Hunter Jones – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen's Hockey — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:09:56 +0000

These are our final prospect ranking prior to the start of the season. As a subscriber you can download the list in an excel chart and can link to the player pages in the chart found here. As always, the rankings you see below are based on our 20-80 scouting system looking at five categories for skaters (Skating, Shot, Puck Skills, Hockey Smarts, Physicality) and six for netminders (Athleticism/Quickness/Speed, Compete/Temperament, Vision/Play Reading, Technique/Style, Rebound Control, Puck Handling). Our prospect team spent large portions of their last few months pre-COVID in the rinks, watching the players below and many others, and further work on video (Instat Hockey has been a terrific resource in recent days) before passing judgement on their future projections.

The 20-80 scouting system is meant to allow players from different leagues in different parts of the world to be compared to one another, such that grades on a player in the OHL can be directly compared to grades from an AHL player, and to grades of someone playing in the MHL.

PROSPECT CRITERIA

Players under 26 years of age as of the September 15th prior (Sep. 15, 1994) to the season in question who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in any one season – or 25 last year (20 for goalies, 15 last season) are considered prospects

RANK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	ACQUIRED
1	Alexis Lafreniere	NYR	LW	19	6-1/195	`20(1st)
2	Tim Stutzle	Ott	C	18	6-1/185	`20(3rd)
3	Quinton Byfield	LA	C	18	6-4/215	`20(2nd)
4	Trevor Zegras	Ana	C	19	6-0/170	`19(9th)
5	Kirill Kaprizov	Min	LW	23	5-10/200	`15(135th)
6	Lucas Raymond	Det	LW	18	5-11/170	`20(4th)
7	Dylan Cozens	Buf	C	19	6-3/185	`19(7th)
8	Bowen Byram	Col	D	19	6-0/195	`19(4th)
9	Peyton Krebs	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`19(17th)
10	Jake Sanderson	Ott	D	18	6-1/185	`20(5th)
11	Moritz Seider	Det	D	19	6-3/185	`19(6th)
12	Jamie Drysdale	Ana	D	18	5-11/175	`20(6th)
13	Igor Shesterkin	NYR	G	25	6-1/190	`14(118th)
14	Alexander Holtz	NJ	RW	18	6-0/190	`20(7th)
15	Cole Perfetti	Wpg	LW	19	5-10/180	`20(10th)
16	Marco Rossi	Min	C	19	5-9/185	`20(9th)
17	Vasili Podkolzin	Van	RW	19	6-1/190	`19(10th)
18	Victor Soderstrom	Ari	D	19	5-11/180	`19(11th)
19	Nick Robertson	Tor	LW	19	5-9/160	`19(53rd)
20	Cole Caufield	Mtl	RW	19	5-7/165	`19(15th)
21	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	18	6-3/175	`20(11th)
22	Spencer Knight	Fla	G	19	6-3/195	`19(13th)
23	Philip Broberg	Edm	D	19	6-3/200	`19(8th)
24	Jack Quinn	Buf	RW	19	6-0/180	`20(8th)
25	Matthew Boldy	Min	LW	19	6-1/190	`19(12th)
26	Nils Lundkvist	NYR	D	20	5-11/180	`18(28th)
27	Seth Jarvis	Car	RW	18	5-10/175	`20(13th)
28	Ty Smith	NJ	D	20	5-10/180	`18(17th)
29	Grigori Denisenko	Fla	LW	20	5-11/185	`18(15th)
30	Barrett Hayton	Ari	C	20	6-1/190	`18(5th)
31	Alex Newhook	Col	C	19	5-10/195	`19(16th)
32	Thomas Harley	Dal	D	19	6-3/190	`19(18th)
33	Alex Turcotte	LA	C	19	5-11/185	`19(5th)
34	Vitali Kravtsov	NYR	RW	21	6-3/185	`18(9th)
35	Philip Tomasino	Nsh	C	19	5-11/180	`19(24th)
36	Connor McMichael	Wsh	C	19	5-11/175	`19(25th)
37	Dawson Mercer	NJ	C	19	6-0/180	`20(18th)
38	Ilya Sorokin	NYI	G	25	6-2/180	`14(78th)
39	Gabriel Vilardi	LA	RW	21	6-3/200	`17(11th)
40	Ryan Merkley	SJ	D	20	5-11/170	`18(21st)
41	Alexander Romanov	Mtl	D	20	5-11/185	`18(38th)
42	Kaiden Guhle	Mtl	D	18	6-2/190	`20(16th)
43	Samuel Poulin	Pit	LW	19	6-1/205	`19(21st)
44	K'Andre Miller	NYR	D	20	6-3/205	`18(22nd)
45	Scott Perunovich	StL	D	22	5-10/175	`18(45th)
46	Evan Bouchard	Edm	D	21	6-2/195	`18(10th)
47	Braden Schneider	NYR	D	19	6-2/200	`20(19th)
48	Juuso Valimaki	Cgy	D	22	6-2/205	`17(16th)
49	Cam York	Phi	D	19	5-11/175	`19(14th)
50	Anton Lundell	Fla	C	19	6-1/185	`20(12th)
51	Morgan Frost	Phi	C	21	5-11/180	`17(27th)
52	Owen Tippett	Fla	RW	21	6-1/200	`17(10th)
53	Albert Johansson	Det	D	19	5-11/165	`19(60th)
54	Liam Foudy	CBJ	C	20	6-0/175	`18(18th)
55	Kieffer Bellows	NYI	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(19th)
56	Arthur Kaliyev	LA	RW	19	6-2/190	`19(33rd)
57	Oliver Wahlstrom	NYI	RW	20	6-1/205	`18(11th)
58	Nils Hoglander	Van	RW	20	5-9/185	`19(40th)
59	Matias Maccelli	Ari	LW	20	5-11/170	`19(98th)
60	Tobias Bjornfot	LA	D	19	6-0/200	`19(22nd)
61	Jacob Bernard-Docker	Ott	D	20	6-0/180	`18(26th)
62	Connor Zary	Cgy	C	19	6-0/180	`20(24th)
63	Dominik Bokk	Car	RW	20	6-1/180	T(StL-9/19)
64	Ryan Suzuki	Car	C	19	6-0/180	`19(28th)
65	Dylan Samberg	Wpg	D	21	6-3/190	`17(43rd)
66	Jake Bean	Car	D	22	6-1/175	`16(13th)
67	Josh Norris	Ott	C	21	6-1/195	T(SJ-9/18)
68	Rasmus Kupari	LA	C	20	6-1/185	`18(20th)
69	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	19	5-9/165	`19(26th)
70	Drake Batherson	Ott	RW	22	6-1/190	`17(121st)
71	Jan Jenik	Ari	RW	20	6-1/180	`18(65th)
72	John-Jason Peterka	Buf	LW	18	5-11/190	`20(34th)
73	Kirill Marchenko	CBJ	LW	20	6-3/190	`18(49th)
74	Bode Wilde	NYI	D	20	6-2/195	`18(41st)
75	John Beecher	Bos	C	19	6-3/210	`19(30th)
76	Tyler Madden	LA	C	21	5-10/155	T(Van-2/20)
77	Jack Studnicka	Bos	C	21	6-1/170	`17(53rd)
78	Jake Oettinger	Dal	G	22	6-4/210	`17(26th)
79	Alex Formenton	Ott	LW	21	6-2/165	`17(47th)
80	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	19	6-3/200	`19(49th)
81	Calen Addison	Min	D	20	5-10/180	T(Pit-2/20)
82	Ty Dellandrea	Dal	C	20	6-0/185	`18(13th)
83	Akil Thomas	LA	C	20	5-11/170	`18(51st)
84	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	18	5-10/180	`20(30th)
85	Ian Mitchell	Chi	D	21	5-11/175	`17(57th)
86	Jason Robertson	Dal	LW	21	6-2/195	`17(39th)
87	Hendrix Lapierre	Wsh	C	18	5-11/180	`20(22nd)
88	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	19	5-11/180	`20(29th)
89	Theodor Niederbach	Det	C	18	5-11/175	`20(51st)
90	Zac Jones	NYR	D	20	5-10/175	`19(68th)
91	Robert Mastrosimone	Det	LW	19	5-10/160	`19(54th)
92	Joe Veleno	Det	C	20	6-1/195	`18(30th)
93	Rodion Amirov	Tor	LW	19	6-0/170	`20(15th)
94	Jake Neighbours	StL	LW	18	5-11/195	`20(26th)
95	Julien Gauthier	NYR	RW	23	6-4/225	T(Car-2/20)
96	Justus Annunen	Col	G	20	6-4/215	`18(64th)
97	Egor Zamula	Phi	D	20	6-4/175	FA(9/18)
98	Shane Pinto	Ott	C	20	6-2/190	`19(32nd)
99	Noel Gunler	Car	RW	19	6-2/175	`20(41st)
100	Ridly Greig	Ott	C	18	5-11/165	`20(28th)
101	Jesse Ylonen	Mtl	RW	21	6-1/185	`18(35th)
102	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	20	6-0/195	`19(50th)
103	Mattias Norlinder	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`19(64th)
104	Olli Juolevi	Van	D	22	6-3/200	`16(5th)
105	Kristian Vesalainen	Wpg	LW	21	6-3/205	`17(24th)
106	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	20	6-4/195	`19(38th)
107	Jan Mysak	Mtl	C	18	5-11/180	`20(49th)
108	Cayden Primeau	Mtl	G	21	6-3/180	`17(199th)
109	Pavel Dorofeyev	VGK	LW	20	6-1/170	`19(79th)
110	Morgan Barron	NYR	C	22	6-2/200	`17(174th)
111	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	19	5-11/180	`19(20th)
112	Dylan Holloway	Edm	C	19	6-0/205	`20(14th)
113	Jack Dugan	VGK	RW	22	6-2/185	`17(142nd)
114	Alexander Khovanov	Min	C	20	5-11/195	`18(86th)
115	Jacob Perreault	Ana	RW	18	5-11/195	`20(27th)
116	Jake Evans	Mtl	C	24	6-0/185	`14(207th)
117	Adam Beckman	Min	LW	19	6-1/170	`19(75th)
118	Jett Woo	Van	D	20	6-0/205	`18(37th)
119	Nolan Foote	NJ	LW	20	6-3/190	T(TB-2/20)
120	Logan Brown	Ott	C	22	6-6/220	`16(11th)
121	Martin Kaut	Col	RW	21	6-1/175	`18(16th)
122	Jack Rathbone	Van	D	21	5-10/175	`17(95th)
123	Ozzy Wiesblatt	SJ	RW	18	5-10/185	`20(31st)
124	Ryan O'Rourke	Min	D	18	6-0/180	`20(39th)
125	Lukas Reichel	Chi	LW	18	6-0/170	`20(17th)
126	Jordan Harris	Mtl	D	20	5-11/180	`18(71st)
127	Lukas Dostal	Ana	G	20	6-1/170	`18(85th)
128	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/205	`19(45th)
129	Conor Timmins	Col	D	22	6-1/185	`17(32nd)
130	Lassi Thomson	Ott	D	20	6-0/190	`19(19th)
131	Eeli Tolvanen	Nsh	RW	21	5-10/175	`17(30th)
132	Kasper Simontaival	LA	RW	18	5-9/180	`20(66th)
133	Roni Hirvonen	Tor	C	18	5-9/165	`20(59th)
134	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	18	5-9/180	`20(38th)
135	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	Ana	C	20	6-1/195	`18(54th)
136	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	18	6-4/200	`20(44th)
137	Tyson Foerster	Phi	C	18	6-1/195	`20(23rd)
138	Helge Grans	LA	D	18	6-2/205	`20(35th)
139	Jonathan Dahlen	SJ	LW	23	5-11/185	T(Van-2/19)
140	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	18	5-11/175	`20(37th)
141	Alexander Alexeyev	Wsh	D	21	6-3/200	`18(31st)
142	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	Pit	D	21	6-2/170	`17(23rd)
143	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	18	5-10/160	`20(64th)
144	Oskari Laaksonen	Buf	D	21	6-2/165	`17(89th)
145	Filip Hallander	Tor	LW	20	6-1/185	T(Pit-8/20)
146	Serron Noel	Fla	RW	20	6-5/205	`18(34th)
147	Martin Chromiak	LA	LW	18	6-0/185	`20(128th)
148	Shakir Mukhamadullin	NJ	D	18	6-3/180	`20(20th)
149	Mattias Samuelsson	Buf	D	20	6-3/215	`18(32nd)
150	Janne Kuokkanen	NJ	LW	22	6-1/190	T(Car-2/20)
151	Ryan Johnson	Buf	D	19	6-0/175	`19(31st)
152	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	19	5-8/175	`20(124th)
153	Martin Fehervary	Wsh	D	21	6-1/190	`18(46th)
154	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	Buf	G	21	6-4/195	`17(54th)
155	Will Lockwood	Van	RW	22	5-11/175	`16(64th)
156	Isac Lundestrom	Ana	C	21	6-0/185	`18(23rd)
157	Michael DiPietro	Van	G	21	6-0/195	`17(64th)
158	Jonatan Berggren	Det	RW	20	5-10/185	`18(33rd)
159	Kevin Bahl	NJ	D	20	6-6/230	T(Ari-12/19)
160	Aliaksei Protas	Wsh	C	19	6-5/205	`19(91st)
161	Reilly Walsh	NJ	D	21	5-11/180	`17(81st)
162	Nick Abruzzese	Tor	C	21	5-9/160	`19(124th)
163	Tyler Tucker	StL	D	20	6-1/205	`18(200th)
164	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	19	5-10/170	`19(129th)
165	Klim Kostin	StL	C	21	6-3/195	`17(31st)
166	Brayden Tracey	Ana	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(29th)
167	Joel Hofer	StL	G	20	6-3/160	`18(107th)
168	Joey Anderson	Tor	RW	22	6-0/195	T(NJ-10/20)
169	Yegor Spiridonov	SJ	C	19	6-2/195	`19(108th)
170	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	19	6-1/205	`20(36th)
171	Joey Keane	Car	D	21	6-0/185	T(NYR-2/20)
172	Jared McIsaac	Det	D	20	6-1/195	`18(36th)
173	Jamieson Rees	Car	C	19	5-10/175	`19(44th)
174	Ivan Morozov	VGK	C	20	6-1/180	`18(61st)
175	Rem Pitlick	Nsh	C	23	5-11/200	`16(76th)
176	Tyce Thompson	NJ	RW	21	6-0/170	`19(96th)
177	Michael McLeod	NJ	C	22	6-2/195	`16(12th)
178	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	LA	C	21	5-11/190	`17(41st)
179	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	19	6-0/165	`19(214th)
180	Antti Tuomisto	Det	D	19	6-4/190	`19(35th)
181	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	18	5-9/155	`20(134th)
182	Luke Evangelista	Nsh	RW	18	5-11/170	`20(42nd)
183	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	18	6-1/180	`20(52nd)
184	Joni Ikonen	Mtl	C	21	5-10/170	`17(58th)
185	Olivier Rodrigue	Edm	G	20	6-1/165	`18(62nd)
186	Lucas Elvenes	VGK	RW	21	6-0/175	`17(127th)
187	Anthony Angello	Pit	RW	24	6-5/205	`14(145th)
188	Tuukka Tieksola	Car	RW	19	5-10/160	`19(121st)
189	Declan Chisholm	Wpg	D	20	6-1/190	`18(150th)
190	Cole Koepke	TB	LW	22	6-1/195	`18(183rd)
191	Valtteri Puustinen	Pit	RW	21	5-9/185	`19(203rd)
192	Ty Smilanic	Fla	C	18	6-1/175	`20(74th)
193	Patrik Puistola	Car	LW	19	6-0/175	`19(73rd)
194	Justin Barron	Col	D	19	6-2/190	`20(25th)
195	Andrew Peeke	CBJ	D	22	6-3/210	`16(34th)
196	Michael Vukojevic	NJ	D	19	6-3/210	`19(82nd)
197	Alec Regula	Chi	D	20	6-3/200	T(Det-10/19)
198	Connor Corcoran	VGK	D	20	6-1/185	`18(154th)
199	Jeremy Swayman	Bos	G	22	6-1/190	`17(111th)
200	Pyotr Kochetkov	Car	G	21	6-1/175	`19(36th)
201	Mikey Anderson	LA	D	21	6-0/195	`17(103rd)
202	Carter Savoie	Edm	LW	18	5-9/190	`20(100th)
203	Samuel Walker	TB	C	21	5-11/160	`17(200th)
204	William Wallinder	Det	D	18	6-4/190	`20(32nd)
205	Jack Drury	Car	C	20	5-11/180	`18(42nd)
206	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	18	5-9/185	`20(54th)
207	Cal Petersen	LA	G	26	6-3/190	FA(7/17)
208	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	18	6-0/200	`20(72nd)
209	Tarmo Reunanen	NYR	D	22	6-0/180	`16(98th)
210	Simon Holmstrom	NYI	RW	19	6-1/185	`19(23rd)
211	Aleksi Saarela	Fla	RW	23	5-11/200	T(Chi-10/19)
212	Anton Johannesson	Wpg	D	18	5-9/155	`20(133rd)
213	Lauri Pajuniemi	NYR	RW	21	6-0/185	`18(132nd)
214	Morgan Geekie	Car	C	22	6-2/180	`17(67th)
215	Shane Bowers	Col	C	21	6-2/190	T(Ott-11/17)
216	Sasha Chmelevski	SJ	C	21	5-11/190	`17(185th)
217	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	20	5-8/155	`18(43rd)
218	Cole Schwindt	Fla	RW	19	6-2/185	`19(81st)
219	Hugo Alnefelt	TB	G	19	6-3/195	`19(71st)
220	Nikita Okhotyuk	NJ	D	20	6-1/195	`19(61st)
221	Sampo Ranta	Col	LW	20	6-2/205	`18(78th)
222	Alexander Volkov	TB	LW	23	6-1/190	`17(48th)
223	Alexander True	SJ	C	23	6-5/205	FA(7/18)
224	John Leonard	SJ	C	22	5-11/190	`18(182nd)
225	Carl Grundstrom	LA	LW	23	6-0/195	T(Tor-1/19)
226	Dmitri Semykin	TB	D	20	6-3/200	`18(90th)
227	Cal Foote	TB	D	22	6-4/215	`17(14th)
228	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	18	5-11/175	`20(75th)
229	Alex Barre-Boulet	TB	C	23	5-10/165	FA(3/18)
230	Tristen Robins	SJ	RW	19	5-10/175	`20(56th)
231	Max Gildon	Fla	D	21	6-3/190	`17(66th)
232	Nikita Alexandrov	StL	C	20	6-0/180	`19(62nd)
233	Michael Benning	Fla	D	18	5-9/180	`20(95th)
234	Justin Sourdif	Fla	RW	18	5-11/175	`20(87th)
235	Tanner Laczynski	Phi	C	23	6-1/200	`16(169th)
236	Eamon Powell	TB	D	18	5-11/165	`20(116th)
237	Kaedan Korczak	VGK	D	19	6-3/190	`19(41st)
238	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	18	6-1/180	`20(47th)
239	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	21	5-10/175	`18(171st)
240	Pius Suter	Chi	C	24	5-11/170	FA(7/20)
241	Wade Allison	Phi	RW	23	6-2/205	`16(52nd)
242	Bobby Brink	Phi	RW	19	5-10/165	`19(34th)
243	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	18	5-10/180	`20(68th)
244	David Farrance	Nsh	D	21	5-11/190	`17(92nd)
245	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	18	6-2/185	`20(33rd)
246	Dmitri Voronkov	CBJ	LW	20	6-4/190	`19(114th)
247	German Rubtsov	Phi	C	22	6-2/190	`16(22nd)
248	Vitaly Abramov	Ott	RW	22	5-9/175	T(CBJ-2/19)
249	Alex Laferriere	LA	RW	19	6-0/175	`20(83rd)
250	Trey Fix-Wolansky	CBJ	RW	21	5-8/185	`18(204th)
251	Isaac Ratcliffe	Phi	LW	21	6-5/200	`17(35th)
252	Kale Clague	LA	D	22	6-0/180	`16(51st)
253	Landon Slaggert	Chi	LW	18	5-11/180	`20(79th)
254	Wyatt Kalynuk	Chi	D	23	6-1/180	FA(7/20)
255	Mikko Kokkonen	Tor	D	19	5-11/200	`19(84th)
256	Kevin Mandolese	Ott	G	20	6-4/180	`18(157th)
257	Daniil Tarasov	CBJ	G	21	6-5/185	`17(86th)
258	Evan Barratt	Chi	C	21	6-0/190	`17(90th)
259	Tyler Benson	Edm	LW	22	6-0/200	`16(32nd)
260	Yegor Korshkov	Tor	RW	24	6-4/215	`16(31st)
261	Hunter Skinner	NYR	D	19	6-2/175	`19(112th)
262	Riley Damiani	Dal	C	20	5-9/165	`18(137th)
263	Ryan McLeod	Edm	C	21	6-2/205	`18(40th)
264	Ilya Konovalov	Edm	G	22	6-0/195	`19(85th)
265	Will Cuylle	NYR	LW	18	6-3/205	`20(60th)
266	Evan Vierling	NYR	C	18	6-0/165	`20(127th)
267	Emil Heineman	Fla	LW	19	6-0/180	`20(43rd)
268	Zayde Wisdom	Phi	RW	18	5-10/195	`20(94th)
269	Hunter Jones	Min	G	20	6-4/195	`19(59th)
270	Ty Tullio	Edm	RW	18	5-10/165	`20(126th)
271	Jordan Spence	LA	D	19	5-10/165	`19(95th)
272	Dmitri Zavgorodny	Cgy	LW	20	5-9/175	`18(198th)
273	Alex Beaucage	Col	RW	19	6-1/195	`19(78th)
274	Matiss Kivlenieks	CBJ	G	24	6-2/190	FA(5/17)
275	Artyom Zub	Ott	D	25	6-2/200	FA(5/20)
276	Urho Vaakanainen	Bos	D	22	6-0/185	`17(18th)
277	Dmitri Samorukov	Edm	D	21	6-2/180	`17(84th)
278	Michal Teply	Chi	LW	19	6-3/185	`19(105th)
279	Colby Ambrosio	Col	C	18	5-8/170	`20(118th)
280	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	20	6-7/195	`19(37th)
281	Jeremy Lauzon	Bos	D	23	6-3/205	`15(52nd)
282	Dennis Gilbert	Col	D	24	6-2/200	T(Chi-10/20)
283	Trent Frederic	Bos	C	22	6-4/215	`16(29th)
284	Lucas Carlsson	Chi	D	23	6-0/190	`16(110th)
285	Zack Macewen	Van	RW	24	6-3/205	FA(3/17)
286	Brandon Hagel	Chi	LW	22	6-1/175	FA(10/18)
287	Vasily Ponomarev	Car	C	18	5-10/180	`20(53rd)
288	Jakub Zboril	Bos	D	23	6-1/200	`15(13th)
289	Garrett Pilon	Wsh	RW	22	5-11/190	`16(87th)
290	Jeremy Bracco	Car	RW	23	5-9/180	FA(10/20)
291	Dylan Sikura	VGK	RW	25	6-0/170	T(Chi-9/20)
292	Kyle Capobianco	Ari	D	23	6-1/180	`15(63rd)
293	Sami Niku	Wpg	D	24	6-0/175	`15(198th)
294	John Farinacci	Ari	C	19	5-11/185	`19(76th)
295	Jackson Lacombe	Ana	D	19	6-1/170	`19(39th)
296	David Cotton	Car	LW	23	6-3/205	`15(169th)
297	Erik Portillo	Buf	G	20	6-6/210	`19(67th)
298	Jacob Truscott	Van	D	18	6-1/170	`20(144th)
299	Mikhail Berdin	Wpg	G	22	6-2/165	`16(157th)
300	Cam Hillis	Mtl	C	20	5-10/170	`18(66th)

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Minnesota Wild Top 20 Prospects

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 12:25:49 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Minnesota Wild prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 1)

Kaprizov is a dual threat with the puck. He has an excellent selection of shots and scoring touch around the net. His wrist shot release is very quick and does not give goalies much time to prepare. His one-timer is hard and accurate, with an effective weight transfer and follow-through. He can also set up his teammates for scoring chances with high end vision. Part of what makes him such a dangerous player is his ability to find soft spots. His movements are calculated in the offensive zone. He thinks the game at a very high level, creatively anticipating and taking advantage of any extra offensive zone room. His puck control in tight quarters is impressive and he has a quick stick in traffic. Kaprizov is a skilled skater with superb edge work and quickness. He can make shifty moves to evade opponents and buy time to make plays. His defensive game is also quite advanced. He uses his stick well to disrupt opponents and he works hard without the puck to regain possession, never quitting. He is a world-class talent with tremendous potential to be an impact player. – MB

Marco Rossi, C (9^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

One of the 2020 draft’s best two-way centers, Rossi has a mature understanding of his defensive responsibilities, and a high skill level, giving him both a high ceiling and a high floor. He pulverized expectations, leading the OHL in scoring before the season was cancelled. The Austrian import showcased a creative side along with explosiveness, strength on the puck, and confidence. He is at his best working the wall, either near the faceoff circle or behind the net. He is consistently first to dump-ins, gaining inside positioning. His lower body is very strong, making him very difficult to separate from the puck. He keeps those feet moving at all times, spinning off checks, while maintaining possession, creating a chance for himself or his linemates, able to make something out of nothing thanks to soft hands. Often the first man back, he leverages everything he has on puck carriers to re-establish possession, applying back pressure and forcing turnovers. His lack of size could be an issue due to his abrasive style of play. A notoriously hard worker, Rossi signed with ZSC in Switzerland and will play there until he makes the NHL roster. – BO

Matthew Boldy, LW (12^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Entering Boston College as a true freshman, Boldy was expected to be an impact player, but faltered, at least on the scoresheet, with only three points through the first half. When he returned from winter break, he went on a tear, putting up points in 15 of the final 21 games played. That stretch included three three-point games and he finished the season with 23 second-half points. Over that stretch, he was the fifth-highest scorer in the country. Because of the first-half slump, Boldy did not put up the numbers he was expected to have. But that should not take away from his attributes. The speed of college hockey can make for a difficult learning curve and it can take many talented freshmen a semester or more to adjust. While Boldy did not show up on the score sheet as much, he still played well - especially for an 18-year-old. He is a very good skater who can power up the ice. He is a great playmaker, thanks in part to his stick handling, his speed and his incredibly soft hands. He projects to be a first liner once he completes his time on campus. - JS

Calen Addison, D (53^rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. Previous ranking: 3)

Addison’s game revolves around his skating. He was one of the smoothest, and quickest skaters in the WHL last year. His footwork along the blueline is excellent, using his edges to create lanes for shooting or passing. His shot is much improved with both velocity and accuracy. He can step into a big slapshot or a solid one-timer, but his most dangerous shot is a hard wrister that will get past the first defender and onto the net, leading to frequent tips and deflections. His ability to quarterback the offense is impressive, with constant movement, a willingness to push down the wall, and crisp passing ability. Addison would rather hold onto the puck then throw it away and while he occasionally gets caught out, his recovery speed allows him to gamble more than most. Addison can still get a bit overmatched in his own zone, but improved footwork and speed enable him to clear more pucks and generate turnovers. He competes well and uses some of his strengths to manage better in his own zone than in his draft year. - VG

Alexander Khovanov, C (86^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

While Khovanov still struggles with his discipline, he also led Moncton in scoring last season. He is a strong skater, an excellent playmaker, and is willing to take the puck to the house for strong shots in tight and from distance. He is very ferocious offensively, and is willing to run players over to create, but that very fine line still needs harnessing. He currently has an effective game that would allow him to take a regular shift offensively at the NHL level today, but there are still too many ways to take him off his focus. The book on Khovanov as a defender is to nail him hard and it will take him out of the game, as he will be too focused on retribution. That has to change for him to have a strong impact on the game. He will be playing this season in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan, a solid team that can provide him with support and strong veteran leadership. His desire is to ultimately play in the NHL as soon as possible. He could be a superstar at the highest level, but feisty top-line forward is his most likely result. - MS

Adam Beckman, C (75^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Beckman took his offensive game to another level last year, ending as one of the WHL’s top performers. He has fair size and moves very well on the ice. He is quick with everything, including release, forecheck, back check, and transitioning the play out of his own zone. He is comfortable with the puck on his stick and will attack the net from anywhere. He can carry it out of the corner or lead the rush and bury a one timer. His shot is accurate with a great release, giving it enough power to beat goalies from distance and he can also finish in traffic. He is an excellent net front guy who battles while keeping his stick free to make plays. Good hand eye coordination enables him to deflect a lot of pucks when screening the goalie. He doesn’t overhandle and looks to release the puck as soon as he gets into a scoring area. His wrist shot is hard and accurate, and he consistently shoots between the pad and the blocker. There have been real strides in his game each of the past few seasons and if that continues, he could be a worthwhile top six NHL forward. – VG

Ryan O’Rourke, D (39^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A leader at every level, O’Rourke is a reliable two-way defender whose IQ, tenaciousness, and skill level make him a potential top four defender going forward. He took on more responsibility as a puck mover last year, demonstrating improved confidence with the puck and improvements to his skating and overall mobility. Of course, his largest contribution comes in the defensive end. He is an extremely smart defensively and rarely makes a mistake in his own end. He is aggressive physically, and will step up to deny zone entries, picking his spots judiciously. He is great at defending the rush, with tight gaps and angling off defenders to the wall. A great shot blocker, he stays square to shooters and shows little fear. He is quick to pucks in his own end, has a very effective breakout pass and good vision up ice. O’Rourke has a very heavy point shot and does well to sneak back door or jump into the slot to receive passes. His instincts and shooting ability give him some value as a play facilitator, even if he is not a gifted puck rusher. He can anchor a penalty killing unit and be a potential physical shutdown defender. – BO

Marat Khusnutdinov, C (37^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Khusnutdinov is a well-rounded but undersized center. His skating is his best asset, and he can beat you in transition, pushing defenders back with his speed, or using his edgework and quickness to keep plays alive down low. He avoids hits with his agility and quick feet, and is likewise an asset off the puck, chasing down loose pucks, applying pressure on the forecheck, and pushing hard on the backcheck. He can force turnovers routinely. Khusnutdinov is a pass first pivot whose playmaking ability is high end. He exhibits good vision when playing with pace and when operating the half wall. He occasionally tries to do too much with the puck and could stand to make quicker decisions, however his hands make him a force with the puck. There are some concerns about his finishing ability and some concern over his production in the MHL, as his 38 points last year were good but not exceptional. Even away from the scoresheet, he routinely was an impact player, and should have bottom six and PK value if he can’t crack the top half of the lineup. – BO

Hunter Jones, G (59^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Last year, Jones struggled with consistency in his draft eligible season. In the first half of the year, he was one of the OHL’s top goalies. In the second half, he fell apart. A year stronger, Jones was able to maintain a high level of play for the majority of the year for Peterborough, one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Jones uses his size well (6-4”) to his advantage as a butterfly goaltender and did well to improve both his rebound control and his footwork this year. In particular, his ability to fight through traffic to swallow up shots, limiting second chances, progressed. He will likely turn pro next year and still projects as an NHL goaltender long term. His ability to continue to improve his athleticism and his mental focus will be a deciding factor as to whether he can be a starter long term. - BO

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Firstov, a second-round pick from Russian, played in Russia until 2018-19, when he moved to North America as a 17-year-old. He spent one season in the USHL with Waterloo, where he impressed enough to make the league’s All-Rookie team. He adapted quickly to the North American game and continued that success into college, where he led all UConn freshmen in scoring while playing in every game. A member of Hockey East’s All-Rookie team, Firstov showcased his promising abilities. He is a good skater with solid speed, and he glides smoothly. He uses his 6-0” frame well and plays a decent physical game. Along those lines, he doesn’t get pushed out of position or off the puck easily. Firstov has a long reach and a quick stick, which he uses effectively. He projects as a second line forward if he continues on the same trajectory from the past two seasons. - JS

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 8)

Kahkonen has been the class of the American Hockey League over the past two seasons, and the Aldege Bastien Award for the league’s top netminder, as well as his spot on the AHL‘s First All-Star Team for the 2019-20 season, were well deserved. At 25-6-3 in backstopping the Iowa Wild, the 23-year-old led AHL goalies in wins and shutouts (seven) and was fourth place in save percentage (.927) and goals against average (2.07). The Finn does it with his mature technique and style, rarely falling out of position and possessing the temperament to maintain focus in hectic situations. His speed and athleticism grade as above average, as well as his ability to read developing plays and react accordingly with his high-level instincts and reflexes. Kahkonen showed well in his five-game big-league stint with Minnesota, and with Devan Dubnyk on the wrong side of 30, you can expect the 2014 fourth-rounder to not only be the Wild’s goalie of the future but also of the present. – TD

Daemon Hunt, D (63^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Despite missing around three months in his draft year due to a skate laceration on his arm, Hunt returned none the worse for wear, with four assists in his five post-recovery games. A high-end skater who can showcase promising elements on both sides of the puck, although not always at the same time, he seems to do everything at high speed, in both directions. His skating is the most consistent part of his game. He features a quick release snapshot and generally gets it off from a spot that allows it to get to the net. He is a solid puck mover as well, although he has not shown the type of dynamic characteristics which are necessary to be a legit top three blueliner at the highest level. Similar things can be said of his play off the puck. He holds his own, can shut down dangerous opponents and defend against the rush, but none of those consistently enough to envision him in a shutdown role. His career can go in multiple directions from here but most of them end up with him being a viable NHL’er. – RW

Pavel Novak, RW (146^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A longtime age-based international staple for the Czech Republic, Novak transitioned quite seamlessly to the WHL, leading Kelowna Rockets in points when the season was cancelled. Small, but hard-working, he quickly developed into an all-situations player. He does a lot of things well, without any facet of his game sticking out, suggesting a lower ceiling, but also a reasonable floor. Without being especially fast, he is a very agile skater with plus escapability and deception. He tends to prefer creating space for linemates than trying for himself. His wrist shot is strong, but he is more of a playmaker than a shooter. The overall maturity of Novak’s game provides optimism that he will continue to make adjustments and take on greater roles for his team next year, being more comfortable playing on the smaller ice surfaces of North America and with the English language, although it is less likely that his skill set takes a big leap forward. His package of skills would fit in well on a modern-day bottom six, one that still wants to see offensive production on all lines. – RW

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 9)

Honestly, hats off to Ivan Lodnia this year. Sent back to the OHL for his overage year after it was initially thought that he would start his pro career, he never pouted. Even after the IceDogs gutted their roster at the trade deadline, he continued to play strong and was a key leader on a young team. He was the Dogs offense in the second half and ended up having a solid year from a production standpoint. Lodnia’s hands are his best asset. He is a terrific player in transition because of his high-end creativity and ability to make defenders miss. He projects as a middle six winger; however, he may need several years in the AHL to get used to the speed and strength of the professional game. His skating has improved over the course of his OHL career, but further progression in this area will be needed. - BO

Damien Giroux, C (155^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

The captain of the Saginaw Spirit, Giroux is the kind of player who wears his heart on his sleeve on the ice. He will go through a wall to make a play and his energy level and tenacity make him one of the league’s best two-way forwards. Giroux is also a quality goal scorer who possesses high end scoring instincts and a quick release. He provides versatility by being able to play center or the wing, however his skating ability will need to improve further if he wishes to stay down the middle at the next level. At the NHL level, Giroux projects as a bottom six winger who can anchor a penalty killing unit and provide goals in a checking line/energy role. It is likely that he will need several years at the AHL level before he is ready to be a successful NHL player. Again, his skating ability may not be good enough to play that kind of role in the NHL today, which means that his high IQ will have to carry him. - BO

Marshall Warren, D (166^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Warren is an interesting prospect because as a young, smaller defenseman, he held his own as a true freshman in college hockey. Before college, he played for the USNTDP with fellow Minnesota draft pick and current college teammate Matthew Boldy, playing in both the World U-17 and the World U-18 championships along the way. An offensive defenseman, Warren was able to contribute to Boston College’s scoring on a regular basis. As mentioned earlier, he lacks the size of most NHL defensemen at 5-11” and 163 pounds. But his skills and skating could make the sixth-round pick a steal. At 19 years old, Warren has time to develop and grow stronger. In the meantime, he is a quick skater and stickhandler who excels at crisp passes. He is effective on the rush because he can move the puck safely up the ice via passing or skating. Assuming his size can be overlooked, Warren projects to a second-pairing defenseman with power play upside. - JS

Connor Dewar, LW (92^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Dewar was an over-ager who excelled in the WHL, earning a 2018 third-round draft pick from the Wild, and then experienced an up-and-down first season in the professional ranks with AHL Iowa in 2019-20. Buried in a very deep Iowa lineup, Dewar played a fairly defensive role and wasn’t able to display his full offensive potential, scoring just six goals in 52 games following a 36-goal campaign with WHL Everett. Production aside, he exhibits great hands and passing skills, quick footwork and pivoting speed, and a highly regarded reputation as a hardworking, selfless forward. To credit Dewar, he plays an incredibly versatile game and can be relied on for heavy two-way and penalty kill minutes. If his offensive game never materializes, he can provide value and remain an intriguing prospect as a potential checking-line role player, as he does not have any large voids in his game and can play both center and wing. - TD

Louis Belpedio, D (80^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 14)

A fast and effective puck mover with a right hand shot from the blueline, Belpedio has been a serviceable AHL defenseman for two full seasons and looks primed for an NHL depth role at some point soon. The 2014 third-round pick is a plus skater with a smooth grasp for controlling the puck through the neutral zone and into the attacking side, and has done so frequently with AHL Iowa, one of the more impressive things about the 24-year-old. His awareness of the ice and his positioning has improved since his first foray into the pro ranks, but his gap control and stick discipline still leave much room to improve. While he has spent time on the penalty kill, he is not the most reliable shorthanded defender. He quarterbacks the power play with the minor league side, and he has some good stick skills and a solid ability to get the puck through traffic. If he can be a decent enough defender to make the NHL roster long-term, he would likely see time on the man-advantage on occasion. Another AHL season seems most likely for the Illinois native. - TD

Mitchell Chaffee, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 24, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Chaffee was an undrafted free-agent signee out of Massachusetts. He had just finished his junior season, where he captained the Minutemen. He recorded a career-high 18 goals and 42 points as a sophomore. That season, he led Hockey East in scoring en route to UMass’ championship game appearance. He is another great development story as he went from low offensive production during his two years of USHL hockey to becoming a prolific collegiate scorer at UMass. Chaffee is a smooth skater who turns well. He is a stocky 6-0”, 207 pounds and likes to play a physical game. He also doesn’t get pushed off the puck easily. He can score goals, but he also sets up his teammates well with beautiful feeds that make it look like the puck is floating. Chaffee also played on UMass’ power play unit. He might not project as more than a bottom six energy forward, but considering how far he has recently come, we shouldn’t discount the possibility that more is in store. – JS

Nico Sturm, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 1, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

A big center without any clearly above average tools, Sturm held his own in his first professional season, including a cameo up with the Wild. A big scorer at the collegiate level with Clarkson, the German native has come a long, long way from his first North American campaign, which ended with three points in 21 games at the NAHL level. Considering how much he has improved when allowed to repeat a level, I would expect more production from Sturm this season, whether in the AHL or NHL. If his feet were quicker, or he had greater scoring instincts, I would be more optimistic about his upside, but he is already 25 years of age, creating a limit to potential future growth. Skilled hands, and strong work along the walls still give him an NHL floor, even if it is only in a bottom six role. This might be his last chance to assert himself as an NHL’er. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – MINNESOTA WILD– ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 6

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 17:39:27 +0000

Minnesota Wild

Through no fault of his own, Minnesota GM Bill Guerin will be entering his first draft already sitting on a stockpile rich in strong prospects. A little forward-heavy perhaps, but the system has legit depth at all positions and close to 30 players overall who could percolate up to the NHL on merit in the coming years.

A question I would generally ask of any new, first time GM is how will he conduct drafts, but with such a strong system already in place and so much about the 2020 Entry Draft up in the air, I find myself wondering more about how and when the in-place riches will be integrated into the NHL roster. Much will change in the off-season, but at present there are only two regulars facing unrestricted free agency.

One, Alex Galchenyuk, is almost certainly going to be allowed to leave. The other is a much more challenging case. Long-time captain and career-log Wild star Mikko Koivu has a contract that will end whenever this season has been deemed conclusive. While age and injuries have diminished his performance for at least the last three years, his stature in the market seems strong enough that returning will be Koivu’s decision, and not Guerin’s.

Assuming Galchenyuk leaves, it seems even more certain that his replacement on the roster will come in the form of the top prospect below, Kirill Kaprizov, whose status in the eyes of prospect watchers has grown year over year since the Wild used a fifth round pick on him in 2015, and especially in his last three years with Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow. The hope and expectation are that the talented winger will step right into a top six, scoring role.

But how do the rest of these prospects find their way to the Twin Cities? The answer to that question may be more troubling. Going back a few years, the Wild’s AHL team in Iowa has struggled mightily. They have only made the playoffs once in the last six years. More important, they have struggled developing the prospects parked there by the parent organization.

Looking at the younger players on the current Wild roster, only Luke Kunin spent any significant time on the farm, with 76 games played spread thin over three seasons before finally sticking with Minnesota this season. Other prominent youngsters including Jordan Greenway, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Matt Dumba either never played there at all, or only had a brief cameo. We could open the floor to Carson Soucy, who finally broke through this year after two full seasons in the AHL and could be a third pairing staple until he needs a new contract. After that, we have to go back to 2016-17 when first rounder Alex Tuch spent the bulk of the season in Iowa and before that, Erik Haula was there for half of 2013-14.

Suffice to say that Iowa’s developmental track record has been poor. Of the 15 players listed below, only two have already spent any time in the AHL, although a few others should hit the level in 2020-21. As good as the pipeline seems to be, if the new GM can’t figure out a way to improve infrastructure of that pipeline, many of the so-called spoils will simply spoil. - RW

Filip Hronek and Dominik Kubalik of Czech Republic against Kirill Kaprizov of Russia during the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship bronze medal game between Russia and Czech Republic on May 26, 2019 in Bratislava.
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN /

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 1)

Kaprizov can be a dual threat with the puck. He has an excellent selection of shots and scoring touch around the net. The release on his wrist shot is very quick and does not give goalies a whole lot of time to set up. His one-timer is hard and accurate, with an effective weight transfer and follow-through. He can also set up his teammates for scoring chances as his vision is high end. Part of what makes him such a dangerous player is his ability to find soft spots.

His movements are calculated in the offensive zone. He thinks the game at a very high level, being able to anticipate and take advantage of any extra room in the final third. His puck control in tight quarters is impressive and he has a quick stick in traffic. He also displays lots of creativity. Kaprizov is a skilled skater with superb edge work and quickness. He can make shifty moves to evade opponents and thus buy time to make plays.

He had an incredible season offensively, yet his defensive game is quite advanced given his young age. He uses his stick well to disrupt opponents and he works hard without the puck to gain possession for his team. There is no quit in his game. The 23-year-old Russian winger is a world-class talent with tremendous potential. Kaprizov put together several strong seasons in the KHL and after a long wait signed a contract with the Minnesota Wild in July 2020. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be an impact player in the NHL. - MB

Matthew Boldy, LW (12^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

Boldy jumped from prep school to the USNTDP, where he made an immediate scoring impact as one of the key players on a stacked development class. He also represented the U.S. at the World U-18 and was on the U17 World Hockey Championship gold medal squad.

Entering Boston College as a true freshman, first rounder Boldy was expected to be an impact player, but he faltered, at least on the scoresheet. He scored the game-winning goal in his first game but went the next 10 games without scoring. Boldy netted just three points throughout the first half. When he returned from winter break, he went on a tear, putting up points in 15 of the final 21 games played. That stretch included three three-point games and he finished the season with 23 second-half points. Over that stretch, he was the fifth-highest scorer in the country.

Ultimately, because of the first-half slump, Boldy did not put up the numbers he was expected to have. But that should not take away from his attributes. The speed of college hockey can provide a difficult learning curve for players and it can take freshmen a semester – or more - to adjust.

While Boldy did not show up on the score sheet as much, he still played well - especially for an 18-year-old. He is a good skater who can power up the ice. He is a great playmaker, thanks in part to his stick handling, his speed and his incredibly soft hands. He projects to be a first liner once he completes his time on campus. - JS

Calen Addison, D (53^rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. 2019 Rank: 2 [Pittsburgh])

Calen Addison’s game revolves around his skating. He has to be one of the smoothest, quickest, and overall most impressive skaters in the WHL. His footwork along the blueline is excellent, using his edges to create lanes for both shooting and passing as well as anyone who plays in the WHL.

His shot is much improved with his velocity and accuracy making him a real threat. If given room he can really step into one, or if the pass is right he has a controlled one-timer but his most dangerous shot is a hard wrister that he can get off with minimal movement that beats the first defender heading in on net. His shot is frequently deflected which is a skill forwards get lots of credit for, but defenders should as well, for putting the puck in the right place. His ability to quarterback the offense is impressive. His constant movement, willingness to push down the wall, and crisp passing ability make him a handful for opponents.

Addison would rather hold onto the puck then throw it away and usually makes the right decision by holding on, although he does occasionally get caught out, but his recovery speed allows him to gamble more than most. He was an influential blueliner for Canada at the World Juniors as his ability with the puck was critical to pushing through the neutral zone and generating offense, especially as the checking got tighter in the medal round.

He can still get a bit overmatched in his own zone, but he uses his footwork and speed better now, enabling him to clear more pucks and generate turnovers. He competes fine and is using some of his strengths to manage his own zone better (quicker puck retrievals) than a season ago. He was a perfect fit for the Penguins when they drafted him, but it will be interesting to see if he can adjust to the style of play that Minnesota typically uses. - VG

Alexander Khovanov, C (86^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Much like last year at this time, Khovanov is still a complex puzzle to solve – he has cut down on his superfluous penalties and his discipline was better this season, but he still tied for the league lead in minor penalties with 42. The positives outweigh the negatives, as he led the Moncton Wildcats in scoring this season and was one point off the century mark, but these are clear paths to improvement for the feisty forward.

He is a strong skater, an excellent playmaker and is willing to take the puck to the house for strong shots in tight and from distance. He is a very ferocious offensive player who is willing to run players over to create offensively, but that very fine line is what needs harnessing.

Ultimately, right now Khovanov has an effective game that would allow him to take a regular shift offensively at the NHL level today, but there are still too many opportunities to take him off his focus. The book on Khovanov as a defender is to nail him hard and it will take him out of the game, as he will be too focused on retribution. That has to change for the forward to have a strong impact on the game, because his talent level is right at the cusp already.

Of note, Khovanov will be playing the next season in the KHL with Ak Bars Kazan, a strong team that can provide him with support and strong veteran leadership. However, his desire, ultimately, is to play in the NHL as soon as possible, and will feature in the Wild lineup very soon. He could be a superstar at the highest level, but feisty top-line forward is his most likely result. - MS

Adam Beckman, C (75^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 19)

Adam Beckman has taken his offensive game to another level this year. On pace to be one of the only 50 goals scorers in the WHL, he has outperformed his draft position and everyone in his draft class. His points per game production, an impressive 1.69ppg, exceeds both Dylan Cozen’s (1.66 ppg) and Peyton Krebs (1.58 ppg). Not bad for a guy taken over 60 picks after both.

Beckman has fair size and moves very well on the ice. There is quickness in all facets of his game, including release, forecheck, back check, and transitioning the play out of his own zone. He is comfortable with the puck on his stick and will attack the net from anywhere. He can carry it out of the corner or lead the rush and bury a one timer. His shot is a great weapon because of its release and overall accuracy. He has enough power to beat goalies from distance but also the strength to finish when in traffic.

He is an excellent net front guy who can battle while keeping his stick free to make plays quickly around the net. Good hand eye coordination enables him to deflect a lot of pucks when he is screening the goalie. He does not overhandle and looks to release the puck as soon as he gets into a scoring area.

His wrist shot is hard and accurate, and he consistently shoots above the pad and below the blocker. There have been real strides in his game each of the past few seasons and if that continues he could become an elite forward that bolsters a team’s top six which is certainly more than can be typically expected from the 75^th pick. - VG

Hunter Jones, G (59^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

Jones uses his size well (6-4”) to his advantage as a butterfly goaltender and did well to improve both his rebound control and his footwork this year. In particular, his ability to fight through traffic to swallow up shots, limiting second chances, progressed.

He will likely turn pro next year and still projects as an NHL goaltender long term. His ability to continue to improve his athleticism and his mental focus will be a deciding factor as to whether he can be a starter long term. - BO

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42^nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

A member of Hockey East’s All-Rookie team, Firstov showcased his promising abilities. He is a good skater with solid speed, and he glides smoothly. He uses his 6-0” frame well and plays a decent physical game. Along those lines, he doesn’t get pushed out of position or off the puck easily. Firstov has a long reach and a quick stick, which he uses effectively. He projects as a second line forward if he continues on the same trajectory from the past two seasons. - JS

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 10)

The Finn does it with his mature technique and style, rarely falling out of position and possessing the temperament to maintain focus in hectic situations. His speed and athleticism grade as above average, as well as his ability to read developing plays and react accordingly with his high-level instincts and reflexes.

Kahkonen showed well in his five-game big-league stint with Minnesota, and with Devan Dubnyk on the wrong side of 30, you can expect the 2014 fourth-rounder to not only be the Wild’s goalie of the future but also of the present. - TD

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

Lodnia’s hands are his best asset. He is a terrific player in transition because of his high-end creativity and ability to make defenders miss. He projects as a middle six winger; however, he may need several years in the AHL to get used to the speed and strength of the professional game. His skating has improved over the course of his OHL career, but further progression in this area will be needed. - BO

Damien Giroux, C (155^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Giroux is also a quality goal scorer who possesses high end scoring instincts and a quick release. He provides versatility by being able to play center or the wing, however his skating ability will need to improve further if he wishes to stay down the middle at the next level.

At the NHL level, Giroux projects as a bottom six winger who can anchor a penalty killing unit and provide goals in a checking line/energy role. It is likely that he will need several years at the AHL level before he is ready to be a successful NHL player. Again, his skating ability may not be good enough to play that kind of role in the NHL today, which means that his high IQ will have to carry him. - BO

Marshall Warren, D (166^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

An offensive defenseman, Warren was able to contribute to Boston College’s scoring on a regular basis. As mentioned earlier, he lacks the size of most NHL defensemen at 5-11” and 163 pounds. But his skills and skating could make the sixth-round pick a steal. At 19 years old, Warren has time to develop and grow stronger.

In the meantime, he is a quick skater and stickhandler who excels at crisp passes. He is effective on the rush because he can move the puck safely up the ice via passing or skating. Assuming his size can be overlooked, Warren projects to a second-pairing defenseman with power play upside. - JS

Brennan Menell, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 26, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Menell joined his Wild teammates Kahkonen and Sam Anas on the AHL First All-Star Team at the conclusion of the abridged minor-league season, receiving deserved recognition for his two-way prowess in Des Moines since his 2017 professional debut.

Leading the league in assists by a defenseman, his vision and smooth, energetic skating force defenders back on their heels as Menell moves through the neutral zone and facilitates offense. He makes intelligent decisions with the puck and never fails to push the pace from the blueline forward.

His defensive game is fairly stout, given his lack of size or physicality, as his initial blue line stick-checking and tight gaps give him solid positioning to offset a size mismatch. While he will never be a high-end shooter, which might hurt his power-play potential at the NHL level, he can play a depth puck-rushing role in the WIld’s strong two-way defensive core in the mold of Matt Dumba. - TD

Connor Dewar, LW (92^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 3)

Production aside, he exhibits great hands and passing skills, quick footwork and pivoting speed, and a highly regarded reputation as a hard-working, selfless forward. To credit Dewar, he plays an incredibly versatile game and can be relied on for heavy two-way and penalty kill minutes. If his offensive game never materializes, he can provide value and remain an intriguing prospect as a potential checking-line role player, as he does not have any large voids in his game and can play both center and wing. - TD

Simon Johansson, D (148^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Johansson had a tough season with Djurgarden in the SHL. He did not get regular minutes and had strong offensive defensemen ahead of him to take the bulk of the power play minutes. He still managed to produce seven points in 34 games playing only 10 minutes-per-game.

Johansson is a lanky defenseman with strong puck skills and a good offensive upside. He has a good shot and handles the puck well in most situations. His long-term the upside is good. I can see him as a future top pair defenseman in SHL/Europe/AHL but not in the NHL.

If he makes the NHL, he will need to develop other aspects of his game and to be more reliant defensively, using his reach and skills in other ways. He is not skilled enough to be a top pair defenseman in the NHL and will need to be able to play another role there. His skating is average, and he isn’t strong physically. - JH

Mitchell Chaffee, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed, Mar. 24, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

He is another great development story as he went from low offensive production during his two years of USHL hockey to becoming a prolific collegiate scorer at UMass. Chaffee is a smooth skater who turns well. He is a stocky 6-0”, 207 pounds and likes to play a physical game. He also doesn’t get pushed off the puck easily. He can score goals, but he also sets up his teammates well with beautiful feeds that make it look like the puck is floating. Chaffee also played on UMass’ power play unit.

He might not project as more than a bottom six energy forward, but considering how far he has recently come, we shouldn’t discount the possibility that more is in store. - JS

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

McKeens Hockey; Article by Ryan Wagman — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:50:55 +0000

I write these words less than 24 hours after the Dallas Stars took game one of the Stanley Cup Finals against the heavily favored Tampa Bay Lightning. Unlike most seasons wherein the end of the Stanley Cup marks the beginning of off-season player movement, this year teams have taken an early start to the transactional Ferris wheel as many expect the upcoming offseason (from the awarding of the Cup, through to the draft in the first week of October to the start of the 2020-21 season perhaps as soon as early December, pending COVID trends in North America) to be especially turbulent.

We have seen a few trades of NHL pieces, one deal which impacted this guidebook, as Toronto sent Kasperi Kapanen to Pittsburgh and Swedish winger Filip Hallander was among those coming back to Toronto. Hallander was our selection for the second-best prospect in the Penguins system and now holds that title for the Maple Leafs. That trade knocked the Penguins down a few slots on our organizational rankings and allowed Toronto to go the other way accordingly.

Of course, with the draft roughly 17 days away, and with it a complete re-shuffling of the organizational rankings, this is just a snapshot in time of how every team’s system shakes up. We will re-run this list, incorporating the drafted players, in our pre-season fantasy guide, where we will expand the lists up to 20.

What you are about to dive into is a comprehensive list of all prospect eligible players on all 31 teams. To hold prospect eligibility, a player needs to 25 or younger, as of September 15, 2020. All skaters need to have played less than 60 career games, with no more than 35 of those games coming in a single season (or 25 for this past shortened season). For goalies, the age criteria remain the same, but the games played benchmark drops to 30 career games and 20 in a given season (or 15 last year). Any cutoff that does not hew exactly to the Calder Trophy award criteria is, by nature, arbitrary, but we aim to be inclusive for all players who have not yet cemented NHL jobs and/or have not had a prolonged chance to prove himself capable – or incapable.

We rank 15 per team, as depth is as important as the high end. Our goal is to identify players who could – if they have an advocate for them within the team’s braintrust – play a role in the NHL. These players were identified through our thorough vetting of each prospect across the globe, assigning scores, or grades, to five areas for skaters (skating, shot, puck skills, smarts, physicality) and six for netminders (athleticism/speed/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, positioning/technique, rebound control, and puck handling). Depending on the position, the grades are run through an algorithm to come up with an overall future projection (OFP).

The OFP, if the scout is being honest, measures the future role we anticipate the prospect being able to hold. A 50 score is the lower threshold to be a regular 4^th line forward, or bottom pairing defender. Grades over 56 are potential top line/pairing skaters. The grades in between, obviously project to the middle of the lineup.

As we are reminded every year, development is not linear. Some players take unexpected sudden leaps forward (see Marino, John), and others stagnate (see Ho-Sang, Josh), and many do exactly what we expect of them when they are given the chance. As much as I trust the analysts in our team, I can also tell you that this exercise is always humbling. There will be at least one player who we rate highly who bombs. There will be at least one player who did not feature on his team’s top 15 who becomes an NHL regular next year. We accept those errors in judgment and promise you, our faithful subscriber, that we will learn from them and refine our work for next year, as we learn just as NHL teams learn.

Until then, please enjoy this snapshot view of the future of the beautiful, frozen game. Putting this together has provided at least some sense of normalcy during this crazy summer.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired
Ana	1	Trevor Zegras	C	19	6-0/170	Boston University (HE)	`19(9th)
Min	2	Kirill Kaprizov	LW	23	5-10/200	CSKA (KHL)	`15(135th)
Col	3	Bowen Byram	D	19	6-0/195	Vancouver (WHL)	`19(4th)
Buf	4	Dylan Cozens	C	19	6-3/185	Lethbridge (WHL)	`19(7th)
Fla	5	Spencer Knight	G	19	6-3/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(13th)
VGK	6	Peyton Krebs	C	19	5-11/180	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(17th)
Ari	7	Victor Soderstrom	D	19	5-11/180	Brynas (Swe)	`19(11th)
Mtl	8	Cole Caufield	RW	19	5-7/165	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(15th)
Van	9	Vasili Podkolzin	RW	19	6-1/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`19(10th)
Edm	10	Philip Broberg	D	19	6-3/200	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`19(8th)
Tor	11	Nick Robertson	LW	19	5-9/160	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(53rd)
Col	12	Alex Newhook	C	19	5-10/195	Boston College (HE)	`19(16th)
Det	13	Moritz Seider	D	19	6-3/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`19(6th)
Fla	14	Grigori Denisenko	LW	20	5-11/185	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(15th)
Min	15	Matthew Boldy	LW	19	6-1/190	Boston College (HE)	`19(12th)
NJ	16	Ty Smith	D	20	5-10/180	Spokane (WHL)	`18(17th)
LA	17	Alex Turcotte	C	19	5-11/185	Wisconsin (B1G)	`19(5th)
Nsh	18	Philip Tomasino	C	19	5-11/180	Nia-Osh (OHL)	`19(24th)
Pit	19	Samuel Poulin	LW	19	6-1/205	Sherbrooke (QMJHL)	`19(21st)
Wsh	20	Connor McMichael	C	19	5-11/175	London (OHL)	`19(25th)
LA	21	Gabriel Vilardi	RW	21	6-3/200	Ontario (AHL)	`17(11th)
NYR	22	Igor Shesterkin	G	24	6-1/190	Hartford (AHL)	`14(118th)
Dal	23	Thomas Harley	D	19	6-3/190	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(18th)
Ari	24	Barrett Hayton	C	20	6-1/190	Arizona (NHL)	`18(5th)
NYR	25	Nils Lundkvist	D	20	5-11/180	Lulea (Swe)	`18(28th)
LA	26	Arthur Kaliyev	RW	19	6-2/190	Hamilton (OHL)	`19(33rd)
Cgy	27	Juuso Valimaki	D	21	6-2/205	DNP - Injured	`17(16th)
Det	28	Jared McIsaac	D	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(36th)
NYR	29	Vitali Kravtsov	RW	20	6-3/185	Hartford (AHL)	`18(9th)
Edm	30	Evan Bouchard	D	20	6-2/195	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(10th)
NYR	31	K'Andre Miller	D	20	6-3/205	Wisconsin (B1G)	`18(22nd)
Edm	32	Raphael Lavoie	RW	19	6-4/195	Hal-Chi (QMJHL)	`19(38th)
NYI	33	Ilya Sorokin	G	25	6-2/180	CSKA (KHL)	`14(78th)
Det	34	Albert Johansson	D	19	5-11/165	Farjestads (Swe)	`19(60th)
Ari	35	Matias Maccelli	LW	19	5-11/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(98th)
Van	36	Nils Hoglander	RW	19	5-9/185	Rogle (Swe)	`19(40th)
Ari	37	Jan Jenik	RW	20	6-1/180	Hamilton (OHL)	`18(65th)
Phi	38	Cam York	D	19	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`19(14th)
Phi	39	Morgan Frost	C	21	5-11/180	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`17(27th)
Ana	40	Lukas Dostal	G	20	6-1/170	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`18(85th)
LA	41	Tobias Bjornfot	D	19	6-0/200	Ontario (AHL)	`19(22nd)
SJ	42	Ryan Merkley	D	20	5-11/170	London (OHL)	`18(21st)
NYI	43	Kieffer Bellows	LW	22	6-0/200	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(19th)
NYI	44	Oliver Wahlstrom	RW	20	6-1/205	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(11th)
LA	45	Rasmus Kupari	C	20	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	`18(20th)
CBJ	46	Liam Foudy	C	20	6-0/175	London (OHL)	`18(18th)
LA	47	Tyler Madden	C	20	5-10/155	Northeastern (HE)	T(Van-2/20)
Mtl	48	Alexander Romanov	D	20	5-11/185	CSKA (KHL)	`18(38th)
NYI	49	Bode Wilde	D	20	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	`18(41st)
Ott	50	Jacob Bernard-Docker	D	20	6-0/180	North Dakota (NCHC)	`18(26th)
Cgy	51	Jakob Pelletier	LW	19	5-9/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(26th)
LA	52	Akil Thomas	C	20	5-11/170	Nia-Pbo (OHL)	`18(51st)
Wpg	53	Dylan Samberg	D	21	6-3/190	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`17(43rd)
Chi	54	Ian Mitchell	D	21	5-11/175	Denver (NCHC)	`17(57th)
Ott	55	Josh Norris	C	21	6-1/195	Belleville (AHL)	T(SJ-9/18)
NYR	56	Matthew Robertson	D	19	6-3/200	Edmonton (WHL)	`19(49th)
VGK	57	Pavel Dorofeyev	LW	19	6-1/170	Magnitogorsk (KHL)	`19(79th)
Dal	58	Jake Oettinger	G	21	6-4/210	Texas (AHL)	`17(26th)
Ott	59	Drake Batherson	RW	22	6-1/190	Belleville (AHL)	`17(121st)
LA	60	Samuel Fagemo	RW	20	6-0/195	Frolunda (Swe)	`19(50th)
Col	61	Justus Annunen	G	20	6-4/215	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`18(64th)
Bos	62	John Beecher	C	19	6-3/210	Michigan (B1G)	`19(30th)
Phi	63	Egor Zamula	D	20	6-4/175	Calgary (WHL)	FA(9/18)
NYR	64	Zac Jones	D	19	5-10/175	Massachusetts (HE)	`19(68th)
CBJ	65	Kirill Marchenko	LW	20	6-3/190	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(49th)
VGK	66	Jack Dugan	RW	22	6-2/185	Providence (HE)	`17(142nd)
StL	67	Scott Perunovich	D	22	5-10/175	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(45th)
Bos	68	Jack Studnicka	C	21	6-1/170	Providence (AHL)	`17(53rd)
Dal	69	Ty Dellandrea	C	20	6-0/185	Flint (OHL)	`18(13th)
Min	70	Calen Addison	D	20	5-10/180	Lethbridge (WHL)	T(Pit-2/20)
NYR	71	Julien Gauthier	RW	22	6-4/225	Charlotte (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Van	72	Olli Juolevi	D	22	6-3/200	Utica (AHL)	`16(5th)
NJ	73	Nolan Foote	LW	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	T(TB-2/20)
NJ	74	Janne Kuokkanen	LW	22	6-1/190	Cha-Bng (AHL)	T(Car-2/20)
Ott	75	Alex Formenton	LW	21	6-2/165	Belleville (AHL)	`17(47th)
Det	76	Robert Mastrosimone	LW	19	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	`19(54th)
NYR	77	Morgan Barron	C	21	6-2/200	Cornell (ECAC)	`17(174th)
Mtl	78	Jesse Ylonen	RW	20	6-1/185	Pelicans (Fin)	`18(35th)
Car	79	Dominik Bokk	RW	20	6-1/180	Rogle (Swe)	T(StL-9/19)
Nsh	80	Egor Afanasyev	RW	19	6-3/205	Windsor (OHL)	`19(45th)
Ana	81	Benoit-Olivier Groulx	C	20	6-1/195	Hal-Mon (QMJHL)	`18(54th)
Min	82	Alexander Khovanov	C	20	5-11/195	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(86th)
Det	83	Joe Veleno	C	20	6-1/195	Grand Rapids (AHL)	`18(30th)
NJ	84	Kevin Bahl	D	20	6-6/230	Ottawa (OHL)	T(Ari-12/19)
Car	85	Ryan Suzuki	C	19	6-0/180	Bar-Sag (OHL)	`19(28th)
Van	86	Jett Woo	D	20	6-0/205	Calgary (WHL)	`18(37th)
Mtl	87	Mattias Norlinder	D	20	5-11/180	MODO (Swe 2)	`19(64th)
Min	88	Adam Beckman	LW	19	6-1/170	Spokane (WHL)	`19(75th)
Bos	89	Jeremy Swayman	G	21	6-1/190	Maine (HE)	`17(111th)
Wpg	90	Kristian Vesalainen	LW	21	6-3/205	Manitoba (AHL)	`17(24th)
Tor	91	Filip Hallander	LW	20	6-1/185	Lulea (Swe)	T(Pit-8/20)
Fla	92	Owen Tippett	RW	21	6-1/200	Springfield (AHL)	`17(10th)
Car	93	Jake Bean	D	22	6-1/175	Charlotte (AHL)	`16(13th)
Ott	94	Shane Pinto	C	19	6-2/190	North Dakota (NCHC)	`19(32nd)
Col	95	Martin Kaut	RW	20	6-1/175	Colorado (AHL)	`18(16th)
Van	96	Jack Rathbone	D	21	5-10/175	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(95th)
Tor	97	Nick Abruzzese	C	21	5-9/160	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(124th)
Bos	98	Urho Vaakanainen	D	21	6-0/185	Providence (AHL)	`17(18th)
Wsh	99	Alexander Alexeyev	D	20	6-3/200	Hershey (AHL)	`18(31st)
NYI	100	Simon Holmstrom	RW	19	6-1/185	Bridgeport (AHL)	`19(23rd)
LA	101	Jaret Anderson-Dolan	C	21	5-11/190	Ontario (AHL)	`17(41st)
Car	102	Joey Keane	D	21	6-0/185	Hfd-Cha (AHL)	T(NYR-2/20)
Wsh	103	Martin Fehervary	D	20	6-1/190	Hershey (AHL)	`18(46th)
StL	104	Tyler Tucker	D	20	6-1/205	Bar-Fnt (OHL)	`18(200th)
SJ	105	Yegor Spiridonov	C	19	6-2/195	Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)	`19(108th)
NJ	106	Joey Anderson	RW	22	6-0/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(73rd)
Col	107	Conor Timmins	D	21	6-1/185	Colorado (AHL)	`17(32nd)
StL	108	Klim Kostin	C	21	6-3/195	San Antonio (AHL)	`17(31st)
Mtl	109	Cayden Primeau	G	21	6-3/180	Laval (AHL)	`17(199th)
SJ	110	Jonathan Dahlen	LW	22	5-11/185	Timra IK (Swe 2)	T(Van-2/19)
NJ	111	Reilly Walsh	D	21	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`17(81st)
Buf	112	Oskari Laaksonen	D	21	6-2/165	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`17(89th)
NJ	113	Arseni Gritsyuk	RW	19	5-10/170	Omskie Yastreby (MHL)	`19(129th)
Wsh	114	Aliaksei Protas	C	19	6-5/205	Prince Albert (WHL)	`19(91st)
Cgy	115	Dustin Wolf	G	19	6-0/165	Everett (WHL)	`19(214th)
StL	116	Joel Hofer	G	20	6-3/160	Portland (WHL)	`18(107th)
VGK	117	Ivan Morozov	C	20	6-1/180	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	`18(61st)
Mtl	118	Jake Evans	C	24	6-0/185	Laval (AHL)	`14(207th)
Nsh	119	Eeli Tolvanen	RW	21	5-10/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	`17(30th)
Wpg	120	Ville Heinola	D	19	5-11/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`19(20th)
VGK	121	Lucas Elvenes	RW	21	6-0/175	Chicago (AHL)	`17(127th)
TB	122	Cole Koepke	LW	22	6-1/195	Minn-Duluth (NCHC)	`18(183rd)
Ana	123	Isac Lundestrom	C	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	`18(23rd)
NYR	124	Tarmo Reunanen	D	22	6-0/180	Lukko Rauma (Fin)	`16(98th)
Mtl	125	Jordan Harris	D	20	5-11/180	Northeastern (HE)	`18(71st)
Ana	126	Brayden Tracey	LW	19	6-0/175	MJ-Vic (WHL)	`19(29th)
Phi	127	Tanner Laczynski	C	23	6-1/200	Ohio State (B1G)	`16(169th)
Chi	128	Alec Regula	D	20	6-3/200	London (OHL)	T(Det-10/19)
Buf	129	Mattias Samuelsson	D	20	6-3/215	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(32nd)
Car	130	Jamieson Rees	C	19	5-10/175	Sarnia (OHL)	`19(44th)
Edm	131	Olivier Rodrigue	G	20	6-1/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`18(62nd)
Fla	132	Serron Noel	RW	20	6-5/205	Osh-Kit (OHL)	`18(34th)
Det	133	Antti Tuomisto	D	19	6-4/190	Assat Pori (Fin Jr)	`19(35th)
Dal	134	Jason Robertson	LW	21	6-2/195	Texas (AHL)	`17(39th)
Mtl	135	Joni Ikonen	C	21	5-10/170	DNP - Injured	`17(58th)
Nsh	136	Rem Pitlick	C	23	5-11/200	Milwaukee (AHL)	`16(76th)
Ott	137	Logan Brown	C	22	6-6/220	Belleville (AHL)	`16(11th)
TB	138	Samuel Walker	C	21	5-11/160	Minnesota (B1G)	`17(200th)
Phi	139	Wade Allison	RW	22	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`16(52nd)
Wpg	140	Declan Chisholm	D	20	6-1/190	Peterborough (OHL)	`18(150th)
NJ	141	Tyce Thompson	RW	21	6-1/180	Providence (HE)	`19(96th)
VGK	142	Connor Corcoran	D	20	6-1/185	Windsor (OHL)	`18(154th)
Ana	143	Jackson Lacombe	D	19	6-1/170	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(39th)
NYR	144	Lauri Pajuniemi	RW	21	6-0/185	TPS Turku (Fin)	`18(132nd)
Car	145	Tuukka Tieksola	RW	19	5-10/160	Karpat Oulu (Fin Jr)	`19(121st)
CBJ	146	Andrew Peeke	D	22	6-3/210	Cleveland (AHL)	`16(34th)
Ana	147	Axel Andersson	D	20	6-0/180	Moncton (QMJHL)	T(Bos-2/20)
Car	148	Patrik Puistola	LW	19	6-0/175	Tap-Juk-Koo (Fin)	`19(73rd)
NJ	149	Michael McLeod	C	22	6-2/195	Binghamton (AHL)	`16(12th)
Car	150	Pyotr Kochetkov	G	21	6-1/175	SKA-VIT (KHL)	`19(36th)
NJ	151	Michael Vukojevic	D	19	6-3/210	Kitchener (OHL)	`19(82nd)
NYI	152	Ruslan Iskhakov	C	20	5-8/155	UConn (HE)	`18(43rd)
Wpg	153	Sami Niku	D	23	6-0/175	Manitoba (AHL)	`15(198th)
TB	154	Hugo Alnefelt	G	19	6-3/195	HV 71 (Swe)	`19(71st)
NJ	155	Nikita Okhotyuk	D	19	6-1/195	Ottawa (OHL)	`19(61st)
NYR	156	Hunter Skinner	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	`19(112th)
LA	157	Mikey Anderson	D	21	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	`17(103rd)
Col	158	Shane Bowers	C	21	6-2/190	Colorado (AHL)	T(Ott-11/17)
NYI	159	Joshua Ho-Sang	RW	24	6-0/175	Bri-SA (AHL)	`14(28th)
LA	160	Cal Petersen	G	25	6-3/190	Ontario (AHL)	FA(7/17)
Col	161	Sampo Ranta	LW	20	6-2/205	Minnesota (B1G)	`18(78th)
Wpg	162	Mikhail Berdin	G	22	6-2/165	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(157th)
Bos	163	Jeremy Lauzon	D	23	6-3/205	Providence (AHL)	`15(52nd)
Nsh	164	David Farrance	D	21	5-11/190	Boston University (HE)	`17(92nd)
Van	165	Will Lockwood	RW	22	5-11/175	Michigan (B1G)	`16(64th)
NYI	166	Sebastian Aho	D	24	5-10/175	Bridgeport (AHL)	`17(139th)
Wpg	167	Logan Stanley	D	22	6-7/225	Manitoba (AHL)	`16(18th)
Buf	168	Ryan Johnson	D	19	6-0/175	Minnesota (B1G)	`19(31st)
Van	169	Michael DiPietro	G	21	6-0/195	Utica (AHL)	`17(64th)
VGK	170	Kaedan Korczak	D	19	6-3/190	Kelowna (WHL)	`19(41st)
Car	171	Jack Drury	C	20	5-11/180	Harvard (ECAC)	`18(42nd)
StL	172	Nikita Alexandrov	C	19	6-0/180	Charlottetown (QMJHL)	`19(62nd)
Col	173	Nikolai Kovalenko	RW	20	5-10/175	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`18(171st)
Nsh	174	Juuso Parssinen	C	19	6-2/205	TPS Turku (Fin)	`19(210th)
Chi	175	Pius Suter	C	24	5-11/170	ZSC Lions (NLA)	FA(7/20)
Fla	176	Aleksi Saarela	RW	23	5-11/200	Rfd-Spr (AHL)	T(Chi-10/19)
Bos	177	Trent Frederic	C	22	6-4/215	Providence (AHL)	`16(29th)
CBJ	178	Dmitri Voronkov	LW	20	6-4/190	Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)	`19(114th)
Ott	179	Lassi Thomson	D	19	6-0/190	Ilves Tampere (Fin)	`19(19th)
Car	180	Morgan Geekie	C	22	6-2/180	Charlotte (AHL)	`17(67th)
CBJ	181	Trey Fix-Wolansky	RW	21	5-8/185	Cleveland (AHL)	`18(204th)
Ott	182	Vitaly Abramov	RW	22	5-9/175	Belleville (AHL)	T(CBJ-2/19)
TB	183	Alexander Volkov	LW	23	6-1/190	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(48th)
Tor	184	Mikko Kokkonen	D	19	5-11/200	Jukurit (Fin)	`19(84th)
Ott	185	Kevin Mandolese	G	20	6-4/180	Cape Breton (QMJHL)	`18(157th)
CBJ	186	Daniil Tarasov	G	21	6-5/185	Assat Pori (Fin)	`17(86th)
LA	187	Carl Grundstrom	LW	22	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	T(Tor-1/19)
LA	188	Kale Clague	D	22	6-0/180	Ontario (AHL)	`16(51st)
Ott	189	Artyom Zub	D	24	6-2/200	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	FA(5/20)
Edm	190	Tyler Benson	LW	22	6-0/200	Bakersfield (AHL)	`16(32nd)
Det	191	Jonatan Berggren	RW	20	5-10/185	Skelleftea AIK (Swe)	`18(33rd)
Tor	192	Yegor Korshkov	RW	24	6-4/215	Toronto (AHL)	`16(31st)
Dal	193	Riley Damiani	C	20	5-9/165	Kitchener (OHL)	`18(137th)
VGK	194	Zach Whitecloud	D	23	6-2/210	Chicago (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Buf	195	Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen	G	21	6-4/195	Cincinnati (ECHL)	`17(54th)
Car	196	David Cotton	LW	23	6-3/205	Boston College (HE)	`15(169th)
Chi	197	Wyatt Kalynuk	D	23	6-1/180	Wisconsin (B1G)	FA(7/20)
Min	198	Hunter Jones	G	19	6-4/195	Peterborough (OHL)	`19(59th)
LA	199	Jordan Spence	D	19	5-10/165	Moncton (QMJHL)	`19(95th)
Cgy	200	Dmitri Zavgorodny	LW	20	5-9/175	Rimouski (QMJHL)	`18(198th)
Col	201	Alex Beaucage	RW	19	6-1/195	Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)	`19(78th)
TB	202	Dmitri Semykin	D	20	6-3/200	SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)	`18(90th)
CBJ	203	Matiss Kivlenieks	G	24	6-2/190	Cleveland (AHL)	FA(5/17)
StL	204	Ville Husso	G	25	6-3/205	San Antonio (AHL)	`14(94th)
Phi	205	Bobby Brink	RW	19	5-10/165	Denver (NCHC)	`19(34th)
NYI	206	Otto Koivula	C	22	6-4/220	Bridgeport (AHL)	`16(120th)
Car	207	Eetu Makiniemi	G	21	6-2/180	KOOVEE (Fin 2)	`17(104th)
NYI	208	Anatoli Golyshev	RW	25	5-8/180	Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (KHL)	`16(95th)
Chi	209	Evan Barratt	C	21	6-0/190	Penn State (B1G)	`17(90th)
Buf	210	Erik Portillo	G	20	6-6/210	Dubuque (USHL)	`19(67th)
Fla	211	Cole Schwindt	RW	19	6-2/185	Mississauga (OHL)	`19(81st)
Chi	212	Michal Teply	LW	19	6-3/185	Winnipeg (WHL)	`19(105th)
Ott	213	Mads Sogaard	G	19	6-7/195	Medicine Hat (WHL)	`19(37th)
Buf	214	Jonas Johansson	G	24	6-4/205	Rochester (AHL)	`14(61st)
TB	215	Cal Foote	D	21	6-4/215	Syracuse (AHL)	`17(14th)
StL	216	Niko Mikkola	D	24	6-5/200	San Antonio (AHL)	`15(127th)
NYI	217	Robin Salo	D	21	6-1/190	SaiPa (Fin)	`17(46th)
Bos	218	Jakub Zboril	D	23	6-1/200	Providence (AHL)	`15(13th)
Buf	219	Will Borgen	D	23	6-2/200	Rochester (AHL)	`15(92nd)
Pit	220	Pierre-Olivier Joseph	D	21	6-2/170	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`17(23rd)
SJ	221	Sasha Chmelevski	C	21	5-11/190	San Jose (AHL)	`17(185th)
Ari	222	Kyle Capobianco	D	23	6-1/180	Tucson (AHL)	`15(63rd)
Det	223	Keith Petruzzelli	G	21	6-5/180	Quinnipiac (ECAC)	`17(88th)
Wsh	224	Garrett Pilon	RW	22	5-11/190	Hershey (AHL)	`16(87th)
NJ	225	Nikola Pasic	RW	19	5-10/185	Karlskoga (Swe 2)	`19(189th)
TB	226	Alex Barre-Boulet	C	23	5-10/165	Syracuse (AHL)	FA(3/18)
Edm	227	Ryan McLeod	C	20	6-2/205	Bakersfield (AHL)	`18(40th)
NYI	228	Samuel Bolduc	D	19	6-3/210	BLB-She (QMJHL)	`19(57th)
Ott	229	Joey Daccord	G	24	6-2/195	Belleville (AHL)	`15(199th)
StL	230	Hugh McGing	C	22	5-9/180	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`18(138th)
Edm	231	Cooper Marody	C	23	6-0/180	Bakersfield (AHL)	T(Phi-3/18)
Tor	232	Jeremy Bracco	RW	23	5-9/180	Toronto (AHL)	`15(61st)
Phi	233	German Rubtsov	C	22	6-2/190	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	`16(22nd)
Wsh	234	Brian Pinho	C	25	6-1/195	Hershey (AHL)	`13(174th)
Col	235	Logan O'Connor	RW	24	6-0/170	Colorado (AHL)	FA(7/18)
Buf	236	Casey Fitzgerald	D	23	5-11/190	Rochester (AHL)	`16(86th)
NJ	237	Daniil Misyul	D	19	6-3/180	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	`19(70th)
Ari	238	John Farinacci	C	19	5-11/185	Harvard (ECAC)	`19(76th)
Edm	239	Aapeli Rasanen	C	22	6-0/195	Boston College (HE)	`16(153rd)
Pit	240	Anthony Angello	RW	24	6-5/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	`14(145th)
Mtl	241	Cam Hillis	C	20	5-10/170	Guelph (OHL)	`18(66th)
Cgy	242	Mathias Emilio Pettersen	RW	20	5-9/170	Denver (NCHC)	`18(167th)
SJ	243	Alexander True	C	23	6-5/205	San Jose (AHL)	FA(7/18)
NYI	244	Reece Newkirk	C	19	5-11/175	Portland (WHL)	`19(147th)
Dal	245	Dawson Barteaux	D	20	6-0/180	RD-Wpg (WHL)	`18(168th)
Bos	246	Jack Ahcan	D	23	5-8/185	St. Cloud State (NCHC)	FA(3/20)
Det	247	Seth Barton	D	21	6-2/175	Mass-Lowell (HE)	`18(81st)
Fla	248	Max Gildon	D	21	6-3/190	New Hampshire (HE)	`17(66th)
Ari	249	Aku Raty	RW	19	6-0/175	Karpat Oulu (Fin)	`19(151st)
Wpg	250	David Gustafsson	C	20	6-1/195	Winnipeg (NHL)	`18(60th)

Canadian World Junior Selection Camp Review

Brock Otten — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 13:26:02 +0000

On Monday, Team Canada’s selection camp for the 2020 World Junior Championships kicked off in Oakville, Ontario. The camp took place at the relatively new Sixteen Mile Creek Complex, home to the Oakville Blades of the OJHL and also to an International sized ice surface. This was obviously an important detail for Mark and Dale Hunter as they prepared to select their team; as the larger surface would test camp attendees and give them a better grasp of who was ready for the challenge of playing in the Czech Republic.

I was able to attend several of the practices and the Wednesday game against USports. I also caught the majority of the Thursday USports game through TSN’s stream. The following serves as my review of the camp, in addition to how I would have selected the final roster.

Goaltending

During the practice sessions, Hunter Jones was the best of the Canadian goalies. He does a great job of using his size to take away the upper part of the net from shooters by being aggressive in challenging their angles. He also fights through screens and did a great job on a screening drill by catching pucks clean or getting his pads on lower shots.

During the two USports games, Nico Daws was the standout. He may not have been tested as much as the other goaltenders based on shot volume, but there is a quiet composure to his game. He makes the hard saves look easy and he controls his rebounds well, tracking the puck and taking control of the play or covering up when needed. His confidence right now is extremely high.

Both Joel Hofer and Olivier Rodrigue had their moments, with both playing much better in the second USports game. Rodrigue struggled in the Wednesday game, especially when it came to fighting through traffic. On the other hand, Hofer’s rebound control was not as strong.

My Selections: Nico Daws, Hunter Jones, Olivier Rodrigue

Based on his play in the OHL this year and from what I have seen at camp, Nico Daws would enter the tournament as my starter. I would also would have had Hunter Jones as the backup/platoon partner. With Rodrigue’s experience Internationally, he would be the 3rd goalie that I would bring overseas because he has shown that he can handle the pressure.

Final Selections: Nico Daws, Olivier Rodrigue, and Joel Hofer

Defense

Throughout the week, there were several standouts from a defensive perspective.

Bowen Byram was the best defender at camp, showcasing his ability to be a factor at both ends of the ice. While some other defenders struggled with poor decision making due to forcing the issue offensively, Byram’s production was more natural to the flow of game play.

Kevin Bahl was another standout. He keeps things simple offensively, but was fantastic defensively. He swallows up so much ice with his reach and mobility. With Ottawa head coach Andre Tourigny being on the Canadian staff, and Bahl being a scratch in the Thursday game, his spot on the team never seemed to be in jeopardy.

The two youngsters at camp, Jamie Drysdale and Braden Schneider, really improved as the camp went on. Both struggled in a few of the odd man rush drills during practice sessions. And both looked nervous early on Wednesday. But by Thursday’s game, both had settled in as among Canada’s most effective players. Drysdale is so effective at using his skating ability to activate offensively, but not at the expense of his defensive responsibilities. On the other hand, Schneider was showing heart and grit by blocking shots and winning the majority of his board and net battles in the defensive end.

Thomas Harley had some great moments, and some weaker ones. He can be such an asset as an offensive player, but had a few bad pinches in Wednesday’s game, and some turnovers in his own end on Thursday. He would still have a place on my Team Canada because I believe in his skill set and I think that what he can bring from an offensive perspective is extremely valuable. Pairing him with someone like Kevin Bahl at even strength would have been ideal. Then again, I also understand why Hockey Canada went in a different direction.

A surprise for me was that Calen Addison cracked the final roster. I felt that he was the weakest of the defenders in those two USports games, struggling with turnovers, poor decision making, and defensive miscues. I know he is a 19 year old veteran, but I had higher expectations after liking his game previously at International competitions.

My Selections: Ty Smith, Jared McIsaac, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Bowen Byram, Kevin Bahl, Jamie Drysdale, Thomas Harley

My selections line up with nearly what Canada went with on the back-end. Ty Smith did not participate in either USports game, but he will be a go-to defender for Canada at this event and the likely first unit powerplay QB. The difference here is that I would have gone with Harley over Addison, but perhaps that is regency bias from my end as I am very familiar with Harley’s skill set and know the offensive talent he possesses. The other wildcard is whether Noah Dobson gets released by the New York Islanders. He would be an impact player for the team.

Final Selections: Ty Smith, Jared McIsaac, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Bowen Byram, Kevin Bahl, Jamie Drysdale, Calen Addison

Forwards

The biggest takeaway from camp, at any position, was how ready Quinton Byfield is to be an impact player at the World Junior Championships. This is not your average 17 year old, chalking in at 6-4”, and 215 lbs. Nearly every time on the ice, he was a difference maker against USports. He makes those around him better and was one of the few forwards who was able to generate consistent scoring chances at even strength.

Another standout for me was Alex Newhook. Again, Canada struggled to generate scoring chances against USports and Newhook was aggressive in using his speed to attack the middle of the ice to open up lanes for his linemates. Once Barrett Hayton was announced to be loaned to Canada, it seemed the writing was on the wall for Newhook because of the depth at center. He still would have made my team in an energy role.

Nolan Foote, Dylan Cozens, Akil Thomas, and Raphael Lavoie had their moments against USports. Ty Dellandrea, Liam Foudy, and Connor McMichael looked great in practice drills, but were not impactful in the games. Foote and Cozens only played on Wednesday. Thomas and Lavoie were much better on Thursday. Foote and Cozens showed nice chemistry with Quinton Byfield, especially Foote, whose work down low complemented Byfield well. I would like to see these two kept together on a scoring line.

The trio of 2020 draft eligibles (Perfetti, Holloway, and Mercer) were hit and miss. Perfetti and Holloway struggled in practice drills. Perfetti was having some difficulty with the cone drills, which can be attributed to his need to improve his skating further. Holloway had trouble on the breakout 2 on1 drills, making some poor decisions with the puck. Mercer showed well below the hash marks, bringing energy and physicality. Ditto for Holloway. Mercer showed more from an offensive, play creation standpoint, which could help him explain how he survived the cuts.

Alexis Lafreniere and Aidan Dudas did not play in either game. Lafreniere is nursing an ankle injury. Dudas has a hand injury. If Dudas proves able to play, one would assume that Dawson Mercer becomes the final cut. The fact that Dale and Mark Hunter kept him around speaks volumes as to what they think of Dudas’ character and potential to be an impact penalty killer and role player.

My Selections: Alexis Lafreniere, Dylan Cozens, Nolan Foote, Quinton Byfield, Connor McMichael, Akil Thomas, Raphael Lavoie, Ty Dellandrea, Liam Foudy, Joe Veleno, Barrett Hayton, Aidan Dudas (BO Groulx if Dudas could not go), Alex Newhook

Again, not too much difference between my selections and the final roster. The only difference being that I would have had Alex Newhook making the team at the expense of Dawson Mercer and BO Groulx (if Dudas goes). I would make sure that Lafreniere and Byfield are on separate scoring lines, as I see them as the two best play creators. I would also separate Veleno and Hayton because of their pro experience. If Dudas is able to go, he would be with Ty Dellandrea and Liam Foudy on my “shutdown” line.

Final Selections: Alexis Lafreniere, Dylan Cozens, Nolan Foote, Quinton Byfield, Connor McMichael, Akil Thomas, Raphael Lavoie, Ty Dellandrea, Liam Foudy, Joe Veleno, Barrett Hayton, Aidan Dudas, BO Groulx, Dawson Mercer (still one more cut to go depending on injuries)

2019-20 OHL Preview

Brock Otten — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 01:03:50 +0000

The 2019/20 OHL season is already underway, but it is not too late to preview some of the top teams and top players in the league this year. Who are the Championship contenders? Who are the top NHL prospects playing in the league this year? Who are the top NHL draft prospects for 2020? Keep reading to find out.

Graeme Clarke of the Ottawa 67''s. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Eastern Conference

Championship Contenders

Ottawa 67’s

While there have been some losses up front for the 67’s (Sasha Chmelevski, Tye Felhaber, Kody Clark, Kyle Maksimovich, Lucas Chiodo all graduated), the defending Eastern Conference Champions do return their entire blueline and one of their starting goaltenders. Kevin Bahl (Arizona), Noel Hoefenmayer (UFA), Merrick Rippon (2020), Nikita Okhotyuk (New Jersey), Hudson Wilson (UFA), and Alec Belanger (2020) all return and should give the 67’s a chance to repeat as the top defensive team in the Ontario Hockey League (the 67’s led the league in goals against in 2018/19). Additionally, Cedrick Andree (2020) mans the crease again, a year after finishing fourth in the OHL in wins, despite splitting time late in the year with Michael Dipietro after the latter’s acquisition from Windsor. While the club’s secondary scoring remains a bit of a mystery, the top line of Austen Keating (UFA), Marco Rossi (2020), and Graeme Clarke (New Jersey) should score a ton. Management also has a boatload of draft picks (five 2nd rounders and five 3rd rounders over the next three seasons) to make moves should they require upgrades.

Sudbury Wolves

This is the Quinton Byfield (2020) show. Last year, the Wolves were led by one of the best goaltending performances that the league has ever seen from Buffalo prospect Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen. But this year, top 2020 NHL draft prospect Byfield is ready to be the catalyst and one of the best players in the OHL. Sudbury has surrounded him with enough veteran talent too, that includes Carolina draft pick Blake Murray (Carolina). But preventing goals may be the Achilles Heel of this team heading into the year. The defense is on the younger side, and neither Christian Purboo (2020) nor Mitchell Weeks (2020) have proven to be strong starting netminders. Keep an eye on two 2020 draft prospects in Jack Thompson (2020) and Isaak Phillips (2020) here, as they will be seeing a ton of minutes and could rocket up draft boards with strong performances. In a slightly weaker division, look for Sudbury to overcome some holes and earn home ice in the first round.

Peterborough Petes

Unfortunately for Peterborough, they play in the same division as the 67’s, which means one of these teams will finish third in the Conference. But Peterborough should be considered the second-best team in the East right now, even with the Ryan Merkley (San Jose) conundrum surrounding the team. The Sharks first rounder awaits a trade from the Petes after the club decided to go in a different direction. This could no doubt be a distraction, but Peterborough is a very talented team. Nick Robertson (Toronto) leads the way and is a serious candidate to lead the league in scoring and win the Red Tilson as the league’s most outstanding player. Hunter Jones (Minnesota) is a candidate to win the newly named Jim Rutherford award as the league’s top goaltender. Declan Chisholm (Winnipeg) is a top candidate to win the Max Kaminski as the league’s top defender. There is star power at every position, in addition to depth. This team is going to score a lot, and like Ottawa, they have a bevy of draft picks in the cupboard that they could use to improve further.

Oshawa Generals

While there are some serious questions surrounding the quality of goaltending Oshawa could receive this year, there are no questions about the talent level playing in front of said goaltender(s). The Generals return nearly their entire defense from a year ago, led by two NHL draft picks, Gio Vallati (Winnipeg), Nico Gross (NY Rangers), in addition to top 2020 draft prospect Lleyton Moore (2020). At forward, Serron Noel (Florida), and Allan McShane (Montreal) are the stars, but a strong supporting cast surrounds them. Look for Noel to have an absolutely monster year from an offensive perspective. His size and skill combination is so difficult for some of the league’s smaller defenders to handle. If the Generals do falter and find themselves in the middle of the pack, look for them to trade away some of their graduating players like Noel, McShane, and Vallati, in order retool for next year when the team’s goaltending could be addressed more definitively.

Barrie Colts

The Colts are a real wild card heading into the year. They underachieved last year, but a lot of that had to do with some injuries. Additionally, coach Dale Hawerchuk had to step away during training camp due to health concerns, so management brought in veteran Warren Rychel to steer the ship. Despite the turmoil, this is a very talented team. Ryan Suzuki (Carolina) should be better equipped to handle the pressure of being a top offensive option, and Matej Pekar (Buffalo) is healthy and off to a great start. On defense, Tyler Tucker (St. Louis) should be one of the better defenders in the league. Look out for rookie Brandt Clarke (2021), who is an immediate impact player and is the favorite to take home the league’s Emms Family Trophy as the top rookie after leading the OHL in preseason scoring...as a blueliner. Barrie may also have the best goaltending tandem in the OHL with Jet Greaves (2020) and Arturs Silovs (Vancouver) manning the crease. Don’t be surprised if Barrie pushes Sudbury for the Central Division.

Standings Prediction:

Ottawa
Sudbury
Peterborough
Oshawa
Barrie
Mississauga
Hamilton
North Bay
Niagara
Kingston

Western Conference

Championship Contenders

Saginaw Spirit

Cole Coskey of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Make no bones about it, this year’s Saginaw Spirit are one strong team. At the heart of the Spirit is Red Tilson contender and top 2020 draft prospect Cole Perfetti (2020). He could be a candidate to lead the league in scoring and is such an electric player in the offensive end. There is also a strong supporting cast of characters including NHL draft picks Damien Giroux (Minnesota), Blade Jenkins (NY Islanders), Nicholas Porco (Dallas), Cole Coskey (NY Islanders), and Mason Millman (Philadelphia). The real wild card here is whether the New York Islanders send star defender Bode Wilde back to the OHL for another year, even though he is eligible to play in the AHL. Another name to watch is goaltender Tristan Lennox (2021), who was a standout at the Hlinka/Gretzky Cup this summer, but is not eligible for the NHL draft until 2021 because of an October birth date. This year’s Spirit team has to be considered the favorite in the West because of their depth and star power.

Kitchener Rangers

It has become abundantly clear that the Kitchener Rangers intend to compete for an OHL Championship this year because of how aggressive they have been already in making key additions to the club. This summer they brought in Axel Bergkvist (Arizona) and Ville Ottavainen (2020) through the Import Draft, and goaltender Jacob Ingham (Los Angeles) through trade. All three figure to be key components. In particular, those imports will help the Rangers defense move the puck more efficiently, an area that they struggled with last year. Recently, Kitchener also traded for OA Liam Hawel (UFA), who is a big upgrade to their top six forward group. Up front, Riley Damiani (Dallas), Greg Meireles (Florida), and Jonathan Yantsis (UFA) will be star players and all three have a chance to be near the top of the OHL scoring race. This is a very well constructed group with no glaring weakness.

London Knights

There was a lot of discussion in OHL circles last week when the London Knights were named the top team in the CHL in the preseason rankings heading into the year. Many, myself included, felt that this was not warranted. This is a London team with a completely rebuilt defense that outside of Alec Regula (Detroit), has almost no OHL experience (save Gerard Keane (2020) and his limited playing time last year). Additionally, Regula is out with a concussion and star forward Liam Foudy (Columbus) is set to miss 4-6 weeks with an upper body injury. That is not a recipe for early season success. That said, this is a talented group. Connor McMichael (Washington) should be in for a big year and will look to carry the load and help this team through some opening season challenges.

Flint Firebirds

They could not be in the OHL basement forever, right? As Flint’s high end draft selections gain more experience, this could be a very dangerous team that should break out in a big way. The team brought in veteran Anthony Popovich (UFA) to man the crease, fresh off winning an OHL Championship with Guelph last year and his veteran presence should help. Ty Dellandrea (Dallas), assuming he is returned from the Stars, will be one of the OHL’s top players and a leader at both ends of the ice. Look for Vladislav Kolyachonok (Florida) and Dennis Busby (Arizona) to really break out on the back-end, too, and have terrific seasons. Another unheralded player is Jake Durham (UFA), who returns as an OA after a breakout season last year. He has already started strong and could be among the league leaders in goal scoring. This is another well rounded team.

Erie Otters

Much like Barrie in the Eastern Conference, the Otters are being underrated in many preseason polls up to this point. This is a team that is near the top in goals returning from the previous year, and while they may not have the star power up front of other teams in the Conference, they are a very efficient unit. On the back-end though, they most definitely have a star in Jamie Drysdale (2020), who is a potential top 10 selection for this year’s NHL draft. He is an electric skater and is my preseason selection for the Max Kaminski, given to the league’s top defender. At forward, look for Hayden Fowler (2020) and Maxim Golod (2020) to breakout in a big way, too. Do not sleep on this team.

Standings Prediction

Saginaw
Kitchener
London
Flint
Erie
Windsor
Sault Ste. Marie
Owen Sound
Sarnia
Guelph

Ty Dellandrea of the Flint Firebirds. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Top NHL Prospects to Watch

Ty Dellandrea, Flint (Dallas)

Seems likely to stick around for a few games in Dallas, but has the captaincy in Flint waiting for him upon his return. Strong two-way center who will be able to better showcase his offensive abilities this year.

Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton (Los Angeles)

Fell at the draft to the second round, but is one of the best goal scorers in the OHL. Will look to show scouts that he can play with more pace this year and improve his engagement level without the puck.

Philip Tomasino, Niagara (Nashville)

With a rebuild in Niagara likely, one has to wonder if he finishes the year with the IceDogs. Tomasino should see a nice increase in production this year with more powerplay time and another year of added strength.

Thomas Harley, Mississauga (Dallas)

Has had a very strong training camp with Dallas, but will return to Mississauga where he will look to improve his play in the defensive zone to match his dynamic offensive ability and skating stride.

Ryan Suzuki, Barrie (Carolina)

While his brother Nick starts his pro career, possibly even in the NHL, Ryan will look to lead the Barrie Colts to a division title. Ryan is an exceptional playmaker, but he will look to play more between the dots this year and increase his intensity level.

Serron Noel, Oshawa (Florida)

Noel is a physical specimen who can dominate because of his size and skill combination. The power winger drives play through the middle of the ice.

Liam Foudy, London (Columbus)

Speed is the name of Foudy’s game. He will miss the start of the year with an injury, but will look to become a more consistent offensive player upon his return.

Akil Thomas, Niagara (Los Angeles)

Like Tomasino, it seems unlikely that Thomas finishes the year in Niagara. He will be a highly coveted player because of his playmaking ability.

Nick Robertson, Peterborough (Toronto)

Because of his skill level with the puck and his tenacity without it, Robertson is one of the most exciting players to watch in the OHL. If he can stay healthy, he should have a monster season.

Connor McMichael, London (Washington)

McMichael is a versatile forward who profiles best as a goal scorer. The Washington Capitals first rounder will likely need to do a lot of heavy lifting early in the year for London.

Wild Card #1 - Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie (Arizona)

It seems very likely that Hayton spends the year in Arizona as a checking line player. Should he return to Sault Ste. Marie on the other hand, he will be one of the top players in the OHL and the top NHL prospect.

Wild Card #2 - Bode Wilde, Saginaw (NY Islanders)

With the option to keep Wilde in the AHL for the season because he was drafted out of the USDP, it seems likely that that occurs. However, should he return to the OHL, Wilde will be able to play with an incredibly talented offensive group in Saginaw and would be a favorite to lead the league in defensive scoring.

Wild Card #3 - Ryan Merkley, Peterborough (San Jose)

The Merkley trade watch is still on. Still in San Jose’s camp as he awaits a new OHL team, Merkley’s talent level is undeniable. But his attitude has him about to play for his third OHL team in as many years.

Quinton Byfield on the Sudbury Wolves. Photo courtesy of the OHL.

Top 2020 NHL Draft Prospects to Watch

Quinton Byfield, Sudbury

The name Eric Lindros has been thrown around recently because of how dominant Byfield can be below the hashmarks. His skating ability is tremendous for such a big player.

Jamie Drysdale, Erie

Drysdale is a beautiful skater himself and he uses this to impact the game both offensively and defensively. So hard to pin down in his own end, he is a breakout machine.

Cole Perfetti, Saginaw

“Goal” Perfetti, as TSN’s Craig Button calls him, is an offensive dynamo because of how well he processes the game with and without the puck.

Marco Rossi, Ottawa

Rossi is as slippery as an eel in the offensive end. He is undersized, but he plays with a lot of jam and has the skill set to match.

Jacob Perreault, Sarnia

A surprise cut from the Canadian Hlinka/Gretzky team, Perreault, the son of former NHL’er Yanic, is a terrific goal scorer who understands how to play without the puck in the offensive zone.

Antonio Stranges, London

Armed with an elusive 10 to 2 skating stride, dynamic puck skill, and a wicked backhand, Stranges is a human highlight reel. What kind of progress can other parts of his game make this year?

Jean Luc Foudy, Windsor

Brother to London’s Liam, Jean Luc is an equally gifted skater. As dangerous as he is as a playmaker in transition, Foudy will need to show that he can play through traffic more effectively.

Will Cuylle, Windsor

Power winger with a nice goal scorer’s touch. Cuylle has drawn comparisons to NHL’er James Van Riemsdyk for that reason. Needs to find a way to impact the game when he is not scoring.

Jaromir Pytlik, Sault Ste. Marie

With Hayton in Arizona, at least to start the year, the pressure will be on Pytlik to carry the offensive load in the Soo. After only playing half of last year, scouts will get a better look at him this year.

Ryan O’Rourke, Sault Ste. Marie

Hard-nosed defensive stalwart who will be looking to prove that he can be a two-way defender and possesses the offensive upside to be a high NHL draft pick.

Minnesota Wild 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:56:15 +0000

A little over one year ago, Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold decided that then GM Chuck Fletcher’s visions for building a Stanley Cup contender were out of step with his own, and let Fletcher go. The former GM was quickly snapped up by Philadelphia, after the latter had fired their GM, Ron Hextall.

In Fletcher’s place, Minnesota hired longtime Nashville Assistant GM Paul Fenton, a man known specifically for his scouting chops, in addition to being experienced by proximity to one of the more successful GMs (non-Stanley Cup winning division) in league history in David Poile. As most of you know by now, Fenton was let go this summer, making his approximately 13 month tenure at the top one of the shortest in modern NHL history.

It may be unfair to look at Fenton’s first draft helming the Wild table, as he was hired with only around one month to go until draft day. But we will look anyway. The Wild had eight selections, with three third rounders and two fifth rounders making up for the fact that they lacked picks in the second and the fourth.

Their third third rounder, Connor Dewar, had a really impressive post draft season with Everett in the WHL and saw his stick rise accordingly, jumping from 12^th to 3^rd on the Minnesota list. Additionally, the second third rounder, Alexander Khovanov was fine during a healthy season, and he moved up a few spots as well, from ninth to sixth.

On the other hand, the other six picks have been disappointing to a man. First rounder Filip Johansson was seen as a reach on draft day and he had a brutal year in Sweden. Similarly, the first third rounder, Jack McBain, had a difficult transition from the OJHL to Boston College. Both players remain in our top ten for the Wild, which is a reflection of the dearth of talent in the ranks more than their present standing in the industry. As high-ish picks, the Wild will not be giving up on either anytime soon, but they have moved in the wrong direction. Finally, none of the four late round picks had done enough to make the current iteration of the Minnesota top 20, although some of them received some consideration for late slots.

Going back to the fairness issue, we should point out that we really liked the Minnesota draft haul this year, which you will note by reading on, and Paul Fenton’s long term legacy will need to take that into account, however the players eventually turn out.

Of course, scouting is only one element of a General Manager’s position, and scouting for the draft is but one element of scouting. The fact is that Fenton was fired due to reasons that were largely not connected to scouting. Whoever is selected to replace him will have a lot more time to prepare for his/her first draft and has a good chance to make a better first pick than Johansson is looking to be. But as far as scouting for the draft goes, the main reason Fenton was (apparently) hired in the first place, he leaves with a mixed, at best, record.

-Ryan Wagman

SAINT PAUL, MN - JUNE 28: Minnesota Wild Development Camp attendee Matthew Boldy (67) makes a pass during the Minnesota Wild Development Camp 3-on-3 Tournament on June 28, 2019 at TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center in St. Paul, MN (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

1 Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 1) An elite offensive player who is already one of the top KHL talents at his young age, Kaprizov is a gifted forward with an impressive resume under his belt. Last year, he led the whole league in goals and game-winning goals, and also won the Gagarin Cup with CSKA before helping Russia to get back home with a bronze medal at the IIHF World Championship. With his size, hands, and poise, he won’t have many problems in adapting to the more demanding NHL game and it will be exciting to see what he can done there after his contract with CSKA will run out next April 30. He is a hard worker, and won’t be a defensive liability for his team, but Kaprizov is a top-six player and won’t contribute much on a bottom-six, defensive oriented role. - ASR

2 Matthew Boldy, LW (12^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Of all of the players on last year’s UNSTDP U18 class, none had come as far in their two year run with the Program as did Boldy. A true five-tool winger, he may have lacked the flash of the team’s first line with the likes of Jack Hughes and Cole Caufield, he has a sniper’s pure wrist shot and high end puck skills to boot. The latter skill was something that shone with greater and greater frequency as his draft year progressed, with few games occurring in the second half in which Boldy did not try something audacious – and usually succeed. Notwithstanding his offensive game, he earns plaudits for his attention to detail in his own end as well. He is a very good penalty killer and plays aggressively all over the ice. With his mature frame and full set of skills, he may not need more than one year at Boston College before he is ready to take on the pros. He has first line possibilities. - RW

3 Connor Dewar, LW (92^nd overall, 2018. Last Year: 12) Dewar went undrafted in his initial draft year, but improved drastically and had a real breakout season, posting 38 goals and 68 points in 68 games, earning a third round selection. He followed that up by being named Captain of the Silvertips, and putting up an impressive 36 goals and 81 points in only 59 games. He is a smaller forward with good speed and puck skills, and a relentless work ethic. He has good offensive skills, and he plays a nice two-way game. He projects to be a bottom six forward at the highest level, and should compete for a spot in Iowa this season. - KO

4 Marshall Warren, D (166^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the more polarizing prospects in the 2019 draft class, we were smitten by his speed and his zest for making life difficult for opposing teams, but the NHL was not as convinced, with some seeing more of a tweener, a defender who has offensive skill, but not enough to quarterback your first power play unit, while lacking the frame or defensive mindset to handle tough shifts in his own zone. Furthermore, playing on a stacked USNTDP last year, along with the Wild’s first round pick, Boldy, it was easy to overlook Warren in favor of one or another defender who had a more well-defined role. Nevertheless, by snagging the Boston College commit in the sixth round, we feel that the Wild got the best value pick in the entire draft. If he shows growth in his reads and picks his spots a touch better, he could end up a very good second pairing, second power play defender down the line. - RW

5 Vladislav Firstov, LW (42^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) For a first time North American combatant, Firstov impressed. He clearly has a strong offensive skill game and has the ability to drive the offense. His puck skills show the occasional jaw dropping element. He also has the ability to turn on the jets and push the opposing team back on their heels. There is more than enough here to convince a team to be patient with him, and enough occasional glimpses of dominant shifts to suspect that his team won’t need to be patient. But Firstov is not a player without red flags. He tends to disappear in his own end and can demonstrate a tendency to float in either end when the puck is not within sniffing distance. Furthermore, despite a solid frame and the ability to play with strength, he too often sticks to the perimeter and avoids heavy play. He might flame out at the University of Connecticut, but he could also emerge smelling like a second line winger. - RW

6 Alexander Khovanov, C (86^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 9) Khovanov is a very strong offensive player with warts to his game. He handles the puck very well, distributes the puck expertly, can fire a great shot and controls the pace of the game with the puck on his stick. However, his weaknesses lie underneath the strong boxcar numbers of 74 points in 64 games this season, and 10 in 10 in the playoffs. He is prone to bad turnovers and taking bad penalties, as he finished fifth in minor penalties last year with 47. He suffers from inconsistent effort in the defensive zone; some shifts he is tenacious on the backcheck and others he is lackadaisical. He can take himself out of the game with frustration and lack of focus, and other teams have zeroed in on it in their game planning. He projects to be an impact offensive player, if Minnesota can keep him focused. - MS

7 Nico Sturm, C (Undrafted free agent, signed Apr. 1, 2019. Last Year: IE) When Sturm was first draft eligible, he was a decent U18 player in Germany, and barely even on the German national team radar. In his second year of eligibility, he played in the NAHL, and struggled mightily. But it got better. His second go round in the NAHL was strong and he even played for Team Germay in the WJC. He then he won a USHL championship with Tri-City before moving on to study and play at Clarkson. He was much better as a collegian than he was prior and was one of the most coveted NCAA free agents this past year. His season ended ignominiously with a game misconduct in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, but he agreed to an NHL entry level deal with the Wild three days later. He has great size and skates very well, with intriguing puck skills to boot. He is close to ready and has a third line ceiling. - RW

8 Filip Johansson, D (24^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 4) For a first-round draft choice in 2018, Johansson didn’t have a strong season in 2018-19. In his draft year he was promoted to senior hockey and showed great promise in Allsvenskan. He played a smart, solid and mature game. Last season he was a regular in Allsvenskan but struggled. He met adversity with bigger responsibility and couldn’t put up offensive numbers or strong defensive numbers. He still is only 19 years old and is a smart player with good tools, so it is far too early to write him off as a prospect. Johansson has the potential to become a solid two-way right-handed defenseman who contributes well at both ends of the ice. The upcoming season he will be a rookie in the SHL as his team earned promotion. Hopefully he can take a big step and handle the higher level well with his smarts. As for now, the NHL is a long-term project. - JH

9 Jack McBain, C (63^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: 6) McBain comes from a hockey family and you can see that in his play. He is a smart, strong, adaptable forward who is still finding his way in college hockey. At 6-3”, 201, he went from being an OJHL All-Star to a developing player for Boston College. He showed flashes last year scoring 6 goals and 13 points in 35 games. His speed is good, but he needs to be better in his own end. He played as a third-line left winger last season, but he is capable of being a center again down the road. He will have to show improvement to get back in the middle again. He has the look of a 3^rd or 4^th line player as a pro down the road. He still has a lot of work to do between now and then. - RC

10 Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 7) What Kahkonen did in his first North American pro year, amid a decent at best defensive squad with AHL Iowa, borders on incredible. The average-sized, mature goaltender wasted no time getting accustomed to the smaller ice, earning AHL All-Star honors at just 22 years of age. His calm, composed mentality in the crease bodes well for his highly-athletic, technically-refined butterfly style, and his maturity as a young netminder was on display for all of last season in Des Moines. From a talent standpoint, he projects to be a mid-tier NHL starter in the near future, but a worrisome note for him is that veteran Andrew Hammond essentially stole the starting job in the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs. Coupled with the fact that the Wild selected goaltender Hunter Jones in the second round of the 2019 draft, and Kahkonen might have a harder road to the big leagues than expected. - TD

11 Louie Belpedio, D (80^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 5) A right-handed, puck-moving defenseman is an untouchable prospective asset to any organization, but throw in some offensive upside and a veteran level of composure, and you have a surefire future NHLer. The 2014 third-rounder finished off his first pro year -- which featured some cameos with Minnesota -- with a solid 71-6-15-21 stat line, exhibiting just what makes him an intriguing prospect moving forward: his smarts are top notch, and his speedy skating and vision make his mission of exiting the zone as fast as possible an easy one most times. While his defensive awareness and physical play below the dots have improved since the beginning of last season, his stick-readiness and gaps when defending against zone entries still need some major upgrades. Long term, Belpedio could be a bottom-pair d-man with second power-play time. - TD

12 Ivan Lodnia, RW (85^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8) Lodnia is a change of pace winger who is always looking to attack the offensive zone. His skating has improved and it has allowed him to be effective at gaining entry to the blueline. He has also become stronger on the puck and it has made him more effective playing in the middle of the ice. He was a very effective 5-on-5 performer this past season in Niagara, even though he missed a few months with an upper body injury. As an NHL player, Lodnia projects as a middle six winger for the Wild. How fast he makes Minnesota’s lineup is going to be dictated by how quickly he is able to improve his play away from the puck as he will need to be the type to do the dirty work on a scoring line and become a little more versatile. - BO

13 Hunter Jones, G (59^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Hunter Jones has everything you are looking for in an NHL netminder, particularly size and athleticism. He was having a terrific draft season and a major breakout with Peterborough until he hit a wall in the second half due to being overworked. At this point, it is just about finding consistency for Jones, and being able to bounce back from weaker goals or performances. The upcoming OHL season will be a big one for him as he looks to be good from start to finish. With a more consistent year, he could put himself on the map as a potential starter for Canada at the World Junior Championships and is definitely a candidate for goaltender of the future in Minnesota. - BO

14 Brandon Duhaime, RW (106^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 11) Florida native Duhaime is a late bloomer who was drafted in his second year of eligibility after a decent season in the USHL. He progressed at a steadily faster pace over three years with Providence, culminating in an impressive junior campaign after which Minnesota gave him an entry level deal. Ostensibly a power forward, he can get to a nice top speed, but usually plays at a more stately pace. He is tough to handle when he forechecks and is likewise active in his own end. His offensive skills don’t seem likely to translate much as a pro, but his hockey IQ and physicality will give him a chance to play a fourth line role. - RW

15 Matvey Guskov, C (149th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Even if Guskov did not have the type of draft season some had expected of him, he was a great dice roll by the Wild in the back half of the draft. He is a really athletic player whose game is best described as being raw. He skates well. He has size. He shows flashes of being able to dominate in transition. But at this point, he is not good enough away from the puck, strong enough on the puck, or confident enough to be a consistent contributor. There are also some question marks about how well he sees the ice. That said, with patience he could develop into an impact two-way forward because of his size and skating ability. - BO

16 Brennen Menell, D (Undrafted free agent, signed Sep. 26, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Undrafted out of the WHL, Menell signed with Minnesota in the fall of 2017, and his 2018-19 season is a sign that the Wild scored big on the free agent defenseman. An inventive blueliner with the WHL club in Vancouver, and later Lethbridge, the 22-year-old showed out his junior form with Iowa last season, after earning an increase in ice time and more of a two-way role with the farm club. Last season, only one AHL defenseman had more assists than Menell (70-2-42-44), whose skating speed and creativity as a passer made him one of the most dangerous distributors in the league. His defensive game is fairly stout as well, as his technique on odd-man rushes and his physicality against zone entries stands out above the rest. Aside from his weak and often hesitant shot, Menell does not have any real big holes in his game. He could be a second-pair NHL contributor in time. - TD

17 Nick Swaney, C (209^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 15) A classic late-bloomer, Swaney did not fall victim to the dreaded sophomore slump in his second year at Minnesota-Duluth, increasing his goal scoring by 250% while once again playing a key two-way role for a national champion. He is undersized and lacks any one standout skill, but Swaney’s whole is often greater than the sum of his parts. He has a hard shot which was put to use with greater frequency this year and is trustworthy in late and tight situations as well as the penalty kill. He reads the game at close to an NHL level and if we were more confident that he could win more foot races at the highest level, he would project as a solid future third line center as well as show up far higher on this list. As is, he could find himself on the fourth line, but the upside is still NHL worthy. - RW

18 Filip Lindberg, G (197^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Lindberg is only 6-0”, 187, but he is physically strong and that helps him play the position. He had a sensational year at UMass, finishing with a 1.60 goals against average and a .934 save percentage in just 17 games. He didn’t play a ton but had a fair number of shutouts and had taken over the starting job by the NCAA Tournament, backstopping the Minutemen to the Frozen Four Final where they lost 3-0. He blocks pucks and doesn’t glove them all cleanly. His fast reflexes give up a lot of directed rebounds. He covers up in the crease well. He was a no-risk seventh round pick with some possible future upside. He should be the top goalie at UMass this year, but the job won’t be handed to him. He could be a future backup goalie in the NHL someday. - RC

19 Adam Beckman, C (75^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) Beckman had a nice season for Spokane, putting up 32 goals and 62 points in 68 games, followed by 12 points in 15 games in the playoffs. Selected in the 3rd round, the speedy winger possesses good offensive instincts and likes to get involved in front of the net. He has a good shot and quick release, and always finds ways to contribute. Beckman just went through a growth spurt and has been adjusting to his new physical traits, but will still need to add weight and strength to be able to deal with the physical part of the game as he moves on. He projects to be a middle six forward, and should be back in Spokane this season to hone his skills and further his development. - KO

20 Mason Shaw, C (97^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 10) After ripping the WHL to shreds as a 17-year-old with Medicine Hat, the shifty, creative center tore the ACL in his right knee before the start of the 2017-18 season and spent the entire campaign -- aside from a nondescript one-game trial with Iowa at season’s end -- on the shelf. In 2018-19, he shook off the rust with a 76-8-25-33 campaign that was solid, but shy of world-shattering, before he suffered an ACL injury on his left knee in the postseason. In short, Shaw’s development will be a test of patience for the player and the Wild organization. When healthy, he is a pretty solid technical skater with decent top speed, and his main draw -- his quick, soft hands -- can make magic happen on every shift. He has a middle-six NHL ceiling, but his undersized frame and lack of luck with health have made it difficult to imagine him in a Minnesota Wild jersey for a while. - TD

The 2019 NHL Draft: Draftee Perspectives on the First Step to the NHL

Shaiyena Cote — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 18:03:08 +0000

The end of June signifies a time of growth and development in the elite hockey world as the National Hockey League’s general managers along with coaching staff, scouts, owners, players, parents/families and fans get to see the fruition of all the hype of a season long observation of eligible prospects get drafted in the most prestigious event in the hockey world, the NHL Entry Draft. This year 31 teams picked 217 players over two days.

I attended last year’s draft in Dallas as a spectator but this year I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend for the first time with full credentials allowing me an excellent learning experience. Although not a research project, my perspective as a student offered me many different opportunities to observe the draft process first hand.

The draft took place over two days in Vancouver, hosted by the Vancouver Canucks with round one taking place on day one with team staff, players, families, and of course all of the curious fans paying close attention to who would go in the 31 spots of the first round. Day two consisted of rounds two through seven and although day one is stressful, many of the players who will be chosen in the first round have an idea that they will be drafted. The top five picks have been speculated about for months, however this year the one and two spots were undecided for many people until the first overall pick going to New Jersey was announced, which ended all the speculation as to the very top of the draft class.

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 21: Kaapo Kakko, Jack Hughes, and Kirby Dach pose for a photo onstage after being selected in the top three in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

Speculation over Kaapo Kakko and Jack Hughes had been raging for months, with both competing in both the World Junior and later the World Men’s Championships, Kakko for Team Finland and Hughes for the US. It so happened that Finland won both events, thereby giving Kakko the distinction of winning world gold at every level of the IIHF world championships all by the age of eighteen (he also won gold at the 2018 WU18 tournament). Jack Hughes meanwhile had impressive numbers with both the U18 and U20 US teams and had a good showing at the IIHF World Championship as well. Debates were ongoing and heated as to which order they would be drafted right up until the New Jersey Devils put an end to all the speculation by picking Hughes first over all, leaving the New York Rangers to select Kakko from TPS of the Liiga as the second overall pick.

This year’s draft was far less diverse than last year’s where the top six of the first round were from six different countries, as this year saw 22 North American players being selected in the first 31 picks. With the high likelihood that Hughes and Kakko will start with their respective big clubs, it should still be noted that the number of players to start in the NHL has slowly been decreasing over the years with many of the draftees moving on to the AHL, returning back to their countries to fulfill contracts, returning to their respective major junior teams, completing a pro year in another league in preparation for the NHL or committing to an NCAA school.

All that being said, I do not want to take anything away from the excitement and energy the draft brings to the hockey world, especially to the prospects with a firmly realistic look at the work that lays in front of them once they are drafted in order to make a successful jump to the NHL. In fact, I want to focus on the positivity and optimism that I encountered with the many prospects that I had the opportunity to interview about their draft experience. Over the course of three days I had the chance to speak with many prospects and draftees about their draft experience, ranging from first rounders to fifth rounders, including four of the top five picks.

I spoke with both Jack Hughes, (1st overall, New Jersey) and Alex Turcotte, (5th overall, LA) the day before the draft, after they participated in an informal instructional skate with local minor hockey players. Hughes came across as laid back but seemed confident that he would go first overall. “Today was a lot of fun (skating with kids), it was like being out on the ice with my brothers when we were younger.” Brother Quinn Hughes, (7th overall 2018, Vancouver), along with Jake Virtanen (6th overall 2014, Vancouver) joined the 2019 top six rated prospects minus Kakko on the ice with the kids.

Most of the attending prospective draftees toured Vancouver with their families and were able to travel freely around the city. Unfortunately for both Hughes and Kakko, being so easily recognized meant traveling with handlers and not being able to explore Vancouver like many of the other draftees did. In fact, other than the top 31 picks many of the draftees are unknown to fans, so they were free to sight see and shop with family or in small groups.

“I look up to Jack which sounds funny, being the older brother and looking up to your younger brother, it’s not usually what older brothers do. I’m excited for him, having been there myself a year ago, I know some of what he’s feeling, except he’s going higher than I did”, stated Quinn when asked about Jack and the possibility of his younger brother going first overall.

“I think it was cool to be drafted in the city where my brother plays,” stated Jack after he was drafted, who seemed to take the whole draft experience in stride. If Jack was nervous it didn’t really show, as he is cool, calm, and collected with the press, laid back with his buddies and fellow draftees and accommodating with people like myself who he just seemed to enjoy engaging in small talk about sharing a birthday one day apart from mine and playing hockey.

I had worked for Alex Turcotte’s grandfather, Rheal, as a coach with his Turcotte Stickhandling North American hockey school for four years, which, when I told Alex, he was excited to hear as he has also worked at his grandfather’s hockey school. Turcotte was engaging and excited the day before the draft but said he was “a little nervous” about being drafted. “Being told you’re going high and actually waiting to see the outcome is nerve wracking”, he concluded.

Dylan Cozens (7th overall, Buffalo) had similar feelings to Turcotte as he was actually slated to go higher than he did. Cozens is from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and is the first draftee from the Yukon to ever go in the first round, “I didn’t really set too many expectations, just was excited and wanted to enjoy the moment and just take it all in. You know it’s something that I’ve worked towards my whole life, so I just wanted to enjoy it as much as I could.”

When asked about his overall experience in Vancouver, Cozens stated, “it was a great experience, I got to walk around the city lots and you know I was just trying to enjoy it as much as I could. It’s a stressful time but it’s the best day of my life so I’m just enjoying it all.” I joked with Cozens that he had his answers memorized due to doing so many interviews and being asked similar questions. At this writing Cozens is rehabbing a thumb injury sustained in development camp and will be returning to the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL.

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 21: Ryan Suzuki shakes hands with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman after being picked twenty-eight overall by the Carolina Hurricanes during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

I interviewed Ryan Suzuki (1st round, 28th overall, Carolina) on day one when he’d finished his press gallery interviews. Suzuki had been ranked at the 22^nd spot going into the draft, “I think I was just hoping to go first round somewhere and I mean the Hurricanes believed in me and they selected me so I’m just super excited to be drafted to them and get started with them.” When asked about his overall experience in Vancouver, Suzuki stated, “Uh, it was a little nerve wracking at the start but um, I think once you’re drafted, it’s a big sigh of relief and I’m just super excited right now.”

I know both the Suzuki brothers and I was fortunate to catch up with both Ryan and older brother, Nick (13th overall, 2017 originally to Vegas, currently with Montreal) on day two of the draft as they watched to see where friends and former teammates would be picked in rounds two through seven. Nick had hoped for Ryan to go to Montreal but overall was happy that his brother was chosen in the first round. “I was hoping that Ryan would go higher but I’m glad Carolina picked him. Now we’re off to our development camps in a couple of days and we’ll see where we end up at the end of camp, I don’t think we’ll be playing each other any time soon.” stated Nick. Following development camp Ryan will be returning to the Barrie Colts of the OHL while Nick is rostered to Laval of the AHL as of this writing, so Nick is right that they won’t be playing each other any time soon.

The last first rounder that I interviewed was Brayden Tracy (29th overall, Anaheim), I asked him about his draft experience and he replied, “Yeah, I kinda knew where I was going, ah a little bit late first so I was just kinda sitting there relaxing and then pick 25, I kinda got a little bit nervous and then luckily I got my name called. It’s words you can’t describe, honestly I think it’s just a bunch of nerves going through your body but other than that (I feel) super excited and I’m very honored to be picked by such a great organization.” As of this writing Tracy will be returning to the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.

I conducted only two interviews with second rounders and they both happened to be goalies. I caught up with Pyotr Kochetkov, (2nd round, 36th, Carolina), as he was shopping for draft souvenirs at the Canucks store. Kochetkov was friendly and all smiles but wanted to keep it short and sweet while speaking through his interpreter so I just asked how he felt about being drafted, “I just wanted to go before the third round” he replied. I practiced my limited Russian by replying, “spasibo” (thank you). Kochetkov is listed on Elite Prospects as returning to SKA-Neva, St. Petersburg of the KHL next season.

(editor’s note – when I caught with Kotchetkov and his agent/interpreter before the start of the second round, he was pretty sure that his name would be called in the second round).

Hunter Jones, (2nd round, 59th, Minnestota), was the second goalie I interviewed. Jones was outgoing and excited to share his draft experience, “I didn’t really have like, a lot of expectations going into it. I was obviously ranked pretty high for the draft, so, um, starting the day off I was pretty eager to get things going but, you know, I kinda knew where teams had me in their depth of drafting so, it was as I hoped, I finished with a second round selection. So, an unbelievable experience so far. It’s been amazing.” When asked about his family experience in Vancouver he replied, “Ah, it was great, I flew in on Thursday morning and I went to go sight see a little bit and you know see the town, go for a little walk and I love it here, it’s great, great city and yeah I’m sure the away games will be a lot of fun.” Jones, at this writing, is returning to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL.

Alex Campbell, (3rd round, 65th, Nashville) is from Chateauguay, Quebec, was drafted out of the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL along with teammate and first rounder Alex Newhook (16th, Colorado). I asked Campbell the same question about his draft experience and he replied, “Nah, I mean for the draft, even before the season I realized I wasn’t really on any of the lists so coming to this, it’s kinda, just here for the experience” I asked, “just happy to be here?”. Campbell replied, “Yeah, exactly.” When asked about his Vancouver experience Campbell said, “Yeah well I played in Victoria so it’s not too, too far. I kinda knew the west coast a bit but I just kinda visited around. (I’m from) Montreal.” I speak French so I asked him if he spoke French, “Yup, lots of French actually,” When I mentioned the fact that there’s not a lot of French spoken in Nashville he replied, “Nope, nope, but a lot of country music.” It turns out that Campbell is a country music fan, “Yeah a country boy, so there we go.” Campbell will be playing for the Omaha Lancers of the USHL for the 2019-2020 season prior to starting his commitment to Clarkson University of the NCAA. (Side note: teammate Newhook is committed to Boston College, NCAA)

BROSSARD, QC - JUNE 28: Montreal Canadiens prospect Gianni Fairbrother (59) tracks the play during the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp on June 28, 2019, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

When I asked Gianni Fairbrother, (3rd round, 77th, Montreal) if he’d had any expectations he told me, “No, I didn’t really know what to expect obviously I thought that there’d be a chance or a possibility so uh, I just kinda came with an open mind and thankfully it happened”. I asked Fairbrother how his French was considering he was drafted to Montreal, “(Laughing), I haven’t done it in a couple of years.” Asked about his family experience he replied, “Well I’m actually from here so it’s my home town so it’s definitely cool for it to be here. Ten minute drive (from home).” Fairbrother will be back playing for the Everett Silvertips of the WHL for the upcoming season.

I had the pleasure of conducting my first French interview with Rouyn-Noranda Husky and 2019 Memorial Cup winner Alex Beaucage, (3rd round, 78th, Colorado) who hails from the small Québec town of Trois-Rivières. I asked Beaucage if he had any draft expectations he replied, “Yes, but I knew not to have too many, it doesn’t matter what round and it didn’t bug me too much (going 3rd round) as long as they called my name, (the rest) it wasn’t important.” Asked if his family was with him and what his experience in Vancouver had been like, Beaucage told me that “Yep” his family was with him, “It’s been great, it’s very different from Trois-Rivières, it’s a lot bigger but it’s a super nice place. It’s so much fun (here) and it’s different from where I’m from but it’s been so much fun.”

This interview was fun for me as French is my second language and I speak Ontario French which is different from Quebecois French but I liked challenging myself to interview Beaucage in his native language which seemed to surprise him but also made him comfortable in speaking with me. It’s undeclared at this writing where he’ll be playing next season.

Version française de l’interview:

(Moi) Est ce que tu avais des expectations avec la Draft?
(Alex Beaucage) Uh, oui mais je sais de ne pas mal faire trop uh, c’est peu importe la ronde ça me dérangeait pas trop trop tant qu’ils me faisaient l’appel c’est pas important.
Et est-ce que ça c’est ta famille?
Ouais
Comment est-ce que tu as trouvé Vancouver?
C’est super, c’est différent de chez nous, c’est beaucoup plus gros mais c’est une super belle ville.
Et tu viens d’où?
Trois-Rivières, Québec. Mais ça c’est super de la fun, c’est différent de chez nous mais c’est super de la fun!

I asked Anttoni Honka, (3rd round, 83rd, Carolina) if his draft experience had met his expectations, “Yeah, of course, I talked at the Combine with maybe twenty teams about a contract.” I asked Honka how he had liked Vancouver and his experience in the city, his reply was, “Yeah it is a nice city, it was lots of fun to be here with family and my brothers and mum and dad, so it was fun.” As of this writing Honka will be playing for JYP Liiga in Jyväskylä, Finland.

I caught Aliaksei Protas, (3rd round 91st, Washington) as he was in between phone calls. I asked the Belarus native about his expectations for the draft, “No, I didn’t have nothing, I just was here hoping somebody would draft me.” I then asked him about his experience in Vancouver, “Oh yeah, it’s pretty good city. No, I’m here without family, yeah, they stayed at home, but I was in Vancouver not too long ago, I was in Langley about two months ago. Yeah, it’s a very nice place.” At the time of this writing, Protas is going back to the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL for the upcoming season.

**
Jordan Spence, (4th round, 95th, LA), was born in Australia, has both Canadian and Japanese citizenships and was drafted into the QMJHL out of the Maritime Junior Hockey League. I asked him if he had any expectations, “Not really, I’m happy to be here. I’m just happy to be drafted.” About his experience in Vancouver, “I’m just happy to be here with family.” Spence seemed a little overwhelmed at being drafted fourth round. Spence is expected to return to the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL next season.

The Finns had a solid showing at this years’ draft with Matias Maccelli, (4th round, 98th, Arizona) being one of several selected. I asked Maccelli about his draft expectations, “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, I was excited and happy to be here.” About his experience in Vancouver he replied, “Yeah we had fun, I think they (family) had fun too,” Maccelli is expected to be playing with Ilves of the Liiga in Tampere, Finland for the upcoming season.

I found Hunter Skinner, (4th round, 112th, Rangers) standing with his family, I asked him about his draft expectations, “I mean I was just hoping to get drafted, I mean it’s a dream come true.” I followed that up with asking him if he had enjoyed his time in Vancouver, “Yes, I got here Friday morning, toured all around, got some food. My mum had a little difficulty getting here but, yeah, we toured around, we came and watched the first round, enjoyed that and now I’m back here today.” I ended with asking him if he was related to Jeff Skinner (7th overall, 2010, Carolina now with Buffalo), “I don’t know, I’ve never looked into whether we’re related. That would be cool though.” Skinner has recently left the USHL and the NCAA track to play for the London Knights of the OHL for the coming season and ironically has been assigned number 53 for the New York Rangers (Jeff Skinner wears number 53).

Leevi Aaltonen, (5th round, 130th, Rangers) was the last Finn that I interviewed. I asked him if he had been disappointed to not be drafted until the fifth round, “Yeah, a little bit, we expect maybe second to fourth round but now fifth round, but it’s all good and I’m very excited.” I asked Aaltonen if he had family there to experience Vancouver with, “No family, just my agent and my Finn friend Mikko. Yeah, this has been an unbelievable trip.” (Mikko is Mikko Kokkonen 3rd round, 84th, Toronto). Aaltonen will be playing for KalPa of the Liiga in Kuopio, Finland this coming season under head coach Sami Kapanen, father of Kasperi Kapanen (22nd overall, 2014, Pittsburgh now Toronto). (Side note: Mikko Kokkonen will be playing for Jukurit of the Liiga in Mikkeli, Finland).

Czech player Martin Hugo Has, (5th round, 153rd , Washington) did not have any expectations about the draft, “No, not really, I just went here and hoped for the best.” I asked Has about his experience in Vancouver, “Yeah, my dad is here with me, yeah. It’s my seventh time in Vancouver, (most recently the) World Juniors. It’s been good, this is a nice city.” Has was drafted by the North Bay Battalion of the OHL in the 2019 import draft but is planning to return to Tappara of the Liiga in Tampere, Finland for the 2019-2020 season.

It’s great to see that many of the draftees are finding the positives in the cities/teams that have drafted them, such as Alex Campbell being excited about being a country music fan drafted to Nashville, known as Music City. Cole Caulfield (15th overall, Montreal) used French in his social media post thanking Montreal for selecting him even though he had stated in a TV documentary that he had had four years of French in school but had not had to use it. As an American, French is not an official language. Seeing Caufield make the effort to reach out to his new fans in their language is heartwarming and shows the effort that these guys are willing to make to connect with their new fanbase in order to make the transition to the NHL easier.

Team development camps started within 2-3 days of the conclusion of the draft and all the new draftees were heading out all over Canada and the United States to their prospective new teams.

They were all excited to attend their first NHL development camps and start the process of making it to the NHL.

For some of these draftees the transition will be way easier than for others. For some there are of course the obvious language barriers, more subtle and less obvious adjustments are things like ice surface size, (Europe has larger ice surfaces compared to NHL size ice pads), training regiments, playing with men, going from being a billeted player and having things done for you to being the youngest player on a professional men’s team and having to do everything on your own. Then there is homesickness and adjusting to so many changes all at once; city, team, living arrangements, coaching style, demands of being in the NHL, and for many a new country and for some a new language (English or French) to learn all while still being a teenager.

In interviewing a selection of players; forwards, defense and goalies from Canada, Russia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Belarus, and the United States, I was really able to see the diversity of players. All the players were excited to learn about the cities they had been drafted to, although some were far more nervous about it than others. It was a little disconcerting speaking with the guys who did not have family with them. That was sad because the draft is the biggest day in their hockey lives up to that point and it must be difficult to not have family there to share it with. I did find all of the guys that I interviewed and all the others that I spoke with, to be accommodating and willing to talk. They all seemed genuinely excited to be drafted although some were a little miffed at not being selected in the round they thought they would be drafted in. Every single player, despite whether they were disappointed in where they went in the selection or not, still shared an overall excitement and happiness to be drafted, many said that although the process was nerve wracking it was still a dream come true no matter what round they were drafted in.

I would be neglectful in ending this article on the success of the draft for so many players without honorable mention about a few prospects that I was surprised to see not get drafted, especially the ones that I wrote prospect reports about and who I had watched play this past season. The first player that comes to mind is Billy Constantinou, a player that I watched play for the whole first half of the season with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL and who was invited to play in the Sherwin-Williams CHL Top Prospects game held this year in Red Deer in March as well as being invited to the NHL Combine in Buffalo in June.

Pavel Gogolev and Keegan Stevenson were also a pair of OHL Championship winning Guelph Storm forwards that were also possible draftees who were overlooked. Additional mention also goes to a pair of Oshawa Generals (OHL) wingers, Danil Antropov and Nando Eggenberger (note that Nando will be returning to Switzerland to play pro in the NLA for his former club team HC Davos) who were also skipped over. However, to take the disappointment of being passed over in the draft and to turn it into a positive, one only has to look at Brett Leason, (2nd round, 56th, Washington) who had been passed over in the previous two drafts but proved that if you work really hard and persevere you can still end up being drafted even years after you first gain eligibility. I guess the biggest lesson about making the NHL is to remember that everything takes time. Copyright © Shaiyena Cote 2019

McKeen’s 2019 NHL Group Mock Draft – Round Three of Three

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 23:20:29 +0000

If you have read round one found here: McKeen’s 2019 NHL Group Mock Draft – Round One of Three or McKeen’s 2019 NHL Group Mock Draft – Round Two of Three you can skip the intro and dive straight into the picks below.

Mock NHL Drafts are always fun for those immersed in analyzing eligible prospects all season long, but can also always provide some interesting insights ahead of draft day. The exercise of compiling our McKeen's NHL Draft Rankings are not an attempt to predict the order of the NHL draft but to the rank the prospects by their potential in the NHL. Every NHL team will have a different draft list in Vancouver, reflecting not only team need, but also players they are targeting and feel strongly about.

A group mock draft with a dozen participants representing two or three teams will reflect that dynamic better than an individual picking the players they feel a team will want. That list inevitably reflects that individual's list, hunches and preferences. McKeen's utilizes input from our team in rinks around the world in coming up with our season ending ranking and it will be more balanced as a result. In a mock, the scouts and analysts are free to target the players that impressed them this season, while trying to match the player to an organizational need. As in the NHL on draft day there will be surprises, risers and fallers from the rankings.

Have fun. Subscribers can link to the player page for more detail by clicking on the player's name. If you are not a subscriber you can learn more here.

We will be doing three rounds in total. The participants, in no particular order, in the draft were:

Brock Otten - Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers
Ryan Wagman - Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets
Russ Cohen - New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders
Mike Sanderson - Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres
Jimmy Hamrin - Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning,
Tom Dorsa - Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues
Iain Morrell - Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators
Shaiyena Cote - Vegas Golden Knights, Anaheim Ducks
Vince Gibbons - Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks
Kevin Olexson - Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes
Robert Howard - New York Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins
Gus Katsaros - Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs
Benoit Belanger - Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins

Thank you all for an amazing season.

Pick - Team - PLAYER (Rank) - POS - TEAM- HT/WT, DOB - Nation

63. Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa) - Arseni Gritsyuk (48) - RW - Omskie Yastreby (Rus Jr) - 5-10/170, 15-Mar-01 - Russia - I feel like this is the perfect territory to draft a guy like Gritsyuk. He has potentially dynamic pure skill, but he is a long-term project and his lack of size could be concerning. Home run pick, for sure, but this is a good place to gamble for Colorado. - Tom Dorsa

64. Los Angeles Kings - Jordan Spence (106) - D - Moncton (QMJHL) - 5-10/165, 24-Feb-01 - Canada - I said “Solidify the future at the defense”, so…why not an other D? Spence is a riser in this draft. He is a really good distributor who plays with a lot of poise with the puck. He is a good puck mover and carrier. He possesses excellent mobility and skating abilities. - Benoit Belanger

65. Philadelphia Flyers (from New Jersey via Edmonton) - Kaedan Korczak (68) - D - Kelowna (WHL) - 6-3/190, 29-Jan-01 - Canada - After drafting two forwards, Philly goes for a defenseman. Korczak will need some time, but is an interesting defenseman for a future third pair. A low risk second round pick. - Jimmy Hamrin

66. Detroit Red Wings - Michael Vukojevic (71) - D - Kitchener (OHL) - 6-3/210, 8-Jun-01 -- Canada - Hard nosed, stay at home defender who played key minutes for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL this year. His mobility has really improved and he has a great head on his shoulders. This is the type of player that Detroit should be targeting with some of these mid rounds picks. They need to be tougher to play against. - Brock Otten

67. Buffalo Sabres - Nathan Legare (83) - RW - Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) - 6-0/205, 11-Jan-01 - Canada - The draft is lean on power forwards, but Légaré is one of them, and his 45 goals this season is nothing to sneeze at, either. Légaré brings a big, imposing physical presence and a strong, pro shot to the Sabres. He battles in front and is solid with tip-ins, and can bang bodies on the forecheck. His biggest weakness is his skating, as it does not allow him to react as he would like to on the rush or to adjust to the play. His forechecking is often effective, but late, and he is a non-factor on the rush in either sense. He impacts the play in the zone when the puck is already there, and will need to improve his skating to have success when all the bodies are his size. Having said that, he is a boom-or-bust who can produce as long as the speed does not overwhelm, or he improves his skating. He also needs someone to get him the puck to be at his most effective. - Mike Sanderson

68. New York Rangers - Pyotr Kochetkov (55) - G - HK Ryazan (Rus 2) - 6-1/175, 25-Jun-99 - Russia - In his third season of draft eligibility Kochetkov burst into the spotligh,t stealing the starting goaltending job for Russia at the WJC, then earning the title of best goaltender in the tournament while winning Bronze. Turning 20 the day after the draft mitigates some concerns of drafting goaltenders early as he is further along in his development and less of a risk. The upside is tantalizing however as the Rangers look to a new era in goal. - Robert Howard

69. Florida Panthers (from Edmonton) - Ilya Konovalov (123) - G - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL) - 6-0/195, 13-Jul-98 - Russia - Named KHL rookie of the year after an amazing season for Lokomotiv gives the Panthers a close to NHL-ready goalie who could eventually be an NHL starter. This is a guy who should not be flying under the radar as much as he has, even if he’s old for the draft class. - Brock Otten

70. New Jersey Devils (from Anaheim) - Hunter Jones (92) - G - Peterborough (OHL) - 6-4/195, 21-Sep-00 - Canada - Goaltender Hunter Jones is the kind of big goalie NHL teams want in their system. He's a good guy on and off the ice. He stood out at the combine and was picked to play in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. - Russ Cohen

71. Vancouver Canucks - Anttoni Honka (80) - D - JyP Jyvaskyla (Fin) - 5-10/180, 5-Oct-00 - Finland - Canucks wanting defensemen select Honka, a right handed offensive minded Finnish defender. He may not have large size, but his abilities to move the puck and quarterback a power play help. The Canucks have had good luck with Finnish players, and like what they see from the younger brother of Dallas Stars defensemen, Julius Honka. - Kevin Olexson

72. Philadelphia Flyers - Semyon Chistyakov (98) - D - Tolpar Ufa (Rus Jr) - 5-10/170, 7-Aug-01 - Russia - Back to skills for Philly. A smallish mobile defenseman with good puck skills. high risk but also a possible high reward here. - Jimmy Hamrin

73. Minnesota Wild - Ryder Donovan (82) - C - Duluth East (USHS-MN) - 6-3/185, 4-Oct-00 - USA - Duluth, Minnesota native brings decent tool set with size, speed, athleticism. Longer-term project will need time to develop at Wisconsin. - Iain Morrell

74. Arizona Coyotes (from Chicago) - Alex Beaucage (138) - RW - Rouyn Noranda (QMJHL) - 6-1/195, 25-Jul-01 - Canada - The Coyotes select another winger who can finish plays and put the puck in the net. Beaucage netted himself 39 goals to go along with his 40 assists. He has decent size, and comes with an abundance of skill and potential. - Kevin Olexson

75. Nashville Predators (from Florida) - Jayden Struble (111) - D - St. Sebastian's (USHS-MA) - 6-0/195, 8-Sep-01 - USA - Athletic defender stood out at the NHL Scouting Combine with top marks in five of 18 tests. Cumberland, R.I., native will attend Northeastern University. - Iain Morrell

76. Arizona Coyotes - Dustin Wolf (143) - G - Everett (WHL) - 6-0/155, 16-Apr-01 - USA - The Coyotes jump in here to select arguably one of the best goalies in junior hockey. Wolf has put up incredible numbers for Everett this season, and after being groomed behind, and learning from Carter Hart, he is now ready to shine in the spotlight. He plays on a team with a dynamic defensive system, but even with that, he still has to make the saves and keep the pucks out of the net. Also notable, is how his stats are considerably better than Harts, and the stats don't lie - this kid is impressive. - Kevin Olexson

77. Montreal Canadiens - Graeme Clarke (63) - RW - Ottawa (OHL) - 5-11/175, 24-Apr-01 - Canada - Opinions on Clarke depend on how you view his shoulder injury in November; either you see it as a blip on the radar and his inconsistency is an issue, or you see him having fought through it all winter to bring together a strong playoff for a great 67’s team. Clarke had 10 of his 23 goals by the time of his shoulder injury, 22 games in, and developed into a bit of a sharpshooter, with his 23 goals complemented by just 11 assists. His stickhandling is very strong, but could be stronger with a little more speed. Despite that, he is finding the right areas to be as a goal scorer and exploiting them. His defensive game needs work, but if his offensive game continues to progress, he will still be a net positive player in the pros. - Mike Sanderson

78. Colorado Avalanche - Henry Thrun (58) - D - NTDP (USA) - 6-2/190, 12-Mar-01 - USA - Insanely smart and disciplined, Thrun projects to be a bottom-four defensive defenseman, but is a surprisingly stellar skater for someone of his size and deployment. To me, the Harvard commit is one of this Draft’s safest picks, as his low-side is still depth shutdown d-man and penalty killer. - Tom Dorsa

79. Vegas Golden Knights - Yegor Chinakhov (49) - RW - Omskie Yastreby (Rus Jr - 6-0/175, 1-Feb-01 - Russia - Although an undersized forward, Chinakhov brings experience playing in the MHL as well as a good shot and good composure on the ice. The Golden Knights are no strangers to strong undersized forwards and with the addition of fellow Russian Nikita Gusev, Chinakhov would be no exception to the offensive roster talent. - Shaiyena Cote

80. New Jersey Devils (from Dallas) - Marcus Kallionkieli (102) - LW - Sioux City (USHL) - 6-2/195, 20-Mar-01 - Finland - Marcus has a blend of goal scoring and toughness. He has a good wrist shot. He’s able to play on the rush and deliver the goods and he’ll play with aggression. - Russ Cohen

81. Columbus Blue Jackets - Jackson Lacombe (78) - D - Shattuck-St. Mary's (USHS-MN) - 6-1/170 9-Jan-01 - USA - Columbus picks for the first time in the latter half of the third round after going all in for the playoffs. They pick what they hope is a home run pick out of the powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary's program in Jackson Lacombe who has flashed some exciting potential in his game. - Robert Howard

82. Vegas Golden Knights (from Winnipeg) - Ilya Nikolayev (61)- C - Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr) - 6-0/190, 26-Jun-01 - Russia - Nikolayev is a nifty centreman whose puck carrying ability and passing make him a good team player. He brings a gritty side to the game and plays with a fearlessness that may see him make the jump over to North America sooner than his fellow third round draft classmates. - Shaiyena Cote

83. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh via Vegas) - Billy Constantinou (84) - D - Kingston (OHL) - 6-0/185, 25-Mar-01 - Canada - A right-handed shot, Constantinou is a gifted skater and talented puck handler. He owns some raw tools that offer some more upside than other picks in this area. He was traded mid-season as the main offensive threat for the mighty IceDogs to bottom dwelling Kingston for the final two-thirds of the season and the Sens hope that kept him under the radar as a result - Gus Katsaros

84. Toronto Maple Leafs - Cole MacKay (96) - RW - Sault Ste Marie (OHL) - 5-10/190, 13-Jun-01 - Canada - The Maple Leafs again bolster the wing with a pick from GM Kyle Dubas's alma mater Sault Ste. Marie. He is a high IQ right wing that can score goals and stickhandle. - Gus Katsaros

85. Edmonton Oilers (from NY Islanders) - Maxim Cajkovic (113) - RW - Saint John (QMJHL) - 5-11/185, 3-Jan-01 - Slovakia - Maxim Cajkovic season was somewhat underwhelming but being here at 85 is a windfall for the Oiler’s. He was the best player on a bad team where he led them in goals, assists and points. He was used in all situations and got plenty of ice time on the PK and the PP. His -33 looks bad but only two players on his team, who played at least 50 games, had a better plus minus than him. His skating is his biggest asset as he can play with pace. At the international level he has shown he can produce against top level competition as well. Much like Krebs there is untapped offensive potential due to the lack of line mates and overall team talent. - Vince Gibbons

86. Vegas Golden Knights (from Nashville) - Valentin Nussbaumer (142) - C - Shawinigan (QMJHL) - 5-11/165, 25-Sep-00 - Switzerland - With a successful year in the QMJHL with Shawinigan, Nussbaumer let his presence be known on the scoresheet and in front of the net. He is a dynamic and hard worker, he would be a good pick for Vegas as an eventual addition to the Chicago Wolves roster with hopes of then moving up to round out Vegas' third line. - Shaiyena Cote

87. Los Angeles Kings (from Washington) - Artemi Knyazev (112)- D - Chicoutimi (QMJHL) - 5-11/180 - 4-Jan-01 - Russia - The more D the Kings choose, the more chance they have to hit a home run. He is a dynamic offensive defenseman who play with a lot of confidence. He likes to join the rush. He can hold up his end in a physical game. Could turn out as a good two-way defenseman and he has loads of upside to his game. - Benoit Belanger

88. Calgary Flames - Jake Lee (216) - D - Seattle (WHL) - 6-1/215, 13-Jul-01 - Canada - Jake Lee is not going to wow you with his offensive game but there is subtle parts to his game that show he can be a solid puck mover. He is a defense first defender with great size and a pretty good skating stride. His offensive production was good in the early part of the season but 20 year old returnees limited his PP time in the second half of the season. He may never be a top powerplay defender but he will certainly be on the other side of special teams. He is physical and uses his size well either to stick check or engage in physically. He competes hard along the wall and in front of his net where he plays with a real edge. Lee isn’t just a slab of meat though, he gets around the ice pretty well for a big man. His gap control and overall defense in his own zone is noticeable on every shift. - Vince Gibbons

89. Tampa Bay Lightning - Antti Saarela (100) - C - Lukko Rauma (Fin) - 5-11/185 - 27-Jun-01 - Finland - Another smart skilled player that Tampa can give time to develop. Unusual for them to pick two nordic players, but sometime they need to break that barrier. - Jimmy Hamrin

90. Carolina Hurricanes - Vojtech Strondala (85) - C - Slavia Trebic (Cze 2) - 5-7/155, 17-Dec-00 - Czech -Martin Necas may have been the only Czech player drafted by the Hurricanes since 2008, but I wouldn’t expect them to wait the better part of a decade to return to the Central European nation. Strondala is tiny, but feisty, and is a creative passer and stick-handler who has already had some success playing against men in the Czech second division. Having selected a few “safer” prospects for Carolina already, and with three second rounders to their credit, the Hurricanes can afford to gamble on a high upside (relatively) high bust potential player in Strondala. - Ryan Wagman

91. San Jose Sharks - Oleg Zaitsev (66) - C - Red Deer (WHL) - 6-1/185, 7-Jan-01 - Russia - If your two picks are 41st and 91st you aren’t in great shape to start rebuilding. Luckily for the Sharks they have a few very good young players in Hertl and Meier who can bridge them to a time when they have first round picks again. Long term, a guy like Oleg Zaitsev, a responsible two-way center that has some pretty solid hands and speed, is a solid pick. He has good size and is very strong on the puck. He may not have the dekes and fakes of some higher skilled players in the draft but he has strength to carry the puck to the net. His vision is good and he is very responsible defensively which make him a solid bet as a bottom six center that kills penalties and can play up in the line up a bit as - Vince Gibbons

92. Boston Bruins - Daniil Gutik (91) - LW - Loko Yaroslavl (Rus Jr) - 6-3/180 31-Aug-01 - Russia - The historic of the Bruins with the Russians is not pretty good but Daniil Gutik would be my pick. He plays a solid power winger game, he is a good puckhandler with good offensive instinct. He possesses good hockey sense - Benoit Belanger

93. St. Louis Blues - John Farinacci (101) - C- Dexter (USHS-MA) - 5-11/185, 14-Feb-01 - USA - A long term project with Harvard on the radar, Farinacci could be a mid-round steal as his skating and shot both grade out as above average tools. A high school product, there are concerns that his immature mental game and lack of physicality will hurt him in higher levels of competition, but he should be a four-year NCAA player and work out his flaws. Perhaps an NHL depth scoring role is his future. - Tom Dorsa

McKeen’s Choice Awards: OHL

Brock Otten — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 13:45:50 +0000

Brock Otten’s OHL Choice Awards

The 2019 NHL Draft is under a month away. What better way to dissect the players available from the OHL than to compare them through a “best of” article. Here are my selections for the top-rated players across several categories.

Connor McMichael of the London Knights. Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Best Hockey Sense - Connor McMichael, London Knights

McMichael is the type of player who succeeds because of his high IQ in the offensive end. He is consistently one step ahead of the competition and is equally as effective without the puck as he is with it. This higher order processing is put to use in all three zones too.

Also Considered: Arthur Kaliyev, Ryan Suzuki, Nick Robertson, Cole Mackay

Most Skilled - Nicholas Robertson, Peterborough Petes

Robertson, despite being less physically mature than some of his fellow draft eligible players, is so difficult to stop in the offensive zone because of the things that he can do with the puck. He drives offensive possession, operating just as well in transition as he does when the game slows down.

Also Considered: Graeme Clarke, Ryan Suzuki, Thomas Harley, Arthur Kaliyev

Hardest to Play Against - Jamieson Rees, Sarnia Sting

Rees’ energy level and tenaciousness knows no bounds. He is constantly looking to use his speed to disrupt the play and can be characterized as a “puck hound.” This was perfectly on display at this year’s U18’s, where he was Canada’s spark plug and a top penalty killer.

Also Considered: Vladislav Kolyachonok, Ethan Keppen, Michael Vukojevic, Keegan Stevenson, Keean Washkurak

Best Playmaker - Ryan Suzuki, Barrie Colts

Suzuki is the type of center who seems to have eyes in the back of his head. His vision on the ice and ability to thread passes through traffic is unrivaled among OHL players in this draft class. With the extra room to operate on the powerplay, he can be especially dangerous.

Also Considered: Thomas Harley, Nick Robertson, Philip Tomasino

Thomas Harley of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Best Skater - Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads

There are some terrific skaters available from the OHL this year, but Harley is the best of the bunch. He generates such power with long explosive strides and as such is able to carve up the neutral zone with relative ease. In my viewings of Harley this year, he seemed to average at least one end to end rush per game.

Also Considered: Jamieson Rees, Philip Tomasino, Billy Constantinou, Connor McMichael, Keean Washkurak, Vladislav Kolyachonok

Best Shot - Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs

In this year’s OHL coaches’ poll, not only was Kaliyev voted as having the best shot in the OHL’s Eastern Conference, he was voted as having the hardest shot too. He has a variety of weapons in his arsenal. From a quick, but accurate wrist shot, which he uses in transition. To a booming slap shot (that can be effectively one timed), which he utilizes while running the point or half wall on the powerplay. His 50 goals this year were no fluke.

Also Considered: Graeme Clarke, Nick Robertson, Connor McMichael

Best Stickhandler - Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes

Robertson is such a slick and creative playmaker because of his skill level. His ability to change pace and direction with the puck, makes him incredibly elusive in the offensive end and gives him the ability to make defenders look very, very bad. He dictates tempo as well as any forward in this draft.

Also Considered: Graeme Clarke, Ryan Suzuki, Jamieson Rees, Philip Tomasino

Best Body Checker - Navrin Mutter, Hamilton Bulldogs

Mutter is a human torpedo on the ice; a real throwback player to an era that put more value on physical intimidation. His physicality can be reckless at times, but his hits can do damage for the positive, especially when it comes to forcing turnovers and creating space in the offensive end.

Also Considered: Nikita Okhotyuk, Jamieson Rees, Ethan Keppen, Mike Vukojevic

Jamieson Rees of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Best Defensive Forward - Jamieson Rees, Sarnia Sting

Strong two-way awareness and effort is not always something that is present in draft eligible forwards. And it can almost always be improved upon. But Jamieson Rees has to be considered the most well-rounded prospect available from the OHL this year. He is good at using his speed to break up plays on the backcheck and will use his physicality to separate his man from the puck in all three zones. These characteristics also make him a terrific penalty killer.

Also Considered: Connor McMichael, Cole Schwindt, Cole Mackay, Petr Cajka

Best Defensive Defender - Nikita Okhotyuk, Ottawa 67’s

The OHL is absolutely loaded with talented defensive stalwarts on the back-end this year, with all six of the players I have listed for this category looking like NHL draft selections. But Okhotyuk should be considered the best one because of his blend of size, physicality, and mobility. He was leaned on heavily by the first place Ottawa 67’s to protect leads late in games, match up against opposing top lines and to kill penalties.

Also Considered: Mike Vukojevic, Jacob LeGuerrier, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Liam Ross, Mitchell Brewer

Best Offensive Defender - Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads

There is a reason why Harley is considered a possible top 20 selection at this year’s draft. His blend of size, mobility, puck skill, and vision have teams envisioning him as a future powerplay QB and point producer at the next level. He is ultra-aggressive in his attacks already, constantly looking to push the pace and drive the play with his speed and skill. As he continues to gain strength and confidence, how high can his game climb? Many compare Harley to current Ottawa Senator Thomas Chabot.

Also Considered: Billy Constantinou, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Jack York

Fastest Skater - Connor McMichael, London Knights

This one is tight between a few different players, but McMichael’s speed is key to his effectiveness as a contributor in all three zones. Sometimes he does not play the game as quick as he should, but that does not mean that his speed is not impressive. When he turns on the jets, few players in this league can catch him. He finished first in the forward skate sprint at the CHL Top Prospect’s Game testing this year.

Also Considered: Jamieson Rees, Philip Tomasino, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Keean Washkurak

Top Goalie - Hunter Jones, Peterborough Petes

At mid-season, Jones was looking like someone who could challenge Spencer Knight for the top goalie available in North America. But his second half performance was not strong, and his ranking has slipped accordingly. That said, his combination of size and athleticism are going to be very attractive to NHL scouts. Consistency is often the last thing top notch goaltending prospects figure out.

Hunter Jones – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Top 300 Prospect Rankings

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Minnesota Wild Top 20 Prospects

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 1)

Marco Rossi, C (9th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Matthew Boldy, LW (12th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Calen Addison, D (53rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. Previous ranking: 3)

Alexander Khovanov, C (86th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Adam Beckman, C (75th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Ryan O’Rourke, D (39th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Marat Khusnutdinov, C (37th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Hunter Jones, G (59th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 8)

Daemon Hunt, D (63rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Pavel Novak, RW (146th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 9)

Damien Giroux, C (155th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Marshall Warren, D (166th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Connor Dewar, LW (92nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Louis Belpedio, D (80th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 14)

Mitchell Chaffee, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Mar. 24, 2020. Previous ranking: 15)

Nico Sturm, C (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Apr. 1, 2019. Previous ranking: UR)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – MINNESOTA WILD– ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 6

Minnesota Wild

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 1)

Matthew Boldy, LW (12th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

Calen Addison, D (53rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. 2019 Rank: 2 [Pittsburgh])

Alexander Khovanov, C (86th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Adam Beckman, C (75th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 19)

Hunter Jones, G (59th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 10)

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

Damien Giroux, C (155th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Marshall Warren, D (166th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Brennan Menell, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 26, 2017. 2019 Rank: 16)

Connor Dewar, LW (92nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 3)

Simon Johansson, D (148th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Mitchell Chaffee, RW (Undrafted Free Agent, signed, Mar. 24, 2020. 2019 Rank: IE)

MCKEENS 2020 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT – TOP 250 PROSPECTS

Canadian World Junior Selection Camp Review

2019-20 OHL Preview

Minnesota Wild 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

The 2019 NHL Draft: Draftee Perspectives on the First Step to the NHL

McKeen’s 2019 NHL Group Mock Draft – Round Three of Three

McKeen’s Choice Awards: OHL

Brock Otten’s OHL Choice Awards

Best Hockey Sense - Connor McMichael, London Knights

Also Considered: Arthur Kaliyev, Ryan Suzuki, Nick Robertson, Cole Mackay

Most Skilled - Nicholas Robertson, Peterborough Petes

Also Considered: Graeme Clarke, Ryan Suzuki, Thomas Harley, Arthur Kaliyev

Hardest to Play Against - Jamieson Rees, Sarnia Sting

Also Considered: Vladislav Kolyachonok, Ethan Keppen, Michael Vukojevic, Keegan Stevenson, Keean Washkurak

Best Playmaker - Ryan Suzuki, Barrie Colts

Also Considered: Thomas Harley, Nick Robertson, Philip Tomasino

Best Skater - Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads

Also Considered: Jamieson Rees, Philip Tomasino, Billy Constantinou, Connor McMichael, Keean Washkurak, Vladislav Kolyachonok

Best Shot - Arthur Kaliyev, Hamilton Bulldogs

Also Considered: Graeme Clarke, Nick Robertson, Connor McMichael

Best Stickhandler - Nick Robertson, Peterborough Petes

Best Body Checker - Navrin Mutter, Hamilton Bulldogs

Also Considered: Nikita Okhotyuk, Jamieson Rees, Ethan Keppen, Mike Vukojevic

Best Defensive Forward - Jamieson Rees, Sarnia Sting

Also Considered: Connor McMichael, Cole Schwindt, Cole Mackay, Petr Cajka

Best Defensive Defender - Nikita Okhotyuk, Ottawa 67’s

Also Considered: Mike Vukojevic, Jacob LeGuerrier, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Liam Ross, Mitchell Brewer

Best Offensive Defender - Thomas Harley, Mississauga Steelheads

Also Considered: Billy Constantinou, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Jack York

Fastest Skater - Connor McMichael, London Knights

Also Considered: Jamieson Rees, Philip Tomasino, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Keean Washkurak

Top Goalie - Hunter Jones, Peterborough Petes

Also Considered: Jet Greaves, Mack Guzda

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 1)

Marco Rossi, C (9^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Matthew Boldy, LW (12^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 2)

Calen Addison, D (53^rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. Previous ranking: 3)

Alexander Khovanov, C (86^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 4)

Adam Beckman, C (75^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 5)

Ryan O’Rourke, D (39^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Marat Khusnutdinov, C (37^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Hunter Jones, G (59^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 6)

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42^nd overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 7)

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 8)

Daemon Hunt, D (63^rd overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Pavel Novak, RW (146^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 9)

Damien Giroux, C (155^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 10)

Marshall Warren, D (166^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Connor Dewar, LW (92^nd overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 13)

Louis Belpedio, D (80^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 14)

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (135^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 1)

Matthew Boldy, LW (12^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 2)

Calen Addison, D (53^rd overall, 2018 [Pittsburgh]. 2019 Rank: 2 [Pittsburgh])

Alexander Khovanov, C (86^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Adam Beckman, C (75^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 19)

Hunter Jones, G (59^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

Vladislav Firstov, LW (42^nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Kaapo Kahkonen, G (109^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 10)

Ivan Lodnia, RW (85^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

Damien Giroux, C (155^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)

Marshall Warren, D (166^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 4)

Connor Dewar, LW (92^nd overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 3)

Simon Johansson, D (148^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: UR)