Isaac Ratcliffe – McKeen's Hockey

AHL: BELL – 5 Prospects with something to prove after NHL Trade Deadline

Josh Bell — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 21:57:38 +0000

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 25: San Jose Sharks Right Wing Martin Kaut (87) shoots the puck during the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks on February 25, 2023 at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire)

After an action-packed week, the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline has passed. As always, the focus is on the buyers from the trade deadline, to see if their additions were worth the cost as they make a run for the Stanley Cup, or even just a run to make the playoffs.

It takes a little longer for the sellers to see how their acquisitions will pan out. Many teams sell off pieces for prospects and draft picks, and it could be years before you know if the deals were worth it. Will the draft pick hit? Can the prospect turn into an NHL player or even a star?

There were several prospects on the move in the weeks and months before the deadline. Some were likely due for a change of scenery, but others might simply have been the price to land a big name - say, a Bo Horvat. Many of these prospects might have felt that they didn’t have enough time or enough of a true chance to prove themselves to their former teams.

With that in mind, here are five prospects that have swapped teams in the last couple of months that will have something to prove in their new homes.

Mikhail Abramov, C, Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis Blues)

Formerly: Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Drafted back in 2019 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, 115th overall, Mikhail Abramov was coming off of an extremely strong rookie season in the QMJHL with the Victoriaville Tigres. It was also his first season in North America, coming over from Russia. He potted 54 points (16 goals, 38 assists) in that season and was named to the All-Rookie Team.

He followed that up with another 76 points (35 goals, 41 assists) in 63 games in 2019-20, and then 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 25 games in 2020-21. In that final season, as the captain for the Tigres, he then added 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 19 playoff games en route to a QMJHL Championship. After that run, he joined the Toronto Marlies in 2021-22, recording 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) in 66 games. Before being traded this season, he had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 34 games.

Abramov didn’t have a ton of time in pro hockey to prove himself as a future NHLer, and there wasn’t going to be a spot available to take that next step any time soon. There’s no question that he’s a very strong playmaker, and that skill could be what carries him to the next level. He’s not a sure thing, and will likely need at least one more AHL season, but you can bet that he’ll be looking to prove the Maple Leafs wrong for moving on from him so early in his development. He’ll also be looking to prove the Blues right in acquiring him as a part of the Ryan O’Reilly deal.

Shane Bowers, C, Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)

Formerly: Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)

Shane Bowers had a strong two seasons in the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks, collecting 84 points (37 goals, 47 assists) across 116 games. He was named to the All-Rookie Second Team and then the Third All-Star Team. The Ottawa Senators rewarded him by calling his name 28th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.

But the Senators didn’t hold on to him for long, shipping him to the Colorado Avalanche just months later to acquire Matt Duchene. Meanwhile, Bowers continued his strong play in the NCAA for two seasons, with 53 points (28 goals, 25 assists) in 77 games. In his rookie year, he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, was an honourable mention to the Hockey East All-Star Team, and helped his team to the Hockey East Championship. The future was looking bright.

He then made the jump to the AHL in 2019-20. While his rookie year was solid with 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 48 games, he’s truly struggled since. He had just nine points in each of the next two seasons, and before being traded this season had 14 (four goals, 10 assists) in 37 games. He was moved in an AHL deal for goaltender Keith Kinkaid.

This is likely the last chance for Bowers to prove himself as an NHL player rather than a career AHLer. He has shown the potential to be a solid two-way centreman, but it remains to be seen if he can be a consistent, reliable piece at the next level.

Martin Kaut, RW, San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks)

Formerly: Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)

Another first-round selection, the Colorado Avalanche selected Czech prospect Martin Kaut 16th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. Kaut was playing with HC Dynamo Pardubice in the top men’s league in Czechia, where he had 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 38 games. He also had a very strong performance at the World Juniors that season. It looked like a great pick.

Having played against men for two seasons, it was no surprise that Kaut made the jump to the AHL immediately after being drafted. That is largely where he’s spent his time ever since then, recording 99 points (47 goals, 52 assists) in 173 games with the Colorado Eagles. Across those seasons, he’s regularly been called up to the NHL, playing in 47 games but managing just six points (three goals, three assists).

For Kaut, he couldn’t carve out a regular spot for himself at the NHL level. He was basically swapped for another prospect that’s had a hard time breaking in in Ryan Merkley. After the trade, SJ Hockey Now reported that Kaut had requested a trade “probably five times during the five years.” He noted that there just wasn’t an opportunity for him in the top-three lines, or even to play his own position, since the Avs were such a deep team.

Now that he’s with the Sharks organization, there should be a great deal of opportunity for Kaut - now he needs to take that opportunity and run with it, proving that he can be a consistent, reliable NHLer.

Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)

Formerly: Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)

The Isaac Ratcliffe experiment in Philadelphia is over. Drafted 35th overall in 2017, the big winger was coming off a very strong sophomore OHL season with 54 points (28 goals, 26 assists) in 67 games for the Guelph Storm. He went on to spend two more seasons in the OHL, finishing his career as the captain, with 217 points (124 goals, 93 assists) in 245 games.

In 2019-20, he joined the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Outside of 10 NHL games in 2021-22, that’s where he’s remained since that point. He’s struggled significantly at the pro level, especially considering his offensive output in the OHL. In 162 games with the Phantoms, he finished his tenure with 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists). This season prior to the move, he had just four points (two goals, two assists) in 26 games.

This move was likely a long time coming, but from being drafted 35th overall in 2017 to being traded for future considerations is a big drop in stock for any player. Now with the Milwaukee Admirals, Ratcliffe will need to get his game back on track. Like Bowers, this could very well be his last opportunity to prove that he can become an NHL regular. What he does with that opportunity remains to be seen.

Aatu Raty, C, Abbotsford Canucks (Vancouver Canucks)

Formerly: Bridgeport Islanders/New York Islanders

Last but certainly not least, the path for Aatu Raty has not been an easy one. Once regarded as the first-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Finnish prospect struggled in his draft year. So much so that he slid all the way to the 52nd spot, where the New York Islanders pulled the trigger.

In the following season, he had a solid bounce-back year after moving from Karpat to Jukurit in the Liiga, where he had 40 points (13 goals, 27 assists) in 41 games. He joined the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders at the end of the season, with four points (one goal, three assists) in six playoff games. This season, his first full one in North America, he’s been good, with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 27 games in the AHL and another two goals in the AHL.

With the Islanders betting big and landing Bo Horvat, Raty was a key part heading the other way. Whether that was a sticking point for the Canucks, or the Islanders saw him as expendable, Raty now needs to prove yet another team wrong. He’s a strong prospect and looks like he should become a reliable NHLer. But after sliding to 52nd in the NHL draft, only to be traded a year and a half later, you can bet that Raty will be playing with a chip on his shoulder moving forward.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Top 20 Prospects

Contributors – Brock Otten, Ethan Hetu, Zack Szweras, — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 20:35:33 +0000

1 - Cutter Gauthier LW

Cutter Gauthier, the fifth-overall pick at the 2022 NHL draft, was a bit of a divisive prospect in his draft cycle. His first-round merits weren’t up for debate — pretty much everyone agreed on his chops as a top-half-of-the-first-round talent — but it was his status among the draft’s very best prospects that garnered the most debate. Sources within the game, such as Bob McKenzie of TSN’s rankings based on polls of NHL scouts, ranked him as a prospect deserving of top-five consideration, and the Flyers seemed to agree, while rankings from the media held his game in less of a high regard, ranking him more around the back of the top-ten or the early teens. The split in opinion on Gauthier can be largely explained by his on-ice profile. The merits of Gauthier’s game, the best aspects of his profile, read off like a coach’s wishlist for things he or she wants in a skater. Gauthier is fearless, always looking to create chances in any way he can, even in the dirty areas of the ice. He has a high work ethic, finding ways to remain active and close to the play on every shift. He’s physical, and he regularly engages in and wins board battles. Perhaps most importantly for his pro projection, Gauthier is a disciplined prospect, always working within the structure and system his coach provides for him. Some players want to excel in the game on their own terms, while Gauthier instead looks like a player keenly interested in maximizing his effectiveness within his coach’s vision rather than his own. That’s not to say he’s without high-end tools, his shot, for example, is among the very best in his class, but that is to say that his overall profile emphasizes the high likelihood of him being an impactful NHL-er rather than him having a chance at becoming a game-breaking star. - EH

2 - Cam York D

It was a pretty solid first full pro season for York, as he split time between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley before a foot fracture ended his season early. In Philadelphia, he was quarterbacking the top powerplay unit, a role that he is definitely being groomed for. York is a terrific distributor because of his vision and mobility. He remains composed at all times working the point because he has confidence in his ability to elude checks and consistently makes quick decisions under pressure. His composure translates to the defensive end too, where he is a breakout machine. Again, he rarely panics in the face of pressure and can either carry out or make a successful exit pass to clear the defensive zone. The highest scoring defender in the history of the U.S. NTDP, York’s offensive potential at the NHL level remains sky high. Defensively, his progression will be tied to his ability to add strength to help him win puck battles and positional battles more consistently. His positioning and reads are sound, but he was overwhelmed at times as a rookie playing on a struggling team. Even with the acquisition of Anthony DeAngelo, York figures to play the entire upcoming season with Philadelphia. DeAngelo will definitely cut into his powerplay time, but York should still play a consistent role, likely paired with a veteran such as Justin Braun, on the third pairing. Eventually, he should slide into a top four role and take over top powerplay responsibilities as one of the Flyers’ key young cornerstones. - BO

3 - Bobby Brink RW

Bobby Brink was the most productive scorer in the NCAA last season, and his success at the University of Denver is what led him to sign his NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. An early second-round pick at the 2019 draft, Brink’s offensive talent was never in doubt. Brink’s puck skills, his stickhandling, passing, and control of the flow of play with the puck on his stick is extremely good. He has this shiftiness to him that makes him a difficult task to handle for opposing defenders, and it’s impossible to guess what Brink will do next with the puck on his stick in the offensive zone. There are few players in college hockey who create offense the way Brink does, and by the end of his brilliant junior campaign he looked like he’d mastered the art of creating offense against college defenses. The issue with Brink, and the reason he didn’t go in the first round in 2019, largely lies in the way he creates offense and his most talked-about tool: his skating. To address the first point, Brink creates offense from the outside, and rarely is one to use the more difficult areas of the ice to create his chances. For many players, they can survive doing so because of their ability to separate from defenders. Brink’s skating, while more developed than it was in his draft year, is still far from being sufficient enough to give him a separation gear, and he’ll struggle to play the same style of offense against NHL defenses. If Brink can improve his skating significantly, then he can be a similar player as an NHLer to who he was in college, but massive improvements in his skating are unlikely, what’s more likely is Brink either makes the necessary stylistic and habitual adjustments to survive as a scorer in the NHL or wholly fails to live up to the hype he generated as a college star. - EH

4 - Tyson Foerster C

The last two seasons have not been kind to Foerster, the Flyers’ 23rd overall selection in 2020. Two years ago, with the OHL on a pandemic related hiatus, Foerster suffered a leg fracture that limited his playing time with Lehigh Valley in the AHL. Last year, the injury bug bit again as a shoulder injury kept him out for the majority of the season until the Flyers returned Foerster back to the OHL to help Barrie with their playoff run. In reality, he should have been returned to the OHL at the very beginning of the season to help his development. On a positive note, he looked fully healthy at the summer World Juniors playing for Canada, where he had a strong tournament. Drafted with the potential of playing center, Foerster appears locked in as a winger now. It is there that he can take advantage of his outstanding shot, especially from a stand still. He also plays a competitive game without the puck, working hard to win battles, forecheck, and force turnovers defensively. The weak spot of his game, Foerster’s explosiveness and top speed, have improved since being drafted, however it will need to continue to improve over the next few years for him to become a top six forward for the Flyers. He projects as a middle six goal scorer who can be a weapon on the powerplay. This coming season, Foerster will likely spend the full season in Lehigh Valley, hoping to finally have a healthy campaign at the AHL level. - BO

5 - Egor Zamula D

Now fully healthy following back surgery in 2020, the former free agent signing out of Calgary (WHL) is coming off of a strong year in the AHL with Lehigh Valley, where Zamula was one of the team’s best defenders. He even earned a small cup of coffee with the Flyers; a reward for his strong play in the AHL. He is a strong and mobile two-way defender with the upside to be a difference maker at both ends. An excellent athlete, he is terrific at defending pace and closing off lanes in transition. He is aggressive with his gaps, and he uses his long reach to be disruptive. He can also have a positive impact on the transition game offensively as his long strides allow him to chew up space quickly and lead the attack through the neutral zone. He is not the most naturally skilled player with the puck, but he protects it well and sees the ice well enough to make quick decisions. The key for him is to continue to add strength and bulk to his wiry frame so that he can apply physical pressure more consistently and effectively at the NHL level. This coming season, he is likely ticketed for another AHL year, although he should also be one of the top injury call-ups for the Flyers. In a year or two, he should be ready for a third pairing role with the opportunity to work higher in the lineup down the road. - BO

6 - Ronnie Attard D

A third-round pick at the 2019 draft, Ronne Attard enjoyed an extremely successful career at Western Michigan University, and by the time he was a senior he had grown into being an all-situations top-of-the-lineup force for first-year coach Pat Ferschweiler. Attard’s time in college led him to make an immediate jump to the NHL with the Flyers, and Attard’s 15-game stretch as an NHL newbie was uneven. There were moments of promise, and Attard was even given looks on both of the Flyers’ special teams units. There were also moments where Attard looked like he badly needed additional development time in the AHL, times when the extremely talented and deceptive playmakers of the NHL were able to expose Attard’s inexperience to create offense. At times, Attard looked like he could weather the storm in the NHL, but those moments were too infrequent for him to comfortably project as an NHL defenseman immediately next season. If Attard can get some time as a top defenseman at AHL Lehigh Valley, he’ll learn to grow more comfortable with the professional game in a lower pressure setting. Attard is a big defenseman who moves well and can theoretically provide value at both ends of the ice. He showed enough as a college defenseman to reasonably have AHL number-one defenseman upside, and if he can stick as an NHLer and develop a bit more he could possibly anchor a bottom-pairing as a two-way defenseman who contributes on the secondary units of both special teams’ groups. - EH

7 - Noah Cates LW

Noah Cates’ four-year progression at the University of Minnesota-Duluth might look a bit puzzling to onlookers, as he never truly became a game-breaking offensive player after his point-per-game sophomore season. But in the absence of high-end offensive development, Cates has polished his game and become a true two-way force. The 23-year-old forward was a fifth-round pick at the 2017 draft and has an inside track to remain with the Flyers’ NHL club next season after scoring five goals and nine points in his first 16 NHL games. Cates, a six-foot-one left wing, is the kind of two-way player that NHL coaches will have a difficult time leaving out of their lineup. Despite his inexperience, Cates got time on the Flyers’ penalty kill and figures to have a future in that role in the NHL. Cates is a smart player, and he often puts himself in the right place at the right time. Some might attribute players who do that often as them simply being lucky, but Cates’ offensive game is largely based on opportunism. Cates creates his own luck, always reading the play and finding ways to be in the exact places his teammates want a linemate to be in. His raw tools won’t overwhelm, and his upside as an offensive generator in the NHL is limited, but if he finds ways to remain reasonably productive at the NHL level despite not having a ton of plainly visible offensive talent, that shouldn’t surprise anybody. As a potential penalty killer who gives his team sporadic bursts of scoring, Cates can forge a solid NHL career. He doesn’t have the most upside of any Flyers prospect, but he’s a decent bet to make an NHL impact and be someone coaches always find a way to fit in their lineup. - EH

8 - Wade Allison RW

Is there a player in professional hockey with worse luck than Wade Allison the last few seasons? He was penciled into the Flyers’ lineup this past season before suffering an ankle injury. Then upon returning he suffered an MCL sprain. Just when you thought he was healthy, boom…he acquired a serious arm laceration from a skate. When healthy, Allison is a middle six NHL forward. He has proven that at the NHL level already. His combination of size, skill, and power skating is impressive, and he can be a load to handle for even NHL defenders as he drives the net. Allison has looked particularly impressive on the powerplay at the NHL level, playing as the bumper or net front presence. That said, have all these injuries stunted his development? The coming season is a huge one for him. The Flyers, once again, have some openings in their middle six that he could grab hold of. Additionally, one of his top competitors for those spots, Bobby Brink, has been lost to injury. Allison needs to come to camp healthy and stay healthy. If he does, he should be a full time NHL player this season and a likely productive one. As the Flyers continue their rebuild, there is definitely a spot for a power scorer like Allison, so long as his body can hold up. - BO

9 - Elliot Desnoyers LW

Desnoyers was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers for his simple, off-puck, defensive brand of hockey. He was a high energy, depth player for Moncton in his draft year. However, after his draft season, Desnoyers completely transformed into a whole different player following a deal to Halifax. Captain of the Mooseheads, Elliot is now a confident puck mover that excels in transition and dictates the pace of the play. His skating is excellent, and he can blow past defenders with ease. Desnoyers also played for Team Canada in the most recent 2022 World Juniors and despite not playing a lot of minutes, he was an important piece for them as they won the gold medal. The only thing holding back Desnoyers is his size and the lack of an elite shot, but given his versatility, it is easy to see him eventually finding a role at the NHL level. That could be as more of a fourth line forechecker and penalty killer, or it could be as a high-energy, playmaking middle six forward. Desnoyers will start his pro journey this season in the AHL, and it seems likely that he will start lower in the lineup to build up confidence in his offensive game while playing against men. After a few years, look for him to be knocking on the door of the Flyers. - EB

10 - Emil Andrae D

The 54^th overall selection in the 2020 NHL draft by the Phillidelphia Flyers, Andrae is an undersized defenceman who exudes confidence on both sides of the ice. He plays with a ton of tenacity, never takes a shift off, and is committed to winning puck battles. Andrae has good four-way mobility, generating speed with strong crossovers and detailed footwork. He is quite gifted in the offensive zone, has a strong ability to scan the ice for open passing/shooting lanes to exploit. While undersized, he has a stocky frame, which allows him to be physical and results in him rarely losing his balance in battles. Since being drafted, Andrae has split the past few seasons between the SHL and Sweden’s second league Allsvenskan. Last season, his HV71 squad competed in the Allsvenskan, where Andrae elevated his game finishing with 33 points in 41 games. He also helped lead HV71 to the Allsvenskan championship with 11 points in 10 playoff games, helping them win promotion back to the SHL. Andrae has also had a ton of success internationally, being named Captain of both the January and August Swedish World Junior teams. At the recent tournament, he led his team in points with 8 in 7 games on his way to helping Sweden capture gold. Andrae also finished 2^nd in points out of all defencemen and was named to the Media All-Star team. He is poised for another strong season for HV71 and will look to dominate the SHL as he did the Allsvenskan last season. - ZS

11 - Samu Tuomaala

A strong skating sniper, Tuomaala’s development wasn’t handled in the best way this past season. The Flyers tried to start the 18/19-year-old at the AHL level but that failed, so they loaned him back to Finland where he also played sparingly. He will try to prove that he is worthy of a larger role in Liiga this season, starting the year with Jukurit from the very beginning.

12 - Jay O'Brien

Everyone’s favourite controversial first round pick, O’Brien’s development path has been a unique one. However, he’s finally found a home at Boston University and has been trending back upwards. The Flyers will be looking for O’Brien to become one of the NCAA’s best offensive players this season.

13 - Ivan Fedotov

Unfortunately, a black cloud is hanging over Fedotov because of his arrest and detainment in Russia after signing with Philadelphia. The promising netminder could have been Philadelphia’s backup this year but his career now hangs in jeopardy. On talent alone, he probably deserves to be higher in these rankings, but the circumstances dictate him being lower.

14 - Alexei Kolosov

A highly athletic Belarussian netminder, Kolosov will need to continue to refine his technical skills while playing in the KHL. He is a longer-term project but one with great potential.

15 - Ethan Samson

One of the WHL’s breakout stars last year, Samson emerged as a two-way threat on a rebuilding Prince George team. The big defender was drafted as more of a physical shutdown type, but his confidence and abilities with the puck have improved tenfold.

16 - Owen McLaughlin

McLaughlin showed significant growth playing in the USHL last season. He helped Sioux City capture a Clark Cup and was a consistent offensive force. The talented and intelligent playmaker will have to continue to upgrade his skating to be an impactful freshman with UND this season.

17 - Zayde Wisdom

After a breakout season at the pro level during the height of the pandemic, Wisdom really raised some eyebrows. However, a shoulder injury and the rehab of it definitely negatively impacted his development as he returned to the OHL last year with mixed results. Wisdom is a hard worker with skill, but hopefully he focused on getting back his speed and quickness this offseason.

18 - Devin Kaplan

An intelligent power winger, Kaplan is the prototypical third line player for today’s NHL. He just needs to focus on improving his quickness while attending Boston University.

19 - Isaac Ratcliffe

The upcoming season will be a huge one for the big winger (no pun intended). He has struggled to adapt to the pace of play in his first three pro seasons. If he does not become a consistent offensive force at the AHL level this season, he may not be qualified by the Flyers next offseason.

20 - Alex Bump

Very much a project pick that Philadelphia will have to be patient with. Bump is a power winger with a scorer’s touch. He needs to improve his quickness and overall skating ability (a trend in Philadelphia’s system). He will likely play with Omaha (USHL) this year before going to Vermont the following season. He could be one of the better players in the USHL this year.

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 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 15

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:30:50 +0000

Philadelphia Flyers

Chuck Fletcher was hired as the new GM of the Philadelphia Flyers on December 3, 2018 after spending nearly nine years as GM of the Minnesota Wild. The Flyers had a low-key great season in the abbreviated 2019-20, and much of that is due to the roster built by Fletcher’s predecessor, Ron Hextall, but I think it is reasonable to look at the players – particularly younger players – who have entered the system in the Fletcher era to get an idea of the impact he and his staff have made. Not that signing cornerstones like Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny to extensions wasn’t important, but as you all know, we are here to talk about prospects.

First off, considering that Hextall left him with one of the deepest organizations in the league, Fletcher did not have to go treasure hunting in the free agent market. To this point, the Fletcher-Flyers have not signed a single undrafted free agent out of the NCAA or CHL ranks. In fact, the only young, free talent the franchise has folded in was Linus Sandin, older brother to Toronto blueline wunderkind Rasmus Sandin. Sandin did not make this list, but if we had gone to 20 (we will after the draft), he would have made it. There isn’t much we can learn about how Fletcher will finish building the Flyers based on the Sandin signing. This was a player who had just finished his third year of SHL hockey. He has solid offensive tools and has solid bottom six potential, but there isn’t anything there that raises the eyebrows.

Other than Sandin, the only other “prospect” to enter the system outside of the draft has been Nathan Noel, who was acquired from Chicago in exchange for AHL veteran TJ Brennan. Brennan is an AHL All Star, but didn’t have a role in Philadelphia, whereas he might have in an injury-riddled Chicago blueline. Noel was a former fourth round pick who has not yet shown that he belongs in the AHL after three professional seasons. This was clearly the type of trade made to appease a veteran to give him a chance. Noel was merely a contract that had to be acquired in the exchange to keep Chicago roster compliant. Noel finished the year in the ECHL and, with his ELC now expired, is not expected to be re-signed by the Flyers.

So, we are left with the draft. With only one draft class so far, that isn’t a lot to go by. And Fletcher has not been opposed to trading away picks for current help, although to his credit, even with the Flyers surging, hasn’t surrendered anything weightier than a third rounder…so far.

What we can say about the Flyers 2019 draft class is that so far, there haven’t been too many players who have pushed their way to the front of the depth chart. First rounder Cam York is the top prospect in the system, which is to be expected of a top half of the first-round guy, and three others find placement in the top 15 here. The other three were OK at best. If there are any notable trends from the seven players selected by the Flyers, it is that Fletcher has followed Hextall (so far, at least) down the collegiate path, as four of their seven selections were taking that developmental route, including their top three picks.

It may also be worth pointing out the case of Wyatt Kalynuk, drafted by the Flyers in the seventh round in 2017. After three outstanding seasons at Wisconsin, he decided to turn pro. Rumor has it that the Flyers tried to sign him, but he demurred, and signed as a free agent with Chicago instead. There is likely more to the story, but there is surely some downside in turning over the faces of the franchise when trying to recruit talent. The men who scouted him and had relationships with him may have no longer been his conduits to the organization, making it easy for him to lose any sense of loyalty he once may have felt. I don’t know if that was the case, but it is certainly worth thinking about.

EAST MEADOW, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost (68) plays the puck in a pre-season rookie matchup vs the New York Islanders on September 12, 2018, at the Northwell Health Ice Center. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire)

Cam York, D (14^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 2)

York’s first season of NCAA hockey had its ups and downs. On the one hand, he was the top scoring freshman defender in the Big 10 and tied for the team lead from the blueline as well, while making the American WJC squad as an 18-year-old. Both very impressive markers.

On the other hand, as an offensive defenseman, his numbers were moderate at best, barely cresting the point every-other-game mark, and his role on Team USA was as the seventh defenseman, getting only a handful of minutes per game and the occasional power play shift. Compared to fellow USNTDP grad Henry Thrun, York provided less offense as a freshman, even though he had more of a role on the power play.

Back to the positive, York was able to show more competence away from the puck than may have been expected originally. Even if he needed to keep both hands on the stick with greater consistency, he defended well against opposing rushes, and showed an understanding of how to position himself when facing down an odd-man rush. He played a regular PK shift as well, illustrating the faith placed in him by the Michigan coaching staff.

Of course, the Flyers did not draft York looking for as a two-way defender, but as a dynamic bringing of offense. Those flashes were still apparent. He was an upper echelon skater at the collegiate level and still showed the ability to carry the puck up the ice with pace, wiggling through multiple layers of the defense to enter the offensive zone. He also doesn’t play a static role once the zone is gained, regularly jumping up from the blueline to give the defense something else to think about in deep. York started off solid, but there is more in him to give and we expect we will see more next season. - RW

Morgan Frost, C/LW (27^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 3)

Frost is constantly developing and undoubtedly fits into every team he is part of but due to the competition level between the forwards in the Flyers organization, he has struggled to earn a more permanent role with the NHL club.

With Joel Farabee making quicker adjustments to the professional game, he was the first choice to lead the Flyers as the rookie forward this season with Frost right behind him. Frost, despite being a smaller, more compact forward, plays an aggressive forechecking game and has a good defensive game enabling him to deliver as a good two-way player. With his development continuing, it will be good to see him start the season with Lehigh Valley in the AHL especially after the long break in order for him to get his confidence up and his footing back with the faster game since his rookie season was cut short.

He has great potential in the Philadelphia system playing a power forward style, capable of getting to the net on his own and supplying strong passes to enable breakouts and scoring opportunities. Frost is a pretty consistent player that offers a good effort every time he is on the ice, however he sometimes struggles to find open ice and gets closed out too easily from getting to the net so he will have to battle harder to get to the net next season.

After finishing second in points with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Frost has time on his side and a good track record with Philadelphia so far leading to a bright future ahead. - SC

VOORHEES, NJ - JUNE 24: Yegor Zamula of the Philadelphia Flyers (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Egor Zamula, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 20, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Zamula has grown leaps and bounds since coming to North America in his draft year. While it didn’t help him get drafted, he was able to sign an ELC with the Flyers after attending development camp. Since returning from that camp the most noticeable improvements in his game have been his puck handling and confidence with the puck. He is showing a willingness to carry the puck in from the blueline where he is a threat both to pass or shoot. He has fakes and can shift his weight but also with his wingspan he is able to protect the puck and change the passing angle to get by defenders.

He has always had good speed and had the size and a strong foundation but once he started to put some of his pucks skills to effective use he showed a dynamic quality, such as in the 2020 WJC, where he played top pairing minutes and had five points in seven games. He is a solid defender, using his size to keep defenders wide, block lanes and jump on loose puck, and he can finish his checks with the opponent pinned or off balance. He has good range and can close his gap at the blueline or jump a play as they cross the blueline to force an offside.

Zamula can physically punish his opponents by stepping up in the neutral zone or making hard physical plays along the wall. He makes his defensive partner better by setting up plays with crisp tape to tape passes. His first pass consistently starts the rush, but he is comfortable carrying the puck through the neutral zone should that be the best read. He has a cannon of a shot from the point and uses it appropriately to the situation. - VG

Tanner Laczynski, C (169^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)

A lasting gift from the Hextall regime, Laczynski finished his four-year career at THE Ohio State having finished 5^th, 1^st, 2^nd, and 1^st in team scoring. All told, he finished 23^rd all-time in OSU scoring, behind only currently Islanders’ farm hand Mason Jobst among 21^st century players. He was already 19 when the Flyers used a sixth round pick on him, and he made such a splash in his first season with the Buckeyes that he was a member of the Gold Medal winning Team USA at the 2017 WJC.

he has not matched his incredible 47 point campaign as a sophomore, Laczynski’s college play was defined by his excellent playmaking abilities and his knack for always being in the right place at the right place for maximum impact, on both sides of the puck. In fact, as his college career progressed, his defensive game only grew, and he was a regular on the OSU PK as a senior.

In addition to his playmaking, Laczynski is also an ace stickhandler, which helps him overcome his lack of high-end skating ability. Not that he is a bad skater, in fact his skating has improved quite a bit since landing on campus, but it is still not a strength of his game and he isn’t a player you want to see racing to beat out an icing call. In addition to improving his stride in college, he also completed his physical maturity, packing on close to 30 pounds over the four seasons in Columbus, making himself harder to play against.

Between his brains and his puck skills, Laczynski could find himself playing in a middle six NHL role in the near future. - RW

Wade Allison, RW (52^nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 12)

Like Laczynski, Allison was a four-year collegian. Whereas Laczynski is an intellectual player, succeeding through his mind more than his physical gifts, Allison is just the opposite. When he has been physically right at Western Michigan, he was devastating, as was saw most clearly in his 30 points in 22 games sophomore campaign. A torn ACL ended that season too early and he struggled to find his rhythm when he returned as a junior.

His senior season was again hampered by an injury, this time a balky shoulder, which kept him off the ice for much of December. By the end of the season, peak Allison was back, as he finished his season – and his collegiate career – with six points in his last five games, after a 13 points in a 6-game stretch in late January/early-February. Allison has lost maybe a third of a step since his pre-draft days, but he still skates well, with a great start up getting him quickly to his top speed. His motor is always at full throttle and when he gets the jump, he can still blow past defenders.

His style of game is mostly that of a power forward, but he has touch as well, with soft hands helping him create from in tight. His lower body strength also makes him hard to dislodge from the net front, especially on the power play. His missed time has certainly set him back, without which he could have turned pro at least one year ago but continued return to full strength could make him a valuable weapon up and down the lineup in the coming seasons. - RW

Bobby Brink, RW (34^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

Stylistically, there is a lot to compare Brink with Tanner Laczynski above. Both forwards rack up points like nobody’s business yet lack the foot speed we often look for in the so-called “modern game.” Brink, too, seems to have gained a step since moving from the USHL to college, but is still only around average or so. The two main differences between the players are that Brink is quite small, while Laczynski has an average frame, and that the OSU grad is a playmaker while the Denver freshman is a triggerman.

Brink makes up for his middling skating speed through solid agility and a preternatural knack for showing up in the right place at exactly the right time to catch the defense flat-footed. He won’t be the one to generate the zone entry, but he is the one you look for to finish off the play. More than half of his freshman offense was compiled on the power play and Brink still needs to prove he can produce at a high level at even strength to strengthen his claim on a top six spot in the future. - RW

German Rubtsov, C (22^nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

After a shaky second season in the American Hockey League, Rubtsov remains a skilled skater and a prospect with a lot to offer for Lehigh Valley. It will be a test of time to see if he has what it takes to offer the Philadelphia Flyers anything at the next level.

Rubtsov plays a well-positioned defensive game and continues to be a good passer and playmaker both at even strength and power play situations. He will have to continue to work on the physical aspects of his game some more and work on moving the puck a little quicker at times but overall, there is nothing of grave concern heading into next season skills-wise.

Being a first rounder there is extra pressure to perform now for Rubtsov who will need to find an extra gear heading into next season in order to maintain his Flyer system status and earn another call up as a bottom six for now. - SC

Isaac Ratcliffe, LW (35^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 4)

For a big body, Ratcliffe skates well although he does not have the most finesse and isn’t the prettiest to watch but he gets the job done and protects the puck well. He was a very strong major junior captain with the Guelph Storm of the OHL but the move to the pros in the AHL has not been nearly as kind to him. He will need to clean up his play in the neutral zone and lessen the number of turnovers he gives up in order to even be considered for a call up to the Flyers.

Ratcliffe uses his size well, however this past season has been more a testament of frustration and overcompensation which has led to many unnecessary penalties and too many minutes spent in the box. He will need to be more disciplined next season in order to show more of the skill that got him drafted, and not just the size that got him noticed if he wants to crack a bottom six role in the Philadelphia lineup. - SC

Ronnie Attard, D (72^nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 9)

A classic late-bloomer, Attard exploded offensively in his third year of draft eligibility, winning the USHL Player of the Year award on the back of a 30-goal season, one of the best marks ever for a defenseman in the league. While his first collegiate campaign was good enough to be named to the NCHC All-Rookie team, there were also signs that his incredible age 19 season with Tri-City was a fluke.

On the positive side, he has great size and his feet work quite well. Attard likes to jump off the blueline and pinch deep. He has a very hard shot (you saw those goal totals, right?) and can beat good NCAA goalies from the point – even with a backhand. He can pass the puck around nicely, as well. Where he struggled most last year was in his own end. The game seemed to come at him too fast at times, catching him flatfooted and/or out-of-position.

The tools are all strong and make him worth gambling on and tracking. But without improving his reads and instincts, bust potential is still there. - RW

Mark Friedman, D (86^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

At the end of his prospect eligibility age-wise, Friedman has finished with a better season under his belt despite having to cut his time with Lehigh short at the break. He continues to play a thought-provoking methodical game, allowing for strong passes and well put-together plays when it comes to breakouts and regroups.

However, Friedman still needs to find ways to be a more present offensive defenseman and contribute with shot opportunities from the point. He needs to carry the puck and rush it in order to not only start the plays behind his own net but also to learn to quarterback from the hash marks and higher when exiting the zone.

Friedman needs to give next season all he has in order to get what seems likely to be his last chance at a call up with the Philadelphia Flyers and a bottom four role and a chance at cracking the power play rotation. - SC

Jay O’Brien, C (19^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

O’Brien’s game is defined by his skating. He is very smooth with a great top speed and incredible edge work. He is not just quick skater, but he plays the game with an up-tempo style, engaging in 50/50 battles for the puck all over the ice.

He is a shoot first player although his style of play has expanded with a bit more of a playmaking side this year in Victoria. His puck handling is very good as he can weave in and out of traffic with the puck and looks very comfortable playing with the puck on his forehand and backhand. He has a full array of shot types (back hand, in tight, distance wrist shot, and one timer) that are effective, each with good accuracy with decent velocity.

His offense is not lacking although other than his skating there isn’t any skill that really stands out in a dynamic sense. O’Brien is going to a school in Boston University where he will be able to challenge for a top six spot right away but will need a few years of college to round out his overall game after his aborted year in Providence. - VG

Jack St. Ivany, D (112^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 17)

At 6-3”, St. Ivany is a towering defenseman. Drafted in the fourth round by the Flyers, he has shown improvement over the past few years. He played near his hometown in Los Angeles before a two year stint in the USHL. As a freshman, the defender was a quick contributor for Yale while taking time out to help the US win a silver medal at the World Junior Championship.

There is not a lot of weight on his frame as he has room to fill out. He is an offensive defenseman who can move quite well and is balanced for his size. He was Yale’s highest-scoring defender this season. His laser-focused passes make him an asset on breakouts. He is capable of joining the rush, but at times this puts him out of defensive position, and he can then struggle on the backcheck. He played on both the penalty kill and power play as well. St. Ivany has an active defensive stick and causes turnovers.

As a sophomore there was still room to improve, and his speed will be a primary factor in what level St. Ivany ends up next. - JS

Ivan Fedotov, G (188^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Under the leadership of Ron Hextall, the Philadelphia Flyers drafted six netminders in five years. We are all familiar with budding superstar Carter Hart, but the other five have mostly failed to live up to expectations (thus far). Of that latter group though, Fedotov is the one closest to looking like he might still have impact potential at the highest level.

He may be a late bloomer, but at 6-8”, at least a couple of inches taller than he was when he was drafted, he has certainly bloomed. Last year Fedotov finally earned a full time KHL role, after spending the bulk of the previous three seasons in the VHL (Russia’s second highest league), and he put up top ten numbers leaguewide.

He moves pretty well for his size, and competes for every puck, an area when his size works to his obvious advantage. His ability to get down on a shot is remarkable at his size and he didn’t show any particular weak spot as a KHL rookie. He recently signed a two-year extension with Traktor Chelyabinsk, so Flyers fans will have to continue waiting to see if Fedotov can one day back up Hart in Philadelphia. - RW

Mason Millman, D (103^rdoverall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

One player who really improved over the course of this past OHL season was Millman. It seemed like with each passing month, his game and confidence reached a new level. By season’s end, he had established himself as one of the better offensive defenders in the OHL.

He impacts the game from an offensive standpoint because of how well he skates and how well he distributes. A breakout machine, he has that explosiveness to really turn around possession. Heading into next season, the expectations on him will be even higher as he looks to become a more well-rounded defender, and one of the best overall blueliners in the Ontario Hockey League.

At this point, a projection is difficult because Millman’s game is still growing and improving. At worst, he looks like a potential mobile third pairing defender who can see time on the powerplay. And at best, he could be an all situations second pairing defender. This is a prospect trending upwards. - BO

Noah Cates, LW (137^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

After an NCAA championship and WJC Silver Medal as a freshman, and a near point-per-game performance as a sophomore, Cates will enter his junior season with Minnesota-Duluth as the team captain. A skinny player when drafted, he has filled out very nicely over two seasons on campus and is now very tough to play against physically, a trait that pairs well with his high hockey IQ.

Cates is reliable in all three zones, and has an impactful presence, even if his offensive skills are closer to average than to elite. With world class point man Scott Perunovich having turned pro with St. Louis, there is some question as to how much Cates will be able to produce going forward, especially on the power play, but his NHL future is more tied to his two-way play anyway.

If he can maintain some semblance of his offensive rates on a team that is expected to be weaker next year, Cates will be a lot closer to confirming his future as a fourth line energy winger to can chip in 8-12 goals per year as well. - RW

AHL 2019-20 Preview: Eastern Division

Shaiyena Cote — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:24:06 +0000

LAVAL, QC - MARCH 06: Toronto Marlies right wing Jeremy Bracco (27) tries to maintain control of the puck while under pressure from Laval Rocket center Hayden Verbeek (17) during the Toronto Marlies versus the Laval Rocket game on March 06, 2019, at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

The 2019-20 AHL season marks the start of the professional careers for many of the top prospects representing each of the 31 NHL teams.

Although some of the AHL teams are located in smaller cities or far from their parent clubs (for example Utica and Vancouver) the start of the AHL season marks the start of a game of chess and musical chairs for NHL and AHL clubs and their internal player dealings as they work with their prospects and shift lines around to allow for injuries and call ups throughout the season.

Below is a brief segment on every team in the East as well as a glimpse at their three top prospects. Team run down is presented alphabetically by division and not as a prediction for the upcoming 2019-2020 AHL season.

Note: All quotes have been taken from the 2019-20 McKeen’s Hockey Yearbook.

Atlantic Division

The AHL’s Atlantic Division plays host to teams all over the eastern US coastline from Rhode Island to North Carolina. The Atlantic encompasses eight teams, some states play host to multiple teams such as Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Last season the Charlotte Checkers were able to bring the Calder Cup back to the Atlantic and this season the same will presumably be expected.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders)

Even though Bridgeport was able to clinch a playoff spot last season, they were no match for the defending Calder Cup champion Charlotte Checkers. Bridgeport finished second in the Atlantic division and second also in penalty minutes. Despite having a mass of talent on Bridgeport, they did not play as a group and therefore could not achieve the desired playoff goal.

The Islanders organization are not as progressive with getting their prospects in the NHL lineup as say the Montreal Canadiens or New York Rangers. Losing Michael Dal Colle and Oliver Wahlstrom to the Islanders this season may have lessened Bridgeport’s offence somewhat but with Sebastian Aho back down and coming off a career year last season their defence is stronger than ever and may be just what Bridgeport needs to “bridge” their offensive gap.

Players to Watch

Sebastian Aho

“The Swedish born Aho is a smooth skating and smart playing defenseman. Although not known for his shooting ability, he is accurate and his shots from the point are of quality. He is a strong passer and a creative playmaker which was notable in his second AHL season.”

Otto Koivula

“Koivula is a massive forward and a very handy player to have in front of the net as his positioning is generally very good in all areas of the ice. He sees the play very well and has a good eye for making difficult passes in tight spots and from behind the net. Overall, he is a very clean and skilled player.”

Kieffer Bellows

“Bellows is a strong, dominant force on the ice with physical prowess and a highly competitive attitude. He plays to win and with an impressive amount of passion to compliment his natural scoring ability and skill set. He will need to have better control of his game next season and step up his play a bit to earn a spot at the next level.”

Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)

Charlotte is the Southern-most team in the Atlantic division and boasts some of the hottest weather for an Atlantic division team. The defending 2019 Calder Cup Champion Checkers who posted a record of 51-17-7-1 last season and had an impressive playoff run to say the least, but have not had the best start to the 2019-20 season. Upon losing their two top forwards with Aleksi Saarela being traded (to Chicago, since moved to Florida) and Martin Necas graduating to the Hurricanes, Charlotte has had to rebuild their offensive core one draft pick at a time and with many of their high end prospects still playing major junior or overseas, the Checkers will have to devise a plan to do so.

Just over ten games into the season Charlotte is sitting second from the bottom and with not a lot of goals scored. Many of their shots last year came from guys like Saarela and Necas but now without them, they’ll be turning to the players who flew under the radar last season such as Morgan Geekie and Eetu Luostarinen to create offensive opportunities in hopes of repeating Charlotte’s Calder Cup success.

Players to Watch

Morgan Geekie

“He has plus size, moves well for a big man and has quietly effective offensive instincts which help him to outproduce his tools. He has the strength to protect the puck, and the quickness of hands to capitalize on a broken play and make something happen.”

Eetu Luostarinen

“His skating was fairly good in his draft year but he has since added explosiveness, quickness, and improved his endurance. Moreover, he has added power to his game, not only strength-wise but his shot is also more powerful than it used to be. Luostarinen is dependable without the puck and can play in a more defensive role if needed.”

Jake Bean

“He has a very high panic threshold, allowing him to remain calm with the puck in the face of opposing pressure. He can walk the blueline nicely, but his best work comes in his ability to exit his own zone with total control. Whether he skates the puck out or finds a passing option, he can be relied on to kickstart the transition to offense.”

Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers)Now to move on to from one of the bottom placed teams with the Charlotte Checkers to the top team in the Atlantic; the Hartford Wolfpack feeder team to the original six New York Rangers have gotten off to an electric start this season. So far Hartford has spun things around 180 degrees on the poor outcome the Wolf Pack had last season with only 29 wins and no real chance at qualifying for the playoffs. Their disappointing 2018-19 was a bi-product of their ever-changing rosters as the Rangers frequently called players up and as a result Hartford’s lines were constantly changing and their play was inconsistent and messy. They also boasted the highest goals against number and the lowest goals for on the season.

With the positive start, the Wolf Pack sit atop the Atlantic Division rolling into the start of November and over the hump of new teams and settling into new line combinations. With key acquisitions and veteran experience added during the offseason, Hartford will be a hard opponent to knock off the top. Although heading into his last season of prospect status, Vinni Lettieri can offer just the right amount of knowledge and offensive talent to make up for the recent temporary loss of top Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov, who departed the Wolf Pack for a year long loan deal back to his KHL club Traktor Chelyabinsk.

Players to Watch

Vinni Lettieri

“Often overlooked due to his stature, Lettieri’s speed and tenacity make up for any doubts his size may have caused. If given the chance, he could carry a role on the top penalty kill unit with his speed and overall forechecking knowledge.”

Igor Shestyorkin

“The 23-year old goalie has accumulated enough experience in the KHL and on the international stage and is more ready than your average rookie netminder. Shestyorkin is an agile goaltender, a bit on the small side for today’s trends, but won’t going to suffer from it.”

Joey Keane

“An elite skater, Keane is built for the modern NHL age. With his mobility, he is incredibly difficult to pin deep in his own zone, because he takes such good routes to dump ins and is able to transition to offense in a flash. As he moves to the pro level, he will need to keep the game simple, using his mobility to aid in his learning curve.”

Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)

Despite Hershey Pennsylvania being the home of the Hershey Chocolate World, the Bears could certainly argue that the end of their 2018-19 season could have been a little sweeter. Not only did the Bears manage to end the season third from the bottom in goal production but they were also swept by Charlotte in the second round of playoffs.

With Hershey being the feeder team for the offensive powerhouse Washington Capitals it would seem the club has big shoes to fill. This season is looking somewhat different and the team is off to a better start offensively, already doubling the number of goals they had at the tail end of last season. Their back end is loaded with new talent, many of whom are responsible for quarterbacking their offensive play. With Jonas Siegenthaler now a permanent Capitals fixture the Bears look to have their rookie defensemen, namely; 2018 first rounder Alex Alexeyev and speedy 2^nd rounder Martin Fehervary, taking over in the back. Look for the Bears to be playoff hopefuls once again.

Prospects to Watch

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

“When he is at his best, Jonsson-Fjallby is a highly energetic and quick player to play with and tough to keep up when paired against. His speed makes him a force to be reckoned with and his hockey IQ has improved drastically in the last year. He has become a smart and reliable two way player, whereas once his defensive game was insubstantial.”

Martin Fehervary

“An aggressive import from Slovakia, Fehervary played full time in the SHL last season, in his last year qualifying for junior hockey. He played in his customary aggressive style, with quick skating, physicality, and good reach. He still has NHL potential, with the look of a third pairing blueliner. His skating, reach and aggressiveness will becoming a strong defensive defender.”

Alex Alexeyev

“Alexeyev is a very good player who has all the tools to be a top four defender in the NHL. He has good size, skates very well, and has more snarl in his game then most give him credit for. Couple all that with a defender who is an excellent passer both in his own zone as well as when quarterbacking a powerplay, and he shows real promise. He has been one of the top defenders in the WHL since his arrival from Russia.”

Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)

Last season the Phantoms missed playoffs by two points, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division. For an AHL team that seems to fly under the radar and whose parent team of Philadelphia seems to be known more for their mascot antics than their play, so far their success in the opening part of the season has not gone unnoticed. With rookie Morgan Frost leading the way and riding a seven game point streak as of this writing and carrying the team with nine points through the opening ten games, Lehigh’s young blood has been off to a strong start.

However, one point streak is not enough to create a winning team and with the departures of defenceman Phillippe Meyers and goaltender Carter Hart to the Flyers, their offence will surely have to be a strong point. This year Lehigh Valley welcomes many new faces to their roster which could be a turning point in the Flyers system due to their struggles with team cohesiveness in the past. The Phantoms look to have a promising amount of offensive rookie talent, many of whom bring energy to a slow to start returning AHL group.

Players to Watch

Morgan Frost

“Frost is ready for the next challenge in his young career. The talented playmaking center has improved his skating and strength on the puck over his OHL career and those should allow for an easy transition to pro hockey. He generates well off the rush, using a variety of dif- ferent attacks which speaks volumes to his creativity with the puck.”

Isaac Ratcliffe

“Ratcliffe is a hulking power winger with massive goal scoring potential at the next level. He has an extremely powerful shot that sees him use his size well to shield defenders before releasing the puck quickly. His skating continues to improve, especially his ability to cut and maintain possession through to the net.”

German Rubtsov

“He is a fast skating, quick shooting, high tempo player who plays with a lot of intensity and drive. He is a promising forward with much offensive potential and enough speed that he can get back on the backcheck as well. Rubtsov has the hands, the shot and the speed to be a standout forward with Philadelphia in the future if he can stay healthy.”

Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)

One of the most controversial and most talked about clubs in the NHL is the Boston Bruins who seem to be Stanley Cup contenders every year, but can the same be said for the Bruins’ American Hockey league team? Last season the Providence Bruins managed to clinch the last playoff spot in the Atlantic division but were eliminated in the first round by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. With the third lowest goals against average in the league and many other stats ranking somewhere in the middle of the pack, for Providence they were the quintessential “average” team. They played a safe, controlled and structured breakout, regroup and forecheck game but there seemed to be a missing spark in their 2018-19 season.

The team has had a firecracker of a start and from the very first game it was evident that Providence would be a much faster and more skilled team than they were last year. With speedy rookies like Jack Studnicka and Oskar Steen added to the lineup, Providence’s offensive zone time has been rising. Should Providence stay healthy, they will be playoff contenders for sure.

Players to Watch

Urho Vaakanainen

“Vaakanainen is a smooth skating, dynamic defenseman who had
a good transition from SaiPa in the Liiga to the Providence Bruins. He is not known for any particular offensive abilities but his neutral zone play and puck movement are still amongst the top on this list. He makes precise passes and knows when to skate the puck and when to dump it.”

Trent Frederic

“He is a fine skater with enough puck skill and offensive instinct to earn middle six minutes at maturity. His grinder, to the net style also bodes well for that role. Boston will be looking for more consistent production before giving an NHL look.”

Jack Studnicka

“It could probably be argued that Studnicka is one of the more well-rounded forward prospects in hockey. There is no role that he cannot play on the ice for his team. Given how pro ready his game is, he could be much closer to making an impact in Boston than some think.”

Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida Panthers)

Although the Florida Panthers continue to struggle with their attendance, their feeder team in Springfield, MA seems to do fine and will continue to do so this season with a start as hot as the one they’re having now. The Thunderbirds have soared to second place in the Atlantic division after just over ten games played and currently lead in goals for.

With the recent additions of rookies Owen Tippett and Aleksi Heponiemi to the regular roster it is no wonder they are on the fast track to success. Tippett is a scoring machine and can shoot from anywhere on the ice while Heponiemi had unbeatable major junior years in the WHL as a playmaker and only continues to shine in the AHL. With young players like these only continuing to gain momentum, look for Springfield to maintain their top four Atlantic division status throughout the season.

Players to Watch

Owen Tippett

“While his ability to put the puck in the net will be his ticket to an NHL career, he has improved his play away from the puck and his patience with it to become a player who can make an impact even when he is not scoring. With good size and skating ability, Tippett is at his best when he is attacking North/South, hunting for opportunities to unleash his terrific wrist shot.”

Aleksi Heponiemi

“A nifty stickhandler with excellent vision and offensive awareness, he is a natural playmaker who can finish, too. His shot has improved quite a bit, he has the ability to pick his spots and be a dual threat in the final third. While not fast, Heponiemi is highly agile on his skates and can make shifty moves to evade defenders.”

Jonathan Ang

“A brilliant skater, Ang’s hands are almost as quick as his legs. The question he has always been asked about is his offensive ceiling. For as much as his speed allows hi to be one step ahead of the play and very difficult to contain, his numbers have never really stood out. He flashes the tools that got him drafted, but not consistently and he struggles to finish what he starts.”

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)

It is no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins are in trouble when it comes to their prospect system, however after just one draft that can be turned around and with a trade a team can be bolstered dramatically. Not to say that the Penguins prospect system needs a revamp but if they continue to draft the way they have, their feeder team in Wilkes-Barre will remain average, at best. For the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins momentum is hard to find, not only is the arena an older venue but there is just is not enough talent on the back end to drive offensive plays. To boot, the average age of Wilkes-Barre is 25 which means very few prospects are seeing ice time at the AHL level and the team lacks in youthful energy.

For the Pittsburgh Penguins the next few years will be a tipping point for their prospects and current players. That said, there is hope with defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph paving the way for a hardworking, play making defencemen, W-B/S may be able to generate enough offence to up their scoring chances. As the season progresses, look for forward Kasper Bjorkqvist to earn top mention and top minutes with the Baby Penguins on the front end.

Players to Watch

Pierre-Olivier Joseph

“Joseph’s best two assets are his work eth- ic and his hockey sense. He rarely makes a bad decision and, most importantly, knows his limitations. He is slight for the pro game at 168 pounds, but he is as adept at defending positionally as he is physically, and has figured out how to read many schemes with the puck to best attack from the back end.”

Jordy Bellerive

“Bellerive is a player who can play the game in any style. He is happy to drive the net and work hard to create his offense but he has a shot that can beat goalies cleanly from distance. He works his tail off in both zones and often generates additional chances from chasing down the play. He makes good passes both in transition and below the dots.”

Kasper Bjorkqvist

“He uses his solid size to play near the opposing crease and has a plan for the puck when he gets it, resulting in quick touches and quickly released shots. At his best, he has a nice shot an can play or pass the puck well, but he can go for prolonged stretches at less than his best, effectively becoming a non-factor in the play.”

North Division

The North Division is home to three out of the four Canadian teams in the AHL and some of the coldest climates, ranging from Binghamton, NY up to Laval, QC. Two seasons ago the Calder Cup was hoisted by the Toronto Marlies in dramatic fashion against the Texas Stars, and we should look to the North to be hungry for the Cup once again.

Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)

As one of the newest teams in the AHL with one of the smaller arenas, the Belleville Senators had a reasonable season last year but failed to qualify for the last playoff spot in the North Division. Belleville is still capable of packing an offensive punch and holding their own. Making up for the absence of Rudolfs Balcers who has earned a spot on Ottawa, will be rookie Josh Norris and Drake Batherson, the latter of whom earned the AHL All-Star MVP last season.

Although Belleville looks to be offensively equipped it will be interesting to see how they fare defensively this season after losing Erik Brannstrom and Christian Wolanin to Ottawa. Both were responsible for much of Belleville’s offensive play last season, particularly after Brannstrom joined the club in the Mark Stone trade from Vegas.

Prospects to Watch

Drake Batherson

“He is an elusive player that slips under the radar and is quiet on the ice until the puck is found in the net as a result of his strong playmaking ability. He is a highly adaptable and entertaining player to watch in both even strength and special team situations, his adjustment to the AHL level has been tremendous.”

Josh Norris

“A high IQ center with a standout two-way game, the former USNTDP standout is a strong play driver, with a fantastic shot and strong playmaking abilities. He was the hockey wherewith- al to play a bottom six role right away, but he projects as a clear top six center at his best.

Alex Formenton

“The foundation of Formenton’s game is his elite skating ability. He has an effortless, yet powerful stride that allows him to be such an effective high-energy winger. Additionally, Formen- ton is a physical player who is aggressive on the forecheck, making him a terrific penalty killer. As an offensive player, his best asset is a quick release.”

Binghamton Devils (New Jersey Devils)

Although the Binghamton Devils finished last in the North Division last season, their big sister club New Jersey made some key trades as well as draft acquisitions during the off season in hopes of deepening their system. Despite their place in the standings, that did not stop the Devils from having a successful development year for many of their prospects who received the chance to play up with New Jersey.

With a plethora of prospects to choose from Binghamton will be expected to move further up the ranks in the 2019-20 season standings. With additions like 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes and Swedish prospect Jesper Boqvist to New Jersey’s forward lineup, look to Michael McLeod, Joey Anderson, Nathan Bastian, Mikhail Maltsev and Marian Studenic to pad up Binghamton’s offence. There is an abundance of top level prospects in New Jersey’s system and after the 2019 draft, look to the Devils to potentially have one of the best systems on paper.

Prospects to Watch

Michael McLeod

“Although not the smoothest of skaters to watch, he is strong and good both with and without the puck. McLeod’s defensive game has grown a lot this season making him a better two way player. He is a talented and smart playmaker and with a good start in the AHL and given more confidence he will definitely be in the right shape again to be shipped back up to the Devils.”

Marian Studenic

“Studenic had a solid start to his professional career this year with Binghamton and his natural skill and skating ability helped him to stand out amongst fellow rookie forwards. He is a deadly player when he gets to the net and is quick to capitalize on turnovers.”

Mikhail Maltsev

“He is a two-way forward with excellent size and good physical abilities, smooth hands and a solid positional game. Maltsev is a great choice for the third or fourth line considering his mass, defensive skills, and great reading of the ice in any situation at both ends of the rink.”

Cleveland Monsters (Columbus Bluejackets)

With an average height of 6-2” the name “Monsters” fits the tallest team in the AHL perfectly. Ironically enough Cleveland’s parent club, the Columbus Bluejackets, is home to one of the shortest and most skilled forwards in the NHL in 5-8” Cam Atkinson. Last season, Cleveland got off to a good start but faded quickly after the January All-Star break, barely making the playoffs. This coming year Cleveland once again seems to be hugging the fourth place spot in the North Division but perhaps they are still acclimatizing and pacing themselves, especially after seeing Sonny Milano and Kole Sherwood move up to the parent club.

With offence hanging in the brink for Cleveland, look to their firecracker of a forward Trey Fix-Wolansky to fire things up offensively and to Kevin Stenlund to add a physical punch to the Monsters’ offence. With 2018 first round pick Liam Foudy not quite ready to make the jump to the AHL yet, the Monsters will also have to rely on good goaltending from Finnish product Veini Vehvilainen to keep them in the game. Expect a decent back half of the season playoff run from the Monsters once they get settled.

Players to Watch

Veini Vehvilainen

“He is a very quick goalie. His lateral quickness and post-to-post movement are both high end and he can recover loose pucks quickly. He is also highly athletic and flexible. He rarely allows a soft goal and if he does, he is able to bounce back quickly.”

Trey Fix-Wolansky

“Fix-Wolansky is a player that has really grown over the past couple of seasons. That has improved substantially in this regard as has his foot speed. His playmaking and shooting skills have always been there but now he has the pace and the drive to impact every play. He has a real shot at being a success story as his offensive tools are very good.”

Kevin Stenlund

“Stenlund plays a gritty and hard on the puck type of game, he wins battles and uses his size to his advantage. Stenlund may have used his size as an advantage but his size is also what made him stand out despite being one of the slower players on the ice. He is strong on the puck but it sometimes appears to be an effort for Stenlund to maneuver easily in tight spots.”

Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens)

There is only one team in the league who conducts most of their business in a language other than English and that would be the Montreal Canadiens who have been a staple original six team as well as a symbol of French Canadian culture for decades. Now fast forward to the Laval Rocket who play in one of the nicest arenas in the AHL, La Place Bell, which housed one of the poorest performing teams in the North Division last season. Laval had a less than desirable year finishing second last in the standings having managed to score only 195 times through the whole season while every other team in their division surpassing the 200 goal mark.

Montreal has had some major prospect developments and a few small turnarounds from where they were sitting last season with Nick Suzuki, Victor Mete and Ryan Poehling all pulling their weight in the big leagues. That being said, it’s an exciting time for the Canadiens who have prospect momentum heading into the next year year with NCAA product Jake Evans in his sophomore season with Laval and Noah Juulsen, an unexpected cut from Montreal, returning to the lineup. Laval will be a dark horse this season and only time will tell where they will finish in the standings.

Players to Watch

Jake Evans

“Evans is an elite level passer who can make crisp on-the-tape passes in the most difficult of situations. He is a really solid player and has good jump to his stride and energy to his game. Evans has the full package, and he just needs to muster up more grit and stay consistent with his play and he will be set to dawn a Canadiens jersey soon.”

Noah Juulsen

“For a smooth skating defenseman who can shoot from just about anywhere on the ice, Juulsen has not had the same amount of success in the pro ranks as he had during his major junior days with Everett in the WHL. He is not the most mobile defender and his actions seem even more stiff and mechanical when he begins to think too much.”

Otto Leskinen

“A mobile defenseman, he skates well both backwards and laterally. He is light on his skates and there is little wasted motion in his stride. Leskinen has the abilities to be an impactful player offensively. He can make a crisp first pass or carry the puck up into the zone. He has a hard slap shot and a wrister with a very quick release.”

Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)

For the past few seasons the Buffalo Sabres have been the team that starts out strong and finishes in last place but the opposite can be said about their feeder team, the Rochester Americans. Last season, Rochester duked it out with the Syracuse Crunch all season long for top spot in the North Division with only a three point margin separating the two teams. Rochester was led by veteran defenceman Zach Redmond and rookie forward Victor Olofsson, the latter of whom has since moved up to clinch a well-deserved spot with the Sabres.

Although Olofsson is no longer on the farm, his Swedish line mate Rasmus Asplund continues to gain momentum and acclimatize to North American play. Asplund is off to a much better start this season and his linemate C.J. Smith also looks to add to Rochester’s offensive depth. Netminder Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen remains a dark horse, soon set to return from rehab for surgery he had during the offseason. With Luukkonen, who is arguably one of the top goaltending prospects - and a future starting netminder in the NHL- joining Rochester it will be safe to say that should Rochester make playoffs their back end composure will be more than okay.

Players to Watch

Rasmus Asplund

“He is a smaller forward but a great forechecker working well to fill a spot as a grinder. Always keeping his feet moving, many of his 41 points this year came from rebounds and net scrambles. At times he is a little bit sloppy with his positioning which may be the reason why he has yet to earn a call up to the Sabres.”

Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen

“He is the complete package as a goaltender with his size and athleticism. Luukkonen moves so well in his crease, but with his size is able to square up to shooters still and take away all angles. He also reads and reacts to the play around him as he is rarely caught out of position. His composure in the crease this year was one of his more impressive features.”

C.J. Smith

“Smith is a great example of this as he is an entertaining player to watch and brings energy and drive to each game. His natural skill and scoring ability made him a stand out forward for the Americans last year, and are what will hopefully push him to work hard to gain a top six spot.

Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Recapping the post season for the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise in the 2018-2019 season is simply depressing, as not only did Tampa fail to impress in their playoffs despite running away with the regular season, but Syracuse followed the exact same pattern. The Crunch led the North Division all season long but were swept in the first round of playoffs by the fourth place Cleveland Monsters. Truly disappointing but nonetheless a wakeup call to a franchise that may have gotten a little overconfident.

After the humbling events of last season, Syracuse has started off in a very modest middle of the pack spot with the departure of Alexander Volkov and Erik Cernak from the Crunch to the Lightning. It has been up to many of the guys heading into their sophomore seasons like Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh and Cal Foote to make up for the absences on the blueline as well as on the offensive attack. Syracuse will have to work much harder with their young squad if they want to achieve the same results as they achieved in 2018-19.

Players to Watch

Cal Foote

“Foote’s ranking as Tampa Bay’s number one prospect is well deserved as he is the perfect mix of a skilled offensive blueliner with a highly physical and dependable defensive defenseman. He has exceptional awareness and his hockey IQ is what makes him a great player. He has size and plays a calm, aware positional game that makes him stand out as being the most mature and dynamic prospect on this list.”

Taylor Raddysh

“Raddysh is a natural goal scorer with a knack for getting to the net in even the most difficult of situations. He is a good skater and a strong shooter capable of getting shots off in tight situations. He is especially good with one timers and adapting to bad passes. Raddysh will have to work on being more creative and being stronger on the puck in open ice situations, his level of want for the puck will have to improve.”

Mitchell Stephens

“He is a very competitive player who likes to win and who brings such passion to the game. He wins draws, gets to the net, blocks shots and plays a strong physical game. The only thing missing is an extra gear, as he needs that extra speed to be able to make a solid impact at the next level.”

Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most iconic teams in the league, boasting some of the most loyal fans around. That being said, they are also one of the younger player systems in the NHL with a core group of high end young players, and theirs is not a system like Boston or Washington which are reliant on veteran talent. That also means that for the Toronto Marlies, the Leafs’ AHL affiliate, it may be harder to make the opening night lineup than ever with very few retiring and new talent being drafted every year- the only thing mixing things up being the cap hit. However, despite monetary constrictions and trades all around, the Marlies have managed to not only win a Calder Cup in 2018 but also qualify for playoffs again the following year.

This season seems a little different and so far with so many changes, the core group consisting of Jeremy Bracco, Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren, Pierre Engvall and Adam Brooks have all adjusted well and have continued to put up a North Division leading 7-0-3 record through their first ten games of the season. Look to see the Marlies either on top of the divisional race or just below in second by the time the 2019-20 season draws to a close.

Players to Watch

Jeremy Bracco

“Bracco is a creative playmaker to say the least and every play holds different possibilities thanks to his level of hockey sense. He is a powerful and agile skater that can easily maneuver around opponents with his edgework, often opting to use his inside edges for turns rather than traditional crossovers.”

Rasmus Sandin

“Sandin is a versatile defenseman capable of leading rushes and quar- terbacking them as well. He is a skilled player with a good shot and great hockey sense. He sees the plays before they happen and stays one step ahead and remains focused while doing so.”

Yegor Korshkov

“He has a lot of good traits in his game that could translate well to the NHL, like the way he can cover the puck in the corners and create scoring chances from there. He has strong balance which will get stronger with more overall strength.”

Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)

Having played host to the 2019 World Juniors in Vancouver as well as the 2019 NHL Draft, Vancouver has been quite the hockey destination within the past months. However, for many fans who do not reside on the west coast, it may be easier to catch a Utica Comets game instead. Utica has had quite the roster turn around from last season offering a better start to the season as well.

With the addition of former Team Canada goaltender and top prospect Michael DiPietro, Utica now can rest assured that the net is covered as DiPietro moves like no other goaltender and possesses ultimate composure and focus while in the net. Another key addition is 2016 fifth overall pick Olli Juolevi who has come back from injury and is padding up the defensive end for the Comets. Utica is battling with Toronto back and forth for first spot in the North, which should be the race all season long should Utica not move any players. Note that former Canucks regular Nikolay Goldobin is still down with Utica and only adds to their offensive talent.

Players to Watch

Michael DiPietro

“He relies on his reads and his athleticism to make saves and he can be a real game changer because of it. At the pro level, there are often growing pains for these types of goaltenders because the game moves faster, the top part of the net becomes an easier target, and confidence can wane. But DiPietro remains a very solid pro prospect and should eventually develop into an asset.”

Olli Juolevi

He is a smart defenseman capable of reading the play and being one step ahead. He is a spot on passer and he can shoot from anywhere on the ice with speed and precision. His goal should be to keep his feet moving equally in all zones of the ice and to get back to playing a physical game.

Lukas Jasek

“An underdog type of player, Jasek has the ability to sneak past opponents and get into open ice without notice, giving him a leg up on his counterparts. He is a lightweight and a rather small looking player but his deceptiveness is scary when it comes to how aggressive he is on the puck. He plays with energy and passion and never gives up on a play.”

Philadelphia Flyers 2019-20 Prospect Review: Top 20

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:59:25 +0000

When Chuck Fletcher took over from Ron Hextall as General Manager of the Flyers last December, he was taking over a franchise that had amassed an impressive array of talent at all positions. Former GM Ron Hextall had a keen scouting eye. Further, he had been in the habit of stockpiling draft picks. In his five drafts at the helm of the Flyers, the team only once had fewer than eight picks, and that was in his first draft.

The Flyers had picked players from almost every part of the hockey playing world, too (oddly, Hextall never selected a player from the Finnish ranks). Even when the team strayed from a consensus-type pick, more often than not, the player exceeded public expectations and turned himself into a valuable asset for Philadelphia. On the other hand, as with every team, there were some drafting misses. Beyond the sixth and seventh rounders who rarely pan out for anyone, you could look at someone like Slovakian netminder Matej Tomek, drafted late in the third round in 2015 out of the NAHL. Tomek was actually the second goalie taken by the Flyers in that round. Tomek dealt with injuries and got in only two games in two seasons at North Dakota and then five games as a junior at Nebraska-Omaha after transferring. While Philadelphia still has his rights, Tomek has returned home for this season to play with HK Dukla Trencin.

2016 second rounder Pascal Laberge has also been injury riddled since he was drafted, and only managed to play in 15 games with Lehigh Valley last year, his first “full” season as a pro. But when Tomek is leavened with Carter Hart, and Laberge with Oskar Lindblom, not to mention the deep system in place now, Flyers’ fans can sleep soundly, knowing their previous GM had the big picture in mind.

There is one glaring exception though, a player we saw as a potential mid-second rounder who Hextall called out in the middle third of the first round. A player who showed skill in a vacuum but had never really performed against top level competition for his age group. That exception goes by the name of Jay O’Brien.

These days, even youngsters from the State of Hockey try to spend the first month or two of their draft years in the USHL before going back home to play for their high school. They get the best of both worlds, challenging themselves against high end college-bound competition for a stretch, and then going home to spend a few more months with their friends, like “normal” teenagers.

O’Brien paid lip service to that idea He played in five games for the Youngstown Phantoms in the two years leading up to his draft, as well as seven games with the UNSTDP program. IN those 12 games, O’Brien garnered three points. He destroyed the New England prep school competition with Thayer Academy. Despite is lack of high-level success, Hextall bet on the tools.

So far, no good. O’Brien struggled mightily as a freshman with Providence, failing to earn top six minutes. His skill set earned him a ticket to the WJC, but he failed to record a single point in seven games. He dealt with injuries in the second half of his season and left school in a huff. O'Brien dealt with failure by running from it. We are gambling on his tools by having him in our top 20, but to stay there for another year, he will have to earn it.

-Ryan Wagman

Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost (68) (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire)

1 Joel Farabee, LW (14^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 1) I might as well start with the negative. I would not have advised Farabee to turn pro after only one season at Boston University, as he is still slight and would have a harder time gaining muscle mass under the pro schedule than he would as a weekend warrior on campus. The upside is he could probably play in the top six for the Flyers right away and has the two-way game to mature into a rare Selke candidate from the wing within a few short years. Despite his lack of mass, he is strong. His offensive tools are high end. He was close to a point per game player as a freshman on a mediocre team and performed well as an 18-year-old in the WJC. A cerebral player, Farabee is a possession monster who can control the pace of the game better than many centers. He is an impact player even when he doesn’t score, but there is no reason why he shouldn’t score at a top six level in the NHL. - RW

2 Cam York, D (14^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the top puck handling defensemen of the 2019 draft class, York was earmarked relatively early as a hot commodity when he jumped to play with the USNTDP U18 team in his U17 year and was a key player immediately. He is a very good skater, although his agility and edgework surpass his pure speed as differentiators. He sees the ice like a pro, allowing him to always make the right decisions about when to hold the line, or when to circle back. He is preternaturally calm and will take a hit to make a play. Despite lacking much size, he has the strength to hold the blueline with brute force, if needed. His shot is good enough to play the point on the power play, although he is stronger as a creator of chances for others. York profiles as a first pairing defender in the NHL. - RW

3 Morgan Frost, C/LW (27^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 3) With another 100-point season under his belt, one that saw him lead the OHL in assists, Frost is ready for the next challenge in his young career. The talented playmaking center has improved his skating and strength on the puck over his OHL career and those should allow for an easy transition to pro hockey. He generates well off the rush, using a variety of different attacks which speaks volumes to his creativity with the puck. His improved strength has also allowed him to be more effective along the wall, where he can prolong possession and keep plays alive to ensure more passing lanes open up for him. As one of the top prospects in the OHL last year, Frost is a potential first or second line center for Philadelphia and should be ready to take a regular shift by 2020-21. - BO

4 Isaac Ratcliffe, LW (35^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 6) Ratcliffe is a hulking power winger with massive goal scoring potential at the next level. He has an extremely powerful shot that sees him use his size well to shield defenders before releasing the puck quickly. His skating continues to improve, especially his ability to cut and maintain possession through to the net. His defensive game and commitment level in all three zones have really improved too, as he is able to use that long reach to break up passes and disrupt flow. As he turns pro this year, the Flyers will be looking for Ratcliffe to use his size even more efficiently to dominate down low, in addition to improving his decision making with the puck; making quicker decisions with his passes and adjusting to the speed of the pro game. He could easily develop into a 30-goal scorer in the NHL within a few seasons. - BO

5 Bobby Brink, RW (34^th overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) He is very small and his skating can charitably be described as OK, but all Bobby Orr Brink does is score. Despite missing some time to a broken bone in his ankle sustained at the WJAC, he finished fourth in league scoring, with a point per game average higher than all but top five picks Jack Hughes and Alex Turcotte. He has a special ability to find seams and soft spots in coverage and fill those gaps as he creates scoring chances almost at will. He has a very powerful wrist shot and has great possession ability. He can be prone to conserving his energy in his own zone, but for the most part, is conscientious off the puck as well. Despite his lack of size, he does not shy away from playing the greasy areas if his internal GPS points there for chances, but he will need to add some zip in his legs to reach his ceiling as a top line scoring winger. - RW

6 Philippe Myers, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 21, 2015. Last Year: 9) Myers is a beast of a defenseman, with a big body, powerful skating, a strong shot, and great hockey sense. He is an all-around defensive package, especially after proving himself this past year Lehigh Valley. He had 33 points in 53 games, proving that he is capable of not just playing a solid defensive game, but also of contributing offensively. His passing is good, but his shot is his primary offensive weapon, and he can shoot from just about anywhere, but his slapshots from long range are his main draws as they are especially powerful. He is surprisingly fast for a player of his size, with a long stride, and his transitional skating is very good, leaving us with no doubts about his ability to keep up with the NHL pace. Next time Myers hits the ice with the Flyers he will be more than ready to prove himself as a potential top two pairing defenseman. - SC

7 German Rubtsov, C (22^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 5) Rubtsov unfortunately suffered a severe injury in his first professional season with Lehigh Valley but is set to start back with them this season. He is a fast skating, quick shooting, high tempo player who plays with a lot of intensity and drive. He is a promising forward with much offensive potential and enough speed that he can get back on the backcheck as well. He will need to play out at least another half season in the AHL before he will be considered as a call up to the Flyers. Rubtsov has the hands, the shot and the speed to be a standout forward with Philadelphia in the future and, if he can stay healthy, his ceiling can only go up to a top six role based on his skillset alone. His ability to be a star playmaker rests in his progression this season. - SC

8 Samuel Ersson, G (143^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: Not ranked) Goalie Ersson had an amazing season in Sweden last year. He excelled advancing from a strong junior season to be the best goalie among men in Allsvenskan. He played for a low ranked team and was the unofficial MVP for that team, finishing third among league voters as well. He also had a strong showing at the WJC in the middle. His .933 save percentage in 36 regular season games was followed by .938 in 5 playoff games. Ersson is a calm goalie with strong hockey sense and good puck control. He is not big for a goalie but has okay size (6-2”). The way he reads the game makes him look calm and secure. Next season, he will play in the SHL and will have a good chance to take his game to next level there. - JH

9 Ronnie Attard, D (72^nd overall, 2019. Last Year: IE) One of the top late bloomers of the 2019 draft class, Attard jumped from five points in his first year of draft eligibility, to 15 in his second, and finally hit 64 points in his third and final year of eligibility last season. More than just a bigger player beating up on smaller and younger talents, he has a full set of tools to help him succeed at the next level and beyond. He has great size at a beefy 6-3” and is a fine skater, not just for his size, but for any size. He owns a big slapshot and is a fine, if unexceptional distributor from the point. As exciting as his offensive game might be, Attard may be even better in his own end. His reads are refined, and he has a knack for filling in passing and shooting lanes, with his big body and extra long reach. He should have a chance to play in an offensive role at Western Michigan and has top four NHL upside. - RW

10 Tanner Laczynski, C (169^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 11) One of several examples on this list of Philadelphia mining the USHL for unheralded talent, Laczynski has been a key driver of Ohio State’s success of late, making the NCAA tournament three years running, after not making the dance since 2009. Only Islanders’ prospect Mason Jobst has outscored Laczynski since the latter made it to campus. He has remarkably quick hands and is a thrilling playmaker, even when facing heavy defensive pressure. His skating has also come on nicely as a collegian, to the point where he can keep up as a pro, once he moves on to the next level. He needs to show that he can handle tougher defensive assignments to ensure that he is not a top six or bust player after he completes his eligibility next spring. - RW

11 Mark Friedman, D (86^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 19) For an undersized defenseman, Friedman moves well and protects the puck from opponents. He is a good skater and a strong passer capable of making good stretch passes and backdoor passes. His hockey sense is good and the way he gets into position makes him an offensive asset. He will have to work on being more consistently engaged in defensive play and harder on the puck in his own end as it is important that his defensive play and the nature of his position come first. Friedman has the potential to be a bottom four defenseman in the NHL, but he will have to keep up with the pace and have a better showing next time round with the Flyers. His goal for this coming season with Lehigh Valley will be to simply be stronger in his own end and to work on his awareness and gap control when he doesn’t have the puck. - SC

12 Wade Allison, RW (52^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 4) Through the mid-way point of his sophomore campaign at Western Michigan, Allison seemed on the straight and narrow path to the NHL. Then he tore his ACL. He returned to play a partial season as a junior, but his conditioning never got back to speed, and his effectiveness dropped precipitously. He is apparently back to full health now and if he gets back to where he was in the first half of 2017-18 – even to 90% of that – the Flyers will have a very intriguing power forward on their hands. At his best, he played with plus speed and the hands to keep up with his legs. He was a solid player even at his worst, so there is some leeway in his recovery before we write him off as a prospect, but clearly the healthier Allison is the more enticing player. Of course, as he is entering his senior season, he will also have the opportunity to test the free agent market after graduation, if he chooses. -RW

13 Wyatt Kalynuk, D (196^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) Drafted in his third year of eligibility, Kalynuk has been a late round revelation in the two years since the Flyers called out his name. Even as Wisconsin’s team game has ebbed and waned in his underclassman years, Kalynuk has been a steady offense generating presence from the blueline, staving off a number of more highly touted defenders on the depth chart. He is a fantastic skater and specializes in starting the transition by carrying the puck out of his own zone. He reads the play well and has been known to find teammates far up ice with long bomb passes. Once the offensive zone has been gained, he is composed and stealthy from the blueline, walking the line and showing off a nice slap shot to keep goalies honest. Once a Flyer flyer, Kalynuk has evolved into a prime prospect, with second pairing – and second power play unit – upside. - RW

14 Samuel Morin, D (11^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 17) Morin is a massive defenseman who moves very well despite his size. He is more of a stay at home blueliner who contributes best to the offence by forcing high turnovers or ensuring a solid pass to start the breakout. He is a potential contender for a top two defensive pairing with the Flyers. He will be starting up in the NHL this season as a defensive defenseman responsible for stopping plays before they develop and keeping players to the outside. It would be nice if he can up his offensive numbers in the future but not nearly as important as staying healthy, considering injuries have limited him to a combined 24 games over the previous two seasons. It will be key for Morin to assert his aggressiveness and presence early this season and to not second guess his decisions allowing him to start gaining momentum early. - SC

15 Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW (48^th overall, 2019. Last Year: 18) For a player who is now heading into his fourth professional season in the AHL, Aube-Kubel still only sits at about an average ranking. He is a good, simple player, with a decent skillset, capable of getting to the net and understanding the pace and play of the AHL. He plays a gritty game and at times certainly loses focus a little too much, which can lead to spending a little too much time in the penalty box. He will need to have a career year next season in order to be considered back in the race and prove himself worthy of getting a chance as a bottom six forward with the Flyers. Aube-Kubel will need to play a more structured game and bring more energy to every shift to convince the right people that he can be trusted to move up to the next level. - SC

16 Jay O’Brien, C (19^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 8) The tools that convinced the Flyers to use a first-round pick on O’Brien are still there. He is a slick skater, capable of high-end puck play, including crisp passes and a nice wrist shot that he keeps low, generating rebounds. He also works well in the corners, belying his as yet immature frame. Once in a while, he can execute an instinctive bit of brilliance that can leave onlookers nodding their heads, as if to say, “I get it.” But those moments were few and far between as a freshman with Providence, as well as in his role as the extra forward for the American WJC team. Injuries played a role, but so, too, did his inability to think the game at the pace required. Most of his past successes have come against lesser competition. Unfortunately, O’Brien responded to the poor year by leaving school. He will spend a pivotal season with Penticton of the BCHL before returning to school, this time at Boston University. - RW

17 Jack St. Ivany, D (112^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 16) Passed over in his first year of draft eligibility, St. Ivany found a new level in a return engagement with Sioux Falls and earned the call in his second go-round. He then began his collegiate career at Yale earlier than originally expected, where his strong skater and his drive for self-improvement helped him play a regular role on a rebuilding system, leading team blueliners in scoring along the way. His performance also earned him a surprise engagement with the American WJC squad, playing as the extra defender. His offensive game sticks out more than his defensive duties as in addition to the wheels, he has a nice snapshot and moves the puck well from the point, generally not forcing plays. If he continues to trend upward, St. Ivany has the look of a future third pairing defender at the highest level. - RW

18 Noah Cates, LW (137^th overall, 2017. Last Year: Not ranked) An exceptionally raw high school point producer when the Flyers used a fifth-round pick on him two years ago, Cates’ game has evolved and grown substantially in the time passed. First came a year with Omaha of the USHL in which he was fine but lacked pop. When he moved on last year to Minnesota-Duluth, his game added new dimensions. His offensive game now relies mostly on effort and grit. He gets to the net, can flash nice acceleration and a good shot release. He is effective when he plays a simple game, with strength on his stick and perseverance. He has also taken his physical game to a new level, in line with his mature frame. He tries to make life difficult for opponents, and at the collegiate level at least, he succeeds. Cates projects as a bottom six winger, with enough offense in his game to also be a fan favorite. - RW

19 Adam Ginning, D (50^th overall, 2018. Last Year: 7) Ginning is an aggressive defensive defenseman with good skating and okay puck handling. He plays with poise and shows leadership abilities, competing well. He played a full season in the SHL last season in his first post-draft campaign. He is big (6-4”) and uses his size as a weapon along the boards and in front of the net. To have his game translate at the NHL level, he will need to be more consistent with his decision-making and not force the play, which has sometimes been the case for him. He was the sixth defenseman in Linkoping in terms of usage and saw a lot of PK-time as an SHL rookie. He didn’t have strong underlying numbers and was not yet strong enough in his game to push the play up the ice for his team, even if he defended well. For next season he will stay with the same team but with a bigger role. - JH

20 Linus Hogberg, D (139^th overall, 2016. Last Year: Not ranked) Hogberg is a modern type of defensive defenseman. He has decent size (6-1”) and mobility. He can use his reach and skating to shut down plays. He makes a good breakout pass and has good control with the puck on his stick. His offensive abilities aren’t strong enough to be an offensive contributor, but he has a smart third pairing potential and, in that role, he has a legit NHL ceiling. His underlying numbers in the SHL have been strong and he helps his team shut down plays and move the puck up the ice. 21-year-old Hogberg still hasn’t gotten a bigger role in SHL and was only fifth among blueliners in ice-time with Vaxjo and will play there for another year. He should at least be a top three defenseman and see more PK time as well before he can go over to North America as a legit option for the Flyers’ bottom pair. - JH

2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series: OHL Summary

Shaiyena Côté — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:40:50 +0000

Every fall for the past sixteen years leading up to the international U20 tournaments and the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) hosts a series of six games between the Russian Ice Hockey Federation’s top major juniors and the top major juniors playing in the CHL. These games take place across Canada with two games being played in each of the CHL’s three leagues in six different team centers each year. Team Russia takes advantage of Russian players already in Canada playing for CHL teams by rostering them for games during this series.

The first set of games this year took place against the Western Hockey League (WHL) in Kamloops at the Sandman Centre home of the Kamloops Blazers, with the second game being held at the Langley Events Centre home of the Vancouver Giants. The WHL split the game wins with Russia leaving the series tied at one win apiece before coming here to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

The first of the two OHL games was played Thursday November 8^th at the Progressive Auto Sales Arena, home to the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. A few of the players of note rostered with team OHL for the first game were Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects Morgan Frost and Isaac Ratcliffe, Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Evan Bouchard, and Montreal Canadians’ prospect Nick Suzuki. Team Russia’s OHL rostered players included; Edmonton Oilers’ prospects Kirill Maksimov and Dmitri Samorukov of the Niagara IceDogs and Guelph Storm respectively; Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Alexey Lipanov of the Kitchener Rangers and Alexey Toropchenko the St. Louis Blues prospect also from the Guelph Storm, all of whom had the chance to join their countrymen to play against their teammates on the OHL team.

Isaac Ratcliffe of team OHL Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Team OHL got off to a quick start during the first game in Sarnia with Isaac Ratcliffe scoring minutes into the first period off a high slot pass from Arizona Coyotes’ prospect Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Ratclliffe’s goal resulted from one of only four shots in the first period, the shot itself was a bullet going high glove. Team Russia seemed a little shaky at the start, but they were most likely just trying to find their legs again after their previous two games in Western Canada. Both teams took some time to gain line familiarity and worked on finding chemistry throughout the first period.

A lot came out of the first period as three out of the four goals of the game were scored in the first. The second and game winning goal for Team OHL came at the end of the period in the form of a penalty shot. A long stretch pass came from the Canadian blueline on a change to forward Mackenzie Entwistle set him off on a break away. Having full possession of the puck with a good scoring chance the right call was made on the Russian defender Saveliy Olshansky who attempted to slow him down, resulting in Entwistle getting a penalty shot. The right shot Chicago Blackhawks’ prospect made no mistake as he whistled the puck past the blocker of the Russian goaltender, Daniil Tarasov, a Columbus prospect, placing it high in the top left corner.

Stepan Starkov of team Russia Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

The last goal to come in the first period was scored by team Russia. The goal came from an outside drive deep into Canada’s zone by KHL Sochi centre Stepan Starkov who made a clever backdoor pass back to Boston Bruins’ prospect and Ufa KHL centre Pavel Shen as he waited, open in the slot, to net the one-timer. That goal came with 43 seconds left in the opening period.

The second period had more flow as players on both teams became more familiar with each other and more comfortable with their lines. Yet to be really tested were the special teams as there was only one penalty to team Russia in the first period which was successfully killed off by the Russians as Canada’s power play looked to get a little sharper. The second period saw team Russia getting a little more frustrated as they ended up in the box three times with Toropchenko leading the way with four minutes. Team Canada had a roughing minor handed out to Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Ryan McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads.

Barrett Hayton of team OHL Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Team OHL worked well on circulating and moving the puck on the power play but failed to net one as Team Russia successfully shut down the Canadian powerplay. Team Russia’s frustration came after Barrett Hayton netted a highlight reel goal on a break with assists from San Jose Sharks prospect Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm and Owen Sound’s Brady Lyle. Hayton put his puck handling ability on show as he split the two Russian defenders and slipped through the middle leaving him with few options but to deke to avoid the goaltender’s poke check. Hayton’s goal came with half the game remaining but was enough to hold off the Russian team for another thirty minutes.

The rest of the game was played out in good form with both teams looking to up their offensive chances and shots on net. Although Team Russia excelled at killing penalties and quick breakouts, their efforts were shut down by the physicality and aggressive play of the Canadian defence. The third period ended with zero goals being scored and only six minutes in penalties. Evan Bouchard lived up to the hype about him as he played a very solid game and proved why he was drafted 10^th overall in 2018. He showed off his patience with the puck, ability to win battles along the boards and backchecked well on a Russian breakaway. Despite Team OHL outshooting Team Russia 23 to 19, Team OHL had the opportunity to further their lead but the Russian goaltender Daniil Tarasov of the Supreme Hockey League’s (VHL) Neftekamsk managed to come up with some good saves as the Canadians found holes in the Russian defence. Team OHL came out on top of game one with a final score of 3 – 1 but the next game didn’t not go as planned for the Ontario Hockey League Team as they fell to the Russian team by a larger margin than the Russians did in their previous meeting.

The second game of the two game Ontario series was played on November 12 and was won by Team Russia with Russia scoring four goals and a zero response from the Ontario team, a result which left the majority of the fans in the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa, Ontario surprised. Team Russia outshot Team OHL 28 to 23 with the Russians shutting the OHL offence down almost completely in the third period, limiting them to only five shots on goal. The star of the game for Team Russia was their goalie Pyotr Kochetkov who stopped all shots, proving that both of Team Russia’s goaltenders were strong.

Game two saw few roster changes other than the addition of four hometown Oshawa Generals’ players to the lineup; Winnipeg Jets’ prospect Giovanni Vallati was rostered for both games, Florida Panthers’ prospect Serron Noel, undrafted Austen Keating and Boston Bruins’ prospect Jack Studnicka, who wore the ‘C’ for Team OHL, were all new additions to the lineup. Ryan Merkley, Giovanni Vallati, Liam Foudy, Barrett Hayton, MacKenzie Entwistle, Owen Tippett and Ryan McLeod were all dressed for both games.

Alexander Romanov of team Russia Photo by Luke Durda/OHL Images

Game two got off to a quick start for Team Russia as they managed to score 57 seconds in giving them an early lead. Team Russia started with a lot more energy than they had in the previous game, and they were more fired up with a physical presence from the get go. The first period saw ten minutes in penalties in total and two goals from the Russians with one from Montreal prospect Alexander Romanov and the other from Pavel Shen again. Team OHL showed frustration with their lack of productivity and quality chances but were able to keep their penalties to a minimum while making good use of screens in front of the net as they tried to get shots off. MacKenzie Entwistle and Kevin Bahl both picked up penalties for Team OHL while the aforementioned Shen and Veniamin Baranov each picked up penalties for Team Russia. Although Team OHL was down two goals heading into the second period they did not lose their morale playing the second frame and stayed focused and ready to compete with the energized Russians.

The second period was a very entertaining and well played period. Although both teams played a fairly clean game despite a minor penalty given to Team Russia, they were also both kept off the scoreboard. The action bounced back and forth and Team OHL players Studnicka and Ottawa Senators pick Alex Formenton proceeded to stand out for their puck possession skills by making solid passes and getting to the net on rushes. The shots were almost even with the Russians finishing just behind the Canadians in the second as the MVP of the game for Team Russia, goalie Kochetkov put on a show in net turning away all ten good quality chances Team OHL had and flashing the glove multiple times. By the end of the period the OHL players were feeling the pressure of being blanked for another twenty minutes and Team Russia was feeling more confident with their lead.

The end of Team Russia’s Ontario Hockey League stint finished on a high note with the Russians effectively shutting Team OHL down, reducing them to a low five shots on net in the third period and a final score of 4 - 0. Team Russia scored twice as Alexander Yaremchuk and Kirill Slepets both found the back of the net later on in the period to add a softer cushion to their lead. Tempers started to flare a little as Kevin Bahl and Bulat Shafigullin both had roughing penalties and Ryan Merkley ended up with a misconduct penalty. Through all the commotion and short-handed play, Hunter Jones remained calm and collected in his net for Team OHL keeping them in the game as their offence struggled to get the puck down the ice. The period went by slowly for fans who had come to support Team OHL but for the small contingent of Russian fans bearing flags and hats the cheering for their team continued throughout the game and well after the buzzer sounded.

As a final note, the Russian team flew out to Quebec the day following the second game against the OHL for the final two games of the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Team Russia met the best of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) first on November 13^th in Sherbrooke and played their second game in Drummondville on November 15^th. Four Russian players playing in the QMJHL; Ivan Chekhovich playing for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, drafted by the San Jose Sharks; Alexander Khovanov playing for the Moncton Wildcats, drafted by the Minnesota Wild; Pavel Koltygin playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, drafted by the Nashville Predators and Dmitry Zavgorodniy playing for the Rimouski Oceanic, drafted by the Calgary Flames all joined Team Russia for both games. Russia won both games against the QMJHL (the second game in overtime) to take the six-game series 4 – 2. The fact that Team Russia flew across Canada, played six games in six different cities in ten days against teams made up of different players and still won the series is a possible testament to the strength and skill of Team Russia and the fact that they should not be underestimated in the upcoming World Junior Championship once final team selections are made.

Overall, the play of both teams in the Ontario two-game series was strong and there was a lot of talent showcased on the ice for both Russia and the OHL. Both teams had a few undrafted players to be considered for the 2019 NHL Draft. The 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series marked the start of development camps and tournaments leading up to the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship to be held jointly in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. With that being said, it will be interesting to see the finished product of Team Canada, once the CHL selection process is complete, and Team Russia, come December 26^th when the puck drops to mark the start of the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championship.

Philadelphia Flyers Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:44:44 +0000

The name of the game in Philadelphia is depth. Even after graduating Nolan Patrick, Travis Sanheim and Robert Hagg to the NHL last year, the Flyers’ system is still bursting at the seams with prospects of all shapes and sizes, high ceilings and high floors and every position. Were it not for severe injuries, Anthony Stolarz and Samuel Morin might also have graduated from this list last year.

The amazing thing with this system is that it may be even deeper by this time next year. Despite having many players who might be ready to contribute in the NHL, barring injuries, there is seemingly only one spot up for grabs to start the year, with one of Oskar Lindblom or Danick Martel primed to grab a bottom six job on the left wing. Sanheim and Patrick should consolidate their spots as full time NHLers and the rest will likely continue to marinate in nearby Lehigh Valley.

Unlike some teams, the Flyers do not prioritize one geographical region over another when it comes to scouting. They are truly equal opportunity for their scouting staff. Looking at where their prospect played last year, we see two in the QMJHL, five from the OHL, three in the WHL, five in the USHL, one American high schooler, six playing college hockey, eight Swedes, and three Russians. I suppose one could point out that Philadelphia lacks any players from Finnish extract. The Flyers’ Finnish scout, Juuso Riksman, must be frustrated.

Beyond sheer depth, one area where Philadelphia has focused on more than any other team over the length of the Ron Hextall regime (starting in 2013-14) is in drafting netminders. The irony of that focus is clear in that Hextall himself was the last consistently above average goalie employed by the Flyers and he hasn’t strapped on the pads since before the turn of the century. There are three netminders listed among Philly’s top 20, but each of the eight whose rights they currently control would be in contention for the top 20 with a less top-heavy organization.

Of course, a good number of the players in the Philadelphia system will not see the light of day in the NHL. Some are not high priority prospects and others could see their primes passed by as they fall victim to the numbers game. For example, the Flyers draft heavily from Europe, and are not at all averse to leaving prospects overseas to develop there, only bringing them over when it is clear the player is ready, or especially well-suited to the North American game. Lindblom fits the latter description as does Mikhail Vorobyov, who did not make the cut here (but would elsewhere). The one other European prospect who is playing in the AHL, Radel Fazleev, was actually drafted out of the WHL, so doesn’t really count there. Others, namely the 12 present and future collegians, will be given as much time as they need and/or want on campus before Philadelphia will offer them an ELC.

Whether it is star players or role players, the Flyers have it all. If the system is not as highly vaunted next year, it can only be because Hextall cashed in a few chips from his reservoirs in trade for NHL talent during the season.

Joel Farabee

1 Joel Farabee, LW (14^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) More than any other player in this system, Farabee, the first of two first round picks made by the Flyers this year, has the tools and temperament to be a force at both ends of the ice. He gets very high grades for his skating ability, puckhandling skills, and the hockey IQ needed to make it all work. Were Farabee two inches taller and/or 20 pounds heavier, he would not have been available at 14, but considering the size of his two older brothers, he may yet get up there. A stronger playmaker than a goal scorer, he has nevertheless showed a promising finishing touch at every level and every setting at which he has played. Heading to BU next year, Farabee may be one and done and should not need more than two years on campus before turning pro.

2 Carter Hart, G (48^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 9^th) Goalies are notoriously difficult to project. But there are not many goalies who put up GAAs below two for two consecutive seasons in the WHL. He also topped that benchmark leading Canada to WJC Gold last year. Carter Hart was named league MVP in his final season with Everett, which he can add to his three consecutive (a record) Del Wilson Trophies, as the top WHL netminder. Although he is on the small side for modern goalies, Hart is a phenomenal athlete, read the game like a pro, and has a daunting competitive instinct. He has a very strong technical game as well. In short, he is the type of goalie teams make room for once they are ready.

3 Morgan Frost, C/LW (27^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 8^th) His selection in the first round of the 2017 draft was fairly surprising, but 12 months later, the Flyers are laughing. Frost leapt from 62 points in 67 games in his draft year to an eye opening 112 points in the same number of games the following year. Although he is a strong skater with an NHL shot, Frost truly excels in his puck handling abilities and through a very high hockey IQ. Really, the only place where he is not at least above average is in his physical game. Even there, while he will always be on the small side, he has begun to play with more jam and there is no reason why he should not be able to hold his own. He might get an NHL opportunity to kick off the season, but another year in the OHL would suit him best.

4 Wade Allison, RW (52^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 7^th) Despite missing over one third of last season with a lower body injury, he still nearly led Western Michigan in scoring and finished sixth in the nation in points per game with 1.36. As successful as he has been through most of two seasons in NCAA and considering his mature build, he might be ready to contribute at the NHL level this year, but is expected to return to WMU, where he will wear the ‘A’ on his chest. He plays a hard-charging style, with plus speed, a good shot and a keen understanding of the game and how to be effective. He projects as a shift disturbing secondary scorer and fan favorite. Presuming a fully healthy junior season, he will likely turn pro upon its conclusion.

German Rubtsov

5 German Rubtsov, C (22^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: 4^th) Although Rubtsov’s point totals in the QMHL were underwhelming, a relatively healthy season and a solid showing for Team Russia at the WJC means that we cannot be truly disappointed by the former first rounder’s development. He is also still young enough that we should put more stick in his tools than his production in his first full season in North America. Rubtsov has game breaking speed and is a pinpoint passer. While he does not generally play a very aggressive game, he knows how to use his average sized frame to good effect. The upside may not be more than middle six center, but he is still trending in that direction.

6 Isaac Ratcliffe, LW (35^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 5^th) A physical specimen at 6-6” and over 200 pounds, Ratcliffe took a promising step forward in his first post-draft season, breaching 40 goals in the process for an improving Guelph squad. A decent skater for his size, he makes his impressions in the OHL through the inability for defenders to handle him in the dangerous areas of the ice. He skates well enough for his size, but his ability to get the puck on the net – and often enough, in the net – will be his ticket to the NHL. Somewhat unfortunately, for as big as Ratcliffe is, he does not play a heavy game. He has enough finesse to make it, but learning to better use his bulk will help him.

7 Adam Ginning, D (50^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) A very big young man, Ginning skates quite well for his size, and uses his big frame exceptionally in his own end. His positioning is advanced, and he can control a gap with the best of them. Not just big, he is strong and once he gets in on the hands of an opposing forward, he does well in shutting down the rush. On the other hand, Ginning offers little to his team’s offensive game. He will rush with the puck and his hands lack subtlety. The Flyers have been down this path before with Samuel Morin, although Ginning has flashed hints of offensive instincts. The floor is high here, but it isn’t far from the ceiling.

8 Jay O’Brien, C (19^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Last year, the Flyers shocked insiders with the selection of Morgan Frost in the first round. History repeated itself this year when they popped Jay O’Brien with their second first rounder. There was no doubt that O’Brien was the most talented prep player in the 2018 draft class, but few other organizations, if any, saw him as a first-round talent. He certainly has a full kit of high end offensive tools, from a lethal shooting repertoire, to some fancy puck handling moves and above average offensive instincts to go with them. He gets to a nice top speed, although his first few steps lack in bite. The challenge with scouting a player like O’Brien is that he was so much better than his competition, and rarely played at higher levels, that it is very hard to know how much it will translate. We’ll find out next season at Providence.

9 Philippe Myers, D (UDFA: Sep. 21, 2015. Last Year: 3^rd) Philippe Myers’ drop from 3^rd in the Flyers’ system to 8^th is less a sign that he has regressed than it is a matter of the Flyers drafting well and other players simply improving more. To a lesser extent, Myers did not hit the ground running in his AHL debut, although in the big picture he was fine between a few questionable decisions. The undrafted signee is a big player who skates like a much smaller one. He is generally competent with the puck and more than that off of it. He offers an imposing physical presence, even if he is not a snarling beast on the blueline. It is still amazing that he made the type of step he did immediately after going undrafted in his age 17/18 season.

Pascal Laberge

10 Pascal Laberge, C (36^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 12^th) Despite production that could best be described as disappointing, Laberge still flashes the tools that had the Flyers excited to use a second-round pick on him two years ago. Both the shot and his puck skills grade out very highly and he skates well to boot. He should be able to find a role that fits at the pro level, as he is known to receive regular shifts on the PK and plays a solid all-around 200-foot game. Assuming his concussion troubles can be a thing of the past, Laberge probably ends up as a top nine player, able to contribute to the offensive attack, but lacking the killer instinct to take advantage of all opportunities that come his way.

11 Tanner Laczynski, C (169^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 16^th) Somewhat of a late bloomer when the Flyers used a sixth-round pick on Laczynski in his second year of draft eligibility, the budding playmaker’s game has turned up a few notches in the two seasons since going to Ohio State. After finishing fifth in team scoring as a freshman, he led the Buckeyes as a sophomore, with a four-point edge on the runner-up. Through hard work, he has also turned a former weakness – his skating – into at least an average tool, without any degradation to his other tools. His puck skills are still his selling feature, but he has also taken strides as a finisher and shows an advanced understanding of the game. This is what a sleeper looks like.

12 Alex Lyon, G (UDFA: Apr. 5, 2016. Last Year: Unranked) In many other systems, Alex Lyon, who signed with the Flyers as an undrafted free agent after a dominant three year run at Yale, would be considered a likely goalie of the future candidate. With Philadelphia, he is aiming for future backup rights, as Carter Hart is one of the best goalie prospects in the sport. Lyon is an aggressive goalie, quick with a poke check and enjoys playing the puck. He is an above average athlete for the position and does a good job at preventing juicy rebounds. As part of his second pro season, he earned a callup to the 11 and held his own in an 11-game trial. With two veterans in the system with one year remaining in their contracts, his chance for a full time NHL job will arrive soon enough.

13 Oskar Lindblom, LW (138^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 6^th) To his eternal credit, Oskar Lindblom produced at a fair clip in his first full season in North America and spent 23 games in the NHL as a reward for his efforts. While we maintained faith in players like Pascal Laberge and German Rubtsov for their tools, excusing so-so production, Lindblom is almost an inverse. Outside of high end puck skills, none of his tools grade out as much above average. He is a strong player despite roughly average size and he is very comfortable playing the net front. He forechecks heavily and his overall intensity might be the key in overcoming his physical abilities. As mentioned above, there may be an NHL job in Philadelphia with his name on it this season.

14 Carsen Twarynski, LW (82^nd overall, 2016. Last Year: Unranked) Like Lindblom above, Carsen Twarynski is an intense, net-front winger who uses his brawn and willingness to take punishment as a means to rack up the goals. With 45 of those last year for Kelowna, it seems to be working. Twarynski is a solid skater, who has decent hands and clearly knows how to finish, although the offensive package does not seem like enough to profile as a top six winger in the pro ranks. He did score a goal for Lehigh Valley in a five-game run at season’s end, but needs a full season of the same to prove that last year’s number were not a stone fluke.

David Kase

15 David Kase, C (128^th overall, 2015. Last Year: Unranked) In his third year after being drafted, former fifth round pick David Kase finally left his native Czech Republic for improved competition in Sweden and impressed enough with Mora that the Flyers extended an ELC offer to the speedy center. This is not a dynamic offensive weapon, but Kase has enough puck skills to go along with his high-end skating ability to suggest a middle six role in his future. He also demonstrates enough hockey sense to overcome his slight frame. He will, of course, need to prove that he can handle the AHL first, but he is trending in the right direction.

16 Jack St. Ivany, D (112^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Like Tanner Laczynski above, St Ivany, a product of the growing Southern California youth hockey scene, was not really ready in his first season of draft eligibility. He would flash intriguing tools on the blueline, but the whole was less than the sum of the parts. In his second go-round, he added a more dynamic element to his game, improving his offensive output from 10 to 36 points in close to the same playing time. He has a big, strong frame, and moves well for his size. He can contribute at both ends of the ice and his offensive tools grade out as roughly average for a blueliner. He also uses his size well without getting into penalty trouble. Not expected to join Yale until 2019-20, St. Ivany is a longer-term project.

17 Samuel Morin, D (11^th overall, 2013. Last Year: 14^th) Morin, already rated as a disappointment for a former fairly high first round pick, suffered through a very frustrating, very painful season in 2017-18, as a series of injuries limited him to 20 games between the regular season and the postseason, including two regular season contents for the Flyers. Next season figures to be more of the same, as a torn ACL suffered in the AHL postseason is expected to keep him out of action until February. Morin will always have awe-inspiring size but serves as a reminder that a “safe” prospect is not really safe is his upside is so low that a failure to develop even a little bit will make him not good enough for a regular NHL role. Injuries don’t help either.

18 Nicolas Aube-Kubel, RW (48^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 19^th) Small, but feisty, Aube-Kubel may be a tweener. He has enough skill to play top six minutes at a solid level for the AHL but lacks the tools to do so in the NHL. To his credit, the former second rounder has upped the tenacity from a game that already was known for energy in juniors, without diminishing his productiveness at all. He skates well and seems to have a good head for the game in all situations, but lacks the creativity to be a driver of the offense at the highest level. The floor is good enough for an NHL job, but is most likely that of a fourth liner who could help on the penalty kill.

19 Mark Friedman, D (86^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 20^th) It is easy for a player like Friedman, lacking in size or in any standout tools, to be overlooked. There is always someone else with higher expectations, more highlight reel plays to his name. But Friedman has met every challenge thrown his way this far in his career, whether in the USHL, the NCAA, and now, the AHL. He is a fluid skater, who gets an edge from his first few steps, and he moves the puck at a smart clip. His reads are fairly mature and he has a good sense of when to ump in deep into the offensive zone attack. A right-handed shot, he has established himself as one to watch and a potential injury replacement in the NHL as soon as this year.

20 Anthony Stolarz, G (45^th overall, 2012. Last Year: 13^th) We have already looked at Wade Allison, Samuel Morin and Philippe Myers, critical components of the Flyers’ prospect depth, who missed large chunk of last year with injury. So, it is only right that we spare a moment’s thought for Stolarz, the former second round pick whose strong 2016-17 season had him on the verge of an NHL backup job, but was limited to only four games total, between the AHL and ECHL, last season. He still has the ideal size you look for in a modern day netminder, standing a towering 6-6”, 209 lbs., but already 24 years old, this may be his final chance to claim an NHL future, if not in Philadelphia, then elsewhere.

OHL Playoff Preview: Greyhounds pacing the pack

Brock Otten — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 20:51:07 +0000

The 2018 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off this week after the regular season wrapped up this past weekend. Heading into the playoffs, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are the clear favorites to come out of the OHL and represent the league at the Memorial Cup in Regina. They have spent the vast majority of the season as the top ranked team in the CHL, one of only two teams to chart the entire season (along with Blainville-Boisbriand of the QMJHL). But competition is always fierce and there are no sure bets in the OHL. Let us now take a look at each first round match-up.

Eastern Conference

#1 - Hamilton Bulldogs vs. #8 - Ottawa 67’s

Season Series: Hamilton leads 5-0

Will Bitten of the Hamilton Bulldogs. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: The Conference Champion Bulldogs face off against the 67’s after the Steelheads won on the final Sunday, securing the number 7 seed. Hamilton has been the cream of the crop of the Eastern Conference for the vast majority of the season. They have been extremely active in trades this year to give them the best chance of coming out of the East. The Bulldogs added Robert Thomas (St. Louis), Riley Stillman (Florida), Nic Caamano (Dallas), Ryan Moore, and Nic Mattinen (Toronto) to an already stacked lineup, giving Ottawa an extremely daunting challenge in round one. This team rolls three powerhouse offensive lines with Matthew Strome (Philadelphia), Will Bitten (Montreal), Mackenzie Entwistle (Arizona), Marian Studenic (New Jersey), and Brandon Saigeon being other top options. Forward Arthur Kaliyev (2019) is another name to watch. He is the first 16 year old to score 30 goals in the OHL since Alex Galchenyuk and he is a potential lottery pick next year as a power winger. In net, the Bulldogs boast one of the OHL’s most improved players this year in Kaden Fulcher (Detroit).

Kevin Bahl of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Ottawa, on the other hand, is a very young team. In a few years’ time, they could be Memorial Cup contenders. They could have five players drafted in the first three rounds this year (Kody Clark, Mitchell Hoelscher, Merrick Rippon, Kevin Bahl, and Carter Robertson). Offensively, they are paced by Sasha Chmelevski (San Jose), Travis Barron (Colorado), Austen Keating (2018) and Tye Felhaber. Chmelevski was a much hyped prospect who fell hard at last year’s draft (all the way to the 6th), but he has returned much stronger this season. His play away from the puck has greatly improved and it has taken his game to another level. But for all their talent offensively, the 67’s have had a very difficult time keeping the puck out of their own net this year. Overager Olivier Tremblay has not provided the stability that the team had hoped for when they brought him in early this year.

This one has all the makings of a quick series. This Ottawa team, as talented as they are young, is not yet ready for this type of challenge. The Bulldogs are one of the deepest teams in the OHL and their offensive firepower is likely to overwhelm an inexperienced defense and inconsistent netminder. One particular thing worth watching is the 67’s struggling penalty kill going up against one of the league’s best powerplay units from Hamilton. This has to be troubling for Ottawa because they also happen to be one of the league’s most undisciplined teams. And while Ottawa does have some great young offensive talent, the Bulldogs have one of the oldest defensive units in the league and are likely to limit the offensive chances of the 67’s. I look for Robert Thomas to have a big series here (and a big playoff performance overall). His points per game has taken a big dip since joining the Bulldogs, but I think he explodes this postseason.

Prediction: This Hamilton team is just too experienced and too talented for the 67’s. They have the advantage in nearly every area and should dominate. If Ottawa was getting better goaltending, I would say that they might be able to steal a game or two, but I do not even see that happening. Hamilton in 4.

#2 - Barrie Colts vs. #7 - Mississauga Steelheads

Season Series: Mississauga leads 4-2

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: If I was a betting man, I would bet that this is the match-up that Barrie wanted to avoid in the opening round. In fact, it was probably the match-up every team wanted to avoid in the first round. Mississauga has underachieved all season long, but they have shown some signs of finally coming to life the last month or so. Offensive talent is not to be questioned. Their first two lines include names like Michael McLeod (New Jersey), Ryan McLeod (2018), Owen Tippett (Florida), Trent Fox, Albert Michnac (2018), and Mathieu Foget. This group of six matches up well against any top six in the Eastern Conference and it helps to explain why the Steelheads are the third highest scoring team in the Conference. And this excludes their leading scorer, defenseman Nic Hague (Vegas), who was the first OHL defender to score 30+ since Allan Rourke. But keeping the puck out has been a challenge at times. Swedish import and defensive stalwart Jacob Moverare (Los Angeles) has been injured and that has really challenged their younger defensive players to play more minutes than they are ready for. Furthermore, young netminder Jacob Ingham (2018) has had an awful sophomore season that has seen him essentially lose the starting job to Emanuel Vella.

Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

This is potentially trouble because Barrie is the highest scoring team in the Conference and the 3rd highest scoring in the OHL. Their first line of Andrei Svechnikov (2018), Aaron Luchuk (Ottawa), and Dmitry Sokolov (Minnesota) has been absolutely shredding teams of late. The supporting offensive cast includes guys like Ryan Suzuki (2019), Jason Willms (2018), and Zach Magwood who work extremely hard in all three zones and bring energy that exhausts the opposition so that the first line can go to work. The Colts do not have any stars on the blueline, but they are a tight knit unit who work well with Barrie’s forwards to play a terrific team defense. In net, overager Leo Lazerev starts and while he does not necessarily win any games outright for the Colts, he is a mostly reliable presence. It should be noted that he has yet to win an OHL playoff series in his career and probably goes into this match-up with just as many question marks as Mississauga’s tenders.

There is no question that this is not your average #2 versus #7 seed match-up. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Mississauga largely dominated the season series, winning all three games in the new year by a combined score of 18-10. For whatever reason, the speed of Mississauga’s forwards gives the defense of Barrie a tough time and Lazerev has an .840 save percentage against the Fish this season. This is complicated even more by the fact that Andrei Svechnikov has been suspended for the first four games of the series for a head check. But I admit, I have a tough time picking Mississauga to win this series. I do not trust their defense to be able to handle Barrie’s depth up front. And if these games go to an offensive shootout like they did in the regular season, I think Barrie ends up coming out on top this time. Mississauga’s Mathieu Foget has also been suspended for the first four games of the series and his loss might actually be felt more because of Mississauga’s lack of depth. His acquisition really triggered the turnaround for the team. Barrie also needs to stay out of the box. In the regular season, they gave Mississauga almost double the amount of powerplays that they received and it cost them dearly with the Steelheads clicking at over 30% with the man advantage. If they can stay out of the box, and Lazerev can make a few saves, I still like Barrie to come out on top.

Prediction: The result of this series would not surprise me either way, even with the difference in seeding. But depth is critical in the playoffs and Barrie has the advantage there. I am excited to see how the Svechnikov/Luchuk/Sokolov unit handles the pressure of the playoffs. Svechnikov, in particular, can really cement himself as the #2 prospect available in the draft with a strong postseason performance once he returns from suspension (as long as Barrie does not get swept). Barrie in 7.

#3 - Kingston Frontenacs vs. #6 - North Bay Battalion

Season Series: Kingston leads 3-1

Gabriel Vilardi of the Kingston Frontenacs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: This is an intriguing match-up because of how differently these two teams approached the OHL season. Kingston brought in Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles), Max Jones (Anaheim), Cliff Pu (Buffalo), Sean Day (New York Rangers), and Mitchell Byrne at the deadline to bolster an already solid line-up and make them contenders to come out of the East. While they failed to secure a division banner, the results post deadline have been mostly extremely positive. A healthy and re-invigorated Vilardi has provided the biggest boost, as his 1.87 points per game in Kingston is second to only Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis) in the OHL. His strength, on and off the puck, makes him a dominant force in all three zones and the type of player who works to tire and grind out opposing defenses.

Justin Brazeau of the North Bay Battalion. Photo by Terry Wilson /OHL Images,

The North Bay Battalion were sellers at the deadline this year, shipping out veterans Cam Dineen (Arizona), and Brett McKenzie (Vancouver). Those moves only worked to light a fire under the Battalion roster and the team actually improved their record in the New Year thanks to the play of new acquisitions Matthew Struthers (2018), and Jake Henderson, as well as veterans Justin Brazeau (2018), and Adam Thilander (2018). Brazeau, in particular, is a player to watch. The 6-5” winger finished just inside the Top 20 of league scoring and was named as the East’s most underrated player in the recent coaches poll that was released.

If we are measuring up these two teams, we need to give the edge to Kingston in nearly every area. The Fronts lead the season series 3-1, winning the three most recent games (February on). The biggest advantage Kingston has is in net with Jeremy Helvig (Carolina) manning the crease. The overager and veteran netminder has 19 OHL playoff games under his belt and is unquestionably one of the league’s top netminders. Meanwhile, the Battalion will rely on either Christian Propp (2018) or Julian Sime, who have a combined zero OHL playoff appearances. Kingston also has a heavy advantage on special teams, with their powerplay and penalty killing units operating at a higher level. With Robertson and Vilardi operating down low on the powerplay, North Bay is going to need to stay out of the box to have any chance in this series. One wild card to keep an eye on is the health of Max Jones. Jones has been out since the end of January after undergoing surgery on a broken finger. It is likely he returns at some point in these playoffs and he can be a major x-factor.

Prediction: Ultimately, Kingston’s experience and leadership should carry them to a relatively easy victory in this match-up. Gabe Vilardi and Sean Day won a Memorial Cup together last year. Mitchell Byrne won an OHL Championship last year. And Cliff Pu and Max Jones won an OHL Title and Memorial Cup in 2016. Kingston in 5.

#4 - Niagara IceDogs vs. #5 - Oshawa Generals

Season Series: Tied at 1 game apiece

Akil Thomas of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: Two teams that do not see a ton of each other match-up in round one. Niagara and Oshawa also happen to be two of the hotter teams in the OHL heading into the playoffs. The IceDogs are a team that rely on speed and energy to play an up tempo and offensively oriented style of game. They get after it on the forecheck and have a powerplay that has been much improved since the acquisition of overager Sam Miletic (Pittsburgh) from London. On top of Miletic, Niagara has a trio of offensive weapons that they rely on in Kirill Maksimov (Edmonton), Akil Thomas (2018), and Ben Jones (Vegas).

Jack Studnicka of the Oshawa Generals. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Oshawa, on the other hand, prefers to slow things down and grind it out in the offensive end. Their fearless leader is Jack Studnicka (Boston), an excellent two-way center who makes an impact in so many different ways. A pair of first time draft eligible forwards support Studnicka; Serron Noel (2018), and Allan McShane (2018). Defenseman Matt Brassard (Vancouver) is also critical to their offensive success. He was one of the highest scoring defenders in the league in the second half and finished the year 7th in defensive scoring.

If we are truly comparing these two teams, it is difficult to determine who has a clear advantage. In goal, the nod should be given to Oshawa and their starter Kyle Keyser (Boston). Keyser has been a stable presence in net this year, definitely more so than Stephen Dhillon who has struggled for Niagara this year, or the inexperienced Colton Incze. Up front, I give the slight edge to Niagara because of their explosiveness and depth. On defense, the two teams boast slightly inexperienced units who are mobile, but can be mistake prone. Ultimately, I see two things possibly tipping the favor in Niagara’s direction. The first is special teams play. As mentioned, Niagara’s powerplay has been performing at a high level lately and Oshawa has one of the league’s worst penalty killing units. The second is home ice advantage, which Niagara owns after finishing the regular season on a 7 game winning streak.

Prediction: With home ice advantage, better special teams play, and a slightly more explosive offense, I like Niagara to win this series. Their goaltending concerns me slightly, but between Dhillon or Incze, they should be able to make enough big saves to at least get the IceDogs into the second round. But this one will be close. Niagara in 7.

Western Conference

#1 - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. #8 - Saginaw Spirit

Season Series: SSM leads 7-1

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson

Analysis: The juggernaut Greyhounds kick off their Memorial Cup push against the Saginaw Spirit, whose five game losing streak to end the season forced them down the standings and into this first round match-up. Sault Ste. Marie has nine NHL draft picks on their roster and two more potential first rounders for 2018. Up front, Boris Katchouk (Tampa Bay), Taylor Raddysh (Tampa Bay), Jack Kopacka (Anaheim), Tim Gettinger (New York Rangers), Barrett Hayton (2018), and the underrated Hayden Verbeek pace the attack. But the real star is OHL 2nd leading scorer Morgan Frost (Philadelphia), one of the breakout stars of this season. On the backend, the Hounds are equally strong, led by Conor Timmins (Colorado), and Rasmus Sandin (2018). Neither seem to make a mistake with the puck and both are just as good in their own end as they are offensively. In net, Matthew Villalta (Los Angeles) has been a steady presence who makes the saves when he needs to.

Evan Cormier of the Saginaw Spirit. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Saginaw’s strength actually starts in net where overager Evan Cormier (New Jersey) keeps the Spirit in a lot of games that they do not deserve to be in. This is important because the Spirit struggle to score goals. They were only one of three teams in the OHL to not score 200 goals on the season and the other two finished dead last in their conferences (Flint and Sudbury). Furthermore, their powerplay was a league worst 14.7%. There is definitely some offensive talent on this team, but the team’s best days are ahead of them as guys like Blade Jenkins (2018), Nicholas Porco (2019), Ryan Stepien (2020), Aidan Prueter (2020), and Damien Giroux (2018) gain experience. In fact, the team’s only NHL drafted forward, Brady Gilmour (Detroit) finished 9th in team scoring.

In all honesty, this series should not be close and is not likely to be close. The Spirit have a talented young roster, but they are not currently an equal to the Greyhounds. Sault Ste. Marie has the advantage in nearly every area except maybe goaltending. Even then, Evan Cormier can only do so much. Heck, we might see the Greyhounds score more shorthanded goals than the Spirit score powerplay goals in the series.

Prediction: I want to say that Evan Cormier can do enough to steal a game for the Spirit in this series, but I cannot even see the Spirit winning a game. The Greyhounds are just too strong. SSM in 4.

#2 - Kitchener Rangers vs. #7 - Guelph Storm

Season Series: Kitchener leads 5-3

Logan Brown of the Kitchener Rangers. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Analysis: This is an interesting first round match-up between two teams that did not end the regular season the way they wanted to. Kitchener, a strong team all season, struggled down the stretch, although managed to hang on to their Division crown. Meanwhile, the Guelph Storm were one of the league’s worst teams in the last few months that saw them lose their grip on the #6 spot in the West. Kitchener loaded up at the deadline by bringing in Logan Brown (Ottawa), Givani Smith (Detroit), Mario Culina, and Austin McEneny. I think it would be fair to say that Kitchener is still waiting to see the best out of three of those four, with Culina playing well so far as a starter. It has been the guys around all season like Adam Mascherin (Florida), Kole Sherwood (Columbus), Joseph Gareffa, Logan Stanley (Winnipeg), and Riley Damiani (2018) that have been driving the team’s success. Moving into the playoffs, it will be about whether the newer faces can finally find chemistry or not. The health of defensive stalwart Connor Hall (Pittsburgh) could also impact the series.

Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

Guelph, as mentioned, has also struggled down the stretch, especially when it comes to preventing goals. Goaltender Anthony Popovich (2018) appeared to tire of late after seeing a huge jump in workload this season. The defensive group, led by Ryan Merkley (2018), and Dmitri Samorukov (Edmonton) also struggled, to the point where Merkley was a healthy scratch at times down the stretch. The Storm do have a hard working forward group who is capable of icing multiple scoring lines. The offensive leaders are unquestionably Isaac Ratcliffe (Philadelphia) and Cam Hillis (2018), who along with Alexei Toropchenko (St. Louis) form a quality first line.

Looking at this series a little more under the microscope, it is probably closer than people are making it out to be. The special teams match-up pretty well. Neither team has a dominant goaltender that one would qualify as a game-changer (no offense meant to Culina or Popovich). Both teams struggled down the stretch with team chemistry issues. The tipping point for me is experience. The Rangers have the clear advantage there, especially on the defensive end. Guys like Logan Stanley and Austin McEneny, who won a Memorial Cup together with Windsor last year, should really help to stabilize things, even without Connor Hall. I also look for longtime Rangers like Mascherin or Connor Bunnaman (Philadelphia) to really step up offensively to get this team over the first round hump.

Prediction: As mentioned, I feel like Kitchener’s experience advantage will help them come out on top in this series. I also feel that they have a much better team defense approach that likely plays out better for success in the playoffs. Guelph has talent, but they play a very high risk game that, without a ton of playoff experience, could be their undoing. It will be close, but Kitchener in 6.

#3 - Sarnia Sting vs. #6 - Windsor Spitfires

Season Series: Sarnia leads 5-1

Michael DiPietro of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Analysis: No offense meant to the rest of the Windsor Spitfires, but this match-up is about two things. The Sarnia offense (2nd best in the OHL) versus the goaltending of Michael DiPietro (Vancouver). The dynamic DiPietro is one of the few goaltenders in the OHL who is capable of stealing a series victory for his team. The Spitfires rebuilt, dealing off the majority of their veterans held over from their Memorial Cup victory last year, but decided to hang on to their star netminder for this reason. They battle hard in the offensive end behind the likes of Curtis Douglas (2018), Cole Purboo (2018), Cody Morgan (2019), Luke Boka, and Matthew MacDougall (2018). And they play smart in their own end thanks to Connor Corcoran (2018), Nathan Staios (2019), Grayson Ladd (2019), and Zach Shankar. But this team has zero NHL drafted players outside of DiPietro and are incredibly inexperienced.

Jordan Kyrou of the Sarnia Sting. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The Sting, conversely, were one of the biggest buyers throughout this OHL season, bringing in talented veterans like Cam Dineen (Arizona), Jonathan Ang (Florida), and Michael Pezzetta (Montreal). The lifeblood of the team is Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis), the league’s leader in points per game this year and possibly the best offensive player in the OHL. He is currently zero for three in first round appearances and is likely to do everything in his power to finally reach the second round (and beyond). You could likely argue that overager Justin Fazio is the team’s second most important player in the series, especially considering that he has to match-up against DiPietro. The margin for error is slim.

One of Sarnia’s biggest strengths is on the powerplay where Kyrou, Adam Ruzicka (Calgary), and Drake Rymsha (Los Angeles) have a combined 34 powerplay goals this year. Problem is, Windsor takes among the least amount of penalties in the OHL so as long as Windsor can continue to stay out of the box, Sarnia is going to need to beat DiPietro 5 on 5. The question I have is, how will Windsor manage to score goals, at least enough goals to win this 7 game series? It will not be with the man advantage either (likely) as the Sting have the league’s top penalty killing unit. I am slightly worried about Sarnia’s inexperienced defense though, but that concern is more directed towards round two or three (if the Sting advance that far). Sarnia will need big guys like Ruzicka, Pezzetta, Jordan Ernst, and Hugo Leufvenius (2018) to crowd DiPietro’s space as much as possible and really make him uncomfortable. Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Windsor fans can tell you, sometimes the best way to beat Michael DiPietro is through sheer luck and bad bounces.

Prediction: As much as I want to predict a Windsor victory, I do not see it in the cards. DiPietro will steal a few games and he will make Sarnia sweat. But the offensive firepower of Sarnia, combined with the inexperience of Windsor’s defense is likely to give the Sting too many scoring chances for the Spitfires’ star netminder to handle. Sarnia in 6.

#4 - Owen Sound Attack vs. #5 - London Knights

Season Series: London leads 4-2

Evan Bouchard of the London Knights. Photo by Terry Wilson/OHL Images.

Analysis: As is usually the case, the 4/5 matchup in the Western Conference looks to be the closest match-up of the first round, and subsequently the most difficult to prognosticate. London traded off the vast majority of their big guns to retool to fight another day. Instead, the team played inspired hockey down the stretch led by a host of younger players eager to make their mark. When talking about London, we have to start with defenseman Evan Bouchard (2018), the lifeblood of the Knights. His 87 points are the highest by a blueliner since Ryan Ellis hit the 100 point mark in 2011. The speedy Alex Formenton (Ottawa) is also playing the best hockey of his OHL career thus far with 12 goals in 14 games to close out the regular season. And you cannot talk about London without mentioning how good the “kid” line of Liam Foudy (2018), Billy Moskal (2018), and Nathan Dunkley (2018) has been since the trade deadline. This trio was challenged to step up their games with increased ice time and they all responded accordingly.

Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Owen Sound, on the other hand, was expected to be one of the top teams in the OHL this year but struggled to keep their star players healthy all year and subsequently struggled to perform consistently. That is, until the last few months when they have been, arguably, the OHL’s best. This team is scary good when healthy and they are now finally healthy. They roll three outstanding scoring lines, including a top unit of Jonah Gadjovich (Vancouver), Kevin Hancock (2018), and Nick Suzuki (Vegas) that has been one of the OHL’s best over the last two seasons. They also have one of the OHL’s top offensive blueliners in Sean Durzi (2018), who if he did not get injured, likely could have challenged Bouchard for the defenceman scoring title. It is in net where Owen Sound has struggled this season as Olivier Lafreniere and Mack Guzda (2019) have battled to find consistency. No question, Owen Sound has to have their offense rolling to win because they are not going to win many 2-1 games.

So who has the advantage going into this match-up? Experience wise, the nod has to be given to Owen Sound...and by a wide margin. The Attack are returning the vast majority of a roster that lost in the Conference finals last season. The Knights are an extremely well coached team, but they are relying on a lot of rookies and sophomores in key roles and that can often prove to be a recipe for disaster in the postseason. The deciding factor in this series probably comes down to the goaltending. So long as Owen Sound can get at least adequate goaltending from one of Lafreniere or Guzda, they should win this series. But if their goaltending struggles and team is forced to constantly play catch-up, the series tips in London’s favor, a team with nothing to lose.

Prediction: I have to give the nod to Owen Sound here because now that they are fully healthy, they look like a tough team to stop. This is especially true for a team as inexperienced as London; even if they are extremely talented. The Attack can get the saves they need to win this one, even if London pushes them and makes them sweat. Owen Sound in 6

OHL Finals Prediction

When the field is finally narrowed down to two teams who battle it out for OHL supremacy, I expect those two teams to be the Kingston Frontenacs and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

From the East I like Kingston for a couple reasons. The first is experience. As I already alluded to, they have a lot of players on that roster who have already won a Memorial Cup or OHL Championship (or both). That type of leadership goes a long way in the playoffs. The second is special teams play. The great Scotty Bowman always said combined special teams play was a great indicator of postseason success. Well the Fronts have the best powerplay in the league and the second best penalty kill. The third is goaltending. Jeremy Helvig is a veteran netminder who is about as consistent as they come. I have a ton of confidence in his ability to make saves when he needs to.

From the West, I like the Soo Greyhounds as they have looked about as dominant as anyone in the OHL has over the last few years. Their 116 points is the most since Barrie put up 116 in 2010. This team has it all. Special teams success. Good goaltending. Speed. Physicality. But most of all...depth. Drew Bannister’s players rarely seem to take a shift off and they rarely make mistakes with the puck. That composure at both ends of the ice makes them the favorite.

For the OHL Title, I am taking the Soo Greyhounds to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup since they won back to back championships in the early 90ś.

Philadelphia – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 07:32:34 +0000

To paraphrase an old axiom from the days of legitimate voter fraud, the Philadelphia Flyers draft early and draft often. With 28 selections over the last three draft classes, including two top ten selections, the Flyers have rebuilt a system that had been lackluster at best and now ranks as one of the deepest and most impressive in the game.

Even with two of the better players of those three drafts already bonafide NHLers, this system has players for every position and every role. There are seven forwards who can all lay some claim to having top six upside. That is not to say that they will force out the dynamic NHL duo of Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek, but they will add significant breadth to the Flyers’ attack once they are ready to produce. The backhalf of the top ten – and looking deeper than them as well – has many more forwards who have games well suited for bottom six roles.

Looking at the blueline, and considering that the Flyers already have an awesome pair of young ones who have already graduated in Shayne Gostisbehere and Ivan Provorov, there is much more on the way. Near the top of this list there are two – Philippe Myers and Travis Sanheim – who both have second pairing upside and look relatively near to being ready. Further down the list, we rank two other defenders who have NHL upside, but players like Robert Hagg or David Bernhardt, who would likely have fit into many other organizational top 20s, also could play in the NHL in some role.

Even with the above, it almost feels silly to suggest that the blueline might be the weakest positional area in the system. The players are good, some very good, but it is true that the Flyers are not deep in blueliners who have not yet graduated to NHL roles.

Finally, that leaves us with the goaltending. The Flyers, always known for being a goalie graveyard, have stockpiled goalie after goalie, trusting the eye of their GM, himself a longtime NHL netminder, to pick ones with high-end potential. Even though the team does not have an incumbent of great standing for the top level, it is rather difficult to say with any certainty which of their prospects is the heir-apparent, or even which is most ready to break through. We ranked Carter Hart ahead of Felix Sandstrom in the rankings, but there was very little space between the two.

Anthony Stolarz has looked sharp in limited NHL action, but if push came to shove, we would not bet too much cash that if the Flyers had a long term need at the position this year, they would not call up Alex Lyon instead. Beyond that, it would not be totally surprising if any of their other three netminders – Matej Tomek, Kirill Ustimenko, or Ivan Fedotov – eventually emerges as the best NHL player, although it is reasonable to note for now that they are all further away.

Patrick Nolan of the Brandon Wheat Kings, photo by

1 Nolan Patrick – Favored to be the 2017 first overall pick since before the 2016 draft, Patrick lost nearly half of his draft season to groin and shoulder injuries and still had many expecting him to go first overall. The Flyers did not mind one bit when he dropped to second. A strong, big-game player, he had the highest hockey IQ of anyone in the draft. Skating, shooting, and puck skills are also all high end. Assuming health, he should be able to step right into a middle six role with the Flyers, and has first line upside.

2 Travis Sanheim – The former first round pick had a solid, if unspectacular first full season with Lehigh Valley of the AHL. A good two-way defenseman who is just as comfortable quarterbacking a power play as he is guarding the slot on the penalty kill, he has fantastic puck skills for a blueliner. Could stand to be more aggressive in his own zone, but has enough of a well-rounded skill set coupled with above average hockey IQ that his path to the NHL should not be long.

3 Philippe Myers – One of the best underdog stories of recent prospect lore. Myers was undrafted in his first year of eligibility, despite great size, due to poor production (8 points in 60 games). He impressed in rookie camp and earned an ELC from Philadelphia, going back to the Q to reward the Flyers for their faith, he finished his junior career as a point-per-game defender. Between his size, hockey sense, awareness, and poise on the puck, he looks like a future second pairing option.

4 German Rubtsov – After suffering a facial injury playing for Russia at the WJC, Rubtsov elected to stay in North America and spent the rest of his first post-draft season with Chicoutimi in the QMJHL. He acclimated very quickly to the CHL game, especially considering the injury situation. He has great offensive instincts and is very creative. Plays with some sandpaper that allows him to play bigger than his size. Has magic in his hands.

5 Isaac Ratcliffe – A raw, physical specimen, Ratcliffe combines ideal power forward size with burgeoning puck skills with the willingness and ability to be effective in front of the net. While his draft year numbers do not leap off the page, it is important to remember that he was playing on a horrible Guelph team. He is a solid skater, but can be inconsistent in his pace. Shows strong anticipation and soft hands. His ceiling is very high.

6 Oskar Lindblom – The former fifth round pick continued to take big strides in his development in his third full season in the SHL, leading Brynas in scoring. He is excellent with the puck along the boards and around the crease and does a great job of finding soft spots in coverage for himself or his teammates. Paired with a skilled center, he has enough complementary skills to be a strong option on a second line in the NHL. May get that chance this year.

7 Wade Allison – After emerging as if out of nowhere in his draft year at Tri City of the USHL, Allison continued to play his game without a hitch as a freshman at Western Michigan. Playing a power forward game, he stays heavily involved in all three zones. He has enough speed in his hands and feet to draw penalties and can contribute to the offense as a shooter or creating for others on the cycle. Could stand to cut down on the penalties caused by his aggressive style.

8 Morgan Frost – Somewhat of a surprise as a first round pick this year, Frost has three main selling points in his skating speed, his puck skills, and his hockey intelligence. A heads-up player who earns his keep on both sides of the puck, he is already a reliable penalty killer. When he is on the ice, the puck is generally glued to his stick until he is ready to move it along. He will need to increase in strength and round out his game more, but he has the building blocks for a good middle six forward.

9 Carter Hart – If you like Hart, he is one of the better goaltending prospects in the game. If you have doubts, you point to the extreme defensive system employed by Everett as an aid to his stellar WHL numbers. Only moderately sized for a modern netminder, he makes up for it with great athleticism, reassuring calmness in net and excellent ability to read the play and track the puck. He has one more year of WHL eligibility before he will turn pro.

10 Felix Sandstrom – If not for Hart, Sandstrom would get a lot more attention in the Flyers’ system, especially after improving his numbers across the board in the second season with Brynas of the SHL as well as a strong showing in his second WJC. Above average across the board, he is not a goalie who can carry a team on his back, but he will also not let his mates down if they play solidly in front of him. He will continue his development next year in Sweden.

11 Jordan Weal – Undersized and quicker than he is fast, Weal was finally given a chance to take his game to the NHL last year after proving that he could score at a point-per-game pace in the AHL. 8 goals in 23 NHL games suggest that he is more than a dreaded 4A player and he is in line for a full season with the Flyers, likely on the second line. He has very impressive puck skills and a keen understanding of the flow of the game.

12 Pascal Laberge – Laberge maintains a spot in the solid middle of the Flyers deep prospect list as he still flashed high end offensive potential in a season fraught by concussions and off-ice issues outside his control. He has very soft hands, and is a shifty skater who can change directions in a flash to deke out defenders and netminders. He sees the ice very well in the offensive zone and is as strong shooting as he is setting up others. Look for a big bounce-back campaign.

13 Anthony Stolarz – As difficult as it would seem to trap a 6-6” netminder, Stolarz is trapped. From below, the Flyers have drafted, among others, Carter Hart and Felix Sandstrom since using a second round pick on Stolarz in 2012. That duo is earmarked for the future. From above, Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth are both signed to multi-year NHL deals. Stolarz, who has an impressive combination of compete and play reading ability is effectively trapped.

14 Samuel Morin – The first thing that stands out when watching Samuel Morin is..well, Samuel Morin. He is huge. 6-6”, and broad as well. The former first round pick is strong on his feet, which is especially impressive at his size, but has been slow to develop. His offensive game is very limited and he does not play as aggressive a game as you want to see from a player of his stature. At his best, he is safe and intelligent. At his worst, he is 6-6”.

15 Mike Vecchione – One of the prize NCAA free agents of the year, Vecchione was both a key contributor to Union’s surprise NCAA championship team in his freshman season and the team captain for the past two years. A fast skater who was dynamic offensively was a faceoff ace as well. Although not tall, he is stocky and incredibly strong. He may not have the impact of former teammate Shayne Gostisbehere, but he will be an asset in Philadelphia.

16 Tanner Laczynski – A somewhat surprising inclusion in Team USA’s gold medal winning WJC squad, Taczynski had a very strong freshman season with Ohio State. Showing more willingness to shoot the puck, he is still stronger and more effective when stickhandling and looking to set-up a teammate. Not the best skater, he has nevertheless improved since his time in the USHL. Only one year on, he is already looking like a sixth round steal for the Flyers.

17 Taylor Leier – A relative anomaly in a system chock-full of players with as-yet-untapped potential, Leier is what he is. A strong secondary scorer with Lehigh Valley, he succeeds through his unrelenting aggression in all three zones. He has done well enough in callups to the NHL on both of the last two seasons and should see more NHL time this year. Strong enough defensively to play on the PK.

18 Mikhail Vorobyov – One of the biggest surprises for Team Russia at the last WJC, Vorobyov was everywhere, seemingly picking up an assist on every second goal his nation scored. A strong puck mover, his most notable traits are his hockey IQ/vision and his physical game. He has above-average size and uses it effectively to ensure he can play wherever he wants to. The Flyers signed him to an ELC after his first full KHL season ended and he will spend this season with Lehigh Valley.

19 Nicolas Aube-Kubel – After a stellar junior career with Val-d’Or, Aube-Kubel struggled mightily in his first full AHL campaign. He is still a very good skater and was very consistently reliable away from the puck, demonstrating good hockey sense, but the best that could be said of his ability to impact the game offensively was that there were flashes. We will be looking to see more out of him in his follow-up season.

20 Mark Friedman – An offensively inclined blueliner, Friedman is a strong skater who looks strong when beginning to rush the puck out of his zone thanks to his plus acceleration. He plays a physical game despite being undersized and has improved that aspect of his game by dint of taking fewer minor infractions. Does not have the shot to profile as a serious power play QB, but moves the puck around well enough to play there for the second unit.

Despite avoiding blueliners in the draft for the past two years, the Philadelphia Flyers still have strength at all positions in their system. Further adding to their case for the top tier of systems in the league is that their talent will arrive in multiple waves, with some ready now, some needing another year of development in the AHL and some who are further down the road, but no less bright for the distance.

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Philadelphia Flyers

Cam York, D (14^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 2)

Morgan Frost, C/LW (27^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 3)

Egor Zamula, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 20, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Tanner Laczynski, C (169^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)

Wade Allison, RW (52^nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 12)

Bobby Brink, RW (34^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

German Rubtsov, C (22^nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Isaac Ratcliffe, LW (35^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 4)

Ronnie Attard, D (72^nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 9)

Mark Friedman, D (86^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Jay O’Brien, C (19^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

Jack St. Ivany, D (112^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 17)

Ivan Fedotov, G (188^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Mason Millman, D (103^rdoverall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Noah Cates, LW (137^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

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Philadelphia Flyers

Cam York, D (14th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 2)

Morgan Frost, C/LW (27th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 3)

Egor Zamula, D (Undrafted Free Agent, signed Sep. 20, 2018. Pre-season: UR)

Tanner Laczynski, C (169th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)

Wade Allison, RW (52nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 12)

Bobby Brink, RW (34th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

German Rubtsov, C (22nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Isaac Ratcliffe, LW (35th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 4)

Ronnie Attard, D (72nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 9)

Mark Friedman, D (86th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Jay O’Brien, C (19th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

Jack St. Ivany, D (112th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 17)

Ivan Fedotov, G (188th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Mason Millman, D (103rd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Noah Cates, LW (137th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)

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Cam York, D (14^th overall, 2019. Pre-season: 2)

Morgan Frost, C/LW (27^th overall, 2017. Pre-season: 3)

Tanner Laczynski, C (169^th overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 10)

Wade Allison, RW (52^nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 12)

Bobby Brink, RW (34^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 5)

German Rubtsov, C (22^nd overall, 2016. 2019 Rank: 7)

Isaac Ratcliffe, LW (35^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 4)

Ronnie Attard, D (72^nd overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 9)

Mark Friedman, D (86^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Jay O’Brien, C (19^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

Jack St. Ivany, D (112^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 17)

Ivan Fedotov, G (188^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Mason Millman, D (103^rdoverall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Noah Cates, LW (137^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 18)