perfect complement to Letourneau. He finds soft spots in coverage, times cuts well, and has outstanding vision and poise with the puck. He’s obviously not the biggest or strongest, but he consistently finds his way to the net; most of his goals are scored within a few feet of the crease. Good also has a good motor. It’s cliche, but he’s one of those guys who plays larger than his size. He is an effective forechecker and he’s very effective in the neutral zone with an active stick to disrupt opposing entries. On the counterattack, Good is more calculated in his approach. You’re more likely to see him slow the game down, rather than speed it up. That’s going to bring to light whether his lack of pace will affect his offensive production at the higher levels. For a smaller player, you’d certainly like him to be a more dynamic skater. He’s not a poor skater by any means, but his quickness, speed, and agility would all grade out to average. Additionally, as mentioned, Good is someone who excels playing through traffic at the prep level, but given that’s where he is most effective, will he continue to be effective in those situations against bigger and stronger defenders? The harsh reality is that NHL teams tend to (and rightfully so because of limited success rates) ignore smaller wingers with question marks over pace and projection. A Merrimack commit, Good is probably going to need to work his way into the good graces of scouts by producing at the NCAA level before he gets a sniff.

Connor Arsenault - Center - St. Andrew’s College (CAHS)

6’2, 210lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 50, Skills: 45, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 60

OFP: 51.5

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/connor_arseneault_-_2nd_period_5_55_-_6_12.mp4

Notes: The captain of St. Andrew’s College, Arsenault came into the season with a decent amount of hype, but a slow start to the year offensively really quelled that. However, he’s picked up his play in a big way in the last few months and is playing his best hockey at the current moment. He’s the team’s second-line center behind Letourneau and is a classic power center who excels at both ends of the ice. The first thing you notice is his physicality. Arsenault is a big hitter; he’s an absolute terror on the forecheck who gives opposing defenders nightmares. However, this physical approach carries over into all three zones. He’s just tough to play against and has a ton of potential as a shutdown center. This is especially true because he’s already a beast at the dot too; Arsenault rarely loses a key draw. From an offensive perspective, the only component of his game that has potential is his shot. Continued improvement in his release and accuracy, in addition to some added confidence could help him to become a quality goal scorer. As is, he’s best when he keeps things simple…and he does that most of the time. You’re most likely to find him net-front in the offensive zone when he’s not working the cycle or applying pressure in pursuit. He understands that his size and strength advantage are best utilized there as Arsenault already has a clear identity on the ice. If Arsenault was a better skater, I think we’d be talking about him as a potential top-100 pick because of how NHL teams could project him as an elite third-line center. But that will be the focal point of his development at Cornell. I think the mechanics are generally fine, so the 50 grade implies that I think he can get to league average with a greater focus on conditioning and power skating. Cornell is actually an outstanding choice for Arsenault based on his skill set and the type of system the Big Red uses. Former teammate Jonathan Castagna has had an outstanding freshman season for Cornell and his skill set was similar. I don’t see Arsenault being left off of NHL Central Scouting’s final list.

Ben Merrill - Center - St. Sebastian’s School (USHS-Prep)

6’4, 195lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 50, Skills: 55, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 50.25

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Notes: Getting good looks on video of some prep school players is very difficult, even in today’s day and age, and Merrill was one of those players. So maybe, my grading is based off of some weaker performances by him, rather than stronger ones with video not available. Regardless, I expected more from a player nearly ranked inside of NHL Central Scouting’s top 100 for NA. Look, I see the allure. Big center with obvious skill and playmaking ability who is far from a finished product. That said, we’re also looking at a late-born 2005 who is far from dominating at the Prep school level. I don’t like to put a lot of stock in limited USHL performances from prep school or high school kids; they’re put in a very difficult spot. But in two games with the Chicago Steel, it was plainly obvious that Merrill’s skating is not up to par for that level currently. He really struggled to get through the neutral zone and his lack of balance and power on his edges limited his elusiveness from USHL defenders. At the prep level, his ability to power through in a straight line is good enough, especially given his size/reach advantage. But at the higher levels, he’ll need to add power to his stride and improve his overall mobility. With that would come an improved ability to be a difference-maker away from the puck. The effort does appear to be there and he uses his reach to be an effective forechecker, but he’s often just that little bit slow to apply true pressure. As mentioned, the playmaking ability, passing skill, and vision do stand out as solid. Merrill is unquestionably a very long-term project. He’s going to play in Penticton next year (BCHL) and then is attending Harvard after that. If he hits his best-case scenario and really fills out physically and athletically, we’re looking at an NHL player five to six years down the line. If I’m an NHL team, I’d want to see him with Penticton next year first.

Gio DiGiulian - Wing/Center - Kent School (USHS-Prep)

6’1, 161lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 51.5

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Notes: Good-sized winger with a strong skating base and a goal scorer’s touch. DiGiulian is a Cornell commit and he’s played both wing and center this year, splitting time between Kent School and the Yale Jr. Bulldogs. Moving forward he’s likely a winger and he does seem most comfortable playing on the right side. DiGiulian is at his best on the counterattack where he can use his speed to drive wide and beat defenders one on one. He has a heavy wrist and snapshot and profiles best as a North/South scoring winger. At the current moment, he does appear to be more offensively focused; his play away from the puck would not be considered a strength. That said, he does a good job of getting to the net at the prep level. Playing at Cornell in their program will be good for the development of his off-puck play and physicality. From a skill perspective, as mentioned, Digiulian appears best when he keeps things simple in that North/South attacking style. As he adds strength, he should be able to take greater advantage of his speed by driving the middle and playing through contact. He can be kept to the perimeter or separated from the puck, and when operating at full speed, he can lose possession. It’s that classic case of the hands needing to catch up to the feet. I could easily see NHL teams liking Digiulian’s potential as he fills out his frame and learns how to best leverage his speed to create scoring chances.

Jack Sadowski - Center/Wing - Kimball Union Academy (USHS-Prep)

6’0, 180lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 52.5, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 40

OFP: 50.5

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Notes: One of the leading scorers in U.S. prep hockey this year, Sadowski is a University of New Hampshire commit. His game revolves around his excellent hockey sense and playmaking ability. Sadowski certainly doesn’t wow you with his physical tools. He’s an average skater. He’s not an intimidating physical presence. His play in the defensive zone leaves a lot to be desired. However, he impresses as an offensive catalyst who can slow the game down, operating at a higher level intellectually than his peers. His edgework and agility are his best traits as a skater and help him maintain possession by eluding physical pressure from defenders as he cuts and pivots to escape the opposition. It’s not uncommon to see him circle back to the point to collect pucks, operating as a point guard in the NBA would do. His shot is also a solid weapon for him and shows plus upside as he improves his strength and ability to work inside. As an NHL draft prospect, I’m not sure I see it. Ranked late by NHL Central Scouting on their midseason list, Sadowski currently lacks that “it” factor that would see him continue to dominate offensively as he moves up the ladder. There’s a need to improve his explosiveness and linear quickness to improve his pace. His game also lacks multi-dimensional layers to it. As mentioned, there’s a need for him to improve his off-puck play; it’s not uncommon to see him cheating the defensive zone or coasting back to the defensive end. Sadowski has already committed to playing in the BCHL next year with West Kelowna before heading to UNH. I’d probably want to see how his game looks at that level, or even further up the ladder (NCAA) before utilizing a draft selection on him.

Javon Moore - Wing - Minnetonka High (USHS-MN)

6’3, 180lbs

Grades: Skating: 57.5, Shot: 50, Skills: 55, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 53.625

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Notes: Let’s be frank, the real test for Moore will be at the end of his high school season when he inevitably joins Sioux Falls (USHL) again, just as he did last year. Moore is such an impressive athlete. As a late born in 2005, and with his size/power, he can do pretty much as he wishes at the high school level. This is especially true considering the talent surrounding him on a dominant Minnetonka High team. Give Moore an inch and he takes a mile. He has such an impressive attacking mindset. He identifies quickly when defenders don’t have him gapped up and in those scenarios, he explodes into openings to create chances, often looking to get the puck to the middle or the net. His first step quickness is very impressive. Not only is he dangerous in transition, but he also explodes out of the cycle to make plays coming off the wall. Moore gallops to top speed in an instant, but his hands already work in sync with his legs, impressive for a young athlete. For that reason, high school defenders have a tough time boxing him in. In watching Moore, I was expecting his play in the defensive end to be pretty poor, but he’s actually more engaged than many high school top scorers. He uses his speed well to close in on blueliners at the point and he has a very active stick that helps him be disruptive as opposing players try to get into the middle. There’s certainly more room for him to grow as a physical player; in fact, it will likely be a necessity for him as he climbs the ladder. But, I’d expect him to blossom in this regard as he becomes accustomed to being a support player. I’d also heard and read some negative things about his vision and passing touch, but I think that’s better than expected for a player of his ilk too. He can seemingly drive the net at will, but he picks his spots well and has terrific chemistry with Hagen Burrows as the two consistently find each other in the offensive zone. Moore will need to learn to slow the game down a bit as he moves forward. When plays do die on his stick it’s because he loses control from trying to push forward before he’s secured possession or before his teammates have caught up to him. I also think that there is room for improvement in his shot. He doesn’t always catch pucks cleanly and has a tendency to fire off the toe or heel of the blade when pressured. He’s currently at his best in tight where his hands can take over. A Minnesota commit (I know, shocker), I’m very intrigued to see how Moore looks in the USHL to close the year. A strong performance could solidify his place in the first few rounds.

Hagen Burrows - Wing - Minnetonka High (USHS-MN)

6’2, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 52.5

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Notes: Unlike his linemate at Minnetonka High Javon Moore, Hagen Burrows started the year in the USHL and was operating at over a point per game for Sioux City. Upon returning to Minnetonka High, Burrows has, as expected, been one of the best players in high school hockey and is a Mr. Hockey candidate. Burrows may have good size, but he’s not really a power forward. He has good puck protection tendencies and habits and can play the net front or work the wall, but he’s not an overtly physical player. He relies on quick touches and pre-scans to move the puck hastily and he has really good hands, which allows him to play around defenders and not through them like teammate Moore. Burrows is far from the world’s most dynamic skater, his stride lacks power and his feet are a little heavy, but because he is so calculated and has great vision, he’s still able to be an impact player at the USHL and high school levels. Burrows is particularly strong coming off the wall or when working down low where he has a full field of vision. He draws in pressure and passes off; his playmaking ability is impressive for a bigger winger. Burrows’ scoring ability is worth mentioning too. He can one-time pucks cleanly, has a quick snapshot, and does work his way to the net front to utilize his size advantage. At the USHL level, his game was certainly more one-dimensional than it has been at the high school level. He’s more engaged physically with Minnetonka High and is stronger off the puck. It will be interesting to see if when he returns to the USHL at the end of the year, we see a more complete player than at the start with Sioux City. It could simply be that Burrows lacks the strength currently to be a true two-way threat at the USHL level where players are more advanced physically. A Denver commit, Burrows will be heading to the Pioneers program at the right time, as under David Carle, it seems like everything they touch turns to gold these days; their development program has become top-notch. As is, I like Burrows as a mid-round gamble to develop into a quality middle-six winger who can play a support role because of his strong playmaking ability.

William Zellers - Wing - Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep)

5’11, 170lbs

Grades: Skating: 50, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 53

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Notes: Zellers is going to be a tough player for NHL teams to evaluate this year. I’m going to guess that opinions on him will be quite split among staff members as they have their final meetings in June. On one hand, Zellers’ production this year has consistently been fantastic. He was one of the best players for the U.S. at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup and he’s carried that forward into being one of the highest-scoring players in the prep loop this year. You can’t argue that he possesses high-end skills. You can’t argue that he possesses high-end problem-solving skills and vision. For the kind of game that he plays, he’s also a fairly competitive young man who finds his way to the net consistently and who has no issue playing through the middle or having to take contact to make a play. Zellers is one of those “slippery” offensive zone wingers. He manages to escape coverage so consistently by anticipating the play ahead of others on the ice, and he has the skill to work around pressure, creating extra time by combining quick feet with quick hands. Now, notice how I said quick feet, I didn’t say overall strong skating. Therein lies one of the issues with Zellers and his NHL projection. He’s not a dynamic skater. He lacks power and his top speed is nothing to shake a fist at. He relies on his hands and ability to find space to carry the puck and create scoring chances. However, he does have excellent agility and is considerably more explosive on his edges than he is linear. Because of that, he’s able to consistently cut into the slot and leverage poor defensive coverage. With a quick release, he doesn’t need a ton of room either. In a lot of ways, there are similarities between Zellers and former OHL’er Cole Perfetti in terms of how they operate and their lack of dynamic skating despite possessing average size. The other issue is that one has to question how truly skilled Zellers is. Are average-sized wingers with skill and sense, but not elite skill, a dime a dozen in the grand scheme of things? As part of our midseason rankings, we ranked Zellers 95th and I believe the early to mid-fourth round makes sense for him. If he can improve his athleticism and physical tools over three or four years at North Dakota, his offensive skill set could make him a quality complementary piece in the middle of a lineup. Let us not forget that a guy like Jake Guentzel was drafted with similar concerns.

Aidan Park - Center - Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS-Prep)

6’0, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 52.5, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.875

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Notes: Once considered one of the top American-born players eligible for this draft, Park’s development has plateaued a bit in recent years. While his offensive upside may not be viewed in the same light it once was, he is still an intriguing prospect with pro potential thanks to his versatility. Park is a competitive two-way center who has a clear on-ice identity built around his intensity level and ability to get to the net. He’s not a physical player in the classical sense; don’t expect him to be out there throwing open ice hits or dropping the mitts. But, he’s always engaged in all three zones, is consistently tenacious in puck pursuit, battles hard to win puck battles along the wall, and jousts for positioning near the crease. Park is also a very intelligent pivot who has a clear understanding of spacing and the importance of varying pace to layer deception into transitional attacks. He draws in pressure and attacks the middle to open up space and is almost always on the mark with his passes, which really benefits linemates Ryker Lee (2025) and Will Zellers at Shattuck. His shot and scoring instincts are sound. His skating is only slightly above average. His stride is inconsistent and he can struggle to build or sustain speed at times. But, three or four years at the University of Michigan should help to improve his power. Due to the fact that his motor never stops, his skating is generally not seen as a hindrance. The real question mark is Park’s upside. At the prep level, his IQ and motor help him be an impact player, but what happens as he moves up the ladder and those strengths are neutralized? Is Park more than just a potential bottom-six center? Once Shattuck’s season ends, Park likely joins the USHL and it will be interesting to see how his game has improved in the last year, as the perception is that it hasn’t really progressed.

Alex Lunski - Center - Minnetonka High (USHS-MN)

6’4, 200lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 45, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 51

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Notes: Often the top pivot on a dominant Minnetonka High team (no pun intended), Lunski is a power center who is headed to the University of St. Thomas. Considering his average production (in both high school and the NAHL), and late birthdate, one might wonder what the appeal is; Lunski is unquestionably a long-term project. The appeal is that Lunski is a very strong skater for a player of his size and he also flashes the skill and creativity to be an offensive contributor at the higher levels. Watching a lot of Minnetonka High, Lunski is confused for Moore quite often by announcers because both are so big and powerful on the ice. Yet, Moore is definitely the more refined player and that’s saying something since his game is pretty raw too. Lunski can put defenders on his back coming off the wall and his top speed is very impressive, making him an effective transitional player. Consistency and skill application have been the biggest issues. Even at the high school level (and especially at the USHL and NAHL levels), plays can die on his stick. He gets to the net and provides a physical presence on some shifts. On others, he’s less than noticeable. But with his size, power, and speed, there’s both a high floor and a decent ceiling depending on how his skill set develops at the college level. As mentioned, despite being a late-born 2005, Lunski is very much a long-term project who is going to require a lot of development to be an NHL player. Yet, it’s rare to find this kind of athletic ability in a big, playmaking center and thus the allure.

Carson Pilgrim - Center - Warroad High (USHS-MN)

5’11, 165lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 55, Skills: 55, Smarts: 52.5, Physicality/Compete: 45

OFP: 52.375

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/carson_pilgrim_-_1st_period_19_11_-_19_23.mp4

Notes: One of the highest-scoring players in Minnesota High School hockey the last two years, Pilgrim is a terrific offensive player. In reality, we in the scouting community should probably be asking ourselves what separates Pilgrim from someone like Will Zellers, who is consistently ranked much higher. Pilgrim has a similar offensive skill set but is the more dynamic skater at the same size. If you watch any of Pilgrim’s games at the USHL level the last few years (this year with Tri-City and last year with the NTDP U17s), it’s obvious that he can keep up at that level from a skating perspective. But I’d say the big difference is that Zellers is a more intense player away from the puck who is better at working through and attacking the middle. So that begs the question, what would you rather have? A more one-dimensional and dynamic offensive player yet to be tested at a higher level, or a more competitive, less dynamic, but equally skilled offensive player who has yet to be tested at a higher level? Pilgrim shoots the puck really well. He is lethal on the powerplay with that extra room to operate. He is very dangerous in transition because he is a dual threat and defenders have to respect both his shooting and passing ability. Once he adds strength and is able to withstand contact better, his offensive upside is pretty significant. But, I struggle to see him as a center long term. Additionally, he’s very much a boom or bust prospect and that proposition is scary for a high school player. How he finishes the year out with Tri-City in the USHL will likely go a long way in dictating where he gets drafted. A strong finish puts him in the top 100 conversation. A poor finish will cast doubt over whether his skill set translates and teams may opt to take a wait-and-see approach.

Nolan Roed - Center - White Bear Lake High (USHS-MN)

5’11, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 52.5, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 52.5

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Notes: A St. Cloud commit, Roed has been terrific across a few levels this year. He started the year with Tri-City of the USHL and was a near-point-per-game player before returning to White Bear Lake as one of the top offensive players in Minnesota. Roed is a highly competitive two-way center who is very inside-focused. Does a lot of his damage tight to the crease and in the home plate area. His intensity and high IQ allow him to consistently find those soft spots in coverage and get inside leverage on defenders between the hash marks. He’s very active in puck pursuit and is extremely effective as a forechecker, showing a penchant for throwing his weight around and making his presence felt physically. He’s also hard on pucks in the defensive end and routinely uses his strength to push opposing players to the wall, where he separates them from the puck and starts the counterattack. A strong north/south skater, Roed shows well in quick bursts and is able to drive the net with consistency. There’s room for improvement in his edgework and agility to make him less predictable as he climbs the ladder, especially given his average size. Additionally, given that he does so much of his damage in close quarters, is that projectable moving forward to the pro level in the future given his average size? Will he be as consistently dangerous near the crease and along the wall against bigger and quicker NHL defenders? That’s the obvious reason why NHL Central Scouting has him ranked quite low despite a really solid year. All that said, I quite like Roed. The speed and competitive drive are impressive and when you combine that with an obviously strong processing ability, you have a player who could develop into a quality middle six type at the NHL level. I know I already mentioned him, but I recall reading and thinking similar things about a guy named Jake Guentzel when he had a great year in the USHL as a draft re-entry.

Caden Lee - Wing - Chanhassen High (USHS-MN)

6’0, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 45, Shot: 50, Skills: 50, Smarts: 55, Physicality/Compete: 55

OFP: 50.5

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Notes: A competitive, power winger, Lee is not currently ranked by NHL Central Scouting, but has had a great year split between Chanhassen High and Cedar Rapids of the USHL. The best way to describe Lee is that he’s the kind of player who is out on the ice regardless of whether you’re up a goal or down one. Even as a USHL rookie, Cedar Rapids was using him in key defensive situations to start the year. His physical approach and ability to protect the puck under pressure are impressive. Lee is a very strong board player who projects as an excellent complementary piece at the collegiate level because of his ability to create space and extend the time of possession in the offensive end. Lee also shows excellent anticipation in the offensive end, working the give-and-go and timing his cuts well to get open looks. He can one-time pucks relatively cleanly and his scoring upside at the higher levels is intriguing. However, Lee’s upside is completely tied to his ability to improve his skating. He definitely would be classified as someone who has “heavy boots.” It’s the precise reason why he’s not ranked by NHL Central Scouting. He struggles to build or sustain speed and relies solely on his ability to put defenders on his back and his hands to help him create space in the offensive zone. If he can improve his quickness and speed at Minnesota State, he could end up being an interesting signing option down the line; Minnesota State has developed players like Lee well in the last decade.

Caton Ryan - Center/Wing - Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)

6’1, 185lbs

Grades: Skating: 55, Shot: 55, Skills: 50, Smarts: 50, Physicality/Compete: 50

OFP: 51.75

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Notes: Ryan is a player who was brought to my attention as a potential NHL draft pick by a former OHL assistant coach. The Clarkson commit was initially listed by NHL Central Scouting as a player to watch but failed to crack their midseason rankings. However, that could change on their final list with Ryan dominating the stat sheet to close out the CCHL season (six goals in his last five games as of writing this). Ryan’s game is highlighted by two things; his speed and his shot. He plays at a feverish pace and is always looking to attack the offensive zone with speed. He can be kept to the perimeter too much and does seem to have a need to add strength to play through contact (to limit turnovers), but his transitional play is a real strength. He understands spacing well when supporting the breakout and gets himself a lot of open looks to utilize his shot by settling into those soft spots by driving wide or altering his pace. As mentioned, the shot is also a real strength. A center at even strength, Ryan settles into a spot on the right side of the powerplay where he can use his one-timer and quick release to beat goalies cleanly. This is a multi-faceted goal scorer who I do believe profiles best on the wing at the NCAA and pro levels thanks to his speed and scoring touch. The rest of his game is a real work in progress and patience is going to be needed. He likely spends next year in the USHL or another NCAA feeder league before attending Clarkson, and I believe that step will be necessary for him. He needs to find a way to be more consistently involved when the game slows down at even strength, showing more poise down low to work the cycle. He forechecks hard and will use his speed to chip and chase, but when pressured along the wall, he can force bad passes or be stripped easily. His off-puck play is also inconsistent, likely due to some strength deficits. He kills penalties for Carleton Place because of his speed, but there’s a need to be more consistently hard on pucks in the defensive end. When you’re drafting in the later rounds, guys like Ryan should be potential targets because they possess a few tools that grade as above average, giving them upside as future pros. This is especially true when you consider that Ryan’s already progressed a lot in the last calendar, particularly as a skater.

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS – December 2023 – Top 32 – Macklin Celebrini leads the pack early by a wide margin

Brock Otten — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:40:04 +0000

NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 1: NCAA men's hockey at Lawler Rink on December 1, 2023 in North Andover, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

It’s time for a ranking update at McKeen’s Hockey as we approach the end of the calendar year. Hopefully you’ve all been following along with our early regional favourites series, where our regional scouts have been providing detailed breakdowns of some of their favourites for the 2024 Draft.

This article shows our top 32 and is available to everyone. For subscribers, we are providing our Top 64 with a few honorable mentions. Then in the new year, we will expand to a Top 100.

The top player on our list is Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini. One of the highest scoring players in the NCAA this year as a freshman, Celebrini has met the ultra-high expectations placed on him heading into the year. He is, in our opinion, a slam dunk to be the first player selected this year. Recently named to the Canadian World Junior camp roster, hopefully Celebrini can earn a roster spot and have a strong performance for Canada as a focal point of the team’s offensive attack.

Sam Dickinson of the London Knights. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

After Celebrini is where things get…murky. We see a group of seven players in competition for that second spot; Sam Dickinson, Cayden Lindstrom, Konsta Helenius, Cole Eiserman, Anton Silayev, Ivan Demidov, and Artyom Levshunov. How those seven players are ranked was heavily debated amongst our scouts. There truly wasn’t much of a consensus among our staff and we know that NHL scouts are having a similar debate at this current time. An argument could be made for any of these seven to be ranked second. Conversely an argument could be made for any of these seven to be ranked eighth. Hopefully a few of these players can truly separate themselves from the pack in the second half. In particular, we’re looking to see if the three defenders, Dickinson, Silayev, and Levshunov, can clean up some of their poor decisions with the puck.

Rounding out the top ten are forwards Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (Mora). Catton is a dynamic play creator who has a chance to jump into that second tier grouping if he can find a way to become a more consistent off puck player. While Brandsegg-Nygard is a winger who plays a game that should translate easily to the pro level in North America. He competes hard. He skates well. It’s just a matter of whether you feel that he has the offensive upside and skill to be a top six player. At this point, considering our high ranking of him, we do believe he possesses that upside.

Of the remaining 22 players currently in our first round, 11 are defenders. While we aren’t enamored with this draft crop (overall), we do really like the upside of this blueline crop. The question is, can the likes of Adam Jiricek and Aron Kiviharju hang on to a spot in our first round because there is no question that they have underperformed compared to their expectations thus far.

But what about the goalies? This is everyone’s favourite question. At this point, we don’t see any netminders worthy of first round consideration. But we did rank OHL goalies Carter George and Ryerson Leenders at the back of our Top 64. George has been the more consistent performer thanks to his excellent play reading ability and mature approach. This was on display at last summer’s Hlinka/Gretzky too, when he stole the starter’s job from Gabriel D’Aigle. Meanwhile, Leenders is unquestionably the better athlete and a netminder with a penchant for making the highlight reel save thanks to his quickness. He just doesn’t have as refined of a technical approach.

The List:

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	15-10-15-25
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	6-3/205	7-Jun-06	27-6-14-20
3	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	27-22-16-38
4	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/180	11-May-06	26-8-11-19
5	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	21-25-16-41
6	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	38-3-7-10
7	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	7-2-5-7
8	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	16-4-11-15
9	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/170	14-Jan-06	25-16-20-36
10	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	21-2-4-6
11	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	30-12-16-28
12	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/190	29-Sep-05	26-12-16-28
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	23-17-18-35
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	6-1/160	28-Feb-06	20-8-18-26
15	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	27-20-11-31
16	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	16-5-16-21
17	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	25-10-26-36
18	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	6-3/195	22-Mar-06	8-0-2-2
19	Adam Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	6-2/175	28-Jun-06	19-0-1-1
20	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	5-9/170	25-Jan-06	7-1-1-2
21	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	24-5-2-7
22	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-2/190	30-Nov-05	15-6-6-12
23	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	27-5-20-25
24	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-2/180	28-Jan-06	21-7-13-20
25	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	20-7-13-20
26	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	9-Mar-06	22-3-19-22
27	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	28-Jun-06	22-6-15-21
28	Maxim Masse	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-2/190	7-Apr-06	30-13-16-29
29	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6-5/200	24-Mar-06	19-8-10-18
30	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	22-13-8-21
31	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	23-1-4-5
32	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	27-8-12-20

MCKEEN’S HOCKEY 2024 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS – December 2023 – Top 64 plus Honourable Mentions – Macklin Celebrini leads the pack early by a wide margin

Brock Otten — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:30:02 +0000

NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 1: NCAA men's hockey at Lawler Rink on December 1, 2023 in North Andover, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon)

For this update, we are providing our Top 64 with a few honorable mentions. Then in the new year, we will expand to a Top 100.

Sam Dickinson of the London Knights. Photo by Natalie Shaver/OHL Images

The List:

RANK	PLAYER	POS	TEAM	HT/WT	DOB	GP-G-A-PTS
1	Macklin Celebrini	C	Boston University (HE)	6-0/190	13-Jun-06	15-10-15-25
2	Sam Dickinson	D	London (OHL)	6-3/205	7-Jun-06	27-6-14-20
3	Cayden Lindstrom	C	Medicine Hat (WHL)	6-3/210	3-Feb-06	27-22-16-38
4	Konsta Helenius	C	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	5-11/180	11-May-06	26-8-11-19
5	Cole Eiserman	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/195	29-Aug-06	21-25-16-41
6	Anton Silayev	D	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	6-7/210	11-Apr-06	38-3-7-10
7	Ivan Demidov	RW	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	5-11/180	10-Dec-05	7-2-5-7
8	Artyom Levshunov	D	Michigan State (B1G)	6-2/205	28-Oct-05	16-4-11-15
9	Berkly Catton	C	Spokane (WHL)	5-11/170	14-Jan-06	25-16-20-36
10	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	RW	Mora (Allsvenskan)	6-1/195	5-Oct-05	21-2-4-6
11	Ryder Ritchie	RW	Prince Albert (WHL)	6-0/175	3-Aug-06	30-12-16-28
12	Carter Yakemchuk	D	Calgary (WHL)	6-3/190	29-Sep-05	26-12-16-28
13	Liam Greentree	RW	Windsor (OHL)	6-2/210	1-Jan-06	23-17-18-35
14	Trevor Connelly	LW	Tri-City (USHL)	6-1/160	28-Feb-06	20-8-18-26
15	Tij Iginla	C	Kelowna (WHL)	6-0/185	1-Aug-06	27-20-11-31
16	Zeev Buium	D	Denver (NCHC)	6-0/185	7-Dec-05	16-5-16-21
17	Zayne Parekh	D	Saginaw (OHL)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	25-10-26-36
18	Matvei Shuravin	D	CSKA Moskva (KHL)	6-3/195	22-Mar-06	8-0-2-2
19	Adam Jiricek	D	HC Plzen (Czechia)	6-2/175	28-Jun-06	19-0-1-1
20	Aron Kiviharju	D	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	5-9/170	25-Jan-06	7-1-1-2
21	Emil Hemming	RW	TPS (Fin-Liiga)	6-1/200	27-Jun-06	24-5-2-7
22	Igor Chernyshov	LW	MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL)	6-2/190	30-Nov-05	15-6-6-12
23	Leo Sahlin Wallenius	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	5-11/175	10-Apr-06	27-5-20-25
24	Beckett Sennecke	RW	Oshawa (OHL)	6-2/180	28-Jan-06	21-7-13-20
25	Michael Hage	C	Chicago (USHL)	6-0/190	14-Apr-06	20-7-13-20
26	Henry Mews	D	Ottawa (OHL)	6-0/185	9-Mar-06	22-3-19-22
27	Cole Hutson	D	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/160	28-Jun-06	22-6-15-21
28	Maxim Masse	RW	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)	6-2/190	7-Apr-06	30-13-16-29
29	Adam Jecho	C	Edmonton (WHL)	6-5/200	24-Mar-06	19-8-10-18
30	Sacha Boisvert	C	Muskegon (USHL)	6-2/180	17-Mar-06	22-13-8-21
31	Veeti Vaisanen	D	KooKoo (Fin-Liiga)	6-0/175	15-Feb-06	23-1-4-5
32	Alfons Freij	D	Vaxjo Lakers (Swe J20)	6-0/185	12-Feb-06	27-8-12-20
33	EJ Emery	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-3/185	30-Mar-06	22-0-5-5
34	Tanner Howe	LW	Regina (WHL)	5-10/180	28-Nov-05	28-16-17-33
35	Nikita Artamonov	LW	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	5-11/185	17-Nov-05	29-4-10-14
36	Lukas Fischer	D	Sarnia (OHL)	6-2/180	6-Sep-06	27-2-9-11
37	Luke Misa	C	Mississauga (OHL)	5-10/175	25-Nov-05	25-11-26-37
38	Matvei Gridin	RW	Muskegon (USHL)	6-1/185	1-Mar-06	22-13-12-25
39	Will Skahan	D	USN U18 (USDP)	6-4/210	14-May-06	22-1-4-5
40	Jett Luchanko	C	Guelph (OHL)	5-11/185	21-Aug-06	27-10-16-26
41	Simon Zether	C	Rogle (Swe J20)	6-3/185	18-Oct-05	17-11-16-27
42	Dean Letourneau	C	St. Andrew's (CHS-O)	6-6/210	21-Feb-06	28-32-31-63
43	Andrew Basha	LW	Medicine Hat (WHL)	5-11/185	8-Nov-05	27-13-22-35
44	Christian Humphreys	C	USN U18 (USDP)	5-11/170	4-Feb-06	22-10-20-30
45	Daniil Ustinkov	D	ZSC (Sui-NL)	6-0/195	26-Aug-06	15-0-1-1
46	Yegor Surin	C	Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)	5-10/175	1-Aug-06	21-11-14-25
47	Leon Muggli	D	Zug (Sui-NL)	6-0/165	9-Jul-06	24-2-4-6
48	Sebastian Soini	D	KOOVEE (Fin-Mestis)	6-2/180	10-Jun-06	15-0-4-4
49	Lucas Pettersson	C	MoDo Hockey(Swe J20)	5-11/170	17-Apr-06	26-13-13-26
50	Cole Beaudoin	C	Barrie (OHL)	6-2/200	24-Apr-06	24-10-8-18
51	Jakub Fibigr	D	Mississauga (OHL)	6-0/170	22-Jul-06	25-4-12-16
52	Justin Poirier	RW	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	5-7/185	4-Sep-06	30-23-10-33
53	Kamil Bednarik	C	USN U18 (USDP)	6-0/185	26-May-06	22-13-14-27
54	Niilopekka Muhonen	D	KalPa (Fin-U20)	6-4/195	28-Feb-06	19-1-5-6
55	Hagen Burrows	RW	Minnetonka (USHS-MN)	6-1/175	13-Oct-05	4-3-8-11
56	Teddy Stiga	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-9/155	5-Apr-06	22-16-12-28
57	Melvin Fernstrom	RW	Orebro (Swe J20)	6-0/185	28-Feb-06	29-18-16-34
58	Dominik Badinka	D	Malmo (Swe J20)	6-3/185	27-Nov-05	15-2-10-12
59	Charlie Elick	D	Brandon (WHL)	6-3/200	17-Jan-06	29-3-10-13
60	Terik Parascak	RW	Prince George (WHL)	5-11/175	28-May-06	28-22-21-43
61	Tuomas Suoniemi	C	Kiekko-Espoo (Fin-U20)	5-10/160	16-Apr-06	20-3-11-14
62	Raoul Boilard	C	Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)	6-1/185	7-Jan-06	30-12-17-29
63	Carter George	G	Owen Sound (OHL)	6-1/190	20-May-06	9-8-2, 3.03, .902
64	Ryerson Leenders	G	Mississauga (OHL)	6-1/175	1-Jun-06	11-7-0, 3.03, .913
HM	Anthony Cristoforo	D	Windsor (OHL)	5-11/190	23-Feb-06	25-1-13-14
HM	Colton Roberts	D	Vancouver (WHL)	6-4/195	8-Jun-06	28-5-11-16
HM	Carson Wetsch	RW	Calgary (WHL)	6-0/185	4-May-06	26-9-9-18
HM	William Zellers	LW	Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHS-MN)	5-10/165	4-Apr-06	25-24-24-48
HM	Aidan Park	C	Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHS-MN)	6-1/185	6-Jan-06	25-15-27-42
HM	Noel Fransen	D	Farjestads (Swe J20)	6-0/180	7-Dec-05	30-15-15-30
HM	Oskar Vuollet	C	Skelleftea (Swe J20)	5-10/170	3-Dec-05	22-12-16-28
HM	Max Plante	LW	USN U18 (USDP)	5-10/170	20-Feb-06	12-4-13-17
HM	Tomas Galvas	D	Bili Tygri Liberec (Czechia)	5-10/150	11-Feb-06	17-1-2-3

2024 NHL DRAFT: EARLY SEASON FAVOURITES – United States – Cole Eiserman, Zeev Buium, Max Plante, Hagen Burrows

Ethan Hetu — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 13:46:21 +0000

Time for another series at McKeen’s from our scouting staff. The 2024 NHL Draft season is well underway and our scouts have been busy soaking in the action around the globe. Analyzing early season play can be difficult; perhaps even a bit of a ruse. Hot starts aren’t always sustainable and cold starts are not always indicative. However, players can still catch our attention in positive ways and that’s what this series intends to highlight.

Ethan Hetu - U.S. Region Scout

Cole Eiserman. Photo Courtesy of USNTDP: Rena Laverty

Cole Eiserman - LW - U.S. National Team Development Program

6’0, 196 lbs - 2006-08-29

Leading up to the start of their respective draft campaigns, Eiserman had been viewed as perhaps the player best fit to challenge Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini for the title of presumptive 2024 first-overall pick. Eiserman starred at the U18 level last season at the age of 16, scoring at above a goal-per-game rate against competition routinely years older than him. His nine-goals-in-seven-games performance at U18 Worlds further cemented his status as a legitimate number-one pick contender, with many assigning him the potential to snipe more than the 72 goals potted by NHL star Cole Caufield did in his NTDP draft year.

So far this season, Eiserman’s goal scoring has been advertised, although his grip on the title of “biggest Celebrini challenger” has admittedly shaken. While Eiserman has been as electric a goal scorer as ever, rare talents (such as the KHL’s Anton Silayev and Ivan Demidov) or potentially more well-rounded players (such as the WHL’s Cayden Lindstrom) have emerged and challenged Celebrini for his spot in the pecking order.

For the rest of the season, it appears one thing will be key for Eiserman to maintain his spot as one of the true cream-of-the-crop talents in this draft class: proving he’s more than just his shot. Nobody doubts how Eiserman’s best tool will translate to higher levels of hockey, but there are those who want to see him show he can be a more well-rounded, complete player. His impact as a playmaker, as well as his NHL projection in that area, is far more cloudy than his projected impact as a finisher.

As a goal-scoring threat alone, Eiserman merits consideration at the top of this draft class. He’s that lethal. We have years of evidence that paint Eiserman as among the most naturally gifted goal scorers to ever come through the program. But the key to Eiserman’s evaluation this season will be in the other aspects of his game, and I think that there are some intriguing areas to build on, such as the edge he often plays with.

He’s an exhilarating player to watch, but in order to reach his highest potential he’ll have to build out his secondary toolkit behind his otherworldly abilities as a sniper. When an NHL team spends a top pick on Eiserman, and the inevitable questions are raised as to whether he’ll forgo his commitment to Boston University and head to NHL training camp, it’ll be the depth of Eiserman’s efforts to play a more well-rounded game that determines the answer.

Bring On the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1-Eiserman-Snipe-off-Rush.mp4

While this first clip admittedly does not feature the strongest competition for Eiserman (he’s playing Division-III Utica College) this is simply a shot that most goaltenders would struggle to stop. This clip showcases some of the things that make Eiserman’s shot such a thing of beauty. He’s able to unleash it while in motion on the rush, and with a defender whose stick looks poised to interrupt his follow-through. Only it doesn’t, and Eiserman places the point inside the post with pinpoint accuracy.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-Eiserman-Again-just-a-ridiculous-shot-on-the-rush.mp4

Another example from the game against Utica, but again it’s such a well-placed shot that most goalies would likely struggle to stop it. Just another example of how lethal Eiserman’s shot is in a variety of situations, these past two clips being on the rush.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/3-Eiserman-One-Timer-from-Hutson.mp4

This clip illustrates two things. First and foremost, Eiserman clearly shows here that he’s as lethal from a stationary position, receiving the puck for a one-timer as he is on the rush. No matter the situation, Eiserman is going to absolutely rip the puck. This shot was such a strike of lightning that the on-ice officials needed a quick pause to confirm that the puck did, in fact, go into the net. My favorite part of this clip is something that I am so consistently impressed by when watching Eiserman’s tape: his ability to quietly slink into the most lethal scoring position. This is on a power play, where he’s obviously able to take advantage of a numerical advantage, but even at 5v5, Eiserman does this exact thing: place himself in the best possible positions to score, oftentimes with his opposing defenses realizing only when any efforts to stop him would be too little, too late.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/4-Eiserman-sneaky-boi.mp4

I find Eiserman often operates in the offensive zone like a shark circling in shallow water and carefully stalking its prey. Late in a one-goal game, the NTDP’s dump-in draws the focus of the Cornell defenders. As the defenders appear fixated on their teammate’s collection of the puck, readying themselves to assist with the zone exit, Eiserman takes advantage of their momentary distraction. He slowly paces his way into a prime scoring area, understanding that his teammates are likely to look to him if they manage to recover the puck. Teddy Stiga finds a way to come up with the puck and by the time it lands on Eiserman’s stick, it’s already too late for Cornell’s defenders.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/5-Eiserman-hit-1.mp4

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/6-Eiserman-hit-2.mp4

I’m cheating a little here by including two clips, but they’re short and just quick examples of something that I think is so crucial to Eiserman’s projection. I can say with confidence that he’s going to be able to rack up goal totals at higher levels of hockey. What I can’t say with nearly as much confidence is what his overall value at the NHL level is going to be, especially beyond goal-scoring. That being said, he does show at least the foundation of something of a “B” game, specifically in his physicality. Eiserman isn’t an overwhelmingly physical player, and that’s okay. He’s a sniper, it’s good that he’s focused on that aspect of the game rather than less valuable things. The team that scores the most goals wins, after all. But these two quick clips are emblematic of something beyond just goal-scoring that I really like in Eiserman’s game, which is his edge. He’s a genuine competitor, and he doesn’t shy away from dealing out physical punishment when he deems it appropriate. I’m not saying he’s going to become an NHL power forward, but there’s something there, there’s a bit of sandpaper to Eiserman’s game that I think wil be one of the more compelling things to track as he develops.

PROVIDENCE, RI - OCTOBER 20: Denver Pioneers defenseman Zeev Buium (28) skates with the puck during a college hockey game between the Denver Pioneers and the Providence College Friars on October 20, 2023, at Schneider Arena in Providence, RI. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)

Zeev Buium - LHD - University of Denver

6’2, 180 lbs - 2005-12-07

Despite the fact that Shai Buium was the 36th overall pick at the 2021 NHL draft (a remarkable achievement on its own) and is an NCAA National Champion, it’s his brother, Zeev, who could end up the best hockey player in his family. The younger Buium, now in his freshman year at the University of Denver, has stormed out of the gate so far this season with six points in eight games at the time of writing.

While his brother anchors Denver’s second pairing, Buium has been slotted in as a top-pairing defenseman as a freshman. That’s an impressive feat regardless of the circumstances, but for Buium he happens to be playing a major role so early in his career on a team that’s a genuine National Championship contender.

Buium’s game has many strengths. First and foremost, it’s Buium’s IQ that stands out as his signature tool. He’s an exceptionally smart defenseman, with a keen understanding not only of the offensive game but also an ever-improving grasp of the defensive side as well. Watching his tape, I was consistently impressed with the choices Buium made under pressure, a trait that projects very well to the pro game.

Beyond his smarts, Buium is also a quality skater. His edgework in particular is worthy of commendation, and when he combines his intelligence with his skating ability, he can routinely find ways to separate with the puck and create space to make plays. His straight-line speed isn’t as impressive as his edgework, though it is decent nonetheless.

One other aspect of Buium’s game that I’ve grown to really like has been his physicality. While not as big as his brother, Buium is physical, engaged defenseman who isn’t afraid to use his body to kill chances and gain possession of the puck.

At this moment, Buium is excelling in a challenging environment on what looks to be one of the best teams in college hockey. There are a lot of exceptional blueliners in this class, and it’s true that Buium doesn’t jump off the page like some of them. He doesn’t have the “unicorn” size-and-mobility combo of Silayev, nor is he as dynamic as Artyom Levshunov. What makes Buium special as a prospect, his brain and his well-roundedness aren’t quite as immediately obvious and easy to appreciate. But that doesn’t mean Buium doesn’t belong in the first-round conversation as one of the best defensemen in this class, alongside those other names.

Bring On the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1-Buium-read-stretch-pass.mp4

This is far from a special play, but it’s one that I think illustrates so well what makes Buium a great prospect. Here he’s recovering a cleared puck, and as he makes his way to it he’s careful to scan the ice to see who will be forechecking him and where those forecheckers are in relation to him. Buium often does something like this, he likes to always have a mental picture of the game unfolding around him. Then once he makes one here, he fires a crisp stretch pass into the neutral zone, entirely undeterred by the forechecker closing in on him. It’s a really poised play and an example of something really valuable defensively: the ability to deliver efficient, clean zone exits.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2-Buium-Subtle-cutback.mp4

This clip comes from the same shift, and it’s a very small, subtle play. Buium is deep in the offensive zone, and he needs to create some space to cycle the puck and get back to his defensive position. In a show of some real hockey smarts, Buium takes advantage of the opponent covering him assuming that he’d look to move up along the boards back to the point, faking a turn in that direction. He fakes out the opponent, creating enough time for him to move into the corner and get a pass across to an open teammate. It was a very crafty heads-up move, and once again highlights how Buium’s intelligence translates into deception.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/3-Buium-Edgework.mp4

This short clip showcases some of Buium’s skating tool, specifically his edgework. Those are some difficult, on-a-dime turns he makes to cry to create space along the blueline before deferring to a more open teammate.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/4-Buium-creative-zone-exit.mp4

This play might be my favorite of any clip in this entire piece. It’s just a zone exit, but what a zone exit it is. Buium, sensing a forechecker likely to hit him in an attempt to disrupt his possession of the puck, acts quickly and fires a jumping, between-the-legs backward pass up the boards to an open teammate, allowing for a rush attack in transition. Again, this isn’t an Earth-shattering play, ultimately it’s a zone exit. But for me, it’s another example of Buium’s intelligence and creativity, as well as his ability to just find a way to do what needs to be done under pressure. I prioritize a defenseman’s ability to facilitate zone exits as one of the most important defensive traits I look for in blueliners, so seeing a play like this made by Buium is a massive green flag.

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/5-Buium-confidence.mp4

In this clip, Buium displays impressive poise and confidence with the puck. He’s holding onto it as long as he possibly can in the neutral zone in order to bait in a forechecker, and once he feels he has created sufficient space he fires a perfect, lightning-quick pass to a teammate to begin a rush attack.

Max Plante - C/RW - U.S. National Team Development Program

5’10, 170 lbs - 2006-02-20

The son of 450-game NHL veteran and current Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Derek Plante, Max Plante looks poised to pass his brother, Zam, as the highest-drafted member of his family next year. Zam was drafted in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2022, while Max stands a chance of potentially becoming a first-round pick for the 2024 class.

Plante is a playmaker at heart. He has advanced passing instincts and a deft ability to deliver the puck to the right place at the right time. Often placed on a line alongside Eiserman, Plante’s overwhelming pass-first tendencies mesh well with Eiserman’s “open fire” mentality as a sniper. En route to the NTDP, Plante ripped apart his high school competition and then impressed with the U17 team.

As far as his outlook moving forward goes, Plante has a lot going for him. He’s committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where he’ll likely quickly become a top-of-the-line offensive player. Moreover, getting to play his draft year often alongside a player who very nicely complements his skillset should allow him to put his best foot forward in front of NHL scouts.

That being said, there are some question marks that he’ll need to address. Firstly, Plante doesn’t offer overwhelming size, nor is he an exceptional skater. He’s a good skater, to be sure, but not one of the players in this class for whom skating is a notably advanced tool. As a result, there will naturally be questions over whether someone with his size/speed profile will be able to translate offensive production from lower levels to the pro game.

Additionally, Plante is a great playmaker, but one would like to see him show more of a goal-scorer’s touch at this level. The NTDP encourages creativity, and Plante can often be seen on tape making these impressive, highly creative plays to set up teammates. But in order to show scouts he can be a more complete offensive weapon, he’ll need to show he has more in his arsenal than playmaking.

There are a few times on tape when Plante makes an ill-advised pass from a prime scoring position when any coach or scout would really just like for him to shoot it. That’s to be expected at this stage — Plante is still very much in the earlier stages of his development — but as we get closer to the draft you’d like to see him get more decisive and add a dimension of lethality as a shooter to his offensive toolkit. If he can do so, he could see himself drafted in one of the early rounds of the 2024 class with a chance to become a first-rounder.

Bring On the Videos!

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This is the first of two clips from one shift. This first one shows what I believe to be a key area to improve for Plante. Here he’s on the powerplay and in a position to take a deadly shot on net. The puck bounces right to his stick with more than enough room to shoot, and while there is a defenseman placed directly in front of him, there’s still more than enough room to get a puck on net. Instead, Plante quickly defers to Brodie Ziemer, who is not expecting the pass. No shot is made, and the NTDP is forced to regroup and punt on what could have been a quality slot shot.

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But then just a short time later on that power play, Plante’s patience and heavy pass-first preference does benefit the NTDP. Here, Plante receives a James Hagens pass and has a pretty wide-open shot at the net, albeit from a more distant position than before. Undeterred by the failure of his previous pass attempt, Plante still does not elect to shoot. Instead, understanding that the two defenders previously covering Hagens would be pulled to him, sends the puck directly back to Hagens. What could have been a mid-range one-timer between the two players turns into an excellent give-and-go, a maneuver that frees Hagens to make a cross-ice pass to Eiserman that was previously unavailable. Eiserman does what he does best, and the NTDP put an eighth goal past a very strong Boston University team. This clip is notable to me mostly in that it shows the double-edged sword of Plante’s pass-first tendencies. Yes, earlier in the shift, he passed on a shot he really should have taken. But with how smart and skilled Plante is, another great pass could just be a few seconds away.

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This clip showcases Plante’s offensive IQ. After giving a teammate behind him a pass while drawing players away from him, BU defenders all angle towards the puck so Plante sneaks into prime scoring position and nets a goal.

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The defensive side of Plante’s game isn’t nearly as polished or exceptional as his playmaking abilities, but there’s a basic foundation to work off of. In this clip, Plante does what every coach hopes to see a player do: backcheck through the neutral zone to keep pace with an opposing attacker, putting in the hard work to not only neutralize his man as a passing option, but also be close to the net to be able to interrupt a shot attempt.

Hagen Burrows - RW - Sioux City Musketeers / Minnetonka High

6’2, 165 lbs - 2005-10-189

Hagen Burrows isn’t the easiest player to scout. On one hand, there are a ton of things to like. He makes it easy on you when you flip on his tape, he’s got size and a ton of skill, and he appears to just have a knack for getting his name onto the scoresheet. And yet while watching him, despite the fact that he really looks the part, it’s hard to escape this underlying wonder of how his game will translate to the NHL level.

But assessing him based on his tools, first and foremost, there really is a lot of promise here. Burrows is a natural playmaker, with solid puck skills. He makes the most out of his teammates, often acting decisively to set up his linemates without much downtime holding onto the puck. There’s a decisiveness to his offensive approach that really sticks out, he makes his reads and he acts upon them, without much second-guessing.

But on that same note, there are downsides to his offensive approach. Despite his large frame, he’s still yet to really fill out and become a physical player. Sioux City likes to use him closer to the net on their lethal power play, and his skill there really shines. But he’s more of a down-low playmaker in that role rather than someone who’s going to be a menace in front of the net, grinding for position as a screener.

You’d like to see him become less of a perimeter player, but given his red-hot start to his USHL career, it’s hard to really recommend he change aspects of his approach. One would assume that he’s going to add more pro-ready elements to his game at the University of Denver, and if he can do that his pro projection will be a lot cleaner.

As of right now, there’s still a lot of work to be done, especially on the defensive side of things where he can stand to be more engaged. That being said, there really is a ton of skill to work with here alongside Burrows’ NHL frame.

Especially seeing as he’s slated to return to Minnetonka High rather than remain with the Musketeers, Burrows is overwhelmingly likely to be selected on the second day of the 2024 draft. But as a developmental project, Burrows has a lot of things to offer.

Bring On the Videos!

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1-Hagen-Burrows-Looks-off.mp4

This clip is a decent example of some of what Burrows has in his offensive toolkit. At first glance, this looks like a pretty regular, unimportant play, just a pass down low to a teammate at the goal line. But what’s notable here is how Burrows is able to look off defensive coverage to keep his intended passing option clear.

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This clip shows off two notable aspects of Burrows’ game. Firstly, he’s stationed right around the net, which is where he often finds himself and where he has become more and more comfortable. Additionally, Burrows here makes a cross-crease pass directly in front of the net, rather than attempting to put the puck past the goalie himself. Burrows truly is more of a playmaker at heart, someone who is always looking to make the best pass to a teammate, and it shows here.

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This is an aspect of Burrows’ game that I’d like to see him improve. Here, rather than proactively read the defensive zone Burrows appears occupied with watching a puck battle unfolding along the boards. While an opposing player is placed relatively close to him, he does not engage with that player either. As a result, the closer player is free to fire a pass to a teammate wide open in the slot, who scores a relatively easy goal here. This is an example of a trend I noticed in Burrows’ game, which is a lack of true engagement in the defensive zone. You’d like to see him be less passive here and more proactive in reading the defensive zone in order to put himself in the right position to make stops. This is an area for Burrows to focus on in terms of his development (his defensive game) but one wonders if he’ll get the chance to truly do that at Minnetonka, where he’ll likely be a high-flying offensive dynamo.

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But even with those areas for improvement on the defensive end, the package of tools to work with here offensively is enough to make me confident in his viability as an NHL Draft prospect. There’s a level of composure to his offensive game that is really showcased in this clip, where Burrows is able to knife a puck past defenders on the forecheck and get a pass across to a teammate (despite an opponent backchecking on him), a pass that leads to a somewhat lucky goal. Burrows’ offensive skill routinely translates into production, something other players can struggle at, and whether or not he’s able to continue that at a higher competition level at the University of Denver will likely be the biggest factor in determining what future in professional hockey he has.