Hardy Haman Aktell – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – WASHINGTON CAPITALS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #19

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:49:23 +0000

Top 20 Washington Capitals Prospects

1. Ryan Leonard

There is no area in Leonard’s game that requires significant growth in order for him to be an NHLer. His ability to play with pace, his physicality, goal scoring ability, and two-way efficiency made him one of the most complete forwards available for the 2023 draft. Unquestionably, one of his best qualities is his shot. Armed with an array of high-end shots, Leonard can beat goalies in a variety of ways. His offensive zone anticipation and understanding of spacing helps him to consistently find soft spots in coverage and his quick release helps him to take advantage of those opportunities more often than not. The million-dollar question is ultimately what is his upside if he’s really good at absolutely everything, but not elite in any one thing? Can he be a first line winger the way guys like Gabriel Landeskog or Matthew Tkachuk? Or does he fit more into the middle of the lineup as a Brandon Saad or Nick Foligno type? Headed to Boston College (along with USNTDP linemates Smith and Perreault), Leonard will focus on improving his vision and playmaking ability. He should be an immediate impact player at the collegiate level similar to how Cutter Gauthier was last season. He should also be in the NHL sooner than many players drafted in the 2023 first round.

2. Hendrix Lapierre

It was a tough road for Lapierre, suffering multiple concussions and struggling at times to find his game after that. He had a very strong rookie season in the QMJHL, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. But after that, injuries set in and he missed almost all of his draft year. Still, the Capitals took a chance, drafting him 22nd overall. He spent two more years in the Q, playing well but never taking off. He joined the AHL’s Hershey Bears last season where he was one of their more productive forwards, bringing a two-way presence to the ice. Lapierre is a highly talented playmaker, thanks to his borderline elite vision. He can shoot as well, although often looks for the pass first. He skates well, drives a line, and is reliable in his own end. There’s second-line potential here if everything falls into place.

3. Ivan Miroshnichenko

Miroshnichenko was once considered a top-three calibre selection for the 2022 Draft but after a slow start to his draft year and then a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis, he slid to 20th where the Capitals were waiting. He ended up missing a large portion of 2021-22 but was back on the ice last season, a great sign after his diagnosis. He spent a large portion of his season in the KHL with Avangard Omsk but also saw time in both the VHL and MHL. He also has a strong international resume with Team Russia, including captaining Russia to a gold medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He has a pro frame and moves very well on the ice, thanks to powerful skating strides. Miroshnichenko is a dynamic offensive asset, able to fire a hard wrister or show off an impressive pass. He has very soft, controlled hands. He still has top six potential but may take some time to actualize. He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Capitals to continue his journey in North America this season.

4. Andrew Cristall

Cristall is an absolute magician with the puck, with a seemingly bottomless bag full of tricks. He can stickhandle in a phone booth, and his ability to draw opponents out of better defensive positioning and in towards him is exceptional. He can reliably find existing passing lanes or make that one extra dangle or delay that one extra second to help open up better ones. He's no slouch as a shooter, either. Countless opponents have made the mistake of trying to cut off his passes only to leave their goalies in helpless positions after Cristall fooled them. For as entertaining as he has been in the WHL, there are questions about how he will look in the NHL. For a guy of his small stature he isn't a high-end skater, which is a concerning one-two punch. While he can use elusive footwork to sometimes help get him out of trouble in tight spaces, his acceleration and top speed are both sorely lacking. He has a hard time keeping up defensively. It's worth mentioning that he is whip-smart and incredibly driven, so he'll be aware of what parts of his game he needs to fix and will keep putting in the work to continue improving.

5. Vincent Iorio

Iorio has been overlooked by many due to his stat line never really jumping off the page. And yet he’s a mobile, puck-moving defender with a real chance to have a legit NHL career. He moves very well, utilizing his edges to navigate the neutral zone or to dance along the blue line. He moves the puck so well, making crisp, clean passes from anywhere on the ice. Drafted 55th overall in 2021, the right-handed defender already had three WHL seasons under his belt. He spent just one more with the Brandon Wheat Kings before joining the AHL Hershey Bears last season. He also earned a call-up for a few games with the Capitals and should see more this season. The defender is well on his way to becoming a skilled bottom-four defender.

6. Ryan Chesley

Chesley heard his name called 37th overall in 2022 after an impressive season with the USNTDP. He made the move to the NCAA last season with the University of Minnesota and found some challenges with his offensive output, especially playing in a more depth role. He’ll likely see additional ice time next season, so it remains to be seen if his offensive game can take a step forward. Chesley can bring offensive production, but he leans more toward the defensive side of the game. He keeps a very active stick and defends the rush very well. His defensive awareness is high. He also skates well and is no stranger to moving the puck around, but his offensive output is likely to be limited at the next level. He has the potential to develop into a reliable, two-way, depth defender.

7. Alexander Suzdalev

Suzdalev has an interesting backstory of having played for both Team Sweden and Team Russia on the international stage, as he maintains dual citizenship. Drafted 70th overall in 2022, the Capitals selected him from HV71’s junior program, where he produced over a point per game. He headed overseas last season to the WHL’s Regina Pats and had the opportunity to play with Connor Bedard. That resulted in him leading all rookies in goals (38), assists (48), and points (86). He’s a skilled, playmaking winger who shows the ability to control the pace of play. His handling of the puck stands out, as though he has the puck on a string quite often. He’s not always consistent in his effort, as is sometimes seen with young offensive talents. He has the skill to be a middle-six forward, but if he can’t find that missing consistency, could cap himself as a depth option.

8. Alexander Alexeyev

It’s been a long road for Alexeyev, but the journey is starting to pay off. Selected 31st overall in 2018, the Russian defender was finishing up his second WHL season, taking a notable step forward in his development. He played one more season there with the Red Deer Rebels, again showing promising potential. He made the jump to the AHL in 2019-20, adjusting well to the faster, harder game. He went home to Russia to start the 2020-21 season, on loan with KHL Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Alexeyev returned to the AHL to finish the year and has been there ever since, seeing significant NHL time last season. He’s been plagued by injuries throughout his development but still seems to be on the right track. A big, physical defender who can chip in offensively, he should stick in the NHL as a bottom-pairing blueliner.

9. Clay Stevenson

One of the oldest prospects in the Capitals system, Stevenson has had to be patient in his road to the pros. An undrafted netminder, Stevenson came up through the BCHL where he spent three seasons, including a dominant final year, earning recognition as the top goaltender in the league. He moved on to NCAA Dartmouth College but lost his freshman year due to the pandemic. After one collegiate season, posting a .922 save percentage, the Capitals came calling, signing him to an entry-level deal. He mainly played in the ECHL last season but also received a handful of AHL games where he looked very strong. Goaltenders tend to bloom late, and the Capitals have landed an intriguing one. He’ll need time in the minors to determine his ceiling, but at this point, he looks like a solid AHLer who could earn the occasional call-up.

10. Ludwig Persson

Drafted 85th overall in 2022, Persson has spent the last three seasons (including the current campaign) seeming always on the verge of making the jump to the SHL. Instead, he spent two strong seasons in the J20 Nationell and last season on loan in the HockeyAllsvenskan. It might very well have been his last season in Sweden, as he signed his entry-level deal in November 2022. The winger is an intelligent, offensive talent who can drive a line. The issue is that he doesn’t always take advantage of that, sitting on the sidelines and letting his teammates take over. He has a hard, quick release and a soft touch on his passes. The potential is there but he comes with a low floor as much as a high ceiling. The best-case scenario would be a middle-six role, but he may settle in as an AHL/depth option.

11. Joaquim Lemay

Lemay has been all over the place in recent years, traveling from minor hockey in Quebec, to prep school, the BCHL, USHL, and finally the University of Nebraska-Omaha last season. A competitive two-way defender, he had a solid freshman year and looks the part of a potential NHL defender.

12. Bogdan Trineyev

The big power winger will finally make the jump to North America full time this season. Consistency has been an issue in Russia, but the skill is real and the physicality is intriguing. Hockey sense is the question mark.

13. Ethen Frank

A member of the AHL’s All Rookie team last year, Frank potted 30 for the Bears playing on an AHL deal. Now signed by the Caps to an NHL contract, Frank has his sights set on making the Washington roster. Not only can he rifle the puck, but he’s lightning quick, too.

14. Ryan Hofer

A big, physical two-way center, Hofer had a solid OA year split between Everett and Kamloops in the WHL. Skating is always going to be a question mark, but he has enough tools to be an eventual bottom six contributor.

15. Cam Allen

Allen is coming off a highly disappointing draft year that saw him fall from being a potential lottery selection to waiting until the fifth round to hear his name called. The tools are all there, but the decision making needs to improve. How much better will he be this year for Guelph without the weight of the draft on his shoulders?

16. Matthew Phillips

Out of Calgary, it will be interesting to see how Phillips fares in a new organization. There’s absolutely no doubt that he can score in the AHL. He’s been one of the better offensive players there in recent years. He needs to be in a scoring line role to succeed.

17. Brent Johnson

Highly touted coming out of the USHL, Johnson struggled mightily through two years at North Dakota. After transferring to Ohio State, can he get his future back on track? He can quarterback a powerplay and could put up big numbers with the Buckeyes this year.

18. David Gucciardi

Strong skating blueliner who took on a larger role with Michigan State last year as a sophomore. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but Gucciardi has intriguing tools that could help him become a solid pro down the line.

19. Jake Karabela

Another Guelph Storm member who had a poor year, Karabela is a strong skating two-way forward whose offensive game really stagnated last season. This season is an opportunity to prove to Washington that he deserves a contract and can be a future pro.

20. Hardy Haman Aktell

An SHL champion with Vaxjo last season, Aktell emerged as one of the top defenders in the SHL. This turned into a contract with Washington this offseason. He may have to start the year in the AHL, but he could move up quickly if he performs well.

NHL: 2023 European free agent frenzy – 25 players you may see in the NHL or AHL next season

Chapin Landvogt — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 19:07:58 +0000

2023 European free agent frenzy

It happens every year. The springtime rolls around and the time period between the various European league playoffs and the ensuing men’s World Championship sees a good handful or more of usually mid-20s European free agents added to the deck by NHL teams, sometimes even getting 2-year deals in the process. This year should be no different. However, no-one should be expecting an Andrey Kuzmenko to result from this year’s crop. The prize gem of last spring’s group, Kuzmenko has become an instant contributor to the Canucks attack and is currenting steering his way towards a 40-goal season.

Scoring hasn’t really been the name of the game for most of Europe’s top leagues this year and even those who have been impressively notable, most particularly forwards Dmitri Jaskin and Antti Suomela - each having been the regular season top scorers for the KHL and SHL respectively - had just returned back to Europe after having been in North America for no less than this past season. Nonetheless, there are players who have moved into the spotlight and are looking like viable depth options for NHL clubs. Below are a number of names you should keep an eye on over the next few months.

You can bet your bottom dollar that several will be found in NHL or AHL rinks next winter.

Get ‘em while they’re hot

Växjö's Hardy Häman Aktell celebrates after 1-0 during quarter-final three in the SHL between Växjö and Luleå on March 20, 2023 in Växjö.
Photo: Jonas Ljungdahl / BILDBYRÅN /

Hardy Haman Aktell (SWE) - D - 24 - 6’4”, 196 lbs. - SHL

A 2016 4th rounder of the Nashville Predators, we can’t see any situation in which Haman Aktell goes unsigned by an NHL team this spring unless he simply wishes to play elsewhere. For those who have followed his evolution the past 4+ seasons, the lanky defender brings everything you’d want from a player you’d look to sign with the goal of having him step right into your line-up in a lower line capacity next season. His NHL upside is, well, uh, the sky's the limit. He has shown the ability to do a bit of everything in all three zones and it’s thoroughly legitimate to think he could be logging big minutes within a few seasons of his NHL debut. This season has been his big arrival in the SHL after incremental growth into a stud defenseman for one of Europe’s top leagues. His size and mobility are top-flight and now he’s added PP quarterback to the resume. After a 36-point, +23 regular season (51 games), he’s clipping at a PPG in three playoff games thus far. Look for him in an NHL rink next season, although some AHL seasoning may be the course of preference for the team signing him. Maybe.

Samuel Johanesson (SWE) - D - 22 - 5’11”, 176 lbs. - SHL

Drafted by Columbus as an overager in 2020, Johanesson has already hit free agency and has decided to burst onto the scene in a point-producing capacity to coincide with this newfound status. Lost a bit in the numbers game for Rogle two straight seasons after a promising draft year, it was thoroughly understandable that Columbus had little incentive to sign him. Now the righty shot has put up 35 points in 55 games thus far, effectively blowing any prior showings out of the water. The confidence he’s shown in being a two-way defensive asset has us feeling like now would be just the right time to introduce him to the challenges of the AHL to see just what his future holds. It’s not inconceivable that if everything goes right, he’s just a few years away from being a poor man’s Klingberg.

Valtteri Pulli (FIN) - D - 22 - 6’6”, 225 lbs. - Liiga

The only non-Swede in this section of the European UFA list, Pulli is a surefire signing this spring. He’ll get his shot in North America via the AHL and remains a project, one that offers a world of size and some pretty good wheels for a man in such a body. You’d want him to be a physical force, but he brings an all-round game and likes to engage himself in the offensive zone. His 18 points in 56 games have been just fine for a player getting in his first full season of pro hockey and someone has thankfully let him know that a pokecheck can be highly effective when you’ve got that size. He may prove moot having him on this list by publishing as his signing with the San Jose Sharks seems all but official just now.

Oskar Stal Lyrenas - RW - 24 - 6’1”, 185 lbs. - SHL

Oskar’s name may be the most unique, but certainly not the sexiest name on this list. Nonetheless, for those watching, there have been too many moments this season where the game just seemed to evolve around Stal Lyrenas and his creativity. In the midst of his second full season of SHL hockey after years of plodding development in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Stal Lyrenas has popped in 15 goals and 33 points in 52 total SHL games in a primarily second line role. Again, his hockey sense and the means by which play seems to gravitate around him while he’s on the ice is what has him sought after right now despite the somewhat average production. Normally, we’d say teams would like to wait it out another season to see if he can top things off with an even bigger 23-24, but those following closely must know that he needs to be grabbed now before the cat’s out of the bag.

The usual suspects

Rickard Hugg (SWE) - LW/RW - 24 - 5’10”, 190 lbs. - SHL

Even when he was putting up 73 points for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL in 18-19, it didn’t feel like Hugg was going to be an NHL option any time soon. There were just too many detractions with regard to his skating, awareness, and wherewithal. Fast forward to this season, where he’s wrapping up his second straight season of 40+ points with a top SHL club, and we’re seeing a young man who is forcing himself into the conversation. There’s a lot of drive to the net in Hugg and his presence on the ice is constantly creating more space for his teammates, for whom he’s got a good eye. And that can go a long way on the smaller ice surfaces around North America. But is he ready to give up a nice gig in a top European league to give it another shot overseas, one that would surely begin in the AHL? He’s got a number of current teammates who spent time in the AHL only to return to the shinier lights of the SHL…

Patrik Karlqvist (SWE) - RW - 30 - 6’1”, 216 lbs. - SHL

A long time high-scoring minor leaguer in Sweden, Karlqvist made waves last season by putting up 52 points in 49 games in his first ever SHL season. He wavered a bit in the playoffs with just 3 points in 10 games, but his team was the underdog hit of the postseason. Now he’s topped that output last season with 61 points in 52 games this season. Oh, and a tough first round out in the pre-playoffs nonetheless saw him add 5 goals and 6 points in 3 games. There’s nowhere left to go but up for Karlqvist, who’s keen sense of timing and magnificent shot make him a constant threat in what is traditionally a rather low-scoring league. He’s older now, so it’s unlikely anything happens, but this guy can simply score. He’s got a Andreychuk presence around the net with a Hoffmann-style shot from the face-off circles.

Konstantin Okulov (RUS) - RW - 28 - 6’0”, 181 lbs. - KHL

The tricky winger has been on the map for several years now and has been big come playoff time in 3 of the last 4 seasons, currently chipping in 7 assists in 9 games in this postseason to boot. In fact, he’s now coming off his best ever regular season with career highs of 36 assists and 54 points. There’s a clever hockey player here who knows how to generate offense. Is this the year he comes over and tests his mitts in North America? He’s arguably as NHL-ready as any established pro outside of North America.

Jiri Smejkal (CZE) - LW/RW - 26 - 6’4”, 223 lbs. - SHL

The aforementioned Karlqvist’s winger, Smejkal is coming off a fantastic debut in the Swedish SHL. His size and nose for the net (24 goals in 52 games) allowed him to have a bull-in-the-China-shop impact this season. His game includes some bang, but also a refreshing amount of skill. We thought he’d be a hot topic for an NHL team last season after his 25-goal, 45-point outburst in 44 Liiga games, and now he’s only reinforced that impression with his practically repeat performance in the stronger SHL. Also, you’ve got to think that if a Radim Zohorna keeps getting an NHL contract, then Smejkal’s has got to be right around the corner.

Adam Tambellini (CAN) - C/RW - 28 - 6’4”, 195 lbs. - SHL

Son to Steve, brother to Jeff, we wrote about Tambellini’s SHL exploits last year at this time. With Rogle having gone through a tough season this year after being heaped with expectations in the pre-season, Tambellini has continued to be steady and was a key figure in righting the ship just in time for the playoffs. His 23 goals and 49 points in 55 games has been instrumental for a club that features as much impact youth as any on the continent and Tambellini continues to display a strong use of his size and a terrific shot, which is deadly on the power play. He’s getting up there in age, so it’s looking like it’s now or never for another shot at the NHL - or the choice to continue a comfortable life as an impact player in Europe.

Off the beaten path

Isac Brannstrom (SWE) - LW/RW - 24 - 5’10”, 176 lbs. - SHL

The older brother to Ottawa Senators prospect Erik Brannstrom, Isac has been plugging away in the SHL for six seasons now, seeing his production increase every year (2 points, 10, 18, 22, 24, 29) while buzzing all around the ice and becoming a truly effective defensive zone catalyst for an always competitive Lulea. Many of his points are of the highlight reel variety, showing off creative hands and timely bursts of speed. A year or two of AHL seasoning and a team should have a reliable two-way forward for the bottom six. Will Brannstrom be up to giving it a shot?

Grigori Dronov (RUS) - D - 25 - 6’3”, 201 lbs. - KHL

After seven years of KHL hockey, with much of last season being lost to injury, Dronov is at that point in his development where a team would have every reason to believe they’d be adding a Zub/Zaitsev/Lyubushkin type of player to their line-up. In the midst of his best season ever (10 goals, 23 points in 50 games), he’s also been a cog in his team’s current playoff run, which has been surprisingly successful in knocking out Avtomobilist in a 7-game first round bout. An all-rounder with a fine first pass, his possible impact in North America simply won’t be known until he comes over. He does appear to have the goods to be a bottom three defenseman at the NHL level.

Waltteri Merela (FIN) - F - 24 - 6’2”, 196 lbs. - Liiga

Never drafted and never having played outside of Finland, Merela made a bit of a name for himself last season in Finland after transferring to Tappara, with whom he accumulated 22 goals, 52 points, and a +38 rating over 72 total games. It was a hard ask for him to keep up at that pace, but he did chip in 33 points in 41 games this season while looking like a more finely developed pro. Expect there to be some interest as one of the more raw, but sturdy players on the market. And he’s very happy being a goalmouth presence, hanging around the net and keeping things active in the slot, which is never a bad thing.

Marcus Sylvegard (SWE) - RW/LW - 23 - 6’0”, 190 lbs. - SHL

Thickly built and from one of Sweden’s more colorful hockey families, Sylvegard has exploded this season playing with former NHLer Carl Soderberg. With 18 goals and 45 points in 55 games to date, the righty shot has become a power play weapon and real buzzsaw around the net. Always playing with a chip on his shoulder, there’s plenty of feistiness to go around, but he’s no world beater in the skating department. We’d love to see how his game looks in an AHL rink and think his jump in production is indicative of what’s to come moving forward.

Time for another look

David Bernhardt (SWE) - D - 25 - 6’4”, 209 lbs. - HockeyAllsvenskan

A former Philadelphia Flyers draft pick, Bernhardt was never signed and never otherwise played in North America. Despite some force-feeding into the SHL with a nice season along the way (14 points in 53 games as a 20-year-old), the well-built defender decided to spend the better part of two seasons in Liiga action, where he never popped. Looking for a new lease on life, he joined MoDo of the HockeyAllsvenskan last season and enjoyed immediate success as the team’s PP blueliner, topping a 14-goal, 44-point regular season with another 12 points in 13 postseason games. There has been no step back this year with Bernhardt upping the ante to the tune of 19 goals, 51 points, and a +26 rating in 52 regular season games, placing him 5th overall in league scoring. This young man is as ready for AHL action as an overlooked college player who then explodes in the ECHL. The size and skillset are there. The right coaching could be the decisive difference on a path to the NHL. Or he’ll be suiting up for an SHL club next season.

Dominik Lakatos (CZE) - F - 25 - 5’11”, 179 lbs. - Czech Extraliga

A 2017 6th rounder of the New York Rangers, it’s been a long time since Lakatos was a nice little plugger for his nation’s WJC squad at the 2016 event. He’s now spent the absolute bulk of his career in the Czech Republic, having come up in the powerhouse program of Liberec. With the exception of a 15-game outlier in Finland, Lakatos has been true to his native country and has developed into one of the few top scorers in the top league under 30 years of age. Already a free agent to be had as a 44- and then 39-point scorer for Vitkovice the past few years, he’s put his stamp on the league with a 47-point, +20 campaign this year, taking place in 51 games. Word is, he’s got a strong shot at being part of the upcoming Worlds and if the NHL doesn’t come knocking with a likely 2-way contract, then his next stop may be in Sweden or Switzerland.

Linus Nassen (SWE) - D - 24 - 6’0”, 183 lbs. - Liiga

We’ve always liked the Swedish defender’s mobility. His passing game has never really been in question, especially when breaking out of his zone. His two seasons of WHL play were fine, but he didn’t necessarily leave an impression that screamed “future NHLer”. Now several years of lower line layman work in the SHL have been followed by two strong seasons of Liiga action, even if this season’s workload led to a drop in stats for a struggling club. Most importantly, Nassen has turned into a pro player who can manage a defensive unit and constantly set his forwards in motion with a strong transitional game. This would seem the right time for Nassen to be given a shot at the AHL level with his sights set on a Sebastian Aho (the Swedish one) type of role in the NHL down the line.

Sami Niku (FIN) - D - 26 - 6’1”, 196 lbs. - Liiga

It feels a bit weird mentioning this player who spent the past five seasons being on the cusp of the NHL, getting into 67 games of action along the way. A two-way defenseman who can be quite the all-rounder on his good days, Niku even had 6 assists for Montreal in 13 games as late as last season. As such, it should come as no surprise that he excelled with 9 goals and 42 points in 54 games of Liiga action this year. He’s also a top candidate for Finland at the upcoming Worlds. If he were in a situation like Haman Aktell, we’d have no doubt that he’d probably have a good handful of suitors at this point. Clearly though, Niku isn’t heading back to North America without a guarantee of an NHL role next season.

Michael Spacek (CZE) - 25 - C/RW - 5’11”, 187 lbs. - Swiss NL

Also, a former Winnipeg Jets draft pick, Spacek spent several years in the WHL and then plugged away for three seasons in the AHL, never getting an NHL shot. He returned to Europe in the 20-21 season and has done nothing but make noise for whichever team he’s played for. With 50 points in 57 games last season for Frolunda of the SHL, he was one of the top scorers in the league. He’s just kept trucking with another 50 points in 50 games for Ambri-Piotta this season. In addition, he’s been a contributing mainstay on the Czech national team since returning to Europe, so one has to wonder what it’s going to take for Spacek to see NHL ice at some point.

Hidden gems?

Vladimir Alistrov (BLR) - LW - 22 - 6’3”, 190 lbs. - KHL

A former WHLer who went undrafted, Alistrov headed back to Belarus after his 2-season Canadian junior career and has been brought along slowly by his home country Dinamo Minsk of the KHL. This past season marked the first in which he was given a top 9 role up front and he responded in kind with 15 goals and 33 points in 73 total games. Big, sturdy, fully in tune with the North American style of play, Alistrov is starting to bloom. And that’s what teams look for after scouting kids who they decided not to spend a draft pick on at an earlier stage. One need look no further than his former teammate Ilya Usov who was signed by Tampa Bay last spring.

Oscar Flynn (CZE) - F - 23 - 5’9”, 160 lbs. - Czech Extraliga

Before, Flynn stood out in the Czech Republic due to his English name and miniature size on the ice. Nowadays he’s standing out due to his play and the unexpected points he’s been putting up. Shifty and creative, Flynn loves firing off one-timers or creating spaces to thread the needle. He’s also quite the feisty player and regularly lets emotion be a guiding trait in his game. The combination of sound to impressive skating, his willingness to shoot, and both the gumption and agility to negate any size issues should have him on the map for a few clubs looking for offense anywhere they can get it. His 24 goals, 42 points, and +11 in 58 games are career highs, but he’s been playing pro hockey for the better part of six seasons now.

Leon Huttl (GER) - D - 22 - 6’0”, 176 lbs. - DEL

Having gotten his first sniff of pro hockey at the age of 16, Huttl has taken steps each and every season since. Now the righty shot has advanced to being a top pairing defenseman on the DEL’s 2nd best team. In only his second full DEL season, Huttl has astounded hockey Germany with a master class in shutdown ability while having more than doubled his offensive contributions from the season prior, where he already suited up for the national team in various tournaments. He’s currently boasting 6 goals, 26 points, and a +27 rating in 57 total games and hardly a soul in expert circles can imagine anything other than his participation at the upcoming Worlds. Especially exciting is that he’s simply looking a good step ahead of the competition in reading plays, anticipating opponent decisions, and sniffing out opposition opportunities - and that in a league filled with former NHLers and AHLers. The word is out, so we wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see a team add him by the conclusion of the World Championship.

Adam Najman (CZE) - F - 22 - 5’11”, 185 lbs. - Czech Extraliga

Najman is an interesting case, because he’s one of these players who we’ve seen at the U18 Worlds and WJC, yet hasn’t been much more than a role player despite having always played up a level as a junior player and gone through the strong Liberec hockey factory. Now he’s spent time in the minors and was given a lower line role in the top league for several years, and suddenly it’s all gone click this winter. The author of 11 goals, 41 points, and a +18 rating over 56 games thus far this season, Najman has partnered up with the aforementioned Flynn to be one of the youngest dynamic duos on the continent. Of average size, he does have an older brother in the league who is 6’2” and 216 lbs., so it certainly looks like there’s room for additional muscle on his current frame. But rarely do you see a player just past draft eligibility break out in this concrete a manner. We’ve certainly seen players of this nature brought over to see if a few seasons of AHL time can’t push them into NHL contention.

Wojciech Stachowiak (GER) - LW - 23 - 6’1”, 187 lbs. - DEL

A little bit of USHL play once led to a spot at Michigan State, but it was clear by his sophomore year that he was ultimately going to need another path to pro prominence. He quickly joined Ingolstadt of the DEL, for which he’s been a decent lower line role player for the past few seasons. And then 23-24 happened. Stachowiak was given a bigger role in light of injuries and hasn’t looked back, not only becoming a key contributor up front (16 goals and 35 points in 59 games thus far), but a trusted all-round presence for Ingolstadt, which finished second overall in the regular season. Crafty, intelligent, and displaying surprisingly soft hands, Stachowiak has promptly entered consideration for Team Germany at the upcoming Worlds. He’s been one of the most impressive arrival stories in a DEL season full of arrival stories.

Jakob Stenqvist (SWE) - D - 25 - 6’2”, 179 lbs. - SHL

You often wonder how players slip through the cracks of the talent watch, but they do and plenty of clubs around in Europe and the KHL are watching closely every year to grab such players. Stenqvist is currently completing his 7th season of pro hockey and the righty shooting Stenqvist has steadily gone from impact player in the HockeyAllsvenskan to impact player in Liiga to impact player in the KHL, and is now impacting the SHL as well to the tune of 25 points in 52 games. In fact, if it weren’t for socio-political reasons, he’d still be in the KHL, where he impressed with 24 points in 38 total games last season. A fluid player known for implementing an intelligent game, he gets involved and moves the puck with the hands of a playmaking forward. All the while, he’s very active in his own zone, particularly in pinning opponents to the boards or freeing up pucks for a quick transition. He’s certainly a finished product at this point, so it’d be interesting to see what a sojourn to North America would mean for his future.

Filip Varejcka (GER) - 22 - 6’0”, 190 lbs. - DEL

Imagine being one of many promising offensive products coming out of the Red Bull Juniors program, being a top scorer at a lower level U18 worlds, then being brought along slowly but surely by your nation’s top DEL club, only to find yourself on the top line come playoff time. Such has been the path of a one Mr. Filip Varejcka, who is doing all this despite heavy competition from drafted teammates such as Julian Lutz and Justin Schutz. Now, he’s definitely been a role player for the better part of the regular season for several seasons now, but he’s come around as a power forward who combines strong offensive smarts with sound defensive play and a good chunk of physicality, gaining a reputation as a take-no-prisoners combatant. His 12 points in 40 regular season games are but whiff when compared to his 5 points in 3 postseason contests thus far. The scouting community follows the teams funded by the Red Bull concern closely and Munich is coming off one of the most dominating regular season performances in league history. They know who Varejcka is, even if you may be seeing his name right here for the first time.

SIDENOTE:

Above and beyond the players listed above, both the Swiss NL and KHL are chock full of former NHLers, NHL draft picks, AHLers, Canadian juniors, and college hockey players, not to mention former European free agent signings of NHL teams that have since returned to Europe. These leagues also employ a large number of established pros who you’ll also see playing for their respective national teams. Many players in both of these leagues were in the NHL in recent years or players on the bubble who were top scorers in the AHL. Naturally, any number of these players could of course still be in the sight lines of NHL teams or maintain the connections that would see them return to a franchise in the coming months.

NHL Draft Review and Grades: Nashville Predators

Grant McCagg — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:32:46 +0000

June 24, 2016: Dante Fabbro poses with Nashville Predators management and coaches after he was selected as the 17th pick in the first round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire.)

GM David Poile returned to his old drafting ways and went top heavy in selecting defencemen with four of his first five picks, restocking a blueline that was thinned out with the dealing of Seth Jones. Dante Fabbro was a fitting addition to a team that is in no hurry to get him into the lineup – the steady, two-way blueliner will need a few years to develop, but his smarts and passing skills will be a nice fit on a team with loads of good defencemen...he won’t be put in a role he can’t fulfill.

RND	PICK	RNK	PLAYER	POS	CTY	HT/WT	TEAM
1	17	24	Dante Fabbro	D	CAN	6-0/190	Penticton (BCHL)
2	47	59	Samuel Girard	D	CAN	5-9/160	Shawinigan (QMJHL)
3	76	126	Rem Pitlick	C	USA	5-9/195	Muskegon (USHL)
3	78	84	Frederic Allard	D	CAN	6-1/180	Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
4	108	NR	Hardy Haman Aktell	D	SWE	6-3/200	Skelleftea (Swe)
5	138	NR	Patrick Harper	C	USA	5-8/155	Avon Old Farms (USHS-CT)
6	168	NR	Konstantin Volkov	G	RUS	6-3/210	SKA St. Petersburg (Rus)
7	198	NR	Adam Smith	D	CAN	6-1/195	Bowling Green (WCHA)

Samuel Girard

Samuel Girard will likely have a great mentor in Ryan Ellis when he’s ready to make the jump…if he can ever come close to Ellis in terms of defensive competitiveness he’ll be a superb NHL defenceman with his skating and passing skills. Rem Pitlick tore up the USHL with 46 goals, earning him a well-deserved selection after being passed over last season even if it may have seemed a bit high. Frederic Allard was the other high scoring draft-eligible rearguard from the QMJHL, although his skating will never be mistaken for Girard’s. Nashville’s last four selections were all well off the board.

Frederic Allard of the Chicoutimi Saguenees was selected by the Nashville Predators at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Grade: C+: The Predators restocked the defence cupboard even though there was no immediate or long-term need…but that’s the Poile blueprint. Three picks in McKeen’s top 120 despite having four top 90 picks hurts their grade…none of their eight choices were valued higher than McKeen's had them ranked.